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5 July 2020 Opening Highlights The first ever entirely virtual edition of the European Biomass Conference and Exhibition started today with the opening session streamed online. This year’s theme of the EUBCE is the role of the bioeconomy in the post-pandemic economic recovery and this is the topic that was addressed by
Presentations
July 15, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A company that designs materials at a molecular level by optimizing microbes to biomanufacture unique structural oils discovered in nature, but not previously accessible commercially, is what Checkerspot is all about. Check out their Slide Guide from last week’s ABLC Digital, to get the details on
July 15, 2020
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Feature Video of the Month: Have You Ever Wondered How a Biogas to Biomethane Upgrading Plant Works?
(Bioenergy Insight/Biogas Channel) There are several stages between the production of biogas in an anaerobic digester and the injection of biomethane into the national gas grid. Learn more about this process by watching this video from our friends at Biogas Channel who visited a membrane upgrading plant in Northern Italy,
July 14, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At ABLC last week, Airlines for America’s Nancy Young shared this illuminating presentation that outlines what airlines need to deploy sustainable aviation fuel as well as progress, gaps, opportunities and action to scale up supply and commercial viability. Even with COVID-19 impacting airline travel around the
July 14, 2020
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by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) These days hanging out with friends online chatting about food, fuel, fiber, and more is certainly a great way to spend the day. Once again, a day full of content on day 3 of ABLC Digital from 29 speakers that shared the latest news and updates
July 10, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The transportation and utility/pipeline industries are ripe for decarbonizing and Greenlane Renewables are using their conversion of low-grade biogas to high-value renewable natural gas to decarbonize the natural gas grid and commercial transportation. RNG happens to be resilient during COVID-19 too according to Greenlane, and this
July 9, 2020
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by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Biogas, carbon, renewable diesel, biodiesel, methane, hydrogen, and many new markets, innovations, technologies, novel crops, and more were the talk of the day. On day 2 of ABLC Digital it was chock full of content from 29 speakers that shared the latest content with 583
July 9, 2020
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(Greenlane Renewables) Greenlane Renewables Inc. (Greenlane) (TSXV: GRN / FSE: 52G) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Greenlane Biogas North America Ltd., has signed a $2.4 million (US$1.8 million) contract with Grupo Cocal (Cocal), a Brazilian sugar mill operator that refines sugar and produces ethanol biofuel from sugarcane. Greenlane will supply
July 8, 2020
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Valero & Diamond Green Diesel Joint Venture: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Renewable Diesel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Diamond Green Diesel is North America’s largest renewable diesel plant, Valero is the largest renewable fuels producer in North America, and Darling Ingredients is the world’s largest independent processor of animal by-products, according to this illuminating slide guide that dives into renewable diesel’s margins, mandates, blending,
July 8, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What the delegates were saying about CNG, fuel cells, and hydrogen, biogas as a platform, new markets, including EVs and succinic acid, policy, methane, emissions, novel crops, and renewable diesel. In Florida, ABLC Digital opened for 583 registered delegates — and 774 additional viewers taking in the four hours of
July 8, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)The Biomass Research and Development Board published a report that looks at how to address the constraints surrounding availability of biomass feedstocks for biofuels. Four questions guide the analysis: What feedstocks and at what price? What is the regional distribution of feedstock production? What are the
July 3, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Insurance takes risks that other forms of capital (like debt and equity) can’t or won’t take, according to Mike Newman and this illuminating slide guide presented at a recent DigestConnect webinar. Cap and Trade limits emissions and puts a price on them, encouraging companies to cut
July 2, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This slide guide offers a vision and roadmap — a ‘blueprint’ — for the Pacific Northwest to transform its increasingly outdated solid waste management system by 2040, at a time when waste leaders are grappling with the most profound set of challenges they have faced in
June 30, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) On last week’s DigestConnect webinar, Christopher Bush, Founder of Canada-based Catalyst Agri-Innovations Society shared this fun and informative slide guide complete with poop pictures and more importantly, the reason why cow manure and farm waste makes a fantastic renewable biogas and renewable natural gas. From
June 29, 2020
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(The Edge Markets/Bernama) With demand for crude oil dropping sharply, leading to a steep fall in crude oil prices, the viability of the biodiesel business has also weakened significantly, putting both Malaysia and Indonesia’s biodiesel mandates under pressure. However, there is a silver lining in the dark clouds, as the world has seen
June 26, 2020
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(S&P Global Platts) Fossil fuels would shrink to roughly half of total primary energy supply in 2050, from about 77% in 2020, if the world meets the minimum Paris Agreement target of 2C warming, according to the latest projections by S&P Global Platts Analytics. The demand shock caused by the coronavirus pandemic
June 23, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Gevo is developing a platform to fund expansion projects in the next phase of its unique, next generation renewable fuels business. Their commercial-scale facilities are converting agricultural, forestry and other feedstocks to high value, low pollutant, low carbon substitutes for gasoline and jet fuel. So
June 23, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Macaúba as a biofuel feedstock has lots to offer, like its high productivity per ton/hectare surpassing that of soy, sunflower, rapeseed, and palm oil, and that it can grow even on degraded land making it a more sustainable feedstock to consider. And Soleá knows that, which
June 22, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From planning, people and performance, Renewable Energy Group is on top of things with the coronavirus. Since biodiesel and renewable diesel production has been considered essential business, REG was still working, maintaining full operations of all refineries, and while there was lower diesel demand due to
June 19, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ATCO built and is currently operating a 0.25 MW (65 kg per day) hydrogen production facility in Jandakot, Western Australia. Hydrogen produced at the Clean Energy Innovation Hub is used for blending, direct fuel testing and to power a fuel cell for residential energy back
June 17, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ways2H shows us a third pathway towards energy decarbonization via waste to hydrogen. Check out this illuminating slide guide that looks at the need for hydrogen, renewable hydrogen production pathways, how biomass including municipal solid waste can be a third pathway to hydrogen, and more.
