by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Colorado, Cool Planet Energy Systems and Acritaz Greentech announced that they have signed an agreement to explore the building of multiple commercial facilities in Malaysia. The plan is to begin construction on the first plant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In Florida, Algenol CEO Paul Woods announced at the Algae Biomass Summit that the company has switched reactor system and has reached a peak production of 10,400 gallons per acre and a continuous production in
by Amanda Ferreira (Advanced Biofuels USA) This past summer I had the opportunity to go to Brazil to visit some of my family whom I hadn’t seen for more than five years. A lot had changed since the last time
by Lyndee Stabel (AgWeek) Paying the feed bill has cleaned out bank accounts faster than Jesse James in recent years, as high corn prices left cattlemen everywhere looking for the cheapest, most efficient alternatives. Answering that search, Galen Erickson shared research results
(Algae Industry Magazine) Heliae, a leader in the development of advanced algae production technologies, today announced that it has begun operations at its first commercial facility in Gilbert, Arizona. Utilizing the company’s flexible VolarisTMplatform, the commercial facility will initially produce
(BioenergyCrops.com) A brand new study (2013) found that the projected energy demand (2035) in developing countries, can be covered with energy crops in surplus agricultural lands, then not competing with food production. The study, from the Department of Energy Technology, at Aalto
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Texas, KiOR announced that it is pursuing plans to double production capacity at its Columbus, Mississippi, cellulosic fuels facility through construction of a second facility incorporating KiOR’s commercially proven technology. KiOR estimates that the project
(PR NewsWire/Yahoo!Finance/VANERCO) Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver today confirmed SDTC's financial contribution in VANERCO, the joint venture partnership formed by Enerkem (www.enerkem.com and GreenField www.gfsa.com) to build and operate a cellulosic ethanol facility integrated with GreenField's existing ethanol plant in Varennes, Quebec.
by Brenda Wade Schmidt (Argus Leader) South Dakota-based Poet and its partner in producing ethanol from leaves, cobs and cornstalks plan to open their first cellulosic plant early next year. By summer, Poet-DSM Advanced Biofuels should have any glitches worked out
by Gary Pestoriou (The Hill's Congress Blog) I followed with interest the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearings concerning the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). I became very skeptical of the statements by those representing the livestock and poultry sectors
by Vivek Waghmode (Times of India) Farmer leaders on Tuesday stepped up their demand for permission to tillers to produce ethanol from sugarcane they produce and sell the byproducts. "The Centre has permitted to blend only five per cent ethanol into petrol, while countries like Brazil
(Cordis) ...The EU-funded project 'Biodiesel production from microalgae' (ALGFUEL) investigated new species and processes for the production of next-generation biofuels. The project aimed to identify promising new candidates for biofuel production, and to improve the understanding of microalgal triglyceride production
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Long-term, there are numerous opportunities for developing the right kind of renewable feedstocks based on careful development of agricultural markets and gaining grower adoption. But anyone who has been through the wringer in trying to
By Aino Siirala* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The Bioenergy 2013 exhibition & conference, in Jyväskylä, Finland, was a two-day event organized annually by Benet Ltd., The Bioenergy Association of Finland and Jyväskylän Messut Ltd. The conference included presentations by business consultants
by Rob Vierhout (ePURE/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... The “accountancy-model” IISD used was one-sided, looking only at government expenditure but leaving out of the picture the revenues the industry is generating for government and society. A well-respected company, Ecofys Consultancy, analyzed the
by Jake Ferris (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... The change in stock levels from 2001-’05 accounted for about $1.28 of the $2.49 per bushel increase in corn prices (Table 2)—just over 50 percent. About 18 cents per bushel can be attributed
by Chris Hanson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Similar to the 1970s period of prosperity, Zulauf (Carl Zulauf, economics professor at Ohio State University) says that in 2012 crop prices increased by roughly 200 percent, which he attributes to China’s growing demand for
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... (Bruce) Babcock (the Cargill endowed chair of energy economics at Iowa State University) is more optimistic about the potential for E85 consumption to grow. If corn prices stay low and gasoline prices stay
by Jan Sluizer (Voice of America) ... “It may not seem as big of an impact, but when you’re talking about potentially millions or billions of gallons in the United States, even a five percent reduction or a 20 percent reduction, is
(AgProfessional.com) A new report released from researchers in the Netherlands shows that current models assessing the impact of crops grown for biofuel production on land use do not accurately reflect current production and land use realities. Given the impact of
