(Pacific Northwest National Laboratory/Phys.Org) A patented process for converting alcohol sourced from renewable or industrial waste gasses into jet or diesel fuel is being scaled up at the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory with the help of partners
Department of Energy (DOE)
Back TO HOMEBioprocess for Converting Plant Materials into Valuable Chemicals
(University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign/Science Daily) Scientists have developed a bioprocess using engineered yeast that completely and efficiently converted plant matter consisting of acetate and xylose into high-value bioproducts. A team of scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed a
August 19, 2021 Read Full Article
The University Bringing Algae-based Biofuels to Commercialisation
by Scarlett Evans (Bio Market Insights) ... Now, a team from Colorado State University (CSU) is working to boost algae crop growth to reach industrial levels, with the team being awarded $3.2m from the US Department of Energy (DOE) in support
August 18, 2021 Read Full Article
On the Road Again (With Liquid Fuels)
by John Eichberger (Fuels Market News) If the global priority with regards to the transportation sector is to reduce carbon emissions, then putting all our eggs in one basket and waiting for electrification to transform the world is already a failed
August 18, 2021 Read Full Article
DOE Quietly Backs Plan for Carbon Capture Network Larger than Entire Oil Pipeline System
by Sharon Kelly (DeSmog) Obama Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and major labor group AFL-CIO are behind the “blueprint” for a multi-billion dollar system to transport captured CO2 — and offer a lifeline to fossil fuel plants. -- An organization run by
August 16, 2021 Read Full Article
Strategic Biofuels Achieves Major Project Milestone Towards World’s First Carbon Negative Renewable Diesel Plant
(Strategic Biofuels/Business Wire) Successful sequestration test well significantly de-risks the project while demonstrating carbon dioxide can be safely stored underground--Strategic Biofuels LLC, the leader in developing negative carbon footprint renewable fuels plants, announced today that its Carbon Capture and Sequestration
August 12, 2021 Read Full Article
Bioenergy’s Role in Decarbonizing Economy: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to BETO & Biomass
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biomass is the world’s largest generator of renewable energy and this slide guide from BETO’s Acting Director, Valerie Reed, highlights the role that bioenergy and biomass plays in decarbonizing the economy, worldwide SAF production projection,
August 12, 2021 Read Full Article
Plants into Planes: ORNL Team Thinks Ethanol Is Future of Commercial Jet Travel
by Ben Cathey (WVLT) ... “You know, we’ve been doing that for a long time. East Tennessee’s famous for its production of alcohol,” Dr. Jerry Tuskan laughed as he told us about an old version of fuel, made new again.
August 11, 2021 Read Full Article
Low-Carbon Fuel for Planes, Trains, Trucks, Ships: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to DOE’s Sustainable Transportation Strategy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Deputy Assistant Secretary for Sustainable TransportationMichael Berube shared this slide guide at ABLC Digital on EERE’s 5 priorities, context for transportation decarbonization, low-carbon fuel for large vehicles (like planes, trains, trucks, and ships), how DOE
August 11, 2021 Read Full Article
Carbon Dioxide Removal with Roger Aines
(Climate Now) How do we reach global net-zero emissions by 2050, when there is almost no chance of completely ending our dependence on fossil fuels by that time? The solution will require Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) – a host of natural
August 10, 2021 Read Full Article
Faculty Team Aims to Reduce Greenhouse Gas with Hydrogen Energy Research
by Virginia Speirs (Auburn University College of Engineering) ... Sushil Adhikari, professor and director of the Center for Bioenergy and Bioproducts, and his team were recently granted nearly $500,000 from the Department of Energy-Fossil Energy to produce hydrogen energy that will
August 10, 2021 Read Full Article
Biofuel and Ag Leaders Call for Accountable Life Cycle Analysis for SAF Tax Credits
(National Farmers Union) On Friday, Growth Energy, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Biodiesel Board, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, and the Renewable Fuels Association sent a letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance and the U.S. House of
August 10, 2021 Read Full Article
Unlock the Power to Predict: NREL Model Benefits Biomass-to-Fuel Reactor Design
by Zia Abdullah (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researchers can accurately predict reaction rates and optimal conditions for making biofuels. Their secret? Complex math to sketch the intricate chemistry and physics that drive catalytic fast pyrolysis. Catalytic
August 09, 2021 Read Full Article
