by Benjamin Storrow, Kelsey Tamborrino, Brian Dabbs and Jessie Blaeser (Politico) The administration is accelerating the approval of large loans for clean technologies that the president-elect attacked on the campaign trail. ... The Department of Energy is racing to close $25 billion
Department of Energy (DOE)
Back TO HOMEFederal Agencies Announce New Sustainable Aviation Fuel Implementation Framework to Reduce U.S. Aviation Carbon Emissions
(U.S. Department of Energy) New Implementation Framework Identifies Key Opportunities to Increase Biofuel Production To Deliver Economic Opportunities and Healthier Communities to Rural and Agricultural Areas Across America -- An interagency team led by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S.
November 20, 2024 Read Full Article
Turn Your Cooking Oil into Biofuel Research at the Gobble Grease Toss --- November 29, 2024 --- Lexington, KY
by Lindsay Travis (University of Kentucky) Lexington residents can help advance biofuel research at the University of Kentucky by recycling used cooking oil at the 15th annual Gobble Grease Toss. The event will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 29, at Redwood Cooperative School, 166 Crestwood
November 19, 2024 Read Full Article
White House Releases Report on Growing U.S. Biomanufacturing Capacity for the American Bioeconomy
(White House) The global bioeconomy is projected to expand at a rapid pace in the coming decade due to advancements in key technology areas, such as the ability to program microbes to act as microscopic factories by manipulating their DNA. The
November 19, 2024 Read Full Article
Trump Picks Fracking Firm CEO Chris Wright to Be Energy Secretary
by Evan Halper, Maxine Joselow, Maegan Vazquez and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) The executive has taken a defiant approach to fighting climate change by attacking policies that call for a shift from fossil fuels. -- President-elect Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he has
November 17, 2024 Read Full Article
U.S. Department of Energy Announces $20.2 Million in Projects to Advance Development of Mixed Algae for Biofuels and Bioproducts
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) today announced $20.2 million in funding for 10 university and industry projects to advance mixed algae development for low-carbon biofuels and bioproducts. Located
November 15, 2024 Read Full Article
U.S. Department of Energy Releases New Report on Pathways to Commercial Liftoff for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
(U.S. Department of Energy) New Report Identifies Key Strategies to Increase Production and Position the United States to Lead the Global SAF Economy by 2030 -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the release of its latest Pathways to Commercial
November 14, 2024 Read Full Article
U.S. Department of Energy Issues Small Business Funding Program Topics
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy issued Phase One topics for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program funding opportunities. These topics aim to advance the development and commercialization of new ideas
November 13, 2024 Read Full Article
New Plant Engineering Method Promises to Dramatically Improve Biofuel and Bioproduct Development
(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) The ability to genetically engineer plants is largely thanks to a microscopic helper: a bacterium called Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Agrobacterium in the wild causes damaging tumors in flowering plants, including some economically important crops, but its ability to insert
November 13, 2024 Read Full Article
Emvolon Reaches Commercial and Technical Milestones to Help Hard-to-Abate Industries Power the Global Economy While Eliminating Emissions
(Emvolon/Business Wire) The company has secured partnerships with major biogas suppliers, green methanol product offtakers, equipment and technology corporations, and a licensing agreement with MIT. -- Emvolon, an MIT spun-off technology company that converts greenhouse gas emissions into carbon-negative fuels and chemicals,
November 13, 2024 Read Full Article
Special Issue: What to Expect during the Trump II Presidency
(American Energy Society/Energy Matters) From experience, we all know that when Donald Trump is president, nothing is certain. It is hard to predict how the energy sector will change, both domestically or around the world. This special issue of Energy Matters
November 12, 2024 Read Full Article
DOE Invests $518 Million to Strengthen Nation’s Infrastructure for Permanent, Safe Storage of Carbon Pollution
(U.S. Department of Energy) Funding from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda Supports Projects Across 19 States to Slash Harmful Carbon Dioxide Emissions, Deliver High-Quality Local Jobs -- The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM)
November 08, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to MicroBio Engineering
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This presentation deck reports on the use of algae in wastewater treatment and the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by MicroBio Engineering Inc., a company based in California and British Columbia. The report highlights the
November 05, 2024 Read Full Article
New $5 Million DoE Award Supports KU Startup’s Green Hydrogen Energy Research
(University of Kansas) With $5 million in support from the U.S. Department of Energy, the University of Kansas and Avium — a startup firm founded by researchers from KU’s School of Engineering — aim to make clean hydrogen more affordable. According to
November 04, 2024 Read Full Article
DOE Job Opening for Bioenergy Technology Manager DEADLINE November 22, 2024
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Bioenergy Technologies Office Renewable Carbon Resources Team is Hiring -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is seeking a dynamic and experienced individual to join our Renewable Carbon Resources (RCR) subprogram as a
November 03, 2024 Read Full Article
Broad & Bipartisan Backing: Carbon Management Technologies Enjoy Broad Support
by Leo Duke and Diana Leane (Carbon Capture Magazine) ... (P)olitical, business, economic, and environmental leaders agree on the need for these technologies as part of the overall mix of technologies to address climate change. ... 45Q Sets the Foundation for Commercial Deployment
November 01, 2024 Read Full Article
Montana Renewables Receives $1.44 Billion Conditional Commitment from DOE for Renewable Fuels and Biomass Energy Facility
(Montana Renewables/ PR Newswire) Montana Renewables to expand Sustainable Aviation Fuel capacity by 300 million gallons per year -- Calumet, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLMT) ("Calumet," "we," "our" or "us") announced today that the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") Loan Programs Office ("LPO") has awarded
October 30, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Maximizing the Value of Cover Crops in the Pacific Northwest
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cover crops have multiple benefits—soil health is the most important benefit. Can Cover crops be a material feedstock supply center for biofuels? Primary challenges to adoption are uncertainties in use of cover crops across states and
October 28, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Sustainable Herbaceous Energy Crop Production in the Southeast US.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What is the potential for cellulosic bioenergy crop production? Cellulosic bioenergy crop production is a nascent industry in the U.S. and has the potential to supply 5% of U.S. energy demand while achieving increased carbon reduction.
