Dear readers,
Under the title: Refueling climate protection – sustainable on the road! numerous experts from various areas of renewable mobility will meet for the 22nd time on January 20 in Berlin. You can find the current program at: https://www.kraftstoffe-der-zukunft.com/programm/programm-uebersicht
The district of Nordwestmecklenburg has decided to make its existing public transport fleet more sustainable by switching to HVO100 biofuel instead of investing in new electric buses. The key factor behind this pragmatic decision was the high cost of converting to electric buses, with subsidies only covering 30 percent of the required investment – a scenario that is not financially viable for Nahbus, the district’s transport company. More under the link, or download the report in the attachment. https://www.goodfuels.com/news/hvo-vs-electric-why-a-german-district-chose-the-switch-to-hvo-over-buying-new-electric-buses
Germany achieves 62.7% renewable electricity generation. According to the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE), renewable electricity generation accounts for a large proportion of net public electricity generation in Germany. Fraunhofer ISE reports that renewable electricity generation reached a good 62% of net electricity generation in Germany in 2024. At 136 TWH, the largest share was achieved by wind energy, which accounts for 33%. While onshore wind energy declined slightly, offshore wind energy increased by 2.2 TWH to 25.7 TWh compared to 2023. The expansion and production of solar energy increased rapidly last year despite weather conditions that were often less than ideal for solar power generation, reports PV Magazine. While Germany experienced its warmest year on record, July saw heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, which was also the month with the highest solar power production in 2024. In addition to the increase in renewable energies, the dependence on hard coal and lignite in public electricity generation fell by 27.6 % and 8.4 % respectively. Lignite is one of the most polluting and carbon-intensive types of coal used for power generation. Reducing the combustion of lignite and hard coal in favor of renewable energies contributes to reducing emissions in Germany.
The 18th Biogas Innovation Congress will take place in Osnabrück on May 21 and 22. Take the opportunity to present your innovation at the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (Osnabrück). You can register for your participation right here: https://www.biogas-innovationskongress.de/praesenz.html
European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, an estimated €1.7 billion Danish scheme to support the production of renewable gas to be injected into the grid. The scheme will contribute to the EU’s climate targets in line with the European Green Deal, as well as the objectives of the REPowerEU Plan to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels and accelerate the green transition. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/el/ip_23_5451
The European Biodiesel Board (EBB) welcomes the approval of the definitive duties on biodiesel (HVO and FAME) from China by the EU Member States. In July last year, the EBB had already obtained provisional anti-dumping duties, which are currently in force but still need to be approved by the national governments of the EU Member States. This approval was granted on January 8 in the Trade Defense Instruments Committee by formally adopting the European Commission’s proposal to impose such anti-dumping duties. https://bioenergytimes.com/national-governments-approve-definitive-duties-on-biodiesel-from-china/
Project Willow reports that a feasibility study into how the Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland can be converted to renewable energy after the owners announced its closure earlier this year – is about three-quarters complete. The EY-led study is looking at recycling, biofuels and green hydrogen. However, the current owners are under no obligation to follow the study’s recommendations, nor has the government offered to invest in the potential conversion of the refinery to save 400 jobs that are currently at risk. https://www.ft.com/content/01303bf7-0263-4d01-9813-54517f50972e
Global Clean Energy Holdings announced that its renewable fuels facility in Bakersfield has begun commercial operations, producing approximately 250,000 gallons of renewable diesel per day. This major milestone marks a significant step forward as the company begins to bring sustainable, low-carbon and cost-effective fuels to market. https://www.gceholdings.com/
Spray Engineering Devices Limited (SEDL) is proud to announce its partnership with Jakson Green on India’s first 4G ethanol plant. This pioneering project, located at NTPC Green, utilizes LanzaTech’s innovative gas fermentation technology to convert captured carbon dioxide and green hydrogen into sustainable biofuel. https://theprint.in/ani-press-releases/sedl-joins-forces-with-jakson-green-on-indias-first-4g-ethanol-plant/2424781/
