(U.S. Department of Energy) U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced today(December 16, 2010) the Department is accepting applications for up to $184 million over three to five years to accelerate the
Archive
(Green Car Congress) The US Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking input from industry, academia, and other biofuels stakeholders regarding supply systems and services for the production, handling, storage, transport and
by Damian Carrington (The Guardian) Scientists raise hopes for a large-scale renewable source of liquid fuel with a simple reactor that mimics plants A simple reactor that mimics plants by
by M.S. Swaminathan(The Hindu) … On December 26, 2010, which marks the sixth anniversary of the tsunami which caused severe damage in Tamil Nadu and other States, a Salt Satyagraha
(Green Car Congress) The Nikkei reports that Tokyo Institute of Technology, Takenaka Corp. and other partners are planning to build an offshore pilot plant to grow algae for use in biofuel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) …For our 2010 batch of predictions, we give ourselves 6 marks out of 10. We gave ourselves 1 full mark for predicting the spread of
(AP/The Ledger Independent) A new program to explore the viability of biofuels is seeking to establish 700 acres of switchgrass fields and is offering financial assistance to Kentucky farmers. The project
By Don Hofstrand (Iowa State University Extension/JoplinStockyards.com) U.S. energy policy has recently moved into the background due to concerns about the current economic downturn. However, the importance of the two
by Emily Bowen, Sean C. Kennedy, Kelsey Miranda (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) The aim of this project was to design a process for producing bioethanol from sugar beets as a possible feedstock replacement for
By: Sara Krauskopf (The Science Teacher) A life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool used by engineers to make measurements of net energy, greenhouse gas production, water consumption, and other items of
(State Journal-Register) …As a former secretary of agriculture, I know that continuing to encourage the ethanol industry is good for rural America and the entire nation. Ethanol generates jobs, preserves
by Willie Vogt (Farm Futures) …Cellana, an algal biofuel research company based in Kailua Kona, Hawaii, is leading a consortium that includes Cornell, Duke University, San Francisco State University, the
by Nicholas Zeman (Associated Content/Yahoo!) Asia’s Largest Ag-Firm Discusses the Global Biodiesel Market …New Diesel Magazine spoke with an official from Wilmar, on the condition of anonymity, about the implementation
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Miscanthus will see a giant leap in acreage in 2011, thanks to Soperton, Ga.-based Repreve Renewables LLC. The company currently has 500 acres
(UPI) U.S. scientists have uncovered a gene responsible for plants’ key growth characteristics, specifically their density, a finding that could improve agriculture. Researchers at the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation in Oklahoma
(Reuters) China’s Finance Ministry has retroactively exempted consumption tax on pure biodiesel made from waste animal fats or vegetable oils, and will refund taxes already paid over the last two years.
(EurekAlert/University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana) A newly engineered yeast strain can simultaneously consume two types of sugar from plants to produce ethanol, researchers report. The sugars are glucose, a six-carbon sugar
by Joelle Brink (Biofuels Digest Asia) 2010 is sure to be remembered as the year Asia’s biofuels boom became self-sustaining. Double digit Asian economic growth, government and private investment, international business
by Katie Fehrenbacher (New York Times/GigaOM) Biofuels took a step away from the limelight in 2010, replaced by the buzz surrounding electric vehicles. But there were still a variety of
(Bloomberg) China, the world’s biggest grains user, has started an anti-dumping investigation into U.S. shipments of dried distillers’ grains, an animal feed ingredient, adding to tensions in ongoing trade disputes. The
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today, we’ll reach into the mailbag and voicemail box and shed some light on topics both important and bizarre, in our occasional “Biofuels Fact or
by Dave Dreeszen (Sioux City Journal) The South Sioux City Council on Monday agreed to issue $25 million in revenue bonds to help finance the proposed Nature’s BioReserves plant at
(Algae Industry Magazine) The National Research Council has proposed to the National Academies to appoint a committee to examine the promise of sustainable development of algal biofuels, identify potential concerns,
by Dave Rodman (NASCAR) NASCAR is trying to make pit road safer in all three of its national tours in 2011 as the Sprint Cup and Nationwide series will
by George Will (The Washington Post) Cowlitz County in Washington state …approved construction of a coal export terminal from which millions of tons of U.S. coal could be shipped to
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel) According to former president of Shell Oil, John Hofmeister, Americans will be paying $5 per gallon for gas by 2012 due to growing demand for oil,
by Luke Geiver (Biodiesel Magazine) Confined Animal Feeding Operations and algal biomass may have a unique link that could help move algae-to-energy developments closer to commercialization. Why? According to Thomas
(Futures and Commody Markets News) Proposed legislation would create or extend a diverse array of federal programs necessary to help advanced biofuel producers secure financing for construction of first-of-a-kind projects.