(The Malaysia Insider) Malaysia and Japan-based Asian Energy Investments Pte Ltd. have launched a $100 million (RM320 million) venture capital fund to invest in clean energy projects in Southeast Asia. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced the launch of the
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Helgaas (Maynard Helgaas, president of Green Vision Group) is saying that commercializing the first energy beet plant is planned for 2014 to 2015. “Energy beets will benefit rural North Dakota communities, because the processing facilities we
(Alpha Galileo Foundation) Researchers at the Iberoamerican University (IBERO) in Mexico City, look to consolidate a pilot biorefinery that will use the waste of various fruits, vegetables, flowers and plants produced in urban and rural areas, to transform them into
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... When he was a little boy, the current lab manager at Pinal Energy LLC used to go to work with his father, Keith Kor. Johannes Kor remembers unwrapping bags of out-of-date marshmallows and putting
by Kaytlyn Leslie (The San Luis Obisbo Tribune) Cal Poly will receive $1.5 million to fund biofuel research, according to a Department of Energy news release. Cal Poly was one of two universities in the country to receive money to research the
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The California legislature recently passed Assembly Joint Resolution 21, which urges federal lawmakers and the U.S. EPA to reform the renewable fuels standard (RFS), transitioning away from first-generation biofuels. The measure was introduced by
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A new report from the International Energy Agency takes a global overview of biomass use in the industrial and transport sectors, identifying leading countries and the top 15 production companies in each sector.
Name of Provider: National Algae Association Type: introduce individuals to the multifaceted concepts of not only strain selection, cultivation, harvesting, and bioproduction methods; but also the economic considerations prevalent in the commercial algae production industry. Course: NAA Algae Production and Certification Course Course description: The National Algae
by Pam Johnson (Fox News) Opinion: ...That critique has been around for years. But it doesn't jibe with the facts. Indeed, Big Oil's call to loosen the nation's ethanol requirements is misguided. Corn-based fuel has proven to be a clean-burning
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Canada, the Biofuels Development Consortium held their 2013 Fall Symposium a little early this year in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada on August 27–28, its first meeting outside the U.S. Sarnia is known for their petroleum industry
by Alice Daniel (California Report) California once grew a lot of sugar beets to supply the state's sugar mills. Most of those the mills are closed now, and farmers have turned to other row crops. But in the Central Valley, growers
(Associated Press/Lincoln Journal Star) South Dakota-based Poet LLC and its Dutch partner say a cellulosic ethanol plant being built in northwest Iowa will open early next year. By next summer, Poet-DSM Advanced Biofuels should have any glitches worked out at the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Landmark cellulosic drop-in biofuels producer releases update on early-stage production: is the increasing gallonage enough to silence the critics? ... In July and August, the Columbus facility produced 172,398 gallons of fuel, bringing the 2013 production
(UPI.com) Algae-derived biofuels can reduce the life cycle of carbon dioxide emissions by at least 50 percent compared to petroleum fuels, a U.S. university study found. The peer-review study -- the first to analyze real-world data from an existing algae-to-energy demonstration
(Algae Industry Magazine) The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) has just encouraged the EPA to include the carbon capture and reuse (CCR) as an approved strategy for compliance under its New Source Performance Standard, a draft version of which was released
by Chris Hanson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) In front of an attentive crowd at the 2013 National Advanced Biofuels Conference & Expo in Omaha, Neb., representatives from Abengoa Bioenergy S.A., Poet-DSM Advanced Biofuels LLC and Ineos Bio presented updates on their
by Anna Simet (Ethanol Producer Magazine) As a precursor to the National Advanced Biofuel Conference and Expo in Omaha, Neb., Sept. 10-12, the Corn Stover Harvest & Transport Seminar hashed over the technological, logistical and environmental issues of using corn
by Leticia Phillips (The Energy Collective/UNICA) ... Let’s turn to the facts to debunk two leading myths circulating around Washington, D.C. about Brazilian sugarcane ethanol. Myth #1: Brazil can’t supply sufficient sugarcane ethanol to meet America’s needs. Reality: Brazilian sugarcane ethanol is on
by Amar Toor (The Verge) Accusations of land grabbing revive debate over "food versus fuel" ... But some experts say that when it comes to biofuels and food security, it’s not an “either-or” question. "At the moment we have a false dichotomy
(Pulp and Paper Canada) A pilot project to convert wood into biofuels has plans to be operational by next February after getting loans from the province of Nova Scotia. The Chronicle Herald reported Aug. 30 that Cellufuel Inc. is receiving a
