by Brian Kenny (Cold Call/Harvard Business Review) How Brazil’s green energy champion, Raízen, is expanding the market for second-generation ethanol and other sugar-cane waste biofuels. -- Raízen, a bioenergy company headquartered in São Paulo, is Brazil’s leader in sugar and ethanol
sugarcane straw
Back TO HOMEBiomass to Liquid Fuels: We Need Commercial Scale Gen 2 Success
by Doug Rivers (Lee Enterprise Consulting/Biofuels Digest) ... And while advances have been made in the materials handling and pretreatment of these feedstocks, commercial scale attempts produce ethanol have been met with multiple and highly visible failures measured in at least hundreds
December 04, 2023 Read Full Article
25 Bold Actions to Accelerate Global Bioeconomy Deployment: Results from the 9/22/23 Meet-up of the Bold Goals Action Group in Sydney
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Australia, at the initial meet-up of the global Bold Goals Action Group, leaders of the global bioeconomy, a “coalition of the willing”, established a draft of 25 Bold Actions that, if achieved by the various stakeholders in
September 29, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Licella and Arbios
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What’s up with the Wonder from Down Under? Licella’s Cat-HTR decarbonization platform could help customers meet their net-zero carbon commitments. How do they use water as the agent of change and turn biomass and mixed
April 21, 2023 Read Full Article
The Secrets of Sagoib: Raizen’s Betting Big on 2G Ethanol, Here’s the Story
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We reported last week that “UAE state investor Mubadala Investment Co and Raizen are the final bidders in the sale of BP Bunge Bioenergia, with no bidders in the second round and the other potential buyers
September 05, 2022 Read Full Article
Whatever Happened to Cellulosic Ethanol?
by David Kramer (Physics Today) Technological immaturity, falling oil prices, overoptimistic investors, and regulatory uncertainty are blamed for the failure of a promising biofuel technology to perform as hoped. -- Despite a decade and a half of big US federal investments
July 06, 2022 Read Full Article
SAF Feedstock Availability: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Brazil
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Addressing the challenges of sustainable aviation fuel feedstock availability in Brazil, RSB, in collaboration with Agroicone and the University of Campinas, published the outcomes of research into non-crop feedstock availability and potential in Brazil for
June 01, 2021 Read Full Article
RSB, Agroicone Publish Study to Support Sustainable Transformation in Brazil with SAF
(Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials) The aviation sector has ambitious targets for reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and switching from fossil fuels to low-carbon Sustainable Aviation Fuels. SAF is considered the most efficient way to achieve those targets quickly, however, in
May 20, 2021 Read Full Article
Inside GranBio, NextChem’s New Partnership to “Blow Out” Cellulosic Ethanol Global Roll-Out
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) News arrives from Sao Paulo and Rome that GranBio and NextChem have inked a strategic alliance and will co-license GranBio’s patented technology for the production of second-generation ethanol. NextChem is a subsidiary of Italian engineering giant
August 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Technical Report Comparison of Biofuel Life Cycle Analysis Tools Phase 2, Part 2: Biochemical 2G Ethanol Production and Distribution
by Antonio Bonomi, Otávio Cavalett, Bruno Colling Klein, Mateus Ferreira Chagas, and Nariê Rinke Dias Souza (Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory (LNBR)/ National Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM)/IEA Bioenergy) Second-generation (2G) or lignocellulosic biofuels are deemed advanced in
May 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuels Could Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions By 96%
by Steve Hanley (Clean Technica) There is nothing inherently wrong with internal combustion engines. The problem is the fuels we use to run them emit billions of tons of greenhouse gases every year, gases which cause the Earth to get hotter.
