by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Determining the technical feasibility of using biofuels, especially bio-oils, for marine engine use, understanding the efficacy of biofuels in marine transport, looking at the impact on fuel handling systems and impact of bio-oils blended with
Department of Energy (DOE)
Back TO HOMEBiofuels Account for 17% of US Renewables Consumption in 2020
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) The U.S. consumed a record 12 percent of renewable energy in 2020, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on June 16. Biofuels announced for approximately 17 percent of renewables. According to the EIA,
July 02, 2021 Read Full Article
DOE Awards $45.5 Million for Projects to Advance Biotechnology Research
(U.S. Department of Energy) 34 Projects Will Develop New Instruments to Study Cells, Processes to Convert Natural and Synthetic Materials Into Sustainable Biofuels and Bioproducts -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today awarded $45.5 million for research projects geared towards
July 02, 2021 Read Full Article
LCA Model for Biofuels: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to GREET
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies Model – aka GREET – can be used to address impacts and conduct life cycle analyses of biofuels and bioproducts. Check out Argonne National Laboratory’s
July 02, 2021 Read Full Article
DOE Helps Commercialize Promising Energy Technologies
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy on June 24 announced it will award $30 million to 68 projects that aim to accelerate the commercialization of promising energy technologies, including those related to biofuels, bioenergy and bioproducts. The
July 02, 2021 Read Full Article
Los Alamos National Laboratory and Oberon Fuels Receive Department of Energy Funding to Produce Renewable Hydrogen from Renewable DME (rDME)
(Oberon Fuels) Project will develop novel pathway to reducing carbon content of global hydrogen supply; Converting renewable DME into hydrogen will solve vexing issues related to hydrogen production, transport and storage and open up new feedstocks for cost-effective renewable hydrogen
June 30, 2021 Read Full Article
DOE Researchers Examine Biofuels for Maritime Shipping
(U.S. Department of Energy/Biomass Magazine) A multi-laboratory team of scientists led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory is studying the feasibility of using energy-dense biofuels such as biocrude and bio-oil to meet new emissions regulations for cargo ships. Cargo vessels ferrying commodities around
June 30, 2021 Read Full Article
Removing Roadblocks to SAF Deployment: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to BioJet Opportunities
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) You’ve probably seen the IATA Tech Roadmap and ICAO’s goals for aviation’s CO2 emissions to decrease, but how do we get there? Check out this illuminating slide guide from BETO’s Peer Review where Sandia National Labs
June 30, 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
Department of Energy Invests $8 Million for Projects to Develop Algae-Based Technologies to Capture Carbon Dioxide for Use in Products
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today (June 23, 2021), the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) announced $8 million in federal funding for four projects to develop and test technologies that capture and utilize carbon dioxide
June 28, 2021 Read Full Article
Biomass, Lipid Yield Improvements: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Leveraging Algae for Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Did you know that adding plant substrate to some algae strains (not all!) can result in improved biomass and/or lipid production? That’s what Amanda Barry from Sandia National Labs reported in this slide guide on
June 28, 2021 Read Full Article
DOE Announces Over $65 Million in Public and Private Funding to Commercialize Promising Energy Technologies
(U.S. Department of Energy) 2021 Technology Commercialization Fund Awards Connect Private-Sector Partners to DOE National Labs, Bolstering U.S. Competitiveness While Combating the Climate Crisis -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced over $30 million in federal funding, matched by
June 25, 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
Transforming CO2 and Sugars Into Biofuel With a $2.7 million grant, UD researchers using microbes to make valuable chemicals
(University of Delaware) In the quest to reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere and curb climate change, University of Delaware researchers are turning to an interesting ally: bacteria that consume biomass sugars and CO2. With a $2.7 million grant from the U.S.
June 23, 2021 Read Full Article
Bioconversion Improvements: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Biorefinery Waste for Bioplastics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Being in a big state, Texas A&M University has some big goals like overcoming the key challenges for biorefinery cost-effectiveness and sustainability in the BETO MYPP and bring down the biofuel cost to $3/GGE. How
June 23, 2021 Read Full Article
America’s Transformation to Clean Energy Economy
by Philip Brennan (Echogen Power Systems/Biofuels Digest) ... Placing a high priority on incubator companies that can rapidly scale the number of innovators in the clean energy sector, building out their capacity and providing acceleration support for those innovations is vitally
June 23, 2021 Read Full Article
Biofuels Account for 17% of US Renewables Consumption in 2020
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. consumed a record 12 percent of renewable energy in 2020, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on June 16. Biofuels announced for approximately 17 percent of renewables. According to the
June 22, 2021 Read Full Article
Hydrothermal Processing: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Algal Based Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Dan Anderson from Pacific Northwest National Lab shared this illuminating slide guide at BETO’s Peer Review this year with the latest on PNNL’s work on building algae hydrothermal liquification (HTL) pathway to fuels, with the
June 22, 2021 Read Full Article
The Energy Department Pursues Cleaner and More Efficient Biofuel
by Tom Temin (Federal News Network) One way or another, bio-fuel will be part of the country’s energy future, especially to power ships and airplanes. That’s why the Energy Department’s ARPA-E is spending some $35 million in grant dollars to improve
June 21, 2021 Read Full Article
Is It Starch or Cellulose? NREL Offers Answers that Could Unlock Incentives for Making Cellulosic Ethanol
by Zia Abdullah (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Cellulosic ethanol—produced from fibrous cellulose, which gives plants strength and rigidity—offers a range of attractive benefits. When used as a vehicle fuel, it can support deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, with a carbon footprint
June 21, 2021 Read Full Article
