by Bobby Magill (Climate Central) U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a sixth-term Republican from Washington State who is a climate change denier and an ardent opponent of regulations for greenhouse gas emissions, has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for
Archive
Back TO HOMEBMW Sees Battery Costs Causing Years of 'Tears' on E-Cars
by Elisabeth Behrman (Bloomberg) With driving ranges limited by current technology, BMW expects it to take about seven years to double the amount of energy stored in a battery. -- BMW AG (IW 1000/27) sees no quick way to boost
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS, WORKSHOPS: Sardinia Symposium 2017 --- October 2-6, 2017 --- Forte Village, Cagliari, Italy DEADLINE: March 1, 2017
Following the incredible success of Sardinia 2015 / Arts Edition, which saw the participation of 732 delegates from more than 70 different countries from all the continents, we are proud to announce the 30th Anniversary of Sardinia Symposia, the reference
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Accelerated Cassava Breeding Coming Via OHV Technology Collaboration
(Dow AgroSciences/Business Wire) Dow AgroSciences, Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University and Agriculture Victoria Working Together on Essential African Root Crop -- More productive cassava plants, a root crop that is foundational for food security in Africa, will be made possible by
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
ADM Announces Project to Provide Renewable Natural Gas
(Archer Daniels Midland/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Archer Daniels Midland Co. recently announced a project in which renewable natural gas, produced as a byproduct at ADM’s corn processing facility in Decatur, Illinois, will be distributed by Ameren Illinois into the nation’s natural
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Researchers Collaborate with AST to Develop Lignin-Based Products
(American Science and Technology/Ethanol Producer Magazine) American Science and Technology, a sustainable technology company, has teamed up with Terma Group, a team of Waste and Environmental Technology researchers at the University of Malaga in Spain, to continue efforts on the
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Minnesota n-butanol Plant Comes Online
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) A United Kingdom company has successfully converted a Minnesota ethanol plant into an n-butanol production facility, which is now online after two years of development. David Anderson of Green Biologics Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of U.K.-based
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Seeks Comments on Flex Fuel Provisions of REGS Rule
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Dec. 2, the U.S. EPA issued a notice of data availability (NODA) that will make additional data available for comment on the ethanol flex fuel (EFF) provisions of its proposed Renewables Enhancement and
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
TAIA: Look beyond EVs to Ethanol
by Piyachart Maikaew (Bangkok Post) ... "The US is weighing its support for ethanol fuel, aiming to promote E30 blends in lieu of the E10 it supports now, indicating its interest in alternative energy for conventional-engine vehicles," said Mr Thanawat
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Economists Examine RVO Impact on Conventional, Advanced Biofuels
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Two central questions arise when considering biofuels consumption through 2022, write University of Illinois ag economists Scott Irwin and Darrel Good: “When will domestic consumption of ethanol reach the statutory RFS mandate ceiling
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
RFS Standards Help Ohioans
by Rick Fox (The Clermont Sun) Letter to Editor: Commissioner Uible’s recent letter “Fixing the RFS Pothole” was full of myth and inaccuracies regarding the ethanol industry and the Renewable Fuel Standard. Uible claims ethanol is raising the price of corn
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
A Stark Reminder from OPEC
by Jim Talent (Washington Examiner) I am old enough to remember the first energy crisis in the early 1970s. That episode was a tremendous shock for two reasons: Gasoline prices spiked, and Americans realized just how vulnerable our nation had
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
We Really Do Mean “Drop-in”: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Gevo
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Gevo has two proprietary technologies that combine to make it possible to retrofit existing ethanol plants to produce isobutanol, a four carbon alcohol which serves as a hydrocarbon platform molecule. They have developed an industrial
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
SRA Nixes Independent Oil Players’ Call for More Ethanol Imports
by James Konstantin Galvez (The Manila Times) Despite rising fuel prices, the state-run Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has dismissed calls by independent oil players to allow increased imports of ethanol products to effectively lower gas pump prices. Rosemarie Gumera, planning and
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Record Production of Ethanol May Cut Fuel Bill
by Dipak K Dash (Times of India) Sugar mills recorded the highest ever production of ethanol of more than 110 crore litres during 2015-16 crop year, over 50% more than what was produced during the previous year. According to food ministry officials,
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Governors Press Trump on RFS Following Pruitt EPA Nomination
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) Just two days after President-elect Donald Trump's transition team announced Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt was the nominee to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Governors' Biofuels Coalition reminded Trump about his
