by Kelsey McNeeley and Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA/Lancaster Farming) In 2002, Penn State University began using 20 percent (B20) biodiesel fuel on campus in the division of farm operations. Because of their expertise in biodiesel, Penn State’s farm operations (Farm Ops)
by Jennifer Shike (University of Illinois) Researchers are studying novel and traditional woody plants as short rotation crops for biomass production to help diversify and expand bioenergy research efforts at the University of Illinois. "Diversification of your plant materials for biomass
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced January 18, 2011, two grants that will create educational opportunities in math and science for students interested in bioenergy and bio-based products. “Bioenergy and bio-based products hold vast potential as the foundation
(BusinessWire/Masdar Institute) Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MI), the Boeing Company, Etihad Airways, and Honeywell’s UOP announced January 19, 2011, the completion of a Sustainability Assessment of the Integrated Seawater Agriculture System (ISAS) for production of aviation biofuels and
(BusinessWire/ADM) University of Illinois research center will work to preserve more of what’s grown worldwide Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) today founded the ADM Institute for the Prevention of Postharvest Loss with a US$10 million grant to the University of
(Sandia National Laboratories) Engine experts and biofuels researchers at Sandia National Laboratories are working on a project that aims to modify an endophytic fungus so that it will produce fuel-type hydrocarbons for transportation purposes. The biofuels being investigated for the project
(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
(Michigan State University) Most college students in the United States do not grasp the scientific basis of the carbon cycle – an essential skill in understanding the causes and consequences of climate change, according to research published in the January
(NewKerala.com) Purdue University researchers have made a discovery that could reduce the amount of water required for growing plants and help plants survive and thrive in adverse conditions. They have found a genetic mutation that allows a plant to better endure drought
(Michigan Ag Connection) ...Ethanol, 200 proof alcohol, is a renewable fuel made from corn. It has been used mainly in automobiles, but is now being looked at for use and increased performance of snowmobiles. The Corn Marketing Program of Michigan
(ALMS) GETG's ace pilot talked green with students from UW-Madison Gunnar Jeannette did not hesitate to raise his hand last season when personally invited by the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón to become an environmental ambassador in 2010.
Research Experience for Teachers (RET) (UW): The RET allows grade 6 -14 science or agriculture teachers to spend 6 weeks on campus in the summer to develop a classroom lab or activity related to bioenergy. RET participants work with their mentor
by Tim Wall (Discovery News) Picture the vibrant wildflowers and swaying grasses of prairies covering the Midwestern United States once again, teeming with wildlife and requiring very little management from people, yet providing a renewable energy sources. Managing native grasslands for
(American Chemical Society) In a finding that gives new meaning to the adage, “waste not, want not,” scientists are reporting that household sewage has far more potential as an alternative energy source than previously thought. They say the discovery, which
(Globe Newswire) Global Clean Energy Holdings announced the establishment of a new non-profit research organization: The Center for Sustainable Energy Farming (www.CfSEF.org). The Center's mission is to perform cutting-edge plant science research in genetics, breeding and horticulture, and further develop technologies to allow
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
by Jane Milliman (Democrat and Chronicle) Normally the word "willow" brings to mind those huge weepers that hug stream banks or the sticks with big fuzzy buds you can harvest in the early spring. But here in upstate New York we
(PhysOrg.com) Charles Yarish is, by his own definition, a seaweed enthusiast. Over his 35-year career, the Stamford professor of ecology and evolutionary biology has followed his marine algae instincts around the world, studying seaweeds’ relationships, their physiology, and their interactions with
by Damian Carrington (The Guardian) Scientists raise hopes for a large-scale renewable source of liquid fuel with a simple reactor that mimics plants A simple reactor that mimics plants by turning sunlight into fuel has been demonstrated in the laboratory, boosting
by M.S. Swaminathan(The Hindu) ... On December 26, 2010, which marks the sixth anniversary of the tsunami which caused severe damage in Tamil Nadu and other States, a Salt Satyagraha Memorial Programme is being launched at Vedaranyam by the M.S.
