Sustainable biofuels
Shell’s range of sustainable biofuels are key to decarbonising our own product offerings while supporting our customers in their respective transitions to net zero.
The role of biofuels in the energy transition
Shell’s ambition is to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050. The biofuels produced by our Low Carbon Fuels (LCF) business are an essential lever in achieving this ambition, since they can help customers decarbonise operations across sectors where the energy density of fuels remains key – such as aviation, marine and heavy-duty road transport.
Read the transcript
Read the transcript
Title: The role of low carbon fuels
Duration: 2:35 minutes
Description:
A concise video explaining low-carbon fuels, their role in the energy transition, and their importance for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors like aviation, heavy-duty road transport, and shipping.
The video incorporates b-roll footage and animated text to showcase key facts and figures about the biofuels space. It highlights the potential of biofuels in driving the adoption of viable, sustainable energy solutions.
The role of low carbon fuels transcript
[Background music plays]
Bright, uplifting music is playing in the background
[B-roll footage]
A sky filled with pink and grey clouds. The sun is setting in the background, casting an orange hue across the landscape.
[Voiceover]
Global transport accounts for roughly 1/4 of all greenhouse gas emissions around the world.
Scene transition
[B-roll footage]
A plane taking off from a runway, viewed from the front, with trees in the background.
[Text displays]
Of this 25%... Aviation 1.9%
Scene transition
[B-roll footage]
A ship with containers
[Text displays]
Of this 25%... Shipping 1.7%
Scene transition
[B-roll footage]
A motorway surrounded by trees and a field on the left-hand side. On the Motorway there is a truck, campervan and multiple cars.
[Text displays]
Of this 25%... Heavy-duty road transport 4.8%
Scene transition
[B-roll footage]
A white van driving down a road surrounded by a forest.
[Text displays]
Of this 25%... Other forms of transportation 16.6%
Scene transition
[B-roll footage]
An intersection with a walkway and road markings with multiple cars on it.
[Text displays]
Of this 25%... Other forms of transportation 16.6%
Scene transition
[B-roll footage montage]
A person driving a truck, view of their arms and the steering wheel; A man and a child looking at a sunset across a hilly landscape; A woman sitting at a table with a laptop; A person walking and holding a tablet device in their hand
[Voiceover]
Decarbonization is therefore a priority, but there were many routes towards the net 0 emissions future.
Scene transition
[B-roll footage montage]
A man in a suit is talking on a cell phone looking at a plan taking off in the foreground; Airplane flying in the sky above the clouds ; A large container ship sailing through the ocean; A truck is driving on a bridge over a ravine surrounded by fields and trees
[Voiceover]
So how can we decarbonize the transportation of people and freight up in the air, out at sea and on the roads?
Scene transition
[B-roll footage]
The roof and sign of a Shell forecourt
[Text displays]
What are biofuels?
Scene transition
[B-roll footage montage]
A person putting a fuel pump nozzle into the side of a car; A close-up of a fuel pump nozzle pouring fuel into a pipe; A woman looking into a microscope
[Voiceover]
Biofuels could help and are available today.
Scene transition
[B-roll footage montage]
Liquid being poured into a beaker
Scene transition
[B-roll footage]
An aerial shot of a biofuel factory
Scene transition
[B-roll footage]
A person holding a fuel nozzle and using it to put fuel into a truck tank
Scene transition
[B-roll footage]
A person is driving a car on a country road with their hand outside of the window
[Voiceover]
As their name suggests, biofuels made from organic matter have a lower carbon intensity than conventional fuels like diesel.
Scene transition
[B-roll footage]
Underwater, with light shining through the surface of the water.
[Text displays]
Where are biofuels used?
Scene transition
[B-roll footage montage]
A long bridge with a truck and car driving over a field of crops ; Falling droplets of liquid; Two trucks turning into a truck depot unloading bay
[Voiceover]
While today biofuels are mainly used for road transport, moving forward we expect to see wider growth in their use across the entire mobility spectrum
[Text displays]
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) Net Zero Scenario biofuels should contribute 15% of transport’s energy demand by 2030
Scene transition
[B-roll footage montage]
White train crosses screen surrounded by yellow crops; a storage of green cannisters with a yellow Biofuel 4 label; aerial shot of fields;
[Voiceover]
Moving forward we expect to see wider growth in their use across the entire mobility spectrum
Scene transition
A white hydrogen H2 power plant pans across screen; an electric car is being refueled with a glowing cable with a wind turbine turning in the background;
[Voiceover]
where they will coexist with 0 emission solutions like hydrogen and electrification as part of a lower carbon fuels mosaic.
