by Chen, Xiaowen; Kuhn, Erik; Jennings, Edward W.; Nelson, Robert; Tao, Ling; Zhang, Min; Tucker, Melvin P. (Energy & Environmental Science) Distilling and purifying ethanol and other products from second generation lignocellulosic biorefineries adds significant capital and operating costs to biofuel
Archive
Back TO HOMESmall Is Beautiful: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Velocys’ Microchannel Reactor Tech
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Velocys enables modular gas-to-liquids and biomass-to-liquids plants to convert unconventional, remote and problem gas and waste biomass into valuable, drop-in liquid fuels. After 15 years and some $300 million in investment, Velocys technology is headed for
December 30, 2016 Read Full Article
The Carbon Negative Power Machine. Get One While Supplies Last.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) News has arrived from Denver (the company) and the UK (the project and partners) that SynTech Bioenergy will build what it terms “a revolutionary clean-energy plant in the United Kingdom capable of carbon negative operation.” ... This
December 30, 2016 Read Full Article
A New Era Gets Fueled Up
by Joe Petrie (AviationPros.com) At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac), Alaska Airlines is forging ahead with plans to implement a biofuel supply for its commercial jets. ... Carol Sim, director of environmental affairs for Alaska Airlines, said the company’s move
December 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Croton Nuts: Africa's New Biofuel that Literally Grows on Trees
by Kieron Monks (CNN) Croton nut may be ideal fuel with high oil and protein concentration; Leading producers are expanding rapidly; Analysts say croton avoid ethical issues of other biofuels -- The Croton megalocarpus tree is common throughout much of East and Central
December 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Bioethanol in Africa: The Case for Technology Transfer and South-South Co-operation
(International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)) Sustainable biofuels have an important role to play in Africa’s development. When biofuels such as biodiesel and bioethanol are produced and used in a sustainable way, they provide massive economic and environmental benefits. These include,
December 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Wrap: Asian Biodiesel Markets Hit by Drought in 2016 but Find Export Success
by Samar Niazi (Platts) The palm oil and PME story in 2016 was dominated by acute drought across Southeast Asia, caused by the most severe El Nino event since 1997-98. ... The after-effects of the El Nino caused a sharp drop
December 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Scientific Research Work for Treatment of Water from Oil Field Production
by Youssef Boudlal (ZAWYA/Reuters) The Tunisian Company of Petroleum Activities and the Borj Cedria Technology Management Corporation Park (TBC) initiated Tuesday research work to identify water treatment processes from the production of an oil field and their desalination for irrigation
December 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Old Carbon, New Jet Fuels: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to LanzaTech’s ATJ Jet Fuel Tech
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) LanzaTech’s gas fermentation platform disrupts the current highly centralized global energy system by enabling the regional production of low-cost energy from local wastes and residues, including gases as varied as industrial flue gas, gasified biomass
December 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Farmers Can Help Clean up the Chesapeake
by Chip Bowling (U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance/Washington Post) I consider myself an environmentalist, a conservationist and a farmer. This is an identity I share with many farmers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which spans more than 64,000 square miles
December 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Energy Department Announces Up to $7 Million for the Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, the Energy Department (DOE) announced up to $7 million for eight universities to accelerate the introduction of affordable, scalable, and sustainable high-performance fuels for use in high-efficiency, low-emission engines. Under the Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines (Co-Optima)
December 29, 2016 Read Full Article
Economics of Forest Biomass Raise Hurdles for Rural Development
(Oregon State University) The use of residual forest biomass for rural development faces significant economic hurdles that make it unlikely to be a source of jobs in the near future, according to an analysis by economists at Oregon State University. In
December 29, 2016 Read Full Article
Construction of Quebec Biomethane Project Underway
(Infrastructure Canada & Government of Quebec/Biomass Magazine) Officials of the governments of Canada and Quebec visited the city of Varennes on Dec. 19 to break ground for construction of the biomethanation facilities of the Société d'économie mixte de l'est de
December 29, 2016 Read Full Article
DNREC Approves Delaware City Refinery's Ethanol Project
by Scott Goss (The News Journal) PBF Energy won state approval Wednesday to ship unblended ethanol by barge from its Delaware City refinery. DNREC Secretary David Small signed an order affirming the refinery’s proposed $7 million Ethanol Marketing Project is consistent
December 29, 2016 Read Full Article
The AirCarbon Methane-to-Plastics Technology: The Digest’s 20-16 Multi-Slide Guide to Newlight Technologies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Newlight, founded in 2003, is harnessing methane-based carbon emissions as a resource to replace oil and reduce the cost of plastics production–fundamentally changing both the economics and environmental impact of the plastics industry. The AirCarbon production
December 29, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuels Mandates Around the World 2017
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, the Digest today releases its annual review of biofuels mandates and targets around the world, looking at the state of biofuels mandates in 64 countries. The bulk of mandates continue to come from the EU-27,
December 29, 2016 Read Full Article
Kenneth G. Hancock Memorial Award Applications Due February 17, 2017
This award, administered by ACS the ACS Green Chemistry Institute® and sponsored by the ACS Division of Environmental Chemistry and the National Institute of Standards & Technology, provides national recognition to students with outstanding contributions to furthering the goals of green chemistry
December 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Joseph Breen Memorial Fellowship
This award, administered by the ACS Green Chemistry Institute®, will sponsor one or more young international green chemistry scholars to participate in a green chemistry technical meeting, conference, or training program. Awardees are reimbursed up to $2,000 in funds to accommodate cost
December 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Birdlife and T&E to Release Anti-Biofuel Documentary in January
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Belgium, following on from the November release of their joint publication “The Black Book of Bioenergy”, Birdlife Europe and Central Asia has again teamed with Transport & Environment on a documentary set for release
December 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Ultra-Low Cost Product Development: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to DMC
