by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference in Washington, Chromatin CEO Daphne Preuss announced that the company is expanding its technology development portfolio to produce fit-for-purpose sorghum as a biofuels feedstock, and also announced that it
by Jim Lane (BiofuelsDigest) ...Also, what exactly is up with biobutanol, perhaps the most important fuel you never heard of — one that is gaining serious traction among bioenergy cognoscenti as a more perfect solution to the ethanol blend wall
by Jason Paur (Wired) ...A small company in Indiana is leading the way for creating an alternative fuel for piston-powered airplanes around the world. Swift Enterprises has created a biomass-derived, synthetic fuel that has already been successfully tested in several
by Martha Ellen (Watertown Daily Times) Newton Falls Fine Paper could be the first commercial plant to use a breakthrough technology that turns waste into ethanol. "It's a possibility. It's well down the road," said Donald H. Schnackel, vice president of
(University of York) A major new suite of laboratories, to be opened this week, will help scientists in the Green Chemistry group at the University of York to advance research into clean synthesis, catalysis, novel materials and the application of
(University of Minnesota) The Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment (IREE) recently awarded over $5.1 million to 24 renewable energy research and demonstration projects at the University of Minnesota. The selected projects focus on a wide-range of topics including solar
(Colorado State University) Dissolving plant biomass in “green” solvent ionic liquids - salts that melt at low temperatures - converts more sugars needed for biofuel more quickly than traditional methods, according to a new study by Colorado State University professors. The
by Kevin Bullis (Technology Review, MIT) When Noubar Afeyan, the CEO of Flagship Ventures in Cambridge, MA, set out to invent the ideal renewable fuel, he decided to eliminate the middleman. Biofuels ultimately come from carbon dioxide and water, so
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) Since forming the National Algae Association over two years ago, Barry has concentrated on creating and establishing strong working relationships with what he calls “algaepreneurs” throughout the U.S. Starting the NAA was a direct result
(University of Massachusetts Amherst) A new method of converting biomass feedstock into sustainable fuel developed by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and University of Minnesota has the potential to have a profound effect on the chemical industry. The
by Bob Brook (Automotive Industries) New information and comment by combustion experts at the recent SAE Congress meeting here provide substantial reasons to believe critical fuel combustion could be the first fundamental combustion advance for IC engines in a very
(ZeaChem) Company Produces Commercial Grade Ethyl Acetate ZeaChem Inc., a developer of biorefineries for the conversion of renewable biomass into sustainable fuels and chemicals, today announced it has produced commercial grade ethyl acetate, thereby proving its core technology platform. Ethyl acetate is
(POET) Technology ready, CEO says, but loan guarantee, policy stability and market access still needed to achieve vision. POET plans to have a hand in producing 3.5 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year by 2022, POET CEO Jeff Broin said
(Great Lakes Innovation and Technology Report) Heating and squishing microalgae in a pressure-cooker can fast-forward the crude-oil-making process from millennia to minutes. University of Michigan professors are working to understand and improve this procedure in an effort to speed up development
(Honduras News) Agroipsa Farm in Choluteca has deployed the “BEI Jatropha Wave Harvester”, a mechanical harvesting system for jatropha which has successfully completed an eight-month trial. The system was used for a mechanical harvest of a 550 hectare plantation of three-year
(Pew Charitable Trusts) Pentagon, Service Agencies Working to Enhance Security, Save Money and Reduce Emissions The Department of Defense has initiated ambitious clean energy programs in service of economic, security and environmental goals according to "Reenergizing America's Defense," a report released today
(UOP) Fuel produced using process technology from Honeywell's UOP under contract from U.S. Defense Energy Support Center. UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, announced April 22, 2010, that Honeywell Green Jet Fuel(TM) produced using Honeywell UOP's renewable jet fuel process technology powered a U.S.
