"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,
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
Energy Crop Company on the Cutting Edge of Biomass Production--Switchgrass
The greatest irony of America’s 21st Century quest for energy independence is that it – whatever “it” turns out to be – most assuredly has been here all along! And none of the emerging cellulosic bioenergy feedstocks fits that description
May 07, 2009 Read Full Article
4-Part Advanced Biofuels Primer Published
Created by Advanced Biofuels USA, Inc., this series of primers available on the Education/Primer pages of the web site describes, step by step, what advanced biofuels are, why they are important, what key laws and regulations have been passed and implemented to encourage and
May 07, 2009 Read Full Article
EPA Biofuels Rules Must Reflect Respected, Peer-Reviewed Science
Advanced Biofuels USA urges EPA, along with Congress and an engaged and informed public to carefully craft greenhouse gas emissions regulations and legislation with an eye to the following principles: Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, regardless of source, should be assessed
May 06, 2009 Read Full Article
Great Plains Renewable Energy and Bioprocessalgae LLC Complete $2.1 Million Grant Funding for Algae Pilot Project in Iowa
Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc., and BioProcessAlgae LLC have executed a grant award agreement with the Iowa Office of Energy Independence for a $2.1 million research and development grant from the Iowa Power Fund to build an algae pilot project
May 06, 2009 Read Full Article
Indirect Land Use, GHGs and EPA's Proposed RSF Rule
Comments by Robert Kozak, Advanced Biofuels USA board member: With EPA's release of proposed rules for the 2010 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2), the focus of today's (May 6, 2009) hearing will undoubtedly be the role of indirect land use in
May 05, 2009 Read Full Article
EPA Proposes New Regulations for the National Renewable Fuel Standard Program for 2010 and Beyond
The EPA published proposed revised statutory requirements which establish new specific volume standards for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel that must be used in transportation fuel each year. The revised statutory requirements also include new
May 05, 2009 Read Full Article
Jerusalem Artichoke for Armenia Ethanol Production
Armenia’s climatic conditions are not suitable for sugarcane production; however, there are several alternative crops suitable to Armenia’s climate for cultivation on available agricultural land that is not intended for the production of food crops. In particular, Jerusalem artichoke has
May 05, 2009 Read Full Article
Researchers Study Jerusalem Artichoke for Ethanol
The Institute for Sustainable and Renewable Resources, in Danville, Va., is studying the potential to use the Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosis), a perennial native sunflower species, as a feedstock for producing ethanol. The institute is a research center jointly affiliated
May 05, 2009 Read Full Article
Dewatering Process Announced by Algae Venture Systems
A technological breakthrough that dramatically reduces the cost of removing water from algae – making algae an economically feasible source of fuel was announced by Algae Venture Systems, an Ohio company. Algae VS process slashes the cost of harvesting, dewatering and
May 05, 2009 Read Full Article
Drop In, Tune Out, Turn On
"The era of synthetic drop-in fuels is upon us," writes Biofuels Digest editor Jim Lane. Drop In: The future does not lie in ethanol and biodiesel, though they may well provide important fractions of the renewable fuel supply for years to
May 05, 2009 Read Full Article
Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy Funding Opportunity Announcement
This is the first solicitation for the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E). 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 will
May 04, 2009 Read Full Article
Federal "Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy" (ARPA-E) Created
In late April, 2009, President Obama announced the launching of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), a new Department of Energy organization modeled after the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the defense agency that gave us the Internet, stealth aircraft,
May 04, 2009 Read Full Article
Federal Energy Frontier Research Center Awards
The White House announced on April 27, 2009, that the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science will invest $777 million in Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) over the next five years. In a major effort to accelerate the scientific breakthroughs needed
May 04, 2009 Read Full Article
Biotech 2009 Life Sciences: Navigating the Sea Change Released; Survey of BioGreenTech Horizons Addresses Collapse of Traditional Financing Structure for Biotech Sector
In California, Burrill & Company released its 23rd annual industry report, Biotech 2009 Life Science, subtitled Navigating the Sea Change. The report contains extensive analysis and perspective on the performance of the biotech/life sciences industry in 2008 and forward projections for
May 04, 2009 Read Full Article
Minnesota's 5% biodiesel mandate takes effect May 1, 2009
Minnesota’s new 5 percent biodiesel mandate takes effect on Friday, May 1, 2009, becoming the first state at that level. A 2 percent mandate was enacted in 2005 despite concerns the renewable fuel would have problems in the cold Minnesota winters.
