(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today up to $11.3 million for three projects that support the development of biomass-to-hydrocarbon biofuels conversion pathways that can produce variable amounts of fuels and/or products based on external
cellulosic sugars
Back TO HOMESustainable and Low-Cost: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Competing with Sub-$50 oil
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As Irshad Ahmed observed recently in The Digest, “until such time that we internalize the true life-cycle costs of extracting and using fossil fuels, and distinguishing fossil-BTUs from bio-BUTs, we will continue to struggle to find
August 02, 2016 Read Full Article
This Won’t Hurt a Bit, Tell Us All about Cellulosic Sugars, Lignin: DOE’s New RFI
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, U.S. Department of Energy is seeking input from industry, academia, national laboratories and other biofuels and bioproducts stakeholders to identify existing capabilities to produce lignocellulosic sugars and lignin for use by the research
July 27, 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
Leaf Resources (ASX: LER) Joint Venture to Develop Five Projects with World-Class Project Ceveloper Claeris, LLC
(Leaf Resources) Leaf Resources Ltd (ASX: LER, “Leaf” or “Leaf Resources”) is pleased to announce the signing of binding legal agreements with US-based project developer Claeris, LLC (“Claeris”), to establish a joint venture (JV) entity, Leaf Development, LLC (“Leaf Development”), for the purpose
July 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Scientists in US State of Florida Develop Military Grade Aviation Biofuel
(Renewable Energy Magazine) A team of scientists at West Palm Beach, Florida-based Alliance BioEnergy Plus Inc.’s subsidiary Ek Laboratories have developed a pathway to produce JP-8, an advanced military grade aviation biofuel. ... The team is reportedly continuing to refine its cellulose
July 21, 2016 Read Full Article
DOE Requests Information on Cellulosic Sugar and Lignin Production Capabilities--DE-FOA-0001615
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) seeks input from industry, academia, national laboratories, and other biofuels and bioproducts stakeholders to identify existing capabilities to produce lignocellulosic sugars
July 20, 2016 Read Full Article
What’s New and Important About C5 and C6 Sugars?
by Lorenz Bauer (Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc./Biofuels Digest) What’s up with C5 and C6 sugars? Given that a significant portion of the several billion dollars spent on renewable fuels spending involves these molecules, it is not surprising that progress is
July 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Study Shows Trees with Altered Lignin Are Better for Biofuels
(Brookhaven National Laboratory) Fundamental enzyme study leads to increased access to bioenergy feedstocks and improves ethanol yield by modifying plant cell wall structures. Lignin is a natural component of plant cell walls, the scaffolding that surrounds each cell and plays a
June 29, 2016 Read Full Article
A Biomass to Sugar Value Chain: The Digest’s 8-Slide Guide to Canada’s Sarnia Biocluster
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) "How much value is in the entire value chain, going from stover in the field to all the products?" asked Sandy Marshall, chairman, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada. His question opened his description of the birth of
June 14, 2016 Read Full Article
VIASPACE CTO Presents Giant King® Grass At Bioenergy Feedstocks Conference In Miami
(Viaspace/PR Newswire) VIASPACE CTO, Dr. Carl Kukkonen, made an invited presentation on Giant King Grass at the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference – Feedstocks held in Miami, Florida June 6-8, 2016. The Conference, organized by Biofuels Digest (http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/), focused on the most
June 13, 2016 Read Full Article
50% Yield Boost for Ethanol? No CO2? What?! White Dog Labs Comes out of Stealth
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In what might become the most transformative development in fermentation yields since Noah debuted winemaking technology in the Book of Genesis, US-based White Dog Labs have unveiled a new process that eliminates the emission of CO2, a
June 13, 2016 Read Full Article
It Depends: Heard on the Floor at ABLC Feedstocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The headline from the event is that projects and feedstock providers are more engaged than we have seen previously — a wave of technology development that once took place with a “we’ll work out
June 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Sweden Takes the Lead in Biofuel-Use in Europe
by Tomas Ekbom (Task 39 May 2016 Newsletter) The production and use of biofuels in Sweden have increased substantially since the mid-2000s. According to preliminary statistics from SPBI, the share of renewable energy in the road sector was 14.7% in 2015
May 20, 2016 Read Full Article
ASU Scores Chunk of $10M DOE Funding for Bioenergy R&D
(Algae Industry Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy announced up to $10 million in funding for six projects representing innovative technologies and solutions to advance bioenergy development. These projects, located in Arizona, California, North Carolina, Delaware, and Illinois, will support
