by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) You won’t hear it from the NGOs orbiting Brussels who have long figured out that bashing biotechnology is good for the fund-raising cash register, but Europe has become the hottest geography on the planet for
(EurekAlert!/University of Minnesota) Study finds that emission rates are 30 percent higher than previously predicted -- New findings by researchers from the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS), who partnered with scientists from across the world,
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) Cellulosic technology companies have invested time and millions of dollars to explore ways to convert biomass into cellulosic ethanol for the better part of 20 years. Most technologies have fallen victim to high capital and
by Michelle Ma (Phys.Org/University of Washington) In the quest to produce affordable biofuels, poplar trees are one of the Pacific Northwest's best bets—the trees are abundant, fast-growing, adaptable to many terrains and their wood can be transformed into substances used in
(CISION/Western Economic Diversification Canada) Enerkem Alberta Biofuels, a subsidiary of Montreal-based Enerkem Inc., is receiving $3.5 million from the Government of Canada through the Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative to build the final phase of a facility that converts non-recyclable, non-compostable municipal solid waste into liquid biofuels and chemicals. The
by Zheng Xin and Wang Wen (China Daily) Hainan Airlines Flight 497 took off from Beijing at 2:15 pm Tuesday, headed to Chicago. The aircraft flew with biological aviation fuel that is produced from waste cooking oil, signaling the first China-US flight
(North Queensland Register) A Sydney company has been awarded a $4.03 million grant to develop a yeast to address economic and sustainability issues surrounding biofuels. -- SYDNEY-based yeast developer Microbiogen has been awarded a $4.03 million federal government grant to make production of
by Dan Mika (Nevada Journal) The DowDuPont cellulosic ethanol plant sits mostly empty today after the chemical giant suspended operations and laid off most of its 90 employees earlier this month. A skeleton crew is maintaining it while the company looks for
by Cecilia Connell (ABC News) An Australian-first biofuel demonstration facility in the New South Wales Hunter Valley has been touted as a game-changer in the food versus fuel debate, that has overshadowed the production of ethanol for some time. The Federal Government,
by Daniel Bardsley (The National) Oil extracted from the date pits of Khalas dates can be converted to biodiesel with an efficiency of about 90 per cent -- ... For example, scientists at UAE University in Al Ain, the Masdar Institute in Abu
by Natasha Kassulke (University of Wisconsin-Madison) When Jim Steele thinks back over the last seven years, from the early research on biofuels, followed by a dream of moving Lactic Solutions LLC technology to the marketplace, and now the acquisition of the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Verdezyne is a privately held industrial biotechnology company that is developing and commercializing novel genetically engineered microorganisms for use as “factories” to manufacture renewable chemicals. Verdezyne’s unique microorganisms permit greener, cleaner and more cost effective production
by Josephine Marcotty (Star Tribune) Newly plowed land in Minnesota released 1.6 million metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere each year between 2008 and 2012, a consequence of high corn prices and the ethanol mandate. Only the Dakotas, Texas and Missouri
by Mark R. Edwards (Algae Industry Magazine) he new report, Industrial Algae Measurements 8.0, was released by the ABO Technical Standards Committee at the 11th Algae Biomass Summit (ABS) in Salt Lake City this month. The IAM 8.0collaboration represents contributions of over 30
(Skoltech) ... Scientists from Skoltech and the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Joint Institute for High Temperatures have proposed converting food waste into biofuel via hydrothermal liquefaction – a thermal depolymerization process used to turn wet biomass into oil. ... The question of how
(DEUTZ) ... DEUTZ has now approved the engine series TCD 2.9 / 3.6 / 4.1 / 6.1 / 7.8 / 12.0 / 16.0 under the current EU Stage IV / US Tier 4 standard, as well as all older DEUTZ
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana professor Madhu Khanna has been raising issues with including an indirect land use change factor for compliance with low carbon fuel standards. Why, since ILUC is a required calculation for the Renewable Fuel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Australia, Qantas will operate the world’s first biofuel flight between the United States and Australiaearly in the new year in collaboration with World Fuel Services and Altair Fuels. Qantas’ new Dreamliner is being powered by Brassica
