by Susanne Retka Schill (CheckBiotech) Researchers at two centers in St. Louis are gearing up to launch five-year research programs on algae, backed by U.S. DOE grants. The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center received $15 million and Washington University $20 million
Brazil Seeks Decent Working Conditions for Sugarcane Cutters
The Brazilian government announced an accord with businessmen in the sugar industry to provide decent working conditions for the nation’s sugarcane cutters following criticism leveled by various human-rights organizations. “This will help tone down criticism of Brazilian ethanol,” President Luiz Inacio
July 01, 2009 Read Full Article
Obama Administration Sees Biofuels As Way to Wean Americans from Foreign Oil
"The President has been very, very clear about this. He wants the biofuel industry to take hold in this country. He wants us to break our addiction to foreign oil. The only way we can do that is by producing
July 01, 2009 Read Full Article
Biofuels Research in Wyoming Gets Boost
The Wyoming Business Council Agribusiness Division has received a $49,873 grant from the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program to explore the feasibility of sustainable biofuel crop production in Wyoming. The three-year SARE grant provides funding for test
July 01, 2009 Read Full Article
Indiana Publishes Agriculture Roadmap Including Cellulosic Ethanol Promotion
Indiana Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman presented a roadmap for continued growth in Indiana agriculture. This publication updates the Indiana State Department of Agriculture's strategic plan and will guide that Department's focus over the next four years. Included in the strategy
July 01, 2009 Read Full Article
Gigaton Throw Down Evaluates Nine Clean Energy Technologies
A “Gigaton Throw Down Initiative Team” evaluated the potential for the world to scale up clean energy technologies over the next 10 years to have a major impact on job growth, energy independence and climate change. In the 150 page
July 01, 2009 Read Full Article
Chromatin Licenses Gene Stacking Technology for Sugar Cane to Syngenta
Chromatin Inc. announced today that it has entered into an exclusive worldwide research and commercial license agreement with Syngenta Biotechnology Inc. for Chromatin's proprietary gene stacking technology in sugar cane. Chromatin has developed a novel approach to gene stacking, using the
July 01, 2009 Read Full Article
World War Two-Era Fungus, Elephant Dung Combine to Make Biofuels
by Ariel Schwartz (FastCompany) Hemp, soy, mustard, sunflower and palm oil can all be used to make biofuels, so why not elephant dung and World War Two-era fungus? Copenhagen-based Danisco A/S is using the fungus, which was discovered during WWII
July 01, 2009 Read Full Article
EPA Grants California Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards Waiver Request
EPA is granting California’s waiver request enabling the state to enforce its greenhouse gas emissions standards for new motor vehicles, beginning with the current model year. ... The first California waiver request was made in December 2005 and was subsequently
July 01, 2009 Read Full Article
Cap-and-Trade Bill Does Nothing for Oil Dependence
by Gal Luft (EnerPub) ... The bill's renewable electricity mandate, which requires utilities to get 20 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020, would discourage the use of coal and natural gas, but since only 2 percent of
July 01, 2009 Read Full Article
Evaluation of Bio-Derived Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (Bio-SPK)
by Dr. James D. Kinder and Timothy Rahmes (The Boeing Company) ... Virgin Atlantic paved the way with its proof of concept flight powered by biofuel in February 2008. Since that time, a broader range of fuels have become available
June 30, 2009 Read Full Article
A Global Overview of Vegetable Oils, with Reference to Biodiesel
IEA Bioenergy Task 40 commissioned a study on a global overview of bio-oils (vegetable and palm oil) to: i) assess major producers and consumers of vegetables oils, ii) main emerging markets, iii) analyze main policy drivers, iv) assess future trends
June 30, 2009 Read Full Article
American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 Passes House
By a margin of 219 to 212, the American clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 passed the US House of Representatives on Friday evening, June 26. The next stop is the US Senate where, because it is significant legislation, it will likely
June 30, 2009 Read Full Article
Abundant Biofuels Corporation Offers Low-Cost, Long-Term Contracts to Supply Jatropha Oil to U.S. Refiners With Under-Capacity Production Problems
Dr. Charles Fishel, Chairman of Abundant Biofuels Corporation, noted that "There are about 100 biodiesel refineries operating below capacity and another 47 idle refineries in the United States, alone." To help solve this problem, Abundant Biofuels provides standardized long-term contracts
June 30, 2009 Read Full Article
Life Cycle Assessment of Biofuels from Jatropha curcas in West Africa: a Field Study
by Robert Ndong, Mireille Montrejaud-Vignoles, Oliver Saint Girons, Benoit Gabrielle, Roland Pirot, marjorie Domergue and Caroline Sablayrolles (Global Change Biology Bioenergy) In recent years, liquid biofuels for transport have benefited from significant political support due to their potential role in curbing
June 30, 2009 Read Full Article
China Recruits Algae to Combat Climate Change
by Jonathan Watts (The Guardian) Chinese firm behind ambitious plan to breed microalgae in greenhouse with the potential to absorb carbon emissions ...Developed by a groundbreaking Chinese firm, ENN, the greenhouse is a bioreactor that breeds microalgae, one of the fastest
June 30, 2009 Read Full Article
U.S. Pulp-Maker Pioneers New Biofuel
by Jason Szep (Reuters) From the outside, the rustic red-brick mill on a bend in Maine's Penobscot River resembles any other struggling American pulp and paper mill. But along with its usual business of pulp-making, the century-old mill is doing something
June 29, 2009 Read Full Article
The New Roadmap for Measuring & Valuing Carbon in the Agribusiness Sector
