(ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE)) The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to UN of several countries is lagging behind in achieving 2030 SDG commitments and actions. The pandemic became a bottleneck in the development process of the nations. Like Africa many other countries have expressed interests to
Ghana
by Chris Conte (KBZK) Researchers have found a way to turn bamboo into biofuel, a process that could have major implications for the future of the clean energy industry. “This is a simple and yet cost-effective process,” said Ali Salifu, a researcher at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Originally from Ghana, Salifu understands
(Jatropha JOil Singapore Pte Limited/PR Newswire) NGO-backed Gold Standard certification obtained for Ghana plantation; JOil’s proprietary Jatropha varieties a highly productive non-food crop for multiple sustainable industrial applications including biofuel; Second certification following ISCC certification since 2019 Singapore-based Jatropha JOil Singapore Pte Limited (JOil) has become the first corporate to
by Brad Plumer and Hiroko Tabuchi (Wall Street Journal) Ford, G.M. and Mercedes agreed to work toward selling only zero-emissions vehicles by 2040. But Toyota, Volkswagen and Nissan-Renault did not join the pledge. At least six major automakers — including Ford, Mercedes-Benz, General Motors and Volvo — and 30 national governments
by y Susanna Twidale (Reuters/London South East) A global initiative was launched on Thursday to bring transparency and rigour to the voluntary carbon market that is expected to grow rapidly over the next few years as countries and companies strive to meet climate targets. Offsets, generated through emission reductions such as
(Bio Market Insights) … recently, bamboo has caught their eye, as evidenced in a study made in Indonesia which we discuss, as it presents a future in sustainable energy. Bamboo is one of the most productive and fastest growing plants on the planet. … Its fuel characteristics, high productivity, short rotation
(U.S. Department of Energy) The governments of Denmark, Norway, and the United States, along with the Global Maritime Forum and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, today announced that they will lead a new Zero-Emission Shipping Mission as part of Mission Innovation. The Mission aims to accelerate international public-private
(Solutions from the Land) “There has never been a greater need for an Agricultural Renaissance. The many voices of farmers, echoing across centuries of scarcity and abundance, challenge us to find new ways forward, paths that produce abundance for expanding populations while rejecting wasteful destruction of resources. We must seek these
(Business Ghana/ APO Group/Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF)) Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) Launches Enterprise Development for Women-Owned Ventures in Green Energy Startup Incubator – Call for Applications Announced The Startup Incubator programme is aimed at helping women turn their renewable and green energy enterprise idea into
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Knock a water molecule off ethanol and you’ll get ethylene, C2H4—the most widely produced organic chemical globally that is the basis for scores of other chemicals and hundreds (maybe thousands) of products, from antifreeze and surfactants to synthetic fibers, plastics and packaging. Global
(Scania) Scania has signed an agreement with the Ivorian Ministry of Transport and SOTRA, the Abidjan Transport Company, to deliver 450 buses. The bus delivery forms part of a major initiative to upgrade SOTRA’s fleet and improve public transport in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. “With this agreement, Scania further strengthens its position
by Marta Gomez San Juan, Anne Bogdanski and Olivier Dubois (Food and Agricultural Organization) … )T)his report offers lessons from 26 case studies of sustainable bioeconomy interventions from around the world and from a range of different sectors. The overall aim of the report is to use these case studies to expand the general understanding of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of May 8th. In today’s Digest, paper sludge to biogas, 3D printed house, cocoa bean waste-to-fuel, vegan silk biopolymers, biobased adhesives, paper and pasta straws —
(BBC News) The palm oil industry originated in West Africa but is now dominated by massive plantations in South-East Asia. The BBC’s Tamasin Ford reports that Ivory Coast, and other African countries, are trying to take the lucrative business back home to tap into its profits. An hour’s drive to the
by Maxine Bernstein (The Oregonian/OregonLive) Jack Holden and co-defendant Lloyd Benton Sharp together defrauded 12 people who invested in a project to produce biodiesel fuel in the West African nation of Ghana. When the project failed, the two men duped the investors into providing additional funds to support nonexistent projects to transport
by Helena Taveras Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Germany, UFOP reports that for years now, dramatically low prices have defined the level of revenues from rapeseed and soft wheat. The drought year 2018 did not do anything to change this. So anyone who is still talking about an inflationary effect of biofuel production, raises
(Green Energy Biofuels) The KIKE Green Cook stove has been successfully used in households of all income levels in Kumasi and Accra’s capital city, Ghana and widely used in Nigeria. It has been introduced by the Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cook Stoves and adopted by many state and local governments
(U.S. Grains Council) The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) recently conducted a market assessment mission to Nigeria and Ghana gauging the potential for U.S. ethanol exports to these countries. “The mission identified a need for higher ethanol volumes and engaged government and industry directly on enforceable biofuels policy as well as demonstrated
