by Andrew Swanson, Shawn Arita, Joseph Cooper, and Seth Meyer (farmdoc daily) Renewable fuel policies like the national Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) have created a boom in the consumption of alternative diesels. These alternative diesels come
ILUC (Indirect/Induced Land Use Change)
Back TO HOMEAligning On Programs and Priorities
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Grains Council is investing a “remarkable amount of time” exploring avenues to better fit environmentally friendly U.S. ethanol into varying compliance programs around the globe, says Hagan Rose, USGC’s ethanol advisory team leader. ... Canada,
November 15, 2024 Read Full Article
Tackling the Hidden Emissions of Waste Oil Feedstocks
(SkyNRG) SkyNRG’s approach to displacement greenhouse gas effects. -- Policy is increasingly considering the indirect land use change (ILUC) effects associated with food and feed commodities. However, indirect emissions related to the displacement of feedstock are assessed to a much lesser extent.
November 04, 2024 Read Full Article
US Court Set to Weigh Biofuel Blend Mandates
by Cole Martin and Matthew Cope (Argus Media) A US court on Friday (November 1, 2024) will weigh some novel issues that could affect enforcement of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the federal program that sets minimum biofuel blending levels for
November 01, 2024 Read Full Article
Ag Policy Blog: Reforming Climate Models: Leveling the Playing Field for American Agriculture
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) Seth Meyer, USDA's chief economist, explained Monday at an agricultural outlook conference in Kansas City, Missouri, that he didn't want to get too deep into the weeds, but he told the audience of agribusiness leaders
September 23, 2024 Read Full Article
RFA Urges California to Adopt E15, Drop Unneeded LCFS Feedstock Tracking Requirements --- Hearing Scheduled for November 8, 2024
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association late yesterday called on California to allow the lower-cost, lower-carbon E15 fuel blend, containing 15 percent ethanol, as part of its efforts to enhance the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard. “E15 is a critical near-term
August 28, 2024 Read Full Article
Agricultural Land Lost to Development in the Midwest
Mujahidul Islam, Ani Katchova, and Carl Zulauf (farmdoc daily) Conversion of agricultural land to developed land during the 21st Century in eight Midwestern states is examined. This loss of agricultural land to development is a long-standing topic of discussion at the national and state
August 06, 2024 Read Full Article
Carbon Accounting for Sustainable Biofuels
(BioFuture Platform) The development of sustainable biofuels is at a pivotal juncture. They are recognised for their important role in decarbonising the transport sector – particularly for their potential to help reduce aviation and shipping emissions, and for their complementarity with
August 01, 2024 Read Full Article
Carbon Accounting for Sustainable Biofuels
(International Energy Agency) The development of sustainable biofuels is at a pivotal juncture. They are recognised for their important role in decarbonising the transport sector – particularly for their potential to help reduce aviation and shipping emissions, and for their complementarity
July 24, 2024 Read Full Article
Giving Lift To 45Z: Climate Smart Farming and the GREET Model
by Katie Schroeder (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... The industry waited for not months, but years to get an answer to that question, finally receiving direction in the 40BSAF-GREET 2024 model, released at the end of April. In an exclusive podcast interview with
July 19, 2024 Read Full Article
Overreliance on EV’s Generate Power Grid Concerns
by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) There are concerns a reliance on electric vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector could compromise the U.S. power grid. Scott Richman with the Renewable Fuels Association says grids are already struggling and
July 03, 2024 Read Full Article
Yes, Biofuels Have a Role in Decarbonizing CT
by Jamie Densmore and Stephen Dodge (CT Mirror/ Densmore Oil/Clean Fuels Alliance America) Recent CT Viewpoints in favor of widespread heat pump deployment needlessly paint an inaccurate picture of renewable biofuels and their potential to decarbonize hundreds of thousands of Connecticut homes alongside other strategies,
May 30, 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
Renewable Diesel Market Report
(Stillwater Associates) On March 21, 2024, Stillwater President Megan Boutwell presented the Renewable Diesel Market Report to the Washington Alternative Fuel & Vehicle Technical Assistance Group. Stillwater President Megan Boutwell shares a presentation on the Supply and Regulatory Incentive Considerations for RD
April 18, 2024 Read Full Article
WTO Circulates Panel Report on Malaysia’s Biodiesel Policy Complaints against EU
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) ... WTO appellate body says it is extremely difficult to determine the extent of any contribution that is made toward the achievement of the objective(s) of the measures. Much of this difficulty derives from the fact
March 06, 2024 Read Full Article
Project Presentation – Life Cycle Assessment of the Production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and Renewable Diesel (RD) from Oil Palm and its Crop Residues in Colombia
(International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) In a collaborative effort funded by the World Bank, ISCC, with the support of its sister companies MEO and GRAS, has been diligently conducting a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and Renewable
February 20, 2024 Read Full Article
Ag Census Confirms Cropland Decline, Adoption of Environmental Practices
by Scott Richman (Renewable Fuels Association) The first tranche of data from the 2022 Census of Agriculture was released by USDA on Tuesday, and it showed that the amount of cropland in the U.S. fell by 14 million acres (4%) since 2017, continuing a
February 17, 2024 Read Full Article
Sustainable Carbon Removals Limits Identified, Huge Climate Mitigation Challenge Revealed
(University of Melbourne/EurekAlert!) Governments and businesses are relying on dangerous amounts of future removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, instead of more rapidly reducing emissions and phasing out fossil fuels. This problem is partly due to an incomplete picture1 of
February 13, 2024 Read Full Article
Civil Society Groups Call for End to Soy Biofuels
(Transport & Energy) 30 non-profit organisations, including T&E, WWF, Oxfam and Birdlife, call on the European Commission to phase out support for deforestation-driving soy biofuels -- The Commission has one last chance before the European Parliament elections in June to include soybean
February 08, 2024 Read Full Article
As 40B GREET Deadline Looms, RFA Offers Recommendations for SAF Emissions Modeling
(Renewable Fuels Association) In a letter submitted to the Biden administration today, the Renewable Fuels Association laid out recommendations for ensuring that the best available science and data are used in determining eligibility for the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credit established in
January 16, 2024 Read Full Article
RFA Welcomes Recognition of GREET Model in SAF Tax Credit Guidance
(Renewable Fuels Association) The U.S. Treasury Department today released guidance regarding the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credit. The guidance clarifies that a soon-to-be-updated version of the Department of Energy’s GREET model will be among the methodologies used
December 15, 2023 Read Full Article
EU Is ‘Driving without a Map’ on Biofuels Policy, Auditors Find
by Sean Goulding Carroll (Euractiv.com) The EU’s complex policy approach to biofuels lacks a long-term outlook and risks undermining the bloc’s transport decarbonisation targets, an analysis by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) has found. The ECA, an independent watchdog, examined the EU’s support
December 14, 2023 Read Full Article
Can Solar and Farming Coexist?