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DMC’s technology enables reproducibility and robustness to scale; Production of a diversity of targets using a single bioprocess; HTS approaches that translate to full scale performance — and the company says, “50X improvement in speed and cost of
December 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Zaragoza: Continuous Commitment to Recycle Used Oil with Labor Integration
by Javier Rico (Energias Renovables) Despite the fact that the European Commission is not very likely to focus on biodiesel from waste oils in the reform of the directive on renewable energies, its collection and treatment continues to offer opportunities
December 28, 2016 Read Full Article
American Ethanol, NCGA Make Good Showing in 2016 NASCAR Season
(National Corn Growers Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The 2016 NASCAR racing season was a year filled with memorable moments for American Ethanol sponsors Growth Energy and National Corn Growers Association and their driver Austin Dillon. In this season’s first American Ethanol paint-out,
December 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Energy Department Announces Six Projects for Pilot- and Demonstration-Scale Manufacturing of Biofuels, Bioproducts, and Biopower
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, the Energy Department (DOE) announced the selection of six projects for up to $12.9 million in federal funding, entitled, “Project Definition for Pilot- and Demonstration-Scale Manufacturing of Biofuels, Bioproducts, and Biopower.” These projects, required to
December 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Biodiesel: The Great Crash of Australia's 'Fish and Chip Cooking Oil' Renewable Fuel Industry
by Emilia Terzon (ABC News) Former chef-cum-Darwin's "biodiesel warrior" Greg Henderson was elbow-deep in an industry of second-hand grease when the global price of crude oil started to tumble in 2014. Within weeks the humble entrepreneur was contemplating a price
December 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Icahn Sees Doubts About Ethanol Mandate Among Trump’s Advisers
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg) Icahn picked as special adviser to Trump on regulations; RINs market is a ‘black cesspool of trading,’ Icahn says -- Billionaire Carl Icahn, a special adviser to Donald Trump and a skeptic of the U.S. ethanol mandate,
December 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Berkeley Lab Awarded $4.6 Million for Transformational Agriculture Technologies
by Julie Chao (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Two projects will provide a window to the underground, yielding information on roots and soil -- As advanced as agriculture has become, there remains a pressing need for nondestructive ways to ”see” into
December 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Karnataka State Transport's Big Make in India Push, Inducts 25 Biodiesel Buses
by Nolan Pinto (India Today) The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has decided to imbibe Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet project 'Make in India' by utilizing biofuel in a big way. It has inducted 25 Scania buses that run
December 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Lux Research: FOG-Based Biodiesel Remains Significant Opportunity
(Lux Research/Biodiesel Magazine) Biomass-based diesel and conventional electricity lead the race to meet new emissions reduction goals, and diversified energy companies are well-placed, according to Lux Research. Traditionally policies to promote greener transportation fuels have focused on mandating volumes of specific
December 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Cell-Free Manufacturing: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Greenlight Biosciences
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) GreenLight Biosciences is a bioproduction company that has developed what it terms “a revolutionary cell-free manufacturing platform”. The cell-free platform is capable of synthesizing complex chemicals through a sustainable, clean, biological process at costs that can
December 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Fantastic 5: US States Getting It Done, Making Biobased Happen
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... the most innovative public-private policies are likely for some time to proceed out of regions, provinces and states. In some ways, in the United States the forces arrayed against the Renewable Fuel Standard will end up
December 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Regional Feedstock Partnership Report Highlights Work to Enable the Billion-Ton Vision
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Regional Feedstock Partnership (the Partnership)—a multi-institutional collaboration of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, representatives from land-grant universities, and industry—was first established to address issues associated with the development of
December 27, 2016 Read Full Article
JBEI Releases 4 New Biobased Technologies for Licensing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, researchers at the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) / Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have developed four new technologies available for license: Streamlined Saccharification from Lignocellulosic Biomass, 2015-143 Translation Control Tool for Plans, 2013-166 Determining Ligninases
December 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Iowa State to Manage Biorefinery Projects for New Manufacturing USA Institute
(Iowa State University) Iowa State University will bring its expertise in biorenewable technologies and pilot plant operations to the country’s 10th Manufacturing USA Institute. The recently announced advanced manufacturing institute is dedicated to improving the productivity and efficiency of chemical manufacturing.
December 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Show Me the Money: Where Is Venture Capital Placing Bets in Bio-based?
(Lux Research) From 2010 to 2015, the bio-based materials and chemicals (BBMC) industry attracted nearly $9.2 billion in funding from corporates, debts, individuals, private equity, public investment, and venture capital (VC). Notably, VCs have been the major financing driver for
December 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Attacking Carbon Intensity, Energy Intensity: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to the Agile BioFoundry
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) With the Agile BioFoundry project, the National Lab consortium, in partnership with academia and industry, aims to achieve a 40% decrease in the energy intensity of current manufacturing processes. Plus, a 60% decrease in the carbon
December 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Crazy. Sexy. Risk.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) On any list of 10 Colossal Failures of the Finance sector in this century, we’d put the failure of bankers and commercial-scale investors to get behind the advanced bioeconomy in a more timely fashion. “It
December 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Life Cycle Assessment of Integrated Seawater Agriculture in the Arabian (Persian) Gulf as a Potential Food and Aviation Biofuel Resource
by Brian Warshay, J. Jed Brown, Sgouris Sgouridis (The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment) Prospective evaluation of the lifecycle impacts of aviation biofuel production in Abu Dhabi, UAE based on a production system that integrates aquaculture, saltwater agriculture, and mangrove silviculture, termed an
December 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Can Ethanol Cure China's Corn Indigestion?
