(ePURE) Industry Committee vote falls short of what is needed to fix the Commission’s RED II proposal -- The report adopted today by the European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee sets the stage for a real clash with EU Member States
European Union (EU)
Back TO HOMEMap of 224 European Biorefineries Published by BIC and nova-Institute
(Bio-based News) Biorefineries are the heart of the bioeconomy. Here, different types of biomass are fully utilised and transformed into a large variety of chemicals and materials The map distinguishes between “Sugar-/starch based biorefineries”, producing bioethanol and other chemicals (63), “Oil-/fat-based biorefineries
November 29, 2017 Read Full Article
EU Seeks to Head off New Aircraft Emissions Dispute
by Julia Fioretti (Reuters) UN aviation agency adopted emissions standards last year; EU Commission wanted EU to be able to go further; EU member states want EU to stick to UN-agreed ones; Member states, European Parliament meet on Wednesday More than 18 months after global regulators
November 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Commission’s Biofuels Proposal May Kill Future Investment, Industry Warns
by Samuel White (EurActiv) The biofuels industry has hit out at the European Commission’s proposal to reduce the cap on crop-based biofuels in the EU’s transport fuel mix, saying it would undermine the EU executive’s renewable energy policy and slash investment in
November 28, 2017 Read Full Article
TO-SYN-FUEL Project: First Consortium Meeting in Rotterdam, Netherlands
(TO-SYN-FUEL) Members of twelve SME, industrial, and scientific partners, co-ordinated by Fraunhofer UMSICHT, and representatives of the European Commission participated in the first consortium meeting in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on the 26th of October 2017. Discussions took place regarding the progress
November 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Lead, Squabble or Waffle Away: Shuffling the Deck on Global Bioenergy
by Gerard Ostheimer and Douglas L. Faulkner (Biofuels Digest) ... In the U.S., fighting between Big Ag and Big Oil over first-generation biofuels is slowing the deployment of advanced biofuels projects. This further undercuts the industry in a depressing frittering away of
November 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Industrial Biotech Sector Calls for an Ambitious Revision of EU Bioeconomy Strategy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Brussels, on the EU Bioeconomy Policy Day, EuropaBio called for an ambitious revision of the European Bioeconomy Strategy. Such a revision would help tackle climate change and meet the needs of a growing population whilst boosting
November 27, 2017 Read Full Article
European Bioeconomy Stakeholders Manifesto: The Digest’s Special Guide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We, representatives from large and small companies, NGOs, biomass producers, regions, and academia from all over Europe as members of the European Bioeconomy Stakeholders Panel, have prepared this manifesto based on the Building Blocks document, prepared
November 27, 2017 Read Full Article
Technology Key to Ensuring Sustainable Bioenergy and Biofuel Production
(EU Science Hub) Bioenergy is the most common renewable energy source in Europe - and it's expected to continue to make up a significant part of the energy mix in the future. However, its climate performance can vary significantly depending on the
November 27, 2017 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2017 Guide to the 20 Top European Biorefinery Projects
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) You won’t hear it from the NGOs orbiting Brussels who have long figured out that bashing biotechnology is good for the fund-raising cash register, but Europe has become the hottest geography on the planet for
November 23, 2017 Read Full Article
New Documentary Shows How Biofuels Lobby Played Parliament
by Peter Teffer (EU Observer) ... The documentary tells the story of how the EU decided to embrace the use of biofuels, only to find out that it had not properly considered all the negative consequences. ... The film, seven years in the
November 21, 2017 Read Full Article
Divided on Biofuel Phase-Out, Parliament Looks for Compromise
by Paola Tamma (EurActiv) The lawmaker in charge of steering the EU’s biofuels reform in the European Parliament is looking for compromise after MEPs last week rejected his proposal to phase out crop-based biofuels entirely by 2030 and ban palm oil in
November 15, 2017 Read Full Article
The Dismal Prospect of Advanced Biofuels in the EU
by Zoltán Szabó (EurActiv) Advanced biofuels are proposed as the fuels of the future to replace oil, but the EU regulatory environment is fuzzy and uncertain to lure investors and some questionable solutions may benefit the most – in addition to oil,
November 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Expect EU Single Certification to Be Stricter than RSPO — Expert
(UkrAgroConsult/BlackSeaGrain) The single certification scheme for palm oil proposed by the European Union (EU) may be stricter than the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification, says an industry expert. “I have a feeling that the EU certification would be higher or
November 14, 2017 Read Full Article
30 Hot Cellulosic Technologies, 30 Quick Takes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Last week, DowDuPont said it was exiting the cellulosic biofuels business and you’d think that the company just burned down the warehouse with the original text of the Renewable Fuels Standard — the coverage of the
November 14, 2017 Read Full Article
European Industry Counterattacks against Argentine Biodiesel
by Aline Robert (EurActiv) A group representing European biodiesel producers filed a complaint about illegal state aid with the European Commission on 3 November. It’s the latest episode in a commercial war between European biodiesel and its South American competitor. In September,
November 10, 2017 Read Full Article
Report from EUBCE 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden
by Maija Sihvonen* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Participants from over 70 countries gathered at Stockholm’s Älvsjömässan for the annual European Biomass Conference, EUBCE 2017 in June 12-15. In the field of advanced biofuels two years is a long time, so it
November 09, 2017 Read Full Article
EU Renewables Directive Sparks Mixed Feelings among Players
