by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Green Biologics is focused on the production of renewable n-butanol and other C4 chemicals from various renewable feedstocks, including sugar (cane, molasses, beets), starch (corn) and cellulosic biomass (corn residues, sugar cane bagasse, forest materials
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Back TO HOMEBaseball, the Trade Deadline, and the Industrial Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Some teams are sellers. They reduce costs, go lean, and hunker down in a case of “wait’ll next year”. In industrial biotechnology, the calendar tells us it’s May but it might as well be July, because
May 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Bellona Europe Calls on European Commission to Promote Marine Bioenergy
by Liz Gyekye (Bioenergy Insight) Bellona Europe, a non-profit green organisation, has called on the European Commission to promote marine bioenergy for heat and power and biofuels. The group made the call in its response to the EC’s consultation on a
May 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Energy Department Announces Funding for Design and Construction of Manufacturing of Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biopower
(U.S. Department of Energy) Recognizing the importance of biofuels to energy and climate security, the Energy Department today announced up to $90 million in project funding focused on designing, constructing and operating integrated biorefinery facilities. The production of biofuels from
May 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Renmatix Turns Biomass into Sugars for Industrial Use
(NewBIO/Cooperative Extension System) Technology patented by Renmatix enables the manufacture of industrial sugars from biomass on a scale that is commercially cost-effective. Table of Contents Introduction From Biomass to Sugars Benefits of Supercritical Water Customers Rebuild Biorefiners based on Plantrose™ Process
May 03, 2016 Read Full Article
Co-Optima Stakeholder Listening Day Summary Report
(U.S. Department of Energy) Bioenergy Technologies Office, in partnership with the Vehicle Technologies Office and DOE national laboratories, hosted a stakeholder listening day last June to concurrently investigate the optimization of fuels and vehicles. Formerly called “Optima,” this work is now
April 28, 2016 Read Full Article
One Step Closer to the Biosynthesis of Renewable Propane
by Lindsay Dodgson (Power-Technology.com) ... The pressure is on to reduce the environmental impact of transport fuels, particularly after the climate change agreement in Paris. With that in mind, researchers from the University of Manchester and Imperial College have made significant advances
April 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Fifth Bio-based Jet Fuel Approved by FAA
by Curt Epstein (AIN Online) The FAA recently approved a new, alternative bio-based jet fuel that meets ASTM International standards. Known as Alcohol to Jet Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (ATJ-SPK), the new aviation fuel is created from isobutanol, an alcohol that
April 27, 2016 Read Full Article
New Alternative Jet Fuel Approved
(Federal Aviation Administration) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has played an integral role in development, testing and recent approval of a new alternative, environmentally-friendly, bio-based jet fuel, bringing the total number of these approved products for use in air travel
April 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol: For the Rubber or the Road? New Russian Tech Advances for One-Step Alcohol-to-Butadiene
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Russia, ETB Catalytic Technologies has received $0.6 million from ZAVKOM and Skolkovo Fund as a series A investment to build a pilot plant for the production of 1,3-butadiene from ethanol, The investors received 22%
April 12, 2016 Read Full Article
[Opinion] Advanced Biofuels: Nothing's Perfect, but There's a Lot of Good
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA/The Biomass Monitor) Is the glass half full or half empty? Is a feedstock sustainable or harmful to the environment? Is a conversion technology efficient or too complex? Is a familiar process too expensive or
April 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Gevo’s Alcohol to Jet Fuel Clears Key ASTM Hurdle
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) First commercial test flight with Alaska Airlines comes closer In Colorado, ASTM International Committee D02 on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and Subcommittee D02.J on Aviation Fuel passed a concurrent ballot this week approving the
April 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Gevo Restarts Production of Isobutanol in March 2016 Following Completion of Capital Projects
(Gevo) Gevo, Inc.(NASDAQ:GEVO) today announced financial results for the three months endedDecember 31, 2015. Key highlights for Gevo included: Gevo restarted the production of isobutanol at its production facility in Luverne, Minnesota following the completion of capital projects designed to decrease
April 04, 2016 Read Full Article
GS Caltex to Build Plant for Biobutanol in H1
by Lee Seo-young (Korea Herald) GS Caltex will begin the construction of a plant for mass-production of biobutanol, a renewable biofuel for cars that can be used as a substitute for gasoline, during the first half of this year, the
March 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Gevo Signs Licensing and Joint Development Agreements With Porta
(GEVO) Gevo and Porta Are Targeting the Construction of at Least Four Isobutanol Plants in Argentina; First Plant to be Wholly Owned by Porta, With a Targeted Production Capacity of Up to Five Million Gallons Per Year -- Gevo, Inc.(NASDAQ:GEVO),
February 26, 2016 Read Full Article
Promising Jet Fuel Market Looms for Upgraded Bioethanol, Butanol
by KSL (Lee Enterprises/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Jet Fuel Potential --- Another large-scale market attracts developers in alcohol-to-jet fuel blends. For example, a Boeing 747 consumes approximately 1 gallon of fuel per second. Over the course of a 10-hour flight,
February 22, 2016 Read Full Article
The Usual Suspects in Renewable Jet Fuels
by KSL (Lee Enterprises/Renewable Energy World) As renewables are moving from niche to mainstream, the industry is facing a paradigm shift in cost, quality, complexity, and scale — creating opportunities to develop new and different technologies and operating models. Achieving
February 16, 2016 Read Full Article
The Latest in Gevolution
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Meanwhile, Praj and Gevo announced a monster hook-up here for converting ethanol distilleries to isobutanol. Here’s the structure: Praj would be the customer-facing entity marketing Gevo’s isobutanol technology to Praj’s existing customer base, and would provide
February 03, 2016 Read Full Article
Advances in Racing Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Gulf Racing Fuels becomes the Official Fuel of MSR Houston Race Track. MSR Houston is a private membership country club race track. Gevo, is supplying Gulf the bio-isobutanol produced at Gevo’s fermentation plant in Luverne, MN. MSR
February 03, 2016 Read Full Article
4 Advanced Biofuel Plants for Argentina as Porta, Gevo Announce Deal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Gevo and Porta are targeting the construction of at least four isobutanol plants in Argentina; first plant to be wholly owned by Porta, with a targeted production capacity of up to five million gallons per year In
February 03, 2016 Read Full Article
Where Is Sports Car Green Racing in 2016?