October 25, 2024 Read Full Article
Calculating Paths to Cleaner Corn
by Sue Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Impressive 45Z tax credit incentives promise to reward ethanol producers who succeed in driving their CI below the qualifying threshold in the Inflation Reduction Act. The incentives are potentially even greater for those who
October 24, 2024 Read Full Article
Going for Gold: American Coalition for Ethanol’s 2024 Conference
by Katie Schroeder (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The American Coalition for Ethanol’s 2024 conference, themed “The Gold Standard,” featured important figures with industry impact, including representatives from Summit Carbon Solutions and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Held in Omaha, Nebraska, this year’s
October 24, 2024 Read Full Article
Capturing What’s Out There
by Luke Geiver (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Carbon management is experiencing exponential growth, according to the leading U.S. government agency responsible for overseeing and developing infrastructure for it. While the U.S. Department of Energy has many offices working on carbon sequestration, the
October 24, 2024 Read Full Article
DOE Grant Supports Bridgestone Innovation for Non-fossil-based Synthetic Rubber
(Bridgestone) Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) today announced it received a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office. Bridgestone will design, build and operate a pilot plant that will advance an innovative, potentially more sustainable and cost-effective approach
October 24, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Next-Generation Feedstocks for the Emerging Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A team of researchers have designed a project to develop productive, cost-effective, and sustainable warm-season perennial bioenergy feedstock production systems on marginal croplands across geographic locations in the Midwest. They have found that there is limited data
October 24, 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
Sustainability Is a Team Effort, Leaders Emphasize to Media Breakfast Attendees
(National Business Aviation Association) Held immediately prior to the opening of the 2024 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the NBAA-GAMA CLIMBING. FAST. Media Breakfast highlighted collaborative efforts between business aircraft manufacturers, industry leaders and government officials toward the goal of net-zero
October 23, 2024 Read Full Article
Georgia Tech Researchers Develop More Efficient Approach for Turning Plant Biomass into Useful Chemicals
by Brad Dixon (Georgia Institute of Technology) Lignin is one of the most plentiful organic polymers on Earth, making up about 20 to 30 percent of the dry mass of wood and other plants. Despite this abundance, lignin’s complex structure has challenged
October 23, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Sustainability Indicators for Waste-to-Energy Supply Chains
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A team of researchers have designed a project to develop a triple-bottom line sustainability (social, environment, economic) assessment tool for local government to evaluate trade-offs of different organic waste streams and energy conversion strategies that help achieve
October 22, 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
U.S. Capacity to Produce Biofuels Increased 7% in 2023
by Chris Buckner (U.S. Department of Energy Energy Information Administration) Capacity to produce biofuels increased 7% in the United States during 2023, reaching 24 billion gallons per year (gal/y) at the start of 2024, led by a 44% increase in a category
October 18, 2024 Read Full Article
DOE Releases Carbon Management Strategy, Outlining Steps to Enable These Technologies to Support a Net-Zero Emissions Future Public Comment DEADLINE December 10, 2024
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Department Seeks Input to Ensure Planned Activities to Scale-Up Carbon Management Infrastructure are Enacted Responsibly and with Stakeholder Support -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the release of a Carbon Management Strategy for public comment. The Strategy provides
October 17, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Fractionation of Forest Biomass Wastes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A team of researchers have designed a project to support development of woody feedstocks forUniversity of Maine’s Thermal Deoxygenation pathway to produce renewable aviation fuel and chemicals. The goal of the project is to prepare woody
October 17, 2024 Read Full Article
Gevo Secures Conditional Commitment from U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office for its Net-Zero 1 Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plant in South Dakota
(Gevo) This conditional commitment signals the strength of the project to finance the world’s first large-scale net-zero-emissions alcohol-to-jet production facility -- Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO), a leading developer of net-zero hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals, is pleased to announce it received a
October 17, 2024 Read Full Article
Biofuel Groups Urge Flexibility in 45Z CSA Requirements
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The USDA on Oct. 15 held a third virtual listening session as part of its public consultation on climate-smart agriculture for biofuel feedstocks. During the event, representatives of the U.S. biofuel sector advocated for flexibility in
October 16, 2024 Read Full Article
DOE Invests $29 Million to Reduce Carbon Emissions
(U.S. Department of Energy) Projects Will Help Advance Carbon Dioxide Capture and Conversion Technologies -- The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) today announced $29 million for 12 research and development projects to fund two carbon management
October 16, 2024 Read Full Article
Biofuels and Batteries Gain From the System Dynamics Behind the Research
by Tim Meehan (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) How Modeling Feedback Loops Informs Analysis and Decisions Across Decarbonization Technologies -- "When you look at renewable energy, not everything is linear," said Swaroop Atnoorkar, an analyst at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National
October 16, 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
Higher Ethanol Blends: A Win for Corn Farmers, Consumers & the Environment