(ICIS) ... Charles-Albert Peers, CEO of ethanol producer Alcogroup and chairman of the European trade group for renewable ethanol ePURE, criticised what he called a “U-turn” in EU policy. “RED II removes one of the best options for decarbonising transport. I don’t see how
November 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Ethanol-Based Fuel Becomes Top-Selling Petrol in France
by Sybille de La Hamaide (Reuters) Gasoline containing up to 10 percent of ethanol has become the top-selling petrol in France, its largest market in the European Union, helped by a tax break that made the crop-based fuel more attractive to drivers,
November 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Sabah Chooses New Palm Oil Certification to Cater to Europe’s Needs
by Jason Santos (Malaysian Insight) SABAH’s move for a full compliance of the Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) by 2025 is to ensure the survival of the sector, state forestry director Sam Mannan said. The move will also make Sabah the first in
November 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Chicago! Fulcrum BioEnergy Picks the Midwest Hub for Its Next MSW-to-Jet Fuel Project
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From California we received the news that Chicagoland has been selected as the site of Fulcrum BioEnergy’s second commercial-scale waste-to-fuels biorefinery. We reported last month that the long-awaited financing was completed for Fulcrum Bioenergy’s highly-anticipated first commercial project
November 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Why Palm Biodiesel Producers Should Keep Pushing R&D and Make Palm Oil Biodiesel More Environmentally Friendly
by Yamin Vong (The Sun) ... The European Union is campaigning against palm bio-diesel and the European Parliament appears to be determined to ratify the Palm Oil and Deforestation of the Rainforests resolution that it passed on April 4. It's in this environment
November 06, 2017 Read Full Article
European Fuel Ethanol Demand May Be Supported by Industrial Sector
(Platts) Tumbling European fuel ethanol prices over October have increased the attractiveness of the product to industrial and beverage buyers, which could mean demand for fuel-grade product being supported in a time of seasonally weak demand and high supply. ... Although fuel ethanol
November 06, 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
Planes across Europe to Start Running on Vegetable Oil and Animal Fat in Bid to Tackle Climate Change and Toxic Air
by Ben Chapman (Independent) With long-distance electric-powered transport still a long way off, can advances in renewable fuel made from vegetable oil and waste fill the gap to combat climate change and clean up our toxic air? Planes across Europe will soon
November 01, 2017 Read Full Article
One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure: Enabling Europe’s Bioeconomy
by Michael Eggleston* (Advanced Biofuels USA) From October 10th -11th the European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy (EFIB) celebrated 10 years in Brussels, Belgium, as it plays a crucial role in providing a central meeting place for policy
November 01, 2017 Read Full Article
COSMOS: The Future of Plant Oil
by Michael Eggleston* (Advanced Biofuels USA) On October 9th the 10th European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy kicked off in Brussels, Belgium, giving participants the opportunity to take part in a stakeholder workshop held by the European research project COSMOS
November 01, 2017 Read Full Article
Clariant to Build Flagship Cellulosic Ethanol Plant in Romania: 8-Figure Sales Potential Envisioned
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Germany, Clariant’s board has approved investment in a new full-scale commercial plant for the production of cellulosic ethanol from agricultural residues using its sunliquid technology. The new plant, with an annual production capacity of 50.000
November 01, 2017 Read Full Article
Europe’s Bioeconomy to Get Open Access Innovation Infrastructure Map
(Bioenergy Insight) A collaborative project to map open access pilot and demonstration infrastructure for bio-based industries across Europe has been launched. The Pilots4U project is funded by the Bio Based Industries Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and
October 31, 2017 Read Full Article
Low Carbon Demand Regears Biodiesel Inputs
by Niamh Boyle (Biodiesel Magazine/Prima Markets) Prima Markets provides a comprehensive summary of the growing international demand for low carbon fuels, including U.S. policy drivers and waste feedstock consumption, along with a detailed overview of the international trade of low carbon
October 30, 2017 Read Full Article
EP Committee on Environment Denies Prospects for Domestic Biofuels
(Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants) The Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP) expresses its disappointment in the result of the vote in the European Parliament's Committee on Environment on Monday this week concerning
October 29, 2017 Read Full Article
Good Day for Bioenergy, Bad Day for Crop-Based Biofuels, as European Parliament’s Environment Committee Votes on RED II Proposals
by Liz Gyekye (Biofuels International) Policymakers in the European Parliament’s environment committee (ENVI) have voted in support of a proposal for a total phase out of crop-based biofuels by 2030 and have backed the use of biomass for electricity production. The ENVI
October 26, 2017 Read Full Article
MEPs Propose Upgraded, Nationally Binding Targets for Renewables
(New Europe Online) EU should aim for 35% renewables in its energy consumption in 2030 -- The Environment Committee voted on its opinion on the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive for the period 2021 – 2030. ... “I am delighted that the Parliament
October 25, 2017 Read Full Article
California Cars Are Running on Restaurant Grease
by Robert Tuttle (Bloomberg Technology) Renewable diesel use surges amid low-carbon fuel program; Second-biggest source of low-carbon fuel credits after ethanol -- California’s battle against climate change is being fought more fiercely in fast food restaurants than in Tesla Inc.’s car factory in Fremont. Seven
October 25, 2017 Read Full Article
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Gerard Ostheimer and Doug Faulkner co-authored a Biofuels Digest article with some ideas that show the benefits bioenergy could bring to Africa: "Africans should strive for sustainable fuels from native feedstocks in a modern infrastructure and thriving economy ... Renewable diesel
October 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Growing the African Biofuel Sector: What’s Not to Like?
by Gerard Ostheimer and Doug Faulkner (Biofuels Digest) ... (I)n Sub-Saharan Africa a thriving indigenous bioenergy industry can play a positive and productive role in modernizing economies and improving the quality of human life. One challenge for African bioenergy development though
October 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Four Swedish NGOs Write MEPs Demanding a Shift in Biofuels Policy
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Sweden, a group of four NGOs have written an open letter to members of European Parliament urging them to rethink the proposals for the second version of the Renewable Energy Directive, claiming that Swedish
October 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Shift to Sustainable Food System in Europe Is Possible, but Faces Challenges
(European Environment Agency) Making Europe’s production, consumption and trade in food environmentally sustainable is possible, but it will require a major shift in public attitudes, policies and knowledge and seizing current opportunities for change, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA)
October 19, 2017 Read Full Article
Ethanol Producers Work with UN to Accelerate Shift to Low Carbon
(Ethanol Europe Renewables, Ltd./EurActiv) EERL partners with UN Climate Change for COP 23 -- Ahead of the UN Climate Conference in Bonn (COP 23, 6-17 November), Ethanol Europe Renewables Ltd (EERL) and UN Climate Change have partnered to boost the deployment of
October 19, 2017 Read Full Article
Heard on the Floor at ABLC Next 2017: Fulcrum Prices Bonds, GOP Governors’ Pro-Biofuels March on DC
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In the biggest news sweeping the floor at ABLC Next 2017 and perhaps the biggest industrial biotechnology update of 2017, the long-awaited financing is approaching completion for Fulcrum Bioenergy’s highly-anticipated waste-to-fuels project in Nevada, that
October 19, 2017 Read Full Article
Wide Range of Issues Covered at Argus Biofuels Conference
by Liz Gyekye (Biofuels International) New ethanol market developments, legislation and trading were just some of the themes analysed at this year’s Argus Biofuels conference. The conference, which is taking place in London at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower over three days, focused on
October 18, 2017 Read Full Article
More than Half of EU Biodiesel Made from Imported Crops, Study Finds
by Samuel White (EurActiv) Some 53% of EU biodiesel is made with imported feedstock, according to a recent analysis of European Commission data by NGO Transport and Environment, and almost half of imported palm oil is burned in car engines. “EU car
October 18, 2017 Read Full Article
Argentina’s Biodiesel Plagued by Commercial and Environmental Challenges
by Daniel Gutman (Inter Press Service) The Argentine biodiesel industry, which in the last 10 years has become one of the most powerful in the world, has an uncertain future, faced with protectionist measures in the United States and Europe and
October 18, 2017 Read Full Article
Low Carbon Demand Regears Biodiesel Inputs
by Niamh Boyle (Prima Markets/Biodiesel Magazine) Prima Markets provides a comprehensive summary of the growing international demand for low carbon fuels, including U.S. policy drivers and waste feedstock consumption, along with a detailed overview of the international trade of low carbon
October 18, 2017 Read Full Article
AEBIOM 2017 Statistical Report Is Out!
(AEBIOM) Rewarded by the European Association Awards as the “Best Provision of Industry Information and Intelligence”, AEBIOM Statistical Report has been enriched with new figures every year since its first release in 2007, collecting unique data on European bioenergy from a
October 18, 2017 Read Full Article
Airbus Exec.: EU ‘Bonus’ for Aviation Biofuels May Be Too Little
by Frédéric Simon (EurActiv) The European Commission’s proposal to incentivise the production of biofuels for aircraft with a 20% “multiplier” goes in the right direction, says Thierry Nowaczyk from Airbus. The question is whether this is enough to fill the price
October 17, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuels International 2017 Conference in Edinburgh - A Peek into EU’s Biofuel Industry and Policy Outlook
by Aino Siirala* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The 10th Biofuels International Conference and Expo took place in Edinburgh this year. The conference was co-located with Bioenergy Insight 2017 conference which gave the participants an opportunity to attend both events at the
October 16, 2017 Read Full Article
MEPs Vote to Ban the Use of Palm Oil in Biofuels
by Arthur Neslen (The Guardian) MEPs have voted overwhelmingly to ban biofuels made from vegetable oils including palm oil by 2020, to prevent the EU’s renewable transport targets from inadvertently contributing to deforestation. A new palm oil regulation, minimum sustainability criteria, customs
October 13, 2017 Read Full Article
EU Ministers Agree National Climate Goals ahead of U.N. Talks
(Reuters) EU environment ministers agreed national emissions-reduction targets on Friday in a push to show how the bloc is delivering on its climate goals ahead of United Nations talks next months to fight global warming. ... Hours of talks over reforms to the
October 13, 2017 Read Full Article
All Your Biobase Are Belong to Us: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to BioBase Europe pilot plant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant is an independent, state-of-the-art facility that operates from a laboratory level to a multi-ton scale. Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant is a service provider for process development, scale-up and custom manufacturing of biobased products and processes. A wide
October 13, 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
St1 Progresses with Renewable Diesel Production Plans at Its Refinery in Gothenburg
(St1) Energy company St1 continues its series of investments targeting to begin the production of renewable diesel in 2020 at its refinery in Gothenburg, Sweden. The company has now signed an Engineering design package and license agreement with Haldor Topsoe for
October 12, 2017 Read Full Article
EU Member States, Commission Have No Position in European Parliament's Resolution
by Sangeetha Amarthalingam & Wong Ee Lin (The Edge Markets) The European Union (EU) member states and Commission have no position in the European parliament's resolution to discontinue the usage of vegetable oils in biodiesel by 2020, according to Ambassador of The
October 12, 2017 Read Full Article
Italy's Oil Giant Taps Mediterranean Diet to Turn Fats into Fuel
(The Edge Markets/Bloomberg) ... The government, driven by European Union renewable-fuel targets and a national diet rich in olive oil, is luring producers with financial incentives. As a result, Ai Due Otri is just one of about 100,000 restaurants nationwide recycling
October 11, 2017 Read Full Article
Argus Media Interviews about UPM Biofuels, NixAl Commodities and Abengoa Bioenergy
(Argus Media) ... Argus interviews speakers Sari Mannonen, Vice-President, UPM Biofuels and Alberto Carmona Bosch, Chief Executive Officer, NixAl Commodities and former Exec. VP for Trading at Abengoa Bioenergy. In these Q&As, Sari discusses UPM Biofuels’ post-2020 strategy, Finland’s role in
October 10, 2017 Read Full Article
Global Demand for Biofuels Continues to Increase
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The 2017 Renewables outlook from the International Energy Agency (IEA) is once again projecting continued increased demand for conventional biofuels. The report notes that while sales of electric vehicles are increasing, “the share of EVs remains limited, and biofuels are
October 10, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuels Phase-Out Will Raise Demand for Feed Imports, Industry Warns
by Samuel White (EurActiv) This article is part of our special report Phasing-out biofuels: What’s really at stake?. -- Biofuels in the EU are deeply intertwined with global food and feed markets. As the EU discusses its future biofuels policy, their
October 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Parliament Debate Debunks Misconceptions on #Biodiesel Carbon Savings and Benefits
(EU Reporter) Ahead of key votes on the post-2020 EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) in the ITRE, ENVI and TRAN Committees of the European Parliament (EP), EU Biodiesel Chain held a debate in Strasbourg aimed at countering misperceptions on biofuels
October 06, 2017 Read Full Article
MEP: ‘Sustainable’ Biofuels and E-Mobility Both Needed in Post-2020 EU Transport
by Sarantis Michalopoulos (Euractiv) This article is part of our special report Phasing-out biofuels: What’s really at stake?. If the EU intends to meet its climate obligations under the Paris Agreement, then it should favour both “sustainable” biofuels and electric cars
October 04, 2017 Read Full Article
A Sticky Matter: Sugar Molasses Dent EU’s Ambitions on Advanced Biofuels
by Paola Tamma (EurActiv) Sugar molasses, which the European Commission sees as “advanced” biofuel, present many of the same problems as conventional biofuels – including a potential increase in food prices and land competition for food production. But their definition as biofuels
October 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Argentina Seeks Minimum Biodiesel Price Rather than U.S. Tariffs
by Maximiliano Rizzi (Reuters/NASDAQ) Argentina's government is negotiating a minimum price for its biodiesel exports to the United States that it hopes could replace punitive tariffs implemented last month, a foreign ministry official told Reuters on Thursday. An agreement was being sought
October 03, 2017 Read Full Article
Clash Looms between EU Institutions on How Long to Stop the Clock on Scope of the Aviation EU ETS
(GreenAir Online) The European Parliament voted by a clear majority today to back proposals from the European Commission to extend the derogation that restricts the scope of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to covering flights within the European Economic
October 02, 2017 Read Full Article
UPDATE 1-French President Macron Says Europe Needs Significantly Higher Carbon Price
by Bate Felix (Reuters) French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that Europe needed a significant minimum carbon price to boost investment in its energy transition, and a European carbon tax at the bloc’s borders to guarantee fair competition for its
September 30, 2017 Read Full Article
Visegrad and Balkans Hit out at Commission over Biofuels Phase-Out Proposal
by Sarantis Michalopoulos (Euractiv) The Visegrad group and two Balkan countries signed a joint declaration urging the European Commission to reconsider its proposal to gradually phase out first generation biofuels after 2020 and think about the consequences. ... On the other hand, the
September 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Sweden-Based Biofuels Producer SEKAB Joins LSB
by Liz Gyekye (Biofuels International) Biofuels group Leaders of Sustainable Biofuels (LSB) has welcomed Swedish company SEKAB as its new member. SEKAB is a producer of bio-based chemicals and biofuels and also commercialising in-house technologies to convert forestry and agriculture residues to
September 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Modular Fuel Technology to Boost Bio-Share of Oil Refineries
(VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland/Biomass Magazine) EU-funded project COMSYN aims to develop a production concept for competitive biobased fuels by means of a compact gasification and synthesis process. The target reduction of the biofuel production cost is up to
September 21, 2017 Read Full Article
EBB Will Challenge EU Reduction on Argentinian Biodiesel Duties
(Biofuels International) The European Union is lowering import duties on Argentinian biodiesel after the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruled against initial measures taken against cheap imports from the South American country, Reuters reports. The European Biodiesel Board, an EU producer group, is now
September 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Anti-Biofuel Ideologues Support the Oil Status Quo
by Eric Sievers (Ethanol Europe/Euractiv) Anti-biofuel ideologues claim to be pro-climate and pro-development. But their positions, in fact, support the oil status quo, the concentration of power in the energy sector in the hands of large multinationals and the decline
September 20, 2017 Read Full Article
New Study Relaunches Controversy about Biofuels and Food Prices
by Sarantis Michalopoulos (Euractiv) A new study commissioned by environmental NGOs found that the production of first generation biofuels has driven up food prices in Europe, running counter to the European Commission’s own data which found the impact of ethanol
September 18, 2017 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels Plant to Be Built in Slovakia
(Biofuels International) Clariant, a developer of specialty chemicals, and Enviral, Slovakia’s largest bioethanol producer, have announced a license agreement on sunliquid cellulosic ethanol technology. The move will see one of Europe’s first advanced biofuel plants built at the Enviral site
September 18, 2017 Read Full Article
What the EU Risks by Opening up Its Market to Brazilian Sugar Cane Ethanol
by Emmanuel Desplechin (ePURE/Euractiv) Free and fair trade that helps boost economic growth and create jobs is a concept most people support, at least in theory. But trade policy is about more than just open markets; it should also support
September 15, 2017 Read Full Article
New U.S. Duties on Biodiesel Will Create Void
by Sean Pratt (The Western Producer) If the U.S. plans to fill the gap created by slamming the door on Argentina and Indonesia, it may need Canadian canola -- A biodiesel dispute involving the United States and other countries could
September 15, 2017 Read Full Article
EU-28 Biodiesel Imports Likely to Increase Significantly
(UFOP/Biodiesel Magazine) EU-28 biodiesel imports from the world's three biggest exporters, Argentina, Indonesia and Malaysia, have dropped substantially since 2013. Whereas in 2012, Argentina still exported 1.48 million metric tons (444.3 million gallons) of soybean oil-based biodiesel and Indonesia shipped 1.09 million tons (327.2
September 15, 2017 Read Full Article
Psst! The Latest Bioeconomy Flashes from Bayer, Gingko, BioAmber, Joule, TerraVia, Corbion, Phytelligence, DNA Script
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) While we’ve been busy fleeing Hurricane Irma, it’s been a busy week for the techies running the Digest’s Very Large Gossip Array — the airwaves have been crackling as some familiar faces re-surface. Let’s review. Bayer,
