by Matt Davenport (MSU Today) By explaining a photosynthetic peculiarity in switchgrass, MSU researchers may have unlocked even more of the plant’s potential — Michigan State University researchers have solved a puzzle that could help switchgrass realize its full potential as a low-cost, sustainable biofuel crop and curb our dependence on
Feedstock
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) RNG and it’s companion product biogas have taken the project and sustainable power sectors by storm — there’s project action, fast-developing technology, M&A activity, and policy advances of the first magnitude, in the United States and all around the developed world, What’s up, who’s in
(Casterra Ag/PR Newswire) Casterra to sell its unique castor seed varieties and provide its significant experience in castor cultivation, for the biofuel production of one of the world’s major energy companies — Casterra Ag Ltd. (“Casterra”), the integrated castor cultivation solution company and a subsidiary of Evogene Ltd. (“Evogene”) (Nasdaq: EVGN)
by Katie Carnahan and Michelle Goff (Idaho National Laboratory/Biofuels Digest) … The upgraded Biomass Feedstock National User Facility (BFNUF) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) addresses many of the challenges facing the U.S. bioenergy industry. The research conducted at the facility supports advanced feedstock supply logistics, post-harvest quality management, material handling,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The SAF Grand Challenge is vast. It sets out to achieve a minimum 50% reduction in lifecycle GHG emissions compared to conventional aviation fuel, increase SAF output to 3 billion gallons per year by 2030, achieve SAF output of 35 billion gallons per year by
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The US generates ~10 million tons municipal wastewater sludges/year Disposal to land or landfills is limited, expensive. The Opportunity is to convert sludges to fuels using Hydrothermal Liquefaction. Conversion of sludges to ‘biocrude’, for upgrading to aviation and other fuels, with HTL has a US
(Equinor/bnamericas) This is a machine translation of the press release originally published in Portuguese. A partnership between Equinor and the National Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) will enable the start of research for the production of bio-hydrocarbons (or drop-in biofuels), such as green diesel and aviation biokerosene,
(Okayama University/News Wise) Researchers from Okayama University have developed a novel mechanical compression method to squeeze maximum benefits from plant biomass — This process of compressing woody and herbaceous biomass generates pellets with good combustion performance and squeezed liquid extracts with water-soluble lignin that shows superior antiviral properties … However,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) According to the experts at the Idaho National Laboratory, The feedstock challenge lies in the inherent variability of biomass feedstock affects the ability to optimize processing and conversion processes, ultimately decreasing plant economics. So, the goal becomes to maximize biorefinery economics by better process quality
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) These slides were presented by Digest editor Jim Lane for the December 22 episode of ABLC CONNECT, and focused on the Drivers, Margins, Project List. Value Stack, Mandates, Policies, Tax Credits, Supply Crunch, and Hot Projects Of The Sector. READ MORE WATCH PRESENTATION Renewable Diesel
(Praj) We are delighted to draw your attention to a special documentary on ‘India’s Biofuel Economy’ that was telecasted on Prasar Bharati’s National TV Network namely, DD News (Hindi) and DD India (English), on Saturday, 24th December 2022. The exclusive feature highlighted the critical role of Biofuels in India’s socio-economic growth
by Michael Gilbert (Entrepreneur) Fail fast, fail often doesn’t work for farmers. Here are five agricultural realities funders and innovators need to understand. — “Betting the farm” isn’t just a saying. It’s something farmers do every year. When a farmer invests in new technology — be it a new irrigation system or
by James Hoorman (Hoorman Soil Health Services/Ohio Country Journal) Cover crops protect the soil, build organic matter, and promote healthy soils. Some cover crops are used as forages (sorghum, triticale, and clovers) while others are used for grain (barley, milo, oats, wheat, rye). Now a winter cover crop (winter pea)
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Global Clean Energy is a vertically integrated renewable fuels innovator producing ultra-low carbon renewable fuels from patented nonfood camelina varieties. Our farm-to-fuel business model is designed to allow greater efficiencies, lowering our finished fuels’ carbon intensity. We own the world’s largest portfolio of patented camelina
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In China, Phaeodactylum tricornutum is a commercially important species that is widely used in aquaculture. It also has the potential to be used as biofuel. However, contamination of algivorous microzooplankton has been one of the main constraints in P. tricornutum large-scale cultivation. Therefore, isolating a new strain with
(Truterra/AgNewsWire) On-farm trials in Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska[1] were net-carbon negative[2], cut erosion in half — Truterra, LLC, the sustainability business of Land O’Lakes, Inc., and the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) announced preliminary findings from the first of a three-year on-farm trial to evaluate the field-scale benefits of cover
by Mike Sticklen and Doug Rivers (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) The US ethanol industry is faced with flat volume (Fig. 1) and mediocre returns on capital (Fig. 2). There are several strategic opportunities available to return to revenue growth and improve returns to shareholders. The strategies can be grouped into three
(Show Me Mizzou/University of Missouri) Using part of a $12.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, MU researchers are working with an interdisciplinary group to optimize green energy for aviation use. — While biodiesel and ethanol are two forms of biofuel used to power today’s cars and trucks,