by Thin Lei Win (Reuters) Improving soil health in farmlands could capture extra carbon equivalent to the planet-warming emissions generated by the transport sector, one of the world’s most polluting industries, experts said Tuesday. Soil naturally absorbs carbon from the atmosphere through
(SciDev.Net) Brazilian awarded prize for method that reduces emissions from cane cultivation; Nitrous oxide emissions cut by 95 per cent through use of inhibitors in fertiliser; Work could contribute to meeting Brazil’s Paris climate agreement targets A Brazilian scientist who developed a method that
by Tom Schenk (Terviva/Biofuels Digest) ... Directly and indirectly, Florida’s citrus industry creates almost 45,000 jobs which translate to almost a $9 billion contribution into Florida’s economy. Today’s citrus industry has shrunk by well over half from its peak in the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) LanzaTech has developed a fully sustainable integrative gas to fuels and chemicals platform that has no impact on food, water security or high biodiversity land use. LanzaTech’s gas fermentation platform disrupts the current highly centralized global energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Texas, CRI/Criterion Catalyst Company has awarded an FEL-2 license agreement for the IH2 technology which converts biomass to liquid transportation fuels, to Biozin Holding. The Front End Loading (FEL-2) package will be completed for the core IH2 technology
(OPIS) Written by REG, this free white paper takes a look at the benefits of the latest innovation in renewable fuel – the blending together of two leading diesel replacements: biodiesel and renewable hydrocarbon diesel. Read this informative white paper to see why
(Biofuels International) ... Paul Peeters, who has completed his PhD on the sustainability of the aviation sector, concludes that climate targets will not be reached without a ‘severe reduction’ in growth. According to a statement from Delft University, global tourism is set
by J.D. Warren (UCR Today) Relatively cheap "biomass" has been a poor option due to its production cost -- UC Riverside researchers have developed a streamlined process that could finally make the ethanol production cost from abundant “second generation” plant wastes competitive
(Coalition for Sustainable Rail/Biomass Magazine) Two steam locomotives at the Milwaukee County Zoo were fueled with a renewable wood-based solid fuel last week to reduce fossil coal emissions, and the test runs were a success. The Coalition for Sustainable Rail and the
Renewable Fuels Association's Bob Dinneen explained the implications of RFA's latest review of vehicle warranties: “The oil company explanation for their failure to invest in infrastructure allowing E15 has been there isn’t sufficient demand for E15 because it isn’t warrantied.
by Rachel Gantz (Renewable Fuels Association) Nearly 90 percent of new 2018 model year (MY) vehicles are explicitly approved by the manufacturer to use 15 percent ethanol blends (E15), according to the results of an annual analysis of warranty statements and owner’s manuals
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing examining how high-octane, low-carbon fuel can enable CAFE compliance. Research suggests that high-octane, low-carbon fuel is the lowest-cost compliance option for both consumers and the automotive industry. Taking steps
(Newswise) Berkeley Lab-led study unveils new source of robust cellulases in compost -- A new study led by researchers at the Department of Energy’s Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), based at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), demonstrates the importance of microbial communities
by Christian Ong (Cornell Daily Sun) ... Using metabolic engineering, Prof. David Stern, plant biology, managed to transfer the metabolic pathway of Botryococcus, a species of algae that produces large quantities of usable oil, into another species of algae that has a
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... During an earnings call, McAfee provided an overview of advanced biofuel projects under development by Aemetis, including the LanzaTech cellulosic upgrade to the company’s Keyes, California, plant and the agreement to acquire Edeniq to
( VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Micro-organisms found in the wildfire-prone dry tropical forests of India are an exciting prospect for biochemical production, as they are accustomed to the challenging conditions following a forest fire. The enzymes they
(BDI) The Austrian plant engineering company BDI – BioEnergy International AG (“BDI”) was awarded a contract for a new BioDiesel plant in the United States featuring BDIs latest technology. Recycling waste oils and fats into high-quality BioDiesel using patented BDI
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ICM’s equipment and processes are already used in the majority of U.S. ethanol plants, and continues to develop processes to make ethanol production more efficient for customers. The latest? A breakthrough in producing high-value animal protein supply
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Last week, DowDuPont said it was exiting the cellulosic biofuels business and you’d think that the company just burned down the warehouse with the original text of the Renewable Fuels Standard — the coverage of the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We Really Do Mean “Drop-in”. Gevo has two proprietary technologies that combine to make it possible to retrofit existing ethanol plants to produce isobutanol, a four carbon alcohol which serves as a hydrocarbon platform molecule. They have
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... You’d be forgiven if you mistook Ahb Subi Banr-Sbar for a well-placed official in the Iranian government — but, in fact, it’s a 9-project network to facilitate the development of regionally-based industries producing advanced biofuels, industrial
by Michael Eggleston* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Since 2012, Energiegenossenschaft (energy cooperative) Starkenburg e.G. (ES) has been serving the Starkenburg region as independent non-partisan citizens’ cooperative supporting Germany’s grassroots movement by promoting renewable energy projects to advance the standard of climate
by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... Several factors have hindered the production of the volumes originally envisioned: extracting energy from cellulose proved much more difficult than extracting it from corn starch, challenges of collecting, moving and storing significant
(Center for Biological Diversity) Three-quarters of California’s oil is as climate-damaging as Canadian tar sands crude, according to a Center for Biological Diversity report released today at the United Nations climate change conference in Bonn, Germany. Oil Stain: How Dirty Crude Undercuts California’s Climate
by Jules Bernstein (Phys.Org/Sandia National Laboratories) A Sandia National Laboratories-led team has demonstrated faster, more efficient ways to turn discarded plant matter into chemicals worth billions. The team's findings could help transform the economics of making fuels and other products from
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Catalytic reaction rates, microcrystalline cellulose, cyanobacteria working in teams, vertical farming, vegan products & markets. The 5 top disruptive techs we’ve seen in recent weeks are attacking these fronts. Here’s what we see. 1. Breakthrough on (microcrystalline) cellulose
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Iogen says it has has “one of the world’s largest and most experienced teams in developing, designing, de-bugging, scaling-up and deploying cellulosic biofuel technology. We’re using innovative thinking and disciplined engineering to transform cellulosic biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ensyn uses its patented and proprietary RTP fast thermal technology to convert wood residues and other non-food, cellulosic biomass to liquid biofuels. Ensyn has had continuous commercial operations for more than 25 years. Its technology has
(UrekAlert!/University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture) Alternative jet fuels could grow opportunities in the southeast -- Researchers from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) have received a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to begin a three-year project to perform
(Advanced Biofuels USA) Advanced Biofuels USA has added a summary of the findings of its USDA-funded feasibility study based on 2016 energy beet project at University of Maryland Eastern Shore. New charts and graphs based on the data developed for
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A massive expansion of land use for sugar cane growth in Brazil, and a subsequent increase in ethanol production with the feedstock could reduce global carbon dioxide emissions in the transportation sector by up to
(US Department of Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced it is withdrawing a proposed rule to revise the Agency’s biotechnology regulations and will re-engage with stakeholders to determine the most
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Illinois, today is Fly Green Day, sponsored by the O’Hare Fuel Committee, at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. 7 commercial airlines, plus Atlas Air and FedEx are flying out of O’Hare today on Gevo-based sustainable aviation fuel. Among them: Lufthansa, United Airlines,
by Yukako Ono (Nikkei Asian Review) IHI will conduct large-scale verification experiments in Thailand on a process for producing jet fuel from the oil extracted from cultured microalgae. The goal is to have a practical technology ready by 2020 so the biojet
(Algae Industry Magazine) The Algae Biomass Summit (ABS) has transitioned from algae biofuels to higher value algae bioproducts. Most of the excitement in the 2017 version focused on nutrition for plants, animals and people, and the critical need for nutrient
by Ali Sundermier and Evan Lerner (Penn News) ... The lustrous cells on the surface of the clam scatter bright sunlight, which typically runs the risk of causing fatal damage to the cell, but the clams efficiently convert the sunlight into fuel.
