(US Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $10 million in research grants to spur production of bioenergy and biobased products that will lead to the development of sustainable regional systems and help create jobs. Vilsack highlighted the
BioChemicals/Renewable Chemicals
Back TO HOMEBy-Products: The Key to Ethanol’s Struggles
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest/S4CO2) ...An entirely new use of the by-products that can deliver returns directly to the plants is required in order to offset the losses and sustain the ethanol plants. ...CO2 from ethanol plants are regarded as high
December 12, 2012 Read Full Article
CU-Led Team Receives $9.2 Million DOE Grant to Engineer E. coli into Biofuels
(University of Colorado--Boulder) A team led by the University of Colorado Boulder has been awarded $9.2 million over five years from the U.S. Department of Energy to research modifying E. coli to produce biofuels such as gasoline. ...The team is working
December 05, 2012 Read Full Article
US Company in Refinery Search
by Peter Hemphill (Grain & Hay WeeklyTimes) An American biofuels company is looking to build a refinery in Australia to produce ethanol from wheat straw and other residues. ...Investors in the biorefineries include Australia's Macquarie Bank and Japanese commodity trader Itochu Corporation. ZeaChem
November 29, 2012 Read Full Article
Little Big Tech: Can Fischer-Tropsch Technology Work at Smaller Scale?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) While companies pursue alternatives to Fischer-Tropsch technologies, Velocys is seeking to make F-T work economically with micro-reactors. In last week’s Digest, Robert Rapier aptly stated the challenge in front of XTL technologies – companies whose primary focus is
November 20, 2012 Read Full Article
Ensyn: Biofuels’ Big, Fast Cracker, in Pictures
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ensyn – moving rapidly towards scale as a transport fuel technology after decades in smaller, high-value markets. What does Ensyn’s signature RTP technology, that’s making such a splash, look like? ...Ensyn has become a signature part
November 19, 2012 Read Full Article
$500 Million and No One to Dance with? Canada and Advanced Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Canada’s $500 million NextGen Biofuels Fund, five years after formation, gets close to making its first investments just as Canada’s leaders consider pulling the plug It was the most amazing sovereign commitment to biofuels of its
November 18, 2012 Read Full Article
New Biofuel Conversion Process Cuts Costly Separating Step
(University of Wisconsin-Madison) Using a biomass-derived solvent, University of Wisconsin-Madison chemical and biological engineers have streamlined the process for converting lignocellulosic biomass into high-demand chemicals or energy-dense liquid transportation fuel. Their new method eliminates the need for costly pretreatment steps that
November 18, 2012 Read Full Article
A.I.M. Interview: Incitor’s Jacob Berman and Troy Lapsys
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) There is a new process that algae producers can use in the conversion stage to help increase their capacity and add to the bottom line, says Incitor’s VP of Business Development Jacob Berman.
November 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Promethean Wins Award for Recycling, Waste Reduction Program
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Promethean Biofuels, a community-scale biodiesel producer in Temecula, Calif., stood with giants such as Sony and BP Arco at the recent Environmental Excellence Awards Summit in San Diego. The awards were given by the Industrial
November 07, 2012 Read Full Article
Berkeley Fermentation Process Converts Sugar Directly to Diesel
by Robert Sanders (Biodiesel Magazine/UC Berkeley) A long-abandoned fermentation process once used to turn starch into explosives can be used to produce renewable diesel fuel to replace the fossil fuels now used in transportation, University of California, Berkeley, scientists have
November 07, 2012 Read Full Article
Perspectives on 2013: Ethanol Industry Executives Approach 2013 with Optimism and Concern.
by Holly Jessen & Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Looking into the future, Jeff Roskam, CEO of the Kansas Alliance for Biorefining and Bioenergy, fears any modification of the renewable fuel standard (RFS). “Period,” he says. “Not only would this
November 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Vnesheconombank, Bright Capital, and Renmatix Consider Implementation of an Investment Project in Biochemical and Biofuels Industries
(MSN Money/PR NewsWire) During the first Moscow International Forum for Innovative Development Open Innovations, the State Corporation 'Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs' (Vnesheconombank), venture capital firm Bright Capital Management, and Renmatix, the leading manufacturer of biobased sugar intermediates,
October 31, 2012 Read Full Article
Bio Architecture Lab, Xunshan Group to Co-Develop Integrated Biorefinery
by Jim Lane (Biobased Digest) Partnership aims for fuels, chemicals & co-products from brown seaweed In California, Bio Architecture Lab announced an agreement with China’s Xunshan Group, the world’s largest grower of brown seaweed and a global ocean fishery and aquaculture
October 31, 2012 Read Full Article
ZeaChem Completes Construction of Cellulosic Ethanol Biorefinery
(ZeaChem) ZeaChem Inc., developer of highly-efficient biorefineries, today announced that it has completed construction of its 250,000 gallons per year (GPY) cellulosic ethanol biorefinery in Boardman, Oregon. The project was completed on budget and is expected to begin production of
October 30, 2012 Read Full Article
The 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy and 30 Hottest Companies in Renewable Chemicals and Biobased Materials for 2012-13 Are Announced
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Renewable oils developer Solazyme took the #1 spot in the 2012-13 “50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy” rankings, announced today by Biofuels Digest at Advanced Biofuels Markets in San Francisco. KiOR (#2), LanzaTech (#3),
October 30, 2012 Read Full Article
The October Surprise: BP Cancels Plans for US Cellulosic Ethanol Plant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, BP announced it is canceling plans to build a 36 million gallon commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant in Highlands County. The company said that it would refocus its US biofuels strategy on R&D, as
October 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Corn Ethanol Makers Weigh Switch to Butanol
by Henry Fountain (New York Times) Nearly a decade after the adoption of federal renewable fuel standards led to a sharp increase in production of ethanol, some producers in the Corn Belt are considering making a different fuel. The fuel, butyl alcohol,
October 25, 2012 Read Full Article
Evonik Produces BioMTBE with Material Refined from Crude Glycerin
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) While petroleum-based methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) has largely been replaced with ethanol as a gasoline additive in the U.S. due to environmental concerns of groundwater contamination, Evonik recently announced it has been producing commercial volumes
October 24, 2012 Read Full Article
The Dandelion Model: Two-Step Biofuels Technologies and the Emergence of Super-Refineries
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Can local communities pyrolize their wastes and residues, to make renewable fuels and chemicals at biobased super-refineries? Two-step processes could be the ticket to the future, according to an Iowa State team. Imagine, for a
October 24, 2012 Read Full Article
New Biorenewables Technology Moves Closer to Marketplace Licensing Agreement between Startup Hyrax and WARF to Accelerate Commercial Development
(Hyrax Energy) A licensing agreement for a novel renewable chemical and biofuel production method between Hyrax Energy and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation promises to accelerate commercial development of the technology and lead to high-quality U.S. jobs. Developed in the laboratory
October 24, 2012 Read Full Article
The Big Bagasse Biofuels Boom
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Deployment of next-gen bagasse-to-biofuels technologies could expand ethanol production in Brazil, India by 35 percent without land, water intensification. ...Guidance being given by the projects is that capacities could increase by up to 35 percent at
October 24, 2012 Read Full Article
I Just Want to Say One Word to You. Just One Word. Are You Listening? Biocatalysts.