by Robert E. Kozak* (Advanced Biofuels USA) This weekend the 49th Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona kicks off the American sports car racing season. It promises to be one of the best with the brand new EcoBoost Ford GT joining
January 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Should the Ethanol Industry Promote E30 Fuel Blend?
by By Mikkel Pates (Grand Forks Herald) ... Brian West, deputy director of the Fuels, Engines and Emissions Research Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tenn., said the issue shouldn't be difficult with owners of flex-fuel vehicles that
January 25, 2016 Read Full Article
RFA Issues One-Pager to Correct Anti-Ethanol Rhetoric on the Presidential Campaign Trail
(Renewable Fuel Association) In response to the anti-ethanol rhetoric that has been dominating the presidential campaign in the run-up to the Iowa caucuses, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) sent a one-pager to media outlets to correct the misconceptions regarding ethanol
January 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Launch of the Great Green Fleet
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) $2.05 per gallon for drop-in, non-food advanced biofuels blends. Who would have thought it possible a few years ago. Well, the Navy for one. Their remarkable vision results in Carrier Strike Group 3 operating in a
January 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Little Falls Ethanol Plant Begins Renovation
by Vicki Ikeogu (SC Times) Construction has started at a Little Falls ethanol plant to convert it to a renewable chemical manufacturing plant. U.K.-based Green Biologics Ltd. owns Central Minnesota Renewables, formerly known as Central Minnesota Ethanol Cooperative. It's in the process
January 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Bob Kozak Writes about Green Racing Developments from The Roar B4 the Rolex 24 in Daytona
by Robert E. Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) Ed note: Here are some initial notes from Bob Kozak, covering green racing developments at the Daytona International Speedway's Roar before the Rolex 24. Sounds like we are racing backwards instead of forwards. To
January 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Any Alcohol into Jet Fuel: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Byogy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Byogy has developed a catalytic platform that converts any source of ethanol, butanol, mixed alcohols, or related olefins, into full replacement, and cost competitive biofuels including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Byogy’s jet fuel is
January 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Branched Ketone Biofuels as Blending Agents for Jet-A1 Aviation Kerosene
by Joseph Donnelly, Richard Horton, Kesavan Gopalan, Chris D. Bannister, and Christopher J. Chuck (Energy & Fuels) In this investigation a range of ketone biofuels produced from the alkylation of isoamyl alcohol and isobutanol were examined as potential blending agents with Jet
December 28, 2015 Read Full Article
44 Saltend Workers Face Redundancy as BP Mothball Research Plant
(Hull Daily Mail) More than 40 staff at a research facility at Saltend have been told they are facing redundancy. Kingston Research Ltd (KRL) is a joint venture between BP and Du Pont. The plant pilots the production of biobutanol – a
December 18, 2015 Read Full Article
“High Confidence Level” as Alcohol-to-Jet Fuel Closes in on Historic ASTM Approval
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As ASTM technical balloting is underway and as experts sift through and request revised submissions of technical data, insiders are pointing to an early 2016 approval for Gevo’s renewable alcohol-to-jet fuel. In Washington, CAAFI Executive Director
December 17, 2015 Read Full Article
More Efficient Way of Converting Ethanol Leads to Better Alternative Fuel
(University of Rochester) New Catalysts Lead to Near Total Conversion -- ... But now a research team, led by William Jones at the University of Rochester, has developed a series of reactions that results in the selective conversion of ethanol to
December 04, 2015 Read Full Article
First Commercial! Construction Underway in Minnesota for Green Biologics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In Minnesota, construction is now underway at the Green Biologics bio-based n-butanol and acetone manufacturing facility in Little Falls, MN. The existing manufacturing site, formerly known as The Central MN Ethanol Cooperative (CMEC), was
December 04, 2015 Read Full Article
RIL Tanks up on Biofuels to Cut Emissions
Kalpana Pathak (Business Standard) In this last of a 5-part series, we look at Reliance Industries and the steps it is taking to reduce its carbon footprint ... In its own business of fuel, it is experimenting with bio
November 23, 2015 Read Full Article
New Biobased Projects Around the World
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Who’s building what, where, now. 29 projects in construction or in commissioning in Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and the Americas Despite low oil prices, first-gen biofuels and advanced biofuels continue to develop, and
November 18, 2015 Read Full Article
Will Boaters Make Gevo Rock?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Despite a signature partnership with Praj, Gevo’s short-term future looks strongest at the marina, where blockbuster economics apply. ... So, a pretty good deal for both. Gevo potentially gets some new customers and Praj lands EPC work
November 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Methane-Munching Platform Microbe: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Intrexon Energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Intrexon’s proprietary methanotroph bioconversion platform has the potential to transform the gas-to-liquids (GTL) industry through use of optimized microbial cell lines to convert natural gas into higher carbon compounds such as isobutanol and farnesene under
November 10, 2015 Read Full Article
Gevo Targets Marine Market, Cuts to Isobutanol Production Cost
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Based on the clarity provided by the resolution of the lawsuits, and based on the most recent results of the isobutanol fermentation campaigns conducted at the company’s production plant in Luverne, Minn, Gevo announced its
November 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Vertimass, DOE Validate Benchmarks, Process Design for High-Yield Alcohol-to-Fuels Technology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Vertimass completed its DOE technology validation that verifies the benchmark performance, initial process design and preliminary cost information for a new award of $2 million by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technology
November 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Advanced Fuels from Farm Trash: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to DuPont’s Activities in Biomass
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DuPont has developed a three-part strategy to deliver these new technologies to the growing biofuels market to help biofuels become more competitive with petroleum. The strategy includes: (1) improving existing ethanol production through differentiated agriculture seed
October 27, 2015 Read Full Article
Abengoa to Launch Bio-Alcohols Production in Early 2016
by Yana Palagacheva (ICIS News) ... After successfully establishing its alternative ethanol production route, Abengoa is now seeking to diversify its portfolio with its bio-alcohols project, particularly bio-butanol. “We have quite a wide branch of final products and right now we want to
October 22, 2015 Read Full Article
Hope for an End to the Ethanol Debacle?