September 15, 2017 Read Full Article
Crude Oil Shipping Blocked under New U.S. Venture Port Lease: Company Plans to Ship Ethanol to Canada, Europe
by Arthur Thomas (Biz Times) Appleton-based U.S. Venture Inc. would agree to not receive, handle, store, ship or distribute crude oil through its Port Milwaukee operations as part of an amended lease agreement currently before the city’s Public Works Committee. The
September 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Sustainable First and Second Generation Bioethanol for Europe
(nova-Institute) nova-Institute has published a finalised short version of its study into the sustainability of bioethanol from different feedstocks. To read the report, "A sustainability assessment of first and second generation bioethanol in the context of the European Commission’s REDII proposal," and get
September 11, 2017 Read Full Article
A Photoenzyme Allows Microalgae to Produce Hydrocarbons
(ESRF) Chlorella is a single-cell freshwater alga belonging to a type of microalgae which are cultivated on an industrial scale and have potential for the production of energy-rich molecules. Researchers at the CEA (French Atomic Energy Commission), the CNRS (French
September 07, 2017 Read Full Article
European Commission Study Highlights Benefits of Higher Ethanol Fuel Blends
(ePURE) Newly released report finds that increasing ethanol in petrol helps improve air quality and reduces oil dependency -- A new report published by the European Commission highlights several benefits of higher ethanol blends in petrol, including reducing emissions of
August 30, 2017 Read Full Article
More Ethanol Equals Improved Air Quality and Reduced Oil Dependency
(Biofuels International) A new report from the European Commission highlights several benefits of higher ethanol blends in petrol, including reduced emissions of dangerous pollutants and improvements in car engine performance. Carried out by the ICF for the European Commission’s Directorate-General for
August 29, 2017 Read Full Article
Scottish Growers Could Cash in on Green Biofuel Crisis
by Brian Henderson (Scotsman) It became clear yesterday that Scottish wheat growers could have a major opportunity to supply grain to biofuel plants south of the Border – as the farm assurance scheme SQC moved to reassure producers that their
August 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Waste Not Want Not: Understanding the Greenhouse Gas Implications of Diverting Waste and Residual Materials to Biofuel Production
(International Council on Clean Transportation) ... Indirect emissions can also result from the use of waste and residual materials for biofuel production. For example, fatty acid distillates from palm oil refining are currently utilized in applications including oleochemicals, soaps, and animal
August 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Measuring the Changing Pulse of Rivers
by Louise J. Slater, Robert L. Wilby (Science Magazine) River flood risks are expected to rise as climate change intensifies the global hydrological cycle and more people live in floodplains (1). Changing risk may be revealed by trends in flood frequency,
August 24, 2017 Read Full Article
A Major Moment for Ethanol in Europe
by Emmanuel Desplechin (ePURE/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The next few months are sure to be a crucial period for the European ethanol industry, as European Union policymakers grapple with new legislation that could phase out crop-based biofuels after 2020. The moment is especially
August 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Biodiesel: 2017 World Market Outlook and Forecast up to 2021 - Research and Markets
(Research and Markets/PR Newswire) The "Biodiesel: 2017 World Market Outlook and Forecast up to 2021" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering. The present report is an essential resource for a one looking for detailed information on the
August 18, 2017 Read Full Article
MetGen, Sweetwater Unlocking Lignin – The Roughest, Toughest, Ornieri’st Material that Ever Bushwhack’d a Pioneer in the Valley of Death
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) MetGen, Sweetwater Energy say “there’s gold in them thar side-streams” -- For all of your questions about the advanced bioeconomy there’s just the one answer and that is “lignin”. Why don’t we see more biobased
August 17, 2017 Read Full Article
New Knowledge Centre Will Provide Scientific Evidence on Bioeconomy
(European Commission Science Hub) A new Bioeconomy Knowledge Centre has been created by the JRC and DG RTD to better support policy makers with science-based evidence in this field. Launched by the European Commission on 20 July, this online platform will
August 10, 2017 Read Full Article
EBB: There Is No Reason EU Should Act Now to Lower Import Duties
(European Biodiesel Board/Biodiesel Magazine) EU member states are to decide on the European Commission’s proposal to radically lower the antidumping duties on Argentinian and Indonesian biodiesel imports. The European biodiesel industry warns of the dramatic impact that this decision may
August 09, 2017 Read Full Article
A Smart, Faster Path to Zero Lifecycle Emission: Advances from the EU in Direct Carbon Capture from Air
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The most scalable solution is liquid fuels that use water, captured CO2 and renewable electricity. ... Thinkers have been coming around to the realization that this might be the most sustainable path, notwithstanding the joys of
August 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Bioenergy Production Could Play a Part in Reducing Forest Fires
(Bioenergy Insight) Bioenergy can play a role in reducing the risk of forest fires, according to a video recently published on the European Forest Institute’s website. ... “Now, we need a new vision where the focus is shifted from fire suppression to
August 08, 2017 Read Full Article
German Minister: Too Soon to Bury the Combustion Engine
(Associated Press/The Washington Post) Germany’s transport minister said Thursday (July 27, 2017) that it’s too soon to talk about burying the combustion engine, underlining his government’s reluctance to follow Britain and others in banning the sale of new cars and
August 07, 2017 Read Full Article
EU’s Biofuels U-Turn Is Final Nail in Coffin of Irish Sugar
by Dick Roche (Irish Examiner) When it was enacted in 2009, the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive was seen as a progressive step towards meeting Europe’s climate change targets .... -- The directive — which provided that by 2020 at least
August 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Marginal Lands for Growing Industrial Crops – Turning a Burden into an Opportunity
(Bio-based News) U research project MAGIC kicks off -- On 4-5 July 2017, the 25 partners involved in the EU funded research project MAGIC held their kick-off meeting at the Copa-Cogeca secretariat in Brussels. Led by the Greek Centre for
August 03, 2017 Read Full Article
'We’ll Have to Become Electricity Traders' - Biofuels Market Reacts to UK Petrol Ban
