by Sybille de La Hamaide (Reuters) Gasoline containing up to 10 percent of ethanol has become the top-selling petrol in France, its largest market in the European Union, helped by a tax break that made the crop-based fuel more attractive to drivers,
Germany
Back TO HOMEClariant to Build Flagship Cellulosic Ethanol Plant in Romania: 8-Figure Sales Potential Envisioned
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Germany, Clariant’s board has approved investment in a new full-scale commercial plant for the production of cellulosic ethanol from agricultural residues using its sunliquid technology. The new plant, with an annual production capacity of 50.000
November 01, 2017 Read Full Article
Sugar Beet Pulp Project Enters Second Stage after Successful Pilot Tests
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Germany, the PULP2VALUE project is entering its second stage after successful pilot tests and creating new value chains from sugar beet pulp. The project aims to achieve two main objectives by the end of the project,
October 30, 2017 Read Full Article
The Brazilian Conference on Science and Technology BioEnergy and the Progress in the BioEconomy in Brazil
by Laís F. Thomaz* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Held in Campos do Jordão on 16-19 October 2017, the Third Edition of the Brazilian BioEnergy Science and Technology Conference (BBEST) highlighted the theme "Designing a Sustainable Bioeconomy". [caption id="attachment_89735" align="alignleft" width="300"] BBEST--Brazilian BioEnergy
October 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Unprecedented Insight into ‘Miraculous’ Biochar
(Bioenergy Insight) ... Led by the University of Tuebingen in Germany, and involving researchers from the US Colorado State University, the new research published in the journal Nature Communications has provided a mechanistic understanding of biochar’s properties. The research revealed how
October 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Vegetable Oil as Fuel in Agriculture
(OWI (Google Translation)) Retrofitting of tractors for multi-fuel use -- In agriculture, widening the use of vegetable oil as fuel in tractors could contribute to greater sustainability and climate protection within the framework of a resource-conserving bioeconomy. However, the compatibility of fuel-carrying components
October 17, 2017 Read Full Article
These Countries Want to Ban Gas and Diesel Cars
by Alanna Petroff (CNN) China, the world's largest car market, is working on a plan to ban the production and sale of vehicles powered only by fossil fuels. It has plenty of company: India, France, Britain and Norway want to ditch gas and diesel cars in favor
October 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Stuttgart Airport Turns to Renewable Fuels
(Biofuels International) Stuttgart Airport has started using Finnish company Neste’s renewable diesel in a bid to reduce its CO2emissions. The move to Neste’s MY Renewable Diesel comes as part of the climate program of Baden-Württemberg's state airport in Germany. All the
September 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Growing Diesel-Side Demand: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Renewable Energy Group
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGI) is the biggest US-based producer of biomass-based diesel, and leading provider of cleaner, lower carbon intensity products and services. REG utilizes an integrated procurement, distribution, and logistics network to
September 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Expert Gives Conditions Necessary for Biogas Production
(The News) Mr Micheal Kottner, an expert in biogas, says sustainable biogas production is possible if the Federal Government can have the political will to put the legal framework in place. Kottner, who is the Chief Executive Officer, International Biogas and
September 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Registration Opens for 2017 No-Harm Test of Biodiesel Stabilizers
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Germany’s biodiesel quality management association AGQM has opened registration for its latest round of no-harm tests on oxidation stabilizers for biodiesel. The European diesel fuel standard EN 590 allows up to 7 percent biodiesel to
September 21, 2017 Read Full Article
More Efficient Use of Raw Materials with the Aid of 'Molecular Conveyor Belts'
(Phys. Org/Goethe University) Currently, making products such as fuels, synthetic materials or pharmaceuticals from renewable raw materials lacks efficiency because the microorganisms process the raw materials very slowly and generate many unwanted by-products. Biotechnologists at Goethe University Frankfurt have now
September 19, 2017 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels Plant to Be Built in Slovakia
(Biofuels International) Clariant, a developer of specialty chemicals, and Enviral, Slovakia’s largest bioethanol producer, have announced a license agreement on sunliquid cellulosic ethanol technology. The move will see one of Europe’s first advanced biofuel plants built at the Enviral site
September 18, 2017 Read Full Article
Integrated Bioenergy Hybrids: Flexible Renewable Energy Solutions
by Michael Eggleston* (Advanced Biofuels USA) On September 14, IEA Bioenergy presented a free international webinar entitled, “Integrated Bioenergy Hybrids - Flexible Renewable Energy Solutions” presented by Elina Hakkarainen. Designed to optimize the potential of a variety of different energy sources, an
September 15, 2017 Read Full Article
Psst! The Latest Bioeconomy Flashes from Bayer, Gingko, BioAmber, Joule, TerraVia, Corbion, Phytelligence, DNA Script
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) While we’ve been busy fleeing Hurricane Irma, it’s been a busy week for the techies running the Digest’s Very Large Gossip Array — the airwaves have been crackling as some familiar faces re-surface. Let’s review. Bayer,
September 15, 2017 Read Full Article
Ethiopia: New Ethanol Production Plant to Be Constructed
(2Mercado.com/Fana Broadcasting Corporation) Ethiopia has joined hands with Eugen Schmitt Company, a German company, to construct ethanol plant in Wonjo Shoa Sugar Factory. The plant is said to be constructed at an outlay of 51 million USD. The German company will
August 30, 2017 Read Full Article
IRENA Technology Brief: Biogas for Road Vehicles
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe/IEA Bioenergy Task 37 Newsletter) This brief highlights the technologies available – both established and newly emerging – for biomethane production and biogas-driven vehicle fleets. It evaluates costs, performance and sustainability and outlines the best practices from around the
August 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Linde Again Awarded with the Supply of a Syngas & Hydrogen Solution (Hydroprime®) for the Renewable Fuel Industry
(Linde) Technology company The Linde Group has been awarded with the engineering and supply of a modular hydrogen manufacturing unit for St1 Refinery in Gothenburg, Sweden. Linde’s Engineering Division will start the engineering and construction of the unit immediately, with
