by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ProcessWerx is an engineering and technology firm for the bioeconomy, specializing in innovative process scaling, facility design, and project management. They have twenty years of experience in oils and fats processing, waste feedstock biodiesel, industrial hemp,
feedstock logistics
Back TO HOMEThe East African Corn Belt: Feeding and Fueling Africa’s Future
by Gerard J. Ostheimer and Douglas L. Faulkner (Biofuels Digest) The East African Corn Belt runs from South Africa, north and east through Zambia, Tanzania and into Kenya and Ethiopia (see map). We believe that this area is poised to become
March 12, 2025 Read Full Article
Prioritizing Preprocessing: New Energy Blue
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) New Energy Blue has its sights set on a 20 MMGy biomass refinery in Mason City, Iowa, using corn stover as a feedstock and pumping out cellulosic ethanol and lignin by early 2027. Drawing on decades
February 12, 2025 Read Full Article
Now Available! Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium Capstone Report
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) released the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium (FCIC) Capstone Report. The report summarizes the FCIC’s goals, research activities, and achievements over the past three years. The U.S. Department of Energy
January 15, 2025 Read Full Article
CAER, State Energy & Environment Cabinet Launch Sustainable Aviation Fuel Study Survey DEADLINE December 31, 2024
by Dave Melanson (University of Kentucky) The University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC) are launching a survey as part of a collaborative Biomass Feedstock for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Project, which is funded by
December 11, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Jen-Zero technology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This is a presentation by Dr. Jayant Khambekar of Jenike & Johanson, a technology company specializing in bulk solids flow. It highlights the challenges of feeding high-pressure reactors in the advanced biofuels industry. Specifically, the presentation
November 16, 2024 Read Full Article
U.S. Department of Energy Issues Small Business Funding Program Topics
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy issued Phase One topics for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program funding opportunities. These topics aim to advance the development and commercialization of new ideas
November 13, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Sustainable Herbaceous Energy Crop Production in the Southeast US.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What is the potential for cellulosic bioenergy crop production? Cellulosic bioenergy crop production is a nascent industry in the U.S. and has the potential to supply 5% of U.S. energy demand while achieving increased carbon reduction.
October 25, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Single-Pass, Weather Independent Fractionation Technology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) An estimated 60% of the available corn stover will be collected in excess of 20% moisture resulting in a lack of ability to produce a reliable feedstock with conventional harvest and storage systems. A team of
October 21, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Optimal Preprocessing and Deconstruction of Corn Stover
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Physical fractionation and characterization of corn stover. US Department of Energy Peer Review presentation. READ MORE Related articles Enhancing efficiency in ethanol production from high solid corn stover: Insights into enzymatic hydrolysis parameters and cellulase recovery (Journal of
October 18, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Fractionation of Forest Biomass Wastes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A team of researchers have designed a project to support development of woody feedstocks forUniversity of Maine’s Thermal Deoxygenation pathway to produce renewable aviation fuel and chemicals. The goal of the project is to prepare woody
October 17, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Biomass Size Reduction, Drying and Densification
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Low-cost carbon resources (agricultural residues, forest residue, and non recyclable municipal and industrial wastes) exhibit consistent challenges. Inherent physical and chemical variability in feedstocks result in excessive process downtime, and uncontrolled costs with documented failures in the industry
October 16, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Process Intensification in the Supply Chain
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A team of researchers have designed a project to utilize post-harvest physiology and chemistry tools during long-term storage and queuing to positively impact downstream processes through reduced chemical and energy input. They aim to enhance anatomical fractionation,
October 15, 2024 Read Full Article
VTTI and Connex Intend to Develop Renewable Feedstock Pretreatment Facility in Amsterdam
(VTTI) VTTI and Connex are joining forces to develop a renewable feedstock or 'Greenstock' Pretreatment Facility (GPF) at VTTI’s terminal in Amsterdam (ETA). -- VTTI, an industry leader in energy infrastructure, and Connex, a renewable feedstocks trader, are joining forces to develop
October 11, 2024 Read Full Article
They Might Be Giants, the Story of Syngas Fermentation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... They called it “the technology that dare not speak its name” because it was too crazy risky, when they did not call it “the technology that could not scale” between the guffaws in many board
September 03, 2024 Read Full Article
Expanding the Feedstock Arsenal
by Katie Schroeder (SAF Magazine) ... According to U.S. DOE’s 2023 Billion-Ton Report, there is up to 1.5 billion tons of biomass available on a sustainable basis in the U.S. each year, from waste to forest residuals to ag waste. Currently
August 28, 2024 Read Full Article
Now Available! U.S. Department of Energy Sustainable Aviation Fuel State-of-Industry Report
(U.S. Department of Energy) The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), released the first two parts of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) State-of-Industry Report. The report focuses on how to achieve the near-term fuel production
July 31, 2024 Read Full Article
DOE Issues Notice Of Intent to Fund Industrial Partnerships across the Bioenergy and Bioproducts Value Chain
(U.S. Department of Energy/SAF Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office's Feedstock- Conversion Interface Consortium intends to issue an industrial partnership call (IPC) to allow collaboration between industry stakeholders and FCIC researchers. These partnerships will address the cost and risk impacts of
July 24, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Value and Sustainability through Agriculture
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Pacific Ag is North America’s largest harvester and marketer of crop residue, operating the largest harvest fleet globally.In this ABLC presentation from pacific Ag’s Harrison Pettit, the potential of ag residuals when realized globally – improving lives,
July 02, 2024 Read Full Article
Bold Goals Action Group Releases 40 Bold Actions to Accelerate the Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Bold Goals Action Group released the final text of the 40 Bold Actions to Accelerate at ABLC 2024. The release capped a year-long, multi-national effort by bioeconomy stakeholders to define specific actions that
March 16, 2024 Read Full Article
