RFAS Heat-Power-Marine

RFAS Heat-Power-Marine is an extension to Zemo’s Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme (RFAS) in the UK, providing independent verification of the traceability of renewable fuels supplied to sectors not covered by the Government’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), including stationary combustion units, heating and marine vessels.

RFAS Heat-Power-Marine encompasses the complete renewable fuel supply chain from feedstock origin, to production and distribution of the final product to the customer. The scheme begins with the verification of volumes of renewable fuel supplied by fuel traders certified under an EC RED voluntary scheme, such as ISCC-EU. Ensuring no doubling counting of renewable fuel incentivised under the RTFO scheme is a critical compliance aspect of the scheme. The chain of custody of renewable fuel consignments supplied in downstream markets is verified through subsequent fuel distributors becoming approved under RFAS Heat-Power-Marine. The verification process ensures end-to-end traceability and integrity of renewable fuel supplied to the end customer.

Customers purchasing renewable fuel from suppliers approved under the scheme receive Renewable Fuel Declarations with renewable fuel supply chain specific GHG emission data, supporting company carbon reporting and decarbonisation strategy development. The RFAS Heat-Power-Marine declaration has been approved by the Environment Agency for providing evidence of the use of bioliquids in stationary combustion units covered under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

Companies approved under the RFAS Heat-Power-Marine

For further information about the RFAS Heat-Power-Marine please email rfas@zemo.org.uk

What are the scheme’s environmental performance criteria?

Renewable fuel supply chains are required to meeting the following criteria:

Greenhouse gas emission savings thresholds

• More than 65% GHG savings for the renewable fraction of biofuels
• More than 65% GHG savings for renewable fuels of non-biological origin (such as renewable hydrogen)
• More than 10% GHG savings for the total renewable fuel blend based

Greenhouse gas emissions are calculated using a life-cycle methodology and measured against a fossil fuel comparator

Feedstock Sustainability

• Protection of land and biodiversity
• Use of waste as a resource, with a chain of custody to show provenance of the biomass wastes
• Use of renewable energy and resources for producing renewable fuels of non-biological origin such as hydrogen

Supply Chain Traceability

• The renewable fuel supply chain shall be traceable from feedstock origin to the customer in terms of greenhouse gas emission and sustainability performance

How to become an approved Renewable Fuel Supplier?

Companies are required to apply to Zemo Partnership to become approved under the RFAS Heat-Power-Marine and recognised as Renewable Fuel Suppliers. This entails completing an application form and participating in an independent audit to demonstrate compliance with the scheme performance criteria. Once approved, Renewable Fuel Suppliers are required to undergo continuous compliance monitoring including an annual audit. Companies wishing to become approved should read the RFAS Heat-Power-Marine Technical Guidance Annex in conjunction with the RFAS Technical Guidance. Companies already approved under RFAS should contact Zemo to discuss extending their approval for renewable fuel sold to other markets.

RFAS Heat-Power-Marine has an application and annual participation fee, please contact Zemo Partnership for 2025 fees.

Renewable Fuel Declarations

Once Renewable Fuel Suppliers are approved by Zemo Partnership, they are requested to issue their customers with Renewable Fuel Declarations for batches of renewable fuels that have been sold. The declaration identifies the types and volumes of renewable fuel purchased, the GHG emission intensity and savings, as well as details of the types of raw material feedstocks.  The RFAS Heat-Power-Marine declarations have dark blue headings to distinguish them from RFAS declarations supplied to the road transport and non-road mobile machinery markets.

To ensure the chain of custody is unbroken and the information is valid, Renewable Fuel Declarations are specific to each customer and are non-transferable. Operators must purchase fuel directly from approved RFAS suppliers to receive declarations. In the event of an RFAS Heat-Power-Marine approved renewable fuel supplier selling renewable fuel to a fuel distributor or trader, the distributor/trader will need to become approved in their own right, if they wish to benefit from the scheme and issue declarations to their customers.