by Peter Fairley (Technology Review) ... Producing advanced biofuels on the scale of tens of billions of gallons per year will mean financing several hundred commercial-scale biorefineries at a net cost of roughly $250 billion. For investors in cellulosic ethanol
Hart’s Global Biofuels Center released its annual Global Ethanol & Biodiesel Outlook. The study provides forecasts to 2015 and covers 32 countries. Some study findings: · Global ethanol demand will represent 12-14% of the global gasoline pool by 2015; · Demand for biodiesel
... “We knew that the first company to actually come out and openly document the real productivity picture would face a tough challenge,” said Barry Cohen, executive director of the National Algae Association. “OriginOil did it and now we have
by Seth Borenstein (AP) President Barack Obama is calling on the world to end massive government subsidies that encourage the use of fossil fuels blamed for global warming. The president, who is set to host the G-20 economic summit opening
(Environmental Law Institute) The largest U.S subsidies to fossil fuels are attributed to tax breaks that aid foreign oil production, according to research released by the Environmental Law Institute in partnership with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The
by Stephen Lacey (REnewableEnergyWorld.com) ... Biofuels typically get a lot of attention as gas prices go up in the summer driving season. This year was different. After the love affair with biofuels throughout 2006 and the bitter attack on biofuels
Biofuels Digest published a 5-part series on where the industry is obtaining financing in the year since the seizure of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and collapse of Lehman Brothers triggered the global financial meltdown. In Part I of the series,
(Chattahbox) The new study released by the Environmental Law Institute entitled, “Estimating U.S. Government Subsidies to Energy Sources: 2002-2008,” provides the Obama administration with an additional weapon for the phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies in the United States. According
A Conversation on Southern Energy describes the current and future role of energy in Southern economic development. The report is full of regional and individual state data about existing and alternative energy sources. The report also includes recommendations necessary to
by Anna Austin (Biomass Magazine) ... DOE Program Manager Michael Fraser identified characteristics to strengthen the financial review of project applications. Information on third–party supply and off-take agreements to support revenue and cost projections, or having a reliable source of
Europe has established a floor of 35%, i.e., any biofuel entering Europe must reduce emissions by at least that amount when compared to a diesel benchmark. According to the European analysis, using palm oil to make biodiesel results in GHG
(CBC News) Manitoba is about to become the first province in Canada to mandate the use of biodiesel. Starting Nov. 1, all diesel fuel sold in the province must contain an average of two per cent biodiesel, Energy Minister Jim
by Steve Gorman (Reuters) The Prius hybrid automobile is popular for its fuel efficiency, but its electric motor and battery guzzle rare earth metals, a little-known class of elements found in a wide range of gadgets and consumer goods. That
The Memphis Bioworks® Foundation announced the conclusion of the "Regional Strategy for Biobased Products in the Mississippi Delta," a 5-state, 98-county examination of the potential for agriculture and forestry revitalization through the development of new markets, and the related industrial
by Jeff H. Hassannia (Diversified Energy Corporation) ... Instead of forecasting the likely costs for capital and O&M for a given architecture and its reported yield, let’s assess what a project would require in order to make it commercially viable. That
(FullOn Holdings, Inc./MMD Newswire) Richard Kamahele Figueroa, President and CEO of FullOn Holdings, Inc., a Native Hawaiian owned company, announed today that its Honolulu based division, Golden State Biofuels, has been awarded a forty nine year exclusive agreement by the
by Ann Davis and Russell Gold (Wall Street Journal) The biofuels revolution that promised to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil is fizzling out. Two-thirds of U.S. biodiesel production capacity now sits unused, reports the National Biodiesel Board. Biodiesel, a
by Doreen Hemlock and Jaideep Hardikar (South Florida Sun-Sentinel) The neatly planted rows of jatropha trees in Delray Beach are sprouting round, green fruit that can be crushed into oil to run diesel engines. Teri Gevinson founder of Ag-Oil LLC,
by Michael Kanellos (Greentech Media) Five years ago it was easy to divide up companies trying to make fuel out of algae. There were only a handful in the market and all were in and around the "science experiment" phase.
