by Katie Schroeder (Ethanol Producer Magazine) With myriad technologies and decarbonization strategies to explore, and a growing list of compliance and carbon credit markets to access, ethanol producers have many decisions in front of them. The various lifecycle carbon analysis models,
cellulosic feedstock
Back TO HOMEThe Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Sustainable Herbaceous Energy Crop Production in the Southeast US.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What is the potential for cellulosic bioenergy crop production? Cellulosic bioenergy crop production is a nascent industry in the U.S. and has the potential to supply 5% of U.S. energy demand while achieving increased carbon reduction.
October 25, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Logan County, CO Wheat Straw BDO Zone
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Digest CONNECT returned to the airwaves again this past week and first presenter was ABLC veteran and Ecostrat CEO Jordan Solomon, as well as Trae Miller, executive director, Logan County Economic Development. Together, they explored the
September 12, 2023 Read Full Article
Jeff McDaniel, VP of New Projects at Velocys and Will Thurmond, CEO of Emerging Markets Online Joined REenergize Last Week.
(REenergize) Jeff McDaniel shared updates to Velocys’ commercial reference project, Bayou Fuels, which will produce SAF and naphtha in Natchez, Mississippi. McDaniel said the woody biomass residues, “the parts of the pine plantation that can’t be converted into lumber, that’s what we
August 28, 2023 Read Full Article
Expander Energy and IMG Industries Form Partnership to Create Expander Technologies Inc. to Manufacture Expander's Patented Bio-Mass Gasifier for the Production of Low Carbon Renewable Fuels
(Expander Energy/PR Newswire) Expander Energy Inc. and IMG Industries have formed a partnership to establish Expander Technologies Inc., a clean technology company based in Penticton, B.C. Expander Technologies Inc. (ETI) will manufacture Expander Energy's biomass gasifiers under license. These gasifiers have an innovative
May 30, 2023 Read Full Article
Can We Replace All Crude Oil within 20 Years with Cellulosic Liquid Hydrocarbons?
by Charles Forsberg and Bruce Dale (Biofuels Digest) In the United States, crude oil products provide 48% of the total energy to the final customer: residential, commercial, industrial and transportation. Replacement of crude oil products (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, chemical feed
May 30, 2023 Read Full Article
Feedstocks for Advanced Biofuel Production: The 2030 Supply Gap
( S&P Global Commodity Insights)Huge market potential for advanced feedstocks to meet the gap in supply needed to meet forecast demand of low CI fuels. Decarbonization efforts worldwide are boosting demand for transportation fuels with a low carbon intensity (CI). The
May 22, 2023 Read Full Article
Axens, Praj Sign MOU for SAF Projects in India
(Axens/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Axens and Praj have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work jointly on projects in India for production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from low carbon alcohols through alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) pathway. India is among top five aviation markets
February 07, 2023 Read Full Article
Notice of Public Comment Period for the Biofuels and the Environment: Third Triennial Report to Congress External Review Draft Public Comments DEADLINE March 6, 2023
(Environmental Protection Agency/Federal Register) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the public comment period for the draft document titled, “Biofuels and the Environment: Third Triennial Report to Congress (External Review Draft).” The document was prepared by EPA's Office of
January 04, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Bioeconomy Feedstocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) These slides were presented by Digest editor Jim Lane as part of the ABLC CONNECT episode on Feedstocks and the Bioeconomy Supply-Chain. Here, we explore the available volumes, prices, and distribution of key existing feedstock
September 12, 2022 Read Full Article
Blue Biofuels Reports Successful Volume Testing of Its Cellulose-to-Sugar Process on Latest Reactor System; 2.5t/Day
(Blue Biofuels) Blue Biofuels has reached a significant milestone in the scaling of its proprietary Cellulose-to-Sugar (CTS) reactor system. Testing results on a custom modified reactorsystem demonstrate the ability to convert cellulosic material into sugars with high conversion at a throughput
August 29, 2022 Read Full Article
Not in the Job Description
by Jonathan Sherwood (Sweetwater Energy/Biofuels Digest) When I first interviewed at Sweetwater for the VP of Finance position, I was not asked, “How good are you at shoveling manure?” But, just six months after that interview where I’d sat in a
August 09, 2022 Read Full Article
Biointermediates: Production Opportunities and Regulatory Challenges
by Sara M. Herman (Biodiesel Magazine/Christianson) While biointermediates present opportunities for biofuel producers, close attention should be paid to regulatory requirements. -- ... Within the proposed rules, EPA included a section on biointermediates—feedstocks that are partially processed at one location
July 27, 2022 Read Full Article
SAF, RD via Cellulosic Feedstocks: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to BioTFueL technology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Last week we took a Deep Dive into the BioTfuel technology in a special webinar on SAF, RD via Cellulosic Feedstocks. The BioTfueL project launched by Axens, TotalEnergies and a number of partners is designed
