(Weltec Group/NGV Journal) As of 1 August 2018, Nordmethan GmbH, a company of the WELTEC BIOPOWER Group, has taken over a biogas plant in Südergellersen, Lower Saxony. The German specialist for the development and operation of biomethane and biogas plants will
by Bhanvi Arora (Bloomberg Quint) India will soon announce a policy—including deciding on a Goods and Services Tax rate—on the use of bio-fuel in aviation to reduce oil imports, said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. “The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) has given primacy to
by Carina Lopez (Xinhua) Massive quantities of Sargassum seaweed are invading Caribbean beaches mostly thanks to global warming and countries should work closely with scientists for a sustainable solution, said a researcher at a leading Mexican university on Saturday. Brigitta Ine Van
(European Commission) EU-funded researchers have discovered a new family of enzymes able to break down wood into its chemical components. The findings may lead to more efficient production of biofuels and other valuable chemicals derived from biomass. -- Wood is regarded as
by Courtney Vaughn (Columbia County Spotlight) NEXT Energy wants to develop 80-acre site near Port Westward, hire 210 people -- NEXT Energy Group, Inc. announced plans in July for a new renewable fuel production site that would yield 37,500 barrels a day of
by KSL (Biofuels Digest/E2IG Solutions) ... The constantly increasing demand for plastics have caused substantial plastic wastes accumulation in landfills, oceans and rivers that have aggravated environmental pollution problems. The rising plastics demand has contributed significantly to the depletion of petroleum
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Founded in 1902 and NYSE listed Since 1924, ADM is one of the premier global agribusinesses and a leading food ingredient provider with 31,000 employees, serving 170 countries and with 500 crop procurement locations, 270 ingredient plants and 44 innovation centers. The company
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From Switzerland comes word of a technology for methanol synthesis plants which capture CO2 from the environment to create renewable methanol fuel. If you haven’t heard of it before, it’s appropriately named Silent-Power. The company produces both
(Camden Haven Courier) Sawmill waste from Herons Creek Timber Mill near Port Macquarie could soon be converted into biodiesel for vehicles and bitumen for roads. Federal Minister for Environment & Energy, Josh Frydenberg, is visiting the mill with Lyne MP Dr
(U.S. Department of Energy/Phys.Org) ... To learn more about glucose, the sugary feedstock of biofuel refineries, scientists want to know where a polymer of glucose, mixed-linkage glucan (MLG), resides in grasses as grass species are a major potential renewable biomass feedstock.
(China Daily) Startup company MotionEco launched an initiative in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, in June to collect waste cooking oil and gutter oil to be converted into sustainable, low-carbon green fuel for use in diesel vehicles. It is one of China's first commercial
by Debra Matabvu (Sunday Mail) Conceived 12 years ago when the country was in the throes of biting fuel shortages, the jatropha biodiesel project – which was premised on cutting the country’s fuel import bill – seemingly suffered a stillbirth. The multi-million dollar
by Hallie Gu, Josephine Mason (Reuters) China corn futures rallied on Thursday after the central government said it would promote the use of ethanol in vehicles, its first public statement on its ambitious biofuel policy in almost a year. China will promote the
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) Syngenta has added two new key account managers to support its expanding U.S. biofuels business, which includes more than 30 ethanol plants across 12 states. Anne Osentowski and Allen Ziegler will be part of a team that supports the
(R&D Magazine/Tokyo Institute of Technology) Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have honed in on an enzyme belonging to the glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) family as a promising target for increasing biofuel production from the red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae. Algae are known to store
(Bloomberg/Hellenic Shipping News) 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
by Jussi Rosendahl (Reuters/EuroNews) Biofuel producer and oil refiner Neste sees good opportunities for its renewable jet fuel despite a cancelled pilot project in Switzerland, a company executive said. The Finnish company is hoping to get a boost for its biofuels business
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Malaysia, Chinese investors are keen to set up bio-processing businesses including a Beijing Sanju Environmental Protection and New Materials Co who is seeking to set up a $200 million plant that will use palm kernel shells,
(Sunho Biodiesel Corporation/Open PR) Using waste grease, pure biodiesel (B100) from ET Process® is a cost competitive alternative to diesel. -- Air pollution in big city remains a major concern worldwide. As indicated by WHO Global Ambient Air Quality Database update in