by Clinton Griffiths (AgWeb) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) believes solar could provide up to 40% of the country’s electricity by the year 2035. However, it’s estimated roughly 5.7 million acres of land will be needed. “While that amount is
November 25, 2023 Read Full Article
Biofuels in the Pan Amazon
by Timothy J. Killeen (Mongabay) ... The spikes in commodity prices in the first decade of the twenty-first century coincided with a global boom in biofuels. The interest in biofuels was motivated allegedly by a concern for global warming but other,
November 22, 2023 Read Full Article
IFC Invests Sh32 Billion in Kenya’s Biofuel Project
by Allan Odhiambo (Business Daily) The International Finance Corporation(IFC) is set to invest Sh31.96 billion ($210 million) in an agribusiness project by Italian firm, Eni Kenya. The IFC said the investment in the form of a senior loan will support capital requirements
November 20, 2023 Read Full Article
Clean Biofuel Production and Phytoremediation Solutions from Contaminated Lands Worldwide
(Phy2Climate) ... Phy2Climate is a project funded by Horizon 2020 EU’s Research and Innovation programme. The overall objective of the Phy2Climate project is to build the bridge between the phytoremediation of contaminated sites with the production of clean drop-in biofuels and
November 15, 2023 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Urges Washington State to Clarify “Biofuels” Definition, Fully Embrace Bioethanol’s Emissions Benefits
(Growth Energy) Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuels trade association, today (November 1, 2023) urged regulators in Washington state to clarify their definition of “biofuels” under the state’s Cap-and-Invest program in a way that allows them to “maximize the use of
November 08, 2023 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Urges CARB to Follow the Science, Maintain Bioethanol’s Exemption from Cap-and-Trade Program
(Growth Energy) Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuels trade association, submitted comments today (October 26, 2023) to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as part of its effort to revise the state’s cap and trade regulations. Specifically, the comments called on
November 08, 2023 Read Full Article
The Potential of Agrivoltaics for the U.S. Solar Industry, Farmers, and Communities
by Michele Boyd (U.S. Department of Energy) Large-scale solar energy installations are a relatively new form of development in many rural areas. Solar energy development can create clean energy, jobs, and other economic benefits in these communities. At the same time, the
November 06, 2023 Read Full Article
Putting the ‘S’ into SAF
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association/Biofuels International) When the US Congress expanded the nation’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in 2007, some ill-informed environmental advocates and ideological academics started sounding the alarm bell. They argued farmers could not possibly produce enough grain to
November 02, 2023 Read Full Article
Greater Use of Biogas Can Help India Save US$29 Billion in Import Bills between FY2025 and FY2030
(Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis) The increased use of biogas in India can be a multi-pronged approach to solving issues like waste management, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing renewable energy production. Most importantly, compressed biogas (CBG) can
October 27, 2023 Read Full Article
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Needs Sustainable Agriculture, and SusAg Is Accelerating
by y Mike Sticklen (Lee Enterprise Consulting/Biofuels Digest) ... Corn-ethanol’s current average carbon intensity is 50 gCO2e/MJ ethanol which is one-half of gasoline carbon intensity of 100 gCO2e/MJ gasoline. The ethanol industry has committed to net-zero carbon intensity by 2040 and a
October 16, 2023 Read Full Article
Ethanol: Context Missing on This Vital Fuel
by Brian Werner and Gary Prescher (Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association/ Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council/Minneapolis Star Tribune) The Oct. 2 commentary discussing the climate impacts of Minnesota agriculture included several misleading statements and cherry-picked science to assert that ethanol is not
October 04, 2023 Read Full Article
Ethanol Blog -- RFA Chief: EPA Science Board Using Bad Data to Question Corn Ethanol Emissions
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) As the EPA's Science Advisory Board meets Thursday and Friday, the ethanol industry is continuing to push back on the board's claim that there are "minimal or no climate benefits" in using corn ethanol in
September 22, 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
Putting the ‘S’ in ‘SAF:’ Innovation Takes Farmers and Ethanol to New Heights
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association/RealClearEnergy) ... In the 15 years since the RFS was expanded, the amount of U.S. cropland has continued to shrink, grasslands and forests have increased, and the volume of animal feed grain and exports has risen—all while renewable fuel
August 18, 2023 Read Full Article
Biden Administration Split over Ethanol's Role in Aviation Fuel Subsidy Program
by Jarrett Renshaw, Stephanie Kelly and Leah Douglas (Reuters) The Biden administration is divided over whether to grant a request from the U.S. biofuel industry that would make it easier for sustainable aviation fuel made from corn-based ethanol to qualify for
August 02, 2023 Read Full Article
Bioenergy as Harmful as Fossil Fuels if CO2 Emissions Not Priced
(Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)/Mirage News) A new study in Nature Climate Change shows that under current land-use regulations, CO2 emission factors for biofuels might even exceed those for fossil diesel combustion due to large-scale land clearing related to
June 27, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Global Clean Energy Holdings