HIF Global and Alcoholes del Uruguay (“ALUR”) have signed an agreement that establishes the framework for the interaction between HIF’s future e-Fuels plant in Paysandú and ALUR’s nearby biofuels plant. HIF Paysandú’s e-Fuels plant, which will receive an estimated investment of USD 6 billion, is expected to produce 700,000 tons of renewable fuels annually. The HIF Paysandú e-Fuels plant is expected to recycle 900,000 tons of CO2 per year, of which approximately 150,000 tons will come from ALUR. https://hifglobal.com/docs/default-source/documentos-noticias/chile/hif_and_alur_agreement.pdf?sfvrsn=a575c079_1
The Indian Oil Marketing Board issued its tenders for ethanol earlier this year to procure 880 million liters for the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 season, which ends in November 2025. However, the tender conditions favor cooperative sugar mills as ethanol suppliers, putting private sugar mills at a disadvantage as they come third in the order of priority, while independent ethanol distilleries follow behind the cooperatives. https://eng.ruralvoice.in/agribusiness/cooperative-sugar-mills-to-get-priority-in-ethanol-supply-setback-for-private-sugar-mills.html
Suzuki Motor Corporation signed an agreement to invest in NDDB Mrida Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board through Suzuki R&D Center India Private Limited. In order to contribute to the realization of carbon neutrality in India, Suzuki is working toward establishing biogas plants together with NDDB and Indian dairy industry associations. Mrida is a wholly owned subsidiary of NDDB, which was established in July 2022 to promote environmental conservation and agricultural development. The company establishes and operates biogas plants by using cow dung in India. Suzuki plans to expand its biogas business by establishing and operating biogas plants in cooperation with dairy cooperatives across India through Mrida. https://www.globalsuzuki.com/globalnews/2024/1225a.html
SPIE is installing the world’s first industrial-scale Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) facility for the cement industry. The project, commissioned by Linde Engineering, is being carried out at Heidelberg Materials’ Lengfurt cement plant and is set to commence operations in 2025, with a capture capacity of 70,000 metric tons of CO₂ per year. Due to its high purity, the captured and processed gas can be utilized in both the chemical and food industries. https://www.spie.com/en/news/germany-spie-installs-worlds-first-industrial-scale-ccu-facility-cement-plant
Lootah Biofuels has signed a memorandum of understanding with Emarat Petroleum Company to expand Lootah’s used cooking oil collection network to Emarat’s fuel stations. Emarat will also begin offering 5% biodiesel blends at the pumps, while jointly exploring opportunities to produce sustainable aviation fuel and provide biofuels for shipping in the ports where it operates. https://www.wam.ae/en/article/b6uqdjk-emarat-lootah-biofuels-sign-mou-enhance
Assam Bio Ethanol has developed a comprehensive supply chain model to source bamboo from 18 districts for its bamboo-based ethanol plant. It has identified strategic locations for collection and processing centers in the sourcing region, where the bamboo is chopped into 1-square inch chips and then forwarded to the ethanol plant itself. The company has set up a digital platform for the supply chain and invites farmers to sign up. https://www.chinimandi.com/abepl-develops-comprehensive-supply-chain-model-to-source-bamboo-for-ethanol-production-in-assam/
Bayer and Canada-based Smart Earth Camelina Corp. announced an agreement under which Bayer will acquire Camelina’s germplasm, intellectual property and materials to expand its global leadership position in biomass-based feedstock markets. This acquisition underscores Bayer’s goal to contribute to the decarbonization of the transportation sector and provide regenerative agricultural solutions through the investment and development of oilseed intermediates to meet the demand for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is estimated to grow from 14 billion to 40 billion gallons by 2040. https://www.bayer.com/media/en-us/bayer-acquires-camelina-assets-from-smart-earth-camelina-corp-to-advance-biofuels/
Data released Jan. 7 by the Census Bureau in Washington, U.S. ethanol exports for 2024 through November totaled 1.72 billion gallons, already surpassing the previous annual record of 1.67 billion gallons set in 2018. One month after the data was released, exports for the entire 2024 calendar year will total 1.9 billion gallons, which would equal 12 percent of U.S. ethanol production, also a record. https://www.convenience.org/Media/Daily/2025/January/9/3-US-Ethanol-Set-New-Record-2024_Sustainability