by Steinar Brandslet (Norwegian University of Science and Technology/Phys.Org) Growing perennial grasses on abandoned cropland has the potential to counteract some of the negative impacts of climate change by switching to more biofuels, according to an NTNU research group. Researchers consider increased use of biofuels to be an important part
Sustainability
by Jeff Lagerquist (Yahoo! Finance) Investment in green hydrogen production is expected to exceed US$1 billion annually by 2023. — Quebec is a step closer to building one of the world’s largest green hydrogen plants, as the province looks to rival Alberta’s plan to become Canada’s hub for the zero-emissions
(Snam/NGV Journal) FNM, A2A and Snam have signed a memorandum of understanding to provide a further boost to the development of green hydrogen mobility in Lombardy. The agreement, signed by the Chairman of FNM Andrea Gibelli, the CEO of A2A Renato Mazzoncini and the CEO of Snam Marco Alverà, is aimed
by Cristina Commendatore (Fleet Owner) President-elect Joe Biden has emphasized the importance of achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050, and the industry will be paying close attention to environmental initiatives that could impact trucking after the Jan. 20 inauguration. READ MORE California governor proposes $1.5B for clean transportation (FreightWaves)
(National Biodiesel Board) NBB experts share how industry continues to “Rise” to any challenge — The biodiesel and renewable diesel industry is on the “RISE”. This week the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) hosted more than 550 biodiesel and renewable diesel producers, distributors, retailers, and other industry advocates virtually to share the
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Legislation introduced in New Mexico on Jan. 19 aims to establish a Clean Fuel Standard within the state. The bill is supported by New Mexico Gov. Lujan Grisham, the Low Carbon Fuels Coalition, and the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. If signed into law, the bill, SB
(NGV Journal/Gasnam / Calvera) The entry of the Grupo Industrial Calvera into the HYSLAND project, promoted by a consortium made up of 30 partners from 11 countries, will reinforce what is undoubtedly one of the largest green hydrogen initiatives in Spain and Europe. With a global budget of more than 50
by Gabriel Popkin (Washington Post) President Biden says farmers can adopt agricultural methods that help fight climate change. Maryland farmer Trey Hill has been trying. … As the winter cover crops grow, they will feed microbes and improve the soil’s health, which Hill believes will eventually translate into higher yields of
by John Parnell (Green Tech Media) A Deloitte report commissioned by Shell finds that the heavy-freight sector is increasingly planning for a switch to hydrogen. Hydrogen will be the key energy source for global road freight, according to a new report commissioned by European oil major Shell. Electrification is the
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Researchers developing renewable plastics and exploring new processes for plastics upcycling and recycling technologies will now be able to easily baseline their efforts to current manufacturing practices to understand if their efforts will save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Benchmark data calculated and compiled at the
(Preem/PR Newswire) Following a redevelopment of Preem’s Green Hydro Treater (GHT) plant in Gothenburg, the plant’s production capacity of renewable diesel is increased by 40 percent. And for the first time, the GHT plant is able to produce 100 percent renewable products. “The redevelopment means that Preem has increased its domestic production
(Bolloré Logistics) Bolloré Logistics has joined the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) programme of Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP Cargo) for its 2021 shipments between Paris Charles de Gaulle and New York John F. Kennedy airports. This first of its kind collaboration illustrates the ambition of these two historical partners
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD)’s Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance (META) Program promotes the research, demonstration, and development of emerging technologies, practices, and processes that improve maritime industrial environmental sustainability with a focus on reduction in vessel and port air emissions. One
by Amy R. Sisk (Bismark Tribune) Several North Dakota coal and ethanol plants are inching closer to capturing the carbon dioxide they generate and storing it underground, and they’re asking lawmakers to exempt the practice from sales tax. A similar exemption is already in place if the carbon dioxide is
by Tammy Klein (Transport Energy Strategies) Thanks to all of you who attended the recent webinar with Dr. David Babson, Program Director, Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E). The title of his talk was “Changing what’s possible for a sustainable future,” which included a topic that is top of mind for
(National Biodiesel Board/Biodiesel Magazine) … Time is of the essence as OEMs and fleets across the country take a fresh look at the use of low-carbon biodiesel and renewable diesel to help reduce emissions in their new and legacy diesel vehicles and equipment and help to slow the progression of climate
by Anne Berleant (Ellsworth American) Delta Thermo Energy will be the new owner of Coastal Resources of Maine, the waste-to-biofuel facility in Hampden that has had a dramatic, if short, history since opening in April 2019. The facility closed in May of 2019 and was subsequently placed in receivership. “We’re very
(Neste) In November 2020, the Dutch environmental organization Milieudefensie published a report “The Dark Side of Neste’s biofuel production”. At that time, we published a statement on the report on our website. Since the publication of our statement, we have continued to investigate the allegations in cooperation with our suppliers. Gathering enough
(Vattenfall) The collaboration between Vattenfall and Swedish fuel company Preem, aimed at producing fossil-free hydrogen for biofuel production, is entering the next phase. A study is now being conducted to examine opportunities for building a large-scale production facility at the refinery in Lysekil in Sweden. Preem’s target of producing 5
