by Liz Goodwin (Washington Post) But now, facing a tough reelection climate in November, some Senate Democrats who are fighting for their political lives in red states are distancing themselves from aspects of President Biden’s EV policies as Republicans go on
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Back TO HOMEDelays in California's LCFS Revisions Are an Opportunity to Improve
by Nikita Pavelnko (International Council on Clean Transportation) Earlier this year, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) postponed a hearing and vote to finalize revisions to its Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) until the Friday after the 2024 U.S. elections in November. The vote had
June 05, 2024 Read Full Article
RFA Welcomes 40B Sustainable Aviation Fuel Guidance, But Says Additional Work Needed
(Renewable Fuels Association) The 40B tax credit guidance and modified GREET model released today by U.S. Treasury begin to unlock the door for U.S. ethanol producers and farmers to participate in the emerging market for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). However, more work
April 30, 2024 Read Full Article
IATA and Partners Release Aviation Net Zero Roadmaps Comparative Review
(International Air Transport Association) The International Air Transport Association (IATA), together with the Air Transportation Systems Laboratory at University College London (UCL), the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) and the Mission Possible Partnership (MPP),
April 24, 2024 Read Full Article
CARB’s In-Use Locomotive Regulation Rule Will Hurt the American Economy Public Comment Deadline April 22, 2024
(Association of American Railroads) Policy Position: Congress should call on EPA to prevent CARB from moving forward with its new framework. EPA should instead ensure locomotive emissions regulations move forward in a responsible, measured fashion that takes into full account technology readiness,
April 16, 2024 Read Full Article
Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Strongest-Ever Pollution Standards for Cars that Position U.S. Companies and Workers to Lead the Clean Vehicle Future, Protect Public Health, Address the Climate Crisis, Save Drivers Money
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Final standards will expand consumer choice in clean vehicles and build on historic progress in U.S. auto manufacturing under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda -- Today, March 20, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced final national pollution
March 20, 2024 Read Full Article
Experts Expand the Coverage of Greenhouse Gases in Travel Impact Model for Flight Emissions
(International Council on Clean Transportation) The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) announced a series of updates to the Travel Impact Model (TIM) that will more fully reflect the environmental impact of aviation and help people make more sustainable choices when planning air
February 27, 2024 Read Full Article
The Risks of Betting on Biofuels with Flex-Fuel Plug-in Hybrid Cars in Brazil
by André Cieplinski (International Council on Clean Transportation) As the world’s largest vehicle markets move toward electric vehicles to decarbonize road transportation, many legacy automakers support doubling down on existing efforts to use biofuels in Brazil, and they’re focusing on using them in plug-in
January 30, 2024 Read Full Article
CORSIA v. GREET for SAF: What to Do, What to Do
by Tammy Klein (Transport Energy Strategies) ... For SAF and the ethanol-based alcohol-to-jet (AtJ) pathway, the issue is one of models: CORSIA* v. GREET for purposes of calculating the SAF tax credits under the IRA. The IRA states that a fuel’s
November 02, 2023 Read Full Article
SAF Modeling Debate Isn’t Really about “GREET vs. ICAO.” It’s about Current Data vs. Old Data.
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) Last year’s Inflation Reduction Act created tax credits meant to stimulate the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), a critical tool in the aviation sector’s decarbonization strategy. To qualify for the tax credits, SAF
August 22, 2023 Read Full Article
Fuelling Change: Why Biofuels Matter for Transport’s Energy Transition
by Sinead Lynch (Shell) Sustainable aviation fuel, also known as SAF, is two to four times more expensive than conventional fossil-based jet fuel [1]. SAF, in its neat form, can reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80% [2], making it a
June 29, 2023 Read Full Article
Feedstock Theft & Fraud
by Ron Kotrba (Biobased Diesel Daily) Stolen used cooking oil and palm oil fraudulently disguised as waste feedstock are making headlines, but traceability platforms can help curtail illegal activity. Used cooking oil (UCO) theft is nothing new. Ever since the material, which
June 13, 2023 Read Full Article
UK Suggests Restricting Green Jet Fuel from Waste Cooking Oil
by Sean Goulding Carroll (EURACTIV.com) Green jet fuel made from used cooking oil and animal fats should be restricted on environmental grounds, a recent British government consultation document has suggested, raising questions over whether the EU will follow suit. The British Department
May 04, 2023 Read Full Article
In the Palm of Your Hand
(Biofuels International) ... Waste and residues from agricultural activities have the best potential to deliver zeroemissions energy as traditional sources of farm emissions from the biodegradation of farm wastes are converted into renewable sources of energy. The European Union, in its
April 27, 2023 Read Full Article
Comparing Carbon Reduction Solutions: Biofuels versus Natural Gas, Battery-Electric and Hydrogen Class-8 Trucks
(Chevron/Renewable Energy Group) ... While each solution has its merits, it’s important to look at all the factors to determine which one may be the most viable solution for your fleet today. Here, we’ll compare the availability, equipment and infrastructure
April 05, 2023 Read Full Article
Can Business Aviation Solve the Problem of Environmental Activism?
