by Karthikeyan Sundaram and Siddharth Philip (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) Hero MotoCorp Ltd. (HMCL), India’s biggest motorcycle maker, is seeking partners for products such as blended-fuel compatible engines as it prepares to tap customers in Brazil and Kenya to combat sliding
by Lucia Kassai and Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg) Vanguarda Agro SA (VAGR3), the Brazilian farm company that lost 97 percent of its value since going public in 2006, expects to make a profit for the first time this year by producing soybeans and corn
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...(M)ore than 30 airlines now trialing, deploying biofuels – but who’s doing what, exactly? In Brazil, Azul Airlines announced that Amyris’s innovative renewable jet fuel sourced from Brazilian sugarcane has passed all required testing and will be used during
(Amyris/Yahoo!Finance) Amyris's Sugarcane-Derived Jet Fuel Ready to be Used in Azul's EMBRAER 195 Powered by GE's CF34 Engines Azul Airlines joined Amyris, Inc., Embraer, and GE in announcing today that Amyris's innovative renewable jet fuel sourced from Brazilian sugarcane has successfully passed all required testing and will be used during a
(University of Birmingham) Researchers from the University of Birmingham are creating clean hydrogen from food waste paving the way for a bioenergy alternative for the future. Currently, Brazil is the world’s most intensive user of bioethanol as an alternative to gasoline for
(Fox Business) General Electric Co. (GE) said Thursday it will invest 500 million reais ($245.5 million) in a research-and-development center in Rio de Janeiro. The center, which should be operational in the second half of 2013 and employ 400, will focus
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Brazil, GraalBio Investimentos plans to invest $724.5 million in five cellulosic ethanol plants during the next few years. The first 21.6 million gallon facility in Alagoas that will use sugarcane bagasse as feedstock is expected to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In today’s Digest, we pull together the strands in a 10-Minute Guide that looks at the 20 top stories this year out of Brazil, and adds context. Overall, we see 3 key trends. First, the rise of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...It doesn’t take a casual observer very long to see the China’s activity in industrial biotechnology accelerating, as more and more technologies develop there, or transfer there via JVs or licenses. What does a win
(Global Renewable Fuels Association/Cardno ENTRIX) ...As is the case with virtually all other emerging and developing countries, biofuels offer the prospects of a new cash crop for farmers, increased employment in rural areas, expanded manufacturing output, reduced fuel import costs, and foreign
by David Brough (Reuters) Global biofuel demand fell in 2011 due to the impact of government requirements and greater incentives in food markets, but usage is set to grow driven by new technologies, commodities house Czarnikow said on Friday. "This comes despite a
by Prashant Rupera (Times of India) India and Brazil will forge research collaborations in the area of bioenergy. As the first step towards this, professor Bharat Chattoo from M S University (MSU) recently led an Indian delegation sponsored by Government of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Shell and Iogen cancel their long-contemplated Canadian cellulosic ethanol project, and announce 150 layoffs. ...In Canada, Shell and Iogen announced that they will not pursue the jointly owned 23 million gallon Iogen Energy cellulosic ethanol project
(Hart Energy/PR NewsWire) Hart Energy study insists U.S. production mandates are out of sync with market reality Hart Energy's newly released study, U.S. & Brazil Ethanol Outlook to 2022, finds the United States has vaulted over Brazil to lead the world in the export of ethanol, a
by Joelle Dent (Biofuels Digest Asia) ...The new boss, acting in the in the person of Brazil, has already wrought what most would consider a miracle by bringing India and Pakistan to the peace table after more than sixty years
(Painel Forestal) Currently, the planting of forests in Tocantins generates about six thousand jobs, a number that should be raised to 60,000 by 2017. According to a survey conducted by Seagro, Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Agricultural Development in 2011, the
by Peter Byrne (The Energy Report) Believe it or not, industry experts see biofuels accounting for up to 25% of global energy consumption by 2050. With this long-term vision in mind, Mark McHugh, president and CEO of consultancy firm CenAm
(Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative/PhysOrg) Plane makers and bitter rivals Airbus of Europe, Boeing of the US and Embraer of Brazil announced on Thursday a joint plan to develop affordable biofuels for the airplane industry. The airplane sector leaders agreed to seek opportunities
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BP to showcase capabilities in low-carbon fuels at 2012 London Olympics. BP Biofuels chief Phil New outlines the BP’s path towards “getting biofuels right”. “6 percent of the entire BP workforce is now working in biofuels,”
by José Vitor Bomtempo (Grupo de Economia da Energia) In the previous article, we compared the BP and Shell’s strategies for biofuels. Today we present the case of Petrobras. We have to recall the reasons for the analysis. We start with a
(Agra-net.com) Usimat Destilaria de Alcohol said it has started ethanol production from corn during the intercrop season in Mato Grosso. In recent weeks, it produced 90,000 litres of ethanol from corn. It has invested BRL20 mln ($1=BRL1.75) in new equipment.
