Dear reader,
The truth is: the natural world is changing. And we are completely dependent on this world. It provides us with food, water and air. It is the most valuable thing we have and we must defend it.
UPM has evolved from a traditional player in the forest industry to a pioneer in renewable fuels and chemicals, enabling its customers to significantly reduce their dependence on fossil feedstock and improve their carbon footprint. As part of this transformation, UPM is investing in a significant growth area – UPM Biorefining – focused on scaling refineries that produce a variety of renewable fuels and chemicals from sustainable biomass. In the global drive towards decarbonisation, the advanced biofuels industry is leading the transition to a sustainable transport future. In this sector, mitigating climate change is not only an ambitious goal, but a core objective of industrial policy.
On 13 and 14 June 2024, the 6th conference of the ‚Fuels Joint Research Group‘ (fuels-jrg.de) took place in Berlin. The event was opened by Prof Dr Dinkelacker, Leibniz Universität Hannover and Prof Dr Krahl, TH OWL, Lemgo. Researchers from various universities, technical directors from various institutes and companies presented the development status of their new and environmentally friendly fuels. Without wanting to go into details here, a common thread clearly emerged. Whether from Dr Bollig from the German Association of the Automotive Industry, MdB Christian Sauter (Motor Vehicle Working Group) or the other speakers from Porsche, Audi, MAN and others, it was clear that the door to the “end of the combustion engine” is far from closed. Germany, Europe and the world need a variety of alternative liquid fuels. Focussing on just one technology would only lead to a dead end.
France, Germany have called on the European Union to introduce stricter controls on overseas biofuel suppliers as the EU investigates allegations of fraud in imports from Asia. According to the report, the European biodiesel industry has complained about a surge in imports from China, which it says are shipments labelled as made from recycled oil and fat but are in fact made from less sustainable virgin oil. In a note recently presented to EU energy ministers, France, Germany and the Netherlands said there was a need to tighten controls on biofuel production sites “wherever they are in the world”. The note also states that certification of foreign biofuels as sustainable should be rejected if access to the facilities is denied. More on this topic. https://bioenergytimes.com/france-germany-calls-european-union-to-adopt-stricter-checks-on-biofuel-imports/
U.S. fuel ethanol production fell slightly last week, but was about the same as last year at 1.023 million barrels (130,000 tonnes) per day. Stockpiles are also building back up after being drawn down during the maintenance season, reaching a three-week high of 23.222 million barrels. Ethanol imports remained strong at 125,000 barrels per day, slightly higher week-on-week but 47,000 barrels above the previous year’s level. Demand from refineries buying ethanol for blending remained stable with a 1% increase compared to the previous week. https://ethanolproducer.com/articles/eia-ethanol-production-up-slightly-stocks-down-1-exports-down-42
Airbus and Zero have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to advance the development of synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) and enable the commercial deployment of the technology by combining their unique resources and expertise. Both companies have already made significant contributions in this field: Zero secured the 2021 Guinness World Records® title for the first aircraft powered by synthetic fuel, and Airbus has successfully tested commercial and military aircraft using 100% SAF. https://www.qcintel.com/biofuels/article/airbus-and-zero-petroleum-sign-deal-to-accelerate-e-saf-industry-25545.html
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. has successfully commissioned India’s first solid oxide electrolyser (SOE) for the production of green hydrogen (GH2). This highly efficient pilot scale electrolyser can produce green hydrogen with a purity of 99.99% and represents a significant step in the evaluation of this technology for the production of green hydrogen and its derivatives. https://hydrogentechworld.com/hindustan-petroleum-corporation-limited-commissions-indias-first-solid-oxide-electrolyser
Sohar Port received its first shipment of B20 biofuel, a blend of 80 per cent diesel and 20 per cent biofuel, which was initially used on a trial basis for the Sohar tugboat. It was also announced that the port is one of the first ports in the Middle East to bunker biofuel for the operation of tugboats. According to the report, the port of Sohar worked with tug operator Svitzer, biofuel supplier Wakud and bunkering service provider Hormuz Marin to bunker the fuel. https://www.porttechnology.org/news/sohar-port-employs-biofuel-for-tugboat-operations/
Chevron Lummus Global LLC announced in the US that its ISOTERRA technology has been selected for a groundbreaking sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project in China. Chevron Lummus will provide the technology licence and technical services as well as supply the proprietary equipment and catalysts for this first-of-its-kind plant. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chevron-lummus-globals-isoterra-technology-selected-for-sustainable-aviation-fuel-project-in-china-302171429.html
TotalEnergies and Air Products have signed a 15-year contract for the supply of 70,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year in Europe from 2030. This first long-term contract follows a tender launched by TotalEnergies for the supply of 500,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year to decarbonise TotalEnergies’ European refineries. https://totalenergies.com/news/press-releases/decarbonization-european-refineries-first-agreement-signed-between