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Accelerating the Shift to a Vibrant Australian Biofuels Industry
(Australian Renewable Energy Agency) Australia’s first advanced green fuels laboratory has opened its doors in regional Queensland, thanks to support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), allowing researchers to test biocrude on our shores for the first time. ARENA has
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Norway to Boost Biofuels Blend Levels to 20 Percent
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Norway, the national government increased the biofuels content in fuets to 20% from 2020. Also, in their new budget, the government increased taxes on petrol to NOK 0,12 pr/l and NOK 0,35 pr/l. Tax
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
You’re the Top: Biogreen Diesel Gets Picked as South Africa’s Top Biodiesel Prodicer
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In South Africa, Frost & Sullivan recognised Biogreen Diesel with the 2016 South Africa Company of the Year Award. Biogreen has risen to eminence in the biodiesel industry for pioneering a closed-loop system wherein cooking
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Amyris Partners with Queensland to Create the Leading Industrial Biotechnology Hub in Southeast Asia
(Amyris/Globe Newswire) Government and Local Sugarcane Industry Partners with Amyris to Produce Sustainable Ingredients for the Personal Care and Nutraceutical Markets -- Amyris, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMRS), the industrial bioscience company, and the Government of Queensland, Australia today announced a partnership to
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
What’s Next in Cellulosic Biofuels?: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Iogen and the Cellulosic Sector
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Iogen says it has has “one of the world’s largest and most experienced teams in developing, designing, de-bugging, scaling-up and deploying cellulosic biofuel technology. We’re using innovative thinking and disciplined engineering to transform cellulosic biofuels
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Sinatra Bio: Ol’ Brew Eyes is Back
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Bottom line, Abengoa Bioenergy Biomass of Kansas closed the sale of its cellulosic ethanol plant located in Hugoton, Kansas under the US Bankruptcy Code. Ocean Park was the sell-side advisor to Abengoa. This follows from
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
SARE Publishes New Report on Agricultural Systems
by Rebecca Chillrud (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) “Agricultural research must shift from measuring farm ‘performance’ by single indicators such as yield and profit, to evaluating success using a multidimensional approach that incorporates the three dimensions of sustainability: environmental, social
December 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Pew Study on Attitudes towards GMOs & Organics Gains Media Attention
(BIOtech NOW) A number of mainstream media outlets reported over the weekend on the Pew Research Center report released last week examining the differing views on organic foods and GMOs. NPR: A lot of Americans don’t care what scientists think about GMOs. For
December 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Rotting Rice to Be Used to Make Ethanol
by Yuthana Praiwan (Bangkok Post) Almost 4 million tonnes of decaying rice kept in government stocks for more than two years is expected to be used as feedstock to produce ethanol, due to be in short supply soon, according to
December 08, 2016 Read Full Article
RINs, Refiners and Rational Energy Policies
(The Wall Street Journal) Letters to the Editor -- Rewriting the RFS could undermine years of progress toward U.S. energy security. by Jeff Broin (POET) Carl Icahn’s proposal to rewrite the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) (“If Oil Refiners Crash, So Will
December 08, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Holds RFS Rule Hearing in Chicago
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The Environmental Protection Agency held a public hearing in Chicago yesterday to hear testimony the agency’s proposed Renewables Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) rule. The rule includes several actions that would help allow the market to
December 08, 2016 Read Full Article
#Biofuels Could Benefit Under Trump
by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com) At the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) CSS & Seed Expo this week, noted agricultural economist Dan Basse with Ag Resource Company once again provided his global outlook for agriculture, which includes the outlook for biofuels. Basse
December 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Study Finds People Are Willing to Pay More for New Biofuels
by Scott Weybright (Washington State University) When it comes to second generation biofuels, Washington State University research shows that consumers are willing to pay a premium of approximately 11 percent over conventional fuel. “We were surprised the premium was that significant,”
December 08, 2016 Read Full Article
U.S. Ethanol Exports Increase as More Countries Take Steps to Fight Air Pollution
(Iowa Corn) ... As the world strives to meet goals set by global climate initiatives, U.S. ethanol provides an affordable solution. Government mandates, which dictate a certain amount of ethanol to be blended with gasoline, make a big impact on
December 08, 2016 Read Full Article
‘The Daily Show’ Attempts To Find The ‘Badassery’ In The Navy’s Embrace Of Biofuel
by Dan Macrae (UPROXX) ... The Daily Show‘s Hasan Minhaj discovered, the U.S. Navy is currently embracing a new green era. ... On tonight’s edition of the Comedy Central news program, Minhaj investigated the navy’s shift into employing a biofuel strategy
December 08, 2016 Read Full Article
China Pledges to Increase Openness with Foreign Investment Rules
