Article Archive for July 2009
California’s largest biodiesel plant is ready for business. State Sen. Dean Florez joined executives Wednesday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Crimson Renewable Energy’s new Kern County plant off Interstate 5. The plant is designed to …
(letsrecycle.com) A protocol designed to boost customer confidence in biodiesel derived from waste cooking oil and rendered animal fats has been published today July 29. The protocol is the latest produced by the Waste Protocols …
by Stu Hutson (Southeast Farm Press) Most would identify the tree by its often troublesome, spiky “gumballs,” but what many call the sweetgum tree also goes by another name, thanks to its distinctive, reptilian bark: …
(The National Business Review) A Green Party bill that sets up a standards regime for biofuels sold in New Zealand passed its first reading in Parliament tonight with the Government’s support. Jeanette Fitzsimons drafted the …
Neste Oil has increased its capacity to produce NExBTL renewable diesel following the start-up of a second dedicated NExBTL plant at the company’s main refinery at Porvoo. The new plant will be capable of producing …
by John Lynn (Energy Tribune) … Methanol can be produced from a wide variety of feedstocks, including natural gas, coal, biomass, and even atmospheric carbon dioxide. … Using mature gasification technology, one ton of biomass …
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that the Department of Energy will provide up to $30 billion in loan guarantees, depending on the applications and market conditions, for renewable energy projects. Another $750 million will …
A team of engineers has found a way to convert waste products created when producing Casabes, or flat breads from the cassava root, into ethanol, butanol, isobutanol and proponal energy compounds that can produce fuel. …
by Karin Kloosterman (Israel 21C) Ariel Krolzig, product manager of Kaiima Biotech is standing beside the star of his likely success story, a castor oil plant. He proceeds to describe the method developed by Kaiima that …
Renewable jet propellant-8 (JP-8) fuel developed and produced by the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota was successfully flown in a rocket built by Flometrics, Inc., a product engineering …
by Ama Achiaa Amankwah (AllAfrica.com) The Civil Society Coalition on Land (CICOL) has urged government to expedite action on the further development and implementation of the biofuel policy in Ghana. The coalition says in as …
(Science Daily) Using electrolyzed water rather than harsh chemicals could be a more effective and environmentally friendly method in the pretreatment of ethanol waste products to produce an acetone-butanol-ethanol fuel mix, according to research conducted …
(Biofuels International) Italian biodiesel producers currently producing from food crops are working together to substitute seaweed for first-generation feedstocks. The eight companies involved in the €10 million scheme currently produce diesel from crops like corn …
Joule Biotechnologies unveiled its breakthrough Helioculture™ technology—a revolutionary process that harnesses sunlight to directly convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into SolarFuel™ liquid energy. This eco-friendly, direct-to-fuel conversion requires no agricultural land or fresh water, and leverages …
Origin Oil announced that it has succeeded in extracting algae oil on a continuous basis without cell sacrifice. This new ‘milking’ process will join the company’s Cascading Production™ technique to create a combined cycle promising …
CSIRO and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers, have been awarded a A$1.6 million grant to increase the understanding of genes responsible for growth and yield in grasses for use as bio-energy and food crops. The …
by William Garvey (Business and Commercial Aviation/Aviation Week) Manufacturers of piston-engine aircraft and powerplant makers are showing interest in an experimental, non-petroleum biofuel that could possibly serve as a “drop-in” replacement for leaded avgas. Swift …
(25 x 25 REsource) Some stakeholders engaged in the climate change policy debate are expressing concern that carbon cap-and-trade legislation may lead to extensive tree planting and result in the conversion of valuable cropland to …
The bioenergy maritime shipping study published by International Enery Agency Bioenergy Task 40 describes main properties of biofuels in relation to maritime shipping, examine current shipping lanes and major tradable biomass sources (including AR, BR, CA, …
by George W. Huber and Bruce E. Dale (Scientific American) Scientists are turning agricultural leftovers, wood and fast growing grasses into a huge variety of biofuels–even jet fuel. But before these next generation biofuels go …
(Southwest Farm Press) In a field tucked into the northern side of this college town, just across from the Kansas State University football complex, some unusually tall plants are growing. They are part of the …
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recognizes the importance of a diverse energy portfolio in meeting the nation’s energy security challenges. DOE has, therefore, set a goal in its Strategic Plan to promote energy security …
(Houston Business Journal) Hilton Americas-Houston took delivery of its first load of biodiesel this week and will use the environmentally friendly fuel to help reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint. … In the past 12 months, …
Beginning Aug. 1, with a few exceptions, diesel fuel in nine northwest Oregon counties will be required to contain at least two percent biodiesel. The change comes about two years after Oregon began requiring 10 …
(GenomeWeb Daily News) Seven research teams at institutions around the country will use $6.3 million from the US Government to run genomics studies of plant feedstocks for biofuel production using switchgrass, sorghum, alfalfa, and others. …
Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group opened a new multi-million dollar research and support lab for seven network biodiesel production plants and others in the industry July 28th at its Ames location, including more than 25 biodiesel feedstocks …
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Montreal, ZeaChem, … confirmed that it is on track to complete a demonstration-scale plant in Boardman, Oregon where yields of more than 2,000 gallons per acre per year can …
by Brian Allen (KSFY Action News) One of the stunt flying teams you’ll see at this weekend’s Sioux Falls Airshow is based out of Tea. The “Vanguard Squardon” fly just feet apart from each other …
by Tom Doggett (Reuters) Major automakers asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency not to approve higher blends of ethanol in gasoline until the agency has adequate test results showing the fuel would not damage vehicles. …
The ethanol industry should voluntarily stop the unnecessary use of antibiotics in the production process, particularly because viable alternatives are readily available, concludes a new report by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP).