by Robert Vierhout (ePURE/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...In my opinion, the delay in putting a bill on the table is caused by the fact that the ILUC ‘science’ is simply not conclusive. A study by the International Food Policy Research Institute
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol serves as not only a liquid transportation fuel but also as a feedstock for biobased chemical production Although ethanol is generally associated with the transportation fuel market, it is in no way limited to
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg) Usina de Acucar Santa Terezinha Ltda., a Brazilian ethanol producer, plans to invest 500 million reais ($283 million) in a mill and sugar-cane plantations as the country seeks to increase its supply of the renewable
by Stu Ellis (FarmGateBlog) Every day supertankers full of $100 per barrel oil are docking at US ports where other supertankers full of $1 per gallon ethanol have just departed for overseas markets. While some folks have trouble understanding the
(Pernambuco.com) The Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA) points as a solution to consolidate the biodiesel program in the country diversification of agricultural production, reducing dependence on tax incentives and lower costs of the final product. A study released today (1)
by Christopher Cundy (Environmental Finance) US rules on ethanol usage will favour Brazilian cane sugar producers and could lead to a surge in imports in the coming years, according to a research note from Rabobank International. However, if Brazilian imports do
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Cobalt Technologies announced that it has successfully demonstrated its dilute acid hydrolysis pretreatment process, the first step of Cobalt’s process for converting sugars into n-butanol for use as a renewable chemical or fuel. Cobalt’s dilute
by Alex Morales (Bloomberg) Royal DSM NV, the Dutch enzyme maker which last month set up a cellulosic ethanol venture with Poet LLC, is seeking similar tie-ups in Brazil, China and Europe, Chief Executive Officer Feike Sijbesma said. DSM last month said it’s providing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Ceres raised $65 million yesterday in its initial public offering of 5,000,000 shares of common stock, which priced at $13.00 per share after a day-to-day roller coaster in recent weeks, with the IPO rescheduled twice
by Justin Doom (Bloomberg) Novozymes A/S (NZYMB), the world’s biggest maker of enzymes for biofuels, is focusing its expansion efforts in Europe, China and Brazil and isn’t pursuing new projects in the U.S. because of the lack of political support. “The policy signals sent to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The changes at Codexis and delayed IPO at Ceres are indications that life in the public markets remains a rough one for early-stage industrial biotech companies. The changes at Codexis come after the company’s shares
by Steve Tarter (The State-Journal Register) More U.S. ethanol was shipped overseas in 2011 than any year in history. The Washington, D.C.-based Renewable Fuels Association reported that 1.1 billion gallons of ethanol — worth about $2.5 billion — were exported to
by Kevin Bullis (MIT Technology Review) Humbled by production challenges, the company plans to scale back production goals, it told investors Thursday. Its originally planned to make an anti-malaria drug, as well as renewable diesel and jet fuel, by feeding sugar
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Looking for a middle ground where environmentalists and ethanol advocates could meet, the Minneapolis-based Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy released a paper by Julia Olmstead reflecting on the lessons learned regarding the debate over indirect
(Sermatec Zanini and GeoSynFuels, LLC) Sermatec Zanini and GeoSynFuels, LLC (GSF) have announced the formation of a strategic alliance for the development and commercialization of GSF’s proprietary cellulosic ethanol technology. The strategic alliance allows Sermatec Zanini to earn an equity position
by Silva, J. P. A., Mussatto, Solange I., Roberto, I.C., Teixeira, J. A. (Universidade do Minho/Repositorium) The ethanol production by Pichia stipitis was evaluated in a stirred tank bioreactor using semidefined medium containing xylose (90.0 g/l) as the main carbon source. Experimental assays
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) As a potential substitute for fossil fuels, wood energy can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. FAO’s programme on wood energy promotes sustainable wood energy systems as a contribution to sustainable forest management, livelihoods and food security. To this
