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Truly Sustainable Renewable Future
March 17, 2009 – 10:42 am | One Comment

Advanced Biofuels are high-energy liquid transportation fuels derived from: low nutrient input/high per acre yield crops; agricultural or forestry waste; or other sustainable biomass feedstocks including algae.  The key word is “sustainable.”
A technical definition that …

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Articles in Forestry Wood

Hundreds of Jobs Planned by New Owner of Range Fuels
February 2, 2012 – 3:42 pm | No Comment

by S. Heather Duncan (Macon.com)  The new owner of a shuttered ethanol plant in Soperton plans to eventually add hundreds of jobs there to produce ethanol and other chemicals, a company official said this week.
That …

CORE BioFuel Prepares to Land Funding for First Biogasoline Plant
February 2, 2012 – 2:12 pm | No Comment

by Bryan Sims (Biorefining Magazine)  Toronto-based CORE BioFuel Inc. has signed an exclusive agreement with Osprey Capital Partners Inc., Canada’s leading mid-market investment banking firm, to secure equity investment capital for financing the completion of …

World’s First Wood-Based Biofuel Refinery to Be Built in Finland
February 2, 2012 – 11:44 am | No Comment

(YLE.FI)  Forest industry giant UPM is building a biorefinery in the eastern city of Lappeenranta which is to produce biofuel from crude tall oil. The plant’s output is expected to reach some 100,000 tons of …

Update on a Mobile Indirect Biomass Liquefaction System
February 1, 2012 – 3:04 pm | No Comment

by John P. Hurley (Biomass Power and Thermal Magazine/U.S. Department of Energy, Energy & Environmental Research Center)  Minnesota’s forestry operations produce 300,000 tons per year of wood waste that is not used in any existing or …

Words from the Wise: A Study by a Group of Forest Scientists Confirms Forest-Derived Bioenergy Results in No Net Carbon Release
February 1, 2012 – 2:05 pm | No Comment

by Anna Austin (Biomass Power and Thermal Magazine)  A recently released study authored by nine scientists from multiple organizations  and universities, including the U.S. Forest Service, may be poised to clear up some confusion. With …

Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Woodfuels: A Joint Publication of FAO and IEA Bioenergy
January 31, 2012 – 3:43 pm | No Comment

(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe)  As a potential substitute for fossil fuels, wood energy can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. FAO’s programme on wood energy promotes sustainable wood energy systems as a contribution to sustainable forest management, livelihoods …

Short Rotation Eucalypt Plantations for Energy in Brazil
January 31, 2012 – 3:35 pm | No Comment

(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe)  Brazil has over 4 million hectares of eucalypt plantations. Within that estate some plantations are dedicated to the production of charcoal while in some areas multiple land use includes forestry and agricultural production. …

Quantifying Environmental Effects of Short Rotation Coppice on Biodiversity, Soil and Water
January 31, 2012 – 3:30 pm | No Comment

(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe)   This report was prepared as a joint effort by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institute, University of Rostock, Chalmers University of Technology, Georg-August University of Goettingen, University of …

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Support for a New Advanced Biofuel Production Facility in Oregon: Project will Create Jobs, Expand Production of Biofuels
January 26, 2012 – 1:22 pm | No Comment

(US Department of Agriculture)  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA has approved a conditional commitment in the amount of $232.5 million to ZeaChem Boardman Biorefinery, LLC (ZBB) through the Biorefinery Assistance Program. ZBB …

2012 Farm Bill Biomass/Biofuel Recommendations
January 24, 2012 – 11:28 am | No Comment

by Robert E. Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA)  Retain Agricultural Land: Agricultural and forest lands are vulnerable to loss due to reduction of the dairy and pulp/paper industries and conversion to residential or commercial development.  They …

Oregon State University Researcher Highlights Public,Private Biomass Work in Oregon
January 23, 2012 – 12:22 pm | No Comment

by Erin Voegele (Biorefining Magazine)  …During a presentation at the 2012 Pacific West Biomass Conference & Tradeshow, Christine Kelly, an associate professor of chemical, biological and environmental engineering at Oregon State University, outlined the achievements …

Cal-Bay International Negotiating Assemblage of 400 Acre Land Parcels for Renewable Clean Energy Forest Division
January 20, 2012 – 2:44 pm | No Comment

(Cal-Bay International/MarketWire)  Cal-Bay International, Inc.,  announced the company is negotiating a land acquisition deal for its renewable forest division for the production of Clean Energy & Power.
The company has entered negotiations for the purchase of multiple …

