by James Cogan At a time when carbon emissions should be dropping by 40%-80% EU transport emissions will actually increase by that amount, becoming the number one EU contributor to catastrophic global warming. -- Transport emissions can only be reduced in
by Éanna Kelly (Science|Business) The problem: Finding efficient ways of producing ethanol from cellulose plant material such as corn husks or stalks, is a long-term research objective. The answer: Now scientists at KU Leuven have succeeded in producing what they claim to
by Michelle Fredrickson (WSU News) A researcher at Washington State University has received a three-year $450,000 federal grant to develop computer models for using iron to more efficiently refine bio-oils and make better biofuels. Jean-Sabin McEwen, assistant professor in the Voiland
(NGV Journal) Scania will unveil the industry’s broadest range of alternative fuel vehicles at Busworld in Kortrijk on 16-21 October. Scania now offers buses and coaches for all operations – from dense city traffic to demanding coach operations – expressly
by Robert-Jan Bartunek (Reuters) Belgian researchers are examining the excrement of giant pandas to try to understand how they can digest tough bamboo, hoping for clues on how to develop new generations of biofuel. The genetic make-up of endangered pandas is that
(Cardolite Corporation, SHD composite Materials Ltd and Solvay) Cardolite Corporation, SHD composite Materials Ltd and Solvay are supporting the Punch Powertrain Solar Team from the University of Leuven in building the PunchOne, a Belgian solar car based on bio-based resins. The Punch One, that
by Jayson Beckman (US Department of Agriculture) Global biofuel production rose tremendously over 2001-13, led largely by rapid growth in the United States and the European Union (EU). Brazil, the second largest biofuel producer, doubled its production in that span. A
by Esha Chhabra (Forbes) ... Producing steel is a dirty business, yielding in massive quantities of carbon dioxide and monoxide. In fact, over 50 percent of the carbon used in manufacturing steel turns into carbon monoxide. Perhaps that’s why ArcelorMittal, which manufactures
(Algae Industry Magazine) VITO is a leading Belgium-based independent research and technology organization in the areas of cleantech and sustainable development, and a pioneer regarding research into algae. They focus on the harvesting, medium reuse and downstream processing. VITO and
(EnAlgae) Studies conducted by EnAlgae partners in Ireland, France and Belgium point the way to seaweed being a viable and sustainable feedstock for the future in North West Europe (NWE). This is the conclusion of a new paper entitled “Comparative environmental
by Oscar Schneider (The Burssels Times) Use of biofuels for European transport increased by 6.1% in 2014 following a decrease in the previous year, according to initial estimates by EurObserv'Er, the renewable energy observatory. It still remains lower than in 2012. Consumption
(New Holland) Following the United States Department of Energy’s announcement to award State University of New York up to $3.5 million to fund a research project that seeks to develop ways to reduce the cost of delivering biomass for refinement,
(Algae Industry Magazine) Studies conducted by EnAlgae partners in Ireland, France and Belgium point the way to seaweed being a viable and sustainable feedstock for the future in North West Europe (NWE). This is the conclusion of a new paper
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) First plant will produce 14 million gallons per year by 2018; first production train online in 2017. More plants to come? Up to 150 mgy potential in Europe, ArcelorMittal says; culmination of work since 2011. In
(Alcon Corporation) Alkcon Corporation (the "Company"), a developer of natural gas processing equipment, has entered into an exclusivity agreement and a Letter of Intent with Flogas Group ("Flogas") of Leicestershire, England. The agreement grants Flogas the exclusive right to market and sell the
by Maija Sihvonen* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The 23rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition (EUBCE) held in Vienna 1-4 June was a massive event with nearly 1300 participants from 76 countries and some 800 presentations. The event consisted of multiple parallel
(Algae Industry Magazine) Two research papers recently published by EnAlgae scientists point to real potential advantages in using algae as a feed ingredient and as a wastewater treatment, but only with further improvements in algal technology. ... The first paper is an
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts is on an agricultural trade mission trip to the European Union with stops in Italy, Belgium, and Denmark. The trade mission, being coordinated jointly by the Nebraska Departments of Agriculture and Economic Development, includes
The plenary sessions will be developed by the advisory board on an invitation only basis; however, organisers welcome presentation proposals for this year's innovation sessions, in addition to proposals for topic sessions covering finance, feedstocks and more. In its 8th year,
(KU Leuven/Biomass Magazine) Researchers at KU Leuven’s Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis have successfully converted sawdust into building blocks for gasoline. Using a new chemical process, they were able to convert the cellulose in sawdust into hydrocarbon chains. These
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... We are focussed on installing more diverse renewable energy solutions from methane digesters to biodiesel processors. Working on the idea of an energy farm where several fuels are made from similar sources and sold into
(Algae Industry Magazine) EnAlgae, a research partnership drawing on expertise across seven EU Member States, has announced the publication of six reports on their website looking at the state of the algae industry across countries in North West Europe. Produced by FNR
by Milsa Vijayadharan* (Advanced Biofuels USA) PLA (Polylactic Acid) is a polyester derived from renewable raw materials such as corn, cassava (tapioca) and other plants. Compared to other bio-based polymers (such as PET, PE) PLA is considered a greener alternative
(Biotechnology Industry Organization) An international confederation of biotechnology trade associations announced today the ratification of bylaws creating the International Council of Biotechnology Associations (ICBA), with the expressed purpose of advocating for public policies that support the growth of the innovative
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Celtic Renewables raises $2M, partners with Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant Celtic Renewables, the Edinburgh-based biofuel company, has signed an agreement with Europe’s foremost biotechnology pilot facility to undergo next stage testing of its process to
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol producers looking for the next big market for distillers grains may want to seriously consider aquaculture feed. “For a variety of reasons, we’re just at beginning phases of seeing the potential for a significant
(Algae Industry Magazine) The InteSusAl Consortium of biotechnology experts has started building a one-hectare unit in Southern Portugal that will demonstrate an innovative integrated approach to produce microalgae biomass with biodiesel validation in a sustainable manner. The demonstration pilot unit is one of
by Bruce Dorminey (Renewable Fuel World) US farmers are exploring the use of energy beets to produce ethanol. Requiring less water and containing more sugar than corn, they could be just what the market needs. Corn remains the undisputed ethanol king.
