Low carbon fuel policy


In December 2015, the world committed to meeting a 2º target for limiting the extent of climate change, with the aspiration to limit global warming within 1.5º. Getting there will require extensive decarbonisation of the transport sector, and low carbon fuels are seen as a primary tool, especially for modes where electrification and other efficiency improvement are more difficult.

While the opportunity for low carbon fuels is clear, the history of the first generation industry is contentious because of sustainability concerns, while efforts to commercialise new technologies have failed to deliver on early expectations. We’re interested in how to develop advanced biofuel policy that really works, for technology developers, investors and wider society, with experience engaging with the policy process for Europe, the UK, California, the U.S., and for international aviation.

Related policies

EU Renewable Energy Directive, Fuel Quality Directive

UK Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation

California Low Carbon Fuel Standard

U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard

International Civil Aviation Organisation CORSIA

European Commission carbon removals workshop: DOCCS and mineral carbonation

March 5, 2026/by Cato Sandford

European Commission carbon removals workshop: ERW and OAE

January 12, 2026/by Cato Sandford

Diverted harvest: Environmental Risk from Growth in International Biofuel Demand

October 9, 2025/by Cato Sandford

Methodology for assessing greenhouse gas emissions savings from low-carbon fuels

September 12, 2025/by Chris Malins

A federal clean fuel standard (CFS) for the USA

September 5, 2025/by Cato Sandford

Biochar and carbon accounting

August 29, 2025/by Cato Sandford

Staying Aloft: Support Mechanisms for ‘Sustainable Aviation Fuels’ in the United Kingdom and European Union

July 24, 2025/by Cato Sandford

Deforestation risk from Nordic alternative fuel policy

May 7, 2025/by Cato Sandford

Full steam ahead?

February 17, 2025/by Cato Sandford

Remember the AVMO: Growth of the USA’s renewable diesel production capacity

December 12, 2024/by Cato Sandford

Fuelling nature

November 21, 2024/by Cato Sandford

Biofuels and food markets

September 9, 2024/by Chris Malins

Vertical Take-off? Cost Implications and Industrial Development Scenarios for the UK SAF Mandate

September 5, 2024/by Chris Malins

4th meeting of the EU expert group on carbon removals

August 9, 2024/by Chris Malins

Stakeholder workshop on the Innovation Fund

June 19, 2024/by Chris Malins

‘Low ILUC-Risk’ as a Sustainability Standard for Biofuels in the EU

June 10, 2024/by Chris Malins

Hydrogen Delivered Lifecycle Analysis Tool

April 3, 2024/by Chris Malins

Supporting the Innovation Fund

December 17, 2023/by Chris Malins

Modelling Clean Fuel Standards in the USA

October 9, 2023/by Cato Sandford

Fuelling Development

April 15, 2021/by Chris Malins

Beyond biomass?

June 15, 2020/by Chris Malins

Accentuating the positive?

April 30, 2020/by Chris Malins

What does it mean to be a renewable electron?

December 10, 2019/by Chris Malins

Truckin’ on

June 6, 2019/by Chris Malins

The (environmental) price of FAME

March 29, 2019/by Chris Malins

Comparing GTAP ILUC results to observations of ethanol related land use change

March 29, 2019/by Chris Malins

Accentuating the positive – has optimism bias driven reductions in ILUC estimates?

March 29, 2019/by Chris Malins

Washington’s Clean Fuel Future

January 10, 2019/by Chris Malins

What role for electromethane and electroammonia?

October 24, 2018/by Chris Malins

Building the Perfect Beast: Designing Advanced Alternative Fuel Policy to Work

July 12, 2018/by Chris Malins

California’s Clean Fuel Future

April 9, 2018/by Chris Malins

Power to the people?

December 1, 2017/by Chris Malins

Devilish details…

November 27, 2017/by Chris Malins

Thought for food

September 15, 2017/by Chris Malins

A leap forward for European advanced biofuel policy

December 1, 2016/by Chris Malins