For …
The latest research note from the UK’s Policy Exchange recommends that bio-jet fuels should become a priority for the aviation industry; that they represent the only viable option for significantly reducing emissions from aviation without cutting the number …
Lignol Energy Corporation, a technology company in the cellulosic ethanol and biorefining sector, and BAE Systems PLC announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding to explore and develop commercial applications for biochemicals from the …
by Eliza Strickland (Discover) Can a tough and weedy shrub solve all of our energy problems and stop runaway climate change? Don’t be ridiculous—of course it can’t. But that, briefly, was the hype surrounding Jatropha …
(Biofuels International) Healy Biodiesel is to convert from production of traditional biodiesel to become the first commercial producer of a new type of renewable diesel. The Kansas-based producer signed a letter of intent with New …
Raleigh, North Carolina, residents will be able to dispose of cooking oil by setting it on the curb along with their garbage, recycling and yard waste. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a …
U.S. Department of Agriculture to enter into Contracts to make payments to Eligible Advanced Biofuel Producers to support and ensure an expanding production of Advanced Biofuels. This program is authorized under Title IX, Section 9001, …
USDA to make payments to eligible biorefineries to encourage the use of renewable biomass as a replacement fuel source for fossil fuels used to provide process heat or power in the operation of these eligible …
by Mehret Tesfaye (Ethiopian Review) Scientists in Uganda have started an ambitious research programme that should see the country produce biofuels commercially in the near future. The research which is going on at the National Crop …
by Susan Kraemer (gas2.o) In a macabre When Life Deals You Lemons – Make Lemonade kind of news item: Researchers are considering that perhaps we could safely reuse radioactive land: to grow crops for biofuel.Greenfield …
Massachusetts-based biofuel company Qteros, whose Q Microbe™ technology turns biomass into cellulosic ethanol, announced at an industry conference in Montreal that it has achieved unprecedented laboratory results in the performance of its proprietary, technology known …
“For Cap-and-Trade to truly reduce CO2 emissions, many promising lab-scale technologies will have to be prototyped, tested, and commercialized quickly,” says Bob Kozak, President of Atlantic Biomass Conversions. “With the current wording, the proposed Cap-and-Trade …
by Mehret Tesfaye (Ethiopian Review) Scientists in Uganda have started an ambitious research programme that should see the country produce biofuels commercially in the near future. The research which is going on at the National Crop …
by Mehret Tesfaye (Ethiopian Review) Scientists in Uganda have started an ambitious research programme that should see the country produce biofuels commercially in the near future. The research which is going on at the National Crop …
Scientists from around the world – including Tom Richard , Director of the Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment – have joined forces to seek resolution of issues related to sustainable production of …
by Chris Morrison (BNET Energy) Veteran cleantech venture capitalist Vinod Khosla will be announcing a pair of new funds to invest from today, according to a story in Forbes. If their sources are correct, it …
by Paul Winters (Biotech Industry Organization, Renewable Energy World) Both the United States and Canada have made considerable investments in founding a renewable biofuels and chemicals industry, setting standards for the production and use of biofuels …
by Jennifer Kho (Renewable Energy World) At first glance, it might look like oil companies are pulling out of renewables. At the end of June, BP closed its alternative-energy headquarters. The oil company also has …
Milligan Bio-Tech’s crushing plant and 2 Mgy biodiesel processing facility will open on July 23 with tours and truck drag races to celebrate. The plant will be the first Canadian biodiesel producer using canola as a …
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Uniol AS opened its new biodiesel plant in Fredrikstad, Norway, in June. The plant was built by Austrian turnkey provider BDI-Bio-Diesel International AG (BDI), marking its 28th project worldwide. Production …
By Slim Allagui (AFP) The Greenland shark, one of the largest species of sharks, is a nuisance to fishermen and its meat is toxic to humans, but researchers now hope the flesh can be used …
