(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announced that up to $9 million in funding will be made available through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI) to
Department of Energy (DOE)
Back TO HOMEEthanol Exports Dip in April, as India and Philippines Disappear from Market
(Renewable Fuels Association) ... Noticeably absent from the April roster were India and the Philippines. Together, the two counties imported more than 50 mg of U.S. ethanol in March, and India had been the third-leading market for U.S. export in the
June 05, 2017 Read Full Article
A Decade of Bioenergy Research
by Patrick C. Miller (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Department of Energy’s three bioenergy research centers have no intention of resting on their accomplishments. -- In the 10 years since the U.S. DOE established three bioenergy research centers with the goal
June 02, 2017 Read Full Article
Fungi the Key to Efficient Biomass Breakdown and Cheap Biofuels?
(Biofuels International) ... A team from the University of California, Santa Barbara are focusing their research on the estimated 1.5 million species of fungi on earth which can collectively break down almost any substance. In an article published in Nature
May 30, 2017 Read Full Article
DOE Seeking Candidates for Biomass Research Advisory Committee
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the U.S. Department of Energy is soliciting nomination for candidates to fill vacancies on the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee (Committee). Deadline for Technical
May 30, 2017 Read Full Article
Presentations from BETO’s 2017 Project Peer Review Now Online
On March 6–9, 2017, BETO hosted its biennial Project Peer Review in Denver, Colorado. During the event, approximately 192 projects in BETO’s research and development (R&D) portfolio were presented to the public and a panel of external subject matter experts.
May 26, 2017 Read Full Article
The 2017 BioenergizeME Infographic Challenge Winner Is… “Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Algae”!
(U.S. Department of Energy)The Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) announced the winner of the 2017 BioenergizeME Infographic Challenge on May 4 during a special awards ceremony. The winning infographic, titled “Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Algae,” was created by two students from Normal
May 26, 2017 Read Full Article
BETO Announces Third Round of Small Business Vouchers Pilot
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is proud to announce five businesses that will collaborate with national labs as part of the third round of the Small Business Vouchers (SBV) Pilot! The
May 26, 2017 Read Full Article
The Energy 202: Trump Administration Has New Energy Buzzword
by Dino Grandoni (The Washington Post) In the Trump administration, “energy dominance” has replaced “energy independence” as the go-to phrase for describing the federal government’s broad energy goals -- in President Trump’s case, to promote as much oil, gas and coal
May 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump’s Proposed Budget Includes Cuts to EPA, DOE and USDA
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) President Donald Trump has released his proposed budget for fiscal year (FY) 2018, which includes $3.6 trillion in cuts. According to the White House, the reductions are the most proposed by any president. The proposal
May 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Supplying the Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to DOE Feedstocks R&D Programs
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) More than 1 billion tons of biomass could be domestically converted into biofuels and products, say DOE. Biomass could displace 25% of U.S. petroleum use annually by 2030, keeping $260 billion in the United States, adding 1.1 million direct jobs, and
May 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Renewables Nuked; Nukes Renewed: Bioenergy Slashed 69% as US DOE Budget Gets Detail; The Digest’s 7-Minute Guide to the DOE Budget
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the US Department of Energy submitted a request for a $1.433B cut, or 69.3 percent to the Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy annual budget, and targeted a $168.4M cut in the budget for
May 24, 2017 Read Full Article
New Insights into 3rd Method of Microbial Energy Production
(Bioenergy Insight) Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding the workings of the ‘third’ method of microbial production, known as ‘flavin-based electron bifurcation’ (FBEB). Their findings could be hugely significant for the world of microbial energy and biofuels. The discovery of
May 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Peters, Alexander & Stabenow Reintroduce Vehicle Innovation Act Bipartisan Bill Boosts R&D for Fuel Efficient Vehicle Technologies
(Office of Senator Gary Peters) U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today announced they are reintroducing the bipartisan Vehicle Innovation Act to encourage investments in research and development of clean vehicle and advanced safety
May 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Livin’ La Vida Octane: The Quest for Torque and Affordable, Sustainable Vroom
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In recent days. we’ve been updating some very useful industry charts relating to costs, carbon, and biofuels — and here’s another highly useful chart from the University of Illinois that looks at ethanol as a
May 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Insight into Enzyme’s 3D Structure Could Cut Biofuel Costs
(Los Alamos National Laboratory) Neutron crystallography maps LPMOs that break down fibrous cellulose -- Using neutron crystallography, a Los Alamos research team has mapped the three-dimensional structure of a protein that breaks down polysaccharides, such as the fibrous cellulose of
May 19, 2017 Read Full Article
NREL Research Takes Off For International Space Station
by Wayne Hicks (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Experiments bear repeating, especially when they explode on their way to the International Space Station. Almost two years ago, on June 28, 2015, the rocket carrying experiments from Chatfield High School to the orbiting
May 18, 2017 Read Full Article
Helping Trump Help Bioenergy
by Douglas L. Faulkner (Cleantech Conservative/Biofuels Digest) ... The Trump Administration’s two recent Executive Orders on “Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth” and especially, “Promoting Agriculture and Rural Prosperity in America” (March 28 & April 25, respectively), not only highlight renewable
May 17, 2017 Read Full Article
Rapid Advancement: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to the Nation’s 10th Manufacturing USA Institute – RAPID
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Last December , the U.S. Department of Energy announced it would support the country’s 10th Manufacturing USA Institute with $70 million over five years, subject to federal appropriations. Another $70 million is expected from RAPID’s partners, including
May 17, 2017 Read Full Article
Argonne National Laboratory and National Renewable Energy Laboratory Receive Funding to Support the Blending of Gevo’s Isobutanol with Gasoline
(Gevo) Funding Being Provided Through Department of Energy’s Small Business Voucher Program -- Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ:GEVO) announced today that it was selected to collaborate with researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as part of DOE’s Small Business Vouchers (SBV)
May 12, 2017 Read Full Article
ORNL: Bacterial Boost for Biobased Fuels
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Biomass Magazine) "Electrical” bacteria are the key ingredient in a new process developed by the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory that recycles wastewater from biofuel production to generate hydrogen. The hydrogen can then be used
May 10, 2017 Read Full Article
Trash into Treasure: Sandia Could Help Biofuel Pay for Itself with Goods Made from Waste