by Ben Sampson (Business Airport International) In the last ten years the existential threat posed by climate change has mixed with social media to create a new type of radical environmental activism. This direct action, sometimes described by more hyperbolic media
April 04, 2023 Read Full Article
Why Cars Running on E-Fuel Can’t Replace EVs
by Justine Calma (The Verge) E-fuel will probably be too expensive and inefficient for cars, but it just might work for planes. -- Porsche showed off a new pilot plant in Patagonia, Chile, last month — not one that manufactures
March 09, 2023 Read Full Article
The Road to Decarbonized Trucking w/ Ray Minjares
(Climate Now) Ray Minjares, Heavy-Duty Vehicles Program Director at the International Council on Clean Transportation, explains what is: the marketplace structure that dictates how freight vehicles are bought and sold. Ray sat down with Climate Now to examine how this marketplace works
February 28, 2023 Read Full Article
ICCT HDV CO2 Study Fails on the Most Important Questions
by Alan Sherrard (Bioenergy International) Recently the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), an independent nonprofit organization founded in 2001 "to provide first-rate, unbiased research and technical and scientific analysis to environmental regulators", released a study on a life-cycle comparison of
February 20, 2023 Read Full Article
MPOC Urges EU to Include Palm Oil Wastes and Residues in Bioenergy Use
(UkrAgroConsult) The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) has urged the European Union (EU) to include palm oil wastes and residues in bioenergy use. The organisation made its comments following the EU’s new public input session into sustainable biofuels and biogases, which
January 27, 2023 Read Full Article
ICCT Releases Roadmap for Decarbonizing California In-State Aviation Emissions
(International Council on Clean Transportation/Biobased Diesel Daily) The International Council on Clean Transportation announced Jan. 19 the release of a roadmap for decarbonizing California in-state aviation emissions. The briefing assesses the contribution of passenger civil aviation to California’s aviation-sector emissions and evaluates
January 24, 2023 Read Full Article
Bay Area Plans to Refine Biofuels Could Derail Climate Goals, Warn Environmentalists
by Aaron Cantú (Capital and Main) Oil companies may end up relying on environmentally questionable crop-based fuels. --The California Air Resources Board is considering limits on crop-based diesel fuel as part of an overhaul to reduce California’s emissions by 2030. Gov.
January 24, 2023 Read Full Article
WPI Researchers Create Method for Making Net-Zero Aviation Fuel
(Worcester Polytechnic Institute) An interdisciplinary team of researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has developed a potential breakthrough in green aviation: a recipe for a net-zero fuel for planes that will pull carbon dioxide (CO2) out of the air. The research, which
December 05, 2022 Read Full Article
Frequent Fliers Are a Problem for the Planet. Should They Pay More?
by Shannon Osaka (Washington Post) A global tax on frequent fliers could go a long way toward fixing aviation’s climate problem -- ... A new report by the nonprofit International Council on Clean Transportation suggests another way forward: A global tax on those
October 13, 2022 Read Full Article
Considerations for the ReFuelEU Aviation Trilogue
by Chelsea Baldino and Jayant Mukhopadhaya (International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT)) This briefing paper assesses the differences between the European Commission proposal for a ReFuelEU aviation regulation and the European Parliament and the Council of European Union’s amendments. It
September 21, 2022 Read Full Article
ICCT Report on LNG Pathway Makes Flawed Assumptions Based on Outdated Data
(SEA-LNG) SEA-LNG responds to a report by the NGO International Council on Clean Transportation: Comparing the Future Demand for, Supply of, and Life-Cycle Emissions from Bio, Synthetic, and Fossil LNG Marine Fuels in the European Union -- The recent ICCT
September 20, 2022 Read Full Article
Catalyst with Shayle Kann Podcast: Electric and Hydrogen-Fueled Planes Are Coming. But Will They Really Decarbonize Aviation?