by Ulysses Smith (Mon Report) Ministers of Production, Environment and Energy of Santa Fe, Tucumán, Salta and Córdoba, created the Provincial Bioenergetic League. After the suspension for 6 months of the reduction of withholdings on flour and soybean oil, they met
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Founded in 2004, Green Plains Inc. is North America’s third largest producer of ethanol. Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, Green Plains has grown rapidly, primarily through acquisitions, and today has operating segments throughout the ethanol value chain. Operations
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A remarkable and usually under the radar company known as Stover Ventures is said to be nearing its once-unlikely goal of raising capital — mostly so far from Iowa farmers — to construct a biorefinery near Osage, Iowa
(Bandit Big Rig Series/Globe Newswire) MN Soybean Research & Promotion Council to promote B20, ‘Indomitus’ truck -- Beards, biodiesel and Bandit Big Rig racing— that’s what’s in store for racing enthusiasts Saturday, Aug. 25 at the Elko Speedway. The Minnesota Soybean Research &
(Joint Genome Institute) ... A diverse group of plant-produced organic compounds, terpenes play key roles in plant growth, defense, and environmental interactions. Terpenes are also economically important because of their use in industrial materials, pharmaceutical products, and as biofuel precursors. Collectively,
(MercoPress) Brazil will likely step down to become the world's second-largest sugar producer on low global sugar prices and higher profitability and strong demand for ethanol, according to a report by Brazilian consulting company JOB Economia e Planejamento. Market incentives for
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Argentina, exporters have been shipping raw, unprocessed soybeans to China en masse, a move the government has put a stop to last week by freezing export taxes on beans at 26% as well as freezing taxes
by Jeffrey Gogo (The Herald) Emerging energy firm Tawanda Energy Ltd has agreed a deal with Egyptian financier and project developer MAFGAIB for the construction of a $140 million plant that converts waste to energy. The deal is still at feasibility stage, but
(American Coalition for Ethanol) The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) announced the official release of a White Paper today (August 17, 2018) entitled “The Case for Properly Valuing the Low Carbon Benefits of Corn Ethanol,” coinciding with a general session panel
by Anahita Bharadwaj (Pennsylvania State University for Advanced Biofuels USA) Energy Days, 2018 at The Pennsylvania State University- University Park, brought together leading researchers, government agencies, industries, non-profit organizations and academics in the field of energy to understand the current challenges
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Calyxt is pioneering a paradigm shift to deliver both healthier specialty food ingredients, such as healthier oils and high fiber wheat for consumers as well as agriculturally advantageous traits, such as herbicide tolerance to farmers. The technology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the EU, perhaps the most comprehensive and useful guide to fuels and chemicals produced from “Recycled carbon fuels”, such as those produced from waste plastics or waste industrial gases, appeared from the gurus at E4Tech. And,
by April Baumgarten (Grand Forks Herald) A Grand Forks biorefinery that will turn sugar beet waste into ethanol will break ground this week. City, state and economic leaders are expected to speak Wednesday at the ceremony for the Red River Biorefinery, an
(Algae Industry Magazine) exander Richter writes in thinkgeoenergy.com that Israel-based Algaennovation last week signed a 15-year contract with Icelandic energy utility and operator ON Power for the purchase of energy and other inputs for small-scale algae production, which the companies say will be the first
(National Biodiesel Board) NBB also proposes multiple solutions to accounting for small refinery exempted volumes -- Today, the National Biodiesel Board filed comments on the proposed Renewable Fuel Standards for 2019 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2020. NBB’s comments respectfully urge the
by Cliff Gladstein (GNA/ACT News) ... It warrants digging a little deeper into the increase in emissions from the transportation sector. Transportation is the largest single source of GHG emissions in California, spewing 39.5% of the state’s total GHG emissions
(University of Idaho National Biodiesel Education Program) The goals of the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program as originally established in Sec. 9004 of the Farm Security Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8104) were to stimulate biodiesel consumption and to stimulate the
(GreenAir Online) Scandinavian airline SAS has signed a letter of intent with Sweden’s largest fuel company Preem to produce renewable aviation fuels using forestry residues and other waste materials. SAS has set a target to replace all its jet fuel used on domestic
