(Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative) SAF R&D at Sandia National Laboratories (Presentation PDF) Webinar Recording Anthe George (Sandia National Laboratories) Ryan Davis (Sandia National Laboratories) Alexander Landera (Sandia National Laboratories) Isaac Ekoto (Sandia National Laboratories) READ MORE SAF R&D at Sandia National Laboratories - Webinar Recording
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Back TO HOMEStoring Carbon Dioxide Underground May Be a Safe Solution to Mitigate Climate Change, According to New Study
(Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)/Phys.Org) A study led by the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA) and the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA CSIC-UIB), both belonging to the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), has shown that injecting
February 14, 2023 Read Full Article
Fueling the Future with Food Waste: High School Students Create Biofuel from Food Processing Waste with Help from PNNL
by Karthikeyan K. Ramasamy (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) One cannot appreciate how food processing wastes become biofuels just by reading about it in a book. Students in science teacher Melanie Bachart’s high school bioethics course at Chiawana High School, Pasco, Washington, got the full
February 07, 2023 Read Full Article
ABPDU’s Gas Capture Capability Enables Production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Molecule
by Katy Christiansen (Argonne National Laboratory) ... However, producing these fuels is a tricky biological process. Some important aviation fuel molecules are volatile, meaning they evaporate at room temperature. During the fermentation process, these volatile molecules leave the fermenter as a
February 06, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Understanding and Mitigating the Impacts of Feedstock Variability in Bioconversion Processes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium is led by DOE as a collaborative effort among researchers from 9 National Labs. It’s Key Ideas? That biomass feedstock properties are variable and different from other commodities; and, that empirical
February 01, 2023 Read Full Article
United, Tallgrass, and Green Plains Form Joint Venture to Develop New Sustainable Aviation Fuel Technology Using Ethanol
(United Airlines/PR Newswire) United, Tallgrass, and Green Plains will invest up to a combined $50 million in the joint venture – Blue Blade Energy – to develop the technology; United has entered into an offtake agreement with Blue Blade Energy
February 01, 2023 Read Full Article
Award Supports Biofuel Sustainability Research through Specialized Equipment Access
by Scott Weybright (Washington State University College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences) Washington State University scientists are working to more precisely understand how plants use nutrients from soil at the level of single cells, with the goal of helping
January 31, 2023 Read Full Article
This Common Aquatic Plant Could Produce Buckets of Biofuel: Engineered Duckweed Could Be a Prolific “Green” Oil Producer
by Cari Shane (Scientic American) Scientists have figured out how to coax copious amounts of oil from duckweed, one of nature’s fastest-growing aquatic plants. Converting such plant oil into biodiesel for transportation and heating could be a big part of a more sustainable
January 30, 2023 Read Full Article
Clean Fuels Champions Receive Recognition for Industry Contributions
(Clean Fuels Alliance America) Annual awards honor visionaries, advocates, innovators -- A diverse crop of individuals and organizations receive top honors for their contributions to the clean fuels industry this week. The Clean Fuels Alliance America annual awards showcase those
January 24, 2023 Read Full Article
National Labs Research Better Uses for Carbon Dioxide
by Meltem Urgun-Demirtas (Argonne National Laboratory) Carbon dioxide fuels global warming but scientists from multiple national labs are finding new ways to repurpose it. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the global average for atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) set
January 23, 2023 Read Full Article
NREL Develops Systematic Framework to Compare Performance of Plastics Recycling Approaches
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) With only a small percentage of plastics recycled, determining the best way to recycle and reuse these materials may enable higher adoption of plastics recycling and reduce plastic waste pollution. Researchers at the U.S. Department of
January 23, 2023 Read Full Article
The Feedstock Whisperers: BETO’s Upgraded Biomass Feedstock National User Facility Is Open for Business
by Katie Carnahan and Michelle Goff (Idaho National Laboratory/Biofuels Digest) ... The upgraded Biomass Feedstock National User Facility (BFNUF) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) addresses many of the challenges facing the U.S. bioenergy industry. The research conducted at the facility
January 20, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Hydrothermal Liquefaction for SAF