(AP/The Ledger Independent) A new program to explore the viability of biofuels is seeking to establish 700 acres of switchgrass fields and is offering financial assistance to Kentucky farmers. The project follows another that began in 2007 by the Kentucky Forage and
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
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Miscanthus will see a giant leap in acreage in 2011, thanks to Soperton, Ga.-based Repreve Renewables LLC. The company currently has 500 acres planted in five locations in the Southeast, which Craig Patterson,
(EurekAlert/University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana) A newly engineered yeast strain can simultaneously consume two types of sugar from plants to produce ethanol, researchers report. The sugars are glucose, a six-carbon sugar that is relatively easy to ferment; and xylose, a five-carbon
(Innovations Report) An effort to increase biofuel production has led scientists to discover genes in yeast that improve their tolerance to ethanol, allowing them to produce more ethanol from the same amount of nutrients. This study, published in the December 2010 issue
(Renewable Energy Magazine) Compact Contractors for America (CCA) has developed a dry process biofuel from algae which the company hopes will power military Unmanned Aerial Vehicles such as Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk in the not too distant future. CCA’s founder
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
(Washington State Department of Natural Resources) ...DNR today announced that the University of Washington, School of Forest Resources was selected as part of the research team to study the supply prospects of Washington’s working forests. It will be the first study
(PhysOrg.com) Is red seaweed a viable future biofuel? Now that a University of Illinois metabolic engineer has developed a strain of yeast that can make short work of fermenting galactose, the answer is an unequivocal yes. ...(M)arine biomass can be easily
(University of Texas at Austin) The Austin Technology Incubator (ATI), a not-for-profit unit of The University of Texas at Austin, announced today that Dorsan Biofuels, Inc., joined as a member company of the ATI-Clean Energy Incubator. Dorsan uses proprietary technology to create
by Suzanne Bohan (Contra Costa Times/Center for Genetics and Society) Stanford University researcher Thomas Jaramillo is overseeing a million-dollar research project that explores ways to create liquid fuel from sunlight and carbon dioxide. A Stanford colleague, Yi Cui, has nearly $2 million
(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
(Wiley Press Room/Renewable Energy World) A team of Bioengineers in the United States have modified a strain of bacteria to increase its ability to produce ethanol. The research, published in Biotechnology and Bioengineering, reveals how adaptation and metabolic engineering can
(University of Arkansas) A University of Arkansas researcher and his colleagues have created the first methane-producing microorganism that can metabolize complex carbon structures, which could lead to microbial recycling of waste products and their transformation into natural gas. Daniel J. Lessner, assistant
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.
(PR NewsWire) NYU-Poly Chemist Uses Yeast, Plant Oils to Produce Super-Durable Recyclable Plastic. Next Step: Transforming It into Biofuel Dr. Richard Gross, professor of chemical and biological science at Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly), has developed a method for
(W.K. Kellog Biological Station) Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services from Bioenergy Cropping Systems Kellogg Biological Station, in partnership with the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) is offering 4 Department of Energy Research Experiences for Undergraduates (DOE-REU) in Summer 2011. Students will will be
(Michigan State University) The sixth annual Plant Genomics @ Michigan State University Summer Undergraduate Research Program will run from May 23 to July 29, 2011. The ten-week program is designed to give students experience in the theory and practice of bioenergy
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) ...Up until recently a low profile player in the algae arena, Eldorado Biofuels has developed a niche that may not have received much attention so far, but has the potential to make a strong
