(Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) By imaging the cell walls of a zinnia leaf down to the nanometer scale, energy researchers have a better idea about how to turn plants into biofuels. In a paper appearing online in the journal Plant Physiology,
by Sreenivas Ghatty (Commodity Online) ...Pongamia, a plant producing non-edible oilseeds, has the potential to become one of the cheapest feedstocks that can be produced in most of the tropical and sub tropical regions of the world. It can tolerate
(US Department of Energy) California Institute of Technology to lead team in partnership with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and other California institutions As part of a broad effort to achieve breakthrough innovations in energy production, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel
(US Department of Energy) $106 Million Recovery Act Investment will Reduce CO2 Emissions and Mitigate Climate Change U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today the selections of six projects that aim to find ways of converting captured carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
by Adam J. Liska and Richard K. Perrin (Environment Magazine) Military operations are major industrial activities that use massive amounts of fuel and materials that significantly contribute to climate change. In this article, we assert that military activity to protect
(Business Standard) Minister for large and medium industries Murugesh Nirani inaugurated the bio-diesel park which has been set up at the the Karnataka State Women's University campus in Bijapur. ...This unit will work as a bio-diesel production and information centre where
(Washington State University) A major Washington State University effort to develop aviation bio-fuel is underway with the announcement of a strategic initiative called the “Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest” project; the first of its kind in the U.S. In partnership with Alaska
(KCAUTV) ...SDSU Professor Basil Dalaly (duh-LAHL'-lee) is experimenting with ways to reuse the enzymes by chemically attaching them to glass beads, and then using the beads multiple times. Enzymes can account for as much as $1 per gallon of the costs
(BIOFerm) Cedar Grove Composting announced today that it is working with BioFerm Energy Systems, a German-based clean energy generation company owned by The Viessmann Group, to integrate anaerobic digestion into its composting process. The proposed technology employs a high-solids anaerobic digester
(Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc.) Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. (OTC BB: BNET) today confirmed its participation at a public issues forum on July 14, hosted by SUNY Oswego's Office of Business and Community Relations at their Campus Center auditorium. The forum,
(Sidney Morning Herald) ...Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin has released the government's discussion paper on plans for the state's biofuel and bioproduct industry on Friday. Mr Mulherin said the US, Europe and Brazil dominated the international bio-industries sector but he believed Queensland
by Josie Garthwaite (Earth2Tech) Cello Energy, a startup run by Alabama’s former ethics chairman and backed by Khosla Ventures that has been beset by production delays and fraud allegations, still ranks among the companies that the Environmental Protection Agency believes is
(FlightGlobal) In the run-up to Farnborough both of the major commercial airframers have launched new initiatives aimed at bringing the prospect of a low-carbon, biofuel-powered aviation industry closer to reality, amid a sharpening awareness of the urgent need for investment
by Gerald Traufetter (Der Spiegel) There are plans within the aviation industry to replace kerosene with biofuel derived from algae. The new fuel comes with a surprising benefit: Planes will be able to fly farther on the same amount of
by Jim Lane (Biotech Digest) This past April, ARPA-E announced a new grant round, and the largest single award in the round, $6 million, went to a group led by OPX Biotechnologies, in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and
By Alyson Zepeda (Reuters) * Greenhouse will test algae strains * Next step is outdoor testing * Spending will grow over the next decade Exxon Mobil Corp said on July 14, 2010,it opened a greenhouse facility to grow and test algae, the next step
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) Dr. Russell Chapman, Executive Director of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, in San Diego, takes great joy in sharing his passion for algae with his students.
