The International Energy Agency (IEA) has highlighted that any reduction in biofuels mandates could increase oil demand and lead to supply concerns. According to the IEA, biofuels makes up about 2% of the global oil demand. Since the war in Ukraine started and as oil and energy prices spiked, some European countries have begun considering adjusting their biofuel-blending... [Read More]

Top farm and biofuel leaders have responded to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to reverse 31 controversial small refinery exemptions (SREs) granted in August 2019. They expressed disappointment with EPA’s decision to allow refineries with previously-granted SREs to not have to take additional actions to meet their obligations under the RFS... [Read More]

The UK’s aerospace technology research programme, the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), is to receive record levels of government funding. UK Industry Minister Lee Rowley said driving forward the research and development of green aviation technology was a priority. The ATI will receive £685 million (€816 million) from the government for the financial years... [Read More]

The EU Biofuels Chain has released a statement urging the bloc not to  encourage member states to reduce their biofuels blending mandates and consider the negative effects this would have. The recently published Commission Communication on Food Security expressed its support for Member States’ actions to reduce the blending proportion of biofuels. The EU Biofuels... [Read More]

Fuel bills are expected to rise when the Government begins preventing the use of rebated diesel, known as red diesel, and rebated biofuels in generators and site plant machinery at events from April 1. Red diesel and some biofuels, including hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), are currently taxed favourably in comparison to the white diesel used in road vehicles. Red diesel... [Read More]

A bipartisan group of US senators sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to increase access to higher blends of American biofuels in an effort to curtail rapidly increasing gas prices. In the letter, signed by 16 Senators, they request President Biden use his administrative authority to permit the sale of E15 fuel during the 2022 summer driving season, extending... [Read More]

The Net Zero Technology Centre has announced the launch of its 2022 Open Innovation Programme aimed at developing and deploying technologies that will reduce emissions, accelerate clean energy production and enable delivery of the UK’s net zero ambitions. The 2022 programme will feature two funding competitions - the first opening on 16th March and the second scheduled... [Read More]

The shift from fossil fuels to low-carbon fuels is accelerating at such a pace that even global supply chain disruptions and a pandemic cannot slow it down. Dozens of low-carbon fuel projects have been announced, aiming at decarbonising transport such as road vehicles, aircraft and ships. In a previous article for Biofuels International, experts covered our view on the... [Read More]

Canadian aviation industry leaders have launched the Canadian Council for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (C-SAF) to accelerate the deployment of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in the country. This is to ensure that the Canadian aviation sector remains competitive as it transitions to a net-zero future. SAF can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% and can be used... [Read More]

EWABA said fossil fuels that are the worst climate mitigators should always be taxed higher than sustainable biofuels. Concerns have been raised about possible European Commission plans to tax fossil fuels and crop-based biofuels at the same rate. The EU executive recently proposed the revision of the 2003 Energy Taxation Directive (ETD), whose current tax rates do not... [Read More]

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it was committed to increasing the use of biofuels, but the industry was still awaiting the Biden administration to finalise specific blending goals. Both oil refiners and corn-based ethanol producers are looking closely at the agency's planned sweeping decisions on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) - the nation's biofuel... [Read More]

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor testified before the US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works at its hearing titled The Environmental Protection Agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard Programme: Challenges and Opportunities”. In her testimony, Skor spoke on how a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is critical to decarbonise the transportation sector and lower... [Read More]

TEPSA Tarragona has been given the green light to import animal by-products for the production of biofuels into the Port of Tarragona in Spain. This has been authorised Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. TEPSA, under this new agreement, will be allowed to import liquid animal by products from outside the EU directly through the Dependent Inspection... [Read More]

Concerns have been raised about possible European Commission plans to tax fossil fuels and crop-based biofuels at the same rate. The EU executive recently proposed the revision of the 2003 Energy Taxation Directive (ETD), whose current tax rates do not take into account the environmental performance of energy products, as reported by Euractive. Fears have been highlighted... [Read More]

The UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA) has lent its support to the Department for Transport’s Low Carbon Fuels Strategy Call for Ideas. UKPIA said the plan offered the potential for early decarbonisation of existing vehicles and aviation and will be essential to meet Net Zero by 2050. Low carbon fuels have already contributed to reducing emissions in the UK... [Read More]

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) has submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Proposed Volume Standards for 2020, 2021, and 2022 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The comments are on how the Agency can improve the final rule in a way that makes important near-term greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions. ACE’s comments also express support... [Read More]