by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... IEA Bioenergy, part of the International Energy Agency, has published its report “Status of 2nd Generation Biofuels Demonstration Facilities in June 2010”, as a report to IEA Bioenergy Task 39. The 126-page report includes extensive data on
by Dina Bacovsky, Michal Dallos, Manfred Worgetter (International Energy Agency Task 39) Driven by the need to partly replace fossil transport fuels and by food versus fuel and highest possible GHG mitigation considerations, large efforts are dedicated to the development of
The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) is an international initiative coordinated by the Energy Center at EPFL in Lausanne that brings together farmers, companies, non-governmental organizations, experts, governments, and inter-governmental agencies concerned with ensuring the sustainability of biofuels production and
by Andrew Willis (Bloomberg Businessweek) EU and Brazilian leaders are set to announce a new "triangular co-operation" initiative, under which they will aim to work together in some of the world's poorest countries, but NGOs say the duo's scheme is self-centred
(The Economist) Palm oil is a popular, cheap commodity, which green activists are doing their best to turn into a commercial liability. Companies are finding them impossible to ignore. ...The charges against palm oil are serious: environmental groups regard it as
by Doris de Guzman (ICIS Green Chemicals) ...One big news from the (BIO World) conference is the release of a new report from the World Economic Forum about the importance of industrial biorefineries not only in reducing carbon emissions but
by Antionio Trabucco, Wouter M. J. Achten, et al. (Global Change Biology) Although acclaimed as a biofuel crop with high potential to sustainably replace fossil fuels, Jatropha curcas L. remains a poorly studied plant. Reliable yield assessments with conventional methods require agroclimatic and
(World Economic Forum) Biorefineries have a major role to play in tackling climate change, according to the World Economic Forum report The Future of Industrial Biorefineries launched today(June 29, 2010). The report, produced in collaboration with Royal DSM N.V., Novozymes, DuPont
(Amyris) Amyris, Inc. announced June 25, 2010, that it has entered into an off-take agreement with Shell for the supply of Amyris No Compromise® diesel. The parties have agreed to the terms under which Shell may purchase the renewable fuel from Amyris, including
by Jeffrey Decker (FlightGlobal) ...Biomass can be gasified and converted to fuel through the Fischer-Tropsch process as well, but the USAF has focused on coal-to-liquids to confirm that chemically identical fuels perform alike no matter what the raw material is.
(GreenAirOnline) The first public flights of an aircraft with an engine fully powered by algae-derived biofuel took place last week during the ILA Air Show in Berlin. The demonstration flights of a twin-engined Diamond DA42 NG light aircraft was undertaken
(DSM) At the 7th annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology, taking place this week in Washington D.C. (United States), DSM and Roquette will elaborate on a recent technical breakthrough and proprietary process for the manufacture of bio-based succinic acid that will
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Like other sectors in advanced biofuels, macroalgae is a world of pilot projects and proposals – commercial scale projects are several years away, even if funding were to appear almost immediately. But more than funding,
(Scania) Scania is delivering 85 ethanol-powered buses to Nobina, which operates on behalf of the Stockholm regional public transport company, Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL). Ethanol buses will help SL fulfil its decision to invest only in buses that operate on renewable
by K Rajani Kanth (Business Standard) Southern Online Biotechnologies Limited, a Hyderabad-based Internet services provider (ISP) and biodiesel manufacturer, is tapping the biodiesel export market and is expecting to garner Rs 75 crore forex revenues in the current financial year. “We have
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...McCarthy arrived less than a year ago from a long stretch at Verenium, where he was the key executive in the strategic partnership and investment from BP. Before Verenium, he was at Microbia. “The company needed
by Martin Mittelstaedt (Globe and Mail) The mania over ethanol as fuel didn’t play out so well for investors last time, but there might be a new way to profit from the renewable energy industry as companies rush to commercialize
