In order to continually reduce vehicle pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, fuel standards and regulations are in a state of constant change and tightening. These changes and future trends have an impact on the take-up of renewable fuels for both gasoline and diesel fuels. This chapter discusses current and future fuel standards and illustrates how the hurdles experienced by ethanol and bio-diesel blends have been overcome. Nevertheless, ethanol and bio-diesel still remain and are likely to remain a minor part of the world fuel market.
Ideally new renewable fuels should be drop-in fuels with minimum compatibility issues with conventional fuels. This is illustrated by bio-refinery operations to produce green diesel which is compatible with conventional diesel.
There may be a role for a new renewable additive to improve gasoline octane as octane requirements rise. The market for such an additive could justify large-scale manufacture.
