by Jon Hilkevitch (Chicago Tribune) The Obama administration is committed to "help buy down the cost" of building refineries and growing feedstocks for use in producing clean, renewable aviation fuels, even though the current price of such biofuels
Archive
Back TO HOMEEthanol’s Octane Provides Proactive Opportunity
by Brian Jennings (Ethanol Producer Magazine/American Coalition for Ethanol) ... The new CAFE standards apply to light-duty vehicles beginning in model year 2017, requiring a nationwide average of 54.5 miles per gallon by model year 2025. While the automakers agreed to
January 16, 2012 Read Full Article
A Pragmatic Approach to Fuel Taxation
by Robert Vierhout (Ethanol Producer Magazine) One would think that a relatively easy way for governments to promote biofuels would be to tax biofuels less than fossil fuels—avoid lengthy debates on mandates and simply change the taxation structure in such
January 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Reaping the Benefits of a Strong Biofuels Industry
by Tom Buis (Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...The intent of Congress when it wrote the renewable fuel standard was to grow an American fuels industry that would help us break free from this addiction and its dire consequences. In
January 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Certifying Sustainability: Ethanol Bound for the EU Undergoes New Scrutiny
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...In July 2011, the European Union belatedly approved the first seven voluntary sustainability schemes for biofuels as required by the Renewable Energy Directive. The directive, commonly referred to as RED, requires all 27 EU
January 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Golden Possibilities: Corn Oil Forges a Link between Ethanol and Biodiesel Production
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol producers are adding corn oil extraction to their technology arsenal in increasing numbers, providing an ideal opportunity for the ethanol and biodiesel industries to cooperate or even co-locate. On the cooperation side, the
January 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Pieces of the Puzzle
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The ethanol industry’s understanding of hedging has evolved over the years, making it a vital puzzle piece in profitable operation ...One common hedging practice is for ethanol producers to also enter into a contract on
January 16, 2012 Read Full Article
CALL FOR PAPERS: 2012 TAPPI International Bioenergy & Bioproducts Conference October 17-19 Savannah, GA DEADLINE extended to: March 30, 2012
TAPPI’s International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference will focus on technical advancements and commercialization of bioconversion technologies that leverage the forest products manufacturing infrastructure. The conference will include technical presentations, expert panels, case studies, and reports from projects that address: Feedstock and harvesting
January 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Innovation Award to Stimulate and Accelerate Innovations in Biofuels and Bioenergy for Local Development
(FreePressRelease/FACT Foundation) On April 13, 2012, the FACT Innovation Award will be held for the first time. The objective for the innovation award is to stimulate and accelerate innovations in biofuels and bioenergy for local development The FACT Innovation Award is
January 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Federal Cutbacks Not Stopping MFA Biofuels Plan
by Jacob Barker (Columbia Tribune) Despite large cuts to the federal program supporting it and concerns from some groups about environmental impacts, a project to begin growing a giant perennial grass to serve as a dedicated biofuel crop is moving
January 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Ramboll Investigates Use of Biofuel for Civil Aviation in Norway
(Construction & Maintenance) Ramboll Energy and Ramboll in Norway's Climate Department in Oslo have been appointed by the Norwegian airport operator, Avinor, to investigate the possibilities of utilising sustainable and profitable biofuel for civil aviation in Norway. ...The initial priority is
January 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Ethanol Tax and Tariff Changes Likely to Affect DDGS Value
by Steve Meyer (National Hog Farmer) ... In a recent newsletter, Rob Musser of NutriQuest, Mason City, IA, (www.nutriquest.biz) lays out the economic proposition for ethanol plants removing corn oil from DDGs. First, corn oil is worth about four times
January 16, 2012 Read Full Article
“No One Country Can Do This Alone.”
