Advanced BioFuels USA – Truly Sustainable Renewable Future

ADM Introduces Sustainable Grower Program for Canadian Canola

by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) Archer Daniels Midland Co. Agri-Industries Lloydminster oilseeds processing facility recently announced the introduction of its Sustainable Grower Program in connection with the sustainability certification it has earned from the International Sustainability and Carbon

March 27, 2012 Read Full Article

Alternative Fuels for Aviation Overview on Current Initiatives and Identified Research Needs

(Netzwerk Biotriebstoffe) The report deals with the question "why sustainable alternative fuels are important for aviation, shows technology options, initiatives, links, documents and further research needs. The objective of the meeting between experts of both sides was to have an

March 27, 2012 Read Full Article

Porter Airlines to Conduct Canada's First Biofuel-Powered Revenue Flight

(MarketWire) Flight to be scheduled just before Earth Day with a Bombardier Q400 turboprop - Preparatory test flight successfully flown by Bombardier in February 2012 In mid-April, Porter Airlines plans to use one of its Bombardier Q400 turboprop airliners to conduct

March 27, 2012 Read Full Article

EU to Recognize Ensus as Biofuel Certification in 'Matter of Weeks': Source

(Platts) A decision in favor of recognizing Ensus, a UK biofuel sustainability certification scheme, will be taken in "a matter of weeks," a European Commission source said Monday. UK bioethanol producer Ensus received the support of EU member states' experts on

March 27, 2012 Read Full Article

Senate Opens Fight on Oil Tax Breaks

by Ben Geman and Andrew Restuccia (The Hill/E2Wire) The Senate voted 92-4 Monday to begin an election-year floor debate over Democratic legislation to repeal oil-industry tax breaks, a plan that’s unlikely to ultimately pass but provides a platform for partisan

March 27, 2012 Read Full Article

AEC Urges Support for Extension of Two Critical Tax Incentives

In a letter to Senate Finance Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Ranking Member John Cornyn (R-TX), the Advanced Ethanol Council voiced support for extending key cellulosic ethanol tax provisions set to expire at

March 27, 2012 Read Full Article

Low Carbon Fuel Standard Could Double Gas Prices

by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) A new study released today by the Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) indicates that a low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states could result in doubling gasoline prices and other negative economic impacts. The study, “Analysis of the

March 27, 2012 Read Full Article

U.S. Gasoline Rises to Record Premium over Ethanol

by Michael Hirtzer (Reuters) U.S. gasoline futures soared to a record premium over ethanol on Monday as gas prices topped $4 per gallon in some states while stocks of the biofuel were likely to continue swelling, analysts and traders said. With retail gasoline in

March 27, 2012 Read Full Article

Trieste Conference Considers Algae in Developing Economies

by Syed Isa (Algae Industry Magazine) The International Centre for Science and High Technology (ICS-UNIDO) presented an Expert Group Meeting on Emerging Technologies for the Production of Biofuels and Chemicals from Algae, March 19-21, in Trieste, Italy. The basic issues

March 27, 2012 Read Full Article

Regional Approach to New, Clean Energy Can Improve Our Economy, Security

by LtGen John G. Castellaw, USMC (Ret.) (25 x '25) ...In spite of claims to the contrary, increased domestic drilling and building pipelines to carry Canadian crude south will not result in energy independence or low fuel prices in either the

March 27, 2012 Read Full Article

Illinois Bill Would Boost Ethanol Producers

(Convenience Store News) Illinois biofuel companies who have faced a market glut since the end of a federal tax credit led energy companies to rush pre-expiration production may have hope in the form of a newly proposed bill that would create new

March 27, 2012 Read Full Article

New Synthetic Biology Technique Boosts Microbial Production of Diesel Fuel

by Lynn Yarris (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Joint BioEnergy Institute Researchers Develop Dynamic System for Regulating Metabolic Pathways Significant boosts in the microbial production of clean, green and renewable biodiesel fuel has been achieved with the development of a new technique

March 27, 2012 Read Full Article

Shell, BP Score Highest in New Pike Research Assessment of Oil Majors` Commercialization of Biofuels

(Reuters/Pike Research) ...Contrary to popular perception, the growth of the biofuels industry is not adverse to the interests of Big Oil. In fact, with “easy oil” increasingly difficult to source and with an obvious stake in the future of the

