by James Stafford (OilPrice.com) ... Lithium is our new fuel, but like fossil fuels, the reserves we’re currently tapping into are finite—and that’s what investors can take to the bank. ... And yet, despite this skepticism, lithium demand is rising steadily and
Investing
Back TO HOMEGreenbelt Resources Announces SEC Filing to Conduct Public Offering
(Greenbelt Resources/PR Newswire) Company Plans to Build Model Waste-to-Energy Ecosystem -- Greenbelt Resources Corporation (OTC: GRCO), an innovator of sustainable energy production systems, announced today that it plans to raise $16M through a Regulation A+ public offering of freely trading
August 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Microbeads. Reviled, Yes. Useful, Yes. What’s the Alternative?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The BBC is reporting that although microplastics form only 0.01% to 4.1% of the total plastic waste dumped into the seas, researchers have been especially concerned about microplastics because of the problem of microbial life
August 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Vertically-Integrated Ethanol Producer, and More: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Green Plains
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Green Plains is a vertically-integrated ethanol producer based in Omaha, Nebraska. They currently have an ethanol production capacity of approximately 1.5 billion gallons per year with 17 plants located in Nebraska; Indiana; Minnesota; Iowa; Tennessee;
August 24, 2016 Read Full Article
Abengoa Plants Go to Green Plains: Ethanol’s Jolly Giant Gets Bigger
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Nebraska, word has arrived from Green Plains that it will purchase the Madison, Ill., Mount Vernon, Ind. and York, Neb. ethanol facilities from Abengoa Bioenergy with combined annual production capacity of 236 million gallons
August 24, 2016 Read Full Article
IFC Invests BRL 150 Million in CerradinhoBio to Support the Growth of Renewable Energy Production in Brazil
(The Financial) IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, will provide BRL 150 million of long-term financing to CerradinhoBio, an ethanol and biomass-based electricity producer operating in the state of Goias, in Brazil. This investment will support the growth of
August 24, 2016 Read Full Article
Strategic Intent: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to ADM and ArcelorMittal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This season, we are conducting Strategic Intent, our 19 webinar series on major companies and their partnerships, progress and plans in the Advanced Bioeconomy. In this edition, we explored Archer Daniels Midland and ArcelorMittal in the interactive webinar
August 23, 2016 Read Full Article
St1 Signs a Letter of Intent with Viken Skog and Treklyngen for a Cellunolix® Ethanol Plant in Norway
(St1/Globe Newswire) St1 Nordic Oy's Norwegian subsidiary, Smart Fuel AS, has signed a letter of intent with Viken Skog SA and its subsidiary Treklyngen Holding AS to construct a Cellunolix® ethanol plant in Norway. St1's aim is to construct a Cellunolix®
August 22, 2016 Read Full Article
A Successful Supply Chain Strategy: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Equinox
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In developing a bioconversion project, the steps are numerous, interconnected and complex. Conducting a feasibility study, feedstock supply & market analysis, developing a business plan, funding initial development, choosing process technology, selecting a design/builder, selecting a site,
August 22, 2016 Read Full Article
A Breakthrough in Algae Harvesting
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) One of the more perplexing problems of the advanced bioeconomy is getting algae out of the water or the water out of the algae. It simply isn’t a problem in traditional, land-based agriculture and most of
August 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Using Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) as a Biofuel Feedstock
(Environmental Research and Education Foundation) Using a first-of-its-kind Life-Cycle Assessment model of biofuel production using MSW, this report includes an assessment of the environmental impacts associated with MSW conversion via landfill gas-to-energy, waste-to-energy, and gasification/Fischer-Tropsch. How current infrastructure could be used
August 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Torrefaction: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Fungible Biomass Feedstocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Some time back, Digest contributor Tim Sklar wrote that “it is conceivable that Torrified Wood production could match wood pellet production by 2020. But the TW industry will have to overcome many obstacles. Here is a short list.
August 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Cuba Seeks Investors to Boost Clean, Renewable Energy
(Xinhuanet.com) Cuba is set to hold its first Energy & Infrastructure Summit in an effort to boost clean and renewable energy sources and cut down on fossil fuels, local media reported on Saturday. Conrado Moreno, a member of the organizing committee,
August 22, 2016 Read Full Article
The RINferno, as It Burns up America’s Venture into Advanced Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... There’s a separate category of RINs for advanced biofuels. These are fuels that have at least a 50% reduction in fossil fuels compared to 2005 baseline gasoline. Overall, to qualify under the RFS, you need
August 19, 2016 Read Full Article
World Bank Sees Biofuels Losing out Due to Cheaper Oil
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the World Bank’s most recent Commodities Markets Outlook says lower energy prices have also eased pressures to produce biofuels as an alternative energy source. Biofuels production has been an important driver of demand
August 17, 2016 Read Full Article
The Top 25 Advanced Bioeconomy Stories of the Year
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... We looked at the past year, and these are the 25 Top Stories of the Year, as measured by the number of readers. 25 The Pyromaniax, Class of 2015: The Top 10 Pyrolysis projects in renewable
August 17, 2016 Read Full Article
