• E10 petrol will double renewable content of typical petrol from September 2021
• 750 kilotons of carbon a year could be save – equivalent to taking 350,000 cars off our roads
• Will be the fulfilment of a long-standing campaign of the REA and renewable road fuel industry

Today’s announcement that ‘E10 petrol’ is to be introduced from September 2021 is a major step towards decarbonising existing cars in the UK.

Almost all petrol sold in the UK already contains some ethanol. Introducing E10 means this amount will increase so that up to 10% of the petrol will be renewable ethanol, made from sustainable crops or waste products.

There are over 19 million licensed petrol cars on the road[1], meaning E10 will cut greenhouse gas emissions from these vehicles by 750,000[2] tonnes – the equivalent of removing 350,000 cars from our roads.

This is an area the REA and its members have been campaigning in favour of for years and the REA is delighted to see this finally be confirmed in the year when the eyes of the world are on the UK’s climate actions.

Every new petrol car manufactured since 2011 is designed to use E10, and the vast majority since 2000, so over 95% of drivers can start using this more climate-friendly fuel without any concerns. However, a small number of older vehicles, classic cars and motorbikes may not be compatible. For these, use the Government’s E10 vehicle checker at www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-e10-petrol

Dr Nina Skorupska CBE, the REA’s Chief Executive said:

“At the REA we warmly welcome this announcement, having been working on behalf of the industry to deliver this for almost a decade now.

“With the recent announcement of the 2030 phase out date for sales of new Internal Combustion Engine cars and light vans, Government direction in this area is clear, but in the meantime there will be millions of traditional cars sold. We must act to reduce the emissions from these and we need those fuels to be as sustainable and low carbon as possible. Renewable transport fuels in the UK are sustainable, affordable, and immediately available, are essential to our low-carbon future

“Following this announcement, the industry will be looking forward to the forthcoming RTFO consultation which is critical and should be released as soon as possible, and working to maximise the contribution of sustainable fuels.”

—ENDS—

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Jack Abbott, PR and Communications Manager,

07590 627739/ [email protected]

About the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA)

The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (known as the REA) is the UK’s largest trade association for renewable energy and clean technologies with around 550 members operating across heat, transport, power and the Circular Economy. The REA is a not-for-profit organisation representing fourteen sectors, ranging from biogas and renewable fuels to solar and electric vehicle charging. Membership ranges from major multinationals to sole traders.

The renewable transport fuels industry employed roughly 10,000 people in 2019 (REA’s REView report, 2020), and the delay in introducing E10 has already resulted in thousands of job losses in the North of England.

For more information, visit: www.r-e-a.net

[1] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/882293/veh0203.ods. Figures from 2019. Note this figure excludes hybrids, plug in hybrids and range extended electric – many of which will use petrol engines

[2] GHG figures from DfT impact assessment. Cars assumed to have 2tonne typical annual GHG emissions