by Michael Kanellos (GreenTechMedia) Isoprene’s a large-volume, high-energy fossil chemical. Genencor says it can get microbes to make it. ...Genencor, the industrial enzyme specialist, has engineered a microorganism that can produce a version of isoprene that is chemically identical to the
(Michigan State University) Using productive farmland to grow crops for food instead of fuel is more energy efficient, Michigan State University scientists concluded, after poring over 17 years’ worth of data to help settle the food versus fuel debate. "It's 36
(Environmental Protection) Gernot Pehnelt, Ph.D., director of GlobEcon, released a study that says the Renewable Energy Directive discriminates against foreign biofuels. “European Policies Towards Palm Oil: Sorting Out Some Facts,” demonstrates that the default assumptions embedded in the directive about the
(CBC News) An Ontario biofuels company is building a test plant in Sarnia to produce ethanol from wood and farm waste rather than corn. Don Hewson, managing director of the Sarnia-Lambton research park where the facility will be located, said the
by Shigeru Sato and Yuji Okada (Bloomberg Business Week) As Japan’s rice fields turn fallow and its farming communities decline, a new army of workers is preparing to make the countryside fertile again. This time the crop is motor fuel and
(SG Biofuels) SG Biofuels announced it has established a strategic partnership with Brookhaven National Laboratory to accelerate the analysis and testing of oil produced by its Latin American Jatropha plantations. The company was selected by Brookhaven National Laboratory to provide
(XPrize Foundation, Marketwire) ...X PRIZE is an educational nonprofit organization whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs, inspiring the formation of new industries, jobs and the revitalization of markets that are currently stalled. Through strategic design of ground-breaking competitions with
by Jeffrey Barbee (Global Post) ...Sun Biofuels, a British company, has been planting thousands of acres of jatropha at a former tobacco farm here and in other sites in Africa. The company hopes the jatropha oil will help it cash
by Sarah Tompkins (The Times, Munster, Ind.) ... The process that will be used in Lake County's plant to produce ethanol from trash was developed in Fayetteville more than 17 years ago. It has been tested in a pilot plant there
by Brett Walton (Circle of Blue) ...That tilt may soon be righted by researchers at the University of Virginia and the Seawater Foundation, who discovered that the most important source of the risk-benefit imbalance was the heavy reliance on fresh
by Martin LaMonica (cnet News) The U.S. auto industry needs to "go green" in more than one way, says Bill Ford. Ford is committed to making its vehicles more fuel efficient by investing in a number of technologies, including electrification,
by Matt Ford (Ars Technica) ...When it comes to the processing of organic feedstocks for use in biofuel operations, getting plant matter down to size often represents a significant cost, as grinding and milling do not come cheap. New work by
(Progressive Railroading) Under “one of the most extensive testing programs to date on the use of biodiesel fuel for locomotives,” eight SD70M-2 units and two MP15 switchers manufactured by EMD and owned/operated by NS will be used during the testing
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) LS9 Inc. announced that its trademarked UltraClean Diesel fuel has been officially registered with the U.S. EPA, now making it eligible for commercial sale in the U.S. ...The company's technology is a one-step conversion process that
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...IntAct Labs LLC has been awarded a $46,770 U.S. EPA grant to further research ethanol stillage treatment using a microbial fuel cell process, according to Justin Buck, chief technology officer for the company. The microbial
(The AutoChannel) Mazda Australia will use ethanol blend fuel to power its turbo rotary Mazda RX-8 SP at the upcoming Targa Tasmania rally. With event regulations now encouraging competitors to go green and consider alternate fuels, Mazda Motorsport has opted to
by Stephanie Yao (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have long-term studies underway to examine growing camelina as a bioenergy crop for producing jet fuel for the military and the aviation industry. This research supports the recently signed memorandum of
by Green Liver (Imperial Valley News) A Purdue University researcher will lead a portion of a federally funded effort based at Iowa State University aimed at creating genetically engineered algae for environmentally friendly biodiesel production. Currently, hydrocarbon fuels such as diesel
(e-releases) High-power sparkplug promises to improve combustion efficiency in ethanol-fueled vehicles with fuel provided by E-Fuel equipment. Ignition products company ENERPULSE, Inc. announced that their proprietary Pulstar(R) pulse plugs have been adopted by E-Fuel of Los Gatos, California. The Pulstar plugs
