Policy News

An alliance comprising of the UK's airlines, airports, manufacturers and air navigation service provider NATS, has unveiled its latest road map, looking at the possibilities for sustainable aviation fuels. Sustainable Aviation's (SA) research indicates the potential for a 24% reduction in aviation carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 and the creation of £265 million.The industry now seeks the…
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A new report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reveals that biofuels now make up 1% of global energy use. The State of the Biofuels Market: Regulatory, Trade and Development Perspectives is a global overview of the progression of biofuels. It provides an update to the agency’s first report released in 2006. The report focuses on industry activity over…
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Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is suing the US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to provide documents relating to the oil industry's attempts to affect the outcome of the 2014 renewable fuel standard (RFS). Last May, CREW asked for an investigation by the EPA's Office of Inspector General and filed a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain records…
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Quad County Corn Processors (QCCP), Galva, Iowa, has received EPA certification to generate D3 Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) for cellulosic ethanol produced using Cellerate process technology. Delayne Johnson, CEO, QCCP, says the move will prevent the biofuels industry from arguing a lack of D3 RINS are present to justify Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume obligation requirements. A…
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As the first African Sustainable Transport Forum took place in Nairobi, Kenya, on 28 October, Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA), which promote biofuel friendly policies internationally, called on forum attendees to adopt biofuels friendly policies and regulations that would encourage the increased use of sustainable biofuels in Africa’s transport sector. Earlier in the year, the GRFA…
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Italy has become the first member of the European Union to mandate the use of renewable fuel made from inedible crops. The law states that as of January 2018, petrol and diesel must contain at least 1.2% advanced biofuel. By 2020, this will increase to 1.6% and two years later, a minimum 2% biofuel blend will be adopted. The European Council in June proposed capping the amount first generation…
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India is planning to increase the promotion of biofuels to reduce its crude oil import bill. Current estimates suggest India has the potential to produce 1,200,000 million tonnes, but at present the country only produces 60,000 tonnes, of which 80% is exported. To lift this figure, the country will encourage the production of non-edible oil seeds that lead to biofuel production. Nitin Godkari,…
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As biofuels now account for 1% of global energy use, a report on the 'State of the Global Biofuels Market' released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) says second generation technologies, climate change concerns and economic pressures are carving the future of the growing biofuels sector. 'While alternative energy sources are growing faster than any other source,…
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DuPont's $500 million (€391 million) bet on producing ethanol from corn crop waste will pay off as companies add to demand for renewable chemicals and fuels. The US chemical company is investing in building a biorefinery in Nevada, Iowa, on research and development for enzymes to break down corn waste into ethanol. DuPont will supply cellulosic ethanol to Procter & Gamble's Tide…
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The EPA's failure to finalise the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rules will create an increase in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) that is equal to placing 4.4 million additional cars on US roads. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has issued a white paper, 'Estimating greenhouse gas emissions from proposed changes to the renewable fuel standard through 2022', discussing estimates of…
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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…
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Brazilian senators have approved a bill raising the mandatory amount of ethanol in petrol sold at the country's service stations as demand for the biofuel declines, reports Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The blend percentage will be raised from 25% to 27.5%, according to the Senate, though the bill is yet to be ratified by President Dilma Rousseff. Government policies limiting petrol prices have…
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The European renewable ethanol association, ePURE, has appointed Robert Wright as its new secretary general. Wright will start this position immediately. Wright has over 20 years' experience working in European Union public policy and public affairs and has previously worked for the EU Commission and in the energy and high technology sectors. 'I am delighted to be joining ePURE and to take up the…
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