by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) CBiRC was founded in 2008 with funding from NSF, creating an Engineering Research Center focused on advanced manufacturing for sustainable biobased chemicals. The R&D program creates a multi-year, interdisciplinary, multi-institutional center that joins academia, industry and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of invention and change is just too strong, we’ve realized, to highlight annual or even quarterly or monthly rankings and summaries of significant product and service advances. For now, we’re going to be tracking
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Origin is a new kind of chemical company, focused on the future of materials science. By finding value in underutilized feedstocks like cardboard, wood waste and agricultural residues, they invent new and better materials for humanity. Origin’s
by Corine Orline Nzeteu, Anna Christine Trego, Florence Abram, and Vincent O’Flaherty (Biotechnology for Biofuels) ... In recent years, organic waste streams have been investigated as attractive and sustainable feedstock alternatives. In particular, attention has recently focused on the production of caproate
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The estimable and always fascinating and quotable James Iademarco gave this illuminating overview of the state of renewable chemicals - as he aptly puts it Green Technology born in reality - and the promise of
(EconoTimes/Aemetis) Pre-treatment Unit Passes First Production Tests Required to Supply BP Singapore Under Three-year Agreement -- Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMTX) announced today that its Universal Biofuels subsidiary completed the production of high quality distilled biodiesel from lower quality, high Free Fatty Acid (FFA) waste
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Praj is an India-based process solutions specialist with continued leadership in ethanol & brewery space over many years — aiming to emerge as a significant water company within 5 years. The company is expanding its new
(Braskem/WebWire) Braskem expands strategy for the future of renewable chemicals -- Braskem (B3: BRKM3, BRKM5 and BRKM6; NYSE: BAK; LATIBEX: XBRK), the largest thermoplastics resins producer in the Americas and the worldwide leader in bio-polymers, announced today its expanded focus on the research,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ABLC 2018 wrapped up with the ABLC Wolfpack including James Iademarco from Strategic Avalanche, David Dodds with Dodds & Associates, Ron Cascone from NEXANT, independent consultant Paul Bryan, and Joel Stone from ConVergince. While they didn’t howl at the moon,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For many people, the key question is — what is Amyris becoming, and when, and where and how? We reported on Amyris’ progress most recently in “The New Colossus aims to unlock its Golden Door” and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ABLC featured a well-received session on renewable chemicals moderated by longtime Digesterati David Dodds. His initial overview on issues and opportunities in renewable chemicals is well worth some intense focus in its own right. Dodds also
(Iowa Biodisel Board) Iowa Biodiesel Board launches program to meet industry need; Webinar takes place May 10 -- Biodiesel producers who want to sell glycerin that can end up as an animal food ingredient will soon be up against the deadline to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) With the launch of the Biochemical Technology Leadership Roundtable (BTLR), the ACS GCI seeks to provide a forum for pre-competitive industry collaboration. Building on the American Chemical Society’s roundtable model, the BTLR will be devoted to
by Jim Lane (Biofuel Digest) ... Clearly, meat isn’t going away very soon, the cow isn’t going away very soon. So, why not invest in sustainable transformation as well as replacement? That’s an approach that was applied in 2015 to the energy
by Tim Albrecht (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The ethanol industry has polished its coproduction of distillers grains. Now, a handful of companies have found different uses for DDGS, or ethanol itself, that can provide new value-added coproducts for the industry. Ethanol is flexible
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) LanzaTech has developed a fully sustainable integrative gas to fuels and chemicals platform that has no impact on food, water security or high biodiversity land use. LanzaTech’s gas fermentation platform disrupts the current highly centralized global energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of invention and change is just too strong, we’ve realized, to highlight annual or even quarterly or monthly rankings and summaries of significant product and service advances. For now, we’re going to be tracking
by Lara Webster (ABC Rural) The Australian sugar cane industry is being told to look beyond biofuels due to the risk of future technologies wiping out demand. Only a fortnight ago the Queensland University of Technology delivered a report outlining how the biofuels industry
(European Investment Bank) New financing initiative targets investments by private cooperatives and companies in the agriculture and bioeconomy sector; The EIB financing will amount to EUR 400m and is expected to back close to EUR 1bn of investment across Europe; Agreement is guaranteed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sierra Energy has created what is billed as “the world’s most efficient gasifier,” FastOx, developed in conjunction with UC Davis, US Army and California Energy Commission. Gasification is the missing link between complex feedstocks and a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the Netherlands and England, Shell released its most definitive statement yet on its low-carbon future and committed to 50% lower emissions by 2050 and net zero by 2070 in its operations and emissions from its
