Article Archive for June 2009
by Dr. James D. Kinder and Timothy Rahmes (The Boeing Company) … Virgin Atlantic paved the way with its proof of concept flight powered by biofuel in February 2008. Since that time, a broader range …
IEA Bioenergy Task 40 commissioned a study on a global overview of bio-oils (vegetable and palm oil) to: i) assess major producers and consumers of vegetables oils, ii) main emerging markets, iii) analyze main policy …
By a margin of 219 to 212, the American clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 passed the US House of Representatives on Friday evening, June 26. The next stop is the US Senate where, because it is …
Dr. Charles Fishel, Chairman of Abundant Biofuels Corporation, noted that “There are about 100 biodiesel refineries operating below capacity and another 47 idle refineries in the United States, alone.” To help solve this problem, Abundant …
WBM is the leading industry networking event where, each year, the leaders of the biofuels world convene to meet new customers, suppliers and partners and help drive innovation and business. Over 4500 high calibre executives …
by Robert Ndong, Mireille Montrejaud-Vignoles, Oliver Saint Girons, Benoit Gabrielle, Roland Pirot, marjorie Domergue and Caroline Sablayrolles (Global Change Biology Bioenergy) In recent years, liquid biofuels for transport have benefited from significant political support due to …
by Jonathan Watts (The Guardian) Chinese firm behind ambitious plan to breed microalgae in greenhouse with the potential to absorb carbon emissions
…Developed by a groundbreaking Chinese firm, ENN, the greenhouse is a bioreactor that breeds …
by Jason Szep (Reuters) From the outside, the rustic red-brick mill on a bend in Maine’s Penobscot River resembles any other struggling American pulp and paper mill. But along with its usual business of pulp-making, the …
by Dawson Williams (Clear Carbon Consulting) Agribusiness is a Significant Source of Carbon Emissions and Potential Reduction Opportunities It is widely acknowledged that production agriculture, such as livestock rearing, crop cultivation, timber production, and ornamental …
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA Rural Development has approved a $25 million loan to enable a Minnesota biodiesel facility to diversify its operations and significantly expand the production of advanced biofuels. “The …
Amyris Brasil Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Ltda., a wholly owned subsidiary of Amyris Biotechnologies, Inc., today announced the opening of the Amyris Renewable Products Demonstration Facility in Campinas. The facility, located in the midst of the …
by Doug Dollemore, American Chemical Society
Fast and green. That’s what it takes to get to the winner’s circle in a new type of auto racing. Called green racing, it’s a meshing of the fast and …
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson issued the following statement on an agreement with House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman on the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.
“We have reached …
by Rudy A. Fernandez, Checkbiotech Rural households can increase their income by growing jatropha. Attesting to this is a study done by the University of the Philippines Los Baños-College of Forestry and Natural Resources …
by Bob Dinneen, Renewable Fuels Association It is troubling–and, at the same time, sadly amusing–that an enterprising reporter at USA Today has done more homework on the possible indirect effects of increased renewable electricity generation …
Efforts continue to amend federal policy and widen the availability of renewable biomass resources that would be available from agriculture and forestry to meet the nation’s renewable energy goals. A number of advocacy groups and …
by Biofuels Digest special correspondent Scott Miller A showdown is looming in the California State Senate this summer over an issue that is at the heart of the nationwide drive to develop and deploy bioenergy …
by Dr. Robert Wisner, Biofuels Economist, Ag Marketing Resource Center, Iowa State University The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 (1) requires a gradual increase in the volume of various kinds of biofuels to …
Pacific Bio-Fields Holdings Plc said it has received approval to use 400,000 hectares of land to plant coconut trees in the Philippines to make alternative auto fuel, which it aims to sell to Japanese users …
The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Buckeye Technologies Inc. and Myriant Technologies LLC (formed by BioEnergy International, LLC) have announced plans for a research and demonstration plant that will explore ways …
