by Alexis Madrigal (Wired Science) For nearly 20 years, a government laboratory built a living, respiring library of carefully collected organisms in search of something that could grow quickly while
Archive
A new study by Douglas Bradley, Luc Pelkmans and Dieter Cupyers examines the potential supply and demand of 2nd generation biofuels up until 2030, and discusses various impacts on biofuel
by Herman Trabish (New Energy News and REnewable Energy.com) … Despite enormous amounts of money poured into research and development, a way to economically produce second-generation (non-crop) biofuels at commercial scale
Embraer, General Electric, and Amyris announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to evaluate thetechnical and sustainability aspects of Amyris’ No Compromise® renewable jet fuel. The initiative can culminate in
by Jim Motavalli (New York Times) Calling for what amounts to a Marshall Plan to start manufacturing plug-in hybrids and battery-electric cars, a group of executives from the auto and utility
(Environmental Leader) Although electric vehicles show higher non-climate damages than many other technologies, they will not be significantly cleaner than cars powered by fossil fuels until they rely less on
America’s greenest “tier-one” auto show just got greener. The Washington Auto Show®, which houses more green cars than any major U.S. auto show, is redoubling its efforts in 2010 with
Consistentwith other examples of questions raised about the qualifications of reviewers and quality of reviews, Idaho Sustainable Energy details in a letter to supporters their experience with the DOE Intergrated
by Carpe Diem (benzinga.com) Some excerpts from the new study “Green Protectionism in the European Union: How Europe’s Biofuels Policy and the Renewable Energy Directive Violate WTO Commitments” from the
Governor Sonny Perdue announced that Thomaston in Upson County will be home to a new biorefinery demonstration plant, the result of a partnership between Diamond Alternative Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary
by Stephen Power (Wall Street Journal) Two groups representing ethanol producers asked a federal court on Thursday to strike down a California rule that calls for a reduction in the
by Naureen S. Malik (Wall Street Journal) Cellulosic-ethanol production, a cornerstone of the U.S. government’s plan to curb greenhouse-gas emissions, is earmarked to overtake corn ethanol over the next decade. But the
Funding Opportunity Announcement for Fuels from Sunlight Hub is Issued. U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu outlined the Department’s plans to invest up to $366 million to establish and
(EnvironmentalExpert.com) Australia’s bioenergy industry – which uses biomass for heat, power (bioelectricity) and liquid fuels (biofuels) – is relatively small. However, in the future it has very significant growth potential,
(ABC Rural) Western Australia’s mining sector could be one of the first to reap the benefits of a biofuels trial in the state’s north-west. The Gascoyne Research Station is halfway
Australian scientists are achieving the world’s best production rates of oil from algae grown in open saline ponds, taking them a step closer to creating commercial quantities of clean biofuel
by Greg Kelton (Adelaide Now) THE U.S. parent company of uranium producer Heathgate Resources has held talks with the State Government over developing a renewable energy fuel in South Australia
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A progressive culture, declining fossil fuel reserves, an emissions challenge, considerable sugarcane resources, native feedstocks such as moringa and the Australian Beauty Tree, a nexus
(Caribbean Daily News) The Jamaica government says it will continue to develop the biofuels industry so as to boost exports under the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI). Jamaica, El Salvador, Costa
Cereplast, Inc., a leading manufacturer of proprietary bio-based, sustainable plastics, announced today that it expects the U.S. bio-plastics market to top $10 billion in sales by 2020. As of 2007,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … 2009 has taught us that the excess of emissions in the skies and shortage of land on the ground may well be solved underwater,
by C. Neal Stewart, Jr. (Sun Grant Initiative) This presentation reviews the benefits and challenges of using switchgrass as a biofuels feedstock. It includes good graphs of cell wall structures,
