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Truly Sustainable Renewable Future
April 17, 2012 – 10:42 am | No 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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BIO World Congress Cellulosic Ethanol Panel: The Latest on Commercialization Progress
June 18, 2013 – 8:46 pm | No Comment

by David Glass (D Glass Associates)  One of the morning sessions at the Tenth Annual BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology put four of the companies in the forefront of commercial development of cellulosic ethanol …

5th Palm Oil Summit August 20-21, 2013 Jakarta, Indonesia
June 15, 2013 – 6:30 pm | No Comment
5th Palm Oil Summit   August 20-21, 2013   Jakarta, Indonesia

In a recent report by Credit Suisse , it was stated that nearly 5 million hectares of palm trees are already planted in Malaysia, only between 200,000 and 300,000 are likely to be available in …

Seagriculture – Exploring the Seaweed Chain: 2nd International Seaweed Conference September 25-26, 2013 Den Helder/Texel, The Netherlands
June 15, 2013 – 6:21 pm | No Comment
Seagriculture – Exploring the Seaweed Chain: 2nd International Seaweed Conference  September 25-26, 2013    Den Helder/Texel, The Netherlands

DLG BENELUX, Wageningen UR (PRI & IMARES) and MCN are happy to announce the 2nd International Seaweed Conference, organised in cooperation with NIOZ, TNO, ECN, Hortimare, ATO, Blueport, Stichting Zeewierboerderij & Provincie Noord-Holland. This international conference will take place in Den Helder/Texel, The Netherlands from …

CALL FOR PAPERS 11 th International Conference on Biofuels: Fuels of the Future 2014 January 20-21 Berlin, Germany DEADLINE June 21
June 15, 2013 – 6:14 pm | No Comment
CALL FOR PAPERS 11 th International Conference on Biofuels: Fuels of the Future 2014 January 20-21 Berlin, Germany   DEADLINE   June 21

The German BioEnergy Association (BBE) and the Union for the Promotion of Oilseeds and Protein Plants (UFOP) cordially invite paper proposals for the 11th International Conference on Biofuels “Fuels of the Future 2014″, which will …

11 th International Conference on Biofuels: Fuels of the Future 2014 January 20-21 Berlin, Germany
June 15, 2013 – 6:10 pm | No Comment
11 th  International Conference on Biofuels:  Fuels of the Future 2014  January 20-21   Berlin, Germany

The conference will be held in the light of the possible changes to the Renewable Energy and Fuel Quality Directive (RED: 2009/28/EC and FQD: 98/70/EC) in November 2013 arising from the so-called trialogue procedure between …

Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials Lead Auditor Training September 3-5, 2013 Madrid, Spain
June 15, 2013 – 3:36 pm | No Comment
Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials Lead Auditor Training    September 3-5, 2013    Madrid, Spain

The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) is an international multi-stakeholder initiative that brings together farmers, companies, non-governmental organizations, experts, governments, and intergovernmental agencies concerned with ensuring the sustainability of biofuels production and processing. Since 2006 …

F.O. Lichts Sugar & Ethanol Africa 2013 September 10-12 Durban, South Africa
June 15, 2013 – 3:29 pm | No Comment
F.O. Lichts Sugar & Ethanol Africa 2013    September 10-12     Durban, South Africa

At this event you will be able to:
• Identify production growth opportunities within the African continent
• Look at intra-region and international trade dynamics and identify supply gaps for both fuel and non-fuel ethanol
• Assess production …

3rd Algae World Australia August 26-28, 2013 Adelaide, South Australia
June 15, 2013 – 3:09 pm | No Comment
3rd Algae World Australia   August 26-28, 2013  Adelaide, South Australia

Energy security is high on the agenda for Australia as the nation becomes increasingly vulnerable to overseas fuel supply disruption.
It is reported that as of now, 85 per cent of Australia’s transport fuel now comes …

World Bio Markets Brazil – Advanced Biofuels Webinar July 18, 2013
June 11, 2013 – 7:54 pm | No Comment
World Bio Markets Brazil – Advanced Biofuels Webinar   July 18, 2013

A ONE HOUR FREE WEBINAR LOOKING AT CHP VS. ADVANCED BIOFUELS IN BRAZIL 
Brazil is the long time power house of feedstock production and investment opportunities serving the biofuels markets both at home and internationally. However, …