(Science/Business) Europe’s leading universities in the field of the bioeconomy are looking to further intensify their existing cooperation to develop common problem-solving approaches for society’s most urgent challenges. JOINT PRESS RELEASE from the Universities of Hohenheim, Bologna, and Eastern Finland, AgroParisTech, BOKU Vienna, and Wageningen University and Research Think Tank for
(African Development Bank Group) The African Development Bank is championing a new regional and global effort to transform the African Savannah from a “Sleeping Giant” to the cradle of the continent’s green revolution. “This sleeping giant needs to wake up,” the Bank’s Vice-President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Jennifer Blanke,
(SEI.org) This special issue of the journal Biomass and Bioenergy attempts to fill research gaps on the sustainability implications of liquid biofuel production, applying an ecosystem services perspective — … The 14 papers included in the special issue provide novel and original contributions that help to fill some of these research gaps by employing
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) With 195 countries on the planet today, an impressive 53 countries are Commonwealth countries, including countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific. They include large, rich countries like Canada and Australia all the way to some of the smallest or poorest countries
by Michael Hirtzer (Reuters) U.S. ethanol producers, looking to relieve a growing domestic glut, are hunting for new international fuel markets to replace China and Brazil after trade disputes slashed exports to those top buyers. … Without new markets, U.S. producers may have to pare output after spending hundreds of millions
(Biofuels International) India-headquartered Sona Group has announced that it has beefed up the production at its Nigeria-based ethanol plant, according to media reports from Business Day. The website reported that Sona ethanol will producing 120,000 litres daily, approximately 43.8 million litres per annum at its plant in Ogun state. The Sona ethanol
by Liz Gyekye (Bioenergy Insight) The “first” pan-African expert network on food and non-food biomass has been launched by African and German researchers. BiomassNet aims to ensure that food security and environmental sustainability are not compromised in the development of new biomass uses. The scheme’s developers claim this will help
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … In Botswana, jatropha’s adventures are just beginning according to the Ministry of Minerals Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security’s advisor, Freddie Motlhatlhedi. He was referring to a joint research project done by Botswana and Japan that shows quite a bit of promise for commercial production of jatropha
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Ghana, ECREEE collaborated with the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) and hosted the 5th GBEP Bioenergy Week in the ECOWAS region in Accra, Ghana (5th ECOWAS/GBEP Bioenergy Week) to provide an opportunity to share knowledge and experience with the ECOWAS member states and the global community in sustainable
by Anna Hirtenstein (Bloomberg) Taleveras signs joint venture with Global Green Development; First phase of biofuels project seen costing $400-$600 million — Taleveras Group, the African oil trading company, is making its first moves into renewable energy by setting up a joint venture to build a biorefinery in the U.S. with
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From California arrives the very interesting news that Amyris has entered into an agreement with Blue California whereby its affiliates will provide access to its fermentation manufacturing in China and provide the necessary capital to produce No Compromise ingredients for Amyris. Turns out that China
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In the UK, China New Energy announced it has won a number of contracts with Supercare Group Limited of Ghana and CNBM General Machinery Co., Ltd in China to construct a new ethanol plant in Ghana. The contracts are in relation to the building of
(RightsAndResources.org) Experts at Dakar event point to a significant cause of investment losses, work stoppages and violence across Africa: the failure of governments and companies to respect the land rights of indigenous and local communities Sixty-three percent of disputes related to private sector land and natural resource investments in Africa
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Ghana, the country’s only ethanol producer—Caltech—has produced 150,000 liters of ethanol from cassava since starting up the 3 million liter per year facility in August. The company is also expanding into biogas, liquefied carbon dioxide and electricity production. Though the company is already securing cassava
(Awake Africa) The Community Heroes Awards is an initiative of African Centre for Peace Building and Awake Africa Magazine which seeks to identify, celebrate and honor individuals and organizations who have committed themselves to promote development at the grassroots through social work, entrepreneurship and selfless leadership. About the organizers: The
(Diesel Technology Forum) Last week, the mayors of four cities – Paris, Madrid, Mexico City and Athens – announced they had pledged to remove diesel vehicles from their cities by 2025. Last week, five African countries – Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Nigeria and Benin – announced they would reject shipments of
by Theophilus Kumah* (Advanced Biofuels USA) With the issue of biofuels and renewable energy making waves all over the globe, it is therefore not surprising when Africa (particularly Ghana) is not left out on investing in the future of energy. Biomass is the primary source of energy in African countries,
