by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Linde is a leading global industrial gases and engineering company with 2021 sales of $31 billion (€26 billion). The company serves a variety of end markets including chemicals & energy, food & beverage, electronics, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and mining. Linde’s industrial gases are used in
Scientific Resources
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Liberation Labs comes out of stealth with a $20M funding round and a precision fermentation platform for the production of alternative proteins at scale — News arrives from New York that Mark Warner and his Liberation Labs team have closed a $20 million seed round of funding,
by Lisa Stiffler (Geek Wire) Lithos, a Seattle startup applying carbon capture technology in an agricultural setting, announced Thursday that it raised a $6.29 million seed funding round. Lithos provides a permanent carbon removal strategy by spreading the dust of crushed basalt rock on croplands. When the rain falls, the basalt
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The National Carbon Capture Center is a centralized test facility providing comprehensive support for technology testing and evaluation, relating to process, engineering, operational, analytical, troubleshooting and maintenance. The NCCC aims to accelerate technology development, scale up, cost reduction and commercialization of CO2 capture, utilization and
by Tom Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) With an impeccable production partner, deep roots in ethanol and a customer base looking for tailored HPLC products, Enertech Solutions is elevating reference materials through customization and robust accreditation. … The HPLC is the heart of every ethanol lab; it’s the eyes and ears
(MicroBioGen) This week MicroBioGen officially opened our state-of-the-art laboratories in Macquarie Park in Northern Sydney. Three years in the making, these labs will produce our world-leading micro-organisms that are essential to industries worth over US$2 trillion per year, including biofuels, alternative proteins, space exploration, sustainable human foods and animal feed.
by Katie Schroeder (Ethanol Producer Magazine) With CCS expanding rapidly, there is an accompanying need for technology to monitor the CO2 underground. A North Dakota ethanol producer, environmental researcher and a geophysicist explain how it’s done. As the number of new and proposed carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects in
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … We have three new centers of excellence to focus upon today. The Center for Camelina In Spain, Camelina Company España, Europe’s largest camelina crop innovator and seed producer, opened their new Innovation Center in Daimiel, Spain. Camelina is grown for use by Camelina Company’s parent
(SGS) Global demand for advanced sustainable biofuels is growing rapidly. In the Netherlands itself, the Dutch Emission Authority has recently introduced a regulatory requirement to stimulate blending biogenic fuels like HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil) into the fossil-based fuel stream. Biofuels will play a crucial role in curbing carbon emissions while ensuring we can
(Alfa Laval) Authorities have granted approval for testing with ammonia at the Alfa Laval Test & Training Centre. When installation of the testing setup is completed by the end of 2022, the centre will be able to work with all fuels in consideration as the marine industry decarbonizes. Supporting the entire
(Coca-Cola Europacific Partners) CCEP Ventures to partner with Peidong Yang Research Group to develop scalable methods of converting captured air (CO2) into sugar; Technology could reduce some of the largest CO₂ contributors in supply chains, while saving material, transportation and logistics costs; Development of lab scale prototypes could mean in
(MyBioHeat.com) … A recent study conducted in 13 different cities across the country found significant results showing that biodiesel and Bioheat® fuel have several health benefits. This study, known as the Trinity Report conducted by Clean Fuels Alliance America and Trinity Consultants, shows that transitioning to B100 Bioheat® fuel, or 100%
(Sustainable Oils/Biomass Magazine) To the applause of onlookers, the ribbon was cut on Sustainable Oils’ new 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art North America headquarters building in Great Falls on June 23. Complete with plant breeding and research labs, the facility currently employs a staff of 13 and works with over 100 U.S.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … Praj, India’s most accomplished industrial biotechnology company driven by innovation, integration, and delivery capabilities. Over the past four decades, Praj has focused on the environment, energy, and agri-process industry, with over 1000++ customer references spanning 100+ countries across 5 continents. With sustainability at its core
by Valerie Sarisky-Reed (U.S. Department of Energy) Biofuels have been proven to emit significantly lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than petroleum-based fuels, and recent scientific studies indicate that net-zero emission biofuels are not only possible, but achievable. Corn ethanol and other biofuels are essential in America’s transition to a clean energy economy
