by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The California Air Resources Board will hold a public hearing Feb. 24 to consider 25 amendments proposed by various ethanol producers, representing 1.6 billion gallons of annual domestic production, to reduce the carbon intensity
by Merry MacKinnon (Pamplin Media Group) ...Jana Gastellum, global warming program director for the Oregon Environmental Council, says the sustainable approach to making biodiesel for heavier vehicles and ethanol for passenger cars is to concentrate on “cellulosic biomass” found in
(Clean Fuels Foundation) The Ethanol Across America education campaign released the latest in its series of Issue Briefs today on the Economic Impacts of Ethanol Production that illustrates the significant benefits of ethanol production to the U.S. economy. The Brief
(US Department of Energy) Project Expected to Create Over 700 Jobs and Nearly Triple Amount of Renewable Diesel Produced Domestically U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu January 20, 2011, announced the offer of a conditional commitment to Diamond Green Diesel, LLC, the
(Rentech) Over 5000 Mile Round-Trip Drive Includes Stop at the 2011 Washington Auto Show Rentech, Inc. (NYSE AMEX: RTK) today announced that its synthetic RenDiesel® fuel is powering an Audi A3 TDI in a cross-country drive from California to Washington D.C.
(Coskata) Guarantee will support a commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol facility in Alabama Coskata Inc., a developer of technology for the production of renewable fuels and chemicals, was notified by the USDA of their intent to provide a $250 million loan guarantee in
(USDA) Expansion of Biofuels Reaches All Regions of the Country Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced January 20, 2011, that biofuels and biomass energy projects across America have been selected for funding to continue the Administration's support for the development of renewable
(PR-USA.net) Florida Biodiesel, Inc. has released the Cyclonic Mixer, an inline high shear blender that is 100 times more effective in mixing feedstock and catalyst for the transesterification of Biodiesel. This new technology can lower the Methanol requirements of Biodiesel plants
(Enerkem) Enerkem Inc. today announced that Enerkem Corporation, its wholly-owned U.S. affiliate, has obtained a conditional commitment for an US$ 80 million loan guarantee by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), for the construction of its landmark waste-to-biofuels project in Pontotoc, Mississippi, which
(Algae Industry Magazine) A new Australian company has been established to produce commercial quantities of clean, “green” fuels from algae. The company, Muradel Pty Ltd, is a joint venture of Murdoch University, Adelaide Research & Innovation Pty Ltd (the commercial development
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Research being conducted in Tennessee to take biomass from the “farm gate to the biorefinery gate” has zeroed in on switchgrass. That’s not to say that switchgrass is the only answer for cellulosic ethanol
(BusinessWire/Accenture) China could lead the race to roll out electric vehicles and will deploy new transport technologies at scale more quickly than the United States, according to a report by Accenture that compares the two countries. But the US could
by Isaac Davison (NZHerald.co.NZ) ...The truck, launched in Rodney yesterday by Auckland Mayor Len Brown, is the result of the first successful New Zealand project to turn landfill gas into a transport fuel. Its creators say the truck's
by Bryan Sims (Biodiesel Magazine) The Advancing Colorado’s Renewable Energy program awarded 15 grants totaling more than $600,000 in an effort to spur additional instate renewable energy development. Administered by the Colorado Agricultural Value Added Development Board, ACRE specifically
by Antonio Acost (Faribault County Register) It pays to conserve energy. Especially, if you are producing ethanol. Corn Plus officials in Winnebago will soon receive a check in the mail for $12 million. “It’s going to keep us financially viable for some
by Susan Taylor (Reuters) A tiny Canadian startup company that is preparing to open a biodiesel plant in Toronto this spring says it will produce clean fuel, animal feed and human food all from the modest flax seed. Privately held Energy
(myCFO/LanzaTech) IndianOil, India's flagship petroleum major, and LanzaTech, a leading clean energy technology company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for collaboration in a technology demonstration that will enable IndianOil to produce fuel grade ethanol. The MOU was signed in