by Matt Davenport (MSU Today) MSU earns $2M DOE grant to improve the oilseed yield of Camelina sativa, a common plant that could provide cleaner jet fuels and teach us about other important crops — Researchers at Michigan State University are working to clear the runway for a new source
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Dimeta is accelerating the energy transition in off-grid areas. They are advancing the production and use of renewable and recycled carbon Dimethyl Ether “rDME”), a low-carbon sustainable liquid gas, to support the de-fossilization of the LPG Industry at globalscale. rDME we discover is a simple
by Isabella O’Malley (The Weather Network) … One concept from Seafields Solutions looks to utilize some unlikely real estate by developing a giant seaweed farm in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean capable of capturing a gigatonne of carbon dioxide annually. This England-founded company aims to be on the frontlines of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Agriculture needs to reduce GHG emissions With soil C sequestration, crops can be net negative. But how do we add carbon back to ag soils? What are the biological and genetic levers to make feedstocks net negative? Colorado State University professor John McKay presented these
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Hexas is a biomaterials company focused on the production of regenerative, plant-based raw materials that replace wood and fossil fuel-based materials in multiple applications. Applications for these plant-based materials include: energy, chemicals, packaging, textiles, composites, structural/non-structural products, bioremediation, and more. Hexas has developed a farm-to-fiber platform
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In the UK, 15 new projects from across South Africa have been announced as the second cohort of projects for Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) South Africa support, following a call for proposals that attracted 166 applications. The chosen projects come from the energy, transportation, AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Chemicals, catalysis, additives.Clariant shared how they are working on advancing biofuels globally and here offers extensive detail on their sunliquid technology to decarbonize transportation, now operating at commercial scale in Romania. A fully integrated and carbon negative process, sunliquid is a platform for sustainable biobased
(Bioenergy Insight) Denmark’s first plant to produce hydrogen by catalytic pyrolysis of biogas is due to be ready in three years. The technology can convert carbon – captured via photosynthesis – into solid form and simultaneously produce hydrogen very energy-efficiently Carbon capture and storage are necessary if the world is
(Eni) Based on the results obtained under the agreement, the partners will be able to evaluate the industrial scalability of the project on large areas — Eni and BF have signed a collaboration agreement to evaluate the development of crops for energy use in Italy, recovering degraded, abandoned or polluted land,
by Peter Fairley (Nature) An environmentally friendly path forwards for liquid fuel derived from plants will depend on smarter agriculture and smarter regulation. — … If filling fuel tanks with these plant-derived liquids reduces carbon emissions by decreasing the demand for fossil fuels, it would help to tackle the climatic
(University of Manchester) An ambitious plan to sequence the genomes of all known species of euglenoids over the next decade has been launched today. The network of scientists behind the initiative believe it has the potential to drive breakthroughs ranging from new biofuels and sustainable foods to cancer medicines. The Euglena
(Enviro Systems)Scandinavian Enviro Systems (publ) (“Enviro”, “the company”) received in February 2022 an order for pyrolysis oil from the subsidiary of a leading US oil company for production tests. The subsidiary has now informed Enviro that the production tests were successful. The oil was delivered in June following its approval
K-State Scientists Receive Collaborative Grant to Advance Biofuel Production and gricultural Economy
(Kansas State University) Kansas State University researchers are part of a five-year collaborative grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to improve oilseed crops for use as biofuels and other bioproducts. Timothy Durrett, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics, and Ruth Welti, university distinguished professor of biology, received nearly $1.9 million to
(SciTechDaily/Arizona State University) The study found that planting the grass miscanthus on 23.2 million hectares of existing marginal agricultural lands – land that often lays fallow or is poor in soil quality – across the United States would provide enough biomass feedstock to meet the liquid fuel demands of the
(DBFZ) The hemp industry has developed into a strongly growing economic sector due to new political framework conditions and innovative product fields. Against the backdrop of dwindling resources, the processing of hemp as a raw material is also focusing on the exploitation of biogenic residual and waste materials. In the new
(Shell) Titled BRAVE (Brazilian Agave Development), the program was launched last Monday (7/11) during a ceremony at Unicamp’s Genomics and Bioenergy Laboratory, in Campinas (SP) — Shell Brasil formalized a partnership with the State University of Campinas (Unicamp) for the development of Agave (a cultivar typical of the Brazilian Sertão) as
(Kanazawa University) Chemists in Japan, Canada and Europe have uncovered flaws in the surface structure of cellulose nanocrystals—an important step toward deconstructing cellulose to produce renewable nano-materials relevant to biochemical products, energy solutions, and biofuels. The findings—published in Science Advances—are the most detailed look yet at the surface chemistry and structure of
(DG Fuels) DG Fuels, LLC (“DGF”), an emerging leader in drop-in sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”) production, announces the execution of a long-term agreement with an undisclosed investment grade industrial buyer to sell up to 46 million gallons of SAF per year from DGF’s initial plant to be located in Louisiana.
