by Kurt Kovar (National Biodiesel Board/Biofuels Digest) As the new Biden administration and a growing number of states examine options to address transportation carbon emissions, biodiesel and renewable diesel stand out as the workhorses of existing low-carbon fuel programs. State programs are sending a strong signal for market growth in low-carbon, drop-in diesel replacements over the next decade. NBB believes the market will double to 6 billion gallons by 2030.
NBB’s vision for growth is based on tangible market trends. For example, in 2019, California met its demand for low-carbon fuels in part with 830 million gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel. And through the first half of 2020 – even as the COVID-19 pandemic restricted transportation – the state reported consuming nearly 400 million gallons. Alone, California is expected to create a market for more than 1 billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel each year over the next several years.