(BERNAMA.com) The European Commission on Thursday (June 10, 2010) adopted guidelines to implement the European Union's Renewable Energy Directive which forms part of its 2008 climate and energy package. "The adopted package gives clear guidance to the Malaysian palm oil producers what
by Joelle Dent (Biofuels Digest Asia) As if the global trade in biofuels wasn’t already fragmented enough, last week Europe weighed in with draconian legislation that effectively bans Asian producers of biodiesel that use what many experts believe to be
(MarketWire) Agreement to Focus on the International Commercialization and Implementation of Waste to Energy Technology Novo Energies Corporation, an alternative energy company, announced June 4, 2010, that it has entered into a Technology Co-Operation Agreement ("Agreement") with Novo Energies International, Ltd. ("NEI"). NEI, an independently-owned
by Ben Sills (Bloomberg.com) Fatih Birol, the International Energy Agency’s chief economist, called on leaders of the Group of 20 Nations to fulfill their pledge to end fossil-fuel subsidies, a move he said will cut oil demand and greenhouse-gas emissions. Stopping aid
(Climate-L) To prepare for implementation of the 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive, the European Commission has released three documents on biofuels: a communication on voluntary schemes and default values in the EU biofuels and bioliquids sustainability scheme; a communication on the
by Michael Dynes (The New Economy) Of the billions of dollars that have been ploughed into the biofuel sector around the world over the past decade, only a tiny fraction has ever found its way to Africa. That is now
(YouTube) Seaweed biofuel could be the largest renewable energy source of the the 21st century. This video by Mr. Kaare Bækgaard, Designer, demonstrates how. WATCH VIDEO
by Neil Winton (Detroit News) ...The only way that unaffordable, impractical, battery-only cars will sell is because of huge government subsidies, and a few early-adopter zealots with too much money who don't mind being stranded every couple of weeks. Germany,
by Eric Wesoff (GreenTechMedia) With images of oil-drenched wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico fresh in our minds, we look at innovations in biofuels that might displace our petroleum habit. ...Joshua Kagan of Greentech Media Research reports on Third and Fourth Generation
by Beth Gardiner (New York Times) Ubiquitous in products from cookies to cosmetics, and increasingly in European fuel tanks, too, palm oil is driving the destruction of some of Southeast Asia’s last tracts of untouched rainforest and leading to huge
by Dr Ma Xiangshan (CAAC, GreenAirOnline.com) ...The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) defines the sustainable development of the civil aviation sector as “the development of civil aviation towards a resource-economical and environment-friendly industry by actively promoting energy savings and
(GreenAirOnline) The first-ever study into a comparison of the life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of a range of alternative aviation fuels has been published by the Partnership for AiR Transportation Noise and Emissions Reduction (PARTNER), based at the Massachusetts Institute
by Treena Hein (Australian Farm Journal/June 2010) Despite all the debate about negative climate change impacts on agriculture and rising world population increasing demand for food, the stark reality is that world grain stocks are finely balanced. Treena Hein discovers
by Jeff Montgomery (The News Journal, DelawareOnline) A refining industry leader whose company plans to reopen the Delaware City Refinery said today that the new owners hope to expand into renewable fuels production at the site, while also launching a
(Reuters) The greenest fuels would become the cheapest under plans for a pan-European energy tax which would also help governments tackle huge debts without raising taxes on workers, draft documents show. ...If approved by EU leaders, the new rules would be
by Candace Krebs (AgJournal.com) Despite ethanol’s pitch as a domestic replacement for imported oil — and one that may offer fewer environmental risks following the oil well explosion in the Gulf that continues to impact the southern coast — the
by Joelle Dent (Biofuels Digest) ...Two years ago, the Korean Institute for Industrial Technology developed a process of extracting ethanol from seaweed, which proves to be more cost-efficient and advantageous than other sources of biofuel, writes Philippine Senator Edgardo Angara. Seaweed grows