by Jim Lane (Biobased Digest) Could enzyme biocatalysts replace fermentation among the hottest process platforms in industrial biotech? Newlight thinks so, as it applies its supercatalyst to low-cost plastics. And no petroleum or food crops required. In the weeks and months
October 18, 2012 Read Full Article
BDC Members Tour American Process Inc.'s Cellulosic Ethanol Facility in Alpena, MI, Which Started Up in June 2012
(Bioenergy Deployment Consortium/MarketWire) BDC held its 2012 Fall Symposium in Alpena, MI on September 18 & 19, capping the event with a tour of the new cellulosic ethanol plant owned by American Process Inc. (API), a BDC member. API's facility is
October 16, 2012 Read Full Article
LS9 Scales Up in Chemical Business As Biofuels Industry Re-Tools
by Bernadette Tansey (Xconomy) The South San Francisco company LS9 recently produced five tons of industrial chemicals from plant sugars at a Florida demonstration facility, a step toward proving that its genetically engineered microbes can manufacture carbon compounds and fuels at a commercial
October 16, 2012 Read Full Article
The Greening of Petronas: Oil Giant Signs with LanzaTech to Turn Waste CO2 into Sustainable Chemicals
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In Malaysia, LanzaTech and the Malaysian national oil company, Petronas, announced they will work together to accelerate the development and commercialization of technologies to produce sustainable chemicals from carbon dioxide (CO2) and natural gas. ...The good
October 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Gretna Pushing Biofuels Project
by John Crane (GoDanRiver.com) The CEO of a company that wants to build commercial refinery that would convert feedstock hopes to locate at Gretna Industrial Park. The town of Gretna and Ken Moss, CEO of Piedmont BioProducts, will jointly apply for
October 15, 2012 Read Full Article
The Greening of Dow, the Dao of Dow
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The story goes back some time, at least to the formation of Cargill Dow – now NatureWorks – a joint venture which Dow eventually left to Cargill as Dow’s views on the sector changed with
October 15, 2012 Read Full Article
'An Ohio State Story': Lab Idea Yields 60 Local Jobs, New Green Industry
(Ohio State University) Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee liked what he saw at the Mansfield, Ohio, factory: a syrupy mixture made from crop and biodiesel-processing wastes being turned into polyurethane foam. But he was more fascinated by the story of how
October 15, 2012 Read Full Article
The Hillary Step: 7 Biofuels Contenders, 7 Routes to Scale, Who’s Near the Summit, Who Will Plant the Flag?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Every biofuels contender has its own route to the top – with unique advantages and technical challenges. Who is nearing the Summit, what’s their Hillary Step, who’s got Sherpas, who’s got oxygen? It’s the race
October 08, 2012 Read Full Article
Incitor and the Birth of a New Low-Cost Fuel Molecule
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A new drop-in, low-cost, high-octane fuel molecule? How does that work, and why, and when? How does it change the energy independence equation? Today, the Digest visits Incitor to find out about Alestron. ...Back in 2008,
October 04, 2012 Read Full Article
15 Biobased Companies in the 2012 Cleantech 100
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...15 biobased and biofuels companies were named to the Global Cleantech 100 by the Cleantech Group, which said that it examined more than 6,000 companies in the Cleantech 100 process. Overall, nine of the companies
October 03, 2012 Read Full Article
Biofuel Startups Turn to Cosmetics, Supplements for Profits
by Tia Ghose (California Watch) Once a promising source of green energy, high-tech biofuel is being eclipsed by skin cream and food products as manufacturers shift to more lucrative products. After Congress enacted a renewable fuel standard in 2005, more than a dozen
September 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Renmatix Unveils State-of-the-Art R&D Facility at Pennsylvania Headquarters
(Renmatix) U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) visits facility to discuss job creation and growth of biobased markets Renmatix, the leading manufacturer of cellulosic sugars for biobased chemical and fuel markets, marked the opening of a new research and development center in
September 25, 2012 Read Full Article
Energy Sorghum Demonstrates Potential During Dry Summer
by Dan Conable (Cato Analytics LLC/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Despite weather challenges and the learning curve for farmers unfamiliar with this energy sorghum, one of the first commercial-scale plantings of the crop in the northeastern U.S. has been a success. More than 400
September 24, 2012 Read Full Article
Agrobiobase – Looking at the Global Bioeconomy One Factoid at a Time
by Jim Lane (Biobased Digest) One of the most interesting biobased resources we have found – covering the world, but Europe-based – is the AgroBioBase, created and managed by the IAR consortium, a French organization helping to build a biobased
September 18, 2012 Read Full Article
Er, Did the EU Really Just Abandon Biofuels?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As reported elsewhere in the Digest today and throughout this week, In Brussels, a draft proposal is under consideration in the EU to eliminate food-crop subsidies for biofuels production by 2020, and cap crop-based biofuels
September 14, 2012 Read Full Article
Council of Energy Resource Tribes-BioJet-Tartoosh Biofuel/Bioenergy Project Ready for Takeoff
(BioJet) The Council of Energy Resource Tribes (CERT) today announced the execution of the long-term Development Agreement enabling the 10-15 year major biofuel/bioenergy project between CERT, BioJet, and Tartoosh Environmental. The project, tagged “Thunderbird”, is a multifeedstock, multi-technology set of projects anticipated to
September 13, 2012 Read Full Article
The Trash Spread: Enerkem Heads for Scale, with Advanced Biofuels from MSW
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Breakthroughs in making consistent syngas from negative-cost municipal solid waste spells “big prospects” for Enerkem in biobased fuels and chemicals. In oil we have the crack spread, corn ethanol and soy-based biodiesel we have the crush
September 07, 2012 Read Full Article
Super-cali-thali-terpa-butyl-peta What? The Hockey-Stickin’, Flash-Mobbin’ Growth in Biobased Intermediates
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The new trend in biofuels is not a biofuel at all – it’s an (usually unpronounceable) intermediate that can be refined into an array of fuels, chemicals, flavors, fragrances, and construction or packaging materials. ... Amyris,
September 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Top Ten: Britain's Most Progressive Biofuel and Biochemical Companies
by Matthew Aylott (National Non-Food Crops Centre) NNFCC gives its top ten of Britain's most progressive biofuel and biochemical companies. TMO Renewables ... Green Biologics ... British Airways ... Ensus ... BP ... Johnson Matthey ... Croda ... INEOS Bio ... Harvest Energy ... Greenergy ... READ MORE