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...We cannot relax now; we must work harder. Because, in growing as fast as it has, the industry has frightened those who only believe in a failed yesterday of “fossil fuels alone, fossil fuels forever”. Whose
January 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Aurora Algae: Making It Happen in the Never-Never
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The company was founded as Aurora Biofuels – solely to do biofuels. As time went on, and the company came closer to realizing its performance targets, it discovered that its algae could sell at a
January 16, 2012 Read Full Article
OriginOil and Department of Energy to Develop Direct Conversion of Algae into Renewable Crude Oil for Existing Oil Refineries
(OriginOil) Company partners with Idaho National Laboratory to enable algae growers to enter the global crude oil market OriginOil, Inc., the developer of a breakthrough technology to extract oil from algae and an emerging leader in the global algae oil services industry,
January 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Mid-State Energy Brings E85 to Ft. Myers, Fla. Drivers
by Ann Marie Edwards (DomesticFuel.com) ...The Ft. Myers Marathon station, opened the E85 station last week. Mid-State Energy also opened up a Circle K E85 fueling station in 2010 in Lake Wales, Fla., with partner Protec Fuel. ...Protec Fuel, based in Florida, has
January 16, 2012 Read Full Article
USDA Fuel Pump Grant Seen a Plus for Marcus Junction
by Jolene Stevens (Le Mars Daily Sentinel) A"great marketing tool" is how Carl Nelson, of the Marcus Junction board, describes the new flexible fuel blending pump he says is expected to be installed at the Marcus Junction fuel outlet, along
January 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Fuel Testing Reveals Higher Octane in Ethanol: Addition of Ethanol Shows Improved Performance Benefits
by Anne Marie Edwards (DomesticFuel.com) Last July, the government announced plans to raise corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards to 54.5 MPG by 2025. The automotive industry responded saying the MPG number was an attainable goal by utilizing high-efficiency internal combustion
January 13, 2012 Read Full Article
BBI International and NEAtech Form Joint Venture to Develop an International Bioenergy Consulting Service
(BBI International/Marketwire) BBI International and NEAtech announced this week a joint venture to develop a new international consulting service called BBI Consulting Services. Utilizing existing resources, the service will allow BBI International and NEAtech to deliver additional expertise to customers
January 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Clean Energy Investment Hits Record $260 Billion
by Jeff Coelho (Reuters/Baltimore Sun) Global investment in clean energy hit a record $260 billion in 2011, up 5 percent from the previous year as investment in solar grew by more than a third despite shrinking profit margins, some bankruptcies
January 13, 2012 Read Full Article
EPA Releases First GHG Emissions Data Reporting Results
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...Power plants were found to be the largest stationary source of direct emissions, producing a combined total of more than 2,300 million metric tons of CO2e from 1,555 facilities in 2010. Petroleum refineries were
January 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Vilsack Comments on RFS and Biodiesel Tax Credit
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) ...During a press conference at AFBF (American Farm Bureau Federation) on Monday, (Agriculture Secretary Tom) Vilsack said he believes it is important to keep the RFS2 in place for multiple reasons. “One, it provides consumer choice. We
January 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Sebago Farms Plans Massive Greenhouse, Algae Biofuels Facility in Maine
by Lori Valigra (Massive High Tech) In an area of Maine generally known for its strip malls and big box stores, newcomer Sebago Farms plans to build a 1.7 million square foot mixed-use facility that will house hydroponic greenhouses, a
January 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Brewing up Power: Beer Maker Finalizes Biofuels Project
by Jonathan Grass (Alaska Journal of Commerce) Alaskan Brewing Co. has entered the final stage of a 16-year process in setting a precedent in renewable energy. The Juneau-based brewery has a new boiler to make its own malt waste a sole
January 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Abengoa Selected by the Brazilian Development Bank to Develop a Second Generation Ethanol Plant in Brazil Based on Sugar Cane
(Abengoa) Abengoa, the international company that applies innovative technology solutions for sustainable development in the energy and environment sectors, has been selected by the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) and FINEP, the promotion and investment agency for studies and projects, to
January 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Tell Them Willie and Ike Are Here
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Brooke Coleman, executive director of the Advanced Ethanol Council, turned attention to free market principles and market access, after the New York Timesran astory on cellulosic biofuels mandates, titled “A Fine for Not Using a Biofuel
January 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Clean Energy Pathways Teams With Mid-Atlantic Soybean Association to Promote Biodiesel for Co-Firing Utility Boilers