(EurekAlert!) Purdue University scientists have found the last undiscovered gene responsible for the production of the amino acid phenylalanine, a discovery that could lead to processes to control the amino acid to boost plants' nutritional values and produce better biofuel
(Algae Industry Magazine) he U.S. military wants New Mexico State University to find improved ways to turn algae into a sustainable source for jet fuel. The research project is part of a $2.346 million grant funded by the Air Force where
(EurekAlert!/American Society of Agronomy) Iowa State researchers examine the efficiencies and environmental impacts of growing sorghum for ethanol Conversion of sorghum grass to ethanol has increased with the interest in renewable fuel sources. Researchers at Iowa State University examined 12 varieties of
(High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal) University of Illinois researchers have confirmed the first report of a potential new virus belonging to the genus Marafivirus in switchgrass, a biomass crop being evaluated for commercial cellulosic ethanol production. The virus is associated with mosaic and
by Alan Anderson (Energy Boom) A few brave farmers up in North Dakota have taken on the fight of a lifetime. The brave folks at Green Vision Group have been working with a high potential new advanced biofuel feedstock, sugar beets. ...There
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) A research team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has won a $50,000 ConocoPhillips Energy Prize to support the development of a carbohydrate-to-biodiesel process. The technology, which is designed to significantly increase yields, may also
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) Dr. Jerry Brand, a PhD biologist and photosynthesis researcher, began his association with the UTEX Culture Collection of Algae in 1987, when he performed an extensive survey of the capacity for hydrogen gas production in
by Michelle Lang (Mass High Tech) Bedford biofuels startup Altranex Energy LLC is working with Brown University to develop process technology to make biodiesel that works in cold climates. ...At Altranex, the fuel is called Green Kero, and it’s designed to
(EurekAlert!) Money may not grow on trees, but energy could grow in grass. Researchers at the University of Illinois have completed the first extensive geographic yield and economic analysis of potential bioenergy grass crops in the Midwestern United States. Demand for biofuels
by Ronica Shannon (The Richmond Register) A new research facility at Eastern Kentucky University could help the state become a national leader in alternative fuel technology, according to Sixth District Congressman Ben Chandler. Chandler was the keynote speaker Thursday at an
by Dr. Kelly Tiller (President and Chief Executive Officer, Genera Energy, LLC) Dr. Tiller details the large commitment the state of Tennessee has made to biofuels research. Genera Energy, a research firm owned by the University of Tennessee, has worked with switchgrass
by Sophie Cocke (Pacific Business News) Monday’s grand opening of the Center for Microbial Oceanography at the University of Hawaii Manoa could work in tandem with the state’s push towards renewable energy. Microbial oceanography, an emerging sub-discipline within oceanography, studies marine microbes,
by Dexin Luo, Zushou Hu, Dong Gu Choi, Valerie M. Thomas, Matthew J. Realff, and Ronald R. Chance (Environmental Science and Technology) Ethanol can be produced via an intracellular photosynthetic process in cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), excreted through the cell walls, collected
by Sahil Luthra (The Brown Daily Herald) Two Brown chemists have developed a more efficient way to produce biodiesel from waste vegetable oil. Using two catalysts common in organic chemistry, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Jason Sello and Postdoctoral Fellow Aaron Socha
(Just Means) The MIT's IDEAS Competition challenges members of the MIT community to come up with good ideas that make a positive change in the world. One of this years' winning teams is doing just that. The Grease Project is
(Weyland) Weyland started production of second generation bioethanol at it’s pilot plant in Bergen, Norway. The plant was formally opened by State Secretary Per Rune Henriksen of the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy during an opening ceremony at the plant.
