BIOFUEL CONSULTANTS
Trident biofuels consulting group has been serving incredibly reputed investment firms in Silicon Valley, Wall Street and London for more than a decade in M&A transactions.
Our biofuel experts are senior executives from renewable fuels industry with excellent investments, technology, and operations experience in US & European markets.
Biofuel Expertize
Biodiesel
Operated & managed 15+ advanced biodiesel refineries across US & EU since 2006. Sold more than 250 million gallons of B100.
Renewable Diesel
Capital investment strategy, M&A, competitive intelligence, RIN/LCFS, feedstocks and technology due diligence
Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF)
Investment thesis involving financial models, business landscape, technology pathways & govt policies for SAF & eFuels
BIODIESEL
Biodiesel is clean and an environmentally friendly biofuel derived from renewable biomass and can be used in diesel engines like passenger cars, commercial vehicles, locomotive engines, diesel generators and logistic trucks. It lowers harmful GHG emissions by 50-70%.
Biodiesel (B100) or Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) as they are otherwise called, is classified by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as one of the advanced biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. In US, Biodiesel is typically blended in varied proportions from 2% (B2) going to 20% (B20) with ultra-low sulfur diesel #2 (ULSD). Pure biodiesel is not subjected to federal tax and with increased production, many gas stations offer B100 to their customers though B20 diesel remains common blend.
Biodiesel is produced from virgin oils like RBD soybean, palm, canola or rapeseed, distillers corn oil (DCO), jatropha, camelina & algae oil by the chemical process of transesterification to produce ASTM D6751 / EU 14214 grade biodiesel. While 70% of global biodiesel production comes from vegetable crops, waste, or inedible feedstocks like used cooking oil (UCO), yellow grease (YG), brown grease (BG), tallow, poultry fat, lard, and others are fast gaining traction. In 2021, about 1.7 billion gallons of biodiesel was produced in United States, nearly 60% of which was derived primarily from RBD Soybean Oil.
In the last 15 years, we have designed, commissioned, and successfully operated multi feedstock biodiesel refineries up to 80 million gallon per year plant capacities in US region. Our operational experience also includes converting crude glycerin into 99.9% purity technical or USP grade glycerin while vertically integrating glycerin refinery to propylene glycol production.
With International Maritime Organization decarbonizing marine fuels (Heavy Fuel Oil) by regulating sulphur content to less than 0.5% under "IMO 2020" plan, Biodiesel could have a new potential market beyond on road transportation as ultra low sulfur marine biofuel in shipping industry.
RENEWABLE DIESEL
US Renewable diesel production capacity is expected to cross 3 billion gallons by end of 2023. Our Renewable diesel consultants advise incredibly reputed asset management companies, investment banks and private equity firms in assessing the competitive landscape, government policies, RIN & LCFS credits, feedstock markets, economics & technology pathways.
Renewable diesel fuel, also known as green diesel, is an advanced alternative fuel that is typically produced from vegetable oils, grease, and animal fats. It meets ASTM D975 fuel standards in United States while qualifying as D4 RINs (biomass based diesel) under RFS program. Renewable diesel produced from forest residues or woody biomass separately qualifies as D7 RIN (cellulosic diesel) which has higher RIN value compared to D4 RIN.
Renewable Diesel can be directly used in diesel engines without engine modifications as it is chemically identical to petroleum diesel. Renewable diesel is an ultra-clean biofuel since it reduces sulfur emissions by 85% and lowers GHG emissions by 60-80%. Better shelf life & cold flow properties allow it to be directly used as a drop in fuel substitute to petroleum diesel.
In 2021, about 1.1 billion gallons of renewable diesel was consumed in US majority of which was used in California due to its economic benefits under Low Carbon Fuel Standard program (LCFS).
Renewable Diesel vs Biodiesel
Biodiesel and renewable diesel are not the same products even though they belong to the same advanced biodiesel category and have some feedstocks in common.