(Siemens/ElectricEnergyOnline) Siemens Energy and Mubadala join strategic partnership to accelerate green hydrogen capabilities in Abu Dhabi; Siemens Energy to collaborate with Masdar and partners on developing clean hydrogen fuels Siemens Energy is advancing the development of green hydrogen ecosystems in the UAE. Around the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, two Memorandums
(Renewables Now) The world’s green hydrogen production will grow at an exponential rate in the next decade, reaching 5.7 million tonnes in 2030, up from 40,000 tonnes in 2019, according to Frost & Sullivan’s. This will represent a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 57%. The green hydrogen market’s expansion
(Biogest/Biomass Magazine) Biogest received its first U.S. order to build an agricultural biogas plant in Idaho. The plant has a thermal output of 90,000 MMBTU p.a. and operates on 120,000 tons of cow manure per year. During the process, the manure is transformed into high-quality organic fertilizer that acts as
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How do you recycle mixed and complex waste? What about waste that can’t be recycled? These are the questions that Mike Hart, CEO of Sierra Energy tackles in this illuminating slide guide that looks at waste generation by region, zero waste goals, FastOx gasification as
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Who are the key bioeconomy players in the new Biden Administration? What recent moves by the outgoing Trump Administration and Congress will set their budget and regulatory framework for 2021. What will the new Administration do, right away and this year? READ MORE 1. New
(Diesel Technology Forum) As manufacturers are hard at work developing zero-emissions solutions over the next decade, introducing the latest diesel options today can provide significant clean air benefits. … As transportation sources are now the leading category of GHG emissions, focus will be on strategies to introduce emerging and next-generation
(Bergeson & Campbell) On December 28, 2020, the House overrode President Trump’s veto and passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (H.R. 6395) by a vote of 322 to 87, and the Senate passed the bill on January 1, 2021, by a vote of 81 to 13. Subtitle E of
(U.S. Department of Energy) In January, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the Plastics Innovation Challenge Draft Roadmap and a Request for Information (RFI) seeking stakeholder input on the Draft Roadmap. Announced in November 2019, the Plastics Innovation Challenge is a comprehensive program to accelerate innovations in energy-efficient
by Donnell Rehagen (National Biodiesel Board) With carbon reduction taking center stage, biodiesel and renewable diesel can provide immediate and substantial benefits, including 80% reduction in both greenhouse gases and particulate matter, an over 40% reduction in carbon monoxide, and more. Biodiesel and renewable diesel are on the “Rise” in
by Tom Bryan (Biodiesel Magazine) An update on U.S. renewable diesel projects—operational, expanding, under construction and proposed—giving new purpose to aging oil refineries. The report represents a transformative volume of nearly 5.5 billion gallons of new or potential capacity. The appeal of stacking the $1-per-gallon biodiesel tax credit on top
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The environmental benefits of both biodiesel and renewable diesel are in focus this week at the virtual National Biodiesel Conference and Expo. Matt Herman is the National Biodiesel Board‘s new Director of Environmental Science. Formally with the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and the Renewable Energy Group (REG), Herman has
(Biobased Diesel Daily/Air France KLM Martinair Cargo) To support the industry’s carbon reduction targets, Kuehne+Nagel has joined the Air France KLM Martinair Cargo SAF program, launching the first carbon-neutral airfreight lane between North America and Europe as of New Year’s Day. This forward-looking initiative marks another step towards the commercial deployment
(Licella) Licella Holdings (‘Licella’), Mura’s largest single shareholder, congratulate Mura Technology (‘Mura’), UK-based developer and licensee of their Cat-HTR™ platform, on announcing a global partnership with KBR, a leading international provider of science, technology and engineering solutions. The new partnership supports the global deployment of Licella’s commercial-ready Cat-HTR™ chemical recycling solution for post-consumer plastic
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Missouri, CoverCress Inc. and its university partners Illinois State University and the University of Minnesota were selected as the Start-up Inventor of the Year by the Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Section of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL). This award reflects the use
by Sara Wyant (Ag Week) The biofuel industry argues that President-elect Joe Biden can also make progress on his climate goals by expanding biofuel usage mandates, embracing a low carbon fuel policy and increasing vehicle emissions standards. Now that Democrats have won control of the Senate, climate legislation is inevitable,
by Chloe Jardine (Argus Media) Germany’s research ministry today presented three large-scale research projects on green hydrogen, with a focus on the production of large electrolysers, on combining offshore wind farms and hydrogen production, and on the transport of hydrogen. Federal research minister Anja Karliczek awarded a total of €700mn to the
(TGE and PGNiG) TGE and PGNiG intend to jointly prepare modern solutions supporting the creation and development of a biomethane market in Poland. The expertise of both PGNiG, as a key player on the gas market, and of TGE as a trading platform where the trading in gas and certificates
(European Climate Foundation) Given that EU leaders have committed to achieving a net-zero-carbon economy by 2050, there is a growing focus on how to accelerate the transition towards climate-neutral aviation. As the European Union is about to unveil new targets for sustainable aviation fuel in 2021, a group of major European
(Stora Enso) The production of Multicopy paper is about to contribute to the biofuel production in Sweden. The energy company Gasum and Stora Enso will together turn waste into renewable green energy. Wastewater can be a challenge for mills. Vast volumes of process water containing organic residues need to be treated.