September 04, 2012 Read Full Article
The Top 10 Advanced Biofuels and Biorefining Companies in Asia
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...While the economic growth in China has been drawing virtually all the headlines in recent years, the “Tiger” economies of Southeast and South Asia have been fast-growing for a long time, and with resources including
September 04, 2012 Read Full Article
BIOTECH: Carlsbad Firm Uses Yeast for 'Green' Chemicals from Veggie Oil to Nylon
by Bradley J. Fikes (North County Times) Vegetable oils are versatile substances. They're used not only for cooking, but also for making soaps and for biofuels. If Carlsbad-based Verdezyne Inc. is successful, you may soon be wearing them, in a
September 04, 2012 Read Full Article
Iowa Aims for Next-Gen Biofuels Leadership: 18 Hot Projects
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In our investigations in Iowa this week, we noted 6 trends worth carefully watching, which take us from opportunities with existing feedstocks to exotic newcomers like algae. Our thesis now is essentially unchanged from 2010, when
August 24, 2012 Read Full Article
The Rise And Fall Of The Company That Was Going To Have Us All Using Biofuels
by Daniel Grushkin (FastCoExist.com) Amyris’s breakthroughs in bioengineering--and its plans to make biofuels from Brazilian sugarcane--promised to transform how the world’s businesses produce energy, cosmetics, and medicine. Then reality (and Wall Street) got in the way. ...Already, in the short lifetime
August 08, 2012 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels, Chemicals Capacity to Reach 5.89 Billion Gallons by 2017
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, Biofuels Digest is reporting that global advanced biofuels and renewable chemicals capacity will reach 5.89 billion gallons by 2017, up from 5.11 billion gallons by 2016 reported in the November 2011 release, 4.37
July 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Replacing the Whole Barrel of Oil and the Need for Biobased Chemicals Policy Now
by Stephen J. Gatto (Biofuels Digest/Myriant) Post Kitty Hawk: 2012 and Beyond: Overwhelming Evidence in Support of Replacing the Whole Barrel of Oil and the Need for Biobased Chemicals Policy Now We in the biobased chemicals industry have had our Kitty
July 24, 2012 Read Full Article
Minnesota Roadmap: Recommendations for BioIndustrial Processing
This report is designed to provide a pathway to accelerate the industry’s development. The report details factors influencing the development of the global advanced biofuels and biobased chemicals industry, identifies opportunity areas for Minnesota, and sets forth strategic recommendations. The policy
July 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Clariant Inaugurates Germany Cellulose Ethanol Pilot Plant
by Franco Capaldo (ICIS.com) Clariant has inaugurated a new cellulose ethanol pilot plant in the Bavarian town of Straubing, Germany, the Swiss specialty chemicals company said on Friday. The plant – the biggest of its kind in Germany – will produce around 1,000 tonnes/year of cellulose ethanol, a
July 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Current Biofuels Policy Helps Drive Economy
by Jan Koninckx(DuPont), Adam Monroe (Novozymes), Javier Salgado (Abengoa) and Jeff Lautt (POET) (Politico) The last two presidential administrations differed on many issues, but gave us a bipartisan roadmap for achieving greater energy security and lowering our dependence on fossil
July 18, 2012 Read Full Article
ERDA Hopes to Turn Red Cedar Liability into National Asset
by James Neal (Enid News and Eagle) Enid Regional Development Alliance is hoping to turn one of Oklahoma’s liabilities into a national asset, and boost the local economy in the process, with an ambitious plan to turn eastern red cedar
July 18, 2012 Read Full Article
Gevo and Beta Plot Joint Future Bioisobutanol Projects
(Bioenergy News) Chemical and biofuels company Gevo has signed a joint development agreement with Beta Renewables to develop an integrated process for the production of bio-based isobutanol from cellulosic biomass. The agreement anticipates production plants will be located where cellulosic feedstocks
July 18, 2012 Read Full Article
Incitor Receive Backing for Low-Temperature Biofuel Demonstration
(Biofuels International) US-based biomass company Incitor will use new funding to demonstrate its low-temperature biofuel production technology. The funding amounts to $1.5 million (€1.1 million) and comes from an investment group, led by Cottonwood Technology Fund, that hopes to finance an
July 17, 2012 Read Full Article
Myriant’s Debt Deal: A Light at the End of a Long, Bio-Based Tunnel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Myriant closes first bio-based chemicals loan under USDA’s Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program. Industry’s first private bond placement under innovative structure developed to finance advanced industrial scale-up; Q1 2013 commercial start-up in sight In Massachusetts,
July 04, 2012 Read Full Article
Tamil Nadu to Have World’s First Biorefinery Using Tannery Waste
by Kumar Chellappan (Daily News and Analysis India) Tamil Nadu will be home to the world’s first biorefinery which will use solid waste generated from tanneries in Vellore district. The Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) at Chennai, a unit of the
June 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Who Shall Dare: Biobutanol and the Intrepid Ethanol Producer
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Declining ethanol margins and plant idlings; ethanol price gloom; controversy over RFS2 targets. Despair? Bah! It all spells “opportunity” for the intrepid ethanolista. This week in biofuels, two storylines that have been gaining a lot
June 22, 2012 Read Full Article
Tobacco, Alcohol And … Seaweed? Three Innovative Methods For Producing Biofuels
by Max Frankel (ThinkProgress) ...But in the world of science, researchers around the world are working on some very innovative ways to produce gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from more sustainable feedstocks. Here’s a look at three cool recent developments
June 14, 2012 Read Full Article
BioTork Announces Collaboration with BASF
(BioTork) Harnessing the Power of Adaptive Evolution to Further Improve the Efficiency of Metabolic Engineering BioTork announces collaboration with BASF to optimize certain microbial strains for the industrial production of bio-based polymers and green chemicals. After six months of collaboration, BASF and
June 14, 2012 Read Full Article
The Future for Corn Stover in Biofuels
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The future of using corn stover for advanced biofuels was one of the discussion topics at last week’s Corn Utilization Technology Conference in Indianapolis. ...(Nathan) Mosier (with the Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering at Purdue University) says he’s been working