Scientists Show a Single Catalyst Can Perform the First Step of Turning CO2 into Fuel in Two Very Different Ways
by Glennda Chui (SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory) Their work aims to bridge two approaches to driving the reaction – one powered by heat, the other by electricity – with the goal of discovering more efficient and sustainable ways to convert
August 09, 2021 Read Full Article
Biogenic Carbon Fuels, Co-Processing Strategies: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Coprocessing Bio-oils in Refineries
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Leveraging existing refining infrastructure leverages billions US$ in CAPEX and 5 million bpd of crude refining. NREL, PNNL, and LANL is tackling how to accelerate adoption of co-processing biomass-derived feedstocks with petroleum streams in operating
August 09, 2021 Read Full Article
Collaborative Project Accelerates Clean Hydrogen Technology
by Ariana Fine (NGT News) A clean hydrogen production technology from Southern Company Gas, Electro-Active Technologies and T2M Global has been selected for funding by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The DOE awarded Southern Company $1 million for research
August 05, 2021 Read Full Article
RFA to Biden: Renewable Fuels Provide a Clean, Low-Carbon Fuel Option Available Today
(Renewable Fuels Association) President Biden today announced a plan to greatly expand the production of clean cars and trucks, including a goal for electric vehicles to comprise 50% of new vehicle sales by 2030. The following is a statement from Renewable Fuels Association
August 05, 2021 Read Full Article
Better Bioblendstocks for Cleaner Diesel Vehicles
by Trevor Smith (U.S. Department of Energy) ... But new fuel blendstocks from biomass and waste resources, combined with advanced engine designs, are bringing us ever closer to a vision of clean transportation. Achieving this vision is critical for meeting
August 04, 2021 Read Full Article
CE+P to Partner with the U.S. Joint BioEnergy Institute on Advanced Biofuels Research
(California Energy + Power/Business Wire) California Ethanol + Power (CE+P) announced today (August 3, 3021) that it is partnering with the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), a Bioenergy Research Center of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop scalable next-generation renewable
August 04, 2021 Read Full Article
Marine AlGae Industrialization Consortium: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to MAGIC
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Algae biofuel AND high value co-products from residuals across algae strains? Are there co‐products that lead to increased LEA value, while maintaining biofuel production, to drive down the overall cost of biofuel? That is what
August 04, 2021 Read Full Article
DOE Announces Nearly $34 Million to Advance Waste and Algae Bioenergy Technology
(U.S. Department of Energy) 11 University- and Industry-Led Projects will Develop Biomass Resources to Convert to Low-Carbon Fuel for Planes and Ships -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced nearly $34 million in funding for 11 projects that will
August 03, 2021 Read Full Article
Waste to Energy: Biofuel from Kelp Harvesting and Fish
by Kelsey Adkisson (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory/Newswise) Possibility of cheaper, greener fuel for remote, coastal Alaska communities -- Kelp is plentiful in remote, coastal Alaska. Fuel is not. And it’s expensive. Many isolated communities rely on diesel generators for energy because they
August 03, 2021 Read Full Article
A Higher-Yield Fuel Catalyst
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Phys.Org) Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers have developed a new catalyst for converting ethanol into C3+ olefins—the chemical building blocks for renewable jet fuel and diesel—that pushes the amount produced to a record-high 88%, a more than 10%
August 03, 2021 Read Full Article
Wet Waste as Significant Net Energy Producer: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to BioEnergy from Wet Wastes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How can anaerobic membrane bioreactors increase wet waste’s net energy yield? That’s exactly what University of Illinois scientists are working on to develop improved AnMBR and integrate it into pilot demonstration. Find out their results
August 03, 2021 Read Full Article
Biomass Availability with Matthew Langholtz
(Climate Now/Oak Ridge National Laboratory) Bioenergy is a renewable energy for its carbon neutrality – plants absorb CO2 during photosynthesis and emit the same amount when combusted for energy. But to significantly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, substantial amounts
August 02, 2021 Read Full Article
Fungus That Tastes Just Right: PNNL Researchers Study Plant Material in Soils that Offers Clues for Making Sustainable Bioproducts
by Allan Brettman (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Discerning leaf-cutter ants know what food they like to eat. They turn up their scent-detecting antennae at some plant material in soils in favor of others that fungus has degraded just the way they
