(Canadian Business) Lignol Energy Corp. says its demonstration project to show the commercial potential of producing ethanol from plant cellulose no longer qualifies for up to US$30 million of funding from a U.S. government biofuels program. The Vancouver-based company said Friday
(United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization) A safe integration of food and energy production may be one of the best ways to improve national food and energy security and simultaneously reduce poverty in a climate smart way. This study on Integrated Food-Energy
(EurekAlert!/University of California San Diego) Farmers and other astute observers of nature have long known that crops like corn and sorghum grow taller at night. But the biochemical mechanisms that control this nightly stem elongation, common to most plants, have
(University of West Indies Cave Hill) UWI-Cave Hill and BioJet International Initiate Research and Commercial Biofuels Partnership. The University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus in Barbados, and BioJet International, Ltd. jointly announce a biosciences research and commercial partnership. The University
by Paul Voosen (New York Times/Greenwire) ...For eons, plants have locked the sun's energy into complex strands of sugar, used to build their stems and leaves. These chains are far different from table sugar or grain starch; they cling together,
(Correio do Brasil) School of Engineering of São Carlos (EESC) of USP, a research proposes the production of energyfrom the gas released in the treatment of glycerol originating from the biodiesel. The residue is rich in impurities, which increases the
(American Motorcycle Association) The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is asking a key U.S. House panel to include motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in any future study of ethanol-blended gasoline. In a letter sent July 11 to the House Energy and Environment
by Bryan Sims (Biorefining Magazine) Delving into termite guts to find the best cellulases or lignocellulases to efficiently convert cellulose and hemicelluloses, even lignin, into advanced biofuels isn’t a new concept within the biorefining community, but researchers at Purdue University
by Luke Geiver (Biorefining Magazine) Botryococcus braunii, an ancient strain of algae more than 500 million years old that researchers say is responsible for creating oil and coal shale deposits, may not grow fast enough for advanced biofuels consideration,
by Guy Montague-Jones (FoodProductionDaily) The US-based company recently announced that it had created a PET feedstock - paraxylene (PX) - entirely from plant-based sugars using its own catalytic process. The process results in the creation of a PET product, which
(EurekAlert!/University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Growing perennial grasses on the least productive farmland now used for corn ethanol production in the U.S. would result in higher overall corn yields, more ethanol output per acre and better groundwater quality, researchers report
by Chris de Morsella (Green Economy Post) A detailed review of 12 U.S. based synthetic biology, biofuel & biochemical companies that are developing third and fourth generation biofuels, bioindustrial & household chemical, and food additive products; using synthetic biology to produce engineered microorganisms
(Denver Business Journal) Colorado biofuel startup Sundrop Fuels Inc. on Monday announced it will get $175 million in new investment, with the lion’s share coming from natural gas company Chesapeake Energy Corp. ...Chesapeake said it plans to fund the investment by
(Algae Industry Magazine) O ne Barrel for Baja (1BFB) is a project made possible by the San Diego Center for Algal Biotechnology (SD-CAB) in support of research aimed towards understanding and developing eco-friendly energy solutions. The goal of 1BFB is
(BBC News) ...The research team, which also includes the university's department of chemistry and scientists at the University of the West of England, is growing each of the algae from the Roman Baths over a range of temperatures and comparing
(Global Bioenergies) One month after its successful IPO, Global Bioenergies , located in the Genopole technology park in Evry, South of Paris, today announces the receipt of a €475K funding from the French innovation agency OSEO. The funds will be used to
(Renewable Fuels Association) There is no statistical evidence to support the argument that growth in ethanol production is driving consumer food prices higher, according to a comprehensive study released today by Informa Economics. Rather, the report concludes that retail food prices
(US Department of Energy/Idaho National Laboratory) The United States is increasing the use of lignocellulosic biomass as part of a portfolio of solutions to address climate change and improve energy security, in addition to other benefits that an invigorated agricultural industry can provide. One
by Katherine Bourzac (Technology Review) The agency will fund projects aimed at speeding up synthetic biology, and creating new kinds of materials. Yesterday (June 15, 2011) morning, at the Fifth International Meeting on Synthetic Biology at Stanford University, a representative from