(Bloomberg/AP) Industrial gas supplier Praxair Inc. said Tuesday it is buying carbon dioxide from Osage Bio Energy for use in food freezing and processing and drink applications....It is buying carbon dioxide that is produced by fermentation that converts barley to
(American Society of Agronomy) Scientists compile field studies across U.S. to identify influences on biomass yield While scientists have conducted numerous studies on production of biomass from biofuel crops, such as switchgrass, no one has yet compiled this information to evaluate
(BIOeCON) Petrobras and BIOeCON announced their partnership in the joint development of a novel process for enhanced conversion of biomass, as found in agricultural wastes such as sugarcane bagasse, into chemicals that can be used to produce green plastics, or further
(Alternative Energy Africa) Stellenbosch Biomass Technologies (SBMT) has been officially launched in Sandton, South Africa holding the rights to commercialize and adapt the latest conversion technology developed by US-based Mascoma Technologies. Mascoma is rated one of the top 10 most innovative companies
(CleanTech Biofuels) CleanTech Biofuels, Inc., an early stage provider of cellulosic biomass feedstock derived from municipal solid waste (MSW) for renewable energy and bio-based chemical production, is pleased to announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office recently issued US
(Algae Industry Magazine) ...One contribution that may inform biofuels research is reported in the July 9 issue of Science, where researchers led by the DOE Joint Genome Institute (JGI) and the Salk Institute presented the 138 million nucleotide genome of
by Cait Bester (Daily Mercury) ...Queensland University of Technology’s Mackay Renewable Biocommodities Pilot Plant will be officially opened... Lead researcher and Queensland University of Technology professor, James Dale, said the purpose-built plant at Mackay Sugar’s Racecourse Mill would be the
(CO2 Solution) Codexis, Inc., and CO2 Solution Inc., on July 13, 2010, will make the first joint public presentation on their program to develop carbon capture technology to reduce pollution from coal-fired power plants. The presentation is being made at the 4th Annual
(BusinessWire) Technology Solutions Company to Develop Flexible Analysis Models for Simulating Plant Processing Performance and Economics )--Alion Science and Technology has been awarded a contract from the Biotechnology Research and Development Center (BRDC) to develop models that will assess options for
(BusinessWire.com) Process eliminates the energy intensive and costly oil extraction step. Unitel Technologies, Inc. announced that the company has filed a patent application for a new technology for making biofuels from microalgae. The process involves minimal dewatering, and completely bypasses the
(Accelergy) Carbon Cycle Technology Alliance to scale carbon capture and recycling operations Accelergy Corporation, a global leader in the production of high-grade, domestically sourced liquid fuels, has been awarded an alternative and clean energy program grant from the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Financing Authority
(Iowa State University) ...Fast pyrolysis quickly heats biomass (such as corn stalks and leaves) in the absence of oxygen to produce a liquid product known as bio-oil that can be used to manufacture fuels and chemicals and a solid product
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...OriginOil ... has announced a hydrogen harvesting system, while an early-stage company based in Iowa, Avello Bioenergy, has developed a technology for fast pyrolysis oils that “improves, collects and separates bio-oil into various liquid fractions,” making
(PR NewsWire) Regional assessment to outline biomass sources for creating renewable jet fuel. Alaska Airlines, Boeing, Portland International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Spokane International Airport and Washington State University today announced a strategic initiative to promote aviation biofuel development in the
(OriginOil) New technology taps hydrogen generated by living algae. OriginOil, Inc. , the developer of a breakthrough technology to transform algae, the most promising source of renewable oil, into a true competitor to petroleum, July 8, 2010, announced a new invention that generates
(UPI) If agricultural waste can't go to a biofuel processing center, then the processing center should go to the agricultural waste, U.S. researchers theorized. Researchers at Purdue University propose creating mobile processing plants that would roam the Midwest to produce biofuels
by Jeffrey Tomich (StLToday.com) ...The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in Creve Coeur has emerged as a hub for algae-to-biofuel research thanks to millions of dollars in donations and grants, including a $25 million gift from local billionaire Jack Taylor that
(SunHerald.com) Inbicon Biomass Refinery now producing The New Ethanol and other biofuel at Kalundborg, Denmark Inbicon is declaring Energy Independence Day for Planet Earth as the first Inbicon Biomass Refinery swings into operation. It turns wheat straw into 1.4 million gallons
by Richard Harth (Arizona State University) Cyanobacteria are among the oldest living forms in nature, responsible for generating the atmospheric oxygen we breathe today. Now Hyun Woo Kim and Raveender Vannela, researchers at the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University
by Tyler Ames (Chief Science & Technology Officer, Butamax) Butamax, a product of a joint research program between DuPont and BP, is working to commercialize biobutanol. Biobutanol can be made from several feedstocks, has excellent fuel properties, and is compatible with