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Renewable chemicals are emerging at a fast pace, paving the way for new, innovative, and sustainable biobased products. A coalition of companies and trade associations committed to enhancing the legal and regulatory positioning of biobased products
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In New York, XPRIZE announced the 10 teams advancing to the final round in the $20M NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE. The 10 finalists, each taking home an equal share of a $5 million milestone prize, were revealed
by Mark Warner (Warner Advisors LLC/Biofuels Digest) Funding for early stage advanced biotechnology is ramping up and companies commercializing fermentation-based technologies are faced with the decision to either build their own demonstration-scale facility or utilize existing contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs). There
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Gevo has two proprietary technologies that combine to make it possible to retrofit existing ethanol plants to produce isobutanol, a four carbon alcohol which serves as a hydrocarbon platform molecule. They have developed an industrial scale
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Er, what are AHB, SUBI, BANR, SBAR, NARA, CENUSA, SPARC, IBSS and NEWBIO? You’d be forgiven if you mistook Ahb Subi Banr-Sbar for a well-placed official in the Iranian government — but, in fact, it’s a 9-project network to facilitate the development
(Green Car Congress) Benzene, an aromatic hydrocarbon, is a natural component of crude oil and is one of the elementary petrochemicals. It is used as a precursor to the manufacture of more complex chemicals, and, with a high octane number, is
by Michael Eggleston* (Advanced Biofuels USA) With over 260 million cars on the road in Europe, industry leaders and governmental representatives alike are putting the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) under fire for its lack of clarity surrounding its impact
by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Since their inception in the 2002 Farm Bill, Energy Title (Title IX) programs have helped farmers, ranchers, small businesses, and rural communities generate thousands of jobs and millions in economic development. The sectors impacted by
by Kai Chen, Xiongyi Huang, S. B. Jennifer Kan, Ruijie K. Zhang, Frances H. Arnold (Science Magazine) Double rings made with heme -- Cyclic organic structures with adjacent three-carbon rings—bicyclobutanes—are useful starting materials for chemical and materials synthesis owing to their extreme
(Bio-Based News/nova-Institut) nova-Institute has been publishing the “International Directory for Bio-Based Businesses” since 2009. In 2016, the almanac was moved to a freely available online database (iBIB, www.bio-based.eu/iBIB) which facilitates easy and direct access to suppliers, products, services and experts from the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For a number of years we have been pointing to Iowa’s intriguing combination of feedstock, infrastructure and political consensus on renewables as a potent force in bioeconomy deployment. But these days, toss in some serious innovation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BioAmber’s Mission? To be a fast growing producer of chemical intermediates that uses sugars instead of fossil fuels and sells competitively priced, sustainable chemicals with strong profit margins and the cleanest environmental footprint in the industry. CEO
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of invention and change is just too strong, we’ve realized, to highlight annual or even quarterly or monthly rankings and summaries of significant product and service advances. For now, we’re going to be tracking
(GEVO/Globe Newswire) Next Step is for full ASTM Approval -- Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ:GEVO) announced today that late last week an ASTM International Sub-Committee voted in favor of revising specification D7566 (Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing Synthesized Hydrocarbons) to (i) include
(Bio-based News/nova-Institut) First semi-commercial facilities, technical advances, but political support still unclear -- 6th Conference on Carbon Dioxides as Feedstock for Fuels, Chemistry and Polymers in Cologne, 15-16 March, showed state of the art technologies, current levels of investment as well as
(Green Biologics/PR Newswire) Green Biologics, Inc. announced that it has agreed to supply their patented GreenFlame® bio-based charcoal lighter fluid formulation exclusively to Kingsford® Charcoal, to be marketed under a new brand: EcoLight™. The licensing agreement builds on the successful 2017 introduction of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) According to BIO, the global economic value today of the biobased economy – including industrial biotechnology, renewable chemicals and polymers, biofuels, enzymes and biobased materials – is $355.28 billion. And looking at the new USDA Indicators report
