Category: News

EcoEngineers Named Best Verification Company in North America

2026 Environmental Market Rankings by Environmental Finance lists EcoEngineers as Best Verification Company in Three Categories

EcoEngineers, an LRQA company, has been named Best Verification Company in North America by Environmental Market Rankings by Environmental Finance.

The company also earned Best Verification Company in Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) and Best Verification Company and Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Markets.

The Environmental Market Rankings are based on votes from market participants and recognize leading firms across global environmental and carbon markets. The awards highlight EcoEngineers’ continued leadership in regulatory compliance, carbon accounting, and independent verification services supporting renewable fuels and low-carbon energy markets.

2026 is the company’s first time being named Best Verification Company in North America, which includes the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and the RNG market, highlighting its growing role in compliance, certification, and carbon modeling across North America and Europe. It also marks the second consecutive year in the RINs Market – Best Verification Company ranking.

“This tremendous honor is a testament to the strength and dedication of our team in supporting companies build validated, defensible evidence supporting their sustainability claims,” said Shashi Menon, CEO of EcoEngineers. “Environmental markets are constantly evolving, and with that velocity of change, there is greater scrutiny, higher standards, and increased demand for transparency. Our team is proud to help clients navigate this complexity and close the gap between our client’s ambition and the proof in their data, across North America and globally.”

The 2026 Environmental Market Rankings recognition underscores EcoEngineers’ commitment to delivering independent verification services that strengthen environmental markets and support the energy transition. The rankings reinforce the market standing of their verification teams, signaling trusted expertise, consistency, and independence to clients, regulators, and market participants across the region.

Global Assurance and Accredited Verification Services

EcoEngineers supports companies to manage their sustainability reporting through second- and third-party audits, pre-verification, gap analyses, internal methodology development, and hot-spot mapping, among other things. The team’s technical capabilities expanded as a result of its acquisition by LRQA and range from regulated biofuel and carbon markets around the globe including U.S. tax credit verifications such as those under 45Z and 45V to voluntary sustainability reporting of scopes 1, 2, and 3 under various International Organization for Standardization (ISO) frameworks, the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), etc.

Services ensure compliance with regulatory programs, including the European Renewable Energy Directive (RED), Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS, EUETS, NEA), the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), Oregon Clean Fuels Program (CFP), the Canadian Clean Fuel Regulation (CFR) and others. Through rigorous, science-based measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) protocols, the company safeguards the integrity and accuracy of clients’ sustainability declarations across environmental markets.

EcoEngineers and LRQA together are accredited by more than 45 independent accreditation bodies worldwide and conduct thousands of audits annually of biofuel, sustainability, and GHG claims, and environmental management systems. They have a combined team of more than 1,000 auditors specializing in sustainability reporting and environmental and energy audits across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific.

Specifically, EcoEngineers is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) National Accreditation Board (ANAB) as a GHG verification body in accordance with ISO/IEC 17029:2019, ISO 14065:2020, and ISO 14064-3:2019. Its scope of accreditation includes verification of GHG emission reductions and removals at the project level under ANAB Group 01 (fuel combustion) and Group 03 (Land Use and Forestry), as well as verification of applications and reports under the Canadian Clean Fuel Regulations, including Sector 2 – Renewable/Bio/Low-CI Fuels and Sector 4 – Green Hydrogen.

Most recently, EcoEngineers and LRQA were approved by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) to provide certification services under the RSB standard. This recognition places the company among a select group of organizations qualified to evaluate and certify biofuel and biomaterial companies navigating European and global renewable energy regulations.

Core LRQA GHG & ESG Verification Services

In addition to EcoEngineers’ environmental market verification capabilities, LRQA brings a broad suite of globally recognized GHG and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) assurance services that extend the value of the combined portfolio. These include:

GHG Verification Services:

  • Organizational carbon footprint verification under ISO 14064‑1
  • Verification engagements under ISO 14064‑3 for both voluntary and mandatory reporting schemes
  • Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions verification aligned with the GHG Protocol
  • Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) verification under ISO 14067
  • Net‑zero and carbon neutrality verification, including ISO14068
  • Technical readiness assessments for SBTi target‑setting and transition‑plan validation
  • Sector‑specific GHG assurance (energy, manufacturing, industrials, transportation, logistics)

ESG & Sustainability Assurance:

  • Non‑financial reporting assurance under ISAE 3000
  • Limited or reasonable assurance over CSRD/ESRS climate‑related disclosures
  • Supply‑chain ESG assessments and assurance for responsible sourcing, human rights, and due‑diligence frameworks
  • Verification of sustainability performance indicators aligned with global ESG standards and investor frameworks

Together, EcoEngineers and LRQA offer an integrated global assurance platform across climate, carbon, biofuels, and sustainability reporting, covering regulated programs, voluntary markets, and corporate ESG disclosures.

For more information, contact: clientservices@ecoengineers.com

About EcoEngineers

EcoEngineers, an LRQA company, is a consulting, auditing, and advisory firm exclusively focused on the energy transition and decarbonization. From innovation to impact, EcoEngineers helps its clients navigate the disruption caused by carbon emissions and climate change. Its team of engineers, scientists, auditors, consultants, and researchers live and work at the intersection of low-carbon fuel policy, innovative technologies, and the carbon marketplace. For more information, visit www.ecoengineers.us.

