by Jon Hernandez (CBC News) New facility could produce up to 400,000 barrels of biocrude annually, says Canfor Pulp president -- One of the world's largest logging companies is looking to get into the oil business. Canfor is in the early phases of
by Beth Kowitt (Fortune Magazine) Some U.S. farmers are skeptical of climate change, even though they’re among the most affected by it -- ... A survey conducted by Iowa State Professor J. Arbuckle and Purdue University professor Linda Prokopy of 5,000
by Marina Lemle (AllAfrica) Unlike conventional diesel, fuel made from soybeans does not directly damage lung cells, a lab study has shown. "Some of the soybean biodiesel presently being used in Brazil does not exhibit direct adverse effects on human lung
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers has completed a standard that establishes a framework for charting progress toward sustainable agriculture production. According to ASABE, the standard is intended for application with all typical farming
by Kelly Marshall (Precision.AgWired.com) This morning three Nobel Laureates presented at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. to call on Greenpeace, the United Nations and governments around the world to support GMOs. They are the public face of more
(Phys.Org) Plant cell walls, which constitute the bulk of plant biomass, are diverse, complex, and dynamic in their structural composition and integrity. Cell walls are innately resistant to deconstruction by biological or chemical catalysts. This property is often referred to
(U.S. Department of Energy) Recycling waste from biofuel production could lower cost for future biorefineries. -- Ionic liquids (ILs) have been shown to be an excellent pretreatment solvent for biomass; the ILs prepare the plant matter to be broken down into
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Zimbabwe, technical capacity for biodiesel production from algae has been successfully transferred to Harare Polytecnic and the fuel has passed B100 quality standards. The university is using photoreactors to grow the algae for later
(Alliance Bioenergy +) Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc. (OTCQB:ALLM) (the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has received an LOI from Smart Business International Trading, S.A.S (Smart Business) of Bogata, Columbia for the purchase of an initial sub-license to install
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cellana uses the most productive plants on earth - marine microalgae - to photosynthetically produce its ReNew line of Omega-3 EPA and DHA oils, animal feed/food, and biofuel feedstocks. Cellana's patented ALDUO system enables economic,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... But the RE in algae these days has been, more or less, REposition. Possibly REthink. Certainly not much REfinance, or REcommit to the original targets. The algae business models of 2009 burst up in a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The indictment was handed down this week in The Motley Fool, which averred: While investors have been told to expect the natural gas-to-fuels platform to be commercialized by 2018, real-world indicators essentially guarantee that won’t be
(Bioenergy Insight) German carmaker Volkswagen has showcased its algae biogas-powered vehicle at a biogas project based in El Torno Chiclana, a town in south-west Spain. The presentation of the test vehicle was unveiled at a biogas development named ‘All-gas biogas project’,
(U.S. Department of Energy) Alison Goss Eng, of the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office, Tim Theiss, Laboratory Relationship Manager of the Bioenergy Technologies Program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Tim Rials, Director of the Tennessee Forest Products
(Brookhaven National Laboratory) Fundamental enzyme study leads to increased access to bioenergy feedstocks and improves ethanol yield by modifying plant cell wall structures. Lignin is a natural component of plant cell walls, the scaffolding that surrounds each cell and plays a
by Gollany HT, Titus BD, Scott DA, Asbjornsen H, Resh SC, Chimner RA, Kaczmarek DJ, Leite LF, Ferreira AC, Rod KA, Hilbert J, Galdos MV, Cisz ME (Biogeochemical Research) Rapid expansion in biomass production for biofuels and bioenergy in the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It was back in 2010 that the first large-scale set of projects were funded to to test innovative concepts for the beneficial use of carbon dioxide, part of a Recovery Act investment into carbon capture
by Josh Pedrick (Platts) ... "We should have included T70 as a metric in the model, it entirely changes the perception of the model," said Shon Van Hulzen, director of quality control at US ethanol producer POET, in a presentation Wednesday. T70
