by Candace Lombardi (Green Tech) GE subsidiary GE Energy Financial Services and North Bridge Venture Partners will invest $8 million in a company developing a biofuel production process coupled with the production of biochar. Cool Planet Biofuels converts cellulosic byproducts like plant
by Iris Kuo (VentureBeat/Reuters) ...The good news is, biofuels and solar technology are the most likely of all alternative energies to reach the holy grail of grid parity in the next decade — that is, they may become competitive with
(Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection) Announces Nearly $8 Million for 21 Projects Promoting Biofuels, Natural Gas- and Electric-Powered Vehicles Governor Edward G. Rendell said today that Pennsylvania is cutting its appetite for foreign oil by more than a half-million gallons as
by Christopher G. Standlee (Abengoa Energy/The Hill's Congress Blog) ...(T)here is bipartisan support for answering an urgent national challenge: replacing imported high-pollution petroleum with clean-burning American biofuels. ...There is bipartisan support for biofuels because their development, production and use serve great
(Deccan Herald) Sardine oil, cashew apples, jackfruit are good source of bio-ethanol State Taskforce on Biofuels is ready with several initiatives and programmes to boost the production of biofuels. In coastal districts, the taskforce will produce biofuel using cashew apples, jackfruit
(Fulcrum BioEnergy) Fulcrum Receives Detailed Term Sheet Proposal from DOE Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inc. announced November 16, 2010, that the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) has selected Fulcrum’s Sierra BioFuels Plant to enter the final phase of DOE’s Loan Guarantee Program. Fulcrum has
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In contrast to the “five years away” and subsidy-driven discussions that framed advanced biofuels conversations just two years ago, CEOs are widely reporting that they expect their companies to reach commercial scale within 12-36 months,
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) Since June of this year, Greg Bafalis has been CEO of Aurora Algae, formerly Aurora Biofuels, overseeing the Company’s strategy, operations, and high-level relationships. ...Aurora was founded in 2006 by three gentlemen from U.C. Berkeley.
by Vijaysinh Parmar (Times of India) Scientists from across the country, belonging to a consortium of nine laboratories, are working on an ambitious project called 'New Millennium India Technology Leadership Initiative' ( NMITLI), to develop a viable and scalable process
(Digital Journal/Marketwire) AMG Bioenergy Resources Holdings Ltd. (The Company) announced that it has just signed a Letter of Intent with China Zhejiang Biodiesel Co, Ltd ("CZBC") to acquire the Eucalyptus and Jatropha Plantation assets that CZBC has developed in Guangdong province,
(Financial Express) Shifting focus to its biodiesel programme, Thailand is planning to open large scale jatropha seed based plants to produce the much needed commodity. Analysts said long-neglected jatropha ready for a starring role and a rival to palm oil as
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) Technologies proven at the bench scale and biofuel feedstocks developed or identified are worthless until they come together at a successful biorefinery. Getting there involves a series of choices: new, "greenfield" construction "from scratch" or
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuesl USA) The Renewable Fuel Association's Bob Dinneen started the Cellulosic Biofuels & Biorefineries Summit with a call to the biofuels community--ethanol, cellulosic ethanol, advanced biofuels, renewable and biodiesel--to realize their common bonds and interests. Particularly,
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) Faith and Belief. Most impressive about the 2010 Cellulosic Biofuels Finance & Investment Forum, as compared to the 2009 event, was the whiff of positive belief that somehow, some way, cellulosic biofuels are becoming
(Rentech/Enhanced Online News) U.S. Department of Energy Approves Remaining $19.7 Million of Funding Rentech, Inc., and ClearFuels Technology Inc., jointly announced today that a cooperative agreement has been signed with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to receive the remaining $19.7 million
by Dan Pillar (Gannett/Des Moines Register) The Iowa Power Fund Board voted Wednesday to enter into negotiations with a joint venture of DuPont and Danisco, for an $19.8 million grant for the joint venture to build an ethanol plant in Story
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Previewing the bolt-on biobutanol technology that Butamax is expecting to commercialize with corn as a feedstock by 2012, and sugarcane by 2013-14, Potter confirmed that the company is in discussions for “conversions…that’s with an s”
by Alex Morales (Bloomberg) Global subsidies for renewable energy totaled $57 billion in 2009, International Energy Agency Chief Economist Fatih Birol said today, providing the agency’s first estimate of assistance for the industry. The support compares with $312 billion for fossil
