Today Algenol Biofuels announced that the Environmental Protection Agency has certified that the company’s algae-derived fuels meet the requirements of the Renewable Fuel Standard, making Algenol eligible for the Renewable Identification Numbers (RIN) needed to begin commercial sales.
This regulatory approval is an enormous milestone for Algenol and for the algae industry in general. The EPA evaluates advanced biofuels on a number of factors, including what the greenhouse gas reductions for the fuels are certified to achieve. The EPA found that Algenol’s fuels come with an astonishing 69% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when compared with gasoline!
Fuel blenders and refiners can now use Algenol’s fuels to meet requirements of the Clean Air Act, opening up an entirely new possibilities when it comes to energy and environmental security.
Algae-derived fuels like Algenol’s can be made with simple inputs of sunlight, nutrients and carbon dioxide. They can also be grown on marginal lands and without the use of freshwater. In fact, Algenol’s process produces freshwater as a byproduct!
The ability to use carbon dioxide as a feedstock for fuels can be a game-changer in the fight against climate change. The process, known as carbon utilization, transforms emissions that were considered a liability into a valuable asset.
Congratulations to the team at Algenol!
More information can be found in the company’s press release (PDF).