by Isabel Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Germany, a project at the University of Rostock is investigating the technical feasibility of using certified sustainable rapeseed oil to produce biodiesel. In order to pave the way for manufacturers, the University of Rostock
Joseph A. Rollin, Julia Martin del Campo, Suwan Myung, Fangfang Sun, Chun You, Allison Bakovic, Roberto Castro, Sanjeev K. Chandrayan, Chang-Hao Wu, Michael W. W. Adams, Ryan S. Senger, and Y.-H. Percival Zhang (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)
(University of Texas at Austin) Researchers in the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin have used a combination of metabolic engineering and directed evolution to develop a new, mutant yeast strain that could lead to
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) A recent study published in Environmental Research Letters by authors at the University of Wisconsin uses error-prone satellite data to suggest that growth in U.S. corn and soybean production from 2008 to 2012 drove
(25 x '25) ... The latest report, which is from experts at the DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), describes a study that explores the potential performance benefits of high-octane ethanol blends in the legacy fleet of nearly 18 million flex-fuel
by Jon Hurdle and Susan Phillips (StateImpactNPR.org) Radon levels in buildings near unconventional natural gas development in Pennsylvania are higher than those in other areas of the state, suggesting that hydraulic fracturing has opened up new pathways for the carcinogenic
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Today, we look at how Minnesota, too, has been experiencing success via its bioeconomy, and how and why. The traditional view of “Minnesota”? A giant metropolis in the Twin Cities, replete with giant ag-focused corporations
by Silke Schmidt (Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) ... In the summer of 2009, Gina Lewin participated in a National Science Foundation-funded program called Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), which invites college juniors and seniors to join research projects around the country. At
by Krista Eastman (Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) Scientists at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) reported today (March 9, 2015) the discovery of a chemical compound called poacic acid that could eventually be used as a fungicide in
(Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) By revealing a novel molecular pathway involved in microbial lipid accumulation in the bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides, this study could lead to strategies for engineering microbes to increase the production of lipid biofuels and chemicals. Lipids derived
... (Daniel) Amador-Noguez’s lab focuses on understanding metabolism in biofuel-producing bacteria with the goal of engineering microbes that can more efficiently convert plant biomass to energy. It’s exciting research, but it’s also the kind of data-driven work that Amador-Noguez hungered
by Girdhar Joshi, Devendra S. Rawat, Bhawna Y. Lamba, Kamal K. Bisht, Pankaj Kumar, Nayan Kumar, Sanjay Kumar (Energy Conversion and Management) Highlights: Waste chicken eggshell derived CaO(cesp) based mixed metal oxides were prepared. Transesterification of high free fatty acid containing non-edible
by George Plaven (Capital Press) One possible biomass fuel for the coal plant is giant cane, known as Arundo donax, which PGE has spent several years growing in small test plots. ... As a potential source of renewable energy, giant cane
(Ukrainian Biofuel Portal) Stockholm authorities reckoned up the results of a four-year experiment in testing the trucks with engines using alternative fuel. Within the framework of the experiment, fifty trucks appeared on the roads of Stockholm, equipped with methane-diesel, diesel-electric and
by Jeannie Kever (University of Houston) New Material Opens the Door to Low-Cost, Environmentally Friendly Energy Use -- Researchers at the University of Houston have reported developing an efficient conductive electron-transporting polymer, a long-missing puzzle piece that will allow ultrafast battery applications. The discovery
(Air Liquide) Conducted in partnership with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the bioliq™ pilot plant aims at demonstrating the feasibility of a process to produce high-quality sulfur-free fuel from residual biomass. These “second generation” biofuels are produced using the inedible
(Total) The BioTfueL project focuses on producing second-generation biodiesel and bio-jet fuel via thermochemical conversion. Total is working with five partners to bring the process to commercial-scale production. In the BioTfueL project, Total is working with five partners to develop technologies for
