by Jeff Lagerquist (Yahoo! Finance) Investment in green hydrogen production is expected to exceed US$1 billion annually by 2023. — Quebec is a step closer to building one of the world’s largest green hydrogen plants, as the province looks to rival Alberta’s plan to become Canada’s hub for the zero-emissions
BioChemicals/Renewable Chemicals
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Researchers developing renewable plastics and exploring new processes for plastics upcycling and recycling technologies will now be able to easily baseline their efforts to current manufacturing practices to understand if their efforts will save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Benchmark data calculated and compiled at the

Each year, we gather at SBFC to discuss biotechnological advances for production of biofuels, bioproducts and biomaterials. This April, we look forward to welcoming you virtually to SBFC for interactive presentations and discussions. The first Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals was held in 1978 and hosted by Oak
by Tammy Klein (Transport Energy Strategies) Thanks to all of you who attended the recent webinar with Dr. David Babson, Program Director, Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E). The title of his talk was “Changing what’s possible for a sustainable future,” which included a topic that is top of mind for
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Mark Brodziski, Deputy Administrator at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, shared this illuminating slide guide at ABLC 2020 about how the USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service offers programs to support rural business growth across markets in the bioeconomy like biofuels, renewable chemicals and biobased products like
(Siemens/ElectricEnergyOnline) Siemens Energy and Mubadala join strategic partnership to accelerate green hydrogen capabilities in Abu Dhabi; Siemens Energy to collaborate with Masdar and partners on developing clean hydrogen fuels Siemens Energy is advancing the development of green hydrogen ecosystems in the UAE. Around the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, two Memorandums
(Renewables Now) The world’s green hydrogen production will grow at an exponential rate in the next decade, reaching 5.7 million tonnes in 2030, up from 40,000 tonnes in 2019, according to Frost & Sullivan’s. This will represent a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 57%. The green hydrogen market’s expansion
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How do you recycle mixed and complex waste? What about waste that can’t be recycled? These are the questions that Mike Hart, CEO of Sierra Energy tackles in this illuminating slide guide that looks at waste generation by region, zero waste goals, FastOx gasification as
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Who are the key bioeconomy players in the new Biden Administration? What recent moves by the outgoing Trump Administration and Congress will set their budget and regulatory framework for 2021. What will the new Administration do, right away and this year? READ MORE 1. New
(Bergeson & Campbell) On December 28, 2020, the House overrode President Trump’s veto and passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (H.R. 6395) by a vote of 322 to 87, and the Senate passed the bill on January 1, 2021, by a vote of 81 to 13. Subtitle E of
by Chloe Jardine (Argus Media) Germany’s research ministry today presented three large-scale research projects on green hydrogen, with a focus on the production of large electrolysers, on combining offshore wind farms and hydrogen production, and on the transport of hydrogen. Federal research minister Anja Karliczek awarded a total of €700mn to the
(TGE and PGNiG) TGE and PGNiG intend to jointly prepare modern solutions supporting the creation and development of a biomethane market in Poland. The expertise of both PGNiG, as a key player on the gas market, and of TGE as a trading platform where the trading in gas and certificates
(Stora Enso) The production of Multicopy paper is about to contribute to the biofuel production in Sweden. The energy company Gasum and Stora Enso will together turn waste into renewable green energy. Wastewater can be a challenge for mills. Vast volumes of process water containing organic residues need to be treated.
(Greenergy) Greenergy announces its continued commitment to renewables through an investment in advanced biofuels. Utilising a combination of existing technologies, the project will create low carbon fuels from waste tyre feedstock. The project will utilise pyrolysis and hydrotreating technologies to convert waste tyres into renewable drop-in advanced biofuels that can be
by Shawn Kreloff (Bioenergy Devco/Biofuels Digest) … But what if we could replace a significant amount of these fossil fuels with renewable natural gas (RNG) or Green Hydrogen created solely from advanced processing of organic residuals – byproducts that would otherwise decompose into methane and contribute to the increase in
by Kim Chipman (Bloomberg) Green Plains Inc. Chief Executive Officer Todd Becker is getting closer to his goal of never having to worry about U.S. ethanol policy again. Instead of awaiting Washington’s next move in the industry’s battle with Big Oil for share of gasoline tanks, Becker is working to transform Green
(Total) Total and Engie have signed a cooperation agreement to design, develop, build and operate the Masshylia project, France’s largest renewable hydrogen production site at Châteauneuf-les-Martigues in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur South region. Located at the heart of Total’s La Mède biorefinery and powered by solar farms with a total capacity of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … We are adding value to biological by-products through our 5 core competencies: Product and Application Expertise, International Sales & Marketing, Legal Compliance, Sustainability and Supply Chain Management. … We offer a wide variety of specialist services, including by-product and waste collection and handling, as
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Taking trash to treasure to a new level, renewable Dimethyl Ethercan be made from animal manure, food and agriculture waste, landfill gas and wood. Oberon Fuels’ President, Rebecca Boudreaux, PhD shared this illuminating slide guide that dives into Oberon’s small-scale production process, the 1st fuel-grade