by Ucilia Wang (Earth2Tech/Reuters) The bad news about the layoffs at cellulosic biofuel maker Range Fuels just got worse. The financially-strapped company plans to shut down its plant in Georgia after making just one batch of ethanol, according to a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Colorado, Range Fuels confirmed to a variety of media outlets that it had made layoffs in Colorado and Georgia, and will shut down its Soperton, Georgia plant after an initial ethanol demonstration run in
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the Old Norse, the term “viking” meant to “undertake an expedition” and it later came to characterize the raiders, settlers and traders that epitomized an era of Scandinavian expansion that impacted Europe, Asia
(Nashville Business Journal) East Tennessee farmers have started to reap benefits from efforts to turn switchgrass into biofuel, with at least one farmer saying that if he had it to do over again, he would devote four times as much
(Iowa Office of Energy Independence) Project Would Produce Jobs and New Energy Technology for Iowa The Iowa Power Fund Board (Board) approved terms January 12, 2011, to start contract negotiations on a grant award for one of the first in the nation,
GTI announced it has signed an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with CRI/Criterion Inc., for its Integrated Hydropyrolysis and Hydroconversion (IH2) technology, which converts biomass directly into cellulosic gasoline and diesel hydrocarbon blendstocks. This licensing agreement will expedite the realization of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biofuels Digest is projecting that global advanced biofuels capacity will reach 4.003 billion gallons by 2015, based on company announcements to date. Today, the Digest released version 1.7 of its free Advanced Biofuels Tracking Database, projecting
(Pacific Rim BioEnergy) Note: This is an update from an earlier post. The earlier post outlined the concepts but did not have any specific details. This post utilizes current figures and displays the economic principals based on those current figures. The
by Bob Brooks (Automotive Industries) Photon8, a new venture algae oil development firm has emerged from research work at the University Of Texas, Brownsville, TX, by placing its priority on the economics of making algal based diesel fuel oil at
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In New Hampshire, Mascoma announced that Valero Energy has joined as an investor in the company. Further, Mascoma, Valero, and Mascoma’s operating subsidiary, Frontier Renewable Resources, (jointly owned with J.M. Longyear) have signed a non-binding letter
by Will Thurmond (Biofuels Digest/ Emerging Markets Online) 1 Emerging Markets Growth US and EU-based algae producers and licensors of technology are increasingly looking to the Emerging Markets in Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East ... 2 Renewable Oils
by Dina Fine Maron (ClimateWire/New York Times) ...U.S. EPA figures indicate that in the second half of 2010, not a drop of cellulosic ethanol -- a much-touted fuel that taps the sugars from farm wastes and other non-food sources of
by Todd Neeley (The Progressive Farmer) ...(P)ressure from rising corn prices at the start of 2011 is expected to test ethanol producers' ability to manage risk. ...Rabobank said ethanol would remain profitable with corn prices above $7 a bushel.
by Querubin J. Minas (The Saudi) In line with the Saudi government’s initiative to diversify energy resources and promote clean environment at the same time, a US company is introducing an innovative, versatile biofuel solution to produce ethanol using
(MarketWire/Raptor Technology Group, Inc.) Greenwave Biodiesel Facility in Fort Lauderdale Operational Raptor Technology Group, Inc. announced that the company it is in the process of acquiring, Raptor Fabrication and Equipment, Inc. ("Raptor"), has started up its newest biodiesel plant for its customer,
by Alicia Wallace (DailyCamera.com) CEO says he's optimistic about future of firm, technology Range Fuels, a company based here that specializes in producing fuel from slash and feedstock, has pared back its local work force amid an industry slowdown. Range
(Argus Media) Norwegian chemicals and technology specialist Borregaard has secured a government grant of 58mn kroner ($9.8mn) to build a 400m³ pilot ethanol plant in Sarpsborg, southeast Norway. ...The Sarpsborg plant will use a diverse array of agricultural feedstock including straw,
(BiotechNow) ...Paul Bryan, biomass program manager for the Energy Department, who also spoke at the Pacific Rim Summit, points out that the government’s transition to biofuels must be careful and deliberate. “We get a lot of products from a barrel of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...(S)team reformation, a process by which gasified biomass is converted into a useful balance of hydrogen and carbon monoxide ... itself has struggled with high costs associated with the high temperatures at which the system operates.