(Globe Newswire) Clean Energy Pathways, Inc., has received early support for its concept to co-fire coal utility boilers with liquid biofuel, forming an alliance with the Mid-Atlantic Soybean Association to promote the solution for utilities complying with EPA's Renewable Portfolio Standards
January 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Partnership Facilitates Grease Recycling for Biodiesel Production
(BlackGold Biofuels/Biodiesel Magazine) Through a partnership between BlackGold Biofuels and SLM Facility Solutions Nationwide, restaurants around the U.S. will soon be able to more easily recycle greasy kitchen waste while saving money. BlackGold and SLM have formed a strategic partnership to
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Next Up: Abengoa in Early Planning for Second Cellulosic Plant
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) It’s only been a few months since Abengoa Bioenergy broke ground on its 23 MMgy multifeedstock cellulosic ethanol plant in Hugoton, Kan., but so far, construction of its first commercial-scale cellulosic facility is still
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
University of Florida, Buckeye Dedicate Ethanol Production Facility in Perry
(Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences – University of Florida) Many building dedications feature a ribbon-cutting; this one included a front-end loader ceremoniously dumping a scoopful of pulverized sugarcane stalks. It was an appropriate way to mark yesterday’s official launch of
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Oil Prices to Reach All-Time High
(Farm Futures) Even without VEETC ethanol is still making gasoline cheaper In its monthly short-term outlook, the Energy Department expects U.S. benchmark crude oil prices to average over $100 a barrel in 2012 and touch an all-time high amid rising demand
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Editorial: Uncle Sam and Ethanol -- Small Steps toward a Genuine Market
(Chicago Tribune) ...Congress and the federal agencies responsible for managing the biofuel industry need to stop trying to artificially create a market for a high-tech product that may never exist on a commercial scale. ...At current market prices, ethanol doesn't need
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
The ILUC Debate, Four Years Later
by Bob Dineen (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...The scientific community has better data, improved modeling tools, and a better appreciation of the uncertainty and complexity involved in ILUC analysis. But, above all, they have the benefit of some
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Deepwater Horizon's Missed Lessons
by Richard G. Steiner (Los Angeles Times) OpEd: Not two years after the Deepwater Horizon debacle, the U.S. is proceeding with plans to expand oil drilling instead of pushing alternatives. ...And after making only modest reforms, many of which were cosmetic (e.g.
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Biofuel Company Stumbles onto Cosmetics Discovery
by David Louie (ABC Local) Solazyme, a company that focuses on biofuels, recently made an interesting cosmetics discovery. Algae is turning out to be a very versatile product. Solazyme can turn it into jet fuel. And now, algae can help aging
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Feeders Explore Implications of Low-Fat Distillers Grains
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The cost to remove corn oil from distillers grains (DGs) is high, but even so, an increasing number of ethanol producers are expected to begin extracting the valuable product from DGs in the coming
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Ethanol Remains a Bargain
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) ...In recent weeks, many headlines have trumpeted the argument that gas prices will be higher as a result of expiration of the VEETC. As is often the case, a quick review of the facts
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Production Method Could Reduce Fuel's Drawbacks
(The Engineer) A new method of producing biodiesel from microalgae aims to overcome some of the previous drawbacks of the fuel. Using a novel catalyst, the researchers at the Technical University of Munich were able to produce saturated hydrocarbons suitable for
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Next-Generation Biofuels Driving the Growth of Global Biofuel Market
(Pangea/World of Bioenergy) Social and environmental benefits of next-generation biofuels, mainly cellulosic ethanol, Algae fuels, Drop in fuels, and biobutanol, are fuelling its rapid growth momentum, says RNCOS. According to our recent report, “Global Biofuel Market Analysis”, the global biofuel
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Algae Biofuels Inject Money Into The Southwest’s Economy
by Erik Anderson (KPBS) A survey by the San Diego Association of Governments found the algae biofuels industry is responsible for 466 local jobs. That's a significant jump over the 210 jobs that existed two years ago. SANDAG's review said
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Construction: Begins Operating in Antarctica with Ethanol Supplied by Petrobras