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Biobased bicycle path bridges that feature bat-friendly design in the Netherlands, biobased backpacks in Sweden, footwear featuring Fido’s dog hair in Germany, drones gettin’ their crown on with pineapple waste in Malaysia, biodegradable floss to keep your smile green and clean in New York
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The agriculture and waste revolution continues — these are not your Dad’s inputs, or Dad’s outputs either. If you missed last week’s DigestConnect, check out this slide guide from Vanguard Renewables CEO John Hanselman that takes a look at their newest biogas and renewable natural
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It was styled as a biofuels and biochemical producer, founded back in the heady days of the Recovery Act in February 2009, focused on developing high value oils and animal feeds by fermentation of low cost substrates. The business, as former CEO Colin South once described
(SeeNews/Renewables Now) – French microalgae firm Fermentalg (EPA:FALG) saw its shares jump 35% on Tuesday after it announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with domestic waste management company Suez SA (EPA:SEV) to create an equally-owned joint venture for carbon capture through the development of algae photobioreactors. The
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service on Jan. 6 issued final regulations regarding the section 45Q tax credit for qualified carbon oxide sequestration. The Carbon Capture Coalition said the final rule provides long-overdue regulatory and financial certainty. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, which
(Electric Energy Online) TMB has selected the company to build a hydrogen plant on the Zona Franca industrial area, the first public facility of its kind in the country, and to operate it for the next ten years; The company is carrying out projects that will put Spain at the
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Who knew flies would be so useful! Apparently the nanocoating found in fruit fly eyes have potential applications in medicine, textiles and electronics thanks to its anti-reflective, anti-microbial and self-cleaning properties. The proteins and lipids can also be tweaked to change the physical characteristics of
by John Fialka (E&E News) … “Can we afford not to do this?” was the way Steve Oldham, the CEO of Carbon Engineering, headquartered in Squamish, British Columbia, put it in a recent TED Talk. He estimated that climate-related damages will eventually cost the U.S. over $500 billion a year “if
(Morningstar/Globe Newswire) Greenway Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: GWTI), an advanced gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology development company, today announced receipt of a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for another of its United States utility patent applications relating to its GTL fuel conversion technology. Hunter Adams, of “AdamsIP”, Greenway’s patent attorney
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A mere “The Year in Rewind” as we sail into 2021? Not the good ship Digest! Instead, we dust off our crystal ball and offer our predictions for the year ahead. As the sunset of 2020 gives way to the dawn of 2021, once again
(Alternative Fuels & Chemicals Coalition/CISION) The Alternative Fuels & Chemicals Coalition (“AFCC”) worked closely with policy makers and appropriators this year to provide changes to the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”)’s Title XVII Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program (the “Title XVII Program”), which were realized through the recent enactment of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Four critical challenges in biochemical and thermochemical processing were addressed in the just released “Bioprocessing Separations Consortium Three-Year Overview” U.S. BETO report, including targeting the fractionation of lignin to enable valorization; Developing technologies to enable process intensification to cut bioprocessing capital costs and make processes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, the 2021 rankings for the 50 Hottest Organizations in Biodesign & Engineering was published today, as voted by invited international Selectors and subscribers of The Daily Digest, the world’s most widely-read bioeconomy daily, and part of the overall 50 Hottest Companies in the Advanced Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, the 2021 50 Hottest Companies inAgriculture and Nutrition was published today (December 31, 2020), as voted by invited international Selectors and subscribers of The Daily Digest, the world’s most widely-read bioeconomy daily. The annual rankings recognize innovation and achievement in fuel, chemicals, materials, advanced
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, the 2021 50 Hottest Companies in Renewable Fuels, Chemicals & Biomaterials was published today (December 30, 2020), as voted by invited international Selectors and subscribers of The Daily Digest, the world’s most widely-read bioeconomy daily. One theme that stood out was deployment at commercial-scale. 9
by Alex Tiller (Carbonvert Inc./Ethanol Producer Magazine) The road to qualifying for the 45Q tax credit can be confusing, with strict limitations on project phases and what constitutes start of construction. But, navigated properly, the credit is a promising opportunity. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) presents a tremendous financial opportunity
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Half of this week’s Top 8 Innovations are from India, a large visionary country that has been looking at biobased alternatives for almost anything. From incorporating vegan leather made from peas and mushrooms into luxury mean’s shoes to greener green tea with teabags made from
(This Day) … The Government of Plateau State in North Central region of Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CONTEC Global Limited to establish a cassava biofuel plant in the state. At the signing ceremony during the weekend in Jos, the Capital of Plateau State, the Governor of
