by Sylvia Nabanoba and Vanessa Zola (UNHCR) A switch to ethanol reduces risky trips in search of firewood, slows reforestation and creates healthier home environments for refugees in White Nile state. — The glow from a matchstick lights up Alisa Deng’s face as she ignites her new ethanol cooking stove. The
Cooking Fuel

Reason for concern: 3.8 billion people (49% of the global population) still rely on traditional energy sources to support household needs such as cooking, heating, and lighting. Due to this, household air pollution is a top-ten risk factor for global morbidity and mortality. This webinar will provide a summary of
by Lachlan Carey and Nikos Tsafos (Center for Strategic and International Studies) Can emerging economies grow while reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, either on an absolute basis or against some business-as-usual baseline? The Energy Security and Climate Change Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies engaged in a yearlong
by Hannah DelSordo* (Advanced Biofuels USA) In recent years, Dickinson College of Carlisle, PA, has been interested in innovative environmental practices that will improve the community and foster a hands-on learning experience for the students. In 2008, students and staff at the College Farm began experimenting with small scale biogas
by Anmar Frangoul (CNBC) Blessed with a wide variety of landscapes, the African country of Uganda produces everything from bananas and coffee to tea and cocoa. … Vianney Tumwesige is managing director of Green Heat International, a firm which wants to take the waste produced from sectors like agriculture and
by Sid Chudasama (CIO East Africa) The solution provides a safer, more eco-friendly alternative to domestic cooking, without the need for firewood or charcoal. — KOKO fuel from KOKO Networks Limited is one of the only, and most prominent, agrofuel in the country. Made from liquid bioethanol, a combination of highly
by By Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) The U.S. Grains Council is taking a harder look at promoting ethanol for industrial use. USGC CEO Ryan LeGrand says value-added products like hand sanitizer have helped buoy ethanol exports as fuel demand falls off. “People started out by saying it’s just a drop in the
(CISION/PR Web/Clean Cooking Alliance) A diverse portfolio of 33 companies, operating mainly in Africa, will be supported by the Clean Cooking Alliance’s new Venture Catalyst (VC) program. The program focuses on building an investment-ready pipeline through venture-level interventions, to deliver universal access to clean cooking in developing countries. The Venture
by Yuthana Praiwan (Bangkok Post) …PTG is also allocating another 500 million baht for the PPP Green Complex, a palm oil plant in Prachuap Khiri Khan, to make cooking oil and biodiesel. This project is a joint venture between PTG, Thachang Green Energy Co and RD Kasetpattana Co. The PPP
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Methanol is versatile – it can be used as turbine fuel, cooking fuel, and as a fuel for solid oxide fuel cells. But G.K.Surya Prakash from University of Southern California shares in this illuminating presentation other ways methanol is handy dandy, like as a liquid hydrogen
(Brightmark Energy/Biomass Magazine) Brightmark, a San Francisco-based waste and energy development company, announced Feb. 5 that it has signed a manure supply agreement with two South Dakota dairy companies, Boadwine Farms Inc. and Mooody County Dairy Limited Partnership, to capture methane produced by nearly 12,000 dairy cows and heifers and convert
by Andrew Myers (American Energy Society) … Recycling CO2 emissions themselves as researchers at Stanford University are doing has shown some promising results. They are turning carbon dioxide from car exhaust pipes and other sources into fuels like natural gas and propane. Several recent studies have shown some success in
by Patrick Amunavi (farmers.co.ke) Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology alumni, and Innovator, Erick Gathirwa Kariuki, has developed a biofuel innovation by harnessing the water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) into a bioethanol product that can be used as cooking fuel in households. Erick Kariuki, who graduated in from JKUAT with a Bachelor
(American National Standards Institute) The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), through its public-private partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Standards Alliance, organized a one-day workshop on biofuel standards for household cooking and transportation in Maputo, Mozambique, on November 14, 2019. This event was led by the founders of Garner Advisors, and
(United Nations Industrial Development Organization) The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and its partners initiated the roll-out of 500,000 ethanol cook stoves to households in various wards of Dar es Salaam. Speaking on behalf of the District Commissioner for Ilala, the District Administrative Secretary expressed appreciation for the joint efforts
by Nichola Groom (Reuters) … (Joey) Airoso is tapping into a growing market among U.S. utilities for so-called renewable natural gas, or biomethane, that is being driven by the fight against climate change. For farmers, it is a way to get ahead of a wave of greenhouse gas regulation and make
by Harry Lye (Army Technology) UK military and survival equipment innovator BCB International has won a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to supply environmentally-friendly fuel for cooking and reducing the British Army’s carbon footprint. The fuel called ‘FireDragon’ will be supplied to the British Army with a foldable
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Organisms are interesting creatures and genetic tools and biochemical pathway knowledge is changing the way we look at them. Brian Davison, Chief Scientist for Biotechnology at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, gave this knowledge-filled presentation on how to leverage organisms for biofuels and bioproducts, consolidated bioprocessing, barriers
(Southern California Gas Company/CISION) Calgren’s dairy biogas operation–first of its kind in California-captures methane from animal waste to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide pipeline quality renewable natural gas — Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today joined Calgren Dairy Fuels, and state and local elected officials to announce the completion of Calgren’s dairy renewable
by Parija Kavilanz (CNN Business) At 22, Jeff Broin was just six months out of college and getting started in the banking industry when his family turned to him for help. His father was scrambling to figure out a way to save the 130-year-old Minnesota corn farm that Broin and his
