by Helena Tavares-Kennedy (Nuu Digest) In Indonesia, biofuel plantations could be central to meeting landscape restoration targets in Indonesia while helping the country meet growing energy demand. Scientists with the Center for International Forestry Research, the Korean National Institute of Forest Science,
(Iran Front Page) A group of Iranian researchers have developed the knowhow to produce biodiesel out of chicken fat. ... In a laboratory project, Iranian researchers managed to carry out nanocatalysis-based synthesis which makes it possible to turn chicken fat into biodiesel. ... “In
by Phusadee Arunmas (Bangkok Post) The Commerce Ministry is proposing three measures to the cabinet over the next few weeks to tackle the domestic oil palm price slump. The ministry also plans to call a joint meeting with modern trade operators to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) IEA Bioenergy Task 33 is a working group of international experts with the aim to promote the commercialization of efficient, economical and environmentally preferable thermal biomass gasification processes. Here, Lars Waldheim of Waldheim Consulting gave this illuminating
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Why the attention? Some of it in the most recent data and news regarding commercial status. TCat-8 has operated for over 2,000 hours with continuous catalyst circulation including a fluid bed reactor, catalyst stripper, catalyst regenerator, quench tower,
by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) At its annual awards reception in New York City last week, Energy Vision, a national nonprofit that researches and promotes low-carbon energy and transportation strategies, presented awards for entities helping speed the adoption of renewable natural gas (RNG). The
(Texas A&M AgriLife Research/Ethanol Producer Magazine) A $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office to Texas A&M AgriLife Research will help researchers investigate potential discoveries for waste products used in lignocellulosic biofuel production, turning them into
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Valmet has announced it will supply its BioTrac biomass pretreatment system to Clariant for use in its 500,000-ton-per-year (16.74 MMgy) sunliquid cellulosic ethanol plant in Podari, Romania. The facility is expected to begin operations in
by Jeremy Fugleberg (Sioux Falls Argus Leader) Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will visit South Dakota on Thursday morning. An initial schedule from the Department of Agriculture indicates Perdue will visit several locations in the Sioux Falls area. He will: Tour the
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) In the U.S. ethanol industry, three plants are under construction, while a fourth makes its way through the permitting process. -- In an industry with more than 200 existing plants, four new projects is a
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Two ethanol producers are adopting quite different innovative technologies to add value to their corn oil—one making biodiesel with supercritical methods, the other making renewable diesel. East Kansas Agri-Energy’s renewable diesel plant has been
by Éanna Kelly (Science/Business) EU Commission and European Investment Bank searching for fund manager to drive private investment in a sprawling sector -- The European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) are launching a new €100 million fund to stimulate private
(Economic Confidential) ... The federal government has dedicated $30 million for the Cassava Ethanol Project at Okeluse in Ose Local Government area of Ondo State. The project, which would be sited on 15, 000 hectares is between the Ondo State Government
(Web India) Commemorating India's first hemp cultivation licence awarded to Indian Industrial Hemp Association (IIHA), the organisation on Monday announced an investment of Rs 1100 crore on industrial hemp in Uttarakhand in next five years with a speculated employment generation for
(Middleburg Observer) A gas to fuel green energy plants to the value of R1,1 billion will be built in Middelburg next year, anchoring the town as South Africa’s flagship commercial ethanol production region. ... A pilot fermentation unit was shipped to South Africa,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BETO has been developing a broad understanding of different conversion processes that produce bioproducts and the associated market attributes. However, there is not much understanding around how investment decisions are made and the possible successful
by Max Witynski (Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) ... For researchers, this means that the more carbon in the crop that ends up as carbon in the fuel, the better. But carbon efficiency may not be the whole story: fuel quality and
by Courtney Wilson (ABC News) Blue agave — which is the base ingredient for tequila — is currently grown on a commercial scale in Mexico, but Queensland's MSF Sugar is aiming to become a world industry leader, with plans to plant
(GESS International) GESS’s plans for biogas plants throughout NC -- including a just-announced facility in Robeson Co. -- promise new jobs and energy sources -- This week, the company announced plans for a $35 million biogas plant in Robeson County, which has