by Claire Everett (Daily Illini) ... Jody Endres, professor in environmental, natural resources and energy law, said while the USDA and other government agencies employ a variety of methods to encourage the growing of miscanthus for biofuel production, there is no crop
(Algae Industry Magazine) Algae-derived biofuel can reduce life cycle CO2 emissions by 50 to 70 percent compared to petroleum fuels, and is approaching a similar Energy Return on Investment (EROI) as conventional petroleum, according to a new peer-reviewed paper published in
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) ... Argentine ethanol production is much smaller, but on the rise. “I would say that Argentina is moving forward with corn-based bioethanol, but we are betting on sugarcane bioethanol,” Argentina’s Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture Lorenzo
(The United Soybean Board/Biodiesel Magazine) The biodiesel that fuels semis, farm tractors and bus fleets continues to fuel market potential for U.S. soybean oil and profit opportunities for U.S. soybean farmers. In order to meet federal biodiesel-usage requirements of 1.28 billion
(Biofuels International) Biodiesel made via jatropha has been cleared for field trials on trains in India. The Research Design Standard Organisation, a division of Indian Railways, has passed the fuel developed by the Central Salt Marine and Chemical Research Institute to
(GreenAir Online) Amsterdam-based sustainable jet fuel company SkyNRG is to supply Schiphol Airport with a 30% sustainable waste based diesel for its ground transport vehicles. The agreement follows a successful pilot in 2011-12 in which 45 vehicles were tested on
(Biofuels International) Incbio, a Portugal-based biodiesel technology provider, has signed a contract with Biokast Energy to supply an 8,000 tonne capacity a year ultrasonic biodiesel plant for installation in Tunisia, North Africa. The pair expect the plant, to be located in
by Boonsong Kositchotethana (Bangkok Post) Airlines in Southeast Asia have begun to draw up plans to develop affordable and sustainable aviation biofuels. On Friday, the first workshop under the Southeast Asia Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative (SEASAFI) gathered policymakers, regulators, industry stakeholders
(Evogene, Ltd./Biodiesel Magazine) Evogene Ltd., a plant genomics company specializing in enhancing crop productivity for the food, feed and biofuel industries, announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Evofuel Ltd., has completed three years of successful field trials in Brazil for
(The Fish Site) A team of European scientists is on a mission to prove that microalgae can be used to produce bioethanol as a biofuel for less than €0.40 a litre. ... The EU-funded project DEMA ('Direct Ethanol from MicroAlgae') is focusing
(US Department of Agriculture) The Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced another iteration of the Feedstock Flexibility Program (FFP). These invitations are subsequent to the first series of invitations issued Aug. 15. Congress created
(4-Traders.com/Graphene NanoChem plc) Graphene NanoChem (AIM: GRPH), the performance chemicals and advanced materials company, is pleased to announce that PlatClear, the Group's waste-based second generation biofuel and the Group's Senawang chemicals facility ("Senawang") have both received approval from the US
(Netzwerk Biotriebstoffe) The ERA-ARD project “Bioenergy in Africa: Opportunities and Risks of Jatropha and Related Crops” was officially closed at the end of March 2013. Within this project the coordinator published 5 Policy Briefs with the results of the project
by Matzenberger, J., Daioglou, V., Junginger, M., Keramidas, K., Kranzl, L., Tromborg, E. ( IEA Bioenergy Task 40) According to IEA World Energy Outlook 2012, primary demand for bioenergy will strongly increase up to the year 2035, the demand for biofuels and biomass
by Ken Anderson (Brownfield Ag News) Sorghum Field Days are being held at six locations in Nebraska this week. One of the stops will be the John Dvoracek farm near Farwell, where there are more than 50 sorghum varieties planted
(Amyris) Amyris's Farnesene Production Unit would be First RSB-Certified Plant in Brazil The RSB Services Foundation, the implementing entity of the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), a global sustainability standard and certification system for biofuels and biomaterials production, is pleased to
by Julie Hare (The Australian) Researchers from James Cook University are close to producing a low-cost biofuel extracted from seaweed that will be powerful enough to fly jet aircraft. That same seaweed may also have helped to clean up tailings at a
by Alexander Bor (Platts) Ukraine's State Food Grain Corporation, one of the country's largest grain traders, has won a certificate allowing it to export raw materials for biofuel production in the EU, the company said Friday. "After getting access to
by Chris Kick (Farm and Dairy) ...At 10 feet tall and higher, (Jon) Griswold’s “giant miscanthus” surpasses even the tallest of corn hybrids and the tallest of farmers. And its dense, wide-reaching foliage makes for a fort-like appearance from the roads. ...Griswold
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) After taking a leading role in the global first generation wave of ethanol production, here come the Brazilians — with some hot North American technologies in tow — to take on next-generation biofuels and chemicals.