About LRQA

LRQA is the leading global risk management partner. Through its connected risk management solutions, LRQA helps clients navigate an evolving global landscape to keep organizations one step ahead. From quality assurance to safety, cybersecurity, climate performance and responsible sourcing, LRQA works with clients to identify risks across their businesses. LRQA team of experts then creates smart, scalable solutions, tailored to help organizations prepare, prevent, and protect against risk.

Through relentless client focus, backed by decades of sector-specific expertise, data-driven insight and on-the-ground specialists across assurance, certification, inspection, advisory, and training, LRQA supports over 61,000 organizations in more than 150 countries. More: https://www.lrqa.com.

A Guide to Complying with New EV Verification Requirements

Originally published in EV Magazine on February 24, 2026.

By Daniel Ciarcia, Senior Carbon Consultant, EcoEngineers

EcoEngineers’ Daniel Ciarcia explains EV verification requirements in California and Canada and why organisations should begin work on these now.

EV charging has become an increasingly important pathway for reducing transportation emissions and for generating compliance credits under major fuel programmes.

Beginning with the 2026 reporting year, California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) will now require third-party verification of EV charging credits by an accredited verification body (VB). Under Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR), many operators will be verifying their EV credits for the first time because the regulation is new. For many charging operators, fleet owners, site hosts and municipalities, this will be the first time their EV data is formally audited. 

Verification under LCFS and CFR

Under the California LCFS, EV charging credits are now treated like other fuel pathways. Beginning with 2026 operating data, entities generating EV credits must submit annual reports that are independently verified by an accredited verification body, with verification statements due by August 31, 2027. While the first verified reports for LCFS are not due until 2027, the data being audited is generated in 2026. Now is the critical time to prepare. 

Under Canada’s CFR, EV charging is recognised under Compliance Category 3 as a credit-generating activity that displaces fossil fuels. Registered Credit Creators, such as charging site hosts and charging network operators, must continue to submit annual credit-creation reports, which have always been subject to third-party verification. CFR is regulated under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, meaning non-compliance can carry serious penalties.

In both programmes, verification is no longer optional. Many organisations do not realise they are required to obtain third-party verification.

What are LCFS and CFR credits?

Under LCFS and CFR, credits can be generated from vehicle charging activity at public charging stations, fleet depots, workplace charging and certain multi-family properties with unassigned chargers. In these cases, the owner (site host) or operator of the charging equipment may be the credit generator.

Who is eligible?

Organisations that have registered and have approved pathways can generate credits under these programmes. Credits are generated through charging activity and reflected in quarterly reports for CA-LCFS filed in CARB’s LCFS Reporting Tool (LRT), and annually in Canada through Credit and Tracking System (CFR-CATS).

 

Three-step guide to verification

Step 1: Select your third-party VB. As required by both the California LCFS, Canada CFR and most carbon credit programmes, a third-party VB is required to confirm that the credits claimed are true and accurate and no double-counting has taken place. It is important for your VB to have the following credentials.

Accreditation status:

  • California LCFS: Requires specific accreditation from the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
  • Canada CFR: Requires specific accreditation from an Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) designated body.
  • Both Programmes: Must have mechanisms to prevent and resolve conflicts of interest.
    • Must be a member of the International Accreditation Forum.
    • Must have policies for technical training related to verification.
    • CA-LCFS must meet ISO/IEC 17011 standards, while CFR must meet ECCC Methods for Verification and Certification.

Both programmes require the VB to be accredited to ISO/IEC 17029 with scope of ISO 14065 and ISO 14066. Both also require the employment of a qualified independent reviewer with the same competencies as the team leader.

EcoEngineers is an accredited VB in California LCFS, Canada CFR, Oregon and Washington.

Step 2: Ensure metering and data are audit-ready. One of the most important and often underestimated requirements is measurement devices.

Both programmes require meters that:

  • Meet accuracy and reliability standards
  • Are properly installed and calibrated
  • Can clearly measure electricity dispensed to EVs
  • Are supported by documentation (make, model, serial number, calibration records)

Even if meters were calibrated by manufacturers at installation, entities must retain documentation to prove it. Missing or non-compliant meter records can result in adverse verification findings and potentially disallowed or reduced credits.

In addition, entities must retain session-level data internally, even if only aggregated values are submitted to regulators. Your verifying body would be able to help you ensure you are in compliance, so you don’t lose any credits unexpectedly.

Ultimately, accurate recordkeeping is essential, so reports should be backed by documentation that can pass an audit.  

Step 3: Prepare for the verification process. A typical verification includes:

  • Risk and materiality assessments
  • Data sampling and testing
  • Document reviews
  • Site visits 
  • Issue resolution
  • Submission of a verification opinion to regulators

A complete verification cycle usually takes around 90 days, depending on preparedness and responsiveness. 

 

Daniel Ciarcia is a Senior Carbon Consultant at EcoEngineers, an LRQA company, with a focus on electric vehicles, renewable electricity and energy transition programmes.