May 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Stora Enso, Rennovia Ink Biobased Chemicals Development Deal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Renewable materials company Stora Enso and specialty chemicals company Rennovia Inc. have announced a joint development and license agreement to cooperate on bio-based chemicals development. Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies
May 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Evidence of Benefits of Biofuels in Combating Climate Change is More than Ample
(25 x '25) ... While recognition of the role of agriculture in meeting climate change challenges is growing among world leaders, it is of concern that biofuels and the low-carbon benefits they provide, especially when compared to fossil-based fuels like gasoline
May 12, 2016 Read Full Article
“EA” Biomass Pretreatment Cuts Enzyme Use, Boosts Biofuel Production
by Krista Eastman (Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) Less input, more output. That’s the achievement of a new biomass pretreatment method that could help improve the economics of cellulosic biofuels, the second-generation biofuels made from grasses, wood, and the inedible
May 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Takin’ Cellulosic to the Mud Spa
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Out of the unlikely bioeconomy hub of West Palm Beach, Florida, Alliance BioEnergy Plus has revealed what it describes as the “successful completion of its yearlong efforts to optimize its patented CTS technology to extract
May 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Renmatix Turns Biomass into Sugars for Industrial Use
(NewBIO/Cooperative Extension System) Technology patented by Renmatix enables the manufacture of industrial sugars from biomass on a scale that is commercially cost-effective. Table of Contents Introduction From Biomass to Sugars Benefits of Supercritical Water Customers Rebuild Biorefiners based on Plantrose™ Process
May 03, 2016 Read Full Article
The New Sugars: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to 5C and 6C sugars
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As part of March Madness, we held a well-attended webinar on the markets and makers of 5C and 6C sugars, from pilot to player. Here below is a slide deck presented on the day. The recorded
April 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Comet, BioAmber in Big Cellulosic Sugar Partnership: Biobased’s Hot Babes Hook Up
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Ontario, Comet Biorefining has signed an off-take agreement with bio-succinic acid producer BioAmber for cellulosic dextrose from Comet’s upcoming first commercial plant in Sarnia, Ontario. The dextrose will be produced from agricultural residues using
April 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Fast & Flexible: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Renmatix
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Renmatix is a technology licensor that enables the production of petrochemicals from plants. The company’s water-based Plantrose process is the lowest cost method for converting a wide range of non-food biomass into cellulosic sugars, used
April 18, 2016 Read Full Article
Pivot to Play: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Cellulosic Sugars
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, we held a well-attended webinar on the markets and makers of cellulosic sugars, from pilot to player. Here below is a slide deck presented on the day, from industry consultant Vonnie Estes — whose latest
April 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Sugar Producers Cooperative Collaborating with Comet Biorefining to Develop Agricultural Biomass Supply Chain
(Comet Biorefining) Cellulosic Sugar Producers Cooperative, an Ontario-based farmer's cooperative, confirms that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Comet Biorefining to collaborate on the development of a sustainable agricultural biomass supply chain in southwestern Ontario. Comet Biorefining
April 04, 2016 Read Full Article
NREL Updates Survey of Advanced Biofuel Producers in the United States
(U.S. Department of Energy) The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) updated its annual survey of U.S. non-starch ethanol and renewable hydrocarbon biofuels producers. The survey report, titled 2015 Survey of Non-Starch Ethanol and Renewable Hydrocarbon Biofuels Producers, documents important changes
March 18, 2016 Read Full Article
The PLA Story: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Polylactic Acid Markets
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As we look this week at markets for cellulosic sugars, this classic powerpoint that outlined the case and markets for biobased polylactic acid came to mind. We’ll not debate whether PLA is really polyacid or a
March 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Powerful Crap: The Quest to Turn Smelly Sewage into Sweet Biodiesel
by David MacNeal (Ars Technica) The facility smell? “That’s money,” Todd French says. “That’s what it smells like.” -- “By the time it gets here, David, it’s no longer my poop,” says microbiologist Todd French with conviction. “I don’t want
February 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Alliance BioEnergy: CTS Pilot Plant Producing Cellulosic Sugar
(Alliance BioEnergy Plus/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Alliance BioEnergy Plus Inc. is pleased to announce that the CTS pilot plant located at the company’s subsidiary Ek Laboratories, is now running the complete conversion process from raw feedstock through fermentation of cellulosic sugars.
