Biofuels have long been made from things like soybean oil and used cooking oil.

Now, emerging technologies could allow other feedstocks to be used.

Michelle Young is the renewables research and development manager at the Chevron Technology Center. Her team is on the hunt for new ways of making renewable fuels. One path they're exploring is carbon utilization, which the International Energy Agency has named one of several paths to a lower carbon future.

To make renewable fuels, a catalyst-something that helps a chemical reaction-is often used to convert the starting material into a fuel. Sometimes, multiple catalysts are needed. Catalyst development is a key focus for Chevron, where scientists are working to both create new catalysts and modify existing ones.

For example, Chevron is currently exploring how to use novel catalysts to convert captured carbon dioxide (CO₂) into sustainable aviation fuel, methanol and other lower carbon intensity fuels.

"We have been successfully making renewable fuels from crops like soybean oil and waste feedstocks like animal fats and used cooking oil," said Young. "But breakthrough technologies can create renewable fuels from new sources like carbon dioxide and biomass such as algae and landfill waste."