Recent changes in renewable diesel and biodiesel sectors | Biofuels International Magazine

biofuels-news.com · Feb 26, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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Rapid developments in decarbonisation policy, feedstock availability, and refinery-scale process innovation have significantly changed the renewable diesel and biodiesel sector over the past few years, write Dr Raj Shah and Diogo Moscato. Advances have been realised by steering feedstock away from edible oils toward second and third-generation lipid sources, including waste oils, animal fats, non-edible oil crops, and emerging fourth-generation microbial pathways, thereby lessening competition with food systems while lowering water use and lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. Concurrently, innovations in catalyst design and process integration have enhanced deoxygenation efficiency, selectivity toward diesel-range hydrocarbons and byproduct utilisation, while facilitating reductions in hydrogen consumption and improved compatibility with low-carbon hydrogen sources. Lifecycle carbon intensity reductions have been further strengthened through energy-efficiency improvements, refinery co-processing strategies, and the combination of carbon capture and storage technologies, in some cases enabling the production of ultra-low- or net-negative-carbon-intensity fuels under established regulatory systems. These technological advances have been reinforced by the development of blending mandates and low-carbon fuel policies across major global markets, including North America, Europe, and the marine and heavy-duty transport sectors. Collectively, these converging factors explain the recent expansion of renewable diesel capacity and investment worldwide and indicate a transition of biodiesel and renewable diesel from compliance-driven fuels toward strategically optimised, scalable low-carbon energy carriers. Apprehending these developments is essential for steering future research, industrial deployment, and policy formulation in advanced biofuel systems. Introduction The last three years have been essential for the biodiesel sector, which has rapidly evolved from niche alternatives to mainstream energy carriers within the global transportation sector. This transformation has been driven by the convergence of technological advancements, policy initiatives to decarbonise, and growing concerns about the environmental and economic impacts of conventional fossil fuels. Recent years have witnessed accelerated progress due to innovations in feedstock diversification, catalyst development, and refinery integration, as well as the implementation of stringent lifecycle carbon intensity standards. These advances have enabled the industry to shift toward non-food, low-carbon feedstocks and adopt process technologies that significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and land competition relative to traditional petroleum-derived fuels. Simultaneously, regulatory frameworks such as low-carbon fuel standards and blending mandates have fostered market expansion and incentivised investment in advanced production and carbon management technologies. The integration of carbon capture and storage (CCS), improvements in hydrogen sourcing, and the adoption of lifecycle assessment methodologies further reinforce the sector’s capacity to deliver ultra-low- or even net-negative-carbon-intensity fuels. As a result, biodiesel and renewable diesel are increasingly positioned as strategic solutions for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors, including heavy-duty transport and shipping, while supporting energy security and rural economic development. This paper examines the latest technological, regulatory, and market-based developments in biodiesel and renewable diesel, with a particular emphasis on the period from 2023 to 2025 and discusses their implications for the future trajectory of advanced biofuel systems. Feedstock diversification and impurity tolerance The renewable diesel industry is shifting from reliance on waste oils to non-food, low-carbon feedstocks such as cover crops, algae, forestry residues, and mixed lipid streams. There have been advances in the production of these materials, most point to one benefactor: the diversification now in place. For example, soybeans are the primary food utilised in countries such as the U.S and Brazil. Rapeseed and palm oil are the primary sources in Europe. This means that about 95% of the world’s ethanol production comes from edible oils [1]. The feedstocks are shifting away from these oils toward second- and third-generation sources, including cooking oil, animal fats, and non-edible oils such as jatropha and camelina [2]. The good news about these sources is that they are near-carbon-neutral. They are classified this way because cooking oil is a byproduct that is reused rather than wasted. Animal fats are produced as by-products of meat production, so they are not purpose-grown. Redirecting these fats into feedstock means they are diverted from rendering or disposal paths that emit CO2 and methane. Oils such as Camelina and Jatropha absorb atmospheric CO₂ during growth, offsetting combustion emissions. These crops do not compete directly with food production for space or water. They are estimated to reduce water consumption by up to half for the growth of a single field. Fourth-generation research is also underway, leveraging genetically engineered microorganisms to reduce CO2. This is still research, but it provides a realistic roadmap, as shown in Figure 1, for advancing the raw materials used for ethanol in biodiesel [3]. Catalyst innovation The good news about these sources is that they are near-carbon-neutral. They are classified this way because cooking oil is a byproduct that is reused rather than wasted. Animal fats are produced as by-products of meat production, so they are not purpose-grown. Diverting these fats into feedstock means they are diverted from rendering or disposal paths that emit CO2 and methane. A key factor in catalyst innovation in renewable diesel production is system-level optimisation, which involves improving process integration alongside catalyst-chemistry enhancements. As facilities scale up, optimizing reactor configurations, temperature profiles, and hydrogen management becomes critical to maximising conversion efficiency and catalyst lifespan. Recent studies indicate that system-level modifications, such as two-stage hydrotreating and advanced reactor designs, can improve selectivity and extend catalyst life, reducing operating costs [4]. In addition to traditional catalysts like NiMo/γ-Al₂O₃ and Pd/γ-Al₂O₃, which are known for their high activity and selectivity toward C15–C17 alkanes, research has expanded to include bimetallic and non-noble metal catalysts. For example, CoMo-based catalysts and Ni–W supported on novel carriers are becoming influential due to their improved resistance to sulfur and nitrogen poisoning, as well as enhanced performance with high-impurity feedstocks [5]. Recent data show that catalyst formulations with customized pore structures and promoter elements can achieve triglyceride conversion rates exceeding 98% while limiting byproduct formation [6]. These advances are also enabling the effective processing of mixed lipid streams, additionally improving feedstock flexibility and process sustainability. Overall, the convergence of advanced catalyst design and system-level process improvements is delivering significant gains in both product yield and process efficiency. In figure 2, you can see how the process works, ensuring that renewable diesel production remains economically viable and environmentally sustainable at commercial scales. Lifecycle carbon intensity reduction and carbon capture integration Carbon Intensity (CI) reductions in renewable diesel production are achieved through increased energy efficiency, strategic feedstock optimization, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. Recent studies in existing CCS projects show that combining CCS with biogenic CO₂ streams can enable the production of ultra-low or even net-negative CI fuels, substantially advancing decarbonisation goals. The studies focus on the 77 existing plants and include 47 additional plants under construction [8], [9], [10]. These systems have grown at a compound rate of 30% since 2017, with gains across all stages of development, from early capture through commercial operation, including electricity generation [10]. Advanced lifecycle methodologies, such as those standardized and employed by regulatory systems like California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, are critical tools for precisely quantifying and verifying these emissions reductions [11], [12]. Moreover, retrofitting existing petroleum refineries for co-processing with renewable feedstocks provides considerable opportunities to scale up renewable diesel production while reducing capital expenditure compared to greenfield projects [13]. However, increasing the renewable share in co-processing does have technical constraints, including catalyst deactivation and process co-integration issues, but ongoing innovative efforts continue to expand these limits [14]. Lessons learned from the recent rapid scale-up of mega-scale renewable diesel facilities, such as those in the United States and Europe, reveal best practices in feedstock flexibility, supply chain management, and integration with CCS, while additionally highlighting lasting challenges in regulatory compliance, technology adaptation, and market unpredictability [15], [16]. Convergence with sustainable ship fuel pathways Biodiesel is demonstrating very positive results for the planet's health. New Danish data collected showcases that this kind of fuel may reduce emissions by up to 81% [17]. It is important to note that this was the estimate, according to researchers, of how much it could reduce, but now, finally, after testing at sea, it has been proven through the CLEANSHIP Project. This research showcases the efficiency and capability of biodiesel, with ships and trucks (already the majority utilise a low percentage blend of biodies