Feedstock manufacturing capability is on the rise. Earlier this yr, the Division of Vitality launched the 2023 Billion-Ton Report, which discovered that the U.S. can sustainably produce greater than a billion tons of biomass per yr. This might meet greater than 100% of the projected demand for feedstock to create Sustainable Aviation Gas (SAF).
Additional, a examine performed by LMC Worldwide estimates that 68 million metric tons of feedstocks – sufficient to supply over 19 billion gallons of renewable diesel – can be accessible by subsequent yr, even after assembly world meals demand.
This manufacturing capability is largely because of the constant arduous work of innovators within the superior biofuels trade to sustainably broaden what might be utilized as feedstock. ABFA’s member corporations are on the forefront of this analysis. Let’s discover just a few examples of ABFA members’ improvements which are increasing the vary of feedstocks accessible for creating sustainable, low-carbon vitality.
- International Clear Vitality makes use of ultra-low carbon, nonfood feedstock for his or her renewable fuels manufacturing and focuses on bettering crop genetics, total yield per acre, and plant oil chemistry that enhances effectivity.
- Nuseed focuses on agricultural innovation. Their Carinata crop might be grown between harvests and never solely protects the land and sequesters carbon, however the harvest will also be used as a feedstock for superior biofuels.
- Ensyn makes use of Refinery Co-processing to create their renewable gasoline, which is a course of that makes use of one other renewable gas, biocrude, because the feedstock for the refinery.
- Neste makes use of waste, residues, and modern uncooked supplies to create their renewable fuels. They continue to be very conscious of the provision chain and solely use uncooked supplies that had been sustainably produced.
- Virent patented the BioForming® course of, a catalytic course of that may convert crop ‘first technology’ feedstocks (beet sugar, sugar cane, corn starch) in addition to cellulosic ‘2nd technology’ feedstocks (bagasse, corn stover, grasses, sorghum and wooden).
To make sure superior biofuel corporations can proceed this modern work, the Environmental Safety Company (EPA) have to be prepared to embrace approving new pathways for novel feedstock applied sciences to compete out there. At the moment these pathways are specified by the Renewable Gas Customary (RFS), which is a federal program that requires U.S. transportation gas to comprise a minimal quantity of renewable fuels. EPA has been gradual to undertake new pathways for novel feedstocks underneath the RFS, however the Company can rechart a course that promotes and rewards market innovation by rushing these pathway approvals.
For extra info on ABFA’s member corporations and the way they’re supporting feedstock manufacturing, discover our member guidebook.