August 02, 2021 Read Full Article
Better Biocatalysts for Biogas: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Biogas Biocatalysis
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biological gas-to-liquid conversion offers a means to valorize biogas, improve bioprocess sustainability, and reduce risk of waste and biomass processing. How big is the biogas market? What are the newest biocatalysts and gas fermentation tech
July 30, 2021 Read Full Article
Scientists to Develop CO₂-Free Fermentation Technology amid Surging Demand for Low-Carbon Biofuel
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) By Combining Electrochemistry With Fermentation, NREL’s Biorefining Process Could Both Increase Fuel Yields and Recycle Carbon Dioxide -- As much as one-third of the carbon in sugar is lost as carbon dioxide (CO2) during fermentation processes that
July 29, 2021 Read Full Article
Fact Sheet | Proposals to Reduce Fossil Fuel Subsidies (2021)
by Savannah Bertrand (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) U.S. direct subsidies to the fossil fuel industry are estimated at roughly $20.5 billion per year, including $14.7 billion from federal subsidies and $5.8 billion from state subsidies. When externalities such as health, environmental,
July 29, 2021 Read Full Article
Converting Renewable Electricity into Stable Molecules Could Provide Long-Term Energy Storage
by Beth Mundy (Tech Xplore/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) For renewable energy and energy storage technologies, variation is the name of the game. The intensity of the natural resources that provide renewable energy varies from day to day, as well as season to
July 29, 2021 Read Full Article
Data that Makes a Difference: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Biofuels Information Center
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Data – we all need it. And the Biofuels Information Center provides essential bioenergy data, information, and tools to educate stakeholders on all aspects of biofuels. Where do they get the data from? How does
July 29, 2021 Read Full Article
What to Do with Food Waste? Well, That Depends. NREL Researchers Examine Disposal Methods as More Landfills Prepare to Shut Down
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) The expected decline in the number of landfills across the United States coupled with bans on disposing large amounts of organic waste in landfills that have been enacted in multiple states has prompted researchers at the U.S.
July 28, 2021 Read Full Article
RFA Pledge to President: Ethanol to Achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2050 or Sooner
(Renewable Fuels Association) In a letter sent today to President Joe Biden, Renewable Fuels Association members from across the country memorialized their commitment to ensuring ethanol achieves a net-zero carbon footprint, on average, by 2050 or sooner. Ethanol is already cutting greenhouse gas
July 28, 2021 Read Full Article
From R&D to D&D
by Matthew Choi (Politico's Morning Energy) The Energy Department's energy efficiency and renewables office is hoping to use the additional money under its fiscal year 2022 budget to shift its focus from research and development to demonstration and deployment, according
July 28, 2021 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Ethanol Fermentation to DDGS: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to White Dog Labs
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) White Dog Labs is working on producing a Single-Cell Protein product from a cellulosic ethanol plant waste stream. The goal – to produce enough butyrate enhanced SCP product from cellulosic ethanol streams, that can be
July 28, 2021 Read Full Article
Crapo, Whitehouse, Reed, Panetta Introduce Legislation to Encourage Innovation in the Clean Energy Sector
(Office of Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)) According to a report by the International Energy Agency, approximately 40 percent of cumulative CO2 emissions reductions needed to meet sustainability targets rely on technologies not yet commercially deployed on a mass-market scale. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho),
July 27, 2021 Read Full Article
US Renewable Diesel Capacity Projected to Hit 5.1 Billion Gallons per Year by 2024
by Ron Kotrba (Biobased Diesel Daily) Renewable diesel production capacity in the United States is forecast to grow from 600 million gallons per year (gpy) at the end of 2020 to 5.1 billion gpy by 2024, according to the U.S. Energy
July 27, 2021 Read Full Article
Hydrocarbon Fuels from Industrial Off Gas: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to LanzaTech
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) LanzaTech’s Dr. Laurel Harmon shared this illuminating slide guide at the BETO Peer Review on jet and diesel fuel production from industrial waste gases, commercialization of ethanol-to-jet technology by building a standalone Alcohol-to-Jet pre-commercial demonstration