by Mark Niesse (AP/Washington Examiner) Crops grown on Hawaii's Big Island will be converted into liquid fuel as part of a deal announced Thursday between Hawaiian Electric Co. and renewable energy company Aina Koa Pono. The agreement is the first in
by Xinhua (Business Daily) A Kenyan green energy firm has announced plans to generate ethanol-based electricity. Gravitas Ltd managing director Lorna Omuondo said the company will introduce ethanol-powered cells into the market by mid year. This is expected to replace
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...At risk in that budget process is the entire funding for the Section 9003 loan guarantee program – in the omnibus spending bill proposed in December by the outgoing Congress, zeroing out 9003 is exactly
(INEOS Bio) Funding will create jobs through the construction and completion of advanced commercial facility in Florida INEOS Bio and its joint venture partner, New Planet Energy, today announced they have received a conditional commitment for a $75 million loan guarantee
(Nashville Public Radio) The state’s switchgrass initiative is looking for new investors. The program aims to turn crops of the tall perennial grass into ethanol to fuel cars. Now it’s using a new East Tennessee biorefinery to demonstrate the technology, in
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Qteros and Praj will collaborate on a highly focused, multi-year development program with the objective of rapidly developing and commercializing Process Design Packages (PDPs) that enable cellulosic ethanol production using Qteros’ Q Microbe-enabled CBP platform
(Virent) BIRD Energy Grant Will Support Virent's Conversion of HCL CleanTech's Pine Tree Sugars Into Hydrocarbon Fuels and Products That can be Sustainable, Cost-effective, and Compatible With Existing Infrastructure Virent Energy Systems Inc. and HCL CleanTech announced today that they have been
by Barry Cohen (National Algae Association) ... Some of the accomplishments include: - Construction of commercial-scale demo PBR at Lone Star College - Delivery by NAA Engineering Consortium of plans and design for the 100-acre challenge - Delivery by NAA finance team of first financial
(ThisIsHullAndEastRiding) FEARS have been raised over the environmental impact of a new £200-million biofuel plant due to open early this year in Saltend. The refinery will convert about one million tonnes of wheat every year into bioethanol and animal feed. Once fully
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...a lot of strong commentary from the readership on the potential for Fischer-Tropsch technologies. And brought out some very strong feelings about waste. On F-T, one reader wrote: “Expansion of FT? Hardly. Its the narrowing of
by Philip Brasher (Des Moines Register) Boom times are ahead for a biodiesel industry that struggled just to stay alive in 2010. The industry could produce as much as a billion gallons in 2011, nearly triple this year's production, said Gary
by David DeWitte (Sioux City Journal) USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack expects a forthcoming round of federal grants to help start non-corn-based advanced biofuel plants outside the nation's traditional ethanol heartland boosting support for ethanol. The government plans to announce measures in early
(Japan Today) Malaysia’s Sime Darby Plantation is collaborating with Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Co to construct and operate a bioethanol demonstration plant in Malaysia’s Selangor State. The plant will convert oil empty palm fruit branches, available year-round and in abundant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...For our 2010 batch of predictions, we give ourselves 6 marks out of 10. We gave ourselves 1 full mark for predicting the spread of Low Carbon Fuel Standard activity, the boom in renewable chemicals, a
by Emily Bowen, Sean C. Kennedy, Kelsey Miranda (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) The aim of this project was to design a process for producing bioethanol from sugar beets as a possible feedstock replacement for corn. Currently eighty-five percent of the energy used by the United
by Willie Vogt (Farm Futures) ...Cellana, an algal biofuel research company based in Kailua Kona, Hawaii, is leading a consortium that includes Cornell, Duke University, San Francisco State University, the University of Hawaii and the University of Southern Mississippi. The
(Reuters) China's Finance Ministry has retroactively exempted consumption tax on pure biodiesel made from waste animal fats or vegetable oils, and will refund taxes already paid over the last two years. The policy is backdated to January 1, 2009... It will make
by Dave Dreeszen (Sioux City Journal) The South Sioux City Council on Monday agreed to issue $25 million in revenue bonds to help finance the proposed Nature’s BioReserves plant at the Roth Industrial Park... The 60-million-gallon-per-year plant would make clean-burning biodiesel
(The Forum of Fargo-Morehead) The use of a specialized sugar beet to produce ethanol could be a breakthrough in weaning the industry off corn. An announcement a few days ago of plans to build a small-scale beets-to-ethanol plant in North
