US consumption of biomass-based diesel is expected to continue its recent growth into 2017, while ethanol consumption will remain largely unchanged, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Tuesday.

According to the agency, the final 2017 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) targets, issued in November, will have the greatest impact on biomass-based diesel. In its latest short-term energy outlook, EIA forecasts that a record 2.5 billion gallons (9.5 billion litres) of biomass-based diesel will be used in 2017, up from 1.7 billion gallons in 2015.

The forecast amount is above the 2017 biomass-based diesel RFS target of 2 billion gallons. The "extra" gallons are seen to help meet the US target for advanced biofuel.

Consumption of ethanol, the most used renewable fuel in the US, is forecast to average 14.4 billion gallons in both 2016 and 2017, compared to about 14 billion gallons in 2015. This will mean an average ethanol share of the total gasoline pool of 10% in both 2016 and 2017.

EIA said that while almost all motor gasoline in the US is blended with up to 10% ethanol, growth in blends above 10% is restricted by infrastructure, economic and distribution issues.

 

Source: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/growth-for-us-biomass-based-diesel-in-2017-stability-for-ethanol-550595