by Dawson Williams (Clear Carbon Consulting) Agribusiness is a Significant Source of Carbon Emissions and Potential Reduction Opportunities It is widely acknowledged that production agriculture, such as livestock rearing, crop cultivation, timber production, and ornamental horticulture production, contributes a significant
June 29, 2009 Read Full Article
From Soy to Mulit-Feedstock Biodiesel Plant in Minnesota
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA Rural Development has approved a $25 million loan to enable a Minnesota biodiesel facility to diversify its operations and significantly expand the production of advanced biofuels. "The investment announced today helps fulfill
June 29, 2009 Read Full Article
Amyris Opens Renewable Products Demonstration Facility in Brazil
Amyris Brasil Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Ltda., a wholly owned subsidiary of Amyris Biotechnologies, Inc., today announced the opening of the Amyris Renewable Products Demonstration Facility in Campinas. The facility, located in the midst of the sugar cane processing industry, secures
June 29, 2009 Read Full Article
Roadsters Embrace Green Racing
by Doug Dollemore, American Chemical Society Fast and green. That's what it takes to get to the winner's circle in a new type of auto racing. Called green racing, it's a meshing of the fast and furious world of auto racing
June 29, 2009 Read Full Article
House Ag Committee Chair Reaches Climate Change Bill Agreement
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson issued the following statement on an agreement with House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman on the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. "We have reached an agreement that works for
June 24, 2009 Read Full Article
Jatropha Can Raise Rural Incomes--Phillippine Study
by Rudy A. Fernandez, Checkbiotech Rural households can increase their income by growing jatropha. Attesting to this is a study done by the University of the Philippines Los Baños-College of Forestry and Natural Resources (UPLB-CFNR). Conducted by Dr. Nena
June 24, 2009 Read Full Article
A Fair Accounting of Greenhouse Gases For All Potential Transportation Fuels
by Bob Dinneen, Renewable Fuels Association It is troubling--and, at the same time, sadly amusing--that an enterprising reporter at USA Today has done more homework on the possible indirect effects of increased renewable electricity generation than scores of analysts at
June 24, 2009 Read Full Article
Resources Lost if Congress Fails to Broaden Definition of Renewable Biomass
Efforts continue to amend federal policy and widen the availability of renewable biomass resources that would be available from agriculture and forestry to meet the nation’s renewable energy goals. A number of advocacy groups and their allies in Congress are
June 24, 2009 Read Full Article
California’s Looming Showdown over Waste Feedstocks
by Biofuels Digest special correspondent Scott Miller A showdown is looming in the California State Senate this summer over an issue that is at the heart of the nationwide drive to develop and deploy bioenergy conversion technologies. In a state
June 24, 2009 Read Full Article
Biofuels and Greenhouse Gas Emissions on a Collision Course
by Dr. Robert Wisner, Biofuels Economist, Ag Marketing Resource Center, Iowa State University The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 (1) requires a gradual increase in the volume of various kinds of biofuels to be blended with U.S. motor
June 24, 2009 Read Full Article
Manila OKs Pacific BioFields Holdings to Plant Biofuel Coconut
Pacific Bio-Fields Holdings Plc said it has received approval to use 400,000 hectares of land to plant coconut trees in the Philippines to make alternative auto fuel, which it aims to sell to Japanese users in five years. The company, which
June 24, 2009 Read Full Article
University of Florida IFAS, Buckeye Technologies and Myriant Announce Next Generation Cellulosic Ethanol Research and Demonstration Plant
The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Buckeye Technologies Inc. and Myriant Technologies LLC (formed by BioEnergy International, LLC) have announced plans for a research and demonstration plant that will explore ways to harness byproducts from some
June 24, 2009 Read Full Article
US Dept. of Energy Requests Information for Algal Biofuels Roadmap
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is issuing this RFI to solicit feedback on the Draft “National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap” Document. This Draft Roadmap was prepared by a working group commissioned by DOE. Feedback will be incorporated into the
June 23, 2009 Read Full Article
AuStar Reports on Jatropha Growth Management Trials in Indonesia
Jatropha has been labeled the most likely crop for future biofuels. However, it suffers from low seed yield and high plant growth. A comprehensive series of trials has been conducted in Indonesia using AuStar's paclobutrazol to solve these major issues. The
June 23, 2009 Read Full Article
Boeing, UOP Release Biofuels Flight Data
At the Paris Air Show, Boeing and a series of partners involved in four biofuels-based test flights released the data from the tests, and said that with the release they are on a path towards flight certification of biofuels as
June 23, 2009 Read Full Article
GreenGold Ray Energies Aims to More Than Double Its Jatropha Crude Oil Output by 2011
Green Gold Ray Energies, Inc., aims to double its jatropha crude oil output by 2011 through continuous increase yields of jatropha feedstocks, while the company increases its jatropha plantations. The jatropha plantations are expanding from 5,000 hectares to over 30,000
June 23, 2009 Read Full Article
Germany's Chemical Industry Looks at Switching to Biomass
by Jane Burgermeister (Renewable Energy World) Germany's chemical industry -- the world's third biggest -- depends on fossil fuels for its products. But a new research center to be built in Germany's industrial heartland Leuna in Saxony Anhalt may help to
June 23, 2009 Read Full Article
Stinkweed Used as Biodiesel Feedstock in Illinois
Biofuels Manufacturers of Illinois believes that Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) has the potential to go from “weed to wonder-fuel”. The company is working with farmers, university and government researchers to transform Pennycress into an advanced energy crop grown to produce biodiesel.