(Business Today) KOKO Networks has announced the installation of 700 ethanol fuel ATMs across the Nairobi. The company also unveiled its new 2-burner cooker at an event attended by Dr Joseph Njoroge, Principal Secretary in the ministry of Energy. Speaking at the launch, Dr Njoroge highlighted the important role such solutions
(Methanol Institute/Center for Global New Energy Strategy Studies of Peking University) … China has a soaring demand for fuel and is facing the most challenging air pollution situation since its industrialization. Methanol, one of the most abundant chemicals and fuels in China, is being used as a clean-burning alternative fuel
by Danilo De Oliveira Pereira (United National Industrial Development Organization) UNIDO is implementing a programme which creates value chains of clean cooking fuels and technologies in several countries. With a “market enabling framework,” the organization is turning the lack of clean cooking fuels into an economic opportunity to incubate new industries manufacturing
by Liz Gyekye (BioMarket Insights) “In use, bio LPG is identical to conventional LPG and therefore has the benefit of being able to be blended and used by all existing appliances.” 123 years. That is how long family-owned multinational organisation SHV Energy has been established for. The Netherlands-headquartered company has recently
by Marcus Gillette (Biomass Magazine/Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas) Critics of natural gas have begun to call for 100 percent electrification of buildings to reduce GHG emissions from the sector.The better approach is to support avenues that facilitate the reduction of emissions from all types of energy. … People deserve the right
(GreenAir Online) Three airlines – SAS, Finnair and China Airlines – have each introduced carbon offsetting initiatives for their customers. Starting this month, SAS Group will offset the carbon emissions of all tickets booked through its EuroBonus loyalty programme, which has 5.6 million members. The airline estimates that around 40% of
by Manjula Nair (Times of India) … For (Priyadarshan) Sahasrabuddhe, an engineer by training from IIT-Bombay, has been turning wet waste into biofuel – all in a bid to be free from LPG. He has already made his parents “LPG-free” by setting up biofuel plants at their bungalow. Now, he wants to replicate the same
(Business Daily Africa) Low income households using KOKO Networks’ ethanol stoves can now earn commissions by marketing the cooker through a new app. myKOKO allows users to earn up to Sh250 per sale of the special cookers that currently retail at Sh6,200. Aside from inviting friends to sign up as
(Green Energy Biofuels) The KIKE Green Cook stove has been successfully used in households of all income levels in Kumasi and Accra’s capital city, Ghana and widely used in Nigeria. It has been introduced by the Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cook Stoves and adopted by many state and local governments
(Cenergy Solutions/NGV Journal) Cenergy Solutions has completed the installation of their first Adsorbent Natural Gas (ANG) Biogas Cleaning, Storing and Utilization System at a pig farm in Thailand that has been venting biogas for over 30 years. The biogas is cleaned with Cenergy’s Biogas Upgrading System, compressed in the CS-180 compressor
by Yogima Seth Sharma (Economic Times) Niti Aayog will seek cabinet secretary PK Sinha’s intervention to push blending of methanol with petrol after repeated efforts to persuade the petroleum ministry to go ahead with the proposal failed, a senior government official said. The official alleged that the petroleum ministry is not
(News Diary Online) The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Sulyman Abdulkareem, says the university will soon install a mini-refinery equipment for processing of Jatropha a flowering plant. Abdulkareem said this on Thursday inhis welcome address at the 8th International Jatropha Conference, tagged:“Jatropha 2018,” organised by the University of Ilorin
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Israel, researchers at the Ben-Gurion University Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research have published a study in the Journal of Cleaner Production showing the use of hydrothermal carbonization to transform human waste into hydrochar for use as biofuel. A byproduct of the process is a liquid fertilizer for
by Hassan Lali (BBC) A Kenyan teacher Richard Awra uses water hyacinths in a new biofuel to combat both problems of energy poverty and plant over-growth. The Kenya Marine institute estimates has covered about 10,360 hectares of Lake Victoria. Richard hopes to continue to supply this cheap alternative so families can
By Umer Khayyam and Tehzeeb Bano (The Express Tribune) … Carbon dioxide/greenhouse gas emissions, generated from the burning of fossil fuels, are increasing in Third World societies like Pakistan. … To negate the negative atmospheric results of non-renewable energy sources, global and regional societies have to look for infinite and less
by Sheikha Al Maqhus (Times of Oman) Oman is setting up four biogas plants to produce energy from more than half a million tonnes of food waste, the cost of which amounts to above OMR50 million annually for its disposal. The country generates 560,000 tonnes of food waste per year, which
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Kenya, KOKO Networks Ltd. announced a strategic investment in Saarus Innovations Pvt. Ltd., a product design and manufacturing company headquartered in Ahmedabad, India. KOKO and Saarus have collaborated closely in recent years. In particular, Saarus helped design, develop and manufacture KOKO’s patent-pending bio-ethanol powered cookstove, which
by Parul Kulshrestha (Times of India) Rajasthan, which has to meet a target of 3,700 household Biogas plants in the state under the National Biogas and Management Programme (NBMMP), has announced to provide subsidies for same. The National Biogas Policy that came into force from May 30 is primarily for rural households where
by Amy Yee (WRAL/New York Times) The kitchen of Ecole Secondaire Kanombe Efotec, a boarding school here, is busy from dawn to dusk while the staff cooks meals for more than 1,000 hungry teenagers. At one time, the school went through about 330 pounds of firewood a day for the porridge and
(DNA India) Following the footsteps of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in Amritsar the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee will now set up biogas plants in all the gurudwara complexes in Delhi. The form of energy is considered as one of the most environment friendly and can also be procured easily.