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The US generates ~10 million tons municipal wastewater sludges/year Disposal to land or landfills is limited, expensive. The Opportunity is to convert sludges to fuels using Hydrothermal Liquefaction. Conversion of sludges to ‘biocrude’, for upgrading
January 16, 2023 Read Full Article
Advent Technologies and Alfa Laval Partner in Marine Fuel Cell Development Project
(Advent Technologies Holdings, Inc./Business Wire) Advent Technologies Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADN) ("Advent" or the "Company"), an innovation-driven leader in the fuel cell and hydrogen technology sectors, is pleased to announce that it will collaborate with Alfa Laval, a global provider of
January 12, 2023 Read Full Article
Comstock Technology Produces Circular Renewable Fuels
(Comstock Mining/Globe Newswire) Technology Unlocks Massive New Feedstock Model to Neutralize America’s Transportation Emissions -- Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) (“Comstock” and the “Company”) today announced the demonstration of breakthrough cellulosic fuels pathways to produce renewable diesel, marine, sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”)
January 11, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to the Cost and Greenhouse Gas Implications of Advanced Bio-Jet Fuel Production
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) JBEI’s been working hard on jet fuels. Why? Biological routes are advantaged in their ability to produce naphthenes (approximately one third of jet fuel, 45% of diesel fuel), whereas most other alternative jet fuel processes
January 03, 2023 Read Full Article
To Battle Climate Change, Scientists Tap into Carbon-Hungry Microorganisms for Clues
by Theresa Duque (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) New technique could fast-track future carbon-free solar fuels -- Berkeley Lab scientists have developed a nature-inspired technique for converting carbon dioxide into solar fuels. Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have demonstrated
December 30, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Balancing Feedstock System Performance and Quality
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) According to the experts at the Idaho National Laboratory, The feedstock challenge lies in the inherent variability of biomass feedstock affects the ability to optimize processing and conversion processes, ultimately decreasing plant economics. So, the
December 30, 2022 Read Full Article
Naturally Derived Materials Fit for 3D Printing
by Stephanie Seay (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) Researchers found that moderate levels of ash — sometimes found as spheres in biomass — do not significantly affect the mechanical properties of biocomposites made up of corn stover, switchgrass and PLA thermoplastic.
December 21, 2022 Read Full Article
Apply to the Energy Execs Program --- June 21–23, July 19–21, Aug. 23–25, and Sept. 20–22 --- Golden, CO DEADLINE January 13, 2023
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) NREL's Executive Energy Leadership Academy, or Energy Execs, provides industry and community leaders an opportunity to learn about advanced energy technologies to guide their organizations in energy-related decisions and planning. What You'll Learn The program provides an in-depth
December 21, 2022 Read Full Article
The Caribbean Is Swimming in Seaweed. Scientists Aim to Turn It into Jet Fuel and Batteries
by Erik F. Ringle (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Backed by U.S. Department of Energy Funding, New R&D Could Help Seed a Uniquely Caribbean Bioeconomy -- ... Kruger (National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researcher Jacob Kruger) may be unable to eliminate the
December 19, 2022 Read Full Article
$1 Million Awarded to Minority Serving Institutions for Bioenergy Research
(U.S. Department of Energy) Three projects have been selected for funding under a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) interagency agreement with the Minority Serving Institution STEM Research & Development Consortium (MSRDC). DOE has leveraged the interagency agreement to reduce barriers to entry for
December 17, 2022 Read Full Article
To Make Valuable Bioproducts, Pick the Right Solvent Pretreatment
(U.S. Department of Energy) Lignin and cellulose are polymers—large molecules made up of repeating modules—that are situated in a tangled braid, along with some other polymers, within the plant cell wall. Lignin and cellulose are the two main polymers and are
December 17, 2022 Read Full Article
LanzaJet Marks Major Milestone on Its Freedom Pines Fuels Construction
(LanzaJet/PR Newswire) Soperton, GA Facility will be First Ethanol Alcohol-to-Jet Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production Facility in the World -- LanzaJet, a leading sustainable fuels technology company and sustainable fuels producer, today joined government officials, industry leaders, and investors to celebrate a
December 14, 2022 Read Full Article
