by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s Black Friday today but do you remember the black diesel of the old days? We’ve come a long way from that and ethanol is great for many vehicles and applications, but how about heavy-duty
Engine/Fuel Co-optimization
Back TO HOMEAlternative Fuels Are Becoming More Ubiquitous
by Michael Lefebvre and John Radke (John Deere/OEM Off-Highway) ... We support the use of biodiesel because we recognize the importance of biofuels to our customers and to the environment. Biodiesel is a renewable, oxygenated fuel made from a variety
November 07, 2019 Read Full Article
IJER Editorial: The Future of the Internal Combustion Engine
by R D Reitz, H Ogawa, R Payri, T Fansler, S Kokjohn, Y Moriyoshi, AK Agarwal, D Arcoumanis, D Assanis, C Bae, K Boulouchos, M Canakci, S Curran, I Denbratt, M Gavaises, M Guenthner, C Hasse, Z Huang, T Ishiyama,
November 01, 2019 Read Full Article
Shipping Industry Must Cut Sulphur Emissions before 2020, Says IMO Secretary-General
by Varsha Saraogi (Ship Technology) International Maritime Organization (IMO) secretary-general Kitack Lim has urged the shipping industry to boost its efforts to cut sulphur emissions by using IMO 2020-compliant fuels before the regulation deadline on 1 January 2020. The IMO has
October 24, 2019 Read Full Article
City Fleets Run on Bio-Based Diesel Fuels, Meeting Sustainability Goals while Delivering Essential Services
(Diesel Technology Forum) Cities gain substantial emissions performance improvements, greenhouse gas reductions and cost savings by using the latest-generation diesel powertrains combined with bio-based diesel fuels -- More cities and counties in California are switching to renewable diesel and biodiesel fuels
October 22, 2019 Read Full Article
Brazilian Official: Flex Fuel Hybrid Vehicles Are the Future
by Matt Thompson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Miguel Ivan Lacerda Oliveira, director of biofuels for the Brazil Ministry of Mines and Energy, said during the Global Ethanol Summit in Washington, D.C., that the future of transportation is electric vehicles, but ethanol will
October 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Leveraging Biofuels for a Cleaner Mobility Future
by Jonathan Male (U.S. Department of Energy) Biofuels are critical to our energy future. No matter how far electric vehicles come in the next 25 years, the internal combustion engines of today will continue to be a big part of
October 14, 2019 Read Full Article
New Report Boosts Development Options for Most Promising Biofuels
by Lynne Roeder (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Assessment identifies top ten blendstocks for efficiency in turbo-charged engines -- ... This environmental benefit could be maximized with biofuels suitable for use in turbocharged engines that pack more horsepower in a smaller,
October 10, 2019 Read Full Article
DNV GL Will Assess Low and Zero-Carbon Fuel Solutions for Ships
(DNV GL/NGV Journal) DNV GL and Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE), a sub-holding company of Hyundai Heavy Industries’ shipbuilding and offshore business, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cooperate on the development cutting edge solutions for low and zero-carbon
October 10, 2019 Read Full Article
Reg Modlin High Octane Low Carbon Fuel Blog Series
(Natual Resources Solutions) Reg Modlin is a senior NRS Advisor and a veteran of 40-plus years in the automotive industry. In the following posts, he examines the steps that have been taken – and need to be taken – to
October 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Want More Miles per Gallon? Start Planting Some Trees
by Beth A. Russell (Idaho National Laboratory) It turns out that trees (or as researchers refer to them, woody biomass) can be refined to produce a carbon-rich wood alcohol that is excellent for use in high-octane fuel blends. Lest one imagine a
September 19, 2019 Read Full Article
DOE Announces $59 Million and 43 Projects to Accelerate Advanced Vehicle Technologies Research
(U.S. Department of Energy) U.S. Department of Energy Under Secretary of Energy Mark W. Menezes announced $59 million for 43 projects for new and innovative advanced vehicle technologies research. Funded through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, these projects
August 21, 2019 Read Full Article
Jokowi Wants 30% Biodiesel in Cars as Soon as January Next Year
by Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (Jakarta Post) President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said he wanted to increase the portion of diesel blended with crude palm oil (CPO) from the current 20 percent ( B20 ) to 30 percent ( B30 ) starting January next
August 13, 2019 Read Full Article
Can They? Should They?: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to DOE’s Biofuels in Marine Engines
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The fuels market and demand for jet fuels is big, but what about the marine sector? After all, over 90% of all goods are shipped via marine vessels fueled with high sulfur (3.5 wt.%) heavy residual
August 12, 2019 Read Full Article
A 'Golden Triangle': In Nebraska, Ethanol, Cattle and Agriculture Are Intertwined, with Major Impacts on the State's Economy.
by Matt Thompson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) It’s fitting that the Cornhusker State should be an important player in the nation’s ethanol industry. Second only to Iowa in production, Nebraska’s ethanol industry has a big impact on the state’s economy. In addition to
August 06, 2019 Read Full Article
Why Energy Companies Are Still Investing Gasoline in the Age of the Electric Vehicle
by Marissa Luck (Houston Chronicle) ... As Shell’s largest research and development center, the 200-acre Houston campus has 1,500 employees and hundreds of contractors. They’re working on everything from formulating new biodiesel to advancing liquefied natural gas into transportation fuels. Their research
July 31, 2019 Read Full Article
Renewable Hydrogen: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to SBI BioEnergy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today’s top story talks about the value of hydrogen so what better Multi-Slide Guide than SBI BioEnergy and their renewable fuel process including their new venture of what they call bio-hydrogen using a proprietary catalytic technology.
