(India.gov.in) The Department of Biotechnology has launched a mission programme on biofuel from biomass. The thrust is on developing ethanol using Lignocellulosic waste as a raw material, identifying recombinant microbial strains for enhanced ethanol recovery, producing high quality raw material
(EurekAlert!) An alliance of top researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, has formed the UC Berkeley Synthetic Biology Institute (SBI), advancing efforts to engineer cells and biological systems in ways that promise to transform technology in health and medicine,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A new generation of technologists aim high in value, low in cost, as the race for sugars to process into biofuels amps up a notch or three “You know, we hear numbers like this,” said Daphne
by William McLennan (The Ecologist) Campaigners are outraged over airline Lufthansa and German government funding for jatropha biofuels trial The German government is financing a leading European airline’s biofuel trials despite claims from environmental groups it could cause emissions six time
by Joelle Brink (Biofuels Digest Asia) ...Malaysian scientist Jagjit Kaurah works at the Universiti Putra Malaysia research station in Port Dickson, and he was walking on the beach one day when it occurred to him that the ocean provides for
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Arizona State University through a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is studying the factors involved in algal crop failure known as culture “crashes.” Grazing zooplankton are considered predators to algae and
by Adam Pinsker (MidlandsConnect.com) A South Carolina State University professor is leading a team of engineers and economists on a three-year study into how to make biofuel cheaper. Professor Jae-Dong Hong says one of the biggest reasons biofuels aren't taking over
by Josh Loftin (Bloomberg/BusinessWeek) ...One of the largest potential sources for biofuels is algae, which needs a lot of carbon dioxide and nitrogen to grow, said Kevin Shurtleff, director of the Utah State University Energy Dynamics Lab. Those happen to
by Abby Schultz (CNBC.com) ...“There’s a significant amount of capital required for algal oil producers to scale up to commercial meaningful quantities,” says Jim Rekoske, general manager at Honeywell’s UOP division, which provides technologies to the gas processing, refining and petrochemical
by Morgan Gallagher (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...Rather than look at only the total mass yield of either the corn grain or the crop residue, we took a different approach. We measured the mass yield of key biochemicals such as carbohydrate,
(ScienceNewsLine/Carnegie Institution) ...Now scientists from the Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology have found that sugarcane has a double benefit. Expansion of the crop in areas previously occupied by other Brazilian crops cools the local climate. It does so by
(PRLog/Avjet Biotech) Avjet Biotech, Inc. (ABI), a leading developer of small distributive refining systems in the 10 to 15 million gallon per year range and parent company of Red Wolf Refining, has announced that it has concluded a license
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) The synergies between the biodiesel, ethanol and advanced biofuels industries are growing. One of the things that’s been happening over the past few years is the ethanol industry creating a new feedstock for the biodiesel industry
by Stephen Bedford Clark (Algae Industry Magazine) My introduction to algaculture began as a young Mining Engineer in Yorkshire, in the United Kingdom. It was fueled by my hobby and passion for raising aquarium fish, the delicate larvae requiring
by Jon Birger (Bloomberg) ...Other than water and sunlight, there’s nothing more important to growing corn -- the most-valuable U.S. crop, worth $66.7 billion in 2010 -- than nitrogen. Generous applications of nitrogen fertilizer are essential to the 180-to-200-bushel-an- acre
by Erin Voegele (Biorefining Magazine) Viaspace reports independent test results of Giant King Grass evaluation. Data gathered during independent evaluations of Viaspace Inc.’s Giant King Grass demonstrate the crop has essentially the same properties as corn stover and wheat straw. According
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...How’s an investor to parse out all these technologies. For many, it’s a case of “you’re making what, from what, using what?” ...Here at the Digest, we think of it as a kind of old fashioned
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) To support President Obama's goal of reducing America's oil imports by one-third by 2025, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Energy (DOE) today jointly announced up to $30 million over three to four years that
(Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Choosing optimal growing locations limits algal biofuel’s water use High oil prices and environmental and economic security concerns have triggered interest in using algae-derived oils as an alternative to fossil fuels. But growing algae — or any