Biomass for Energy and Transportation Fuels: An EU Perspective
June 11, 2013 – 4:46 pm | No Comment

by Aino Siirala (Advanced Biofuels USA)  The 21st European Biomass conference and Exhibition was held in Copenhagen on June 3-7, 2013, gathering almost 2000 attendees.
Denmark, one of the world’s leading countries in the green energy …

Clariant Demonstrates Sunliquid Process with Stover, Bagasse
June 6, 2013 – 4:32 pm | No Comment

by  Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  Not quite a year after opening a demonstration facility, Switzerland-based specialty chemicals company Clariant AG announced that it has expanded the feedstocks successfully converted to cellulosic ethanol beyond wheat …

Nova Scotia Biodiesel Project Plans 100 Percent Export to Germany
May 28, 2013 – 7:20 pm | No Comment

by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine)  Biofuel Weiss Inc. is developing a 7 MMgy continuous flow multifeedstock biodiesel production facility in Atlantic Canada, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. According to Ian Weiss, CEO of Weiss Biofuel, the …

The Brussels Biofuels Debate, Part III: MEP Vidal-Quadras Scraps ‘Deficient’ ILUC Factors From Commission’s Proposal
May 28, 2013 – 6:50 pm | No Comment

(The Oil Palm)  Spanish MEP and Draftsman for the influential Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE), Alejo Vidal-Quadras, has dismissed the European Commission’s proposal to introduce Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) factors as part of …

Maize Growers Form International Alliance
May 28, 2013 – 3:11 pm | No Comment

(U.S. Grains Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine)  The U.S. Grains Council, along with the National Corn Growers Association, MAIZAR, representing Argentina producers and the maize supply chain and ABRAMILHO (Brazilian Association of Corn Producers) have signed a …

DDGS Intake Reduces Methane Output of Dairy Cows
May 28, 2013 – 2:13 pm | No Comment

by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  Every once in a while, I read something that really catches my attention. A study that found that distillers grains can help reduce methane output and increase milk production …

EU Confirms Unannounced Inspections in Oil and Biofuels Sectors
May 28, 2013 – 1:02 pm | No Comment

(European Commission/Ethanol Producer Magazine)  The European Commission can confirm that on May 14, 2013, commission officials carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of several companies active in and providing services to the crude oil, …

ePURE Suspects Circumvention of Import Duty on Ethanol Imports
May 28, 2013 – 11:27 am | No Comment

(ePURE/Ethanol Producer Magazine)  ePURE, the European Renewable Ethanol Association, has asked the European Commission to investigate if EU customs legislation is properly applied in Finland. Evidence from several sources indicates that ethanol blended with gasoline …

Enerkem Starts Drop-In Renewable Fuels R&D
May 28, 2013 – 11:23 am | No Comment

(Enerkem/Ethanol Producer Magazine)  Enerkem Inc. announced the launch of a new research project with the government of Canada. The objective of the project is to develop new catalytic processes for the conversion of waste into …

Western Biomass up for Sale; Blue Sugars Files Bankruptcy
May 28, 2013 – 11:15 am | No Comment

by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  Just months after receiving the first cellulosic renewable identification numbers for a shipment of cellulosic ethanol to its Brazil partner Petrobras, Western Biomass Energy LLC filed for bankruptcy …

Scania Offers Bus Solutions Tailored to Any Type of Traffic Demand
May 28, 2013 – 10:32 am | No Comment

(Scania)  Scania also provides highly attractive solutions to bus transport developed in close cooperation with the operators.
Rising welfare inevitably brings about an increased need for transportation of goods as well as passengers. Curbing the constant …

Zambia: Govt Resorts to Ethanol Fuel
May 28, 2013 – 10:19 am | No Comment

by  Judith Namutowe (AllAfrica.com)   Government has said it will start importing ethanol from Zimbabwe with a view to lowering the high fuel prices in Zambia.   And Government will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with …

Alternative Fuels Americas Successfully Concludes Biodiesel Research Trials, Moves Towards Production
May 28, 2013 – 10:12 am | No Comment

(Alternative Fuels Americas/PR NewsWire)  Alternative Fuels Americas, Inc. (AFAI) announced today (May 22, 2013) that it has successfully completed research trials targeting Jatropha trees as a feedstock source for profitably produced, sustainable biodiesel, and is …

