(The Conversation) ... Australia is an algae gardener’s paradise. To scale up any new technology, we need to consider not just whether we can make it, but also whether it is worth doing. Unfortunately, this involves rather dry concepts like productivity, efficiency,
by Ilona Amos (The Scotsman) PLANS have been unveiled that will see mainland Britain’s first commercial-scale seaweed farm set up in Scottish waters later this summer. The new facility will be run as a demonstration project that will help shape
(USDA Agricultural Research Service/Ethanol Producer Magazine) USDA scientist is providing much needed guidance to sorghum farmers in the Texas High Plains who are trying to save water by using less-than-optimal amounts of it. Farmers in the area are turning to sorghum because
(U.S. Grains Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) A team of Canadian buyers and end-users of U.S. distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) as well as a Canadian agriculture journalist recently visited the United States on a learning journey cosponsored by the U.S. Grains
by Itai van Rijn (Y Net News) New research shows that growing and producing bioethanol from algae of the species sea lettuce has potential but is not currently viable economically. ... New research at Tel Aviv University, which has just recently been
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) UPS brings overall use of drop-in fuels over 10% of fleet use in REG, Neste , Solazyme buy. In Georgia, UPS announced agreements for the purchase up to 46 million gallons of renewable fuels over the
(Extension.org) Renewable energy production options are growing thanks to expanded farm equipment capabilities for harvesting biofuel feedstocks like shrub willow. -- Harvesting is the single most expensive operation in the production of shrub willow biomass, accounting for about 30% of costs
(AltEnergyMag.com) The oil from the Moringa tree is considered to be a more sustainable biodiesel feedstock as it can yield both food and fuel. -- Among those searching for solutions to feed the hungry, Moringa is well known. Malnourished children
by Dipak K Dash (Times of India) Setting the stage for manufacturing of vehicle engines that can ply on 100% bio-diesel soon, the road transport ministry on Friday came out with draft notification for mass emission standards for such vehicles.
(Biofuels International) Biodiesel is known for powering vehicles across the country—but it also works for poultry and livestock farmers by powering their profitability. That was the message at Western Dubuque Biodiesel’s plant, where soyabean groups hosted a tour of the
(Biofuels International) The Danish fuel, oil, and energy company OK has introduced a new sustainable biodiesel into its petrol stations. The new biodiesel is produced from the residue left over in the production of first generation biodiesel from rapeseed. Previously,
by Victoria Mtomba (News Day) Zimbabwe is set to have a cassava ethanol producing plant to boost ethanol output as the country moves to accelerate mandatory fuel blending. In an interview on Tuesday on the sidelines of the National Energy Efficiency Audit,
by Dale Hildebrant (Farm & Ranch Guide) ... Using dried distillers grain as a fertilizer source The first stop on the tour was a plot where research is being done to use dried distillers grain (DDG) from ethanol plants as a source
(Department of Energy) ... We know many of you are interested in some of the presentations from our great lineup of speakers. We have posted select presentations from the conference to our Bioenergy 2015 presentations website. They include: Breakout Session 1-C: Bringing Biorefineries
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Australia, Algae.Tec has shipped 7 containers of equipment, including photobioreactor modules and solar light units, on schedule and received in Jamnagar, India for installation within the world’s largest oil refinery, owned and operated by
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Abengoa is active in three areas in biofuels: a. Traditional fermentation of cereal grains and sugar cane for the commercial production of bioethanol; b. Traditional transesterification for the production of biodiesel from cereal and vegetable
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Which microbes achieve a better, faster, cheaper transformation of the world around us? ... Down there in the mud, too small to be seen with the naked eye, are some of your new best friends.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington state, researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have found that with the addition of a single gene, rice can be cultivated to emit virtually no methane from its paddies during growth. With
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, BASF and Solazyme have launched of the first commercial surfactant derived from microalgae oil, a high performance algal betaine for use in home and personal care applications. Generally speaking, surfactants, which are the “lifting
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Renmatix is a technology licensor that enables the production of petrochemicals from plants. The company’s water-based Plantrose process is the lowest cost method for converting a wide range of non-food biomass into cellulosic sugars, used