by Jack Laurenson (Kiyv Post) Biomass as a replacement for Russian gas in heating is one grassroots initiative that has become an emerging business, earning real profits for investors. For example, the biogas outlet in Velyky Krupil, Kyiv Oblast, provides electricity
by DeLoss Jahnke (Farm Week Now) NCERC has contributed dozens of technologies being used by manufacturers across the country, and interest in continued collaboration keeps growing. In just 15 years, the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) has become a nationally recognized research facility
(Algae Industry Magazine) Scientists at The Australian National University (ANU) have engineered tiny carbon-capturing engines from blue-green algae into plants, in an innovation that can help boost the yields of important food crops such as wheat, cowpeas and cassava. READ MORE/WATCH
(Enagás/NGV Journal) Enagás and Ferrovial have signed a collaboration agreement in order to explore together opportunities that boost the production and distribution of biogas. Specifically, both companies will analyze projects for the development and operation of plants where biogas, produced at
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The owner of a biomass power plant in Colorado is the latest representative of the bioenergy industry to urge the U.S. EPA to take action to allow biomass power facilities to participate in the Renewable
(AFIQ AZIZ/The Malaysian Reserve) The visit is aimed to provide the EU delegations with a clearer and first-hand exposure to all issues concerned in RED -- The European Commission will hold a consultation process with Malaysian palm oil industry stakeholders next
(Renewables Now) The Brazilian Development Bank, or BNDES, announced on Thursday it is granting a BRL-50-million (USD 13.43m/EUR 11.72m) loan to local ethanol producing company Companhia Agricola Usina Jacarezinho. The funds come through BNDES Giro, a programme available to companies of all sectors
(Trucent/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Sylvatex Inc. and Trucent recently announced successful scale up and blending of MicroX renewable blendstock from an optimized distillers corn oil (DCO) to free fatty acid (FFA) hydrolysis process. The scale up followed completion of development, construction and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of October 17th -- In today’s Digest, edible barcodes, DARPA’s modifying crops, insects, Pivit Bio raises $70M,
(Ace Ethanol/D3MAX/PR Web) D3MAX, LLC and Ace Ethanol, LLC announced they have started construction of the first D3MAX facility at Ace Ethanol's facility in Stanley, Wisconsin. Ace Ethanol will be the first ethanol plant to integrate the patented D3MAX technology with its existing corn dry
(Times of India) UP cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to allocate 50 acre land to Indian Oil Corporation on a 30-year lease for production of ethanol from biowaste. The plot identified for the ethanol plant is part of the property of the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The names seem less settled than the markets or science: is it biogas, biomethane, renewable natural gas, or RNG? Whatever your preferred name, you don’t have to burn it to make it hot — methane of
By Umer Khayyam and Tehzeeb Bano (The Express Tribune) ... Carbon dioxide/greenhouse gas emissions, generated from the burning of fossil fuels, are increasing in Third World societies like Pakistan. ... To negate the negative atmospheric results of non-renewable energy sources, global and regional
by Kevin Zimmerman (Westfair Communications) “It’s a huge problem, both in the United States and internationally,” said REA Operations Manager Eric Metz. “And with population growth increasing, there’s going to be more Brown FOG going into the sewer systems,” which can
(Scania) A partnership between Scania, Lucketts Travel and Green Biofuels has conducted what is believed to be the UK's first trial of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as a sustainable biofuel for scheduled intercity coach operations. The trial, which ran for three
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Fulcrum BioEnergy has developed a “game-changing process for converting municipal solid waste that would otherwise be landfilled, into renewable transportation fuels including syncrude, jet fuel and diesel”. The company recently broke ground on its first commercial project
(Washington Post) For more than a decade, the United States has pursued the foolhardy energy policy known as the Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS. Thanks to legislation passed by a Democratic Congress and signed into law by a Republican president, George
by Mahmood Ebadian and Jack Saddler (IEA Bioenergy Task 39 Newsletter) ... Currently, over 96% of the transportation sector in Canada is fuelled by petroleum products, making this sector the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG) after the oil and gas sector. ... Conventional
(GreenAir Online) Japan Airlines (JAL) has announced a strategic partnership to develop sustainable aviation fuels that will include a 900 million yen ($8 million) investment by the airline in waste-to-jet fuel US company Fulcrum BioEnergy. The other partners include the Japan
