(Ventura County Star/AP) ... Joule Unlimited Inc. plans to convert sunlight and carbon dioxide waste into biofuel at the planned facility in Hobbs. The plant is expected to begin operations in 2012. ...State officials say Joule has the potential to expand
Archive
Back TO HOMEFinger Lakes Economic Council Beats Deadline, Submits Project Wish List to State
(Democrat and Chronicle) Beating the state’s deadline by hours, the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council today submitted its five-year economic strategy, keeping it in contention for up to $1 billion in state support. The proposal includes 10 projects that, if funded,
November 15, 2011 Read Full Article
BioAmber’s $150 Million IPO: The 10-Minute Version
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Minnesota, BioAmber has filed an S-1 registration statement for a proposed $150 million initial public offering. The number of shares to be offered in the proposed offering and the price range for the offering
November 15, 2011 Read Full Article
RETECH 2012 October 17-19 Washington, DC Request for Proposals DUE February 17, 2012
Share your expertise. Submit an abstract for consideration on the RETECH 2012 Conference Program. The deadline for submissions is Friday, February 17th, 2012. Contact Mark Glazer, Show Director to learn how to apply! RETECH 2012 is the only event dedicated to delivering coverage on
November 15, 2011 Read Full Article
Biofuel Flights Signal Demand From U.S. Airlines
by Graham Warwick (Aviation Week) As airlines launch the first commercial biofuel flights in the U.S., the government is working with industry to scale up production of biomass-derived jet fuel to commercial quantities beginning in 2012. Following the lead set by
November 14, 2011 Read Full Article
Gen2 Biofuels: Despite Growing Pains, Billion-Gallon Milestone Within Reach
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cellulosic biofuels are behind schedule. Can they catch up? What are the barriers, the roles to be played by Washington, developers alike? What are the opportunities for the retail investor? A downloadable report from Pavel
November 14, 2011 Read Full Article
A New Generation of Renewable Fuels Is on the Horizon
by Wayne Seames (American Oil Chemists Society/Inform Magazine) A new generation of technologies to generate renewable fuels is nearing commercialization. Some of these are focused on producing ethanol and other alcohols from cellulosic biomass using fermentation technologies. These alcohol-based fuels
November 11, 2011 Read Full Article
In Search of New Biofuels: UD Wins $2.2 Million Grant for Bioenergy Research
(University of Delaware) ...Eleftherios (Terry) Papoutsakis, Eugene du Pont Chair of Chemical Engineering at the University of Delaware, is working to create hardy organisms for producing biofuels and chemicals from renewable sources – microorganisms that are more resistant to toxic chemicals and
November 11, 2011 Read Full Article
Oak Ridge National Laboratory Fundamental Discovery Casts Enzymes in New Light
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory) A tree outside Oak Ridge National Laboratory researcher Pratul Agarwal's office window provided the inspiration for a discovery that may ultimately lead to drugs with fewer side effects, less expensive biofuels and more. Just as a breeze
November 11, 2011 Read Full Article
Marcellus Shale Gas Exploration, Ethanol Production Net New-Business Growth for Norfolk Southern
by Julie Sneider (Progressive Railroading) ...Both ethanol production and Marcellus gas exploration have been among NS’ fastest-growing traffic opportunities — ethanol over the past decade and the shale-related activity just since 2008 — as a result of U.S. efforts to
November 11, 2011 Read Full Article
Biofuels, Wind Power Show Gains, but Hurdles Remain
by Ronald D. White (Los Angeles Times) Biofuels and wind power are having the biggest new impact in American power generation, according to a report released today by the U.S. Energy Department. Consumption of biofuels has risen 16-fold since 2000 and wind
November 11, 2011 Read Full Article
Environmental Outlook: Declining Political Support for Ethanol
host: Laura Knoy (NPR/The Diane Rhem Show) America’s ethanol industry is booming. The U.S. is projected to become the world’s biggest ethanol exporter by the end of the year. In the past, Congress has strongly supported the industry. Now it
November 11, 2011 Read Full Article
Nebraska Ethanol Board Part of New Flex Fuel Campaign
(Nebraska Farmer) USDA grant intended to make drivers more aware of flex fuel vehicles and ethanol's benefits involves Nebraska and five other states. A grant awarded by USDA will be used to promote flex fuel vehicles, flex fuel pumps, and driver
November 11, 2011 Read Full Article
Biofuels and Other Bioliquids—Facts and Perspectives
by Igor Dormuth and Elena Schmidt (Biomass Power and Thermal/TÜV SÜD Industrie Service) New EU sustainability criteria for biofuels and other bioliquids must be complied with and verified by an independent third party at every stage of the production
November 11, 2011 Read Full Article
Boeing and Hawai'i BioEnergy to Work on Renewable Biofuel for Aviation
(Boeing/PR NewsWire/Yahoo!) Collaborative efforts to focus on regionally produced, sustainable fuel options Boeing today announced a collaborative agreement to work with Hawai'i BioEnergy on renewable energy sources for creating aviation fuel. Announced on the eve of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference
November 11, 2011 Read Full Article
Support for Federal Backing of Renewables Slips, Driven by GOP Skepticism
By Juliet Eilperin and Jon Cohen (The Washington Post) Support for putting federal funds into alternative energy sources such as wind, solar and hydrogen has slipped to its lowest point in polls since 2006, driven by growing Republican opposition to such initiatives,
November 11, 2011 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels Feedstocks – Who’s Got Game?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As POET lands a record biomass harvest in prep for a 2013 cellulosic ethanol launch, the Digest looks at stover, jatropha, miscanthus, switchgrass, MSW, wood and animal residue. Are costs going down, and capacity going
November 11, 2011 Read Full Article
Synergy by Design
