Biofuels for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles

Biofuels for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles

Navigating Canada’s Evolving Clean Fuel Landscape

Diesel engines are the workhorse of our economy, powering long-haul and regional trucks. Lowering freight’s carbon emissions requires solutions that can utilize existing or modestly modified vehicles and infrastructure.

Webinar Hosts & Speakers

Ian Thomson – Co-host

Advanced Biofuels Canada, Past President

Ian Thomson is the Past President of Advanced Biofuels Canada Association (ABFC), the national voice for advanced biofuels in Canada. ABFC members represent the Canadian market interests of 45 US ethanol plants and, across all members, represent companies with over 42 billion litres of global biofuel production capacity.

Since 2005, Ian has played a key role in the development of Canada’s biofuels sector, working directly on all key federal/provincial energy and climate action policies in Canada, including renewable and low carbon fuel regulations, carbon pricing, fuel quality standards, and fiscal policies to build biofuel production capacity and expand clean fuel use. Ian is also a co-founder of Waterfall Advisors Group, a biofuels consulting firm, which provides expert strategy, market development, and compliance services for clean fuels markets.

Fred Ghatala – Guest Speaker

President, Advanced Biofuels Canada

Fred Ghatala is the President of Advanced Biofuels Canada, a national industry association established to promote the production and use of advanced biofuels in Canada. ABFC members are global leaders in commercial production of advanced biofuels and technology development, with over 45 billion litres of installed annual production capacity worldwide. Fred previously led ABFC’s work to establish biofuel carbon value, lifecycle analyses in regulations, sector engagement in sustainability initiatives, and expanding advanced biofuel use into aviation and marine sectors. Fred has 19 years of experience in the Canadian renewable fuels sector and is a partner of Waterfall Group.

Colin Huwyler – Guest Speaker

CEO, Optimus Technologies

Colin Huwyler is CEO of Optimus Technologies, where he has spent the past decade building practical, scalable solutions to decarbonize heavy-duty transportation. Optimus builds the Vector System, a patented technology enabling diesel engines to operate on 100% biodiesel. Today, more than 1,300 trucks powered by Optimus’ technology have logged over 175 million miles in real-world operations. Colin has worked in the biofuels industry in various capacities since 2004. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, is an inventor on multiple patents, and serves as a Director of the Clean Fuels Alliance Foundation. His works centers at the intersection of transportation and energy focusing on solutions that deliver meaningful carbon reductions while strengthening American manufacturing.

Phonetic pronunciation: High-Ler

Nadine Maurus – Guest Speaker

Senior Fleet Engineer , City of Vancouver

Nadine Maurus, P.Eng., holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of British Columbia and currently serves as a Senior Fleet Engineer with the City of Vancouver’s Fleet Engineering and Asset Management team. In this role, she leads projects focused on fueling asset management and analytics, including the supply and integration of conventional and renewable fuels, as well as the planning and deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Johannes Dunn – Guest Speaker

Head of Commercial and Compliance, Greenergy Canada

Johannes Dunn is Head of Commercial and Compliance for Greenergy Fuels Canada, part of Greenergy Group, an international transportation fuel supplier of traditional and renewable fuels. Johannes leads regulatory strategy and commercial execution across a complex and evolving energy landscape and increasingly stringent carbon and fuel regulations.

Johannes is also responsible for compliance, governance and risk management. With deep expertise in energy markets and regulatory systems, Johannes combines strategic insight with practical leadership to align compliance, operations, and commercial performance.

Dave Schick – Guest Speaker

VP Western Canada – Innovation and Regulatory Affairs, Canadian Fuels Association

Dave Schick is Vice President of Western Canada, Innovation and Regulatory Affairs at the Canadian Fuels Association (CFA). His role entails federal and provincial policy development and government relations.  CFA is a trade association whose members provide approximately 95% of Canada’s transportation fuels.

Dave has been in the downstream energy business for over 30 years.   Since 2007, his roles have focused on public affairs, climate change policies and low carbon business strategy seeking to balance the needs of a strong economy, affordable, reliable energy while improving environmental outcomes.