March 27, 2012 Read Full Article

J. Craig Venter Describes Biofuels, Vaccines and Foods from Made-to-Order Microbes

(PhysOrg) Just as aspiring authors often read hundreds of books before starting their own, scientists are using decades of knowledge garnered from sequencing or "reading" the genetic codes of thousands of living things to now start writing new volumes in

March 27, 2012 Read Full Article

Airplane Rivals Launch Joint Biofuel Project

(Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative/PhysOrg) Plane makers and bitter rivals Airbus of Europe, Boeing of the US and Embraer of Brazil announced on Thursday a joint plan to develop affordable biofuels for the airplane industry. The airplane sector leaders agreed to seek opportunities

March 27, 2012 Read Full Article

Ionic Solvents Make Timber-to-Biofuels More Energy-Efficient

by Simon Levey (Industry Intelligence, Inc.) Key part of biomass processing could be made 80% more energy-efficient, reducing cost of biofuels by 10%, by treating timber with ionic solvents, find Imperial College London scientists A little bit of lubrication could make

March 27, 2012 Read Full Article

Iran Becomes Biofuel Producer

(Trend) ...Iran produced a sample of biofuel six months ago and is preparing to start its production. Located in the Khuzestan Province's Haft-Tapeh, a new 10,000 liter capacity biofuel facility will begin operating in the near future. Iran's biofuel, or bioethanol,

March 27, 2012 Read Full Article

KiOR on Budget, on Track for Opening First Commercial Biofuels Plant in 2012

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...KiOR did not recognize revenue during 2011, as its activities remained focused on construction of its first commercial facility in Columbus, Mississippi, research and development (R&D) designed to improve production yields and obtaining necessary financing

March 27, 2012 Read Full Article

Gingrich “a Flat Out Liar,” Says National Algae Association, Denying Campaign Contact, Slamming Speaker’s Algae Numbers

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Texas, the National Algae Association called on presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich to issue a retraction of statements he made at a campaign speech in Pennsylvania, branding the Speaker’s claim that he contacted the NAA to

March 27, 2012 Read Full Article

Virdia, Virent Pioneer New Super-Performing, Parity-Cost Renewable Jet Fuel Pathway

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Virent, Virdia debut super-performing drop-in aviation biofuels made from drop-in cellulosic pine tree sugars; “passed under conditions where conventional jet fuels would fail,” says Air Force. In Wisconsin, Virent and Virdia (formerly HCL CleanTech), announced the

March 27, 2012 Read Full Article

The Life of Algae

(Algae Industry Magazine) This video from Sapphire Energy tracks the cultivation of algae from their San Diego lab in microscopic images, to petri dishes, to flasks, and then outside in their Las Cruces, NM facility and into 14′, 40′, 100′

March 26, 2012 Read Full Article

Former Brew Master, Recycler Pioneers Biofuel Technology

(Maryland Clean Energy Center/The Current) Serial entrepreneur Craig Stuart-Paul has found a novel formula for growing a business. For the CEO of Fiberight, personal expertise in brewing beer plus innovations in recycling residential waste has added up to a new process

March 26, 2012 Read Full Article

Cenusa Bioenergy Receives $25 Million Grant from USDA

by Kelly Madsen (IowaStateDaily.com) The Iowa State University-led Cenusa Bioenergy project works to develop a biofuel with both a Midwestern and environmental focus. Through a five-year, $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture,

March 26, 2012 Read Full Article

Qantas Puts Cooking Oil on the Menu with Test Flight

by Steve Creedy (The Australian) QANTAS hopes to boost government interest and involvement in aviation biofuels when the airline conducts Australia's first biofuel-powered commercial flight next month, using fuel derived from cooking oil. The return flight will take place on an Airbus

March 26, 2012 Read Full Article

Thai Airways International PCL : THAI Moves Forward with Sustainable Aviation Biofuels Development

(4-Traders.com) Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) along with the Ministry of Energy, PTT Public Company Limited, public and private organizations, and international airlines jointly launched the "Thai Aviation and Environmental Workshop - Biofuels and Efficient Flight Operations". Welcoming participants

March 26, 2012 Read Full Article

Former NATO Supreme Commander Talks Ethanol in Annawan

by Lisa Depies (GateHouse News Service/Galesburg.com) Retired Gen. Wesley Clark spent 38 years in the U.S. Army protecting America. Today, Clark is working to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil. Clark is co-chairman of Growth Energy, an organization that represents

March 26, 2012 Read Full Article

Can These Small Cap Biofuel Stocks Fuel You Profits? Gevo (GEVO), BioFuel Energy Corp. (BIOF) & Solazyme (SZYM)

by John Udovich (Small Cap Network) Among other reasons, higher oil prices since the start of the year have been helping small cap biofuel stocks like Gevo (NASDAQ: GEVO), BioFuel Energy Corp.(NASDAQ: BIOF)and Solazyme (NASDAQ: SZYM) but can higher oil prices alone sustain their rise?