by Vance Owens (South Dakota State University). He stated that the overall objective was to” perform replicated field trials of diverse biomass feedstocks at different locations,” and in this way to determine the most promising feedstock as a future bioenergy
By Leila Harfuch (Brazilian Institute for International Trade Negotiations). In her talk she underlined the modeling land use and land use change in Brazil, stressing out deforestation as a serious issue. Deforestation causes and affects cattle and pasture land expansion. The
Budhedra Bhaduri (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) This session started with a talk given by moderator Budhedra Bhaduri who emphasized the role of geospatial science and technology in sustainable bioenergy. She presented the Geographic Information System (GIS) that includes computer software and
by Joshua Kagan (GreenTechMedia) The petro-chemical company uses its core competency to expand into biofuels. Unlikely as it may seem, UOP is leading the charge in developing catalysts required to transform feedstocks into "drop in" fuels like renewable diesel, jet fuel,
In their continuing effort to evaluate crops that can serve as biofuel feedstocks as well as cover crops (and that can fit into crop rotations in Pennsylvania and the Northeast) researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences have found
by Loretta Sorensen (Farm & Ranch Guide) ...“There are numerous benefits to extracting oil from algae,” said Todd Hylden, vice president of marketing and investor relations for Energae LP. “I'm a farm boy from North Dakota and have no axe to
(Green Car Congress) Researchers in Spain have demonstrated the direct transformation of biomass consisting of the fungus M. circinelloides into biodiesel compliant with ASTM D6751 and EN14213 and 14214 standards. A paper on their work was published online 2 April
(GreenAirOnline) The UK’s East Midlands Airport is to establish a 26-hectare willow farm on its land to produce biofuel to power a biomass boiler, which will be situated in the terminal building. The farm is to be located north of
by Ann Perry (USDA ARS) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists are figuring out how to turn wheat straw into ethanol “gold,” and learning more about the bacteria that can “infect” ethanol plants and interfere with fuel production. ...But the same environments
(Biomass Magazine) Using a high shear bioreactor (extrusion) pretreatment process can help prepare corn stover as a feedstock for making cellulosic ethanol, a South Dakota State University study finds. The SDSU study explored different temperatures, screw speeds, and enzymes to learn
Evogene Ltd., on April 8, 2010, announced the results of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of biodiesel produced from castor bean varieties being developed by the Company. The assessment shows that such biodiesel reduces Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions by 90% compared to
by James Cartledge (BrighterEnergy.org) The Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company (HC&S) has said it is aiming to become a large-scale “energy farm” to provide biofuels for the US Navy and Hawaii itself. The company based in Pu’unene, Hawaii, is set to
Energy Allied International, a Houston-based energy projects development company, and The Seawater Foundation and Global Seawater, Inc., pioneers in the development of Integrated Seawater Agriculture Systems (ISAS), have executed an MOU to jointly develop the world’s first commercial scale seawater-based
(GreenAirOnline) The US Air Force has carried out the first-ever feasibility flight powered solely by a blended hydrotreated renewable jet fuel. The twin-engined A-10C Thunderbolt used a 50/50 blend of conventional military JP-8 jet fuel and a biofuel derived from
Ontario is investing $4 million through the Innovation Demonstration Fund (IDF) to help Woodland Biofuels Inc. and its partners build a groundbreaking demonstration plant that will efficiently produce cellulosic ethanol from renewable wastes. The plant will use Woodland’s patented technology, which
The first ARIES biodiesel production system has been delivered to Naval Base Ventura County. ARIES is the result of a collaborative effort by the U.S. Navy, Biodiesel Industries and Aerojet to produce a sustainable and reliable renewable fuel, biodiesel, using
by Cary Blake (Western Farm Press) The long-term growth of the U.S. sorghum industry lies in part with scientists unraveling paths to economically produce cellulosic ethanol. “We are very excited about the future of energy (forage-whole plant) sorghum as the cellulosic
(TheAutoChannel) The National Biodiesel Board's The Biodiesel Bulletin reported that General Motors is the latest OEM to show support for a 20 percent blend of biodiesel (B20) in its diesel vehicles. Company officials announced to biodiesel supporters at the National
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Norway, Seaweed Energy Solutions has patented the first ever modern structure to enable mass seaweed cultivation on an industrial scale in the world¹s oceans. The structure, known as the Seaweed Carrier, makes a clean