August 18, 2017 Read Full Article
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
In a 25 x '25 blog post, Reg Modlin, former director of regulatory affairs at FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and senior advisor to the Ag-Auto-Ethanol Work Group, noted, "Until then (2050), and for decades after, liquid fuel will be used
August 17, 2017 Read Full Article
Combustion Engines Are Not Going Anywhere for Quite a While
by Reg Modlin (25 x '25 Resource) ... Flags have gone up in recent days as a result of articles proclaiming the coming of the electric car and the resulting disruption in the automobile industry. Relax. There is nothing new
August 17, 2017 Read Full Article
Value-Added Investments Grow Agriculture
by Gov. Pete Ricketts (York News Times) Investments in the area of value-added agriculture are helping to grow our state’s number one industry. Many people think of traditional row crops when they think of agriculture, however, modern-day technology and innovations are
August 15, 2017 Read Full Article
Scientists Closer to Refining Biodiesel for a Standard Diesel Engine
(Biofuels International) Scientists in Germany have found a way to refine biodiesel so that it works in standard diesel car engines, according to an article appearing on Live Science. Differences in molecular structure mean that biodiesel made from plant material burns at
August 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Pan-African Food and Non-Food Biomass Expert Network Unveiled
by Liz Gyekye (Bioenergy Insight) The “first” pan-African expert network on food and non-food biomass has been launched by African and German researchers. BiomassNet aims to ensure that food security and environmental sustainability are not compromised in the development of new
August 08, 2017 Read Full Article
German Minister: Too Soon to Bury the Combustion Engine
(Associated Press/The Washington Post) Germany’s transport minister said Thursday (July 27, 2017) that it’s too soon to talk about burying the combustion engine, underlining his government’s reluctance to follow Britain and others in banning the sale of new cars and
August 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Climate-Neutral Driving: Continental Successfully Tests the Synthetic Diesel Fuel OME
(Foundry Planet/Continental) CO2 emissions reduced in proportion to the OME share: in the Continental diesel car, a 15 % OME share reduces CO2 emissions by approximately eight grams per kilometer; Entire technology chain being optimized, from the injection system,
August 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Cassava Bioethanol Report by Material, Application, and Geography – Global Forecast to 2021
(Absolute Reports) Cassava Bioethanol Report by Material, Application, and Geography – Global Forecast to 2021 is a professional and in-depth research report on the world's major regional market conditions, focusing on the main regions (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific) and
July 28, 2017 Read Full Article
EU Renewable Energy Policy Undermined by Lack of Transparency and Unsubstantiated Assumptions
(Impact Assessment Institute) The Impact Assessment Institute (IAI) has scrutinised in detail the Impact Assessments accompanying the European Commission legislative proposal for a directive on the use of energy from renewable sources. The lack of availability for scrutiny of the
July 21, 2017 Read Full Article
Bio-Fuel from Waste: Zeolite Catalysts Pave the Road to Decentral Chemical Processes
(Technical University of Munich) Fuel from waste? It is possible. But hitherto, converting organic waste to fuel has not been economically viable. Excessively high temperatures and too much energy are required. Using a novel catalyst concept, researchers at the Technical
July 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Green Synthesized Biofuel Meets Auto Standards
by Stu Borman (Chemical & Engineering News) Low-energy and waste-free reaction produces biofuel that meets regulatory vaporization standards -- Researchers in Germany have developed chemical reactions that convert rapeseed oil and ethylene to a diesel fuel that could power conventional
June 29, 2017 Read Full Article
Outfoxing Dehydration
by Tim Portz (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Following a successful installation at Pine Lake Corn Processors in Iowa, Whitefox Technologies is poised to eliminate molecular sieve regeneration cycles from ethanol plants forever. -- Every day in the ethanol industry, millions of
June 27, 2017 Read Full Article
In Search of Lowest Cost Hydrocarbons: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-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,
June 27, 2017 Read Full Article
DLR and Lufthansa Technik Produce Study on Aviation Biofuels
(Biofuels International) Biofuels have the potential to improve the carbon footprint of the aviation industry and make the sector more environmentally friendly, according to a new study from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Lufthansa Technik. The DLR and Lufthansa investigated
June 15, 2017 Read Full Article
Helsinki Airport Goes Solar
by Carl Johannes Muth (PV Magazine) ... The European airport companies have committed to reach 100 carbon-neutral airports in Europe by 2030. Finavia, which is a key party to this commitment, aims at reducing its carbon footprint on all of the
June 15, 2017 Read Full Article
DLR and Lufthansa Technik Investigate Biofuels in New Study
(DLR) In a large-scale test, DLR combustion researchers investigated the use of biofuels as well as blends of biofuels and kerosene in a real engine. Biofuels have the potential to improve the carbon footprint and to make air transport more
June 12, 2017 Read Full Article
European UCOME 2017 Demand Lower, Biodiesel GHG Savings Increase
by George Griffiths (Platts) Demand for UCOME -- used cooking oil methyl ester -- this year has been lower than in recent years, largely due to increased greenhouse gas savings from first-generation biofuels across Europe, sources said. Demand for UCOME has also
June 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Airbus Demonstrates Regular Customer Delivery Flights with Sustainable Jet Fuel
(Airbus) 15 A350 XWB deliveries already dispatched to Cathay Pacific all with jet fuel blend -- Showing its strong commitment towards eco-efficiency, Airbus becomes the first aircraft manufacturer to offer its customers the option of delivering new jets using a
June 02, 2017 Read Full Article
Clariant Cellulosic Ethanol Donation Lets 1,000 Malagasy Families Cook Safer and Cleaner
(Project Gaia) Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals and one of the leading providers globally of cellulosic ethanol production technology, and Project Gaia, a non-profit promoting the use of alcohol fuels (ethanol and methanol) for household energy, announced the
May 31, 2017 Read Full Article
NexSteppe Launches Metano Alto to Catalyze New Growth in Biogas Markets