July 25, 2022 Read Full Article
Leap for LEEP – Low Energy Ethanol Process: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to RCM Engineering
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Here’s a look at 2nd generation ethanol from RCM Engineering and how LEEP – Low Energy Ethanol Process – can help with energy savings, steam savings, efficiency and more. Also take a look at Calgren
July 07, 2022 Read Full Article
The Steady Boom in Renewable Diesel Continues
(Biofuels International) Tom Fox, head of renewable fuels, OTX, outlines how as the world emerges from the Covid pandemic, the renewable diesel (RD) market will continue its steady boom this year. He said: "Despite challenges, RD and its related process
February 09, 2022 Read Full Article
Why Terpenes in Jet Fuels?: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to SAF from Biobased Terpenes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Did you know the Naval Air Systems Command is working on high-performance sustainable aviation fuels from biobased terpenes? Check out this illuminating slide guide from Dr. Benjamin G. Harvey at the Naval Air Warfare Center
January 18, 2022 Read Full Article
The USDA and Blue Biofuels Collaborate to Optimize Yields of King Grass for Cellulosic Ethanol Production
(Blue Biofuels/Globe Newswire) Blue Biofuels, Inc. (PINK: BIOF) Blue Biofuels, Inc. (the “Company” or “BIOF”) and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (“USDA ARS”) are collaborating on optimizing the yields of Pennisetum hybridum, commonly known as king grass, a perennial
December 17, 2021 Read Full Article
Decarbonizing Transport with Cellulosic Ethanol: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Clariant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) If you missed the ABLC presentation by Andreas Reindl, Clariant’s Business Line Biofuels & Derivatives, Head of Industrial Enzymes and Technologies, then you won’t want to miss this one! It’s all about sunliquid, Clariant’s cellulosic
November 24, 2021 Read Full Article
Crops, Genetics, Feedstocks, Supply Chains: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to State of the Sector
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Whether you are using novel crops, residues, developing supply-chains, or developing new feedstocks for the bioeconomy, this is an exclusive Digest slide guide you won’t want to miss! Straight from our recent State of the
October 18, 2021 Read Full Article
New Solvents to Break Down Plant Cellulose for Bioethanol
(Science Daily/Kanazawa University) Researchers experimented with different combinations of zwitterionic molecules to produce a solvent that is liquid below 100°C and very effective at breaking down cellulose. This research may lead to much more cost-effective and safe production of biofuels,
August 12, 2021 Read Full Article
New Online Educational Series about Renewable Fuels—“30/30” Package Includes 30 Minute Online Presentation plus Materials for Directed Discussion about Renewable Fuels and the Circular Economy
(Advanced Biofuels USA) Need to learn or teach about renewable fuels and the circular economy? About biofuels? Find what you need in this new series of 30 minute recorded presentations that come with a package of supporting materials for 30
February 02, 2021 Read Full Article
WEF’s ‘Clean Skies for Tomorrow’ Outlines Pathway to Net-Zero Aviation: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Sustainable Aviation Fuel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What is the World Economic Forum doing to help aviation meet net zero goals? First, they recognize that the most immediate action to achieve carbon-neutral flying is the investment in, and rapid scale-up, of sustainable
December 14, 2020 Read Full Article
2019 Project Peer Review Report Published
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) hosted the 2019 Project Peer Review on March 4–7, 2019, in Denver, Colorado. During the event, 447 projects in BETO’s research portfolio were presented in 14 simultaneous review
September 12, 2020 Read Full Article
Alliance BioEnergy Establishes Giant King Grass Test Plot
(Alliance BioEnergy Plus Inc.) Alliance BioEnergy Plus Inc., (“Alliance”) announces it has leased 18 acres of land in Southwest Florida to establish a test plot to optimize the production of Giant King Grass as a renewable cellulosic feedstock. Giant King Grass
September 08, 2020 Read Full Article
A Decade of Progress in California? Not for Its Recycling Rate
by Jim Stewart (Bioenergy Producers Association/Renewable Energy Project Development and Finance/Biofuels Digest) The volume of post-recycled municipal solid waste (MSW) being placed in California’s landfills has been steadily climbing for the past decade, during which time the state’s legislature, with its
March 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Lessons Learning on the Road to Commercialization: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Ensyn’s Demo to Commercial Path
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We all know going from demo to commercial isn’t easy. Ensyn, a company that produces biocrude from forest and agricultural residues using its proprietary thermal technology and focuses on low carbon fuels and chemicals, knows all
December 19, 2019 Read Full Article
Biofuels Digest Names Gevo as One of the “The Next 50 Companies to Disrupt the World”
(Gevo/Globe Newswire) Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) announced today that Biofuels Digest has named Gevo on its NEXT 50 list “the Next 50 Companies to Disrupt the World.” The honor was specifically given for Gevo’s partnership with Renmatix and their work to
