by Brent Erickson (Biofuels Digest/BIO) ...To be clear, the bioeconomy is the total economic activity from all sectors of the biotechnology industry – pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture and industrial biotechnology. With biotechnology we can help, heal, fuel and feed the
(Renmatix) BASF is participating with $30 million through BASF Biorenewable Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG in the American technology firm Renmatix Inc. The BASF subsidiary led a $50 million financing round, joined by new and existing investors. The technology company Renmatix
(Bloomberg) Range Fuels, Inc.,..., a closely held U.S. cellulosic ethanol company that was offered $156 million in federal government backing, sold its only factory to LanzaTech NZ Ltd. as part of a government-approved liquidation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture in October approved
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Nigeria, Bloomberg and several local outlets are reporting that the Nigerian government has signed a $2.55 billion development deal with Global Biofuels, to construct 15 integrated biorefineries throughout the West African nation. According to reports,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...10. Advanced biofuels capacity surges to 1 billion gallons, globally. We see 570 million gallons in capacity from Neste Oil alone; 137 Mgy from Diamond Green, 75 Mgy from Dynamic Fuels, 62 Mgy from KiOR,
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) By the end of January, Atlantic BioEnergy Corp. expects to be producing ethanol at its new $6.2 million demonstration plant in Cornwall, Prince Edward Island. The 79,000 gallon a year ethanol plant will use
by Mary Rosenthal (Algal Biomass Organization) ...Many of you will remember that 2011 began with a discouraging report that claimed algae biofuels could never play a role in US energy security. We at the Algal Biomass Organization (ABO) easily refuted
(Algae Industry Magazine) Since early October, New Mexico State University’s Institute for Energy & the Environment (IEE) researchers have been transitioning from algae operations in the IEE water and energy lab to the Algae Test Bed Facility located at ‘A’
by Angela Monaghan (The Telegraph) The plans, announced in the financial year so far, could create almost 12,000 jobs across the country according to research by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. It came as Mr Huhne reaffirmed the Government's
(PRLog) Alta Vista Securities today (December 29, 2011) announced today a new Bioenergy Joint Venture focusing on the processing of Rice, Sugarcane and Coconut into energy producing Biofuels Pacific Biofuels Corporations will establish three biofuels plants in the Philippines. Each plant
(PR Log) Innovacorp today announced the list of clean technology start-ups moving on to round two of the Nova Scotia CleanTech Open competition. Innovacorp today announced the list of clean technology start-ups moving on to round two of the Nova Scotia
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Despite the promise of methane from anaerobic digestion technology, low natural gas rates and other factors have kept ethanol producers from jumping in with both feet. ...On top of the digester, Western Plains Energy utilizes
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...Brazil began developing its domestic ethanol industry in the 1970s in response to the worldwide oil crisis that hit countries with little to no oil production, including Brazil, extremely hard. Country leaders tasked the
by Derek Mead (GreenTechMedia) Biofuel up-and-comers Codexis and Mascoma both have big news that means cellulosic ethanol production is right around the corner. ...With traditional sugar feedstocks -- and in the U.S., that means corn -- up around $275 a ton,
(Network Indiana) Evansville-based Powers Energy of America is still planning on buying land in south Lake County and building a facility that will convert trash into ethanol in about three years from now. Lake County Solid Waste Management District Executive Director
(German Union for the Promotion of Oils and Protein Plants -- UFOP) The global biodiesel market has shown an exponential growth in production and trade across the past decade. Nowadays, more biodiesel than ever before is sourced from abroad and procurement areas
by Emeka Ugwuanyi (The Nation) As part of contribution to developing and using renewable energy as against the current dependence on fossil fuels, the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) said it has given out $695 million as loans to five companies that
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There were IPOs a go-go, a big comeback from biodiesel. The global ethanol fleet has acquired new popularity amongst advanced biofuels developers looking for capital light steel in the ground. Meanwhile, gasification got hot. Seemed
(MyNewsDesk.com/SEKAB) SEKAB announced today that the company will end the operation and collaboration agreement for maintenance and operation of the Ethanol Pilot, owned by EPAB (Ethanol Pilot of Sweden AB). SEKAB has been working with EPAB to secure the occupancy