June 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Incitor Incorporated Receives $1.5 Million Series A Investment
(BusinessWire) Rapidly Growing Renewable/Biomass Energy and Chemical Company Receives Funding Led by the Cottonwood Technology Fund Incitor Incorporated ("Incitor"), a Delaware Corporation based in Albuquerque, N.M. ( http://www.incitor.com ), announced today that the Cottonwood Technology Fund ("Cottonwood") ( http://www.cottonwoodtechnologyfund.com/ ) led an
June 13, 2012 Read Full Article
LS9 Opens Its Innovative Advanced Biofuels Demonstration Plant in Florida
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) One of biofuels’ hottest companies transitions from research phase to operating phase with opening of demo plant in Okeechobee – what’s next, and where? ...The opening of that fermenter column is what the VIPs are coming
June 13, 2012 Read Full Article
The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota Releases Roadmap for Minnesota's Advanced Biofuels and Biobased Chemicals Industry
(Enhanced Online News/Live Science Alley) Today (March 28, 2012), The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota released a comprehensive white paper detailing the extent and impact of the advanced biofuels and biobased chemicals industry and providing a roadmap for their continued growth
March 29, 2012 Read Full Article
Ionic Solvents Make Timber-to-Biofuels More Energy-Efficient
by Simon Levey (Industry Intelligence, Inc.) Key part of biomass processing could be made 80% more energy-efficient, reducing cost of biofuels by 10%, by treating timber with ionic solvents, find Imperial College London scientists A little bit of lubrication could make
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Thai Biochemical Plant Converts Glycerin into Epichlorohydrin
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) Solvay, an international chemical group, recently announced that its Thai affiliate Vinythai successfully commissioned a biobased chemical plant. The $157 million facility, based in Map Ta Phut, Thailand, utilizes Solvay’s Epicerol technology to convert glycerin
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
Feeding the Chemical Market
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol serves as not only a liquid transportation fuel but also as a feedstock for biobased chemical production Although ethanol is generally associated with the transportation fuel market, it is in no way limited to
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
Metso to Supply a Bio Oil Production Plant to Fortum Power Plant in Joensuu, Finland
(Metso) A demonstration plant enables bio oil production from forest residue Metso and Fortum Power and Heat have signed a contract regarding a delivery of a bio-oil production plant and a related automation system to the Fortum power plant in Joensuu,
March 09, 2012 Read Full Article
Maverick BioFuels and TopLine Energy Systems Announce Joint Technology Development Initiative
(Maverick BioFuels) Companies will integrate technologies to accelerate the cost competitive production of transportation fuels and bioplastics from biomass and waste feedstocks... Maverick Biofuels, a second-generation biofuels and bioplastics technology company, and TopLine Energy Systems (TES) , an advanced technology manufacturer
March 07, 2012 Read Full Article
Gevo Rises as Production Plans Spur ‘Relief Rally,’ Analyst Says
by Andrew Herndon (Bloomberg) Gevo Inc. (GEVO), the U.S. biotechnology company backed by oil refiner Total SA (FP) and specialty chemicals maker Lanxess AG (LXS), rose the most in two weeks after saying it expects to begin shipments in July, on schedule, from a plant
March 01, 2012 Read Full Article
Shake It Up, Baby: Rock Stars of Biofuels Unveil Their Latest Hits
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Part I – I Want a New Bug In Part I, today, “I Want a New Bug,” we look at the formation of Lygos, and the magic bugs, coming primarily out of the Keasling Lab
March 01, 2012 Read Full Article
ZeaChem Signs Contract to Develop "Drop-In" Advanced Biofuels
(MarketWatch) ZeaChem Commences USDA-Funded Initiative to Build a Bioenergy Industry in the Pacific Northwest ZeaChem Inc., a developer of biorefineries for the conversion of renewable biomass into sustainable fuels and chemicals, today announced that it has successfully completed contract negotiations to
February 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Make It Here, Bank It Here: Biofuels’ Economic Impact Spurs Expansion
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As President Obama orders a sweeping increase in the USDA’s BioPreferred Program, new research suggests a $80 billion US financial gain that results from domestic fuels and bio-based products over the next 10 years. In Washington,
February 22, 2012 Read Full Article
The Rocky Road to Biofuels Heaven: Codexis Chief Out, Ceres IPO Delayed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The changes at Codexis and delayed IPO at Ceres are indications that life in the public markets remains a rough one for early-stage industrial biotech companies. The changes at Codexis come after the company’s shares
February 20, 2012 Read Full Article
SucreSource Signs GS Caltex
(SucreSource/PRNewsWire) First Cellulose-to-Sugar Plant Sale and Partnership SucreSource, a wholly owned subsidiary of BlueFire Renewables, Inc., has signed agreements with GS Caltex, a Korean petroleum company, to build a cellulose to sugar plant in Korea. "This agreement validates SucreSource's business model of
February 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Research Shows Promise in Converting Camelina Oil into Jet Fuel
(Montana State University) Researchers at Montana State University-Northern have developed a process to convert camelina oil to jet fuel and other high-value chemicals. MSU has applied for a U.S. patent and research is ongoing. Using a continuous-flow process at low temperature
February 15, 2012 Read Full Article
Patently Making Progress: How One University Is Poised to Introduce Revolutionary Biorefining Technology
by Bryan Sims (Biorefining Magazine) A unique noncatalytic thermal-cracking technology developed under the Sustainable Energy Research Initiative and Supporting Education supercluster program at the University of North Dakota is poised for commercialization. UND has received patent approval for the invention
February 13, 2012 Read Full Article
The Intrepid Investor: Ceres Delays IPO; Others in IPO Queue Shift, Accelerate Strategies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Part II of our series, we look today at Ceres, Myriant, PetroAlgae, BioAmber, Elevance, Genomatica, Enerkem, Mascoma, and Fulcrum Bioenergy. In Part I, yesterday, we looked at the performance of the six IPOs to date in
February 10, 2012 Read Full Article
Hundreds of Jobs Planned by New Owner of Range Fuels
by S. Heather Duncan (Macon.com) The new owner of a shuttered ethanol plant in Soperton plans to eventually add hundreds of jobs there to produce ethanol and other chemicals, a company official said this week. That would boost Treutlen County employment
February 02, 2012 Read Full Article
