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 …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant is an independent, state-of-the-art facility that operates from a laboratory level to a multi-ton scale. Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant is a service provider for process development, scale-up and custom manufacturing of biobased …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  … Is everyone’s organism for making fuels, chemicals, materials, foods, flavors, fragrances and therapeutics — beautifully and slowly — heading for rapid obsolescence?
“Everyone wants to make it faster,” notes Kytopen co-founder …

(ASTM)  A proposed ASTM International standard will help characterize the quality of diesel fuels and biodiesel blends. The proposed standard (WK51775) is being developed by the committee on petroleum products, liquid fuels, and lubricants (D02).
The proposed …

by Charles Loos, Bernard Cooker and Mindy Collier (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest)  To get a new plant started, management must provide the operating staff with training and a full complement of written procedures covering safety, operations, emergencies …

(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 …

by Susanne Retka Schill  (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  Ethanol laboratories use HPLCs to find issues early in fermentation, but increasingly have been using the data for process optimization.  —  High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is the workhorse of …

by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com)  Magellan Midstream Partners fuel pipeline and storage company is now offering pre-blended E15 at many terminals across the U.S., including all Magellan terminals that service Iowa.
“This announcement from Magellan is game-changing,” said …

by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine)  Germany’s biodiesel quality management association AGQM has opened registration for its latest round of no-harm tests on oxidation stabilizers for biodiesel.  
The European diesel fuel standard EN 590 allows up …

(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) …

(TVC News)  One of the manufacturers in Nigeria who specialised in the use of cassava for the production of Ethanol has said that the country is losing billions of naira due to a shortfall in …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  What is the Advanced Biofuels Process Demonstration Unit, where is it, who does it serve and how?
Located at Berkeley Lab, the ABPDU aims to “support the commercialization of industry-, academic-and DOE-driven …

by Rajkamal Narayanan (DriveSpark)  India has received its first R&D facility for high-end BS-VI (BS6) fuels, operated by the Indian Oil Corp (IOC). The facility is located in Delhi and was inaugurated by Dharmendra Pradhan, …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In January 2014, REG acquired LS9 for a purchase price of up to $61.5 million. Most of the old LS9 team, including the entire R&D leadership group, joined the newly named …

by Joe Heim (The Washington Post)   On Maryland’s Eastern Shore, rising seawater levels and chronic flooding threaten to disrupt daily life, damage homes and businesses, and swallow land in the relatively near future, according …

by Douglas Root* (Advanced Biofuels USA)  From the Welcome Reception on Monday to the last session on Wednesday, there was new information presented and new developments reported.
At the opening of the expo, many vendors were …

by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Biomass Magazine)  The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials recently released a report reviewing its 2016 activities and highlighting its increased impact and presence in the global renewable fuels industry. The report …

(Smart Pilots/Interreg Europe)  SmartPilots’ objective is to improve regional policies in support of Shared Pilot Facilities (SPF) to increase their impact on the Key Enabling technology (KET) Industrial Biotech and the bio-economy.
The bio-economy adresses societal challenges …

(AkzoNobel)  A new online tool which can track the use of bio-based raw materials in products has been launched as a pilot by project partners AkzoNobel, Advanced Biochemical (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (ABT) and EY. It …

by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest)  In California, review of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard is well underway with a public meeting looking scheduled for April 4 looking at lifecycle assessment modeling for fuels and feedstocks …

(Growth Energy)  Last week, ASTM International published an important new high-octane fuel standard, ASTM D8076 – 17, Standard Specification for 100 Research Octane Number Test Fuel for Automotive Spark-Ignition Engines. A major victory for the …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  The REG Okeechobee facility is now “open for business” as a contract manufacturing site, and that’s a fascinating development worth exploring, even if you don’t have a microbe you would …

by Mark Warner (Warner Advisors LLC/Biofuels Digest)  As companies consider options to commercialize their advanced biotechnologies, they are faced with the decision to either build their own demonstration scale facility or utilize existing contract manufacturing operations …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  Honeywell’s UOP has developed a renewable jet fuel processing technology, a renewable diesel process, as well as a joint venture, Envergent Technologies, that will market technologies and equipment for generating …