There Is an E15 Consumer Disconnect
by Susanna Retka-Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Sheetz, Thortons executives give careful thought to strategically offering the new fuel. -- Almost weekly, another announcement is made about a retail location offering E15. The rollouts, large and small, are indicators E15 is
August 17, 2016 Read Full Article
U.S. Navy’s ‘Great Green Fleet’ to Tap Australian Biofuel Hub
by Brian Parkin (Bloomberg) Renewable fuels may provide 50% of U.S. fleet’s power by 2020; Queensland seeks to create export-oriented green-fuel market -- The U.S. accepted Australia’s offer to supply biofuel for its Asia-Pacific fleet, advancing the Navy’s goal of getting
August 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Negotiating and De-Risking Biomass Supply Chains: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Ecostrat
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ecostrat advises companies in the bioenergy, biofuel, and biochemical fields on supply chain risk. They have developed and managed supply chains for more than 5,000,000 tons of fiber over 20 years. Noted in the company’s toolkit is
August 17, 2016 Read Full Article
RINferno
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Let me see if we got this right. Donald Trump loves the Renewable Fuel Standard --- Carl Icahn loves Donald Trump --- Therefore, Carl Icahn hates the Renewable Fuel Standard With that, welcome to the 2016 United
August 17, 2016 Read Full Article
The Building Block Builders: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to BioAmber
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From the company’s IPO Prospectus: “Our proprietary technology platform combines industrial biotechnology, an innovative purification process and chemical catalysis to convert renewable feedstocks into chemicals that are cost-competitive replacements for petroleum-derived chemicals. The development of our
August 16, 2016 Read Full Article
When Amber Means Caution but BioAmber Means Go: Progress, Prospects for the Sarnia’s Sultans of Succinic
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... For those less familiar with the company, it produces succinic acid from sugar at a first commercial-scale plant which opened recently in Sarnia, Ontario. Succinic acid has a small existing global market but can be
August 16, 2016 Read Full Article
RFA: Record Corn, Ethanol Production Underscore Need for RFS
(Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) America’s farmers are poised to harvest a record corn crop this fall and achieve the highest yield per acre in U.S. history, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates released today. Meanwhile, the U.S. ethanol
August 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Europe’s Broken Biofuels Policy
by Dick Roche (EurActiv) Public policy should be built on firm foundations. Objective analysis, verifiable facts and solid science are good starting points, but that was absent in biofuels policy-making, writes Dick Roche. The foundations on which Europe’s biofuel policy has
August 15, 2016 Read Full Article
The New Colossus: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Amyris
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Amyris reported a Q2 net loss of $13.8M on revenues of $9,6M, up from $7.8M in Q2 2015. Revenues rose 27% from the corresponding period in 2015 primarily driven by the shipment of
August 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Amyris: The New Colossus Aims to Unlock Its Golden Door
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Let’s look at the 7 factors that have the company poised for a revenue transformation in the second half. 1. Gingko. Entered into an Initial Strategic Partnership Agreement with Ginkgo Bioworks to accelerate commercialization of bio-based
August 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Green Security®, a U.S. Organization, Has Certified Zphere Work’s Sustainable Agriculture & Biofuel Project in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico
(PR Web/Zphere Work) Zphere Work’s “Monarca Project”, a new sustainable Agriculture & Biofuel project in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, has been certified by Green Security®, a forward thinking U.S. organization that is focused on strategic Energy, Water and Food
August 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Investors Have $100 Billion to Spend on Oil Assets No One Else Wants
by David Carey, Laura J Keller, Meenal Vamburkar (Bloomberg) Buyout firms target soured loans with eye on taking ownership; Drillers unload assets to stay afloat as cash crunch deepens -- ... Deals are picking up for a few key reasons. Oil prices are no longer
August 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Jamaica Conducting Study on Castor Oil Industry
(Jamaica Observer) Jamaica has undertaken a study on the local castor oil industry as the country moves to take advantage of a global market expected to value an estimated US$1.81 billion by 2020. The study was commissioned by the Jamaica Promotions Corporation
August 12, 2016 Read Full Article
How to Thrive in Emerging Markets: Making Industrial Biotechnology Work away from Home
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Why do hot US agricultural technologies fail to get the explosive growth they deserve? BEE offers a new tech-to-market approach. -- ... Why think about the developing world at all? Most tech firms hardly bother. Because
August 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Organic Acids: Key Facilitators of the Bio-economy
by Lorenz Bauer (Lee-Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) Recent declines in oil prices and the failure of start-up biofuel processes to meet production cost targets have increased the interest in producing value added chemicals from biomass as coproducts. The vision is that these
August 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Gevo Heads out to Sea: A Clever Escape into Marine Biofuels, or a Watery Grave ahead?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Gevo says: We’re staking our near-term prospects on marine biofuels. Investors hear: We’re underwater. Gevo says: Timing delay in our isobutanol gallonage, took longer to get the fixes implemented, we’ll make up on the back side.