 

EcoEngineers Recognized Among Top 10 Energy Consulting Companies Worldwide

EcoEngineers (Eco) has been named one of the Top 10 Energy Consulting Companies globally by Energy Digital. This recognition highlights our dedication to guiding clients through the complexities of the energy transition and our commitment to creating a sustainable future. 

We are proud to be featured alongside global leaders in the field, including Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Deloitte, ERM, KPMG, McKinsey & Company, Oliver Wyman, PwC, and Schneider Electric, reaffirming our dedication to delivering innovative solutions that foster a more sustainable future.

For more information, visit the full article on Energy Digital here.

About EcoEngineers

EcoEngineers, an LRQA company, is a consulting, auditing, and advisory firm exclusively focused on the energy transition and decarbonization. From innovation to impact, EcoEngineers helps its clients navigate the disruption caused by carbon emissions and climate change. Its team of engineers, scientists, auditors, consultants, and researchers live and work at the intersection of low-carbon fuel policy, innovative technologies, and the carbon marketplace. For more information, visit www.ecoengineers.us.

EcoEngineers: Unlocking Revenue Through Life-Cycle Analysis

The following is an article originally published by Sustainability Magazine on September 24, 2025.

By Laith Amin, Vice President, Growth and Strategic Development at EcoEngineers

 

Laith Amin, Vice President, Growth and Strategic Development at EcoEngineers, on turning compliance into business advantage

For years, the energy and industrial sectors have treated compliance as a necessary cost of doing business. Regulations were viewed as hurdles, tax credits as short-term windfalls and carbon accounting as a paperwork exercise. But we are now at a turning point: life-cycle analysis (LCA) is proving that when done strategically, compliance can evolve into a powerful tool for unlocking revenue and securing long-term competitiveness.

Recent policy changes, including the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) in the US, have only sharpened the stakes. By linking major incentives directly to LCA outcomes, regulations elevate accurate carbon intensity modelling to a financial imperative. Industries such as ethanol, hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), renewable diesel, biogas and carbon dioxide removal are among those where LCA results directly determine tax credit values, access to markets and revenue potential.

With tax credits in the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), such as 45V for hydrogen, 45Z for clean fuels and 45Q for carbon capture now tied directly to carbon intensity outcomes, a single point reduction in an LCA score can often translate into millions of dollars of value. Consider an ethanol plant producing 100 million gallons annually: improving its carbon intensity (CI) by just one point could yield US$2m in additional revenue. That’s not an engineering retrofit—it’s the result of smart modelling, accurate data and a disciplined approach to understanding your environmental footprint.

The Power of Measurement

At its core, LCA provides a structured methodology to measure a product’s environmental impact from raw material extraction through end-of-life. By mapping every stage of production and use, it enables organisations to identify hotspots where emissions or resource use are highest, then prioritise improvements.

Small shifts in carbon intensity can deliver outsized results. For example, hydrogen developers achieving a carbon intensity below 0.45 kg CO₂ per kilogram of hydrogen may qualify a project for the most lucrative federal tax credits, worth millions of dollars annually.

LCAs also play a central role in the voluntary carbon markets (VCMs), where methodologies for credits such as biochar, afforestation or carbon removal projects are built directly on LCA principles. Here, accurate modelling is essential not just for compliance but for generating and monetising high-integrity credits. Beyond ethanol and hydrogen, fuels such as SAF, renewable diesel and biogas all rely on LCAs to determine eligibility for incentives, establish market competitiveness and build trust with stakeholders.

Managing Risk Across Borders

LCA is not only about maximising credits; it is also about mitigating risks. With mechanisms such as the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) coming online, exporters who fail to validate their emissions data could face costly trade penalties. Verification requirements vary across jurisdictions, and companies must be prepared to demonstrate compliance not just once, but year after year. Here again, LCA is more than an academic exercise, it is a passport to global market—and as we look forward, few will be surprised to see regulators set emissions intensity factors on the high side as a way to encourage organizations to build LCA data and modelling competency.

Building Strategic Competence

Organisations face a choice. Some will outsource LCA entirely to accredited third parties, ensuring compliance but limiting their ability to test scenarios against operational improvements. Others are moving toward building in-house competence, developing teams that can run their own models, conduct sensitivity analyses and embed LCA into daily operations.

The most successful firms will blend both approaches: leveraging external expertise for verification and regulatory alignment, while cultivating internal capabilities to remain nimble and seize emerging opportunities.

From Compliance to Value Creation

The lesson is clear: LCA is no longer optional. It is a strategic requirement for accessing incentives, managing risk and creating shareholder value. Companies that treat LCA as a core business process will not only stay ahead of regulators, they will refine their operating model to unlock new revenue streams, strengthen customer trust and position themselves as leaders in the energy transition.

For those ready to take the next step, there are communities of practice forming where regulators, scientists and industry peers come together to explore best practices and hands-on applications of LCA. One such opportunity is the upcoming LCA Academy in Houston, taking place on October 7-8, hosted by EcoEngineers and LRQA—it’s designed as a deep dive for both leaders and practitioners who want to strengthen their capabilities, reduce uncertainty and turn compliance into a competitive advantage.

The future belongs to organisations that measure to improve rigorously, act strategically and treat compliance not as a burden, but as an advantage. LCA is the key to making that shift, and the time to start is now.

