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EuropePolicy profile

United Kingdom

Mandated

Tracked mandates

2

Active obligations

Policy targets

3

Published markers

Official sources

4

Government records

Mandate register

Requirements, timelines & compliance

Each obligation is tied to its administering authority and primary published source.

Program
Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation
Aviation
SAF Mandate: 10% by 2030
Support
SAF revenue certainty mechanism
In forceMulti-fuel

Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation Order 2007 (as amended)

Suppliers of 450,000 litres or more of fuel a year must show that a set share is renewable.

Timeline

  1. 2008

    Obligation begins.

  2. 2018

    Development-fuel sub-target and crop cap introduced.

  3. 2026

    Annual obligation share continues on the published trajectory.

  4. 2032

    Crop cap steps down to its lowest level under the current order.

Requirements

  • Main obligation set as a percentage of relevant fuel supplied, with a separate development-fuel sub-target.
  • Crop-derived biofuel capped and stepping down over the obligation period.
  • Fuels must meet RTFO sustainability criteria, verified and reported quarterly.

Compliance status & enforcement

Administrator
Department for Transport, administered by the Low Carbon Fuels Unit
How compliance is shown
Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates (RTFCs) are issued per litre or kilogram supplied and redeemed against the annual obligation.
Penalty for shortfall
Fixed buy-out price per RTFC not redeemed, payable to the administrator.
Tradable unit
Renewable Transport Fuel Certificate (RTFC)
Phasing inSAF

Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) Order 2024

Aviation fuel suppliers must supply a rising share of sustainable aviation fuel, starting at 2% in 2025.

Timeline

  1. 2025

    Mandate starts at 2% of jet fuel supplied.

  2. 2028

    Power-to-liquid sub-obligation begins at 0.2%.

  3. 2030

    10% SAF share.

  4. 2040

    22% SAF share, held flat thereafter pending review.

Requirements

  • Obligation applies to suppliers of jet fuel above the annual threshold.
  • Separate power-to-liquid sub-obligation begins in 2028.
  • HEFA-derived SAF is capped as a share of the obligation and the cap declines over time.
  • A revenue-certainty mechanism supports UK SAF plants alongside the mandate.

Compliance status & enforcement

Administrator
Department for Transport — Low Carbon Fuels Unit
How compliance is shown
SAF certificates issued for eligible supply and redeemed against the annual obligation, mirroring the RTFC system.
Penalty for shortfall
Buy-out price per certificate not redeemed, set separately for the main and PtL obligations.
Tradable unit
SAF certificate