by Shayle Kann (Canary Media/Post Script Media) There’s a crowd of low-carbon technologies vying for a slice of the aviation market. On one hand, the long-haul portion of the market will likely rely on sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), which still emit greenhouse gases
September 09, 2022 Read Full Article
Group Urges CARB to Limit Biobased Diesel from Lipids under California LCFS
by Ron Kotrba (Biobased Diesel Daily) The International Council on Clean Transportation suggests setting a cap on lipids “would prevent California’s [biobased diesel] market shifting from one that is primarily waste oil-based to one increasingly reliant on food-based fuels with
August 09, 2022 Read Full Article
In 30 Years, Your Summer Plane Flight May Be a Little More Expensive. It Could Also Be Carbon-Free.
by Elizabeth Weise (USA Today/Yahoo!) As millions of Americans hop on airplanes heading to favorite vacation spots, the industry is gearing for a bigger journey – one that will tackle removing the carbon emissions from those flights over the next 30
June 16, 2022 Read Full Article
Vision 2050: Aligning Aviation with the Paris Agreement
by Brandon Graver, Sola Zheng, Dan Rutherford, Jayant Mukhodpadhaya, Erik Pronk (International Council on Clean Transportation) Airlines and governments have committed to achieving net-zero emissions from aviation by mid-century. In this report, we develop a roadmap to evaluate the emission impacts
June 10, 2022 Read Full Article
Research Group Urges EPA to Nix ZEV Credit System
by Arianna Skibell (E&E News) The International Council on Clean Transportation says the proposed zero-emission vehicle credit system, which allows manufacturers to use EV credits to offset emissions, would raise the pollution limit. The International Council on Clean Transportation is calling
May 12, 2022 Read Full Article
Can ‘Green Corridors’ Tackle Shipping’s Giant Carbon Footprint?
by Isabelle Gerretsen (China Dialogue) At last year’s COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, 22 countries, including the UK, US, Germany and Japan, signed up to the Clydebank Declaration, announcing their intention to establish various zero-emissions shipping routes known as “green corridors”. By
May 03, 2022 Read Full Article
The Bottom Line on Sustainable Shipping: Can the Shipping Industry Reach Zero Emissions?
(Climate Now) If the international shipping sector were a country, it would be the sixth largest CO2 emitting nation in the world. Every year, 11 billion tons of goods - about 80% of all the goods we use or consume
May 03, 2022 Read Full Article
Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft Could Contribute Strongly to Aviation’s 2050 Goals, Finds ICCT Study
by Christopher Surgenor (GreenAir Online) If deployed to their maximum potential, liquid hydrogen-powered aircraft could enable aviation emissions to be capped at 2035 levels, although a 6-12% reduction in CO2e emissions relative to projected 2050 levels is more realistic, finds an
March 25, 2022 Read Full Article
Discrepancy in British and Irish Used Cooking Oil Imports Raises Biofuel Fraud Concerns
by Sean Goulding Carroll (EURACTIV.com) A new analysis suggests more Malaysian used cooking oil (UCO) was exported to Britain and Ireland than was collected in the country, raising fears that banned substances are being fraudulently passed off as the valuable biofuel
March 08, 2022 Read Full Article
EU Biofuel Plan Increases Risk of Fraudulent Imports from Asia: Study
by Sean Goulding Carroll (EURACTIV) EU proposals aimed at cutting transport emissions risk boosting the amount of fraudulent used cooking oil (UCO) imported into the EU, according to a new study by the International Council for Clean Transportation (ICCT), a US-based non-profit organisation. The
February 28, 2022 Read Full Article
Industry Slams Lack of Transparency in EU Approval Process for ‘Sustainable Biofuels’
by Sean Goulding Carroll (EURACTIV.com) The consortium advising the European Commission on suitable sources for the production of sustainable biofuels has come under fire for failing to disclose the criteria used to evaluate feedstocks to industry. The European Commission has asked the
January 29, 2022 Read Full Article
Animal, Vegetable or Mineral (Oil)? Exploring the Potential Impacts of New Renewable Diesel Capacity on Oil and Fat Markets in the United States
by Chris Malins and Cato Sandford (International Council on Clean Transportation) This report provides an overview of the U.S. renewable diesel market and explores the potential market and environmental impacts of increased renewable diesel capacity. The United States currently supports renewable diesel
January 19, 2022 Read Full Article
The Race to Secure Clean Energy Materials
by Ben Gelman (Axios) Minerals used in power generation technologies ... One persistent theme in analyses of the transition to cleaner energy is the scramble to obtain supplies needed for renewables projects, electric vehicle batteries and other low-carbon tech. The big picture: "A typical
December 06, 2021 Read Full Article
Airlines Want to Make Flight More Sustainable. How Will They Do It?