(TBPetroleum.com/Petrobras) Began operating today (10), with fuel supplied by Petrobras, the Construction: ethanol that will illuminate the Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station. With this initiative, Brazil will be the first country to use biofuel for energy production on the continent. The
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Mascoma Implements Commercialization Strategy for Drop-In MGT™ Yeast Product to Improve Economics of Corn Ethanol Production
(Mascoma/BusinessWire) Mascoma Corporation, a renewable fuels company, announced today that it has implemented key components of the commercialization strategy for its Mascoma Grain Technology, or MGT™, yeast product, which is the first commercial application of Mascoma’s proprietary consolidated bioprocessing (CBP)
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Cool Planet BioFuels Announces Road Testing of Negative Carbon Gasoline Begins in California
(Cool Planet BioFuels/MarketWatch) Cool Planet BioFuels announced today it has received approval from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to begin fleet-testing its negative carbon gasoline. Cool Planet BioFuel's technology converts low-grade biomass -- such as grass and woodchips --
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Gen2 Biofuel Feedstocks: The Coming Surge in Energy Crops and Cellulosic Sugars
by Pavel Molchanov (Raymond James) As energy investors know well, it is much better to own the oil than to refine it. In other words, the bulk of the value is in the upstream of the value chain. Next-generation (Gen2) biofuels
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Who’s in the Lead? Algae around the World
by Jonathan Williams (Biofuels Digest) Who’s in front in the development of algal-based fuels and biomaterials? India, China, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Israel, the EU, or the US. The NAABB’s globe-trotting chief parses it out. In New Mexico, Dr. Jose Olivares is
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Oil-Yielding Algae Show Promise as Domestic, Export Energy Trove
(Japan Times) Not many people imagine that resource-poor Japan might one day become an oil exporter. But someone who does is Makoto Watanabe, a leading expert in research on producing oil from microscopic algae. Research into creating biofuel from so-called microalgae
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Boeing and CSIRO Partner on Biofuels
(Australian Aviation) Boeing and CSIRO have launched a year-long study on the potential for growing new feedstocks in northern Queensland that could be turned into sustainable aviation biofuels. The first phase of the study will focus on current and potential biomass
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Clearing a Potential Road Block to Bisabolane: Key Enzyme Structure Identified
by Lynn Yarris (PhysOrg.com) JBEI researchers determined the structure of the AgBIS enzyme and found it to consist of three helical domains, the first three-domain structure ever found in a synthase of sesquiterpenes. This discovery holds importance for advanced
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Deciphering the Black Box of Next-Generation Biofuels Chemistry
by Mike Salciccioli (Frontiers in Energy Research) Researchers combine experiments and fundamental models to unveil the previously unknown mechanisms for how biofuels are generated from biomass A series of complex processes fracture large biomolecules containing millions of atoms into much smaller molecules
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Biofuels Become a Victim of Own Success – but Not for Long
by Damian Carrington (Government Online) For the first time in a decade, the vast biofuel industry has stalled. But with crude prices still high, charting a course towards biofuels that do more good than harm is more vital than ever. ... “The
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Biomass Power to Help Push Mitr Phol Revenue to Bt100 bn in Three Years
by Nalin Viboonchart (The Nation) Mitr Phol Group targets revenue of Bt100 billion within three years, driven by sugar-related businesses such as ethanol and the biomass power plants it is investing in here and in China, Laos, and possibly Australia. The
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
ACES 409 Bioenergy Systems - Online
(University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) The Center for Advanced BioEnergy Research (CABER) in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign is offering an online class in bioenergy systems (ACES 409 XM) for
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Council of Energy Resource Tribes and BioJet form Strategic Alliance
(BioJet) The Council of Energy Resource Tribes (CERT) today announced formation of a strategic business relationship with BioJet International. CERT is comprised of 57 sovereign Indian tribesas members. CERT members collectively own and manage more than 30% of the coal
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Gevo and Land O'Lakes Purina Feed Sign Off-Take and Marketing Agreement
(Market Watch/Gevo) Plans Include Working with Land O'Lakes Purina Feed's Renowned Research Center to Explore Opportunities to Upgrade Value-Added Applications in Animal Feed Products Gevo, Inc., a renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels company, today (January 10, 2011) announced it had signed
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Sundrop Fuels Plans $450M Investment to Make Gas from Wood