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Two bellwether public stocks of the advanced bioeconomy — Amyris and Renewable Energy Group — reported strong quarterly and annual results this past week, and Aemetis’ stock has been on a real tear in recent days
(Greenbelt Resources) Greenbelt Resources Corporation (OTC: GRCO), an innovator of sustainable energy production systems, in collaboration with Biofuels & Energy, LLC (B&E), announced today the San Luis Valley Bioproducts Project, known as SLV Biopro. The project will feature Greenbelt’s waste-to-energy interconnected system (ECOsystem) designed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sweetwater Energy has developed a unique and patented technology for producing low-cost sugars and clean lignin fiber from multiple non-food plant materials to help meet the modern world’s increasing demand for biochemicals, bioplastics and biofuels. Sweetwater CEO
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... According to POET CEO Jeff Broin, there’s a deal on the table — changing almost by the hour, but a deal none the less. A deal on the table to provide year-round E15 approval for the biofuels industry
(Enerkem/Oil and Gas 360/PR Newswire) Enerkem Inc., a world-leading waste-to-biofuels and chemicals producer, announced today during the 255th American Chemical Society national meeting being held in New Orleans, that it had succeeded in producing a new high-performance biofuel that could improve the octane rating
(Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Pharmiweb) The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today applauded USDA’s release of a new report, “Indicators of the U.S. Biobased Economy.” The report measures substantial economic growth, job creation, and household income for the agricultural sector from biofuel and bioenergy production. Moreover,
(AgriChemWhey/Biobased World News) ... Producers that can access plentiful feedstocks with the minimum of fuss can have the best of both worlds – exactly the position that Ireland finds itself in. The country is in the midst of a bio-based revolution
by Matt McDowell (The Battalion) Texas A&M professor’s green energy research is helping turn bio waste into useful chemicals and fuels. -- ... The MixAlco process, a term originally coined by Mark Holtzapple, chemical engineering professor, uses bio waste as input
(Bio-based Industries Consortium) The Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) has published three new Country Reports mapping the potential and identifying opportunities for expanding the bio-based industry in Poland, Portugal and Romania. Poland’s bioeconomy sector is focused on agriculture, forestry and food processing, areas which are already central to the
by Krista Eastman (University of Wisconsin-Madison/Phys.Org) Behind the successful conversion of biomass to a better biofuel or a new green chemical, there is a carefully chosen solvent. The right solvent not only dissolves biomass but also drives the efficiency of the
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 an
(SEKAB) On International Women’s Day, the international web magazine Il Bioeconomista, acknowledges the women who have contributed most to the evolution of the bioeconomy. For the second consecutive year Ylwa Alwarsdotter from Swedish biofuels company SEKAB is one of the twelve
(Vertimass/PR Newswire) Vertimass' ethanol to renewable fuels and chemicals offers exceptional corn growth potential -- The National Corn Growers Association named Vertimass LLC as one of six awardees of the "Consider Corn Challenge: New Uses for Field Corn as Feedstock for
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Rennovia has ceased operations, after the company failed to raise sufficient financing from investors and/or strategic partners to advance its pilot-scale technology to first commercial production. The bulk of the IP assets have been
(Airgas/Business Wire) Airgas USA, LLC, an Air Liquide company, today announced plans to increase its presence in California with the construction of a new liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) production facility in Stockton, CA and the expansion of an air separation unit
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Synpet was founded in 2014 as a developer of a synthetic petroleum (SYNPET) business using its Thermal Conversion Process. TCP breaks down organic waste materials by using heat, pressure and water to produce oil and other co-products. SYNPET uses
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... On March 1, ABLC 2018 kicked off at the Mayflower Hotel in the heart of D.C. with five Avengers – a superhero bunch who all had a common thread – we are stronger together
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The DOE is supporting a project to develop engineered clostridia strains and fermentation process that can directly utilize cellulose and fix CO2 for n-butanol production from lignocellulosic biomass. The engineered strains can be used in fermentation to
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The ABLC 2018 conference began at the US Department of Agriculture headquarters with a focus on feedstock. Jordan Solomon, Managing Director & CEO Ecostrat Inc.. kicked off the event with news of new US
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There was high drama in Washington, DC as the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference got underway and President Trump readies to meet at the White House with a number of biofuels leaders about the RFS and bioeconomy policy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, ABLC 2018 opens amidst a flutter of government rollbacks of deployment support but the hope of regulatory relief, breakthroughs in financial structuring, a decisive shift in early-stage projects to nutrition & health, and an