by Norm Schultz (Trade Only Today) ... Biobutanol is real. Scientists at DuPont have been developing it for more than a decade. Held up since 2011 by a barrage of now-settled patent disputes, this new fuel could replace ethanol and bring
October 21, 2015 Read Full Article
Biofuel Digest’s Complete 2015 8-Slide Guides to Date
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Here below are links to the complete series of 8-Slide Guides published by The Digest in 2015. Abengoa Abengoa’s Hugoton cellulosic project ABLC NEXT Accelergy The AgTech Revolution Algae Roadmap Algenol American Process Amyris BASF BioAmber BIOFAT consortium Butamax California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard Cellana Champagne-Ardenne Clariant Coca-Cola Plant Bottle Cool Planet Corbion CSIRO’s tobacco oil
October 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Diamond in the Rough: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Cobalt’s Technology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cobalt Technologies was commercializing cellulosic biobutanol, a versatile platform molecule for the renewable chemicals and fuels. The Company’s technology efficiently converts diverse non-food feedstocks – initially, lignocellulosic extracts from woody biomass and sugar cane bagasse
October 15, 2015 Read Full Article
To Be, or Not to Be…Butanol and The Case of a Global Sustainable Society
by KSL (Biofuels Digest/Emerging Technologies Division of Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc.) ... Globally it has been recognized that there is an urgent need to create paradigm shifting disruptive technology that would help sustain individual economies – with the goal to
October 15, 2015 Read Full Article
GranBio, Solvay JV Acquires Cobalt Technologies’ Assets
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We can now affirmatively report that SGBio, a joint venture between the Solvay Group and GranBio, has acquired assets from Cobalt including the bank of microorganisms and intellectual property related to patents, trademarks, processes, operating
October 15, 2015 Read Full Article
The Isooctene Revolution, Redux: The Digest’s Updated 2015 8-Slide Guide to Gevo
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Gevo has two proprietary technologies that combine to make it possible to retrofit existing ethanol plants to produce isobutanol, a four carbon alcohol which serves as a hydrocarbon platform molecule. They have developed an industrial
October 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Barley Straw Shows Potential as Transport Biofuel Raw Material
(EurekAlert!/University of Eastern Finland) The hemicellulose sugars of barley straw can be effectively fermented into biobutanol, when starch is added during the pre-treatment or fermentation process, shows a new University of Eastern Finland study. Seeking to find alternatives to ethanol as
September 30, 2015 Read Full Article
The Birth of SuperDuper Gasoline via Earth-Friendly Renewable Hydrocarbons
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Move over Super, here comes SuperDuper. All the high octane and performance, and the renewability too, at a price you can afford. Biofuels are adding options for drop-in, low-carbon, super-perfornance gasoline via isooctane and isooctene,
September 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Sugar Is the New Crude: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to American Process
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Although American Process has been most closely associated with its complete cellulosic biofuels package — of late, the company has been much in focus because of its capabilities in producing low-cost renewable sugars. Thought it was
September 29, 2015 Read Full Article
Global Bio-based Butanol Market 2015-2019 - Key Vendors are Butalco, Butamax, Cobalt, Gevo, Green Biologics, Laxmi Organic Industries, Novozymes, Syntec Biofuel & ZeoChem
(PR Newswire/Research and Markets) Research and Markets has announced the addition of the"Global Bio-based Butanol Market 2015-2019" report to their offering. The global bio-based butanol market to grow at a CAGR of 9.27% over the period 2014-2019. The report, Global Bio-based Butanol
September 23, 2015 Read Full Article
U of G Researchers Study Sugar Corn as Alternative Fuel Source
(University of Guelph) Canadian farmers might one day grow sugar corn for a potentially huge alternative fuels market through a new project involving University of Guelph researchers. Along with scientists from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food
September 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Energy Department Releases Second Quadrennial Technology Review
(US Department of Energy) Research Opportunities Highlighted in Report Lay Out Options for America’s Clean Energy Future -- Today (September 10, 2015), the Energy Department released its second Quadrennial Technology Review (QTR), which examines the current status of clean energy technologies
September 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Yeast Cell Factories on the Horizon
by Jens Nielsen (Science Magazine) For thousands of years, yeast has been used for making beer, bread, and wine. In modern times, it has become a commercial workhorse for producing fuels, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals such as insulin, human serum albumin,
September 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Whisky Biofuels Company Wins £11m in Government Funding
by Ben Martin (The Telegraph) Edinburgh-based Celtic Renewables uses waste products from malt whisky production to produce biobutanol, which power cars and lorries -- A Scottish company that makes bio-fuels from the waste produced by the whisky industry is to share
September 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Gevo Reports First Marina Sales of Isobutanol-Blended Gasoline
(Gevo/Biomass Magazine) Gevo Inc. has announced that Harbor Marina at Lake Pomme de Terre in Missouri is the first U.S. marina to sell gasoline blended with Gevo's renewable isobutanol at the pump. Introduction of the initial isobutanol and gasoline fuel blend
September 04, 2015 Read Full Article
That Sleeper Low-Carbon Fuel Market: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Renewable Marine Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In many cases, customers are looking for ethanol free gasoline for a “boat, truck, RV, plane, farm equipment, snowblower, hotrod or motorcycle”, based on concerns over corrosion, engine wear, and performance of E10 in boat engines
September 04, 2015 Read Full Article