June 23, 2009 Read Full Article
Atlantic Biomass Conversions Proposes "Follow-the-Crop" System
Instead of bringing sufficient supplies of biomass to processing facilities, Atlantic Biomass Conversions, Inc., proposes taking decentralized enzymatic conversion units to the crops. Following the model of wheat harvesting combines that follow the harvest season, they will develop a "Follow-the-Crop"
June 23, 2009 Read Full Article
EdeniQ Grows Improved Energy Crops in California’s Central Valley
EdeniQ, a California-based technology company serving the global biofuels industry, announced that it has begun a multi-year, field-to-fuel trial to evaluate low-carbon, non-food energy crops, like switchgrass, in California’s Central Valley. The company’s pilot-scale field trial of switchgrass was planted
June 23, 2009 Read Full Article
Commercialization of Algae Studied
Emerging Markets has released Algae 2020 a 460-page study on algae biofuels markets, strategies and the commercialization outlook. The Algae 2020 study observes algal biomass can produce multiple fuels from a single feedstock, including biodiesel ethanol, biocrude, renewable diesel, renewable
June 23, 2009 Read Full Article
Biofuels Digest Publishes Special Algae Biofuels Report
Biofuels Digest published a special report on algae biofuels and CO2 sources, including an analysis of power plant fuel gas. "In the world of biofuels, algae is under the spotlight" writes Biofuels Digest special correspondent Sam Rushing in a report on
June 23, 2009 Read Full Article
Air Transport Action Group Publishes Beginners Guide to Aviation Biofuels
One of the most exciting developments for aviation is the use of sustainable biofuels to replace the standard kerosene, or Jet-A, fuel that is currently being used. It is clear that our industry’s dependence on fossil fuels is not sustainable,
June 18, 2009 Read Full Article
Prospects for Chilean Coastal Algae as Energy Feedstock under Review
Biofuels Digest summarizes conversations from its LinkedIn Group about development of Chilean coastal algae and biodiesel developments in other South American countries. READ MORE
June 18, 2009 Read Full Article
Sugar Cane and Cassavas Feedstock for Vietnam Bioethanol Plant
An engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract worth around US$ 60 million for building a bio-ethanol plant was signed between the Petrolchemical and Bio Fuel Joint Stock Company (PVB) under the National Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) and a joint
June 18, 2009 Read Full Article
Florida Plans Next-Generation Biofuels Plant
Plans for a new cellulosic ethanol research and demonstration plant to be built by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences are being revamped for a location closer to Gainesville. IFAS officials announced today that they have modified
June 17, 2009 Read Full Article
Agragen to Increase Oil Content in Camelina
Agragen, a leader in using biotechnology to modify Camelina sativa to increase agronomically desirable traits, announces the acquisition of intellectual property rights that will increase oil content in the second generation oilseed crop. Through an agreement with the University of
June 17, 2009 Read Full Article
Advances in Wheat-Based Biofuel in England
by Nidaa Bakhsh. (Bloomberg) -- Ensus Ltd. is preparing to start production at Britain’s first wheat-based bio-ethanol plant as the country increases requirements for cleaner-burning fuel. “Construction is nearly complete” on the plant at Wilton in Teesside, northeast England, Ensus Chief
June 17, 2009 Read Full Article
Wheat-to-Ethanol Refinery Being Built in North East England
The Ensus Group is building Europe’s largest wheat refinery at Wilton on Teesside in North East England. When completed in 2009, it will use locally grown animal feed wheat to produce over 400 million litres of bioethanol, 350 thousand tones
June 17, 2009 Read Full Article
Sudan Inaugurates Biofuel Plant
Sudan will begin producing ethanol from sugar cane with a target of 200 million litres in two years, President Omar al-Beshir said on Wednesday at the inauguration of a new plant. State company Kenana, which already makes sugar and molasses,
June 17, 2009 Read Full Article
Shell First to Sell Gasoline Blended with Advanced Biofuel
From today, customers at a Shell service station will become the first in the world to fill their tanks with gasoline containing advanced biofuel made from wheat straw. For one month starting June 10, the regular gasoline purchased at a Shell
June 17, 2009 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Ethanol Used at 24 Hours of Le Mans Race
Shell is demonstrating its commitment to fuels innovation and the development of sustainable, low-carbon fuels with the blending of 10% cellulosic ethanol into its Shell V-Power race fuel at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, in France on 13
June 17, 2009 Read Full Article
Finland Tests Biomass Derived Bio-Oil for Heat, Power, Biodiesel
Metso and UPM have developed a new concept for the production of biomass-based bio-oil to replace fossil fuels in heating and power generation. Test production will begin at Metso's test plant in Tampere, Finland, in June 2009. Bio-oil can be manufactured
June 17, 2009 Read Full Article
Study Planned of Brazilian Sugarcane Bagasse as Cellulosic Ethanol Feedstock
by Lisa Gibson, Biomass Magazine. Brazil could produce 4.6 billion to 8.2 billion liters (1.2 billion to 2.2 billion gallons) of biofuel from sugarcane residue by 2020, in addition to that made from sugar itself, according to a recently released
June 17, 2009 Read Full Article
Novozymes' New Product Family Hydrolyzes Cellulosic Feedstock
"Novozymes’ latest products for second-generation ethanol production are much better than anything previously seen on the market,” says Cynthia Bryant, Global Marketing Manager, Biomass industry at Novozymes. “While this in itself is a giant leap forward for the biofuel industry,
June 17, 2009 Read Full Article
Biofuels Digest Provides Overview of EPA ILUC Hearings
In Washington, National Biodiesel Board public affairs heard Manning Feraci said that the EISA Act required the EPA to conduct a lifecycle analysis of biofuels as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard’s implementation, but said that “This does not require
June 17, 2009 Read Full Article
BIO Focuses on Advanced Biofuels Asking EPA to Maintain Flexibility in Life Cycle Analysis for Renewable Fuel Standard
Large uncertainties in calculating international land use change effects and associated greenhouse gas emissions remain in the Environmental Protection Agency's life cycle assessment of biofuels for the Renewable Fuel Standard. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today asked EPA to maintain
June 17, 2009 Read Full Article
US Department of Commerce Awards First Exclusive Bioreactor Patent to ATI Petroleum
ATI Petroleum, a petroleum exploration management and operations company, announced that the US Department of Commerce awarded the first patent on bioreactor technology to ATI Petroleum. The bioreactor technology was created through a collaborative effort with the US Department of Energy,
June 17, 2009 Read Full Article
Lignol Awarded $3.4 Million in Funding from British Columbia’s Liquid Fuels from Biomass Program
Lignol Energy Corporation a cellulosic ethanol and biorefining company, announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Lignol Innovations Ltd., has been awarded $3.4 million in funding to produce cellulosic ethanol and other biochemical products from under-utilized forest resources, including lodgepole pine killed
June 17, 2009 Read Full Article
Lignol Announces Production of Cellulosic Ethanol from New Biorefinery Pilot Plant
Lignol Energy Corporation, a cellulosic ethanol and biorefining company, announced it has completed the first end-to-end production of cellulosic ethanol from its fully integrated industrial-scale biorefinery pilot plant in Burnaby, British Columbia. This production of cellulosic ethanol from Canadian woodchips followed the
June 17, 2009 Read Full Article
Indonesian Government Not Serious in Developing Biofuels : researcher
The government is not serious in supporting the development of biofuel as an alternative energy source in the country, a biofuel researcher said. "There is no point in developing biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel if the effort is not
June 16, 2009 Read Full Article
Minnesota Biodiesel Law Boosts Demand and Irks Indonesia
Minnesota legislation currently requires 5% biodiesel content in all diesel fuel sold in the state, with provisions to increase that total to 20% by 2012. 80 million gallons of biodiesel will be needed by 2012. Since state production is currently
June 16, 2009 Read Full Article
Sneak Peak! Ford's "Bobcat" Dual Fuel Engine
by Mike Levine. A radical twin-fuel engine from Ford, code-named “Bobcat," that variably blends gasoline and ethanol on demand to realize diesel-like performance continues to make steady progress in its development, according to presentations made by the automaker to the
June 16, 2009 Read Full Article
Production Increasing as Columbian Government Mandates E-85 Capability.
