Biofuels are a type of renewable fuel that are made from biomass which is material derived from plants or animals. Examples of biomass that are commonly used in the production of biofuels include used cooking oil and tallow. More advanced examples include lignocellulosic biomass and organic municipal solid waste. Considering the replenishable nature of materials stemming from growable resources, biofuels are considered a form of renewable energy and will play a role in the energy transition, specifically in the transportation sector. There are both first-generation and second-generation biofuels. First-generation biofuels come from crops grown on arable land while second-generation biofuels are produced from waste products, crops from non-arable land and other sources. Modern technologies that create biofuels, or fuel that is produced from biomass, offer a promising pathway to help societies meet future fuel needs while reducing transportation emissions.
Shell Catalysts & Technologies licenses processes like the Shell Renewable Refining Process and Shell Fiber Conversion Technology to help its customers produce lower-carbon fuels and reduce associated scope 3 emissions. The Shell Renewable Refining Process has the ability to process renewable feeds in existing hydrotreaters which can help reduce upfront capital expenditures to get up and running. Shell Fiber Conversion Technology unlocks plant sugars with low-temperature recyclable acids allowing for high-yield conversions of high-value products without downstream fouling. Shell is one of the world’s largest blenders and distributors of biofuels.