July 23, 2019 Read Full Article
Maharashtra Likely to Support Sugar Mills in Setting up Ethanol Fuel Pumps
by Shiv Kumar (Tribune News Service) Minister for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises and Transport Nitin Gadkari has proposed that sugar mills set up ethanol fuel pumps in their premises. The sugar co-operatives are under pressure because of unsold stocks and are
July 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum of Ethanol Opposition at It Again
by Marc J. Rauch (The Auto Channel) ... Last October 18th, the Washington Examiner published an editorial written by Carter and Miller titled, "Consumers Will Suffer The Hangover From Trump's Ethanol Binge." Two days later I responded with an editorial titled, " Failed Ethanol Critic
July 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Toyota’s Brazilian Corolla Will Run on Pretty Much Whatever You Want
by Sabrina Valle (Bloomberg Quint) In much of the world, the road to electric vehicles may be fueled by ethanol. -- For 22 years, Toyota Motor Corp. has made hybrid cars that don’t require drivers to choose between running on gas or
July 10, 2019 Read Full Article
The Push for Year-Round E15 Is upon Us, but Is It the Best Biofuel Option?
by Jeff Wasil (Washington Examiner) ... There's also a better option than E15, one that only requires cutting red tape hindering the widespread usage of a next-generation biofuel: biobutanol. Unlike ethanol, biobutanol contains nearly 90% of the energy content of gasoline (compared
July 08, 2019 Read Full Article
SIAM Proposes Enhanced Alternative Fuels for Vehicles in India to Lower Pollution
(PTI/Financial Express) While the electrification of the fleet will be a major help towards providing energy security and improving the environment, SIAM said that our country needs to work on other efforts, to not only complement this effort, considering the ultimate
June 26, 2019 Read Full Article
Co-Optima Identifies Innovation Needed to Continue Momentum in Fuel Economy Gains
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today’s cars are advancing at lightning speed: from electric vehicles to efficient internal combustion engines to automated vehicles. Transportation is changing. Although the fuel-economy ratings of today’s cars are dramatically higher than those of just 10
June 24, 2019 Read Full Article
Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Top 10 Bioblendstocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The U.S. Department of Energy and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have created a tiered screening process that efficiently evaluates blendstocks and includes a comprehensive blendstock evaluation process. Dan Gaspar from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory offered this illuminating
June 20, 2019 Read Full Article
Expanding E15 Availability Is Only a Step Toward Best Use of Biofuels
(Solutions from the Land) At long last, after years of appeals from biofuel interests, clean air advocates and rural Americans, EPA has lifted the summertime ban on the sale of 15-percent ethanol-blended gasoline (E15). The rule lifting the selective, if not
June 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Testing Could Lead to Higher Biodiesel Blends
by Tom Steever (Brownfield Ag News) Soybean growers are investing checkoff funds in testing that could result in higher blends of renewable biodiesel. National Biodiesel Board technical director Scott Fenwick says they’re looking at different types of engines in on-road and off-road
May 28, 2019 Read Full Article
A Step Closer to Decarbonising Long-Haul Road Transportation
(Cordis/Phys.Org) ... Supported by the EU COLHD project, a recent report sheds light on the obstacles impeding the wide adoption of AF solutions in Europe. "Our research shows there is no common European support strategy towards AFs, and a clear lack
May 24, 2019 Read Full Article
MTA Seeks Renewable Natural Gas for NYC Buses
by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to purchase renewable natural gas (RNG) to fuel some 800 New York City buses currently running on compressed natural gas (CNG). This move represents the
May 21, 2019 Read Full Article
Governor Ricketts Pumps E15, Promotes Ethanol while Proclaiming May as Renewable Fuels Month
(Office of Governor Pete Ricketts/KTIC) On Friday, Governor Pete Ricketts proclaimed May as Renewable Fuels Month in Nebraska during a ceremony at Casey’s General Store on N 156th Street. Following the official proclamation, the Governor stepped up to the pump to fill
May 21, 2019 Read Full Article
J-ENG and NYK Line Cooperate for Biofuel Research and Test
(Japan Engine Corporation) Japan Engine Corporation (J-ENG) has announced to cooperate with NIPPON YUSEN KAISHA (NYK Line) to start the research and development of biofuel using a test engine as one of solutions for decarbonization. The biofuel is a fuel derived from organic
May 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Government, National Labs, Academia, and Industry Convene at the 2019 BETO Peer Review! Presentations Now Available
(U.S. Department of Energy) From March 4–8, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, hosted the 2019 Project Peer Review in Denver, Colorado. This was the largest Peer Review
May 03, 2019 Read Full Article
Flex Fuels and Hybrid Electrification Will Change Heavy Trucks
by Kevin Clemens (Design News) ... “We’ve been working for a number of years on ways to make engines for cars and trucks cleaner and more efficient, and we’ve been particularly interested in what you can do with spark ignition [as opposed
May 01, 2019 Read Full Article
Yes, Tin Lizzie Was an Alcoholic
by Marc J. Rauch (The Auto Channel) Correcting Bad Revisionist History About Ford's Model T Automobile -- The most venerated automobile of all time is Henry Ford's Model T. Nicknamed "Tin Lizzie," "Leapin' Lena," and sometimes "Flivver," the Model T went into production
May 01, 2019 Read Full Article
New Corolla Made in Brazil Will Be the World's First Flex Hybrid Vehicle
(Toyota (Google Translation)) With this motorization, the New Corolla will be the most efficient ethanol-powered car in the country and the cleanest hybrid on the planet; Ad meets efficiency requirements established by Rota 2030 Program; With launch scheduled for the last quarter
April 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Sustainable Super JET Fuels: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to High Performance Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Researchersfrom several labs and universities like Georgia Tech, Sandia National Labs, University of Dayton, and others are working together on Engine Optimized Sustainable Drop-in JET High Performance Fuels (HPF). Anthe George manages the Biomass Science and Conversion Technologies
April 17, 2019 Read Full Article
The Driven Podcast: Biofuels, Batteries, or Hydrogen