by Scott Marion (Edwardsville Intelligencer) Nearly 20 years after it opened, the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville continues to make an impact on a national and worldwide level. The NCERC at SIUE is a nationally recognized research center dedicated to the development and commercialization of biofuels,
by Ron Kotrba (Biobased Diesel Daily) A demonstration facility has opened in Vienna, Austria, at the site of a waste-incineration plant where syngas from wood waste, sewage sludge and paper-industry residues is cleaned and, using a gas-to-liquid process such as Fischer-Tropsch, converted into a crude oil. This can then be further
(Southwest Research Institute) Southwest Research Institute has upgraded its test equipment to allow for testing the effects of transporting natural gas and hydrogen blends in the same pipeline. The latest capability will help clients research hydrogen-based solutions to understand if infrastructure for climate-warming greenhouse gases can be transitioned to handle more
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How does Praj do simultaneous production of 2G ethanol and RNG from bagasse? What made the 3 cellulosic ethanol for Oil Marketing Cosin India successful? Where do Praj’s Celluniti and enfinity platforms fit in for woody biomass conversion for ethanol and sugars? Who are they
by Zia Abdullah (U.S. Department of Energy) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researchers have developed a public, online library of catalyst data. It could be fertile ground for breakthroughs in catalytic technologies needed to turn renewable biomass or waste materials into sustainable transportation fuels. Perhaps worse than reinventing the wheel
Analytical Instruments for Chemical Analysis of Biofuels and Synthetic Fuels – Oil, Gas & Refineries
(Analytik Jena) Learn about Analytik Jena`s elemental analysis techniques for the determination of metal and non-metal elements, e.g., carbon, sulfur, nitrogen and chlorine, in renewable bio- and secondary derived fuels and their variable source materials. The methods described are ideal for process control and adaptation, the quality control of final
(South Dakota State University) POET, a global leader in the production of bioproducts, South Dakota State University and South Dakota Mines held a groundbreaking ceremony today for the POET Bioproducts Institute at the Research Park at SDSU. The institute will serve as an innovation center for the development of low-value agricultural
(Global Council for Science and the Environment) The Global Youth Science Partnership will facilitate collaboration, communication, and action between scientists and youth climate activists, to advance evidence-informed decision making and actions responsive to complex environmental challenges like climate change. The Global Youth Science Partnership will bring together youth citizens with scientists across all
(Clariant) Clariant together with other companies from the chemical industry and the World Economic Forum (WEF) establish a breakthrough pre-competitive development platform designed to accelerate net-zero climate technologies; The first-of-its-kind collaboration catapults the Low Carbon Emitting Technologies initiative (LCET) from incubation to its next mission-critical implementation stage Clariant, a focused,
by Ariana Fine (NGT News) The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and clean hydrogen company Electric Hydrogen have signed an agreement to develop high-performance electrolyzer components, helping to scale clean hydrogen and invent new opportunities for decarbonization. The three-year, $3.6 million collaboration will diagnose sources of degradation in commercial electrolysis cells and will
by Ron Kotrba (Biobased Diesel Daily) Renewable diesel producer Neste Corp. is establishing an R&D center in Singapore. With the investment, Neste expects to increase its R&D and innovation capabilities globally, and drive collaboration with partners in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in Singapore. “Neste is currently increasing the production capacity of
(ADM) Partnership will help build on ADM’s world-class R&D capabilities and broad portfolio of innovative, responsibly-produced products and solutions — ADM (NYSE: ADM), a global leader in nutrition and agricultural origination and processing, announced today that it is making a leading equity investment in Acies Bio, a Slovenia-based biotechnology company specializing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ways2H has overcome issues associated with conventional gasification and are creating value out of waste with their waste-to-hydrogen tech. From the Japan Blue Energy project and input/output options to how the process of taking various feedstock waste streams and converting it into hydrogen works, and
(Metrohm) Crude oil is a highly complex mixture of hydrocarbons. Through desalting, distillation, and conversion, it is transformed into fractions of higher-quality hydrocarbons such as paraffins, aromatics, naphthenes, and olefins. Different ratios of these so-called PIANO compounds are blended to yield different fuel and lubricant types. Increasingly, fossil fuels are
(Pacific Northwest National Laboratory/Phys.Org) A patented process for converting alcohol sourced from renewable or industrial waste gasses into jet or diesel fuel is being scaled up at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory with the help of partners at Oregon State University and the carbon-recycling experts at LanzaTech.