by Michael Martina (WHBL) ... Although the guidelines are not finalised, and the extent of the reforms remain unclear, the revised lists include openings in manufacturing sectors such as rail transportation equipment, automotive electronics and new energy vehicle batteries, edible fats
December 08, 2016 Read Full Article
MoU Signed to Set up 60 mn Tonnes Mega Refinery Project, Land Finalisation in 2 Months
by Amritha Pillay & Shine Jacob (Business Standard) Part of the MoU's signed was a partnership between Oil india Ltd and IIT, Guwahati for supporting Oil India's start up initiative -- ... In addition to the MoU signed for the west coast
December 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Biomass-Fed Chemical Process Projects, 2016
by Bernard Cooker (Chemical Processing Solutions/Biofuels Digest) This is a review of the biomass-fed chemical process projects to renewable chemicals which were published in Chemical Engineering Progress (CEP) and Chemical and Engineering News (C&EN) from 1/1/16 to 10/31/16, including activity in
December 08, 2016 Read Full Article
The Emerging Synthetic Biology Ecosystem: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Gingko BioWorks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Recently, Ginkgo BioWorks announced the launch of their next generation foundry, Bioworks2. With 125,000 square feet and an 6X expected increase in capacity compared to BioWorks 1, Bioworks2 represents a step change in what is possible for
December 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Soybean Farmers, Clean Cities Encourage More Kansans to Try Biodiesel
(KRVN/Kansas Soybean Commission) Kansas fleets and individual motorists driving diesel vehicles now can get up to $2,000 of their annual fuel bills paid, just by using biodiesel blends. Biodiesel is an advanced biofuel made from vegetable oils and fats left over
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Nigeria Needs 2.4m Litres of Biodiesel Daily
(Punch) Nigeria needs 2.4 million litres of biodiesel daily to successfully implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Jatropha Growers, Processors and Exporters Association of Nigeria has said. The National President of JaGPEAN, retired Maj. Gen. J. Omosebi, stated this
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Biodiesel: From Deep Fryer to Engine
CRISPY, sweet and a little bit salty, the pisang goreng is enjoyed as favourite tea time snack. Roadside stall owner Johar Melan uses vegetable oil to fry the banana fritters. Now, the used vegetable oil that is collected each month from his
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuel Made from Human Excrement Has Become Easier to Produce
by Megan Geuss (Ars Technica) Wastewater treatment plants rejoice—you may have a hot commodity on your hands. -- Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Labs (PNNL) have developed a new method for treating human sewage to create a biocrude oil product
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
First Step for Avoiding an Ethanol Repeat
by Joel Wittnebel (The Oshawa Express) ... In response to a delegation from Hugh Peacock, an environmental activist and past president of the Friends of Second Marsh, the city drafted a motion that looks to provide more weight to municipal policies
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Nebraska Drivers Save $17 Million Using Ethanol-blended Fuel
(Nebraska Ethanol Board/KOOL Radio) In 2016, Nebraska drivers will save approximately $17 million by using ethanol-blended gasoline. The savings is based on lower prices for ethanol compared to wholesale gasoline and the state’s projected spark-ignition fuel consumption of 900 million
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuels: Good Policy and Good Politics For Democrats
by Jon Soltz (VoteVets.org) ... (A)s a veteran who has worked to elect progressive leaders from across the country, let me offer one step that Democrats could take immediately to demonstrate their commitment to economic growth, national security, and climate
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Scientists at IIT Kharagpur Find a Way to Extract Biofuel from Common Aquatic Weeds
(Tech2) Scientists at Indian Institute of Technology – Kharagpur have unlocked the secret to ramp up yields of biofuel sourced from commonly found aquatic weeds such as water hyacinths. In a new study published on December 1 in Nature Scientific Reports,
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
How Sand 'Holds Its Breath': Research into Diatom Survival on a Beach
(Science Daily) Researchers in Australia have made an important discovery about how sand 'holds its breath' -- specifically, how diatoms survive in the ever-changing environmental conditions of a beach. The finding has major implications for the biofuels industry. -- ... The
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
How United Leads the Airline Industry in Reducing Carbon Emissions
by Ted Reed (The Street) United Airlines leads the global airline industry in its commitment to biofuel, targeting the use of 900 million gallons over the next 10 years. -- United Airlines (UAL) , which uses about 4 billion gallons
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Improving Infrastructure Influences RFS
by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) A Midwestern senator says advancements in infrastructure helped convince the Environmental Protection Agency to raise Renewable Volume Obligations for 2017 to statutory levels. Al Franken of Minnesota tells Brownfield the normal pushback from EPA on concerns like
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuels Groups Make Case for Change on E15
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) A number of biofuels groups testified before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Chicago Tuesday at a hearing on an agency proposal to make some tweaks to the Renewable Fuel Standard to help perpetuate
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Mayors of Paris, Madrid, Athens & Mexico City Stumble; African Nations Get It Right on Policies for Cleaner Air with Cleaner Diesel Fuel & Technology