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) Brazil has over 4 million hectares of eucalypt plantations. Within that estate some plantations are dedicated to the production of charcoal while in some areas multiple land use includes forestry and agricultural production. Focus in recent years has
by Esteban Israel and Peter Murphy (Reuters Africa) Brazilian builder Odebrecht plans to produce sugar in Cuba, the company said on Monday, as looser restrictions on foreign investment in the communist island raise hopes of a recovery in the once-booming sector after decades of decline. ...Odebrecht
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Bloomberg New Energy Finance launched its report “Moving towards a next-generation ethanol economy”. Commissioned by Novozymes, the report estimates the socioeconomic prospects of deploying advanced biofuels in eight of the highest agricultural-producing regions in the world, i.e.
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg) Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria, Brazil’s state-owned agricultural research agency, plans to charge less than major seed companies including Monsanto Co. (MON), Bayer AG (BAYN) and Syngenta AG (SYNN) when it begins selling sugar cane that’s genetically engineered to resist drought. The agency
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the UK, Green Biologics Limited announced the merger between GBL and butylfuel Inc., a US-based renewable chemicals and biofuels company. The new company will operate under the Green Biologics name and continue to be
by Loreto Urbino (AMÉRICAECONOMÍA/Worldcrunch) A London-based project dubbed OPEC (Orange Peel Exploitation Company) aims to make biofuel from the waste from the more than 10 million tons of oranges that Brazil squeezes into juice each year. It is the latest
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In California, SG Biofuels has completed a $17 million Series B financing led by Thomas, McNerney & Partners with participation from Finistere Ventures and current investors Flint Hills Resources and Life Technologies Corporation. ...It (SG Biofuels)
(Abengoa) Abengoa, the international company that applies innovative technology solutions for sustainable development in the energy and environment sectors, has been selected by the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) and FINEP, the promotion and investment agency for studies and projects, to
(TBPetroleum.com/Petrobras) Began operating today (10), with fuel supplied by Petrobras, the Construction: ethanol that will illuminate the Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station. With this initiative, Brazil will be the first country to use biofuel for energy production on the continent. The
by Damian Carrington (Government Online) For the first time in a decade, the vast biofuel industry has stalled. But with crude prices still high, charting a course towards biofuels that do more good than harm is more vital than ever. ... “The
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...But the New Agriculture has arisen in recent years, with new solutions to the old dilemma: how do you produce, and afford, and haul, and utilize enough feedstock to make an integrated biorefinery work? How
(MarketWire/Evogene) Wholly Owned Subsidiary Expanding Castor Bean Activity in Brazil Evogene Ltd. announced that it is establishing Evofuel, a wholly owned subsidiary, to focus on developing seed for advanced second-generation feedstock for biofuel. Included in the activities that are being transferred from
(IFP Energies Nouvelles) The numerous research programmes looking at new-generation biofuels that were initiated over the last ten years are now starting to bear fruit. Although no plants are producing and marketing biofuels yet, the large-scale, industrial feasibility of second-generation biofuel production at
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,
C-C. Tsao, J. E. Campbell, M. Mena-Carrasco, S. N. Spak, G. R. Carmichael & Y. Chen (Nature Climate Change) Accelerating biofuel production has been promoted as an opportunity to enhance energy security, offset greenhouse-gas emissions and support rural economies. However, large uncertainties remain in the impacts
(Macau Hub) French group Tereos Internacional and Brazilian energy company Petrobras Wednesday in Maputo signed a protocol of intentions with Mozambican state oil and gas company Petróleos de Moçambique (Petromoc) to study the feasibility of production and sale of ethanol