Plastics Cozy Up to Distillers Grains
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...Can a Nebraska company process wet distillers grains into a biobased resin to replace conventional petroleum-based resins? Laurel BioComposite LLC says yes. ...The pilot plant started up the end of November and the trademarked BioRes
January 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Support for a New Advanced Biofuel Production Facility in Oregon: Project will Create Jobs, Expand Production of Biofuels
(US Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA has approved a conditional commitment in the amount of $232.5 million to ZeaChem Boardman Biorefinery, LLC (ZBB) through the Biorefinery Assistance Program. ZBB will operate a 25 million
January 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Pond Biofuels to Pilot Cement Absorption System
(Daily Commercial News) Pond Biofuels is piloting a new carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption system at St. Marys Cement. The new system will reduce greenhouse gases by absorbing dirty smokestack emissions to grow algae which can be used in oil production, converted
January 25, 2012 Read Full Article
Gevo Wins Key Patent, Sues Dupont, Butamax
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Colorado, Gevo has received a patent on its GIFT separation unit, addressing the separation technology used to produce propanols, butanols, pentanols, and hexanols. The claims also address how ethanol plants can be retrofitted to produce
January 25, 2012 Read Full Article
LanzaTech Raises $58M in Series C Round; Petronas Becomes Strategic Investor
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In India, LanzaTech is working with Indian Oil and Jindal Power and Steel Limited on a facility to convert industrial waste gases into ethanol. It also has partnered with Concord Blue on a project to
January 23, 2012 Read Full Article
2012 Merger Mania Gets Underway: Green Biologics, Butylfuel Merge
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the UK, Green Biologics Limited announced the merger between GBL and butylfuel Inc., a US-based renewable chemicals and biofuels company. The new company will operate under the Green Biologics name and continue to be
January 20, 2012 Read Full Article
University of Florida, Buckeye Dedicate Ethanol Production Facility in Perry
(Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences – University of Florida) Many building dedications feature a ribbon-cutting; this one included a front-end loader ceremoniously dumping a scoopful of pulverized sugarcane stalks. It was an appropriate way to mark yesterday’s official launch of
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
ZeaChem, and the Renewable Fuel Standard
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ZeaChem launches its 250,000 gallon per year core process. How could this possibly matter, in the context of a 500 million gallon cellulosic biofuels target for 2012, that was waived down to 10 million? As
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
Virent Announces Issuance of Five U.S. Patents
(Virent) Company Increases Protection of its BioForming® Technology Virent announced the issuance of five new U.S. patents covering aspects of its catalytic BioForming® platform. Three of the patents, U.S. Patent Nos. 8,053,615, 8,017,818 and 7,977,517, cover the production of various liquid
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Taking Bio-Based Products to the Next Level: MGP Ingredients, Inc. teams up with Kansas Alliance for Biorefining and Bioenergy, Universities
(MGP Ingredients) MGP Ingredients, Inc. (MGP), an expert in wheat- and corn-based ingredients, is teaming up with the Kansas Alliance for Biorefining and Bioenergy (KABB) and four Kansas universities to develop new technologies and products that use bio-based raw materials. Through
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
The Bio-Based Economy: A Renewed and Renewable Vision for 2012
by Brent Erickson (Biofuels Digest/BIO) ...To be clear, the bioeconomy is the total economic activity from all sectors of the biotechnology industry – pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture and industrial biotechnology. With biotechnology we can help, heal, fuel and feed the
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
University of Manchester Team Solves Glycerol Problem
(MenMedia) ...Dr Constantinos Theodoropoulos and Prof Colin Webb from the University's School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science decided to tackle the issue of a worldwide glut of glycerol. Growing global demand for biodiesel means markets cannot absorb the increase in
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
BASF Participates in US American Technology Company Renmatix
(Renmatix) BASF is participating with $30 million through BASF Biorenewable Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG in the American technology firm Renmatix Inc. The BASF subsidiary led a $50 million financing round, joined by new and existing investors. The technology company Renmatix
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
LanzaTech to Convert Acquired Ethanol Plant for Biochemicals
(Bloomberg) LanzaTech NZ Ltd., a closely held biofuels company backed by billionaire Vinod Khosla, will convert a U.S. cellulosic ethanol plant it bought from Range Fuels Inc. to produce chemicals from biomass. The $5.1 million deal completed on Jan. 3 provides LanzaTech
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Profiles in Scale-up: China, Nigeria Ink Deal to Invest $2.55B in 15 Integrated Biorefinery Projects
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Nigeria, Bloomberg and several local outlets are reporting that the Nigerian government has signed a $2.55 billion development deal with Global Biofuels, to construct 15 integrated biorefineries throughout the West African nation. According to reports,
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Mascoma, Codexis Closing in on Commercialized Cellulosic Biofuels
by Derek Mead (GreenTechMedia) Biofuel up-and-comers Codexis and Mascoma both have big news that means cellulosic ethanol production is right around the corner. ...With traditional sugar feedstocks -- and in the U.S., that means corn -- up around $275 a ton,
December 29, 2011 Read Full Article
The 11 Top Biofuels Trends of 2011
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There were IPOs a go-go, a big comeback from biodiesel. The global ethanol fleet has acquired new popularity amongst advanced biofuels developers looking for capital light steel in the ground. Meanwhile, gasification got hot. Seemed
December 28, 2011 Read Full Article
Boosting Biofuels for Sustainable Energy and Environment
(European Commission CORDIS) Europeans believe in a sustainable environment, and a way of ensuring its future is to promote and build energy resources based on residual biomass. Supporting this objective is the BIOBOOST ('Biomass-based energy intermediates boosting biofuel production') project. Set
December 28, 2011 Read Full Article
Area Plant Makes Bio-Resins for Plastics
