Domestic and commercial heating, factories, marine operators, and power generators are all under pressure to switch from fossil fuels to lower carbon alternatives. And while renewable liquid fuels can deliver massive greenhouse gas (GHG) savings, there has been a stubborn challenge:
How do you prove those claims are real?
Enter the Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme
In 2021, the Zemo Partnership launched the Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme (RFAS) to tackle exactly this problem for the road transport market.
At its core, RFAS provides independent, third-party verification that a renewable fuel:
- Comes from a sustainable, traceable feedstock
- Delivers real, measurable GHG emissions savings
- Hasn’t been double counted or mislabelled
Complementing the UK Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) the scheme has helped commercial fleets to transition from fossil fuels with greater confidence.
For road transport fuels, the RFAS process looks like this:
• Feedstock origin verification • Supply chain traceability • Lifecycle emissions calculation • Independent audits • Renewable Fuel Declarations (RFDs)
Mind the gap
While road transport had the RFAS (and the RTFO), off-road sectors – like heating, stationary power generation, and marine – had nothing comparable.
Scheme expansion
To fill that gap, Zemo Partnership has launched RFAS Heat–Power–Marine. It applies the same robust standards as the road transport scheme but adds market specific record keeping preventing the same fuel being claimed in multiple sectors.
By applying the same robust criteria for heat, power and marine, the scheme extension offers distributors a way to evidence the sustainability credentials of fuels supplied into these sectors.
Why it matters
With public scrutiny increasing around green claims, it’s no longer enough for fuel suppliers to simply say their fuels are “up to 90% lower in emissions.” Buyers are demanding verifiable sustainability data.
The scheme addresses three key challenges:
- Traceability – Each fuel consignment’s feedstock and lifecycle emissions are traced from origin through to the end user.
- Verification – Approved fuel suppliers and distributors are independently audited to confirm the accuracy of sustainability claims.
- Double counting prevention – By tracking consignments throughout the supply chain, the scheme prevents fraudulent or duplicated emission reduction claims.
“RFAS Heat–Power–Marine fills the same gap for off-road sectors that RFAS did for road transport.”
– Simon Lawson, Crown Group
Benefits for distributors
- Customer confidence: Independently verified, auditable proof of your fuel’s sustainability.
- Regulatory readiness: Important if your customers need to prove fuel compliance.
- Market differentiation: Allows smaller distributors to compete on credibility, not just cost.
- Expansion potential: As more sectors decarbonise, it opens the door to a growing market.
“It’s a new level of assurance that gives customers the confidence to decarbonise.” – Gloria Esposito
Inside the scheme:
Margaret Major, Fuel Oil News, spoke with Gloria Esposito, Zemo Partnership, to hear more about the heat-power-marine expansion.
Why it matters:
“Unlike for transport fuels under the RTFO, there was no formal verification system for fuels in these sectors. That made it harder to prove sustainability credentials and avoid double counting. RFAS Heat–Power–Marine fills that gap.”
On differences:
“RFAS Heat-Power-Marine follows the original RFAS framework for the most part but also requires suppliers to maintain market-specific records.
“One key difference is that the RFAS compliance audit involves the verification of Renewable Transport Fuel Certificate (RTFC) issuance for Category A suppliers, this is obviously not relevant for RFAS Heat-Power-Marine.”
On the verification process:
“Zemo’s independent appointed auditors conduct an annual compliance audit of approved renewable fuel suppliers, verifying conformity with RFAS performance standards, so that their customers can have confidence in the environmental credentials of their renewable fuel supply chain.”
“The Renewable Fuel Declarations provide customers with details of the raw material feedstocks (type and country of origin) and GHG emissions savings, in a consistent format. These are crossed checked against voluntary certification scheme Proof of Sustainability documentation to ensure traceability of sustainability information as it transfers down the supply chain.
“Zemo also investigates any concerns raised by customers or third parties.”
On transparency:
“Approved suppliers are listed on the RFAS and RFAS Heat-Power-Marine webpages. A QR code on the declarations also allows customers to quickly verify that their supplier is approved.”
On support for smaller distributors:
“New applicants are provided with example mass balance templates and guidance notes for the audit. We also offer one-to-one calls, and we’re developing an online training course tailored to small and medium sized distributors.
“Zemo is on hand to offer bespoke support all suppliers throughout the process; to answer questions via email or in a virtual meeting. “
On the front line:
A distributor perspective with Simon Lawford, Crown Oil
Bury-based Crown Oil has been an early and long-standing participant in the Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme (RFAS) since it launched in 2021. Crown Oil not only played a role in the development of the extended scheme but was the first UK distributor to gain RFAS H-P-M approval.