Shanghai Sees Biofuel Gold in Recycled Cooking Oil
May 27, 2013 – 5:34 pm | No Comment

(Economic Times/India Times)  China’s commercial hub Shanghai plans to turn recycled cooking oil, some of it seized by authorities, into an environmental asset by converting it into fuel for vehicles, state media said Monday.
The country has …

13th International Datagro Conference on Sugar and Ethanol October 21-22, 2013 Sao Paulo, Brazil
May 24, 2013 – 12:39 pm | No Comment
13th International Datagro Conference on Sugar and Ethanol   October 21-22, 2013    Sao Paulo, Brazil

The Conference that brings together giants of the industry, authorities and renowned experts is a networking opportunity in one of the largest executive centers of the South Hemisphere – over 700 corporate leaders from more …

Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining Special Issue — Biomass Futures: Estimating the Sustainable Biomass Role for Meeting the 2020 Targets and Beyond
May 23, 2013 – 10:41 am | No Comment

(Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining)  The Renewable Energy Directive (RED) has set a general binding target for the European Union to derive 20% of its final energy and 10% of its transport fuels from renewable sources …

Cost of Biofuels No Longer Sky High
May 23, 2013 – 10:27 am | No Comment

by Peter Hannam (The Age)  Whether it’s the use of organisms first found in the guts of rabbits in New Zealand or converting the mountains of rubbish disposed of by Londoners, airlines around the world are …

F.O. Licht’s World Ethanol and Biofuels November 4-7, 2013 Munich, Germany
May 22, 2013 – 4:58 pm | No Comment
F.O. Licht’s World Ethanol and Biofuels   November 4-7, 2013  Munich, Germany

Now in its 16th year, F.O. Licht’s World Ethanol and Biofuels is the must attend event for the global ethanol and biofuels community. Recognised as the best forum for in-depth analysis and as the biggest week of trade …

2nd Sugar & Ethanol Summit – Brazil Day July 5, 2013 London, UK
May 21, 2013 – 3:19 pm | No Comment
2nd Sugar & Ethanol Summit – Brazil Day    July 5, 2013   London, UK

It is with great satisfaction we welcome you to the 2nd Sugar & Ethanol Summit – Brazil Day, organized jointly by DATAGRO, and the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For the second consecutive year the event brings …

Sugar for Food, Fuel and Power: The ISO Datagro Sugar & Ethanol Conference in New York City
May 16, 2013 – 7:58 pm | No Comment

by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA)  What used to be known as “The New York Sugar Conference” has become “The ISO and Datagro Sugar & Ethanol Conference” with a record-setting number of attendees (350 from …

Community Level Production and Utilization of Jatropha Feedstock in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe
May 14, 2013 – 3:59 pm | No Comment

by Enos Shumba, et al (World Wildlife Fund for Nature)  The bio-fuel debate has largely focused on large feedstock plantations that produce products for the export market. It has not acknowledged and seriously considered the …

Enerkem Starts “Drop-In” Renewable Fuels R&D Project
May 14, 2013 – 1:32 pm | No Comment

(Enerkem/PR NewsWire)  Enerkem Inc. (www.enerkem.com), a waste-to-biofuels and renewable chemicals company, announces the launch of a new research project with the Government of Canada. The objective of the project is to develop new catalytic processes for …

Out of the Shell: Oil Giant’s Big Biofuels Ambitions
May 14, 2013 – 10:24 am | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  … In an exclusive Digest interview, Shell’s VP for Alternative Energy, Matthew Tipper, reveals the company’s thinking about RFS2, their increasing re-focus on North America and the EU.   Plus, Shell’s ambition …

Investing in Sustainable Palm Oil Production Ex-ante Impact Assessment of Investments in a Palm Oil Mill in Palembang, Indonesia
May 13, 2013 – 7:46 pm | No Comment

by Yuca Waarts, Kor Zwart (LEI Wageningen UR)  Recycling palm oil mill effluent, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and improving smallholder livelihoods are three important topics in debates on sustainable palm oil production. In Indonesia, Zebra Special Products …

Scientists Alarmed by Rapid Spread of Brown Streak Disease in Cassava
May 13, 2013 – 7:39 pm | No Comment