by Robert Miller (TC Palm) ... The oil industry doesn't want ethanol to go away, but it doesn't want to give up any more market. It needs the low-cost oxygenate as refineries have been retooled to run more profitably by producing a
by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com) Senior Vice President for the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Geoff Cooper participated in the panel discussion “Pathways to Fully Realizing the Bold Promise of the Broader Biofuels Industry,” during this year’s Fuel Ethanol Workshop. Chuck Zimmerman
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)Dimethyl ether has several fuel properties that make it attractive for use in diesel engines. It has a very high cetane number, which is a measure of the fuel's ignitibility in compression ignition engines. The energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DME : it burns like natural gas, handles like LPG, powers like diesel. READ MORE
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Poor DME. it burns like natural gas, handles like LPG, powers like diesel, and it’s as well-known as a good place for sewing machine repair in Burundi. San Diego-based Oberon Fuels has been the one consistent
(Thai Visa) The Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency has signed a memorandum of understanding with Bangchak Petroleum Plc and three transportation and logistics operators to use B20 biodiesel in their vehicles. According to Energy Minister Gen. Anantaporn Kanjanarat, this
by Erin Guiltenane (University of Calcary UT Today) Christine Sharp and Marc Strous' Solar Biocells uses microorganisms in capture and conversion of carbon dioxide -- Sharp and Strous co-founded the startup Solar Biocells which uses an entirely new concept for the capture and
(Universidad National de Colombia (Google Translation)) solventogénicos microorganisms, whose main characteristic is that they grow in oxygen-free conditions, transform glycerine 1.3 propanediol, a molecule used, for example, to create textile fibers, the color and provide permanence repel dirt. During the laboratory
(Geregras (Google translation)) The ecological fuel obtained from recycling used cooking oils is becoming a reality thanks Life Bioseville an EU - funded project that will be tested in the fleet of city buses in Sevilla and whose pilot plant
(Scania) Outside Gävle in central Sweden, the last preparations are being made at the test strip for an electrically powered truck from Scania operating under real traffic conditions. “It’s amazingly quiet,” says test driver Therése Persson. Just a couple of days
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Through The Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes landmark green chemistry technologies developed by industrial pioneers and leading scientists that turn climate risk and other environmental problems into business opportunities, spurring innovation and
(Gas & Electricity) By now, most are familiar with biodiesel. It is a cost-effective and more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional petroleum-based diesel fuels when used in the correct applications. ... However, there are limitations when compared to petroleum-based diesel. Biodiesel typically
by Zoltan Kish (Lee Enterprises/Biofuels Digest) ... The primary challenge of clean energy production is the heterogeneous nature of waste and biomass, which creates a widely varying chemical constituency of the energy products generated from these processes. Feedstocks can be converted to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Much has been written about terpenes in the area of flavors and fragrances. But they have astonishing properties for super high-density jet fuels in the 130,000-140,000 BTU range. Think valencene, premnaspirodiene, and b-caryophyllene. Now, we
(Bioenergy Insight) Researchers from the Agro-Energy Group at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) have used geographic information systems to assess the potential use of the residual biomass of bananas produced in the province of El Oro, based in the south east of Ecuador, for
Carina A. Ortiz, , Torun Hammar, , Serina Ahlgren, , Per-Anders Hansson, , Johan Stendahl (Forest Ecology and Management/Science Direct) Stump bioenergy was assessed using LCA and forest ecosystem modelling; Stump bioenergy gave a climate benefit within ca two decades when
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) ... If you haven’t been to an LP meeting before, they are generally intimate gatherings of venture capitalists, their underlying investors (the Limited Partners), portfolio company CEOs, and some thought leaders invited to share their perspective
(25 x '25) The award of a $500,000 grant from the prestigious W.K. Kellogg Foundation to Solutions from the Land (SfL) this week (week of June 1, 2016) underscores the priority and responsibility that SfL takes in putting farmers first
by Deborah Gordon, Jessica Tuchman Mathews (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) Because of the growing chemical and geological diversity of the new oils, the lack of alternative liquid fuels for transportation, and the size and global scope of oil production
by Zahra Hirji (Inside Climate News) Two activist groups used government data to show 12.4 million people in the U.S. live within a half-mile of an oil and gas facility—and its pollution. -- Environmentalists have launched a new mapping tool
(POET) POET is expanding its cover crop research as part of soil sustainability work in Emmetsburg, Iowa for cellulosic ethanol development. The work is part of an ongoing commitment to helping farmers make sound management decisions around harvesting crop
(Phys.Org) A jar of bio-oil, an alternate “crude oil” for transportation fuels currently made from petroleum, is created by first rapidly heating plant matter in a process called pyrolysis. Scientists then use catalysts to remove oxygen and convert the pyrolysis oil
by Wayne Risher (The Commercial Appeal) A 75-year-old Memphis chemical plant may advance the environmentally friendly cause of non-food plant waste replacing a petroleum-based key ingredient in plastics, antifreeze and de-icer. Pennakem LLC, which originated as a Quaker Oats-run chemical plant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Founded in 1998 in the Pacific Northwest, Pacific Ag is the largest, most experienced agricultural biomass supply company in the US. Today, Pacific Ag provides biomass supply chain solutions from six locations across the nation
by Geoffrey Styles (The Energy Collective) Plans for a fuel cell car running on ethanol look like a clever way to circumvent the obstacles faced by other fuel cell vehicles. However, it is not clear that ethanol’s perceived logistical benefits or
by Nathanael Johnson (Grist) ... Running cars and planes on corncobs would, at its best, produce 90 percent less greenhouse gas than gasoline. Until now, though, it’s only been an idea. We’ve been able to make cellulosic ethanol for more than a century,
(Portland Press Herald) The governor tells the DEP and CDC to cooperate on a study of the health impacts of the gasoline additive. -- Gov. Paul R. LePage has issued an executive order for state agencies to study the health
by Bill Brandon (Biofuels Digest/) ... Some, like Mark Z. Jacobson, assert battery electric vehicles (BEV) are “the key transportation solution”. ... Just deploying BEVs does not guarantee they will be clean. The Dutch effort to push BEVs resulted in an increased
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Greenyug said it will build an industrial-scale ethyl acetate manufacturing facility adjacent to Archer Daniels Midland Company’s wet mill corn processing facilities in Columbus, Nebraska. The partners have not confirmed scale of the facility, but Greenyug
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In California, Greenyug said it will build an industrial-scale ethyl acetate manufacturing facility adjacent to Archer Daniels Midland Company’s wet mill corn processing facilities in Columbus, Nebraska. Greenyug has formed a subsidiary, Prairie Catalytic
(Bioenergy Insight) Ireland-based renewable energy developer Stream BioEnergy has commenced construction in Northern Ireland on a new biogas plant that will process large volumes of chicken litter. The plant, to be located just outside the town of Ballymena, will generate 3MW
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Kansas, ICM said it is is currently in discussion with a short list of those interested in being selected as an early adopter of its Gen 1.5 technology, and they anticipate construction of the
by Janweb B. Lagazo (US Navy, USS Mason) Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, along with Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy Joseph M. Bryan and Chief of the Italian Navy Adm. Guiseppe De Giorgi, visited guided-missile destroyer
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Bioenergy Feedstock Library is a physical sample repository and database for physical, chemical and conversion performance characteristics of biomass feedstock. The library provides tools to store, record, track, retrieve, and analyze data to help researchers and industry overcome challenges
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) They call it the Valley of Death, but it’s a complete misnomer. It’s the “nearly impassible Khumbu Icefalls” of Death — filled with chasms, crevasses and painful progress towards the summit in the far distance. But
by Carleton English (The Street) The Colorado biofuels company announced a partnership with Musket Corp. a week after a similar collaboration with Alaska Air. -- ... The Colorado-based biofuels company announced that it partnered with Musket Corp., which is owned by