(Financial Times) Can you build the equivalent of 37,000 trees into a suitcase? Twelve, a tiny start-up founded by three Stanford graduates believes its lab holds the secret to reducing climate change. Their technology turns unwanted CO2 into useful products such as car parts, trainers, and alcohol. READ MORE WATCH
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) They are the building blocks of life. Proteins. Can you imagine solving the protein structure prediction problem? Who would have thought a company that started in 2010 with testing AI on 49 different Atari games and being the first AI program to beat a professional
(U.S. Department of Energy) Do you know of existing bioenergy technology data that aren’t Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, or Reusable (FAIR)? Could these data help accelerate the bioeconomy? The Accelerating Bioenergy Technology Advancement Through FAIR Data Delivery project is working to identify, acquire, and develop data and documentation, and publish presently unavailable or inaccessible bioenergy technology data that
(Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa) CCAP (Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa) is one of the world’s leading and oldest algal collection, supporting national and international ecological, environmental and biotechnology research and providing education and training to many scientists and policy makers https://www.ccap.ac.uk/. We provide 100’s samples to scientists each
by Jennifer Huber (Stanford University/SLAC) Derived from microscopic algae, the rare, light-driven enzyme converts fatty acids into starting ingredients for solvents and fuels. — Although many organisms capture and respond to sunlight, it’s rare to find enzymes – proteins that promote chemical reactions in living things – that are driven by
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is offering directed funding assistance for industry and universities interested in leveraging NREL’s unique biomass compositional analysis capabilities. Eligibility All U.S. companies and universities are eligible to apply for this directed funding opportunity (DFO). Foreign companies
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) hosted its 2021 Project Peer Review virtually on March 8‒12, 2021; March 15‒16, 2021; and March 22‒26, 2021. Presentations for all sessions can be found in the searchable database below. For more information, including a complete schedule, view the 2021 Project Peer Review Agenda.
by Nate Perez (Caspar Star Tribune) The Integrated Test Center in Gillette hopes to attract more tenants to study carbon capture. The ITC has hosted Carbon XPRIZE winner UCLA CarbonBuilt and and is now housing Membrane Technology and Research — which the Department of Energy just awarded $64 million in
by Christopher J. Guske and Mark Warner (D2 Biotech Consulting/Warner Advisors/Biofuels Digest) … “Capital Light is great until you run out of someone else’s capital.” As multi-decade Industrial Biotech veterans, we are seeing more start-up companies “dressed up with nowhere to go.” How dire it this situation? It is definitely
(University of Hohenheim (Google translation)) European project with the participation of the University of Hohenheim researches how unprofitable fields with renewable raw materials can be used sustainably and with added value — Unused potential: Around 65 million hectares of agricultural land in Europe are hardly or not at all usable for
by Karyn Hede (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Sewage and food waste biocrude conversion process reaches major milestone — A large-scale demonstration converting biocrude to renewable diesel fuel has passed a significant test, operating for more than 2,000 hours continuously without losing effectiveness. Scientists and engineers led by the U.S. Department
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From switchgrass, sorghum or sugarcane, feedstock development, genomics, and crops improvement abound with USDA’s help at the Biomass Research Center. Rob Mitchell, Research Leader and Research Agronomist at USDA ARS, shares all about the latest ethanol and biofuel feedstock innovations in Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, South
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) …Originally Petron was formed 30 years ago to be a complete Solution Provider for its clients in the fields of ethanol to ethylene, ethylene oxide and ethylene glycols. Petron’s ethanol to ethylene process provided a solution to those remote clients who required ethylene, but where
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) From Passenger Cars to Commercial Trucks, Aircraft, Marine, Rail, and Mobility Systems, NREL’s Whole-System Approach Ensures a Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Climate Future — The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, accounting for about 28% of total carbon emissions.