by Giles Parkinson (Renew Economy) Two years ago, Stephanie Moroz was named one of Australia’s most innovative engineers by Engineers Australia, and her experience working across lithium-ion batteries, internal combustion engines, fuel cells and hydrogen storage gives her a unique perspective of
April 17, 2019 Read Full Article
DME’s Zero Emission Pathway: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Oberon Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Oberon Fuelsis bringing DME to North America. DME (dimethyl ether) is a clean-burning diesel alternative. Oberon Fuels is facilitating the growth of the DME transportation industry by converting biogas and other hydrocarbon rich waste streams to
April 10, 2019 Read Full Article
DOE Offers $59 Million for Advanced Vehicle Technologies Research DEADLINE: May 1, 2019
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy has opened a $59 million funding opportunity that aims to accelerate advanced vehicle technologies research. Clean Cities coalition-led alternative fuels projects are eligible to apply for a portion of that
April 09, 2019 Read Full Article
Emissions from Low- and Mid-Level Blends of Anhydrous Ethanol in Gasoline 2019-01-0997
(SAE International) Typically ethanol is present in gasoline as a 10% blend by volume (E10), although E15, E85 (51 to 83%), and E0 are also available at selected stations. Numerous studies of tailpipe regulated emissions have been conducted to compare emissions
April 08, 2019 Read Full Article
QUOTE OF THE WEEK -- Chris Frey
Researchers tested regular E10 with 10% ethanol to a mid-level blend with 27% ethanol or E27. They found that when splash blending or simply adding ethanol to regular consumer fuel, ethanol lowered particulate matter (PM), CO and CO2. The vehicles
April 08, 2019 Read Full Article
Ireland’s First Biomethane Bus Starts Passenger Operations in Cork
(Gas Networks Ireland/NGV Journal) Bus travelers in Cork were the first passengers to ride a ‘green bus’ in Ireland on March 25. With zero carbon emissions, this biomethane vehicle is a viable alternative for Ireland’s public bus fleet, and the bus
April 02, 2019 Read Full Article
Høglund to Deliver Biogas-Ready Fuel Solutions for Six Hurtigruten passenger ship retrofits in collaboration with HB Hunte Engineering, Supporting Greener Travel in Cruise Sector
(Høglund Marine Solutions) Høglund, the leading global marine solutions and system integration expert, today (March 20, 2019) announced that it has been awarded a contract to deliver biogas-ready fuel gas supply systems (FGSS) for six Hurtigruten passenger ship retrofits. Høglund will work
April 01, 2019 Read Full Article
Reports Analyze High-Octane Gasoline Market
(Convenience Store Decisions) A high-octane standard for the U.S. gasoline market could be the fastest and most cost-effective way to enhance fuel efficiency for vehicles produced in the next few years. New reports published by the Fuels Institute analyze the market’s ability to deliver higher
March 28, 2019 Read Full Article
Teachers of the Trade
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) An American Ethanol partnership facilitated an ethanol-focused presentation to future and current mechanics at one Universal Technical Institute campus. -- Mechanic certification focuses intensely on engines themselves, and the mechanical aspects of engine parts. It makes
March 27, 2019 Read Full Article
Automotive Industry Prepares Products for B30 Fuel
(Jakarta Post) The automotive industry is trying to adjust their products in line with the government’s policy on the use of 30 percent blended biodiesel ( B30 ) in an effort to absorb more palm oil in the domestic market, amid
March 26, 2019 Read Full Article
First Inland Vessel on 100% Sustainable Biofuel for Heineken
(GoodFuels) Sustainable biofuel pioneer GoodFuels and partner REINPLUS FIWADO Bunker have fuelled the ‘For Ever’, the first inland vessel from Combined Cargo Terminals (CCT) that runs fully on 100% sustainable biofuel. With this delivery feasibility of using 100% sustainable biofuels in inland vessels
March 21, 2019 Read Full Article
IKEA, CMA CGM and the GoodShipping Program Join Forces to Test Sustainable Marine Bio-Fuel Oil
(GoodShipping Program) IKEA Transport & Logistics Services, CMA CGM, the GoodShipping Program and the Port of Rotterdam have today announced they will cooperate in a first of its kind partnership to test and scale the use of sustainable marine bio-fuel oil.
March 13, 2019 Read Full Article
Biofuel for Light Duty Vehicles: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to GM
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) General Motors,automotive manufacturer, has a research and development group that is working on new opportunities for biofuels in GM vehicles. GM began producing E85 Flex Fuel vehicles in 2001 and now offers it in more than
March 11, 2019 Read Full Article
Diesel Refinery Planned for Qld: Aussie Company Works to Turn Plastics, Old Tyres and Waste into Diesel Fuel for Trucks
by Neil Dowling (Go Auto News Premium) An Australian company funded in part by the Queensland government is now trialling the production of renewable diesel fuel for use in heavy machinery, trucks and marine engines. It is hoped that the trials, to last
March 11, 2019 Read Full Article
Ethanol - A Conversation That Matters +Video
by Marc J. Rauch (Auto Channel) The Auto Channel's co-founder and co-publisher recently had the opportunity to travel up to Vancouver, British Columbia to appear on a television talk show called "Conversations That Matter." The show is hosted by award-winning veteran
March 09, 2019 Read Full Article
#GIMSSWISS: Koenigsegg Jesko Shreds The Past With A 1600HP E85 Biofuel Super Car
(Auto Spies) Koenigsegg has unveiled an all-new megacar - the Koenigsegg Jesko - at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show. ... • Re-designed 5.0 litre twin-turbo V8 engine producing 1280hp on standard gasoline and 1600hp on E85 biofuel • ... Jesko is named for
March 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Europe Needn’t Fear E10 Ethanol Blends
by James Cogan (Biofuels Digest) ... The ongoing battle to convince regulators that domestic crop based ethanol is climate friendly and free of adverse side effects is a roller coaster of highs and lows. It’s not for the faint-hearted investor. But one
March 06, 2019 Read Full Article
Presentation/Webinar Recording Posted: Effects of Ethanol Blends on Light-Duty Vehicle Emissions
by Tammy Klein (Future Fuel Strategies) The presentation and webinar recording from the first 2019 web conference for Future Fuel Outlook members is now posted. The webinar focused on the study, “Effects of Ethanol Blends on Light-Duty Vehicle Emissions: A Critical Review.” This is
February 28, 2019 Read Full Article
New Tool Compares Costs and Benefits of Alternative Fuels and Vehicle Technologies.
