It starts with enzymes

Move over crude and kerosene, vegetable oils are the fuel of the future. As automotive, aerospace and other industries transition away from fossil fuels, demand for vegetable-based biofuels has skyrocketed. In 2020, total biofuel consumption peaked at 122 million tons representing a 35% increase on 20181, and between 2021-2026, global demand for these fuels is expected to rise by another 30%.2 A key factor underpinning this growth is the introduction of advanced biofuels like Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), which, unlike traditional biodiesels, can be used as a ‘drop-in’ alternative to fossil fuels. All this activity is driving a construction boom for vegetable oil-refining plants generally and more specifically specialised HVO production facilities, but there are clouds on the horizon. Fresh opportunities, finite resources Globally, there are at least 30 biomass conversion facilities – producing bio-oil, biogas, diesel-type hydrocarbons, diesel with biogenic content and HVO – in various stages of planning and at least a further seven already under construction. However,...