August 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Novozymes on Novozymes: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to Novozymes’ Q2 results
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Denmark, Novozymes reported its Q2 earnings and updated its outlook for the rest of 2016. Headlines? Sales grew by 3% organically in the first half, EBIT was on par, and the EBIT margin was
August 11, 2016 Read Full Article
India Seeks to Expand Biofuels Market to $7.5 Billion by 2022
by Anindya Upadhyay and Debjit Chakraborty (Bloomberg) India’s current biofuels market size is about $1 billion; India to source all raw material for biofuels domestically -- India is targeting a more than sevenfold expansion in its biofuels market over the next six
August 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Praj to Be the First Indian Technology Provider to Launch Green Fund for 2G Ethanol Projects
(Praj/PR Newswire) First Indian Technology Company to Partner in 2G Ethanol Projects Through Green Fund; To Facilitate 'Farmer Centric Biomass Supply Model'; To Provide Build, Operate & Maintain (BOM) Package for 2nd Generation 'Biomass to Ethanol' Projects; To Offer 2nd Generation 'Smart
August 10, 2016 Read Full Article
Rwanda: Mauritian Investors to Construct Sugar Factory in Eastern Provice
by Emmanuel Ntirenganya (AllAfrica.com) The Government has given investors from Mauritius the green light to set up a sugar processing factory in the country. The agreement will see the investors construct a factory with capacity to produce 100,000 tonnes of sugar
August 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Latin Americans Committed to Advancing Biofuels
by Fernando Olmedo (Biodisol/Agence France Presse (Google Translation)) Twenty Latin American countries pledged Friday to continue "promoting emphasizing" the development of biofuels with support from multilateral financial institutions, during a forum on clean energy in San Salvador. "There is a belief by
August 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Governments of Canada and Quebec Support Innovative Renewable Fuel Oil Project
(Ensyn) Support for clean technology innovation is vital to growing Canada’s economy and addressing climate change. With its abundance of renewable biomass, Canada has the potential to develop a strong and globally competitive bioenergy sector. The Governments of Canada and Quebec will provide
August 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Working the Calculator: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Choosing a Feedstock
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) “What color is your parachute?” went the title of a best-selling book from the 80s on job hunting. The concept applies equally to biomass feedstock in the 2010s. There’s one out there for you that
August 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Thai Firm Announces Plans to Expand Biodiesel Production Capacity
(Biofuels International) Global Green Chemicals, a Thai oleochemicals company, has announced plans to increase its biodiesel production capacity by setting up a second methyl-ester plant in Chon Buri province, located in the southeast of Bangkok. GCC plans to increase biodiesel output,
August 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Globalization of Ethanol Impacts US Industry
by Ryan Strickland (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Eco-Energy) It’s a big world out there and ethanol is primed to explore it—finding new markets through competitive pricing, high octane and low-carbon advantages that no other fuel on the planet today can match. The
August 05, 2016 Read Full Article
US, Brazil Demonstrate What’s Possible
by Leticia Phillips (UNICA/Ethanol Producer Magazine) UNICA wants to focus the discussion on the importance of advanced biofuels, like sugarcane ethanol. The RFS is one of the world’s most ambitious programs promoting biofuels and a key policy for the future of
August 05, 2016 Read Full Article
KiOR: The Inside True Story of a Company Gone Wrong. Part 3, “You’ve Cooked the Books”
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The company was beginning to hurtle towards an IPO. But the fuel yields were low; the fuel was not usable by their initial chosen downstream partner; the catalyst they were using to get even down
August 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Producers Set to Benefit from Green Partnership
by Liz Gyekye (Biofuels International) Biodiesel producers will benefit from a green partnership between Ireland-based industrial enzyme firm Monaghan Biosciences and Australia-based biochemicals specialist Leaf Resources, as Leaf Resources continues to seek glycerol for its proprietary Glycell process, its CEO
August 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Italy to Invest $450m in Biofuel Project in Iran
(Tehran Times) The Italian private sector will invest $450 million in the establishment of a bioethanol fuel production plant in the Amirabad Special Economic Zone (ASEZ), north of Iran. ... As per the agreement, biofuel will be produced from inedible wheat, he
August 03, 2016 Read Full Article
We Band of Brothers: Crisp, CRISPR, Crispin’s Day and the Democratization of Crop R&D
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The nature of collaboration across the advanced bioeconomy is shifting dramatically – and we are seeing the democratization of R&D. ... The CRISPR revolution As Dan Watkins of DFJ’s Mercury Fund put it, “There’s a
August 03, 2016 Read Full Article
Sustainable and Low-Cost: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Competing with Sub-$50 oil
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As Irshad Ahmed observed recently in The Digest, “until such time that we internalize the true life-cycle costs of extracting and using fossil fuels, and distinguishing fossil-BTUs from bio-BUTs, we will continue to struggle to find
August 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Developers Plan Crop Waste Ethanol Plant in North Dakota
(Associated Press/The Washington Times) A group of developers is planning to make ethanol from the stalks and leaves of North Dakota wheat straw and corn plants. New Energy Investors is looking to develop a 13-million gallon, cellulosic ethanol plant at the
August 01, 2016 Read Full Article
How To Make Biofuel Policy Work
by Morteza Soleymannezhad (Forbes) ... In my opinion, RFS needs an overhaul. It should start phasing out first-generation biofuels and refocus solely on sustainable biofuels such as the ones obtained from cellulosic materials and algae. As Jeff Turrentine, culture & politics columnist at NRDC’s
August 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Ensyn Breaks Ground on New 10 Million Gallon Advanced Biofuels Project in Quebec
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Ensyn announced ground-breaking on a new 10.5 million gallon biocrude project in Port-Cartier Quebec. The facility, which will be 50% owned by Ensyn and will receive financing support from Sustainable Development Technology Canada. The project was announced live on-stage
July 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Bio Ethanol Dung Quat Closed for Unpaid Debts
(BizHub) The Bio Ethanol Dung Quat Plant was closed for defaulting on the VND1.3 trillion debt it owed the banks, the State Bank of Viet Nam's Quang Ngai Province branch said. The branch confirmed the information in its Report No. 06/BC-QNg1,
July 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Oil Majors Lost One Engine; Now the Second One Is Sputtering
by Javier Blas (Bloomberg) BP says second-quarter refining margins drop to 6-year low; Downstream business was key last year in cushioning cheap oil -- If Big Oil was a two-engine airplane, you could say it’s been flying on a single engine since
July 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Doing More (and Better) with Less: 2016 Global Agribusiness Forum Shows the Ways to Provide Food and Bioenergy, with Sustainability, for an Increasing Population
by Lais Thomaz* and Dan Quadros** (Advanced Biofuels USA) With diverse and dynamic programming involving agribusiness, food safety, nutrition, sustainability and bioenergy, the 2016 GAF achieved its mission to gather producers, companies and academia to discuss the importance of agribusiness supply
July 26, 2016 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Sugars Heading for Scale: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Leaf Resources
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Leaf Resources Limited (ASX:LER) is focused on making sustainable products from plant biomass, offering an advanced technology package for breaking down plant derived biomass to useful, sustainable, renewable and biodegradable products. Leaf Resources’ Glycell technology is
July 26, 2016 Read Full Article
Leaf Resources (ASX: LER) Joint Venture to Develop Five Projects with World-Class Project Ceveloper Claeris, LLC
(Leaf Resources) Leaf Resources Ltd (ASX: LER, “Leaf” or “Leaf Resources”) is pleased to announce the signing of binding legal agreements with US-based project developer Claeris, LLC (“Claeris”), to establish a joint venture (JV) entity, Leaf Development, LLC (“Leaf Development”), for the purpose
July 21, 2016 Read Full Article
BIO Submits Comments on Proposed 2017 Renewable Fuel Standards
(Biotechnology Innovation Organization) The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), on behalf of its member companies, ... submitted comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Renewable Fuel Standards for 2017, and the biomass-based diesel volume for 2018. The comments demonstrate that EPA’s
July 20, 2016 Read Full Article
American Refining Group Invests in Novvi to Accelerate Renewable Base Oils, Lubricants
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Two options, generally. One is a mandate-led transition, like light bulbs, power and road fuels. The other is a brand-led transition, as happens with plastics, jet fuels and clothing. Amyris’ No Compromise branding encourage
July 20, 2016 Read Full Article
The Energy and Job Creation Program that Works for People and the Environment
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Morning Consult) ... Not every lawmaker is sold on the idea of renewables, but it’s hard not to appreciate the billions of dollars of economic activity across the U.S. that has been driven by the RFS.