by Philip Brasher (Zanesville Times Recorder) Motorists will use just a fraction of the next-generation biofuels in 2011 that Congress intended, and even that small amount depends on a single project in Iowa that isn't ready yet. ... Cellulose and algae are
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) In a letter hand (delivered) to President Obama this week, RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen urged the Obama Administration to maintain its commitment to the commercialization of cellulosic ethanol and other advanced biofuels. The RFA letter is
(POET/Renewable Energy World) Sebewaing, Elkton stations now offering blends of E30, E50, E85 and more POET Biorefining – Caro has helped two area businesses install new blender pumps, providing more alternative fuel options for drivers in Sebewaing and Elkton, Mich. The plant
(California Energy Commission) Hundreds of Jobs Created in California's Alterative Vehicle and Transportation Fuel Sector The California Energy Commission has approved eight grants that leverage more than $9.6 million in state funding with $11,969,855 in private funds. The projects will reduce
(The Business Journal) A $2-million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) will help to install a testing facility in Hanford to evaluate biofuel production using a crop new to the Central Valley. The grant, part of a $9.6-million allocation across the
by Diane Krieger Spivak (Post-Tribune) Earl Powers said he is ready to answer questions regarding his proposed nearly $300 million garbage-to-ethanol plant. Powers, president of Evansville-based Powers Energy of America, said Wednesday he will attend the Lake County Solid Waste Management District's
by Andrew Herndon (Bloomberg) Oil companies won’t be able to get as much cellulosic biofuel as they might need next year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. EIA, a unit of the Energy Department that compiles industry data, expects cellulosic biofuel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Washington, the Obama Administration developed and has been debating an option to kill the Section 1705 DOE Loan Guarantee program, and transfer remaining funds to a pool for Section 1603 investment tax credits that, as currently
by Cathy Kessinger (TriCity Herald) A $1.3 million grant from Connect Oregon will help Tidewater Terminal Co. expand its facility in Umatilla, company officials said Monday. The company will install a new 1.26 million-gallon tank at Umatilla. This will allow Tidewater to
(Novozymes) Transforming agricultural residues into advanced biofuels for cars has become a reality making its world premiere at 100 filling stations across Denmark. Made available from today by Statoil, this new biofuel called Bio95 is a mixture of 95% gasoline and 5%
(ActMedia) The EBRD is supporting the development of the Romanian rapeseed industry along its value chain, including oilseed crushing, refining and production of edible oil and biodiesel, with a €80 million syndicated financing package to Expur S.A., a local oilseed
by Vincent Cable (They Work For You) This Government's economic ambition is to build a more balanced economy, driven by private sector growth. Today I am announcing the publication of the Government's local growth White Paper, which sets out what that
by Andrew Nusca (SmartPlanet) The U.S. Navy and Mountain View, Calif.-based biofuel outfit Cobalt Technologies on Wednesday agreed to jointly develop military jet fuel converted from biobutanol. Under the new agreement, Cobalt’s biobutanol will be converted to bio-jet and biodiesel fuels using
by Molly Newman (Marshallfield News Herald) A new company will convert waste product from the cheese-making process into the very product that drives cheesemaking -- food for cows. DuBay Biofuel-Greenwood LLC was awarded a $1.9 million State Energy Program loan Thursday
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, INEOS New Planet BioEnergy has awarded the EPC contract to build its 8 million gallon per year advanced bioenergy facility in Vero Beach to AMEC of Tucker, GA. The facility will also produce up
(The Economist) Biofuels are back. This time they might even work. MAKE something people want to buy at a price they can afford. Hardly a revolutionary business strategy, but one that the American biofuels industry has, to date, eschewed. Now a new
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Pike Research released a report projecting the growth of algal fuel production to only 61 million gallons per year by 2020. Interestingly, the Pike Group projected an overall value of $1.3 billion, or more than $20
Anna Rath (Vice President of Commercial Development, Ceres, Inc.) Ceres is a seed company that uses advanced biotechnology to develop and distribute energy crop seeds. Rath discusses reasons for their commercial development being slower than planned, but Ceres still anticipates several
by Dr. Timothy Volk (Research Associate, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry) Dr. Volk proposes a cycle for growing and harvesting willow trees for use in advanced biofuel production. The amount of usable biomass per acre is very high in woody