by Erin Voegele (Biorefining Magazine) Since its inception in 2009, the U.S. DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency—Energy (DARPA-E) has been actively working to help expedite the development of innovative, game-changing energy technologies. ...On June 29, ARPA-E Director Arun Majumdar hosted a
(Joint Genome Institute) Calif.—In order to realize the full potential of advanced biofuels that are derived from non-food sources of lignocellulosic biomass—e.g., agricultural, forestry, and municipal waste, and crops such as poplar, switchgrass and miscanthus—new technologies that can efficiently and
(LS9) LS9, Inc., a technology leader in the development of sustainable products, announced that it has begun a collaboration with MAN Latin America, a leading Brazilian engineering and vehicles manufacturing company, to test LS9's renewable diesel in both stationary engines
(AllAfrica.com) President Yoweri Museveni has urged the people of Masaka district and Uganda at large to work with the Pegasus Investments Limited in the cultivation of jatropha (ekiroowa) plant as one of the means to boost household incomes. The seeds of the
by Beth Evans (The Barrel) Two significant events this summer should help boost commercial production of bio-based jet fuel: the approval of a new fuel standard and the recent completion of a successful first trans-Atlantic flight. In July, international standards developer
(Virgin Australia) Virgin Australia today announced that it has partnered with Renewable Oil Corporation (ROC), Dynamotive Energy Systems Corporation (DYMTF) and Future Farm Industries Co-operative Research Centre (FFI CRC) to develop a sustainable aviation biofuel that also has benefits for the Australian farming
(IEA Bioenergy Task 39 Newsletter) Geopolitical tensions in some oil producing regions and the uncertainties surrounding the future availability of fossil fuels, as well as the urgent necessity to mitigate negative impacts on climate through reduced CO2 emissions, have created
(Bradenton) Company Expands Technology Portfolio to Include Production of Renewable Chemicals and Advanced Fuels by the Conversion of Existing Ethanol and Biodiesel Production Facilities AE Biofuels, Inc. (OTC:AEBF), a global advanced biofuels company, announced today that it has completed the acquisition
by Luke Geiver (Biodiesel Magazine) Evodos BV, an algae technology developer based in Netherlands, believes the company’s spiral plate centrifuge created for the harvesting of algae will give algae harvesting a positive energy balance. ...The core of the technology is based
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Resurgence in the biodiesel industry and its demand for inedible corn oil extracted from ethanol plants was a topic of great discussion at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo last week in Indianapolis. Several experts
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Researchers from the University of California Berkeley and the University of Maryland School of Medicine have discovered a microbe in a Nevada hot spring that enjoys eating cellulose (aka plant material) at temperatures above the boiling
(Physorg.com) ...A saponification side reaction (methyl ester conversion into the corresponding acid salt) reduces methyl ester yield. To increase the yield, it was therefore necessary to develop alternative catalysts. For this type of reaction, certain enzymatic catalysts such as those belonging
(Marine Log) Wärtsilä has been contracted by STX Finland to supply liquid bio-fuel powered main engines for Aura II, the multi-purpose deck cargo vessel ordered from the Turku shipyard last October by Gaiamare Ltd., part of the the Turku based Meriaura
by Tyler Hamilton (Toronto Star) ...Wankei Wan, a professor of biochemical engineering at the University of Western Ontario, thinks he's found a potentially significant way to stimulate algae growth. Wan and a team of research students built a small raceway pond
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...There are a class of fuels that are deeply rooted in biological process, and share the goal of replacing fossil fuels with low-carbon substitutes, but are not strictly biofuels. Huh? Well, think of fuels that are
(GreenAirOnline) The momentum driving the introduction of aviation biofuels received a significant boost with a number of initiatives and events taking place at last week’s Paris Air Show. While the transatlantic biofuel flights conducted by Boeing and Honeywell attracted wide
(GreenAirOnline) UK holiday airline Thomson Airways is to operate the UK’s first sustainable biofuel commercial flight at the end of this month and start regular weekly flights from September on routes from Birmingham. A 50/50 blend of used cooking oil
Energy cooperation is a central element of the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership. During President Obama’s November 2010 head of state visit to India, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Government of India signed an Agreement to Establish a Joint
