by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... It’s Toy Story all over again. You remember Woody’s struggle to avoid being tossed onto the shelf when Buzz Lightyear arrives. So it is with biotechnology. It takes years, and zillions of dollars, to
Financing
Back TO HOMENo Bill Gates, We Don’t Need ‘Energy Miracles’ To Solve Climate Change
by Joe Romm (Think Progress) For six years, Bill Gates has been arguing that we need “energy miracles” to avoid catastrophic climate change. For six years, he has been wrong. In fact, Gates is more wrong now than he was in
February 24, 2016 Read Full Article
Raizen Has Lowest Price as Cellulosic Ethanol Hinges on Feedstock Cost
(Lux Research/MarketWired) Of the Six Existing Commercial Cellulosic Ethanol Facilities, Raizen's Projected Price of $2.17 per Gallon Is Lowest, as Innovations Help Bring Next-Generation Biofuels to Market, Says Lux Research Six companies have now brought cellulosic ethanol facilities online, but with
February 24, 2016 Read Full Article
India’s HPCL Eyes Bihar Sugar Mills for Captive Ethanol Production
by Ajoy K Das (ICIS News) India’s Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) is keen to venture into sugar production, making it the first among the country’s oil refiner-marketer to seek captive ethanol capacity through acquisition, a company official said on Friday. The
February 24, 2016 Read Full Article
Comet Biorefining to Build Biomass Sugar Plant in Ontario
(Comet Biorefining/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Comet Biorefining Inc. has announced the location of its commercial-scale biomass-derived sugar facility in the TransAlta Energy Park in Sarnia, Ontario. The 60 million pounds per year plant will come online in 2018 producing dextrose sugar from
February 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Ethanol Falls A Few Billion Gallons Short
by Robert Rapier (Energy Trends Insider) ... From zero commercial production in 2006, (Vinod) Khosla foresaw the first 100 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol hitting the market in 2008 (see Slide 78), ramping rapidly to 2.5 billion gallons in 2011, 14.6
February 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Comet to Build 30K Ton Biomass Sugar Plant in Ontario
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, Comet Biorefining announced at ABLC 2016 the location of its commercial-scale biomass-derived sugar facility in the TransAlta Energy Park in Sarnia, Ontario. The 60 million pounds per year plant will come online in
February 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Bailout the US Shale Oil/Gas Industry or Fund Clean Sustainable Renewable Transportation? A New Way of Looking at the Options. Press Release
For Immediate Release February 12, 2016—Frederick, MD Advanced Biofuels USA correspondent Robert E. Kozak analyses the potential for a reinvigorated US shale oil/gas industry with and without government subsidies; and compares it to the potential for near-term growth of renewable sustainable clean,
February 16, 2016 Read Full Article
Oil Rout to Spark U.S. Ethanol Consolidation, Green Plains Says
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg/Chicago Tribune) The cheapest crude oil prices in 12 years could spark a wave of ethanol industry mergers in 2016, Green Plains Inc., a producer of the biofuel, said Thursday. So far this year, returns from converting a
February 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Flint Hills Resources Licenses Edeniq’s Pathway Technology
(Edeniq) Edeniq’s Pathway Technology produces cellulosic ethanol, enhances yield, and increases oil recovery -- Edeniq, Inc., a biorefining and cellulosic technology company, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Flint Hills Resources, a leading U.S. ethanol producer, to
February 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Chempolis’ Cellulosic Ethanol Technology Heads for Commercial-Scale in India
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Chempolis’ multi-year quest to build cellulosic ethanol in India finds a happy landing. -- In India, €110 million joint venture cellulosic ethanol project of Chempolis Ltd and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) is moving towards construction
February 15, 2016 Read Full Article
After the Fall: Rebuilding US Liquid Fuel Production - Invest in Our Land or the Shale Oil Fields? (Part 2 of 2)
Efforts to promote a sustainable use of natural resources are not a waste of money, but rather an investment capable of providing other economic benefits in the medium term. If we look at the larger picture, we can see that
February 12, 2016 Read Full Article
India's First Biofuel Refinery to Be Ready by 2019
by Supratim Dey (Business Standard) With Indian oil marketing companies (OMCs) witnessing a surge in the requirement of bio-fuel, as national policies mandate certain percentage of its blending with petrol and diesel, India within next three years will get its first bio-fuel
February 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Queensland Government Eyes Biofuels Fund to Help Economy
(Biofuels International) The Australia-based Queensland Government is to investigate the establishment of a biofutures industry development fund, which would look to financially assist first mover investment in the biofuels industry. According to local news website Daily Mercury, Premier Annastacia Palaszcuk made
February 10, 2016 Read Full Article
DuPont Says RFS Volumes Put Company's Cellulosic Ethanol Investments at Risk
(DTN/Progessive Farmer/KTIC Radio) DuPont filed a motion Friday to intervene in a lawsuit seeking review of the Environmental Protection Agency’s latest Renewable Fuel Standard volumes, arguing the final volume requirements put the company’s cellulosic ethanol investments at risk. ... DuPont has completed
February 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Nigeria: Investing in an Ethanol Plant for Export
by Uba Godwin (This Day/AllAfrica.com/Global Trust Consulting Group) Uba Godwin writes on how cassava and other raw materials could be processed into ethanol for export -- It is disheartened that Nigerians at this level of technological development worldwide are still
February 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Towards Advanced Biofuels – Options for Integrating 1st and 2nd Generation biofuel Production (RES-T-BIOPLANT)
(IEA-RETD/IEA Implementing Agreement for Renewable Energy Technology Deployment) The integration of advanced (2nd generation / 2G) biofuel plants with conventional (1st generation / 1G) biofuel plants can lead to significant synergies and cost savings, especially for bioethanol plants. For biodiesel,
February 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol Pioneer ADM's Struggle Reflects Deepening Industry Woes
by Chris Prentice, Michael Hirtzer and Karl Plume (Reuters) When Archer Daniels Midland opened two of the country's largest ethanol plants in Nebraska and Iowa six years ago, the biofuels market was on the cusp of a boom with prices
February 03, 2016 Read Full Article
The Latest in Gevolution