(Ceres) Ceres, Inc. (Nasdaq:CERE), an agricultural biotechnology company, and Brazilian energy company Raízen S.A., today announced that they have signed a multi-year collaboration agreement to develop and produce sweet sorghum on an industrial scale. Sweet sorghum can be grown to
(Gevo/Biomass Magazine) Gevo Inc. has announced that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has purchased Gevo's renewable alcohol-to-jet fuel (ATJ) for aviation use at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Gevo's ATJ is manufactured at its demonstration biorefinery
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) The GreenGasGrids project has reviewed the present market status and has thoroughly looked at the obstacles hindering the broader production and application of biomethane. The Roadmap indicates, that - if the necessary actions will be taken - the level
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A new project aims to capture atmospheric CO2, affordably, using traits and techniques known to algae for millenia. ... To date, no one has figured out how to get the CO2 out of the air, or the air
(Yahoo! News/Agence France-Presse) US scientists said Monday they have found a way to use discarded corn husks and stalks to make cheap hydrogen fuel that doesn't pollute the environment like fossil fuels. The advances by a team at Virginia Polytechnic Institute
by Tim Sklar (Biofuels Digest) Looking to turn vicious project financing cycles into virtuous cycles? This case study in developing a small-scale Bio-LNG plant offers cautionary tales and a way forward. In July 2014, Biofuels Digest had published an article titled
(Green Car Congress) Researchers at Lund University (Sweden) have developed an optimized two-phase enzymatic (lipase) system for the conversion of plant oils to biodiesel. Applied to the solvent-free ethanolysis of rapeseed oil, the system delivered a yield of 96% under mild
(Southeast Partnership for Integrated Biomass Supply Systems) As a part of the Southeast Partnership for Integrated Biomass Supply Systems (IBSS) project goals centered on education and job training, the Southeast Energy Development (SEED) Fellowship has selected five new fellows to participate
(Iowa State University/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Farmers who are considering selling corn residue from their fields to produce cellulosic ethanol first should weigh a range of site-specific factors to their operations, according to new research from an Iowa State University agronomist. Mahdi
(PureVision Technology Inc./Ethanol Producer Magazine) PureVision Technology Inc., a Colorado-based biorefinery developer, recently announced that it will scale up its biorefining technology at an industrial site in Boardman, Oregon, owned by ZeaChem Inc. The public announcement was made March 28
(BusinessWire/IH2) Producing liquid transportation fuels from woody biomass -- A leading global forest products company headquartered in Northern Europe has entered into an FEL-1 license agreement with CRI Catalyst Company (CRI), a global catalyst technology company. IH2 technology is a thermal catalytic
(Ag Ventures Alliance Cooperative and Cellulose Sciences International/AgriMarketing.com) Ag Ventures Alliance Cooperative (AgVA) of Mason City, Iowa, and Cellulose Sciences International (CSI) of Madison, Wis., completed a financing agreement resulting in the formation of a new joint venture, Stover Ventures,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, the California Air Resources Board held a workshop on the Low Carbon Fuel Standard re-adoption process. The CARB workshop presentation is now posted online, ... CARB’s revision of indirect land-use change (ILUC) modeling resulted in reduced penalties for
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Though challenges remain, particularly in affordable feedstock, the US National Research Council says “Despite impressive recent and projected growth, the manufacturing of chemicals using biological synthesis and engineering could expand even faster.” ... In Washington, the National
by Ryan Fitzpatrick (Third Way) Cellulosic fuels offer economic, environmental, and national security benefits, but scaling-up the technology has proven difficult and costly. Companies with an extensive background in the corn ethanol industry are cracking the cellulosic code, with projects that
(Science Daily/Rice University) In one of the first studies to examine the potential for using municipal wastewater as a feedstock for algae-based biofuels, scientists found they could grow high-value strains of oil-rich algae while simultaneously removing more than 90 percent of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Cool Planet, a California-based company that makes an organic, water-saving soil enhancer, was inspired by the order and is offering to help reach this goal by delivering a truckload of its water-saving CoolTerra product to reduce water usage
(The Toledo Blade) The University of Toledo is getting $199,997 for an algae biomass research project. U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) said in a news release today that the National Science Foundation is awarding the grant to advance research and
by Jack Loughran (MRW Magazine) A study has shown that low-carbon trucks running on used cooking oil (UCO) can achieve 97% carbon savings in comparison with dual diesel/gas engines. READ MORE
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The results from Gevo’s 4th quarter are in, and a worth a look-see, not only for fans of isobutanol and its prospects. Also for a look at how this member of the 2010-12 IPO group of
(Science Daily/University of Wisconsin-Madison) Clearing grasslands to make way for biofuels may seem counterproductive, but researchers show that crops, including the corn and soy commonly used for biofuels, expanded onto 7 million acres of new land in the U.S. over
(The Urban Air Initiative) UAI appreciates this opportunity to comment on EPA’s proposal to strengthen the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground level ozone, as set forth on November 25, 2014. As summarized here and developed more fully
by Megan Durisin, Jeff Wilson, Lydia Mulvany (Bloomberg) ... A kernel-yielding stalk that’s native to Africa, sorghum has three things going for it right now: it’s cheap to plant; it holds up better in drought-like conditions than other crops; and most importantly,
by Mikkel Pates (Agweek) Development of energy beets in North Dakota is still nebulous, while projects in California are moving forward. Attendance was light for a recent series of grower meetings about energy, or industrial, sugar beet production hosted by North
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Though we usually think of diversifying away from petroleum via the fuels for our cars — what about the petroleum in the tires? Rubber security, as it turns out, offers some of the same chills
by Deborah Gordon, Adam Brandt, Joule Bergerson, Jonathan Koomey (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) Oil is changing. Conventional oil resources are dwindling as tight oil, oil sands, heavy oils, and others emerge. Oil is changing. Conventional oil resources are dwindling and technological
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Our company theme is to create a profitable company that raises Osage Orange (Maclura promifera)trees on the southern plains of Oklahoma and Texas, and process the tree fruit for nonfood biomass products for renewable energy,
by K. S. Rajgopal (The Hindu) As the quest for alternate sources of energy in the face of global warming due to fossil-fuel usage gains momentum, the focus has turned to macro algae (sea weeds) as a source of bio-fuel. A
by Isabel Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Georgia, following successful algae growth trials, Algae.Tec has commenced the expansion of its development and manufacturing facilities in Cumming, Georgia and the building of an initial small scale plant for the production of algae
By Emily Conover (Science Magazine) Sixteen-year-old Sophia Sánchez-Maes is all about algae. The slimy green stuff is an attractive candidate for biofuel production, but Sánchez-Maes wondered why the biofuel startups near her hometown of Las Cruces, New Mexico, weren’t having more
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Great Scott! New molecules, new feedstocks, new technologies, and reaching scale — the best of the best. At ABLC 2015, the focus on innovation included a complete program on aviaiton — and numerous producers elsewhere
(University of Georgia/Biomass Magazine) Researchers at the University of Georgia have discovered that manipulation of a specific gene in a hardwood tree species not only makes it easier to break down the wood into fuel, but also significantly increases tree
by Leqian Liu, Anny Pan, Caitlin Spofford, Nijia Zhou, Hal S. Alper (Metabolic Engineering) Lipogenic organisms provide an ideal platform for biodiesel and oleochemical production. Through our previous rational metabolic engineering efforts, lipogenesis titers in Yarrowia lipolytica were significantly enhanced. However,
(25 x '25) A group of DOE National Laboratory representatives have been in Washington this week making presentations to promote the benefits of what they call “Renewable Super Premium” (RSP) fuels. The researchers have found that ethanol fuel blends of
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) While AAA may be an outspoken critic of ethanol blended gasoline and E15 in particular, some other motor clubs think differently, and one of them was on Capitol Hill this week with the American Coalition for
by Mark Harden (Denver Business Journal) Colorado biofuels company Gevo Inc. reports sharply higher revenue and narrower losses in both the fourth quarter and full-year 2014. And in an earnings call with analysts late Thursday, Gevo's CEO, Patrick Gruber, said the company