July 27, 2021 Read Full Article
Green Hydrogen: What’s Really Real in a Gathering of Haters, Hypers, Pettifoggers, Filibusters, and Transformative Technologies Like You’ve Never Ever Seen
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) On June 7, 2021, the US Department of Energy launched the Hydrogen Shot, which got kinda mixed up with the Moderna and Pfizer shots in the Battle for The Nation’s Attention that erupts on Facebook each
July 26, 2021 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Awards $127 Million to Bring Innovative Clean Energy Technologies to Market
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy continues to power the clean energy revolution among American small businesses and entrepreneurs with awards totaling $127 million to support 110 innovative projects – each focused on tackling the climate crisis by harnessing market-oriented
July 23, 2021 Read Full Article
Governors Ask Biden Administration to Expand the Market for Higher-Octane Gasoline in New Fuel Economy Rule
(Governors' Biofuels Coalition) High-Octane Ethanol Should Replace Carcinogenic Gasoline Aromatics -- Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem sent a letter to the Biden Administration pointing out the role that higher-octane ethanol could play in meeting the Administration’s climate and
July 23, 2021 Read Full Article
DOE Report Predicts Job Growth in Biofuels Sector
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy on July 19 released its 2021 U.S. Energy Employment Report, which shows jobs in biobased fuels fell last year, but at a lower rate than overall job losses in
July 23, 2021 Read Full Article
Agile BioFoundry Selects New Collaborations
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of 6 projects totaling over $5 million to conduct research and development needed to accelerate the U.S. biomanufacturing sector. As part of the DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Agile BioFoundry (ABF)
July 22, 2021 Read Full Article
$1.5M DOE Grant Targets Engineering of Cyanobacteria as Biofuel Production Platform
(Vanderbilt University School of Engineering) A new, $1.5 million Department of Energy grant brings together experts from three institutions to parse the metabolism of a blue-green algae that holds great promise for biofuel production. The team, led by Professor of Chemical and
July 22, 2021 Read Full Article
One-of-a-Kind Course Aims to Build the Bioeconomy Workforce
by Emily Scott (Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit) ... He (Jason Ryder, an adjunct professor in UC Berkeley’s College of Chemistry) knows we have the tools to solve these problems: biotechnology and bioprocessing — using the power of
July 21, 2021 Read Full Article
LLNL and Collaborators Improve Electrochemical Reactor Performance through 3D Printing
(Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists and their collaborators are leveraging the power of 3D printing to improve the performance of electrochemical reactors used to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) to useful energy sources, chemicals and material feedstocks. Working under
July 21, 2021 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Multi-Guide Slide to National Hydrogen Strategies: The United States of America
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As we continue with Gas Week, we’re providing you with 10 National Hydrogen Strategies between now and Friday. Today, the Big Kahuna (or Enchilada, if you like), the US, where actions have been lagging but
July 21, 2021 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Green Hydrogen Horizons
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s Gas Week here in Digestville, all this week we’re highlighting new technologies, commercial breakthroughs and new strategies relating to the production of, applications for, or the avoidannce of: Green Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Syngas. Later
July 20, 2021 Read Full Article
Renewable Butyl Acetate for Diesel: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Butyl Acetate as Bioblendstock
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Does renewable butyl acetate make a good fuel additive? Can it be used as a bioblendstock for diesel to decrease combustion pollutants and lower the sooting propensity of a BA/diesel-based mixture? Can it’s low freezing
July 19, 2021 Read Full Article
Analysis Shows Enzyme-Based Plastics Recycling Is More Energy Efficient, Better for Environment
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) BOTTLE Consortium Effort Develops Model That Finds Sizeable Energy and Carbon-Saving Benefits for Recycling PET, a Common Plastic Used in Bottles, Clothing, Carpet -- Researchers in the BOTTLE Consortium, including from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s)
July 16, 2021 Read Full Article
DOE Funds 2 Biomass-to-Hydrogen Projects
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy on July 7 announced $52.5 million to fund 31 projects to advance next-generation clean hydrogen technologies. Two of the funded projects focus specifically on the production of hydrogen from biobased feedstocks. According