(Greenergy) Greenergy announces its continued commitment to renewables through an investment in advanced biofuels. Utilising a combination of existing technologies, the project will create low carbon fuels from waste tyre feedstock. The project will utilise pyrolysis and hydrotreating technologies to convert waste tyres into renewable drop-in advanced biofuels that can be
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s A.J. Simon shared this illuminating slide guide at ABLC 2020 to look at the role that bioeconomy pathways play in drawing down CO2 from the atmosphere. From pathway selection, corn starch, switchgrass, forest residue, and a comparison of their net emissions
by Shawn Kreloff (Bioenergy Devco/Biofuels Digest) … But what if we could replace a significant amount of these fossil fuels with renewable natural gas (RNG) or Green Hydrogen created solely from advanced processing of organic residuals – byproducts that would otherwise decompose into methane and contribute to the increase in
(Aemetis/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Aemetis Inc. announced Jan. 15 that its exclusively licensed technology for the production of below zero carbon renewable fuel was awarded U.S. Patent No. 10907184 (to be published February 2, 2021), enabling the launch of Aemetis “Carbon Zero” production plants to commercialize the technology. Using patented technology exclusive to Aemetis
by Kim Chipman (Bloomberg) Green Plains Inc. Chief Executive Officer Todd Becker is getting closer to his goal of never having to worry about U.S. ethanol policy again. Instead of awaiting Washington’s next move in the industry’s battle with Big Oil for share of gasoline tanks, Becker is working to transform Green
“Some ethanol being produced today in Iowa reduces GHG emissions by nearly 80 percent, according to analysis by California regulators. Why wouldn’t we want to combine ethanol’s environmental benefits with those of the renewable power sector?“ —Geoff Cooper, Renewable Fuels Association in The Gazette. READ MORE
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association/The Gazette) … Renewable liquid fuels and renewable electricity are highly complementary ways to reduce America’s carbon footprint. We can have clean renewable energy from solar and wind, as the authors want, and still take advantage of the greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions that come from
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ‘Essential Energy,’ the theme of the upcoming National Ethanol Conference, is inspired by the inclusion of U.S. biofuel producers on the Department of Homeland Security’s list of critical and essential industries during the onset of the pandemic. As states across the country
by Jane O’Malley, Stephanie Searle, and Tenny Kristiana (International Council on Clean Transportation) As Indonesia moves toward more advanced vehicle emission standards, lower sulfur limits in fuel, and palm biodiesel expansion, it is important to understand the impact that increasing palm biodiesel blending rates is likely to have on vehicle emissions. This
by Shaheera Aznam Shah (Malaysian Reserve) Mohd Khairuddin says we will continue to fight against any discriminatory actions which pose a threat to the country’s economy and rakyat’s livelihood — Malaysia will file its lawsuit against the European Union (EU) on the trade bloc’s policy of phasing out palm oil-based biofuel imports
(Total) Total and Engie have signed a cooperation agreement to design, develop, build and operate the Masshylia project, France’s largest renewable hydrogen production site at Châteauneuf-les-Martigues in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur South region. Located at the heart of Total’s La Mède biorefinery and powered by solar farms with a total capacity of
by Alice Keefe (WMTW) … BluShift had planned to launch the rocket from the former Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, but the launch was scrubbed Friday afternoon. The rocket launch will likely be rescheduled to Tuesday or Wednesday. WMTW spoke with bluShift about its unique rocket on Thursday. “This
by Tammy Klein (Transport Energy Strategies) Following the successful Q&A roundtable discussion on the future of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) last month, I decided to do a video podcast series with several SAF producers and technology developers to get their insight into the future of SAF. First on deck is a
by Benjamin Lammert (Green Energy Platform/EurActiv) A decade ago the European Commission decided to exclude conventional biofuels from contributing to future policy on renewable energy, climate and agriculture, writes Benjamin Lammert. Benjamin Lammert is a farmer and president of the Green Energy Platform. The matter is as important today as it
(Selwood) … The company has completed extensive testing of HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) in its fleet of market-leading pumps. All Selwood pumps which have a Stage 3B engine – including the Eco range of units – S160Eco, D150Eco and HP35Eco – can now be run on the HVO fuel as an alternative
(Food and Agriculture Organization) The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) have today underscored their continued commitment to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy technologies in agri-food, fisheries and forestry chains and sustainable bioenergy through the signature of a collaboration agreement.
