Welcome to the Prima CarbonZero Glossary, a comprehensive reference guide for key terms in biofuels and low-carbon feedstocks. This glossary is designed to help you navigate the complex world of renewable energy and biofuels with clear definitions of the terminology you need to know.
Advanced Biofuel: A renewable fuel derived from non-food-based feedstocks—such as agricultural residues, waste oils, or cellulosic biomass—that achieves significant greenhouse gas reductions compared to conventional fossil fuels and meets specific criteria under regulations like the US Renewable Fuel Standard.
Advanced Double Count: A category of advanced biofuels under the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) that earn two compliance credits per unit of energy due to their origin from highly sustainable feedstocks—such as waste oils or certain agricultural residues—offering greater incentives for their use.
Advanced Single Count: A classification of advanced biofuels under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) in the EU that qualify for one compliance credit per unit of energy supplied, unlike double-counting fuels, and are typically made from less restricted or less incentivized feedstocks.
Agricultural Residue: The leftover plant materials—such as corn stover, wheat straw, or sugarcane bagasse—remaining after crop harvesting, often used as cellulosic feedstocks in advanced biofuel production.
Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp: See ARA.
Anhydrous Ethanol: Ethanol that has been purified to contain less than 1% water, making it suitable for blending with gasoline as a renewable fuel due to its high combustibility and compatibility with internal combustion engines.
Animal Fat Cat 1: Animal Fat Category 1; the lowest grade of animal fat under EU regulations, derived from high-risk materials such as carcasses of diseased animals, and restricted to uses like energy generation due to strict safety rules.
Animal Fat Cat 2: Animal Fat Category 2; a medium-risk classification of animal fat containing materials not fit for human or animal consumption but not as hazardous as Category 1, and can be used in biofuel production under controlled conditions.
Animal Fat Cat 3: Animal Fat Category 3; the highest-quality and lowest-risk grade of animal fat, sourced from animals passed fit for human consumption, and widely used in biodiesel production and other industrial applications.
Annex A: See Annex IX Part A.
Annex B: See Annex IX Part B.
Annex IX Part A: List under the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) specifying feedstocks like algae, straw, and other non-food biomass used to produce advanced biofuels that count double toward renewable energy targets.
Annex IX Part B: Lists certain waste and residue materials, such as used cooking oil and animal fats, which are eligible under RED II to produce waste-based biofuels that also count double toward renewable energy targets but are distinguished from advanced biofuels.
ARA: Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp; a major northwest European port cluster trading and logistics hub used as a key pricing and delivery point for commodities like fuels, chemicals, and agricultural products.
{Back to Top}B-Grade: A classification for lower-quality biofuel feedstocks with higher impurity or moisture levels, often requiring more processing and typically used in less demanding fuel applications or for discounted blending.
B100: Pure biodiesel composed of 100% renewable bio-based fuel with no petroleum diesel, used directly in compatible engines or as a blendstock to reduce carbon emissions in diesel fuel.
B24: A biodiesel blend consisting of 24% biodiesel and 76% petroleum diesel, used to lower carbon emissions while remaining compatible with most standard diesel engines in regulated fuel programs.
B30: A biodiesel blend consisting of 30% biodiesel and 70% petroleum diesel, used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining compatibility with standard diesel engines.
Bio-Bunker: A renewable marine fuel derived from bio-based feedstocks—such as used cooking oil or waste fats—used as a lower-carbon alternative to conventional bunker fuel in maritime transport.
Bio-Bunkering: The supply and delivery of bio-based marine fuels—such as bio-bunker or renewable marine diesel—to vessels, often using existing bunkering infrastructure adapted for sustainable fuel handling.
Biochar: A carbon-rich solid residue produced during pyrolysis with potential co-benefits in renewable energy systems and certificate markets such as Carbon Dioxide Removal.
