Coming up in the March/April issue of Biofuels International…

The latest issue of Biofuels International will be hitting your desks in a matter of weeks, and it's a bumper edition. As well as a 10-page special dedicated to the European biofuels market, and a number of technical articles, we also have a biofuels storage supplement to coincide with StocExpo in Rotterdam on 17-19 March.

When it comes to biofuels in Europe, there are two things that everyone is talking about: the lacking EU-wide legislation beyond 2020, and the commercialisation of advanced biofuels. These two issues are inextricably linked; a commercial market for advanced biofuels cannot be realised without a clear European framework going forwards.

While a small number of large-scale advanced biofuels plants have either entered production or are in the development stages, since 2013 when the world's inaugural second generation plant opened in Crescentino, northern Italy, we have not seen the 'snowball effect' we were hoping for.

Within this issue we speak to some of the market's key players, such as Dong Energy, UPM, DSM and Energochemica, who all agree that a coherent and ambitious biofuels policy is desperately needed to breathe new life into the industry and help second generation fuels reach their full potential in lowering carbon emissions.

StocExpo is just around the corner so if information on the storage sector is what you're looking for, turn to our supplement for the latest news, terminal developments and market analysis. Botlek Tank Terminal talks to us about shrinking trade routes in the biodiesel industry, while bulk liquid storage giant Vopak reveals why biofuels can sometimes be a challenging and uncertain market in which to operate.

This issue's technical features address a whole host of issues, from ethanol plant cleaning and sustainability, to the use of jatropha and algae as biofuels feedstocks.

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