by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This is a presentation by Dr. Jayant Khambekar of Jenike & Johanson, a technology company specializing in bulk solids flow. It highlights the challenges of feeding high-pressure reactors in the advanced biofuels industry. Specifically, the presentation
corn stover
Back TO HOMEFalls City, Nebraska Issued BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating for Corn Stover
(Bioeconomy Development Opportunity Zone Initiative) Mid-America Rail Campus Positioned as Biotech Hub for Innovative Decarbonization Projects -- The Falls City Economic Development and Growth Enterprise, Inc. (EDGE), Ecostrat and the BDO Zone Initiative are pleased to announce the issue of an investment grade BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating
November 13, 2024 Read Full Article
Corn Stover Could Be Key to a More Climate-Friendly Fuel in Indiana
by Rebecca Thiele (IBP News/WBAA) ... Jennifer Pett-Ridge researches how to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. She authored Indiana's Roads to Removal report. She said almost every agricultural crop has leftover material that could become
November 07, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to BioVeritas
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This presentation deck highlights BioVeritas’s innovative approach to producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) using a bio-based process called the BioVeritas Process™. The presentation deck emphasizes BioVeritas’s commitment to unlocking a wide range of feedstocks for SAF
November 07, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Cover Crop Valorization for Biofuels and Products
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Agriculture contributes >9% of US total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Nitrous oxide, CO2, and methane from soil management is the biggest GHG contributor. There is a need to reduce the carbon intensity of biomass feedstocks. A
October 24, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Single-Pass, Weather Independent Fractionation Technology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) An estimated 60% of the available corn stover will be collected in excess of 20% moisture resulting in a lack of ability to produce a reliable feedstock with conventional harvest and storage systems. A team of
October 21, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Optimal Preprocessing and Deconstruction of Corn Stover
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Physical fractionation and characterization of corn stover. US Department of Energy Peer Review presentation. READ MORE Related articles Enhancing efficiency in ethanol production from high solid corn stover: Insights into enzymatic hydrolysis parameters and cellulase recovery (Journal of
October 18, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Biomass Size Reduction, Drying and Densification
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Low-cost carbon resources (agricultural residues, forest residue, and non recyclable municipal and industrial wastes) exhibit consistent challenges. Inherent physical and chemical variability in feedstocks result in excessive process downtime, and uncontrolled costs with documented failures in the industry
October 16, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Process Intensification in the Supply Chain
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A team of researchers have designed a project to utilize post-harvest physiology and chemistry tools during long-term storage and queuing to positively impact downstream processes through reduced chemical and energy input. They aim to enhance anatomical fractionation,
October 15, 2024 Read Full Article
NewEnergyBlue Acquires Inbicon Biomass Conversion Technology and International Patent Portfolio
(NewEnergyBlue) NewEnergyBlue, the clean-technology designer of biomass refineries that turn agricultural waste into highly decarbonized biofuels and biochemicals, has finalized its purchase of Inbicon biomass-conversion technology from Ørsted, a renewable energy company based in Denmark. NewEnergyBlue’s acquisition extends its scope of
September 12, 2024 Read Full Article
Blue Biofuels Receives $1.15 Million Department of Energy Phase 2 Grant
(Blue Biofuels) Blue Biofuels, Inc. (OTCQB: BIOF). Blue Biofuels is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded a Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the U.S. Department of Energy amounting to $1.15 million. This significant funding will
September 06, 2024 Read Full Article
Southwest Kansas Set to Fuel the Future of Flight
by Craig Andres, Laura McMillan (KSN.com) The State of Kansas is taking a leap to be on the cutting edge of sustainable fuels with a new biofuel plant in southwest Kansas. Officials gathered for a groundbreaking at the SAFFiRE plant in Liberal
August 29, 2024 Read Full Article
Expanding the Feedstock Arsenal
by Katie Schroeder (SAF Magazine) ... According to U.S. DOE’s 2023 Billion-Ton Report, there is up to 1.5 billion tons of biomass available on a sustainable basis in the U.S. each year, from waste to forest residuals to ag waste. Currently
August 28, 2024 Read Full Article
Phelps County Selected for DG Fuels’ First Midwest Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plant
by Dan Brown (DG Fuels) Innovative Plant to Transform Agricultural By-products into High-Value Sustainable Aviation Fuel -- DG Fuels, a U.S.-owned sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) company, in cooperation with the Nebraska BioEconomy, has selected Phelps County, Nebraska, for its first Midwest production
August 09, 2024 Read Full Article
Biofuels Can Power the Biggest Ships: Five Things to Know about Expanding Their Use
by Zia Abdullah (U.S. Department of Energy) ... Propelling massive ships around the world requires lots of energy created by burning thousands of gallons of fuel. The industry uses an estimated 2.5 billion barrels of fuel every year—primarily heavy fuel oil made from
August 08, 2024 Read Full Article
Availability Advantage: Ethanol's Opportunity
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) As the sustainable aviation fuel industry in the U.S. takes shape, it’s becoming clear that an all-of-the-above approach to feedstock and technology will present the best chances of meeting aggressive domestic production goals. But existing
August 05, 2024 Read Full Article
Verbio Launches Ethanol Production at Its Biorefinery Plant in Nevada, Iowa
(Vergio/PR Newswire) Verbio has commenced the commercial production of corn-based ethanol at its biorefinery facility in Nevada, Iowa. The plant, a subsidiary of Europe`s leading biofuels and bioenergy producer Verbio SE, underwent a thorough commissioning process over the past six months resulting in
August 01, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to the State of Renewable Feedstocks and Agriculture
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In this presentation, we explored the challenges faced in the transition to sustainable, available, reliable, affordable feedsocks. We look at the crops getting traction, new crops developing, the role of residues, new data from the Billion
July 30, 2024 Read Full Article
Biofuel Crops - U.S. Regions' Best for Aviation
(Farms.com) Regional bioenergy crops key to aviation fuel plans -- In an impactful study by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, researchers have pinpointed the most suitable bioenergy crops for producing sustainable aviation fuels across the U.S., focusing on economic and environmental sustainability. The
July 25, 2024 Read Full Article