(GreenAir Online) A consultation by Norway’s Ministry of Climate and Environment on a proposal to introduce a mandate requiring all commercial jet fuel sold in the country to contain 1% of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from 1 January 2019 closed yesterday. The intention
by O. Kay Henderson (RadioIowa) Republican Congressman Steve King today said the best thing the Trump Administration could do to alleviate farmers’ angst about the trade war would be to allow higher percentages of ethanol to be blended into gasoline year-round. “Let the
(EU Science Hub: The European Commission's science and knowledge service) Future expansion of the palm oil industry could have a dramatic impact on African primates, according to the findings of a new study led by the JRC. The study has been published today (August
(GK Today) The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil) initiative to enable collection and conversion of used cooking oil to biodiesel. Under this initiative, 64 companies at 101 locations have been identified to enable
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In today’s Digest, let’s look at trends driving the industry’s results at scale — and while money is not the measure of all progress, it is the ultimate yardstick and especially for companies that have reached
by Tiffany Lane (KSNW) Residents expressed concern Wednesday night over a proposal to build a biofuel plant in Sumner County. A Michigan company is hoping to build a plant near Belle Plaine that would convert wheat straw into renewable gas. The company says the
(National University of Colombia/NGV Journal) According to Ower Rolando Barreto, Master of Environmental Engineering at the National University of Colombia (UN), “we could have a biogas reserve until 2030 if we started to treat waste for fuel generation,” with a biogas
Chiranjeevi Kulkarni (Deccan Herald News Service) The Centre’s push for ethanol, touted as an effective tool to cut oil imports, may not get a positive response from sugar mills with owners expressing concerns about 28% GST on molasses and low subsidy
by Akane Okutsu (Nikkei Asian Review) Japanese startup Nippon Biodiesel Fuel is set to launch its AgriNet website that connects farmers with other sectors -- such as agrimarkets, equipment dealers and banks -- transforming the way agricultural regions do business. Among other functions,
by Rebecca Moore (Passenger Ship Technology) Red Funnel has been spinning several plates this year – from beginning construction of a £10M (US$14M) ferry to launching its latest catamaran, Red Jet 7, and trialling a new biofuel. ... In terms of alternative
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
(University of Exeter) Trying to tackle climate change by replacing forests with crops for bioenergy power stations that capture carbon dioxide (CO2) could instead increase the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, scientists say. Biomass Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) power
by Sarah Kent (Wall Street Journal) In the global push for cleaner energy, one Finnish oil company fuels its growth by making diesel from animal fat -- One of the best-performing stocks in the global oil sector this year is a company
(Canola Council of Canada) Today (December 19, 2017) the European Commission published an implementing decision that will allow Canadian canola continued access to the EU biodiesel market. The decision affirms the greenhouse gas emission reductions achieved when Canadian canola is used to
by Caroline Ochieng, Francis X. Johnson and Anne Nyambane (Stockholm Environment Institute) This paper synthesizes the current knowledge about the impact of biofuels on ecosystem services. -- Biofuel feedstock production can be a significant driver of landscape modification, ecosystem change and biodiversity
(Ingenza) Ingenza is pleased to announce a collaboration with the University of Dundee and Drochaid Research Services on a highly innovative project that aims to reduce the waste carbon dioxide generated by industrial biotech manufacturing applications. Funded by Zero Waste Scotland,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ReadiJet contains the same molecules and has the same performance as petroleum jet fuel, all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It meets Jet-A, Jet-A1, JP-5, JP-8 fuel specifications without the need for blending with petroleum. ReadiJet
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Aemetis Inc. released second quarter financial results on Aug. 9, reporting increased revenues and gross margins. The company also reported process being made with its Riverbank cellulosic ethanol plant, including engineering, environmental permitting and EPC
by O. Kay Henderson (RadioIowa) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s acting administrator met privately with Iowa commodity group leaders at the Iowa State Fair today — but Andrew Wheeler told reporters afterwards there is no decision yet on regulations that would
(NGV Journal) Wisconsin-based Ponderosa Dairy has partnered with ... DTE Energy and Rev LNG LLC to break ground on a state of the art natural gas processing facility at the Pagel Farm in Kewaunee. The new plant will create renewable