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Carolyn Hoagland was recently awarded the Volkswagen Distinguished Scholar for her work in learning about how farmers choose to grow bioenergy crops. Hoagland, an adult student, is an environmental science major at the University of Tennessee at
(Wisconsin BioIndustry Alliance) A report by the University of Wisconsin and Iowa State University found that ethanol production helped reduce gas prices at the pump by an average of $0.89 per gallon across the country in 2010. The report, which updated the findings
(Nature: International Weekly Journal of Science) Biofuels have big boots to fill. After more than 150 years of using petroleum and its products we have become dependent on it. First generation biofuels are showing us both the potential and the
by Rob O'Flanagan (Guelph Mercury) Biofuels are not the villain behind recent spikes in food prices, a new study funded by Grain Farmers of Ontario concludes. Terry Daynard, a corn expert and retired University of Guelph crop science professor, presented the
(25 x '25) A critical component of the 25x’25 mission is to educate and share with policy makers and consumers alike the value of renewable solutions to our nation’s energy needs. In the spirit of that undertaking, the 25x’25 Alliance
(University of Calgary) Biofuel from non-edible parts of plants getting more efficient ...Researchers at the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering are developing new ways to produce biofuel from organic waste in a sustainable and affordable way. “Our goal is to
(Borneo Post) Mitsubishi Corp Energy Business Group (Mitsubishi Energy), which is involved in the oil and gas industry in Bintulu, will collaborate with the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) to explore the algal biodiversity in Sarawak for biofuels as a source
by Nikolai Khramtsov, Luise McDade, Alexander Amerik, Esther Yu, Kunjan Divatia, Alexander Tikhonov, Michael Minto, Georges Kabongo-Mubalamate, Zdenek Markovic, Marie Ruiz-Martinez and Steven Henck (Bioresource Technology/Science Direct) In this study an industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strain capable of fermenting ethanol from pretreated
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As the Defense Department looks at its options to directly jump-start drop-in biofuels production at scale, we look at the Defense Production Act – the rationale, the process, the funding, and energy’s role In Washington, a
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Southeast is ripe for energy crop development, according to several panelists who spoke during a session devoted to next-generation feedstock strategies June 28 at the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo in
by Lallemand Ethanol Technology (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...The yet-to-be-named yeast is the first product to be patented (pending) and commercialized out of the exclusive partnership between Lallemand Ethanol Technology and Xylogenics Inc. Developed using extensive genomics knowledge, this new class
by Ron Kotrba (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...(Pete) Moss, (vice president of marketing for cereal process technologies) says the 15 billion gallon cap on corn ethanol in RFS2 is one reason why fractionation will finally come to the dry mill corn
by Emma Onyango (East African Business Week) ...Pegasus Investments and now African Power Initiative have both shown interest in making this diesel. Mr. Sudhir Kumar, the Business Development Manager African Power Initiative said that the company is a renewable
(World Bank) National targets would contribute to rapid biofuel expansion in the next 10 years; Reaching those goals would have a limited impact on the global economy; Some countries would be affected significantly, with higher cost of food imports Expanding biofuel production to
(University of Edinburgh/Labspaces) ...Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have found that the tiny organism has developed coping mechanisms for when its main food source is in short supply. Understanding these processes will help scientists develop crops that can survive when
FACT has published a comprehensive report on the opportunities and feasibility of aquatic biofuels, their limitations and associated problems and threats. Aquatic biomass is attracting a lot of interest as a valuable feedstock for second and third generation biofuels. Algae are
(DSM) Royal DSM, the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, today announces that it has reached an agreement to acquire C5 Yeast Company B.V. (Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands) from Royal Cosun. The acquisition will allow DSM to combine C5
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Over at Blue Marble, think spent waste grains from the alcoholic beverage distillation process, and spent coffee grounds. Generally, these are materials that pile up in landfills. By contrast, at Blue Marble’s first commercial facility, using
by Christopher Mims (Grist) Production of biofuel from palm oil has been an unmitigated disaster for the rainforest, leading to clear-cutting throughout Indonesia and propelling that country to the top ranks of the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters. That's