Biocrude: Also referred to as Bio-Crude; a thick, energy-dense liquid produced from the thermochemical conversion of biomass—often via hydrothermal liquefaction or pyrolysis—and serving as a renewable alternative to petroleum crude oil that can be refined into biofuels like renewable diesel or jet fuel.
Biodiesel: A renewable diesel made from biological materials, such as vegetable oils or animal fats, that can replace or be blended with petroleum-based diesel.
Biofuel: A renewable energy source derived from biological materials such as plant oils, animal fats, or waste biomass, used as an alternative to fossil fuels in transportation, heating, and industrial applications.
Biomass: An organic material from plants, animals, or waste sources that can be used directly for energy or converted into biofuels, biogas, or biochemicals through various biological or thermochemical processes.
Biomass-based Diesel RIN: See D4 RIN.
Bio-Oil: A liquid fuel product derived from the pyrolysis of biomass, composed of complex organic compounds, and used as a precursor for advanced biofuels or as an industrial fuel.
Bunker: Fuel used to power marine vessels, typically heavy fuel oil or marine gas oil, and is a key component in global shipping and maritime logistics.
Bunkering: The process of supplying fuel to ships, typically carried out at ports or offshore locations and involving the transfer of marine fuels like heavy fuel oil or marine gas oil.
California Air Resources Board: See CARB.
Canadian Clean Fuel Standard: A federal regulation in Canada that mandates a gradual reduction in the carbon intensity of liquid transportation fuels, requiring fuel producers and importers to adopt cleaner alternatives or purchase credits, with the goal of supporting Canada’s national climate targets.
CARB: California Air Resources Board; the state agency responsible for regulating air quality and emissions in California to protect public health and combat climate change.
Carbon Dioxide Removal: See CDR.
Carbon Intensity: See CI.
CDR: Carbon Dioxide Removal; Carbon dioxide generated from biogenic sources and sequestered to deliver a tradeable negative carbon emission
Cetane: A chemical compound (n-hexadecane) used as a standard for measuring the combustion quality of diesel fuel, with higher cetane numbers indicating better ignition properties and more efficient engine performance.
CFPP: Cold Filter Plugging Point; the lowest temperature at which a fuel can pass through a standardized filtration device under controlled cooling, indicating its cold-weather operability and suitability for use in low-temperature environments.
CFR: Cost and Freight; an indication that the seller is responsible for the cost of transporting goods to the destination port, while the buyer assumes risk and insurance once the goods are on board the vessel.
CFS: Clean Fuel Standard; a federal regulation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by requiring fuel producers and importers to gradually lower the carbon intensity of transportation fuels through blending, innovation, or credit trading mechanisms.
Chicago Ethanol Physical: The spot market price of ethanol physically traded and delivered in the Chicago region, a key US hub for ethanol production and distribution.
CI: Carbon Intensity; the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions produced per unit of energy, product, or economic output, typically expressed as grams of CO₂ per megajoule (g CO₂e/MJ) or per unit of fuel versus a fossil fuel baseline.
CIF: Cost, Insurance, and Freight; an international commercial term (incoterm) indicating that the seller covers the cost, insurance, and freight to deliver goods to a destination port, with the buyer assuming responsibility once the goods arrive.
Clean Fuel Standard: See CFS.
Cold Filter Plugging Point: See CFPP.
Conventional Biofuel: A renewable fuel typically made from food-based feedstocks like corn or sugarcane, primarily used for ethanol production and classified under the US Renewable Fuel Standard as meeting baseline greenhouse gas reduction requirements.
Cost and Freight: See CFR.
Crude Glycerin: A byproduct of biodiesel production that contains glycerol along with water, methanol, salts, and other impurities, and is often refined further for use in industrial, pharmaceutical, or animal feed applications.
Crush: The mechanical or chemical processing of oilseeds—such as soybeans or rapeseed—to extract vegetable oil for biofuel production and meal for animal feed.
Crush Margin: The profitability potential of the crush process, comparing the cost of oilseeds like soybeans and rapeseed to the value of the resulting oil and meal.