(OriginOil) JV receives preliminary funding commitment of $4.5 million to carry out bankable feasibility studies OriginOil, Inc., the developer of a breakthrough technology to extract oil from algae and an emerging leader in the global algae oil services industry, today announced it
by Kevin Bullis (MIT Technology Review) Gevo, a prominent advanced-biofuels company that has received millions in U.S. government funding to develop fuels made from cellulosic sources such as grass and wood chips, is finding that it can't use these materials
by Kevin Bullis (MIT Technology Review) This month, Range Fuels, one of the first companies in a wave of startups that promised cheap biofuels made from sources such as wood chips rather than corn, shut its doors for good and
(MarketWatch/Mascoma) Fully-funded commercial-scale facility Mascoma Corporation, a renewable fuels company, announced today that it has signed a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to assist in the design, construction and operation of a commercial-scale hardwood cellulosic ethanol facility
byJames C. Greenwood and Robert Johnson (The Hill Congress Blog/BIO/National Farmers' Union) Maintaining agricultural productivity in America is indispensable to our economic security, so a safety net for farmers is very important. But abundant affordable clean energy and a healthy
by Robert Pore (The Independent) ...Nebraska's ethanol industry could be adversely impacted if Congress doesn't extend key tax incentives, especially those for cellulosic ethanol, a Nebraska Ethanol Board official said. The incentives that the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) and other groups
(The Wall Street Journal) Review & Outlook: Years before the Obama Administration dumped $70 billion into solar and wind energy and battery operated cars, and long before anyone heard of Solyndra, President Bush launched his own version of a green
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Your calls and emails are always the highlight of our days. Most questions can be answered johnny-on-the-spot. Some are still out there and well worth arguing over. Here are the Top 10 that are still
by Scott Sloan (Kentucky.com/Herald-Leader) The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority board approved tax incentives Thursday for companies, including Maker's Mark Distillery, F.B. Purnell Sausage and Hitachi, that are considering new investments in the state. The approval of tax incentives outlines
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...“The government rushed into investments, with no diligence,” says Codexis chief Alan Shaw. “They are just not industrialists, in my opinion.” Two major announcements this week drive the point home in advanced biofuels. In California, Codexis introduced its
by Luke Geiver (Biorefining Magazine) ...In the letter, the group pointed out the need for programs like the 9003 Biorefinery Loan Guarantee Program offered through USDA. “Loan guarantees are the most cost-effective way to develop new jobs and create these
by Luke Geiver (Biorefining Magazine) ...Spending four days in Minneapolis amidst the largest and most impressive gathering of algae experts in academia, private business and government institutions, would convince anyone that in the algae industry today there is a whole
by Erin Voegele (Biorefining Magazine) The biorefining sector reached an important new milestone this year with at least five companies undergoing successful initial public offerings (IPOs). As we move into the new year, members of industry will take another important
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Minnesota, Warburg Pincus announced that it will invest up to $355 million in First Green Partners, a newly formed early-stage venture capital company. First Green will, in turn, invest in early-stage companies that focus on
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. federal government continually names China as being a country to beat in the clean energy race. However, increasingly, cellulosic ethanol producers and technology developers are coming to view China not as a
by John Harangody (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Atlas Commodity Markets) ...The ethanol market has many diverse participants that view price from different perspectives, including relationships to corn, basis locations, reformulated gasoline blendstock for oxygenate (RBOB) blending, renewable identification numbers (RINs), sugar, crude
by Bret Korsgaard (SeekingAlpha) …Companies like Solazyme (SZYM), KiOR (KIOR), GEVO (GEVO), Amyris (AMRS) and Codexis (CDXS) were generally met with favorable terms in the public markets. The Street seemed to acknowledge that for a time, such public enterprises could
by Christine Boynton (Air Transport World) California-based Byogy Renewables will seek as much as $30 million in funding from private equity and strategic investors by mid-2012, Bloomberg reported. The funds will be used to commercialize its alcohol-based fuel, and for