(Biofuels International) A research team from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a multi-program US security laboratory, has received an additional $1 million (appr. €907,000) to protect algal crops by developing ‘probiotic’ bacteria to combat pond infestation and increase ecosystem function and
[caption id="attachment_63689" align="alignleft" width="300"] A plenary session at the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology (July 19, 2015, Montreal).[/caption] by Stefaniya Becking* (Advanced Biofuels USA) If one is looking for an international gathering of leaders in industrial biotechnology to expand their professional
(Plant Sensory Systems) Just Beets LLC to Sell Plant Sensory Systems’ Proprietary Beet Seeds -- Plant Sensory Systems, LLC (PSS) announced the formation of a subsidiary company, Just Beets LLC, to produce, sell and distribute PSS’ proprietary beet seeds. Beets are
by Joanna Schroeder (Biofuels Journal) Greenbelt Resources Corp. has developed a feedstock testing program so potential cellulosic ethanol producers can see if their enterprise will succeed at commercial scale by processing a certain feedstock. Darren Eng, chief executive officer of Greenbelt
by Padma Nagappan (TakePart) ... Now researchers at the United States Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory think they have a solution that allows farmers to profit from growing both food and advanced biofuels while benefitting the environment. They planted willow on
by Joern Huenteler and Henry Lee (Belfer Center Programs or Projects) The promise, prospects, and public policy trade-offs related to second-generation biofuels in road transport were addressed in an executive session convened at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan,
(Science Daily) A new study, led by Professor Nick Hewitt of Lancaster University, examined changes in ground level ozone in response to projected land use change associated with future biofuel cultivation. Publishing in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, the researchers
(Algae Biomass Organization) The Algae Biomass Organization, the trade association for the algae industry, applauded U.S. Reps. Scott Peters (D-CA) and Matt Salmon (R-AZ) for introducing a bill designed to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that would spur
by Akiko Matsuda (Lohud.com) ... New Planet Energy, which specializes in renewable-energy production using waste materials, along with local developer MBC Contractors, wants to build a waste-to-energy facility in an industrial zone off Holt Drive. The proposal has been welcomed by Stony
by Andy Extance (Chemistry World) Hope and expectation surround the chemical industry’s increasing adoption of biotechnological manufacturing – but today, their lengthy development times and complex processes mean frustration is a major by-product. ‘The process of developing industrial biomanufacturing [IB] processes
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Logan, Utah-based Argo Fuels announced it is launching an Idiegogo crowdfunding campaign July 21 to raise money for the purchase of feedstock and preparation for large-scale biodiesel production using its NanoCatalyst fuel processor. The company describes
(Aston University) Pre-testing of waste materials using prototype Pyrofab technology was underway today ahead of a summer tour to evaluate sustainable sources of bioenergy from waste across north-west Europe. The Pyrofab is based on PyroformerTM technology, developed in the UK
by Rachel Carter (Daily Yonder) After learning to make biofuel to use on his own farm, John Williamson has expanded his business to help others create their own energy. For Williamson, there’s a diversified income stream. For his neighbors, there’s
by John Fritze (Baltimore Sun) ... Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, is winning praise from corn farmers in Iowa for his support of a federal mandate to blend biofuels into gasoline. But the
(SustainableBusiness.com) A few years ago, we were hearing a lot about airlines testing and beginning to run on biofuels (combined with petroleum). With the latest announcements, are we ready for take off? This summer, United Airlines begins flying from Los Angeles to San
by Greg Watry (R&D Magazine) Rotifers are semitransparent microscopic animals. Watching them feed under a microscope, one can’t help but feel a sense of awe at nature’s complexity. Its oval-shaped body rotates as it ingests small beads of algae. However, grazers, such as
by M Najmuz Zafar (Muscat Daily) A group of scientists and academics are undertaking a research on producing biofuel from biological and agricultural waste, which they say, will lay the foundation of biofuel industry in Oman. “Although the research employs local
(Algae Biomass Organization) Latest bill to encourage using carbon dioxide as a feedstock for valuable products -- The Algae Biomass Organization, the trade association for the algae industry, hailed language included in the energy reform package released last Wednesday by the Senate
(Research and Markets/BusinessWire) Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/hjlj3s/pinederived) has announced the addition of the "Pine-Derived Chemicals Market by Type (TOFA, TOR, Gum Turpentine, Gum Rosin, Pitch, Sterols), Application (Paints & Coatings, Adhesives & Sealants, Surfactants, Printing Inks), Source, & by Region -
