by Luke Geiver (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Yeast suppliers to the ethanol sector have steadily released new and improved products to better match the needs and wants of the industry. Using third-party yeast developers capable of selecting, testing or altering strains with
efficiency
Back TO HOMEBaylor Engineers Reveal Ultra-Clean Biofuel Breakthrough
(Baylor University/Mirage News) In new research published in the journal Fuel , Baylor University researchers with the Cornerstone Atomization and Combustion Lab (CAC) have unveiled a pioneering method for the efficient combustion of biofuels, using a revolutionary Swirl Burst (SB) injector to burn
October 18, 2024 Read Full Article
Raízen, Shell and SENAI Announce Investment in New Research and Innovation Center to Boost Technologies in the Sugar-Energy Sector
(Raízen) Raízen, Shell and SENAI announced today an investment for the construction of the Bioenergy Center, located in the planned neighborhood of Reserva Jequitibá, in Piracicaba. The groundbreaking event marked the beginning of the construction of the modern set of laboratories
October 10, 2024 Read Full Article
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and NGK to Jointly Develop Membrane Dehydration Systems for Bioethanol and e-Methanol
(Mitsubish Heavy Industries) The Systems will Improve Efficiency Against Existing Dehydration Processes, Further Promoting the Widespread Use of Clean Fuel -- ・ MHI and NGK aim to achieve the real-world realization of systems using membrane separation system in the dehydration processes for
May 30, 2024 Read Full Article
Researchers Study Levitating Diesel and Biodiesel Droplets for More Efficient Biofuel Motors
(University of Gothenburg/Tech Xplore) By studying how bubbles form in a drop of biodiesel, researchers at the University of Gothenburg can help future engines get the most energy out of the fuel. In an internal combustion engine, the fuel is distributed in small droplets in
May 16, 2024 Read Full Article
CARB’s In-Use Locomotive Regulation Rule Will Hurt the American Economy Public Comment Deadline April 22, 2024
(Association of American Railroads) Policy Position: Congress should call on EPA to prevent CARB from moving forward with its new framework. EPA should instead ensure locomotive emissions regulations move forward in a responsible, measured fashion that takes into full account technology readiness,
April 16, 2024 Read Full Article
Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Strongest-Ever Pollution Standards for Cars that Position U.S. Companies and Workers to Lead the Clean Vehicle Future, Protect Public Health, Address the Climate Crisis, Save Drivers Money
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Final standards will expand consumer choice in clean vehicles and build on historic progress in U.S. auto manufacturing under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda -- Today, March 20, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced final national pollution
March 20, 2024 Read Full Article
New Study Shows US Soybean’s Carbon Footprint Decreasing
(Seed World) Assessment shows a significant reduction in soybean industry’s global warming potential since 2010 and 2015 -- The United Soybean Board detailed a recent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) that revealed a significant reduction in the global warming potential (GWP) profile of
February 26, 2024 Read Full Article
Trends in the Operational Efficiency of the U.S. Ethanol Industry: 2023 Update
by Scott Irwin (farmdoc Daily) The operational efficiency of any industry is key to long-term profitability, no less so for the U.S. ethanol industry. Fortunately, the USDA began publishing the Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production report in October 2014 and this important data
February 12, 2024 Read Full Article
Why Don't More Irish Homes Use Biofuel as a Heating Method?
by Kya Delongchamps (Irish Examiner) ... Oil boilers on offer today are for replacement use only. All are HVO-ready, and can seamlessly move from burning kerosene to burning HVO with a bit of light alteration. Not all properties easily suit a heat
January 05, 2024 Read Full Article
Elevating the EU’s Sustainable Energy Landscape: A Focus on Low-Carbon Ethanol and Innovative Solutions
by Amol Sheth (Praj/Biofuels Digest) The European Union is leading the way in sustainable energy solutions through structured policy initiatives to achieve its Net Zero goals by 2050 under the ambitious European Green Deal. The Net-Zero Industry Act, a key component
January 02, 2024 Read Full Article
New Issue Brief on Next Generation Fuels Act
(Clean Fuels Development Coalition) CFDC has produced an Issue Brief clearly explaining the provisions of the Next Gen legislation and makes a compelling case for its passage. The new brief, the latest in CFDC’s highly successful Issue Brief and White Paper series,
October 02, 2023 Read Full Article
The 3 Best Biofuel Stocks to Buy Now
by John Blankenhorn (InvestorPlace) Hydrocarbons remain one of the densest and most efficient energy sources on the planet. That gives biofuels an edge in the race to replace oil ... In April of this year, OPEC announced surprise oil production cuts to maintain higher prices,
June 07, 2023 Read Full Article
Trucking Industry Worries US EPA Put 'Cart before the Horse' with Emissions Proposal
by Jasmin Melvin (S&P Global) EPA, California rules look to phase out diesel trucks; Will require more trucks to haul same amount of freight; Range, charging and power needs still present challenges -- While onboard with ambitions to transition the US car fleet
April 20, 2023 Read Full Article
Mazda's Multi-Solution Strategy: Fuel for Thought
(Mazda Stories) From reimagining the humble combustion engine to developing the all-electric cars of the future, Mazda is hard at work revolutionizing the way we think about sustainability. ... While most manufacturers concentrate simply on exhaust fumes to reduce CO2, Mazda has