(Newsvine/Just4ThePlanet) When we think of the brand Shell, we see a global group of energy and petrochemical companies in more than 90 countries and territories. We do not associate the
(Algae Industry Magazine) According to Texas A&M University’s Robert Burns, writing in the Western Farm Press, Texas AgriLife Research engineer Dr. Alex Thomasson has developed an optical-electronic sensor to automatically
(Green Car Congress/FavStocks) A study by a team at the German Aerospace Center (Deutschen Zentrums für Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR) identified autothermal reforming in combination with a water gas shift reactor
(Walta Informatin Center) The (Ethiopian) Ministry of Water and Energy said that 18 investors and enterprises with over 3 billion birr combined capital have been engaged in biofuel development. Ministry
(Khabrein) A new Swiss Study by the federal office of power and environment assured that the so-called “second generation of Biofuels” has good chances for the environment and development as well.
by Mychal Wilmes (Agri News/Post-Bulletin) …The conservative and liberal think-alikes want to kill the ethanol tax credit for different reasons. The liberals say that ethanol, at best, is environmentally neutral.
(NewsGuide) Conversion of biomass to fuel requires several steps: chemical pretreatment to break up the biomass – often dilute (sulfuric) acid, detoxification to remove the toxic chemicals required in pretreatment, and
(The Forum of Fargo-Morehead) The use of a specialized sugar beet to produce ethanol could be a breakthrough in weaning the industry off corn. An announcement a few days ago
by Robin Braverder (Politico) …Cory Gardner (Colo.) — Like many of his colleagues, this newcomer with strong agricultural ties hopes to advance “hearty oversight” of the EPA from his new perch on
by Mathew Murphy (The Sidney Morning Herald) …NSW and Queensland’s attempts to increase the local ethanol industry are being stymied by the federal government’s planned reduction in excise for foreign
by Cynthia Barnett (Florida Trend) Some Florida businesses are squeezing a trickle of fuel from algae, claiming they can help power the world. But right now, a few expensive drops in
by Fiona Harvey (Financial Times) …Green Biologics, an unlisted company, has signed deals with two Chinese biochemical businesses – Guangxi Jinyuan Biochemical and Lianyungang Union of Chemicals. Under the deals –
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) …The technologies are, in many cases, ready to scale. Coskata CEO Bill Roe declared a year ago now that “Coskata is open for business, ready to
by Beata Mostafavi (Flint Journal/MLive.com) Just two months after the government allowed more ethanol in gasoline, the ongoing debate about how the greener fuel affects older cars continues to be studied
by Mark Sweney (The Guardian) A complaint to the advertising watchdog by Guardian columnist and environmental campaigner George Monbiot has caused a national press ad claiming biofuels offer a sustainable alternative
by Allison Dowd (Winnepeg Free Press) The City of Brandon is saying goodbye to its biodiesel processor. Getting the proper licensing from Manitoba Labour to run the processor proved too expensive
by Robert Behre (The Sun News) As Janice Ryan-Bohac looks on, Jonathan Edwards steers straight over a long row of dying vines while his tractor’s rear chain digger unearths sweet potatoes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) …But there’s another boundary, right around 374 degrees C of temperature and 218 atmospheres of pressure. At that point, the boundary between liquid and gaseous
(IStockAnalyst/Cedar Rapids Gazette) U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack thinks soon-to-be announced federal grants for cellulosic ethanol plants are helping boost flagging ethanol support in Congress. Vilsack said the
(Algae Industry Magazine) …(W)e decided to go right to the experts and see what was on their minds over this past year. It’s pretty easy to do this in the
(Europa.eu) An EU-funded collaboration between universities and industry is overcoming limitations in current technologies to develop new bioethanol engines. Driven by the need for more sustainable and less polluting sources of
(PR-Inside) Hunt Global Resources Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tombstone Technologies Inc., (OTCBB: TMCI) announced today (December 23, 2010) that its BioSolutions Division has launched an exclusive research and product development
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biofuels Digest reports that 80 percent of bioenergy executives are more optimistic both about their organization’s prospects for growth and industry growth, than 12 months ago,