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) … In today’s Digest, we look at the HOTTEST Digest Slide Guides like Corbion’s biobased Poly Lactic Acid (PLA), Gevo’s low carbon drop-in transportation fuels, Neste, an exclusive Digest Q&A with Clariant, and even some hydrogen. Check out what YOU, the readers, found the most
(The National News) About one million tonnes of date seeds are produced from 40 million palm trees in the Emirates — A research team in the UAE have extracted a large quantity of biofuel from date seeds, signalling a huge potential boost for the country’s biofuel industry. About one million
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) 2020 showed us a lot of things, but one thing it emphasized bigtime is that we are all connected on this planet. A virus spread like wildfire because of our connectedness with each other. If you had predicted we’d be in a global pandemic fighting
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Some of you may be celebrating the holidays with a bit of whisky – or ‘whiskey’ in some countries – but who knew this distilled alcoholic beverage could be so handy for the bioeconomy! The Whisky Project led by the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre, includes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) NextChem is focused on 3 solutions that all tie in together – cleaner hydrogen, biofuels and a circular economy. Find out why and how in this exclusive ABLC slide guide that dives into their low-carbon hydrogen production, biofuels from used cooking oil, animal fats, vegetable
(Braskem) Agilyx Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Agilyx AS (Euronext Growth (Oslo): (“AGLX”), a pioneer in the advanced recycling of post-use plastics, and Braskem (B3: BRKM3, BRKM5 and BRKM6; NYSE: BAK; LATIBEX: XBRK), the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas and leading producer of biopolymers in the world, today announced the initiation
(Neste) Neste has a target to process annually over 1 million tons of waste plastic from 2030 onwards. The company plans to use liquefied plastic waste as a raw material at its fossil oil refinery to upgrade it into high-quality drop-in feedstock for the production of new plastics. Neste successfully processed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The $1.4 trillion spending package includes appropriation for Fiscal Year 2021, the COVID stimulus package, extensions of popular tax credits that otherwise expired on December 31st, and the Energy Act of 2020, a $35B version of a larger energy bill that has been drifting around
by Tyne Morgan (Farm Journal AgWeb) … Peter Meyer of S&P Global Platts says ethanol plants are now producing ethanol not for the fuel, but for the byproducts. “Ethanol plants are selling a lot of their byproducts given the rise in soybean oil prices, which were somewhat based on Palm oil prices going up,
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Reps. Marc Veasey, D-Texas; David McKinley, R-W.V.; Cheri Bustos, D-Ill.; and Pete Stauber, R-Minn., on Dec. 16 introduced the Storing CO2 and Lowering Emissions (SCALE) Act, which supports the buildout of the infrastructure necessary to transport CO2 from where it is captured to where it
by Kristin Toussaint (Fast Company) Instead of having more carbon go into the atmosphere, making our planet warmer and speeding up the effects of climate change, you might soon be able to eat those emissions. Biotech company LanzaTech has successfully turned CO2 emissions into lipids and omega-3 fatty acids as
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In China, LanzaTech’s Shougang commercial carbon recycling facility reached 150 days of full capacity continuous operation in November, a significant achievement for a first of a kind technology at scale. Production at the site itself has exceeded 20 million gallons of ethanol since startup which
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sugar-based bioplastics and lignin-based foams and composites are making it possible to transform the huge amount of oil based materials and products in our lives to biobased products. MetGen is making it happen with zero waste biorefineries. Find out how in this illuminating slide guide
by Dave Collings (1898 & Co./Burns & McDonnell) For organizations looking to develop, construct and commission a new renewable diesel plant, it’s important to understand the various market conditions at play to avoid poorly made investments and the pitfalls of lost future opportunities. Since 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) continued
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Synthetic biology produces fabrics, food, biofuels, health products and more, but we need better predictive power. Machine learning can help and be used to design pathways or choose promoters to optimize production for example. Hector Garcia Martin, Deputy VP of Biofuels and Bioproducts at the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cracking the high end markets is what DigestConnect was all about last week, but if you missed it, check out popular F&F expert Scott Chaplin’s slide guide with answers to all our questions on flavors, fragrances and cannabinoid markets, how to crack the exploding markets
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) “Think of the children” who won’t know that meat comes from life, not from labs, says the France ag minister who poo-poo’d cultivated meat, yet Israel’s prime minister championed cultivated meat calling it a “powerhouse” and a way to save the cows. While that debate
by Lena Nordgren (SEKAB) The second webinar by the EU project REWOFUEL – REsidual soft WOod conversion to high characteristics drop-in bioFUELs, was held in the beginning of December. The specific topic of the webinar was to address the sustainability aspects in the value chain focusing on “Application of LCA on innovative biorefinery concepts –
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) If you missed last week’s DigestConnect, have no fear, check out the Whitefox slide guide here! Whitefox CTO Stephan Blum, advisor Bill Lee, Process Engineer Virginia Andrade and Field Engineer Sean Lorimer shared all about improved plant operations membrane technology, revolutionizing membranes for product diversity, where