by Julien Hall, Samar Niazi, and Gao Xiaojuan (Platts Commodity Pulse VIDEO) China's corn stockpiles, built up over the past couple of years, have reached problematic levels. In this video, S&P Global Platts Agriculture editors Julien Hall, Samar Niazi and Gao
December 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Don't Change the RFS Point of Obligation
by Mark Griffin (Pro Petroleum/Real Clear Energy) ... Moving the point of obligation eliminates our ability to compete and gives major refiners a significant unfair advantage over small businesses in small markets across the country. Liquidity and competition are what keep fuel
December 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuels Industry May Have the Juice to Endure to Trump's EPA Chief Pick
by Chuck McCutcheon (Scientific American) Despite concerns over Scott Pruitt’s record of opposing ethanol, experts say the renewable-fuel program is on safe ground -- ... Ethanol advocates, however, do not seem to worry that Pruitt will make similar waves involving their
December 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol Spills Article Lacks Facts, Context
by Dan Velasquez (Letter to the Editor, Des Moines Register) ... If we were not using home-grown ethanol, we’d be shipping more crude oil. The article pointed out that in the 30 years from 1985 to 2015, just over 88,000 gallons of
December 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Stay the Course
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/NewsOK) Regarding “Flaws in Renewable Fuel Standard aren't going away” (Our Views, Dec. 16): The Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires that refiners blend an increasing amount of ethanol and other biofuels into petroleum, has been
December 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Industry Seeks Higher Sugar Price; Gadkari for Reasonable Rate
(MoneyControl) Amid demand from the industry to allow retail sugar prices to rise up to Rs 45/kg, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today said the rates should be reasonable for consumers as the government has a difficult job to balance interest
December 23, 2016 Read Full Article
I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In: Anellotech, Edeniq, Novvi
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... For Anellotech, a new technology to extend catalyst life by reducing catalyst poisons that cause catalyst and product cost to soar. For Novvi, a signature investment from Chevron. From Edeniq, word that their technology is
December 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Algae Biomass Organization Seeking Virtual Interns
(Algae Biomass Organization) Students - Are you interested in doing more for your industry while completing your degree? Help define the algae sector of today and shape the industry of tomorrow as an Algae Biomass Organization volunteer virtual intern. Internships of
December 23, 2016 Read Full Article
New Feed Sources Key to Ambitious Climate Targets
by Brian J. Walsh, et al. (Carbon Balance and Management) Net carbon sinks capable of avoiding dangerous perturbation of the climate system and preventing ocean acidification have been identified, but they are likely to be limited by resource constraints (Nature 463:747–756,
December 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Govt to Set up First 2G Ethanol Bio-Refinery in Punjab
(Business Standard) The foundation stone for India's first second generation ethanol bio-refinery to be set up by Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL) at Bathinda in Punjab at a cost of Rs 600 crore will be laid on December 25, an official
December 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Call to Action
by Dave VanderGriend (ICM/Urban Air Initiative/Ethanol Producer Magazine) We need to prioritize and devise a plan utilizing all the talents in the ethanol industry to overcome the roadblocks to greater market access. -- Last November, I flew to India, a country
December 23, 2016 Read Full Article
UCI Scientists Identify a New Approach to Recycle Greenhouse Gas
(University of California, Irvine) Using a novel approach involving a key enzyme that helps regulate global nitrogen, University of California, Irvine molecular biologists have discovered an effective way to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) to carbon monoxide (CO) that can be
December 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuel Market Must Remain Competitive for UK Farms, NFU Says
(NFU Online) The NFU has met with ministers to urge the Department for Transport to keep biofuel markets as open as possible for UK farmers to remain competitive with their European neighbours. NFU North East combinable crops board chair Brett Askew
December 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Hydrocarbons from Cheap Renewable Carbon: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Global Bioenergies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Global Bioenergies is a pioneer in the development of one-step fermentation processes for the direct and cost-efficient transformation of renewable resources into light olefin hydrocarbons, the key building blocks of the petrochemical industry. Since inception,
December 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Baguio Students Create Biofuel from Wild ‘Gabi’ Plant
by Enrico Belga Jr. (Rappler) Dubbed as 'Bio-Gab,' the group’s biofuel invention converts wild taro, which is hazardous to humans and animals, into a bioethanol that can fuel cars -- ... This need also motivated a group of college students from St
December 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Global Bioenergies to Acquire Gas Fermentation Start-Up Syngip
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Syngip talked here about the possibility of producing liquid hydrocarbons from waste feedstocks at costs as low as €100 per ton. ... What’s this deal all about? In two words, cheaper carbon. The Global Bioenergies story is
December 23, 2016 Read Full Article
A Few Reasonable RIN Ideas
by John Campbell (Ocean Park Advisors) The RINs market would be improved with timely blend targets and compliance reporting, increased transparency and trading limits. -- ... Although it might reduce undesirable trading practices, moving the point of obligation would not
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Can America Really Be ‘Great Again’ With A Gutted EPA?
by Margo T. Oge (Huffington Post) ... Businessmen are always looking for a good return on investment. America’s environmental protections are a steal. The public health benefits of a cleaner environment and a healthier workforce are far greater than the
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Ag Leaders Praise Branstad as China Pick
by Gene Lucht Lee (Agri-Media/Midwest Producer) Midwestern agricultural leaders have been watching President-elect Donald Trump’s criticism of trade - with China, in particular - with some concern. But their hopes were lifted Dec. 7 when it was announced Iowa Gov.
