Fines doled out by the Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA) have served to remind UK workers how important the knowledge gained on renewable energy courses can be.

Aral Direkt and Total Additifs et Carburants Speciaux - subsidiaries of oil firms BP and Total respectively - and the Yorkshire Petroleum Company have each been ordered to pay penalties relating to their failure to comply with environmental legislation.

The civil fines show the potential consequences for companies involved in power generation that are found to not be up to speed on laws relating to green issues - a topic covered in renewable energy courses.

"This is a serious matter, if we hadn't have identified these companies the chances are that they still wouldn't be meeting their obligation today," RFA head of regulation David Calderbank remarked.

According to research carried out by the organisation, 89 per cent of stakeholders in the industry agreed that the RFA is an effective administrator of the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation.

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