(U.S. Biochar Initiative) Visit this page for an index to a number of high quality biochar research reports and publications by the WSU Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources (CSANR). Contents include: Integrated biochar research: A roadmap A Rapid Test for Plant-Available Water-Holding Capacity in Soil-Biochar Mixtures Biochar Production
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In September, Novozymes announced they would be a more customer-centric organization. But what does that mean? And how did COVID-19 affect their business strategy for the remaining 2020 months? Find out in this illuminating slide guide that dives deep into their financials, their strategic plans,
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) NREL, Oak Ridge Scientists Reveal Economics Must Include More Than Size of Poplar Trees — Popular wisdom holds that tall, fast-growing trees are best for biomass, but new research by two U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories reveals the size of trees is only part of the
(Illinois State University/Biomass Magazine) David Kopsell, professor of horticulture at Illinois State University, and LC (Liangcheng) Yang, assistant professor of environmental health at ISU, have received a two-year, nearly $150,000 grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The purpose of this USDA-NIFA grant program is to increase the capacity
(Ethanol Producer Magazine) Focused on biofuels, Foundation Analytical Laboratory’s mission is to deliver exemplary customer service with scientific excellence. The Iowa-based company not only supports fleets and standalone ethanol plants, but biofuel input providers. After a successful career in the food industry, gaining experience in processing, production and distribution, Diane
by Brigitte Osterath (The Federal Council Swiss Government/Paul Scherrer Institute) Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI and from ETH Zurich want to make so-called zeolites more efficient. Today, these compounds are already indispensable additives in the chemical industry and have been used as catalysts in oil refineries since the 1960s. Now,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … DSM has certainly evolved with the times. Atul Thakrar, President of its Bio-based Products & Services, shared this illuminating presentation at ABLC Digital on their recent collaborations with companies like Evonik on sustainable salmon farming with a new algal oil with complete omega 3
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We reported breaking news from Yield10 Bioscience’s latest development with their genome-edited canola plant lines here and today we have their latest investor presentation highlighting how this agricultural bioscience company is developing innovations to improve crop yields for a variety of feedstocks. From this year’s accomplishments
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy may be just a block or two apart on Independence Avenue in Washington, D.C., but they are miles apart on their long-term outlook for ethanol. Seemingly disparate objectives make E30s future less clear. The good: The
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DNA is changing the world. That’s what Twist Biosciences is focusing on with synthetic DNA being the future of chemicals, food, therapeutics, diagnostics and even data storage. From next-gen sequencing to synthetic biology, Twist Biosciences envisions a huge expanding market of about $2.3 billion, and their
by Sally Brown (University of Washington/BioCycle Magazine) The Climate Action Reserve (CAR) released a first draft of its new Soil Enrichment Protocol (SEP) on April 17th that gives carbon credits for regenerative farming practices. The purpose of the protocol — available for public comment — is to provide guidance on how
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Lactic acid bacteria cells grow and reproduce much more quickly than yeast cells do, consuming the nutrients meant for the yeast in fermentation and producing organic acids instead of ethanol at a molecule ratio of 1:1. That lost production can cost a plant more than
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Revolutionizing the product development process in life-science based markets through the use of Computational Predictive Biology platform – sounds like a big mission, but for Evogene, it’s just what they do. They utilize artificial intelligence and other algorithms on unique biological BIG DATA with deep
(POET) Today (December 17, 2019) POET Founder and CEO Jeff Broin announced a $2 million gift for construction of the precision agriculture facility at South Dakota State University (SDSU). POET and SDSU have a strong history of collaboration on innovative research projects and training the next generation to use agriculture
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … Digital biology, synthetic biology and metabolic engineering are not all the same – just ask Matt Lipscomb, CEO and Founder of DMC who shared this presentation at ABLC NEXT in San Francisco. Check out this Slide-Guide to find out how DMC uses their novel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cyclotron Road is a partnership between the non-profit Activate.org and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab to empower scientists to advance their technologies from concept to first product through a fellowship program. It’s a home for hard tech innovators. Companies like Opus 12, MicroByre, Visolis, CinderBio, and others had