by Dan Burciaga (President & CEO, TRI) Burciaga discusses TRI's proprietary steam reforming gasification system, and its applicability to the production of biofuels, biochemicals, and renewable power. TRI's biorefineries are feedstock-flexible, controlled to maximize thermal efficiency, scalable, and potentially self-powered. The
(SDTC) Eighteen clean technology projects from across Canada that will help green Canada’s economy today received $40 million in funding to help move innovative technology solutions to the market. The announcement, confirming the decision of the Board of Directors of Sustainable
(MarketWire) Analysis Conducted in Collaboration With NASA, AFRL, and Honeywell's UOP Evogene Ltd. announced July 7, 2010, that biojet(1) produced from castor varieties under development by Evogene, meets the key international standards for alternative aviation fuels. The analysis was conducted by Evogene, Inc., a
(ClickGreen) Work has begun on construction of a multi-million pound research facility for bioenergy and biofuels, brewing technology and food and drink processing at The University of Nottingham. The Bioenergy Centre, the first of its kind in the country, is being
(US Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today the launch of the Technology Commercialization Portal—an online resource that will serve as a tool for potential investors to identify opportunities to invest in work being conducted by DOE
(New Generation Biofuels) Company’s Test Burns in the City of Baltimore’s Boilers Shows Significant Emissions Reduction Renewable fuels provider New Generation Biofuels Holdings, Inc., announced that the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners has approved a long term boiler test and
(CBC News) Discarded Tim Hortons coffee cups are being turned into ethanol by researchers at the University of Manitoba Microbiologists Richard Sparling and David Levin said they came up with the idea of using the paper cups after walking past some
(North Carolina State University) Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a more efficient technique for producing biofuels from woody plants that significantly reduces the waste that results from conventional biofuel production techniques. The technique is a significant step toward
(ISU) A new green, bio-based method for producing a much-used fuel additive and industrial chemical that is currently made from petroleum products has been developed by an Iowa State University researcher. Thomas Bobik, professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, invented a
(Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News) VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Deinove are joining forces to progress research efforts in biofuels and green chemistry. Deinove is focused on exploiting the natural properties of Deinococcus bacteria for the production of biofuels
by Sharon Epperson (CNBC) New financing from the federal government may help biotech companies develop fuels of the future, helping reduce America's dependence on oil. One such company is Agrivida, a small, agricultural biotech outside Boston. Until recently, most of its funding
(Ethanol Across America) The Flagship publication of the Clean Fuels Development Coalition and the Ethanol Across America program for nearly 15 years has been the Ethanol Fact Book. This unique document provides hundreds of sourced facts relating to ethanol and
by Joanne Schroeder (DomesticFuel) Now this is interesting. I was reading earlier this morning in Cadillac Desert about how agriculture in many areas is suffering from water issues that include too much salt. The salt damages the soil, kills the crops
by Antionio Trabucco, Wouter M. J. Achten, et al. (Global Change Biology) Although acclaimed as a biofuel crop with high potential to sustainably replace fossil fuels, Jatropha curcas L. remains a poorly studied plant. Reliable yield assessments with conventional methods require agroclimatic and
(ETCGreen.com) Vehicle owners now understand the ever dwindling supply and higher expense and risks of extracting petroleum will continue to increase the price at the pumps. For over 100 years we have enjoyed this cheap energy source, but the party is
(CORE Biofuel) CORE BioFuel Inc., a Canadian biofuel company that is commercializing an advanced biomass to gasoline production process, today announced that it will pursue an additional production facility to be possibly located in northwest Montana. Don Sigler, Chief Financial Officer
(US Department of Energy) Despite algae's potential, many technical and economic challenges must be overcome for algal biofuels to be commercialized. To identify these hurdles and guide research and development activities, DOE convened the National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap Workshop, bringing together
(US Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced June 28, 2010, the investment of up to $24 million for three research groups to tackle key hurdles in the commercialization of algae-based biofuels. The selections will support the development of a
(ZeaChem) Company to Demonstrate Integration of Processes at Boardman Biorefinery ZeaChem Inc., a developer of biorefineries for the conversion of renewable biomass into sustainable fuels and chemicals, today announced the successful production of ethanol at a capacity that can be scaled
by Jeffrey Decker (FlightGlobal) ...Biomass can be gasified and converted to fuel through the Fischer-Tropsch process as well, but the USAF has focused on coal-to-liquids to confirm that chemically identical fuels perform alike no matter what the raw material is.
