by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Aemetis owns and operates 110 million gallons per year of ethanol and biodiesel facilities in the US and India, and is upgrading the plants using patented technology to produce lower carbon, higher value advanced biofuels
Archive
Back TO HOMEThe Justice League of Pyromaniax
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The High Lords of Pyrolysis travel under the unlikely cover identities of “George Huber” and “Robert Brown” — but we know them in their true superhero identities of “The Catalyst” and “The Godfatha”. ... Instead,
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Extra! Extra! Read All about It!
by Mandy Stoker (E4 Environment/Bioenergy Insight) ... The agricultural industry is becoming increasingly mechanised and technical, yet is seems public perceptions lag behind, preferring not to view farms as centres of production, algorithms, and computer-driven combine harvesters. Whilst providing the
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Academics and IEA Slam ‘Misleading’ Chatham House Bioenergy Report
by Liz Gyekye (Bioenergy Insight) More than 125 academics have joined the International Energy Agency Bioenergy Technology Collaboration Programme (IEA Bioenergy) slamming Chatham House’s recent report on bioenergy, calling it ‘misleading. The group of academics from across the world and the IEA
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
National Academies Report Finds Future Biotechnology Products May Overwhelm Agencies
(Bergeson & Campbell) On March 9, 2017, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (National Academies) published a report entitled Preparing for Future Products of Biotechnology, prepared by the Committee on Future Biotechnology Products and Opportunities to Enhance Capabilities
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
2016 Survey of Non-Starch Alcohol and Renewable Hydrocarbon Biofuels Producers
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe/National Renewable Energy Laboratory) The reports tracks the status of non-starch alcohol and renewable hydrocarbon projects. What it is: Publicly available annual report summarizing U.S. advanced biorefinery projects and global trends in the deployment of commercial technologies as of year-end
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
High Biofuel Blends in Aviation (HBBA)
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) In the frame of the ENER/C2/2012/ 420-1 Tender a study on high biofuel blends in aviation has been carried out by Deutsche Lufthansa AG and the “Wehrwissenschaftliches Institut für Werk- und Betriebsstoffe”. The purpose of this research was
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Drop-In Biofuels for Marine and Aviation Markets
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) A workshop was held in conjunction with ExCo78 in Rotorua, New Zealand on the 9th November 2016. With approximately 60 participants, the theme of the workshop was Drop-in biofuels for international marine and aviation markets. Fifteen invited speakers gave presentations (including
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Pruitt Allies Lobby on EPA’s Ethanol Mandate
by Timothy Cama (The Hill) ... Glenn Coffee and Crystal Coon, through their firm, Coffee Group, filed paperwork this week with Congress to represent Oklahoma-based gasoline station and convenience store owner QuikTrip Corp. on issues related to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Pruitt
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
A Global Synthesis of Jatropha Cultivation: Insights into Land Use Change and Management Practices
David C. Walmsley Rob Bailis, and Alexandra-Maria Klein (Environmental Science & Technology) Despite setbacks, interest in Jatropha cultivation remains high. This study addressed the question to what extent Jatropha cultivation has replaced specific vegetation and land use types and how
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Viable Biomass for Hawaii
by Gretchen Miller (Biofuels Digest) ... Meghan Pawlowksi, a graduate student at the University of Hawaii Manoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture, crawled around her field site on the last sugarcane plantation in Hawaii, Maui’s Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company, or HC&S,
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Commercializing Algae: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Algenol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Algenol is a global, industrial biotechnology company that is commercializing its patented algae technology platform for production of ethanol and other biofuels, chemicals and biobased materials. Formed in 2006, and headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida with
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
EU Sees ‘Strategic Advantage’ of Biofuels in Aviation
by Hannah Black and Sarantis Michalopoulos (EurActiv) In sectors like aviation where decarbonisation options are limited, there is a strategic advantage in encouraging the use of biofuels, a European Commission official has said. The aviation sector is dependent on liquid fuels
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Bloomberg G-20 Poised to Signal Retreat From Climate-Change Funding Pledge
by Joe Ryan (Bloomberg) Draft statement encourages private funding for climate change; Previous communique emphasized strong government support -- Finance ministers for the U.S., China, Germany and other members of the Group of 20 economies may scale back a robust
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
IRFA Celebrates 100th E15 Fueling Site Opening
(Iowa Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Crossroads Convenience Store in Spencer became Iowa’s 100th E15 station, strengthening Iowa’s position as the number one state in the U.S. for E15 refueling sites. The Spencer store is owned by Wessels Oil Company, which
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Cars Seen Missing U.S. Mileage Targets for First Time Since 2004
by Ryan Beene (Bloomberg) Regulator report shows U.S. fleet to fall below mileage target; Results may feed debate over Obama auto-efficiency standards -- Cars and light trucks from the 2016 model year will be the first to fall short of U.S.