November 29, 2022 Read Full Article
Future Capabilities of Combustion Engines and Liquid Fuels
(Fuels Institute) The United States transportation sector includes nearly 300 million internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and American consumers are on pace to purchase another 14 million 2022. Despite the rapid increase in electric vehicle sales, the market will continue to
November 23, 2022 Read Full Article
Western Plains Energy and the Journey towards Net Zero Ethanol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)In Kansas, Western Plains Energy is pioneering carbon neutral ethanol production by replacing molecular sieves with fully integrated membrane separation solutions in a quest to become the first zero emissions ethanol producer. Whitefox, is the bioethanol membrane engineering innovator
November 14, 2022 Read Full Article
Living Our Net-Zero Emissions Pledge
by Scott Richman (Renewable Fuels Association) The producer-members of the Renewable Fuels Association are hard at work implementing their pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 or sooner, an effort that perfectly aligns with commemorating today, September 21, as Zero
September 21, 2022 Read Full Article
The Secrets of Sagoib: Raizen’s Betting Big on 2G Ethanol, Here’s the Story
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We reported last week that “UAE state investor Mubadala Investment Co and Raizen are the final bidders in the sale of BP Bunge Bioenergia, with no bidders in the second round and the other potential buyers
September 05, 2022 Read Full Article
Project Aims to Reduce Water, Energy in Ethanol Production
(University of Nebraska Research and Economic Development/Nebraska Today) Nebraska researchers are studying how to make ethanol production more environmentally sensitive by reducing the amount of water and energy required to produce it and cutting the air emissions that result. The Nebraska Environmental Trust
August 23, 2022 Read Full Article
Achieving Net Zero Aviation Will Cost $175bn per Year until 2050 and Immediate Action Needed This Decade, Says Report
by Tony Harrington (GreenAir Online) A new report on sustainable aviation says an annual average investment of $175 billion will be needed from now until 2050 for the air transport sector to meet its target of net zero carbon emissions. It
August 18, 2022 Read Full Article
Janesville Ethanol Plant Boosting Efficiency
by Mark Fischenich (Mankota Free Press) At a time when oil prices have made it particularly painful to gas up a vehicle, when western democracies are struggling with the ethics of buying oil from countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia, when
July 25, 2022 Read Full Article
Going Rogue
by Ron Kotrba (Biobased Diesel Daily) ... Biodiesel producers, for instance, have lost market share and feedstock to renewable diesel, not necessarily because renewable diesel is a better fuel. Sometimes policy distortions are the reason the market plays out the way
July 18, 2022 Read Full Article
Ethanol vs. Petroleum-Based Fuel Carbon Emissions
by Valerie Sarisky-Reed (U.S. Department of Energy) Biofuels have been proven to emit significantly lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than petroleum-based fuels, and recent scientific studies indicate that net-zero emission biofuels are not only possible, but achievable. Corn ethanol and other biofuels are
June 24, 2022 Read Full Article
How Do We Maximize the Carbon Efficiency of Renewable Fuel Production?
by Henrik Rasmussen (Biobased Diesel Daily/Topsoe) ... To maximize profitability and, by extension, viability, a renewable fuel business has to produce jet or diesel fuel at the lowest possible carbon-intensity (CI) score, thereby qualifying for greater subsidies overall. As such, it
June 21, 2022 Read Full Article
New, Nature-Inspired Concepts for Turning CO2 into Clean Fuels
(University of Cambridge) Researchers have developed an efficient concept to turn carbon dioxide into clean, sustainable fuels, without any unwanted by-products or waste. -- Instead of capturing and storing CO2, which is incredibly energy-intensive, we have demonstrated a new concept
March 25, 2022 Read Full Article
Sustainable Energy in America 2022 Factbook
(Business Council for Sustainable Energy) The Sustainable Energy in America Factbook – produced annually for the Business Council for Sustainable Energy by BloombergNEF — provides valuable year-over-year data and insights on the American energy transformation and progress of energy efficiency, natural gas and renewable energy sectors. Despite the continuing
March 04, 2022 Read Full Article
5 Ways Biofuel Producers Can Improve Efficiency
by Fernanda Martins (AVEVA/Biofuels Digest) In a world transitioning away from fossil fuels, the business case for biofuels may soon become easier to make. But for biofuel producers to stay competitive in a burgeoning field right now, they need to keep
March 03, 2022 Read Full Article
Iowa Ethanol Leader, Farmer Says Fuel Production Is More Sustainable than Years Ago
by Larry Lee (Brownfield Ag News) Modern technology and practices are helping produce more with fewer inputs, and it’s not just in the farm field. Dave Sovereign with Golden Grain Energy in Iowa says ethanol production practices have advanced dramatically since the
February 24, 2022 Read Full Article
Versalis Begins Advanced Bioethanol Production in Italy
(Process Worldwide) Versalis has begun the production of bioethanol at its Crescentino plant in Italy. The facility complies with the European legislation for the development of renewable energy RED II and makes use of the Proesa technology to produce sustainable
February 23, 2022 Read Full Article
The Race to Reduce GHGs, Dependence on Petroleum, and Provide True Environmental Justice: Where Will the Reductions Come From?