(DSM) At the 7th annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology, taking place this week in Washington D.C. (United States), DSM and Roquette will elaborate on a recent technical breakthrough and proprietary process for the manufacture of bio-based succinic acid that will
(Toledo Blade) By early next year, the University of Toledo's Scott Park Campus for Energy and Innovation will be home to a nearly $1 million facility to research and develop algae biofuels in hopes of accelerating the alternative fuel's commercialization. Ohio University,
by Jennifer A. Burney, Steven J. Davis, and David B. Lobell (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) As efforts to mitigate climate change increase, there is a need to identify cost-effective ways to avoid emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Agriculture is
(Red Orbit) A new type of baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) has been developed which can efficiently ferment pentose sugars, as found in agricultural waste and hardwoods. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal Biotechnology for Biofuels describe the creation of
by Jim Lane (Biotech Digest) ...Amyris had its technological foundation nine years ago in the Keasling lab at Berkeley, when Jay Keasling and his team of post-docs pioneered a methodology to produce isopentenyl pyrophosphate, at rates with commercial potential, from
(Citizen-Times.com) A small field of bright yellow flowers planted by the N.C. Department of Transportation along Interstate 40 may look like any other bed of wildflowers, but in the case of this crop, there is more than meets the eye. Two
(Honeywell) Agreement Includes Testing of Bio-Based Renewable Fuels Honeywell announced today that it has been awarded a contract by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop mature technology for Fuel Burn Reduction and test aviation biofuels for use in Honeywell Gas
by Dominique Vidalon(Reuters) Total, Amyris to build biomass-based fuels partnership. French oil group Total said on Wednesday it will buy a stake of around 17 percent in US. biofuels producer Amyris to expand its reach in renewable fuels and chemicals. ..."Total and
(National Algae Association) The National Algae Association, a 501(3)6 non-profit association, located in The Woodlands, Texas is starting a new algae production incubator to help lower the cost and risks in the algae production industry. It will be the first commercial-scale algae production
(Purdue University) Purdue University scientists have improved a strain of yeast that can produce more biofuel from cellulosic plant material by fermenting all five types of the plant's sugars. Nathan Mosier, an associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering; Miroslav Sedlak,
(LPP Combustion) LPP Combustion, LLC, a Columbia, MD based innovator in liquid fuel technology, has successfully demonstrated the clean generation of green, dispatchable, renewable power on a 30kW Capstone C30 gas turbine. LPP Combustion has developed a Lean, Pre‐mixed, Prevaporized (LPP)
(ICM) ICM, Inc. Signs Contract with the U.S. Department of Energy for $31 Million Cooperative Agreement. Construction to Commence August 2010 on Pilot Plant in St. Joseph, MO for Production of Fuel Ethanol from High-Impact Cellulosic Feedstocks. ICM, Inc. is pleased
(USDA) USDA's Chief Economist Joseph Glauber today announced the publication of a report by the Office of Energy Policy and New Uses that surveyed corn growers for the year 2005 and ethanol plants in 2008, which indicates the net energy gain
by Robert Block and Mark K. Matthews (Orlando Sentinel) Charlie Bolden asked Marathon Oil for its opinion on Project OMEGA — but he has financial interest in Marathon, which has a competing project. While millions of barrels of spilled oil choke the
(Chemical Online) In the quest for alternatives to soybeans, palm, and other edible oilseed plants as sources for biodiesel production, enter an unlikely new candidate: A fungus, or mold, that produces and socks away large amounts of oils that are
by Shigeru Sato (Bloomberg Business Week) Toyota Motor Corp.’s research and development unit, Hitachi Ltd. and more than 40 other Japanese companies and institutions have joined a national study into algae’s potential for producing biofuel and chemicals. ...Japan abandoned a $132
(LS9) Renewable Petroleum(TM) technology efficiently converts renewable raw materials into low-carbon fuels and chemicals. LS9, the Renewable Petroleum Company(TM), today announced that it has won the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) highest environmental honor for its revolutionary Renewable Petroleum(TM) technology that