by Carol D. Leonnig and Joe Stephens (The WashingtonPost) The Obama administration has poured roughly $5 billion in taxpayer funds into the electric-car industry, offering incentives to manufacturers, their suppliers and even car buyers who might want to go green. But analysts say
by Henry A. Stephens (TCPalm.com) The nation's first waste-derived bio-ethanol plant won initial approval Tuesday to avoid paying almost $956,000 in county property taxes during its first 10 years of operation. In a series of 14-0 votes, the county Economic Development
by Mary Rosenthal (Algal Biomass Organization) ...There are four key takeaways from these meetings that I think are critical for our industry as we close out 2011 and plan for 2012. 1. Support for renewable energy overall, and biofuels in particular,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Can PetroAlgae find a market for its feed among the aficionados of alfalfa and fishmeal, with fuels on the side? In its recent IPO revision, it says “sure can”. ... PetroAlgae has filed a massive revision
by Ben Lefebvre (Wall Street Journal) Unable to compete with petroleum products, biofuel companies have found replacement products to sell As advanced biofuel companies work toward creating an economically viable alternative to petroleum, some have found an alternative place to
by Rick Westhead (The Star) ...Indian industrialist Sai Ramakrishna Karuturi has his eye on this lush scenery, too, but he sees something much different: the potential for large-scale commercial farming. Karuturi, from the South Indian city of Bangalore, envisions the fields
(Market Watch BusinessWire) The Carbon War Room, an independent non-profit that harnesses the power of entrepreneurs to unlock gigaton solutions to climate change, and Elsevier, the world's leading scientific publisher, unveiled today RenewableJetFuels.org, the world's first online market information service
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Let’s talk about Range Fuels, the good and the bad. In Georgia, the AgSouth Farm Credit bank, which is the lender of record for an $80 million construction loan that Range defaulted on, is advertising a
by Bruce V. Bigelow (Xconomy) ...Jason Pyle: ...So soon, we will see the U.S. military as the leading customer for crude oil replacements. As pressure rises on the commercial airline industry (which uses most of the jet fuels in the
by Mackinnon Lawrence (Reuters) ...Coming off several years of steady industry growth but facing a difficult 2012, Advanced Biofuels Markets 2011 was tinged with exigency. With deficit reduction at the forefront of policy objectives for Congress, a reexamination of cornerstone
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Amyris and Total exemplify the trend, with their announcement of agreements to expand their current R&D partnership and form a joint venture to develop, produce and commercialize a range of renewable fuels and products. ...1. RMN.
by Margaret Munro (PostMedia News/Canada.com) ...The faster the organisms suck up carbon dioxide, the better, as John McDougall, president of the National Research Council, envisions big things for the lowly microbes.McDougall is a long-time and unabashed promoter of using algae
(CNBC/Reuters) The U.S. military has emerged as a key ally for fledgling producers of non-food-based biofuels, who find themselves threatened by looming budget cuts and growing political hostility to renewable energy funding. A U.S. Navy plan to cut its fossil fuel
by Stefaniya Becking (Advanced Biofuels USA) Advanced Biofuels Markets conference held in San Francisco on November 8-10 provided a great gateway to get plugged into the biofuels industry. The conference offered an excellent line-up of speakers and provided plenty of
by Rachel Z. Arndt (Fast Company) "It's a really exciting time in biofuels and biochemicals," VC Marianne Wu says. "We're looking at massive markets, increased demand, and significant advances in biology and chemistry. A lot of people assume that green
(The Nation) Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Ademola Olorunfemi, has said that the current administration in the state had perfected arrangements to establish three ethanol plants in the state. Olorunfemi, who stated this in an interview with journalists in his
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Texas, Waste Management announced that it has closed an equity investment in Fulcrum BioEnergy. In connection with this investment, WM agreed to a secured loan facility that provides for WM’s funding of up to $70
by Marc Chase (Northwest Indiana) Offering no firm timeline on when money for a proposed trash-to-ethanol plant would be in the bank, a man claiming to be the owner of a Nevada-based hedge fund said he is committed to funding the
by Premalatha Jayaraman (The Sun Daily) Malayan Banking Bhd has launched a US$500 million (RM1.57 billion) private equity fund to invest in the wind, solar, geothermal, small hydro, biomass, biofuel and energy efficiency sectors in the region. Maybank Investment Bank Bhd
by Brent Erickson (Biofuels Digest/BIO) Federal loan guarantees may be scuttled after the Solyndra affair – but should the baby really be thrown out with the bathwater? ...But the programs’ untimely end may coincide with the first commercial successes for advanced