by Josh Bergeron (Selma Times-Journal) ...Algix, a company based in Georgia, opened its newest facility in Dallas County that will help turn catfish-pond algae into biodegradable plastic. “It’s really quite a revolutionary to take algae, which is seen as waste, into a
by Barb Glen (Western Producer) Lower fat content in corn-based dried distillers grains imported by Canadian livestock feeders has caught many by surprise. Feed suppliers and feedlot operators who use the ethanol production byproduct have become accustomed to DDG fat content
by Larry Kershner (The Messenger) ...While employees were treated to a company lunch under an awning outdoors, Bill Day, vice president of media and community relations, held a press conference to discuss the outlook for the Valero plant and ethanol
by Jeff Thomas (Boulder County Business Report) ... “You have to have hydrogen to mass produce renewable biofuels. Natural gas is cost effective and it’s plentiful,” said Steven Silvers, spokesman for Sundrop Fuels Inc. “Every gallon of domestically made biofuel is
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged governments in Eastern Europe to work with industry stakeholders to realise the benefits of aviation across the region. "Aviation connectivity can play a key role in the economic success of Eastern Europe. But
by Raquel Hendrickson (Bugle/Verde Independent) ... The unprecedented project intends to treat and restore ponderosa pine forests in the Coconino, Kaibab, Tonto and Apache-Sitgreaves national forests in Arizona. Now, the massive stewardship contract has been transferred from Pioneer Forest Projects to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As farmer’s markets boom — bringing great foods and prices directly to consumers — what can we learn about the real story of food vs fuel, when it comes to the use of crops that
(Biofuels International) Incbio, a Portugal-based biodiesel technology provider, has signed a contract with Biokast Energy to supply an 8,000 tonne capacity a year ultrasonic biodiesel plant for installation in Tunisia, North Africa. The pair expect the plant, to be located in
by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) One of Cargill’s palm oil plantations in Indonesia used for providing a feedstock for biodiesel is certified as a sustainable operation. The company announced the PT Harapan Sawit Lestari (HSL) plantation was awarded the certification under the International
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The Denmark-based Port of Frederikshavn, Canadian biofuel company Steeper Energy, and Denmark-based Aalborg University have announced a partnership to develop a biofuel plant in Denmark that will produce sulphur-free, drop-in marine fuel from wood feedstock. ... Roughly
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Corn stover. It’s that inedible leftover from the corn crop, and if you’ve ever noted how big a corn plant is in comparison to the size of the ear, you know there’s a lot of
(St. Cloud Times) The Central Minnesota Ethanol Co-op on Wednesday made a deal to allow Green Biologics Inc. to acquire substantially all of its assets. CMEC was established in 1995 as an ethanol company based in Little Falls. Green Biologics, which specializes
by Brett Wessler (Ag Professional) Livestock producers are likely to see shrinking feed costs ahead with one market analyst forecasting lower corn prices as ethanol demand will be “flat-lining” into 2022. Dan Basse, AgResource Company, told the good news to cattle producers
By Reid Detchon (The Baltimore Sun) Our ability to break our dependence on foreign oil is threatened by the effort to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard Oil is essential to our economic and national security because our transportation system runs on
by Krista Daly (Imperial Valley Press) The California Ethanol and Power Project is moving forward with its plan to generate clean fuel from sugar cane and sweet sorghum. Imperial County Board of Supervisors approved seven resolutions Tuesday dealing with water, zoning,
By James A. Foley (Nature World News) An estimated 1 million tons of coffee grounds are generated by java-loving Americans each year, and researchers at the University of Cincinnati have found a way to take what is usually thrown in
(EurActiv) The European Parliament has voted to limit the use of fuels made from food crops because of fears that biofuels can push up grain prices or damage the climate, further undermining the once booming industry. Lawmakers voting in Strasbourg on
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Midori reports they have broken through on a 100-year quest for low-cost cellulosic sugars. And found a way to turn your cotton tees into sugars, too. About a year ago, a little-known company called Midori Renewables
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... (Paul) Bertels (vice president of production and utilization for the National Corn Growers Association) said the harvest should bring in about 12.9 billion bushels of corn, the third largest crop ever and just 100
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Atlantic Council for Bioenergy Co-operative, in partnership with BioAtlantech New Brunswick, has released a report demonstrating a strong business case for the development of a biofuels industry in the Atlantic region of Canada.