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Global Clean Energy, a vertically integrated renewable fuels business that is focused on reducing transportation-related carbon emissions sustainably through its proprietary camelina varieties – the only varieties currently qualified for both federal and California standards
June 22, 2023 Read Full Article
Understanding Indirect Land-Use Change (ILUC) and Why Reality Is a Special Case --- June 28, 2023 --- ONLINE
(IEA Bioenergy) Indirect Land-Use Change (ILUC) refers to the phenomenon where changes in land use for one purpose, such as the cultivation of crops for biofuels, can indirectly impact land use and environmental conditions elsewhere. Specifically, ILUC explores the potential
June 16, 2023 Read Full Article
Ethanol: From Road to Air Transport
by Phillipe Marchand (Transport Energy Strategies) ... Qualification for sustainability: Two issues are at the heart of the criticism of biofuels by environmental NGOs. The first is insufficient CO2 emission abatement and the second, production on agricultural land that is suspected
June 01, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Legislation and Regulations about SAF, the Topsoe Perspective
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Case 1, Is Jet Fuel Produced From Soybean Oil? Case 2, Is E-Jet Produced From Fossil CO2 And Green H2 SAF? These are just a couple of the topics tucked into this panoramic survey of
May 02, 2023 Read Full Article
Biofuel Policies and the Current Food Crisis
by Joseph Glauber and Charlotte Hebebrand (International Food Policy Research Institute/Daily Star) ... Despite the recurring food versus fuel debate and criticism expressed during previous price spikes, biofuel policies have grown in popularity. That growth will likely continue. The International Energy Agency
April 14, 2023 Read Full Article
Clean Fuels Alliance America (Clean Fuels) and California Advanced Biofuels Alliance (CABA)2 Comment on California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) Workshop
(Clean Fuels Alliance America and California Advanced Biofuels Alliance) ... Support for 30%/35% Targets Without Virgin-Oil Credit Cap. We commend CARB staff for maintaining a focus on strengthening the CI reduction targets through 2030. As noted in our prior comments,
March 31, 2023 Read Full Article
DCC Energy and Oberon Fuels to Boost Renewable Dimethyl Ether Production to Reduce Emissions of European LPG Market
(Oberon Fuels) Partners aim for multiple plants to produce renewable DME -- DCC plc, the leading international sales, marketing and support services group, has partnered with Oberon Fuels, the leading producer of renewable dimethyl ether (DME), to advance the design, construction and operations
March 29, 2023 Read Full Article
DB Schenker and MSC Seal Important Biofuel Deal to Help Reduce Supply Chain Emissions
(DB Schenker and MSC Seal) First-of-its-kind agreement between a freight forwarder and a shipping line; At least 30,000 standard containers (TEU) will be transported on the world's oceans with net-zero emissions in 2023; Certified sustainable, second-generation biofuels are helping to
February 16, 2023 Read Full Article
UFOP Study: Models to Assess Indirect Land Use Change Not Sufficiently Robust
(Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen e. V. (UFOP)) Controversial debates about the impact of European biofuel policy on cultivation of agricultural commodities in other regions, i.e. indirect land use change (iLUC), have been underway since the target of 10%
February 13, 2023 Read Full Article
Report Forecasts Clean-Energy Boost from Turning Cornfields into Solar Power Fields
by Erik Gunn (Wisconsin Examiner) About 1 million acres of Wisconsin farmland produces corn for ethanol fuel, but an environmental group says the land could produce 100 times as much energy if planted with solar farms instead. In addition, it would take
January 25, 2023 Read Full Article
An Over-Belief in Electrification Is Harming the Climate
by Gustav Melin (Bioenergy International/Swedish Bioenergy Association) ... The energy transition cannot be expedited by support and subsidies -- However, it is difficult to be re-elected on increased carbon dioxide taxes and more expensive energy prices. That’s no excuse, as there are
January 16, 2023 Read Full Article
Are There Better Places to Put Large Solar Farms?
(North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance) Farmers and conservationists are worried about large-scale solar farms – especially some projects in Virginia – that rely on deforestation and displacement of farmland that, managed properly, will capture carbon in the air. Some
December 09, 2022 Read Full Article
NASEM Finds More Research Necessary to Improve Methods for Estimating Life Cycle of GHG Emissions of Low-Carbon Transportation Fuels
by Lynn L. Bergeson and Carla N. Hutton (Bergeson & Campbell) The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) announced on October 19, 2022, the release of a report finding that life cycle assessments (LCA) of transportation fuels are valuable tools for
November 28, 2022 Read Full Article
How to Rescue Biofuels from a Sustainable Dead End
by Peter Fairley (Nature) An environmentally friendly path forwards for liquid fuel derived from plants will depend on smarter agriculture and smarter regulation. -- ... If filling fuel tanks with these plant-derived liquids reduces carbon emissions by decreasing the demand
November 23, 2022 Read Full Article
Columbia Economist Wrong on Ethanol’s Benefits
by Scott Richman (Renewable Fuels Association) As a proud graduate of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), I was disappointed to read a recent commentary about ethanol by a research scholar at my alma mater. “A Chance to Phase Out
November 23, 2022 Read Full Article
Clean Fuels Sustainability Workshop a Great Success
(Clean Fuels Foundati0n) The Environmental Science Program hosted the Clean Fuels Sustainability Workshop Nov. 1-2 in St. Louis. It focused on a number of policy, energy, environmental and economic issues impacting the biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel industries.