by Yamin Vong (The Sun) ... The European Union is campaigning against palm bio-diesel and the European Parliament appears to be determined to ratify the Palm Oil and Deforestation of the Rainforests resolution that it passed on April 4. It's in this environment
by Hemali Chhapia (Times of India) Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee have come up with a new, low-cost method for production of biofuels. The collaborative research team led by Dr Richa Katiyar, Centre for Transportation Systems, Indian Institute
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Visolis process will enable production of bio-based elastomers, unsaturated polyester resins, super adsorbent polymers, and other products using a variety of feedstocks like agri-residues, dextrose, glycerol and syn-gas. As we come down the cost curve,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In South Dakota, POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels achieved a major breakthrough in cellulosic biofuels production at its Project LIBERTY plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa. The company has solved the critical challenge in pretreatment, overcoming what has been the No.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Recently, Lexus’ Paul Williamsen told Australia’s CarAdvice team: “Both hybrid and EVs are merely bridging technologies on the way to the solution, which is hydrogen. The problem with EVs is a simple matter of chemistry – we won’t
by Anna Hirtenstein (Bloomberg) Oil major unlikely to commercialize projects in next decade; Company is focusing on basic research in laboratories -- One of the world’s biggest oil companies is pumping more than $1 billion a year into alternative forms of energy from
(CapeCod.com) The Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods hole has received a grant to develop innovative cultivation and harvesting technologies for year round production of seaweeds in tropical and subtropical U.S. Waters. The award is one of 18 projects funded by an arm
(PR Newswire/Greenbelt Resources) The beauty of bioethanol is that it can be created from an amazing number of feedstocks of which many are considered waste – especially "food wastes". Greenbelt Resources Corporation(OTC: GRCO) (Greenbelt) evaluates these feedstocks through its Feedstock Feasibility
(Biofuels International) US scientists have developed a new technique to accelerate the production of renewable jet fuel from corn cobs and wood chips. ... Alternative jet fuels are increasingly seen as a means to reduce the environmental impact of jet fuel, and scientists from
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Rennovia, Inc. is a chemical process technology development company focused on the creation of novel processes for the cost-advantaged production of commodity and specialty chemicals from renewable feedstocks. Rennovia is developing processes for the production of biobased
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Delaware, DowDuPont announced that it intends to sell its cellulosic biofuels business and its first commercial project, a 30 million gallon per year cellulosic ethanol plant in Nevada, Iowa. The Nevada project is still going
by Joseph Bebon (NGT News) ExxonMobil and Renewable Energy Group (REG) announced that by utilizing REG’s patented fermentation technology, the companies’ joint research program has demonstrated the ability to convert sugars from a variety of non-edible biomass sources into biodiesel. ... During their initial research, the
(The Hindu) Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) on Saturday signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with Algoma Algal Biotechnology (AABT), a limited liability company (LLC) started through the research work at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (UWO) in the US, for mutual transfer of
by Michael Eggleston* (Advanced Biofuels USA) On October 9th the 10th European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy kicked off in Brussels, Belgium, giving participants the opportunity to take part in a stakeholder workshop held by the European research project COSMOS
(Fox47News/MSU Today) Michigan State University scientists are proposing a new way to economically produce biodegradable plastics with sunlight and help from an ancient microorganism. The team, led by Taylor Weiss, a postdoctoral researcher in the Ducat MSU-Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory labat the MSU-Department of
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In the UK, a new report prepared by Ricardo Energy & Environment for Zero Waste Scotland found more than 27 million metric tons of available waste, by-products, agricultural residues and wastewater sludge could be used by biorefineries
by Abdallah el-Kurebe (Vanguard) ... Ethanol is also produced from cassava and is used as fuel, alcoholic beverages, perfumes, cosmetics, medicaments, etc. Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava but the nation’s annual local demand for ethanol is between 300 and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The IH2 process was developed by Gas Technology Institute (GTI) of Des Plaines, Illinois—a research, development, and training organization serving energy markets. GTI experts invented, tested, and patented IH2 technology and are providing ongoing commercialization support. Twelve US
by Abigail Klein Leichman (Israel 21c) ... H2 Energy Now is building a prototype battery-free solution for storing and increasing the usability of alternative energy from intermittent sources – sun and wind – to meet times of peak demand reliably. Radio
(Greenbelt Resources Corporation/PR Newswire) Greenbelt Resources Corporation (OTC: GRCO) (Greenbelt) has completed feedstock feasibility testing of trub (brewery waste) for BarrelHouse Brewery. Greenbelt Chief Technology Officer Floyd Butterfield says the ethanol derived from trub, as well as the high protein animal feed, met
