by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A very interesting technology has come to our attention, worth a serious look, it’s a new attack on an old idea, which is the production of
Tag "Energy Return on Energy Invested (EROEI or EROI)"
by Rahul Jain (Down to Earth) … It can synthesise large volumes of oil (20 times more than that of mustard per acre), grow fast (10 times quicker than terrestrial plants)
by Marc J. Rauch (The Auto Channel) … The focus of my presentations was to talk about the urgent need to educate consumers and consumer influencers about the benefits of ethanol
by Kristen Mally Dean (Argonne National Laboratory/Ethanol Producer Magazine) … With new practices, farmers can make farms a net sink of CO2, helping the U.S. reach its goal of achieving net zero
by Tom Doran (AgriNews) Renewable fuel boosters did some “myth busting” and discussed ethanol’s role in gasoline prices during a June 17 National Corn Growers Association podcast. “Over the years we
(Renewable Fuels Association) Today’s corn ethanol now provides nearly three times the energy used to produce it, according to a new analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association, with some biorefineries approaching a four-to-one
(Bazarneeti) Members of the National Corn Growers Association want to see some forms of renewable energy subjected to the same scrutiny that applies to biofuels. On Thursday, members voted to commission a
by Jan tenBensel (Nebraska Ethanol Board/Lincoln Journal/Star) Addressing Ron Todd-Meyer’s Local View (“Change. It’s what’s for dinner,” May 25), ethanol checks many boxes for environmental goals. While we wait for
by Abriela Thiel (The Badger Herald) ‘This has the short and long-term advantage of making Wisconsin a producer of materials it would otherwise import,’ UW expert says. — The Wisconsin Soybean Marketing
by Ryan Ghem (SAE International) … Biodiesel and renewable diesel will lead the way for alternative-fuel integration into the heavy equipment industry, according to Nick Block, director of worldwide marketing,
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Researchers developing renewable plastics and exploring new processes for plastics upcycling and recycling technologies will now be able to easily baseline their efforts to current manufacturing practices
by Sadie Tetreault (George Washington University/Planet Forward) … He (tour guide Zennid) outlined how the metro system in Stockholm is electric and how the public buses run on biofuels. Additionally,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … New research shows sustainability has moved from a fringe preference into a core imperative across American life. According to a new survey from clean manufacturing
by Tammy Klein (Future Fuel Strategies) Researchers at Monash University in Australia have proposed a roadmap to renewable ammonia being produced in the future at a scale that is significant in
by Stephen Moore (Plastics Today) Shell says that it has successfully made “high-end” chemicals using a liquid feedstock made from plastic waste using a pyrolysis process that is considered a breakthrough
by Hannah Osborne (Newsweek) Scientists have created a device that turns carbon dioxide into formic acid—a venom produced naturally by ants that can be used as a biofuel. The prototype
(University of Leeds) An evaluation of the global energy return on investment for fossil fuels and renewable sources reveals a much more level playing field than previously believed. An enduring
(Southern California Gas Co./PR Newswire) Innovative project with U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory converts renewable electricity into renewable methane for storage in existing natural gas pipelines — Southern
by Laura Reiley (Washington Post) … MYTH NO. 5 Biofuels derived from corn can help the environment. Ethanol, made by fermenting sugars from corn or sugar cane, contains oxygen that enables a car’s engine
by Luke McGrath (Bloomberg) Fossil fuels, long regarded for their high-energy return on investment, are not as efficient as once thought. In fact, their final yields are not much better than
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) Farmer and Nebraska Ethanol Board member Scott McPheeters joined a diverse panel of agricultural producers at the recent Bayer AgVocacy Forum in Orlando, prior to Commodity Classic.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Spain, BIOCON-CO2, a new €7 million EU Horizon 2020-funded research project, has recently kicked-off with intentions of supporting EU leadership in carbon dioxide (CO2) re-use technologies. BIOCON-CO2
by David Fridley and Richard Heinberg (Renewable Energy World) The headline of this article was composed simply by rephrasing the title of a popular recent piece in The Atlantic — “Climate Change Can Be
by Mark Sponsler (Colorado Corn/Journal-Advocate) … Oxygenating gasoline is required under Clean Air Act amendments, and ethanol — with its clean-burning qualities — has long been regarded as the best additive
(Univeristy of Pittsburg/R&D Magazine) Numerous studies have raised critical concerns about the promise of corn ethanol’s ability to mitigate climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Some of the
(Environmental Research Web) Cultivating algae for food and biofuel could make a serious dent in our greenhouse gas emissions, as well as helping to save freshwater resources and reduce deforestation.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) With the Agile BioFoundry project, the National Lab consortium, in partnership with academia and industry, aims to achieve a 40% decrease in the energy intensity
by Brian Warshay, J. Jed Brown, Sgouris Sgouridis (The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment) Prospective evaluation of the lifecycle impacts of aviation biofuel production in Abu Dhabi, UAE based on a production system
by Jeff Rice (Journal-Advocate) Making ethanol doesn’t rob the hungry of needed nutrition … Ethanol has long been recognized as an additive to increase octane and help internal combustion engines burn
by Russ Baldwin (The Prowers Journal) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini on Monday highlighted the USDA’s recent biofuel-infrastructure investments in Colorado during a
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
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) … Many respected laboratories, agencies, and researchers have used a lifecycle analysis to show that biofuels, particularly advanced biofuels, provide significant carbon benefits compared to gasoline.
