Project leader: Austria

Project leader: Sweden and USA

The global need for transportation energy is steadily growing and growth is expected also in the future. At the same time, the use of fossil fuels must decline dramatically to comply with set climate goals. This calls for a substantial coordinated effort around the globe and across sectors. Recent data finds that over 100 billion gallons of predominantly fossil-based jet fuel are consumed each year to power the global aviation sector, contributing to approximately 11% of all transportation-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and 3% of total anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Accelerated efforts to decarbonize the global aviation sector are needed to curtail rising emissions and avert the worst outcomes of climate change. Assessments are needed on the progress in the development of low CI biofuels in the “hard-to-electrify” aviation sector which necessitate fuels of high energy density. Applications for SAF also require an integrated effort for rapid development. Renewable hydrocarbon for diesel and jet sectors forms the basis for this project. Combining the projects on heavy-duty transportation and sustainable aviation fuel into a single initiative offers a solution to the important observation of competition for the same feedstocks, while addressing the start commonalities and competing aspects.

Project leader: Germany

With regard to the increasing demand on mobilizing resources for renewable products and fuels, synergies of biomass in hybrid processes with renewable energies are gaining increasing worldwide to increase carbon- and energy efficiency. Along the biofuel production value chain, carbon losses during biomass conversion and the utilization of fossil based energy limit the full potential of GHG emission reduction. By integrating renewable energy and maximizing the carbon utilization achievements can be expected in terms of ecological as well as economic process performance. The Inter-task project (ITP) “Synergies of green hydrogen and bio-based value chains deployment” gave first insights on the techno-economic and ecologic feasibility for synergies to be raised in the bioenergy sector by showcasing selected, exemplary case studies. However, a systematic approach to further explore the potential for synergies specifically in biofuel production value chains has not been carried out so far. Project 4 will enable to identify issues for additional or even more detailed analysis on dedicated hybrid technologies focusing on the Task 39 objectives as well as on further collaboration within IEA Bioenergy TCP.

Project leader: Ireland

The potential of biomass to serve as a sustainable fuel source for the marine shipping sector is widely recognized, offering a solution to reduce GHG emissions in the marine sector and comply with stringent sulphur regulations. However, the commercialization of biofuels for marine use faces significant barriers, primarily due to limited production volumes and delays in technology commercialization. A previous report published by Task 39 brings interviews with key stakeholders that reveal that economic incentives, uncertainty regarding feedstock prices and sustainability criteria, and regulatory policies are major obstacles hindering substantial investments in biofuels for the marine sector. Despite technical challenges such as scaling up production and establishing supply chains, stakeholders are more concerned about the uncertainties in the economic and political landscapes. Biofuels are seen as promising a short- to mid-term solution for reducing emissions and meeting sulphur regulations, especially as the price gap between fossil and biofuels narrows. While there is a general demand among major stakeholders of the sector to accelerate the transition towards sustainable solutions, challenges such as the complexity of biofuel chemistry and the lack of standardised marine fuel standards remain significant hurdles.

Project leader: China

Bioenergy combined with carbon capture and utilisation or storage, also known as bio-CCUS or BECCUS is a concept that has been discussed in climate change mitigation research for quite some time. In the last years its implementation has become the subject of serious consideration within governments and private actors. The reasons for this are largely related to four factors that are somewhat entwined: a) an emerging awareness of the need for BECCS and other negative emissions technologies if there is to be any chance for the Paris 1.5°C target to be reached and thus to reach national net zero emissions targets, b) increased interest in buying carbon negative or neutral products, c) rising CO2 prices, and d) the long-term need for sustainable carbon for fuels, chemicals, materials and biogenic CO2 as a way to broaden the raw material basis in addition to using biomass directly. In light of this, identifying and implementing approaches for how BECCUS systems can be deployed and integrated in ways that maximise benefits in terms of climate change mitigation – as well as in terms of energy system integration and sustainability ambitions more broadly – is highly important.