by Rich Christianson (Woodworking Network) Sundrop Fuels Inc. has selected Rapides Parish, LA, as the site of its first gasification plant to produce gasoline from forest waste. The company is purchasing about 1,200 acres of land near Alexandria to develop the
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
The Litmus Test: 8 Projects for 2012 Will Test Perceptions, Reality for Advanced Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...First commercial projects from newly-minted public companies Solazyme, Gevo and KiOR. Two trash-to-biofuels projects from INEOS Bio and Enerkem, located in Florida and Alberta. Europe’s largest biosuccinic acid project, scheduled to be opened by DSM
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Finding a Way to Put a Zebra in Your Tank
by Guy Gugliotta (New York Times) ...Dr. (David A.) Mullin (a professor of molecular biology at Tulane University)was collecting manure from giraffes and other exotic ruminants at the zoo, a few blocks from his laboratory. He was looking for microbes
January 10, 2012 Read Full Article
Lufthansa Ends Biofuel Trial with U.S. Flight
by Victoria Bryan (Reuters) German carrier Lufthansa is ending the trial use of a biofuel mix for its planes because it has used up stocks of certified biofuel and no other reliable supplies are available. The trial, which ran on flights between
January 10, 2012 Read Full Article
Former Sheriff Seeks Proof of Financing for Trash-to-Ethanol Plant
by Marc Chase (Northwest Indiana) The former Lake County sheriff is seeking answers regarding the absent financing for a proposed south county trash-to-ethanol plant. And the chief political champion of the plan, Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub, said he wants the
January 10, 2012 Read Full Article
Cellectis Launches a Partnership with Total for Exploratory Research into Microalgae-Based Substitutes for Oil Products
(Cellectis) Cellectis (Alternext: ALCLS), the French genome engineering specialist, is today announcing that it has signed an agreement with Total to develop microalgae-based oil substitutes. The research program includes an initial one-year phase, which may be followed by a second phase
January 10, 2012 Read Full Article
Poland to Allow Blenders to Cut Biofuel Mandates by 15%: Source
(Platts) Polish transport fuel producers can decrease their biofuel-blending requirements by 15% if they buy supplies from approved producers, according to a government source, citing a blending provision effective January 1. In order to take advantage of the provision, transport fuel
January 10, 2012 Read Full Article
Tiger Cars for Tiger Fuels: E100 Group Calls for More Ethanol-Tuned Engines
by Don Siefkes (E100 Ethanol Group/Biofuels Digest) To The Editors of the Wall Street Journal: Cellulosic ethanol has been a debacle, but not for the reasons stated in your editorial “The Cellulosic Ethanol Debacle” of December 13. Cellulosic ethanol has not
January 10, 2012 Read Full Article
International Case Challenge and Delhi Sustainable Development Summit January 31, 2012 Calgary, Alberta, Canada and Delhi, India
Case Competitions have emerged as a vital learning opportunity for students. ISEEESA has identified this, and will host its 1st Annual International Case Challenge in Calgary, Canada. This Challenge is offered to all students in post-secondary institutions (undergraduate & graduate)
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Identification of Additional Qualifying Renewable Fuel Pathways Under the Renewable Fuel Standard Program
(US Environmental Protection Agency) EPA is issuing a direct final rule identifying additional fuel pathways that EPA has determined meet the biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel or cellulosic biofuel lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction requirements specified in Clean Air Act section
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
US EPA Publishes Direct Final Rule for Camelina RFS2 Pathway
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) On Jan. 5, the U.S. EPA issued a direct final rule regarding RFS2 pathways for four new biofuel feedstocks, including camelina oil, energy cane, giant reed and napiergrass. While the energy cane, giant reed, and
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
DDGs Use to Exceed Supply
(AllAboutFeed) ...Despite initial concerns about the capacity of US or foreign livestock feeders to utilise DDGs, they are now the second largest category of processed feed used in the US, amounting to an estimated 29.1 million metric tonnes in 2010/11. The
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
Retailers Not Ready For Ethanol
by Gary Truitt (Hoosier Ag Today) Jay Berry, with Central Indiana Ethanol in Marion, says many stations do not have the equipment to handle higher ethanol blends. He told HAT there are no regulations that cover ethanol compliance, “We had
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
National Cattlemen's President-Elect Says Group Is Not Opposed to Ethanol
by Heather Thornstensen (AgriNews) While they had a leader from the National Cattlemen's Beef Association at their recent annual convention, the Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association brought together a panel to discuss whether the ethanol and cattle industries can co-exist. ..."As I
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
Biodiesel a Concern as Renewable Fuel Subsidies End