By Carole Shifrin (Air Transport World) Detroit Metro operator Wayne County Airport Authority said it has agreed to partner with Michigan State University Extension to grow, harvest and process bioenergy crops on the property of DTW and another of the authority's
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Algae.Tec Limited in collaboration with Manildra Group have announced the construction of an algae demonstration facility in Shoalhaven One, in Nowra south of Sydney, Australia. Manildra Group is the country’s largest ethanol producer. Algae.Tec Executive Roger Stroud
by Lynn Hicks (Des Moines Register) Nevada will be the site of one of the few next-generation ethanol plants in the world, DuPont announced today. The biorefinery will use corncobs, leaves and stalks as feedstock rather than corn. It will join
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Quad County Corn Processors, which operates a 30 MMgy ethanol facility in Galva, Iowa, was recently awarded a $1.45 million grant from the Iowa Power Fund to assist in constructing a bolt-on cellulosic
(AlphaGalileo) On 17 June, with the opening of AlgaePARC and the launch of the BioSolar Cells research project, a new research facility at Wageningen UR (University & Research centre) starts exploring on a semi-industrial scale the potential of micro-algae as
(Algae Industry Magazine) Heliae Development, LLC, an Arizona-based algae technology company, and Azmark Aero Systems, an Arizona-based designer and manufacturer of small gas turbine engines, have announced an agreement to develop and test algae derived jet fuels. Azmark’s small,
by Naomi Lubick (Chemical and Engineering News) Renewable Fuel: Calcium hydroxide, better known as hydrated lime, transforms used soybean oil into biodiesel A new method uses hydrated lime to transform soybean oil, recycled from other uses, into biodiesel, researchers report (Energy
(PR Newswire) Today (June 21, 2011) Inbicon, inventor of the biomass conversion technology driving the Inbicon Biomass Refinery, announced a summary of its private crop studies and confidential biomass research. "Our findings confirm that North America's great abundance of corn
(Genencor) Genencor today (June 22, 2011) announced a product advancement, Accellerase® TRIO. This new product will enable biofuel producers to more cost-effectively manufacture cellulosic ethanol from a wide range of renewable nonfood feedstocks such as switchgrass, wheat straw and corn
(European Commission) The European Commission's services, in close coordination with Airbus, leading European airlines (Lufthansa, Air France/KLM, & British Airways) and key European biofuel producers (Choren Industries, Neste Oil, Biomass Technology Group and UOP), have launched an exciting new industry
(CBC News) A PhD student at the University of Sherbrooke is turning to the waters of the St. Lawrence River to develop a new kind of biodiesel made from algae. The micro-algae he is studying grows naturally in the St. Lawrence
(PRNewswire) New product will include cellulose feedstock grown in shipping containers along with the container based ethanol refinery Allard Research and Development, the world leader in small to medium-scale ethanol fuel production systems, announced today the world's first self-powered modular cellulose
(Solazyme) Applauds ASTM International historic preliminary approval of algae based biofuels for aviation Solazyme, Inc. (NASDAQ: SZYM), a renewable oil and bioproducts company, announced today that the US Navy successfully demonstrated Solazyme’s 100% algal-derived jet fuel, SolajetHRJ-5®, in an MH-60S Seahawk
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The 100-passenger aircraft will use a dual-propulsion system. Conventional engines will utilize algae-base biofuels for take-off and landing. Ramjet rocket engines, powered by biofuels-based hydrogen and oxygen with water vapor exhaust, will take the plane
(IBN Live/The New Indian Express) Governor H R Bhardwaj inaugurated a biofuel plant established by Rural Bio-Fuel Growers Association and promoted by the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) at the Rural Bio-Resource Complex Project (RBRC) at Hadonahalli on Saturday (June
by Renee Schoof (McClatchy Newspapers/Seattle Times) Maj. Aaron Jelinek of the Air Force Thunderbirds flies his F-16 upside down, rolls it, thunders past his teammates in breathtaking close charges and joins five other fighter jets in precision formation. And for the
(City of Edmonton, Enerkem, Alberta Innovates) Plug-and-play pilot plant and lab to convert waste to biofuels and value-added chemicals Edmonton is now home to one of the world’s most sophisticated waste-to-biofuels research facilities, thanks to a partnership between Alberta Innovates – Energy and
(BusinessWire) Cellulosic ethanol manufacturing process to provide feedstock for production of xylitol Xylitol Canada Inc., a reseller and distributor of xylitol and xylitol products announced that they will leap frog the initial plan for a pilot plant and go directly to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Mendel CEO Neal Gutterson talks about miscanthus, and the role of the power sector as the driver of a global supply chain for biomass. ...The company’s IP lies in its understanding of a large class of