A report by Greener Dawn Investment Group's research arm "aims to provide an in-depth and unbiased review of the algae industry’s market potential, current technologies and processes, from the point of view of a financial investor. Considering the fate of
by Betsey Piette (Worker's World) Collectively the countries which participate in the Group of Twenty comprise 85 percent of the global gross national product, 80 percent of world trade and two-thirds of the world’s population. What many G-20 countries lack,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Center for Public Integrity released a report on lobbying over the impending Climate Bill, and reported that 13 bioenergy companies plus several trade groups registered to lobby Congress for the first time
by Rebecca Burn-Callander (Real Business) It's one of the few private equity ventures to raise its target amount this year. And it's a green enterprise. Richard Branson's Virgin Green Fund is defying the downturn, raising £240m in total: £70m from
by Neil Winton (Detroit News) While manufacturers like Nissan of Japan jostle for the lead in the race to saturate markets with electric cars, automotive forecasters seeking to cut through the hyperbole tell a more sober story. ... Automotive forecaster
The bioenergy maritime shipping study published by International Enery Agency Bioenergy Task 40 describes main properties of biofuels in relation to maritime shipping, examine current shipping lanes and major tradable biomass sources (including AR, BR, CA, MY, RU and Baltic States),
“For Cap-and-Trade to truly reduce CO2 emissions, many promising lab-scale technologies will have to be prototyped, tested, and commercialized quickly,” says Bob Kozak, President of Atlantic Biomass Conversions. “With the current wording, the proposed Cap-and-Trade legislation does not have a
by Chris Morrison (BNET Energy) Veteran cleantech venture capitalist Vinod Khosla will be announcing a pair of new funds to invest from today, according to a story in Forbes. If their sources are correct, it would make Khosla one of
by Paul Winters (Biotech Industry Organization, Renewable Energy World) Both the United States and Canada have made considerable investments in founding a renewable biofuels and chemicals industry, setting standards for the production and use of biofuels and committing money for research,
by Jennifer Kho (Renewable Energy World) At first glance, it might look like oil companies are pulling out of renewables. At the end of June, BP closed its alternative-energy headquarters. The oil company also has cut its alternative-energy budget and
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Uniol AS opened its new biodiesel plant in Fredrikstad, Norway, in June. The plant was built by Austrian turnkey provider BDI-Bio-Diesel International AG (BDI), marking its 28th project worldwide. Production capacity for the new Uniol
Railways has decided to introduce bio-diesel and CNG engines, the successful laboratory trial of which has already been carried out. Informing this in the Lok Sabha today, Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa said trials have been completed
GreenHouse is teaming-up with beer pioneer Karl Strauss Brewing Company to convert spent beer yeast into ethanol fuel for California residents and businesses. This news comes on the heels of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s June 4 press conference, where he unveiled
(25 x25) The USDA reported last week that American farmers are expected to produce 12.3 billion bushels of corn, the second largest U.S. corn crop in history. After estimating all of the uses of corn, USDA projects an excess corn
by Clifford Krauss (New York Times) Ethanol and oil don’t mix very well. At least that has been the impression left over the years by oil company executives. They have long complained that ethanol is not energy efficient and that
Jim Lane, editor of Biofuels Digest summarizes the current state of the nascent advanced biofuels industry, including the current popularity of algae, sluggish progress of cellulosic ethanol and promise of drop-in biofuels. READ MORE
The Biofuel Partnership Limited has entered into a letter of intent with the Canadian public company Pacific Cascade Minerals Inc to form a joint venture for the further development, marketing and sale of The Biofuel Partnership’s BioCube technology. BioCube is an
ExxonMobile announced its alliance with leading biotech company, Synthetic Genomics Inc., to research and develop next generation biofuels from photosynthetic algae. ... ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company has entered into a research and development alliance with SGI, a privately held company
Biofuels Digest published two reports about the "Hottest 20 Companies in Bioenergy," first listing the companies and their investors and then listing the investors and the companies they support.