by Tom Tanton (Hawaiian Star Advertiser) Hawaiian Electric Co. has announced plans to build a facility to convert palm oil into biodiesel. The biodiesel will contribute badly needed and affordable fuel
(Mission NewEnergy) Mission NewEnergy Limited, a vertically integrated biodiesel producer and one of the world’s largest Jatropha plantation companies, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Memorandum
by Nalin Viboonchart (The Nation(India)) US science company Dupont is working on a 10-year investment plan for Thailand, saying it does not want to miss the opportunity to expand in
by Cary Blake (Western Farm Press) A growing U.S. agricultural biomass industry can help meet the catapulting energy and fuel demands of a global population that the United Nations predicts could
by Bill Jones (San Francisco Chronicle) …Separating fact from fiction in the ethanol debate is not easy. “Food versus fuel” is a nice catch phrase, but worldwide, biofuel production accounts for
by Jessica Naudziunas (NPR / KBIA / Harvest Public Media) …Starting next season, NASCAR will use a 15 percent ethanol-gas blend. It has a bit more ethanol than E10, which
by Kathleen Masterson (NPR / WOI / Harvest Public Media) …And according to USDA data, meat now costs as much as 12 percent more than last year. …But let’s get
(Innovations Report) An effort to increase biofuel production has led scientists to discover genes in yeast that improve their tolerance to ethanol, allowing them to produce more ethanol from the same
(AZOCleantech) IHS, a pioneering leader providing critical data and insight, has published its first study comparing process designs and the financial side for the production of 30 million gallons per
by S.C. (TeatroNaturale International) The Commission published today (December 22, 2010) a report on indirect land use change related to
(Renewable Energy Magazine) Compact Contractors for America (CCA) has developed a dry process biofuel from algae which the company hopes
by Teis Jensen (Reuters) Industrial enzymes producer Novozymes does not expect a major breakthrough for second-generation bioethanol in the United
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Cellulosic ethanol costs rapidly decline, barriers are surmountable The race to commercial viability for
by Michael Devine (Biodiesel Magazine) …Now more than ever, the oilheat industry must recreate its brand image. Integrating biodiesel into
(Biodiesel Magazine) …(Ed) Hegland, (soybean grower from Minnesota, served as the NBB chairman for the past 3 years): One thing
(National Sorghum Producers) National Sorghum Producers and the Sweet Sorghum Ethanol Association (SSEA) are happy to announce a formal collaborative
by Kassia Micek (The Courier of Montgomery County) Instead of trying to get rid of that slimy, green substance that habitually
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … The USDA’s Sarah Biddleman speaks in terms of “standing up a biofuels industry” like a
by Bruce V. Bigelow (Xconomy.com) The U.S. military’s interest in developing algae biofuels dates back at least three years, when the
(Los Alamos National Laboratory) … Gaining insight to more efficiently convert plant biomass into biofuels LANL scientists and University of New
by Alison Lowe (The Tribune) Bahamas Waste’s biodiesel production has been delayed after the company discovered used cooking oil donated for
(Washington State Department of Natural Resources) …DNR today announced that the University of Washington, School of Forest Resources was selected as
by Frank Morris (NPR / KCUR) … Factoring in dramatic technical advances in both fields, most researchers figure that corn ethanol now
by Jeffrey Decker (FlightGlobal) Commercial production of jet biofuels could find authorisation in December under fuel specification amendments being considered
by Matt Cunningham (How Stuff Works) …The myriad of factors that go into the food-versus-biofuel equation are complex and vary
by Dana Hull (Mercury News) …For reluctant fliers like Mellor, the recession has brought a bit of good news. It
(GreenAirOnline.com) Following the recent announcement that Lufthansa is set to become the world’s first airline to use biofuels on commercial
(Science Blog) In the minds of many, Miscanthus x giganteus is the forerunner in the race of viable feedstock options for
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) How will the new leadership impact ethanol policies? Some strong ethanol advocates lost in
by Ben Lefebvre (Wall Street Journal) Several major U.S. oil refiners said Tuesday that they won’t sell gasoline containing 15% ethanol
by Jenny Mandel (New York Times/Greenwire) An appeals court rejected a challenge today (December 21, 2010) by petroleum industry groups to U.S.