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 …

(Iowa State University)  Iowa State University will bring its expertise in biorenewable technologies and pilot plant operations to the country’s 10th Manufacturing USA Institute.
The recently announced advanced manufacturing institute is dedicated to improving the productivity …

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 …

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, …

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 …

(Australian Renewable Energy Agency) Australia’s first advanced green fuels laboratory has opened its doors in regional Queensland, thanks to support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), allowing researchers to test biocrude on our shores …

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 …

(Roundtable for Sustainable Biomaterials)  The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) celebrated the announcement at its  Annual Assembly of Delegates meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam that its global members have voted to approve and publish revised Principles …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  The ASCENT Center of Excellence at Washington State University is focusing on meeting the environmental and energy goals of the Next Generation Air Transportation System, including reducing noise, improving air quality, …

(U.S. Department of Energy)  The results of the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office’s (BETO’s) Cellulosic Sugar and Lignin Production Capabilities Request for Information (RFI) are now available on the RFI responses web page. This …

by Barry Cohen (National Algae Association)  The National Algae Association, a 501(c)6, is the first non-profit algae production trade association in the world. A collaboration of commercially-minded algae researchers, algae producers and equipment companies. We …

(Iteris)  Predictive Agriculture Analytics and APIs from Iteris Now Cover Sorghum and Sunflower Crops —  Iteris, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITI), the global leader in applied informatics for transportation and agriculture, today announced the addition of growth …

By Angela Fivga and Zsuzsa A. Mayer (Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc./Biofuels Digest)  The analysis and standardization of biofuels are in constant development, therefore in many studies they follow a historic view or borrow unsuitable methods …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  This season, The Digest is hosting the Strategic Intent webinar series, looking at the plans, progress and future milestones of strategic stakeholders in the Advanced Bioeconomy.  In this slide deck, we looked …

(Bio Base Europe/Biomass Magazine)  SuperBIO is an innovation project supported through the EU Horizon2020 funding program. The € 3.8 million ($4.24 million) project supports the development of promising industrial value chains in the bioeconomy. It …

(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 …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  What can you use Aerial Data Analysis for? Says Precision Hawk’s Ally Ferguson, quite a lot. Crop health indices, Plant height, Canopy cover, Weed detection, Season monitoring, Environmental assessment, Land cover mapping, Irrigated land mapping, Impervious surface mapping, Watershed planning, Wildfire/Flooding Damage assessment, …

(Rayeman Elements Inc./Ethanol Producer Magazine)  Rayeman Elements Inc. has developed a patented method to cube distillers dried grains (DDGs). The company has also announced a new grain drying system that aims to reduce the risks …

by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  As the Tier 3 deadline approaches, it’s important to understand the difference between EPA and ASTM treatments of the element.  —  The U.S. EPA’s Tier 3 rules are not …

(Growth Energy)  Recently, the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge, Argonne, and National Renewable Energy Laboratories released their “Summary of High Octane, Mid-Level Ethanol Blends Study.” This scientific analysis showed the numerous benefits of using high …

(U.S. Department of Energy)  Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of light-duty vehicles are pursuing a broad portfolio of technologies to reduce CO2 emissions and improve fuel economy. Central to this effort is higher efficiency spark ignition …

by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com)  The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) has announced new certified reference material (CRM) for cold filter plugging (CFPP) and cloud point (CP) temperatures of biodiesel. This material helps laboratories accurately …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  …  The nature of collaboration across the advanced bioeconomy is shifting dramatically – and we are seeing the democratization of R&D.  …   The CRISPR revolution
As Dan Watkins of DFJ’s Mercury …