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Icahn Named Special Trump Adviser to Roll Back Regulations
by Mike Dorning and Beth Jinks (BloombergPolitics) $20 billion net worth makes him one of richest men in America; Trump says Icahn will advise on ‘strangling regulations’ -- Trump often spoke admiringly of (Carl) Icahn during his presidential campaign and cited
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol Use Continues to Grow While Prices Reach Decade Lows
(USDA) In the United States, production of ethanol is largely tied to federally mandated renewable fuel standards contained in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the prior Energy Policy Act of 2005. The former calls for 36
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Food Prices Merrier as Biodiesel Production Grows
(National Biodiesel Board) USDA data show cost of food has declined -- As Americans set the table for another holiday meal this year, they are paying less for it, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Price Outlook. The Consumer
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
CALL FOR INNOVATIONS: ARPA-E "Energy Ideas to Change the World" --- February 27-March 1, 2017 --- National Harbor, MD DEADLINE: January 13, 2017
(ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit) Do you have a novel idea that can help solve our nation’s energy challenges? If you have a great idea and are willing to share it with the world, apply to the "Energy Ideas to Change
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Trump Says Energy Regulations Are Hurting Economic Growth. The Evidence Says Otherwise.
by Vivek Wadhwa and Mark Muro (The Washington Post) ... The assumption they are making is that economic growth depends upon increasing carbon emissions. Trump and Pruitt seem to believe that because energy is essential for economic development, increasing its production by
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
The Coming Battle between the Trump Team and Economists over the True Cost of Climate Change
by Chelsea Harvey (The Washington Post) ... It seems increasingly likely that the Trump administration would either alter, or attempt to stop using entirely, an Obama-era metric known as the “social cost of carbon” in its federal rule-making processes. And that could have have
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Extension of Comment Periods for: The Renewables Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and the Proposed Denial to Change the Point of Obligation
(Environmental Protection Agency) On December 20, 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued extensions of the comment periods for two actions: the Renewables Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and the Proposed Denial to Change the Point
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Molecular Velcro Boosts Microalgae's Potential in Biofuel, Industrial Applications
(Michigan State University) Michigan State University scientists have engineered “molecular Velcro” into cyanobacteria, boosting this microalgae’s biofuel viability as well as its potential for other research. The findings, featured in the current issue of ACS Synthetic Biology, show how MSU researchers
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
‘Glue’ That Makes Plant Cell Walls Strong Could Hold the Key to Wooden Skyscrapers
(University of Cambridge) Molecules 10,000 times narrower than the width of a human hair could hold the key to making possible wooden skyscrapers and more energy-efficient paper production, according to research published today in the journal Nature Communications. The study,
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Costa and UCL Start-Up Transform Coffee Waste into Renewable Fuel
(University College London) UCL start-up bio-bean is turning more than 3,000 tonnes of waste coffee grounds into low-carbon fuel in a new partnership with coffee giant Costa. Waste grounds from more than 850 Costa stores are being transformed into biomass pellets
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
US Biodiesel Producers Lose Court Challenge over Argentinian Imports
by Meghan Gordon (Platts) A US appeals court Tuesday dismissed a challenge by American biodiesel producers to the Environmental Protection Agency's decision allowing Argentinian biodiesel to qualify for US renewable fuel credits. The National Biodiesel Board trade group had argued that EPA
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
California Here I Come: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to California Low-Carbon Markets
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) California, the land of milk and honey when it comes to markets for biofuels. What’s up now, what’s coming, what’s working? Low Carbon Fuels Coalition chief Graham Noyes gave this illuminating overview at ABLC Next
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Trump’s Nixonian Pivot
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) News of high-level appointments have been streaming out of Trump Tower all this week and last, and two trends are already clear: it’s a group mostly out of the business and military communities, and there’s
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Global Business America Highlights Advanced Biofuels USA in Planet Green Section
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) Global Business America, part of Global Business Publishing, highlighted Advanced Biofuels USA's study of the feasibility of an energy beet project for the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delmarva Peninsula with a photo-packed spread
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
FlowCam Announces Student Equipment and Travel Grant DEADLINE: January 31, 2017
(Algae Industry Magazine) Scarborough, ME-based laboratory instrumentation manufacturer, Fluid Imaging Technologies (FIT), has announced that it is accepting applications for the FlowCam® Student Equipment & Travel Grant for Algae Technology Research. The grant is open to graduate students and senior
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
DOE Announces $15 Million to Accelerate the Deployment of Energy Efficient Transportation Technologies
(Department of Energy) Today (December 21, 2016), the Energy Department (DOE) announced $15 million, subject to appropriations, to support community-based projects to accelerate the adoption of advanced and alternative fuel vehicles and demonstrate energy efficient mobility systems including connected and
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Tough Path to Reach US Ethanol Max in 2017
(Argus Media) US ethanol producers may never hit the 15bn USG target federal regulators included in biofuel blending mandates next year as they run into infrastructure, demand and regulatory hurdles. ... Stores can only sell higher-ethanol blends through authorized dispensers and may
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Let Ethanol Compete in a Free Market for Gas
by Erik Cafarella (Wall Street Journal) Regarding Jeff Broin and Delayne Johnson’s letters (Dec. 8): I find it difficult to take CEOs of companies whose existence is predicated on legally enforced mandates seriously. ... Home Depot and Lowe’s have large areas devoted
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Williams: Trump Should Work to End Renewable Fuel Standard
by Tom Thoma and David Williams (Taxpayers Protection Alliance/Globe Gazette) ... (Carl) Icahn’s proposal centers on the definition of “obligated parties,” which is the official government term for the entities required to blend in renewables. ... Icahn didn’t launch this campaign
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Chicago School Growing Future Ag Careers
by Cindy Zimmerman (AgWired.com) The American Seed Trade Association Future Seed Executives (FuSE) had the opportunity to hear about an agricultural high school right in Chicago that is growing the next generation for the industry. The Chicago High School for Agricultural
