Visual Journey
Removing barriers to renewable transport fuels
ADVANCED FUELS CRUCIAL TO ENERGY MIX
Advanced biofuels play an important role in cutting carbon emissions in transport, including road, rail, shipping and aviation. Transport comprises 27% of emissions in Europe and 23% of global carbon emissions. Different solutions are needed to move towards carbon neutrality by 2050, if not before.
Learn about the value chain of advanced renewable fuels, where and how they work, and why they are important to the overall energy mix.
What are advanced renewable fuels?
In the context of the ADVANCEFUEL project, renewable fuels (RESfuels) refer to liquid advanced biofuels produced from lignocellulosic feedstock (agriculture and forest residues and waste) and liquid renewable alternative fuels produced from renewable hydrogen and CO2 streams.
What are advanced renewable fuels?
In the context of the ADVANCEFUEL project, renewable fuels (RESfuels) refer to liquid advanced biofuels produced from lignocellulosic feedstock (agriculture and forest residues and waste) and liquid renewable alternative fuels produced from renewable hydrogen and CO2 streams.
RETHINKING BIOFUELS
Their sustainability has been questioned – especially in the case of biofuels.
What do many think about biofuels? What are the facts about advanced biofuels?
Hover over the boxes below and learn about the new generation of biofuels – known as advanced biofuels.
Biofuels produce carbon emissions along the supply chain.
Advanced biofuels demonstrate high greenhouse gas emission savings.
Biofuels are not sustainable.
Sustainability criteria play an essential role for the market uptake by offering trust and transparency.
Biofuels increase pressure on land use change.
Advanced biofuels indicate a low risk of causing Indirect Land Use Change.
Biofuels are produced from food or trees.
Advanced biofuels by definition are sourced from forest biomass, residues, waste, non-food-crops and do not compete with food or agricultural land-use.
There are better sustainable mobility options than renewable fuels.
Advanced biofuels are amongst the most promising options to reduce carbon emission for aviation and shipping.
RETHINKING BIOFUELS
Their sustainability has been questioned – especially in the case of biofuels.
What do many think about biofuels? What are the facts about advanced biofuels?
Hover over the boxes below and learn about the new generation of biofuels – known as advanced biofuels.
Biofuels produce carbon emissions along the supply chain.
Advanced biofuels demonstrate high greenhouse gas emission savings.
Biofuels are not sustainable.
Sustainability criteria play an essential role for the market uptake by offering trust and transparency.
Biofuels increase pressure on land use change.
Advanced biofuels indicate a low risk of causing Indirect Land Use Change.
Biofuels are produced from food or trees.
Advanced biofuels by definition are sourced from forest biomass, residues, waste, non-food-crops and do not compete with food or agricultural land-use.
There are better sustainable mobility options than renewable fuels.
Advanced biofuels are amongst the most promising options to reduce carbon emission for aviation and shipping.
THE RESFUEL VALUE CHAIN
The EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) sets a target for the contribution of advanced biofuels and biogas of at least 0,2 % in 2022, at least 1 % in 2025 and at least 3,5 % in 2030.
Discover the obstacles and the solutions on the road towards advanced renewable fuels along the value chain!
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SUSTAINABILITY
A well-functioning sustainability framework with effective sustainability criteria and certification is essential to a successful market roll-out of advanced renewable fuels.
Establishing more comprehensive sustainability criteria that include environmental as well as social and economic criteria are crucial to avoid sustainability risks.
- Lack of harmonised regulations
- Clear definitions and guidelines for sustainability requirements
- Develop consistent sustainability criteria & certification applicable for all bio-based end-uses
SUSTAINABILITY
A well-functioning sustainability framework with effective sustainability criteria and certification is essential to a successful market roll-out of advanced renewable fuels.
Establishing more comprehensive sustainability criteria that include environmental as well as social and economic criteria are crucial to avoid sustainability risks.
- Lack of harmonised regulations
- Clear definitions and guidelines for sustainability requirements
- Develop consistent sustainability criteria & certification applicable for all bio-based end-uses
Feedstock
Biomass is expected to play an essential role in sectors that are difficult to decarbonise.
