by Sarah Yang (Berkeley Lab) Joint BioEnergy Institute study targets LigM for its role in breaking down aromatic pollutants -- A protein used by common soil bacteria is providing new clues in the effort to convert aryl compounds, a common
by Caitlin E. Hicks Pries, C. Castanha, R. C. Porras, M. S. Torn (Science Magazine) Soils contain about twice as much carbon as Earth's atmosphere, so their response to warming is crucial to understanding carbon fluxes in a changing climate. Past studies have heated
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) A new Department of Energy (DOE) study shows that military veterans make up a significant share of America’s ethanol industry workforce which is not only larger than any other energy sector but more than twice the national
by Ashwin Raman (Duluth News Tribune/Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) I believe the March 21 story, “Habitat loss highest near ethanol plants,” did a disservice to readers because it cited a study that contains dubious and inaccurate conclusions. The study focuses on the period
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) published a report titled Alternative Aviation Fuels: Overview of Challenges, Opportunities, and Next Steps. This new report provides an overview of the current state of alternative aviation fuels,
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Preliminary Assessment of Spatial Competition in the Market for E85 presentation and supplementary report from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory examine how the spacing of E85 fueling stations impacts E85 retail
(Washington State University/Biomass Magazine) Researchers at Washington State University Tri-Cities and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have found a new way to define the molecular structure of cellulose, which could lead to cheaper and more efficient ways to make a variety of
(Brookhaven National Laboratory/Lab Manager) Findings point to new biochemical strategies for increasing oil yield from crops grown to produce biofuels and biomaterials -- ... By exploring the details of this delicate energy balance, a group of scientists from the U.S.
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In California, review of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard is well underway with a public meeting looking scheduled for April 4 looking at lifecycle assessment modeling for fuels and feedstocks including potential updates to CA-GREET
(Phys.Org) Molds produce a wide range of both valuable and toxic molecules, which have important implications for energy production, agriculture and human health. A recent study revealed that an organelle within fungal cells called the endoplasmic reticulum acts as a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What’s up at the DOE? Bioenergy Technologies Office Director Jonathan Male answered the question in this update, given at ABLC 2017 in Washington. In this deck, he looks at milestones ahead, programs, goals and challenges.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Good-bye ARPA-E, DOE, Loan Guarantee program, Energy Star, OPIC, USTDA, NEA, and the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program. Even Big Bird gets the guillotine. In Washington, the White House released its budget requests for 2018,
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe/National Renewable Energy Laboratory) The reports tracks the status of non-starch alcohol and renewable hydrocarbon projects. What it is: Publicly available annual report summarizing U.S. advanced biorefinery projects and global trends in the deployment of commercial technologies as of year-end
(Algae Industry Magazine) For algal biofuels to compete with petroleum, farming algae has to become less expensive. Toward that goal, Sandia National Laboratories is testing strains of algae for resistance to a host of predators and diseases, and learning to
(Bioenergy Insight) US-based science and engineering centre Argonne National Laboratory has developed technology that synergistically uses two waste biomass streams to generate two bioproducts and enhance the process of anaerobic digestion (AD). According to the organisation, the digestion of wastewater can
by Krysti Shallenberger (Utility Dive) ... At stake is funding for the Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy, more commonly known as ARPA-E. Created in 2007 as a technology incubator under the purview of the Department of Energy, ARPA-E’s mission is to drive innovation
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the U.S. ethanol production set a new record of 15.33 billion gallons (bg) in 2016, according to data released today by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The EIA data also show that the average
(MoveEnergy) Penn State Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Yuan Xuan and researchers at Yale University will work together to identify clean-burning biofuels for next-generation internal combustion engines under to a $1.2 million award from the Energy Department’s Co-Optimization of Fuels
by Darren Fishell (Bangor Daily News) The company EMEP LLC wants to buy the shuttered East Millinocket paper mill to build a biorefinery that it said would be a centerpiece of a larger $240 million plan for biomass energy parks
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... While there were big questions, there were big answers, beginning with a panel on The Sustainable Agriculture Imperative. John Pieper from Dupont Industrial Biosciences shared their latest work with cellulosic ethanol in the corn
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) This morning at the "Defense Production Act (DPA) Advanced Drop-in Biofuels Production Project Round 2 Industry Roundtable" held at the US Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC, Zia Haq, Senior Analyst and DPA Coordinator