by Mario Osava (Tierramérica/IPS) The mechanisation of sugar cane harvesting, originally aimed at curbing the pollution caused by the burning of cane fields, has resulted in an added bonus: it has helped to improve soil quality, according to growers and
(OriginOil) Global distribution plan extends to product integration, manufacturing and mutual marketing OriginOil, Inc., the developer of breakthrough technology to transform algae, the most promising source of renewable oil, into a true competitor to petroleum, today announced that a process partner, World Water
(Abengoa) Abengoa, the company that develops innovative technology solutions for sustainable development in the energy and environment sectors, is on schedule to secure 100 percent of the biomass raw material for its Hugoton, Kansas, cellulosic ethanol plant. The company has signed
by Charles Bensinger (Algae Industry Magazine) The Santa Fe Community College held its first Algaculture Seminar and Workshop on April 9th at its new Sustainable Technology Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. SFCC Alternative Fuels Program Director Charles Bensinger teamed
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced research grants awarded to spur production of bioenergy and biobased products that will lead to the development of sustainable regional systems and help create jobs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
(Algae Industry Magazine) ARD Holding Inc. and Algae Bioenergy Solutions LLC (ABS) have announced a Joint Venture to develop an algae production facility in Augusta, Georgia. Projections are for the site to accommodate a ten million gallon—expandable to 100 million
(MSN.com) Algae Farm, (Pink Sheets:ALGF), announces that it has signed an Education Affiliation Agreement with Lone Star College System (“LSCS”), Conroe, Texas. The purpose of this agreement is to provide educational experiences for students enrolled in algae related programs in
(Algae Industry Magazine) Southeastern New Mexico’s Center of Excellence for Hazardous Materials Management, better known as CEHMM, was established in May of 2004 as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to reducing the impact of hazardous materials on the environment. Somewhat under
by Maynard Herron and Bob Matousek (Kansas Alliance for Biorefining and Bioenergy) AGCO (Hesston, KS) received an award for biomass feedstock supply demonstration as a partial match of a $5 million renewable energy R & D grant
by Bryan Sims (Biodiesel Magazine) Boeing issued research conducted by Yale University’s School of Environmental Studies that showed significant potential for jatropha-based aviation fuel. The study showed that, if cultivated properly, jatropha could deliver strong environmental and socioeconomic benefits in
(EurekAlert/Kansas State University) "Fossil fuels are limited, and since we can't use more than what Earth offers, a lot of people are looking for alternative fuel sources like algae," said Peter Pfromm, professor of chemical engineering and member of a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As seven projects aim for important milestones, investors face big decisions on whether advanced biofuels companies, even after the run-up in share prices, are still undervalued. ...(I)s it time to get in, hold, or lock in
(Agrivida) —New Data Presented at Annual American Chemical Society Meeting— Agrivida's engineered feedstock and proprietary low temperature, low cost processes release over 80 percent theoretical glucose yield from cellulosic biomass, according to data presented today at the annual meeting of
by Megan Detrie (The National) Algae that thrive in sun-drenched wildernesses are an important source of natural nutrition and biofuel. But while most projects have grown algae in closed conditions, there is hope that the open environment of the UAE
by Stephen Lacey (Renewable Energy World) No one knows. And that's what scares some people. ...Tom Allnut, the senior vice president of R&D at the algae start-up Phycal, believes some of the concerns about engineered algae are valid. Given that algae are
by Brian Liberatore (News-Press) ..."I'd like to be able to get excited about this," said Ken Langeland, a professor of agronomy with the University of Florida. "But I've seen too much money go down the tubes in the past trying
(University of Glasgow) Scientists from the University of Glasgow are working with international colleagues on a £5.4m collaboration to improve the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process whereby biological systems convert sunlight into food and the source of all the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...For hot technology companies such as Amyris, Solazyme, LS9, Cobalt and Virent, it all comes down to low-cost sugars. Which brings us to the case of that other sugar source: your friend, the sugar beet. The
by Michael Kanellos (GreenTechMedia) There are some valuable commodities in waste products. Professor Zeev Weisman and a team of researchers at Ben Gurion University here have adopted a low-power nuclear magnetic resonance device (NMR) along with predictive analysis software to scan
(University of California, Riverside) Research by UC Riverside's Charles Wyman could lead to less expensive production of biofuels New clues about plant structure are helping researchers from the Department of Energy’s BioEnergy Science Center narrow down a large collection of poplar tree