by Dr. Kelly Tiller (President and Chief Executive Officer, Genera Energy, LLC) Dr. Tiller details the large commitment the state of Tennessee has made to biofuels research. Genera Energy, a research firm owned by the University of Tennessee, has worked with switchgrass
(PR NewsWire) Leaders of the advanced biofuel industry personally delivered an important message to the Obama Administration this morning at a White House meeting that included representatives of the Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA), the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and Algal Biomass
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...for several years we have been tracking the growing complexity and size of the partnerships and strategic investments in bioenergy, as the industry inches towards the commercialization of advanced biofuels. It was partnership that funded the
by Sophie Cocke (Pacific Business News) Monday’s grand opening of the Center for Microbial Oceanography at the University of Hawaii Manoa could work in tandem with the state’s push towards renewable energy. Microbial oceanography, an emerging sub-discipline within oceanography, studies marine microbes,
by Eric Staats (NaplesNews.com) ...Today, growing algae to turn into biofuel is serious business, and (US Senator Bill) Nelson wants to give the fledgling industry a tax break. Nelson, D-Fla., toured the headquarters and research labs of Algenol Biofuels off Alico Road
(Gerson Lehman Group) ... However, this program may not provide enough incentive for retailers to install new pumps that custom blend gasoline with ethanol on site. Retailers would not only have to invest their share of the $135,000 cost for one blender
by Michael Kanellos and Jim Imbler (Green Tech Media) To help this industry thrive, governments need to develop and implement a strategy that will last decades, argues Zeachem CEO Jim Imbler. the advanced biofuels industry is determined to commercialize and stand on
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Hawaii is a code word meaning “paradise” not only to sun-starved tourists, but to bioenergy developers. It has all the hallmarks of the “perfect market”. 1. A state that generates no energy from fossil fuels and
by Luke Geiver (Biodiesel Magazine) The Advancing Biofuels Beyond the Basics program, run by the Ohio Department of Development, is now accepting applications from biodiesel and ethanol companies seeking funding for refining equipment purchases. With $8 million in available funding
by Sahil Luthra (The Brown Daily Herald) Two Brown chemists have developed a more efficient way to produce biodiesel from waste vegetable oil. Using two catalysts common in organic chemistry, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Jason Sello and Postdoctoral Fellow Aaron Socha
(Just Means) The MIT's IDEAS Competition challenges members of the MIT community to come up with good ideas that make a positive change in the world. One of this years' winning teams is doing just that. The Grease Project is
(Weyland) Weyland started production of second generation bioethanol at it’s pilot plant in Bergen, Norway. The plant was formally opened by State Secretary Per Rune Henriksen of the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy during an opening ceremony at the plant.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A new Biofuels Digest report found that states that produced enough energy to meet their internal demand for gasoline maintained growth rates 2.5 times above the national average, and either completely avoided the 2007-09 recession
(Algae Industry Magazine) Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz) and Arizona State University (ASU) on have announced the creation of a world-class center dedicated to researching and bringing to fruition “green” technologies using algae. The announcement was made at the fourth annual gathering
Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) Ina, Ill.-based Rend Lake College has received a $60,835 grant from the USDA to support a three-part biofuels education program, which will include training on farm-based biodiesel production. The program is currently slated to run 18
by Mark Gehlhar, Ashley Winston, and Agapi Somwaru (USDA Economic Research Service) Achieving greater energy security by reducing dependence on foreign petroleum is a goal of U.S. energy policy. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) calls for a
(EIN News/USDA) ...USDA announced assistance under the Recovery Act for 334 broadband expansions designed to reach more than 6 million people and 250,000 businesses in rural and remote areas. ...By launching the USDA led effort "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food"
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... "Today, I am directing the Rural Development mission area of USDA within 60 days to announce funding under the current Biorefinery Assistance Program for the construction (to commence in 2011) of a biorefinery or