Wells Fargo Crashes and Burns with New RINs Analysis
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) Earlier this week, equity analysts at Wells Fargo released a note to investors on the subject of the Renewable Fuel Standard and its compliance credit (RIN) market mechanism. We wouldn’t typically respond to an investment bank
June 18, 2021 Read Full Article
Greenhouse Gas Data Deep Dive Reaches New Level of ‘Reasonable and True’
by Lauren Quinn (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) ... For corn ethanol, most greenhouse gas emissions can be mapped to the fuel’s production, transportation, and combustion, but a large portion of the greenhouse gas calculation can be traced right back to the
June 18, 2021 Read Full Article
Using CO2 & Renewable Electricity to Improve Biorefineries: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to CO2 Utilization
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) NREL is working on decarbonization of fuels and chemicals production by looking at the integration of CO2 utilization into two existing conceptual biorefinery designs, the brutal reality of CO2 reduction, market trends, decreasing the cost
June 18, 2021 Read Full Article
Avoiding the Coming Apocalypse: NREL’s Vision for Strategic Piloting and Enabling the Deployment of Bioenergy Technologies
by David J. Robichaud, Robert M. Baldwin, and Thomas D. Foust (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) ... Developing technologies are moving well beyond the traditional gasification/pyrolysis and biochemical pathways to include electrons to molecules, catalytic upgrading, electrolytic carbon capture and utilization,
June 17, 2021 Read Full Article
At Scale Feedstock Blending Optimization: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Waste-To-Energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What if we could build a biorefinery in every state and divert all 76 million dry T/y of organic wastes into transportation biofuels…forever? That’s what Pacific Northwest National Lab hopes will happen someday as they
June 14, 2021 Read Full Article
Single Gene Boosts Climate Resilience, Yield and Carbon Capture in Crops
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory) Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have discovered a single gene that simultaneously boosts plant growth and tolerance for stresses such as drought and salt, all while tackling the root cause of climate change by enabling plants
June 11, 2021 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Seeks Public Feedback on Removing Barriers to Participation in Funding Programs DEADLINE August 6, 2021
(Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is releasing a request for information (RFI) to understand the current barriers and actions needed to make its funding opportunities and innovation and entrepreneurship activities more inclusive, just, and equitable, in line
June 10, 2021 Read Full Article
Waste-To-Energy Biofuels: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Biofuels Production Potential
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Check out this NREL slide guide covering their latest work on waste-to-energy resources, municipal solid waste (MSW) streams available for bioenergy conversions, and the latest data and analyses on WTE projects. From food waste management
June 10, 2021 Read Full Article
Visit the Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit (ABPDU) in 3D Tour
The Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit (ABPDU) is a bioprocess scale-up facility at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory that enables early-stage advanced biofuels and bioproducts to successfully scale from the lab to commercial relevance. A new 3D virtual walkthrough of
June 09, 2021 Read Full Article
US Energy Secretary Launches Call to Slash Green Hydrogen Costs by 80% RFI DEADLINE: July 7, 2021
by Edith Hancock (PV Tech) The US Department of Energy (DOE) aims to bring the cost of making clean hydrogen down 80% in 10 years as part of a wider call for new developments in the energy sector. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm
June 08, 2021 Read Full Article
Biochemical Conversion and Lignin Utilization: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Spero Renewables
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Can you really convert 50% of lignin carbon into bio-phenols? Spero Renewables is working on exactly that and making polymers and chemicals from lignin bio-phenols. Spero even enables biofuel cost reduction of $1-2 gallons gasoline
June 08, 2021 Read Full Article
Novel Composite Catalyst Holds Promise for Cost-Effective Ethanol-to-Jet-Fuel Conversion
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory) ... The well-established, cost-competitive ethanol market provides an opportunity to shift the composition of jet fuel and other fuel products away from petroleum. The Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Bioenergy Technologies
June 07, 2021 Read Full Article
On-Site Hydrogen Production Technology Accelerates to Market
by Susan Bauer (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) California hydrogen fueling stations could soon benefit from lower cost approach -- A new technology that generates hydrogen from conventional natural gas, or renewable natural gas made from biomass, could be the next big
June 07, 2021 Read Full Article
Climate Policy Is Moving Again and a Voice for Algae Is More Important than Ever
(Algae Biomass Organization) The Biden Administration is weaving climate policy into almost every facet of the government, and at ABO we are working closely with the White House, Congress and federal agencies to ensure that the microalgae and seaweed industry can play its
June 04, 2021 Read Full Article
Fuels and Products from Waste: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Organic Waste Conversion
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Wet waste, municipal sludge residuals, animal manure, food waste, inedible fats/oils/greases – all things we used to throw away, but now can be converted into valuable bioproducts. Check out this illuminating slide guide on BETO’s
June 04, 2021 Read Full Article
Denmark, Norway, and the United States to Lead Zero-Emission Shipping Mission
(U.S. Department of Energy) The governments of Denmark, Norway, and the United States, along with the Global Maritime Forum and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, today announced that they will lead a new Zero-Emission Shipping Mission as
June 03, 2021 Read Full Article
Biodiesel from Stillage Fiber: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Xylome
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At the recent BETO peer review, Xylome shared this illuminating slide guide on making biodiesel precursors from dissolved organics and corn fiber present in grain ethanol stillage by engineering hyper-lipogenic strains of L. starkeyi to
June 03, 2021 Read Full Article
California Math Shows Internal Combustion Beating Electric on Emissions
