Renewable Fuels: What are they?

Since Ireland's biofuel blending mandate went into effect in 2010, more and more biofuels have been added to the country's supply of transportation gasoline. The requirement makes sure that a specified amount of the motor gasoline put on the market by fuel suppliers must be biofuel (currently 13% by volume) (e.g., bioethanol and biodiesel).

239 million litres of biofuels replaced roughly 209 million litres of fossil fuels in 2020 alone, preventing about 520 KtCO2eq of greenhouse gas emissions.

What principal categories of fuels are renewable?

Biofuels including Bioethanol, Biodiesel, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO), and biogas are the major forms of renewable fuels utilised in transportation (e.g., biomethane).

Internal combustion engines (sometimes known as "ICE" engines) may run on biofuels. Biofuels continue to play an important role in the decarbonization of road transport in Ireland. Typically, they are blended with fossil fuels to create more sustainable mixes. Technical norms, as well as commercial and governmental guidelines, influence the mix level.

Advanced liquid biofuels and renewable gases like biomethane and green hydrogen are also included in the category of renewable fuels.

What is Bioethanol?

By fermenting the sugars in cereal grains, sugar beet, cane, and other plant materials, bioethanol (alcohol) provides a fuel replacement. Due to strict sustainability standards outlined in European legislation, the majority of bioethanol consumed in Europe is made from sustainably cultivated beet and grains with no negative effects on land usage, biodiversity, or the environment.

What is Biodiesel?

An alternative for diesel manufactured from discarded cooking oil, animal fats, and vegetable oil is known as biodiesel. Transesterification, a procedure used to create biodiesel, transforms the raw components into a liquid fuel resembling diesel that may then be combined. Ireland now uses 7% biodiesel, primarily made from discarded cooking oil and tallow, as part of its fuel supply.

Describe HVO.

Another type of renewable diesel that is manufactured to be chemically equivalent to diesel is HVO or hydrogenated vegetable oil. Higher quantities of HVO than other biodiesel can be utilised as a substitute fuel without posing any technical problems.

Advanced biofuels: What are they?

Advanced biofuels are liquid biofuels that often come from wastes and residues and produce a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions across their whole lifespan.

What is biomethane or biogas?

Anaerobic digestion technology is used to break down organic matter to produce biogas, a gaseous sustainable fuel. This type of biomethane may be utilised to decarbonize several industries, including heating, transportation, and energy production. It has many of the same properties as fossil gas, also known as natural gas.

Green Hydrogen: What is it?

Green hydrogen is created using clean energy sources like wind. Through the utilisation of hydrogen fuel cells, green hydrogen can power transportation and be utilised to create synthetic transportation fuels.