June 17, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Everyone wants to dominate the world, right? But Neste wants to do it in a nice way by becoming the global leader in renewable and circular solutions. There are 3 ways they are working on this lately – 1) expanding global reach with new offices in
June 16, 2020
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by Mike Newman (Parhelion Underwriting Inc./Biofuels Digest) … The focus was on renewable fuels in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RINs) and California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS credits). Stakeholders came from all corners of the market, from the refining industry, power utilities and renewable energy sectors, as well as the
June 16, 2020
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by Josh Siegel & Abby Smith (Washington Examiner) ELECTRIC CARS’ EQUITY PROBLEM: Top energy officials from New York and Massachusetts are raising the fear that requiring increasing use of electric cars could impose financial hardships on poor people. That is especially if utilities bear the cost of building out charging infrastructure and
June 15, 2020
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(Energy Vision) New Funding Offered for Clean Truck Technology and Fuels to Reduce Diesel Exhaust’s Impacts on Bronx Air Quality and Respiratory Illness — At a webinar this week sponsored by the non-profit Energy Vision, the NYC Department of Transportation and Empire Clean Cities, New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi,
June 15, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Who’s making what, how, where and when? Find out why there are a zillian paths to sustainable aviation fuels and take a look at The Digest’s latest slide guide from last week’s DigestConnect webinar to get the latest on the growing renewable diesel and SAF
June 15, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Part 1 of today’s Hot Hydrogen slide guides, Frontier Energy shares their H2@Scale vision, progress in Texas and why Texas is actually a pretty ideal location to lead H2 production for a sustainable energy system, the recent U.S. Department of Energy award for a
June 11, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … We left the discussion with a hint about the potential conversion of methane to methanol, which can serve as a powerful chemical building block or, in China most prominently, as a fuel. We’ll pick up from that point today. Wolf Ron Cascone Here’s some background on methane
June 11, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Part 2 of today’s Hot Hydrogen slide guides, Exelon shares this illuminating presentation that digs deep into their project to evaluate technical and economic feasibility of integrated nuclear-renewable-hydrogen plant operation, assess hydrogen market in region of an Exelon nuclear plant, complete preliminary engineering design of
June 11, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Part 3 of today’s Hot Hydrogen slide guides, Southern Company’s Noah Meeks takes a look at how hydrogen mitigates multiple issues in a low-carbon transition, the valuation of hydrogen energy storage in a high marginal cost scenario, the value of energy storage in a
June 11, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Everything’s better with biology, so here’s The Digest’s newly released Top 15 case studies of today’s hottest technology and new markets for traditional oil and gas refiners. What are our top picks? Spoiler Alert: The top 15 may include converting oil refineries to biorefineries, something to
June 10, 2020
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by Ana Flávia Silva Paiva and Isabela Almeida Rodrigues* (Federal University of Goias/ Brazilian National Institute of Science and Technology for Studies on the United States/ Advanced Biofuels USA) The Webinar, “Integration between biofuels: strategies to overcome the crisis,” held on June 4, 2020, was an online event broadcast on
June 9, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How will we develop hydrogen for industrial and transport objectives? That is the question The Digest’s Jim Lane looks at in this visual slide guide highlighting the demand potential, background on renewable gases and renewable hydrogen, drivers behind it, state of play, major players, and more.