by Charles Abbott and Reese Ewing (Drovers Cattle Network) A U.S. ethanol tax credit costing roughly $6 billion a year will expire on Dec. 31, with the U.S. industry declaring itself ready to stand on its own and Brazil hoping for
by Mike Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...Between 2006 and 2011, the price of sugar, while having numerous peaks and valleys, has risen from about 18 cents per pound to as high as 29 cents per pound. Given the fact that
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) There’s a hot new craze called the “Ethanol Shuffle” that’s sweeping seaports from Sao Paulo to Los Angeles. No, it’s not a new dance, this shuffle is all about the “confounded realignment of the
by Ola Gala (Bloomberg) World production of biofuels will increase at a slower pace than previously forecast in the next five years as Brazil’s ethanol output declines and the U.S. market becomes saturated, the International Energy Agency said. READ MORE
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
(MarketWatch) Expanded Agreement Follows Successful Completion of Field Trials Evogene Ltd. and SLC Agricola, a leading agribusiness company in Brazil, today announced expansion of their agreement for the development of castor bean seeds as a cost competitive feedstock for biofuels. This
(MarketWatch) Mario Garnero, Chairman of Brasilinvest, Brazil's pioneer merchant bank, stated that BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) can no longer be simply described as 'Emerging Markets'. Their economic, political and energy status make them 'Powerhouse Nations'. The Chairman of
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 Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) Brazilian and U.S. ethanol interests are challenging each other over ethanol trade policy. The U.S./Brazil Council and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce wrote a joint letter to Congress last week asking that the U.S. secondary tariff on imported
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Monsanto providing seed for off-season ethanol feedstock Every year, Brazilian sugarcane mills clear and replant about 1.7 million hectares (4.2 million acres) of cane. This year, some mills are planting sweet sorghum developed by Monsanto
(Congressman Charles Rangel (D- NY 15) Congressman Charles Rangel on December 2, 2011, introduced legislation to extend "other duty or charge" (ODC), a key component of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), that provides duty-free treatment to ethanol imports
(Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association/PR NewsWire) In response to the introduction of H.R. 3552, legislation sponsored by four members of the U.S. House of Representatives to extend the import tax on foreign ethanol, the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) issued the
by Achten, W. M. J., and L. V. Verchot (Ecology and Society) Biofuels are receiving growing negative attention. Direct and/or indirect land-use changes that result from their cultivation can cause emissions due to carbon losses in soils and biomass and could
by James Burgess (OilPrice.com) Latin America is one of the world’s largest continents, with abundant, untapped energy resources. It also boasts several countries with rapidly growing economies such as Brazil and Mexico. In fact Brazil’s energy demand is predicted to
(Butamax) Butamax™ Advanced Biofuels, the leading global biobutanol technology development company, announces agreement on commercialization principles with Highwater Ethanol, the first entrant to the Butamax Early Adopters Group. Butamax’s business model is to offer current ethanol producers proprietary biobutanol technology to
by Kari Williamson (Renewable Energy Focus) FuturaGene has received a US$2.1 million grant from the Brazilian Government to advance its bioenergy technology development programme in Brazil. The grant obtained by FuturaGene's parent company, Suzano Papel e Celulose, will be used to
by Dan Piller (Des Moines Register) Ethanol producers will lose about 25 to 30 cents per gallon on operating profits when the tax credit for blenders goes away after Dec. 31. ...(Walt) Wendland, who also is president of the Iowa Renewable Fuels
by Naseem Sheikh (Business Recorder) ...A research Study conducted by the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, suggests that the country’s energy demand is expected to increase three fold by 2050, but supply position is not inspiring in anyway. In such alarming