(U.S. Department of Energy/Sandia National Laboratories/EurekAlert!) A recent discovery by Sandia National Laboratories researchers may unlock the potential of biofuel waste -- and ultimately make biofuels competitive with petroleum. Fuel made from plants is much more expensive than petroleum, but one
May 09, 2017 Read Full Article
CAAFI’s R&D Team SOAP-Jet Webinar Series: INL Presented on the Development of Advanced Feedstock Supply Systems
(Commercial Alternative Aviation Fuel Initiative) CAAFI’s R&D team continued the Seminars on Alternatives to Petroleum (SOAP)-Jet webinar series on March 24th. This webinar series is intended to provide a forum for members of the alternative jet fuel R&D community to
May 05, 2017 Read Full Article
NREL Finds 6 Billion Gallons of SAJF Per Year Could Enter U.S. Market by 2030
(Commercial Alternative Aviation Fuels Initiative) The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently released the aviation biofuels report, “Potential Avenues for Significant Biofuels Penetration in the U.S. Aviation Market.” The report finds that it is possible to displace 30 percent of
May 05, 2017 Read Full Article
Biogas to Fuels and Chemicals: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Methanotroph R&D
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Can we enable the sustainable, nationwide production of biofuels that are compatible with transportation infrastructure, displace a share of petroleum‐derived fuels to reduce U.S. dependence on oil, and encourage the creation of a new domestic
May 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump Puts Critic of Renewable Energy in Charge of Renewable Energy Office
by Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis (The Washington Post) President Trump has appointed Daniel Simmons, a conservative scholar who sharply questioned the value of promoting renewable energy sources and curbs on greenhouse gas emissions, to oversee the Energy Department’s Office of
May 03, 2017 Read Full Article
DOE Publishes 2017 US Energy and Employment Report
The 2017 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) finds that the Traditional Energy and Energy Efficiency sectors today employ approximately 6.4 million Americans. These sectors increased in 2016 by just under 5 percent, adding over 300,000 net new jobs, roughly
May 02, 2017 Read Full Article
Explore Bioeconomy Careers with the Interactive Bioenergy Career Map Published by the U.S. Department of Energy
(U.S. Department of Energy) Are you looking to understand how you fit within the changing bioenergy landscape or how to jumpstart your career in bioeconomy? Check out the Bioenergy Career Map—an interactive, educational tool that explores the growing network of
April 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Bioenergy Internship & Fellowship Opportunities
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) regularly engages interns and fellows in the sciences, engineering, and liberal arts through a variety of internship and fellowship programs, including the following: American Association for
April 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Energy Department Publishes Educational Resources: Bioenergy in the Classroom including Coloring Book
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Department of Energy's Education and Workforce Development resources include: CLASSROOM RESOURCES Lesson Plans Search through the Education Toolbox to find lesson plans and lab activities for use in your classroom. Filter by subject, grade level, and energy literacy
April 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Energy Department Announces New National Laboratory Collaborations with 38 Small Businesses
(U.S. Department of Energy) At Earth Day Texas 2017, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the 38 small businesses that will collaborate with national lab researchers through the Small Business Vouchers (SBV) pilot. SBV facilitates access to the DOE
April 28, 2017 Read Full Article
BETO Launches Interactive Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Projects Map
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) announces the launch of its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Projects Map, an interactive map depicting all of BETO’s recent projects throughout the United States that
April 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Optimizing Cyanobacteria for Biofuel Production
(Phys.Org) Cyanobacteria have attracted significant attention as potential biocatalysts for production of clean energy and green chemicals from sunlight and atmospheric CO2. A recent study investigated effects of altering large cellular complexes called phycobilisomes, which cyanobacteria use to efficiently capture
April 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Changes to Energy Dept. Websites Downplay Renewables as a Replacement for Fossil Fuels
by Chelsea Harvey (The Washington Post) The Energy Department is changing its website to cut down on Obama-era language touting renewable energy sources as a climate-friendly replacement for fossil fuels, according to reports from an environmental watchdog group. ... the department’s website now focuses
April 25, 2017 Read Full Article
US Wood Pellet Exports Are Sustainable, Despite Growth: Report
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Tennessee, officials at Oak Ridge released a report on an ongoing debate about costs and benefits of wood-pellet based bioenergy production in the southeastern United States (SE US) requires an understanding of the science
April 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Center for Climate Strategies Builds Economic Transition Modeling Capacity in Cameroon
(Center for Climate Strategies) As a part of the Africa Low Emissions Development Strategies (ALEDS) project, the Center for Climate Strategies (CCS) is supporting local self-determination and global integration by providing training, capacity building, and technical assistance to the government
April 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Vertimass to Present at U.S. Department of Energy's Annual Bioenergy Technology Office (BETO) Conference
(Vertimass, LLC) One of four advanced biofuels and bioproducts technology companies invited to present -- Vertimass LLC is proud to announce that it is one of four companies selected to present at the "Pitch for a Green Future" session at
April 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Tar Sands/Oil Sands Carbon Footprint Underestiated by Nearly 25%
by Lisa Song (The Energy Mix) In a finding that should resonate strongly for Canadian decision-makers charged with meeting the country’s climate targets, new research reveals that the carbon footprint of a litre of synthetic crude extracted from tar sands/oil
April 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Perry: Trump Committed to Making Renewables Competitive with Fossil Fuels
by John Siciliano (Washington Examiner) Energy Secretary Rick Perry said Monday that the Trump administration supports making wind and solar energy more competitive with coal and fossil fuels, while simultaneously urging the world to embrace more natural gas exports and
April 11, 2017 Read Full Article
The Quest to Capture and Store Carbon – and Slow Climate Change — Just Reached a New Milestone
by Chris Mooney (The Washington Post) A new large-scale technology has launched in Decatur, Illinois that, by combining together corn-based fuels with the burial of carbon dioxide deep underground, could potentially result in the active removal of greenhouse gases from the
April 11, 2017 Read Full Article
US-Based Researchers Develop System for Converting Waste Methane to Microbial Biomass
by Liz Gyekye (Bioenergy Insight) A new paper by researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) describes a process that captures methane from natural gas and biogas and that uses photosynthesis to convert it into biomass feedstock. The new paper is called ‘A
April 11, 2017 Read Full Article
Oak Ridge Pioneers New Way to See Biomass Pretreatment Impacts
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists have reported in Nature a new high resolution approach to visioning the impact of biomass pre-treatment technology. By combining spectroscopy and emerging microscopy techniques, the team measured the
April 10, 2017 Read Full Article
Could This Enzyme Help Turn Biofuel Waste into Something Useful?