by Will Thurmond (Renewable Energy World/Emerging Markets Online) The following article is an excerpt from a technology, investment, and market study titled Algae 2020, Vol 2 (2011 update) from market research firm Emerging Markets Online. The excerpt provides a summary
by John Colson (The Citizen Telegram) A new kind of economic development is being pursued in the West. Area ranchers and farmers are being urged to grow grass that can be converted to a liquid “biofuel,” rather than relying solely on
by Kyle Alspach (Boston Business Journal) With the major costs associated with proving out new biofuels technologies, John McCarthy says he’s seen a number of Massachusetts startups in the space enticed to do larger-scale work in other states. McCarthy, CEO of
(Algal Biomass Organization February 25 Newsletter) ...We are designing, manufacturing and operating systems that enable controlled, economical cultivation of algal biomass using attached growth technology. We are currently beginning the second phase of a project that utilizes waste products - including
by Kay Rossi (KXLH.com) ...Five years ago, Montana State University-Northern received $800,000 in grant funding for infrastructure and staffing for a new biofuel lab at the MSU-N Bio-Energy Center Now the nationally-certified facility performs a variety of functions, from researching
by Erin Voegele (Biorefining Magazine) Morrisville, Penn.-based BARD Holdings Inc. recently announced its shift from research and development to the commercialization phase of its algae production technology. According to Avery Hong, BARD’s chief global strategist, the company has completed
(VermontBiz.com) Saint Michael's College biologist Dr Mark Lubkowitz and his students join a team of researchers from the University of Missouri, University of Florida, Purdue University and the University Nebraska-Lincoln, on a five-year project to study the genes that control
by Kerry Reals (FlightGlobal) One or two pioneering airlines may begin using jet fuel derived from algae and use it to create a competitive advantage in the nearer term, but the commercial airline industry as a whole will
by Raed Omari (The Jordan Times) An oil producing plant which can generate bio-fuel will be cultivated in the Kingdom on an experimental basis as part of a Jordanian-Brazilian partnership, an agriculture official said on Tuesday. Ministry of Agriculture Spokesperson
(Stanford University News) Concerns about the impact of corn ethanol on global warming have raised interest in more eco-friendly perennial grasses. A new study finds that large-scale cultivation of perennials could actually reduce regional surface temperatures. Converting large swaths of farmland
(Algae Industry Magazine) ...(P)atent attorney Lawrence B. Ebert notes the first claim of US 7,905,930 issued to Genifuel on March 15, 2011 for “A process for production of biofuels from algae, comprising: a) cultivating an oil-producing algae by promoting sequential
by Philip Case (Farmers Weekly Interactive) Sugar beet is on the cusp of benefitting from a host of technological advances that could increasingly see it grown for uses other than to create sugar, according to the director of Rothamsted Research. Maurice Moloney said
(agra-net.com) Cardiles Oil plans to produce more than 12 mln litres of biofuel annually from olive cake at a project in Canete de las Torres, Cordoba. READ MORE and MORE and MORE (Biofuels Digest)
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) ...So we drive over to the Arizona State University Algae Farm, at the Polytechnic campus located in Mesa, AZ, and drop in on Dr. Qiang Hu at his Laboratory for Algae Research and
(Chromatin) Chromatin Inc. announced its dual-purpose SweetFuel™ sorghum hybrids, which combine high yields of both fermentable sugar and biomass per acre. Chromatin's SweetFuel™ hybrids are ideal for capturing the value of sugars produced in sorghum juice as well as the
(IEA Bioenergy Task 39) The EU project AquaFUELs intends to establish the state of the art on research, technological development and demonstration activities relevant to producing 2nd generation biofuels from non-food aquatic biomass, including algae. More information on the project
(Algal Industry Magazine) Joyce Yang, Technology Manager at U.S. Department of Energy talks to Tyler Suiters about the College of William & Mary’s algal fuel research program and the state of that science as well. Yang says the DOE is funding
(SG Biofuels) SG Biofuels, a bioenergy crop company using breeding and biotechnology to develop elite hybrid seeds of Jatropha, today announced it has applied more than 1.6 million genetic markers (SNPs) for Jatropha curcas toward the development of marker assisted
by Mitchell Anderson (EnergyBoom) Proprietary technology owned by VG Energy could create algal biofuel at costs competitive with current prices for conventional crude according to a report released by the company this week. The study was authored by John Sheehan, former project manager at
(Biofuels International) In the US SG Biofuels, a bioenergy crop company, located in San Diego, California, is expanding its operations into India and has named Subhas Pattnaik as director of operations for the market. ...In India Pattnaik's new role will see
