Two German scientists investigated the feasibility of replacing fossil fuels with biomass as the primary energy supply. Their paper, published in the journal Naturwissenschaften, posited a scenario in which degraded lands were planted with fast growing trees, which were then
Ethanol, Biomass May Fuel Fuel Cells
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology are exploring the use of biomass or ethanol as a primary fuel in fuel cells instead of hydrogen to produce energy from electrochemical reactions with fewer emissions and greater efficiency than internal combustion
December 17, 2008 Read Full Article
Waste Coffee Grounds Offer New Source Of Biodiesel Fuel
Researchers in Nevada are reporting that waste coffee grounds can provide a cheap, abundant, and environmentally friendly source of biodiesel fuel for powering cars and trucks. READ MORE.
December 15, 2008 Read Full Article
Diverse Crops Better for Sustainable Biofuel Production
Shifting more acreage to corn production may not be the best way to meet increasing renewable fuel production requirements, researchers at Michigan State University and the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center are finding. Growing a variety of different crops is
December 15, 2008 Read Full Article
Ceres, Inc., Introduces Dedicated Energy Crop Seeds
California-based crop company Ceres Inc. has introduced two varieties each of switchgrass and high-biomass sorghum specifically designed to boost energy crop yields. Early buyers of the seeds include DOE-backed biofuels companies building demonstration cellulosic ethanol refineries as well as forward-thinking
December 11, 2008 Read Full Article
Study Finds That Without a Price on Carbon, Regular Hybrids can Lower Lifecycle CO2 Emissions As Effectively as Plug-in Hybrids, and At Lower Cost
A new working paper from Duke University finds that in the absence of a price signal for CO2, regular hybrids can lower lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions as effectively as plug-in hybrids, and at a considerably lower cost. READ MORE. [View
December 11, 2008 Read Full Article
Scientists Seek to Turn Waste Glycerol Biofuels into High-Value Gas
For every tonne of biodiesel made from vegetable oil, 100kg of thick, viscous glycerol is produced as a byproduct. The annual 6.8 billion liters of biodiesel production in the EU yields around 680,000 tonnes of crude glycerol. Although some of
December 10, 2008 Read Full Article
UGA Researchers Looking to Turn Fruit into Fuel
by April Sorrow (University of Georgia) Half of all the fruit grown in Georgia is never eaten by people or animals. It rots in the fields. A University of Georgia researcher says that spoiled fruit could fuel cars. That wasted
December 10, 2008 Read Full Article
Modified Lignin Has Potential Benefits for Ethanol, Advanced Biofuels, Paper, and Feed
University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists, in partnership with USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), have synthesized a new form of lignin that breaks down more readily than that which occurs in nature. Lignin is the mortar that holds cellulose (the thick, undigestable
December 09, 2008 Read Full Article
USDA Offers Guaranteed Loans for Commercial-Scale Biorefineries
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering to guarantee loans of up to $250 million for commercial-scale biorefineries that produce biofuels from something other than corn starch. One company that plans to apply for a loan guarantee is Florida-based
December 07, 2008 Read Full Article
Critique of the Obama/Biden Energy Plan
by Robert E. Kozak, Advanced Biofuels USA Board Member (I was quite disappointed to see no mention of low GHG biofuels and quite a reliance on oil, gas, and coal, for a plan that is being touted as "Making the U.S.