by Leigh Krietsch Boerner (Chemical & Engineering News) Air travel produces millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. New technologies could help airlines reduce their emissions and meet their sustainability goals -- ... Airlines are trying to reduce
November 18, 2021 Read Full Article
To What Extent Can Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) Mitigate the Environmental Impact of Flying?
by Mike McCurdy and Angus Reid-Kay (ICF) ... Since SAF is operationally identical and certified as “Jet-A1” fuel, no changes are required in aircraft or engine fuel systems, distribution infrastructure, or storage facilities. That allows SAF use as an interim—and
November 11, 2021 Read Full Article
U.S. States Push to Surpass World Emissions Norms on Aviation
by David Shepardson and Allison Lampert (Reuters) U.S. President Joe Biden's administration should exceed global standards designed to curb emissions from flights, as pressure mounts to limit the sector's greenhouse gases, five states told the White House in a letter seen by Reuters. Major
October 06, 2021 Read Full Article
Brazil’s Biofuel Program Sputters on Weak Emissions Accounting
by Sibélia Zanon (Mongabay; Translated by Maya Johnson) • The RenovaBio program has been encouraging biofuel producers in Brazil to emit less carbon dioxide since the end of 2019. The program survived a rocky first year brought on by the
September 08, 2021 Read Full Article
UK Considers Mandating Flight Emissions Information to Help Travellers Cut Their Carbon Footprint
by Christopher Surgenor (GreenAir Online) As part of its ‘Jet Zero’ strategy to ensure the aviation sector meets the national target of net zero emissions by 2050, the UK government is considering whether to mandate the provision of standard, reliable
August 31, 2021 Read Full Article
The Tough Calculus of Emissions and the Future of EVs
by Mark Mills (TechCrunch) From materials and batteries to manufacturing, calculating the real carbon cost of EVs is just getting started -- ... While an EV self-evidently emits nothing while driving, about 80% of its total lifetime emissions arise from
August 23, 2021 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels Feedstock List Should Be Enlarged to Meet EU Target: Industry
by Sean Goulding Carroll (EURACTIV.com) The list of EU-approved sustainable fuel sources should be expanded to meet the higher targets for second-generation biofuels under the updated renewable energy directive, according to the advanced biofuels industry. ... The leaked draft also includes an increase
July 08, 2021 Read Full Article
IATA Urges EU Legislators to Adopt a Cautious Approach on SAF Blending Mandate Scope
by Mark Pilling (GreenAir Online) IATA has indicated it supports mandating the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) on international flights departing EU airports, which the European Commission is expected to propose in its upcoming ReFuelEU Aviation legislation, but only
June 28, 2021 Read Full Article
Airlines Skirting SAF Requirements in EU, Known as ‘Tankering,’ Could Be Real Issue by 2035
by Ron Kotrba (Biobased Diesel Digest) The International Council on Clean Transportation published a working paper in late April on potential so-called “tankering” issues that may foreseeably arise from an EU sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate under development, which would require
May 21, 2021 Read Full Article
Biden Faces Pressure to Drive Gasoline and Diesel Cars out of the US
by Oliver Milman (The Guardian) Joe Biden’s administration, seeking deep cuts to planet-heating emissions, is facing pressure to take a previously unthinkable step: declare the end of the internal combustion engine in the US. Washington state has moved to call time on
May 04, 2021 Read Full Article
Potential Biofuel Production Pathways in Indonesia: Overview of Processes, Feedstocks, and Types of Fuel
by Tenny Kristiana and Chelsea Baldino (International Council on Clean Transportation) Because of its abundant biofuel feedstocks, Indonesia has the potential to produce biofuels via a number of pathways, including using different technologies and feedstocks to create different fuels. There is strong
April 20, 2021 Read Full Article
How Green Are Electric Vehicles? In Short: Very Green. But Plug-in Cars Still Have Environmental Effects.