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Meanwhile, Praj and Gevo announced a monster hook-up here for converting ethanol distilleries to isobutanol. Here’s the structure: Praj would be the customer-facing entity marketing Gevo’s isobutanol technology to Praj’s existing customer base, and would provide
February 03, 2016 Read Full Article
4 Advanced Biofuel Plants for Argentina as Porta, Gevo Announce Deal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Gevo and Porta are targeting the construction of at least four isobutanol plants in Argentina; first plant to be wholly owned by Porta, with a targeted production capacity of up to five million gallons per year In
February 03, 2016 Read Full Article
4th Global Moringa Meet India Updates Moringa Biodiesel Project ROI
(Eco-Business/Centre for Jatropha Promotion & Biodiesel (CJP)) ... A time when many industries are shrinking or closing down altogether, Moringa plantation and value addition management continues to expand and grow. For one, Moringa has proven itself as a s source
January 29, 2016 Read Full Article
Ensyn Nabs Chevron Exec as New CEO
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Jeffrey Jacobs, who served as Vice President of Chevron Technology Ventures until his recent retirement from Chevron, was appointed CEO of Ensyn Corporation and elected to its Board of Directors. Jacobs was also appointed as
January 29, 2016 Read Full Article
Innovative Micro Bio-Unit Can Turn Home Rubbish into Cooking Gas
(Clean Fuels Community) Home waste could be an irritable nuisance, especially in rural areas where proper collection of waste doesn’t exist. But this trash can become a real treasure. In the iconic film Back to the Future Doc Brown is seen
January 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Failed Biodiesel Facility Casting Doubt on Longview Oil Refinery
by Marissa Luck (The Daily News Online) Environmental groups are raising more concerns about the background of people proposing a $1.25 billion oil refinery and a propane terminal at the Port of Longview. Columbia Riverkeeper recently released state and federal documents detailing
January 28, 2016 Read Full Article
ExxonMobil, REG Tie-Up to Take Cellulosic Biodiesel to Scale
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Two giants hook up to bring cellulosic biodiesel to scale. A new source of biodiesel feedstock, and a new source of renewable fuels. In Iowa, ExxonMobil and Renewable Energy Group have agreed to jointly study the
January 27, 2016 Read Full Article
The Top 25 Advanced Bioeconomy Capital Raises of the Year
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, The Digest reports that the Top 25 capital raises in the advanced bioeconomy raised 1.146 billion in new capital during 2015 for company development — and pilot, demonstration and commercial-scale projects. Notable transactions in the
January 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Power to the Poop: One Colorado City Is Using Human Waste to Run Its Vehicles
Melanie Sevcenko (The Guardian) Renewable natural gas is a growing industry for fuel, electricity and heat, but advocates says it’s a largely untapped market in the US -- No matter how you spin it, the business of raw sewage isn’t
January 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Tesoro Makes Its Move on Renewable Biocrude
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Texas, Tesoro has unveiled its plan to foster the development of biocrude made from renewable biomass, which can be co-processed in its existing refineries, along with traditional crude oil. And the company has identified three
January 22, 2016 Read Full Article
DuPont Industrial Biosciences, ADM Find “Breakthrough Process” for a “Long-Sought Molecule”
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Delaware, DuPont Industrial Biosciences and Archer Daniels Midland announced a new breakthrough process in producing FDME from fructose, with “the potential to expand the materials landscape in the 21st century with exciting and truly
January 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Joule Unlimited: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Joule is advancing a production platform for Liquid Fuel from the Sun, expected to eclipse the scale, productivity and cost efficiency of any known alternative to fossil fuel today. Its transformative Helioculture platform directly and
January 19, 2016 Read Full Article
New Dooly County Biofuel Plant to Bring 138 Jobs
by Kasandra N Ortiz (13WMAZ) People in Dooly County hope that their economy will be growing along with their trees. A company called Ensyn plans to add 138 jobs to their new biofuel plant. It will be built on a piece of property that has been
January 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Little Falls Ethanol Plant Begins Renovation
by Vicki Ikeogu (SC Times) Construction has started at a Little Falls ethanol plant to convert it to a renewable chemical manufacturing plant. U.K.-based Green Biologics Ltd. owns Central Minnesota Renewables, formerly known as Central Minnesota Ethanol Cooperative. It's in the process
January 15, 2016 Read Full Article
More Pain Seen ahead for U.S. Banks Exposed to Energy Loans
by Dan Freed (Reuters) U.S. banks exposed to energy-related loans will need to set aside even more money than previously expected to cover potential losses as oil prices near 12-year lows. Earlier on Wednesday, BOK Financial Corp became the third
January 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Shell India to Build New Demo Biofuel Plant in Bangalore
(Biofuels International) Shell India Markets, the Indian arm of Royal Dutch Shell, has announced plans to build a five tonne/day biofuel demonstration plant using IH2 technology on the site of its new technology centre in Bangalore, India. IH2 technology is a
January 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Audi Beefs up Collaboration with French Biotech to Extend Biofuels Scope
(Biofuels International) Car giant Audi is entering a renewed collaboration agreement with French renewable energy firm Global Bioenergies to promote the development of biofuels. The two companies recently announced the delivery by Global Bioenergies to Audi of a first batch of
January 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Opportunities Abroad
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Several U.S. producers, including Genuine Bio-Fuel, Hero BX and the now-defunct Promethean Biofuels, in addition to Miami-based biodiesel exporter and hopeful technology provider Lagosur, sketch out overviews of international developments. ... “Taxation, regulation, cost of production, market
January 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Avoiding Common Pitfalls: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to the USDA Section 9003 Loan Guarantee
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Department of Agriculture needs no introduction, but within USDA Rural Development is the Energy Division takes a leading role on biorefinery loan guarantees. How does the process work, what are the deadlines, how are applications scored?