December 04, 2019 Read Full Article
Biotech Breakthrough Turns Waste Biomass into High Value Chemicals
(University of Manchester) A move towards a more sustainable bio-based economy has been given a new boost by researchers who have been able to simplify a process to transform waste materials into high value chemicals. A collaboration between the UK and
November 26, 2019 Read Full Article
India’s Nascent Crop Residue Supply Industry
by Aru Mangla (Biomass Magazine) In India, crop residue has not been able to achieve the economic potential it possesses, primarily owing to the lack of a reliable supply chain mechanism for its collection and processing --- Crop residue-based biomass,
September 13, 2019 Read Full Article
Clariant Successfully Concludes Testing of Energy Crop Miscanthus at Straubing Plant for GRACE Project
(Clariant) INA has chosen Clariant’s sunliquid® technology to assess usability of miscanthus for conversion into lignocellulosic sugars & ethanol within the EU-funded GRACE project in which INA participates; About 30 tons of miscanthus were processed at Clariant’s pre-commercial plant in
September 03, 2019 Read Full Article
New Energy Blue Buys Inbicon’s Low-Carbon Fuel Technology
(Oil and Gas 360/New Energy Blue) NewEnergyBlue acquired exclusive rights to Inbicon bio-conversion technology throughout the Americas and will first employ it to turn North Dakota wheat straw into a high-value, carbon-neutral automotive fuel. The technology license was purchased from Ørsted, a Danish
August 13, 2019 Read Full Article
Just Drop It in!: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Gevo’s Drop-in Hydrocarbons
by Jim Lane (Biofuhttp://radar.weather.gov/radar_lite.php?product=NCR&rid=LWX&loop=yesels Digest) Gevo produces and sells low-carbon, renewable, high-performance fuel products. From ethanol to isobutanol, jet fuel, isooctane, oxygenate blendstocks, and more, Gevo is on a mission to replace fossil based products and decarbonize products for large markets. Tim
August 08, 2019 Read Full Article
From Biomass to BioPlus: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to GranBio’s Nanocellulose
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) GranBio is focused on commercial deployment of technologies for the production of biofuels, biochemicals, and nanocellulose. Kim Nelson, PhD, CTO Nanocellulose of GranBio gave this illuminating overview of GranBio’s two distinct nanocellulose processes, the BETO project for
August 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Hawaii’s Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Tropical Feedstocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The University of Hawai’i is on top of the latest research on Hawaii’s tropical agriculture, its hot zone and tropical feedstocks for the bioeconomy. Peter Matlock, Strategic Advisor for Aviation Fuels and Special Projects for Joint BioEnergy
June 24, 2019 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Gevo
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Digest’s new “Stocks Worth Tracking” Multi-Slide Guide Series highlights hot companies that are making strides in the bioeconomy. Today’s “Stock Worth Tracking” is Gevo. Gevo produces and sells low-carbon, renewable, high-performance fuel products. From ethanol
May 28, 2019 Read Full Article
Feedstock Flexibility
by Matt Thompson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Beyond Enerkem, a few companies around the world are looking to feedstocks outside of corn to produce cellulosic ethanol. -- A few well-known ethanol producers are developing cellulosic pathways that use feedstocks other than elements of
May 14, 2019 Read Full Article
Brazil’s GranBio Acquires USA’s American Process
by Helena Taveres Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... The acquisition of American Process Inc’s technologies, intellectual property portfolio and physical assets strengthens GranBio’s market position in the deployment of highly competitive industrial processes for conversion of biomass to renewable fuels, chemicals, and
March 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Pilot Plant to Turn Sugarcane Waste into Biofuel and Beer Bottles
(Queensland University of Technology) QUT researchers and Mercurius Australia have commenced work on a pilot plant to prove the economic viability of turning sugarcane waste into either jet and diesel fuel or chemicals that could be used to make plastic soft
February 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Commercializing 2nd-Gen Biofuels: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide ABLC Guide to Axens
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Following the acquisition of Heurtey Petrochem and the integration of 50% of Eurecat, Axens Group now provides a complete range of solutions including: technologies, equipment, furnaces, modular units, catalysts, adsorbents and services for the conversion of
December 05, 2018 Read Full Article
Haryana Signs MoU with Indian Oil for Ethanol Plant
(Money Control) The initiative at village Bohali with a proposed capacity of 100 kilolitres of ethanol per day will manage crop residue and prevent straw burning before the upcoming paddy season, an official release said. -- The Haryana government on September 10 signed
October 02, 2018 Read Full Article
Key Enzyme for Production of Second-Generation Ethanol Discovered in Brazilian Amazon
(São Paulo Research Foundation/EurekAlert) Protein encoded by gene found in microorganisms living in Amazon lake could boost efficiency on the sugarcane bagasse saccharification process, which makes for up to 50% of the global costs of cellulosic ethanol production. -- Second-generation ethanol (also
May 16, 2018 Read Full Article
India’s Biofuels Horizons: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Praj Industries
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Praj is an India-based process solutions specialist with continued leadership in ethanol & brewery space over many years — aiming to emerge as a significant water company within 5 years. The company is expanding its new
April 26, 2018 Read Full Article
A Bioethanol-Fuelled Bioeconomy
by Mario Bonaccorso (Renewable Matter) ... 700 million tonnes of sugarcane treated in one year; 30.23 billion litres of bioethanol produced in 2015-2016. Used not just as biofuel but also in industries, it (Brazil) is the global leader in the
April 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Research Shows How Genetics Can Contribute for Advances in 2G Ethanol Production
(FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO/EurekAlert!) The study focused three fungi species which produce enzymes with application in biomass degradation; scientists in Brazil reveal how these substances are regulated and how they can interact synergically. Production of second-generation
April 17, 2018 Read Full Article
What Is the Future of Bio-diesel in India?