March 26, 2012 Read Full Article

S.D. Retailers Respond Positively to Blender Pump Grant Program

by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Just two months after launching its latest blender pump grant program, South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced that the governor’s office of economic development (GOED) has already received applications for the entire $950,000 allotted

March 26, 2012 Read Full Article

Sustainability Focus at World Biofuels Markets Conference in Rotterdam

by Stefaniya Becking (Advanced Biofuels USA) The World Biofuels Markets conference that took place on March 13-15, 2012 in Rotterdam provided an excellent environment for attendees to network with decision-makers from 80 countries and learn about prevailing concerns in the

March 26, 2012 Read Full Article

Queensland’s Election Landslide: a Message for State, Country or the World?

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Two reasons why Queensland’s election stands out. First, the election was also notable for the electoral debut of the rural, populist Katter’s Australian Party, which was formed last year – socially conservative, pro-growth, protectionist,

March 26, 2012 Read Full Article

Can Ethanol-Optimized Engines Offer 25 Percent Relief in Fuel Costs?

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Now, in Brazil, the generally accepted threshold point for ethanol and gasoline is around 70 percent – if the ethanol price is 70 percent, or less, of the gasoline price, flex-fuel drivers in Brazil general

March 26, 2012 Read Full Article

Flex Fuel Vehicle Sales Are on the Rise

by Courtney Collen (KSFY.com) ...One Sioux Falls dealership says people are not spending on just any car - they're in the market for Flex-Fuel Vehicles in order to save money. Flex-Fuel Vehicles run on regular gasoline or a blend of up

March 26, 2012 Read Full Article

Ethanol-Blended Fuel Use in ND Jumps 97 Percent since 2010

(Farm & Ranch Guide) Recently released statistics show a staggering 97 percent increase in the amount of ethanol-blended fuel sold in North Dakota from 2010 to 2011. ...Increased sales of ethanol-blended fuel in North Dakota are due in large part to

March 26, 2012 Read Full Article

Obama Pushes Efficiency, Alternative Fuels

(UPI) ...Obama said the key to America's energy future is reducing dependence on foreign oil through increased fuel efficiency and investment in alternative fuels. "The most important thing I can do as a president is not to simply focus on tomorrow;

March 26, 2012 Read Full Article

Volkswagen Partners with Amyris and Solazyme to Promote Automotive Use of Renewable Fuels

(PRNewsWire/Yahoo!) Partnership will advance research in automotive renewable diesel solutions for current and next-generation TDI® Clean Diesel applications Volkswagen of America today announced partnerships with Solazyme and Amyris, two of the world's leaders in renewable fuels, to evaluate emissions reductions and

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

Biofuels Get a Bounce

by Reed Fujii (RecordNet.com) Community Fuels' biodiesel plant at the Port of Stockton served as the centerpiece Tuesday for U.S. Department of Agricultural officials highlighting gains in rural and farm-related energy projects under the 2008 Farm Bill. "We wanted to bring some

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

Four-Star Biofuels: How the Pentagon Is Outpacing Civilians in Gen2 Adoption

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In “Four Star Biofuels: How the Pentagon Is Outpacing Civilians in Gen2 Adoption” a special Raymond James look at the military and biofuels demand, Pavel Molchanov writes: “A key differentiator of the next-generation (Gen2) biofuel

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

What’s Your Biofuels Venture Worth?