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Biofuels Digest) ... BIO is the only trade association that advocates for the diverse policies that support the entire biobased economy – the full value chain of technologies and infrastructure to convert renewable, low-carbon, low-cost
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The objective? To create an economically viable process for the production of butanol from the underutilized natural resources domestically available economically sustainable biofuel at or below DOE target selling price. And, suitable for roll-out in multiple regions containing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) You know what they say, “you can make anything you want from lignin except money.” It’s the most challenging issues in biofuel production: upgrading the lignin-containing biorefineryresidues to fungible bioproducts, in an affordable, effective, scalable way. The
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Can it be done? That is, development of a sustainable green chemistry platform for production of acetone and downstream drop-in fuel and commodity products directly from biomass syngas via a novel energy conserving route in engineered
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The biggest news along that front represents early-stage technology, but we read here that engineers at Ohio State announced that they’ve devised a process that under certain circumstances can convert coal, shale gas and biomass into electricity or syngas,
(Biofuels International) The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) based out of the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) is moving from the development of crop-based ethanol to creating fuels and chemicals that are fungible with their petroleum-based equivalents. The change was announced at
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The US Department of Energy is supporting a Kiverdi-led project to develop microbial biocatalysts to convert syngas into monoterpenes. Syngas feedstocks are relatively inexpensive and diverse, and thermophiles have several unique advantages; Meanwhile, end products have value
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Canada, more big news is coming out of Enerkem with the latest waste-to-chemistry project in Rotterdam to be the first of its kind in Europe to provide a sustainable alternative solution for non-recyclable wastes, converting waste plastics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) One of the purest, high-yield financial plays we have ever seen in the energy business is possibly emerging, one that could put fracking returns to shame. Vive le ROI. And Vive le IRR and DCF, while we’re at it. Catalyst for industry
(Air Liquide) Air Liquide invested over $30 million these past two years to build this new facility and enhance its bulk distribution fleet in Ontario and Quebec. Air Liquide Canada, a subsidiary of the Air Liquide Group, world leader in gases, technologies
(Technical University of Denmark) New technology from DTU can convert milk sugar (lactose) in dairy by-products into alcohol. The newly established company behind the technology has received start-up capital from CAPNOVA. Dairies' production of cheese generates considerable amounts of the by-product whey.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The project goal? To produce and commercialize lignin-derived, industrial-grade composites with properties including 3D printability, rivaling current petroleum-derived alternatives. That’s the project undertaken by a team led by Amit K. Naskar, of the Carbon & Composites
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) hosted the 2017 Project Peer Review on March 6–9, 2017, in Denver, Colorado. During the event, approximately 192 projects in BETO’s research, development, and demonstration portfolio were
by Daniel Lane and Joel Stone (Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc./Biofuels Digest) ... These disruptive technology innovations have happened many times throughout history and are discussed in the popular book The Innovator’s Dilemma, by Clayton Christensen. He coined the phrase in describing a process
(CPI) CPI, the UK’s technology innovation provider for process manufacturing, today announced that its partnership with Green Lizard Technologies (GLT), and their licensed company Oleocycle Ltd, will be providing a second-use to waste cooking oils via a novel one-step pilot plant
by Bruce Comer (Ocean Park Advisors/Biofuels Digest) More industry players chose to develop and build new capacity rather than buy plants -- The North American biofuels industry experienced the fewest merger and acquisition transactions in recent history in 2017. There were only
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) To develop and optimize a hybrid separation method to recover high-value methoxyphenols to improve the process economics and environmental impact for the production of advanced biofuels from catalytic pyrolysis, integrated with hydroprocessing. That’s the ambitious R&D
by Brian Goodall (First Garden City Consulting/Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) ... (I)n the case of microalgae the oil has to coaxed out of the whole plant (typically single cells) using chemical or physical means to break open the cells and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week in the Digest, we begin a Special 8-part Series: The State of the Advanced Bioeconomy: Challenges and Priorities for 2018. As we head into the final month before ABLC 2018, these in-depth examinations from a group
