by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Switzerland, 11 leading low carbon fuel companies present a comprehensive guide that identifies a variety of available and accessible low carbon fuel solutions. ... Today, only 3% of transportation fuels are low carbon. According to the International
fermentation
Back TO HOMEHeineken Brewery Celebrates Achieving Carbon-Neutral Milestone
by Ron Kotrba (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Biodiesel process and biogas technology provider BDI-BioEnergy International AG and Brau Union Österreich, part of the international Heineken family, celebrated the opening of a new spent-grain fermentation plant at the Göss Brewery in Austria,
November 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Largest Cellulosic Ethanol Plant in the World Opens October 30
(U.S. Department of Energy) The DuPont cellulosic ethanol facility, opening in Nevada, Iowa, on October 30, will be the largest cellulosic ethanol plant in the world. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Director, Jonathan Male, alongside
October 27, 2015 Read Full Article
8 Ways around the Big, Bad Oxygen Problem in the Advanced Bioeconomy Parts 1 and 2
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the terrestrial world, oxygen is colorless, odorless, and try to get through an hour without some. In the Bioeconomy Cinematic Universe, oxygen is harder than steel, heavier than a black hole, and higher than
October 14, 2015 Read Full Article
The Isooctene Revolution, Redux: The Digest’s Updated 2015 8-Slide Guide to Gevo
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Gevo has two proprietary technologies that combine to make it possible to retrofit existing ethanol plants to produce isobutanol, a four carbon alcohol which serves as a hydrocarbon platform molecule. They have developed an industrial
October 02, 2015 Read Full Article
The Isooctane Revolution: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Global Bioenergies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Global Bioenergies is a pioneer in the development of one-step fermentation processes for the direct and cost-efficient transformation of renewable resources into light olefin hydrocarbons, the key building blocks of the petrochemical industry. Since inception,
September 30, 2015 Read Full Article
The Birth of SuperDuper Gasoline via Earth-Friendly Renewable Hydrocarbons
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Move over Super, here comes SuperDuper. All the high octane and performance, and the renewability too, at a price you can afford. Biofuels are adding options for drop-in, low-carbon, super-perfornance gasoline via isooctane and isooctene,
September 30, 2015 Read Full Article
BASF, Genomatica Target Asia for Commercial Production of Renewable Butanediol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) License agreement adds countries in Southeast Asia; Optional capacity for up to 75,000 metric tons per year; Targeting large-scale commercial production of renewable butanediol using Genomatica technology In California, BASF and Genomatica have expanded the scope
September 28, 2015 Read Full Article
The Building Block Builders: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to BioAmber
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From the company’s IPO Prospectus: “Our proprietary technology platform combines industrial biotechnology, an innovative purification process and chemical catalysis to convert renewable feedstocks into chemicals that are cost-competitive replacements for petroleum-derived chemicals. The development of our
September 23, 2015 Read Full Article
Break out the Bubbly: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Champagne-Ardennes in the Advanced Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Addressing the Western Europe market, creating a European unit with optimal operating range, or seeking to operate a facliity and watching the opex? We can send you in the right direction with three magic words:
September 22, 2015 Read Full Article
U of G Researchers Study Sugar Corn as Alternative Fuel Source
(University of Guelph) Canadian farmers might one day grow sugar corn for a potentially huge alternative fuels market through a new project involving University of Guelph researchers. Along with scientists from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food
September 16, 2015 Read Full Article
DEINOVE and Tyton Forge Partnership to Commercialize Unique Solutions in the Green Chemicals Sector
(Globe Newswire/Benzinga) A technological and commercial partnership between Deinove and Tyton BioEnergy Systems, the leader in tobacco technology for green chemicals production -- T he synergistic technologies are expected to provide techno-economic benefits in the production of renewable chemicals by
September 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Taurus Energy Signs Key Brazilian Material Transfer aAgreement; Wins US Patent for More Ethanol, Xylose; Less Xylitol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Sweden, Taurus Energy has signed a material transfer agreement with a leading research and technology center for sugar cane and ethanol producers in Brazil. Work will be performed in both parties’ respective laboratories to
September 08, 2015 Read Full Article
An Integrated Approach to Cellulosic Fuels: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Clariant’s sunliquid process
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Clariant’s sunliquid technology for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into sugars, followed by fermentation to cellulosic ethanol, is flexible to be used to convert different feedstocks on a regional basis, for example corn stover in
August 31, 2015 Read Full Article
Amyris and the Velocity of Renewables
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What makes Amyris, Amyris? We look at the products, the evolution of the story, the partners, the focus on yield, and deeper into the story of Rate. ... Amyris experienced last month what CEO John Melo
August 28, 2015 Read Full Article
Bio-Ethanol Development and China’s Economic Changes Impacting Fermentation Industry, According to BCC Research
(BCC Research/PR Web) According to the new report from BCC Research, the global market for fermentation-derived products is expected to increase from nearly $24.3 billion in 2015 to $35.1 billion in 2020, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of
August 19, 2015 Read Full Article
WSU: New Course Offers Hands-On Training in Bioproducts
by Maegan Murray (WSU Tri-Cities/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Doctoral student Baran Arslan experienced bioproducts production processes this summer that he formerly had only seen in the lab on the nano scale. He participated in a new summer course through Washington State University
August 10, 2015 Read Full Article
Reproducible Research for Biofuels and Biogas
(EurekAlert!/GigaScience) Biofuels and biogas bioinformatics: Virtual containers unload a wealth of resources to tackle climate change -- New research in the Open Access journal GigaScience presents a virtual package of data for biogas production, made reusable in a containerized form
August 03, 2015 Read Full Article
DEINOVE Reaches the Third Milestone of the DEINOL Program and Receives € 1.2 m from Bpifrance
(DEINOVE) DEINOVE (Alternext Paris: ALDEI), a biotech company developing innovative processes for the production of biofuels and bio-based chemicals using Deinococcus bacteria as host strains, announces that it has reached the third and penultimate milestone of its DEINOL project supported
July 13, 2015 Read Full Article
Sao Martinho to Amyris: “We’re out”; Amyris to Sao Martinho: “Whoa, Nelly”
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In a Brazilian securities filing, with respect to the Joint Venture between São Martinho and Amyris, Sao Martinho reports “the non-achievement of certain contractual targets by Amyris, impacting the viability of the project. Thus, Sao Martinho decides
July 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Shatter the Blend Wall with High Performance Bio-Gasoline
by David Gogerty and Ronan Rocle (Global Bioenergies/Biofuels Digest) ... And there are indeed interesting developments: using new synthetic biology techniques, we can now target the best-of-the-best in gasoline molecules—isooctane. This high-performance fuel, which is expected to be produced by fermentation at
June 15, 2015 Read Full Article
Biofuel Research and Commercial Development in Denmark
(Task 39 Newsletter) General introduction - A fossil free energy supply by 2050 -- In 2012, the Danish parliament decided on a new climate act, which calls for an energy supply totally free of fossil fuels by 2050. This goal
June 02, 2015 Read Full Article
18 Pilot and Demonstration DOE Bioenergy Projects, Reviewed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What’s the latest with such projects such as Frontline BioEnergy, Myriant, POET-DSM, INEOS Bio, Sapphire Energy, Abengoa, Haldor Topsoe, UOP. ZeaChem, Mercurius, and American Process, among others? In Washington this June 25th, the Department of Energy
May 18, 2015 Read Full Article
Global Bioenergies: First Production of Liquid Hydrocarbons from Biological Feedstock Using the Isobutene Process
(Global Newswire/Global Bioenergies) First batch of "renewable oil"; Ground and air transportation fuels; Perspective of new industrial sectors; Prevention of climate change Global Bioenergies announces today having converted renewable resources into gaseous isobutene, and secondarily into liquid fuels similar to those extracted from oil.