by Beth Walker (The Third Pole) Biofuels will dominate future growth in renewables and are essential for decarbonizing the most difficult sectors; China and India should lead the way, argues new EIA report -- ... Bioenergy from liquid biofuels and biogas will
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Illinois, a research team at Argonne National Lab released its GREET 2018 update. GREET is a life-cycle analysis (LCA) tool, structured to systematically examine energy and environmental effects of a wide variety of transportation fuels and
by Jon Harrison (Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association) ADBA Chief Executive Charlotte Morton has this week written to Robert Jenrick MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, outlining the economic and environmental benefits of AD. Highlighting the benefits it can bring in
(University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign/Phys.Org) For centuries, sugarcane has supplied human societies with alcohol, biofuel, building and weaving materials, and the world's most relied-upon source of sugar. Now, researchers have extracted a sweet scientific prize from sugarcane: its massive and complex
(The Star) Once surreptitiously dumped down drains in the dead of night, Asia’s used cooking oil is fast becoming one of the most sought-after commodities in Europe - as a feedstock for biodiesel. Aggressive green energy targets in the European Union that
(nova-Institut GmbH) The winners of the first "Future Protein Award": an insect bar, Proteins made from CO2 and Hemp protein – a guide to the future for modern consumers -- During the new conference "Revolution in Food and Biomass Production (REFAB)",
(PHYCO2) PHYCO2 LLC reached a new milestone in its three-year pilot program with Michigan State University, announcing today the operation of its new, scalable algae production technology reactor, which will reduce the level of carbon emissions produced by electric power generation
(Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) KIT’s researchers succeeded in producing renewable methane from a biomass-based synthesis gas mixture in their pilot plant for honeycomb methanation. The quality of this synthetic natural gas (SNG) is comparable to that of fossil natural gas and
by Bill Keba* (Advanced Biofuels USA) October 2, 2018, Annapolis, Maryland. Inside the Doubletree Inn, it was as hectic as the traffic on Route 50. Eightyfive paid attendees were gathering, registering, networking, and hurriedly settling in for the 9:15 start
by Sam Morgan (EurActiv) The world’s first hydrogen-powered passenger train service began operating in Germany on Sunday (16 September), while EU ministers debated the future potential of the clean fuel at an informal summit in Austria this week. Commuters will be able
(Attis Industries/NewMediaWire/FuturesTradingCharts.com) ... Jeff Cosman, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, explains, "The increased inclusion allowance plays a vital role in the expansion of renewable fuel production. The timing couldn't be better for Attis as we plan to build our first of
by Theresa Duque (University of California Berkeley) A bacterium named Moorella thermoacetica won’t work for free. But UC Berkeley researchers have figured out it has an appetite for gold. And in exchange for this special treat, the bacterium has revealed a more
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Biofuels Digest) On September 30th, the 2018 Farm Bill officially expired. And while both chambers of Congress passed their respective bills, the final version of the legislation that supports the agricultural sector in the U.S. is
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Founded in 2008, Anellotech has developed a clean technology platform for inexpensively producing bio-based chemicals from renewable non-food biomass. These drop-in, green versions of widely used petrochemicals; benzene, toluene and xylenes, are used to make plastics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sustainable intensification of agricultural systems in combination with biorefinery processing can produce more biomass for bioenergy without imposing iLUC. That’s the topic of this illuminating overview from Poul Erik Laerke and Uffe Jørgensen of Aarhus University
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How attractive are systems for Bioenergy Feedstock Production in Sustainably Managed Landscapes for Rural Development? Ioannis Dimitriou, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Dep. of Crop Production Ecology offered this illuminating overview at a recent IEA Bioenergy
(ENI/Webwire) Eni and AMA signed an agreement today (October 2, 2018) to launch collection points for waste cooking oil produced in the homes of its employees which will then be converted into high quality biofuels. -- Eni and AMA, a public company
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) IEA Bioenergy Task 43’s goal is to contribute to sound bioenergy development driven by well-informed decisions in the forestry, agriculture and energy sectors as well as in investment institutions and government agencies. The group addresses critical issues for
