The Fuel for Thought Podcast

Randy Delbert Letang, founder, President and CEO of SGP Bioenergy, joins the podcast to explore the real barriers to scale, and how SGP is trying to break through them. From a Panama biorefinery nearing mechanical completion to a hemp-based feedstock program designed to regenerate soil and sequester carbon, SGP's integrated, zero-waste model offers a different lens on what sustainable fuel production can look like.

Biofuels remain one of the most mature renewable solutions... but balancing production, feedstock use and carbon impact is far from simple. Agustin Torroba of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) joins the podcast to explore how global ethanol and biodiesel markets are adapting to policy pressures, new certification frameworks and evolving sustainability standards.

Revamping existing facilities for renewable fuels can be faster and more cost-effective than building new. Ole Frej Alkilde and Lars Jørgensen of Topsoe explore the technical realities of converting hydroprocessing units, from managing hydrogen demand to navigating emerging feedstocks and common bottlenecks.

Behind every successful renewable fuel plant is an EPC company navigating complex engineering, procurement and construction challenges. Carron Freeney from Topsoe joins the podcast to unpack the project lifecycle, contract strategies and why early EPC involvement is critical to success in the energy transition.

In Episode 2, Fuel for Thought host Sylvain Verdier talks with Rik Sneep of Moeve about transforming a century-old energy business into a front-runner in renewable fuels. From feedstock security to strategic airline partnerships and hedging with methanol and ammonia, Rik offers a clear, pragmatic view on making renewable fuels scale happen.

In the opening episode of Season 7, Fuel for Thought brings together three Topsoe experts to assess the renewable fuels sector at a critical juncture. Sandra Winter-Madsen, Sylvain Verdier and Milica Folic, together with host Mikala Grubb, explore the regulatory landscape across the EU, UK, US and Asia-Pacific, examining how mandates are driving demand, how feedstock supply chains are evolving, and why refineries are finally integrating renewable pathways into long-term strategies. From RED III's 2030 targets to maritime sector aspirations, from co-processing adoption to demonstration facilities for e-SAF research and production, the conversation offers a clear-eyed, comprehensive view of where the industry stands – and the collaborative momentum building toward 2026.

In the final episode of our three-part SAF Special series, Fuel for Thought welcomes Mélanie Astruc and Bruno James from Airbus to unpack the manufacturer’s SAF strategy and path to 100 % compatibility. The discussion covers technical certification, supply chain coordination, airport readiness, and the delicate balance between short-term SAF adoption and longer-term alternatives such as hydrogen and electric propulsion. A fascinating close to our SAF Specials – and a clear view of how aviation’s future is taking flight today.

In the second of our three-episode SAF Specials, The Fuel for Thought Podcast talks with Elise Fox, Director of Sustainability at World Fuel Services. We explore the practical realities of integrating SAF into global jet fuel infrastructure, the bottlenecks in blending and storage and the opportunities in co-processing, book-and-claim and, of course, airport readiness. Elise offers a grounded view of what’s working, what still needs to change and how the industry can prepare for the mandates ahead.

In the first of our three-part SAF Specials, The Fuel for Thought Podcast Season 7 opens with Patrick Edmond, Chief Marketing Officer at Future Energy Global. We discuss the market realities holding SAF back, the potential of demand aggregation to unlock supply and the role of policy, finance and communication in accelerating adoption. From contrails to hydrogen, Patrick offers a clear-eyed view of aviation’s decarbonization pathway and the bold steps needed to stay on track for 2050.

Let’s continue our exploration of the maritime industry’s journey toward decarbonization. In this episode, we’ll investigate how innovative engine technologies can clear the waters for sustainable shipping. We welcome two experts from MAN Energy Solutions: Augustina Ramirez, a Process Engineer specializing in Energy Solutions and Shipping Decarbonization, and Nikolaos Kourtidis, a Senior Advisor in New Technologies and Dual Fuel Engines. They will share the latest advancements in dual-fuel engines. Operating on both traditional fuels and alternative fuels, such as ammonia and methanol, dual-fuel engines offer the industry a crucial fuel flexibility for navigating the energy transition.

The maritime sector has set sail to embark on its energy transition. But who are the stakeholders involved and how will they navigate the waters ahead? If you’re curious to learn those details (and the complexities that comes with it), then this episode is worth your ear time. Get onboard as we set out to demystify the world of shipping through a better understanding of its stakeholders, regulatory landscape, and the path ahead. Join Sylvain and Mikala as they welcome Femke Spiegelenberg from the Global Maritime Forum and Topsoe’s own Asmara Klein, Public Affairs Specialist.