(Science Daily/University of Borås) ... Ramkumar Nair tells us that these research and pilots project where waste is used are called the second generation ethanol processes, whereas the current industrial production is called the first generation ethanol process. Ramkumar has now
(U.S. Department of Energy) On July 11–12, 2017, BETO hosted its 10th annual conference—Bioeconomy 2017: Domestic Resources for a Vibrant Future! More than 300 attendees from industry, government agencies, the national laboratories, and academia gathered to discuss opportunities and challenges facing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Enerkem’s technology converts non-recyclable municipal solid waste (i.e. garbage) into clean fuels and renewable chemicals. Enerkem Alberta Biofuels is the world’s first commercial biorefinery to use municipal solid waste to produce methanol and ethanol. This facility is the result of more than
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) “Italian newspapers reported over the weekend that cellulosic ethanol developer Mossi & Ghisolfi shuts down this week,” reported a source from Europe. “227 people of whom 121 from the Crescentino ethanol refinery are to stay at
(Bioenergy Insight) A collaborative project to map open access pilot and demonstration infrastructure for bio-based industries across Europe has been launched. The Pilots4U project is funded by the Bio Based Industries Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and
by Niamh Boyle (Biodiesel Magazine/Prima Markets) Prima Markets provides a comprehensive summary of the growing international demand for low carbon fuels, including U.S. policy drivers and waste feedstock consumption, along with a detailed overview of the international trade of low carbon
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Germany, the PULP2VALUE project is entering its second stage after successful pilot tests and creating new value chains from sugar beet pulp. The project aims to achieve two main objectives by the end of the project,
by Jesse Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) To create additional value in the biobased economy, companies and investors are turning toward the production of renewable chemicals and products. They argue that in prioritizing higher-value chemicals and products, advanced biofuels will
by Yuthana Praiwan (Bangkok Post) The late King laid the groundwork for Thailand's path toward energy independence. -- ... Although biofuel took longer to develop because it required more deliberate scientific research and experimentation compared with other agriculture projects, it has now become
by Siddharth Vodnala (Washington State University News) Researchers from Washington State University, along with those from Oregon State University and the University of Montana, have recently devised refined methods to estimate the amount of forest residue — the leftovers from trees
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Oberon Fuels is facilitating the growth of the DME transportation industry by converting biogas and other hydrocarbon rich waste streams to higher valued commodities such as DME. Using its proprietary small-scale process, Oberon makes DME and
(Business Insider/PR Newswire/Greenbelt Resources) Greenbelt Resources Corporation (OTC: GRCO) has agreed to perform feedstock testing with Central Coast Wine Services (CCWS) to test various streams of wastes generated in the winemaking process. The wastes will be tested for potential use as
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Synpet Technologies is a Turkish-US company founded in 2014, which operates a 15 ton/day demonstration facility in Pasakoy, Turkey. The company developed its Thermal Conversion Process, which breaks down organic waste materials by using heat, pressure and water to produce
by Robert Arnason (Western Producer) ... But the beaver also has a lesser known skill: it can survive on a diet of branches and twigs. Scientists with Agriculture Canada want to know how the beaver pulls off that trick, because the knowledge
by Igor Houwat, Taylor Weiss (Michigan State University) ... “But this pair has complementary strengths: the cyanos are constantly producing sugar, and the bacteria are constantly beefing up on it, which encourages the cyanos to keep producing.” Looking ahead, Taylor wants to
(Phys.org/ University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Vastly expanding sugarcane production in Brazil for conversion to ethanol could reduce current global carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 5.6 percent, researchers report in the journal Nature Climate Change. This would be a massive undertaking,
by Julie Harker (Brownfield Ag News) The nation’s largest ethanol producer says it’s made a breakthrough in cellulosic ethanol production. Matt Merritt with POET-DSM tells Brownfield they are using a combination of heat, pressure and acid to break down materials to
(Bioenergy Insight) ... Led by the University of Tuebingen in Germany, and involving researchers from the US Colorado State University, the new research published in the journal Nature Communications has provided a mechanistic understanding of biochar’s properties. The research revealed how
by Maura Forrest (National Post) A major question the government appears to be grappling with is where a new supply of low-carbon fuels will come from -- The federal government is looking into the potential for low-carbon fuels in Canada as it
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory) SimPath has licensed a novel cloning system developed by the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory that generates and assembles the biological building blocks necessary to synthetically bioengineer new medicines and fuels. Knoxville, Tennessee-based startup SimPath