All Programs in the U.S Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, are required to conduct a Peer Review of their funded projects on an annual or biannual schedule. The Office of Biomass Program (OBP) conducts these reviews by
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Delaware, BP and Dupont announced the commencement of commercialization of their butanol venture, which will be named Butamax Advanced Biofuels. ... Butamax combines BP’s expertise in fuels technology, development and infrastructure with DuPont’s leading
by Nathanial Gronewold (Climatewire) Having helped companies explore the labyrinth of greenhouse gas regulation in Europe, the Big Four auditing and accounting firms are now moving quickly to build climate and carbon shops in the United States. Their goal is to stake
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Of all the hydrocarbons and simple sugars that can be made from biomass, or recovered from fossil reserves, gasoline, diesel and natural gas remain the most important end-products and are likely to remain so for
by Nick Hodges (Green Chip Stocks) While attending the Renewable Energy Finance Forum Wall Street last week, I was almost surprised to see an entire discussion dedicated to how Big Oil plans on entering the cleantech business. The talk was
(RenewableEnergyWorld) SRS Engineering Corporation has finalized a contract with ReNvision Biofuels Inc. to build its 10 million-gallon-per-year (MMGY) biodiesel plant in, Alberta, Canada. SRS Engineering Corp. will provide the complete design and engineering services and the equipment required to build
IEA Bioenergy Task 40 commissioned a study on a global overview of bio-oils (vegetable and palm oil) to: i) assess major producers and consumers of vegetables oils, ii) main emerging markets, iii) analyze main policy drivers, iv) assess future trends
Dr. Charles Fishel, Chairman of Abundant Biofuels Corporation, noted that "There are about 100 biodiesel refineries operating below capacity and another 47 idle refineries in the United States, alone." To help solve this problem, Abundant Biofuels provides standardized long-term contracts
Emerging Markets has released Algae 2020 a 460-page study on algae biofuels markets, strategies and the commercialization outlook. The Algae 2020 study observes algal biomass can produce multiple fuels from a single feedstock, including biodiesel ethanol, biocrude, renewable diesel, renewable
One of the most exciting developments for aviation is the use of sustainable biofuels to replace the standard kerosene, or Jet-A, fuel that is currently being used. It is clear that our industry’s dependence on fossil fuels is not sustainable,
From today, customers at a Shell service station will become the first in the world to fill their tanks with gasoline containing advanced biofuel made from wheat straw. For one month starting June 10, the regular gasoline purchased at a Shell
by Lisa Gibson, Biomass Magazine. Brazil could produce 4.6 billion to 8.2 billion liters (1.2 billion to 2.2 billion gallons) of biofuel from sugarcane residue by 2020, in addition to that made from sugar itself, according to a recently released
ATI Petroleum, a petroleum exploration management and operations company, announced that the US Department of Commerce awarded the first patent on bioreactor technology to ATI Petroleum. The bioreactor technology was created through a collaborative effort with the US Department of Energy,
Lignol Energy Corporation a cellulosic ethanol and biorefining company, announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Lignol Innovations Ltd., has been awarded $3.4 million in funding to produce cellulosic ethanol and other biochemical products from under-utilized forest resources, including lodgepole pine killed
Lignol Energy Corporation, a cellulosic ethanol and biorefining company, announced it has completed the first end-to-end production of cellulosic ethanol from its fully integrated industrial-scale biorefinery pilot plant in Burnaby, British Columbia. This production of cellulosic ethanol from Canadian woodchips followed the
by Mike Levine. A radical twin-fuel engine from Ford, code-named “Bobcat," that variably blends gasoline and ethanol on demand to realize diesel-like performance continues to make steady progress in its development, according to presentations made by the automaker to the
Gold Star Biofuels a subsidiary of Gold Star Farms Ltd., is cultivating five million acres of land in Ghana to plant jatropha for the production of biofuels for export. According to the firm it has secured commitment from farmers to
A shuttered pulp mill at Prince Albert, Saskatchewan could be the new site for a facility to make cellulosic ethanol from farmers' cereal straw. Saskatchewan's provincial government on Monday inked a letter of intent with Domtar, owner of the pulp