by Mark Steil (Minnesota Public Radio) A couple of key federal subsidies for the renewable fuel industry are about to end, cutting billions of dollars tax credits for the ethanol and biodiesel industries. Congress could renew the tax credits when it
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
After Three Decades, Tax Credit for Ethanol Expires
by Robert Pear (New York Times) ...“We are in a fairly prosperous period for agriculture,” said Dean C. Taylor, a former president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association. “Agriculture has not been as much of a touchstone for presidential candidates this
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
DuPont, NexSteppe Collaborate on Sorghum Development
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) NexSteppe, a feedstock development company focused on servicing the biofuels, biopower and biobased products industries, recently announced a collaborative agreement with DuPont to develop sweet sorghum and high biomass sorghum hybrids. As part of
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
The Value of Ethanol
by General Wesley Clark (U.S. Army, Retired) ...But without those 13 billion gallons of ethanol, motorists in the U.S. are all part of a captive market that is controlled by Big Oil. The alternative to ethanol is gasoline, nearly
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
New Renewable Energy, Public Policy Graduate Certificate Offered to Professionals
by Mike Wolterbeek (University of Nevada-Reno) An online graduate certificate in renewable energy that provides an opportunity to study the policies and practices in the diverse fields of renewable energy is being offered at the University of Nevada, Reno beginning
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Plant Turns Poppies into Power
(ABC News) A new biodiesel plant in Tasmania's northern midlands is producing alternative fuel from poppy seeds. Mike Henry's family has been working on plans for a biodiesel factory for five years, using waste from poppy crops. The work has paid
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
Are Flex Fuel Vehicles a Viable Answer to Global Oil Crunch?
by Balakrishnan Ramachandran (DownstreamToday) ...Auto makers have demonstrated that multi-fuel vehicles are possible and practical in various sizes of passenger cars. Two of the auto majors had displayed concept cars in auto shows of 2006 but have not, thereafter, taken
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
ACT Completes 20kW Crude Glycerol Burner, Using Biodiesel By-Product
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In North Carolina, Applied Combustion Technologies announced the completion of a DOE grant to build and test a prototype crude glycerol burner. The 20 kW burner utilizes a novel spray atomization, high swirl burner approach in
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
ZeaChem, and the Renewable Fuel Standard
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ZeaChem launches its 250,000 gallon per year core process. How could this possibly matter, in the context of a 500 million gallon cellulosic biofuels target for 2012, that was waived down to 10 million? As
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
FORUM: Ethanol Needs Infrastructure in Absence of Tax Credit
by Doug Sombke (Rapid CityJournal/South Dakota Farmers Union) ...What the ethanol industry needs now is investment in improved infrastructure to get ethanol closer to being equal in the marketplace with regular gasoline. For decades, big oil companies have enjoyed billions of
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
The Road for E85 Fuel Just Got Rougher
by David Shaffer (Star Tribune) The 85 percent ethanol blend has always faced challenges as a motor fuel. Now, the end of a federal tax credit poses a new one: higher prices. The high-ethanol fuel known as E85 has gained a
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
Ethanol Makers Shrug off Expiration of Key Tax Credit
by Chris O'Malley (Indianapolis Business Journal) ...But it looks like motorists, rather than ethanol makers, stand to feel the pain. The reason is the survival of another federal measure, known as the Renewable Fuels Standard. It requires that an increasing amount
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
RFA: Industry Will Fight for Cellulosic Tax Credits
by Ken Anderson (Brownfield Ag News)The federal ethanol blenders’ tax credit for grain-based ethanol expired without protest from the ethanol industry at the end of 2011. But the head of the Renewable Fuels Association—Bob Dinneen—says the industry will work to ensure
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
Florida Agriculture Seeking to Enter Ethanol Business
by Aaron Deslatte (Orlando Sentinel) ...Since 2006, Republican lawmakers and governors have created and disbanded an energy commission; funded and de-funded solar initiatives; and created tax incentives for renewable energy producers that expired before the industry could take root. They
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
Ocean Robots Could Sail Seas and Farm Fuel from Algae
by Jeremy Hsu (MSNBC) Engineer says cheap biodiesel can be made on any scale year-round — he just needs cash The biofuel farm contained only a small wind turbine, solar panel and container of green scum packed within a tub-size frame
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
Financial Trends: Evaluating Investments in Advanced Biofuels Projects in the U.S.
