21 October - 23 October
Hilton Rotterdam Hotel
ARACON 26 will once again bring together senior executives, technical experts, policymakers and innovators to discuss the ‘state of play’ for the global marine fuels sector – and with a close focus on the challenges and issues impacting the world second largest bunker market, the (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp) region.
Ethanol as a Marine Fuel Course
As the shipping industry works toward lower-emission operations, interest is growing in fuels that can be deployed at scale without waiting for entirely new supply chains or infrastructure. Ethanol is increasingly part of that conversation. It is already produced and traded globally, can be handled as a liquid fuel, and is gaining attention as part of the broader alcohol-fuel pathway alongside methanol.
This workshop will examine ethanol’s potential in the European maritime market, with a particular focus on sustainability, lifecycle carbon performance, policy treatment, engine readiness, bunkering, and commercial deployment. It will also look at current evidence around crop-based feedstocks, food and fuel, agricultural productivity, and the ongoing improvements in U.S. corn ethanol production.
This workshop brings together leading experts from across the ethanol, maritime, agricultural, and industrial sectors to examine the commercial, technical, regulatory, and sustainability considerations that will shape ethanol’s role as a marine fuel.
Participants will:
Designed for shipowners, bunker suppliers, ports, fuel producers, engine manufacturers, classification societies, regulators, financiers, and policymakers, the workshop aims to provide a balanced, evidence-based discussion on ethanol’s growing role in the maritime energy transition.
(Premium members: log in to unlock your 5% discount and pay just £186)
Register Here
Participant check-in and networking before the workshop begins.
Event Emcee: Dr. Gerard Ostheimer, Molecule Group
Llewellyn Bankes-Hughes, CEO & Founder, ship.energy Ltd.
Ambassador Ginette Testa, Permanent Representative of Panama to the IMO
Opening perspectives on maritime decarbonization, fuel optionality, and the practical steps needed to move new fuel pathways toward deployment.
The Molecule Group
CEO
Dr. Ostheimer is a bioeconomy, biotechnology, and sustainability leader with more than 17 years of international experience promoting the deployment and use of sustainable bio-based solutions to accelerate the Energy Transition and foster the Circular Economy. He routinely provides strategic and technical guidance to companies, governments, industry platforms, and international organizations working to de-carbonize hard-to-abate sectors.
Dr. Ostheimer is the CEO and Co-Founder of Molecule Group. A global effort to advance sustainable fuels and chemicals that takes into account synergies across production modalities including bio-based, hydrogen (and its derivatives) and Power-to-X. He serves as the Secretariat for Clean Energy Ministerial Biofuture Industry Council that is the mechanism for Bio-Based Industries to engage with high-level international processes, including the G7, G20, and Clean Energy Ministerial. And he is the Chief Operating Officer of the tech bio startup Duet Biosystems that optimizes the discovery and use of combination drug therapies for cancer and immunology applications.
He has a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Oregon and performed post-doctoral research in Cancer Systems Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
CEO & Founder
ship.energy
Joint CEO, Shipping Innovation | Director, Maritime UK
Llewellyn began his career in the oil industry in 1980, working both as a journalist and as oil broker in London and New York, with Petroleum Argus, Eperon Petroleum, Albion Oil, Petroleum Intelligence Weekly and OPEC Listener, before joining MRC Business Information Group in Oxford – which later became Lloyd’s List Intelligence after MRC’s acquisition by Informa – where he rose to Managing Director before leaving in May 2003 to establish Petrospot Ltd.
He is a Founding Member of the International Bunker Industry Association, which he helped create in 1993 and has organised conferences, seminars, training courses and multiple other events in 35 countries around the world and attended events as a journalist or conference speaker in a further dozen countries.
Llewellyn is co-creator, co-founder and co-owner of the biennial London International Shipping Week, whose first edition took place in September 2013 and has become one of the largest maritime events in the world.
Llewellyn was born in Abergavenny, Wales, in 1957 and lives in Oxfordshire.
Ambassador & Permanent Representative of Panama
International Maritime Organization
Ms. Testa Barnett is the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Panama to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). With expertise in international maritime law, regulatory affairs, and diplomacy, she has been instrumental in shaping maritime policy and advancing Panama’s interests at the global level.
Ms. Testa Barnett has represented Panama in numerous IMO committees and working groups, where she contributed to the development of international maritime conventions. She also served as Technical Adviser to Panama’s delegation at the IMO, playing a key role in formulating maritime policy and legal frameworks. Additionally, she chaired the Executive Committee of the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (1992 Fund), overseeing negotiations on complex compensation claims.