USDA's Foreign Agriculture Service has confirmed that the Colombian government has issued a decree that beginning in 2012 all new vehicles must bear E-85 flex-fuel technology. Biofuels blend goals of E-10 and B-5 are expected to be reached by 2010
June 16, 2009 Read Full Article
Solarix Launches Sustainer
by Bas Vlugt. 'The Sustainer is a containerised installation which can be used in rural areas to convert oil-bearing crops and seeds into edible oil and biodiesel. The seeds are stored in an integrated bunker which feeds the oil press.
June 16, 2009 Read Full Article
SG Biofuels Discovers Cold-Tolerant Jatropha; May Open US for More Cultivation
In California, SG Biofuels announced that it has identified multiple strains of cold tolerant Jatropha capable of thriving in climates outside the crop’s traditional subtropical habitat. The strains are included among thousands of variations of Jatropha curcas the firm has
June 16, 2009 Read Full Article
Harkin: Indirect Land Use Won't Stand Up to Scientific Scrutiny
by Dan Looker. Talking to reporters, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) said he doubts that the final rule from the Environmental Protection Agency on a new renewable fuel standard will have the same use of indirect land use that
June 16, 2009 Read Full Article
Spanish Company Touts Process to Turn Urban Waste into Biodiesel
by Ron Kotrba. A group of Spanish developers working under the company name Ecofasa, headed by chief executive officer and inventor Francisco Angulo, has developed a biochemical process to turn urban solid waste into a fatty acid biodiesel feedstock. “It
June 16, 2009 Read Full Article
Pelosi, US House Farm Chief Discuss Climate Bill
Speaker Nancy Pelosi met the House Agriculture Committee chairman Collin Peterson to discuss the climate change bill that he opposes but which is a priority for House Democrats this year. ... Peterson announced opposition to the climate bill a month ago
June 16, 2009 Read Full Article
Renewed World Energies Takes Algae to Another Level of Green
by Susan Wilson. Algae has been cultivated primarily as a source of biofuel, but Renewed World Energies (RWE) is taking it one step further. The company wants to clean up power plant and industrial plant emissions using algae and then
June 16, 2009 Read Full Article
Western Biofuels Introduces New Process
by Susanne Retka Schill. Western Biofuels Inc. released the results of an independent validation test and announced plans to build a 1.4 MMgy demonstration plant for a new biofuel process. Fuel chemist Nicholas Irving, president and founder of Western Biofuels,
June 16, 2009 Read Full Article
European Body Sees Algae Fuel Industry in 10-15 Years
Industrial-scale production of bioenergy from algae, or seaweeds, can be expected in 10 to 15 years, helping Europe to reach its green energy targets, the top official at a newly created bioenergy body said on Wednesday. ... Research into algae-made
June 16, 2009 Read Full Article
“Drama Building for Biofuels in California”: a Biofuels Digest Special Report
Being a standard-bearer requires heroic endeavors, and perhaps inevitably, epic miscalculations as well. This is the situation of the California Air Resources Board (ARB) in its recent announcement of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard for alternative fuels .” For so long the
June 16, 2009 Read Full Article
Gold Star to Cultivate Five Million Acres of Land for Biofuels in Ghana
Gold Star Biofuels a subsidiary of Gold Star Farms Ltd., is cultivating five million acres of land in Ghana to plant jatropha for the production of biofuels for export. According to the firm it has secured commitment from farmers to
June 16, 2009 Read Full Article
Ghana’s Jatropha Conundrum – More Questions than Answers
Ghana is becoming the Jatropha centre in Africa south of the Sahara. The attraction which the country has as a welcoming place for investors interested in the wonder plant, Jatropha which hopefully, would be the world’s answer to alternative energy
June 16, 2009 Read Full Article
Straw-based Ethanol Eyed for Saskatchewan Mill Site
A shuttered pulp mill at Prince Albert, Saskatchewan could be the new site for a facility to make cellulosic ethanol from farmers' cereal straw. Saskatchewan's provincial government on Monday inked a letter of intent with Domtar, owner of the pulp
June 16, 2009 Read Full Article
Prairie Grass Experiment at Fermilab's Campus
As part of an effort to develop a new collection of alternative fuels, ecologist Julie Jastrow and her colleagues from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago planted seven different combinations of native
June 03, 2009 Read Full Article
Biomass 2009 Conference Presentations Available Online
Every spring, the US Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Biomass Program hosts a FREE 2-day conference and expo exploring biomass as an energy source. The Biomass Program works with industry, academia and national laboratory partners
June 03, 2009 Read Full Article
Suggestions to Improve ARPA-E
Robert Kozak, Advanced Biofuels USA board member and president of Atlantic Biomass Conversions, Inc., has written to US Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu with suggestions for improving the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) with particular attention to the procedures
June 03, 2009 Read Full Article
ARPA-E Not Showing Meaningful Flexibility for “Companies Who Do Not Traditionally Work with the Federal Government”
ARPA-E is a new organization within the Department of Energy (DOE), created specifically to foster research and development (R&D) of transformational energy-related technologies. ... ARPA-E was created to fund scientists and technologists taking immature technologies that promise to make a large
June 02, 2009 Read Full Article
Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy Partially Extends Deadline