December 06, 2008 Read Full Article
Freeways to Fuels (F2F)
by Dallas Hanks and Ralph Whitesides (Utah State University) ... Nearly all highway, airport, railway and military areas in the United States have fallow agronomic areas that require regular maintenance to keep them from becoming unsightly and unsafe. In addition
November 30, 2008 Read Full Article
Fungal Diesel Could Be New Fuel Source
by Sam Bond (edie.net) A fungus that makes biodiesel as part of its natural lifecycle has attracted the attention of American scientists wishing to tap into its potential. The fungus has been discovered living in trees in the Patagonian rainforests
November 29, 2008 Read Full Article
Utah’s Green Star Products, Inc., Plans Expanded Advanced Biofuels Production
In 2006, Green Star started plans to construct biorefineries that produce ethanol from low cost agricultural waste products (wood chips, switch-grass, rice stalks, municipal waste, etc.) from biomass based on its proprietary process patents and production of biodiesel integrating Green
November 25, 2008 Read Full Article
NASCAR Hires Lynch to Head 'Green' Initiative
As NASCAR develops an industry-wide initiative to address the environment, the sanctioning body has taken an even bigger step in hiring Dr. Mike Lynch to head up a new Green initiative. "Mike will be developing and coordinating an industry strategy to
November 20, 2008 Read Full Article
Missouri Voters Approve a Renewable Energy Requirement
Missouri voters approved a measure that will require the state's investor-owned utilities to draw on renewable energy for 15% of their electricity supply by 2021. The Missouri Clean Energy Initiative, or Proposition C, passed easily, garnering approval from 66% of
November 12, 2008 Read Full Article
Meeting Ethanol Mandates in California: A 5-Part Series
Spot.us, a new venture dedicated to crowdfunded reporting, was able to commission Wired.com staff writer Alexis Madrigal to move forward with his article on meeting ethanol mandates in California. Gas2.0 is proud to be the first media source to publish Alexis’
October 23, 2008 Read Full Article
Texas Loses “Food vs. Fuel” Biofuel Feud
by Angela Neville (Power Mag) ... In April, the Texas governor jumped into the middle of this debate. Responding to what some observers thought was strong pressure from TSCRA, Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) submitted a formal request to the Environmental
October 17, 2008 Read Full Article
The Science of Green Racing: Fuel for the Future
The Drayson Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT2 racing car (007) runs on 2nd generation E85 (85% proof) bioethanol fuel which is produced by the hydrolysis, or breaking down, of the cellulose found in waste wood using specially developed enzymes which act
October 08, 2008 Read Full Article
Great Plains – The Camelina Company and the EERC Poised to Produce 100 Percent Renewable Jet Fuel from Camelina
Great Plains-The Camelina Company has studied the science and agronomy of camelina for over 10 years and for the past three years has contracted with growers throughout the United States and Canada to grow the crop. Currently, the company is
October 02, 2008 Read Full Article
Novel Fungus Helps Beetles to Digest Hard Wood
by Amit Avasthi and Vicki Fong (Penn State University, gantdaily.com) A little known fungus tucked away in the gut of Asian longhorned beetles helps the insect munch through the hardest of woods according to a team of entomologists and biochemists. Researchers
September 29, 2008 Read Full Article
From Sugar To Gasoline: 'Green Gasoline' Crafted From Sugar and Carbohydrates
Following independent paths of investigation, two research teams are announcing this month that they have successfully converted sugar-potentially derived from agricultural waste and non-food plants-into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and a range of other valuable chemicals. READ MORE
September 19, 2008 Read Full Article
Chesapeake Cellulosic Biofuels Report Released
The Report of the Chesapeake Cellulosic Biofuels Project Next-Generation Biofuels: Taking the Policy Lead for the Nation was released at the Cellulosic Biofuels Summit held on September 4, 2008 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. “This publication represents the culmination of a year-long effort
September 18, 2008 Read Full Article
Fusion Enzymes for Biofuels
C2 Biotechnologies, LLC of Germantown, New York (C2B) harnesses the power of biology to fuse different proteins, specifically, enzymes with desirable characteristics, into one product using a fusion enzyme technology platform. Download PDF or READ MORE
September 15, 2008 Read Full Article
Green Auto Racing? How Can that Be?