May 13, 2015 Read Full Article
4 Minutes with…Hans Heinerman, Managing Director, BiCHEM Technology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... BiCHEM produces platform chemicals from biomass. It uses an inexpensive, recyclable solvent to break down cellulose and hemicellulose into sugars. These sugars are converted into base chemicals for amongst others the production of fuel additives. Another
March 09, 2015 Read Full Article
BETO’s 2015 Project Peer Review March 23-27 Alexandria, VA
The Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is hosting the 2015 Project Peer Review on March 23–27, 2015, at the Hilton Mark Center, in Alexandria, Virginia. Approximately 185 projects in BETO’s research, development, and demonstration portfolio will be presented to the public
March 04, 2015 Read Full Article
Byogy Renewables and GEN 2 Energy Advance Value Chain to Produce Biofuels Competitive With Today's Oil Price
(Byogy/PR Newswire) Byogy Renewables, a biofuels producer based in San Jose, California, has executed a strategic partnership agreement with Gen 2 Energy, an alternative energy company from Ames, Iowa, to develop a more cost-effective biofuel production process. New yeast strains developed by
February 26, 2015 Read Full Article
Engineered Yeast Turn Three Carbon Compounds Into Ethanol
by Jyoti Madhusoodanan (Chemical & Engineering News) Biofuels: Yeast designed to ferment compounds found in treated biomass could boost biofuel production When biofuel producers turn agricultural waste into ethanol, they start by treating the biomass with acid to hydrolyze complex carbohydrates
February 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Renewable Biofuel Production Avoids Competition with Food Resources
(EurekAlert!) The efficient production of both biofuel and animal feed from 1 crop is now possible, and can be done on a farm without the need for off-site processes The efficient production of both biofuel and animal feed from one crop is
February 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Argonne Model Analyzes Water Footprint of Biofuels
by Greg Cunningham (Argonne National Laboratory) A new version of an online tool created by the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory will help biofuels developers gain a detailed understanding of water consumption of various types of feedstocks, aiding
January 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Praj Contracts Order for Uganda's Largest Ethanol Plant from Kakira Sugars
(Praj/PR NewsWire/CNBC) Sustainable Technology resulting in generation of 50-60% power requirement through captive cogen unit; Employs Praj's latest ECOSMART technology for multi-product distillery producing fuel ethanol as well as premium grade beverage alcohol; Biocompost from the plant to be used
January 07, 2015 Read Full Article
10 Biggest Bioeconomy Blockbuster Stories of 2014 (EU, Middle East and Africa)
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Aviation biofuels on the rise, in the skies” tops the trend list; drop-in and cellulosic ethanol projects; M&A and cap raises, and action from strategic investors and customers dominate the headlines this year. You might know
December 29, 2014 Read Full Article
New York State Awards Bioenergy Projects with Economic Development Grants
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In New York state, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that $709.2 million in economic and community development funding has been awarded through Round IV of the Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) initiative.Bioenergy projects that received funding
December 19, 2014 Read Full Article
Large Scale Microbial Production of Advanced Biofuels: How Big Can We Go?