Verdezyne, Inc., an industrial biotechnology company, and Lallemand Ethanol Technology, a global provider of yeast to the fuel ethanol industry, April 7, 2010, announced they have signed an agreement to develop and commercialize a genetically enhanced high-yield ethanol producing yeast. Verdezyne
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The source of (Jack) Oswald’s excitement? An analysis from ex-USDA Peoria Lab director Peter Johnson, now CTO at BMI Biodiesel. Oswald relates: “Claim is that in any given year switching from corn to soybeans, those acres
Cobalt Technologies, the leader in commercializing biobutanol as a renewable chemical and fuel, April 7, 2010, announced a breakthrough in producing biobutanol from beetle-killed lodgepole pine feedstock. Cobalt is the first company to produce a drop-in replacement for petroleum and petrochemicals from
by Alyssa Danigelis (Discovery News) ...Humberto Blanco-Canqui, assistant professor at Kansas State University's Agricultural Research Center-Hays, published an article in a recent issue of Agronomy Journal (abstract) arguing convincingly that we shouldn't use crop residue to make cellulosic ethanol. Blanco-Canqui
by Jane Meinhardt (Tampa Bay Business Journal) A startup formed when University of South Florida researchers created a patent-pending catalytic process that transformed sawdust into jet fuel is taking off. COSI Catalysts Inc. received honorable mention last week in the “Advanced
by Jonathan Fahey (Forbes) Plants wouldn't have been able to thrive for hundreds of millions of years if they weren't tough. Which is why humans are having such difficulty breaking down plants in the quest to turn plant matter into
by Vikas Bhargava/Ahmedabad (Outlook India) In a breakthrough, Bhavnagar-based Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI) has discovered microbe from Indian waters to manufacture bio-degradable plastic using a by product of Jatropha plant. "We have sucessfully made bio-degradable plastic from
by Simone Pfuderer, Grant Davies, Ian Mitchell (Food and Farming Analysis, Defra) This paper is part of a larger body of work that aims to shed more light on what led to the high agricultural commodity prices in 2008. The
HCL CleanTech, a US-Israeli biofuels technology development company, has selected Southern Research Institute in North Carolina as the hosting site and operator of its first pilot plant to produce low cost fermentable sugars, high-quality lignin and tall oils from North
HCL CleanTech, a U.S.-Israeli biofuels technology development company, has chosen North Carolina as the site for its administrative headquarters and first pilot plant. The Biofuels Center of North Carolina has assisted the company and will provide office space in Oxford in
NextCAT Inc., a Detroit-based company, announced March 31, 2010, that it signed an option agreement for a biodiesel technology developed at the National Biofuels Energy Lab at Wayne State University. The technology that NextCAT brings to market allows biodiesel producers to use
by Joshua Kagan (GreenTechMedia) Algae biofuels are often considered one of those technologies --- like hydrogen fuel cells --- that are always "ten years away." Well, one company says it might have just cracked the code and could be supplying
by Joshua Kagan (GreenTechMedia) This week's announcement that the Air Force successfully tested a A-10C Thunderbolt "Warthog" plane on a 50:50 blend of petroleum jet fuel and camelina-based biofuel has brought the two disparate ways of producing aviation biofuels into
by Megan Peterson (WEAU.com) A group of Durand High School (Wisconsin) students made the trip to Texas this past weekend to compete in a national competition to see who can build the most fuel efficient vehicle. The team ended up bringing
Purdue University scientists have defined a hidden second option plants have for making an essential amino acid that could be the first step in boosting plants' nutritional value and improving biofuel production potential. The amino acid phenylalanine is required to build
Agencies Move to Increase Energy Security and Fuel Efficiency. President Obama announced March 31, 2010, that the Federal Government will lead by example in replacing older cars in the federal fleet with fuel efficient hybrids and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, reducing our
Companies would evaluate non-food Indian feedstocks for the production of green diesel and green jet fuels as well as the development of renewable power applications from biomass waste. UOP, a Honeywell company, announced March 31, 2010, that it signed a memorandum
National Algae Association is pleased to announce that construction has been completed on a commercial-scale photobioreactor (PBR) demo located at Lone Star College in The Woodlands, Texas. “Thanks to donations of materials, time and effort by Ed Baker, Harvel Plastics,
A new study by the Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies at Rochester Institute of Technology indicates that the use of E20 fuel, which blends 20 percent ethanol with gasoline, reduces the tail pipe emissions of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide, compared