July 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Firm Eyes Expansion
by Tennessa Wild (The Western Producer) Processor developing second generation biofuel with opportunity for wider use -- Growing demand worldwide for renewable diesel fuel has Saskatchewan’s only biodiesel producer looking to expand. Milligan Biofuels Inc. produces biodiesel as well as half
July 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Abengoa’s Hugoton Cellulosic Ethanol Project Goes on the Block
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Missouri, Ocean Park Advisors has been retained by Abengoa Bioenergy to find a strategic partner or to complete a sale of Abengoa cellulosic ethanol plant, electricity cogeneration plant and related assets in Hugoton, Kansas. Additionally,
July 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Why and When You Need a Project Consultant
by Wayne Lee (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) ... Within our group, now numbering over 75 experts, I find that each member has his or her own approach which developed from their personal experience and training. As an example, the professors,
July 19, 2016 Read Full Article
UDSA GAIN Reports Address Polish, Lithuanian Ethanol Production
by Ann Bailey (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Total production of bioethanol in Poland is estimated at 200,000 metric tons, according to a report filed with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural Information Network. The domestic production capacity of both bioethanol
July 18, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuels Executive Briefing Available from ADI Analytics
(ADI Analytics) There is an increasing level of interest in conventional and advanced biofuels around the globe. Many countries are increasing biofuel mandates for several reasons ranging from stimulating agriculture, energy security, and most notably to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The
July 18, 2016 Read Full Article
“Tough Couple of Years, but Survivors Scaling”: DOE’s Bioenergy 2016 Looks Optimistically at Biofuels Future
by Ed Dodge (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, a commercialization panel said that “the biofuels industry has been through a tough couple of years, but the survivors are scaling up and bringing product to market. The panel featured some leading players
July 18, 2016 Read Full Article
Moving beyond Automotive towards Earth & Resources: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Toyota Tsusho
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, we report that Toyota Tsusho has been identified as a major strategic investor in Anellotech, which is developing a pyrolysis-based technology for making bio-based BTX molecules as an alternative to petroleum-based supplies. Here’s the
July 18, 2016 Read Full Article
Toyota: Let’s Go Places with Anellotech, Bio-Places That Is
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In New York, Toyota Tsusho was identified this week as a multinational strategic equity investor in Anellotech and corporate partner in the renewable aromatic chemicals supply chain. Toyota Tsusho is a member of the Toyota
July 18, 2016 Read Full Article
What’s New and Important About C5 and C6 Sugars?
by Lorenz Bauer (Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc./Biofuels Digest) What’s up with C5 and C6 sugars? Given that a significant portion of the several billion dollars spent on renewable fuels spending involves these molecules, it is not surprising that progress is
July 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Will the Gas Bubble Burst? More Projects Struggle for GTL Finance
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Remember how natural gas was the no-brainer of all time. Gas-to-Liquids was the rage, and a gold rush of companies popped up such as Siluria Technologies, Calysta, and Mango Materials. Fuels, chems, materials and more.