Customs Code Tier 1: See T1.
Customs Code Tier 2: See T2.
CWG: Choice White Grease; pork fat derived from meatpacking byproducts, used to produce biodiesel and distinguished by its free fatty acid content and other quality specifications.
D3 RIN: Cellulosic Biofuel RIN; a Renewable Identification Number (RIN) category under the US Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that designates cellulosic biofuel, typically produced from non-food-based feedstocks like agricultural residues or municipal solid waste, and credited for its high greenhouse gas reduction potential.
D4 RIN: Biomass-based Diesel RIN; a Renewable Identification Number (RIN) for biomass-based diesel fuels, used in tracking the renewable fuel mandates under the US Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
D5 RIN: A Renewable Identification Number (RIN) assigned to advanced biofuels under the US Renewable Fuel Standard, representing fuels that achieve at least a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to petroleum and are not classified as cellulosic or biomass-based diesel.
D6 RIN: A Renewable Identification Number (RIN) category under the US Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that represents corn-based ethanol, classified as a conventional biofuel and used to meet the primary renewable fuel blending obligations.
DDGS: Dried distillers grains; a by-product of corn ethanol production primarily used as animal feed due to its high protein content.
DEQ: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality; a state-level environmental regulatory agency responsible for implementing environmental protection policies in Oregon.
DGD: Diamond Green Diesel; a joint venture between Valero Energy Corporation and Darling Ingredients Inc., one of the largest producers of renewable diesel in North America focused on producing low-carbon, renewable diesel fuel from waste fats, oils, and greases.
Double Count: Methodology allowed under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) whereby mandates can count one liter of waste biofuel as two liters for the purposes of obligation accounting.
Drop-In Marine Fuels: Biofuels or synthetic fuels engineered to be compatible with existing marine engines and fuel systems, enabling seamless substitution for conventional marine fuels without equipment modification.
E-Fuel: A renewable fuel synthesized from carbon dioxide and hydrogen, and mandated under EU RED III.
ECA: Emission Control Area; designated sea regions where stricter limits on air pollutants from ships—such as sulfur oxides (SOₓ), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), and particulate matter—are enforced to reduce environmental and health impacts.
Emission Control Area: See ECA.
EN 14214: European Norm 14214; the European standard that specifies the requirements and test methods for fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) biodiesel to ensure its quality and suitability for use in diesel engines.
ENA: Extra Neutral Alcohol; a highly purified form of ethanol, typically distilled from molasses or grain, used in the production of high-quality biofuel feedstocks.
Environmental Protection Agency: See EPA.
EPA: Environmental Protection Agency; the US federal agency that regulates environmental standards, including the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and greenhouse gas emissions.
EPA Tier 3: A set of US regulations established to reduce sulfur content in fuels and improve air quality.
Ethanol: A renewable biofuel made primarily from fermented plant sugars—most commonly from corn or sugarcane—used as a gasoline additive to reduce emissions and enhance engine performance.
EU RED: See RED.
EU RED II: See RED II.
EU RED III: See RED III.
Extra Neutral Alcohol: See ENA.
FAME: Fatty Acid Methyl Esters; primary components of biodiesel, produced through transesterification of fats or vegetable oils, and serve as a renewable, lower-emission alternative to conventional diesel fuel.
FAME0: A type of fatty acid methyl ester biodiesel formulated with a cold filter plugging point (CFPP) of 0°C, making it suitable for moderate climates where cold flow performance is a key specification.
Fatty Acid Methyl Esters: See FAME.
Feedstock: A raw material—such as vegetable oil, animal fat, or waste biomass—used as the input in the production of biofuels and other renewable energy products.
FFA: Free Fatty Acid; an important quality indicator for used cooking oil (UCO) and other waste oils, where a higher FFA content typically reduces the value of the oil as a feedstock for biofuels.
Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis: A chemical process that converts syngas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide from biomass, natural gas, or waste) into liquid hydrocarbons, used to produce renewable diesel, jet fuel, and other fuels.
FOB: Free on Board; an international commercial term (incoterm) used to indicate that the seller’s responsibility ends once the goods are loaded on the ship at the port of departure.
Forward Prices: Agreed-upon prices for the future delivery of biofuels or feedstocks in over-the-counter (OTC) contracts, customized between buyer and seller and used to manage price risk and anticipate market trends outside of formal exchanges.
FQD: Fuel Quality Directive; a European Union directive that sets standards for fuel quality, including limits on sulfur content and the incorporation of biofuels into conventional fuel mixes.
Free Fatty Acid: See FFA.
Free on Board: See FOB.
Fuel Quality Directive: See FQD.Futures: Standardized financial contracts that obligate the buyer to purchase, or the seller to sell, a specific quantity of biofuels or feedstocks at a predetermined price on a set future date, often used for hedging or price forecasting in quickly changing markets.
Gasification: A thermochemical process that converts carbon-rich materials like biomass or municipal solid waste into syngas (a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen) by heating them with a controlled amount of oxygen or steam.
GHG: Greenhouse Gas; gas in the earth's atmosphere that traps heat by absorbing and emitting infrared radiation, contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Greenhouse Effect: The process by which greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, and while it is essential for maintaining a livable climate, its intensification due to human activities poses a major risk and challenge for sustainability.
Greenhouse Gas: See GHG.
Gut Tallow: A category of rendered animal fat derived primarily from internal organs and digestive tract tissues, commonly used in biodiesel production, and is typically classified by quality into low gut tallow (cleaner, lower-risk materials) and medium gut tallow (more variable, mixed-content sources), based on feedstock composition and processing requirements.
HBE: Hernieuwbare Brandstof Eenheid (Dutch for Renewable Fuel Unit); a Netherlands biofuel mandate compliance credit that represents the use of renewable fuels for transportation purposes.
HEFA: Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids; a renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel produced by hydrotreating vegetable oils, animal fats, or waste oils to create high-quality hydrocarbons that are chemically similar to fossil fuels.
HFFA: High Free Fatty Acid Feedstock; any biodiesel feedstock—such as used cooking oil or animal fats—that contains a high level of FFAs (free fatty acids), requiring pretreatment before transesterification to avoid soap formation and ensure efficient biodiesel production.
High Free Fatty Acid Feedstock: See HFFA.
High Sulfur Fuel Oil: See HSFO.
HSFO: High Sulfur Fuel Oil; a residual marine fuel containing high levels of sulfur, traditionally used in shipping but increasingly regulated due to its environmental impact.
HVO: Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil; a renewable diesel produced by adding hydrogen to vegetable oils, stabilizing it as a "drop-in" fuel for conventional diesel engines.
HVO Production: The process of converting vegetable oils or animal fats into hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) through hydrogenation, producing renewable diesel.
Hydrocarbon: An organic compound made entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms, serving as the chemical foundation of both fossil and renewable fuels, including gasoline, diesel, and advanced biofuels like renewable diesel and jet fuel.
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil: See HVO.
Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids: See HEFA.
Hydrotreatment: A refining process that uses hydrogen under high pressure to remove impurities like sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen from oils or fats, producing high-quality renewable diesel or jet fuel that is chemically similar to petroleum fuels.
International Sustainability and Carbon Certification: See ISCC.
ISCC: International Sustainability and Carbon Certification; a global certification system for sustainable feedstocks and renewable energy, ensuring compliance with environmental and social sustainability criteria in the bioenergy industry.
Jet A-1: A kerosene-based aviation fuel used in commercial jet engines, serving as the primary fossil-based counterpart to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in international flight operations.
Jet Fuel: A refined petroleum-based or bio-based fuel designed for use in aircraft gas turbine engines, encompassing both conventional options like Jet A-1 and renewable alternatives such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Jet Fuel Blending Limit: The maximum percentage of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that can be legally or technically blended with conventional jet fuel, based on safety and performance certifications.