(Argonne National Laboratory) Many fleet managers are looking at alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies to reduce their environmental footprint and save money. The AFLEET Tool, and its newly launched web-based version, AFLEET Online, developed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, can
February 26, 2019 Read Full Article
WEBINAR: February Web Conference: Effects of Ethanol Blends on Light-Duty Vehicle Emissions --- February 27, 2019
Our next web conference for Future Fuel Outlook members will be held Wednesday, February 27 from 10-11:30 a.m. ET (4:00-5:30 Paris/Brussels time) on the study “Effects of Ethanol Blends on Light-Duty Vehicle Emissions: A Critical Review.” This is a study I have worked
February 19, 2019 Read Full Article
General Motors to Ethanol: Focus on 95 Octane Fuel Standard, or “Miss the Window altogether”
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, General Motors VP Dan Nicholson told delegates at the National Ethanol Conference that “High octane is essential to realize better efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions,” but warned the US ethanol industry to get behind
February 13, 2019 Read Full Article
Retailers Say Now Is the Time to Move to Higher Ethanol Blends
(Solutions from the Land) In its 2019 Annual Energy Outlook issued this month, the DOE's Energy Information Administration offers projections that make clear the importance of significantly increasing ethanol blends into the nation's transportation fuel over the next several decades. The report predicts that
February 11, 2019 Read Full Article
Paving Biodiesel’s Way for Greater Use in Advanced Diesel Systems
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Biodiesel’s use in heavy-duty diesel applications continues to grow in California thanks in large part to the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, but how will California’s Mobile Source Strategy—a plan to further cut NOx emissions by
February 06, 2019 Read Full Article
Fuel & Engine Co-Optimization: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to NREL
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) is working to address key questions like what fuels engines really want, what fuels work best and what will work in the real world. John Farrell from NREL gave this illuminating
February 06, 2019 Read Full Article
How Do Your Fuel Decisions Impact Our Environment?
by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) EESI Policy Associate Jessie Stolark spoke on a roundtable panel about the health and environmental considerations of fuel choices, at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit on January 29. Below is an abbreviated version
February 03, 2019 Read Full Article
Heavy Duty Diesels: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to Cummins
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cummins is conducting diesel research on mixing controlled compression ignition and advanced compression ignition with low reactivity fuels. John Deur from Cummins gave this illuminating overview of biofuel opportunities and challenges for heavy duty diesels at ABLC
January 09, 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
2019: The Year Ethanol Misinformation Died
(Renewable Fuels Association) ... Ethanol is providing a cleaner, domestically produced, higher-octane fuel, while offering greater consumer choice at the pump. Let’s break it down. Ethanol is providing greater consumer choice. There are more than 24 million vehicles on U.S. roads
January 04, 2019 Read Full Article
UC Riverside Team Examines Influence of Mid-and High-Level Ethanol Blends on Pollution from GDI Flex Fuel Vehicle
(Green Car Congress) A team from the University of California Riverside has investigated the influence of low-, mid-, and high-ethanol fueling—as well as the influence of the aromatic hydrocarbons in the fuel blend—on the regulated and greenhouse gas emissions, the mobile
January 02, 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
“REWOFUEL”: Residual Soft Wood Conversion to Drop-in Biofuels
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) The aim of the EU-funded project REWOFUEL is to demonstrate the performance, reliability, environmental and socio-economic sustainability of the value chain for the transformation of residual wood to Bio-Isobutene (bio-IBN) by fermentation and its further conversion into biofuels. The
December 26, 2018 Read Full Article
DOE Awards $1M to UMass Lowell-Led Team to Develop Renewable Fuel Additives from Wood Byproducts; Co-Optima Project
(Green Car Congress) The US Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a three-year, $1 million grant to a team of researchers led by a UMass Lowell mechanical engineering professor that is working to develop renewable fuel additives from sawdust and other wood byproducts. The
December 19, 2018 Read Full Article
Commercializing Conventional and Advanced Liquid Biofuels from Biomass: Task 39 Update
(IEA Bioenergy Task 39) ... Task work that has recently been completed and will soon be posted on the “publically available” sections of the Task 39 website (http://task39.ieabioenergy.com/) includes the final report entitled, “Survey of Advanced Fuels for Advanced Engines” which Task 39 carried
December 19, 2018 Read Full Article
Toyota Bringing World-First Ethanol Hybrid Car to Brazil
(China Plus) Toyota has announced its plan to send the world's first ethanol hybrid vehicle to the Brazilian market. The flexible-fuel hybrid will combine an engine that can run on both gasoline and ethanol and an electrical power train, the first ever
December 18, 2018 Read Full Article
Niti Aayog to Reach out to Cabinet Secretary to Move Methanol Blending Plan
by Yogima Seth Sharma (Economic Times) Niti Aayog will seek cabinet secretary PK Sinha’s intervention to push blending of methanol with petrol after repeated efforts to persuade the petroleum ministry to go ahead with the proposal failed, a senior government official
December 18, 2018 Read Full Article
Biodiesel By-Product Helps Fuel Come Clean
(King Abdullah University of Science and Technology/Phys.org) ... This work on glycerol carbonate also supports Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to diversify the Kingdom's economy from its current reliance on the oil industry. (Binod) Giri explains that this research
December 05, 2018 Read Full Article
A Summary of Federal Programs: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Alternative Fuel and Advanced Vehicle Technology Incentives
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A wide array of federal incentives supports the development and deployment of alternatives to conventional fuels and engines in transportation. These incentives include tax deductions and credits for vehicle purchases and the installation of refueling systems,
December 05, 2018 Read Full Article
Danish Firm Claims First Biofuel Commercial Sea Voyage
by Tom Burridge (BBC News) As things stand, the vast majority of ocean-going vessels that transport goods across the globe run on what is known as "heavy fuel oil". It is thick, black and cheap. Dirk Kronemeiier describes it as the "dirtiest fuel
December 02, 2018 Read Full Article