(Algae Industry Magazine) Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz) and Arizona State University (ASU) on have announced the creation of a world-class center dedicated to researching and bringing to fruition “green” technologies using algae. The announcement was made at the fourth annual gathering
Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) Ina, Ill.-based Rend Lake College has received a $60,835 grant from the USDA to support a three-part biofuels education program, which will include training on farm-based biodiesel production. The program is currently slated to run 18
(Ford) Florida A&M University (FAMU) has been selected as one of the 2010 winners of the Ford College Community Challenge (Ford C3) and the recipient of a $50,000 grant to develop a student-led community project focused on sustainability in the farm
by Bruce E. Dale, Bryan D. Bals, Seungdo Kim and Pragnya Eranki (Biomass Conversion Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, and Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University) There is an intense ongoing debate regarding the
(Yahoo! Finance/PR Newswire) U.S. Rep. Connie Mack and Lee County Commissioners Tammy Hall and Ray Judah join in celebrating new advanced research labs and integrated biorefinery that will diversify local economy and create clean energy jobs Algenol Biofuels Inc. celebrated the opening
(AP/Bloomberg Businessweek) The Arkansas Science and Technology Authority has received a $20 million grant to study renewable energy. The five-year grant from the National Science Foundation will be bolstered by $4 million in matching funds from the state. ...Researchers at seven Arkansas schools
by Lisa Song (Solve Climate News) Research emerging from the University of Illinois paints an ambiguous picture of the grass's biofuel potential. Miscanthus, a potential bioufuel crop, uses more water than corn or soybeans but is better for water quality, reported scientists
(AP/Bloomberg Business Week) Several Nebraska universities will share a $20 million grant to develop new research focused on algae and nanotechnology, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln announced Monday. Part of the five-year National Science Foundation grant will help one group of researchers build
(PR Newswire) Syracuse partnership substitutes petroleum diesel with biodiesel Syracuse University today announced a partnership to advance the use of biofuels by the U.S. armed forces as an alternative energy source. The effort involves entrepreneurs John Fox '92 and Wayne Arden,
(GoDanRiver.com) ...On Friday, state and local leaders celebrated the groundbreaking of SEnTeC — a research and development facility that would commercialize bio-energy projects for the region through contract research, developing licensed technologies or creating spin-off businesses. Construction should be completed by
(Algae Industry Magazine) Ford Motor Company scientists have announced that they are working to understand the suitability of algae as potential automotive biofuels. This effort is an integral part of Ford’s desire to better understand the use of biomass to produce
Biodiesel Fuel Manufactured From Cafeteria Waste Oil and Sold to Area Businesses The Loyola University Chicago Center for Urban Environmental Research and Policy's (CUERP) Biodiesel Program has become the first school program in the United States to be licensed by state
(All Africa) ...CREEC - Centre for Research in Energy and Energy Conservation is an institution doing research in renewable energy (Biomass stoves and gasifiers); Biofuels; Solar PV and energy efficiency in households, industry and institutions. Obviously, CREEC gets a lot of
(University of California, Riverside) Introducing new center on Oct. 14 at the Center for Environmental Research and Technology highlights day of alternative fuels related ...A $1.2 million grant from the California Energy Commission will allow the center of excellence to work
(PRNewsWire) MIT Energy Initiative to receive $25 million to fund research and collaboration - Drives innovative technology solutions addressing the global energy challenge - Joins world-class industry and academic leader in the expansion of high value, sustainable technologies - Utilizes open innovation, leveraging
by Danny Bradbury (BusinessGreen) University of Connecticut reveals plan to build biofuel research plant capable of turning hemp into biodiesel. Researchers at the University of Connecticut have found that hemp is a viable feedstock for biodiesel fuel and are now working
(MSU News Service) Algal biofuel production could double in yield and in far less time, thanks to a chemical trigger discovered at Montana State University. The chemical trigger is a well-timed dose of bicarbonate, a low-cost, easy-to-use chemical, similar to common
(Physorg.com) As the United States seeks to lessen its reliance on foreign oil, biodiesel is expected to play a role. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a branch of the Department of Energy, biodiesel "represents a significant energy resource and
(HealthNews)An artificial photosynthetic foam developed at the University of Cincinnati has won the 2010 Earth Award. David Wendell, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical engineering and civil and environmental engineering, received the award for the foam, designed with Carlo Montemagno, PhD,
