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Foreword
In this week’s Feedstocks News Reviews, we concentrate on RCFs (recycled carbon fuels) as the
government is taking further steps to include them in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations Order (RTFO). These are different to renewable fuels in that they are produced from fossil wastes that cannot be prevented, reused, or recycled. Examples of RCF feedstocks include the fossil fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW) (e.g. non-recyclable plastic) and industrial waste gases. The legislation, which is expected to come in effect at the start of this coming July, amends the RTFO 2007 so that RCFs are eligible for support under the renewable transport fuel obligation scheme. Municipal solid waste, such as greasy pizza boxes or dirty yoghurt pots can now be processed to form alternatives to fossil diesel and jet fuel due to access in advanced technologies. This has been rendered possible due to recent amendments of section 131 in the Energy Act 2004, made via the Energy Act 2023, to allow inclusion of RCFs and nuclear derived fuels (NDFs) in RTFO.
Simon Lightwood, Labour MP for Wakefield, has acknowledged the government for recognizing that RCFs are not renewable. He also agreed with the RCFs receiving only 1 certificate per litre of fuel, rather than 2 ‘development renewable transport fuel certificates’ (dRTCFs) and welcomed the exemption of small businesses that employ fewer than 50 people. However, he pointed out that the government needs to be able to prove that ‘RCFs can perform the same action as ethanol’ and posed the question of whether these are going to exclusively be used in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blends. The parliamentary under-secretary of state for transport, Anthony Browne, has responded saying that they can be used in both sectors; as with regards to the oil producers, the production technology is very similar, so it is easier for them to co-produce those fuels. Anthony also did not want to comment extensively on their use in maritime and encouraged the MPs to await until the strategy for decarbonizing the maritime sector is published.
Other News this Month Includes:
Policy
- The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations (Amendment) Order 2024
- RCI: Develop framework to push renewable carbon feedstocks
Markets
- Bio Capital acquires Linwood transfer station to process feedstock for Scotland anaerobic digestion sites
- OMV and Borealis sign long-term supply agreements with TOMRA for recycling feedstock produced from mixed waste
- More...
Research & Development
- Major Chinese-European collaboration begins to find high-value, eco-friendly uses for agri-food residues
- AMGTA research explores sustainability of metal additive manufacturing feedstock
Wood & Crop
- From wheat to bioplastics
- Fueled by Flax straw
Biorefinery
- Proposed Dairygold biomass plant will replace natural gas Food, Feed and Fuel for the EU: Realising the potential of renewable ethanol biorefineries for a more autonomous Europe
- SCA and St1 inaugurate new biorefinery
- More...
Other feedstocks
- Unraveling the potential of solar-bioelectrochemical CO2 conversion for third generation biorefineries
Events
Feedstock Prices