by Mazera Ndurya (AllAfrica.com) A team of specialists has been set up to study the viability of the controversial jatropha trees after renewed interest by foreign investors to start the project. The team was formed by the National Environment management Authority
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) But this week in the little burgh of Boardman, Oregon (population 3,300), which happens to sit adjacent to the second-largest inland port in the western United States (the port of Morrow, on the Columbia
(Algae Industry Magazine) V iral Genetics Energy (VG) has recently announced that it has been able to translate a research discovery related to cancer treatment into a potential breakthrough for biofuels made from algae. According to the company, laboratory experiments
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...But let’s take this opportunity to really lock down an understanding of Sapphire. That will help reveal the motivations and opportunities in this deal. But also, in a larger sense, will help clarify the algal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Reporter Bob Brooks followed up on the Digest’s story on phosphorus reserves with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, asking about opportunities with and research in aqua farming and salt-water tolerant species. “USDA’s scope is limited to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...(F)or some time, observers have been waiting for an intermediate group of technologies to spring up, or even one, that takes in unsorted MSW from a municipality, crushes, sorts and spits out an low-cost stream
by John Timmer (Ars Technica) Biofuel crops have the potential to offset the world's reliance on fossil fuels, increasing energy security and decreasing the risk of climate change. However, the choice of crops and target fuel can radically change their
by Ryan McBride (Xconomy Boston) ...Agrivida also gained attention in July when it showed that its engineered crops could greatly boost the efficiency of the process of extracting sugars from the crops for biofuel production. Michael Raab, the firm’s president and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Solazyme teaming up with Qantas for a renewable jet fuel project. A Dunaliella salina plant at Hutt Lagoon in Western Australia, co-developed by Murdoch University. The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), which has
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) "The conclusions from the Aquatic Species Program are not correct,” says Algenol CEO Paul Woods, taking issue with the 1980’s assessment that photobioreactors cannot be a cost effective means for biofuel creation. He
(ScienceBlog) ...A new paper in today’s online edition of the American Chemical Society’s journal Environmental Science and Technology shows how farmers can save money on fertilizer while they improve their production of feedstock for ethanol and alleviate damage to the environment. ...The team led by
by Emily Thomas (Energy Saving Trust) Scientists in West Wales and the Valleys looking to develop biofuels from locally grown plant crops have been given a funding boost of £20 million from the Welsh Assembly. Aberystwyth University's Institute of Biological, Environmental
by Sue Roesler (Farm & Ranch Guide) ...The biomass refinery would be a part of Dakota Spirit AgEnergy LLC and would be located next to the Cargill barley malting plant and the Great River Energy CHP power plant, according to
by Lance Cpl. Vanessa American Horse (Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System) A project that is expected to help reduce dependence on fossil fuels kicked off here (Marine Corps Base Hawaii – Kaneohe Bay) Feb. 4. The 24-month research project will focus on sustainable
By Elizabeth Lopatto (Bloomberg) Switchgrass, the prairie plant that once fueled the buffalo herds of the American Great Plains, may one day fill automobile tanks in a bioengineered form that’s cheaper and yields more ethanol than the original variety. Researchers showed that
by Will Thurmond (Emerging Markets Online/Biofuels Digest) ...Digest columnist Will Thurmond released Algae 2020, Vol. 2 highlighting why some algae companies will be winners and some will be losers bringing their product from pilot to commercial scale from 2011-2020. ...The study
(Clarksville Online) ...Dr. Sergi Markov, associate professor of biology at Austin Peay State University, has an idea that could help push the alternative fuel race to new levels of possibility. For the last several years, Markov and two of his APSU
(Deccan Herald) Horticulture Research Station waiting nod from Varsity The Horticulture Research Station in Ullal has submitted a proposal to the Horticulture University in Bagalkot to prepare bio-ethanol from cashew apple, said Station Head Dr Lakshman. Speaking to presspersons on the sidelines
by Susan Gawlowicz (Rochester Institute of Technology) ...Researchers at Rochester Institute of Technology are developing biodiesel from microalgae grown in wastewater. The project is doubly “green” because algae consume nitrates and phosphates and reduce bacteria and toxins in the water.