(FinExtra/Mirova) HSBC Pollination Climate Asset Management, Lombard Odier and Mirova, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, are the three founding partners of the Natural Capital Investment Alliance (‘The Alliance’), established by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales under his Sustainable Markets Initiative. The Alliance aims to accelerate the development of
(Business Wire) RNG supply will be dedicated to NW Natural Oregon customers — NW Natural, a subsidiary of NW Natural Holding Company (NYSE: NWN), is partnering with BioCarbN, a developer and operator of sustainable infrastructure projects, to convert methane from some of Tyson Foods facilities into renewable natural gas (RNG) to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … We are adding value to biological by-products through our 5 core competencies: Product and Application Expertise, International Sales & Marketing, Legal Compliance, Sustainability and Supply Chain Management. … We offer a wide variety of specialist services, including by-product and waste collection and handling, as
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Taking trash to treasure to a new level, renewable Dimethyl Ethercan be made from animal manure, food and agriculture waste, landfill gas and wood. Oberon Fuels’ President, Rebecca Boudreaux, PhD shared this illuminating slide guide that dives into Oberon’s small-scale production process, the 1st fuel-grade
(Smithfield Foods/Biomass Magazine) Dominion Energy and Smithfield Foods Inc., announced on Dec. 9 they have completed the first renewable natural gas (RNG) project through their joint venture, Align Renewable Natural Gas. Located in Milford in southwestern Utah, the project is now producing RNG from a network of 26 family farms that
(Libertine) Libertine FPE (“Libertine”), the creator of Smart Engine technology for hybrid electric vehicles and distributed power generation, has demonstrated technology that could help leading truck manufacturers to fulfil pledges to make all heavy-duty vehicles fossil free by 2040. With Libertine’s technology, hybrid heavy-duty powertrains using a combination of renewable grid
(Honeywell UOP) Honeywell UOP Ecofining™ single-stage process produces cleaner-burning high-cetane transportation fuels chemically identical to petroleum-based diesel — Honeywell today announced that it has introduced a single-stage UOP Ecofining™ technology offering for the production of renewable diesel fuel. The new single-stage technology is a fast-to-market, low capital cost solution that is
by Alan H. Epstein (Aviation Week) … The foundation of such a dramatic change must be built on moving from fossil fuels to low- or no-carbon energy. Its technology and infrastructure must be capable of powering single- and twin-aisle airliners flying long distances, since they are responsible for well over 90%
(Gasum) Low-emission fuels are becoming increasingly popular in the Nordic transport sector. Six Swedish logistic companies that are part of MaserFrakt recently tested trucks that used liquefied biogas (LBG) as fuel. The companies’ expectations of significantly lower emissions and a better operating environment were exceeded. The transition to cleaner energy
(Neste) Neste and Avfuel Corporation announce a strategic partnership to create an efficient, continuous supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the United States. Neste will provide Avfuel with SAF in volumes able to meet the growing demands of Avfuel’s customers, including fixed base operators (FBOs), airports, flight departments, original equipment
by Kurt Kovar (National Biodiesel Board/Biofuels Digest) As the new Biden administration and a growing number of states examine options to address transportation carbon emissions, biodiesel and renewable diesel stand out as the workhorses of existing low-carbon fuel programs. State programs are sending a strong signal for market growth in low-carbon,
(Gevo) Gevo, Inc. (“Gevo”) (NASDAQ: GEVO), announces the concept of Net-Zero Projects for the production of energy dense liquid hydrocarbons using renewable energy and Gevo’s proprietary technology. The concept of a Net-Zero Project is to convert renewable energy (photosynthetic, wind, renewable natural gas, biogas) from a variety of sources into energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The agriculture and waste revolution continues — these are not your Dad’s inputs, or Dad’s outputs either. If you missed last week’s DigestConnect, check out this slide guide from Vanguard Renewables CEO John Hanselman that takes a look at their newest biogas and renewable natural
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It was styled as a biofuels and biochemical producer, founded back in the heady days of the Recovery Act in February 2009, focused on developing high value oils and animal feeds by fermentation of low cost substrates. The business, as former CEO Colin South once described
(Renewable Fuels Association) On “Day One” in office, President-elect Biden’s incoming administration can immediately secure 10.7 million metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions simply by rejecting the 66 pending waiver requests from oil refiners who are looking to dodge their Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) obligations. In addition, another 1.2 million
by Tom Karst (Farm Journal Ag Web) … More global produce marketers and retailers are taking measures to become regenerative companies. In a post on the chain’s website, Whole Foods called regenerative agriculture the number one food trend of 2020. “Farmers, producers, academics, government agencies, retailers and more are taking a closer
“Companies operating Class 8 trucks are quickly realizing that they don’t have to wait for new, unproven technologies and infrastructure to significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and save on fuel costs—our RNG does that today.” — Adam Comora, President and CEO of TruStar Energy talking about renewable natural gas
(TruStar Energy/BusinessWire) TruStar Energy, a market leader in renewable natural gas (RNG) fuel supply for the transportation sector, today announced a successful 2020 and aggressive growth plans to continue transitioning heavy duty United States transportation from diesel to lower cost, cleaner alternatives. “The future of renewable heavy-duty transportation is here now,
(California Air Resources Board) $132,500 settlement includes environmental project for Fresno area — The California Air Resources Board today announced a settlement with AltAir-Paramount, LLC addressing reporting violations under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). The settlement is valued at $132,500. “The Low Carbon Fuel Standard is a critical part of California’s effort