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol Project in Offing
(The New Indian Express) There is a need to increase the minimum support price (MSP) of crops and bringing down the farming input cost, said Union Petroleum Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan. ... “For development, long term planning is required and the
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Approves Flint Hills Resources for Cellulosic Ethanol from Edeniq’s Pathway Technology
(Edeniq/Business Wire) Edeniq, Inc., a leading cellulosic and biorefining technology company, today announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved Flint Hills Resources’ registration of its 120 MGPY Shell Rock, Iowa ethanol plant for cellulosic ethanol production using
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Novel Mechanism in Bacterial-Fungal Symbiosis Could Have Biodiesel Production Applications
(Phys.Org/ DOE/Joint Genome Institute) ... To learn more about how bacteria interact with fungi in a symbiotic relationship to support the biochemistries that could contribute to the development of alternate fuel sources, Cornell and DOE JGI researchers used a model bacterial-fungal
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Qld Drivers Buying State's Ethanol Push
(AAP/Yahoo! News) Queenslanders are increasingly filling up their vehicles with E10 ahead of a New Year ethanol mandate. A fuel sales data analysis by the RACQ shows that 35.6 million litres of E10 was sold in Queensland in October, an 11
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Volkswagen to Recall 83,000 3.0 Liter Diesel Vehicles and Fund Mitigation Projects to Settle Allegations of Cheating Emissions Tests on Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche Vehicles
(Environmental Protection Agency) Settlement requires Volkswagen to offer to buy back older vehicles, and spend $225 million to mitigate NOx pollution. Volkswagen will also repair newer vehicles to comply with the standards to which they were certified In a second partial
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Researchers Learn How a Bacterium Reduces CO2 in Biofuel Production
by Kathleen Tuck (Boise State University) A paper co-authored by Lisa Warner, an assistant research professor in the Biomolecular Research Center, looks at how Clostridium thermocellum breaks down and converts cellulosic biomass to produce biofuels, including hydrogen and hydrocarbons, while
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Fueling Destruction: The Unintended Consequences of the Renewable Fuel Standard on Land, Water, and Wildlife
by David DeGennaro (National Wildlife Federation) Since Congress passed into law in 2005 a federal mandate to blend corn-based ethanol and other renewable fuels into conventional gasoline, the increased demand for corn – which has supplied nearly all of these mandated
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Bolt-on Cellulosic Ethanol: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Edeniq
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Edeniq is a biorefining and cellulosic technology company. Edeniq delivers integrated process innovations that unlock sugars. These technological innovations uniquely combine mechanical and biological processes. Edeniq’s capital light and operationally efficient solutions can be easily integrated
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol Makers to Ink Cassava Deal
by Phusadee Arunmas (Bangkok Post) Ethanol makers have agreed to buy 10,000 tonnes of cassava root a day from farmers at 1.9 baht a kilogramme in a bid to raise farm income and stabilise fresh cassava prices. ... Massive supply of fresh cassava
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Opposition Wants Biofuels Bill Start Date Staggered
by Mary Karugaba (New Vision) Staggering the commencement date would help government build capacity. -- ... Presenting the opposition’s views on the Biofuels Bills, 2016 to the parliamentary committee on Natural Resources, MP Simon Oyet argued that right now the country has
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Ashraf Visits PSO’s Biodiesel Project
(The News) Pakistan State Oil (PSO) has taken an initiative towards alternative fuels by launching a pilot project for production of bio-diesel. For this purpose, the PSO has developed Jatropha Model Farm at Marshalling Yard, Pipri, Karachi. Federal Minister for Water
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS: 2017 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo --- June 19-21, 2017 --- Minneapolis, MN DEADLINE February 24, 2017
BBI International and Ethanol Producer Magazine have announced a call for abstracts for the 33rd annual International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW). The FEW is set to take place June 19-21, 2017 at the Minneapolis Convention Center and again
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
World Petroleum Council Guide to Biofuels
(World Petroleum Council) ‘Biofuels’ will be the 6th in the series of the WPC’s educational guides and will focus on the use of biofuels and their role in our current and future global energy supply. It is essential for the petroleum
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Amber Waves of Gain: BioAmber, CJ CheilJedang to Launch Asian JV for Bio-Succinic
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In South Korea, BioAmber and CJ CheilJedang Corporation signed a LOI for a joint venture in China to produce up to 36,000 metric tons of bio-succinic acid per year. It’s not a greenfield. The CJCJ JV
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol an Efficient Fuel for the Nation
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/The Intelligencer Wheeling News-Register) ... Food price inflation has averaged just 2.6 percent annually since 2005, compared to the 3.5 percent average from 1980-2004. It is important to note that one-third of every bushel of
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Recapping My Decade of Using and Experimenting With Alternative Fuels +VIDEO
by Marc J. Rauch (The Auto Channel) ... For a guy who grew up primarily in Brooklyn and Queens, farming was as alien to me as the dark side of the moon. Nevertheless, the story was riveting because it presented economic possibilities
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Response to Petitions for Reconsideration of RFS2 Rule to Change the Point of Obligation
(Environmental Protection Agency) EPA proposed to deny requests from petitioners to initiate a rulemaking to change the point of obligation for compliance under the Renewable Fuel Standard program. Due to the importance, complexity, and broad stakeholder interest in this issue,
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Donald Trump Sends Mixed Signals on Ethanol Mandate
by Amy Harder and Jacob Bunge (The Wall Street Journal) President-elect backed the federal biofuels rules as a candidate, but his EPA pick opposes them -- ... Mr. Trump’s pick to run the Environmental Protection Agency, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt,
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
NREL Releases 2015 Renewable Energy Data Book
by Katie Fletcher (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently released its 2015 Renewable Energy Data Book, showing that renewable electricity grew to 16.7 percent of total installed capacity in the U.S. and 13.8 percent of total electricity generation
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Amends Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA has published a final rule amending specific provisions of its Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule with the goal of streamlining and improving implementation of the rule and improving the quality and consistency
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuel Company Committed to Storage Tank Repairs