May 04, 2009 Read Full Article
Worldwatch Institute Features 3-Part Series on Palm Oil in Indonesia
Part 1: Global Palm Oil Demand Fueling Deforestation The benefits of the oil palm are difficult for Indonesia to ignore. Once planted, the tropical tree can produce fruit for more than 30 years, providing much-needed employment for poor rural communities. And
May 04, 2009 Read Full Article
Southern Online Bio Technologies To Establish Third Biodiesel Plant In India
Southern Online Bio Technologies Ltd. (Southern Online Bio Technologies), an India-based internet services provider, is planning to establish a third (jatropha and pongamia-based) biodiesel plant by the end of 2009. The company also said that its second plant is being
May 04, 2009 Read Full Article
THE GREEN CHALLENGE STORY
Five years ago, a group of determined government officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy were about to throw caution to the wind and think unlike…well, government officials. They needed something to demonstrate to
May 01, 2009 Read Full Article
Chocolate-Powered Racecar Presented as Cost-Cutting Car of the Future
The World First Racing team at the Warwick Innovative Manufacturing Research Center in Britain announced late last month that it has built an environmentally friendly Formula Three car powered by vegetable oil and waste chocolate. The car also includes a
May 01, 2009 Read Full Article
Sirona Fuels Launches Jatropha Community Farming in Haiti
Sirona Fuels, an emerging leader in alternative fuels, announced that it has begun Jatropha planting operations in Haiti over the past month in a joint venture with 3C Missions, an organization that has established a relief fund for over 1,100
May 01, 2009 Read Full Article
Food and Crop Waste: A Valuable Biomass Feedstock
With virtually all of the biofuels currently produced in the United States sourced from either soybeans or corn, there is significant interest in developing a diverse array of biomass feedstocks that will not compete for food resources. Dedicated energy crops
May 01, 2009 Read Full Article
Senator John Thune (R-SD) Introduces Indirect Land Use Bill
"Following California's recent decision to use flawed models to estimate ethanol's environmental impact, I am concerned that the EPA could soon apply similar standards that will handicap renewable fuel relative to regular gasoline," said Thune. "Congress has asked EPA to
May 01, 2009 Read Full Article
Dynamotive to Supply Sawdust for Arkansas BioOil Plant
Dynamotive USA, Inc. executed a long-term contract for the supply of feedstock for a planned 200 TPD BioOil® plant to be developed in southern Arkansas. Contract envisages the supply of 220,000 green tons per year of green residues (sawdust) for
May 01, 2009 Read Full Article
County Pledges $500,000 toward New Biofuel Plant
Lee County, Florida, Commissioners voted 3-2 to help fund the construction of a biodiesel processing plant by pledging $500,000 to Florida BioFuels LLC. The plant, which has no site or start date for construction, would have Lee County as its
May 01, 2009 Read Full Article
Regional Partnership to Develop Algal Biofuels Gets Backing of San Diego Leaders
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and others said the San Diego region, now home to more than 500 biotechnology companies, could become a major center for renewable energy development, as scientists from UC San Diego, The Scripps Research Institute and
May 01, 2009 Read Full Article
U.K. Algae Biofuel Co. BioMara Launches
Researchers funded by a consortium of European governments and institutions to investigate algae strains most optimal for remote rural biofuel production. BioMara, a Scottish-Irish research project, has secured €6 million ($8.1m) to produce biofuel from algae. Research is to be led
April 30, 2009 Read Full Article
Camelina Information from Sustainable Oils
Camelina sativa is a member of the mustard family, a distant relative to canola, and the new darling of biodiesel production. Camelina plants are heavily branched, growing from one to three feet tall producing seed pods containing many small, oily
April 28, 2009 Read Full Article
Life Cycle Analysis of Camelina-based Renewable Jet and Diesel Fuels Shows 84-89% GHG Savings Compared to Petroleum Fuels
A life cycle analysis (LCA) comparing camelina-derived renewable jet and diesel fuels to petroleum fuels and biodiesel found that the green jet and green diesel fuels are lower in fossil energy demand and also lower in GHG emissions compared to
April 28, 2009 Read Full Article
Can 100% of Jatropha Plant be Commercially Viable?