(Rutgers Today) Green algae stole genes from bacteria to survive in harsh environments, Rutgers-led study suggests -- Green algae that evolved to tolerate hostile and fluctuating conditions in salt marshes and inland salt flats are expected to survive climate change, thanks to hardy
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) A wholly owned subsidiary of Pacific Biodiesel, Maiden Hawaii Naturals LLC, has introduced Kuleana Sunscreen, a natural, reef-safe product. Made from plant-based oils, minerals and other natural ingredients—including the company’s locally made macadamia and sunflower oils—the sunscreen
by Barry Cohen (National Algae Association) After over 10 years of attempts at collaboration between the DOE Algae Biomass Program/BETO, university algae researchers and commercial algae producers over highly advertised pay-to-play taxpayer funded technologies, NAA and its algaepreneurs have no further
(Times of India) Referring to country's high fuel import bill and rising oil prices, Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari said that Uttar Pradesh, being the largest producer of sugarcane and having a huge potential for manufacturing ethanol, should run
(PM News Nigeria) Indonesia is looking into the possibility of converting two of the country’s older crude oil refineries into plants, for the production of biofuels, a cabinet minister said on Tuesday. The government is conducting a study with Italian energy company
by Michelle Beckford (go-Jamaica.com/University of Technology, Jamaica) The University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Ja.) and Elhydro Limited on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise collaboration in biodiesel production and research. The MoU agreement signed by
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Increasing global demand for energy, a push by governments and industry to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG), and a desire to increase energy independence are driving the demand for renewable alternatives to fossil fuels. As a source
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... And that’s the story of the bioeconomy in some ways — the search for ways to use the things we have too much of, so that we can stop using the things that lead to imbalances
by Staffan Persson (University of Melbourne/Phys.org) ... Our new discovery, published in Nature Plants, shows how plant walls could be manipulated in the future to change the way we produce biofuels, bioplastics and other biomaterials. ... In particular, understanding how to control the production
(Quay County Sun) If all goes according to plan, a long-closed ethanol plant in Tucumcari may be converted into a methane plant and become fully operational by mid-2020. Tucumcari Bio-Energy Co. is hunting for investors and may begin converting the plant to
(NGVA Europe/NGV Journal) In view of the European Parliament plenary vote, the European Biogas Association (EBA), EUROGAS, Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) and the Natural & bio Gas Vehicle Association (NGVA Europe) have jointly underlined the importance of natural and renewable gas
by Nirmalya Behera (Business Standard) About 12 such refineries are proposed in different states in the country. Odisha is the first state where the construction of the projects is going to start -- State-run oil company Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) plans to commission its
by Laura Shields (Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Improving poplar biomass production under stress conditions -- ... Stresses, such as high temperatures and a lack of freshwater, can cause reduced crop growth or even complete loss. The rising frequency of these
(Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials) RSB’s Executive Director Rolf Hogan attended a series of meetings in Addis Ababa to take forward the initiative to develop an aviation fuel roadmap for Ethiopia that was launched at the Aviation Biofuel Summit in March 2019.
by Sheikha Al Maqhus (Times of Oman) Oman is setting up four biogas plants to produce energy from more than half a million tonnes of food waste, the cost of which amounts to above OMR50 million annually for its disposal. The country
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Reliable information is an essential foundation for policy decisions. We are therefore working: to provide a solid database of the de facto development, to develop manageable and summarizing balance sheets and indicators, which aggregate multitude data
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... UPM received some exciting news last week from consultancy company Pöyry about their Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for UPM’s possible Kotka Biorefinery in Finland. Not only has the EIA been completed and submitted to the “authorities”
by Robert Walton (Utility Dive) Consolidated Edison on Wednesday proposed a slate of gas projects and programs aimed at addressing rapidly-growing demand in New York City and Westchester County, which the utility says requires a new pipeline to serve the region's energy
by Bill Keba* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The Mid-Atlantic Bioenergy Conference and Expo (MABEX) was held on September 12 and 13 at the Convene at CityView in Philadelphia, Pa. The Mid-Atlantic Bioenergy Council did well in selecting this terrific skyscraping venue.
