July 21, 2017
BY Staff Report
Romania expects a drastic decline in bioethanol production in 2017, but will increase its bioethanol blending mandate, according to the European Renewable Energy Directive.
Biofuel is expected to to rise slightly in 2018, if imports slow down. Romania hasn’t changed its 4.5 percent bioethanol blending mandate since 2014, but will increase it in 2018 to 8 percent. Legislation has the target blending rate for biofuels set at 10 percent by 2020.
Romania has only one bioethanol plant, producing 80,000 metric tons per year from corn. The plant has experienced financial problems and minimized production. Romania has access to only specific feedstocks because of the lack of infrastructure, high financial risks and uncertainty in production resources. The country relies largely on first-generation biofuels.
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Romania has a 24 percent renewable energy consumption goal for 2020, but reached 24.8 percent in 2015. It is among 11 European Union member states that achieved its 2020 target in 2015.
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The U.S. EPA on July 8 hosted virtual public hearing to gather input on the agency’s recently released proposed rule to set 2026 and 2027 RFS RVOs. Members of the biofuel industry were among those to offer testimony during the event.
The U.S. exported 31,160.5 metric tons of biodiesel and biodiesel blends of B30 and greater in May, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on July 3. Biodiesel imports were 2,226.2 metric tons for the month.
The USDA’s Risk Management Agency is implementing multiple changes to the Camelina pilot insurance program for the 2026 and succeeding crop years. The changes will expand coverage options and provide greater flexibility for producers.
EcoCeres Inc. has signed a multi-year agreement to supply British Airways with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The fuel will be produced from 100% waste-based biomass feedstock, such as used cooking oil (UCO).
President Trump on July 4 signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The legislation extends and updates the 45Z credit and revives a tax credit benefiting small biodiesel producers but repeals several other bioenergy-related tax incentives.