(W2 Energy, Inc./MarketWire) W2 Energy, Inc., is pleased to announce that the SunFilter algae bioreactor has been up and running successfully for over 15 months, growing algae on a steady diet of air and carbon dioxide. W2 Energy has designed a
by Phil Ciciora (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) A team of researchers led by Madhu Khanna, a professor of agricultural and consumer economics at Illinois, shows that very high biomass prices would be needed in order to meet the ambitious
(Chromatin/BusinessWire) Chromatin, Inc., announced that its sorghum hybrids showed top performance in its 2010 biomass and sugar testing programs when compared to other materials from public, private, and commercial sorghum collections. In the first trial, 50 biomass sorghum entries were
by Damian Carrington (The Guardian) Cuts to the government's low-carbon agency will cancel grants to biofuel projects and cause dozens of redundancies The government's leading low-carbon agency has had its funding cut by 40%, causing the cancellation of grants to a major
(Jamaica Information Service) A $10.3 million research partnership agreement for a small scale biodiesel pilot project, using Jamaican oilseed bearing plants to produce fuel, was signed Friday February 11 between the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica’s Centre of Excellence for Renewable
(Trend) Iranian experts and scientists for the first time managed to produce biodiesel fuel using the oil extracted from Jatropha curcas plant cultivated in Southern Iran, FARS news agency reported. "Iran could produce biodiesel fuel through extracting oil from Jatropha plant
(Viaspace/PRNewsWire) High Per-Acre Productivity of Giant King Grass Promises 40% Reduction in Biofuel Feedstock Costs VIASPACE Inc., and its subsidiary VIASPACE Green Energy Inc., reported results of recent independent testing of Giant King Grass as a feedstock for producing second-generation cellulosic biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...From the low points like the closure of the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Aquatic Species Program to highs like 2009′s “Summer of Algae”, aquatic organisms from cyanobacteria to macroalgae have maintained a hold
by Terri Adams (The Prairie Star) The Central Agriculture Research Center (CARC) near Moccasin, Mont., uses 600 acres of land to test cropping systems, plant varieties, soil fertilities and other issues that affect producers in central Montana. Chengci Chen, an associate
(Syngenta) First corn output trait for ethanol industry Enables ethanol industry to improve efficiency and profitability Significant environmental benefits Syngenta announced February 11, 2011, it has received full deregulation for its corn amylase trait from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This is the
by Bård Amundsen/Else Lie. Translation: Darren McKellep/Carol B. Eckmann(The Research Council of Norway) Jatropha has been championed as a major environmental opportunity for developing countries with a semi-arid climate and marginal soil. Scientist Karl Hilding Thunes of the Norwegian Forest
by Tara Alatorre (Cronkite News) ...Bruce Rittman, director of the Center for Environmental Biotechnology at the Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute, said in a telephone interview that he thinks the technology needed to mass-produce algae probably is more like
(OriginOil) Government-funded ‘Manhattan Project’ to pursue aggressive national jet fuels goal OriginOil, Inc., the developer of breakthrough technology to transform algae, the most promising source of renewable oil, into a true competitor to petroleum, has agreed to participate in a pilot scale
(Michigan State University) Michigan State University researchers are finding new locations to grow crops used for biofuel. The land they’ve identified might surprise some because it’s right next to where the fuel is being used. Dennis Pennington, an MSU Extension bioenergy educator,
(MarketWire) GNE-USA Will Have Exclusive US Rights to Breakthrough Bio-Diesel Technology Solar Acquisition Corp. and Global Natural Energy Cyprus Ltd today announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form a joint venture, GNE USA, to produce algae-based bio-diesel
(University of Tennessee) Facilities expected to advance biobased research for energy, fuels, chemicals and materials The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture has opened a comprehensive research facility to accommodate faculty and industry initiatives through the new Center for Renewable Carbon
by Eduard Gismatullin (Bloomberg) Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Europe’s largest oil company, and Codexis Inc. will roll out technology this year to make biofuels from wheat straw and sugar-cane bagasse, the cellulose-rich waste from cane processing. Shell and Codexis have been researching enzymes to
(Algae Industry Magazine) Ben Cloud had a radical idea. Coming from an agricultural background that included 17 years as president and CEO of Western Agri-Group—a diversified farming enterprise comprising 4500 acres and 250 employees producing, packing and shipping dates, cotton,