by Ben Rosen (Christian Science Monitor) Algae grows faster and produces higher energy yields than other plants, but is much more expensive to turn into fuel than traditional petroleum byproducts. -- ... Airbus researchers are growing algae for biofuel
by Steve Scherer (Reuters) A U.S. warship took its first delivery of Italian-made biofuel on Thursday as part of the Navy's program to use more alternative energy. The USS Mason was refueled alongside an Italian vessel, the Andrea Doria, in the
by Geoffrey Carr (The Economist) If agriculture is to continue to feed the world, it needs to become more like manufacturing, says Geoffrey Carr. Fortunately, that is already beginning to happen -- Tom Rogers is an almond farmer in Madera County,
by Dave VanderGriend (ICM, Inc./Urban Air Institute/Ethanol Producer Magazine) In the world of ethanol, we need to get people smarter and "coach up" the public, media and policymakers as to the real story about our product. -- ... In our world
(University of Arkansas) A University of Arkansas chemistry professor has received a $400,000 award from the National Science Foundation to investigate a roadblock in the harvesting of biomass from perennial plants for the purpose of creating a source of renewable
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Last month. Benson Hill Biosystems launched CropOS, a cognitive engine using cloud biology to empower a new era of plant genomics innovation. CropOS uses powerful data analytics and biological knowledge to identify the most promising plant genetics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Here, we profile 15 techs that offer incremental to profound shifts in the economics of the Gen-1 ethanol fleet, and have implications for everything from passenger cars to jets. #15 Vertimass and Byogy #14 Croda #13 Hummingbird #12 Alliance BioEnergy #11 GeoSynFuels #10
(Coming Clean) When the Wind Blows: Tracking Toxic Chemicals in Gas Fields and Impacted Communities is a report documenting Coming Clean’s collaborative, community-based research project to monitor toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in gas fields in rural Pavillion, Wyoming and
(International Council on Clean Transportation) Explores the potential for improving home collection of used cooking oil for biodiesel production in the EU. -- Used cooking oil (UCO) is a low carbon feedstock for biodiesel production in the EU, but this
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Fuel cells are important technology. You may remember them from the space program. They show up in the drama of Apollo 13, for example. Many car companies have investigated their potential — but here’s a
(Biofuels International) A team of three Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D) students have come up with a prototype called FAME One to convert waste cooking oil into biodiesel. The invention, which outwardly resembles a washing machine, is not only eco-friendly
(Biofuels International) The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has issued a report on methanol and ethanol, saying they are good potential alternatives for reducing both the emissions and carbon footprint of ship operations. As they are sulphur-free, use of methanol and
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) REN21 recently published its annual overview on the state of renewable energy, reporting 2015 was a record year for renewable energy installations. Renewable power and renewable heat both increased, along with renewables used in
(Algae Industry Magazine) Porelogix Ultrafiltration Systems, LLC and Algae.Tec, Ltd. have announced the successful implementation of an advanced ultrafiltration algae extraction system. The yearlong collaborative effort between Algae.Tec’s research and development team and Porelogix engineers resulted in a scalable system
by Brad Plumer (Vox) A new energy era is upon us: For the first time since 1979, America’s cars, trucks, and airplanes emit more carbon dioxide than its power plants do. ... The story here is that the United States has made
by Keith L. Kline, Siwa Msangi, Virginia H. Dale, Jeremy Woods, Glaucia M. Souza, Patricia Osseweijer, Joy S. Clancy, Jorge A. Hilbert, Francis X. Johnson, Patrick C. McDonnell, Harriet K. Mugera (Global Change Biology: Bioenergy) ... Understanding the nexus of food security, bioenergy sustainability, and resource management facilitates achievement of the 2030
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This analysis was presented by Jonny Rogers at ABLC Feedstocks 2016, and is the result of is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Energy, Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), National Laboratories, and various Agency
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... There are many pathways from biomass to jet — right now, the hottest is ATJ, or alcohol to jet. In the case of Gevo, they want to convert first-gen ethanol projects to making isobutanol,
(Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc./Globe Newswire) Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc. (OTCQB:ALLM) (the "Company"), is pleased to announce that with the senior science officers of a large U.S. ethanol producer present, the CTS process produced fermentable sugars from Distillers Grain (DDG) as
(Science Daily/Technical Research Centre of Finland) In its Renewable Energy Directive, the European Union has set a 10% goal for the use of renewable energy in transport by 2020. Only biofuels meeting certain sustainability criteria are included in the renewable
by Hans Greimel (Automotive News) Nissan Motor Co. has developed a new kind of fuel cell drivetrain for cars that taps an onboard tank of ethanol instead of pressurized hydrogen, delivering a cheaper and safer ride that it says is
by Brittany Hook (University of California San Diego) Harnessing the University of California’s leadership in sustainability and pledge to become carbon neutral by 2025, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Associate Director Bruce Appelgate had a bright idea: What if Scripps Oceanography at UC
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Feedstock Supply and Logistics Program is responsible for developing technologies to support Advanced Feedstock Supply Systems (AFSS) that
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) "How much value is in the entire value chain, going from stover in the field to all the products?" asked Sandy Marshall, chairman, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada. His question opened his description of the birth of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Siouxland Energy Cooperative has licensed the Edeniq’s Cellunator and Pathway technologies for its 60 million gallon per year ethanol plant located in Sioux Center. Production will start by Q4 2016. Meaning that Edeniq is shifting
(EcoWatch/Rainforest Action Network) A report released Tuesday by Rainforest Action Network, BankTrack, Sierra Club and Oil Change International provides the first look at bank financing for fossil fuels since the Paris climate agreement, showing that the world’s biggest banks are driving
(CB&I/PR Newswire) CB&I (NYSE: CBI) today announced it has been awarded the 2016 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its AlkyClean® process technology, a solid acid catalyst alkylation technology jointly developed by CB&I, Albermarle
(Bioenergy Insight) Bioenergy has the significant potential to become a pillar in the future energy portfolio of cities, according to a new report by the World Bioenergy Association (WBA). The new study from World Bioenergy Association addresses the challenges cities are
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) For millennia, the recipe for brewing remained basically the same: add water and yeast to the ground grain and wait. The big innovation of the past century was the addition of enzymes to
by Darryl Fears (The Washington Post) Now, after the growth of a natural gas production operation commonly known as fracking, the United States is producing more methane emissions than any country in the world. And in a complaint submitted to
(Amyris/Globe Newswire) Two Year Committed Jet Fuel Supply Deal Demonstrating Continued Strong Farnesene Demand -- Amyris, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMRS), the industrial bioscience company, today announced that, on May 29, 2016, Cathay Pacific commenced a two-year program of flights from Toulouse to
(Viaspace/PR Newswire) VIASPACE CTO, Dr. Carl Kukkonen, made an invited presentation on Giant King Grass at the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference – Feedstocks held in Miami, Florida June 6-8, 2016. The Conference, organized by Biofuels Digest (http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/), focused on the most
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
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In what might become the most transformative development in fermentation yields since Noah debuted winemaking technology in the Book of Genesis, US-based White Dog Labs have unveiled a new process that eliminates the emission of CO2, a
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Between June 6 and 10, the Department of Energy (DOE) held its Annual Merit Review (AMR) in Washington D.C. At the meeting, over 350 national lab activities were evaluated within the Vehicle and Fuel Cell
