Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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330. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the breakdown in the use of biomethane for biofuels. [38272/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Biomethane is a biogas, often referred to as BioCNG, because it can be used with or as a substitute for fossil compressed natural gas (CNG). In transport, biomethane use is found mostly in the decarbonisation of heavy duty commercial CNG vehicle operation. It is understood that some fuel suppliers have recently started to supply BioCNG at a small number of refuelling stations, catering mainly to HDV CNG vehicles.

The supply of renewable energy in transport consumption generally is mandated in Ireland through the renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) on fuel suppliers. Biomethane used in transport which fulfils EU criteria for sustainability and GHG reduction is eligible for RTFO certificates, for each megajoule of renewable energy supplied, which can be counted against the obligation.

The National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) which administers the obligation, in its annual report 2022 sets out that approximately 1,105k Nm3 (0.04 PJ) of gaseous renewable transport fuel were placed on the market in 2022. This equates to almost 2 million equivalent litres of biomethane/bioCNG placed on the market; and represents less than 1% of renewables placed on the market under the renewable transport fuel obligation in 2022. The supply of biomethane in transport in 2022 was produced from either food waste, brown grease, animal manure, crude glycerine or belly grass (all wastes).

The updated Renewable Transport Fuel Policy Statement 2023-2025 published in June sets out the pathway to increase the mandate for renewable energy in transport through an annual RTFO rate increase, in order to achieve 2030 targets under the Climate Action Plan and EU Renewable Energy Directive. In 2023, renewable transport fuel regulations were introduced to allow the award by the NORA of additional RTFO certificates for biomethane, further incentivising its supply for use in transport.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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331. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current level of biofuel production. [38279/23]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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332. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the projected level of biofuel production by 2030. [38280/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 331 and 332 together.

The Renewable Transport Fuel Policy sets out the pathway to the achievement of both Climate Action Plan targets and European obligations concerning sustainability and GHG reduction criteria while incentivising their supply. Since its establishment in 2010, the policy has been to increase renewable energy in transport by pursuing progressive increases in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) on fuel suppliers, as provided for under Part 5A of the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007.

The trajectory of annual RTFO rate increases to 2030, as set out in the policy, is designed to achieve the CAP target of an E10 (10% Ethanol) and B20 (20% Biodiesel equivalent). This is to achieve 1.08MT CO2eq carbon reduction by 2030, representing a significant portion (almost 14%) of the planned transport sector decarbonisation by 2030.

In its 2022 Renewable Transport Fuel Annual Report the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA), which administers the RTFO, set out that approximately 307m litres (9.6 PJ) of liquid biofuel and 1,105k Nm3 (0.04 PJ) of gaseous biofuel were placed on the market. Approximately 18% of the feedstock for these renewables was sourced from Ireland which represents a 25% increase from 2021. Most of these feedstocks were also sourced from Europe (51%).

My Department published a Biofuels study report in 2022 which modelled the quantum of biofuel and related feedstock supply and production required to meet EU and Climate Action Plan targets. According to the study an estimated 72-78m litres of bioethanol and between 570-730m litres of biodiesel/HVO will be required for use in transport to meet demand by 2030. The Report concludes that both National and EU targets can be complied with by 2030 (under existing assumptions for renewable electricity) through meeting and possibly exceeding advanced biofuel targets.

The updated Renewable Transport Fuel Policy Statement 2023-2025 published in June sets out the pathway to increase the mandate for renewable energy in transport through an annual RTFO rate increase, in order to achieve 2030 targets under the Climate Action Plan and EU Renewable Energy Directive. In 2023, renewable transport fuel regulations were introduced to allow the award by the NORA of additional RTFO certificates for specified renewable transport fuels, where those fuels are used for specific purposes or means of transport, to incentivise their supply. This included additional certificates for FAME biodiesel, hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), biomethane and renewable fuel of non-biological origin such as green hydrogen.