(EurekAlert!)  World’s cassava experts to wage war against cassava viruses; introduction into Nigeria, the largest cassava producer in the world, could result in drastic food shortages in this part of Africa
Cassava experts are reporting new …

Major Montreal Meet-Up on Aviation Biofuels
May 13, 2013 – 7:32 pm | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  In Canada, around 200 delegates from 44 countries are meeting in Montréal today, in a meet-up organized by the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), to explore:  the commercialization of aviation …

Feds Launch Project to Convert Oilsands Emissions to Biofuels
May 13, 2013 – 7:28 pm | No Comment

by Heather Loney (Global News)  The federal government is teaming up with two Canadian companies in a pilot project that would use algae to convert greenhouse gas emissions from the oilsands into biofuels.
The National Research …

The Greening of BASF: #1 Chemco Commits to Biobased BDO
May 13, 2013 – 7:06 pm | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  World’s #1 chemical company to produce renewable Butanediol using Genomatica’s process.  The Digest has a one-on-one with Genomatica CEO Christophe Schilling to explore the deal in-depth.
In Germany, BASF announced that …

Algal Biofuel Technology in the State of Qatar
May 10, 2013 – 6:51 pm | No Comment

by Matthew Landau (Aquatic Biosystems) In 2010, Qatar University initiated an algal biofuel project funded by Qatar Airways, and Qatar Science and Technology Park with a 3-year budget of USD 12 million. Completion of the first …

Eccotopia to Sign Joint Venture Agreement
May 10, 2013 – 6:31 pm | No Comment

(SB Wire/Eccotopia)  Julian Moses, president of Symphony Trade and Investment 57 (Pty) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eccotopia Ltd.,http://www.eccotopia.com/, has announced that  Eccotopia and Pacific Tree West are in the process of signing a …

The Possible Consequences of Expanding Biofuels: Cleaner Energy, Warmer Climate?
May 10, 2013 – 11:44 am | No Comment

by Vicki Ekstrom (Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change/Renewable Energy World)  …Their study, recently released in Geophysical Research Letters, found that land-use changes caused by a major ramp-up in biofuel crops — enough …

G8 under Pressure to Rethink Biofuel Mandates
May 9, 2013 – 2:52 pm | No Comment

(EurActiv)

Leaders of the EU and their partners in the G8 nations are under mounting pressure to reconsider their support for biofuel targets amid concern that plant oil production competes with food output in poor countries.

Britain, …

DfT: 66% of Biofuels Supplied in the UK Are Sustainable
May 9, 2013 – 2:33 pm | No Comment

(E2B) According to the Department of Transport, between 15 April 2012 and 14 January 2013, 965 million litres of renewable fuel were supplied, of which 66 per cent have so proven to be sustainable. 18 per …

International Energy Agency Publishes Global Update of Advanced, Cellulosic Projects
May 8, 2013 – 5:03 pm | No Comment

by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  The International Energy Agency Bioenergy Task 39 group recently published a report that outlines progress on more than 100 advanced biofuel projects under development worldwide. The report, titled “Status …

Cost-Saving Measure to Upgrade Ethanol to Butanol — a Better Alternative to Gasoline
May 8, 2013 – 3:54 pm | No Comment

(American Chemical Society)  Scientists today reported a discovery that could speed an emerging effort to replace ethanol in gasoline with a substantially better fuel additive called butanol, which some experts regard as “the gasoline of …

World’s First Algae House Produces Green Energy at IBA Hamburg
May 8, 2013 – 3:01 pm | No Comment

(Hamburg Business Development Corp./Biodiesel Magazine)  The first house in the world to supply its own energy with unique “bioskin” through the cultivation of micro-algae is being presented at the International Building Exhibition IBA Hamburg in …

UC-Davis Publishes Status Update of Calif. LCFS
May 8, 2013 – 12:50 pm | No Comment

by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  The University of California-Davis Institute of Transportation Studies has published a new status review of the state’s low carbon fuel standard (LCFS). The review is the second in a …

The European Parliament Is Making a Bad Biofuels Proposal Worse
May 8, 2013 – 12:31 pm | No Comment

(EurActiv)  …This conflict is not one between green ambitions and trade rules – it is a conflict between trade rules and a biofuels policy aiming to favour domestically produced biofuels at the expense of foreign …

ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative
May 8, 2013 – 12:22 pm | No Comment

(Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper)  The Government of Canada is committed to investing in innovative clean energy technologies that create high-quality jobs, generate new economic opportunities and protect the environment.
To this end, on May …

SEKAB Welcomes SP’s Engagement in the Biorefinery Demo Plant
May 8, 2013 – 11:47 am | No Comment

(SEKAB)  SEKAB E-Technology welcomes SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden’s (SP) engagement in the Biorefinery Demo Plant in Örnsköldsvik, previously known as the Ethanol Pilot. SP and SEKAB have signed an agreement, which ensures continued …

Norway Plans Rise in Taxes on Oil Entities
May 8, 2013 – 11:27 am | No Comment

by Kjetil Malkenes Hovland  (The Wall Street Journal)  Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, who faces an election in September, on Sunday laid out plans for a modest tax cut for mainland businesses while increasing taxes …

Official Inauguration of Borregaard’s Biorefinery Demonstration Plant
May 7, 2013 – 5:15 pm | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  In Norway, Norwegian Finance Minister Sigbjørn Johnsen officially inaugurated the Borregaard biorefinery demonstration plant in Sarpsborg, which will produce green chemicals and sugars based on biomass from wood and agricultural …

RSB Becomes Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials; Expanded Scope Prompts Re-Branding
May 7, 2013 – 5:07 pm | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) is pleased to announce that RSB has a new name. Following a decision during a recent meeting of the RSB Assembly of Delegates, the …

Airlines Must Commit to Using Biofuels that Have Been Certified to Internationally Recognised Standards, Says NRDC Report
May 7, 2013 – 4:05 pm | No Comment

(GreenAirOnline)  Although the entry of airlines into the biofuel marketplace is a significant step in the right direction, the sustainability of this development is of critical importance, says the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The …

Geotalk: Sylvian LeDuc on Why Woody Biofuels Wouldn’t Be the Best Plan for the EU
May 7, 2013 – 12:53 pm | No Comment

(European Geosciences Union)  …Attention has now turned to second generation biofuels, produced from non-edible sources such as wood or waste plant residual like straw. In the next decade, these biofuels are expected to replace three …

New Report Analyses Current Dutch Biomass Trading
May 7, 2013 – 12:20 pm | No Comment

(Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation)  A recently published report provides an in-depth overview of the current state of affairs in Dutch biomass trading. “We’re satisfied to report a significant increase in certified …

API Lands Brazil Investment to Commercialize Cellulosic Process
May 6, 2013 – 5:57 pm | No Comment

by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  With a fresh investment from Brazil’s GranBio, American Process Inc. is poised to develop its first commercial-scale cellulosic biorefineries in both the U.S. and Brazil. API CEO Theodora …

Japanese Sewage Plant Extracting Algal Oil for Fuel
May 6, 2013 – 4:26 pm | No Comment

(Algae Industry Magazine)  The Japan News reports that in Miyagino Ward, Sendai, a project has started at a sewage treatment facility to extract a biofuel ingredient from wastewater using algae. This first of its kind …

Shell Starts E20 Pump Sales
May 6, 2013 – 3:35 pm | No Comment

by Yuthana Praiwan  (Bangkok Post)  After several years of consideration, Shell Co of Thailand eventually decided to jump into the gasohol E20 fray, as it foresees a steady rise in local demand.
Shell officially began selling …

DOE Set to Issue Order Requiring 10% Ethanol Fuel Blend
May 6, 2013 – 3:30 pm | No Comment

by Amy R. Remo  (Philippine Daily Inquirer)  The Department of Energy is set to issue a circular that will require the blending of 10-percent ethanol in all gasoline products.   In the same order, the energy …

Biomass Row Heats up after Green Groups Call for Subsidy Cuts
May 6, 2013 – 2:37 pm | No Comment

by Jessica Shankleman (BusinessGreen.com)   …Three campaign groups, backed by 12 organisations in the timber, paper and furniture industries, yesterday warned that a surge in demand for wood as a result of renewable electricity subsidies …

New Plant Protein Discoveries Could Ease Global Food and Fuel Demands
May 6, 2013 – 2:03 pm | No Comment

by Kim McDonald   (University of California at San Diego)  New discoveries of the way plants transport important substances across their biological membranes to resist toxic metals and pests, increase salt and drought tolerance, control water loss …