(Praj) On the eve of 27th Climate Change Conference in Egypt, Praj Industries Limited (Praj) has announced that they have entered into an MoU with Egyptian Sugar and Integrated Industries Company (ESIIC) of Egypt. As a part of this MoU, both parties will drive sustainable climate actions to combat evils
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In this connected presentation set, Alder Fuels CEO Bryan Sherbacow, and in a later and related presentation, VP Nancy Young, took the ABLC Next 2022 stage in San Francisco to outline the company’s milestones, technology, financial estimates, policy asks, its portfolio of SAF/RD projects, and
by Josh Aldrich (Calgary Herald) The biofuel will be blended with regular jet fuel with the goal of reducing CO2 emissions — WestJet has launched a first-of-its-kind pilot project in Canada in an effort to lower carbon emissions on flights. — The Calgary-based airline announced on Wednesday it has started
by Lim Chang-won (Aju Business Daily) A state-run research body in South Korea has discovered a method to quickly cultivate a microalgal strain from cyanobacteria, known as blue-green algae, that can produce twice as much biofuel as other microorganisms due to rapid proliferation. The study opened the way for researchers
(Aston University) High quality biodiesel produced from microalgae ‘fed’ on leftover coffee grounds; Breakthrough in the microalgal cultivation system; Could decrease reliance on palm oil to produce biofuel. Two Aston University researchers have produced high-quality biodiesel after ‘feeding’ and growing microalgae on leftover coffee grounds. Dr Vesna Najdanovic, senior lecturer
by Casey Crownhart (MIT Technology Review) Genetic tools that have helped create resilient crops could boost carbon removal, too. — … In the session, I sat down with Pamela Ronald, a plant geneticist at the University of California, Davis. She’s been working for years on helping rice survive floods, and
(Brookhaven National Laboratory/Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science has selected Brookhaven National Laboratory to lead a new research effort focused on potential threats to crops grown for bioenergy production. Understanding how such bioenergy crops could be harmed by known or new pests or pathogens could help speed
(Bioenergy Insight) A partnership between Heriot-Watt University and Malaysian oil and gas company Petronas has been launched in Edinburgh, to develop cost-effective technologies for the production of hydrogen from agricultural and animal waste. The £1 million research project will initially focus on utilising the estimated four million tonnes of waste
by Tom Slunecka (Ag Innovation Campus/Biobased Diesel Daily) We’re pouring it on this harvest season at the Ag Innovation Campus, literally. This fall, I’m pleased to report that, after breaking ground in Crookston, Minnesota, last year, concrete has been laid out throughout the facility. We’ve made a lot of progress in
by Hassan El Bari, Nabila Lahboubi, Sanae Habchi, Samir Rachidi, Oussama Bayssi, Nouhaila Nabil, Yasna Mortezaei, Raffaella Villa (Cleaner Waste Systems) • The low rate of BioH2 generation poses challenges to the process. • Both dark fermentation and photo-fermentation have advantages and disadvantages. • BioH2 purification is considered an obstacle to establishing a sustainable
(Environment + Energy Leader) … To meet demand in the face of limited supplies of these traditional SAF feedstocks, technology companies are competing to create new forms of SAF. Honeywell is the latest to announce a new technology for creation of SAF, describing it as “innovative ethanol-to-jet fuel processing technology that
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The objective of this project is to harness the power of photosynthetic microalgae to maintain a high-pH, high-alkalinity microalgal culture to create a carbon-negative system for carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion to value-added products from power plant flue gas. Feng Chen of the University of Maryland
(Brookhaven National Laboratory/Phys.Org) Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory and collaborators at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have engineered duckweed to produce high yields of oil. The team added genes to one of nature’s fastest growing aquatic plants to “push” the synthesis of fatty acids, “pull”
(Eni) The cargo that left the port of Mombasa is the first from Africa — The first cargo of vegetable oil for biorefining produced by Eni in Kenya has left the port of Mombasa, on its way to Gela’s biorefinery. This marks the start of the transport and logistic system that
(Brookhaven National Laboratory/EurekAlert!) Research into threats from pathogens and pests would speed short-term response and spark long-term mitigation strategies — The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science has selected Brookhaven National Laboratory to lead a new research effort focused on potential threats to crops grown for bioenergy production.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What can you actually make from CO2 that’s valuable, and more permanent? The goal of this project is to develop technology to convert CO2 to valuable products to partially offset carbon capture costs from the utility and industrial sectors. Also, to contribute to the production of
(Maryland Clean Energy Center/Biomass Magazine) As Maryland explores opportunities to increase the usage of renewable wood energy throughout the state, the Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Council (WM RC&D) and the Maryland Clean Energy Center have partnered to produce a wood energy fuel supply chain analysis to evaluate thermal wood