(Fuels America) A new analysis produced by the University of Illinois at Chicago’s principal research economist Dr. Stefen Mueller found that giving consumers more access to cleaner fuel options like E15 would provide significant environmental benefits. E15 is a cleaner
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Can you make ultra-performing diesel and jet fuels from essential oils found in hemp, a/k/a cannabis sativa, a/k/a marijuana? Turns out, you can. ... Beta caryophyllene — regardless of source — is in the news this month
by Natalie Committee (U.S. Department of Energy) As motorsports enthusiasts know, racing innovation once meant turbine-powered Indy cars and six-wheeled formula cars, but those days are mostly over. Today, Green Racing encourages the use of innovative technologies that foster energy efficiency
(U.S. Department of Energy) It may look like ordinary farm equipment, but take a second look. This innovative machinery was developed with Energy Department funding to help biofuels become more affordable. Looking more closely at this image and accompanying infographic,
(Phys.Org) Straw-powered cars could be a thing of the future thanks to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA). A new study pinpoints five strains of yeast capable of turning agricultural by-products, such as straw, sawdust and corncobs, into
(Japan Times) Graduate students at Mie University have produced biofuel from the region’s tangerines, saying the technique provides a use for unwanted fruit. They believe it could be promoted as a locally sourced form of renewable energy. The researchers at the
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Results from Mendota Bioenergy LLC’s Phase I demonstration plant in Fresno County, California, arrived last week, and were quite favorable, reported project manager, Jim Tischer. “We’ve made the first whole-beet, low-carbon ethanol in
(National Biodiesel Board) Landmark move expected to accelerate America’s transformation to 21st Century Bioheat® fuel. The door has opened for building-and-homeowners who want to use higher blends of cleaner burning biodiesel in their heating oil. ASTM International, an organization which sets
by Alicia Villegas (Undercurrent News) Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras is producing biodiesel from tilapia waste, but it sees a need for further research to develop fish oil usage to make biofuel. Production of biodiesel from residual fish oil has started at the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The cost of replacing crumbling roads will tumble, with the introduction of an Arizona Chemical additive that enables more low-cost recycled asphalt to be used. Could a biobased $100 billion dollar savings be in the
(American Chemical Society/Science Daily) Water-borne algal blooms from farm fertilizer runoff can destroy aquatic life and clog rivers and lakes, but scientists will report today that they are working on a way to clean up these environmental scourges and turn
by Timothy B. Wheeler (Baltimore Sun) A New Hampshire-based company has teamed with poultry giant Perdue to propose a $200 million plant on the Eastern Shore to extract energy from chicken manure, offering its plan as a viable remedy for
by Isabel Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Ohio, Peloton Technologies has announced the filing of a US patent that alleviates problems associated with conversion of lignocellulose-derived sugars to biofuels and chemicals. Notably, inherent microbial inhibitory compounds which interfere with fermentation are
(Chromatin, Inc.) Chromatin, Inc., an agriculture technology company, announced today that its newly introduced hybrid sorghum seed products have achieved unprecedented yields in East Africa. Chromatin introduced the new hybrids at a grain sorghum workshop it hosted in Kampala, Uganda. To
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the advanced bioeconomy takes to the airwaves as The New Voices debuts today as a digital streaming experience — the first three episodes of the program are online today as the regular cast and
(Algae Industry Magazine) Computer Science and Engineering Professor at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Vineet Bafna was on the roster of experts who spoke at Green Revolution 2.0. The symposium, March 12-13 in the Qualcomm Institute, was organized
( Canadian Light Source/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Emma Master’s team spent the last two years studying plant cell walls, the part of the cell that gives trees and other flora their structural strength. The wall itself is built from a tight
by Stefaniya Becking* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The “Waste to Biogas and Clean Fuels Finance and Investment” summit provided a myriad of opportunities to get the latest intelligence on biogas and the clean fuel industry as well as on the financing