Whoops: Soils Can’t Lock Away Black Carbon or Biochar, Study Says.
May 6, 2013 – 11:46 am | No Comment

by Tim Radford  (The Daily Climate)  Charcoal and other forms of black carbon do not, as previously thought, stay where they are buried. They migrate to the oceans and recirculate the carbon they contain.
Climate scientists …

Renewables Remain Critical in Meeting Long-Term U.S. Energy Needs
May 3, 2013 – 6:03 pm | No Comment

(25 x ’25)  …It is interesting to see the advances in renewable energy being made in, of all places, nations with the largest oil reserves in the world. According to a recent report from Ernst …

Metso-Supplied World’s First Commercial LignoBoost Plant Successfully Starts up at Domtar in the USA
May 3, 2013 – 4:57 pm | No Comment

(Metso) Domtar has successfully started up a commercial-scale LignoBoost™ lignin separation plant at its Plymouth, North Carolina mill, in the USA. This is the first commercial installation of a LignoBoost plant in the world and the …

Innovation Coupons Worth € 10.000 to Assess the Feasibility of an Innovative Bio-Based Idea
May 3, 2013 – 4:30 pm | No Comment

(Bio Base NWE)  The project Bio Base NWE is funded under the Interreg IVB NWE framework and has the objective to support the development of the bio-based economy in North West Europe (see www.biobasenwe.org for …

The Promiscuous, the Selective, and Biofuels
May 3, 2013 – 12:59 pm | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  …Promiscuous, because a zillion organisms know how to use photosynthesis, under a zillion set of circumstances, to turn simple and abundant molecular compounds — like carbon dioxide and water — …

Los Alamos National Lab Improves Biomass-to-Fuel Process
May 3, 2013 – 12:35 am | No Comment

(Los Alamos National Laboratory/Biodiesel Magazine)  …Los Alamos scientists and collaborators from The University of Guelph in Canada published an article in the scientific journal Nature Chemistry this week that could offer a big step on the path …

German Rapper Smudo’s Bioconcept Car to Perform in 24-Hour Race
May 3, 2013 – 12:23 am | No Comment

(UFOP/Biodiesel Magazine)  On May 19, more than 200 race cars will start at the traditional ADAC 24-hour race on the Nürburgring’s legendary Nordschleife track. With more than 200,000 visitors, it is the largest motor sporting …

Duckweed as a Cost-Competitive Raw Material for Biofuel Production
May 2, 2013 – 8:32 pm | No Comment

(American Chemical Society)  The search for a less-expensive, sustainable source of biomass, or plant material, for producing gasoline, diesel and jet fuel has led scientists to duckweed, that fast-growing floating plant that turns ponds and …

Gevo’s Gevolution
May 2, 2013 – 5:36 pm | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  …The stock has not recovered much — but it’s remarkable the progress the company has made, all the same. Analysts are now expecting the company to bring its first production …

Renewable Energy Groups in Spat over Imports
May 2, 2013 – 12:20 pm | No Comment

by Darren Goode (Politico)  An effort by ethanol backers to get the Environmental Protection Agency to scale back the amount of advanced biofuels required in the U.S. gasoline supply this year has opened a rift …

Biofuel Based on Banana Waste
May 1, 2013 – 11:59 am | No Comment

(Fresh Plaza)  Bananas in poor condition could become a type of biofuel thanks to a study by the Canary Islands Technological Institute (ITC) with the support of the DISA Foundation.
Douglas Escalante (an intern of the …

EU Standards Group Proposes 26 Product Categories for Long-Term Biobased R&D Program
May 1, 2013 – 11:48 am | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  In Germany, the EU funded research project on bio-based product standards, (Knowledge Based Bio-based Products’ Pre-Standardization (KBBPPS), held a workshop in Cologne to inform stakeholders about the project’s objectives and …

Clariant Looks to Biofuel Amid Disposals of Older Assets
May 1, 2013 – 11:00 am | No Comment

by Andrew Noel (Bloomberg)  Clariant AG (CLN) said it’s prepared to take on a partner and help fund a second-generation bioethanol plant to prove the effectiveness of its biotechnology and compete against Royal DSM NV …

National Associations Refuse Commission’s Proposal on iLUC
April 30, 2013 – 4:53 pm | No Comment