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Improving hydrogen utilization and carbon recovery, as a pathway to higher efficiency bio-oil production using thermochemical process? That’s the focus for a project from RTI International that picked up significant DOE support in the search for
by Dr. Bernard Cooker (Chemical Processing Solutions/ Lee Enterprises Consulting Inc./Biofuels Digest) This is a review of the biomass-fed chemical process projects producing renewable chemical products which were published in Chemical Engineering Progress (CEP) and Chemical and Engineering News (CEN) from
by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... According to the Department of Energy, substitution of renewable propylene glycol made from biomass can reduce greenhouse gases by 61 percent, as compared to using petroleum-based propylene glycol. The process for converting biomass
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Can you build a catalytic process to produce alpha, omega diols from lignocellulosic biomass? Such a process, using inorganic catalysts for conversion of biomass into 1.5 pentanediol (PDO) and 1,6 hexanediols could reduce the cost of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The clearest intersecting theme is bio-methanol. Let’s see why. For one, Södra has much more going on than Silva, and we reported on a major development in December when we related that Södra will invest more
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s been a big week in plastics and nylons, all right — not only for those who value sustainability attributes, but for fans of lower costs and higher performance, too. Let’s look at 4 Biggies makin’
(Enerkem/PR Newswire) Enerkem Inc. (www.enerkem.com), a world leading waste-to-biofuels and renewable chemicals producer, announced today it has signed an agreement with Sinobioway Group worth over C$125M in the form of equity investment in Enerkem Inc., future licenses, equipment manufacturing and sales, as
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Sustainable Bioeconomy for Arid Regions (SBAR) is a multi-level research project that will cultivate two desert-dwelling crops, guayule and guar, for a sustainable bioeconomy. Scale up to profitable production, however, requires feedstock improvements, expansion of cultivation,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sometimes, what an engine needs to roar to life is a spark. Or a SPARC, as in this case. As in the Southeastern Partnership for Advanced Renewables from Carinata (SPARC), a consortium consisting of the University of Florida (lead),
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) To date, North America is the most active of all regions in terms of deploying advanced technology — whether it is cellulosic ethanol, isobutanol for fuels and chemicals, or renewable chemical plants, you see the first
by Cheryl Croucher (Troy Media) Part 3 of a 10-part series: Forge Hydrocarbons, a U of A spinoff, turns low-grade fats and oils into valuable fuel -- New technology employed by Forge Hydrocarbons Corp., a University of Alberta spinoff company, proves you
(Meridian Waste Solutions Inc./Ethanol Producer Magazine) Meridian Waste Solutions Inc., an integrated, non-hazardous solid waste services and innovative technology company, recently announced the award of a $3 million grant from the USDA to support the commercialization of patented and patent-pending lignin
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) Velocys plc has announced that Envia Energy, the joint venture plant that utilizes its technology, has applied for a fuel pathway approval under the Renewable Fuel Standard to produce D7 cellulosic diesel renewable identification numbers (RINs). According
(Global Bioenergies) Global Bioenergies (Euronext Growth: ALGBE) has entrusted EVEA, a company specialized in calculation of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), with a study focused on the products to be manufactured in the future IBN-One plant. Fully renewable ETBE is estimated to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What are the true drivers of Innovation and what are the returns for investors — what’s up and what works? There is just not a more authentic authority on the subject than long-time venture capitalist Roger
by Yuthana Praiwan (Bangkok Post) Global Green Chemical Plc (GGC), the SET-listed biochemical arm of PTT Global Chemical Plc (PTTGC), plans to kick off development of its 7-billion-baht biochemical complex by the third quarter. Managing director Jirawat Nooritanon said it plans to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the world of drop-in military biofuels, two major updates appeared this week. In Oregon, Red Rock Biofuels got good news on Monday when the governor approved $245 million in bonds that will allow the company’s planned
(Biofuel International) Alkol Biotech and Bio Refinery Development have signed a letter of intent (LOI) for the sourcing of up to 500 thousand tonnes of non-woody lignocellulosic biomass for what would be Europe’s ‘largest’ biorefinery. UK based Alkol Biotech adapts plant varieties
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In it, we are reminded that innovation is a never-ending war between two brothers named Urgency and Diligence — and the conflict comes roaring back to life when we consider the news that occasionally seeps out of that mysterious