(Agrimoney.com) The European biofuels industry is to stagnate next year, according to a report from the US Department of Agriculture's bureau in The Hague, unless import tariffs are relaxed. The bureau noted that the EU has "effectively separated itself from the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A game-changing new platform — in tobacco? Controversial by its feedstock role for the cigarette industry, tobacco’s been unjustly overlooked. Yet, according to Australia’s CSIRO, “tobacco can greatly expand global capacity for renewable oil production.” In
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... For a decade, it’s (UOP's) been an unquestioned leader in renewable fuels and chemicals development. Technologies like its HEFA jet fuel conversion (the first certified renewable jet fuel), its Ecofining technology that produces both jet
(National Biodiesel Board) Calls for Additional Growth in Biodiesel Sector -- The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) on Monday called on the EPA to strengthen its proposal for biodiesel volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In extensive comments submitted to the agency
by Sylvia Carignan (Frederick News Post) The future of Frederick County agriculture sits in a plastic tank in a dusty, cow-scented barn outside of Middletown. South Mountain Creamery’s soybean press takes soybeans and creates soy oil, stored in large tanks, that the
by Jonathan Fahey and Scott Mayerowitz (Associated Press) The number of global fliers is expected to more than double in the next two decades. In order to carry all those extra passengers, airlines are turning to a technology very few can
(Liquid Light/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Liquid Light announced it has signed a technology development agreement with The Coca-Cola Co. The objective of the agreement is to accelerate the development of Liquid Light’s technology which can make mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) from carbon dioxide. Liquid
by Michael Bastasch (Daily Caller) A University of Minnesota scientist told lawmakers Thursday that mandating ethanol be blended into fuel supplies is leading to more deaths from poor air quality in the Midwest and along the East Coast. “The Renewable Fuel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Iogen’s technology at commercial-scale, and officially open for business. In Brazil, President Dilma Rousseff launched Iogen Energy’s cellulosic ethanol technology at the official opening of Raízen`s newly expanded Costa Pinto sugar cane mill in Piracicaba,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Ontario, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada has completed phase 1 of a project to assess the economic viability of the agricultural biomass to cellulosic sugar value chain in Canada. The Cellulosic Sugar Production Project is designed to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Ontario, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and La Coop fédéréem, after two years of work with value chain players, including farmers, have been able to reduce projected corn stalk costs by 40%, the partners
(New Holland) Following the United States Department of Energy’s announcement to award State University of New York up to $3.5 million to fund a research project that seeks to develop ways to reduce the cost of delivering biomass for refinement,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Already, biogas as a renewable fuel is accounting for 90% of all cellulosic RIN production under the Renewable Fuel Standard. Food and paper manufacturers, ethanol & biodiesel plants, cities, landfill operators, and animal feeding operations
by Ryan Masters (Santa Cruz Sentinel) The salt ponds of Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, just north of San Jose International Airport, may hold the key to a sustainable energy source. For more than 100 years, people have
by Tim Tierneyn (Syngenta) Plymouth Energy collaborates with corn growers to increase plant efficiency and make ethanol more sustainable. ... Sourcing alpha amylase enzyme directly from area corn growers and working with them to enhance grain quality is not only helping Plymouth
by Bruce Dorminey (Renewable Energy World) As the world’s fastest growing temperate tree species, poplar can add a dozen feet annually and reach maturity in as few as four years. One of its hybrids, populus x generosa, has the widest
(Red Rock Biofuels LLC) Red Rock Biofuels LLC, a pioneer in renewable biofuels, announced today that it will produce approximately three million gallons of low-carbon, renewable jet fuel per year for FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX). The
(BioPower Operations Corporation) BioPower Operations Corporation (OTCQB: BOPO) ("BioPower" or the "Company") announced today (June 30, 2015) that its wholly-owned subsidiary Green3Power Operations Inc. (G3P) has won the award to build a $175 Million renewable energy facility which will convert
by Kate Wheeling (Pacific Standard Magazine) Biodiesel from the waste cooking oil produced by the capital city's restaurants could help to power the cities public transit system, and reduce emissions in the process. ... A team of researchers from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The 10 Biggest Advanced Bioeconomy stories of the year we reported from the world’s second-biggest economic region. 1. DuPont, New Tianlong Industry Co. ink Cellulosic Ethanol pact; China’s first Advanced Renewable Fuel Project on the way In