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is issuing this RFI to solicit feedback on the Draft “National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap” Document. This Draft Roadmap was prepared by a working group commissioned by DOE. Feedback …
Jatropha has been labeled the most likely crop for future biofuels. However, it suffers from low seed yield and high plant growth. A comprehensive series of trials has been conducted in Indonesia using AuStar’s paclobutrazol to …
At the Paris Air Show, Boeing and a series of partners involved in four biofuels-based test flights released the data from the tests, and said that with the release they are on a path towards …
Green Gold Ray Energies, Inc., aims to double its jatropha crude oil output by 2011 through continuous increase yields of jatropha feedstocks, while the company increases its jatropha plantations. The jatropha plantations are expanding from …
by Jane Burgermeister (Renewable Energy World) Germany’s chemical industry — the world’s third biggest — depends on fossil fuels for its products. But a new research center to be built in Germany’s industrial heartland Leuna in …
Biofuels Manufacturers of Illinois believes that Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) has the potential to go from “weed to wonder-fuel”. The company is working with farmers, university and government researchers to transform Pennycress into an advanced energy …
Instead of bringing sufficient supplies of biomass to processing facilities, Atlantic Biomass Conversions, Inc., proposes taking decentralized enzymatic conversion units to the crops. Following the model of wheat harvesting combines that follow the harvest season, …
EdeniQ, a California-based technology company serving the global biofuels industry, announced that it has begun a multi-year, field-to-fuel trial to evaluate low-carbon, non-food energy crops, like switchgrass, in California’s Central Valley. The company’s pilot-scale field …
Emerging Markets has released Algae 2020 a 460-page study on algae biofuels markets, strategies and the commercialization outlook. The Algae 2020 study observes algal biomass can produce multiple fuels from a single feedstock, including biodiesel …
Biofuels Digest published a special report on algae biofuels and CO2 sources, including an analysis of power plant fuel gas.
“In the world of biofuels, algae is under the spotlight” writes Biofuels Digest special correspondent Sam …
This is the premier networking event for the cellulosic ethanol industry. Not a trade show, it gives you the chance to meet and hear presentations by top management of leading companies in industrial biotechnology, agribusiness, …
One of the most exciting developments for aviation is the use of sustainable biofuels to replace the standard kerosene, or Jet-A, fuel that is currently being used. It is clear that our industry’s dependence on …
Biofuels Digest summarizes conversations from its LinkedIn Group about development of Chilean coastal algae and biodiesel developments in other South American countries. READ MORE
An engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract worth around US$ 60 million for building a bio-ethanol plant was signed between the Petrolchemical and Bio Fuel Joint Stock Company (PVB) under the National Oil and Gas …
Plans for a new cellulosic ethanol research and demonstration plant to be built by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences are being revamped for a location closer to Gainesville.
IFAS officials announced …
Agragen, a leader in using biotechnology to modify Camelina sativa to increase agronomically desirable traits, announces the acquisition of intellectual property rights that will increase oil content in the second generation oilseed crop. Through an …
by Nidaa Bakhsh. (Bloomberg) — Ensus Ltd. is preparing to start production at Britain’s first wheat-based bio-ethanol plant as the country increases requirements for cleaner-burning fuel. “Construction is nearly complete” on the plant at Wilton in …
The Ensus Group is building Europe’s largest wheat refinery at Wilton on Teesside in North East England. When completed in 2009, it will use locally grown animal feed wheat to produce over 400 million litres …
Sudan will begin producing ethanol from sugar cane with a target of 200 million litres in two years, President Omar al-Beshir said on Wednesday at the inauguration of a new plant. State company Kenana, which …
From today, customers at a Shell service station will become the first in the world to fill their tanks with gasoline containing advanced biofuel made from wheat straw.