Indian Biogas Association Pitches for Rs 30k cr Investment for Compressed Biogas Plants
(PTI/Financial Express) “Utilising agricultural residues like paddy straw for bioenergy production and soil enrichment instead of burning those offers a dual benefit as it provides renewable energy sources while enhancing soil health,” said Indian Biogas Association Chairman Gaurav Kedia. Indian Biogas Association
February 13, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Feedstock Material Handling
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A recent DOE project with the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium analyzed a primary challenge in the design of a biorefinery — — the storage, transport, and reactor feeding of the biomass feedstocks, as material handling/feeding is prone
October 19, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Feedstock Variability
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A recent DOE project with the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium analyzed the initial distribution of feedstock critical material attributes (CMAs) and strategies to manage this variability. Understanding key sources of biomass variability (e.g., growth conditions, harvest
October 18, 2023 Read Full Article
25 Bold Actions to Accelerate Global Bioeconomy Deployment: Results from the 9/22/23 Meet-up of the Bold Goals Action Group in Sydney
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Australia, at the initial meet-up of the global Bold Goals Action Group, leaders of the global bioeconomy, a “coalition of the willing”, established a draft of 25 Bold Actions that, if achieved by the various stakeholders in
September 29, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to the DOE Feedstock Technologies Program
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The DOE’s Feedstock Technologies program focuses on challenges and barriers crucial to reaching program goals, including: Feedstock Availability and Cost Production; Feedstock Genetics and Variety Improvement; Sustainable Harvesting; Feedstock Quality; Biomass Storage Systems; Biomass Physical State
September 14, 2023 Read Full Article
Perspectives from USDA Research…. Hot Feedstocks for SAF
by William Orts (USDA Western Regional Research Center) USDA Projects: 1. Bioproducts and Biopolymers from Ag Feedstocks 2. Zero Waste Agricultural Processing 3. Domestic Production of Natural Rubber and Resins ... • Building biorefineries does not require us to build from scratch • Biorefineries are originally grain mills, but
August 31, 2023 Read Full Article
Idemitsu Kosan, LOPS to Conduct Joint Studies on Procurement of SAF Feedstock
(Idemitsu Kosan/Biobased Diesel Daily) Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd. and LOPS Corp., which operates an oils and fats business, have agreed to conduct joint studies on the procurement of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) feedstock and have signed a basic agreement. The two companies
August 29, 2023 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Selects Three Projects to Help Industry Leverage FCIC Capabilities to Overcome Bioenergy and Bioproduct Challenges
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) awarded $2.18 million in funding to three projects as part of the 2023 Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) Call by the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium (FCIC). Funded and led by BETO,
August 11, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Global Clean Energy Holdings
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Global Clean Energy, a vertically integrated renewable fuels business that is focused on reducing transportation-related carbon emissions sustainably through its proprietary camelina varieties – the only varieties currently qualified for both federal and California standards
June 22, 2023 Read Full Article
Will Ethanol Fuel a Low-Carbon Future?
by Craig Bettenhausen (Chemical & Engineering News) After decades of false starts, cellulosic ethanol may arrive just as the chemical and fuel industries clamor for a low-carbon feedstock -- Cellulosic ethanol has been 5 years away for decades. It’s a trope,
February 13, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Understanding and Mitigating the Impacts of Feedstock Variability in Bioconversion Processes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium is led by DOE as a collaborative effort among researchers from 9 National Labs. It’s Key Ideas? That biomass feedstock properties are variable and different from other commodities; and, that empirical
February 01, 2023 Read Full Article
The Feedstock Whisperers: BETO’s Upgraded Biomass Feedstock National User Facility Is Open for Business
by Katie Carnahan and Michelle Goff (Idaho National Laboratory/Biofuels Digest) ... The upgraded Biomass Feedstock National User Facility (BFNUF) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) addresses many of the challenges facing the U.S. bioenergy industry. The research conducted at the facility
January 20, 2023 Read Full Article
Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium Annual Review of Research FY 2021
(U.S. Department of Energy) Led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium (FCIC) is a multi-lab collaboration that develops first-principles-based knowledge and tools to understand, quantify, and mitigate the effects of feedstock and process
October 05, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Improved Advanced Biomass Logistics Utilizing Woody Feedstocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Harvesting and transportation makes up 40 –60% of the delivered cost of SRWC and are an important source of GHG emissions. Harvesting systems are not well developed — throughput decreases up to 65% from harvester
October 04, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Next Generation Logistics Systems for Delivering Optimal Biomass Feedstocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This continuing Project with DOE BETO regarding improved logistics builds on advances in two previous High Tonnage projects (Pine at AU; Switchgrass at Genera). The project goal is to evaluate a state-of-the-art biomass merchandizing and
September 30, 2022 Read Full Article
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge Roadmap: Flight Plan for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Report
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge is the result of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and other federal government agencies working together to develop a
September 23, 2022 Read Full Article
European-Collected UCO as a Sustainable Feedstock
(Biofuels International) The collection of used cooking oil is crucial to the supply of biodiesel feedstock. Biofuels International spoke to Pol Van Pollaert, Commercial Director of Quatra, a market leader in the collection and recycling of used cooking oil. ... Quatra is
August 25, 2022 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Announces $137 Million for Small Business Research and Development Grants
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced awards totaling $137 million for small businesses in 30 states. The 120 projects include projects addressing multiple mission areas across the Department including clean energy, cybersecurity, high energy physics,
July 11, 2022 Read Full Article
India’s Top Carmaker Bets on Hybrids Over EVs in Clean Shift
by Ragini Saxena (Bloomberg/Yahoo!) Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., the automaker that sells every other car on the nation’s roads, believes electric vehicles aren’t the answer to reducing carbon emissions in the world’s third-biggest releaser of greenhouse gases -- at least
July 07, 2022 Read Full Article
Whatever Happened to Cellulosic Ethanol?
by David Kramer (Physics Today) Technological immaturity, falling oil prices, overoptimistic investors, and regulatory uncertainty are blamed for the failure of a promising biofuel technology to perform as hoped. -- Despite a decade and a half of big US federal investments
July 06, 2022 Read Full Article
Inflationary Pressures, Shifting Macroeconomic Conditions Push Ceres to Halt Canola-Crush Project
by Ron Kotrba (Biobased Diesel Daily) Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Ceres Global Ag Corp. is suspending its canola-crush project in Northgate, Saskatchewan, Canada, the company announced June 24. “The corporation’s decision to pause the project is due to a variety of factors, including but
July 05, 2022 Read Full Article
Petrobras and Raízen Sign Agreement for Biomethane Production Feasibility
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Brazil, Petrobras and Raízen signed an agreement to jointly evaluate potential businesses involving the production, purchase and sale of biomethane, a 100% renewable fuel produced by Raízen from sugarcane waste (vinasse and filter cake), generated
June 17, 2022 Read Full Article
Tharaldson Ethanol Plant Joins Opposition to North Dakota Soybean Crushing Project
by Jeff Beach (InForUm) The North Dakota Soybean Processors plant at Casselton, North Dakota, is expected to crush 42.5 million bushels of soybeans in the first year and is a joint venture between the Minnesota Soybean Processors and Louisiana-based CGB
May 04, 2022 Read Full Article
Lidl Opens Europe’s First Logistics Platform to Use Renewable Hydrogen
(Lidl/Lhyfe/Plug Power/NGV Journal) As part of its energy transition, the grocery store chain Lidl has opened its new logistics platform in Carquefou (Loire-Atlantique, France). Working in association with expert firms such as Lhyfe and Plug Power, Lidl has introduced a fleet
March 31, 2022 Read Full Article
In Search of a Later Biomass Expiration Date
by Nichole Fitzgerald (U.S. Department of Energy) How Idaho National Laboratory's Dr. Lynn Wendt has come to understand and mitigate the detrimental impacts of biomass decay after harvest. -- Renewable biomass is one of the key clean energy resources that will
March 21, 2022 Read Full Article
De-Risking Biorefinery Scale-up and Startup: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to FCIC
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium is led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and coordinates efforts among 9 labs – big ones like NREL, ORNL, Sandia, INL and others. Check out the
February 28, 2022 Read Full Article
ERP Software a Necessity in the UCO Collection Business
by Kristof Reiter (Biobased Diesel Daily) ... ERP software has transformed nearly every industry—it’s even the entire basis of some new industries like rideshare companies—but used cooking oil (UCO) collectors have long been left out of the revolution, forcing them
February 02, 2022 Read Full Article
Stolen Cooking Oil Impacts Biodiesel Industry
by Caroline Foreback (PA Homepage) There’s been a rise in restaurant cooking oil thefts in our area. A multi-million dollar industry that thieves are taking a huge chunk out of. Tuesday night Eyewitness News heard from a business owner who feels he
January 19, 2022 Read Full Article
Pune-Based Praj’s BIOSYRUP to Enable Year-Round Production of Ethanol to Boost to the Sugar Sector
(Praj/Pune Kar News) Praj Industries Limited (Praj) announced an innovative solution to process sugarcane juice into a new sustainable feedstock BIOSYRUP® for round the year ethanol production. Dr. Pramod Chaudhari – Executive Chairman Praj Industries, Shishir Joshipura, Chief Executive Officer and Managing
December 09, 2021 Read Full Article
Advancing the Bioeconomy in TX, CA, and OH: Comprehensive Geospatial Biomass Feedstock Inventories for Potential Conversion to Biofuels, Biochar, Co-products
by : Richard J. Brenner, Wes Jurey and Todd Campbell (Agricultural Technology Innovation Partnership) Introduction. The ATIP Foundation (Agricultural Technology Innovation Partnership) conducts projects in multi-county regions of 3 states to “advance the rural bioeconomy,” using a replicable model we developed
December 02, 2021 Read Full Article
State of Advanced Biofuels & Biorefining
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Check out remarks from Jim Lane, Editor & Publisher of The Digest on rationale, forecast, the top news and storylines, feedstocks, genetics, crops, supply chain and more on the state of advanced biofuels and
November 30, 2021 Read Full Article
Modeling for Biorefineries: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Red Rock Biofuels De-Risking Feedstock
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)Optimizing and de-risking the deployment of biomass gasification processes by implementing physics-based simulations of feed handling and transportation unit operations was NREL’s goal as they did modeling and simulations to support Red Rock Biofuels during design
July 07, 2021 Read Full Article
Is a Feedstock Crackdown Coming to California’s LCFS?