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Zimbabwe: Govt Liberalises Ethanol Production
by Tinashe Makichi (The Herald/AllAfrica) Government has liberalised local ethanol production as the country's sole producer, Green Fuel has constantly failed to provide adequate supplies especially during the rainy season rains. The current inadequate supplies of ethanol from Green Fuel last
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
BioApplied: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Nova Scotia’s Biorefinery Initiative
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There’s a biorefinery initiative in Canada’s Atlantic region (first initiated in Nova Scotia but expanding regionally). A partnership between Emera, Innovacorp, and the Federal and Provincial governments, are aimed at creating the necessary conditions to attract and host a
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
UPS, Google Fleets Cutting Emissions with Neste Renewable Diesel
by Jessica Lyons Hardcastle (Environmental Leader) UPS delivery trucks and Google gBuses are among the fleets using Neste renewable diesel, which the company said reduced its customers carbon emissions by 6.7 million tons in 2016. The company says in addition to
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Soybean Association Discusses Trade, Biofuels, Conservation and Research
(Norwalk Reflector) ... Progressive policies for a strong farm safety net, increased funding for agricultural export programs, ambitious global trade negotiations, an aggressive support for biodiesel policies and robust funding for agricultural research and conservation programs will guide the American Soybean
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Recent Research: Biodiesel Market Expects China and India to Be Key Future Markets Due to Numerous Diesel Vehicles
(Energy Market Research/Furion Analytics Research and Consulting LLP/WhaTech) ... Several countries across the world are are busy procuring biodiesel equipment in an effort scale-up their biofuel energy supply. Hence, the Biodiesel Market is in a tremendous position to register a significant
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Parliament Committee Says Palm Oil Biofuels Usage Should End by 2020
by Sarantis Michalopoulos (EurActiv) MEPs adopted a report on Thursday (9 March) urging the European Commission to phase out the use of palm oil as a component of biodiesel by 2020 “at the latest”. In November, the European Commission presented its draft
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Five New Artificial Yeast Chromosomes Set Stage for First Synthetic Eukaryotic Genome
(American Association for the Advancement of Science/EurekAlert!) In a package featuring seven new studies, scientists of the Synthetic Yeast Genome Project (Sc2.0) who previously constructed a single yeast chromosome now report constructing five more - representing more than one-third of yeast's
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuel May Backfire as a Budget Bluff
(NewsInEnglish.no) Plans by the Norwegian government to mandate usage of much more biofuel, as another so-called “green” measure that helped secure last year’s state budget compromise, may end up backfiring as little more than a budget bluff. New statistics suggest
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Science & SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists DEADLINE: July 15, 2017
(Science Magazine) This Prize was created to recognize that global economic health is dependent upon a vibrant research community and we need to encourage our best and brightest to continue in their chosen fields of research. Science/AAAS and SciLifeLab, a coordinated
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
NexSteppe Sorghum Products Approved for Commercial Sale in the European Union
(NexSteppe) NexSteppe Inc., a company dedicated to pioneering the next generation of sustainable feedstock solutions for biobased industries, announced today that the European Union has fully approved two NexSteppe Sorghum hybrids for commercial sale in the region. One of the
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Public Citizen Files Complaint Alleging Trump Adviser’s Activities May Have Violated Federal Lobbying Laws
(Public Citizen) Carl Icahn and His Businesses Haven’t Registered As Lobbyists Yet Continue to Influence Government Policy -- Icahn Enterprises, CVR Energy and their related affiliates appear to be in violation of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA), according
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Government Invests 10 Billion in University’s Poop-to-Currency Project
by Joseph Shin (The Korea Bizwire) “Ttong-bonwi-hwapae” literally translates into “poop standard currency.” And the government is investing 10 billion won ($8.65 million) over the next five years to turn this human waste-to-currency idea into reality in South Korean towns
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuels Digest Publishes On-demand Streams from BioChannel.TV
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Major announcement: New ICM cellulosic fuels project. Major announcement: Licella JV for supercritical fuels & chemicals Major announcement: New $112M Sofinnova renewable chemicals venture fund Industry Horizons: Presentations from Amyris, Capricorn Venture Partners, Ginkgo BioWorks, Raymond James ABLC Financing &
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Advanced Bioeconomy Conference: Some Scale-Up Successes, but Still a Shadow of Conventional Biofuels
