Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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208. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the move to E10 as the standard grade of petrol in Ireland; if he aware of concerns that have been raised by some owners of older models of vehicles; the steps that have been made to mitigate their concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14896/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The move to E10 as the standard grade of petrol in Ireland was one of a number of policy actions set out in The Renewable Fuels for Transport Policy Statement 2021-2023 which I published in November 2021.

The statutory consultation on the draft regulations for a minimum percentage ethanol in petrol will end on 30 March. Following consideration of responses to the consultation, and with the consent of the Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan and Reform, I may make the regulations having regard to effects of the regulations on a range of matters concerning economic activities in the State and on the environment.

Moving to E10 delivers an immediate climate-change mitigation measure using the existing vehicle fleet. There is no need to adapt petrol cars to use E10 and to take advantage of the benefits of this lower-carbon fuel which will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The move to E10 is one of several transport measures to achieve a 50% reduction in transport emissions by 2030 - a projected 1.08 MtCO2eq abatement in greenhouse gas emissions through increasing biofuel blending to E10 (10% Ethanol) and B20 (20% Biodiesel equivalent) set out in Climate Action Plan 2023, with an interim target of E10/B20 by 2025. In 2022, approximately 307m litres (9.6 PJ) of biofuel was placed on the market.

Since 2009, E10 petrol as standard has been rolled out across Europe and is widely available in over 15 European countries as well as Australia and the US. The new regulations will ensure Ireland’s petrol supply will now also align with standard petrol supplied in Northern Ireland since last year, and in Great Britain since 2021.

Nearly all petrol cars on Irish roads were designed and certified to perform using E10 petrol. Some older vehicles, pre-2011 (predominantly pre-2003/pre EURO V standard), were not manufactured with certification for E10 use, but it does not mean they cannot use E10. At this point in time, Ireland’s vehicle fossil fuel fleet is predominantly diesel (c.63% at end 2022) and of the c.1million petrol vehicles, there is a very low level of older vehicles (c.2.4% including vintage) that are pre-2011.

In countries where E10 and higher ethanol blends are used widely there is no evidence of issues. All vehicle owners and operators are required to maintain their vehicles to operating and roadworthy standards.

Maintaining an E5 petrol grade is not in line with the policy objective under the Climate Action Plan for E10 by 2025 and consultation with industry indicated that the vast majority of suppliers do not have the storage or distribution systems to supply both an E5 and an E10 petrol grade. After 1 July when the draft regulations are to be operational, specialist supply of E5 would still be possible in the market, but such supply will not be eligible for certificates under the renewable transport fuel obligation .

To ensure public awareness of the change my Department is running an ongoing E10 public information campaign, through advertising at forecourts and nationally through print media, radio, and digital ads on social platforms. Further Information concerning individual vehicle types can be obtained in operating manuals, information on vehicle’s manufacturer websites, or inside the fuel cap (on newer vehicles). The gov.ie/E10 information website is the main point of reference for further information on the move to E10 and will continue to be over the course of the public awareness campaign which will continue to run in advance of the move to E10.