Industry: Refining & fuels

The global transition towards sustainable energy has placed green fuels at the forefront of efforts to decarbonize aviation, maritime, and heavy industries. These green fuels — renewable diesel (RD), liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol — promise a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels. However, mainstream adoption requires overcoming significant barriers, including scalability, infrastructure […]

Refineries are responsible for the production of transportation fuels and other products, such as petrochemicals and lubricants, but they also contribute significantly to global GHG emissions. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), refinery GHG emissions in 2023 amounted to 160 million metric tons CO2 equivalent (MMT CO2e), with over 70% resulting from fuel […]

Hydrogen is emerging as a promising option to decarbonize power generation, transportation, and other industries. One of the most significant barriers to scaling up hydrogen use is the lack of a transportation network. Currently, hydrogen is transported via high-pressure tube trailers and liquefied hydrogen tankers, but these methods are not economically feasible for large-scale and […]

The reelection of President Donald Trump has raised concerns regarding the future of biofuels in the United States, including SAF. With the U.S. expected to produce 40% of global SAF supply through 2028, the already turbulent road to SAF adoption could face increased challenges during President Trump’s second term. SAF stakeholders have four primary concerns, […]

In the November 2024 edition of the ADI newsletter, we discussed how the U.S. natural gas sector was expanding pipelines to meet rising demand. The 2024 U.S. elections raised questions about future energy policies, and the refining industry faced challenges from declining margins and alternative fuels. Furthermore, stricter methane emission regulations drove technological investments in […]

Petroleum refiners globally are experiencing reduced margins in 2024 compared to the previous year, as illustrated in Exhibit 1. The 3:2:1 crack spread has fallen sharply in several regions. Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) has seen its refinery margins fall from $24/bbl to $8/bbl, a drop of 66%. Los Angeles has also faced a sharp decline, with margins […]

Beginning with the 2016 Presidential election in the U.S., ADI has been publishing a summary of energy policy proposals by the leading candidates. Our summary has typically collected the positions of the two candidates on key energy issues, and we have tried to be objective by using their own words – made through statements reported […]

The aviation industry stands at a critical crossroads in its journey toward sustainability. In recent years, interest in SAF has surged, with airlines making significant commitments to incorporate this fuel into their operations, while governments around the world are launching initiatives to enhance SAF production and adoption. The Biden Administration’s SAF Grand Challenge, for instance, […]

Renewable electricity is becoming increasingly accessible for companies striving to meet their sustainability goals. They can either generate it themselves or procure it from third-party providers. There are seven options a chemical company can use to obtain renewable electricity, such as owned on-site generation, owned off-site generation, on-site Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) / operating leases, […]

The chemical industry, a hard-to-abate sector, is a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to its high energy consumption. This significant energy use is largely driven by the extensive operation of furnaces and boilers, particularly in producing products such as ethylene. To address this, the industry faces considerable pressure to decarbonize and one […]

At roughly 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions, methane packs a disproportionate punch, being 80 times more potent than CO2 over 20 years. Reducing methane emissions, particularly from oil and gas production (Scope 1 emissions), offers a powerful and rapid way to slow climate change.  Methane emissions in oil and gas production permeate every step […]

As the world moves towards a more sustainable energy future, ethanol and methanol could play a key role in powering not just vehicles but also airplanes. With mandates in place in the U.S. and EU for the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and initiatives by organizations such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) […]