On August 28 and 29, a group of well-connected “car guys” (male and female) got together to discuss the future of personal transportation in the world. They did so through the prism of international car racing, hosted by the Motorsport
September 07, 2008 Read Full Article
Comments on Implementation of Title IX, Energy Authorities of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
by Robert Kozak, President, Atlantic Biomass Conversions, Inc.; Board Member, Advanced Biofuels USA Title IX Implementation: Overall Goals First and foremost I urge whichever Administration takes office in January to honor the intent of Title IX legislation, to assure that the mandatory funding
September 05, 2008 Read Full Article
80% of British Biofuels are Unsustainable
by Fred Pearce (New Scientist) Biofuels have received another environmental black mark. A survey commissioned by the UK government found that over 4 litres in every 5 supplied at British pumps fail to meet basic industry standards for sustainable production. Manufacturers
August 29, 2008 Read Full Article
Agriculture’s Role in Fueling the BioCar of the Future
Until recently, Americans thought very little of filling up our gas tanks. Gas was gas. Where it came from was of little concern, as long as it powered our cars to get us where we needed to be, when we
August 28, 2008 Read Full Article
$2.00/gal Bio Diesel Fuel Ready for Production
Several thousand gallons of bio diesel fuel that meets ASTM specification D-975 have been produced, road tested in diesel vehicles and declared ready for volume production, according to Harrison Dillon, President and Chief Technology Officer, Solazyme, Inc. South San Francisco,
August 28, 2008 Read Full Article
Department of Defense Advanced Aviation Biofuels Program
The Defense Department has been directed to explore a wide range of energy alternatives and fuel efficiency efforts in a bid to reduce the military's reliance on oil to power its aircraft, ground vehicles and non-nuclear ships. The goal of
August 06, 2008 Read Full Article
Giant Grass Miscanthus Can Meet US Biofuels Goal Using Less Land Than Corn Or Switchgrass
ScienceDaily (Aug. 4, 2008) — In the largest field trial of its kind in the United States, researchers have determined that the giant perennial grass Miscanthus x giganteus outperforms current biofuels sources – by a lot. READ MORE
August 04, 2008 Read Full Article
FAA Selects X PRIZE Foundation for Grant to Spur Renewable Aviation Fuels and Technologies
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters announced July 10, 2008, that the FAA has selected the X PRIZE Foundation to develop a strategy to create monetary incentives for developing renewable aviation fuels and technologies to stem the affect of pollutants from
July 25, 2008 Read Full Article
Lufthansa Aims to Use Some Biofuel
The German airline, Lufthansa, plans to cut 25 percent of its carbon dioxide emissions by 2020. Luftansa announced plans to clean up emissions at the airline, aiming to use 10 percent biofuel in its fleet by 2020. The company set a series
June 30, 2008 Read Full Article
Crawford County Farmers Growing Camelina for Biofuel
(Farm and Dairy) In most places in the East, they’re still talking about the coming biofuels revolution. But in Crawford County, Pennsylvania — thanks largely to Penn State Cooperative Extension — farmers already are involved in it. The local extension office
June 15, 2008 Read Full Article
Getting Real About Oil
Presidential hopeful John McCain said it this week and he can't deny it. The war in Iraq is about our dependency on foreign oil. He's right and he needn't apologize for it. And look where it's gotten us five years later.
May 07, 2008 Read Full Article
Now Sunlight CO2 and Bacteria Equals Ethanol
(New Energy and Fuel) A new bacterium, a cyanobacterium that is energized by sunlight and excretes the sugars glucose and sucrose with some cellulose has been created by Dr. R. Malcolm Brown and Dr. David Nobles at the University of Texas
April 30, 2008 Read Full Article
Biofuels from Sugar Beets
Sugar beet pulp left over from sugar production is rich in 5-carbon (C-5) and 6-carbon (C-6) sugars that are ideal for the production of advanced biofuels. Atlantic Biomass Conversions, Inc., is currently developing "evolved" enzyme sets to release C-5 and
April 30, 2008 Read Full Article
Biofuels and the Energy-Water Nexus
by Ron Pate (Sandia National Laboratories) This presentation explores the demands of water on renewable energy development, including biofuels. READ MORE
April 28, 2008 Read Full Article
Juice: Alternate Fuels World Announcing the Advanced Biofuels Association
I recently spoke with Joanne Ivancic, the founder and director of the recently formed Advanced Biofuels USA ... (She) perceived that a whole contingent of biofuels developers were not being either recognized or represented. And surely she is right. Ethanol and biodiesel
April 27, 2008 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels USA Forms in Maryland to Lobby for Next-Gen Biofuels
In Maryland, a trade association has been formed to advocate and lobby in behalf of second generation biofuels. Advanced Biofuels USA will serve individuals, farm co-ops, start-up companies and commercial-scale producers a voice in influencing policy. Bob Kozak, president of
April 22, 2008 Read Full Article
Advanced biofuels organization formed
A Maryland-based nonprofit has been established to promote the interests of the advanced biofuels industry. READ MORE
April 21, 2008 Read Full Article
Biofuel Promotion Group Organized
A new organization aimed at promoting advanced biofuels industry has been founded in Frederick. Advanced Biofuels USA wants to bring to the forefront the interests of the developing advanced biofuels industry, founder Joanne Ivancic said in press release Wednesday. READ
April 17, 2008 Read Full Article
Breeding and Biotechnology Increase the Productivity and Efficiency of Maize
Mike Edgerton (Monsanto) from the Global Stewardship session at the Biomass 2008 conference. Download PDF.