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Here the Digest’s take: for bioenergy, S-Day is about Solyndra and Secretary Chu, but it isn’t really much about bioenergy. Out of an $80 billion authorization for clean energy loan guarantees, and over a six-year
(The National Non-Food Crops Centre) Renewable Waste Intelligence have published a free municipal solid waste to biofuel report, which explores the current state of the market in the US. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is increasingly being used to drive biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biofuels Digest is reporting that global advanced biofuels and renewable chemicals capacity will reach 5.11 billion gallons by 2015, up from 4.37 billion reported in May, and 3.95 billion gallons reported in January, based on
(The Mainichi Daily News) Could Japan become a major oil-producing nation? That's the dream of researchers at IHI NeoG Algae LLC, which is working on extracting oil not from new holes in the ground, but from algae. The company -- a
A brief overview of the numerous programs within USDA that support the President’s Clean Energy Blueprint and how you might be able to access these programs. The rapidly-expanding bio-based sector is just as critical to the US economy as it is
by Abby Schultz (CNBC) ...“We have a lot of customers who are ethanol investors and plants have been very diligent paying down debt in 2011,” says Jason Ward, director of grain and energy for Northstar Commodity. “Kudos to them, but
by Brindaveni Naidoo (Engineering News) Electricity generation and ethanol production from sugarcane could save and create thousands of local jobs, mainly in rural areas, agriculture and property group Tongaat Hulett CEO Peter Staude said on Monday. ... Turning to ethanol production, the
by Graham Warwick (Aviation Week) As airlines launch the first commercial biofuel flights in the U.S., the government is working with industry to scale up production of biomass-derived jet fuel to commercial quantities beginning in 2012. Following the lead set by
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cellulosic biofuels are behind schedule. Can they catch up? What are the barriers, the roles to be played by Washington, developers alike? What are the opportunities for the retail investor? A downloadable report from Pavel
by Luke Geiver (Biorefining Magazine) ...“I came to the U.S. four years ago to really make what we wanted to be on a piece of paper a reality,” she (Sue Ellerbusch, president of BP Biofuels North America) tells Biorefining Magazine. That reality for
by Erin Voegele (Biorefining Magazine) Valero Energy Corp.’s investment in the advanced biofuels sector benefits startups and lends an increased aura of confidence to the industry ...One company that has traditionally been active in petroleum refining has been particularly supportive of
by Steve Kuchera (Duluth News Tribune) A Northwestern Wisconsin biodiesel producer recently opened its first Minnesota station at a former Armor Fuel & Save station on Midway Road just off Interstate 35. A Northwestern Wisconsin biodiesel producer recently opened its first
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, more than 350 delegates gathered at Advanced Biofuesl Markets to set industry priorities for the next six months,seal partnerships, and exchange outlooks on 2012. It didn’t take long for the Top 10 priorities
(Wiley-Blackwell/ScienceNewsLine) The production of ethanol from lignocellulose-rich materials such as wood residues, waste paper, used cardboard and straw cannot yet be achieved at the same efficiency and cost as from corn starch. A cost comparison has concluded that using
(UK.IBTimes) A biodiesel plant that's completely energy self-sufficient has been approved for the Oakland, California area. Oakland-based Viridis Fuels won a long-term contract from the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) to build a 20 million gallon per year biodiesel processing
by Derek Mead (GreenTechMedia) Three newly public biofuel and green chemical firms reveal their financials. A trio of young biofuel firms recently reported their third-quarter 2011 earnings, offering a good glimpse into what's up and coming in the petroleum-substitute sector. Amyris,
(LanzaTech) LanzaTech has just signed its first commercial customer, marking a milestone in the clean energy technology company’s global development. The customer is Concord Enviro Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd (CES), a Mumbai-based company which has broad ranging investments in various forms
(Sapphire Energy) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA has issued a loan guarantee that will allow a biofuels firm to construct a facility in New Mexico to produce "green crude" oil from algae which can be refined into
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In the Race for Scale, the industry has excelled in driving down operating costs. Capital costs have proven more perplexing, and sticker shock has been a hold-back. Feedstock availability at affordable cost and appropriate scale