Doug Durante (Clean Fuels Development Coalition/Biofuels Digest) ... With 270 million light duty vehicles registered in the U.S., less than 2% are electric. Without a doubt they are trending upwards and will begin to penetrate the market in greater numbers. But,
January 28, 2022 Read Full Article
U.S. to Set Electric-Vehicle Sales Target of 50% by 2030
by Ben Foldy and Katy Stech Ferek (Wall Street Journal) General Motors, Ford and Stellantis executives with union leaders are expected to join President Biden in announcing voluntary targets -- Auto makers including General Motors Co. , Ford Motor Co.
August 05, 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
Scientists Offered Using Methanol in Power Generation for Electric Cars
(Ural Federal University/EurekAlert) Technology is economical, safe, environmentally friendly, and energy-efficient -- Professors at Ural Federal University (UrFU, Russia) Sergey Shcheklein and Aleksey Dubinin have developed a technology for generating energy for an electric car engine using methanol. An article describing
July 23, 2021 Read Full Article
Fit for 55: A Joint Call for Action from the Renewable & Low-Carbon Liquid Fuels Platform
(ePURE) ePURE joined other members of the Renewable & Low-Carbon Liquid Fuels Platform in issuing the following joint call for action on the European Commission's soon-to-be-published Fit for 55 package: The European Commission’s Fit for 55 Package promises a bold new era in the fight against
July 09, 2021 Read Full Article
Closing the Transportation Emissions Gap with Clean Fuels
(Rhodium Group) ... While efficiency improvements and vehicle electrification can cut transport emissions by up to two-thirds by 2050, low-GHG liquid fuels are needed to fill the remaining gap and achieve net-zero emissions in the transportation sector by mid-century. Transportation will
January 28, 2021 Read Full Article
ORNL: Co-Optima Research Develops Roadmap for Biofuels Design
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Biomass Magazine) As Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s fuel properties technical lead for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Co-Optimization of Fuel and Engines, or Co-Optima, initiative, Jim Szybist has been on a quest for the past few years to
January 05, 2021 Read Full Article
Energy to Hitch Ride on Omnibus
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) Congressional negotiators are expected to unveil the legislative text of a $1.4 trillion omnibus deal today that would boost federal agency budgets through next September and thwart a shutdown at week's end, POLITICO's Caitlin Emma
December 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Five Reasons Why Internal Combustion Engines Are Here to Stay
by Robert Bryce (RealClearEnergy) Oil prices are down and bans on automobiles powered by internal combustion engines (ICE) are up – way up. But don’t be fooled; there is plenty of life left in the ICE. ... The first and most important
December 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Properties vs. Chemistry: Co-Optima Research Determines Predictor of Fuel Performance, Develops Roadmap for Biofuels Design
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory) As Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s fuel properties technical lead for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Co-Optimization of Fuel and Engines, or Co-Optima, initiative, Jim Szybist has been on a quest for the past few years to
December 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Rolls-Royce to Test 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Next Generation Engine Demonstrator
(WebWire) Ground tests with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to demonstrate Rolls-Royce engines can unlock SAF’s potential to reduce emissions -- As part of its ongoing decarbonisation strategy, Rolls-Royce is to use 100% sustainable aviation fuel for the first time in
November 13, 2020 Read Full Article
ICCT’s Vision 2050: “Ambitious Yet Feasible”
by Tammy Klein (Future Fuel Strategies) ... ICCT (International Council on Clean Transportation) has been and, it’s clear in this document will continue to be, a major change agent for transport decarbonization globally. ICCT will use the results of the
October 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Clean Fuels Standard Misses the Mark on Biofuels
(Grain Farmers of Ontario/Globe Newswire) Grain Farmers of Ontario opposed to land use restrictions, and seek transparency on certification criteria -- Grain Farmers of Ontario, the province’s largest commodity organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean and wheat farmers today has
September 22, 2020 Read Full Article
How a Broken Carburetor Sparked a Bright Future in Biofuels for a New Hampshire High Schooler
by Jackie Pohlman (Renewable Fuels Association) What began as one high school junior’s passion project has gone on to win science fair accolades and capture our attention here at RFA for its demonstration of ethanol’s versatility in engines of all sizes. John
August 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Clean Energy & Sustainability Extravaganza
by Pedro Malpartida* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Leaders in Energy hosted their sixth annual Clean Energy and Sustainability Extravaganza in the A. James Clarke Hall at the University of Maryland (UMD) along with the Association of Energy Engineers-National Capital Chapter (AEE
March 26, 2020 Read Full Article
Innovations in Biodiesel Technology
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) New biodiesel process technologies continue to emerge, promising optimization of production through greater efficiencies and lower costs. -- Crown Iron Works: ... The global Minnesota-based firm has built 50 biodiesel plants around the world. Like
January 08, 2020 Read Full Article
When Negative Is Good – Carbon Negative: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Gevo’s Biojet Fuel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Noone wants to be negative…unless they are talking about carbon negative of course. The aviation industry has been all abuzz about lowering their carbon footprints for years, then carbon neutral, now carbon negative. According to Gevo’s
December 14, 2019 Read Full Article
Biofuel Producers Make Gains in Efficiency, Productivity
(Argonne National Laboratory/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The nation’s biofuel producers have made significant gains in both energy efficiency and water conservation in recent years, according to a report released by the U.S Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory. The findings were derived from a recent
December 13, 2019 Read Full Article
VTT Solves Challenges of Making Emission-Free Mobile Hydrogen
(Hydrogen Digest) From Finland we have news that VTT has combined devices that produce hydrogen from water and electricity from hydrogen into a single movable system that produces hydrogen with an efficiency as high as 80–90%. The problem Weak efficiency has hindered the
December 03, 2019 Read Full Article
EU Bank Launches Ambitious New Climate Strategy and Energy Lending Policy
(European Investment Bank) The EIB will end financing for fossil fuel energy projects from the end of 2021; Future financing will accelerate clean energy innovation, energy efficiency and renewables; EIB Group financing will unlock EUR 1 trillion of climate action
November 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Biofuel Producers Make Significant Gains in Efficiency, Productivity and Conservation, Argonne Survey Shows
(U.S. Department of Energy Newswise) Survey results conclude that there have been significant improvements in energy efficiency and water conservation. -- The nation’s biofuel producers have made significant gains in both energy efficiency and water conservation in recent years, according to
November 13, 2019 Read Full Article
North American Outlook on Biofuels Challenges and Opportunities
by Steve Hartig (Biofuels Digest) The North American biofuels market can be split into three main segments all of which have major dynamics. What I would like to do is give a high-level overview of what I see as some of both
November 06, 2019 Read Full Article
USDA Deputy Secretary Speaks at Global Ethanol Summit
by Matt Thompson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Stephen Censky, deputy secretary of the USDA, delivered a keynote address during the second day of the Global Ethanol Summit on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. ... He also spoke to the efficiencies that U.S.