by Dave Dreeszen (Sioux City Journal) A northeast Nebraska start-up company has produced its first batches of an ag-based material that holds great promise for the global plastics industry. Laurel BioComposite LLC recently opened a pilot plant that makes so-called "Bio-Res"
December 28, 2011 Read Full Article
The Magic Word is…Adipic. Looking at Verdezyne and Its Bull Markets
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...But think nylon, the wonder material. Friend of low-cost carpet, your latest pair of Jimmy Choo sneakers, or mass-market, ready-to-wear fashion sold at everyday low prices. Adipic is a major precursor. You want green nylon? (Hint:
December 28, 2011 Read Full Article
Another Blue Chip Partnership: Bioplastics Alliance With Coca-Cola
by Pavel Molchanov, Cory J. Garcia, Stacey Hudson (Raymond James) Our industry brief from June 10, “Bio-Based Plastics: In Coke-Pepsi War's New Front, Gen2 Biofuels Set to Benefit,” introduced the bioplastics opportunity as it relates to Gen2 biofuel developers. Today came the
December 27, 2011 Read Full Article
To Survive, Some Biofuels Companies Give Up on Biofuels
by Kevin Bullis (MIT Technology Review) Gevo, a prominent advanced-biofuels company that has received millions in U.S. government funding to develop fuels made from cellulosic sources such as grass and wood chips, is finding that it can't use these materials
December 23, 2011 Read Full Article
Vertis Signed up as Agent for BioMCN in Central Europe
(BioMCN) Environmental commodity broker Vertis Environmental Finance have signed an agency agreement with BioMCN for the representation and sales of bio-methanol in Central Europe. BioMCN is the largest 2nd generation biofuels producer in the world, producing high quality bio-methanol from
December 23, 2011 Read Full Article
BlueFire Renewables Launches Subsidiary and Formalizes Funding Agreements in 2011; Sets Sights on Further, Significant Milestones for 2012
(Blue Fire Renewables) ...To meet increasing demand for cellulosic sugars ("The New Oil") BlueFire formed SucreSource, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary that will manufacture cellulosic sugars from biomass for Biofuel, Bioplastic and Specialty Chemical markets. Established in November 2011, SucreSource
December 23, 2011 Read Full Article
Algae Biofuel Pilot Plant Construction Starts
by Analia Murias (FIS Worldnews) The Biotechnology Consortium (Bal Biofuels) began the construction of the Experimental Centre of Algae (CEA) in Puerto Montt Campus of the University of Los Lagos. The plant is expected to be operational from August next year. The
December 23, 2011 Read Full Article
Are Biofuels the Best Use of Our Limited Land Resources?
by Tyler Hamilton (OilPrice.com) ...This isn’t just about corn; it’s also about how we choose to use agricultural residues, municipal organic waste, wood waste, algae biomass, and non-food crops. Does it make sense to just burn this material for energy, or
December 23, 2011 Read Full Article
Neste Oil Achieves Milestones at Rotterdam, Porvoo Refineries
by Bryan Sims (Biorefining Magazine) Global refining and marketing company Neste Oil Corp. held a grand opening ceremony at its 800,000-metric-ton (240 MMgy) renewable diesel—trademarked NExBTL—production facility at the Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands. ...Neste Oil currently owns and operates a similar-sized
December 22, 2011 Read Full Article
Valero Partnering to Build Ethanol Plant in Michigan
(Valero) New Hampshire-based biofuels company Mascoma Corp. has entered into an agreement with energy giant Valero to build a plant that produces ethanol in Michigan's Upper Peninsula using Mascoma's proprietary technology. Mascoma, of Lebanon, agreed to the deal with Texas-based Valero
December 12, 2011 Read Full Article
Codexis, Mascoma Show that Low-Cost Sugar is the Key, as Biofuels Moves from R&D into Industrial Era
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...“The government rushed into investments, with no diligence,” says Codexis chief Alan Shaw. “They are just not industrialists, in my opinion.” Two major announcements this week drive the point home in advanced biofuels. In California, Codexis introduced its
December 12, 2011 Read Full Article
Hitting a New Stride: The Biorefining Sector Is Poised for Commercial Scale-Up as Funding Strategies Mature and Production Capacity Grows
by Erin Voegele (Biorefining Magazine) The biorefining sector reached an important new milestone this year with at least five companies undergoing successful initial public offerings (IPOs). As we move into the new year, members of industry will take another important
December 10, 2011 Read Full Article
Codexis Introduces CodeXyme™ Cellulase Enzyme Product Line for Biobased Chemicals
(Codexis) Codexis, Inc. (Nasdaq: CDXS) today introduced the CodeXyme™ Cellulase enzyme product line to convert biomass to sugar, enabling cost effective production of sustainable products. "The launch of the CodeXyme™ Cellulase product line introduces Codexis as a player in the global cellulase enzyme market," said Alan
December 08, 2011 Read Full Article
Iowa State University Scientists Part of US-Japan Team Set to Research Gene Chemistry to Enhance Biofuel, Biochemical Technology
(PressZoom/Iowa State University) An Iowa State University research team is collaborating with scientists at the Samuel Roberts Nobel Foundation and also with scientists in Japan to develop an international partnership to help make strides in the technologies needed towards
December 08, 2011 Read Full Article
DSM, CIMV Produce Ethanol From Wheat Straw in Biofuel Project
by Rudy Ruitenberg (Bloomberg) Royal DSM NV and France’s CIMV SA produced ethanol from wheat straw in a test run of a project led by French agricultural researcher INRA to develop so-called second-generation biofuels. Levallois-Perret, France-based CIMV broke down the straw
December 07, 2011 Read Full Article
Taking the Fuel Out of Biofuels
by Ben Lefebvre (Wall Street Journal) Unable to compete with petroleum products, biofuel companies have found replacement products to sell As advanced biofuel companies work toward creating an economically viable alternative to petroleum, some have found an alternative place to
December 05, 2011 Read Full Article
Butamax Discusses Biobutanol Commercial Activities Including Early Adopter Initiative
(Butamax) Butamax™ Advanced Biofuels, the leading global biobutanol technology development company, announces agreement on commercialization principles with Highwater Ethanol, the first entrant to the Butamax Early Adopters Group. Butamax’s business model is to offer current ethanol producers proprietary biobutanol technology to
December 05, 2011 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels Industry Hunkers Down for Hard Times
by Mackinnon Lawrence (Reuters) ...Coming off several years of steady industry growth but facing a difficult 2012, Advanced Biofuels Markets 2011 was tinged with exigency. With deficit reduction at the forefront of policy objectives for Congress, a reexamination of cornerstone
December 02, 2011 Read Full Article