by Cynthia Barnett (Florida Trend) Some Florida businesses are squeezing a trickle of fuel from algae, claiming they can help power the world. But right now, a few expensive drops in the bucket are all they have to show. On 1,000
by Fiona Harvey (Financial Times) ...Green Biologics, an unlisted company, has signed deals with two Chinese biochemical businesses – Guangxi Jinyuan Biochemical and Lianyungang Union of Chemicals. Under the deals – expected to be worth about £10m ($15m) over the next five
by Allison Dowd (Winnepeg Free Press) The City of Brandon is saying goodbye to its biodiesel processor. Getting the proper licensing from Manitoba Labour to run the processor proved too expensive and time-consuming, said Rod Sage, Brandon's director of operational services. The city
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...But there’s another boundary, right around 374 degrees C of temperature and 218 atmospheres of pressure. At that point, the boundary between liquid and gaseous phase water disappears, and what you have is a supercritical
(IStockAnalyst/Cedar Rapids Gazette) U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack thinks soon-to-be announced federal grants for cellulosic ethanol plants are helping boost flagging ethanol support in Congress. Vilsack said the government plans to announce measures in early 2011 to provide support
(PR-Inside) Hunt Global Resources Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tombstone Technologies Inc., (OTCBB: TMCI) announced today (December 23, 2010) that its BioSolutions Division has launched an exclusive research and product development project with Carbon Green Inc, a world leader in innovation
by Tom Tanton (Hawaiian Star Advertiser) Hawaiian Electric Co. has announced plans to build a facility to convert palm oil into biodiesel. The biodiesel will contribute badly needed and affordable fuel for the utility to provide electricity to Hawaii's people. The
by Bill Jones (San Francisco Chronicle) ...Separating fact from fiction in the ethanol debate is not easy. "Food versus fuel" is a nice catch phrase, but worldwide, biofuel production accounts for less than 1 percent of total agricultural acreage. Corn ethanol
by Ann Perry (Hoosier Farms) The benefits of using barley for bioenergy production don't stop at the gas pump, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) studies. Scientists with USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have found that barley grain can be used
by Kassia Micek (The Courier of Montgomery County) Instead of trying to get rid of that slimy, green substance that habitually grows in water, Lone Star College-Montgomery students are are growing large amounts of the organism in hopes of turning it
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The USDA’s Sarah Biddleman speaks in terms of “standing up a biofuels industry” like a pop-up children’s book, in that all the pieces have to rise up, in the right way, all at once. ... Is the
by Alison Lowe (The Tribune) Bahamas Waste's biodiesel production has been delayed after the company discovered used cooking oil donated for conversion was "in far worse shape" than expected. Having expected the first batch of biodiesel to be produced at its $750,000
by Jeffrey Decker (FlightGlobal) Commercial production of jet biofuels could find authorisation in December under fuel specification amendments being considered by certificating body ASTM International.Enormous investments and economies of scale are far behind testing that consistently confirms the safety and
(BIOLYFE) The BIOLYFE project aims at improving critical steps of the second generation bioethanol production process and at demonstrating the whole supply chain, from feedstock sourcing via fuel production to product utilisation. The main result will be the construction of an
(POET) New analysis outlines jobs, economic output of Project LIBERTY work POET's Project LIBERTY will generate as much as $37.8 billion in economic activity over 20 years and could employ more than 2,800 people, an independent analysis claims. A report done by Impact
by Joan Delaney (The Epoch Times) Biodiesel made from waste coffee grounds and flax oil solves the ‘food for fuel’ dilemma, says manufacturer. Spotting a thin layer of oil around the edges of a cold cup of coffee was what led Mano
(Bloomberg/AP) ...The city's spending panel on Wednesday approved a deal with New Generation Biofuels to start burn tests at three city facilities. If the tests are successful, the clean-burning, vegetable-based biofuels would replace heating oil in city buildings. Two Baltimore elementary schools
by (AP/The Republic) ...The Lake County Solid Waste Management District board unanimously adopted a revised contract Thursday that strips away the county's ownership of the plant that Powers Energy of America wants to build near the town of Schneider. The Times of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...But a new generation of companies has come along with new ideas about how to develop scale in a world of empty wallets. You might have heard of them as Amyris, Solazyme, LS9, Gevo, Joule