Clean Fuels Files Comments on New SAF, Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel Tax Incentives
(Clean Fuels Alliance America) Clean Fuels urges Treasury to use up-to-date, science-based model for carbon scoring -- On Friday (December 2, 2022), Clean Fuels Alliance America submitted a written response to the U.S. Treasury’s request for comments (Notice 2022-58) on Credits for
December 05, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Hexas Biomass
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Hexas is a biomaterials company focused on the production of regenerative, plant-based raw materials that replace wood and fossil fuel-based materials in multiple applications. Applications for these plant-based materials include: energy, chemicals, packaging, textiles, composites, structural/non-structural
December 05, 2022 Read Full Article
To Battle Climate Change, Scientists Tap into Carbon-Hungry Microorganisms for Clues
by Theresa Duque (Science Daily/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) New technique could fast-track future carbon-free solar fuels -- Scientists have demonstrated a new technique, modeled after a metabolic process found in some bacteria, to convert carbon dioxide into solar fuels through artificial
December 01, 2022 Read Full Article
Proposed Renewable Fuel Standards for 2023, 2024, and 2025 Public Comments Due February 10, 2023
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) On December 1, 2022, EPA announces a proposed rule to establish required Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes and percentage standards for 2023, 2024, and 2025, as well as to propose a series of important modifications to strengthen
December 01, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to ChemCatBio
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ChemCatBio’s mission is to accelerate the catalyst and process development cycle for bioenergy applications – but how? What’s the potential impact of a billion-ton bioeconomy? What are the catalysis challenges in the conversion of biomass
November 30, 2022 Read Full Article
WSU Leading in the Quest for Cleaner Air Travel
by Addy Hatch (Washington State University Insider) ... WSU (Washington State University) researchers in eight programs among three colleges on two campuses are exploring energy sources, testing, supply-chain logistics and policy in the quest for sustainable air transportation. The university
November 28, 2022 Read Full Article
Notice of Intent for Carbon Dioxide Removal Measurement, Reporting, and Verification Lab Call
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Technology Transitions (OTT), in partnership with the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), intends to issue a lab call on Carbon Dioxide Removal Measurement, Reporting, and Verification
November 23, 2022 Read Full Article
How to Rescue Biofuels from a Sustainable Dead End
by Peter Fairley (Nature) An environmentally friendly path forwards for liquid fuel derived from plants will depend on smarter agriculture and smarter regulation. -- ... If filling fuel tanks with these plant-derived liquids reduces carbon emissions by decreasing the demand
November 23, 2022 Read Full Article
Is There a Profitable Approach to Carbon Capture and Storage?
(Climte Now) with George Peridas, Jonathan Kusel, and Joshuah Stolaroff -- In the international carbon offset market, the average price of removing one tonne of CO2 from the atmosphere is still below $15 USD, nowhere near enough to cover the costs
November 22, 2022 Read Full Article
What Is the Future of Carbon Capture Technology?
(Climate Now) Since its founding in 1952, the mission of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has been to meet urgent national security needs through scientific and technological innovation. Expanding from its focus on nuclear weapons science at the height of the Cold War,
November 22, 2022 Read Full Article
US Can Reach 100% Clean Power by 2035, DOE Finds, but Tough Reliability and Land Use Questions Lie Ahead
by Herman K. Trabish (Utility Dive) New aggressive planning is needed to identify the long-duration storage technologies and find the land to grow enough resources to reach Biden net zero emissions goals, a DOE national lab reports. -- Four major
November 18, 2022 Read Full Article
Chemists Create an 'Artificial Photosynthesis' System that Is 10 Times More Efficient than Existing Systems
by Louise Lerner (University of Chicago News) UChicago breakthrough creates methane fuel from sun, carbon dioxide and water -- For the past two centuries, humans have relied on fossil fuels for concentrated energy; hundreds of millions of years of photosynthesis
November 18, 2022 Read Full Article
Calling all Clean Technology Start-Ups! Applications Open for Entrepreneurship Program at Argonne National Laboratory DEADLINE November 30, 2022
(Argonne National Laboratory/Department of Energy) Are you an innovator interested in developing your clean energy or climate tech startup? Applications are now open for the Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI) entrepreneurship program, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National