by Tom Quimby (CCJ) ... Data released recently by CARB indicate that low carbon fuels, like renewable diesel and biodiesel, are actually rendering the best reductions in transportation-related sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. While federal and state policies continue to lavish
June 02, 2021 Read Full Article
Microalgal Biofuel Intermediates Production: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Algal Biomass
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) MicroBio Engineering, Heliae, Sandia National Labs and Cal Poly shared how they developed the capability for over 3,700 gal/ac-yrof biofuel intermediates through microalgal strain improvement, mixotrophic approaches and novel conversion technology, demonstrated annual productivity of
June 02, 2021 Read Full Article
WANTED: Unpublished and Underused Bioenergy Technology Data
(U.S. Department of Energy) Do you know of existing bioenergy technology data that aren’t Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, or Reusable (FAIR)? Could these data help accelerate the bioeconomy? The Accelerating Bioenergy Technology Advancement Through FAIR Data Delivery project is working to identify, acquire, and develop data and
June 01, 2021 Read Full Article
MBL Begins First Test of Tropical Seaweed Farming for Biofuels Production
by Diana Kenney (University of Chicago Marine Biological Laboratory) A team of researchers led by Loretta Roberson, associate scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, has installed the first seaweed farm in Puerto Rico and U.S. tropical waters. The research array
June 01, 2021 Read Full Article
Biden’s Budget Pledges $36B for Climate, Nearly Doubling Federal Spending on It
(Our Daily Planet) The Biden administration released its detailed budget proposal on Friday and it contained $36 billion in total for climate, a huge increase in climate-related spending. According to the budget justification, the increase of more than $14 billion compared over current spending
June 01, 2021 Read Full Article
Biofuel Blendstocks: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Naphthenic Biofuel-Diesel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biofuel blendstocks is what it’s all about for Dimitris Assanis from SUNY and Ofei Mante from RTI International. Check out their BETO presentation on bioblendstock oils rich in naphthenes produced using catalytic fast pyrolysis and
May 28, 2021 Read Full Article
Jeanne McCaherty's Testimony to MN House Conference Committee on the Future Fuels Act
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) ... Jeanne McCaherty, CEO of Guardian Energy and board member of MN Bio-Fuels, testified in support of the Future Fuels Act to the Minnesota House Conference Committee. Here's her testimony in full: ... Specifically, we have discussed strategies that can harness
May 27, 2021 Read Full Article
Iowa Lawmakers Urge Biden to Prioritize Biofuels
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Reps. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa; Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa; and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, sent a letter to President Biden on May 25 urging him to uphold his promise to
May 26, 2021 Read Full Article
United States Announced as Chair of Multilateral Biofuture Platform during Biofuture Summit II
(Biofuture Platform/PR Newswire) - Policy Blueprint was also unveiled to urgently accelerate the growth of the global bioeconomy; - The IEA's Net Zero by 2050 report published last week has highlighted the critical role that sustainable bioenergy will play in the clean
May 26, 2021 Read Full Article
DOE Announces $14.5 Million to Combat Plastics Waste and Pollution DEADLINE June 28, 2021
(U.S. DOE) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced an investment of up to $14.5 million for research and development to cut waste and reduce the energy used to recycle single-use plastics like plastic bags, wraps, and films. This funding directed
May 25, 2021 Read Full Article
Miscanthus Energy Crop Improvements: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Next-Gen Miscanthus
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Perennial grass miscanthus as an energy crop has advanced into high biomass yielding varieties and NC State University is working with Novozymes, Iogen and Oak Ridge National Lab on evaluating new miscanthus varieties and improving
May 24, 2021 Read Full Article
Scientists Uncover Surprising Behavior of a Fatty Acid Enzyme with Potential Biofuel Applications
by Jennifer Huber (Stanford University/SLAC) Derived from microscopic algae, the rare, light-driven enzyme converts fatty acids into starting ingredients for solvents and fuels. -- Although many organisms capture and respond to sunlight, it’s rare to find enzymes – proteins that promote
May 21, 2021 Read Full Article
Puerto Rico Testing Seaweed Farm for Biofuels
(Algae Planet) A team of researchers led by Loretta Roberson of the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass, has installed the first seaweed farm in Puerto Rico and U.S. tropical waters. The research array furthers the design and development of a system for offshore
May 21, 2021 Read Full Article
Biofuels Industry Wary of Tech-Neutral Tax Credit Absent CI Model Changes
by Patrick Newkumet (OPIS) Alternative low-carbon fuel producers would receive tax credits for reaching net-zero emissions under a U.S. Senate bill introduced last month, but biofuel industry stakeholders are concerned they will find it difficult to reach that target by 2030
May 21, 2021 Read Full Article
Is Sorghum the Solution?: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Cellulosic Bioenergy Crops
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Everyone wants to reduce the price of biofuels – and a team from Texas A&M, USDA, AgriLife Research, Mississippi State University and others are working on improving the economics and environmental sustainability of biomass sorghum
May 21, 2021 Read Full Article
Enhancing Land Surface Models to Grow Perennial Bioenergy Crops
(U.S. Department of Energy/EurekAlert!) High-yield miscanthus and switchgrass are promising alternatives to traditional annual crops for biofuels. -- ... To understand the effects of this trend, scientists must accurately represent biofuel crops in land surface models. Using observations from biofuel
May 20, 2021 Read Full Article
What Has Productivity 4X as Dense as Corn?: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Advanced Algal Systems
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Why algae? With biofuel yield 8-13 times larger than corn, well, why not! We took key slides from the 100+ slide deck from this year’s U.S. DOE BETO presentation on the latest goings ons with
May 20, 2021 Read Full Article
Velocys Provides Update on US, UK Biorefinery Rrojects
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) Velocys provided an update on its proposed commercial-scale U.K. and U.S. biorefinery projects in its 2020 financial report, released on May 17. The company also discussed an agreement that could allow its technology to be deployed