by Tom Callis (Hawaii Tribune-Herald) A company that wants to import biofuel through Hilo Harbor plans to resume refurbishing storage tanks at a former asphalt plant by February, its founder said. Chuck Barker of Hoku Kai Biofuels said the company is
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: International Conference on Renewable Resources & Biorefineries --- June 7-9, 2017 ... Wroclaw, Poland DEADLINE: January 15, 2017
The 13th edition of the International Conference on Renewable Resources & Biorefineries will take place in Wroclaw, Poland from Wednesday June 7 until Friday June 9, 2017. Based on the previous RRB conferences, this conference is expected to welcome about
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
CALL FOR SPEAKERS: SynBioBeta — April 4-6, 2017 — London, UK DEADLINE: January 20, 2017
For the 5th year in a row, SynBioBeta London 2017 will bring together thought leaders and entrepreneurs from multiple facets of the synthetic biology industry. Our focus is to unite attendees through thought-provoking talks, panels and networking opportunities, allowing the
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
CALL FOR PAPERS: 21st Annual Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference — June 13-15, 2017 — Reston, VA DEADLINE: February 13, 2017
The overarching theme of the conference in 2017 will be “Making Our Way to a Sustainable Tomorrow.” The conference invites scientists and leaders from all sectors to come together to address critical topics such as the design of sustainable chemicals,
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Why You Should Care about Low Carbon Fuels and Vehicle Initiatives
by Tammy Klein (Future Fuel Strategies/OurEnergyPolicy.org) Citizens and policymakers in many countries have never been more committed to combating climate change across all sectors. One high-emitting sector that is often overlooked, when compared to industry and manufacturing, is transportation. Transport
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Queensland Government Opens Expressions of Interest Process as Drive for Biobased Industry Gains Momentum
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Australia, the Queensland Government will target Australian and international biofutures investment to help boost the industry in regional Queensland. Speaking in Parliament today, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that an Expression of Interest process to
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Renewable Energy to Fuels Through Utilization of Energy-Dense Liquids: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to ARPA-E’s 17 REFUEL Winning Projects
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s about converting renewable power to fuels for storage and back to power again for electric motoring. The Renewable Energy to Fuels Through Utilization of Energy-Dense Liquids (REFUEL) program seeks to develop scalable technologies
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Tossed Aside in the 'White Gold' Rush: Indigenous People Are Left Poor as Tech World Takes Lithium from under Their Feet
Story by Todd C. Frankel and Peter Whoriskey; Photos and videos by Michael Robinson Chavez; Video editing by Jorge Ribas (The Washington Post) In the thin air of the salt flats here, nearly 13,000 feet above sea level, the indigenous Atacamas people
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
ROOTS, REFUEL, MARINER & Algae: DOE Invests $100M for 4 Big Shots at Liquid Transportation Fuels & Feedstocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It may be a sign of the times, a sense of worry that R&D for renewable transport fuels may lose all their popularity under the incoming Trump Administration. Whatever the cause, the biggest set of projects
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Denmark Leads Europe by Giving Green Light to 0.9% Advanced Biofuels Blending Target
by Liz Gyekye (Biofuels International) Denmark has agreed plans to implement a 0.9% advanced biofuels blending mandate by 2020 for use in transportation. This news will provide a boost to second-generation biofuels. For example, biofuels made from waste materials. This puts
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
U.S. Senator's View: Strong Biofuel Industry Builds Economy, Lessens US Dependence
By U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Duluth News Tribune) Back in 2009, I had the opportunity to attend the grand opening of Ever Cat’s biodiesel plant in Isanti, Minn. The company, started by a feed-supplement supplier for farmers, uses innovative technology
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Growth Energy and Fuels America Members Send Letter to President-Elect Trump About Renewable Fuel Standard Support
(Biofuels Journal) Today, Growth Energy, along with other members of Fuels America, sent a letter to President-elect Trump congratulating him on his successful election, and expressing a desire to work with the new administration to ensure that the Renewable Fuel
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Trump Taps Mulvaney for OMB
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday formally selected fierce fiscal conservative Rep. Mick Mulvaney to lead the Office of Management and Budget, POLITICO's Ben Weyl reports . That would also put him in charge of overseeing
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
The Trump Cabinet's Greener Thumb
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) Defense Secretary nominee James Mattis may be a rare ray of hope for environmental advocates that the coming administration won't completely walk away from clean energy initiatives, Pro's Eric Wolff reports . The
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
ARPA-E Announces $70 Million in Funding for New Programs to Power Transportation and Store Carbon in Soil
(U.S. Department of Energy) Selection of 26 projects across two programs will make transportation cleaner and mitigate carbon dioxide emissions -- The Energy Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) today announced up to $70 million in funding for its two
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Fossil Fuel Divestments Now Represent $5.2 Trillion
by Brian Kahn (Climate Central) Investing heavy weights are moving their assets and funds out of fossil fuels at a record pace. A network of local governments, pension funds, faith organizations, philanthropies and wealthy individuals representing $5.2 trillion in assets have
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Maryland’s TEDCO Funds 19 Technology Start ups Including Algae Crude Producer
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Maryland, the state’s Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) announced today that 19 companies have received over $1.9 million in funding from the organization’s Seed Investment Fund in the last six months. The funding will be
December 16, 2016 Read Full Article
ACE to Grassroots: Urge Senators to Get Ethanol Support from EPA Nominee Pruitt in Nomination Process
(American Coalition for Ethanol) The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) issued a call-to-action to its grassroots membership today, urging ethanol supporters to contact their U.S. Senators about the nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection
December 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Closing Arguments Begin in Yearslong Biofuel Fraud Case
by Ouch Sony (Cambodian Daily) Prosecutor asks for conviction for military general alongside U.K. businessman -- ... Mr. (Gregg) Fryett and his Cambodian-American associates Um Sam Ang and Soeun Denny, and Cambodian Ouk Keo Ratanak, were jailed in 2013 over a
December 15, 2016 Read Full Article
NexSteppe Malibu Sweet Sorghum and Palo Alto Biomass Sorghum Approved for Commercial Sale in South Africa
(NexSteppe) NexSteppe, a company dedicated to pioneering the next generation of sustainable feedstock solutions for biobased industries, announced today that the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has approved four NexSteppe sorghum hybrids for commercial sale in country.