by Marc J. Rauch (The Auto Channel) ... In preparation for this hearing and EPA process, a group called American Council For Capital Formation (an oil industry lobby shill group) commissioned a report from Dr. Daniel De La Torre Ugarte, Research Professor,
by Charlotte Hsu (University at Buffalo/Biomass Magazine) Researchers from four U.S. universities are teaming up with dairy farms across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic to study the effect of three different manure management techniques on preventing the occurrence and spread of
by Jonathan Lewis (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) Having flown the “heavy iron” for more than thirty (30) years, I can state with full confidence that there are only three (3) very important questions pilots have about Jet Fuel: #1. Is it good
by Michael Le Page (New Scientist) A small pilot project in Iceland has shown that carbon dioxide can be safely stored in basalt rocks. The finding could help tackle climate change, especially in countries such as India that have lots of basalt
by Megan Eckstein (US Naval Institute News) ... For now, the Ike CSG is involved in Great Green Fleet operations, to include a multi-day passing exercise (PASSEX) with units of the Italian Navy’s Flotta Verde, according to a U.S. 6th Fleet news
by Vonnie Estes (AgFunderNews) With the need to produce more food using fewer inputs, agriculture is seeking new products, practices and technologies. As a planet we must use fewer chemicals and less water. Subsistence farmers need to close the yield
(University of Sydney) International paper waste and plastic recycling contracts signed for ground-breaking Australian technology. -- It’s been a busy few days for Australian start-up Licella, whose innovative technology, developed in partnership with the University of Sydney, is the subject
by Monte Shaw (Iowa Renewable Fuels Association/Des Moines Register) Recently, Leonard Poels questioned ASE-certified mechanic Charlie Good’s statement that E15 is approved for use in all 2001 and newer vehicles, asking “approved by who?” [What if E15 isn't approved by my car
(University of Cambridge/University of Melbourne) In the search for low emission plant-based fuels, new research may help avoid having to choose between growing crops for food or fuel. Scientists have identified new steps in the way plants produce cellulose, the component
by Chris Barncard (University of Wisconsin-Madison) ... “The recycling of plant carbon is fundamental to the function of our ecosystems,” says Cameron Currie, professor of bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. “We get food, water, air, energy — almost everything
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) New Holland makes a wide range of farming, construction equipment; with related financing: excavators, loaders (backhoe, wheel, skid steer), crawler dozers, motor graders. Scott Wangsgard of New Holland gave this overview of highlights of the
by Elizabeth E. Hood and Lorenz Bauer (Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc./Biofuels Digest) ... Biofuels can be produced by a number of processes, broadly categorized as biochemical and chemical. Biochemical processes utilize proteins called enzymes (biological catalysts). Chemical processes utilize chemical catalysts and/or
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For the advanced bioeconomy, the question remains and will remain for some time, where are the gallons? Specifically, projects that use biobased feedstocks that can be converted into renewable fuels, chemicals, advanced foods, and biobased materials. Projects
by David Roberts (Vox) ... However, some uses of energy are not easy to electrify in the short term, maybe even in the long term. They rely on energy-dense liquid fuels. So if we're ever going to get to net zero emissions,
by David Bennett (Delta Farm Press) Surrounded by educational posters and a large dry board full of mathematical equations, Kevin Humphrey sits explaining how the biodiesel lab in adjacent rooms came to be. “I’ve been here since 1993,” says the associate
(Michigan State University/AgProfessional.com) ... The study, conducted by the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and Michigan State University, found that using nitrogen fertilizer on switchgrass crops sharply increases the amount of nitrous oxide emitted. Switchgrass has been heralded as a significant
(Q13Fox.com) Alaska airlines made aviation history today, when it flew two planes partially fueled by “biofuel” made from fermented corn. The airline fueled up two jets at Sea-Tac Airport. One headed south, to San Francisco, the other east, to Washington, DC. “We aren’t
(Phys.Org) While popular catalysts called zeolites could help turn paper manufacturing waste and other biomass into fuel, the catalyst crumbles after just two days in hot water. And that's a problem because hot water is nearly ubiquitous in biofuel production.