Chippewa County, Wisconsin Issued BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating for Corn Stover
(Bioeconomy Development Opportunity Zones) The Chippewa Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) and Ecostrat are pleased to announce the issue of an investment grade BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating for 380,000 bone dry tons per year of Corn Stover for the Chippewa County BDO Zone. The BDO Zone Initiative
July 23, 2024 Read Full Article
BETO Selects 13 Small Businesses to Develop Innovative Bio-Based Products and Biomass Processing Technologies
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced awards for the FY24 Phase I Release 2 of the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. Across DOE, 229 projects in 39 states received $52 million to pursue
July 18, 2024 Read Full Article
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Could Help Clear the Air, Former Kansas Senator Says | Opinion
by Pat Roberts (Wichita Eagle/Americans for Clean Aviation Fuels) ... Unfortunately, SAF represents less than one percent of the current market and costs two to four times more than traditional jet fuel. To tackle this challenge, the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act
July 15, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Value and Sustainability through Agriculture
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Pacific Ag is North America’s largest harvester and marketer of crop residue, operating the largest harvest fleet globally.In this ABLC presentation from pacific Ag’s Harrison Pettit, the potential of ag residuals when realized globally – improving lives,
July 02, 2024 Read Full Article
BDO ZoneCONNECT Webinar: Emporia, Kansas and Conecuh County, Alabama
(Bioeconomy Development Opportunity Zone Initiative) On June 27, 2024, Ecostrat Inc., in collaboration with TheDigest, hosted the BDO ZoneCONNECT webinar, highlighting two investment grade BDO Zone communities in North America: Emporia, Kansas, rated ‘BBB’ for Corn Stover, and Conecuh County, Alabama, rated ‘A’ for Woody Biomass. The
June 27, 2024 Read Full Article
New Energy Blue and ARCO/Murray Partner to Build Biomass Refineries to Produce Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals
(New Energy Blue) New Energy Blue, the clean-energy developer whose technology converts agricultural waste into lowest-carbon biofuels and biochemicals, and ARCO/Murray, one of America’s largest, most experienced, and fastest-growing construction firms, today announce a partnership to build out the New Energy
June 25, 2024 Read Full Article
IRS Gives 45Z Registration Guidance: New IRS Guidance Urges Biofuel Producers to Register for 45Z Tax Credit by July
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) The IRS released guidance on Friday (May 31, 2024) on how to register for the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, including a list of feedstocks that could qualify for the $1-per-gallon credit. The 45Z credit takes
June 03, 2024 Read Full Article
Verbio Celebrates Groundbreaking at South Bend Plant, Receives RFS Pathway Approval for Nevada Facility
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Verbio on May 23 celebrated the groundbreaking of a conversion project at its ethanol plant in South Bend, Indiana, that will allow the facility to produce both ethanol and renewable natural gas (RNG) using an
May 24, 2024 Read Full Article
Fermbox Bio Introduces EN3ZYME: A Global Solution Transforming Agricultural Waste into Renewable Biofuels and Sustainable Synbio Products
(Fermbox Bio/PR Newswire) Fermbox Bio, a synthetic biology research and manufacturing company, announces the launch of EN3ZYME, a cutting-edge enzyme cocktail designed to enhance both the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of transforming pre-treated agri-based residues into fermentable, cellulosic sugars. These sugars pave
May 16, 2024 Read Full Article
NREL Biomass Technology a Cornerstone of SAFFiRE Renewables Biofuel Pilot Plant Going Up in Kansas
by Erik F. Ringle (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) On its path to opening a facility designed to turn agriculture residue into a scalable biofuel business, SAFFiRE Renewables, LLC plans to break ground on its pilot plant near Liberal, Kansas, in late 2024. In 2023,
May 10, 2024 Read Full Article
Region Nine, Minnesota Issued BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating for Corn Stover
(Bioeconomy Development Opportunity Zone Initiative) A’ Rating Will Unlock Opportunities for Corn Stover Biomass Utilization -- Region Nine Development Commission and Ecostrat are pleased to announce the issue of the Region Nine BDO Zone. The BDO Zone is the state’s first ‘A’ rating for Corn Stover
April 25, 2024 Read Full Article
Emporia, Kansas Issued BDO Zone ‘BBB’ Rating for Corn Stover
(Bioeconomy Development Opportunity Zone Initiative) BBB’ Rating to Stimulate Biobased Economic Opportunity - The Emporia Regional Development Association and Ecostrat are pleased to announce the issue of an investment-grade Bioeconomy Development Opportunity (BDO) Zone ‘BBB’ rating. The Emporia BDO Zone encompasses a 75-mile drive distance from the
April 25, 2024 Read Full Article
2023 Billion-Ton Report
(U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy KDF) The U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technology Office's (BETO's) 2023 Billion-Ton Report (BT23) is an assessment of renewable carbon resources potentially available in the United States. BT23 explores these resources in terms of quantity, price,
April 04, 2024 Read Full Article
Southwest Airlines Acquires SAFFiRE Renewables and Strengthens Focus on Sustainability
(Southwest Airlines) Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announces the acquisition of SAFFiRE Renewables, LLC (SAFFiRE) as part of the investment portfolio of its wholly owned subsidiary Southwest Airlines Renewable Ventures, LLC (SARV). SARV is dedicated to creating more opportunities for Southwest® to obtain
March 29, 2024 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Biofuels Win for Ground Transportation
by Lauren Quinn (University of Illinois Agri-View) Despite the fervor around electric vehicles and their potential to reduce the transportation sector’s carbon footprint, 2023 projections suggest electric vehicles won’t edge out gas-powered vehicles for decades to come. With conventional vehicles
March 28, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Feedstock Supply Chain Analysis
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) To meet its defossilization goals, the US needs cost-effective solutions to provide conversion-ready feedstocks. A team of researchers at Idaho National Laboratory have undertaken a project to look at advanced supply system designs that utilize active
March 25, 2024 Read Full Article
2023 Billion-Ton Report: An Assessment of U.S. Renewable Carbon Resources
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technology Office's (BETO) 2023 Billion-Ton Report (BT23) is the 4th in a series of assessments of potential biomass resources available in the United States. BT23 explores these resources in
March 19, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Feedstock Preprocessing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A team of researchers is working to develop science-based design and operation principles informed by TEA/LCA that result in predictable, reliable, and scalable performance of preprocessing unit operations. The comminution and fractionation manuals that industry needs
March 18, 2024 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Biofuels Still a Win for Ground Transportation