Kernel Meal: The protein-rich byproduct left after oil is extracted from oilseeds like palm kernel or sunflower, often used in animal feed and occasionally evaluated for energy recovery or co-product value in biofuel production chains.
LCFS: Low Carbon Fuel Standard; a California-based regulation that requires fuel producers to reduce the carbon intensity of their products, encouraging the use of low-carbon fuels in transportation.
Low Carbon Fuel: Energy source that produces significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fossil fuels over its life cycle, reducing the carbon intensity in transportation, aviation, and other sectors.
Low Carbon Fuel Standard: See LCFS.
Low Gut Tallow: A grade of animal fat rendered primarily from lower-risk, cleaner visceral materials, offering relatively good quality for use in biofuel production with moderate processing requirements.
Low Sulfur Marine Gas Oil: See LSMGO.
LSMGO: Low Sulfur Marine Gas Oil; a refined marine fuel with a sulfur content typically below 0.1%, used in ships to meet strict emissions standards, especially in Emission Control Areas (ECAs).
Marine Fuels: Fuels used to power ships and other seagoing vessels, typically including heavy fuel oil, marine gas oil, and increasingly renewable alternatives, and are a central component of global maritime transport and emissions regulation.
Marine HBE: A compliance credit representing the use of renewable fuels in marine vessels, allowing regulated parties to meet fuel standards under carbon reduction programs.
Medium Gut Tallow: A more variable-quality animal fat derived from a mix of visceral and other internal tissues, typically requiring more extensive pretreatment for use in biodiesel manufacturing.
Methanol: A simple alcohol commonly produced from natural gas and used as a feedstock in biodiesel production through transesterification, as well as in industrial processes and alternative fuel applications.
MSW: Municipal Solid Waste; everyday residential and commercial garbage, including organic and recyclable materials, that can be processed into renewable fuels through advanced waste-to-energy technologies.
Municipal Solid Waste: See MSW.
Net Energy Balance: The difference between the energy produced by a biofuel and the energy required to grow, process, and transport its feedstock—used to assess the overall sustainability and efficiency of a renewable fuel.
NExBTL: Neste Renewable Diesel; a proprietary renewable diesel technology developed by Neste that uses hydrotreatment to convert various feedstocks—like waste oils and animal fats—into high-quality, drop-in renewable diesel.
Nitrous Oxides: See NOx.
Non-Capped: See Other (O).
Non-Ester Renewable Diesel: A hydrocarbon-based biofuel produced through processes like hydrotreatment or Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, chemically distinct from biodiesel (FAME) and fully compatible with existing diesel engines.
NOx: Nitrous Oxides; a group of reactive gases emitted during combustion, including from biofuels, which contribute to air pollution and are regulated due to their impact on human health and the environment.
OCFP: Oregon Clean Fuels Program; a state-level regulation designed to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels in Oregon by requiring fuel suppliers to blend or sell lower-carbon alternatives and by enabling the generation and trading of clean fuel credits.
Oregon Clean Fuels Program: See OCFP.
OTC: Over-the-Counter; direct, customized trading of biofuels or feedstocks between parties outside of formal exchanges, allowing for tailored contract terms such as volume, price, delivery, and timing—commonly used in physical and forward biofuels markets.
Other (O): Outside Quota; non-capped fuel volumes within the German biofuels quota system, often representing additional, non-mandatory contributions that do not count toward the primary blending obligation but may still generate value in voluntary or secondary markets.
Outside Quota: See Other (O).
Over: A pricing term used to denote that a biofuel product is priced at a premium above a reference benchmark, reflecting additional costs such as refining, compliance, or logistics.
Over-the-Counter: See OTC.
PADD: Petroleum Area Defense District; Geographic regions defined by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) used for reporting and regulating fuel supply and demand.