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This Project aims to develop technologies to increase algae productivity and reduce culturing costs, In addition, it aims to develop algae, refinee processing and verify content for nutraceuticals and to incorporate feed blends. It’s a part of the search for CO2 reduction, and Fred Harrington
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cellulosic bioenergy crop production is a nascent industry in the U.S. and has the potential to supply up to 5% of U.S. energy demand while achieving increased carbon reduction. The Southeast U.S. is ideally suited for a cellulosic industry due to plentiful land, ample rainfall,
(U.S. Department of Energy) Led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium (FCIC) is a multi-lab collaboration that develops first-principles-based knowledge and tools to understand, quantify, and mitigate the effects of feedstock and process variability across the bioenergy value chain, from the field and
by Kimbra Cutlip (University of Maryland/Maryland Today) A University of Maryland researcher was awarded $2.6 million by the U.S. Department of Energy to investigate the genetics underlying how poplar trees sense nutrients and regulate their metabolism—information that could help farmers maximize yields of this and other plants used in biofuel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The goal of this project is to develop productive, cost-effective and sustainable warm-season perennial bioenergy feedstock production systems on marginal croplands across geographic locations in the Midwest. The University of Illinois (at Champaign-Urbana)’s D. K. Lee leads the team of researchers. READ MORE
(Seed Today) Camelina Company España, Europe’s largest camelina crop innovator and seed producer, today held the opening of their new Innovation Center in Daimiel, Spain. Camelina is grown for use by Camelina Company’s parent company Global Clean Energy (OTCQB:GCEH) to produce ultra-low carbon renewable fuels. Renewable diesel produced from camelina is
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Harvesting and transportation makes up 40 –60% of the delivered cost of SRWC and are an important source of GHG emissions. Harvesting systems are not well developed — throughput decreases up to 65% from harvester to short term storage. Changes in biomass quality and impacts
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This continuing Project with DOE BETO regarding improved logistics builds on advances in two previous High Tonnage projects (Pine at AU; Switchgrass at Genera). The project goal is to evaluate a state-of-the-art biomass merchandizing and processing system to identify sources of variation along the supply
by Khaled Al Khawaldeh (The Guardian) As pollution concerns mount and lucrative opportunities emerge in the sustainable economy, the days of cane field burning may be numbered — … The spectacle, which has become a symbol of this north Queensland region, is a pre-harvest burn of unwanted excess from the
by Rahul Jain (Down to Earth) … It can synthesise large volumes of oil (20 times more than that of mustard per acre), grow fast (10 times quicker than terrestrial plants) and capture carbon dioxide (CO2). Since then, big industries and startups around the globe have been working to commercialise algae-based
by Sean Pratt (Western Producer Magazine) The Canola Council of Canada is encouraging acreage expansion in the brown soil zone of Saskatchewan. However, council president Jim Everson says that does not represent a pivot in the council’s strategy for growing the crop. “We are very much focused on yield,” he said. That has
by Filipa Oliveira and Telmo Ferreira (PRIO/EurActiv) Maritime transport emits around 940 million tons of CO2 annually and is responsible for about 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. More than 80% of all goods are transported via international shipping lanes, and the shipping industry is expected to keep growing for decades to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) News has arrived from Washington that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing up to $2.8 billion in 70 projects under the first pool of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding opportunity. It’s become the US Department of Action, as it turns out, the grand ol’ USDA. Big wins
(Gevo) Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) is pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has selected Gevo’s Climate-Smart Farm to Flight proposal for funding with an award ceiling of up to $30 million. Gevo’s project was one of the 70 projects selected by the USDA under the first pool of
by Tiffany Lee (University of Nebraska) A University of Nebraska–Lincoln researcher is leading a team working to unlock the full potential of two oilseeds that may help meet the escalating demand for renewable fuels, industrial chemicals and other bioproducts. The team will produce genetically enhanced oilseeds, establish the “rules” of oilseeds’
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Catalytic fast pyrolysis is a versatile technology pathway for the direct liquefaction of biomass and waste carbon sources. In this slide deck from NREL’s Mike Griffin, we explore the Potential for high carbon yields to fuel blendstocks; the Ability to control the product slate through