(USA Today) ...Ford says it wants to better understand the use of biomass to produce future biofuels as part of an overall strategy to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil and address climate change. ...This year, Ford researchers visited Wayne
(AgriMarketing/Purdue) Purdue University is receiving $1.59 million in federal funding for a project to conduct a sustainability assessment of energy crops for biofuels. The funding is part of a $16.5 million renewable fuel initiative by the U.S. Department of Energy to
(TAPPI) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Washington, D.C., USA, has awarded the College of William & Mary, WIlliansburg, Va., $500,000 to study various aspects of using wild aquatic algae as both biofuel feedstock and as a medium for helping to
(CBS4Denver.com/AP) A Colorado State University study says turning algae into a biofuel is more environmentally friendly than the process for petroleum diesel or soy biodiesel. The study based its conclusion on the complete process for each fuel and included factors such
(AP/KSPR) ...Wesley Mueller, Southeast professor of agriculture, said sorghum grown at the university farm in the future could produce 500 gallons of ethanol per acre. These figures rapidly outpace corn, which generally yields 235 gallons of ethanol per acre. READ
(Alpha Galileo) For the first time, researchers have taken an overall look at Swedish biofuels and analysed what impact they have on the environment, both in relation to one another and to the fossil fuel alternatives petrol and diesel. The results
(Neste Oil Corporation) Neste Oil has applied for patents to cover technology developed to produce microbial oil from waste and residues with the help of various yeasts and molds for use as a feedstock for its NExBTL renewable diesel. Research work
By Kerri Ebert (Midwest Producer) ...Kansas State University agricultural economist David Lambert has been developing economic models focusing on how development of the cellulosic ethanol industry could help meet EISA targets of 16 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol production by
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) If moving genes around on a chromosome is your idea of a good time, meet Dr. Stephen Mayfield, Director of the San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology. ...Steve is now the John Dove Isaacs Professor
by Michelle Kautz (DomesticFuel) Students at North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) are studying the flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) conversion process. As first reported on KMIT.com, by using FlexFuel U.S.’s system, the students are excited to learn how to lessen
(Old Dominion University) ...During the past five years, researchers at Old Dominion University have devised ways to cultivate and harvest microscopic algae, and then to convert them into a biodiesel fuel by a proprietary one-step process. Now they have discovered
by Nicole Bleasdale (Biofuels Digest/AusBiotech) ...The last of five integrated biofuels facilities funded under the Commonwealth Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) Program was officially opened on Friday 9 September 2010. Located at the University of Sydney’s Darlington Campus,
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) Training a workforce for the algae production industry is going to be a Catch 22 type of situation. It will take a large community of workers with highly developed skills to build the quantity of
The University of California-Davis is a recipient of a $10,000 EPA People, Prosperity, and the Planet (P3) Phase I grant. They will design an integrated, efficient biological system that can be used to convert sugar beets into biofuel and bioenergy. Approach: Design industrial
The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville is a recipient of a $10,000 EPA People, Prosperity, and the Planet (P3) Phase I grant. ...(A)lthough much research has been done on trying to convert algae oils into biodiesel, little has been done on
Oklahoma State University is a recipient of a $10,000 EPA People, Prosperity, and the Planet (P3) Phase I grant for a hybrid green process for biofuel production. BIOWINol Technologies proposed a unique hybrid technology that uses several renewable resources, specifically biomass,
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded 55 grants to teams of college and university students across the country who will design creative solutions to sustainability challenges in the developed and developing world. The People, Prosperity, and the Planet (P3)
by Matthew M. Robare (Daily Collegian) A chemical engineer at the University of Massachusetts developed an improved method of converting wood into synthetic fuels. “We’re focused on lignocellulosic biomass,” said Assistant Professor Paul Dauenhauer. “What I mean by that is trees and grasses
by Karyn Houston (UC Berkley College of Natural Resources) ...The $793,000 grant from the Department of Energy looks at how to utilize the tons of leftover “crop residue” left behind after the kernel is used. Dr. Markus Pauly and Dr.