by Krista Swanson (National Corn Growers Association) Ethanol is a renewable transportation fuel that can be made from domestically grown corn. Over 98% of the gasoline currently sold in the United States contains ethanol, typically a blend that is 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. Autos that
October 16, 2024 Read Full Article
Sustainable Aviation Fuel: According to Plan
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) Doubling in attendance from its debut in 2023, the North American SAF Conference & Expo drew over 500 industry stakeholders to discuss progress and double down on initiatives to reach the near- and long-term goals of
October 15, 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
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to PEM CO2 Electrolyzer Scale-up
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Twelve is developing and scaling a platform for a reactor that electrochemically transforms biogenic CO2. The company’s core innovation is a membrane electrode assembly that enables CO2 electrolysis. In this project, the company aims towards mass
October 14, 2024 Read Full Article
Cometstock: Comstock Fuels Yields Are Headed for the Stars. Why?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Feedstock costs look more like 50 cents a gallon at the yields, based on $60 per ton for waste biomass, that have been in our reporting this year, and that’s transformative. So, it’s a comet. Why,
October 14, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Electrolyzers for CO2 Conversion from BioSources
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Researchers have initiated a project to develop electrolyzers that can convert CO2 from biorefineries to produce useful products, and save the cost of air capture. Yet, research still has not been done on testing with CO2
October 11, 2024 Read Full Article
Fueling the Future! Reminder to Register for the BRIDGES Bioenergy 101 Virtual Workshop --- October 17, 2024 --- ONLINE Recorded Presentations Now Available
(U.S. Department of Energy) Registration is now open for the Bioenergy Research and Education Bridge Program (BRIDGES) Bioenergy 101 Virtual Workshop hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT). Discover new teaching strategies, resources, and more at
October 10, 2024 Read Full Article
Argonne Technology Converts Waste Streams into Biofuel that Dramatically Reduces Carbon Emissions from Jets
by Beth Burmahl (Argonne National Laboratory) Technology uses wastewater from breweries and dairy farms to cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70% -- New Argonne technology creates sustainable aviation fuel that significantly cuts carbon emissions compared to conventional jet fuel. -- ... Now
October 10, 2024 Read Full Article
Department of Energy's Agile BioFoundry and ABPDU Partner with Industrial Microbes to Successfully Scale Up Bio-Based Process
by Gayle Bentley (U.S. Department of Energy) Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Agile BioFoundry (ABF) and Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit (ABPDU), have successfully scaled up a bio-based process that converts ethanol into a valuable precursor for consumer products, such as
October 09, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Polymer Products from Lignin
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today, lignin from pulp and paper is converted to polymer products through sulfonation. An industry goal, and the goal of this Ingevity / USC / Sandia project, is commercial products from lignin that provide 20% reduction
October 09, 2024 Read Full Article
EIA Now Publishes Additional U.S. Biofuel and Distillate Forecasts
by Jimmy Troderman, Alex de Keyserling (U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration) Biofuels are making up an increasing share of total distillate fuel oil consumed in the United States. Beginning in the September 2024 Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), we began publishing forecasts for several new series
October 07, 2024 Read Full Article
DOE: Renewable Diesel Jobs up 7.3% in 2023
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy on Aug. 28 released its annual U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER), reporting that employment in the renewable diesel sector grew by an impressive 7.3% last year, the fastest growth rate
October 04, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Production of Bioproducts from Electrochemically-Generated C1 Intermediates
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) CO2 Electrolysis + Gas Fermentation: a CO2 to Chemicals Platform, that’s the goal of this Argonne National Lab, LanzaTech and Dioxide Materials, project. It aims for room Temperature CO2 electrolysis (Anion Exchange Membrane based technology), and
October 04, 2024 Read Full Article
BASF Launches xarvio BIOENERGY in the US to Help Lower the CI of Corn Grown for Ethanol Production
(BASF/Ethanol Producer Magazine) BASF has launched xarvio BIOENERGY, an innovative low carbon intensity crops program that lowers, tracks and documents CI levels in corn grown for ethanol biofuel production in the U.S. Xarvio BIOENERGY offers the biofuel production supply chain - growers, retail agronomists
October 04, 2024 Read Full Article
Just Announced! International Clean Energy Initiative Launches Global Biomass Resource Assessment
(U.S. Department of Energy) International Biomass Feedstock Portal Provides First-of-its-Kind Data on the World-wide Availability of Sustainable Biomass Resources -- A multi-country, government-led initiative dedicated to advancing the global transition to a sustainable, bio-based economy, unveiled a new Global Biomass Resource Assessment, providing groundbreaking
October 03, 2024 Read Full Article
Comstock Executes Exclusive License and Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory
(Comstock/Globe Newswire) World Class Innovation Team Set Sights on 100% Renewable Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Fossil Parity -- Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) (“Comstock” and the “Company”) today announced the execution by Comstock’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Comstock IP Holdings LLC, of an Exclusive License
October 03, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Demonstration of Continuous Biobutanol Fermentation Integrated with Membrane Solvent Extraction
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Isobutanol (IBA), feedstock for an ASTM approved pathway for SAF production, can only be produced at low levels in fermentation (<2%) due to toxicity. Plus, there’s energy intensive recovery to consider – high heat input or
October 03, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to CO2 Valorization via Rewiring Carbon Metabolic Network