by Louis Bergeron (Stanford University) Advances in high-yield agriculture over the latter part of the 20th century have prevented massive amounts of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere – the equivalent of 590 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide – according
by C.G. Carlson, D.E. Clay, C. Wright, K.D. Reitsma (South Dakota State University) This publication uses a case-study approach to investigate the impacts of linking corn production, ethanol, and backgrounding calves on economics and soil sustainability. The purpose of the paper is
(e! Science News) ...Scientists at the University of Minnesota led by Gregg Johnson investigated differences in woody and herbaceous crop productivity and biomass yield as a function of landscape position at the field scale. Results from this study were published
(Alpha Galileo) Producing alternative fuels to petrol, such as biodiesel, is not exempt of generating waste. This is the case of glycerine, which is generated in huge amounts when obtaining biodiesel from vegetable fats. Researchers from the Universitat Jaume I
(HECO) The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved Hawaiian Electric Company’s plan to test biofuel blends in a 90-megawatt steam turbine generating unit at Kahe Power Plant that presently runs on low sulfur fuel oil (LSFO). “This test is part of
(Science Digest) A new article in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) describes how nanoparticles formed by very small numbers of silver atoms can protect against the cell damage caused by ethanol. The study was led by researchers from
(REPREVE Renewables) SunBelt Biofuels, LLC, a leader in bioenergy crops, and Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), makers of the REPREVE® family of recycled fibers, have announced the formation of a joint venture between certain of their affiliates intended to develop and commercialize
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) ... I’ve heard a lot of people say that developing algal biofuels is just an engineering issue, that is, all we have to do is engineer more efficient growth ponds and cost effective harvesting and
(Times of India) In a major eco-friendly step towards renewable energy generation in India, seaweed sourced ethanol (ethyl alcohol), a biofuel additive in transport fuel, has been used to run a car for the first time. Central Salt and Marine
by Margaret Broeren (University of Wisconsin) A research team at the DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) has developed a powerful new tool that promises to unlock the secrets of biomass degradation, a critical step in the development of
by Jack Oswald (SynGest, Biofuels Digest) ...The SynGest Cornucopia model takes an entire ear of corn and simultaneously produces The Three F’s: food, fertilizer and fuel. This is why we have adopted the slogan: “You can have your fuel and
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association) ...The technology exists to process ethanol from cellulose feedstocks; however, the commercialization of cellulose ethanol remains a question of economics. The capital investment necessary to build cellulose facilities remain about five times that of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Bottom line – if you make the ethanol blender credit go away, but stand behind the mandate and Shift the spending towards investment tax credits and loan guarantees, it is possible to do the following: 1.
(Science Daily) Using genetic sleight of hand, researcher Xinyao Liu and professor Roy Curtiss at Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute have coaxed photosynthetic microbes to secrete oil -- bypassing energy and cost barriers that have hampered green biofuel production. ..."The real
(Novozymes) Partners to develop a commercially viable process for making ethanol from forestry waste. Aiming for a cost down to $2 per gallon, a price competitive with gasoline and corn ethanol. Novozymes, the world’s leading producer of industrial enzymes, and Lignol Energy
(MarketWire) Agreement to Focus on the International Commercialization and Implementation of Waste to Energy Technology Novo Energies Corporation, an alternative energy company, announced June 4, 2010, that it has entered into a Technology Co-Operation Agreement ("Agreement") with Novo Energies International, Ltd. ("NEI"). NEI, an independently-owned
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Digest readers who closely analyze the Advanced Biofuels Tracking Database will have noticed that, commencing in 2012, biobutanol is scheduled to grow rapidly from pilot stage today to more than 500 million gallons in production by
(ICM) , Inc. is pleased to announce that it has signed a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to receive $25 million to fund the construction and operation of its cellulosic ethanol pilot and demonstration facility in St.