by Edwin L. Aguirre (University of Massachusetts Lowell) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a three-year, $1 million grant to a team of researchers from UMass Lowell, the University of Maine and Florida-based Mainstream Engineering Corp. to develop renewable fuel additives
(UFOP (Google translation)) Deeply disappointed and deceived, the European Oilseed Alliance (EOA) sees itself confronted with the completely surprising decision by the European Commission not to introduce retroactive punitive tariffs against the biodiesel quantities imported from Argentina since September 2017 , Last
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, Virgin Atlantic CEO Craig Kreeger, LanzaTech CEO Jennifer Holmgren, a cadre of Virgin Atlantic and LanzaTech team members, industry stakeholders and a group of pleasantly surprised transatlantic passengers have boarded a Boeing 747 for
(Dunkin' Donuts) Actress and Coffee Enthusiast, Olivia Wilde, Incorporates Her Personal Style into the Home That Runs on Dunkin’ -- For years America has run on Dunkin’, and today Dunkin’ Donuts® Coffee at Home is bringing that slogan to life in New York City with
(ACT News) ... Ed Vogel Sr. started the company’s first municipal waste landfill in 1965, the Seneca Landfill in Butler County. More than a decade ago, the Vogel family set out to find a way to utilize the fugitive methane emissions
(ACT News) ... One country that has everyone in the hydrogen industry watching is Norway. The wealthy Nordic country continues to push forward with its ambitious plans for renewable hydrogen production and fuel cell technology for maritime vessels. There is huge
by Julianne Beck (Northwestern University Campus News) A new collaboration led by Michael Jewett, professor of chemical and biological engineering at Northwestern University, will combine recent technological advancements in bioengineering to develop a transformative production system for next-generation biofuels and bioproducts. The
by Neil Lancefield (Perth Now) The first commercial flight powered partly by a new form of biofuel converted from alcohol has been completed. Virgin Atlantic's Boeing 747 aircraft landed at London Gatwick with a fuel blend containing 5.0 per cent biofuel made from
(Business Wire/HES Energy Systems) One century after the start of commercial aviation, HES is joining forces with a variety of partners to pioneer a new form of aerial mobility: quiet and zero carbon, personalized, on-demand, decentralized and economically inclusive of rural
by Nicole Casal Moore (University of Michigan) U-M becomes one of the few institutes in the world working on the problem end-to-end -- With $2 million from the U.S. Department of Energy, University of Michigan researchers aim to make the long-touted promise
by Virendra Singh Rawat (Business Standard) These projects include a mega biofuel plant by SunLight Fuels spanning 90 acres in Sitapur, and costing Rs 15.5 bn -- In a boost to its green energy roadmap, the Yogi Adityanath government has cleared six biofuel investment proposals worth almost
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) IEA Bioenergy Task 43’s goal is to contribute to sound bioenergy development driven by well-informed decisions in the forestry, agriculture and energy sectors as well as in investment institutions and government agencies. The group addresses critical issues for
(DB Breweries Limited/Scoop) Kiwis receive free biofuel when they help ‘save the entire world’ -- New DB Export campaign kicks off with Gull partnership offering Kiwis free biofuel -- As a fuel tax excise hits New Zealand today increasing fuel prices around the
by Joshua Pedrick (S&P Global Platts) The volume of ethanol blended with gasoline is at an all-time high in India thanks to the government allowing a new feedstock in the production process, but continues to lag goals, the US Department of
(Xebec/McGill University/NGV Journal) Xebec Adsorption Inc. will co-develop a prototype reactor to produce renewable natural gas using a power-to-gas (P2G) process with McGill University. This process combines electricity generated from renewable sources with CO2 generated from waste. The project is being
(The Star) Indonesia's biodiesel production could rise to 7 million tonnes in 2019, up 40 percent from an estimated 5 million tonnes this year, due to a new programme to boost local biodiesel consumption, said an Indonesian ministry official on Thursday. The
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) IEA Bioenergy Task 42’s goal is to contribute to the development and deployment of integrated biorefineries as part of highly efficient sustainable value chains (co-)producing food/feed ingredients, chemicals, materials, fuels, power and/or heat out of sustainably sourced
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From California comes the happy news that Sylavatex CEO Virginia Klausmeier is expecting a new child in a couple of weeks, and that the significant scale-up taking place in that department is paired with the news
(Money Control) The initiative at village Bohali with a proposed capacity of 100 kilolitres of ethanol per day will manage crop residue and prevent straw burning before the upcoming paddy season, an official release said. -- The Haryana government on September 10 signed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Why consider biogas to Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)? First, there’s the momentum nationally and internationally on RNG (aka, biomethane, R-gas, green gas, renewable gas). Plus, biomethane is a flexible renewable fuel; and can be used in vehicle