Most Jatropha growers currently plant and harvest Jatropha curcas primarily for its pure plant oil (PPO) for use as biofuel and biodiesel. However, it is shown that PPO only accounts for a mere 14% of the usable resources in every
April 28, 2009 Read Full Article
Biosynthetic and Metabolic Pathway Engineering at Novacta Biosystems
Commercially valuable products can be generated from different microorganism such as bacteria, yeasts and algae. These include biofuels, bulk chemicals, natural products, antibiotics, pharmaceutical drugs and healthcare fragrances. READ MORE and MORE
April 28, 2009 Read Full Article
The Volt: Not Ready to Roll
... Boston Consulting Group found that the total cost of ownership of existing hybrids and advanced internal combustion engine cars is more attractive than that of electric cars as long as oil prices are below $280 a barrel. Oil is
April 28, 2009 Read Full Article
California to Limit Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Vehicle Fuels
LA TIMES: Margot Roosevelt April 24, 2009 California took aim Thursday at the oil industry and its impact on global warming, adopting the world's first regulation to limit greenhouse gas emissions from the fuel that runs cars and trucks. The
April 24, 2009 Read Full Article
CHEMREC gasification technology - turns pulp and paper mills into biorefineries
CHEMREC is helping pulp and paper mills transform into Biorefineries with a unique, proprietary black liquor gasification technology. Opening up new markets in sustainable, low-carbon chemicals and fuels will be a step-change in the industry. Full implementation of the Chemrec technology
April 24, 2009 Read Full Article
California Low-Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) Proposal: Comments Urge Rejection
Robert Kozak, President of Atlantic Biomass Conversions, Inc., and a founder and board member of Advanced Biofuels USA, urges the California Air Resources Board to reject the proposed low carbon fuel standard. He writes, "At first glance, the documentation presented with
April 23, 2009 Read Full Article
Commendable Movement toward Decrease of Greenhouse Gases
Two announcements today should spur interest in the development of advanced biofuels: EPA's finding that greenhouse gases (including CO2) pose a threat to public health and welfare, and movement on ethanol producers' request for EPA authorization to include up to
April 17, 2009 Read Full Article
EPA Finds Greenhouse Gases Pose Threat to Public Health, Welfare
After a thorough scientific review ordered in 2007 by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed finding Friday, April 17, 2009, that greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare. EPA’s proposed
April 17, 2009 Read Full Article
Notice of Receipt of a Clean Air Act Waiver Application to Increase the Allowable Ethanol Content of Gasoline to 15 Percent; Request for Comment
On March 6, 2009, Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers submitted an application for a waiver of the prohibition of the introduction into commerce of certain fuels and fuel additives set forth in section 211(f) of the Clean Air Act
April 17, 2009 Read Full Article
Canadian Agricultural Bioproducts Innovation Program
The ABIP is a multi-year program designed to support new and existing research networks and encourage the development of clusters for the advancement of a sustainable and profitable Canadian bioeconomy. The program seeks to increase the exploitation of Canada's natural
April 16, 2009 Read Full Article
12th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency EXPO + Forum May 14, 2009 Washington, DC
FREE 9 AM to 5 PM The Sustainable Energy Coalition—in cooperation with Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucuses—presents the 12th annual Congressional Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency EXPO + Forum.