Fueling the Future: Developing a More Efficient Process for Producing Biobased High-Octane Gasoline
by Zia Abdullah (U.S. Department of Energy) Over the past five years, the market share for premium gasoline in the United States has increased from 9% to 12%.1 To help meet the growing demand for high-octane gasoline, the Bioenergy Technologies Office and
November 28, 2018 Read Full Article
Shimkus, Flores Release Draft 21st Century Transportation Fuels Act
(Office of Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL 15) Congressman John Shimkus (Illinois-15) and Congressman Bill Flores (Texas-17) today released a discussion draft of the 21st Century Transportation Fuels Act. “I’ve been engaged in the biofuel debate my entire career in Congress,” said
November 23, 2018 Read Full Article
DOE Announces SBIR/STTR FY 2019 Phase I Release 2 Topics
(U.S. Department of Energy) As part of last week's posting of topic areas for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) research and development proposals, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announced 12 topics to fund
November 14, 2018 Read Full Article
EESI Joins Comments on Health, Environmental & Economic Benefits of High-Octane Biofuels +
by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... Automotive manufacturers are expressing interest in raising the minimum octane level of the U.S. gasoline pool as a low-cost compliance option for increasing fuel efficiency. Until now, all MPG gains in the
November 02, 2018 Read Full Article
Isuzu Ready to Modify Vehicles for B20 Biodiesel Compatibility if Thai Govt Offers Incentives
(The Nation) Isuzu is ready to carry out modifications on its products for B20 biodiesel fuel compatibility in Thailand if the government supports the policy and offers tax cuts in order to maintain competitive pricing, the company announced in a statement
November 01, 2018 Read Full Article
Clean Octane Alliance Sees Open Road for Higher Blends
(Urban Air Initiative) ... South Dakota Farmers Union President Doug Sombke and Urban Air Initiative President Dave VanderGriend said an update to the master list of future federal regulatory actions called the Unified Agenda does not include a previously proposed rule that
October 31, 2018 Read Full Article
RFA Urges EPA and NHTSA to Use SAFE Vehicles Rule to Advance High-Octane, Low Carbon Fuels
(Renewable Fuels Association) Ethanol-based high-octane, low-carbon (HOLC) fuel blends would enable cost-effective gains in fuel economy and significant carbon dioxide reductions, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) outlined in comments submitted Friday to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety
October 31, 2018 Read Full Article
Over 70% Bioethanol Engine Developed
(Biofuels International) An Austrian university of technology, TU Wien (TUW), announced in a public release that it has developed a diesel engine that utilises over 70% bioethanol. TUW detailed the technology used in the development of the engine, which uses both diesel
October 26, 2018 Read Full Article
New Research Looks beyond Carbon Efficiency to Improve Advanced Biofuel Strategy Development
by Max Witynski (Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) ... For researchers, this means that the more carbon in the crop that ends up as carbon in the fuel, the better. But carbon efficiency may not be the whole story: fuel quality and
October 22, 2018 Read Full Article
Myth-Buster or Warranty-Buster? Nebraska Ethanol Test Will Push beyond Auto Manufacturers' Specs
by Joe Duggan (Omaha World-Herald Bureau) Nebraska literally put the rubber to the road more than 40 years ago to give ethanol a shot of much-needed street cred. It was called the “Nebraska 2 Million Mile Gasohol Road Test Program.” It
October 06, 2018 Read Full Article
CARB Action on LCFS Underscores Need for Ethanol-Supported HOLC Fuels
(Solutions from the Land) Asserting that they are taking the state's climate fight up a notch, members of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) last week adopted amendments to the state's low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS) that could enhance the role of
October 06, 2018 Read Full Article
Researchers to Develop Renewable Fuel Additives from Sawdust
by Edwin L. Aguirre (University of Massachusetts Lowell) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a three-year, $1 million grant to a team of researchers from UMass Lowell, the University of Maine and Florida-based Mainstream Engineering Corp. to develop renewable fuel additives
October 05, 2018 Read Full Article
From Ponds to Power: $2M to Perfect Algae as Diesel Fuel
by Nicole Casal Moore (University of Michigan) U-M becomes one of the few institutes in the world working on the problem end-to-end -- With $2 million from the U.S. Department of Energy, University of Michigan researchers aim to make the long-touted promise
October 05, 2018 Read Full Article
Development, Deployment of Integrated Biorefineries: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to Biorefining in the US
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) IEA Bioenergy Task 42’s goal is to contribute to the development and deployment of integrated biorefineries as part of highly efficient sustainable value chains (co-)producing food/feed ingredients, chemicals, materials, fuels, power and/or heat out of sustainably sourced
October 02, 2018 Read Full Article
QUOTE OF THE WEEK -- Kelly Davis
In recent Renewable Fuels Association testimony, Kelly Davis noted, "It was apparent that the previous administration disregarded comments from RFA and many other stakeholders—including the automakers—that encouraged EPA to evaluate engines and fuels as integrated systems when assessing the efficacy
September 26, 2018 Read Full Article
RFA Testifies in Support of High Octane Low Carbon Fuels at EPA/NHTSA Hearing
by Rachel Gantz (Renewable Fuels Association) A high-octane, low-carbon fuel containing 20-40% ethanol used in optimized engines would be the lowest cost means of achieving compliance with fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards for model year 2021-2026 and beyond, Renewable Fuels
September 26, 2018 Read Full Article
Enerkem Produces a New Clean, Renewable Alternative Solution to Diesel Fuel for the Transportation Sector
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Canada, we hear that Enerkem has tested and validated the production of fuel-grade bio-DME made from unrecoverable carbon-rich municipal solid waste. More than 1,000 hours of operations at its Innovation Centre in Westbury, Quebec have
September 26, 2018 Read Full Article
Farm Life (Gregorich): The Ethanol Industry and How It’s Impacting Farmers
by Kellie Gregorich (Telegraph Herald) Ethanol is a high octane gasoline that is used throughout the world to keep our vehicles running at an affordable price. The only question is, is it around to stay? ... With the current trade war situation with China,
September 14, 2018 Read Full Article
DOE Funds 6 Projects for Co-Optimization of Engines and Fuels
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy has announced it will award 42 projects a total of $80 million to support advanced vehicles technologies research. Approximately $10.1 million of that funding will support six projects focused on