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. In today’s Digest, a new algae/fungi biofuels system, breakthru on sugar yields, biodegradable clothes, Beyond Burger’s monster GHG benefit revealed, Indigo Ag raises $250M, robotic
(Algae Biomass Organization) Following close on the heels of the U.S. Department of Energy’s latest round of algae funding awards, President Trump Friday (September 21, 2018) signed into law a Fiscal Year 2019 spending bill providing an additional $44 million in FY2019 for algae
(Syngenta/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Rep. Jason Lewis, R-Minn., recently toured the Syngenta Seeds Stanton, Minnesota, R&D facility and North America Seedcare Institute and participated in a discussion on the future of biofuels, including home-grown American ethanol. ... “Recently I toured Syngenta’s Seedcare Institute and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) IEA Bioenergy Task 42’s goal is to contribute to the development and deployment of integrated biorefineries as part of highly efficient sustainable value chains (co-)producing food/feed ingredients, chemicals, materials, fuels, power and/or heat out of sustainably sourced
by Wayne Madsen (State Journal-Register) When federal environmental standards are under assault from an administration that appears bent on rolling back the clock to an era of smog and air pollution caused by the use of dirty fossil fuels, now is
by Alena Mae S. Flores (Manila Standard) An umbrella organization of distillers and bioethanol producers asked the government to allow the importation of molasses as feedstock to enable the industry to meet the annual demand of 500 million liters of bioethanol. Center
(Deutsches Maiskomitee eV (Google translation)) The proportionate use of cereal raw materials in the production of bioethanol has clearly shifted in Germany in recent years. As reported by the Deutsches Maiskomitee eV (DMK), the range of products and prices has led to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) IEA Bioenergy Task 33 is a working group of international experts with the aim to promote the commercialization of efficient, economical and environmentally preferable thermal biomass gasification processes. Martin Rüedsegger gave this illuminating overview of the progress
by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Recent reports have underscored the enormity of the global plastic waste issue. There are 9.2 billion tons of plastic waste in the environment and an additional 500 tons of plastics are produced annually.
(G&D Integrated) A new video, entitled “Biodiesel by a Mile”, that promotes the many advantages of biodiesel fuel use versus traditional fuel has been produced and funded by the Illinois Soybean Association checkoff program. G&D Integrated, a provider of transportation
by Marcin Lewandowski (Ecostrat Inc.) Many South American companies looking to develop bioenergy projects are seeking capital in the United States. However, the majority of these companies fail to convince American lenders and investors that their projects are viable (whether
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) IEA Bioenergy Task 33 is a working group of international experts with the aim to promote the commercialization of efficient, economical and environmentally preferable thermal biomass gasification processes. Judit Sandquist gave this illuminating overview of the
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A new study by researchers at Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development has determined current trade disruptions are having a significant impact on the state’s economy, including its ethanol industry. The study examined
by John Downey (Charlotte Business Journal/Mid-Atlantic Bioenergy Council) Wilmington’s Optima BioEnergy operates North Carolina’s only swine-waste biogas plant and had plans for more. Then regulators three a wrench into those plans. Optima BioEnergy has cleared an important regulatory hurdle to building its
(U.S. Department of Energy/Joint Genome Institute/Phys.Org) ... For the highly polyploid sugarcane, an international team of researchers has successfully assembled a first monoploid reference sequence using a targeted approach that focused on the gene rich part of the genome by harnessing
by Parul Kulshrestha (Times of India) Rajasthan, which has to meet a target of 3,700 household Biogas plants in the state under the National Biogas and Management Programme (NBMMP), has announced to provide subsidies for same. The National Biogas Policy that came into force
by Amy Yee (WRAL/New York Times) The kitchen of Ecole Secondaire Kanombe Efotec, a boarding school here, is busy from dawn to dusk while the staff cooks meals for more than 1,000 hungry teenagers. At one time, the school went through about
(Boskalis) Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis) will use a biofuel blend on the project to install the export cable to the Borssele offshore wind farm resulting in a more sustainable realization of this renewable energy project. The Borssele Alpha project is