by Hannah DelSordo* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The December 15th webinar discussed how natural gas utilities are developing the renewable natural gas (RNG) market in a decarbonizing world. This event featured speaker Philip Sheehy, the technical director of transportation and energy at ICF, Josh Linton strategic planning analyst at ONE Gas,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … Yara announces plans to fully electrify its ammonia plant in Porsgrunn, Norway with the potential to cut 800,000 tons of CO2 per annum, equivalent to the emissions from 300,000 passenger cars. … Yara’s the world’s largest ammonia fertilizer company, has 16,000 employees and operations in over
by Blaine Friedlander (Cornell University/Science Daily) By borrowing nature’s blueprints for photosynthesis, bioengineers have found a way to efficiently absorb and store large-scale, low-cost renewable energy from the sun – while sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide to use later as a biofuel. By borrowing nature’s blueprints for photosynthesis, Cornell University bioengineers have
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There is such a thing as green polyols for polyurethanes! And as you probably know, cellulosic ethanol produces tons of co-product lignin, so check out this slide guide that dives into the basic polyurethane chemistry, how lignin-based polyurethanes are made, pretreatment, structural changes, the latest
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … After all, it’s not every day of the week that a 900 million gallons renewable diesel project can be described as “phase one of a much bigger project”, but that’s the story with Fidelis Infrastructure and Gron Fuels’ plan to build, over nine years,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What is the World Economic Forum doing to help aviation meet net zero goals? First, they recognize that the most immediate action to achieve carbon-neutral flying is the investment in, and rapid scale-up, of sustainable aviation fuel production and use. Their latest report demonstrates the
(Advanced Biofuel Solutions) Advanced Biofuel Solutions Ltd (ABSL), University College London (UCL) and Wood have been awarded a £250,000 grant from Innovate UK to design a production line that makes high purity biohydrogen for fuel cell electric vehicles. The ABSL plant in Swindon will convert household waste into bio-substitute natural
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) If you are looking for a unique holiday gift, the European Space Agency just released the blueprint for at-home 3D printers to produce their own miniature Rosalind Franklin ExoMars rover at home using bioplastic. And enjoy holiday meals made with the world’s first approved cultivated,
(SEKAB) Click on the flaps and be inspired by what it’s possible to do for our climate –… Sekab is one of the Swedish companies and partners of the Swedish 2030 Secretariat 2030-sekretariatet that have contributed to the compilation of 31 climate-smart proposals in a Christmas calendar aimed at demonstrating what it is
(NextantECA) This report examines the technical, economic and business aspects of thermolysis (i.e., pyrolysis and gasification) of mixed plastics waste. Analyses of the mixed plastics waste and the thermolysis plant location are included in the report. Selected developers of pyrolysis and gasification technologies are profiled and ranked under different criteria.
(Enel Green Power) The MoU is related to a project for the production of green hydrogen via electrolysis using renewable energy from an Enel Green Power solar plant in the United States; The project, which is expected to be operational in 2023, will supply the green hydrogen produced to a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Anyone facing a carbon target or price wants to capture carbon. The advanced players are turning towards carbon capture and use — as a way to pay for carbon capture and a place to put it for the long-term. What’s working, how, where and why? Peter
by Mary Page Bailey (Chemical Engineering) Yara International ASA (Oslo, Norway) has announced plans for 500,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr) of green ammonia production in Norway, powering emission-free shipping fuels and decarbonized food solutions. “Ammonia is the most promising hydrogen carrier and zero-carbon shipping fuel, and Yara is the global ammonia
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Quebec, Enerkem, Shell, Suncor and Proman have proposed the construction of an $669 million biofuel plant in Varennes, Québec, in partnership with the Québec and Canadian governments. The project would use more than 200,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste and wood waste to produce nearly
(Office of Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09)) Bipartisan legislation will provide tax credits for the production of renewable chemicals — U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) have introduced the Renewable Chemicals Act, legislation that will create an allocated tax credit for production of qualifying renewable chemicals from biomass
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) … Like Braskem’s news that they are expanding their post-consumer resin portfolio and investing $67 million in the construction of a recycling line with capacity to transform around 250 million pieces of packaging into 14,000 tons of high-quality, post-consumer resin per year. In today’s Digest,
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) This week is filled with ‘Gouda ideas’ like San Francisco animal-free cheesemaker that uses precision fermentation to produce casein, a protein present in cow’s milk, or cell-based meat company that developed cultivated chicken mince that it hopes will address both an increasing appetite for chicken
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This just released report from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office sums up the input that 175 participants from biofuels and bioenergy sectors gave at a virtual workshop to come up with best practices for utilizing mathematical modeling tools across multiple scales to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Who’s in Hot Water? Some of the Usual Suspects get into the usual trouble. We note that EPA missed the 2021 Renewable Volume Obligation deadline, and Growth Energy threatens a lawsuit. Really. We get tired of reporting on the industry having to (almost annually) sue the government to