by Gregory T. Benz (Benz Technology International, Inc./Biofuels Digest) Conventional biofuels, whether from starch, sugar or lignocellulosic materials, tend to be low energy density products such as ethanol or butanol. These are made using catabolic (anaerobic), thermodynamically “downhill” processes. Such
December 08, 2014 Read Full Article
Feedstocks, Techniques, and Enzymes: The Critical Trio in Any Cellulosic Ethanol Project
(Global BioBusiness) It may be surprising to know that, strictly speaking, there is no such thing as “cellulosic ethanol”. Instead, there is cellulosic “sugars”. That because it is often forgotten that the cellulosic process (also called “2nd generation”) creates glucose,
December 08, 2014 Read Full Article
Elsevier Science Publishes "Bioenergy: Biomass to Biofuels" by Anju Dahiya (Editor)
(Elsevier) Bioenergy: Biomass to Biofuels examines all current and emerging feedstocks and the advanced processes and technologies enabling the development of their end products, ranging from solid (wood energy, grass energy, and other biomass) to liquid (biodiesel from oil seed
December 04, 2014 Read Full Article
Vitruvian Energy Crowdfunding to Make EEB, a Trashy Biofuel
By John Beltz Snyder (AutoBlogGreen) When sewage is treated at a wastewater treatment facility, biosolids are the byproduct. After being separated from the water, biosolids are usually sent to a landfill or incinerated. That doesn't mean that they're without value,
November 24, 2014 Read Full Article
Closing In on Butanol for Biofuel
by Ann Perry (US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service) Butanol is the go-to industrial solvent for products such as lacquers and enamels, but it might also play a substantial role in the production of renewable fuels. Gallon for gallon,
November 20, 2014 Read Full Article
Righteous Heat: 10 Hot Slides from ABLCNext Do the Show-and-Tell on Who's Got the Magic
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 10 hot companies, The Young Fresh Faces, the Later-Stagers, the Out-of-the-Box Thinkers - who is challenging the status quo and how and why? Here are new slides from the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference – ABLC Next
November 20, 2014 Read Full Article
The Inside Story of Renewable Energy Group, as CEO Dan Oh Visits with The Digest
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In many ways, REG is the entire industrial biotech business in a nutshell. They’re fermentation (through REG Life Sciences), and thermocatalytic (through REG Geismar and their extensive biodiesel business). They use both sugars and
November 10, 2014 Read Full Article
Patriot Renewable Fuels Signs Cellulosic Deal
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Patriot Renewable Fuels has signed a Professional Services Agreement to install ICM’s Fiber Seperation Technology (FST) as well as their Generation 1.5 Grain Fiber to Cellulosic Ethanol Technology (Gen 1.5) for its biorefinery. According to Gene
October 28, 2014 Read Full Article
Energy Department Announces $13.4 Million to Develop Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Energy Department announced today (October 9, 2014) up to $13.4 million for five projects to develop advanced biofuels and bioproducts that will help drive down the cost of producing gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from
October 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Proterro and Bunge To Conduct Pilot Study in Brazil of Proterro’s Sucrose-production Technology
(Proterro/BusinessWire) Biofeedstock company Proterro and Bunge Global Innovation, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of global agribusiness and food company Bunge Limited (Bunge), will conduct a pilot study of Proterro’s sucrose-production technology in Brazil. Under a joint development agreement, a pilot plant
September 25, 2014 Read Full Article
Taurus Energy in collaboration with a French company on the application of EU funds for ethanol Projects
(Taurus Energy) Taurus Energy participates in an application to the French company CIMV submitted to the EU Commission on the construction and operation of a larger demonstration plant for the production of ethanol from biomass. The plan is for the demonstration
September 16, 2014 Read Full Article
Celtic Renewables Wins Top Motor Vehicle Sustainability Award
(Celtic Renewables) Celtic Renewables has been recognised by the motor industry, winning a top honour at the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP)’s annual Low Carbon Champions awards. The company won the Low CVP’s award for Low Carbon Innovation by an SME at a gala dinner in Milton
September 15, 2014 Read Full Article
POET-DSM’s Project LIBERTY Opens, as Fantasy Becomes Real
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) POET-DSM’s 20 million gallon cellulosic ethanol plant opens with hoopla, and heartfelt messages about the spirit of innovation, and a time for technology change and policy firmness. “Once, we all lived off the land, sun, wind
September 08, 2014 Read Full Article
The Hydrogen Wall: Looking at the Prospects for Drop-In Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Think affordable, available, sustainable carbon is the biggest barrier to the growth of biofuels? Or, access to market via blender pumps? In the case of drop-in biofuels, the biggest challenge might be finding enough hydrogen.
August 12, 2014 Read Full Article
Ethanol Production, Plagued by Yogurt Bacteria, Getting Viral Cure
by Elizabeth Summer (livescience.com/Phage Biocontrol, Inc.) The beneficial microbes that convert milk into yogurt and act in people's guts to promote digestive health cause big problems in ethanol fermentation tanks. When fermenting corn to create ethanol, lactic acid bacteria can contaminate the
August 06, 2014 Read Full Article
Advanced Drop-In Biofuels for Commercial Aviation, Marine Shipping, and Military Applications: Global Market Analysis and Forecasts
(Navigant Research) Viewed as a game changer in the race to commercialize advanced biofuels, aviation and marine biofuels represent a very significant opportunity for emerging producers in the advanced biofuels industry. Demand for advanced biofuels produced from sustainable, non-food feedstocks
July 18, 2014 Read Full Article
Questions and Answers on the Outcome of the Second Call for Proposals under the NER 300 Programme
(Europa.EU) ... NER 300 is one of the world's largest funding programmes for innovative low-carbon energy demonstration projects. The programme aims to successfully demonstrate environmentally safe carbon capture and storage (CCS) and innovative renewable energy (RES) technologies on a commercial scale
July 10, 2014 Read Full Article
Developers of the First Cellulosic Plants Share Updates at FEW
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... A week before the FEW, Enerkem Inc. celebrated the inauguration of its 10 MMgy facility in Edmonton, Alberta. Commissioning is nearly completed, reported Tim Cesarek, senior vice president of business development. The thermochemical process
June 12, 2014 Read Full Article
Edeniq Validates Ethanol Yield Increases
(Edeniq/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Edeniq Inc., a biomaterials and sustainable fuels company, has announced the successful performance of its Pathway Validation Facility. Edeniq’s Pathway Platform is a proprietary, integrated platform that produces cellulosic ethanol inside existing corn ethanol plants. The pilot
June 10, 2014 Read Full Article
New Joint Ventures Aim to Establish Hemp-Ethanol Pilot Plant
by Holly Jessen (Biomass Magazine) Edmonton, Alberta-based Syngar Technologies Inc. has announced two separate joint venture projects that will, together, help make hemp-to-cellulosic ethanol a step closer to reality. Syngar Technologies, which was featured in a March 2012, article in Ethanol Producer Magazine has licensed
May 22, 2014 Read Full Article
City Trash-To-Biofuel Project Takes Step Ahead for Blairstown, Marion
by Rick Smith (The Gazette)"First-in-the-nation" plant to convert municipal solid waste and other trash into cellulosic biofuel No Martians are landing, but loads of steel began arriving on Monday for the takeoff of project to expand and revitalize the shuttered ethanol
May 13, 2014 Read Full Article
University of Texas Austin Engineer Rewires Yeast Cells For High Lipid Content