(Sustainable Oils) North America's Largest Camelina Research Program Expands to Deliver Improved Varieties to Growers Even More Quickly. A new, larger camelina research facility in Bozeman will allow Sustainable Oils to deliver improved camelina varieties to growers even more quickly. Sustainable Oils'
(Tampa Bay Online) Low carbon ethanol and renewable power produced from Florida grown sugar - biomass crops can help displace off-shore drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico and contribute to energy independence, according to a press release distributed Friday. Highlands
(Genencor) Genencor June 14, 2010 launched SPEZYME® Robust Starch Liquefaction (RSL) at the 2010 Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo (FEW) in St. Louis, Mo. The latest in the company’s liquefaction product line, the enzyme more efficiently liquefies dry ground corn or milo, significantly
(Herald-Review.com) Archer Daniels Midland Co. has been selected to receive funding for a second carbon sequestration project that is in addition to one that could begin injecting carbon dioxide deep below ground next year. The U.S. Department of Energy announced Thursday that
(Novozymes) New enzyme from Novozymes increases yields in ethanol production. A typical ethanol plant can gain at least $1 million per year. June 10, 2010, Novozymes, the world leader in the production of biofuel enzymes, announced the launch of a new enzyme
by Jonathan Fahey (Forbes) ...Waste Management Chief Executive David Steiner thinks that the 110 million tons of waste his company handles every year can do more than fill landfills and generate electricity. He's placing a series of bets on far-off
(Innovations Report) South Dakota State University research shows a traditional Asian flatbread called chapathi, or chapati, gets a big boost in protein and fiber when fortified with food-grade distillers grains. SDSU food scientist Padu Krishnan said it is one example of the
(Chemrec) On the northern coast of the Netherlands a few driven entrepreneurs transformed a closed down methanol factory into the world’s largest second generation biofuels production unit in less than three years. By changing the feedstock into crude glycerine and applying
(Science Daily) ...(S)cientists from Pennsylvania State University have identified new genes in maize which promote carbohydrate export from leaves. These genes are called psychedelic because of the yellow and green streaks they cause in the plant's leaves. Manipulating these genes
by Reid Wright (Currrent-Argus, CEHMM) It takes hundreds of thousands of years for fossil organisms beneath the earth's crust to simmer into crude petroleum. It takes a single day to make 1,000 gallons of crude algae biofuel at a small
(Biodiesel Magazine) The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission approved a contract for Sime Darby, Malaysia's leading multinational conglomerate, to provide approximately 1 million gallons of palm oil-derived biodiesel for use in Maui Electric Company’s Biodiesel Demonstration Project at its Ma'alaea Power
by Michael Whitaker and Garvin Heath (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) This life cycle assessment of Jatropha biodiesel production and use evaluates the net greenhouse gas (GHG) emission (not considering land-use change), net energy value (NEV), and net petroleum consumption impacts of substituting Jatropha
by Rob Low (Fox4KC.com) When most of us flush a toilet, it's a matter of out-of-sight, out-of-mind. But a Prairie Village company says that it's the first in the nation to patent a process that will turn that waste water
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) (S)ubscriber voting begins for the 30 Most Transformative Technologies of 2010. In all, 149 companies were nominated in 19 categories. Categories are: (Micro) Algae, cyanobacteria, lemna, and plankton platforms (20) (Macro) Algae technologies (5) Biobutanol technologies (4) Biodiesel systems (2) Cellulosic ethanol
by Tristram O. West, Craig C. Brandt, Latha M. Baskaran, Chad M. Hellwinckel, Richard Mueller, Carl J. Bernacchi, Varaprasad Bandaru, Bai Yang, Bradly S. Wilson, Gregg Marland, Richard G. Nelson, Daniel G. De La Torre Ugarte, and Wilfred M. Post
by Michael Kanellos (GreenTech) It’s a sulfur scrubber, mineral maker and carbon capture machine all in one. Skyonic, which has developed a system for converting smokestack fumes into sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and other minerals, is moving toward commercialization and says that
(Biofuels International) The Brazilian Innovation Agency, FINEP (Research and Projects Financing), and Brazil’s National Development Bank (BNDES) have entered into a new partnership to promote bioethanol development, establishing a programme which will provide up to $540 million (€438.9 million) in
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) Seven years ago two former college roommates set up shop in a Palo Alto garage, with the mission of becoming the first company to develop commercial algae-based fuel. They built their business plan with the
by Mark Bünger (RenewableEnergyWorld.com) ...To date, most biofuels and biomaterials developers have focused on lab- and demo-scale studies to improve performance and reduce cost so they can compete with petroleum products, and those goals are coming within sight. But in order