(KLM) KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has taken another important step in aviation sustainability. In September KLM will launch more than 200 flights being operated on biokerosene between Amsterdam and Paris. “KLM has once again shown it is stimulating the development
(BusinessWire/GreenShift) Technology Produces Feedstock for Biodiesel, Second Renewable Fuel from Sunoco's Green E15 Manufacturing Facility in Fulton, New York GreenShift Corporation announced today (June 24, 2011) that it has licensed its patented technology to Sunoco for extraction of corn oil from
(Iowa State University) Laura Jarboe pointed to a collection of test tubes in her Iowa State University laboratory. Some of the tubes looked like they were holding very weak coffee. That meant microorganisms - in this case, Shewanella bacteria - were
by Daryl Huff (KITV 4) Military, Local Company Testing Plants To Replace Petroleum ... Pacific Bioldiesel, which has succeeding in recycling used cooking oil into vehicle fuel on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island, is managing the Hawaii Military Biofuels Crop Demonstration
by Forrest Jehlik (Argonne National Laboratory/Autopia) ...We must develop a multitude of alternatives to address our future energy needs. One such alternative is ethanol, which is domestically generated and sustainable. However, there are many myths surrounding ethanol, and I’ve come
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A long-proposed municipal solid waste (MSW)-to-ethanol project in Lake County, Ind., has locked in the financing needed to construct the facility and is expected to undergo construction in July. Powers Energy of America Inc.
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The winners of the recently completed three-year EcoCAR challenge used a combination of extended-range electric power and E85 to grab top honors. Taking first place was Virginia Tech University, followed by Ohio State University
by Tim Sheehan (The Fresno Bee) Two plants aim for biofuels made without corn. With corn prices up and demand rising, work is under way in the Valley to develop two biorefineries to make ethanol without using the golden grain. In Visalia,
by Ben Webster (The Australian) Electric cars could produce higher emissions over their lifetimes than petrol equivalents because of the energy consumed in making their batteries, a study has found. An electric car owner would have to drive at least 129,000km
(Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership) Electric and hybrid cars create more carbon emissions during their production than standard vehicles – but are still greener overall, according to a new report. The report highlights the increasing importance of accounting for whole life carbon
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In France, the global aviation biofuels movement is descending on the 49th Paris Air Show, which kicks off today with 340,000 attendees, 2100 exhibitors and 3,000 journalists expected to be on hand. Exhibitors and session participants
(Boeing) Boeing will fly the new 747-8 Freighter to its international air show debut in a doubly historic fashion, flying the airplane across the Atlantic Ocean to the Paris Air Show using a renewable aviation jet fuel – the world's
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Research from ORNL reveals new details of bioenergy’s most daunting technical barrier ...Lignin, for those newer to the biofuels world, is a complex chemical compound that makes veggies, plants and wood firm, confers resistance to pests,
by Tim Wheeler (Baltimore Sun) An experiment in making "bio-fuel" is slated to get under way this summer at Baltimore's Back River wastewater treatment plant. The city's Board of Estimates approved Wednesday a $255,000 contract with a small Maryland company to grow
(National Biodiesel Board) America’s Advanced Biofuel Supporting Thousands of New Jobs While Generating Billions in Household Income, Tax Revenues The U.S. biodiesel industry will grow to support more than 74,000 jobs throughout the economy by 2015 while creating some $4 billion in
Stefan Kuhnel; Henk A Schols; Harry Gruppen (Biotechnology for Biofuels/Highbeam Business) Sugar-beet pulp (SBP) consists of up to 75% w/w of carbohydrates (dry matter). Arabinose, glucose and galacturonic acid (GA) are the main sugar moieties present in complex polysaccharide structures
(PR NewsWire/The Street) EdeniQ, Inc., a California-based clean technology company serving the global biofuels industry, announced today that it has licensed yeast technology from the USDA Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) associated with the fermentation
(University of Massachusetts Amherst) Detecting the genetic mechanism for how certain strains of the energy crop model systemBrachypodium can produce more ethanol than others is the aim of a new five-year, $750,000 Early Career Research grant from the U.S. Department