Every spring, the US Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Biomass Program hosts a FREE 2-day conference and expo exploring biomass as an energy source. The Biomass Program works with industry, academia and national laboratory partners
Katie Howell: Jet fuels derived from algae, camelina and jatropha -- plants that pack an energy punch, are not eaten as food and do not displace food crops -- could be approved and replacing petroleum fuels in commercial flights as
The National Algae Association is building a buying consortium to help its members build algae farms and production plants more cost efficiently. NAA staff are meeting with various equipment and service providers to negotiate the best prices and terms for NAA members to help drive down their
Biofuels Digest reports that in Ethiopia, Ardent Energy Group announced an agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MOARD) of Ethiopia to transfer 15,000 hectares, approximately 37,000 acres, to AEG for the purpose of cultivating jatropha and castor.
Next-gen biofuel projects in Canada are eligible for up to 40 percent incentive to be repaid over 10 years. A nonprofit funded by the Canadian federal government announced today its latest call for applications for its $500 million fund created
Waste Management, Inc. and InEnTec LLC announced the formation of S4 Energy Solutions LLC, a joint venture to develop, operate and market plasma gasification facilities using InEnTec's Plasma Enhanced Melter (PEM™) technology. The joint venture is expected to process waste
Cathay Forest Products Corp. says it will pay C$2.9 million to acquire 40 per cent of Eco-Energy China Group, a private biodiesel producer based in China's southwestern province of Guizhou. Cathay Forest, which has its head office in Richmond Hill,
This paper forms a component of the Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation Task Force (REDGTF) project: Identifying optimal legal frameworks for renewable energy in China and India (the Project). The Project is undertaken by Baker & McKenzie and the Renewable
In a letter addressed to PM Manmohan Singh, a day after he assumed office for the second consecutive term, chief minister Nitish Kumar has demanded favourable consideration of state's pending requests, ... Nitish also demanded the withdrawal of the order
Danish oil group and shipping company AP Moller-Maersk is in talks with US plane maker Boeing about developing biofuels for planes as well as ships, a senior executive of AP Moller told a newspaper in an interview. The executive, AP Moller
Biofuels Digest presents a special report on biofuels aviation, including coverage of feedstocks, airlines, aircraft manufacturers, engine makers and policy. READ MORE
GreenFuel Technologies, one of the first companies to enter the algae biofuels business, is shutting down after running out of money. Investor Duncan McIntyre of Polaris Venture Partners on Wednesday confirmed GreenFuel Technologies' demise, saying that the company is a
By Michael Harris ----- BioWorld sees a number of dynamics that have the capacity to impact and define the future of the biofuels market. Some of these mitigating factors are: ... Biofuels can be over-hyped, but the actual and impending consequences
By Kathleen Kite-Powell ----- Outside of the North America, the range of progress toward the use of ethanol-fueled vehicles is quite broad, from countries that only use conventional petroleum-based gasoline-powered vehicles to countries attempting to convert to 100 percent ethanol
Bio Base Europe is a joint initiative of Biopark Terneuzen and Ghent Bio-Energy Valley. Both organisations have been working for some time for the expansion of a bio-based economy in the Flanders-Netherlands border region. Contrary to what is frequently assumed,
This is the first solicitation for the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E). ARPA-E is a new organization within the Department of Energy (DOE), created specifically to foster research and development (R&D) of transformational energy-related technologies. … ARPA-E will
In late April, 2009, President Obama announced the launching of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), a new Department of Energy organization modeled after the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the defense agency that gave us the Internet, stealth aircraft,
In California, Burrill & Company released its 23rd annual industry report, Biotech 2009 Life Science, subtitled Navigating the Sea Change. The report contains extensive analysis and perspective on the performance of the biotech/life sciences industry in 2008 and forward projections for
