D6 RIN Generation Down 3.4% in April

STREATOR, Ill. (DTN) -- The Environmental Protection Agency reported 1.195 billion D6 Renewable Identification Numbers, credits used to show compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard, were generated in April, down 3.4% from March. There were 4.764 billion D6 RINs generated in the first four months of 2015.

There are several nested categories within the RFS designating the renewable fuel, with D6 RINs, the most common, primarily generated by corn-based ethanol.

Domestic production and imports generating D6 RINs totaled 1.180 billion gallons in April, up from 1.222 billion in March. Total new supply generating D6 RINs from January through April totaled 4.707 billion gallons.

D4 RIN generation in April totaled 221.766 million, up from 191.357 million in March, with a total 694.202 million D4 RINs generated during the first four months of the year. Qualifying renewables under the D4 category include renewable diesel and biodiesel production, with each gallon worth 1.5 D4 RINs.

In April, domestic production and imports of biomass-based diesel was 144.426 million gallons, up from 124.571 million gallons in March. New biomass-based diesel supply during the first four months of 2015 totaled 449.947 million gallons.

Advanced biofuel production qualifying for D5 RIN generation in April was 14.328 million gallons, spiking from 3.871 million gallons in March. Total D5 RINs generated for April were 15.345 million compared to 4.936 million month prior. D5 production totaled 25.993 million gallons generating 30.033 million RINs for the first four months of 2015.

In the D5 advanced renewable fuel category, one gallon of sugar-based ethanol is equivalent to one D5 RIN, while one gallon of biodiesel, which also qualifies as an advanced biofuel, is equal to 1.5 D5 RINs. Other advanced biofuels included cellulosic biofuel and cellulosic diesel.

Cellulosic biofuel production under the D3 category in April was reported at 7.816 million gallons following output of 7.8 million gallons in March, generating 7.815 million D3 RINs last month.

There were no gallons of cellulosic diesel produced in the first four months of the year, which fall under the D7 nested category, netting zero RINs.

Obligated parties -- refiners, blenders and importers -- submit RINs to the EPA to show compliance in fulfilling their annual Renewable Volume Obligation under the RFS.

(BM/AG)

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