October 03, 2019 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Optimizing Lignocellulosic Cropping Systems
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How attractive are systems for Bioenergy Feedstock Production in Sustainably Managed Landscapes for Rural Development? Ioannis Dimitriou, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Dep. of Crop Production Ecology offered this illuminating overview at a recent IEA Bioenergy
October 10, 2018 Read Full Article
Cutting Bio-Project Costs via Supply Chain Standards: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Biomass Supply Chain Risk Standards
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In March, EcoStrat CEO Jordan Solomon announced the US Standards for Biomass Supply Chain Risk (BSCR) this year. This has been an ongoing 3 year USDOE/BETO project which we are leading with Idaho National Labs for
August 02, 2018 Read Full Article
Punjab Will Produce Bio-Ethanol from Paddy Straw: Sunder Sham Arora
(5 Dariya News) To curb the menace of crop residue burning and create a positive atmosphere for industrialization, Punjab Government has taken a decision to set up a Bio-ethanol project. In this regard, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed today
July 10, 2018 Read Full Article
Industrial Enzyme Frontiers: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to MetGen
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) MetGen’s MetZyme enzymatic solutions cover the entire bio-based value chain from feedstock to high-value chemicals and enable the use of cellulosic feedstocks as well as the creation of entirely new bio-based materials. Alex Michine and the MetGen
May 21, 2018 Read Full Article
New Study Shows Producers Where and How to Grow Cellulosic Biofuel Crops
(University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences/Science Daily) A new report provides practical agronomic data for five cellulosic feedstocks, which could improve adoption and increase production across the country. -- ... "Early yield estimates were based on data from
January 17, 2018 Read Full Article
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology Ink MoA for Research on Bio-Fuel
(New Indian Express) After initiating the move to set up a second generation ethanol plant in Bargarh district with an investment of `750 crore, the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has partnered with Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT)
December 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Can the European Union Afford to Phase Out Conventional Biofuels?
by Michael Eggleston* (Advanced Biofuels USA) On November 7th, 2017, industrial experts, leaders and policy makers alike met for the 20th Annual World Ethanol & Biofuels Conference held in Brussels, Belgium to discuss how the future of de-fossilizing the transport
December 13, 2017 Read Full Article
30 Hot Cellulosic Technologies, 30 Quick Takes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Last week, DowDuPont said it was exiting the cellulosic biofuels business and you’d think that the company just burned down the warehouse with the original text of the Renewable Fuels Standard — the coverage of the
November 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Got Feedstock? Have Greenbelt Resources Test For Feasibility
(PR Newswire/Greenbelt Resources) The beauty of bioethanol is that it can be created from an amazing number of feedstocks of which many are considered waste – especially "food wastes". Greenbelt Resources Corporation(OTC: GRCO) (Greenbelt) evaluates these feedstocks through its Feedstock Feasibility
November 02, 2017 Read Full Article
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Gerard Ostheimer and Doug Faulkner co-authored a Biofuels Digest article with some ideas that show the benefits bioenergy could bring to Africa: "Africans should strive for sustainable fuels from native feedstocks in a modern infrastructure and thriving economy ... Renewable diesel
October 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Growing the African Biofuel Sector: What’s Not to Like?
by Gerard Ostheimer and Doug Faulkner (Biofuels Digest) ... (I)n Sub-Saharan Africa a thriving indigenous bioenergy industry can play a positive and productive role in modernizing economies and improving the quality of human life. One challenge for African bioenergy development though
October 23, 2017 Read Full Article
What Price Biomass? The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Feedstock Supply Forecasting
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How much biomass is there? What types, prices, when will they be available, and produced by whom, and how? These are questions that the US Department of Energy undertook to answer, to address a program-wide need
August 10, 2017 Read Full Article
Regional Feedstock Partnership Report Highlights Work to Enable the Billion-Ton Vision
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Regional Feedstock Partnership (the Partnership)—a multi-institutional collaboration of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, representatives from land-grant universities, and industry—was first established to address issues associated with the development of
December 27, 2016 Read Full Article
What Does it Take? The Experts Report from Ottawa on Scaling up the Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This past week, a remarkable group of people gathered in Ottawa, perhaps described best as the “friends of Jeff” because the ostensible excuse for a get-together was Jeff Passmore’s Scaling Up Conference and because, to