Calling Captain E0: Can Renewable Isobutanol Beat out Ethanol-Free Gasoline in the Powerboat Sector?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) E-Zero – ethanol-free gas, has been popular with boaters, but here comes isobutanol, with Gevo leading the pack. Are the economics a slam-dunk? Here’s the hard data. One of the more interesting trends in recent years has been
September 04, 2015 Read Full Article
Butamax, Gevo Settle, Will Work Together on Market Development
(Gevo/Butamax/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Gevo Inc. and Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC, a joint venture between BP and DuPont, announced that they have entered into worldwide patent cross-license and settlement agreements, ending a patent dispute related to technologies for the production of
August 24, 2015 Read Full Article
Methane’s Sputnik Moment? The 7 Hottest Meth Techs to Watch, as US Methane Regulation Steps up
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Are these 7 companies the big winners from the EPA’s proposed rules for oil & gas well methane emissions? -- In Washington, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed a set of new regulations for the oil &
August 20, 2015 Read Full Article
7 Blendwall Busters
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What are the infrastructure hold-ups with renewable fuels? What are 7 Blend Wall Busters that can get renewable fuels back into high gear? ... Between 13.5 billion gallons and the 36 billion gallon target envisioned by
August 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Researchers Propose 2nd Law of Thermodynamics-Based Process to Select and Develop Microorganisms for Optimal Biofuel Production
(Green Car Congress) Researchers at the University of Maryland are proposing a new process to isolate and to direct the evolution of microorganisms that convert cellulosic biomass or gaseous CO2 and H2 to biofuels such as ethanol, 1-butanol, butane, or
August 17, 2015 Read Full Article
BESC Creates Microbe that Bolsters Isobutanol Production
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory) Another barrier to commercially viable biofuels from sources other than corn has fallen with the engineering of a microbe that improves isobutanol yields by a factor of 10. The finding of the Department of Energy’s BioEnergy Science
August 17, 2015 Read Full Article
New Biofuel-Producing Bacteria Discovered
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Scientists from the University of Maryland will report in the Journal of Theoretical Biology that they have isolated several different strains of bacteria that make high concentrations of biofuels from cellulosic biomass or from carbon
August 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Alpena Biorefinery Takes a Sabbatical, as American Process Shifts Testing/Demo Ops to Georgia
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Georgia, American Process has completed replication of its GreenPower+ cellulosic technology at its Thomaston, GA Biorefinery, and has shifted customer feedstock performance evaluation operations to Georgia. With the shift, the company announced that, pending improvements
August 17, 2015 Read Full Article
CALL FOR PAPERS: Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels & Chemicals -- April 25-28, 2016 -- Balitmore, MD DEADLINE: EXTENDED TO DECEMBER 6, 2015
Due to popular demand, the deadline for abstracts has been extended to Sunday, December 6! Abstracts for oral and poster presentations at the 38th SBFC are being accepted in the following research topics: Feedstocks (3 sessions) Pretreatment and Fractionation (3 sessions) Enzyme Science and Technology
August 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Gevo’s Losses Narrow, Revenue up 15% as Courts Issue Favorable Ruling in Betamax vs Gevo Patent Cases
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The increase in revenue during 2015 is primarily a result of the production and sale of approximately $8.0 million of ethanol, isobutanol and distiller’s grains at the Luverne plant. Hydrocarbon revenues were $0.8 million, primarily
August 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Gevo Announces First Pump Sales of Isobutanol-Blended Gasoline at Express Lube Service Station in Texas
(GEVO) Sales Focused at Owners of Boats, Outdoor Equipment and Off-Road Vehicles -- Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ:GEVO), has announced that Express Lube of Fredericksburg, Texas, is the first U.S. service station to sell gasoline blended with Gevo's renewable isobutanol at the pump.
July 31, 2015 Read Full Article
Industry’s Withering Critique of EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard Proposals for 2014, 2015, 2016: The Digested Version
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Heard dire comments like “POET expects to stop all future U.S. cellulosic investments if EPA’s proposed base renewable fuel requirements are not strengthened.” Want to understand the substantive concerns on the Renewable Fuel Standard, but
July 31, 2015 Read Full Article
Omani Scientists Working to Produce Biofuel from Agricultural Waste
by M Najmuz Zafar (Muscat Daily) A group of scientists and academics are undertaking a research on producing biofuel from biological and agricultural waste, which they say, will lay the foundation of biofuel industry in Oman. “Although the research employs local
July 28, 2015 Read Full Article
Engineering the Future of Biofuel: UC Santa Cruz iGEM 2015
(University of California Santa Cruz) We are the UC Santa Cruz iGEM team! We are a team of 24 bioengineers, biochemists, and MCD biologists and overall a group of passionate undergraduates involved in an exciting international synthetic biology competition. The iGEM program
July 27, 2015 Read Full Article
World’s Largest Alternative & Renewable Fuels Consulting Group Announces Strategic Alliance with Zeton Inc
(Digital Journal/Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc.) Lee Enterprises Consulting Adds World Leader in Pilot Plant Design and Fabrication to Team of Experts -- Lee Enterprises Consulting, the world’s largest alternative and renewable fuels consulting group, is pleased to announce its strategic alliance
July 27, 2015 Read Full Article
UCSC Students Seek Solutions in Salt
by Ryan Masters (Santa Cruz Sentinel) The salt ponds of Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, just north of San Jose International Airport, may hold the key to a sustainable energy source. For more than 100 years, people have
July 21, 2015 Read Full Article
Boosting Biofuel Production: New MIT Research Finds Supplements Help Yeast Survive.