Biodiesel is primarily produced from esterification or transesterification process utilizing raw materials like virgin oils and animal fats. Renewable diesel is a sustainable biofuel produced from vegetable oils, fats or cellulosic biomass like crop residues, wood and other waste sources using hydrotreatment (Hydrogenation) or thermo chemical processes.
Biodiesel contains about 10-12% oxygen which contributes to lower gas mileage whereas renewable diesel does not contain oxygen as it is produced by adding hydrogen to the feedstock. Cetane value of biodiesel is between 50-60, offers better lubricity but less desirable combustion properties whereas renewable diesel has a cetane value of 70-90, provides better energy densities and combustion properties.
Renewable diesel technology has evolved based on the type of feedstocks. Virgin oils and animal fats are converted to renewable diesel (HVO) by hydrotreatment process while forest biomass is converted to renewable diesel through pyrolysis or gasification (Fischer Tropsch) process.
INVESTMENTS
Mergers & Acquisitions, Capital Investment Strategy, Government Policies & Carbon Credits
SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL (SAF)
Sustainable skies act along with Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) by US Congress & ReFuel EU proposal under Fit for 55 policy, is likely to accelerate Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) production with a 5-6 billion gallon global market potential by 2030.
Trident’s SAF consulting practice has benefitted investment firms, financial institutions, and biofuel producers in evaluating opportunities, US & EU govt. policies, economic feasibility, and technology due diligence since 2019.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel, also known as renewable jet fuel or biojet fuel, is produced from biogenic feedstocks like virgin oils, animal fats, waste vegetable oils, biomass, and more recently carbon dioxide. ASTM International has currently has 7 approved pathways for production under ASTM D7566 for SAF allowing up to 50% blending with conventional jet fuel.
About 6 million gallons was consumed in US and 24 million gallons of renewable jet fuel was produced globally in 2021. IATAs announcement to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 followed by multi billion gallons of forward agreements from major airlines globally is attracting significant investments and opportunity potential in this otherwise nascent biojet fuel industry. Several petroleum refineries in US & Europe have already launched dedicated SAF production and more energy companies are bringing SAF biorefineries online by 2023.
Trident’s renewable fuels consulting group has worked or been involved with traditional as well as disruptive biojet fuel technologies like Fischer Tropsch (FT) SPK, HEFA SPK, Alcohol to Jet (ATJ) and Synthetic iso-paraffins (Farnesene) produced from fermentation of sugar.
ALGAE BIOFUEL
Going back in 2005, biofuel technology revolution was largely led by the potential of algae as a source of biofuel feedstock. It ushered clean fuels sector attracting investments and research grants from govts as well as venture capital firms. Trident renewables were one of the early pioneers to produce biodiesel from algae oil for Solazyme back in 2007.
Our algae biofuels consulting expertise has stayed intact since then tracking top algae companies for investments, technology feasibility and product revenue streams which now extends from biofuels to cosmetics and nutritional supplements.
We have consulted many algae to biocrude, biofuels from algae and algae to renewable chemical companies in optimizing the lipid content and improving the cost economics of algae production via various integrated business models to maximize revenue potential.
BIOFUEL CONSULTING SERVICES
Backed by a team of experienced professionals, Trident Renewables exists to solve the critical issues faced by our clients. Our unique approach is not only what differentiates us, but also what makes us successful. Our advisory services and solutions help organizations enhance enterprise values of their investments, achieve their vision and build an excellent investment strategy.
Trident Renewables has successfully advised principals, partners, fund managers and decision makers at private equity, asset management, investment banks, and biofuel producers based out of San Francisco, New York & London offices.
Our renewable fuel consultants have offered in depth consulting to energy companies and innovative biofuel start-ups in United States, UK, Europe, and Asia Pacific region. We have served on the advisory board for biofuel companies in silicon valley as well.
Key Practice Areas
-
Investments
-
Mergers & Acquisitions
-
Commercial Due Diligence
-
Government Policies, Incentives & Mandates
-
Carbon Markets ( RIN, LCFS, CCA, REC, EU ETS)
-
Strategic Opportunities