Southern Online Bio Technologies Ltd. (Southern Online Bio Technologies), an India-based internet services provider, is planning to establish a third (jatropha and pongamia-based) biodiesel plant by the end of 2009. The company also said that its second plant is being
Dynamotive USA, Inc. executed a long-term contract for the supply of feedstock for a planned 200 TPD BioOil® plant to be developed in southern Arkansas. Contract envisages the supply of 220,000 green tons per year of green residues (sawdust) for
Lee County, Florida, Commissioners voted 3-2 to help fund the construction of a biodiesel processing plant by pledging $500,000 to Florida BioFuels LLC. The plant, which has no site or start date for construction, would have Lee County as its
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and others said the San Diego region, now home to more than 500 biotechnology companies, could become a major center for renewable energy development, as scientists from UC San Diego, The Scripps Research Institute and
On March 6, 2009, Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers submitted an application for a waiver of the prohibition of the introduction into commerce of certain fuels and fuel additives set forth in section 211(f) of the Clean Air Act
Biofuelproducers and biotechnologycompanies today asked Congressional leaders to help them overcome economic obstacles to obtaining financial backing and bring commercially ready advanced biofuels to the marketplace. READ MORE and MORE
The Southern Bioenergy Roadmap, a project of the Southeast Agriculture & Forestry Energy Resources Alliance (SAFER) and the University of Florida, shows that the South has abundant natural resources and intellectual capital to produce electricity and automotive fuel from plants,
A new Green Collar Jobs report from the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) based in Boulder, and Management Information Services, Inc (MISI), an internationally recognized economic research firm based in Washington D.C., provides a sector-by-sector analysis of where the
by Drew Casey (Biofuels and Bio-Based Carbon Mitigation) Recently, we have experienced increasing uncertainty about the threat of climate changes due to increased carbon emissions as well as volatility of global oil prices. Fossil fuels have been such a major part
UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, announced today that it has launched Envergent Technologies, LLC, a joint venture with Ensyn Corp., to offer technology and equipment to convert second-generation biomass into pyrolysis oil for power generation, heating fuel and for conversion
Enerkem Inc., a leading advanced biofuels and green chemicals technology company, announced plans to build and operate a second-generation biofuels production facility in Pontotoc, Mississippi, USA. It is expected to produce 20 million gallons per year of next-generation ethanol using a
Royal Dutch Shell plc and Codexis, Inc., announced an expanded agreement to develop better biocatalysts that could accelerate commercialisation of next generation biofuels. ... As part of the agreement, Codexis will work closely with Shell and Iogen Energy Corporation to
GREAT FALLS, Mont., -- Thirteen seed companies, processors and researchers of camelina have formed the first trade association focused on camelina production and processing in North America. The North American Camelina Trade Association (NACTA) will work to promote research, production
by Elizabeth Nesbitt (Journal of International Commerce and Economics) The increasing use of industrial biotechnology by the Chinese liquid biofuels and chemical industries is expected to help offset energy security and environmental concerns generated by China’s robust economic growth. The expanding use of bioprocesses
by Kessel Nelson (ASTM International Standardization News) Committee D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants has produced a set of standards for a non-petroleum fuel: biodiesel. READ MORE
The joint venture company will initially focus on developing and securing financing for a first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol facility in Highlands County, Florida and expects to break ground on that site in 2010. The estimated construction cost for this 36
Harvesting cobs will provide an additional revenue stream for farmers, without requiring them to change their planting practices. Agriculture equipment manufacturers are developing a wide range of options for farmers to ensure that harvesting cobs will not significantly slow the
Following three years of research, a team of energy, biotechnology and agribusiness veterans announced the formation of SG Biofuels, a San Diego, CA-based plant oil company specializing in the development of Jatropha as a low-cost, sustainably produced source of oil.
