(US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service) The process dates to ancient Egypt. Now, it’s being studied here by the USDA as a way to fuel farms. Pour a few handfuls of chopped- up corn stalks or switchgrass into a hopper.
BioRefineries/Renewable Fuel Production
Back TO HOMEBeyond Ethanol: Drop-In Biofuels Squeeze Gasoline From Plants
by Patrick J. Kiger and Marianne Lavelle (National Geographic) ... KiOR's breakthrough is one part of a wide-ranging effort by a number of companies and government-supported researchers to develop and perfect "drop-in" biofuels—fuels so similar to their petroleum-based counterparts that they
July 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Swedish Project Aims to Produce Bio-Oil from Pulp Mill Black Liquor Lignin
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Sweden, biorefinery R&D project number 100 has now started in the Swedish Processum cluster, aimed at thermochemically converting lignin from black liquor to bio oil. It is run by the Swedish-Norwegian cooperation project “Biorefinery
July 23, 2013 Read Full Article
London Mayor Calls for Waste Oil to Be Used as Biofuel for Buses
by Ben Messenger (Waste Management World) The UK biofuel industry has been urged to process more of London’s waste cooking fats and oils into biodiesel to fuel the city’s buses, by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. London’s bus fleet uses
July 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Viesel Fuel Completes Upgrade at Enzymatic Biodiesel Plant in Stuart, FL
(Viesel Fuel/Biofuels Journal) Viesel Fuel, LLC announced that they have completed the upgrade of the Viesel Fuel facility to produce biodiesel using an enzymatic process developed by Novozymes of Denmark. Viesel Fuel has obtained approvals from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under
July 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Fast Swimmers: 10 Algae Technologies, Where Are They in the Race for the Summit?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The Summer of Algae has passed, but dozens of companies have remained hot in pursuit of a solution for fuels, feed, nutraceuticals, fragrances, flavorings and tailored renewable oils. Their technologies? Closed systems, open-systems, hybrid systems. Hosts
July 23, 2013 Read Full Article
A.I.M. Interview: NAABB’s José Olivares
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) José Olivares is a busy man. Not only the founder and kingpin of the NAABB 3-year DOE-backed consortium to ring out the potential of algal biofuel production, he also recently served as conference co-chair,
July 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Enerfuel's 7.5 MMgy Biodiesel Plant in Portugal Begins Operations
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) After years in the works, Enerfuel S.A.’s 25,000 ton (7.5 MMgy) multifeedstock biodiesel plant in Sines, Portugal, has officially begun production. ... The newly operational biodiesel refinery is using animal fats and used cooking oil as
July 22, 2013 Read Full Article
DuPont Seeks Cellulosic Ethanol Joint Ventures
by Owen Fletcher (Dow Jones Business News) --DuPont seeks partners for joint ventures in production of cellulosic ethanol --Company is talking with potential partners in U.S., China, Brazil, Europe, Southeast Asia --DuPont is investing more than $200 million in cellulosic ethanol plant
July 22, 2013 Read Full Article
12 Bellwether Biofuels Projects – Where Do They Stand?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Advanced biofuels – mirage or reality? In January we wrote: “When these 12 projects open for business (or not) in 2013, you’ll know for sure.” So, what do we know? ... We identified 12 “Bellwether projects” in
July 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Tennessee State University to Demonstrate New Mobile Biodiesel Lab
(News Observer) Researchers at Tennessee State University will demonstrate how to turn oilseed crops into biodiesel with a new mobile lab at the school's Small Farm Expo. ... After the expo, researchers will be taking the lab across the state to demonstrate
July 18, 2013 Read Full Article
In Quest for Energy, Biofuels Gaining Ground
by James Osborne (Dallas Morning News) For more than 130 years, Darling International has operated in a little-known corner of U.S. industry, breaking down the leftovers of the meat industry for products including cattle feed and cosmetics. Then last month the
July 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Zambia Sugar to Set Up Ethanol Plant
by Maimbolwa Mulikelela (AllAfrica) ZAMBIA Sugar Plc has pledged to support Government's efforts in mitigating the high cost of fuel and help create employment opportunities through the establishment of an ethanol plant in Zambia. This follows a recent announcement by the
July 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Elevance and Wilmar Begin Commercial Shipments of Biobased Chemicals from Newly Commissioned Refinery
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Singapore, Wilmar International and Elevance Renewable Sciences have just announced that they have begun shipping commercial products, including novel specialty chemicals, to customers from their first world-scale joint venture biorefinery, located in Gresik, Indonesia.