(U.S. Department of Energy) ... U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) announced the publication of a report, titled Biofuels and Bioproducts from Wet and Gaseous Waste Streams: Challenges and Opportunities. The report is the first comprehensive assessment of
by Kristen Johnson (U.S. Department of Energy) ... Growing deep-rooted perennial crops, like switchgrass or willow, together with annual crops and livestock in a farming system is starting to gain traction. This is due in large part to the potential economic and
(U.S. Department of Energy) Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) has developed technology that synergistically uses two waste biomass streams to generate two bioproducts. The technology enhances the process of anaerobic digestion of wastewater sludge by incorporating biomass-derived, carbon-sequestering char within the
(U.S. Department of Energy) With joint funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Strategic Programs, Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), and Vehicle Technologies Office, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) published a report titled Analyzing the Impacts of a Biogas-to-Electricity
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) announces the launch of its Chemical Catalysis for Bioenergy Consortium (ChemCatBio), a research and development consortium dedicated to identifying and overcoming catalysis challenges for biomass conversion
(Lab Manager/U.S. Department of Energy) Wood’s complex structure makes it highly resistant to biological or chemical decomposition. The structure includes cellulose, long chains of linked sugar molecules, embedded in a scaffolding of a chemical known as lignin. Brown rot fungi,
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Biorefinery Optimization Workshop Summary Report is now online! Read this new report for an overview of industry challenges and opportunities discussed during the Biorefinery Optimization Workshop, which was held on October 5–6, 2016, in Chicago, Illinois. The
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The program objective seen in these slides is to take a technology from Technical Readiness Level 2 to TRL 3/4 — a technology that directly upgrades ethanol to a drop-in hydrocarbon fuel at a high
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In June 2011, the Secretaries of Agriculture, Energy, and Navy signed MOU to commit $510M (up to $170M from each agency) to produce hydrocarbon jet and diesel biofuels in the near-term. This initiative sought to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) According to this presentation deck from NREL’s Melvin Tucker, “to produce high concentration sugar and reactive lignin streams at high yields and low costs from biomass to meet BETO’s 2017 ($5/GGE) and 2022 ($3/GGE) Goals and Targets,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) To demonstrate an advanced biofuels technology that integrates a catalytic biomass pyrolysis step and a hydroprocessing step to produce infrastructure compatible biofuels, here’s the basic recipe, according to a research team led by David Dayton at RTI
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As the project team behind this presentation explains, there’s trouble right here in River City when it comes to accessing good market and technical data on making hydrocarbons from a biochemical process. Process and economic data
by Anne Trafton (MIT News) MIT engineers have genetically reprogrammed a strain of yeast so that it converts sugars to fats much more efficiently, an advance that could make possible the renewable production of high-energy fuels such as diesel. The researchers,
(Montclair State University/Biomass Magazine) Pankaj Lal, associate professor of Earth and Environmental Studies and associate director of the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies at Montclair State University, is among 102 recipients of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers.
by Jessie Stolark (Energy and Environmental Study Institute) The Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), in the Office of Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy (EERE), released its updated strategic plan in January. Revised every five years, the strategic plan refreshes and
(Associated Press/SFGate) Scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Marine Sciences Laboratory are turning algae inside out to find the best biofuel possible. Dr. Michael Huesemann, a lead researcher, said algae is a promising clean energy but expensive to harness effectively. "The
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The goal? Develop microbial biocatalysts to convert lignin-rich streams into value-added products. That’s subject which this project — “Synthetic Metabolic Pathways for Bioconversion of Lignin Derivatives to Biofuels,” led by Oak Ridge National Lab’s Adam Guss
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) The food and livestock industries have railed against biofuels for years, based on the argument that corn ethanol and soy biodiesel raise food prices. More recently, some have suggested that soy biodiesel emits more greenhouse
by Kenny Walter (R&D Magazine) ... Scientists have studied these enzymes in pure cultures of microorganisms, despite the fact that microorganisms break down cellulose as communities in the environment. To examine this further, a multi-institutional team of researchers led by scientists
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Velocys enables modular gas-to-liquids and biomass-to-liquids plants to convert unconventional, remote and problem gas and waste biomass into valuable, drop-in liquid fuels. After 15 years and some $300 million in investment, Velocys technology is headed for
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) To “Demonstrate an advanced biofuels technology that integrates a catalytic biomass pyrolysis step and a hydroprocessing step to produce infrastructure compatible biofuels,” that’s the ratuional behind a DOE project with RTI in the lead, aimed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A group of researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have completed a survey of the economic activities and rural jobs that a corn stover bioeconomy can offer, which is currently featured on the cover of the latest