by Deborah Gertz Husar (Herald-Whig) ... With conventional vehicles likely to dominate the ground fleet for the foreseeable future, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign experts say cellulosic biofuels shouldn’t be discounted. Researchers in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences and the
March 18, 2024 Read Full Article
New Energy Blue Forms New Energy Chemicals to Sustainably Produce Bio-Sourced Ethylene for Carbon-Zero Jet Fuel and Dow's Renewable Plastics
(New Energy Blue/PR Newswire) New Energy Blue, the clean-energy developer of lowest-carbon biofuel and biochemicals from crop residues, today advances its Decarbonizing America agenda by forming New Energy Chemicals. In phase one, the new biochemical subsidiary will produce American-sourced and American-made bio-based
March 18, 2024 Read Full Article
Research Says Biomass Pretreatment Makes Biofuel Practical
(New Energy and Fuel) A new University of California – Riverside (UCR) study found that introducing a simple, renewable chemical to the pretreatment step can finally make next-generation biofuel production both cost-effective and carbon neutral. The first step, breaking down the plant
March 07, 2024 Read Full Article
LanzaJet Announces $30 Million Investment from Southwest Airlines to Accelerate Company's Growth and Advance U.S. Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production
(LanzaJet/PR Newswire) LanzaJet Plans to Support Southwest Airlines with U.S. SAF Production and with Development of Ethanol from Agriculture Residue with SAFFiRE Renewables -- LanzaJet, Inc. (LanzaJet) a leading sustainable fuels technology company and sustainable fuels producer, today announced a $30 million investment by
February 29, 2024 Read Full Article
Wisconsin Researchers Investigate Role of Biofuels in Renewable Energy Future
by Annalise Sommer (Badger Herald) Biofuels offer sustainable, economical energy option for Wisconsin communities, farmers -- The Wisconsin Energy Institute is researching methods to convert biological matter into fuel and plastics, with intentions to replace fossil fuels. Biofuels are created using biological material to
February 17, 2024 Read Full Article
MagLab Collaborates on Sustainable Jet Fuel Research
(National High Magnetic Field Laboratory) Fuel made from corn harvest waste would reduce greenhouse emissions by 70%. -- Agricultural leftovers could someday help power your air travel. Scientists at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory are helping to study the feasibility of turning
February 05, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Mercurius
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Reaching high is something Mercurius is familiar with, especially with their REACH technology. Standing for renewable, acid-hydrolysis, condensation, hydrotreating, their REACH technology works at low temperature, low pressure and enzyme free. Drop-in hydrocarbon jet fuel and
January 31, 2024 Read Full Article
New Energy Blue Launches Farmer-Owned Business to Supply Clean, Sustainable Feedstock for Its Biomass Refineries
(New Energy Blue/CISION PR Newswire) New Energy Blue, the clean-tech creator of biomass refineries that turn crop residues such as corn stalks into some of the world's lowest-carbon fuels and chemicals, announces the formation of New Energy Farmers LLC, which
December 05, 2023 Read Full Article
Biomass to Liquid Fuels: We Need Commercial Scale Gen 2 Success
by Doug Rivers (Lee Enterprise Consulting/Biofuels Digest) ... And while advances have been made in the materials handling and pretreatment of these feedstocks, commercial scale attempts produce ethanol have been met with multiple and highly visible failures measured in at least hundreds
December 04, 2023 Read Full Article
Biofuel Is Good, But Could It Be Great?
by Treena Hein (Seed World) As demand rises for biofuels, plant breeders are working hard to increase biofuel feedstocks’ productivity and biofuel’s sustainability. -- ... (I)nfrastructure development and plant breeders’ efforts during the past decade have put biofuels on the map in
November 22, 2023 Read Full Article
Conestoga to Host SAFFiRE Cellulosic Ethanol Pilot Plant
(Saffire Renewables/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Conestoga Energy and SAFFiRE Renewables LLC announced today their agreement for Conestoga to host SAFFiRE’s cellulosic ethanol pilot plant at Conestoga’s Arkalon Energy ethanol facility in Liberal, Kansas. The SAFFiRE pilot project aims to validate and demonstrate
November 21, 2023 Read Full Article
Low Carbon Fuels 2040: The Emerging Markets
(Biofuels Digest/Nuu Media) Low Carbon Fuels 2040: The Emerging Markets provides detailed case studies, updates and analysis of the key producers and developers participating in Renewable Diesel projects and Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) projects in the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia, and in South
November 07, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Feedstock Preprocessing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A recent DOE project with the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium aims to develop science-based design and operation principles informed by TEA/LCA that result in predictable, reliable, and scalable performance of preprocessing unit operations. The investigators aim to develop design
October 20, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Feedstock Material Handling
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A recent DOE project with the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium analyzed a primary challenge in the design of a biorefinery — — the storage, transport, and reactor feeding of the biomass feedstocks, as material handling/feeding is prone
October 19, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Feedstock Variability
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A recent DOE project with the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium analyzed the initial distribution of feedstock critical material attributes (CMAs) and strategies to manage this variability. Understanding key sources of biomass variability (e.g., growth conditions, harvest
October 18, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Systems Development and Integration – Emerging and Supporting Technologies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) SDI directly supports BETO’s strategic goal to decarbonize the transportation sector through R,D, &D to produce cost-effective, sustainable aviation and other strategic fuels – By 2030, SDI aims to support scale-up of multiple biofuel production pathways
September 21, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Systems Development and Integration – Scale-Up Portfolio
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) SDI directly supports BETO’s strategic goal to decarbonize the transportation sector through R,D, &D to produce cost-effective, sustainable aviation and other strategic fuels – By 2030, SDI aims to support scale-up of multiple biofuel production pathways
September 20, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to the Feedstock Conversion Interface Consortium and Task X
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium is led by DOE as a collaborative effort among researchers from 9 National Labs. The key ideas? 1. Biomass feedstock properties are variable and different from other Commodities. 2. Empirical approaches to
September 13, 2023 Read Full Article
Sarnia-Lambton, Ontario Issued BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating for Corn Stover