by Bryan Sims (Biorefining Magazine) ...Co-founded in 2002 by Randy Cortright, Virent’s current chief technology officer, and James Dumesic, professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Virent deepened its relationship with Shell and refocused its business strategy in 2008 to produce
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
The BP Biofuels Story
by Luke Geiver (Biorefining Magazine) ...“I came to the U.S. four years ago to really make what we wanted to be on a piece of paper a reality,” she (Sue Ellerbusch, president of BP Biofuels North America) tells Biorefining Magazine. That reality for
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
Betting on Biorefining
by Erin Voegele (Biorefining Magazine) Valero Energy Corp.’s investment in the advanced biofuels sector benefits startups and lends an increased aura of confidence to the industry ...One company that has traditionally been active in petroleum refining has been particularly supportive of
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
Process Engineering: From Beakers to Barrels
by Roman Wolff (Biorefining Magazine/Enhanced Biofuels) There has been a great deal of effort in recent years to develop algae growth technology; and for good reason, since some algae can produce biomass (and in particular lipids) at rates 10 times
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
A Big Bang for Algae: South Dakota State University Researchers Develop an Algae Production System for Use in Space … and on Earth
by Erin Voegele (Biorefining Magazine) Single cell photosynthetic organisms, such as blue-green algae, could play an important role in the future of our nation’s space program. Not only could they be used to supply valuable oxygen to fuel life-support systems,
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
YouTube Video Documents Alabama Biodiesel Success Stories
by Luke Geiver (Biodiesel Magazine) For several years the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition has been providing informative workshops, seminars and just about everything else to help Alabamans understand the benefits of biodiesel. Now, led by Mark Bentley, executive director, the
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
Nebraska Corn Completes Ethanol Co-Product Research Initiative
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) A three-year initiative by Nebraska corn growers to fund research into feeding the ethanol co-product distillers grains to cattle has resulted in some new breakthroughs. The initiative created a beef cattle advisory committee to work with University
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
Fossil Fuel Subsidies Six Times More Than Renewable Energy
by Ben Sills (Bloomberg) Fossil-fuel consumers worldwide received about six times more government subsidies than were given to the renewable-energy industry, according to the chief adviser to oil-importing nations. State spending to cut retail prices of gasoline, coal and natural gas
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
New Energy Farm's New Planting System Speeds up Miscanthus Development
by Anna Austin (Biomass Power and Themal) Energy crop developer New Energy Farms says it has developed a new system for establishing miscanthus that takes one-third the time of previous planting methods. ...The first is a bulked up miscanthus breed that
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
MATT HARTWIG: Ethanol's critics cite outdated, misleading data
by Matt Hartwig (Northwest Florida Daily News) Opinion: In a Nov. 2 editorial (“Florida’s ethanol escapade”), the Northwest Florida Daily News mischaracterized my remarks to a reporter and extrapolated conclusions that simply were not there. ...First, America produced more than 13
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
USDA ERS Report Offers RIN Price Outlook for Coming Decade
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The USDA Economic Research Service has released a 24-page report offering an overview of renewable identification numbers (RINs) and outlining how the RIN market works in relation to the renewable fuel standard (RFS). The report’s
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
City Might Phase Out Use of Corn-Based Ethanol Fuel
by Kevin Duggan (Coloradoan.com) The city of Fort Collins may phase out use of corn-based ethanol in its fleet vehicles out of concern for the environment. The majority of City Council members said Tuesday they would support gradually doing away with
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
New Micro-Video Shows Benefit of Alternative Fuels
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) “Alternative fuel isn’t just the future of energy—it’s the future of energy independence.” That’s the message of a new minute-long video released Nov. 9 by Pearson Fuels. Made possible with the support from the Renewable
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
EPA May Deem More Biodiesel RINs as Invalid over Alleged Fraud: Lawyer
(Platts) The US Environmental Protection Agency may end up deeming more biodiesel renewable identification numbers (RINs) as invalid following federal investigations into two companies that allegedly sold RINS without producing the appropriate volumes of biodiesel, a lawyer familiar with the
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
Honeywell Green Jet Fuel(TM) Powers Regular Commercial Route for Aeromexico
(MarketWatch/Honeywell) Green Jet Fuel made from the Honeywell UOP process technology now in use on regular Aeromexico route from Mexico City to Costa Rica UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, announced today that Honeywell Green Jet Fuel(TM), produced using process technology from Honeywell's
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
Biofuels Literally Take Flight
by Conrad deFiebre (Minnesota 2020 Hindsight) More than just a niche or a fad, biofuels produced from soybeans, used cooking oil, algae and even livestock fat are moving into the energy mainstream in a big way, with new applications in aviation,
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Station Opens Near Duluth
by Steve Kuchera (Duluth News Tribune) A Northwestern Wisconsin biodiesel producer recently opened its first Minnesota station at a former Armor Fuel & Save station on Midway Road just off Interstate 35. A Northwestern Wisconsin biodiesel producer recently opened its first
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
Camelina Field Trials, Biodiesel Evaluation Continue in Fla.
