§ The Earl of Mar and Kellieasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the use of new and used vegetable oils as fuel for compression ignition engines will have any negative effects on the engines, the environment or the development of a viable, high quality processed biodiesel market. [HL525]
§ Lord Macdonald of TradestonOn the environmental performance of the fuel, vegetable oils have a superior carbon life-cycle balance compared to conventional fuels. The Department for Transport is currently considering the options for further research on the local air quality emissions performance of this fuel to supplement the limited publicly available data available in this area.
As with all fuels, any producer of diesel fuels from vegetable oils for sale to the public has a responsibility to the consumer to ensure that the fuel is fit for purpose and, as such, does not damage engines when used. Producers should also ensure that all relevant excise duties are paid.
Subject to these provisos, the use of new and used vegetable oils should be complementary to the development of a viable, high quality processed biodiesel market.