(NexSteppe Inc.) NexSteppe Inc., a company dedicated to pioneering the next generation of sustainable feedstock solutions for biobased industries, announced today the world wide launch of a new product line: Metano Alto. Metano Alto Industrial Sorghums are bred to deliver
May 23, 2017 Read Full Article
“Rapeseed the Power Plant”, Says UFOP
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Germany, UFOP said EU power plants should consider using more rapeseed oil as an energy source. “The rapeseed plants are real power plants,” the organization said, “From just two to three kilogrammes of seed sown
May 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Turning Sewage Sludge into Fuels and Hydrogen
(Recycling Magazine) TO-SYN-FUEL is a project funded by Horizon 2020 EU’s new research and innovation programme, with the aim to build-up, operate and demonstrate the production of Synthetic Fuels and Green Hydrogen from waste biomass. ... Twelve SME, industrial, and scientific partners,
May 17, 2017 Read Full Article
Global Bioenergies, Clariant and INEOS Receive Major EU Funding to Demonstrate the Production of Isobutene Derivatives from Straw
(Global Bioenergies) European financing package amounting to €9.8 million, of which €4.4 million for Global Bioenergies; Industry consortium led by Global Bioenergies and bringing together Clariant, INEOS, IPSB, TechnipFMC and Linz University; Aim: converting agricultural residues (wheat straw) into isobutene derivatives
May 09, 2017 Read Full Article
Orchard Waste Could Be a Fruitful Source of Biofuel
(IneffableIsland.com) Waste prunings from orchards, vineyards and olive groves could be a valuable source of biomass energy and help boost rural economies, say EU-funded researchers. The key ingredient is a sustainable supply chain. As the EU seeks alternatives to fossil fuels,
May 03, 2017 Read Full Article
Improving Policies in Support of Shared Pilot Facilities to Increase Their Impact on the Key Enabling Technology Industrial Biotech and the European Bio-Economy
(Smart Pilots/Interreg Europe) SmartPilots' objective is to improve regional policies in support of Shared Pilot Facilities (SPF) to increase their impact on the Key Enabling technology (KET) Industrial Biotech and the bio-economy. The bio-economy adresses societal challenges such as climate change, sustainable
May 03, 2017 Read Full Article
CHASSY – New EU Yeast Biotech Project
(CHASSY) ... Yeast is already the powerhouse behind many food flavourings, the anti-aging compound Resveratrol, the malaria drug Artemisinin, the grapefruit extract Nootkatone, insulin, bioethanol, bioplastics, and there is potential for many more industrial applications. To better exploit the potential of yeast
May 03, 2017 Read Full Article
Electromobility - Further Development of Fuels for Use in Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles
(UFOP (Google Translation)) The cars of the future are also supposed to drive electrically. Today, the share of hybrid vehicles with an electric and an internal combustion engine (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, PHEV) is increasing. This has an effect on
April 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Global Bioenergies' First Success in Scaling up the Isobutene Process in the Leuna Demo Plant
(Global Bioenergies) Global Bioenergies today announces that it has succeeded in producing Isobutene by fermentation at the scale of the Leuna Demo plant (a 5,000 litre fermenter), with run length and performances exceeding those performed on the pilot plant in
April 24, 2017 Read Full Article
The EU’s Sweet 16: 16 of the Most Fascinating Projects under Development and in Deployment in Europe
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Europe is often thought of as a dead-end for biofuels, owing to a thorny debate over fuel mandates, and agricultural protection. But it’s a reputation entirely undeserved; some of the most fascinating projects are there. In
April 11, 2017 Read Full Article
The Imports Cometh
by Ron Kotrba (Biomass Magazine) U.S. imports of biomass-based diesel hit extreme heights in 2016, fulfilling a third of the consumption market, driving the domestic biodiesel industry to more actively seek counteracting measures to protect its own investments. --
April 05, 2017 Read Full Article
Validated, Integrated: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-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
April 03, 2017 Read Full Article
Aachen Team Develops Framework for Model-Based Formulation of Biofuel Blends with Tailored Properties
(Green Car Congress) A team at RWTH Aachen University has developed a framework for the model-based formulation of biofuel blends with tailored properties by considering the fuel’s molecular composition as the fundamental design degree of freedom. A paper on their
March 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Testing Hybrid Trucks in Sweden
(DSV) Using a combination of biodiesel and electricity to power trucks will reduce unhealthy carbon dioxide emissions. -- DSV Sweden is currently testing a unique Atego Hybrid truck from Mercedes-Benz in Malmo city distribution. The truck runs on both electricity and
March 28, 2017 Read Full Article
High Biofuel Blends in Aviation (HBBA)
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) In the frame of the ENER/C2/2012/ 420-1 Tender a study on high biofuel blends in aviation has been carried out by Deutsche Lufthansa AG and the “Wehrwissenschaftliches Institut für Werk- und Betriebsstoffe”. The purpose of this research was
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
A Global Synthesis of Jatropha Cultivation: Insights into Land Use Change and Management Practices
David C. Walmsley Rob Bailis, and Alexandra-Maria Klein (Environmental Science & Technology) Despite setbacks, interest in Jatropha cultivation remains high. This study addressed the question to what extent Jatropha cultivation has replaced specific vegetation and land use types and how
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
German Biodiesel Imports Rise Sharply, Exports Grow Modestly
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) ... According to the government figures, U.S. imports of German biodiesel were topped only by those of the Netherlands and Poland, reaching 85,000 tons (25.5 million gallons)—nearly seven times the volume imported in 2015. While German
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
MIT Study Estimates That VW's Dieselgate Scandal Will Send 1,200 Europeans To An Early Grave
by David Tracy (Jalopnik) In 2015, Researchers from MIT, Harvard and Hasselt University (in Belgium) estimated that VW’s 482,000 cheating diesels would lead to an estimated 59 premature deaths in the U.S. Now some of those same researchers have taken a
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
REG Crosses 2B Gallon Biomass-Based Diesel Production Mark, Completes Petrotec Acquisition
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, REG announced on the sidelines at the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference that the company has sold more than two billion gallons cumulatively of biomass-based diesel, less than than 3 years after marking its first billion gallons