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) California’s clean energy initiatives and businesses are at a crossroads, pending the outcome of Proposition 23 on the November ballot. Should the proposition succeed, it would suspend California’s 2006 history-making climate bill, AB32, which mandates,
by John Hamer (Biofuels Digest/Burrill & Co.) One might ask, “What do next-gen biofuel companies offer the biotech investor ?” 1. Well known products. ... Biotech’s make high risk products... 2. Early revenue and earlier profits. ...biotech drug development is a long process with
(Yahoo! Finance/PR Newswire) U.S. Rep. Connie Mack and Lee County Commissioners Tammy Hall and Ray Judah join in celebrating new advanced research labs and integrated biorefinery that will diversify local economy and create clean energy jobs Algenol Biofuels Inc. celebrated the opening
(AP/Bloomberg Businessweek) The Arkansas Science and Technology Authority has received a $20 million grant to study renewable energy. The five-year grant from the National Science Foundation will be bolstered by $4 million in matching funds from the state. ...Researchers at seven Arkansas schools
(FIS Worldnews) A new project, which is financially supported by the Chilean government, will promote the diversification of energy through the production of biofuels from microalgae. The main objective of the initiative is to develop algae production which captures carbon dioxide
by Analia Murias (FIS Worldnews) Pesquera San José plans to produce biofuels from brown algae (Macrocystis pyrifera), better known as huiro. With this objective in mind, the company is now co-developing the InnovaChile project BAL Biofuels, a consortium of biotechnology research, development and
(AP/Bloomberg Business Week) Several Nebraska universities will share a $20 million grant to develop new research focused on algae and nanotechnology, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln announced Monday. Part of the five-year National Science Foundation grant will help one group of researchers build
by Crystal Luxmore (Renewable Energy World) Four enterprising Canadian firms have joined the race to replace fossil fuels with affordable and planet-friendly second-generation bio alternatives. Despite decades of work, most next-generation biofuels — made from materials that do not compete with
by Natasha Odendaal (Engineering News) Process technology supplier Honeywell UOP is ready to move its green jet fuel into commercial-scale production within the next two or three years, and has started the certification and licensing processes. The green jet fuel was originally
by Fred Kaplan (Slate) How the military's shift to renewable fuel could lower the entire nation's energy costs. ...The Navy is also experimenting with fuel made from algae. And the Air Force is planning to convert its entire fleet of airplanes to
(PR Newswire) Syracuse partnership substitutes petroleum diesel with biodiesel Syracuse University today announced a partnership to advance the use of biofuels by the U.S. armed forces as an alternative energy source. The effort involves entrepreneurs John Fox '92 and Wayne Arden,
(GoDanRiver.com) ...On Friday, state and local leaders celebrated the groundbreaking of SEnTeC — a research and development facility that would commercialize bio-energy projects for the region through contract research, developing licensed technologies or creating spin-off businesses. Construction should be completed by
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producers Magazine) Recent activities in the cellulosic ethanol industry have shown that while financing continues to be a major hurdle, technological advancements continue to be made and companies are beginning to construct their first commercial-scale facilities. BlueFire
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) There’s a growing consensus among the budding cellulosic ethanol community that the renewable fuels standard (RFS) is not doing its job. Enacted in 2005 and amended in 2007, the RFS was part of legislation
(Novozymes) Petrobras and Novozymes have entered an agreement to develop a new route to produce second generation biofuel from sugarcane bagasse. The agreement covers the development of enzymes and production processes to produce second generation lignocellulosic ethanol from bagasse in an
(Maverick Biofuels) Maverick Biofuels, a second-generation biofuels company, October 12, 2010, announced that it is planning to build a pilot scale biorefinery to produce mixed-alcohol biofuels from biomass and municipal solid waste. With 85% of the energy of gasoline, Maverick’s mixed-alcohol
by Diane Krieger Spivak (Post-Tribune) If the town approves any of three recently opened trash hauling bids, residents here would likely pay 60 percent more to have their trash taken to a landfill than to a proposed garbage-to-ethanol plant. Town officials, who
by Tamra Fakhoorian (Algae Industry Magazine) Recent press about the seemingly novel concept of powdered algae as a jet engine fuel has raised eyebrows in the airline industry, and among competing algae processing technologies. However, Robert Fulton, president of Utah-based Compact