by Nancy Stauffer (MIT Energy Initiative) Chemical engineers and biologists at MIT have found a simple way to make yeast produce more ethanol from sugars: Spike the mixture they’re growing on with two common chemicals. Adding potassium and an acidity-reducing compound helps
July 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Global Second Generation Biofuels (Advanced Biofuels) Market Analysis, Size, Share, Trends, Research, Demand And Forecast to 2020: Big Market Research
(Big Market Research/PR Newswire) Second generation biofuels yield more energy efficient output than conventional fossil fuels and are environment-friendly as well. Other enabling factors such as favourable environmental regulations & policies, investments/funds provided by the North American and European
July 01, 2015 Read Full Article
Unlocking Fermentation Secrets Open the Door to New Biofuels
by Rick Kubetz (Phys.Org) Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have, for the first time, uncovered the complex interdependence and orchestration of metabolic reactions, gene regulation, and environmental cues of clostridial metabolism, providing new insights for advanced biofuel
July 01, 2015 Read Full Article
The 35 Hottest Companies in Feedstock Development & Supply in the Advanced Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Solazyme took the #1 spot in the 2015 “35 Hottest Companies in Feedstock Development & Supply” rankings, announced today by The Digest, the world’s most widely-read bioeconomy daily, at the Advanced Bioeconomy Feedsrtocks Conference (ABFC
June 30, 2015 Read Full Article
4 Potential Biofuel Winners From EPA Targeting Aircraft Emissions
by Jon C. Ogg (24/7 Wall Street) ... The EPA is now seeking public input to inform future steps by the agency regarding emissions from the commercial airline sector. While the effort is new, this has been coming for years. One
June 30, 2015 Read Full Article
RIP Cobalt Technologies or…How Commercializing Butanol Technology is Like Riding the Tour de France
by Sam Nejame & James Evangelow (Biofuels Digest/Promotum and Chemical Strategies) Sad to say Cobalt Technologies is dead – no really they’re dead – it’s not just double secret probation anymore. Although you’d almost not even know it given how quiet the
June 25, 2015 Read Full Article
NMMA Endorses Use of Gevo’s Isobutanol in Marine Fuel Market
(Gevo/Biomass Magazine) Gevo Inc. has received a key endorsement for the use of its renewable isobutanol by the marine industry, following support and recommendation for the use of isobutanol by the National Marine Manufacturers Association as an effective, less damaging,
June 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Ethanol and Butanol: Symbiotic Partners for a Modern Fuel
by Bill Brandon and Richard Ezike (Biofuels Digest) The debate touting butanol over ethanol as a ‘better’ fuel component has gone on for quite some time in biofuel circles. Those who support butanol point to three key factors: • Butanol has
June 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Gevo’s Wood-Derived Jet Fuel to Be Used in Test Flight
(Gevo/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Gevo Inc. has announced a breakthrough to its fermentation technology that will allow it to produce isobutanol from cellulosic feedstocks such as wood waste which can then be converted into Gevo's alcohol-to-jet fuel. Gevo currently makes isobutanol from
June 08, 2015 Read Full Article
GS Caltex to Build Biobutanol Plant
(Yonhap News Agency) GS Caltex Co., South Korea's second-largest refiner, plans to build a 50 billion won (US$44 million) plant to produce biobutanol, a biofuel, the presidential office said Tuesday. The announcement, which was made as President Park Geun-hye toured a
June 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Renewable Isobutanol: It’s Time for a Truce
by James Evangelow (Chemical Strategies) & Sam Nejame (Promotum) (Biofuels Digest) If an advertising professional were writing the copy, renewable isobutanol would be called “The new and improved ethanol”. It overcomes essentially all the major deficiencies of ethanol as a fuel and
May 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Oakbio Announces New Green Biofuel Production Platform
(Oakbio/Digital Journal) his ecoli based microbe platform expands the sources of waste materials Oakbio can convert to green, renewable fuels and other chemicals to include agricultural and municipal waste products. Oakbio announced today (May 14, 2015) the development of a novel
May 15, 2015 Read Full Article
Auctions for All Assets of Two Silicon Valley-Based Clean Technology Firms: Biofuel producer, Cobalt Technologies and Flow Cell Energy Storage Company, EnerVault
(Silicon Valley Disposition/PRNewswire) Silicon Valley Disposition (http://www.svdisposition.com) announced today that it will simultaneously run online auctions of all of physical assets from the head quarter facilities for Cobalt Technologies located in Mountain View, California and EnerVault located in Sunnyvale,
May 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Thrive, Survive, Jive or Take Five: Who Is Weathering the $50 Oil Storm in Biofuels, and How?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Survive -- First-Gen ethanol producers. So-so. Corn prices have fallen, and though margins have been compressed and gone negative in some cases, balance sheets remain strong and the margin outlook is improving and positive
May 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Quadrennial Energy Review Contains Clues on Federal Biofuels, Biomass Priorities
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... And while not a major focus of the report, the QER contains language pertaining to biofuels and bioenergy which give some hints as to the top-level goals for DOE for biofuels and biomass power. ... The
May 08, 2015 Read Full Article
BP Warns State It Will Close Jennings Biofuels Site
(The Advertiser) BP is closing its biofuels plant in Jennings, ending jobs there for 56 people. Aline Thoeny, human resources manager for BP, sent notice Monday to Andre France of the Louisiana Workforce Commission Dislocated Worker Unit and to Jennings
May 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Alaska Airlines, Gevo to Demonstrate Renewable Alcohol-to-Jet Fuel in Upcoming Flight
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Alaska Airlines ups the ante in the search for sustainable, affordable jet fuels. In Colorado, Gevo and Alaska Airlines announced a strategic alliance to purchase Gevo’s renewable jet fuel and fly the first-ever commercial flight on
May 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Cargill Acquires OPX Biotechnologies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Moguls of Minneapolis pick up an advantaged route to key renewable chemicals. News has filtered out from Cargill that the agricultural giant has acquired OPX Biotechnologies’ proprietary fermentation-based processes and systems. Bottom line, excepting the
April 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Biofuels: What's Happened and Where Are We Going?