by Rakesh Radhakrishnan (Navigant Consulting/Renewable Energy World) ...The current technology maturity-level for several advanced biofuels concepts is too low and therefore poses a significant investment risk. There is a potential for large changes in fuel yields and capital and operational
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
Biomass and an Integrated Supply-Chain Model for Cost-Effective Bioplastics Production
(2012 BioPlastek/Atlantic Biomass Conversions) Because of their polymeric structures, C-5 and C-6 sugars produced from plant and woody biomass are a potential feedstock for the production of bioplastics. Second generation non-food sources of biomass avoid the issues of food shortages
January 08, 2012 Read Full Article
Lee Enterprises Consulting Announces 2012 Expansion Plans
(Lee Enterprises Consulting/24-7 Press Release) Lee Enterprises Consulting of Little Rock, Ark., the world's largest biodiesel consulting group, recently announced its plans for expansion in 2012. The plans include expansion of the group's services into ethanol, biomass, wind, solar and
January 08, 2012 Read Full Article
World Subsidies for Fossil Fuels 5x Larger than for Renewables
(ELMIA/World Bioenergy) Something is wrong in the world of energy subsidies. According to statistics gathered by the International Energy Agency (IEA) the worldwide subsidies to fossil fuel consumption in 2009 amounted to no less than 300 billion USD, while at
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Algenol Biofuels Inc. Establishes Florida Gulf Coast University Scholarship Fund
(Eagle News) The Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation has received a $250,000 pledge from Algenol Biofuels Inc. to create theAlgenol Biofuels Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Scholarship Fund. Juniors and seniors at the University who are majoring in biology, biotechnology, chemistry, environmental engineering
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
University of Georgia Scientists ‘Hijack’ Bacterial Immune System
by Sam Fahmy (University of Georgia) ...Now, a team of University of Georgia researchers has discovered how to harness this bacterial immune system to selectively target and silence genes. The finding, published today in the early online edition of the
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Fuelling Tomorrow with the News of Yesterday
by Manuel Arias (The Starfish) ...One alternative, proposed by researchers at Tulane University, explores the ability of a new bacterial strain named TU-103, which can effectively convert cellulose from paper into butanol biofuel. When you consider that over 300 million
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Virent Announces Issuance of Five U.S. Patents
(Virent) Company Increases Protection of its BioForming® Technology Virent announced the issuance of five new U.S. patents covering aspects of its catalytic BioForming® platform. Three of the patents, U.S. Patent Nos. 8,053,615, 8,017,818 and 7,977,517, cover the production of various liquid
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Zambia: CEC Starts Bio-Diesel Blending
(AllAfrica.coom) Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) has this year projected to produce 600,000 litres of bio-diesel from crude jatropha oil to meet its own fuel requirements. The company will next month start blending the fuel from jatropha for its own use. CEC director
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Springboard Biodiesel Teams With Pinnacle Capital to Provide Schools With Attractive Clean-Tech Financing Options
(MarketWire/Springboard Biodiesel) Springboard Biodiesel and Pinnacle Capital announced this morning (January 5, 2012) a new and innovative financing program designed to help US educational institutions -- public and private -- establish small-scale biodiesel production programs on their campuses. "Turning used cooking
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Taking Bio-Based Products to the Next Level: MGP Ingredients, Inc. teams up with Kansas Alliance for Biorefining and Bioenergy, Universities
(MGP Ingredients) MGP Ingredients, Inc. (MGP), an expert in wheat- and corn-based ingredients, is teaming up with the Kansas Alliance for Biorefining and Bioenergy (KABB) and four Kansas universities to develop new technologies and products that use bio-based raw materials. Through
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
The Bio-Based Economy: A Renewed and Renewable Vision for 2012
by Brent Erickson (Biofuels Digest/BIO) ...To be clear, the bioeconomy is the total economic activity from all sectors of the biotechnology industry – pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture and industrial biotechnology. With biotechnology we can help, heal, fuel and feed the
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Eye-Catching Rape Crop Fuelling the Country's Future
by John Lewis (ODT) Large colourful crops of oil-seed rape may become a more common sight on Otago farms in the future as the biofuel revolution gathers momentum. A warm growing season has turned a 23ha crop of bright yellow rape
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
The Blunder Down Under
by Joelle Brink (Biofuels Digest Asia) In Australia, it’s Back to Petroleum for the ethanol producers, blenders and users of New South Wales if BP gets its way. ...Rather than go back to selling the ethanol blends its customers want, BP