July 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Six Airlines Singled out in Latest NRDC Survey as Leaders in Development of Sustainably-Sourced Aviation Biofuels
(GreenAir Online) US environmental NGO Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has released its third annual Aviation Biofuel Sustainability Scorecard, which surveyed and ranked 29 airlines on sourcing sustainably produced biofuels. Just 19 of those airlines responded to NRDC’s questionnaire, although
July 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Guyana’s Multi-Biofeedstocks Project: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Global Leaf Energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) READ MORE
July 08, 2016 Read Full Article
New Lignin Operation in US in Final Phase of Approval
(Biofuels International) Borregaard, a Norway-based biorefinery specialist, and Rayonier Advanced Materials (Ryam) have concluded a market, technical and engineering analysis regarding a new lignin operation at Ryam’s Fernandina Beach site in Florida to serve the growing demand for natural lignin-based
July 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Asia Pulp & Paper Backs Community-Led Indonesian Biofuels Project
(edie.net) One of the world's biggest pulp, paper and packaging firms has announced its support for a new community-led pilot scheme aimed at reducing the use of fossil fuels and increasing the availability of bio-fuels in Indonesia. The jurisdictionally-based partnership between
July 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Horizontal Bioreactor: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Sldie Guide to Culture Systems
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Challenges that have plagued algae ventures? The availability of feedstock to make products, the loss of investor appetite at early stage and pre-commercial, and inefficient cultivation systems. By contrast, Culture System’s design is described as having “low
July 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Advance Australia Air: Byogy Steps up in Australia in Drive for Low-Carbon Jet Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From Australia comes the news that the country’s former Federal Resources and Energy Minister, Martin Ferguson, is now the chairman of the advisory board for Byogy Renewables, the California-based alcohol-to-jet fuel pioneer that has been
July 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Canfor Eyes Prince George for Major Biofuel Facility
by Jon Hernandez (CBC News) New facility could produce up to 400,000 barrels of biocrude annually, says Canfor Pulp president -- One of the world's largest logging companies is looking to get into the oil business. Canfor is in the early phases of
July 03, 2016 Read Full Article
KPMG Sees Potential for Biomass-Based Ethanol in Southeast Asia
by Toh Wei Zheng (Platts) Southeast Asia could see a significant boost to its ethanol supply by using biomass as an alternative feedstock, an industry veteran said during the annual Wiz Ethanol and Biofuels Conference held in Singapore Wednesday. Chris de
June 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Intrexon: Will Its GTL Business Arrive in 2018?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The indictment was handed down this week in The Motley Fool, which averred: While investors have been told to expect the natural gas-to-fuels platform to be commercialized by 2018, real-world indicators essentially guarantee that won’t be
June 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Amyris Busts a Move: Major Deals with Givaudan, Ginkgo
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... First, Amyris announced a collaboration with Givaudan (SIX:GIVN), a leading global flavors and fragrances company. The two companies have been engaged in the research and development of proprietary fragrance ingredients for several years, and the
June 29, 2016 Read Full Article
Verbal Deal on Sawmill, Biofuel Plant 'Kick in the Arse' for Botwood Economy
by Ryan Cooke (CBC News) A verbal agreement has been reached between the Town of Botwood and an unnamed partner, or partners, to bring major industry back to the shipping town. Botwood Mayor Scott Sceviour confirmed the agreement to CBC earlier this
June 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Dozens of Senators Push EPA for Higher Ethanol Mandate
by Devin Henry (The Hill) A bipartisan group of senators on Friday chided federal regulators for pulling back on the federal ethanol mandate. In a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy, the 39 senators said the agency should
June 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Knock on Wood: Why Trade and Brand Will Trump Tech in the Advanced Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... So if the advanced bioeconomy is so prevalent and so pervasive, why do we hear so much about the struggles of projects to be built? Why is it so much easier to build wind and
June 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Getting It Right: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to Iogen
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Iogen says it has has “one of the world’s largest and most experienced teams in developing, designing, de-bugging, scaling-up and deploying cellulosic biofuel technology. We’re using innovative thinking and disciplined engineering to transform cellulosic biofuels
June 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Big Data, Robotics and Synth Bio: Driving “The New Agriculture”
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... If you haven’t been to an LP meeting before, they are generally intimate gatherings of venture capitalists, their underlying investors (the Limited Partners), portfolio company CEOs, and some thought leaders invited to share their perspective
June 22, 2016 Read Full Article
RFS Policy Instability Continues to Chill Investment in Advanced Biofuels, BIO Says
(Biotechnology Innovation Organization) EPA’s new methodology for setting annual Renewable Fuel Standards continues to chill investment in advanced biofuels, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) finds in a new analysis released today. Investment patterns clearly demonstrate that EPA is sending a
June 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Memphis Firm Aims to Replace Oil in Plastic
by Wayne Risher (The Commercial Appeal) A 75-year-old Memphis chemical plant may advance the environmentally friendly cause of non-food plant waste replacing a petroleum-based key ingredient in plastics, antifreeze and de-icer. Pennakem LLC, which originated as a Quaker Oats-run chemical plant
June 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Psst! Heard on the Floor at the International Bioenergy Conference
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The eyes of the world might well be on tiny Prince George, British Columbia these days — because that is the proposed site of Canfor’s commercial-scale biofuels and chemicals project. The success of such a
June 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Can We Finally Make Gasoline out of Corncobs?
by Nathanael Johnson (Grist) ... Running cars and planes on corncobs would, at its best, produce 90 percent less greenhouse gas than gasoline. Until now, though, it’s only been an idea. We’ve been able to make cellulosic ethanol for more than a century,
June 21, 2016 Read Full Article
BIC and Vanguard Initiative Sign Bioeconomy MoU
(Bio-based Industries Consortium) Two leading European bioeconomy players, the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) and the Vanguard Initiative have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for better interregional cooperation on the bioeconomy. The collaboration will support improved access to funding and awareness-raising