July 15, 2021 Read Full Article
Using Cycloalkanes for Jet Fuel: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Ethanol-Derived Jet Blending Components
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) LanzaTech, Purdue and PNNL are working together to develop a commercially viable process to convert an ethanol-derived olefin intermediate into a jet-range hydrocarbon with 60 wt.% yield to cycloalkanes and demonstrate its commercial utility as
July 14, 2021 Read Full Article
Life Cycle Analysis: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Advanced Algal Systems
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Evaluating sustainable scale up of algae production systems, algal biofuels, and algal bioproducts is no easy task, but scientists at Argonne National Lab are looking into this by looking at the life cycle analysis of
July 13, 2021 Read Full Article
From Biomass to Bug Zapper: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Bio-Insecticides
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Creating a sustainable, inexpensive bioinsecticide that leverages the inherent chemical functionality from thermochemical biomass conversion that can improve biofuel economics is one of National Renewable Energy Lab’s goals. Take a look at bioinsecticide production using
July 12, 2021 Read Full Article
Avangrid Outlines US Green Hydrogen Vision
(ReNewsBiz) Avangrid has submitted green hydrogen project concepts on the US east and west coasts in response to the Department of Energy’s request for information (RfI). The green hydrogen project concepts are in the states of Connecticut, New York, Maine, Oregon and
July 08, 2021 Read Full Article
Energycane Produces More Biodiesel than Soybean at a Lower Cost
(University of Illinois/EurekAlert!) Bioenergy from crops is a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. New crops such as energycane can produce several times more fuel per acre than soybeans. Yet, challenges remain in processing the crops to extract fuel efficiently. Four new studies
July 08, 2021 Read Full Article
Will Biorefineries Meet Air Quality Regulations?: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Biofuels Air Emissions
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Can biofuels production meet federal air quality regulations? At what cost? What are the emissions across the biofuels supply chain? What are the economic and human health impacts? Are there mitigation opportunities and approaches that work?
July 08, 2021 Read Full Article
DOE Announces Technical Assistance for Local Governments on Waste-to-Energy
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are pleased to announce the Phase 1 selections for the Waste-to-Energy Technical Assistance for Local Governments Program. This technical assistance program was created to mobilize national
July 07, 2021 Read Full Article
Playing the Long Game: ExxonMobil Gambles on Algae Biofuel
by Carly Nairn (Mongabay) - Algae biofuel initially looked promising, but a few key problems have thwarted major research efforts, including development of a strain of algae able to produce plentiful cheap fuel, and scaling up to meet global energy
July 07, 2021 Read Full Article
Weather-Resistant Crops: the Bioenergy Fuel of the Future
(Bio Market Insights) ... Finding a way to increase crop yields without encroaching on either food crops or natural habitats is a novel challenge, but it is one that may soon have a solution. Researchers from Queensland University of Technology’s Centre
July 07, 2021 Read Full Article
DOE Announces $52.5 Million to Accelerate Progress in Clean Hydrogen
(U.S. Department of Energy) Projects Support DOE’s Recently Announced Hydrogen Energy Earthshot to Lower Cost, Advance Breakthroughs for Clean Hydrogen Technology -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $52.5 million to fund 31 projects to advance next-generation clean hydrogen
July 07, 2021 Read Full Article
Modeling for Biorefineries: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Red Rock Biofuels De-Risking Feedstock
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)Optimizing and de-risking the deployment of biomass gasification processes by implementing physics-based simulations of feed handling and transportation unit operations was NREL’s goal as they did modeling and simulations to support Red Rock Biofuels during design
July 07, 2021 Read Full Article
Carbon Capture Is a No-Brainer Solution for Companies Facing Net-Zero Policy Goals
by Ian Palmer (Biofuels Digest) ... Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is an escape hatch, or an offset, to be used if there are “leftover” GHG emissions. If a country is on a pathway to reduce GHG to zero by a
July 07, 2021 Read Full Article
How Viable Is Bio-Oil for Marine Transport?: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Biofuels for Marine Engines
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
July 06, 2021 Read Full Article
Biofuels 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