Dave has degrees in Economics and Sociology from the University of Victoria.

Scott Fenwick – Guest Speaker

Technical Director, Clean Fuels Alliance America

Scott is the Technical Director for Clean Fuels Alliance America, the trade association representing biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel stakeholders within North America.  Scott leads the advancement of core member services for technical, quality assurance and operations support issues. He provides key support for technical aspects needed by renewable fuel stakeholders to effectively position the industry, educates key decision makers, and helps build industry credibility.

In addition to coordinating the OEM and fuel quality programs, he also provides leadership for the ASTM standards’ efforts for fuels and lubricants, and coordination of other international fuel activities as the previous Chair of the ASTM D02 Committee, while also serving on the ASTM Board of Directors and as the head of delegation for the U.S. on international fuel standards.

Webinar Agenda

  • Welcome and Context
  • Overview of Low-CI Fuel Options
  • Fuel Use in Medium & Heavy-Duty Transport
  • Production & Feedstock
  • Environmental and Operational Benefits and Impact
  • Technical Considerations & Challenges
  • Future Outlook
  • Audience Q&A

Webinar Learning Objectives

Fuel scope – Neat and blended biodiesel and renewable diesel – ‘biomass-based diesel’ – and renewable natural gas (RNG).

  1. Pathways – Supply chain from canola and used cooking oil feedstocks through production, refining, and distribution
  2. Applications – Typical fleet uses
  3. Handling, Distribution, Infrastructure – Storage, blending terminal, and retail infrastructure requirements for neat and blended fuels
  4. GHG and Economics – Lifecycle carbon intensity
  5. Programs and Incentives – Current federal and provincial support programs, including the new Biofuels Production Incentive
  6. Emerging Technologies – Synthetic e-diesel and other advanced pathways
  7. Sustainability – Assess feedstock sustainability, land use considerations, and lifecycle environmental performance
  8. Case Studies – Learn from real-world examples of Canadian organizations successfully incorporating biomass-based diesel fuels into fleet operations

LIGHT-DUTY VEHICLES

MEDIUM- & HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES

AVIATION

MARINE

RAIL

Navigating Canada’s Evolving Clean Fuel Landscape

Diesel engines are the workhorse of our economy, powering long-haul and regional trucks. Lowering freight’s carbon emissions requires solutions that can utilize existing or modestly modified vehicles and infrastructure.

Webinar Hosts & Speakers

Ian Thomson – Co-host

Advanced Biofuels Canada, Past President

Ian Thomson is the Past President of Advanced Biofuels Canada Association (ABFC), the national voice for advanced biofuels in Canada. ABFC members represent the Canadian market interests of 45 US ethanol plants and, across all members, represent companies with over 42 billion litres of global biofuel production capacity.

Since 2005, Ian has played a key role in the development of Canada’s biofuels sector, working directly on all key federal/provincial energy and climate action policies in Canada, including renewable and low carbon fuel regulations, carbon pricing, fuel quality standards, and fiscal policies to build biofuel production capacity and expand clean fuel use. Ian is also a co-founder of Waterfall Advisors Group, a biofuels consulting firm, which provides expert strategy, market development, and compliance services for clean fuels markets.

Fred Ghatala – Guest Speaker

President, Advanced Biofuels Canada

Fred Ghatala is the President of Advanced Biofuels Canada, a national industry association established to promote the production and use of advanced biofuels in Canada. ABFC members are global leaders in commercial production of advanced biofuels and technology development, with over 45 billion litres of installed annual production capacity worldwide. Fred previously led ABFC’s work to establish biofuel carbon value, lifecycle analyses in regulations, sector engagement in sustainability initiatives, and expanding advanced biofuel use into aviation and marine sectors. Fred has 19 years of experience in the Canadian renewable fuels sector and is a partner of Waterfall Group.