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Tanzania, UNIDO is promoting a project to roll out the use of ethanol clean cookstoves in an effort to reduce charcoal use for cooking. The Global Environment Fund project will see 110,000 stoves distributed amongst 500,000 families in the greater urban area while promoting local private
by O.C. Cluss (Daily Trust) The Federal Government is to focus more on the development of jatropha production as part of efforts to diversify the nation’s economy, the Director-General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Dr. Hussaini Doko Ibrahim, has said. The DG, who spoke at the distribution of improved
by Macharia Kamau (Standard Digital) Oil marketing company Vivo Energy plans to scale up the sale of ethanol fuel for cooking to low-income households. Vivo Energy, which operates Shell-branded petrol stations, hopes to grow revenue in the wake of rising kerosene and charcoal prices. The firm has been selling ethanol as an
(Business Standard) At present, the government extends a subsidy to users of LPG but PNG and biofuel users do not receive such benefits — The government is considering a subsidy for all fuels that “are used for cooking”. At present, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) users and kerosene users enjoy such a subsidy.
(Koko Networks) Vivo Energy becomes first multinational fuels company to enter Kenyan market for ethanol cooking fuel, using KOKO technology to enable affordable mass-market access. Vivo Energy Kenya today announces a partnership with KOKO Networks (“KOKO”) that sees it enter the Kenyan market for clean liquid ethanol cooking fuel. Vivo Energy,
(Cenergy Solutions/NGV Journal) Cenergy Solutions has a Biogas Capture and Utilization System (BCU System) to help farms and communities around the world economically store and use their biogas instead of venting or flaring it. It is estimated that trillions of cubic meters of biogas are vented or burned worldwide each year
by Hank Daniszewski (The London Free Press) A London entrepreneur has set up a demonstration site for commercial cooking equipment fuelled by ethanol — Motorists rounding the Glanworth curve on Wellington Road at night are likely puzzled about a brightly lit establishment called Fire Waters that popped up recently. No. it’s not some
(Bioenergy Insight) A Ugandan and German team called ‘Agali Awamu’ has developed an ‘innovative and feasible’ solution for electricity and biogas supply in Uganda. The project was facilitated by the lab of tomorrow, an organisation run by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) formed to encourage ‘the private
by Virat A Singh (Daily News and Analysis India) … “The sector-wise figures would not have changed substantially though its a 2016 study and one has to understand that apart from industries, the main contributor is biofuels being burnt in slum areas and dust, which needs to be tackled to
by Jieyi Lu (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Today, about three billion people still cook and heat their homes with traditional stoves and solid fuels worldwide. These fuels and stoves are major contributors to household air pollution in the developing world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), household air pollution
(Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves) The Alliance partnered with China’s Ministry of Agriculture, Shell, local governments, and SSM to develop and launch a new clean cooking project in Zhejiang province of China. The project aims to encourage commercial enterprises to switch from wood and coal to biomass pellets. The pilot interventions
by Faith Nyamai (Daily Nation) The Ministry of Environment has pledged to support the use of ethanol stoves in both rural and urban areas in what is expected to play a major role in the reduction of carbon emissions in the country. Principal Secretary Charles Sunkuli said the ministry is
by Anwar Ahmad (Gulf News) Abu Dhabi will open a new facility to recycle used cooking oil by the end of this year, a top official from Tadweer, the Centre of Waste Management in Abu Dhabi, said on Tuesday. The centre will also introduce technologies to convert used cooking oil into biofuel.