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) iMicrobes designs and builds microorganisms, including industrial strains of bacteria and yeast to produce chemicals from natural gas and carbon dioxide. Their green, bio-based methods are “more cost effective than sugar or oil, helping to make
by Gunner Greene (Iroquois Bio Energy/Journal & Courier) Purdue University has received an important grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to continue its important research into homegrown biofuels. Purdue will continue its research into how corn and other biomass moves through
(International Energy Agency) Biorefineries are generally expected to play an important role in decarbonising the energy and transport sectors with bioenergy and biofuel products. In addition, national and regional economies would benefit the most from a production portfolio that favours high-added
(European Environment Agency) Making Europe’s production, consumption and trade in food environmentally sustainable is possible, but it will require a major shift in public attitudes, policies and knowledge and seizing current opportunities for change, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA)
(University of Hawaii) ... Shihwu Sung, professor of applied engineering at UH Hilo, is currently conducting research on converting waste into biodiesel energy. ... Sung’s research is currently being conducted in the Renewable Energy Lab on the UH Hilo campus, where he has built a lab scale
(Aemetis) 55 year Lease Agreement at Former Army Munitions Facility -- Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMTX) announced today that its Aemetis Advanced Products Keyes subsidiary signed a 55 year lease at a former US Army munitions facility located in Riverbank, California which is near
by Niamh Boyle (Prima Markets/Biodiesel Magazine) Prima Markets provides a comprehensive summary of the growing international demand for low carbon fuels, including U.S. policy drivers and waste feedstock consumption, along with a detailed overview of the international trade of low carbon
by Shannon Marvel (Farm Forum) Brown County officials will develop a plan to use a 30-percent ethanol blend in the county’s vehicle fleet. The move, discussed at Tuesday’s county commission meeting, is in response to Glacial Lakes Energy’s E30 Challenge. Watertown-based Glacial Lakes
(University of New England) The United States Department of Energy (DOE) announced that the University of New England was awarded a three-year, nationally competitive research grant for $1,321,039 from DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). DOE awardees are part of
(University of Arizona News) The goals of the Sustainable Bioeconomy for Arid Regions Center will be to address the nation's needs for biofuels and bioproducts, strengthen Arizona's bioeconomy, and provide training for the next generation of scientists and engineers. The University of
(Biofuels International) A general ban on palm oil in biofuels in Europe punishes the wrong producers while having little impact on reducing deforestation, according to Jaboury Ghazoul, a professor of ecosystem management at ETH Zurich. He claims in an article published
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Canada, Natural Resources Canada has launched a tender for a study to assess the technological and market-related challenges associated with producing and deploying liquid drop-in fuels in the Canadian market, including evaluating the production potential and capacity
(ExxonMobil/Business Wire) Expansion will improve collaboration and enhance research and development capabilities; Focus on accelerating development of scalable energy solutions with reduced environmental impact; New facilities include an engine test center and a lubricant research and development blend plant ExxonMobil announced today (October 13, 2017)
(OWI (Google Translation)) Retrofitting of tractors for multi-fuel use -- In agriculture, widening the use of vegetable oil as fuel in tractors could contribute to greater sustainability and climate protection within the framework of a resource-conserving bioeconomy. However, the compatibility of fuel-carrying components
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Agile BioFoundry, designed to productionize synthetic biology, is a public infrastructure investment aimed at increasing U.S. industrial competitiveness and enables new opportunities for private sector growth and jobs. Specifically, the foundry aims to enable a biorefinery
(Office of Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI)) Senator Mazie K. Hirono today announced that two Hawaii businesses will receive $1.5 million in U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding to develop offshore seaweed as a potential clean energy source. The funding was awarded
By Kana Nishizawa (Bloomberg) Infrastructure spend is ‘so large,’ it will force innovation; China to account for third of global EV infra spend by 2040 -- A $2.7 trillion chasm stands between electric vehicles and the infrastructure needed to make them popular. That’s how
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BioAmber’s Mission? To be a fast growing producer of chemical intermediates that uses sugars instead of fossil fuels and sells competitively priced, sustainable chemicals with strong profit margins and the cleanest environmental footprint in the industry. The
(Science Daily/Graz University of Technology) Researchers have observed enzymes breaking down cellulose to aid the production of biofuels. ... Typically, biorefineries use a mix of hydrolytically active enzymes which utilize water molecules to breakdown plant material -- as happens in natural degradation processes.