(U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities/Biomass Magazine)  The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities recently announced the launch of the revitalized wood bioenergy facility database and mapping tool. The site, www.wood2energy.org, is the most comprehensive …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  Genera Energy “leads the nation in the commercialization of integrated biomass supply chain solutions for the biofuels, biopower and biochemicals markets.”
Initially formed in 2008, Genera works with leading technology providers …

(U.S. Department of Energy) What are the key considerations when installing ethanol equipment at a fueling station?  For those new to ethanol fueling, installing the necessary infrastructure may be unchartered territory. From fuel specifications to dispensing …

by  Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  As the Tier 3 deadline approaches, it’s important to understand the difference between EPA and ASTM treatments of the element.  —  The U.S. EPA’s Tier 3 rules are …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  This week, the US Department of Energy released its 2016 Billion-Ton Report: Advancing Domestic Resources for a Thriving Bioeconomy, and said that 1.2 billion tons of biomass would be available at …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  In Washington, the US Department of Energy released its 2016 Billion-Ton Report: Advancing Domestic Resources for a Thriving Bioeconomy, and said that 1.2 billion tons of biomass would be available at $60 …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  At the heart of the United States focus on bioenergy R&D is the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado — supporting feedstock development, bioconversion and understanding markets for new …

(Bergeson & Campbell)   Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) announced today the launch of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Blog (TSCAblog™) to track and report regulatory, scientific, legal, and policy developments under the “new TSCA.” …

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 …

(National Oilheat Research Alliance)  The National Oilheat Research Alliance and two Oilheating associations recently celebrated the opening of a new research and training facility designed specifically for Oilheating fuels and renewabls, such as and Bioheat® …

(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 …

(Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative) We are proud to announce the 10th Anniversary of the initiation of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) as of May 24, 2016, and more importantly, to reflect on the …

by Ann Bailey (Ethanol Producer Magazine) … Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) use in the ethanol industry is taking off. From checking on corn fields, to inspecting ethanol plants, to looking over rail cars before shipment, farmers …

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 …

by Lorenz Bauer and William Quapp (Biofuels Digest)  …  However, attempts to translate these small scale successes into commercial technologies have been less successful.   It is easy to blame lower oil and natural gas prices …

by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) UIC GmbH, a subsidiary of Austrian biodiesel technology provider BDI-BioEnergy International AG, has just reopened its expanded and modernized research center near Frankfurt, Germany, in Alzenau. According to BDI, UIC is …

by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine)  An abundance of ASTM and ISO biodiesel activities may make 2016 the busiest year yet at the standards organizations, said National Biodiesel Board senior technical advisor Steve Howell. At the …

by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  I really enjoyed learning about research into midlevel ethanol blends from Timothy Theiss and Brian West, researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. “E25, E40 for the masses” went live …

by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine)  If your glycerin or free fatty acids may find their way into the food or feed supply, you must comply with the daunting Food Safety Modernization Act  —  … Moreover, if …

by Louisa Burwood-Taylor (AgFunderNews)  … “Ecological farming is ‘AgTech’ but of a different kind. It is a return to the original definition of ‘technology’, which comes from two Greek words: technis, which means art, skill, craft or the …

(Extension.org)  If you are looking for a comprehensive article on poplar for biofuel production, this is for you.
Table of Contents

Introduction

Current and Potential Use as a Biofuel

Biology and Adaptation

Production and Agronomic Information 

Harvest

Potential Yields
Production Challenges
Estimated Production Cost
Environmental/Sustainability …

By John Sens (EcoEngineers/Ethanol Producer Magazine)  CARB readopts standards, and sets time lines and treatment for legacy pathways.  —  In the first three quarters of 2015, California Low Carbon Fuel Standard credits increased in price …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  Part of the Lawrence Berkeley National Labs, established by the United States Department of Energy, is the Advanced Biofuels Process Demonstration Unit, designed to help ramp up the bioeconomy. ABPDU enables early …