(US Department of Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the 2017 Borlaug Global Research Alliance Fellowships. Fellows will work with a mentor at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service or a U.S. university for up to 12 weeks on climate change mitigation research. The U.S. mentor will
By Theophilus Kumah* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Energy is a great determinant in ensuring the growth of the economy of every country. Ghana, as a country, has faced some instability in the supply of energy for domestic and industrial use owing to the fact that it has over–relied on hydrothermal power
(MyJoyOnline) President John Mahama has inaugurated the revamped Komenda sugar factory in the Central region, predicting that the manufacturing plant will create over 7,000 direct and indirect jobs. At a colorful ceremony on the site of the factory, President Mahama said the factory needs “a lot of labour” to grow,
(Development Diaries) Acumen, the nonprofit social venture fund, announces its new investment in Green Energy & BioFuels (GEB), a Nigerian company creating cleaner, more cost-effective cooking solutions for West Africa’s low-income households. In Nigeria, more than 40 percent of urban households and a staggering 92 percent of rural households still
(GhanaWeb) Caltech Ventures, a cassava cropping and processing company at Hodzo, in the Ho Municipality, is to begin the production of cassava-derived ethanol by March this year, the first in Ghana. Ghana currently imports 60 million litres of ethanol yearly. … All is set, with a crack Ghanaian team of
(Green Energy Biofuels) The World Future Energy Summit that began in Abu Dhabi with a call for the world to turn the words of the COP21 Paris Agreement into tangible action – perfectly showcased the shortlisted nominees for the $4 million Zayed Future Energy Prize. Since the historic Paris Agreement
(PR Newswire/BCC Research) This BCC Research report explores present and future strategies within the biofuel enzymes market, which includes amylase, cellulose, xylanase, lipase and other enzymes such as protease, lysomax, FermaSure, etc. Forecasts provided through 2020. Use this report to: Analyze the future direction of biofuel enzymes as important instruments
by Anna Hirtenstein (Bloomberg/The Washington Post) A brew made from sawdust and water hyacinth flowers may help reduce the millions of lives lost across the developing world from the fumes of ramshackle cooking equipment. Those are the ingredients being used by Green Energy Biofuels, a Nigerian renewable energy developer, to produce
by Bryan Denson (The Oregonian/Oregon Live) Jack Holden is either a big-dreaming businessman whose failure to cash in on the biodiesel wave separated investors from more than $1 million, or he’s a skilled con man who used God and greed to perpetrate a fraud on three continents. That’s how lawyers
by Dr Gloria Naa Dzama Addico & Mr Kweku Amoako Atta deGraft-Johnson (Graphic Online) When one economic activity is on the decline, there is always the natural urge to look for alternatives. That is the situation confronting the coastal communities in the country where fishing and its ancillary activities have been
by Lais F. Thomaz* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Last week, from February 17 to 21, the 20th National Ethanol Conference “Going Global” was held in Grapevine, Texas, with the participation of several representatives of the ethanol production chain in the States and other countries such as Brazil, Germany, Canada, Italy, Peru,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Bunnies, liposuction fat, Prince Charles’ leftover wine, day-old whale, the human poo bus, fire ants dipped in hexane, old beer, raging fireballs, vibrating blobs, dope, and even the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Take your pick and, yep, it’s all true, as the Digest discovers. If you’re
by Erlend Skarsaune (Aftenbladet.no) The Biofuel entrepreneurs sued Statoil to clear their names of allegations of corruption. The judge in charge was offered a job by Statoil, accepted, and continued working with the case. The aggrieved parties have fought to be cleared of corruption allegations for a long time. Stavanger District
(Ghana Business News) Mr Cyril T. Quist, Brong Ahafo Regional Director of Agriculture, has said mining and biofuel production in the country posed a threat to agriculture. He said efforts at promoting sustainable food systems were in danger if current practices where vast tracks of land were sold or leased
(Biofuels International) Ghana-based Smart Oil, active in the production of renewable energy from jatropha curcas and subsidiary of Italian company Smart Oil 2, has signed a license and services agreement with Quinvita, a developer of jatropha as a sustainable bioenergy crop. The agreement provides Smart Oil with access to Qunivita’s
(US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service) The process dates to ancient Egypt. Now, it’s being studied here by the USDA as a way to fuel farms. Pour a few handfuls of chopped- up corn stalks or switchgrass into a hopper. Heat rapidly. Funnel the resulting mixture through an intricate network of
(EurekAlert!) To celebrate World Toilet Day on November 19, researchers at Columbia University’s Engineering School, working in Ghana with Waste Enterprisers Ltd., the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, are launching a pilot facility to convert fecal sludge into biodiesel fuel, thereby addressing

“Into Africa- Building Local Markets, Improving Farm Productivity & Increasing ROI” “ Key highlights Climate change and the impact on global agriculture market Investment opportunities & land utilization in Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Liberia & etc Experience sharing by farm operators in Africa Focus on: Sugar,

