Current status of biodiesel research abroad

1. Overview of biodiesel development in the United States Due to its enormous energy consumption, the United States imports large quantities of petroleum annually. To alleviate pressure stemming from overreliance on international energy markets—and to address environmental concerns—the U.S. has actively pursued alternative energy sources. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the U.S. conducted theoretical research into converting oils and fats into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) for biodiesel production, seeking substitutes and additives for conventional fossil fuels. Especially after the enactment of the Clean Air Act (1990) and the Energy Policy Act (1992), the U.S. intensified research into reducing air pollution, protecting the environment, and decreasing dependence on imported energy—reigniting serious consideration of biodiesel commercialization. The U.S. Department of Energy commissioned the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to conduct extensive and in-depth investigations into biodiesel production, fuel properties, road testing, regulatory frameworks, commercialization status, economics, and environmental impacts. Research also focused on technologies and market potential for producing biodiesel from soybean oil and fatty acids derived as byproducts of soybean oil refining. Today, biodiesel is officially recognized as an alternative fuel by three major U.S. institutions: the Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). In June 1994, ASTM established a working group to develop biodiesel standards and issued the provisional standard PS121–1999 in 1999. After several years of field trials, ASTM released the formal biodiesel standard ASTM D6751–2002 in December 2001, superseding PS121–1999. This standard specifies requirements for B100 biodiesel intended for blending into B20 diesel fuel. In 2003, ASTM revised the standard to ASTM D6751–2003, primarily introducing two product grades—S15 and S500—based on sulfur content. To promote biodiesel development, the EPA proposed the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) on September 7, 2006. Under this standard, consumption of biodiesel, ethanol, and other renewable fuels would double, raising the share of renewable fuels in the U.S. fuel mix from 2.78% in 2006 to 3.71% in 2007. The American Petroleum Institute (API) stated that the EPA’s decision would provide greater operational certainty through this standard—but emphasized the need to strengthen management of ethanol, biodiesel, and other renewable fuels as integral components of the overall U.S. fuel blending system. According to statistics from the U.S. National Biodiesel Board (2004), there were 22 commercial biodiesel plants either operational or under construction in the U.S. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation Bioenergy Group reported that U.S. biodiesel production reached 600,000 tons (B100) in 2003—double the 300,000-ton output in 2002. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects domestic biodiesel production will reach 1.2 million tons by 2010 and 3.3 million tons by 2016. In the U.S., biodiesel is primarily produced via transesterification of soybean oil or fatty acids using acid or base catalysts. Current annual production capacity stands at 300,000–500,000 tons, with typical blending ratios in conventional diesel ranging from 10% to 20%. Biodiesel is mainly used by bus and trucking companies operating their own gas stations; the federal government is the largest single consumer. The dominant blend is B20 (20% biodiesel + 80% petroleum diesel). Additionally, the U.S. has pioneered new feedstock pathways for biodiesel, successfully developing high-oil-content 'engineered microalgae' as a supplemental feedstock source. 2. Overview of biodiesel development in Canada According to the 2006 issue of China Petrochemical & Chemical Economic Analysis, in Canada, diesel blended with biodiesel is termed 'green diesel.' Exhaust and engine tests indicate green diesel performs comparably to conventional diesel containing commercial nitrate additives. Currently, neither biodiesel nor green diesel has entered commercial application in Canada, although vehicle testing of green diesel is underway. On December 20, 2006, the Canadian government announced plans to mandate a minimum 2% renewable biodiesel content in all diesel fuel and heating oil by 2012. This initiative forms part of a CAD 345 million (approx. USD 310 million) investment program to advance biomass energy R&D. Canada became the world’s first country to enact such a mandatory requirement. The plan is expected to reduce Canada’s annual greenhouse gas emissions by 4 million tons—equivalent to removing 4 million cars from roads each year. Canada is a leading producer of double-low rapeseed (low erucic acid, low glucosinolate), yet it does not currently employ rapeseed oil-to-FAME conversion technology for biodiesel production. Instead, Canada is researching hydroprocessing techniques to produce cetane-enhancing additives (e.g., cetane improvers) for blending with petroleum diesel—though these remain uncommercialized. 3. Overview of biodiesel development in Brazil Over 80% of Brazil’s petroleum demand is met through imports; consequently, Brazil was among the earliest countries to develop and master technologies for converting vegetable oils—especially soybean and castor oils—into biodiesel to replace petroleum diesel. The technology was first successfully developed in 1980 by Professor Expedito Parente of Ceará University. Subsequently, the Brazilian government launched its 'Biodiesel Program,' achieving small-scale production with initial annual output reaching 500,000 tons. However, due to high production costs and weak market demand, output declined to 100,000 tons annually, preventing large-scale deployment. During the oil price surge of the 1970s, Brazil sought diversified alternative energy sources and reduced import dependency—prompting the government to re-launch the Biodiesel Program via decree on July 2, 2003. Reports indicate that Brazil’s first biodiesel plant commenced operations in January 2005 in Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte State, producing 5,600 liters of diesel per day and consuming 10 tons of castor seeds daily. Petrobras, Brazil’s state-owned oil company, began constructing three new biodiesel facilities in southeastern and northeastern Brazil in 2006, with an estimated investment of USD 106 million; these are scheduled for commissioning by end-2007, with combined capacity of 57 million liters/year. Additionally, Brazil’s Global Agricultural Energy Group announced plans to build a 100-million-liter-per-year biodiesel plant in Tocantins State—designed to meet regional demand in northern Brazil and support export markets. To accelerate biodiesel adoption, Brazilian law mandates that, starting January 2008, all diesel sold nationwide must contain at least 2% biodiesel (approximately 800 million liters annually); by 2013, this blending ratio will be raised to 5% by law. Brazil’s Ministry of Science and Technology aims for a 20% biodiesel blend ratio by 2020. 4. Other Latin American countries

