The 2013 Renewable Fuel Standard: A 10-Minute Guide
By Jim Lane, Biofuels Digest
February 1, 2013
February 1, 2013
In Washington, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its proposed 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS2).??The proposal will be open for a 45-day public comment period and EPA will consider feedback from a range of stakeholders before the proposal is finalized.
For 2013, the program is proposing to implement EISA’s requirement to blend more than 1.35 billion gallons of renewable fuels over the amount mandated for 2012.
The Proposed Standard
Here, we have given you the proposed 2013 RFS2 volumes, and the original 2013 targets set under the 2007 EISA legislation. We’ve also provided the final 2012 and 2011 numbers, so that you can evaluate the growth rate in each pool and in the overall Standard.
Note: RFS2 is nested, so the figures for Cellulosic biofuels and Biomass-based diesel are nested inside the overall Advanced Biofuels number — and in turn the Advanced biofuels pool is nested (alongside the corn ethanol target) within the overall Renewable Fuel Standard.
It may sound complex, but it is designed that way so that shortfalls in one pool can be made up by expanding the targets in another pool. That’s why you have to be wary of people who flag a shortfall in one nested pool, for example, cellulosic biofuels. Any shortfalls are easily made up by sourcing qualifying advanced biofuels elsewhere.
The Cellulosic Standard
The EPA is being far more cautious this year on cellulosic biofuels. Though at least four commercial-scale facilities will have completed construction by the end of the year (Abengoa, Fiberight, INEOS Bio and KiOR), the EPA is projecting qualified fuel being produced for distribution at only two — INEOS Bio and KiOR.
Overall, the EPA is projecting that US cellulosic ethanol production capacity will be 49 million gallons by the end of the year, but that 14 million gallons will be produced, or 28.6 percent of capacity.
Speaking of Fiberight, CEO Craig Stuart-Paul advises the Digest that “We have now exceeded 1,000 hours uninterrupted at our integrated demo plant, and we are expediting engineering for Blairstown.” You can see video on the Fiberight website, here.
Corn Ethanol – Expect a Protest
The Proposed Standard
Here, we have given you the proposed 2013 RFS2 volumes, and the original 2013 targets set under the 2007 EISA legislation. We’ve also provided the final 2012 and 2011 numbers, so that you can evaluate the growth rate in each pool and in the overall Standard.
Note: RFS2 is nested, so the figures for Cellulosic biofuels and Biomass-based diesel are nested inside the overall Advanced Biofuels number — and in turn the Advanced biofuels pool is nested (alongside the corn ethanol target) within the overall Renewable Fuel Standard.
It may sound complex, but it is designed that way so that shortfalls in one pool can be made up by expanding the targets in another pool. That’s why you have to be wary of people who flag a shortfall in one nested pool, for example, cellulosic biofuels. Any shortfalls are easily made up by sourcing qualifying advanced biofuels elsewhere.
The Cellulosic Standard
The EPA is being far more cautious this year on cellulosic biofuels. Though at least four commercial-scale facilities will have completed construction by the end of the year (Abengoa, Fiberight, INEOS Bio and KiOR), the EPA is projecting qualified fuel being produced for distribution at only two — INEOS Bio and KiOR.
Overall, the EPA is projecting that US cellulosic ethanol production capacity will be 49 million gallons by the end of the year, but that 14 million gallons will be produced, or 28.6 percent of capacity.
Speaking of Fiberight, CEO Craig Stuart-Paul advises the Digest that “We have now exceeded 1,000 hours uninterrupted at our integrated demo plant, and we are expediting engineering for Blairstown.” You can see video on the Fiberight website, here.
Corn Ethanol – Expect a Protest
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