(Diesel Technology Forum) Last week, the mayors of four cities - Paris, Madrid, Mexico City and Athens - announced they had pledged to remove diesel vehicles from their cities by 2025. Last week, five African countries - Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo,
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Automakers Look to Put EPA Rules on Ice in Spending Bill
by John Siciliano (Washington Examiner) Major automakers have embarked on an eleventh-hour push to undercut the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to boost climate and fuel efficiency standards for cars over the next decade. The Auto Alliance wants lawmakers to include language
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
State Opens Application Process for Would-Be Hemp Farmers
by Lenay Ruhl (Central Penn Business Journal) ... State regulators announced last week an industrial hemp program that will allow for cultivating and researching hemp in efforts overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Applications to grow hemp in 2017 are
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
DfT Proposals Risk £1Bn of Investment in the North-East
(Renewable Energy Association) DfT publishes consultations on the future of renewable transport, setting out long term targets towards 2030. Consultation proposes capping fuel crops to below EU levels, risking existing UK plants and supply chain. Consultation introduces new sub-target for
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Senate Committee Hearing Focuses on GAO’s RFS Reports
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On Dec. 1, the Senate Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management held a hearing to discuss the U.S. EPA’s management of the renewable fuel standard (RFS) and two Government Accountability Office reports released on
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Suez and Total Partner to Recycle Cooking Oil into Biofuel
(Total) Signature of a 10-year agreement to increase the amount of used cooking oil collected by 20% and supply the La Mède biorefinery in France -- SUEZ and TOTAL are joining forces to collect and recycle used cooking oil in France. As
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Pest Be-Gone: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Crop Enhancement
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Founded by Dr. David Soane, a renowned serial entrepreneur and inventor in the field of materials science and surface chemistry, Crop Enhancement is developing formulations that employ advanced and environmentally friendly chemistry to eliminate or minimize
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
6 Hottie Trends to Watch In Bioeconomy Feedstocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Proof positive on the “best is yet to come” — check out the Danforth Plant Science Center. It’s tucked away in the major agri-complex that built up around Monsanto and others in the St. Louis
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
MERCOSUL Award to Brazilian Student for Microalgae DC Research
(Algae Industry Magazine) Angelo Paggi Matos, a doctoral student from Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), in Brasília, Brazil, has been awarded an honorable mention by MERCOSUL Science and Technology Awards — Category: Young Scientist, with a work entitled: Biochemical
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Leaf Resources and Novozymes Launch Biomass-to-Sugars Collaboration
(Leaf Resources) Leaf Resources’ patented biomass pretreatment process- GLYCELL – is an innovative, high-yield route to clean, economical cellulosic sugars -- Leaf Resources today announced a collaboration with Novozymes, the world’s largest producer of industrial enzymes, to further increase the
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
All City Buses Will Run on Biofuel: Nitin Gadkari
by Anjaya Anparthi (Times of India) While launching nation's first ethanol-run Green bus service, Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari promised Nagpur will be the first city to have all its city buses run on biofuel. He said
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
City's Newest Kwik Trip to Hold Ribbon Cutting
by Jake Batterman (Watertown Daily Times) ... The 7,000-square-foot location features a single bay car wash and eight fuel dispensers including two diesel and one E85. READ MORE
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
The RFS: A Ticking Time Bomb for Corn Ethanol
by Jarrod Johnson (Farm Forum) ... However, while the program was created by Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is tasked with setting annual blending requirements for conventional and advanced biofuels. Over the past few years, the unelected federal agency has
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Ernst Stresses Importance of Strong RFS for Rural Economies at Hearing
by Bob Quinn and Doug Cooper (600WMTRadio) At the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs’ Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management hearing entitled “Examining Two GAO Reports Regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard,” U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) stressed the importance
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Farmers to Trump: You Owe Us
by Jane Wells (CNBC) ... This even as the oil industry — suffering from its own low prices — could push the Trump administration to reduce support for ethanol. "I think some people would still like to see the death of
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Sets Cellulosic Waiver Credit Price for 2017 at $2.00
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA recently published a notice to its website setting the cellulosic waiver credit (CWC) price for 2017 at $2.00. The CWC price for 2016 was set in at $1.33 in November 2015. Within
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Growth Energy, Retailers Pink Out Program Raises $40K