Honeywell and AliphaJet Commit to Commercialize Renewable Drop-in Jet Biofuels at a Dinner Hosted by Former President Jimmy Carter
(BusinessWire/AliphaJet) At a dinner hosted by President Jimmy Carter with Jack Oswald, CEO of AliphaJet Inc. (www.AliphaJet.com), and Tracey Haslam, Americas vice president, Honeywell Process Solutions (NYSE:HON) (www.honeywellprocess.com), the former President endorsed the collaboration of large and small business to
December 02, 2011 Read Full Article
Thesis Chemistry to Build Iowa Biorefinery Using Stover Lignin
by Bryan Sims (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Working closely with the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Nevada Economic Development Council, Mentor, Iowa-based Thesis Chemistry has selected a 40-acre site within the West Industrial Park of Nevada, Iowa, for a proposed
November 29, 2011 Read Full Article
Dangote Stakes $7.7bn in Rivers Energy City
by Ignatius Chukwu (Business Day) Aliko Dangote, president, Dangote Group, has directed his investment gaze in the direction of Rivers State with initial $7.7 billion (N1.2 trillion) stake in the state’s emerging energy city. Rivers Energy City is part of the
November 28, 2011 Read Full Article
Bagasse – the Big Prize
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Then, there’s bagasse. That leftover residue at the sugar mill after squeezing out all the cane juice. Exciting enough that Cobalt recently signed an agreement with the 10th largest global chemical company, Rhodia, to pursue
November 28, 2011 Read Full Article
Monster Mash, or the Case of the Micro-Spider’s Web
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Philippe Marlière, co-founder of Global Bioenergies and president of its Scientific Advisory Board, comments: “Carbon monoxide combines the attractive features of biochemical versatility and virtuous sourcing. Most importantly, carbon monoxide retains a large part of
November 28, 2011 Read Full Article
AE Biofuels, Now Aemetis, To Add Renewable Rubber to Tthanol Line
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) AE Biofuels Inc. has a new name and, with it, a plan to expand the product line at existing ethanol plants. The company announced Nov. 15 that its shareholders have approved the company’s name
November 16, 2011 Read Full Article
Butanol Producers Target Biofuels Market
by Philip Brasher (Argus Leader) ... A top official with the Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates motor fuels, told lawmakers recently butanol is one of the nation’s “most promising biofuels.” However, the product faces potential government barriers that provide an advantage
November 15, 2011 Read Full Article
BioAmber’s $150 Million IPO: The 10-Minute Version
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Minnesota, BioAmber has filed an S-1 registration statement for a proposed $150 million initial public offering. The number of shares to be offered in the proposed offering and the price range for the offering
November 15, 2011 Read Full Article
Gen2 Biofuels: Despite Growing Pains, Billion-Gallon Milestone Within Reach
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cellulosic biofuels are behind schedule. Can they catch up? What are the barriers, the roles to be played by Washington, developers alike? What are the opportunities for the retail investor? A downloadable report from Pavel
November 14, 2011 Read Full Article
The 10 Biofuels Priorities for 2012
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, more than 350 delegates gathered at Advanced Biofuesl Markets to set industry priorities for the next six months,seal partnerships, and exchange outlooks on 2012. It didn’t take long for the Top 10 priorities
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
Biofuel Startup Earnings Trio: Amyris, Gevo, and Codexis
by Derek Mead (GreenTechMedia) Three newly public biofuel and green chemical firms reveal their financials. A trio of young biofuel firms recently reported their third-quarter 2011 earnings, offering a good glimpse into what's up and coming in the petroleum-substitute sector. Amyris,
November 08, 2011 Read Full Article
APLA: Brazil Grows Bio-Based Materials Effort
by Anna Jagger (ICIS Chemical Business) The sugar and ethanol industry is sustainable and competitive against fossil fuels. It is attracting interest from chemical producers looking for renewable feedstocks Brazil's sugarcane ethanol industry is attracting the attention of chemicals producers in
November 07, 2011 Read Full Article
Amyris Receives Approval for R$ 22 Million Funding from Brazil’s Development Bank
(Amyris) Amyris, Inc. , a leading renewable chemicals and fuels company, announced that it has received final approval from the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) for a R$ 22 million project financing facility for Amyris Brasil Ltda.’s first industrial-scale production facility
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
What’s the Buzz? The 10 hottest topics in biofuels right now.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... But here are 10 themes that are shaping up to be the Buzz of the conference. 1. RFS. Hold or Fold? 2. Can Obama find the $510 million? 3. Elections. 4. Fuels, or chems, or something else? 5.
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
Clearing the Way for Byproduct Quality
by Bryan Sims (Biodiesel Magazine) Why quality for glycerin is just as important for biodiesel ...With all the stringent quality measures imposed on producers, there is, however, no governing body that imposes or oversees similar quality standards for crude glycerin, the
October 31, 2011 Read Full Article
BP, Unlilever among Investors Pouring $49M into ZeaChem, Chromatin, Agradis
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...There’s a rumor going around the biofuels and biomaterials business that today represents one of the most difficult periods to raise capital. Apparently, the rumors did not reach ZeaChem, Chromatin or Synthetic Genomics, which this
October 26, 2011 Read Full Article
New Bioproducts Market to Outgrow Biofuels
by Deanna Lush (Stock Journal) ...As part of the study, former University of Guelph, Ontario, professor of crop science Terry Daynard compared grain supply and prices from the 1970s - where biofuel production was not an issue - and more
October 26, 2011 Read Full Article
Cobalt and Rhodia to Jointly Develop Bagasse Based Bio n-Butanol Market in Latin America
(Cobalt) Cobalt Technologies, a leading developer of next generation bio-based chemicals and Rhodia, a specialty chemical company, today announced the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding setting the basis for a strategic alliance to develop bio n-butanol refineries throughout Latin
October 25, 2011 Read Full Article
Amyris & ETH Bioenergia Sign Agreement to Produce Biofene® in Brazil
(Amyris) Two Million Ton Sugarcane Crush Capacity to be added in Brazil for High-Performance Renewable Chemicals and Fuels Amyris, Inc. and ETH Bioenergia, a leading producer of ethanol, electric energy and sugar controlled by Odebrecht S.A., have signed a memorandum of
October 21, 2011 Read Full Article