by Pavel Molchanov (Raymond James/Biofuels Digest) These are excerpts from a complete review of ABLC by Raymond James Senior VP Pavel Molchanov, which you can read here. While the tone (on the whole) is no longer worsening, it is far from being as optimistic
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Whisky Business: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Celtic Renewables
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In uniquely combining the whisky by-products, Celtic Renewables Ltd adapt the traditional Weizmann Fermentation process (also known as ABE fermentation) to a brand new and entirely sustainable novel substrate – not only providing a sustainable
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
ICAO Council Adopts New CO2 Emissions Standard for Aircraft
(International Civil Aviation Organization) The 36-State ICAO Council has adopted a new aircraft CO2 emissions standard which will reduce the impact of aviation greenhouse gas emissions on the global climate. Contained in a new Volume III to Annex 16 of the Chicago
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
California Won't Meet Its Climate Change Goals without a Lot More Housing Density in Its Cities
by Liam Dillon (Los Angeles Times) ... The state has pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. To do so, Southern Californians will have to drive nearly 12% less by that date than they did
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
The Unbearable Lightness of Innovation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... I am reviewing the notes about so many companies in Stealth Mode, that you’d think it was a place, like Silicon Valley or Times Square. Stealth Mode. It’s so fashionable, it ought to be worn on
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Ethanol Keeps Growing Economic Impact
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) ... According to the latest study by ABF Economics, the U.S. ethanol industry added $42.1 billion to the nation’s gross domestic product in 2016 and supported nearly 340,000 jobs. “The ethanol industry continues to make a significant
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Do Scott Pruitt’s Statements on CO2 and Global Warming Misrepresent Scientific Consensus?
by Alex Kasprak (Snopes) EPA administrator Pruitt told CNBC that he does not agree that carbon dioxide is "a primary contributor to the global warming that we see," arguing that scientists are still debating the issue. ... While climate science is, indeed,
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Insights about Feedstock from the Advance Bioeconomy Leadership Conference
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Biofuels Digest's Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference started with an afternoon ABLC Feedstock Summit at the US Department of Agriculture. Three points jumped out. The value of the farmers/growers perspective of biofuels; rethinking the value
March 10, 2017 Read Full Article
Sandia Purposefully Crashing Algae Ponds
(Algae Industry Magazine) For algal biofuels to compete with petroleum, farming algae has to become less expensive. Toward that goal, Sandia National Laboratories is testing strains of algae for resistance to a host of predators and diseases, and learning to
March 10, 2017 Read Full Article
New Leaf Biofuel Plans to Double Biodiesel Production Capacity
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) San Diego-based biodiesel producer New Leaf Biofuel has received a notice of proposed award from the California Energy Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, which will help fund an expansion project to
March 10, 2017 Read Full Article
Express Yourself: The Coming Revolution in Crop Yields via Epigenetics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... For now, let’s visit briefly the story of epigenetics. If you are concerned that a) the world doesn’t want genetic modification and b) the world needs crops with more stress tolerance and yield if
March 09, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuel Produced by Microalgae
(Tokyo Institute of Technology/EurekAlert!) The perimeter of lipid droplet in their cells is an important place for oil synthesis -- Photosynthetic organisms such as plants and green algae can transform atmospheric carbon dioxide into carbon storage molecules, especially oils such as
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Malaysia Lagging in Palm Biofuel Research, Says Economist
by Koh Jun Lin (Malaysiakini) Malaysia has not done enough research on palm oil derived biodiesel although Malaysian palm oil companies are well-poised to take advantage it, according to economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram. Countries such as Cuba, Brazil, the US and
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
German Biodiesel Imports Rise Sharply, Exports Grow Modestly
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) ... According to the government figures, U.S. imports of German biodiesel were topped only by those of the Netherlands and Poland, reaching 85,000 tons (25.5 million gallons)—nearly seven times the volume imported in 2015. While German
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Twin Challenges to LCFS Advance in California Courts
by Joshua T. Bledsoe and Max Friedman (Latham & Watkins LLP/Biodiesel Magazine) Two related cases, advancing in parallel, have the potential to upend California’s low carbon fuel standard (LCFS), whether via full suspension of the LCFS or carving out diesel