(Algae Industry Magazine) lgiran, an Iranian algal biotech company, has recently established a pilot scale algal cultivation demonstration facility at the Chabahar Free Zone, in the Baluchistan Province of Iran. ... ... The team is looking at products like beta carotene and
(City of Raleigh) Deep in the southeastern corner of Wake County are a series of rolling fields that look like they are more suitable for a Van Gogh painting than part of the Raleigh landscape. Nestled among the corn, soybeans,
by Austin DuVall (Arkansas Business) Arkansas’ biodiesel industry has failed to live up to its early promise, and Troy Hornbeck says he knows why. Hornbeck, who with his two brothers, Jon and Jeff, founded Arkansas SoyEnergy Group LLC of DeWitt in
(Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) Researchers from across the world, including from Virginia Tech, plan to mimic the chemistry of the brown rot fungus to improve biorefining processes. BioMim, a $4 million, four-year project funded by the Research Council
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The man who led the effort to form ACE was 67 years old when he took on the project. Today, the organization is still fighting for farmers and all people of the ethanol industry The
by William Saletan (Slate) The war against genetically modified organisms is full of fearmongering, errors, and fraud. Labeling them will not make you safer. They Want You to Be Overwhelmed ... Hundreds of organizations, including Consumers Union, Friends of the Earth, Physicians
by Leticia Phillips (UNICA/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Brazil and the U.S. have a responsibility to collaboratively build a global biofuels market, writes Leticia Phillips of UNICA, following a visit between Brazilian President and President Obama. In late June, Brazilian President Dilma
(American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev/Biomass Magazine) Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel and University of Florida researchers have been awarded a United States-Israel Bi-national Agricultural Research and Development Fund (BARD) grant to improve the production of biogas
by David Sparkes (ABC Rural) As the Queensland Government and industry players try to usher in a new era for bioethanol production, a group of high school students have been put through their paces at a pilot plant in Mackay. Queensland
by Christopher Doering (Des Moines Register) DuPont said Thursday it will license its technology to construct the largest cellulosic ethanol manufacturing plant in China. As part of the agreement with New Tianlong Industry Co., DuPont said it will license its ethanol
by Bryan Lufkin (Gizmodo) ... They slurp in sunlight, and convert it to energy. They’re also able to suck up carbon dioxide emitted by power plants and cars, turning it into oxygen. So they run on solar power and they scrub
by By Tom Schenk (Agriculture 2.0) Over the past ten years, scores of articles have been written about the merits of investing in farmland as well as the challenges of producing enough food to feed a population that is growing at
(Wageningen UR) Wageningen URFood & Biobased Research is launching a large-scale European project in collaboration with Cosun (coordinating partner) and ten businesses from the Netherlands and abroad to extract more value from sugar beet pulp. After undergoing bio-refinery and other conversion
(Environmental Protection Agency) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting comment on its analysis of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions attributable to the production and transport of Gossypium spp. seed oil (“cottonseed oil”) feedstock for use in making biofuels such
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
(Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute ) The Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) program, an initiative of the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech) in the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland, has approved 15 collaborative technology product development
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Hundreds of corn farmers from across America were in Washington D.C. today (July 15, 2015) to rally for the cuts to corn ethanol in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFs) to be overturned. The Environmental Protection Agency
(Algae Industry Magazine) Studies conducted by EnAlgae partners in Ireland, France and Belgium point the way to seaweed being a viable and sustainable feedstock for the future in North West Europe (NWE). This is the conclusion of a new paper
by Jose Graziano DA Silva (UN Food and Agriculture Organization/AllAfrica.com) Over the past several years, biofuels have become a bone of contention. For some, a renewable energy source produced from organic matter amounts to a magic wand in the fight
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Renewable alternative to petroleum-based raw materials with multiple applications in the biolubricants, biochemical and bioplastics industries. In Australia, GO Resources has entered into an exclusive worldwide licence with Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, to commercialize