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Developing Carbon Negative Biorefinery with Gas-fermenting Bacteria is the focus of this project, focusing on Acetogens as model gas-fermenting anaerobes, with high energy efficiency and fast electron/carbon consumption making them potentially a new chassis for the
October 02, 2024 Read Full Article
D&L Ready to Boost Factory as Higher Biofuel Mix Starts Oct. 1
by Kris Crismundo (Philippine News Agency) D&L Industries, Inc., the parent company of the country’s largest biodiesel maker Chemrez Technologies Inc., is ready to repurpose its existing factory lines in Quezon City to cater to the higher biofuel demand in the
October 01, 2024 Read Full Article
OCED Issues Notice of Intent for up to $1.8 Billion to Fund Transformational Direct Air Capture Technologies and Remove Legacy Carbon Dioxide
(U.S. Department of Energy) As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to fund up to $1.8 billion for the design, construction, and
September 30, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Repurposing Plastics Using Novel Engineered Processes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment (BOTTLE) consortium is developing new chemical upcycling strategies for today’s plastics and redesigning tomorrow’s plastics to be recyclable-by-design. BOTTLE conducts high-impact research and development
September 30, 2024 Read Full Article
NREL Research Points Path to Higher Blends of Biodiesel
by Wayne Hicks (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Barriers that are currently preventing the use of greater percentages of biomass-based diesel fuel blended into petroleum diesel have been identified, along with strategies to overcome them, according to researchers at the National
September 27, 2024 Read Full Article
DOE Announces $15 Million to Develop Innovative Systems for Clean Hydrogen Production DEADLINE November 22, 2024
(U.S. Department of Energy) Funding Will Support Technologies That Convert Biomass and Other Waste Materials Into an Affordable, Low-Carbon Fuel -- The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) today announced up to $15 million in
September 27, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Plastics Upcycling Projects by Industry
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment (BOTTLE) consortium is developing new chemical upcycling strategies for today’s plastics and redesigning tomorrow’s plastics to be recyclable-by-design. BOTTLE conducts high-impact research and development
September 27, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Conversion of Plastic-Derived Intermediates to New Monomers
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment (BOTTLE) consortium is developing new chemical upcycling strategies for today’s plastics and redesigning tomorrow’s plastics to be recyclable-by-design. BOTTLE conducts high-impact research and development
September 26, 2024 Read Full Article
Biofuels at Sea: Marine Research Engine Plots Course for Future Passage
by Erin Webb (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) A marine research engine at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is providing scientists with valuable insights into biofuel design for large ocean-going vessels (OGVs) in a multi-lab project focused on reducing
September 26, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Biomethanation to Upgrade Biogas to Pipeline Grade Methane
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Renewable natural gas (RNG) is typically produced from biogas using gas separation technology – keeping the CH4 – venting the CO2. Upgrading CO2 present in biogas using naturally-occurring organisms can increase production 60 – 70%. In
September 24, 2024 Read Full Article
Why Is It Taking So Long to Get the Necessary Guidance on the 45Z Tax Credit Program?
•by Jim Wiesemeyer (AgWeb) ... There are a few key reasons why guidance on the 45Z clean fuel production tax credit program is taking a long time to be issued: • Complexity of the program: The 45Z credit is a new, technology-neutral credit based
September 24, 2024 Read Full Article
QUOTE OF THE WEEK -- Ernest J. Moniz
Electric vehicles will probably continue to get market share, but the reality is the transportation sector, whether it's light-duty vehicles or large airplanes, long-distance airplanes, liquid fuels with their very high energy densities will be essential. Liquid hydrogen is often
September 23, 2024 Read Full Article
Ag Policy Blog: Reforming Climate Models: Leveling the Playing Field for American Agriculture
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) Seth Meyer, USDA's chief economist, explained Monday at an agricultural outlook conference in Kansas City, Missouri, that he didn't want to get too deep into the weeds, but he told the audience of agribusiness leaders
September 23, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Catalytic Upgrading of Carbohydrates in Waste Streams to Hydrocarbons
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Paper sludge typically taken to landfills (50%), incinerated (20%) or spread on land as soil enhancement (10%). In total, there’s 8 million wet tonnes (4MT dry) of paper sludge that costs $240 million each year to
September 22, 2024 Read Full Article
Policies and Incentives Support Sustainable Aviation Fuels
by Pamela Wu (Reuters) ... Supply chains continue to mature and existing industrial infrastructure is being leveraged for SAF production. Investments in SAF have increased due to federal and state tax credits incentivizing production. Although SAF production has increased significantly, the 2024
September 16, 2024 Read Full Article
Funding Notice: U.S. Department of Energy Announces $12 Million to Advance Biorefinery Technologies for Biofuels and Biochemicals DEADLINE November 7, 2024
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) announced $12 million in funding to support the advancement of integrated biorefinery technologies to decarbonize the transportation and industrial sector. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA), FY24 Scale-Up of Integrated Biorefineries, will
September 15, 2024 Read Full Article
Just Announced: Federal Interagency Sustainable Aviation Fuel Progress Metrics and $12 Million in Funding to Support the Advancement of Integrated Biorefinery Technologies
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today (September 11, 2024), an interagency team led by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT’s) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge: Metrics Dashboard Fact Sheet. USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack made