For more information about our LCA services and capabilities, contact: 

Laith Amin, Vice President, Growth and Strategic Development | lamin@ecoengineers.us  

About EcoEngineers

EcoEngineers, an LRQA company, is a consulting, auditing, and advisory firm exclusively focused on the energy transition and decarbonization. From innovation to impact, EcoEngineers helps its clients navigate the disruption caused by carbon emissions and climate change. Its team of engineers, scientists, auditors, consultants, and researchers live and work at the intersection of low-carbon fuel policy, innovative technologies, and the carbon marketplace. For more information, visit www.ecoengineers.us.

Regenerating Agriculture: Coordinating Action Across the Global Food System

The following is an article originally published by Newsweek on September 18, 2025.

 

The global food system is at a crossroads. Feeding a rapidly growing population while cutting emissions demands nothing short of a transformation in how we farm, finance and fuel the future. Regenerative agriculture and bioenergy are at the center of this shift—restoring soils, reducing emissions and creating new value streams for farmers and communities. This report brings together insights from Rabobank, Arva, Sevana Bioenergy, EcoEngineers, South Jersey Industries, LF Bioenergy and U.S. Ag & Dairy Sustainability Advising to show how collaboration, technology and market innovation can regenerate agriculture at scale.

Click here to download the full report.

 

For more information about our bioenergy services and capabilities, contact: 

Brad Pleima, President | bpleima@ecoengineers.us  

About EcoEngineers

EcoEngineers, an LRQA company, is a consulting, auditing, and advisory firm exclusively focused on the energy transition and decarbonization. From innovation to impact, EcoEngineers helps its clients navigate the disruption caused by carbon emissions and climate change. Its team of engineers, scientists, auditors, consultants, and researchers live and work at the intersection of low-carbon fuel policy, innovative technologies, and the carbon marketplace. For more information, visit www.ecoengineers.us.

Section 45Z Is Here: Act Fast, Monetize Smart

The following is an article originally published by Ethanol Producer Magazine on July 25, 2025.

By McCord Pankonen, Managing Director, North America Biofuels

The Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit (PTC) under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) was created to incentivize the production of low-carbon transportation fuels in the U.S. With the signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law on July 4, 2025, the program’s framework has shifted to align with this administration’s priorities and begun to show signs of stabilization. It now offers a longer timeline, more favorable parameters for crop-based fuels, and greater clarity, though further guidance is still forthcoming. 

The tax credit, originally set to expire in 2027, has been extended through 2029. The new law also eliminates indirect land-use change (ILUC) penalties from carbon scoring, which is good news for corn-ethanol, soy-based biodiesel, and other crop-based fuels. For biofuel producers, this means more credit value, more time to claim it, and an open path forward.

Uncertainty Has Faded, and Action is Now Required

While final Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance is still pending, the foundation of the program is well defined. Clean fuel producers should no longer be waiting; they can now move forward with critical planning and preparation. The structure of the tax credit is based on carbon intensity (CI) scoring through the 45ZCF-GREET model, third-party validation, and tax credit transferability. The emerging market signals are clear, where credit value will be closely tied to lifecycle emissions data, audit-ready documentation, and proactive engagement with qualified validators, brokers, and advisors.

Facilities that update their CI modeling, verification planning, and documentation preparation now will be in a much stronger position to monetize early 2025 production and secure value. This includes establishing a defensible life-cycle analysis (LCA), aligning internal compliance requirements, and vetting how prevailing wage or apprenticeship requirements may affect credit eligibility. Delaying action could mean missing early monetization opportunities and losing a competitive edge in the low-carbon fuel market. The time for action is now.

Tips to Prepare and Execute

Execution starts with building a clear, facility-specific tax credit roadmap. Producers should analyze how their current operations score under the required CI modeling and identify technical and operational upgrades being considered to achieve lower CI scores and, hence, higher credit value. Proactive modeling, real-time CI monitoring, and third-party CI reviews are important steps to gaining assurance. Investments in carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), renewable electricity, heat recovery, and energy efficiency can all improve CI scores and increase Section 45Z value.

Equally important is systematizing compliance documentation. IRS rules will require proof, not assumptions. That means aligning your finance, operations, and compliance teams now to collect verifiable data, track labor requirements tied to prevailing wage rules, and prepare supporting documentation for LCA filings and potential credit transfers. This process starts with an understanding of the required documents, which can be done through engagement with verification bodies and tax preparers. Don’t underestimate obtaining training for key team members responsible for compliance, or consider hiring an advisory firm for support when in-house expertise is not available. 

Monetizing the Section 45Z Credit: Be Ready to Transact

The Section 45Z credit is transferable, meaning it can be sold to buyers with tax liability, unlocking immediate cash flow. But in this emerging market, buyer confidence is key. That confidence comes from well-documented carbon scores, verified models, and clean audit trails that demonstrate compliance with IRS expectations. Buyers will prioritize credits backed by rigorous third-party validation, clear LCA submissions, and accurate documentation of CI reductions. Facilities that can present a complete, auditable compliance package will be first in line for competitive offers and smoother transactions. Just like in renewable energy markets, the ability to execute with precision and transparency will directly affect pricing, speed of transfer, and demand from credit purchasers. Building that level of readiness now will position producers to monetize quickly and at maximum value.

