Biofuels Experts & Consulting Services

Our Expertise Across the Biofuels Value Chain

LEC Partners has one of the most experienced networks of biofuels consultants in the industry, with specialists in:

• Liquid Fuels: ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel, cellulosic ethanol, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
• Gaseous Fuels: renewable natural gas (RNG), syngas, and biogas systems
• Emerging Technologies: algae-based fuels, Fischer-Tropsch diesel, pyrolysis oil, and other advanced pathways
• Feedstock & Carbon: lifecycle analysis, carbon intensity scoring, RINs, and carbon credit strategy

Our consultants combine decades of real-world plant experience with deep market intelligence—helping clients minimize risk, meet sustainability goals, and unlock greater value from every project.

Understanding Biofuels and Their Generations

Biofuels are renewable fuels made from biomass as replacements for petroleum-based products. They must meet lifecycle and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction standards to qualify under most regulatory programs. Broadly, biofuels are categorized into four generations:

First-Generation Biofuels

Derived from edible biomass such as corn, sugarcane, soybeans, and other vegetable oils, these include ethanol and biodiesel. While well-established, they compete with food crops and are subject to land-use considerations.

Second-Generation Biofuels

Produced from non-food and waste feedstocks, these include cellulosic ethanol, forest residues, and industrial by-products. They offer improved sustainability and better GHG reduction potential.

Third-Generation Biofuels

Rely on engineered energy crops like algae, which yield biodiesel, gasoline, and ethanol at significantly higher output rates. Algae cultivation also captures atmospheric CO₂, improving the environmental footprint of fuel production.

Fourth-Generation Biofuels

Represent the cutting edge of metabolic engineering and carbon capture. These processes use bioengineered organisms and plants to sequester CO₂ and produce fuels with near-zero net emissions. As these technologies scale, they will play a vital role in decarbonizing transportation and industry.

Why Clients Choose LEC Partners

Our team doesn’t just analyze projects—we’ve helped build, operate, and improve them. Each engagement connects clients with proven specialists in engineering, technology development, and market strategy. We bring more than three decades of experience across hundreds of renewable fuel projects worldwide, covering:

• Technology & Feasibility Reviews: independent assessments for investors and lenders
• Project Development: feedstock evaluation, site selection, permitting, and design support
• Operational Optimization: plant audits, troubleshooting, and yield improvement
• Regulatory & Financial Advisory: RFS compliance, carbon markets, LCFS, and credit monetization

LEC Partners’ biofuels consulting practice is trusted for its integrity, technical rigor, and ability to translate complex technology into actionable business decisions.