(University of Texas at Austin/Biodiesel Magazine) Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering have developed a new source of renewable energy, a biofuel, from genetically engineered yeast cells and ordinary table sugar. This yeast produces oils and
March 05, 2014 Read Full Article
The Digest's Bioeconomy Achievement Awards for 2013-14
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Beta Renewables, Abengoa, Enerkem, Proterro among the winners for Project of the Year — as residues and waste are keys to the big wins. For Fuel of the Year, Renewable Chemical of the Year, Product
January 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Special EU Biofuels Report: The Top 10 Stories of the Year, and More
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The technology is there. Demand for alternative fuels, chemicals and materials is there. Feedstock is expensive. In so many of the signature developments announced around the world this year, there’s been an EU technology in
December 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Scale-up and Evaluation of High Solid Ionic Liquid Pretreatment and Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Switchgrass
by Chenlin Li, Deepti Tanjore, Wei He, Jessica Wong, James L Gardner, Kenneth L Sale, Blake A Simmons and Seema Singh (Biotechnology for Biofuels) Ionic liquid (IL) pretreatment is receiving significant attention as a potential process that enables fractionation of lignocellulosic
December 17, 2013 Read Full Article
USPTO Issues Patent to Biofeedstock Company Proterro for Its Biosynthetic Process To Manufacture Fermentable Sugar
(BusinessWire/Proterro) The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 8,597,914 to Proterro, Inc., protecting Proterro’s unique, biosynthetic sugar-making process. The only biofeedstock company that makes sugar instead of extracting it from crops or deconstructing cellulosic materials, Proterro
December 09, 2013 Read Full Article
DSM, DONG Energy Report Improved Cellulosic Ethanol Yield
(Royal DSM/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Royal DSM, together with DONG Energy, announced it has demonstrated the combined fermentation of C6 and C5 sugars from wheat straw on an industrial scale. The combined fermentation results in a 40 percent increase in ethanol
December 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Team Uses a Cellulosic Biofuels Byproduct to Increase Ethanol Yield
(University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Scientists report in Nature Communications that they have engineered yeast to consume acetic acid, a previously unwanted byproduct of the process of converting plant leaves, stems and other tissues into biofuels. The innovation increases ethanol yield from
November 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Chickens to Benefit from Biofuels Bonanza
(Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) Chickens could be the unexpected beneficiaries of the growing biofuels industry, feeding on proteins retrieved from the fermenters used to brew bioethanol, thanks to research supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). It
November 01, 2013 Read Full Article
New Metabolic Pathway to More Efficiently Convert Sugars Into Biofuels
(Science Daily) UCLA chemical engineering researchers have created a new synthetic metabolic pathway for breaking down glucose that could lead to a 50 percent increase in the production of biofuels. The new pathway is intended to replace the natural metabolic pathway
October 03, 2013 Read Full Article
Greenbelt Resources and Diversified Ethanol Fund Research Study by Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
(BusinessWire/Greenbelt Resources) Study to Identify Approach for Optimal Yield of Ethanol Fuel Conversion from Food Waste Fermentation Greenbelt Resources Corporation (OTC: GRCO) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Diversified Ethanol Corporation today announced their investment in a research effort with California Polytechnic State University
October 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Brazil’s Big Six in Advanced Biofuels & Chemicals: Who’s Doing What Now?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) After taking a leading role in the global first generation wave of ethanol production, here come the Brazilians — with some hot North American technologies in tow — to take on next-generation biofuels and chemicals.
September 18, 2013 Read Full Article
NSF Accepting Grant Applications under BBBE Program
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The National Science Foundation recently opened a new funding opportunity under its Biotechnology, Biochemical, and Biomass Engineering program. According to the grant notice, the program supports fundamental engineering research that advances the understanding of
August 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Gevo Reports Q2 Results; Expanding Production; Cap Raise Looms
by Jim Lane (BioInvest Digest) In Colorado, Gevo announced a net loss for Q2 2013 of $15.2 million compared to $16.2 million for the second quarter of 2012. Revenues were $1.9 million compared to $7.0 million in Q2 2012. The
August 07, 2013 Read Full Article
First Facility in the World Using New Advanced Bioenergy Technology to Convert Waste to Renewable Fuel and Electricity
(INEOS Bio) INEOS Bio Produces Cellulosic Ethanol at Commercial Scale INEOS Bio today announced that its Indian River BioEnergy Center (Centre) is now producing cellulosic ethanol at commercial scale. First ethanol shipments will be released in August. This is the first commercial-scale
August 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels Digest’s 5-Minute Guide to Loan Guarantees: Who Got ‘Em, What’re They Doing?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In today’s Digest – visit our 5-Minute Guide to Loan Guarantees — INEOS Bio, Myriant, Sapphire Energy, Abengoa, Chemtex, Enerkem, Fiberight, Fulcrum, ZeaChem – Plus POET-DSM, Diamond Green Diesel, Coskata and Range Fuels Projects open for business INEOS Bio ... Myriant ... Sapphire
July 30, 2013 Read Full Article
Study Shows Benefits from Integration of Sweet Sorghum Juice in Corn Mash for Ethanol Production
(United Sorghum Checkoff Program) The Sorghum Checkoff in collaboration with the NCERC at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (formerly the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center) is pleased to announce a successful bench-scale evaluation of sweet sorghum juice sugars with corn mash for
May 14, 2013 Read Full Article
Gevo Provides Update of Luverne Operations
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Gevo Inc. provided updated information on it Luverne, Minn., plant and patent dispute with Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC as part of its recent first quarter 2013 financial announcement. During a call to discuss the first
May 09, 2013 Read Full Article
Student Finds Better Ethanol Option
by Fritz Bush (The Journal) A Sibley East High School sophomore earned a spot at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ESEF) in Phoenix next month for his research on the use of anaerobic fermentation on pre-treated biomass to
May 08, 2013 Read Full Article
New Yeast Strain Could Lower Costs for Cellulosic Ethanol Production
by Ann Perry (US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service) A new strain of yeast that could help streamline cellulosic ethanol costs and production has been developed by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers. This work, which supports the USDA
May 06, 2013 Read Full Article
LS9 Expands Operations in Florida
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... LS9 CEO Tjerk de Ruiter announced the expansion of its operations at the Company’s Okeechobee, Florida demonstration facility with a successful customer trial. The Florida facility was initially designed, and has been used, to scale-up LS9′s
April 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Abengoa Begins Operating the First Demonstration Plant Using Waste-to-Biofuels Technology
(ENP Newswire/Cogeneration and On-Site Power Production) Abengoa (MCE: ABG.B), the international company that applies innovative technology solutions for sustainable development in the energy and environment sectors, has started operations at the demonstration plant that uses waste-to-biofuels technology. The plant has a