Palm Kernel Processing Grade: See PKPG.
Palm Methyl Ester: See PME.
Palm Oil: Widely used vegetable oil that can be converted into biodiesel, but its production is associated with significant environmental concerns, including deforestation, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Palm Oil Mill Effluent: See POME.
PKPG: Palm Kernel Processing Grade; a classification of palm kernel-derived materials—such as oil or meal—based on quality and processing specifications, used in biodiesel production and other industrial applications.
PME: Palm Methyl Ester; a type of biodiesel made from palm oil through a chemical process called transesterification, used as a renewable alternative to fossil diesel with lower carbon emissions.
POME: Palm Oil Mill Effluent; a high-strength, organic wastewater byproduct generated during the palm oil extraction process, typically containing water, oil residues, and plant debris, and increasingly utilized as a feedstock for biogas or biodiesel production.
PORAM: Palm Oil Refiners Association of Malaysia; an industry association representing palm oil refiners in Malaysia, which is one of the largest producers of palm oil globally.
Premium to GO: Premium to Gas Oil; the price difference by which a biofuel, such as renewable diesel or biodiesel, exceeds the cost of conventional gas oil, reflecting factors like production costs, feedstock prices, and market demand.
Pyrolysis: A thermal decomposition process in which organic materials are heated in the absence of oxygen, yielding bio-oil, syngas, and char, and serving as a pathway to produce advanced biofuels or biochar for soil amendment.
QAP: Quality Assurance Program; a formal system—such as those established under the US RFS—for verifying the validity and sustainability of renewable fuel production and RIN generation, helping ensure market integrity and regulatory compliance.
Qualified Pathway: A feedstock-to-fuel production process that has been formally approved by regulators—such as the U.S. EPA under the Renewable Fuel Standard—as eligible to generate compliance credits based on lifecycle greenhouse gas reduction criteria.
Quality Assurance Program: See QAP.
Quota: A regulatory limit or target set by governments for the minimum amount of renewable fuel that must be blended into the national fuel supply, often enforced through compliance credits or penalties.
Rapeseed Methyl Ester: See RME.
RD: Renewable Diesel; a type of fuel that is chemically identical to petroleum diesel but is derived from renewable feedstocks like vegetable oils, animal fats, or waste oils.
RD-99: Renewable Diesel with a minimum cetane number of 99, indicating a high-quality, high-performance fuel derived from renewable sources that closely mimics petroleum diesel in composition and combustion characteristics.
RED: Renewable Energy Directive; European Union policy that sets binding targets for the use of renewable energy across member states, including specific mandates for renewable energy in transport, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote energy sustainability.
RED II: Renewable Energy Directive II; revised EU policy framework that sets a binding target for at least 32% renewable energy in the EU's total energy consumption by 2030, including updated sustainability criteria and specific sub-targets for renewable energy in transport, heating, and cooling.
RED III: Renewable Energy Directive III; the third revision of the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive, setting updated targets and sustainability criteria to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy across member states, including stricter rules for biofuels and advanced fuels.
REN: Renewable Energy Number; a unique identifier assigned to each batch of renewable fuel under the European Union's RED II (Renewable Energy Directive), used to track compliance, sustainability, and traceability throughout the biofuel supply chain.
Rendered Bleachable Tallow: a type of animal fat that has been rendered and refined to a level suitable for further bleaching, making it a common feedstock in biodiesel and oleochemical production due to its consistent quality and low impurities.
Renewable Diesel: See RD.
Renewable Energy Directive: See RED.
Renewable Energy Number: See REN.
Renewable Fuel: A fuel derived from sustainable, naturally replenished feedstocks—such as plants, waste oils, or biomass—used to replace or reduce reliance on fossil fuels in transportation, heating, or power generation.
Renewable Fuel Standard: See RFS.
Renewable Identification Number: See RIN.