FEEDSTOCK CATEGORIES
Feedstock
In the transport sector, the production of advanced liquid biofuels and other liquid renewable fuels – RESFuels – as a valuable strategy to meet greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets towards 2050 will require a substantial deployment from different biomass sources.
- Lack of clarity about environmental constraints and land availability
- High cost of feedstock
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Consider location specific biophysical characteristics which steer environmental constrains
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The use of marginal land to increase available land for lignocellulosic energy crops production
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Implementation of innovative cropping schemes could lead to more cost efficient feedstock availability
Feedstock
In the transport sector, the production of advanced liquid biofuels and other liquid renewable fuels – RESFuels – as a valuable strategy to meet greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets towards 2050 will require a substantial deployment from different biomass sources.
- Lack of clarity about environmental constraints and land availability
- High cost of feedstock
-
Consider location specific biophysical characteristics which steer environmental constrains
-
The use of marginal land to increase available land for lignocellulosic energy crops production
-
Implementation of innovative cropping schemes could lead to more cost efficient feedstock availability
Marginal land
Land of little agricultural value is called marginal land. Land availability and sustainable land use for dedicated biomass production is an essential element to avoid and reduce negative environmental impacts. A spatial explicit approach that assesses the current and future availability of marginal land, and environmental impacts of lignocellulosic energy crops cultivated on these lands will provide some clarity in Europe.
Fields of innovation
Yield increases can potentially be achieved by innovative cropping systems. See below several fields of innovation regarding lignocellulosic crop production.
Breeding
Breeding can lead to cropping innovations that decrease biomass production costs: e.g. breeding to enable miscanthus propagation by seed-based planting instead of rhizome planting (underground stem parts).
Crop rotation
Crop rotation is another identified innovations to increase yield and, hence, decrease biomass production costs, and at the same time have potentially positive effects on environmental (e.g. erosion, soil fertility, soil organic carbon) and social impacts (e.g. jobs, environmental values).
Source: BECOOL Project
Conversion
Different conversion technologies are required to upgrade lignocellulosic feedstock to qualities for biofuels used in road, aviation and maritime transport.
Conversion
There is a wide range of lignocellulosic biomass conversion technologies on different technology readiness levels. ADVANCEFUEL analysed production costs and opportunities for cost reduction that could support their successful market roll-out.
- Absence of policy support and finance
- Concerns on stability of the industry due to financial risks
- Supportive policy framework and instruments
- Symbiosis with current infrastructure
- Further technical learning to reduce production costs requires significant ramp-up of installed capacities
Conversion
There is a wide range of lignocellulosic biomass conversion technologies on different technology readiness levels. ADVANCEFUEL analysed production costs and opportunities for cost reduction that could support their successful market roll-out.
- Absence of policy support and finance
- Concerns on stability of the industry due to financial risks
- Supportive policy framework and instruments
- Symbiosis with current infrastructure
- Further technical learning to reduce production costs requires significant ramp-up of installed capacities
Conversion
Good practice
Clariant’s constant commitment to innovation and R&D with a strong focus on sustainability has led to the groundbreaking sunliquid® technology to produce cellulosic sugars and ethanol from agricultural residues such as cereal straw, corn stover or sugarcane bagasse. Since 2012, the company is operating its pre-commercial sunliquid® plant in Straubing, Germany and is currently constructing its first-of-its-kind commercial plant in Podari, Southwest Romania. Once operational, the plant will produce 50,000 tons of cellulosic ethanol, processing 250,000 tons of straw per annum. No fossil-based energy sources are required in the sunliquid® process, as it obtains all of its energy from the combustion of residual flows, mainly lignin that remains after extracting the cellulose from the lignocellulose and is, therefore, energy self-sufficient. Taking carbon capture into consideration, the greenhouse gas savings could reach up to ~120%, supporting the transformation from a fossil-based economy to a bio-based circular economy.