(Energy Business Review Biofuels and Biomass Energy) US-based nanotechnology research and development firm Nano Labs has formed a joint venture (JV) with Mexican firm DerTek to produce biofuels in North America. The JV will focus on the research and development,
(Red Rock Biofuels) Red Rock Biofuels LLC, a pioneer in renewable biofuels, today unveiled a strategic partnership with Flagship Ventures that sets the stage for the construction of its first commercial scale refinery in Lakeview, OR. As part of this partnership,
(Optimus Technologies) Outfitting 20 more public works trucks to reduce fuel costs and to reduce lifecycle emissions over 80%. – Optimus Technologies today announced the City of Pittsburgh has agreed to expand its use of Optimus’ EPA-approved, biofuel conversion
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A Florida algae-to-ethanol operation is poised to go commercial scale with a project colocated with a natural-gas-fired power plant. By harnessing CO2, sunlight, saltwater and algae, Algenol’s technology takes only 25 days to produce maximum concentrations
by Jim Bafaro (St. Louis Business Journal) Some call it the "stinkweed." Yet despite that inglorious moniker, there's an awful lot to like about pennycress, say officials with one St. Louis startup company. That's because pennycress seeds — five to
(Navigant Research) At nearly $1.3 trillion in estimated global revenue for 2014, the market for advanced energy products and services is as large as apparel and fashion and almost four times the size of the semiconductor industry worldwide, according to
(Neste Oil/Biodiesel Magazine) Over the past few years, Neste Oil has become the world’s largest producer of renewable fuels from waste and residues. In 2014, Neste Oil produced nearly 1.3 million tons (more than 420 million gallons) of renewable fuel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) To make fuel, chemicals, fiber, food more productively than ever before — it starts in the field with the New Agriculture. Here’s what’s happening as Silicon Valley converges with Silicon Farm. ... Well, ultimately land productivity
by James Ayre (CleanTechnica) If the “true costs” of emissions — increased rates of premature death, illness, increased loads on the healthcare system, lowered crop yields, missed work days, higher insurance damages from extreme weather events linked to climate change,
by Aaren Gordon (Daily Comet) Construction has started on a $60 million plant in Raceland that will convert sugar cane waste into chemicals, sweeteners and biofuels by 2017. The project next to Raceland Raw Sugar Corp. along La. 182 is a
by Ronald Brakels (CleanTechnica) A $10 million dollar pilot biomass plant will be constructed in the Western Australian Capital of Perth. ... The specific type of plants will be mallee crops. This somewhat broad category includes agricultural waste and crops that
by Lynn Yarris (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) If advanced biofuels are to replace gasoline, diesel and jet fuel on a gallon-for-gallon basis at competitive pricing, we’re going to need a new generation of fuel crops – plants designed specifically to serve
(University of Nebraska-Lincoln) By relaxing a federal ethanol mandate, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency could have counteracted the impact of the 2012 drought on corn prices, a new study by UNL agricultural economists concludes. The study provides a guidepost for action
(Bellevue University/Algae Industry Magazine) Dr. John Kyndt and his student researchers, Suchita Shrestha and Adam Rawson, discussed their experiments using corn stover and algae to develop biofuel. WATCH VIDEO
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... BiCHEM produces platform chemicals from biomass. It uses an inexpensive, recyclable solvent to break down cellulose and hemicellulose into sugars. These sugars are converted into base chemicals for amongst others the production of fuel additives. Another
by Isabel Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Canada, Steeper Energy has received a $3m grant from the Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) office. This funding is to be used for the development of an Industrial Scale Pilot Plant to commercialize its
(Genera Energy) Genera Energy Inc., a leading biomass supply company specializing in biomass feedstocks for advanced biobased industries, set new standards for efficiency with its recently completed harvests of miscanthus, switchgrass, and biomass sorghum. With this harvest, Genera continues to
( Institute of Food Research/Biomass Magazine) Researchers at the Institute of Food Research have developed a new way of rapidly screening yeasts that could help produce more sustainable biofuels. The new technique could also be a boon in the search for new
by Bobby Likis (Renewable Fuels Association) Jay Leno is a car guy … and someone I’ve respected for many years. But Jay’s AutoWeek article “Can’t We Just Get Rid Of Ethanol?” makes zero sense to me. I’m a car guy too.
