The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to “What’s holding back Advanced Biofuels?”

Advanced liquid biofuels play an important role in the low-carbon pathway for the transport sector laid out by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

IRENA’s low-carbon pathway to 2050 calls for a fivefold increase in consumption of biofuels, from 130 billion litres in 2016 to almost 650 billion litres in 2050. This means that new and growing markets will need to emerge in Africa, Asia and South America, in addition to the present major markets of Brazil, Europe and the United States (US). Despite this, worldwide investments in advanced biofuels production, says IRENA, have been on a declining trend since 2011.

This recent IRENA report is a must read and analyzes barriers to advanced biofuel investments, revealing a complex business environment, where barriers to investment include an array of infrastructure-related, environmental, social and political issues. We’ve extracted the essential survey material and some key takeaways into a “news you can use” summary.