(BIOLYFE) The BIOLYFE project aims at improving critical steps of the second generation bioethanol production process and at demonstrating the whole
(POET) New analysis outlines jobs, economic output of Project LIBERTY work POET’s Project LIBERTY will generate as much as $37.8 billion
by Joan Delaney (The Epoch Times) Biodiesel made from waste coffee grounds and flax oil solves the ‘food for fuel’ dilemma,
by Philip Brasher (Des Moines Register) The ethanol industry needs to stop its infighting to preserve its government support beyond next
by Jonathan Fahey (AP/Salt Lake City Tribune) … After seven decades of mostly uninterrupted growth, U.S. gasoline demand is at the
(Biotechnology Industry Organization/MarketWire) A newly introduced bill will authorize the Department of Defense (DOD) to continue its leading role in helping
by Steve Gelsi and Jeffry Bartash (MarketWatch) Blend of 15% ethanol may cause problems, group warns A trade group that includes
by Charles Abbott and Timothy Gardner (Reuters) U.S. ethanol makers face a battle over reforming subsidies next year after current incentives
(CSPNET.com) Mr. Pete’s in Brunswick, Ga., teams up with Clean Fuels Foundation Protec Fuel has announced the opening of an
by Adrian Higgins (The Washington Post) …But a push to add another 50 percent to the ethanol content of some
(Western Farmer-Stockman) A life cycle analysis of the carbon footprint of camelina-based biojet fuel concludes that the renewable fuel reduces CO2
by Misty Maynard (Maysville Ledger-Independent) A multi-year pilot project researching the possibility of using switchgrass as a biofuel is drawing to
(The Himalayan Times) Two community forests of Kanchanpur district have started growing Jatropha (Sajeevan) from which biofuel can be produced. Basanta
(Bloomberg/AP) …The city’s spending panel on Wednesday approved a deal with New Generation Biofuels to start burn tests at three
by (AP/The Republic) …The Lake County Solid Waste Management District board unanimously adopted a revised contract Thursday that strips away the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) …But a new generation of companies has come along with new ideas about how to
(Agrivida) Agrivida, Inc. announced a collaboration with Syngenta Ventures to develop advanced crop technology that will provide low-cost sugars for
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) …ZeaChem CEO Jim Imbler and Elevance’s Andy Shafer gave updates on their progress towards commercialization.
(Biofuels Journal) Butamax™ Advanced Biofuels, LLC announced Dec. 16 that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a
by John Funk (The Cleveland Plain Dealer) Americans who are upset about $3 gasoline won’t like the latest long-term projection from
by Karen McNulty Walsh (Brookhaven National Laboratory/RenewableEnergyWorld) Understanding how lignin building blocks are transported could break down barriers to biofuel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) …This week in Honolulu, Chris Tindal of the US Navy joined advanced biofuels CEOs Jason
(China Daily) China’s bioethanol production will reach 10 million tons a year by 2020, resulting in a 10 percent drop
(Europa) The European Commission has authorised under EU state aid rules a support of SEK222 million (approximately € 24 million) that Sweden
(Novasep) Joint project will offer a cost-effective, environmentally friendly process to produce betaine, an animal feed ingredient in short supply Novasep
(Europa) The European Commission has authorised, under EU state aid rules, a €5 million investment aid for a pipeline infrastructure to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the US House of Representatives voted by a 277 to 148 margin to approve the Obama
(UPI) A report says the U.S. federal government must take a lead oversight role in the emerging field of synthetic biology
(PhysOrg.com) Is red seaweed a viable future biofuel? Now that a University of Illinois metabolic engineer has developed a strain
(University of Texas at Austin) The Austin Technology Incubator (ATI), a not-for-profit unit of The University of Texas at Austin, announced
(PR NewsWire) Cellulosic biomass from agricultural wastes converted to low-cost jet fuel Logos Technologies, Inc. announced today that it has
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Surveys show that as many as 75 percent of flex-fuel vehicle (FFV) owners don’t
(Global Renewable Fuels Alliance) The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) is calling on the UN’s Climate Change Conference in Cancun to