The deadline for applications submissions for this first solicitation for the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E). ARPA-E has been extended to June 10. However, the deadline to obtain control number required to apply has not been extended. READ
June 02, 2009 Read Full Article
NYT Reports Plant-Derived Fuels Could Be Certified for Fights within a Year, Says Boeing Exec
Katie Howell: Jet fuels derived from algae, camelina and jatropha -- plants that pack an energy punch, are not eaten as food and do not displace food crops -- could be approved and replacing petroleum fuels in commercial flights as
June 02, 2009 Read Full Article
National Algae Association Forms Buying Consortium
The National Algae Association is building a buying consortium to help its members build algae farms and production plants more cost efficiently. NAA staff are meeting with various equipment and service providers to negotiate the best prices and terms for NAA members to help drive down their
June 02, 2009 Read Full Article
UN Event Focuses on Advanced Biofuels Development in Dominican Republic, Way to Fight Poverty
The Public-Private Alliance Foundation (PPAF) held its Third Annual "Partners Against Poverty" event at the UN with 45 high-level participants and observers representing five countries (Brazil, Dominican Republic, USA, Honduras and Haiti) to discuss business innovations in the development and production of
June 01, 2009 Read Full Article
Rye "Grassohol" Project Funded in Wales
SCIENTISTS in Wales are working on a ground-breaking £1m scheme to turn grass into fuel. The Assembly Government- backed “grassohol” project aims to develop a commercially viable way to make ethanol which is used as an alternative to petrol. The
June 01, 2009 Read Full Article
Ohio Awards $5 Million Grant for 3rd Generation Biofuels Technology
Velocys, Inc. (“Velocys”), has been awarded a $5 million commercialisation grant, applicable over a period of two and a half years. The grant will assist in commercialising the Oxford Catalysts Group’s microchannel technology for hydro-processing − an important step in
June 01, 2009 Read Full Article
DTN and The Guardian/Greenpeace Report on Brazil Deforestation
By Kieran Gartlan (DTN): The transformation began last year when a controversial study was published in Science Magazine by environmentalist Tim Searchinger. It introduced the innocuous four-letter acronym ILUC, or Indirect Land Use Change. According to ILUC theory, corn used for
June 01, 2009 Read Full Article
Ardent Energy to Acquire 15,000 Hectares in Ethiopia for Jatropha Biodiesel
Biofuels Digest reports that in Ethiopia, Ardent Energy Group announced an agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MOARD) of Ethiopia to transfer 15,000 hectares, approximately 37,000 acres, to AEG for the purpose of cultivating jatropha and castor.
June 01, 2009 Read Full Article
EPA Proposes New Regulations for the National Renewable Fuel Standard Program for 2010 and Beyond
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing revisions to the National Renewable Fuel Standard program (commonly known as the RFS program). Today’s proposed rule intends to address changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard program as required by the Energy Independence
May 30, 2009 Read Full Article
US DOE Funds Lignocellulose Research
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The newly funded Center for Lignocellulose Structure and Formation at Pennsylvania State University will be home to investigations into plant cells to produce better biomass-based fuels. The U.S. DOE will fund the center with
May 30, 2009 Read Full Article
Obama Praises Advanced Biofuels' Promise
In his letter to the Governors' Biofuels Coalition, President Obama noted, "Advanced renewable transportation fuels will be one of the nation's most important industries in the 21st Century. Combined with improved energy efficiency, biofuels are the primary near-term option for
May 29, 2009 Read Full Article
Nowhere Does the Energy Independence and Security Act Mention “International Indirect Land Use Change”
Thoughts from Joanne Ivancic, Executive Director, Advanced Biofuels USA. There has been a lot of controversy about “indirect land use change” analysis related to figuring out how much greenhouse gas emissions result from the production of biofuels. Looking closely at
May 29, 2009 Read Full Article
EPA’s Proposed Renewable Fuels Lifecycle Rule: McGuireWoods Briefing
The 500+ page proposed renewable fuels greenhouse gas lifecycle rule released by EPA on May 5th and published in the Federal Register on May 26, 2009 (74 Fed. Reg. 24904) has been met with a hail storm of criticism from
May 29, 2009 Read Full Article
Vacant Lot-to-Bioenergy Farm in Central City New Orleans
The intersection of Jackson Avenue and North Johnson Street looks like many in Central City. There are vacant lots overgrown with vegetation and strewn with debris alongside boarded-up, decaying houses optimistically donning "for sale" signs. But on one corner in
May 29, 2009 Read Full Article
Virgin Galactic Space Travel Advances in Testing; Biobutanol, Other Biofuels for Mothership, Spacecraft
Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Fuels is developing biofuels that can be used to power both the mothership Eve that will launch the spacecraft from the stratosphere, while the SpaceShipTwo spacecraft will itself be designed to run on biobutanol. Branson is
May 29, 2009 Read Full Article
Research Reinforces Economic, Environmental Benefits of Corn Cobs as Source for Cellulosic Ethanol
Corn cobs are both economical and environmentally friendly as a feedstock for cellulosic ethanol, university and government reports indicate, reaffirming POET’s strategy for commercializing its new technology. Removing corn cobs from fields for use in cellulosic ethanol production appears to