May 19, 2021 Read Full Article
Directed Funding Opportunity for Biomass Compositional Analysis DEADLINE: June 18, 2021
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is offering directed funding assistance for industry and universities interested in leveraging NREL's unique biomass compositional analysis capabilities. Eligibility All U.S. companies and universities are eligible to apply
May 19, 2021 Read Full Article
Switching to Switchgrass: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Next-Gen Feedstocks in Midwest
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Bioenergy switchgrass feedstock – can it be the next-generation feedstock we’ve been looking for in the Midwest? University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is looking at perennial bioenergy feedstock production on marginal croplands across geographic locations in
May 19, 2021 Read Full Article
Getting the Most from Sustainable Aviation Fuel
by Lloyd Ritter (Green Capitol LLC/Biofuels Digest) The aviation industry is currently responsible for less than 3% of total global carbon emissions, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). But with air travel expected to increase by more than 60 percent
May 19, 2021 Read Full Article
Achieving Cost-Effective Fleet Sustainability
(Fleet Owner) Steve Klein from Renewable Energy Group shares insight into how fleets can meet sustainability goals and regulations related to alternative fuels in a financially responsible manner. -- ... A sustainability plan that hurts their financial goals risks undermining
May 18, 2021 Read Full Article
Environmental Concerns Propel Research Into Marine Biofuels
(CaymanMamaNews/Globe Newswire/National Renewable Energy Laboratory) A global effort to reduce sulfur and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships has researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and other Department of Energy facilities investigating the potential use of marine biofuels. “Biofuels
May 17, 2021 Read Full Article
Granholm Discusses DOE’s View of Biofuels during Budget Hearing
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm briefly discussed how biofuels will into the U.S. Department of Energy’s priorities under the Biden administration during a House Committee on Appropriations hearing on May 6. The hearing was held by the
May 17, 2021 Read Full Article
U.S. Department of Energy Invests $35 Million to Dramatically Reduce Carbon Footprint of Biofuel Production
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today (May 14, 2021) announced $35 million in funding that will help slash carbon emissions and scale up the volume and efficiency of renewable biofuel. The 15 awarded research projects are
May 17, 2021 Read Full Article
Next-Gen Logistics and Blending: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Biomass Feedstock Logistics Systems
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This U.S. Department of Energy BETO project’s biomass blend concept will allow biorefineries to utilize a much larger proportion of the land within their procurement radius, thereby enabling larger scale, more economically feasible facilities to
May 17, 2021 Read Full Article
Biofuels Potential Impact at Scale: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Long lines and gas shortages on the East Coast due to the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack is making the U.S. Department of Energy’s Co-Optima work more important than ever. Check out this deep dive on what
May 13, 2021 Read Full Article
Bustos Talks Biofuels and Climate with Secretary of Energy
by Rhiannon Branch (Brownfield Ag News) US Representative from Illinois Cheri Bustos (D-17) continues to advocate for biofuels and the positive role they play in climate change mitigation. During a House Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee hearing last week, Bustos asked Secretary
May 12, 2021 Read Full Article
Accelerating Biofuels Depolyment: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Co-Optima’s Bioblendstocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) With all the talk lately of gas prices and shortages due to the Texas freeze earlier this year, it’s good to see lots of research and innovation coming with better bioblendstocks for our vehicles. Check
May 12, 2021 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Selects Four Projects to Move Co-Optimized Biofuels and Combustion Engines Closer to Market
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of four projects totaling $1 million to conduct cutting-edge applied research and development concerning the interaction between promising biofuels and combustion engines. The projects will leverage a
May 10, 2021 Read Full Article
The Co-Optima FY20 Year in Review Spotlights Recent Engine and Fuel Innovations.
(U.S. Department of Energy) A report released this week highlights the most significant breakthroughs of the last year in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines (Co-Optima) initiative, with details on findings that could translate into significant greenhouse gas
May 10, 2021 Read Full Article
American Coalition for Ethanol Commends Scientists For Evidence Ethanol Must Be Part Of The Climate Solution
(American Coalition for Ethanol/GrainNet) American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) welcomed more scientifically credible evidence provided by Department of Energy Argonne National Lab scientists that explicitly states, “Corn ethanol plays an important role in enhancing energy security and the rural economy while contributing to
May 10, 2021 Read Full Article
Interested in Becoming a BETO Project Reviewer?
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) relies on subject matter experts to review applications for federal funding opportunities and active projects. BETO is looking for skill sets including, but not limited to: Chemical
May 10, 2021 Read Full Article
Vilsack Promotes Aviation Biofuels
by Matthew Choi (Politico's Morning Energy) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack advocated for the potential for biofuels “to make air traffic more sustainable and decrease the overall carbon footprint of travel and commerce," echoing remarks made by Granholm during her appearance
May 07, 2021 Read Full Article
Research & Communications for Building Trust in Sustainably-Sourced Biomass
by Keith L. Kline (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) Many challenges remain to build public confidence in the role of biomass in sustainable, climate-smart, circular economies. How can we best – •Effectively communicate research to broad audiences? •Build trust in science and understanding
May 07, 2021 Read Full Article
ORNL Scientists Mark EE Week with Climate Talks to Local Students
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory) Esther Parish is one of eight scientists from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory talking to students in nine schools across East Tennessee as part of National Environmental Education Week, or EE Week. On April 13, she
May 07, 2021 Read Full Article
RFA: New Analysis from DOE Researchers Confirms Ethanol’s Low-Carbon Benefits
