The Fuel for Thought Podcast

Hosted by Topsoe A/S

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Mar 2026

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About the show

The Fuel for Thought Podcast is the world’s first podcast about renewable fuels. Sylvain Verdier and Mikala Grubb from Topsoe, look into some of the most pressing topics about renewable fuels, covering the whole value chain of renewable fuel production, including feedstock supply, conversion technology, legislation, sustainable aviation fuel and much more. Together with a series of key industry players, experts, and influencers they discuss some of the challenges facing the industry, so you can benchmark your business, learn more about what is driving our industry and where it is heading.

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56 recent

March 25, 2026Episode 848 min

Bringing home the bacon – Seaboard’s recipe for renewable success

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.

March 4, 2026Episode 755 min

From Brussels to DC – The sticks and carrots shaping the renewable fuels landscape

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.

February 18, 2026Episode 650 min

Building a Hempire: SGP’s bioenergy journey

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.

February 4, 2026Episode 550 min

The State of Biofuels: Blends, boom and bottlenecks in ethanol and biodiesel

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.

January 21, 2026Episode 439 min

Revamp it up! Fast tracking renewable diesel and SAF projects

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.

January 7, 2026Episode 350 min

Easy-peasy EPC: How EPC companies shape renewable fuel projects

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.

December 17, 2025Episode 245 min

Risk, reward and renewables: Inside the Moeve strategy

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.

December 3, 2025Episode 155 min

Renewable fuels in '26 – Regulations tighten, feedstocks diversify, refineries mobilize

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.

November 19, 202551 min

SAF Special #3 of 3: SAF’s creating a real buzz in the air at Airbus

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.

November 5, 202542 min

SAF Special #2 of 3: Ensuring a SAF passage: The infrastructure powering faster SAF adoption

In the second of our three-episode SAF Specials, The Fuel for Thought Podcast talks with Elise Fox, Director of Sustainability at World Fuel Services. We explore the practical realities of integrating SAF into global jet fuel infrastructure, the bottlenecks in blending and storage and the opportunities in co-processing, book-and-claim and, of course, airport readiness. Elise offers a grounded view of what’s working, what still needs to change and how the industry can prepare for the mandates ahead.