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Tuscaloosa's Inventure Is Changing the Way We Look at Waste
by William Thornton (AL.com) In a non-descript 40,000-square-foot building not far from the popular Tuscaloosa restaurant Waysider, a group of chemists and engineers are finding uses for the world's industrial food-related waste. Inventure is making industry around the world rethink what
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
‘Purest Definition of a Conflict’: Icahn’s $126 Million Gain on Biofuel Deal Draws Criticism
by Jennifer A Dlouhy, Ari Natter, and Bill Allison (Bloomberg) Investor Carl Icahn is also unpaid adviser to White House; Value of Icahn CVR Energy stake grew after biofuel deal -- Carl Icahn’s stake in a Texas refiner grew by as
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Jobs and Money Take Top Billing with American Biodiesel
(National Biodiesel Board) Industry Leaders Showcase biodiesel benefits with key influencers -- When it comes to American biodiesel, jobs and economic opportunities are the hot tickets. In town from across the nation, biodiesel industry leaders are meeting with key influencers
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Capital Corp Merchant Banking Gives Green Light to $18m Funding for Californian Biodiesel Project
(Biofuels International) US investment bank Capital Corp Merchant Banking has given the green light to help fund a biodiesel project in California. In a statement, the bank said that the facility will be able to process multiple feedstocks of any quality
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Nominations Open for Rosalind Franklin Award for Leadership in Industrial Biotechnology DEADLINE: March 24, 2017
The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) is now accepting nominations for its fourth annual Rosalind Franklin Award for Leadership in Industrial Biotechnology. Each year, this award is given to an outstanding woman in the industrial biotechnology sector who has made significant
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Study: Climate Change May Hurt Nation's Agricultural Productivity
by Amy Mayer (Iowa Public Radio) The agriculture sector needs to ramp up its response to climate change, especially in the Midwest, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. ... Lead author Xin-Zhong Liang, a
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Hawaii’s Largest Oil Refinery Owner in Talks with Biofuel Developers
by Duane Shimogawa (Pacific Business News) Par Pacific Holdings Inc., owner of the largest oil refinery in Hawaii, is actively speaking with several biofuel developers regarding the use of this renewable fuel as a replacement for oil, a company executive confirmed
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump Adviser Peter Thiel Questions ‘Group Think’ of Restricting Carbon Emissions
by James Osborne (Fuel Fix) Peter Thiel, the technology investor and adviser to President Donald Trump, questioned the global push towards restricting carbon emissions as “group think” while speaking Tuesday at the energy conference CERAWeek by IHS Markit. “I’m not sure
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
RINs Not Driving Any Profits: Motiva
(Argus Media) No one profits from credits used to track compliance with US biofuel mandates, Motiva chief executive Dan Romasko said today, wading into a controversy that has split the industry. Refinery margins rise and fall to offset the cost of
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Watchdog to Ask U.S. Lawmakers to Probe Icahn's Role with Trump
by Chris Prentice (Reuters/Yahoo!) A government watchdog group, Public Citizen, said on Wednesday it will ask lawmakers to investigate whether billionaire investor Carl Icahn should have been subject to lobbying disclosure laws when he advised President Donald Trump to overhaul
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Smart Microalgae at the Danish IP Fair
(Algae Industry Magazine) On May 9 Yumiko Sakuragi from the Copenhagen Plant Science Centre will participate in the Danish IP fair in Industriens Hus, Copenhagen. Dr. Sakuragi will present her invention on how smart microalgae can enhance bioethanol production from
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
MIT Study Estimates That VW's Dieselgate Scandal Will Send 1,200 Europeans To An Early Grave
by David Tracy (Jalopnik) In 2015, Researchers from MIT, Harvard and Hasselt University (in Belgium) estimated that VW’s 482,000 cheating diesels would lead to an estimated 59 premature deaths in the U.S. Now some of those same researchers have taken a
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Research Finds Microalgae That Grow in Waste and Generate Biofuels
(Embrapa (Google translation)) Embrapa Agroenergia (DF) was able to identify species of microalgae that can be cultivated in liquid waste from agroindustrial processes, effluents. This crop can generate renewable raw material for biofuels, feed, cosmetics and various other products. The research,
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Thailand Announces 3.66 Million Tons of Rotten Rice to Be Auctioned March 23
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Thailand, the National Rice Policy Committee agreed to open another round of bidding for rotten rice on March 23 for 3.66 million metric tons. The rotten rice is allowed for industrial uses including biofuels
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