October 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Off The Grid: From Reducing Energy Costs to Lowering Carbon Intensity Scores, the Benefits Are Many for Ethanol Plants that Cogenerate.
by Matt Thompson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Conversations about how to squeeze more value out of ethanol plants often focus on corn fiber-to-ethanol systems and production of high-protein coproducts, or minimizing input costs like power and feedstocks. But as those types
September 24, 2019 Read Full Article
Environmental Advocates Should Take Another Look at Biofuels
by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and former Sen. Timothy Wirth (D-CO) (The Hill) ... But public policy to date has put almost the entire burden of the sector’s transformation on the nation’s vehicles. Shouldn’t the fuels they burn get equal attention? Look
August 15, 2019 Read Full Article
ACE Elevates Low Carbon White Paper to Senate AG Committee
(American Coalition for Ethanol) ACE CEO Brian Jennings sends Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) data on the positive impact agriculture and low carbon fuels like corn ethanol can have as a hearing takes up the policy
May 24, 2019 Read Full Article
Pushing Plants Harder Reduces Costs More Than We Thought
Dennis Zeedyk (Glycerin Traders, LLC/Lee Enterprises Consulting) ... Glycerin Traders LLC takes in waste raw glycerin from multiple biodiesel plants around the country. It acidulates the raw glycerin to remove the fats for sale to multiple industries. It also strips
May 23, 2019 Read Full Article
DE-FOA-0002029: FY19 Bioenergy Technologies Office Multi-Topic Funding Opportunity Announcement DEADLINE: June 3, 2019
(U.S. Department of Energy) This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will provide funding to address the highest priority R&D areas within biofuel technologies, bioproducts, and biopower. It includes Areas of Interest (AOIs) from all five BETO programs: Feedstock Supply and Logistics; Advanced
May 10, 2019 Read Full Article
Top 10 Bioeconomy Markets and Predictions for 2019
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A mere “The Year in Rewind” as we sail into 2019? Not the good ship Digest! Instead, we dust off our crystal ball and offer our predictions for the year ahead. As the sunset of 2018 gives way
January 08, 2019 Read Full Article
Here's What 'Compression Ratio' Actually Means and Why It Matters
by Kristen Lee (Jalopnik) ... We know that high compression is good, and that low compression is bad. We know that Mazda’s new Skyactiv-X “Holy Grail” engine is high compression, along with Infiniti’s “diesel slayer” and Toyota’s “Dynamic Force” series that
January 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Mid-Level Ethanol Blends Are the Transportation Fuel of the 21st Century, NFU Says
(National Farmers Union) As Congress looks to revamp and coordinate federal-level policies that govern the transportation fuels and vehicles sectors, National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging legislators to expand use of high-octane, mid-level blends of ethanol in the transportation fuel supply.
