Alternative Fuels & Renewable Energy

Purvin & Gertz’ comprehensive understanding of the global energy business allows us to have a unique and balanced perspective on the roles and prospects for alternative fuels. Alternative fuels must compete for market share with traditional fuels, and Purvin & Gertz carefully monitors and evaluates the progress and market penetration of alternative fuels with respect to infrastructure, technology, legislation and government support in addition to supply, demand, pricing and profitability. Some clients may want to understand whether alternative fuels are a threat to their business, while others are evaluating a potential business opportunity. As an independent consultancy, Purvin & Gertz uses its extensive experience, comprehensive market knowledge, and proven technical tools to provide unbiased analyses of alternative fuels for our clients around the world.

Ethanol

Purvin & Gertz has broad, international project experience with ethanol, the primary biofuel substitute for motor gasoline. We provide clients with forecasts of supply, demand, pricing and trade for both ethanol and associated RINs. Purvin & Gertz has also evaluated individual ethanol supply projects, including technology assessments, feedstock availability, tax and credit incentives, capital and operating costs, logistics, regulatory outlook and market conditions. We have studied ethanol produced from sugar cane, corn and cellulosic feedstocks. We monitor ethanol’s impact on the gasoline market, and we analyze industry issues and opportunities such as the blend wall, government mandates and subsidies, global trade and the limitations of ethanol infrastructure.

Biodiesel

As with ethanol, Purvin & Gertz frequently evaluates biodiesel production projects and provides forecasts of supply, demand and pricing for biodiesel and associated materials. Some clients have requested studies regarding the many potential feedstocks for biodiesel, including rapeseed (canola), soybeans, palm oil, waste oils and jatropha. As a global consulting firm, we have assisted clients with biodiesel projects in both major producing and consuming markets. We have also examined potential export markets and developed a forecast for the values of neat and blended biodiesel in those markets. Clients have also requested analyses of biodiesel quality specifications, national biofuels policies and related tax incentives, state-level mandates, and the impact of anti-dumping tariffs on biodiesel trade.

Fischer-Tropsch

Purvin & Gertz has performed extensive analyses of gas-to-liquids (GTL), coal-to-liquids (CTL) and biomass-to-liquids (BTL) projects and markets. Purvin & Gertz forecasts the contribution of Fischer-Tropsch products to diesel, naphtha, LPG and lube markets, on a global, regional and country basis. We have also supported individual Fischer-Tropsch projects, providing analysis on capital and operating costs, as well as potential product markets.

Biomass

Purvin & Gertz has provided biomass studies in support of a variety of alternative fuels projects. Biomass serves as the feedstock for cellulosic ethanol, biomass-to-liquids (BTL), synthesis gas production for production of chemicals, as well as many direct combustion processes. Because biomass is integral to many second or third-generation alternative fuels, there is significant interest regarding supply availability, pre-processing methods, logistics and costs, as well as the impact on existing ecosystems.

Emerging Technologies

Purvin & Gertz provides feasibility and other studies on emerging technologies such as energy production from algae. We are frequently asked to opine on subjects such as carbon capture and sequestration, carbon dioxide pipelines and infrastructure, and use of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and .have developed technical studies on the cost to capture, process and transport CO2. We have also performed work on the use of fuel cells and hydrogen, including supply, demand, infrastructure and pricing for hydrogen. Clients often request life-cycle GHG methodologies and calculations for emerging technologies in relation to traditional fuels.

Other Renewables

Purvin & Gertz has worked on projects concerning wind, solar, geothermal, hydro and other forms of renewable energy. We are frequently asked about the impact of climate change legislation and policy on energy markets. For instance, we have provided forecasts regarding the potential value of CO2 and carbon credits, and the impact of these valuations on project viability.