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We’ll keep warning the industries of the bioeconomy until we get the message through so clearly that no one is left in any doubt: The grand journey, the quest for sustainable fuels, chemicals and materials, will utterly fail if the industry does not work harder to
(Synhelion) Synhelion has become the first company in the world to succeed in producing syngas on an industrial scale using only solar heat as an energy source. The Swiss solar fuel pioneer successfully demonstrated this on the multifocus solar tower of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Jülich, North Rhine-Westphalia. The
(Nuseed/PR Newswire) Nuseed expands its bioenergy platform; acquires assets and signs long-term alliance with GranBio to accelerate global expansion of energy cane — Nuseed and GranBio have entered into a long-term strategic alliance to accelerate R&D and commercialization into global energy cane markets. Nuseed acquired GranBio’s energy cane breeding and commercial
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This project funded by the US Department of Energy and led by NREL’s Josh Schaidle aims to Guide existing and future research and development efforts by defining key technical challenges, risks, cost/carbon intensity drivers, and future technical targets for utilizing renewable electricity and CO2to improve
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biogas is an ancient thing, organisms have been making it for millenia – only in recent decades have we learned to capture and use it to generate on-site heat and power. … … This is the supply of methane as an intermediate feedstock for the
(Bioenergy Insight) A Michoacán company that is already using the nopal, or prickly pear cactus, to produce biogas is now planning to do the same with sargassum, a genus of seaweed that washes up on Caribbean coast beaches in large quantities, reported Mexico News Daily. Nopalimex, a Zitácuaro-based firm that in
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Idaho National Lab’s very own Bioenergy Program Lead, Lynn Wendt, shared this illuminating slide guide at ABLC on how they are working on mitigating risk from beginning to end with biomass feedstocks, how to respond to variability in biomass, their work with reconfigurable fractional milling
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) These slides were presented by Digest editor Jim Lane as part of the ABLC CONNECT episode on Feedstocks and the Bioeconomy Supply-Chain. Here, we explore the available volumes, prices, and distribution of key existing feedstock types, and we look at the R&D pipeline to see
by Tina Casey (Clean Technica) Algae biofuel could have another moment in the sun, now that more federal dollars are pouring into carbon capture-and-recycling technology. — Algae biofuel stakeholders have been stuck in the doldrums for years, but in an odd twist of fate, the fossil fuel industry could help
(IEA Bioenergy) IEA Bioenergy: Commenting on the upcoming Planetary vote in the European Parliament on the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) next week, Dr. Paul Bennett, Chair of the Executive Committee of IEA Bioenergy said. Europe is facing a hard winter season due to Russias war in Ukraine and the question
(Mississippi State University/Biomass Magazine) Mississippi State scientists have developed switchgrass varieties that are waking up the industry with exceptional germination rates and are ready for commercial use in the Deep South. Switchgrass is used for biofuels, soil and water conservation and carbon sequestration. The university is working with the Upton, Kentucky-based Roundstone
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We reported last week that “UAE state investor Mubadala Investment Co and Raizen are the final bidders in the sale of BP Bunge Bioenergia, with no bidders in the second round and the other potential buyers rejected earlier in the process. Parallel negotiations are ongoing with
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management’s (FECM’s) Carbon Utilization Program announced the selection of seven projects totaling $16.5 million in federal funding. This investment will advance technologies that utilize waste carbon to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and
(Blue Biofuels) Blue Biofuels has reached a significant milestone in the scaling of its proprietary Cellulose-to-Sugar (CTS) reactor system. Testing results on a custom modified reactorsystem demonstrate the ability to convert cellulosic material into sugars with high conversion at a throughput processing rate of 2.5 tons a day. This processing
(RIKEN/Phys.Org) Ethanol can help plants survive in times of drought says a new study conducted at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science in Japan. Led by Motoaki Seki, researchers show that adding ethanol to soil allows plants, including rice and wheat, to thrive after two weeks without any water.
by Lucy Cooper and Larissa Waterson (ABC North West Queensland) … For the first time in the region’s history, Mr Camp (Burke Shire Mayor Ernie Camp) has harvested 2,500 hectares of top-grade sorghum — a drought-resistant grain commonly used in cereal, livestock feed, alcohol, and biofuel. Australia is one of the
by Badr Ouhammou, Aggour Mohammed, Smouh Sliman, Abdelmajid Jamil, Bakraoui Mohammed, Fadoua Karouach, Hassan El Bari, Tarik Kousksou (Case Studies in Thermal Engineering) Solar biogas system production offers the possibility to simultaneously produce heat, electricity and to treat waste products as well as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the industrial sector.