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...ZeaChem CEO Jim Imbler and Elevance’s Andy Shafer gave updates on their progress towards commercialization. Elevance, of course, has been at it a while longer, and is generally exclusively focused on chemicals, while ZeaChem has some
(Biofuels Journal) Butamax™ Advanced Biofuels, LLC announced Dec. 16 that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a patent number 7851188 encompassing Butamax’s isobutanol producing biocatalyst. The patent entitled “Fermentive Production of Four Carbon Alcohols” is a further demonstration
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...This week in Honolulu, Chris Tindal of the US Navy joined advanced biofuels CEOs Jason Pyle of Sapphire Energy and Jonathan Wolfson of Solazyme at BIO’s Pacific Rim Summit, to discuss the scope and scale
(China Daily) China's bioethanol production will reach 10 million tons a year by 2020, resulting in a 10 percent drop in oil imports, according to COFCO group, China's largest grain trader. ...COFCO, Novozymes and China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) are
(Europa) The European Commission has authorised under EU state aid rules a support of SEK222 million (approximately € 24 million) that Sweden intends to grant to the Gothenburg Biofuels Gasification (GoBiGas) research and development (R&D) project. Göteborg Energi AB, a Swedish energy
(Novasep) Joint project will offer a cost-effective, environmentally friendly process to produce betaine, an animal feed ingredient in short supply Novasep Process, the bioprocess division of Novasep, a leading supplier of manufacturing solutions to the life sciences industry, and Danisco, a world
(Europa) The European Commission has authorised, under EU state aid rules, a €5 million investment aid for a pipeline infrastructure to transport waste CO2 from a bioethanol plant in Rotterdam to greenhouses in the “Zuidplaspolder”. The waste CO2 will be used
by Marc Chase (The Times/istockanalyst.com) Lake County's public-private plan to transform trash to ethanol would generate an inferior fuel with a questionable future, a former National Science Foundation official and energy adviser to the federal government said. John Regalbuto, a chemical engineering
(YLE) Finnair is set to become the first airline in the world to use fuel produced from renewable sources on regular flights. The airline aims to start fuelling its planes with biofuel next spring. Finnair airplanes could soon be powered by
(Bloomberg/AP) Environmentalists sued Michigan regulators Tuesday over an air quality permit issued for a planned refinery in the Upper Peninsula that will produce ethanol fuel from wood chips. The Sierra Club lawsuit contends the Department of Natural Resources and Environment violated federal
(U.S. Department of Energy) U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today announced the Department is now accepting applications for up to $30 million in total funding for small-scale process integration projects that support the development of advanced biofuels that will be
(FreshPlaza.com) Two years ago Citrotecno took its first steps with the help of a group of businessmen linked to the agriculture and livestock sector in Valencia (Spain). The main objective of the company was to use citrus waste to produce
by Dave Kolpack (AP/The Daily Republic) A North Dakota group said Monday it plans to open a test plant that would turn dry land sugar beets into ethanol, with hopes of building a dozen processing facilities throughout the state. Officials with Fargo-based
by Jens Hansegard (Dow Jones/Fox Business) Danish companies see a big business potential in helping to curb the world's reliance on petrochemicals. Danisco A/S (DCO.KO) and Novozymes A/S (NZYM-B.KO), which together cover 70% of the world market for enzymes that go into
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) Although the U.S. biodiesel industry has struggled since the lapse of the $1 per gallon tax credit, renewable identification number (RIN) prices are currently trading high enough to fill that void. One factor that seems to
by Christine Kraly (NWITimes) Citing what's best for Lake County residents, a draft revised contract to bring a waste-to-ethanol plant to Schneider now puts the facility in the hands of its private operator. A proposed revision to the contract between the Lake County Solid Waste
(AllAfrica.com) The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved on Monday, 6 December 2010 in Tunis, a €30-million senior private sector loan and a €35 million loan from the public sector window to finance the Markala Sugar project
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Nevada, International Procurement Tools announced that they had developed a biodiesel construction platform that would bring down ‘pipe to pipe’ installed costs for a 60 Mgy biodiesel system (100,000 tons/year) to $6 million, or
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Honolulu, much of the leadership of the advanced biofuels and renewables chemicals industries have gathered this week at BIO’s Pacific Rim Summit. ...(W)hat are the key trends? Here are 11 that the Digest spotted. 1.