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Germany’s Environment Minister Says ‘Excessive’ Use of Land for Bioenergy Crops Was a ‘Mistake’
(Bioenergy Insight) There has been excessive use of land for bioenergy crops in Germany which has led to a loss of species, according to the German environment minister Barbara Hendricks. Hendricks, speaking to the magazine Mehrwert, included energy as part of
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Two-Thirds of Europeans Want More Biofuels
(German Bioethanol Industry Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) A large majority of Europeans want biofuels production and use to grow, according to the German Bioethanol Industry Association. A recent Europe-wide opinion poll found that 69 percent of consumers surveyed in the 28 EU
February 28, 2017 Read Full Article
The Sunliquid Technology – A Unique and Validated Pre-treatment Approach to 2G Ethanol
by Markus Rarbach (Clariant) ... Our approach at Clariant when developing the sunliquid® technology was to deliver an entirely integrated process from feedstock to finished product including our proprietary enzyme and fermentation organism platform, where all process steps are optimized to guarantee
February 21, 2017 Read Full Article
Ground Delay: Where Are the Sustainable Aviation Fuels?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... (S)omething less than $200 million has been so far positively and affordably earmarked by lenders to revolutionize the entire supply chain of US air transportation fuels. Which is to say, you can just about get
February 21, 2017 Read Full Article
Fact Sheet: Jobs in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (2017)
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) defines green jobs as either "jobs in businesses that produce goods and provide services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources" or as "jobs in which workers'
February 17, 2017 Read Full Article
French, German Farmers Urge EU to Keep 7 Percent Biofuel Target
(UFOP/Biodiesel Magazine) ... UFOP and FOP focused their meeting in Berlin on the last energy proposals from the European Commission. In its “winter package,” the commission proposed to limit first-generation biofuels from 7 percent in 2020 to 3.8 percent in 2030.
February 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Report: Global Biodiesel Market to Surpass $41 Billion by 2021
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Dublin, Ireland-based Research and Markets is offering a new 168-page report, “Biodiesel Market—Global Forecast to 2021,” in which the analysts find that the global biodiesel market is projected to surpass $41 billion by 2021 at a
February 08, 2017 Read Full Article
New Enzyme Has Potential to Turn Plant Biomass into Biofuel
by Kenny Walter (R&D Magazine) ... Scientists have studied these enzymes in pure cultures of microorganisms, despite the fact that microorganisms break down cellulose as communities in the environment. To examine this further, a multi-institutional team of researchers led by scientists
February 08, 2017 Read Full Article
First Production in History of Fully Renewable ETBE
(Global Bioenergies) In a historic first, Global Bioenergies today announces the production of ETBE purely from renewable resources. The breakthrough heralds a new opportunity for increasing the proportion of biofuels in gasoline. Current standards limit the inclusion of traditional biofuels
February 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Land-Use Change Possibly Produces More Carbon Dioxide than Assumed So Far
(Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) Climate Researchers Study Impacts of Land-use Change on Carbon Dioxide - Reforestation Is Important to Climate Protection and Species Diversity – Study in Nature Geoscience -- CO2 emissions caused by changes of land use may possibly
February 06, 2017 Read Full Article
SUNLIQUID® 20: Fleet Test with Mercedes-Benz Vehicles Proves Fuel Quality
(Clariant) A plus for the environment: Improves particle count emissions and guarantees significant reductions in CO2 emissions using sunliquid® cellulosic ethanol; Field test confirms: Excellent combustion characteristics without additional consumption -- Clariant, a leading global specialty chemicals company, together with Mercedes-Benz
February 06, 2017 Read Full Article
A 20-Year-Old Startup
by Gene Gebolys (World Energy/Biodiesel Magazine) ... Trying to make a living in biodiesel for two decades now, the hard way is about the only way it happens. ... 2016 was a breakthrough year for the biodiesel industry, and for World Energy. We brought
January 23, 2017 Read Full Article
REG Marks 10 Years of Growth, Success & Continuous Improvement
by Anthony Hulen (Biodiesel Magazine) The U.S.'s largest biodiesel manufacturer, Ames, Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group Inc., matures from its single plant, single feedstock origins to a multifeedstock, multinational business. -- ... “For the petroleum and ethanol industries, 50 million gallons
January 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Germany Cuts Palm Oil Use for Biodiesel by 1/3: Report
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Germany, the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food published an English-language edition of its Evaluation and Progress Report 2015 under the Biomass Energy Sustainability Ordinance. Biofuel Sustainability Ordinance The FOAF reports that in the biofuels sector,
January 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuels Set to Benefit from Germany’s ‘Climate Protection Rate’
by Liz Gyekye (Biofuels International) The ‘climate protection rate’ in Germany is set to rise this year from 3.5 to 4% and biofuels is set to benefit from this, according to Germany’s biofuels trade association Verband der Deutschen Biofuelindustrie (VDB). According
January 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Replacing Diesel: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Oberon Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Oberon Fuels is facilitating the growth of the DME transportation industry by converting biogas and other hydrocarbon rich waste streams to higher valued commodities such as DME. Using its proprietary small-scale process, Oberon makes DME
January 02, 2017 Read Full Article
Birdlife and T&E to Release Anti-Biofuel Documentary in January
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Belgium, following on from the November release of their joint publication “The Black Book of Bioenergy”, Birdlife Europe and Central Asia has again teamed with Transport & Environment on a documentary set for release
December 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Hydrocarbons from Cheap Renewable Carbon: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-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,
December 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Global Bioenergies to Acquire Gas Fermentation Start-Up Syngip