(Renewable Fuels Association) The carbon footprint of corn ethanol shrunk by 23% between 2005 and 2019 as farmers and ethanol producers adopted new technologies and improved efficiency, according to a new analysis published in the academic journal Biofuels Bioproducts and Biorefining by scientists
May 06, 2021 Read Full Article
U.S. EPA to Hand over Biofuel Exemption Documents to GAO Probe
by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is handing over to the Government Accountability Office information on oil refiners that petitioned for exemptions to biofuel blending mandates, in an effort to help the government watchdog investigate the exemption program. The
May 06, 2021 Read Full Article
“Dominating” Fungus Could Provide Solution to Producing More Biofuels and Valuable Chemicals
(University of York) he discovery of a novel enzyme that releases a valuable chemical from agricultural waste could provide an important breakthrough in the upscaling of renewable fuels and chemicals, a new study shows. ... Researchers – led by the University of York
May 06, 2021 Read Full Article
Growing America’s Energy Future: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Bioenergy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BETO leadership representatives shared this illuminating slide guide during Earth Week recently discussing plastics recycling initiatives, waste-to-energy efforts, engaging farmers as clean energy partners, carbon dioxide utilization, advancements in marine and aviation biofuels, and more. READ
May 06, 2021 Read Full Article
RFA to USDA: Ethanol Fuels Climate-Smart Agriculture, Energizes Rural Communities
(Renewable Fuels Association) In separate comment letters submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Renewable Fuels Association explained how expanded ethanol production and use can support the administration’s “climate-smart” agriculture goals and encouraged USDA to use the Rural Energy Pilot
April 30, 2021 Read Full Article
Ethanol Center Working on Converting Municipal Waste to Biofuel
(Advantage News) The NCERC at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is leading the way in converting municipal solid waste to biofuel through two proposals submitted for funding. The NCERC has received funding from a grant proposal that was submitted to SIUE’s Transitional and
April 27, 2021 Read Full Article
Governor Vetoes Proposal Requiring Enhanced Ethanol Labeling at Indiana Fuel Pumps
by Dan Carden (NWI.com) Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb has vetoed legislation that would have required fuel blends containing between 10% and 15% ethanol, also known as E15, be prominently labeled on Indiana fuel pumps. Senate Enrolled Act 303 proposed mandating a
April 27, 2021 Read Full Article
Scientists Uncover Structure of Light-Driven Enzyme with Potential Biofuel Applications
U.S. Department of Eneryg/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory) Although many organisms capture and respond to sunlight, enzymes - proteins that catalyze biochemical reactions - are rarely driven by light. Scientists have identified only three types of natural photoenzymes so far. The newest
April 27, 2021 Read Full Article
The BDO Zone Investment Coalition Announces $1 Billion of Deployable Capital for Biobased Projects Located in BDO Zones
(BDO Zone Investment Coalition) The BDO Zone Investment Coalition today announces the mobilization of $1BB of capital for deployment into biobased infrastructure and manufacturing plants located in Bioeconomy Development Opportunity (BDO) Zones. The BDO Zone Investment Coalition is a group of leading, independent biobased investors,
April 22, 2021 Read Full Article
UH Hilo Researches Whether Sugarcane Can Make Jet Fuel
(University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo) A groundbreaking study investigating the growth of selected varieties of sugarcane to convert into high-performance jet fuel is underway at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management (CAFNRM). Utilizing advanced technologies
April 21, 2021 Read Full Article
Bio-advantaged Fuel Blendstocks: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Co-optimization of Fuels & Engines
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Co-optima focuses on improved efficiency, performance and reduced pollution from ground transportation. Anthe George from Sandia National Labs shared this illuminating slide guide on the latest data and research from the U.S. Department of Energy
April 16, 2021 Read Full Article
Earth Day 2021 Series Day 16: How Can Renewable Fuels Enhance Environmental Justice? How about Cleaner Air and Lower Fuel Costs for Regular Cars for Many Years to Come?
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) First proposed in 2015, Advanced Biofuels USA’s proposal for a “Disappearing” Non-Renewable-Carbon User Fee begins: “If we’re serious about reducing climate change-causing greenhouse gases and reducing non-renewable liquid and gas use, we need serious
April 16, 2021 Read Full Article
DOE Scholars Program
(U.S. Department of Energy) The DOE Scholars Program is designed to attract talented undergraduate and graduate students, and recent graduates to opportunities that are carefully designed to help prepare and motivate participants toward the full range of entry and mid-level
April 13, 2021 Read Full Article
BETO’s Bioenergy Data Workshop: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Bioenergy Data
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The U.S. Department of Energy’s EnergyEfficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) just released the workshop summary report from the virtual event they hosted last summer that discussed how to collect and valorize
April 13, 2021 Read Full Article
Senators Ask USDA to Update Biodiesel Emissions Study
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) A group of 10 senators led by Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., on March 18 sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging the USDA to complete a full lifecycle assessment of
April 08, 2021 Read Full Article
U.S. Department of Energy Announces $61 Million for Biofuels Research to Reduce Transportation Emissions DEADLINE: April 30, 2021
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced more than $61 million for technologies and processes that produce low-cost, low-carbon biofuels. Biofuels are made up of renewable resources and can power heavy-duty vehicles that are difficult to electrify with
April 08, 2021 Read Full Article
Data Collection Project to Help Farmers Address Greenhouse Gas Emissions
by Leslie Reed (University of Nebraska–Lincoln/Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute/Nebraska Today) University of Nebraska–Lincoln researchers affiliated with the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute have received a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to better quantify
April 08, 2021 Read Full Article
How Green Are Electric Vehicles? In Short: Very Green. But Plug-in Cars Still Have Environmental Effects.
