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Foreword 

In a joint declaration issued after their meeting in Turin, which took place in early May, G7 ministers committed to “promote and facilitate the scale-up of investments” for biofuels in a range of technologies including “sustainable production of energy from waste, sustainable biogases and biofuels.” However, stakeholders maintain that the EU is continuing to hamstring efforts by the European sustainable biofuels industry to contribute to transport de-fossilisation. Specifically, the European Biodiesel Board (EBB) has published a manifesto which details the recommendations of the board for an efficient transition towards carbon-neutral transport. EBB enlisted the following as key factors for an effective, yet quick transition: consistent strategy for biofuels that includes alignment of the EU Taxonomy with the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), a fully-fledged integration of biodiesel in the sector’s decarbonisation policies and decisive trade measures against dumping and unfair subsidies as well as enforcement of strict sustainability standards.

Over in India, following last year’s restrictions on sugarcane juice usage for ethanol production due to rising sugar prices, biofuel-related policy incentives have been on the spotlight again amid elections. Industry sources have mentioned that limited feedstock availability and a shortage of assertive government incentives have posed as fundamental bottlenecks which apparently prevent the industry ‘from operating at full throttle’. To address the challenges faced by the sugar industry and meet the 20% ethanol blending target by 2030, the Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) has stressed the need for strategic and stable policy interventions as well as promotion of investments on sugarcane production. As of March 31, India achieved 11.96% ethanol blending in the first five months of the 2023-24 supply year (November-December), according to government data. 

Other news this month includes:

Policy

• Ireland: Development of a national Sustainable Aviation Fuel policy roadmap
• ISMA moots strategic policy interventions to meet 20% ethanol blending target by 2030 -EQ
• India elections: Policy incentives in spotlight to drive biofuels transition

Markets

• Eni aims to sell stakes in biofuel, bioplastic units by year-end, sources say
• Hapag-Lloyd and Scan Global Logistics sign major biofuel deal
• More...

Research and Development

• Towards 3% R&D – innovation in biofuels (by Geoff Bell of MicroBioGen)

Bioethanol

• MHI and NGK to work on membrane dehydration systems for bioethanol and eMethanol
• Bioethanol Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Opportunities, Regional Analysis, Key Segments, Graph, Top Companies and Forecast to 2028

Biodiesel

• Argent Energy is to close Newarthill plant ‘within weeks
• Royal Mail hits first milestone in rollout of renewable fuel to HGV fleet
• More...

Aviation and Shipping Biofuel

• UK SAF policies put uptake targets at risk: aviation leaders
• Metafuels plans eSAF facility in Denmark together with European Energy
• The fuel of choice: joining forces to increase sustainable aviation fuel use in Airbus’ business travel

Price Information

Events