How to measure emissions from Biofuel

What counts as Biofuel

Biofuel refers to liquid fuels derived from biomass — biodiesel, bioethanol and similar — combusted by the organisation in owned or controlled vehicles, plant or equipment. It excludes fossil liquid fuels such as diesel and petrol, which are reported under liquid fuels instead. Blended fuels containing both fossil and bio content may need splitting into their fossil and biogenic shares, depending on your reporting approach.

Biofuel is reported separately from liquid fuels because the GHG Protocol treats biogenic CO2 — carbon released from combusting plant-based material — differently from fossil carbon, typically disclosed outside the Scope 1 total rather than summed into it. A common double-counting risk sits in blended fuels: a diesel blend containing a biodiesel percentage, for example, may need its biogenic share separated from the fossil share rather than reported entirely under one category or the other. Biofuel combustion itself is Scope 1, with feedstock cultivation and fuel processing captured upstream in Scope 3 Category 3. As a reporting tip, keep supplier documentation showing blend percentages, since this is usually what determines how a delivery should be split between biofuel and liquid fuels.

What activity data you need

Collect the most specific physical unit available. Unit definitions are in Appendix I — Description of Units.

• kg
• Litre

Which emission scope it falls under

Biofuel activity data typically maps to Scope 1 and Scope 3 Category 3 under the GHG Protocol. Confirm organisational boundary and ownership before reporting.

Sub-types available in the platform

All 2 sub-types available in the platform.

• Biodiesel
• Bioethanol

Common questions

How do I report a diesel blend that's only partly biofuel?

Where possible, split the delivery into its fossil and biogenic shares using the blend percentage stated on the invoice or supplier documentation, reporting each share under the relevant category.

Why is biofuel reported separately from liquid fuels?

The GHG Protocol treats biogenic CO2 released from burning plant-based fuel differently from fossil CO2, so keeping biofuel as its own line supports correct, separate disclosure of biogenic emissions.

Does used cooking oil biodiesel need different treatment from crop-based biodiesel?

Report the volume combusted under biofuel regardless of feedstock; the specific biofuel subtype selected in the platform reflects the feedstock difference for factor purposes.

What if my fuel supplier can't confirm the exact blend percentage?

Use the nearest standard blend specification for that fuel grade in your market and note the assumption, then update the record once confirmed data is available.

Should biogenic CO2 from biofuel be added to my total Scope 1 figure?

Follow GHG Protocol convention and disclose biogenic CO2 separately from your gross Scope 1 total rather than combining the two figures.