by Sarah Yang (Berkeley Lab) Joint BioEnergy Institute study targets LigM for its role in breaking down aromatic pollutants -- A protein used by common soil bacteria is providing new clues in the effort to convert aryl compounds, a common
April 07, 2017 Read Full Article
The Whole-Soil Carbon Flux in Response to Warming
by Caitlin E. Hicks Pries, C. Castanha, R. C. Porras, M. S. Torn (Science Magazine) Soils contain about twice as much carbon as Earth's atmosphere, so their response to warming is crucial to understanding carbon fluxes in a changing climate. Past studies have heated
April 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Ethanol Workforce Big on Military Vets
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) A new Department of Energy (DOE) study shows that military veterans make up a significant share of America’s ethanol industry workforce which is not only larger than any other energy sector but more than twice the national
April 03, 2017 Read Full Article
In Response: Study, Article Misrepresented, Did Disservice to Ethanol
by Ashwin Raman (Duluth News Tribune/Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) I believe the March 21 story, “Habitat loss highest near ethanol plants,” did a disservice to readers because it cited a study that contains dubious and inaccurate conclusions. The study focuses on the period
March 30, 2017 Read Full Article
BETO Publishes Alternative Aviation Fuels Report
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) published a report titled Alternative Aviation Fuels: Overview of Challenges, Opportunities, and Next Steps. This new report provides an overview of the current state of alternative aviation fuels,
March 29, 2017 Read Full Article
Preliminary Assessment of Spatial Competition in the Market for E85
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Preliminary Assessment of Spatial Competition in the Market for E85 presentation and supplementary report from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory examine how the spacing of E85 fueling stations impacts E85 retail
March 27, 2017 Read Full Article
Researchers Find New Way to Typify Cellulose, Advance Bioproducts
(Washington State University/Biomass Magazine) Researchers at Washington State University Tri-Cities and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have found a new way to define the molecular structure of cellulose, which could lead to cheaper and more efficient ways to make a variety of
March 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Proteins Interactions Hold Key for Maximizing Oil Production in Plants for Biofuels and Biomaterials
(Brookhaven National Laboratory/Lab Manager) Findings point to new biochemical strategies for increasing oil yield from crops grown to produce biofuels and biomaterials -- ... By exploring the details of this delicate energy balance, a group of scientists from the U.S.
March 23, 2017 Read Full Article
California Actively Reviewing LFCS Including LCA Models and Aviation Biofuel
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In California, review of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard is well underway with a public meeting looking scheduled for April 4 looking at lifecycle assessment modeling for fuels and feedstocks including potential updates to CA-GREET
March 23, 2017 Read Full Article
New Study Sets the Stage for Engineering Fungi to Make Fuels instead of Toxins
(Phys.Org) Molds produce a wide range of both valuable and toxic molecules, which have important implications for energy production, agriculture and human health. A recent study revealed that an organelle within fungal cells called the endoplasmic reticulum acts as a
March 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Wassup, DOE? The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to the Bioenergy Technologies Office
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What’s up at the DOE? Bioenergy Technologies Office Director Jonathan Male answered the question in this update, given at ABLC 2017 in Washington. In this deck, he looks at milestones ahead, programs, goals and challenges.