January 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Pushmi-Pullyu: How Do Carbon Prices and Fuel Mandates Work Together in Breaking through a Fossil Fuel Monopoly? Or, Do They?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sometimes, the set-up of the transition from fossil fuels is as pretty and impractical as Dr. Doolittle’s Pushmi-Pullyu. The Digest investigates. -- ... For example, a renewable fuel does not qualify under the Renewable Fuel Standard
January 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Entsorga West Virginia Announces U.S.’s First Resource Recovery Facility to Utilize Mechanical Biological Treatment
(Entsorga West Virginia) Groundbreaking Held on January 6, 2016 in Martinsburg, West Virginia -- Entsorga West Virginia today announced the groundbreaking of the U.S.’s first resource recovery facility utilizing Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT). The state-of-the-art waste-to-solid fuel plant will be located
January 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Only Results Count: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Success with a Section 9003 Loan Guarantee App
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What is the Purpose of the Feasibility Study? How can I know if my project is feasible? What should I look for in choosing a feasibility study consultant? What does a successful proforma look like when oil
January 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Engineers Are from Mars, Business Developers Are from Venus
by Mark Warner (Warner Advisors LLC) ... In this case, we are substituting engineers and business developers, then focusing on the differences in how they view biotechnology commercialization and the resulting impact on their ability to successfully scale-up technology as a team.
January 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Navy to Launch Great Green Fleet with 77 Million Gallon Buy of Cost-Competitive, Non-Food Advanced Biofuels Blends
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) They’re here. $2.05 per gallon, at-scale, domestically produced advanced renewable fuels — utilizing non-food feedstocks and based on next-generation technology. The Navy’s 7-year quest to diversify its fuel supply without paying more or changing its
January 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Project Aims to Lower Cellulase Cost through Enzyme Recycling
(Autodisplay Biotech GmbH) In November, an international consortium led by Autodisplay Biotech GmbH started Pathway EFB, a €1.6 million ($1.75 million) collaborative research and development project to significantly lower cellulase cost in the production of biofuels and biobased chemicals. The
January 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Big Oil to Cut Investment again in 2016
by Karolin Schaps and Ron Bousso (Reuters) With crude prices at 11-year lows, the world's biggest oil and gas producers are facing their longest period of investment cuts in decades, but are expected to borrow more to preserve the dividends demanded
January 04, 2016 Read Full Article
What $6 Trillion Could Do for Renewable Energy or "The Cost of War"
by Mike Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) What if the nearly $6 trillion spent on wars in Afghanistan and Iraq had been spent to generate economic activity for the ethanol industry, asks Mike Bryan. -- ... Estimates are that by the
December 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Former Hopewell Ethanol Plant Operator Moves into Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
by John Reid Blackwell (Richmond Times-Dispatch) The former operator of an ethanol plant in Hopewell is now planning to pay its debts under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after several of its creditors tried to force the company to liquidate. Vireol Bio
December 28, 2015 Read Full Article
DuPont Closing Vonore Biorefinery
by Melissa Erickson (The Daily Times) By the end of the year, DuPont will close its biorefinery in Vonore, a facility that was built as a partnership with the state of Tennessee as part of a $70 million initiative to
December 28, 2015 Read Full Article
14 More Answers for your Burning Questions about Biofuels, Renewable Chemicals, the New Agriculture, and Biobased Products
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Q. How have the US elections and the regulatory situation in the US impacted development of biofuels for other countries, particularly Latin America? ... Not much impact from the 2014 US elections, so far —
December 28, 2015 Read Full Article
Successfully Financing Advanced Biobased Projects: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to the USDA Loan Guarantee Program
by John Kirkwood (Biofuels Digest/Faegre Baker Daniels) Project financing is the financing of infrastructure and industrial projects and relies primarily on the development of a project and its cash flow for repayment — but for a first commercial plant for a given technology,
December 28, 2015 Read Full Article
Bio-on: World First Facility for Producing Bioplastic from Biodiesel Co-Product Glycerol
(Globe Newswire/NASDAQ) An agreement signed today by Bio-on and S.E.C.I. S.p.A. part of Gruppo Industriale Maccaferri holding, will see Italy's and world's first facility for the production of PHAs bioplastic from biodiesel production co-products, namely glycerol. The two companies, operating in
December 23, 2015 Read Full Article
The Next Wave of Industrial Biotechnology (with Bicycles, Unicorns & Rainbows)
by Sam Nejame (Promotum/Biofuels Digest) ... At the same time investors saw the rapid expansion in infrastructure that was the ethanol biofuels rollout. At the pump consumers faced $100+ per barrel oil and nearly $4 gasoline. The DOE was dealing with national
December 23, 2015 Read Full Article
Fiberight Announces Major Investor during Trash Group’s Meeting
by Dawn Gagnon (Bangor Daily News) Members of the group representing the trash-disposal interests of nearly 200 Maine towns were briefed Wednesday on progress made toward operating their own recycling and processing facility. Perhaps the biggest news for Municipal Review Committee
December 22, 2015 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Biofuels: Where are the Gallons? A Digest Special report
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest and Iogen) ... The Bottom Line: Acquire better, cheaper biomass; Release matured market-ready technologies; Find markets where carbon premiums are available to products, not for a free benefit for society as a whole; Don't underpromise
December 22, 2015 Read Full Article
Are We There Yet? A Biofuel Refinery Update
by Tom Ewing (Renewable Energy World) As oil prices plummet, are drop-in aviation biofuel refineries ever going to be built? --- In September 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE), along with the Departments of the Navy and Agriculture, announced a
December 22, 2015 Read Full Article
Findin’ the Benjamins: Stern Brothers’ 2015 8-Slide Guide to Renewable Fuels Project Finance