by Ron Kotrba (Biobased Diesel Daily) ... But in the last rulemaking in 2018, CARB made a number of amendments to focus and strengthen the regulation, implementation and certainty of the carbon credit market, said Floyd Vergara, director of state
June 04, 2021 Read Full Article
Next-Gen Logistics and Blending: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Biomass Feedstock Logistics Systems
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This U.S. Department of Energy BETO project’s biomass blend concept will allow biorefineries to utilize a much larger proportion of the land within their procurement radius, thereby enabling larger scale, more economically feasible facilities to
May 17, 2021 Read Full Article
BETO’s Bioenergy Data Workshop: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Bioenergy Data
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The U.S. Department of Energy’s EnergyEfficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) just released the workshop summary report from the virtual event they hosted last summer that discussed how to collect and valorize
April 13, 2021 Read Full Article
Greasezilla Partners with Next Generation of Pumpers to Install Greasezilla FOG Separation Systems in Key Cities
(Greasezilla) Greasezilla is investing $1 million per facility in joint ventures to build FOG processing facilities nationwide. -- Downey Ridge Environmental Company, developer of Greasezilla™, announces its work with a rising number of pumpers seeking end-to-end solutions from pumping through to processing,
April 05, 2021 Read Full Article
Vopak Invests in Extra Storage Capacity at Rotterdam for Biofuels
(Biofuels International) Vopak is investing in the Port of Rotterdam for the storage of waste-based feedstocks for the production of biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel. The market for energy from renewable sources in Europe is rising as a result of
March 12, 2021 Read Full Article
5 Key Tech Takeaways: Highlights from Tech Presented at ABLC 2020
by Iacovos Vasalos (Center for Research and Technology-Hellas/Biofuels Digest) This report summarizes highlights from the ABLC 2020 Biofuels Digest Virtual Conference, which took place in July 7-10, 2020. (And if you haven’t already registered for this year’s ABLC Digital on May 3-7,
March 10, 2021 Read Full Article
Advancing the Bioeconomy: From Waste to Conversion-Ready Feedstocks Workshop Summary Report
(U.S. Deprtment of Energy) The Advancing the Bioeconomy: From Waste to Conversion-Ready Feedstocks Workshop, coordinated by the Bioenergy Technologies Office, gathered experts in the fields of waste management, solid materials handling, and biofuel and bioproduct development and production to give
February 16, 2021 Read Full Article
Biochemical, Deacetylation and Mechanical Refining Process: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to NREL’s Biomass Deconstruction
What does an ideal biomass deconstruction process need? Find out in this illuminating slide guide from Xiaowen Chen, Senior Chemical Engineer in the Catalytic Carbon Transformation and Scale-up Center at National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Also take a peek into NREL’s
February 05, 2021 Read Full Article
New Online Educational Series about Renewable Fuels—“30/30” Package Includes 30 Minute Online Presentation plus Materials for Directed Discussion about Renewable Fuels and the Circular Economy
(Advanced Biofuels USA) Need to learn or teach about renewable fuels and the circular economy? About biofuels? Find what you need in this new series of 30 minute recorded presentations that come with a package of supporting materials for 30
February 02, 2021 Read Full Article
Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium WEBINAR: Developing Modeling Tools for the Emerging Biorefinery Industry --- February 11, 2021
Join the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium (FCIC) for an informational webinar highlighting the computational modeling work occurring within the consortium. Two FCIC researchers will discuss computational modeling approaches to predict the behavior of biomass feedstocks. Dr. Yidong Xia from Idaho National
February 01, 2021 Read Full Article
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning in Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Idaho National Laboratory
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Barriers abound in the bioeconomy, but this slide guide from Idaho National Lab shows how artificial intelligence and machine learning will lower the barriers to growing a bioeconomy. From biomass supply and logistics to preprocessing
January 15, 2021 Read Full Article
WEF’s ‘Clean Skies for Tomorrow’ Outlines Pathway to Net-Zero Aviation: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Sustainable Aviation Fuel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What is the World Economic Forum doing to help aviation meet net zero goals? First, they recognize that the most immediate action to achieve carbon-neutral flying is the investment in, and rapid scale-up, of sustainable
December 14, 2020 Read Full Article
5 Management Tools to Reduce Hemp Biomass Harvest Variability
by David F. Peterson (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) ... The goal of managing any biomass feedstock is to reduce variability, increase operating efficiency and improve profitability. It may be difficult to quantify profit benefits, but any decrease in variation is a
December 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Feedstock Conversion Interface Consortium: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Feedstock Variability
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We all know variability is inherent to biomass, but what can you do about it? Lots! This ABLC2020 slide guide dives into feedstock variability and the work FCIC is coordinating across an impressive 6 national
November 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Hemp Biomass Management: 12 Ways to Reduce Risk When Scaling up Biomass Feedstock Operations
by David F. Peterson (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) This is the first article in a two-part series addressing the challenges of implementing and scaling up hemp production from a biomass management perspective. After the product or products are chosen and the
November 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Lowering Tech Barriers to Grow Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There are major barriers in growing a bioeconomy, but Idaho National Laboratory is tackling some of those by applying artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve the supply of sustainable biomass feedstock for conversion to
November 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Integrated Strategies to Enable Lower-Cost Biofuels