by Tony Fitzpatrick (Washington University/Algae Industry Magazine) Synechocystis 6803 – a versatile, specialized cyanobacterium – can produce ethanol, hydrogen, butanol, isobutanol and potentially biodiesel. And it’s a natural at converting CO2 to useful chemicals that could help both tame
by Tererai Karimakwenda (AllAfrica.com/SW Radio Africa (London)) New clashes between local villagers and the police in the Nyamukwakwa area of Manicaland have been attributed to activists within ZANU PF, who are allegedly instructing the police and officials at the
by Dave Keating (European Voice) Members of the European Parliament are scheduled to vote next week in Strasbourg on a controversial proposal to limit the amount of conventional biofuel that can be used to meet an EU target for transport fuel. The
(The Economist) Energy technology: Making large amounts of fuel from organic matter has proved to be more difficult and costly than expected ...As well as being available to countries without tar sands, shale fields or gushers, biofuels can help reduce greenhouse-gas emissions
(Flagship Ventures/PR NewsWire) New Venture is Commercializing a Novel Catalytic Process to Convert Non-Food Biomass Into Sugar Flagship VentureLabs announced today that Midori Renewables is globally deploying their Breaking the Biomass Barrier™ technology, a novel catalyst that melts non-food biomass into
by Diane Dietz (Register-Guard/Associated Press/San Francisco Chronicle) The oil that cooked game day french fries at Autzen Stadium Saturday afternoon will be shipped to Salem, mingled with oil that cooked Kettle Chips and converted into biodiesel, which fans with diesel-burning
(Ontario Federation of Agriculture/Farming Sources) A value chain consortium presented their final report to local corn producers on a business case for sustaining a commercially viable cellulosic sugar plant in southwestern Ontario to support the future production of green chemicals. The
(MoneyControl.com) According to Narendra Murkumbi, blending 10 percent ethanol in petrol will reduce sugar surplus by almost one million to one-an-half-million tonne and that will be beneficial for the sugar industry. Overall, manadatory ethanol blending by the government will have
(Clemson University) Clemson University researchers focusing on switchgrass as a renewable fuel source are looking to fungi and bacteria — nature’s specialists in decomposing plants and animals into elements that can be reused to support life — to help make cost-competitive
(Clariant) Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, has received the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) for its sunliquid® demonstration plant in Straubing (Germany), which was opened in July 2012. The certificate confirms that the cellulosic ethanol from agricultural
(Fort Mill Times) Aemetis California Plant Approved for Same Low-Carbon Biofuels Category as Brazilian Ethanol Aemetis, Inc. (OTCQB: AMTX), an advanced fuels and renewable chemicals company, announced today that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted Aemetis approval to produce
Thomas Blakeslee (Renewable Energy World) ...Though solar electric is the clear winner based on land use, biofuels are still in the race (particularly if commercial scale) designer algae becomes a reality. Biofuels have a gigantic advantage in remote areas because
by Thomas Darlington, Dennis Kahlbaum, Don O’Connor, Steffen Mueller, PhD (Air Improvement Resource, Inc./(S&T)2 Consultants Inc./University of Illinois, Chicago) ...The European Union (EU) is considering amending its current biofuel policy. The current policy, adopted in 2009, calls for 10% transportation renewable energy target (by
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...ActionAid UK released a report this week focusing on the story of Addax Biofuels in Sierra Leone. As Addax points out, it was not given the opportunity by Action Aid to review the serious allegations in
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The company (Kaiima) started up in 2006, and by 2009, the results were starting to show in castor beans. Castor oil is a good source for a variety of applications, including biofuels — but castor
by Vickie Vaughan (Fuel Fix) Valero Energy Corp. has been making adjustments to its investments in renewable energy. This year the San Antonio refiner quietly pulled out of a partnership to build a cellulosic ethanol plant while a second plant in
