Rising oil prices coupled with dire regulatory reports on global warming have reinvigorated interest in biofuels as a low carbon fuel. What is the status of second generation biofuels technology and the scaleup possibilities? Can biofuels be looked at as a mature technology option? How can biofuels targets be met, which appear more ambitious at the current pace of scale up? How do socio-political dimensions add to the value of biofuels as a cleaner fuel choice?
The shift to lower Carbon Intensity (CI) liquid bio-based transport fuels blending components is becoming firmly established. In California, Canada, and the European Union, the demand for lower CI biofuels is set to rise for at least the next decade. Other market could adopt similar policies. To date, the focus has largely been on renewable diesel fuel. However, as the policies move forward, market constraints are almost certain to develop and require both industry and policy adjustments. How will these low CI policy goals be met? Will other countries follow? What are the challenges and opportunities for market participants in a falling CI world?