For one month starting June 10, the regular …
Shell is demonstrating its commitment to fuels innovation and the development of sustainable, low-carbon fuels with the blending of 10% cellulosic ethanol into its Shell V-Power race fuel at the 24 Hours of Le Mans …
The inaugural Bioenergy Markets West Africa conference and exhibition will bring together key players from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region with global industry experts. This event is a new edition to …
Mexico and countries across Central American have great potential to grow their biofuels industries as governments recognize the opportunity as a chance to stimulate economic growth in rural areas. Biofuels Markets Mexico & Central America …
Green Power’s 5th Next Generation Biofuels event will bring together key players who are pioneering the development of next generation biofuels to address the latest developments in creating cost competitive, industrial scale production of next …
Following highly successful editions in Bangkok, Singapore and New Delhi, the 4th annual Biofuels Markets & Jatropha Asia will take place in Jakarta. Over 40 leading biofuels and jatropha thought leaders will provide expert insight …
Metso and UPM have developed a new concept for the production of biomass-based bio-oil to replace fossil fuels in heating and power generation. Test production will begin at Metso’s test plant in Tampere, Finland, in …
by Lisa Gibson, Biomass Magazine. Brazil could produce 4.6 billion to 8.2 billion liters (1.2 billion to 2.2 billion gallons) of biofuel from sugarcane residue by 2020, in addition to that made from sugar itself, …
“Novozymes’ latest products for second-generation ethanol production are much better than anything previously seen on the market,” says Cynthia Bryant, Global Marketing Manager, Biomass industry at Novozymes. “While this in itself is a giant leap …
In Washington, National Biodiesel Board public affairs heard Manning Feraci said that the EISA Act required the EPA to conduct a lifecycle analysis of biofuels as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard’s implementation, but said …
Large uncertainties in calculating international land use change effects and associated greenhouse gas emissions remain in the Environmental Protection Agency’s life cycle assessment of biofuels for the Renewable Fuel Standard. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) …
ATI Petroleum, a petroleum exploration management and operations company, announced that the US Department of Commerce awarded the first patent on bioreactor technology to ATI Petroleum. The bioreactor technology was created through a collaborative effort with …
Lignol Energy Corporation a cellulosic ethanol and biorefining company, announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Lignol Innovations Ltd., has been awarded $3.4 million in funding to produce cellulosic ethanol and other biochemical products from under-utilized forest …
Lignol Energy Corporation, a cellulosic ethanol and biorefining company, announced it has completed the first end-to-end production of cellulosic ethanol from its fully integrated industrial-scale biorefinery pilot plant in Burnaby, British Columbia.
This production of cellulosic ethanol …
The government is not serious in supporting the development of biofuel as an alternative energy source in the country, a biofuel researcher said. “There is no point in developing biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel …
Minnesota legislation currently requires 5% biodiesel content in all diesel fuel sold in the state, with provisions to increase that total to 20% by 2012. 80 million gallons of biodiesel will be needed by 2012. …
by Mike Levine. A radical twin-fuel engine from Ford, code-named “Bobcat,” that variably blends gasoline and ethanol on demand to realize diesel-like performance continues to make steady progress in its development, according to presentations made …
“From our first summit in 2007 which drew 350, to this year where we expect close to 1,000, global leaders, scientists, innovators, funders and policy makers look to the Algae Biomass Summit as the premiere …
USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service has confirmed that the Colombian government has issued a decree that beginning in 2012 all new vehicles must bear E-85 flex-fuel technology. Biofuels blend goals of E-10 and B-5 are expected …
by Bas Vlugt. ‘The Sustainer is a containerised installation which can be used in rural areas to convert oil-bearing crops and seeds into edible oil and biodiesel. The seeds are stored in an integrated bunker …
In California, SG Biofuels announced that it has identified multiple strains of cold tolerant Jatropha capable of thriving in climates outside the crop’s traditional subtropical habitat. The strains are included among thousands of variations of …
by Dan Looker. Talking to reporters, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) said he doubts that the final rule from the Environmental Protection Agency on a new renewable fuel standard will have the same use …
by Ron Kotrba. A group of Spanish developers working under the company name Ecofasa, headed by chief executive officer and inventor Francisco Angulo, has developed a biochemical process to turn urban solid waste into a …