(Agro-Chemistry/University College Dublin) The Irish Bioeconomy Foundation CLG will receive a funding of €4.6 million from the Ministery for Business, Enterprise, and Innovation, to develop a new Bioeconomy Innovation and Piloting Facility at Lisheen, Co. Tipperary. The facility will enable industry, entrepreneurs
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A mere “The Year in Rewind” as we sail into 2018? Not the good ship Digest! Instead, we dust off our crystal ball and offer our predictions for the year ahead. As the sunset of 2017 gives
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... The Digest has you covered with 18 ways you can support a biobased economy in 2018. ... We are going beyond biofuels today, as we dig into how we can make a difference in
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The US Department of Energy has a goal of developing industrially-relevant strains to meet titer, rate, and yield targets for fuel precursors for the 2022 BC Platform cost target goals of $3/GGE. A project led by
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Algae.Tec has (once again) shifted its business focus, and what was once a developer of algae bioreactors to make cost-competitive fuels is now in the business of “heirloom cannabis varietals”. So, um, High Times at Algae.Tec. ... It’s
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In December, we reported that Cargill and Calysta will co-create the world’s largest gas fermentation facility in Memphis, Tennessee to produce Calysta’s FeedKind protein, a family of sustainable, traceable nutritional ingredients for fish, livestock and pets. Start-up is
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In a striking pledge made in the latter part of 2016. 20 Latin American countries promised to promote biofuel production and use, with the support of development finance institutions. That was then, this is now. What’s happening towards
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) US-based White Dog Labs have developed a new process that eliminates the production of CO2, a potent greenhouse gas, during fermentation and instead shifts the carbon to added ethanol production, boosting fermentation yields by around 50
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Over the years we’ve all seen a lot of curveballs in the advanced bioeconomy. You see companies like Valero, which lobby the United States Congress with unbridled intensity to get rid of the Renewable Fuel Standard,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Vertimass technology was originated at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where scientists discovered novel catalysts that convert a wide range of alcohols into various hydrocarbon blend stocks which can be used in existing gasoline, diesel and jet
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) 2017 was a roller coaster year. There was a paradigm shift in biofuels, technology advancements, innovations abounded, politics chaotic. Some companies shut down and disappeared like the Hobo vanishing in the snow atop the Polar
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory is the only federal laboratory dedicated to the research, development, commercialization, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. NREL — home to the National Bioenergy Center — advances
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week we’ve received news from three companies that have struck out in search of new markets for their fundamental processes, and new applications for biotechnology in some ancient and ossified markets such as jet fuel,
(Phys.Org/Cell Press) Consumers across the world enjoy Greek yogurt for its taste, texture, and protein-packed punch. Reaching that perfect formula, however, generates large volumes of food waste in the form of liquid whey. Now researchers in the United States and Germany
(U.S. Department of Energy) Responses to Request for Information DE-FOA-0001526: Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Pilot Verification Capabilities ... In February 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) reached out to industry, academia, national laboratories, and other biofuels and
(Bio-Based Industries Consortium) ‘Access to EU financial instruments suitable for the implementation of large bio-based industry investments’ outlines a range of funding opportunities and explores the synergies between different instruments for co-financing bio-based projects. Since BIC’s 2014 report ‘Combining BBI (H2020) and
(Nigerian Tribune) ... YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE reports that to stop the overdependence on petroleum products, the South-west is set to be the site of a project that is novel to Africa; processing of liquid fuel (biofuel) from waste plastic materials. ... In the last
(Waste Management World) Celtic Renewables has secured planning permission from Falkirk Council to build a commercial demonstrator plant, which will produce over half a million litres of biofuel each year from whiskey wastes. Scottish biofuel start-up, Celtic Renewables Ltd, has secured planning permission
(Neste Corporation) Neste's Board of Directors has decided that Neste's additional production capacity for renewable diesel, renewable aviation fuel and raw materials for various biochemical uses will be located in Singapore. The decision initiates technical design of the new production line,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... What are the top trends? Here are the 11 we see dominating the debate on the stage and on the floor. Jet fuel deployment – how much, how soon, by whom? California, look up, not down!