December 27, 2018 Read Full Article
The Andersons to Implement ICM Technologies at Multiple Plants
(ICM/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ICM Inc. and The Andersons Inc. have announced plans to implement value-added technologies in multiple ethanol plants operated by The Andersons. The Andersons will license Fiber Separation Technology Next Gen (FST Next Gen), Selective Milling Technology V2 (SMT V2),
December 14, 2018 Read Full Article
Rising Energy Consumption Slows EU Progress on Renewables and Energy Efficiency Targets
(European Enviroment Agency) Progress on increasing the use of renewable energy and improving energy efficiency is slowing across the European Union, putting at risk the EU’s ability to achieve its energy and emissions reduction targets. Rising energy consumption, particularly in the
December 11, 2018 Read Full Article
RFA Welcomes Inclusion of High Octane Fuels in 2021-2026 CAFE/GHG Proposal
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) today welcomed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) request for public comments on how high octane fuels could facilitate engine efficiency improvements and reduced emissions under 2021-2026 fuel economy and tailpipe GHG standards
August 02, 2018 Read Full Article
‘India Should Promote Biofuel, Public Transport’
( Express News Service/Indian Express) Rashmi Urdhwareshe, director of Automotive Research Association of India, spoke about different vehicle technologies that improve fuel efficiency through power train engineering. She spoke about possible alternative fuels that can be used for transportation. As the world’s
May 18, 2018 Read Full Article
Vehicle Efficiency Transportation 2050: More EVs, but Conventional Vehicles Will Still Dominate
by Jieyi Lu (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Making Vehicles More Efficient Is Critical to Reduce Emissions -- ... Over the next 30 years, electric vehicles (EVs) will grow and fuel economy will increase, but conventional gasoline vehicles will continue to dominate
April 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Automakers Want 95 Octane Gas To Completely Take Over
by Erik Shilling (Jalopnik) ... Higher compression ratios, and thus higher octane, can have the additional benefit of greater fuel efficiency if the engine is built that way from the start, however. Which is why automakers are now lobbying for a new,
April 18, 2018 Read Full Article
House Hearing Focus on High Octane Fuels
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment will be holding a hearing this morning (Friday, April 13, 2018) on “High Octane Fuels and High Efficiency Vehicles: Challenges and Opportunities.” The hearing will take a look at the potential
April 13, 2018 Read Full Article
Vehicle Transformation through New Fuels: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to the Clean Fuels Development Coalition
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It may be renaissance times for the Clean Fuels Development Coalition. Their long quest to upend proposed Obama-era vehicle efficiency rules that ignored the potential to improve efficiency and emissions via clear high performance fuels has
April 06, 2018 Read Full Article
Auto Exec: Raise the Octane Rating of U.S. Gasoline for Bump in Fuel Efficiency
by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) At a recent American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers meeting, General Motors executive Dan Nicholson voiced the automaker’s support in raising the minimum octane rating of the U.S. gasoline pool from 87 to 91,
March 30, 2018 Read Full Article
ARPA-E Announces $16M in Funding for 8 New Projects to Develop High-Efficiency Distributed Generations Systems Integrating Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
(FuelsCellsWorks/U.S. Department of Energy) Innovative Natural-gas Technologies for Efficiency Gain in Reliable and Affordable Thermochemical Electricity-generation (INTEGRATE) The U.S. electric system is dominated by large, central power plants and an extensive transmission and distribution system commonly referred to as the “grid.” Two-thirds
March 16, 2018 Read Full Article
US Ethanol Is Modern-Day Farm Policy; Future Profitable: Green Plains CEO
(Platts) The US ethanol industry represents a modern-day farm policy as the primary means of creating demand for ever-growing corn supplies, and the industry maintains a profitable outlook, Green Plains CEO Todd Becker said Tuesday. "This is the modern-day farm program," Becker
October 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Letter: Purdue Continues Important Biofuels Research
by Gunner Greene (Iroquois Bio Energy/Journal & Courier) Purdue University has received an important grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to continue its important research into homegrown biofuels. Purdue will continue its research into how corn and other biomass moves through
October 19, 2017 Read Full Article
If We Want Electric Autonomous Cars They’ll Need A Hell Of A Lot More Juice
by Alanis King (Jalopnik) 1st Gear: Surprise, Self-Driving Cars Need A Lot Of ‘Brain’ Power -- Oh, you want an electric car that can also shuttle you around without you having to move a muscle? What do you think this is, magic fairy
October 11, 2017 Read Full Article
Variety in Value
by Ann Bailey (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Value-added components can be separated from the ethanol-production process at multiple stages. Technology developers continue to improve on their systems to expand markets and increase their customers’ revenues. The ethanol industry can reduce market risk
August 29, 2017 Read Full Article
2017 BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology Awards POET's Jeff Broin 10th annual George Washington Carver Award for Innovation in Industrial Biotechnology
(Biotechnology Innovation Organization) For those in the biofuels industry, the 2017 BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology is a must. This year’s World Congress will feature a 12-session Advanced Biofuels and Biorefinery Platforms track, covering everything from new technologies in
July 10, 2017 Read Full Article
Review of Auto Standards Raises Concerns From Former EPA Officials