(Bioeconomy Development Opportunity Zone Initiative) nvestment Grade Rating to Catalyze Regional Biobased Project Development -- The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC), and Ecostrat are pleased to announce the issue of an investment grade Bioeconomy Development Opportunity (BDO) Zone rating for corn stover for Sarnia-Lambton. 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
Making Aviation Fuel from Biomass
by Nancy W. Stauffer (MIT Energy Initiative) MIT researchers are converting the plant material lignin into hydrocarbon molecules that could help make jet fuel 100 percent sustainable. ... Aviation fuel is a combination of two large classes of chemical compounds. Some 75 to
August 23, 2023 Read Full Article
Just Released: New Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium Case Studies and Technical Reports
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium (FCIC) recently published eight new technical reports and case studies. The publications examine the environmental and economic impacts of a variety of feedstock characteristics and processing techniques. Life-Cycle Greenhouse
July 27, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Hexas Biomass
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Hexas Biomass is a biomaterials company focused on the production and use of sustainable plant-based materials to replace wood and petroleum-based feedstocks in multiple applications, including energy, chemicals, packaging, textiles, and structural/non-structural applications. CEO Wendy
June 20, 2023 Read Full Article
Renewable Natural Gas From Corn Stover
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) Failed Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Became North America's Largest RNG Producer -- When DuPont shut down its cellulosic ethanol plant in 2017 after years of effort and $225 million in investment, it looked like the process
June 20, 2023 Read Full Article
Unlocking the Deployment of Advanced Bioethanol Refineries
by Melich Seefeldt (Praj Industries/Biofuels Digest) Advanced bioethanol (also named 2G or cellulosic bioethanol from inedible biomass) and its co-products lignin, stillage, and biogenic CO2 are sustainable key tools to decarbonize the difficult-to-abate transport sector. In addition, they can be
June 12, 2023 Read Full Article
Southwest Airlines Wins Award for Innovation in Sustainability
by Daniela Castim (World Bio Market Insights) Southwest Airlines has been named a 2023 Sustainability, Environmental Achievement, and Leadership (SEAL) Business Awards winner in the Environmental Initiative category for its investment in SAFFiRE1, a pilot project supporting the development and production of SAF. The
June 05, 2023 Read Full Article
Available Now! BETO 2023 Project Peer Review Presentations
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) hosted the 2023 Project Peer Review on April 3-7, 2023, in Denver, CO. During this in-person event, more than 280 projects in BETO’s research, development, and demonstration portfolios presented their progress
June 02, 2023 Read Full Article
Dow and New Energy Blue Announce Collaboration to Develop Renewable Plastic Materials from Corn Residue
(Dow) First-of-its-kind agreement in North America would create bio-based ethylene for Dow's U.S. Gulf Coast assets to produce renewable plastics across fast-growing end-markets -- Today (May 25, 2023), Dow (NYSE: DOW) and New Energy Blue announced a long-term supply agreement in North America in which
May 31, 2023 Read Full Article
The Pathways to Biofuels: A Survey of Why We Should Stop Fretting
byMichael Barnard (CleanTechnica) We have enough waste biomass feedstock to fulfill all of our transportation needs, and the market and a bunch of bright people will figure out which ones are cheapest and lowest impact. ... And in this future world of
May 24, 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
From Concept to Commercialization: NREL’s Sustainable Aviation Fuels Program
by Zia Abdullah (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) The National Renewable Energy Laboratory supports the U.S. DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office with fundamental and applied research, development, and deployment (RD&D) designed to advance technologies to produce biobased energy, fuels, chemicals and products
April 21, 2023 Read Full Article
Steeper Energy Collaborates with Invest Alberta to Bring Biomass Conversion Plant to Alberta
(Steeper Energy) Steeper Energy (Steeper) is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Invest Alberta Corporation (Invest Alberta) to commercialize Steeper’s proprietary Hydrofaction® technology within Alberta, aligning with Alberta’s broader goal of becoming Canada’s cleantech leader. Steeper’s Hydrofaction® technology
April 18, 2023 Read Full Article
Kelly Davis Takes VP Post at New Energy Blue: Staff Expanding to Produce Lowest-Carbon Bioenergy
(New Energy Blue/PR Newswire) New Energy Blue announced the hiring of bioenergy veteran Kelly Davis as Vice President, a new position. Davis will augment the company's technical, regulatory, and operations expertise as it staffs up to build out a series of clean-tech
April 11, 2023 Read Full Article
Wastewater to Energy: New Treatment Process Can Improve Biorefinery Sustainability
(Univeristy of Illinois at Urgana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Environment/EurekAlert!) CABBI design simultaneously treats water and recovers biogas, generating revenue and reducing GHG emissions -- Wastewater from biorefineries that convert plants into fuel is full of organic materials that cannot
March 31, 2023 Read Full Article
Off the Ground
by Katie Schroeder (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Several alcohol-to-jet projects, partnerships and technologies have been announced in the past 18 months. Ethanol Producer Magazine checks in on each, looking at where they stand and what they might ultimately achieve. ... Multiple airlines forged
March 10, 2023 Read Full Article
Will Ethanol Fuel a Low-Carbon Future?
by Craig Bettenhausen (Chemical & Engineering News) After decades of false starts, cellulosic ethanol may arrive just as the chemical and fuel industries clamor for a low-carbon feedstock -- Cellulosic ethanol has been 5 years away for decades. It’s a trope,
February 13, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Understanding and Mitigating the Impacts of Feedstock Variability in Bioconversion Processes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium is led by DOE as a collaborative effort among researchers from 9 National Labs. It’s Key Ideas? That biomass feedstock properties are variable and different from other commodities; and, that empirical
February 01, 2023 Read Full Article
U.S. Department of Energy Awards $118 Million to Accelerate Domestic Biofuel Production
(U.S. Department of Energy) 17 Projects Will Boost Production of Biofuels for Consumer and Freight Transportation in America, Support President Biden’s Decarbonization and Climate Agenda -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $118 million in funding for 17 projects
January 26, 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 Balancing Feedstock System Performance and Quality
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) According to the experts at the Idaho National Laboratory, The feedstock challenge lies in the inherent variability of biomass feedstock affects the ability to optimize processing and conversion processes, ultimately decreasing plant economics. So, the
December 30, 2022 Read Full Article
Naturally Derived Materials Fit for 3D Printing
by Stephanie Seay (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) Researchers found that moderate levels of ash — sometimes found as spheres in biomass — do not significantly affect the mechanical properties of biocomposites made up of corn stover, switchgrass and PLA thermoplastic.
