EIA: More than 1 billion gallons of renewable drop-in diesel/jet produced worldwide in 2014
09 November 2015
More than one billion gallons of hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) fuels—renewable, drop-in diesel and jet fuels such as Neste’s NEXBTL—were produced worldwide in 2014, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
HEFA fuels are hydrocarbons rather than alcohols or esters and are the most common drop-in biofuels; they can be used in diesel engines without the need for blending with petroleum diesel fuel. Currently, HEFA fuels are also approved by ASTM International for use in jet engines at up to a 50% blend rate with petroleum jet fuel.
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HEFA fuels are produced by reacting vegetable oil or animal fat with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst; the equipment and process are very similar to the hydrotreaters used to reduce diesel sulfur levels in petroleum refineries.
There are currently 10 plants worldwide that produce renewable diesel, one of which is ENI’s former petroleum refinery in Venice, Italy. Total is planning to convert its La Mede, France, refinery to HVO production, and there are four other renewable diesel projects also underway. Finnish Neste is the world’s largest producer of renewable diesel. Other major producers are Italy’s ENI, U.S.-based Diamond Green Diesel, and Swedish refiner Preem.
One potential consumer for HEFA biojet is the US Department of Defense, which intends to use biojet in its JP-8 jet fuel. JP-8 is a versatile fuel used in military vehicles, stationary diesel engines, and jet aircraft. This use of a common fuel simplifies logistics. There is also civilian interest in non-petroleum jet fuel. Alaska Airlines, KLM, and United Airlines have demonstrated the use of HEFA biojet fuel on commercial flights since 2011.
Good, the more synthetic and bio synthetic we can make, the less power the OPEC cartel has on the world.
Posted by: SJC | 09 November 2015 at 10:22 AM
E10 reduced oil consumption, E85 reduces it even more, run it in hybrids...even more.
Posted by: SJC | 10 November 2015 at 06:44 PM
There are better things than E85...too much oxygen content in the fuel. Though I partly admire Brazil... I think there are better ways than farming fuels, as there are so many untapped hydrocarbon sources.
It'll be a interesting future, oil companies may just stop drilling and start converting waste streams into profits. <$4 gasoline /diesel could be managed for a long while as new renewables come online.
Posted by: CheeseEater88 | 12 November 2015 at 01:45 AM