June 21, 2016 Read Full Article
House Bill Could Help Small and Mid-Size Dairies Deal with Excess Nutrients
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On June 16, Representative Tom Reed (R-NY) and Ron Kind (D-WI) along with 12 Republican and Democratic co-sponsors introduced the Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Act (H.R. 5489), which would expand the eligibility of biogas systems under the
June 20, 2016 Read Full Article
ICM Has Short List for Its Gen 1.5 Cellulosic Ethanol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Kansas, ICM said it is is currently in discussion with a short list of those interested in being selected as an early adopter of its Gen 1.5 technology, and they anticipate construction of the
June 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Crossing the Chasm to Scale: S2G Goes Commercial with Bioglycols
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) They call it the Valley of Death, but it’s a complete misnomer. It’s the “nearly impassible Khumbu Icefalls” of Death — filled with chasms, crevasses and painful progress towards the summit in the far distance. But
June 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Gevo Turns to Marine, Off-Road Markets With Latest Biofuel Deal
by Carleton English (The Street) The Colorado biofuels company announced a partnership with Musket Corp. a week after a similar collaboration with Alaska Air. -- ... The Colorado-based biofuels company announced that it partnered with Musket Corp., which is owned by
June 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Hot Prospects for Chemicals from Biomass
by Terry Mazanec and KSL (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) A major theme of 21st Century industrial development will be replacement of fossil resources by renewable resources in the production of fuels and chemicals. Due to their massive scale and cost,
June 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Re-Think, Re-Use, Retro-Fit: 15 4G Techs Transforming Gen-1 Biobased Plants
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Here, we profile 15 techs that offer incremental to profound shifts in the economics of the Gen-1 ethanol fleet, and have implications for everything from passenger cars to jets. #15 Vertimass and Byogy #14 Croda #13 Hummingbird #12 Alliance BioEnergy #11 GeoSynFuels #10
June 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Reconciling Food Security and Bioenergy: Priorities for Action
by Keith L. Kline, Siwa Msangi, Virginia H. Dale, Jeremy Woods, Glaucia M. Souza, Patricia Osseweijer, Joy S. Clancy, Jorge A. Hilbert, Francis X. Johnson, Patrick C. McDonnell, Harriet K. Mugera (Global Change Biology: Bioenergy) ... Understanding the nexus of food security, bioenergy sustainability, and resource management facilitates achievement of the 2030
June 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Green Plains Plans Ethanol Export Terminal as Expansion Continues
by Chris Prentice (Reuters) Green Plains Inc said on Tuesday it plans to build and operate its first export-import fuels terminal in Beaumont, Texas, the latest in a string of expansion moves by the country's fourth-largest ethanol producer. The Omaha, Nebraska-based
June 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Why is ATJ Renewable Jet Fuel Rockin’ It?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... There are many pathways from biomass to jet — right now, the hottest is ATJ, or alcohol to jet. In the case of Gevo, they want to convert first-gen ethanol projects to making isobutanol,
June 15, 2016 Read Full Article
A Biomass to Sugar Value Chain: The Digest’s 8-Slide Guide to Canada’s Sarnia Biocluster
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) "How much value is in the entire value chain, going from stover in the field to all the products?" asked Sandy Marshall, chairman, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada. His question opened his description of the birth of
June 14, 2016 Read Full Article
How Do You Generate $2B in Cellulosic Ethanol, with No Upfront Investment?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Siouxland Energy Cooperative has licensed the Edeniq’s Cellunator and Pathway technologies for its 60 million gallon per year ethanol plant located in Sioux Center. Production will start by Q4 2016. Meaning that Edeniq is shifting
June 14, 2016 Read Full Article
World’s Biggest Banks Are Driving Climate Change, Pumping Billions Into Extreme Fossil Fuels
(EcoWatch/Rainforest Action Network) A report released Tuesday by Rainforest Action Network, BankTrack, Sierra Club and Oil Change International provides the first look at bank financing for fossil fuels since the Paris climate agreement, showing that the world’s biggest banks are driving
June 14, 2016 Read Full Article
D.C. Public Sector Pension Fund Divests From Fossil Fuels
by Rachel Kurzius (dcist) Following a three-year campaign, DC Divest is claiming victory—the D.C. government has sold off its pension fund's direct investments in coal, oil, and gas companies. This morning, the group announced that the D.C. Retirement Board has officially sold
June 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Bloomberg Task Force Should Recommend Companies Be Required to Stress Test Their Business Plans against Risks of Climate Change Actions and Impacts
( London School of Economics and Political Science) Companies that fail to plan for business scenarios in a low-carbon economy risk decline or even bankruptcy, according to a submission to the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures published today (PDF) (6
June 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Investors Turn Bullish on U.S. Ethanol Shares
by Caroline Valetkevitch (Reuters) After a weak start in 2016, investors are rediscovering shares of biofuels companies that make ethanol, a grain alcohol that can be used as fuel. Demand and profit margins are up, regulators are helping the industry, and
June 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Has Shifting to Renewable Energy Become 'Irreversible'?
by Jonathan H Harsch (Agri-Pulse) ... At the heart of the battle is whether it makes sense to transition from fossil fuels to renewables like biofuels, wind, and solar energy. At issue is the choice between steering new investment into renewables as
June 10, 2016 Read Full Article
Ahem, It’s the Chems: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to Sofinnova and Biobased Chemicals Private Equity
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sofinnova. If you’ve been raising capital in the renewable chemical space you’ve probably knocked on their door. And, like a box of British candy, found a bunch of Smarties within. How do they look at
June 10, 2016 Read Full Article
How Big Data is Disrupting Agriculture from Biological Discovery to Farming Practices
by Vonnie Estes (AgFunderNews) With the need to produce more food using fewer inputs, agriculture is seeking new products, practices and technologies. As a planet we must use fewer chemicals and less water. Subsistence farmers need to close the yield
June 10, 2016 Read Full Article
Multimillion-Dollar Funding for Commercial Waste-to-Biofuel Plants
(University of Sydney) International paper waste and plastic recycling contracts signed for ground-breaking Australian technology. -- It’s been a busy few days for Australian start-up Licella, whose innovative technology, developed in partnership with the University of Sydney, is the subject
June 09, 2016 Read Full Article
What Lies Ahead for European Biofuels in a Post-2020 World?