February 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Comet Biorefining to Build Biomass Sugar Plant in Ontario
(Comet Biorefining/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Comet Biorefining Inc. has announced the location of its commercial-scale biomass-derived sugar facility in the TransAlta Energy Park in Sarnia, Ontario. The 60 million pounds per year plant will come online in 2018 producing dextrose sugar from
February 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Comet to Build 30K Ton Biomass Sugar Plant in Ontario
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, Comet Biorefining announced at ABLC 2016 the location of its commercial-scale biomass-derived sugar facility in the TransAlta Energy Park in Sarnia, Ontario. The 60 million pounds per year plant will come online in
February 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Energy Department Requests Information on Biofuels & Bioproducts Process Pilot Verification Capabilities
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy is seeking input from industry, academia, national laboratories, and other biofuels and bioproducts stakeholders to identify existing pilot- or process development-scale facilities with the capability to perform process verifications for biomass
February 15, 2016 Read Full Article
India's First Biofuel Refinery to Be Ready by 2019
by Supratim Dey (Business Standard) With Indian oil marketing companies (OMCs) witnessing a surge in the requirement of bio-fuel, as national policies mandate certain percentage of its blending with petrol and diesel, India within next three years will get its first bio-fuel
February 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Chempolis, Avantha Partner to Offer Cellulosic Technology
(Chempolis, Ltd.) Chempolis Ltd., a Finland-based biorefining technology corporation, has entered into partnership with Avantha Group’s research wing Avantha Centre for Industrial Research & Development to offer technology to India to extract ethanol from various agricultural residues for blending with petrol. India is
December 18, 2015 Read Full Article
NREL's Min Zhang Keeps Her "Bugs" Happy, Leading to Biofuel Breakthroughs
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Senior Scientist Min Zhang has a special relationship with Zymomonas mobilis, a rod-shaped bacterium that has bioethanol-producing capabilities. Of her 80 peer-reviewed papers and 21 U.S. patents in the field of biochemistry
December 15, 2015 Read Full Article
Renmatix to Develop Its First Commercial Biorefinery Next Year
by Anna Hirtenstein (Bloomberg Business) Renmatix Inc., a U.S. maker of technology for cellulosic biomaterials, will develop its first commercial biorefinery next year. The refinery will be commissioned by one of the company’s undisclosed partners and will be in the Americas, Europe
November 18, 2015 Read Full Article
New Biobased Projects Around the World
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Who’s building what, where, now. 29 projects in construction or in commissioning in Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and the Americas Despite low oil prices, first-gen biofuels and advanced biofuels continue to develop, and
November 18, 2015 Read Full Article
General Relativity, and the Remaking of Sweetwater Energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Minnesota Awards $26 Million to Fund Sweetwater’s Biochemical Facility --- In Minnesota, Sweetwater Energy has received commitment for $26 million in long-term loans from the state of Minnesota to construct a biochemical production facility near
November 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Stora Enso Division US Headquarters Move to Raceland, Louisiana
by Katie Fletcher (Biomass Magazine) ...The Raceland plant uses technology developed by Virdia and enables cellulosic biomass, such as wood or agricultural waste, to be converted into highly refined sugars. It is located in the vicinity of existing sugar cane plantations and will use bagasse waste as feedstock. Sugar
October 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Alliance Bioenergy Improves CTS Conversion Rates in October
(Alliance BioEnergy Plus Inc./Biomass Magazine) Alliance Bioenergy Plus, Inc. recently announced that its subsidiary Ek Laboratories in Longwood, Florida, under the direction of Dr. Richard Blair, Dr. Peter Cohen and Dr. Zhilin Xie, continues to see success in optimizing the commercial
October 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Seeking Better Biofuels
by Melody M. Bomgardner (Chemical & Engineering News) Researchers at the Joint BioEnergy Institute transform biomass into energy-rich fuel molecules -- .. JBEI researchers are zeroing in on concepts that others have decided are too difficult or would take too
October 26, 2015 Read Full Article
The Pursuit of Low-Cost Cellulosic Sugars: The Digest’s 2015 8-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
October 21, 2015 Read Full Article
Diamond in the Rough: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Cobalt’s Technology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cobalt Technologies was commercializing cellulosic biobutanol, a versatile platform molecule for the renewable chemicals and fuels. The Company’s technology efficiently converts diverse non-food feedstocks – initially, lignocellulosic extracts from woody biomass and sugar cane bagasse
October 15, 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
8 Ways around the Big, Bad Oxygen Problem in the Advanced Bioeconomy Parts 1 and 2
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the terrestrial world, oxygen is colorless, odorless, and try to get through an hour without some. In the Bioeconomy Cinematic Universe, oxygen is harder than steel, heavier than a black hole, and higher than
October 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Alliance BioEnergy Plus Inc. Announces a Breakthrough in Cellulose to Sugar Conversion Rates and Efficiencies
(Globe Newswire/Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc.) Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc. (OTCQB:ALLM) (the "Company"), announced today that its’ subsidiary Ek Laboratories in Longwood, Florida, under the direction of Dr. Richard Blair, Dr. Peter Cohen and Dr. Zhilin Xie, achieved 63% conversion of Coastal
October 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Sugar Is the New Crude: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to American Process
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Although American Process has been most closely associated with its complete cellulosic biofuels package — of late, the company has been much in focus because of its capabilities in producing low-cost renewable sugars. Thought it was