November 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Organic Acids: Key Facilitators of the Bio-economy
by Lorenz Bauer (Lee-Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) Recent declines in oil prices and the failure of start-up biofuel processes to meet production cost targets have increased the interest in producing value added chemicals from biomass as coproducts. The vision is that these
August 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Feedstocks for the Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Behind the Scenes look at the Billion Ton Report
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Last month, the DOE released the first volume of its monumental two-volume update of the Billion Ton report, looking not only at the economics of biomass but also the environmental trade-offs associated with various approaches
August 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Biomass Feed Handling: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Idaho National Lab’s Case for innovation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) INL’s program aims to overcome key technical barriers facing the U.S. bioenergy industry by systematically researching, characterizing, modeling, demonstrating, and harnessing the physical and chemical characteristics of the nation’s diverse agricultural residues. By finding ways
July 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Making It Work for the Grower: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to DuPont’s Cellulosic Feedstock
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DuPont has developed a three-part strategy to deliver these new technologies to the growing biofuels market to help biofuels become more competitive with petroleum. The strategy includes: (1) improving existing ethanol production through differentiated agriculture seed
July 19, 2016 Read Full Article
The Future of Bioenergy Is in This Book-less Library
by Cory Hatch (Renewable Energy World) The Bioenergy Feedstock Library contains no books. What it does contain is information about biomass — organic material such as corn stover, switchgrass, wood chips and wheat straw. Nearly 50,000 biomass database entries and
May 10, 2016 Read Full Article
How to Make $250M in Cellulosic Biofuels with an Investment under $6M
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Cellulosic fiber makes up approximately 10% of the corn kernel and cannot be converted into ethanol during the typical production process. By utilizing Edeniq’s Pathway technologies, including specialized enzymes and the Cellunator equipment, Aemetis
May 03, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuels Driving Emissions Cuts thru 2030, Says Lux: But Which Feedstocks?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Lux Research projects that the emergence of low-carbon fuels and vehicle efficiency will cut emissions by 29% in 2030 compared to a business as usual scenario, with biofuels and natural gas vehicles together accounting for
April 27, 2016 Read Full Article
NexSteppe Inc. CEO Selected to Receive the 2016 BIO Rosalind Franklin Award
(Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Businesswire) The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) announced today that President and CEO of NexSteppe, Anna Rath, has been selected by a committee of her peers to be the recipient of the 2016 BIO Rosalind Franklin Award. The Rosalind Franklin Award
April 04, 2016 Read Full Article
What’s up with Cellulosic Fuels: The Digest’s 2016 March Madness Guide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, we conducted a webinar on the state of cellulosic fuels as part of our 2016 March Madness series. You can experience the recorded version of the webinar here. Meanwhile, here is the primary slide
March 24, 2016 Read Full Article
Biomass Supply Chain Trade-Offs: Basis for Successful Bioenergy Businesses
by Rajdeep Golech (Biomass Magazine) Feedstock sourcing is a critical aspect in the development of cellulosic biofuel businesses. -- Emphasis toward greenhouse gas reduction and massive availability of agriculture and forest residue has led to an increased interest in converting
January 26, 2016 Read Full Article
Energy Crop Miscanthus in Trials to Restore Flood Plain Soils
(Bioenegy Insight) The Aberystwyth University in Wales, UK and the supply chain specialist Terravesta are running new trials to examine how the energy crop miscanthus survives in water-logged land and its effect on the soil after flooding. The trials come some
December 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Biobased Platform Chemicals: A Clean Credible Solution To Support Climate Action
by Marcel van Berkel (GF Biochemicals/Biofuels Digest) There is a clear and growing need for new chemical building blocks. ... For instance, fuels and additives derived from local-sourced cellulosic waste can offset concerns about first generation biofuels. With a biobased fuel that
November 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Whole Crop Utilization: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Idaho National Laboratory’s BioEnergy Program
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) INL’s program aims to overcome key technical barriers facing the U.S. bioenergy industry by systematically researching, characterizing, modeling, demonstrating, and harnessing the physical and chemical characteristics of the nation’s diverse agricultural residues. By finding ways
November 24, 2015 Read Full Article
From Sci-fi to Reality Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Real to Farmers