by Ann Perry (USDA ARS) Pacific Northwest farmers could someday be filling up their machinery's tanks with fuels produced from their own fields, according to ongoing research by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists. Since 2003, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) microbiologist Hal Collins and
by Vinod Khosla (GreenTechMedia) Imagination is in shortest supply when it comes to agronomic econometrics that extrapolate the past instead of inventing a new future. Part II: Feedstock. Feedstock cost, environmental impact and even its politics are critical variables. With each
(Canadian Broadcasting Company) ...Algae : The Future of Fuel is a half hour documentary that reveals the global search that is underway to develop a renewable energy source from an unlikely source: algae. The film explores the ground breaking research
by Cheree Franco (Mississippi State Ag Communications) On a January morning in Soperton, Ga., southeastern farmers mingled with investors and biomass experts to discuss Freedom Giant Miscathus--a towering grass that may be America’s most promising clean energy solution. Freedom was developed
Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) Algaeventure Systems Inc. has been awarded a $1.5 million loan from the Ohio development department’s R&D investment loan fund to support the purchase of machinery and equipment to manufacture its algae dewatering systems. The $2.5 million
(ME NewsWire) Research confirms viability of using saltwater and arid land to create new forms of sustainable bio energy Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MI), the Boeing Company, Etihad Airways, and Honeywell’s UOP announced today the completion of a Sustainability
(Mission NewEnergy Ltd.) Mission NewEnergy Limited, a vertically integrated biodiesel producer and one of the world’s largest Jatropha plantation companies, is pleased to announce results of the Jatropha planting season as follows: Outperformed projected new Jatropha planting target; Increased overall productive
(BioJet International Ltd.) BioJet International Ltd. announced that it has received a US $1.2 Billion funding facility from Cayman based Equity Partners Fund SPC. The funding structure is a 3 year facility, further terms of the funding were not disclosed. BioJet
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) BioProcess Algae LLC has begun operating commercial-scale algae bioreactors at Green Plains Renewable Energy Inc.’s 65 MMgy ethanol plant in Shenandoah, Iowa. The project is a joint venture among GPRE, BioProcessH20 LLC, a division
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) ...Kent Bioenergy has been harvesting algae for years, as part of their aquaculture business that dates back the the 1970s. The original company needed to learn how to clean the water used for fish farms and
(UPI.com) Agave, cultivated for alcoholic beverages and for fiber, could be used as a sustainable biofuel feedstock, U.S. researchers say. Scientists at the University of Illinois have found the yields of two Agave species greatly exceeded the yields of other biofuel
(Novozymes/Bradenton.com) The road to commercialization of cellulosic biofuels may be bumpy and less traveled, but it’s actually an easier road than many might think. This week at the DC Auto Show, Novozymes and POET will celebrate being one mile closer to their destination --
(Louisiana State University) The LSU AgCenter has received a five-year extension from the Louisiana Board of Regents to continue with the establishment of the Louisiana Institute for Biofuels and Bioprocessing. “We appreciate the vote of confidence,” said John Russin, LSU AgCenter interim
(CBC News) Diversified Metal Engineering in Charlottetown has been awarded the contract to design and build a pilot-scale ethanol plant, but it's not on P.E.I. It will be located in Edmundston at the New Brunswick Community College campus there and will be
(POET) First farmers completed BCAP applications Monday Farmers are now delivering biomass bales to POET's 22-acre storage site in Emmetsburg, Iowa, the future home of the 25 million-gallon-per-year cellulosic ethanol plant dubbed "Project LIBERTY." Area farmers harvested 56,000 tons of corn cobs, leaves,
by Lori Shull (Watertown Daily Times) Algae could, one day, save the Development Authority of the North Country money on its power bills. The agency is teaming up with a group of researchers from Clarkson University to find out whether wastewater
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Last week [after previously exiting their investment in Choren, a Fischer-Tropsch technology based in Germany] Shell announced that it will will exit its shareholding in Cellana, a joint venture between Shell and HR Biopetroleum. Today,
by P Sivaramakrishnan (BBC News) A pilot project to see if cash crops can be grown in the salty ground of India's coastal areas has been launched. The area in Tamil Nadu state will house dozens of
(Chemrec) The European Union has approved the SEK 500 million (€55 million, $75 million) R&D grant awarded by the Swedish Energy Agency towards the industrial scale demonstration biofuels plant based on Chemrec’s gasification technology at the Domsjö Fabriker biorefinery in