July 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Chemtex Picks Duplin County Firm for Ethanol Plant Supplies
by Chris Bagley (Triangle Business Journal) A fuels and chemicals company said it has nailed down a major supplier for its planned $200 million ethanol plant near Clinton. Wilmington-based Chemtex said Murphy Brown LLC, a hog-farming company headquartered in Duplin County, will supply
July 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Understanding the Pricing of Distillers' Grain Solubles
by Scott Irwin and Darrel Good (FarmDocDaily) Distillers' grain solubles (DGS) are a co-product of ethanol production from corn and have become an important feed source for the domestic livestock industry in the U.S. While it is widely known that the
July 17, 2013 Read Full Article
Sapphire Energy and Linde Group Expand Partnership
(Sapphire Energy/PR NewsWire) Companies Partner to Commercialize Hydrothermal Treatment Technology Used to Upgrade Algae into Crude Oil Sapphire Energy, Inc., one of the world leaders in algae-based Green Crude oil production, and the technology company The Linde Group today announced they
July 16, 2013 Read Full Article
Iowa City Wants Proposals on Trash-to-Ethanol Project
by Gregg Hennigan (The Gazette) One company could reduce waste going in landfill by up to 80% Iowa City is ready to hear from companies interested in partnering with it on a project that would take garbage from the landfill for use in
July 15, 2013 Read Full Article
EPA Publishes Notice of Data Availability for Barley Ethanol
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA has published a notice of data availability pertaining to ethanol produced from barley under the renewable fuel standard (RFS). Public comments will be accepted for 30 days following the publication of
July 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Cool Planet Chooses Colorado for Headquarters
(The Fresno Bee/Associated Press) A company that has developed a process for converting beetle-killed trees and corn cobs into gasoline says it plans to open its global headquarters in Greenwood Village, south of Denver. Cool Planet Energy Systems said Wednesday it also
July 11, 2013 Read Full Article
First Plants Going In For Ethanol-Linked Greenhouse
by Simon Crouch (BlackburnNews.com) A new Chatham-area greenhouse operation expects to harvest their first crop of tomatoes in September. Right now the Truly Green Farms operation is running normally. By the end of next year it will be getting it’s heat from
July 10, 2013 Read Full Article
ICM, Inc. Announces Contract with INPASA on Evaporator and Dryer System for Ethanol Plant in Nueva Esperanza, Paraguay
(ICM) ICM, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has signed a contract with Industria Paraguaya de Alcoholes S.A. (“INPASA”) for sale of an evaporator and dryer system at its plant in Nueva Esperanza, Paraguay. INPASA was founded in 2006 to
July 10, 2013 Read Full Article
Momentum: 12 Biobased Ventures Raise $435M in Q2 2013; 32 Projects Being Built off the Balance Sheet
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Despite negative press from Bloomberg, biobased investing is surging, both direct and via strategics. The Digest has the data and the scoop. After we profiled, last April, 17 biobased ventures who raised $434 million in new
July 10, 2013 Read Full Article
INTRATEC Evaluates the Economic Potential of Renewable Ethylene Production
(Brazil Business Today/EIN NewsWire) Intratec has released the publication “Green Ethylene from Ethanol” detailing the economics of an ethylene via ethanol dehydration process suggested by BP Chemicals R&D staff Seeking to reduce the chemical industry’s dependence on fossil raw materials, several companies
July 09, 2013 Read Full Article
Brazil Sugar-Cane Use for Fuel Seen by Datagro Above Outlook
by Isis Almeida (Bloomberg) Sugar millers in Brazil’s center south, the main growing region of the largest producer, will use more of this year’s crop to make ethanol than previously forecast because of unseasonal rain, Datagro Ltd. said. ... “The fact that it
July 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Soaring Soymeal Price Boosts Appeal of DDGs
(AgriMoney.com) The soaring price of soymeal, which hit a nine-month high this week, has only enhanced the need for dairy and livestock producers to investigate distillers' grains as an alternative, Rice Dairy said. Soymeal futures for July hit $499.00 a short
July 08, 2013 Read Full Article
New Novozymes Technology Boosts Biofuels Productivity
by Leon Kaye (SustainableBrands.com) Whether one believes corn-based ethanol is a viable long-term solution for the United States’ energy portfolio or not, the reality is that 280 plants across the country will continue to produce biofuels. And with the constant
July 05, 2013 Read Full Article
EPA OK’s Arundo, Napier Grass for Renewable Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The Environmental Protection Agency is issuing a supplemental final rule, containing a lifecycle greenhouse gas analysis for renewable fuels made from giant reed (Arundo donax) and napier grass, and a regulatory determination that such fuels
July 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Abengoa Foundation Opens First Technology Demonstration Plant 'Waste to Biofuels' (W2B)
(Ecoticias.com) The production of ethanol from municipal solid waste is a major technological advance in the waste management model. Abengoa (MCE: ABG.B), a company that applies innovative technology solutions for sustainable development in the energy and environment sectors, today opened the
July 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Flight Plan: 14 Practical Steps towards Commercial Aviation Biofuels Now
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For every 5% in global shift to aviation biofuels — create 72,000 jobs and avoid 3 million tons of carbon emissions. How to get from available field to affordable fuel in 14 steps In Illinois, the
July 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Commercial Aviation Biofuels: Translating Green Ambitions into Green Miles
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How to get from available field to affordable fuel in 14 steps. The MASBI report is out, and that’s good. ... Last week, the Midwest Aviation Sustainable Biofuels Initiative, led by United Airlines, Boeing, Honeywell’s UOP, the
July 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Finding Business Success in a Changing Ethanol Industry
by Scott McDermott (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Ascendant Partners Inc.) ...Historically, ethanol processing margins were driven by supply and demand fundamentals in ethanol, energy and corn, plus feed and policy impacts. As more ethanol companies diversify, the economic incentives to expand or
July 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Going Deep With Enzyme Technology: No Part of the Corn Kernel Goes Unexplored.