by Bharat Jhunjhunwala (The Free Press Journal) Recently, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated India’s first refinery plant in Pune that will produce fuel oil from rice and wheat straw, cotton stalk, cane trash and corn cobs. The
September 18, 2017 Read Full Article
Inside the Cellulosic Industry
by Susanne Retka Schill and Ann Bailey (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol Producer Magazine provides an update on 10 cellulosic ethanol projects around the world striving for continuous, large-scale production. -- Some things have changed in the U.S.’s cellulosic ethanol sector in
August 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Brazilian Ethanol Producer Sees Boost from Plant Waste
by Joe Leahy (Folha de S.Paulo/"Financial Times") Raízen Energia, Brazil's largest producer of sugar cane ethanol, is planning to scale up production at a new "second-generation" biofuel plant, in a move that will sharply increase the productivity of one of the
July 05, 2017 Read Full Article
A New Research and Innovation Project Will Foster Europe-Brazil Cooperation on Advanced Lignocellulosic Biofuels
(BECOOL/AltEnergyMag) A new Horizon 2020 project will foster cooperation between Europe and Brazil in the development of advanced biofuels from sustainable agricultural value chains, based on lignocellulosic biomass. Coordinated by the University of Bologna, Department of Agricultural Sciences, the four-year
June 05, 2017 Read Full Article
Praj Commences 2G Smart Bio-Refinery
(Business Standard/Press Trust of India) Praj Industries, the global process solutions company, today said it has commenced its first integrated second generation technology (2G) smart bio-refinery to produce ethanol from agri-waste in Gujarat. The 2G demo plant produces ethanol by processing
May 05, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuels Play Central Role in Brazil’s Climate Goals
by Leticia Phillips (Ethanol Producer Magazine/UNICA) UNICA spokesperson describes Brazil's climate change strategy and its reliance on biofuels -- ... Brazil’s INDC targets 37 percent lower emissions by 2025 compared to 2005, with further reductions by 2030. This assumes biofuels
November 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Who’s Got Hot Lignin? The Digest’s 2016 Guide to Lignin Production and Prospects
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Lignocellulosic sugars and lignin have become necessary intermediates for advancing research towards economically producing biofuels and bioproducts. Recently, the US Department of Energy issued a Request for Information: Cellulosic Sugar and Lignin Production Capabilities. The result
November 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Who’s Got the Hot Sugars? The Digest’s 2016 Guide to Lignocellulosic Sugars and Their Producers
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Lignocellulosic sugars and lignin have become necessary intermediates for advancing research towards economically producing biofuels and bioproducts. Recently, the US Department of Energy issued a Request for Information: Cellulosic Sugar and Lignin Production Capabilities. The result
November 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Get the Results of the Cellulosic Sugar and Lignin Production Capabilities Request for Information!