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Bottom line, if you’re in the business of financing a renewable fuels project with a loan guarantee in the mix, you’re probably talking with Stern Brothers and managing director John May. They’ve been part of
December 18, 2015 Read Full Article
Kansas Ethanol: Closing of Abengoa Plant at Hugoton Shouldn't Dash Hopes for Cellulosic Ethanol
by John Montgomery (The Hutchinson News) ... Abengoa shut down the plant last month – eliminating about 50 jobs – a little more than a year after a grand opening celebration featuring high-level state and federal officials. The company also
December 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Abengoa Contagion Spreads to U.S. Biofuel Plants, Causing Layoffs and Shutdowns
by Rob Nikolewski (Kansas Watchdog.org) ... “I think we have to see how this thing plays out. In the short run, of course, it’s a devastating blow,” said Neal Gillespie, Stevens County Economic Developmentdirector. “In the long run, I think there’s a
December 07, 2015 Read Full Article
Rep. Pompeo Investigates Failing Obama-Backed Green Energy Company
(The Daily Caller News Foundation) Rep. Mike Pompeo is demanding information on Abengoa, a Spanish green energy firm on the brink of bankruptcy that could leave U.S. taxpayers on the hook for billions of dollars. The Kansas Republican is worried Abengoa’s
December 04, 2015 Read Full Article
First Commercial! Construction Underway in Minnesota for Green Biologics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In Minnesota, construction is now underway at the Green Biologics bio-based n-butanol and acetone manufacturing facility in Little Falls, MN. The existing manufacturing site, formerly known as The Central MN Ethanol Cooperative (CMEC), was
December 04, 2015 Read Full Article
Abengoa Shuts Down Hugoton, Colwich, St Louis HQ
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Kansas, Abengoa has decided to suspend production at its new cellulosic ethanol plant in Hugoton as well as its corn-based ethanol plant in Colwich as part of the recent financial troubles the company is
December 04, 2015 Read Full Article
CEFC Commits $100 Million to New Australian Bioenergy Fund to Unlock the Potential of Bioenergy
(The Clean Energy Finance Corporation) The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) is aiming to accelerate investment in Australia’s bioenergy sector through a $100 million cornerstone commitment to the new Australian Bioenergy Fund. The Australian Bioenergy Fund will support investment in a broad
December 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Innovation to Tackle Climate Change and Feed a Growing Population: Commercializing Synthetic Biology
by Vonnie Estes (Biofuels Digest) ... But as the land, water, and fossil fuel resources those systems rely on become scarcer, biology is offering new ways to engineer solutions. Synthetic biology redesigns existing organisms for specific purposes to produce safe products
December 02, 2015 Read Full Article
20-Nation Mission Innovation Coalition Launches to Spur Clean Energy R&D, Investment
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In France, President Obama and French President Hollande, along with a wide range of other top global leaders, are announcing today the launch of “Mission Innovation,” a 20-country initiative to dramatically accelerate public and private
November 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Gates, Zuckerberg, Branson, Bezos, Steyer, Khosla, Doerr, 20 Others Form Breakthrough Energy Coalition
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In France, 28 business leaders and organizations launched the Breakthrough Energy Coalition, with Coalition chairman Bill Gates stating that “The existing system of basic research, clean energy investment, regulatory frameworks, and subsidies fails to sufficiently
November 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Low Oil Price and Current Lack of Government Support Stalls British Airways' Waste to Jet Biofuel Project
(GreenAir Online) A pioneering industry partnership between British Airways and Solena Fuels to build a facility to the east of London that would convert municipal solid waste (MSW) to around 16 million gallons of sustainable jet fuel annually has ended.
November 28, 2015 Read Full Article
11 Top Low-Carbon Fuel Players, WCSBD Publish COP 21 Guide to Slashing Transport-Based Greenhouse Gas Emissions
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
November 24, 2015 Read Full Article
Commercializing Biobased Products: Opportunities, Challenges, Benefits, and Risks (RSC Green Chemistry)
by Seth W Snyder (Editor, Contributor), James H Clark (Editor), George Kraus (Series Editor), Gene Peterson (Contributor), Beth Calabotta (Contributor), Stephen Hughes (Contributor), Robert E. Kozak (Contributor) & 14 more (Royal Society of Chemistry) Biobased products offer substantial economic and
November 24, 2015 Read Full Article
Pyromaniax Update: Anellotech Raises $7M from Mystery Investor, Takes on Key Scale-Up Data Task
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Will fund 25M high unit, Operational in 2016, to confirm viability of confirm viability Bio-TCat process for scale-up In New York, Anellotech revealed that it had raised $7M of its current $10M investment round from a
November 20, 2015 Read Full Article
Financing Aviation Biofuels, Creatively: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to SkyNRG and the Fly Green Fund
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) SkyNRG is the global market leader for sustainable jet fuel, supplying more than 20 carriers across 5 continents in the world. SkyNRG’s sustainable jet fuel can offer CO2 emission reductions up to 80% compared to
November 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Hyacinths and Sawdust Used to Combat Africa’s Cooking Pollution
by Anna Hirtenstein (Bloomberg/The Washington Post) A brew made from sawdust and water hyacinth flowers may help reduce the millions of lives lost across the developing world from the fumes of ramshackle cooking equipment. Those are the ingredients being used by Green
November 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Consolidation! Dyadic Sells Industrial Technology Biz to DuPont for $75M
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As Dyadic cashes out of industrial biotech and retains a C1 license for pharma, DSM and Syngenta also announce a partnership. Companies are girding their loins for the long haul. The Digest takes a look, In
November 12, 2015 Read Full Article
Biorefinery Assistance Program Changes Now in Effect
by John Kirkwood (Faegre Baker Daniels LLP/Ethanol Producer Magazine) A few changes have been implemented in the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program, writes John Kirkwood. ... In June, an interim final rule was published in the
November 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Will Boaters Make Gevo Rock?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Despite a signature partnership with Praj, Gevo’s short-term future looks strongest at the marina, where blockbuster economics apply. ... So, a pretty good deal for both. Gevo potentially gets some new customers and Praj lands EPC work