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Virent, Genomatica, HCL Clean Tech among the winners, as DOE fosters replacement of “entire barrel of oil” in latest funding round In Washington, US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced up to $36 millionto fund six small-scale
(GreenAirOnline) A study to determine the feasibility of the Australian and New Zealand aviation sector using sustainable biofuels to meet industry carbon reduction targets concludes that a bio-derived jet fuel industry could decrease aviation emissions by 17 per cent and
by Kurt A. Rosentrater, Ph.D. (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The fuel ethanol and distillers grains industry ...sustainably meets the growing needs for food, feed, fiber and fuel for our society as well as the rest of the world. ...Two key areas
(R&D Magazine) Scientists recently conducted the first pilot-scale test of algae growth using water from an oil-production well in Jal, New Mexico. This impure water, called "produced water," is pumped to the surface concurrently with the extraction
by Alexandros Gasparatos, Per Stromberg and Kazuhiko Takeuchi (Science Direct) First generation biofuels provide a number of ecosystem services (e.g., fuel, climate regulation) but they also compromise other ecosystem services (e.g., food, freshwater services) which are of paramount value to
by Thomas Saidak (Biofuels Digest) In Canada, research carried out by teams at the Universities of Warwick and British Columbia have identified an lignin-breaking enzyme in bacteria which could be used to make biofuel production more efficient. The
by Thomas Saidak (Biofuels Digest) ...AMG plans to use a portion of the proceeds to pay China Zhejiang Biodiesel as a part of a previously announced agreement to purchase a 133 hectare jatropha plantation and a 201
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ASTM gives preliminary OK to Bio-SPK fuel spec; path to 58B gallon aviation biofuels market comes clearer, closer In Washington, Bloomberg is reporting that ASTM has given preliminary approval to the blending of biofuels produced from algal,
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Researchers coax more products and income streams from distillers grains ...(R)esearchers see a time when distillers grains will be used for more than feed. Diversifying uses for distillers grains can provide multiple revenue streams and
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Cattlemen in the U.S. and Canada demonstrate feedlots and ethanol production are ideal companion enterprises In every case, the cattle came first. In an effort to find inexpensive and efficient ways to feed cattle—and in
by Luke Geiver (Biorefining Magazine) If early fuel property tests are any indication of future success for the Energy & Environmental Research Center’s (EERC) work on a combined coal and biomass feedstock-based fuel, the future looks pretty good. Led by
(Physorg.com) A study conducted by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland indicates that there is practically no difference between commercial petrol grades 95E10 and 98E5 sold in Finland as regards fuel consumption in normal driving. The finding is based on
(Green Car Congress) Petrobras has earmarked some US$400 million for biofuels development research projects in the 2010-2014 Business Plan, according to Petrobras Biocombustível’s head of Technology Management, João Norberto Noschang Neto. Neto was speaking as a member of the panel on
by Jason Kennedy (IT World) One company figured out a way to turn the byproduct of a genetically modified bacteria into biofuel. ...A Cambridge, MA based company, Joule Unlimited, however, thinks that race might be over with it's ethanol creating genetically
by Anita Lienert (InsideLine) Just the Facts: Chrysler and the U.S. Department of Energy are at work on a radical experimental engine with multi-fuel technology that can burn gasoline, E85 and diesel. The 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder multi-fuel engine is being tested on
(VG Energy/PRWeb) VG Energy, Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of Viral Genetics, Inc., has received independent confirmation from BioProcess Algae, LLC of early laboratory studies that verify an increase in yields of algae oils following treatment with VG Energy’s Metabolic Disruption
(Advanced Biofuels USA) ...(T)here is a third, hybrid process which combines both biochemical and thermochemical elements, capturing the benefits of each pathway while mitigating some of their deficiencies. This process, called syngas fermentation, is a process where a biomass feedstock
(Environmental-Expert.com) Perennial grasses that thrive in saline areas can not only help reclaim vast stretches of unproductive land but can also produce biofuels without compromising food production, according to a study in Pakistan. A team of scientists led by Ajmal Khan,
by Riggs Eckelberry (OriginOil/Algae Industry Magazine) ...While capital is rightly pouring into gigantic projects that we need to begin to compete with oil and gas, there is a parallel business model that takes advantage of algae’s unique ability to be
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Iowa, Honeywell has been selected to help SynGest design a proposed first-of-its-kind processing facility that will produce ammonia from biomass. The southwest-Iowa plant will process as much as 400 tons of biomass each day to produce