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Syngip talked here about the possibility of producing liquid hydrocarbons from waste feedstocks at costs as low as €100 per ton. ... What’s this deal all about? In two words, cheaper carbon. The Global Bioenergies story is
December 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Volkswagen to Recall 83,000 3.0 Liter Diesel Vehicles and Fund Mitigation Projects to Settle Allegations of Cheating Emissions Tests on Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche Vehicles
(Environmental Protection Agency) Settlement requires Volkswagen to offer to buy back older vehicles, and spend $225 million to mitigate NOx pollution. Volkswagen will also repair newer vehicles to comply with the standards to which they were certified In a second partial
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
World Petroleum Council Guide to Biofuels
(World Petroleum Council) ‘Biofuels’ will be the 6th in the series of the WPC’s educational guides and will focus on the use of biofuels and their role in our current and future global energy supply. It is essential for the petroleum
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Fossil Fuel Divestments Now Represent $5.2 Trillion
by Brian Kahn (Climate Central) Investing heavy weights are moving their assets and funds out of fossil fuels at a record pace. A network of local governments, pension funds, faith organizations, philanthropies and wealthy individuals representing $5.2 trillion in assets have
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
EU Biofuels Policy – UFOP in Favour of Maintaining 7% Cap
(UFOP) “The 7% cap for biofuels made from cultivated biomass, first established in 2015, must be maintained beyond 2020.” With this position, the Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP) rejects the proposal made today by the
December 13, 2016 Read Full Article
BMW Sees Battery Costs Causing Years of 'Tears' on E-Cars
by Elisabeth Behrman (Bloomberg) With driving ranges limited by current technology, BMW expects it to take about seven years to double the amount of energy stored in a battery. -- BMW AG (IW 1000/27) sees no quick way to boost
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
How United Leads the Airline Industry in Reducing Carbon Emissions
by Ted Reed (The Street) United Airlines leads the global airline industry in its commitment to biofuel, targeting the use of 900 million gallons over the next 10 years. -- United Airlines (UAL) , which uses about 4 billion gallons
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Hi-Performance Tech Package: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-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 North
December 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Global Biobased Business Competition (G-BiB)
(BE-Basic Foundation) The Global Biobased Business competition (G-BiB) is a competition for Master and PhD students from universities and universities of applied sciences in Germany, the Netherlands and Brazil. The objective of G-BiB is to stimulate entrepreneurship and innovation producing a biorenewable chemical, material and/or fuel product. G-BiB is an
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Renewable Diesel Powers Hamburg Airport's Heavy-Duty Ground fleet
by Ron Kotrba (Biomass Magazine) Neste Corp. announced that Hamburg airport in Germany has started using its renewable diesel to reduce the airport’s reliance on fossil fuels and significantly reduce its carbon footprint. Renewable diesel will power heavy-duty vehicles such as aircraft tugs
November 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Global Bioenergies Completes Construction of German Demo-Scale Plant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Germany, Global Bioenergies has completed construction of its 100 tons/year demonstration-scale plant, a project which commenced in mid-2015. It is located in the facility owned by the Fraunhofer CBP, on the Leuna refinery platform. It was
November 17, 2016 Read Full Article
New Biofuel Cell with Energy Storage
(Phys.Org/Ruhr-Universitaet-Bochum) Researchers have developed a hybrid of a fuel cell and capacitor on a biocatalytic basis. With the aid of enzymatic processes, what's known as a biosupercapacitor efficiently generates and stores energy. The trick: the enzymes are embedded in a
November 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Use of Bacteria to Produce Valuable Substances from Carbon Dioxide
(Goethe University Frankfurt/EurekAlert!) Goethe University Frankfurt coordinates European two million Euro project -- Microbes are already used on a wide scale for the production of fuels and base chemicals, but for this most of them have to be "fed"
November 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Primordial Genetics, Bayer Form New R&D Collab for Crop Performance
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At ABLC Next in San Francisco, Primordial Genetics and Bayer CropScience LP announced the establishment of a research collaboration to evaluate Primordial Genetics’ proprietary Function Generator technology. Bayer will provide multi-year funding for this project
November 07, 2016 Read Full Article
HORIZON 2020 – ZELCOR - Zero Waste Ligno-Cellulosic Biorefineries by Integrated Lignin Valorisation”
(nova-Institute) Its concept is to combine chemical and enzymatic catalysis with insects-based biological conversion via termites, within a biorefinery integrated approach. The project is conceived to avoid waste production by recycling waste bio-based products and improve the sustainability of existing
November 07, 2016 Read Full Article
E-Diesel Cars Will Have Same Carbon Footprint as Electric, Says Audi
(Wired) Audi's German plants are working on climate-neutral fuel alternatives, e-gas and e-diesel -- ... One such smart solution is Audi e-gas. The fuel, which is produced through a combination of electrolysis and methanation, is being developed by two of Audi’s
October 28, 2016 Read Full Article
VW Billions to Foster Natural Gas Vehicles?
by Rich Piellisch (Fleets & Fuels) NGVAmerica Urges States to Take Advantage of Settlement -- States should take advantage of the big diesel emissions settlement with Volkswagen to promote natural gas vehicles to reduce pollution, says NGVAmerica. The association notes that
October 26, 2016 Read Full Article
Strategic Intent: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to BASF, Audi
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This season, The Digest is hosting the Strategic Intent webinar series, looking at the plans, progress and future milestones of strategic stakeholders in the Advanced Bioeconomy. In this slide deck, we looked at BASF and Audi and their direct investments,
October 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Come to Bioenergy Country: or, the Bioenergy Countries’ Report
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the EU, the International Energy Agency has released its Bioenergy Countries’ Report, outlining the national renewable energy targets, total primary energy supply and contribution of bioenergy. We’ve presented the information relating to EU counties, below.