December 21, 2022 Read Full Article
What Can Ethanol Plant Owners Do to Thrive in the Ethanol Business Today?
by Mike Sticklen and Doug Rivers (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) The US ethanol industry is faced with flat volume (Fig. 1) and mediocre returns on capital (Fig. 2). There are several strategic opportunities available to return to revenue growth and improve
December 16, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide ABLC Guide to Clariant Cellulosic Ethanol Technology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Chemicals, catalysis, additives.Clariant shared how they are working on advancing biofuels globally and here offers extensive detail on their sunliquid technology to decarbonize transportation, now operating at commercial scale in Romania. A fully integrated and
December 02, 2022 Read Full Article
Biofuel on Road to Energy, Cost Savings
by Beth Burmahl (Argonne National Laboratory) Argonne collaborates with U.S. laboratories on research to identify promising biofuels for different engine types. -- Biofuel is closer to becoming a cost-competitive, climate-friendly solution for slashing carbon emissions in cars and trucks, according to two new
November 11, 2022 Read Full Article
As SAF Rules, DG Fuels Rocks with Huge Air France/KLM Fuels Deal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) News arrived on the ABLC floor that DG Fuels signed a multi-year SAF offtake agreement with Air France KLM for up to 60,408 metric tons (21 million gallons) per year from DGF’s initial plant to be
November 08, 2022 Read Full Article
Researchers Pilot New Process to Achieve 100% Bio-Based Jet Fuel
by Emma VandenEinde (KUNC) As the airline industry works to cut its carbon dioxide emissions, a team of researchers believe they've found a "runway" to 100% sustainable aviation fuel. Their findings – published this week in the journal Joule – demonstrate harnessing the power of
October 26, 2022 Read Full Article
Top 10 Best Biofuel Manufacturing Companies In India 2023
(Inventiva) The principal energy sources derived from biomass and food crops like sunflower seeds, palm fruit, Jatropha seeds, rapeseed, soybean, etc. are designated as biofuels. These energy sources have huge promise in a rising country like India. India has an
October 24, 2022 Read Full Article
Biohydrogen Production from Fermentation of Organic Waste, Storage and Applications
by Hassan El Bari, Nabila Lahboubi, Sanae Habchi, Samir Rachidi, Oussama Bayssi, Nouhaila Nabil, Yasna Mortezaei, Raffaella Villa (Cleaner Waste Systems) • The low rate of BioH2 generation poses challenges to the process. • Both dark fermentation and photo-fermentation have advantages and
October 14, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to the Catalytic Upgrading of Biochemical Intermediates
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Whether it is Mixed C6-C5 Corn Stover Hydrolysate Sugars to Produce Butyric Acid with In-situ Product Removal, or Non-Biological Conversion of Mixed C6-C5 Corn Stover Hydrolysate Sugars to Furans (Furfural, HMF), opportunities abound in biobased
September 21, 2022 Read Full Article
Delta, DG Fuels Partner in Pivotal Expansion of Sustainable Fuel Market
(Delta News Hub) Under a new agreement, DG Fuels, LLC plans to establish a new SAF supply stream that could provide Delta with 385 million gallons of unblended sustainable aviation fuel, while helping to expand availability of SAF in the
August 31, 2022 Read Full Article
ROBIN Debuts THE CLARIANT CHANNEL
(Biofuels Digest) Now on ROBIN, up to the minute video and presentations, events and background from Europe's dominant player in 2G ethanol and in many chemicals markets. All content is available on THE CLARIANT CHANNEL, part of your ROBIN streaming
August 26, 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
Cure or Curse: Can 'Next-Generation' Biofuels Turbocharge the Net Zero Transition?
by Cecilia Keating (Business Green) ... But Gordon McManus, research director for refining and oil products team for the Europe, Middle East, Africa region at leading research and consulting business Wood Mackenzie, said the biofuels industry might be poised to "come of age"
August 08, 2022 Read Full Article
Researchers Enlist Sturdy Yeast to Help Make Cost-Effective Ethanol
(U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service) Yeasts play a key role in converting ("fermenting") sugars from plants into ethanol fuel. But not all yeasts are created equal. Some are better fermenters than others because they can tolerate the harsh conditions
August 05, 2022 Read Full Article
ANL: Can Farms Produce to the Max and Still Reduce GHG Emissions?
by Kristen Mally Dean (Argonne National Laboratory/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... With new practices, farmers can make farms a net sink of CO2, helping the U.S. reach its goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Sustainable intensification is a two-prong approach many think
July 08, 2022 Read Full Article
Whatever Happened to Cellulosic Ethanol?
by David Kramer (Physics Today) Technological immaturity, falling oil prices, overoptimistic investors, and regulatory uncertainty are blamed for the failure of a promising biofuel technology to perform as hoped. -- Despite a decade and a half of big US federal investments
July 06, 2022 Read Full Article
Ag Residues to the Rescue: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to PacificAg
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Agricultural residues are highly abundant especially with all the corn stover and wheat straw out there that farmers have to dispose of after every harvest. But PacificAg has found a way to turn this waste
July 04, 2022 Read Full Article
Overcoming the Toughest Catalyst Challenges in the Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to LEC
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Terry Mazanec from Lee Enterprises Consulting takes us on a journey through the toughest catalyst challenges in the bioeconomy and, most importantly, how to overcome them. From feedstock consistency and availability to substrate intransigence and
June 30, 2022 Read Full Article
Can Farms Produce to the Max and Still Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions?