April 10, 2009 Read Full Article
Polyculture of Wild Grasses
(Green Transport and Energy) … But the problems of degradation and soil erosion by intensive monocultures must also be taken into account. To solve these issues, in the last few decades researchers have studied the advantage of wild tall prairie grasses,
April 09, 2009 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuel Companies Ask Congress to Provide Comprehensive Biofuels Policy and Stimulate Investment in Advanced Biofuels
Biofuelproducers and biotechnologycompanies today asked Congressional leaders to help them overcome economic obstacles to obtaining financial backing and bring commercially ready advanced biofuels to the marketplace. READ MORE and MORE
April 07, 2009 Read Full Article
Southern Bioenergy Industry Could Create Thousands of Jobs
The Southern Bioenergy Roadmap, a project of the Southeast Agriculture & Forestry Energy Resources Alliance (SAFER) and the University of Florida, shows that the South has abundant natural resources and intellectual capital to produce electricity and automotive fuel from plants,
April 07, 2009 Read Full Article
IEA Report Confirms Growing Green House Gas Reduction from Ethanol Use Warns Against Ignoring Future Innovation in Policymaking
TORONTO – April 1, 2009 – A new report commissioned by the IEA Bioenergy (IEA) underscores the importance of ethanol in global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. f1The extensive research paper commissioned by the IEA Bioenergy Task
April 07, 2009 Read Full Article
Global Renewable Fuels Alliance
The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance is an international federation representing over 60 percent of the world's renewable fuels production from 30 different countries. Through the development of new technology and best practices, its members are committed to producing renewable fuels with the
April 07, 2009 Read Full Article
Biofuels Center of North Carolina
The long-term task of the Biofuels Center of North Carolina is to develop a statewide biofuels industry to reduce the state's dependence on imported liquid fuels. The goal of North Carolina’s Strategic Plan for Biofuels Leadership is that by 2017,
April 06, 2009 Read Full Article
Lincoln High Students Fuel Biodiesel Effort
June 19, 2008 The Lincoln County High School Future Farmers of America club has started the first biodiesel production center at a public school in the state. HAMLIN — With diesel prices in West Virginia nearing $5 a gallon and
April 06, 2009 Read Full Article
Green Ambassadors: Laguna High School Students Research Biofuels
May 1st, 2007 Linsay Hassett (aka Betty Biodiesel) leads a group of Laguna High School students in the Green Ambassadors program on a tour of Dave Erikson’s home brew biodiesel lab. The Green Ambassadors program was created to get students
April 06, 2009 Read Full Article
Central Carolina Community College
In Fall 2008 Central Carolina Community College began offering an associate degree in Alternative Energy Technology: Biofuels. This program is designed to equip students with the skills needed for a career in the growing biofuels industry. Visit their site for
April 06, 2009 Read Full Article
University of Georgia: Biofuels, Biopower, and Biomaterials Initiative (B3I)
UGA’s Biofuels, Biopower, and Biomaterials Initiative (B3I) unites the University’s legacies in agriculture, forestry, environmental science and engineering with its strengths in carbohydrate science, genetics and microbiology to provide a scientific and practical foundation to support an economic and sustainable bioenergy future. Visit
April 06, 2009 Read Full Article
Colorado State University Graduate Program in Biofuels Development
It is widely recognized that substantial technical advances must be achieved in all aspects of the bioenergy industry, including developing new energy crops; new biological, chemical, and thermal conversion technologies; and new byproducts. The goal of the MASB program, funded
April 06, 2009 Read Full Article
UOP Renewable Energy & Chemicals BioChemicals Technology Info
UOP is focused on developing profitable and efficient ways to convert biofeedstocks, such as oils from plants and algae, greases and certain waste products into valuable fuel and chemicals. UOP focuses on technologies that maximize the use of existing infrastructure
April 06, 2009 Read Full Article
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