September 14, 2018 Read Full Article
Operating Performance of a Tractor Engine of Emissions Standard EU IV in Biodiesel Operation
by Thomas Sadlowski, Volker Wichmann, Bert Buchholz and Markus Winkler (ATZ OffHighway) The use of pure biofuels in agricultural machinery offers the opportunity to reduce the use of fossil fuels. These engines are largely fuelled by self-consumption gas stations. Based on the introduction of new emission standards
September 10, 2018 Read Full Article
Motorists Can Make Better Decisions at the Pump: Misconceptions about Gasoline Mean Lost Savings, Dirtier Air
by Jeff Rice (Journal-Advocate) ... Motorists shop almost exclusively according to price, except when the price goes down, and labor under a plethora of misconceptions about additives, octane and ethanol. That can lead to some unwise decisions at the pump. Numerous studies
August 31, 2018 Read Full Article
Solar Fuels Working Well under Pressure
(King Abdullah University of Science and Technology/EurekAlert) Highly fuel-efficient new engine designs could significantly reduce the environmental impact of vehicles, especially if the engines run on renewable nonpetroleum-based fuels. Ensuring these unconventional fuels are compatible with next-generation engines was the aim
August 24, 2018 Read Full Article
On the Road Again—Legally
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Just over a year ago the future of B20 in California was uncertain, thanks to in-use requirements of the Alternative Diesel Fuels regulation, but as we’ve seen so many times, the biodiesel industry shone in the
August 22, 2018 Read Full Article
NFU, FUE & UAI Announce Alliance to Pursue Expanded Use Of American-Grown, High-Octane Biofuels
(National Farmers Union) In an effort to expand the market for domestic agriculture products, reduce harmful emissions, and provide consumers with lower cost fuel choices, National Farmers Union, Farmers Union Enterprises and the Urban Air Initiative announced they have formed a
August 22, 2018 Read Full Article
Bogota’s Public Transport Buses Could Run on Biomethane
(National University of Colombia/NGV Journal) According to Ower Rolando Barreto, Master of Environmental Engineering at the National University of Colombia (UN), “we could have a biogas reserve until 2030 if we started to treat waste for fuel generation,” with a biogas
August 16, 2018 Read Full Article
GAF 2018: From Precision Farming to Fuel Cell Challenges
by Laís F. Thomaz*(Advanced Biofuels USA) The Global Agribusiness Forum event took place on July 23 and 24 2018 at the Sheraton WTC in São Paulo, Brazil, and brought together leaders from more than 60 countries. [caption id="attachment_100204" align="alignleft" width="300"] Ambassadors
August 08, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to the US Department of Energy’s Demonstration and Market Transformation Programs
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The goal of the US Department of Energy’s Demonstration and Market Transformation focus at the BioEnergy Technologies Office is to de-risk bioenergy production technologies through validated proof of performance at the pilot, demonstration, and pioneer scales
August 03, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Opens Door to Conversation about High Octane Fuels
(Urban Air Initiative) After being one of the first to embrace and encourage high octane fuels as a solution for reducing emissions and improving air quality, the Urban Air Initiative is relieved to finally see octane included in the latest EPA
August 02, 2018 Read Full Article
High Performance Fuels & Vehicles, Both: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to DOE’s Co-Optima Project and HP Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The US Department of Energy has a key project called Co-Optima, which aims to determine key fuel properties that enable improved engine efficiency, provide key science to enable high efficiency combustion modes, and capitalize on unique
July 31, 2018 Read Full Article
United Front ... Octane Is Important
by Tim Albrecht (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Experts in multiple industries support the idea of a high-octane fuel standard, but some prefer it as a replacement to the RFS. -- Octane is important. The ethanol industry knows this, the automakers know it and
July 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Global Bioenergies and Audi Renew Their Partnership in Renewable Gasoline
(Global Bioenergies) Global Bioenergies (Euronext Growth: ALGBE) and Audi announced today the signing of a new agreement focused on the implementation of residue usage, preparation of a path to commercialization and engine testing of new blends. Following the completion of a
July 12, 2018 Read Full Article
MaREI Secure €4.4 Million to Support Ireland’s Indigenous Biomass and Bioenergy Industry
(Science Foundation Ireland) ... The Spoke research teams will collaborate in developing technologies capable of converting a wide variety of residues and by-products to homogenous energy carriers and optimising performance of internal combustion engines using advanced fuels including biofuel blends. The Spoke
July 12, 2018 Read Full Article
E10 Petrol Pushes Motorists to Buy Premium Fuel, Costs More than Regular Unleaded in the Long Run
(News.com.au) Ethanol-blended petrol was billed as a win for our hip pockets and the environment, but analysts say it’s a very different story -- ... While other states have so far resisted the temptation to mandate ethanol use, the Federal Government is
June 28, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Biofuels for the Marine Sector
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biofuels for marine diesels — a biofuel developers dream? That’s the premise of his IEA webinar deck on the promise and progress in marine biofuels, a 330 Mton fuel market with both fuel technology in transition, and where
June 27, 2018 Read Full Article
An Evaluation of Brazil’s RenovaBio Program
by Bill Brandon* (Advanced Biofuels USA/ Industrial Ecosystems) According to the Paris Accords on Climate Change, each country is to develop its own goals for CO2 reductions and develop a program to meet these goals. Brazil is an interesting case
June 21, 2018 Read Full Article
Octane Workshop Series --- July 9-12, 2018 --- Various Locations
The Fuels Institute and the national laboratories that comprise the DOE Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines initiative are co-hosting a series of collaborative, single-day stakeholder meetings to review current research on the role of octane and other fuel properties relevant
June 20, 2018 Read Full Article
From Corn to Manure, Here's Why Biofuels Could Be Important in the Years to Come
by Anmar Frangoul (CNBC) The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Colorado is a hotbed of research and innovation. One field its researchers are looking at is that of biofuels, which can be produced from biomass. Breaking things down, biomass can include anything
June 14, 2018 Read Full Article
Hidden Costs Behind the IMO’s New Regulations For Marine Biofuels: EIA Webinar Review