Now is the time to engage LCA experts, brokers, tax advisors, and insurance partners. The most competitive buyers will look for facilities that are “execution ready” with clear documentation, validated modeling, and third-party signoff already in place. Facilities that are prepared will be first in line for the highest offers and fastest monetization timelines.

Think Beyond Section 45Z: Stackable Opportunities

Section 45Z is a powerful incentive on its own, but its impact grows when combined with other programs. Biofuel producers engaged in CCS, for instance, will be eligible for either Sections 45Z or 45Q. Determining which tax credit is most valuable depends on an individual producer’s CI reduction roadmap. A lower CI score boosts credit value under Section 45Z, and California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (CA-LCFS) or Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulation (CFR) programs concurrently. Stacking incentives isn’t just possible, it’s a smart strategy. Facilities should assess where credits overlap and ensure they’re maximizing value across federal, state, and export programs.

Policy Engagement and Internal Readiness

As Section 45Z rules are deployed, producers should remain engaged in policy discussions and advocacy. Participation in technical working groups, trade associations, and regional initiatives helps ensure that your facility’s perspective is represented. Staying connected to the rulemaking process not only gives early visibility into program requirements but also creates opportunities to influence guidance in ways that support your business model.

Internally, now is the time to build your Section 45Z execution team. Whether it’s in-house or supported by external experts, success will require cross-functional coordination between engineering, finance, compliance, and legal stakeholders. Clear ownership of documentation, modeling, and tax strategy across departments will be essential to streamline credit generation, validation, and monetization once the program goes live. Adding staff to support carbon-reduction initiatives or teaming with the right advisory partner may be options worth evaluating. 

The Bottom Line

Section 45Z is an actionable tax credit with strong bipartisan backing and a favorable runway through 2029. The incentives are meaningful, the framework is coming into focus, and the execution path is much clearer. Clean fuel producers who prepare now by modeling their CI, validating documentation, and aligning stakeholders will be positioned to claim the credit without delay, monetize it efficiently, and outpace the competition.

The opportunity is real. The direction is clear. It’s time to execute. Let’s go!

About the Expert

McCord Pankonen is the managing director of North America Biofuels at EcoEngineers. Mr. Pankonen has a rich history of achieving success by advancing renewable energy and agriculture business initiatives. He has more than 22 years of experience leading ethanol production facilities, assembling high-performing teams, and sustaining operational excellence. Mr. Pankonen is a recognized talent who can innovate and penetrate developing markets with profitable technologies that offer sustainable solutions for end users. He possesses an executive presence and can create critical relationships at all levels that are paramount to achieving organizational goals. 

 

For more information about our Ethanol and Biofuels services and capabilities, contact: 

McCord Pankonen, Managing Director, North America Biofuels | mpankonen@ecoengineers.us  

About EcoEngineers

EcoEngineers, an LRQA company, is a consulting, auditing, and advisory firm exclusively focused on the energy transition and decarbonization. From innovation to impact, EcoEngineers helps its clients navigate the disruption caused by carbon emissions and climate change. Its team of engineers, scientists, auditors, consultants, and researchers live and work at the intersection of low-carbon fuel policy, innovative technologies, and the carbon marketplace. For more information, visit www.ecoengineers.us.

FEW 2025 Podcast Series: Live with EcoEngineers

In a recent episode of Ethanol Producer Magazine’s podcast series, McCord Pankonen, Managing Director for North America Biofuels at EcoEngineers, joined host Anna Simet at the 2025 Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) in Omaha, Nebraska, to discuss the evolving landscape of carbon intensity (CI) tracking and its implications for the ethanol industry. 

Pankonen emphasized that the ethanol industry is at a pivotal moment. As regulatory frameworks and voluntary programs increasingly prioritize carbon performance, producers are being called to demonstrate not just compliance but also leadership in sustainability. He noted that accurate life-cycle analysis (LCA) is no longer a niche concern; it’s becoming a core business function. This shift is driven by both policy developments and market expectations, particularly from buyers seeking low-CI fuels.

A key theme in the discussion focused on the need for credible, third-party-verified data. Pankonen highlighted how voluntary consensus standards bodies are helping to establish trust in carbon accounting practices. He also pointed to the importance of aligning methodologies across jurisdictions to ensure consistency and comparability.

The conversation also touched on the role of digital tools and quality assurance programs (QAPs) in streamlining data collection and verification. Pankonen advocated for systems that are both rigorous and user-friendly, enabling producers to focus on operational improvements while maintaining audit readiness.

Looking ahead, Pankonen expressed optimism about the ethanol industry’s ability to lead in carbon-reduction innovation. He underscored the value of collaboration between producers, regulators, and technology providers in building a transparent and efficient carbon marketplace.

Click below to watch the full podcast interview. 

About EcoEngineers

EcoEngineers, an LRQA company, is a consulting, auditing, and advisory firm exclusively focused on the energy transition and decarbonization. From innovation to impact, EcoEngineers helps its clients navigate the disruption caused by carbon emissions and climate change. Its team of engineers, scientists, auditors, consultants, and researchers live and work at the intersection of low-carbon fuel policy, innovative technologies, and the carbon marketplace. For more information, visit www.ecoengineers.us.