by Anna Jagger (ICIS Chemical Business) The sugar and ethanol industry is sustainable and competitive against fossil fuels. It is attracting interest from chemical producers looking for renewable feedstocks Brazil's sugarcane ethanol industry is attracting the attention of chemicals producers in
by Angela Brown (Central Plains Herald-Leader) Shell Canada is looking into the possibility of establishing a biofuel plant in the Portage la Prairie area. The facility would be a cellulosic ethanol plant, which is proposed for the area southwest of Portage
by Luke Geiver (Biorefining Magazine) ...The days of seeking big funding through large claims based on even larger unproven visions of algae utilization —at least those that attract venture or other solidified funding—are over. If Udall is right and the
by Robert B. Semple, Jr. (New York Times) ...The federal government has always been in the energy business, and with good reason. Private capital may be good at identifying and incubating new technologies, but bringing those technologies to commercial scale
by Ben Geman and Ariel Katz (The Hill E2Wire) Energy Secretary Steven Chu warned Thursday that a retreat from federal green-energy investments would be a grave economic mistake, but acknowledged that the design of loan guarantee programs could be improved. ...Chu
by Colleen Taylor (GigaOm) Peter Thiel, the tech industry magnate known for co-founding PayPal and being an early investor in Facebook, on Tuesday launched a new program called Breakout Labs aimed at funding cutting-edge, early-stage science and technology research ideas. Breakout Labs
by Luke Geiver (Biorefining Magazine) Debrah Guerin Beresini, CEO of Invencor Inc., a company that manages a debt and equity fund and also acts as a consultant to the cleantech sector, has a simple message for algae project developers seeking
by Erin Voegele (Biorefining Magazine) The 2011 Southeast Biomass Conference & Tradeshow kicked off in Atlanta today. Nearly 325 professionals and 60 exhibitors are taking part in this year’s event, which has a strong regional focus. Jill Stuckey, director of
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Three years ago, ag giants John Deere & Co., Archer Daniels Midland Co. and Monsanto Co. pooled their respective areas of expertise and embarked on an experiment. Each company had its own specific reasons
by Damian Carrington (The Guardian/The Observer) The collapse of Sun Biofuels has left hundreds of Tanzanians landless, jobless, and in despair for the future "People feel this is like the return of colonialism," says Athumani Mkambala, chairman of Mhaga village in rural Tanzania.
(Biofuels International) Energy company Maple Leaf Reforestation (MLR) is to open a biodiesel facility in British Columbia, Canada, using next generation feedstock. ...MLR aims to tap into this market, using the yellowhorn tree as a feedstock, which comes from China
(Amyris) Amyris, Inc. , a leading renewable chemicals and fuels company, announced that it has received final approval from the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) for a R$ 22 million project financing facility for Amyris Brasil Ltda.’s first industrial-scale production facility
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... But here are 10 themes that are shaping up to be the Buzz of the conference. 1. RFS. Hold or Fold? 2. Can Obama find the $510 million? 3. Elections. 4. Fuels, or chems, or something else? 5.
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Expiring biofuel tax credits and a dysfunctional Congress ...But given Congress subsidizing an obviously profitable oil industry, coupled with subjecting biofuels to stringent GHG emissions reductions while the petroleum industry has none, in addition to expiring
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) ...C.J. (Warner, Sapphire Energy's President and Chairman) keynoted at the recent Algal Biomass Summit, attending along with Tim Zenk, Sapphire’s Vice President of Corporate Affairs, who was formerly executive vice president for the Edelman
(PR NewsWire) BlueFire Renewables, Inc., a company focused on changing the world's transportation fuel paradigm through the production of renewable fuels from non-food cellulosic wastes, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with China Huadian Engineering Co. LTD to
(BusinessWire/Research and Markets) Biofuel Consumption in Germany - Industry and Country Analysis provides five forces Industry analysis, along with PESTLE country analysis of Germany. This report concludes with profiles of the leading companies in the German biofuel consumption market. Project Description: Includes market
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The fact that the US government doubled-down, by allegedly subordinating the loan to investments by a pair of hedge funds, during a Solyndra financial reorganization, is going to cost Energy Secretary a headache when he heads
by Barbara Walters (ABC 20/20)Though conspicuous consumption in tough economic times has given the superrich bad press, self-made moguls like ... Lynn Tilton are giving back through various philanthropy and business projects. They're also sharing their surprising stories with "20/20."