Jack Rogers (Novozymes/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...Novozyme’s R&D group has been successful extracting and converting more starch from corn, so we decided to investigate opportunities to increase corn oil yields as well. Our research started with the insight that a significant amount
July 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Pretreated Biomass for Food and Fuel
by Susanne REtka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Bruce Dale urges careful thought about energy and agriculture. A 1-ton-per-day pilot facility on the campus of Michigan State University geared up this spring to produce pretreated biomass for feed trials. It’s part of
July 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Technology— Pulp and Paper Style
by Chris Hanson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) American Process applies forestry products know-how to cellulosic conversion. Though a relative newcomer to the ethanol world, Georgia-based American Process Inc. is no stranger in the forest products industry. The company has demonstrated its consulting
July 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Culture of Compliance
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Keeping an ethanol plant in compliance with environmental rules and regulations isn’t just a one-person job. Most ethanol plants employ one or possibly two individuals charged with making sure the facility stays up-to-date with all
July 02, 2013 Read Full Article
‘Where Producers Meet’
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Industry representatives from 26 countries met in St. Louis, June 10-13, for the world’s largest and longest- running ethanol conference. The 29th Annual International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo brought together a diverse group of
July 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Bio-Refinery Closer to Reality for Drayton Valley
by Courtney Whalen (DraytonValleyWesternReview.com) ...Mascoma Alberta Drayton Valley is in the process of solidifying the necessary financing to bring the bio-refinery, which would produce cellulosic ethanol and related products, to the community’s Bio-Mile. The bio-refinery project is supported by the federal
July 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Power Plant's Waste to Become Fuel
(Yahoo!7Finance) Greenhouse gas emissions from one of Australia's largest coal fired power stations will be used to produce biofuels as its owner attempts to reduce its carbon bill. Biofuel company Algae.Tec has signed a deal to establish a carbon capture and biofuels
July 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Legislators: Global Partners Will Not Pursue Ethanol Transport by Train
by Erin Baldissari (Wicked Local Cambridge) Facing pressure from legislators and residents, representatives from Global Partners LP said they would withdraw their proposal July 1 to ship ethanol by train through some of the region’s most densely packed cities, according to state
July 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol Plants Mired in Troubles
(Saigon Times Online) The ethanol plants of Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN) are facing numerous difficulties due to slow development of the domestic E-5 at home and poor ethanol export prices. Nguyen Anh Toan, deputy general director of PetroVietnam Oil
July 02, 2013 Read Full Article
KiOR Commences Shipments of Cellulosic Gasoline
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Texas, KiOR announced that its Columbus, Mississippi facility made its first shipment of cellulosic gasoline on June 28, which represented the first fuel shipment since March, 2013. The company added that it has “commenced regular
July 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Green Biologics Inks Iowa Demo Plant Deal with Easy Energy Systems
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Green Biologics heads for scale – pilot complete, demo ready in 2014. The race for n-butanol from cellulosic materials is on. The prize for a transformative breakthrough on n-butanol’s cost, performance and sustainability? Could
July 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Largest Green Diesel Plant Completed in US, Diamond Green Diesel: Can It Make Money?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A now-complete 142 million gallon green diesel monster project will easily deliver big on renewable energy targets and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. But it also offers a material path to profits for its parents, Valero Energy
July 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Scottish Startup Thinks Whiskey Can Fuel More than an Epic Bender
by Signe Brewster (GigaOm/The Washington Post) That 15-year Macallan you’ve been saving for a special occasion has a dark side: It was extremely inefficient to produce. The Scottish malt whiskey industry currently disposes of 90 percent of the liquid it produces because it
July 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Government of Canada Encourages Innovative Biofuel Production in Sarnia
(Digital Journal/FedDev Ontario) Woodland Biofuels Inc. is receiving a contribution to operate a plant that will produce low-cost biofuel from waste. Patricia Davidson, Member of Parliament for Sarnia-Lambton, announced the funding today on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister
June 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Ethanol: Scale-Up and Commercialization - Part 2
by David Glass (D Glass Associates) In the final breakout session of the BIO World Congress on June 19, there was a second panel on scale-up and commercialization of cellulosic ethanol. As with the session on the conference’s first day,
June 21, 2013 Read Full Article
Technip Awarded FEED Contract for a New Biomass-to-Liquid Plant in Finland
Technip was awarded by Forest BtL Oy a contract, worth approximately €5 million, for the front-end engineering and design (FEED) of a new second generation biomass-to-liquid* (BTL) plant to be built on Ajos island, Finland. This plant will produce approximately
June 20, 2013 Read Full Article
BIO World Congress Cellulosic Ethanol Panel: The Latest on Commercialization Progress
by David Glass (D Glass Associates) One of the morning sessions at the Tenth Annual BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology put four of the companies in the forefront of commercial development of cellulosic ethanol on the same panel. Although
June 18, 2013 Read Full Article
United Planes to Fly on Advanced Biofuel
by Jennifer A. Dlouhy (SF Gate) United Airlines on Tuesday announced it has committed to buy at least 15 million gallons of cleaner-burning renewable jet fuel from a Los Angeles-based refinery, marking a potentially major breakthrough in the commercial aviation industry’s
June 07, 2013 Read Full Article
We Came in Peace: The Renewable Fuel Standard and the Spirit of Innovation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The EPREINC scenario---One chart was prepared by the Energy Policy Research Foundation for its Congressional testimony on the Renewable Fuel Standard yesterday. ... EPRINC’s scenario foresees a big shortfall between the production of renewable fuels and the
June 07, 2013 Read Full Article
Clariant Demonstrates Sunliquid Process with Stover, Bagasse
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Not quite a year after opening a demonstration facility, Switzerland-based specialty chemicals company Clariant AG announced that it has expanded the feedstocks successfully converted to cellulosic ethanol beyond wheat straw to include corn stover
June 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Mazda Wins Again with SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel: Is It Renewable?
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) NASCAR's sportscar racing division, GrandAm, and Green Racing aren’t words that you see together. For one thing, GrandAm competitors race on all-petroleum race fuel. Yet, GrandAm and the American Le Mans Series, the series which
June 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Nova Scotia Biodiesel Project Plans 100 Percent Export to Germany
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Biofuel Weiss Inc. is developing a 7 MMgy continuous flow multifeedstock biodiesel production facility in Atlantic Canada, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. According to Ian Weiss, CEO of Weiss Biofuel, the process technology “is a modern
May 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Can Electrofuels and Electrosugars Save the Day?
Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Is the ultimate industrial fuel system going to be based on electricity, waste CO2 and brackish water – to return society to the days of energy abundance? It will take a mighty production microorganism, but R&D
May 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Western Biomass up for Sale; Blue Sugars Files Bankruptcy
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Just months after receiving the first cellulosic renewable identification numbers for a shipment of cellulosic ethanol to its Brazil partner Petrobras, Western Biomass Energy LLC filed for bankruptcy and is now up for
May 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Zambia: Govt Resorts to Ethanol Fuel
by Judith Namutowe (AllAfrica.com) Government has said it will start importing ethanol from Zimbabwe with a view to lowering the high fuel prices in Zambia. And Government will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Zimbabwe-based firm, Green Fuel in
May 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels Come of Age
by Dan Seif (Mother Earth News/Rocky Mountain Institute) Advanced, non-food biofuels are gaining momentum in 2013 as several new plants have gathered the capital and momentum for large-scale production. ... Despite sparse media coverage, significant volumes of non-food biofuels have been produced
May 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Absolute Energy Launches Direct E85 Distribution to Retailers at $1.93 per Gallon
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Iowa, Absolute Energy, a 115 million gallon per year ethanol plant near the Iowa-Minnesota border, is now offering E85, a fuel blend containing 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, directly to retailers and
May 27, 2013 Read Full Article
The Battle of the Beltway: DoD Awards $16M towards Parity-Cost, Drop-In, Non-Food Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DoD goes forward, after internal wrangle, with advanced biofuels program via $16M phase 1 investment. With industry cost share, project totals $33M: aims for sub-$4, drop-in military biofuels. In Washington, the DoD will award three contracts totaling
May 27, 2013 Read Full Article
EPA Announces Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: RFS Pathways II and Technical Amendments to the RFS2 Standards
(Environmental Protection Agency) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a proposed rulemaking for modifications to the Renewable Fuel Standard program, E15 misfueling mitigation regulations, ultra low sulfur diesel survey requirements as well as other technical amendments. Elements of this Notice EPA is
May 23, 2013 Read Full Article
USDA Announces Payments to Advanced Ethanol Producers
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The USDA has announced $14 million payments to advanced biofuel 162 producers in 38 states under the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels. The program awards payments to eligible producers based on the amount of
May 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Sugar for Food, Fuel and Power: The ISO Datagro Sugar & Ethanol Conference in New York City
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) What used to be known as “The New York Sugar Conference” has become “The ISO and Datagro Sugar & Ethanol Conference” with a record-setting number of attendees (350 from 25 countries) demonstrating the growing
May 16, 2013 Read Full Article
Edeniq DOE-Supported Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Surpasses 1,000 Continuous Operational Hours
(Edeniq/Yahoo! News) Visalia Plant Milestone Signifies Greater Commercial Viability for Cellulosic Ethanol and Sugars Edeniq, a biomaterials and sustainable fuels company, today announced the company's first demonstration plant, located at its Visalia, CA headquarters, has completed a successful "performance test" that
May 14, 2013 Read Full Article
Enerkem Starts "Drop-In" Renewable Fuels R&D Project
(Enerkem/PR NewsWire) Enerkem Inc. (www.enerkem.com), a waste-to-biofuels and renewable chemicals company, announces the launch of a new research project with the Government of Canada. The objective of the project is to develop new catalytic processes for the conversion of waste into
May 14, 2013 Read Full Article
Out of the Shell: Oil Giant’s Big Biofuels Ambitions
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In an exclusive Digest interview, Shell’s VP for Alternative Energy, Matthew Tipper, reveals the company’s thinking about RFS2, their increasing re-focus on North America and the EU. Plus, Shell’s ambition to “build, own and operate”
May 14, 2013 Read Full Article
Dynamic Fuels' Renewable Diesel Refinery to Restart in July
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) During a call to discuss its first quarter financial results, Syntroleum Corp. announced that Dynamic Fuels LLC’s renewable diesel plant in Geismar, La., is expected to resume operations in July. The facility was idled in
May 13, 2013 Read Full Article
Setting the Record Straight: Gevo and Butamax
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biofuels’s Montagues and Capulets were at it again last week — with a flurry of press releases about court decisions and commercial timelines regarding their respective isbutanol technologies. At the heart of it — a dispute
May 13, 2013 Read Full Article
KiOR Shipping Cellulosic Biofuels; Releases Q1 Results
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...“Building on the first gallons of cellulosic diesel we shipped in March, we continue to make progress with operations at our Columbus facility,” said KiOR CEO Fred Cannon. “The on-stream percentage of our core technology
May 10, 2013 Read Full Article
Public Invited to Bon Secour Farm for Rare Glimpse into the Potentially Sweet Future of Alternative Fuels
by Jeff Dute (AL.com) Corporate America does not often invite the public into the research and development process of products that could potentially revolutionize how their vehicles are fueled, how plastics are made and even how their food is sweetened. But
May 09, 2013 Read Full Article
Gevo Provides Update of Luverne Operations
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Gevo Inc. provided updated information on it Luverne, Minn., plant and patent dispute with Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC as part of its recent first quarter 2013 financial announcement. During a call to discuss the first
May 09, 2013 Read Full Article
International Energy Agency Publishes Global Update of Advanced, Cellulosic Projects
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The International Energy Agency Bioenergy Task 39 group recently published a report that outlines progress on more than 100 advanced biofuel projects under development worldwide. The report, titled “Status of Advanced Biofuels Demonstration Facilities
May 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Florida Sunshine Fueling the Growth of Algenol and Its Blue-Green Algae
by Carlin Rosengarten (Fueling Growth) Nearly 30 years ago, Paul Woods invented the Direct to Ethanol technology that his company, Algenol Biofuels, utilizes today to produce ethanol from blue-green algae at its state-of-the-art commercial development campus in Fort Myers, Fla. Algenol’s
May 08, 2013 Read Full Article
ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative
(Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper) The Government of Canada is committed to investing in innovative clean energy technologies that create high-quality jobs, generate new economic opportunities and protect the environment. To this end, on May 3, 2013, Prime Minister Stephen
May 08, 2013 Read Full Article
SEKAB Welcomes SP’s Engagement in the Biorefinery Demo Plant
(SEKAB) SEKAB E-Technology welcomes SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden’s (SP) engagement in the Biorefinery Demo Plant in Örnsköldsvik, previously known as the Ethanol Pilot. SP and SEKAB have signed an agreement, which ensures continued operations of the demonstration plant.
May 08, 2013 Read Full Article
880 Biofuels Refineries Profiled in New Global, Online Database
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington DC, at the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference, Biofuels Digest announced that it has released its newly expanded SuperData database, profiling 880 biofuels refineries on six continents. SuperData contains all known biofuels refineries worldwide, including
May 07, 2013 Read Full Article
Official Inauguration of Borregaard’s Biorefinery Demonstration Plant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Norway, Norwegian Finance Minister Sigbjørn Johnsen officially inaugurated the Borregaard biorefinery demonstration plant in Sarpsborg, which will produce green chemicals and sugars based on biomass from wood and agricultural and forestry waste. ... The aim is
May 07, 2013 Read Full Article
Ranch-Based Biodiesel Production Might Pay Off
by Kathy Coatney (Beef Magazine/BeefProducer.com) Small, automated units can make biodiesel from animal fat, waste oil and oilseed crops. An Arkansas professor has been experimenting with a farm-sized biodiesel plant that can use animal fat, waste oil or oilseeds. Kevin Humphrey's
May 07, 2013 Read Full Article
Schools Reaping Rewards of Restaurant Leftovers
by Erica Anderson (WNCT.com) A local school district is reaping the benefits of restaurant leftovers. At the start of the academic year, Pitt County Schools partnered with Green Circle N.C. to turn used cooking oil into cash for schools. That partnership
May 06, 2013 Read Full Article
US Dominating Cellulosic Ethanol Market
(EnergyDigital) In the ethanol fuel market, the US takes the lead. Pilot and demonstration plants to commence in late 2013. Ethanol is the most widely acclaimed alternative or additive for gasoline used for running vehicles, and the US ranked as number
May 06, 2013 Read Full Article
North Carolina's Growing Strengths: Triangle Biofuels Industries
(Biofuels Center of North Carolina) Based in Wilson, Triangle Biofuels Industries produces biodiesel derived primarily from waste vegetable oils (WVO) obtained from local sources. Its target markets are agricultural, marine, residential, governmental, and commercial diesel consumers looking for cleaner diesel
May 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Researchers Reveal Increased Efficiencies in Ethanol Production
by Chris Hanson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A study by Steffen Mueller, a researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago Energy Resources Center, and John Kwik, president of Dominion Energy Services LLC, surveyed ethanol producers and revealed a growing trend
May 06, 2013 Read Full Article
API Lands Brazil Investment to Commercialize Cellulosic Process
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) With a fresh investment from Brazil’s GranBio, American Process Inc. is poised to develop its first commercial-scale cellulosic biorefineries in both the U.S. and Brazil. API CEO Theodora Retsina, said the companies hope
May 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol Plant Faces Wrecking Ball
by Katy Stech (The Wall Street Journal) Struggling Fuel-Making Facilities Are in Danger of Falling to Liquidators Before Market Recovers When the New Energy Corp. ethanol plant in South Bend, Ind., was idled by its bankruptcy filing last November, people nearby
May 03, 2013 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Producer Community Fuels Gets BQ-9000 Lab Certification
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) California-based Community Fuels recently earned BQ-9000 Laboratory certification, making it the first biodiesel producer in the nation to receive this third-party approval. “We are serious about quality and believe that biodiesel with reliable and predictable
May 03, 2013 Read Full Article
Duckweed as a Cost-Competitive Raw Material for Biofuel Production
(American Chemical Society) The search for a less-expensive, sustainable source of biomass, or plant material, for producing gasoline, diesel and jet fuel has led scientists to duckweed, that fast-growing floating plant that turns ponds and lakes green. That’s the topic
May 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Virent Delivers Plant-Based Jet Fuel to U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory for Testing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Produces Drop-In Jet Fuel from 100% Renewable Plant Sugars In Wisconsin, Virent announced the delivery of 100 gallons of its bio-based jet fuel to the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for testing purposes. Product testing will
May 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Gevo’s Gevolution
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The stock has not recovered much — but it’s remarkable the progress the company has made, all the same. Analysts are now expecting the company to bring its first production train up later this month
May 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Study Shows Ethanol Reducing Footprint
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) A new study indicates that ethanol production is continuing to reduce its energy and environmental footprint. The study, entitled “2012 Corn Ethanol: Emerging Plant Energy and Environmental Technologies”, found that recent innovations in corn ethanol production have resulted
May 02, 2013 Read Full Article
UMaine’s Paper Days Focuses on Future of Nanofibers, Biofuels and Industries that Will Benefit Maine
by Nick McCrea (Bangor Daily News) ...University of Maine researchers updated more than 300 forestry and paper industry officials, stakeholders and politicians on what the university’s research could mean for the future during the first day of the 63rd annual
May 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Clariant Looks to Biofuel Amid Disposals of Older Assets
by Andrew Noel (Bloomberg) Clariant AG (CLN) said it’s prepared to take on a partner and help fund a second-generation bioethanol plant to prove the effectiveness of its biotechnology and compete against Royal DSM NV (DSM) and Novozymes A/S. (NZYMB) Clariant,
May 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Canergy Taps Beta Renewables for 25M Gallon Advanced Biofuels Project in California
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Energy cane for California’s Imperial Valley? Canergy lines up Beta, CHS, Certis as partners for greenfield low-carbon fuel project slated for 2016 opening. In California, Canergy announced that it has selected Chemtex and Beta Renewables for
May 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Community Fuels Is the First Biodiesel Producer in the Nation to Secure BQ9000 Laboratory Certification
(Community Fuels) Community Fuels earned BQ9000 Laboratory certification on March 14th making it the first biodiesel producer in the nation to receive this third party approval. “We are serious about quality and believe that biodiesel with reliable and predictable fuel performance is necessary
April 30, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels and the Problem of Tropical Islands, Part II of II
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...It used to be that the outskirts of Honolulu had the dual scent of diesel and pineapple processing — but now, all you really smell is the diesel. Sugarcane and pineapple are every year less
April 30, 2013 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels to Retrofit Moses Lake Plant for Cellulosic
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Advanced Biofuels Corp. has bought a legacy 7 MMgy ethanol plant in Moses Lake, Wash., with plans to retrofit existing systems and install new pretreatment process equipment, converting the facility into a 6