(Porsche) Porsche, Siemens Energy and a lineup of international companies are developing and implementing a pilot project in Chile that is expected to yield the world’s first integrated, commercial, industrial-scale plant for making synthetic climate-neutral fuels (eFuels). In the pilot phase, around 130,000 liters of eFuels will be produced as early
(Biofuture) Bioenergy sector hailed as a ‘job creating machine’ at launch of BBEST 2020-21/BIOFUTURE SUMMIT II Virtual Conference; Unique conference brings together world-leading policies, innovation, science and market analysis across the bioeconomy — The Biofuture Platform, a multi-stakeholder initiative facilitated by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and designed to take action on
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There are concrete benefits of using BioLNG to decarbonize hard to abate transport sectors like heavy-duty transport and shipping, according to the latest European Biogas Association, Gas Infrastructure Europe, the Natural & Bio Gas Vehicle Association, and SEA-LNG joint paper. The EU production of BioLNG
by Mark Wilson (Fast Company) … The problem is that recycling centers, with so much excess cardboard, just toss the material into a dump. But what if we could do something else—anything else—with all these boxes? Like fuel a car? Thanks to Sun-Mi Lee, a research scientist at the Clean
(International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)) Hydrogen produced with renewable energy sources – or “green” hydrogen – has emerged as a key element to achieve net-zero emissions from heavy industry and transport. Along with net-zero commitments by growing numbers of governments, green hydrogen has started gaining momentum based on low-cost renewable electricity,
(Praj) “The use of biofuels needs to be increased to reduce the strain caused by fossil fuel on our country’s economy, and the growing pollution menace arising from it,” said Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and the Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. He
by Geoff Cooper (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Renewable Fuels Association) Already contributing to decarbonization, ethanol is a phenomenal low-carbon molecule that will continue to play an instrumental role in the transition to net-zero emissions. And because it is here today, there is no need to wait until 2035 to act. Against a
(Ruhr University Bochum) Methanol is an important raw material for the chemical industry. So far it has mostly been obtained from fossil natural gas. A team with RUB participation wants to change that. — The idea is based on CO 2 recycling and renewable energies. Methanol is produced from fossil natural
(Södra) Swedish forest industry group Södra has launched Liquid Forest™, a pioneering range of bioproducts: biomethanol, tall oil and turpentine. The Liquid Forest™ brand is a concept that offers the market and customers an opportunity to choose climate-smart products derived from sustainably-managed forests from the company’s 53,000 forest-owning members in southern
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Japan achieved an average ethanol blend rate of 1.6 percent in 2019. The blend rate is expected to increase to 1.9 percent this year due to an estimated 8 percent decrease in gasoline demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report filed with the
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory) From soda bottles to car bumpers to piping, electronics, and packaging, plastics have become a ubiquitous part of our lives. Advancements in materials have made plastics low cost, flexible, hygienic, lightweight, durable and readily available. While some plastics are recyclable, only a fraction — about 8.4% nationally
(World Business Council for Sustainable Development) The Circular Bioeconomy report calls for a shift towards a sustainable, low-carbon, circular bioeconomy to capture part of the USD $7.7 trillion opportunity identified in the CEO Guide to the Circular Bioeconomy published in November 2019. It describes the business case and sustainability imperative for the circular
(Neste) Neste is launching a new product, Neste RE, a 100% renewable and recycled raw material for plastics and chemicals production. It is a product for tackling climate change through reducing the need to use virgin fossil resources, while it also provides a new solution to the end-of-life related challenges the
by Douglas L. Faulkner (Leatherstocking/Biofuels Digest) … In this time of mistrust, misunderstandings, cynicism and defeatism, we all should say out loud unabashedly and without hesitation all the blessings biofuels and biobased products have wrought. The world would certainly be a much different – – and much worse – – place
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) As if 2020 wasn’t crazy enough, this week’s innovations include lab-grown lobster, renewable and biodegradable store mannequins, edible bug grants for companies looking to develop insect-based foods, and even a Hannibal Lecter inspired “have people for dinner” cultured meat startup where you can grow little
(University of Bristol) Scientists have built tiny droplet-based microbial factories that produce hydrogen, instead of oxygen, when exposed to daylight in air. The findings of the international research team based at the University of Bristol and Harbin Institute of Technology in China, are published today in Nature Communications. Normally, algal cells
(Cielo/MarketWatch) Cielo Waste Solutions Corp. (“Cielo” or the “Company”) announces it has received pre-payment in full for a 60,000 litres of renewable diesel, which is now being produced at the Company’s Aldersyde waste to renewable fuel facility (“Aldersyde Facility”). The renewable diesel will be shipped to a third party of the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Greenlane Renewables is “changing the nature of natural gas” via renewable natural gas to help decarbonize transportation and the natural gas grid. By producing low-carbon RNG from organic waste like landfills, wastewater treatment plants, dairy and hog farms and food waste, that can go directly
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s possible to summarize the advanced bioeconomy in three words, technology, investment, policy. These are the sine qua non, the foundational forces. Technology without investment and policy is a bunch of pretty things on a shelf, policy without technology or investment is bound to fail, and