by Hiroko Tabuchi and Brad Plumer (New York Times) Here’s a guide to the main issues and how they might be addressed. -- ... But a lot depends on how much coal is being burned to charge up those plug-in
April 05, 2021 Read Full Article
SAF Could Make up 5.5% of 2030 EU Jet Fuel Demand with Targeted Support, Estimates ICCT Feedstock Study
(GreenAir Online) Analysis by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) shows there are sufficient sources of sustainable feedstock to support the production of 3.4 million tonnes (Mt) of advanced sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) annually in the EU by 2030, around
April 01, 2021 Read Full Article
Aviation Sector and NGOs Agree on Sustainability of Future Fuels
(European Climate Foundation) Given that EU leaders have committed to achieving a net-zero-carbon economy by 2050, there is a growing focus on how to accelerate the transition towards climate-neutral aviation. As the European Union is about to unveil new targets for sustainable
January 19, 2021 Read Full Article
Air Quality Impacts of Palm Biodiesel in Indonesia
by Jane O’Malley, Stephanie Searle, and Tenny Kristiana (International Council on Clean Transportation) As Indonesia moves toward more advanced vehicle emission standards, lower sulfur limits in fuel, and palm biodiesel expansion, it is important to understand the impact that increasing palm biodiesel
January 16, 2021 Read Full Article
Emissions Scandal Fears as Tests Suggest Plug-in Hybrids Emit ‘More Pollution than Advertised’
by Madeleine Cuff (iNews) The tests found that even when the cars had a fully charged battery and were driving in optimal conditions, emissions were still 28-89% higher -- Plug-in hybrid cars might not be as green as manufacturers let on. Tests
November 24, 2020 Read Full Article
What do the Commercial Trucks of the Future Look Like in 2040? Does Diesel Have a Sell by Date?
(Diesel Technology Forum) Rather than having a “sell by“ date, diesel will remain as the dominant technology moving the nation’s freight for decades to come. -- Recent headlines “Daimler, Volvo Show Hydrogen is Here, Diesel Has a Sell-By Date” (Trucks.com, November
November 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Norwegian Targets 45% Improvement in Carbon Efficiency and to Use 500 Million Litres of SAF by 2030
(GreenAir Online) Low-cost carrier Norwegian has pledged to improve the carbon efficiency of its operations by reducing carbon emissions per passenger kilometre (pax/km) by 45% by 2030, compared to 2010 levels. Carbon emissions per pax/km have fallen by 28% from 2010
October 07, 2020 Read Full Article
ICCT’s Vision 2050: “Ambitious Yet Feasible”
by Tammy Klein (Future Fuel Strategies) ... ICCT (International Council on Clean Transportation) has been and, it’s clear in this document will continue to be, a major change agent for transport decarbonization globally. ICCT will use the results of the
October 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Renovare Fuels’ Chairman Explores How Aviation Can Go Green
(Biofuels International) The aviation industry is synonymous with producing high volumes of carbon emissions. In 2019, flights produced 915 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) according to the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG). As such, making air transport ‘green’ has
September 10, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA Proposes CO2 Standards for Aircraft PUBLIC COMMENT DEADLINE: October 19, 2020
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) EPA proposed setting fuel efficiency standards for aircraft engines to bring the U.S. in line with rules set by the International Civil Aviation Organization to reduce carbon dioxide, although green groups have long decried the ICAO
July 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Efforts to Link US Airline Rescue Package to Carbon Targets Resisted as Industry Faces Unprecedented Times
(GreenAir Online) Attempts have failed to link the future carbon emissions performance of US airlines to the rescue package aimed at helping the beleaguered sector through the coronavirus crisis. Congress voted last Friday to provide the US aviation industry around
March 30, 2020 Read Full Article
ICCT: Potential Biomass-Based Diesel Production in the United States by 2032
by Tammy Klein (Future Fuel Strategies) One of the biggest issues I’ve been working on in my consulting practice over the last year is related to the scale up of renewable diesel (RD also known as hydrogenated vegetable oil or HVO).
March 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Climate Change Measures Progress at ICAO Assembly
(Air Transport Action Group) Governments meeting at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) 40th Assembly in Montreal have supported the prioritisation of work on developing a long-term goal for aviation CO2 emissions, with that work to be completed for presentation at
October 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Opportunities and Risks for Continued Biofuel Expansion in Brazil
by Nikita Pavlenko and Carmen Araujo (International Council on Clean Transportation) Brazil’s advanced biofuel industry lags far behind the production capacity of its first-generation biofuel industry. Brazil’s reliance on crop-derived biofuel feedstocks, in conjunction with its vulnerable forests and savannah, presents
July 31, 2019 Read Full Article
How Real-World Vehicle Emissions Data Helps Cities Become Emission-Free
(Autocar Professional) Poor air quality is a major issue for virtually every city globally. It not only affects people’s health, but also other living beings and the environment, says The Real Urban Emissions (TRUE) initiative. The Real Urban Emissions (TRUE) Initiative is
July 01, 2019 Read Full Article
World Environment Day: Strong Economies Drive Clean Environments
(Diesel Technology Forum) New generations of advanced technology diesel engines, cleaner diesel fuel, and renewable biofuels pave the way for global prosperity and accelerate clean air progress -- The Diesel Technology Forum issued the following statement on the occasion of United Nations World Environment
June 12, 2019 Read Full Article
The Cost of Supporting Alternative Jet Fuels in the European Union
by Nikita Pavlenko, Stephanie Searle, and Adam Christensen (International Council on Clean Transportation) Alternative jet fuels (AJFs) are among the few available in-sector approaches to reduce aviation sector emissions. Although the aviation sector has not played a prominent role in fuels
March 22, 2019 Read Full Article