Washington State Horticultural Association Opposes Bill to Provide Additional Water for Organic Crops and Biofuel Crops
January 19, 2012 – 3:32 pm | No Comment

(PR NewsWire/Organic Tree Fruit Growers Alliance)  At a recent legislative hearing in Olympia, the Washington StateHorticultural Association and its lobbyist Jim Halstrom (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvVO8tJc7zI) publicly opposed legislation (House Bill 2192) that would provide a relatively small amount of new water …

2012 TAPPI International Bioenergy & Bioproducts Conference October 17-19 Savannah, GA
January 16, 2012 – 5:01 pm | No Comment
2012 TAPPI International Bioenergy & Bioproducts Conference   October 17-19   Savannah, GA

TAPPI’s International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference will focus on technical advancements and commercialization of bioconversion technologies that leverage the forest products manufacturing infrastructure.
The conference will include technical presentations, expert panels, case studies, and reports from …

CALL FOR PAPERS: 2012 TAPPI International Bioenergy & Bioproducts Conference October 17-19 Savannah, GA DEADLINE: March 9, 2012
January 16, 2012 – 4:54 pm | No Comment
CALL FOR PAPERS: 2012 TAPPI International Bioenergy & Bioproducts Conference   October 17-19   Savannah, GA   DEADLINE: March 9, 2012

TAPPI’s International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference will focus on technical advancements and commercialization of bioconversion technologies that leverage the forest products manufacturing infrastructure.
The conference will include technical presentations, expert panels, case studies, and reports from …

Next-Generation Biofuels Driving the Growth of Global Biofuel Market
January 12, 2012 – 2:38 pm | No Comment

(Pangea/World of Bioenergy)   Social and environmental benefits of next-generation biofuels, mainly cellulosic ethanol, Algae fuels, Drop in fuels, and biobutanol, are fuelling its rapid growth momentum, says RNCOS.
According to our recent report, “Global Biofuel …

Sundrop Fuels Plans $450M Investment to Make Gas from Wood
January 12, 2012 – 11:35 am | No Comment

by Rich Christianson (Woodworking Network)  Sundrop Fuels Inc. has selected Rapides Parish, LA, as the site of its first gasification plant to produce gasoline from forest waste.
The company is purchasing about 1,200 acres of land …

ZeaChem, and the Renewable Fuel Standard
January 9, 2012 – 1:20 pm | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  ZeaChem launches its 250,000 gallon per year core process.  How could this possibly matter, in the context of a 500 million gallon cellulosic biofuels target for 2012, that was waived …

The 7 Paths of the New Agriculture
January 6, 2012 – 4:27 pm | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  …But the New Agriculture has arisen in recent years, with new solutions to the old dilemma: how do you produce, and afford, and haul, and utilize enough feedstock to make …

BASF Participates in US American Technology Company Renmatix
January 6, 2012 – 3:28 pm | No Comment

(Renmatix)  BASF is participating with $30 million through BASF Biorenewable Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG in the American technology firm Renmatix Inc. The BASF subsidiary led a $50 million financing round, joined by new and …

What in the World Are “Feedstock Logistics”?
December 30, 2011 – 12:04 pm | No Comment

by Dr. Steven Thomas (US Department of Energy)  Biomass feedstocks – the raw organic material that can be converted into biofuel, biopower, or bioproducts – come in many forms, from woody crops like hybrid poplar and …

Bioenergy Pumps New Life into Pulp and Paper Mills
December 30, 2011 – 11:39 am | No Comment

by Neil Rossmeissl (US Department of Energy)  Despite Americans’ voracious appetite for paper products — a staggering 700 pounds per person annually — America’s pulp and paper industry has been struggling as of late due to …

Robinson Remains Believer as Biofuel Projects Move Ahead
December 29, 2011 – 2:28 pm | No Comment

by Gene Zaleski (The Times and Democrat)  …Orangeburg County (South Carolina) Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson said while there are challenges in alternative fuel production, they can be overcome. He remains bullish on alternative …

Wayne Keith Sets a New World Wood Gas Speed Record
December 28, 2011 – 3:41 pm | No Comment

by David Bransby(Auburn University/Biofuels Digest)  We hear a lot about “drop-in” fuels these days. While this term typically means an infrastructure-compatible liquid transportation fuel, Wayne Keith has come up with his own version of a …