by J.W. Walkinshaw and S.E. Poniatowski (University of Massachusetts and Terrasonics) This presentation illustrates the usual process of breaking cellulose into sugars for ethanol fermentation by using an enzymatic process and,
Robert C. Brown and Jennifer Holmgren (Iowa State University and UOP) This presentation describes the fast pyrolysis process and products. READ MORE
(Camara Argentina de Energias Renovables/CADER) · In the last few months the Argentine biodiesel industry has stabilized output, if not profitability, and in August 2009 produced some 109,000
by John A. Mathews and Hao Tan, (Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia) While debate on biofuels and bioenergy generally has sparked controversy over claimed greenhouse gas emissions benefits available with a switch
by Vadim Bespertov, et al. This document is the production of a team of aviation and aerospace industry experts who have joined efforts and know-how for a 4 month strategic
by Richard Newell (SAIS for the US Energy Information Administration) The EIA’s annual energy outlook. Charts, graphs depicting current status and projections of energy use. Included are: “Biofuels meet most
To encourage suppliers to source sustainable biofuels, the RFA requires fuel suppliers claiming Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates to submit monthly reports on the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) saving and the
Elizabeth Doris, et al. (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) As U.S. states increasingly focus on developing renewable energy resources, there is a need to track the progress of development, as well
Martin Keller, Ph.D. (BioEnergy Science Center) Presentation details biomass recalcitrance and various methods being researched to break down cellulose, hemicellulose, pectins, lignins into sugars as an intermediary step to ethanol
by Ron Putt (Auburn University) Alabama has an immediate opportunity to lead the nation in becoming self sufficient with respect to liquid fuels for transportation. Mass cultivation of micro-algae in
by Todd A. Taylor (Fredrikson & Byron) From his presentation at the Algae Biomass Summit in October 2009, Todd Taylor outlines the process, challenges and expectations of finding funding for
by Curt Rich (VanNess Feldman) Presentation from the Algae Biomass Summit, October 2009 reviews federal grant and loan programs, climate change legislative proposals from an algal biofuels perspective. READ MORE
by Jeremy Hsu (Space.com) NASA may concern itself largely with space exploration, but it also wants to keep Earth on a steady course in the face of rising energy costs and
by Joseph Milton (Financial Times) … The prospect of a second generation of biofuels, derived from waste materials rather than food crops or palm oil, has recently been raised. It
by Emmanuel Sulle and Fred Nelson (Tanzania Natural Resource Forum’s Forestry Working Group and the International Institute for Environment and Development) In recent years, biofuels have rapidly emerged as a
Zenergy International, Inc. intends to expand the current facility recently acquired from its current capacity of 5 Million Gallons Per Year to 10 Million Gallons Per Year, literally doubling the
by Joshua F. Berger Ethanol production has been widely perceived as a solution to the global energy crisis, with the added benefit of reinvigorating declining agricultural economies. Moves towards dedicating crop
Dynaflow, Inc.®, a leader in R&D services and products in fluid dynamics and applied sciences, today announced that it has been awarded a Department of Energy (DOE) Phase I Small
On December 3rd 2009, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced approval of the project proposal submitted by Pond Biofuels Inc. under the Asia-Pacific Partnership (APP) on Clean Development and Climate
by Mritunjay Kumar Shukla†, Thallada Bhaskar, A.K. Jain, S.K. Singal, M.O. Garg (Indian Institute of Petroleum Dehradun) A presentation that details the emissions, yields, costs and advantages of bio-based DME,
by Charlotte LoBuono (heatingoil.com) A Canadian energy company has proposed building a biorefinery to produce dimethyl ether, or DME, the CBC reported Wednesday. In November, Calgary-based GV Energy signed a
(EurActiv) EU rules for calculating indirect land-use changes caused by biofuel production would not be legitimate without an internationally-accepted methodology, a group of developing countries has told the European Commission.