[B-roll footage montage]
An aircraft on a landing strip with yellow taxiing lanes; a harbour with many freight ships; a white articulated lorry parking with a green L badge
[Text displays]
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for aircraft, BioLNG for ships, Renewable Diesel (HVO) and bioLNG for trucks
[Voiceover]
This includes aviation, marine and heavy duty transport.
Scene transition
[B-roll footage montage]
Close up of a green-gloved scientist mixing content of test tubes; a frothing liquid being stirred; aerial view of green crops in a field; a woman in glasses points to a screen containing energy visuals; a woman is looking at a screen with the data reflected in her spectacles
[Text displays]
Why are biofuels important?
[Voiceover]
Biofuels are critical to decarbonization in these sectors for three reasons.
Scene transition
[B-roll footage montage]
Footage from space, the camera shot travels rapidly from a view of the moon to view of the earth; a sunrise within a cityscape of high-rise towers
[Text displays]
Reduced emissions
[Voiceover]
Firstly, the current generation of biofuels can reduce life cycle greenhouse gas emissions
by anywhere between 20 to 80%.
Scene transition
[B-roll footage montage]
The internal workings of a combustion engine ; golden matrix of hexagonal cells expanding and circulating
[Text displays]
Easy adoption
[Voiceover]
Secondly, their drop in status means they can be used in the same engines and pipelines as their conventional fuel counterparts.
[Text displays]
High-energy density
[Voiceover]
And thirdly, their high energy density means they are suitable fuels for heavy duty vehicles.
[Text displays]
What else can biofuels deliver?
Scene transition
[B-roll footage montage]
The sun sits above the clouds on the horizon
[Text displays]
Sustainable feedstock development
Scene transition
[B-roll footage montage]
A figure in wellington boots walks through some planting; aerial shot of white, friesian and brown cows in a green field heading south; sunset over a savannah; interior shot of an empty cow shed
[Voiceover]
Using biofuels can repurpose waste from materials like cow manure, organic waste and waste
oils such as used cooking oil, while supporting the further development on sustainable feedstocks and technologies.
[Text displays]
Less reliance on conventional fuel
Scene transition
[B-roll footage montage]
A woman in a white hardhard leans over a pipe inspecting something toward the camera; aerial shot of white and blue factory vats; close-up of a red vehicle being refuelled; a combine harvester moving across a field of yellow produce
[Voiceover]
What's more, for some governments, investing in biofuels represents an opportunity to invest in their local agricultural sector, reducing reliance on fuel imports.
Scene transition
[B-roll footage montage]
White freight vehicles moving in a depot; shipping freights silhouettes in a harbour at sundown; a passenger plane overhead descending to land; 2 women review content on a laptop sat on a balcony; tracking shot of City of London; a woman opens net curtains onto a tree-filled park below; a sinewy road crosses some fields at sunset; travelling shot at sunset in the clouds
[Voiceover]
So as well as helping to decarbonize transport, when done right, biofuels can contribute to an energy transition that works for people and the planet.
[Text displays]
Find out more www.shelll.com/powering-progress
Products
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is an alternative fuel to fossil-based jet fuel that can help to significantly reduce emissions from flying.
It has the potential to reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80% when used neat, compared with conventional aviation fuel.1 SAF is also a drop-in fuel, which can be blended at a ratio of up to 50% with conventional jet fuel for use in aircraft operating today.2
RNG products
Renewable natural gas (RNG), or biomethane, is chemically identical to, and therefore directly interchangeable with, conventional natural gas. Added directly to existing natural gas grids, biomethane can be used in transmission and distribution infrastructure. Thus, it can be compressed or liquified for heavy-duty transport, used for heating and cooking, and for combined heat and power (CHP) generation.