Pittsburgh International Airport has partnered with SkyClean to build an SAF production facility at the airport that will produce 25 million gallons of unblended SAF annually, with future production of up to 75 million gallons. Haffner Energy also announced that the Paris-Vatry SAF project (30,000 tonnes of SAF), the SAF production facility at Paris-Vatry Airport, is being developed in partnership with ATJ technology provider LanzaJet. https://www.internationalairportreview.com/news/222779/pit-skyclean-saf/
Brazil and Mozambique sign a memorandum of understanding for the joint development of biofuels during the Biodiesel Forum in São Paulo. The agreement signed by Ubrabio and the Mozambique Economic Recovery Programme Office (PAE), represented by João Macaringue, aims to boost biofuel production and is in line with Mozambique’s energy ambitions presented at COP 28. https://clubofmozambique.com/
Emirates has received sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Neste for flights departing from Singapore Changi Airport. This makes Emirates the first international airline to use SAF supplied at the airport from Neste’s refinery in Singapore. To meet Emirates’ needs, more than 2,600 tonnes of SAF blend has been delivered to the fuelling system at Changi Airport in recent weeks. https://www.gasworld.com/story/neste-supplies-emirates-with-saf-from-singapore/2140120.article/
Finnish company Neste has announced that Valtra, a global tractor manufacturer owned by AGCO Corporation, has used a total of 5 million litres of Neste MY Renewable Diesel as a factory fuel, for testing purposes and in its factory forklifts at its Suolahti plant in Finland. https://www.neste.com/news/neste-helps-valtra-save-over-15-000-tons-of-greenhouse-gas-emissions-at-its-suolahti-factory-with-the-supply-of-5-million-liters-of-neste-my-renewable-diesel
The Swiss company Synhelion and Pilatus Aircraft have entered into a strategic cooperation with the aim of accelerating the scaling of solar fuels for aviation. The Swiss aircraft manufacturer wants to use Synhelion’s solar fuels for its own flight operations and also offer them to its customers in the medium term. https://synhelion.com/media/pages/news/synhelion-and-pilatus-launch-strategic-partnership/4e0e3ebef0-1717162140/pr-partnership_pilatus_synhelion_en_final.pdf
EverWind has been progressing the development of its green hydrogen and ammonia project on the Burin Peninsula since early 2022. On 30 August 2023, EverWind was selected as one of four successful applicants in the Crown Land for Wind Process, administered by the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Technology. EverWind has focused on critical, long-term development work, including its wind resource campaign. With the 10 measurement sites on the Burin Peninsula, this is the largest wind measurement campaign conducted in North America. EverWind also enjoys the strong support of the communities on the Burin Peninsula and has conducted a total of 49 community consultations to date. https://everwindfuels.com/projects/burin_peninsula
Cathay and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on a wide range of sustainability initiatives. These joint efforts aim to promote the development and use of sustainable aviation fuel in the Asia-Pacific region. Firstly, Cathay and SIA will work together to increase the use of SAF in the Asia Pacific region. Initiatives in this area include raising public awareness of the critical role of SAF in decarbonising aviation, advocating for supportive policies in the region and promoting the creation of a standardised global accounting and reporting framework to ensure transparency and verifiability of emissions reductions from the use of the fuel. https://www.ttgasia.com/2024/06/10/cathay-singapore-airlines-to-advocate-sustainability/
Ocean Network Express (ONE) UK will extend its commitment to using HVO100 fuel for all rail freight following a successful six-month pilot in partnership with Freightliner. This new initiative is part of ONE’s planned ‘green’ rail offering, where customers will be able to purchase a carbon reduction certificate recognising their actions to reduce their carbon footprint. https://www.freightliner.co.uk/news/ocean-network-express-one-and-freightliner-adopt-hydrotreated-vegetable-oil-hvo-fuel-to-power-rail-cargo-journeys-in-uk/
Covestro’s participation as a strategic partner in the company BioBTX enables the construction of the world’s first innovative demonstration plant for the BioBTX ICCP technology in the Netherlands. The technology makes it possible to produce chemicals such as benzene, toluene and xylene from organic and mixed plastic waste. https://www.bkv-gmbh.de/news-reader-4/covestro-investment-in-chemical-recycling.html
Carbon Clean has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with AGRA Industries. Under the strategic partnership, AGRA Industries and Carbon Clean will work together to offer Carbon Clean’s semi-modular CaptureX technology to companies in agri-related sectors, including biofuel ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel production. https://www.carbonclean.com/en/press-releases/agra-industries
Glocal Green and Norwegian Hydrogen will cooperatively develop hydrogen production alongside Glocal Green’s planned bio-methanol plant in Øyer, Gudbrandsdalen, aiming to produce 150,000 tons of bio-e-methanol annually and 15,000 tons of green hydrogen via electrolysis. The hydrogen production will be organized into a jointly owned company, enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of the bio-methanol production process. The bio-methanol will be produced using low-grade biological residual materials and by-products from forestry, agriculture, and the marine sector. By adding hydrogen, they will maximize the use of green carbon, doubling methanol production to create bio-e-methanol. https://www.greencarcongress.com/2024/06/20240609-glocal.html
In France, Ocean Network Express (ONE) is now able to offer customers in France the opportunity to transport their cargo inland using trucks powered by biofuel in partnership with logistics company Transmanut. Operating in the Le Havre area, the trucks will use Oleo100 fuel, which is made from 100% French rapeseed residue. https://www.asiacargonews.com/en/news/detail?id=9715