November 10, 2022 Read Full Article
Implementing Successful Public Policies to Shape the Sustainable Future of the Aviation Industry
by Carolina Grassi, with Arianna Baldo, Cris Robertson, Elena Schmidt & Hannah Walker (Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials) This White Paper is an outcome of the RSB SAF Policy Platform. The platform is a place for RSB’s members – from industry
October 14, 2022 Read Full Article
The Truth about Ethanol and Carbon Emissions
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Associati0n) ... Unfortunately, Reuters took the same flawed and misleading approach to examining ethanol’s carbon footprint that many other biofuel critics and opponents have taken in the past. Like other erroneous attacks on ethanol’s carbon benefits, the Reuters article failed
October 04, 2022 Read Full Article
Special Report: Advisory - Story Has Been Withdrawn - How U.S. Ethanol Plants Are Allowed to Pollute More than Oil Refineries
Reuters is withdrawing a Sept. 8 article that compared carbon emissions from U.S. ethanol plants and oil refineries because of its flawed interpretation of data on ethanol-plant pollution and fuel-production capacity. That led to inaccurate estimates of carbon emissions for
September 26, 2022 Read Full Article
Parliament Backs Boost for Renewables Use and Energy Savings
(European Parliament) Share of renewable energy to be raised to 45% by 2030; Energy savings targets increased to 40% of final energy consumption, and 42.5% of primary energy consumption; Revision of two laws will help fight climate change and boost
September 15, 2022 Read Full Article
THIS REPORT HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY REUTERS Special Report: How U.S. Ethanol Plants Are Allowed to Pollute More than Oil Refineries
Sept 23 (Reuters) - Reuters is withdrawing a Sept. 8 article that compared carbon emissions from U.S. ethanol plants and oil refineries because of its flawed interpretation of data on ethanol-plant pollution and fuel-production capacity. That led to inaccurate estimates
September 08, 2022 Read Full Article
Biofuel Groups Comment on Washington’s Proposed CFS Rule
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A public comment period on Washington’s proposed Clean Fuel Standard closed Aug. 31. The program aims to incentivize fuel suppliers to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels by 20 percent by 2038. Washington Gov. Ray
September 02, 2022 Read Full Article
RFA Provides Input on Future of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard
(Renewable Fuels Association) In comments filed with the California Air Resources Board today, the Renewable Fuels Association stressed that the next iteration of the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard must be technology-neutral and allow low-carbon renewable fuels to compete fairly as
August 09, 2022 Read Full Article
Eni Launches the First Production of Vegetable Oil for Biorefining in Kenya
(Eni) The initiative in Kenya represents the first integrated project in the world to bring Africa into the vertical bio-refinery supply chain by providing income opportunities and market access to thousands of farmers in degraded areas. -- Eni completed the construction
July 19, 2022 Read Full Article
EU Lawmakers Vote to Blacklist Soy Biodiesel over Sustainability Concerns
by Sean Goulding Carroll (EURACTIV.com) The European Parliament’s industry committee voted Wednesday (13 July) to restrict soy oil as a feedstock for biofuel production, a move that would put the crop on the same footing as palm oil in the
July 14, 2022 Read Full Article
Ethanol vs. Petroleum-Based Fuel Carbon Emissions
by Valerie Sarisky-Reed (U.S. Department of Energy) Biofuels have been proven to emit significantly lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than petroleum-based fuels, and recent scientific studies indicate that net-zero emission biofuels are not only possible, but achievable. Corn ethanol and other biofuels are
June 24, 2022 Read Full Article
Rising Diesel Prices Could Lead Farmers to Bio Alternatives
by Connor Veenstra (Huron Daily Tribune) ... However, an alternative exists for farmers, though it's not widely used — biodiesel, made from plants and animals. According to Houston Biodiesel, it's slightly cheaper than regular diesel, at $5.76 per gallon, as of June
June 23, 2022 Read Full Article
Ethanol Blog: RFA Calls on EPA to Reject Searchinger, Five Other Candidates From RFS Report Review
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) The EPA has put forward a list of 20 possible candidates to peer review the agency's upcoming triennial report to Congress on the Renewable Fuel Standard, and the Renewable Fuels Association objected to six of
May 25, 2022 Read Full Article
The Dogged Victims of Inexorable Disputation: Bioeconomy and the Scoring of Carbon
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Bioeconomy professionals, are the Dogged Victims of Inexorable Disputation, if I can bend Bobby Jones’ memorable golfing phrase. Why? Because better to have lousy carbon targets than no carbon targets at all, say most people,
April 14, 2022 Read Full Article
MEP Proposes Fewer Restrictions on Biofuels to Meet Higher Renewables Target
by Sean Goulding Carroll (EURACTIV.com) The amount of bioenergy in the EU’s transport sector will increase under plans by the lawmaker leading the European Parliament’s position on the EU’s renewable energy law, a scenario likely to rankle green legislators. Markus Pieper, the
March 18, 2022 Read Full Article
Under Pressure to Revise Estimates, EPA Mulls Lifecycle Biofuel GHGs
(Inside EPA) As EPA comes under growing pressure to increase its estimates of how much greenhouse gas emissions biofuels save over their lifetime, the agency is holding consultations that could result in changes that may boost programs encouraging biofuels use
March 04, 2022 Read Full Article
Dev Shrestha: Real-World Data Shows No Food Insecurity or ILUC from Biofuels
by Tammy Klein (Transport Energy Strategies) On this episode of the Fueling the Future podcast, I spoke with Dr. Dev Shrestha of the University of Idaho about the recent paper he co-authored, “Biofuel Impact on Food Prices Index and Land Use Change.” The
March 04, 2022 Read Full Article
Green Fuels Shortage Looming Due to EU Restrictions, Industry Warns
by Sean Goulding Carroll (EURACTIV.com) Europe is in danger of failing to meet the transport industry’s soaring demand for sustainable liquid fuels due to EU restrictions on biofuels, a new industry position paper has claimed. Demand for green liquid fuels in Europe
February 10, 2022 Read Full Article
As Minnesota Explores a Clean Fuel Standard, There's Pushback against Ag
by Jeff Beach (AgWeek) State agencies have been meeting with stakeholder groups, including farm groups. A report will be sent to Gov. Tim Walz in February. -- Minnesota is exploring the possibility of joining the likes of California by creating a
January 31, 2022 Read Full Article
Raw Material for Biofuel Production Is Available on 7% of the Cultivated Area
(Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP)) In 2020, crops such as cereals, oilseeds, protein, sugar and fiber plants, fruit, vegetables, nuts, etc. were cultivated on 1.4 billion hectares worldwide. Most of these products were used to feed
January 24, 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
ACE, Industry Groups Encourge CARB to Recognize Climate-Smart Farming Practices in Low Carbon Fuel Standard
(American Coalition for Ethanol) In a cosigned letter, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), along with the Great Plains Institute, Low Carbon Fuels Coalition, the National Biodiesel Board, and Canadian Oilseed Processors Association, recommended the California Air Resources Board (CARB) recognize the
January 16, 2022 Read Full Article
White House Will Recruit Rural Land for New Clean Energy Projects, Could It Create Too Much Competition for Land?