Tierrasphere Introduces A Pioneering Photosynthesis-Based Durable CDR Methodology

The following is an article originally published by Carbon Herald on June 25, 2025.

At the seventh edition of London Climate Action Week, ecology-focused carbon removal company Tierrasphere unveiled the world’s first carbon dioxide removal (CDR) methodology based on photosynthesis-driven oxalate-carbonate mineralization.

This groundbreaking methodology comes at a time when degrading soils already threaten food security and business resilience, and it presents a solution that restores soil vitality and ensures carbon permanence—a critical component for high-integrity CDR. 

Tierrasphere CEO Marcela Flores stated, “This methodology marks a historic step toward scalable, nature-aligned, highly durable, and verifiable carbon removal. By harnessing the elegance of photosynthesis to drive durable carbon mineralization, we’re enhancing one of Earth’s oldest biological processes into a measurable, durable, and powerful climate solution.”

The durable CDR method unlocked through photosynthesis-driven oxalate-carbonate mineralization leverages regenerative agroforestry food systems that tackle atmospheric CO2 through the naturally occurring photosynthesis process, converting carbon into stable minerals via the oxalate-carbonate pathway.

As Tierrasphere highlights, while regenerative agriculture CDR approaches sequester CO2 as soil organic matter that lacks permanence, the method of photosynthesis-powered oxalate-carbonate mineralization locks away carbon geologically, providing an energy-efficient solution that offers durability, transparency, and scalability.

In an interview with Carbon Herald, Flores points out that industrial agriculture has contributed to a nature loss of 73% since the 1970s. 

She goes on to explain that while regenerative agriculture is widely recognized as a powerful tool for addressing climate change, its reliance on organic soil carbon poses a challenge for participation in carbon markets. 

Organic carbon is inherently unstable—it is part of the natural carbon cycle and constantly in flux—making it difficult to meet the durability requirements that carbon markets demand. 

“Our approach enhances the regenerative model by integrating inorganic carbon into soil systems. Unlike organic carbon, inorganic carbon is geologically stable and far more durable, offering a new, long-term pathway for carbon sequestration. This can unlock an additional layer of profitability for regenerative farmers by enabling access to more robust, verifiable carbon credit mechanisms,” Flores adds.

Tierrasphere’s concept aims to channel new sources of finance for nature-positive interventions to restore degraded land, yet it’s not exclusively focused on that.

Flores states, “We believe that systems like ours can bring new financial mechanisms into nature, supporting positive ways to grow our food, because we might not be seeing the consequences right now, but they are coming, and they’re coming fast.”

Relevant: LENs Report Reveals Major Gains In Regenerative Agriculture Across Europe

Funded by an InnovateUK grant and support from like-minded investors, the novel methodology was co-developed with scientific rigor by Tierrasphere’s in-house research team and leading experts from the University of Zurich, the Autonomous University of Yucatan, and the British Geological Survey (BGS).

To make sure the methodology follows industry compliance standards, Tierrasphere relied on input from EcoEngineers, a clean energy consulting, auditing, and advisory company recently acquired by LRQA.

Commenting on this collaboration, EcoEngineers CEO Shashi Menon shared, “At Eco, we show clients how to take their rigorous science-based methodology and make it market-ready. Robust measurement and verification standards layered on top of science are what is needed for integrity and scalability in the carbon removal market.”

Roxby Hartley, Ph.D., Director of Climate Risk at EcoEngineers, who has co-developed the methodology, shared with Carbon Herald that this project, which took several months to complete, involved sophisticated work on differentiating inorganic and organic carbon in the methodology, as both types of CO2 require different monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) approaches and offer different forms of permanence where separate risks of reversal had to be considered.

Read more: “We Do A Great Job At Helping People Come To Market With Their Carbon Credits” – Roxby Hartley, PhD, Climate Risk Director At EcoEngineers

InnovateUK funding also enabled Tierrasphere to create a proprietary AI Engine tool that offers high-precision site selection and can serve as a valuable asset for project development in alignment with the newly released methodology. 

Flores says that this cutting-edge tool serves to flag sites that have the highest opportunity for the greatest amount of carbon removal. As she explains, to help build this tool, the Tierrasphere team looked into thousands of data points that are readily available, combining them with information from its own data points from the UK and Mexico. 

Going forward, the company intends to use technology and AI to lower the costs for MRV and measurements that determine the amount of carbon removal that has already happened.

Tierrasphere has opened a 30-day public feedback period for the methodology, ending on 25 July 2025, during which commentary can be sent to hello@tierrasphere.com. The methodology is available for download here.

Unlocking the Full Potential of SAF Markets

The following is an article originally published by Biobased Diesel™ on June 17, 2025.

Rigorous LCA and QAP participation is crucial for ensuring SAF market access, maximizing regulatory incentives and establishing confidence in a competitive global environment. 

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has emerged as the cornerstone of aviation’s decarbonization strategy. Achieving market access, however, demands a robust commitment to carbon accounting, lifecycle analysis (LCA) and participation in a rigorous Quality Assurance Program and associated protocols. 