June 9, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) POET shared this visual slide guide at last week’s DigestConnect webinar, highlighting today’s agricultural landscape, U.S. corn acreage and yield and production countries, showing where America’s corn goes, noting how biofuels are critical for successful agriculture, and more. READ MORE
June 3, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) With a petrochemical history, Sarnia-Lambton has evolved to agriculture, feedstocks and chemicals with a vision to be Canada’s premier location for the development of and investment in clean, green, and sustainable chemistry technologies. A look at their commercialization hub, how they support the development of ideas
June 2, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Toyota’s been working on a global environmental challenge – a new vehicle with zero CO2 emissions and plants with zero CO2 emissions. But how can they achieve what seems to be impossible? That’s where hydrogen and fuel cells come into play. Toyota’s been working on fuel cells
June 1, 2020
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by Jordan Solomon (Ecostrat Inc./Biofuels Digest) The US has over a billion tons of biomass which can be used as a key lever to drive economic recovery. USDA estimates that 3.4 million jobs and nearly $660 billion of economic benefits would be created by using biomass to manufacture alternative fuels,
May 21, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Alot has changed since February, but what exactly in terms of the energy sector and financial impacts from COVID-19? Dive into this detailed assessment by The Brattle Group on COVID-19’s path and macroeconomic projections and outlook for the future, oil and natural gas demand and
May 20, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) On last week’s DigestConnect webinar about the Green Recovery, Joanne Ivancic from Advanced Biofuel USA shared this illuminating presentation about the need for more education and understanding of renewable fuels. From the evidence that it’s a problem to how can we do better to ensure that
May 19, 2020
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(Biofuels Digest) DigestConnect is a weekly online get-together for the bioeconomy, featuring trendsetters and online commentary by real leaders on the real issues. DigestConnect #9 is here. Today we are joined by Joanne Ivancic with Advanced Biofuels USA, Graham Noyes of the Low Carbon Fuels Coalition, and Jeremy Martin with
May 18, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the past 50 years, population has doubled, food and water tripled, fossil fuels quadrupled. So how do we transition to a net positive world? That’s where RSB comes in with their community, resources and sustainability standard and certification system as part of a global movement to
May 13, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) If you missed the DigestConnect webinar last week, check out the slide guides from Bill Hagy’s presentation on what federal programs and resources are available for biofuels, biopower, biochemicals and biobased products throughout all stage levels from research and development to commercial. These include Small
May 12, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Gevo’s business strategy is to secure off take agreements for jet fuel and isooctane striking a price that gives attractive returns for project financing for large scale build out of capacity. But how? How will they build out IBA, jet and isooctane with project financing?
May 8, 2020
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by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) Valero Energy Corp. released first quarter 2020 financial results on April 29. While the company’s operations are being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the executive team confirmed that demand for transportation fuels is beginning to rebound. … Gorder (Joe Gorder, chairman and CEO
May 6, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Digest reported yesterday how White Dog Labs is giving a glimmer of hope to the ethanol industry by being able to convert ethanol production into alternative protein production thanks to their microbiome-derived biotech – and in just 9 months. Their offtake agreement with Cargill is
May 5, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) During last week’s DigestConnect webinar, Kate Lewis from USDA’s BioPreferred Program shared this slide guide on how there is a refresh going on with biobased products driven largely by Millennials, the growth in intermediates even now, benefits of the USDA certified biobased product label and
May 4, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) During last week’s DigestConnect discussion, Chris Burk from Burk Engineering and Lee Enterprises shared this slide guide on what exactly is techno-economic modeling, why it’s important, how techno-economic models work, how it’s used in real life practice, and a bit about environmental impact analysis. If you
May 1, 2020
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(Advanced Biofuels USA) The first episode of “Just A Minute or So about Renewable Fuels” focuses on what might be used to make renewable fuels. Students, teachers, or anyone interested in renewable fuels can see in a 3-minute slide presentation narrated by Advanced Biofuels USA’s Joanne Ivancic with pictures of
April 30, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DNA is changing the world. That’s what Twist Biosciences is focusing on with synthetic DNA being the future of chemicals, food, therapeutics, diagnostics and even data storage. From next-gen sequencing to synthetic biology, Twist Biosciences envisions a huge expanding market of about $2.3 billion, and their
April 30, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Missed the recent DigestConnect discussion where The Digest shared the latest on the U.S. goal of 36 billion biofuels gallons by 2022 and where we are now? Check out this slide guide that takes a look at the 15.1 billion gallons in 2019 to date,
April 29, 2020
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(Minnesota Department of Agriculture) On April 6, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture hosted a meeting of the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Biofuels which included presentations from Jeremy Martin, Clean Transportation Program, Union of Concerned Scientists, speaking on Relative environmental effects of ethanol, gasoline, and electricity and from Ron Alverson, American
April 29, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cow poop. It’s a problem for farmers across the country, something that has to be dealt with, something that environmentalists and vegetarians often cite as a reason to cut your steak intake, but Vanguard Renewables is capturing the latent methane in animal manure, converting it
April 28, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Clariant takes us on a journey on how carbon emissions can be reduced by advanced biofuels, more specifically, how lignocellulosic ethanol made from agriculture residues like straw, non-food materials, and waste can make an immediate impact, how their sunliquid technology, enzymes, microorganisms and fermentation organisms leads
April 27, 2020
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(EcoEngineers) EcoEngineers is filming its conversations and making them accessible to the public in a video series called Eco Insights. We’re inviting you to have a front-row seat to some of the daily conversations our experts have with each other. We want to share some of our insights with you! Join us
April 23, 2020
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Renewable Hydrogen and Natural Gas 101: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Xebec’s Renewable Gas
