by Colin M. Beal, Robert E. Hebner, Michael E. Webber, Rodney S. Ruoff and A. Frank Seibert (Bioenergy Research) This study is an experimental determination of the energy return on investment (EROI) for algal biocrude production at a research facility at the University of
(Terrabon, Inc.) Terrabon, Inc., a Houston-based bioenergy company, announced today that it has been awarded a $9.6 million, 18-month contract by Logos Technologies to design a more economical and renewable jet fuel (BioJet TM ) production solution for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
by Rod Santa Ana (AgriLifeToday) Just as corn and peanuts stunned the world decades ago with their then-newly discovered multi-beneficial uses and applications, Texas AgriLife Research scientists in Corpus Christi think microalgae holds even more promise. “It’s a huge, untapped source
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) ExxonMobil will soon offer ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) blended with biodiesel for the first time at four rack terminals in Texas. ExxonMobil will offer ULSD with up to a 5 percent biodiesel blend in Irving, Texas
(PRNewsWire/Circuit of the Americas) Australia's Most Popular Motorsports Series Makes Its First U.S. Home in Austin, Texas V8 Supercars and Circuit of The Americas, along with Texas Governor Rick Perry andQueensland Premier Anna Bligh, announced today a five-year agreement to bring the famous Australian V8 Supercar series
(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
(Businesswire/Celanese) Celanese Corporation (NYSE:CE), a global technology and specialty materials company, today announced it will accelerate its original schedule and now expects to begin industrial ethanol production in China earlier than previously announced. In addition to the company’s previously announced
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
(Bloomberg) Catchlight Energy LLC, a joint venture of Chevron Corp. and Weyerhaeuser Co., will supply forest products that Kior Inc. will convert into biofuels. The deal announced today expands an agreement made in April for Catchlight to purchase gasoline and diesel fuel blendstocks
(Texas A&M University) The Algae Production Conversion Calculator created by the Agricultural and Food Policy Center is available in the iTunes App Store for your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. A web based version is also available for many other mobile devices(eg. Android
(Algae Industry Magazine) The National Algae Association has launched a Commercial Opportunities page on its website in response to a growing number of inquiries from throughout the algae supply channel and the investment community about real commercial opportunities in the
by Lindsay Curtis (KZTV10) ... The algae is harvested at the plant and spun down into a concentrated gel. Dr. Tzachi Samocha, Director of Research says, "The micro-algae concentrated in this bag that basically will provide people that will start extracting
(Environmental Protection Agency) Out of more than 1,500 young scientists and engineers competing in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, Param Jaggi was named the winner of EPA's 2011 Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award. A senior at Plano East
by Paul Studebaker (Sustainable Planet) ...It’s too soon to talk about grain-based ethanol in the past tense, but maybe not by much. While ethanol has a place as a bio-based octane enhancer and consequently, as a means to extend oil
by Morgan Gallagher (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...Rather than look at only the total mass yield of either the corn grain or the crop residue, we took a different approach. We measured the mass yield of key biochemicals such as carbohydrate,
(Shell/PRNewsWire) Quebec's Universite Laval Defends Title Winning Shell Eco-marathon Americas for Third Consecutive Year Going the farthest distance might sound like a foot race. But this past weekend, it meant stretching the boundaries of fuel efficiencyas student teams competed in the
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) A team of high school students from Durand placed third overall at the Shell Eco-marathon Americas competition in Houston, Texas last week, where they drove 572 miles per gallon with 100-percent ethanol fuel. The group's trip to the
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced research grants awarded to spur production of bioenergy and biobased products that will lead to the development of sustainable regional systems and help create jobs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Khosla-backed pyrolysis venture heads for the public markets. Is the IPO window still open? Will this one fly? Should it? The Digest looks at the technology, the team, the progress, the economics, the proof, and
(Biofuels Journal) Biodiesel Experts International LLC is prepared to provide engineering, onsite supervision, startup, training, enzyme material, and complete plants for an enzymatic process to convert waste oils or greases into ASTM spec biodiesel. The enzymatic process consist of two (2)
(MSN.com) Algae Farm, (Pink Sheets:ALGF), announces that it has signed an Education Affiliation Agreement with Lone Star College System (“LSCS”), Conroe, Texas. The purpose of this agreement is to provide educational experiences for students enrolled in algae related programs in
by Maynard Herron and Bob Matousek (Kansas Alliance for Biorefining and Bioenergy) AGCO (Hesston, KS) received an award for biomass feedstock supply demonstration as a partial match of a $5 million renewable energy R & D grant
(Shell/PRNewsWire) While many students spent the weeks and months leading up to spring break preparing for midterm exams, an ambitious group of students geared up for another important test. They are the 70 teams from 18 high schools and