March 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Big Bird, You’re Fired! And All of You Enviros, too! Trump Thumps, Dumps in New Budget
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Good-bye ARPA-E, DOE, Loan Guarantee program, Energy Star, OPIC, USTDA, NEA, and the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program. Even Big Bird gets the guillotine. In Washington, the White House released its budget requests for 2018,
March 20, 2017 Read Full Article
2016 Survey of Non-Starch Alcohol and Renewable Hydrocarbon Biofuels Producers
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe/National Renewable Energy Laboratory) The reports tracks the status of non-starch alcohol and renewable hydrocarbon projects. What it is: Publicly available annual report summarizing U.S. advanced biorefinery projects and global trends in the deployment of commercial technologies as of year-end
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Sandia Purposefully Crashing Algae Ponds
(Algae Industry Magazine) For algal biofuels to compete with petroleum, farming algae has to become less expensive. Toward that goal, Sandia National Laboratories is testing strains of algae for resistance to a host of predators and diseases, and learning to
March 10, 2017 Read Full Article
Argonne National Laboratory Develops New System to Enhance AD Process
(Bioenergy Insight) US-based science and engineering centre Argonne National Laboratory has developed technology that synergistically uses two waste biomass streams to generate two bioproducts and enhance the process of anaerobic digestion (AD). According to the organisation, the digestion of wastewater can
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
ARPA-E 2017: Optimism Turns to Tension as Sector Prepares to Protect Energy R&D Funding
by Krysti Shallenberger (Utility Dive) ... At stake is funding for the Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy, more commonly known as ARPA-E. Created in 2007 as a technology incubator under the purview of the Department of Energy, ARPA-E’s mission is to drive innovation
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
EIA Data Shows Blend Wall Broken in 2016 with Production at 15.33 Billion Gallons
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the U.S. ethanol production set a new record of 15.33 billion gallons (bg) in 2016, according to data released today by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The EIA data also show that the average
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Yale, Penn State Team Receives $1.2M Co-Optima Award to Investigate Sooting Behavior of Biofuels
(MoveEnergy) Penn State Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Yuan Xuan and researchers at Yale University will work together to identify clean-burning biofuels for next-generation internal combustion engines under to a $1.2 million award from the Energy Department’s Co-Optimization of Fuels
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Could Biofuel Save Maine’s Timber Industry?
by Darren Fishell (Bangor Daily News) The company EMEP LLC wants to buy the shuttered East Millinocket paper mill to build a biorefinery that it said would be a centerpiece of a larger $240 million plan for biomass energy parks
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Heard on the Floor: Disruptive Technology, Feedstocks under the Microscope at ABLC 2017’s Opening Day
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... While there were big questions, there were big answers, beginning with a panel on The Sustainable Agriculture Imperative. John Pieper from Dupont Industrial Biosciences shared their latest work with cellulosic ethanol in the corn
March 02, 2017 Read Full Article
DOE's Bioenergy Technologies Office Sees Greater Collaboration with DOE Office of Fossil Energy in Its Future
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) This morning at the "Defense Production Act (DPA) Advanced Drop-in Biofuels Production Project Round 2 Industry Roundtable" held at the US Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC, Zia Haq, Senior Analyst and DPA Coordinator
March 01, 2017 Read Full Article
BETO Publishes Analysis of Biofuels and Bioproducts from Wet and Gaseous Waste Streams
(U.S. Department of Energy) ... U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) announced the publication of a report, titled Biofuels and Bioproducts from Wet and Gaseous Waste Streams: Challenges and Opportunities. The report is the first comprehensive assessment of
February 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Meet the Plant that is Bridging Renewable Energy, Rural Development, and Environmental Benefits
by Kristen Johnson (U.S. Department of Energy) ... Growing deep-rooted perennial crops, like switchgrass or willow, together with annual crops and livestock in a farming system is starting to gain traction. This is due in large part to the potential economic and
February 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Technology Converts Wastewater Sludge to Renewable Natural Gas
(U.S. Department of Energy) Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) has developed technology that synergistically uses two waste biomass streams to generate two bioproducts. The technology enhances the process of anaerobic digestion of wastewater sludge by incorporating biomass-derived, carbon-sequestering char within the
February 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Report Analyzes the Use of Biogas-Derived Electricity To Power Electric Vehicles
(U.S. Department of Energy) With joint funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Strategic Programs, Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), and Vehicle Technologies Office, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) published a report titled Analyzing the Impacts of a Biogas-to-Electricity
February 28, 2017 Read Full Article
BETO Announces Launch of Consortium of National Laboratories To Overcome Catalysis Challenges
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) announces the launch of its Chemical Catalysis for Bioenergy Consortium (ChemCatBio), a research and development consortium dedicated to identifying and overcoming catalysis challenges for biomass conversion
February 28, 2017 Read Full Article
How Brown Rot Fungi Could Lead to More Efficient Biofuels Production
(Lab Manager/U.S. Department of Energy) Wood’s complex structure makes it highly resistant to biological or chemical decomposition. The structure includes cellulose, long chains of linked sugar molecules, embedded in a scaffolding of a chemical known as lignin. Brown rot fungi,
February 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Biorefinery Optimization Workshop Summary Report Published
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Biorefinery Optimization Workshop Summary Report is now online! Read this new report for an overview of industry challenges and opportunities discussed during the Biorefinery Optimization Workshop, which was held on October 5–6, 2016, in Chicago, Illinois. The
February 27, 2017 Read Full Article
Ethanol to Drop-In Fuels: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Oak Ridge’s Catalytic Ethanol Upgrade Technology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The program objective seen in these slides is to take a technology from Technical Readiness Level 2 to TRL 3/4 — a technology that directly upgrades ethanol to a drop-in hydrocarbon fuel at a high
February 22, 2017 Read Full Article
From Off-Take to Take-Off: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to the US Renewable Jet Fuels Program
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In June 2011, the Secretaries of Agriculture, Energy, and Navy signed MOU to commit $510M (up to $170M from each agency) to produce hydrocarbon jet and diesel biofuels in the near-term. This initiative sought to
February 21, 2017 Read Full Article
Low Cost Sugars and Lignin Streams: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Pretreatment and Process Hydrolysis
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) According to this presentation deck from NREL’s Melvin Tucker, “to produce high concentration sugar and reactive lignin streams at high yields and low costs from biomass to meet BETO’s 2017 ($5/GGE) and 2022 ($3/GGE) Goals and Targets,
February 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Makin’ Hydrocarbons: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Catalytic Upgrading of Thermochemical Intermediates
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) To demonstrate an advanced biofuels technology that integrates a catalytic biomass pyrolysis step and a hydroprocessing step to produce infrastructure compatible biofuels, here’s the basic recipe, according to a research team led by David Dayton at RTI
February 17, 2017 Read Full Article
A New Hydrocarbon Brew: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Technical Market Analysis for Biochemical Conversion
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As the project team behind this presentation explains, there’s trouble right here in River City when it comes to accessing good market and technical data on making hydrocarbons from a biochemical process. Process and economic data
February 16, 2017 Read Full Article
A Step toward Renewable Diesel: Chemical Engineers Program Yeast to Convert Plant Sugars into Oils.