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s been the big, big problem in biomass deconstruction and cellulosic fuels — the finicky nature of biomass. We’ve learned to get past the main line of cellulosic defenses — but by and large it’s
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), is announcing its
(Senator Tammy Duckworth) U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) shared with the nominee to be the Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE), Governor Rick Perry, how her military service in Iraq taught her about the danger of our country’s dependence on
by Kerry Reals (Runway Girl Network) ... But despite widespread concerns, Kevin Weiss, the chief executive of Byogy Renewables – the developer of an alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) fuel process for the aviation industry – tells RGN he is optimistic that the Trump
(U.S. Department of Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The 2016 Billion-Ton Report (BT16), Volume 2: Environmental Sustainability Effects of Select Scenarios from Volume 1, jointly released by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is a pioneering
(Montana State University/Biomass Magazine) A Montana State University scientist has received a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science to research ways to improve the usefulness of camelina, an ancient crop that the modern world
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Biomass Magazine) Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have released the largest-ever single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) dataset of genetic variations in poplar trees, information useful to plant scientists as well as researchers in
(White House) Energy is an essential part of American life and a staple of the world economy. The Trump Administration is committed to energy policies that lower costs for hardworking Americans and maximize the use of American resources, freeing us
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... This Administration is a team, so long as you generally understand that there’s one guy with the ball, he’s calling all the plays, and members of the Cabinet can block and tackle and get to
by Lucas Daprile (TC Palm) TCPalm examined thousands of government documents, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act and Florida public records requests, to determine what taxpayers got in return for their $129 million investment in INEOS' Indian River County biofuel
(U.S. Energy Information Administration) U.S. carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the transportation sector reached 1,893 million metric tons (MMmt) from October 2015 through September 2016, exceeding electric power sector CO2 emissions of 1,803 MMmt over the same time period. On
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) PERRY PARTY: Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry finally has his day in the spotlight this morning to make his case for running the Energy Department. Given the agency’s mishmash of responsibilities — which outgoing
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Energy Department published a report titled, “The Transforming Mobility Ecosystem: Enabling an Energy-Efficient Future.” Over the next decade, the transportation sector is poised for rapid change, propelled toward a new mobility future by strong technology currents
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Jan. 13, the U.S. Department of Energy released its second annual analysis of how changes in America’s energy profile are affecting national employment in key sectors of the economy. To complete its analysis,
by Frances White (Renewable Energy World/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) A dozen glass cylinders containing a potential payload of bright green algae are exposed to hundreds of multi-colored lights, which provide all of sunlight's natural hues. The tiny LEDs brighten and
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today (January 10, 2017) the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) announced the publication of a report, titled Biofuels and Bioproducts from Wet and Gaseous Waste Streams: Challenges and Opportunities. The report is the
(National Algae Association) 2016 Algae Year in Review – Nothing has Changed -- 2016 (U.S. Department of Energy) Funding Opportunities: ... • Global Algae Innovations (San Diego, California)— ... • Algenol Biotech LLC (Ft. Myers, Florida)-- ... • MicroBio Engineering, Inc. (San Luis Obispo,
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Energy Department (DOE) and the Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) jointly announced $22.7 million today to support the optimization of integrated biorefineries (IBR). DOE is providing majority funding with up
by Donnelle Eller (Des Moines Register) Midwest Republican senators got reassurances from EPA chief nominee Scott Pruitt that he will "follow the law" that requires ethanol and biodiesel to be blended into the nation's fuel supply, Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck
by Bevin Fletcher (Bioscience Technology) Some semi-arid plants use a specific type of photosynthesis known as crassulacean acid metabolism, or CAM, to conserve water and flourish in semi-arid climates. Now scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory
(Green Car Congress) The US Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) released its new strategic plan, titled Strategic Plan for a Thriving and Sustainable Bioeconomy. The strategic plan—with a vision for 2040—lays out BETO’s mission to accomplish its vision in