by Kristen Mally Dean (Argonne National Laboratory) Decarbonizing agriculture is critical for the U.S. to reach net zero emissions by 2050. A new data-driven approach looks at practices that are good for the earth and profitable for farmers. -- The
June 27, 2022 Read Full Article
Ethanol vs. Petroleum-Based Fuel Carbon Emissions
by Valerie Sarisky-Reed (U.S. Department of Energy) Biofuels have been proven to emit significantly lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than petroleum-based fuels, and recent scientific studies indicate that net-zero emission biofuels are not only possible, but achievable. Corn ethanol and other biofuels are
June 24, 2022 Read Full Article
The Biofuel Folks Might Like a Word about Your Corn Stover
by Brian O'Connor (No-Till Farmer) ... A study published in the Journal of Cleaner Production found that harvesting up to 30% of corn stover on a field for use in fuel products could increase revenues for growers and decrease the negative impact on the environment,
June 20, 2022 Read Full Article
Miller-Meeks, Hinson, Ernst Support New Industry Producing Carbon-Negative Cellulosic Biofuels
(Ripon Advance News Service) U.S. Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Ashley Hinson (R-IA) joined U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and their Iowa Republican colleagues in urging the Biden administration to address two ongoing rulemaking processes that could end production of bio-oil,
June 17, 2022 Read Full Article
Kvasir Technologies Secures EU Funding to Accelerate Biofuel Development
(Biofuels International) Kvasir Technologies - a Danish technology company developing a process to produce climate friendly fuel for the shipping industry – has secured €2.5 million in support from the EU programme EIC accelerator. Kvasir Technologies is a spin-off company from
June 16, 2022 Read Full Article
FEW Speakers Focus on Carbon, New Market Opportunities
by Tom Bryan and Katie Schroeder (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Hundreds gathered for the main session of 38th International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo Tuesday in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as some of the biggest names in biofuels spoke at the largest ethanol conference
June 15, 2022 Read Full Article
Beyond Ethanol: How 3 International Companies Are Finding Success in Iowa
by Mark Laurenzo (Iowa Economic Development Authority/Biofuels Digest) Iowa has a well-documented history in the ethanol business. We’re the United States’ leader in renewable fuel production with 41 ethanol refineries (capable of producing more than 4.5 billion gallons per year) and
June 15, 2022 Read Full Article
Inside Charm Industrial’s Big Bet on Corn Stalks for Carbon Removal
by James Temple (MIT Technology Review) The startup used plant matter and bio-oil to sequester thousands of tons of carbon. The question now is how reliable, scalable, and economical this approach will prove. In recent weeks, a crew of staffers from
June 09, 2022 Read Full Article
Cornstalks Might Power Planes with Low-Carbon Fuel
by John Fialka (E&E News) The Department of Energy and Southwest Airlines are teaming up to test the technologies needed to turn farm waste into jet fuel. A partnership between the Department of Energy, Southwest Airlines Co. and other companies is
June 07, 2022 Read Full Article
Southwest Airlines Invests in Sustainable Aviation Fuel Pilot Project Supported by the Department of Energy
(Southwest Airlines/PR Newswire) Carrier's first-of-its-kind investment supports the development of technology intended to commercialize sustainable aviation fuel -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) ("Southwest" or the "Company") today announces an investment into SAFFiRE Renewables, LLC (SAFFiRE), a company formed by D3MAX, LLC
June 01, 2022 Read Full Article
Ethanol’s Own SAF Runway
by Luke Geiver (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The world’s major airlines are racing to decarbonize air travel by backing and using sustainable aviation fuel. Much of it is now being produced via plant-based oils in tandem with renewable diesel. Soon, it
May 23, 2022 Read Full Article
Electric Vehicle: India’s Target to Have 20% Ethanol Blended in Petrol by 2025 Could Affect Its Food Security
by Tanvi Deshpande (IndiaSpend.com/Scroll.in) Achieving the target won’t drastically reduce emissions nor will India achieve energy security because of it. -- For India to meet its target of 20% ethanol blended in petrol by the year 2025 (commonly known as the
May 10, 2022 Read Full Article
Verbio Launches $115 Million Renewable Natural Gas, Ethanol Plant in Nevada; Touts Bigger Plans
by Donnelle Eller (Des Moines Register) Calling the technology at a central Iowa biorefinery a game changer, corporate and elected officials marked the start of commercial production of renewable natural gas and ethanol at a $115 million central Iowa biorefinery Friday. "This is a
May 09, 2022 Read Full Article
The “Green Crude” SAF Alternative: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Alder Fuels
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Alder Fuels’ Chief Technology Officer, Derek Vardon, shared this illuminating slide guide at ABLC highlighting how they are seeing a future of gathering energy instead of drilling for it and how the solution for
May 02, 2022 Read Full Article
21 Sites at 10K Barrels per Day Each: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to DG Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s Friday and you’re ready for the weekend so here’s a short and sweet slide guide from DG Fuels on their second-generation cellulosic biofuel whose hydrogen content is derived from water electrolysis and uses a
April 29, 2022 Read Full Article
Why These Fleets Use Renewable Diesel Fuel
by Ronnie Wendt (Heavy Duty Trucking Info) Titan Freight Systems, a regional less-than-truckload carrier in the Pacific Northwest, found renewable diesel was the key to meeting its emissions goals. -- Titan Freight Systems has provided overnight services across the Pacific Northwest
April 21, 2022 Read Full Article
In Search of a Later Biomass Expiration Date
by Nichole Fitzgerald (U.S. Department of Energy) How Idaho National Laboratory's Dr. Lynn Wendt has come to understand and mitigate the detrimental impacts of biomass decay after harvest. -- Renewable biomass is one of the key clean energy resources that will
March 21, 2022 Read Full Article
Scientists Are Creating Homegrown Biofuels in the Peoria Ag Lab
by Jonathan Wright (WCBU) ... Butanol production is among the world’s oldest commercial fermentation processes, discovered by Louis Pasteur in 1861. Between the first and second World Wars, there were two bio-butanol plants in the United States—and the largest was right here
March 18, 2022 Read Full Article
Near Net Zero 2G Ethanol and Cellulosic Sugar: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Praj