Analysis of High and Low Indirect Land-Use Change Definitions in European Union Renewable Fuel Policy
by Stephanie Searle & Jacopo Giuntoli (International Council on Clean Transportation) The European Union (EU) will continue incentivizing the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels through its recast Renewable Energy Directive for 2021-2030 (RED II). This directive includes a provision
November 21, 2018 Read Full Article
One Day at the World’s Leading Biomass Technology Conference, EUBCE 2018
by Steve Bi* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Renaissance-era facades capped with green copper patina and orange clay shingles harmonize seamlessly with imaginative, hallmark-of-Scandinavia, hyper-modern structures in downtown Copenhagen. [caption id="attachment_99349" align="alignleft" width="212"] Setting of the EUBCE 2018 Copenhagen[/caption] The city provided the perfect backdrop
July 17, 2018 Read Full Article
A Sound and Rational View of Biofuels in North America
by Lawrence Sullivan (Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining) ... After much efforts to fund the development of biofuels by both governments and the venture capitalists, there were some awakenings and realizations. One, the capital-intensive nature of power and petroleum means adoption of new technologies
June 18, 2018 Read Full Article
IMO Moves Forward with Ban on Vessels Carrying High-Sulphur Fuel
by Jonathan Saul and Libby George (Reuters) The International Maritime Organization said it approved on Friday an amendment that would ban ships unequipped to strip sulphur from carrying high-sulphur fuel from 2020 - when new sulphur-content limits come into effect; New 2020
April 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Compatibility of Mid-Level Biodiesel Blends in Vehicles in Indonesia
by Stephanie Searle and Kristine Bitnere (International Council on Clean Transportation) Indonesia promotes biodiesel consumption through a blending mandate and a subsidy program. The current required biodiesel blend level in transport fuels is 20%, set to increase to 30% in 2020.
April 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Weak Governance at UN Shipping Agency Delaying Action on Climate Change
(Transparency International Secretariat) The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is at risk of unresolved conflicts of interest due to shortcomings in its governance, according to preliminary key findings of a new study by Transparency International. Private shipping-industry concerns could have undue influence over the policymaking
April 09, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Publishes CAFE Standards Mid-Term Evaluation Final Determination
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) On April 2, 2018, the Administrator signed the Mid-term Evaluation Final Determination which finds that the model year 2022-2025 greenhouse gas standards are not appropriate in light of the record before EPA and, therefore, should be revised.
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
EU Needs Advanced Biofuels Boost to Reach Climate Goals, Transport Decarbonisation
by Marko Janhunen (EurActiv/Leaders of Sustainable Biofuels) The International Energy Agency confirms that sustainable biofuels are needed to secure transport decarbonisation. The European Parliament’s Industry Committee, for its part, confirms the need to set a specific mandate for advanced biofuels, writes
December 05, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Found a Carbon Rule It Can Like
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) Sure EPA is proposing to roll back the Clean Power Plan, but that doesn't mean all carbon rules are off the table: The agency is even now working on a rule to regulate carbon from
October 16, 2017 Read Full Article
Scania Will Provide Clean Buses to 20 Major Cities
(Scania) Scania today joins the Global Industry Partnership on Soot-Free Clean Bus Fleets with a commitment to, by 2018, provide modern soot-free buses to 20 major cities in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Australia. “To tackle the challenge of poor air quality
October 10, 2017 Read Full Article
A Sticky Matter: Sugar Molasses Dent EU’s Ambitions on Advanced Biofuels
by Paola Tamma (EurActiv) Sugar molasses, which the European Commission sees as “advanced” biofuel, present many of the same problems as conventional biofuels – including a potential increase in food prices and land competition for food production. But their definition as biofuels
October 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Waste Not Want Not: Understanding the Greenhouse Gas Implications of Diverting Waste and Residual Materials to Biofuel Production
(International Council on Clean Transportation) ... Indirect emissions can also result from the use of waste and residual materials for biofuel production. For example, fatty acid distillates from palm oil refining are currently utilized in applications including oleochemicals, soaps, and animal
August 24, 2017 Read Full Article
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest), explaining how international efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of aviation that focus on cheap offsets accomplish exactly the opposite: "We do need change. Right now, we’re leasing public land at absurdly low rates so that
June 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Explosive New ICCT Report Says “Offsets” Will Dominate “Alternative Fuels” in Aviation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) “Bulk of aviation emissions reductions will be achieved through carbon offsets,” not fuels, writes ICCT Slow scale-up foreseen for biofuels Challenges in feedstock costs Carbon pricing too little, too late The fatal distortion lies in petroleum
June 22, 2017 Read Full Article
High Potential in North America for Low-Carbon Jet Fuels but Unlikely to Make Impact on ICAO Emissions Goal
(GreenAir Online) North America has a higher potential for the production of sustainable alternative jet fuels than other regions of the world because of its available resources but it is unlikely that switching to low-carbon fuels alone can make the
June 15, 2017 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry Expert: Biofuels Tug-of-War Is an EU Invention
by Sarantis Michalopoulos (EurActiv) The conflict between second and first generation biofuels – depicted as good and bad for the environment – only exists in Brussels. In fact, it’s the brainchild of the European Commission, Eric Sievers told EURACTIV.com. Eric Sievers
May 15, 2017 Read Full Article
Can America Really Be ‘Great Again’ With A Gutted EPA?