by Tyne Morgan (Farm Journal AgWeb) The Biden Administration is ramping up its efforts to deploy clean energy infrastructure across the country. The White House announced this week plans to utilize public lands and rural America for wind, solar and other clean energy
January 14, 2022 Read Full Article
Two Birds with One Stone: A Combined Environmental and Economic Performance Assessment of Rapeseed-Based Biodiesel Production
by Xueqing Yang,Yang Liu, Alberto Bezama, Daniela Thrän (GCB-Bioenergy) Rapeseed is the dominant feedstock for biodiesel production in Germany; however, significant decline in crop yields observed during the 2018 drought in Europe poses economic and environmental risks for its sustained
December 30, 2021 Read Full Article
Sustainable Aviation Fuel: Decoupling Carbon from Commercial Flight Fact Sheet
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) empowers energy companies and aviation stakeholders by supporting advances in research, development, and demonstration to overcome barriers for widespread deployment of low-carbon sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). SAF made from renewable biomass and
December 29, 2021 Read Full Article
EU’s Strict Green Criteria for Biofuels Will Hinder Supply, MEPs Warn
by Sean Goulding Carroll (EURACTIV.com) The EU’s “restrictive” approach to biofuels sustainability criteria will harm producers’ ability to meet increased demand for green fuels coming from the transport sector, says Henna Virkkunen, a Finnish lawmaker in the European Parliament. Speaking at a
November 09, 2021 Read Full Article
As Demand for Green Energy Grows, Solar Farms Face Local Resistance
by Ellen Rosen (New York Times) Developers say industrial-scale farms are needed to meet the nation’s climate goals, but locals are fighting back against what they see as an encroachment on their pastoral settings. READ MORE As Demand for Green Energy
November 03, 2021 Read Full Article
NEW DATE Crystal Ball 2022: Ethanol --- March 3, 2021 --- ONLINE
EcoEngineers is bringing back its popular “Crystal Ball” webinar series. In the final installment in the series, we will focus on ethanol markets, including advancements in sustainable farm practices, and carbon capture and sequestration developments. Our experts will talk about
October 31, 2021 Read Full Article
Sufficient Sustainable Biomass Feedstock Available to Support an Ambitious Low-Carbon Liquid Fuels Strategy for EU Transport
(Fuels Europe) A new study by Imperial College London Consultants concludes that the potential availability of sustainable biomass, with no harm to biodiversity, could support an advanced and waste-based biofuel production of up to 175 Mtoe in 2050. This conclusion reinforces
October 26, 2021 Read Full Article
Maine Is in Danger of Losing Some of Its Best Agricultural Land to Solar Farms
by Julia Bayly (Bangor Daily News) Approximately 67,000 fixed-tilt, bifacial panels will comprise a solar farm under construction at the Eastern Piscataquis Industrial Park in Milo. There is growing concern that development of solar farms will come at the expense
October 18, 2021 Read Full Article
Italy’s Eni Works Sub-Saharan African Countries into Renewable Diesel Feedstock Supply Chain
by Ron Kotrba (Biobased Diesel Daily) The CEO of Italian energy and renewable diesel company Eni S.p.A., Claudio Descalzi, has signed two memorandums of understanding (MOU) in recent days with two Sub-Saharan African nations, the Congo and Angola, on joint development
October 12, 2021 Read Full Article
Eni, ANPG and Sonangol Enter MoU on Agro-Biofuel Initiatives in Angola, as Part of Decarbonization Push
(Eni) In the occasion of the meeting held yesterday between the President of the Republic of Angola João Gonçalves Lourenço and the CEO of Eni Claudio Descalzi, Eni Angola, ANPG and Sonangol signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the joint
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
CPOPC Files Objection to EU Targeting Palm Oil in RED II Delegated Act Determining High ILUC-Risk Feedstock
(The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC)/EurActiv) The decision to target palm oil was based on uncertain science and outdated knowledge which was used in counterintuitive policymaking. Despite continuous criticism from the palm oil industry, the EU appears to be indifferent
September 07, 2021 Read Full Article
Pennycress 2.0 – Improved Oil, Protein: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to CoverCress
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Bunge, REG and Bayer helped CoverCress raise a total of $22 million including $8 million in Series B in 2021. What does that mean for this low carbon cash cover crop and for growers? What
September 02, 2021 Read Full Article
UK Government Releases Latest Renewable Fuel Statistics
(Biofuels International) Renewable fuels in the UK fuel supply achieved an aggregated greenhouse gas (GHG) saving of 83% compared to fossil fuels, according the latest UK Government figures. Accounting for emissions from indirect land-use change (ILUC) reduced this GHG saving
August 19, 2021 Read Full Article
Fit for 55: The EU's Plan for a Green Transition
(European Council) As part of the European Green Deal, with the European Climate Law, the EU has set itself a binding target of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. This requires current greenhouse gas emission levels to drop substantially in the next decades.