(U.S. Department of Energy)The Integrated Strategies to Enable Lower-Cost Biofuels report summarizes the findings of a qualitative analysis to identify integrated strategies needed for more affordable biofuels. It outlines five key strategies needed to achieve lower fuel production costs in
September 12, 2020 Read Full Article
2019 Project Peer Review Report Published
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) hosted the 2019 Project Peer Review on March 4–7, 2019, in Denver, Colorado. During the event, 447 projects in BETO’s research portfolio were presented in 14 simultaneous review
September 12, 2020 Read Full Article
Biomass Alliance for Logistics Efficiency and Specifications: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to BALES Bioenergy Feedstock Analysis
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Bale analysis, probes, core samples – measuring and analysis of bioenergy feedstocks is key. In this illuminating slide guide from ABLC Digital, the Idaho National Laboratory, Antares Group, ASDI, and B Hames Consulting share how bale
August 05, 2020 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Selects Three Projects to Increase Industry Access to High-Performance Computing Capabilities
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected three projects to receive approximately $1 million in funding to leverage the unique computational capabilities at DOE’s National Laboratories. The projects will address technical challenges in bioenergy feedstock
July 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium Launches New Website
by Helena Taveras Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, D.C., the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium released their revamped website which features renovated content describing the FCIC’s eight main research areas. Each research area will enable the consortium to help biorefinery developers understand and mitigate
July 13, 2020 Read Full Article
5 Ways to Reduce Costs in Integrated Biorefineries: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Enabling Lower-Cost Biofuels
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) just released a new report that outlines five specific, yet broadly applicable, areas of focus to reduce costs in an integrated biorefinery. This analysis builds upon ongoing R&D strategies to lower
July 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Bioenergy Technologies Office 2019 R&D State of Technology
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) funds research and development (R&D) on technologies necessary for the deployment and production of costcompetitive bioenergy, primarily biofuels. Results of experimental efforts are periodically compiled and compared
July 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Turning Manure into Money
by Jim Morrison (Washington Post) When Randy Jordan, a fifth-generation dairy farmer in central Massachusetts, looked into turning manure from his 300 cows into natural gas more than a decade ago, he just wanted to find a way to lower his
June 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Weed Wizard: Professor Alters Plant Genes to Create Wonder Crop
by Rachel Hatch (Illinois State University News) ... An ISU professor of genetics, (John) Sedbrook is devoted to integrated plant biology and bioenergy, meaning his research focuses on bringing out positive genetic traits in plants. “We’re making mutations that are
June 15, 2020 Read Full Article
The 4 Pillars for Successful Biofuels Project Investment
by David P. Smoot (Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels, LLC) Increased investment interest is on the horizon for companies working in the renewable energy sector. One of these long-term investment opportunities that’s timely and tangible is in renewable biomass to fuel initiatives. One very
June 05, 2020 Read Full Article
Vale Male: Big Changes at the BioEnergy Technologies Office
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... If you’ve noticed that DOE is taking on a much more fundamental bit of science than we’ve seen in the past decade — a move away from catalyzing demonstrations and scale-up and towards more fundamental
April 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Greasezilla Solves Worldwide Fats, Oil & Grease (FOG) Processing Shortage with New Modular System
(Greasezilla) The new modular Greasezilla system expands its FOG separation system to serve large food processors, wastewater treatment centers and waste haulers requiring FOG separation systems to be placed at any large-scale collection point -- Downey Ridge Environmental Company, developer of
April 08, 2020 Read Full Article
Direct Funding Opportunity (DFO) for Computational Science to Enable Bioenergy DEADLINE March 31, 2020
(Consortium for Computational Physics and Chemistry (CCPC) of the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) of the U.S. Department of Energy) Overview: The Consortium for Computational Physics and Chemistry (CCPC) of the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is offering directed funding assistance for interested
February 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Feedstock Supply Chains & Clariant’s Experience in Romania
by Paolo Corvo (Clariant/Biofuels Digest) ... The success of making use of that sustainable biomass resource and a rapid uptake of bioenergy technologies relies on many factors. One of it is the cost of feedstock, which is directly dependent on the
November 01, 2019 Read Full Article
Assessing the Stability and Techno-Economic Implications for Wet Storage of Harvested Microalgae to Manage Seasonal Variability
by Lynn M. Wendt, Christopher Kinchin, Bradley D. Wahlen, Ryan Davis, Thomas A. Dempster & Henri Gerken (Biotechnology for Biofuels) Seasonal variation in microalgae production is a significant challenge to developing cost-competitive algae biofuels. Summer production can be three to five
September 25, 2019 Read Full Article
DTE Opens RNG Processing and Interstate Injection Site in Wisconsin
by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) DTE Biomass Energy, a non-regulated subsidiary of DTE Energy, has opened a combined dairy renewable natural gas (RNG) processing and interstate injection facility in Wisconsin. The facility represents the first of its kind for not only DTE
September 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Biomass Risk Ratings: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Ecostrat
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ecostrat supplies millions of tons of wood fiber and organic feedstock in North America and globally with a proprietary Biomass Supply Chain Analytics suite that looks into feedstock availability, competition, future cost, supply risks and mitigation. Jordan
August 06, 2019 Read Full Article
SoCalGas and Calgren Announce Completion of Dairy Renewable Natural Gas Facility, Expected to be Largest in U.S.