Ms. Testa Barnett provided legal counsel in maritime compliance, corporate law, real estate transactions, and franchise development, leveraging her expertise in international business and commercial law. In addition to her legal and diplomatic career, she is also an entrepreneur in the food business, reflecting her interest in innovation and business development beyond the maritime sector.
Ms. Testa Barnett holds a Master’s degree in Maritime Law and Shipping Business from ICADE Universidad Pontificia de Comillas (Madrid, Spain) and a Law and Political Science degree from Universidad de Panama.
Her career reflects a strong commitment to public service, maritime law, international cooperation, and entrepreneurship, positioning her as a significant contributor to both the global shipping industry and the business community.
Jake Comer, Growth Energy
An overview of global ethanol supply, trade and policy fundamentals, and where ethanol can fit within the emerging marine fuels market.
Vice President of Market Development
Growth Energy
Jake Comer is the Vice President of Market Development at Growth Energy, where he leads efforts to expand the use of higher ethanol blends both in the U.S. and internationally. With 15 years of experience across the fuel supply chain, Comer has developed expertise in fuel sourcing, logistics, marketing, pricing, and ensuring optimal profitability.
He began his career in public accounting but quickly found a passion for the fuel industry, holding leadership roles at major retailers including Kum & Go, Murphy USA, and Casey’s. Most recently at Casey’s, he served as Director of Retail Fuels, where he played a key role in building out the company’s fuel department and advancing fuel profitability as part of Casey’s Shareholder Value Creation Plan.
Comer joined Growth Energy in 2022, initially focused on expanding domestic ethanol markets. By 2024, his role expanded to include oversight of global ethanol market development, technical fuel initiatives, and strategic research.
A native of Iowa, Comer holds a bachelor’s degree from Drake University and an MBA from the University of Iowa. He lives in Des Moines with his wife and two children.
Jean Benoit Deloron, S&P Global
Current evidence on grain balances, agricultural productivity, land use and co-products, with a focus on how today’s data informs the food-versus-fuel discussion.
S&P Global
Consulting Manager for Agribusiness Consulting North America
Based in Washington DC with over 12 years of industry and consulting experience. Mr. Deloron’s experience involves trading and risk management, market feasibility and competitiveness, economic modeling & forecasting, and M&A due diligence. Mr. Deloron’s experience in biofuels, sugar and grains markets is drawn from experience in major commodity trading companies based in Europe as well as consulting work on renewable fuel projects for biofuel manufacturers, feedstock suppliers, trade associations, financials and government.
Dr. Steffen Mueller, University of Illinois Chicago
Adam Kirby, ISCC
A practical look at the declining carbon intensity of U.S. corn ethanol and how certification, chain of custody and lifecycle accounting affect access to European maritime markets.
Associate Director, Energy Resources Center
University of Illinois Chicago
Dr. Mueller leads the Bioenergy and Clean Transportation Research Group at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Selected research activities focus on life cycle emissions analyses of different bioenergy and electric vehicle pathways as well as sustainability assessments of energy supply chains.
Dr. Mueller has published over 40 peer reviewed papers on life cycle analysis. Steffen served on the Expert Working Group on Land Use during the establishment of the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard.
In 2021 and 2022, he served on the National Academies of Sciences Committee on Life Cycle Analyses of Low-Carbon Transportation Fuels and since 2013 Steffen has been a Board member of International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC). Steffen holds a PhD in Energy Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago, an MBA and a B.S. in Environmental Engineering.
ISCC
Head of Aviation and Maritime
Adam Kirby, Head of Aviation and Maritime at ISCC, specializes in the global sustainability certification of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and Sustainable Marine Fuels.
Adam brings a diverse background to his role, with extensive experience in US production agriculture, commodity checkoff and policy works, global governmental biofuel policy development, IT consulting, and communications. He holds a B.Sc. in Agribusiness Management from the University of Missouri Columbia, a M.Sc. in Agriculture and Food Economics from the University of Bonn, Germany, and a M.Sc. in Business and Economics from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
Driven by a passion for agriculture and sustainable systems, Adam leverages his varied expertise to develop innovative solutions with key industry stakeholders globally to support the renewable fuel sector on its pathway to net zero. He supports ISCC’s mission to promote transparency and sustainability through third-party certification in markets worldwide.
Radoslav Dimitrov, ADM
How producers are lowering lifecycle emissions through plant efficiency, renewable energy, carbon capture, feedstock improvements and stronger traceability.
Sales Manager, Industrial Ethanol
EMEA ADM
Radoslav Dimitrov joined ADM in September 2020 as Industrial ethanol sales manager EMEA and has held several positions across sales, marketing, and product management, all within the Carbohydrate Solutions division. In his current role he leads ADM’s fuel and industrial ethanol business across EMEA.
