Intermediate crops are worth our attention! With their recognition as a sustainable feedstock for renewable fuels by the EU’s Annex 9 in RED II, they have the potential to mitigate some of our feedstock supply issues. This episode is dedicated to a deep dive into their technical details. Sylvain and Mikala are joined by Saipol, an oilseeds processing company, and part of the Avril Group. Specifically, we have Bastien Le Bouhellec, Head of Biodiesel Trading Desk, and Guillaume de la Forest, Analyst of Supply & Demand Oilseed Markets and Intercrop Sourcing Project Manager for Aviation Biofuels. Don’t miss this opportunity to feed your thoughts with new seeds!

What has happened in the past year within the world of renewable fuels? If you’re looking for the ultimate update on that, this episode is a must-listen! Topsoe’s own Product Line Directors, Milica Folic and Sandra Winter-Madsen, join Mikala and Sylvain to take the temperature on the 2024 realities of renewable fuels and the energy transition in general. They explore how the supply of various renewable fuel types has developed over the past year and how different regions across the world are progressing in their adoption of them. They also cover the current regulatory landscape (which never stands still!) and conclude the episode by unveiling their predictions for the year ahead: 2025.

Allow us to introduce the fastest pathway to begin your sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production: co-processing. Co-processing renewable and fossil feedstock in your existing unit, enables you to kickstart SAF production without major revamps or large investments. Our own experience with co-processing dates back to 2004, so for this SAF Special we’ve called on the assistance of our own Ranoo Pathak, Senior Technical Service Engineer, and Ignacio Fabian Costa, Licensing Manager, to tackle the key questions refineries might be facing. With the expected growth in demand for SAF, it's time to scale up production!

For the first time ever, we dedicate an entire SAF Special to exploring the financial aspects of getting sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) projects off the ground. What are the challenges and opportunities in financing SAF projects? And what are the best strategies for reaching final investment decision (FID)? Sylvain and Mikala delve into these questions (and many more!) with the assistance of IFC – International Finance Corporation. They’ll talk to IFC’s Ladan Pazhouhandeh, Senior Investment Officer and Kelly H. Johnson, Global Sector Lead in Chemicals and Fertilizers, and Topsoe’s own Lucas Bossard, Head of Public-Private Partnerships.

Get ready for a much-needed deep dive into the science and chemistry of jet fuels to understand their impact! Since airplanes contribute to global warming through emissions of CO2 and soot particles from their jet fuel combustion, our understanding of jet fuel is crucial for our efforts to decarbonize aviation. Sylvain is joined by Patrick LeClercq, Head of Department Multiphase Flows and Alternative Fuels, at German Aerospace Center (DLR) to delve into the composition and combustion of jet fuel and explore how sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) with lower aromatic content help reduce emissions from air travel.

Decarbonization is driving us towards feedstocks that are completely different from the fossil feedstocks, we’ve spent decades studying. To fully understand the complexity of renewable feedstocks, and optimize their use in renewable fuels production, we must turn to analytical chemistry. In this episode, we uncover the challenges and techniques for analyzing renewable feedstocks, like fatty acids, waste oil and fats, and more advanced options such as pyrolysis oils and hydrothermal liquefaction products. Settle in for a comprehensive view from both academia and industry as we’re joined by two special guests: Jan Christensen, Professor in Environmental Analytical Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen, and Karina Knudsmark Sjøholm, Principal Scientist at Topsoe.

When it comes to the production of renewable fuels, Latin America is a region filled with potential. With an abundance of easily accessible renewable resources like wind, sun, and biomass waste, and hosting well-advanced refineries and cost-competitive production opportunities, Latin America has the potential to become a key contributor to the global renewable fuels market. In this episode, we talk to Juan Pablo Freijo, founder and CEO of Sempen, and an expert in Latin America’s energy transition. We'll explore the current state of renewable fuels production in Latin America and discuss their future plans.

Step into the fascinating world of catalysts with us! Far from being mere commodities or utilities, catalysts are highly technological tools that are pivotal for renewable fuels production. In this episode, Sylvain dives deep into the role of catalysts in renewables with the help from no less than three Topsoe experts: Marie Grill, Principal Scientist for biobased chemicals, Fie Hallkvist Wilbek, Senior Business Development Manager in Digitalization, and Ignacio Fabian Costa, Licensing Manager for low-carbon fuel technologies. Together, they delve into the comprehensive A-Z of catalysts, discuss strategies for their optimal utilization, and highlight the crucial role of catalysts in renewable fuels production.