(Bangor University) In a paper just released in the leading bioenergy journal Global Change Biology Bioenergy, researchers from Bangor University and the Thünen Institute in Germany conclude that crop-biogas and liquid biofuels are at best inefficient options for greenhouse gas
(EurekAlert!/US Department of Energy Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Researchers with the Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI), a partnership that includes the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the University of California (UC) Berkeley, have found a way to increase the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Diverting starches and sugars towards the making of fuels, chemicals and materials makes sense — better the tank than the bellyfat. And, most biobased operators are in the protein market already. Algae, corn processors, soybean processors — all
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Milestone reached on protein, phycocyanin in spirulina — opens up new opportunities for algae, cyanobacteria. In Washington, we have big news this week that Matrix Genetics announced a technology breakthrough that allows for rapid and
(Farm Futures) Models predict that miscanthus will have higher fuel yield and profit when compared to corn stover and switchgrass A recent study simulated a side-by-side comparison of the yields and costs of producing ethanol using miscanthus, switchgrass, and corn stover,
(Reuters) In the Czech Republic, researchers at Tomas Bata University are working with the fat leftovers from leather production called fleshings to produce biodiesel from an otherwise toxic waste. Burning fleshing releases dioxins and nitrogen oxides, leaving few options for
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s New, it’s Neo — the neodiesel companies — brimming with technologies to create cleaner alternatives to a powerhouse fuel. They have the performance, half the carbon, and a range of low-cost feedstocks to choose
The Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is hosting the 2015 Project Peer Review on March 23–27, 2015, at the Hilton Mark Center, in Alexandria, Virginia. Approximately 185 projects in BETO’s research, development, and demonstration portfolio will be presented to the public
by George Lurie (The Business Journal NOW) ... Lower oil prices, (Brian) Thome (president and CEO of Edeniq) said, translate into “lower prices for ethanol too. That means margins for ethanol producers will be squeezed” — a scenario that plays right into
by Katie Fletcher (Biomass Magazine) Expanded cellulosic fuel pathways have led to a surge of biogas-based fuel credits, and producers are taking advantage of a significant boost to project economics. Traditionally, the biogas project end market has been the sale of
by Robert C. Brown, Tristan R. Brown (Iowa State University) “Why Are We Producing Biofuels?” is written for those who are curious about efforts to introduce biofuels into our energy supply but are not satisfied with the publically accessible information
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Whole Energy focuses on three areas… 1. Marketing Biofuels such as biodiesel, bio-methane, ethanol and renewable diesel; 2. Engineering services such as credit registration and process engineering; and 3. Refining glycerin to a commodity grade product and converting
(Philippine Information Agency) An alternative source that does not rely on fossil fuels was established in Infanta, Quezon to help supply the energy demand in rice and rice-based communities, Jan. 29. Located in Brgy. Binonoan, the bioethanol distillation facility produces energy
(SunHerald.com/Associated Press/Maui News) Hawaii's last sugar cane plantation wants to transition to growing plants for energy. But it hasn't found another crop that grows as well as sugar cane in a variety of soils or one that can stand up
(Renmatix/Total/PR Newswire) - Total invests in Renmatix – Takes equity and Board seat in Philadelphia based licensor of supercritical hydrolysis technology for conversion of biomass into economical cellulosic sugar -- Companies complete Joint Development Agreement to initiate distinct R&D
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) In light of signs of a moderation in the long upward trend in commodity prices, and recurrent assignment of blame for food insecurity and high food prices to the emergence of biofuels markets, particularly
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A recent report published by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Information Network provides an overview of the EU biobased economy and estimated biomass requirements for the production of biofuels, bioplastics, biochemicals and biopharmaceuticals. According
by Anna Simet (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Abengoa’s biofuels segment experienced the best year in its history in 2014, company CEO Manuel Sánchez Ortega reported during the company’s 2014 fiscal year results, which can be largely attributed to very high margins
by David Shaffer (Star Tribune) As production plants have grown larger and more efficient, small, older ethanol plants risk being left behind. ... Most vintage ethanol plants, including Buffalo Lake, expanded over the years, but that isn’t always enough to stay competitive.