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Xebec is reducing carbon emissions in the gas grid by accelerating the adoption of renewable gases, focusing on both renewable natural gas and renewable hydrogen. With a $100 million in order backlog that validates the technology and over $60 million invested into proprietary technology, and
April 20, 2020
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by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Part 1 Slide Guide looked at the GTI study’s resource analysis, site layout catalysts requirements, but for today’s Part 2, we are focusing on the money and the charts. Dive into the details on project development costs and spend profile, CAPEX and OPEX, economic,
April 16, 2020
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by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) While the world may be at a standstill,there are still many projects going on and moving forward. But where are these projects? Who’s involved? How far along are they? What are they working on? From VTT BioFlex in Finland working on fuels oils and plastics
April 16, 2020
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by Donnell Rehagen (National Biodiesel Board/Biodiesel Magazine) National Biodiesel Board CEO Donnell Rehagen discusses policy achievements of 2019, highlights from the 2020 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, and challenges that lie ahead — …Biodiesel, renewable diesel, and renewable jet fuel will be recognized as mainstream low-carbon fuel options with superior
April 15, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) “There is no substitute for a fully integrated pilot process,” said Mark Warner in this illuminating presentation on how to get from concept to commercialization for novel proteins. But what are the economic implications of each scale? What are 3 key areas for receiving project
April 14, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) enEvolv produces biobased chemicals for the energy, specialty chemicals, nutrition and therapeutics industries, develops novel strains and improves existing ones focusing on their ultra-rapid genome engineering platform. Marco Farsheed, enEvolv’s Co-Founder and CEO shared this illuminating presentation on why strain engineering is challenging, how enEvolv’s variation
April 13, 2020
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(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) has released the “Bio-Restore Workshop Summary Report.” This report summarizes the results of a BETO-sponsored public workshop held at Argonne National Laboratory on September 25–26, 2019. The Bio-Restore Workshop brought together experts to
April 8, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At last week’s Digest webinar, Mark Laurenzo from the Iowa Economic Development Authority shared this illuminating presentation on Iowa’s key value propositions, activity from the biosciences industry in the state where bioscience R&D expenditures per capita is 30% higher than the national figure, how there
April 7, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Few countries blend ethanol beyond 10% right now but are targets moving? What about biodiesel targets, mostly set below 7% volume in some countries? How about the 18 countries that plan to ban of phase out ICEVs and more than 45 countries have set or are
April 7, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Earlier this week we shared the latest federal programs supporting demonstration concept and today our focus is on federal programs supporting commercial scale development for biofuels, biopower, biochemicals and biobased projects. Check out this slide guide from Bill Hagy at Lee Enterprises Consulting, for details
April 3, 2020
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(National Council for Science and the Environment) The NCSE 2020 Annual Conference: Science in Environmental Decision-Making, held January 6–9, 2020, in Washington, D.C., provided a forum for collaboration and engagement, harnessing collective vision and energy toward what is possible when scientific research is used to develop solutions to “wicked” problems. Twenty years ago,
April 1, 2020
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(FNR/AdvanceFuel) More than 600 participants from 25 countries attended the conference and took part in the presentations and discussions regarding possible options for a more sustainable future mobility serving under the goals of the Paris Agreement and the obligations of the REDII. The conference provided the opportunity to access the most
April 1, 2020
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(South Dakota Farmer’s Union) In addition to feeding and fueling the world, farmers across the Corn Belt are helping sequester carbon by raising corn for ethanol, livestock feed and Fourth of July barbecues. “Corn is one of only a handful of grasses (C4) which are superior at extracting carbon dioxide from the
March 30, 2020
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y Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Renewable Fuels Association released its 2020 Ethanol Industry Outlook, an annual publication that provides policymakers, regulators, consumers, the media, and renewable fuel advocates with key statistics, trends, insight, and analysis on the latest developments in the U.S. renewable fuels industry, as well as commentary
March 30, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Check out Part 3 of the National Biodiesel Board’s slide guide that delves into ASTM fuel specifications for biodiesel and fuel quality, biodiesel standards like BQ-9000, legislative updates impacting biodiesel demand and state policies, latest on OEM and fleet support for biodiesel. READ MORE Where’s
March 27, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Check out Part 2 of the National Biodiesel Board’s slide guide that focuses on biodiesel’s on-road heavy-duty emission benefits, why they consider biodiesel as “liquid solar energy”, how 3 billion gallons of biodiesel used in the U.S. would reduce carbon emissions by more than 25
March 26, 2020
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by Pedro Malpartida* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Leaders in Energy hosted their sixth annual Clean Energy and Sustainability Extravaganza in the A. James Clarke Hall at the University of Maryland (UMD) along with the Association of Energy Engineers-National Capital Chapter (AEE NCC). At this event, companies, association members, and students showcased
March 26, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) While things are topsy turvy around the world right now, Part 1 to this visual National Biodiesel Board slide guide takes us on an industry overview, the diesel vehicle market forecast, the U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel market (and yes, they are different!), a look
March 25, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There are several federal R&D programs out there supporting biofuels, biopower, biochemcials and biobased products. If you don’t know what they are, check out this slide guide from Bill Hagy at Lee Enterprises Consulting and who has 45 years of experience at USDA and as
March 20, 2020
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( Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce) The Subcommittee heard testimony about recycling and waste management in the United States, including its impacts on climate and the environment. Memorandum from Chairman Pallone to the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change Witnesses Jenna Jambeck,
March 17, 2020
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(U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Science, Oceans, Fisheries, and Weather) The hearing examined the bioeconomy, the federal government’s role in the bioeconomy, and the potential risks from such research. Witnesses will also discuss the necessary policies and practices for the advancement of biotechnology. Witnesses: Dr.