by Aaron T. Evans (Gant Daily) During a press conference on Thursday, Helios Scientific announced the launch of its cellulosic ethanol project in Curwensville. ...Polite said the Curwensville facility will use cutting-edge technology to turn cellulose into affordable energy. The site will
by Onell R. Soto (Sign On San Diego) Pearson Fuels is working on infrastructure to make it easier and cheaper to distribute biodiesel. San Diego-based Pearson Fuels has landed a $1.8 million state grant to help put biodiesel into more tanker trucks. "We
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) (T)he Digest spent time this week with Gary Luce, CEO of Terrabon, whose advanced biofuels technology converts MSW and other residues into drop-in biogasoline, renewable diesel and jet fuel. The company, which has attracted investment from Waste
(Renewable Fuels Association) Educating America’s students about America’s number one alternative fuel is an important step in working toward an oil dependent-free future. The Renewable Fuels Foundation (RFF) and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) are offering scholarships to six students
Biodiesel Fuel Manufactured From Cafeteria Waste Oil and Sold to Area Businesses The Loyola University Chicago Center for Urban Environmental Research and Policy's (CUERP) Biodiesel Program has become the first school program in the United States to be licensed by state
(BioTechNOW) Congress urged to restore funding to DOE Loan Guarantee Program Growth of clean energy has been stifled, biofuel advocacy groups maintain, by a lack of funding and shortcomings in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Guarantee Program for advanced biofuels. DOE established
by Scott Malone (Reuters) Royal Dutch Shell, which is investigating about 10 second-generation biofuel technologies that would use nonfood raw materials, expects to narrow its research to about five options next year, its top scientist said. "I am putting a lot
by Teis Jensen and John Acher (Reuters) The technology to produce so-called second-generation bioethanol has moved beyond the research phase and is ready to be used if policymakers back it with incentives, Danish industry leaders said on Wednesday. ...Steen Riisgaard, head
(Avantium) Avantium announced October 14, 2010, that it has started with the construction of a pilot plant at the Chemelot site (Geleen, the Netherlands). The pilot plant will produce YXY building blocks for making green materials and fuels. Avantium has developed a novel and
(All Africa) ...CREEC - Centre for Research in Energy and Energy Conservation is an institution doing research in renewable energy (Biomass stoves and gasifiers); Biofuels; Solar PV and energy efficiency in households, industry and institutions. Obviously, CREEC gets a lot of
(Times of India) Beginning later this month, the jatropha crop will be planted across 30,000 acres in the arid districts of Bankura, Birbhum, West Midnapore and Purulia over the next 15 years. Around 10 lakh saplings will be transplanted this
(University of California, Riverside) Introducing new center on Oct. 14 at the Center for Environmental Research and Technology highlights day of alternative fuels related ...A $1.2 million grant from the California Energy Commission will allow the center of excellence to work
(PRNewsWire) MIT Energy Initiative to receive $25 million to fund research and collaboration - Drives innovative technology solutions addressing the global energy challenge - Joins world-class industry and academic leader in the expansion of high value, sustainable technologies - Utilizes open innovation, leveraging
by Ron Brochu (BusinessNorth.com) ...Federal loan guarantees are available to support construction of the high-tech Flambeau River Biofuels refinery in Park Falls, but project sponsors say the government’s terms could derail their chance to succeed. Those Department of Energy terms, they
by Danny Bradbury (BusinessGreen) University of Connecticut reveals plan to build biofuel research plant capable of turning hemp into biodiesel. Researchers at the University of Connecticut have found that hemp is a viable feedstock for biodiesel fuel and are now working
by Brent D. Yacobucci (Congressional Research Service) ...Ethanol and biodiesel, the two most widely used biofuels, receive significant government support under federal law in the form of mandated fuel use, tax incentives, loan and grant programs, and certain regulatory requirements. The
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biofuels Digest is projecting that global advanced biofuels capacity will reach 3.917 billion gallons by 2015, based on company announcements to date. Today, the Digest released version 1.6 of its free Advanced Biofuels Tracking Database, projecting
(Science Daily) Faster development of the promising field of cellulosic biofuels -- the renewable energy produced from grasses and trees -- is being significantly hampered by a "deep and thorny regulatory thicket" that makes almost impossible the use of advanced
(Audubon) A Lexington, KY woman is the recipient of a national conservation fellowship, enabling her to bring biofuel education to Kentucky schools. TogetherGreen Fellow. Supported by a conservation alliance of Audubon and Toyota, the TogetherGreen Fellowship offers specialized training in