by John Timmer (Ars Technica) ...Cellulose is a very long polymer of sugar molecules. Yeast will happily use those sugars to produce ethanol, but it can't get at them while they're trapped in cellulose. As a result, a suite of
(AzoCleanTech) ...The two universities currently conducting the algae research are the Kasetsart University in the area of freshwater algae and the Burapha University in the area of marine algae. The Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency Department will not only provide financial
(US Department of Energy) U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced September 8, 2010, the investment of up to $16.5 million for two major research and development (R&D) initiatives that will support the expansion of renewable transportation fuels production. The first initiative
(Rutgers) One mention of E. coli conjures images of sickness and food poisoning, but the malevolent bacteria may also be the key to the future of renewable energy. Desmond Lun, an associate professor of computer science at Rutgers University–Camden, is researching how
(The River Views) Stepping forward to meet the demand, Anoka-Ramsey Community College has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Minnesota Governor’s Workforce Development Council to strengthen the local clean energy marketplace. The grant will train approximately 44 participants, selected from a target
(Dakota Farmer) New biofuel crop looks good in 2010 trials. An organization called Green Vision Group is investigating whether biofuel can made from beets. It and the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center, Syngenta and Beta Seed recently held tour of energy
(US Department of Energy) Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced research awards under a joint DOE-USDA program aimed at improving and accelerating genetic breeding programs to create plants better suited for bioenergy production. The $8.9 million
by William Hermann(The Arizona Republic) Clean, green energy source could replace fossil fuels. ...With its ideal climate and abundance of available land, Arizona is poised to become a major center of a multibillion-dollar, algae-based, biofuel industry. Scientists at Arizona State University's Polytechnic
Richard "Smokey" Young will use an unleaded, high-octane biofuel developed by a Purdue Research Park-based company during his attempt to establish a new 100-kilometer closed course speed record on Sept. 11. Young will power his No. 3 Western Air Racing Special
(Indianapolis Business Journal) Indianapolis-based bioengineering firm Xylogenics Inc. has licensed its proprietary yeast strain to a Milwaukee firm that is a supplier to the fuel-ethanol industry. It is the first such licensing agreement for Xylogenics. Lallemand Ethanol Technology will use Xylogenics’
by William Hermann (The Arizona Republic) Arizonans have cleaned algae from cattle tanks, swimming pools and fish tanks for decades. Now, Arizona researchers are developing algae as a promising 21st-century alternative fuel to power cars, trucks and planes and propel the
(Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel) Campaign unites college students for collaboration, education. The next generation of thought leaders is gearing up to lead America's energy efforts. And biodiesel, our nation's only commercially available advanced biofuel, is front and center. Student scientists from Dartmouth
by Emily Wagster Pettus (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) Mississippi lawmakers on Friday (August 27, 2010) will consider $50 million in state incentives for research and production of renewable fuel made from timber, one of the state's most widely available natural resources. ...Barbour's office
by Stu Hutson (Physorg.com) Termite spit may soon help fill our gas tanks. University of Florida researchers have isolated two enzymes termites use to break up lignin, a tough plant material that is major problem during the production of cellulosic
by Ariel DuChene (Syracuse University) Scientists and engineers seek to meet three goals in the production of biofuels from non-edible sources such as microalgae: efficiency, economical production and ecological sustainability. Syracuse University’s Radhakrishna Sureshkumar, professor and chair of biomedical and
(The Bioenergy Site) For the past two years, North Dakota State University Biofuels Economist, Cole Gufstafson, has been working in partnership with Green Vision Group and Heartland Renewable Energy (HRE) to create an energy beet for the biofuel industry in North
by James Cartledge (BrighterEnergy.org) Atlanta company American Process Incorporated has started work on a waste-to-ethanol biorefinery at Alpena, Michigan. The company held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the site last week, attended by Michigan Governor Jennifer M Granholm. The project is supported by
(Ag Professional) ...Concerns about net energy and greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to its effect on food and feed pricing are driving researchers at the Energy Biosciences Institute at the University of Illinois and at the University of California Berkeley