(Science Daily/University of Arizona) Sea levels from New York to Newfoundland jumped up about four inches in 2009 and 2010 because ocean circulation changed. The unusual spike in sea level caused flooding along the northeast coast of North America and
by Siri Srinivas (The Guardian) Shareholders ask the five largest US oil companies – Valero, Exxon Mobil, Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66 and Chevron – to disclose the risks their operations and facilities face from rising sea levels and storm surges. ... In letters
Derek A. Splitter and James P. Szybist (Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Energy & Fuels) The present study experimentally investigates spark-ignited combustion with 87 AKI E0 gasoline in its neat form and in midlevel alcohol–gasoline blends with 24% vol/vol isobutanol–gasoline (IB24) and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Here we highlight an interesting solution to the problem of organic waste. In North Carolina, Maverick Synfuels announced the availability of the Maverick Oasis BG Gas-to-Liquid methanol plant product line. These plants convert biogas from sources such
by Maxx Chatsko (Motley Fool) ... Yet, to date only three commercial scale cellulosic ethanol facilities have been built in the United States. Why aren't there more? The technology is more complicated than most think. The first facility, which churns out 25
by James Goodman (Democrat & Chronicle) Jeffrey Lodge is finding a niche at Rochester Institute of Technology as a go-to guy for finding new uses for waste. An associate professor of biological sciences, Lodge knows what it takes to break down
(SeeNews Renewables) Guatemala's energy ministry presented on Wednesday a pilot plan to test ethanol in 25 vehicles and five motorcycles during four months. The government will use blends containing 5% and 10% of ethanol, supplied by local alcohol association APAG. The ethanol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) An arbitration ruling details how Roquette seemingly attempted one of the most brazen intellectual property heists in the history of biotechnology, and almost got away with it. Today, the story of a JV gone wrong,
(Neste Oil) A new renewable fuel will enter the market when Neste Oil starts the manufacture of biopropane. The investment will be made at the Rotterdam refinery. The market for propane in LPG applications is large because of the undeniable
(Purdue University) Using models that blend global economics, geography, ecology and environmental sciences is essential to understanding how changes in trade and natural systems in one part of the world affect those in another, a review concludes. Tom Hertel, distinguished professor
(Science Daily/University of California-Riverside) Researchers have invented a novel pretreatment technology that could cut the cost of biofuels production by about 30 percent or more by dramatically reducing the amount of enzymes needed to breakdown the raw materials that form
by Darius Dixon (Morning Energy-Politico) ...A trio of climate scientists has pointed to the Pacific Ocean as a major culprit behind the slowing rate of average global temperature increases over the past decade. Climate skeptics have seized on slowdown as
(The Engineer) A Scottish company has revived a defunct fermentation technology to create biofuel from the residues of whisky production. Edinburgh-based Celtic Renewables said it now plans to build a production facility in central Scotland after manufacturing the world’s first
(Byogy/PR Newswire) Byogy Renewables, a biofuels producer based in San Jose, California, has executed a strategic partnership agreement with Gen 2 Energy, an alternative energy company from Ames, Iowa, to develop a more cost-effective biofuel production process. New yeast strains developed by
(Oberon Fuels) Another milestone for the introduction of a new, low carbon fuel in the United States Oberon Fuels, Inc. (“Oberon”), the first company to produce fuel-grade dimethyl ether (“DME”) in North America, announced today that DME is now approved for
(AG-IP-News/Deinove) DEINOVE (Alternext Paris: ALDEI), a biotech company developing innovative processes for producing biofuels and bio-based chemicals by using Deinococcus bacteria as host strains, today announced in a press release that its patent, "High-performance metabolic bacteria ", has been granted
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The first of the “2010-12 IPO kids” completes its transformation to a lively, product-driven commercial company with revenues in fragrances, emollients, solvents and fuels. In California, Amyris announced Q4 2014 revenues of $11.6 million and $43.3M
by Imran Khan (Algae Industry Magazine) The global demand for fossil fuels is swelling against a tight economic environment and the Middle East is no exception. The domestic consumption of energy in the region is increasing at an astonishing rate.
by Jason Spiess (Fargo Business Examiner) Recently I sat down with Tom Lilja, executive director, North Dakota Corn Growers Association, to chew the fat on a variety of corn-themed energy and agriculture topics. ... "I think a lot of people just
Author, Dan Quadros, in Auburn, Alabama.by Danilo Gusmão de Quadros* (Advanced Biofuels USA) After two days (February 2-3, 2015) in “Sweet Home Alabama” at Auburn University, we got overwhelmed with the most recent discoveries of cutting-edge research that were presented
by Val Giddings (Information Technology and Innovation Foundation) Crops and foods improved through biotechnology, popularly known as “GMOs” (for “genetically modified organisms”) remain at the center of a maelstrom of conflicting claims and assertions. This is evident throughout all media, but especially
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In the world of aviation biofuels, the bands and the bunting are rolling out less frequently. But mostly, because the sector has moved out of a noise-filled early R&D phase and is heading towards deployment.