March 17, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Commodity Plus Carbon, or CPC can maximize monetization opportunities from the sequestration potential in the agricultural sector. CPC offers synergies between regulated ETS traded carbon credits, voluntary and futures commodity markets and offers a new trading vehicle with the potential to incentivize good agricultural practices
March 17, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Methanol is versatile – it can be used as turbine fuel, cooking fuel, and as a fuel for solid oxide fuel cells. But G.K.Surya Prakash from University of Southern California shares in this illuminating presentation other ways methanol is handy dandy, like as a liquid hydrogen
March 13, 2020
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(The International News) The Embassy of Brazil in Islamabad organised a seminar ‘Sustainable Mobility: Ethanol Talks – Pakistan’, to promote ethanol as a modern and sustainable option for mobility, capable of generating immediate positive impacts on energy security, health, reduction of local air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, says a press
March 11, 2020
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(Diesel Technology Forum) Approximately six million diesel-powered work trucks today are on the job working for small businesses and governments alike. These trucks that deliver the everyday services Americans demand, are doing so with fewer emissions and a greater eye on sustainability, which is why diesel technology will continue to
March 10, 2020
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by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) In recent years, we have seen several countries beginning to develop clean fuel standards that can offer both opportunities and challenges for U.S. ethanol producers. A panel at the National Ethanol Conference focused on “The Emergence of International Clean Fuel Standards: Innovation Drivers or Industry Protectionism?” with insights on
March 9, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) USDA made a big announcement recently on targeting 30% biofuels by 2050, but did you know there are many ways they have been adding value to agricultural products to help the rural economy? Did you know the USDA continues to collect royalties from McDonald’s sale
March 9, 2020
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(Wilson Center) In China and the United States–the top two emitters of greenhouse gasses–most climate policies and civil society campaigns have focused on reducing fossil fuels.. At this China Environment Forum (CEF) meeting, speakers will instead shine a light on the need for rural climate action that helps farming communities become
March 6, 2020
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by Bidisha Bhattacharyya, Ryan Richards, and Rita Cliffton (Center for American Progress) Rural communities face many challenges, and climate change is only making matters worse. Flooding and drought are hitting rural communities hard, causing massive financial losses for farmers, who are also facing low commodity prices and bearing the brunt
March 6, 2020
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by Shingirai Huni (The Herald) Zimbabwe is facing fuel shortages, with long queues now the order of the day at fuel stations. Many motorists now leave their cars at home and use public transport to save money on fuel as prices keep rising. Yet, adopting bio-fuels can help ease the fuel shortages Zimbabwe
March 5, 2020
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(U.S. Grains Council/Farm Progress) U.S. Grains Council attends India’s Auto Expo, works with India to dispel myths about ethanol use. — Amid India’s Auto Expo, the U.S. Grains Council and U.S. industry partners invited attendees to learn about the economic, environmental and health benefits of increased ethanol use. The show is
March 5, 2020
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by Steve Klein (Fleet Equipment/Renewable Energy Group ) I recently attended the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in Tampa and came away with a lot of information and ideas about where the transportation industry is heading. One major point the speakers reiterated was that, despite all the talk of electrification,
March 5, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Jack Brouwer, Director of the National Fuel Cell Research Center at UC Irvine asks this very question. Take a look at his presentation from the H2@Scale panel to find out what today’s popular thinking and arguments are against hydrogen, a look at hydrogen energy storage
March 5, 2020
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by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) When ClearFlame Engines CEO B.J. Johnson told ethanol industry representatives about the potential ethanol market for the company’s all-ethanol diesel engine, those at the recent National Ethanol Conference in Houston could have kissed him. While concerns continue about the future of the Renewable Fuel Standard
March 5, 2020
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by Malcolm Harris (Vox Media Intelligencer/New York Magazine) … I asked Fries (Steven Fries, Shell’s chief economist) if Shell is serious about transition, then couldn’t it voluntarily speed it up by leaving some of its wells fallow, constraining oil output and thereby driving the price relative to renewables higher, faster?