(Asociación de Productores de Energías Renovables Biocarburantes – Spain; Associação Portuguesa de Produtores de Biocombustíveis – Portugal; Krajowa Izba Biopaliw – Poland; Renewable Energy Association – United Kingdom; Verband der Deutschen Biokraftstoffindustrie – Germany)  We support the current target …

EU Fiddling while Oil Burns – Time for Proactive Biofuels Policy
April 30, 2013 – 4:30 pm | No Comment

by by Francis X. Johnson (Public Service Europe)  Policies should focus on long-term approaches to a sustainable biofuels market development, rather than short-term reactive approaches
Europe’s relationship with biofuels has been marked by dramatic turns. Biofuels for …

China Eastern Airlines to Run Commercial Flights on Biofuel
April 30, 2013 – 4:14 pm | No Comment

by Joao Peixe (OilPrice.com)  China Eastern Airlines has just announced that it will begin operating commercial flights which run on 100% biofuel, having completed a successful trial of the renewable aviation fuel on Wednesday.
After an 85 …

Brisbane Picked for Green Fuel Study
April 30, 2013 – 3:09 pm | No Comment

by Steve Creedy (The Australian)  Brisbane Airport has been earmarked as the site of Australia’s first sustainable aviation fuel “bio-port”.
Virgin Australia, Brisbane Airport Corporation and sustainable fuel company SkyNRG today announced a feasibility study that …

Wall Street Transcript Interview with the Founder, Chairman, President and CEO of Dyadic International (DYAI), Mark Emalfarb
April 29, 2013 – 7:23 pm | No Comment

(The Wall Street Journal/Dyadic)  …We are using that technology to produce enzymes for converting biomass into cellulosic sugars to produce second-generation fuels and chemicals, like ethanol, butanol, succinic acid, lactic acid, etc. We are also …

UPM and VTT to Initiate Fleet Tests of Wood-Based Diesel Using Volkswagen Cars
April 29, 2013 – 12:43 pm | No Comment

UPM, VTT and VV-Auto Group will start fleet tests of renewable domestic diesel.  Biofuel will be produced by UPM, fleet tests will be coordinated by VTT and cars will be supplied by VV-Auto Group. Fleet …

Biofuels and the Problem of Tropical Islands, part I of II
April 29, 2013 – 12:30 pm | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  …Though there are exceptions among the archipelagoes with access to offshore oil assets — Indonesia comes to mind— but these are, in the main, exceptions to what might be described …

IMF Rejects Fossil Fuel Subsidies, Calls for Reform
April 26, 2013 – 6:07 pm | No Comment

By Paul Brown (Climate News Network/ClimateCentral.org)  Fossil fuel subsidies provided by both rich and poor countries to keep their citizens happy are holding back the world economy, accelerating climate change and damaging the health of …

Biomass Battles
April 26, 2013 – 4:47 pm | No Comment

(Environmental Research Web)  …It referred to a report by North Energy Associates (NEA) and Forestry Research (FR) produced for DECC, which tried to answer the question: ‘Is it better to leave wood in the forest …

New R&D Strategies for a New Era
April 26, 2013 – 12:41 pm | No Comment

by Douglas L. Faulkner with contributions from Jacques Beaudry-Losique (Biofuels Digest)  …We believe it is time for bioenergy industry leaders to take the initiative and chalk up a new comprehensive game plan, reflecting the new reality …

China’s Self-Developed Biofuel Test Flight Successful
April 25, 2013 – 5:18 pm | No Comment

(China Daily)  Sinopec, China’s top oil refiner, announced the success of the first test flight powered by the company’s newly developed aviation biofuel product on Wednesday.
An Airbus A320 owned by China Eastern Airlines landed at …

The Battle Continues
April 24, 2013 – 6:10 pm | No Comment

by Robert Vierhout (ePURE/Ethanol Producer Magazine)  …Member states, however, are faced with the reality of an economic crisis and cannot think of any good reason to kill investments and opportunities for more investments in agriculture.
Maybe …

Tap, Enhance, Process Stream to Create Value-added Products
April 24, 2013 – 6:00 pm | No Comment

by Dil Vashi   (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Solutions 4 CO2)  Stillage, CO2 become valuable inputs in synergistic design
Many ethanol producers look for additional revenue streams beyond the core ethanol and distillers grains to extract corn oil …