by Margo T. Oge (Huffington Post) ... Businessmen are always looking for a good return on investment. America’s environmental protections are a steal. The public health benefits of a cleaner environment and a healthier workforce are far greater than the
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Mayors of Paris, Madrid, Athens & Mexico City Stumble; African Nations Get It Right on Policies for Cleaner Air with Cleaner Diesel Fuel & Technology
(Diesel Technology Forum) Last week, the mayors of four cities - Paris, Madrid, Mexico City and Athens - announced they had pledged to remove diesel vehicles from their cities by 2025. Last week, five African countries - Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo,
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Lost Generation: ICCT’s Financing Scheme to Jump Start Advanced Biofuels at Scale
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) One thing that is clear in hindsight from the flow of energy project investment between 2010 and 2014 is that investors believed in three predictions that didn’t come true: ... All of this turned out to be
November 25, 2016 Read Full Article
UPM Partners with NGOs and Green Think-Tanks to Drive Sustainable Low Carbon Fuels
(Globe Newswire/UPM) ENGOs, think-tanks and the advanced biofuel industry have been collaborating on defining policy boundaries for European fuels policy that recognises the need to safeguard sustainability while stimulating investments into a truly sustainable advanced biofuels industry. Following the Paris Agreement,
October 18, 2016 Read Full Article
Paris High Ambition Countries Call for Urgent Action on Aviation Emissions and a Robust Global Carbon Scheme
(GreenAir Online) Members of the High Ambition Coalition, which played a pivotal role in the successful outcome of the global climate negotiations last December that resulted in the Paris Agreement, have joined forces to call for urgent action to curb
September 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Potential for Advanced Biofuels Production from Palm Residues in Indonesia
by Julia Paltseva, Stephanie Searle, Chris Malins (International Council on Clean Transportation) Indonesia is the world’s leading producer of palm oil, supplying almost half of the commodity globally. Its palm oil industry continues to expand rapidly, in part to meet domestic goals
September 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Indonesia’s Delusional Strategy for Reducing GHG Emissions
(International Council on Clean Transportation) ... Indonesia’s policies promoting the development of biofuels has always been portrayed as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Government officials and the oil palm industry assert that implementation of 20% biofuel blending mandate
September 19, 2016 Read Full Article
ICAO Carbon Offsetting Scheme Moves a Step Closer to Agreement as Council Releases Final Draft Resolution Text
(GreenAir Online) ICAO’s 36-State governing Council has released final draft text of a Resolution to be put before the UN agency’s triennial Assembly later this month on a global market-based measure (GMBM) aimed at keeping global net CO2 emissions from
September 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Analysis of the Current Development of Household UCO Collection Systems in the EU
(International Council on Clean Transportation) Explores the potential for improving home collection of used cooking oil for biodiesel production in the EU. -- Used cooking oil (UCO) is a low carbon feedstock for biodiesel production in the EU, but this
June 16, 2016 Read Full Article
Availability, Use, and Removal of Oil Palm Biomass in Indonesia
by Christopher Teh Boon Sung (International Council on Clean Transportation) Reviews the environmental impacts of removing palm residues from plantations and estimates how much of this resource could potentially be used for advanced biofuels in Indonesia. ICCT commissioned this study by Dr.