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) IEA Bioenergy Task 33 is a working group of international experts with the aim to promote the commercialization of efficient, economical and environmentally preferable thermal biomass gasification processes. Kevin Whitty gave this illuminating overview of the progress
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Canada, we hear that Enerkem has tested and validated the production of fuel-grade bio-DME made from unrecoverable carbon-rich municipal solid waste. More than 1,000 hours of operations at its Innovation Centre in Westbury, Quebec have
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Twenty-two students from Marshall High School toured the ADM Corn Processing ethanol plant today to get a better understanding of renewable fuel production. The students, who were from the school’s automotive repair and maintenance class, learned of the various
(SwissInfo.ch) Chemists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) have developed a method that can significantly increase the yield of sugars from plants, improving the production of renewable fuels, chemicals and materials. Producing fuels and chemicals from biomass (for example
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A biorefinery that will produce 16 MMgy of cellulosic ethanol and 120,000 of lignin pellets is set to break ground in Spiritwood, North Dakota, in the spring of 2019. The facility, under development by New
(UFOP/ECOFYS) To report the biofuel content (i.e. the renewable share) of the outputs when biogenic and fossil components are coprocessed, a robust, consistent and transparent methodology is needed. There are several processes for which such a methodology could be relevant. For
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory) Chemists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have demonstrated a practical, energy-efficient method of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from air. They report their findings in Nature Energy. If deployed at large scale and coupled to geologic
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Germany, UFOP published a position paper intended to appeal to decision-makers in politics, business and science on why biofuels can and should play a role in climate protection goals, especially with discussion about food vs. fuel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In a biobased economy renewable raw materials take over the role of fossil raw materials, such as oil. This is extremely important in order to reduce the carbon footprint which has a positive influence on climate
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) To measure the impact that advanced biofuels are having in India, consider that the World Biofuels Day program featured, on stage, Prime Minister Modi, the minister for agriculture, the minister for road transport & highways, shipping
by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) On Thursday, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a bill that requires state regulators to open a proceeding to consider funding biomethane interconnection infrastructure through a gas corporation’s utility rates. The bill, A.B.3187, was authored by Assemblymember
(Bloomberg) The processing plants peppering the agricultural heartland of Brazil attest to the country’s position as the world’s biggest sugar-cane producer and the undisputed king of ethanol made from the crop. But debt has crippled the industry, paving the way for
by Tess Williams (Grand Forks Herald) Mayor Mike Brown is heading to Poland with Keith Lund, president of the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corp., and City Administrator Todd Feland to build partnerships and talk about biofuels. The Red River Biorefinery,
(IVECO/NGV Journal) ... In addition, natural gas offers the possibility for a seamless transition to biomethane and renewable energy, achieving zero emissions and opening the door to a circular economy approach that can go so far as achieving negative emissions and
by Paige Short (Michigan Technological University) Switchgrass is a promising biofuel alternative to corn, but farmers, environmentalists and biofuel developers, find deciding on the right time to harvest particularly thorny. ... The current viable harvest window for switchgrass extends from peak biomass, when
(DNA India) Following the footsteps of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in Amritsar the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee will now set up biogas plants in all the gurudwara complexes in Delhi. The form of energy is considered as one of
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... The battle continues between the European Union and its anti-palm oil stance due to deforestation and environmental issues, and Indonesia, the leading palm oil producing country whose farmers and businesses rely heavily on palm oil. With
(National Biodiesel Board) Allowing year-round use of E15 is a positive step for ethanol, but doesn’t support biodiesel -- Today, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and the American Soybean Association (ASA) wrote President Donald Trump asking that he “provide additional help to
(Biofuels International) South African recycling company Verda Waste is to build a plant that will process coffee waste into biofuel. The plant will be located in Johannesburg and is expected to be built in 2019. The company intends to lead the industrialising