September 29, 2015 Read Full Article
DEINOVE and Tyton Forge Partnership to Commercialize Unique Solutions in the Green Chemicals Sector
(Globe Newswire/Benzinga) A technological and commercial partnership between Deinove and Tyton BioEnergy Systems, the leader in tobacco technology for green chemicals production -- T he synergistic technologies are expected to provide techno-economic benefits in the production of renewable chemicals by
September 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Edeniq Announces Completion of Innovative Upgrade to Cellulosic Sugars Pilot Plant
(Edeniq) California Energy Commission provided funding for biofuels technology breakthrough -- – Edeniq, a biorefining and cellulosic technology company, completed a major upgrade of its cellulosic sugar and ethanol pilot facility. The company designed and operated new, proprietary equipment for feedstock
September 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Energy Department Awards up to $4 Million to Develop Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts
(US Department of Energy) The Energy Department today announced two additional projects selected to receive up to $4 million to develop next-generation biofuels that will help reduce the cost of producing gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels from biomass. These projects—in
August 27, 2015 Read Full Article
Renmatix: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Renmatix is a technology licensor that enables the production of petrochemicals from plants. The company’s water-based Plantrose process is the lowest cost method for converting a wide range of non-food biomass into cellulosic sugars, used
July 31, 2015 Read Full Article
BIC Project Aims at Commercialization of Cellulosic Sugar Production in Ontario, Canada
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Ontario, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada has completed phase 1 of a project to assess the economic viability of the agricultural biomass to cellulosic sugar value chain in Canada. The Cellulosic Sugar Production Project is designed to
July 27, 2015 Read Full Article
International Research Team Seeks More Efficient Biomass Refinement Processes
(Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) Researchers from across the world, including from Virginia Tech, plan to mimic the chemistry of the brown rot fungus to improve biorefining processes. BioMim, a $4 million, four-year project funded by the Research Council
July 20, 2015 Read Full Article
4 Minutes with… Dr Marc Sabourin, EVP Business Development Americas, Leaf Resources Limited
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Leaf Resources is a process technology company, providing economical biobased solutions for commercial production of cellulosic sugars and other lignocellulosic platforms derived from biomass. Our technology, combines crude glycerine and process integration for improving biomass
July 20, 2015 Read Full Article
4 Minutes with… Thomas J. Murphy, CEO, SR Energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Our vision is to be a cellulosic sugar supplier to the advanced bio-economy industry. ... Collectively, we are moving our integrated technology platform from bench scale to commercial scale process capability. No single technology
May 15, 2015 Read Full Article
Sweetwater Energy Raises $10M; Begins Ramp-Up to First Commercial
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sweetwater Energy announced it has closed on a $10 million bridge loan. The loan closed as Sweetwater said that it is now opening its Series B investor round to begin construction of a first commercial facility. Sweetwater
April 21, 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
Energy Group, Total, Makes Investment & Initiates Joint Development Agreement with Renmatix
(Renmatix/Total/PR Newswire) - Total invests in Renmatix – Takes equity and Board seat in Philadelphia based licensor of supercritical hydrolysis technology for conversion of biomass into economical cellulosic sugar -- Companies complete Joint Development Agreement to initiate distinct R&D
March 03, 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
10 Biggest Bioeconomy Blockbuster Stories of 2014: Asia and Oceania
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The East is Green. Asia is confirmed as “the new Brazil” as project developers head en masse to the friendly receptions in Asian countries — based on energy diversification and rural development opportunities. Whether you look
December 29, 2014 Read Full Article
New Conversion Process Turns Biomass 'Waste' into Lucrative Chemical Products
by Elizabeth K. Gardner (Purdue University) A new catalytic process is able to convert what was once considered biomass waste into lucrative chemical products that can be used in fragrances, flavorings or to create high-octane fuel for racecars and jets. A team
December 22, 2014 Read Full Article
Feedstocks, Techniques, and Enzymes: The Critical Trio in Any Cellulosic Ethanol Project
(Global BioBusiness) 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 glucose,
December 08, 2014 Read Full Article
4 minutes with…Basil Karampelas, President, American Process
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We’ve developed 2 proprietary biorefinery technologies producing low-cost cellulosic sugars from non-food based biomass. Our Green Power+ technology produces low-cost cellulosic sugars from the hemicelluloses. AVAP technology produces cellulosic sugars from cellulose and hemicelluloses. Our
December 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Righteous Heat: 10 Hot Slides from ABLCNext Do the Show-and-Tell on Who's Got the Magic
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 10 hot companies, The Young Fresh Faces, the Later-Stagers, the Out-of-the-Box Thinkers - who is challenging the status quo and how and why? Here are new slides from the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference – ABLC Next
November 20, 2014 Read Full Article
BlueFire Plays the China Card? Ex-Im Bank of China Issues $270M LOI for Mississippi Biofuels Project
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, BlueFire Renewables has received a Letter of Intent from The Export Import Bank of China (China EXIM) to provide up to $270 million in debt financing for its 19 million gallon bioenergy project
October 27, 2014 Read Full Article
Abengoa Celebrates Grand Opening of Its First Commercial-Scale Next Generation Biofuels Plant
