D6 RIN Generation Slides 10.3% in Feb.

STREATOR, Ill. (DTN) -- The Environmental Protection Agency reported 1.101 billion D6 Renewable Identification Numbers were generated in February, down 10.3% from January, with RINs credits used to show compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard.

There are several nested RIN categories designating and valuing differently renewable fuels that qualify in satisfying the RFS, with the D6 category the most common, primarily satisfied by corn-based ethanol.

For the first two months of 2015, 2.328 billion D6 RINs were generated. Domestic production and imports generating D6 RINs totaled 1.089 billion gallons in February, down from 1.213 billion in January. One gallon of renewable fuel generates one D6 RIN.

In February biomass-based diesel D4 RIN generation totaled 131.398 million, down from 142.960 million in January, with renewable diesel and biodiesel production satisfying the mandate. Each gallon of qualifying biomass-based diesel generates 1.5 D4 RINs.

In February, domestic production and imports of biomass-based diesel totaled 84.857 million gallons, down 7.5% from new qualifying supply in January at 91.695 million gallons.

Advanced biofuels, which can include sugar-based ethanol and biodiesel, fall under the D5 advanced renewable fuel RIN category, with 4.307 million generated in February, down 19.5% from January when 5.349 million D5 RINs were generated. Production in February qualifying for D5 RINs was 3.354 million gallons compared to 4.344 million in January.

For the D5 category, one gallon of sugar-based ethanol is equivalent to one D5 RIN, while one gallon of biodiesel generates 1.5 D5 RINs.

Other advanced biofuels included cellulosic biofuel and cellulosic diesel.

Cellulosic biofuel production in February qualifying for D3 RINs was reported at 7.928 million gallons, generating an equivalent number of D3 RINs, while up 94.5% from output of 4.076 million gallons in January.

There were no gallons of cellulosic diesel produced in February or January, which fall under the D7 nested category.

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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