(Popular Science) ...But a collaboration of Korean and Californian researchers wanted to take raw electricity directly from algae themselves by harvesting electrons. Using the common Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a test subject, the researchers applied what's known as an overvoltage -- a
(Physorg.com) 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. Their results appear in
by Samuel King, Jr. (Air Force Material Command) Air Force officials, embracing the national priorities of cleaner fuel and energy independence, took a step toward a greener, energy independent future when an A-10C Thunderbolt II here took to the air
(YahooNews, ANI) A revolutionary new technology that produces a key tire ingredient from renewable feedstocks rather than petroleum-derived feedstocks will enable motorists to drive on the world's first "green" tires within the next five years. The technology, described at the 239th
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) An Iowa inventor and entrepreneur is promoting a harvester he developed that can produce ethanol from sweet sorghum right in the field. Lee McClune of Knoxville, Iowa invented the SORGANOL® Process (PatPend) and Sor-Cane Harvester after studying
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $2.38 million to 34 small businesses to develop innovative, sustainable technologies to protect human health and the environment. These efforts will help improve air quality, protect our water, work to decrease the
General Motors Co. announced on March 30, 2010, a five-year partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to help develop the potential of the jatropha plant as a sustainable biofuel energy crop. Traditionally considered a weed, jatropha plants produce
by Mackinnon Lawrence (Biofuels Digest) ...Genomics research can be applied to energy crops to select for sequencing based on relevance to the DOE missions. Projects focus on one of three key aspects: the development of biofuel feedstocks; the identification of
The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) March 21, 2010, released its 2010 production forecast for ethanol and the future continues to look positive for growth in the industry. Total fuel ethanol production for 2009 was 73.9 billion litres according to data assembled by
by Michael Felberbaum (AP) ...Tobacco is an attractive "energy plant" because it can generate a large amount of oil and sugar more efficiently than other crops, said Vyacheslav Andrianov, a researcher at the Biotechnology Foundation Laboratories at Thomas Jefferson University in
by Thom Gabrukiewicz (Argus Leader) A native perennial might hold the promise of being not only a new source crop for cellulosic ethanol, but also a way to help capture and store carbon. South Dakota State University plant breeders are helping investigate
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...orchestrating a sweeping revamp of energy strategy at the Department of Defense — where a new generation of leaders cite benefits such as these when they tout the features of biofuels: 1. Saving lives – as
by Joshua Kagan (GreenTechMedia.com) ...The company (LS9) already produces a diesel that meets the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards for road use in the U.S. The technology is pretty straightforward. LS9 uses any sugar source (though initially it will
(GreenAirOnline.com) Aircraft and engine manufacturers have reported that after successful air and ground fit-for-purpose testing, jet biofuels blended 50/50 with conventional jet kerosene are likely to be certified for commercial airline use before the end of 2010, or early next
World deforestation, mainly the conversion of tropical forests to agricultural land, has decreased over the past ten years but continues at an alarmingly high rate in many countries, FAO announced today. Globally, around 13 million hectares of forests were converted to
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) today announced a series of Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) with 3M, the St. Paul, Minn.-based technology company. The collaborative effort demonstrates both 3M’s and NREL’s commitments to
by John Nolan (Dayton Daily News) The Air Force flew an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, operating solely on a biomass-derived jet fuel blend Thursday, March 25, in a major step toward the service’s goal of diversifying its sources for aviation fuel. Officials
Accelergy Corporation, a global leader in high-grade domestically sourced liquid fuels, today announced that it has begun production of their highly efficient fuel from coal and biomass, to be evaluated by the United States Air Force (USAF) as the industry
Alternative Petroleum Technologies (APT) announced March 21, 2010, that it has completed contractual arrangements and will begin a diesel emissions control technology demonstration at the Port of Los Angeles. The demonstration will take place as part of the Technology Advancement Program, a
by Kevin Abourzk (Lincoln Journal Star) But algae? A team of University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers is working to extract oil from that sticky green stuff that gums up boat motors and fishing lines. Then they'll study the feasibility of using it
