The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment has published a draft order to increase the level of renewable energy used in the transport sector further to 11% from 1 January 2020.

Minister Richard Bruton TD also announced his intention to increase the level of biofuel used in road transport fuels.

The Biofuels Obligation Scheme requires suppliers of road transport fuels to include a proportion of biofuels in fuel placed on the market in Ireland. The inclusion of biofuels in the fuel mix increases the level of renewable energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector.

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From the 01 January 2019, the level of biofuel in the fuel mix will increase from the current level of 8%, to 10%. The Minister published a draft order to increase the level further to 11% by volume by January 2020. This would mean that all suppliers of road transport fuels would be required to increase the percentage of biofuel in their fuel from the current level of 8% to 11% by 2020. The consultation will run until the 23 January 2019.

Minister Bruton said: "I am currently developing an all of government plan to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change. This plan will have actions across all sectors of society and will have timelines with clear lines of responsibility. Transitioning to cleaner fuels is an important part of delivering on that ambition. From January of this year, the level of Biofuel will increase from 8% to 10%. I am hoping to increase that level further to 11% from January 2020. This would mean replacing an estimated 70 million litres of fossil fuel with biofuel and is estimated to save almost 200 thousand tonnes of carbon each year. I encourage all interested parties to partake in the consultation."