(Focus Taiwan) ...The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) , which developed the technology, showed off the process of turning microalgae into biodiesel at the four-day Taipei International Invention Show and Technomart exhibition organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council... During
(USA Today) ...Ford says it wants to better understand the use of biomass to produce future biofuels as part of an overall strategy to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil and address climate change. ...This year, Ford researchers visited Wayne
(FIS) Scientists are proposing the creation of methane gas from algae grown in great offshore farms to power adapted vehicles. A new GBP 5 million (EUR 6.1 million) UK and Irish joint project called BioMara disclosed the plan and seeks to
(AgriMarketing/Purdue) Purdue University is receiving $1.59 million in federal funding for a project to conduct a sustainability assessment of energy crops for biofuels. The funding is part of a $16.5 million renewable fuel initiative by the U.S. Department of Energy to
by David Gold (RenewableEnergyWorld.com) ...While stimulus supporters and the press love to focus on the selection of award winners for grants and loans, funds appropriated but sitting in the U.S. Treasury have zero potential to stimulate the economy irrespective of
(TAPPI) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Washington, D.C., USA, has awarded the College of William & Mary, WIlliansburg, Va., $500,000 to study various aspects of using wild aquatic algae as both biofuel feedstock and as a medium for helping to
by Joseph Bonyo (Daily Nation) ...The plant that is expected to produce about 22 million litres of ethanol a year will be the latest addition to the firm’s portfolio. According to the company, the ethanol will be targeted for sale within
by Kelsey Volkmann (St. Louis Business Journal) Midwest Biodiesel Products LLC, the only biodiesel refiner in the St. Louis area, plans to use a $300,000 loan from the St. Louis Business Development Fund and St. Louis Private Fund to rehire
(Journal of Peasant Studies) In this collection we ask a number of questions emerging out of the new agrarian political economy created by the ‘biofuel complex’. Together the papers offer perspectives from political economy, political sociology and political ecology, and
by Bert Hill (Ottawa Citizen) Construction will start this year on a biofuel plant in Malaysia that uses the technology of Ensyn Technologies, an Ottawa company. A Malaysian government agency has announced that the plant will turn palm oil biomass into biofuel
by James Cartledge (BrighterEnergy.org) As the Senate debated and ultimately failed to pass reforms in the military this week, two Senators from Montana introduced legislation to boost markets for biofuel. Sens. Max Baucus and John Tester’s bill, American Security and Freedom Fuels
(Dayton Business Journal) Ohio is preparing to dole out $8 million to boost manufacturers by subsidizing ethanol and biodiesel refining equipment purchases. ...Under the Advancing Biofuels Beyond the Basics program, companies can snag $500,000 to $1 million for buying equipment that
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...With the collapse in markets, rising prices and the evaporation of the tax credits, condition were ripe for the end of biodiesel 1.0. By early 2010, only two major producers were left standing, Imperium Renewables
By Arpita Bhattacharyya, Andrew Light (Center for American Progress) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Tuesday an impressive collaboration at the Clinton Global Initiative that brings together U.S. agencies and the United Nations Foundation to form the Global Alliance for
by IANR News Service (North Platte Bulletin) ...Camelina is a yellow-flowering oilseed crop that grows one to three feet tall. It has some advantages as an industrial oil crop, said University of Nebraska-Lincoln scientist Ed Cahoon. For example, it's not
(AZo Materials) MemfoACT, a spin-off from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), has secured NOK 25 million to turn its award-winning membrane technology into a commercial product. Based on research conducted at NTNU's Department of Chemical Engineering, the company's
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...We have spoken to farmers, local business owners, environmentalists, community development officials, engine developers, scientists, policy makers, producers, investors, lenders, blenders, wholesalers, retailers, and end users. We have visited development projects on four continents. We have
by Val Walton (The Birmingham News) Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos wrote a letter of support last week for the SouthEast Region Algae Consortium (SERAC) -- a group of scientists, engineers and experts in biofuels and algae research which is pursuing a
by James Cartledge (BrighterEnergy.org) Abengoa Bioenergy has secured 60% of the feedstocks it needs for its hybrid ethanol facility being developed in Hugoton, Kansas. ...The Hugoton facility is set to be the first commercial-scale installation of a hybrid refinery – a