by Anne Trafton (MIT News) MIT engineers have genetically reprogrammed a strain of yeast so that it converts sugars to fats much more efficiently, an advance that could make possible the renewable production of high-energy fuels such as diesel. The researchers,
February 15, 2017 Read Full Article
Montclair State University Professor Receives PECASE Award
(Montclair State University/Biomass Magazine) Pankaj Lal, associate professor of Earth and Environmental Studies and associate director of the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies at Montclair State University, is among 102 recipients of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers.
February 13, 2017 Read Full Article
The Next Step in the Bioeconomy – Looking Beyond Fuels
by Jessie Stolark (Energy and Environmental Study Institute) The Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), in the Office of Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy (EERE), released its updated strategic plan in January. Revised every five years, the strategic plan refreshes and
February 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Sequim Lab Looks to Find the Best Biofuel in Algae
(Associated Press/SFGate) Scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Marine Sciences Laboratory are turning algae inside out to find the best biofuel possible. Dr. Michael Huesemann, a lead researcher, said algae is a promising clean energy but expensive to harness effectively. "The
February 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Bioconversion of Lignin Derivatives to Biofuels: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to Value from Lignin
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The goal? Develop microbial biocatalysts to convert lignin-rich streams into value-added products. That’s subject which this project — “Synthetic Metabolic Pathways for Bioconversion of Lignin Derivatives to Biofuels,” led by Oak Ridge National Lab’s Adam Guss
February 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Benefits 'Global Food System' as GHG Profile Improves
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) The food and livestock industries have railed against biofuels for years, based on the argument that corn ethanol and soy biodiesel raise food prices. More recently, some have suggested that soy biodiesel emits more greenhouse
February 08, 2017 Read Full Article
New Enzyme Has Potential to Turn Plant Biomass into Biofuel
by Kenny Walter (R&D Magazine) ... Scientists have studied these enzymes in pure cultures of microorganisms, despite the fact that microorganisms break down cellulose as communities in the environment. To examine this further, a multi-institutional team of researchers led by scientists
February 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Waste to Fuels Viability: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Velocys Economics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Velocys enables modular gas-to-liquids and biomass-to-liquids plants to convert unconventional, remote and problem gas and waste biomass into valuable, drop-in liquid fuels. After 15 years and some $300 million in investment, Velocys technology is headed for
February 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Bio-Oil and Beyond: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to RTI’s Catalytic Upgrading tech for Thermochemical Intermediates to Hydrocarbons
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) To “Demonstrate an advanced biofuels technology that integrates a catalytic biomass pyrolysis step and a hydroprocessing step to produce infrastructure compatible biofuels,” that’s the ratuional behind a DOE project with RTI in the lead, aimed
February 07, 2017 Read Full Article
The Leftover Makeover Once-Over: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Corn Stover
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A group of researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have completed a survey of the economic activities and rural jobs that a corn stover bioeconomy can offer, which is currently featured on the cover of the latest
February 06, 2017 Read Full Article
MSW as a feedstock: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Ionic Liquid Pre-treatment
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s been the big, big problem in biomass deconstruction and cellulosic fuels — the finicky nature of biomass. We’ve learned to get past the main line of cellulosic defenses — but by and large it’s
February 05, 2017 Read Full Article
Gates Foundation Extends Sorghum Research with a $6.1 Million Grant to the Danforth Center
(Donald Danforth Plant Science Center) The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, one of the world’s largest independent plant science institutes, today announced a three-year $6.1 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to expand and accelerate the development
February 03, 2017 Read Full Article
DOE and USDA Issue Notice of Intent for Biomass Research and Development Initiative
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), is announcing its
January 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Duckworth to Perry: American-Made Renewable Energy Reduces Reliance on Foreign Oil, Improves National Security
(Senator Tammy Duckworth) U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) shared with the nominee to be the Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE), Governor Rick Perry, how her military service in Iraq taught her about the danger of our country’s dependence on
January 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Will Renewable Jet Fuel Fly with Trump in the Cockpit?