October 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Global Bioenergies, Clariant Produce Isobutene from Wheat Straw
(Global Bioenergies/Biomass Magazine) Global Bioenergies and Clariant are proud to announce the first isobutene production from a wheat straw hydrolysate, in the industrial pilot of Pomacle Bazancourt. This success is the result of a collaboration initiated more than 18 months
September 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Value-Add(itive): The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to the Lanxess-Chemtura Merger
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Germany, we reported today (September 26, 2016) that Lanxess will acquire the US-based speciality chemical maker Chemtura, one of the major global providers of high-quality flame retardant and lubricant additives, for $2.69B, a 18.9% premium
September 29, 2016 Read Full Article
Lanxess to Acquire Chemtura for $2.69B
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Germany, Lanxess will acquire the US-based speciality chemical maker Chemtura, one of the major global providers of high-quality flame retardant and lubricant additives, for $2.69B, a 18.9% premium to the stock’s current share price.
September 29, 2016 Read Full Article
Distributed Biogas: $11.8 Billion Market Hidden in Plain Sight
by Warren Weisman (American Future Energy/Biomass Magazine) The mountains of bureaucratic red tape involved in urban food waste biogas projects, where this hidden $11.8 billion market lies, can be easily avoided or greatly reduced by smaller, decentralized biogas plants. --
September 26, 2016 Read Full Article
KLM and Lufthansa Sign Long-Term Agreements with US Sustainable Biofuel Producers AltAir and Gevo
(GreenAir Online) European airlines KLM and Lufthansa have each signed agreements with US biofuel companies for supplies of locally-produced sustainable fuels. KLM has agreed to purchase through a three-year offtake agreement an undisclosed quantity of used cooking oil based fuel produced by
September 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Ogun 6,000-Hectare Cassava Farm to Produce 1.5m Tonnes of Ethanol, Starch
(Vanguard) Over 130 farmers were present at the official launch of Mokk Investments 6,000 hectares of cassava farming project, an empowerment programme organized in the catchment of Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, in Oke Odan area of Yewa South Local
September 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Global Biofuels Market Will Gain Momentum Due to Increasing Energy Security Until 2020, Says Technavio
(BusinessWire/Technavio) The global biofuels market is expected grow at a CAGR of nearly 6% during the forecast period, according to Technavio’s latest report. In this report, Technavio covers the market outlook and growth prospects of the global biofuels market for 2016-2020.
September 18, 2016 Read Full Article
Renewable Energy CEO Declares Hunger Strike
by Warren Weisman (American Future Energy) My name is Warren Weisman, I am the former CEO of the failed renewable energy manufacturer Hestia Home Biogas. Hestia was the first-of-its-kind company in the world to offer biogas units for converting table
September 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Gevo (GEVO) Enters ATJ Supply Heads of Agreement with Lufthansa
(Street Insider) Gevo, Inc. (Nasdaq: GEVO) announced that it has entered into a heads of agreement with Deutsche Lufthansa AG (“Lufthansa”) to supply Gevo’s alcohol-to-jet fuel (ATJ) from its first commercial hydrocarbons facility, intended to be built in Luverne, MN.
September 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Gevo, Lufthansa Rock Markets with Renewable Jet Fuel Deal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Colorado, Gevo has entered into a heads of agreement with Lufthansa to supply Gevo’s alcohol-to-jet fuel from its first commercial hydrocarbon facility, intended to be built in Luverne, MN. The terms of the agreement
September 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Strategic Intent: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Evonik in the Advanced Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This season, The Digest is hosting the Strategic Intent webinar series, looking at the plans, progress and future milestones of strategic stakeholders in the Advanced Bioeconomy. In this slide deck, we looked at Evonik and its direct investments, partnerships
September 08, 2016 Read Full Article
SuperBIO Project to Support EU Bioeconomy Innovation
(Bio Base Europe/Biomass Magazine) SuperBIO is an innovation project supported through the EU Horizon2020 funding program. The € 3.8 million ($4.24 million) project supports the development of promising industrial value chains in the bioeconomy. It therefore engages with the EU
September 03, 2016 Read Full Article
Henkel, BASF and Solidaridad Ally to Improve Sustainable Supply Chains for Palm Oils.
(Bio-Based World News) Palm oil has become one of the world’s most versatile and controversial raw materials. Found in approximately 50% of products on supermarket shelves, including food and non-food items it's harvesting has been linked with the destruction of
August 31, 2016 Read Full Article
Germans Developing Flower-Power Biofuel
by Brian Parkin (Bloomberg News/Arkansas Online) A giant form of a flowering daisy plant that can grow 10 feet high may become the favored fuel of Germany's biogas industry. The plant, with small yellow flowers, whose Latin name is Silphium perfoliatum,
August 30, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Signals It Will Start Looking at Mandating Higher Octane Gasoline
by Richard Truett (Automotive News) Raising the octane in gasoline -- seen as a way to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions in today’s high-tech turbocharged, direct-injected engines -- looks like it will get some attention from the EPA. That’s the
August 25, 2016 Read Full Article
King of the Corn Drag Racing Highlighs Ethanol
by Ann Bailey (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol Nationals shines a spotlight on high ethanol blends in inaugural street car race. -- Larry Larson made history this summer when he won the Ethanol Nationals, the first street car drag race using
August 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Weltec to Develop AD Plant for Colombian Egg Producer
(Bioenergy Insight) German bioenergy developer Weltec Biopower will shortly start building an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant for Colombia‘s largest egg producer. The 800kW biogas plant is to go live in early 2017. In terms of the feedstock input, the operator Incubadora
August 16, 2016 Read Full Article
Gasoline Additives from Sugar
(Phys.Org) Fuel additives such as isooctane have so far been produced from mineral oil. Commissioned by the French-German company Global Bioenergies, the Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes CBP in Leuna will soon be producing biobased additives for gasoline. The source
August 12, 2016 Read Full Article
SuperBIO: Building and Supporting New Bio-Based Value Chains with SMEs
(SuperBIO) The project runs from 1st of June 2016 until 30th of November 2018. Applications can be submitted until 31st of July 2018. Project background and aim: SuperBIO is a Horizon2020 innovation project that aims to develop and support at least
August 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Report Features Data on EU Pellet, Biogas Markets
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) A report recently filed with the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service’s Global Agricultural Information Network provides an overview of the European Union’s biofuel market, including data on wood pellets and biogas. Regarding pellets, the report explains that
August 02, 2016 Read Full Article
A Paradigm Shift in Microalgal Biotechnology Could Be On The Cards Thanks To A University of Cologne Breakthrough
by Gaynor Selby (FoodIngredientsFirst) A team of scientists and researchers at the University of Cologne believe they have made a breakthrough which could lead to cultivating algae on a commercial scale in a much cheaper way than is currently possible. Head
July 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Three U.S. States Plan Lawsuits over Volkswagen Diesel Pollution
by David Shepardson (Reuters) Three U.S. states plan to unveil new lawsuits against Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) on Tuesday tied to the automaker's sale of diesel vehicles with emissions-cheating software, even after they announced settlements with the German automaker in June. Maryland
July 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Porous Substrate Bioreactors: A Paradigm Shift in Microalgal Biotechnology?