July 29, 2021 Read Full Article
Deciphering Biofuels Policies across Europe
(Biofuels International) Even as Europe considers a major revamp of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) governing EU biofuels policy until 2030, member states have been working to meet a fast approaching deadline to implement the legislation in its current form,
July 22, 2021 Read Full Article
Fit for 55 Needs a Biofuels Boost
(ePURE) The Commission’s proposal leaves room for biofuels such as renewable ethanol to help achieve Green Deal, but should better maximise their potential for decarbonising transport -- The European Commission’s new Fit for 55 package sets important new goals for emissions reduction and
July 15, 2021 Read Full Article
CPOPC Urges the EU to Rethink Its Palm Oil Policy
(Biofuels International) The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) has again urged the European Union to revise its approach on vegetable oils in biofuels. This comes under the framework of RED II in light of the upcoming revision of
July 08, 2021 Read Full Article
Bioresources within a Net-Zero Emissions Economy: Making a Sustainable Approach Possible
(Energy Transitions Commission) In its new report Bioresources within a Net-Zero Emissions Economy, the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC) makes plain that, while bioresources are in principle renewable, not all forms of biomass use are beneficial from an environmental perspective: not all biomass
July 07, 2021 Read Full Article
Groundbreaking New Partnership Will Use Blockchain Technology to Record, View and Measure the Growth of 50 Million Pongamia Trees
(Investancia) Blockchain will track 50 million trees through Investancia and EcoMatcher Partnership --- Groundbreaking new partnership will use blockchain technology to record, view and measure the growth of 50 million pongamia trees to be planted in the Paraguayan Chaco forest
June 15, 2021 Read Full Article
Thinking Beyond Wires: Using Advanced Transmission Technologies to Accelerate the Transition to Clean Energy
(Environmental Law and Policy Center) In order to integrate renewables nationwide and reduce the worst impacts of climate change, we need a robust, efficient, and modern electricity delivery network. [caption id="attachment_143383" align="aligncenter" width="637"] From Environmental Law & Policy Center report[/caption] Transmission lines already
June 04, 2021 Read Full Article
Current Methods for Life Cycle Analyses of Low-Carbon Transportation Fuels in the United States
(National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine) An ad hoc committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will assess current methods for estimating lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with transportation fuels (liquid and non-liquid) for potential
June 03, 2021 Read Full Article
New Reports Correct the Record on Faulty Land Use Change Assertions
(Renewable Fuels Association) A pair of recent studies examining purported cropland expansion in the Midwest are based on a flawed methodology that “suffers from accuracy and certainty issues,” according to a new review of the studies by researchers at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
June 02, 2021 Read Full Article
First Generation Biofuels: Angel or Demon?
by Oliver Mace (Broadmanor Consulting) ... In fact, when it comes to biofuels, sustainability specialists working for the likes of RSB or ISCC have spent countless hours attempting to define what it actually depends ON, in great detail and across many
May 30, 2021 Read Full Article
Ethanol Boss: Electric Vehicles Are Not the Future, but Part of It
by Sarantis Michalopoulos (EURACTIV.com) Looking at electric vehicles as the only option for the decarbonisation of Europe’s transport sector is wrong and we should take into account all available sustainable solutions, Valérie Corre from the European Renewable Ethanol Association (ePURE) told
May 27, 2021 Read Full Article
Getting the Most from Sustainable Aviation Fuel
by Lloyd Ritter (Green Capitol LLC/Biofuels Digest) The aviation industry is currently responsible for less than 3% of total global carbon emissions, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). But with air travel expected to increase by more than 60 percent
May 19, 2021 Read Full Article
EU’s Dismissal of Crop-Based Biofuels Will Impede Transport Decarbonisation: Industry
by Sean Goulding Carroll (EurActiv) The EU’s decision to cap the share of crop-based biofuels in the bloc’s energy mix risks hampering efforts to decarbonise the transport sector, industry has warned ahead of the revision of the renewable energy directive. Environmentalists, on
May 18, 2021 Read Full Article
Earth Day 2021 Series Day 14: Sustainable Land Use: What Can We Learn from Farmers?
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) They say that Sustainability is a three-legged stool: Environmental Sustainability, Economic Sustainability and Social Sustainability. If any of these legs is missing, the stool falls over. Climate Smart Agriculture The North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance is
April 14, 2021 Read Full Article
Senators Ask USDA to Update Biodiesel Emissions Study
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) A group of 10 senators led by Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., on March 18 sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging the USDA to complete a full lifecycle assessment of
April 08, 2021 Read Full Article
Renewable Diesel: Where’s The Value?
by Steve Roberts and Michael Reecher (Opportune/Biofuels Digest) If companies want to capture value and ultimately profit from the projected growth in renewable diesel, they must understand their netback. The demand and price for renewable diesel is on the rise and bringing
April 01, 2021 Read Full Article
EU Demand for Palm Oil-based Biofuel May Evaporate before End-2030: Sumwin CEO
by Amir Imran Husain Safri (The Sun Daily) Palm oil-based biofuel demand from the European Union (EU) might disappear before the end-2030 implementation deadline imposed by Europe’s Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II), according to Sumwin Group’s founder and CEO, U.R.