(Renewable Fuels Association) Today, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is pleased to announce Scott LeBrun as the winner of RFA’s E85 “Post Your Price” contest. The contest, which was announced last October and concluded just before midnight on Tuesday, allowed
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) Though real-world data suggest biofuel production has not led to so-called indirect land-use change, the California Air Resources Board, or CARB, continues to see ILUC as a vital part of its low-carbon fuel standard. The state's
by Elizabeth Cooney (Harvard Medical School/Wyss Institute) Harvard scientists have created a system that could speed adoption of solar-generated fuels as a power source ... Now scientists from a team spanning Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard Medical School and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Project of the Year, Deal of the Year, Partnership of the Year, Chemical of the Year, and Cap Raise of the Year — who are the big winners? Each year, the Digest recognizes projects, feedstocks, processing
(Valicor Inc./Ethanol Producer Magazine) Valicor Inc. has announced that it has completed the acquisition of a patent that covers the extraction of protein from corn ethanol stillage and is designed to help ethanol producers maximize their coproduct recovery and value. The
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The International Renewable Energy Agency has published a report that highlights the realistic potential for higher renewable uptake in all sectors of the U.S. energy system, including power, industry, building and the transportation sector. The
(University of Georgia/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Researchers at the University of Georgia have developed a "super strain" of yeast that can efficiently ferment ethanol from pretreated pine, one of the most common species of trees in Georgia and the U.S. Their
(Bio-Process Innovation Inc./Ethanol Producer Magazine) Bio-Process Innovation Inc. has announced the completion of the construction of its 1-ton pilot plant and successful operation of its low temperature steep delignification (LTSD) pretreatment process at its pilot facility in Otterbein, Indiana. The
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Making E15 (gasoline with 15 percent ethanol) the new regular unleaded fuel in Minnesota would eliminate 358,000 tons of CO2 annually, according to a technical analysis by the University of Illinois at Chicago. In response to a query
by J. Paul Lilly (North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services) In order to understand both agriculture and forestry as they are today, I believe we need to know what they have evolved from. Thomas Isern, Professor of History
(Gevo) Tests Demonstrate That Isobutanol-Blended Gasoline Meets Performance Requirements of the Multi-Billion Gallon Marine Fuel Market A consortium of leading organizations from the recreational marine industry has completed more than four years of testing Gevo's (Nasdaq:GEVO) renewable isobutanol in marine engines. Thousands
by Chris Woolston (Bioenergy Connection) With its crown of pink blossoms, the humble seashore mallow may look unassuming, even delicate. But when it comes to brutal environments, this seaside shrub is no pushover. Seashore Mallow can survive one drought after
[caption id="attachment_59604" align="alignleft" width="300"] "The Cellulosic Biofuels Odyssey," artwork by David R. Dudley; concept by Heather Youngs, Susan Jenkins, and David Dudley.[/caption] by Greg Breining (Bioenergy Connection) When Bioenergy Connection first covered the progress to commercial cellulosic ethanol in 2011, a dozen
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Here’s our most recent update, focusing on 10 key issues (though not ranked in order of importance): 1. Oil price volatility — will it stabilize? 2. RIN price volatility — will the rollercoaster end? 3. Ethanol blend wall
(ICM, Inc.) ICM, Inc. is pleased to announce that Kansas Ethanol LLC, of Lyons, Kansas, has signed an agreement for purchase, license to operate, and full-scale installation of ICM’s patent-pending Fiber Separation Technology™. FST™ is a value-added platform technology that removes
(Government of Canada) The Government of Canada is making an investment of $3.7 million to help Integrated Grain Processors Cooperative (IGPC) Ethanol Inc. install Canada's first Fiber Separation Technology™ (FST) system to help boost production through operational efficiencies. This investment will
by Jyoti Madhusoodanan (Chemical & Engineering News) Biofuels: Yeast designed to ferment compounds found in treated biomass could boost biofuel production When biofuel producers turn agricultural waste into ethanol, they start by treating the biomass with acid to hydrolyze complex carbohydrates
by Eduardo Porter (The New York Times) Does combating climate change require burning the world’s forests and crops for fuel? ... Absent a big increase in bioenergy supplies, the climate change panel’s analysis reported, it would cost about two-thirds more, on
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, a new UC Berkeley study shows that if biomass electricity production is combined with carbon capture and sequestration in the western United States, by 2050 power generators could reduce emissions up to 145
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