by Chen, Xiaowen; Kuhn, Erik; Jennings, Edward W.; Nelson, Robert; Tao, Ling; Zhang, Min; Tucker, Melvin P. (Energy & Environmental Science) Distilling and purifying ethanol and other products from second generation lignocellulosic biorefineries adds significant capital and operating costs to biofuel
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, the Energy Department (DOE) announced up to $7 million for eight universities to accelerate the introduction of affordable, scalable, and sustainable high-performance fuels for use in high-efficiency, low-emission engines. Under the Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines (Co-Optima)
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, the Energy Department (DOE) announced the selection of six projects for up to $12.9 million in federal funding, entitled, “Project Definition for Pilot- and Demonstration-Scale Manufacturing of Biofuels, Bioproducts, and Biopower.” These projects, required to
by Julie Chao (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Two projects will provide a window to the underground, yielding information on roots and soil -- As advanced as agriculture has become, there remains a pressing need for nondestructive ways to ”see” into
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Regional Feedstock Partnership (the Partnership)—a multi-institutional collaboration of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, representatives from land-grant universities, and industry—was first established to address issues associated with the development of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, researchers at the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) / Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have developed four new technologies available for license: Streamlined Saccharification from Lignocellulosic Biomass, 2015-143 Translation Control Tool for Plans, 2013-166 Determining Ligninases
(Iowa State University) Iowa State University will bring its expertise in biorenewable technologies and pilot plant operations to the country’s 10th Manufacturing USA Institute. The recently announced advanced manufacturing institute is dedicated to improving the productivity and efficiency of chemical manufacturing.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) With the Agile BioFoundry project, the National Lab consortium, in partnership with academia and industry, aims to achieve a 40% decrease in the energy intensity of current manufacturing processes. Plus, a 60% decrease in the carbon
(ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit) Do you have a novel idea that can help solve our nation’s energy challenges? If you have a great idea and are willing to share it with the world, apply to the "Energy Ideas to Change
by Chelsea Harvey (The Washington Post) ... It seems increasingly likely that the Trump administration would either alter, or attempt to stop using entirely, an Obama-era metric known as the “social cost of carbon” in its federal rule-making processes. And that could have have
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) News of high-level appointments have been streaming out of Trump Tower all this week and last, and two trends are already clear: it’s a group mostly out of the business and military communities, and there’s
(Department of Energy) Today (December 21, 2016), the Energy Department (DOE) announced $15 million, subject to appropriations, to support community-based projects to accelerate the adoption of advanced and alternative fuel vehicles and demonstrate energy efficient mobility systems including connected and
(Phys.Org/ DOE/Joint Genome Institute) ... To learn more about how bacteria interact with fungi in a symbiotic relationship to support the biochemistries that could contribute to the development of alternate fuel sources, Cornell and DOE JGI researchers used a model bacterial-fungal
by Kathleen Tuck (Boise State University) A paper co-authored by Lisa Warner, an assistant research professor in the Biomolecular Research Center, looks at how Clostridium thermocellum breaks down and converts cellulosic biomass to produce biofuels, including hydrogen and hydrocarbons, while
by Katie Fletcher (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently released its 2015 Renewable Energy Data Book, showing that renewable electricity grew to 16.7 percent of total installed capacity in the U.S. and 13.8 percent of total electricity generation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s about converting renewable power to fuels for storage and back to power again for electric motoring. The Renewable Energy to Fuels Through Utilization of Energy-Dense Liquids (REFUEL) program seeks to develop scalable technologies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It may be a sign of the times, a sense of worry that R&D for renewable transport fuels may lose all their popularity under the incoming Trump Administration. Whatever the cause, the biggest set of projects
(U.S. Department of Energy) Selection of 26 projects across two programs will make transportation cleaner and mitigate carbon dioxide emissions -- The Energy Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) today announced up to $70 million in funding for its two
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s known by the ungainly acronym ABPDU, which might as well decode as “All Bioeconomy Processes Developed Upstairs,” but actually stands for the far more modest “Advanced Biofuels Process Demonstration Unit.” It’s run out of the Berkeley
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... “Advanced Biofuels Process Demonstration Unit.” It’s run out of the Berkeley Lab, and is the technology center behind the technology centers, if you will, of companies such as Kiverdi, Sylvatex, Perfect Day, Lygos, Microvi,
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) Though the national average percentage of ethanol in gasoline came in at 9.91% in 2015, according to the Energy Information Administration, half of all states now see ethanol in more than 10% of gasoline