March 29, 2021 Read Full Article
The Science Behind Ethanol’s Carbon Intensity, Land Use Change: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Corn Starch Ethanol’s Carbon Intensity
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What’s the life cycle system for corn starch ethanol? What is the current best estimate for carbon intensity of corn ethanol? What about ethanol biorefinery energy use intensity and land use change carbon intensity? What
March 11, 2021 Read Full Article
Investancia Will Plant 50 Million Trees after Reaching a Historic Agreement with ECB Group
(Investancia/EIN Newswire) Pongamia Trees will produce 300,000 tonnes of sustainable second generation feedstock every year by 2030 in boost for global green transport initiatives -- - Leading agroforestry and research company Investancia today signed a 30-year offtake deal with ECB Group
February 23, 2021 Read Full Article
Building the Evidence on Corn Ethanol’s Greenhouse Gas Profile
by Jan Lewandrowski (US Department of Agriculture) Over the past two decades, the demand for renewable fuels — including corn-based ethanol — has helped drive a strong domestic market for corn, and supported rural America by generating jobs (PDF, 1.5 MB). New research
February 15, 2021 Read Full Article
Austria to End Crediting of Biofuels from Palm Oil in July
(Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP)/Biobased Diesel Daily) The accounting of biofuels with a high risk of indirect land use change (iLUC) will end in Austria July 1. This exclusion is provided for in the late-January
February 02, 2021 Read Full Article
Developing Hype-Cycle Resilience to Accelerate Advanced Biofuel Technology
by Ross Mazur (Sustainable Fuels Consulting LLC/Biofuels Digest) Hype, the ephemeral group discourse surrounding topics and ideas, is becoming more pervasive in our increasingly digital world. Although hype cycles, the temporal trends in societal perception of a specific technology or
January 27, 2021 Read Full Article
Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel Industry on the "RISE" in 2021
(National Biodiesel Board) NBB experts share how industry continues to "Rise" to any challenge -- The biodiesel and renewable diesel industry is on the “RISE”. This week the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) hosted more than 550 biodiesel and renewable diesel producers,
January 22, 2021 Read Full Article
Getting to Neutral Carbon: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Carbon Drawdown
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s A.J. Simon shared this illuminating slide guide at ABLC 2020 to look at the role that bioeconomy pathways play in drawing down CO2 from the atmosphere. From pathway selection, corn starch,
January 19, 2021 Read Full Article
Higher Blending Mandate to Help Offset EU’s Lower Palm Oil Demand, Says Biodiesel Association
(Malay Mail) A nimble push into higher biodiesel blends such as B40 — 40 per cent blend of palm oil-derived biodiesel — by Indonesia and B30 by Malaysia will help to mitigate the negative effects of the European Union’s (EU) lower
January 05, 2021 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuels Are Taking off…but Can They Supply the Massive Demand?
by Cameron Begley and Allan Green (Spiegare) In the accelerating push to decarbonise aviation and marine transport fuels, constraints around the sustained availability of fats and oils feedstocks are already emerging. Recent breakthroughs in feedstock engineering technology from Australia presents a promising
December 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Carinata for Biofuels, High Protein Feed, Cover Crop: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Nuseed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Nuseed (which acquired Agrisoma last year) has four focus crops – carinata, sorghum, canola and sunflower – sound more like a cooking ingredient list but they are in fact fantastic feedstocks for a range of
December 28, 2020 Read Full Article
ePURE: The EU Is Still Failing on Fuel Quality Target
(Biofuels International) Even as the EU sets ambitious emissions reduction targets for 2030 and 2050, it is still falling short of an important milestone that looms much closer on the horizon - reducing the average greenhouse gas-intensity of road transport
December 24, 2020 Read Full Article
UPM Joins the BIKE Project Promoting Sustainable Biomass Value Chains for Biofuels
(UPM Biofuels) UPM Biofuels has joined the BIKE project that promotes low-ILUC risk biofuels production for European Bioeconomy. The project brings together companies and research organisations who believe that novel, safe and reliable biomass value chains can be deployed to produce
December 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Could We Ever Pull Enough Carbon out of the Atmosphere to Stop Climate Change?
by Donavyn Coffey (Live Science) ... Sabine Fuss has been looking for these answers for the last two years. An economist in Berlin, Fuss leads a research group at the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change and
December 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Joint Policy Proposal to Accelerate the Deployment of Sustainable Aviation Fuels in Europe - A Clean Skies for Tomorrow Publication
(World Economic Forum) What is the World Economic Forum doing to help aviation meet net zero goals? Through the Forum’s Clean Skies for Tomorrow coalition, stakeholders across the European aviation value-chain have aligned on key policy proposals to inform the EU’s
November 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Study Confirms Contribution of Bioenergy to Climate Change Mitigation
by Elton Alisson (Agência FAPESP) ... Some argue, for example, that biofuels are not sustainable because the conversion of non-agricultural land to grow energy crops could lead to a significant initial decrease in carbon storage, creating what is known as a
November 19, 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
Study Predicts Climate Benefits Stemming from the Use of Advanced Biofuels
(AZO CleanTech/Colorado State University) Biofuel and bioenergy systems are integral to scenarios for displacing fossil fuel use and producing negative emissions through carbon capture and storage. But the net greenhouse gas mitigation benefit of these systems has been controversial, due to
August 31, 2020 Read Full Article
Indonesia Picks Up Allies In WTO Palm Fight
(Palm Oil Monitor) Indonesia has picked up a number of allies in its battle with the EU over the bloc’s ban of palm oil in its renewable energy scheme. An additional 18 countries have reserved their rights to participate in the proceedings as
August 11, 2020 Read Full Article
ICAO, CORSIA and Alternative Jet Fuels
by James I. Hileman (Federal Aviation Administration/CAAFI) ICAO Background; CORSIA Overview and Technical Details; Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) in CORSIA U.N. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) CAEP - Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection Technical Groups within ICAO CAEP working on CORSIA and Fuels Fuels
July 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuels are Catalyst to Successful Agriculture: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to POET’s Biofuels and Agriculture
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) POET shared this visual slide guide at last week’s DigestConnect webinar, highlighting today’s agricultural landscape, U.S. corn acreage and yield and production countries, showing where America’s corn goes, noting how biofuels are critical for successful
June 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Dropping Biofuel Mandate Would Be a Toxic Blow for the Industry
by Theodor Goumas (ART Fuels Forum/EurActiv) Last week, a large group of EU-based biofuel producers and associations raised a red flag over reports that some member states are considering or are already dropping the mandates on renewable energy in transport in
April 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Focus Forward from Challenge to Opportunity: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to RFA’s 2020 Ethanol Industry Outlook
y Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Renewable Fuels Association released its 2020 Ethanol Industry Outlook, an annual publication that provides policymakers, regulators, consumers, the media, and renewable fuel advocates with key statistics, trends, insight, and analysis on the latest developments
March 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Biodiesel’s Green Footprint for Fleets: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to the National Biodiesel Board’s Biodiesel Industry – Part 2
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Check out Part 2 of the National Biodiesel Board’s slide guide that focuses on biodiesel’s on-road heavy-duty emission benefits, why they consider biodiesel as “liquid solar energy”, how 3 billion gallons of biodiesel used in
March 26, 2020 Read Full Article
Are Biofuels Part of the Carbon Emissions Solution?