by Zhaki Abdullah (Channel News Asia) … Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) will play a major role in this new normal for aviation, said Jonathan Wood, Neste’s Europe and Asia-Pacific vice president for renewable aviation. The term refers to biofuels that can be derived from a variety of sources, ranging from used
(Ruhr University Bochum) Green algae have two almost identical hydrogen-producing enzymes. One has been researched for decades, the other received little attention – until recently. Hydrogen-producing enzymes, so-called hydrogenases, could be a source of regenerative energy. The RUB photobiotechnology working group has now characterized a hydrogenase from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii that has so far
(Florida Public Service Commission/EIN Presswire) The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) today approved a new Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Service tariff for Florida City Gas (FCG). FCG can now offer services to convert biogas into usable renewable natural gas, and receive and transport RNG through its distribution system on behalf
by Sarah Kaplan (Washington Post) … (Catherine Coleman) Flowers has a vision for a better septic system. It’s cheap to buy and easy to run. It’s equipped with sensors that can monitor for signs of pathogens, including the coronavirus. Instead of allowing sewage to seep into the ground, the system separates
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Red Rock Biofuels’ 8-year offtake agreements with FedEx and Southwest Airlines are driving the advanced biofuels production facility to convert waste woody biomass into renewable drop-in jet, diesel and gasoline blendstock fuels at a conversion rate of about 166,000 BDT/year of woody biomass into about
(SeeNews/Renewables Now) – French microalgae firm Fermentalg (EPA:FALG) saw its shares jump 35% on Tuesday after it announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with domestic waste management company Suez SA (EPA:SEV) to create an equally-owned joint venture for carbon capture through the development of algae photobioreactors. The
by Mike Roeth (Advanced Clean Tech News) … Industrial use of hydrogen must increase for end-users like energy power plants, chemical industries, steelmakers, and others if hydrogen is to scale quickly, and realistically. And the scaling of hydrogen is not the only domino that needs to fall in place for
(New York State Senate) Establishes the low carbon fuel standard of 2019; such standard is intended to reduce carbon intensity from the on-road transportation sector by 20% by 2030, with further reductions to be implemented based upon advances in technology. … Introduced by Sens. PARKER, ADDABBO, BAILEY, BIAGGI, BRESLIN, BROOKS,
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service on Jan. 6 issued final regulations regarding the section 45Q tax credit for qualified carbon oxide sequestration. The Carbon Capture Coalition said the final rule provides long-overdue regulatory and financial certainty. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, which
(KROXAM) On Wednesday, January 6, the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association (MADA) filed a lawsuit in Federal District Court alleging Minnesota lacks the authority under the Federal Clean Air Act to regulate motor vehicle emissions and is preempted under federal law from moving forward with its rules to adopt California vehicle emissions
by Julie Wurth (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment) … A study by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) found that energy sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) behaves more like miscanthus in the way it efficiently captures light and uses
(SkyNRG) Sustainable aviation fuel produced from waste-based ethanol resources — The FLITE consortium, led by SkyNRG and with LanzaTech as the technology provider, will build the first-of-its-kind LanzaJetTM Alcohol to Jet (AtJ) facility. The facility will convert waste-based ethanol to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at a scale of over 30,000 tons/yr. The
(Electric Energy Online) TMB has selected the company to build a hydrogen plant on the Zona Franca industrial area, the first public facility of its kind in the country, and to operate it for the next ten years; The company is carrying out projects that will put Spain at the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Renewable Energy Group is the largest operator of renewable diesel and biodiesel plants in the US, with 12 refineries and a fast-growing capacity, especially in red-hot renewable diesel. In today’s Digest, we take a DigestData DeepDive™ with Actionable, Relational, Granular, Global Hard Data on REG’s Bioeconomy
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Who knew flies would be so useful! Apparently the nanocoating found in fruit fly eyes have potential applications in medicine, textiles and electronics thanks to its anti-reflective, anti-microbial and self-cleaning properties. The proteins and lipids can also be tweaked to change the physical characteristics of
by John Fialka (E&E News) … “Can we afford not to do this?” was the way Steve Oldham, the CEO of Carbon Engineering, headquartered in Squamish, British Columbia, put it in a recent TED Talk. He estimated that climate-related damages will eventually cost the U.S. over $500 billion a year “if
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) UC Berkeley’s Dr. James Bentley Brown shared this illuminating slide guide at ABLC Digital on pattern discovery, the multi-scale analytical requirements of the bioeconomy, examples from a biotic field trial in corn, how artificial intelligence is enabling the engineering of agronomic systems, and more. READ
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A mere “The Year in Rewind” as we sail into 2021? Not the good ship Digest! Instead, we dust off our crystal ball and offer our predictions for the year ahead. As the sunset of 2020 gives way to the dawn of 2021, once again
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Biomass Magazine) As Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s fuel properties technical lead for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Co-Optimization of Fuel and Engines, or Co-Optima, initiative, Jim Szybist has been on a quest for the past few years to identify the most significant indicators for predicting how a fuel
(Malay Mail) A nimble push into higher biodiesel blends such as B40 — 40 per cent blend of palm oil-derived biodiesel — by Indonesia and B30 by Malaysia will help to mitigate the negative effects of the European Union’s (EU) lower palm oil demand for biofuel, the Malaysian Biodiesel Association said.
