The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) has published two reports setting out how the UK could meet its EU Renewable Energy Directive targets for 2020 – and then proceed on a pathway to decarbonise road transport to 2030 and beyond.
LowCVP commissioned consultancy Element Energy to analyse the options for meeting the Renewable Energy Directive's (RED) 2020 transport target, which states that at least 10% of energy consumption in transport must come from renewable sources.
In its first report, 'RED Scenarios', researchers looked at four scenarios to assess the best way for the UK to comply with the 2020 target.
It found that adopting a majority combination of 10% ethanol in petrol (E10) and 7% biodiesel in diesel (B7) was the most practical way of achieving the target.
To achieve this, however, would require full uptake by consumers and operators of E10 and B7 and the availability of a significant volume of 'double-countin'g blendable RED-compliant material to the market.
The second report, 'Fuels Roadmap', declares that the decade from 2020 is when electrification of vehicles (including plug-in hybrids, battery electric vehicles and/or fuel cell vehicles) is likely to become a mainstream offer – providing there are advances in electricity storage technology and assuming adequate grid capacity. It also highlights a role for LPG and bioLPG.
Between 2020 and 2030, the authors say that powertrain and fuels roadmaps have the potential to deliver around a 20% reduction in well-to-wheel emissions.
UKLPG, the LP Gas trade association, welcomes the findings.
"We're delighted that the authors of this report have recognised the significant role which LP gas can play in the journey to manage and mitigate the environmental impact of our dependence on transport," says Rob Shuttleworth, chief executive of UKLPG.