(Decatimes) The global demand for biofuel testing services accounted for revenues roughly equating US$ 1.5 billion in 2018. A new Future Market Insights (FMI) study envisages robust growth outlook for the biofuel testing services market, in the light of staggering growth in the biofuel production. There has been rapid growth in the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Agile BioFoundry brings together a specialist team of scientists, engineers, and technical staff from eight of the U.S. Department of Energy’s national laboratories, with the aim that their collective skills, expertise, and experience lead to rapid innovation and growth in the biomanufacturing sector. The
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) An organization well worth knowing in the world of biogas, or renewable methane, is the indefatigable group organized as IEA Bioenergy Task 37, an international working group which covers the anaerobic digestion of biomass feedstocks including agricultural residues, energy crops, organic-rich waste waters, the organic fraction of
(Netwerk Betreibstoffe/BEsustainable Magazine Autumn 2019) Hydrothermal Liquefaction is one of the most promising technologies for the conversion of sustainable biomass into renewable transport fuels. Five European research and innovation projects and the Norwegian National Centre Bio4Fuels are jointly organizing an expert workshop to discuss state-of-the-art, developments and applications of this technology.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Some people believe in magic and some don’t but MAGIC is real in this case – the Marine AlGae Industrialization Consortium, that is. MAGIC is working on answering the question “How do we produce that remaining 15 bboe/year of energy-dense, liquid hydrocarbon fuels to meet the
(North American Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance) State-level climate smart ag groups are growing, evidenced by wide media attention drawn by a forum held last month by the Florida Climate Smart Agriculture (FL CSA) Work Group, and an early meeting of a robust new work group of ag and forestry leaders
by Mark Warner (Warner Advisors LLC) … Contract manufacturing options are diminishing and the facilities currently operating are looking for more favorable commercial terms. If you are planning to scale a fermentation process through contract fermentation facilities, it is going to be a good time to bring your “A” game
(Solutions from the Land) Science-based decision making and putting farmers at the center of all discussions were among the guiding principles touted by representatives of NACSAA and many of its member organizations in a workshop held by United Nation’s facilitators in Bonn, Germany, on the development of an agricultural work program
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. EPA is inviting nominations of scientific experts to be considered for appointment to the agency’s Science Advisory Board and four SAB committees, including the SAB Agricultural Science Committee, which provides advice to the chartered SAB on matters that impact farming and agricultural related industries.
(U.S. Department of Energy/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/EurekAlert!) Berkeley Lab scientists adapt open-source genetic analysis method for use in plant cells for the first time — An open-source RNA analysis platform has been successfully used on plant cells for the first time – a breakthrough that could herald a new era of fundamental
by Matt Thompson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Enerkem is producing methanol and ethanol at its Edmonton, Alberta, plant, diverting up to 24 percent of the city’s landfill waste. The company has partners for another project in the Netherlands. — A Canadian company is furthering ethanol’s environmental benefits, using municipal solid waste (MSW) as
(University of Wisconsin-Madison) … Transportation, heating and the plastics and chemicals we use every day all rely on petroleum products, but our insatiable appetite for fossil fuels will have catastrophic consequences for the health of the planet if left unchecked. That’s why engineers at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), which
(Clean Fuels Development Coalition) The fuel we use in our vehicles may actually be killing us. That’s the conclusion in a new report released today which calls emissions from consumer gasoline one of the biggest health threats facing the American public. The report links a wide range of respiratory and even
by Lauren Manning (AgFunder News) … the issue of livestock farming’s impact on the environment is not as clear cut as many of these businesses would have you believe. In fact, many of the data dairy and meat alternative businesses are using to market their animal-free wares are inaccurate and misleading.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, a new company has launched called Culture Biosciences and today we’d like to take you inside it. It’s a story about making the bioeconomy radically more efficient at the point of developing and deploying product, by offering Biomanufacturing-as-a-Service. This month, Culture Bio, based in the industrial biotech
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) It (January 2019 PyNe43 Newsletter) contains contributions on Electrocatalytic upgrading to stabilize pyrolysis oil Progress towards commercialization at pilot and demonstration scale Pyrolysis of forestry and fishery residue for rural applications. Overview on catalysts to upgrade pyrolysis oils. Hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass to drop in diesel Challenges under
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … In California, Zymergen has raised over $400 million in Series C funding led by returning investor SoftBank Vision Fund. The round welcomes new investors Goldman Sachs and Hanwha Asset Management, as well as returning investors, DCVC (Data Collective), True Ventures, Two Sigma Ventures, DFJ