(Columbia University) Kartik Chandran, an associate professor of Earth and Environmental Engineering at Columbia Engineering, has been awarded $1.5 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for his project to develop a revolutionary new model in water, sanitation, and energy. Working with
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Brazil, 2,000 industry executives gathered at UNICA’s biennial Ethanol Summit in Sao Paulo. Among the highlights, a charged keynote in which celebrated venture capitalist Vinod Khosla accused oil companies of having a double-standard on risk-taking
by Drew Sowersby (Advanced Biofuels USA) Fuels of the Future: The Bioalcohol Paradigm This slide presentation has been created by Drew Sowersby to inform a broad audience about the importance and potential dominance of bioalcohols in the transportation industry as
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) ...Far from a fresh hire, Paul (Reep)’s involvement with OriginOil actually dates back to the origin of the company that Riggs and his brother Nicholas Eckelberry started in 2007. According to Reep, “Riggs and
by Dong Li, William C. Hockaday, Caroline A. Masiello and Pedro J.J. Alvarez (Science Direct) Biochar has a great potential for enhancing soil fertility and carbon sequestration while enabling beneficial waste disposition. Because of the potential for widespread application, it is essential to proactively assess
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Nebraska-based Pellet Technology LLC is teaming up with CPM to offer second-generation biofuels producers a solution to the logistical issues surrounding the use of bulky biomass as feedstocks. Pellet Technology, which became commercially active
(OPIS) OPIS has posted a brand-new FREE white paper “Isobutanol- A Renewable Solution for the Transportation Fuels Value Chain”. Written and sponsored by Gevo Transportation Fuels, this white paper details the increased demand for a clean, renewable biofuel as new benchmarks
by Lee Swee Heng (Physorg.com) Biodiesel is a promising future fuel, particularly because it can be made from a wide variety of renewable sources such as crude vegetable oils and waste fats produced by commercial kitchens. Conventional chemical processes for
(Virent) Biofuels Pioneer Converts Corn Stover and Loblolly Pine Into BioFormate™ Gasoline with Molecular Composition Similar to Gasoline Derived from Fossil Fuels Virent announced it has successfully produced biogasoline from corn stover and pine harvest forest residuals, as a recipient of the U.S.
(PRWeb/Independence Bio-Products) Independence Bio-Products (IBP) of Dublin, Ohio has received a patent from U.S. Patent Office covering the company’s low-cost open-pond system for producing algae for biofuels and animal feeds system year-round, regardless of climate or season. IBP’s system uses
by Jeremy Fordham (Green-Trust.org) ...Microorganisms are incredibly abundant and diverse, especially in their metabolic functionality. Consolidated bioprocessing takes advantage of this versatility. ...Cellulose is a crystalline molecule that is critical to a plant cell’s structure, so it is hard for microbes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In Massachusetts, Myriant filed for a $125 million IPO, becoming the 8th company in industrial biotechnology to file in the past 18 months. ...From the S-1: “We are an industrial biotechnology company focused on becoming a
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Two recently released studies examining California’s future energy needs address biofuels’ role in contributing to the state’s fuel mix. Both reports are aimed at evaluating methods to reduce the state’s overall emissions, but reach
(Stevens Institute of Technology) Every year, the world consumes 15 Terrawatts of power. Since the amount of annual harvestable solar energy has been estimated at 50 Terrawatts, students at Stevens Institute of Technology are working on a supercapacitor that will
by Luke Geiver (Biodiesel Magazine) ...(F)or two teams set to compete in a 24-hour race in Germany, a blend of renewable diesel and biodiesel might be the secret to earning a victory. The teams will put Neste Oil’s NExBTL
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) A pilot-scale project in Olgergen, Holland, is investigating the use of algae cultivation as a method to remove nutrients from wastewater. The project, under development by Ingrepro Renewables, is housed at Waterstromen bv, a water
(Daily India.com) In a bid to help cut down the price of fuel in the market by using waste material, some biotech students in Surat, Gujarat, are using water hyacinth to produce ethanol, which can be used as an alternate
by Sarah Pilgrim and Mark Harvey (Sociological Research Online) In this paper, we argue that a consortium of NGOs has played a significant role in shaping the market for, and restricting the use of, biofuels as an alternative to conventional