by Timothy D Searchinger (Environmental Research Letters) Use of biofuels does not reduce emissions from energy combustion but may offset emissions by increasing plant growth or by reducing plant residue or other non-energy emissions. To do so, biofuel production must generate and
by Nicole Beasdale (National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy, Biofuels Digest) ...Referred to as the NCRIS Biofuels Project, the $15 million investment has provided the platform required for Australia to become an active contributor in the global push to develop renewable
by Treena Hein (Australian Farm Journal/June 2010) Despite all the debate about negative climate change impacts on agriculture and rising world population increasing demand for food, the stark reality is that world grain stocks are finely balanced. Treena Hein discovers
(AusBiotech) AusBiotech has been appointed to manage a new Federal Government project to boost research into second generation biofuels, with a $3 million investment as part of the Super Science Education Investment Fund (EIF). The “Sustainable Energy – Second Generation Biofuels Research
by Emily Wilkins (TheStateNews.com) ...The process to produce the alternative fuel — called isobutanol — involves using molecular biology on a bacterium called Ralstonia eutropha, allowing it to use hydrogen to produce liquid fuels, said R. Marc Worden, an MSU
by Zach Gale (Motor Trend) Mississippi State's Saturn Vue-based biodiesel hybrid is the winning vehicle for year two of General Motors' EcoCAR challenge. The EcoCAR challenge started when GM donated an SUV to 16 universities and instructed engineering students to minimize emissions
(Journal of Commerce) A $1.7-million field study on the potential use of biodiesel for off-road machinery in highway construction and forest operations is being conducted by FPInnovations, in partnership with Natural Resources, Canada’s National Renewable Diesel Demonstration Initiative. ...The study involves
(Des Moines Register) ...Ethanol producers have long used antibiotics to control bacteria that can contaminate the fermentation process. But now, the Food and Drug Administration is developing a policy to regulate the use of the drugs and is conducting tests
by Mary Nichols (California Air Resources Board, Sustainable Industries) When California Gov. Schwarzenegger cut the ribbon at the opening of the world’s first bio-butanol plant earlier this year, he credited California’s climate action law Assembly Bill 32. ... In the case of
(LPP Combustion, LLC) LPP Combustion, LLC, a Columbia, MD based innovator in liquid fuel technology, has successfully demonstrated the clean generation of green, dispatchable, renewable power on a 30kW Capstone C30 gas turbine. LPP Combustion has developed a Lean, Pre-mixed,
by Joelle Dent (Biofuels Digest) ...Two years ago, the Korean Institute for Industrial Technology developed a process of extracting ethanol from seaweed, which proves to be more cost-efficient and advantageous than other sources of biofuel, writes Philippine Senator Edgardo Angara. Seaweed grows
(US Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced up to $11 million in funding over three years for research and development in the area of thermochemical conversion of biomass into advanced biofuels that are compatible with existing
(University of Illinois, Chicago) A new University of Illinois at Chicago study of facilities that produce most of the nation's ethanol found that the energy needed to make a gallon of the corn-based fuel decreased on average by about 30
(Energy Biosciences Institute) The Energy Biosciences Institute, a unique public-private research partnership dedicated to exploring the applications of modern biology to the energy sector, is inviting pre-proposals for possible project funding in five different areas of investigation. The deadline for pre-proposal
(Oxford Catalysts Group) Oxford Catalysts Group PLC, the leading technology innovator for clean synthetic fuels, is pleased to announce that following successful mechanical completion and pre-commissioning, start-up of its Fischer-Tropsch (“FT”) demonstration is currently underway. The demonstration facility is located in
by Cary Blake (Western Farm Press) Ongoing biofuel field trials are yielding positive findings which one day could give California and Arizona farmers a new option to diversify their crop portfolios while producing renewable energy. Switchgrass, miscanthus, jatropha, sugar crops, and alfalfa
(Chempolis) Chempolis has signed a licence and EPC agreement with Tianjin Jiuqian Paper Co Ltd. to supply three formico® biorefineries, each capable of producing 100,000 t/a of bleached wheat straw pulp. The new plants are scheduled to start up in 2012-2013. Chempolis’
(AvoidedDeforestationPartners.org) Study Shows Rainforest Protections Would Net $200 Billion for US Soy, Beef, Timber and Oilseed Producers. Leading U.S. farm and forest products groups May 26, 2010, called on Congress and the administration to help end tropical deforestation. The groups cited a new report
(PRNewsWire) Renewable fuels provider New Generation Biofuels Holdings, Inc., May 27, 2010, announced they have filed a patent application on their new glycerin-based biofuel. "We are excited to add this technology to our intellectual property portfolio," said Cary J. Claiborne, CEO and
(Boeing) Boeing and PetroChina, together with representatives of the Chinese energy sector and the global aviation industry, May 27, 2010, announced the signing of an agreement to evaluate establishing a sustainable aviation biofuels industry in China. The strategic assessment is the first such