by Park Sae-jin (Aju Business Daily) … The Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) said on November 23 that its research team led by Koh Dong-yeun has developed a solid carbonation technology that uses a hollow fiber module based on an ultrapermeable membrane synthesized with the polymers of
(Bioenergy Insight) Renewi, Nordsol, and Shell have started construction on the first bio-LNG installation in Amsterdam Westpoort. The new bio-LNG installation is an extension for the current processing of, among other things, outdated supermarket products. With a multi-million-euro investment, technical partner Nordsol will be the first to produce bio-LNG in
(CBS News) … Dry ice is made from carbon dioxide, a by-product of ethanol production. With Americans driving less in the wake of the pandemic, ethanol plants shut down, resulting in a shortage of carbon dioxide over the summer. “Without CO2, it’s like being a McDonald’s without hamburgers,” Savenor said.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The world is awash in low-cost ethanol thanks to bioeconomy technology, but we’re not yet awash in high-value renewable chemicals — now, with new technology, we can make those high-value chemicals from ethanol. If you missed last week’s DigestConnect, Catalyxx CEO Joanquin Alarcon shared this
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Carbios will knock your socks off with their enzyme tech that is now converting textile waste and your old polyester socks and sweaters into clear plastic bottles. We’ve heard of clothing made from plastic bottles like Patagonia’s fleece vests, but now Carbios is making it
(ThermoChem Recovery International) We are proud to announce that TRI‘s Dr. Ravi Chandran and our partners at CPFD were recognized for the innovative work we have done to model deep fluid bed gasification which is essential to the processing of wastes and biomass to renewable fuels and chemicals. The IChemE
by Craig Bettenhausen (Chemical and Engineering News) A lot more people will need to buy, handle, and store dry ice. The industry is moving quickly to get ready — … Moderna’s vaccine needs to be shipped and stored at –20 °C, which most conventional freezers can achieve. But the Pfizer-BioNTech
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Cucumber peels converted into cellulose nanocrystals with potential to be used in food packaging, bamboo and sugar waste tableware that biodegrades in 60 days, a new pen design with edible ink and compostable materials, coaxing crops to create animal proteins – these are just some
by Jamie Oberdick (Pennsylvania State University/Phys.Org) A multi-institutional research group led by two Penn State faculty members has identified, for the first time, how cellulose crystals orient themselves relative to the cell wall in plants, with potential implications for chemical and energy development. “A more detailed understanding of the structure of
(Green Science Alliance Co./CISION/PR Newswire) … Artificial photosynthesis is one of the innovative technologies to clean up our atmosphere. Just like plants, this technology utilizes the energy of sun light and from CO2 and water, they can produce organic substances including the raw material of fuel and chemical products, as well
Continental Refining Company Unveils Transformational “AgriTech” Plan for Refinery Plant in Somerset
(Continental Refining Company) New Soybean Crushing Plant and Biodiesel Production Facility would be on the Cutting Edge of Food and Energy Production — Hemisphere Limited, the parent company of Continental Refining Company (CRC), announced that it is exploring plans to invest an additional $25 million to acquire, relocate and install a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials may have started in biofuels, but their latest work to transform the chemicals and polymers industry by ensuring sustainability is of note and goes across the supply chain. For example, RSB-certified bio-naphtha is mixed with virgin fossil naphtha from UPM when it
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, The Digest announced the NEXT 50, “the 50 Next Companies to Disrupt the World”, for 2020. The NEXT 50 are companies whose emerging technology promises to disrupt markets (or is already doing so) and powering a transition from the old economy to the bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As part 2 of the seawater-to-fuels discussion from DigestConnect last week, get an insider look at the breakthroughs the U.S. Navy project to produce renewable fuels from seawater using synthetic biology, as shared by Professor Nigel Scrutton of the UK Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub. Details
(The Tribune) The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) on Monday said its researchers have formulated efficient ‘pincer’ catalytic systems that transform industrial/biomass wastes into valuable chemicals. According to the research team, tiny amounts of these ‘pincer catalysts’ repeatedly convert large amounts of industrial waste such as glycerol into lactic acid
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) W2X sounds like a new rock band name, but it’s what Brightmark’s CEO, Bob Powell, talked about at last week’s DigestConnect on fuels and plastics from dairy and MSW wastes. How do the technologies work? What are the economics? Where are the markets? When are
by Jacqueline Greenberg Vogt and Robert C. Epstein (Greenberg Traurig LLP/Biofuels Digest) These Ten Steps May Help Biofuels Companies Avoid Headaches, Delays, Higher Costs and Legal Complications — … Construction projects in the U.S. and throughout the world will be necessary to retrofit existing facilities and build new ones to
(Frost & Sullivan/PR Newswire/Investors Hub) The shift towards hydrogen-based economy arises due to the growing concerns over increasing carbon emissions, energy security, and climate change, says Frost & Sullivan. — Frost & Sullivan’s recent analysis, Growth Opportunities in the Hydrogen Market for the Global Power Sector, finds that there has been a
(NextChem) Maire Tecnimont Group’s company for energy transition strengthens its corporate structure to meet the market with the most innovative technological solutions for circular economy: the new subsidiary MyRechemical is entirely dedicated to the technologies for chemical conversion of waste for the production of hydrogen, methanol, ethanol and “circular” derivatives.