by Scott Chabina (Fierce Energy) The transformation of Gen 1.0 to 1.5 and the reality of Gen 2.0. Advanced, commercially viable biofuel facilities no longer "unicorns on the horizon" ... Conventional, or "Gen 1.0", corn ethanol producers have continued to diversify
April 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Minnesota, the Green Giant: Going All out on Agrastructure and the Advanced Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Today, we look at how Minnesota, too, has been experiencing success via its bioeconomy, and how and why. The traditional view of “Minnesota”? A giant metropolis in the Twin Cities, replete with giant ag-focused corporations
April 10, 2015 Read Full Article
4 Minutes with… Brian Sefton, Founder, Chief Scientist, President, Oakbio
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Oakbio has developed highly versitile microbial platforms and processes for waste carbon conversion. We have fluegas capture microbe, proven fluegas resistant, which producing PHAs and n-butanol. We also have an ecoli platform which can covert
April 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Answers for Your Questions about Biofuels, Renewable Chemicals, Bioproducts and Sustainable Agriculture.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Amazing questions get asked at ABLC — and except for attendees, you generally don’t hear them, or the answers. Let’s change that. With great sessions at conferences, delegates are usually keen to get a hold of
April 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Gevo Sells Renewable Jet Fuel to NASA
(Gevo/Biomass Magazine) Gevo Inc. has announced that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has purchased Gevo's renewable alcohol-to-jet fuel (ATJ) for aviation use at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Gevo's ATJ is manufactured at its demonstration biorefinery
April 07, 2015 Read Full Article
More Gevolution
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The results from Gevo’s 4th quarter are in, and a worth a look-see, not only for fans of isobutanol and its prospects. Also for a look at how this member of the 2010-12 IPO group of
April 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Second Generation Biofuels Market Is Expected to Reach $23.9 Billion Globaly by 2020
(WhaTech/Big Market Research) Second generation biofuels yield more energy efficient output than conventional fossil fuels and are environment-friendly as well. Other enabling factors such as favourable environmental regulations & policies, investments/funds provided by the North American and European governments for
March 27, 2015 Read Full Article
Biofuels Maker Gevo Boosts Revenue; CEO See Profit within Reach
by Mark Harden (Denver Business Journal) Colorado biofuels company Gevo Inc. reports sharply higher revenue and narrower losses in both the fourth quarter and full-year 2014. And in an earnings call with analysts late Thursday, Gevo's CEO, Patrick Gruber, said the company
March 27, 2015 Read Full Article
Mie Grad Students Make Biofuel from Unwanted Fruit
(Japan Times) Graduate students at Mie University have produced biofuel from the region’s tangerines, saying the technique provides a use for unwanted fruit. They believe it could be promoted as a locally sourced form of renewable energy. The researchers at the
March 26, 2015 Read Full Article
Small Ethanol Plants Struggle for an Edge
by David Shaffer (Star Tribune) As production plants have grown larger and more efficient, small, older ethanol plants risk being left behind. ... Most vintage ethanol plants, including Buffalo Lake, expanded over the years, but that isn’t always enough to stay competitive.
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Experimental Investigation of Spark-Ignited Combustion with High-Octane Biofuels and EGR. 2. Fuel and EGR Effects on Knock-Limited Load and Speed
Derek A. Splitter and James P. Szybist (Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Energy & Fuels) The present study experimentally investigates spark-ignited combustion with 87 AKI E0 gasoline in its neat form and in midlevel alcohol–gasoline blends with 24% vol/vol isobutanol–gasoline (IB24) and
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Build or Conquer? 3 Companies Battling Over the Future of Biofuels
by Maxx Chatsko (Motley Fool) ... Yet, to date only three commercial scale cellulosic ethanol facilities have been built in the United States. Why aren't there more? The technology is more complicated than most think. The first facility, which churns out 25
March 01, 2015 Read Full Article
World's First Biofuel from Whisky Residues Aim for Lead in £100m Market
(The Engineer) A Scottish company has revived a defunct fermentation technology to create biofuel from the residues of whisky production. Edinburgh-based Celtic Renewables said it now plans to build a production facility in central Scotland after manufacturing the world’s first
February 26, 2015 Read Full Article
What’s New, Different and Hot in Military and Aviation Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In the world of aviation biofuels, the bands and the bunting are rolling out less frequently. But mostly, because the sector has moved out of a noise-filled early R&D phase and is heading towards deployment.
February 20, 2015 Read Full Article
Forget Food and Fuel: America's Corn Is Worth $125 Billion to This Industry
by Maxx Chatsko (Motley Fool) While the most arguments typically center on the "food vs. fuel" debate, most corn produced in the United States never actually becomes food. Consider that 44% of last year's harvest went to animal feed, another
February 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Marine Industry Consortium Confirms Positive Test Results Using Gevo's Isobutanol in Boat Engines
(Gevo) Tests Demonstrate That Isobutanol-Blended Gasoline Meets Performance Requirements of the Multi-Billion Gallon Marine Fuel Market A consortium of leading organizations from the recreational marine industry has completed more than four years of testing Gevo's (Nasdaq:GEVO) renewable isobutanol in marine engines. Thousands
February 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Global Second Generation Biofuels (Advanced Biofuels) Market Analysis, Size, Share, Trends, Research, Demand And Forecast to 2020: Big Market Research
(Big Market Research) Second generation biofuels yield more energy efficient output than conventional fossil fuels and are environment-friendly as well. Other enabling factors such as favourable environmental regulations & policies, investments/funds provided by the North American and European governments for
February 11, 2015 Read Full Article
“Wrong-Way Obama” Scores One for the Oilcos with Renewable Fuels Policy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Eight years after then-Senator Obama co-sponsored a bill in Congress calling for a 60 billion gallon biofuels target, President Obama’s EPA slashes the Renewable Fuel Standard targets to wimpy levels, despite ample production capacity, bumper
February 06, 2015 Read Full Article
4 Minutes with… Johan Martinez, Director of Renewable Energy and New Business, Asocaña
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Asocaña is the association of Colombian sugarcane growers and sugarcane mills. ... The competition with the fossil resources will always exist and make pressure to the governments to liberalize markets in favor of traditional fuels, but
February 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Biobutanol Firms Chart Diverging Paths
By Melody M. Bomgardner (Chemical and Engineering News) For years, industrial biotech companies have sought to make renewable chemicals by repurposing the corn fermentation capabilities of underutilized fuel ethanol plants. As recent news from two firms pursuing renewable butanol shows,
February 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Biobutanol Firms Chart Diverging Paths
By Melody M. Bomgardner (Chemical and Engineering News) For years, industrial biotech companies have sought to make renewable chemicals by repurposing the corn fermentation capabilities of underutilized fuel ethanol plants. As recent news from two firms pursuing renewable butanol shows,
January 27, 2015 Read Full Article
BP’s Exit from Cellulosic Ethanol: the Assets, the Auction, the Process, the Timing, the Skinny
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The complete details on BP’s exit and the considerable physical and intellectual assets available for acquisition, in part or in whole. As BP continues to reel from its oil leak capital calls and the impact
January 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Gevo Partners with Brenntag for Bio-Isobutanol Sale
by Doris de Guzman (Green Chemicals Blog) Gevo announced it has launched sales of renewable isobutanol to Brenntag Canada Inc. (Brenntag Canada), a member of the Brenntag group companies for distribution into the solvents, oil & gas, mining and specialty chemicals
January 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Gevo Issues Plant Update, Transfers Common Stock Listing
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On Jan. 8, Gevo Inc. issued an update of operations at its Luverne, Minnesota, plant, reporting that the facility produced more than 50,000 gallons of biobased isobutanol in December. The company also recently announced the
January 09, 2015 Read Full Article
2014: Renewable Chemicals Review
by Doris de Guzman (Green Chemicals Blog) ... 2014 is the year of commercial production for cellulosic ethanol and further commercial production and marketing milestones for bio-succinic acid. Myriant, Succinity and Reverdia are all now in commercial bio-succinic acid
January 07, 2015 Read Full Article
Biofuel from Unmarketable Oranges
by Floro Mercene (Tempo) The town of Mihama in Mie Prefecture, Japan, is known as “the town where you can pick Mikan (Mandarin oranges) all year long. The mikan is the most popular fruit in winter in Japan. It has
January 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Top 10 Bioeconomy and Biofuels Predictions for 2015
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A mere “The Year in Rewind” as we reach the end of 2014? Not the intrepidSS Digest! Instead, we dust off our crystal ball and peer into tomorrowland. 1. The Year of Supercritical, and thermal conversion.
