Genscape: Cellulosic RINs have potential to reach 75 million in 2014

Cellulosic ethanol production could help create up to 9 million cellulosic D3 renewable identification numbers (RINs) in 2014, if active plants reach full capacity, suggests Genscape.

Data and market specialist Genscape has released its white paper, Outlook for 2014 cellulosic production and D3 RINs, which looks at the current state of biofuels. In the paper, the company says that if full capacities are reached next year, the active cellulosic ethanol facilities could produce as much as 91 million RINs in 2015.

Susan Olson, vice president biofuels, and Sylvia Zhang, consultant, both at Genscape, report 44,168 cellulosic RINs generated in July.

This figure is expected to rise following the EPA's expanded definition of cellulosic fuels under its Renewable Fuel Pathways II. As of 18 August, the new rule allows fuels derived predominantly from cellulosic materials – 75% or more dry mass - to generate cellulosic RINs.