(Southern California Gas Company/CISION) Calgren's dairy biogas operation--first of its kind in California-captures methane from animal waste to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide pipeline quality renewable natural gas -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today joined Calgren Dairy Fuels, and state and local
July 31, 2019 Read Full Article
Making It More Viable to Turn Agricultural Waste into Renewable Fuel
by Alayna DeMartini (Ohio State University College of Engineering) Although the stalks and leaves of a corn plant can be turned into ethanol, the high cost of collecting, storing, and transporting the material has limited its use in producing the fuel. Ajay
June 24, 2019 Read Full Article
Consistent Collections Needed to Reduce and Recycle Food Waste, ADBA
(Bioenergy Insight) The UK trade body for anaerobic digestion (AD) is highlighting the need for universal food waste collections in England to reduce food waste levels and allow inedible food waste to be recycled into renewable energy and natural fertiliser. Responding to the government
June 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Solving Feedstock Challenges Today
(Department of Energy) The INL (Idaho National Laboratory) Bioenergy Program's mission is to support DOE in achieving their vision by developing processes and technologies through applied science and engineering that remove the barriers associated with accessing a sustainable, efficient feedstock supply. INL
June 03, 2019 Read Full Article
DE-FOA-0002029: FY19 Bioenergy Technologies Office Multi-Topic Funding Opportunity Announcement DEADLINE: June 3, 2019
(U.S. Department of Energy) This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will provide funding to address the highest priority R&D areas within biofuel technologies, bioproducts, and biopower. It includes Areas of Interest (AOIs) from all five BETO programs: Feedstock Supply and Logistics; Advanced
May 10, 2019 Read Full Article
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
DE-FOA-0002029: FY19 Bioenergy Technologies Office Multi-Topic Funding Opportunity Announcement
(U.S. Department of Energy) This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will provide funding to address the highest priority R&D areas within biofuel technologies, bioproducts, and biopower. It includes Areas of Interest (AOIs) from all five BETO programs: Feedstock Supply and Logistics; Advanced
May 03, 2019 Read Full Article
Too hard to handle? Biomass Handling Challenges: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Jenike & Johanson
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Jenike & Johanson is a specialized engineering firm focused on providing clients solutions to material handling applications. They have tested over 13,000 materials and worked on over 7,500 projects and utilize a scientific approach based on
May 03, 2019 Read Full Article
Biomass Quality Challenges: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Idaho National Laboratory
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) INL is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s complex of national laboratories. The laboratory performs work in each of the strategic goal areas of DOE: energy, national security, science and environment. INL is the nation’s
April 30, 2019 Read Full Article
Disruptive Technologies: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Praj Industries
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Praj Industries is an end-to-end solutions provider in the ethanol arena from concept to commissioning and feedstock handling to effluent treatment. They have technology and engineering solutions for biofuels, biochemicals and water. Dr. Pramod Kumbhar, Chief Technology
March 22, 2019 Read Full Article
Farmers from Oltenia and Clariant to Partner for a Cleaner Environment
(Clariant) Opportunity for significant extra revenues for farmers in Oltenia by selling straw residue to the cellulosic ethanol plant built by Clariant in Romania -- Clariant, a focused and innovative specialty chemical company, provides farmers in Oltenia with the opportunity to transform
March 20, 2019 Read Full Article
Don’t Mess with My Toot Toot: The Zydeco of Xyleco
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... This week on 60 Minutes, another unlikely character burst onto the national scene, courtesy of one of the lightest technologies profiles ever investigated on 60 Minutes by the otherwise redoubtable Lesley Stahl, who offered up the story
January 10, 2019 Read Full Article
Green Energy Biofuel Receives 2018 Project of the Year Award
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) The South Carolina Biomass Council held an award ceremony Nov. 15 on the grounds of its 2018 Biomass Project of the Year Award recipient, Green Energy Biofuel, in Warrenville, South Carolina. Green Energy Biofuel won the
December 26, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide ABLC Guide to Antares and Innovations in Harvest, Pre-Processing of Herbaceous Biomass
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ANTARES has been assisting clients identify and use biomass resources since the company was founded and our experience ranges from conducting feedstock supply assessments to serving as owner’s representative in the conceptualization, development and operation of
November 21, 2018 Read Full Article
U.S. Department of Energy 2019 Project Peer Review --- March 4-8, 2019 --- Denver, Colorado
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is hosting the 2019 Project Peer Review on March 4-8, 2019, in Denver, Colorado. Approximately 90% of projects in BETO’s early-stage research and development portfolio will be presented to the public
October 29, 2018 Read Full Article
The Transition: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Bioproducts Transition Dynamics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BETO has been developing a broad understanding of different conversion processes that produce bioproducts and the associated market attributes. However, there is not much understanding around how investment decisions are made and the possible successful
October 24, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Optimizing Lignocellulosic Cropping Systems
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How attractive are systems for Bioenergy Feedstock Production in Sustainably Managed Landscapes for Rural Development? Ioannis Dimitriou, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Dep. of Crop Production Ecology offered this illuminating overview at a recent IEA Bioenergy
October 10, 2018 Read Full Article
The Wonder from Down Under, Canada-Style: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Licella, Canfor
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Licella produces drop-in biofuels from a wide range of biomass and uses a supercritical water-based technology and catalysts to break up biomass and reform it into a drop-in fuel hydrocarbon. The compelling features of supercritical are several: 1.
September 04, 2018 Read Full Article
Pennsylvania’s Next Biorefinery: Discussion Held at the Penn State Energy Days Annual Conference, 2018
by Anahita Bharadwaj (Pennsylvania State University for Advanced Biofuels USA) Energy Days, 2018 at The Pennsylvania State University- University Park, brought together leading researchers, government agencies, industries, non-profit organizations and academics in the field of energy to understand the current challenges
August 22, 2018 Read Full Article
FSSAI Launches RUCO Initiative to Collect, Convert Used Cooking Oil into Biofuel.
