Development and Deployment of Advanced Biofuel Demonstration Facilities

December 27, 2024

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(International Energy Agency Bioenergy Task 39) Decarbonizing the transport sector is critical for achieving global climate and energy targets due to its significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on fossil fuels. Biofuels, in particular advanced biofuels, play a particularly important role in decarbonizing transport and increasing the share of renewable energy in the transport sector by providing a low-carbon solution for both near-term and long-term challenges.

One of the tasks in the Technology Collaboration Programme IEA Bioenergy deals with Biofuels to Decarbonize Transport. Within this expert network a Database on facilities for the production of advanced liquid and gaseous biofuels for transport was established and has monitored the developments since 2009. This database comprises facilities which are producing advanced biofuels via the technologies Alcohol-to-Jet, E-Fuels Biomass Hybrids, Fast Pyrolysis, Fermentation, Gasification, Hydrothermal Liquefaction, Hydrotreatment and others. The latest update of the database was completed in November 2024. At this time the database comprised 258 active entries, related to the different technologies listed above. This report provides insights from the monitoring and data collection on advanced biofuel demonstration facilities throughout the years.

The main (and most advanced) technologies used for advanced biofuel production are fermentation to cellulosic ethanol, hydrotreatment of oils and fatty acids, gasification followed by FT-synthesis and fast pyrolysis. Of these technologies, hydrotreatment is the most commercialised one with many production facilities around the globe and the highest production capacities. Hydrotreatment facilities are also the main production facilities for sustainable aviation fuels.

Co-processing of fats, oils and lipids in existing refineries and retro-fitting of existing refineries for the processing of these feedstocks is gaining more importance. Another technology option which is increasing in number of (planned) facilities is the combination of e-fuel production and biomass use – so-called E-fuels biomass hybrid facilities.

Feedstock availability is a critical factor in the production of biofuels, as it determines both the scalability and sustainability of fuel production. While oil-based residues, such as used cooking oil and animal fats, are valuable for current biofuel technologies, their limited supply poses a significant challenge to meeting future demand. To address this, biomass residues, including agricultural waste, forestry by-products, and other organic materials, present a promising alternative, and their potential needs to be unlocked by the development, demonstration and commercialization of advanced biofuels production technologies.

Besides the availability, also the sustainability of dedicated crops, residues and wastes are an important factor. Many countries have implemented frameworks to safeguard biofuel sustainability. It is essential that those policy frameworks ensure robust GHG emission certification and verification.

The primary future markets for advanced biofuels are expected to be in long-distance transport sectors, such as aviation, maritime shipping, and heavy-duty road transport. The aviation industry, in particular, requires a strong focus on renewable fuels and biofuels as the sector continues to grow and has committed to reduce its carbon intensity.

Research and policy frameworks have been crucial in driving the development of demonstration plants for advanced biofuel technologies. These frameworks have influenced investment decisions and significantly impacted the success or failure of such initiatives. 2

The development of biofuels is accelerating in emerging economies, driven by increasing energy demand, abundant natural resources, and the need for sustainable development. These countries are focusing on biofuels as a means to address both energy security and climate change. To support this transition, governments are implementing various policies, including blending mandates and subsidies, to boost biofuel production. These efforts are aimed at promoting renewable energy sources while simultaneously creating new economic opportunities and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. As these policies gain traction, biofuel production is becoming a more significant component of their energy strategies.

Decarbonization targets require a significant increase in biofuel production to meet global climate goals. Recent years have seen a surge in announcements of new biofuel production facilities, particularly for HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils) and SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel); technologies critical for sectors like aviation, shipping, and heavy freight, where electrification is difficult. However, while some technologies, such as hydrotreatment, have reached commercial scale, others like cellulosic ethanol face slow progress and setbacks. Despite many announcements, the actual production capacity is not growing quickly enough to meet the ambitious targets set for 2030. This gap highlights the challenge of scaling up biofuel production to match the urgent demands of the energy transition.

Scaling up advanced biofuel production is a global challenge that requires addressing environmental, social, and economic sustainability. This process can be accelerated through international collaboration and knowledge exchange. Demonstrating and scaling up biofuel technologies is crucial to achieving the large production volumes needed to meet global decarbonization targets, especially in sectors that are hard to electrify, such as aviation, shipping, and heavy-duty transport. Without advancing these technologies and expanding production capacity, the full potential of biofuels to contribute to a sustainable energy future will remain untapped. READ MORE

Index
Executive Summary............................................................................................1
Abbreviations ...................................................................................................4
Introduction.....................................................................................................5
IEA Bioenergy Task 39 – Biofuels to Decarbonize Transport ..........................6
Database on demonstration of advanced biofuels ............................................7
Objectives and Definitions ................................................................................. 10
Advanced Biofuels Technology Options ..............................................................12
Assessment of Demonstration Plants and Commercialization Progress ..............14
Data Summary.............................................................................................. 15
Recent developments..................................................................................... 16
Technology development.............................................................................. 16
Feedstock and Sustainability.......................................................................... 18
Market and Deployment................................................................................ 19
Policy Frameworks ...................................................................................... 20
Regional Aspects ........................................................................................ 22
Demonstration and Commercialization .........................................................23
Importance of Scale-up and Demonstration ...................................................26
Implementation Barriers and Opportunities .................................................... 28
Outlook for Demonstration of Advanced Biofuels Production.......................... 29
List of Figures ................................................................................................ 31
List of Tables ................................................................................................. 31
References .................................................................................................... 32
Appendix – List of Facilities ............................................................................ 35

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Tags

used cooking oil (UCO) Transportation Fuels Policy Sustainability shipping repurpose Renewable Diesel/Green Diesel/HVO/Paraffinic Diesel pyrolysis oil refineries Marine/Maritime Bio and Renewable/Sustainable Fuel (SMF) mandates Jetfuel (Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)) hydrotreatment hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) HVO (Hydrotreated vegetable oil) HEFA (Hydro-processed esters and fatty acids) heavy duty vehicles (HDV) GHG (Greenhouse Gas Emissions) gasification forest residue/waste FOG (Fats/Oils/Grease) Fischer-Tropsch/FT fermentation environmental policy energy security energy crops electrofuels (e-fuels) defossilization co-processing climate change mitigation Cellulosic ethanol Carbon Intensity (CI)/Carbon Footprint BioRefineries/Renewable Fuel Production Biofuel Crops Aviation Fuel/Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) animal fat alcohol-to-jet (ATJ)/ethanol-to-jet (ETJ) Agricultural waste/residue Advanced biofuels commercialization demonstration scale/unit markets/sales market forces

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