April 17, 2008 Read Full Article
Ag Biotechnology Improvements for Dedicated Energy Crops
Neal Gutterson (Mendel Biotechnology) from the plenary sesssion at the Biomass 2008 conference.
April 17, 2008 Read Full Article
Designing Proactive Bioenergy Choices in a Landscape Context
Virginia Dale and colleagues (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) from Stewardship sesssion at Biomass 2008 conference. Bioenergy feedstock choices. Download PDF.
April 17, 2008 Read Full Article
Accelerating Production of Advanced Biofuels with Industrial Biotech Breakthroughs
From the open plenary session of the Biomass 2008 Conference. Download PDF.
April 17, 2008 Read Full Article
International GeneSyst Converts Municipal Waste to Ethanol
GeneSyst upgraded the weak acid hydrolysis process to convert biomass from municipal waste to fuel ethanol by making it a 'continuous (flow) process ' using the patented Gravity Pressure Vessel instead of the former 'pump and pressure' tanks (batch). READ
March 30, 2008 Read Full Article
Bio Aviation Fuel
by Jennifer Holmgren (UOP) This March 2008 presentation reviews biomass-based manufacturing technologies and aviation fuel requirements. READ MORE
March 29, 2008 Read Full Article
Graduate students and American Indian tribes work for biofuel solutions
March 14, 2008 In the midst of rising concern about energy sources, many are looking at local, waste-derived biofuels as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. Most biofuel in the United States is made from plants, such as corn, and carried
March 14, 2008 Read Full Article
Alternative Fuels - Green Racing What Is That, And Is It Possible?
by Rob Fisher (Circle Track) ..."A little over two years ago at the SAE congress there was a meeting of a new technical working group. People from all over the racing community were at this meeting-tracks, sanctions, suppliers, engine builders,
February 27, 2008 Read Full Article
Using Plants to Turn Solar Energy Into Useful Products: Framing the Biofuels Debate at the Proper Point on the Technology Curve
…It is difficult to argue with scientific measurements and peer review when they are discussing the first generation technologies, with little relevance of the overall shift towards renewables and greentech that is making all industry more energy efficient, improving water
February 14, 2008 Read Full Article
Pacific Ethanol Wins DOE Cellulosic Energy Grant
U.S. Department of Energy has included Pacific Ethanol in a matching award totaling $24.32 million to build the first cellulosic ethanol demonstration plant in the Northwest United States. The plant will employ a technology to produce ethanol from wheat straw,
January 30, 2008 Read Full Article
20-30 Percent Ethanol Inproves Fuel Efficiency in Some Cars, MnCAR Discovers
by Tim Krohn (Free Press/Minnesota State University) When Bruce Jones and his colleagues began a study on how higher blends of ethanol would affect gas mileage, he expected to prove conventional wisdom true: The more ethanol added to gasoline, the
January 30, 2008 Read Full Article
Who is Driving the Biofuels and Biobased Products Industry?