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) Florida-based Green Oil Solutions Inc. has announced the successful production of camelina biodiesel, from field trials to harvesting, pressing and processing. According to Steve Edmonds, the company’s director of industry and development, the fuel was
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
SkyNRG Serves First Airline Customer out of the US: Alaska Airlines and launches SkyNRG in North America together with Partner EPIC Aviation
(SkyNRG) SkyNRG, the Amsterdam based global market leader in sustainable jet fuel will supply Alaska Airlines with sustainable Jet Fuel in the month of November. The airline will operate 75 regularly scheduled flights out of its hub Seattle using a
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
The 10 Biofuels Priorities for 2012
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, more than 350 delegates gathered at Advanced Biofuesl Markets to set industry priorities for the next six months,seal partnerships, and exchange outlooks on 2012. It didn’t take long for the Top 10 priorities
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
Sustainable Energy Pathways (SEP) Grant Opportunity Solicitation Information Published Application Deadline February 1, 2012
(National Science Foundation) A sustainable world is one in which human needs are met equitably without harm to the environment, and without sacrificing the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Growing evidence for the role of energy use
November 09, 2011 Read Full Article
Distillers Grains Offer Viable Feed Option for Young Dairy Heifers
by Jennifer Stewart (Purdue Newsroom) Dairy producers looking for a high-quality heifer feed that often costs less than traditional corn and soybean feed grains should consider distillers grains, says a Purdue Extension dairy nutrition specialist. Distillers grains, a co-product of ethanol
November 09, 2011 Read Full Article
BlueFire Forms Subsidiary SucreSource, LLC to Provide Cellulosic Sugars to Advanced BioFuels Company
(GreenTechMedia/PR NewsWire) Today, at the Advanced Biofuels Markets Conference in San Francisco, Arnold Klann, Chief Executive Officer and President of BlueFire Renewables (OTC BB: BFRE.OB), a company focused on shifting the paradigm for energy sources by converting non-food cellulosic wastes into renewable
November 09, 2011 Read Full Article
Brazil Lacks Cane to Boost Fuel Exports, Senator Says
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg) Brazilian sugar cane companies, which are preparing to boost ethanol exports to the U.S., don’t produce enough of the renewable fuel to do so, a lawmaker said. Brazil won’t make enough ethanol to meet increasing foreign demand
November 09, 2011 Read Full Article
Generating Ethanol from Lignocellulose Possible, but Large Cost Reductions Still Needed
(Wiley-Blackwell/ScienceNewsLine) The production of ethanol from lignocellulose-rich materials such as wood residues, waste paper, used cardboard and straw cannot yet be achieved at the same efficiency and cost as from corn starch. A cost comparison has concluded that using
November 09, 2011 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Plant Will Collect Grease in Oakland, CA
(UK.IBTimes) A biodiesel plant that's completely energy self-sufficient has been approved for the Oakland, California area. Oakland-based Viridis Fuels won a long-term contract from the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) to build a 20 million gallon per year biodiesel processing
November 09, 2011 Read Full Article
Solazyme Ranked #1 in “50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy” for 2011-12
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Solazyme edges Amyris, Gevo in Hot 50 for 2011-12, as hot IPOs dominate, gasification advances. Biofuels Digest announced that Renewable oils developer Solazyme took the #1 spot in the 2011-12 “50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy” rankings. Amyris (#2),
November 09, 2011 Read Full Article
Norwegian Airports Operator to Investigate Viability of Establishing a National Aviation Biofuel Production Sector
(GreenAirOnline) Avinor, which operates Norway’s airport and air navigation network, has initiated an investigation into whether the country should produce its own aviation biofuel supplies or rely on imported sources. It is currently in the process of obtaining tenders from
November 08, 2011 Read Full Article
Lincoln Energy Nearly Triples Ethanol Transport Fleet
by Matt Soberg (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Lincoln Energy Solutions will nearly triple its ethanol and biodiesel transportation services, increasing its current fleet to 16 tankers with seven additional units scheduled to arrive by year end. With over 30 years of
November 08, 2011 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Industry Pleased with Supreme Court Decision
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear a case brought by petroleum interests against the Environmental Protection Agency over the expanded Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2). The petition made by the National Petrochemical Refiners Association (NPRA) and the