by Hamza Ourradi, Nabila Lahboubi, Sanae Habchi, Hafida Hanine, Hassan El bari (Cleaner Waste Systems) • Date seeds cake are promising organic waste to use for methane as clean and renewable energy by anaerobic digestion. • The biogas production from date seeds cake seems to be a suitable way to close the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)… Some years ago, the RIPE team went down the rabbit hole of transforming photosynthesis,”harnessing the sun to help the feed the world,” on the noble theory that if plants are more efficient, we’ll have more food, fiber, fuel, and what have you. I’ve stood on
by Reginald Davey (AZO Materials) Research into utilizing waste products has benefited several industries in recent years, improving their sustainability. Writing in the journal Energies, a team of scientists from Armenia and Poland has investigated the use of waste coffee and alcohol products to produce biofuels. … Biogas and biohydrogen have
(Levidian) Levidian and United Utilities win funding through the Government’s Net Zero Innovation Portfolio for the first phase of a biogas to hydrogen project. — The UK Government’s department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has awarded £212,000 funding through the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) for the first phase of
Less than $3/G, No Subsidy, No Kidding: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to T2C Energy Technology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Perhaps the most startling and under-appreciated story of the year. A heavy-duty transport fuel, made using abundant, fungible and affordable biomethane, validated at $2.91 per gallon by the DOE’s top due diligence team, and that’s no carbon price, no subsidy, no tax credit, no kidding.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the country’s first 2G cellulosic ethanol biorefinery, the Indian Oil project at Panipat, Haryana. This 100 KLPD Project is based on Praj’s proprietary technology processing Rice Straw as feedstock for production of Ethanol. Praj is the Technology Licensor and
(The Hindu) Khalifa Said H. Eldeihy worked on residual food items such as soybean cooking oil waste and leaves of radish and sweet potato — Leaves of radish and sweet potato are potent sources for producing low-cost biodiesel from waste cooking oil, an Egyptian scholar and his associates at central
(Sustainable Oils/Biomass Magazine) Sustainable Oils Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Clean Energy Holdings Inc., an ultra-low carbon renewable fuel company that will use nonfood camelina as their primary fuel source material, on Aug. 8 announced a joint licensing agreement with Corteva Agriscience and the Broad Institute of MIT and
(Bioenergy Insight) The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UCEH) is leading new UK-wide trials of crops and trees which can be used to produce sustainable energy from plant material. Widespread cultivation of biomass crops in the UK could remove significant amounts of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere during photosynthesis,
(Argent Energy/Biobased Diesel Daily) The latest Eco Clarity Waste Conversion Hub has been set up in the U.K., at Argent Energy’s site in Stanlow, Ellesmere Port. Eco Clarity is focused on revolutionizing the way wastewater is handled by turning the process from one of disposal into one of conversion into effectively
by Erik F. Ringle (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) A critical pathway for producing large quantities of low- to negative-carbon sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is en route to market following a collaborative research and development agreement between the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Alder Fuels. The technology—an advanced pyrolysis process that
by Shafiqqul aliff (Malaysian Reserve) Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd (IWK) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and collaborated with EMB Business Sdn Bhd to pioneer the production of ethanol and biogas generated from wastewater processing for commercial purposes. Environment And Water Minister (KASA) Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man
(UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and The Rt Hon Greg Hands MP) £32 million government funding to increase UK production of sustainable biomass, which can be used as a renewable energy source; further £5 million to support innovative new technologies that will generate hydrogen from biomass and
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Advancing Synergistic Waste Utilization as Biofuels Feedstocks: Preprocessing, Coproducts, and Sustainability Workshop covered the topic of municipal solid waste streams as a feedstock for biofuels. The workshop invited stakeholders representing academia, industry, municipalities, and federal agencies involved in waste management, resource and energy recovery, waste utilization, and sustainability.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The world is short on hydrogen for all its ambitions in renewable energy and transformative chemicals and materials — and especially in green and low carbon hydrogen. Fortunately, new technology and carbon strategies have emerged to meet the market opportunity, and we looked into the
(Morgan State University) Funding will Support Launchpad for Businesses and Startups Using Research Conducted at MSU PEARL Laboratory — Morgan State University’s School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences (SCMNS) received a one-year $100,000 Phase I grant from the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute (MEI2) to support ongoing biofuel and renewable resource
by Struan Coleman , Tobias Dewhurst, David W. Fredriksson, Adam T. St. Gelais, Kelly L. Cole, Michael MacNicoll, Eric Laufer, and Damian C. Brady (School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine) To keep global surface warming below 1.5 °C by 2100, the portfolio of cost-effective CDR technologies must expand. To
by Peter Forbes (New Humanist) … Humans are finally learning from the original carbon cycle, which has governed Earth for 4 billion years. This natural cycle is regulated largely by bacteria and other microbes. Today, using what we know about the chemical wizardry of bacteria, scientists are developing processes to create
(Goethe University) A team of microbiologists from Goethe University Frankfurt has succeeded in using bacteria for the controlled storage and release of hydrogen. This is an important step in the search for carbon-neutral energy sources in the interest of climate protection. The corresponding paper has now been published in the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Yield10 is now launching camelina as a low Carbon Intensity biofuels feedstock crop. Long-term, they are looking at PHA camelina for high value PHA bioplastics. The commercial opportunity in relay cropping is huge too and camelina can help as a replenishable reserve, even in the