by Todd Neeley (DTN/The Progressive Farmer) Five years ago when Nevada, Iowa, farmer Brian Sampson first heard about harvesting corn stover for ethanol, he thought it sounded akin to putting a man on Mars. As production of ethanol from corn residue increases,
November 20, 2015 Read Full Article
Building Sustainable Cellulosic Biofuel Portfolios
by Rajdeep Golecha (Biomass Magazine) The amount of risk in supply variation a biorefinery is willing to accept will depend on its fundamental business strategy, and the amount of premium they are willing to pay to reduce risks associated with
October 26, 2015 Read Full Article
Bringing in the Biomass for Cellulosic Ethanol
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A multitude of questions surround the challenge of bringing in the mountains of biomass needed to feed a commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant: Are crop residues a reliable resource? Will farming communities support the
September 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Ethanol: Where Are the Gallons? Answers for Your Questions.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Seen a number of high-profile cellulosic projects open in recent years, and not much ethanol being produced? Wondered why? Here are answers to your questions. As Jack Webb used to say on Dragnet, just the facts,
July 02, 2015 Read Full Article
EERE Energy Impacts: Biorefineries Give Local Farmers Opportunities for Additional Income
by Dr. Valerie Sarisky-Reed (US Department of Energy) For the past seven years, All-American football player and Iowa farmer Bruce Nelson has been using corn stover—the non-edible corn stalks, husks, and leaves of a corn plant—to generate extra income at his
June 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Sustainable, Available, Reliable Affordable Bioeconomy Feedstocks: The Hottest Slides from ABFC 2015
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the advanced bioeconomy, the question for some time has been “how do you fund it?” or “how do you make it?”. But now, feedstock is becoming the key variable, it’s a case of “where
June 11, 2015 Read Full Article
US Poised for Biobased Chemicals Breakout, Says National Research Council
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Though challenges remain, particularly in affordable feedstock, the US National Research Council says “Despite impressive recent and projected growth, the manufacturing of chemicals using biological synthesis and engineering could expand even faster.” ... In Washington, the National
April 06, 2015 Read Full Article
2015 Sun Grant Conference: Academia Jumps One Step Forward and Shows What Will Be the Future of Lignocellulosic Biomass Production and Utilization in the Southeastern USA
Author, Dan Quadros, in Auburn, Alabama.by Danilo Gusmão de Quadros* (Advanced Biofuels USA) After two days (February 2-3, 2015) in “Sweet Home Alabama” at Auburn University, we got overwhelmed with the most recent discoveries of cutting-edge research that were presented
February 25, 2015 Read Full Article
BPI Announces Startup of Pilot Plant Featuring LTSD Technology
(Bio-Process Innovation Inc./Ethanol Producer Magazine) Bio-Process Innovation Inc. has announced the completion of the construction of its 1-ton pilot plant and successful operation of its low temperature steep delignification (LTSD) pretreatment process at its pilot facility in Otterbein, Indiana. The
February 16, 2015 Read Full Article
New Farmer Co-Operative to Help Build Ontario Bioeconomy
(Farmers.com/Cellulosic Sugar Producers Co-operative) A group of Ontario farmers have a plan to convert crop residue into cellulosic sugar to help fuel the province’s bioeconomy. Based in Sarnia, the Cellulosic Sugar Producers Co-operative (CSPC) will work to develop a market
January 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Briefing: Cellulosic Ethanol: A Technology Update
by Carole Abourached* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) recently held a briefing on the technologies involved in commercial cellulosic ethanol production. Cellulosic ethanol is produced from agricultural residues such as corn stover and wheat straw
December 01, 2014 Read Full Article
Verticality: A Key Factor in the Food x Fuel Issue
by Al Costa (Global Biobusiness) ...To this end, it becomes increasingly clear that "verticality" is a key issue. This means crops which occupy little space horizontally and as much space vertically. After all, a crop is free to be
November 11, 2014 Read Full Article
Balancing Birds and Biofuels: Grasslands Support More Species than Cornfields
by Kelly April Tyrrell (University of Wisconsin-Madison) In Wisconsin, bioenergy is for the birds. Really. In a study published today in the journal PLOS ONE, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) scientists examined whether corn and
October 17, 2014 Read Full Article
Breaking the Cycle of “Agricultural Landfill”: Can Cellulosic Ethanol Offer a Path to More No-Till Farming?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Could diverting agricultural residues for cellulosic ethanol solve the problem of tilling agricultural residues into the topsoil — and help provide a path towards pristine soils not seen since the days of prairie sod? DuPont says,
October 17, 2014 Read Full Article
Press Release: “Should Corn Land Be Used for Bioenergy/Biomaterial Crops?” Advanced Biofuels USA Publishes Thought-Provoking New Approach to Food, Feed, Fuel and Fiber Crop Land Use
October 6, 2014—Columbus, OH -- Robert Kozak of Atlantic Biomass Conversions contributes his thoughtful approach to answering these questions* posed by Biofuels Digests’s Jim Lane: “As the first wave of cellulosic biorefineries launch — is there really enough affordable feedstock