November 08, 2011 Read Full Article
Biofuel Startup Earnings Trio: Amyris, Gevo, and Codexis
by Derek Mead (GreenTechMedia) Three newly public biofuel and green chemical firms reveal their financials. A trio of young biofuel firms recently reported their third-quarter 2011 earnings, offering a good glimpse into what's up and coming in the petroleum-substitute sector. Amyris,
November 08, 2011 Read Full Article
Innovative Biofuel Crops Grown in the Desert
(Arch1Design.com) ...Tel Aviv University researchers are doing their part to reduce humanity’s carbon footprint by successfully growing forests in the most unlikely place — deep in Israel’s Aravah Desert. With environmental “extras” such as a local plant species, recycled sewage water
November 08, 2011 Read Full Article
Canadian Ethanol Industry Grows, Adds $1.2 Billion to Economy
by Matt Soberg (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Reaching almost 528 MMgy (2 billion liters per year) currently, Canadian ethanol production will continue grow due to a federal renewable fuel standard and expanding transportation fuel markets according to a study released by
November 08, 2011 Read Full Article
Biofuel Rules Could Price Older Car Drivers Off the Road
(The Green Car Website) ...According to reports, nearly one million motorists could suffer as the government prepares to increase the biofuel content in unleaded fuel from five per cent to ten per cent as directed by the EU. Some older models, made before 1993,
November 08, 2011 Read Full Article
LanzaTech Makes Its First Commercial Sale
(LanzaTech) LanzaTech has just signed its first commercial customer, marking a milestone in the clean energy technology company’s global development. The customer is Concord Enviro Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd (CES), a Mumbai-based company which has broad ranging investments in various forms
November 08, 2011 Read Full Article
USDA Funds Project To Encourage Renewable Fuel Production, Job Creation In New Mexico
(Sapphire Energy) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA has issued a loan guarantee that will allow a biofuels firm to construct a facility in New Mexico to produce "green crude" oil from algae which can be refined into
November 08, 2011 Read Full Article
LS9 Significantly Expands Production
(LS9/GlobeNewsWire) LS9, Inc., a technology leader in the development of renewable and sustainable products, today announced that it has successfully scaled its technology to the 20,000 liter scale, demonstrating continued progress in the scale-up and commercialization of its bio-based chemicals
November 08, 2011 Read Full Article
7 Decision Points in the Race for Scale in Advanced Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In the Race for Scale, the industry has excelled in driving down operating costs. Capital costs have proven more perplexing, and sticker shock has been a hold-back. Feedstock availability at affordable cost and appropriate scale
November 08, 2011 Read Full Article
Venture Capital Due Diligence in Algae Deals
by Luca Zullo and Todd Taylor (Biorefining Magazine) Interest in algae remains very high among venture and strategic investors. Being prepared for dealing with them is critical to your success in getting an investment. After you have made the initial
November 07, 2011 Read Full Article
Pardon Me, Do You Speak Algae?
by Mary Rosenthal (Algal Biomass Organization) ...For example, how best to account for one facility using open ponds fed by a mix of wastewater and CO2 pumped from a gas line versus another facility using water sourced from a
November 07, 2011 Read Full Article
The Kaolin Algae Pits of Lorient
by Peter Brown (Biorefining Magazine) The port of Lorient on the Golf de Morbihan in Brittany, France, is one of the major French seaports, a former military naval base and during WWII it was the site of Germany’s largest U-Boot
November 07, 2011 Read Full Article
US Gives $3M to Energy Company to Use Less Corn
by Kevin Welch (Amarillo Globe-News) The U.S. Department of Agriculture is giving White Energy, with ethanol plants in Hereford and Plainview, a $3-million grant to promote using materials other than corn to make biofuels. Those materials can range from crop residue
November 07, 2011 Read Full Article
APLA: Brazil Grows Bio-Based Materials Effort
by Anna Jagger (ICIS Chemical Business) The sugar and ethanol industry is sustainable and competitive against fossil fuels. It is attracting interest from chemical producers looking for renewable feedstocks Brazil's sugarcane ethanol industry is attracting the attention of chemicals producers in
November 07, 2011 Read Full Article
University of Arizona Researchers Fine-Tune Crops for Biofuels
By Paul M. Ingram (Wick Communications Science/Green Valley News and Sun) ...Under ideal conditions, half the weight of the plants will be converted into liquid, turning 2 tons of vegetation into 1,000 gallons of “juice.” On this day, however,
November 07, 2011 Read Full Article