(OriginOil) Owner of three ‘CO2 to energy’ projects will pilot extraction unit at large coal-fired power plant OriginOil, Inc., the developer of breakthrough technology to transform algae, the most promising source of renewable oil, into a true competitor to petroleum, today announced
(WATTagnet.com) Scientists in Canada are evaluating Jerusalem artichoke production as a feedstock for biofuels production. The versatile crop has many industrial applications and could displace some corn which is currently diverted to ethanol. It is anticipated that a grower cooperative will
(Algal Biomass Organization) Today, the RAND Corporation published a study and accompanying press release calling into question the effectiveness of renewable fuels for military use. The report can be found here:http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2011/RAND_MG969.pdf A copy of the press release can be found here:http://www.rand.org/news/press/2011/01/25.html It is
by Kelsey McNeeley and Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA/Lancaster Farming) In 2002, Penn State University began using 20 percent (B20) biodiesel fuel on campus in the division of farm operations. Because of their expertise in biodiesel, Penn State’s farm operations (Farm Ops)
by Jennifer Shike (University of Illinois) Researchers are studying novel and traditional woody plants as short rotation crops for biomass production to help diversify and expand bioenergy research efforts at the University of Illinois. "Diversification of your plant materials for biomass
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) Dr. Jason Pyle, the high profile CEO at the even more high profile “green crude” developer, Sapphire Energy, holds a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Physiology, as well as an M.D., from
by Dr. Maureen McCann (Professor, Purdue University) Dr. McCann begins by describing the different plant cell wall architectures belonging to various types of feedstock. She shows how different processing methods can be utilized to more efficiently process biomass into biofuel.
by Dr. Jose A Olivares (Executive Director, The National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bio-Products Los Alamos National Laboratory) Dr. Olivares first provides an overview of the National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bio-Products organization. Olivares discusses the organization’s involvement
(BusinessWire/Masdar Institute) Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MI), the Boeing Company, Etihad Airways, and Honeywell’s UOP announced January 19, 2011, the completion of a Sustainability Assessment of the Integrated Seawater Agriculture System (ISAS) for production of aviation biofuels and
by Bill Scanlon (National Renewable Energy Laboratory/Renewable Energy World) Most people scorn algae as pond scum, but Lee Elliott embraces the slime, captures it, filters it, and analyzes it for its potential to grow like weeds and fuel the airplanes
(Algae Industry Magazine) A new Australian company has been established to produce commercial quantities of clean, “green” fuels from algae. The company, Muradel Pty Ltd, is a joint venture of Murdoch University, Adelaide Research & Innovation Pty Ltd (the commercial development
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Research being conducted in Tennessee to take biomass from the “farm gate to the biorefinery gate” has zeroed in on switchgrass. That’s not to say that switchgrass is the only answer for cellulosic ethanol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Illinois, Chromatin announced the successful first demonstration that genes can be assembled, stacked, and expressed in sugarcane using the company’s mini-chromosome technology. Now, what exactly is a gene stack and why should I care? Most
by Bryan Sims (Biodiesel Magazine) The Advancing Colorado’s Renewable Energy program awarded 15 grants totaling more than $600,000 in an effort to spur additional instate renewable energy development. Administered by the Colorado Agricultural Value Added Development Board, ACRE specifically
(IEA Bioenergy Task 39) On the request of the UFOP, the DBFZ examined several approaches to improving the Green-House-Gas (GHG) saving balance of biodiesel produced from rape seed. The work was based on the so called default values for biodiesel
(NewKerala.com) Purdue University researchers have made a discovery that could reduce the amount of water required for growing plants and help plants survive and thrive in adverse conditions. They have found a genetic mutation that allows a plant to better endure drought
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Ohio, Algaeventure Systems advises that, today, they are releasing an RFP targeting the nation's leading algae producers to act as demonstration sites for its SLS Industrial algae dewatering technology under its 2009 DOE ARPA-E
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) NX Global Inc. has received a $100 million funding commitment from a private U.S.-based organization. The financial support will be used to purchase property and fund construction on a waste-to-energy and algae facility in Canada.