by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com) This past October Growth Energy partnered with several retailers who sell E15 for a Pink Out campaign to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. When a consumer purchased E15 during the month, each retailer donated
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
UK Firm Develops Innovation to Determine Biodiesel Blend Content
(Biofuels International) UK engineering specialist Salunda has developed an advanced sensor technology for the accurate determination of the biofuel content of diesel blends used in a wide range of automotive and industrial power applications. According to the firm, its new technology,
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Paradigm Shift in Fuels as Carbon Intensity Surpasses Biofuel Volumes as Key Metric
(Lux Research/MarketWired) Renewable diesel and conventional electricity lead the race to meet new emissions reduction goals, and diversified energy companies are well-placed, says Lux Research -- Traditionally policies to promote greener transportation fuels have focused on mandating volumes of
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Testifies to EPA Regarding Renewable Enhancement and Growth Support Rule
(Growth Energy) Today, at a hearing in Chicago, Chris Bliley, Director of Regulatory Affairs for Growth Energy testified before the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the Renewable Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) Rule. During his testimony, Bliley outlined Growth Energy’s concern
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Commission’s Flip-Flop on Biofuels Puts at Risk Tens of Thousands of Jobs
by Patrick Kent (Irish Cattle & Sheep Farmers’ Association/Euractiv) The key element of this renewable energy plan is that the ceiling for the crop biofuel component of EU transport fuels will be slashed from 7% to 3.8% by 2030. The
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
McCarthy Confident EPA's Mission Will Survive
by Stephen Davies (Agri-Pulse) ... The administrator touted the new Renewable Fuel Standard requirements, released Nov. 23. The final biofuel usage mandate includes 15 billion gallons of conventional corn ethanol, the same level as the annual target in the 2007
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
A Portrait of Tom Vilsack's Tenure
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) ... "Democrats need to talk to rural voters. That's the first thing that has to happen. They can't write 'em off," Vilsack told his former adviser, David Axelrod, in a podcast interview during the Democratic
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
When Price Is Right FFV Drivers Choose #Ethanol
by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com) When fuel prices are competitive, drivers of flex fuel vehicles (FFV) will fill up with high-ethanol blends such as E85 according to a new article published in Energy Policy. Authors Sébastien Pouliot and, Bruce A. Babcock
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
DOE Report Analyzes Fuel Cell, Diesel and CNG Fuel Economy
by Lauren Tyler (NGT News) The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Fuel Cell Technology Office recently released a report showing that the average fuel economy of fuel cell electric buses from three fleets is approximately 6 miles per diesel gallon equivalent
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
CNG Fuels Adds 100% Renewable Biomethane to Fueling Stations
by Lauren Tyler (NGT News) NG Fuels, which develops, owns and operates natural gas fueling infrastructure in the U.K., says that Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO)-approved renewable biomethane for transport is now available to customers at all of its fueling locations. According to the
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
UK Students Solve a Real-Life Problem, Win Cargill Innovation in Engineering Award
by Rachel Grant-Brown (Cargill) Students Rachana Halasabele and Alessia Xu from The University of Manchester in the UK recently triumphed with their innovative and practical winning solution to a real-life industry problem set by Cargill’s ethanol experts at their starches and
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Announces $1.3 Million to Small Businesses to Support the Nation’s Green Economy
(Environmental Protection Agency) This year’s projects focus on cookstoves, manufacturing, toxic chemicals, water, and building materials -- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $1.3 million to 13 small businesses nationwide to develop and commercialize technologies to help solve
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
CEO of Publicly Traded Company along with Two Others Sent to Federal Prison
(Department of Justice) Defrauded biodiesel purchasers and shareholders -- United States Attorney Josh Minkler and Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division announced today the sentencing of two individuals who
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Prospering In the New Trump Era
by Douglas L. Faulkner (“The Cleantech Conservative”/Biofuels Digest) ... Yes, the GOP is in control of the White House, the House of Representatives and the Senate. But, who’s in control of the Republicans and will they – – can they – –
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Bolting Chemicals onto Ethanol Plants: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Greenyug
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Greenyug is a privately held technology development company with a mission to research, develop and commercialize production of commodity chemicals, specialty chemicals, polymers and fuels derived from renewable sources. The laboratory facility is based in
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Winter Is Not Coming: Pushing Back the Frost Wall for More Food, More Fuel, More Money, More Everything
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... So, what do you do about the Frost Wall. Generally, you can grow more with the first harvest — that’s yield improvement. Or, you can grow more in the extreme north — that’s crop expansion.