by Rod Boshart (Sioux City Journal) Democratic gubernatorial candidate Fred Hubbell called out Gov. Kim Reynolds Saturday for not taking a more-aggressive public stance on behalf of Iowa farmers and rural interests being hurt by President Trump's trade war with China
by Helena Taveres Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Texas, Andeavor announced a project to convert the Dickinson Refinery to process 12,000 barrels per day of renewable feedstocks, including soybean oil and distillers corn oil, into renewable diesel fuel. The project is expected to be
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... “About 1.3 billion tons of food is lost or wasted every year – an estimated one in three mouthfuls of food every day,” according to Alessandro Demaio, Chief Executive Officer of the Norway-based EAT, an international
(CNGVC/NGV Journal) As the California Legislature reconvenes for its final 2018 session, the California NGV Coalition (CNGVC) has high hopes for legislation benefiting alternative fuels industries. One bill—AB 2061, which supports clean trucks—is likely to pass the Legislature. Passage of a
(NGV Journal) Icelandic geothermal power utility ON Power has announced it will start the experimental production of hydrogen at its Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Plant, near Reykjavik. The project is a European research project in collaboration with Icelandic companies Orkan, owned by
by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... Biogas – Turning Hog Waste into Resources -- Biogas technologies turn organic wastes, including manure, into energy and compost. When manure is turned into biogas, the smells, poor health effects, and methane
by Lexy Hamilton-Smith (ABC News) Two cars powered by hydrogen derived from ammonia will be tested in Brisbane today thanks to a Queensland breakthrough that CSIRO researchers say could turn Australia into a renewable energy superpower. ... For the past decade, researchers have
by Tom Joslin (Bio-Based World News) ... Few of you will have escaped the heatwave that seems to have enveloped most of the northern hemisphere. Soaring temperatures exceeding 46°C have been recorded in Alvega, Portugal, while seventeen of eighteen of the countries
(IPT Group) The Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) and IPT Energy Center (IPTEC), with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Lebanon, signed an MOU to install a pilot plant for the production of biodiesel from
by Joe Wertz (NPR/StateImpact Oklahoma) The American West appears to be moving east. New research shows the line on the map that divides the North American continent into arid Western regions and humid Eastern regions is shifting, with profound implications for
by Utpal Bhaskar (Live Mint) Centre plans to invest Rs 10,000 crore and build 12 biofuel refineries -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said biofuels will help boost farm income, aid India’s energy security and create jobs, in a cleaner environment. Speaking
by Chrysa Glystra (S&P Global Platts) The hot and dry weather that has swept across Northwest Europe over the summer months has seen grains prices skyrocket but has also increased demand for animal feed, including dried distillers grains, a by-product of ethanol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What’s up with biogas? The U.S. market has lagged in the development of biogas facilities because of the low cost of electricity, natural gas and vehicle fuels derived from petroleum. The passing of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS)
(Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants) The English-language working paper analyzes the current state of sustainability certification and standardization in the bio-based economy with the help of a comprehensive secondary analysis supplemented by a series of expert interviews. The
by Olga Koltsova (Innovation Origins) Vertoro is Spanish for “Green Gold“. The founders clearly had their end product in mind when they started thinking of a brand name. Vertoro, a spin-off from The Chemelot Institute for Science & Technology (InSciTe), valorises the technology of
(U.S. Grains Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) In a global trade environment challenged by tariffs and tensions, emerging markets for grains and ethanol provided a bright spot for U.S. farmers, agribusinesses and industry officials at the U.S. Grains Council’s 58th Annual Board of
(Pöyry/Biomass Magazine) Gasum Ltd has awarded Pöyry with the engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services assignment for Topinoja biogas plant expansion project in Turku, Finland. The work will be carried out between May 2018 and June 2019. The energy company Gasum
by Andy Banker (KPLR11) Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill spent the primary election day visiting biofuel plants in Missouri. “Happy Primary Day,” McCaskill said while getting off her campaign bus to tour MidAmerica Biofuels in Mexico, Missouri. It was her last stop before heading