November 17, 2022 Read Full Article
U.S. Laboratories Research Biofuel Solutions for Different Engine Types
by Ariana Fine (NGT News) Biofuel is closer to becoming a cost-competitive, climate-friendly solution for slashing carbon emissions in cars and trucks, according to two new studies. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory has collaborated with the DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL),
November 15, 2022 Read Full Article
Biofuel on Road to Energy, Cost Savings
by Beth Burmahl (Argonne National Laboratory) Argonne collaborates with U.S. laboratories on research to identify promising biofuels for different engine types. -- Biofuel is closer to becoming a cost-competitive, climate-friendly solution for slashing carbon emissions in cars and trucks, according to two new
November 11, 2022 Read Full Article
FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Makes Historic Investment in America’s National Labs, Announces Net-Zero Game Changers Initiative
(White House) Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced $1.5 billion under the President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act to build and upgrade America’s national laboratories and advance American leadership in science, research, and innovation. Strengthening our national labs will increase economic growth, create
November 04, 2022 Read Full Article
Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MACHH2) Announces Bid to Create Regional Hydrogen Hub to Combat Climate Change
(Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen) The Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2) announced today that it will submit an application to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a regional clean hydrogen production and distribution hub to be funded
November 04, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Production of Carbon Nanotubes from CO2
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In this project, researchers aim for market-ready production of carbon nanotubes from TVA flue gas-derived CO2, including a TEA and LCA in collaboration with NREL. The researchers have a goal of 80-90% less cost than
November 02, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Catalytic Polymers for Simultaneous CO2 Capture and Conversion to Value-Added Chemicals
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This Project aims to advance the Technical Readiness Level through experimental and modeling to enhance the efficiencies while assessing the TEA/LCA of a dual functional catalytic porous polymer for simultaneous capture and conversion of CO2
October 28, 2022 Read Full Article
States Are Vying for Money to Start ‘Hydrogen Hubs.’ What Are They?
by Robert Zullo (Wisconsin Examiner) Across the country, states are inking agreements with neighbors or striking out on their own to pursue billions in federal funding to set up “hydrogen hubs,” clustered centers for production, storage and use of the gas
October 27, 2022 Read Full Article
Researchers Pilot New Process to Achieve 100% Bio-Based Jet Fuel
by Emma VandenEinde (KUNC) As the airline industry works to cut its carbon dioxide emissions, a team of researchers believe they've found a "runway" to 100% sustainable aviation fuel. Their findings – published this week in the journal Joule – demonstrate harnessing the power of
October 26, 2022 Read Full Article
BOTTLE Project Outlines New Two-Step Process for Turning Mixed Plastic Waste into Valuable Bioproducts
(U.S. Department of Energy) Combining chemical and biological processes is a promising new strategy for the valorization of mixed plastic waste, according to researchers from the Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment (BOTTLE) Consortium. BOTTLE is a collaboration
October 21, 2022 Read Full Article
Rolls-Royce, Alder Fuels, Brazil BioFuels, Topsoe Advance in the Race to Net Zero Aviation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Meanwhile, Topsoe has been picked to support first sustainable aviation fuel-production in Brazil. Brasil BioFuels will build a new biorefinery to produce sustainable aviation fuel and second generation biofuel using Topsoe’s Hydroflex and H2bridge technologies.
October 21, 2022 Read Full Article
DOE Funds Pilot Study Focused on Biosecurity for Bioenergy Crops
(Brookhaven National Laboratory/Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science has selected Brookhaven National Laboratory to lead a new research effort focused on potential threats to crops grown for bioenergy production. Understanding how such bioenergy crops could be harmed
October 19, 2022 Read Full Article
Sex Pistols, Jugs, Bottles and Speed: NREL Breaks through on a Fast, Cheap Route to Recycling Plastic in One Pot, at One Time
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) News arrives from Colorado that BOTTLE consortia researchers led by NREL have developed a process that can convert mixed plastics to a single chemical product, working toward a solution that would allow recyclers to skip sorting plastic by type.