(Flinders University/Phys.Org) To save the world’s fish stocks and oceans, scientists are racing to find better and sustainable ways to make healthy nutritional products such as Omega-3 fatty acids, biodiesel, aquaculture and livestock food from fast-growing microalgae. New research at Flinders University has discovered a simple, low-cost and effective way to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In aviation fuels as elsewhere in life, it’s sustainable, affordable, available, pick two out of three. You can find affordable SAF, but not in big volumes. You can find as much unaffordable SAF as you like. as we know, there’s plenty of petroleum-based jet fuel and the
(AgriLife Today) Collaboration will utilize peanuts to potentially develop feedstock for lower-carbon fuel production — Peanut oil powered the world’s first diesel engine when it was premiered by Rudolf Diesel at the World Exposition in Paris in 1900. Now, a collaboration between Chevron and Texas A&M AgriLife is reviving the use of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Earnings season calls, and one of the bioeconomy’s most dynamic and innovative public companies has an updated presentation out — all the markets, technologies, sources of revenues, trends, lines of business — biogas/RNG, advanced fuels, conventional fuels and more. READ MORE The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide
by Madeleine Stone (National Geographic) Using CRISPR genome editing on a few common crops, a team of plant and soil scientists seeks to vastly increase and speed up carbon storage to help fight climate change. — … we will also need to pull carbon out of the air and secure it. Plants are
(Eni) The initiative in Kenya represents the first integrated project in the world to bring Africa into the vertical bio-refinery supply chain by providing income opportunities and market access to thousands of farmers in degraded areas. — Eni completed the construction of the oilseed collection and pressing plant (agri-hub) in Makueni,
(Uniper Energy/Biobased Diesel Daily) Under the name “Green Fuels Hamburg,” the energy supplier Uniper, the energy-technology group Siemens Energy, the aircraft manufacturer Airbus and the chemical and energy company Sasol ecoFT announced June 23 that they are investigating the feasibility of a commercial project to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in
(Yield10 Bioscience/Biobased Diesel Daily) Yield10 Bioscience Inc., an agricultural bioscience company, announced June 23 an open-enrollment program for growers for contract production of winter camelina. Farms located in Montana and Idaho, as well as southern Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada, are eligible to participate in the program. Yield10 is offering farmers
(Clean Fuels Alliance America) As the 1990s dawned, more than a decade of renewed research had been performed on various straight vegetable oils and esterified varieties by a number of individuals and universities both in the U.S. (North Dakota State, Idaho, Illinois, etc.) and globally. “Carroll Goering at the University of
by Loz Blain (New Atlas) Beautifully designed, energy-generating bio-panels that suck up carbon dioxide and pump out biomass for use as fuel or fertilizer – that’s the idea behind Mexican startup Greenfluidics and its nanotech-enhanced microalgae bioreactor building panels. The idea of using flat algae tanks on the outside of buildings
by Ana Mano (Reuters) Brazil’s largest biofuel producer BSBios will build the country’s first big facility that uses wheat to make ethanol, which will increase, not diminish, food supplies, its chief executive said, amid a global discussion on prioritizing food over fuel production. … BSBios’ facility should go on-stream in
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) NREL’s waste gas researchers are rethinking industrial flue gas from a waste to a feedstock, with the help of LanzaTech. Find out how the integration of CO2 electrolysis with microbial syngas upgrading to utilize biorefinery fermenter CO2 works, how they are building larger electrolyzers to
(Gasum) There are around 2,000 cargo ships with an estimated 25,000 seafarers sailing on the Baltic Sea at any given time. The greywater and sewage generated on these vessels can be legally discharged into the Baltic Sea. How could this wastewater be used in the circular economy? How much renewable biogas
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced awards totaling $137 million for small businesses in 30 states. The 120 projects include projects addressing multiple mission areas across the Department including clean energy, cybersecurity, high energy physics, and nuclear nonproliferation. The selected projects include six funded through
(Sustainable Oils/Biomass Magazine) To the applause of onlookers, the ribbon was cut on Sustainable Oils’ new 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art North America headquarters building in Great Falls on June 23. Complete with plant breeding and research labs, the facility currently employs a staff of 13 and works with over 100 U.S.
by Kristen Mally Dean (Argonne National Laboratory/Ethanol Producer Magazine) … With new practices, farmers can make farms a net sink of CO2, helping the U.S. reach its goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Sustainable intensification is a two-prong approach many think could help. It tries to optimize land use and
by Talia Ogliore (Washington University in St. Louis/Phys.Org) Camelina, also known as false flax or Gold-of-Pleasure, is an ancient oilseed crop with emerging applications in the production of sustainable, low-input biofuels. Multidisciplinary research from Washington University in St. Louis is revealing the origins and uses of camelina and may help guide decisions critical
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, ethylene, propylene – They can all be produced with low carbon intensity. Check out this illuminating slide guide from Steven Slome at NexantECA on how while methanol and ammonia have larger implications beyond their large existing markets, low carbon intensity hydrogen’s implications
(Greasezilla) The pathway increases the value of Greasezilla® ABF to the biofuels market. — Downey Ridge Environmental Company, developer of Greasezilla®, announces that the Brown Grease Advanced Biofuel offtake produced by Greasezilla systems is now a qualified feedstock for RIN credits under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). This long-awaited ruling adds further
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) If you missed this illuminating slide guide from Juergen Polle at MicroBio Engineering at ABLC, now’s your chance to check out All Things Algae! From their algae tech to targeted bioprospecting, non-GMP strain development, how they have taken on large-scale algae cultivation for environmental protection
by Antonia Chiam On (Borneo Post) Research on algae for biofuel production is still ongoing, with the outcome to be known in possibly six months, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. “We are still researching the production of fuel using renewable sources, one of them being algae.