April 25, 2016 Read Full Article
NGOs Set out Their Vision of How a Global Carbon Scheme for Aviation Can Align with Paris Ambitions
(GreenAir Online) The International Coalition on Sustainable Aviation (ICSA), an umbrella group of six NGOs, has launched a campaign called FlightPath 1.5 to ensure emissions from international aviation are capped and then reduced in line with the climate ambitions of
April 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuels Are Back on the EU Agenda
by Sonja van Renssen (Energy Post) Biofuels are returning to the political agenda in Europe as EU policymakers start to shape a strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport after 2020. Biofuels producers continue to argue that they are
March 03, 2016 Read Full Article
Breaking Europe’s Addiction to Oil
by Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Peder Holk Nielsen (Novozymes) Former Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Novozymes’ CEO take steps to highlight Europe’s problematic addiction to oil – and what can be done about it -- ... Europe is
February 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Impact of Real-World Driving on Emissions from UK Cars and Vans
(Committee on Climate Change) Passenger cars and vans contribute to 17% of the UK’s total carbon dioxide emissions, and therefore have an important role to play in meeting future CO2 targets. Despite rapid falls in the official CO2 emissions of new cars
November 19, 2015 Read Full Article
NOxgate Expands: 93% of Diesel Vehicles Tested Fail to Meet Euro 6 NOx Emission Standards; Average Is 7 Times over the Limit
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The VW crisis just keeps getting worse, with Volkswagen suspending its VW, Audi, and Porsche R&D chiefs, as Audi confirmed that 2.1 million of its vehicles were outfitted with defeat devices, and reports surfaced that the
September 29, 2015 Read Full Article
VW Scandal Raises Doubts over Clean Diesel and Lab-Based Emissions Testing
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On September 22, Volkswagen Motors (VW) admitted that it had cheated on emissions testing in Europe and the United States, by installing a piece of software known as a ‘defeat device’ in diesel cars. The Environmental
September 28, 2015 Read Full Article
West Virginia Engineer Presented VW Emissions Findings a Year Ago
by David Morgan (Automotive News/Reuters) Daniel Carder, an unassuming 45-year-old engineer with gray hair and blue jeans, appears an unlikely type to take down one of the world's most powerful companies. But he and his small research team at West Virginia
September 23, 2015 Read Full Article
Aeroplane Efficiency More than a Decade behind Schedule
(Edie.net) Despite a 45% reduction in average aircraft fuel burn in the last 40 years, the aviation industry is still around 12 years behind efficiency targets set by the UN's aviation body. That’s according to a new report from the International Council
September 10, 2015 Read Full Article
Delivering Low Carbon Transport Fuels post 2020
(Institute for European Environmental Policy) How should EU policy support the transition to low carbon transport fuels post 2020? IEEP’s recent report for the NGO Transport and Environment argues that future policies should be differentiated to tailor support towards specific
August 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Biofuel from Trash Could Create Green Jobs Bonanza, Says Report
by Arthur Neslen (The Guardian) Advanced biofuels industry could spur hundreds of thousands of jobs across Europe, says new report, but key European parliament vote next week could throw clean fuel ambitions into disarray Creating biofuels from waste produced by industry,
February 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Clean Fuel Availability, for the Pacific Coast
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, the International Council on Clean Transportation and E4Tech released a comprehensive study of clean fuel availability for the Pacific Coast. The report is available here. ... There are four key original findings: (1) low-carbon fuels could replace over
February 06, 2015 Read Full Article
RPT-EU Policy Gap Choking off Next Generation Green Fuel-Industry
by Barbara Lewis (Reuters) * New research underlines benefits of new generation biofuel * Commission 2030 policy outline omits transport goals * Research has questioned credentials of first-generation fuels Projects to deliver a next generation of green transport fuel, which
February 28, 2014 Read Full Article
Study Calls for Changes to Cellulosic Tax Incentives
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A new study published by the International Council on Clean Transportation and researchers from John Hopkins University determined that making minor changes in existing federal tax incentives for cellulosic biofuels could help unlock much
December 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Review of Peat Surface Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Oil Palm Plantations in Southeast Asia
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) Growth in palm oil production has been a key component of meeting growing global demand for vegetable oil, including for biodiesel, over recent decades. This growth has been accompanied by mounting concern over the impact of the oil
November 29, 2011 Read Full Article
Study Shows High Emissions from Growing Biodiesel from Palm Oil
(Transport & Environment) Biofuels produced from palm oil grown in tropical peatlands are a significant source of greenhouse gases. This is the finding of a new study done for the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) which, if taken on
November 28, 2011 Read Full Article
Biofuels: a New Methodology to Estimate GHG Emissions Due to Global Land Use Change
by Roland Hiederer, Fabien Ramos, et al. (European Commission Joint Research Centre) This study implements a new methodology developed by the JRC IES and IE for estimating changes in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from soil and above- and below-ground biomass resulting