(GK Today) The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil) initiative to enable collection and conversion of used cooking oil to biodiesel. Under this initiative, 64 companies at 101 locations have been identified to enable
August 17, 2018 Read Full Article
Cutting Bio-Project Costs via Supply Chain Standards: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Biomass Supply Chain Risk Standards
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In March, EcoStrat CEO Jordan Solomon announced the US Standards for Biomass Supply Chain Risk (BSCR) this year. This has been an ongoing 3 year USDOE/BETO project which we are leading with Idaho National Labs for
August 02, 2018 Read Full Article
Seeking a Friend for the End of Unreliability: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to the Feedstock Conversion Interface Consortium
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What is the Feedstock Conversion Interface Consortium and why does it exist? The Why is simple. #1 issue plaguing High and Low Temperature IBR projects is consistent operability of preprocessing and primary deconstruction. In response, researchers have joined
July 06, 2018 Read Full Article
Chempolis Seals Deal for Indian Biorefinery: A New Technology, Designed in Finland, Will Produce Bioethanol, Biochemicals, and Green Energy from Bamboo
(Chempolis) The biorefining technology company Chempolis, the Finnish energy company Fortum, and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), a state-owned Indian oil company, have formed a joint venture to construct a biorefinery in the state of Assam in Northeast India. The joint venture will
May 04, 2018 Read Full Article
Veolia Launch New Online Marketplace for Organic Resources in the UK
(Veolia) As part of the drive to increase the circular economy global resource management company, Veolia, is launching an online trading platform that makes it easier to sell and buy organic resources. Designed to save users time and money, BioTrading will
April 17, 2018 Read Full Article
Carinata Rising: The Digest’s 2018 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 Roundtable
April 03, 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
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 Relay Race toward Energy Security: Passing the Baton from Bioenergy Research to Industrial Commercialization
by Alison Goss Eng (U.S. Department of Energy) ... One approach is through using domestic biomass resources, such as agricultural and forestry residues, grasses, and municipal solid waste. But, how do these biological materials make it from the field or forest to
January 25, 2018 Read Full Article
FCIC to Fund Projects to Improve Biomass Handing
(Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium/Ethanol Producer Magazine) To accelerate innovation and adoption of new practices and technologies to determine the root cause of biomass handling failures and designing solutions, the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium is overseeing a directed funding opportunity (DFO) call. Interested industrial
January 03, 2018 Read Full Article
BETO Launches New Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium
(Department of Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office is proud to announce the establishment of the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium—a research and development consortium dedicated to identifying and overcoming technical uncertainty in research and development of robust biomass supply,
December 05, 2017 Read Full Article
No Crop Left Behind: Inside the USDA’s Bioeconomy Feedstock Strategy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... You’d be forgiven if you mistook Ahb Subi Banr-Sbar for a well-placed official in the Iranian government — but, in fact, it’s a 9-project network to facilitate the development of regionally-based industries producing advanced biofuels, industrial
November 13, 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
Financing Bioeconomy Ventures, Pt. 9: Site Selection – Landscape Risk Analysis for Biomass Acquisition
by Thomas W. Robb, Daniel Lane and John Diecker (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) In the cascade of the decision-making process for site selection of a biomass project, the first two things that must be determined are the availability of infrastructure to support
October 09, 2017 Read Full Article
Year-Round Algae: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Managing Seasonal Variation in Algae Production, and Reducing Ash
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The US Department of Energy is supporting a project to better manage seasonal variation in algal biomass production, through stabilization to reduce conversion costs, and to reduce ash to increase conversion yield. In this project led
September 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Secretary of Energy Rick Perry Announces Integrated Biorefinery Optimization Projects
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today (September 20, 2017), U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) has selected eight projects to negotiate for up to $15 million in total DOE funding to optimize integrated biorefineries. These projects
September 21, 2017 Read Full Article
DOE: Artificial Intelligence Helps Improve Biomass Preprocessing
(U.S. Department of Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory’s bioenergy program have successfully tested an adaptive, intelligence-based control system that increased the reliability of feedstock preprocessing equipment by more than 50 percent. Before feedstocks can be converted into fuels
August 30, 2017 Read Full Article
What Price Biomass? The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Feedstock Supply Forecasting
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How much biomass is there? What types, prices, when will they be available, and produced by whom, and how? These are questions that the US Department of Energy undertook to answer, to address a program-wide need
August 10, 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
Presentations from BETO’s 2017 Project Peer Review Now Online
On March 6–9, 2017, BETO hosted its biennial Project Peer Review in Denver, Colorado. During the event, approximately 192 projects in BETO’s research and development (R&D) portfolio were presented to the public and a panel of external subject matter experts.
May 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Supplying the Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to DOE Feedstocks R&D Programs
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) More than 1 billion tons of biomass could be domestically converted into biofuels and products, say DOE. Biomass could displace 25% of U.S. petroleum use annually by 2030, keeping $260 billion in the United States, adding 1.1 million direct jobs, and
May 24, 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
Big Equipment and Politics at the International Biomass Conference and Expo
by Doug Root* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Shredders, chippers, conveying systems, balers, and pellet mills were the highlights of the International Biomass Conference and Expo held recently in Minneapolis. The big equipment is aimed at the big sources of biomass feedstocks
May 05, 2017 Read Full Article
The Digest's Complete March Madness Webinars Available Online
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Digest's Complete March Madness webinars - 700+ slides available for your on-demand review. -- The Digest's March Madness series - 20 webinars covering the hottest topics as selected by Digest readers - featuring dozens
May 05, 2017 Read Full Article
CAAFI’s R&D Team SOAP-Jet Webinar Series: INL Presented on the Development of Advanced Feedstock Supply Systems
(Commercial Alternative Aviation Fuel Initiative) CAAFI’s R&D team continued the Seminars on Alternatives to Petroleum (SOAP)-Jet webinar series on March 24th. This webinar series is intended to provide a forum for members of the alternative jet fuel R&D community to
May 05, 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
Corn with a Cover of Grass: Finding Best Combination for Biofuel Corn, Soil Protection