by Yu Wang, Ming‐Hsun Cheng, Mark Mba Wright (Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining) Converting corncobs into fuel ethanol is different from converting stover because cobs have higher hemicellulose and lower lignin than stover. Current research provides life‐cycle assessments of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
(Inventure Renewables/PR NewsWire) Facility in Taizhou, China Will Process Waste from Soybean Processing into High Value Oleochemicals -- Inventure Renewables has announced an agreement with Wilmar International and Desmet Ballestra Group to begin construction on a new facility in Jiangsuprovince, China. The
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) US-based White Dog Labs have developed a new process that eliminates the production of CO2, a potent greenhouse gas, during fermentation and instead shifts the carbon to added ethanol production, boosting fermentation yields by around 50
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We eat it, we wear it, we burn it, we glue it, we live in it and more. Feedstock that is — crops and residues of the municipal, industrial, agricultural and forest type. We’ve been reporting
by Elizabeth Montalbano (Design News) Researchers at the University of Turku in Finland have discovered a novel way to develop biofuel from green algae. -- ...One of the most promising alternatives has been molecular hydrogen, which provides carbon-free power in one of the
by Craig Laufer* (Advanced Biofuels USA) After hearing from many speakers at the BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology, one recurring theme from the sessions I attended was the application of digital biology, synthetic biology in silico modeling, machine learning
A crude oil refinery in North Dakota is working on repurposing to make renewable diesel instead of petroleum fuel. Destin Singleton, an Andeavor spokeswoman explained that the proposal builds on a pilot project at the refinery that processes vegetable oil and
(My Plainview) The owner of a small crude oil refinery in North Dakota is seeking to convert the facility to process vegetable oil into renewable diesel instead of continuing to make petroleum. The Andeavor Dickinson Refinery applied for an air quality permit
(Velocys) The USDA has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact on the environmental assessment report for Velocys’ planned Mississippi biorefinery. Velocys plc (VLS.L), the renewable fuels company, announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a Finding of
(Bioenergy Insight) A food waste-to-energy plant in Wiltshire has become the first in England to be certified under the Anaerobic Digestion Certification Scheme (ADCS). The Bore Hill Farm Biodigester in Warminster, Wiltshire is run by Malaby Biogas and processes inedible food waste
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In New Mexico, the state’s Museum of Natural History and Science has launched an online exhibition called Bio-AI that allows users to grow an algae crop—or fail and lose the crop—using an online game “Growing Green Goop”
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Green Biologics is focused on the production of renewable n-butanol and other C4 chemicals from various renewable feedstocks, including sugar (cane, molasses, beets), starch (corn) and cellulosic biomass (corn residues, sugar cane bagasse, forest materials and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In November we reported that POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels achieved a major breakthrough in cellulosic biofuels production at its Project LIBERTY plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa. The company has solved the critical challenge in pretreatment, overcoming what has been
by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) has announced new grant funding for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LNNL) and Stanford School of Engineering’s Spormann Laboratory to conduct new power-to-gas research. The two entities will also receive $800,000 from the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The US Department of Energy’s Billion-Ton Report: Advancing Domestic Resources for a Thriving Bioeconomy says that 1.2 billion tons of biomass would be available at $40 or less per ton by 2040, and 1 billion tons would be available
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The European Court of Justice has ruled that organisms altered via genome editing are GMOs and subject to GMO regulation in Europe, including warning labels for foods. And in the US, President Trump announced $12 billion in
(Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuel Initiative) ... Feedstocks: The companies are pursuing various feedstock categories, including algae, cellulosics, lipids, sugars, oilseeds, tall oil residue, and sugars. Most of the companies were only pursuing one feedstock category, with only a couple continuing
by Yasmin Tayag (Inverse) Who says a rock-solid grease clot has to be a bad thing? -- ... The new Water, Air, & Soil Pollution paper shows how future Fatty McFatbergs (that’s what Brits named the biggest one) can be used to churn out methane — a “clean” fuel that, when burned,