(United Nations Foundation) Babies born to mothers who cooked with ethanol were born later and heavier — A new study released today by the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, which is hosted at the United Nations Foundation, has found that replacing traditional cookstoves that burn wood and kerosene with clean-burning ethanol cookstoves can have a
(Cenergy Solutions/NGV Journal) Cenergy Solutions is introducing a complete adsorbent natural gas (ANG) system to capture, store, transport and utilize biomethane, which will help farms, communities and businesses around the world store and use their biogas, reducing venting and flaring methane. Cenergy has already signed their first licensing agreement with a
(South Pole Energy Challenge/PR Newswire) his is a father-and-son story about an epic journey – putting human endurance to its ultimate test relying solely on renewable energy — On 15 November 2017, Robert Swan, OBE, 61 – the first person in history to walk to both the North and South Poles – is making
by Gerard Ostheimer and Doug Faulkner (Biofuels Digest) … (I)n Sub-Saharan Africa a thriving indigenous bioenergy industry can play a positive and productive role in modernizing economies and improving the quality of human life. One challenge for African bioenergy development though will be for Africans themselves to forge their own
by Mahesh Bhave (Renewable Energy World) Why should rural electrification efforts worldwide — in Africa, India, Central and South America — isolate cooking from other core applications such as lighting, fans, phone charging, and TV? Why can’t electricity for cooking be included in the overall solution? Why should the alternative to
by Peter Wilcox (Passage Maker) Having the opportunity to imagine and oversee the building of my own ideal Inside Passage vessel has been exquisitely educational—initiating a chain of engaging design, building, voyaging, and teaching adventures. … Taking a break from sailing up north, we decided to buy an interim boat
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Plant Bottle has generated so much goodwill and publicity for its 30% renewable, sustainable content (and that biobased MEG) that it’s easy to forget that there are several paths being chased to 100% renewable clear plastic bottles by numerous partners, and there are a

While there are multiple social, economic and environmental benefits that can be gained by switching from traditional biomass stoves and fuels to cleaner and more efficient alternatives, many cooking interventions are motivated by a desire to reduce health risks for cooks and their families. However, studies have shown that improvements
Biofuel Potential in Southeast Asia: Raising Food Yields, Reducing Food Waste and Utilising Residues
(International Renewable Energy Agency) Southeast Asia has considerable resources to produce liquid biofuels sustainably, using biomass feedstocks that would not cause carbon-dioxide emissions or interfere with food supply. Fulfilling the region’s biofuel potential would depend on increased residue collection from food crops and forest products, intensified cultivation of farmland, and reducing

In our sector, there is growing recognition of the complex, inter-related barriers to widespread uptake and sustained, exclusive use of improved stoves/fuels. Promising laboratory results showing significant reductions of fuel consumption and toxic emissions are rarely reproducible in the field when the stove is integrated into intricate household cooking systems
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) On 15th January, 2009, Sanga Moses travelled to his village in Uganda, in East Africa, to visit his mother. It was a day that would change his life. On his way home, he met his 12 year old sister carrying a bundle of firewood on her head. When
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … In Africa, the overwhelming use is cookstoves, and for a generation now, companies and organizations have been handing out LPG or ethanol cookstoves trying to move Africa to a new energy source for cooking. There’s been limited success. … Peter Scott has been working in
(Project Gaia) Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals and one of the leading providers globally of cellulosic ethanol production technology, and Project Gaia, a non-profit promoting the use of alcohol fuels (ethanol and methanol) for household energy, announced the donation of approximately 24m3 of cellulosic ethanol from Clariant’s pre-commercial
by Aruna Sharma (khabar India/Tribune) Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL) has roped in Engineers India Ltd (EIL), Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) for setting up India’s first second generation (2G) ethanol bio-refinery in Bathinda at a cost of Rs 600 crore.The proposed
by Emily Gray Brosious (Extract) North Korea is reportedly producing hemp biofuel for military drones. North Korean authorities are instructing farmers to grow cannabis, and sources say the state plans to use that cannabis oil to fuel unmanned aerial vehicles, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reports via UPI. The state has instructed people to
by Chandana Banerjee (Christian Science Monitor) In 60 cities in India, 16,876 tons of plastic waste are generated each day, according to data from the country’s Central Pollution Control Board. Multiply that by 365, and you have more than 6 million tons of plastic that end up in landfills a
(AllAfrica) The African Climate Technology Center (ACTC) has the mission of supporting Sub-Saharan countries in scaling-up the adoption of clean technologies for adaptation and mitigation, through activities that include knowledge creation and dissemination, support to policies and enabling environment and support to projects. The ACTC is financed by the Global
(Bioenergy Insight) Waste recycling company Asticom K reports that construction is underway on a biogas plant in Kenya on a five acre plot of land donated by a local housing co-operative. The plant is being built with $12.7 million (€11.9m) funding from the multi-donor Climate Technology Initiative, according to the
by Roz Pidcock (Carbon Brief) Replacing traditional wood and coal-burning cookstoves with cleaner technology could trim nearly a tenth of a degree from global temperature and save more than 10 million lives by 2050. This is according to a new study that looks at the benefits for climate and human
