The Fuel for Thought Podcast

Season 8 of The Fuel for Thought Podcast opens with an in-house conversation featuring Milica Folic, Product Line Director at Topsoe. Hosts Mikala Grubb and Sylvain Verdier look back at a year shaped by geopolitical disruption, a landmark SAF final investment decision and steady regulatory progress, setting up the themes that run through the rest of the season.

What does a pork producer have to do with renewable fuels? Everything, if you're Seaboard Energy. Peter Rosenthal, President and CEO of Seaboard Energy, joins the podcast to explore how a company with deep agricultural roots is turning animal fats, used cooking oil and other byproducts into biodiesel, renewable diesel and renewable natural gas. From navigating regulatory hurdles to managing risk in new technologies, Peter Rosenthal shares the blueprint for transitioning legacy agriculture into clean energy… and what's next for feedstocks and fuels in a vertically integrated model.

Renewable fuels have the technology. They have the feedstocks. So why does revenue certainty remain the biggest barrier to scale? Jessica Olson, Head of Global Affairs, Americas & Indo-Pacific at Topsoe, and Asmara Klein, Head of External Relations and Public Affairs at Zaffra, join the podcast to explore how regulation is shaping markets for SAF, renewable diesel and e-SAF. From the differences between EU mandates and US incentives to the fragmented landscape across aviation, shipping and road transport, this conversation reveals what makes renewable fuel policy work… and what's still missing.

Randy Delbert Letang, founder, President and CEO of SGP BioEnergy, joins the podcast to explore the real barriers to scale, and how SGP is trying to break through them. From a Panama biorefinery nearing mechanical completion to a hemp-based feedstock program designed to regenerate soil and sequester carbon, SGP's integrated, zero-waste model offers a different lens on what sustainable fuel production can look like.

 Biofuels remain one of the most mature renewable solutions... but balancing production, feedstock use and carbon impact is far from simple. Agustin Torroba of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) joins the podcast to explore how global ethanol and biodiesel markets are adapting to policy pressures, new certification frameworks and evolving sustainability standards.

Revamping existing facilities for renewable fuels can be faster and more cost-effective than building new. Ole Frej Alkilde and Lars Jørgensen of Topsoe explore the technical realities of converting hydroprocessing units, from managing hydrogen demand to navigating emerging feedstocks and common bottlenecks.

Behind every successful renewable fuel plant is an EPC company navigating complex engineering, procurement and construction challenges. Carron Freeney from Topsoe joins the podcast to unpack the project lifecycle, contract strategies and why early EPC involvement is critical to success in the energy transition.

In Episode 2, Fuel for Thought host Sylvain Verdier talks with Rik Sneep of Moeve about transforming a century-old energy business into a front-runner in renewable fuels. From feedstock security to strategic airline partnerships and hedging with methanol and ammonia, Rik offers a clear, pragmatic view on making renewable fuels scale happen.

In the opening episode of Season 7, Fuel for Thought brings together three Topsoe experts to assess the renewable fuels sector at a critical juncture. Sandra Winter-Madsen, Sylvain Verdier and Milica Folic, together with host Mikala Grubb, explore the regulatory landscape across the EU, UK, US and Asia-Pacific, examining how mandates are driving demand, how feedstock supply chains are evolving, and why refineries are finally integrating renewable pathways into long-term strategies. From RED III's 2030 targets to maritime sector aspirations, from co-processing adoption to demonstration facilities for e-SAF research and production, the conversation offers a clear-eyed, comprehensive view of where the industry stands – and the collaborative momentum building toward 2026.

In the final episode of our three-part SAF Special series, Fuel for Thought welcomes Mélanie Astruc and Bruno James from Airbus to unpack the manufacturer’s SAF strategy and path to 100 % compatibility. The discussion covers technical certification, supply chain coordination, airport readiness, and the delicate balance between short-term SAF adoption and longer-term alternatives such as hydrogen and electric propulsion.

A fascinating close to our SAF Specials – and a clear view of how aviation’s future is taking flight today.