by Melanie Zanona (The Hill) ... Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), who has also been leading a House push to pave the way for autonomous vehicles, reintroduced a bill that would promote investments in the research and development of cutting-edge technologies that
(EurekAlert!/King Abdullah University of Science & Technology) Red Sea surgeonfish use metabolically diverse giant bacteria to digest different types of algae, according to new research. Not only do these findings explain the basis of surgeonfish diversity, but they may also provide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant is an independent, state-of-the-art facility that operates from a laboratory level to a multi-ton scale. Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant is a service provider for process development, scale-up and custom manufacturing of biobased products and processes. A wide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sometimes, what an engine needs to roar to life is a spark. Or a SPARC, as in this case. As in the Southeastern Partnership for Advanced Renewables from Carinata (SPARC), a consortium consisting of the University of Florida (lead),
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) A recent study by the European Commission Directorate-General for Climate Action identifies E20 as the optimal ethanol blend for the EU. The study, which outlines an extensive economic and environmental analysis of increasing biofuel blends, said biofuel blends are crucial
by Bart Jansen (USA Today) Railroads need to repair tracks better and continue to upgrade tank cars as they haul more hazardous cargo such as crude oil and natural gas, says a report Wednesday from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and
(University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus/Biomass Magazine) A foul smell and safety concerns can leave many residents turning their nose at the idea of a wastewater treatment plant in their neighborhood. But researchers from UBC's Okanagan campus have developed a new way
by S. Himmelstein (Engineering 360/IEEE) A new plasma synthesis process promises to enhance greenhouse gas emissions control while producing valuable chemical feedstocks. The technology developed at University of Liverpool allows for the direct, one-step activation of carbon dioxide and methane into higher value liquid
(Quick Fuel Technology/Holley) As a renewable energy source championed by environmentalists, racers often think of E85 as a wimpy fuel that has no place in a drag car. However, many bracket racers have shattered that perception by taking advantage of E85’s
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The US Department of Energy is supporting a project from DMC Limited and Duke University to develop scalable and cost-effective next generation semi-continuous fermentation based processes for biofuels, reducing commercial scale capital costs 5-10 fold. The rationale? Rapid
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Imagine, for example, a Boeing 777 flying non-stop between any two cities in the world. Or F-18A/F Superhornets adding significant weapon loads, or up to 30% to flight range. It’s like getting a new generation of
by Alanis King (Jalopnik) 1st Gear: Surprise, Self-Driving Cars Need A Lot Of ‘Brain’ Power -- Oh, you want an electric car that can also shuttle you around without you having to move a muscle? What do you think this is, magic fairy
by Marcius Extavour (XPRIZE/Biofuels Digest) ... Hydrocarbon drop-in fuels are among the leading products targeted by the CO2 conversion community, be it diesel, methanol, butanol, or others. New approaches to the science and technology of CO2-to-fuels may alter the energetics, the economics,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Aemetis owns and operates 110 million gallons per year of ethanol and biodiesel facilities in the US and India, and is upgrading the plants using patented technology to produce lower carbon, higher value advanced biofuels and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A newer technology Synova Power has arrived with the promise of clean, green, lean stream of pipeline-quality natural gas from biomass. ... Streams coming off cellulosic biofuels or biogas refineries have been green, and in some cases (and increasingly) lean,
(Algae Industry Magazine) Colorado State University scientists and Arizona State University’s Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation are partners in a three-year grant of up to $3.5 million from the Department of Energy, aimed at improving how algae-based biofuels
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The 2017 Renewables outlook from the International Energy Agency (IEA) is once again projecting continued increased demand for conventional biofuels. The report notes that while sales of electric vehicles are increasing, “the share of EVs remains limited, and biofuels are
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and American Coalition for Ethanol have all submitted public comments to U.S. EPA and National Highway Transportation Safety Administration stressing the benefits of high-octane ethanol fuels in response to
(Ames Laboratory/Ethanol Producer Magazine) In every plant—from trees to crops—there exists a substance that makes up its wood or stems, fiber, and cell walls. This substance is a complex natural polymer called lignin, and it is the second largest renewable carbon