by Mike Lefever (Post Independent/Citizen Telegram) … In the end, though, I hope your take away is the same as mine; there’s a place at the pump for ethanol, petroleum and other
by Tom Buis (Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The renewable fuel standard (RFS) is the most successful energy policy our nation has seen in the last 40 years. It has created almost
by Jan Koninckx (DuPont/Biofuels Digest) … (O)ur call is clear: we must act with the utmost urgency as we work toward solutions to help slow man-made climate change. Transportation contributes
by Kim Larson (Grand Forks Herald) … Let us all be reminded, that CRP was never meant to remain as a stationary acreage program. It was expected to perform just as
(Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) An analysis conducted by the Renewable Fuels Association and released March 7 finds the net energy balance of corn-based ethanol at U.S. dry mill biorefineries averages 2.6–2.8,
(Phys.Org) Despite high expectations and extensive research and investment in the last decade, technological options are still in developing stages and key resources for algal growth are still too onerous
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Reports recently published by the USDA Office of the Chief Economist and the University of Missouri’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute demonstrate that
by Monte Shaw (Iowa Renewable Fuels Association/Des Moines Register) Letter to Editor: I was embarrassed for the University of Northern Iowa to read the recent letter to the editor by professor
UVM’s Bioenergy Professional Certificate provides alternative approaches to traditional energy sources in Biofuels, including: Liquid Biofuels (seed-based biodiesel; bioethanol; algae-biofuels) Solid Biofuels (wood and grass energy) Biogas (farm-based energy) This Certificate Program offers
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Companies aim to tweak and transform key systems to reduce energy use and resolve bottlenecks. — Optimization efforts most often look at boosting yield,
By Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Auto Channel recently launched the Ethanol Chronicles to aggregate questions and information on ethanol. The Auto Channel is a focused content channel covering all
by Jude Clemente (Forbes) … To be a viable alternative for petroleum, a biofuel should provide a net energy gain, offer clear environmental and economic benefits, and not reduce food supplies
by Stephen Mayfield (International Society for Applied Phycology Newsletter) I am often asked, “When will algae-based transportation fuels be commercially available?” My answer tends to be that they are available now,
(Extension.org) Grown for biofuel, energy-efficient shrub willow sequesters carbon below-ground, life-cycle assessment shows. Shrub willow is a short-rotation woody biomass crop that could be an important part of our renewable
by Robert Moffitt (Twin Cities Daily Planet) In response to “Ethanol is a not long term solution,” I’ll begin by saying the author made some valid points. No, ethanol is
(Algae Industry Magazine) Algae-derived biofuel can reduce life cycle CO2 emissions by 50 to 70 percent compared to petroleum fuels, and is approaching a similar Energy Return on Investment (EROI) as
by Herman K. Trabish (GreenTechMedia) “I invite anyone here, anytime. We’ll show them what we do.” Attention, Union of Concerned Scientists, Sierra Club and other environmental advocates: Green Plains Renewable Energy (GPRE)
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) A new study indicates that ethanol production is continuing to reduce its energy and environmental footprint. The study, entitled “2012 Corn Ethanol: Emerging Plant Energy and Environmental
by Sam Fenwick (E2B Pulse) In this article, E2B explores the benefits of crop-based biofuels to the UK, the potential impact of a recent EU proposal and the wider issues
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The world will be capable of meeting its needs for food, fuel and fiber in 40 years, according to a paper from the
(US Department of Energy/Department of Defense) General Comments Although the author has done an extensive literature reading in the biofuels area, the paper does not have any analysis of critical
by Rod Adams (Atomic Insights) I’ve been spending the past hour or so reading an excellent paper written by a US Naval aviator titled Twenty-First Century Snake Oil: Why the United