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biofuels Digest released an updated version of its Biofuels Venture Value Calculator, downloadable here.. The purpose of the calculator is to assist project developers to quickly compare their basic system economics to other existing technologies for

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

Algae Species Explored for Both Biofuel Source and Pollution Control

by Teresa Messmore (PhysOrg.com) The tiny, plant-like Heterosigma akashiwo is too small to see with the naked eye, but the microscopic algae may pack a big environmental punch. University of Delaware researchers are studying whether the species can neutralize harmful

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

Neste Oil Virtually Quadrupled Its Use of Certified Raw Materials in Producing Renewable Fuel

(Neste Oil) Already 49% of the raw materials that Neste Oil used in 2011 to produce its renewable fuel was certified. This was an increase of 28 percentage points on the figure for 2010, and nearly quadruple in terms of

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

Grafton Ethanol Plant Owners to Meet with Sugar Beet Growers

(Grand Forks Herald) Energae LP, the group planning to reopen the former Alchem Ltd. ethanol plant in Grafton, N.D., will conduct a meeting at noon Friday for sugar beet growers. The meeting will be at Marketplace on Eighth. About 75 people attended

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

Push By Ethanol Producers Into Corn Oil Raises Concerns Over DDGs

(Dow Jones Newswire) A push by U.S. ethanol companies into corn oil is starting to give the livestock industry indigestion. Corn oil, which is used both for cooking oil and to make biodiesel fuel, has emerged over the last year as

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

The Olive Economy

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Here are five types of technologies that straddle the political divide between green and black. Re-using industrial waste gases Here are three companies aiming at capturing CO2 and either directly converting to fuels, or using it as

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

NSAC Suggests REAP, BCAP Changes

by Anna Austin (Biomass Power and Thermal Magazine) The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition has released its 2012 Farm Bill platform, which provides suggestions to improve some federal bioenergy programs. These include the Repowering Assistance Program and the Biomass Crop Assistance

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

Has Ethanol Lost Its License To Drive The Corn Market?

by Stu Ellis (FarmGateBlog) ...Now the bloom is off the rose. Gasoline demand is down, the blend wall is pushing ethanol demand down, and corn prices are not as strong as they once were. ...He (Bob Wisner, biofuels economist at Iowa

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

Etankfire Seeks Partners for Ethanol Firefighting Research

by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The increased use of ethanol creates new fire risks, particularly when considering the potential for large tank fires. The behavior of a fire involving large volumes of ethanol is significantly different than a petroleum fire, or

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

Ethanol a Good Response to Rising Gas Prices?

by Heather Leigh (KMEG.com) ..."Today ethanol is priced about a dollar wholesale price, about a dollar under gasoline, so the consumer should also see some advantages in cheaper gas pump prices," said Chuck Hofland, General Manager of Siouxland Ethanol. ..."EPA a year

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

What's Making Americans Less Thirsty For Gasoline?

by John Ydstie (National Public Radio) The price of gasoline keeps rising for Americans, but it's not because of rising demand from consumers. ..."When you look at the U.S. oil market, you see that there's actually no growth," says Daniel Yergin,

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

Ethanol Blends Overtaking Gasoline Supply Chain

(OPISNet.com) It’s been a long time coming, but ethanol now dominates the U.S. gasoline blending landscape. The number of wholesale terminals supplying only conventional clear gasoline for truck loadings has trimmed down to just nine out of about 325 rack

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

Fragrant New Biofuel: Researchers Develop a New Candidate for a Cleaner, Greener and Renewable Diesel Fuel

by Lynn Yarris (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) A class of chemical compounds best known today for fragrance and flavor may one day provide the clean, green and renewable fuel with which truck and auto drivers fill their tanks. Researchers at

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

Neste Oil and Lufthansa Satisfied with Results of Renewable Aviation Fuel Trial

(Neste Oil) Neste Oil and Lufthansa tested Neste Oil's NExBTL renewable aviation fuel on a total of 1,187 flights between Frankfurt and Hamburg last year and one intercontinental flight between Frankfurt and Washington D.C. this year. Factors such as fuel

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

HyperSolar Discloses Development Plan for Breakthrough Renewable Hydrogen and Natural Gas Technology

(HyperSolar) Company lays out specific milestones for reaching commercial viability of the world’s first nanotechnology-based, zero-carbon process for the production of renewable hydrogen and natural gas HyperSolar, Inc., the developer of a breakthrough technology to produce renewable hydrogen and natural gas

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

LS9, Novozymes, Boeing, Abengoa, Dupont among the Winners in 2012 Sustainable Biofuels Awards