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
UPDATE 1-China Aims to Double Ethanol Output to 4 Mln Tonnes by 2020 - Agency
by Dominique Patton (Reuters) China is aiming to produce 4 million tonnes of ethanol by 2020, doubling output from the current level, even as it keeps tight control over the use of food grains to make the biofuel, a government plan
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
The Port of Amsterdam Pursues a Bio-based, Circular Economy
by John J. Berger (Renewable Energy World) ... According to its Vision 2030 statement, the port seeks to become “an innovative hub for [an] energy transition [and a] circular and bio-based economy” that will create jobs, new products, and economic progress. A bio-based economy
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry No Longer Gets Federal Incentives
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association/News-Leader) The production of ethanol does not use food-based feedstocks, and the U.S. ethanol industry has not received any government incentive in the past five years. But readers wouldn’t know that from Martin Capages Jr.’s letter
December 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Trump Administration Could Be a Bend in the Road for Biofuels Blending
by Meghan Gordon and Brian Scheid (Platts) Total renewable fuel is slated to be more than 10% of the US fuel supply in 2017, breaking through the so-called blendwall. But how will a new presidential administration affect targets for the Renewable
December 05, 2016 Read Full Article
28 Days Later: Waste to Fuel
by Ron Kotrba (Biomass Magazine) The Canadian city of Surrey, British Columbia, prepares to open a new biogas plant fed by its residents’ kitchen scraps and yard waste, the fuel from which will power its collection fleet of CNG vehicles.
December 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Forecasts of Algae Food Products Demonstrate Significant Reductions in Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Water Use
(Bentley University/PR Newswire) Bentley University research fellow Michael J. Walsh leads study finding algae food to have potential to mitigate climate change -- Scientists affiliated with the Marine Algal Industrialization Consortium have published a research article demonstrating the potential of
December 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Colorado Engineering Council’s Top Awards
(The Villager) The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Colorado announced the winners of its 2017 Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) on Nov. 7 at a celebration luncheon held at The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa. A Grand Conceptor Award, presented
December 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Depolymerizing Lignin and Making It Pay – Now, Soon, Never?
by KSL (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) Lignin an ugly, unwieldy molecule! The term coined by most early pioneers within the renewables industry to describe Lignin. As large, and complex the molecule seems to be, that’s not its only possible form,
December 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Beyond Petroleum: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to the Bioenergy Technologies Office
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BETO. I think it’s Latin for “I forbid petroleum.” So while presidents have the Veto, technologists have the Beto. It’s most widely known in its modern variant, as the acronym for the DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, the hearth and
December 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Going to Graceland: Cargill, Calysta Select Tennessee for Methane-to-Feed Project
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Minnesota, Cargill and Calysta revealed that they will co-create the world’s largest gas fermentation facility in Memphis, Tennessee to produce Calysta’s FeedKind protein, a family of sustainable, traceable nutritional ingredients for fish, livestock and
December 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Bioenergy Technologies Office Announces Notice of Intent for the Optimization of Integrated Biorefineries
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) intends to issue, on behalf of the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture,
December 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Government Prepares for Green Transport Revolution with EV and Sustainable Aviation Frameworks
by Alex Baldwin (edie.net) British transport is set for a significant low-carbon boost with several new Government consultations and funding schemed announced over the past few days in a bid to drive a green transport overhaul. -- A flurry of
December 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Nigeria Plans Biofuel Production with Juicy Investment Incentives
(Offgrid Nigeria) A draft national policy on biofuel production and distribution likely to be signed into law very soon by Nigeria, has proposed very mouth-watering incentives for investors willing to go into biofuel business in the country, OGN has learnt. Obtained
December 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Green Nano-Chemistry: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Sylvatex
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sylvatex is a green nano-chemistry company utilizing renewable non-toxic inputs to create a nanoparticle that can be used in multiple applications. The company’s alternative fuel product MicroX, when blended into ULSD and biodiesel, has been proven
December 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Grant Funds Test of Market Potential for Jet Fuel Research
(Washington State University/Biomass Magazine) Researchers at Washington State University Tri-Cities have been awarded a National Science Foundation I-Corps grant to explore the market potential of their biojet fuel research. The team has successfully demonstrated a new, water-based process for deconstructing and
December 02, 2016 Read Full Article
US Corn Ethanol Market: Understanding the Past to Assess the Future
by Carl Zulauf (FarmDoc Daily) Ethanol was a factor in both the price run-up that began in 2006 and the price run-down that began in 2013. Tepid growth replaced explosive growth. The question for the future is, "What is ethanol's
December 02, 2016 Read Full Article
RFA Statement on Senate Hearing Focused on GAO RFS Reports
(Renewable Fuels Association) Today the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management is holding a hearing examining two reports by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The reports incorrectly
December 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Death of Castro Could Free Cuba to Produce Biofuels
(Voice of America) The death of Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro, a fierce critic of biofuels like ethanol, has raised hopes among industry experts that some of Cuba's vast tracts of fallow land may soon be used to ease its dependence
December 02, 2016 Read Full Article
BETO Announces Notice of Intent for the Development of Algae-Based Biofuels
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy‘s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), on behalf of the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), intends to issue a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for up to $8 million, subject to
December 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Industrial Enzyme Market (Food and Beverage, Cleaning, Biofuel, Animal Feed) Size & Share Analysis Industry Overview & 2016-2020 Forecasts Research Report