by Iulia Gheorghiu (Morning Consult) Former Environmental Protection Agency officials worry the Trump administration’s review of auto emissions standards could slow down U.S. innovation on fuel efficiency. Stricter standards place a burden on automakers because of lackluster consumer interest in fuel-efficient
June 06, 2017 Read Full Article
POET Founder, Chairman and CEO Jeff Broin to Receive 2017 BIO George Washington Carver Award
(Business Wire/Biotechnology Innovation Organization) Broin to accept award and deliver remarks at 2017 BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology -- The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today announced that POET Founder, Chairman and CEO Jeff Broin will receive the 10th annual
May 31, 2017 Read Full Article
Driving GHG Down, Bringing Capacity Up
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Increasing efficiency is the ethanol industry’s top goal, and proving it to the U.S. EPA opens the way for expanded ethanol production. -- The number to beat to be named an efficient ethanol
May 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuels Could Cut Transport Emissions – But Food May Be at Risk
by Maina Waruru (Thomson Reuters Foundation) Growing use of electric vehicles around the world is helping lower climate changing emissions, but some means of transport will be hard to electrify, particularly air travel and shipping, energy experts say. To “decarbonise” those,
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Adding Flowability
by Debbie Sniderman (Ethanol Producer Magazine/VI Ventures LLC) New DDGS additive saves ethanol plants energy and improves flowability. -- A new mineral additive technology offering energy and yield benefits to DDGS processing has been developed by Nucleus Ag & Bio
February 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Soup-to-Nuts Review Finds CA Clean Cars Program Working
by Simon Mui (National Resources Defense Council) The California Air Resources Board (ARB) released a soup-to-nuts review of its Advanced Clean Car (ACC) program today. The 658-page report confirms that the popular program, which establishes smog-forming and carbon pollution limits for
January 20, 2017 Read Full Article
High Octane Group Vindicated by EPA Ethanol Assessment
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) A USDA report this week showing corn ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 43% compared to gasoline, came with a silver lining for a Washington, D.C., group that has been pressing the U.S. Environmental
January 17, 2017 Read Full Article
Forecasts of Algae Food Products Demonstrate Significant Reductions in Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Water Use
(Bentley University/PR Newswire) Bentley University research fellow Michael J. Walsh leads study finding algae food to have potential to mitigate climate change -- Scientists affiliated with the Marine Algal Industrialization Consortium have published a research article demonstrating the potential of
December 05, 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
USGC Study: U.S. Corn Ethanol Can Assist Japan In Reaching Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets
(U.S. Grains Council) A recently released U.S. Grains Council (USGC) study finds that a significant portion of U.S.-produced corn ethanol will likely meet Japan's 50 percent greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction threshold over gasoline, supporting the case for that fuel's competitiveness
October 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol from Conventional to Advanced: The Digest’s 2016 Multi Slide Guide to Praj
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Recently, we held a well-attended webinar on the markets and makers of ethanol from conventional to advanced. Here below is a slide deck presented on the day, from Praj – going through the technology landscape that is
October 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Power to Save Family Farms and the Environment with Anaerobic Digestion
by John D. Forcier (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) Farm-based anaerobic digestion systems have adapted in various regions of the world. The “European Model” relies on cash crops and manures with very high incentives and feed-in-tariffs. The “U.S. Model” is based
October 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Expansion of Crimson Renewable Energy Facility, Establishes Kern Co. as State’s Top Producer of Advanced Biofuels
(Crimson Renewable Energy/PR Web) The recent expansion of Crimson Renewable Energy’s ultra-low carbon biodiesel production facility leads to a tripling of production and puts Kern County on the map as California’s leading producer of Advanced Biofuels, company officials announced today
October 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Six POET Plants Installing Combined Heat and Power Processes
(POET) Six POET biorefineries in Ohio and Indiana are installing a new energy generation system using combined heat and power. These systems will reduce reliance on the electrical energy grid, recover waste energy for additional use in the plant and
October 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Alternative Jet Fuels Tackle Rising Aviation Emissions
by Rebecca Chillrud (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently issued an endangerment finding for aircraft, indicating that greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft are hazardous to public health. This finding requires the EPA to begin crafting
September 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Borregaard Invests in Bioethanol Upgrade
(Borregaard) Borregaard has decided to invest NOK 63 million in a project which includes an upgrade of the bioethanol plant and a facility to capture and store biogas. The project has been awarded a grant of NOK 18.9 million from Enova,
September 19, 2016 Read Full Article
CNH Industrial Brands Reveal Concept Autonomous Tractor Development: Driverless Technology to Boost Precision and Productivity
(CNH/Case IH/New Holland/PR Newswire) Better use of labor, integration into current machinery fleets, plus the flexibility to work unmanned around the clock with real time data monitoring – and, in the future, the ability to automatically respond to weather events.
September 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Does Minnesota Have What It Takes to Seize Biofuel Opportunities?