Algae.Tec Limited (ASX: AEB) an advanced biofuels company with a pioneering highly-efficient algae growth and harvesting system (the McConchie-Stroud System) is listing on the ASX today at 10am WST January 14, 2011. The McConchie-Stroud System uses low-maintenance technologies and a
by Bob Brooks (Automotive Industries) Photon8, a new venture algae oil development firm has emerged from research work at the University Of Texas, Brownsville, TX, by placing its priority on the economics of making algal based diesel fuel oil at
by Will Thurmond (Biofuels Digest/ Emerging Markets Online) 1 Emerging Markets Growth US and EU-based algae producers and licensors of technology are increasingly looking to the Emerging Markets in Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East ... 2 Renewable Oils
(The Farm Trader) With public debate surrounding how Australia can meet its future energy needs gathering pace in recent weeks, three new RIRDC reports on potential bioenergy feedstocks will serve as a valuable addition to the exchange of ideas on
(EurekAlert/University of Illinois-Champaign-Urbana) Using detailed land analysis, Illinois researchers have found that biofuel crops cultivated on available land could produce up to half of the world's current fuel consumption – without affecting food crops or pastureland. Published in the journal Environmental Science
by Tim Wall (Discovery News) Picture the vibrant wildflowers and swaying grasses of prairies covering the Midwestern United States once again, teeming with wildlife and requiring very little management from people, yet providing a renewable energy sources. Managing native grasslands for
(American Chemical Society) In a finding that gives new meaning to the adage, “waste not, want not,” scientists are reporting that household sewage has far more potential as an alternative energy source than previously thought. They say the discovery, which
(Globe Newswire) Global Clean Energy Holdings announced the establishment of a new non-profit research organization: The Center for Sustainable Energy Farming (www.CfSEF.org). The Center's mission is to perform cutting-edge plant science research in genetics, breeding and horticulture, and further develop technologies to allow
(Nashville Public Radio) The state’s switchgrass initiative is looking for new investors. The program aims to turn crops of the tall perennial grass into ethanol to fuel cars. Now it’s using a new East Tennessee biorefinery to demonstrate the technology, in
by Barry Cohen (National Algae Association) ... Some of the accomplishments include: - Construction of commercial-scale demo PBR at Lone Star College - Delivery by NAA Engineering Consortium of plans and design for the 100-acre challenge - Delivery by NAA finance team of first financial
by Jane Milliman (Democrat and Chronicle) Normally the word "willow" brings to mind those huge weepers that hug stream banks or the sticks with big fuzzy buds you can harvest in the early spring. But here in upstate New York we
(National Institutes of Health/Department of Plant Sciences, Montana State University) An endophytic fungus of Persea indica was identified, on the basis of its anamorphic stage, as Nodulosporium sp. by SEM. Partial sequence analysis of ITS rDNA revealed the identity of the
(AP/The Ledger Independent) A new program to explore the viability of biofuels is seeking to establish 700 acres of switchgrass fields and is offering financial assistance to Kentucky farmers. The project follows another that began in 2007 by the Kentucky Forage and
by Willie Vogt (Farm Futures) ...Cellana, an algal biofuel research company based in Kailua Kona, Hawaii, is leading a consortium that includes Cornell, Duke University, San Francisco State University, the University of Hawaii and the University of Southern Mississippi. The
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Miscanthus will see a giant leap in acreage in 2011, thanks to Soperton, Ga.-based Repreve Renewables LLC. The company currently has 500 acres planted in five locations in the Southeast, which Craig Patterson,
(UPI) U.S. scientists have uncovered a gene responsible for plants' key growth characteristics, specifically their density, a finding that could improve agriculture. Researchers at the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation in Oklahoma say denser plants have more biomass without increasing the agricultural footprint,
(Algae Industry Magazine) The National Research Council has proposed to the National Academies to appoint a committee to examine the promise of sustainable development of algal biofuels, identify potential concerns, unforeseen sustainability challenges and unintended consequences for a range of
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