One of the common frustrations that these leaders face is that the research and government organizations come to them for ideas or product samples, but instead of treating them as the drivers of innovation, they are treated as one of
January 10, 2008 Read Full Article
The Third Domain: The Untold Story of Archaea and the Future of Biotechnology
(Science News) Until 1977, the known classes of life included eukaryotes and bacteria. When microbiologist Carl Woese announced the discovery of a third class, most academics scoffed. Yet today, barely 30 years later, archaea are known to be at least
January 02, 2008 Read Full Article
George Washington Carver and Henry Ford Shared a Bio-fuel (Ethanol) Vision
(The Auto Channel) Though worlds apart, George Washington Carver and Henry Ford shared a vision of a future in which agricultural products would be put to new uses to create products and industries. One idea both men worked on more than
December 30, 2007 Read Full Article
It Takes a Lot of Water to Grow a Corn Crop
by David Bennett (Southeast Farm Press) Last year, many Southern farmers found out just how much water a corn crop requires. “A good, high-yielding corn crop will use 22 or 23 inches of water,” says Emerson Nafziger, professor of crop production
December 30, 2007 Read Full Article
Nonwood Fiber Raw Materials and the Biorefinery
by Robert W. Hurter (HurterConsult, Inc.) The biorefinery is being touted as the way for the North American pulp and paper industry to reinvent itself. Feedstock for biorefineries includes virtually any biomass including forest waste, bark, fiber bearing sludge, construction waste,
December 29, 2007 Read Full Article
Transgenics Are Imperative for Biofuel Crops
by Jonathan Gressel (Plant Science) Petroleum dependency is a challenge that can potentially be partly offset by agricultural production of biofuels, while decreasing net, nonrenewable carbon dioxide output. Plants have not beendomesticated formodern biofuel production, and the quickest,most efficient, and
December 03, 2007 Read Full Article
Rain Forest for Biodiesel?
by Guido Reinhardt, Nils Rettenmaier, Sven Gärtner, ifeu-Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Heidelberg GmbH (Chapter 2 and 4) Andreas Pastowski, Wuppertal Institut für Klima, Umwelt, Energie GmbH (Chapter 3) (WWF Germany) The study concludes that the use of tropical fallow land for planting oil
November 02, 2007 Read Full Article
Roadmap for Bioenergy and Biobased Products in the United States
The United States has become increasingly dependent in recent decades on imported petroleum to meet its energy needs. A portfolio of more diverse and domestic feedstocks for our nation's energy and chemical supply must be found to reduce our dependence
October 31, 2007 Read Full Article
'Sweet' Biofuels Research Goes Down On The Farm
(Science Daily) Oklahoma State University’s sorghum-related biofuels research is taking a localized approach, with the aim of making possible the effective production of ethanol in the farmer’s own field. Sweet sorghum can be grown throughout temperate climate zones of the United
September 30, 2007 Read Full Article
Salty Biodiesel Crops May Be Grown at the Beach
University of Delaware researchers are interested in developing a type of mallow, the seashore mallow, for biodiesel and ethanol production: And unlike soybeans and corn, which require annual plantings on valuable farmland to feed the growing appetite for biofuels, the
August 30, 2007 Read Full Article
Syngenta Introduces Tropical Sugar Beet for Food and Biofuels
Syngenta has introduced sugar beet in India for cultivation in tropical climatic conditions. Tropical sugar beet brings significant agronomic, environmental and output advantages to Indian farming and the Indian economy. The beet delivers similar output yields to sugar cane and
August 28, 2007 Read Full Article
An Apple a Day Keeps the Gas Pump Away
by Jeremy Elton (Treehugger) A team of scientists led by James Dumesic at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has discovered a way (subscription needed) to turn the sugar commonly found in fruits like apples and oranges into a biofuel with 40%
June 30, 2007 Read Full Article
A Research Roadmap for Making Lignocellulosic Biofuels A Practical Reality: Breaking the Chemical and Engineering Barriers to Lignocellulosic Biofuels: Next Generation Hydrocarbon Biorefineries
Based on the June 25-26, 2007 Workshop in Washington, DC, with Dr. George Hubner, University of Massachusetts--Amherst, Workshop Chair View the PDF