(ArcelorMittal) The world’s most prestigious award programme for the circular economy, The Circulars, has highly commended ArcelorMittal for demonstrating leadership and innovation by applying circular economy principles to its business models. ... Partnering with technical and industry leaders to develop and scale
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. ARS conducts research to develop and transfer solutions to agricultural problems of high national priority and provide information access and dissemination
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... Faced with two problems – 1) what to do with human waste in space and 2) how to get needed supplies to astronauts in space (especially longer space missions like Mars), scientists are working on
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In India, researchers from Chemical Engineering and Process Development Division together with colleagues from the National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms Center, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune have developed a method to produce 2,3- butanediol (BDO), 1,3- Propanediol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Japan, Sekisui Chemical and LanzaTech, have successfully demonstrated the production of ethanol from unsorted municipal solid waste — which can be used directly as a fuel or as a precursor to butadiene (a key raw material in the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sekisui Chemicals, LanzaTech break-through in MSW-to-ethanol demonstration -- ... Were trash to acquire a substantial uplift in value, that’s the end to the landfill crisis. In Japan, Sekisui Chemical and LanzaTech have successfully demonstrated the production of ethanol from unsorted municipal solid
(Department of Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office is proud to announce the establishment of the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium—a research and development consortium dedicated to identifying and overcoming technical uncertainty in research and development of robust biomass supply,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Codexis is a leading protein engineering company that applies its technology to the development of biocatalysts for the commercial manufacture of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. Codexis’ proven technology enables implementation of biocatalytic solutions to meet customer
(U.S. Department of Energy) Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, have successfully modified a microorganism to produce a useful intermediate from sugar fermentation, which can then be upgraded into valuable biobased fuels and chemicals. NREL’s modified
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Clariant’s sunliquid technology for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into sugars, followed by fermentation to cellulosic ethanol, is flexible to be used to convert different feedstocks on a regional basis, for example corn stover in North
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Environmental Protection Agency released its final Renewable Fuel Standard renewable volume obligations for 2018. The agency finalized a total renewable fuel volume of 19.29 billion gallons , of which 4.29 BG is advanced
(Bio-based News) Biorefineries are the heart of the bioeconomy. Here, different types of biomass are fully utilised and transformed into a large variety of chemicals and materials The map distinguishes between “Sugar-/starch based biorefineries”, producing bioethanol and other chemicals (63), “Oil-/fat-based biorefineries
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 and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sofinnova. If you’ve been raising capital in the renewable chemical space you’ve probably knocked on their door. And, like a box of British candy, found a bunch of Smarties within. How do they look at the chemical space, and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The holiday season has arrived and earnings season too — and here are the highlights for 10 bellwether bioeconomy publicly-traded stocks. Aemetis – ethanol prices dive, but cellulosic on the way Avantium – IPO completed, Synvia next, then
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) You won’t hear it from the NGOs orbiting Brussels who have long figured out that bashing biotechnology is good for the fund-raising cash register, but Europe has become the hottest geography on the planet for
by Michelle Ma (Phys.Org/University of Washington) In the quest to produce affordable biofuels, poplar trees are one of the Pacific Northwest's best bets—the trees are abundant, fast-growing, adaptable to many terrains and their wood can be transformed into substances used in