Better Technology Could Open Biomass Market
by Tara Bozick (GoDanRiver.com) ...Chemtex International and its parent Gruppo Mossi and Ghisolfi, or the M&G Group, have been developing a lingo-cellulosic bio-ethanol technology called Proesa in a move away from petroleum and toward renewable materials. In today’s world, people
November 07, 2011 Read Full Article
Q&A: Ethanol Plant Leader Has No Regrets in Picking Medina
by Tom Rivers (The Daily News) Michael Sawyer, 38, of Geneseo took a gamble in 2005. After eight years in corporate finance in Rochester, he left that career to join his father John Sawyer in establishing an ethanol plant in
November 07, 2011 Read Full Article
Ethanol and Water, Hold the Ice
by Kristy Moore (Renewable Fuels Association) Recent claims from some marine engine manufacturers that E15 ethanol blends will ruin marine engines are meant solely to incite fear and not meaningful discussion. A meaningful discussion would note that E15 is illegal
November 07, 2011 Read Full Article
Utah State University Pond in Vernal Is Growing Algae for Biofuels
by Geoff Liesik (Deseret News) Researchers at Utah State University are making progress on a project that could soon have drivers filling up their gas tanks with fuel harvested from pond scum. The project has moved from USU’s Logan campus to Vernal
November 07, 2011 Read Full Article
'Cyborg' Yeast Genes Run by Computer
by Jason Palmer (BBC News) Scientists have succeeded in forming a "feedback loop" between a computer and a common yeast to precisely control the switching on and off of specific genes. The computer controlled flashes of light to start and stop
November 07, 2011 Read Full Article
Shell Looking at Biofuel Plant for Local Area
by Angela Brown (Central Plains Herald-Leader) Shell Canada is looking into the possibility of establishing a biofuel plant in the Portage la Prairie area. The facility would be a cellulosic ethanol plant, which is proposed for the area southwest of Portage
November 07, 2011 Read Full Article
Ricardo Study Suggests Global Oil Demand May Peak Before 2020
(Ricardo/PR NewsWire) Ricardo today announced the results of a landmark multi-client research study conducted by Ricardo Strategic Consulting in association with Kevin J. Lindemer LLC, and involved participation of some of the world's leading energy and technology companies and organizations.
November 07, 2011 Read Full Article
Edwardsville Ethanol Center Gets a Boost
by Terry Hillig (STLToday.com) The National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center has added $3.5 million in advanced corn fractionation technology, provided by Cereal Process Technologies LLC of Overland Park, Kan., with support from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Located on
November 07, 2011 Read Full Article
Race for Scale: United, Alaska Airlines Launch Commercial Aviation Biofuels Flights
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) United and Solazyme, Alaska and Dynamic Fuels hook up, as producers scramble to make fuel, raise cash, ratchet down costs. Will producers scale, or fail? ...United Airlines will operate the first U.S. commercial flight powered by
November 07, 2011 Read Full Article
Waste Not: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Researchers Transform Animal Wastes and Algae into Biocrude
by Bryan Sims (Biorefining Magazine) Could algae and biowaste be the next black gold? Yuanhui Zhang believes it very well could be. Since 1996, the professor in agricultural and biological engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has successfully
November 04, 2011 Read Full Article
Where They Are Now? Why Some Algae Companies Thrive and Some Don’t Survive
by Luke Geiver (Biorefining Magazine) ...The days of seeking big funding through large claims based on even larger unproven visions of algae utilization —at least those that attract venture or other solidified funding—are over. If Udall is right and the
November 04, 2011 Read Full Article
Independent Petroleum Marketers Group Joins E85 Coalition
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producers Magazine) Just more than a week after announcing the formation of the Coalition for E85 the group said Oct. 21 that it had a new member. The Petroleum Marketers Association of America, which represents 8,000 independent
November 04, 2011 Read Full Article
Skeptics Question Airline Biofuels
by Robert Wall (AviationWeek) When it comes to operating airliners with a biofuel blend, it is becoming difficult to find a name-brand airline that has not conducted a demonstration flight. The problem is, it may all be for naught. Air France
November 04, 2011 Read Full Article
Links in the Chain: Global Carbon Emissions and Consumption Difficult to Attribute
(Science Daily) ...A team led by Carnegie's Steven Davis, and including Ken Caldeira, tracked and quantified this supply chain of global carbon dioxide emissions. ...Traditionally, the carbon dioxide emitted by burning fossil fuels is attributed to the country where
November 04, 2011 Read Full Article
Oil and Gas Had Help. Why Not Renewables?