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Poet LLC CEO Jeff Broin told attendees at a recent energy conference that the U.S. will need to eventually utilize the equivalent of E27 in the nation's fuel supply in order to meet renewable
by Shannon Brescher Shea (U.S. Department of Energy) But a more humdrum risk of deep-frying is improperly disposing of the grease. Pouring it down the drain, which can clog municipal pipes and pollute local waterways, is actually illegal in many places.
by Anthony Esposito (Fox Business/Dow Jones) Two of the most important players in Chile's fuel and energy market, fuel and forestry conglomerate Empresas Copec SA (COPEC.SN) and power generator E-CL SA (ECL.SN), will team up to create biofuels from micro-algae. ... The
(WebWire) Airbus together with TAM Airlines and a group of specialist companies are working to establish a bio-kerosene jet-fuel processing plant in Brazil, aiming to gradually substitute fossil fuel in aviation with biofuel. On November 22nd a major milestone was accomplished
(OriginOil) Pilot Partner MBD Energy Praises OriginOil Team on Expertise and System Operation OriginOil, Inc., the developer of a breakthrough technology to transform algae, the most promising source of renewable oil, into a true competitor to petroleum, today announced the successful completion
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Oak Investment venture partner (and now Aurora chairman) Brian Hinman noted that “Aurora Biofuels has made a significant genetic engineering achievement in doubling the productivity of its proprietary algae, and this round of funding will
Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Minnesota-based modular ethanol production system manufacturer Easy Energy Systems Inc. recently finalized its first commercial sale and will soon begin building equipment for a 2 MMgy corn-based plant in Lake Wales, Fla. The central Florida
by Trevor Curwin (CNBC) Recent advances in production and technology have moved the ball downfield in biofuels’ big game to take market share from fossil fuels. “We’ve done it already,” says Advanced Biofuels Association president Mike McAdams, referring to the November 2010
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ed Dineen is taking over the reigns at LS9 from Bill Haywood, who led the company from 2008, and from a #25 ranking to #4 in this year’s 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy. Salutes to Bill,
(The Auto Channel) A ground-breaking plant capable of turning household rubbish into ethanol is one step closer with a new company, Flex Ethanol Australia, to be formed. Making the announcement to Melbourne business leaders at the American Chamber of Commerce today, Holden
(Biofuels International) Product chemical manufacturer JSC Mogilevkhimvolokno Organic Synthesis Factory in Mogilev, Belarus, has placed an order to construct a biodiesel plant with BDI BioEnergy International. The value of the order is just under €10 million. The biodiesel production facility, which will
by Niki Koswanage (Reuters) Palm oil has production audit in place unlike other vegoils; Green palm oil production capacity growing. European Union rules requiring vegetable-oil based biofuels to come from eco-friendly sources may boost palm oil use in the sector as
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Shockers in the 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy Our picks for most underrated company? American Process at #97 and Fiberight at #85 got short shrift from the voters this year, and Targeted Growth has an outstanding story
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, renewable fuels and chemicals developer Amyris took the #1 spot in the 2010-11 “50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy” rankings, published today in Biofuels Digest, the online daily bioenergy news service. Solazyme (#2), POET (#3), LS9
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Growing biofuels mandates will require 220 “world-scale” cellulosic biofuels plants to be operational in the U.S. by 2020, according to Phil New, CEO of BP Biofuels. The head of the oil giant’s biofuels division
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...High-tech companies such as Amyris, Solazyme, LS9, KL Energy, and many others have been moving aggressively to establish partnerships that will allow them to access Brazil’s low-cost, at-scale sugars. Are the lands of sun and rain
(Argus Leader) 'Rather than an outlet for our product, this is more of a showcase' NASCAR has announced a marketing partnership with the ethanol industry to highlight its switch to a 15 percent ethanol blend next season. The announcement was made Thursday morning
by Nathan Phelps (Green Bay Gazette) Farmers: Deal raises awareness of alternative fuel Several Wisconsin farmers say a new partnership between NASCAR and the newly formed American Ethanol will help boost the visibility of ethanol and serve as an educational tool for
by Wambi Michael (The Guardian Weekly) Cement kilns are used to transform waste, which would otherwise pollute the city, into a fuel that suits petrol engines Fred Kyagulanyi and James Sendikwanawa used to get up in the dark to dump bags of