by Vicky Ellis (ICIS) European biofuels market participants are wondering what their role will be in the future after the UK became the latest country to announce on Wednesday a ban on all conventional petrol and diesel car sales by 2040. The
August 02, 2017 Read Full Article
Cassava Bioethanol Report by Material, Application, and Geography – Global Forecast to 2021
(Absolute Reports) Cassava Bioethanol Report by Material, Application, and Geography – Global Forecast to 2021 is a professional and in-depth research report on the world's major regional market conditions, focusing on the main regions (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific) and
July 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Malaysia and Indonesia Ready to Fight EU at WTO over Palm Oil Ban
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Malaysia, during a meeting between the trade ministers for Malaysia and Indonesia, the countries expressed deep disappointment in the allegedly unfair treatment by the EU on palm oil in favor of other vegetable oils and commodities
July 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Romania Expects to Increase Blending Mandate by almost Double
(Ethanol Producer Magazine) Romania expects a drastic decline in bioethanol production in 2017, but will increase its bioethanol blending mandate, according to the European Renewable Energy Directive. Biofuel is expected to to rise slightly in 2018, if imports slow down. Romania
July 24, 2017 Read Full Article
New Biofuel Technology Cuts Production Time Significantly: UBC Okanagan Researcher Helps Develop Cheaper and Faster Bioreactors
by Nathan Skolski (University of British Columbia Okanagan) New research from a professor of engineering at UBC’s Okanagan Campus might hold the key to biofuels that are cheaper, safer and much faster to produce. “Methane is a biofuel commonly used in electricity
July 21, 2017 Read Full Article
EU Renewable Energy Policy Undermined by Lack of Transparency and Unsubstantiated Assumptions
(Impact Assessment Institute) The Impact Assessment Institute (IAI) has scrutinised in detail the Impact Assessments accompanying the European Commission legislative proposal for a directive on the use of energy from renewable sources. The lack of availability for scrutiny of the
July 21, 2017 Read Full Article
EU to Cut Biodiesel Tariffs for Argentina, Indonesia, Following WTO Ruling
by Poppy Carnell (M Lex Market Insight) EU dumping tariffs on biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia will be cut by more than half, after European investigators recalculated the duty rate in line with a ruling by the World Trade Organization. The move
July 20, 2017 Read Full Article
COCERAL, FEDIOL and FEFAC Call for Coherence in EU Strategy for Enhancing Soy Production
(European Feed Manufacturers Federation) COCERAL, FEDIOL and FEFAC members rely on the EU production of oilseeds, soy and other oil- and protein-containing crops. We share the objective of an increased production of soy in Europe. According to the protein balance
July 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Irish MEP Criticises RED II Biofuel Phase Out
(Biofuels International) MEP Sean Kelly, the lead negotiator for the largest group in the European Parliament on the Renewable Energy Directive, has heavily criticised the European Commission’s proposal to phase out conventional biofuels made from food or feed crops. Proposed changes
July 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Unfair Polish Low-Priced Biodiesel Exports Continuous Damage to the EU Internal Market of Renewable Fuels Needs to Be Stopped
(European Biodiesel Board) Since more than one year unfair low price biodiesel exports from Poland are causing serious damages to the EU internal market of renewable fuels and to fuels operators in many countries. Notwithstanding industry’s alerts to national and
July 07, 2017 Read Full Article
UNICA Slams EU Industry for False Subsidy Claims
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Belgium, UNICA is hitting back at ePure and the European sugar industry for wild, invalidated claims of $1.8 billion in subsidies to its sugarcane sector and cross-subsidization of its ethanol industry. In a letter sent
July 07, 2017 Read Full Article
150+: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Renewable Energy Group
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGI) is the US’ biggest producer of biomass-based diesel, and leading provider of cleaner, lower carbon intensity products and services. REG utilizes an integrated procurement, distribution, and logistics network to
July 07, 2017 Read Full Article
MEPs Ask Commission to Distinguish ‘Good and Bad’ Crop-Based Biofuels
by Sarantis Michalopoulos (EurActiv) The European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee endorsed on Thursday (29 June) its opinion on the European Strategy for Low Emission Mobility, calling on the Commission to keep the sustainable biofuels in
June 30, 2017 Read Full Article
Biomass and Biofuels in the EU: Emotion-Based Policymaking?
by Francis X. Johnson (Stockholm Environment Institute/Euractiv) The European Commission’s tinkering on biomass policy effectively promotes oil over economically viable and sustainable biofuels ... -- ... In its proposed legislative changes, the European Commission abandoned the position it adopted in the 2009
June 29, 2017 Read Full Article
Exclusive: ePURE ‘Heartened’ by MEPs’ Views on Biofuels
by Daryl Worthington (Biofuels International) The renewable ethanol association ePURE has responded to Hans-Olaf Henkel and Marijana Petir, two MEPs in the European Parliament who recently stressed the importance of biofuels in the decarbonisation of the EU’s transport sector. In a recent article in The
June 29, 2017 Read Full Article
Sustainable Certification for the Ethanol Process
by Luke Geiver (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Access to additional markets and plant efficiencies give bottom-line significance and meaning to the often-generalized term—sustainability. -- ... Gary DeLong, an Urbandale, Iowa-based, sustainability consultant and auditor who has traveled the world through his role at
June 27, 2017 Read Full Article
BIC Announces New SIRA Roadmap to Develop Europe’s Bioeconomy
(Bio-based Industries Consortium) To help build a resource-efficient, circular and bio-based economy, the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) has announced its new Strategic and Research Agenda (SIRA). The SIRA identifies the activities needed to speed up the development of sustainable and
June 21, 2017 Read Full Article
Austrian Market Is Fully Supplied with Biodiesel of Domestic Manufacture
(Ukrainian Biofuel Portal) Such facts were published by ARGE, that unites six Austrian biodiesel manufacturers. As the facts indicate, it was produced 269 000 tones of biodiesel in 2014. In comparison with the last year the dimension of manufacture grew by
June 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Building up the Future Sub Group on Advanced Biofuels : Final Report - Study
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) This study seeks to support the European Commission in the elaboration of a methodology for the deployment of advanced biofuels. Currently, the contribution of advanced and other renewable fuels is very limited in the EU with a relative
June 15, 2017 Read Full Article
Helsinki Airport Goes Solar