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How does Praj do simultaneous production of 2G ethanol and RNG from bagasse? What made the 3 cellulosic ethanol for Oil Marketing Cosin India successful? Where do Praj’s Celluniti and enfinity platforms fit in for
March 10, 2022 Read Full Article
Outstanding Faculty in Discovery: Kilaz Aims for Sustainably Fueled Future
by John O'Malley (Purdue University) Gozdem Kilaz, associate professor of engineering technology, has been recognized for her contributions to the research mission in Purdue University’s Polytechnic Institute. In May 2021, Kilaz received the college’s Outstanding Faculty in Discovery Award. Kilaz holds bachelor’s
March 08, 2022 Read Full Article
Ethanol Leader Anticipates Industry Will Use More Corn and Stalks
by Larry Lee (Brownfield Ag News) ... And Davis (Kelly Davis with the Renewable Fuels Association) says she also looks forward to cost-effectively using more of the corn plant. “Second-generation ethanol is certainly possible. We certainly take the top half
February 23, 2022 Read Full Article
Sorghum: A Sweet Proposition for Sustainable Biofuel
(U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service) Sweet sorghum is best known for the amber-colored syrup that's made from its juices. Now, this hardy member of the grass family could also be tapped as a "home-grown" resource for making a renewable
February 15, 2022 Read Full Article
Renewable Diesel & Sustainable Aviation Fuels 2030, Vol 2
by Will Thurmond (Emerging Markets) Renewable Diesel & Sustainable Aviation Fuels 2030, Vol 2. (249 pages, September 2021) provides a detailed analysis and outlook for low-carbon feedstock availability, and a feasibility assessment for technology commercialization pathways in sustainable aviation fuels
February 10, 2022 Read Full Article
Microsoft and Shell Are Betting on a Company Making Greener Jet Fuel
by Catherine Clifford (CNBC) • Chicago-based start-up LanzaJet is scaling one potential solution for the airline industry: jet fuel made with low carbon intensity ethanol. • The aviation sector causes 11% of transportation-related emissions in the United States, and virtually
February 02, 2022 Read Full Article
Top 10 Predictions for the Advanced Bioeconomy in 2022
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A mere “The Year in Rewind” as we sail into 2022? Not the good ship Digest! Instead, we dust off our crystal ball and offer our predictions for the year ahead. As the sunset of 2021 gives
January 03, 2022 Read Full Article
INL Researchers Investigate Loblolly Pine Flow Issues
by Lynn Wendt (Idaho National Laboratory) ... Loblolly pine, or more specifically the pine residue from commercial tree harvesting in Southern U.S. forests, has the potential for a major impact on bioenergy infrastructure. Its low cost and widespread abundance have
December 20, 2021 Read Full Article
Verbio Commences Operations at Iowa Biorefinery
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Verbio announced on Dec. 8 it has commenced production of renewable natural gas (RNG) at its biorefinery in Nevada, Iowa. The company acquired the former cellulosic ethanol plant from DuPont in 2018. The facility is producing
December 14, 2021 Read Full Article
Construction to Start in 2022 on New Ethanol Plant near Mason City
by Mike Bunge (KIMT3) A new ethanol plant is planned for construction near Mason City. New Energy Blue says the biomass refinery would be on a 155-acre site and convert 275,000 tons of cornstalks and wheat straw into 20 million gallons of ethanol
December 13, 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
Plant-Based Waste and Residues into Biofuel – Geeking out over Lignocellulose
by Richard Pallardy (Neste) Plant biomass, or lignocellulose, is the most abundant renewable carbon source on the planet. It has been around forever, but only now are we starting to grasp its full potential in replacing fossil resources. What makes
November 05, 2021 Read Full Article
NREL Process for Renewable Butyric Acid Good for Environment, Cheaper Biofuels
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed a fully integrated process to produce a promising precursor for diesel and jet fuel from lignocellulosic biomass, and for less expense than the selling price of the same
October 12, 2021 Read Full Article
Low Carbon Options for Corn Pathways: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to BETO Conversion R&D
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Program Manager of Conversion R&D at BETO shared this illuminating slide guide on the role of products and Gen1 ethanol. From co-products’ impact on economics and biochemical pathways TEA and sustainability analysis to low-carbon options
October 08, 2021 Read Full Article
Ethanol, Biogas, Renewable Chemicals: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Praj
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Dr. Pramod Kumbhar, President and CTO of Praj shared this illuminating slide guide on their Bio-Prism renewable chemicals and materials, Bio-Mobility products, Praj’s 2G tech for agri residue to ethanol, Praj-Sekab tech for forest residue
October 06, 2021 Read Full Article
Grand Forks Company D3MAX and the Ethanol Industry Could Help Corn Become the Future of Aviation Fuel
by Jacob Holley (Grand Forks Herald) D3MAX creates cellulosic ethanol using “bolt-on” technology - more or less meaning it is a one-size-fits-most process which, according to the company, can be implemented at approximately 190 corn dry mill ethanol plants in the
September 27, 2021 Read Full Article
DG Fuels: The Unusual Suspects Are Building Big in Louisiana, as SAFtember Continues
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... But, an unusual suspect became more visible earlier this month when word arrived that DG Fuels was invited to submit a Part II Application for a loan guarantee under the U.S. Department of Energy
September 22, 2021 Read Full Article
DOE Announces Nearly $65 Million for Biofuels Research to Reduce Airplane and Ship Emissions
(U.S. Department of Energy) Projects align with administration's new goal of decarbonizing the aviation sector by 2050 - - As part of a White House roundtable to launch the Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) Grand Challenge to decarbonize the aviation sector by 2050, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $64.7 million in funding for projects
September 10, 2021 Read Full Article
Auburn-Led Research Team Develops Biochemical Breakthrough for Renewable Fatty Acid Ester Production
by Jeremy Henderson (Auburn University) On-going, Auburn-led research into biofuel and biochemical production just got a lot more eyes on it. Supported by a $2 million U.S. Department of Energy award issued in 2018, as well as funding from the
September 08, 2021 Read Full Article
Renewable Diesel & Sustainable Aviation Fuels 2030, Vol 2