Interview of BIO's Brent Erickson by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...BE: I have been a little bit disappointed in the Obama administration. When he was in the Senate he as very pro-biofuels. He had to choose his priorities, and that
by Stephen Lacey (RenewableEnergyWorld) We often wonder when the next Google of clean energy will materialize. When will the lone inventor finally emerge from his garage to change the world and solve our energy problems? What stealth company will bring
by Graham Warwick (AviationWeek) In just five years, the aviation industry’s decades-long reliance on petroleum-based fuels has been turned on its head. The future lies in fuels from sources that range from animal fat to microalgae. But with the technology in
(PRNewswire) Contract Is Among First of Its Kind in U.S. 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 announced an off-take agreement with Tenaska BioFuels,
(Algae Industry Magazine) Renewable Algal Energy, LLC of Kingsport, Tennessee, has announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded them $3,000,000 to develop “Algal Biodiesel via Innovative Harvesting and Aquaculture Systems.” READ MORE and MORE (Department of Energy)
by Dave Dreeszen (Sioux City Journal) The state of Nebraska on Thursday awarded a half million dollars in infrastructure funds to assist a northeast Nebraska startup planning to turn an ethanol byproduct into plastics. Laurel BioComposite, a producer of what’s known as
(Jakarta Globe/Bloomberg/Reuters/AFP) Singapore palm oil producer Golden Agri-Resources, part of Indonesia’s Sinar Mas Group, said on Friday that its subsidiary Golden VerOleum would form a $1.6 billion partnership with the government of Liberia in a palm oil project. The move comes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Documents filed with the SEC confirm what many voices in the industry have been saying about the Amyris, Gevo and PetroAlgae IPOs – they are “financing events” to fund these companies’ yawning capital requirements rather
by Natasha Odendaal (Engineering News) Local general aviation company Adept Airmotive has developed the first general aviation engine that is able to power a light aircraft with a range of environment-friendly alternative fuels, such as biofuels and liquid petroleum gas. The Adept
by George Ford (SourceMedia Group News/Eastern Iowa Business) The Iowa Power Fund Board awarded a $2.9 million grant to a cellulosic ethanol plant in Blairstown. Fiberight-Blairstown Operating LLC received the grant to demonstrate how municipal solid waste can be converted into cellulosic
by Angel Gonzalez (Dow Jones/Wall Street Journal) Norwegian oil major Statoil ASA (STO) has agreed to invest in a San Francisco Bay Area start-up to develop ethanol from seaweed, and to potentially commercialize the fuel in Norway and other European countries. Under the
(RenewableEnergyFocus.com) Following the discovery of the genes of two enzymes that toughen plants, researchers aim to breed non-food crops that require less processing, energy and chemicals to convert them into biofuel. ...Lead Researcher, Professor Paul Dupree, says: “There is a lot
by Nicole Bleasdale (Biofuels Digest/AusBiotech) ...The last of five integrated biofuels facilities funded under the Commonwealth Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) Program was officially opened on Friday 9 September 2010. Located at the University of Sydney’s Darlington Campus,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The Navy’s long term strategy is to supply 50% of its energy from renewables by 2020. How much is that? Well, statistics on energy consumption from the Department Energy Supply Center (DESC) generally are DoD-wide, but
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) Training a workforce for the algae production industry is going to be a Catch 22 type of situation. It will take a large community of workers with highly developed skills to build the quantity of
by Andrew Pollack (New York Times) ...Now Dr. Venter is turning from reading the genetic code to an even more audacious goal: writing it. At Synthetic Genomics, he wants to create living creatures — bacteria, algae or even plants —
The University of California-Davis is a recipient of a $10,000 EPA People, Prosperity, and the Planet (P3) Phase I grant. They will design an integrated, efficient biological system that can be used to convert sugar beets into biofuel and bioenergy. Approach: Design industrial
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded 55 grants to teams of college and university students across the country who will design creative solutions to sustainability challenges in the developed and developing world. The People, Prosperity, and the Planet (P3)
by Robert Rodriquez (The Fresno Bee) Mendota operation could employ about 100 people. ...The proposed plant would use sugar beets and orchard prunings to make ethanol, electricity and compressed natural gas. Another element of the project would involve treating urban and
by Luke Geiver (Biorefining Magazine) The work of ThermoChem Recovery International has already changed the future for one small Wisconsin community. A small town in the woods of Wisconsin, fresh off the bankruptcy and closing of its century-old paper mill, might