October 06, 2014 Read Full Article
Stover Pellets Pack in the Pounds
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Pelletizing corn stover offers some tantalizing prospects. Where it is virtually impossible to load a truck to maximum weight with bales, one could with pellets. The densification process improves bulk density by a
October 01, 2014 Read Full Article
A Looming Cellulosic Feedstock Shortage?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As the first wave of cellulosic biorefineries launch — is there really enough affordable feedstock for the next wave? Can growers make enough money to justify the switch…and risk? ... It’s not all that different with the first
September 16, 2014 Read Full Article
Chempolis and NRL Teams up for Cellulosic Ethanol Production from Bamboo in Assam
(Chempolis) Chempolis Ltd, a Finland based biorefining technology corporation signed yesterday Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL, A Government of India Enterprise). Parties have agreed to jointly study to build a world class biorefinery in North Eastern
September 15, 2014 Read Full Article
Genera Energy Releases Biomass Infographic
(Genera Energy) Infographic highlights a variety of biomass feedstocks, provides insight into choosing the right solution for any biomass project Genera Energy, a recognized innovator in sustainable biomass feedstock supply advancements and supply chain improvements, released a new infographic featuring a
August 25, 2014 Read Full Article
Building a Long Term, Sustainable Supply Chain for Cellulosic Biofuels Industry
by Olatomiwa Bifarin* (Advanced Biofuel USA) On Tuesday, July 15 2014, Biofuels Digest hosted a webinar discussing creating sustainable supply chains for cellulosic biofuels – a germane issue that will ultimately determine the commercial viability of cellulosic biofuels. One of the
August 11, 2014 Read Full Article
Biofuels for Road Transportation Will Reach Nearly $338 Billion in Annual Revenue by 2022, Forecasts Navigant Research
by (mfrtech.com/BUSINESS WIRE) Over the next 8 years, biofuels are expected to become an important part of the fuel mix for road transportation, accounting for 7.5 percent of liquid fuels consumed in the sector by 2022. Many governments, corporations, and
August 06, 2014 Read Full Article
Obama’s Delay on Renewable Fuel Puts Producers in Bind
By Mark Drajem (Bloomberg) In the arid Imperial Valley of California, Tim Brummels is trying to turn an agricultural cousin of sugarcane into low-carbon ethanol. It’s the kind of climate-friendly project supporters have pined for since Congress in 2005 ordered
August 04, 2014 Read Full Article
N.C. Funds 6 Cellulosic Biofuel, Bioenergy Research Projects
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) North Carolina recently awarded six projects a total of $500,000 through the state’s Bioenergy Research Initiative, which is a program of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Special consideration is given to projects
July 10, 2014 Read Full Article
Court Upholds Upper Peninsula Ethanol Plant Review but Project Likely Dropped
by Eric Freedman (Great Lakes Echo) A federal appeals court has rejected a challenge to an environmental assessment of a $100 million construction subsidy for an ethanol plant in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) had assessed the project’s
June 09, 2014 Read Full Article
N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative Seeks Grant Proposals
( North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative is seeking grant proposals focused on research and development of agricultural and forestry-based feedstocks for bioenergy production, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler recently announced. A total of
March 17, 2014 Read Full Article
Tennessee’s Biomass Innovation
by Susanne Retka Schill (BBI International/Biomass Magazine) Genera Energy is applying a systems approach to developing customized energy crop supply chains. ... Genera Energy aims to help clients answer those questions using a systems approach to developing customized supply chain solutions. As it wrapped
March 05, 2014 Read Full Article
Feedstocks, Techniques, and Enzymes: The Critical Trio in Any Cellulosic Ethanol Project
(Global Business) It may be surprising to know that, strictly speaking, there is no such thing as “cellulosic ethanol”. Instead, there is cellulosic “sugars”. That because it is often forgotten that the cellulosic process (also called “2nd generation”) creates sugars,
March 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Stanley Signs Draft Pact with Biomass Company
by Elizabeth Dohms (Chippewa Herald) A draft developer’s agreement between Stanley and a biomass company out of New York has been approved by the city council and is expected to bring more jobs to the area. Pending the finalization of paperwork,
October 29, 2013 Read Full Article
Growing First and Second Generation Renewable Fuels
by Anna Rath and Adam Monroe (The Hill Congress Blog) While there is a lot of back-and-forth in Washington about the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), there is just one fundamental choice at the heart of the debate: do we want
July 29, 2013 Read Full Article
A Slimy Marine Organism Fit for Biofuel and Salmon Feed
(The Research Council of Norway) ...The yellowish, slimy growth that many of us have come across on ropes that have lain in seawater is the marine organism known as tunicates. Tunicates are basically living filter tubes that suck bacteria and other
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