April 08, 2013 Read Full Article
IEA Says Cellulosic Biofuels Capacity Has Tripled since 2010: New Task 39 Global Report
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The International Energy Agency, through its Task 39 group, has published its 207-page report on the “Status of Advanced Biofuels Demonstration Facilities in 2012″. The report, in its pages, contains detailed project summaries as well as
April 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Biorefinery 2015 – The Shape of Advanced Biofuels to Come – Part II
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today in part II, we look at a new set of technologies coming along that are redefining our ideas about scale and cost. ... A barrier to long term deployment? The $11 per gallon average capital
March 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Auburn Researcher Receives National Science Foundation CAREER Award to Study Biofuels
by Jessica Nelson (Auburn University) Maobing Tu, an assistant professor in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, has received a $401,155 National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Award for his research in biofuels and bioenergy. The CAREER program offers
March 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Biochemical Production of Ethanol and Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters from Switchgrass: A Comparative Analysis of Environmental and Economic Performance
by Scott M. Paapa, Todd H. West, Dawn K. Manley, Eric J. Steen, Harry R. Beller, Jay D. Keasling, Dean C. Dibble, Shiyan Chang, Blake A. Simmons (Biomass and Bioenergy) As advances in biotechnology have continued at a rapid pace,
March 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Direvo Reaches Milestone in Consolidated Bioprocessing of Lignocellulose to Lactic Acid
(Direvo) Direvo Industrial Biotechnology GmbH (Direvo) today announced that it reached an important milestone in developing a consolidated bioprocess for lactic acid production from lignocellulose. Up until now, there has not been any known consolidated bioprocess for producing lactic acid from
March 13, 2013 Read Full Article
Phycal Captures CO2 Funding for Biofuel
by Debra Fiakas (Alt Energy Stocks) As part of its program to promote beneficial reuse of carbon dioxide, the Department of Energy awarded a total of $27.2 million ($3.0 million in the first phase and $24.2 million in a second phase)
March 12, 2013 Read Full Article
Recent Advancements in Various Steps of Ethanol, Butanol, and Isobutanol Productions from Woody Materials
by Pedram Fatehi (Biotechnology Progress) In this review, the recent advancements and technical challenges associated with the production of ethanol, butanol, and isobutanol via bioconversion routes from celluloses of woody materials are reviewed. Physicochemical processes, e.g. steam explosion, seem to be
March 12, 2013 Read Full Article
Project in Tri-Cities Using Ag Waste to Create Biofuel Becoming Commercially Reliable
by Kristi Pihl (Tri-City Herald) A pilot project to produce biofuel using agricultural and organic municipal waste has reached levels that makes the process commercially viable, researchers say. The project, paid for by the Department of Energy, is within six months of
March 06, 2013 Read Full Article
EPA Issues Final Rule for Additional Qualifying Renewable Fuel Pathways under the RFS Program
(Environmental Protection Agency) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to identify additional fuel pathways that the Agency has determined meet the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction requirements for biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and cellulosic biofuel
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
The Dew Drop Inn — Who’s Dropping in What in Biofuels?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) B20, B5, B100, E10, E22, E15, M50, E85, Bu12.5, HEFA 50. Is your head swimming with acronyms and blend ratios? Who exactly is making drop-in fuels, and what does that mean? In the world of alternative
February 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Genomatica and The Art of Big Wave Surfing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In synthetic biology these days, there are the Big Wave surfers too — companies like Amyris, Solazyme, Gevo, Genomatica, Verdezyne, Rivertop Renewables, Myriant, Segetis, BioAmber, Cobalt, Green Biologics, Butamax, LanzaTech, INEOS Bio, LS9, Elevance, and
February 12, 2013 Read Full Article
Lawrence Berkeley Lab Says Principle Proven on New Ionic Liquid Pretreatment Process for Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Lawrence Berkeley Lab has developed a new technology that enables the engineering of host microorganisms suitable for biofuel processing using ionic liquid pretreatment. It may also enable fermentation under septic conditions, since invasive organisms are
January 28, 2013 Read Full Article
The 8 Upsides of the New Ethanol
by Jim Lane (BioInvest Digest) The technologies out there are five in number. They are all in commercial deployment now, though some are at the capacity-construction stage. Some of them vary the feedstock, some vary the products produced. What they
January 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Project in Tri-Cities Using Ag Waste to Create Biofuel Becoming Commercially Reliable
by Kristi Pihl (Tri-City Herald) A pilot project to produce biofuel using agricultural and organic municipal waste has reached levels that makes the process commercially viable, researchers say. The project, paid for by the Department of Energy, is within six months
January 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Sweetwater Energy, Ace Ethanol Sign Landmark Cellulosic Ethanol Deal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) $4/gallon capex, low opex, $15 million upfront. Existing offtakers. Cellulosic RINs. Expandable. Product diversification. Operating next year. What’s not to like? ...There’s a side door opening into cellulosic ethanol. Costs you very little up front, payback
January 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Delta BioRenewables Company Hits Milestone
(Associated Press/Jackson Sun) A Tennessee producer of sustainable feedstock has hit an important milestone by delivering its product to a plant in western Kentucky. Officials say Delta BioRenewables, which is located in Memphis, Tenn., delivered a commercial-sized batch of sweet
January 01, 2013 Read Full Article
12 Bellwether Biofuels Projects for 2013
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A long war of opinion has been waged for years between advanced biofuels’ detractors and supporters. Mirage or reality? Completion of 6 key projects 2012 decided much of the debate. When these 12 projects open
January 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels Digest Announces Awards for Achievement in Development of Bio/Renewable Fuels, Chemicals, Materials
Biofuels Digest announced its annual awards for achievement in the development of biofuels, renewable chemicals and biobased materials - all available with background on the who, what and why of each award - today at biofuelsdigest.com. Best Project (thermochemical) Best Project (fermentation) Best
December 31, 2012 Read Full Article
Boosting Galactan Sugars Could Boost Biofuel Production
(EScienceNews.com) Galactan is a polymer of galactose, a six-carbon sugar that can be readily fermented by yeast into ethanol and is a target of interest for researchers in advanced biofuels produced from cellulosic biomass. Now an international collaboration led by
December 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Why Affordable Renewable Sugars are a Monster Prize
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Today, we could use a good five-cent renewable sugar, suitable for microorganisms that, from sucrose, make affordable renewable fuels and chemicals. The technologies of companies like Virent, Solazyme, LS9 and Amyris depend on access to
December 18, 2012 Read Full Article
Solazyme Crosses the Rubicon
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Next-gen renewable oils producer achieves first linear scale-up to 500,000 liter fermenters — clears path for large commercial production volumes. ...To date, no next-generation producer had successfully achieved linear scale-up in 500,000 liter (or larger) fermenters.