(Algae Industry Magazine) Solution Recovery Services, of Dexter Michigan, an employee owned industry leader in oil separation and purification systems has partnered with Touchstone Research Laboratory, a privately owned U.S. company with principal operations in Triadelphia, W.V. The project team together
(Agro2/PR.com) Agro2 announces it will be the first company to research and produce ethanol from cassava in Panama, thanks to funding from FACT Foundation and the Global Sustainable Biomass Fund of NL Agency, a division of the Dutch Ministry of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Earlier this year, SG Biofuels and Life Technologies formed a strategic alliance, and recently announced they have completed the sequence of the Jatropha genome. The company’s integrated breeding and biotechnology approach forms the foundation for its
by Tyler Hamilton (Toronto Star) Could a unique microorganism found in the waters of Atlantic Canada represent the future of jet fuel production? That’s what Halifax-based Ocean Nutrition Canada is hoping to find out as part of a four-year demonstration project funded
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel) Fiberight-Blairstown Operating LLC has received a $2.9 million grant to help build a cellulosic ethanol plant in Blairstown, Iowa. The award was given by the Iowa Power Board Fund yesterday. Fiberight is developing technology to convert
by Dana Tims (The Oregonian) ...They propose breaking ground next year on a $25 million bioenergy park somewhere in the Willamette Valley. The multi-faceted facility would convert straw and other waste materials into saleable products such as ethanol, electricity, fertilizer, compost
by Karyn Houston (UC Berkley College of Natural Resources) ...The $793,000 grant from the Department of Energy looks at how to utilize the tons of leftover “crop residue” left behind after the kernel is used. Dr. Markus Pauly and Dr.
by John Timmer (Ars Technica) ...Cellulose is a very long polymer of sugar molecules. Yeast will happily use those sugars to produce ethanol, but it can't get at them while they're trapped in cellulose. As a result, a suite of
by By Jorge J. Muñiz Ortiz (Latin American Herald Tribune) State-owned utility AEE and the firm Bio-Lipidos on Thursday announced plans to build a plant in northern Puerto Rico that will produce a pure fuel based on tropical marine micro-algae. AEE’s executive
(AzoCleanTech) ...The two universities currently conducting the algae research are the Kasetsart University in the area of freshwater algae and the Burapha University in the area of marine algae. The Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency Department will not only provide financial
by Joe Napsha (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) A business that collects used cooking oil and processes it into fuel for diesel-powered vehicles plans to convert a dilapidated gas station in Braddock into a biofuels filling station next year. Fossil Free Fuel LLC in Braddock
by Lori Montgomery (The Washington Post) ... The senator is a strong advocate of responsible budgeting and has long called for increasing the gas tax, the traditional financing source for the nation's roadways. He said he mentioned that in his phone
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced September 7, 2010, the availability of funding under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy systems for agriculture producers and rural small businesses. "Renewable energy production represents a promising
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced September 9, 2010, the selection of a biorefinery producer to receive payments under a program to encourage the use of renewable biomass as a replacement for fossil fuels that provide process heat
(US Department of Energy) U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced September 8, 2010, the investment of up to $16.5 million for two major research and development (R&D) initiatives that will support the expansion of renewable transportation fuels production. The first initiative
(The Alarm Clock) Camarillo, CA-based Cool Planet Biofuels has raised $3M as part of a $8M Series B funding round, according to a filing by the firm today. Source of the new funding was not announced, however, the firm is
by Lisa Gibson (Biomass Magazine) Ten years after NREL’s Aquatic Species Program was shut down, a similar initiative began and now is thriving in its algae research, which includes the evaluation of CO2 recycling. Between 1978 and 1996, the Aquatic Species Program at
(US Department of Energy) Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced research awards under a joint DOE-USDA program aimed at improving and accelerating genetic breeding programs to create plants better suited for bioenergy production. The $8.9 million
by Dean Close (Vinton Today) ...In layman’s terms, what Fiberight does is take waste from a paper mill in Cedar Rapids, and uses rare bacteria – Stewart Paul refers to that bacteria as “the bugs” – to convert the sugar
.jpg)