(U.S. Grains Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) As the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 push air quality and climate issues to center stage, the U.S. Grains Council is continuing its work to demonstrate the environmental benefits of ethanol to global stakeholders. Five years after the Paris Agreement to reduce carbon emissions was first signed,
“Los Angeles is a natural focus for treaty organizers because of its unusually high concentration of oil infrastructure in an urban setting: The city is home to more than 800 active wells in 26 oil and gas fields.” —Jacques Leslie in a Los Angeles Times op-ed about the Fossil Fuel
by Jacques Leslie (Los Angeles Times) The Los Angeles City Council is poised to endorse a call for a global Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. … Signatory governments would agree to stop further expansion of the fossil fuel industry within their boundaries. … The treaty addresses a nearly universal failing of climate change
by Sophie Barthel (Argus Media) The biofuels industry has been strongly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, but is expected to bounce back in 2021, according to the IEA. As member of the Biofuture Platform, an initiative for worldwide collaboration on fighting climate change, the IEA aims to facilitate the recovery
by Georgina Gustin (Inside Climate News) The administration has options to cut emissions even if a Republican-led Senate opposes climate-focused agriculture policies. — … The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the administration said, “has not historically received the sustained political attention of other agencies that play a role in climate policy.” But
(Bioenergy Insight) Enviva and blockchain firm GoChain have announced the results of a pilot programme to enhance the traceability of sustainable biomass. The pilot programme identified a select group of suppliers from Enviva’s wood sourcing regions in the US Southeast to monitor various data elements such as forest tract locations,
(Bioenergy Insight) Lightweight railcars powered by biomethane derived from human, farm, and food waste could be introduced in the UK. Ultra Light Rail Partners has received a £60,000 (€66,700) Innovate UK grant to develop a feasibility study and design for a 120-passenger biomethane-powered lightweight railcar for introduction in the West
(Our Daily Planet) Salty soil is a death sentence for crops, and for areas of coastal farmland, an increasing threat due to climate change. Known as saltwater intrusion, this occurs when storm surges or high tides overtop areas low in elevation. It also occurs when saltwater infiltrates freshwater aquifers and raises the
(Algae Biomass Organization) … Our collective effort has resulted in record-breaking policy support, including: $70 million for algae industry research, development, and demonstration in 2020 Congressional appropriations for DOE’s Bioenergy Technology Office, Office of Fossil Energy, and Office of Science. $110 million has been proposed in the US House of Representatives for
Benzhen Yao, Tiancun Xiao, Ofentse A. Makgae, Xiangyu Jie, Sergio Gonzalez-Cortes, Shaoliang Guan, Angus I. Kirkland, Jonathan R. Dilworth, Hamid A. Al-Megren, Saeed M. Alshihri, Peter J. Dobson, Gari P. Owen, John M. Thomas & Peter P. Edwards (Nature Communications) With mounting concerns over climate change, the utilisation or conversion
by Brendan Gibbons (San Antonio Report) Enough methane from decaying waste in a private San Antonio landfill can be harvested to offset the need for fossil fuel use by most of VIA Metropolitan Transit’s bus fleet, officials say. CPS Energy, VIA, and energy company EDL are working on an initiative that will provide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As we look to the future with a new year, Deloitte and Ballard are looking at fueling the future of mobility with hydrogen and fuel cells, which makes sense considering hydrogen is the single most abundant substance in the universe. Their white paper dives into
(India Times Energy World) ISRO Chairman said that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is looking at green propulsion through hydrogen peroxide in its rocket that would take Indians into the space under its ‘Gaganyaan’ mission. The Indian space rockets are set to go green as ISRO is working to replace its
(Mitchell & Webber) Mitchell & Webber are proud to be the first in country to trial a new fossil-free liquid fuel (HVO) in a property and Tractor — This could revolutionise the agriculture and domestic heating markets. The fossil-free renewable fuel, called Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO), is produced from certified waste
by Keith O’Connor (The Business Desk) Renewable bioenergy and carbon reduction specialists, Fleetsolve is looking to triple its workforce with the creation of an additional 70 jobs over the next six months. Fleetsolve, part of the SIMEC Group, announced its new recruitment drive as part of its £150m growth plan over
(U.S. Customs and Border Protection) Effective December 30, 2020, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel at all U.S. ports of entry will detain palm oil and products containing palm oil produced by Sime Darby Plantation Berhad and its subsidiaries, joint ventures, and affiliated entities in Malaysia. The issuance of a
by Alex Tiller (Carbonvert Inc./Ethanol Producer Magazine) The road to qualifying for the 45Q tax credit can be confusing, with strict limitations on project phases and what constitutes start of construction. But, navigated properly, the credit is a promising opportunity. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) presents a tremendous financial opportunity
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Novozymes has released a platform to convert more fiber to ethanol, giving producers an attractive ‘D3 lift.’ The company is also helping its customers navigate the low-carbon fuels marketplace, streamlining certification and assisting where it can. … Novozymes has released its Fiberex platform, for