(Emerging Markets Online) New study! Renewable Diesel & Sustainable Aviation Fuels 2030, Vol 2. (249 pages, August 2021) focuses on low-carbon feedstock availability, technology pathways for low carbon renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation production. Renewable Diesel & Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) 2030 covers
August 26, 2021 Read Full Article
A Cue from Kitty Hawk: What the Wright Brothers Teach Us about Decarbonizing Flight
by Adam Bratis (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) ... I recount that moment at Kitty Hawk because I believe we stand at another pivot in the rich history of aviation. To avoid the worst effects of climate change, we must rapidly
August 20, 2021 Read Full Article
Recent Innovations in Turning Agricultural Waste into Biofuels
by Raj Shah and Amanda Loo (altenergymag.com/Koehler Instrument Company) Wastes from fields and wastes from processing are the two kinds of agricultural wastes. Field wastes are present after harvesting crops and include stems, leaves, and stalks, and waste after processing
August 19, 2021 Read Full Article
Biofuels, RNG, SAF, Renewable Chem: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Praj
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) You may know Praj as a biofuels company but this slide guide from ABLC Digital highlights their growth and expansion into more. Check out Praj’s 2G tech enfinity, Bio-Mobility, Bio-Prism, ethanol projects updates, renewable natural
August 16, 2021 Read Full Article
Construction to Start in 2022 on New Ethanol Plant near Mason City
by Mike Bunge (KIMT) New Energy Blue says the biomass refinery would be on a 155-acre site and convert 275,000 tons of cornstalks and wheat straw into 20 million gallons of ethanol and 95 tons of lignin, a solid biofuel and natural
August 06, 2021 Read Full Article
Frontline BioEnergy Delivers Plant Modules to Stine Seed Farms in Joint Pyrolysis Project
(Frontline Bioenergy) On June 8th, Frontline BioEnergy delivered the final module of the Stine pyrolysis plant to the project site in Redfield, Iowa. The Stine pyrolysis project, a collaboration between Stine Seed Farms and Frontline BioEnergy, will transform biomass into biochar
July 26, 2021 Read Full Article
Renewable Butyl Acetate for Diesel: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Butyl Acetate as Bioblendstock
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Does renewable butyl acetate make a good fuel additive? Can it be used as a bioblendstock for diesel to decrease combustion pollutants and lower the sooting propensity of a BA/diesel-based mixture? Can it’s low freezing
July 19, 2021 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels Feedstock List Should Be Enlarged to Meet EU Target: Industry
by Sean Goulding Carroll (EURACTIV.com) The list of EU-approved sustainable fuel sources should be expanded to meet the higher targets for second-generation biofuels under the updated renewable energy directive, according to the advanced biofuels industry. ... The leaked draft also includes an increase
July 08, 2021 Read Full Article
A Tweaked Yeast Can Make Ethanol from Cornstalks and a Harvest’s Other Leftovers
by Nikk Ogasa (Science News) The process could tap underused sources of renewable fuels -- ... But by tweaking a gene in common baker’s yeast, researchers have engineered a strain that can defuse those deadly by-products and get on with the
July 08, 2021 Read Full Article
‘Plugging in’ to Produce Environmentally Friendly Bioplastics
(AgriLife Today) Agriculture byproducts can help produce eco-friendly, biodegradable plastics -- Bioplastics — biodegradable plastics made from biological substances rather than petroleum — can be created in a more economical and environmentally friendly way from the byproducts of corn stubble,
June 29, 2021 Read Full Article
Engineered Yeast Could Expand Biofuels' Reach
by Anne Trafton (Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Phys.Org) To try to expand biofuels' potential impact, a team of MIT engineers has now found a way to expand the use of a wider range of nonfood feedstocks to produce such fuels. At the
June 28, 2021 Read Full Article
Higher-Value Bioproducts from Lignins: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Lignin Fractionation and Valorization
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Lignin 20-30% of plant/wood biomass is the key to a successful biorefinery that would make both biofuels and bioproducts said Mark Thies from Clemson University in this BETO Peer Review slide guide that dives into
June 25, 2021 Read Full Article
RFS: Can the Oil, Corn, and Biofuels Industries Find Middle Ground?
by Lisa Whitley Coleman (EHS Daily Advisor) The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) ends its current phase in 2022. The EPA has asked the oil, corn, and biofuels industries for input on the next phase of the biofuel policy, according to Reuters. ... “The
May 19, 2021 Read Full Article
Unveiling Signatures of Feedstock Variability --- April 29, 2021 --- ONLINE
In this webinar, two FCIC (Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium) researchers will discuss insights gleaned through multiscale characterization on sources of variability, compositional, and structural attributes that impact the biomass value chain. Drs. Allison Ray from Idaho National Laboratory and Bryon Donohoe from
April 21, 2021 Read Full Article
Adhesives from Waste Wood, Biofuel from Straw
(ChemEurope) EU research project on the potential of agroforestry waste as environmentally friendly raw materials completed -- In future, waste from agriculture and forestry could serve as the basis for environmentally friendly building materials, insulation foams or fuels. Over the past
April 20, 2021 Read Full Article
Corona’s Barley Waste Packaging, Skittles Biodegradable Wrappers, Nestlé’s Biobased Polyethylene, and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of March 25th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) The coronavirus vaccine is offering hope to end a global pandemic, much like rainbows signal hope and solidarity. Today’s Top 8 Innovations are full of Corona and Rainbows, but in a different way. From beer
March 25, 2021 Read Full Article
Next-Generation Tech for Biofuels: Refining Smart Transfer Chutes Solves a Pervasive Problem in the Biofuel Refinery Industry—Potentially Making Biofuels More Affordable
by Laura Mullane (Los Alamos National Laboratory) Helping to strengthen the economic viability of biorefineries in the production of alternative fuels derived from biomass is critical to decreasing the use of fossil fuels and mitigating carbon dioxide emissions. To that end,
March 24, 2021 Read Full Article
India Oil Firms Go Slow on Plans to Build Second Generation Ethanol Plants
by Kalpana Pathak (Mint) India plans to achieve blending of 20% ethanol with 80% petrol by 2025 to help reduce its oil imports -- India’s state-run refiners are going slow on plans to build second generation or 2G ethanol plants,