by Eric Barker (ABC Rural) With about a megalitre of sewage flowing from the toilets of Cloncurry every day, the local council has built a new trial site for biofuel plants. An assortment of crops, including sun hemp, soy beans, sorghum, and
(International Energy Agency Bioenergy) IEA Bioenergy has produced a brief on the question ‘Is energy from woody biomass positive for the climate?’ The brief provides background and a number of concise arguments on this question. Overall, energy from woody biomass can be
(Global Bioenergies) Global Bioenergies (Euronext Growth: ALGBE) has entrusted EVEA, a company specialized in calculation of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), with a study focused on the products to be manufactured in the future IBN-One plant. Fully renewable ETBE is estimated to
(German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR)) Three weeks of research flights from Ramstein Air Base; NASA DC-8 and DLR A320 ATRA fly together; The focus is on particle emissions of alternative fuels and their influence on cloud formation from
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) has taken stock of its busy 2017 and has set priorities for 2018. Highlights on the sustainable alternative jet fuel (SAJF) front include development of many resources available
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Back in 2016, researchers at Washington State University Tri-Cities landed a National Science Foundation I-Corps grant to explore the market potential of their biojet fuel research. The team had successfully demonstrated a new, water-based process for deconstructing
By Michael Eggleston* (Advanced Biofuels USA) On December 5th, 2017 the Institute of Technical Chemistry (ITC) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) hosted a workshop for members of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy Task 36 to share and promote
(Phys.Org/Rothamsted Research) ... But now a multinational team of researchers, from the UK, Brazil and the US, has pinpointed a gene involved in the stiffening of cell walls whose suppression increased the release of sugars by up to 60%. Their findings
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Mexico, rising gas prices in Oaxaca have seen drivers turn towards higher ethanol blends as a way to save money. Three stations opened up offering up to 50% ethanol blends in 2016 and have seen customers
by Katie Nichols (Alabama Extension Daily) Alabama growers are sowing the seeds of a new biofuel oil crop this winter. Brassica carinata, informally known as carinata, is similar to canola (Brassica napus L.)—a crop many producers introduced to rotations several years ago. An oilseed crop, carinata
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Fiberight is a privately held company founded in 2007 with current operations in Virginia, Maryland and Iowa. The company focuses on transforming post-recycled municipal solid wastes and other organic feedstocks into next generation renewable biofuels, with
(Bioenergy Insight) The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency has awarded an investment grant to explore the possibility of producing biogas from industrial waste water. A €12.4 million investment subsidy has been awarded to Finnish energy company Gasum, which is evaluating the potential of
(Bioenergy Insight) A biogas plant close to the town of Ballymena in Northern Ireland has been recognised in the Sustainable Ireland Awards. The Tully Quarry plant produces biogas from 100% chicken litter. Built by biogas technology specialists Xergi, the facility has won
(Bioenergy Insight) In a paper by Texas A&M scientists, biochar shows potential for increasing efficiency of the anaerobic digestion of animal manure. Biochar is a charcoal material composed of agricultural by-products, including manure, crop residues and grasses. The substance can be used as a
(The Auto Channel) January 9, 2018: Today, E-Fuel Corporation released for preorder sales on its website www.efuel100.com the revolutionary new Personal Energy System (PES) that will begin shipping second quarter of 2018. The PES is industry’s first organic hydrous fuel combustion powered generator
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Byogy has developed a catalytic platform that converts any source of ethanol, butanol, mixed alcohols, or related olefins, into full replacement, and cost competitive biofuels including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Byogy’s jet fuel is not
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Tie-ins for Zymergen, Radiant Genomics, DMC, Capricorn Venture Partners, Syngenta and CHS demonstrate the firepower and scope of digital biology. Today, products made via traditional biological tools tap into easy-to-grow-in-a-lab organisms, and mostly nothin’ else. Sort of
(Diesel Technology Forum/PR Newswire) New Resource Demonstrates State-by-State Impact of Clean Diesel Technology -- Today the Diesel Technology Forum (the Forum) unveiled a first-of-a-kind analysis of the broad impact of clean diesel on state economies. A look through the Forum's searchable, state-by-state
by Cassie McClure and Suzanne Michaels (KRWG) Over the past decade, New Mexico State University (NMSU) College of Engineering Professor Nagamany Nirmalakhandan (known as Dr. Khandan) has investigated how algae – yes, that simple green stuff that grows in stagnant water
by Gale Rose (Pratt Tribune) Sen. Jerry Moran got a personal tour of the Pratt Energy Ethanol Plant Dec. 29. He visited with several plant workers that explained each step of producing ethanol. When U.S. Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas paid his