by Ismail Musa Ladu (The Monitor/All Africa) President Museveni has directed the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Ms Amelia Kyambadde to bring to Parliament, within six months, a law that will allow for the blending of fuel with Ethanol to cut fuel costs. … Should the legislation sail through
(Project Gaia) Clean Cooking Madagascar (CCM), an NGO based in Antananarivo, Madagascar, is seeking proposals for an ethanol micro distillery (EMD) for its national Ethanol Stove Program in Madagascar. CCM plans to create a market for 100,000 ethanol cookstoves over five (5) years. It will develop local ethanol supply chains
by Isaac Mufumba (All Africa/The Monitor) Kakira Sugar Limited, a local sugar producer, has started commercial production of ethanol at a $36.6 million (Shs133b) distillery. The joint managing director, Mr Mayur Madhvani, told Daily Monitor in an interview last week that the distillery, which will be producing 20 million litres
by Hank Daniszewski (The London Free Press) A London entrepreneur has invented new cooking equipment he says doesn’t fatten your carbon footprint. Michael George’s cooking burners look like those on a natural gas or propane stove but run on biofuels such as ethanol. … The cooking equipment can be used in
(Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves) Shifting from a cookstove that burns traditional woodfuel to a stove that uses a cleaner-burning fuel such as ethanol may mitigate cardiovascular health risks in pregnant women, according to a new study led by a team from the University of Chicago. The study, which evaluated
(KFM) As the campaign for clean energy solution continue to take deep roots in Uganda, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards has embarked on a process to develop standards for production of ethanol a home cooking and appliance fuel. … Now speaking during awareness workshop on ethanol, the Uganda National
(ESI Africa) … Establishing a ‘sustainable industry within the community’ remains the key theme for newly formed energy and agriculture group, Wesaf Energy, who are exploring this growing market. The founders have identified ethanol, a bi-product of sugarcane, as a reliable and sustainable feedstock, which will be a huge driver for
By Theophilus Kumah* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Energy is a great determinant in ensuring the growth of the economy of every country. Ghana, as a country, has faced some instability in the supply of energy for domestic and industrial use owing to the fact that it has over–relied on hydrothermal power
by Melissa Chan (Time Magazine) Air pollution contributes to about 6.5 million deaths each year, the International Energy Agency warned in a report released Monday, with casualties expected to drastically rise in coming decades unless the energy industry curbs emissions. The agency’s first air pollution study found that premature deaths connected
by Sharon Ji (Advanced Biofuels USA) The UN Foundation, PCI, USAID and Tetra Tech sponsored a afternoon of stories and solutions from the sponsors’ Women and Climate Change project which took place on June 23 in Washington, DC as part of the Wilson Center’s Environmental Change and Security programs. Stories
(Development Diaries) Acumen, the nonprofit social venture fund, announces its new investment in Green Energy & BioFuels (GEB), a Nigerian company creating cleaner, more cost-effective cooking solutions for West Africa’s low-income households. In Nigeria, more than 40 percent of urban households and a staggering 92 percent of rural households still
by Anastazio Mpumulo (AllAfrica) Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) has handed over ethanol stoves to 36 households in Nkhotakota to mark the beginning of an assessment where ethanol is tested at household level as a domestic fuel. Speaking during the handover, Dr. Davies Mweta Executive Dean of Malawi
by Fiona Lambe and Marion Davis (Stockholm Environment Institute/Reuters) … The reality, of course, is that electricity will not reach all households in the immediate future – not to mention, power is so unreliable in much of sub-Saharan Africa, and so expensive, that a large share of urban households cook with charcoal,
(Stockholm Environment Institute) This briefing note synthesizes the latest evidence on the impacts of traditional biomass cooking and discusses options for addressing these challenges, with recommendations for policy-makers in Kenya and across sub-Saharan Africa. In Kenya, 76% of the population relies on traditional biomass for cooking, with serious implications for
by Uba Godwin (This Day/AllAfrica.com/Global Trust Consulting Group) Uba Godwin writes on how cassava and other raw materials could be processed into ethanol for export — It is disheartened that Nigerians at this level of technological development worldwide are still importing alcohol from oversea countries, when we can boast of
(Clean Fuels Community) Home waste could be an irritable nuisance, especially in rural areas where proper collection of waste doesn’t exist. But this trash can become a real treasure. In the iconic film Back to the Future Doc Brown is seen throwing trash into his “Mr. Fusion” machine where it is
(Green Energy Biofuels) The World Future Energy Summit that began in Abu Dhabi with a call for the world to turn the words of the COP21 Paris Agreement into tangible action – perfectly showcased the shortlisted nominees for the $4 million Zayed Future Energy Prize. Since the historic Paris Agreement
by Anna Hirtenstein (Bloomberg/The Washington Post) A brew made from sawdust and water hyacinth flowers may help reduce the millions of lives lost across the developing world from the fumes of ramshackle cooking equipment. Those are the ingredients being used by Green Energy Biofuels, a Nigerian renewable energy developer, to produce
by Shreejana Shrestha (My Republica) … When most of the vehicles are in queue at fuel stations, BA 1 Cha 6355 is never seen at any of such lines. It instead plies snugly on the road every day. The deepening fuel crisis in the country has hit it less because it
(Shell) Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) has signed an agreement with Project Gaia Prospects Limited (PGPL) for the conduct of a pilot study on the use of Ethanol clean cookstoves, a cleaner and safer way of cooking. SNEPCo will provide 2,5000 clean cookstoves and 15,000 canisters for distribution