December 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Can We Avoid Another Cataclysmic Meltdown Of The Global Financial System?
by Tim Sklar (Sklar and Associates/Biofuels Digest) Take-aways from Rana Foroohar’s Article Titled “Saving Capitalism” (Time Magazine, May 23, 2016) and her book titled ”Makers and Takers, The Rise of Finance and the Fall of American Business”. ... Although we still believe
December 15, 2016 Read Full Article
All Bioeconomy Processes Developed Upstairs: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to the ABPDU
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s known by the ungainly acronym ABPDU, which might as well decode as “All Bioeconomy Processes Developed Upstairs,” but actually stands for the far more modest “Advanced Biofuels Process Demonstration Unit.” It’s run out of the Berkeley
December 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Chief Pilot: The ABPDU, Where the Elite Meet to Defeat Petroleum
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... “Advanced Biofuels Process Demonstration Unit.” It’s run out of the Berkeley Lab, and is the technology center behind the technology centers, if you will, of companies such as Kiverdi, Sylvatex, Perfect Day, Lygos, Microvi,
December 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Study: RNG Fuel Use in California Transportation
by Lauren Tyler (NGT News) A team from the University of California Davis conducted a study for the California Air Resources Board examining the feasibility of producing large quantities of renewable natural gas (RNG) fuels for use in transportation in
December 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Mahoney Environmental Signs National Service Agreement With Carrols Corporation
(Mahoney Environmental/PR Newswire) Mahoney obtains exclusive rights to collect and recycle used cooking oil generated at Carrols Burger King locations -- Mahoney Environmental, (www.mahoneyes.com) a leading recycler of cooking oil for over 60 years, announced today that it previously entered
December 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Gladstone's $5m Test Site to Crack Billion Dollar Industry
by Tegan Annett (Northern Star) What was once a paw paw farm in Yarwun is now a multi-million dollar laboratory that is leading the way for renewable fuel creation. Yesterday Northern Oil's biocrude and biofuel laboratory was officially opened, marking the
December 14, 2016 Read Full Article
America's New Ambassador To China Is A Boon To The Renewables Sector
by Tristan R. Brown (Seeking Alpha) President-elect Donald Trump nominated Iowa governor Terry Branstad to be America's ambassador to China last week. China's government was quick to praise the pick, having developed a strong relationship with Mr. Branstad thanks to a
December 14, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Releases Final Report on Impacts from Hydraulic Fracturing Activities on Drinking Water
(Environmental Protection Agency) EPA’s report concludes that hydraulic fracturing activities can impact drinking water resources under some circumstances and identifies factors that influence these impacts -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing its scientific report on the impacts
December 14, 2016 Read Full Article
The RFS and Domestic Consumption of Conventional Ethanol and Biomass-Based Diesel to 2022
by Scott Irwin and Darrel Good (FarmDoc Daily/University of Illinois) In the farmdoc daily article of November 30, 2016, we examined the magnitude of the "push" in production and consumption of biofuels implied by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
December 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Agritrade Acquires Its First Biodiesel Plant with Solfuels
(Biofuels International) Agritrade Resources, an integrated energy and shipping solutions provider, in entering into renewable energy with Solfuels Holdings, an experienced biofuel operator, by acquiring a biodiesel plant in Arkansas, US. Agritrade will own 51%, while Solfuels Holdings will hold the
December 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Welch Outlines Ethanol Reform Agenda for New Congress
(Vermont Business Magazine) ... Welch (Representative Peter Welch (D-VT)) will reintroduce the bipartisan Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Reform Act, which will reform the corn ethanol mandate while continuing to promote advanced biofuels, as well as the bipartisan Food and Fuel
December 14, 2016 Read Full Article
BioJet Fuel, Water and Food - Turf Feeding Systems Is Changing the Yucatan with a New Project
(Turf Feeding Systems/PR Web) Turf Feeding Systems, a Houston company, is starting a new project and is contracted to design, build and manage the agriculture for a special BioJet fuel project in the Yucatan region of Mexico that is focused
December 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Commission ‘Dangerously’ Out of Touch with Reality on Biofuels
by Dick Roche (EurActiv/Pannonia Ethanol) A response delivered by Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete in the European Parliament last week demonstrates just how dangerously out of touch with reality the executive is on a policy that impacts on the lives of
December 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol, Biodiesel Retailer Award Nominations Sought DEADLINE: December 31, 2016
(Dickenson County News) Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey on Friday, Dec. 9, encouraged Iowa fuel retailers and gas stations to submit nominations for the Secretary's Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards, which recognize fuel retailers that have gone above and beyond
December 14, 2016 Read Full Article
DOE: Twenty-five States Crack E10 Blend Wall
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) Though the national average percentage of ethanol in gasoline came in at 9.91% in 2015, according to the Energy Information Administration, half of all states now see ethanol in more than 10% of gasoline
December 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Switchgrass May Be a Good Option for Farmers Who Have Lost Fertile Topsoil
(University of Missouri) Switchgrass Can Improve Soil Quality on Eroded Farms, Study Finds -- The loss of fertile topsoil from agricultural fields is an economic problem for modern farmers. When runoff water washes topsoil from agricultural fields in areas with
December 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Nobina Wins Traffic Contracts Worth SEK 260 Million and Is Awarded Environmental Bonus of SEK 1 Million in Finland
(Nobina) ... HSL’s decision to award Nobina an environmental bonus of SEK 1.06 million is a result of Nobina’s offer to switch from diesel to biodiesel during 2017. Nobina’s switch from diesel to biodiesel covers 680 000 liters of