(Racer.com) NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton says that the sanctioning body is on target for introducing fuel injection systems to Sprint Cup racing for 2011. He added that NASCAR is also close to finalizing its plans for the
For decades, farmers have been trying to find ways to get more energy out of the sun. In natural photosynthesis, plants take in solar energy and carbon dioxide and then convert it to oxygen and sugars. The oxygen is released to
(NACS Online) Is biofuel development going to the birds? Scientists at the University of Nevada, Reno, have found a way to convert chicken feather meal into biodiesel fuel, Alternative Energy reports. The team, lead by professor Manoranjan “Mano” Misra, found that
(FIS) The Ceara Nucleus Foundation of Industrial Technology (NUTEC) is moving forward with a project that will transform it into a pioneer in the research of biodiesel production from tilapia entrails. For Fernando Pedro Dias, a researcher at NUTEC, the
Qteros, Inc., and the University of Massachusetts Amherst announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 7,682,811 titled “Systems and Methods for Producing Biofuels and Related Materials” describing the novel creation of products, including
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Today, about 1/3 of the sorghum crop goes into ethanol production. An interesting little piece of information I picked up when I spoke with Gerald Simonsen, the Chairman of the National Sorghum Producers during Commodity Classic.
Slowly but surely, science seems to be advancing toward a production of biofuel that does not take away agricultural land from the world’s food supply. When this kind of fuel is ready, so is A.P. Moller - Maersk. Five Maersk business
by Philip Brasher (DesMoinesRegister.com) The National Research Council is digging into the economic and environmental impact of biofuels, but the results of the congressionally mandated study won’t be known until next year. That means the results won’t be known until
by Jim Motavalli (BNET) ...The sticking point with cellulosic ethanol has been finding a dependable enzyme that can break down raw materials (everything from fast-growing grasses to sawdust) into the sugars that make ethanol (and possibly gasoline and diesel fuel,
By Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Given the immense challenges faced by the ethanol industry over the past 18 months, it isn’t surprising that some may be inclined to view biobutanol as competition. However, future biobutanol producers adamantly describe themselves
The livestock sector can lead the agricultural economy to higher net farm income, assuming the farm economy benefits from a recovering general U.S. economy. That analysis tops a 2010 baseline report prepared by the University of Missouri Food and Agricultural Policy
by Matthew L. Wald (New York Times) Jack Huttner, the executive vice president of Gevo, a five-year old company in Englewood, Colo., would like to take over an ethanol plant and, using the same base ingredients that go into corn-based
by Biomass Advisors Available for USD $695, the Camelina Market Opportunity and Renewable Energy Report includes: Graphs, charts and at-a-glance summaries for a quick understanding of key information Summaries and updates of over 50 North American Camelina trials and research and development
by Tyler Hamilton (TheStar.com) A mixture of hot gas rises out of a flue stack at the St. Marys Cement plant about 50 kilometres west of Waterloo. But not all the CO2-rich exhaust is vented to the open air. Some is redirected
Virent Energy Systems, Inc., (Virent®) and Shell today announced the successful start of production at the world’s first demonstration plant converting plant sugars into gasoline and gasoline blend components, rather than ethanol. The demonstration plant, located at Virent’s facilities in Madison,
A global initiative that includes key scientists from Oregon State University has successfully sequenced the genome of the wild grass Brachypodium distachyon, which will serve as a model to speed research on improved varieties of wheat, oats and barley, as
by Claude Mandil and Adnan Shihab-Eldin (International Energy Forum) Biofuels production, driven by the potential to contribute to energy security, climate change mitigation and rural development, has experienced rapid growth in recent years. Several countries have initiated policies to support
by B. C. Venuto and J. A. Daniel (Crop Science) Development of a biofuel industry based on biomass will require large quantities of cellulosic feedstock. Among the proposals for acquiring this feedstock, without impacting other land uses such as food
(clickgreen) The Carbon Trust has announced plans to take on the world in the global race to develop a sustainable, cost-effective biofuel from algae. The "dream team" of eleven leading UK institutions was unveiled who will work together with the Carbon