April 30, 2013 Read Full Article
National Labs Release New Biochemical Biorefinery Sizing Study
(US Department of Energy) The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, and Argonne National Laboratory have released a joint study on biochemical biorefinery sizing. “Investigation of biochemical biorefinery sizing and environmental sustainability impacts for conventional
April 30, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels and the Problem of Tropical Islands, part I of II
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Though there are exceptions among the archipelagoes with access to offshore oil assets — Indonesia comes to mind— but these are, in the main, exceptions to what might be described as the general problem of
April 29, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels Deal Helps SeQuential Play Ball with Heady Seattle Businesses
by Andy Giegerich (Sustainable Business Oregon) A top Portland biodiesel producer has landed waste cooking oil recycling agreements with several landmark Seattle institutions. It helps that those institutions, particularly the Seattle Mariners’ Safeco Field and the Seattle Seahawks’ CenturyLink Field, happen
April 26, 2013 Read Full Article
China's Self-Developed Biofuel Test Flight Successful
(China Daily) Sinopec, China's top oil refiner, announced the success of the first test flight powered by the company's newly developed aviation biofuel product on Wednesday. An Airbus A320 owned by China Eastern Airlines landed at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at
April 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Corn Oil Makes The Grade
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Revenue from corn oil has become an important part of the bottom line at the majority of U.S. ethanol plants. During the past two years, the U.S. ethanol industry has widely implemented corn oil extraction
April 24, 2013 Read Full Article
Q&A: A Man of Science Wears Many Hats
by Tom Portz (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Eric Sumner’s lifelong fascination with science spans from his youth to the cutting edge of ethanol plant bacterial control and the growing importance of coproducts for long-term industry viability. Helping ethanol producers control bacteria without
April 24, 2013 Read Full Article
Ten Ways Renewable Fuels are Enviro
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) has unveiled a list of 10 ways the renewable fuels industry is helping to improve the environment. According to IRFA, renewable fuels offer positive impacts on the environment compared to
April 24, 2013 Read Full Article
Parliament Report Flags Major Changes to EU Biofuels Proposal
(EurActiv.com) A European Parliament report into the EU’s proposals for addressing the problem of indirect land use change (ILUC) in its biofuels policy will propose today (17 April) the application of unique ‘factors’ to account for differences in biofuels performance. These would
April 24, 2013 Read Full Article
Enogen Corn Hybrid’s Amylase Enzyme Boosts Ethanol Plant Efficiency
(Blacksea Grain) Jim Peterson’s corn contains a magic ingredient: alpha amylase. This ethanol-fermenting enzyme arrives at the plant on the cob, along with the starch for brewing ethanol, as part of Syngenta Enogen corn hybrids. Peterson and some neighbors earn a
April 24, 2013 Read Full Article
TMO, Usina Form Joint Venture for Brazilian Cellulosic Plant
(TMO Renewables/Ethanol Producer Magazine) TMO Renewables, the leading British developer of second generation biofuels technology, and Usina Santa Maria Ltda have entered into an agreement to form a joint venture to build the first commercial production plant in Brazil to
April 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Groundwork Begins on Florida Sweet Sorghum-to-Ethanol Plant
By Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Site preparation has begun and plans are being finalized for a formal groundbreaking ceremony to be held in the next few weeks at the country’s first sweet sorghum-to-ethanol plant being built by Southeast
April 23, 2013 Read Full Article
BlackGold Biofuels Opens Charlotte Recycling Facility
(BlackGold Biofuels/PR Newswire) They say one man's trash is another man's treasure. This Earth Day, it certainly rings true for a newly open recycling facility converting wastewater into fuel. BlackGold Biofuels of Charlotte has opened an innovative recycling facility for restaurant
April 23, 2013 Read Full Article
KSC Introduces Biofuel for Cars in Sudan for the First Time
(Sudan Tribune) Kenana Sugar Company (KSC) will launch the first Sudanese project which uses ethanol as a gasoline additive to increase octane and improve vehicle emissions. The Managing Director of KSC, Mohamed El Mardi El-Tijani, said in a press statement that
April 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Cobalt, Mercurius, BioProcess Algae, Frontline Land $17.7M in Military Biofuels Grants
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Pilot-scale biorefineries for drop-in military diesel, jet fuel the focus of the DOE’s latest grant round. In Washington, the US Department of Energy announced up to $17.7 million in grants to four pilot-scale biorefinery projects aimed
April 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Powers Warns of Possible Lawsuit Following Cancellation of Trash-to-Ethanol Deal
by Marc Chase (Northwest Indiana Times) Potential lawsuits are brewing in Lake County's trash-to-ethanol saga, according to a motion by solid waste officials and statements from the developer who had contracted to build and operate the plant. And it could come
April 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Air Liquide Signs Biofuel Research Contract
by Stuart Radnedge (GasWorld) Air Liquide has just signed a partnership agreement with the CEA (Commission for atomic energy and alternative energies in France) aiming to develop a second-generation biofuel production pilot unit in France. As part of this partnership, the CEA
April 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Aemetis Transitions from Corn Ethanol to Advanced Biofuels at Keyes Plant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Aemetis announced that its 60 million gallon per year capacity ethanol facility in Keyes, CA has completed maintenance and Advanced Biofuels retrofit, and is now restarting production. Last December, the EPA issued a final
April 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Turning Grease Into Diesel, Johnny Rockets Recycles Fry Oil Through DAR PRO Solutions
(Johnny Rockets/Sacramento Bee/PR Newswire) Johnny Rockets partners with DAR PRO Solutions to recycle its restaurants' used fry oil into renewable diesel fuel. Each year, Johnny Rockets serves about eight million pounds of American Fries and two million orders of Onion Rings, all of which
April 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Sugar Shock: Sweetwater, Naturally Scientific Ink $250M Pact for Biobased Sugars
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The end-goal? High-value oils. Low-cost sugars become shock troops in the war for sustainability. In New York, we’ve learned that Sweetwater Energy will announce a project today to provide Naturally Scientific with customized industrial sugars over
April 19, 2013 Read Full Article
LS9 Expands Operations in Florida
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... LS9 CEO Tjerk de Ruiter announced the expansion of its operations at the Company’s Okeechobee, Florida demonstration facility with a successful customer trial. The Florida facility was initially designed, and has been used, to scale-up LS9′s
April 18, 2013 Read Full Article