(MarketWire) Amelot Holdings, Inc., announced May 26, 2010, that Amelot Oil and Barbados National Oil Company Ltd.(BNOCL) have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU), with the intent to form a joint venture (JV) in Barbados for the ownership and operation of a
(MarketWire) Mission NewEnergy Limited, a vertically integrated biodiesel producer, announced May 28, 2010, that commissioning of its second 250,000 tons-per-annum (approximately 75 million gallons per annum) Axens 2nd Generation biodiesel trans-esterification refinery has been completed. During the performance tests, the plant achieved its nameplate
(Biofuels Digest) ...Closely watched in Asia, the ongoing crisis is likely to be viewed in retrospect as an energy tipping point, emblematic of the case for biofuels and the decline of the world oil and gas industry, which like most
(Newswire Today!) LANXESS, the world’s largest producer of synthetic rubber, has invested in U.S. biofuel & biochemical company Gevo, Inc. as part of a proposed cooperation to produce isobutene from renewable resources. • USD 10 million investment in Gevo • Step toward securing
(Boeing) Boeing and PetroChina, together with representatives of the Chinese energy sector and the global aviation industry, May 27, 2010, announced the signing of an agreement to evaluate establishing a sustainable aviation biofuels industry in China. The strategic assessment is the first such
by Katie Fehrenbacher (Earth2Tech) ...The company, which was founded in 2007, has largely been in stealth. At the Khosla Ventures limited partner event on Monday, however (where the venture firm announced that it had signed on former UK Prime Minister
by Will Thurmond (Biofuels Digest) Shell, BP, Bunge, LS9, Dow and Amyris are collectively investing more than $20 billion into advanced, sustainable biofuels in Brazil. This new relationship between Brazilian, US and EU public and private industries is kicking off a
(CSIRO) CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) together with Australasia’s major aviation players is leading a study to help plan a sustainable future for aviation fuels and reduce the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. The Sustainable Aviation Fuels Road Map will
(GreenAir Online) The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group (SAFUG) has pledged continuing support to the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB), the Swiss-based body that is seeking to develop internationally approved standards in biofuel sustainability. The RSB has been hit by
(GreenAir Online) The American Power Act proposed by US senators Kerry and Lieberman represented the “wrong approach for aviation,” said Nancy Young, Vice President Environment of the Air Transport Association of America (ATA). She estimated the cost to airlines and
(ELMIA.se) Sugar beets from Europe can help solve the conflict between food and bioenergy in the developing world. “Sugar beets have greater energy content than sugar cane but require rotation with other crops,” explained Jan Öhrvall at the World Bioenergy conference
by David Zilberman, Gal Hochman, and Deepak Rajagopal (Agricultural and Resource Economics Update -- University of California) ...While including Indirect Land Use Effects in assessing the impact of biofuel seems appealing, we will argue here against an indirect land use in biofuel
(Caribbean Net News) The Organization of American States (OAS), through its Department of Sustainable Development, on Wednesday, May 19, 2010, launched in Jamaica a project that supports the development and implementation of biofuels policies and programs in the Caribbean country. The initiative -- Technical
by Kevin Sullivan & Ronald Meijer, KEMA (EnergyWorld.com) ...Co-firing may indeed make sense, from cost and environmental perspectives, for many coal-based electricity producers. Co-firing makes use of existing power generation assets and infrastructure with the lowest cost of generation for
by Gary Truitt (Hoosier Ag Today) Indiana corn is regularly exported as food and feed; but, now, more and more Indiana corn is moving onto the world market as fuel. The US ethanol industry is experiencing rapid export growth. In
by Philip Brasher (Des Moines Register) The United States has a growing new export – ethanol fuel – and a lot is going to of all places the Middle East. New government data shows that nearly 46 million gallons of U.S.