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the Netherlands, World Biofuels Markets Congress & Exhibition 2012 announced the winners of the 2012 Sustainable Biofuels Awards. ...The winners are: Green Shoots Award: Bio Architecture Lab Biofuels Leadership Award: Novozymes Sustainable Biofuels Technology Award: LS9 Biofuels Adoption Award: City of Stockholm Sustainable

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

The Waters and Underwaters of March: Heard on the Floor at World Biofuels Markets

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Sugar prices are booming, good news for producers in Brazil, India and elsewhere, but in Brazil it has created, shall we say, a certain reluctance to maximize ethanol production. Part of the reason for high prices,

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

Obama Administration Announces New Funding for Biomass Research and Development Initiative

(US Department of Agriculture) Research to advance next generation biofuels and renewable energy technologies Today, as President Obama went to Ohio State University to discuss the Administration's all-out, all-of-the-above strategy for American energy, the White House announced up to $35 million

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

No Farm Bill, No Tier 3—Not until after the Election; Sundrop Fuels Presents an Alternative

By Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) At the March 21 Bioenergy Day on Capitol Hill, discussion focused on the need for a continued Renewable Fuels Standard, reviews of the history of biofuels, assessment of current questioning of biofuels as viable

March 23, 2012 Read Full Article

Officials Keen to Make Region a Center for Aviation Biofuels

By Kyung M. Song (Seattle Times) ...Now efforts are under way from Olympia to Congress to help jump-start the nascent industry and to bring prices of jet biofuel down to earth. The goal is to establish the Pacific Northwest as an epicenter

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

Biofuels and Climate: a Simple but Troubling View

by John DeCicco (The Energy Collective) If biofuels benefit the climate, it's not when they're burned; those CO2 emissions are the same as from the fossil fuels they replace. Any potential benefit is due to the CO2 uptake when plants are grown.

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

Petrotec AG : Successful Restructuring and Strong Demand for Waste Based Biodiesel Lead to EUR 3 mio. Net Profit

(4-Traders) Petrotec AG (ISIN DE000PET111), the largest European producer of waste to biodiesel mainly used cooking oil based, reported a 97% sales increase in financial year 2011 (January 1 to December 31, 2011). ...Backed by an increased demand for sustainable waste-based

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

BP and Biofuels: Beyond Petroleum, Big Plans, Brazil Principally

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BP to showcase capabilities in low-carbon fuels at 2012 London Olympics. BP Biofuels chief Phil New outlines the BP’s path towards “getting biofuels right”. “6 percent of the entire BP workforce is now working in biofuels,”

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

Copenhagen Biofuels Research Network Announced

by Jim Lane ( Biofuels Digest) From Denmark, Danielle Spiegel Feld of the Copenhagen University Faculty of Law writes: “I’d like to announce the launch of a new biofuels research initiative here in Copenhagen: the Copenhagen Biofuels Research Network. Established

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

The Future of Biofuels VI: Petrobras’ Strategy

by José Vitor Bomtempo (Grupo de Economia da Energia) In the previous article, we compared the BP and Shell’s strategies for biofuels. Today we present the case of Petrobras. We have to recall the reasons for the analysis. We start with a

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

Flip-Side to Biofuels Story

by John Maday (Drovers Cattle Network) A couple weeks ago, we ran an article titled “Feeding the biofuels beast,” which documented a University of Montana study suggesting current production methods and policy for biofuels are unsustainable. The article drew a number of

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

Corn Ethanol Production Starts in Mato Grosso

(Agra-net.com) Usimat Destilaria de Alcohol said it has started ethanol production from corn during the intercrop season in Mato Grosso. In recent weeks, it produced 90,000 litres of ethanol from corn. It has invested BRL20 mln ($1=BRL1.75) in new equipment.

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

State DNR Biomass Report Says Slash Extraction Won’t Hurt Forests

by Paul Gottlieb (Peninsula Daily News) A state Department of Natural Resources study has concluded that 3 million tons of bone-dry wood slash and other wood waste — double the existing amount that’s extracted — can be removed from Washington

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

Of Miscanthus, Kardashians, Wolves and Fishmatoes: Taming, Mapping, Enhancing Genomes for Bioenergy

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It was revealed yesterday, in the peer-reviewed, online journal PLoS One that Ceres and the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University in Wales have completed the first high-resolution, comprehensive genetic map of