by Mitchell Anderson (EnergyBoom) Proprietary technology owned by VG Energy could create algal biofuel at costs competitive with current prices for conventional crude according to a report released by the company this week. The study was authored by John Sheehan, former project manager at
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Is there enough energy, food, fiber and feed for all? Advances in industrial fermentation – a/k/a an incredulous “you’re making what? from what? using what? – will be the key to answering that question. The stars of this drama
(Texas A&M University) Sustainability is more than a buzz word with Texas A&M University Dining, which partners with Terrabon, Inc. to collect post- consumer food scraps from the two biggest dining centers on campus for use in producing biofuels. Terrabon will produce the
by Geoff Folsom (OAOA.com) Icicles drip from the paddlewheel in the only one of the three 12th-of-an-acre algae ponds at Texas A&M University’s Pecos Research Center that’s operating this January morning. Not much is happening in the other six, smaller ponds
(KiOR) Project would produce drop-in fuels from wood biomass at four facilities across three states KiOR, Inc., announced today that it has received a term sheet for a loan guarantee supporting an over $1 billion biofuels project from the U.S. Department of Energy’s
(Endicott Biofuels) Endicott Biofuels, LLC (EBF) has signed an agreement with KMTEX Ltd. (KMTEX) to construct a 30-million gallon-per-year biorefinery in Port Arthur, Texas, that will employ EBF’s proprietary technology for the production of high-purity G2 Clear™ biodiesel. KMTEX will
(Eco Friendly Magazine) Using CRI/Criterion’s catalyst technologies, Terrabon, Inc. has exceeded its target yield threshold of 70 gallons of biogasoline per dry ton of garbage received from the cafeteria dumpsters and paper shredders at Texas A&M University. ...The catalysts enabled Terrabon to
(USDA) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced new investments in 33 states to support the production and usage of advanced biofuels. Vilsack highlighted these projects as ways the Obama Administration is working to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil
by Bob Brooks (Automotive Industries) Photon8, a new venture algae oil development firm has emerged from research work at the University Of Texas, Brownsville, TX, by placing its priority on the economics of making algal based diesel fuel oil at
by Andrew Benedict-Nelson (Ultimate Clear Lake) Four inventors in the Clear Lake area are among a team receiving a U.S. patent for a new way of producing ethanol on an industrial scale. According to the patent, the inventors unexpectedly discovered
by Barry Cohen (National Algae Association) ... Some of the accomplishments include: - Construction of commercial-scale demo PBR at Lone Star College - Delivery by NAA Engineering Consortium of plans and design for the 100-acre challenge - Delivery by NAA finance team of first financial
(Algae Industry Magazine) According to Texas A&M University’s Robert Burns, writing in the Western Farm Press, Texas AgriLife Research engineer Dr. Alex Thomasson has developed an optical-electronic sensor to automatically measure algae growth stages and allow micro-management of its production
by Kassia Micek (The Courier of Montgomery County) Instead of trying to get rid of that slimy, green substance that habitually grows in water, Lone Star College-Montgomery students are are growing large amounts of the organism in hopes of turning it
(University of Texas at Austin) The Austin Technology Incubator (ATI), a not-for-profit unit of The University of Texas at Austin, announced today that Dorsan Biofuels, Inc., joined as a member company of the ATI-Clean Energy Incubator. Dorsan uses proprietary technology to create
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ed Dineen is taking over the reigns at LS9 from Bill Haywood, who led the company from 2008, and from a #25 ranking to #4 in this year’s 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy. Salutes to Bill,
(BusinessWire) Viral Genetics, Inc., (Pinksheets: VRAL.PK) has launched a subsidiary called “VG Energy, Inc.” The new entity is majority-owned by Viral Genetics and its current shareholders, and was formed to market the company’s biofuel technology. “The new brand will help open
(Algae Industry Magazine) The National Algae Association is putting out a call to educators to network with other educators and algae researchers in the enhancement of algae curricula by attending their January 13 Conference in The Woodlands, Texas, and then the
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/Houston Chronicle) Letter to Editor ...The Chronicle says natural gas from shale deserves federal subsidies for production, but says ethanol doesn't because it requires too much water to produce. The water needs of fracking and
by Matt Hartwig (Renewable Fuels Association) That the Houston Chronicle would be anti-ethanol is not surprising to anyone. It is Houston, Texas, after all. But that the editorial board would play fast and loose with the “facts” they use to support
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) Dr. Jerry Brand, a PhD biologist and photosynthesis researcher, began his association with the UTEX Culture Collection of Algae in 1987, when he performed an extensive survey of the capacity for hydrogen gas production in
(Algae Industry Magazine) Photon8, Inc., of Brownsville, TX, has announced that it has succeeded in producing “drop-in” fuel components from its “genetically improved” algae. The recent tests were performed by an undisclosed commercial laboratory using gas chromatography analysis for determining carbon