by Michael Wang, Jeongwoo Han, Jennifer B Dunn, Hao Cai and Amgad Elgowainy (US Department of Energy/IOP Science) corn-based ethanol production occurring mostly in the US and sugarcane-based ethanol production
(FIS) A Cornell University team has used the Monte Carlo approach to quantify the role of uncertainty associated with process parameters in life cycle analysis (LCA) of algae-to-biofuel schemes for
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) When headlines run dire, ask yourself: are they real? In today’s Digest, we give you a guide to managing the myth minefield — and
(XS4Green.com) …John Benemann, Ian Woertz, and Tryg Lundquist, MicroBio Engineering, Inc. (Walnut Creek, CA) and California State Polytechnic University (San Luis Obispo, CA), present the results of an engineering and
by James Stafford (Oilprice.com) Following record droughts across the United States the benefits of the ethanol subsidy were once again
by Bruce Dale (Star Tribune) Commentaries: Considered in context, it’s clear that ethanol has an important role to play. A commentary
by Jenni Grubbs (The Fort Morgan Times) …While most vehicles’ engines cannot run on straight or even large percentages of
(Algae Industry Magazine) A recent study at the University of Texas at Austin demonstrates that it is theoretically possible to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) …Attacks from the usual opponents are generally in the form of statements that sound vaguely
by Kate Bechen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The production of ethanol is a complex, energy intensive process. Critics often cite the
by Matt Hartwig (Northwest Florida Daily News) Opinion: In a Nov. 2 editorial (“Florida’s ethanol escapade”), the Northwest Florida Daily
by Tom Rivers (The Daily News) Michael Sawyer, 38, of Geneseo took a gamble in 2005. After eight years in
by Matt Hartwig (Renewable Fuels Association) …All of ethanol’s critics share a common flaw when it comes to their claims
by Stephen K. Ritter (Chemical & Engineering News) Bruce E. Dale often plays the role of devil’s advocate not only
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) …In this week’s installment of the RFA’s series on efficiency, RFA Vice President Geoff Cooper
by Joseph Morton (World Herald Bureau/Omaha.com) The ethanol industry is preparing itself for life after federal subsidies. Key tax credits
by Patrick Robinson (West Seattle Herald) The documentary FREEDOM from husband and wife team of Josh and Rebecca Tickell is aptly
by Zak Richards (University of Virginia) Algae-based fuel is one of many options among the array of possible future energy
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) Over the past 30 years, and in particular in the past decade, ethanol production
by Andrew Smolski (OilPrice.com) …(E)nergy policy is as defunct as ever and on most fronts the US is lagging far
by Colin M. Beal, Robert E. Hebner, Michael E. Webber, Rodney S. Ruoff and A. Frank Seibert (Bioenergy Research) This study is an experimental
(American Soybean Association/Southeast Farm Press) Newly published research from the University of Idaho and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
by Eric Ehrmann (Huffington Post) Speculators hedging uncertainty in world energy markets are again making renewable fuels derived from corn,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) …“How many New York Times readers would know that global biofuels production is 12 times
by Jeff Zueger (Inforum.com) To read Ross Nelson’s column on ethanol (“Ethanol’s promise is empty, “ March 14, Forum), one
by Alexander Kunev (The McGill Daily) …However, getting rid of a system of distribution that encompasses a large network of
by Matt Hartwig (Renewable Fuels Association) That the Houston Chronicle would be anti-ethanol is not surprising to anyone. It is Houston,
John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) …In an interview with USDA radio, Harry Baumes, Director of USDA’s Office of Energy Policy and New Uses
(US Department of Agriculture) Harry Baumes, Acting Director of USDA’s Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, says a report that
(Lansing State Journal) …A quick response from Tom’s major concern is that, yes, there is a major energy gain in producing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) …But even were the US EPA to approve E15 ethanol blending, there are some other
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel) …Dr. Steffen Mueller, Principal Research Economist for the Energy Resources Center at the University of Illinois