BioGasol Delivers First CarboFrac Units to Sweetwater Energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Sweetwater Energy announed that BioGasol completed delivery of its first commercial biomass pretreatment system. The cellulosic sugar producer will use the unit, a Carbofrac 10, in its demonstration facility to produce pretreated biomass for use in
April 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Looking Back at ABLC 2013
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Perhaps nothing was more on the minds of delegates as the future of the Renewable Fuel Standard, and the impact of the Washington policy debate on investor confidence — and the impact of low-cost natural
April 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Colorado to Offer $3.1 Million in Tax Credits for Cool Planet HQ
by Aldo Svaldi (The Denver Post) Cool Planet Energy Systems took a step closer Friday to a corporate relocation and expansion that could bring nearly 400 jobs to the metro area and place the state at the center of a
April 12, 2013 Read Full Article
Algal Biofuels Pilot Plant Opens in Queensland
(Algae Industry Magazine) Premier of Queensland, Australia, Campbell Newman, has cut the ribbon on an advanced solar biofuels pilot plant designed to develop microalgae-based systems as a source of clean fuel and animal feeds. The $3.5 million project had the potential,
April 11, 2013 Read Full Article
Versalis Invests $20M in Genomatica, Launches JV for Bio-based Butadiene
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Italy, Versalis and Genomatica announced the establishment of a technology joint venture for bio-based butadiene from non-food biomass. The resulting process will be licensed across Europe, Asia and Africa by the newly-created joint venture. Versalis —
April 11, 2013 Read Full Article
Neste Oil Uses Tall Oil Pitch; Begins Rainforest Protection Plan
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Neste Oil has begun using tall oil pitch as a feedstock for renewable diesel production. Neste Oil successfully tested tall oil pitch in commercial refinery operations in March and April and states it is now
April 10, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels Given a New Lease on Life
by Andre Janse van Vuuren (City Press/Fin24) Dormant plans to establish a local biofuel sector – earmarked to create up to 50 000 jobs and save the country at least R8.9bn in foreign exchange payments – could be given a
April 09, 2013 Read Full Article
Neste Oil Corporation Pledges “No Deforestation”
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Neste Oil, which had been criticized for its sourcing of deforestation-based palm oil, has pledged to shift away from palm oil sourced from primary forests, high conservation value and natural forests, and high carbon stock
April 09, 2013 Read Full Article
Fertilizer Production at North Dakota Ethanol Plants Explored
by Mikkel Pates (Prairie Business) Colorado company Agrebon Inc. and North Dakota partners are in discussions with North Dakota’s two largest ethanol plants in Casselton and Hankinson to build small-scale nitrogen fertilizer factories on their campuses. ...Each $20 million fertilizer plant would
April 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Not Ready for Slime Time: Algae Present Challenges as Fuel Source
by Emily Pickrell (FuelFix) On Jan. 1, Congress made algae-based fuel production eligible for a $1.01-per-gallon cellulosic biofuel production federal tax credit. Cellulosic biofuels typically are made from woody, non-food material such as grasses or wood chips, in contrast to ethanol, which
April 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Schneider Looks to Future after Trash-to-Ethanol Plant Plan Runs out of Gas
by Carrie Napoleon (Post-Tribune) Town officials say they remain disappointed after the announcement late last month that the local construction consortium trying to bring a proposed trash-to-ethanol plant had scrapped its plans. “It’s a sad situation,” Schneider Town Council President Richard
April 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Abengoa Begins Operating the First Demonstration Plant Using Waste-to-Biofuels Technology
(ENP Newswire/Cogeneration and On-Site Power Production) Abengoa (MCE: ABG.B), the international company that applies innovative technology solutions for sustainable development in the energy and environment sectors, has started operations at the demonstration plant that uses waste-to-biofuels technology. The plant has a
April 08, 2013 Read Full Article
CPF Leads by Example with Renewable Fuel Projects
(Bangkok Post) Charoen Pokphand Foods Plc (CPF), the country's biggest food maker and exporter, has stepped up efforts to use more renewable energy from waste discharged from chicken, pig and shrimp operations. Alternative fuel projects consisting of six biomass plants, three
April 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Governor Awards $200K to Hawaii Isle Biofuels Initiative
(Star-Advertiser) The state has invested $200,000 toward a initiative that seeks to develop an economically sustainable zero-waste conversion project in Hilo that will turn unmarketable papaya into biofuel and high-protein animal feed. Gov. Neil Abercrombie presented a check from the state
April 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Oxygen for High Altitudes: 17 Biofuels Ventures Raise $434M in Equity
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Despite the sluggish economic recovery and questions over policy stability — biofuels ventures have been busy raising lots of capital. In the past 6 months, $434 million. Who got what, where, when and why? ...supplemental oxygen,
April 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Cheap Petrobras Gas Hurts Ethanol Investments: Corporate Brazil
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg) Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PETR4), the state- run oil company, is boosting money-losing gasoline imports at its fastest pace ever, holding down prices for alternative fuels and hindering investments in ethanol. ...President Dilma Rousseff’s policy to fight inflation
April 05, 2013 Read Full Article
CHMC Seeks Farmers to Back $20 Million Brazil Corn-Ethanol Plant
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg) China National Heavy Machinery Corp., the Beijing-based developer of industrial facilities and warehouses, is asking Brazilian farmers to invest 40 million reais ($20 million) in a corn-ethanol plant that will help diversify their revenue. CHMC, as the
April 05, 2013 Read Full Article
IEA Says Cellulosic Biofuels Capacity Has Tripled since 2010: New Task 39 Global Report
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The International Energy Agency, through its Task 39 group, has published its 207-page report on the “Status of Advanced Biofuels Demonstration Facilities in 2012″. The report, in its pages, contains detailed project summaries as well as
April 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Uganda to Get Quality Biodiesel
by Eriosi Nantaba (AllAfrica.com) A private Firm African Power Initiative Limited (API) recently announced its plans and commitment to start mass production of bio diesel in Uganda with a capacity of more than 4000 litres. East African Business Week's Eriosi
April 05, 2013 Read Full Article
7 Steps to Meeting US Renewable Fuels Targets
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We go through the renewable fuels math — and find that the nattering nabobs of negativism might have crowed too soon. ...Lately, the nattering nabobs appear to have landed at the American Petroleum Institute — which
April 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Is Small-Scale, Distributed Ethanol Production for You?