November 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Gevo Targets Marine Market, Cuts to Isobutanol Production Cost
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Based on the clarity provided by the resolution of the lawsuits, and based on the most recent results of the isobutanol fermentation campaigns conducted at the company’s production plant in Luverne, Minn, Gevo announced its
November 09, 2015 Read Full Article
General Relativity, and the Remaking of Sweetwater Energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Minnesota Awards $26 Million to Fund Sweetwater’s Biochemical Facility --- In Minnesota, Sweetwater Energy has received commitment for $26 million in long-term loans from the state of Minnesota to construct a biochemical production facility near
November 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Green Plains, Delek US Partner to Build Ethanol Terminal
(Green Plains Partners LP) Green Plains Partners LP and Delek US Holdings, Inc. today announced plans to form a 50:50 joint venture to build an ethanol unit train terminal in Maumelle, Arkansas, on the Union Pacific rail line. The project
November 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Biofuel Groups Debate Fate of Renewable Fuel Standard
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) Agreeing to respectfully disagree was one of very few assenting points reached by association heads representing the biodiesel, ethanol and advanced biofuel groups during a candid debate about the renewable fuel standard (RFS), policy amendments
October 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Punjab to Become Bio-Refinery Leader in Next Two Years
(Punjab News Express) The Progressive Punjab Investor Summit 2015 today culmination of yearlong efforts by Bikram Singh Majithia, Renewable Energy Minister Punjab that brought largest ever bio-refinery in the wheat bowl of the country that would solve the end of
October 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Biotechnology Company Seeks $26 Million in Public Funding
by Bill Hanna (Mesabi Daily News) Mountain Iron intended home for Sweetwater Energy project -- The Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board on Friday will consider authorizing $26 million in public money for a startup biotechnology company in Rochester, N.Y.,
October 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Ethanol from Corn Stalks: A Cure for Climate Change?
by Donnelle Eller (Des Moines Register) ... "This is one of the core technologies that we need to cut oil use and reduce emissions from transportation," said Jeremy Martin, a senior scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "It would be great if we
October 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Sen. Charles Grassley: It’s No Trick: Cellulosic Ethanol a Treat for Iowa Economy
by Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) (Ames Tribune) ... Iowa’s new cellulosic facility also will help dry up the crocodile tears spilled by Big Food that tries to assign blame to corn-based ethanol for rising food prices. Don’t forget, the facility in
October 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Nevada DuPont Facility Opening on Friday
by Grayson Schmidt (Ames Tribune) ... According to Plant Operations Manager Terraun Jones, the new facility will not only impact the biofuel industry, but will also boost the local economy by bringing in 90 permanent jobs at the site, and 150
October 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Court Appeal of Onida Ethanol Plant Not Slowing Plans as Construction to Start
by Stephen Lee (Capital Journal) An attorney for a handful of Onida residents opposing the siting of a proposed new ethanol plant just outside of Onida argued in court Monday that Sully County leaders improperly gave the plant a special
October 28, 2015 Read Full Article
Merger Mania: The Digest Looks at Rampant Biofuels Consolidation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Virginia, Green Plains Inc. announced this week that it had acquired an ethanol production facility in Hopewell, Virginia, located approximately 20 miles south of Richmond, from Future Fuels LLP. It’s a sign of continuing
October 28, 2015 Read Full Article
Priming the Pump for Higher Blends
by Ray Defenbaugh (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Prime the Pump/Growth Energy) Prime the pump, an effort to grow the ethanol market to accelerate the build-out of higher blend retail infrastructure, has had tremendous success, writes Ray Defenbaugh. -- The ethanol industry is
October 27, 2015 Read Full Article
European Investment Bank May Invest in Biodiesel Plant in Croatia
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Luxembourg, the European Investment Bank is evaluating a EUR38 million investment in a EUR50 million biodiesel plant in Croatia that would produce fuel from animal fats and used cooking oil. The facility is to
October 27, 2015 Read Full Article
Green Plains Buys Ethanol Plant in Hopewell, Virginia
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Virginia, Green Plains Inc. announced that it has acquired an ethanol production facility in Hopewell, Virginia, located approximately 20 miles south of Richmond, from Future Fuels LLP. Operating at full capacity, the facility’s dry
October 27, 2015 Read Full Article
Guest Post: The Petrobras Corruption Scandal and Brazil’s Ethanol Sector
by Luis Ferreira Alvarez (Council on Foreign Relations) As Brazil’s Petrobras corruption investigation continues to roil its economy and politics, the ethanol sector is emerging as a clear beneficiary. New government policies are boosting ethanol sales, chipping away at gasoline’s
October 26, 2015 Read Full Article
Algenol CEO Exits; Staff Cut by 25%, Investors Re-Up for Two Years, New Direction Tipped
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sudden re-focusing and trimming of Algenol by its lead investors leads CEO Paul Woods to resign; new direction focused on carbon capture, fresh water production until oil prices recover. In Florida, the hammer dropped swiftly and without warning
October 26, 2015 Read Full Article
Hawaiian Electric Pilot Algae Fuel Supply Deal Falls through - Report
by Plamena Tisheva (See News) A pilot contract for the supply of algae-derived biofuel to Hawaiian Electric Co by Ohio-based Phycal Inc has been terminated after the algae project was never finished, a spokesman for the utility told Pacific Business News
October 21, 2015 Read Full Article
British Firm Partners Government to Set up $150mln Ethanol Plant
(The Source/New Zimbabwe) ... Sunbird Bioenergy has partnered government to set up a $150 million ethanol operation in Zimbabwe next year, an official has said. The deal will see the establishment of an ethanol plant with capacity to produce up to
October 20, 2015 Read Full Article
The Airlines: Who’s Doing What in Aviation Biofuels?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Who’s a Major Player, who’s a Pioneer, who’s committed, who’s monitoring the space as a stakeholder? We look at 45 airlines and their efforts in bringing low-carbon fuels to the marketplace. ... The activity includes participation in