by Jim Presswood (Switchboard) The tax bill agreed to last Thursday by Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell contains an energy
by Marc Chase (The Times/istockanalyst.com) Lake County’s public-private plan to transform trash to ethanol would generate an inferior fuel with a
(YLE) Finnair is set to become the first airline in the world to use fuel produced from renewable sources on
(Scottrade) On December 15th, the federal government’s landmark Renewable Fuels Standard officially comes into force. This will add some two billion
(Bloomberg/AP) Environmentalists sued Michigan regulators Tuesday over an air quality permit issued for a planned refinery in the Upper Peninsula that
(U.S. Department of Energy) U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today announced the Department is now accepting applications for up to
by Mal Leary (Capitol News Service/Bangor Daily News) Maine has received more cash from the federal government for the development of
by Suzanne Bohan (Contra Costa Times/Center for Genetics and Society) Stanford University researcher Thomas Jaramillo is overseeing a million-dollar research project that
by Dave Kolpack (AP/The Daily Republic) A North Dakota group said Monday it plans to open a test plant that would
(Algae Industry Magazine) Dr. B. Greg Mitchell is a research biologist and senior lecturer at the University of California San
(Wiley Press Room/Renewable Energy World) A team of Bioengineers in the United States have modified a strain of bacteria to
by Kerry Reals (FlightGlobal) The aviation industry should focus research and development programmes on liquid hydrogen rather than third-generation biofuels in
by Amy West (KHAS TV) Want to see more ethanol blends at the pump? Well, the American Corn Growers Foundation
by Raymond J. Learsy (Huffington Post) In a classic example and contender for the Alfred E. Neuman “I Don’t Get It”
by Vinod Khosla (Foreign Policy) …A mid-2009 report by the reinsurance giant Swiss Re found that climate change could shave
by Jens Hansegard (Dow Jones/Fox Business) Danish companies see a big business potential in helping to curb the world’s reliance on
By Renee Schoof (Star-Telegram/McClatchy) At the climate talks under way in Cancun, Mexico, the U.S. has assured the world it’s not
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) Although the U.S. biodiesel industry has struggled since the lapse of the $1 per gallon tax
(U.S. Department of Energy) U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today joined seven other U.S. Government agencies in launching the Renewable Energy
by Steve Maddox (The Hill) …Although conventional, corn-based ethanol is not the darling of the environmental movement, it does have
by Christine Kraly (NWITimes) Citing what’s best for Lake County residents, a draft revised contract to bring a waste-to-ethanol plant to Schneider
(SynGest/BusinessWire) Mini plant will make 150 TPD of nitrogen fertilizer from biomass San Francisco, CA – (Business Wire) December 13, 2010
(National Air and Space Administration) NASA has entered into a lease with E Green Technologies, Inc. (EGT) Kellyton, Ala., to
(University of Arkansas) A University of Arkansas researcher and his colleagues have created the first methane-producing microorganism that can metabolize complex
(AllAfrica.com) The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved on Monday, 6 December 2010 in Tunis, a €30-million
(SBI Energy) The world is rushing to harness alternative and renewable energy sources, and global specialty pipeline infrastructure is jumping to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Nevada, International Procurement Tools announced that they had developed a biodiesel construction platform that
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Honolulu, much of the leadership of the advanced biofuels and renewables chemicals industries have
by Fred Pearce (New Scientist) Climate negotiations were dealt a bombshell at the weekend when ecologists reported that carbon emissions from
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Poet LLC CEO Jeff Broin told attendees at a recent energy conference that the
(PR NewsWire/Hart Energy) The development of biofuels has increased exponentially over the past decade, and will continue to do so as
by Shannon Brescher Shea (U.S. Department of Energy) But a more humdrum risk of deep-frying is improperly disposing of the grease.
by Anthony Esposito (Fox Business/Dow Jones) Two of the most important players in Chile’s fuel and energy market, fuel and