For more than a century, gasification technology has been used to convert coal into fuel. However, the technology is now pivoting towards the production of renewable fuels, converting renewable feedstocks like solid waste and biomass into pure decarbonization potential. But what should refiners consider before diving head-first into a gasification project? That’s what Sylvain and Mikala set out to explore through an in-depth look at the technology’s evolution, challenges, and prospects. They’re joined by Pauli Baumann, Global Director at Hatch, and Johan Malan, Head of Licensing, North America for Topsoe, so get ready for 360 a discussion on gasification!

Southeast Asia’s 700 million people contribute to 4% of global energy usage. Today, a large part of this energy comes from coal, but the region is making significant strides towards renewable energy sources and increasing its renewable fuels production. In this episode, we explore what’s needed to scale up the deployment of new technologies for Southeast Asia's energy transition. Joining us are Nicholas Ong and Edmund Siau from GenZero, an investment platform company that aims to accelerate decarbonization globally and is actively engaged in projects supporting the energy transition in Southeast Asia.

Intermediate crops are worth our attention! With their recognition as a sustainable feedstock for renewable fuels by the EU’s Annex 9 in RED II, they have the potential to mitigate some of our feedstock supply issues. This episode is dedicated to a deep dive into their technical details. Sylvain and Mikala are joined by Saipol, an oilseeds processing company, and part of the Avril Group. Specifically, we have Bastien Le Bouhellec, Head of Biodiesel Trading Desk, and Guillaume de la Forest, Analyst of Supply & Demand Oilseed Markets and Intercrop Sourcing Project Manager for Aviation Biofuels. Don’t miss this opportunity to feed your thoughts with new seeds!

What has happened in the past year within the world of renewable fuels? If you’re looking for the ultimate update on that, this episode is a must-listen! Topsoe’s own Product Line Directors, Milica Folic and Sandra Winter-Madsen, join Mikala and Sylvain to take the temperature on the 2024 realities of renewable fuels and the energy transition in general. They explore how the supply of various renewable fuel types has developed over the past year and how different regions across the world are progressing in their adoption of them. They also cover the current regulatory landscape (which never stands still!) and conclude the episode by unveiling their predictions for the year ahead: 2025.

Allow us to introduce the fastest pathway to begin your sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production: co-processing. Co-processing renewable and fossil feedstock in your existing unit, enables you to kickstart SAF production without major revamps or large investments. Our own experience with co-processing dates back to 2004, so for this SAF Special we’ve called on the assistance of our own Ranoo Pathak, Senior Technical Service Engineer, and Ignacio Fabian Costa, Licensing Manager, to tackle the key questions refineries might be facing. With the expected growth in demand for SAF, it's time to scale up production!

For the first time ever, we dedicate an entire SAF Special to exploring the financial aspects of getting sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) projects off the ground. What are the challenges and opportunities in financing SAF projects? And what are the best strategies for reaching final investment decision (FID)? Sylvain and Mikala delve into these questions (and many more!) with the assistance of IFC – International Finance Corporation. They’ll talk to IFC’s Ladan Pazhouhandeh, Senior Investment Officer and Kelly H. Johnson, Global Sector Lead in Chemicals and Fertilizers, and Topsoe’s own Lucas Bossard, Head of Public-Private Partnerships.

Get ready for a much-needed deep dive into the science and chemistry of jet fuels to understand their impact! Since airplanes contribute to global warming through emissions of CO2 and soot particles from their jet fuel combustion, our understanding of jet fuel is crucial for our efforts to decarbonize aviation. Sylvain is joined by Patrick LeClercq, Head of Department Multiphase Flows and Alternative Fuels, at German Aerospace Center (DLR) to delve into the composition and combustion of jet fuel and explore how sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) with lower aromatic content help reduce emissions from air travel.

Decarbonization is driving us towards feedstocks that are completely different from the fossil feedstocks, we’ve spent decades studying. To fully understand the complexity of renewable feedstocks, and optimize their use in renewable fuels production, we must turn to analytical chemistry. In this episode, we uncover the challenges and techniques for analyzing renewable feedstocks, like fatty acids, waste oil and fats, and more advanced options such as pyrolysis oils and hydrothermal liquefaction products. Settle in for a comprehensive view from both academia and industry as we’re joined by two special guests: Jan Christensen, Professor in Environmental Analytical Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen, and Karina Knudsmark Sjøholm, Principal Scientist at Topsoe.

When it comes to the production of renewable fuels, Latin America is a region filled with potential. With an abundance of easily accessible renewable resources like wind, sun, and biomass waste, and hosting well-advanced refineries and cost-competitive production opportunities, Latin America has the potential to become a key contributor to the global renewable fuels market. In this episode, we talk to Juan Pablo Freijo, founder and CEO of Sempen, and an expert in Latin America’s energy transition. We'll explore the current state of renewable fuels production in Latin America and discuss their future plans.