by David Shaffer (Star Tribune) The latest clean-tech energy contender pushes toward commercial production, even as federal money is drying up. The ingredient list for products ranging from jet fuel to dietary supplements may soon get an unusual addition: algae. Entrepreneurs who
by Reese Ewing (Reuters) Brazilian joint venture BENRI plans to rate sugar and ethanol mills on efficiency, a new service for the sector that is expected to improve performance of mills and the terms of credit they receive from banks. BENRI, short
(Bangkok Post) Ubon Bio Ethanol Co (UBE), an affiliate of Bangchak Petroleum Plc (BCP), has won a deal to ship 100 million litres of ethanol per year worth 2.4 billion baht to China. The shipments averaging 300,000 litres per day will
by Toby Price (Renewable Energy Magazine) A German-French initiative has culminated in the commissioning of a photobioreactor plant on the French island of La Reunion in the Indian Ocean. The facility which uses microalgae to produce biofuel was supplied this
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...ABO 2011 has offered an opportunity to consider the progress that the algal biomass sector has made in its race for commercial-scale, to marvel at the proliferation of robust business models, and to sneak a
by Bob Brooks (Automotive Industries) A BP executive was quoted recently that biofuels are obtained from “renewable wells” which is an oil man’s way of saying we are drilling for energy as usual but for different raw material. Key to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...There’s a rumor going around the biofuels and biomaterials business that today represents one of the most difficult periods to raise capital. Apparently, the rumors did not reach ZeaChem, Chromatin or Synthetic Genomics, which this
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Overall, there remain more than 100 companies chasing the prize of developing an algae biomaterials project, profitable and at commercial scale. Yesterday (October 24, 2011), on the eve of the annual Algal Biomass Summit, two of
by Alex Morales (Bloomberg) Cellulosic ethanol output may surge starting in 2013, when the first commercial-scale plants “open the floodgates” for the fuel, according to the largest U.S. corn-based biofuel producer. Poet LLC plans to start production in 2013 at a
by Marc Chase (Northwest Indiana Times) The land deal for a proposed trash-to-ethanol plant in Schneider is off, according to county solid waste district officials, and the town's top official questions whether it ever will be built. Schneider Town Council President
by Alex Morales and Louise Downing (Bloomberg News/San Francisco Chronicle) Biofuels face their biggest test yet -- whether they can power fighter jets and tanks in battle at prices the world's best-funded military can afford. The U.S. Air Force is
by Ted Griggs (The Advocate) The Port of Greater Baton Rouge could become the home of a $30 million biodiesel refinery capable of producing 30 million gallons of fuel per year. Alabama Renewable Energy has asked the port for a six-month
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What do they need, you ask? Your insight on, broadly speaking, how to structure the national bioeconomy blueprint, in the case of the US. In case of Canada, how to best structure the Clean Energy
(Amyris) Two Million Ton Sugarcane Crush Capacity to be added in Brazil for High-Performance Renewable Chemicals and Fuels Amyris, Inc. and ETH Bioenergia, a leading producer of ethanol, electric energy and sugar controlled by Odebrecht S.A., have signed a memorandum of
(Algae Industry Magazine) According to a newly published report by Lux Research, multi-billion-dollar acquisitions and a wave of IPOs indicate an impending end to a boom in the nascent bio-based chemicals industry, which received $3.1 billion in venture funding over
Gen. Wesley K. Clark (Ret.) (Biofuels Digest) ... Our nation imagines itself the most free and secure in the world, yet this statistic clearly identifies America’s reliance on foreign oil as a significant threat to our economy and national security. We can no
(Argus Media) Spain's Abengoa is building a 70mn l/yr (1,200 b/d) ethanol plant in Uruguay under a $120mn contract with ALUR, which is 90pc owned by the country's state-controlled energy company Ancap. The plant, to be located in Paysandu department in
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) When Syed Alwi speaks about the algae industry, you get the feeling that he really has his finger on what’s going on globally. He gets around, and is a bit of a kingpin in
by Dennis Picco (Esse Community) Up to 250 jobs are expected to be created in Kayunga District, Uganda, after the launch of the Sweet Sorghum Energy Plant. The plant will use sweet sorghum stems as the primary raw material. The $30m (Shs78b)
