Renewable Resources & Alternative Energy
This sector relates to the following sub-sectors: Biofuels, Fuel Cells & Industrial Batteries, Solar Technology & Project Developers, Wind Technology & Project Developers, Forestry & Paper.
Biofuels
Each section below relates to the TPT Disclosure Framework principles of Action and Accountability. The below provides further guidance for sub-elements 4.1 and 4.3. The TPT welcomes comments on this guidance to ensure it is as useful as possible for preparers and users. The text is open for comment until Friday, 24 November. Please select the feedback form at the bottom of the page. The final text will be updated in February.
The Biofuels industry consists of companies that produce biofuels and process raw materials for production. Biofuels are manufactured using organic feedstocks and are used primarily as transportation fuels. Companies typically source feedstocks, which include food, oil crops, and animal products, from agricultural product distributors.
1. Advance feedstock diversification1, 2
- encourage the use of non-food and low-GHG emissions feedstocks for biofuel production. This includes second-generation biofuels such as agricultural and forestry residues, municipal waste, third-generation biofuels produced from microalgae, and fourth-generation biofuels, e.g. those produced on non-arable land.
2. Invest in advanced biofuel technologies3, 4
- support research, development and deployment of advanced biofuel technologies referring to the technology readiness levels used by the IEA.
3. Engagement for sustainable agricultural practices1
- promote agriculture techniques, efficient water management, soil health preservation, and the reduction of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.
4. Implement carbon capture, utilisation, and storage 3, 4
- integration of biofuels with carbon capture, usage and storage technologies; and
- capturing carbon from biofuel production, e.g. from ethanol fermentation and bio-based Fischer-Tropsch production. This may be used in other industries, e.g. food and drink, or permanently stored.
- percentage of biofuel production third-party certified to an environmental sustainability standard (percentage of gallons);6
- amount of subsidies received through government programs (reporting currency);1
- amount of feedstock consumed in production (mt);6
- production of: (1) renewable fuel, (2) advanced biofuel, (3) biomass-based diesel, and (4) cellulosic biofuel (millions of gallons, Mgal);
- amount of feedstock consumed in production (mt);6
- total water withdrawn, total water consumed; percentage of each in regions with High or Extremely High Baseline Water Stress; 5, 6 and
- number of incidents of non-compliance associated with water quality permits, standards and regulations.6
- lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, by biofuel type (grams of CO₂-e per megajoule (MJ);6 and
- net emissions of greenhouse gases resulting from direct and indirect land use change (LUC) associated with biofuel feedstock production (mtCO2e).2, 6 This should be inclusive of N20 and CH4 from land use management.6, 7
Biofuels literature
- CDP, CDP Technical Note: Biofuels, 2023
- Climate Bonds Initiative, The Bioenergy Criteria: Climate Bonds Standard, 2022
- International Energy Agency (IEA), Energy Technology Perspectives 2023, 2023
- IEA, Technologies Biofuels, Biofuels – Analysis, 2023
- IFRS, [Draft] Industry-based Guidance on Implementing IFRS S2, 2022
- SBTi, Criteria and recommendations for near-term targets, Version 5.1, 2023
Your feedback
The TPT welcomes comments on the Sector Summary to ensure it is as useful as possible for preparers and users. The Sector Summary was open for comment until Friday 24 November and, following consideration of the feedback received, will be updated in February. Thank you to the industry experts who provided comments.
