Renewable fuel is fuel produced from qualifying renewable biomass, such as corn, soybean oil, waste fats and oils, or cellulosic feedstocks, that meets the US EPA's lifecycle greenhouse gas reduction thresholds under the Renewable Fuel Standard, allowing it to generate RINs when produced or imported.
Qualifying feedstocks include corn starch, soybean and other vegetable oils, animal fats, used cooking oil, sugarcane, and cellulosic material such as crop residue and woody biomass, provided the resulting fuel meets the required lifecycle greenhouse gas reduction for its category.
Renewable fuel is split into four nested categories based on feedstock and emissions performance: cellulosic biofuel (60% GHG reduction), biomass-based diesel (50%), advanced biofuel (50%), and conventional renewable fuel (20%), corresponding to the D3, D4, D5, and D6 RIN codes.
Conventional gasoline and diesel are petroleum-based and generate no RINs. Renewable fuel is produced from biomass feedstocks and, once it meets EPA registration and lifecycle emissions requirements, generates a RIN for every gallon-equivalent produced or imported.
A RIN is created the moment a batch of qualifying renewable fuel is produced domestically or imported, and it stays attached to that fuel until it's blended into the transportation fuel supply, at which point the RIN separates and becomes a tradable compliance credit.
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