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Maybe it’s because Thanksgiving is right around the corner, but this week’s innovations are heavy on food with a protein innovation contest crowning MycoTechnology for their mushroom-based protein production, a whopping $7 million raised for a 3D-printed cultured meat startup to commercialize its meat bioprinter,
by Luke Upton (BioMarket Insights) Bold news this week from Sekab, the Swedish chemical and cleantech company, who are responding to increasing demand for green chemicals and a growing focus on the impact on climate change by a major green tech investment by building a plant to produce them from residual
(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/Phys.Org) Researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have achieved unprecedented success in modifying a microbe to efficiently produce a compound of interest using a computational model and CRISPR-based gene editing. Their approach could dramatically speed up the research and development phase for new biomanufacturing processes, and get cutting-edge
(Neste) LG Chem will start replacing fossil feedstock commonly used in the manufacturing of polymers and chemicals with Neste Renewable Hydrocarbons in the upcoming months. — Neste, the world’s leading producer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel and a forerunner as a provider of renewable and circular solutions for the
(NextChem) Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. announces that NextChem, the Group’s subsidiary dedicated to green chemistry and technologies for the energy transition, and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IndianOil), today have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of industrial projects using NextChem technologies to foster the industrialization of circular economy in India. The projects will be focused on
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Big news from big companies this week with mega-brand Coca-Cola revealing an initial prototype for a paper bottle it hopes can be recycled with household paper recycling streams, Pampers diaper-brand’s new Pampers Pure line features a plant-based liner enriched with 100% renewable shea butter, Twist
(Neste) Neste, the world’s leading producer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel produced from waste and residue raw materials, has agreed to acquire Bunge Loders Croklaan’s refinery plant located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands for a purchase price of 258 million euros. The refinery plant is located next to Neste’s existing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Hydrofaction is Hot! Don’t take our word for it – dive into this new slide guide from Steeper Energy’s CEO Perry Toms who takes us through the progress towards commercial scale of Steeper’s hydrofaction technology as it cracks low-value waste feedstocks into high-value fuels. Find
Movements at Ginkgo BioWorks, Pacific Ethanol, Lygos, LanzaTech Show Where the Bioeconomy Is Heading
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) So many re-naming and brand extension efforts are underway this week, let’s look at those to see what’s working, what’s popular, when it comes to building trusted brands. … The Re-Branding: Pacific Ethanol This past week we reported that Pacific Ethanol announced the company’s strategic
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) If you missed DigestConnect last week, take a look at this illuminating slide guide from Aemetis CEO Eric McAfee on their newest biogas venture, making renewable natural gas from dairy waste, the switch to making hand sanitizer as they adapted to COVID-19, and future plans
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) COVID-19 continues to change how we do things, and LanzaTech shared this illuminating slide guide on how it is changing road and air activity and what that means for biofuels. Disrupting how we think about carbon, alcohol-to-jet, the latest on LanzaJet, putting carbon in the circular economy,
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) This week’s Top 8 Innovations are so good, it’s scary. From plant-based hair extensions that could come in handy for your Halloween costume, cultured meat so astronauts can enjoy steaks on Mars, and Barcardi making us feel a little less guilty about all the drinking
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) One of the top 5 registered producers of cellulosic biofuel in the U.S., Iogen’s Brian Foody shared this illuminating slide guide at ABLC 2020 on what cellulosic biogas is and how is it used today, RNG’s market segment, renewable hydrogen, transportation applications and technology, transportation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Two world leaders in cellulosic deployment – Jeff Taylor from Chemtex and Paolo Corvo from Clariant – talked about how cellulosic fuels are on the march on last week’s DigestConnect. Check out this exclusive slide guide on 1G/2G biofuels integration opportunities, what are the models,
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Things are heating up with Aemetis now producing dairy digester biogas from the first two dairies in a 17 dairy digester biogas project that will be used for ethanol production and added four miles of private pipeline that is moving forward transportation fuel. And cannabinoids
(Aemetis) First Two Dairies and Private Pipeline Operating; Below Zero Carbon Intensity Gas Now Producing Transportation Fuel — Aemetis, Inc.(NASDAQ: AMTX) announced today that it is producing dairy biogas from the first two dairies in a 17 dairy digester biogas project. The below-zero carbon intensity gas is initially being utilized for
(Biorenewable Deployment Consortium) Stora Enso was honored with Biorenewable Deployment Consortium (BDC)’s 2020 Forest Products Innovation Award for their culture of innovation and leadership in the deployment of new sustainable biorenewable processes directed toward achieving the full value of trees. The award was presented virtually today as part of a webcast