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... My role is to design, plan and schedule biomass supply chains for commercial-scale biofuel plants. I am currently working on two projects: 1) the viability study of the production of biojet from woody biomass in British
by Menna Samir (Daily News Egypt) ... A protocol agreement to activate the reuse of cooking oil and transform it into biodiesel was signed between the Ministries of Petroleum and Supply, as well as the Alexandria Company for Petroleum Additives (ACPA),
(Power-Technology) Bio-bean and Network Rail have extended their partnership to start a new recycling project that will turn coffee waste into fuel and will be used to cut down the costs for railway in the UK. The firms had conducted successful
by Marcelo Toledo from Ribeirao Preto (Folha de S.Paulo) The pessimistic predictions of the Brazilian sugarcane industry for 2015/16 appear to be coming true, with plant closures, redundancies and requests for judicial recovery. This is down to several factors, including
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cellana’s patented ALDUO system enables economic, sustainable, and consistent production of photosynthetic, non-GMO algae at industrial scale. Cellana intends to construct and operate commercial facilities to produce these products as integrated algae-based biorefineries. To date,
Nina Ying Sun (Plastics News) Lake Taihu, the third largest freshwater body in China, once was pure and beautiful and one of my fondest childhood memories. But like many things in China, it has fallen victim of GDP-focused development and
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) You may have heard the old joke, “you can make anything out of lignin, except money.” Well, I hope to still be writing about ethanol the day that's been proven wrong. ... Earlier this year, I
by Hanna Loraine (University of Bath) A Jordanian PhD student has come to Bath to investigate how our algae research could help clean wastewater in her country. ... New ways of cutting down water wastage and overuse are in desperate
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Portugal-based IncBio has secured an agreement to design and build a 75,000-ton-per-year (22.5 MMgy) biodiesel plant for Biocosta Green Energy S.A. in Santa Marta, Colombia. The plant will produce biodiesel from locally sourced crude palm oil
(Bioenergy Insight) Vecoplan has executed a fixed-price contract with Fulcrum BioEnergy, to design, engineer, install and commission a municipal solid waste (MSW) feedstock processing system for Fulcrum's Sierra BioFuels Plant. Fulcrum has developed a reliable and efficient process for converting MSW,
(Walta information Center/2Mercato) Ethiopia has blended 12.5 million liters of ethanol with benzene in the past fiscal year, according to the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy. Bezuneh Tolecha, Public Relations Head at the Ministry, told Walta Information Center (WIC) Ethiopia
by Julien Hall (Platts) Philippines ethanol import volumes will decline in the next few years as domestic production is boosted by a shift from a number of potable ethanol producers towards fuel-grade ethanol, Luis Villa-Abrille, president and COO of the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Newlight Technologies has signed a 20-year take-or-pay off-take agreement with Vinmar International for 1 billion pounds of AirCarbon PHA. Critical to the deal? Newlight’s catalyst aims to transform the economics of PHA-based plastics, solving
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing landmark green chemistry technologies developed by industrial pioneers and leading scientists that turn climate risk and other environmental problems into business opportunities, spurring innovation and economic development. “From academia
(Algae Industry Magazine) Biocrude oil obtained from hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of algae can be an energy-efficient replacement for the fossil crude oil normally used in the production of fuels. HTL is a high-pressure, high-temperature process that allows scientists to
(DEINOVE) DEINOVE (Alternext Paris: ALDEI), a biotech company developing innovative processes for the production of biofuels and bio-based chemicals using Deinococcus bacteria as host strains, announces that it has reached the third and penultimate milestone of its DEINOL project supported
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) First plant will produce 14 million gallons per year by 2018; first production train online in 2017. More plants to come? Up to 150 mgy potential in Europe, ArcelorMittal says; culmination of work since 2011. In
(Alcon Corporation) Alkcon Corporation (the "Company"), a developer of natural gas processing equipment, has entered into an exclusivity agreement and a Letter of Intent with Flogas Group ("Flogas") of Leicestershire, England. The agreement grants Flogas the exclusive right to market and sell the
by Milsa Vijayadharan* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Hybrid Electric-Biodiesel Buses used in California, Washington and Michigan Model Lower GHG Emissions Options for Cities Everywhere Public transportation plays an important role in green and sustainable practices. Public transportation use means fewer cars on the road and a cleaner environment.
