by Gene Lucht (Iowa Farmer Today) Mahdi Al-Kaisi is not against using corn stover to make cellulosic ethanol products, and he isn’t against baling stubble for use in a livestock operation. But he wants to make it clear that the single
by Tona Kunz (Argonne National Laboratory) The U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory this week released a pair of studies on the efficiency of shale oil production excavation. The reports show that shale oil production generates greenhouse gas emissions
(U.S. Department of Energy) This fiscal year, three Supply Chain Sustainability Analysis (SCSA) reports were published through Argonne National Laboratory. The SCSAs use a life-cycle analysis approach to identify energy consumption or environmental issues that may be associated with biofuel
by Herbert Ssegane, M. Cristina Negri, John Quinn, Meltem Urgun-Demirtas (Biomass and Bioenergy) Design of a multifunctional landscape by integrating cellulosic biofuel production into an existing agricultural system. The design does not adversely offset current grain production for bioenergy crops. Maps of
by Kristen Johnson and Alicia Moulton (U.S. Department of Energy) At the Energy Department’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, we’re actively working to develop the advanced biofuels industry in a way that leads to positive impacts and that demonstrates responsible stewardship of
by Éanna Kelly (Science|Business) The problem: Finding efficient ways of producing ethanol from cellulose plant material such as corn husks or stalks, is a long-term research objective. The answer: Now scientists at KU Leuven have succeeded in producing what they claim to
by Emily Chung (CBC News) Regulation or pricing of emissions is key, Council of Canadian Academies suggests -- Canada could drastically cut its greenhouse gas emissions and meet international climate change commitments using existing commercially available technologies and policies that have
by Ruth Schuster and Noah Phillips (Haaretz.com) Aquanos' trick is to use algae to provide oxygen for the germs breaking down our waste to breathe, rather than break the bank pumping in the gas. -- ... That means 90% may have to
(U.S. Department of Energy) The DuPont cellulosic ethanol facility, opening in Nevada, Iowa, on October 30, will be the largest cellulosic ethanol plant in the world. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Director, Jonathan Male, alongside
(Algae Industry Magazine) The Technical University of Munich (TUM) has built a one-of-a-kind technical facility for algae cultivation at the Ludwig Bölkow Campus in Ottobrunn, to the south of Munich, Germany, in cooperation with Airbus Group. Efficient processes for producing
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) For two decades, ICM has adapted with the changing times, bringing technology solutions to the ethanol industry. -- In 1995, ICM Inc. got its start with the purchase of the engineering, manufacturing and marketing
(Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership) To coincide with its participation in the new Freight in the City event (27 October, Alexandra Palace) the LowCVP is calling on fleet operators, local authorities and others to join forces in building the market for heavy
by Peder Qvale (TU (Google translation)) Should cost as much as regular diesel. -- For a few weeks back, the company launched Eco-1 a renewable diesel option that should cost around 11 million liters and be better for the environment.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DuPont has developed a three-part strategy to deliver these new technologies to the growing biofuels market to help biofuels become more competitive with petroleum. The strategy includes: (1) improving existing ethanol production through differentiated agriculture seed
by Blake Herzog (Yuma Sun) The University of Arizona's expanding research efforts into biofuel at its agricultural center outside Yuma is prompting the county to consider amending its zoning ordinance to allow for increased activity in that realm. The Yuma County
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory) Ethanol's inherently high octane rating makes it attractive for meeting fuel economy and greenhouse gas targets and renewable fuel mandates, according to an Oak Ridge National Laboratory report. Although ethanol has two-thirds the energy density of
by Stephan Piotrowski, Michael Carus and Roland Essel (nova-Institut /Biofuels Digest) How much biomass can be sustainably produced globally by 2050? How much of the demand for food, feed, materials, bioenergy and biofuels can be met by this supply? Dr. Stephan Piotrowski,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... 17 — count them, 17 — different pyrolytic technology centers in the UK ... Tyre Pyrolysis: 2G BioPOWER 2G BioPOWER is developing a UK pyrolysis project to convert used tyres into partially renewable oil, steel and carbon black,
by Michelle Fredrickson (WSU News) A researcher at Washington State University has received a three-year $450,000 federal grant to develop computer models for using iron to more efficiently refine bio-oils and make better biofuels. Jean-Sabin McEwen, assistant professor in the Voiland