A defensible carbon-intensity (CI) score is the gateway to regulatory incentives, such as federal tax credits and carbon credits to participate in markets such as California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia or Europe, enhance market value and ensure long-term viability. Without proper documentation, verification and rigorous carbon accounting, even the most innovative SAF producers may miss out on critical opportunities. 

Put simply, the CI score is a key entrance ticket to participating in regulatory and compliance market programs. Each LCA must be done accurately and in accordance with regulatory requirements to avoid potential compliance issues, which may impact a company’s financial health and future operations. Regulators often conduct rigorous audits and double-check disclosures to ensure accuracy and validity. This involves third-party verifications, site inspections and detailed reviews of submitted documentation. 

LCAs assess the environmental impacts associated with a fuel’s entire lifecycle—from feedstock sourcing to production, distribution and end-use. Developed initially to compare the environmental impacts of consumer goods, LCAs today form the scientific and technical backbone of nearly every low-carbon fuel regulation. 

For SAF producers, CI scores help determine renewable identification number (RIN) codes, California Low Carbon Fuel Standard credits, Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation credits, and federal tax incentives like the section 45Z clean fuel production credit. Each jurisdiction or program may have a different carbon-modeling system, such as the Argonne National Laboratory’s Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions and Energy use in Technologies (GREET) model, CA-GREET, or the International Civil Aviation Organization’s GREET. Furthermore, each system may carry distinct assumptions and default values, requiring careful navigation. 

Although not always required, SAF and renewable diesel producers, especially foreign entities and entities with complex feedstock supply chains, would find enrolling in the U.S. EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard QAP beneficial to ensure SAF and renewable diesel comply with RFS regulations and prevent fraudulent activities. 

EPA’s QAP program ensures RINs are properly generated through audits of renewable fuel production conducted by independent third parties. It also provides an affirmative defense for the transfer or use of invalid RINs verified under an approved QAP. Buyers often do not accept the fuel without making sure it is fully in compliance. QAP compliance can also help streamline compliance requirements for other jurisdictions, reducing financial and resource burdens. 

LCA models can vary substantially, although all models should follow International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14000 series standards. GREET tools dominate U.S. markets while CORSIA relies on ICAO-approved frameworks. Meanwhile, Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) compliance in Europe introduces another set of modeling expectations. 

ICAO, a specialized United Nations agency, develops international standards and regulations to support safe, efficient and environmentally responsible global air transport. Within this framework, CORSIA is ICAO’s key initiative to curb carbon emissions from international aviation. CORSIA aims to cap aviation emissions at 2020 levels by requiring airlines to offset any growth in CO2 emissions. 

One of the main pathways for airlines to reduce their offsetting obligations under CORSIA is through the use of CORSIA-eligible SAFs. Eligibility, however, hinges on meeting minimum lifecycle-emissions reductions. According to CORSIA, to be certified as a CORSIA-eligible fuel, SAFs must meet the CORSIA sustainability criteria, including a 10 percent reduction in lifecycle emissions compared to the petroleum-based jet-fuel baseline of 89 grams of CO2-equivalent per megajoule (gCO2e/MJ). The greater the emissions savings, the more effectively the SAF reduces an airline’s offsetting burden, making low-carbon fuels particularly attractive under the scheme. 

Each carbon-modeling system may handle key factors such as feedstocks, transportation emissions, process energy, land-use change and coproduct allocation differently. Successful SAF projects must report these inputs with accuracy to ensure that final CI scores are valid and verifiable across multiple jurisdictions. 

Regulatory landscapes are rapidly evolving around the world. Organizations that proactively invest in accurate LCA modeling, robust QAP and compliance protocols, and traceable supply chains will be best positioned to thrive in this competitive environment. Ensuring data quality, auditability and adaptability will be essential in securing both compliance and market leadership.

Author: Kristine Klavers
Managing Director, Houston, Low-Carbon Petroleum 
EcoEngineers 
kklavers@ecoengineers.us

The Road to Renewable Fuel Readiness Runs Through Feedstock Integrity

The following is an article originally published by Biodiesel Magazine on May 22, 2025.

By David Dix, Account Manager, Low-Carbon Petroleum (SAF, RD, and Carbon Markets)

As global efforts to decarbonize aviation and ground transport accelerate, the urgency to grow the hydroprocessed esters and fatty acid (HEFA)-based renewable diesel (RD) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) business has never been greater. Yet, for producers and developers of such projects, one of the biggest barriers to growth isn’t infrastructure—it’s sourcing consistent, traceable feedstock and complying with complex and evolving regulations. 

Despite these challenges, demand for SAF in the U.S. continues to climb. The market’s momentum underscores a growing urgency to overcome feedstock and compliance challenges. In February 2025, U.S. domestic demand for SAF was five times higher than the average monthly demand in 2024, as reflected in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s D4 renewable identification number (RIN) generation data. (Figure 1)

Figure 1: U.S. Consumption of Domestically-Produced SAF

(Source: USEPA, EcoEngineers)

This surge in demand reflects more than just market enthusiasm—it signals a critical juncture for SAF and RD developers. As the industry scales, the ability to align innovative project concepts with the realities of feedstock availability and regulatory expectations becomes a defining factor in long-term viability.