by Sean Lin (Taipai Times) The EPA said more than 100,000 tonnes of biodiesel per year are made from recycled cooking oil, which have an estimated total value of about NT$3 billion The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) yesterday showcased the manufacturing
(FORDAQ) The Swedish Energy Agency (SEA) is investing SEK 180 million (€19,2 million) in two new research programs to develop more efficient and cheaper principles of the biofuel production. - We stake on the necessity of biofuels for achieving the society's ambition
by Bill Brandon (Biofuels Digest) Can Cooperation Survive Within a Non-cooperative Economic System? I say yes it can, but we should not assume it is only a voluntary cooperation. Forty-five years ago we made a major transition in our fuel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... 31 Algae players, what do they make now, and how are they making out? ... Here’s our company by company guide to 31 of the players on the scene — project developers and technology suppliers. ... AlgaEnergy AlgaEnergy is
(US Department of Energy) The Energy Department today announced six projects that will receive up to $18 million in funding to reduce the modeled price of algae-based biofuels to less than $5 per gasoline gallon equivalent (gge) by 2019. This
by Bill Mah (Edmonton Journal) The company behind a refinery to turn fat and grease into renewable fuels says the pilot plant could soon offer another local market for Alberta farmers and cut greenhouse gas emissions at the same time. Edmonton-based
by Tom Redmond and Yuko Takeo (Bloomberg Business) The future of Japan’s biofuel industry may be pond scum. Or more specifically, green algae that’s swirling around in tanks on a tropical Okinawan island. That’s what Mitsuru Izumo and his company
by Johannes Escudero, Tim Cremins and Jose Mejia (The Sacramento Bee) Despite California’s leadership in green energy promotion, our state is a woefully lopsided net importer of clean biofuels. State lawmakers have a golden opportunity to correct this unfortunate paradox by
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory/NewsWise) Lignin–hemicellulose simulation demonstrates potential for predictive modeling using NAMD -- Turning trees, grass, and other biomass into fuel for automobiles and airplanes is a costly and complex process. Biofuel researchers are working to change that, envisioning
(EFE/Fox News Latino) Brazil's ethanol producers called at the Ethanol Summit 2015 in Sao Paulo for bolstering sales of the biofuel, which has lost market share to petroleum derivatives in recent years, in an effort to have a more balanced
by Payal Marathe (Argonne National Laboratory) We ask a lot of the land: feed the world with crops, power the world with bioenergy, retain nutrients so they don’t pollute our water and air. To help landscapes answer these high demands,
(Algae Industry Magazine) OriginClear Inc. and partner AlgEternal have announced that, based on AlgEternal’s field tests, they believe their pure algae concentrate, harvested with OriginClear technology, may reduce conventional fertilizer cost by up to 40 percent. AlgEternal reported these findings
(Jamaica Observer) The country is looking to produce its own biofuel and increase the current mix of ethanol in petrol to about 20 per cent. This is according to Principal Director, Policy, Planning, Development and Evaluation Division, in the Ministry
by D'Lyn Ford (North Carolina State University) The same process plants use to respond to environmental stress acts as an on/off switch for a key enzyme in wood formation, NC State researchers have found. The discovery improves scientists’ understanding of how lignin,
by Rachita Prasad (Economic Times/India Times) Gulf Petrochem will set up a Rs 1,000-crore ethanol manufacturing plant in India, according to a top company executive, as the UAE-headquartered entity seeks to leverage on the government's mandate to blend ethanol with petrol. It
by Chanchal Pal Chauhan (Economic Times) Government plans to introduce flexible-fuel policy for the automotive industry to promote new sources of alternative energy and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels that has been a major burn on forex reserves. In the first
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) After a House vote of 44-9, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has signed a bill that exempts biomass-derived carbon dioxide emissions from regulation under certain air pollution laws. The bill defines biomass as nonfossilized and biodegradable organic