(EurekAlert) A University of Illinois metabolic engineer has taken the first step toward the more efficient and economical production of biofuels by developing a strain of yeast with increased alcohol tolerance. Biofuels are produced through microbial fermentation of biomass crops, which yield
(Standard-Examiner) Utah environmental regulators have set a seven-year deadline for Logan officials to cut the amount of phosphorus in sewage lagoons west of the city. Water from the lagoons discharges into Cutler Reservoir. Phosphorous fuels algae blooms that produce oxygen during the day,
(Telegraph) Scientists say they have created a new biofuel made from whisky by-products which could be used to help power cars currently on the road. Edinburgh Napier University has filed a patent for the product, which can be used in ordinary
by Rod Walton (Tulsa World) ..."I got into it because of the potential with algae," said Geoffrey Price, professor, department chairman and part of the research team. "It's because they take in sunlight more efficiently than other plants." Price and his
(AgWired) Farmers in several regions of the U.S. are discovering a new potential cash crop – camelina. Camelina is beginning to find favor with both the biofuels industry as a strong potential feedstock for biodiesel, as well as with farmers who
by Linsey Davis(North Dakota State University) Two NDSU professors received $309,357 from the National Science Foundation for research to improve conversion and reduce costs of making ethanol from cellulosic biomass. Andriy Voronov, assistant professor in the Department of Coatings and Polymeric
(PR Newswire) Community college is first to earn BQ-9000 designation, driving business to the state. Don Heck has heard a lot of talk about making Iowa the "renewable energy capital of the world," and he thinks he's found a way to
(Colorado Center for Biorefining and Biofuels) Colorado Center for Biorefining and Biofuels has been awarded $336,534 over a three-year period from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for undergraduates to conduct research related to the conversion of biomass to fuels and chemicals.
(AP) BP's catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is fueling opposition to the University of California, Berkeley's research partnership with the British company, with activists on the famously liberal campus demanding a severing of ties. The oil giant gave UC
by Travis Herrmann (TheAuburn Plainsman) Auburn University researchers have patented a new process for producing ethanol from paper (m)ill waste materials through biological conversion. With research funded by the Masada Resource group, the new conversion process can produce an estimated 2.5
by Ashley Bray (Minnesota Daily) The University (of Minnesota)’s Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering is working to develop sustainable, domestic biomass solutions. ...The University’s Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering — a division of the College of Food, Agricultural and
(University of Tennessee) Study includes multiple varieties of switchgrass. Midsummer is nearly here, and the University of Tennessee Biofuels Initiative (UTBI) is closely watching how more than 1000 acres of newly planted, improved varieties of switchgrass are faring. Only time will
(Business Standard) Minister for large and medium industries Murugesh Nirani inaugurated the bio-diesel park which has been set up at the the Karnataka State Women's University campus in Bijapur. ...This unit will work as a bio-diesel production and information centre where
(Times of India) Experts feel India must capitalize on biofuels. At a workshop on 'Research opportunities in biofuels', chairman of Divecha Centre for Climate Change, Prof J Srinivasan said there should be a fundamental difference in the approach to biofuels. "In
by Tom Fudge (KPBS) The San Diego Biofuels Initiative has gotten a $4 million state grant to train biofuel workers. Most biofuel produced today is corn-based ethanol, but several San Diego companies are working to convert algae into fuel, a process they
(BusinessWire) $25,000 for Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering The Donaldson Foundation, a long time supporter of the University of Minnesota, announced today the establishment of an endowed scholarship for the Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering (BBE) Department. The $25,000 endowment will
(Washington State University) A major Washington State University effort to develop aviation bio-fuel is underway with the announcement of a strategic initiative called the “Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest” project; the first of its kind in the U.S. In partnership with Alaska
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) Dr. Russell Chapman, Executive Director of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, in San Diego, takes great joy in sharing his passion for algae with his students.