6. International Conference on Biodiesel. Biodiesel – A Fuel on the Move May 7-8, 2013 Berlin, Germany
April 24, 2013 – 5:02 pm | No Comment
6. International Conference on Biodiesel. Biodiesel – A Fuel on the Move   May 7-8, 2013   Berlin, Germany

Biofuels are and will remain an issue that is controversial, and although often unfairly attacked, they remain an important component in maintaining our mobility and the fight against climate change.
The biofuels “first generation” today represent …

Brazil Throws Troubled Ethanol Industry Tax Breaks, Credit
April 24, 2013 – 2:42 pm | No Comment

by Alonso Soto and Reese Ewing (Reuters)  * Brazil cuts PIS/Cofins tax, extends credit for ethanol
* Ethanol industry says measures do not go far enough
* Measures will help industry’s margins, competitiveness
Brazil’s government threw its sugar-ethanol …

Parliament Report Flags Major Changes to EU Biofuels Proposal
April 24, 2013 – 11:30 am | No Comment

(EurActiv.com)
A European Parliament report into the EU’s proposals for addressing the problem of indirect land use change (ILUC) in its biofuels policy will propose today (17 April) the application of unique ‘factors’ to account for …

EU Biodiesel Terms Increasingly Complex
April 24, 2013 – 11:16 am | No Comment

(Argus Media)  Biodiesel trade terms are becoming increasingly complicated as buyers and sellers haggle over sustainability clauses, payments terms and water content.
Much of the wrangling has appeared over Fame 0 biodiesel compliant with the EU …

Who’s Fooling Whom? The Real Drivers in Africa’s Food Crisis
April 24, 2013 – 11:01 am | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  In Belgium, PANGEA (Partners for Euro-African Green Energy) launched an update to its report “Who’s Fooling Whom? The Real Drivers Behind the 2010/11 Food Crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa”.
The report demonstrates …

Zero Mix Thirty: Heliae Debuts Volaris, for Algae at Scale
April 24, 2013 – 10:34 am | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  Heliae emerges from stealth with Volaris — its next-gen algae platform — “This technology will unlock the industry,” the company says.
…Volaris is the result of five years of targeted innovation, …

Dinoflagellate Microalgae Show Biofuel Potential in Spanish Study
April 23, 2013 – 6:49 pm | No Comment

(Algae Industry Magazine)  Researchers at the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA) and the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), in Spain, have analyzed the potential of different species of microalgae for producing biodiesel, comparing …

Ceres Releases Q2 Financials, Reports Progress with Sweet Sorghum
April 23, 2013 – 6:34 pm | No Comment

by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  …According to information released by Ceres, commercial harvests of its newest sweet sorghum hybrids have started in Brazil, with the majority of hectares expected to be harvested within the …

New Catalysts to Convert Ethanol to Butanol Fuels
April 23, 2013 – 6:28 pm | No Comment

by Chris Hanson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Researchers from U.K.’s University of Bristol reported the development of new catalysts that are able to convert ethanol to butanol at the national meeting and exposition of the American Chemical …

Researchers Turn Corn Stover into Amylose Starch
April 23, 2013 – 6:17 pm | No Comment

by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A team of Virginia Tech researchers have adapted existing technologies to make a new product, transforming cellulose into amylose. One target market for the amylose would be functional foods, said …

TMO, Usina Form Joint Venture for Brazilian Cellulosic Plant
April 23, 2013 – 5:59 pm | No Comment

(TMO Renewables/Ethanol Producer Magazine)   TMO Renewables, the leading British developer of second generation biofuels technology,  and Usina Santa Maria Ltda have entered into an agreement to form a joint venture to build the first commercial …

Groundwork Begins on Florida Sweet Sorghum-to-Ethanol Plant
April 23, 2013 – 5:54 pm | No Comment

By Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  Site preparation has begun and plans are being finalized for a formal groundbreaking ceremony to be held in the next few weeks at the country’s first sweet sorghum-to-ethanol …

Japan’s JX to Start Selling ETBE-Blended Gasoline in Northeast from May
April 23, 2013 – 5:19 pm | No Comment

by Takeo Kumagai (Platts)  Japan’s largest refiner JX Nippon Oil & Energy is set to start selling ETBE-blended gasoline from its branded service stations in the northeast of the country, taking the number of outlets at …