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) IHS Markit published a plastics report saying that the market value for biodegradable polymers exceeds $1 billion and will rise sharply by 2023 thanks to increased plastic regulations and bans in Western Europe. But it’s not just Europe
(nova-Institute) The equivalent to decarbonisation in the energy sector is a transition to carbon from renewable sources in the chemical and plastics industries. The nova-Institute published a position paper on the future of chemistry. The chemical industry may only develop into
(Advantage News) Passersby can’t help but notice the 12-foot tall corn growing in front of The NCERC (National Corn To Ethanol Research Center) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s University Park. SIUE students are working the “Feedstock Diversity Showcase” that features not only
(U.S. Grains Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Increased global bioethanol use is only a well-constructed policy decision away in markets like Argentina and Chile. The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) traveled to both countries in June to investigate their existing ethanol markets and discover
Marcelo Teixeira (Reuters) Brazilian cane mills will continue to prioritize ethanol production over sugar output well into the next crop season as high oil prices boost demand for the biofuel, millers and consultants said. Even with sky-high ethanol stocks, due to a
(Florida Department of Environmental Protection) On July 9, 2018, Governor Rick Scott issued an Executive Order for Glades, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties to help combat algal blooms (HABs) caused by Lake Okeechobee water discharges from the
(ICRISAT) To help the government achieve the national ethanol blending targets of 20% by 2017, private sugar mills and the public sector research institutes are collaborating with ICRISAT to identify and test sweet sorghum varieties suitable for ethanol production. A total
(ANTARA News) The Trade Ministry seeks to enhance strategic partnerships with the US, including with the world`s largest aircraft manufacturer Boeing, which is expected to be mutually beneficial to both parties. Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita visited the US this month to
by O.C. Cluss (Daily Trust) The Federal Government is to focus more on the development of jatropha production as part of efforts to diversify the nation’s economy, the Director-General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Dr. Hussaini Doko Ibrahim, has
by Stephen Moore (Plastics Today) Brazilian resin supplier Braskem has introduced an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer derived from sugarcane. The first application of the material is in a flip-flop footwear product developed by San Francisco-based Allbirds and dubbed Sugar Zeffer. ... Allbirds
by Lisa Steyn (Buisness Live) Government incentives spur the JSE-listed firm to transform cow manure into natural gas at dairy farm in California -- JSE-listed Montauk Energy has struck a deal with a dairy farm in California where it will for the
by Igor Houwat and Andrew Hagen (Michigan State University) The lab of Cheryl Kerfeld has announced a breakthrough in manipulating miniature factories, found in bacteria, that hold much promise in the biotech field. The factories, called expand iconbacterial microcompartments, are widespread in nature
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From Portugal comes the news that SilicoLife was awarded with a SME instrument phase 1 grant for the commercial evaluation of its BUTANOVA technology, a new biological process to produce n-butanol. BUTANOVA technology consists on a novel
(Algae Industry Magazine) Jags Pandhal is a senior lecturer in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, at the University of Sheffield, in the UK. His research involves biological resource recovery utilizing algae from landfill leachate at 300L scale. This project
by Gayatri Suroyo and Tabita Diela (Reuters) Indonesia, the world’s biggest palm oil producer, is offering incentives to developers of a new 100 percent palm oil-based “green diesel”, which the net oil importer hopes can replace costly fuel imports within three years,
by Ross DiMattei (ABC-7) Suspending freshwater releases from Lake Okeechobee is only a temporary solution to the water quality issues in Southwest Florida. -- You may have seen a proposal for a more permanent solution circulating on social media that would
(Algae Biomass Organization) This month the momentum for supporting technologies that put carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to good use got a boost in Congress with the introduction of the bipartisan Carbon Utilization Act of 2018. The House bill would
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The US Department of Energy’s Billion-Ton Report: Advancing Domestic Resources for a Thriving Bioeconomy says that 1.2 billion tons of biomass would be available at $40 or less per ton by 2040, and 1 billion tons would be available
(Biofuels International) $4 million AUD (€2.5 million) in funding is set to be provided to Australia’s Southern Oil Refining for a pilot plant which will turn biosolids from sewage to crude oil. According to a statement, the demonstration plant will be