Renewable Marine Diesel: A bio-based alternative to conventional marine diesel, produced from sustainable feedstocks like used cooking oil or animal fats, and engineered to meet marine fuel standards while significantly reducing lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions.
Renewable Transport Fuel Certificate: See RTFC.
Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation: See RTFO.
RFS: Renewable Fuel Standard, a US federal program that mandates the blending of renewable fuels into the nation’s transportation fuel supply to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expand the renewable fuels sector.
RFS2: Expanded version of the US Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), implemented in 2010, which increased renewable fuel blending mandates, introduced greenhouse gas reduction thresholds, and categorized fuels into specific RIN types based on feedstock and lifecycle emissions.
RIN: Renewable Identification Number; a unique tracking number assigned to each gallon of renewable fuel in the US under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to monitor production, use, and compliance with federal blending mandates.
RME: Rapeseed Methyl Ester; a biodiesel made from rapeseed oil and methanol, used as a renewable substitute for conventional diesel fuel.
RTFC: Renewable Transport Fuel Certificate; a tradable credit issued under the UK’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) to certify that a supplier has blended or supplied renewable fuel, helping meet mandated sustainability targets.
RTFO: Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation; a UK government policy that requires fuel suppliers to ensure a certain percentage of the fuel they supply comes from renewable sources, promoting lower carbon emissions through the use of mechanisms like RTFCs.
SAF: Sustainable Aviation Fuel; a renewable, low-carbon alternative to conventional jet fuel, produced from sustainable feedstocks like waste oils or biomass, designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from air travel.
SBEO: Spent Bleaching Earth Oil; a waste byproduct generated during the refining of vegetable oils, consisting of used bleaching earth saturated with residual oils and impurities, often repurposed as a low-cost feedstock for biodiesel or energy recovery.
SBTi: Science Based Targets Initiative; a global partnership that helps companies set greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets that are in line with the latest climate science and aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement—to limit global warming to well below 2°C, and ideally to 1.5°C, above pre-industrial levels.
Science Based Targets: See SBTi.
Scope 1 Emissions: Direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions released from owned or controlled sources, such as on-site fuel combustion, company vehicles, or industrial processes.
Scope 2 Emissions: Indirect GHG emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating, or cooling consumed by an organization.Scope 3 Emissions
Scope 3 Emissions: All other indirect GHG emissions that occur in an organization’s value chain, including upstream and downstream activities like raw material sourcing, product use, transportation, and waste disposal.
SME: Soy Methyl Ester; a type of biodiesel produced by transesterifying soybean oil with methanol, used as a renewable, cleaner-burning alternative to petroleum diesel.
Soapstock Acid Oil: A byproduct of the vegetable oil refining process, produced by acidulating soapstock (a mixture of fatty acids and impurities), and used as a low-grade feedstock in biodiesel and animal feed applications.
Soy Methyl Ester: See SME.
Spent Bleaching Earth Oil: See SBEO.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel: See SAF.
Swap: A financial agreement in which two parties exchange cash flows or pricing exposure based on a biofuel or feedstock value, allowing market participants to hedge against price fluctuations without physically buying or selling the actual product.
Syngas: Synthesis Gas; a gas mixture primarily composed of hydrogen (H₂) and carbon monoxide (CO), produced by gasifying biomass, waste, or fossil fuels, and used as an intermediate in making renewable fuels via processes like Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.
Synthesis Gas: See Syngas.
T1: Customs Code Tier 1; a transit document used in the EU to move non-EU goods across borders without paying duties until they reach their final destination for customs clearance.
T2: Customs Code Tier 2; goods that are in free circulation within the EU, having either originated in the EU or been imported, clearing customs, and with all duties and taxes fully paid.
Tallow Methyl Ester: See TME.
TdB: Tijdelijke Dubbelcount Beleidsregel (Dutch for Temporary Double Counting Policy Rule); the double counting policy in the Netherlands that allows certain biofuels made from waste or advanced feedstocks to generate double counting credits under national renewable energy targets.