(University of Maryland) Workshop on Opportunities and Challenges in Anaerobic Digestion Maryland and the Northeast US Experience Topics •Anaerobic Digestion: Where We Are Today •Digester Systems in the Northeast–Successful Case Studies •Federal Biogas Policy •MD State Biogas Policy •Use of Biogas: Scrubbing, RNG, GenSets, and Use of Excess Heat •Food Waste

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is hosting the 2019 Project Peer Review on March 4-8, 2019, in Denver, Colorado. Approximately 90% of projects in BETO’s early-stage research and development portfolio will be presented to the public and systematically reviewed by external subject-matter experts from industry, academia,
(University College Dublin Innovation) €28 million in total invested in BEACON and National Bioeconomy Campus; Launch at Lisheen part of inaugural Bioeconomy Ireland Day — Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD today launched the new €22.2 million BEACON Bioeconomy SFI Research Centre at the €5.75 million National Bioeconomy Campus
by Lyndsay Jones (News-Gazette) Twenty years, two budget cuts and several billion dollars in funding later, the University of Illinois’ Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory held what Chancellor Robert Jones called its “final grand opening” Thursday afternoon. … The 42,000-square-foot building at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. is intended to bridge academic research on
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On July 10, the U.S. Department of Energy officially launched the Lab Partnering Service, an online, single access point platform for investors, innovators, and institutions to identify, locate, and obtain information from DOE’s 17 national laboratories. This tool will provide industry with a more efficient
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) JBEI’s mission is to convert biomass to biofuels. The goal is to provide the nation with clean, renewable transportation fuels identical to gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Inside JBEI’s Emeryville laboratories, researchers are using the latest tools in molecular biology, chemical engineering, computational and robotic technologies,
(Climate Feedback) Climate Feedback is a worldwide network of scientists who collectively assess the credibility of influential climate change media coverage. Our first mission is to help Internet users—from the general public to influential decision-makers—distinguish inaccurate climate change narratives from scientifically sound and trustworthy information in the media. We also provide feedback to
(U.S. Department of Energy) Responses to Request for Information DE-FOA-0001526: Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Pilot Verification Capabilities … In February 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) reached out to industry, academia, national laboratories, and other biofuels and bioproducts stakeholders via a request for information (RFI) to identify
by Nikhil Chaudhary, Ankit Gupta, Sudheer Gupta, Vineet K. Sharma (Peer J) In light of the rapid decrease in fossils fuel reserves and an increasing demand for energy, novel methods are required to explore alternative biofuel production processes to alleviate these pressures. A wide variety of molecules which can either be
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Agile BioFoundry, designed to productionize synthetic biology, is a public infrastructure investment aimed at increasing U.S. industrial competitiveness and enables new opportunities for private sector growth and jobs. Specifically, the foundry aims to enable a biorefinery to achieve a positive return on investment through a 50%
(Bioenergy Insight) A number of research projects focused on bioenergy and biofuels have been selected for the US Community Science Programme (CSP) of the US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute. … Boulos Chalhoub of the French National Institute for Agricultural Research is set to explore how DNA methylation and repeated
(U.S. Department of Energy/Newswise) Those who are selected for the Chain Reaction Innovations program will gain, among other things, access to Argonne National Laboratory’s world-class R&D infrastructure and technical expertise. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory announced the opening of applications for innovators to join the second
(European Commission Science Hub) A new Bioeconomy Knowledge Centre has been created by the JRC and DG RTD to better support policy makers with science-based evidence in this field. Launched by the European Commission on 20 July, this online platform will not primarily generate knowledge, but will collect, structure and
by Robin Booker (The Western Producer) There are many innovative products and services available to Canadian crop producers that could help improve sustainability. However, the global food sector is struggling to find ways to reward growers who adapt sustainable technologies and techniques. Big food companies have made public commitments to source
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s known by the ungainly acronym ABPDU, which might as well decode as “All Bioeconomy Processes Developed Upstairs,” but actually stands for the far more modest “Advanced Biofuels Process Demonstration Unit.” It’s run out of the Berkeley Lab, and is the technology center behind the technology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … “Advanced Biofuels Process Demonstration Unit.” It’s run out of the Berkeley Lab, and is the technology center behind the technology centers, if you will, of companies such as Kiverdi, Sylvatex, Perfect Day, Lygos, Microvi, and Greenlight Biosciences to name just a few. … They’ve
