Biogenic Carbon Testing of Biofuels

‘Fit for 55’ Policy Package Updates EU Climate Strategy

The Fit for 55 policy package is a set of proposals to revise and update European Union legislation in support of the EU’s target of reducing its net emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. While the Fit for 55 was first introduced in July of 2021, several of its key proposals have recently been passed and will take effect over the coming years.

Germany’s Emissions Cap Program Now Accepts Carbon-14 Biogenic Content Testing

The Brennstoffemissionshandelsgesetz (BEHG) is Germany’s national emissions cap program. In 2023, the Federal Office of Justice (Bundesamt für Justiz) published an ordinance on emissions testing under the BEHG for 2023 to 2030. One result of this ordinance is that the program has started to recognize the biogenic portion of emissions from waste incineration, such as from coal facilities using co-firing and waste-to-energy (WtE) plants. As a result, operators of these plants reporting their emissions for 2023 will be able to use carbon-14 (C-14) testing results to quantify the biogenic portion of their emissions.

RFS Program Adds Biogenic Content Testing for Biogas and RNG

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) passed the final version of its Renewable Fuels Standards Rule for 2023, 2024 and 2025, announcing the program’s volume targets and adopting a variety of other updates. One update included in the rule adds new testing requirements for biogas and renewable natural gas (RNG) seeking to generate renewable identification numbers (RINs) under the program.

Low Carbon Fuel Standard Programs in the US & Canada

A Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) program is designed to decrease the carbon intensity (CI) of a state’s fuel supply by requiring suppliers to purchase credits corresponding to fossil fuels they sell and offering tax incentives to those providing renewable options. The revenue generated by selling credits is then used to finance the state’s energy transition, particularly by funding the public infrastructure necessary to promote the use of renewable fuels.

How Co-Processing Refineries in Canada Get Credits under the CFR

Through the Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR), the Government of Canada aims to reduce pollution by 2030 by decreasing the carbon intensity (CI) of gasoline and diesel used in the country. The Canadian Ministry of Environment and Climate Change published a Quantification Method (QM) for co-processing in refineries under the CFR. The QM requires ASTM D6866 testing to measure the biogenic content of the co-processed feedstocks used and the low-CI fuels produced in registered projects.

Dutch Regulation Requires Carbon-14 Analysis for Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil

The Dutch Emissions Authority (Nederlandse Emissieautoriteit, NEa) is publishing a Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) Regulation, which takes effect starting October 1, 2021. The NEa is responsible for developing policies related to climate and renewable energy in the Netherlands.

Carbon-14 Testing Co-processed Fuels

Efforts to decrease greenhouse gas emissions drive the growing production and use of biofuel blends. Beta Analytic’s Haley Gerson shares that fuel manufacturers have co-processed bio-oil with petroleum feeds as it is a cost-effective way to produce biofuels by using existing refinery processes, storage and transport infrastructure. Co-processing is also beneficial since it may help […]

DIN 51637 – Biobased Content Testing of Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO)

DIN 51637:2014-02 details the determination of the biobased hydrocarbon content of hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) in commonly used diesel fuels. This German standard specifies the use of the liquid scintillation counting (LSC) method to measure the carbon-14 content and thereby determine the biobased content.

US EPA sets Biobased Diesel Volume for 2013 at 1.28 Billion Gallons

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established the amount of bio-diesel products required to be included in diesel fuel markets in 2013. Biobased diesel products are advanced bio-fuels that are derived from sources that include vegetable oils and wastes oils from renewable sources.

US EPA Proposes 2012 Renewable Fuel Standards

WASHINGTON, January 21 — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed the 2012 percentage standards for four fuel categories that are part of the agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2). EPA continues to support greater use of renewable fuels within the transportation sector every year.

Beta Analytic Promotes ASTM D6866 Testing to Biorefineries at RRB7

ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited Beta Analytic Inc. is one of the exhibitors at the Seventh International Conference on Renewable Resources and Biorefineries (RRB7) in Bruges, Belgium. Alexander Shroff, deputy manager for European operations, and Thierry Sam Tamers, director, will represent the company at the event. The three-day conference, to be held at the Oud Sint-Jan Conference Centre, […]

UK DfT Recommends C14 Analysis to Measure Biofuel Renewable Content

In the consultation document published by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) regarding the implementation of the transport elements of the EU Renewable Energy Directive, the DfT is proposing to determine the renewable portion of partially renewable fuels through carbon-14 dating techniques.

ASTM D6866 Lab Beta Analytic Joins Industrial Biotechnology Congress

Beta Analytic, Inc., will showcase its ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited lab’s services at the 8th World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing, which starts May 8, 2011. Martin Tesini, the company’s Operations Manager for Latin America/Iberian Peninsula, will take charge of Beta Analytic’s tabletop display at the exhibit hall and would welcome any inquiries on biobased or […]

Beta Analytic Joins 1st World Congress of Bioenergy 2011 in China

ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited Beta Analytic, Inc., will participate in the 1st World Congress of Bioenergy (WCBE-2011) to be held at the World Expo Center in Dalian, China, from April 25 to April 30, 2011. Research & Development Associate Pat Patodia and China Operations Manager Fuming “Steven” Liu are representing Beta Analytic at the event.

Beta Analytic Showcases Biobased Testing at Biofuels Conference

Participants of the Advanced Biofuels Markets conference in San Francisco, California, will get a chance to discuss ASTM D6866 biomass carbon content testing with Beta Analytic Inc. on November 9 and November 10, 2010. The company’s representative, Pat Patodia, will be available at the event’s exhibit hall to answer inquiries about the test. ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited […]

Beta Analytic Co-Sponsors Cellulosic Biofuels Summit 2010

ASTM D6866 lab Beta Analytic, Inc., invites participants of the 5th Annual Cellulosic Biofuels Summit in Washington, D.C., to visit its booth at the event’s exhibit hall. From November 15 to November 18, representatives from different sectors of the cellulosic biofuels value chain will convene at Almas Temple Club for the 2010 summit. Beta Analytic, […]

US EPA Amended RFS Requires ASTM D6866 Testing for MSW-Derived Biofuel

The US EPA’s amended Renewable Fuel Standard, also called RFS2, requires ASTM D6866 testing to determine the biogenic fraction of transportation fuels derived from municipal solid waste (MSW), where the renewable portion of the fuel cannot be determined based on the relative energy content of the renewable biomass and fossil feedstock. ASTM D6866 can also […]

Beta Public Comment: EPA Renewable Fuel Standard Program

Thierry Sam Tamers, Beta Analytic director, recommends the use of ASTM D6866 to measure the biomass fraction of municipal solid waste in a public comment submitted to the U.S. EPA in connection to the revised Renewable Fuel Standard Program.

Beta Public Comment: WCI Essential Requirements of Mandatory Reporting

Beta Analytic submitted a public comment to the Western Climate Initiative relating to the latter’s essential requirements for mandatory reporting final draft. Beta noted that sewage is not 100% biomass.

U.S. EPA to Revise Renewable Fuel Standard Program

In an effort to reduce dependence on fuel imports by increasing domestic sources, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to change its Renewable Fuel Standard Program.  Changes to the regulation of fuels and fuel additives include: