Scientists have found a way to increase fermentable sugar stores in plants which could lead to plant biomass being easier to convert into eco-friendly sustainable biofuels. Their research is highlighted in the latest issue of Business, the quarterly highlights magazine of
Massachusetts-based renewable energy company Bodega Algae and Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in West Boothbay Harbor, Maine, have received a six-month, $150,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Science Foundation to develop and test a prototype for
(CBC News, AP) A $10.5-million-US research project aimed at mapping the DNA sequence of sunflowers could one day yield a towering new variety for both food and fuel. Researchers envision crossbreeding a standard sunflower with the Silverleaf species from Texas to
by John Holland (Modesto Bee) ...The Keyes plant, the only ethanol operation in Stanislaus County, has dominated the landscape but produced little fuel since it was finished next to a feed mill on the west side of the highway. ...
[caption id="attachment_6035" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Last year DOE displayed the Green Challenge winner, but not in 2010. DOE also recognized young innovators and educated the public on its projects and investments in biofuels. Not in 2010."][/caption] by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA)
by Jeff Fick (Dow Jones, Wall Street Journal) Brazilian state-run energy giant Petroleo Brasileiro (PBR), or Petrobras, signed a deal with the country's Navy to test biofuels at extremely low temperatures. Petrobras will invest 3 million Brazilian reals ($1.69 million)
by Michael Kannellos (GreenTechMedia) Take marginal land, fish waste and a plant that's not currently cultivated for human purposes and what do you get? Hopefully jet fuel. The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Honeywell UOP, Boeing and Ethiad Airways announced
Sixteen clean technology projects from across Canada will receive $58 million in funding to help move innovative technology solutions to the market. The announcement, confirming the decision of the Board of Directors of Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), was made
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Those who have railed against government waste and inefficiency — numbering, presumably, in the millions if not billions of critics — can take special satisfaction from the news that Danish enzyme producer Novozymes will demonstrate
by James Guyette (Motor-Age) Fort Lauderdale-based InfoSpi, Inc. is moving ahead with plans to build a “flagship” Tire-to-Oil (T2O) plant in Pompano Beach, Fla. The company, which anticipates rolling out a network of 10 franchised facilities throughout the U.S., is finalizing
(Newswise) With many companies investing heavily in algae-based biofuels, researchers from the University of Virginia's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering have found there are significant environmental hurdles to overcome before fuel production ramps up. They propose using wastewater as
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Two global powerhouses, Bayer Technology Services GmbH and Dow Water and Process Solutions, joined forces recently to offer a new biodiesel process, trademarked BayFAME. Based on the Dow Amberlyst BD20 solid acid catalyst, which Dow
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Camelina has been much in the news of late, as a biofuels feedstock of strong promise, because of its position as one of the few "sustainable, affordable, reliable, available" feedstocks suitable for aviation biofuels. Two major camelina
by Jeffrey Decker (FlightGlobal) Interview with Richard Altman, executive director of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative, working closely with aviation's private and public sectors in a bid to achieve carbon neutral growth by 2020 ... Are there sectors you would like
(GreenAirOnline.com) Under business-as-usual (BAU) forecasts, CO2 emissions from global aviation are estimated to grow 3.1% per year over the next 40 years, resulting in a 300% increase in emissions by 2050 compared to 2007. However, a new report published by
(Renewable Energy Focus) The University of Glamorgan in the UK has been awarded £630 000 (US$1m) to develop its research into biological fuel cells. The work at Glamorgan’s Sustainable Environment Research Centre is looking at how microbial fuel cells can be
(GreenAirOnline.com) A major study to investigate the technical and financial feasibility of a biorefinery plant to supply Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport with 50,000 tonnes of jet biofuel per year has been completed. The project was initiated and part-financed by LFV, which
by Will Thurmond (Biofuels Digest) As industry and governments enter a new decade and contemplate the outcome of the December, 2009 Copenhagen treaty, the ‘big picture’ on biofuels continues to get lost in the rhetoric of sustainability in Brussels and
by Phillip Ewing (Navy Times) ... Navy scientists will be able to use the Department of Agriculture’s knowledge of corn, algae and other biofuels to help develop the alternatives the fleet needs if it is to meet (Navy Secretary Ray)
Boeing, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Etihad Airways and Honeywell's UOP announced an agreement to establish a major research institution and demonstration project in Abu Dhabi dedicated to sustainable energy solutions. The Sustainable Bioenergy Research Project (SBRP) will
by Wolfgang Knorr, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK (Geophysical Research Letters) Several recent studies have highlighted the possibility that the oceans and terrestrial ecosystems have started loosing part of their ability to sequester a large proportion
by Amy Westervelt (Solve Climate) There was a sense of deja vu in the biofuels sector this week when U.S. Energy Secretary Chu announced nearly $80 million in funding for research and development of algae-based fuels. The dream of turning pond
(Physorg.com) Soybean, one of the most important global sources of protein and oil, is now the first legume species with a published complete draft genome sequence. The sequence and its analysis appear in the January 14 edition of the journal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Massachusetts, Qteros unexpectedly dumped CEO Bill Frey and installed former Verenium EVP John McCarthy — one of the key players in the Celunol-Diversa merger that became cellulosic ethanol pioneer Verenium. McCarthy lost no time
by POET (Renewable Energy World) A proposed ethanol pipeline would be an economic boost for the U.S., a new report demonstrates, creating almost 80,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs across the country. POET and Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. have formed a
Swedish SunPine is aiming to be the first company worldwide producing biodiesel from tall oil. At the plant site of SunPine, in Piteå harbor in northern Sweden, the building activity is intense. In the spring of 2010 the plant will
An executive task force formed by Gov. Steve Beshear has forwarded to the governor its recommendations for advancing the discussion on the development of a biomass and biofuels industry in Kentucky. A report from the 22-member group lists five key
Evolution Resources, Inc., an advanced biofuels production company focused on the production of cellulosic ethanol using the latest in modern processes and technologies, today announced the signing of a Testing Services Agreement with North Carolina State University. Under the terms of
April 16-18 in Long Beach California, this weekend of Indy Car, American Le Mans Series and Toyota Celebrity/Pro racing strives to advance “green racing.” Some announced highlights: - The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) is partnering with the U.S. Environmental Protection
UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, announced it has been selected for negotiation of a $25 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to build a demonstration unit in Hawaii to convert cellulosic biomass into green transportation fuels. As part
by Eric Mcguinness (Hamilton Spectator) SunOpta BioProcess Inc. of Brampton is getting $5.5 million from the federal government to demonstrate that it can turn wood chips into fuel-grade ethanol and the sugar substitute xylitol. The cellulosic ethanol would replace gasoline, reducing
On Friday, Jan. 29, DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC (DDCE) and University of Tennessee/Genera Energy LLC will hold a grand opening celebration for one of the nation’s first cellulosic ethanol demo plants, and the only one dedicated to converting both
Los Alamos National Laboratory has teamed with Solix Biofuels, Inc. to use an award-winning LANL sound-wave technology to optimize production of algae-based fuel in a cost-effective, scalable, and environmentally benign fashion. Acoustic focusing—the novel use of sound waves at the heart
Cavitation Technologies, Inc. (CTI) is pleased to announce filing a Nonprovisional Utility Patent Application titled "Method for Processing an Algae to Produce Algal Oil and By-Products" CTI successfully completed development and testing of its Algae reactor. This technology is able
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the investment of nearly $80 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for advanced biofuels research and fueling infrastructure that will help support the development of a clean sustainable transportation
by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (Renewable Energy World) ...Integrated production of biomass-based products in large biorefineries creates cost advantages and competitiveness, and it is expected to be the most viable in the first stage, although small distributed biorefineries
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, jatropha pioneer SG Biofuels announced a strategic alliance with Life Technologies Corporation, a provider of innovative life science solutions, to advance the development of Jatropha as a sustainable biofuel. The alliance brings together SG
by Joe Caspermeyer (Renewable Energy World) An Arizona State University research team has developed a process that removes a key obstacle to producing lower cost, renewable biofuels. The team has programmed a photosynthetic microbe to self-destruct, making the recovery of
by Megan Kuhn (Flightglobal) Four companies with biorefinery projects targeting alternative jet fuel production will receive grant money totalling up to $100 million from the US Energy Department. Honeywell subsidiary UOP, algae-based fuel developer Sapphire Energy, chemical producer Elevance Renewable Sciences
The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) is leading a biodiesel pilot project to demonstrate how well the renewable fuel performs year-round in agriculture equipment. Supported under the National Renewable Diesel Demonstration Initiative (NRDDI), the project will help SRC assess biodiesel's quality
J.B. Smith (Waco Tribune-Herald) To critics who object to making ethanol fuel out of grain, Larry Lehr, of Waco, has an ecology-minded answer: Run it through a cow first. Lehr, who teaches environmental science at Baylor University, is planning to build
Montana State University professors are taking the next step in research that could make it possible to produce biofuel from wood chips using a fungus discovered in South America. This fall, the university received a four-year, $2 million grant from
... “The Government of Ontario has recognized the need to move the Province to the forefront of the commercialization of chemicals, fuels, fibres and energy that can be produced from forests,” added Lorne Morrow, Chief Executive Officer for CRIBE. “There
As scientists scramble to develop ways to generate enormous amounts of energy from cleaner-burning, renewable fuels to replace coal and oil, promising agricultural crops such as switchgrass have made headlines. But selecting the plants from which to make energy is
(Science Daily) A team of scientists from the University of Sheffield have developed an innovative device which will make the production of alternative biofuels more energy efficient. The research team has adapted a unique bioreactor for use in the production of
Robert F. Service (Science) Even with a major push, commercial plants capable of turning CO2 or water into liquid fuels are still likely to be 2 decades away. A simpler version of the technology, however, already appears headed to market.
by Tom Doggett (Reuters) The agency already said it was waiting until this summer, so it can review test data on how a higher ethanol-gasoline ratio would affect engines. ... Initial tests showed vehicles built after 2001 would likely be
Syntec Biofuel Inc., is pleased to announce that it has entered into a joint development program with the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks for converting a wide variety of
(Agweek) A study has been ordered into the environmental and health effects of producing ethanol and biodiesel. A government contract document says “there is now evidence of implications to the environment from biofuels-based ethanol production facilities.” The study comes after
(Ford) ... By 2013, 90 percent of Ford’s North American lineup will be available with EcoBoost engine technology, which is one of Ford’s key initiatives to deliver significant advancements in fuel economy without sacrificing the performance customers want. Ford engineers
by Manny (European Motor News) Initial phase of Omnivore development achieves 10% improvement in fuel consumption compared to stratified direct injection engines, also with ultra low emissions. The research signals a potential paradigm shift with engine ‘upsizing’ for increased fuel
by Michael Kanellos (GreenTechMedia) By doubling the genetic material in an oil plant, Kaiima says it can make biodiesel more economical. It can also get around GMO regulations. Arguably, it's a GMO without GMOs. Kaiima, based in Israel, says it has
(GreenCarCongress) BP and DuPont have formed Kingston Research Ltd, which will focus on the commercialization of advanced biofuel technology—specifically biobutanol—at a £25-million (US$41-million) purpose-built development and demonstration facility at BP’s Saltend site, near Hull. Kingston Research will construct a facility to
by F. M. Epplin (Renewable Energy World and Oklahoma State University) USDOE and USDA study concluded that 50 million U.S. acres of cropland, idle cropland and cropland pasture could be converted from current uses to the production of perennial grasses,
Swedish SunPine is aiming to be the first company worldwide producing biodiesel from tall oil. At the plant site of SunPine, in Piteå harbor in northern Sweden, the building activity is intense. ... “The tall oil diesel is unique in that
Researchers from the Biotechnology Foundation Laboratories at Thomas Jefferson Universityin Philadelphia have identified a way to increase the oil in tobacco plant leaves, which may be the next step in using the plants for biofuel. Their paper was published online
by Jeanne Bernick (Farm Journal) ... “The equipment companies have stepped up to the plate,” says Weishaar, vice president of commercial development for Poet, the nation’s first cellulosic ethanol producer. Poet recently hosted a biomass harvest field day at the
by Tim Sklar (Biomass Digest) ...Woody biomass is ideally suited not only to the manufacture of 2nd generation liquid biofuels. Woody biomass is even better suited to producing TW. When woody biomass undergoes torrefaction all of the components are used,
by Alexis Madrigal (Wired Science) For nearly 20 years, a government laboratory built a living, respiring library of carefully collected organisms in search of something that could grow quickly while producing something precious: oil. But now that collection has largely been
by Tony Henderson (The Journal) Scientists in the North East are to enlist soil bacteria to help produce the biofuels of the future. … It is a problem facing scientists around the world and Prof Black and his team are
by Alexis Madrigal (Wired Science) For nearly 20 years, a government laboratory built a living, respiring library of carefully collected organisms in search of something that could grow quickly while producing something precious: oil. But now that collection has largely been
A new study by Douglas Bradley, Luc Pelkmans and Dieter Cupyers examines the potential supply and demand of 2nd generation biofuels up until 2030, and discusses various impacts on biofuel trade, ranging from cost advantages over shipping capacities and routes
by Herman Trabish (New Energy News and REnewable Energy.com) ... Despite enormous amounts of money poured into research and development, a way to economically produce second-generation (non-crop) biofuels at commercial scale has eluded the most ambitiously dedicated lab scientists and the
(Environmental Leader) Although electric vehicles show higher non-climate damages than many other technologies, they will not be significantly cleaner than cars powered by fossil fuels until they rely less on electricity produced from coal-fired power plants, according to new research
Funding Opportunity Announcement for Fuels from Sunlight Hub is Issued. U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu outlined the Department’s plans to invest up to $366 million to establish and operate three new Energy Innovation Hubs focused on accelerating research
(ABC Rural) Western Australia's mining sector could be one of the first to reap the benefits of a biofuels trial in the state's north-west. The Gascoyne Research Station is halfway through a project to test the Moringa tree, which is
Australian scientists are achieving the world's best production rates of oil from algae grown in open saline ponds, taking them a step closer to creating commercial quantities of clean biofuel for the future. A joint $3.3 million project led by Murdoch
by Greg Kelton (Adelaide Now) THE U.S. parent company of uranium producer Heathgate Resources has held talks with the State Government over developing a renewable energy fuel in South Australia - from algae. Premier Mike Rann met for an hour yesterday
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... 2009 has taught us that the excess of emissions in the skies and shortage of land on the ground may well be solved underwater, through microcrops: algaes. diatoms, cyanobacteria and microscopic flowering plants like
by C. Neal Stewart, Jr. (Sun Grant Initiative) This presentation reviews the benefits and challenges of using switchgrass as a biofuels feedstock. It includes good graphs of cell wall structures, maps of biomass crop potential in the US and discussions
by J.W. Walkinshaw and S.E. Poniatowski (University of Massachusetts and Terrasonics) This presentation illustrates the usual process of breaking cellulose into sugars for ethanol fermentation by using an enzymatic process and, then illustrates the results of speeding up that process by using
Robert C. Brown and Jennifer Holmgren (Iowa State University and UOP) This presentation describes the fast pyrolysis process and products. READ MORE
Martin Keller, Ph.D. (BioEnergy Science Center) Presentation details biomass recalcitrance and various methods being researched to break down cellulose, hemicellulose, pectins, lignins into sugars as an intermediary step to ethanol production or to serve as "green crude." READ MORE
by Curt Rich (VanNess Feldman) Presentation from the Algae Biomass Summit, October 2009 reviews federal grant and loan programs, climate change legislative proposals from an algal biofuels perspective. READ MORE
by Jeremy Hsu (Space.com) NASA may concern itself largely with space exploration, but it also wants to keep Earth on a steady course in the face of rising energy costs and climate change. Now the U.S. space agency has thrown its
Dynaflow, Inc.®, a leader in R&D services and products in fluid dynamics and applied sciences, today announced that it has been awarded a Department of Energy (DOE) Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to develop and demonstrate a
On December 3rd 2009, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced approval of the project proposal submitted by Pond Biofuels Inc. under the Asia-Pacific Partnership (APP) on Clean Development and Climate program. The approved project includes funding in support of its
by Mritunjay Kumar Shukla†, Thallada Bhaskar, A.K. Jain, S.K. Singal, M.O. Garg (Indian Institute of Petroleum Dehradun) A presentation that details the emissions, yields, costs and advantages of bio-based DME, compared to conventional diesel fuel, is here for free download,
by Charlotte LoBuono (heatingoil.com) A Canadian energy company has proposed building a biorefinery to produce dimethyl ether, or DME, the CBC reported Wednesday. In November, Calgary-based GV Energy signed a memorandum of understanding with the city of Terrance, British Columbia,
Speedling Incorporated and Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. today announced a collaborative agreement to jointly research, develop, and commercialize a cost-effective propagation and production system for Mendel's advanced Miscanthus product candidates. Speedling will apply its proprietary propagation methods to optimize the production
by Amy Lorentzen (AP) A central Iowa plant could soon begin producing jet fuel from poultry fat. Bolingbrook, Ill.-based Elevance Renewable Sciences plans to build a $15 million plant in Newton, adding onto an existing biodiesel operation. The experimental operation plans
Sandra W.A. Hintz, et al. (Journal of Cereal Science) Filamentous fungi are widely used for enzyme production for the biofuel industry. The ascomycetous fungus Chrysosporium lucknowense C1 was isolated as a natural producer of neutral cellulases. It is at present
The Annual Energy Outlook 2010 (AEO2010) reference case released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) presents updated projections for U.S. energy consumption and production through 2035. "Our projections show that existing policies that stress energy efficiency and alternative fuels, together
From a letter to Underwriters Laboratories from Renewable Fuels Association: I am writing to express the Renewable Fuels Association’s (RFA) position that Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) has selected an inappropriate test fuel to emulate fuel grade ethanol in its Subject
by Louis Bergeron (Stanford University) Ethanol -- often promoted as a clean-burning, renewable fuel that could help wean the nation from oil -- would likely worsen health problems caused by ozone, compared with gasoline, especially in winter, according to a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biofuels Digest provides a summary of various cellulosic ethanol production technologies; and who is using them where. ---... Companies that have been in the R&D phases for years — if not decades — are emerging
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced it has selected INEOS Bio and its partner, New Planet Energy, for a $50 million dollar grant for its advanced bioenergy facility in Indian River County, Florida. The grant was announced jointly by DOE Secretary
by Yong Jiang and Scott M. Swinton (International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology) Advanced biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol are of great interest in the USA. With agriculture being the major source of feedstock for advanced biofuels, how farmers would
by Yan Ma, et al. (International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology) Sustained growth in agricultural productivity has become an ideal model and a political goal of agricultural development in China. Local participation is essential for the implementation of
(Biomass Magazine) The Energy & Environmental Research Center Foundation and Whole Energy Fuels Corp., headquartered in Bellingham, Wash., are poised to commercialize a novel and groundbreaking cellulosic biofuel technology developed at the EERC at the University of North Dakota. Whole
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) California-based Mendel Biotechnology Inc. has more than 2,000 varieties of miscanthus under development on several different plots and hopes to have significant plantings for biomass power generation in the next two to four years. Fifteen
(Biodiesel Digest) Dow Water & Process Solutions, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company (Dow), and Bayer Technology Services GmbH (BTS), announced a licensing agreement for the worldwide marketing of the registered BayFAME technology, a continuous process developed by
Just in time for the critical climate talks now underway in Copenhagen, new data once again confirms the significant greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions from global biofuels production. Prepared by (S&T)2 Consultants Inc., an internationally recognized energy and environmental consulting firm, the
by Matthew Chin (Science Daily) In a new approach, researchers from the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science have genetically modified a cyanobacterium to consume carbon dioxide and produce the liquid fuel isobutanol, which holds great potential
by Heather Lammers, NREL (Renewable Energy World) Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and ethanol producers are racing to come up with ways to make ethanol from cellulosic biomass that are cheaper and easier to produce than current
(Pre-Salt) The president of Petrobras, José Sergio Gabrielli de Azevedo, ... presented an overview of activities in 2009 . ... "Petrobras has expanded production capacity allowed in biodiesel plants and intensified contacts to expand presence in the area of ethanol. We
What’s brewing in Caye Drapcho’s bioreactor may well be a fuel of the future. Drapcho, a biosystems engineer at Clemson University, is investigating a bacterium that produces hydrogen. The microbe is called Thermotoga neapolitana. And it has a taste for
Logos Technologies, Inc. and EdeniQ, Inc. announced that they have been awarded a $20.4 million grant to modify and operate a pilotscale bio‐refinery plant to produce low‐cost ethanol bio‐fuel from cellulosic feedstock, such as corn stover and switch grass. Logos
by Tom Doggett (Reuters) Two key Republican lawmakers asked the Government Accountability Office on Wednesday to study the impact of boosting the amount of ethanol that is blended into U.S. gasoline supplies. The request was made after the Environmental Protection Agency
(Atlantic Biomass) Research reported in the December issue of the American Society of Microbiology’s journal Applied and Environment Microbiology on the development of a thermostable enzyme opens the way to a new pathway for low-cost biofuel production using sugar beet
by Mark Long (Wall Street Journal) Boaters and small-engine-industry groups are worried their concerns about engine damage will be overlooked as the Environmental Protection Agency considers allowing as much as 15% ethanol in the nation's gasoline. Since fuel with an ethanol
(Science Daily) An Arizona State University research team has developed a process that removes a key obstacle to producing lower-cost, renewable biofuels. The team has programmed a photosynthetic microbe to self-destruct, making the recovery of high-energy fats--and their biofuel byproducts--easier
Rentech, Inc., and ClearFuels Technology Inc. (ClearFuels) jointly announced that they have been selected to receive up to $23 million as a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) to construct a biomass gasifier at Rentech’s Energy Technology Center
PetroSun, Inc., announced that the Department of Energy has advised Gas Technology Institute of Des Plaines, Illinois that its Integrated Biorefinery application has been selected for negotiations leading to an award. The GTI team members include PetroSun, Cargill, Blue Marble
The U.S. Department of Energy today awarded Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) a $24.8 million grant to develop and construct a facility that will convert biomass into renewable fuel. One of 19 biofuel projects to receive Department of Energy
Algenol Biofuels, in partnership with The Linde Group, have agreed to collaborate in a joint project that will attempt to identify the optimum management of carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen for Algenol’s algae and photobioreactor technology. The goal is to
Myriant Technologies LLC (as successor to BioEnergy International), a leading biotech developer and manufacturer of renewable biochemicals, has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to receive up to $50 million for its planned biobased Succinic Acid facility
by Patti Drapala (MSU Ag Communications) ... One focus of MSU’s research is giant miscanthus, or Miscanthus x giganteus, a warm-season Asian grass that many scientists believe has potential as a biomass crop for fuel. Researchers with the Mississippi Agricultural
by Tina Casey (CleanTechnica.com) One barrier to cost-competitive biofuel from algae is about to fall, and we may have nanofarming to thank for that. The new technology uses tiny nanoparticles to absorb free fatty acids from living microalgae. It is being
by Ph.D. Angelo DePalma (CheckBiotech, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News) ...“It is about systems,” says A. Malcolm Campbell, Ph.D., professor of biology at Davidson College, “not manipulating one or two genes, but whole pathways.” For example, producing a compound in
by Robert P. Walzer (New York Times) A Brazilian start-up is testing the possibility of implementing a large-scale biofuels project using jatropha, a family of hardy, succulent plants. The company, BioVentures Brasil, is getting $1 million from the InterAmerican Development Bank for
The extent to which increased biofuels production will affect the nation’s water resources depends on the type of feedstock selected and how and where it is grown. ... (N)ext generation feedstocks have not yet been grown on a commercial scale
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the EPA announced that it will delay its determination on E15 ethanol blending until the middle of next year, citing that only 2 of 19 DOE tests are complete at this stage. EPA
by Joel Hood (Chicago Tribune) Some time ago, Brian Sievers picked up a crazy notion that one simple idea might just change the world. So for the last two school years, the popular science teacher at Thornridge High School in
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Purdue University has been awarded a $933,000 USDA grant to conduct analysis of the global impacts of second-generation biofuels. According to Tom Hertel, ag economics professor at Purdue University and project co-investigator, the team’s
by Rod Nickel (Reuters) Canadian ethanol emits 62 percent less greenhouse gas than conventional fuel, taking into consideration all stages of the fuel's production from planting a crop to burning the fuel, a new report prepared for Canada's biofuel industry
by Bryan M. Jenkins, Chris Somerville, James J. Stapleton (California Agriculture) Biofuels — fuels derived from plant materials and other kinds of biomass — have ridden a rollercoaster of public debate. When Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on U.S. energy supplies
by Stephen R. Kaffka (California Agriculture) The use of crops and crop residues as feedstocks for biofuels increases domestic and global supplies, creates new industries, and may result in reduced greenhouse-gas emissions. Uncertainty about the best crop and residue sources,
by Deepak Rajagopal, Steven Sexton, Gal Hochman, David Roland-Holst, David Zilberman (California Agriculture) Biofuels have been criticized for raising food prices and reducing food production. While biofuels have rightly been blamed for contributing to reduced food security at a time
by Charles E. Wyman, Bin Yang (California Agriculture) Cellulosic biomass, which includes agricultural and forestry residues and woody and herbaceous plants, is the only low-cost resource that can support the sustainable production of liquid fuels on a large enough scale
by Laura E. Bartley, Pamela C. Ronald (California Agriculture) A key strategy for biofuel production is making use of the chemical energy stored in plant cell walls. Cell walls are a strong meshwork of sugar chains and other polymers that encircle
by Susan Taylor (Reuters) Animal fat, restaurant grease and vegetable oil will help power four Canadian Pacific Railway locomotives this winter to test if biodiesel fuel can stand up to a harsh Canadian winter. The Canadian government, which plans to
(Living on Earth) University of Minnesota biochemistry professor Larry Wackett's team won support from the US Dept. of Energy for their approach to direct solar fuel. Wackett's wants to mimic symbiosis in nature by teaming up microbes. … YOUNG: One
(Newsobserver) Piedmont Biofuels Industrial will receive a $139,249 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant for innovative clean energy research and development, U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan announced. ... Piedmont Biofuels will use the money to develop biodiesel production processes that reduce water
With financial support of DOE and the Israeli Ministry of National Infrastructures, the bilateral BIRD Foundation Energy Executive Committee has competitively selected four cooperative clean energy projects in the United States and Israel. This initiative will award up to $3.3
by Dina Fine Maron (New York Times Greenwire) Seaweed holds promise as more than an ingredient in a purifying face mask or a maki roll. So say researchers at E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., which alongside Seattle-based Bio
Energy crop company Ceres, Inc. announced today that it is working with CHOREN, an international leader in Biomass to Liquids technology, to optimize energy crops for thermochemical conversion to advanced low-carbon biofuels. The two-year bioenergy project is funded in part
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines today operated its first ever passenger flight powered by sustainable biokerosene. To give an extra impulse to sustainable air transport, KLM today also joined hands with North Sea Petroleum and Spring Associates to establish the SkyEnergy
The California Energy Commission has awarded a $1 million grant to UC Riverside’s College of Engineering-Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) to build a process demonstration unit (PDU) to convert biosolids to clean synthetic diesel fuel. The PDU will be
by Mary Grady (AVWeb) Embraer and General Electric will flight-test a renewable jet fuel by early 2012, the companies said. They plan to use a renewable biofuel made from sugar cane, developed by Amyris Biotechnologies, which is based in California
by Jim Brumm (Star News) The governor’s office said that Alganomics is one of 18 small companies that will receive grants to develop and market promising green and alternative energy technologies and products. Alganomics will receive $59,500 to support its
(Tennessean) A panel of state lawmakers approved plans to amend a $70 million research effort to produce ethanol in East Tennessee, blaming a lack of communication for a hearing two weeks ago in which some members suggested pulling the plug
by Cristen Conger (Discovery News MSNBC.com) Although algae is currently the most energy-dense biofuel source, the cost of producing algae oil is prohibitively expensive. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the biofuel would cost around $8 per gallon at the
POET announced that cost reductions achieved over the past year of operating their cellulosic ethanol pilot plant have exceeded expectations in their drive to commercialize the process. Reductions in energy usage, enzyme costs, raw material requirements and capital expenses have
by Emma Ritch (CleanTech Group) Denmark’s Inbicon today opened its first demonstration facility producing cellulosic ethanol, but potential customers will have to wait. Inbicon has already sold its first year of production to Statoil, which plans to blend the ethanol into
(AFP) Alternative fuels could power 15 percent of global air traffic by 2020 and 30 percent by 2030, European aircraft-maker Airbus said at the Dubai Airshow on Tuesday. "If we get the right sources, it is possible that 15 percent
... The goals of this project were to produce biodiesel from a wide variety of feedstocks and to provide the characteristics of both the feedstock and biodiesel. The project is unique because it encompasses an extensive range of feedstocks and
by Bob Brooks (Automotive Industries) Recent news that a 5-member team plans commercialization of $1/gal (commodity cost) ethanol from algae, coincides with information that Ricardo engineers have developed a spark ignited engine able to sense and adjust automatically to any
... The scale of denial is breathtaking. For as Heinberg’s analysis makes depressingly clear, there will be NO combination of alternative energy solutions that might enable the long term continuation of economic growth, or of industrial societies in their present
(UPI) ... University of Illinois scientists, led by agricultural engineering researcher Esha Khullar, said the wet ethanol process involves soaking corn kernels rather than grinding them, resulting in more gallons of ethanol ... and better quality co-products than does the
by Yvonne Chan (BusinessGreen.com) Australian biofuel specialist MBD Energy is poised to unveil a new facility that it claims will be the world's largest refinery for producing algae-based biofuels and high-protein livestock feed. The Melbourne-based company plans to showcase its
by Kevin Clark (Sunderland Echo) The move to electric vehicles being spearheaded on Wearside could lead to a rise in greenhouses gases, claims a new report. The Environmental Transport Association (ETA), which campaigns for sustainable transport, says a move to
(Applied and Environmental Microbiology, the Journal of the American Society for Microbiology) Directed evolution approaches were used to construct a thermally stabilized variant of Erwinia chrysanthemi pectin methylesterase A. The final evolved enzyme has four amino acid substitutions that together
by Sharon Begley (Newsweek) Interview with Al Gore: ... But next-generation biofuels are a different story, he says. "The pathway that I think is likely to be the winner is enzymatic hydrolysis, which essentially uses engineered enzymes to break down the cellulose,
(Renewable Energy Magazine) In this, Renewable Energy Magazine’s latest in-depth interview, Mark Emalfarb describes the interesting path that led him to develop Dyadic’s patented C1 technology platform and his thoughts on the future of the production of sugars from biomass
(Science Daily) In the quest to make hydrogen as a clean alternative fuel source, researchers have been stymied about how to create usable hydrogen that is clean and sustainable without relying on an intensive, high-energy process that outweighs the benefits
BP has added to its web site page on dedicated energy crops a video describing cellulosic ethanol and BP's cellulosic refinery projects. View the video. See also BP's video on sustainable biofuels development with a focus on biobutanol. View the video.
(The Hindu) New data show that the balance between airborne and absorbed Carbon dioxide has stayed approximately constant since 1850, despite emissions of CO2 having risen from about 2 billion tons a year in 1850 to 35 billion tons a
The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy today announced projects selected for more than $24 million in grants to research and develop technologies to produce biofuels, bioenergy and high-value biobased products. Of the $24.4 million announced today, DOE plans to
by Mark Barkoviak (Daily Tech) The United States Air Force hopes to conduct research related to alternative fuels that could one day help the military transition away from gasoline. The $2.5 million Assured Aerospace Fuels Research Facility, located at the
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