by Bryan Sims (Biorefining Magazine) In an industry that’s working feverishly to commercialize drop-in hydrocarbon biofuels and chemicals to diversify America’s technology portfolio and fuel mix for various on- and off-road applications, access to capital is certainly a critical component
by Luke Geiver (Biorefining Magazine) The biomass industry is a new frontier for the team at the Gemstone Group, a renewable energy investment banking firm, and according to Gary Kleiman, founder, his team is looking for opportunities to partner and help
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Copenhagen this week, a coalition of companies and associations involved in aviation biofuels made a strong case for the sector not only as a quick win for biofuels, but as a quick win for
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) Two international organizations are recommending reform of fossil-fuel subsidies to improve the economy and the environment. An analysis by the International Energy Agency(IED) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that governments and taxpayers spent
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.org) A coalition of retailers, producers, equipment manufacturers have formed the Coalition for E85with the stated purpose of protecting consumer access to 85% ethanol blends. According to the coalition, if the current tax credit for ethanol expires at the end
(Biofuels International) Biodiesel producer Argent Energy Group has been awarded £7 million (€8.1 million) from the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to help fund its development. ...Lombard is funding the purchase of innovative equipment that will enable Argent to convert used
by Brent Erickson (BIO/Biofuels Digest) The Renewable Fuel Standard is the key foundation policy supporting the commercial development of advanced biofuels. It is not working as fast as some would like, but given the current economic situation it is indeed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) World leaders say new structures, public-private partnership, required to unlock clean energy, unleash economic growth. Free-flowing discussion in Copenhagen shows directions that reform of clean energy finance might take. ...That UN Secretary Ban Ki-Moon reiterated that
Neal St. Anthony (Star Tribune) ...Two years ago, McNeff's family-owned Anoka company inaugurated a $9 million plant in Isanti, Minn., that produces 3 million gallons annually of biodiesel made from used cooking oil. The approach is based on a discovery
by Marc Chase (Northwest Indiana Times) A Lake County solid waste management official wants to give Earl Powers 90 days to prove he can finance the trash-to-ethanol plant that he pledged more than 1,000 days ago to build. Griffith Town Councilman
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Susan Ellerbusch: Now, at BP there are dozens of BP people who are experts in growing crops design, farm logistics. We are building an agriculture team after having acquired the biotech parts. ...Yes, every move
(Algal Biomass Organization) ABO: What was the original idea behind the creation of the company? Raleigh: My co-founder, Mark Huntley, thought from his experience in algae production at Aquasearch that algae were possibly a major consumer of carbon dioxide if fuel
by Finnigan Wa Simbeye (AllAfrica.com) An ambitious biodiesel project which was allocated over 8,000 hectares of land by Kisarawe district officials in 2008 is in trouble. Employees and casual workers of Sun Biofuels Plc, told Business Standard last weekend that work
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Genencor’s GNext initiative ups the partnering ante, as intercompany structures become a must-understand megatrend. Many observers felt that 2011 would be a lost year for Genencor and Dupont as they wen through the long series of
by John Lourenze Poquiz (Mayaya Business Insight) The government is set to abandon its program of promoting jatropha as an alternative fuel source, an official said. Energy Secretary Jose Rena Almendras said the Philippine National Oil Co. Alternative Fuels Corp. (PNOC-AFC),
(Agrimoney.com) D1 Oils put its hands up to out-of-pocket investors in jatropha, admitting that the once-lauded oilseed had been a "disappointment", as the group unveiled – yet another – strategy shift. Steven Rudofsky, the D1 Oils chairman, acknowledged that the oilseed, which a
by Andrew Smolski (OilPrice.com) ...Let us begin with the thought process of Alexander Hamilton in order to frame the argument of building a new industry within the United States correctly in order to compete on the global market. The gist