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

Milligan Bio-Tech Receives $1.7M Contribution from SaskBIO

by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) The Government of Saskatchewan has announced it will provide up to $1.7 million to Milligan Bio-Tech Inc. under the Saskatchewan Biofuels Investment Opportunity (SaskBIO) program. The program provides repayable contributions for the construction or expansion

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

Cobalt and the Naval Air Warfare Center Team Up to Produce a Renewable Jet Fuel From Bio N-Butanol

(Cobalt Technologies/Sacramento Bee) Contract Issued to Albemarle to Process First Run of N-Butanol Into Jet Fuel Today, the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), China Lake announced a contract award to Albemarle Corporation, a leading specialty chemicals company, to complete its first biojet fuel production run

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

Shell, BP Score Highest in New Pike Research Assessment of Oil Majors’ Commercialization of Biofuels

(IBTimes/Pike Research) Today’s biofuels industry accounts for nearly 30 billion gallons of production. Still in its infancy, advanced biofuels production represents just a trickle today, but biofuels are expected to play an increasingly important role over the next decade due

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

To Strive, To Seek, to Find, and Max Out Yields

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Yield unlocks value, and especially feedstock yield. What’s the latest? What feedstocks are reporting yields that could support 1000+ gallons per acre for terrestrial crops? ...Yield from the acre, yield from the ton, yield from the

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

Plant Strength Key to Cracking Biofuels?

(ScienceAlert/Ecos Magazine) Cellulose in plant cell walls contains sugars used to manufacture biofuels. However, this cellulose also resists decomposition, making it difficult to extract the sugars for use. New research into how plants form cellulose may hold the key. ...A structural

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

Japan, the Pentagon, and the Future of Renewable Energy: Battle Lines Form

by Andrew DeWitt (The Asia-Pacific Journal) ...The Republicans think they see their chance to throw a wrench in the works. They recently decided to open congressional hearings to try, through focusing on Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, to put a political face on

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

Oil Demand Shift: Asia Takes Over

by Chris Nelder (Smart Planet) The realization that oil prices aren’t about them anymore has been slow to dawn on Americans after a century of being the world’s swing consumers. But the fact is that the world’s developing economies have

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

Thaioil to Diversify in Resilient Market Conditions

(BusinessReviewCanada/MarketWire) ..."Our approach will be achieved through the company's Green, Broad and Deep principles, all geared towards generating high quality business development and the deployment of resources, but in a sustainable, systematic way that is also strongly diversiﬁed," says Bulakul. The

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

Palm Oil Mills Target Zero Emission

By Meng Yew Choong (The Star) Palm oil milling is far from benign, but the industry is frantically conducting research to realise low-emission technologies. The zero-discharge plant is one such bold concept. THE extraction of palm oil involves a number of

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

JOil Announces Elite Jatropha Varieties Returns Repeatable Yields of over 2 Tons of Seeds per Hectare in First Year of India Field Trials

(JOil) • Tamil Nadu sites achieve first-year flowering in three months and first harvest in five months • Field trials now being conducted in India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Cambodia JOil (S) Pte. Ltd., a scientific bioenergy crop developer of a new

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

Biofuels Thrive in the Shadow of Asia’s Oil Crisis

by Joelle Brink (Biofuels Digest Asia) ... So why, you ask, is the US lagging behind Asia? In the US too, biofuels will create lots of jobs as always happens in new growth industries, and lots of new business startups

March 22, 2012 Read Full Article

NASA’s Astrobiology Research Sparks 'GreenTech' Revolution

by Ruth Marlaire (NASA) ...A few years ago, Ames Exobiology scientists formed the Algae for Exploration (ALEX) group, which studies various types of lipids produced by different algal species under specific conditions, and started applying this research to new technologies.

March 20, 2012 Read Full Article

European Airlines Enter the Biofuels Market

by Eric van den Heuve (Edofys) Biofuels might offer opportunities for achieving improved balance of power to the European airlines in their high competitive market. It faces high rivalry and increasing fuel costs due to rising oil prices. Moreover, from

March 20, 2012 Read Full Article

Biodiesel Maker Pleads Guilty to Illegal Dumping

(AP/NewsOK.com) The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality says a 56-year-old man who made biodiesel at his home in Iberville Parish has pleaded guilty to illegally dumping pollutants into a canal behind his home. DEQ says Tommy M. Francise pleaded guilty in state court this week to dumping