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producers Magazine) Recent activities in the cellulosic ethanol industry have shown that while financing continues to be a major hurdle, technological advancements continue to be made and companies are beginning to construct their first commercial-scale facilities. BlueFire
(Algae Industry Magazine) The National Algae Association’s (NAA) collective of producers, researchers, technologists, engineering and equipment manufacturers have developed preliminary designs for a 100-acre commercial-scale algae production system and have identified the majority of the CAPEX and OPEX issues, according to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) (T)he Digest spent time this week with Gary Luce, CEO of Terrabon, whose advanced biofuels technology converts MSW and other residues into drop-in biogasoline, renewable diesel and jet fuel. The company, which has attracted investment from Waste
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) If moving genes around on a chromosome is your idea of a good time, meet Dr. Stephen Mayfield, Director of the San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology. ...Steve is now the John Dove Isaacs Professor
by Steve Clark (The Brownsville Herald) Photon8 Inc., Brad Bartilson’s Brownsville-based startup company, has managed to plow through some sticky issues in its quest for commercially feasible algae-to-biofuel production and is two years ahead of schedule in terms of production milestones.In
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) Training a workforce for the algae production industry is going to be a Catch 22 type of situation. It will take a large community of workers with highly developed skills to build the quantity of
(Piper Jaffray) ...Energy crops are designed to use marginal land, or in the case of Brazil, extend the growing season. Sugarcane-ethanol facilities in Brazil typically run for 6-8 months due to the relatively long growing season of cane. Energy crops
by Vicki Vaughan (San Antionio Express-News) ...The use of E85 is about to get more exposure, as San Antonio-based Valero Energy Corp. recently announced it will add E85 pumps to all of its new Valero Corner Stores as they're built
by Kevin Welch (Amarillo Globe News) ...Agronomist Brent Bean with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service put three of the stalks in a press Thursday during the summer field day at the agriculture research complex at Bushland. The nearly 9-foot stalks
(US Department of Energy) Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced research awards under a joint DOE-USDA program aimed at improving and accelerating genetic breeding programs to create plants better suited for bioenergy production. The $8.9 million
(PRNewsWire) Energy industry executives joined investors and policymakers near Houston, Texas earlier today to take a firsthand look at energy grasses and research developments that are expected to push bioenergy to the forefront of renewable power and transportation fuels. The bioenergy field
by Bob Thaxton (The Gazette-Enterprise) Hank Gilbert, the Democrats’ nominee for Texas agriculture commissioner, discussed his proposed biofuels policy here Thursday during the next-to-last stop on a 13-city tour around the state. ...“Texas has the potential to become a major biofuels
by Jj Valesquez (Victoria Advocate) ...Hank Gilbert spoke on the steps of the Victoria County Courthouse, his cowboy hat shading him from the 95-degree heat, about his plan to make Texas a major biofuels producer. "What biofuels can do is add
(POET) Work will focus on maximizing corn cob removal for cellulosic ethanol. POET this week will begin harvest research in corn fields near Navasota, Texas to learn more about biomass collection for cellulosic ethanol production. POET uses corn cobs and light stover
by James Clark (KCBD) A new study done in Lubbock and other parts of Texas will look at growing crops for use as bio-fuels. The Texas Ag Extension in Lubbock and five other cities will do the study that looks
(EcoFriendlyMag.com) Texas Governor Rick Perry has awarded $2.75 million from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF) to Terrabon for its work in biofuel technology development. Governor Perry made the announcement in Laredo, where he and city officials announce the benefits of a
(US Department of Energy) $106 Million Recovery Act Investment will Reduce CO2 Emissions and Mitigate Climate Change U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today the selections of six projects that aim to find ways of converting captured carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
by Gordon Dickson (Star-Telegram) Where's the beef? It's in the belly of that Amtrak locomotive. Shortly after noon Tuesday, the Amtrak Heartland Flyer pulled into downtown Fort Worth. It looked and smelled like pretty much any other train at the Intermodal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Scott Carpenter once noted that we know more about the heavens than the sea — but for biofuels, there is every urgent reason to look carefully to salt-friendly projects that can utilize brackish water, or
by Angela Neville (Power Mag) ... In April, the Texas governor jumped into the middle of this debate. Responding to what some observers thought was strong pressure from TSCRA, Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) submitted a formal request to the Environmental
(New Energy and Fuel) A new bacterium, a cyanobacterium that is energized by sunlight and excretes the sugars glucose and sucrose with some cellulose has been created by Dr. R. Malcolm Brown and Dr. David Nobles at the University of Texas
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