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Waste-to-energy firm Fiberight LLC plans to break ground on a solid waste recycling plant in Marion, Iowa, as soon as December. Once complete, the facility will process municipal solid waste (MSW) into feedstocks for
by Mickie Anderson (University of Florida) ... Many research teams in academia and private industry are struggling, however, with one vexing problem with algae as a fuel source: The conditions that promote algal growth aren’t the same as the conditions that
by Erica Sullivan (AgriNews) ...A faculty-and-student duo piloted the Purdue Embrarer Phenom 100 to the recent Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture, one of the largest international plane shows. One of the airplane’s engines was filled with typical jet fuel, and the other
by John Ramsey (Fayetteville Observer) ...Researchers say Southeastern North Carolina is uniquely poised to become a national leader in biofuel production for two primary reasons: The coastal Bermuda grass now grown on hog farms goes virtually unused because the hog waste
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... When you first harvest a forest or other biomass, you take all that carbon that’s been sequestered — if you use the “first cut” for energy or fuels, that carbon is released. Now, in the world
by Rod Santa Ana (AgriLife) Second-generation bioenergy plants could be released in two years ...“Unlike corn, or even switchgrass, sugarcane is unique in that it can be crossed with different species, including sorghum, to create new plant varieties with favorable traits that
by Ben Phalan (The Guardian) Even so-called 'good' biofuels need safeguards to ensure that they don't damage biodiversity or displace other crops ...Agricultural expansion and intensification are among the greatest of all threats to wild nature. Each year, millions of hectares of
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) With 53 percent raw material content, rapeseed oil remains the most important raw material source for the production of biodiesel in Germany, followed by palm oil with 25 percent, and coconut and soy oil at
(University of Wisconsin Foundation) Lady beetles and energy to power your car or your lights may not seem as if they belong in the same sentence until you visit Professor Claudio Gratton, an entomologist working in the Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI) at
by Alan Bjerga and Marvin G. Perez (Bloomberg) A glut of corn has damped interest by biofuel makers in a U.S. government program to sell surplus sugar for ethanol, potentially decreasing its effectiveness in propping up sugar prices. With the U.S.
by Janell Baum (Farm Futures) National Corn Growers President Pam Johnson says NCGA membership ready to move forward on the farm bill; reinforces stance on Renewable Fuel Standard It's a common refrain at the 2013 Farm Progress Show – what will
(Biofuels International) Ghana-based Smart Oil, active in the production of renewable energy from jatropha curcas and subsidiary of Italian company Smart Oil 2, has signed a license and services agreement with Quinvita, a developer of jatropha as a sustainable bioenergy
(Antara News) "Right now, we need an immediate solution to the current account deficit. The government will overcome the deficit by reducing imports, particularly fuel oils," Chief Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa said. Indonesia is taking steps to reduce its fuels imports
(La Prensa) UNAM researchers are in the process of design and construction of a pilot plant for the production of quality biodiesel, edible oil from waste collected from restaurants and hotels of the Federal District, the product obtained would be
by Evan Halper (Los Angeles Times) It's even possible that conflicting state and federal policies on renewable fuels, both aimed at reducing global warming, could actually make things worse, some scientists say. California and the federal government want drivers to use
by David Shaffer (Star Tribune) Shipping container with a portable unit is on display at the fair. One of the more unusual farm implements at the Minnesota State Fair is a big metal box with no tires, steering wheel or windshield.