(Phys.Org) ... Taking up this double-edged sword is Cynthia Bartel, a doctoral candidate at Iowa State University. She's finding a way to lessen the harm and increase the benefits of removing maize stover. "While water and wind erosion are substantial problems for
April 28, 2017 Read Full Article
South Dakota State University Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Projects Use Cutting-Edge Science to Feed and Fuel the Future
(Farm Forum) ... Through Senior Capstone Design projects, the senior engineering students partner with innovators in the ag industry using the latest technology. The experience provides an opportunity to work on projects that will impact agriculture for future generations. The designs and
April 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Heard on the Floor: Disruptive Technology, Feedstocks under the Microscope at ABLC 2017’s Opening Day
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... While there were big questions, there were big answers, beginning with a panel on The Sustainable Agriculture Imperative. John Pieper from Dupont Industrial Biosciences shared their latest work with cellulosic ethanol in the corn
March 02, 2017 Read Full Article
Biorefinery Optimization Workshop Summary Report Published
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Biorefinery Optimization Workshop Summary Report is now online! Read this new report for an overview of industry challenges and opportunities discussed during the Biorefinery Optimization Workshop, which was held on October 5–6, 2016, in Chicago, Illinois. The
February 27, 2017 Read Full Article
The Leftover Makeover Once-Over: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Corn Stover
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A group of researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have completed a survey of the economic activities and rural jobs that a corn stover bioeconomy can offer, which is currently featured on the cover of the latest
February 06, 2017 Read Full Article
DOE and USDA Issue Notice of Intent for Biomass Research and Development Initiative
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), is announcing its
January 24, 2017 Read Full Article
2016 Billion-Ton Report Volume 2 Analyzes Environmental Effects
(U.S. Department of Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The 2016 Billion-Ton Report (BT16), Volume 2: Environmental Sustainability Effects of Select Scenarios from Volume 1, jointly released by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is a pioneering
January 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Energy Department Partners with Department of Agriculture for Integrated Biorefinery Optimization
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Energy Department (DOE) and the Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) jointly announced $22.7 million today to support the optimization of integrated biorefineries (IBR). DOE is providing majority funding with up
January 06, 2017 Read Full Article
DMR (Deacetylation and Mechanical Refining) Processing of Corn Stover Achieves High monomeric sugar concentrations (230 g L -1) during enzymatic hydrolysis and high ethanol concentrations (>10% v/v) during Fermentation without Hydrolysate Purification or Concentration
by Chen, Xiaowen; Kuhn, Erik; Jennings, Edward W.; Nelson, Robert; Tao, Ling; Zhang, Min; Tucker, Melvin P. (Energy & Environmental Science) Distilling and purifying ethanol and other products from second generation lignocellulosic biorefineries adds significant capital and operating costs to biofuel
December 30, 2016 Read Full Article
How an Effective Risk Management Strategy Can Contribute to Unlocking the Full Potential of a Billion-Ton Bioeconomy
by Mahmood Ebadian (Biofuels Digest/Biomass Supply Chain Consulting Ltd.) The procurement of low-cost feedstock has been the focus of the pioneering bio-conversion technology developers in commercializing their first industrial-scale projects. Low-cost feedstock is critical in such projects as most of the
November 25, 2016 Read Full Article
What Does it Take? The Experts Report from Ottawa on Scaling up the Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This past week, a remarkable group of people gathered in Ottawa, perhaps described best as the “friends of Jeff” because the ostensible excuse for a get-together was Jeff Passmore’s Scaling Up Conference and because, to
November 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Seeking Low Costs, Painless Logistics: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Advances to Know in Biomass Feedstocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Amidst the discussion this week of the future of first-gen and advanced biofuels in the EU — we were intrigued by this slide deck on advances in biomass production for the bioeconomy. In the end, it’s
September 12, 2016 Read Full Article
First Things First
by Tim Portz (Biomass Magazine) ... Biomass availability in the U.S. is unlikely to emerge as a bottleneck for industry growth. Our country’s farms and forests, municipal waste and food waste streams are producing vast streams of material, and we
September 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Strategic Intent: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to DuPont in the Advanced Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This season, The Digest is hosting the Strategic Intent webinar series, looking at the plans, progress and future milestones of strategic stakeholders in the Advanced Bioeconmy. In this slide deck, we looked at DuPont, and its M&A activity, direct
August 31, 2016 Read Full Article
After the Lightning Strikes: The Bioeconomy’s Effort to Learn from Fire
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Lightning strikes often in the Advanced Bioeconomy. The Magic catalyst, the miracle microbe, the super strain, the wonder feedstock, the peerless process. But it’s after the lightning strikes that we begin what former BP Biofuels chief
August 23, 2016 Read Full Article
A Successful Supply Chain Strategy: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Equinox
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In developing a bioconversion project, the steps are numerous, interconnected and complex. Conducting a feasibility study, feedstock supply & market analysis, developing a business plan, funding initial development, choosing process technology, selecting a design/builder, selecting a site,
August 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Negotiating and De-Risking Biomass Supply Chains: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Ecostrat
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ecostrat advises companies in the bioenergy, biofuel, and biochemical fields on supply chain risk. They have developed and managed supply chains for more than 5,000,000 tons of fiber over 20 years. Noted in the company’s toolkit is
August 17, 2016 Read Full Article
What’s DOE Doing about Feedstock Costs? The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to DOE’s Feedstock Programs
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Is it just cost that bedevils industrial biotechnology in bringing fuels technologies to scale. Not just, says BETO program director Jonathan Male, who adds that a DOE “Tiger Team” indentified many other factors: What about these? Use
August 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Feedstocks for the Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Behind the Scenes look at the Billion Ton Report
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Last month, the DOE released the first volume of its monumental two-volume update of the Billion Ton report, looking not only at the economics of biomass but also the environmental trade-offs associated with various approaches
August 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Mitigating Risk in Cellulosic: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to Genera Energy’s Portfolio Approach
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Genera Energy “leads the nation in the commercialization of integrated biomass supply chain solutions for the biofuels, biopower and biochemicals markets.” Initially formed in 2008, Genera works with leading technology providers and strategic investors to develop
July 22, 2016 Read Full Article
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