by Kristen Mally Dean (Argonne National Laboratory) Decarbonizing agriculture is critical for the U.S. to reach net zero emissions by 2050. A new data-driven approach looks at practices that are good for the earth and profitable for farmers. — The world relies on American farmers to do much more than
by Ulrika Bergström (Swedish Research Council/Phys.Org) Microalgae can recover greenhouse gases and nutrients from industrial waste. This technology can be used to reduce climate footprint and eutrophication. Lina Mattsson’s dissertation in ecology shows that microalgae can also be used in the Nordic climate, which has previously been considered a challenge as
(VTT) Power-to-liquids technologies are on their way to commercialisation in scale and production of synthetic e-fuels is no longer science fiction. E-fuels offer a way to expand the carbon-neutral transport fuel pool beyond biomass-based renewable fuels to replace fossil fuels in existing internal combustion engines. The end product is a
by Brian O’Connor (No-Till Farmer) … A study published in the Journal of Cleaner Production found that harvesting up to 30% of corn stover on a field for use in fuel products could increase revenues for growers and decrease the negative impact on the environment, while at the same time allowing some soil organic matter
by Sheila Van Cuyk (U.S. Department of Energy) The potential for advancing algal biofuels and bioproducts relies on using algae strains that are best suited for industrial production. Genomic sequence data—the functional information in the DNA of a specific organism such as algae—can reveal the genes and regulatory mechanisms that control how
(TotalEnergies) For the first time in the endurance event’s history, the 62 race cars competing in the 90th 24 Hours of Le Mans (June 11-12, 2022) will be supplied with a 100% renewable fuel developed and produced by TotalEnergies: Excellium Racing 100. This zero-oil fuel will deliver a reduction in
by Gordon Davidson (The Scotish Farmer) Britain’s hills are alive with suffocating bracken – but a new biofuel project aims to make bracken clearance worthwhile, perhaps even profitable. Jeremy Oakley, of Oakland Biofuels, explains… “Maybe it is due to climate change, to the costs associated with management, to the reduced livestock
by James Temple (MIT Technology Review) The startup used plant matter and bio-oil to sequester thousands of tons of carbon. The question now is how reliable, scalable, and economical this approach will prove. In recent weeks, a crew of staffers from a company called Charm Industrial have been working on
by Melina Walling (Arizona Republic/AZ Central) … Scientists in Arizona have been cultivating algae for several years, but this time, ASU researchers are working on a project with the city of Mesa in hopes of turning wastewater byproducts into fuel and other products. They want to harness the way algae naturally
(Potato News Today) … For example, waxy potatoes, which are high in amylopectin content, have applications in the production of bioplastics, food additives, adhesives and alcohol. Two articles recently published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences and the Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture journals outline how CRISPR technology can advance the uses of
by Emilie Lorditch (Michigan State University/Phys.Org) An integrated approach to land management practices in the U.S. can reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere far more than earlier estimates based on separate approaches, Michigan State University researchers say. Their research was published May 31 in the journal Global Change Biology. “Using only land management or
(Lehigh University) … While recycling and composting have increased, the majority of the waste produced goes into landfills, the most inexpensive option. About 12 percent of MSW was converted into energy by waste-to-energy plants in 2018, according to the Energy Information Administration. “There are different ways to process trash,” says Carlos
by Luke Geiver (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The world’s major airlines are racing to decarbonize air travel by backing and using sustainable aviation fuel. Much of it is now being produced via plant-based oils in tandem with renewable diesel. Soon, it may also come from ethanol. — … Speaking to the
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Almost a year ago, The Digest reported that Raízen was rising with about $1.15 billion raised in the biggest Brazil IPO of the year. And this year is no exception to the continued Rising of Raízen with the just announced BRL$2 billion (about USD$395 million) investment
by Julia K. Green and Trevor F. Keenan (Science Magazine) Although nations are grappling with reducing carbon emissions to minimize climate change risks, they actually need to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere if the goal is to keep warming to less than 1.5°C (1). Although there has been substantial
(The Fish Site) In a world first, a fuel produced from waste from Scottish salmon farms has been successfully used to power a motor launch. — The 100 percent renewable fuel demonstration was the culmination of SALMO (Sustainable Aquaculture Leading to Marine Opportunities), a Maritime Research and Innovation UK (MarRI-UK)
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … When news arrived that Bunge and CoverCress signed commercial partnership to support the expansion of CCI’s CoverCress technology, a new winter oilseed crop, and that Bunge Ventures recently increased its stake in CCI through a Series C-1 round, we were suitably impressed. Buried in the
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) A full bioenergy value chain can be a beautiful thing. Check out this ABLC slide guide from Fibenol’s Chief Development Officer on how residual wood can be turned into valuable things like cellulosic sugars, hydrolytic lignin, and specialty cellulose, and more. READ MORE
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At ABLC this spring, Mike DeCamp, CEO of CoverCress shared this emerging seed technology slide guide all about a novel winter oilseed crop that enables Midwest farmers to grow three crops in two seasons! With an ultra low carbon intensity score, find out why CoverCress
(Brownfield Ag News) In this episode of Managing for Profit, Alan Weber, an advisor to Clean Fuels Alliance America and a partner with Marciv, discusses future opportunities for oilseeds that provide climate-friendly feedstocks and cover crops. (LISTEN podcast)