Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
282. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider the concerns of the owners of older and classic vehicles regarding proposals to remove E5 petrol; if he will address these concerns when drafting new regulations under Part 5A of the National Oil Reserves Agency Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17040/23]
View answerI published The Renewable Fuels for Transport Policy Statement 2021-2023 in November 2021. The Policy Statement sets out a roadmap for the supply and use of renewable fuels in transport in meeting targets set out in the Climate Action Plan and European obligations for renewable energy supply and use in transport. The Policy Statement signalled the move to E10 as the standard grade of petrol in Ireland in 2023.
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/B12 by 2025. In 2022, approximately 307m litres (9.6 PJ) of biofuel was placed on the market.
Following consideration of the outcome of a 28 day statutory consultation period on the draft Regulations, and with the consent of the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, I signed the regulations on 31 March 2023, to provide for the implementation of E10 from 01 April 2023. The regulations will be fully implemented by 01 July 2023.
The regulations specify the minimum volume of renewable transport fuel (ethanol) to be blended with petrol laced on the market by sale or otherwise in the State by renewable transport fuel obligation account holders. The regulations specify a minimum volume of 5.5% ethanol in petrol. This is in line with the switch to E10 in the UK (in 2021) and NI (in 2022).
The regulations will be kept under review within the context of the development and implementation of the Renewable Transport Fuel Policy.
Moving to E10 will bring an immediate climate-change mitigation measure using the existing vehicle fleet. Since 2009, E10 petrol as standard has been rolled out across 15 European countries as well as the US and Australia. The new regulations will also ensure Ireland’s petrol supply will now align with the standard petrol supplied in Northern Ireland since last year, and in Great Britain since 2021. 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. 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. Furthermore, consultation with industry concerning the policy to move to E10, 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 in Ireland. The annually declining number of petrol cars along with the increased uptake of zero-emission vehicles (e.g., EVs) is likely to reduce this number over the coming decade and would not support investment in dual-system infrastructure.
At this point in time, Ireland’s vehicle 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% inc. vintage and less than 1% vintage/classic) that are pre-2011 (predominantly pre-2003/pre EURO V standard). After 1 July, when the draft regulations are to be fully operational, specialist supply of E5 would still be possible in the market if the demand emerges, but such supply will just not be eligible for certificates under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation.
To ensure public awareness of the change my Department is continuing to run an E10 public information campaign, through advertising at forecourts, print, radio, digital and 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.