The Algae Chemicals Opportunity: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At ABLC 2017, Algae Biomass Organization executive director Matt Carr took the stage with a theme of “algae as a factory for conversion of low-value carbon into oils, proteins, pigments, soil enhancers, ethanol and higher alcohols, probiotics and therapeutic compounds, and other high-value
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Agricultural Robot May Be 'Game Changer' for Crop Growers, Breeders
by Sharita L Forrest (Phys.Org) A semiautonomous robot may soon be roaming agricultural fields gathering and transmitting real-time data about the growth and development of crops, information that crop breeders—and eventually farmers—can use to identify the genetic traits in plants likely to
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Camelina, Canola Show Promise as Cool-Season Crops
(The Crop Science Society of America/Biodiesel Magazine) ... In California, growers usually choose warm-season crops: ones that grow from March to October. But extension agronomist Stephen Kaffka and his team at UC Davis, including project scientist Nic George, explored growing
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Trans Borneo Expedition All Geared up for 860km Road Trip to Promote Biodiesel
by Daryll Law (Borneo Post) The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) and Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) will hold the Trans Borneo Expedition aimed at promoting the use of biodiesel fuel from today to March 5. The expedition aims to
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
21 Techs to Watch in 2017 and Other Hot Trends: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to the State of the Advanced Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At ABLC 2017 in Washington, the Digest presented its annual State of the Advanced Bioeconomy presentation, including a look at 21 technologies and companies to watch in 2017. “Opening with our annual industry survey on business confidence, we then
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Battle Brewing over Ethanol Program Post 2022
by Jonathan H. Harsch (Agri-Pulse) Ethanol already supplies over 10 percent of the U.S. gasoline market and the fuel’s share is growing. Yet Congressman Bill Flores, who wants to see ethanol capped at 9.7 percent of the market, is holding back on
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Company Makes the Leap into Cosmetics, Parts I and 2
by Simon Pitman (CosmeticsDesign.com) It is not every day that a biodiesel company branches out into the cosmetic ingredients market, but that is exactly what Hawaii-based Pacific Biodiesel has done. Pacific Biodiesel made a big jump from biodiesel to diversify into
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Vega Biofuels to Provide Biochar to Alaska’s Legal Cannabis Industry
(Vega Biofuels) Vega Biofuels, Inc. (OTCPink:VGPR) announced today that it has signed a five year Agreement to provide the Company’s Biochar to legal cannabis growers in Alaska. The state of Alaska is the most recent state to legalize both medical
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Oil Instability Giving New Life to Biofuels?
by Douglas L. Faulkner (Biofuels Digest) Robert McNally, the author of the new, critically-acclaimed book, “Crude Volatility: The History and the Future of Boom-Bust Oil Prices”, believes that global oil markets are entering an epic, structural shift to a protracted new
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
How the County’s Biodiesel-Making Effort in Cathcart Flopped
by Karen Law (Tribune) Snohomish County’s gamble on turning canola into biodiesel has turned belly-up, but at least the Spokane Indian Tribe may reap a jackpot this week when the County Council votes on surplussing its remaining biofuel equipment, a
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Lawsuit Limits Demolition at Former Great Northern Mill Site
by Darren Fishell and Nick Sambides Jr. (Bangor Daily News) Investors seeking to build a biofuel refinery that they say would employ more than 100 people at the former Great Northern Paper Co. mill site were granted a temporary restraining order
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
RNG, Cellulosic Fuels and the Renewable Fuel Standard
by Susan Olson (BioCycle Magazine) Because of an all-time high waiver credit value paired with strong advanced RIN prices, renewable natural gas could fetch $35/MMBtu in 2017. Since 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has mandated the blending of renewable fuels
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Greenbelt Resources Announces "PRECO": "Paso Robles ECOsystem" Transforms Waste to Bioproducts
(Greenbelt Resources Corporation/PR NewsWire) Greenbelt Resources Corporation (OTC: GRCO), an innovator of sustainable energy production systems, announced today the Paso Robles ECOsystem, known as PRECO, a waste-to-energy interconnected system (ecosystem) designed to produce half a million gallons of bioethanol from
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
REG Crosses 2B Gallon Biomass-Based Diesel Production Mark, Completes Petrotec Acquisition
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, REG announced on the sidelines at the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference that the company has sold more than two billion gallons cumulatively of biomass-based diesel, less than than 3 years after marking its first billion gallons
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Hydrothermal Processing Bench-Scale Technology Evaluation Project