by Björn Podola, Tong Li, Michael Melkonian (Cell/Trends in Microbiology) Many of the demands in the production of microalgae at a technical scale cannot presently be met by state-of-the-art cultivation technologies based on suspensions. Immobilized cultivation using porous substrate bioreactors (PSBRs)
July 18, 2016 Read Full Article
In Germany More than 60 Million Euros for the Carbon2Chem Project
(Il Bioeconomista) In Duisburg yesterday (June 27, 2016) Johanna Wanka, German Minister of Education and Research, announced funding of more than 60 million euros for the Carbon2Chem project initiated by thyssenkrupp. The aim of Carbon2Chem is to convert process gases
July 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Global Bioenergies Obtains a EU400,000 Grant from the German Federal Ministry of Research and Education (BMBF) to Produce Renewable Gasoline Additives - Audi Will Use These for Engine Testing
(Globe Newswire/Global Bioenergies) Global Bioenergies announces today that its German subsidiary, Global Bioenergies GmbH, secured a €400.000 grant from the BMBF (the German federal ministry for research and education) to finance a 14 month-project aimed at producing renewable gasoline additives. The Company
July 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Environment-Obsessed Berlin Divests Fossil Fuels
by Chris White (The Daily Caller) Berlin’s parliament voted Thursday to divest its $852.8 million public pension from oil and gas companies. The decision to purge fossil fuel assets makes Berlin the second capital to divest in two weeks. Stockholm, the
June 24, 2016 Read Full Article
Final Preparations for the World’s First Electric Road Project
(Scania) Outside Gävle in central Sweden, the last preparations are being made at the test strip for an electrically powered truck from Scania operating under real traffic conditions. “It’s amazingly quiet,” says test driver Therése Persson. Just a couple of days
June 24, 2016 Read Full Article
Water Gunks up Biofuels Production from Bio-Oils
(Phys.Org) A jar of bio-oil, an alternate “crude oil” for transportation fuels currently made from petroleum, is created by first rapidly heating plant matter in a process called pyrolysis. Scientists then use catalysts to remove oxygen and convert the pyrolysis oil
June 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Modernizing the Electric Grid and Its Integration with the Transportation Sector
by Bill Brandon (Biofuels Digest/) ... Some, like Mark Z. Jacobson, assert battery electric vehicles (BEV) are “the key transportation solution”. ... Just deploying BEVs does not guarantee they will be clean. The Dutch effort to push BEVs resulted in an increased
June 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Why Airbus Wants Slime from Green Algae to Fuel Its Planes
by Ben Rosen (Christian Science Monitor) Algae grows faster and produces higher energy yields than other plants, but is much more expensive to turn into fuel than traditional petroleum byproducts. -- ... Airbus researchers are growing algae for biofuel
June 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuels Are Vital to Decarbonising the EU’s Road Transport
by Robert White (ePure/EurActiv) The Stone Age did not end because humans ran out of stones – it ended because we found better alternatives. The same must become of the Oil Age, if we are to fulfil our COP21 commitments,
June 16, 2016 Read Full Article
More than Two Thirds of Palm Oil used in Germany Is Sustainably Certified, Trade Group Finds
(Biofuels International) More than two thirds of the palm oil used in Germany is sustainably certified, according to German biofuels industry group VDB (Verband der Deutschen Biokraftstoffindustrie. Around 1.5 million tonnes of palm oil has been used in Germany in 2013,
June 16, 2016 Read Full Article
REN21 Report Shows Global Increase in Ethanol Production
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) REN21 recently published its annual overview on the state of renewable energy, reporting 2015 was a record year for renewable energy installations. Renewable power and renewable heat both increased, along with renewables used in
June 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Boeing in Europe: Supporting Development and Commercialisation of Sustainable Aviation Biofuels
(Boeing/EurActiv) Boeing is encouraging regulators to create a strong policy framework to advance sustainable aviation biofuels. 2016 is Boeing’s centennial year: in the past century we have united the world through more efficient air travel and pioneered the outer reaches of
June 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Cellulose: New Understanding Could Lead to Tailored Biofuels
(University of Cambridge/University of Melbourne) In the search for low emission plant-based fuels, new research may help avoid having to choose between growing crops for food or fuel. Scientists have identified new steps in the way plants produce cellulose, the component
June 09, 2016 Read Full Article
How to Heal Broken Bonds, Catalyst Style
(Phys.Org) While popular catalysts called zeolites could help turn paper manufacturing waste and other biomass into fuel, the catalyst crumbles after just two days in hot water. And that's a problem because hot water is nearly ubiquitous in biofuel production.
June 08, 2016 Read Full Article
G7 Nations Pledge to End Fossil Fuel Subsidies by 2025
by Karl Mathiesen (The Guardian) Leaders of the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the EU urge all countries to join them in eliminating support for coal, oil and gas in a decade -- The G7 nations have
June 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Where Did Biofuels Technologies Come from?
by Gerald Kutney (Lee Consulting/Biofuels Digest) ... From the time of the caveman until the early Industrial Revolution, biofuels – namely wood and the advanced biofuel of the day, charcoal – reigned supreme. Both fossil fuels and biofuels originate from biomass. The
June 02, 2016 Read Full Article
CAAFI Celebrates 10th Anniversary!
(Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative) We are proud to announce the 10th Anniversary of the initiation of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) as of May 24, 2016, and more importantly, to reflect on the success we’ve achieved to date,
May 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Sweden Takes the Lead in Biofuel-Use in Europe
by Tomas Ekbom (Task 39 May 2016 Newsletter) The production and use of biofuels in Sweden have increased substantially since the mid-2000s. According to preliminary statistics from SPBI, the share of renewable energy in the road sector was 14.7% in 2015
May 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Scania Trucks Use Ethanol Made with Clariant's Sunliquid Process
(Clariant/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, and Scania, one of the world's top heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers, are celebrating the results and the opportunities generated by the partnership established last year, which involved an investment in sustainable
May 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Start-up to Scale-up: An Interview with Global Bioenergies CEO Marc Delcourt
(ACS Green Chemistry Institute) Global Bioenergies is one of the few companies in the world and the only one in Europe to develop a process to convert renewable resources into hydrocarbons through fermentation. The company has focused initially on the
May 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Alkol Biotech Sells Large Batch of Sugarcane Bagasse for 2G Ethanol Testing
(Biofuels International) Alkol Biotech, a UK-based biofuels research specialist, has announced that it has sold 500 kilos of EUnergyCane’s sugarcane bagasse for scientific cellulosic ethanol technology testing. The EUnergyCane consortium is a group of companies, universities, and government entities directly involved
May 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Reliable, Affordable, Scalable, Sustainable: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to NexSteppe
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) NexSteppe is dedicated to pioneering the next generation of scalable, reliable, cost-effective feedstock solutions for the biofuels, biopower and biobased products industries. Using advanced breeding techniques and cutting-edge analytical technologies, NexSteppe is developing Malibu sweet
May 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Renmatix Turns Biomass into Sugars for Industrial Use
(NewBIO/Cooperative Extension System) Technology patented by Renmatix enables the manufacture of industrial sugars from biomass on a scale that is commercially cost-effective. Table of Contents Introduction From Biomass to Sugars Benefits of Supercritical Water Customers Rebuild Biorefiners based on Plantrose™ Process
May 03, 2016 Read Full Article
Mercedes-Benz Proposes to Shift Its Cars to Biodiesel in India
(Biofuels International) German automaker Mercedes-Benz is probing the possibility to shift its diesel cars and other vehicles in India to biodiesel. "Mercedes has given me a letter that they can use 100% biodiesel in their cars and buses," Road Transport and
April 28, 2016 Read Full Article
C-Sharp: Spring’s 3 Hottest Markets Start with C
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) California and the green premium -- One of the biggest myths running is that there is no green premium, which is to say that customers will not pay a cent more for a cleaner fuel
April 26, 2016 Read Full Article
Clariant’s Sunliquid Technology Price Competitive with Brazilian Sugarcane Ethanol
by Isabel Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Brazil, testing on Clariant’s sunliquid technology has confirmed that the cost per liter of cellulosic ethanol can achieve price competitiveness with sugarcane ethanol prices in Brazil. Clariant’s testing evaluated over 40 containers of sugargane
April 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Catalyst Ranks to Expand
By Michael McCoy (Chemical and Engineering News) Seeing more growth ahead, two small companies invest in new plants -- Growth in the biodiesel market is spurring two small companies to invest in U.S. production of sodium methylate, a catalyst used
April 18, 2016 Read Full Article
Circling Opportunity
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) Blue Sphere Corp.’s two-prong business development strategy in the global waste-to-energy industry is proving to be fruitful. -- ... Blue Sphere’s first two stateside anaerobic digestion (AD) projects have reached final stages of construction, and a
April 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Importing to Meet California Demand
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) The U.S. imported a record volume of biomass-based diesel in 2015. ... This increase in imports is particularly interesting because 2015 was a year with no forward-looking $1-per-gallon blender’s tax credit, and, for 11 months
April 06, 2016 Read Full Article
AGQM, FAM Invite Participants in Biodiesel Round Robin Testing
(AGQM/Biodiesel Magazine) ... The analysis of components and the final product forms a major part of the quality assurance of fuels. Therefore, reliable monitoring and testing of the product properties of biodiesel and rapeseed oil fuel is an essential aspect
April 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Up, Up & Away: The Top 10 Magic Moments in Aviation Biofuels in 2016
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia formed a partnership to investigate options for locally produced aviation biofuel. The trans-Tasman alliance partners are issuing a Request for Information (RFI) to the market to explore the opportunity
April 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Germans Give Thumbs up to Biofuels
(Biofuels International) More than two thirds of Germans view biofuels in a positive light, a new study suggests. The representative survey, conducted by market survey analysts TNS Infratest, questioned more than 1,000 German residents and found that the majority of
April 05, 2016 Read Full Article
RSB Certification of Jatropha Oil from Manabi/Ecuador as Sustainable Fuel for Combustion Engines on Galapagos Islands
(Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials) In the small country of Ecuador, all environmental risks of the production and consumption of fossil fuels can be observed by damages through oil exploration in the amazon rainforest and tank ship accidents close by Galapagos
March 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Life As We Might Have Known It: What If Ethanol Was Our Primary Engine Fuel
by Marc J. Rauch (The Auto Channel) ... Our exchange began with his comments that government should not decide which fuel is the winner; that fossil fuels dominance over alternative fuels was due to consumer choice; and that society owes a
March 16, 2016 Read Full Article
Study Undermines EPA, Blames Rising Methane Levels on Farming, Not Fracking
by Valerie Richardson (The Washington Times) A newly released international study finds that farming, not fracking, is the likely culprit behind rising global methane levels, undermining the Obama administration’s crackdown on methane from oil-and-gas production in the name of climate