December 14, 2012 Read Full Article
Carbon Dioxide: Key to Boosting Revenues and Limiting Emissions from Biofuels and Allied Ventures
by Sam A. Rushing (Advanced Cryogenics, Ltd. ) ...Pure carbon dioxide sequestration projects have been evaluated by my office for large US and Brazilian ventures, primarily fed by CO2 from ethanol projects. In the future, it is entirely likely
November 29, 2012 Read Full Article
Berkeley Fermentation Process Converts Sugar Directly to Diesel
by Robert Sanders (Biodiesel Magazine/UC Berkeley) A long-abandoned fermentation process once used to turn starch into explosives can be used to produce renewable diesel fuel to replace the fossil fuels now used in transportation, University of California, Berkeley, scientists have
November 07, 2012 Read Full Article
Financing in Place, Cobalt Ready to Deploy n-butanol in Brazil
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) With the announcement of new investment from Bunge Global Innovation LLC, Cobalt Technologies’ n-butanol development is ready for deployment in Brazil. “We’re in a position now where the demonstration plant is fully funded and
November 06, 2012 Read Full Article
New Technology to Produce Ethanol from Sago
(The Star) A Japanese technology, which is still in its pilot stage, may be used on sago to produce ethanol. Kansai Chemical Engineering Company Limited of Bio-Energy Corporation presdent Dr Hideo Noda said in Japan, several projects on bio-ethanol production from
November 01, 2012 Read Full Article
ZeaChem Completes Construction of Cellulosic Ethanol Biorefinery
(ZeaChem) ZeaChem Inc., developer of highly-efficient biorefineries, today announced that it has completed construction of its 250,000 gallons per year (GPY) cellulosic ethanol biorefinery in Boardman, Oregon. The project was completed on budget and is expected to begin production of
October 30, 2012 Read Full Article
Corn Ethanol Makers Weigh Switch to Butanol
by Henry Fountain (New York Times) Nearly a decade after the adoption of federal renewable fuel standards led to a sharp increase in production of ethanol, some producers in the Corn Belt are considering making a different fuel. The fuel, butyl alcohol,
October 25, 2012 Read Full Article
BDC Members Tour American Process Inc.'s Cellulosic Ethanol Facility in Alpena, MI, Which Started Up in June 2012
(Bioenergy Deployment Consortium/MarketWire) BDC held its 2012 Fall Symposium in Alpena, MI on September 18 & 19, capping the event with a tour of the new cellulosic ethanol plant owned by American Process Inc. (API), a BDC member. API's facility is
October 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Soufflet Group Opens Facility to Research Solid State Fermentation
(Food Product Design) The Soufflet Group opened a technological research facility and laboratory dedicated to the research and applications developed by OSIRIS and the Regional Biotechnology Research Programs to increase the value derived from agricultural resources and agro-industrial byproducts through
October 15, 2012 Read Full Article
UMass-Amherst Team Solves Mystery of Cellulose Chains Breakdown
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What exactly happens in depolymerization, as hydrogen bonds break down? How could that revolutionize the process of making fuels, solvents, thinners, lacquers or paints out of biobased materials? Before one is able to arrange a global
September 19, 2012 Read Full Article
POET And Agrivida Sign Technology Collaboration Joint Development Agreement
(PR NewsWire) POET Research Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of POET LLC, one of the world's largest ethanol producers, and Agrivida, Inc., a developer of biotechnology platforms for feedstock and feedstock processing, today announce the signing of a technology collaboration joint
August 22, 2012 Read Full Article
Verenium Corporation And Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. Celebrate The Grand Opening Of A New State-of-the-art Biotechnology Facility
(Verenium) Verenium Corporation, a leading industrial biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of high-performance enzymes, and Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., the leading owner, operator, and developer of high-quality, sustainable real estate and technical infrastructure for the broad and
July 24, 2012 Read Full Article
New Biofuel Process Dramatically Improves Energy Recovery
by Danny King (AutoblogGreen) ... Michigan State University scientists have found a biofuel production method that the institution says boosts energy from the production process by a factor of 20. Gemma Reguera, a microbiologist at MSU, led an effort that uses – stay with
July 17, 2012 Read Full Article
Ceres Sweet Sorghum Hybrids Processed by Amyris
(Ceres) • Pilot project validates U.S.-produced sweet sorghum as a potential feedstock for advanced biofuels and bio-products. • Conversion efficiency of sweet sorghum sugars were similar to sugarcane. Energy crop company Ceres, Inc. (Nasdaq: CERE) today announced its improved sweet sorghum hybrids
May 04, 2012 Read Full Article
No Project Is an Island: Four Crucial Milestones for Advanced Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Four projects, four technologies, four feedstocks, four geographies. Couldn’t be more differentiated, couldn’t be more linked in terms of affirming investor confidence in advanced biofuels. ...Virent CEO Lee Edwards... outlined four basic industry goals for 2012-13 that
April 18, 2012 Read Full Article
Cobalt Technologies Completes Demostration Of Advanced Strain Fermentation Process
(Cobalt) Confirms 40-60% cost reduction compared to petroleum-derived n-butanol Cobalt Technologies, a leading developer of next generation technology for the production of n-butanol, announced the successful demonstration of one of its advanced biocatalyst. Partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National
March 09, 2012 Read Full Article
Taking Fermentation to a New Level
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Two companies develop new technologies aimed at revolutionizing fermentation Understood since man first made beer, fermentation is an age-old process that has been developed to the point where it’s nearly impossible to improve on the
February 27, 2012 Read Full Article
POET, DSM Form Landmark Cellulosic Ethanol Joint Venture
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Two titans form a monster JV, starting out with a $250M investment. ...In Iowa, Poet has teamed with Dutch-based Royal DSM to create a 50/50 joint venture called Poet-DSM Advanced Biofuels that will produce cellulosic ethanol and license
January 24, 2012 Read Full Article
New Biofuel Production Technologies: Overview of These Expanding Sectors and the Challenges Facing Them