by Kerry Reals (Runway Girl Network) ... But despite widespread concerns, Kevin Weiss, the chief executive of Byogy Renewables – the developer of an alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) fuel process for the aviation industry – tells RGN he is optimistic that the Trump
January 23, 2017 Read Full Article
2016 Billion-Ton Report Volume 2 Analyzes Environmental Effects
(U.S. Department of Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The 2016 Billion-Ton Report (BT16), Volume 2: Environmental Sustainability Effects of Select Scenarios from Volume 1, jointly released by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is a pioneering
January 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Montana State University Scientist Wins Grant to Improve Camelina Seed Qualities
(Montana State University/Biomass Magazine) A Montana State University scientist has received a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science to research ways to improve the usefulness of camelina, an ancient crop that the modern world
January 20, 2017 Read Full Article
ORNL: Populus SNP Dataset Holds Promise for Biofuels
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Biomass Magazine) Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have released the largest-ever single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) dataset of genetic variations in poplar trees, information useful to plant scientists as well as researchers in
January 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Quo Vadis, Mr. President-Elect?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... This Administration is a team, so long as you generally understand that there’s one guy with the ball, he’s calling all the plays, and members of the Cabinet can block and tackle and get to
January 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Investigation: INEOS Failed Despite $129 Million in Taxpayer Subsidies
by Lucas Daprile (TC Palm) TCPalm examined thousands of government documents, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act and Florida public records requests, to determine what taxpayers got in return for their $129 million investment in INEOS' Indian River County biofuel
January 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Power Sector Carbon Dioxide Emissions Fall Below Transportation Sector Emissions
(U.S. Energy Information Administration) U.S. carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the transportation sector reached 1,893 million metric tons (MMmt) from October 2015 through September 2016, exceeding electric power sector CO2 emissions of 1,803 MMmt over the same time period. On
January 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Perry's Time to Shine Today
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) PERRY PARTY: Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry finally has his day in the spotlight this morning to make his case for running the Energy Department. Given the agency’s mishmash of responsibilities — which outgoing
January 19, 2017 Read Full Article
U.S. Energy Department Publishes "The Transforming Mobility Ecosystem: Enabling an Energy-Efficient Future"
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Energy Department published a report titled, “The Transforming Mobility Ecosystem: Enabling an Energy-Efficient Future.” Over the next decade, the transportation sector is poised for rapid change, propelled toward a new mobility future by strong technology currents
January 19, 2017 Read Full Article
DOE Jobs Report Features Data on Bioenergy, Biofuels Employment
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Jan. 13, the U.S. Department of Energy released its second annual analysis of how changes in America’s energy profile are affecting national employment in key sectors of the economy. To complete its analysis,
January 17, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuel Matchmaker: Finding The Perfect Algae for Renewable Energy
by Frances White (Renewable Energy World/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) A dozen glass cylinders containing a potential payload of bright green algae are exposed to hundreds of multi-colored lights, which provide all of sunlight's natural hues. The tiny LEDs brighten and
January 17, 2017 Read Full Article
BETO Publishes Analysis of Biofuels and Bioproducts from Wet and Gaseous Waste Streams
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today (January 10, 2017) the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) announced the publication of a report, titled Biofuels and Bioproducts from Wet and Gaseous Waste Streams: Challenges and Opportunities. The report is the
January 16, 2017 Read Full Article
The Algae Fuel Debacle: How Much More Information Does the Department of Energy Really Need?
(National Algae Association) 2016 Algae Year in Review – Nothing has Changed -- 2016 (U.S. Department of Energy) Funding Opportunities: ... • Global Algae Innovations (San Diego, California)— ... • Algenol Biotech LLC (Ft. Myers, Florida)-- ... • MicroBio Engineering, Inc. (San Luis Obispo,
January 09, 2017 Read Full Article
Energy Department Partners with Department of Agriculture for Integrated Biorefinery Optimization
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Energy Department (DOE) and the Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) jointly announced $22.7 million today to support the optimization of integrated biorefineries (IBR). DOE is providing majority funding with up
January 06, 2017 Read Full Article
ORNL Researchers Work to Develop Drought-Resistant Crops
by Bevin Fletcher (Bioscience Technology) Some semi-arid plants use a specific type of photosynthesis known as crassulacean acid metabolism, or CAM, to conserve water and flourish in semi-arid climates. Now scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory
January 06, 2017 Read Full Article
DOE BETO Releases New Strategic Plan; Biofuels to Constitute 25% of US Transportation Fuels by 2040
(Green Car Congress) The US Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) released its new strategic plan, titled Strategic Plan for a Thriving and Sustainable Bioeconomy. The strategic plan—with a vision for 2040—lays out BETO’s mission to accomplish its vision in
January 02, 2017 Read Full Article
DMR (Deacetylation and Mechanical Refining) Processing of Corn Stover Achieves High monomeric sugar concentrations (230 g L -1) during enzymatic hydrolysis and high ethanol concentrations (>10% v/v) during Fermentation without Hydrolysate Purification or Concentration
by Chen, Xiaowen; Kuhn, Erik; Jennings, Edward W.; Nelson, Robert; Tao, Ling; Zhang, Min; Tucker, Melvin P. (Energy & Environmental Science) Distilling and purifying ethanol and other products from second generation lignocellulosic biorefineries adds significant capital and operating costs to biofuel
December 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Energy Department Announces Up to $7 Million for the Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, the Energy Department (DOE) announced up to $7 million for eight universities to accelerate the introduction of affordable, scalable, and sustainable high-performance fuels for use in high-efficiency, low-emission engines. Under the Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines (Co-Optima)
December 29, 2016 Read Full Article
Energy Department Announces Six Projects for Pilot- and Demonstration-Scale Manufacturing of Biofuels, Bioproducts, and Biopower
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, the Energy Department (DOE) announced the selection of six projects for up to $12.9 million in federal funding, entitled, “Project Definition for Pilot- and Demonstration-Scale Manufacturing of Biofuels, Bioproducts, and Biopower.” These projects, required to
December 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Berkeley Lab Awarded $4.6 Million for Transformational Agriculture Technologies
by Julie Chao (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Two projects will provide a window to the underground, yielding information on roots and soil -- As advanced as agriculture has become, there remains a pressing need for nondestructive ways to ”see” into
December 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Regional Feedstock Partnership Report Highlights Work to Enable the Billion-Ton Vision
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Regional Feedstock Partnership (the Partnership)—a multi-institutional collaboration of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, representatives from land-grant universities, and industry—was first established to address issues associated with the development of
December 27, 2016 Read Full Article
JBEI Releases 4 New Biobased Technologies for Licensing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, researchers at the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) / Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have developed four new technologies available for license: Streamlined Saccharification from Lignocellulosic Biomass, 2015-143 Translation Control Tool for Plans, 2013-166 Determining Ligninases
December 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Iowa State to Manage Biorefinery Projects for New Manufacturing USA Institute
(Iowa State University) Iowa State University will bring its expertise in biorenewable technologies and pilot plant operations to the country’s 10th Manufacturing USA Institute. The recently announced advanced manufacturing institute is dedicated to improving the productivity and efficiency of chemical manufacturing.