(U.S. Department of Energy) The results of the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office's (BETO's) Cellulosic Sugar and Lignin Production Capabilities Request for Information (RFI) are now available on the RFI responses web page. This new web page is a
November 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Sugars Heading for Scale: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Leaf Resources
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Leaf Resources Limited (ASX:LER) is focused on making sustainable products from plant biomass, offering an advanced technology package for breaking down plant derived biomass to useful, sustainable, renewable and biodegradable products. Leaf Resources’ Glycell technology is
July 26, 2016 Read Full Article
Clariant’s Sunliquid Technology Price Competitive with Brazilian Sugarcane Ethanol
by Isabel Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Brazil, testing on Clariant’s sunliquid technology has confirmed that the cost per liter of cellulosic ethanol can achieve price competitiveness with sugarcane ethanol prices in Brazil. Clariant’s testing evaluated over 40 containers of sugargane
April 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Raizen Has Lowest Price as Cellulosic Ethanol Hinges on Feedstock Cost
(Lux Research/MarketWired) Of the Six Existing Commercial Cellulosic Ethanol Facilities, Raizen's Projected Price of $2.17 per Gallon Is Lowest, as Innovations Help Bring Next-Generation Biofuels to Market, Says Lux Research Six companies have now brought cellulosic ethanol facilities online, but with
February 24, 2016 Read Full Article
Flex Fuel Policy of Government to Curb Pollution Worry Automakers
by Sriram Lakshman (The Hindu Business Line) The move will decrease pollution and encourage a diversion in the sugar industry’s output away from sugar and towards ethanol -- India can soon expect a policy on flexible-fuel cars, cars that can run
January 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuels and Climate Change: Challenges of Paris Conference
by Demetrio Bueno Carvalho (Astana Times) ... Referring to Brazilian experience, in the past 12 years the blending of ethanol with gasoline (anhydrousethanol) or its use as a pure fuel for automobiles (hydrated) prevented emissions of more than 300 million tonnes of
November 13, 2015 Read Full Article
GranBio, Solvay JV Acquires Cobalt Technologies’ Assets
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We can now affirmatively report that SGBio, a joint venture between the Solvay Group and GranBio, has acquired assets from Cobalt including the bank of microorganisms and intellectual property related to patents, trademarks, processes, operating
October 15, 2015 Read Full Article
Brazil’s President Rousseff Christens Raizen Cellulosic Biofuels Plant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Iogen’s technology at commercial-scale, and officially open for business. In Brazil, President Dilma Rousseff launched Iogen Energy’s cellulosic ethanol technology at the official opening of Raízen`s newly expanded Costa Pinto sugar cane mill in Piracicaba,
July 27, 2015 Read Full Article
Unlocking the Biofuel Energy Stored in Plant Cell Walls
by Cherie Winner (Pennsylvania State University) By virtue of their chloroplasts, plants are superb harvesters of solar energy. They use it to build leaves, flowers, fruits, stems, and roots. We harvest a small percentage of that energy in the form of
June 15, 2015 Read Full Article
Raizen, Iogen Commence Cellulosic Ethanol Production in Brazil
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 1 billion liters by 2024, vows Raizen. Record speed on start-up. What’s the story on the ground? In Brazil, Iogen and Raízen announced they have begun production of cellulosic ethanol on schedule at Raízen`s newly expanded
December 18, 2014 Read Full Article
Challenges which Hinder the Growth of the Sugar and Alcohol Sector in Brazil
by Roberto Coelho* (Advanced Biofuels USA) As discussed at the recent F.O. Licht’s conference, Sugar and Ethanol Brazil, the current status of the installed capacity in Brazil has grown enormously in recent years with the launch of 29 new power plants
November 26, 2014 Read Full Article
The Digest's Bioeconomy Achievement Awards for 2013-14
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Beta Renewables, Abengoa, Enerkem, Proterro among the winners for Project of the Year — as residues and waste are keys to the big wins. For Fuel of the Year, Renewable Chemical of the Year, Product
January 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Who’s Ahead Now in Enzymes? Codexis Launches Next-Gen CodeXyme4
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Compared to prior generations, CodeXyme 4 and CodeXyme 4X significantly reduce the cost of cellulosic sugar production for biofuels and bio‐based chemicals. ...Codexis’ latest generation of advanced cellulase enzymes, CodeXyme 4 for dilute acid pretreatments and