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
Clean Fuel From Trash, Crop Waste to Match Corn-Ethanol by 2016
by Louise Downing (Bloomberg) Ethanol made from inedible matter such as crop waste and household trash will match the price of corn-based ethanol by 2016, potentially spurring output of the motor fuel, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Cellulosic ethanol costs about
March 13, 2013 Read Full Article
Doing Corn Better and Doing Better than Corn for Biofuels: Recent Developments in the Field
by Ned Stowe (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Like it or not, corn and corn ethanol production are large, established industries in the U.S. While they provide significant economic, energy, and environmental benefits for our society, they also come with
February 01, 2013 Read Full Article
The Cellulosic Biofuels Tipping Point
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As cellulosic biofuels reach commercial-scale, is the tipping point for wide deployment near – and will it be based on breakthroughs in capex, opex or yield? Actually, it may be feedstock costs, in the end. ...What
January 11, 2013 Read Full Article
New Calculator Helps Farmers Determine Costs, Benefits of Switching to Energy Crops
by Gary Truitt (Hoosier Ag Today) Agricultural economists at the University of Illinois have been calculating the costs for farmers to produce biomass energy crops as renewable alternatives to fossil fuels. In fact – they have created a feedstock cost
November 01, 2012 Read Full Article
Harvesting Both Corn Grain and Stover in Adverse Weather
by Cole Gustafson, Thein Maung and David Ripplinger (North Dakota State University/Ethanol Producer Magazine) NDSU quantifies the cost and time involved in corn stover collection ...The research team at North Dakota State University in Fargo recently completed a Sun Grant study,
December 29, 2011 Read Full Article
New Sources Near for Biofuels
(Harvard Science) Chris Somerville, director of the Energy Biosciences Institute, said global biofuels are already mainstream, with ethanol from corn totaling 13 to 14 billion gallons annually in the United States, or about 10 percent of gasoline use. In Brazil, it
October 19, 2011 Read Full Article
Berkeley Lab Opens Advanced Biofuels Facility
(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) The ailing United States’ economy would receive a much needed boost with the commercial development of a domestic source of transportation fuel – especially if that fuel were to be clean, green and renewable, and could
August 22, 2011 Read Full Article
The Reality We Are Living in Now: Biofuels and the New DC, Part II
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In a swirling stew of change regarding US federal incentives, tariffs, tax credits and loan guarantees, the most consistent mechanism driving the expansion of renewable transport fuel has been the US Renewable Fuel Standard. Though
July 11, 2011 Read Full Article
Tagging the Most Promising Feedstocks for Biofuels
by Cole Gustafson (Western Farm Press/North Dakota State University Extension Service) A USDA-funded study is developing new pricing and trading standards for cellulosic biomass feedstocks. A first step in the study is to identify the most promising feedstocks and the
February 07, 2011 Read Full Article
Poet’s Broin Says E27 Is Needed to Satisfy RFS
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Poet LLC CEO Jeff Broin told attendees at a recent energy conference that the U.S. will need to eventually utilize the equivalent of E27 in the nation's fuel supply in order to meet renewable
December 12, 2010 Read Full Article
The Future of Biofuels: The Post-Alcohol World
(The Economist) Biofuels are back. This time they might even work. MAKE something people want to buy at a price they can afford. Hardly a revolutionary business strategy, but one that the American biofuels industry has, to date, eschewed. Now a new
October 29, 2010 Read Full Article
Advanced Energy Crops: Industry Perspectives -- Ceres, the Energy Crop Company
Anna Rath (Vice President of Commercial Development, Ceres, Inc.) Ceres is a seed company that uses advanced biotechnology to develop and distribute energy crop seeds. Rath discusses reasons for their commercial development being slower than planned, but Ceres still anticipates several
October 27, 2010 Read Full Article
Advanced Energy Crops: Industry Perspectives --Miscanthus Commercial Varieties and their Production
by Dr. Neal Gutterson (President and Chief Executive Officer, Mendel Biotechnologies, Inc.) Dr. Gutterson details the activities of Mendel Biotechnologies relevant to the advanced biofuels business space. Mendel developed Miscanthus x giganteus, a custom, sterile, weed-resistant variation of miscanthus. Currently, Mendel is
October 27, 2010 Read Full Article
Feedstock Logistics: Demonstration of a Large-Scale Integrated Switchgrass Supply Chain
by Dr. Kelly Tiller (President and Chief Executive Officer, Genera Energy, LLC) Dr. Tiller details the large commitment the state of Tennessee has made to biofuels research. Genera Energy, a research firm owned by the University of Tennessee, has worked with switchgrass
October 27, 2010 Read Full Article
Feedstock Logistics: Myths, Mysteries, and Misconceptions
by Bob Matousek (Manager of Plant and Harvesting Research and Development, Agco Corporation) Mr. Matousek's presentation discusses techniques for collecting corn crop residues into solid bales that can be transported to fuel production facilities. He details research performed on equipment
October 27, 2010 Read Full Article
Is Corn Stover the Next Big Biofuel?