Speedling Incorporated and Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. today announced a collaborative agreement to jointly research, develop, and commercialize a cost-effective propagation and production system for Mendel’s advanced Miscanthus product candidates. Speedling
by Amy Lorentzen (AP) A central Iowa plant could soon begin producing jet fuel from poultry fat. Bolingbrook, Ill.-based Elevance Renewable Sciences plans to build a $15 million plant in
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Digest has prepared several maps which help to visualize the distribution in the US of advanced biofuels development. Maps include: 1. Locations of the
Sandra W.A. Hintz, et al. (Journal of Cereal Science) Filamentous fungi are widely used for enzyme production for the biofuel industry. The ascomycetous fungus Chrysosporium lucknowense C1 was isolated as
by Nick Chamber (Gas2.0) Volkswagen has announced that the documentary “Racing Under Green”—detailing the trials and tribulations of the Jetta TDI Cup, the U.S.’ only professional green racing series—will premiere the
The Annual Energy Outlook 2010 (AEO2010) reference case released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) presents updated projections for U.S. energy consumption and production through 2035. “Our projections show
From a letter to Underwriters Laboratories from Renewable Fuels Association: I am writing to express the Renewable Fuels Association’s (RFA) position that Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) has selected an inappropriate
by Louis Bergeron (Stanford University) Ethanol — often promoted as a clean-burning, renewable fuel that could help wean the nation from oil — would likely worsen health problems caused by
The Inter-American Development Bank has approved a $25 million loan to support an innovative private biofuels project currently being developed in the department of Piura, Peru. An initiative of Maple
ENVIROTEK announced the company’s Corona, California-based Extreme Bio-Diesel (EBD) division has successfully completed the first phase of its refinery expansion and is in full production of Bio-Diesel fuel, ahead of the
Valero Renewable Fuels Company, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Valero Energy Corporation , announced today that it has signed an agreement with ASA Ethanol Holdings, LLC to buy two
The Air Transport Association of America, Inc. (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, announced that a core group of airlines has signed groundbreaking memoranda of understanding
by David Shepardson (Detroit News) Audi’s top U.S. executive said here Monday that political leaders have “fallen in love” with electric vehicles even though widespread use may be two decades
Bioenergy includes any kind of chemical energy accumulated through photosynthetic processes in organic plant matter (i.e., biomass). Example sources of bioenergy include dedicated energy crops (short rotation wood, perennial grasses),
Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the launch of a new initiative to promote clean energy technologies in developing countries. Secretary Chu also welcomed progress under the Major Economies Forum on
North Carolina’s traditional tobacco farms are switching to other crops, so the state’s Southeastern Community College in Whiteville, has initiated
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biofuels Digest provides a summary of various cellulosic ethanol production technologies; and who is using
(Los Angeles Times) The 2010 Audi A3 TDI was named Green Car of the Year at the L.A. Auto Show
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) “What you win is the right to negotiate,” chuckles Jim Imbler, CEO of ZeaChem, reflecting on
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced it has selected INEOS Bio and its partner, New Planet Energy, for
by Yong Jiang and Scott M. Swinton (International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology) Advanced biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol
by Yan Ma, et al. (International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology) Sustained growth in agricultural productivity has become
(Biomass Magazine) The Energy & Environmental Research Center Foundation and Whole Energy Fuels Corp., headquartered in Bellingham, Wash., are poised
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) California-based Mendel Biotechnology Inc. has more than 2,000 varieties of miscanthus under development on
(Biodiesel Digest) Dow Water & Process Solutions, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company (Dow), and Bayer Technology Services
Gov. Bill Richardson and the New Mexico congressional delegation today launched an initiative to develop a statewide strategic plan to
Just in time for the critical climate talks now underway in Copenhagen, new data once again confirms the significant greenhouse
Mission NewEnergy Limited (“Mission”) a biodiesel refiner and one of the world’s largest Jatropha plantation companies by acreage announced that
by Jon Vomhof (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal) … “Ethanol, I think, is going to be a global commodity in the
by Matthew Chin (Science Daily) In a new approach, researchers from the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied
by Heather Lammers, NREL (Renewable Energy World) Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and ethanol producers are racing
(Renewable Energy World) Solazyme Inc. will build its first integrated algae fuel refinery in Pennsylvania. The biorefinery will be built
PetroAlgae Inc., announced today that its has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Foster Wheeler AG’s Global Engineering and Construction