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe/WERF (Water Environment and Reuse Foundation)) This project was conducted in order to determine if hydrothermal processing (HTP) technology has potential for treating wastewater solids. In particular, it looked at the Genifuel HTP technology which converts organic material into
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Clean Cities: Black Bear Biodiesel
(Motor Week) ... Black bear biodiesel takes waste cooking oil from area restaurants and resorts, and recycles it into biodiesel. In 2016, they collected 100,000 gallons of used oil. Renewable biodiesel can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 75 percent. Working with Vermont
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Argonne National Laboratory Develops New System to Enhance AD Process
(Bioenergy Insight) US-based science and engineering centre Argonne National Laboratory has developed technology that synergistically uses two waste biomass streams to generate two bioproducts and enhance the process of anaerobic digestion (AD). According to the organisation, the digestion of wastewater can
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Germany’s Environment Minister Says ‘Excessive’ Use of Land for Bioenergy Crops Was a ‘Mistake’
(Bioenergy Insight) There has been excessive use of land for bioenergy crops in Germany which has led to a loss of species, according to the German environment minister Barbara Hendricks. Hendricks, speaking to the magazine Mehrwert, included energy as part of
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
BP Buys Clean Energy Fuels’ Biomethane Arm
by Liz Gyekye (Bioenergy Insight) Oil giant BP has announced that it will buy Clean Energy Fuels Corp.’s biomethane business for $155 million (€147m). Clean Energy Fuels is a US provider of natural gas fuel for transportation in North America. In a
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Aviation Biofuels: Won’t Get Fooled Again
by Carlos Calvo Ambel (Transport & Environment/EurActiv) ... Sustainable feedstocks available for the production of non-land using biofuels, made of waste and residues, are limited and other sectors want to use them as well. Some advanced biofuels, such as those derived from
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump to Undo Vehicle Rules That Curb Global Warming
by Coral Davenport (New York Times) The Trump administration is expected to begin rolling back stringent federal regulations on vehicle pollution that contributes to global warming, essentially marking a U-turn to efforts to force the American auto industry to produce more
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Smith and Loebsack Introduce Bill to Broaden Fuel Choices for Retailers and Consumers
(Office of Congressman Adrian Smith) Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA) reintroduced legislation today to broaden fuel choices for retailers and consumers by expanding the existing waiver of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations related to the Reid
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Southern Online Bio Technologies Signs a MoU with Union Enterprise
(India Infoline News Service) Southern Online Bio Technologies, today announced that the company has entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with union Enterprise Private Limited. The MoU is for the supply, operation, production, maintenance & sale of biodiesel at Vizag
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Youngstown Steam Plant Is World’s First to Use Wood Fuel in New Way
by Stan Boney (WKBN) Youngstown Thermal is now burning a more environmentally-friendly fuel -- Youngstown Thermal supplies the steam used to heat most of the buildings in downtown Youngstown. Recently, the company made a million dollar investment, now burning a new form of
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Opportunities and Risks of Seaweed Biofuels in Aviation
by Marika Andersen (Bellona) Today, Bellona publishes its new report on the potential and challenges of using seaweed biofuels in aviation. The report provides comprehensive recommendations for researchers, public authorities and consumers. By mapping existing knowledge and practice, sustainability and
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Knocking on the Golden Door: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Amyris
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Amyris reported Q4 revenues of $32.2 million, 227% up from Q4 2015. The increase was driven by a 119% increase in product sales, primarily in the company’s personal care segment, as well as by significantly
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Amyris and the Great Rate Debate
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Either there’s a tremendous amount of down-time at the plant. Or, the plant is struggling with rate. We highlighted production rate in this article on hard times and bright prospects at POET-DSM, and we’ll highlight it
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
San Diego Fire Engines Go Green
by Carlos Correa (CW6 San Diego) The City of San Diego is making the switch in an effort to reduce greenhouse gases. They have now switched the fuel used by all fire engines. They’re changing from diesel to renewable diesel, in the
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Ethanol Co. Says Ex-Employee Gave Its Tech To Competitor