by Max Showalter (JCOnline.com) A startup company at the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette has developed an innovative yeast-based cellulosic ethanol technology and will get a big boost Wednesday and Thursday in Beijing. Representatives of Green Tech America Inc., founded by
(NALCO) The Nalco Yeast Activity Monitor is innovative technology that gives producers unique insight into their fermentation processes that has never before been possible. Dr. Michael Bradley, Naperville R&D, was instrumental in developing the Nalco Yeast Activity Monitor equipment and
by Katie Fehrenbacher (Earth2Tech) ...The company, which was founded in 2007, has largely been in stealth. At the Khosla Ventures limited partner event on Monday, however (where the venture firm announced that it had signed on former UK Prime Minister
(CSIRO) CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) together with Australasia’s major aviation players is leading a study to help plan a sustainable future for aviation fuels and reduce the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. The Sustainable Aviation Fuels Road Map will
(ELMIA.se) Sugar beets from Europe can help solve the conflict between food and bioenergy in the developing world. “Sugar beets have greater energy content than sugar cane but require rotation with other crops,” explained Jan Öhrvall at the World Bioenergy conference
(General Motors) Student-Designed and Built Vehicles Put to the Test; Virginia Tech, Penn State Finish Second and Third. Students from Mississippi State University placed first in the 2010 EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge finals in San Diego today after designing and building
by Bob Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) Our friends at DeltaWing Racing brought their DeltaWing Prototype to the Indiana Society of Washington DC for their annual Indy 500 reception last week. “Senior Green Motor Sports Correspondent” and former Capitol Hill denizen Bob
by Pat Ferrier (Coloradoan.com) The Anheuser-Busch brewery in Fort Collins has rejected a $1.1 million experimental energy grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to replace lead-acid batteries on its fleet of forklifts with cleaner fuel cell packs. The grant, announced
(Oak Ridge National Lab) Scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory are improving strains of microorganisms used to convert cellulosic biomass into ethanol, including a recent modification that could improve the efficiency of the conversion process. Biofuels researchers and
(New Energy and Fuel) University of Oxford researchers are developing a method for the homogeneous conversion of CO2 to methanol, with methanol as the only resulting C1 product. With momentum building in the methanol powered fuel cell market there is good
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...A lot of people refer to methanol as wood alcohol – referring to the ancient process of extracting methanol from wood, using pyrolysis. In recent years, it has been primarily extracted from methane — the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Wilson indicated in an exclusive Digest interview that the company intends to qualify its biodiesel under the current specifications for Jet A, based on proprietary technology that has reduced the cloud point of biodiesel, making
by Ryan McBride (Xconomy.com) Lebanon, NH-based Mascoma has made strides with its process for producing ethanol from non-food plants such as wood chips and grass. Yet the firm is likely to delay the start of production at its first planned commercial
(Environmental Protection) Existing technology can produce biodiesel fuel from municipal sewage sludge that is within a few cents a gallon of being competitive with conventional diesel refined from petroleum, according to the article, “Biodiesel Production from Municipal Sewage Sludges,” which was
(Ceres) Companies take step towards commercialization of low-carbon biofuels from switchgrass and other energy crops. Energy crop company Ceres, Inc. and Novozymes, the world’s largest enzyme provider, have entered a research collaboration to co-develop customized plant varieties and enzyme cocktails for
(Bloomberg Business Week, AP) ...Federal statistics show barley acres jumped from 67,000 in 2009 to 105,000 this year. David Coleman with the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation says Osage Bio Energy's plant in Hopewell has created a market for barley. In the
by Christine Hall (Houston Business Journal) Escherichia coli, E. coli for short, is best known as the bacterium that can cause foodborne illnesses, but to researcher Ramon Gonzalez, E. coli can also be an alternative energy source. Gonzalez, the William W. Akers
by Samantha Sunne (The Maneater) Researchers at the biofuel lab have found a way to skip the drying step. MU researchers have found a way to convert the coffee grounds commonly found in beverages into biodiesel fuel. Most biodiesel fuel in the
(24-7 Press Release) Green solutions are the holy grail of industrial innovation today. Every company is anxiously looking for answers to the renewable challenges our world is facing. However, most of these solutions are not stimulating enough. They often build
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