by Melody M. Bomgardner (Chemical & Engineering News) Researchers at the Joint BioEnergy Institute transform biomass into energy-rich fuel molecules -- .. JBEI researchers are zeroing in on concepts that others have decided are too difficult or would take too
by Rajdeep Golecha (Biomass Magazine) The amount of risk in supply variation a biorefinery is willing to accept will depend on its fundamental business strategy, and the amount of premium they are willing to pay to reduce risks associated with
(Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials) Biomass Supplies (Pvt) Ltd, a company based in Sri Lanka, earned the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) certification for biomass produced from branches pruned from live fences of Gliricidia trees. The certification covers Biomass Supplies' work
(HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology) Jeremy Schmutz, faculty investigator at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, has received a grant from the National Science Foundation to study how switchgrass plants adapt to drought stress. Schmutz, who co-directs the Genome Sequencing Center at
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sudden re-focusing and trimming of Algenol by its lead investors leads CEO Paul Woods to resign; new direction focused on carbon capture, fresh water production until oil prices recover. In Florida, the hammer dropped swiftly and without warning
by Doug Durante (Clean Fuels Development Coalition/Biofuels Digest) In the aftermath of revelations of how Volkswagen had their thumb on the scale as they cheated not just the EPA, but all of us who breathe the air, it raises serious
by Dipankar Chakraborty (Bangalore Mirror) This may reduce country's dependence on imported fossil fuel to meet energy needs, say experts With more than one lakh trained farmers and local stakeholders from across 2,039 of the total of 2,584 villages, Karnataka's Hassan district
(PR Web) Several of the plants grown as biofuel crops have proved to be invaders in some environments – spreading rapidly and overwhelming surrounding natural ecosystems. Scientists at Virginia Tech used two of the best-respected and most widely used weed
(25 x '25) The announcement by EPA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) that it will begin preliminary research on lifecycle impacts of the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) should be good news for the biofuels industry, providing the agency’s investigators
(Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) Switchgrass, a perennial native to the tallgrass prairie, is one of the most promising bioenergy crops in the United States, with potential to provide high-yield biomass on marginal soils unsuitable for traditional agricultural crops. New research by
by Karissa Rosenfield (Arch Daily) The Buckminster Fuller Institute (BFI) has announced GreenWave as the winner of its 2015 Fuller Challenge - "Socially-Responsible Design's Highest Award." The non-profit is responsible for designing the world's first multi-species 3D ocean farms with the intent to "restore ocean ecosystems
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)The production of Agrisoma’s Resonance Carinata is being expanded to multiple locations globally to provide a supply of sustainable, non-food oils for meeting the demand for sustainable biofuels. Resonance Carinata is certified sustainable by the Roundtable
by DuneLawrence, Benjamin Elgin, Vernon Silver (Bloomberg Business) ... From February through April 2013, they (researchers from West Virginia University's Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines and Emissions) tested three diesel cars: a Volkswagen Jetta, a Volkswagen Passat, and a BMW SUV. Besch took
by David Hasemyer and John H. Cushman Jr. (Inside Climate News) Collaborating with the Bush-Cheney White House, Exxon turned ordinary scientific uncertainties into weapons of mass confusion. ... No wonder: in the opening days of the oil-friendly Bush-Cheney administration, Exxon's chief lobbyist had
by John H. Cushman Jr. (InsideClimate News) In the 1980s, Exxon lobbied to replace scarce oil with synthetic fossil fuels, but it glossed over the high carbon footprint associated with synfuels. Early in the 1980s, ... Exxon believed oil supplies could not
by Neela Banerjee & Lisa Song (Inside Climate News) Throughout the 1980s, the company struggled to solve the carbon problem of one of the biggest gas fields in the world out of concern for climate impacts. In 1980, as Exxon Corp.
by Lisa Song, Neela Banerjee, David Hasemyer (Inside Climate News) The company chairman would later mock climate models as unreliable while he campaigned to stop global action to reduce fossil fuel emissions. Steve Knisely was an intern at Exxon Research and Engineering
by Yana Palagacheva (ICIS News) ... After successfully establishing its alternative ethanol production route, Abengoa is now seeking to diversify its portfolio with its bio-alcohols project, particularly bio-butanol. “We have quite a wide branch of final products and right now we want to
(El Dario (Google translation)) ... "What matters to Barajas de Melo and all its neighbors is that this plant is definitely over. They take four or five years building it and are talking about an investment of 30 million euros.
(Natural Resources Defense Council) Demand for wood pellet exports out of the southeastern U.S. is being driven almost exclusively by climate and energy policies in the U.K. and European Union. Europe's forests are often highly regulated, so European power companies
(Tyton BioEnergy Systems) Tyton BioEnergy Systems and Sunchem announced today a research and commercial partnership combining Tyton’s research, development and commercial capabilities with Sunchem’s Solaris tobacco variety to establish a globally significant alliance to advance tobacco-based green chemicals and biofuels.
by David Hest (Corn+Soybean Digest) Farmers find stover removal for cellulosic ethanol boosts yields, reduces costs and saves soil. Like a lot of farmers, Curt Ferris has wrestled with large amounts of crop residue in corn-on-corn fields. He invested in a
(US Department of Energy) ICM Inc. announced successful completion of two 1,000-hour performance runs of its patent-pending Generation 2.0 Co-Located Cellulosic Ethanol process at its cellulosic ethanol pilot plant in St. Joseph, Missouri. This is an important step toward the
by Elliot Levine (US Department of Energy) A five-company team led by Haldor Topsoe, and funded in part by the Energy Department, produced 10,000 gallons of gasoline from woody biomass, which included trees and wood waste. -- The purpose of
by Michael Bastasch (Daily Caller) Abengoa Bioenergy got nearly $230 million in federal loans and grants to build a massive cellulosic biofuel refinery capable of producing 25 million gallons of ethanol every year. The company, however, says it has paid back
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Mercurius says it “has the technology and processes that will, for the first time, make the production of cellulosic biofuels profitable while meeting the needs of the diesel and jet fuel markets and satisfying government
by Monica Trauzzi (E&E TV) As the renewable fuel standard faces continued regulatory and legislative uncertainty, DuPont Biofuels is set to open the world's largest cellulosic ethanol biorefinery in Iowa at the end of the month. How will the uncertainty impact
(Scania Australia/Biodiesel Magazine) Willunga, South Australia-based Peats Soil has developed its own biodiesel manufacturing plant, utilizing “dirty water” it collects from food manufacturing locations. The biodiesel will be used to fuel a new fleet of 13 Scania trucks it is purchasing
by Plamena Tisheva (See News) A pilot contract for the supply of algae-derived biofuel to Hawaiian Electric Co by Ohio-based Phycal Inc has been terminated after the algae project was never finished, a spokesman for the utility told Pacific Business News
(UT News) A researcher at The University of Texas at Austin will receive two grants totaling $15 million to study a native prairie grass, including how it can become a sustainable source of bioenergy amid global climate change. Tom Juenger, a
(Select Science) Everyone is talking about biofuels, from biodiesel, plant oil, ethanol and biomethane to the synthetic biomass- to- liquid (BtL)- fuels. They are at present the only renewable alternative in the mobility sector and already make up 6.1% of
by Gonzalo A. Martinez, Stefano Rebecchi, Deborha Decorti, Joana M. B. Domingos, Andrea Natolino, Daniele Del Rio, Lorenzo Bertin, Carla Da Porto and Fabio Fava (Green Chemistry) The development of a multi-purpose four step-cascading biorefinery scheme for the valorization of red
by Lauren Klamm (Source) Colorado State University is one of 10 institutions in a $13.8 million research grant to improve sorghum as a sustainable source for biofuel production. ... Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the five-year grant takes a
(Tempo) Achieving success in the mixing of 15 percent vegetable oil (B15) with solar, the government will increase it to 20 percent (B20). Around Rp8 billion from crude palm oil exports or CPO Supporting Fund (CSF) has been prepared for
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Leaf Resources Limited (ASX:LER) is focused on making sustainable products from plant biomass, offering an advanced technology package for breaking down plant derived biomass to useful, sustainable, renewable and biodegradable products. Leaf Resources’ Glycell technology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For a number of years, readers all over the world have been following the fortunes of Joule Unlimited, in and out of stealth, and its goal of making hydrocarbons directly from CO2, sunlight and water
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
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Who’s a Major Player, who’s a Pioneer, who’s committed, who’s monitoring the space as a stakeholder? We look at 45 airlines and their efforts in bringing low-carbon fuels to the marketplace. ... The activity includes participation in
(American Council on Renewable Energy) The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) hosted its annual National Renewable Energy Policy Forum in Washington, D.C. on April 23, 2015, bringing together a range of renewable energy industry stakeholders and policymakers – including
(Energy Policy Solutions) Designing energy policy correctly is tough work. Well-designed energy policies reduce pollution, cut consumer costs, and minimize dependence on foreign energy supplies. Done wrong, they can do the reverse, and increase pollution, lock in dirty technologies, or
(Globe Newswire/Research and Markets) Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Biofuels (Bioethanol and Biodiesel) - Global Strategic Business Report" report to their offering. This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Biofuels (Bioethanol and Biodiesel) in Thousand Gallons by
(DuPont) Deal Enables Unique Corn Fiber Process to Maximize Profitability and Sustainability -- DuPont Industrial Biosciences (DuPont) and Quad County Corn Processors (QCCP) announced a new multi-year contract to supply the enzymes that enable QCCP’s Cellerate™ process in the production of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sapphire is a venture capital backed company founded in 2007 for the purpose of growing and processing micro-algae into products that serve very large and diverse markets where the unique attributes of algae provide valuable
(Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute/PR Newswire) The Chesapeake Bay Seed Capital Fund has invested $150,000 into Manta Biofuel LLC, a company that produces crude oil from algae at a cost that is competitive with traditional petroleum, University of Maryland officials announce today. The
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On October 9, the U.S. Department of Energy released a report about the threats posed by climate change to the U.S. electricity and fuels sector, U.S. Energy Sector: Regional Vulnerabilities and Resilience Solutions. Climate change
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Here below are links to the complete series of 8-Slide Guides published by The Digest in 2015. Abengoa Abengoa’s Hugoton cellulosic project ABLC NEXT Accelergy The AgTech Revolution Algae Roadmap Algenol American Process Amyris BASF BioAmber BIOFAT consortium Butamax California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard Cellana Champagne-Ardenne Clariant Coca-Cola Plant Bottle Cool Planet Corbion CSIRO’s tobacco oil
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cobalt Technologies was commercializing cellulosic biobutanol, a versatile platform molecule for the renewable chemicals and fuels. The Company’s technology efficiently converts diverse non-food feedstocks – initially, lignocellulosic extracts from woody biomass and sugar cane bagasse
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We can now affirmatively report that SGBio, a joint venture between the Solvay Group and GranBio, has acquired assets from Cobalt including the bank of microorganisms and intellectual property related to patents, trademarks, processes, operating
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the terrestrial world, oxygen is colorless, odorless, and try to get through an hour without some. In the Bioeconomy Cinematic Universe, oxygen is harder than steel, heavier than a black hole, and higher than
by Dr Jen Vanderhoven (CBMNet) In particular we would like to build an application for the societal challenge: BIOTEC-06-2017. Optimisation of biocatalysis and downstream processing for the sustainable production of high value-added platform chemicals Total project value €5-7 Million. Specific Challenge: The bio-based production of chemical building
by Summer Barkley (DVIDS/Biodiesel Magazine) Three unrelated problems were solved by one simple solution devised by Logistics Civil Augmentation Program IV contract partner Fluor to convert used cooking oil into biodiesel to help power solid waste incinerators at Bagram Air
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Due to increasing demand for biodiesel-blended heating oil, the German biodiesel quality management association AGQM announced it will offer for the first time a test to assess oxidation stabilizers for fatty acid methyl esters (FAME)
by Michael Nash (Automotive World) Volvo Trucks is gearing up to ensure its Euro VI engines support hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO) Just as it did with its Euro V engines, Volvo Trucks is readying its Euro VI engines to be hydrotreated
(Wärtsilä) A consortium comprised of Wärtsilä, GoodFuels Marine, and Boskalis will head a two year pilot programme to accelerate the development of sustainable, scalable and affordable marine bio-fuels. Bio-fuels are today not part of the marine fuel mix that operators
by Jeff Lasky (KGTV 10 News) Small businesses across the country are making profits off biofuels. 10News Reporter Jeff Lasky takes us on a behind-the-scenes tour at one in Escondido. WATCH VIDEO
(CNN Money/Market Watch/Aemetis) New Delhi Has the Worst Air Pollution in the World -- Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMTX), an advanced renewable fuels and biochemicals company, announced that distilled biodiesel produced by its subsidiary in India reduces major causes of air pollution
(The Advertiser/AAP) A plant used to make tequila could be good for something other than a hangover, University of Adelaide research shows. Agave produces large amounts of sugar that can be fermented into bioethanol, Associate Professor Rachel Burton says. Research from
by Nicholas Bergin (Lincoln Journal Star) Sorghum, a grass with a colorful seed about the size of a BB, was selling at more than a dollar a bushel above corn thanks to China’s voracious appetite for grain free of genetically
by Elena Ferrarin (Daily Herald) Seventeen-year-old Tavis Reed is determined to make a difference in the world by helping mitigate or even repair environmental damage -- and he's already on his way, having applied those principles to develop an environmentally friendly
(Globe Newswire/Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc.) Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc. (OTCQB:ALLM) (the "Company"), announced today that its’ subsidiary Ek Laboratories in Longwood, Florida, under the direction of Dr. Richard Blair, Dr. Peter Cohen and Dr. Zhilin Xie, achieved 63% conversion of Coastal
(Times of India) Popularly known in our old Tamil folklore as the 'Tree that cures' or as the 'Tree that protects', the Punnai tree's population along our coastal and river belts has been dwindling in the last three decades owing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Four new technologies approach scaled operations, all with one element in common – Velocys technology on the back-end. Why Velocys, why now? The Digest investigates. In Oklahoma, Southeast Oregon, Eastern Ohio, and a site near London
(De Gruyter) The use of biomass as a resource for fuels and chemicals is a very important topic in chemical research and chemical industry. -- The field of biorefineries combines cutting-edge research with innovative industrial goals. Biorefineries compiles the basic science
(Green Air Online) The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has marked the launch of the second phase of its Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN II) programme by awarding $100 million to eight companies to develop and demonstrate technologies
(Algae Industry Magazine) The Faculty of Engineering (FI) of the Autonomous University of Querétaro (UAQ), a Mexican public university based in the city of Santiago de Querétaro, Querétaro, is carrying out a greenhouse drainage water treatment project using microalgae so
(EurekAlert!/ UniVerve) Novel and scalable technology and production process combining algal biomass cultivation, harvesting and concentration as well as extraction and fractionation of fatty acids from the biomass results in ability to offer high quality feedstock for various industries in
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... How do you create clean vehicles that consumers want to buy? All of the automakers are currently focused on this question. The Department of Energy’s Quadrennial Technology Review calls for the co-optimization of fuels and
(Algenuity) These services are targeted at customers – particularly in the algae food and nutrition markets and open pond algae producers - who want non-GMO algae solutions for a unique competitive advantage, higher performance, and a faster path towards profitability. Three
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sapphire’s Jamie Levine, Matrix Genetics’ Margaret McCormick, Algal Scientific’s Geoff Horst, Heliae’s Len Smith and USCD’s Steve Mayfield reflect on the commercial progress of algae. There is the dream of algae. All that photosynthetic productivity,
(Michigan State University) A new $1 million relationship between Michigan State University and ExxonMobil will expand research designed to progress the fundamental science required to advance algae-based fuels. David Kramer, MSU’s John Hannah Distinguished Professor in Photosynthesis and Bioenergetics at the
(Joule/BusinessWire) Joule, the pioneer of liquid fuels from recycled CO2, today announced that its fuel grade Sunflow®-E ethanol has been registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for commercial use in E10 and E15 gasoline blends. “We are approaching commercialization
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 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 developed an industrial
by Mark Emalfarb (Dyadic International) ... Mike Murtha's My Word column, "Feds must follow Fla. on ethanol repeal," on Monday is a misguided call to move the state backward in all three areas. Florida's universities and biotechnology companies — including the
(NGV Journal) Scania will unveil the industry’s broadest range of alternative fuel vehicles at Busworld in Kortrijk on 16-21 October. Scania now offers buses and coaches for all operations – from dense city traffic to demanding coach operations – expressly
(Biofuels International) Wood-based BioVerno diesel by Finland’s UPM has been found to significantly reduce harmful tailpipe emissions, the company reports. A number of engine and vehicle tests have been carried out across key research institutes, such as VTT Technical Research Centre
(Green Air Online) The South African ‘Project Solaris’ initiative that is developing an energy-rich tobacco crop for use as a feedstock for producing aviation biofuel has been awarded certification by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB). The project, formally launched
(EurekAlert!/University of Eastern Finland) The hemicellulose sugars of barley straw can be effectively fermented into biobutanol, when starch is added during the pre-treatment or fermentation process, shows a new University of Eastern Finland study. Seeking to find alternatives to ethanol as
(AutoEvolution) A report by United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) has found that about one-third of all food produced worldwide gets lost or wasted in food production and consumption systems. We’re talking about throwing away $1
by Helen Tunnicliffe (The Chemical Engineer Today) Chemical engineers from Iran have found a way to produce biodiesel from castor oil without the need for extra petrochemical methanol, using a biorefinery set-up. Producing biodiesel from vegetable oils is not completely renewable,
(Aemetis/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Aemetis Inc., an advanced renewable fuels and biochemicals company, announced the harvesting of 12- to 15- foot tall biomass sorghum grown in Central California that was produced using proprietary Nexsteppe seed genetics. Biomass Sorghum is a feedstock
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, TheTruthAboutCars reported that Amyris and Solazyme risk being painted with the same tainted brush as Volkswagen due to the fact that both companies collaborated with the company to test emissions of their fuels. It
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Move over Super, here comes SuperDuper. All the high octane and performance, and the renewability too, at a price you can afford. Biofuels are adding options for drop-in, low-carbon, super-perfornance gasoline via isooctane and isooctene,
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) A recent Rutgers University assessment on bioenergy potential in New Jersey found that the state producers over 7 million dry tons of biomass annually, over 4 million of which could be recovered and used to
by Gillian Klucas (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) ... The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will lead a $13.5 million, multi-institutional research effort to improve sorghum as a sustainable source for biofuel production. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, this five-year grant takes a comprehensive
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) When is the last time you were stranded on the side of the road, wishing you were a member of a motor club? Or, perhaps, you are already a member of a motor club,
by Paul Bunje (NRG COSIA) More than a decade ago, a group of researchers published a landmark study showing the correlation between human development and energy consumption. The conclusion? Industrialized countries and those that have been growing quickly in recent
(Air Transport Action Group) From solar power installations at a hundred airports around the world, to tablet computers for pilots, brand new aircraft designs and flights on fuel made with waste gas from steel plants, a new report released at
by Reed Landberg (Bloomberg/Renewable Energy World) If the world seeks to lower carbon emissions, why is support for fossil fuels so strong? --- As world leaders converge on New York for a United Nations gathering that’s expected to have a
by Coral Davenport (The New York Times) A majority of Republicans — including 54 percent of self-described conservative Republicans — believe the world’s climate is changing and that mankind plays some role in the change, according to a new survey conducted by
(EurekAlert!/US Department of Energy) New technique removes barrier to development of biofuel cells with efficient performance -- With fossil-fuel sources dwindling, better biofuel cell design is a strong candidate in the energy field. In research published in the Journal of
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Spain, PlanetEnergy has launched its energy island project, producing 100% of household energy requirements from organic waste, wastewater, and manure waste with solar, wind, batteries and biodiesel backup. The company says the project is
(Stockholm Environment Institute) This brief draws together SEI research done between 2011 and 2014 on agribusiness developments – especially of oil palm – in Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The brief presents overarching insights from that work, along with recommendations
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Although American Process has been most closely associated with its complete cellulosic biofuels package — of late, the company has been much in focus because of its capabilities in producing low-cost renewable sugars. Thought it was
by Bill Brandon (Biofuels Digest) Fooling with computers to give false readings has happened before. It is important to recognize similarities to earlier cases and EPA’s role in them. The 1998 consent decree In October 1998, the DOJ and EPA entered into a
by Francesco G. Mutti, Tanja Knaus, Nigel S. Scrutton, Michael Breuer, Nicholas J. Turner* (Science Magazine) A clean and green approach to amines --- Enzymes evolved to operate in water and to modify their substrates using comparatively nontoxic reagents. Thus,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The VW crisis just keeps getting worse, with Volkswagen suspending its VW, Audi, and Porsche R&D chiefs, as Audi confirmed that 2.1 million of its vehicles were outfitted with defeat devices, and reports surfaced that the
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On September 22, Volkswagen Motors (VW) admitted that it had cheated on emissions testing in Europe and the United States, by installing a piece of software known as a ‘defeat device’ in diesel cars. The Environmental
by Jeremy Plester (The Guardian) Imagine if waste carbon dioxide in the air could be turned into useful products such as fuels, building materials or even baking powder. At a stroke it would help get rid of a greenhouse gas, slow
by Sebastien Pouliot and Bruce A. Babcock (Iowa Farmer Today) ... Estimation of the demand for E85 requires data matching various E85 price levels with the corresponding amount of E85 sales. A rich source of data was provided to us that we
by Robert-Jan Bartunek (Reuters) Belgian researchers are examining the excrement of giant pandas to try to understand how they can digest tough bamboo, hoping for clues on how to develop new generations of biofuel. The genetic make-up of endangered pandas is that
by Bobby Likis (Car Clinic Network) Recently, Lauren Fix appeared on the Jacki Daily Show and took aim at Ethanol. Really? Yes, something needs to be fixed. And it’s not ethanol. What needs to be fixed is the egregiously incorrect
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol D6 RIN prices have stayed relatively stable over the summer while D4 biodiesel RINs prices plummeted, Illinois economists Scott Irwin and Darrel Good point out in a recent FarmDocDaily post, “Why Isn’t the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) License agreement adds countries in Southeast Asia; Optional capacity for up to 75,000 metric tons per year; Targeting large-scale commercial production of renewable butanediol using Genomatica technology In California, BASF and Genomatica have expanded the scope
by Gabe Elsner (Energy & Policy Institute) Fossil fuel and utility interests, concerned about the rise of cheap clean energy, are financing attacks on pro-clean energy policies in an effort to delay the growth of their competition in the marketplace. The
by Anmar Frangoul (CNBC.com) In 2012 – almost 100 years since the Wright brothers made history – another historic flight took place when the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) flew what it described as, "The first civil jet powered by
by Mark Harris (The Guardian) In Las Cruces, New Mexico, a pilot project is using heat-loving algae to clean wastewater and generate energy ... “Galdieria sulphuraria is one of the most interesting microorganisms on the planet,” says Peter Lammers, a professor
by Mohamad Azlan Jaafar (Malaysia Reserve) Several anti-palm oil groups are pressuring international manufacturers to boycott products from Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGVH), according to industry sources. FGVH, Malaysia’s largest oil palm planter, is being singled out for using “unfair
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) NexSteppe is dedicated to pioneering the next generation of scalable, reliable, cost-effective feedstock solutions for the biofuels, biopower and biobased products industries. Using advanced breeding techniques and cutting-edge analytical technologies, NexSteppe is developing Malibu sweet
(Romania Insider) Locomotive producer Reloc – Electroputere VFU Craiova has developed the first locomotive in Romania which runs exclusively on biodiesel or vegetable oil, with no added fuel. The engine has the same power and performance as one which runs
by Len Calderone (Robotics Tomorrow/Altenergymag.com) Introduction of biofuels is proceeding so quickly, that the environmental risks of biofuel production are being disregarded. Without careful and thorough assessment and regulation, the promise of biofuels may well be delayed. ... Collecting feedstock to convert
by Anna Hirtenstein (Bloomberg Business) As the digital age curtails use of newsprint and stationary, European paper makers are retooling their factories to produce more profitable materials that go into everything from fuels to sweeteners and even hair dye. That’s because
by Keith Loria (Biomass Magazine) California’s Calgren Renewable Fuels uses renewable energy generated onsite to power its renewable fuel production process. When the Calgren Ethanol Biodigester officially opened in Tulare County, California, early this year, it represented a major commitment by the
(Phys.Org) Researchers generated nearly 16,000 sequences of gene-containing regions for barley, mapping approximately two-thirds of all annotated barley genes. While researchers continue to work on a complete reference sequence for the barley genome, the determination of improved sequence assemblies for the
by Caleb Smith (The Stanford Daily) During this coming school year, and possibly by the end of the month, a large proportion of Stanford’s food waste will be sent to an innovative new reprocessing system operated by Sustainable Alternative Feed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From the company’s IPO Prospectus: “Our proprietary technology platform combines industrial biotechnology, an innovative purification process and chemical catalysis to convert renewable feedstocks into chemicals that are cost-competitive replacements for petroleum-derived chemicals. The development of our
(Lux Research/MarketWired) Ethanol and Biodiesel Continue Their Domination but Remain Relatively Flat, While Novel Fuels and Novel Feedstocks Grow at Double-Digit Rates, Says Lux Research Global biofuels capacity will grow to 61 billion gallons per year (BGY) in 2018, up from
by Alexander Cornwell (Gulf News Aviation ) Boeing, together with Etihad Airways, Takreer, Masdar and Total, has been working since January 2014 to develop biofuel in emirate -- An initiative to produce environmentally friendly aviation jet fuel in Abu Dhabi is progressing.
(Phys.org/Michigan State University) Researchers at Michigan State University have built a molecular Swiss Army knife that streamlines the molecular machinery of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, making biofuels and other green chemical production from these organisms more viable. The team
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
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A 6-year Volkswagen scheme to defraud emissions regulators, uncovered by the US Environmental Protection Agency and disclosed publicly in recent days, has caught the eye of other countries and stakeholders around the world. In France, Finance
(EnAlgae) The final report card for the EnAlgae project has been published and is now available online. Focusing on products and impact, the report summarises the work undertaken during the lifetime of the project and highlights the legacies that will
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) After scientists found that toxic lead particles in engine exhaust were accumulating in bodies and affecting brain health, amendments to the Clean Air Act 25 years ago prohibited the use of lead in gasoline. Children were
by Eric Mortenson (Capital Press) The recent drop in oil prices put the brakes on biofuel production, but industry insiders believe in the long-term promise of the technology. -- It’s like leasing ground to the future. On about 90 acres that in
(PhyCO2/Biomass Magazine) Michigan State University and PHYCO2 have entered into a partnership to develop algae technologies produced from PHYCO2’s revolutionary and patented concept that promotes algae growth and sequesters, or captures, carbon dioxide from power plant emissions. The collaboration is a
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Commercial-scale production and harvest of several annual and perennial biomass feedstocks is under way, paving the way for biofuels, biopower and biobased products. -- ... There are, however, a handful of other feedstocks that are
(Vertimass/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Vertimass LLC announced the company has chosen Technip to provide pilot testing, scale-up, and initial plant design for their novel technology for converting alcohol to renewable gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel blend stocks that are compatible with
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory) A catalyst being developed by researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory could overcome one of the key obstacles still preventing automobile engines from running more cleanly and efficiently. The mixed oxide catalyst could
(Placer County) A new technology for converting forest waste into renewable natural gas was demonstrated for the first time ever today in Auburn. The process, developed by Canadian firm G4 Insights, converts scraps and small trees from forest thinning projects into
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For every ton of corn, wheat, and rice harvested today, an equal amount of biomass is left behind on the fields. Within this biomass — of which nearly 2 billion tons are produced each year
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BIOFAT is a microalgae-to-biofuel FP7 demonstration project that integrates the entire value chain of algae process from optimized growth, starch and oil accumulation, to downstream processing (biorefinery) including biofuel production . The BIOFAT approach integrates
by Thomas Richard (Examiner.com/Climate Change Dispatch) According to Politico's Morning Energy report published today, twenty climate scientists have sent a letter to President Obama urging him to jail climate skeptics using the RICO act. In a letter dated September 1
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