October 18, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to a Highly Efficient Microalgae-Based Carbon Sequestration System to Reduce CO2 Emission from Power Plant Flue Gas
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The objective of this project is to harness the power of photosynthetic microalgae to maintain a high-pH, high-alkalinity microalgal culture to create a carbon-negative system for carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion to value-added products from power
October 13, 2022 Read Full Article
Engineering Duckweed to Produce Oil for Biofuels, Bioproducts
(Brookhaven National Laboratory/Phys.Org) Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory and collaborators at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have engineered duckweed to produce high yields of oil. The team added genes to one of nature's fastest growing
October 12, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Carbon Conversion Life Cycle Analysis at NETL
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) LCA is a technique that helps people make better decisions to improve and protect the environment by accounting for the potential impacts from raw material acquisition through production, use, end-of-life treatment, recycling, and final disposal
October 12, 2022 Read Full Article
DOE Funds Pilot Study Focused on Biosecurity for Bioenergy Crops
(Brookhaven National Laboratory/EurekAlert!) Research into threats from pathogens and pests would speed short-term response and spark long-term mitigation strategies -- The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science has selected Brookhaven National Laboratory to lead a new research effort
October 11, 2022 Read Full Article
Less than Zero: Camelina Co., Praj, LanzaTech, Northwestern, GCH, Yale, NREL Launch New Centers of Excellence to Advance Feedstocks, Cell‐Free Systems, Genome Engineering for Carbon-Negative Manufacturing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... We have three new centers of excellence to focus upon today. The Center for Camelina In Spain, Camelina Company España, Europe’s largest camelina crop innovator and seed producer, opened their new Innovation Center in Daimiel, Spain. Camelina
October 07, 2022 Read Full Article
Assessing the Carbon Intensity of Hydrogen Production with HyPEC
(GTI Energy) Hydrogen has the potential to play a significant role in decarbonizing our energy systems. There is a need among stakeholders and the broader public for a simple-to-use and accessible tool to assess the life cycle carbon intensity of hydrogen
October 03, 2022 Read Full Article
PNNL Team Recognized with ACS Award for Affordable Green Chemistry
by Mary Ann Showalter (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) The American Chemical Society (ACS) has announced that development of a catalytic process and catalyst to create sustainable aviation fuel is receiving the 2023 ACS Award for Affordable Green Chemistry. The team named in the
September 30, 2022 Read Full Article
Guidance on Qualifying an Analytical Method for Determining the Cellulosic Converted Fraction of Corn Kernel Fiber Co-Processed with Starch
(Environmental Protection Agency) This document provides updated guidance on qualifying an analytical method for determining the cellulosic converted fraction of corn kernel fiber co-processed with starch in order to demonstrate compliance with the regulatory requirements in 40 CFR 80.1450(b)(1)(xiii)(B)(3). 1 Public confidence in
September 30, 2022 Read Full Article
Catalytic Process with Lignin Could Enable 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory/Biobased Diesel Daily) An underutilized natural resource could be just what the airline industry needs to curb carbon emissions. Researchers at three institutions—the U.S. DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Washington State University—report success
September 28, 2022 Read Full Article
LanzaJet Affirms Its Commitment to Scale Production of SAF
(LanzaJet/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... LanzaJet, Inc. is a global leader in clean energy technology and production. The LanzaJet Process is a proprietary alcohol-to-jet technology which converts low-carbon ethanol into sustainable transportation fuels, including SAF and renewable diesel. LanzaJet is deploying its technology
September 26, 2022 Read Full Article
Will Algae Biofuels Become Viable? Pioneers of Commercial Biofuel Production Had to Shut Shop or Diversify Their Portfolio
by Rahul Jain (Down to Earth) ... It can synthesise large volumes of oil (20 times more than that of mustard per acre), grow fast (10 times quicker than terrestrial plants) and capture carbon dioxide (CO2). Since then, big industries and startups
September 25, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to the Catalytic Upgrading of Biochemical Intermediates
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Whether it is Mixed C6-C5 Corn Stover Hydrolysate Sugars to Produce Butyric Acid with In-situ Product Removal, or Non-Biological Conversion of Mixed C6-C5 Corn Stover Hydrolysate Sugars to Furans (Furfural, HMF), opportunities abound in biobased
September 21, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to the Upgrading of C2 Intermediates
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ethanol is an attractive feedstock for middle distillate fuels and chemical products. How do we unlock the potential not only for ethanol-to-jet, but for C3+olefin (ETO) opportunities, and more. Dehydrate, oligomerize, hydrogenate – the path
September 20, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Advanced Catalyst Synthesis and Characterization
by Jim Lane (Biofuel Digest) Accelerated catalyst and process development cycle enabling demonstrated performance enhancements in half the time. That’s the bold goal of a DOE project aimed at providing a fundamental insight leading to actionable recommendations for critical catalysis challenges by
September 19, 2022 Read Full Article
Brown Announces $2.5 Million for Biofuel Research at The Ohio State University
