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World Energy is a lowcarbon solutions provider , focused on assisting the world ’ s leading companies to hit net-zero goals and sustainability commitments . Its portfolio includes sustainable aviation fuel , renewable diesel , and renewable naphtha , with plans in place to also produce renewable propane and green hydrogen .
Gene Gebolys , World Energy ’ s CEO , joins us to discuss the market of sustainable fuel alternatives and share his insight on the company ’ s emergence into the world of sustainable aviation fuel ( SAF ). “ Ever since I graduated in 1996 , I ’ ve been intrigued by the notion that fossil-based diesel could be replaced with a more sustainable , renewable alternative ,” he begins . “ I quickly realized that this industry was not about making the product , but about establishing the market itself , so I started working within the political power structure of the US and creating policy to market biodiesel .
“ I founded World Energy in 1998 to build the market for new cleaner advanced biofuels . Our way to do that was by focusing on customer and distribution and to build supply through contract manufacturing . It was still a small sector , but we grew to around 75 percent of the market share during our early days . We moved into manufacturing ourselves for the first time in 2003 and started to produce fuel for export to Europe , establishing a global presence that led us to production in different parts of the world .
“ Our activity is largely driven by regional and national policies , so in 2008 , our business fundamentally changed when European policy added barriers to the import of US-based material ,” Gene recalls . “ Coincidentally , the Renewable Fuel Standard emerged in the US at a similar time , so we adapted the business to suit the changes coming into force in both regions .”
Having established a strong global presence , a big change for World Energy came in 2018 with the purchase of a bio-fuel refinery in Los Angeles , California , which saw the company enter the SAF market . “ At the time , California was home to several trends and policies in the advanced biofuels market , so the refinery was strategically located for us to rapidly respond to the emerging demand for SAF ,” Gene explains .
“ Although we were a 20-year-old business , we had to figure out a new approach . Aviation is particularly difficult to decarbonize because the only way to do it is through the fuel tank . While SAF is costlier than traditional jet fuel , use of
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