Lux Research Says Boom in Bio-based Materials and Chemicals Finance Nears End
(Algae Industry Magazine) According to a newly published report by Lux Research, multi-billion-dollar acquisitions and a wave of IPOs indicate an impending end to a boom in the nascent bio-based chemicals industry, which received $3.1 billion in venture funding over
October 20, 2011 Read Full Article
M&G Group Partners with TPG to Form BETA RENEWABLES, the Global Leader in Second Generation Bio-Ethanol and Bio-based Chemicals
(M&G) Gruppo Mossi and Ghisolfi ("M&G"), through its wholly-owned subsidiary Chemtex, is pleased to announce that it has founded BETA RENEWABLES, a joint venture with TPG Capital and TPG Biotech (collectively "TPG"), established to exclusively license Chemtex's PROESA® Technology into
October 17, 2011 Read Full Article
Wood Climbs from Supporting Role to Center Stage
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ....But as it turns out, trees guard their precious C5 and C6 sugars, those necessary to produce cellulosic ethanol and biochemicals, with a nearly impenetrable system of natural defenses that has yet to
September 28, 2011 Read Full Article
Alberta-Pacific Pulp and Paper Mill Transitions to Biorefining
by Luke Geiver (Biodiesel Magazine) ...Beginning as far back as 1998, mills like Alberta-Pacific began experiencing tighter profit margins, some down to three percent, while mills in places like India or Brazil averaged nine and eight percent respectively. The move
September 28, 2011 Read Full Article
ZeaChem and Partners Awarded $40 million USDA Grant
(ZeaChem) ZeaChem Will Produce “Drop-In” Advanced Biofuels at Boardman, Oregon Biorefinery ZeaChem Inc., a developer of biorefineries for the conversion of renewable feedstocks into sustainable fuels and chemicals, today (September 28, 2011) announced it has been awarded part of a $40
September 28, 2011 Read Full Article
Conversion Pathways for Bioenergy: Upgrading of Intermediates: Hybrid Routes to Fuels and Chemicals
Laurel Harmon (LanzaTech Inc.) LanzaTech, Inc., was founded in January 2005 by CSO Dr. Sean Simpson in New Zealand. Funds were mainly from New Zealand government US$ 10M, Khosla Ventures US$ 12M in 2007 and Qiming Ventures US$
September 20, 2011 Read Full Article
UK Firm Produces High-Energy 'Hycadiesel'
by Luke Geiver (Biodiesel Magazine) Hycagen Ltd., a U.K.-based advanced biofuel startup, uses the same feedstocks traditionally used by the biodiesel industry, but Hycagen doesn’t make biodiesel. ...Hycagen produces a fuel they call Hycadiesel. The fuel is made using
September 14, 2011 Read Full Article
Biofuels Firm Plans Bellevue Refinery
by Ross Boettcher (World-Herald/Omaha.com) A La Vista-based biofuels company Thursday proposed a $100 million project to build a biorenewable fuel refinery in Bellevue that could create at least 50 local jobs. The company, BioSyn Resources, wants to build a three-tiered refinery
September 12, 2011 Read Full Article
Opening Plenary – "Industry Perspectives on Bioenergy": The Future Biobased Economy
by Matt Carr (Biotechnology Industry Organization). Matt Carr, Managing Director or BIO notes that in 2011, biofuels comprise about 10% of the US transportation fuel market; in 2025, biofuels will consist of around 25% of that market. Renewable chemicals and
September 09, 2011 Read Full Article
GBL and Songyuan Laihe Chemical Company (Laihe) Enter into a Technology Collaboration Agreement
(Green Biologics) GBL and Laihe Chemical Co. a company focused on producing bio-fuels and bio-chemicals from non-food bio-mass resources have entered into a collaborative development and licensing agreement in China. Under the terms of the agreement GBL and Laihe
September 02, 2011 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Announces up to $12 Million in Investments to Support Development and Production of Drop-In Biofuels
(US Department of Energy) In support of the Obama Administration's comprehensive efforts to strengthen U.S. energy security, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced up to $12 million to fund three small-scale projects in Illinois, Wisconsin, and North Carolina that
September 01, 2011 Read Full Article
China’s Vision for Renewable Energy: The Status of Bioenergy and Bioproduct Research and Commercialization
Elizabeth R. Nesbitt, Paul Thiers, Johnway Gao, Sharon Shoemaker, Manuel Garcia-Perez, Julie Carrier, Joy Doran-Peterson, John Morgan, Guangyi Wang, Pierre Christian Wensel, Shulin Chen (Journal of International Commerce and Economics) The Chinese government is vigorously promoting commercialization of renewable energy and bioproducts, given environmental issues plus food, energy, and national security concerns,
August 30, 2011 Read Full Article
Biobased Materials Minnesota’s Opportunity & Challenge
(Agricultural Utilization Research Institute) As the interest and use of biobased products grows, so do the opportunities and challenges. According to a recent report sponsored by AURI and the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Minnesota’s fundamental strengths in agriculture,
August 27, 2011 Read Full Article
Creating a Biobased Economy
by Erin Voegele (Biorefining Magazine) Fast-tracking bioenergy development in Holland Due in part to its strong chemical industry and logistical advantages, Holland is uniquely suited to become a central biorefining hub in Europe. According to Renee Bergkamp, director general of innovation
August 25, 2011 Read Full Article
NNFCC to Investigate Environmental Impacts of Algae Bioenergy
(National Centre for Biorenewable Energy, Fuels and Materials) The new research will explore what needs to be done to sustainably produce bioenergy, biofuels and biochemicals from algae in the UK. Algae have the potential to make a significant contribution towards our future
August 24, 2011 Read Full Article
Glycos Biotechnologies and Solix BioSystems Achieve Positive Results for the Suitability of Solix’s Algal Oils for the Production of Bio-derived Sustainable Chemicals
(Solix) Algal Oils Proven as Next Generation Feedstock for Industrial Bacterial Fermentation Glycos Biotechnologies, Inc. (GlycosBio), an international biochemical company commercializing high-value bio-chemicals, and Solix BioSystems, Inc. (Solix), a leading provider of integrated solutions and services that enable large scale cultivation
August 24, 2011 Read Full Article
Biochemical Developer Aurora Algae Raises $22M
by Matthew Lynley (GreenBeat) Aurora Algae, a developer of biofuels and biochemicals produced from processed algae, announced today that it has raised $22 million in its most recent round of funding. The company is part of a small set of funded
August 22, 2011 Read Full Article
North Dakota State University Researchers Develop Revolutionary Biobased Technology From Crop Materials Produced in North Dakota
(North Dakota State University) Several crops produced in North Dakota could play a significant role in biobased resins and coatings recently developed by researchers at North Dakota State University. Scientists at NDSU have developed biobased resins that may prove to
August 22, 2011 Read Full Article
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