(Law 360) Ethanol production conglomerate Poet LLC slapped its competitor Nelson Engineering and an ex-employee with a lawsuit in South Dakota federal court Monday, claiming the employee violated a confidentiality agreement by sharing proprietary fermentation tech with Nelson. In a complaint
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump Administration a Wild Card for Ethanol Industry
by Mike Hughlett (Star Tribune) With production on the rise, there's anxiety over unknown policy shifts. -- ... While there are positive indicators for 2017 — corn prices are forecast to be stable and the federal mandate for ethanol production
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Governors Press Trump: Coalition Asks for Ethanol Policy Changes
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) The Governors' Biofuels Coalition on Monday asked President Donald Trump to support a number of changes to federal law to support biofuels production. In a letter signed by Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, chairman of
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Heard in the Hallway at ABLC--Science from Scientists, a Teacher Resource
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) It's the personal connections you make at conferences that provide that added value that webinars and online learning just can't beat. That's how I found out about Science from Scientists, an educational nonprofit that
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuels Could Cut Transport Emissions – But Food May Be at Risk
by Maina Waruru (Thomson Reuters Foundation) Growing use of electric vehicles around the world is helping lower climate changing emissions, but some means of transport will be hard to electrify, particularly air travel and shipping, energy experts say. To “decarbonise” those,
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
ARPA-E 2017: Optimism Turns to Tension as Sector Prepares to Protect Energy R&D Funding
by Krysti Shallenberger (Utility Dive) ... At stake is funding for the Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy, more commonly known as ARPA-E. Created in 2007 as a technology incubator under the purview of the Department of Energy, ARPA-E’s mission is to drive innovation
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Switchgrass May Unlock the Future of Biofuel
by Silke Schmidt (Phys.Org) ... Genetically modifying switchgrass could boost crop yields and its commercial viability. But to close in on realizing that potential requires one small tweak: a genetic sterility switch that prevents the modified grass from contaminating the genes of nearby
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
EIA Data Shows Blend Wall Broken in 2016 with Production at 15.33 Billion Gallons
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the U.S. ethanol production set a new record of 15.33 billion gallons (bg) in 2016, according to data released today by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The EIA data also show that the average
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
White House’s Proposed Cuts to NOAA Will Undermine Science and Weather Forecasting Vital for Businesses, Military and States
(Union of Concerned Scientists) According to news reports, the Trump administration is seeking a 17 percent budget cut for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, one of the country’s premier scientific institutions, whose research is vital for our economy and
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
UK Biofuels Industry Faces Shutdown Due to Government Crop Cap
(FG Insight) Vivergo Fuels, which converts 1.1m tonnes of feed-grade wheat a year into bioethanol, has said it could face closure if the Government ploughs on with plans to restrict crop-based biofuels in petrol. The UK must ensure 10 per cent
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Yale, Penn State Team Receives $1.2M Co-Optima Award to Investigate Sooting Behavior of Biofuels
(MoveEnergy) Penn State Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Yuan Xuan and researchers at Yale University will work together to identify clean-burning biofuels for next-generation internal combustion engines under to a $1.2 million award from the Energy Department’s Co-Optimization of Fuels
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Hood College Receives almost $2 Million Endowment for Biofuels Professor
by Allen Etzler (Frederick News Post) A near $2 million endowment will be used to help Hood College continue developing its biology department and build collaborations with the biotech industry. The college recently received $944,000 under a matching endowment for the
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
ICM to Build Showcase Biorefinery Next to Its Kansas Headquarters
(Ethanol Producer Magazine) ICM Inc. will build a new state-of-the-art biorefinery—dubbed ICM Element—next to its headquarters in Colwich, Kansas. The facility will showcase the company’s cutting-edge technologies. ... Elements are nature’s building blocks and the world is searching for cleaner, sustainable, renewable
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Senate Bill Introduced to Give E15 Year-Round Market Presence
(Ethanol Producer Magazine) A bipartisan trio of Senators introduced a bill today that would extend the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver to ethanol blends above 10 percent, a move that would give E15 year-round market presence. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Joe
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Could Biofuel Save Maine’s Timber Industry?