(Business Journal) A Mendota biofuel company will be using a $1.5 million grant from the California Energy Commission to test the feasibility of converting sugar beets and agricultural waste into ethanol and other forms of clean energy. ...If proven feasible, the project
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Ohio, Arisdyne Systems has pioneered technology that can increase ethanol production by 10 percent, or reduce the use of catalyst by 25 percent in biodiesel production. ...that could translate to roughly 1.8 billion additional
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In renewable diesel there are two companies that are getting it done, in terms of putting fuel on the street in meaningful volumes. Those are Dynamic Fuels and Neste Oil. Dynamic, which is a JV
(PRNewsWire) AT&F Advanced Metals, LLC, a fully-owned subsidiary of Cleveland-based AT&F (American Tank & Fabricating Company), is completing production on the innovative and first of its kind Bench Scale Reactor System developed with AdvanceBio Systems LLC of Cincinnati. The system is
(Canadian Renewable Fuels Association) New Report Card: Canadian Industry Delivers on the Economy & Environment The release today (November 30, 2010) of a report card on the Canadian renewable fuels industry shows that ethanol and biodiesel in Canada are delivering tangible economic
by John Upton (The Bay Citizen) A proposal to convert a rendering facility in southeastern San Francisco into a biodiesel manufacturing plant was approved Tuesday by the Port of San Francisco. ...Under the plan, animal and food waste that is currently turned
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) Animated discussion characterized the fourth day of the Infocast series on cellulosic biofuels. Much is at stake. The industry is so close to being able to find success. If gasoline was $4.00/gallon, implementation would
by Katie Fehrenbacher (GigaOM) Cello Energy, the beleaguered, infamous biofuel company that was hit with fraud allegations, has finally dropped off of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) list of potential cellulosic ethanol suppliers for 2011. ...What’s the reason? Well, first off,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In July, the EPA indicating in a draft ruling that it would specify a range of 6-25 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol, and finalized its mandated volumes at 6.6 million gallons, way, way down from
(Chicago Tribune/AP) A decision by Congress on whether to extend or gradually phase out a tax credit to oil companies and refiners to blend ethanol with gasoline could make or break some of Indiana's 12 ethanol plants. A study by a
(Farmers Guardian) More than 100 delegates attended the HGCA Biofuel Conference at Aldwark Manor, York, supported by Farmers Guardian. A further 100 joined the proceedings online as Farmers Guardian streamed video live from the event. Angela Calvert reports. Increased demand for wheat
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Massachusetts, a team of researchers from University of Massachusetts Amherst reported in Science that they have developed a new process to produce key chemical intermediates from pyrolytic bio-oils. According to the researchers, “the new process
(Business Green) Neste Oil cuts ribbon on giant biofuel facility and promises additional plant in Rotterdam early next year. Finnish refinery giant Neste Oil has this month opened a major new biodiesel refinery in Singapore, hailing the facility as the world's largest
(Alibaba.com) State-owned China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) has sold out its first batch of biodiesel on the island province of Hainan, the company said on Wednesday. The fuel was blended into normal diesel and offered to drivers starting from
by Rob Parsons and Lance Holter (Sierra Club-Maui/The Maui News) In early 2007, Hawaiian Electric Co. and subsidiary Maui Electric Co. announced plans by BlueEarth Biofuels to construct a mega-sized palm oil refinery on Maui, which would have been the largest in
by Alan Yonan Jr. (Star Advertiser) ...As the algae companies slowly move forward with their research and development, however, another source of renewable energy is blossoming -- literally -- on the Big Island. Hawaii Pure Plant Oil, or HIPPO, is
(Sweetwater Energy) Sweetwater has begun delivering concentrated sugar water from its expanded pilot system in Rochester, NY to sources developing bio-jet fuel. Production is ramping up over the next 3 months in preparation for major-scale deliveries beginning in 2011, utilizing Sweetwater's first commercial-scale processor. READ MORE
by James Cartledge (BrighterEnergy.org) New research from Purdue University highlights the need to improve efficiencies in the logistics of cellulosic biomass feedstocks for ethanol production. A study from the university’s agricultural and biological engineering researchers found that turning cellulosic feedstocks like corn
(Algae Industry Magazine) From Sergio Hernandez at the Village Voice comes word that New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection has a new pilot program that will convert algae at a Queens waste-water treatment plant into biofuel for cars, by
by Jason Armstrong (West Hawaii Today) Within a year's time, Big Island truckers will be able to run their diesel engines with a sustainable, locally produced fuel made from used cooking oil. That's the goal of Big Island Biodiesel, which on