by Angie Chui (Manilla Bulletin) Biofuels should not be viewed as a threat to food security. Instead, it should be considered a boone to the industry if the Brazilian experience is any indication. According to diplomat Andre Amado, many perceive the cultivation
(Renewable Fuels Association) An industry founded in part on its ability to enhance national energy security is being forced to look beyond U.S. borders for new market growth opportunities. For three decades, the U.S. ethanol industry has contributed to a more
by Andrew Forgrave (Daily Post North Wales) Waste food and even cow slurry could be used to feed the world using a farm-scale process being pioneered in North Wales. Start-up company Merlin Biodevelopments has devised a new way of growing protein-rich
by Roy Roberson (Southeast Farm Press) American farmers are producing enough corn to meet food needs, livestock feed needs and to provide a start for the country’s effort to develop a sustainable energy source to offset the high cost of
by Ben Lazarus (Biofuels Digest, American World Services) Looks at cassava, sugarcane, cellulosic feedstocks (rice husks, bagasse), spare production capacity, and export opportunities in Thailand. READ MORE
by Richard Black (BBC News) A major change of approach is needed if society is to restrain climate change, according to a report from a self-styled "eclectic" group of academics. ...The academics advocate concentrating first on short-term fixes for greenhouse gases
(AllAfrica) A planned biofuel project in Magarini District (Kenya) has put Malindi County Council and ecologists on a collision course. This follows a request by the National Environment Management Authority for residents' views on the project, which requires 50,000 acres to
(PRNewswire) The number of next generation biofuels projects reached 200 globally, a report from the Global Biofuels Center (GBC) recently announced, beyond the more than 100 Brazilian bioethanol facilities that will qualify as "Advanced Biofuels" in the U.S. These projects include
(Sandia National Laboratory) Understanding the key elements of biofuel combustion is an important step toward insightful selection of next-generation alternative fuels. And that’s exactly what researchers at Sandia and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories are doing. The journal Angewandte Chemie devotes its May
(the Cophenhagen Post) Danish companies Danisco and Novozymes retread infringement issue, but this time over a different patent. Patent infringements over enzymes used in biofuels are again at issue between Danish companies Danisco and Novozymes, with the latter suing Danisco for the
(SNV) ...SNV together with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) implemented a project to analyse the socioeconomic and environmental risks and benefits caused by the production of biofuels and energy crops in (agricultural areas within) the Peruvian Amazon. In the socioeconomic study, cultivating
by Eduard Gismatullin (Bloomberg Business Week) Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Europe’s largest oil company, expects the share of renewable energy in transport fuels worldwide to double over the next 10 years. The portion of renewables is already approaching 10 percent because of
(Biofuels International) LL Biofuels Namibia is set to produce its own biodiesel after signing an agreement that will see the cultivation of jatropha on 300,000 hectares of land located in the north-eastern Caprivi Region, Namibia. The 20-year deal between LL Biofuels
(Air Transport News) At a meeting held last May 6, in São Paulo, Brazil, the Brazilian Alliance for Aviation Biofuels (Aliança Brasileira para Biocombustíveis de Aviação – ABRABA) was formed. To start with, the group has the participation of ten organizations:
by Per Dahlen (Biofuels Digest) ...Putting all this data together we seen that Southeast Asia requires some 2.7Mbpd, or 135 million tons per year to eliminate oil imports and to increase energy security. With second generation biofuels crops and technologies
(Reuters) Lufthansa is set to become one of the world's first airlines to mix biofuel with traditional kerosene on commercial flights as carriers seek ways to cut soaring fuel costs, its chief executive said. The German flag carrier will start running its
by Manny Galvez (The Philippean Star) The government plans to develop a $5-million (P220-million) ethanol farm at a 100-hectare site in the province using the Korean technology of extracting ethanol from seaweed. Sen. Edgardo Angara told The STAR that the Department of
by Will Thurmond (Biofuels Digest) As we enter a new decade in 2010, leagues of prescient scientists , businessmen, politicians, commodity traders, defense hawks, activists, NGOs and social entrepreneurs are taking on future challenges by invoking ancient wisdom. Necessity is
by Thomas Friedman (New York Times) ...I’m sure like all such protest movements the Tea Partiers will get their 10 to 20 percent of the vote. But should the Tea Partiers actually aspire to break out of that range, attract
by Andy Eubank (Hoosier Ag Today) USDA Rural Development has a proposed rule on the table that would exclude the Louis Dreyfus biodiesel plant from USDA Advanced Biofuel Payment Program eligibility because of its foreign ownership. Many in Indiana, including