by Timothy J. Rudnick (Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Seldom do the puzzle pieces align so perfectly as they now have to give Minnesota motorists greater access to E15 and higher blends of Minnesota grown, renewable ethanol. Some of those puzzle pieces include
August 31, 2016 Read Full Article
Biorenewables Megatrends: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to the Advanced Bioeconomy’s Progress
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, we conducted a webinar on Biorenewables Megatrends with NEXANT principal Ron Cascone, who gave these incisive slides on the state of commercialization in fuels, chemicals, biomaterials and nutrition. READ MORE and MORE (Singularity Hub)
August 26, 2016 Read Full Article
Funds Available for #Biomass Powered Biorefineries
by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com) The USDA is helping biorefineries go even greener. The USDA Rural Business Cooperative Service, a division within the USDA, has allocated funds through the Repowering Assistance Program, to assist renewable fuel facilities convert away from fossil-fuel based
August 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Boeing, Embraer Unveil Newest ecoDemonstrator Aircraft
(Boeing) E170 airplane to test technologies to boost fuel efficiency, cut carbon emissions; First non-Boeing airplane used in ecoDemonstrator program will be powered by Brazil-based biofuel -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Embraer S.A. [BM&F Bovespa: EMBR3, NYSE: ERJ] unveiled the next
July 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Iowa’s Ethanol Plants Consistently Gaining in Efficiency
by Dirck Steimel (Iowa Farm Bureau) While political battles over the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) continue to grab headlines, Iowa’s ethanol plants are quietly pushing ahead and becoming more and more efficient. The 43 corn-based and cellulosic ethanol plants in the
July 06, 2016 Read Full Article
2016 Energy Efficiency Forum
by Sharon Ji (Advanced Biofuels USA) The U.S. Energy Association and Johnson Controls sponsored a conference on strategies and data analysis of energy efficiency which took place on Thursday, June 23 at National Press Club in Washington, DC. The event focused
June 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Meet The New 'Tool' In Big Oil's Efforts To Scuttle Ethanol +VIDEO: An Open Letter to George "David" Banks
by Marc J. Rauch (The Auto Channel) I just finished reading your article "Renewable Fuel Standard Continues To Devastate," published in February on the High Plains Leader & Times website. ... In fact, your article looks suspiciously like an article that
March 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Future for Diesel Passenger Vehicles in U.S. Remains Positive Despite Recent Set Backs
(Diesel Technology Forum) While diesel passenger vehicles sales have decreased in recent months, there are some positive signs that indicate diesel sales will recover and expand in the coming years, according to Allen Schaeffer, the Executive Director of the Diesel
March 18, 2016 Read Full Article
How Cheap Oil Is Undermining Obama's Fuel-Economy Rules
by Brad Plummer (VOX) ... Note that the CAFE standards come up for a midterm review in 2017. Some automakers have been arguing that the rules should be weakened in light of recent low oil prices and shifting preferences. A recent
March 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Vislack Defends Biofuels, Bioenergy during House Hearing
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On Feb. 24, the House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing on the state of the rural economy. Biofuels and bioenergy were among the topics discussed during the nearly three-hour event. When asked to characterize the
March 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Don’t Save Energy, Save Exergy! The Enemy of Progress a/k/a Waste Heat
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... One of the most important efforts to reduce waste heat is in transportation engines. ... In transportation engine efficiency, there’s nothing more ambitious on the agenda than the US effort to raise corporate averaged
February 26, 2016 Read Full Article
Putting Corn in Your Car Isn’t as Crazy as It Sounds
by Nathanael Johnson (Grist) When I first looked at the environmental impact of corn ethanol I thought it was simple: Grow an acre of corn for fuel and it means you have to grow another acre elsewhere for food, which
February 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Research Showing Significant Improvement in Efficiency of Ethanol Production and Other Trends
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released a statement on two recent research reports supported by USDA focused on ethanol and other renewable fuels, one published by USDA's Office of the Chief Economist and another published by
February 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Taking a Bite out of Emissions in the Big Apple
by Tom Slunecka (Biodiesel Magazine/Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council) ... For those of us old enough to remember the 1970s (I thought I’d never be old enough to write that), America’s cities often fought a losing, or possibly lukewarm, battle against
February 10, 2016 Read Full Article
Half The Oil: The Digest’s 8-Slide Guide to the UCS Plan to Reduce Petroleum Use
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Union of Concerned Scientists has released a major report, “Half the Oil”, outlining steps required to achieve a 50% reduction in petroleum use in the US Pacific Coast States by 2030. The
February 09, 2016 Read Full Article
West Coast States Could Cut Petroleum Consumption in Half by 2030
(Union of Concerned Scientists) Analysis Finds Extending and Expanding Current Clean Transportation Policies Would Significantly Reduce Oil Use -- California, Oregon and Washington could cut their petroleum use by half in the next 15 years through policies that encourage greater transportation
February 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Griselda Corro, the Scientist Who Won the World Race Biodiesel
by Serafin Castro (24 Horas Puebla (modified Google Translation)) A Griselda Corro has too many doubts. As a scientist, and her 59 years, the questions had since childhood have not diminished, "on the contrary, they became more," she says, "but now
January 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Definition, Calculation and Comparison of the “Biomass Utilization Efficiency (BUE)” of Various Bio-based Chemicals, Polymers and Fuels
by Iffland, K., Sherwood, J., Carus M., Raschka, A., Farmer, T., Clark, J. (nova-Institute) Experts from nova-Institute, industry and several European Universities developed a new approach to support policy and investment decisions on which feedstock – process – product combination
November 04, 2015 Read Full Article
8 Ways around the Big, Bad Oxygen Problem in the Advanced Bioeconomy Parts 1 and 2
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the terrestrial world, oxygen is colorless, odorless, and try to get through an hour without some. In the Bioeconomy Cinematic Universe, oxygen is harder than steel, heavier than a black hole, and higher than
October 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Aeroplane Efficiency More than a Decade behind Schedule
