Biofuels: three companies innovating future fuels that could unlock sustainable shipping, renewable aviation and clean road transport
Jessie Wilson
The world has warmed by 1.2°C since 1900, driving ever more extreme weather events such as droughts, heatwaves, record-breaking temperatures, wildfires and floods, displacing millions of people. Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Hoesung Lee has called 2022 a crossroads year, saying, “The decisions we make now can secure a liveable future. We have the tools and know-how required to limit warming”.
One such tool available right now, today? Biofuels. Though their importance in the fight against the climate crisis is underrepresented, biofuels have the potential to take on one of the toughest clean energy challenges: transportation. According to the International Energy Agency, transportation accounts for 37% of global CO2 emissions, and has the highest reliance on fossil fuels of any sector.
Transport is complex: from the cars we commute in, to the ships that support global trade, the planes that connect the world, and the HGVs that deliver goods to our homes. Decarbonising transport is key to reaching net zero, but it requires a multi-solution approach. Along with the electrification of vehicles and development of green hydrogen, we need biofuels. Here’s the Greenhouse guide to the biofuels future, and three companies innovating in the renewable fuels industry:
As a global initiative comprising 23 countries and the European Commission, Mission Innovation aims to catalyse a decade of action and investment in research, development, and demonstration through public-private innovation alliances, known as Missions.
Its Integrated Biorefineries Mission addresses the growing need accelerate bio-based fuels. The Mission aims to develop and demonstrate innovative solutions that will accelerate the commercialisation of integrated biorefineries, with a goal to replace 10% of fossil-based fuels, chemicals, and materials with bio-based alternatives by 2030.
A start-up with technology to make a difference, XFuel is championing the scalability of biofuels for major sectors, including road transport, shipping, and aviation. The company’s patented technology turns biomass waste into a clean drop-in, low-carbon advanced fuel (aka second-generation biofuel).
XFuel can produce fuel efficiently, at a low-cost, that cuts emissions by 85% when compared to fossil-based fuel production, with a goal to develop carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative future fuels. On a mission to decarbonise the transport industry, XFuel is producing the fuel we need to do so.
Biofuels are already making a difference. CNG Fuels have refuelling stations around the UK, enabling major companies, such as Waitrose, Warburtons, Aldi, and Royal Mail, to cut emissions from their fleets by more than 90%, while saving up to 40% on lifetime fuel costs compared to diesel.
The company is also ready for the future, preparing sites for future fuels by hosting trials to ensure that when technologies such as hydrogen or electric become commercially viable, the infrastructure is already in place. CNG Fuels’ infrastructure has showcased the impact that can be made by adopting solutions that are available today.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to decarbonising such a complex industry but making major emission cuts is viable today. Find out more about companies that are driving the world towards net zero here:
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