(TheBahamasWeekly.com/Biofuels International) Waste collection company Bahamas Waste has begun constructing its $750,000 (€563,000) biofuels facility that could see the production of biodiesel from as early as June this year. Over 50 rubbish trucks will switch from using fossil fuels and run
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) When we say bioisoprene, think synthetic rubber – but only for a start. Think “platform” for renewable diesel, jet fuel, renewable gasoline, and synthetic adhesives. It replaces fossil-based oils, can make money now, and can
(Neste Oil) Neste Oil has begun trials of Neste Green 100 diesel produced from 100% renewable raw materials and free of any fossil oil components in cars in Finland. "This is the first time anywhere that a premium renewable diesel fuel will
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...With respect to energy security, consider this: it is estimated that ten percent of all US military casualties come from the delivery of fuel. Even if it were true that none of the deployments of
(Farm Futures) A recently completed analysis from Purdue University concluded that the California Air Resources Board overestimated the indirect land use change impact of grain-based ethanol by a factor of two in developing its Low Carbon Fuels Standard one year
(US Department of Energy) Department of Energy and Masdar to research, develop, and promote clean energy solutions. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s multifaceted renewable energy initiative, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote collaboration
(LetsRecycle.com) Introducing ambitious Europe-wide targets for the separate collection of both food and garden waste could offer environmental and cost benefits worth more than €7billion (£6 billion) between 2013 and 2020, according to a report published as part of the
LPP Combustion, LLC, a Columbia, Maryland based innovator in liquid fuel technology, has teamed up with several international partners to market their equipment overseas. The LPP Technology enables liquid fuels, such as naphtha, kerosene, diesel, biodiesel, or ethanol to be
(PetroWorld.com) It has been reported that the European Biodiesel Board and the European Bioethanol Fuel Association based in Brussels have both withdrawn their membership from the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels based in Switzerland. According to Biodigest, the European Biodiesel Board has
(European Environment Agency) While technological advances produce cleaner vehicles, more and more passengers and goods are travelling further distances, thereby offsetting efficiency gains. Based on analysis of long-term trends, a new European Environment Agency (EEA) report calls for a clear
by Robert Paarlberg (Foreign Policy) ... Food has become an elite preoccupation in the West, ironically, just as the most effective ways to address hunger in poor countries have fallen out of fashion. Helping the world's poor feed themselves is no longer
(Environmental Protection) Gernot Pehnelt, Ph.D., director of GlobEcon, released a study that says the Renewable Energy Directive discriminates against foreign biofuels. “European Policies Towards Palm Oil: Sorting Out Some Facts,” demonstrates that the default assumptions embedded in the directive about the
by Robert Rapier (Forbes) ...In order to better understand the intricacies of the issues involved, I have been engaged in dialogue with a number of industry groups and economists. Here I will try to shed some light on the tariff
(US DOE) The U.S. Department of Energy today announced a series of partnerships and other initiatives to address clean energy and energy security in the Western Hemisphere as part of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA). Secretary
by Brett Walton (Circle of Blue) ...That tilt may soon be righted by researchers at the University of Virginia and the Seawater Foundation, who discovered that the most important source of the risk-benefit imbalance was the heavy reliance on fresh
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel) “When do we stop investing in OPEC and start investing in America?” That’s the question that oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens asked at a House Ways and Means committee hearing Wednesday (April 14, 2010) on “Energy Tax
by R. James Woolsey (Wall Street Journal editorial) By using more electricity, natural gas and biofuels in our transportation fleet, we can quickly reduce our dependence on OPEC. ...About 95% of transportation fuel in the U.S. is derived from petroleum. And over three-quarters
by Terry Macalister (The Guardian) ...The US military has warned that surplus oil production capacity could disappear within two years and there could be serious shortages by 2015 with a significant economic and political impact. The energy crisis outlined in a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The ethanol cold war developed into a hot one this week when television and print advertising campaigns debuted both from Brazil’s UNICA and the US-based Growth Energy. ...The Growth Energy campaign is featuring six television spots
By Leila Harfuch (Brazilian Institute for International Trade Negotiations). In her talk she underlined the modeling land use and land use change in Brazil, stressing out deforestation as a serious issue. Deforestation causes and affects cattle and pasture land expansion. The