(IFP Energies Nouvelles) The numerous research programmes looking at new-generation biofuels that were initiated over the last ten years are now starting to bear fruit. Although no plants are producing and marketing biofuels yet, the large-scale, industrial feasibility of second-generation biofuel production at
December 30, 2011 Read Full Article
Study: Meeting Green Transport Targets May Need £895m Biofuels Spend
by Will Nichols (Business Green) Government research body says next generation biofuels made from waste are a feasible low carbon option The UK could miss its renewable transport targets unless it spends £900m over the next 20 years on advanced biofuels,
November 21, 2011 Read Full Article
How Waste Management Treats Waste as Resource
by Tilde Herrera (GreenBiz.com) ...That's because for Waste Management, garbage isn't just garbage anymore. "You can begin to extrapolate some pretty interesting business models when you think of waste as a resource," said Tim Cesarek, managing director of Waste Management's Organic
October 12, 2011 Read Full Article
Advancing Next-gen Biofuels by Turning Up the Heat on Biomass Pretreatment Processes
by Marie Louise Ballon (U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute/Renewable Energy World) ...Published online October 2 in Nature Biotechnology, an international team of scientists including DOE JGI researchers compared the finished genomes of Thielavia terrestris and Muceliophthora thermophila, fungi
October 04, 2011 Read Full Article
Gevo Awarded Contract to Supply Jet Fuel to U.S. Air Force
(BusinessWire/Yahoo!Finance) Air Force Purchase is for Jet Engine Testing and Feasibility Flight Demonstration Gevo, Inc., a leading renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels company, received a $5 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the development of biojet
September 30, 2011 Read Full Article
Biorefinery Yeast Research Shows Promise
by (Western Farm Press/US Department of Agriculture) Cornstalks, wheat straw, and other rough, fibrous, harvest-time leftovers may soon be less expensive to convert into cellulosic ethanol, thanks to USDA scientists' studies of a promising new biorefinery yeast. Cornstalks, wheat straw, and other
September 22, 2011 Read Full Article
USDA Scientists Use Commercial Enzyme to Improve Grain Ethanol Production
by Ann Perry (US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service) A commercial enzyme could reduce overall costs linked with producing ethanol from grain, and also reduce associated emissions of greenhouse gases, according to a study by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
September 13, 2011 Read Full Article
Trillium Awarded SBIR Grant from National Science Foundation
(Trillium FiberFuels/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Trillium FiberFuels Inc. has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research grant to further its work in developing innovative technologies for creating fuel-grade ethanol from straw and other biomass. This latest award to Trillium from the
September 06, 2011 Read Full Article
GBL and Songyuan Laihe Chemical Company (Laihe) Enter into a Technology Collaboration Agreement
(Green Biologics) GBL and Laihe Chemical Co. a company focused on producing bio-fuels and bio-chemicals from non-food bio-mass resources have entered into a collaborative development and licensing agreement in China. Under the terms of the agreement GBL and Laihe
September 02, 2011 Read Full Article
How Elephants Could Solve the Biofuel Problem
by Cahal Milmo (IOL Scitech) When it comes to weaning the world’s motorists off their addiction to fossil fuel, few would have bet on finding part of the solution in the pungent depths of elephant droppings and a Swiss compost
August 31, 2011 Read Full Article
Discovery Turns Seaweed Into Biofuel in Half the Time
(University of Illinois/Science Daily) University of Illinois scientists have engineered a new strain of yeast that converts seaweed into biofuel in half the time it took just months ago. ..."The key is the strain's ability to ferment cellobiose and galactose simultaneously,
August 31, 2011 Read Full Article
The XTL Diet: New Paths to Feasible, Domestic Low-Carb Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Can synthetic biology capture and utilize CO2 to such an extent that it not only can make money – but can mitigate the carbon intensity of no-no feedstocks like coal, gas and oil, opening up
August 23, 2011 Read Full Article
Berkeley Lab Opens Advanced Biofuels Facility
(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) The ailing United States’ economy would receive a much needed boost with the commercial development of a domestic source of transportation fuel – especially if that fuel were to be clean, green and renewable, and could
August 22, 2011 Read Full Article
INEOS Bio JV Closes $75m in Private Financing Under USDA Loan Guarantee Program for Advanced BioEnergy Center in Florida
(INEOS Bio/PR NewsWire) Florida project is first large-scale advanced biorefinery facility in U.S. to close financing in latest round of USDA backed financing INEOS Bio announced that its joint venture project closed private financing on a $75m loan backed by a Loan Guarantee
August 19, 2011 Read Full Article
Drop In, Drop Out: NABC Tosses Two Projects off the R&D Island
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Survivor, biofuels style? NABC trims its project roster to two (or maybe three), as it nixes two projects and puts two on the “maybe” watch. Here’s what happened, why, and what’s next. In Washington, the DOE
August 16, 2011 Read Full Article
Biomass 2011: Replace the Whole Barrel, Supply the Whole Market Presentations Posted
(US Department of Energy) ...More than 600 speakers, moderators, sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees were able to listen to discussions about the ongoing challenges and achievements in the bioenergy industry. Biomass 2011 addressed key issues in important areas, such as feedstock supply, conversion pathways,
August 15, 2011 Read Full Article
Phase Shift: 12 Hot Gas-Based Biofuels Technologies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...But a new generation of technologies is coming along fast, primarily in advanced biofuels, which is gasifying biomass at the front end along its path towards making fuels, chemicals or other biomaterials – or in
August 09, 2011 Read Full Article
Malaysia: Producing Biofuel from Algae
(Algae Industry Magazine) Marilyn Tenn in the Borneo Post talks about biotechnologists and researchers from Swinburne University of Technology, in Sarawak, Malaysia pooling their expertise to meet the challenge of developing viable alternative fuels. The university has been involved in research
July 30, 2011 Read Full Article
Is China for You? The Opportunities, the Risks, the Way
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...A combination of industrial biotech know-how, an array of biomass feedstocks (particularly lignocellulose), a strong and growing domestic market, and ready access to scale-up debt for scale-up through China’s steadier project finance system – well,