Simon Lawford, Technical Sales and Renewable Fuels Manager for Crown, describes the positive business impact of the scheme, how it levels the playing field and why he would unequivocally recommend scheme accreditation to all distributors – regardless of size.
“The scheme allows us to supply RFAS-compliant HVO fuel, provide quarterly renewable fuel declarations to customers, and demonstrate industry-leading sustainability credentials.”
– Simon Lawford
What originally drew you to join?
“We joined to strengthen supply chain transparency and give our customers complete confidence in the sustainability of the renewable fuels we supply.
“It provides an independently verified framework that supports both new adopters and existing users of renewable fuels with the tools and reporting needed to track fuel provenance across the entire supply chain.
“For us, it’s about instilling confidence, upholding accountability and helping customers make informed, responsible fuel choices.”
The business impacts
“Membership has delivered measurable business benefits, particularly in customer trust, competitive positioning and operational assurance.
Customer confidence. “It assures customers, especially those with ESG targets, that they’re sourcing genuinely sustainable fuels with a clear, traceable origin.”
“Being part of RFAS gives us a verifiable framework that assures customers who demand transparency and traceability across their supply chains.”
Competitive edge: “In tenders and procurement processes, we’re increasingly seeing RFAS compliance becoming a differentiator, or even a requirement.”
Improved governance: “The reporting and fuel tracking required have enhanced our data integrity and tightened our auditing and supply chain control.”
“It has aligned well with our long-term commitment to quality, compliance and leadership in renewable fuel supply.”
The challenges
“The traceability requirements mean that we can no longer simply deliver and forget. We needed to bring all the data together into one place and developing the system to do this was certainly a challenge and, as an importer of our fuels we faced additional complexity.”
Customer scrutiny
“Following recent media coverage, we received a number of enquiries from customers seeking clarification on the provenance and certification of our renewable fuel.
“With a supply chain underpinned by robust verification and internationally recognised standards, these concerns were promptly and confidently addressed. All of our renewable fuels are supplied in full compliance with ISCC (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) requirements, ensuring traceability from feedstock to final delivery.
“Additionally, our RFAS membership provides an independent framework for transparency as fuel passes through the UK supply chain, which ISCC is unable to do, with quarterly declarations and auditable reporting that align with Zemo Partnership standards. This gives our customers confidence that the fuels they are purchasing meet stringent sustainability criteria and regulatory benchmarks. Thanks to these certifications, we were able to quickly mitigate any concerns and reinforce trust in the integrity of our renewable fuel offering.”
The scheme extension
“The Crown Oil Group is proud to have played a role in the initial development of the RFAS Heat-Power-Marine scheme, and we’re excited to extend this next level of assurance to our customers in these sectors.”
“As organisations outside the road transport sector face increasing pressure to decarbonise, many are seeking renewable fuel options that come with credible, independently verified sustainability claims. RFAS H-P-M provides a recognised framework for fuel traceability, carbon intensity reporting, and sustainability assurance, tailored to non-road sectors.
“For new customers evaluating alternatives to fossil fuels, RFAS gives them the confidence to make the switch. It reduces perceived risk in procurement and strengthens the business case for renewable fuel adoption.
“In competitive tenders, particularly where ESG criteria are a deciding factor, we expect RFAS accreditation to increasingly become a differentiator, and in time, potentially a requirement. By being early adopters of the scheme, we’re positioning ourselves as a trusted, forward-thinking supplier in the decarbonisation space.”
A scheme for all
“RFAS allows smaller and mid-sized distributors to compete on a level playing field with larger players.
“We would absolutely recommend the RFAS scheme to other distributors.
“RFAS brings credibility, transparency and structure to the renewable fuels market. It gives distributors a practical, independently verified framework to demonstrate fuel sustainability, helping to build customer trust and reduce scepticism. In an environment where scrutiny is rising and greenwashing concerns are high, having RFAS accreditation sets you apart.
“It also opens up commercial opportunities. More tenders now require or strongly favour suppliers who can prove sustainability credentials.
“Beyond customer acquisition, the scheme also supports internal governance. The quarterly reporting and clear documentation processes help strengthen supply chain integrity and ensure you’re audit-ready.
“Ultimately, RFAS helps raise the standard for the whole industry, and that benefits everyone.”
Image credit: iStock