Jenny Hewson (Conservation International/CI) presented the multi- tiered sustainable biofuels crops projects funded by DOE. CI is building global and regional scale maps for potential biofuel cultivation. In other words, CI is looking for areas most suitable for biofeedstock cultivation
Budhedra Bhaduri (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) This session started with a talk given by moderator Budhedra Bhaduri who emphasized the role of geospatial science and technology in sustainable bioenergy. She presented the Geographic Information System (GIS) that includes computer software and
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) It doesn't make sense to exchange reliance on one kind of imported transportation essential for another. This is as true for foreign oil; fossil fuels; batteries and rare earth metals for electric cars; as
by Nikolas Kozloff (Foreign Policy) ...Buffeted by the oil price shock of 1973, the country's military dictators grew concerned about Brazil's reliance on foreign imports of fossil fuels. Their solution: Pour government subsidies into the sugar industry and mandate ethanol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Switzerland, the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels has developed a revised lifecycle GHG calculations methodology for biofuels, starting from the Sustainability Quick Check Tool (SQCB) for biofuels — using an online, user friendly GHG calculation
by Simone Pfuderer, Grant Davies, Ian Mitchell (Food and Farming Analysis, Defra) This paper is part of a larger body of work that aims to shed more light on what led to the high agricultural commodity prices in 2008. The
"Global trade and environmental impact of the EU biofuels mandate" is the title of a study finalised by the International Food Policy Research Institute this 25 March 2010. The report is one of four studies commissioned by the European Commission
Companies would evaluate non-food Indian feedstocks for the production of green diesel and green jet fuels as well as the development of renewable power applications from biomass waste. UOP, a Honeywell company, announced March 31, 2010, that it signed a memorandum
General Motors Co. announced on March 30, 2010, a five-year partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to help develop the potential of the jatropha plant as a sustainable biofuel energy crop. Traditionally considered a weed, jatropha plants produce
(Masami Kojima of the Oil, Gas, and Mining PolicyDivision of the World Bank/Scribd.com) Liquid biofuels are being increasingly used to substitute fuels derived from oil. A number of governments have provided incentives for the liquid biofuel industry, prompted by a desire
by Eric Petermann (The Journal-Standard) Furst-McNess has started a new business that markets a by-product of ethanol production, dry distillers’ grain, for use as a feed supplement for livestock, and has already established a relationship that exports that product to
(GreenAirOnline) Carbon pricing is critical to the business case for aviation biofuels as airlines join schemes such as the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), which starts in 2012, said British Airways’ Head of Environment Jonathon Counsell at last week’s
(GreenAirOnline.com) Aircraft and engine manufacturers have reported that after successful air and ground fit-for-purpose testing, jet biofuels blended 50/50 with conventional jet kerosene are likely to be certified for commercial airline use before the end of 2010, or early next
World deforestation, mainly the conversion of tropical forests to agricultural land, has decreased over the past ten years but continues at an alarmingly high rate in many countries, FAO announced today. Globally, around 13 million hectares of forests were converted to
Iogen Energy announced today that its cellulosic ethanol helped fuel Drayson Racing’s “Lola-Judd” in the 58th running of Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, March 20th. This is the first time Iogen Energy’s cellulosic ethanol has been blended into an
by Rowena Mason (Telegraph) The world's oil reserves have been exaggerated by up to a third, according to Sir David King, the Government's former chief scientist, who has warned of shortages and price spikes within years. The scientist and researchers from
Slowly but surely, science seems to be advancing toward a production of biofuel that does not take away agricultural land from the world’s food supply. When this kind of fuel is ready, so is A.P. Moller - Maersk. Five Maersk business
(Reuters) Henan Tianguan Group Co. Ltd, China's second largest fuel ethanol producer, plans to build plants in Southeast Asia to produce the renewable fuel and send it to China, company president Zhang Xiaoyang said on Wednesday. Based in China's central province
The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance responded today to a report produced for the International Energy Forum to be discussed this month at their meeting in Cancun, Mexico. The report, co-written by the former Secretary General of the OPEC oil cartel,
by Claude Mandil and Adnan Shihab-Eldin (International Energy Forum) Biofuels production, driven by the potential to contribute to energy security, climate change mitigation and rural development, has experienced rapid growth in recent years. Several countries have initiated policies to support
Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Germany, Dr. Jurgen Ringbeck, Senior Partner of Booz & Co said “Fuel is strategic, and there is an argument that can be made that an energy monopoly will be dominating the aviation industry.” Dr. Ringbeck
by Jacqui Fatka (Feedstuffs) A study on energy subsidies commissioned by G20 nations found that the world could be spending $500 billion annually to subsidize fossil fuels - the majority from subsidized end-user prices. The report, "Analysis of the Scope
...Industrial biotechnology is one such sector. Even though the sector is still in it’s infancy, it globally avoids the creation of 33 million tonnes of CO2 each year through various applications, without taking ethanol use into consideration, whilst globally emitting
At least 20% of the energy needs in Europe can be met by bioenergy from sustainable agriculture without compromising food safety and security. Key sustainability issues such as the use of water and maintenance of biodiversity can be respected. In
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BIO exec VP Brent Erickson ruefully noted in a conference with reporters that the biofuels industry was “very disappointed in the loan guarantee program. Biomass was mixed in with wind and solar, which have much
by Tina Casey (CleanTechnica.com) Leave it to Harvard University to invent an entire laboratory the size of an iPod nano. The device, which actually is slightly smaller than an iPod nano, makes it possible to sort enzymes and compounds 1,000
(New Energy Focus) The Standing Committee of the Bern Convention (the Council of Europe Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats), has adopted a new recommendation for biofuels. The recommendation, which is legally binding to member states, states
(European Bioethanol Fuel Association) “Meals per Gallons”, a publication against biofuels recently produced by ActionAid, is based largely on unfounded claims, disputed data and one-sided arguments says eBio, the European Bioehtanol Industry Association. “In particular, the report paints biofuels as the villain
(World Refining Association) We expect alternative fuels will have an important role to play as we look to diversify supply, improve energy security and reduce emissions. Looking at the alternative fuels produced today, biofuels account for an overwhelming majority. Although
by Niall O'Keeffe (FlightGlobal) Both of the major commercial airframers have joined forces with industry peers to pursue new biofuel research initiatives, reflecting an intensification of concern about future availability of alternative fuels in the quantities required by aviation. In January,
(Environment News Service) The risk that biofuel crops will become invasive and outcompete native species is increasing as more advanced biofuel crops are planted, according to new research into this previously neglected but potentially costly problem. A new report by the
by Oil Price (iStockAnalyst) ...additives and substitutes such as biofuels will play an ever-increasing role by stretching beleaguered production quotas. As market forces and rising prices drive this technology to the forefront, one of the richest potential production areas has
Palm oil from South-East Asia, sugarcane from Brazil and sweet sorghum in China are the most sustainable energy crops at present. Maize from the US and wheat in Europe have a much more negative environmental impact. This conclusion was drawn
(EurActiv.com) Industry is on track to ensure "carbon-neutral growth" in the aviation sector from 2020, but strengthened European Union support for research and development (R&D) is vital to help manufacturers deliver the green technologies required, François Gayet, secretary-general of the
(GreenAirOnline.com) Although not commercially viable yet, the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) offers a strong financial, as well as environmental, incentive for the adoption of jet biofuels, says a new report by EQ2. Based on industry assumptions of 15%
Ricardo today announced the formation of a consortium that is open to automakers, Tier 1 suppliers, oil companies, additive manufacturers and government agencies, with the aim of evaluating the impact of biofuels on current and future light duty engine technologies. Concerns
(TheBioenergySite) Daimler AG has started a new project for the cultivation of the biodiesel raw material jatropha in the south of India and the seedlings for the first 100 hectares have been planted. The company is supporting several village communities
by John Vidal (The Guardian) EU companies have taken millions of acres of land out of foodproduction in Africa, central America and Asia to grow biofuels for transport, according to development campaigners. The consequences of European biofuel targets, said the
by Suzanne Goldenberg (The Guardian) The brains trust of the Pentagon says it is just months away from producing a jet fuel from algae for the same cost as its fossil-fuel equivalent. The claim, which comes from the Defense Advanced Research
(New York Times) letters to editor Re “Sensible Rules for Ethanol” (editorial, Feb. 11): While American corn farmers are pleased the Environmental Protection Agency recognizes that corn ethanol offers significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions compared with gasoline, we disagree strongly