January 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Minnesota Ethanol Plant to Produce N-Butanol, Acetone in 2016
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The sale of Central MN Ethanol Co-op, a 21 MMgy corn-ethanol plant in Little Falls, Minnesota, closed on Dec. 23. Green Biologics Inc. plans to continue ethanol production until sometime in 2016, when it
December 30, 2014 Read Full Article
You Can Turn E.Coli Bacteria into Microscopic Fuel Factories
by Mark Hay (Good Magazine) At some point in your life, Escherichia coli has probably brought you to your knees topray to the porcelain god. Common bacteria that often live harmlessly in the guts of most animals, a few strains
December 30, 2014 Read Full Article
U.S. Navy Flies Supersonic With Gevo ATJ
(Gevo) Multiple Test Flights Conducted on F/A-18 "Hornet" Using a 50/50 ATJ Blend The U.S. Navy, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), and Gevo, Inc. (Nasdaq:GEVO), the world's only commercial producer of renewable isobutanol, announced today the first successful "alcohol-to-jet" (ATJ) supersonic
December 29, 2014 Read Full Article
ASTM Approves New Standard for Butanol Purity Testing
(ASTM International/Ethanol Producer Magazine) With several beneficial attributes that make it a good blending agent in gasoline, butanol continues to hold promise for use as a biofuel. It is compatible with existing vehicles and refueling infrastructure. ... Now, a new ASTM
December 15, 2014 Read Full Article
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: 37th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals April 27-30, 2015 San Diego, CA DEADLINE: December 7, 2014
The Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology is currently accepting abstracts for oral and poster presentations to be presented at the 37th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals. Technical presentations make up the majority of presentations, however detailed and
December 12, 2014 Read Full Article
Large Scale Microbial Production of Advanced Biofuels: How Big Can We Go?
by Gregory T. Benz (Benz Technology International, Inc./Biofuels Digest) Conventional biofuels, whether from starch, sugar or lignocellulosic materials, tend to be low energy density products such as ethanol or butanol. These are made using catabolic (anaerobic), thermodynamically “downhill” processes. Such
December 08, 2014 Read Full Article
Gevo Signs Letter of Intent With Highlands EnviroFuels to License Isobutanol Technology for Florida Plant
(Gevo) Plant to Convert Sugar Cane and Sweet Sorghum to 20-25 Million Gallons Per Year of Isobutanol Gevo, Inc.(Nasdaq:GEVO), the world's only commercial producer of renewable isobutanol, announced today that Highlands EnviroFuels, LLC ("Highlands") has signed a letter of intent to
November 25, 2014 Read Full Article
4 Minutes with…Ben Thorp, Chairman, Bioenergy Deployment Consortium
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Currently we are evaluating the underlying technologies that are involved in the 85 million annual gallon cellulosic ethanol that will be on-stream in the US this year. We have discovered that there is equal
November 24, 2014 Read Full Article
Celtic Renewables Opts For A Well-Oiled Remedy
by Ann M. Thayer (Chemical and Engineering News) Scottish startup to make biobased chemicals from the leftovers of whisky production The process for making Scotch whisky uses three ingredients: water, yeast, and a grain, primarily barley. About 10% of the output is
November 20, 2014 Read Full Article
Closing In on Butanol for Biofuel
by Ann Perry (US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service) Butanol is the go-to industrial solvent for products such as lacquers and enamels, but it might also play a substantial role in the production of renewable fuels. Gallon for gallon,
November 20, 2014 Read Full Article
Global Biodiesel Additive Research Roundup
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) A recent report issued by Grand View Research indicates the global market for specialty fuel additives is expected to reach $8.5 billion by 2020. Clearly there is money to be made, and room for improvement,
November 19, 2014 Read Full Article
Mie University Researchers Convert Discarded Oranges into 'Juiced-Up' Biofuel
By Fumiko Takaki (The Asahi Shimbun) Scientists at Mie University here have developed a biofuel from unmarketable oranges and waste left over after making orange juice that may put the squeeze on existing bioethanol as a more efficient and less-corrosive
November 18, 2014 Read Full Article
Gevo Finds a Way
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Like Rocky Balboa, no matter how many punches they take, Gevo just won’t fall over. In fact, the company’s prospects have brightened considerably in recent months — is the company “gonna fly now”? How and
November 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Indo-US Joint Effort to Derive Non-Food Biofuels from 2017
by N Madhav (Business Standard) The initiative would work to deliver a model for production using crops like energy sorghum, bamboo, pearl millet and switch grass In a significant step towards generating biofuels from non-food plant sources, the US-India joint consortium for
November 12, 2014 Read Full Article
LanzaTech, GranBio, Algenol and Novozymes Take Top Slots in The 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy for 2014-15
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) LanzaTech took the #1 spot in the 2014-15“50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy” rankings, published today inThe Digest, the world’s most widely-read bioeconomy daily. It was first year at the top for LanzaTech, which came in
November 11, 2014 Read Full Article
California Energy Commission to Award up to $3M for Advanced Biofuel Projects
(Green Car Congress) The California Energy Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP) announced (PON-14-602) the availability of up to $3 million in grant funds for biofuels projects that are in the early/pre-commercial technology development stage. This
October 29, 2014 Read Full Article
Gulf Racing Fuels Selling High Performance Fuels Using Gevo's Renewable Isobutanol
(Gevo) Initial Focus on Marine and Off-Road Fuel Markets -- Gevo, Inc.(Nasdaq:GEVO), the world's only commercial producer of renewable isobutanol, announced that it is selling renewable isobutanol to Gulf Racing Fuels for their new line of marine and off-road fuels. The new biofuels
