(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
(Algae Industry Magazine) According to Texas A&M University’s Robert Burns, writing in the Western Farm Press, Texas AgriLife Research engineer Dr. Alex Thomasson has developed an optical-electronic sensor to automatically measure algae growth stages and allow micro-management of its production
(The Forum of Fargo-Morehead) The use of a specialized sugar beet to produce ethanol could be a breakthrough in weaning the industry off corn. An announcement a few days ago of plans to build a small-scale beets-to-ethanol plant in North
by Cynthia Barnett (Florida Trend) Some Florida businesses are squeezing a trickle of fuel from algae, claiming they can help power the world. But right now, a few expensive drops in the bucket are all they have to show. On 1,000
by Robert Behre (The Sun News) As Janice Ryan-Bohac looks on, Jonathan Edwards steers straight over a long row of dying vines while his tractor's rear chain digger unearths sweet potatoes as big as bowling balls. These are not meant for anyone's
(Mission NewEnergy) Mission NewEnergy Limited, a vertically integrated biodiesel producer and one of the world’s largest Jatropha plantation companies, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with JOil (S) Pte Ltd ("JOil"), a joint
(Renewable Energy Magazine) Compact Contractors for America (CCA) has developed a dry process biofuel from algae which the company hopes will power military Unmanned Aerial Vehicles such as Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk in the not too distant future. CCA’s founder
by Ann Perry (Hoosier Farms) The benefits of using barley for bioenergy production don't stop at the gas pump, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) studies. Scientists with USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have found that barley grain can be used
by Kassia Micek (The Courier of Montgomery County) Instead of trying to get rid of that slimy, green substance that habitually grows in water, Lone Star College-Montgomery students are are growing large amounts of the organism in hopes of turning it
by Bruce V. Bigelow (Xconomy.com) The U.S. military’s interest in developing algae biofuels dates back at least three years, when the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) began to assess the technical capabilities needed to produce JP-8 grade jet fuel. By
(Los Alamos National Laboratory) ... Gaining insight to more efficiently convert plant biomass into biofuels LANL scientists and University of New Mexico collaborators discovered chinks in the armor of lignin, the component of plant cell walls that stubbornly protects cellulose from hydrolyzing
(Science Blog) In the minds of many, Miscanthus x giganteus is the forerunner in the race of viable feedstock options for lignocellulosic bioenergy production. But researchers believe “putting all their eggs in one basket” could be a big mistake. Scientists at
(BIOLYFE) The BIOLYFE project aims at improving critical steps of the second generation bioethanol production process and at demonstrating the whole supply chain, from feedstock sourcing via fuel production to product utilisation. The main result will be the construction of an
by Joan Delaney (The Epoch Times) Biodiesel made from waste coffee grounds and flax oil solves the ‘food for fuel’ dilemma, says manufacturer. Spotting a thin layer of oil around the edges of a cold cup of coffee was what led Mano
(Western Farmer-Stockman) A life cycle analysis of the carbon footprint of camelina-based biojet fuel concludes that the renewable fuel reduces CO2 emissions by 75% compared with conventional petroleum-based jet fuel. A pee-reviewed paper published in Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy, shows that
by Misty Maynard (Maysville Ledger-Independent) A multi-year pilot project researching the possibility of using switchgrass as a biofuel is drawing to an end, but a new program is seeking to establish 700 more acres of switchgrass and is offering financial assistance
(Agrivida) Agrivida, Inc. announced a collaboration with Syngenta Ventures to develop advanced crop technology that will provide low-cost sugars for a variety of industrial applications. Under the terms of the agreement, Syngenta licenses to Agrivida access to crop technology and
by Karen McNulty Walsh (Brookhaven National Laboratory/RenewableEnergyWorld) Understanding how lignin building blocks are transported could break down barriers to biofuel production. One big challenge in converting plants to biofuels is that the very same molecules that keep plants standing up make
by Dave Kolpack (AP/The Daily Republic) A North Dakota group said Monday it plans to open a test plant that would turn dry land sugar beets into ethanol, with hopes of building a dozen processing facilities throughout the state. Officials with Fargo-based
(Algae Industry Magazine) Dr. B. Greg Mitchell is a research biologist and senior lecturer at the University of California San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. ...For more than two decades Greg has promoted mass culture of algae to mitigate CO2 and
