Darling Ingredients Inc. announced on November 13th the development of DarLinQ™, the company’s newest, industry-leading innovation that utilizes advanced sonar and Bluetooth technology to provide continuous, accurate oil level monitoring of waste cooking oil (UCO) storage containers through customized, automated equipment to improve operational efficiency and safety.
China plans to issue its first 500,000 metric tons of export quotas for marine biofuel blends by early 2025, targeting European trade routes in an effort to support domestic biodiesel producers hit by European Union anti-dumping tariffs, according to industry sources and consulting firm JLC, according to a report by Texas-based Global Trade.
State-owned oil companies PetroChina, Sinopec and CNOOC are expected to receive quotas for the B24 blend, which contains 24 percent biodiesel and 76 percent low-sulfur fuel oil. The move is aimed at countering a slump in exports and promoting the use of low-carbon fuels for ships between China and the European Union. Zhoushan Port, a key player in China’s bunker trade, is expected to benefit from increased sales of biofuels, mirroring the trend in global hubs such as Singapore and Rotterdam.
Singapore’s 2024 biofuel production already exceeds 650,000 tons, underscoring the growing demand. While China’s Ministry of Commerce has yet to comment on the quotas, the move represents an effort to stabilize its biodiesel industry and increase competitiveness in the international marine fuel market.
Canadian renewable diesel producer Tidewater Renewables said in its third-quarter earnings report that it has hired outside trade law consultants and plans to soon file a trade remedy complaint with the Canadian government to ban U.S. renewable diesel from entering the Canadian market.
Tidewater Renewables said its management believes the pricing of U.S. renewable diesel entering Canada is unfair and ‘has a significant negative impact on the competitiveness of our domestic business.’
Tidewater said that based on available information and advice, its management believes that a trade case against U.S. renewable diesel imports ‘has a reasonably high likelihood of success.
Preparation of the company’s trade complaint is progressing at a rapid pace,’ the company said. The complaint could be filed before the end of 2024, with tariff reductions coming into effect in 2025 if the government initiates an investigation and concludes that the unfairly traded imports are harming Canadian production.’
Tidewater Renewables says it is seeking to level the playing field to support the viability and further development of the Canadian renewable diesel industry, which will also enhance Canada’s energy security.
Thailand-based Bangchak announced on 12 November that they have entered into a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supply agreement with Singapore-based Shell International Orient Trading.
The agreement provides for the delivery of ISCC EU/CORSIA certified SAF to Shell.
SAF is a jet fuel that replaces fossil fuels and can help significantly reduce emissions from flight.
It is a key lever in achieving the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s 2050 goal of net-zero carbon emissions from international aviation.
This co-operation and supply arrangement between Bangchak and Shell is a further step in advancing the use of SAF.
Bangchak, Thailand’s SAF industry leader, launched its initial SAF manufacturing business plan in September 2022.
The company is constructing a manufacturing facility in Bangkok, which will have a capacity of 1 million litres of SAF per day using waste cooking oil as the primary feedstock.
Commercial operations are expected to commence in the second quarter of 2025.
On November 14, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Bioenergy Technologies and Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management announced $20.2 million (approximately $146 million) in funding for 10 university and industry projects to advance the development of hybrid algae for low-carbon biofuels and bioproducts.
The selected projects, located in seven states, will work on high-impact research and development (R&D) focused on converting algae, such as seaweed and other wet waste feedstocks, into low-carbon fuels, chemicals, and agricultural products to decarbonize domestic transportation and industry.
Buffalo Biodiesel, a renewable energy company with operations throughout the North East, has announced that there were 96 UCO thefts in seven states between 4 and 10 November.
In most of the thefts, the thieves broke the locks and then used drum pumps to extract the used cooking oil (UCO) from the vats.
Buffalo Biodiesel said they are working with local, county and state law enforcement agencies in each city to bring those responsible to justice.
It is estimated that thousands of gallons of UCO were stolen.
Buffalo Biodiesel operates in 15 states and pays small businesses for UCO.
These suppliers contribute to a more sustainable future by reusing their waste.
This additional revenue helps increase their financial stability.
The U.S. Clean Fuels Coalition and 10 national and state associations sent a letter to U.S. House and Senate leaders on 14 November requesting a one-year extension of the 40A Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel Blender Tax Credit.
With less than 60 days left before the scheduled transition to the new 45Z Clean Fuels Production Credit and without adequate guidance from the U.S. Treasury, a one-year extension of the existing policy is needed to provide certainty and stability for stakeholders in the biodiesel and renewable diesel industries.
Building on the success of the Eversa portfolio in Brazil, Novonesis’ new bio-solution, Eversa Advance, addresses the challenge of processing feedstocks containing up to 20 per cent FFA. The product helps biodiesel producers improve operational efficiency, reduce total pretreatment operating costs by up to 45 per cent and reduce environmental impact.
Olfar is one of the largest industrial biodiesel groups in Brazil and was the first company to adopt Novonesis’ patent-pending FlexFit® Advance technology using the Eversa® Advance bio-solution. Their plant is currently running well and producing biodiesel.
The UK’s Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has provisionally proposed to maintain countervailing measures against Argentine biodiesel imports.In a statement of essential facts, the TRA has proposed that the duty payable on Argentine biodiesel imports be maintained in the 25-33.4 per cent range until February 2029.The TRA has also proposed that the duty be maintained in the 25-33.4 per cent range for Argentine imports.
Biodiesel consumption in the UK was approximately 1.8 million metric tonnes during the period under investigation. Demand for renewable fuels in the UK is driven by the government’s target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, ultimately supporting its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
TRA found that trends indicate that UK biodiesel is a growth industry, but that the UK is one of the few available markets with growing production capacity in Argentina.
As a result, TRA found that subsidised imports of biodiesel into Argentina are likely to recur if countervailing measures are no longer applied to these goods. In addition, due to the vulnerable position of the UK biodiesel industry, the injury is likely to recur if countervailing measures are no longer imposed.
DG Fuels has selected the city of Moorhead, located in Clay County, Minnesota, for its new production facility serving the Great Lakes region.
The plant will produce 193 million gallons of zero- or low-CO2 lifecycle emissions SAF per year and will meet ASTM fuel standards. Production is expected to begin in 2030.
DG Fuels’ manufacturing process uses cellulosic biomass in the form of lower-value agricultural by-products such as corn stover and timber waste as its carbon feedstock.
It also incorporates various forms of clean hydrogen feedstock to produce near-zero carbon fuel.