by Dan Piller (Des Moines Register) If the cobs, stalks and leaves left behind after corn harvest become the next big source for ethanol, the technology to pick up the stover is decidedly old-school. "A farmer who bales hay can do this,"
October 25, 2010 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuel Technology Mature, Industry Says
by Teis Jensen and John Acher (Reuters) The technology to produce so-called second-generation bioethanol has moved beyond the research phase and is ready to be used if policymakers back it with incentives, Danish industry leaders said on Wednesday. ...Steen Riisgaard, head
October 14, 2010 Read Full Article
Growth of Biofuel Industry Hurt by GMO Regulations, Say Experts
(Science Daily) Faster development of the promising field of cellulosic biofuels -- the renewable energy produced from grasses and trees -- is being significantly hampered by a "deep and thorny regulatory thicket" that makes almost impossible the use of advanced
October 07, 2010 Read Full Article
BlueFire Renewables Signs 15 Year Feedstock Supply Contract for Fulton, MS Cellulosic Ethanol Facility
(PRNewsWire) BlueFire Renewables, Inc., a company focused on changing the world's transportation fuel paradigm through the production of renewable fuels from non-food cellulosic wastes, announced a contract with Cooper Marine & Timberlands to provide feedstock for BlueFire's planned cellulosic ethanol
September 27, 2010 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Ethanol Production Shows Promise
By Kerri Ebert (Midwest Producer) ...Kansas State University agricultural economist David Lambert has been developing economic models focusing on how development of the cellulosic ethanol industry could help meet EISA targets of 16 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol production by
September 23, 2010 Read Full Article
Ag Secretary Candidate Thicke Promotes 'New Vision'
by Dan Piller (Des Moines Register) Francis Thicke of Fairfield, the Democratic candidate for Iowa agriculture secretary, used his State Fair Soapbox speech Wednesday to call for a "new vision" for Iowa agriculture based on renewable fuels, ecologically sustainable production
August 19, 2010 Read Full Article
Wide Range of Plants Offer Cellulosic Biofuel Potential, Ecological Diversity
(EurekAlert) When it comes to selecting the right plant source for future cellulosic biofuel production, the solution won't be one-size-fits-all, and it certainly doesn't have to involve food and feed crops. In a "Perspective" article in the Aug. 13 edition of the
August 13, 2010 Read Full Article
Race on to Build First Commercial Cellulosic Ethanol Plant
by Dale Hildebrant (Minnesota Farm Guide) ...Delegates to the Biomass '10 conference in Grand Forks heard reports on all three cellulosic ethanol plant projects, which are in various stages of development. All have a projected start-up date in 2013 or
August 02, 2010 Read Full Article
A New Tool for Improving Switchgrass
by Dennis O'Brien (USDA Agricultural Research Service) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have developed a new tool for deciphering the genetics of a native prairie grass being widely studied for its potential as a biofuel. The genetic map of switchgrass, published
July 30, 2010 Read Full Article
IEA Releases Landmark “Status of 2nd Generation Biofuels Demonstration Facilities” Report
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... IEA Bioenergy, part of the International Energy Agency, has published its report “Status of 2nd Generation Biofuels Demonstration Facilities in June 2010”, as a report to IEA Bioenergy Task 39. The 126-page report includes extensive data on
July 29, 2010 Read Full Article
Status of 2nd Generation Biofuels Demonstration Facilities in June 2010
by Dina Bacovsky, Michal Dallos, Manfred Worgetter (International Energy Agency Task 39) Driven by the need to partly replace fossil transport fuels and by food versus fuel and highest possible GHG mitigation considerations, large efforts are dedicated to the development of
July 29, 2010 Read Full Article
25 Million Acres of Corn with Nowhere to Go, by 2030? A Digest Special Report
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...(D)oomsayers who have been predicting an inevitable conflict between food and fuel appear to have been completely off the mark. Rather than a shortage of food, the increased pace of biotechnology innovation associated with bioenergy is
July 07, 2010 Read Full Article
ICM to Begin Construction on Pilot Cellulosic Ethanol Plant
(ICM) , Inc. is pleased to announce that it has signed a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to receive $25 million to fund the construction and operation of its cellulosic ethanol pilot and demonstration facility in St.
June 15, 2010 Read Full Article
Novozymes and Ceres Partner on Biofuel Crops
(Ceres) Companies take step towards commercialization of low-carbon biofuels from switchgrass and other energy crops. Energy crop company Ceres, Inc. and Novozymes, the world’s largest enzyme provider, have entered a research collaboration to co-develop customized plant varieties and enzyme cocktails for
May 21, 2010 Read Full Article
Thailand Biofuels: Feedstocks and Market Opportunities
by Ben Lazarus (Biofuels Digest, American World Services) Looks at cassava, sugarcane, cellulosic feedstocks (rice husks, bagasse), spare production capacity, and export opportunities in Thailand. READ MORE
May 17, 2010 Read Full Article
Report: More Work Needed on Minnesota's Green Economy
by Wendy Lee (Star Tribune) With its university research, sources of biomass and track record of innovation, some people think Minnesota has the tools to become a major leader in the green economy. But will it live up to its potential? A
May 14, 2010 Read Full Article
U.S. Government Awards DuPont, Partners with Technology Investment Agreement for Macroalgae-to-Biobutanol Research
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) has awarded a Technology Investment Agreement to DuPont for the development of a process to convert sugars produced by macroalgae into next-generation biofuels called isobutanol. Bio Architecture Lab (BAL)