by Marc Gunther (Nonprofit Chronicles) … “Why exactly are we ahead with 100 million more wood burning stoves in the world? It’s an output metric and not an impact metric,” says Kevin Starr of Mulago, who wrote a pointed 2014 essay about cookstoves called Getting Beyond Hype in the Stanford Social
by Marc Gunther (Washington Post) … Of those 28 million cookstoves, only 8.2 million — the ones that run on electricity or burn liquid fuels including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), ethanol and biogas — meet the health guidelines for indoor emissions set by the WHO. The vast majority of the stoves
(Gaia Association) Gaia Association contributes to poverty reduction and climate mitigation by enabling access to clean, safe, renewable and locally produced household cooking fuels to displace the traditional use of biomass for cooking in Ethiopian communities. With this objective Gaia Association introduced a technology to produce ethanol in micro scale
(CLEANCOOK) An animated video showing a new clean cooking stove concept for the developing world. Highly automated production, optimized logistics and local assembly will bring proven technologies to the developing world markets at a lower cost and create local employment. Along with local distribution of clean fuels such as ethanol and
by Mark Harris (The Guardian) In Las Cruces, New Mexico, a pilot project is using heat-loving algae to clean wastewater and generate energy … “Galdieria sulphuraria is one of the most interesting microorganisms on the planet,” says Peter Lammers, a professor in algal bioenergy at Arizona State University. “It grows in
(Advanced Biofuels USA) In the spirit of Pope Francis, and in response to press release from the International Climate Science Coalition’s (ICSC) we invite the ICSC to join Advanced Biofuels USA and the biofuels community to find and institute ever better ways to replace petroleum-based and fossil natural gas-based transportation
(International Climate Science Coalition/PR Newswire) “Rather than simply follow the United Nations on climate change, Pope Francis must consider whether U.N. climate policies are doing more harm than good,” said Tom Harris, Executive Director of the Ottawa, Canada-based International Climate Science Coalition (ICSC). “Based on a theoretical hypothesis about climate change,
(Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves) Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves is currently completing a study focused specifically on fuels and evaluating and quantifying the environmental, social and economic impacts across the cooking fuel value chain. The study will look at a broad range of fuel types ranging from briquettes and pellets,
(Partnership for Clean Indoor Air) Over the last ten years, organizations like Project Gaia Inc. and its partners have been promoting clean cookstoves that are powered by ethanol, and have worked to help communities become energy independent by establishing locally-owned microdistilleries and sustainable commercial models. On July 7, 2015 Winrock
(Biofuels International) Blume Distillation, a biorefinery systems provider for bioethanol production, has announced the sale of its first Africa-based biorefinery. The Blume biorefinery system has been purchased by Numbitrax, based in Touwsriver, Western Cape, South Africa, which has completed a purchase agreement and fund transfer. The purchase represents an investment
(Stockholm Environment Institute) This discussion brief is based on findings from a workshop carried out by SEI in Addis Ababa in conjunction with the presentation of the SCIP study results…. It also draws on insights given by nine experts interviewed in Addis Ababa between 27 October and 20 November, 2014 …. The workshop brought together
(SMEFunds/PR.com) Today, SMEFunds, Africa’s foremost Social Enterprise based in Nigeria is first to receive N50 million (approx. $300,000) from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through Ecobank Ltd. into its Cellulosic Bio Ethanol Gel for Clean Cook Stoves and Pay-As-You-Go Solar Smart Mini-Grid Electricity Projects. This facility is aimed at
by Olatomiwa Bifarin* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Around 770,000 BC, it was fire, at some point – wood, dung and coal, to the now-ominous fossil fuels. This is the evolution of energy, and today the evolution must be accelerated to save our prized planet from imminent destruction – among several other
by Janna Farley (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Deforestation and pollution have distressed the country’s environment and beauty. The chronic effects of disease, economic instability and social unrest, coupled with the infrastructure devastation from the 2010 earthquake, have positioned Haiti among the poorest countries in the world. The extreme poverty makes life
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) HOSPRO is dedicated to battle the 95+% import of petroleum for energy and electricity generation by promoting the development of tree based oil seed crops. We are focusing on oil palm a proven producer in SE Asia. A University based proof of concept study based
(Project Gaia) Members of Project Gaia attended the UN Sustainable Energy for All Forum (SE4All) in New York City from May 18 through May 21. The forum brought together NGOs, government officials, business persons, and investors in its initiative to address the “twin challenges of energy poverty and climate change.” (You can
(Project Gaia) Babington Technology announced today its donation of almost $100,000 worth of especially adapted field feeding equipment to Project Gaia, Inc. for testing in refugee camp and urban commercial and institutional settings in Ethiopia. For over 25 years, Babington Technology has been a leader in safe, clean and efficient
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … In Denmark, Novozymes and partners including the FAO, Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Carbon War Room, KLM and the UN Foundation announced the launch of a multi-stakeholder coalition to scale up the development and deployment of sustainable bioenergy solutions to meet
by Osaretin Omorodion* (Advanced Biofuels USA) During late March 2015, the US Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) offered what amounted to a seminar for the public consisting of a series of presentations from industry professionals and researchers from various bioenergy projects. The presenters came to the Washington,