October 20, 2015 Read Full Article
Biofuels Production Plan already in Action
by Boyd Webb (IOL News) Once home to millions of displaced black South Africans, former homelands are expected to become the heart of the country's biofuels production. Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Lulama Xingwana said on Tuesday the presidential commercial
October 19, 2015 Read Full Article
State of the Advanced Bioeconomy: 23 Experts Weigh in, Recorded Links Now Available
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, The Digest released links to recordings of three webinars last week presenting 21 C-Level industry executives commenting on the State of the Advanced Bioeconomy, representing advanced feedstocks, processing technologies, drone tech, downstream molecule
October 19, 2015 Read Full Article
China to Revive Corn-Based Ethanol Amid Record High Stocks
by Niu Shuping and Chen Aizhu (Reuters) China, the world's second-largest corn consumer, is set to resume building new corn-based ethanol plants after a nearly decade-long ban, in a move that could help absorb the country's record stocks, industry sources
October 19, 2015 Read Full Article
To Be, or Not to Be…Butanol and The Case of a Global Sustainable Society
by KSL (Biofuels Digest/Emerging Technologies Division of Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc.) ... Globally it has been recognized that there is an urgent need to create paradigm shifting disruptive technology that would help sustain individual economies – with the goal to
October 15, 2015 Read Full Article
GranBio, Solvay JV Acquires Cobalt Technologies’ Assets
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We can now affirmatively report that SGBio, a joint venture between the Solvay Group and GranBio, has acquired assets from Cobalt including the bank of microorganisms and intellectual property related to patents, trademarks, processes, operating
October 15, 2015 Read Full Article
Citigroup, Citing Climate Change, Will Reduce Coal Financing
by Alex Nussbaum (Bloomberg) Pushing transition from `high-carbon to a low-carbon economy'; Becomes third bank this year to reduce coal-mining financing -- Citigroup Inc., the third-biggest U.S. bank, said it will cut back on financing for coal mining projects, in the latest
October 14, 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
Clariant Sees Biofuels Boost from VW Diesel Affair: Paper
by Michael Shields (Reuters) Swiss specialty chemicals group Clariant expects biofuels to get a boost from the scandal surrounding Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) manipulation of diesel motor emissions tests, Chief Executive Hariolf Kottmann told a German newspaper. Clariant is spending 30 million euros
October 13, 2015 Read Full Article
Firefighters Train with Duonix Biodiesel
by Jory Schweers (Beatrice Daily Sun) Beatrice Fire Department has been working with the Duonix Biodiesel plant west of town to ensure that all safety measures are being met before the plant goes into production later this year. On Wednesday morning
October 07, 2015 Read Full Article
Displacing Petroleum and Fossil Fuels with Sustainable Bio-Based Feedstock: Time to Get Smarter
by Michele Rubino (Biofuels Digest) Displacing the use of petroleum and other fossil fuels embedded in everyday products with bio-based, renewable resources is – and has been for a long time – a necessity for human societies. It is also the
October 05, 2015 Read Full Article
The Business of Algae and the Dream of Algae
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sapphire’s Jamie Levine, Matrix Genetics’ Margaret McCormick, Algal Scientific’s Geoff Horst, Heliae’s Len Smith and USCD’s Steve Mayfield reflect on the commercial progress of algae. There is the dream of algae. All that photosynthetic productivity,
October 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Understanding Advanced Biotechnology Commercialization, Parts 1, 2 and 3
by Mark Warner (Warner Advisors LLC/Biofuels Digest) ... In an effort to better educate the advanced biotech community on the reality of commercialization, I have developed a video series that is a “deep dive” into the entire commercialization process, from concept
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
$1M USDA Grant Awarded to The Climate Trust to Build Conservation Investment Fund
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Climate Trust received a $1 million Conservation Innovation Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to launch their inaugural investment fund; structured to provide carbon finance to biogas, forestry and
September 28, 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
China! Boeing, Algenol, Inventure Deals Propel Industrial Biotech Momentum
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... As President Xi visits North America, China signs 3 major deals in industrial biotechnology. The East is Red, it’s been said, and the future looks that way too. The US is no place to deploy
September 28, 2015 Read Full Article
ADB, Japan Companies Plan Asia Green-Energy Fund
(Nikkei Asian Review) The Asian Development Bank will team with Japanese companies to establish a roughly $750 million fund investing in Asia's alternative energy industry. ... Asia Climate Partners will use ADB's connections and information network to find promising investments. It will
September 22, 2015 Read Full Article
Association Partners EAIF to Establish Ethanol, Power Plant
(News Agency of Nigeria) The Nigerian Cassava Growers Association of Nigeria (NCGA) on Wednesday said it would partner with the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) to establish an ethanol plant. The National President of the Association, Mr Segun Adewumi, disclosed
September 22, 2015 Read Full Article
Poll: 7 in 10 Iowans Want to Benefit from E15 Ethanol Savings
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Iowa, consumers showed their enthusiasm toward E15 in a recent poll conducted by the Tarrance Group, where respondents overwhelmingly supported the use of E15. When participants were asked if they would consider using E15
September 21, 2015 Read Full Article
Regenis Application Wins Dairy Digester Grant in CA
(Merlo Farming Group) California Department of Food and Agriculture announced the AgPower Visalia, LLC project in Tulare Co. has been awarded a three million dollar dairy digester research and development grant yesterday. The project, developed by Camco Clean Energy, will be
September 15, 2015 Read Full Article
ZeaChem and Pure Cultures Announce Product Development and Supply Memorandum Of Understanding
(Zea Chem/PR Newswire) Collaboration Will Accelerate Commercialization of Agricultural Animal Feed Probiotics -- ZeaChem Inc., a biorefinery developer, today announced a Product Development and Supply Memorandum of Understanding with Pure Cultures, a producer of high-quality probiotic products. The agreement will accelerate the
September 15, 2015 Read Full Article
The African Development Bank and Partners Host Energy Week in Abidjan