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Then, there’s bagasse. That leftover residue at the sugar mill after squeezing out all the cane juice. Exciting enough that Cobalt recently signed an agreement with the 10th largest global chemical company, Rhodia, to pursue
(Reuters) A European Union target to promote the use of biofuels will accelerate global species loss because it encourages the conversion of pasture, savanna and forests into new cropland, EU scientists have warned. ...The scale of species loss in areas converted
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg) Brazilian sugar cane companies, which are preparing to boost ethanol exports to the U.S., don’t produce enough of the renewable fuel to do so, a lawmaker said. Brazil won’t make enough ethanol to meet increasing foreign demand
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,
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
(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 Les Coleman, Deb Courson Smith (Public News Service - SD) ...Flo-Sun, through subsidiaries such as Florida Crystals and Domino Foods, has milling and refining operations around the world. The rulers of Flo-Sun are Palm Beach-based brothers Pepe and
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
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg Businessweek) Sugar-cane processors in Brazil, including Bunge Ltd. and Louis Dreyfus SAS, are preparing to increase their ethanol exports to the U.S., where oil companies must expand their use of biofuels. Ethanol producers had registered 107 mills
(PR NewsWire) Boeing , Embraer and the Sao Paulo State Research Foundation (FAPESP) today announced plans to collaborate on long-term aviation biofuels-related research and development, a move that represents another major step toward the creation of a sustainable aviation biofuels industry
(Cobalt) Cobalt Technologies, a leading developer of next generation bio-based chemicals and Rhodia, a specialty chemical company, today announced the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding setting the basis for a strategic alliance to develop bio n-butanol refineries throughout Latin
(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
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg) Monsanto Co., the world’s largest seed company, will sell enough sweet sorghum for 20,000 hectares (49,400 acres) of plantations in Brazil this year as sugar cane mills struggle to meet demand for ethanol and are seeking
(Pakistan Today) Great potential for cooperation between two countries in ethanol production, renewable energy, hybrid seed, off-season vegetables and bio fuel World’s leader in ethanol fuel, Brazil has shown interest to collaborate with Pakistan in the transfer of knowledge and technology
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
(Bloomberg) Logum Logistica SA, a joint venture backed by Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PETR4), won a 1.7 billion real ($924 million) loan from development bank Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Economico e Social for a project to transport Brazilian ethanol by pipeline. The bridge loan
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) As the U.S ethanol industry confronts the reality that the 45-cent-per-gallon Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit and 54-cent ethanol import tariff will end on Dec. 31, some industry representatives are ramping up efforts to
(Energy News Reports) Mario Garnero, Chairman of Brasilinvest, Brazil's pioneer merchant bank, stated yesterday during a conference at Harvard University´s Faculty Club thatBrazil's leadership in biofuels is driving it to a prime position in international relations. Garnero's address was delivered at the Sustainability
by Liam Moloney (Dow Jones NewsWires/Fox Business News) Italian companies should invest in Latin American biofuels as the continent is at the forefront of an expanding sector, a top Italian ministry official said Thursday. The Italian government "is working on setting up
by Tony C. Dreibus (Bloomberg) Brazil may need as much as $490 billion in investments to meet rising demand for sugar and ethanol, C. Czarnikow Sugar Futures Ltd. said in a report. Improved equipment and roads and increased growing area will be
by John C.K. Daly (OilPrice.com/Clean Techies) ...According to PetroChina’s Petrochemical Research Institute deputy chief engineer Fu Xingguo, China is looking at generating 933,000 tons annually of fuel ethanol and 165,000 tons of biodiesel. According to Fu, China is looking to