(OriginOil) Pilot Partner MBD Energy Praises OriginOil Team on Expertise and System Operation OriginOil, Inc., the developer of a breakthrough technology to transform algae, the most promising source of renewable oil, into a true competitor to petroleum, today announced the successful completion
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Oak Investment venture partner (and now Aurora chairman) Brian Hinman noted that “Aurora Biofuels has made a significant genetic engineering achievement in doubling the productivity of its proprietary algae, and this round of funding will
(PR NewsWire) NYU-Poly Chemist Uses Yeast, Plant Oils to Produce Super-Durable Recyclable Plastic. Next Step: Transforming It into Biofuel Dr. Richard Gross, professor of chemical and biological science at Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly), has developed a method for
(Japan Today) Toyota Motor Corp said Monday the company has developed a technology to analyze the DNA of plants to shorten the time needed to improve varieties of sugar cane with an eye to boosting bioethanol production. The technology—developed with the National
(BusinessWire) Viral Genetics, Inc., (Pinksheets: VRAL.PK) has launched a subsidiary called “VG Energy, Inc.” The new entity is majority-owned by Viral Genetics and its current shareholders, and was formed to market the company’s biofuel technology. “The new brand will help open
by Cody Winchester (Argus Leader) Eating habits of insect pose problem for researchers Scientists at South Dakota State University are shedding new light on an insect that could compete with humans for switchgrass, a potential biofuel crop, underscoring the need for more
(Algae Industry Magazine) A report from the Savannah (GA) News, states that after more than 4 years of research, Bebout and Associates has patented a process for growing algae for biofuels that promises faster growth rates, higher oil production and greater
(Sprigger's Choice) Sprigger’s Choice should be your choice establishing lifting, harvesting and planting your Bio-Energy Crop such as Miscanthus with Rhizomes. Growers of the energy crop Miscanthus will shortly have available to them some additional equipment, specifically designed to assist in
(US Geological Survey) Growing corn for biofuels production is having unintended effects on water quality and quantity in northwestern Mississippi. More water is required to produce corn than to produce cotton in the Mississippi Delta requiring increased withdrawals of groundwater from the
(OriginOil) Former DOE Aquatic Species Program Site Will Enable Commercial Scale Testing for Algae-to-oil Industry OriginOil, Inc., the developer of a breakthrough technology to transform algae, the most promising source of renewable oil, into a true competitor to petroleum, today announced that
(University of Warwick) Researchers at the University of Warwick's Department of Life Sciences have uncovered the genetic basis of remarkable broad-spectrum resistance to a viral infection that, in some parts of the world, is the most important pathogen affecting leafy and
(MarketWire) Applied Concepts for Energy, Inc. a subsidiary of NX Global, Inc., announced November 22, 2010, a joint venture to redevelop at least four former paper and pulp processing plants in the U.S. and Canada. Each one of these sites are Brownfield sites perfectly
by Jessica Shirey (Gant Daily) The Clearfield County Commissioners voted to terminate its cooperation agreement with SWAN Biomass Inc. at its meeting Tuesday in order to proceed with the transfer of grant funding to a cellulosic biomass ethanol research project
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) ...Up until recently a low profile player in the algae arena, Eldorado Biofuels has developed a niche that may not have received much attention so far, but has the potential to make a strong
By Rod Nickel (Reuters) Monsanto Co. has raised its spending on canola research and development to between C$20 million and C$30 million ($19.8 million to $29.7 million), roughly the same investment the company puts into wheat, the president of its Canadian
(Ceres) Energy crop developer Ceres, Inc. reports that growers are ready and willing to produce biomass for biopower and advanced biofuels, and have the land to do so. A company survey of U.S. growers showed that 71% of respondents were very
(EurekAlert!) Purdue University scientists have found the last undiscovered gene responsible for the production of the amino acid phenylalanine, a discovery that could lead to processes to control the amino acid to boost plants' nutritional values and produce better biofuel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...“How do get growers to grow if there’s no market? How do you get a market if there are no growers?” Arvent CEO Sudhir Seth summed up the problem. ...The problem is in the feedstock. or