(Biofuels International) Diamond Green Biodiesel, a joint venture between Valero Energy and Darling International, has reached capacity during its start-up phase. The plant, based next to Valero’s St Charles refinery in Louisiana, began operations in June and uses animal fat, used
(SG Biofuels/Biodiesel Magazine) Energy crop company SGB Inc. (SG Biofuels) announced it has achieved consistent germination rates of more than 95 percent with its top-performing JMax jatropha hybrids in a range of high-stress growing conditions. Jatropha is a nonfood energy
(Green Fuels Ltd./Biodiesel Magazine) As U.K. diesel prices sit at around £1.40 a liter, it continues to make biodiesel at around 30p a liter a very attractive alternative, not to mention the benefits to the environment biodiesel provides. The price of
(Environmental Defense Fund/Biodiesel Magazine) A case study released today from Environmental Defense Fund and E2 examines the benefits of biodiesel, profiling six companies in California helping to revolutionize the industry. Growing production in the state shows California companies have started capitalizing on this diverse, low-carbon
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Ontario Federation of Agriculture recently announced that a value chain consortium has presented a final report to local corn producers, showing that it is commercially viable to establish a cellulosic sugar plant in
by Lynn Grooms (Farm Industry News) Soon after hearing about Big Oil’s numerous challenges to the Renewable Fuel Standard, attendees of the Fuel Ethanol Workshop this summer, heard from producers forging ahead to commercialize cellulosic ethanol. The placement of these
by C. Boyden Gray (The Washington Times) ANALYSIS/OPINION: A media campaign is underway to malign a cleaner, cheaper challenger to gasoline’s virtual monopoly on transportation fuel. If it succeeds, this campaign will deprive American drivers of the next generation of high-octane,
by Jacob Barker (Columbia Daily Tribune) A giant grass grown through a federal program with MFA Oil didn't work out too well as a biofuel at Columbia's municipal power plant. A report sent to the Columbia City Council on Aug. 5
by Allyson Horn (ABC) The Planning and Environment Court has accepted changes made to a proposal to build an ethanol processing plant in north Queensland. Austcane is planning to process one million tonnes of sugarcane each year to produce the ethanol.
by Kathryn Diss (ABC) "I was led to believe that after about five years when these mallee trees matured, that we would be able to move forward with this and there would be a facility in place for us to be
(UPI) Saskatchewan scientists have sequenced the camelina sativa genome. Saskatchewan scientists say they have sequenced the camelina sativa genome, an important step in the development of sustainable biofuels. The genome sequencing discovery was announced by scientists from Saskatchewan firm Genome Prairie, the
by Simon Lewis (Cambodia Daily) The U.K.’s fraud office plans to request the extradition of a British national currently detained in Cambodia, after it brought charges against four people for their part in a $36 million Ponzi scheme involving a
by Jane Black (The Washington Post) In high summer, fields of wildflowers bloom at Tony Thompson’s Minnesota farm: gray-headed coneflowers, phlox and white prairie clover. Those plants are designed to do more than just beautify. They prevent water runoff and
by Nesru Jemal (All Africa) Over 8.6 million liters of ethanol has been blended with benzene and supplied to local market over the concluded fiscal year, the Ministry of Mines and Energy said. According to Bizuneh Tolcha, public relations and communication director with
(4-Traders.com) Guyana's first ever bioethanol demonstration plant was commissioned today at what was regarded the start of an agro fuel revolution in a country that is leaning aggressively towards a renewable energy pathway. The plant located at the Albion Estate on
by Paul Tullis (The New York Times) ...But big drawbacks have prevented the wholesale adoption of trash-to-gas technology in the United States: incineration is polluting, and the capital costs of new plants are enormous. Gasification systems can expend a tremendous
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In China, Dr. Martin Tangney recently appeared at the TEDxWanChai meet-up in Hong Kong, with a talk entitled “Biofuels, Whiskey and me”. It reflects on Tangney’s experience of establishing the UK’s first Biofuel Research Centre and spinning
(Algae Industry Magazine) The National Algae Association (NAA) has announced that a new commercial algae production cultivation system has been developed at the NAA Test Center in The Woodlands, Texas. The new Algae Growth Cell (G-Cell)™ was developed by AlgaeEquip,
(Globe Newswire/Gevo) United States Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado toured and met with Gevo, Inc. (Nasdaq:GEVO) today to discuss the importance of renewable fuels and chemicals for Colorado and the U.S. economy. Senator Bennet met with Gevo executives including chief executive
by Carl Zulauf and Nick Rettig (Ohio State University/FarmDocDaily) ... Corn processed into alcohol for fuel was not a factor in the 1970 period of farm prosperity. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) data series on this demand component does not
by Bruce Barcott (OnEarth.org) Imagine a future in which airliners run on cornstalks and Navy ships ply the oceans on tanks of switchgrass. That day may at last be inching closer. The promise of cellulosic biofuels sounds like a fable out
by Maryanne (Airline Fleet Management) LAN as flown Columbia's first flight using second-generation biofuel. It operated an A320 between Bogota and Cali using fuel from a plant called (camelina) ... LAN flew its first camelina biofuel flight between Santiago and Concepcion, South
by Rick Smith (The Gazette) Solid waste recycling facility could divert waste from landfills in the region ... The Marion City Council Thursday unanimously approved a deal with waste-to-energy firm, Fiberight LLC, which gives the Maryland-based firm permission to build a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The complete Cool Planet story. What is it? Why transformational? What are the next steps? New venture will convert wood waste to gasoline. In Louisiana, Cool Planet Energy Systems CEO Howard Janzen, flanked by Louisiana Gov.