(The Hindu) Madurai Kamaraj University on Tuesday has signed memorandum of understanding with US-based institutions to facilitate collaborative research and faculty exchange. According to a statement issued by the university here on Thursday, the first MoU was signed with Extreme ProTech, a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Synvitrobio accelerates bio-discovery through cell-free systems. Synvitrobio’s Next Generation Expression platform allows for high-throughput data collection that is real and experimentally validated at speeds of simulation based approaches. A cell-free system is a mixture that contains only the
by Anton Usov (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development/Biomass Magazine) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development provided a senior loan of €25 million to PJSC “Myronivsky Hliboproduct” (MHP), a London Stock Exchange listed Ukrainian producer of poultry meat, grain and
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) In mid-December, the California Public Utilities Commission established a new program that aims to reduce methane emissions from manure generated at dairies. The CPUC said the pilot program will incentivize at least five projects where dairy
(North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative recently awarded $1 million in grants for 11 research projects to boost bioenergy opportunities and production in the state. ... Below is a list of grant amounts, recipients
(United Nations Foundation) Babies born to mothers who cooked with ethanol were born later and heavier -- A new study released today by the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, which is hosted at the United Nations Foundation, has found that replacing traditional cookstoves that burn
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In November we reported that 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
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In it, we are reminded that innovation is a never-ending war between two brothers named Urgency and Diligence — and the conflict comes roaring back to life when we consider the news that occasionally seeps out of that mysterious
(Algae Industry Magazine) How can the construction industry do its share to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases connected to global warming? In the urgent search for answers, Votorantim Cimentos and Pond Technologies are taking part in a cutting edge project
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In California, researchers from the US Navy at China Lake have developed a new class of drop-in renewable diesel from biomass using acid catalyzed condensation of 2-tridecanone with a series of diols through fermentation that provide similar energy levels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Velocys enables modular gas-to-liquids and biomass-to-liquids plants to convert unconventional, remote and problem gas and waste biomass into valuable, drop-in liquid fuels. After 15 years and some $300 million in investment, Velocys technology is at commercial-scale. The
(Biofuels International) The project aims to raise awareness of alternate fuels for the industry. According to World Bank statistics, 3.6 billion people travelled by air in 2016. In a survey conducted by Neste, 53% of European passengers are concerned by the environmental impact of
by Amy Mayer (Harvest Public Media/NetNebraska) Advanced biofuels have been touted as the next step beyond the corn-based ethanol that’s the bulk of the country’s renewable fuel for cars and trucks. But cellulosic ethanol is harder to make and companies have
by Brian Jennings (American Coalition for Ethanol/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... ACE believes the best way to grow demand well into the future is to harness the low-carbon, high-octane value of ethanol. That’s why we were very encouraged that for the first
(Agro-Chemistry/University College Dublin) The Irish Bioeconomy Foundation CLG will receive a funding of €4.6 million from the Ministery for Business, Enterprise, and Innovation, to develop a new Bioeconomy Innovation and Piloting Facility at Lisheen, Co. Tipperary. The facility will enable industry, entrepreneurs
(Algae Industry Magazine) ... In September, the US Department of Energy (DOE) awarded $22 million in grants to fund projects for marine biomass farming for production of commercial products, including feedstock for domestic transportation fuels. The funding was provided through the
by Juan Carlos Millán (Unimedios, Bogotá/UN Periodico (Google translation)) The innovative method increases productivity in obtaining biodiesel and reduces the number and size of equipment used in its production. It was designed by the Research Group in Chemical and Biochemical Processes
by Angela Matua (QNS.com) A new bill passed in the City Council on Dec. 19, 2017 will require that a two-year study be completed to determine how feasible it would be to use renewable fuels and technology to power the city’s ferries. Earlier
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Red Trail Energy LLC and the University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center began investigating carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology as a way to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions associated with
(Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium/Ethanol Producer Magazine) To accelerate innovation and adoption of new practices and technologies to determine the root cause of biomass handling failures and designing solutions, the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium is overseeing a directed funding opportunity (DFO) call. Interested industrial