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
University of Manchester Team Solves Glycerol Problem
(MenMedia) ...Dr Constantinos Theodoropoulos and Prof Colin Webb from the University's School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science decided to tackle the issue of a worldwide glut of glycerol. Growing global demand for biodiesel means markets cannot absorb the increase in
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Fuelling Your Car With Falafel Oil
by Tal Sandler (ShalomLife) Israeli scientists developing process of turning leftover oil from fast food restaurants into biodiesel ...Dr. Sobhi Basheer and Dr. Ahmed Tafesh of TransBiodiesel, have developed a new process by which any oil, including leftovers of fast food
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
The 7 Paths of the New Agriculture
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...But the New Agriculture has arisen in recent years, with new solutions to the old dilemma: how do you produce, and afford, and haul, and utilize enough feedstock to make an integrated biorefinery work? How
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Sunn Hemp Shows Promise as Biofuel Source
by Ann Perry (US Department of Agriculture) Work by scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggests that farmers in the Southeast could use the tropical legume sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) in their crop rotations by harvesting the fast-growing annual
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Santa Cruz Nonprofit Hopes to Make Fuel from Ocean-Based Plastic
by Amy E. West (Mercury News/Santa Cruz Sentinel) ...It sounds like an environmentalist's dream. But it's the ambitious mission of the Santa Cruz nonprofit Clean Oceans Project, which six months ago teamed up with a Japanese manufacturer and a San
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
BASF Participates in US American Technology Company Renmatix
(Renmatix) BASF is participating with $30 million through BASF Biorenewable Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG in the American technology firm Renmatix Inc. The BASF subsidiary led a $50 million financing round, joined by new and existing investors. The technology company Renmatix
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
LanzaTech to Convert Acquired Ethanol Plant for Biochemicals
(Bloomberg) LanzaTech NZ Ltd., a closely held biofuels company backed by billionaire Vinod Khosla, will convert a U.S. cellulosic ethanol plant it bought from Range Fuels Inc. to produce chemicals from biomass. The $5.1 million deal completed on Jan. 3 provides LanzaTech
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Range Fuels Sells Government-Backed Biofuel Plant to LanzaTech
(Bloomberg) Range Fuels, Inc.,..., a closely held U.S. cellulosic ethanol company that was offered $156 million in federal government backing, sold its only factory to LanzaTech NZ Ltd. as part of a government-approved liquidation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture in October approved
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Overcoming the Challenge of Cheap Sugars: Unmarketable Hawaiian Papaya Used to Produce Green Fuels
(Biotork) BioTork has successfully converted unmarketable Hawaiian papayas to fatty acids that can be refined into green fuels. This result is a first milestone in a developmental research project conducted in collaboration with the US Dept of Agriculture Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Evogene to Establish Evofuel Ltd. for Developing Advanced Feedstock for Biofuel
(MarketWire/Evogene) Wholly Owned Subsidiary Expanding Castor Bean Activity in Brazil Evogene Ltd. announced that it is establishing Evofuel, a wholly owned subsidiary, to focus on developing seed for advanced second-generation feedstock for biofuel. Included in the activities that are being transferred from
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Profiles in Scale-up: China, Nigeria Ink Deal to Invest $2.55B in 15 Integrated Biorefinery Projects
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Nigeria, Bloomberg and several local outlets are reporting that the Nigerian government has signed a $2.55 billion development deal with Global Biofuels, to construct 15 integrated biorefineries throughout the West African nation. According to reports,
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Researcher: Low Corn Oil DDGS Less Competitive in Canada
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) With U.S. ethanol plants adding corn oil extraction in increasing numbers, about half the distillers grains coming into Canada is a low corn oil product, said Eduardo Beltranena, feed research scientist for Alberta Agriculture
January 02, 2012 Read Full Article
Clean Cities Publishes Guide to Alternative Fuel Lawn Equipment
(US Department of Energy) A single commercial mower can use as much gasoline or diesel fuel each year as a commercial work truck does. Fortunately, petroleum-based fuels aren’t the only options when it comes to powering commercial lawn equipment. And
January 02, 2012 Read Full Article
Top 10 Biofuels Predictions for 2012
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...10. Advanced biofuels capacity surges to 1 billion gallons, globally. We see 570 million gallons in capacity from Neste Oil alone; 137 Mgy from Diamond Green, 75 Mgy from Dynamic Fuels, 62 Mgy from KiOR,