September 15, 2024 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Announced Notice of Intent Fiscal Year 2025 Core Laboratory Infrastructure for Market Readiness (CLIMR) Lab Cal
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) announced their Notice of Intent (NOI) to issue a call for proposals from DOE National Laboratories, plants, and sites for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Core Laboratory Infrastructure for Market
September 13, 2024 Read Full Article
Knowledge-Guided Machine Learning Can Improve Carbon Cycle Quantification in Agroecosystems
by Licheng Liu, Wang Zhou, Kaiyu Guan, et al. (Nature Communications) Accurate and cost-effective quantification of the carbon cycle for agroecosystems at decision-relevant scales is critical to mitigating climate change and ensuring sustainable food production. However, conventional process-based or data-driven modeling
September 13, 2024 Read Full Article
Could Switchgrass Be Used for Aviation Fuel? Study to Find Out
by Tom Venesky (Lancaster Farming) A new study is examining the use of switchgrass sugars in aviation fuel, similar to corn used for ethanol. -- A federal grant could help researchers clear the final hurdle to make switchgrass a viable source for
September 07, 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
More Green Downstream: Farmers Using a New Microbial Nitrogen Fertilizer
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Farmers using a new microbial nitrogen fertilizer from Pivot Bio have reduced carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by more than 932,500 metric tons since 2022. With feedstock accounting for half of the carbon intensity of a
September 05, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to the BOTTLE Consortium
Why should DOE work on plastics circularity? For one, ~2-3% of total energy consumption in the US is used to manufacture plastics, resins, and synthetic rubber. Also, plastic production generates ~3.8% of global GHGs. Finally, plastic production uses ~6% of
September 02, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Low-Pressure Hydrogenolysis Catalysts for Bioproduct Upgrading
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A team of researchers partnered with Visolis to develop a hydrogenolysis catalyst that can operate at low-pressures (≤ 5 MPa) and demonstrate conversion of a fermentation-derived C6 intermediate to a high value chemical monomer. The rewards? Risk and cost
August 30, 2024 Read Full Article
The Status of US Hydrogen Hubs
by Bob Starkey (LEC Partners/Biofuels Digest) In October 2023 the Biden Administration announced a USD $7B investment in clean hydrogen production. This historic program, known as the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs), selected 7 locations across the U.S. to develop clean
August 30, 2024 Read Full Article
One-Stop Data, Tools for the Bioeconomy: The Bioenergy Knowledge Discovery Framework
by Erin Webb (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) Stakeholders, such as farmers, industry, and local, regional, and national planners, have a powerful, free, and easy-to-access data portal at their command to unlock the power of bioenergy: the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy
August 29, 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
DOE Study: Ethanol Industry Continues to Lead Energy Sector in Veteran Employment, Other Key Workforce Statistics
(Renewable Fuels Association) The U.S. corn ethanol industry continues to stand out for its employment of military veterans, according to the United States Energy & Employment Report released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Veterans make up 16 percent of the
August 29, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Catalytic Upgrading of Biochemical Intermediates
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What are the best pathways to generating and upgrading biochemical intermediates. For example, wet waste to mixed volatile fatty acids in arrested methanogenesis. Or, sugars to butyric acid, or 2,3 butanediol. Tasks include mitigation of scalability
August 29, 2024 Read Full Article
SAF Production Set to Grow Amid Renewable Diesel Switching
by Jordan Godwin (OPIS/SAF Magazine) ... As renewable diesel producers in a suddenly crowded space trudge through lackluster margin conditions in 2024, they’re increasingly eyeing the possibility of switching to SAF. Considering the current size of the SAF market, taking on
August 28, 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
Carbon Rebrand: The Carbon Transformation Technology Developed by California-based Twelve Splits Apart Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
by Lisa Gibson (SAF Magazine) The Carbon Transformation Technology developed by California-based Twelve splits apart carbon dioxide (CO2) at low temperatures using electrochemistry, creating foundational elements for fuels, chemicals and plastics. Twelve, founded in 2016, has partnered for demonstration projects to produce
August 28, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to the Agile BioFoundry
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How can a public biofoundry develop and demonstrate capabilities that enable commercially-relevant biomanufacturing of a wide range of bioproducts by both new and established industrial hosts? The ABF has operated as a BETO-supported project since 2016.
August 28, 2024 Read Full Article
DOE Modifies $100 Million Carbon Utilization Program, Raises Maximum Funding Tenfold Application DEADLINE April 30, 2025
by Vasil Velev (Carbon Herald) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today that it has updated a funding opportunity to make $100 million available under President Biden’s Investing in America initiative. This funding is aimed at assisting states, local governments, and public
August 27, 2024 Read Full Article
Getting Into the (Sea)Weeds: Exploring Algae Storage for Biofuel Conversion
by Lynn Wendt (Idaho National Laboratory/U.S. Department of Energy) ... Recently, ocean conditions have been causing this seaweed, known as sargassum, to flourish. The so-called Great Atlantic Sargassum belt stretches from the west coast of Africa to the Caribbean Sea. When
August 27, 2024 Read Full Article
Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity: University Training and Research for Fossil Energy and Carbon Management
(U.S. Department of Energy) On August 26, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) released a notice of intent to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) in support of its University Training and Research program.