(Biofuels International) At the G7 Environment, Energy and Oceans Ministerial Meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia, global waste-to-biofuels and chemical producer Enerkem announced that it will be exploring opportunities to act against oceans plastic waste and marine litter. After constructing the ‘world’s first’
by Annie Megan Santamaria (Research Matters) Biorefineries which run on microalgae make for unconventional alternatives to satisfy our ever-growing thirst for energy. Studies in the past have proved that producing only biodiesel from microalgae biomass is non-profitable, and hence not sustainable. However,
by Irina V. Chernyshova, Ponisseril Somasundaran and Sathish Ponnurangam (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) The understanding of a catalytic reaction starts with understanding its first elementary step. Surprisingly, despite the large number of studies, it is unclear whether one
(GreenAir Online) Virgin Atlantic will undertake a passenger flight in October using for the first time low-carbon fuel produced through its partnership with LanzaTech. This follows a decision by members of the fuel standards body ASTM in April to include alcohol-to-jet synthetic
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) U.K. biodiesel producer Greenergy has just acquired Singapore-based used cooking oil exporter Rexon Energy. The acquisition comes less than two months after purchasing an idle biodiesel facility in Amsterdam. The acquisition of Rexon Energy will help provide
(Hindustan Times) Though this is a demonstration project, ICT scientists say its capacity can be increased to treat the entire Barapullah drain water. -- In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, wastewater from drains will be used to produce biofuel. Science and technology
(Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment) ... A U of I Crop Scientist will lead a team of researchers on a five-year study of new crops that could contribute to the production of affordable, sustainable sources for market-ready fuels and other
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Southeastern Partnership for Advanced Renewables from Carinata (SPARC) is a consortium consisting of the University of Florida (lead), the University of South Florida, the University of Georgia, Auburn University, and other institutions, government agencies, the civil aviation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of invention and change is just too strong, we’ve realized, to highlight annual or even quarterly or monthly rankings and summaries of significant product and service advances. For now, we’re going to be tracking
by Lauren Colandreo (Bloomberg) ... Last fall, Oregon enacted the Bovine Manure Tax Credit, which offers bovine manure producers and collectors a tax credit for each wet ton of manure collected to be used as a biofuel or to produce a biofuel.
by Cole Latimer (Sydney Morning Herald) startup company backed by energy giant Shell has developed a method to turn carbon dioxide into fuel by adding fake sunlight. US company Dimensional Energy has developed an “artificial photosynthesis” process with a photoreactor that converts carbon
by Joanna Sampson (Gasworld) Macquarie University researchers have teamed up with BOC Australia and Bioplatforms Australia to genetically engineer bacteria that turn sugar into hydrogen (H2). The project has received a $1.1m grant from ARENA, the Australian Government’s Renewable Energy Agency.
by Roger Gilroy (Transport Topics) Diesel fuel still has a large role to play in achieving greater emissions reductions in heavy-duty trucks, experts said during a recent conference in San Francisco. Separately, they urged more in-use testing of engines to verify
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/My San Antonio) The Express-News Editorial Board recently missed the mark, claiming that the Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS, is bad policy. The RFS has boosted local economies, strengthened U.S. energy security and improved overall air
by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) For the first time, Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) will begin offering renewable natural gas (RNG) at its fueling stations. The Sempra Energy utility, which is based out of Los Angeles, will soon use RNG at its 25
Faryal Rumi (Times of India) The empowered standing committee of Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Thursday approved a proposal to hire a a Delhi-based firm to set up a solid waste management plant at Ramachak Bairiya on Patna-Gaya road. The company, AG
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Clariant’s Group Biotechnology — responsible for the Technology Platform Biotechnology — develops tailor-made biotechnological processes for the economic and sustainable production of bio-based chemicals and biofuels. It focuses on bio-catalysis and bio-refining. Innovative technologies for the sustainable conversion of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Idaho, researchers at Idaho National Laboratory have have cut the modeled cost of harvesting, storing, transporting, and preprocessing biomass from $149.58/dry ton to $82.86/dry ton. As INL’s Kevin Kenney explained, “when applying least-cost formulation and blending
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