by Tegan Annett (Northern Star) What was once a paw paw farm in Yarwun is now a multi-million dollar laboratory that is leading the way for renewable fuel creation. Yesterday Northern Oil’s biocrude and biofuel laboratory was officially opened, marking the latest milestone for Gladstone’s industry newcomer. The site, at Yarwun’s
Biotech’s Biggest Breakthrough: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to CRISPR and Caribou Biosystems
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Caribou Biosciences provides solutions for cellular engineering and analysis based on the CRISPR-Cas9 technology for gene editing — a technique where DNA is inserted, replaced, or removed from a genome using artificially engineered nucleases. It’s been arguably the hottest advance in biotech, ever — and Caribou
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Missouri, Benson Hill Biosystems, an agricultural technology company unlocking the genetic potential of plants, today announced a strategic partnership and grant from the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). Benson Hill’s CropOS platform empowers organizations of any size to innovate and provide growers choice, whether
(Algae Industry Magazine) In New Zealand is an internationally significant collection of microalgae cultures known as the Cawthron Institute Culture Collection of Microalgae (CICCM). The CICCM was recently moved into a new home in Cawthron Institute’s recently built Envirotech building in central Nelson. The laboratory includes cabinets that are purpose-built
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 operations found around the world. Known as ANSI/ASABE S629,
(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 Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and Argonne National Laboratory
(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 new technologies in genetic engineering and conventional breeding are blurring
by Cory Hatch (Renewable Energy World) The Bioenergy Feedstock Library contains no books. What it does contain is information about biomass — organic material such as corn stover, switchgrass, wood chips and wheat straw. Nearly 50,000 biomass database entries and more than 35,000 physical samples reside in a repository located
The Green Chemistry & Commerce Council and the ACS Green Chemistry Institute®have partnered to create a new online platform for green chemistry professionals to share information and collaborate on research and innovative technologies.The Green Chemistry Innovation Portal is a free resource created to connect and grow the green chemistry community,

The Green Chemistry & Commerce Council and the ACS Green Chemistry Institute®have partnered to create a new online platform for green chemistry professionals to share information and collaborate on research and innovative technologies.The Green Chemistry Innovation Portal is a free resource created to connect and grow the green chemistry community,
by Dr Jen Vanderhoven (CBMNet) In particular we would like to build an application for the societal challenge: BIOTEC-06-2017. Optimisation of biocatalysis and downstream processing for the sustainable production of high value-added platform chemicals Total project value €5-7 Million. Specific Challenge: The bio-based production of chemical building blocks from renewable resources has become an interesting
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 advances mean that these unconventional hydrocarbon deposits in once-unreachable areas
by Tom Doran (AgriNews) There’s a running joke that when a researcher is asked when cellulosic ethanol will be viable, their answer is always “five years away.” That timeframe has officially expired with cellulosic ethanol now being commercially produced at large scale, and a unique facility being built at the
by Elizabeth Zubritsky (NASA) A laser-based instrument being developed for the International Space Station will provide a unique 3-D view of Earth’s forests, helping to fill in missing information about their role in the carbon cycle. Called the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) lidar, the instrument will be the first to systematically probe the
(Joint BioEnergy Institute/Biomass Magazine) Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Joint BioEnergy Institute have unveiled the first glycosyltransferase clone collection specifically targeted for the study of the biosynthesis of plant cell walls. The idea behind what is being called “the JBEI GT Collection” is to provide a functional genomic resource
(prweb.com) The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) has selected Drexel University to perform research that will monitor and quantify the composition of waste greases to improve knowledge about the feasibility of grease-to-biodiesel processes. A key outcome of the Extraction of Lipids from Wastewater to Produce Biofuels (U3R13) project is an
by Rafaela Relvas (BioNews Texas) Researchers at Texas A&M University conducted a study that brought new insights regarding bioenergy sorghum, finding that, more than an energy supply, it may offer a “sink” for greenhouse gases. … The team worked in a field near College Station, used since 2008 for bioenergy sorghum
by Heather Lammers (National Renewable Energy Laboratory/Renewable Energy World Magazine) Thanks to newer and faster supercomputers, today’s computer simulations are opening hidden vistas to researchers in all areas of science. These powerful machines are used for everything from understanding how proteins work to answering questions about how galaxies began. Sometimes the data