(NTA) The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), on Wednesday pledged that more than five million jobs would soon be created to alleviate the unemployment levels in the country. The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru, said this in a
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Malaysia, the Borneo Post reports that the Belgian ambassador to Malaysia suggested the country set up a separate diplomatic mission in Brussels specifically to lobby the European Union’s 28 countries, especially on issues such as palm oil.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In March, EcoStrat CEO Jordan Solomon announced the US Standards for Biomass Supply Chain Risk (BSCR) this year. This has been an ongoing 3 year USDOE/BETO project which we are leading with Idaho National Labs for
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 Jessie Stolark (Energy and Environmental Study Institute) On Wednesday July 25, the House Energy & Commerce Committee held a hearing to educate members on the complexities of the compliance markets for biofuels, as Environment and Economy Subcommittee Rep. Shimkus (R-IL),
(Lancaster University) Current crop yields could provide nutritious food for the projected 2050 global population, but only if we make radical changes to our dietary choices, a new study shows. Researchers from Lancaster University have analysed global and regional food supplies to
by Cliff Gladstein (GNA/ACT News) In early July 2018, renewable natural gas (RNG) began to flow into Southern California’s natural gas distribution system from a state-of-the-art high solid anaerobic digester (HSAD) in Perris, California, that processes organic waste that would otherwise have been
(North American Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance) A digitized sourcebook that offers a wide range of knowledge and expertise on the concept of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) is among a series of products put out by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in
(Purdue University) Hoosier farmers will have to adapt management practices and the types of crops they plant over the next several decades as they deal with the repercussions of climate change. That’s according to a new report from the Indiana Climate
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) The European Biogas Association (EBA) and Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) have collaborated on a comprehensive map of all known biomethane installations currently running in Europe. ‘European Biomethane Map 2018’ lists over 500 units on the continent, and according to
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) The plant in Skogn, Norway built by Biokraft in collaboration with Norske Skog Skogn AS produces at full capacity 25M m3 of biogas per year that will be upgraded and liquified to be used in buses, trucks, vans, and possibly
(Wärtsilä/Biomass Magazine) The technology group Wärtsilä has reached an agreement to acquire Puregas Solutions, the Sweden-based provider of turnkey biogas upgrading solutions. Puregas is a leading player in its field with subsidiary companies in Germany, Denmark, the U.K., and the USA.
(Renewables Now) The Argentine government is looking at lifting the volume of ethanol in gasoline to 27%, Energia Estrategica reported this week. Following Mauricio Macri's election as president, the bioethanol blend in gasoline was raised to 12% from 10%. Further increases
by Bernadette Christina Munthe (Reuters) Indonesia aims to make the use of biodiesel blended fuels compulsory for all vehicles and heavy machinery from Sept. 1, Renewable Energy Director General Rida Mulyana said on Wednesday, amid efforts to reduce the current account deficit
by Will Brandau (Association of Warm Season Grass Producers) The Association is experiencing success meeting our primary objectives. 1. Promotes the planting and use of warm-season grasses I know of 4 producers expanding the acreage they maintain. We have 3 new producers planting for
by Morgan Downing (KAKE) ... VNA Corporation wants to build a biofuel plant north of Wellington. The company plans on harvesting natural gas from wheat stalk. It says it will be new source of revenue for Kansas farmers. "To me, it's a smart move,"
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Vertimass technology was originated at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where scientists discovered novel catalysts that convert a wide range of alcohols into various hydrocarbon blend stocks which can be used in existing gasoline, diesel and jet
(GMA News Online) To arrest the detrimental affects of plunging price of copra, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and industry stakeholders are urging the government for the immediate implementation of the Biofuels Act of 2006 or Republic Act No. 9367. The RA
by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) TruStar Energy, a developer of compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations, has hired Juan Reina as its new director of biogas – a strategic move for the company to start supplying CNG sourced from biogas. Reina will