by Robert B. Semple, Jr. (New York Times) ...The federal government has always been in the energy business, and with good reason. Private capital may be good at identifying and incubating new technologies, but bringing those technologies to commercial scale
November 04, 2011 Read Full Article
European Union Biodiesel Production Slumps in 2011
by John C.K. Daly (http://oilprice.com) Greening the European Union has suffered a setback. The European Biodiesel Board is reporting that the European Union biodiesel industry production forecasts are noting a 2011 decrease in output, the first since data has been gathered,
November 04, 2011 Read Full Article
Energy Secretary: Loan Programs Can Be Improved Upon
by Ben Geman and Ariel Katz (The Hill E2Wire) Energy Secretary Steven Chu warned Thursday that a retreat from federal green-energy investments would be a grave economic mistake, but acknowledged that the design of loan guarantee programs could be improved. ...Chu
November 04, 2011 Read Full Article
The REFRESH Act Is as Important to Fueling America as It Is to Feeding It
by Adam Monroe (Novozymes/The Hill E2Wire) ...We are thankful the REFRESH Act’s energy title includes baseline funding. The problem is that the current farm bill does not, putting in jeopardy programs that our farmers and economy depend on, including the
November 04, 2011 Read Full Article
House Hearing Witnesses Bash RFS, Call for Repeal of E15
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) It was déjà vu all over again on Nov. 2 as representatives of the ethanol industry were forced to watch a House of Representatives Energy and Environment Subcommittee hearing on motor fuel standards from
November 04, 2011 Read Full Article
Genome-scale Network of Rice Genes to Speed the Development of Biofuel Crops
(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Joint BioEnergy Institute Researchers Create RiceNet for Predicting Genetic Functions in Rice The first genome-scale model for predicting the functions of genes and gene networks in a grass species has been developed by an international team of
November 04, 2011 Read Full Article
Mission Increases Jatropha Oil Supply by 4.7 million Barrels Completing the 2011 Planting Season
(Mission NewEnergy) Mission NewEnergy Limited, a global provider of environmentally sustainable biofuels, is pleased to announce that it has materially completed its 2011 Jatropha tree planting season, adding 40,264 new acres and 14,331 new Jatropha contract farmers. The Company has
November 04, 2011 Read Full Article
The SuperFriends and Their Planet-Saving Microbial Biofuel Powers
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the world at large, they are generally called pests. We call them ‘magic bugs’. They are like the SuperFriends of Saturday morning cartoons – Nature has certainly endowed them with magic powers. ...Too often, public
November 04, 2011 Read Full Article
$ 2.2 Million Department of Energy Grant to Build a Fuel-Producing Bacterium
by Diana Lutz (Washington University) Custom-designed organism could break the stalemate in the algal fuel industry ...(T)he Department of Energy has funded a three-university collaboration led by Washington University in St. Louis to approach the problem of algal fuels systematically. The principal
November 04, 2011 Read Full Article
Peter Thiel Launches Breakout Labs to Fund Bold Early-Stage Research
by Colleen Taylor (GigaOm) Peter Thiel, the tech industry magnate known for co-founding PayPal and being an early investor in Facebook, on Tuesday launched a new program called Breakout Labs aimed at funding cutting-edge, early-stage science and technology research ideas. Breakout Labs
November 04, 2011 Read Full Article
Stabenow to Introduce 'Grow It Here, Make It Here' Initiative
by Erin Voegele (Biorefining Magazine) ...While (Sen. Debbie) Stabenow has yet to introduce the legislation in the U.S. Senate, her office did provideBiorefining Magazine with a draft of the bill. According to that draft, titled the “Make It in America Tax
November 03, 2011 Read Full Article
Cleantech Investor: Algae and Investors Are Alike
by Luke Geiver (Biorefining Magazine) Debrah Guerin Beresini, CEO of Invencor Inc., a company that manages a debt and equity fund and also acts as a consultant to the cleantech sector, has a simple message for algae project developers seeking
November 03, 2011 Read Full Article
Attorney Outlines Ways to Attract Investors
by Erin Voegele (Biorefining Magazine) Attracting investment is a key component of getting any biomass-related project off the ground. During the 2011 Southeast Biomass Conference and Tradeshow in Atlanta this week, Kate Bechen, an attorney with Michael Best & Friedrich
November 03, 2011 Read Full Article
Georgia Offers Support for Biomass-to-Energy Projects
by Erin Voegele (Biorefining Magazine) The 2011 Southeast Biomass Conference & Tradeshow kicked off in Atlanta today. Nearly 325 professionals and 60 exhibitors are taking part in this year’s event, which has a strong regional focus. Jill Stuckey, director of
November 03, 2011 Read Full Article
Algae Demo Plant Grand Opening Scheduled for Nov. 17 in Fla.
(Culturing Solutions/Biorefining Magazine) Tampa, Fla.-based Culturing Solutions will host the grand opening of its algae-to-biofuel demonstration plant in New Port Richey, Fla., on Nov. 17. The company says it will produce transportation fuel, energy, nutritional products, cosmetics, medicine and other
November 03, 2011 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry Left Out of Hearing Again
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment is holding a hearing today (November 2, 2011) on “Conflicts and Unintended Consequences of Motor Fuel Standards” with a witness list that the ethanol
November 03, 2011 Read Full Article
Study: E15 Ethanol Damages Boat Engines
by Philip Brasher (Des Moines Register) Ethanol supporters contend that research isn't fair A blend of 15 percent ethanol and gasoline caused so much damage to boat engines during a government-funded study that the testing of two of three motor types
November 03, 2011 Read Full Article
European Energy Giant Launches Microalgae Production
(ecoduna) The first continuous algae-breeding facility world-wide from ecoduna goes into operation on a commercial scale. The first continuous algae-breeding facility world-wide from ecoduna goes into operation on a commercial scale. Last week, Vattenfall, the largest thermal energy suppliers in Europe, celebrated
November 03, 2011 Read Full Article
Closed Bio-Fuel Firm Tried, Failed at Making Own Product
by Walt Nett (Avalanche-Journal/LubbockOnline) Absolute Fuels tried twice to make biodiesel, but lost money the first time around and couldn’t produce usable fuel the next time, according to information in federal affidavits filed in connection with search and seizure warrants
November 03, 2011 Read Full Article
Comet Biorefining Inc. Announces Fabrication of Cellulosic Sugar Toll Facility
(TradingCharts.com) Comet Biorefining Inc., a leader in low cost cellulosic sugar technology, today announced that it has begun fabrication of a cellulosic sugar toll processing plant to be located in Southwestern Ontario. This facility will produce cellulosic sugar on a tolling basis for
November 03, 2011 Read Full Article
No-Kill Farming: The Rise of Low-Cost, Low-Carbon Biofuels through Continuous Harvest
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Does continuous harvest, and direct production from CO2 and water, offer a transformative, no-kill way to improve the carbon and dollar economics of biofuels? Can the dairy model work? ...In beef and grain, the whole organism
November 03, 2011 Read Full Article
Is There Too Much Land in Europe?