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) After six years of debate — finally a database appears on actual indirect land use change. The Partners? Including Google, UNEP, Imazon, the Center for Global Development, the University of Maryland, OSFAC, the Jane Goodall Institute. The Funders? Including USAID, the Norwegian Ministry of Climate
(Algae Industry Magazine) East Boothbay, Maine-based Provasoli-Guillard National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota (NCMA) has announced the launch of its new website and relational database – (ncma.bigelow.org) – designed by Shero Designs for buying algae and related services. The enhanced database will be managed through Counterpoint, a professional point of
(American Chemical Society) Environmental Science & Technology Letters, the new peer-reviewed journal complementing Environmental Science & Technology, is offering free access to the first articles published by the journal at pubs.acs.org/estlet. The journal provides an international forum for brief communications and short reviews on pure and applied environmental science, and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today in part II, we look at a new set of technologies coming along that are redefining our ideas about scale and cost. … A barrier to long term deployment? The $11 per gallon average capital expenditure, or capex — and the average price tag
(Science Codex) Rapidly growing trees like poplars and willows are candidate “biofuel crops” from which it is expected that cellulosic ethanol and higher energy content fuels can be efficiently extracted. Domesticating these as crops requires a deep understanding of the physiology and genetics of trees, and scientists are turning to
by Jim Lane (Biobased DIgest) Bringing your biobased technology forward through the Valley of Death may require a bridge over troubled waters. Here are partners worth knowing. … Bioenergy commercialization is long, expensive and risky. Derisking the enterprise by making the process shorter, cheaper — and having access to people
(EurekAlert!/University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences) Perennial biofuel crops such as miscanthus, whose high yields have led them to be considered an eventual alternative to corn in producing ethanol, are now shown to have another beneficial characteristic–the ability to reduce the escape of nitrogen in
(National Algae Association) Due to the lack of sufficient data on the performance of industrial-scale photobioreactors, fermentation, dewatering/harvesting and extraction equipment, the NAA is announcing a new collaborative testing center starting in The Woodlands, Texas beginning in January, 2012. “If we are really going to help this emerging industry, we
(PR NewsWire/Elesvier) New Tool Enables the Successful Commercialisation of Alternative Energy Technologies Elsevier, the world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, today announced the launch of Elsevier Biofuel, an online search and discovery tool that provides biofuel managers and research development professionals instant access to the highest
(Biofuels Center of North Carolina) The Biofuels Wiki provides a virtual online encyclopedia about renewable transportation fuels, the feedstocks making up those fuels, and the issues implicit in producing biofuels and other industrial bioproducts at large scale from biomass. Thanks to contributions by more than a hundred people from all
(US Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today the launch of the Technology Commercialization Portal—an online resource that will serve as a tool for potential investors to identify opportunities to invest in work being conducted by DOE laboratories and participating research institutions. Traditionally, investors, entrepreneurs, and companies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) …It was the biochemist Dr. Ganesh Kishore, now the CEO of the Malaysian Life Sciences Capital Fund and formerly Chief Biotechnology Officer of Dupont, who raised the issue at a recent Burrill & Company Limited Partners meeting, when he said that biofuels research, while impressive
(American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers) The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has initiated a project to revise its standard on biomass terminology and definitions to include additional terms and definitions. ANSI/ASABE S593, Terminology and Definitions for Biomass Production, Harvesting and Collection, Storage, Processing, Conversion and Utilization
Budhedra Bhaduri (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) This session started with a talk given by moderator Budhedra Bhaduri who emphasized the role of geospatial science and technology in sustainable bioenergy. She presented the Geographic Information System (GIS) that includes computer software and databases of all forms of geographically referenced information Four
The Scripps Photobiology Group has been hosting a series on the commercialization of algae, with a focus on the possible production of biofuels from algae. The purpose of this forum is to exchange information and spur collaborative conversation about the role that microalgae could play in shaping our energy future,
All Programs in the U.S Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, are required to conduct a Peer Review of their funded projects on an annual or biannual schedule. The Office of Biomass Program (OBP) conducts these reviews by hosting a series of Project Peer Reviews for each of
Every spring, the US Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Biomass Program hosts a FREE 2-day conference and expo exploring biomass as an energy source. The Biomass Program works with industry, academia and national laboratory partners on a balanced portfolion of research in biomass feedstocks and