(US Department of Energy) Visit the 2015 Project Peer Review Web page to download individual project and plenary presentations from BETO’s 2015 Project Peer Review. The peer review process provided BETO with feedback about the management of each of its technology area portfolios and the Office’s strategic direction. More than 380
By Hilary Landfried (Project Gaia) … We rarely think of it here in the West, hooked up to electric and gas grids as we are, but nearly half of the world’s population still cooks on biomass fuels such as wood, charcoal, and coal. In some nations, domestic energy needs—primarily cooking and lighting—account

The Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is hosting the 2015 Project Peer Review on March 23–27, 2015, at the Hilton Mark Center, in Alexandria, Virginia. Approximately 185 projects in BETO’s research, development, and demonstration portfolio will be presented to the public and systematically reviewed by external subject-matter experts from industry, academia,
(Neste Oil) A new renewable fuel will enter the market when Neste Oil starts the manufacture of biopropane. The investment will be made at the Rotterdam refinery. The market for propane in LPG applications is large because of the undeniable benefits offered by it. The biopropane project is highly sensible
by Brady Luceno (Project Gaia) Five years ago today at approximately 5pm, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake rocked Haiti. Over three million of Haiti’s ten million people were affected, and over 230,000 deaths were reported. The earthquake put Haiti in the center of the humanitarian agenda- for a little while. It
(Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves) This year marks the third round of the Pilot Innovation Fund (PIF), which provides funding and capacity building to organizations and entrepreneurs to develop and test game-changing ideas for the clean cooking sector, either through technology or business model innovation. In return for seed capital
by Isabel Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Haiti, POET has partnered with Project Gaia to replace wood-burning stoves with clean, ethanol-fueled cook stoves. The first 6,200 gallons of POET’s ethanol cleared Haitian customs at the end of 2014. Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board Jeff Broin donated approximately 12,000 gallons
(Green Energy & Biofuels) Lagos, Nigeria – January 5, 2015. In what the UN Secretary General Banki-Moon declared as the year of Sustainable Energy for All, we are pleased to announce today the world’s single largest energy democratic revolution towards Energy Independence as more women will now have the right
(African Development Bank Group) The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) approved a US $580,000 preparation grant for the expansion of Green Energy & Biofuels (GEB) Bio-refinery project in Nigeria. The project is a pilot of Small & Medium Entrepreneurship Fundamentals (SMEFunds), a social enterprise based in Lagos, and the
by Julie Fahnestock (Just Means) … In fact, traditional cooking methods—open fires of wood and chemically based charcoals—have been deemed “the silent killer.” According to the World Health Organization, more people in the developing world die each year from illness caused by smoke inhalation than malaria, HIV and tuberculosis combined.
(World Health Organization) WHO recommendations, released today, highlight the dangers of burning fuels like unprocessed coal and kerosene in the home, and set targets for reducing emissions of health-damaging pollutants from domestic cookstoves, space heaters and fuel-based lamps. The new “WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: household fuel combustion” stress
(United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) The report entitled: “The State of the Biofuels Market: Regulatory, Trade and Development Perspectives” offers a comprehensive snapshot of today’s biofuels market and how it contributes to enhancing access to renewable energy sources sustainably and improving the livelihoods of people in developing countries.
(Agence Ecofin) … “It is an ecological project to reduce deforestation by reducing the use of wood as fuel,” noted Roland Jules Etienne, Minister of Industry and private sector development, while unveiling the vision Malagasy government to open more units in other parts of the Big Island. In fact, it was
(Novozymes) The majority shareholders in the clean cooking venture NewFire Africa – which include Novozymes and the Investment Fund for Developing Countries (IFU) – have decided to file for voluntary liquidation of the company. The decision comes as the company, formerly known as CleanStar Mozambique, has continued to operate at
By Olatomiwa Bifarin* (Advanced Biofuel USA) If the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) systematic analysis study of 2010 is anything to go by, then by the time you are done reading this article about 35 people would probably be dead just because of the simple act of cooking. It has
(Senator Susan Collins) U.S. Senator Susan Collins today introduced the “Clean Cookstoves Support Act,” a bill that would reduce carbon pollution and improve public health by supporting a global market for clean and efficient cookstoves. “Replacing unsafe cookstoves with modern alternatives is the ‘low-hanging fruit’ of environmental fixes,” Senator Collins
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A two-week trip to help out at an African cooking fuel ethanol plant yielded some interesting experiences. … Matthew Dutka, currently works as operations manager at Golden Grain Energy LLC, in Mason City, Iowa. He has worked at the ethanol plant for nine years,
(Small World Carbon) SMEFunds ‘Green Energy & Biofuels’ (Nigeria) has been named the best clean energy investment opportunity in West Africa and overall winner at the West Africa Forum for Clean Energy Financing Business Plan competition in Accra. The competition assessed business plans from all clean energy sectors across West
(DSEI) Zip is unveiling its NEW, powerful, lightweight, non-toxic Military Cooking Fuel at the DSEI exhibition in London in September 2013. On show in the UK for the first time, Zip’s unique formulation is made from naturally-derived, fully sustainable biofuel.The product, which can be used to heat water for drinking
(MoneyLife/PR NewsWire) BioEnergy Zones Will Lead the Way Towards Socially Inclusive and Economically Sustainable Livelihood Haiti based Sonamar S.A. and Bangalore based VayuGrid have signed a joint venture agreement for developing BioEnergy Zones across Haiti. These BioEnergy Zones will produce renewable energy through elite biofuel trees developed by VayuGrid and
