Production of alternative, non-petroleum-based fuel continues to be a hot topic around the globe as government policies have incentivized or even mandated these products with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In the U.S., we’ve seen waves of ethanol and biodiesel enter the fuel supply chain, but the latest commodity that has piqued industry interest is renewable diesel, whose chemical characteristics make it a particularly desirable replacement for conventional distillate. Today, we provide an overview of the renewable diesel market, the legislative programs in North America that are incentivizing its production, and the projects currently on the books to produce it.
What Is Renewable Diesel?
Renewable diesel is similar to biodiesel in that it can be produced from lipids — typically vegetable oil, waste cooking oil, animal fats, etc. However, the production processes for the two fuels are different, leading to important differences in their chemical structures. Renewable diesel is most commonly produced through hydrotreating the feedstock, while biodiesel is produced through transesterification, a process that turns the lipids into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) — and a great word to remember for Scrabble. We won’t bog you down with a complex description of those two processes, but the important thing to remember is that each of the resulting fuels has distinct properties that allow them to be blended differently with petroleum-based diesel. Biodiesel is subjected to lower blending limits (typically 5-20%; lower in colder climates) due to its cold-flow properties — i.e., its flow behavior at low temperatures — that can lead to plugging, or restricted flows, in vehicle fuel systems. By contrast, renewable diesel is chemically similar to petroleum-based diesel and can therefore be used as a direct “drop-in” substitute that is not subject to similar blending limits.
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Regulatory Programs
Renewable diesel production and consumption are expected to grow significantly over the next few years due to increasing legislative requirements, including the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS); the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) in California, Oregon and British Columbia; and the newly proposed Canadian Clean Fuels Standard (CCFS).
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About the song
"Playin' by the Rules" was written by Michael McDonald and Ed Sanford. It appears as the first track on Michael McDonald's debut solo album If That's What It Takes. The album was recorded at Warner Brothers Studio in North Hollywood and Sunset Sound in Hollywood, with string overdubs done at Ocean Way Recording in Los Angeles in 1981-82. It was produced by Lenny Waronker and Ted Templeman, and released in August 1982. The album went to #6 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart. Personnel on "Playin' by the Rules" were: Michael McDonald (lead and backing vocals, electric piano, synthesizer), Willie Weeks (bass), Steve Gadd (drums), Dean Parks (guitar), Greg Phillinganes (piano), Edgar Winter (sax), Bobby LaKind and Lenny Castro (percussion), and Ed Sanford (backing vocals).
Michael McDonald is an American singer-songwriter, keyboardist and record producer. In addition to his solo work, he was a member of The Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan. He wrote and sang lead vocals on several hits for The Doobie Brothers. McDonald has sung backing vocals for several other artists’ records over the years. He has released nine solo albums, one live album, six compilation albums, five Christmas albums and 26 singles as a solo artist. He has won five Grammy Awards as a member of The Doobie Brothers. He continues to record as a solo artist and is touring again with his old Doobie Brother bandmates this summer and fall.