August 27, 2024 Read Full Article
Next Hydrogen to Supply Latest Generation Electrolysis Technology for Renewable Energy Ammonia Production Research
(Next Hydrogen) Next Hydrogen Solutions Inc. (the “Company” or “Next Hydrogen“) (TSXV:NXH, OTC:NXHSF), a designer and manufacturer of electrolyzers, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a contract by the University of Minnesota (UMN) for its latest generation electrolysis technology
August 26, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to a Hybrid Approach to Repurpose Plastics Using Novel Engineered Processes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) HARNESS strives to develop a proof-of-concept pilot system designed to break down polyether-polyurethane (PE-PU) foams with engineered enzymes, then convert breakdown intermediates to high-value polyols (POs) and diamines. The primary objective of this project is to
August 23, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Deconstruction and Chemical Catalysis
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Deconstruction is a major effort in BOTTLE (Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment) . Work spans exploratory catalysis (”fail fast”) to advancing promising approaches towards scale-up. There are a couple of routes:
August 21, 2024 Read Full Article
Let's Turn Down the Heat on ICE vs. EV
by Allen Schaeffer (Engine Technology Forum) ... Gas and diesel internal combustion engine (ICE) car and pickup truck owners are sometimes shocked at the tone and temperament of some EV advocates. Spend just a few minutes in an online chat about
August 20, 2024 Read Full Article
New Report Lays Out Role for Carbon Dioxide Utilization in U.S. Economy, Identifies Research Gaps and Opportunities
(National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine) Carbon dioxide utilization can play an important role in the future net-zero emissions economy by providing a sustainable foundation for essential carbon-based products, says a new congressionally mandated report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering,
August 19, 2024 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Announces 2024 Community Partners for Waste-to-Energy Technical Assistance Program
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced the 2024 community partners for the Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Technical Assistance for State, Local, and Tribal Governments Program. Funding collaborations between NREL and state, local, and Tribal government
August 19, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Upgrading C2 Building Blocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The ChemCatBio Consortium has a project focused on upgrading C2s. Specifically, to develop novel catalytic upgrading technologies that enable cost-competitive conversion of cellulosic ethanol to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). We aim to develop a commercially viable
August 16, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Agile BioFoundry Technoeconomic and Lifecycle Analysis
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Agile BioFoundry carries out techno-economic and life cycle assessments (TEA/LCA) to quantify the economic and environmental performance of selected fermentative routes, to quantify the economic and environmental performance of selected fermentative routes, and to Develop process
August 14, 2024 Read Full Article
Ethanol Blog: Bill Introduced to Provide More Reports on Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) A bipartisan group of lawmakers is introducing a bill that would require the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) to provide more weekly and monthly reports on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., and
August 12, 2024 Read Full Article
Project 2025 Is Awful for Midwest Farmers and Biofuels. Trump Should Disown It.
by Jon Doggett and Bob Dinneen (Des Moines Register/National Corn Growers Association/Renewable Fuels Association) To put it bluntly, farmers and renewable fuel industry workers who take the time to read the Project 2025 recommendations on agriculture and energy are likely to be
August 12, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Adsorption-Based In-situ Product Recovery
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Multiple bioproducts of interest to projects require separations innovations. A team of researchers set a goal to recover acid products using anion exchange and simulated moving bed chromatography, and to develop an ISPR system for the
August 12, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to 2,3 -Butanediol Separations
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 2,3-butanediol (BDO) is a common component in fermentation broths present in low concentrations. Recovery/separation of 2,3-butanediol poses many challenges due to inherent limitations such as its high affinity with water and issues with energy-intensive evaporation and
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
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Better SAF via Adsorptive De-Nitrogenation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Hydrothermal liquefaction provides a straightforward approach to producing SAF, yet there’s nitrogen in the upgraded biocrude, and it has to come out. Meanwhile, bad news, nitrogen in hydrotreated biocrude consists of a large variety of nitrogenated
August 08, 2024 Read Full Article
A Fifth of U.S. Green Hydrogen Projects Eyed for Water-Stressed Areas
by Alec Luhn (Floodlight) As the federal government pours billions into hydrogen production to lower greenhouse gas emissions, critics worry water shortages in the Southwest could worsen -- Armed with bright green shovels, executives from the Australian mining giant Fortescue broke ground in May on
August 08, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Membrane Separation Processes and Materials
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Membrane-based separation processes can provide an energy and carbon-efficient alternative separation strategy for decarbonization of transportation and industry. However, the technology is not currently optimized for the bioprocessing industry and has scalability issues due to lack of mechanical
August 07, 2024 Read Full Article
3 Issues to Watch with the Big US Bet on ‘Clean’ Hydrogen
by Clare Fieseler and Brian Dabbs (E&E News Energywire) The Biden administration is preparing decisions that will determine the industry’s fate. --- ... Much of the industry — and Biden’s Democratic allies on Capitol Hill — are frustrated by the Treasury Department’s
August 06, 2024 Read Full Article
Now Hiring! Join the Bioenergy Technologies Office’s Data, Modeling, and Analysis Team! DEADLINE August 23, 2024
(U.S. Department of Energy) Come join our clean energy team that supports groundbreaking technologies, advances cutting-edge research and development (R&D), and promotes the U.S. bioeconomy! The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is seeking a dynamic and experienced individual to join the Data,
August 05, 2024 Read Full Article
Carbon Intensity Score Calculator
by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) A new tool has been developed to help farmers and ag stakeholders better understand the carbon intensity score of corn as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel. Iowa State University Extension economist Alejandro Plastina says the
August 01, 2024 Read Full Article
SAF’s Billion-Ton Question
by Luke Geiver (Ethanol Producer Magazine) This spring, the U.S. Department of Energy air-dropped a report that should give the nascent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry a massive crate of confidence. With the release of the 4th installment of a decades-old
August 01, 2024 Read Full Article
Now Available! U.S. Department of Energy Sustainable Aviation Fuel State-of-Industry Report