by Carl Johannes Muth (PV Magazine) ... The European airport companies have committed to reach 100 carbon-neutral airports in Europe by 2030. Finavia, which is a key party to this commitment, aims at reducing its carbon footprint on all of the
June 15, 2017 Read Full Article
European Ethanol Achieves Record Breaking GHG Reduction in 2016
(Biofuels International) Renewable European ethanol achieved its highest greenhouse gas (GHG) savings yet in 2016, according to the latest producer data. A European association of renewable ethanol producers, ePure says that the new figures mark “another increase in ethanol’s EU
June 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Carbon: The Final Frontier
by Jennifer Holmgren (LanzaTech/Biofuels Digest) ... With recent prices of renewables at
June 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Renewable European Ethanol Delivered Higher Greenhouse Gas Savings than Ever before in 2016
(ePURE) According to latest producer data, ethanol production and use scored better than 66% average savings over fossil petrol – yet another increase in ethanol’s EU decarbonisation performance. European renewable ethanol delivered an average of more than 66% greenhouse-gas savings over fossil
June 12, 2017 Read Full Article
FAO Official: Food-Based Biofuels Not Necessarily Bad
by Sarantis Michalopoulos (EURACTIV) Brazil demonstrates that sugar cane cultivation can supply both food and ethanol for fuel without harming the environment or pushing up food prices, a senior official from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation of the
June 12, 2017 Read Full Article
Indonesian Biodiesel Producers Turn to China
(Jakarta Post) Indonesian biodiesel producers are eyeing China as a new promising market amid negative sentiment in the European Union and the United states. Indonesian Biofuel Producers Association (Aprobi) chairman MP Tumanggor stressed Thursday that their members could no longer rely
June 09, 2017 Read Full Article
European Ethanol Delivers Record GHG Savings in 2016
(PRIMA-Markets.com) European ethanol provided an average greenhouse gas (GHG) saving of over 66% compared to fossil fuel in 2016, up 2% YoY, the European ethanol industry Association (ePURE) stated in a press release this week. This was the fifth consecutive
June 09, 2017 Read Full Article
France's Avril Sees Improved Outlook for Biodiesel
by Sybille de La Hamaide (Reuters Africa) Europe's largest biodiesel maker Avril said a rebound in oil prices since early last year had improved its industry's outlook, but warned that an EU proposal to cap crop-based fuels would damage
June 07, 2017 Read Full Article
MEP Calls for Sweeping Changes to EU Biofuel and Bioenergy Legislation
(Bioenergy Insight) MEP Bas Eickhout has proposed sweeping reforms to EU legislation regarding bioenergy and biofuels. They come amid the Dutch politician’s proposals for increasing the EU’s renewable energy share target for 2030 from 27% to 45%. ... Eickhout proposes allowing sustainable and
June 06, 2017 Read Full Article
European UCOME 2017 Demand Lower, Biodiesel GHG Savings Increase
by George Griffiths (Platts) Demand for UCOME -- used cooking oil methyl ester -- this year has been lower than in recent years, largely due to increased greenhouse gas savings from first-generation biofuels across Europe, sources said. Demand for UCOME has also
June 06, 2017 Read Full Article
A New Research and Innovation Project Will Foster Europe-Brazil Cooperation on Advanced Lignocellulosic Biofuels
(BECOOL/AltEnergyMag) A new Horizon 2020 project will foster cooperation between Europe and Brazil in the development of advanced biofuels from sustainable agricultural value chains, based on lignocellulosic biomass. Coordinated by the University of Bologna, Department of Agricultural Sciences, the four-year
June 05, 2017 Read Full Article
Increasing Biofuel Content in Petrol to 8pct Could Make the Market Turn More to Imports (Analysis)
(Agerpres) The biofuel business, a business based more on getting in line with European directives and less on the country's agricultural potential, could get a new impetus in 2018 by switching to at least 8-percent biofuel content in gasoline from
June 01, 2017 Read Full Article
The Future Fuel Europe Already Has in the Tank
by Emmanuel Desplechin (Politico/ePURE) Renewable ethanol does more than just decarbonize transport. It also boosts engine efficiency and helps improve air quality. -- The European Commission has just told the Belgian government that it needs to do a better job
May 30, 2017 Read Full Article
ABC in Gothenburg Summed up the Situation for New Biofuels
(Svebio) "We are a young industry that need security and stable conditions to be able to invest. We need guaranteed markets for our products. The industry representatives agreed in the panel debate at Svebio’s conference, the International Advanced Biofuels Conference,
May 30, 2017 Read Full Article
Free Trade Needed to Maximize Biofuels’ Benefit
by Bliss Baker (Global Renewable Fuels Alliance/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... The recent rise of economic populist and protectionist language used in several countries is a troubling sign as it could harm investors’ confidence at a time when the biofuels industry’s future
May 25, 2017 Read Full Article
NexSteppe Launches Metano Alto to Catalyze New Growth in Biogas Markets
(NexSteppe Inc.) NexSteppe Inc., a company dedicated to pioneering the next generation of sustainable feedstock solutions for biobased industries, announced today the world wide launch of a new product line: Metano Alto. Metano Alto Industrial Sorghums are bred to deliver
May 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Industry and Farmers See Biofuels as a Crucial Market ‘Outside CAP’
by Sarantis Michalopoulos (ERUACTIV) Farmers see biofuels as a crucial source of income but investors clashed with NGOs at an event organised by EURACTIV last week (12 May), over the European Commission’s post-2020 biofuels proposal and the realities of its
May 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Turning Sewage Sludge into Fuels and Hydrogen
(Recycling Magazine) TO-SYN-FUEL is a project funded by Horizon 2020 EU’s new research and innovation programme, with the aim to build-up, operate and demonstrate the production of Synthetic Fuels and Green Hydrogen from waste biomass. ... Twelve SME, industrial, and scientific partners,
May 17, 2017 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry Expert: Biofuels Tug-of-War Is an EU Invention
by Sarantis Michalopoulos (EurActiv) The conflict between second and first generation biofuels – depicted as good and bad for the environment – only exists in Brussels. In fact, it’s the brainchild of the European Commission, Eric Sievers told EURACTIV.com. Eric Sievers
May 15, 2017 Read Full Article
Global Bioenergies, Clariant and INEOS Receive Major EU Funding to Demonstrate the Production of Isobutene Derivatives from Straw
(Global Bioenergies) European financing package amounting to €9.8 million, of which €4.4 million for Global Bioenergies; Industry consortium led by Global Bioenergies and bringing together Clariant, INEOS, IPSB, TechnipFMC and Linz University; Aim: converting agricultural residues (wheat straw) into isobutene derivatives
May 09, 2017 Read Full Article
EU Biofuels Policy: What Is the Impact on Rural Development?