(African Development Bank Group) The African Development Bank (AfDB) is hosting and co-organizing Energy Week, a series of events, including high-level discussions and partnerships focusing on lighting up and powering Africa, and unlocking the continent’s huge energy potential. Energy Week
September 15, 2015 Read Full Article
Valero Resumes Prowl for Acquisitions
(Argus Media) Valero is considering acquisitions and partnerships that include refineries, chief executive Joe Gorder said today, months after tamping down interest in entering a frothy corporate merger environment. The company has an internal list of midstream, biofuels and even refining
September 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Zimbabwe: 'Ethanol Monopoly Unhealthy for Industry'
(New Ziana/All Africa) The absence of competition in the production of ethanol has created an unhealthy monopoly that has prevented costs of fuel from dropping after blending, a senior Government official has said. Energy and Power Development permanent secretary Pattison
September 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Methanol’s Moment: With Low Prices, and Proven Process, Is Meth Your New Best Friend?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Methanol is gaining momentum as a low-carbon fuels target, as Enerkem starts producing in Edmonton. Why methanol, why now? Here, we look at the technology and market rationale for this rising trend. As we reported earlier
September 11, 2015 Read Full Article
The New Tobacco Road: A Path beyond Smoking for America’s Traditional Cash Crop
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Tobacco’s been re-thought, re-engineered and re-invented as a platform for sustainable, low-carbon fuels, and green chemicals – who’s doing what, where and how? ... If tobacco’s reputation has fallen into disrepute on soil sustainability and smoking
September 10, 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
One Darn-Hot Renewable Chemicals Play: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Verdezyne
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Verdezyne is a privately held industrial biotechnology company that is developing and commercializing novel genetically engineered microorganisms for use as “factories” to manufacture renewable chemicals. Verdezyne’s unique microorganisms permit greener, cleaner and more cost effective
September 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Blume Distillation and Biogy Renewables Partner to Create Replacement Fuels
(Renewable Energy World) New Business Partnership Forged at AREDAY Summit -- Two businesses participating in the American Renewable Energy Day (AREDAY) Summit in Aspen/Snowmass from August 8-13 created a partnership to combine their technologies with the hope of eventually replacing the
September 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Enerkem Raises C$152.6 Million in Financings; Initiates Biomethanol Production
(Enerkem, Inc.) Enerkem Inc. (www.enerkem.com), a waste-to-biofuels and chemicals producer, announced today it has raised C$152.6 million and has initiated the production of biomethanol from non-recyclable household garbage at the Enerkem Alberta Biofuels full-scale facility in Edmonton, Canada. "I must say a
September 09, 2015 Read Full Article
The Above Ground Oil Field: or, Why $65 and $94 Oil Are Inflection Points for Renewable Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Unlimited oil production, no exploration risk, positive on environment, cheaper than unconventional US crude — what’s not to like about certain biofuels? This year, Joule Unlimited noted that a “10,000 acre plant represents a reserve value
September 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Is HVO the Holy Grail of the World Biodiesel Market?
(Greenea) Overcapacity, shortage of sustainable feedstock, blending wall… they all contribute to the increasingly challenging situation on the biodiesel market in Europe. At the same time, new HVO investments start to pop up like mushrooms after a rain. But can
September 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Calysta and Its Happy Meal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s not just fish meal, it’s happy meal — for investors, we hear. As Calysta pivots towards methane-to-protein and supersizes its business plan, we visit with CEO Alan Shaw to find out who’s lovin’ it.
September 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Project Solaris in South Africa Earns RSB Certification
(Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials) – Project Solaris in South Africa, has earned the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) certification for the production of the energy rich tobacco crop “Solaris” in the Limpopo region of South Africa. Solaris is a nicotine-free
September 02, 2015 Read Full Article
How The World's Largest Steel Manufacturer Is Trying To Go Green
by Esha Chhabra (Forbes) ... Producing steel is a dirty business, yielding in massive quantities of carbon dioxide and monoxide. In fact, over 50 percent of the carbon used in manufacturing steel turns into carbon monoxide. Perhaps that’s why ArcelorMittal, which manufactures
September 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Scorching Summer Drives California Innovation and Biofuels
by Graham Noyes (Low Carbon Fuels Coalition/Biofuels Digest) California’s politicians and people are responding to the state’s increasingly dire symptoms of climate change with innovation, resolve, and biofuel policies. California’s determination to recapture its milder and less fire-prone environment is best
September 01, 2015 Read Full Article
Is the Third Time the Charm?
by Michael McAdams (Advanced Biofuels Association/Biomass Magazine) ... As many of you know, the RFS was created to “reduce dependence on foreign sources of petroleum, increase domestic sources of energy, and help transition to alternatives to petroleum in the transportation sector”
August 28, 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
Crude Oil Pressures Ethanol / DTN Hypothetical Ethanol Plant Margins Narrow
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) It has become the question of the day for U.S. ethanol producers: What happens to the industry if crude oil prices continue to tumble? ... Donna Funk, certified public accountant with K-Coe Isom in Lenexa,
August 26, 2015 Read Full Article
Financing Fell Through - Stora Enso and Neste Oil's Biodiesel Project on Ice
(Talloussanomat (Google Translation)) The European Commission dropped today, Neste Oil's and Stora Enso's biodiesel project support financial listings basin. Financing following the failure of companies are putting up investment in billion-euro project to require ice, Stora Enso told Taloussanomat. Investment
August 25, 2015 Read Full Article
E15, E85 at Retail Gas Stations Highlighted at ACE Conference
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The argument that consumers don’t want E15 because they aren’t asking for it doesn’t ring true with Ron Lamberty, senior vice president for the American Coalition for Ethanol. At the ACE conference, held Aug.