May 29, 2009 Read Full Article
Next-Gen Canadian Biofuels Projects Fund Created
Next-gen biofuel projects in Canada are eligible for up to 40 percent incentive to be repaid over 10 years. A nonprofit funded by the Canadian federal government announced today its latest call for applications for its $500 million fund created
May 29, 2009 Read Full Article
S4 Energy Solutions to Use Medical and Industrial Waste for Biofuels, Electricity, Industrial Products
Waste Management, Inc. and InEnTec LLC announced the formation of S4 Energy Solutions LLC, a joint venture to develop, operate and market plasma gasification facilities using InEnTec's Plasma Enhanced Melter (PEM™) technology. The joint venture is expected to process waste
May 29, 2009 Read Full Article
Canadian Company Invests in Biodiesel from Jatropha and Forestry in China
Cathay Forest Products Corp. says it will pay C$2.9 million to acquire 40 per cent of Eco-Energy China Group, a private biodiesel producer based in China's southwestern province of Guizhou. Cathay Forest, which has its head office in Richmond Hill,
May 29, 2009 Read Full Article
Watermelons Tapped for Ethanol
With their sweet, refreshing juices and succulent interior, watermelons are a favorite summertime treat, especially around July 4th. But now this Independence Day favorite could become even more of a patriotic commodity. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) studies in Lane, Okla.,
May 28, 2009 Read Full Article
Fuels from Biomass Could Impact US Oil Dependence, But Significant Technolgical Investements Are Still Needed
Liquid fuels from biomass and coal have the potential to reduce petroleum fuel use and CO2 emissions in the U.S. transportation sector over the next 25 years, says a new report from the National Research Council. Even with abundant resources
May 28, 2009 Read Full Article
One-Step Process Derives Raw Material for Fuels and Plastic from Plants
Some researchers hope to turn plants into a renewable, nonpolluting replacement for crude oil. To achieve this, scientists have to learn how to convert plant biomass into a building block for plastics and fuels cheaply and efficiently. In new research,
May 28, 2009 Read Full Article
Changing Climate: Carbon Tax Gaining Momentum over Cap-and-Trade?
by Ron Pernick, RenewableEnergyWorld.com: I recently gave a talk to a group of environmentalists, technologists, and business people at an innovation forum in Portland, Oregon. In my talk, I relayed the findings of our recent Carbon Free Prosperity report, where
May 28, 2009 Read Full Article
Report on China's Renewable Energy Law Released
This paper forms a component of the Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation Task Force (REDGTF) project: Identifying optimal legal frameworks for renewable energy in China and India (the Project). The Project is undertaken by Baker & McKenzie and the Renewable
May 28, 2009 Read Full Article
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory Launches Interactive Map of Alternative Fuels Stations
On the NREL web site, visitors can find a map that plots locations of ethanol plants and alternative fuel stations, including propane, hydrogen, E85 ethanol blends and other alternative fuels. Link to Map Partial Instructions
May 28, 2009 Read Full Article
Bihas Chief Minister Demands Withdrawal of Ethanol Limiting Order
In a letter addressed to PM Manmohan Singh, a day after he assumed office for the second consecutive term, chief minister Nitish Kumar has demanded favourable consideration of state's pending requests, ... Nitish also demanded the withdrawal of the order
May 28, 2009 Read Full Article
EPA Extends Comment Period on E15 to July 20
EPA is extending the comment period related to a waiver application to increase the allowable ethanol content of gasoline to 15 volume percent. Under the Federal Register Notice, published April 21, 2009, the public comment period was set to end
May 26, 2009 Read Full Article
Senator John Thune Opines: EPA Undermining the Development of Biofuels, Introduces Legislation
May 15, 2009 - In recent years, the biofuels industry has made strides in breaking our nation's addiction to foreign oil. The production of ethanol has also generated strong demand for our crops and created many jobs in rural states
May 26, 2009 Read Full Article
Washington State Misses Biofuels Target
Washington state won't reach its goal next month of having biofuels make up at least 20 percent of its fuel use in state vehicles and ferries. The state had set a June 1 target for alternative fuels to make up
May 26, 2009 Read Full Article
U.S. Freedom Bio Fuels Latest Technology Converts Animal Fat to Fuel
U.S. Freedom Bio Fuels, LLC, manufacturer of Biodiesel production equipment for the commercial end user, has developed a processor for converting animal fat to fuel. There BD65AF processor will produce 200 gallons of fuel per day without acid pre-treat. READ
May 26, 2009 Read Full Article
DomesticFuel.com Introduces Advanced Biofuels USA to Its Readers
Organization Promotes Advanced Biofuels Posted by Cindy Zimmerman– May 25th, 2009 A Maryland-based organization is promoting the education, acceptance and use of advanced biofuels. “The goal of Advanced Biofuels USA is to show the American people, decision-makers and opinion leaders
May 26, 2009 Read Full Article
Colorado County Awards $9 Million to Waste-to-Energy Project Making Renewable Diesel, Jet Fuel
The Crowley County Commissioners announced the award of a $9,000,000 Private Activity Bond Allocation through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. This allocation authorizes the issuance of $9 million in tax free bonds to support the development of an animal
May 25, 2009 Read Full Article
AP Moller Plans for Biofuels for Planes and Shipping