by Cait Bester (Daily Mercury) ...Queensland University of Technology’s Mackay Renewable Biocommodities Pilot Plant will be officially opened... Lead researcher and Queensland University of Technology professor, James Dale, said the purpose-built plant at Mackay Sugar’s Racecourse Mill would be the
(Iowa State University) ...Fast pyrolysis quickly heats biomass (such as corn stalks and leaves) in the absence of oxygen to produce a liquid product known as bio-oil that can be used to manufacture fuels and chemicals and a solid product
(ClickGreen) Work has begun on construction of a multi-million pound research facility for bioenergy and biofuels, brewing technology and food and drink processing at The University of Nottingham. The Bioenergy Centre, the first of its kind in the country, is being
(Sun Herald) The California Department of Labor today (June 29, 2010) awarded the San Diego region a $4 million grant to implement new workforce training programs for careers in the emerging biofuels industry. The San Diego Biofuels Initiative, a collaborative effort including
(Citizen-Times.com) A small field of bright yellow flowers planted by the N.C. Department of Transportation along Interstate 40 may look like any other bed of wildflowers, but in the case of this crop, there is more than meets the eye. Two
(Albemarle Corporation) Albemarle Corporation, a leader in providing innovative and sustainable chemistry solutions to its customers and communities, partners with LSU students to become a key sponsor of LSU mechanical and biological engineering students' 2010 senior project, the biodiesel Tiger Truck. The
(Innovations Report) South Dakota State University research shows a traditional Asian flatbread called chapathi, or chapati, gets a big boost in protein and fiber when fortified with food-grade distillers grains. SDSU food scientist Padu Krishnan said it is one example of the
by Reid Wright (Currrent-Argus, CEHMM) It takes hundreds of thousands of years for fossil organisms beneath the earth's crust to simmer into crude petroleum. It takes a single day to make 1,000 gallons of crude algae biofuel at a small
by Nicole Beasdale (National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy, Biofuels Digest) ...Referred to as the NCRIS Biofuels Project, the $15 million investment has provided the platform required for Australia to become an active contributor in the global push to develop renewable
by Zach Gale (Motor Trend) Mississippi State's Saturn Vue-based biodiesel hybrid is the winning vehicle for year two of General Motors' EcoCAR challenge. The EcoCAR challenge started when GM donated an SUV to 16 universities and instructed engineering students to minimize emissions
(Energy Biosciences Institute) The Energy Biosciences Institute, a unique public-private research partnership dedicated to exploring the applications of modern biology to the energy sector, is inviting pre-proposals for possible project funding in five different areas of investigation. The deadline for pre-proposal
(General Motors) Student-Designed and Built Vehicles Put to the Test; Virginia Tech, Penn State Finish Second and Third. Students from Mississippi State University placed first in the 2010 EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge finals in San Diego today after designing and building
by Aniqa Hasan (Discovery News) Students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign created Bio-Grow, a device made from various computer parts that serves as a reservoir to cultivate algae. The algae can then be used in biodiesel production, which could potentially
(National Algae Association) With an eye toward young talent leading the future of algaebioenergy development, the National Algae Association, in cooperation with Algae Industry Magazine, announces the launch of the Algae Innovation Awards, a scholarship competition for innovative university microbiology and engineering
(University of York) A major new suite of laboratories, to be opened this week, will help scientists in the Green Chemistry group at the University of York to advance research into clean synthesis, catalysis, novel materials and the application of
(University of Minnesota) The Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment (IREE) recently awarded over $5.1 million to 24 renewable energy research and demonstration projects at the University of Minnesota. The selected projects focus on a wide-range of topics including solar
(Educational Corporation of America) Education Corporation of America (ECA), a leading owner and operator of private higher education institutions in the United States, announced today the launch of Ecotech Institute, the first and only college focused entirely on preparing America's
[caption id="attachment_8151" align="alignright" width="190" caption="Stephanie Thomas, UNOH ARCA intern"][/caption] by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) Stephanie Thomas is a very smart young woman. Everyone in the High Performance Motorsports Program at University of Northwestern Ohio says so. If you ask for
(Southeastern Illinois College) Southeastern Illinois College has landed a top flight professional to aid in the launch of its Biofuels Education program... READ MORE and MORE
(Michigan State University) A $2.65 million, five-year grant from the National Science Foundation will allow Michigan State University graduate students to hone their skills as science communicators and teachers by working with K-12 students and teachers. The grant will fund eight
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