Decarbonisation Technology - February 2025 Issue

Role of carbon-14 testing in advancing renewable fuels Carbon-14 analysis offers actionable insights that drive regulatory compliance, enhance operational efficiency, and bolster economic benefits in the fuels industry

Haley Gershon Beta Analytic Gary Lee Parkland Refining

I n the dynamic landscape of renewable energy, carbon-14 analysis has emerged as a pivotal tool for verifying the biogenic content of biofuels and fuel gases. This methodology, central to the operations of international fuel distributor Parkland Refining, is helping the refinery lower its environmental impact. Parkland integrates renewable fuel sourcing, manufacturing, blending, carbon trading, and solar power into its strategies while promoting ultra-fast EV charging as part of its comprehensive sustainability goals. This article focuses on the significance of carbon-14 analysis in improving internal refinery “ Understanding how renewable feedstocks contribute to fuel yields is vital, and carbon-14 testing removes processes, ensuring regulatory compliance, boosting performance in the fuels industry, and overall providing a reliable means to verify the biogenic carbon content of biofuel blends and fuel gases. ambiguities often associated with traditional mass balance methods ”

is only present in living or recently expired material, carbon-14 testing via accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is the most effective method to determine the amount of biogenic carbon vs petroleum-derived carbon in biofuel blends (Beta Analytic, 2024) . According to the ASTM D6866-24 analytical standard, ‘biogenic’ is defined as containing carbon (both organic and inorganic) from renewable origins, such as agricultural, plant, animal, fungi, microorganisms, macro- organisms, marine, or forestry materials (ASTM, 2025) . This methodology is able to indicate the percentage of biogenic carbon in a batch of gasoline, diesel, or sustainable aviation fuel, for example. By precisely determining the proportion of biogenic content, carbon-14 analysis supports industries in meeting regulatory requirements and fostering trust among regulators and consumers. For Parkland Refining, this verification is key to confidently marketing renewable fuels while ensuring compliance with low-carbon fuel standards (LCFS). Accurate biogenic testing also positions companies to align their products with the growing global demand for sustainability. The application of carbon-14 analysis goes beyond compliance – it also plays a crucial role in optimising refinery operations to produce the most renewable fuel possible. Understanding how renewable feedstocks contribute to fuel yields is vital, and carbon-14 testing removes ambiguities often associated with traditional Enhancing refinery processes and performance

Understanding the importance of biogenic testing Biogenic testing through ASTM D6866

carbon-14 analysis is reshaping the way the fuels industry assesses renewable content (Beta Analytic, 2024) . Carbon-14 analysis is used to determine the biomass-based (or biogenic content) vs fossil fraction of biofuels and other products. Since the carbon-14 isotope