Danish oil group and shipping company AP Moller-Maersk is in talks with US plane maker Boeing about developing biofuels for planes as well as ships, a senior executive of AP Moller told a newspaper in an interview. The executive, AP Moller
May 25, 2009 Read Full Article
Biofuels Digest Publishes Special Online Report on Aviation Biofuels
Biofuels Digest presents a special report on biofuels aviation, including coverage of feedstocks, airlines, aircraft manufacturers, engine makers and policy. READ MORE
May 25, 2009 Read Full Article
"The Clean" Lists Shortfalls of Waxman-Markey Climate Change Bill
In its current state, the bill falls far short of the policies needed to transition from a dirty energy economy to a clean energy economy. We believe the Waxman-Markey bill should be drastically changed or dropped. Here's our position: Dump the cap and
May 24, 2009 Read Full Article
PetroAlgae Debuts New Drop-In Fuel Process for Green Diesel from Algae
According to Biofuels Digest, in Florida, PetroAlgae said that it believes it is now the closest company to commercialization of micro crops as a biofuel will complete its microcrop demonstration farm in Florida this year and will commence booking revenues
May 22, 2009 Read Full Article
Peterson Introduces Legislation to Protect Domestic Biofuel Industry from Unfair Government Restrictions
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (MN) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (OK) along with a bipartisan group of 42 Members of Congress introduced a bill to correct flawed provisions in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that are limiting the
May 22, 2009 Read Full Article
Massive Land Grab for Food, Fuel Cropland in Africa, Russia, Ukraine
In Africa, Business Week and VUE Weekly are reporting on the rise of neocolonialism as massive land grans are undertaken by Saudi Arabia, China the United Arab Emirates, as well as European interests. The goal is food and energy security
May 22, 2009 Read Full Article
American Chemical Society Announces New Bioprocess for Producing Biofuels from Agricultural Waste
Scientists in California are reporting use of a first-of-its-kind approach to craft genetically engineered microbes with the much-sought ability to transform switchgrass, corn cobs, and other organic materials into methyl halides — the raw material for making gasoline and a
May 22, 2009 Read Full Article
Honeywell To Test Biofuel in APUs, Engines this Summer
Honeywell Aerospace is gearing up for biofuel tests on its APUs and engines this summer in a bid to stay ahead of the alternative fuel push. ... That project is now entering a second phase with biofuel tests, and Honeywell
May 22, 2009 Read Full Article
Oregon's Diesel Brewing to Make Butanol from Dairy Farm Manure
Diesel Brewing announced the company has launched its initiative to manufacture cellulosic bio-butanol from Oregon’s ample supplies of biomass and dairy farm manure. Bio-butanol is a 100% “green” liquid fuel that can be blended into conventional gasoline or diesel stocks
May 22, 2009 Read Full Article
Algae Front-runner GreenFuel Shuts Down
GreenFuel Technologies, one of the first companies to enter the algae biofuels business, is shutting down after running out of money. Investor Duncan McIntyre of Polaris Venture Partners on Wednesday confirmed GreenFuel Technologies' demise, saying that the company is a
May 22, 2009 Read Full Article
Biochar Improves Crop Yields by 6-17 Percent
Dynamotive Energy Systems Corporation, a leader in second generation biomass-to-biofuel technology, and BlueLeaf Inc., a Canadian private social purpose enterprise active in applied research concerning the environment, announced results of a year long test in application of Dynamotive’s CQuest™ Biochar
May 22, 2009 Read Full Article
Süd-Chemie, Linde to Start Biofuel Production from Lignocellulosic Biomass
Süd-Chemie AG (Germany), a leading manufacturer of catalysts and adsorbents, and The Linde Group (Germany), a leading global company in the sector of gases and engineering, have launched the production of climate-friendly biofuels based on lignocellulosic biomass in Munich. The
May 22, 2009 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels USA Comments on EPA's Proposed Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rule
I applaud your findings that CO2 is one of the 6 key contributors to air pollution and endangers public health and safety. I am also glad that the US Supreme Court ruled, in effect, that EPA now has the authority
May 20, 2009 Read Full Article
President Announces Biofuels Interagency Working Group
On May 5, President Obama announced steps to further his Administration’s commitment to advance biofuels research and commercialization. Specifically, he signed a Presidential Directive establishing a Biofuels Interagency Working Group, announced additional Recovery Act funds for renewable fuel projects, and
May 20, 2009 Read Full Article
Comments on EPA's Proposed Greenhouse Gas Emission Rule
Robert Kozak, Atlantic Biomass Conversions, Inc. and Advanced Biofuels USA board member: While the technical information submitted by EPA in support of this NPRM is probably adequate (using the quality of previously EPA submitted technical information on ozone standard setting as
May 20, 2009 Read Full Article
US Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation Plan Joint Greenhouse Gas and Fuel Efficiency Standards
There is a critically important need for our country to address global climate change and to reduce oil consumption. In this context, EPA and DOT currently intend to work in coordination to propose standards for control of emissions of greenhouse
May 19, 2009 Read Full Article
President Obama Announces National Fuel Efficiency Policy
President Obama today – for the first time in history – set in motion a new national policy aimed at both increasing fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gas pollution for all new cars and trucks sold in the United States.