(SG Biofuels) SG Biofuels (SGB) today (September 13, 2011) announced it has teamed with JETBIO, leader of a multi-stakeholder initiative including Airbus, the Inter-American Development Bank, Bioventures Brasil, Rio Pardo Bioenergia, Air BP and TAM Airlines, to accelerate the production of
(Radio Netherlands Worldwide) "Shell must leave our land... The companies must stop using indigenous land," said Ambrosio Vilhalva, a Guarani from the Caarapo municipality in the southern state of Mato Grosso do Sul. "We want justice, we want our land to
by Joelle Brink (Biofuels Digest Asia) ...We imagine “food vs fuel” in terms of grain shortages, but where food and fuel actually collide is on the global sugar markets. “While sugar is widely available in the west and its price
by Monika Bertzky, Valerie Kapos & Jörn P.W. Scharlemann (Joint Nature Conservation Committee) Inference from production statistics and modelling studies suggest that iLUC has occurred, is likely to increase with increasing demand for biofuels and needs to be considered when assessing the
(GreenAir Online) The regional initiative launched in June by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to provide finance for renewable jet fuel projects in Latin America and the Caribbean has made its first grant. The IDB, along with aircraft manufacturers
by Mario Osava (Aljazeera) Biofuels are an alternative energy source that can drive local development by generating jobs, know-how and technology. But they can also cause social damage, as locals fear in the case of industrial-scale exploitation of babassu palm
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) With help from the USDA Biomass Crop Assistance Program, Abengoa is on its way to establishing a significantly sized switchgrass plantation in parts of Kansas and Oklahoma surrounding the site of the company’s proposed
(UNICA) The European Commission’s approval of certification schemes for biofuels, announced on July 19th, is an important step to add transparency to the issue and help Member States meet reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions. The measure will also benefit
by Julia Olmstead (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Traveling together to Brazil, Americans representing a range of perspectives on ethanol and environmentalism attempt to forge a shared path toward ethanol sustainability ...The divisiveness of the indirect land use change (ILUC) debate—the theory that
by Kerry Reals (FlightGlobal) Boeing and Embraer are to jointly fund a sustainability analysis into producing renewable jet fuel sourced from Brazilian sugarcane. The study, which is also being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), will evaluate the environmental effects of
(InfoZine) A Kansas State University geographer is part of a research team out to prove what environmental scientists have suspected for years: Increasing the production of soybean and biofuel crops in Brazil increases deforestation in the Amazon. ...Although this cause-and-effect finding
by Bryan Sims (Biorefining Magazine) In response to Brazil’s growing need to include low-sulfur fuel in its diesel pool, Amyris Brasil S.A., a subsidiary of Amryis Inc., will supply an expected 160 city buses in the Brazilian city of Sao
(European Commission) Brussels, 19 July 2011 - Biofuels can represent an environmentally-friendly replacement of fossil fuels. However, we need to make sure that tropical forests and carbon rich peatlands are not turned into oil palm or sugarcane plantations. We also
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In Brazil, Dow Chemical has teamed with Mitsui in a JV that will produce ethanol and bioplastics from sugarcane, which the companies are saying will be the world’s largest biopolymers investment. The project will produce DOWLEXT
by Charlie Dunmore (Reuters) The EU will protect existing investment in its $13 billion biodiesel sector even as it acts on new evidence that suggests making the fuel from food crops can do more harm than good in fighting climate
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg) BioVerde Industria e Comercio de Biocombustiveis SA, a biodiesel company that’s building Brazil’s biggest refinery, is seeking to become the country’s top providers of specialty chemicals produced from renewable sources. The company plans to retrofit a facility
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) ...Brazil’s sugarcane industry is also accused of not producing the crop, nor the fuel, in a sustainable manner. As a result, the EU Renewable Energy Directive was created to address concerns including labor and environmental issues.
