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The energy transition is also taking place in the skies, and the El Prat-based airline is leading the way. The company, part of the airline giant IAG, has significantly increased its consumption of alternative fuels, reaching a 1.4 percent share. Vueling’s Director of Sustainability, Franc Sanmartí, expects the company to reach the 2 percent minimum required by the European Union this year. However, he emphasizes that the medium-term problem lies not in demand but in supply. Sanmartí explains: “Last year, the global supply of SAF was 0.3 percent of total aviation fuel, equivalent to one million tons.” One challenge lies in cost: “The current price of SAF is three to five times higher than that of conventional fuels if it is biofuel [when made from agricultural or forestry waste, used oils, and other residues]. If it’s synthetic [made from captured CO2 and green hydrogen], in some cases it’s even eight or ten times more expensive than fossil fuels.”
Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced that 6,000 tons of aviation fuel have been made available this year for domestic and international aircraft to use at Taiwan airports. This has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by more than 15,000 tons. The country’s three largest airports (China Airlines, EVA Airways, and Starlux Airlines) use SAF in their aircraft. The first step is for Taiwan’s domestic aircraft to use combustible materials in the moderately hot environment. CPC Corp. of Taiwan imported 400 tons of SAF this year and produced 5,500 tons at Formosa Petrochemical, the ministry said.
Cosmo Oil Marketing and STARLUX Airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on sustainable fuel (SAF) to promote sustainable air transportation. The SAF traded under this agreement was commercialized in 2021 after receiving a subsidy from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). The goal was to establish a supply chain model for SAF production from domestically sourced used cooking oil. Cosmo emphasized that this is the first SAF mass-produced locally in Japan and has received ISCC CORSIA and ISCC EU certifications. The fuel will be produced by SAFFAIRE SKY ENERGY LLC, a joint venture between Cosmo Oil Co., JGC HOLDINGS CORPORATION, and REVO International Inc., and will be supplied to STARLUX Airlines at Kobe Airport via the Cosmo Energy Group starting in fiscal year 2025.
Gasworld reports Honeywell UOP India has signed an MOU with NTPC Green Energy to explore the potential use of Honeywell’s eFining technology for e-SAF production, using green hydrogen and carbon captured from NTPC’s plants. NTPC Green Energy has a $21.6 billion green hydrogen hub project at Pudimadaka in Andhra Pradesh set to be complete in 2027, and this additional technology could potentially be an add on to it. The project expects to produce 1,500 metric tons per day of green hydrogen and 7,500 tonnes per day of green methanol, green urea and SAF.
Bangchak Group has inaugurated its Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Production Unit at the Bangchak Phra Khanong Refinery, marking Thailand’s first dedicated facility for producing 100% Neat SAF. Operated by BSGF Company Limited, a Bangchak Group affiliate, the unit complies with rigorous international certification standards, reflecting the Group’s commitment to green innovation and its evolution from a renewable energy leader to a pioneer of future energy solutions.
According to media reports, US ethanol production rose slightly by 1.04 million barrels per day as some plants completed their seasonal maintenance. Researchers at Iowa State University reported that production margins at the state’s average plant returned to positive territory. Despite the increased production, inventories fell to a 15-week low of 25.389 million barrels. The lower inventories were partly due to higher exports, which reached 141,000 barrels per day, up 66,000 barrels from the previous week. https://www.brownfieldagnews.com/news/ethanol-production-up-on-the-week-stocks-down/
Eco-Energy will assume responsibility for all ethanol marketing and logistics across the entire Green Plains platform, providing comprehensive support to optimize value, expand market access, and improve supply chain efficiency. “This agreement represents an important step forward as we continue to streamline our operations and focus on creating value across our entire platform,” said Imre Havasi, Senior Vice President – Head of Trading and Commercial Operations at Green Plains. “Eco-Energy brings deep market expertise, a strong customer network, and proven logistics capabilities. We are confident this will enable us to maximize the value of our low-carbon ethanol while expanding our scale and reach into new markets.” https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250422374924/en/Green-Plains-Inc.-Announces-Eco-Energy-LLC-as-Exclusive-Ethanol-Marketing-Partner
Repsol and Bunge have announced a major milestone in the development of renewable fuels in Europe: the integration of novel intermediates into renewable fuel production. Specifically, camelina and safflower will be processed into low-carbon oils and used as feedstock for the production of hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO). HVO is a full-fledged replacement for conventional diesel fuel or sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for the decarbonization of aviation. This represents a significant advance in feedstock innovation for renewable fuel production in Europe. https://www.repsol.com/en/press-room/press-releases/2025/repsol-bunge-to-boost-development-renewable-fuels/index.cshtml
Repsol already has over 1,000 stations offering 100% renewable diesel on the Iberian Peninsula. There are currently 998 in Spain and 63 in Portugal. This milestone underlines the company’s commitment to renewable fuels and expands its technology offering for its customers’ mobility. 100% renewable diesel is the highest quality premium fuel on the Spanish market. Its exclusive formula optimizes performance, extends engine life, and is suitable for all diesel engines. Produced from organic waste, it uses cutting-edge technologies to reduce net CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to the mineral fuel it replaces. This is due to the lower carbon intensity of renewable fuel due to its organic origin. https://www.repsol.com/en/press-room/press-releases/2025/repsol-surpasses-1000-service-stations-with-100-per-cent-nexa-diesel/index.cshtml
With artificial photosynthesis, humanity could harness solar energy to capture carbon dioxide and produce hydrogen. Würzburg chemists have gone a step further. One of the leading researchers in the field of artificial photosynthesis is chemist Professor Frank Würthner from the Julius Maximilian University (JMU) in Würzburg. His team has now succeeded in mimicking and more closely analyzing one of the first steps of natural photosynthesis using a sophisticated arrangement of artificial pigments. https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/news-and-events/news/detail/news/artificial-photosynthesis/
Lloyd’s Register (LR) has enhanced its Global Fuel Finder tool, delivering a significant upgrade that allows ship operators and technical teams to make faster, smarter decisions when sourcing marine fuels. The latest development adds biofuel availability and quality insights to the platform, helping clients navigate the energy transition with confidence. Developed by LR’s industry-leading Fuel Oil Bunkering Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) team, the Fuel Finder tool now allows users to search, compare and analyse biofuels across global ports. https://www.lr.org/en/knowledge/press-room/press-listing/press-release/2025/global-fuel-finder-enhanced-with-new-biofuels-capability/
The Indian government has launched a comprehensive new biofuel initiative as part of its Renewable Energy Policy 2025. Aiming to transform the state’s energy landscape, the policy calls for the establishment of at least one biofuel plant in every developing district. With a focus on compressed biogas (CBG), biodiesel, biochar, and other advanced biofuels (excluding first-generation ethanol), the policy aims to reduce agricultural waste, boost rural incomes, and attract substantial private investment, according to the report. https://chemindigest.com/madhya-pradesh-launches-policy-to-boost-cbg-biofuels/
Paebbl announced the next phase of scaling its operations with the successful commissioning of its demonstration plant, which has been in continuous operation since the end of March 2025. The project was completed in just under 18 months. Paebbl’s proprietary technology converts captured CO₂ into future-proof materials, locking the carbon in a permanent, stable mineral form. This carbon-storing product serves as a valuable cement additive for the construction industry. Unlike conventional cement production, which releases CO₂, Paebbl’s process uses CO₂ as an input in an energy-efficient process, fundamentally reducing the environmental impact of the construction industry. https://paebbl.com/news-feed/paebbl-starts-operating-its-continuous-demo-plant-a-world-first-for-co2-mineralisation
Dreexo Energy is developing a biofuel production project in Cádiz, within the tax area of the free trade zone. The company plans to invest approximately €27 million in the initial phase. The company plans to build a processing plant for the production of second-generation aviation biodiesel (SAF). The plant will initially have feedstock storage tanks with a capacity of up to 98,000 cubic meters and will be expanded later. This will enable a final production of 57,000 cubic meters. The processing capacity is approximately 100,000 tons per year. https://www.diariodesevilla.es/economia/dreexo-energy-cadiz-proyecto-produccion-biocombustible-inversion-millones_0_2003831032.html
In response to requests from the governors of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is taking action to address these states’ concerns about E10 fuel standards by issuing an emergency fuel exemption. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-addresses-e-10-standards-allows-nationwide-year-round-e15-sales
Vioneo has awarded Wood a multi-million-euro FEED contract to design its revolutionary facility, which will produce fossil-free plastics using green methanol. The renewable energy-powered and energy-efficient plant in Antwerp, Belgium, is the first in the world capable of achieving this on an industrial scale. The plant will have a capacity of 300,000 tons of high-quality, virgin polyethylene and polypropylene plastics per year, produced from green methanol and free of fossil feedstocks. These plastics will be fully traceable, segregated, and carbon-negative, enabling customers to reduce their Scope 3 emissions. Furthermore, the production of these plastics does not impact the raw material supply for food production, ensuring the project’s sustainability. Wood will contribute his extensive experience in providing sustainable and innovative technical solutions for large-scale energy transition projects. https://www.woodplc.com/news/latest-press-releases/2025/vioneo-appoints-wood-to-design-plastics-facility
The European-funded CO₂SMOS project officially ends this month after four years of collaborative research and innovation aimed at helping the bio-based industry reduce its carbon footprint. With €7 million in funding from the Horizon 2020 program, the project has developed and scaled technologies that convert biogenic CO₂ emissions into valuable chemicals and materials, bringing them closer to practical application. CO₂SMOS (Advanced chemicals production from biogenic CO₂ emissions for circular bio-based industries) launched in May 2021 and brought together a multidisciplinary consortium of 15 partners from across Europe under the coordination of the CARTIF Technology Center. The goal was to develop cost-effective technologies for converting CO₂ emissions from bio-industrial processes into renewable chemicals, durable polymers, and biodegradable biomaterials, thus contributing to European climate goals and the development of a sustainable circular economy. https://co2smos.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/PRESS-RELEASE_CO2SMOS-project-conclusion-and-final-results.pdf