by Neil Briscoe (Irish Times) ... “Ireland has one million petrol vehicles,” James Cogan, Ethanol Europe’s industry and policy adviser told The Irish Times. “E10 allows that fleet to cut emissions by an amount equivalent to taking 50,000 cars off the road. Or
March 18, 2020 Read Full Article
MIND THE GAP: Letter from Europe
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) If you have not followed the Alternative and Renewable Fuels Forum, bookmark this, and today I’ll give you some of the flavor of this group with 110 members — project owners and developers, policy experts, technologists,
March 04, 2020 Read Full Article
New Study Finds ‘Insignificant’ Link between US Biofuel Policy and Deforestation in Southeast Asia
(Biofuels International) A new study carried out by economic modelling experts from Purdue University in the US has found the impacts of US biofuel policy on deforestation in Malaysia and Indonesia to be insignificant. The study, titled ‘US Biofuel Production and
January 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Report from Growth Energy Debunks Unsupported Claims Regarding Endangered Species
(Growth Energy) Growth Energy, the nation’s largest association of biofuel producers, released a new report demonstrating how claims on the Renewable Fuel Standard’s (RFS) alleged impact on endangered species “relies on unsupported assumptions and speculation.” The report was authored by Ramboll, a global
December 10, 2019 Read Full Article
MAGIC Research Work Now Available Online
Insights about the most promising industrial crops grown on marginal land. MAGIC aims to promote the sustainable development of resource-efficient and economically profitable industrial crops grown on marginal lands, considering that industrial crops can provide valuable resources for high added value
December 05, 2019 Read Full Article
INSIGHT: Rise of HVO to Be the Downfall of Traditional Biodiesel in Europe
by Samantha Wright (Independent Commodity Intelligence Service) As hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) use grows in Europe, with more expansions anticipated in the next few years, questions are arising as to its impact on the traditional biodiesel market and the wider oleochemicals
December 04, 2019 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels: What Holds Them Back?
(International Renewable Energy Agency) Advanced liquid biofuels are a key part of low-carbon transport development to meet emission-reduction targets and international climate commitments. Liquid biofuels, requiring minimal changes to fuel distribution infrastructure or the transport fleet, can be deployed rapidly to
November 25, 2019 Read Full Article
Indonesia Set to Face, Sue Europe over Renewable Energy Policies
(Antara News) The Indonesian government will prepare to take legal action at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to challenge the European Union (EU) over its Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II) and Delegated Regulation (DR). The lawsuit plan was rolled out
October 10, 2019 Read Full Article
Netherlands Mulls End to Used Cooking Oil Double-Counting
by Sarantis Michalopoulos (EURACTIV.com) An analysis of the “weak” points of the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED II), combined with the results of an ongoing criminal investigation, will determine whether it is possible to end double-counting of used cooking oil (UCO)
September 13, 2019 Read Full Article
EU Curbs Used Cooking Oil in Biodiesel Due to Fears of Fraud
by Valerie Flynn (The Sunday Times) The Department of the Environment has said it may have to alter the statutory instrument promoting biofuels in Ireland after the EU placed a cap on biodiesel made from used cooking oil (UCO) in
August 29, 2019 Read Full Article
Better Than Predicted: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to USDA’s Corn Ethanol GHG
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s all about the life cycle, right? That’s what the USDA set out to find out about corn ethanol – just exactly what are the GHG emissions associated with the production of corn-based ethanol in the
August 29, 2019 Read Full Article
“Poldering” a New Climate Agreement in the Netherlands
by Paul Sinnige and Timo Gerlagh (Netherlands Enterprise Agency) ... With a strong focus on passenger transport and recognising that transport is responsible for a quarter of all emissions, one of the main goals of the agreement is an ambition
August 23, 2019 Read Full Article
Cutting Edge Sustainability for Cutting Edge Tech: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sustainability is such a vague term that some throw around to make them sound good in a consumer environment that is asking for greener and more socially conscious products. The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials is tackling
August 23, 2019 Read Full Article
Petroleum Companies Ramp up HVO Production in Europe
(Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP)/Biodiesel Magazine) Production of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) in the European Union has picked up pace since 2012. Petroleum companies, such as Neste, Eni and Total, were the main entities promoting the creation of
August 22, 2019 Read Full Article
Mineral Oil Groups Ramp up HVO Production in the EU
(Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP)/Biodiesel Magazine) Production of hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) in the European Union has picked up pace since 2012. Mineral oil groups, such as Neste, Eni and Total, were the main entities promoting the
August 16, 2019 Read Full Article
Planned Anti-Subsidy Duties on Palm Oil Methyl Ester Ineffective
(Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP)) The preliminary anti-subsidy duties announced by the EU Commission will not reduce imports of palm oil-based biodiesel. This is the conclusion the Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP) has drawn from
August 12, 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
France Bans Palm Oil from Biofuels
(Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP)) France is tightening up regulations on the use of palm oil as a feedstock in biofuels production. However, this only applies to palm oil eligibility within France. As a result, biofuels produced
July 29, 2019 Read Full Article
Carinata Cover Cropping: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Agrisoma
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Agrisoma Biosciences, Inc. has the world’s largest collection of Carinata and an extensive modern crop improvement program that allows them to select high yielding varieties ideally suited for production across a broad range of geographies. Agrisoma
July 05, 2019 Read Full Article
IEA Bioenergy Annual Report 2018
(IEA Bioenergy) This document contains the report of the IEA Bioenergy Executive Committee for 2018. This year, we have presented a special feature ‘ Measuring, governing and gaining support for sustainable bioenergy supply chains – lessons and messages from a three-year Inter-Task project’, the preparation of which
June 03, 2019 Read Full Article
With New Regulation Complete, What’s Next for EU Biofuels?
by Dave Keating (Euractiv) “ILUC has been solved,” declared Bernd Kuepker, a renewables policy officer at the European Commission’s energy department, at an event held in Brussels this week. He was, of course, not saying that the phenomenon of Indirect Land Use Change has been