(Abengoa/GlobeNewswire) U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback and Kansas Senator Pat Roberts offer remarks during on-site event commemorating landmark occasion for advanced biofuels industry. Abengoa's proprietary enzymatic hydrolysis technology turns crop residue (stalks, stems and leaves)
October 17, 2014 Read Full Article
Brighter Brights and More Sustainable Whites
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Broadening the sources and uses for cellulosic ethanol. As we reported yesterday (October 6, 2014) in the Digest, DuPont and Procter & Gamble, announced a collaboration to use cellulosic ethanol in North American Tide laundry detergent,
October 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Energy Department Announces $13.4 Million to Develop Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Energy Department announced today (October 9, 2014) up to $13.4 million for five projects to develop advanced biofuels and bioproducts that will help drive down the cost of producing gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from
October 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Brazil's GOL to Start International Flights using Newly-Certified Amyris/Total Renewable Jet Fuel
(GreenAir Online) Less than a month after approval for commercial use by fuel certification body ASTM International, Brazilian carrier GOL has announced it is to begin flying with blended farnesane renewable jet fuel developed by the Amyris/Total partnership. The sugarcane-derived Synthetic
August 11, 2014 Read Full Article
Dyadic, CIMV to Collaborate on Second Generation Biofuels
(Dyadic International Inc./Biomass Magazine) Dyadic International Inc., a global biotechnology company whose patented and proprietary technologies are used to develop, manufacture and sell enzymes and other proteins for the bioenergy, bio-based chemical, biopharmaceutical and industrial enzyme industries, recently announced that
August 08, 2014 Read Full Article
Edeniq and Global Bio-Chem to Develop and Commercialize Corn Stover to Industrial Sugars Conversion Technology
(Edeniq/BusinessWire) Edeniq, Inc. (“Edeniq”), a cellulosic sugar producer, announced it has signed a letter of intent with Global Bio-chem Technology Group Company Limited (“Global Bio-chem,” HKG:0809) to develop and commercialize processes to convert corn stover to industrial sugars for use in the
July 17, 2014 Read Full Article
“But I Won’t Cry for Yesterday”: The Re-Making of the US Ethanol Industry
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The migration from first-gen to next-gen biofuels is becoming less ‘Invisible’ — and the new landscape is not, by anyone’s estimation, an ‘Ordinary World’. If Aemetis’ latest earnings hadn’t rocked your world quite enough, here
May 22, 2014 Read Full Article
American Process Sells the First Woody Biomass Cellulosic Ethanol RINS
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) On Friday April 18, 2014, American Process shipped its second commercial ethanol cargo and sold the first cellulosic ethanol RINs from its Alpena Biorefinery. These are the first cellulosic ethanol RINs generated since the beginning of
April 25, 2014 Read Full Article
Neste Oil And DONG Energy To Begin Cooperation On Technology Development For Renewable Fuels
(Nestle Oil) Neste Oil, the world's largest producer of premium-quality renewable fuels, has joined forces with DONG Energy, one of the leading energy groups in Northern Europe, to develop an integrated process to produce renewable diesel and aviation fuel based on
April 18, 2014 Read Full Article
Purdue Researchers Launch Innovative Biomass Renewable Energy Company
by Phillip Fiorini and Cynthia Sequin (Purdue University) Purdue University researchers are launching a company focusing on an innovative process that could revolutionize how lignocellulosic biomass is used to make biofuels and other bio-based products and chemicals. Spero Energy Inc., which is based
March 28, 2014 Read Full Article
Lignin’s Big Leap
by Tom Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Still seeking commercial-scale opportunities, Lignol continues to collaborate with companies that are eager to buy high-purity lignin in bulk. Is this abundant byproduct of pulp and paper milling and biorefining poised for new and
March 18, 2014 Read Full Article
The Sugar Producers
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Sweetwater Energy and Proterro, two companies using widely different approaches, aim for low-cost sugar that may give today’s corn ethanol plants a glide path into advanced ethanol production. They're in different stages, but share
March 12, 2014 Read Full Article
Neste Oil and DONG Energy to Begin Cooperation on Technology Development for Renewable Fuels
(Neste Oil Corporation) Neste Oil, the world's largest producer of premium-quality renewable fuels, has joined forces with DONG Energy, one of the leading energy groups in Northern Europe, to develop an integrated process to produce renewable diesel and aviation fuel
March 07, 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
Hot Sugar! Sweetwater Energy to Supply Pacific Ethanol with Industrial Sugars for Cellulosic Ethanol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In New York, Sweetwater Energy and Pacific Ethanol announced a project to supply customized industrial sugars for the production of cellulosic ethanol. The agreement supports the construction of a cellulosic biorefinery, contingent upon Sweetwater Energy
December 20, 2013 Read Full Article
ICIS Innovation Award Winners, Renmatix and Virent, Announce Collaboration On Bio-based Packaging
(ICIS/PR NewsWire) New Routes in Sustainable Chemistry Aim to Deliver Broader Supplies of Affordable Bioplastics ICIS Innovation Awards -- At today's ICIS Innovation Awards in London, winners Renmatix and Virent announced a strategic collaboration to convert affordable cellulosic sugars to renewable chemicals and
December 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Paper Mill in Maine, US Making Sugars for Biofuel from Wood Waste
(Biofuels International) The paper industry in Old Town, Maine, US has been stuck in gradual decline for some years now. However, one company - Old Town Fuel and Fiber (OTFF) - is said to be 'on the cusp' of a
November 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Favorable Feedstock Costs Can Drop Cellulosic Sugar Prices
(Lux Research/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Lower feedstock prices can drive down prices of fermentable cellulosic sugar to 26 cents per kilogram (kg), down from 32 to 36 cents per kg, competitive with sugars from corn or sugarcane, according to Lux Research.