(U.S. Department of Energy)  The Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation (GREET) model allows researchers and analysts to fully evaluate the energy and emission impacts of advanced vehicle technologies and new transportation …

by Mark Warner (Warner Advisors LLC)  Two questions have dominated the responses received after my Lessons Learned series on commercializing industrial biotechnology (here) and the deep-dive into the industrial biotechnology commercialization process (here), the questions are …

(CORDIS/Phys.Org)  Completed in September 2015, the four-year BRISK project brought together 26 partners from across Europe – various academic and research institutions – to establish a highly visible network of demonstration rigs.
‘Many SMEs and students …

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 …

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 …

by Alison Goss Eng and Daniel Adams (U.S. Department of Energy)  … Earlier this year, we highlighted five cost-saving harvesting technologies that private companies and universities developed through $21 million in 2009 funding from the Bioenergy …

by Kristen Johnson and Alicia Moulton  (U.S. Department of Energy)  At the Energy Department’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, we’re actively working to develop the advanced biofuels industry in a way that leads to positive impacts and …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  … Praj provides technology and EPC for ethanol plants and has > 600 references across continents. The focus of Praj Matrix is biotechnology. After seven years of development we have LC …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For most investors, building a demonstration-scale facility in order to get, and validate, data for the last pre-commercial stages, is a necessary evil somewhere between diaper-changing and a colonoscopy on the …

by Jeremy P. Jacobs (E&E/Greenwire) Ask Chicago environmentalists who’s the Windy City’s best lawyer, and they’re likely to name Howard Learner.  Learner has built his Environmental Law and Policy Center into a Midwest powerhouse over the …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … The E2 report is something of a hybrid — for one, it includes actual biodiesel production, but in the case of other fuels, it reports production capacity rather than production, …

by Talia Bang (Ag NewsWire)  PacificAg, the country’s largest and most experienced biomass harvest company in the country, can help ethanol plants developing or expanding operations into the production of cellulosic ethanol, save time and …

(Dawnbreaker/PR NewsWire)  The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has officially launched its first ever SBIR/STTR Phase 0 Assistance Program, aimed at helping eligible small R&D businesses and individuals successfully apply for SBIR/STTR federal funding from …

by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Producers and technology providers, including Pacific Biodiesel, Kelley Green Biofuel, Piedmont Biofuels, WB Services and Crown Iron Works, discuss procedural and design elements to mitigate risk in biodiesel manufacturing.
A philosophical problem …

by Art Krugler (Biodiesel Magazine)  Biodiesel production has no more or less fire hazard than an oil refinery. Plant personnel at all levels need to be vigilant and totally informed, realizing that what they do …

(Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials)  The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), a globally recognised sustainability certification standard for biomaterials, and Elements Software Ltd, a leading web based traceability software provider, are working together to help RSB …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  … The staff blends field experience, engineering and chemistry expertise with design and fabrication capabilities to offer an interdisciplinary approach to fuel-related services.   Our capabilities span the needs of companies at all stages …

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 …

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) is in the midst of an overhaul of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).  Two of the issues most important to the low carbon fuels industry are the carbon …

(State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry)  EcoWillow 2.0 is the most comprehensive and up-to-date financial analysis tool for shrub willow biomass crops. Originally released in 2008 after over 20 years …

(National Oilheat Research Alliance)  Research conducted by the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) on blending ASTM D6751 biodiesel with both standard and low sulfur heating oil confirms that blends up to 20 percent biodiesel can …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … In Germany, Vecoplan opened a new 17,000 square-foot Technology Center in Bad Marienberg, Germany.
The first-of-its-kind facility is equipped with more than 25 machines representing a comprehensive range of mechanical technologies …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  Think affordable, available, sustainable carbon is the biggest barrier to the growth of biofuels? Or, access to market via blender pumps?   In the case of drop-in biofuels, the biggest challenge …

by Ron Kotrba (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  Diversifying ethanol coproduct streams is big business in today’s market as producers seek to add value to their product portfolios, a major focus of discussion at the 2014 International …

(Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine)  The Renewable Fuels Association has unveiled an updated version of “The Training Guide to Ethanol Emergency Response.” This powerful resource was first developed in 2006 to give first responders, hazmat …

(Algae Biomass Organization)  The Algae Biomass Organization announced the publication of “Industrial Algae Measurements, Version 6.0” (IAM 6.0), a document that sets standards to measure and compare diverse algae industry operations.
IAM 6.0 is a collaboration of …

(Wood Education and Resource Center)  The Local Impact of Woody Biomass Energy Projects: Quick Assessment Tool for Planners and Community Leaders (the Quick Assessment Tool), developed by the New York Biomass Energy Alliance, and the New York Farm Viability Institute, …

by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  The U.S. Energy Information Administration has updated its state energy profiles and added new analytical narratives on the energy sectors of each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and …

(Iowa Biodiesel Board)  Program helps ensure long-term integration of biodiesel into American fuel supply
Some instructors from throughout the Midwest who will train the diesel mechanics of tomorrow now have a thorough knowledge base on biodiesel. …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  In Illinois, the Argonne National Laboratory is highlighting a new GREET fuel cycle model release (GREET1 2013) uploaded to the GREET web site.
This release includes the following updates: New marine …

(Ag Professional/USDA Agricultural Research Service)  Farmers in the semiarid central Great Plains have traditionally used a two-year, no-till, dryland, winter wheat/fallow cropping system, which stretches scarce soil water supplies and minimizes crop failure from water …

(Evonik Industries AG/Biodiesel Magazine)  On Oct. 21, Essen, Germany-based Evonik Industries started up a new plant for manufacturing biodiesel production catalysts in Argentina.
Patrik Wohlhauser, the member of the Evonik executive board responsible for the South …

(Biofuels International)  The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), a voluntary sustainability scheme approved by the European Union, has introduced a new report regarding upstream verification for waste materials.
The RBS, which covers all types of feedstock …

(Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI)) (from a letter to US Department of Agriculture) … “You asked on August 13 if the Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI) had any information regarding the average price for installing E15 storage equipment …

by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine)  …Biodiesel emerged on the U.S. alternative fuels radar in the early 1990s, and for the next decade it slowly gained recognition as a real-world, here-and-now replacement for diesel fuel before …

by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  The Ontario Federation of Agriculture recently announced that a value chain consortium has presented a final report to local corn producers, showing that it is commercially viable to establish …

by Dr. Bruno Miller and John Heimlich  (CAAFI/Biofuels Digest)  … CAAFI has unveiled its Guidance for Selling Alternative Fuels to Airlines to serve as a roadmap for potential producers and other supply-chain participants contemplating purchase agreements with airlines …

by Matt Groves (WREX)  … Fire departments from across the region trained in Kirkland Saturday afternoon for ethanol fires. Cars doused in ethanol were set fire to, then firefighters worked to put them out.
…
“Utilizing the correct …

by Tom Portz (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  Eric Sumner’s lifelong fascination with science spans from his youth to the cutting edge of ethanol plant bacterial control and the growing importance of coproducts for long-term industry viability.
Helping …

(PR Web)  RSB now recognizes FSC which certifies responsibly managed forests.
The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) is pleased to announce its decision to recognize the standard of the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) which certifies responsibly …