by Tim Worledge and Caroline Knight (Platts) European legislation lays out requirements for renewable energy in road transport up until 2020 but following this, the future is less clear. Tim Worledge, global editorial director for agriculture and Caroline Knight, European biofuels
June 09, 2016 Read Full Article
In a First, Karnataka's Transport Authority May Produce Biofuel. Here's How
By Arka Bhattacharya (The Economic Times) ... Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation is in talks with Hyderabad-based Advait Bio Fuel to jointly establish a bio-diesel production facility in the state, potentially becoming the first transport utility in the country to
June 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Govt Backs in Qld as Asia-Pacific Biofutures Hub
(MySunshineCoast) The Palaszczuk Government will invest almost $20 million to position Queensland as an Asia-Pacific hub for biofutures industries, creating next generation jobs in the state, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced today. The Premier launched her Government’s Queensland Biofutures 10-Year Roadmap and
June 08, 2016 Read Full Article
The Advanced Bioeconomy 2016: State of the Industry
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For the advanced bioeconomy, the question remains and will remain for some time, where are the gallons? Specifically, projects that use biobased feedstocks that can be converted into renewable fuels, chemicals, advanced foods, and biobased materials. Projects
June 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Shell Confirms Plans to Boost Low-Carbon Biofuels Portfolio as It Unveils New Energies Plan
(Biofuels International) Anglo-Dutch oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has announced that it intends to build a new energies portfolio that would include biofuels, hydrogen, solar and wind assets. The company recently unveiled a new medium-term strategy that envisages asset sales and
June 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol Project Grant Denied: New Energy Investors Developers Updating Grant Request
by Keith Norman (The Jamestown Sun) Officials with New Energy Investors are planning on submitting an updated grant request to the North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Committee after its previous request was denied in May, according to Robert Johnson, CEO
June 08, 2016 Read Full Article
The New Cellulosic Value Chain: The Digest’s 8-Slide Guide to Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In April, we reported that Comet Biorefining has signed an off-take agreement with bio-succinic acid producer BioAmber for cellulosic dextrose from Comet’s upcoming first commercial plant in Sarnia, Ontario. The dextrose will be produced from agricultural
June 08, 2016 Read Full Article
It Depends: Heard on the Floor at ABLC Feedstocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The headline from the event is that projects and feedstock providers are more engaged than we have seen previously — a wave of technology development that once took place with a “we’ll work out
June 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Miniature but Mighty: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Nanocellulose
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Last year, we reported that Research & Markets projected the “Nanocellulose Market by Type (Cellulose nanocrystals, Cellulose nanofibrils, cellulose nanocomposites, and others) to reach $250 Million by 2019, signifying annualized CAGR of 19% between 2014 and 2019. Heft growth
June 03, 2016 Read Full Article
Big Buckaroos in Tiny Town: The Gold Rush Ahead in Nanocellulose
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... It’s that way for nanocellulose, too — a material made from the largest organisms imaginable — our friends, the trees — which display astonishing Marvel-like properties when processed into nanofibrils and nanocrystals, with gigantic implications
June 03, 2016 Read Full Article
Fossil Fuels’ Unpopularity Leaves a Mark
by Amy Harder and Erin Ailworth (The Wall Street Journal) Many major fossil-fuel projects across the U.S., from pipelines to export terminals, have been shelved or significantly delayed because of a confluence of new regulations, grass-roots opposition and a drop
June 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Cathay Sets Biofuels-Based Flight Record, as New A350 Ushers in Renewable Jet Era at Hong Kong
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) These days, Cathay Pacific trades under the slogan “Life Well Travelled” and the delivery of the first of 48 super-modern, super-quiet, super-chic Airbus 350-900s is another milestone for that branding — but it might as
June 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Licella, Canfor Form JV for Low-Cost, Drop-In Biofuels from Wood Residues and Biomass
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Licella and Canfor will form a joint-venture under the name “Licella Pulp Joint Venture” to integrate Licella’s unique Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor upgrading platform into Canfor Pulp’s kraft and mechanical pulp mills to economically convert biomass,
May 31, 2016 Read Full Article
Evolva, Wageningen and Algae.Tec Advance on High-Margin Bio-Opportunities
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sweeteners, acrylic, and nutraceuticals led the news at the end of this week, with key announcements out of Evolva, Wageningen and Algae.Tec. ... All the announces are developmental in nature — patents, R&D, product supply for future
May 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Whatever Happened to Advanced Biofuels?
by David Biello (Scientific American) ... Burning cellulosic ethanol as a fuel could result in just 10 percent of the CO2 emissions produced by burning gasoline. One big secret to making it all work is the advanced biofuel refinery's location right next
May 26, 2016 Read Full Article
UMass Becomes First Major Public University to Divest from Direct Fossil Fuel Holdings
(University of Massachusetts Amherst) The University of Massachusetts today became the first major public university to divest its endowment from direct holdings in fossil fuels. The decision was made by a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors of the
May 26, 2016 Read Full Article
RES-T-BIOPLANT: Towards Advanced Biofuels – Options for Integrating 1st and 2nd Generation Biofuel Production
(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,
May 20, 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
Renewable Jet Fuel, Competitive Cost, at Scale: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to AltAir
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In March, United Airlines made history by becoming the first U.S. airline to begin use of commercial-scale volumes of sustainable aviation biofuel for regularly scheduled flights with the departure of United Flight 708 from Los Angeles International
May 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Good News, Kemosabe: Reverdia and Wageningen UR Launch Development of New Bio-PBS Compounds
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the Netherlands, Reverdia and Wageningen UR Food & Biobased Research have launched a joint development programme on bio-based PBS (polybutylene succinate) compounds for injection moulding. The new bio-PBS compounds will be durable and based
May 20, 2016 Read Full Article
In North Dakota's Oil Patch, a Humbling Comedown
by Ernest Scheyder (Reuters) The fracking party is over, and a quiet desperation has descended on the state's once-booming communities and the thousands of people who were drawn to them. -- ... But the price drop quickened, due in part
May 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Renewable Specialty Chemicals: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Green Biologics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Green Biologics is focused on the production of renewable n-butanol and other C4 chemicals from various renewable feedstocks, including sugar (cane, molasses, beets), starch (corn) and cellulosic biomass (corn residues, sugar cane bagasse, forest materials
May 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Looking at the Sudden Growth of Cellulosic Ethanol
by Ben Nuelle (Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network) In April, the Environmental Protection Agency announced a little over 1 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol was produced in the first quarter of 2016. Production is well ahead of 2015 where only 2.2
May 18, 2016 Read Full Article
KiOR: The Inside True Story of a Company Gone Wrong-- Parts 1 and 2
by Jim Lane (Biofuels DIgest) ... Old KiOR was exciting, dramatic, and fast, and the headlines it produced between 2008 and 2011 were candy for a renewables-hungry world. A Breakthrough in Catalytic Pyrolysis to make cost-competitive, drop-in renewable fuels. A “Magic Catalyst”.
