Proposed Am endm ents Fuel Quality Directive Malcolm Fendick Malcolm Fendick to the
The Fuel Quality Directive 9 8 / 7 0 / EC • Deals only with fuels for surface transport • Deals only with fuels for surface transport • Is concerned with the quality of petrol, diesel, and gas • Is concerned with the quality of petrol, diesel, and gas oil (“red diesel”) for use in road transport, on inland oil (“red diesel”) for use in road transport, on inland waterways, and for railway locomotives and mobile waterways, and for railway locomotives and mobile plant plant • Controls those aspects of fuel quality with a bearing on • Controls those aspects of fuel quality with a bearing on the environment and health the environment and health
The Proposed Am endm ent • Contains eight principal points • Contains eight principal points • Is primarily intended to permit and encourage the use • Is primarily intended to permit and encourage the use of biofuels of biofuels • Also addresses some air quality issues • Also addresses some air quality issues • Would set Greenhouse Gas reduction targets • Would set Greenhouse Gas reduction targets
The Eight Points Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas reduction targets for fuels Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas reduction targets for fuels • • Introduction of separate E5 and E10 fuel grades Introduction of separate E5 and E10 fuel grades • • Alterations to the summer vapour pressure relaxation Alterations to the summer vapour pressure relaxation • • Reduction in the sulphur content of gas oil Reduction in the sulphur content of gas oil • • Introduction of a vapour pressure waiver for fuel containing ethanol Introduction of a vapour pressure waiver for fuel containing ethanol • • Reduction in the PAH content of diesel fuel Reduction in the PAH content of diesel fuel • • The development of a test methodology for metallic fuel additives The development of a test methodology for metallic fuel additives • • Possible complete disappearance of leaded petrol Possible complete disappearance of leaded petrol • •
Separate E5 and E1 0 Fuel Grades Petrol may currently contain up to 5% ethanol Petrol may currently contain up to 5% ethanol • • Would introduce an additional 10% ethanol grade Would introduce an additional 10% ethanol grade • • Intended to assist roll-out of bioethanol Intended to assist roll-out of bioethanol • • Our View Our View Two separately labelled grades would be an unnecessary complication for Two separately labelled grades would be an unnecessary complication for • • the consumer and a burden upon the distribution chain the consumer and a burden upon the distribution chain Vehicle operability problems with a 10% ethanol blend should be minimal Vehicle operability problems with a 10% ethanol blend should be minimal • • Allowing all petrol to contain up to 10% ethanol would be simpler Allowing all petrol to contain up to 10% ethanol would be simpler • •
The Sum m er Vapour Pressure Relaxation The permitted vapour pressure of petrol is lower in the summer in order to The permitted vapour pressure of petrol is lower in the summer in order to • • reduce evaporation reduce evaporation Member States with “Arctic” summer conditions are allowed a relaxation of Member States with “Arctic” summer conditions are allowed a relaxation of • • the summer vapour pressure requirement the summer vapour pressure requirement The proposal would limit the relaxation to states with cold winter conditions The proposal would limit the relaxation to states with cold winter conditions • • Our View Our View The proposal is illogical because the correlation between cold winters and The proposal is illogical because the correlation between cold winters and • • cold summers is poor cold summers is poor Loss of this relaxation is undesirable because it will lead to potential starting Loss of this relaxation is undesirable because it will lead to potential starting • • difficulties in colder summer weather in the United Kingdom difficulties in colder summer weather in the United Kingdom
The Sulphur Content of Gas Oil A substantial reduction in two stages to almost sulphur-free by 2010 in order A substantial reduction in two stages to almost sulphur-free by 2010 in order • • to permit use of catalytic emissions control technologies to permit use of catalytic emissions control technologies A delayed introduction for inland waterway fuel, where catalysts will not be A delayed introduction for inland waterway fuel, where catalysts will not be • • required in the near future required in the near future Our View Our View The United Kingdom supports the principle of sulphur-free gas oil The United Kingdom supports the principle of sulphur-free gas oil • • A requirement that gas oil was strictly “sulphur free” at the point of delivery A requirement that gas oil was strictly “sulphur free” at the point of delivery • • might pose cross-contamination problems for distributors might pose cross-contamination problems for distributors Delaying application to the rail sector until it was technically required would Delaying application to the rail sector until it was technically required would • • avoid unnecessary costs falling on that sector avoid unnecessary costs falling on that sector
The Ethanol Vapour-Pressure W aiver Would introduce a vapour-pressure waiver for fuel containing ethanol Would introduce a vapour-pressure waiver for fuel containing ethanol • • on a sliding scale on a sliding scale Would allow for the fact that higher ethanol content increases vapour- Would allow for the fact that higher ethanol content increases vapour- • • pressure pressure Our View Our View This provision is not really necessary, and will increase evaporative This provision is not really necessary, and will increase evaporative • • emissions emissions The suggested palliative, of recovering vapour at petrol stations, may The suggested palliative, of recovering vapour at petrol stations, may • • be less cost effective than leaving vapour-pressure limits as they are be less cost effective than leaving vapour-pressure limits as they are
Polycyclic Arom atic Hydrocarbon ( PAH) Content The PAH content of diesel would be reduced from 11% by mass to 8% The PAH content of diesel would be reduced from 11% by mass to 8% • • Intended to control PAH emissions, many of which are carcinogenic Intended to control PAH emissions, many of which are carcinogenic • • Our View Our View United Kingdom diesel already meets the lower limit United Kingdom diesel already meets the lower limit • • The air quality benefits of reducing PAH in fuel are not well supported The air quality benefits of reducing PAH in fuel are not well supported • • by available data by available data Meeting the lower limit in the future might disproportionately increase Meeting the lower limit in the future might disproportionately increase • • refinery carbon dioxide emissions refinery carbon dioxide emissions
The Developm ent of a Test Methodology for Metallic Fuel Additives There are currently no legislative restrictions on the use of metallic fuel There are currently no legislative restrictions on the use of metallic fuel • • additives additives Metallic fuel additives are not widely used in the European Union at present Metallic fuel additives are not widely used in the European Union at present • • There are concerns that some additives might damage emissions control There are concerns that some additives might damage emissions control • • technologies, or result in uncontrolled emissions which might damage health technologies, or result in uncontrolled emissions which might damage health Our View Our View The United Kingdom supports the proposal that a test methodology for The United Kingdom supports the proposal that a test methodology for • • approval of metallic additives should be produced approval of metallic additives should be produced
Leaded Petrol Member States are currently permitted to sell up to half a percent of their total Member States are currently permitted to sell up to half a percent of their total • • petrol sales as leaded petrol petrol sales as leaded petrol No proposal on leaded petrol was made by the European Commission No proposal on leaded petrol was made by the European Commission • • Some Member States would like the proposal amended to prevent any future Some Member States would like the proposal amended to prevent any future • • sales of leaded petrol sales of leaded petrol Our View Our View Leaded petrol in the United Kingdom is provided by a small number of Leaded petrol in the United Kingdom is provided by a small number of • • specialist fuel suppliers, largely as a service to owners of classic vehicles specialist fuel suppliers, largely as a service to owners of classic vehicles Our air quality objectives on lead are met, and the amount of fuel sold is Our air quality objectives on lead are met, and the amount of fuel sold is • • insignificant in environmental terms insignificant in environmental terms
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