by Hiroko Tabuchi and Brad Plumer (New York Times) Here’s a guide to the main issues and how they might be addressed. -- ... But a lot depends on how much coal is being burned to charge up those plug-in
April 05, 2021 Read Full Article
Transitioning to a Sustainable Bioeconomy with Algae Biofuels and Biomaterials – Policy Directions for 2021 and Beyond
(Algae Biomass Organization) ... Algae, encompassing photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic aquatic organisms including microalgae and seaweeds (macroalgae), create a highly versatile and tunable platform for the development of fuels and products. In most cases, large scale algae production can be done
April 01, 2021 Read Full Article
EIA Releases First Biofuels Capacity and Feedstocks Update
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Energy Information Administration on March 31 issued the first edition of its monthly Biofuels Capacity and Feedstocks Update, reporting that 20.431 billion gallons of operable U.S. biofuel production capacity was in place as of
April 01, 2021 Read Full Article
Biocrude Passes the 2,000-hour Catalyst Stability Test
by Karyn Hede (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Sewage and food waste biocrude conversion process reaches major milestone -- A large-scale demonstration converting biocrude to renewable diesel fuel has passed a significant test, operating for more than 2,000 hours continuously without
March 26, 2021 Read Full Article
U.S. Energy Information Administration to Release New Monthly Biofuels Data
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) announced today that it will release expanded monthly biofuels data through a new report—the Monthly Biofuels Capacity and Feedstocks Update. On March 31, 2021, EIA plans to publish the first edition of
March 26, 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
Researchers Are Turning Kitchen Waste into Biofuels
by Steven Ashby (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) ... As part of advancing sustainable energy solutions, scientists at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are converting food waste into clean, renewable fuel that could power our planes, trains and
March 24, 2021 Read Full Article
Daily on Energy: Gas Companies, Ttilities, and Labor Unions Push Biden to Support ‘Clean’ Hydrogen
by Josh Siegel and Abby Smith (Washington Examiner) ... Natural gas companies, utilities, and labor unions are joining forces to lobby the Biden administration to invest in developing hydrogen as it pursues a historic federal clean energy spending program. The Clean Hydrogen
March 23, 2021 Read Full Article
New Clean Energy Process Converts Methane to Hydrogen with Zero Carbon Dioxide Emissions
by Lynne Roeder (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Novel bimetallic catalyst also yields valuable solid carbon co-products for manufacturing industries -- ... Researchers from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and West Virginia University (WVU), in collaboration with industry partners Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas)
March 22, 2021 Read Full Article
TeselaGen Partners with Berkeley Lab’s Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit to Accelerate the Bioeconomy
(Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit (ABPDU)/CISION) Collaboration deploys the TeselaGen AI-enabled operating system to close the gap between promising research and large-scale fermentation-based production of renewable bioproducts -- TeselaGen Biotechnology and the Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit (ABPDU) of the Lawrence
March 22, 2021 Read Full Article
Lawmakers Introduce Comprehensive CO2 Infrastructure Bill
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Sens. Chris Coons, D-Del., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Reps. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, and David McKinley, R-W.V., on March 17 introduced the Storing CO2 and Lowering Emissions (SCALE) Act, a comprehensive CO2 infrastructure package. The bill
March 18, 2021 Read Full Article
DOE Backs Projects to Produce Hydrogen from Coal, Biomass
by Darrell Proctor (PowerMag.com) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the agency has awarded $2 million to four research and development (R&D) projects aimed at advancing clean-hydrogen production technologies. The DOE’s awards on March 15 are part of a push by
March 18, 2021 Read Full Article
The Geopolitics of Critical Minerals Supply Chains
by Jane Nakano (Center for Strategic & International Studies) As clean energy technology becomes the latest frontier for geoeconomic rivalry, the security of supply chains for rare earths and critical minerals—essential materials for clean energy—has become a global strategic issue. The
March 17, 2021 Read Full Article
Aemetis Discusses Plans for Renewable Diesel, Cellulosic Ethanol
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... McAfee (Eric McAfee, CEO of Aemetis Inc.) provided an update of the many improvement projects underway at the Keyes plant that will reduce the carbon intensity (CI) of the fuel it produces, including the
March 16, 2021 Read Full Article
U.S. DOE Job Office to Help Fossil Fuel Workers Find Clean Energy Jobs
by Alexander Richter (Think Geoenergy) A new job office within the U.S. Department of Energy is to support fossil fuel workers find jobs in the clean energy sector, particularly in geothermal energy. -- With continued announcements on a clean energy drive
March 16, 2021 Read Full Article
Climate Change: Jet Fuel from Waste 'Dramatically Lowers' Emissions
by Matt McGrath (BBC) A new approach to making jet fuel from food waste has the potential to massively reduce carbon emissions from flying, scientists say. -- Currently, most of the food scraps that are used for energy around the
March 16, 2021 Read Full Article
The Green Secrets of Goat Poop – Smarter Materials, Better Medicines, and Sustainable Biofuels
(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/SciTechDaily) Microbes found in the goat gut microbiome could help humans convert plant material into valuable, eco-friendly commodities. Converting the tough fibers and complex sugars in plants into biofuels and other products could be humanity’s ticket to smarter materials,
March 16, 2021 Read Full Article
Characteristics of the Soil in Biofuel Crop Fields Affect Its Potential to Store Carbon
(NewsWise) Microbiome and soil chemistry at long-term bioenergy research sites challenge the idea that switchgrass increases carbon accrual in surface soils on marginal lands. -- In this study, researchers characterized the influence of crop and site on fungal and bacterial
March 16, 2021 Read Full Article
WEBINAR: Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines Past, Present and Future: What Did We Learn and Where Do We Go Next? --- September 30, 2021 --- ONLINE
Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines Capstone Webinar Series: How Can Co-Optimized Fuels and SI Engines Enhance Efficiency while Reducing Carbon Emissions of LD Passenger Vehicles? While electric cars are coming off the assembly line in ever-growing numbers, vehicles with internal combustion
March 15, 2021 Read Full Article
New Notices of Intent for Sustainable Transportation Technologies Funding Opportunities
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced its intent to issue three sustainable transportation technologies funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) in Spring 2021. These potential funding opportunities seek innovative research, development,
March 10, 2021 Read Full Article
DOE Invests $24 Million to Advance Transformational Air Pollution Capture DEADLINE May 18,. 2021
(U.S. Department of Energy) Removing CO2 from the Atmosphere will Help America Achieve Net-Zero Emissions, Create Jobs -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today (March 5, 2021) announced up to $24 million for research into technology that captures carbon emissions