by Chiranjeevi Kulkarni (Deccan Herald) At a time when pollution from stubble burning has become a concern, researchers from IISc have devised a way to extract ethanol from it which is a valuable fuel. Professor T V Ramachandra and his doctoral student Deepthi Hebbale presented the result of their experiments at
(Prensa Latina) The Bolivian Government will promote projects to reduce fuel imports and boost biodiesel production to prevent the flight of foreign currency, the Minister of Economy and Public Finance, Marcelo Montenegro, said today. Montenegro specified in statements to the Bolivian Information Agency that the state-owned Yacimiento Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB)
(UFOP/Biobased Diesel Daily) The German and European feed markets benefit significantly from the production of rapeseed-based biodiesel fuels. Rapeseed meal is generated as a joint product of oil production in this value chain. According to the Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP), non-genetically modified organism (GMO) rapeseed meal
(Bio-Based Diesel Daily/Green Energy Biofuel) Green Energy Biofuel stands ready to provide waste recycling solutions for a variety of businesses and industries in the Southeast by turning costly liabilities into savings. Companies can leverage Green Energy Biofuel to help meet their environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) goals by no longer
by Elton Alisson (Agência FAPESP) Biofuels play a fundamental role in decarbonizing the transportation sector. Current policies to grow biofuel production and use on a global scale, however, are not sufficiently ambitious, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). To address this problem, the IEA will assess the effectiveness of
(Indiana Soybean Alliance) Four diesel fleets in Indiana were recently inducted as inaugural members of the newly-formed B20 Club of Indiana, a collaboration between the Indiana Soybean Alliance and the American Lung Association© that showcases exceptional green fleets with experience using B20 – a cleaner-burning blend of twenty percent biodiesel and
(European Investment Bank) … The SEK 1.2bn financing operation facilitates the acquisition of 297 electric and biofuel buses being leased to Transdev for its use on five concessions in Gothenburg, starting from December 2020. In March 2019, Transdev won five 10-year contracts to operate bus services as from December 2020 in Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-largest
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) … In today’s Digest, we look at the HOTTEST Digest Slide Guides like Corbion’s biobased Poly Lactic Acid (PLA), Gevo’s low carbon drop-in transportation fuels, Neste, an exclusive Digest Q&A with Clariant, and even some hydrogen. Check out what YOU, the readers, found the most
(University of Louisiana at Lafayette) An energy storage and power generation system being designed at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette could make flying the friendly skies less harmful to the environment. Solid oxide fuel cells are “a key component” within that system, said Dr. Xiao-Dong Zhou. Their inclusion in
by David Bradley (Inderscience/Tech Xplore) The neem tree, Azadirachta indica, also known as the Indian Lilac, is well known for its oil extracted from its seed and fruit. It has been used in traditional medicine but has also been investigated for the pest control potential of natural products. Work published
(The National News) About one million tonnes of date seeds are produced from 40 million palm trees in the Emirates — A research team in the UAE have extracted a large quantity of biofuel from date seeds, signalling a huge potential boost for the country’s biofuel industry. About one million
by Martin Tomlinson (Volvo Trucks) Asda is taking delivery of 202 Volvo FH LNG tractor units in the run-up to Christmas peak trading, in what is believed to be the single largest order ever placed in the UK for heavy trucks running on renewable fuels. The supermarket has ambitions to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Nuseed (which acquired Agrisoma last year) has four focus crops – carinata, sorghum, canola and sunflower – sound more like a cooking ingredient list but they are in fact fantastic feedstocks for a range of things including biofuels, non-GMO high protein meal, and great cover
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) 2020 showed us a lot of things, but one thing it emphasized bigtime is that we are all connected on this planet. A virus spread like wildfire because of our connectedness with each other. If you had predicted we’d be in a global pandemic fighting
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) If you missed Kurt Kovarik, National Biodiesel Board’s VP of Federal Affairs, at ABLC this summer, check out this slide guide where he outlines NBB’s vision, their new mission of 15 billion gallons of biodiesel by 2050, trends behind those numbers and growth, a look
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Some of you may be celebrating the holidays with a bit of whisky – or ‘whiskey’ in some countries – but who knew this distilled alcoholic beverage could be so handy for the bioeconomy! The Whisky Project led by the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre, includes
(Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants e.V. (UFOP) ) … German government agreed last Friday on key points for the national implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II). In addition to the gradual increase of the GHG quota to 22 percent in 2030, it includes the setting
(Aemetis/Ethanol Producer Magazine) … High-capacity electric vehicles (HCEV’s) from Nevo Motors are designed for heavy cargo and long range by using on-board range extender generators powered by renewable natural gas (RNG), with future electric truck models designed to use patented hydrogen and ethanol range extenders. The goal is to achieve major
by Mike Timko (Worcester Polytechnic Institute/Biofuels Digest) A recent study led by a team from Worcester Polytechnic Institute shows that metal-oxide-based catalysts reduce char build up during biofuel conversion processes, increasing bio-crude oil yield and decreasing yields of low-value byproducts. … Utilizing wet food waste requires a fast and efficient