by Robert Vierhout (Ethanol Producer Magazine/ePURE) ...Even if that extra demand would not exist, why would European politicians want to increase idled land, knowing that year-on-year, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, arable land in
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
E15: Cracking the RVP Nut
by Jeremy P. Greenhouse (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Greenhouse & Gram) New blend won’t qualify for One Pound Waiver, presenting huge hurdle When the U.S. EPA granted Clean Air Act fuel waivers allowing gasoline containing 10 to 15 percent by volume of ethanol
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
Gauging 2012 Volumes: Will RINs Prove that the RFS Needs Modifying?
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...By Nov. 30, the U.S. EPA will issue its renewable fuel standard (RFS) volumes for the upcoming year and, once again, it will dramatically ratchet down the cellulosic biofuels category. ...No matter what end of
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
Cropping Between the Lines
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The bull’s-eye on corn ethanol could fade if the industry steps up and makes corn production and stover harvesting more environmentally friendly ...Today, no-till or strip-till farming is gaining ground, and researchers are examining systems
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
The Round and Square of It: Proving the Sustainability of Crop Residue Removal
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Three years ago, ag giants John Deere & Co., Archer Daniels Midland Co. and Monsanto Co. pooled their respective areas of expertise and embarked on an experiment. Each company had its own specific reasons
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
SeQuential Pacific Biodiesel Hits Production Milestone
by Bryan Sims (Biodiesel Magazine) ...The company’s community-scale model is paying off as the plant reached a milestone surpassing its 10 millionth gallon of biodiesel produced from used cooking oil. The plant, which officially came online in the fall of 2008,
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
FlexFuel Vehicle Education Project Announced
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) A new public education project to reach drivers of FlexFuel Vehicles (FFVs) by working with state Motor Vehicle Administrations (MVA) was announced today by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Clean Fuels Foundation. As a part
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
U.S. Navy Expands Algae Biofuel Testing At Sea And In The Air
by Tina Casey (Talking Points Memo) ...Earlier this year, the Navy successfully tested a 50-50 algae aviation biofuel blend on a Seahawk helicopter in flight, and now an algae biodiesel blend has passed muster during tests on a 135-foot landing vessel. The ship,
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
China Completes First Biofuel Jet Test Flight
by John C.K. Daly (http://oilprice.com) On 28 October Air China conducted its first trial flight of a passenger jet powered by a mix of biofuel and traditional aviation fuel. The Jet A-1 biofuel kerosene used in the flight was derived from
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
Military Thinktank Urges US to Cut Oil Use
Suzanne Goldenberg (The Guardian) Report from Military Advisory Board says US must reduce energy imports over the next decade as a national security imperative In its report, the Military Advisory Board said the US should aim to drastically reduce its energy
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
California Cracking Down on Kitchen Grease Thieves
(Bloomberg BusinessWeek/Associated Press) ...The California Department of Food and Agriculture said Thursday it is contracting with police to target areas where restaurants leave out used kitchen grease to be picked up by rendering facilities. It can be converted into fuel
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
Jatropha Biodiesel, “One of the Best Alternatives” for the American Continent
(Costa Rica News) This has been the conclusion of the videoconference “Presentation of the Jatropha curcas L. network for investigation, development, and innovation in the production of biodiesel in Latin America and the Caribbean,” organized by the Hemispheric Program in
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
UK Firm's Failed Biofuel Dream Wrecks Lives of Tanzania Villagers
by Damian Carrington (The Guardian/The Observer) The collapse of Sun Biofuels has left hundreds of Tanzanians landless, jobless, and in despair for the future "People feel this is like the return of colonialism," says Athumani Mkambala, chairman of Mhaga village in rural Tanzania.