November 21, 2013 Read Full Article
Extreme Energy, Supercritical Water, Nanostuff and Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At the frontier of exotic temperature and pressures, even everyday materials like water begin to act strangely in ways that can drive energy transformation. New work in nanocatalysts may make those frontiers more accessible, and
November 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Why the New Biofuel Feedstocks Deserve Investment, Incentives
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Industry Organization/National Geographic Magazine) ...Biotechnology companies today are working to develop cyanobacteria, algae, and even municipal waste as feedstocks for advanced biofuels. But these promising abundant non-food sources lack either the government subsidies or the commercial
November 01, 2013 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
The One-Stop, Get It Hot, Biobased Candy Men: Midori and Low-Cost Cellulosic Sugars
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Midori reports they have broken through on a 100-year quest for low-cost cellulosic sugars. And found a way to turn your cotton tees into sugars, too. About a year ago, a little-known company called Midori Renewables
September 12, 2013 Read Full Article
A Business Case for a Cornstalks to Bioprocessing Venture
(Ontario Federation of Agriculture/Farming Sources) A value chain consortium presented their final report to local corn producers on a business case for sustaining a commercially viable cellulosic sugar plant in southwestern Ontario to support the future production of green chemicals. The
September 05, 2013 Read Full Article
4C-Able Future: Biobased Butanol, Butadiene and BDO Are Having a Hot Year
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... It’s been quite a year on the four-carbon platform — also known as C4, 4C, buta-something, Fantastic Four, or what have you. Though two-carbon fuels such as ethanol have long dominated the biofuels market — and
August 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels’ 10 Scariest Challenges: Part 2 of 2
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Upstream, downstream, processing, policy, finance – opportunities and challenges abound in the bioeconomy – but which challenges are the most intractable and daunting of them all? In today’s part 2, #5 through #1. 5. The blend
August 21, 2013 Read Full Article
Want Better Biofuels? Get the Wood Out
(Science Magazine) Addition by subtraction. By removing a specific gene, researchers reduced the amount of lignin (stained red) by 36% in cells in a plant’s stem, making it easier to recover sugar-rich parts of the plant that can be converted to
August 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Rochester Institute of Technology Students Learn About Sweetwater’s Plant-Sugar Mixture for Production of Biofuels
(AZOCleanTech) A collaboration between Rochester Institute of Technology’s Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences and Sweetwater Energy Inc. will give students experience with the Rochester-based company that has a sweet and sustainable niche. Sweetwater Energy provides its industry partners with
July 26, 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
NSF Grant Boosts Promising Biofuels Research
(JustMeans.com/Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology) Promising biofuels research at a Wisconsin biotech company and a partner university is getting a boost from a $224,967 National Science Foundation grant. C5.6 Technologies of Middleton, Wis., and the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology (WIST)
July 05, 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
Increased Enzyme Binding to Substrate Is Not Necessary for More Efficient Cellulose Hydrolysis
by Dahai Gao, Shishir P. S. Chundawat, Anurag Sethi, Venkatesh Balana, S. Gnanakaran, and Bruce E. Dale (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) Substrate binding is typically one of the rate-limiting steps preceding enzyme catalytic action during homogeneous reactions. However,
June 27, 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
Nexant Analyzes Next-Generation Sugar Technologies
(Virtual-Strategy.com) Nexant today announced the release of an assessment of next-generation and cellulosic sugar technologies. This new Nexant report—Cellulosic Sugars: Unlocking Biomass’ Potential—examines the different technology choices available. “Cellulosic and other next-generation sugar processes are becoming technically robust, although commercial challenges remain to
May 02, 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
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
Irvine Renewable Fuels Firm Halts Work on Mississippi Plant
by Jane Yu (Orange County Business Journal) Irvine-based renewable fuels maker BlueFire Renewables Inc. has halted construction work on a plant planned for Fulton, Miss. plant. BlueFire converts non-food resources, such as trash, wood waste and other agricultural residues, into ethanol.