December 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Attacking Carbon Intensity, Energy Intensity: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to the Agile BioFoundry
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) With the Agile BioFoundry project, the National Lab consortium, in partnership with academia and industry, aims to achieve a 40% decrease in the energy intensity of current manufacturing processes. Plus, a 60% decrease in the carbon
December 27, 2016 Read Full Article
The Coming Battle between the Trump Team and Economists over the True Cost of Climate Change
by Chelsea Harvey (The Washington Post) ... It seems increasingly likely that the Trump administration would either alter, or attempt to stop using entirely, an Obama-era metric known as the “social cost of carbon” in its federal rule-making processes. And that could have have
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Trump’s Nixonian Pivot
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) News of high-level appointments have been streaming out of Trump Tower all this week and last, and two trends are already clear: it’s a group mostly out of the business and military communities, and there’s
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
DOE Announces $15 Million to Accelerate the Deployment of Energy Efficient Transportation Technologies
(Department of Energy) Today (December 21, 2016), the Energy Department (DOE) announced $15 million, subject to appropriations, to support community-based projects to accelerate the adoption of advanced and alternative fuel vehicles and demonstrate energy efficient mobility systems including connected and
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Novel Mechanism in Bacterial-Fungal Symbiosis Could Have Biodiesel Production Applications
(Phys.Org/ DOE/Joint Genome Institute) ... To learn more about how bacteria interact with fungi in a symbiotic relationship to support the biochemistries that could contribute to the development of alternate fuel sources, Cornell and DOE JGI researchers used a model bacterial-fungal
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Researchers Learn How a Bacterium Reduces CO2 in Biofuel Production
by Kathleen Tuck (Boise State University) A paper co-authored by Lisa Warner, an assistant research professor in the Biomolecular Research Center, looks at how Clostridium thermocellum breaks down and converts cellulosic biomass to produce biofuels, including hydrogen and hydrocarbons, while
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
NREL Releases 2015 Renewable Energy Data Book
by Katie Fletcher (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently released its 2015 Renewable Energy Data Book, showing that renewable electricity grew to 16.7 percent of total installed capacity in the U.S. and 13.8 percent of total electricity generation
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
ARPA-E Announces $70 Million in Funding for New Programs to Power Transportation and Store Carbon in Soil
(U.S. Department of Energy) Selection of 26 projects across two programs will make transportation cleaner and mitigate carbon dioxide emissions -- The Energy Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) today announced up to $70 million in funding for its two
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
All Bioeconomy Processes Developed Upstairs: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to the ABPDU
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s known by the ungainly acronym ABPDU, which might as well decode as “All Bioeconomy Processes Developed Upstairs,” but actually stands for the far more modest “Advanced Biofuels Process Demonstration Unit.” It’s run out of the Berkeley
December 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Chief Pilot: The ABPDU, Where the Elite Meet to Defeat Petroleum
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... “Advanced Biofuels Process Demonstration Unit.” It’s run out of the Berkeley Lab, and is the technology center behind the technology centers, if you will, of companies such as Kiverdi, Sylvatex, Perfect Day, Lygos, Microvi,
December 15, 2016 Read Full Article
DOE: Twenty-five States Crack E10 Blend Wall
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) Though the national average percentage of ethanol in gasoline came in at 9.91% in 2015, according to the Energy Information Administration, half of all states now see ethanol in more than 10% of gasoline
December 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Trump Taps Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to Head Energy Department He Once Vowed to Abolish
by Juliet Eilperin and Steven Mufson (The Washington Post) President-elect Donald Trump has picked Rick Perry to head the Energy Department, said two people familiar with the decision, seeking to put the former Texas governor in control of an agency whose
December 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuel Made from Human Excrement Has Become Easier to Produce
by Megan Geuss (Ars Technica) Wastewater treatment plants rejoice—you may have a hot commodity on your hands. -- Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Labs (PNNL) have developed a new method for treating human sewage to create a biocrude oil product
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Nebraska Drivers Save $17 Million Using Ethanol-blended Fuel
(Nebraska Ethanol Board/KOOL Radio) In 2016, Nebraska drivers will save approximately $17 million by using ethanol-blended gasoline. The savings is based on lower prices for ethanol compared to wholesale gasoline and the state’s projected spark-ignition fuel consumption of 900 million
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
DOE Report Analyzes Fuel Cell, Diesel and CNG Fuel Economy
by Lauren Tyler (NGT News) The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Fuel Cell Technology Office recently released a report showing that the average fuel economy of fuel cell electric buses from three fleets is approximately 6 miles per diesel gallon equivalent
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Winter Is Not Coming: Pushing Back the Frost Wall for More Food, More Fuel, More Money, More Everything
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... So, what do you do about the Frost Wall. Generally, you can grow more with the first harvest — that’s yield improvement. Or, you can grow more in the extreme north — that’s crop expansion.