Chemicals and Biofuel from Wood Biomass
December 23, 2011 – 4:00 pm | No Comment

(PhysOrg.com)  A method developed at Aalto University in Finland makes it possible to use microbes to produce butanol suitable for biofuel and other industrial chemicals from wood biomass. Butanol is particularly suited as a transport …

Vertis Signed up as Agent for BioMCN in Central Europe
December 23, 2011 – 3:42 pm | No Comment

(BioMCN)  Environmental commodity broker Vertis Environmental Finance have signed an agency agreement with BioMCN for the representation and sales of bio-methanol in Central Europe. BioMCN is the largest 2nd generation biofuels producer in the world, …

Metso to Deliver the First Commercial LignoBoost Plant to Domtar in North America
December 19, 2011 – 1:16 pm | No Comment

(Metso)  Metso will supply the world’s first commercial installation of LignoBoost technology to Domtar in North America. The equipment will be intergrated with the Plymouth North Carolina pulp mill. The LignoBoost process separates and collects …

Washington State University Center at Prosser Researches Possible Biofuels
December 15, 2011 – 1:07 pm | No Comment

by Ross Courtney (The Seattle Times/Yakima Herald-Republic)  …”You get down to it, it’s dirty work,” said Steve Fransen, a research agronomist at the Washington State University Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center.
He means research, not …

The Death of Range Fuels Shouldn’t Doom All Biofuels
December 15, 2011 – 11:20 am | No Comment

by Kevin Bullis (MIT Technology Review)  This month, Range Fuels, one of the first companies in a wave of startups that promised cheap biofuels made from sources such as wood chips rather than corn, shut …

Drop-in Biofuels Take Flight in Commerce City, Colorado
December 15, 2011 – 11:05 am | No Comment

by John Schueler (US Department of Energy)  The Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy works in partnership with industry to develop, build, operate and validate integrated biorefineries across the country at various scales …

Licella, Air NZ, Virgin, Norske Skog Ink Pacts to Develop Aviation Fuels from Bio-Oil
December 14, 2011 – 9:18 am | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  In Australia, Licella had a big day, announcing the opening of its demonstration plant, a JV with Norsk Sko called Licella Fibre Fuels to commercialize the technology, and MOUs with …

Alberta Harvests First Crop of Waste-Raised Willows
December 12, 2011 – 8:54 am | No Comment

by Dave Cooper (Edmonton Journal)  After flourishing on waste water from the town’s sewage treatment plant for more than two years, Whitecourt’s biomass crop of willows and poplars was ripe for harvest.
And last week, researchers …

Valero Partnering to Build Ethanol Plant in Michigan
December 12, 2011 – 8:25 am | No Comment

(Valero)  New Hampshire-based biofuels company Mascoma Corp. has entered into an agreement with energy giant Valero to build a plant that produces ethanol in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula using Mascoma’s proprietary technology.

Mascoma, of Lebanon, agreed to …

Codexis, Mascoma Show that Low-Cost Sugar is the Key, as Biofuels Moves from R&D into Industrial Era
December 12, 2011 – 7:44 am | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  …“The government rushed into investments, with no diligence,” says Codexis chief Alan Shaw. “They are just not industrialists, in my opinion.”
Two major announcements this week drive the point home in …

Georgia’s Bioenergy One Stop Shop
December 10, 2011 – 1:21 pm | No Comment

(SAFER Alliance)  Georgia grows wood like the Midwest grows corn,” says Jill Stuckey, director of the Georgia Center of Innovation for Energy.
In fact, with nearly 25 million acres of forests in Georgia, the state ranks second …

New Department of Natural Resources Advisory Council Weighted toward Timber Interests
December 9, 2011 – 2:28 pm | No Comment

(Michigan Radio)  …A new advisory council is heavily weighted with voices from the timber industry, and there will be more emphasis on developing forest products to boost the state’s economy.
Governor Rick Snyder says there’s a …

Carbon Accounting for Forests, Forest Products, and Bioenergy: Recent Studies Released
December 8, 2011 – 4:48 pm | No Comment

(Environmental and Energy Study Institute)A number of new scientific studies have been released examining whether and how forests, forest management practices, forest products, and bioenergy from forests either contribute to or help mitigate climate change …