Conversion
Good practice
Clariant’s constant commitment to innovation and R&D with a strong focus on sustainability has led to the groundbreaking sunliquid® technology to produce cellulosic sugars and ethanol from agricultural residues such as cereal straw, corn stover or sugarcane bagasse. Since 2012, the company is operating its pre-commercial sunliquid® plant in Straubing, Germany and is currently constructing its first-of-its-kind commercial plant in Podari, Southwest Romania. Once operational, the plant will produce 50,000 tons of cellulosic ethanol, processing 250,000 tons of straw per annum. No fossil-based energy sources are required in the sunliquid® process, as it obtains all of its energy from the combustion of residual flows, mainly lignin that remains after extracting the cellulose from the lignocellulose and is, therefore, energy self-sufficient. Taking carbon capture into consideration, the greenhouse gas savings could reach up to ~120%, supporting the transformation from a fossil-based economy to a bio-based circular economy.
END USE
Transport
The European transport sector is the only major sector where greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are continuously increasing. In 2016 the transport sector contributed 27% of total EU greenhouse gas emissions (Source: EEA)
END USE
Transport
Advanced renewable fuels are among the most viable options to reduce GHG emissions in the transport sector. Especially for long-haul transport, shipping and aviation sectors advanced biofuels are expected to play a significant role – especially in the short- and mid-term.
In the ADVANCEFUEL modeling the Transport BIO scenario reflects a significant technology development in the production of advanced biofuels.
END USE
Transport
Advanced renewable fuels are among the most viable options to reduce GHG emissions in the transport sector. Especially for long-haul transport, shipping and aviation sectors advanced biofuels are expected to play a significant role – especially in the short- and mid-term.
In the ADVANCEFUEL modeling the Transport BIO scenario reflects a significant technology development in the production of advanced biofuels.
END USE
ADVANCEFUEL reviewed the key barriers and proposes solutions to help secure the market uptake and commercial development of RESfuels.
- Absence of structural mechanism to bridge the price gap between renewable and fossil-based fuels
- High production cost of advanced renewable fuels
- Stable investment climate enabled by policy frameworks, feed-in tariffs, reduction of financial valorisation up to penalisation of fossil fuels
- Reduction of capital and operational expenditures via technical learning and using current infrastructure.
END USE
ADVANCEFUEL reviewed the key barriers and proposes solutions to help secure the market uptake and commercial development of RESfuels.
- Absence of structural mechanism to bridge the price gap between renewable and fossil-based fuels
- High production cost of advanced renewable fuels
- Stable investment climate enabled by policy frameworks, feed-in tariffs, reduction of financial valorisation up to penalisation of fossil fuels
- Reduction of capital and operational expenditures via technical learning and using current infrastructure.
END USE
Aviation
For aviation, advanced liquid renewables fuels are the only low-carbon option for substituting kerosene, as as they have high energy density and are easier in handling (refueling, storage). They can be used as drop-in Sustainable Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs). Currently, there are five ASTM certified sustainable aviation fuels, utilized commercially and blended up to 50% with fossil jet fuel: Fischer Tropsch fuels, Hydrotreated Esters and Fatty Acids, Renewable Synthesized Iso-Paraffinic, Synthetic paraffinic kerosene with aromatics via Fisher Tropsch and Alcohol-to-jet.
END USE
Road
High-quality drop-in products have the great potential to outperform fossil-based fuels in terms of engine efficiency, fuel consumption or local emissions. They can replace crude oil products using the existing, mature and well-functioning global fuel infrastructure and standards.
END USE
Shipping
Also for shipping gaseous and liquid renewable fuels are the only mid-term alternatives to conventional fuels as electrification is not possible – for example, BioLNG, methanol, hydrogen and biomass-derived products.
Co-ordinator
Kristin Sternberg
Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe (FNR)
k.sternberg@fnr.de
Communications
Simon Hunkin
Greenovate! Europe
s.hunkin@greenovate-europe.eu
Media
Vanessa Wabitsch
REVOLVE
vanessa@revolve.media
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement N.º764799.
