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Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien, today announced publication of theHierarchy of Use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) Across Transport and Other SectorsReport. The Report examines the growing demand for HVO, and how State intervention can best promote efficient use of this renewable energy within and outside the transport sector both in the short-term and beyond 2030.

Biofuels such as HVO are a necessary short-term transition measure to meet the Climate Action Plan and European decarbonisation targets, along with requirements including the Renewable Energy Directive and EU Regulations mandating renewable energy in aviation and maritime sectors.

“This Report is a valuable piece of research which delivers on an action in the Renewable Transport Fuel Policy, and addresses concerns raised by the Climate Change Advisory Council in its 2025 Annual Review of Transport. The research method included extensive energy system modelling,which make a compelling case for a clear hierarchy of HVO use between transport modes and other sectors. The Report reflects the complexity of meeting climate, environment and energy objectives in different sectors to achieve goals of decarbonisation, sustainability, affordability, and security of energy supply. Findings will inform future policy development and implementation by acknowledging the role that bioenergy does and can play, while we transition to electrification and other zero-emission modes.”

“I welcome the publication of this Report, which will be of interest to all involved in the collective effort to decarbonise transport and other sectors.One of its strengths is the level of stakeholder engagement with industry, sectoral agencies and Departments, looking across several transport modes and economic sectors. HVO continues to play an important transitionary role in the decarbonisation of transport, as we seek to meet domestic and European climate targets. This is particularly important for sectors that have few alternatives, such as aviation, freight, and maritime transport sectors.”

The Report produces a hierarchy of use of HVO which aligns with several existing policies and measures, including the Sustainable Aviation Fuel, Taskforce Report, the Road Haulage Strategy, the Renewable Transport Fuel Policy, the Ports Policy, and the design of the Renewable Heating Obligation.

The Report is the latest in a suite of evidence-based research steered through a dedicated Working Group, comprising officials from the Department of Transport and Department of Climate, Environment and Energy, as well as relevant agencies. The progress of this suite of research has been updated within the annual published reports to the Minister under the Alternative Fuel of Transport Working Group.

The research was conducted and the Report compiled by Ricardo consultants from October 2025 to May 2026. Stakeholders were involved through workshops, which included biofuel suppliers, distributors, brokers, industry representatives, as well as Government bodies.

The report is available fromhttps://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-transport/publications/publication-of-the-report-on-the-hierarchy-of-use-of-hvo-across-transport-and-other-sectors/