August 24, 2015 Read Full Article
Butamax, Gevo Settle, Will Work Together on Market Development
(Gevo/Butamax/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Gevo Inc. and Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC, a joint venture between BP and DuPont, announced that they have entered into worldwide patent cross-license and settlement agreements, ending a patent dispute related to technologies for the production of
August 24, 2015 Read Full Article
These 3 Companies Are Buying Up Biofuels
(Motley Fool) Go green to make green? -- Biofuels are no longer limited to hippies and high school science projects. They're clean, cost-effective, and increasingly important in our energy economy. Here's how United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS), FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX), and United
August 24, 2015 Read Full Article
Glucan Biorenewables: The Digest’s 2015 5-Minute Guide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Glucan Biorenewables is producing furan derivatives from biomass. The furfural platform will be used to launch other value-added co-products: 5-hydroxyl-methyl furfural (HMF) and downstream derivatives The company’s TriVersa Process meets the need for a renewable, environmentally
August 24, 2015 Read Full Article
Cracking The Code to Biofuels Investments
by Doug Williams (Biofuels Digest) ... While there are still a lot of folks working on the biofuels challenge, the investors seemed to have scattered. But they’re critical for this industry to continue into the future. So what have we learned? Fuels probably
August 24, 2015 Read Full Article
IFAD Funding for Karnataka's Bio-Fuel Development Programme
by Jaideep Shenoy (Times of India) Karnataka's much touted bio-fuel development programme is set for a $50 million funding from International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD). Being given in the form of a soft loan with 1% interest and carrying a
August 21, 2015 Read Full Article
That Blend Wall Buster, Renewable Natural Gas: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) If the outlook on cellulosic biofuels is relatively bullish in 2015 compared to 2014 — Last year, there were 33.0 million RINs generated for cellulosic biofuels; this year 36.9 million RINs and we’re only in
August 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Alpena Biorefinery Takes a Sabbatical, as American Process Shifts Testing/Demo Ops to Georgia
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Georgia, American Process has completed replication of its GreenPower+ cellulosic technology at its Thomaston, GA Biorefinery, and has shifted customer feedstock performance evaluation operations to Georgia. With the shift, the company announced that, pending improvements
August 17, 2015 Read Full Article
The US Energy Department Loan Programs Office: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide
(Biofuels Digest) Slide 1: The Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) issues loans and loan guarantees to finance deployment of innovative energy projects and advanced technology vehicle manufacturing facilities in the United States. Commercial banks and bondholders are often unwilling to finance
August 13, 2015 Read Full Article
FedEx, Southwest Airlines Combine to Buy Entire Jet Fuel Output of Red Rock Biorefinery, through 2024
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) FedEx joins Southwest Airlines to buy out Red Rock’s entire 8-year jet fuel inventory — key milestone for project construction. In Colorado, Red Rock Biofuels will produce approximately three million gallons of low-carbon, renewable jet fuel
August 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Cheaper Oil Forces South Africa to Rework Biofuels Subsidy
by Wendell Roelf (Reuters Africa) South Africa's biofuels funding incentive is being revamped over concerns that it is unaffordable after a halving of global crude oil prices over the past year, officials said on Tuesday. A net importer of crude, Africa’s
August 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Fly Green Fund Launched to Help Kick-Start Sustainable Jet Fuel Market in Nordic Region
(GreenAir Online) In efforts to kick-start a local sustainable jet fuel market, aviation and biofuel interests in the Nordic countries have launched the Fly Green Fund, which will enable organisations and individuals when taking flights to financially contribute towards the
August 10, 2015 Read Full Article
As Biobased Diesel Surges, REG Buys Imperium Renewables for $32M and a Back-End Deal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biggest US biodiesel, renewable diesel producer buys the biggest US facility in asset deal. In Iowa, REG will acquire substantially all the assets of Imperium Renewables, including a 100-million gallon nameplate capacity biomass-based diesel refinery and deepwater
August 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Bank of America Pledges $125 Billion for Biofuels and Environmental Business
(Biofuels International) ... BoA has provided more than $39 billion in financing for low-carbon activities since 2007, including $12 billion in 2014 alone, of which 40% was given to renewable energies – advanced biofuels, solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, or mixed portfolios
July 31, 2015 Read Full Article
Greenbelt Resources Looks at Commercial-Scale Success
by Joanna Schroeder (Biofuels Journal) Greenbelt Resources Corp. has developed a feedstock testing program so potential cellulosic ethanol producers can see if their enterprise will succeed at commercial scale by processing a certain feedstock. Darren Eng, chief executive officer of Greenbelt
July 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Prioritizing the Bioeconomy: Observations on USDA's 9003 Loan Guarantee Program
by Osaretin Omorodion* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Biobased products are a new innovation that are gradually contributing more to the U.S. economy in the forms of alternative fuels, packaging, plastic substitutes and more. An Economic Impact Analysis report was recently submitted
July 29, 2015 Read Full Article
Bank of America Announces Industry-Leading $125 Billion Environmental Business Initiative
(Bank of America/MarketWatch) Bank of America Recognized for Its Support of the Environment at the White House’s American Business Act on ClimatePledgeEvent -- Bank of America has pledged to increase the company’s current environmental business initiative from $50 billion to $125
July 28, 2015 Read Full Article
SkyNRG and Partners Take the Development of Sustainable Jet Fuel in Sweden to the Next Level
(SkyNRG) Things are coming together for sustainable jet fuel in Sweden; co-funding mechanisms, political buy-in, development of regional supply chains, engagement of key stakeholders in the aviation sector and even involvement of single end-users. First of all the Fly Green Fund