Following the success of the 1st Biomass West & Central Africa Congress last year, the 2nd Congress is returning to Accra from 4 to 5 October 2012. More than 25 countries gathered in Accra last year. This is the only platform for top government representatives and industry market stakeholders from
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Most of the stories we write at the Digest on the subject of biofuels feedstocks fall into the well-established realms of normal. But every once in a while, a feedstock emerges that is so compellingly bizarre that we file the story away in our “yecch,
(JoyOnline) Human waste could soon be a precious commodity in Kumasi and other parts of the country with an ongoing solution to transform fecal sludge treatment into a profit-making venture. Waste Enterprisers Limited, a sanitation and waste energy company, is replacing the outmoded concept of disposal-oriented treatment with a technology
by Brian Vastag (The Washington Post) With global efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions stalled, the United States and five other countries are starting a new program to cut other pollutants — including methane, soot and hydrofluorocarbons — that contribute to global warming. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is
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“Reviving the Palm Oil Industry in Africa – Challenges & Opportunities” Key Highlights Financing & Investment Prospects Land regulations, labour laws, logistics & infrastructure support Applying large-scale cultivation expertise from Asia & opportunities for downstream processing R & D on improved planting materials & techniques Whom you will network with Palm oil
(Reuters/VIASPACE) VIASPACE Executive Highlights Giant King Grass Advancement & Commercial Opportunities in Africa to Generate Electricity, Manufacture Energy Pellets and Produce Bio-Fuels: Presents at the Biomass West & Central Africa Congress in Ghana VIASPACE, Inc., a clean energy company growing Giant King™ Grass as a low-carbon, renewable biomass crop and its
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 negate any eventual greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction benefit. This paper
by Maya Thatcher (Center for International Forestry Research) Smallholder farmers in developing countries risk being left behind in the push to produce sustainable biofuels, deterred by complex and expensive certification schemes, according to a recent CIFOR study. With limited scope to meet the high financial, technological and capacity demands of
by John C.K. Daly (http://oilprice.com) On 28 October Air China conducted its first trial flight of a passenger jet powered by a mix of biofuel and traditional aviation fuel. The Jet A-1 biofuel kerosene used in the flight was derived from the seeds of tung trees, more commonly known as
(Columbia University) Kartik Chandran, an associate professor of Earth and Environmental Engineering at Columbia Engineering, has been awarded $1.5 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for his project to develop a revolutionary new model in water, sanitation, and energy. Working with his partners Ashley Murray, founder and director of Waste
by Bright Owusu (Ghana mma) The time has never been riper for the people of Ghana to speak out about the terrible negligence of consecutive governments who have allowed horrendous land grabs by foreign nationals for the production of questionable biofuels from jatropha while the world is facing a crisis
(IITA) As the world grapples with the challenge of feeding an ever growing population in the face of dwindling natural resources confounded by climate change, findings from a recent research by IITA show that science-based farming methods integrating the systematic use of fertilizer by farmers can significantly reduce the need

by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) The Center for Innovative Media at George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs project, Planet Forward, provides an Internet forum for experts and interested public to provide their ideas for solutions to energy, climate change and sustainability challenges. Partnerships with the National Geographic
(GhanaWeb) Abellon CleanEnergy Ltd., an Indian renewable energy company, plans to create 25,000 jobs in Ghana and build a factory to produce solid biofuels, the United Nations Development Program said. Ahmedabad-based Abellon will grow crops that require little irrigation such as bamboo, palmarosa and sweet sorghum on 10,000 hectares of
by Bård Amundsen/Else Lie. Translation: Darren McKellep/Carol B. Eckmann(The Research Council of Norway) Jatropha has been championed as a major environmental opportunity for developing countries with a semi-arid climate and marginal soil. Scientist Karl Hilding Thunes of the Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute has been investigating whether this small, hardy
(Ghana News Agency) Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture, on Monday noted that the commercial cultivation of cassava as an alternative source of bio-energy, would not compromise Ghana’s agricultural lands or threaten its food security. …Mr Ahwoi, who was addressing the opening session of a two-day Global Consultation
(Environment-Expert.com) VEPOWER Limited has entered into an exclusivity agreement with Jatropha Africa with the goal of financing the Company’s 50,000 hectare plantation in Ghana, West Africa. VEPOWER will thus secure more than 40,000 tonnes of crude bio-fuel. …The plantation in Ghana will yield as much as 1250 kg of crude
by George C. Schoneveld, Laura A. German, and Eric Nutakor (World Bank) This paper assesses the effectiveness of the Ghanaian legal and institutional framework in managing the trade-offs of large-scale land acquisition, particularly for biofuel feedstock expansion. The research focuses on the central Ghanaian regions of Brong Ahafo and