(Alpha Galileo) There are various kinds of CO2. Emissions of fossil CO2 that result from the burning of fossil fuel affect the environment. Biogenic CO2 resulting from the burning of wood or biofuels, however, is 'climate neutral'. Scientists at the
by Joseph B. Binder and Ronald T. Raines (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) Abundant plant biomass has the potential to become a sustainable source of fuels and chemicals. Realizing this potential requires the economical conversion of recalcitrant lignocellulose
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In the Joule technology, biomass is not used as an intermediate. Via a solar converter unit, the microorganism obtains carbon and oxygen by fixing atmospheric CO2 or utilizing direct fed waste CO2, and obtains hydrogen
by Aaron Pickering (KOLD) ...The experiment, National Lab Pathfinder-Cells 3, is aimed at learning whether microgravity can help jatropha curcas plant cells grow faster to produce biofuel, or renewable fuel derived from biological matter. Jatropha is known to produce high
by Serkan Toto (Crunch Gear) Major Japanese oil wholesaler Nippon Oil and Hitachi subsidiary Hitachi Plant Technologies are developing a technology that’s supposed to make it possible to mass-produce eco-friendly jet fuel from Euglena, single-celled organisms that live in ponds
(MFRTech) Two Kentucky companies have been awarded a combined $530,000 in funding from the Kentucky New Energy Ventures Fund. The state program provides public funds to promising, early-stage Kentucky companies developing and commercializing alternative fuels and renewable energy technologies. ...Southeast Biofuels,
by Tina Casey (CleanTechnica.com) Leave it to Harvard University to invent an entire laboratory the size of an iPod nano. The device, which actually is slightly smaller than an iPod nano, makes it possible to sort enzymes and compounds 1,000
by John Dagys (SpeedTV.com) Following a two-race trial last year, biobutanol has become an approved fuel choice for LMP teams in the American Le Mans Series, IMSA confirmed late Thursday. The cutting-edge alternative fuel, developed in conjunction with BP and
Virent Energy Systems, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded $2.4 million from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of a $33.8 million grant to the National Advanced Biofuels Consortium (NABC). The NABC aims to develop technologies to
by Nathan Crabbe (Gainsville Sun) The farms and forests of the state could be providing more fuel for its vehicles in the future if a new University of Florida plant is a success. UF officials held a groundbreaking Monday for the
by Bob Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) It is Memorial Day Weekend 2013, the annual Indianapolis 500 car race is attracting the largest crowd in years. The televison audience is also looking to be a record, and not everyone is tuning
by GTM Research in partnership with Enterprise Florida, Inc. In recent years, the growth in the U.S. biofuels production and consumption has been driven largely by policy measures. Mandates are requiring increasing amounts of biofuels to be blended into the
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel) Those attending the Renewable Fuels Association 15th annual National Ethanol Conference in Orlando last month had the opportunity to see the Kinder Morgan terminal in Orlando and hear about the first pipeline in the country to
UOP, a Honeywell (NYSE:HON) company, announced today that it has been awarded a $1.5 million cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Energy for a project to demonstrate technology to capture carbon dioxide and produce algae for use in biofuel
Genetically stacking traits in corn in order to increase production, resist insects, improve standablity and many other characteristics is so common in agriculture that producers have come to expect it. Some traits found in corn help it function as a better
byJesse Q. Bond, David Martin Alonso, Dong Wang, Ryan M. West, James A. Dumesic (Science) Efficient synthesis of renewable fuels remains a challenging and important line of research. We report a strategy by which aqueous solutions of gamma-valerolactone (GVL), produced
by Phillip Fiorini (Purdue Newsroom) Student-led companies that develop consumer products from the byproducts of ethanol production and a tissue-healing technology that also reduces scarring took top honors at Purdue University's 23rd annual $100,000 Burton D. Morgan Business Plan Competition. ...TerraSolutions
Gas money for your tank doesn't grow on trees, but one day you might be filling up with fuel that does. A team of researchers at the University of Maryland, College Park, and Bowie State University is working on ways to
by Mark Fischetti (Scientific American) ...But as more new and established companies examine how to scale up lab processes to commercial levels, scientists and engineers seem to be finding that standalone operations may not be economically viable. Co-locating algae farms
by Mikkel Pates (AgWeek) Need some help in deciding what to make into biofuels and what the government should be spending on it? If you’re a North Dakotan, you’ve hired Cole Gustafson to do some of this thinking for you.