May 19, 2009 Read Full Article
Indian Jatropha Yield without Fertilizer Less than Expected
At the time, jatropha’s promise seemed boundless. APJ Abdul Kalam, the president, even used his presidential address that year to extol its virtues. Jatropha can survive in the most arid wastelands, the story went, so vast barren swathes of India
May 13, 2009 Read Full Article
US/India Cooperative Agreements for 2nd Generation Biofuel Production
Indian government-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is tying up with US-based National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for a pilot project to produce second generation biofuel. This biofuel — essentailly bio-ethanol — would be produced from cellulosic biomass or degradable agricultural waste
May 13, 2009 Read Full Article
Secretary Chu Announces Recovery Act Funds to Accelerate Biofuels Research and Commercialization
... “Developing the next generation of biofuels is key to our effort to end our dependence on foreign oil and address the climate crisis -- while creating millions of new jobs that can't be outsourced,” Secretary Chu said. “With American
May 13, 2009 Read Full Article
Rentech Announces Plant to Produce Renewable Synthetic Diesel and Green Electric Power from Urban Waste
Rentech, Inc., announced a plan to build a plant in Rialto, California for the production of ultra-clean synthetic fuels and electric power from renewable waste biomass feedstocks. The Rialto Renewable Energy Center (Rialto Project) is designed to produce approximately 600
May 13, 2009 Read Full Article
Biofuel for Jets Could Cut Carbon Emissions Over 80 Percent Using Camelina
The seeds of a lowly weed could cut jet fuel's cradle-to-grave carbon emissions by 84 percent. David Shonnard, Robbins Chair Professor of Chemical Engineering, conducted an analysis of jet fuel made from camelina oil to measure its carbon dioxide emissions
May 13, 2009 Read Full Article
EESI Hosts Congressional Briefing on Alternative Transportation Fuels: Biofuels
On May 12, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing to examine the economic, energy security, climate, and other environmental issues associated with biofuels—liquid fuels derived from plant, animal, or other organic matter (biomass). Expanded biofuels production
May 13, 2009 Read Full Article
A Level Playing Field for Biofuels and Bioproducts
Bruce Dale, Michigan State University...... Unfortunately, there is currently a great deal of irresponsible behavior concerning biofuels and bioproducts, both from their opponents and from their supporters. For example, it is irresponsible to promote virgin oils from temperate-zone oilseeds as
May 13, 2009 Read Full Article
Mascoma Announces Consolidated Bioprocessing Advances
Mascoma Corporation announced that the company has made major research advances in consolidated bioprocessing, or CBP, a low-cost processing strategy for production of biofuels from cellulosic biomass. CBP avoids the need for the costly production of cellulase enzymes by using
May 13, 2009 Read Full Article
Manning Feraci, National Biodiesel Board Concerned About Proposed EPA RFS GHGRule
... It appears that the EPA, in determining the ghg profile for biodiesel, is penalizing the U.S. biodiesel industry for land use decisions made outside the U.S. that have little if anything to do with the domestic biodiesel production. A
May 12, 2009 Read Full Article
Jatropha Farm Featured on PBS Worldview Program Series
Farming Biodiesel, Inc., a sustainable, social Jatropha farming organization, in association with New Eye Productions and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), announces they will be featured in the upcoming television series titled Worldview Program. Breaking ground since 2007, Desert Center, California
May 12, 2009 Read Full Article
Considerations for the Future of the Biofuels Market
By Michael Harris ----- BioWorld sees a number of dynamics that have the capacity to impact and define the future of the biofuels market. Some of these mitigating factors are: ... Biofuels can be over-hyped, but the actual and impending consequences
May 12, 2009 Read Full Article
Ethanol-Fueled Vehicles Make Their Way Around the World
By Kathleen Kite-Powell ----- Outside of the North America, the range of progress toward the use of ethanol-fueled vehicles is quite broad, from countries that only use conventional petroleum-based gasoline-powered vehicles to countries attempting to convert to 100 percent ethanol
May 12, 2009 Read Full Article
Synthetic Biology Emerges as Key to Biofuels
by Amanda Lyle ----- Converting cellulose quickly and cheaply into biofuel may be feasible any day now - what remains to be seen is who will be the first to use synthetic biology to create an organism capable of such
May 12, 2009 Read Full Article
Jatopha Plantations Planned to Secure Rural India Jobs
The government of the Indian state of Orissa is preparing a master plan to use jatropha plantations to secure jobs for its rural areas. The proposal has gained renewed backing in recent months as refiners have begun to extract oil
May 08, 2009 Read Full Article
Bio Base Europe Develops the Region into the Bio-Based Economy Gateway in Europe
Bio Base Europe is a joint initiative of Biopark Terneuzen and Ghent Bio-Energy Valley. Both organisations have been working for some time for the expansion of a bio-based economy in the Flanders-Netherlands border region. Contrary to what is frequently assumed,
May 08, 2009 Read Full Article
Ethanol Crops? Lab Finds New Method To Turn Biomass Into Gasoline
Scientists have combined a discovery from a French garbage dump with breakthroughs in synthetic biology to come up with a novel method for turning plant waste into gasoline, without the need of any food sources. A synthetic biology lab at
May 08, 2009 Read Full Article
US House Agriculture Committee Chair Vents About EPA's Use of Indirect Land Use Effects
"I'm off the train," Collin Peterson, US House Agriculture Committee chair said May 6 during a strongly worded statement at a hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency's new proposal for assessing indirect effects of ethanol production on greenhouse gas emissions. ...Peterson said,
May 08, 2009 Read Full Article
Florida's New Generation Biofuels Selling Product in Maryland
Originally formed in March 2006 as H2Diesel, Inc., New Generation Biofuels is commercializing a second generation biofuel using a proprietary process. NGB Biofuel is a precision blended product made from any number of new or recycled vegetable oil or animal
May 08, 2009 Read Full Article
A New Use for Algae: Natural Gas
Genifuel has teamed up with Pacific Northwest National Labs to make natural gas out of algae. Why? It's cheaper and easier than producing liquid fuel. Why crush algae when you can incinerate it? That's one way to describe a shift
May 08, 2009 Read Full Article
Stone Soap Company Unveils Promising Hybrid Natural Gas-Biofuel
A 76-year-old manufacturer of car wash soaps says it's developed a new line of clean biofuel products that could revolutionize alternative fuels. Stone Soap Co. Inc. has applied for a patent for the chemistry behind three related products: a so-called
May 08, 2009 Read Full Article
University of Texas at Austin Biologists and Engineers In DARPA Project to Develop Jet Fuel from Algal Oil
...At The University of Texas at Austin, the scope of the project includes identifying the best strains of algae for producing oil from sites in Texas and from the university's algal culture collection, harvesting the algal strains, breaking the algal
May 08, 2009 Read Full Article
Diversified Energy Applies for International Patent for Centia™ Biorefinery Technology
Based on technology exclusively licensed from North Carolina State University, the CentiaTM process can use virtually any triglyceride feedstock (virgin oils, waste greases, animal fats, algal oils, among others) to produce fuels similar to petroleum-derived gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
May 07, 2009 Read Full Article
Assessment of Biomass Resources in Liberia
Biomass resources meet about 99.5% of the Liberian population's energy needs so they are vital to basic welfare and economic activity. Already, traditional biomass products like firewood and charcoal are the primary energy source used for domestic cooking and heating.
May 07, 2009 Read Full Article
Mascoma Announces Major Cellulosic Biofuel
Mascoma Corporation today announced that the company has made major research advances in consolidated bioprocessing, or CBP, a low-cost processing strategy for production of biofuels from cellulosic biomass. CBP avoids the need for the costly production of cellulase enzymes by
May 07, 2009 Read Full Article
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