(U.S. Department of Energy) The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), released the first two parts of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) State-of-Industry Report. The report focuses on how to achieve the near-term fuel production
July 31, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Vertimass
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Proprietary Vertimass Technology can lower costs of sustainable fuels for aircraft and light and heavy duty vehicles while providing a new route to renewable chemicals. Rapid development and deployment of novel Vertimass technology for conversion of
July 31, 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
Agile BioFoundry’s 2024 Industry Day --- September 12, 2024 --- ONLINE
We are excited to announce the Agile BioFoundry’s (ABF) 2024 Industry Day, to be held virtually on Sept. 12, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time (12:00 pm – 6:30 pm Eastern Time). Join us via Zoom and
July 29, 2024 Read Full Article
Offshore Wind Turbines Offer Path for Clean Hydrogen Production
by Wayne Hicks (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) NREL Researchers Identify Promising Locations off US Coastlines for Installation of Technology -- Using electricity generated by offshore wind turbines as one pathway to split water to produce clean hydrogen may make economic sense, particularly
July 29, 2024 Read Full Article
Gumption and the Folk What Got It: A Digest 17th Birthday Essay
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) I have good news to share today, from Ensyn; also, from a company called Matereal that’s been bubbling below the surface for some time and is now emerged from stealth. Finally, from a worthy group called
July 29, 2024 Read Full Article
Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub Awarded $27.5 Mil to Begin Project's First Phase
Kassia Micek and Santiago Canel Soria (S&P Global) PNWH2 Phase one is expected to last 12-18 months -- ... "OCED is working with PNWH2 to build a clean hydrogen ecosystem across Washington, Oregon and Montana that leverages the region's abundant renewable resources
July 26, 2024 Read Full Article
Advancing Circular Bioeconomy with Biomass Feedstocks
(Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research) Teams of researchers working to develop the science to create energy, animal feed, and other essential products from sustainable materials have been selected to join the Virtual Institute on Feedstocks of the Future (VIFF). The institute is
July 26, 2024 Read Full Article
USDA Gets Climate Smart Farming Feedback
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The U.S. Department of Agriculture received lots of input from biofuels groups this week on how to prove the impact of climate-smart farming practices on the greenhouse gas (GHG) net emissions estimates associated with the production of
July 26, 2024 Read Full Article
Letter: Ethanol Has Positive Climate and Human Health Benefits
by Brian Werner (Minnesota Biofuels Association/Republican Eagle) An opinion piece published in the Republican Eagle on July 12 by the Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance presented a one-sided view of the environmental benefits of ethanol and mislead readers into believing that ethanol
July 25, 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
Updated Algae Report Analyzes National-Scale Prospects for Converting Microalgae to Biofuels and Bioproducts
(U.S. Department of Energy) A new report from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories investigated the economic and environmental sustainability implications of siting and deploying large-scale microalgae farms for cultivation and conversion to biofuels and bioproducts. The report, “Economic,
July 24, 2024 Read Full Article
DOE Issues Notice Of Intent to Fund Industrial Partnerships across the Bioenergy and Bioproducts Value Chain
(U.S. Department of Energy/SAF Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office's Feedstock- Conversion Interface Consortium intends to issue an industrial partnership call (IPC) to allow collaboration between industry stakeholders and FCIC researchers. These partnerships will address the cost and risk impacts of
July 24, 2024 Read Full Article
Committed to Bioenergy Sustainability, BETO Program Manager Addresses Mitigating Environmental Impacts
by Andrea Bailey (U.S. Department of Energy) Accelerating the widespread adoption of bioenergy technologies that can offer equitable and affordable solutions to decarbonize the transportation, industrial, and agricultural sectors is a priority for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). BETO
July 22, 2024 Read Full Article
Atlantic Biomass Receives Nearly $200,000 US Department of Energy Funding for Biofuel Development
(Atlantic Biomass) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded Atlantic Biomass a $184,000 grant for ”Low-Cost Production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) from Perennial Feedstocks using Simultaneous Ball Milling and Enzyme Hydrolysis.” Work on this project will be performed by
July 22, 2024 Read Full Article
Giving Lift To 45Z: Climate Smart Farming and the GREET Model
by Katie Schroeder (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... The industry waited for not months, but years to get an answer to that question, finally receiving direction in the 40BSAF-GREET 2024 model, released at the end of April. In an exclusive podcast interview with
July 19, 2024 Read Full Article
NREL Publishes Assessment of BQ-9000 Biodiesel Properties for 2023
(Clean Fuels Alliance America) he National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released the seventh in a series of reports documenting the quality of biodiesel from U.S.- and Canadian-based producers that participate in the BQ-9000 program. The comprehensive report, authored by Robert L.
July 19, 2024 Read Full Article
DOE Launches First-ever Hydrogen Hub with $12.6 Billion Deal
by Clare Fieseler (Political Pro Energywire) The California hub known as ARCHES plans to produce "clean" hydrogen at 10 sites for energy projects around the state. -- The Department of Energy signed a $12.6 billion agreement Wednesday with a California hydrogen hub,
July 19, 2024 Read Full Article
Turning Agricultural Trash to Treasure
by Lauren Biron (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) New funding will help Berkeley Lab and partners improve how the diverse agricultural waste in California’s Northern San Joaquin Valley can be used to make sustainable bioproducts and biofuels -- Agricultural residues and wastes from
July 19, 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
Community College Internships (CCI) Building Your STEM Future Application DEADLINE October 2, 2024
Are you a community college student seeking opportunities to expand your technical skills and expertise while exploring career pathways in STEM? Then the Community College Internship (CCI) program is for you! Each year, students from around the country participate in CCI
July 18, 2024 Read Full Article
ARPA-E Announces $36 Million to Develop Technologies to Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ethanol Production, Reduce Operating Costs for American Farmers
(U.S. Department of Energy) ARPA-E Unveils New Technologies to Emend and Obviate SYnthetic Nitrogen’s Toll on Emissions (TEOSYNTE) Program -- Today (July 11, 2024), the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) announced up to $36 million in funding to develop technologies to lower
July 16, 2024 Read Full Article
New Study Shows U.S. Oilseed Feedstock Production Exceeds Existing Federal Renewable Fuel Requirements; Domestic Feedstocks to Support Additional 1.4 Billion Gallons of U.S. Biofuel Production by 2030
(National Oilseed Processors Association) The National Oilseed Processors Association commissioned S&P Global Commodity Insights to review the present and future availability of biofuel feedstocks to support U.S. biofuel production and consumption. -- A new study shows feedstocks produced within the U.S.