An in-depth study by Sandia National Laboratories and General Motors Corp. has found that plant and forestry waste and dedicated energy crops could sustainably replace nearly a third of gasoline use by the year 2030. The goal of the 90-Billion
Following three years of research, a team of energy, biotechnology and agribusiness veterans today announced the formation of SG Biofuels, a San Diego, CA-based plant oil company specializing in the development of Jatropha as a low-cost, sustainably produced source of
Japan Airlines (JAL) became the first airline to conduct a demonstration flight using a sustainable biofuel primarily refined from the energy crop, camelina. It was also the first demo flight using a combination of three sustainable biofuel feedstocks, as well
Through its purchase of Blue Sky Biofues, Sirona has acquired an Oakland, CA-based refinery that produces high-quality biodiesel from both virgin and non-virgin feedstocks. READ MORE
At the University of Nottingham, two of six research projects being run by the national £27m BBSRC Sustainable Bioenergy Centre hope to lead the way in the development of sustainable bioenergy fuels — Ethanol and Butanol using non-food crops, such
On January 26, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) a contract to help develop an alternative to petroleum-based jet fuel from agricultural and aquacultural feedstocks. The contract is worth up to $25 million
”Listening, watching and reading the international media's reporting on the Detroit car show, you could be forgiven for thinking that we will soon all be zipping around noiselessly in environmentally neutral electric cars.” Neil Winton of the Detroit News discusses
On January 7, 2009, Continental Airlines flew a successful demonstration out of Houston in partnership with Boeing, GE Aviation/CFM International, and Honeywell’s UOP. One of the Boeing 737’s two engines was powered with standard A1 aviation fuel. The other ran
Verenium operates one of the nation’s first cellulosic ethanol pilot plants, an R&D facility, in Jennings, Louisiana and has recently entered the start-up phase at its 1.4 million-gallon-per-year demonstration-scale facility. Stacks of crushed sugar cane stalks pile up waiting to
A New Zealand Air passenger jet partially powered by a 50-50 blend of oil from jatropha plants and standard A1 jet fuel successfully completed a two-hour flight December 30 to test a biofuel that could lower airplane emissions and cut
Among the top 50, 17 are active in cellulosic ethanol development, nine are developing algae-to-energy systems, and nine are producing other advanced biofuels or waste-to-energy technologies. The companies range from start-ups, funded by venture capital and corporate investors, to new
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering to guarantee loans of up to $250 million for commercial-scale biorefineries that produce biofuels from something other than corn starch. One company that plans to apply for a loan guarantee is Florida-based
One of the common frustrations that these leaders face is that the research and government organizations come to them for ideas or product samples, but instead of treating them as the drivers of innovation, they are treated as one of
(Task Force on Renewable Alternative Fuels Final Report) The Task Force on Renewable Alternative Fuels (Chapter 540 of 2007), chaired by Secretary of Agriculture Roger Richardson and staffed by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), consisted of two legislative members, the
(The Auto Channel) Though worlds apart, George Washington Carver and Henry Ford shared a vision of a future in which agricultural products would be put to new uses to create products and industries. One idea both men worked on more than
by Adam Lashinsky and Nelson D. Schwartz (CNN Money/Fortune Magazine) You probably don't know it, but the answer to America's gasoline addiction could be under the hood of your car. More than five million Tauruses, Explorers, Stratuses, Suburbans, and other vehicles
(Consortium on RuralTechnology) Biogas plants have been accepted by now in the country~as a device for improving the quality of the life of the people. They help in recycling of the cattie wastes and produce both fuel and manure from
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