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 Deepak Kumar; Stephen P. Long; Vijay Singh (The Conversation/Inverse Innovation) Airlines look to biomass-derived jet fuels to reduce their carbon footprint. ... Bio-jet fuel can be produced from various plant materials, including oil crops, sugar crops, starchy plants and lignocellulosic biomass, through
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Hydrogen, hydrogen, hydrogen — the most abundant element in the universe, but the advanced bioeconomy can never seem to get enough of it, and finding ways to produce renewable, affordable hydrogen — well, that’s real gold. A
(U.S. Department of Energy) Added sugar takes on a whole new meaning in the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL’s) work to uncover the secrets behind one of nature’s most powerful tools—cellulose-degrading enzymes. Researchers at NREL are seeking to unlock the bioenergy stored
by Deborah Gertz Husar (Herald-Whig) ... University of Illinois agricultural economist Madhu Khanna said the low-carbon fuel standard creates incentives to switch to low-carbon advanced biofuels, but including the indirect effect makes compliance more costly and fuel more expensive for consumers. "What
by Dale Earls, Scientist (Novozymes/Biofuels Digest) In commercial yeasts available today, as fermentation progresses and the concentration of ethanol rises, yeast cells are increasingly exposed to levels of ethanol that quickly become toxic. This greatly affects yeast’s ability to produce ethanol;
(Suomenbiohiili.info) ... The 2nd Finnish Biochar Workshop was successfully held in Tampere on 4 December 2017, we had participants representing the whole Finnish biochar sector: companies, researchers and local municipalities. The event was organized by Finnish Biochar Association and Forest Biochar research group
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) We know ethanol emits fewer carbon emissions like particulate matter (PM) than gasoline. In fact, when it comes to particulate matter, a MIT study concluded PM emissions from gasoline (E0) is three times higher than E10. So what
(FGUSAL/DICYT) Researchers at the University of Salamanca test a catalyst to produce biodiesel more efficiently and economically in accordance with the requirements imposed by the regulations for the coming years -- ... However, the problem is that nowadays it is only possible
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The US Department of Energy has a goal of developing industrially-relevant strains to meet titer, rate, and yield targets for fuel precursors for the 2022 BC Platform cost target goals of $3/GGE. A project led by
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In December, we reported that Cargill and Calysta will co-create the world’s largest gas fermentation facility in Memphis, Tennessee to produce Calysta’s FeedKind protein, a family of sustainable, traceable nutritional ingredients for fish, livestock and pets. Start-up is
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In a striking pledge made in the latter part of 2016. 20 Latin American countries promised to promote biofuel production and use, with the support of development finance institutions. That was then, this is now. What’s happening towards
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) US-based White Dog Labs have developed a new process that eliminates the production of CO2, a potent greenhouse gas, during fermentation and instead shifts the carbon to added ethanol production, boosting fermentation yields by around 50
(New Indian Express) After initiating the move to set up a second generation ethanol plant in Bargarh district with an investment of `750 crore, the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has partnered with Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT)
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Vertimass technology was originated at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where scientists discovered novel catalysts that convert a wide range of alcohols into various hydrocarbon blend stocks which can be used in existing gasoline, diesel and jet
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) With apologies to every other region around the world. we continue to see Asia as the epicenter of the biobased revolution over the next 20 years. The reasons are three and relatively straightforward: 1. Continued and robust
(University of Bristol) Scientists at the universities of Kent and Bristol have built a miniature scaffold inside bacteria that can bolster cellular productivity, providing the foundation for a new era of cellular protein engineering and biofuel production. -- The research, led by
by Sean Broderick (AIN Online) Biofuels offer more than an alternative to hydrocarbons; they also reduce jet-engine particle emissions by as much as 70 percent, research by a NASA-led group suggests. Working with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the National Research
by Tamara Scully (Country Folks) The next big thing in alternative energy may be pretty small. Algae, which are aquatic, single-celled organisms, produce oxygen while consuming carbon dioxide. Nitrogen, phosphorous and other nutrients which can degrade our waterways, plus sunlight and
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Qatar, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment launched a project to produce biogas from wastes with Qatar University’s College of Engineering with the goal of using that biogas as a clean energy to power
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) 2017 was a roller coaster year. There was a paradigm shift in biofuels, technology advancements, innovations abounded, politics chaotic. Some companies shut down and disappeared like the Hobo vanishing in the snow atop the Polar