by Michael Eggleston* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Challenged by strict, binding international targets to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and sulfur levels in fuels it is estimated that by 2020 the marine sector will need to modify or change about 80%
May 24, 2018 Read Full Article
A Higher Market for Ethanol Former Author of RFS Legislation Sees Octane Levels as Advancement for Ethanol
by Chris Clayton (DTN The Progressive Farmer) Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle keeps close tabs on what's happening with biofuels even though he's been out of the U.S. Senate more than a decade now. Daschle, who is working with the
May 15, 2018 Read Full Article
ICYMI: $227M Available from US in Push for Vehicle, Feedstock and Bioconversion Advances
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We usually say, ICYMIs for those In Case You Missed Its that show up in someone’s inbox. This week, we might re-purpose that useful acronym to: In Case Your Money Isn’t Sufficient — because there are three funding opportunities
May 15, 2018 Read Full Article
Biofuels Production and Consumption in the US: Status, Advances and Challenges
by Mahmood Ebadian and James D. McMillan (IEA Bioenergy Task 39 Newsletter) ... The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) was enacted in 2007 to enhance domestic production of fuels and spur economic development while reducing reliance on imports and improving the
May 11, 2018 Read Full Article
Repeating History with Octane Biofuel Standards Is a Huge Mistake
by Mike Carr (New Energy America/The Hill) Recently, Chet Thompson of American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) testified before Congress and proposed a “fuel neutral” octane standard as a “potential replacement” for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Octane is a fuel characteristic that allows engines
May 09, 2018 Read Full Article
Secretary of Energy Rick Perry Announces $68.5 Million for Advanced Vehicle Technologies Research LOI due May 29, 2018
(U. S. Department of Energy) Today (May 1, 2018), U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry announced up to $68.5 million in available funding for early-stage research of advanced vehicle technologies that will enable more affordable mobility, strengthen domestic energy security, and
May 03, 2018 Read Full Article
What’s the Latest in Bioenergy R&D, DOE? The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to US DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office establishes partnerships with key public and private stakeholders to develop technologies for producing cost-competitive advanced biofuels from non-food biomass resources, including cellulosic biomass, algae, and wet waste (e.g.,
May 03, 2018 Read Full Article
Stay Vigilant: The Importance of Paying Attention and Remaining Active in Ethanol Advocacy.
by Brian Jennings (Ethanol Producer Magazine/American Coalition for Ethanol ) ... The timing of this year’s fly-in was fortuitous, amid talk of “win-win” deals for refiners and biofuel producers and a snowstorm that put the citizens of D.C. on edge. Our
April 30, 2018 Read Full Article
How Trump Will Go after California's Auto GHG Authority
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The Trump administration plans to argue that California does not have the authority to enforce stringent greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars, despite the Obama administration's 2009 waiver, according to a source familiar with a forthcoming
April 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines: Co-Optima Report Focuses on Strengths of Nation’s Energy Resources and Existing Infrastructure
by Mattie Hensley (Sandia National Laboratory) The United States could increase its domestic fuel supplies by 25 billion gallons per year while leveraging the nation’s existing $1 trillion fuel infrastructure according to a Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines (Co-Optima) report released this week. The
April 20, 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
New Release: Co-Optima 2017 Year in Review
(U.S. Department of Energy) While vehicles and fuels currently on the market get travelers from Point A to Point B, are there new options that could save fuel and money, while also delivering higher performance and cleaner air? Co-Optima research is exploring
April 18, 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
First Car Driving with Global Bioenergies’ Renewable Gasoline
(Global Bioenergies) First Audi car to drive at the Montlhéry circuit using over 34% renewable gasoline; One-cylinder engine testing results confirm renewable gasoline has very high performances; Start of the on-road testing phase -- Today, for the first time, Global Bioenergies will use
April 05, 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
Co-Optimization of Engines & Fuels: Breakthrough Research in Engine and Fuel Co-Optimization
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Energy Department today (February 15, 2018) released two studies from the Co-Optimization of Engines & Fuels initiative (Co-Optima). The study, Fuel Blendstocks with the Potential to Optimize Future Gasoline Engine Performance, identifies eight representative high-octane blendstocks across
March 16, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2018 Visual Guide to the Economics, Politics of Renewable Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Have you ever wondered why corn farmers march for the RFS, but Wall Streeters don't? Or why merchent oil refiners want the US Renewable Fuel Standard repealed but major oilcos generally support RFS reform? Why are biodiesel
March 16, 2018 Read Full Article
Harmonizing a Three-Headed Regulatory Monster (EPA, NHTSA, CARB)
by Graham Noyes and Doug Durante (Low Carbon Fuels Coalition/Clean Fuels Development Coalition/Biofuels Digest) ... While not as entertaining to watch as a Godzilla film with a three-headed flying monster, the current regulatory struggle over national auto standards between the US
March 14, 2018 Read Full Article
Key Milestone Reached in the Audi - Global Bioenergies Partnership
(Global Bioenergies/Globe Newswire) Global Bioenergies (Euronext Growth: ALGBE) and German carmaker Audi today announced that a key milestone was reached in their multi-year agreement. Renewable gasoline components were produced and shipped to Audi. Using its Leuna Demo plant, Global Bioenergies has produced
March 09, 2018 Read Full Article
Ag Policy Blog: Government Confusion Over Ethanol Might Demand Growing Locally
by Chris Clayton (DTN The Progressive Farmer) ... So you have USDA saying ethanol demand has basically peaked. The Department of Energy is saying ethanol is really the only fuel that can provide the energy and market demands needed in the
March 06, 2018 Read Full Article
Heard on the Floor at ABLC 2018
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There was high drama in Washington, DC as the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference got underway and President Trump readies to meet at the White House with a number of biofuels leaders about the RFS and bioeconomy policy
March 01, 2018 Read Full Article
BETO 2017 Peer Review Results Are Now Online!