March 20, 2012 Read Full Article

U.S. Navy Successfully Tests SoladieselHRD-76® During Operational Transit Voyage in USS Ford Frigate

(Solazyme/BusinessWire) -Solazyme, Inc., a renewable oil and bioproducts company, announced today that the USS Ford, a U.S. Navy Frigate fleet ship, successfully journeyed from its homeport in Everett, WA to San Diego, CA using Soladiesel HRD-76®, Solazyme’s 100% algal derived renewable

March 20, 2012 Read Full Article

Biofuels Moves from Dark Ages to Renaissance; Voices from World Biofuels Markets

by Nadim Chaudhry (Green Power Conferences/Biofuels Digest) Representatives from up and down the value chain of the biofuels industry took stage this week at World Biofuels Markets to discuss issues regarding the state of the industry and several key issues impacting

March 20, 2012 Read Full Article

Gasoline’s Comeback in the Bio-Based Era: 5 Cleantech Companies Vie for Green Gasoline Breakthroughs

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...But in the past two years, five technologies have emerged that are focused on renewable gasoline (along with some others that have the capability of producing gasoline-like fuels but are focused primarily on diesel or

March 20, 2012 Read Full Article

EPA Approves Misfueling Mitigation Plan

(Environmental Protection Agency) On March 15, 2012, EPA informed the Renewable Fuels Association by letter that its Model E15 Misfueling Mitigation Plan would generally be sufficient to satisfy the partial waivers’ requirement for a misfueling mitigation plan. For more information, please see the section

March 20, 2012 Read Full Article

An All-of-the-Above Approach to Energy in America

by Sarah Bittleman (USDA/25 x '25) America needs and is developing a reliable, sustainable, fuel supply. If we are able to produce more of it here at home – rather than relying on foreign oil – we’ll generate good, middle-class jobs

March 20, 2012 Read Full Article

DeltaWing: The Future Has Arrived

by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) The future arrived yesterday (March 15, 2012) at about 1:00 pm EDT. It arrived in Sebring, Florida. It came shrouded in a black tarp. By the time it drove away, it had shattered every conception

March 16, 2012 Read Full Article

Sebring Runs on Advanced Biofuels

by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) In keeping with their commitment to imposing the lowest environmental impact possible, the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) is providing 2nd generation “cellulosic” ethanol for all competitors using gasoline/alcohol fuels in the 60th Anniversary

March 16, 2012 Read Full Article

National Biodiesel Board Introduces First Phase of RIN Solution

by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) The first phase of the National Biodiesel Board’s measures to help restore integrity to the renewable identification number (RIN) credit market was established yesterday after NBB held a town hall meeting with its members to

March 14, 2012 Read Full Article

Thai Biochemical Plant Converts Glycerin into Epichlorohydrin

by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) Solvay, an international chemical group, recently announced that its Thai affiliate Vinythai successfully commissioned a biobased chemical plant. The $157 million facility, based in Map Ta Phut, Thailand, utilizes Solvay’s Epicerol technology to convert glycerin

March 14, 2012 Read Full Article

State Concerned with Algae-to-Ethanol Process of Fort Myers Company

by Laura Layden (Naples News) State concerns with a Southwest Florida company’s plans to make ethanol from algae may have stalled the business’s expansion. Tucked inside an energy bill the Legislature approved in the final hours of its recent session is

March 14, 2012 Read Full Article

U.S. Ag Secretary Says Ethanol Holding Gas Prices in Check

by Jim Martin (Erie Times-News) U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack knows gas prices are high. ...But Vilsack, a Pittsburgh native, said prices could be a lot worse. In an interview with the Erie Times-News, Vilsack said Tuesday that ethanol and other biofuels

March 14, 2012 Read Full Article

Exhibit Showcases Biodiesel at MN Auto Show

by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The “Biodiesel Green Room” exhibit will showcase the benefits of biodiesel at the Twin Cities Auto Show, March 10-18 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The exhibit includes information on biodiesel, staff to answer questions, and new vehicles like

March 14, 2012 Read Full Article

Hog Producers Can Compete with Ethanol for Corn

by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) An agricultural economist says hog producers are now able to compete with ethanol producers for corn. “This is an amazing difference from just five years ago,” said Purdue agricultural economist Dr. Chris Hurt. “The hog industry was