by Hsan Htoo Aung (Eleven) Plants that can produce biodiesel for Yangon water buses are to be grown along the banks of Yangon River with the help of an Australia-based company. ... “Within five years we will be growing hombayniya plants, which thrive
(PR Web) The ABBA Integrated Biorefinery project, to be built at the AVAPCO Thomaston Georgia site, will co-produce bio jet fuel and Bioplus® nanocellulose. It has received a Phase 1, $3.7 million award from the Department of Energy. Negotiations with the Department
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Calyxt is pioneering a paradigm shift to deliver both healthier specialty food ingredients, such as healthier oils and high fiber wheat for consumers as well as agriculturally advantageous traits, such as herbicide tolerance to farmers. The technology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Is everyone’s organism for making fuels, chemicals, materials, foods, flavors, fragrances and therapeutics — beautifully and slowly — heading for rapid obsolescence? “Everyone wants to make it faster,” notes Kytopen co-founder Cullen Buie. “Over the past
by Maegan Murray (WSU Tri-Cities/Washington State University) A method of converting a biofuel waste product into a usable and valuable commodity has been discovered by researchers at Washington State University and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Converting algae to biofuels is a two-step process.
(University of Wyoming) Agricultural economists at the University of Wyoming will generate models of what economies in the Upper Missouri River Basin might look like if raising biofuels and carbon capture technologies were implemented. UW is part of the four-year, $6 million
(Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) In the future, our homes and vehicles could be powered by fuel made from seaweed grown at large-scale offshore farms. Researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) are working to help make that scenario a reality sooner
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sweet sorghum stardom! In possibly one of the largest government grants given to anyone for research on a single feedstock, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is receiving a 5-year $16 million grant from the U.S. Department
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week we’ve been looking at major advances in crops and feedstocks and algae is very much in the mix in that respect – the sustainable production of microalgae with high productivity and flexible composition is
(A4F) DEMA project video - A4F was in charge of the cultivation and optimization at pilot-scale of an engineered strain of Synechocystis 6803 for bioethanol production and of a 20-ha industrial unit business plan for commercial exploitation. http://www.dema-etoh.eu WATCH VIDEO and
by Beth Bly (Business North) Executives from several partnership organizations were on hand Wednesday morning at UMD’s Natural Resources Research Institute Coleraine Lab as the Renewable Energy Lab was unveiled. More than 10 years in the making, the lab currently has the
(Synbiobeta) Research builds on a series of recent landmark studies, at JCVI, which have led to transformative new methodology for synthetic biology and functional genomics -- Scientists, led by the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), a not-for-profit genomic research organization, were recently
by Peter Ehrhard (Missouri University of Science and Technology) The idea of recycling waste cooking oil into biodiesel fuel is nothing new. For years, researchers have studied the process and companies have recycled when possible. However, for many groups, cost is
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ChemCatBio is a research and development consortium dedicated to identifying and overcoming catalysis challenges for biomass conversion processes. Led by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories, we work with industry to rapidly transition R&D discoveries
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Somewhere in the files of the Department of Energy it is called the Chemical Catalysis for Bioenergy Consortium. Inside the halls of National Labs, they call it ChemCatBio. ... They’re on a mission to bring forward commercial bioenergy applications two
by Alexa M. Schmitz (Cornell University/Biomass Magazine) ... This week, researchers from the Cornell-affiliated Boyce Thompson Institute and Texas A&M University report in Plant Direct exciting new technology that may revolutionize the search for the perfect algal strain: algal droplet bioreactors on a chip. A single
(U.S. Department of Energy/Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office recently published the Algae Cultivation for Carbon Capture and Utilization Workshop Summary Report. This summary report shares the results of stakeholder discussions held on May 23–24, 2017, regarding challenges
by Kathy Cisar (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced the selection of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to lead a new project, for up to $3.5 million, with the goal of reducing the production
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