(Axens/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Axens, Total and IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN) have launched Atol, an innovative technology for bioethylene production through dehydration of bioethanol. Atol is a technology for the profitable production of polymer grade bio-ethylene by dehydration of 1G and 2G-renewable
by Alessandra Rosete (Platts) Small volumes of fuel ethanol from Paraguay were recently exported to Brazil, sources said Thursday. Brazilian trading houses purchased 5 million liters (1.32 million gallons) to be delivered in trucks to the states of Mato Grosso do
by Robert Vierhout (ePURE/Ethanol Producer Magazine) For European ethanol producers, E15 is still a distant dream. In the EU, the struggle is to get from E5 to E10. The legislation to offer E10 has been in place since 2009 but its
by Tom Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Still seeking commercial-scale opportunities, Lignol continues to collaborate with companies that are eager to buy high-purity lignin in bulk. Is this abundant byproduct of pulp and paper milling and biorefining poised for new and
by Heather Lammers (National Renewable Energy Laboratory/Renewable Energy World Magazine) Thanks to newer and faster supercomputers, today's computer simulations are opening hidden vistas to researchers in all areas of science. These powerful machines are used for everything from understanding how proteins work
(VIB) The results of a field trial with genetically modified poplar trees in Zwijnaarde, Belgium, shows that the wood of lignin modified poplar trees can be converted into sugars in a more efficient way. These sugars can serve as the
by Kathryn Sheridan (Sustainability Consult/American Chemical Society) In recent years, the bio-based chemical industry has experienced steady growth and interest in the ‘bioeconomy’, an economy based on the consumption and production of materials from renewable sources. Companies and consumers alike
(Phys.Org) ... Researchers from VIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology) who are associated with KU Leuven have developed yeast strains that produce bio-ethanol from waste with an unprecedented efficiency. As a result, they are well placed to become important players on a
(Science Magazine) Addition by subtraction. By removing a specific gene, researchers reduced the amount of lignin (stained red) by 36% in cells in a plant’s stem, making it easier to recover sugar-rich parts of the plant that can be converted to
(Bio Base NWE) The project Bio Base NWE is funded under the Interreg IVB NWE framework and has the objective to support the development of the bio-based economy in North West Europe (see www.biobasenwe.org for additional info). Within Bio Base
(EurActiv) Several European ministers are blocking the EU’s proposal to curb the use of conventional biofuels, while some dispute claims the demand for crop-based oils drives deforestation and food insecurity in other parts of the world. A majority of EU environment
by Peter Brown (Biodiesel Magazine/ Euro Marketing Tools) Biodiesel, ethanol and livestock production, wind turbines and photovoltaic installments situated in close proximity make energy—and economic—sense The concept is that if alternate forms of energy can be produced that are nonpolluting, renewable, provide
by W.M.J. Achten, A. Trabucco, W.H. Maes, L.V. Verchot, R. Aerts, E. Mathijs, P. Vantomme, V.P. Singh, B. Muys (ScienceDirect.com/Journal of Arid Environments) Biofuels are considered as a climate-friendly energy alternative. However, their environmental sustainability is increasingly debated because of land
The 9th edition of the International Conference on Renewable Resources & Biorefineries will take place in Antwerp, Belgium, from Wednesday June 5 until Friday June 7, 2013. Delegates from university, industry, governmental and non-governmental organizations and venture capital providers will present
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Jobs, global expansion, proteins vs fuels, new R&D funding – all the big issues are under debate both on and off the floor at the Algae Biomass Summit. ...Jobs Dr. John Benemann projected on stage that,
Every year a huge number of senior and serious refining professionals gather together at this summit to discuss and debate latest business issues and also the latest updates on technical developments along with technology showcase and demonstration through exhibit space
by Dr Matthew Aylott (National Non-Food Crops Centre) A major new €14 million (£12.3 million) initiative - bringing together experts from across North West Europe to develop the potential of algae as a source of sustainable energy - has been
(Business Wire) Addax Bioenergy S.A. (“Addax Bioenergy”), a subsidiary of the Swiss-based energy group, The Addax and Oryx Group Limited (AOG), announced today the signing of a loan agreement with seven European and African development institutions for an integrated renewable
(Monsters and Critics) Scientists are to plant and harvest grass inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in an experiment to determine if biofuel can be safely produced in the region, an alternative-energy company said Monday. PhotoFuels, a Belgian-Ukrainian joint venture, has obtained approval
(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
(Biofuels International) According to Bio Base Europe the first crop of genetically modified poplar plants will be converted into ethanol in a Flemish-Dutch pilot installation. The poplars were planted in May 2009 in an outside field in Ghent, Belgium. The crop
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