Jonathan Fahey (Forbes.com) It is becoming ever more apparent that there is one big squishy variable in the calculations that determine whether biofuels help the planet or help destroy it. That variable is called the indirect land use charge (sic),
by James Kanter(New York Times)...In a memorandum, Jean-Luc Demarty, the top civil servant in the agriculture department at the European Commission, wrote to a colleague in December that “an unguided use of I.L.U.C. would kill biofuels in the E.U.” His words
by Joshua Kagan (GreenTechMedia) ...If we consider that the oil majors are not in the oil business, but rather, the infrastructure business --- and as long as they control the liquids that come out of the pumps, they won't care
by Brian Baskin (SugarcaneBlog.com, Dow Jones) U.S. ethanol producers are facing their toughest fight yet to keep long-standing trade protections intact. Producers of ethanol, which in the U.S. is usually distilled from corn and then blended to make gasoline, have
(Central Valley Business Times) The mass production of biofuels could be a major step toward eliminating dependence on fossil fuels, but a number of factors have stood in the way, including the argument against using productive agricultural land for fuel
by C. Boyden Gray (Washington Times) Little noticed outside a small policy community, an issue has quietly arisen in recent years that, while seemingly technical, has the potential to derail the nation's attempts to address the issues of energy security
Axial Vector Energy Corporation ("AVEC") announced today the signing of a binding MOU with Kirloskar Oil Engines (KOEL) to make ready for mass production of its multi fuel engines and the building of mass production lines for its engines in
Singapore Emulsion Fuel Pte Ltd., an innovative player in the green energy space, announced the opening of Asia's first clear nano-emulsion diesel plant. Located within Singapore's Tuas industrial zone, the 40,000 sq. ft. facility is poised to cater to the
by Ian Berry (Dow Jones Newswires) ...Brazil, faced with tightening supplies of its sugarcane-based ethanol as growers there find better profits in sugar, said last month it is considering importing U.S., corn-based ethanol. While there are limits on how much
The study “2nd Generation Biofuels and Trade“ explores the potential supply and demand of 2nd generation biofuels up until 2030, and discusses various impacts on biofuel trade, ranging from cost advantages over shipping capacities and routes to policy impacts. It
(Earth Times) UK-based Carbon Credited Farming congratulated NASA on the successful launch of the Endeavour Space Shuttle today. It blasted off from Kennedy Space Center taking with it new scientific experiments, including a study of the Jatropha curcas plant, used
by Melody M. Aguiba (Manila Bulletin) A P100-million Vehicle Testing Research Laboratory (VTRL) has been put up to test the technical viability of the jatropha methyl ester (JME) which has so far gone through successful pilot testing at the Industrial
by Rhett A. Butler (Mongabay.com) The European Union may be planning to classify oil palm plantations as forests, raising fears among environmental groups of expanded conversion of tropical rainforests for biofuel production, reports the EUobserver, which cites a leaked document
by Patrick Rial (Bloomberg) Toyota Tsusho Corp., the trading affiliate of Toyota Motor Corp., plans to start growing jatropha next year as it bets that higher crop yields and oil prices will make the plant a profitable alternative fuel. ...“We
(Queensland Business Review) The University of Queensland (UQ) has entered into a new agreement with an American alternative energy company to turn Queensland sugar cane into jet biofuel. Researchers from UQ's Australian Institute for Bioengineering & Nanotechnology (AIBN) will work with
by João Carvalho (Business News Americas) Imported corn-based ethanol from the US could help ease ethanol prices in Brazil that have been rising because of increasing demand and heavy rains that have delayed the sugarcane harvest, Julio Maria Borges, a director
(BlackSeaGrain) According to the Iranian Fars Newsagency, Mr (Deputy Brazilian Science and Technology Minister Czar) Gadella said that Brazil is ready to cooperate with Iran in fields of technology and production to help the country produce ethanol from sugar cane
Gerard Wynn (Reuters) Danish biotech company Novozymes would launch in the first quarter this year a new enzyme to produce transport fuel from agricultural waste, its chief executive Steen Riisgaard told Reuters on Saturday. That was the company's firmest guidance yet
by Tamsin Carlisle (The National) Just six months after ExxonMobil agreed to invest US$600 million (Dh2.2 billion) in a six-year project to develop biofuel from microscopic plants, teams of researchers are performing their first experiments. ... “We’re at full speed
The new research center, Brazilian Bioethanol Science and Technology National Laboratory, in Campinas, São Paulo State represents a strategic move by the Brazilian Government toward strengthening the country’s leadership in sustainable production of ethanol from sugar cane and fostering innovation
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