Bloomberg L.P., has acquired New Energy Finance, a global leader in providing news, data and analysis on renewable energy, carbon
New North contracted with Resource Analytics to conduct a biomass supply analysis within a fifty mile radius of Niagara, WI
by Linus Atarah (IPS) As Finnish energy major Neste Oil scales up production of its ‘green’ diesel NExBTL, environmental activists
(Pre-Salt) The president of Petrobras, José Sergio Gabrielli de Azevedo, … presented an overview of activities in 2009 . …
Growth Energy’s request to Congressional tax writers to fix a program intended to promote the installation of fuel pumps that
What’s brewing in Caye Drapcho’s bioreactor may well be a fuel of the future. Drapcho, a biosystems engineer at Clemson
Logos Technologies, Inc. and EdeniQ, Inc. announced that they have been awarded a $20.4 million grant to modify and operate
by Tom Doggett (Reuters) Two key Republican lawmakers asked the Government Accountability Office on Wednesday to study the impact of
by Grant Gustafson / Kate Cyrul (IowaPolitics.com) Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today wrote to Senators Max Baucus (D-MT) and Chuck
by Ben Geman (The Hill) The broad $31 billion tax extenders package the House approved Wednesday afternoon includes a one-year
(Atlantic Biomass) Research reported in the December issue of the American Society of Microbiology’s journal Applied and Environment Microbiology on
(Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal) Pacific Renewable Fuels (Sacramento, California) and Red Lion Bio-Energy (Toledo, Ohio) have announced that they
The U.S. Commerce Department’s Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will pilot a program to accelerate the examination of certain “green”
The Brazilian National Plan on Climate Change, launched in December 2008, comprises a set of over one hundred actions and
Shifting to renewable energy sources, such as wind and bio-energy, would bring significant job growth, economic investment and revenues to
(Economic Times, Reuters) A United Nations panel has approved the inclusion of biofuels in a global scheme to reduce cargon
ARPA-E announces the creation of the “ARPA-E Fellows Program” and invites America’s next generation of leading energy innovators to help
by Tom Young (Business Green) The world’s biggest refinery for making biofuels from wheat was unveiled at Wilton on Teeside
Amyris Brasil, a wholly owned subsidiary of Amyris Biotechnologies, Inc. today announced that it has entered into letter of intent
The U.S. Climate Task Force (CTF) and Future 500 recently released a new survey conducted by Hart Research, which demonstrates
To actively promote the awareness and use of dimethyl ether (DME) as an ultra-clean, renewable, low-carbon diesel substitute throughout North
by Mark Long (Wall Street Journal) Boaters and small-engine-industry groups are worried their concerns about engine damage will be overlooked
(Science Daily) An Arizona State University research team has developed a process that removes a key obstacle to producing lower-cost,
Rentech, Inc., and ClearFuels Technology Inc. (ClearFuels) jointly announced that they have been selected to receive up to $23 million
PetroSun, Inc., announced that the Department of Energy has advised Gas Technology Institute of Des Plaines, Illinois that its Integrated
The U.S. Department of Energy today awarded Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) a $24.8 million grant to develop and
U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced that a second round of funding opportunities for transformational energy research projects will
Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the issue of a final rule amending the Department of Energy’s regulations for its Loan
UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, announced today that its Ecofining process technology was used to convert second-generation, renewable feedstocks to
The climate change summit got off to a good start with a fuel change. For the first time ever, the
BlueFire Ethanol Fuels, Inc., a company focused on changing the world’s transportation fuel paradigm through the production of ethanol from
Algenol Biofuels, in partnership with The Linde Group, have agreed to collaborate in a joint project that will attempt to
Enerkem Inc. today announced that Enerkem Corporation, its wholly-owned U.S. affiliate, has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy
Myriant Technologies LLC (as successor to BioEnergy International), a leading biotech developer and manufacturer of renewable biochemicals, has been selected
by Onell R. Soto (San Diego Union-Tribune) A La Jolla company bamboozled investors out of $2.3 million with promises of
by Patti Drapala (MSU Ag Communications) … One focus of MSU’s research is giant miscanthus, or Miscanthus x giganteus, a
by Robert E. Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) EPA’s much ballyhooed finding that CO2 and five other greenhouse gases (GHG) meet
by Halima Abdallah (East African) The National Forestry Research Institute has embarked on a project to test the viability of
by Tina Casey (CleanTechnica.com) One barrier to cost-competitive biofuel from algae is about to fall, and we may have nanofarming to
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of 19 integrated biorefinery
by Fredrik Erixon (European Center for International Political Economy) This paper examines the trade-policy consequences of current approaches in the
by Christain Macavei (Daily Californian) UC Berkeley researchers now have a better understanding of algae, which may have implications for making biofuels
by Neil Billinger (CheckBiotech, Saskatoonhomepage.ca) Verbio is based in the former East Germany and has a plant located at Zorbig.