Burckhardt secures six PL2 process compressor orders for Brazil’s Boaventura Energy Complex

The Boaventura Energy Complex is located in Itaboraí, Rio de Janeiro, and was formerly the Comperj mega-petrochemical complex. It constitutes a cornerstone project within Petrobras’ 2025–2029 business plan. The entire Rio de Janeiro integrated refining and petrochemical project carries a total investment of BRL 33 billion (approx. USD 6.1 billion), of which BRL 26 billion is allocated to the integrated Boaventura–Reduc refinery project. The project encompasses natural gas processing, new refining units, and a Group II base lubricating oil production unit. It also includes forward-looking provisions for green hydrogen R&D and a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) biorefinery with a daily capacity of 19,000 barrels, plus two gas-fired power generation units—pursuing dual objectives of upgrading conventional energy infrastructure while advancing low-carbon transition. As such, it serves as a benchmark project for decarbonizing Brazil’s refining and petrochemical industry. This Burckhardt order was placed by multiple EPC contractors for the project and covers equipment destined for three parallel construction units within the complex, performing compression duties for process gases in natural gas treatment, refining, and lubricating oil production—ensuring stable, continuous operation of the entire facility. Burckhardt has not disclosed the specific contract value for this compressor order. As a global leader in reciprocating compressors, Burckhardt brings over 180 years of technical expertise. Its products serve high-end applications across refining, LNG, hydrogen, and CCUS sectors, backed by full-spectrum R&D, manufacturing, and lifecycle service capabilities for reciprocating compressors. Globally, Burckhardt maintains leadership positions in key niches—including BOG (boil-off gas) recovery for LNG carriers, onshore LNG receiving terminals, and high-pressure hydrogenation reciprocating compressors. Through strategic acquisitions, the company has expanded its specialty gas compressor portfolio and is actively building localized service networks—a strategy that has made service operations a significant growth driver. South America represents a key strategic growth market for Burckhardt, with Brazil—as the region’s energy hub—continuously generating equipment demand from oil & gas refining and new-energy projects. To align with the pace of major local projects, Burckhardt recently completed the establishment of an expanded service center in Brazil, strengthening local spare parts inventory, unit maintenance, and on-site technical support capabilities. This integration of global engineering excellence with deep local service delivery exemplifies Burckhardt’s localization strategy—and the successful award of this major Petrobras order marks a pivotal milestone in its implementation.

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