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Beyond Petroleum: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to the Bioenergy Technologies Office
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BETO. I think it’s Latin for “I forbid petroleum.” So while presidents have the Veto, technologists have the Beto. It’s most widely known in its modern variant, as the acronym for the DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, the hearth and
December 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Bioenergy Technologies Office Announces Notice of Intent for the Optimization of Integrated Biorefineries
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) intends to issue, on behalf of the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture,
December 05, 2016 Read Full Article
BETO Announces Notice of Intent for the Development of Algae-Based Biofuels
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy‘s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), on behalf of the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), intends to issue a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for up to $8 million, subject to
December 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Industry Welcomes Updated Department of Energy Biodiesel Guide
(National Biodiesel Board) NREL report a comprehensive guide for biodiesel users -- The biodiesel industry welcomed the publication of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) fifth edition of the Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide, developed in conjunction with the DOE
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Scientists Trace ‘Poisoning’ in Chemical Reactions to the Atomic Scale
by Glenn Roberts Jr. (Berkeley National Laboratory) Research team combines X-ray source at Berkeley Lab with other tools -- Researchers have revealed new atomic-scale details about pesky deposits that can stop or slow chemical reactions vital to fuel production and
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Growing Algae Faster, Better, Cheaper: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to NREL’s algae biomass project
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Since 2013, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory has had an Algae Biomass project underway, under the direction of Dr. Phil Pienkos, aimed at “reducing algal biofuel production cost by developing advanced process options for the
November 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Improved Vehicle Performance with Fuel That’s Better for the Environment
by Alicia Lindauer (U.S. Department of Energy/Renewable Energy World) Is it possible to increase vehicle performance and fuel efficiency while also slowing climate change through reduced greenhouse gas emissions? New research by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and funded by the
November 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Classroom Activity--Data Dive: Farming for Beetles, Bees and Biomass
(Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) What effect does growing millions of acres of corn have on the plants and insects living in agricultural landscapes? Can we balance biomass production and biodiversity by using a variety of bioenergy crops? In this
November 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Research Brief: Students' Understanding of the Carbon Cycle and Global Climate Change
by Craig Kohn, Joyce Parker and Andy Anderson (Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) Global climate change is a serious problem that requires the involvement of a scientifically literate public to solve. But what does the public understand about this complex issue
November 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Energy Department Announces $30 Million Investment for Innovation in Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today (November 18, 2016), the Energy Department (DOE) announced approximately $30 million in available funding, subject to appropriations, for research and development of low-cost hydrogen production, onboard hydrogen storage, and proton exchange membrane fuel cells to advance
November 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Obama Administration Launches Sustainable Biofuels Innovation Challenge
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, as part of a wide ranging policy announcement from the Obama Administration, the Department of Energy launched a Sustainable Biofuels Innovation Challenge to develop ways to produce, at scale, widely affordable, advanced biofuels
November 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Yeast Evolution Offers Hope for Cellulosic Biofuel
by Kari Lydersen (Midwest Energy News) ... The prospects for cellulosic ethanol becoming a commercially available clean transportation fuel could also hinge on yeast’s ability to ferment corn stalks, switchgrass, wood chips or other fibrous feed stock. The same strain of
November 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Not Energy Independent, Yet
by Rick Uldricks and Hudson Councilman Casey Weinstein (Twinsburg Patch) In truth, when it comes to energy security, there is good news to be found, but not at the bottom of a well. -- Fossil fuel boosters love to say that energy
November 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Canada's "Chemical Valley" Lobbying to Lure New Biofuel Plant
(AgriMarketing/Reuters) Sarnia, Ontario, home to dozens of Canada's refineries and chemical plants, is lobbying hard to lure a biotech plant to the city as the local petrochemical-powered economy braces for the impact of a provincial carbon-pricing scheme. BioAmber Inc - which
November 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Who’s Got Hot Lignin? The Digest’s 2016 Guide to Lignin Production and Prospects
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Lignocellulosic sugars and lignin have become necessary intermediates for advancing research towards economically producing biofuels and bioproducts. Recently, the US Department of Energy issued a Request for Information: Cellulosic Sugar and Lignin Production Capabilities. The result
November 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Who’s Got the Hot Sugars? The Digest’s 2016 Guide to Lignocellulosic Sugars and Their Producers
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Lignocellulosic sugars and lignin have become necessary intermediates for advancing research towards economically producing biofuels and bioproducts. Recently, the US Department of Energy issued a Request for Information: Cellulosic Sugar and Lignin Production Capabilities. The result
November 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Algae Hard at Work in Hawaii
by Alison Goss Eng (U.S. Department of Energy/Renewable Energy World) The beautiful island of Kauai, Hawaii, is known for its pristine beaches and dramatic mountain ranges. But Kauai is not just a vacation spot; it is also the location of
November 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuel from Vehicle Exhaust: Oak Ridge’s Catalytic Breakthrough
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory have come up with a highly-efficient process to make liquid fuels directly from carbon dioxide and water. Because burning fuels in an internal combustion engine produces CO2 and water as
November 06, 2016 Read Full Article
DOE Announces Open Meeting Of Biomass Research And Development Technical Advisory Committee
(Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group) On October 26, 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced an open meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee via notice in the Federal Register. This meeting will work to
November 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Get the Results of the Cellulosic Sugar and Lignin Production Capabilities Request for Information!
(U.S. Department of Energy) The results of the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office's (BETO's) Cellulosic Sugar and Lignin Production Capabilities Request for Information (RFI) are now available on the RFI responses web page. This new web page is a
November 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Fuel from Sewage Is the Future – and It's Closer than You Think
(Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Technology converts human waste into bio-based fuel -- It may sound like science fiction, but wastewater treatment plants across the United States may one day turn ordinary sewage into biocrude oil, thanks to new research at
November 04, 2016 Read Full Article
NREL Researchers Discover How a Bacterium, Clostridium thermocellum, Utilizes both CO2 and Cellulose to Make Biofuels
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) made the surprise discovery that a metabolic pathway to take up CO2 exists and functions in a microorganism capable of breaking down and fermenting