(Phys.Org/Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory) The production of biofuels from plant biomass is a highly promising source of energy, but researchers are trying to find microbes that readily degrade recalcitrant lignin found in plant biomass. Recent comprehensive genomic and metabolomic analysis of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) An early stage renewable energy company focused on commercializing patent-pending technologies to convert low-value forestry residuals to high value liquid hydrocarbons that are compatible with the existing petroleum infrastructure. EnerSysNet Canada CEO Gary Scoggins gave this illuminating
(Lloyd's Register) LR and University Maritime Advisory Services (UMAS) have today (December 11, 2o17) released ‘Zero Emission Vessels 2030’, a new study that aims to demonstrate the viability of zero emission vessels (ZEVs) – identifying what needs to be in place
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today, we’d like to share news that a new biorefinery for diesel and jet fuel has finalized $112.6 million loan, backed by a USDA loan guarantee. This is Ryze Renewables, which will construct its biorefinery in Storey County,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory is the only federal laboratory dedicated to the research, development, commercialization, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. NREL — home to the National Bioenergy Center — advances
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week we’ve received news from three companies that have struck out in search of new markets for their fundamental processes, and new applications for biotechnology in some ancient and ossified markets such as jet fuel,
by Jason Hall (The Motley Fool) As countries around the world shift toward cleaner energy sources, the transport industry is ripe for some green disruption. -- ... In this week's episode of Industry Focus: Energy, Sarah Priestley and Jason Hall dive into how alternative
(Biofuels International) A (CDN) $76.8 million (€50.7 million) industrial scale advanced biofuel demonstration plant will be constructed at a former pulp mill in Tofte, Norway. The new facility is apparently a step towards the creation of a commercial scale project. Danish-Canadian clean-fuel
(Phys.Org/Cell Press) Consumers across the world enjoy Greek yogurt for its taste, texture, and protein-packed punch. Reaching that perfect formula, however, generates large volumes of food waste in the form of liquid whey. Now researchers in the United States and Germany
Pius Rugonzibwa In Mwanza (Daily News) The production of cassava in the country has received a major boost after the government recently signed a deal with a Chinese firm worth over 2.5trl/- aimed at commercialising its farming. -- Opening the annual review
(GEVO) Testing Being Performed as Part of FAA’s CLEEN Program to Promote the Use of Bio-Based Jet Fuels -- Gevo, Inc.(NASDAQ:GEVO), announced today (December 11, 2017) that GE Aviation had commenced jet engine combustor component testing with a jet fuel comprised
by Tracey Dodd (University of South Australia) PhD Thesis Explores How Institutions Help and Hinder the Commercialisation of Eco-Innovations--Particularly Aviation Biofuels, with a focus on Australia, Germany and the United States Excerpt from Chapter 7, Recommendations: The high reliance on government intervention was
by Mike Foley (The Land) A new fuel technology to convert harvested crops and other plant waste into biofuel and green chemical products is being developed with $11.9 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). The new technology uses
(University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences/Newswise) ... Although sorghum is a source for table syrup, scientists see a future in which we convert sorghum to biofuel, rather than relying on fossil fuel. That potential just grew as University
(General Automation Lab Technologies/PR Newswire) New $1.5 million DOE grant will utilize GALT's novel high throughput microbiome research platform to improve algal biofuel growth through microbiome engineering -- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has been awarded a 3 year $1.5 million grant by the
(European Environment Agency) Europe’s transport sector is making only mixed progress in meeting its environment, health and climate policy targets, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) assessment published today (December 5, 2017), which tracks the short and long-term environmental performance
(U.S. Department of Energy) Responses to Request for Information DE-FOA-0001526: Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Pilot Verification Capabilities ... In February 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) reached out to industry, academia, national laboratories, and other biofuels and
by Erik Hyrkas (U.S. Department of Energy) Did you know that the Energy Department is working to create biofuel from resources like human waste? In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technology Office works with national laboratories to research the
by M. Cristina Negri (U.S. Department of Energy) Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) in Argonne, Illinois, are examining innovative new agricultural landscapes that incorporate perennial bioenergy crops to provide environmental benefits, such as improved nutrient management and pollinator nesting. This work prioritizes
by Cliff Gladstein (ACT News) ... Attitudes toward the utility of natural gas as the environmentally preferred fuel began to change when technologies to effectively extract natural gas from local shale formations—a process called hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”—became widely used. Although the U.S.
(Biofuels International) An innovative gene editing technique could allow algae to produce ‘vast’ quantities of renewable fuels, new research claims. The method, developed by scientists at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, could lead to cheap ways of producing fuels, medicine, and
by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) is partnering with the University of California-Irvine’s Advanced Power & Energy Program to design an “Advanced Energy Community” in an underserved neighborhood in Huntington Beach. The community will be planned as a
by Julia Evangelou Strait (The Source Washington University in St. Louis) Medical, engineering schools team up to create biofuels independent of food crops -- Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have received a $3.9 million grant from the Department of Energy
(Nigerian Tribune) ... YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE reports that to stop the overdependence on petroleum products, the South-west is set to be the site of a project that is novel to Africa; processing of liquid fuel (biofuel) from waste plastic materials. ... In the last
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... What are the top trends? Here are the 11 we see dominating the debate on the stage and on the floor. Jet fuel deployment – how much, how soon, by whom? California, look up, not down!
(U.S. Department of Energy) Added sugar takes on a whole new meaning in the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL’s) work to uncover the secrets behind one of nature’s most powerful tools—cellulose-degrading enzymes. -- Researchers at NREL are seeking to unlock the
by Sarah Boden (WESA) The number of acres permitted to grow industrial hemp in Pennsylvania is going to increase 100-fold in 2018, from less than 50 to possibly more than 5,000. This year was the first since the 1930s that farmers could
(Lloyd's Register) LR and University Maritime Advisory Services (UMAS) have today (December 11, 2017) released ‘Zero Emission Vessels 2030’, a new study that aims to demonstrate the viability of zero emission vessels (ZEVs) – identifying what needs to be in place
by Ron Cascone (Nexant) Reuters reported on November 16, 2017 an International Maritime Organization (IMO) declaration that ships not meeting stack sulfur emission limits through reductions in the sulfur content of their fuel or by installing scrubbers risk being declared “unseaworthy”. Ship
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is working with bioenergy industries and leaders to assist them in the sustainable development of bioenergy that includes our fish and wildlife resources, in the quest towards sustainable bioenergy
(Algae Industry Magazine) Stelco Algae Holdings Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Stelco Inc., one of Canada’s leading integrated steel companies, and algal cultivation specialists Pond Technologies Inc., of Markham, Ontario, Canada, have announced their collaboration for the construction of what they
(Green Car Congress) A team at the University of Connecticut Storrs reports on a two-stage catalytic fast hydropyrolysis process (CFHP) that produces a drop-in biofuel with heating value and aromaticity close to that of gasoline. Their paper is published in the
(Propel) New study outlines how to make America’s most important low carbon policy more equitable. -- According to new research, low carbon liquid fuels must play a more significant role to meet California’s 2020 and 2030 carbon reduction goals under the Low
(ArcelorMittal) The world’s most prestigious award programme for the circular economy, The Circulars, has highly commended ArcelorMittal for demonstrating leadership and innovation by applying circular economy principles to its business models. ... Partnering with technical and industry leaders to develop and scale
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... Faced with two problems – 1) what to do with human waste in space and 2) how to get needed supplies to astronauts in space (especially longer space missions like Mars), scientists are working on
by Emma Cosgrove (AgFunder News) ... Tom Schenck of TerViva, an agtech startup working with citrus growers in Florida, says the disease has changed the face of the sunshine state. ... Startups are also looking to provide Florida citrus growers with alternative crops to
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In India, researchers from Chemical Engineering and Process Development Division together with colleagues from the National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms Center, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune have developed a method to produce 2,3- butanediol (BDO), 1,3- Propanediol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The question is being raised all over Silicon Valley — and increasingly around the world — if biotechnology is essentially a branch of information technology. ... Investors, theorists, entrepreneurs are forming a thesis that profound improvements in the physical world
(CGIAR) Evidence-based science on the mitigation and socio-economic impacts of soil carbon sequestration is needed to support commitments to sustainable development goals and the Paris Agreement target. ... Soil carbon sequestration, they say, “can have equal or larger impacts on mitigation.” COP23 agriculture decision
(Phys.Org/University of Bristol) Chemists at the University of Bristol have made the first steps towards making sustainable petrol using beer as a key ingredient. ... Scientists from the University of Bristol's School of Chemistry have been working for several years to develop technology that will
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Japan, Sekisui Chemical and LanzaTech, have successfully demonstrated the production of ethanol from unsorted municipal solid waste — which can be used directly as a fuel or as a precursor to butadiene (a key raw material in the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sekisui Chemicals, LanzaTech break-through in MSW-to-ethanol demonstration -- ... Were trash to acquire a substantial uplift in value, that’s the end to the landfill crisis. In Japan, Sekisui Chemical and LanzaTech have successfully demonstrated the production of ethanol from unsorted municipal solid
by Joseph Bebon (NGT News) Tri Delta Transit, which provides public transportation in Eastern Contra Costa County, Calif., has switched its entire fleet of transit buses from operating on petroleum diesel to using only Neste MY Renewable Diesel. ... “Tri Delta Transit is
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... (T)he Australian Renewable Energy Agency has made its single largest direct investment in second-generation biofuels via $11.9M in funding support for Ethtec to complete the development and demonstration of its advanced biofuel production technology. ... But times are changing in
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the Philippines, a local entrepreneur has won several awards for the fuel additives he developed from used cooking oil that improves performance by rearranging the molecular structure of diesel, gasoline and motor oil. The product,
(ICM/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ICM Inc., a global leading biofuels process technology provider, has announced two scientific studies funded by third parties, which were completed by the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, U.S. The data supports the
(Department of Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office is proud to announce the establishment of the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium—a research and development consortium dedicated to identifying and overcoming technical uncertainty in research and development of robust biomass supply,
by Anne Ju (Cornell Chronicle) A Cornell research team has received a $910,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to work toward revolutionizing how biofuels are produced from algae. David Erickson, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, and Largus Angenent,
(Phys.Org/Kanazawa University) Compared to first-generation biofuels produced from food crops, production of second-generation biofuels for daily use is an urgent issue. In this study, researchers developed a novel carboxylate-type liquid zwitterion as a solvent of biomass, which could dissolve cellulose with
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... When it comes to fungi, their ability to break even the most recalcitrant of hardwoods down is well-documented and anyone who has spent a day in a rainforest knows it. But there’s rot and there’s
by Sarah Loftus (Nanowerk News/Duke University) ... Although biofuels made from algae provide numerous environmental benefits, they will not win market share until they can compete economically with cheap fossil fuels. Algae require tremendous volumes of water to grow, and reusing that
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Codexis is a leading protein engineering company that applies its technology to the development of biocatalysts for the commercial manufacture of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. Codexis’ proven technology enables implementation of biocatalytic solutions to meet customer
by Dan Solomon (Texas Monthly) In January 2015, there were a dozen little earthquakes in the Dallas–Fort Worth area in less than 48 hours. They weren’t the first, or the last, that would strike the region, either. Prior to 2008, there had
(Associated Press/Washington Post) The CEOs of Italian-American carmaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles SpA and Italian energy giant ENI have agreed to jointly develop technologies to reduce carbon emissions from vehicles. The companies signed the agreement Tuesday in Rome with Premier Paolo Gentiloni that
by James Ayre (Clean Technica) The true “social cost of carbon” is more than double earlier estimates — with even just an updated accounting of the agricultural sector on its own more than doubling earlier estimates in aggregate — according to
by Eric Junga (American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy) In responding to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) action on vehicle standards, ACEEE found that average vehicle prices have remained essentially flat over the past 15 years, even as average fuel economy improves. The finding
(U.S. Department of Energy) Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, have successfully modified a microorganism to produce a useful intermediate from sugar fermentation, which can then be upgraded into valuable biobased fuels and chemicals. NREL’s modified
( São Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP/EurekAlert!) Expansion of sugarcane cultivation for biofuel in areas not under environmental protection or reserved for food production could also reduce global emissions of carbon dioxide by up to 5.6%, according to a study by
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Clariant’s sunliquid technology for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into sugars, followed by fermentation to cellulosic ethanol, is flexible to be used to convert different feedstocks on a regional basis, for example corn stover in North
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Now, Fuzhong Zhang, associate professor at the School of Engineering & Applied Science updated the Digest this week and noted that “We designed and then constructed a synthetic metabolic pathway inside the fast-growing E.coli by