TdB-A: The Annex of the TdB list, which specifically enumerates approved feedstocks that qualify for double counting under Dutch renewable fuel regulations.
TdB DC: TdB Double Counting; biofuels that meet the criteria for double counting under the Dutch TdB scheme, typically derived from waste or residue-based feedstocks with high sustainability value.
THG: Treibhausgas (German for Greenhouse Gas); A German obligation ticket deliverable against compliance obligations into the German transport emissions reduction mandate.
Ticket: A transactional or certification record that documents the sale, movement, or sustainability attributes of a fuel or feedstock, often used for regulatory compliance or traceability within trading and reporting systems.
TME: Tallow Methyl Ester; a type of biodiesel produced through the transesterification of animal fat (tallow) with methanol, resulting in a renewable fuel used as an alternative to petroleum diesel.
Transesterification: A chemical process that converts oils or fats into biodiesel by reacting them with an alcohol (usually methanol) in the presence of a catalyst, producing fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and glycerin.
UAE: United Arab Emirates; a Gulf nation that serves as a growing hub for biofuels trade and production, leveraging its strategic location, refining infrastructure, and investment in alternative energy to diversify its energy portfolio beyond fossil fuels.
UCO: Used Cooking Oil; a waste oil derived from vegetable or animal fats used in food preparation, commonly collected and processed as a feedstock for sustainable biofuel production.
UCOME: Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester; a type of biodiesel produced by chemically converting Used Cooking Oil (UCO) through transesterification, resulting in a renewable fuel that meets EN 14214 standards for use in diesel engines.
UER: Upstream Emission Reduction; a mechanism that allows fuel suppliers, particularly in the EU, to claim credit for verified greenhouse gas emission reductions made before the fuel reaches the refinery gate, such as during crude oil extraction or transport.
United Arab Emirates: See UAE.
Upstream Emission Reduction: See UER.
Used Cooking Oil: See UCO.
Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester: See UCOME.
Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil: See VLSFO.
VLSFO: Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil; a marine fuel with a sulfur content of no more than 0.5%, developed to comply with international emissions regulations and reduce air pollution from shipping.
Waste-Based Feedstock: Any renewable fuel input derived from waste materials—such as used cooking oil, animal fats, or food industry residues—that are repurposed to produce biodiesel, renewable diesel, or biogas with minimal land-use impact.
Waste Fats and Oils: Recycled lipid-based materials—such as used cooking oil (UCO), animal fat, or grease trap waste—commonly used as low-carbon feedstocks in biodiesel and renewable diesel production.
Waste-to-Energy: See WtE.
White Grease: A type of rendered animal fat, typically derived from pork, that contains a moderate level of free fatty acids and is used as a feedstock for biodiesel and renewable diesel due to its availability and relatively consistent composition.
Woody Biomass: Forest-derived organic material such as logs, wood chips, sawdust, and tree trimmings, commonly used as a feedstock for bioenergy or thermochemical conversion into advanced biofuels.
WtE: Waste-to-Energy; the conversion of municipal, agricultural, or industrial waste into usable energy, including liquid biofuels, biogas, or electricity, through processes like anaerobic digestion, gasification, or pyrolysis.
XTL: X-to-Liquid; a general term for synthetic fuel production pathways that convert a feedstock (X) into liquid fuels like diesel or jet fuel through thermochemical processes such as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.
X-to-Liquid: See XTL.
Yellow Grease: A used cooking oil collected from restaurants and food processors, typically low in impurities and widely used as a feedstock for biodiesel and renewable diesel production.
Yield: The amount of biofuel or product generated per unit of feedstock, often used as a key metric in evaluating the efficiency and viability of a production process.
Zero-Carbon Fuel: A fuel that emits no net carbon dioxide during combustion, either because it contains no carbon (e.g., hydrogen) or because its lifecycle emissions are fully offset, often considered a goal for next-generation renewable energy systems.