by Sarantis Michalopoulos (EurActiv) EU farmers are “very concerned” about the impact of the European Commission’s change of heart on biofuels, claiming the EU’s restrictive policy is putting thousands of rural jobs at risk. Yet, the EU executive defended its proposed
May 08, 2017 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Agrisoma
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The production of Agrisoma’s Resonance Carinata is being expanded to multiple locations globally to provide a supply of sustainable, non-food oils for meeting the demand for sustainable biofuels. Resonance Carinata is certified sustainable by the
May 08, 2017 Read Full Article
EC Drops Antitrust Investigation into Ethanol Firms
(Argus Media) The European Commission (EC) says it has closed an antitrust investigation that involved unannounced inspections of premises of ethanol producers and trading companies in April 2015. The investigation concerned EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices. ... While
May 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Orchard Waste Could Be a Fruitful Source of Biofuel
(IneffableIsland.com) Waste prunings from orchards, vineyards and olive groves could be a valuable source of biomass energy and help boost rural economies, say EU-funded researchers. The key ingredient is a sustainable supply chain. As the EU seeks alternatives to fossil fuels,
May 03, 2017 Read Full Article
Improving Policies in Support of Shared Pilot Facilities to Increase Their Impact on the Key Enabling Technology Industrial Biotech and the European Bio-Economy
(Smart Pilots/Interreg Europe) SmartPilots' objective is to improve regional policies in support of Shared Pilot Facilities (SPF) to increase their impact on the Key Enabling technology (KET) Industrial Biotech and the bio-economy. The bio-economy adresses societal challenges such as climate change, sustainable
May 03, 2017 Read Full Article
CHASSY – New EU Yeast Biotech Project
(CHASSY) ... Yeast is already the powerhouse behind many food flavourings, the anti-aging compound Resveratrol, the malaria drug Artemisinin, the grapefruit extract Nootkatone, insulin, bioethanol, bioplastics, and there is potential for many more industrial applications. To better exploit the potential of yeast
May 03, 2017 Read Full Article
The Commission's Proposal on the Revision of the Renewable Energies Directive (RED II): Impacts on Bio-Based Materials and CO 2 Use
(Bio-Based News (Google Translation)) The nova Institute has analyzed the Commission's new RED II proposal and presented the most important results in one paper. CO 2 -based fuels are on the up, but the uneven treatment of the bio-based materials remains.
May 03, 2017 Read Full Article
RED II Dominates Agenda at EU Biofuels Seminar
by Daryl Worthington (Biofuels International) ... Ruta Baltause, a policy officer at the European Commission, delivered the EU perspective, explaining the reasoning behind proposed comprehensive revisions of the RED which include gradual phase out of conventional crop-based biofuels, but also stressing that
April 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Malaysia, Indonesia to Counter EU Decision to Ban Palm Oil-Based Biofuel
(The Star) Malaysia and Indonesia will send a joint mission to Europe next month to counter the European Union (EU) resolution which proposed to curb the use of oil palm-based biofuel by 2020. Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Mah Siew
April 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Argentina to Try to Revive Exports of Biodiesel and Lemons at the Bilateral Meeting between Macri and Trump
(telam.com) The meeting between the presidents will be an opportunity for the country to try to recover the market for agroindustrial exports that are paralyzed. Bilateral trade in 2016 reached US $ 10,472 million, with a favorable balance for the United
April 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Europe Needs More Than Words to Decarbonize Transport
by Emmanuel Desplechin (ePURE/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ePURE's secretary general outlines the European ethanol organization's discussion points in the face of Commission proposals that would cap crop-based biofuels. -- Despite agreeing to ambitious climate and energy goals that require 18 to
April 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Here Comes BioChina: Amyris, Others Bypass the 4 Myths of Business in the Middle Kingdom
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From California arrives the very interesting news that Amyris has entered into an agreement with Blue California whereby its affiliates will provide access to its fermentation manufacturing in China and provide the necessary capital to
April 19, 2017 Read Full Article
Government Mind Games are Driving Investors Away from Biofuel & Other Bio-Based Projects
by Colin Ley (AgFunder News) The closer you get to the commercialization of a development, the harder it becomes to raise capital, and recent government activities around the world are not making life easier for innovators, speakers at the World
April 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Indonesia Labels EU Palm Oil Resolution ‘Discriminative’ and ‘Protectionist’
by Daryl Worthington (Biofuels International) Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denounced the European Parliament Resolution on Palm Oil and Deforestation of Rainforests, describing it as ‘discriminative’. In addition, the ministry claims the EU decision was based on “inaccurate and unaccountable
April 13, 2017 Read Full Article
The EU’s Sweet 16: 16 of the Most Fascinating Projects under Development and in Deployment in Europe
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Europe is often thought of as a dead-end for biofuels, owing to a thorny debate over fuel mandates, and agricultural protection. But it’s a reputation entirely undeserved; some of the most fascinating projects are there. In
April 11, 2017 Read Full Article
REDII - Taking a Look at the Impact Assessment
(ePURE) With its revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) the European Commission wants to phase out all conventional biofuels in the EU. But in making its proposal the Commission has ignored many of its own guidelines for Impact Assessments, including
April 10, 2017 Read Full Article
EU Clamps Down on Imports of Unsustainable Palm Oil for Biofuels
(European Parliament/Biomass Magazine) To counter the impact of unsustainable palm oil production such as deforestation and habitat degradation, particularly in Southeast Asia, the EU should introduce a single certification scheme for palm oil entering the EU market and phase out
April 10, 2017 Read Full Article
Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia Attract International Interest in Developing Homegrown Jet Biofuels
(GreenAir Online) A year after issuing a joint Request for Information (RFI) from parties interested in supporting the development and production of sustainable aviation fuel in the region, Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia say they have had strong interest
April 07, 2017 Read Full Article
First-Gen Fuels under Siege, Hit Back with Hard Data
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ethanol supporters in the US and Australia and first-gen fuels advocates of conventional ethanol and biodiesel in the EU are striking out against what they see as misguided reports that have appeared across three continents