March 10, 2021 Read Full Article
5 Key Tech Takeaways: Highlights from Tech Presented at ABLC 2020
by Iacovos Vasalos (Center for Research and Technology-Hellas/Biofuels Digest) This report summarizes highlights from the ABLC 2020 Biofuels Digest Virtual Conference, which took place in July 7-10, 2020. (And if you haven’t already registered for this year’s ABLC Digital on May 3-7,
March 10, 2021 Read Full Article
EXCLUSIVE-U.S. Government to Expand Biofuels Forecasts as Renewable Diesel Sector Grows
by Karl Plume and Stephanie Kelly (Reuters / NASDAQ) The U.S. departments of agriculture and energy plan to change two closely watched monthly reports to account for the rapid growth of renewable diesel, a clean burning fuel made from soy and
March 09, 2021 Read Full Article
Advancing Synergistic Waste Utilization as Biofuels Feedstocks: Preprocessing, Co-products, and Sustainability Workshop --- April 14-15, 2021 --- ONLINE
On April 14–15, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) will host a workshop to discuss municipal solid waste streams as a feedstock for biofuels. BETO recognizes that waste streams are promising, but they must meet cost,
March 09, 2021 Read Full Article
CFDC Calls Nebraska E30 Demonstration One More Step Towards Higher Blends
(Clean Fuels Development Coalition) The Clean Fuels Development Coalition (CFDC) today applauded the work of the State of Nebraska following the release of a report that found higher ethanol blends are safe, efficient, and cost effective when used in conventional vehicles. The
March 08, 2021 Read Full Article
PNNL Energy Sciences Center Will Help Realize Clean Energy Future
by Casey Knopik (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) New facility will foster research collaborations to accelerate scientific discovery and technological innovation -- A new research facility on the Richland campus of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is set to open fall 2021. The Energy Sciences
March 08, 2021 Read Full Article
USC Scientists May Have Unlocked Kelp’s Potential as a Major Biofuel Source
by Gary Polakovic (USC News) Using a “kelp elevator,” researchers at the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies were able to grow the biofuel crop in large quantities in the open ocean. ... Scientists at the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies on Santa Catalina
March 03, 2021 Read Full Article
No Project Left Behind: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to USDA Funds & Programs
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today we look at paths to leverage your next project using USDA programs and funds, with former acting USDA Undersecretary Bill Hagy, No Project will be Left Behind! Check out this illuminating slide guide covering
March 02, 2021 Read Full Article
New Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm Has Advice for Texas — and for the Oil Industry
by Will Englund (Washington Post) ... Will Englund: This country is going to have more electric cars and trucks, and by 2035, it won’t be universal, but it is happening quickly. What is the oil sector in America going to look like when
March 01, 2021 Read Full Article
News Release: Groundbreaking Research into White-Rot Fungi Proves Its Value in Carbon Sequestration from Lignin
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) A foundational study conducted by scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) shows for the first time that white-rot fungi are able to use carbon captured from lignin as a carbon source. The research confirms a hypothesis
March 01, 2021 Read Full Article
Investing or Raising Capital in the Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to The Biotech Bull Market
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today we look at the Biotech Bull Market — what’s up, and why. How can you get your fair share in investing or capital raising? We are hunting for Value at AMRS, CDXS, REGI, GEVO,
March 01, 2021 Read Full Article
Climate Ally Jennifer Granholm Confirmed as Energy Secretary
by Amy Lupica (Our Daily Planet) Yesterday, the Senate voted to confirm former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm as Secretary of Energy. Granholm, who has positive relationships with both Democrats and Republicans, has committed to implementing science-based policy as part of President Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan. In
February 26, 2021 Read Full Article
Researchers Are Turning Kitchen Waste into Biofuels
by Steven Ashby (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory/Phys.Org) When we eat, our bodies convert food into energy that fuels our lives. But what happens to the energy stored in the 80 billion pounds of food thrown away annually in America? As part
February 24, 2021 Read Full Article
8 Key Federal Resources Supporting Anaerobic Digestion
by Bill Hagy (Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc./ Biofuels Digest) ... One of President Biden’s Clean Energy initiatives includes partnering with farmers, ranchers and businesses engaged in livestock production to implement environmentally sound agriculture practices and deploy methane digesters that generate new sources of
February 24, 2021 Read Full Article
Lighting the Path to Net Zero: NREL's Strategy Drives Deep Transportation Decarbonization
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) From Passenger Cars to Commercial Trucks, Aircraft, Marine, Rail, and Mobility Systems, NREL’s Whole-System Approach Ensures a Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Climate Future -- The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the
February 23, 2021 Read Full Article
Biden-Harris Administration Launches American Innovation Effort to Create Jobs and Tackle the Climate Crisis
(White House) White House Forms Climate Innovation Working Group, Outlines Innovation Agenda; U.S. Department of Energy Announces $100 Million Climate Innovation Research Opportunity -- ... As the opportunity for American leadership in climate innovation is vast, the Administration is outlining key planks
February 17, 2021 Read Full Article
Advancing the Bioeconomy: From Waste to Conversion-Ready Feedstocks Workshop Summary Report
(U.S. Deprtment of Energy) The Advancing the Bioeconomy: From Waste to Conversion-Ready Feedstocks Workshop, coordinated by the Bioenergy Technologies Office, gathered experts in the fields of waste management, solid materials handling, and biofuel and bioproduct development and production to give
February 16, 2021 Read Full Article
Scientists Discover Plants' Roadblock to Specialty Oil Production
(Brookhaven National Laboratory/EurekAlert!) Research solves longstanding problem and opens path for growing crops to produce industrially important high-value fatty acids -- Hundreds of naturally occurring specialty fatty acids (building blocks of oils) have potential for use as raw materials for making
February 12, 2021 Read Full Article
NREL Reports Sustainability Benchmarks for Plastics Recycling and Redesign
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Researchers developing renewable plastics and exploring new processes for plastics upcycling and recycling technologies will now be able to easily baseline their efforts to current manufacturing practices to understand if their efforts will save energy and reduce
February 11, 2021 Read Full Article
Biofuel Opportunities for Marine Sector: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to ORNL
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Mike Kass shared this illuminating slide guide at ABLC 2020 as part of the marine and heavy duty biofuel opportunities panel. Dive into marine cargo vessel fuels, the advantages of using
February 11, 2021 Read Full Article
British Airways Fuels Its Future with Second Sustainable Aviation Fuel Partnership
(LanzaTech/LanzaJet) British Airways is investing in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technology provider and SAF producer LanzaJet as the company builds its first commercial scale plant in Georgia, USA •British Airways will purchase SAF from LanzaJet’s US plant to power a number of
