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About this Training
This comprehensive three-day course provides an in-depth exploration of bioenergy and biofuels, their production, and their role in decarbonizing the global energy sector. Participants will gain a thorough understanding of the types of biofuels currently in commercial use across transportation sectors, including road, rail, marine, and aviation, as well as the principles that underpin their development, sustainability, and climate impact. Through interactive discussions, quizzes, and real-world case studies, attendees will learn how policy, feedstock selection, and technology influence the adoption and integration of alternative fuels.
The course also delves into biofuel production processes, from conventional crop-based bioethanol and biodiesel to advanced drop-in fuels such as renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, and power-to-liquids. Key production technologies, refinery integration, and co-processing methods are explored in detail, including practical considerations such as pretreatment, hydrogen demand, reactor chemistry, and carbon intensity measurement. Case studies from leading global companies provide tangible examples of successful implementation and technology readiness.
On the final day, the course focuses on the application of biofuels in hard-to-abate sectors like aviation and marine transport. Participants will examine regulatory frameworks, fuel certification processes, blending challenges, and market opportunities. The course also covers the economics of biofuel production, global trade dynamics, and the evolving role of petroleum refineries in supporting the energy transition. By the end of the program, attendees will have a holistic view of the biofuels landscape, including technical, regulatory, and commercial considerations.
Q1: What are biofuels and how do they differ from conventional fossil fuels?
A: Biofuels are renewable fuels derived from biological feedstocks such as crops, waste oils, agricultural residues, and algae. Unlike fossil fuels, biofuels are produced through biochemical processes (fermentation or transesterification) or thermochemical processes (pyrolysis, gasification, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis) and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions when produced sustainably. They can serve as drop-in fuels compatible with existing infrastructure or as alternative fuels with specialized applications.
Q2: What are “drop-in” biofuels and why are they important?
A: Drop-in biofuels are chemically similar to conventional fuels and can replace them without engine modifications or infrastructure changes. Examples include hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO/HEFA) and synthetic paraffinic kerosenes. They are important for sectors like aviation and shipping, where fuel compatibility, energy density, and certification standards are critical for operational safety and regulatory compliance.
Q3: Which feedstocks are commonly used for biofuel production?
A: Biofuel feedstocks include sugar/starch crops (corn, sugarcane), oil crops (soybean, rapeseed, palm), waste oils and fats (used cooking oil, tallow), lignocellulosic residues (wood chips, agricultural residues), municipal solid waste, CO₂, and algae. Selection depends on regional availability, sustainability, cost, and policy incentives. Advanced technologies allow processing of lower-value or waste materials into drop-in fuels.
Q4: What are the main biofuel production technologies?
A: Key production technologies include:
HEFA/HVO: Hydrotreatment of oils/fats to produce renewable diesel or jet fuel.
Fischer-Tropsch gasification: Converts biomass or waste syngas into synthetic fuels.
Pyrolysis / Hydrothermal Liquefaction: Thermochemical conversion of solid biomass into biocrude.
Alcohol-to-Jet (AtJ): Converts bioethanol into synthetic jet fuel.
Conventional bioethanol and biodiesel (FAME): Biochemical routes from sugars and oils.
Q5: What are the advantages and challenges of using biofuels?
A: Advantages include reduced greenhouse gas emissions, renewable feedstocks, energy security, and compatibility with certain sectors. Challenges include feedstock availability, high production costs, land-use competition, technical complexity for advanced fuels, and integration with existing refineries or fuel infrastructure. Lifecycle assessment is essential to ensure true sustainability benefits.
Q6: How are biofuels and SAF certified for use?
A: Certification ensures fuels meet safety, performance, and sustainability standards. For aviation, SAF must comply with ASTM D7566 and D1655, while other fuels follow EN or ISO standards. Certification also involves lifecycle carbon assessment, sustainability verification (e.g., ISCC, RSB), and sometimes regulatory approval for blending with conventional fuels.
Q7: How do biofuels contribute to climate mitigation?
A: Biofuels can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels, depending on feedstock and production methods. They support carbon intensity reduction goals in aviation, marine, and road transport sectors. Methods such as life cycle assessment (LCA) and carbon intensity calculations (mass balance, C14 testing) are used to quantify emission reductions.
Q8: What are the applications of alternative fuels in different transport sectors?
A: Alternative fuels are used across sectors:
Aviation: SAF (HEFA, AtJ, FT) to meet emission targets.
Marine: Methanol, ammonia, pyrolysis oils for shipping.
Road transport: Bioethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel for light and heavy-duty vehicles.
Rail: Drop-in biofuels compatible with diesel locomotives. Each sector requires fuel properties tailored for engine performance and regulatory compliance.
Q9: What are current trends and the future outlook for biofuels?
A: Trends include scaling up SAF production, refinery co-processing of biocrudes, integration of waste and advanced feedstocks, and alignment with carbon markets and sustainability policies. Future outlook points toward low-carbon drop-in fuels, circular bioeconomy solutions, and stronger policy incentives for aviation and marine sectors to achieve net-zero emissions targets.