Renewable diesel (HVO)
Renewable diesel is a fuel known by many names, including HVO and HEFA, and can be used as a 'drop in' fuel for diesel. This means it can act as a complete replacement for fossil diesel or be blended into fossil diesel at any ratio. Shell Renewable Diesel offers up to 90% less carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e)3 emissions compared to B7 diesel4 on a life cycle basis.5
Production pathways and technologies
Not only does Shell produce high quality fuels from sustainable sources today, but we are also expanding existing production pathways while developing and scaling new, advanced biofuels technologies for the future. This means working closely with technology companies’, governments and customers to grow demand, support policy initiatives, commercialise new technologies and build a solid commercial ecosystem for our products.
Industries where biofuels can make an impact
What role does policy play in biofuels production?
Regulators have an important role to play in supporting the uptake of biofuels and ensuring their full potential can be realised as part of a successful, and sustainable, energy transition. For instance, government support will be essential in supporting the start-up and scale-up of new technologies, creating the market for these fuels through mandates and targets, and allowing for feedstock flexibility under strict sustainability guidelines. As part of this ecosystem, Shell consistently calls on governments to:
- Support capital investment in low-carbon projects to assist supply-side dynamics.
- Put in place mandates and low-carbon fuel standards to incentivise biofuels adoption.
- Develop short-to—medium-term incentives to support affordability until the industry can scale.
- Allow a wider use of feedstocks, provided they meet sustainability guidelines.
- Define clear sustainability standards for biomass supply, covering the full supply chain.
Feedstock
For biofuels to be accepted as part of the energy transition, they need to be produced sustainably and lead to significant reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. To support this aim, Shell has put strict internal sustainability policies in place to help guide which biofuel feedstocks we purchase. Beyond this, we are developing more advanced technologies to process feedstocks and transform them into biofuels and e-fuels.
For instance, Shell is investing in projects to de-risk key feedstocks, such as agricultural and animal wastes. We are also exploring feedstocks that do not compete with food and feed production, such as intermediate crops, catch and cover crops, and crops grown on degraded, abandoned or contaminated land. While many of these are currently not available at scale, we are working with customers and suppliers to develop robust supply chains.
Purchasing policy statement - sustainable sourcing of biocomponents (PDF, 205 kB)
Key factors influencing feedstock sustainability
To meet the demand for biofuels through sustainable feedstock growth, our Low Carbon Fuels business takes into consideration many different dimensions of sustainability when determining which biofeedstocks to bring into our portfolio – from their environmental to societal to economic impact. The table below breaks out these categories further. Our commitment lies in ensuring that we consistently consider these factors to make informed and responsible decisions when procuring biofeedstocks, upholding our commitment to sustainability across all dimensions. Any feedstocks considered high risk from a human rights, biodiversity or release of carbon stock perspective are always certified by credible third-party sustainability initiatives.
Related content
Disclaimer
1 International Air Transport Association “Developing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)”
2 International Air Transport Association “Fact Sheet 2 Sustainable Aviation Fuel: Technical Certification”
3 CO2e carbon dioxide equivalent refers to CO2, CH4, N2O.
4 The reduced CO2e emissions are calculated by comparing to a GHG baseline intensity of 90.2 gCO2e/MJ on a Well-to-Wheel basis, which is representative of a European Union market B7 diesel. The carbon intensity of the B7 diesel is calculated by Shell using emission factors from the JEC Well-to-Tank report v5. (European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Prussi, M., Yugo, M., De Prada, L., et al., JEC well-to-tank report V5: JEC well-to-wheels analysis: well-to-wheels analysis of future automotive fuels and powertrains in the European context, Publications Office, 2020). The market representative diesel baseline is calculated by Shell using emission factors issued by the relevant government or regulatory bodies, externally recognized lifecycle analysis (LCA) models and databases; and internal Shell studies, which include calculations to estimate the biofuel content of Shell-branded fuels and are subject to change from time to time.
5 The full life-cycle assessment of a product's CO2e emissions includes emissions associated with feedstock production, feedstock transport, fuel production, fuel transportation and distribution as well as end use and/or combustion.
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