July 22, 2011 Read Full Article
The Rising Tigers of the China Bioenergy Trade
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... That the freighters out of China contain low-cost manufactured goods would surprise no one. The trick of the trade, from the ship owners’ point of view, has always been to develop a profitable cargo
July 05, 2011 Read Full Article
FEW: Large Crowd Attends Cellulosic Integration Discussion
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...(I)ndustry experts discussed their views toward integrating cellulosic production at existing corn ethanol facilities. ...The panelists seemed in agreement that integrating cellulosic ethanol production with existing first-generation plants presents an ideal expansion opportunity. However their
June 30, 2011 Read Full Article
DSM Strengthens Yeast Technology Leadership for 2G Biofuels
(DSM) Royal DSM, the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, today announces that it has reached an agreement to acquire C5 Yeast Company B.V. (Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands) from Royal Cosun. The acquisition will allow DSM to combine C5
June 29, 2011 Read Full Article
Sydney, Australia Home of New Algal Biomass Facility
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Algae.Tec Limited in collaboration with Manildra Group have announced the construction of an algae demonstration facility in Shoalhaven One, in Nowra south of Sydney, Australia. Manildra Group is the country’s largest ethanol producer. Algae.Tec Executive Roger Stroud
June 29, 2011 Read Full Article
Iowa State Hybrid Lab Combines Technologies to Make Biorenewable Fuels and Products
(Iowa State University) Laura Jarboe pointed to a collection of test tubes in her Iowa State University laboratory. Some of the tubes looked like they were holding very weak coffee. That meant microorganisms - in this case, Shewanella bacteria - were
June 24, 2011 Read Full Article
Syngas Fermentation: The Third Pathway for Cellulosic Ethanol
(Advanced Biofuels USA) ...(T)here is a third, hybrid process which combines both biochemical and thermochemical elements, capturing the benefits of each pathway while mitigating some of their deficiencies. This process, called syngas fermentation, is a process where a biomass feedstock
June 08, 2011 Read Full Article
Consolidated Bioprocessing: A Revolution in Biofuels Development
by Jeremy Fordham (Green-Trust.org) ...Microorganisms are incredibly abundant and diverse, especially in their metabolic functionality. Consolidated bioprocessing takes advantage of this versatility. ...Cellulose is a crystalline molecule that is critical to a plant cell’s structure, so it is hard for microbes
June 03, 2011 Read Full Article
Logos and EdeniQ Receive Department of Energy Funding for Corn-to-Cellulosic Pilot Biorefinery
(Logos Technologies) DOE commits full $20.5 million to retrofit and build pilot plant in Visalia, CA Logos Technologies®, Inc. and EdeniQ, Inc., announced U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) approval to fully fund $20.5 million in federal cost share under DOE’s Integrated
May 06, 2011 Read Full Article
The Biofuels Technology Square Dance
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...How’s an investor to parse out all these technologies. For many, it’s a case of “you’re making what, from what, using what?” ...Here at the Digest, we think of it as a kind of old fashioned
April 18, 2011 Read Full Article
USDA Grants Support Sustainable Bioenergy Production
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced research grants awarded to spur production of bioenergy and biobased products that will lead to the development of sustainable regional systems and help create jobs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
April 13, 2011 Read Full Article
Key Players: Advanced Biofuels
by David Beattie (Renewable Energy World Magazine) ...Importantly, and what sets these latest fuels apart from their first-generation predecessors, is the fact that they are produced using feedstock that would normally be classed as waste or non-food. These include parts
April 05, 2011 Read Full Article
Builders Erect Cellulosic Ethanol Plant at Port of Morrow
by Dean Brickley (East Oregonian) Zea-Chem’s cellulosic ethanol demonstration plant is more than one-third finished. Builders erected three 40,000-gallon fermentation tanks this week and continued bolting together the steel structure for the two-story operations building. Excavation began last fall, and contractors poured
March 28, 2011 Read Full Article
Mind-Bending Microbes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) New isobutanol-producing and protein-munching microbes from UCLA remind us that biofuels remain in the anything-but-static, eye-popping era of their development. The Digest’s “mind-bending breakthrough” in-basket is overflowing this week with advances in the fermentation of protein
March 08, 2011 Read Full Article
Portable Ethanol Machine Studied as Way to Have Grand Rapids Community Fuel Depot
by Myron Kukla (Grand Rapids Press/MLive.com) Angel Gonzalez looks over a new portable ethanol machine designed for farm use and wonders if it could help families in his Belknap neighborhood make low-cost “community fuel.” “It’s just an idea at this point,
March 08, 2011 Read Full Article
The Brew Barons: Masters of Advanced Fermentation, Driving the Redefinition of Biofuels: Pt 1
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Is there enough energy, food, fiber and feed for all? Advances in industrial fermentation – a/k/a an incredulous “you’re making what? from what? using what? – will be the key to answering that question. The stars of this drama
March 01, 2011 Read Full Article
Amyris Technology Performs Successfully at Industrial Scale
(Amyris, Inc.) Amyris, Inc., announced that it has completed multiple runs of its fermentation process using Amyris engineered yeast to produce Biofene™, Amyris renewable farnesene, in 100,000 and 200,000 liter capacity fermentors. These runs were completed through contract manufacturing operations
February 24, 2011 Read Full Article
Municipal Solid Waste to Biofuels Summit: Conference Report
by Bill Brandon (Advanced Biofuels USA) On February 10 & 11, about 120 participants gathered in chilly Chicago for the first Municipal Solid Waste to Biofuels Summit presented by the British firm, Eye for Energy. The conference drew participants from
February 21, 2011 Read Full Article
INEOS Bio JV Breaks Ground on 1st Advanced Waste-to-Fuel Commercial Biorefinery in U.S.
(INEOS) $130 million facility to produce ethanol and renewable power from waste; major first step in INEOS Bio global licensing strategy * Today the Indian River BioEnergy Center officially started construction; it will be the first commercial-scale facility in the United