March 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Powerful Enzymes Create Ethanol from Agricultural Harvest Waste
(Science Daily) The mainly EU-funded DISCO project coordinated by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has developed powerful enzymes, which accelerate plant biomass conversion into sugars and further into products such as bioethanol. The project's results include lignin-tolerant enzymes and
January 23, 2013 Read Full Article
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Visits Renmatix for Commissioning of Plant-to-Sugar BioFlex Conversion Unit
(Renmatix/Sacramento Bee) Building on success in hardwood, Philadelphia-based Renmatix adds on-site capability to convert multiple local and international feedstocks to cellulosic sugar Renmatix, the leading manufacturer of cellulosic sugars for biobased chemical and fuel markets, welcomed Secretary Tom Vilsack, leader of
January 11, 2013 Read Full Article
Advanced Ethanol Council Releases Snapshot of Cellulosic Ethanol Production around the World
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Advanced Ethanol Council this morning released a report giving a snapshot of cellulosic ethanol producers in the U.S. and around the world. A look at facilities owned by companies such as Abengoa Bioenergy, Enerkem, INEOS Bio
December 19, 2012 Read Full Article
15 Burning Questions (and Answers) for Biofuels in 2013
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Policy, finance, technology, feedstocks, markets, prices, opposition. Here’s what’s on your mind, as the critical 2013 deployment year for biofuels looms. So here are 15 burning questions as suggested by various Digesterati — divided for convenience
December 14, 2012 Read Full Article
UnNintendoed Consequences: Biofuels and the Feedstock Challenge
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s been years of struggle to get cellulosic feedstock supply chains downfield. Now, companies like Woodland Biofuels, Sweetwater Energy, Ceres, Delta BioRenewables and Commonwealth Agro-Energy are moving the chains. ...This week in Canada, the MaRS Cleantech Fund
December 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Low-Cost Cellulosic Sugars, Ho! EdeniQ to Build demo Plant in Brazil
by Jim Lane (Biobased Digest) California’s cellulosic gearhead gurus head from the San Joaquin Valley to Sao Paulo, in search of big, aggregated loads of sugarcane bagasse. In California, Edeniq announced that it has begun engineering and construction of a bagasse
December 11, 2012 Read Full Article
Generation 1.5 Ethanol: The Bridge to Cellulosic Biofuels
by Philip W. Madson (Ethanol Across America) ...Considering the development path of Gen 1 to better understand the current state of Gen 2 ethanol, several factors require further breakthrough developments and/or inventions for cellulosic ethanol to become commercially viable at the massive scale contemplated
November 29, 2012 Read Full Article
Immature Switchgrass Could Help Cellulosic Ethanol Industry
by Ann Perry (US Department of Agriculture Agriculture Research Service) A gene that keeps switchgrass forever young could have far-reaching implications for the development of the plant as a biofuel crop, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists. Inserting a specific gene
September 07, 2012 Read Full Article
Ceres Sweet Sorghum Hybrids Processed by Amyris
(Ceres) • Pilot project validates U.S.-produced sweet sorghum as a potential feedstock for advanced biofuels and bio-products. • Conversion efficiency of sweet sorghum sugars were similar to sugarcane. Energy crop company Ceres, Inc. (Nasdaq: CERE) today announced its improved sweet sorghum hybrids
May 04, 2012 Read Full Article
Sugar Rush: The Race Is on to Commercialize Low-Cost, High-Quality Sugars from Nonfood Sources
by Bryan Sims (Biorefining Magazine) The biorefining industry is hungry for a low-cost, high-quality and readily available supply of sugar feedstock from nonfood biomass sources. A number of pure-play sugar technology developers and manufacturers like Renmatix, Virdia (formerly HCL CleanTech),
May 02, 2012 Read Full Article
Virdia Opens Its Cellulosic Sugar Demonstration Plant in Va.
(Virdia/Biorefining Magazine) Cellulosic sugar developer Virdia announced April 24 the opening of its demonstration facility at its new technology center in Danville, Va. Located on the campus for the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, the facility is designed to
April 26, 2012 Read Full Article
The Promise of Biotechnology Is Here Today, and Dyadic Is Determined to Make a Difference
(CFOCEO Magazine) ...Interview conducted by: Lynn Fosse, Senior Editor, CEOCFO Magazine, Published - April 20, 2012 ...C1 is a very unique fungus we found in the Russian soil in an alkaline lake in the early 1990’s. We selected that fungus because
April 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Virdia Ups the Ante in the Race for the New Sugars
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In California, Virdia, formerly HCL CleanTech, a leading developer of cellulosic sugars, today announced major company milestones, including a new brand and CEO, its latest funding round, and a $75 million deal with the Mississippi
March 06, 2012 Read Full Article
SucreSource Signs GS Caltex
(SucreSource/PRNewsWire) First Cellulose-to-Sugar Plant Sale and Partnership SucreSource, a wholly owned subsidiary of BlueFire Renewables, Inc., has signed agreements with GS Caltex, a Korean petroleum company, to build a cellulose to sugar plant in Korea. "This agreement validates SucreSource's business model of
February 16, 2012 Read Full Article
BASF Participates in US American Technology Company Renmatix
(Renmatix) BASF is participating with $30 million through BASF Biorenewable Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG in the American technology firm Renmatix Inc. The BASF subsidiary led a $50 million financing round, joined by new and existing investors. The technology company Renmatix