by Susanne Retka Schill (Biodiesel Magazine) The driver for biofuels usage is not limited to the United States and Europe,
by Joanna Schroeder (AgWired) … (In Brazil) This year the industry harvested 471.5 million tons, an increase of 7.5 percent
by (Biofuels Digest) …Here is an under funded grad student (with a mechanical engineering degree from Northern Illinois University) who,
by Ph.D. Angelo DePalma (CheckBiotech, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News) …“It is about systems,” says A. Malcolm Campbell, Ph.D., professor
In an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, combat climate change and curb the growing number of clogged sewers plaguing
Reps. Harry Teague (D-N.M.), Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.) and Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) introduced H.R. 4168 to amend the Internal Revenue Code
(Jakarta Globe) The government is planning to develop regional centers for processing palm oil into biodiesel and other products to
The Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Initiative (SECCI) and the Structured and Corporate Finance Department (SCF) of the Inter-American Development
by Robert P. Walzer (New York Times) A Brazilian start-up is testing the possibility of implementing a large-scale biofuels project
The extent to which increased biofuels production will affect the nation’s water resources depends on the type of feedstock selected
by Clayton McMartin (DTN Ethanol Center) Two key timing issues have essentially paralyzed the Environmental Protection Agency at this point
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the EPA announced that it will delay its determination on E15 ethanol blending
by Joel Hood (Chicago Tribune) Some time ago, Brian Sievers picked up a crazy notion that one simple idea might
From a letter from the National Biodiesel Board to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency: By statute, the Biomass-based
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Purdue University has been awarded a $933,000 USDA grant to conduct analysis of the
by Rod Nickel (Reuters) Canadian ethanol emits 62 percent less greenhouse gas than conventional fuel, taking into consideration all stages
Biofuels Digest released a downloadable, consolidated table of cellulosic ethanol and advanced biofuels production, including current production as of December
by Bryan M. Jenkins, Chris Somerville, James J. Stapleton (California Agriculture) Biofuels — fuels derived from plant materials and other
by Stephen R. Kaffka (California Agriculture) The use of crops and crop residues as feedstocks for biofuels increases domestic and
by Deepak Rajagopal, Steven Sexton, Gal Hochman, David Roland-Holst, David Zilberman (California Agriculture) Biofuels have been criticized for raising food
by Steven Sexton, Deepak Rajagopal, Gal Hochman, David Zilberman, David Roland-Holst (California Agriculture) The biofuel industry has received billions of
by Charles E. Wyman, Bin Yang (California Agriculture) Cellulosic biomass, which includes agricultural and forestry residues and woody and herbaceous
In a presentation called “This is 1992,” Riggs Eckelberry compares the state of the advanced biofuels industry to that of
by Larisa Brass (Knoxvillebiz.com) A number of new organizations are springing up across Tennessee with a green glint in their eye.
by Sam Hopkins (Green Chip Stocks) … Hermann Scheer is something like a Founding Father of international clean energy policy
by Laura E. Bartley, Pamela C. Ronald (California Agriculture) A key strategy for biofuel production is making use of the chemical
by Bryan M. Jenkins, Robert B. Williams, Nathan Parker, Peter Tittmann, Quinn Hart, Martha C. Gildart, Steve Kaffka, Bruce R.
by Susan Taylor (Reuters) Animal fat, restaurant grease and vegetable oil will help power four Canadian Pacific Railway locomotives this
(Living on Earth) University of Minnesota biochemistry professor Larry Wackett’s team won support from the US Dept. of Energy for