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Marie-Helene Labrie said that the company looked for markets where there was effective government support all through the project from R&D, pilot & testing, commercial demonstrations, and full scale commercialization, noting that a “suite of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In financing, Stern Brothers managing director John May said that the majority of advanced biofuels projects were obtaining debt ratings of BBB to single B, which indicated the presence of material technology risk, and that
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In commenting on trends in financing advanced biofuels technologies, Alberti Advisors principal Doug Cameron said that, for seed and Series A rounds, investors generally looked for strong IP, deeply credible, passionate founders; exciting, big disruptive
by Luke Geiver (Biorefining Magazine) For all the gripes, some government-backed programs are working ... (Founder of Westar Trade Resources, Cindy) Thyfault speaks with Biorefining Magazine about the programs that have worked to fund the economic needs of companies such as Coskata
(Times of India) Karnataka has set a target to achieve 10% blending of biofuel by 2017. Karnataka State Biofuel Development Board has taken up initiatives to popularize the concept of bio-diesel in the state. The centre will have a bio-diesel plant which
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 30 billion gallons of aviation fuels demand, and Gevo’s got a technology to produce it, using retrofitted ethanol plants, and a path to fueling planes at parity with conventional jet fuel prices. Game-changer? ...Why are investors
(FIS.com) BAL Chile SA is dedicated to farming algae on the island of Chiloé, and in a second stage, plans to produce biofuels for industrial use. This was announced by Benjamin González, the company manager of administration and finance with origin
by Henry Wanyama (AllAfrica.com) Tana River councillors have asked the National Environmental Management Authority not to revoke a biofuel project licence in the area. Led by Tana River County Council chairman Salim Golo, they said they are happy with the
by Bruce Johnstone (Leader-Post/Star Phoenix) Milligan Bio-Tech Inc. is proceeding with an $8-million expansion of its biodiesel plant in Foam Lake, which will increase production five-fold — making Milligan the largest biodiesel producer in western Canada by the end
by Erin Voegele (Biorefining Magazine) ...While some in the industry doubt that a Congress so focused on debt reduction will extend VEETC and the biodiesel tax credit, Greg Jenner, a partner in Stoel Rives LLP’s tax practice, offers a unique
(PR Newswire/Renmatix) Kleiner Perkins' John Doerr, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, and Amyris CEO John Melo laud company's novel use of super critical water Renmatix, the leading producer of cellulosic sugars, today unveiled the Plantrose™ process, the company's commercial approach to producing
by Seth Meyer and Wyatt Thompson (FarmDocDaily/University of Illinois) ...Biofuel mandates are directly relevant for biofuel producers, and indirectly important to feedstock markets. Biofuel refiners sell outputs that serve fuel blenders in two ways. The biofuel can be mixed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...But underneath all the excitement, one feels just a little bit of desperation – oh, perhaps not just from these companies but their competitors. Everyone knows at some macro level that, while there are hundreds
by Steven Mufson and Carol D. Leonnig (The Washington Post) ...The Obama administration’s vaunted initiative to catalyze the U.S. clean-energy industry — under attack for betting half a billion dollars on the solar-panel manufacturer Solyndra, which closed last month — has become
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) The market for biodiesel-blended heating oil is growing swiftly as oilheat dealers look for ways to green their offerings and supply a product that offers comparable economic benefits to natural gas. The lack of proper
by Luke Geiver (Biodiesel Magazine) ...Professor Jae-Dong Hong of South Carolina State University and his team are getting closer to having the information they need to create a tool that will help fleet managers calculate the costs of biofuels logistics—and
(25 x '25) The 25 x '25 Alliance released a report from the University of Tennessee's Bio-Based Energy Analysis Group demonstrating that millions of new jobs could be created over the next 15 years by pursuing the 25x'25 clean energy
(POET) POET closes on loan to keep construction on pace for 2013 plant start-up POET today (September 23, 2011) received final approval for a $105 million loan guarantee issued through the U.S. Department of Energy's Loan programs Office. The loan guarantee
by Rob Merrick (The Northern Echo) Production at one of Europe's largest biofuel plants will soon be "up and running again" after the Government pledged to come to its rescue, an MP vowed yesterday. In May Ensus said it was temporarily
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