(OrbisResearch.com/ABNewsWire) OrbisResearch.com has published “Global Industrial Enzyme Market (Food and Beverage, Cleaning, Biofuel, Animal Feed): Industry Analysis and Outlook (2016-2020)” market report to its research database. The key factors driving the growth of industrial enzyme market are growing global population,
December 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Japan's First Private Rocket Nears the Launch Pad
(Nikkei Asian Review) A startup founded by maverick Japanese entrepreneur Takafumi Horie is poised to launch a test rocket as early as January. If successful, it will be Japan's first private rocket to reach an altitude of 100km. Interstellar Technologies, based
December 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Court Accepts $48.5M Bid for Abengoa Hugoton from Synata Bio
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Kansas district bankruptcy court approved the top bid for Abengoa Bioenergy Biomass of Kansas in an order signed Nov. 29 by Judge Robert Nugent. Synata Bio Inc. placed the top bid of
December 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Glycerin as Anti-Freeze Agent for Coal
by Dennis Zeedyk (Glycerin Traders/Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) Anyone who has produced biodiesel knows that glycerin can set up like wax if the process is over-catalyzed and/or animal fats are used as feedstocks. More than one of us has shoveled
December 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Hi-Performance Tech Package: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Clariant’s Sunliquid Process
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Clariant’s sunliquid technology for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into sugars, followed by fermentation to cellulosic ethanol, is flexible to be used to convert different feedstocks on a regional basis, for example corn stover in North
December 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Recent Renewables Required Reading: What Can You Skip, What d’ya Gotta Read?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, in Washington and Brussels, four news flashes on global renewable fuel volumes appeared on the radar. Can you safely ignore them and get on with other work, or is there something to get deeply
December 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Iowa E15 Retailers’ ‘Pink at the Pump’ Campaign Raises $12,000
(Iowa Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Drivers filling-up their cars with cleaner-burning E15 during the month of October raised $12,000 for breast cancer awareness as part of the “Pink at the Pump” Campaign. Nearly 30 E15 retailers in Iowa participated in
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
OPEI's "LOOK BEFORE YOU PUMP" Ethanol Education and Consumer Protection Campaign Gets Facelift
(Outdoor Power Equipment Institute /PR NewsWire) The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), the trade association representing power equipment, engine and utility vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, updates its free consumer and dealer education materials for its "Look Before You Pump" campaign
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Renewable Drop-In Fuels at Scale: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Ensyn
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ensyn uses its patented and proprietary RTP fast thermal technology to convert wood residues and other non-food, cellulosic biomass to liquid biofuels. Ensyn has had continuous commercial operations for more than 25 years. Its technology has
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Unlocking Willpower and Ambition to Meet the Goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement (Part One): Shifting Needs of Law, Policy, and Economics
(Center for Climate Strategies) Since 1992, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP) used the term ambition formally in agreements to implement activities and address the need for expanded environmental goals and aspirations. This can be likened
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Argentina Biodiesel Producers Fear Losing Access to U.S. Market
by Maximilian Heath (Reuters) Argentina's biodiesel producers fear losing access to the United States, the destination of nearly all their exports, after Donald Trump's surprise victory in presidential elections earlier this month, representatives of the sector said. The Republican candidate, who is skeptical
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
New Research Could Make Ethanol Production More Efficient and Economic
(Phys.Org) New research at the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL) on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus could significantly change ethanol production by lowering operating costs and simplifying the dry grind process. "There are currently more than 200 dry grind plants
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
North America’s Grasslands Are Slowly Disappearing — And No One’s Paying Attention
by Chelsea Harvey (The Washington Post) The Great Plains lost more grassland to agriculture in 2014 than the Brazilian Amazon lost to deforestation, says a recent report from the World Wildlife Fund. And it argues that the continued expansion of cropland
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Global Biobased Business Competition (G-BiB)
(BE-Basic Foundation) The Global Biobased Business competition (G-BiB) is a competition for Master and PhD students from universities and universities of applied sciences in Germany, the Netherlands and Brazil. The objective of G-BiB is to stimulate entrepreneurship and innovation producing a biorenewable chemical, material and/or fuel product. G-BiB is an
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: Innovation Award "Bio-based Material of the Year 2017" DEADLINE: End of February 2017
For the tenth year running, the Innovation Award “Bio-based Material of the Year” will be granted, at the 10th International Conference on Bio-based Materials in Cologne, Germany, to the young, innovative bio-based chemicals and materials industry for finding suitable applications
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
CALL FOR PAPERS: International Conference on Bio-Based Materials — May 10-11, 2017 — Cologne, Germany DEADLINE: Unclear
The 10th International Conference on Bio-based Materials is aimed at providing international major players from the bio-based building blocks, polymers and industrial biotechnology industries with an opportunity to present and discuss their latest developments and strategies. The conference builds on
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Rushes to Finish MPG Regs before Trump Takes Office
by Keith Laing (Detroit News) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is moving to quickly finalize stringent gas mileage rules that require automakers to produce car and truck fleets averaging more than 50 miles per gallon by 2025 before President-elect
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
GAO RFS Reports Paint Incomplete Picture of Advanced Biofuels
by Ron Kotrba (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Government Accountability Office issued two reports Nov. 28 suggesting that the renewable fuel standard (RFS) program is unlikely to meet its targets for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and expanding the U.S. renewable fuels sector.
