Biofuels

Biofuels

Biofuels are liquid or gaseous fuels derived from biomass. Renewable low carbon fuels can also be produced from certain fossil waste streams (Recycled Carbon Fuels (RCFs)) and from renewable energy (Power to Liquids (PtL)) They are a key component in efforts to reduce emissions from road transport and aviation. The most widely produced biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel. Bioethanol is obtained from fermentation of sugar-rich feedstocks (derived from crops and processing waste streams). Biodiesel is derived from waste vegetable oil and some virgin crop oils, and either trans-esterified (to produce methyl esters) or hydroprocessed to provide drop in transport or aviation fuels (e.g. HVO, HEFA).

Use of biomethane (derived from anaerobic digestion of wastes, residues and energy crops) is also increasing, primarily for use in HGVs.  Additional support for advanced fuels and aviation fuels is helping to progress gasification, pyrolysis and power to liquid fuel pathways to increase the range of feedstock options available to developers. Alder has technical understanding of all the current and developing fuel pathways to underpin its strategic, feedstock due diligence and sustainability analysis.

Sustainability

To avoid negative environmental impacts, biofuel feedstocks are required to comply with sustainability criteria that address land use issues and prevent exploitation of land with high biodiversity value and high carbon content. Additional criteria protect exploitation of forest resources. Feedstocks also fall into different classifications that can lead to fuels derived from these subject to different levels of reward.

Biofuel and renewable fuels are also required to achieve minimum GHG savings. The approaches to measuring the carbon footprint of biofuels and renewable fuels are specified by relevant international policy and national country support schemes.

Compliance with both sustainability and GHG saving requirements need to be considered when developing feedstock supply chains and fuel production pathways. Alder BioInsights have experience in gaining official recognition of feedstocks, supporting feedstock due diligence exercises and in ensuring sustainability criteria are met.

Feedstock Strategic Analysis

Feedstock designation and sourcing strategies are a key issue for fuel plant investments. Use of feedstocks is complicated by whether they fall into recognised categories – food, agricultural or processing residue, waste. Administrators of support schemes determine the eligibility of feedstocks, with new feedstocks assessed on the basis of submitted evidence. Similarly, for RCFs, eligible wastes are defined, and for PtL fuels the eligibility of different means of power supply and source are relevant. Alder BioInsights have experience in addressing such issues.

Carbon impacts of fuels

Assessment of the carbon credentials of biofuel pathways from feedstock production and sourcing to downstream fuelling is an important criteria for support. Approaches to calculation are specified and provide guidance, but are becoming increasingly complex to address both new fuel types and new applications (e.g. use in aviation). New technical developments can also test such guidance to the point where expert advice and support is required to gain acceptance by both support scheme administrators and by voluntary sustainability schemes used to provide assurance on the sustainability and GHG characteristics reported for biofuels and renewable fuels.