(AllAfrica.com) ...The latest achievement which comes to us from Sfax, is the development of a new technique for extracting biodiesel from olive water (a black liquid formed primarily by water discharged from olives during oil extraction). Developed by Dr Kamel Halouani,
(New Tang Dynasty Television) The kamani tree grows well throughout the coastal area in Yogyakarta, and produces abundant fruit. Traditionally, the fruit is used for cooking and firewood. But villagers in Yogyakarta are using it for biodiesel. This new “green business”
(PRInside.com) This summer, Butalco will use its proprietary new yeast technology to produce biofuel from agricultural waste in a pilot plant in Southern Germany. Butalco’s new microbial catalysts will enable up to 30% increased yields in cellulosic ethanol production. ...Traditionally, yeasts are
by Niall O'Keeffe (FlightGlobal) Both of the major commercial airframers have joined forces with industry peers to pursue new biofuel research initiatives, reflecting an intensification of concern about future availability of alternative fuels in the quantities required by aviation. In January,
(The Hindu) Chemists at UC (University of California) Davis have developed a new process that enable oilseed crops such as safflower to be made into a fuel cocktail that could increase yields of bio-diesel by up to 24 per cent. The
SG Biofuels, a sustainable plant oil company specializing in the development of Jatropha as a low-cost, sustainable source of oil, today announced the launch of JMax 100, a proprietary cultivar of Jatropha optimized for growing conditions in Guatemala with yields
(ScienceBlog) University of Central Florida professor Henry Daniell has developed a groundbreaking way to produce ethanol from waste products such as orange peels and newspapers. His approach is greener and less expensive than the current methods available to run vehicles
Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Mississippi, MSU professor Brian Baldwin provided an update on feedstock research at the MSU’s Sustainable Energy Research Center, where a focus on biofuels grasses has produced the recently licensed Freedom varietal of giant miscanthus. ...Baldwin’s presentation
At the Renewable Energy Technology Conference & Exhibition (RETECH 2010) the Volvo Group announced its first academic partnership in North America. Penn State was chosen as part of Volvo’s Academic Partner Program, which was launched globally in 2009 for research
by Jessica Leber (ClimateWire New York Times) Many cellulosic fuel producers are working with enzymes to break down tough, inedible plant parts, such as corncobs or switch grass, into simpler sugars that can be fermented to ethanol. Now enzyme companies
by Philip H. Steele (Mississippi State University) This presentation explains the work being done by the Forest Products Department, Forest and Wildlife Research Center at MSU to develop bio-oil and drop-in biofuels using a fast pyrolysis process. The PowerPoint provides
by Marshall Pruett (SPEEDTV.com) ... The biggest affront Gurney sees with the current version of an IndyCar is the singular thinking that goes into its design. Open competition has become a thing of the past, but as Gurney tells it,
by Eric Weshoff (Greentechmedia) ...With a longer "residence time" and a constant temperature of 1425 degrees C, their split-cycle engine can make carbon fuels "virtually clean." The engine certainly emits CO2, although only half as much as conventional diesels. The
(TheBioenergySite) Daimler AG has started a new project for the cultivation of the biodiesel raw material jatropha in the south of India and the seedlings for the first 100 hectares have been planted. The company is supporting several village communities
ZeaChem Inc., a developer of biorefineries for the conversion of renewable biomass into fuels and chemicals, today announced it has produced bio-based acetic acid at the purity concentration level of a salable product. Acetic acid is a commercial product and
Novozymes launches the first commercially viable enzymes for production of biofuel from agricultural waste. Breakthroughs in enzyme technology enable cellulosic biofuel as a competitive alternative to gasoline. Novozymes’ new Cellic® CTec2 enzymes enable the biofuel industry to produce cellulosic ethanol at
by Suzanne Goldenberg (The Guardian) The brains trust of the Pentagon says it is just months away from producing a jet fuel from algae for the same cost as its fossil-fuel equivalent. The claim, which comes from the Defense Advanced Research
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