by Darren Fishell (Bangor Daily News) The company EMEP LLC wants to buy the shuttered East Millinocket paper mill to build a biorefinery that it said would be a centerpiece of a larger $240 million plan for biomass energy parks
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuel Is Nigeria’s New Economy –Shidok, PPPRA Boss
(The Sun) From Uche Usim, Abuja -- When the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, assumed office in 2015, one of the programmes he highlighted the Muhammadu Buhari administration would face headlong was biofuels production which he described
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Bugs Delay Z's Biodiesel
by Grant Bradley (New Zealand Herald) Z Energy hopes to get its biodiesel plant producing commercial fuel within the next two months after months of delays. The company had hoped to start supplying partners from the plant at Wiri in the second half
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Letter: Need Clear Picture of Fuel Standards
by Paul Winters (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/The Wichita Eagle) Kansans deserve a clear picture of the Renewable Fuel Standard’s future, and a recent letter did the RFS a disservice (“Winners, losers in U.S. fuel policy,” Feb. 17 Letters to the Editor). Though
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Ethanol a Hot Topic at ’17 Classic
by Andy Eubank (Hoosier Ag Today) Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly (D) joined Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to introduce the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act last week, a bill that would effectively allow the sale of
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
U.S. Ethanol Group Clashes with Icahn over Details of Biofuels Negotiation
by Chris Prentis and Jennifer Ablan (Reuters/Yahoo!Finance) The head of the Renewable Fuels Association says billionaire investor Carl Icahn told him last week President Donald Trump was about to issue an order overhauling the U.S. biofuels program - something both
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Icahn on Point on RFS
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) Carl Icahn was the administration official who called Bob Dinneen, CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, and told him an executive order changing the Renewable Fuel Standard is on the way, Dinneen told Reuters. Dinneen
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
11 Companies Advance in Maine’s Born Global Challenge
At ABLC 2017, Maine’s Born Global Challenge named Core Biofuels, DMC, CRI, D4 Energy Group, Concord Blue, Ark Power Dynamics, NuFuels, Visolis, Phytonix, Renmatix and Sweetwater Energy as the first set of prequalified companies — a second round of companies will be
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Heard on the Floor at ABLC 2017 – Day 2
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ABLC guests heard Governor Paul LePage from Maine invite all of us to his beautiful Northern state that has many existing and promising biomass projects and even backyard farms that grow tomatoes year round
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
50 Hottest Companies in the Advanced Bioeconomy 2017
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington at the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference, LanzaTech took the #1 spot in the 2017 "50 Hottest Companies in the Advanced Bioeconomy" rankings. The annual rankings, which recognize innovation and achievement in fuels and integrated
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Iogen CEO Foody Lands Holmberg Award for Lifetime Achievement
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Holmberg Award for Lifetime Achievement in Bioenergy was presented to Brian Foody at the 2017 Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference. The award was presented to Mr. Foody by Jim Lane, Editor and Publisher,
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
FutureMetrics Has Published a New White Paper: "Alternative Facts" in the Recent Chatham House Study
(FutureMetrics) Providing misleading, inaccurate, and sometime outright fiction as facts could be called propaganda. With overtones of Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, the term "alternative facts" has recently been coined. Either way, it is information that is biased and misleading that is
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Releases New Analysis on Reasons Why Not to Change the Renewable Fuel Standard PO
(Biofuels International) Growth Energy has released economic analysis that it says “identifies numerous problems” associated with changing the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) point of obligation. The US ethanol trade body strongly supports EPA’s proposed denial to move the point of obligation. “Changing the
March 03, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuels May Be the Future of the Aviation Industry
by Jon LeSage (OilPrice.com) Alternative and renewable aviation fuels such as biofuel blends won’t be replacing traditional jet fuels any time soon, but the aviation industry continues to take them very seriously. On average, the aviation sector consumes 10 percent of
March 03, 2017 Read Full Article
Heard on the Floor: Disruptive Technology, Feedstocks under the Microscope at ABLC 2017’s Opening Day
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... While there were big questions, there were big answers, beginning with a panel on The Sustainable Agriculture Imperative. John Pieper from Dupont Industrial Biosciences shared their latest work with cellulosic ethanol in the corn
March 02, 2017 Read Full Article
Brian Foody Receives Holmberg Award for Lifetime Achievement Award
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Iogen's Brian Foody receives Holmberg Award for Lifetime Achievement Award at Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference in Washington, DC. Leading Iogen from a 2004 biochemical company to a leading supplier of cellulosic ethanol in the US
March 02, 2017 Read Full Article
RVO Clarity by June Top Priority for Biofuels Industry Leaders
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Amid an animated discussion of policy issues, one item gained the support of all five panelists: publication of the Renewable Fuels Standard renewable volume obligations for 2017 and 2018 by June, on schedule. Moderated by
March 02, 2017 Read Full Article
Mexico Tequila Maker Has a Shot at Turning Agave Waste into Fuel
by Sophie Hares (Reuters) One of Mexico's most famous tequila companies, Herradura, hopes to turn into fuel the thousands of tonnes of waste it generates each year from the spiky blue agave plants used to make the spirit, and cut
March 02, 2017 Read Full Article
DOE's Bioenergy Technologies Office Sees Greater Collaboration with DOE Office of Fossil Energy in Its Future
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) This morning at the "Defense Production Act (DPA) Advanced Drop-in Biofuels Production Project Round 2 Industry Roundtable" held at the US Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC, Zia Haq, Senior Analyst and DPA Coordinator