by Juliet Eilperin and Steven Mufson (The Washington Post) President-elect Donald Trump has picked Rick Perry to head the Energy Department, said two people familiar with the decision, seeking to put the former Texas governor in control of an agency whose
by Megan Geuss (Ars Technica) Wastewater treatment plants rejoice—you may have a hot commodity on your hands. -- Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Labs (PNNL) have developed a new method for treating human sewage to create a biocrude oil product
(Nebraska Ethanol Board/KOOL Radio) In 2016, Nebraska drivers will save approximately $17 million by using ethanol-blended gasoline. The savings is based on lower prices for ethanol compared to wholesale gasoline and the state’s projected spark-ignition fuel consumption of 900 million
by Lauren Tyler (NGT News) The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Fuel Cell Technology Office recently released a report showing that the average fuel economy of fuel cell electric buses from three fleets is approximately 6 miles per diesel gallon equivalent
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... So, what do you do about the Frost Wall. Generally, you can grow more with the first harvest — that’s yield improvement. Or, you can grow more in the extreme north — that’s crop expansion.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BETO. I think it’s Latin for “I forbid petroleum.” So while presidents have the Veto, technologists have the Beto. It’s most widely known in its modern variant, as the acronym for the DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, the hearth and
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) intends to issue, on behalf of the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture,
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy‘s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), on behalf of the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), intends to issue a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for up to $8 million, subject to
(National Biodiesel Board) NREL report a comprehensive guide for biodiesel users -- The biodiesel industry welcomed the publication of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) fifth edition of the Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide, developed in conjunction with the DOE
by Glenn Roberts Jr. (Berkeley National Laboratory) Research team combines X-ray source at Berkeley Lab with other tools -- Researchers have revealed new atomic-scale details about pesky deposits that can stop or slow chemical reactions vital to fuel production and
by Mark Elless (U.S. Department of Energy) Switchgrass, algae, forest trimmings, corn husks and corn stalks you can't eat these crops, and you would never put them on your table for Thanksgiving; however, together they make up a bountiful harvest
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Since 2013, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory has had an Algae Biomass project underway, under the direction of Dr. Phil Pienkos, aimed at “reducing algal biofuel production cost by developing advanced process options for the
by Alicia Lindauer (U.S. Department of Energy/Renewable Energy World) Is it possible to increase vehicle performance and fuel efficiency while also slowing climate change through reduced greenhouse gas emissions? New research by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and funded by the
by Joan Koka (Argonne National Laboratory) ... The new analysis, published in The Royal Chemistry Society's Energy & Environmental Science, incorporates the additional effect of changes in reflectivity, or “albedo.” Albedo effects sum up the amount of incoming solar energy that
(Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) What effect does growing millions of acres of corn have on the plants and insects living in agricultural landscapes? Can we balance biomass production and biodiversity by using a variety of bioenergy crops? In this
by Craig Kohn, Joyce Parker and Andy Anderson (Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) Global climate change is a serious problem that requires the involvement of a scientifically literate public to solve. But what does the public understand about this complex issue
(Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) Burning gasoline, a fossil fuel, in cars produces the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide contributes to global climate change. We have several options besides gasoline for powering our cars – electricity and biofuels like
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today (November 18, 2016), the Energy Department (DOE) announced approximately $30 million in available funding, subject to appropriations, for research and development of low-cost hydrogen production, onboard hydrogen storage, and proton exchange membrane fuel cells to advance
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, as part of a wide ranging policy announcement from the Obama Administration, the Department of Energy launched a Sustainable Biofuels Innovation Challenge to develop ways to produce, at scale, widely affordable, advanced biofuels
by Kari Lydersen (Midwest Energy News) ... The prospects for cellulosic ethanol becoming a commercially available clean transportation fuel could also hinge on yeast’s ability to ferment corn stalks, switchgrass, wood chips or other fibrous feed stock. The same strain of
by Rick Uldricks and Hudson Councilman Casey Weinstein (Twinsburg Patch) In truth, when it comes to energy security, there is good news to be found, but not at the bottom of a well. -- Fossil fuel boosters love to say that energy
(AgriMarketing/Reuters) Sarnia, Ontario, home to dozens of Canada's refineries and chemical plants, is lobbying hard to lure a biotech plant to the city as the local petrochemical-powered economy braces for the impact of a provincial carbon-pricing scheme. BioAmber Inc - which