The Feedstock Challenge 

To reach a final investment decision, SAF and RD project developers need long-term feedstock security. However, this is often complicated by geography. SAF and RD feedstocks such as used cooking oil (UCO), tallow, soybean oil and canola are often not produced in the same regions where the finished fuels are consumed. For example, UCO is often collected in densely populated urban centers or imported from Asia, whereas SAF production and consumption are frequently concentrated near airports or coastal hubs. This disconnect raises costs and increases lifecycle carbon intensity (CI), which can make it difficult to participate in credit programs like California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard and similar state and provincial programs.

Technology flexibility adds another layer of investment costs. While most SAF-capable facilities can also produce RD, the reverse is often the case, requiring additional processing infrastructure. As SAF demand grows due to airline decarbonization targets and environmental, sustainability, and governance reporting, production flexibility—the ability to switch between RD and SAF—is becoming a strategic advantage for developers. However, adding SAF capacity to an existing RD facility adds capital expenditure and operational expenditure.

Traceability and Compliance Risks 

As feedstock values rise, so does the risk of fraud. For example, regulatory programs in the European Union and the United Kingdom restrict or cap many virgin oil feedstocks and create an incentive for UCO fraud in major UCO exporting countries. In some cases, suppliers may fry a single item in virgin oil and falsely label it as UCO to qualify for compliance programs. This not only undermines compliance integrity and increases scrutiny from regulators, but it also disincentivizes the proper end-of-life treatment of materials, as economic pressure favors labeling waste streams as renewable feedstocks, regardless of origin. Feedstock traceability tools that include detailed documentation of origin, transportation, and chemical analysis are now critical for maintaining regulatory alignment across jurisdictions.

Recent cases underscore the risk. In Norway, for example, retroactive credit callbacks were issued when imported tallow failed to meet compliance standards. These events signal the growing need for robust chain-of-custody systems and strict supplier verification.

Aligning Facility Design with Feedstock Geography 

Regional advantages must drive feedstock decisions. Tallow is abundant in cattle-producing regions like Texas, Montana, and Brazil. UCO thrives in countries with high rates of deep-frying, particularly across Asia. Woody biomass and agricultural residues are prevalent in the Pacific Northwest and southeastern U.S. Eschewing regional logic in favor of convenience often leads to high CI scores and lower credit values.

Furthermore, transportation emissions, energy inputs, and process efficiency can impact the CI score of the fuel. Therefore, facility siting decisions should also reflect access to both feedstock and low-carbon energy inputs.

Timing is Everything 

In one recent case, a production facility was built and feedstock secured, only for the company to realize that EPA pathway approval would take nine months to a year to complete. Early engagement with federal and state regulators, as well as third-party advisors with regulatory and compliance expertise, is essential to run in parallel to engineering, procurement, and front-end planning stages. This approach sets investors and stakeholders on a path to realizing long-term value creation for their RD and SAF investment. 

It is also important for SAF and RD developers to work backward from their targeted start date, identifying milestones for life-cycle assessment modeling, feedstock validation, and tax credit registration and compliance.

US, EU Policy Picture 

Meanwhile, policy uncertainty continues to hamper progress. In the U.S., SAF and RD producers are awaiting further guidance on the Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. Without it, revenue modeling and investment decisions remain speculative. Meanwhile, the expiration of the Section 40B tax credit and uncertainty surrounding the import treatment of feedstocks, such as tallow, further complicate the market.

In the EU, mandates under ReFuelEU Aviation, part of the “Fit for 55” package, require increasing volumes of SAF in aviation fuel starting in 2025, with targets rising steadily to 2050. It is worth noting that in the EU, the amount of UCO feedstock that can contribute to the Renewable Energy Directive is capped at 1.7% in the road transport sector, but it is not capped in aviation fuel mandates. Meanwhile, maritime programs, such as the FuelEU Maritime Regulation, are expected to drive RD demand, but feedstock competition and infrastructure gaps remain. Globally, a unified SAF credit and traceability system is lacking, forcing producers and airlines to juggle multiple compliance frameworks with differing definitions and requirements.

Best Practices to Mitigate Feedstock Risk 

To navigate these challenges, producers should:

  1. Secure long-term feedstock and offtake agreements that align with financing and regulatory requirements and consequences.
  2. Document traceability thoroughly, from origin to final use, using bills of lading, testing data, and compliance certifications.
  3. Engage early with regulators and compliance experts to understand the timing and requirements for fuel pathway approvals and tax credit eligibility. 
  4. Align feedstock selection with regional supply advantages to minimize life-cycle emissions and cost.
  5. Design facilities with flexibility in mind to adjust to future shifts in demand and policy.

Looking Ahead 

The renewable fuel sector is at an inflection point. As SAF and RD projects develop, their long-term success depends on feedstock integrity, traceability, and regulatory foresight. Clarity on tax credits, global policy harmonization, and smarter infrastructure decisions are critical to reducing both operational and capital risk. Developers who treat compliance and traceability not as regulatory hurdles, but rather as strategic investments from the outset, will be best positioned to deliver the low-carbon fuels the world urgently needs.

Author: David Dix 
Account Manager, Low-Carbon Petroleum  
SAF, Renewable Diesel, and Carbon Markets  
Email: ddix@ecoengineers.us 

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