Why biofuels are no longer optional for Europe — and the role of Rodanco’s additives

In an article published on April 25, 2026, Rodanco B.V., a Netherlands-based specialist in oil & gas chemicals and fuel additives, argues that biofuels are no longer a long-term alternative for Europe but a strategic necessity.

From alternative to essential

According to Rodanco, geopolitical instability, supply chain disruptions and price volatility are forcing Europe to reconcile energy security with the transition. The article points to four simultaneous pressures:

• Uncertain fossil fuel supply chains.
• Increasing regulatory pressure (RED III and Fit for 55).
• The need to reduce dependency on imports.
• Growing demand for low-carbon fuels in transport and industry.

Biofuels such as FAME (fatty acid methyl esters) and renewable diesel address all four: they allow local, diversified production, are compatible with existing infrastructure, cut CO₂ immediately and can scale across industries.

The hidden challenge: stability and quality

Scaling up is not just a volume question. Rodanco notes that FAME blends are more sensitive than conventional fuels to oxidation, temperature swings, storage conditions and feedstock variability (used cooking oil, vegetable oils, animal fats). Without proper treatment, gums and sediments form, acid values rise, filters block, storage life shortens and fuel can go off-spec in transport or at the point of use. In large operations, that hits reliability, compliance and cost.

Additives as an enabler

That is why chemistry is central: specialty additives stabilise fuel in storage and transport, prevent oxidation and help meet EN 14214 across varying feedstocks. Rodanco describes its offer for producers, traders and storage operators:

• Antioxidant systems for biodiesel and renewable blends, including feedstocks high in polyunsaturated fatty acids.
• Additive programmes that protect fuel over long storage and long-distance logistics in different climates.
• Tailored formulations by feedstock, process, storage and regulatory requirements.
• Technical and R&D support: lab validation, product matching and performance optimisation.

Why it matters beyond Europe

Rodanco concludes that biofuels meet the criteria of being locally adaptable, technically reliable and immediately deployable, but only with a solid technical foundation. For the oil and gas industry, this means refineries, terminals, traders and distributors increasingly handle fossil-bio blends, and fuel quality along the whole chain becomes an operational issue, not only an environmental one.

Solo Rep’s Oil & Gas department

At Solo Rep we have a dedicated Oil & Gas department that supports our customers with all their needs in the sector, upstream and downstream, across Latin America:

• Rodanco specialties: tailored demulsifiers, flow assurance (wax, hydrates, pour point), corrosion and H₂S inhibitors, oxygen scavengers, fuel additives, slop breakers and industrial cleaners.
• PVRA® for H₂S removal in sour gas, DuraRem™ for drill cuttings and hydrocarbon remediation, and Bardex offshore where applicable.
• Technical and commercial advice, quotations, follow-up and coordination of logistics and foreign trade, with field work and technical response to non-standard challenges.

Through our Energy Real Estate Division, we also connect investors with mining and Oil & Gas projects.

Let’s talk

If your operation handles fuels, biodiesel or renewable blends, or needs chemical solutions for production, refining or storage, write to matias@solo-rep.com or contact us.