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Lignocellulosic sugars and lignin have become necessary intermediates for advancing research towards economically producing biofuels and bioproducts. Recently, the US Department of Energy issued a Request for Information: Cellulosic Sugar and Lignin Production Capabilities. The result
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) ... Biofuels: Trump said in Iowa in January that he wants ethanol volumes set under the Renewable Fuel Standard restored to statutory levels, but he has surrounded himself with RFS opponents, leaving the future of
by Alison Goss Eng (U.S. Department of Energy/Renewable Energy World) The beautiful island of Kauai, Hawaii, is known for its pristine beaches and dramatic mountain ranges. But Kauai is not just a vacation spot; it is also the location of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory have come up with a highly-efficient process to make liquid fuels directly from carbon dioxide and water. Because burning fuels in an internal combustion engine produces CO2 and water as
(Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group) On October 26, 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced an open meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee via notice in the Federal Register. This meeting will work to
(U.S. Department of Energy) The results of the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office's (BETO's) Cellulosic Sugar and Lignin Production Capabilities Request for Information (RFI) are now available on the RFI responses web page. This new web page is a
(Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Technology converts human waste into bio-based fuel -- It may sound like science fiction, but wastewater treatment plants across the United States may one day turn ordinary sewage into biocrude oil, thanks to new research at
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) made the surprise discovery that a metabolic pathway to take up CO2 exists and functions in a microorganism capable of breaking down and fermenting
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Of all the many wonders at the Algae Biomass Summit this week, perhaps there was nothing more interesting in terms of the Department of Energy’s laudable attention to the sector than a poster from NREL on
(Science 2.0) Ever since the 1973 oil embargo, U.S. energy policy has sought to replace petroleum-based transportation fuels with alternatives. One prominent option is using biofuels, such as ethanol in place of gasoline and biodiesel instead of ordinary diesel. Transportation generates
(Green Car Congress) A new analysis from Argonne National Laboratory, funded by the US Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), shows the potential of an algae fractionation process to produce renewable diesel fuel with 63%–68% lower greenhouse gas (GHG)
(Yahoo! Finance/Globe Newswire/Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc.) Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc. (ALLM) (the “Company”) is pleased to announce that the Airports Council International – North America (“ACI-NA”) has given its written support of the CTS process for the production of aviation
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory) Researchers at ORNL uncover the chemical reaction that helps break down biomass for biofuel -- Lignocellulosic biomass—plant matter such as cornstalks, straw, and woody plants—is a sustainable source for production of bio-based fuels and chemicals. However,
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The average amount of ethanol in the nation’s gasoline supply hit a new record last week of 10.4 percent, just breaking through the 10% blend wall for the second time in a month, according to the
(Ames Laboratory) A team of scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory will be developing new instrumentation aimed at determining the chemical and structural makeup of plant cell walls to better understand how to convert plant material into
by Terry Mazanec (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) ... So the process removes and processes about 25 tonnes of earth to obtain each gram of Pt, valued at about $35. It is a very lucrative business. Biomass is much like the platinum mine. It
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) Dr. Tom Dempster works as a research professor – focusing on strain selection and development, biomass production, algal biofuels and high-value products, and air and wastewater bioremediation – at the Arizona Center for Algae
(Microvi) Microvi has been awarded a grant from the US Department of Energy for a new groundbreaking biocatalytic technology that converts methane and carbon dioxide in biogas into valuable liquid chemicals, the company announced today. The new technology, based on Microvi’s
(Phys.Org) In a new twist to waste-to-fuel technology, scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed an electrochemical process that uses tiny spikes of carbon and copper to turn carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into ethanol. Their
by Dennis O'Brien (US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service) With its 30-ton frame and 50-foot-high catwalk, the newest scanner for measuring crop plants in Maricopa, Arizona, can be seen for miles. It looms over a tract the length of
(North Carolina Biotechnology Center) The North Carolina Biotechnology Center, aided by a $1.87 million federal grant, has embarked on a three-year project to study the production of sorghum as biomass for fuel and high-value chemicals in the Mid-Atlantic region. The project,
(University of Colorado Boulder) CU Boulder engineers have developed an innovative bio-manufacturing process that uses a biological organism cultivated in brewery wastewater to create the carbon-based materials needed to make energy storage cells. This unique pairing of breweries and batteries could
