By Masoud Zabeti, Business Development Manager, Ketjen
Biofuels are made from renewable sources such as agricultural crops and waste, and are an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels offering benefits over traditional fossil fuels, including reduced carbon emissions, increased energy security, and the potential to create jobs in rural areas. Currently, the global use of biofuels for transportation and chemicals is estimated at around 12 % and 5 % respectively. This is projected to increase to around 20 % and 8 % respectively by the year 2050. In addition, the use of biofuels for electricity generation is expected to increase significantly, from around 1 % currently to around 10 % by 2050. The European Commission’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) sets a target of 32 % of energy from renewable sources by 2030. This includes a target of 14 % renewable energy from transport fuels, which includes biofuels. This could lead to a further increase in the share of biofuels in Europe to around 20 – 25 % in the next 5 – 10 years.
Current leading technologies for biofuels in Europe are biodiesel and bioethanol. These technologies are expected to continue to develop in the next 5 - 10 years with advancements in cellulosic ethanol, advanced biofuels and the development of new feedstock. Additionally, waste-to-energy, hydrogen-based fuels, and synthetic fuels are expected to become more prominent in the next decade.
This presentation will give an overview of some of the current and future process technologies for biofuels and Ketjen’s 20-year track record in field. Finally, it will speak to the impact of feedstock regulations in the EU.
Presentation file here