(iStockAnalyst) CEPSA, a Spain-based company primarily active in the energy sector and the hydrocarbons industry, has developed a new process to manufacture biofuel from vegetable oil. This research project has been in progress since 2007, leading to the development of a hydrogenation
(Algal Biomass Organization) ...Aurora Algae is focused on cultivating marine algae in open pond systems for omega-3 oils, protein, feed and fuel. Our main revenue drivers are higher value products, and as we scale the business, the fuel component will
by Dr. William Strauss (Renewable Energy World/FutureMetrics) This short article challenges the assumption that there is always a carbon debt incurred first and then a carbon dividend realized later (debt-then-dividend) when using woody biomass for energy. The Manomet Study has generated
by Glenn Meyers (CleanTechnica) There is now more good news on producing hydrogen, the clean-burning fuel that leaves behind water as an emission. An international scientific team has announced creating hydrogen using ambient temperatures and pressure through a combination of sunlight
(Algae Industry Magazine) Many kinds of algae and cyanobacteria are capable of using energy from sunlight to split water molecules and release hydrogen. One reason this approach hasn’t yet been harnessed for fuel production is that under ordinary circumstances, hydrogen
by Amy Phillips (ABC Rural) Australian PhytoFuel aims to establish hundreds of thousands of hectares of 'kulpa' plantations across northern Australia in the next five to seven years. Spokesman Marshall Mackay says trees will be grown at the Hughenden racecourse to
(Jagran Post) The project of deriving ethanol, a bio-fuel for blending with petrol, from a seaweed is all set to get a major boost, with the Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI) deciding to ramp up off-shore production
by Ivan Gale (The National) Middle Eastern airlines are being urged to invest in biofuels programmes to help their industry achieve ambitious targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Aviation produces about 2 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions, but growth
by Matt Luebbe (The Fence Post) University of Nebraska researchers plan to conduct a study this summer at the Panhandle Research Feedlot to determine the effects of including a common ethanol plant byproduct, condensed distillers soluble, in beef feedlot diets. What
by Tyler Hamilton (Clean Break) I had the opportunity this week to visit a St. Marys Cement plant in the small and scenic town of St. Marys, Ontario. A subsidiary of Brazilian cement giant Votorantim Cimentos, the company is working with Toronto-based Pond
(Physorg.com) A Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University research team has developed a process that removes a key obstacle to producing low-cost, renewable biofuels from bacteria. The team has reprogrammed photosynthetic microbes to secrete high-energy fats, making byproduct recovery and
(SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry) Researchers work to make biobutanol from sustainable resource: wood ...(S)cientists at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) are researching ways to turn wood into sustainable biobutanol. Researchers in the college's Department of
by Bryan Sims (Biodiesel Magazine) A three-way partnership between Angel Labs LLC, Industrial Green Power Inc. and Titan Biodiesel was forged whereby Angel Labs will deliver to market its ultra-efficient, six-inch “Massive Yet Tiny” (MYT) engine to power a 40
The ARPA-E Fellows Program consists of highly technical scientists and researchers who will actively help create the strategic direction and vision of the country’s first agency devoted exclusively to transformational energy technology research and development. Fellows will support ARPA-E’s Program
by Tom Quaife (Dairy Herd Network) “Pretty amazing,” commented one man standing next to a demonstration model at the Alltech International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium this week in Lexington, Ky. The large-scale model, measuring approximately 4 feet by 4 feet,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In California, energy crop breeder Ceres has filed for a $100 million IPO on Nasdaq, with Goldman Sachs and Barclays Capital as underwriters. ...From the S-1: “We are an agricultural biotechnology company selling seeds to produce renewable
(GreenAirOnline) Global industrial crops technology company Quinvita is the latest to join a new biofuel alliance that has come together to produce sustainable jet biofuel from Brazilian-grown jatropha. The Brazilian Bio-Jetfuel Platform is a collaboration led by Curcas Diesel Brasil
(GreenAirOnline) An aviation sustainability report from the World Economic Forum finds that achieving the industry’s target of halving its carbon emissions by 2050 will be a significant challenge given an 85 per cent CO2 emissions reduction gap. This is despite
by Brian Sims (Ethanol Producer Magazine) State, county and city dignitaries were on hand to witness the official groundbreaking last week of EdeniQ Inc.’s Corn-to-Cellulosic Migration pilot plant at EdeniQ’s headquarters in Visalia, Calif. EdeniQ had been optimizing its biomass conversion
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