Report on Bioenergy’s Role in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Bioenergies, as renewable and low-carbon resources, make a vital contribution to reducing emissions and advancing global sustainability objectives. The development and deployment of biofuels and bioplastics directly support the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those related to clean energy, climate action, responsible production, and innovation. This report outlines the strategic importance of bioenergy in reconciling economic growth with climate preservation.

Addressing Global Challenges through Bioenergy

Biomass, encompassing all organic material from plants, animals, and microbes, can be converted into biofuels and bioplastics to address three major global challenges, aligning with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Contribution to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)

• Bioenergy helps meet the increasing global energy needs driven by population growth and economic development.
• It provides a renewable alternative to fossil fuels in the transportation sector, where energy demand is increasing significantly.

Contribution to SDG 13 (Climate Action)

• In line with the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) 2°C scenario, biofuels are a key driver for reducing energy-related carbon emissions.
• Biofuels lower carbon dioxide emissions by at least 50% compared to their fossil fuel counterparts, directly mitigating the environmental footprint of the transportation sector, which accounts for over 20% of worldwide CO2 emissions.
• Biomass represents the only viable renewable alternative for producing liquid fuels essential for transportation.

Contribution to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)

• The development of bioplastics, such as Polylactic Acid (PLA), offers a sustainable alternative to conventional polymers.
• PLA is biodegradable, has a lower carbon intensity, and meets growing consumer demand for products with a reduced environmental impact, thereby promoting sustainable consumption patterns.

Strategic Implementation and Industrial Contributions

An ambition to lead in the biofuels sector involves significant industrial and commercial expertise in biomass conversion, directly supporting sustainable industrialization and infrastructure.

Industrial Projects Supporting SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)

1. La Mède Biorefinery (France): A former oil refinery was transformed into a world-class biorefinery, one of the largest in Europe. It has a capacity of 500,000 tonnes of HVO-type biofuels per year, demonstrating a commitment to building resilient and sustainable infrastructure.
2. PLA Bioplastics Plant: In partnership with Corbion, a world-class PLA plant with a capacity of 75,000 metric tons per year was launched. This project promotes sustainable industrialization and aims to establish a leading position in the global bioplastics market.

Product Portfolio for Sustainable Markets (SDG 12)

• Biofuels: Over two decades of experience producing Ethyl Tert-Butyl Ether (ETBE) and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). In 2018, over 2.4 million metric tons of biofuels were incorporated into gasoline and diesel products.
• Bioplastics: A focus on developing innovative PLA, a polymer produced from sugar and starch with an environmental footprint one-third that of conventional polymers. PLA is utilized in food packaging, textiles, medical, and automotive industries.

Research and Development for Advanced Bioenergies

Significant investment in research and development is crucial for overcoming challenges related to feedstock availability and technology, thereby advancing future bioenergy solutions.

Advancing Biomass Conversion Pathways (SDG 9)

• Thermochemical Conversion: This pathway uses pressure, temperature, and catalysts to transform biomass into a wide range of molecules.
• Biotechnology: This method utilizes microorganisms like yeast, bacteria, or microalgae to convert plant matter and inorganic carbon into target molecules.

Focus on Next-Generation Feedstocks (SDG 12 & SDG 13)

R&D efforts are concentrated on broadening the range of usable resources to enhance sustainability and reduce reliance on traditional crops.

• Lignocellulose: Research focuses on converting plant waste, such as straw and forest residues, into advanced biofuels.
• Microalgae: Projects explore the potential of microorganisms that can directly transform CO2 and light into molecules of interest for energy markets.

Strategic Partnerships for Innovation (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals)

Collaboration with start-ups, academic institutions, and industrial players is essential for accelerating innovation.

• Industrial Consortiums: The BioTfueL project, developed with five partners, aims to convert lignocellulosic biomass into biofuels via a thermochemical pathway.
• Research Partnerships: Collaborations with institutions such as France’s CEA, China’s Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, and the Netherlands’ Wageningen University are underway to demonstrate the industrial potential of microalgae.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – The article’s primary focus is on bioenergies (biofuels) as a renewable, low-carbon energy source, particularly for the transportation sector.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – The text details significant industrial projects, such as converting a traditional refinery into a biorefinery, investing in R&D for new technologies, and building new plants for bioplastics.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – The development of biofuels and bioplastics is presented as a way to create more sustainable production patterns and meet consumer demand for products with a lower environmental impact.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – A core theme is the role of bioenergies in reducing CO2 emissions to limit global warming, aligning with the IEA’s 2°C scenario.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article directly supports this by discussing the development and production of biofuels as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels in transportation. It explicitly mentions European legislation requiring that “14% of transportation fuel must come from renewable sources by 2030.”

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. The transformation of the La Mède refinery in France into a “world-class biorefinery” is a direct example of retrofitting an industrial facility to produce cleaner energy.
   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors… encouraging innovation. The article highlights extensive R&D efforts in biomass conversion, including thermochemical conversion and biotechnology, and partnerships with start-ups and academic institutions to develop “tomorrow’s bioenergies.”

3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The article discusses using biomass, including “plant waste” (lignocellulose), as a resource. It also highlights the development of polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastics, which have an “environmental footprint one third that of conventional polymers,” representing more efficient and sustainable resource use.

4. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article references the IEA’s 2°C scenario and European legislation mandating renewable fuel use as examples of policies designed to combat climate change, which the development of biofuels helps to fulfill.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 7

   • Renewable energy share in transport: The article cites a specific policy target: “14% of transportation fuel must come from renewable sources by 2030” in Europe. This serves as a direct indicator for Target 7.2.
   • Production capacity of biofuels: The La Mède biorefinery’s capacity of “500,000 tonnes of HVO-type biofuels per year” is a quantifiable indicator of the increased production of clean energy.

2. Indicators for SDG 9

   • Investment in R&D: The article mentions that millions were “spent on advanced biofuel R&D in the last ten years,” which is an indicator of investment in innovation (Target 9.5).
   • Industrial production capacity: The establishment of a PLA plant with a “capacity of 75,000 metric tons per year” is a concrete indicator of upgrading industrial capabilities for sustainable products (Target 9.4).

3. Indicators for SDG 12

   • Reduction in material footprint: The statement that PLA bioplastics have an “environmental footprint one third that of conventional polymers” is a comparative indicator for measuring progress in sustainable production and resource efficiency (Target 12.2).
   • Use of waste as a resource: The R&D focus on converting “lignocellulose (plant waste)” into biofuels is an indicator of moving towards more sustainable management of resources.

4. Indicators for SDG 13

   • Reduction in CO2 emissions: The article states that biofuels “lower carbon dioxide emissions by at least 50% compared to fossil fuels.” This percentage is a key performance indicator for measuring the impact of climate action initiatives (Target 13.2).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: totalenergies.com