(Test Magazine (Google Translation)) Over 62 thousand tons of waste vegetable oil collected in 2015, an increase of 44% compared to 2010, 85% of which were initiated in regeneration for the production of biodiesel. Are some of the data emerging
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In April, we reported that Comet Biorefining has signed an off-take agreement with bio-succinic acid producer BioAmber for cellulosic dextrose from Comet’s upcoming first commercial plant in Sarnia, Ontario. The dextrose will be produced from agricultural
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The headline from the event is that projects and feedstock providers are more engaged than we have seen previously — a wave of technology development that once took place with a “we’ll work out
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) When margins matter most, strategies to ratchet up ethanol yield make good business sense. -- In the ethanol production world, yield is king. Fluid Quip Process Technologies and Edeniq Inc. have technologies that can help
(Oklahoma State University/Biomass Magazine) The popular method of breaking down lignin to convert biomass into valuable biofuels and chemicals is done by using fungi. However, researchers at Oklahoma State University are turning that process on its head. Babu Fathepure, associate professor
by Katie Fletcher (Biomass Magazine) Seattle-based Impact Bioenergy, a small startup focused on distributed energy with its portable, prefabricated anaerobic digestion (AD) technology, deployed its first microdigester at the Fremont Brewery Co. in Seattle this April. The company manufactures and sells
(Rubber & Plastics News) Kultevat Inc., a company devoted to the commercial development of high-quality rubber and co-products from the Russian dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz, or TKS), has received its first process patent. U.S. Patent No. 9,346,924 B2, issued May 24, covers
by Marcius Extavour and Paul Bunje (XPRIZE/Biofuels Digest) ... Under the right conditions, biofuels and biomass-based energy systems can be sustainable, modular, scalable, carbon neutral, or even carbon negative. This has been known for some time, as have the risks of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Virent is in the business of replacing crude oil by applying clever chemistry to create the fuels and chemicals the world demands using a wide range of naturally-occurring, renewable resources. Virent’s patented technology features catalytic chemistry
(Algae Industry Magazine) Rochester Institute of Technology and Synergy Biogas are exploring the environmental benefits of microalgae to clean agricultural wastewater and make biofuels. Jeff Lodge, associate professor in RIT’s Thomas Gosnell School of Life Sciences, is running the three-month
by Jennifer Blackburn (United Sorghum Checkoff Program/MyPlainView.com) The Sorghum Checkoff announced Thursday a $500,000 investment in sorghum research, made at the inaugural Transportation Energy Resources from Renewable Agriculture (TERRA) program field day at the University of Arizona's Maricopa Agricultural Center in
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... It’s that way for nanocellulose, too — a material made from the largest organisms imaginable — our friends, the trees — which display astonishing Marvel-like properties when processed into nanofibrils and nanocrystals, with gigantic implications
by Megan Greenwalt (Waste 360) With municipalities increasingly collecting organic waste, finding ways to convert that waste into clean energy is a hot topic in the solid waste industry. A multitude of techniques are in use or being developed, including aerobic and anaerobic
by Ilari Kauppila (Biofuels International) Finnish fuel producer Neste is set to start a trial project to turn used cooking oil (UCO) into biodiesel at its biorefinery in Finland. The trial, to be held at the company’s Kilpilahti refinery in Porvoo
(Transport & Environment) ... In 2014, 45% of all the palm oil used in Europe ended up in the tanks of cars and trucks, data from EU vegetable oil industry association Fediol and obtained by green group Transport & Environment has
by Gerald Kutney (Lee Consulting/Biofuels Digest) ... From the time of the caveman until the early Industrial Revolution, biofuels – namely wood and the advanced biofuel of the day, charcoal – reigned supreme. Both fossil fuels and biofuels originate from biomass. The
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) These days, Cathay Pacific trades under the slogan “Life Well Travelled” and the delivery of the first of 48 super-modern, super-quiet, super-chic Airbus 350-900s is another milestone for that branding — but it might as
by Brooks Hays (UPI) Researchers in South Korea have turned a bathroom into a laboratory for sustainable energy. They're turning human waste into biofuel. The experimental bathroom features a waterless toilet system that breaks down human waste into a dehydrated and
(Argonne National Laboratory) Developing transformative energy technologies and cleaner manufacturing processes and new materials requires more than a great idea and some committed people. It takes an innovation ecosystem. To meet this challenge, the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy
(Urban Air Initiative/Ethanol Producer Magazine) In comments recently filed with the California Air Resources Board, the Urban Air Initiative made a compelling case for higher octane, lower carbon fuels like midlevel ethanol blends to help the state meet its carbon
by Committee on Propulsion and Energy Systems to Reduce Commercial Aviation Carbon Emissions; Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board; Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (National Academies Press) The primary human activities that release carbon