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 National Institute of Standards and Technology announced that it has posted presentations from the 4th International Conference on Biofuels Standards:  Current Issues, Future Trends on its web site.  The purpose of the meeting was …

by Nathan Vander Griend (Biodiesel Magazine/ERI Solutions Inc.)  Safety training, work permits, standard operating procedures and what seems to be an almost endless amount of documentation can be a burden to an operating facility. It …

by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine)  For B100 and biodiesel blends, two main fuel additive categories dominate the sector: stabilizers and cold flow improvers. Biodiesel can be produced from many fats, oils and greases, each possessing …

by Ron Kotrba  (Biodiesel Magazine)  For biodiesel refineries, a good maintenance plan starts with good training. Austria-based BDI-BioEnergy International AG, which has built more than 30 plants worldwide, starts its plant personnel training routine during …

by Gary Truitt (Hoosier Ag Today)  Agricultural economists at the University of Illinois have been calculating the costs for farmers to produce biomass energy crops as renewable alternatives to fossil fuels. In fact – they …

by Tim Leeds (Havre Daily News)  A standing-room-only crowd filled a newly re-opened building at Montana State University-Northern to hear dignitaries and university representatives talk about the latest addition to its cutting-edge alternative fuels laboratory.
…The …

(ASTM International)  This Ethanol Fuel Blends specification covers the requirements for automotive fuel blends of ethanol and gasoline for use in ground vehicles equipped with flexible-fuel spark-ignition engines. Fuel produced to this specification contains 51 …

by Brian Winter (Reuters/Chicago Tribune)  After years at each other’s throats, Brazil and the United States are working together to promote the use of ethanol in a collaboration that could revolutionize global markets and the makeup of …

(Bioenergy Science Institute)  The Feedstock Cost and Profitability (FCAP) Calculator provides an estimate of the breakeven price needed to cover the costs of producing biomass from alternative feedstocks. These include crop residues from corn and …

(Biodiesel Magazine/National Biodiesel Board)  …This week, the National Automotive Technician Education Foundation officially awarded the Automotive Service Excellence accreditation to the NBB Biodiesel for Diesel Technicians curriculum. NATEF is the body responsible for accrediting schools and curriculum nationwide. …

by Mary Rosenfeld (Algal Biomass Organization) … (T)the Algal Biomass Organization is launching the ABO Blog to meet a growing need for timely information about the algae industry.
The ABO Blog will be offering perspectives and updates on algae industry …

(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 …

(Renewable Fuels Association)   The ongoing effort to alter gasoline to minimize its impact on the environment and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign crude oil has refocused attention on fuel quality issues. The increased use of ethanol, …

(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 …

(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 …

(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 …

(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, …

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) …

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has revised its standard for testing biodiesel fuel.  ASAE EP552.1, Reporting of Fuel Properties when Testing Diesel Engines with Alternative Fuels Derived from Plant Oils and …

“Changes in Gasoline IV” is the 2009 edition of the ongoing series of “Changes in Gasoline” manuals. The first manual, “Changes in Gasoline & the Automobile Service Technician,” was originally published in 1987. Numerous editions …

ISO will develop an International Standard to address sustainability issues linked to bioenergy. The standard will be produced by a new ISO project committee, ISO/PC 248, Sustainability criteria for bioenergy.
ISO/PC 248 will bring together international …

Biofuels Digest released a downloadable, consolidated table of cellulosic ethanol and advanced biofuels production, including current production as of December 2009, and planned introductions of new capacity through 2012. The Digest found in its review …

On November 12, 2009, some three years after a first exploratory multi-stakeholder meeting was held at the EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland, the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels has released Version One of its international standard for …

The Inter-American Development Bank has released a new version of its Biofuels Sustainability Scorecard, which will enable users to better anticipate the impacts of potential biofuel projects on sensitive issues such as indigenous rights, carbon …

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 …

WorldAutoSteel has released a 2nd iteration of the automotive materials parametric Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) model, which allows for broader evaluations of automotive materials, powertrains, fuels and vehicle total energy consumed. Automakers can now evaluate more …

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 …

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, …

The National Algae Association is building a buying consortium to help its members build algae farms and production plants more cost efficiently. NAA staff are meeting with various equipment and service providers to negotiate the best prices and terms for NAA …