(Responding to Climate Change) Switching from kerosene to biofuel powered cookstoves could save the lives of thousands of women in Africa and reduce harmful emissions, a Nigerian microfinance expert has told RTCC. Amina Junaid Sani, Green manager with SME Funds, says a biofuel gel produced from sawdust, grass and waste paper
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From time to time, we report on correspondence exchanged with our veterans and serving men and women in the field, on the subject of the strategic and tactical opportunities in biofuels and bioenergy. This week, we heard from Robert Haston of Florida, who writes: …“So I
(Alternative Energy Africa) A public-private partnership (PPP) has been launched to promote the production of ethanol from cassava and sugarcane in Cote d’Ivoire which would be used for clean cook stoves. READ MORE

Tany Meva Foundation will convene a three-day workshop in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on small or micro scale ethanol production for fuel use. The workshop builds on the results of the 2011 World Bank-published study, Ethanol as a household Fuel in Madagascar – Health Benefits, Economic Assessment and Review of African Lessons for
by Jim Lane (Biobased Digest) …In Nepal, the Himalayan Stove Project — a US-based charity— is distributing free, clean-burning, highly efficient cookstoves in the Trans-Himalayan region. These stoves burn biomass fuel – typically wood or dung, the same fuels now being used, but using up to 80% less. It’s one
by James Melik (BBC News) …The chairman of the world’s largest food producer is highly critical of the rise in bio-diesel. Peter Brabeck-Letmathe of Nestle says crops produced for biofuel use land and water which would otherwise be used to grow crops for human or animal consumption. …But Lars Hansen
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) …A blue ocean strategy takes a flying leap to create a new paradigm, where the company can flourish, free of competition. …In one respect, the recent promotions of ethanol in racing circles is an attempt to reframe the discussion on ethanol’s value. Here’s another idea
(Environmental Expert) The winner of the World Bioenergy Award 2012 was announced on 29 May in Jönköping Sweden: Mr. Harry Stokes, USA. Mr. Harry Stokes has developed, funded and managed Project Gaia to improve the health, economic status and quality of life of a significant number of families in the developing world.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Mozambique, the first sustainable cooking fuel facility was inaugurated by Federal Minister of Agriculture José Pacheco. The CleanStar project will produce ethanol-based cooking fuel for sale with the company’s cookstoves, an affordable new form of cooking that is cleaner, faster and safer than using charcoal.
by Eric Didier Karinganire (AllAfrica.com) For some years now, there has been talk of locally producing biofuel to make the country less dependent on petrol imports. But until now, production levels are still insignificant. Yet about four years ago, the Scientific and Technological Research Institute (IRST) successfully tested a
The Energy Department announced up to $2.5 million available this year for applied research to advance clean biomass cookstove technologies for use in developing countries. The funding will support the development of innovative cookstove designs that allow users to burn wood or crop residues more efficiently and with less smoke
(PR.com) Request for Expression of Interest Promotion of Ethanol Microdistillery for Cooking Fuel in Ethiopia Loan No. /Credit No./ Grant No.: TF096664 Activity Title: Demonstrating the Feasibility of Ethanol for Household Cooking The Gaia Association, an Ethiopian non-governmental and non-profit organization established in 2005 has received financing from the World
(Project Gaia) Nigerian Government Agency Launches Microdistillery and Stoves to Provide Sustainable Ethanol Fuel for Household Cooking, Lighting and Small-Scale Power Generation The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), a parastatal under the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, has commissioned the installation of an efficient microdistillery (EMD) with a
by Robert Mbakou (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) Spain’s Biocongo Global Trading will spend 150 million euros ($201 million) developing 60,000 hectares (148,000 acres) of palm oil plantations and two processing plants in Congo Republic over the next five years, according to a company statement. One plant will produce palm oil used in
(Project Gaia) On November 23, Gaia Association, in partnership with Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and the Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority, launched the new project “Fuel from Waste: Demonstrating the Feasibility of Locally Produced Ethanol for Household Cooking in Addis Ababa.” Ethiopian non-profit Gaia Association will implement the two year initiative
(Project Gaia) Project Gaia, Inc., a U.S. non profit with operations in East Africa, is working with the UNHCR and others to bring relief to refugees from the Horn of Africa Famine in a very immediate way—cooking. Project Gaia promotes alcohol fuels and appliances for household energy use in Least
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The secret that “food vs fuel” proponents don’t want you to think about? Not all food is created equal. Dirty food, made using dirty process, makes a dirty world. And then there’s clean food. Here’s some food for thought. …Which brings us to black carbon.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Novozymes announced its investment in CleanStar Mozambique at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting. CleanStar Mozambique, a company founded by Novozymes and CleanStar Ventures, will work with smallholder farmers to implement sustainable farming practices, create a food and ethanol cooking fuel production facility, and lay
by Joao Peixe (OilPrice.com) The bio-ethanol gel is an alternative biofuel developed by Consumer’s Choice Limited to reduce Kenya’s reliance on imported petroleum. …Consumer’s Choice Limited developed a bio-ethanol gel made from molasses derived from sugarcane. Kadhi noted, “During the sugar extraction process, molasses is derived as one of the