Implementation Agendas: 2018-2019 Update Compare and Contrast Transport Biofuels Policies

Global biofuels production has continued to increase over the last decade, from over 37 million tonnes oil equivalent (Mtoe) in 2007 (~64 billion liters) to over 84 Mtoe in 2017 (~145 billion liters). It increased 3.5% from 2016 to 2017, which is well below its annual growth rate of 11.4% over the past decade however the most growth in three years. The highest growth was observed in the Asia Pacific region, which realized an annual growth rate of 20.1% over the period 2006-2016 and a 6% increase from 2016 to 2017. The Americas and Europe still continue to have the highest shares of biofuels production. In 2017, North America, South and Central America and Europe had world shares of 45.5%, 26.9% and 16.8%, respectively. The main biofuels being produced are ethanol, biodiesel (fatty acid methyl ester or FAME), and renewable diesel fuels produced by hydrogenating (hydrotreating) animal and vegetable oils and fats (also known as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) or hydrotreated esters and fatty acids (HEFA) fuels), as well as a growing amount of biomethane in some countries such as the United States (US), Sweden, and Germany. In energy terms, in 2017, an estimated 65% of biofuel production was ethanol, 29% was FAME biodiesel and 6% was HVO/HEFA fuels; while growing rapidly as a transport fuel, biomethane contributed less than 1% of total biofuel use.