May 18, 2016 Read Full Article
From Up North to Down Under With DDGS
by Kassidi Andres (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Mike Bryan is introducing Australia to a DDGS-based feed product made by a company headquartered in North Dakota, where his ethanol career began. -- ... Today, living on the east coast of Australia in
May 17, 2016 Read Full Article
The Big Year Continues: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Amyris
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Amyris reported Q1 2016 net loss of $15,3M on revenues of 8.8 million, compared with $7.9 million for the first quarter of 2015. The increase from Q1 2015 included product sales growth of 50% over
May 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Baseball, the Trade Deadline, and the Industrial Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Some teams are sellers. They reduce costs, go lean, and hunker down in a case of “wait’ll next year”. In industrial biotechnology, the calendar tells us it’s May but it might as well be July, because
May 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Many Paths to Money from One Mighty Microbe: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to Deinove
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week we reported that Deinove and Toulouse White Biotechnology are collaborating with the MetaToul* platform (INSA-LISBP Toulouse and MetaboHUB national infrastructure) headed by Prof. Jean-Charles Portais, aims to map the metabolic fluxes of the Deinococcus
May 16, 2016 Read Full Article
Can the U.S. Military Afford to Run on Biofuels?
by Rich Smith (The Motley Fool) ... The beef tallow being used today, however, costs just $2.05 per gallon, making it cheaper than the $2.76 per gallon that the Defense Logistics Agency pays for F-76. A 90-10 diesel-tallow blend, therefore, should
May 16, 2016 Read Full Article
Limpopo Receives R940m Investment for Renewable Energy from US, Chinese Companies
(African News Agency/Engineering News) American and Chinese companies are set to invest R940-million in Limpopo to pursue renewable energy and ethanol profits, government and investors have announced. The United States’ Bio-Processing Innovation and the Beijing Singling Technology Centre said on
May 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Stora Enso, Rennovia Ink Biobased Chemicals Development Deal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Renewable materials company Stora Enso and specialty chemicals company Rennovia Inc. have announced a joint development and license agreement to cooperate on bio-based chemicals development. Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies
May 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Create the Future Design Contest Accepting 2016 Entries DEADLINE: July 1, 2016
(Create the Future Design Contest) The Create the Future Design Contest was launched in 2002 by the publishers of NASA Tech Briefs magazine to help stimulate and reward engineering innovation. The annual event has attracted more than 12,000 product design
May 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Oil Firms Have 10 Years to Change Strategy or Face 'Short, Brutish End'
by Terry Macalister (The Guardian) Business models employed by multinationals such as Shell and BP are no longer fit for purpose, warns energy expert -- ... Paul Stephens, a fellow at Chatham House thinktank, said in a research paper the oil “majors”
May 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Business Strategies for Transitioning the Bioeconomy to a Landscape with Long-Term Profitability
by Mahmood Ebadian (Biomass and Bioenergy Research Group/Biomass Supply Chain Consulting Ltd./Biofuels Digest) ...With specialization occurring in feedstock engineering, these new business entities will be well-positioned to produce multiple products including both intermediate and final bio-products. In other words, they
May 11, 2016 Read Full Article
The 10 Biggest Bioeconomy Cap Raises for 2016
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, The Digest reports that the Top 10 capital raises for 2016 to date for company development — and pilot, demonstration and commercial-scale projects. Average deal size among the Top 10 was $18.9M and the median size
May 11, 2016 Read Full Article
The Green Friendship Bridge Series
by Mark Edwards (Algae Industry Magazine) The Green Friendship Bridge series examines a simple question: “What makes better sense, extending the border wall with Mexico 1,300 miles or taking 13 miles of fence investment to build 8,600 algae microfarms and sprinkle
May 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials Offers Advisory Services
(Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials) RSB is now offering a range of advisory services to support businesses, investors, development agencies, NGOs, and governments in applying the RSB standard to their operations, projects and policy development. Through technical and strategic advice, hands-on
May 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Takin’ Cellulosic to the Mud Spa
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Out of the unlikely bioeconomy hub of West Palm Beach, Florida, Alliance BioEnergy Plus has revealed what it describes as the “successful completion of its yearlong efforts to optimize its patented CTS technology to extract
May 06, 2016 Read Full Article
12th F.O. Lichts Sugar & Ethanol Brazil 2016: New Horizons for the Ethanol Industry in Brazil
by Lais F. Thomaz* (Advanced Biofuels USA) From 25 to 27 April 2016, renowned experts, entrepreneurs and government officials were reunited at the "12 th Sugar & Ethanol Brazil," conference organized by F.O. Lichts. In this event, workshops were held
May 06, 2016 Read Full Article
The Unloved Business That's Saved Big Oil From Low Energy Prices
by Javier Blas (Bloomberg) Petrochemical earnings accounted for 75% of Exxon's net income; Oil executives see future for chemicals beyond crude rout -- Big Oil is suddenly Big Chemical. For years, the business of turning gas and crude into the chemicals used to
May 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Oil Majors Worth More Adopting 2˚C Pathway, Independent Stress Test Finds
(Carbon Tracker) The upstream assets of the world’s seven largest privately owned listed oil and gas companies could collectively be worth $100 billion more if they aligned their investment plans with the 2˚C target, a new study released today by
May 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Aemetis Acquires Edeniq for $23.7M
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Aemetis will acquire all of Edeniq’s outstanding shares in a stock plus cash merger transaction. In 2015, Edeniq generated approximately $20 million in revenue and $6 million in positive EBITDA. Headquartered in Visalia, California, Edeniq