Guidance

Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO): compliance, reporting and verification

Information on complying, reporting and verifying with the RTFO process for fuel suppliers, independent verifiers and other interested parties.

Documents

The RTFO essential guide

RTFO compliance guidance 2024

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RTFO compliance guidance 2023

RTFO third-party assurance guidance

RTFO guidance for recycled carbon fuels

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The pipeline (and other) transport information form

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RTFO standard data

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Codes of use when uploading CSV data files to the RTFO operating system and carbon calculator

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Chain of custody evidence form

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Details

The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) guidance for 2023 onwards is for:

  • RTFO fuel suppliers
  • RTFO independent verifiers
  • others involved in the supply of eligible fuels in the UK

RTFO compliance guidance

Provides information on compliance with the RTFO Order including:

  • the obligations that the RTFO Order puts on certain fuel suppliers
  • applying for and maintaining an account with the administrator
  • classifying eligible fuels
  • applying for RTFCs
  • demonstrating compliance with the carbon and sustainability requirements
  • mass balance rules
  • penalties for non-compliance

Third-party assurance guidance

Carbon and sustainability data must be independently verified before RTFCs are awarded. This guidance provides information on:

  • the purpose and requirements of verification
  • planning and risk assessment
  • developing an assurance strategy
  • reporting and assurance statements
  • voluntary scheme and other national system recognition

Biomethane guidance

Information on the specific additional criteria that must be met for suppliers of biomethane, including when using a chemical precursor and a national or international grid systems as part of a supplier’s chain of custody. This guidance provides:

  • background information on biomethane transport, including via pipeline infrastructure
  • specific RTFO requirements for biomethane or fuels for which biomethane is a precursor, including the pipeline (and other) transport information that must be collected by suppliers

The pipeline (and other) transport information form, provided, must be completed for all consignments of biomethane or fuels for which biomethane is a precursor.

Renewable fuels of non-biological origin guidance

This guidance provides specific information for suppliers of renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs) on:

  • the definition of RFNBOs and eligibility under the RTFO
  • how to determine the portion of a fuel that is RFNBO
  • how to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions from an RFNBO

Recycled carbon fuels guidance

This guidance provides specific information for suppliers of recycled carbon fuels (RCFs) on the:

  • definition of RCFs and eligibility under the RTFO
  • process for determining RCF feedstock eligibility
  • carbon and sustainability requirements for RCFs

Additional compliance guidance

Provides data and information on:

Previous RTFO records

Records of Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) guidance before 2022 are maintained on the National Archives.

Updates to this page

Published 22 December 2021
Last updated 1 July 2024 + show all updates
  1. RTFO compliance guidance 2024 updated and RTFO guidance for recycled carbon fuels added.

  2. New RTFO compliance guidance 2024 and RTFO essential guide. Updated versions of the RTFO RFNBO guidance, RTFO third-party assurance guidance and RTFO standard data. The RTFO compliance guidance 2022 is removed.

  3. The guidance for renewable fuels of non-biological origin has been updated.

  4. Chain of custody evidence form added

  5. RTFO compliance guidance 2023 and new version of RTFO guidance for biomethane added.

  6. Guidance added for renewable fuels of non-biological origin.

  7. First published.

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