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Licella produces drop-in biofuels from a wide range of biomass and uses a supercritical water-based technology and catalysts to break up biomass and reform it into a drop-in fuel hydrocarbon. The compelling features of supercritical are
(University of Adelaide/Newswise) A weedy plant found on the roadside in northern Australia has stems ripe for biofuel production. -- Scientists from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls at the University of Adelaide have discovered that a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Licella and Canfor will form a joint-venture under the name “Licella Pulp Joint Venture” to integrate Licella’s unique Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor upgrading platform into Canfor Pulp’s kraft and mechanical pulp mills to economically convert biomass,
by Senator Timothy Wirth and C. Boyden Gray (Yale Environment 360) The criticism of ethanol by environmentalists is misguided and just plain wrong. In fact, thanks to improvements in farming techniques, increasing the amount of corn ethanol in U.S. gasoline
(US Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $8.8 million to boost the production of advanced biofuels and sustain jobs at renewable energy facilities in 39 states. USDA continues
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Ames National Lab, Argonne National Lab, Idaho National Lab, Los Alamos National Lab, the National Renewable Energy Lab, Oak Ridge National Lab, Pacific Northwest National Lab, and Sandia National Lab seek
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sweeteners, acrylic, and nutraceuticals led the news at the end of this week, with key announcements out of Evolva, Wageningen and Algae.Tec. ... All the announces are developmental in nature — patents, R&D, product supply for future
(Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative) We are proud to announce the 10th Anniversary of the initiation of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) as of May 24, 2016, and more importantly, to reflect on the success we’ve achieved to date,
by David Biello (Scientific American) ... Burning cellulosic ethanol as a fuel could result in just 10 percent of the CO2 emissions produced by burning gasoline. One big secret to making it all work is the advanced biofuel refinery's location right next
(Phys.Org) As Iowa farmers have planted more acres of corn to meet the demand driven by the corn-based ethanol industry, many models predicted that nitrate concentrations in Iowa streams would increase accordingly. However, recent IIHR research based on water monitoring
(Paper Advance/FPInnovations) The agreement covers the installation of a next-generation biorefinery facility in the city of La Tuque -- FPInnovations and Bioénergie La Tuque (BELT) are proud to announce the signing of a collaborative agreement, the main purpose of which is
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... (W)hy is so biology so challenging? -- “It’s partly how we have done it. We sort through the research, then we design, and then we spend a lot of time in the lab pipetting
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Joule is advancing a production platform for Liquid Fuel from the Sun, expected to eclipse the scale, productivity and cost efficiency of any known alternative to fossil fuel today. Its transformative Helioculture platform directly and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) India’s SunLight Fuels licenses IH2 Technology for hydrocarbon transportation fuels from agricultural waste -- In India, Sunlight Fuels has signed a Front End Loading license agreement for IH2 Technology with CRI Catalyst, a division of
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Biofuels Digest) ... The practical and legal constraints on the RFS are mostly of EPA’s own making. As EPA admitted in the final 2014-2016 rule, it set the volume obligations for those years according to
(Center for International Environmental Law) This is a story about how the world’s most powerful industry used science, communications, and consumer psychology to shape the public debate over climate change. And it begins earlier—decades earlier—than anyone suspected. Explore our documents and
(National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine) Distinction Between Genetic Engineering and Conventional Plant Breeding Becoming Less Clear, Says New Report on GE Crops -- An extensive study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has found that
(IEA Implementing Agreement for Renewable Energy Technology Deployment) The integration of advanced (2nd generation / 2G) biofuel plants with conventional (1st generation / 1G) biofuel plants can lead to significant synergies and cost savings, especially for bioethanol plants. For biodiesel,
by Tomas Ekbom (Task 39 May 2016 Newsletter) The production and use of biofuels in Sweden have increased substantially since the mid-2000s. According to preliminary statistics from SPBI, the share of renewable energy in the road sector was 14.7% in 2015
(Algae Biomass Organization) Algae has the potential to make a large impact as an ingredient in animal feed, according to Xingen Lei, professor of molecular nutrition at Cornell University. Lei, who has been studying algae’s nutritional benefits for years, is
by Chris D'Angelo (The Huffington Post) New documents show the industry chose to prioritize costs over the planet. In 1963, Esso (now Exxon Mobil) patented a design for a “novel and highly efficient electrode“ for use in fuel cells —
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