December 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Battelle Unlocks Door, Algae Could Rush In
by Stafford “Doc” Williamson (DaoChi Energy/Biofuels Digest) Reported in the Feednavigator.com (Dec. 8, 2016) is news that soymeal has taken a step toward replacing fishmeal as aquaculture feed. The Battelle company, at the behest of the Ohio Soybean Council, has developed a non-fermentation method that
December 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Renewable Specialty Chemicals: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Green Biologics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Green Biologics is focused on the production of renewable n-butanol and other C4 chemicals from various renewable feedstocks, including sugar (cane, molasses, beets), starch (corn) and cellulosic biomass (corn residues, sugar cane bagasse, forest materials and
December 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Trump Taps Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke as Interior Secretary
by Juliet Eilperin (The Washington Post) President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke, who has represented Montana’s at-large congressional seat for one term, to serve as secretary of the Department of the Interior, according to an individual with firsthand
December 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Icahn Cheers Trump EPA Pick Amid Calls for Fuel-Rule Revamp
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg) Icahn refiner wants $15 billion renewable-fuels market changed; Cost of credits surged as U.S. mandates on biofuels at record -- Six weeks before he becomes U.S. president, Donald Trump is already disrupting an obscure, $15 billion corner of
December 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Nebraska Congressman to Continue Push for More E-15 Sales
by Brent Martin (Nebraska Radio Network) ... Congressman Adrian Smith says the move helps the ethanol industry, but he adds more can be done. “I’m continuing to work on a bill that I introduced some time ago that would allow, not mandate,
December 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Estonia Last EU State to Begin Transitioning to Biofuel
(Estonia Public Broadcasting) The Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure submitted a bill amending the Liquid Fuel Act which would require liquid fuel suppliers to add fuels produced from renewable sources, known as biofuels, to their gasoline and diesel fuel.
December 13, 2016 Read Full Article
A Critical Look at Cellulosic Ethanol and Other Advanced Biofuels
by Alexander A. Koukoulas0 (ANL Consultants LLC/Biofuels Digest) ... The pursuit of 2nd Gen fuels has been motivated by several factors including: their inherently low-cost, at least from a theoretical standpoint; their potential for drastically reducing carbon emissions relative to 1st Gen
December 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Second Chance Carbon: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to LanzaTech
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) LanzaTech has developed a fully sustainable integrative gas to fuels and chemicals platform that has no impact on food, water security or high biodiversity land use. LanzaTech’s gas fermentation platform disrupts the current highly centralized global
December 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Trump Taps Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to Head Energy Department He Once Vowed to Abolish
by Juliet Eilperin and Steven Mufson (The Washington Post) President-elect Donald Trump has picked Rick Perry to head the Energy Department, said two people familiar with the decision, seeking to put the former Texas governor in control of an agency whose
December 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Birth of Mideast Renewables?
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) Squeezed budgets from low oil prices since mid-2014, combined with rising energy demand, will boost demand for renewable energy and efficiency technologies across the Middle East, according to a white paper published Monday following
December 13, 2016 Read Full Article
The Everglades Foundation Officially Kicks Off Search for Algae Bloom Solution with Four-year, $10-million Prize
(Everglades Foundation) The Everglades Foundation (The Foundation) today officially kicked off its four-year, $10-million George Barley Water Prize at the “Tapping Innovation: Breakthrough Thinking, Action & Awards” event at the Miami Science Barge, unveiling the winners of the first two
December 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Not So Prolific: U.S. Shale Faces A Reality Check
by Nick Cunningham (OilPrice.com) ... Speaking at the National Oil-equipment Manufacturers and Delegates Society (NOMADS) in Houston a few months ago, IHS Markit’s associate direct for Plays and Basins, Reed Olmstead, poked holes in the notion that the industry has dramatically
December 13, 2016 Read Full Article
New EBA Publication on Biomethane in Transport
(Austrian Network Biofuels Newsletter) The European Biogas Association (EBA) has published a new brochure aiming to serve as an introduction to biomethane in transport, going through its benefits and the challenges that lie ahead. Different chapters are dealing with Europe’s
December 13, 2016 Read Full Article
EU Biofuels Policy – UFOP in Favour of Maintaining 7% Cap
(UFOP) “The 7% cap for biofuels made from cultivated biomass, first established in 2015, must be maintained beyond 2020.” With this position, the Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP) rejects the proposal made today by the
December 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Farm Based Algae
(Algae Industry Magazine) The University of Queensland operates an Algae Energy Farm to cultivate and harvest microalgae for a range of uses, including as a feed supplement for beef cattle. Lead researcher Professor Peer Schenk said the farm shows that
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Air Liquide to Design, Build Landfill Gas Purification Plant
(Air Liquide/Biomass Magazine) Air Liquide will design, construct and operate its first landfill gas (LFG) to renewable natural gas (RNG) purification plant in the U.S. at the Northeast Mississippi Landfill (NEML), in Walnut, Mississippi. The site, owned by the Northeast
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Chinese Firm Gives Tentative Green Light to Kemi Biorefinery
(Yle) The CEO of the company's Finnish subsidiary, Carl Haglund, says that next year will bring a final decision – and hopefully a groundbreaking for the billion-euro facility in northern Finland. -- Chinese bioenergy giant Kaidi has this week decided