(Algae Industry Magazine) After a successful 2012 race season powered with yeast biodiesel, the Aggie A-Salt Streamliner, as the dragster is officially known, topped 73 miles per hour this week during its algae-fueled debut. The roadster, with a .8 liter
by Lucia Kassai (Bloomberg) Roberto Rezende Barbosa, one of the largest shareholders in Cosan SA Industria & Comercio, is considering building a $150 million ethanol mill in Paraguay, where profits are higher than in Brazil. ... Rezende Barbosa may expand into neighboring
by Erik Tyger (KTIV.com) ...Ethanol plants tend to offer farmers a better price for their corn and use more of the plant, putting corn at a constant state of high demand. Once the alcohol has been removed from the corn
by Les Harrison (SouthEast Farm Press/UF Extension, Wakulla County) A canola cousin, carinata produces oil seeds that can be used to make an alternative fuel which is virtually indistinguishable from petroleum counterparts. Researchers at the University of Florida’s North Florida
by Kevin Flanigan (WeAreCentralPA.com) The huge ethanol plant in Clearfield County is currently running near capacity. A number of farmers who help supply the plant with all of the corn it uses got an up close look at the operation. Farm
Abstract submission is now open for the 36th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (SBFC). The 36th SBFC will be held April 28-May 1, 2014 at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Hotel in Clearwater Beach, Florida. The deadline for abstract submissions
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... But is the real RINsanity the focus on RINsanity itself? We might be more focused on the insanely huge amounts of energy demand that are coming, and what the heck we are going to about it,
by Tildy Bayar (Renewable Energy World) In a leaked draft proposal for a European biomass policy, seen by REW, the European Commission has laid out sustainability criteria for the Union’s future biomass use. The proposal would require a minimum greenhouse gas
by Alan Ohnsman (Bloomberg) ...Mimicking the way plants turn sunlight and carbon dioxide in the air into energy and oxygen, the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis at the California Institute of Technology is in a race to trump nature and slow global
by Tim Rudnicki (Minnesota BioFuels Association) Race horses can’t remove their blinders, but thoughtful, engaged people can remove their metaphorical blinders to understand energy issues and ideas that surround them. When it comes to fueling our motor vehicles, big oil would
by Herman Wang (Platts/The Barrel) It’s hard to get excited over a producer making a scant 2 barrels/day of crude. But in the case of Sapphire Energy, those barrels represent the beginnings of a potential revolution that it says could upend how
(Pacific Biodiesel Technologies/Biodiesel Magazine) Jatropha harvesting began last week at the Hawaii Pure Plant Oil (HIPPO) farm founded in 2008 by father and son partners Christian and James Twigg-Smith. HIPPO has planted a total of 200 acres of jatropha in
(Borneo Post) The Microbiology Research Group at the University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Biotechnology Research Institute has developed a simple and easy way to produce biofertiliser from oil palm fibre empty fruit bunches (EFB) within 40 days. Its senior researcher Dr Md
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... It’s been quite a year on the four-carbon platform — also known as C4, 4C, buta-something, Fantastic Four, or what have you. Though two-carbon fuels such as ethanol have long dominated the biofuels market — and
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