Ladies and gentlemen,
The 21st “Fuels of the Future 2024” conference, which was attended by 660 participants from 30 nations, has come to an end. For those who were unable to attend, the organisers are now offering the conference documents digitally for a fee of €150.00 plus VAT. Order the presentations at: https://www.fuels-of-the-future.com/en/order-presentations
According to information from LanzaJet, it says it is deploying ethanol-based technology as the world’s first viable next-generation SAF technology capable of scaling production to the scale required to decarbonize aviation. That’s why LanzaJet announced the opening of Freedom Pines Fuels, a Soperton, Georgia-based facility to sustainably produce aviation fuel from ethanol. LanzaJet will initially produce 35 million liters (32,000 tons) of SAF and renewable diesel per year from low-carbon, sustainable and certified ethanol that meets US and global standards. LanzaJet’s technology enables current and future delivery volumes to support a large SAF industry as well as the White House’s SAF Grand Challenge, which calls for the delivery of at least 11 billion liters p.a. (8 million tons) of SAF per year by 2030, emissions from the Reduce aviation. More at: https://www.lanzajet.com/
Braskem and the bioplastics specialist FKuR Kunststoff are expanding their distribution agreement to include further products from I’m green’s bio-based portfolio. This development deepens the partnership between the two companies that has existed since 2011. From now on, FKuR is now also the official distributor for I’m green bio-based (EVA) ethylene vinyl acetate in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Great Britain, Turkey, Israel and India. More under: https://www.mrchub.com/news/411132-braskem-and-fkur-sign-agreement-for-distribution-of-bio-based-eva
NYK held a groundbreaking ceremony last week at a site in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, where the company will install a test engine facility to evaluate the safety of biofuels and accelerate their practical application. NYK Group will complete the installation of the test engine in June and analyze the biofuel in combustion tests over the next three years. The NYK Group companies, Boltech Co., Ltd. and Nippon Yuka Kogyo Co., Ltd., will also participate in this project by using their engine operation and fuel oil analysis technologies to verify the potential of various biofuels. https://www.nyk.com/english/news/2024/20240130_02.html
Emirates has joined the Solent Cluster as a new member. The company is joining the low-carbon initiative in its long-term endeavour to secure sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced in the UK. Emirates is among more than 100 members, global energy supplier ExxonMobil and the University of Southampton. The founding members have set out their vision for the Solent and how it could safeguard existing jobs and produce low-carbon fuels for a range of sectors, including aviation. More at: https://www.emirates.com/media-centre/emirates-joins-uk-low-carbon-investment-initiative-the-solent-cluster/
UBQ Materials announced the launch of its sustainability product portfolio, new sustainable, bio-based materials comprising three bio-based material substitutes and sustainability additives, as well as two modifiers. All product lines then have unique and complementary features carefully developed to meet specific sustainability goals, including waste diversion, circular economy, increased post-consumer recycling, and emissions elimination and avoidance. More under: https://www.ubqmaterials.com/news-events/ubq-materials-unveils-its-diversified-product-portfolio-expanding-range-of-its-globally-patented-waste-to-materials-technology/
Phillips 66 (known as JET in Germany) is converting its San Francisco refinery in Rodeo, California, into one of the world’s largest renewable fuel facilities. Construction continues on the conversion of the Rodeo Renewed refinery, which is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2024. The conversion will reduce the plant’s emissions and produce lower-carbon fuels such as ethanol. Once completed, the plant will have a production capacity of over 3 billion litres of renewable fuels per year. https://investor.phillips66.com/financial-information/news-releases/news-release-details/2024/Phillips-66-Delivers-Strong-4Q-2023-Results-Advances-Strategic-Priorities/default.aspx
The Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Communications have this week launched a public consultation to inform the development of the National Biomethane Strategy. The aim of the draft National Biomethane Strategy is to meet the ambitious target set by the Government under the Sectoral Emissions Ceilings Agreement. https://www.gov.ie/en/consultation/9b170-consultation-on-the-draft-national-biomethane-strategy/