(Michigan State University) Converting large tracts of the Midwest’s marginal farming land to perennial biofuel crops carries with it some key unknowns, including how it could affect the balance of water between rainfall, evaporation and movement of soil water to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Drop-in Hydrocarbon fuels made directly by plants? Here. we look at the science and risks of turning an “ability” into an “industrial reality”. It’s common knowledge that terrestrial plants (and many aquatic species) use carbon dioxide,
(Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Renewable Fuels Association member company East Kansas Agri-Energy recently hosted key officials from the U.S. EPA at its facility in Garnett, Kansas, 70 miles southwest of Kansas City. EPA personnel toured the 45 million gallon per
(Northeast Woody/Warm-season Biomass Consortium - NEWBio) As the largest supplier of shrub willow planting stock in the United States, Double A Willow is a critical link between research and the commercial development of renewable energy. ... Double A Willow in Fredonia, New
(BioPower Operations Corp./Biomass Magazine) BioPower Operations Corp. has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Green3Power Operations Inc. (G3P) has won an award to build a $175 million renewable energy facility that will convert waste into ultra-low sulfur synthetic green No.
(Bio-based Industries Consortium/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking, a public-private partnership between the EU and the Bio-based Industries Consortium, has approved the funding of 10 projects totaling €120 million ($132.66 million) to boost the EU capacity to stimulate
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The White House Office of Management and Budget has published a statement of administration policy that details its opposition to several components of an appropriations bill pending the in the U.S. House of Representatives,
by Bikash Singh (India Times/Economic Times0 ... NRL is also exploring the possibility of setting up a bio-refinery in Assam to produce ethanol using non-food biomass resources like bamboo. It has already inked agreements with governments of Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal
by Cindy Zimmerman (AgWired) ... Cuba has purchased corn from the United States since the early 2000s, with market share varying widely from as high as 100 percent to just 15 percent last marketing year. The country has purchased distiller’s
by Susan Strongman (New Zealand Herald) In what is claimed to be a world first, from today Aucklanders can top up their cars with Brewtroleum. Kiwis can now use a beer byproduct to fill their cars, with a new biofuel being unveiled
by Amy Bickel (Kansas Agland/The Garden City Telegram) The wheat field here is shaved down to a schoolboy’s haircut, but Courtney Wilson’s harvest is just beginning. “I sometimes feel like a door-to-door salesman,” the man admitted as he stood in a field
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Oil price predictions are all over the map. So, how are biobased businesses coping when no one quite knows what’s up with the incumbent? Amyris, Cellerate and Propel Fuels are three ventures showing the way(s) forward. If
by Richard Martin (MIT Technology Review) New microbes and new techniques show promise for advanced biofuels, but the industry is still years away from real progress. Attempting to chart a path forward for the beleaguered biofuels industry, a group of researchers
by Chris Prentice and Michael Hirtzer (Reuters) ... Betting on exports and robust domestic fuel demand, four companies are finalizing expansions and projects that will add 375 million gallons of corn-based ethanol capacity this year. ... Oil refiners have threatened legal action to overhaul
(Bernama/The Malay Mail Online) Some 1.22 million tonnes of crude palm oil (CPO) from the country’s stockpile will be utilised annually upon the implementation of the B10 biodiesel programme, said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas. The
by Erich Parpart (The Nation) The Energy Ministry has been assigned by the government to help off-load around 5.89 million tonnes of deteriorated rice held in stockpiles with the plan at the first stage to convert around 1.3 million tonnes of
(Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)) Innovative extraction method sources chemicals from algae instead of from imported oils -- Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) welcomed news that The University of Toledo (UT) will receive $50,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support research into
by Becky Kramer (The Spokesman-Review) ... A $40 million research project, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is studying poplars’ potential to produce cellulose-based biofuels. The grove north of Hayden is one of four test plots in the five-year project, which