March 14, 2012 Read Full Article

American Ethanol No. 3 Chevy Debuts in Vegas

by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The American Ethanol No. 3 Chevy made its debut over the weekend at the Las Vegas Nationwide Series Sam’s Town 300 with rookie driver Austin Dillon finishing strong in 7th place. ... (Illinois corn farmer, chairman of NCGA’s NASCAR Advisory Committee Martin) Barbre said

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Stabenow’s Green-Energy Tax Break Plan Falls Short

by Josiah Ryan and Ben Geman (The Hill) The Senate on Tuesday rejected plans to extend a host of lapsed or soon-to-expire tax breaks for renewable fuels and power sources. Lawmakers voted 49-49 for Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s (D-Mich.) amendment to transportation

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PEW Group Briefing on Advanced Biofuels Progress in the Public and Private Sectors

by Josh Rathod (Advanced Biofuels USA) Throughout our country’s history, the U.S. Navy and military proper have played a key role in developing and adopting alternative energy sources. They pioneered the switch to coal as an alternative to reliance on

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Forage, Corn Feed Alternative for Cattle May Come from Biodiesel Industry

by Kay Ledbetter (PhysOrg.com) Crude glycerin, a byproduct of biodiesel production, could be an economical ingredient in cattle diets, according to studies by Texas AgriLife Research and West Texas A&M University personnel. Dr. Jim MacDonald, AgriLife Research beef cattle nutritionist in Amarillo, said

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Home News InvestmentVenture Capital Report: Solar, Wind and Biofuel Markets Smash Revenue Records

(Business Green) Analyst firm Clean Edge reports 31 per cent increase in market for core renewables technologies during 2011 The global market for solar PV, wind energy, and biofuels grew 31 per cent during 2011 to almost $250bn (£160bn), according to

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An Opportunity to Show Ethanol’s Edge

by Brian Jennings (American Coalition for Ethanol/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...First, with E15 market ready in many states, the U.S. EPA ought to ensure summer Reid vapor pressure (RVP) limitations do not stand in the way of consumers having access

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US$ 40 Million to Be Invested in a Bio Ethanol and Balanced Food Factory

(Télam. National News Agency of Argentina.) Industry Minister Débora Giorgi met with Entre Ríos Production Minister, Roberto Schunk, who presented a US$ 40 million investment project from a local company that will open a factory for the production of bio

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State of the Advanced Biofuels Industry, 2012: The Digest Primer

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...To open up the advanced biofuels session, Green Power asked the Digest to give a short overview on the state of advanced biofuels. In today’s Digest, we’d like to share the highlights from that 15-minute

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FDA Has No Jurisdiction Here—Or Does It?

by Sarah Brew and Steve Toeniskoetter (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Faegre Baker Daniels) Pop quiz time—which federal agencies regulate your plant? Did your answer include the Food and Drug Administration? If your plant produces distillers grains, corn oil or similar products for

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ILUC: The ‘Soap’ Continues

by Robert Vierhout (ePURE/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...In my opinion, the delay in putting a bill on the table is caused by the fact that the ILUC ‘science’ is simply not conclusive. A study by the International Food Policy Research Institute

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A Hand Full of Aces

by Mike Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...In retrospect, the environmental war we have waged against petroleum, is perhaps a war that we should have avoided and instead focused on the real story of ethanol…its economic impact. Arguably, the reason ethanol

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Feeding the Chemical Market

by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol serves as not only a liquid transportation fuel but also as a feedstock for biobased chemical production Although ethanol is generally associated with the transportation fuel market, it is in no way limited to

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Dollars and Sense: Analyses Vary, but Ethanol’s Economic Benefits Are Clear

by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...Analysts may disagree on the exact indirect effects of ethanol production, but they agree that the industry has had a positive direct effect on jobs and GDP over the past year. Whether that same

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By the Numbers: Trends and Patterns in the Ethanol Industry

by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...The arrival of the blend wall and expected increase in E85 prices due to the lapse of VEETC are two factors that have complicated the future outlook of ethanol use, (Bob) Wisner says. Analyzing

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Opinion: Making the Case for Renewable Energy Subsidies

by Wayne Lee (Biorefining Magazine/Lee Enterprises Consulting) ...Since renewable fuels do not enjoy the longer-term subsidies and programs of oil, we are back asking Congress and the administration for some stability. ...First, we must understand that, oftentimes, renewable energy advances