Radoslav brings 12 years of experience within the world of ethanol, previously having worked as a sales manager at the largest high purity beverage and industrial ethanol producer in South-Eastern Europe at the time.
An economist by training, he gained his BSc degree in international business and management at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands and spent a semester abroad studying finance at Goethe Business School in Frankfurt, Germany. In his spare time, he likes playing football and tennis and goes hiking with his wife and two kids.
An opportunity to continue the discussion with speakers and fellow delegates.
Leif Knipstrom, WinGD
An update on ethanol-capable engine technology, newbuild and retrofit pathways, operational considerations, and progress toward routine commercial deployment.
Senior Product Manager Engines, Business Unit Engine Solutions Winterthur
WinGD
Leif Knipström holds a BSc in mechanical engineering from Vasa Polytechnic
Leif has been with WinGD and predecessor companies since 1994 in different roles in R&D and Product Management.
As Product manager he takes care of the portfolio engines specification, today and in future, to meet customer demands and ensure high competitiveness of the products.
Marcel Jordens, TankMatch
Jeroen Mooij, TankMatch
A practical assessment of ARA storage, terminal and barge readiness, and the physical and commercial requirements for regular ethanol bunkering.
Commercial Manager
TankMatch
Marcel has been working at TankMatch since 2010. After his first work experience as a broker with an inland shipping charterer, he joined Essberger, where he worked for more than 10 years as broker/chartering manager in the shipping division. At TankMatch, he is responsible for tender and account management and strategic development as the commercial manager. He is also still closely involved in the daily chartering operations.
Senior Safety Advisor
TankMatch
Jeroen has been working at TankMatch since 2019. After his work experience as a ship’s surveyor with a mutual marine insurer, he worked his way up to become the head of EOC’s loss adjustment department. As the Senior Safety Advisor at TankMatch, he is responsible for the safety policy, and his responsibilities include analysing safety issues and drawing up improvement plans, evaluating and managing risks, and drawing up quality plans. He is also responsible for drawing up the annual safety plan and annual reports.
Quaim Choudhury, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
A review of safety, classification, fuel handling and regulatory requirements for ethanol, including the alcohol-fuel
pathway and remaining standardization needs.
Senior Managing Principal Engineer
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
Quaim Choudhury is a Senior Managing Principal Engineer in charge of alternative fuels, carbon capture and marine systems for the Energy Transition Team of the Americas Technology. He holds a B.S. in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, bringing over 28 years of maritime industry experience, including more than 20 years with ABS.
Quaim has deep expertise in onboard machinery, marine systems, propulsion technologies, and marine environmental considerations. His work spans traditional marine fuels as well as emerging alternative and future fuels, with substantial involvement in carbon capture technologies, CO₂ storage concepts, and the safe, efficient transport of liquefied CO₂ by ship.
In his current role leading energy transition-focused technical initiatives, Quaim serves as a key technical resource in advancing safer, more efficient, and sustainable maritime operations.
Morten Jacobsen, METHANAVE / Global Ethanol Association
An update on regional initiatives and collaborative efforts exploring ethanol as a marine fuel, with a focus on
demonstrations and pathways to wider deployment.
Commercial Manager / Secretary General
METHANAVE / GLOBAL ETHANOL ASSOCIATION
Morten Jacobsen is Co-Founder and Secretary General of the Global Ethanol Association (GEA), where he leads the association’s Marine Fuel sector activities.
With more than 35 years of shipping industry experience, he has spent the past six years dedicated to advancing alcohol fuels in the maritime sector.
Guided by GEA’s belief that “Demand Drives Change,” Morten works alongside GEA’s members and industry partners across the maritime value chain to translate market interest into tangible projects, partnerships and fuel supply solutions that support the adoption of ethanol as a marine fuel.
Ankit Chandra, U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council
Key takeaways from the workshop and priorities for advancing ethanol from technical readiness toward
commercial adoption.
Senior Manager of Global Ethanol Market Development
U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council
Ankit Chandra is Senior Manager of Global Ethanol Market Development at the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC), where he leads global market-development efforts for ethanol, including the Council’s aviation and maritime portfolios. His work focuses on expanding international demand for U.S. ethanol through policy engagement, commercial market development, technical cooperation, and global partnerships.
Prior to joining USGBC, Ankit worked across the private and public sectors, including roles with Monsanto, CNH Industrial, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) in South Asia.
He is based in Washington, DC, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Ag & Biosystems Engineering, and a Master of Public Administration, with a specialization in climate, energy, and environment, from Columbia University, New York.