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Today, we look at companies that, in the month of November, have made material strdes towards commercialization – through securing of funding, commencement of construction, offtake deals, or in other ways. AE Biofuels – ethanol from cellulosic
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In New Zealand, LanzaTech announced that its cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with PNNL has been given final approval by the DOE. The first phase of the CRADA work will focus on converting some of
(MarketWatch) Neste Oil has started up the world's largest renewable diesel plant in Singapore. Production of NExBTL renewable diesel will be ramped up on a phased basis. The plant was completed on-schedule and on-budget and marks a major step forward in
by Iris Kuo (VentureBeat/Reuters) ...The good news is, biofuels and solar technology are the most likely of all alternative energies to reach the holy grail of grid parity in the next decade — that is, they may become competitive with
(Ethanol Producer Magazine) SEKAB E-Technology and Taurus Energy AB have successfully carried out a three-week long industrial demo scale evaluation of Taurus Energy’s yeast. The yeast has been specially developed, and, in contrast to ordinary yeast, it can ferment pentose
by Christopher G. Standlee (Abengoa Energy/The Hill's Congress Blog) ...(T)here is bipartisan support for answering an urgent national challenge: replacing imported high-pollution petroleum with clean-burning American biofuels. ...There is bipartisan support for biofuels because their development, production and use serve great
(Fulcrum BioEnergy) Fulcrum Receives Detailed Term Sheet Proposal from DOE Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inc. announced November 16, 2010, that the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) has selected Fulcrum’s Sierra BioFuels Plant to enter the final phase of DOE’s Loan Guarantee Program. Fulcrum has
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In contrast to the “five years away” and subsidy-driven discussions that framed advanced biofuels conversations just two years ago, CEOs are widely reporting that they expect their companies to reach commercial scale within 12-36 months,
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) Since June of this year, Greg Bafalis has been CEO of Aurora Algae, formerly Aurora Biofuels, overseeing the Company’s strategy, operations, and high-level relationships. ...Aurora was founded in 2006 by three gentlemen from U.C. Berkeley.
(PetroAlgae) Joint Effort with Leading Airline Focuses on Renewable Jet Fuel PetroAlgae Inc., a leading U.S. renewable energy company that licenses its commercial micro-crop technology globally, today announced it has entered into a non-binding offtake supply agreement with Sky Airline, a
by Vijaysinh Parmar (Times of India) Scientists from across the country, belonging to a consortium of nine laboratories, are working on an ambitious project called 'New Millennium India Technology Leadership Initiative' ( NMITLI), to develop a viable and scalable process
(Financial Express) Shifting focus to its biodiesel programme, Thailand is planning to open large scale jatropha seed based plants to produce the much needed commodity. Analysts said long-neglected jatropha ready for a starring role and a rival to palm oil as
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) Technologies proven at the bench scale and biofuel feedstocks developed or identified are worthless until they come together at a successful biorefinery. Getting there involves a series of choices: new, "greenfield" construction "from scratch" or
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuesl USA) The Renewable Fuel Association's Bob Dinneen started the Cellulosic Biofuels & Biorefineries Summit with a call to the biofuels community--ethanol, cellulosic ethanol, advanced biofuels, renewable and biodiesel--to realize their common bonds and interests. Particularly,
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) Faith and Belief. Most impressive about the 2010 Cellulosic Biofuels Finance & Investment Forum, as compared to the 2009 event, was the whiff of positive belief that somehow, some way, cellulosic biofuels are becoming
(Gevo) First Isobutanol to Receive Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Registration as a Fuel Additive Gevo, Inc., a privately held renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels company, announced November 11, 2010, that it received notification that its isobutanol had successfully cleared registration with the U.S.
by Harry Seamans, Ben Thorp and Masood Akhtar (Bioenergy Deployment Consortium, Inc./Biofuels Digest) The Pulp and Paper Industry (PPI) can play a major role in addressing three national issues our nation is currently confronting: • jobs, • energy independence, and • the health of our
(Rentech/Enhanced Online News) U.S. Department of Energy Approves Remaining $19.7 Million of Funding Rentech, Inc., and ClearFuels Technology Inc., jointly announced today that a cooperative agreement has been signed with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to receive the remaining $19.7 million
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