February 09, 2021 Read Full Article
EIA's Annual Energy Outlook 2021 Explores the Long-Term Impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. Energy Mix through 2050
(U.S. Department of Energy) The United States will likely take years to return to 2019 levels of energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions following the impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. economy and global energy sector, according to projections in
February 05, 2021 Read Full Article
NREL Develops New Method to Better Understand Ethanol Production
(Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office funded researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and collaborated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institute of Standards and Technology to address a significant challenge
February 05, 2021 Read Full Article
Biochemical, Deacetylation and Mechanical Refining Process: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to NREL’s Biomass Deconstruction
What does an ideal biomass deconstruction process need? Find out in this illuminating slide guide from Xiaowen Chen, Senior Chemical Engineer in the Catalytic Carbon Transformation and Scale-up Center at National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Also take a peek into NREL’s
February 05, 2021 Read Full Article
Future Fuels Change the Balance of Power
by Chris Edwards (Engineering and Technology) Renewables may actually keep carbon fuels going for decades to come, but a new group of energy-rich countries will emerge. -- ... The question is what these new vehicles will use instead. For
February 04, 2021 Read Full Article
New Federal Funding for Algae in 2021 Will Advance Science and Technology Commercialization
(Algae Biomass Organization) Federal support for advanced algae R&D is on a solid foundation for 2021 with the recent passage of an omnibus appropriations bill that was included in last year’s COVID-19 relief legislation. These funds extend a long-standing tradition
February 04, 2021 Read Full Article
Bioenergy Technologies Office 2021 Project Peer Review --- March 8-16, 2021 and March 22-26, 2021 --- ONLINE
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is hosting the 2021 Project Peer Review on March 8-16, 2021 and March 22-26, 2021 that will be held virtually on Zoom. Approximately 300 projects in BETO’s research, development, and demonstration portfolio
February 03, 2021 Read Full Article
Waste Makes Haste – D.O.E., SABIC, TOTAL, PLASTIC ENERGY Racing to Recycle Plastics into Higher-Value Materials
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Last week, the U.S. Department of Energy released the Plastics Innovation Challenge Draft Roadmap and a Request for Information seeking stakeholder input on the Draft Roadmap. Originally announced in November 2019, the Plastics Innovation Challenge is a
February 02, 2021 Read Full Article
Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium WEBINAR: Developing Modeling Tools for the Emerging Biorefinery Industry --- February 11, 2021
Join the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium (FCIC) for an informational webinar highlighting the computational modeling work occurring within the consortium. Two FCIC researchers will discuss computational modeling approaches to predict the behavior of biomass feedstocks. Dr. Yidong Xia from Idaho National
February 01, 2021 Read Full Article
Electric Cars Are Coming, and Fast. Is the Nation’s Grid Up to It?
by Brad Plumer (New York Times) GM’s decision this week to phase out gasoline vehicles is the latest in a major shift that will mean drastic new demands on electric utilities. Here are four things that will need to happen. ... Generate
February 01, 2021 Read Full Article
Where’s Your Lithium from? EU’s New Green Deal to Track Critical Materials
by Tammy Klein (Transport Energy Strategies) Renewable electricity generation and storage requires huge quantities of mined raw materials. In Europe, most of these elements are currently imported and unsustainably produced. So the European Commission has hatched a new plan for obtaining them
February 01, 2021 Read Full Article
Fields of Breeders' Dreams: A Team Effort toward Targeted Crop Improvements -- Community Effort Yields Reference Switchgrass Genome, Environmental Adaptations Data
(Department of Energy/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/EurekAlert) ... Identifying and breeding varieties that have high productivity across a range of environments is becoming increasingly important for food, fuel and other applications, and breeders aren't interested in waiting decades to develop new
January 29, 2021 Read Full Article
NREL Reports Sustainability Benchmarks for Plastics Recycling and Redesign
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Researchers developing renewable plastics and exploring new processes for plastics upcycling and recycling technologies will now be able to easily baseline their efforts to current manufacturing practices to understand if their efforts will save energy and reduce
January 22, 2021 Read Full Article
Recording and Highlights from the ARPA-E Web Conference: “Changing What’s Possible for a Sustainable Future”
by Tammy Klein (Transport Energy Strategies) Thanks to all of you who attended the recent webinar with Dr. David Babson, Program Director, Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E). The title of his talk was “Changing what’s possible for a sustainable future,”
January 21, 2021 Read Full Article
USDA’s Support for Rural Growth: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Rural Business-Cooperative Service
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Mark Brodziski, Deputy Administrator at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, shared this illuminating slide guide at ABLC 2020 about how the USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service offers programs to support rural business growth across markets in
January 21, 2021 Read Full Article
Top 10 Bioeconomy Must-Knows in the Biden Transition
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Who are the key bioeconomy players in the new Biden Administration? What recent moves by the outgoing Trump Administration and Congress will set their budget and regulatory framework for 2021. What will the new Administration
January 20, 2021 Read Full Article
Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act Passed as Part of National Defense Authorization Act
(Bergeson & Campbell) On December 28, 2020, the House overrode President Trump’s veto and passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (H.R. 6395) by a vote of 322 to 87, and the Senate passed the bill on January 1, 2021,
January 20, 2021 Read Full Article
Plastics Innovation Challenge Draft Roadmap and Request for Information
(U.S. Department of Energy) In January, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the Plastics Innovation Challenge Draft Roadmap and a Request for Information (RFI) seeking stakeholder input on the Draft Roadmap. Announced in November 2019, the Plastics Innovation
January 20, 2021 Read Full Article
Renewed Focus on Climate Legislation Could Help Biofuels
by Sara Wyant (Ag Week) The biofuel industry argues that President-elect Joe Biden can also make progress on his climate goals by expanding biofuel usage mandates, embracing a low carbon fuel policy and increasing vehicle emissions standards. Now that Democrats have
January 19, 2021 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Establishes ‘Division of Minerals Sustainability’
by Emily Holbrook (Environment + Energy Leader) ... US Department of Energy (DOE) announced the establishment of a Division of Minerals Sustainability. In a statement on its website, the DOE says the division was created to bring an increased focus to
January 19, 2021 Read Full Article
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