(CISION/Western Economic Diversification Canada) Enerkem Alberta Biofuels, a subsidiary of Montreal-based Enerkem Inc., is receiving $3.5 million from the Government of Canada through the Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative to build the final phase of a facility that converts non-recyclable, non-compostable municipal solid waste into liquid biofuels and chemicals. The
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At ABLC Next, we invited Genomatica’s Jeff Lievense as part of a special session focused on the scaling-up of fermentation technologies — from the pitfalls to the pratfalls. Genomatica is a widely-recognized technology leader for the chemical industry,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Verdezyne is a privately held industrial biotechnology company that is developing and commercializing novel genetically engineered microorganisms for use as “factories” to manufacture renewable chemicals. Verdezyne’s unique microorganisms permit greener, cleaner and more cost effective production
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization) ... BIO has led the effort to prompt Congress to recognize the important and emerging biobased sector. Congress’ current effort to reform taxes can revitalize U.S. manufacturing and grow the economy by including legislation supporting
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Australia, Qantas will operate the world’s first biofuel flight between the United States and Australiaearly in the new year in collaboration with World Fuel Services and Altair Fuels. Qantas’ new Dreamliner is being powered by Brassica
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) LanzaTech has developed a fully sustainable integrative gas to fuels and chemicals platform that has no impact on food, water security or high biodiversity land use. LanzaTech’s gas fermentation platform disrupts the current highly centralized global energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Texas, CRI/Criterion Catalyst Company has awarded an FEL-2 license agreement for the IH2 technology which converts biomass to liquid transportation fuels, to Biozin Holding. The Front End Loading (FEL-2) package will be completed for the core IH2 technology
by Sam A. Rushing (Advanced Cryogenics, Ltd./Biofuels Digest) ... This thought represents giving hope to CO2 recovery from biofuels, via understanding uses for the commodity; as well as helping our planet. ... Many experts remain optimistic about taming the GHG beast, through renewable energy,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Evolva has been evolving. The company best-known for its stevia-based sweetener developments and had a zillion applications it was investigating, has focused down on “three highly profitable products in the near term”: stevia, nootkatone, and resveratrol. This
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Brazil and Denmark, Braskem and Haldor Topsoe have signed a technological cooperation agreement to develop a pioneering route to produce monoethylene glycol (MEG) from sugar. The agreement calls for the construction of a demonstration plant in Denmark, with operation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Last week, DowDuPont said it was exiting the cellulosic biofuels business and you’d think that the company just burned down the warehouse with the original text of the Renewable Fuels Standard — the coverage of the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We Really Do Mean “Drop-in”. Gevo has two proprietary technologies that combine to make it possible to retrofit existing ethanol plants to produce isobutanol, a four carbon alcohol which serves as a hydrocarbon platform molecule. They have
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... You’d be forgiven if you mistook Ahb Subi Banr-Sbar for a well-placed official in the Iranian government — but, in fact, it’s a 9-project network to facilitate the development of regionally-based industries producing advanced biofuels, industrial
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Catalytic reaction rates, microcrystalline cellulose, cyanobacteria working in teams, vertical farming, vegan products & markets. The 5 top disruptive techs we’ve seen in recent weeks are attacking these fronts. Here’s what we see. 1. Breakthrough on (microcrystalline) cellulose
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ensyn uses its patented and proprietary RTP fast thermal technology to convert wood residues and other non-food, cellulosic biomass to liquid biofuels. Ensyn has had continuous commercial operations for more than 25 years. Its technology has
by Nikhil Chaudhary, Ankit Gupta, Sudheer Gupta, Vineet K. Sharma (Peer J) In light of the rapid decrease in fossils fuel reserves and an increasing demand for energy, novel methods are required to explore alternative biofuel production processes to alleviate these
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