6 October 2026 - SAF Forum & Flamenco Welcome Dinner
7-8 October 2026 - World Ethanol & Biofuels Conference
9 October 2026 - Spanish Open (Golf Open de España)
Hotel Riu Plaza España, Madrid, Spain
Main conference DAY ONE - CET (Central European Time, GMT+01:00)
Welcome to 29 years of industry excellence! Kick off your experience by connecting with global leaders and innovators in ethanol and biofuels.
An overview of current market trends, key challenges, and emerging opportunities in the biofuels sector, setting the scene for this milestone 29th edition of the conference.
- Antonio Vallespir - CEO, Vertex Bioenergy
Explore how AccelerateEU drives renewable transport fuel adoption through policy frameworks, energy security strategies, and large-scale deployment initiatives.
Gain insights into Spain's energy sector through forward-looking analysis and key statistical trends shaping the nation's renewable energy transition and market dynamics.
- Jose Luis Cabo Sánchez - Deputy Director General of Hydrocarbons and New Fuels and Directorate General for Energy Policy and Mining, Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge
- Key global policies: EU's RED III, U.S. RFS, and national biofuel mandates driving adoption
- Regional regulatory differences: Europe's sustainability criteria vs. Asia-Pacific and North American frameworks
- Incentives for sustainable practices: tax credits, carbon pricing, and advanced biofuel subsidies
- Growing global biofuel demand and the policy shift toward advanced and waste-based feedstocks
- EU phase-out of high ILUC-risk biofuels, targeting soy-based exclusion from transport targets by 2030
- Antonio Vallespir - CEO, Vertex Bioenergy
- Greta Drumstaité - Head of Policy & Advocacy, Raízen
- Craig Winneker - Director of Communications, ePURE – European renewable ethanol
- Valérie Corre - Director European Affairs, Tereos
- Hans Hoefnagels - Global Director Public Policy, Horse Powertrain, Horse Powertrain
- Balancing ethanol demand with sustainable production.
- Addressing feedstock scarcity and land-use conflicts.
- Scaling second-generation ethanol technologies.
- Adapting infrastructure for biofuel integration.
- Ensuring stable policies and investment incentives.
- Paulo Macedo - Global Managing Director, International Corporate Relations, Policy & Advocacy, Raizen
- Antonio Vallespir - CEO, Vertex Bioenergy
- José Ramón Freire López - Director General, Asociación Española del Bioetanol
Examine how national governments are defining advanced biofuel mandates during Europe's regulatory transition, including insights into Spain's upcoming Royal Decree transposing RED requirements for transport fuels, expected this summer.
- Carlos Alberto Fernández López - Head of Bioenergy & Waste Department (Spain, EU), IDAE - Institute for Diversification and Energy Saving, Ministry for Ecological Transition
Explore how retrofitting existing first-generation ethanol plants offers a cost-effective pathway to advanced fuel production, unlocking new opportunities for sustainable ethanol while leveraging established infrastructure.
- Antonio David Moreno Garcíam - Head of Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Unit – CIEMAT Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research, Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities
Discover the latest innovations, production technologies, and strategic approaches driving ethanol industry expansion to meet rising global demand while navigating sustainability requirements and feedstock challenges.
- How can the marine industry address infrastructure and supply chain limitations for biofuels at ports?
- What solutions exist to overcome the lower energy density of biofuels for long-distance shipping?
- How can shipping companies balance the high costs of biofuels with sustainability goals?
- What strategies can be implemented to retrofit existing engines for biofuel compatibility?
- Dasa Mamrillova - Government Affairs Director of the European Waste-based & Advanced Biofuels Association, EWABA
- Zoltán Szabó - Secretary General, Climate Ethanol Alliance
Explore how Alcohol-to-Jet technology is emerging as a scalable pathway for sustainable aviation fuel production in Europe. This session examines converting advanced ethanol from agricultural residues into drop-in aviation fuel, addressing ReFuelEU Aviation mandates and the collaborative partnerships driving SAF ecosystem development.
- Valérie Corre - Director European Affairs, Tereos
Discover how agricultural residues are being transformed into advanced ethanol and subsequently converted into Sustainable Aviation Fuel, exploring innovative production technologies and conversion pathways that support decarbonization goals while creating value from waste biomass.
- José Miguel Campos - Researcher, TransENER Platform, CSIC (Spanish National Research Council), Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities
Explore emerging feedstock innovations reshaping Europe's biofuel landscape, from agricultural residues and waste streams to novel biomass sources, examining how diversified feedstock strategies can accelerate renewable fuel production while meeting stringent sustainability criteria and regulatory requirements.
- What innovative feedstock options, such as agricultural residues, waste, or algae, can help meet EU sustainability goals?
- How can ethanol producers address ILUC concerns and comply with EU regulations on land use and biodiversity?
- What strategies can improve supply chain traceability and efficiency to align with EU certification standards?
- How can ethanol producers leverage RED II incentives while adapting to restrictions on food-based biofuels?
- Glauco Bertoldo - Agricultural Attaché, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Mission of Brazil to the European Union
- Suzanna Buck - Global Market Development Manager, Bioenergy, NUFARM