March 4, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today’s top story, “Mind the Gap,” refers to a rather bleak and disturbing assessment offered by IEA Bioenergy on the prospects for cost-competitive advanced biofuels. The report looked at 89 different organizations and their technologies, and IEA Bioenergy’s Adam Brown told the Forum, “there is
March 4, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) If you have not followed the Alternative and Renewable Fuels Forum, bookmark this, and today I’ll give you some of the flavor of this group with 110 members — project owners and developers, policy experts, technologists, automotive manufacturers, oil companies, airlines. I think of them as
March 4, 2020
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by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) … The event drew a diverse mix of technology developers, academia, investors, service and equipment providers, bioenergy plant personnel and a range of other stakeholders who met to gather information, network and collaborate. Following a day-long preconference workshop focused on biomass preparation, storage and handling, the
March 3, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Did you know that the demand potential of the hydrogen market by 2050 is >9X? National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently presented the latest on the technical potential, demand, and economic potential of H2@Scale within the United States. Check out 5 national scenarios for hydrogen’s economic
March 3, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Wild type algal strains don’t have the productivity and robust growth characteristics needed to push algae forward as a biofuel feedstock, but researchers are working on changing that. Stephen Mayfield from the University of California San Diego, shared the latest research developments at the U.S.
March 3, 2020
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by Carrie Muehling (Energy.AgWired.com) The 2020 National Ethanol Conference included a panel discussion on new uses for ethanol, moderated by Erik Huschitt, CEO and General Manager of Badger State Ethanol, LLC. Panelists included Keegan O’Donnell, Gas Power Systems, New Product Engineering, General Electric; Prabhakar Nair, VP Business Development, LanzaTech; and BJ Johnson, CEO, ClearFlame
February 28, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Reducing cost and improving manufacturability of the biomass sugar platform through Continuous Enzymatic Hydrolysis (CEH) technology is one of the goals for NREL. James D. McMillan from NREL shared the latest research developments at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) 2019 Project
February 26, 2020
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(KLKN TV) Fuel retailers met … to discuss ethanol and how using it helps save the planet and some change in your pocket. “We’re excited the people are here and want to learn about how they can help us and help the state and help the environment,” said Scott McPheeters,
February 23, 2020
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by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The USDA unveiled its Agriculture Innovation Agenda on Feb. 20. The initiative, in part, aims to support renewable fuels, including ethanol, biodiesel and biomass. This includes a goal to achieve market-driven blend rates of E30 by 2050. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the launch of
February 23, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Two birds with one stone – if you can get BOTH a clean sugar stream for the production of hydrocarbon fuels AND lignins that can feed multiple product streams, then you are talking economic viability. Eric L. Hegg from Michigan State University, shared the latest research developments
February 21, 2020
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) The Agriculture Department is expected to announce today that it aims to cut farming’s environmental footprint in half by 2050 while increasing farm productivity by 40 percent, three sources briefed on the plan told POLITICO’s Catherine Boudreau. The initiative is not expected to specifically
February 20, 2020
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(Fuels of the Future) Discussions and presentations at the 17th International Conference on Renewable Mobility focus on the impact of the German government’s climate protection package and the new European Commission’s “Green Deal”. The European Commission intends to ramp up its climate protection efforts through the “Green Deal”, which is also
February 19, 2020
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(Advanced Motor Fuels Technology Collaboration Programme) In the light of climate change, there is an urgent need to decarbonize our societies. The transport sector is specifically challenging, as transport demand is still growing, and so are the sector´s GHG emissions. Electric mobility will not be able to solve this on
February 18, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sean Simpson and Michael Köpke from LanzaTech and researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory are working on developing and scaling up a novel technology platform for direct conversion of biomass syngas to acetone, which can be converted into a range of fuels and commodities via existing
February 18, 2020
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by Cácia Pimentel* (Advanced Biofuels USA) On February 15th the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) Carbon Management Research Initiative and the Women in Energy program hosted a panel of experts to discuss carbon capture policies and technologies, especially Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS). CCUS are methods and technologies to remove
February 18, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Vertimass had 300x scale-up in 12 months and increased liquid hydrocarbon yields from 36% to 80% in 8 months. And their tech can convert ethanol into jet fuel as well as diesel fuel additives and high value chemicals without adding hydrogen. Charles E. Wyman, PhD,
February 14, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Yuck! There’s a $25 billion grease problem, from the underground blob in the U.K. to pretty much any public treatment facilities and liquid waste haulers, but Greasezilla has a patented system to help solve the grease trap waste problem. Find out the details of the
February 14, 2020
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(NextChem) NextChem, the company of Maire Tecnimont Group focused on the Energy Transition, will cooperate with Saola Energy to license a technology for the production of Renewable Diesel, suitable for both small bolt-on facilities and large plants. A roadshow to promote the technology on the American market taking off today from
February 13, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Everyone wants more productive algal strains – but how do you get them? Can you advance the technology enough to get economical, large-scale algal biofuel production? Ron Chance and Paul Roessler, both of Algenol Biotech, shared this illuminating presentation at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies
February 13, 2020
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(Renewable Fuels Association) Policy obstacles—especially ongoing trade disputes and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s granting of RFS compliance waivers to dozens of small refineries —dampened the U.S. ethanol industry’s economic contributions in 2019, according to a new study released today at the Renewable Fuels Association’s 25th annual National Ethanol Conference. Still,
February 13, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Scott Twary from Los Alamos National Laboratory is working on how to design an integrated strain improvement platform for algae with faster production and to meet BETO’s mission goals of developing technologies for algae strain improvement to meet biomass yield and productivity goals. Get the latest
February 11, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There are 3 big reasons to scale-up a process but how exactly do you go about doing it? What should you do to prepare for scale-up? How do you successfully scale-up a fermentation process? H. Brett Schreyer from Lee Enterprises Consulting answers these questions in this
February 11, 2020
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by Matt Thompson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The National Clean Fuels Technology and Health Effects Leadership Forum was held in Washington, D.C. this week, and brought to the forefront the health and environmental benefits ethanol offers. “We’re here to talk about clean fuels, climate and health,” said Reid Detchon, senior advisor for climate
February 10, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Eliminating cost and site-location constraints –sounds like something we all want. But there’s a project working on getting rid of those constraints posed by the supply of concentrated CO2 to microalgae farms while simultaneously achieving high seasonal productivities. Their objectives include improving scale and productivity of
February 7, 2020
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(South Dakota Farmers Union) Ethanol lowers carbon emissions by 40 percent and reduces the need for carcinogenic gasoline additives. These health and clean air benefits will be the focus of South Dakota Farmers Union President Doug Sombke’s presentation to the United Nations Foundation in D.C. today, February 6, 2020. “I’m
February 7, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Yuck! There’s a $25 billion grease problem,from the underground blob in the U.K. to pretty much any public treatment facilities and liquid waste haulers, but Greasezilla has a patented system to help solve the grease trap waste problem. Find out the details of the brown
February 6, 2020
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Register now for our next E15 workshop! February 20 at Hyatt Place, 600 Q St., in Lincoln in Meeting Place I & II The Nebraska Ethanol Board invites fuel retailers from across the state to learn more about the benefits and ease of offering E15 to your customers. This workshop
February 6, 2020
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(Natural Resources Defense Council) The Department of Energy is flouting the will of Congress by delaying clean energy R&D and Congress should act quickly to prevent such ideologically driven efforts that thwart action to combat climate change, a Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) policy analyst told a House oversight panel today.
February 6, 2020
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by Ron Kotrba (Biomass Magazine) The 13th Annual International Biomass Conference & Expo drew nearly 900 industry stakeholders to Nashville, Tennessee, where, following an awards ceremony, a roundtable discussion with biomass association leaders covered topics including the state of the industry, tax and renewable energy policies, carbon markets, politics, and the message
February 6, 2020
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(The Edge Markets/Bernama) Malaysia will engage four European countries next week on the direction of the Malaysian oil palm industry, to address the widespread anti-palm oil campaign in the continent. Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok said she would expound on the four policies of the national oil palm industry to government representatives
February 5, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 20 product launches in one year is impressive and Novozymes is a world leader in biological solutions focusing on enzymes and microbes, but even leaders hit road bumps. While Novozymes had some improvement in the second half of 2019, they still had “unsatisfactory 2019 sales
February 5, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Digest published today a 2020 Deal Review and Outlook Bioeconomy M&A visual guide that looks at the slurry of recent mergers and acquisitions in the bioeconomy like Lygos and Librede, NuSeed and Agrisoma, FinCo Fuels and GoodFuels, The Andersons and Marathon Petroleum, Aemetis and Goodland
February 5, 2020
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by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) … During the earnings call, Joe Gorder, chairman and CEO of Valero, said the company continues to explore growth opportunities in its renewable fuels business. As previously announced, he said Valero’s Diamond Green Diesel joint venture is in the advanced engineering review phase or
February 4, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office’sBioenergy Technology Incubator 2 project is looking at how to directly produce ‘drop in’ ready biofuel (ethyl or methyl laurate) by cyanobacteria using CO2, water, and light as the main inputs. Check out the latest results of this project
February 4, 2020
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(Green Hydrogen Coalition) Today (January 21, 2020) marks the official launch of the Green Hydrogen Coalition (GHC), an educational non-profit dedicated to facilitating policies and practices to advance green hydrogen production and use in all sectors where it will accelerate a carbon-free energy future. Green hydrogen can be produced several
February 3, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Between droughts, trade wars, and more, Rural America has had so many challenges, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture is trying to help with various Rural Business-Cooperative Service’s programs including investment of approximately $2 billion across loan and grant programs just in FY 2019. Check out
January 31, 2020
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by Winthrop Phippen (IPREFER/CAFFI) READ MORE
January 30, 2020
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by Cris Handel (CoverCress Inc./CAAFI) Our conclusions from interactions with 500+ farmers over the last 3 years: CoverCress harvest date and $50+/acre cash margin (via yield) are the top 2 drivers for farmers. Post corn harvest planting methods fit enough farmers for 3 years in the southern half