July 15, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to BDO Zones
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BDO Zone ratings are powerful market signals of regional readiness for bio-manufacturing. Ratings undergo rigorous due diligence using a standardized framework of over 100 risk indicators. Jordan Solomon, CEO of Ecostrat, presented these slides for ABLC 2024. READ
July 15, 2024 Read Full Article
No Surprise! AlgaePrize Finalist Teams Make Great Strides in Projects to Unlock Algal Energy
(U.S. Department of Energy) Since being selected as finalists for AlgaePrize 2023–2025, student teams from across the country have been rolling up their sleeves to turn smart research proposals into results. Now only approximately 5 months into the competition, the U.S. Department
July 12, 2024 Read Full Article
A New Catalyst Can “Recycle” Carbon Dioxide into Useful Chemicals
(University of Chicago) Research by Argonne, University of Chicago scientists aims to turn CO2 into resource -- Carbon dioxide is leaking from industrial operations into the atmosphere, causing a cascade of dangerous changes to Earth’s climate. But some scientists wondered if
July 12, 2024 Read Full Article
US to Fund Lower-Emission Fertilizer with Eye to Greener Ethanol
by Leah Douglas (Reuters) The U.S. Department of Energy plans to spend $36 million on technologies to lower emissions from applying synthetic nitrogen fertilizer to corn and sorghum used in ethanol production, the agency said Thursday. The money would support projects that reduce
July 12, 2024 Read Full Article
West Coast Summer Refinery Margins Decline Despite Reduced Capacity
(U.S. Energy Information Administration/Biobased Diesel Daily) This spring, California refinery crack spreads for gasoline and diesel dipped below average despite shrinking refinery capacity on the West Coast. Crack spreads are the difference between refined product prices and an equivalent volume of crude oil. The U.S.
July 12, 2024 Read Full Article
Clean Fuels Applauds Senate Letter Urging Higher RFS Volumes
(Clean Fuels America Alliance) Today, a bipartisan group of 18 Senators, led by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), sent a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan encouraging the agency to complete 2026 RFS rules and raise volumes for
July 11, 2024 Read Full Article
Scaling up the Bioeconomy Workforce: Welcoming a New Wave of Bioprocessing Graduates
by Katy Christiansen (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) As a recent college graduate, Javier Santana was working in the petrochemical industry when he decided to make a career change. Seeking more opportunities for innovation, he turned to biomanufacturing — a growing industry
July 10, 2024 Read Full Article
U.S. Department of Energy Releases Request for Information on Renewable Propane and Other Gaseous Intermediates DEADLINE August 5, 2024
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) has released a Request for Information (RFI) on Renewable Propane Production Technologies and Uses to better understand the supply chains for production and uses of renewable propane and other renewable gaseous
July 09, 2024 Read Full Article
Where Will the Reductions Come From? High Octane BioEthanol to the Rescue
by Doug Durante (Clean Fuels Development Coalition/Biofuels Digest) The evidence seems overwhelming that Electric Vehicles are not going to be able to meet the timeline predicted by the Biden Administration and consequently, fail to provide the reductions in pollution the U.S.
July 08, 2024 Read Full Article
U.S. Department of Energy Seeks Public Input on Environmental Justice Strategic Plan Public Comment DEADLINE July 31, 2024
(U.S. Department of Energy) Request for Information Will Support the Department’s Mission to Advance Environmental Justice for All -- The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Justice and Equity (EJE) has released a Request for Information (RFI) that seeks public input intended to
July 05, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to the SAF Grand Challenge
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 26 Workstreams, 140 Activities and with 2030 & 2030-2050 impact timeframes — The SAF Grand Challenge is ambitious and detailed, with many US Federal agencies and one aggressive goal. In this deck, the deed for policy
July 03, 2024 Read Full Article
Scientists Gain New Molecular-Level Insights into Breaking Down Plant Material for Biofuels
(U.S. Department of Energy/NewsWise) Compared to biofuel crops like corn, breaking down cellulose from nonedible plant parts or grasses grown on marginal lands is slow and inefficient. Cellulose is the building block of plant cell walls. However, using these non-food plants could help
July 03, 2024 Read Full Article
Garbage Could Replace a Quarter of Petroleum-Based Jet Fuel Every Year
JoAnna Wendel (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Understanding where Americans produce the most garbage—and where the busiest airports are—can inform where to build waste-to-fuel facilities -- Every year, the nation’s aviation industry uses around 22 billion gallons of jet fuel, which produces about
July 03, 2024 Read Full Article
Shady Dealings or ‘Clerical Error’?
Ron Kotrba (Biobased Diesel Daily) ... As I was putting this issue together—specifically the Information section on U.S. biobased diesel trade—I discovered an unwelcomed surprise. Certain biodiesel-export data on the U.S. Energy Information Administration website has been dramatically revised down. I am particularly
July 03, 2024 Read Full Article
State of Sustainable Fleets In 2024
(BioCycle) State of Sustainable Fleets is an annual evaluation of the clean commercial transportation market, conducted by TRC Companies, Inc. Now in its fifth year, the annual Market Brief provides historic data and analysis on leading sustainable technologies for fleets — including electrification, renewable
July 02, 2024 Read Full Article
DOE Announces $16 Million to Advance Technologies that Transform Carbon Emissions into Valuable Products
(U.S. Department of Energy) Funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda will help decarbonize U.S. fuel and chemical industries by enabling sustainable alternatives generated from carbon dioxide -- As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office