(Algae Industry Magazine) he U.S. military wants New Mexico State University to find improved ways to turn algae into a sustainable source for jet fuel. The research project is part of a $2.346 million grant funded by the Air Force where
by Lynn Grooms (Farm Industry News) The market for corncobs for cellulosic ethanol production is still new. So, too, is the market for other types of biomass. But new research and new collection equipment are paving the way for the
by Alan Yonan Jr. (Star Advertiser) ...As the algae companies slowly move forward with their research and development, however, another source of renewable energy is blossoming -- literally -- on the Big Island. Hawaii Pure Plant Oil, or HIPPO, is
by James Cartledge (BrighterEnergy.org) New research from Purdue University highlights the need to improve efficiencies in the logistics of cellulosic biomass feedstocks for ethanol production. A study from the university’s agricultural and biological engineering researchers found that turning cellulosic feedstocks like corn
(Algae Industry Magazine) From Sergio Hernandez at the Village Voice comes word that New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection has a new pilot program that will convert algae at a Queens waste-water treatment plant into biofuel for cars, by
(The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center) National Method employs cost saving catalyst and produces useful byproducts The National Alliance for Biofuels and Bioproducts (NAABB), a consortium of leading scientists and engineers from universities, private industry, and national laboratories announced today that they
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Two major organizations have announced that they will collaborate on key issues moving forward. The National Sorghum Producers (NSP) and the Sweet Sorghum Ethanol Association (SSEA) will begin working together to develop and expand the sweet sorghum
(Deccan Herald) Sardine oil, cashew apples, jackfruit are good source of bio-ethanol State Taskforce on Biofuels is ready with several initiatives and programmes to boost the production of biofuels. In coastal districts, the taskforce will produce biofuel using cashew apples, jackfruit
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) Since June of this year, Greg Bafalis has been CEO of Aurora Algae, formerly Aurora Biofuels, overseeing the Company’s strategy, operations, and high-level relationships. ...Aurora was founded in 2006 by three gentlemen from U.C. Berkeley.
by Vijaysinh Parmar (Times of India) Scientists from across the country, belonging to a consortium of nine laboratories, are working on an ambitious project called 'New Millennium India Technology Leadership Initiative' ( NMITLI), to develop a viable and scalable process
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) Technologies proven at the bench scale and biofuel feedstocks developed or identified are worthless until they come together at a successful biorefinery. Getting there involves a series of choices: new, "greenfield" construction "from scratch" or
(Algae Industry Magazine) From Dan Boyce at Montana State University comes word that researchers there have found a way to get four times as much biofuel from a given amount of algae by adding baking soda, a concentrated source of carbon
(EurekAlert!/American Society of Agronomy) Iowa State researchers examine the efficiencies and environmental impacts of growing sorghum for ethanol Conversion of sorghum grass to ethanol has increased with the interest in renewable fuel sources. Researchers at Iowa State University examined 12 varieties of
by Al Fin (OilPrice.com) STA UK is gearing up to build 10 new waste plastic to diesel plants in the UK. The first plant is to be built in Port Laoighise, Ireland. The process utilises pyrolysis (heating in absence of oxygen)
by Dan Pillar (Gannett/Des Moines Register) The Iowa Power Fund Board voted Wednesday to enter into negotiations with a joint venture of DuPont and Danisco, for an $19.8 million grant for the joint venture to build an ethanol plant in Story
(Algae Industry Magazine) Algae are an agricultural product and algae producers should consider the Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) guidelines developed in Europe and Asia as well as the US guidelines for genetic engineering (GE) of agricultural products. ... While algaculture will
(PR Newswire) SG Biofuels, a bioenergy crop company developing and producing elite seeds of Jatropha, today announced it has established a strategic partnership with Bunge North America, the North American operating arm of Bunge Limited, to research and develop a model
(High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal) University of Illinois researchers have confirmed the first report of a potential new virus belonging to the genus Marafivirus in switchgrass, a biomass crop being evaluated for commercial cellulosic ethanol production. The virus is associated with mosaic and
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