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
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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,
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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”
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
“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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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. …
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
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.
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
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
Gold Star Biofuels a subsidiary of Gold Star Farms Ltd., is cultivating five million acres of land in Ghana to
Ghana is becoming the Jatropha centre in Africa south of the Sahara. The attraction which the country has as a
A shuttered pulp mill at Prince Albert, Saskatchewan could be the new site for a facility to make cellulosic ethanol
As part of an effort to develop a new collection of alternative fuels, ecologist Julie Jastrow and her colleagues from
Every spring, the US Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Biomass Program hosts a FREE 2-day
Robert Kozak, Advanced Biofuels USA board member and president of Atlantic Biomass Conversions, Inc., has written to US Department of
ARPA-E is a new organization within the Department of Energy (DOE), created specifically to foster research and development (R&D) of
The deadline for applications submissions for this first solicitation for the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E). ARPA-E has
Katie Howell: Jet fuels derived from algae, camelina and jatropha — plants that pack an energy punch, are not eaten
The National Algae Association is building a buying consortium to help its members build algae farms and production plants more cost efficiently. NAA
The Public-Private Alliance Foundation (PPAF) held its Third Annual “Partners Against Poverty” event at the UN with 45 high-level participants and observers
SCIENTISTS in Wales are working on a ground-breaking £1m scheme to turn grass into fuel. The Assembly Government- backed “grassohol”
Velocys, Inc. (“Velocys”), has been awarded a $5 million commercialisation grant, applicable over a period of two and a half
By Kieran Gartlan (DTN): The transformation began last year when a controversial study was published in Science Magazine by environmentalist Tim
Biofuels Digest reports that in Ethiopia, Ardent Energy Group announced an agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development