(Correio do Brasil) School of Engineering of São Carlos (EESC) of USP, a research proposes the production of energyfrom the gas released in the treatment of glycerol originating from the biodiesel. The residue is rich in impurities, which increases the
by Bob Moser (The Advertiser) Lacassine Syrup Mill will be joined by nation's first sugar-to-ethanol facility Bonds worth $70 million to help build the nation's first sugar-to-ethanol plant in Lacassine passed a first step of approval Monday by the Louisiana Public
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg) LS9 Inc., a closely held U.S. biotechnology company, may build Brazil’s biggest biofuel and specialty chemicals factory as more companies seek to produce new products from sugar cane, the world’s cheapest fuel crop. The company is planning a
(LS9) LS9, Inc., a technology leader in the development of sustainable products, announced that it has begun a collaboration with MAN Latin America, a leading Brazilian engineering and vehicles manufacturing company, to test LS9's renewable diesel in both stationary engines
(Nature: International Weekly Journal of Science) Biofuels have big boots to fill. After more than 150 years of using petroleum and its products we have become dependent on it. First generation biofuels are showing us both the potential and the
By Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg) BioVerde Industria e Comercio de Biocombustiveis SA, which is building Brazil’s biggest biodiesel refinery, expects to sell 40 percent of its output in Europe by 2015 as an alternative to a saturated domestic market. BioVerde is in talks
by Paul Kiernan (Fox Business) Brazil's government-run oil company, Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PBR, PETR4.BR), or Petrobras, will build new plants to produce ethanol as part of the government's efforts to avoid future shortages, a government official told the Globo news
(International Fuel Technology, Inc.) International Fuel Technology, Inc., announced that it had received a purchase order from Petrobras to supply PerfoLiFT BD-4 to Petrobras for use in its three wholly-owned bio-diesel manufacturing plants in Brazil, which collectively produce over 150
by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) In 1568, a Spanish Conquistador by the name of Pedro Maraver de Silva led his men on a mission to capture Incas who had escaped with their gold. Journeying north of Peru, they encountered
(Platts) Brazilian ethanol interests Friday praised a largely symbolic vote in the US Senate Thursday that aimed to end that country's ethanol subsidies six months early, but noted the South American country needs to keep its supply to itself for
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) ...(T)he industry has once again begun exporting fuel to the U.S. over the past few months. According to brokers quoted in a recent Soyatech article, the ethanol industry has exported 1.9 million barrels to the U.S. as a
by Ben Lefebvre (Dow Jones News Wires) California's push to reduce fuel emissions in the next decade could lead to Brazilian ethanol makers making new inroads into the U.S. The Golden State is attempting to reduce the carbon intensity of its transportation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The collapse of the global biodiesel market, and bankruptcies in the US ethanol industry, had as much to do with the facilities as rising feedstock and falling fuel prices. Diversification is the accepted strategy for
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) As Brazil recovers from a difficult start to the year in the ethanol sector, Petrobras, the country’s integrated energy firm, seized the opportunity to highlight its activities in the industry during an Ethanol Summit
by Ivan Castano (Renewable Energy World) ...Colombia, Argentina Advance in Biofuels The biofuels race, meanwhile, is mostly making headlines in Colombia and Argentina, which have several large-scale projects up their sleeves. Brazil is the leader with a massive ethanol and flex-fuel car industry
(BusinessWire) Cosan S.A. Industria e Comércio and Amyris, Inc. announced today (June 13, 2011) that they have executed a Joint Venture Implementation Agreement as the final step toward the commencement of operations in Novvi S.A., the Brazilian company established for
(Green Car Congress) Petrobras has earmarked some US$400 million for biofuels development research projects in the 2010-2014 Business Plan, according to Petrobras Biocombustível’s head of Technology Management, João Norberto Noschang Neto. Neto was speaking as a member of the panel on
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ethanol: Market growth management challenges in Brazil; market development challenges in US ...Brazilian state-owned development bank BNDES announced that it will make $18-22 billion in loans to the sugarcane and ethanol sector. The move was made
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Brazil, 2,000 industry executives gathered at UNICA’s biennial Ethanol Summit in Sao Paulo. Among the highlights, a charged keynote in which celebrated venture capitalist Vinod Khosla accused oil companies of having a double-standard on risk-taking