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Chemicals and Biofuel from Wood Biomass
(PhysOrg.com) A method developed at Aalto University in Finland makes it possible to use microbes to produce butanol suitable for biofuel and other industrial chemicals from wood biomass. Butanol is particularly suited as a transport fuel because it is not
December 23, 2011 Read Full Article
BlueFire Renewables Launches Subsidiary and Formalizes Funding Agreements in 2011; Sets Sights on Further, Significant Milestones for 2012
(Blue Fire Renewables) ...To meet increasing demand for cellulosic sugars ("The New Oil") BlueFire formed SucreSource, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary that will manufacture cellulosic sugars from biomass for Biofuel, Bioplastic and Specialty Chemical markets. Established in November 2011, SucreSource
December 23, 2011 Read Full Article
Codexis, Mascoma Show that Low-Cost Sugar is the Key, as Biofuels Moves from R&D into Industrial Era
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...“The government rushed into investments, with no diligence,” says Codexis chief Alan Shaw. “They are just not industrialists, in my opinion.” Two major announcements this week drive the point home in advanced biofuels. In California, Codexis introduced its
December 12, 2011 Read Full Article
Codexis Introduces CodeXyme™ Cellulase Enzyme Product Line for Biobased Chemicals
(Codexis) Codexis, Inc. (Nasdaq: CDXS) today introduced the CodeXyme™ Cellulase enzyme product line to convert biomass to sugar, enabling cost effective production of sustainable products. "The launch of the CodeXyme™ Cellulase product line introduces Codexis as a player in the global cellulase enzyme market," said Alan
December 08, 2011 Read Full Article
The 10 Biofuels Priorities for 2012
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, more than 350 delegates gathered at Advanced Biofuesl Markets to set industry priorities for the next six months,seal partnerships, and exchange outlooks on 2012. It didn’t take long for the Top 10 priorities
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
BlueFire Forms Subsidiary SucreSource, LLC to Provide Cellulosic Sugars to Advanced BioFuels Company
(GreenTechMedia/PR NewsWire) Today, at the Advanced Biofuels Markets Conference in San Francisco, Arnold Klann, Chief Executive Officer and President of BlueFire Renewables (OTC BB: BFRE.OB), a company focused on shifting the paradigm for energy sources by converting non-food cellulosic wastes into renewable
November 09, 2011 Read Full Article
Comet Biorefining Inc. Announces Fabrication of Cellulosic Sugar Toll Facility
(TradingCharts.com) Comet Biorefining Inc., a leader in low cost cellulosic sugar technology, today announced that it has begun fabrication of a cellulosic sugar toll processing plant to be located in Southwestern Ontario. This facility will produce cellulosic sugar on a tolling basis for
November 03, 2011 Read Full Article
M&G Group Partners with TPG to Form BETA RENEWABLES, the Global Leader in Second Generation Bio-Ethanol and Bio-based Chemicals
(M&G) Gruppo Mossi and Ghisolfi ("M&G"), through its wholly-owned subsidiary Chemtex, is pleased to announce that it has founded BETA RENEWABLES, a joint venture with TPG Capital and TPG Biotech (collectively "TPG"), established to exclusively license Chemtex's PROESA® Technology into
October 17, 2011 Read Full Article
Advancing Next-gen Biofuels by Turning Up the Heat on Biomass Pretreatment Processes
by Marie Louise Ballon (U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute/Renewable Energy World) ...Published online October 2 in Nature Biotechnology, an international team of scientists including DOE JGI researchers compared the finished genomes of Thielavia terrestris and Muceliophthora thermophila, fungi
October 04, 2011 Read Full Article
Iowa State Researchers Produce Cheap Sugars for Sustainable Biofuel Production
(Iowa State University) Iowa State University's Robert C. Brown keeps a small vial of brown, sweet-smelling liquid on his office table. "It looks like something you could pour on your pancakes," he said. "In many respects, it is similar to molasses." Brown,
October 03, 2011 Read Full Article
Wood Climbs from Supporting Role to Center Stage
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ....But as it turns out, trees guard their precious C5 and C6 sugars, those necessary to produce cellulosic ethanol and biochemicals, with a nearly impenetrable system of natural defenses that has yet to
September 28, 2011 Read Full Article
Renmatix Reveals Supercritical Hydrolysis as Lowest-Cost Pathway to Cellulosic Sugar
(PR Newswire/Renmatix) Kleiner Perkins' John Doerr, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, and Amyris CEO John Melo laud company's novel use of super critical water Renmatix, the leading producer of cellulosic sugars, today unveiled the Plantrose™ process, the company's commercial approach to producing
September 27, 2011 Read Full Article
A Way to Make Motor Fuel Out of Wood? Add Water
by Matthew L. Wald (New York Times) A Georgia company says it has overcome a major roadblock in turning agricultural waste into vehicle fuel and other useful chemicals by experimenting with a technology that treats the waste with compressed water
September 27, 2011 Read Full Article
Aiming for the Complete Utilization of Sugar-Beet Pulp: Examination of the Effects of Mild Acid and Hydrothermal Pretreatment Followed by Enzymatic Digestion.(Research)
Stefan Kuhnel; Henk A Schols; Harry Gruppen (Biotechnology for Biofuels/Highbeam Business) Sugar-beet pulp (SBP) consists of up to 75% w/w of carbohydrates (dry matter). Arabinose, glucose and galacturonic acid (GA) are the main sugar moieties present in complex polysaccharide structures