(Biofuels International) Downey Ridge Environmental Company, developer of Greasezilla, confirmed new installations will be completed in the next three months with at least 10 additional systems anticipated before the end of 2021. Chicago, New Orleans, Austin and Jacksonville will have the first Greasezilla systems to come online building upon the
(Biofuels International) Even as the EU sets ambitious emissions reduction targets for 2030 and 2050, it is still falling short of an important milestone that looms much closer on the horizon – reducing the average greenhouse gas-intensity of road transport fuels, according to ePURE. The EU’s Fuel Quality Directive (FQD)
(Biofuels International) The collection of used cooking oil (UCO) from households has been recently tested in Germany. Lesch Altfettrecycling and the MVaK association have become project partners in the Every Drop Counts project. This project has been hailed a success in the communities in which it was tested, with the
(Energy Vision / Biomass Magazine) Sustainable energy NGO Energy Vision has released its most recent joint assessment of the U.S. renewable natural gas (RNG) industry, performed on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory. The assessment, which consists of a database of current and projected RNG projects, shows
by Jay Singh (Simple Flying) An Atlas Air Boeing 747-400F flew a transatlantic mission on Monday using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The test flight flew from Spain to Mexico, and Atlas Air ran the operation as it tests and examines ways to become a more environmentally friendly carrier. The transatlantic
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) Renewable Energy Group and Optimus Technologies recently partnered to help Ames, Iowa grow its fleet of sustainable vehicles. The City of Ames is adding seven new all-purpose dump trucks to their fleet that have the Optimus Technologies advanced fuel system integrated into their new vehicle specification. The Optimus
by Sarah Lawrynuik (Winnipeg Free Press/Yahoo!) The provincially mandated amount of ethanol in gasoline and biofuel content in diesel is set to rise in Manitoba. An integral part of the province’s climate plan, the required amount of ethanol in gasoline will increase Jan. 1 to 9.25 per cent (from 8.5 per cent);
by Erin Chan (Burns & McDonnell) As refiners consider renewable, low-carbon alternatives, renewable diesel — refined from agricultural products using petroleum refinery processes — is gaining traction. Rather than constructing new grassroots renewable diesel production units, refineries with existing hydroprocessing units may be able to increase their speed to market
(LaTrobe University) A cropping trial is now in the ground at Katunga as a forerunner to a $1 billion renewable fuel development. Investment company, AgBioEn, is planning a massive biofuel plant on a 40 ha former dairy farm, which will use agricultural waste. The company is looking for ways of generating the bio-mass as
(Braskem) Agilyx Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Agilyx AS (Euronext Growth (Oslo): (“AGLX”), a pioneer in the advanced recycling of post-use plastics, and Braskem (B3: BRKM3, BRKM5 and BRKM6; NYSE: BAK; LATIBEX: XBRK), the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas and leading producer of biopolymers in the world, today announced the initiation
(Neste) Neste has a target to process annually over 1 million tons of waste plastic from 2030 onwards. The company plans to use liquefied plastic waste as a raw material at its fossil oil refinery to upgrade it into high-quality drop-in feedstock for the production of new plastics. Neste successfully processed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Wastewater treatment is a huge problem with about 30 billion gallons per day in the U.S. You’ve got pathogens in the water that could reach drinking water supplies. You’ve got nutrients causing excess algae growth. You’ve got organic matter causing low dissolved oxygen. But MicroBio
(Haldoe Topsoe) The world’s first podcast about renewables for the refinery industry season two. This time, Sylvain Verdier and Mikala Grubb from Topsoe look into some of the most pressing topics in renewables and the refining industry, including trends in advanced biofuels and hydrogen, pyrolysis and its challenges and opportunities,
by Ron Kotrba (Bio-based Diesel Daily) Multinational oil, gas and petrochemical company based in Vienna, Austria, is investing 200 million euros at its Schwechat refinery southeast of Vienna to co-process up to 160,000 metric tons of vegetable oils—including used cooking oil and “advanced feedstocks”—into renewable diesel. The investment in the Schwechat
by Cody Ronnfeldt (Norfolk Daily News) … (Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO, Geoff) Cooper says following the election, they’ve seen a lot of momentum building toward a potential national low carbon fuel standard. “We’ve seen the role that ethanol has played in meeting the objectives of state LCFS programs
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Reps. Marc Veasey, D-Texas; David McKinley, R-W.V.; Cheri Bustos, D-Ill.; and Pete Stauber, R-Minn., on Dec. 16 introduced the Storing CO2 and Lowering Emissions (SCALE) Act, which supports the buildout of the infrastructure necessary to transport CO2 from where it is captured to where it
(Bioenergy Insight) On 17 December, the California Public Utilities Commission approved SoCalGas and San Diego Gas & Electric’s request to offer a voluntary Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Tariff. The programme will allow households and businesses to purchase RNG from the utilities. “The approval of the RNG Tariff is an important
EU Forests Regulation Public Consultation – Indonesia Responds
(Indonesia Palm Oil Facts) Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) has made its submission to the EU Forests Regulation public consultation on reducing deforestation and forest degradation. As background, the European Commission is proposing a Due Diligence regulation to tackle deforestation / forest degradation with the aim to prevent European imports and consumption ‘causing’ deforestation, particularly from tropical