by Inae Riveras and Brian Winter (Reuters) Brazil's government unveiled new financing and other incentives for sugar cane ethanol production on Monday, vowing to work closely with the private sector to boost production in an industry that has struggled recently
by Sarah Pilgrim and Mark Harvey (Sociological Research Online) In this paper, we argue that a consortium of NGOs has played a significant role in shaping the market for, and restricting the use of, biofuels as an alternative to conventional
by Jeff Natalie-Lees (Aberdeen News) Export options help facility weather weaker domestic demand Ethanol produced in Mina is helping Brazil avoid a fuel crisis after a weak sugar cane crop cut that country's ethanol production. When the sugar cane crop — the
by Philip Brasher (Des Moines Register) The European Union has set new environmental and labor standards for the crops used to make biofuels there, angering U.S. farmers who worry that such restrictions could spread to other products and countries. The standards
(GreenAirOnline) Global industrial crops technology company Quinvita is the latest to join a new biofuel alliance that has come together to produce sustainable jet biofuel from Brazilian-grown jatropha. The Brazilian Bio-Jetfuel Platform is a collaboration led by Curcas Diesel Brasil
by Eric Ehrmann (Huffington Post) Speculators hedging uncertainty in world energy markets are again making renewable fuels derived from corn, cane sugar and soybeans the drivers of food price inflation, just as they did on the eve of the 2008 economic
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In part 3, we look at 12 companies and compare and contrast the Brazilian and US paths to advanced biofuels. Does Brazil have a “must emulate” model? ...What we found is a stable, straightforward system of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Brazil, Iveco is testing its new 40% ethanol, 60% diesel bus engines to see how well they can run in industrial applications. The engines, which have to separate tanks for each fuel that is electronically
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In our new three-part series, we look at attitudinal changes powering the huge growth in Brazilian renewable energy. In our last installment of the series “Attitude Before Altitude”, we looked at the rise of consensus on
by Kerry Reals (FlightGlobal) An Argentinian company claims to be at the forefront of producing affordable jet fuel from microalgae, and is confident that its product will be widely available to the aviation industry "very soon". Biocombustibles del Chubut(BC) has developed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Over the past 12 months, it has become hard to count the number of advanced biofuels companies that are setting up partnerships, or exploring them, in Brazil – but it is in the dozens. Hard
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg) Dedini SA Industrias de Base, a Brazilian maker of ethanol-production machinery, is developing systems that will process sweet sorghum into renewable fuel, as an alternative to the widely used used sugar cane. ...“There’s growing interest among cane mills
(Milken Institute Global Conference) With oil prices spiking and concern over climate change growing, biofuels hold tremendous appeal. But they must overcome considerable hurdles. Further process and technology refinements are needed to ensure that biofuels make a significant dent in
The Brazilian Bio-Jetfuel Platform and the Industrial Crops Technology Company, QUINVITA announces today they entered into a strategic alliance on Research and Development of Jatropha production and processing. Under the signed agreement, QUINVITA joins the Brazilian Bio-Jetfuel Platform and will
(Amyris) Amyris, Inc., announced the completion of the first industrial-scale facility for the production of Biofene™, Amyris’s renewable farnesene. The production facility is located in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil at a facility owned by Biomin do Brasil Nutricão Animal Ltda., a
(Pakistan Today) Brazil and Pakistan produce huge amount of sugarcane and Brazil will soon establish its industry to help Pakistan in ethanol extraction or production from sugarcane which would bring about stability in petroleum prices and also control price-hiking in
by Heather Thorstensen (AgriNews.com) Four Minnesota farmers were part of a group that traveled to Brazil in March to learn more about indirect land use change, a divisive issue surrounding biofuels. The Minneapolis-based Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy took a total
(ScienceNewsLine/Carnegie Institution) ...Now scientists from the Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology have found that sugarcane has a double benefit. Expansion of the crop in areas previously occupied by other Brazilian crops cools the local climate. It does so by
(UPI.com) ..."We look forward to meeting with potential customers from Brazil and all over Latin America to discuss how we can meet their near-term and future defense and security requirements," said Joe McAndrew, Boeing vice president of International Business Development
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...How’s an investor to parse out all these technologies. For many, it’s a case of “you’re making what, from what, using what?” ...Here at the Digest, we think of it as a kind of old fashioned
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