The U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) has achieved a significant milestone in decreasing the price of “drop-in” biofuels. Fungible or “drop-in” fuels are made from biomass and other waste carbon sources that are compatible with existing (petroleum) fuel infrastructure and conventional ICE vehicles. These fuels are very important in de-carbonizing transportation and, unlike developmental technologies – they can be put into use immediately.
BETO partnered with T2C-Energy, LLC (T2C) to validate pilot-scale production of drop-in biofuels with a price of less than $3 per gallon and at least 60% lower greenhouse gas emissions than petroleum, using T2C’s TRIFTS® process.
The TRIFTS process converts anaerobic digestor produced biogas (or landfill gas) to liquid transportation fuels. TRIFTS has allowed drop-in renewable diesel fuel to reach $2.91 gallon without the use of credits from the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard, California Low Carbon Fuels Standard, or other carbon credits. And they do this while reducing GHG emissions by 130% when compared to traditional petroleum diesel fuel.
Read the full story on the Bioprose: Bioenergy R&D Blog. BETO’s efforts to reduce the price of drop-in biofuels is part of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE) larger strategy for decarbonizing transportation across all modes.