Dear reader,
Enclosed is a brief review of the 2024 Fuels of the Future Conference. 650 participants and 60 speakers and moderators once again confirmed the great international interest in the conference. Take a look at the picture gallery: https://www.fuels-of-the-future.com/en
Horizon Europe project Biological Resources Certifications Schemes has published a comprehensive strategy paper entitled “Valorization and Use of Biological Waste and By-Products Supports the European Bioeconomy“. It highlights the central role of organic residues in promoting the circular bioeconomy in support of the European Green Deal. The strategy paper highlights the valorization, certification, sustainability and traceability of organic residues. Aligned with the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC, the EU Taxonomy, the EU Corporate Due Diligence Regulation and other relevant regulations, the BioReCer recommendations call on policy makers to prioritize the use of sustainable organic residues to reduce dependence on fossil feedstock and associated greenhouse gas emissions. The six recommendations formulated by BioReCer aim to trigger policy reforms and industry initiatives to unlock the full potential of organic residues as valuable raw materials for bio-based products. More at: https://renewable-carbon.eu/news/biorecers-policy-brief-advocates-for-valorisation-and-use-of-organic-residues-to-drive-european-bioeconomy/
After the Easter holidays, I wish you a relaxing start to April.
Bernd Ahlers
Berlin
Terragia Biofuel has raised a $6 million seed round led by Engine Ventures and Energy Impact Partners (EIP). The company will use the capital to commercialize its novel biology-based approach to converting cellulosic biomass into ethanol and other products, expand its employee headcount and initiate partnerships with major biofuel producers. https://www.genengnews.com/topics/bioprocessing/terragia-raises-6-million-to-develop-low-carbon-biofuel-technology/
European Biodiesel Board (EBB) has published their manifesto, setting out the legislative priorities for the EU biodiesel industry for the coming years. In order to reach the EU climate targets, decarbonization of transport will remain a big challenge, as demand for transport continues to increase. https://ebb-eu.org/news/manifesto-2024/
Demand for soybean oil as a feedstock for the production of renewable diesel is increasing as the US looks to promote the adoption of clean fuels. Renewable diesel has emerged as the preferred low-carbon substitute for conventional diesel, and production in the US is expected to rise sharply in the coming years. https://www.ontariofarmer.com/market/soy-oil-demand-rising-for-diesel-fuel
Repsol and Bunge have agreed to jointly develop new ways to cover the production of renewable fuels. This alliance, the first of its kind in Europe, will help accelerate the increase in production of these fuels as required by the European Union. Under this strategic agreement, Repsol will acquire 40% of three industrial assets belonging to Bunge Iberica, a subsidiary of Bunge in the Iberian Peninsula, for a total amount of USD 300 million plus up to USD 40 million in contingent payments. Under the terms of the agreement, Bunge will continue to operate its three oil and biofuel production facilities in Bilbao, Barcelona and Cartagena near Repsol’s industrial complexes in the same regions. Bunge will continue to be a major producer of protein meal and vegetable oils and distributor of agricultural raw materials in Spain. https://investors.bunge.com/news-and-events/press-releases/2024/03-26-2024
Drax Group announced a new carbon removals deal with Karbon-X. The agreement is the latest indicator of growing demand for high-quality carbon removals from bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). https://www.drax.com/us/press_release/drax-announces-carbon-removals-deal-with-karbon-x/
Low Carbon and Agrivert* have formed a joint venture called Beacon to develop, build and operate biogas and biomethane projects across Europe. Beacon brings together the expertise of two leading companies in the renewable energy sector. Low Carbon is an independent power producer (IPP) that has developed more than 2 GW of renewable energy capacity to date and has a further 15 GW of projects under development. Agrivert has more than 30 years of experience and is recognized as one of the leading companies in Europe designing, building and operating anaerobic digestion plants. Beacon aims to build a portfolio of world-class utility-scale biomethane and biogas plants across Europe by 2030. https://cleanenergypipeline.com/news/low-carbon-agrivert-create-europe-focused-biogas-platform/
* https://www.agrivert.co.uk/contact-us
Chemical engineers at MIT have found an efficient way to convert carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, a chemical precursor that can be used to produce useful compounds such as ethanol and other fuels. If this process is optimized for industrial use, it could help remove carbon dioxide from power plants and other sources, reducing the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. https://news.mit.edu/2024/engineers-find-new-way-convert-carbon-dioxide-useful-products-0327
Blue Biofuels, Inc. continues to make substantial strides in advancing its Cellulose-to-Sugar (CTS) technology towards commercial scale. The company has achieved a significant milestone by successfully producing its first batch of cellulosic ethanol, utilizing the cellulosic sugars created from biomass on its CTS pilot line. https://bluebiofuels.com/company-press-releases/
ExxonMobil is currently developing what is expected to be the world’s largest low-carbon hydrogen production facility at its Baytown complex east of Houston, USA. The plant is expected to have an annual production capacity of approximately 900,000 metric tons of low-carbon hydrogen and an annual production capacity of more than one million metric tons of low-carbon ammonia. The project is scheduled to go into operation in 2028. https://lowcarbon.exxonmobil.com/lower-carbon-technology/hydrogen
Pratt & Whitney and the Federal Aviation Administration will work together with Missouri University of Science and Technology, Aerodyne Research, Inc., and the Environmental Protection Agency to study non- CO2 aviation emissions, to help understand and reduce the environmental impact of those emissions. https://www.prattwhitney.com/en/newsroom/news/2024/03/21/rtxs-pratt-whitney-collaborates-with-faa-to-study-non-co2-emissions-under-faa
Nippon Oil & Gas and Chevron New Energies signed a Memorandum Of Understanding that provides a framework to evaluate the export of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) from Japan to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects located in Australia and other countries in the Asia Pacific region.The main objective of the MOU is to evaluate the feasibility of the CCS value chain, including capture of CO2 emitted from industries located in Japan, including JX’s affiliates, and transportation by ship from Japan to Chevron’s greenhouse gas storage portfolio in Australia. https://esgnews.com/de/amp/chevron-and-jx-nippon-forge-partnership-to-advance-carbon-capture-and-storage-value-chain/
Enviromall launched of its new compostable PLA bags. These innovative bags, made from plant-based materials, offer a sustainable alternative to traditional single-use plastics, revolutionizing the battle against plastic pollution in the hospitality, retail, and packaging industries. https://renewable-carbon.eu/news/enviromall-leads-the-way-in-sustainable-packaging-with-launch-of-revolutionary-compostable-pla-bags/
Shell Chemicals recently began supplying Braskem with bio-based and biocircular propylene feedstocks based on a mass balance approach and certified by an independent third party. Braskem will use these feedstocks to produce bio-based and biocircular polypropylene that offers more sustainable options for growing consumer demand in the packaging, film, automotive and consumer goods sectors. https://www.shell.com/business-customers/chemicals/media-releases/2024-media-releases/shell-chemicals-and-braskem-bring-certified-bio-attributed-and-bio-circular-propylene-to-the-us-market.html
Recently, the report “An Economic Impact Analysis of the U.S. Biobased Products Industry: 2023 Update” was released, showing how the biobased products industry has grown nationally despite the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The key points concern biobased products, which contributed $489 billion to the U.S. economy in 2021 The biobased products sector and the jobs it supports have been shown to impact all states and are not limited to states where agriculture is the primary industry. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDARD/bulletins/38f4933
The European Commission has approved a €900 million French scheme to support companies investing in the use of biomass and renewable hydrogen in energy and fuel production to support the transition to a net zero economy in line with the Green Deal Industrial Plan. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_1549