June 26, 2007 Read Full Article
Mediterranean Energy and Ecology Center Announces New Biomass Hydrolysis Process Test Results
BIOPOLYGEN Group of the MEEC, Israel, reports a successful completion of the first phase of its new biomass hydrolysis process tests and announces the plans to construct and demonstrate a small-scale pilot biorefinery for co-production of second generation ethanol, organic-mineral
June 15, 2007 Read Full Article
Biomass Recalcitrance: Engineering Plants and Enzymes for Biofuels Production
by Michael E. Himmel, Shi-You Ding, David K. Johnson, William S. Adney, Mark R. Nimlos, John W. Brady and Thomas D. Foust (Science Magazine) Lignocellulosic biomass has long been recognized as a potential sustainable source of mixed sugars for fermentation to biofuels and other biomaterials. Several technologies have
February 26, 2007 Read Full Article
University of California Berkeley, the University of Illinois and the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Join Research Effort
(British Petroleum) BP today announced it has selected the University of California Berkeley and its partners the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to join in a $500 million research program that will explore how bioscience
February 02, 2007 Read Full Article
Making the Desert Bloom - with Fuel-Yielding Plants, Halophytes
A NASA scientist is confident that within five years commercial aircraft could be powered using a type of biofuel derived from saltwater plants, or halophytes, grown in desert areas and irrigated using sea water. While the concept may sound far-fetched,
January 20, 2007 Read Full Article
Biologist Finds Cell Wall Construction Pathway
Wood with altered properties and cheaper ethanol through more efficient production are two possibilities as a result of a find by a biologist at Washington University in St. Louis. Erik Nielsen, Ph.D., Washington University adjunct professor of biology in Arts
October 30, 2006 Read Full Article
Saab 9-3 BioPower Concept
(Left Lane) ...(T)he ground-breaking Saab 9-3 BioPower Hybrid Concept, which delivers zero fossil CO2 emissions, enhanced performance and a range of energy-saving features by combining the use of pure bioethanol fuel and electric power generation for the first time. As
October 30, 2006 Read Full Article
Citrus Peel Waste a Potential Source of Ethanol
Thanks to recent hikes in gasoline prices, there is a renewed interest in finding a cheaper way to fill up the gas tank. Researchers at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Citrus and Subtropical Products Laboratory in Winter Haven, Fla. have
April 30, 2006 Read Full Article
How to Beat the High Cost of Gasoline. Forever!
by Adam Lashinsky and Nelson D. Schwartz (CNN Money/Fortune Magazine) You probably don't know it, but the answer to America's gasoline addiction could be under the hood of your car. More than five million Tauruses, Explorers, Stratuses, Suburbans, and other vehicles
January 31, 2006 Read Full Article
Biomass as Feedstock for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry: The Technical Feasibility of a Billion-Ton Annual Supply
USDA and DOE put together this study finding that there could be adequate biomass to displace 30% or more of current US annual petroleum consumption. READ MORE
April 28, 2005 Read Full Article
Top Value Added Chemicals from Biomass Volume 1: Results of Screening for Potential Candidates from Sugars and Synthesis Gas
(US Department of Energy) This report identifies twelve building block chemicals that can be produced from sugars via biological or chemical conversions. The twelve building blocks can be subsequently converted to a number of high-value bio-based chemicals or materials. Building
December 29, 2004 Read Full Article
The Novel Pathway for ketodiene oxylipin Biosynthesis in Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) Tubers.
(PubMed) The new route of the plant lipoxygenase pathway, directed specifically towards the ketodiene formation, was detected during in vitro experiments with Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) tubers. Through this pathway (9Z,11E,13S)-13-hydroperoxy-9,11-octadecadienoic acid (13-HPOD) is reduced to corresponding 13-hydroxy acid (13-HOD),
November 30, 2004 Read Full Article
Biogas from Human Waste
(Consortium on RuralTechnology) Biogas plants have been accepted by now in the country~as a device for improving the quality of the life of the people. They help in recycling of the cattie wastes and produce both fuel and manure from