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
Amtrak: Biodiesel Trial Results Encouraging
(Railway Age) Amtrak says that it found the use of a renewable biodiesel fuel blend to power its daily Heartland Flyer train “resulted in no more wear on the locomotive than traditional diesel fuels and no reduction in performance or
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
Maple Leaf Reforestation to Build Biodiesel Plant in Canada
(Biofuels International) Energy company Maple Leaf Reforestation (MLR) is to open a biodiesel facility in British Columbia, Canada, using next generation feedstock. ...MLR aims to tap into this market, using the yellowhorn tree as a feedstock, which comes from China
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
Amyris Receives Approval for R$ 22 Million Funding from Brazil’s Development Bank
(Amyris) Amyris, Inc. , a leading renewable chemicals and fuels company, announced that it has received final approval from the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) for a R$ 22 million project financing facility for Amyris Brasil Ltda.’s first industrial-scale production facility
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
What’s the Buzz? The 10 hottest topics in biofuels right now.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... But here are 10 themes that are shaping up to be the Buzz of the conference. 1. RFS. Hold or Fold? 2. Can Obama find the $510 million? 3. Elections. 4. Fuels, or chems, or something else? 5.
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
ICM Designs Cassava Ethanol Plant in Mozambique
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) Ethanol plant design company, ICM, Inc., of Colwich, Kansas, has designed and constructed equipment for a “one gallon per minute ethanol plant” currently under construction in Mozambique that will use locally grown cassava as a feedstock. The
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
Could Biomass Technology Help Commercialize Biochar?
by Robert Crowe (Renewable Energy World) ...Research shows biochar improves soil fertility, decreases water pollution and even mitigates heavy metals. The charcoal-like substance has enthusiastic support from researchers and the sustainability movement, but it has been slow to commercialize. “This is a
November 01, 2011 Read Full Article
OriginOil’s New Harvest Pretreatment Boosts Algae Growth Rates
(OriginOil) Researchers have shown improved growth for both fresh and saltwater algae strains OriginOil, Inc., the developer of a breakthrough technology to extract oil from algae and an emerging leader in the global algae oil services industry, today announced that its recent
November 01, 2011 Read Full Article
Green Initiatives Cleared for Takeoff at O'Hare, Midway Airports
by Jon Hilkevitch (Chicago Tribune) Solar energy collectors will be installed on up to 60 acres at O'Hare International Airport, and a service station selling alternative fuels for private and commercial vehicles will open near the airport, Chicago's aviation chief announced
November 01, 2011 Read Full Article
Ammo for Defending the RFS
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Interesting article turned up this week from Australia, showing just what could happen with no RFS or mandate. The Courier-Mail reported “Queensland motorists dudded as fuel retailers pull ethanol blend petrol from service stations.” Coles
November 01, 2011 Read Full Article
Raising 'Sugar-Cane': Investigative Report into Ethanol Industry Battles
by Les Coleman, Deb Courson Smith (Public News Service - SD) ...Flo-Sun, through subsidiaries such as Florida Crystals and Domino Foods, has milling and refining operations around the world. The rulers of Flo-Sun are Palm Beach-based brothers Pepe and
November 01, 2011 Read Full Article
Publication: A Review of Environmental Issues in the Context of Biofuel Sustainability Frameworks
by Guariguata, M.R.; Masera, O.R.; Johnson, F.X.; von Maltitz, G.; Bird, N.; Tella, P.; Martínez-Bravo, R (Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) Bogor, Indonesia) With the rapid growth of biofuel production and consumption and the proliferation of policy decisions supporting
November 01, 2011 Read Full Article
VTG’s New Ethanol Wagon Pooling System Takes Transports from the Road to the Railway
(VTG) The Hamburg-based wagon hire and rail logistics company VTG Aktiengesellschaft has established a new pool of wagons to provide flexible, ad hoc transports of ethanol from Rotterdam. This provides customers with small or excess quantities as well as those
November 01, 2011 Read Full Article
NREL Opens New Doors to Renewable Energy Data
(US Department of Energy) Developer.nrel.gov empowers Web developers to use renewable energy data for Web and mobile applications The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory is home to a cornucopia of data on renewable energy, energy efficiency and alternative transportation.
November 01, 2011 Read Full Article
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Funding to Expand the Production and Availability of Advanced Biofuels
(US Department of Agriculture) USDA Farm Bill Program Supports Job Creation Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced payments for 156 advanced biofuel producers across the country to support the production and expansion of advanced biofuels. "This funding will help local producers increase
November 01, 2011 Read Full Article
“Are You Any Less Worried about Energy Security Today than You Were 4 Years Ago?” Asks BP
by Bill Lundberg (Biofuels Digest) Should the Renewable Fuel Standard be scrapped, or revised? BP North America chief Susan Ellerbusch makes the case for “No”. In Chicago, BP Biofuels North America president Susan Ellerbusch, in addressing congressional attempts to re-write the
November 01, 2011 Read Full Article
Mazda Showcases Grand Ideas in Small Cars at 2011 SEMA Show With "Green" Roadster and Tiny Turbo
(PR NewsWire/Mazda) North American Operations (MNAO) is known for its Zoom-Zoom dynamism, which is evident in the brand's lineup of distinct design and divine drivability, and brings to this year's Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show a fleet of vehicles