by Jim Lane (BioInvest Digest) ...It’s an idea whose time has come, for sure. The opportunity for small-scale production of alcohol fuels in the 20,000 to 500,000 gallon range — using wastes routinely produced (and usually landfilled) by food processing
April 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine : Bioethanol Production Will Boost the Alcohol and Sugar Industries
(www.4-Traders.com) This year the Government continues to develop alternative fuel sources, in particular, to increase the production of bioethanol. It is provided by the State Program of activation of the economic development for 2013-2014. To do this,a number of distilling
April 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Tilapia Waste Used for Biodiesel at New Brazillian Plant
(The Fish Site) Two plants have opened in Jaguaribara and Morada Nova to reduce tilapia waste by converting it into biodiesel. ...Mr Joacir Moreira said that the plants have been set up in order to prevent the environmental problem of fish
April 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Genuine Bio Fuel Inc.’s Second Chance Program Proves to Be a Model for Successful Hiring in the Biodiesel Industry
(PR Web/Genuine Bio-Fuel Inc.) Genuine Bio-Fuel Inc., a privately funded leader in the biodiesel fuel industry, has successfully designed a unique employment program to enrich the Florida’s Indiantown community. Genuine Bio-Fuel Inc., a leading biodiesel producer of Florida, has designed a
April 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Maine Company Making Biofuel from Spent Grease
(WCSH6.com) With a few added chemicals and some serious filtration, Maine Standard Biofuels takes leftover cooking oil from restaurants and creates heating oil for home and biodiesel for cars and trucks. "It can be used in any diesel engine or oil
April 05, 2013 Read Full Article
USDA, DuPont Pair up on Corn Stover Guidelines
(Associated Press/Quad Cities Times) U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack signed an agreement Friday with DuPont that will help establish guidelines for how the company will collect corn-plant residue for a new ethanol plant in central Iowa while maintaining soil quality. DuPont
April 02, 2013 Read Full Article
The Future of Biofuels in 10 Charts and Maps
by Jeremy Martin (Union of Concerned Scientists) ... The good news is that biofuel production can responsibly continue to grow if we switch from corn to biomass as a source material or feedstock. Our recent analysis confirms that biomass is available within the United States at
March 30, 2013 Read Full Article
Renewed Interest in Grain Sorghum in Nebraska
by Ken Anderson (Browfield Ag News) A combination of dry weather and increased demand from the ethanol sector could have grain sorghum poised for a comeback in Nebraska. Grain sorghum plantings in the state plummeted from 550-thousand acres in 2000 to just
March 29, 2013 Read Full Article
Zimbabwe: Chisumbanje Ethanol Plant Reopens
by Tendai Mugabe (AllAfrica.com) Green Fuel resumed operations at its ethanol plant here yesterday, raising prospects that the country could soon start the mandatory blending of fuel that has been on the cards for sometime. There was jubilation as workers who
March 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Biorefinery 2015 – The Shape of Advanced Biofuels to Come – Part II
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today in part II, we look at a new set of technologies coming along that are redefining our ideas about scale and cost. ... A barrier to long term deployment? The $11 per gallon average capital
March 26, 2013 Read Full Article
California Farmers Team up to Build Bio-Refinery that Will Convert Sugar Beets to Ethanol
(Associated Press/Washington Post) Amid the vast almond orchards and grape fields that surround Five Points in California’s Central Valley, a once-dominant crop that has nearly disappeared from the state’s farms is making a comeback: sugar beets. But these beets won’t be
March 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Biorefinery 2015 – Transformations in Biofuels Costs, Financing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The first wave of cellulosic biofuels projects are now reaching completion. But what does the next wave look like – from technology to financing? We explore the trends in our two-part Biorefinery 2015 series. ... Long-term,
March 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Energy Farms: Is the Time Ripe?
by Peter Brown (Biodiesel Magazine/ Euro Marketing Tools) Biodiesel, ethanol and livestock production, wind turbines and photovoltaic installments situated in close proximity make energy—and economic—sense The concept is that if alternate forms of energy can be produced that are nonpolluting, renewable, provide
March 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Zero Waste and Plant Optimization
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) When Pacific Biodiesel Technologies’ Big Island Biodiesel refinery came online last year, it was marketed as a state-of-the-art, zero-waste plant. The facility, scaled at 16,000 gallons a day, was Hawaii’s first since 2000 and boosted
March 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Growth Opportunities
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) A sit-down with Dave Elsenbast, vice president of supply chain management for Renewable Energy Group Inc. For more than 25 years, Dave Elsenbast has been a leader in agricultural business development, supply chain management, operations