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Oil and Biofuels Trade Bodies Make Unprecedented Move to Link Together to Call on EPA Not to Change RFS Point of Obligation
by Liz Gyekye (Biofuels International) Biofuels and oil trade bodies have written a letter to the US’ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging the organisation not to redefine the point of obligation under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The issue centres on whether
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Industry Welcomes Updated Department of Energy Biodiesel Guide
(National Biodiesel Board) NREL report a comprehensive guide for biodiesel users -- The biodiesel industry welcomed the publication of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) fifth edition of the Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide, developed in conjunction with the DOE
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Employee of Biofuel Feedstock Company Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy
(U.S. Department of Justice) An employee of a New Jersey feedstock collector and processor pleaded guilty to conspiracy for his role in a scheme to alter and destroy documents following the company’s receipt of a subpoena issued by a federal
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Leaders Take Jobs, Energy Security Message to D.C.
(National Biodiesel Board) Nearly three dozen biodiesel leaders from Kansas to Rhode Island took to the halls of Congress this week to champion America’s Advanced Biofuel. “We have a great message to share with our elected officials. Biodiesel is working today
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
EU Pits Conventional Biofuels against Advanced Biofuels in New 2030 Policy
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Belgium, Novozymes came out swinging against the European Commission’s 2030 biofuels proposals, saying it’s a move backwards rather than forward, while the Leaders of Sustainable Biofuels from Clariant to Dong Energy welcomed the policy,
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Scientists Trace ‘Poisoning’ in Chemical Reactions to the Atomic Scale
by Glenn Roberts Jr. (Berkeley National Laboratory) Research team combines X-ray source at Berkeley Lab with other tools -- Researchers have revealed new atomic-scale details about pesky deposits that can stop or slow chemical reactions vital to fuel production and
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Vietnam to Replace Most Popular Petrol with E5 Biofuel
(Tuoi Tre News) Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade will force consumers to switch from the popular A92 gasoline to the ethanol-mixed biofuel E5, but has yet to decide on an official timeline for the plan, it announced on Tuesday. In
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
RFA Analysis: Automakers Approve E15 in More than 80% of New 2017 Vehicles
(Renewable Fuels Association) More than 80 percent of new 2017 model year (MY) vehicles are explicitly approved by the manufacturer to use 15 percent ethanol blends (E15), according to an analysis of warranty statements and owner’s manuals conducted by the
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Great Results from Testing UPM’s Wood-Based Diesel in Buses
(UPM) UPM has successfully tested Finnish wood-based diesel fuel both in laboratory conditions as well as in traffic. The tests clearly demonstrated that UPM’s renewable diesel, UPM BioVerno, works just like the best diesel fuels. The laboratory tests of renewable UPM
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Fortress Paper Announces Hemicellulose Separation Project at Its Dissolving Pulp Mill
(Fortress Paper/Lesprom.com) Fortress Paper Ltd. announces a strategic supplement to the already announced birch usage project (the "Birch Project") at the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill aimed at extracting hemicellulose from underutilized species such as birch (the " Hemicellulose Project"). The Hemicellulose Project
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuels for all Transport Modes: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Byogy Renewables
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Byogy has developed a catalytic platform that converts any source of ethanol, butanol, mixed alcohols, or related olefins, into full replacement, and cost competitive biofuels including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Byogy’s jet fuel is