FuturaGene Gets US$1.2m for Bioenergy Research in Brazil
December 2, 2011 – 5:24 pm | No Comment

by Kari Williamson  (Renewable Energy Focus)  FuturaGene has received a US$2.1 million grant from the Brazilian Government to advance its bioenergy technology development programme in Brazil.
The grant obtained by FuturaGene’s parent company, Suzano Papel e …

AMG Bioenergy Resources Holdings Ltd.: Update on Acquisition of Plantations
November 28, 2011 – 2:31 pm | No Comment

(AMG/MarketWire)  AMG Bioenergy Resources Holdings Ltd. (the “Company”) (TSX VENTURE:ABG), a Canadian publicly traded company, wishes to provide an update on the progress of its acquisition of a 133 hectare jatropha plantation and a 201 …

CORE BioFuel Completes Tests on Wood-to-Gasoline Process
November 28, 2011 – 11:25 am | No Comment

(Energy Business Review)  Canada-based CORE BioFuel has tested the last step in its wood-to-gasoline process to produce high-octane, benzene-free, drop-in gasoline.
Under contract with CORE, RECAT Technologies completed a set of test runs of the catalytic …

Second-Generation Ethanol Processing Cost Prohibitive: Study
November 28, 2011 – 8:53 am | No Comment

(PhysOrg)  Costs for second-generation ethanol processing, which will ease the stress on corn and sugarcane, are unlikely to be competitive until 2020, according to a unique Queen’s University study.
…The researchers found that building large scale …

Study: Meeting Green Transport Targets May Need £895m Biofuels Spend
November 21, 2011 – 4:22 pm | No Comment

by Will Nichols (Business Green)  Government research body says next generation biofuels made from waste are a feasible low carbon option
The UK could miss its renewable transport targets unless it spends £900m over the next …

UGA Creates “Super Yeast” to Aid Ethanol Production
November 18, 2011 – 1:02 pm | No Comment

(Atlanta Business Chronicle)  The University of Georgia researchers created a “super strain” of yeast that ferments ethanol from pretreated pine as part of an effort to help biofuels take the place of gasoline for fuel.
… …

Divergent Feedstocks: One Pine Tree as good as Another? Guess Again
November 17, 2011 – 1:15 pm | No Comment

by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  In the process of researching various feedstocks for their startup company clients, Golden, Colo.-based Hazen Research Inc. noticed a trend. Feedstocks are not all created equal—even if that feedstock …

Future Fuels Institute at Florida State University Recognized as a Waters Center of Innovation
November 15, 2011 – 5:20 pm | No Comment

(PR NewsWire/MarketWatch)  Analytical Technology Fueling Institute’s Fundamental Energy Research
Waters Corporation today (November 15, 2011) welcomed the Future Fuels Institute at Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida into its Centers of Innovation Program. The Future Fuels Institute …

Biofuel Flights Signal Demand From U.S. Airlines
November 14, 2011 – 7:14 pm | No Comment

by Graham Warwick (Aviation Week)  As airlines launch the first commercial biofuel flights in the U.S., the government is working with industry to scale up production of biomass-derived jet fuel to commercial quantities beginning in …

Generating Ethanol from Lignocellulose Possible, but Large Cost Reductions Still Needed
November 9, 2011 – 9:01 am | No Comment

(Wiley-Blackwell/ScienceNewsLine)   The production of ethanol from lignocellulose-rich materials such as wood residues, waste paper, used cardboard and straw cannot yet be achieved at the same efficiency and cost as from corn starch. A cost …

Innovative Biofuel Crops Grown in the Desert
November 8, 2011 – 11:38 am | No Comment

(Arch1Design.com)  …Tel Aviv University researchers are doing their part to reduce humanity’s carbon footprint by successfully growing forests in the most unlikely place — deep in Israel’s Aravah Desert.
With environmental “extras” such as a local …

Feedstock Solutions: Researchers, Members of Industry Unite to Report on Feedstock Densification
October 31, 2011 – 4:54 pm | No Comment

by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine)  Approximately 100 professionals working in the feedstock and biorefining sectors recently met at Idaho National Laboratory to participate in a U.S. DOE-funded workshop. …“Our objective was to broaden the view …

BlueFire Renewables Signs Financing MOU for Its Fulton, Mississippi Biorefinery and Other Projects in the U.S. and China
October 31, 2011 – 3:20 pm | No Comment

(PR NewsWire)  BlueFire Renewables, Inc., a company focused on changing the world’s transportation fuel paradigm through the production of renewable fuels from non-food cellulosic wastes, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with China …