(Edie.net) Despite a 45% reduction in average aircraft fuel burn in the last 40 years, the aviation industry is still around 12 years behind efficiency targets set by the UN's aviation body. That’s according to a new report from the International Council
September 10, 2015 Read Full Article
Digital Soil: The Four Secrets of the New Agriculture
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) To make fuel, chemicals, fiber, food more productively than ever before — it starts in the field with the New Agriculture. Here’s what’s happening as Silicon Valley converges with Silicon Farm. ... Well, ultimately land productivity
March 10, 2015 Read Full Article
The Evolution of Minnesota’s Ethanol Industry Parts 1 and 2
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) The Minnesota ethanol industry is evolving even in the face of growth challenges including continued uncertainty around the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Since 2007 the industry has improved by leaps and bounds in terms of technological
December 16, 2014 Read Full Article
Yield Quest for Cellulosic biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Could a new wave of cellulsoic processes find the key to capturing the carbon lost by today’s technologies — and providing a drive to lower costs that busts through infrastructure barriers? Iogen has been running its
November 13, 2014 Read Full Article
Toolkit For Ethanol's Next Stage
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Forward-thinking producers will build on technological improvements implemented in recent years. There are multiple options in the ethanol producer’s toolkit in the ongoing quest to improve efficiency and yield. They can be as basic as
July 24, 2014 Read Full Article
Researchers Reveal Increased Efficiencies in Ethanol Production
by Chris Hanson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A study by Steffen Mueller, a researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago Energy Resources Center, and John Kwik, president of Dominion Energy Services LLC, surveyed ethanol producers and revealed a growing trend
May 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Biotech Corn Offers Siouxland Ethanol Plants Higher Output, Lower Costs
by David Dreeszen (Sioux City Journal) ...What makes it more valuable? The variety, called Enogen, is genetically engineered to boost ethanol output and reduce energy costs and water use. The hybrid, developed by Syngenta, contains a gene that promotes an enzyme
March 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Six Sigma Provides Analytical Tool for Ethanol Producers
by James Frugé and Raul Gamboa (Ethanol Producer Magazine) With corn costs comprising over 87 percent of the cost of ethanol production, a small improvement in corn-to-ethanol yield can have a large impact on plant profitability. Three reasons suggest why improvements
March 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Powering the Future
by Tom Buis (Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...As automakers look forward to meet the increasing fuel efficiency standards, one thing is for sure—cars will be very different from the ones that I grew up with. We have already seen many
January 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Refining Chiefs Expect More Regulations under Obama
by Simone Sebastian (FuelFix) ...A number of federal rules that seek to cut emissions and expand biofuel use were passed or discussed during Obama’s first term. Chief executive officers of Phillips 66 and Marathon Petroleum say that portends another four years of
December 19, 2012 Read Full Article
Half the Oil: A Plan to Cut Projected U.S. Oil Use in Half in 20 Years
(Union of Concerned Scientists) We have the practical solutions at hand to protect consumers, the climate, and our environment from the growing costs of our oil use. How? It all comes down to one simple fact: Using less is the real oil
December 14, 2012 Read Full Article
Industry Improves as Indicators Stabilize, Diversification Expands
by Paula Emberland (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Christianson & Associates PLLP) Multiple revenue streams lessen impact of ethanol prices ...First, and perhaps most importantly, more plants are producing different types of coproducts, and they’re making more money from those coproducts, both in real
November 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Danish Firm Develops Enzyme to Boost Ethanol Output by 2.5 Percent
by Christopher Doering (Des Moines Register) Novozymes said it has developed a new enzyme called Avantec that allows more ethanol to be produced from corn. The Danish industrial enzymes maker said Avantec enables ethanol producers to squeeze an extra 2.5 percent
October 31, 2012 Read Full Article
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Highlights Renewable Fuels Industry’s Top 10 Efficiency and Technology Innovations of the Past Decade
(Iowa Renewable Fuels Association) As a part of its 10th Anniversary celebration of progress and prosperity, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) today released a list of the ethanol and biodiesel industry’s Top 10 efficiency and technology innovations of the
September 05, 2012 Read Full Article
Obama Administration Finalizes Historic 54.5 mpg Fuel Efficiency Standards/ Consumer Savings Comparable to Lowering Price of Gasoline by $1 Per Gallon by 2025
(Environmental Protection Agency/The White House) The Obama Administration today finalized groundbreaking standards that will increase fuel economy to the equivalent of 54.5 mpg for cars and light-duty trucks by Model Year 2025. When combined with previous standards set by this
August 28, 2012 Read Full Article
Has Ethanol Lost Its License To Drive The Corn Market?
by Stu Ellis (FarmGateBlog) ...Now the bloom is off the rose. Gasoline demand is down, the blend wall is pushing ethanol demand down, and corn prices are not as strong as they once were. ...He (Bob Wisner, biofuels economist at Iowa
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Enzyme Study Shows DDGS Dewatering Applications
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A one-month plant trial showed a commercial enzyme could help extract water from distillers grains, saving natural gas, electricity and water used in the ethanol process. More work needs to be done, said David
December 05, 2011 Read Full Article
ExxonMobil CEO Says Energy Demand Set to Rise by 30% to 2040
(Platts) Global economic output is set to double as the global population grows to 8.7 billion people by 2040, when global energy demand will be 30% higher than it was in 2010, ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson said Monday (November 21,
November 28, 2011 Read Full Article
Diesel Power Ready to Meet Challenge To Achieve Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions & Increased Fuel Efficiency in Trucks & Buses
(Diesel Technology Forum) Diesel engines – which power more than 95 percent of America’s commercial trucks and 85 percent of its buses – will play a central role of the United States’ new effort to reduce fuel consumption and lower
August 11, 2011 Read Full Article
GM, Coskata Join Forces to Correct Misconceptions about Ethanol
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) With four decades of experience backing him up, Rathin Datta, chief scientific officer for Coskata Inc. has identified the primary renewable liquid fuel. “There’s no doubt—no technical, thermodynamic or energy or any other doubt—that