by Megan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, nearly half of the US Senate has written to the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Energy and the EPA administrator strongly urging the agencies to streamline support of biomass for energy across all
(Malaysian Digest) Barely two weeks after casting doubt on the viability of Malaysia’s B10 biodiesel fuel for car engines, Mercedez-Benz Malaysia today said the fuel is fine after all. In a statement, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia said: “After having initially stated that the
by Michael Dukes (Imperial Valley Press) The Imperial County Board of Supervisors approved California Ethanol + Power LLC's proposal to build an ethanol plant in Imperial County back in 2013, but at the time, significant funding hurdles remained in place
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In a Brazilian securities filing, with respect to the Joint Venture between São Martinho and Amyris, Sao Martinho reports “the non-achievement of certain contractual targets by Amyris, impacting the viability of the project. Thus, Sao Martinho decides
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Seen a number of high-profile cellulosic projects open in recent years, and not much ethanol being produced? Wondered why? Here are answers to your questions. As Jack Webb used to say on Dragnet, just the facts,
by Daniel Gallas (BBC) ... It is widely available in gas stations across the country. The majority of new cars are able to run on either petrol or sugarcane-based ethanol. The government played a key role in boosting this alternative. Ethanol prices
by Jack Busby (ChemistryWorld/Scientific American) Plants on arid land, rather than food crops like corn, could be turned into gasoline, new research shows New analysis from UK researchers suggests a previously overlooked group of plants could be key to providing sustainable bioenergy
(CNBC/Reuters) Livestock feed will surpass biofuels as the main source of growth in global grain consumption in the next 10 years as emerging countries consume more animal protein while lower oil prices and policy changes end a decade of high
(Big Market Research/PR Newswire) Second generation biofuels yield more energy efficient output than conventional fossil fuels and are environment-friendly as well. Other enabling factors such as favourable environmental regulations & policies, investments/funds provided by the North American and European
by Drew DuBois (DuPont Pioneer/MLive) In a recent guest column in the Kalamazoo Gazette, Michael Miller thanked Congressman Fred Upton for working to allow exports of oil drilled in the United States. Rather than looking for new ways to make money by
Eric Atkins (The Globe and Mail) The crash in oil prices will be felt at the farm gate as demand and prices moderate for biofuel crops corn and soybean, says a new report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, AltAir Fuels will begin regularly scheduled deliveries of sustainable biojet fuel to United Airlines LAX operations this year, the airline announced today. AltAir’s Paramount, California-based refinery converts sustainable feedstocks, like non-edible natural oils and
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Distillation Technologies Inc. and Easy Energy Systems Inc. announced an agreement to build and test DTI’s technology at pilot scale. DTI’s patented and trademarked Bubble Spray Distillation system reduces the energy needed for
by Ron Kotrba (Biomass Magazine) The Golden State has borderline personality disorder regarding promotion and discouragement of dairy biogas projects. -- California is by far the No. 1 dairy state in the U.S. with roughly 1.8 million head, concentrated mostly
by Stephen Tsoroti (Financial Gazette/All Africa) Hamstrung by debilitating liquidity challenges, Zimbabwe is missing the chance to improve its revenue position by neglecting the development of biofuels, a renewable energy expert has noted. Clement Shonhiwa, a renewable energy expert and consultant at
by Paul Wafula (Standard Digital News) A sting operation conducted at Mumias Sugar Company premises has uncovered an elaborate network through which some of the firm’s employees have been colluding with rogue Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officials to defraud the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Solazyme took the #1 spot in the 2015 “35 Hottest Companies in Feedstock Development & Supply” rankings, announced today by The Digest, the world’s most widely-read bioeconomy daily, at the Advanced Bioeconomy Feedsrtocks Conference (ABFC
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