Growth Energy, the largest biofuel trade association in the U.S., updated its data showing that American drivers recently passed a massive milestone: 100 billion miles driven on affordable, homegrown E15 fuel. The 15 percent biofuel blend saves U.S. drivers an average of up to 15 cents per gallon at the pump. And in some states, drivers saw E15 savings of up to 60 cents per gallon amid rising fuel costs last summer. https://growthenergy.org/category/news/
The energy company Mabanaft has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with TUI Cruises to supply green methanol in the future. The collaboration between Mabanaft and TUI Cruises starts with a methanol delivery for the “Mein Schiff”. In the next few years, TUI Cruises wants to expand its fleet in Germany with additional methanol-compatible dual-fuel cruise ships. As part of the agreement, Mabanaft aims to cover TUI Cruises’ methanol needs in northern Germany – and possibly in other European ports in the future. The company wants to focus on a gradual switch to synthetic e-methanol. https://www.mabanaft.com/en/news-info/current-news-and-press-releases/news-detail/mabanaft-and-tui-cruises-sign-mou-for-the-supply-of-methanol/
BioAdvance has invested 22 million euros for advanced biofuel production in Figueira da Foz. Commissioning is imminent. Production will start at 20,000 tons per year and will increase capacity to 200,000 tons in “two to three years.” The Portuguese manufacturer wants to become one of the largest in Europe with the production of advanced biofuels in Europe. More under: https://tankterminals.com/news/e22-million-biofuel-plant-to-open-in-portugal/
Eni confirms its decision to build Italy’s third biorefinery. The project, first announced in October 2022 and followed by an application for an environmental impact assessment in November 2022, is awaiting regulatory approvals and includes the construction of three new plants for the production of hydrogenated biofuels: a pre-treatment plant for biogenic raw materials, an Ecofining™ plant with a capacity of 500,000 tonnes/year and a plant for the production of hydrogen from methane gas. https://www.eni.com/en-IT/media/press-release/2024/01/eni-moves-ahead-with-conversion-of-the-livorno-refinery-into-a-bio-refinery.html
The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) in Guatemala will analyze the use of ethanol in gasoline. “We will resume discussions, analyzes and technical tables to determine what economic benefits the use of ethanol in gasoline brings to the country and consumers,” said Víctor Hugo Ventura, Minister of Energy and Mines. More under: https://www.bnamericas.com/en/news/guatemala-will-review-regulations-to-implement-ethanol-mixture-in-fuel
European renewable ethanol producers have filed a lawsuit against the EU’s FuelEU regulation, arguing that it does not adequately recognise the proven benefits of sustainable plant-based biofuels and therefore violates several key EU legislative procedures. Companies representing almost all EU production of renewable ethanol are seeking the repeal of a section of the regulation that imposes the same emission factors on plant-based biofuels as the least favourable fossil fuel pathway. Due to this provision, the FuelEU Regulation de facto excludes plant-based biofuels that comply with the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) from the decarbonisation targets for the maritime sector. https://www.epure.org/press-release/european-ethanol-producers-raise-legal-challenge-to-eu-maritime-legislation/
Enerkem will shut down its Alberta Biofuels (EAB) plant in Edmonton, Canada. The EAB facility has achieved its main goal of completing the commercial expansion of Enerkem’s industry-leading technology. With more than 15,000 hours of operation producing ethanol and methanol, the facility facilitated validation of Enerkem’s innovative waste-to-biofuel platform by strategic industry players and other third parties. It also enabled Enerkem to attract global partners and investors while building a world-class team with expertise in the development and deployment of advanced gasification technology. https://enerkem.com/newsroom/enerkem-to-retire-its-edmonton-biofuels-facility
Brexit and the subsequent changes to the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED) meant that all British farmers were threatened with exclusion from the EU market at the end of 2023. Red Tractor launched a UK industry initiative to avert this negative outcome. After two years of detailed submissions to the European Commission, Red Tractor’s positive assessment outcome means that farmers will benefit from further advantages, including avoiding additional audit requests and preventing the displacement of grain within the UK by imported RED-certified grain. https://redtractorassurance.org.uk/news/red-tractor-protects-uk-farmer-access-to-biofuels-market/