Colin Huwyler – Guest Speaker

CEO, Optimus Technologies

Colin Huwyler is CEO of Optimus Technologies, where he has spent the past decade building practical, scalable solutions to decarbonize heavy-duty transportation. Optimus builds the Vector System, a patented technology enabling diesel engines to operate on 100% biodiesel. Today, more than 1,300 trucks powered by Optimus’ technology have logged over 175 million miles in real-world operations. Colin has worked in the biofuels industry in various capacities since 2004. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, is an inventor on multiple patents, and serves as a Director of the Clean Fuels Alliance Foundation. His works centers at the intersection of transportation and energy focusing on solutions that deliver meaningful carbon reductions while strengthening American manufacturing.

Phonetic pronunciation: High-Ler

Nadine Maurus – Guest Speaker

Senior Fleet Engineer , City of Vancouver

Nadine Maurus, P.Eng., holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of British Columbia and currently serves as a Senior Fleet Engineer with the City of Vancouver’s Fleet Engineering and Asset Management team. In this role, she leads projects focused on fueling asset management and analytics, including the supply and integration of conventional and renewable fuels, as well as the planning and deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Johannes Dunn – Guest Speaker

Head of Commercial and Compliance, Greenergy Canada

Johannes Dunn is Head of Commercial and Compliance for Greenergy Fuels Canada, part of Greenergy Group, an international transportation fuel supplier of traditional and renewable fuels. Johannes leads regulatory strategy and commercial execution across a complex and evolving energy landscape and increasingly stringent carbon and fuel regulations.

Johannes is also responsible for compliance, governance and risk management. With deep expertise in energy markets and regulatory systems, Johannes combines strategic insight with practical leadership to align compliance, operations, and commercial performance.

Dave Schick – Guest Speaker

VP Western Canada – Innovation and Regulatory Affairs, Canadian Fuels Association

Dave Schick is Vice President of Western Canada, Innovation and Regulatory Affairs at the Canadian Fuels Association (CFA). His role entails federal and provincial policy development and government relations.  CFA is a trade association whose members provide approximately 95% of Canada’s transportation fuels.

Dave has been in the downstream energy business for over 30 years.   Since 2007, his roles have focused on public affairs, climate change policies and low carbon business strategy seeking to balance the needs of a strong economy, affordable, reliable energy while improving environmental outcomes.

Dave has degrees in Economics and Sociology from the University of Victoria.

Scott Fenwick – Guest Speaker

Technical Director, Clean Fuels Alliance America

Scott is the Technical Director for Clean Fuels Alliance America, the trade association representing biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel stakeholders within North America.  Scott leads the advancement of core member services for technical, quality assurance and operations support issues. He provides key support for technical aspects needed by renewable fuel stakeholders to effectively position the industry, educates key decision makers, and helps build industry credibility.

In addition to coordinating the OEM and fuel quality programs, he also provides leadership for the ASTM standards’ efforts for fuels and lubricants, and coordination of other international fuel activities as the previous Chair of the ASTM D02 Committee, while also serving on the ASTM Board of Directors and as the head of delegation for the U.S. on international fuel standards.

Webinar Agenda

  • Welcome and Context
  • Overview of Low-CI Fuel Options
  • Fuel Use in Medium & Heavy-Duty Transport
  • Production & Feedstock
  • Environmental and Operational Benefits and Impact
  • Technical Considerations & Challenges
  • Future Outlook
  • Audience Q&A

Webinar Learning Objectives

Fuel scope – Neat and blended biodiesel and renewable diesel – ‘biomass-based diesel’ – and renewable natural gas (RNG).

  1. Pathways – Supply chain from canola and used cooking oil feedstocks through production, refining, and distribution
  2. Applications – Typical fleet uses
  3. Handling, Distribution, Infrastructure – Storage, blending terminal, and retail infrastructure requirements for neat and blended fuels
  4. GHG and Economics – Lifecycle carbon intensity
  5. Programs and Incentives – Current federal and provincial support programs, including the new Biofuels Production Incentive
  6. Emerging Technologies – Synthetic e-diesel and other advanced pathways
  7. Sustainability – Assess feedstock sustainability, land use considerations, and lifecycle environmental performance
  8. Case Studies – Learn from real-world examples of Canadian organizations successfully incorporating biomass-based diesel fuels into fleet operations

LIGHT-DUTY VEHICLES

MEDIUM- & HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES

AVIATION

MARINE

RAIL