by Carol Spaeth-Bauer (Wisconsin State Farmer) A University of Wisconsin-Madison study released on Nov. 15 has officials in the ethanol industry frustrated, disputing the methodology of the study saying the claims of the study are not supported by fact. The study showed a shift of
(Western Economic Diversification Canada/Ethanol Producer Magazine) 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
(University of Hohenheim) Until now, acreage was designated for either photovoltaics or photosynthesis, that is, to generate electricity or grow crops. An agrophotovoltaics (APV) pilot project near Lake Constance, however, has now demonstrated that both uses are compatible. Dual use of
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) Could a biotechnology succeed in reducing pests and the resultant damage to crops they bring — by making it nearly impossible for them to find mates and produce future pest generations? Provivi’s Big Series B raise What you
(Safran Group) Safran, which is already involved in the development of biofuels for aeronautics, is supporting an initiative led by the Masdar Institute’s Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC) in the Abu Dhabi desert to produce a salicornia-based biofuel. This sector is
(DuPont Industrial Biosciences/Ethanol Producer Magazine) DuPont Industrial Biosciences has announced the launch of Synerxia Thrive Fermentation System, the newest innovation in the company’s synergistic fermentation system technologies. The new fermentation system will deliver higher ethanol yields, incomparable robustness during thermal excursions and
by Erika Ebsworth-Goold (Washington University in St. Louis/The Source) An engineering team at Washington University in St. Louis is using e. coli to manufacture biofuel. New research from the lab further refines the process. ... Scientists have previously engineered metabolic pathways of microbes,
(TO-SYN-FUEL) Members of twelve SME, industrial, and scientific partners, co-ordinated by Fraunhofer UMSICHT, and representatives of the European Commission participated in the first consortium meeting in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on the 26th of October 2017. Discussions took place regarding the progress
by Mohsen Soleymani and Kurt A. Rosentrater (Bioengineering) A techno-economic evaluation of bioenergy production from macroalgae was carried out in this study. Six different scenarios were examined for the production of different energy products and by-products. Seaweed was produced either via
by Nida Sayed (Times of India) Less than four months after being launched by the Goa government, two of the three eco-friendly 'Scania' buses lie defunct. On August 15, the three were launched by chief minister Manohar Parrikar in Panaji, and soon after,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The promise is this: Manta could one day skim algae right off of the Chesapeake Bay and convert it into oil, simultaneously cleaning up deadly algae blooms and providing the precursor for clean, renewable fuels. Manta licensed
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In the Netherlands, a team of scientists charted greenhouse gas emissions resulting from biofuel production, presenting them as global maps. Dedicated crops grown on grasslands, savannahs and abandoned agricultural lands could provide around 30 exajoules per year (i.e.
(Scania) First came Nicolas, then Jérôme and finally Sophia. Today, the Faramia triplets have reached the age of 31 and are all active in the family transport business that bears their initials, Transports NJS Faramia. With the motto “The environment lies at
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The holiday season has arrived and earnings season too — and here are the highlights for 10 bellwether bioeconomy publicly-traded stocks. Aemetis – ethanol prices dive, but cellulosic on the way Avantium – IPO completed, Synvia next, then
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Pacific Ethanol in Stockton, California, will be the first ethanol plant to use Ener-Core’s Power Oxidizer, a combined-heat-and-power plant fueled by waste gas, using volatile organic compounds as fuel. The unique technology allows
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) With corn distillers oil (CDO) selling for around 25 cents per pound and DDGS for a nickel per pound, extracting as much CDO as possible is the goal for many plants. CDO sales account for
by Tony Briscoe (Chicago Tribune) As scientists and politicians around the world debate the best way to combat rising greenhouse gases, an Illinois ethanol plant, with help from state and federal researchers, is advancing a strategy that buries carbon emissions underground. After
(Associated Press/U.S. News and World Report) Researchers in Kansas and China are using mathematical modeling to improve the process of converting wheat straw into pellets for the production of ethanol. Wheat straw, the plant residue left after wheat harvest, is abundant in
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DMC’s technology enables reproducibility and robustness to scale; Production of a diversity of targets using a single bioprocess; HTS approaches that translate to full scale performance — and the company says, “50X improvement in speed and cost of product
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Density matters, that’s how we see it. Super-dense fuels are superfuels and they have a real place in our economy — not to mention our advanced bioeconomy. They have functional advantages that matter. There are fuels that have
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
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