by Marcelo Teixeira (Reuters) Second-generation ethanol production is overcoming the technical difficulties that had slowed its development and is now seen as commercially competitive with oil prices near $70 per barrel, industry representatives said on Thursday. As countries worldwide prepare to deliver
(CNG Fuels/NGV Journal) CNG Fuels is opening a renewable biomethane refueling station at Northampton as part of the UK’s first large-scale study of how CNG can help slash road transport emissions. The project, which has received funding from the Office for
by Andy Stiny (Santa Fe New Mexican) ... And those lawn clippings? They could be used to convert algae into a mass-produced, economical biofuel to be used in cars, trucks and airplanes. Molecular biologist Amanda Barry and a team at Los
(VNG/NGVAmerica/NGV Journal) On July 23, U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) introduced HR-6476 the Light-Duty Natural Gas Vehicle Parity Act of 2018 in the US House of Representatives, a companion to Senate bill 3226 introduced by Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) on July
by Catherine Clabby (NC Health News/Carolina Public Press) Good news about hog waste can be scarce in this swine-rich state. But success at converting swine waste into usable renewable energy seems to be gaining steam. For the first time, this year a bioenergy
(Press Trust of India/Business Standard) The government is taking various measures, including focusing on biofuels, to ease the cost of crude oil import, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Monday. He told the Lok Sabha that the government is focusing on biofuels such as first and second generation
by Kurt Liedtke (Herald and News) On Wednesday, members of Red Rock Biofuels, political dignitaries, corporate representatives and a large community contingent gathered on the outskirts of Lakeview for a groundbreaking ceremony for the $320 million renewable fuels facility. Taking
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Sorghum sights are set high with EPA approval and recent genetic improvements -- ... U.S. EPA opened up pathways for sorghum oil to become renewable fuels. ... Sorghum is a grass grown in many places and regions around
by Catherine Clifford (CNBC) A bacteria found in the gut of a rabbit can now help cars run in a more eco-friendly way. The bacteria, identified by biotech start-up LanzaTech, helps turn factory carbon emissions, a.k.a. pollution, into ethanol .... ... "While there are many sustainable
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 Byron Dorgan (Arent Fox LLP/National Biodiesel Board/The Hill) ... A recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report released to Congress on the environmental and resource conservation impacts of biofuel production deliberately misses the mark because of what it excludes. The EPA authors note that
(Office of Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE)) U.S. Senator Deb Fischer, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, issued the following statement today after participating in an event at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to announce an approved fuel pathway for grain
by Sam Nejame (Promotum/Biofuels Digest) ... Both Butamax and GEVO have suffered mightily over the last few years, but the people, who have hung in there and put their careers on the line to make it happen may indeed have finally
by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) In partnership with Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc., the City of Toronto, Ontario, is making moves to operate a facility that will turn biogas into renewable natural gas (RNG) to fuel the city’s garbage trucks. Later this year,
(National Sorghum Producers) On May 25, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice of data availability (NODA) concerning renewable fuels produced from grain sorghum under the RFS program. EPA’s analysis shows grain sorghum, when used to make ethanol at
by Bethany Jensen (Ignite Utah State University) With the increase of global climate change effects, many local bodies of fresh water are experiencing dangerous toxic algae blooms. These are detrimental to water recreation, to agriculture, and to the natural ecosystem. They
(Press Trust of India/Business Standard) The company started the pilot last year with Unicon Biofuels, and has so far scaled it up to cover 85 restaurants in the city -- Hardcastle Restaurants, the master franchisee for McDonald's in the western and southern
by Erin Adler (Star Tribune) Garbage-to-ethanol plant in Inver Grove Heights still needs approvals. -- Plans to create the country’s first garbage-to-ethanol plant in Inver Grove Heights are progressing. Yet hurdles remain for Enerkem, the Canadian company that wants to build the
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... Here are some companies that are answering the call for the maritime and shipping sectors with viable biofuel alternatives, the technologies and innovations, the rough waves that still lie ahead, and how they can
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