Speaker Nancy Pelosi met the House Agriculture Committee chairman Collin Peterson to discuss the climate change bill that he opposes but which is a priority for House Democrats this year. … Peterson announced opposition to the …
by Susan Wilson. Algae has been cultivated primarily as a source of biofuel, but Renewed World Energies (RWE) is taking it one step further. The company wants to clean up power plant and industrial plant …
by Susanne Retka Schill. Western Biofuels Inc. released the results of an independent validation test and announced plans to build a 1.4 MMgy demonstration plant for a new biofuel process. Fuel chemist Nicholas Irving, president …
Industrial-scale production of bioenergy from algae, or seaweeds, can be expected in 10 to 15 years, helping Europe to reach its green energy targets, the top official at a newly created bioenergy body said on …
Being a standard-bearer requires heroic endeavors, and perhaps inevitably, epic miscalculations as well. This is the situation of the California Air Resources Board (ARB) in its recent announcement of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard for …
Gold Star Biofuels a subsidiary of Gold Star Farms Ltd., is cultivating five million acres of land in Ghana to plant jatropha for the production of biofuels for export. According to the firm it has …
Ghana is becoming the Jatropha centre in Africa south of the Sahara. The attraction which the country has as a welcoming place for investors interested in the wonder plant, Jatropha which hopefully, would be the …
A shuttered pulp mill at Prince Albert, Saskatchewan could be the new site for a facility to make cellulosic ethanol from farmers’ cereal straw. Saskatchewan’s provincial government on Monday inked a letter of intent with …
As part of an effort to develop a new collection of alternative fuels, ecologist Julie Jastrow and her colleagues from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago planted …
Every spring, the US Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Biomass Program hosts a FREE 2-day conference and expo exploring biomass as an energy source. The Biomass Program works with industry, …
Robert Kozak, Advanced Biofuels USA board member and president of Atlantic Biomass Conversions, Inc., has written to US Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu with suggestions for improving the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) with …
ARPA-E is a new organization within the Department of Energy (DOE), created specifically to foster research and development (R&D) of transformational energy-related technologies. …
ARPA-E was created to fund scientists and technologists taking immature technologies that …
The deadline for applications submissions for this first solicitation for the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E). ARPA-E has been extended to June 10. However, the deadline to obtain control number required to apply …
The public hearing will be held on June 9, 2009 in Washington, DC, at the Dupont Hotel, 1500 New Hampshire Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20036. For more information, contact Julia MacAllister, Office of Transportation and …
The GO GREEN ENERGY CONFERENCE hosted by Congressman Roscoe Bartlett will provide practical ways farmers, businesses, homeowners and individuals can save money, use less energy, and help our country transition to domestic, cleaner and renewable …
Katie Howell: Jet fuels derived from algae, camelina and jatropha — plants that pack an energy punch, are not eaten as food and do not displace food crops — could be approved and replacing petroleum …
The National Algae Association is building a buying consortium to help its members build algae farms and production plants more cost efficiently. NAA staff are meeting with various equipment and service providers to negotiate the best prices and terms for NAA …
The inaugural Biofuels: Science and Innovation for Sustainable Development Conference will be held June 28-30, 2009 in San Francisco, Ca. This conference will focus on several key areas of biomass sustainability as well as showcase …
The Public-Private Alliance Foundation (PPAF) held its Third Annual “Partners Against Poverty” event at the UN with 45 high-level participants and observers representing five countries (Brazil, Dominican Republic, USA, Honduras and Haiti) to discuss business innovations in …
SCIENTISTS in Wales are working on a ground-breaking £1m scheme to turn grass into fuel. The Assembly Government- backed “grassohol” project aims to develop a commercially viable way to make ethanol which is used as …
Velocys, Inc. (“Velocys”), has been awarded a $5 million commercialisation grant, applicable over a period of two and a half years. The grant will assist in commercialising the Oxford Catalysts Group’s microchannel technology for hydro-processing …
By Kieran Gartlan (DTN): The transformation began last year when a controversial study was published in Science Magazine by environmentalist Tim Searchinger. It introduced the innocuous four-letter acronym ILUC, or Indirect Land Use Change. According to …
Biofuels Digest reports that in Ethiopia, Ardent Energy Group announced an agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MOARD) of Ethiopia to transfer 15,000 hectares, approximately 37,000 acres, to AEG for the purpose …