by Jessica Corso (San Antonio Business Journal) Two San Antonio area companies in the biofuels and oil industries have filed for bankruptcy over the past week. On Oct. 13, Castroville-based Finger Oil & Gas Inc. submitted its bankruptcy petition in a San Antonio federal court while Earth Energy Renewables LLC filed on

At ABLC 2021 we’ll be focused on three interlocked strands: emerging technologies and the feedstocks they work with, the vibrant stream of commercial-scale project, what the policy outlook for the 2020s will be like? Stability? Will there be the incentives and markets where lowest-carbon fuels, renewable chemicals, protein, advanced foods and sustainable
by Luke Upton (BioMarket Insights) The Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) has commissioned guidance produced by the Institute of European Environmental Policy (IEEP) enabling the bio-based industries to better measure how bio-based projects contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This first-of-its-kind guidance for the bio-based sector sets out specific indicators
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Madonna’s lyrics “Cause we are living in a material world, And I am a material girl” come to mind when looking at the hottest innovations of the week. From a biobased car made with coconut fiber, horsehair, and flax, to cool kicks made from sugarcane
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) You’ve probably heard of Honeywell UOP, but did you know they are working on making commercial renewable aviation biofuels a reality? At ABLC Digital, they shared this illuminating slide guide on their latest projects, including ones with AltAir, United Airlines, World Energy, and others. Also take
by J. Richard Hess (Idaho National Laboratory) …Even though MSW (municipal solid waste) has great potential, not much was known about the cost and quality of feedstocks that could be derived from MSW or MSW blends for fuel production. In a recent study, INL principal investigator Vicki Thompson and her
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) If you missed Amyris COO Eduardo Alvarez and Sr. VP, R&D Sunil Chandran at last week’s DigestConnect webinar, then check out their slide guide where we asked, is there an opportunity for pure, consistent cannabinoid product at huge scale with minuscule cost of goods via
(Cielo/The Newswire) Cielo Waste Solutions Corp. (“Cielo” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide an update on its production levels at its facility in Aldersyde, Alberta (“Facility”). While Cielo’s initial goal was to start the Facility slowly after the latest improvements, with expectations between 200 to 500 liters per hour, the
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) COVID-19 has seen an explosion in disposable items, but now innovators in India came up with a paper based COVID-19 test (that happens to be at much lower cost and gets results in under 30 minutes), and COVID-19 masks from pine needles to simultaneously help
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced over $27 million in funding for 12 projects that will support the development of advanced plastics recycling technologies and new plastics that are recyclable-by-design. As part of DOE’s Plastics Innovation Challenge, these projects will also help improve existing recycling
(Gevo) Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO), announced today that it has signed a joint development agreement with TOTAL Cray Valley, part of TOTAL’s Polymers division to upgrade fusel oils from ethanol production into renewable Isoamylene. Isoamylene is predominately used in a diverse set of applications, including resins, pesticides, flavors and fragrances, pharmaceuticals,
(Ontario Government) Innovative Niagara facility will transform landfill waste into clean, affordable energy and create jobs — Ontario will soon be home to a new renewable natural gas (RNG) facility, which will create local jobs and stimulate regional economic development, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. The Niagara Falls
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Argonne National Laboratory’s Systems Assessment Center on Oct. 9 announced the 2020 release of the suite of Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies (GREET) models. GREET is a life-cycle analysis tool that can be used to examine the energy and environmental effects
(SOL Group) From 2021 up to 65,000 tonnes of biogenic CO2 of the highest purity will be captured annually. — SOL Group SOL – one of the leading European players in the production of technical, pure, medicinal gases and in respiratory homecare- has signed with CropEnergies – German group and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) If you missed the recent DigestConnect webinar on DME fuels, then here is your chance to check out the latest slide guide from Rebecca Boudreaux, CEO of Oberon Fuels. Sourced locally from waste and stranded resources, converted into a low-carbon heavy transport fuel used locally
by Aleksandra Wójcik (Haldor Topsoe) An article in the esteemed Science magazine suggests that solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) technology can unlock the full potential of renewable power and provide climate-friendly fuels. SOEC is a core technology in power-to-X solutions and offers major advantages over alternative electrolysis technologies. The article
by Michael Bates (NGT News) U-Haul has unveiled its latest green initiative, with the purchase of its first million gallons of renewable propane, which is available to customers at U-Haul autogas facilities across Southern California. U-Haul, the largest retailer of propane in the U.S., teamed with Suburban Propane Partners, a nationwide distributor of
by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) … Red River and several other companies now view the hand sanitizer market as more than a temporary salve for weak fuel demand, making permanent investments in production of high-grade alcohol that meets standards for producing sanitizer. In recent months Pacific Ethanol PEIX.O, Green Plains GPRE.O and Highwater Ethanol HEOL.PK have