(U.S. Department of Energy) This past June, researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in partnership with Particulate Solids Research, Inc. and Springs Fabrication, installed a recirculating regenerating riser reactor (R-Cubed) in their pilot-scale Thermochemical Process Development Unit. Funded
by Paul Raeburn (Newsweek) ... (Myron) Ebell, the director of the Center for Energy and Environment at the Competitive Enterprise Institute and a prominent climate-change skeptic, was chosen at the end of September to head the Environmental Protection Agency’s transition team
(Bioenergy Deployment Consortium) A successful BDC Fall Symposium was held in Washington DC on September 27-28, 2016. A combination of Government Agency Directors and Sr. Advisors were joined by outstanding leaders in the bio-industry to discuss the advancement of the
(Algae Biomass Organization) The Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) has shown a commitment to algae and its future by funding a project to expand education in the algae industry. More specifically, BETO is funding the Algae Technology Education
(Algae Biomass Organization) Innovations for producing algae based fuels and chemicals will get another boost now that the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) is moving forward with a significant new funding opportunity. ARPA-E’s Teaming List Announcement, entitled “SCALABLE MACROALGAE CULTIVATION TECHNOLOGIES
(Department of Energy) Mark your calendars: the 2017 BioenergizeME Infographic Challenge kicks off tomorrow (September 30, 2016)! Give your 9th–12th grade students an opportunity to learn about topics in biofuel and bioenergy and to share their knowledge through infographics. Registration opens
(University of Tennessee) A UT-ORNL team led by Governor’s Chair Jeremy Smith is using supercomputing to figure out ways to ease the path of turning vegetation into biofuel. A huge barrier in converting plant polymers to biofuel lies in removing other biomass polymers that
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) You may recall that The Bloomberg investigative team of Ben Elgin & Peter Waldman in 2013 published an expose on Chevron claiming that the company had developed — then buried — a Catchlight Energy project
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory/NewsWise) GreenWood Resources has licensed an Oak Ridge National Laboratory technology based on the discovery of a gene in poplar (Populus trichocarpa) that makes it easier to convert poplar trees into biofuels. GreenWood, a global timberland investment and
[caption id="attachment_77283" align="alignleft" width="282"] Chris Tindal, U.S. Navy's Director for Operational Energy, explains the launch, operations and use of renewable fuel by the Great Green Fleet.[/caption] by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) An intimate group that shares some background or interest
(Sandia National Laboratories/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Abundant, chock full of energy and bound so tightly that the only way to release its energy is through combustion—lignin has frustrated scientists for years. With the help of an unusual soil bacteria, researchers at
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Colorado, a study conducted by DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), found that the petroleum components of ethanol-blended gasoline become degraded and unfit for use in an engine long before the ethanol portion takes
by Marc J. Rauch (The Auto Channel) National Renewable Energy Laboratory reaffirms the value of ethanol for internal combustion engines and validates Mercury Marine's 2011 findings -- One of the top myths used by the oil industry against ethanol is
by Jennifer Seguin (AltEnergyMag.com/COMSOL) ... Such fuels are renewable, clean-burning, and carbon-neutral, producing no more carbon dioxide than is sequestered by its original plant source. However, biofuel availability is still fairly limited for its most common use—in vehicles. ... Research at the National Renewable
(Australian National University) Scientists are a step closer to using Australia's iconic gum trees to develop low-carbon renewable jet and missile fuel. Dr Carsten Kulheim from The Australian National University (ANU), a lead researcher in an international study published in Trends
(Renewable Fuels Association) As millions of Americans say goodbye to summer and prepare to store their boats, motorcycles, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and other equipment for the winter, a new study by the Department of Energy (DOE) is providing fresh
(Sandia National Laboratories) A wide-ranging analysis of water vulnerability across the Pacific — including the U.S., China, Russia and Japan — has identified hundreds of locations where energy production depends upon scarce water supplies. The Sandia National Laboratories study, “Mapping Water
(Virgin Atlantic) For the first time ever, 1,500 US gallons of jet fuel has been produced from ‘Lanzanol’, LanzaTech’s low carbon ethanol; Producing the world’s first jet fuel derived from waste industrial gases from steel mills via fermentation process; The alcohol-to-jet (AtJ) fuel
(National Biodiesel Board) Economic modeling by Purdue University continues to reduce predicted emissions of ‘indirect land use change’ -- Biomass-based fuels present a tremendous opportunity to transition toward a more sustainable mix of renewable energy. This was a key theme
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) has released the Algal Biology Toolbox Workshop Summary Report, with highlights from the BETO-hosted workshop that took place in May in San Diego, California. Attendees of this spring’s
by Tom Ewing (Renewable Energy World) On Aug. 17, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) daily update announced that CO2 emissions from natural gas would soon surpass coal. That’s troubling. Natural gas is viewed as a “bridge fuel,” a transitional resource
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