(U.S. Department of Energy) Last spring, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) conducted its seventh biennial external review of its research, development, and communications portfolio. More than 40 external subject matter experts from industry, academia, and
February 27, 2018 Read Full Article
High Performance Fuels: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to DOE’s Co-Optima Project and HP fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The US Department of Energy has a key project called Co-Optima, which aims to determine key fuel properties that enable improved engine efficiency, provide key science to enable high efficiency combustion modes, and capitalize on unique
February 21, 2018 Read Full Article
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
In his article suggesting scrapping Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards in favor of a Clean Air Act life cycle analysis-based methodology for CO2 transportation emission reduction, Bob Kozak advised, "(I)f anyone asks what will be the economic incentive for a
February 16, 2018 Read Full Article
Let’s Regulate CO2 Emissions, and Forget the 55.4 MPG 2025 Corporate Annual Fuel Economy Standard: The Inexpensive Way to Quickly Reduce Green House Gases
by Robert Kozak* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The 2025 Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard of 54.5 miles/gallon has become a significant issue since the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States. Besides the Administration’s near religious fervor against
February 15, 2018 Read Full Article
New DOE Study: Ethanol Among Best Options for Future Engine Efficiency Improvements and Emissions Reduction
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) today hailed the release of two studies by the Department of Energy that find ethanol-based high octane fuels can deliver substantial fuel economy improvements and emissions reductions when paired with optimized internal combustion
February 15, 2018 Read Full Article
Department of Energy's 2017 Project Peer Review Report
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) hosted the 2017 Project Peer Review on March 6–9, 2017, in Denver, Colorado. During the event, approximately 192 projects in BETO’s research, development, and demonstration portfolio were
February 06, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to the Future of the Internal Combustion Engine
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) When it comes to the future of the combustion engine, what are the future developments from a scientific viewpoint? That’s the ambitious topic that Gennadi Zikoridse of the University of Applied Sciences Dresden took on in this recent presentation. Combustion
February 06, 2018 Read Full Article
California Advanced Biofuels Alliance Joins Biofuels Groups in Opposing AB 1745
(California Advanced Biofuels Alliance) On January 19th, CABA joined biofuels groups in opposing AB 1745. Here is the text of the letter: Dear Assembly Member Ting: It is after careful deliberation that the undersigned organizations respectfully express opposition to AB 1745, a bill
January 31, 2018 Read Full Article
The Rise, Rise, Rise of Bio-Methanol for Fuels and Chemical Markets
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The clearest intersecting theme is bio-methanol. Let’s see why. For one, Södra has much more going on than Silva, and we reported on a major development in December when we related that Södra will invest more
January 25, 2018 Read Full Article
RFA’s 2018 Biofuel Priorities to Help ‘Make America Great Again’
by Bob Dinneen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... This new era of getting our country back on track has and will continue to extend into the biofuels industry, making sure we are providing the cleanest, lowest-cost and highest-octane fuels at the pump.
January 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Presentations Posted for Can Fuel Efficiency Standards Be Met Cost-Effectively? The Potential for High-Octane, Low-Carbon Fuels
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing examining how high-octane, low-carbon fuel can enable CAFE compliance. Research suggests that high-octane, low-carbon fuel is the lowest-cost compliance option for both consumers and the automotive industry. Taking steps
November 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Are Electrics a Bridging Technology, and Hydrogen Fuel Cells the Future?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Recently, Lexus’ Paul Williamsen told Australia’s CarAdvice team: “Both hybrid and EVs are merely bridging technologies on the way to the solution, which is hydrogen. The problem with EVs is a simple matter of chemistry – we won’t
November 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Presentations from BETO’s Annual Conference Now Online!
(U.S. Department of Energy) On July 11–12, 2017, BETO hosted its 10th annual conference—Bioeconomy 2017: Domestic Resources for a Vibrant Future! More than 300 attendees from industry, government agencies, the national laboratories, and academia gathered to discuss opportunities and challenges facing
October 31, 2017 Read Full Article
Vegetable Oil as Fuel in Agriculture
(OWI (Google Translation)) Retrofitting of tractors for multi-fuel use -- In agriculture, widening the use of vegetable oil as fuel in tractors could contribute to greater sustainability and climate protection within the framework of a resource-conserving bioeconomy. However, the compatibility of fuel-carrying components
October 17, 2017 Read Full Article
E20 for the EU?
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) A recent study by the European Commission Directorate-General for Climate Action identifies E20 as the optimal ethanol blend for the EU. The study, which outlines an extensive economic and environmental analysis of increasing biofuel blends, said biofuel blends are crucial
October 12, 2017 Read Full Article
Drag Racing With E85: Green Is Mean - E85 Isn't Just For Tree-Huggers
(Quick Fuel Technology/Holley) As a renewable energy source championed by environmentalists, racers often think of E85 as a wimpy fuel that has no place in a drag car. However, many bracket racers have shattered that perception by taking advantage of E85’s
October 12, 2017 Read Full Article
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