October 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Celtic Renewables Wins Top Motor Vehicle Sustainability Award
(Celtic Renewables) Celtic Renewables has been recognised by the motor industry, winning a top honour at the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP)’s annual Low Carbon Champions awards. The company won the Low CVP’s award for Low Carbon Innovation by an SME at a gala dinner in Milton
September 15, 2014 Read Full Article
$15 Million Available for Advanced Biofuels Payment Program
by Anna Austin (Biomass Magazine) The USDA recently issued a notice of contract proposals for its Advanced Biofuel Payment Program, which provides payments to producers to support and expand production of advanced biofuels. According to the NOCP, $15 million is available for
August 28, 2014 Read Full Article
Gevo Boosts Revs in Q2, but Losses Widen; Aims for Break-Even at Luverne by Year End
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The increase in revenue during 2014 is primarily a result of the production and sale of ethanol and distiller’s grains of $5.5 million following the transition of the Luverne plant to the side-by-side ethanol-butanol
August 21, 2014 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels: Suspended in Bureaucratic Animation
by Michael McAdams (Advanced Biofuels Association/Biofuels Digest) ... But, beyond the RVO numbers, not much has been said about this Administration’s inability to execute on its mandated task to review and approve new pathways under the RFS for feedstocks, technologies and
July 21, 2014 Read Full Article
Solar Fuels: How Close, How Real?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Could a liquid fuel technology emerge that connects solar PV to the efficiency of electric engines — but, this time with long driving range and near-instant refueling instead of laborious recharging? And, could the liquid fuel
July 17, 2014 Read Full Article
Cobalt, Andritz Sign Exclusive Partnership to Integrate Biobutanol, Pre-Treatment Processes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cobalt Technologies signed an exclusive global cooperation and supply agreement with Andritz to integrate Cobalt’s proprietary lignocellulosic process for the production of n-butanol with Andritz’s customized pre-treatment systems. The primary alcohol, n-butanol is a widely used
July 11, 2014 Read Full Article
Minn. Funds 5 Biofuel and Bioenergy Projects, Thermal RFP Soon
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has named five in-state bioenergy projects as recipients of NextGen Energy grants. ... Grant recipients include: -Easy Energy Systems, Welcome, Minn. - $500,000 The project builds a showplace biofuel production facility capable of testing multiple
July 01, 2014 Read Full Article
Intrexon Makes Farnesene from Methane: Hot Route to Low-Cost Jet Fuels and Diesels?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Second Product of Intrexon’s Proprietary Bioconversion Platform Following Isobutanol Who’s happy, who’s bumming — and how far along is the work, really? The Digest looks at Intrexon’s breakthrough. Gas-to-Liquids approach significantly more cost-efficient versus conventional
July 01, 2014 Read Full Article
Celtic Renewables Raises $2M, Partners with Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Celtic Renewables raises $2M, partners with Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant Celtic Renewables, the Edinburgh-based biofuel company, has signed an agreement with Europe’s foremost biotechnology pilot facility to undergo next stage testing of its process to
June 26, 2014 Read Full Article
Branson: “We’re Killing the World”
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Branson at BIO. Branson on bio. And some of Branson’s bio. Sir Richard Branson joined BIO CEO Jim Greenwood on stage at the BIO International Convention for a talk on enterprises, the entrepreneurial spirit, a spirit
June 26, 2014 Read Full Article
Tequila Sunrise: Byogy, AusAgave Sign Pact to Advance Agave as Aviation Biofuels Feedstock
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s been known as a source of fiber, and tequila. But exotically high per acre yields and sugar content, and adaptability for low-water and marginal land prompt a key hook-up between Byogy and AusAgave. Can agave transform
June 17, 2014 Read Full Article
Michigan State University Partnership Accelerates Bio-Based Projects
(Michigan State University) The Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization Program for the Bio-Economy, launched by MSU and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, announces the first three BioAg projects selected for grants to help make them broadly available for consumer use. Supported
June 12, 2014 Read Full Article
Developers of the First Cellulosic Plants Share Updates at FEW
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... A week before the FEW, Enerkem Inc. celebrated the inauguration of its 10 MMgy facility in Edmonton, Alberta. Commissioning is nearly completed, reported Tim Cesarek, senior vice president of business development. The thermochemical process
June 12, 2014 Read Full Article
All-Renewable Plastic Bottles Creep Closer: Gevo Shipping Renewable PX to Toray
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Major step towards stable commercial supply chain for 100% renewable plastic bottling; big step forward for Gevo’s Silsbee operations in paraxylene, jet fuel and iso-octane. From Colorado, news has arrived that Gevo is now selling paraxyleme
June 02, 2014 Read Full Article
“But I Won’t Cry for Yesterday”: The Re-Making of the US Ethanol Industry
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The migration from first-gen to next-gen biofuels is becoming less ‘Invisible’ — and the new landscape is not, by anyone’s estimation, an ‘Ordinary World’. If Aemetis’ latest earnings hadn’t rocked your world quite enough, here
May 22, 2014 Read Full Article
Asheville Entrepreneur Aims to Harness Cyanobacteria's Photosynthetic Prowess
by Mary-Russell Roberson (News Observer) Bruce Dannenberg is a big fan of cyanobacteria – the ancient lineage of organisms you may remember from high school as blue-green algae. Turns out cyanobacteria aren’t algae after all; hence the name change. But