Foreword 

The big news this month has been the European Parliament’s vote to approve amendments to the Renewable Energy Directive (known as RED II). Where biofuels are concerned, the amendments are a mixed bag. Where advanced biofuels are concerned, there is unprecedented support, with crop residues now counted as feedstocks for this kind of biofuel, and allowing member states greater flexibility with regard to how they set their limits for each kind of feedstock. However, where crop-based biofuels are concerned, the legislation has gone in the other direction: due to the EU’s fears around unsustainable palm oil use, the limits for crop-based biofuels have been maintained rather than increased, which may be seen as a backwards step. However......

Other news this month includes:

Policy

• European Parliament backs RED II
• MEPs able to negotiate EU renewables targets
• Biofuels policy enshrined in Brazilian law
• US to classify sorghum oil as advanced biofuel​

Markets

• Velocys seeks D7 RIN credits for gas-to-liquid fuel

Research & Development

• Södra and Statkraft pursue "fossil-free" fuel
• Carbon nanotubes catalyse biofuel production
• Repressing stiffness gene could increase sugar feedstock for biorefineries​

Bioethanol

• New yeast could produce high ethanol levels from pine residues

Biodiesel

• Meridian develops more efficient biodiesel conversion technology
• Neste biodiesel used in Finnish public works​

Aviation Biofuel

• Gevo testing engine components for 100% biobased jet fuel
• Gevo continues work towards renewable jet fuel​

Other Fuel

• Pyrolysis oils as fuel from co-processing
• Germany set for world's largest hydrogen plant​

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