January 30, 2020
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by Mark Wigmosta (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory/CAAFI) READ MORE
January 30, 2020
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by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Nebraska Ethanol Board offers workshops to help retailers learn more about E15 and higher blends. Other states offer help with grant application processes, or are pushing for for mid-level blends. — Considering updating his fuel dispensers, Dan O’Neill, president and CEO of Kwik
January 30, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We are always trying to optimize – optimize processes, efficiencies, cost, value, and more, but did you know that the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office has a program just for this sort of thing? The ADO or Advanced Development and Optimization program has several
January 29, 2020
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by Michael Robin (Western Producer) Carbon from bigger crops and more robust plants like this hybrid canola, and their larger root systems, is being sequestered at higher rates than it was in the past from annual cropping. As well, new breeding technologies are enhancing that with every breeding cycle. —
January 28, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What are the bottlenecks that prevent technologies from fueling the bioeconomy? Is it government? Is it lack of public acceptance or perception? Is it lack of access to capital? How about lack of market pull? Find out what THE top bottleneck is, according to Roger
January 28, 2020
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The discussion will highlight alternatives to gasoline aromatics that benefit public health, the environment/climate change, national security, and the economy. These solutions could be implemented in the upcoming Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule. Governors, public health, environmental, energy, public policy, and media experts will present new data and discuss
January 27, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Electrification and batteries can’t remove the need for carbon,and a more sustainable economy is not a low-carbon economy as much as it will be a renewable carbon based economy, according to Ian Rowe, Technology Manager at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office. Check out
January 27, 2020
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by Chris Gillis (American Shipper/Freight Waves) Oceangoing vessels challenge scale of newly introduced carbon-free power technologies for short-sea shipping and ferries, World Shipping Council CEO John Butler tells U.S. lawmakers. — … Maersk (OTCMKTS: AMKBY) is currently testing a 40-foot container-size battery on board one of its container ships, Lee Kindberg,
January 26, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We’ve seen the staggering numbers, 78 million tons of annual plastics production, 98% virgin feedstock, and only 14% gets collected for recycling. So what do we do about it? Jay Fitzgerald from the Bioenergy technologies Office (BETO) office gave this engaging presentation that will get
January 24, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) SkyNRG recently announced the first dedicated European SAF production unit, but how do we accelerate market growth for sustainable aviation fuel? That’s a question SkyNRG is tackling by talking about challenges with scaling up and how to meet those challenges head on. Check out Misha Valk,
January 24, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) With 3 trillion vehicle miles in the U.S. and 11 billion freight tons, transportation is key to our way of life, and the Department of Energy realizes it hits our national energy usage in many ways. That’s why they are researching it all levels from components
January 23, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Working as an M&A and capital market counsel focused on the biofuels sector, Oswaldo Dalla Torre has been monitoring the developments of the Brazilian Renovabio program, which has just entered into force. RenovaBio is Brazil’s federal program aimed to curb carbon emissions by 10% in 2028,
January 23, 2020
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by Brian Healey (U.S. Grains Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol’s importance for climate goals highlighted following the 25th United Nations Climate Change conference. — COP25, the 25th United Nations Climate Change conference, wrapped up in December, leaving in its wake a clear need for enhanced advocacy regarding the benefits of ethanol
January 22, 2020
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(Hagstrom Report/Fence Post) … In a call to rural reporters, Grassley (Senator Charles Grassley R-IA) noted that he continues to warn the Trump administration that farmers are watching the management of the Renewable Fuel Standard and that he had heard Trump got a warm welcome when he spoke at the
January 22, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There’s a lot of flat, dry land in the U.S. but researchers at Arizona State University and others are looking at how that land could support biofuel production. How about evaporation-resistant reactors coupled with thermotolerant, high-productivity mixotrophic algae? Check out this Slide-Guide from P.I. Peter Lammers
January 22, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … They have been three years in the valley of the shadow of Death, and have emerged on the other side with huge wins in recent weeks on tax credits, progress on Argentine and China trade, and a promise from the EPA on small refinery
January 22, 2020
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(National Biodiesel Board) Industry professional see the difference students are making in biodiesel — Student scientists showcased dynamic campus biodiesel programs and research during the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in Tampa, Florida this week. From leading biodiesel production on campus to conducting research that could help shape the industry, student scientists are
January 22, 2020
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(National Biodiesel Board) Attendees hear from industry leaders representing the Fuels Institute, the National Truck Equipment Association, and major OEMs — Attendees at the National Biodiesel Conference and Expo received an enlightening glimpse into the future as industry leaders from the Fuels Institute, the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA), and major
January 22, 2020
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Growth Energy Testifies on Low-Carbon Ethanol, EPA Test Fuels
(Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Today (July 13, 2020), Growth Energy Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley offered testimony during a virtual public hearing on the U.S. EPA’s test protocols for U.S. fuels. The agency is currently updating Tier 3 Motor Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standards to reflect the modern transition to