(Office of Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)) Today (September 13, 2022), U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Department of Energy has awarded a $2.5 million grant to The Ohio State University (OSU) for research on the creation of new biofuel
September 15, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Catalytic Upgrading of Pyrolysis Vapors
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Catalytic fast pyrolysis is a versatile technology pathway for the direct liquefaction of biomass and waste carbon sources. In this slide deck from NREL’s Mike Griffin, we explore the Potential for high carbon yields to
September 15, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Utilizing Electricity to Produce Intermediates from CO2 and Biomass
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This project funded by the US Department of Energy and led by NREL’s Josh Schaidle aims to Guide existing and future research and development efforts by defining key technical challenges, risks, cost/carbon intensity drivers, and
September 14, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Formate Utilization for Value-Added Products
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How do we utilize CO2 with cheaper renewable energy? What products can we make? Those are the questions explored in this project funded by the US Department of Energy’s BETO office and led by Jonathan
September 13, 2022 Read Full Article
Biomass Feedstock Preprocessing Solutions: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Idaho National Laboratory
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Idaho National Lab’s very own Bioenergy Program Lead, Lynn Wendt, shared this illuminating slide guide at ABLC on how they are working on mitigating risk from beginning to end with biomass feedstocks, how to respond
September 12, 2022 Read Full Article
RFA, Growth Energy Slam Inaccurate Reuters Report on Ethanol GHGs
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy are slamming a Reuters article published on Sept. 8 that recycles highly misleading claims about the greenhouse gas (GHG) impact of U.S. ethanol plants. The Reuters article, in part, cites the
September 12, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Improving Formate upgrading by Cupriavidus necator
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The project goal is to develop the natural formatotroph, C.necator, as a robust microbial chassis for efficient formate conversion to value-added products in support of CO2 capture. The project is funded by the US Department
September 09, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Novel Cell-Free Enzymatic Systems for CO2 Capture
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) To develop, innovate, and reduce costs of CO2 Separations using enzyme-based technology to accelerate CO2 capture alternative solvents with low regeneration energy. That’s the goal of this project funded by the US Department of Energy’s
September 08, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Integration of CO2 Electrolysis with Microbial Syngas
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) By producing valuable products out of CO2, this project will incentivize CCU to realize carbon circular economy opportunities. That’s the promise of this project funded by the BETO Office at the US Department of Energy
September 07, 2022 Read Full Article
Green Plains, Tallgrass and PNNL Awarded DOE Funding for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Technology
(Green Plains) Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE), Tallgrass, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) today announced they have been awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to advance sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technology as part of the federal agency’s effort
September 06, 2022 Read Full Article
DOE Announces $540 Million for Research Activities into Clean Energy Technologies
by JimLane (Biofuels Digest) From Washington comes news that the U.S. Department of Energy will make more than $540 million in awards for university- and National Laboratory-led research into clean energy technologies and low-carbon manufacturing. The goals Earlier this year, the DOE SC
August 25, 2022 Read Full Article
SoCalGas Constructing Hydrogen Fueling System for Transit Agency
by Ariana Fine (NGT News) Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) has begun construction of an advanced hydrogen generation system at SunLine Transit Agency in Thousand Palms, Calif. The project, called H2 SilverSTARS, will produce hydrogen from renewable natural gas (RNG) and help
August 23, 2022 Read Full Article
NREL Study: Refineries Increase Revenue and Reduce Carbon Footprint with Renewable Propane
(Propane Education & Research Council/CISION PR Newswire) Major refiners like Chevron see value in commercializing renewable propane -- A new study by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) shows biorefineries can increase their financial returns by selling renewable propane versus using it as
August 18, 2022 Read Full Article
DOE Announces $2 Million to Help Bring Clean Energy Technologies to Market
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) has announced the selection of two projects totaling more than $2 million for its Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF). The TCF facilitates stronger partnerships among DOE facilities, private sector companies, and other
August 18, 2022 Read Full Article
Three-Part Co-Processing Series to Lower Carbon Footprint of Transportation Fuels
(U.S. Department of Energy) Upgrading bio-oils with petroleum feedstocks at existing refineries—known as “co-processing”—could offer a fast pathway for lowering the carbon footprint of today’s transportation fuels. In this three-part blog series, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
August 12, 2022 Read Full Article
What Happened at the 2022 CAAFI Bienennial General Meeting?
(Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative ) There’s more attention on SAF now than ever before. There’s also a lot going on in the SAF space from near-term commercialization, policy pushes, feedstock development, pathway approvals, airline, airport and business aviation engagement,
August 12, 2022 Read Full Article
Unlocking the Mystery of Catalyst Poisoning
by Asanga Padmaperuma (U.S. Department of Energy) A research team from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory investigates how potassium in biomass feedstocks poisons a catalyst. Their discovery allowed researchers to better understand catalyst health and regeneration during the conversion of feedstocks into
August 12, 2022 Read Full Article
Not Just Bread and Beer—Microbes Can Ferment Carbon Dioxide to Make Fuel, Too
by Erik F. Ringle (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Scientists Mapped Out a "Bicyclic Carbon Fixation" Pathway for Speeding Up Gas Fermentation in Specialized Bacteria -- ... Certain species of bacteria ferment carbon dioxide (CO2) gas to make their own nutrients
August 10, 2022 Read Full Article
En Route to Market: Alder Fuels and NREL Partner to Scale Sustainable Aviation Fuel Technology for Commercial Use
by Erik F. Ringle (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) A critical pathway for producing large quantities of low- to negative-carbon sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is en route to market following a collaborative research and development agreement between the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
August 09, 2022 Read Full Article
Ethanol-Basher Scores 100%...in Idiocy -- Anti-Ethanol Writers Must Go!
by Marc J. Rauch (The Auto Channel) ... The focus of my presentations was to talk about the urgent need to educate consumers and consumer influencers about the benefits of ethanol fuel. Almost simultaneous with my plane touching down in my home
August 02, 2022 Read Full Article
Found: The ‘Holy Grail of Catalysis’ — Turning Methane into Methanol under Ambient Conditions Using Light
by Paul Boisvert (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) An international team of researchers, led by scientists at the University of Manchester, has developed a fast and economical method of converting methane, or natural gas, into liquid methanol at ambient temperature and
July 26, 2022 Read Full Article
Victor Tango Foxtrot – The Pursuit of Affordable Sustainable Aviation Fuels at Scale
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In aviation fuels as elsewhere in life, it’s sustainable, affordable, available, pick two out of three. You can find affordable SAF, but not in big volumes. You can find as much unaffordable SAF as you like. as
July 21, 2022 Read Full Article
Boeing and Alder Fuels Partner to Scale Sustainable Aviation Fuel Globally
(Boeing/CISION PR Newswire) - Conversion of sustainable forest and agricultural residues can displace the need for typical jet fuel by up to 75 percent in the U.S.; - Boeing will support testing and qualification of Alder Fuels' SAF on its airplanes -- Boeing
July 19, 2022 Read Full Article
Forget Saudi Arabia — Biden Should Have Gone to South Dakota: Letters to the Editor for July 17
by Doug Sombke (South Dakota Farmers Union/Argus Leader/Governors' Biofuels Coalition) President Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia to beg for more oil seems unnecessary to us — he could have saved himself a long trip by coming to see what is being
July 19, 2022 Read Full Article
Both Ends of the Bridge at Once: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to the DOE’s Co-Optima Project
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What’s the perfect fuel, and the perfect vehicle? Can we optimize both at the same time, instead of optimizing one at a time? Researchers associated with the Co-Optima project aim to identify low carbon fuel-engine
July 18, 2022 Read Full Article
PNNL: New Artificial Enzyme Breaks Down Tough, Woody Lignin
(Pacific Northwest National Laboratory/Ethanol Producer Magazine) A new artificial enzyme has shown it can chew through lignin, the tough polymer that helps woody plants hold their shape. Lignin also stores tremendous potential for renewable energy and materials. Reporting in the journal Nature
July 15, 2022 Read Full Article
Utilizing Biorefinery Waste Gas: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to NREL
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) NREL’s waste gas researchers are rethinking industrial flue gas from a waste to a feedstock, with the help of LanzaTech. Find out how the integration of CO2 electrolysis with microbial syngas upgrading to utilize biorefinery
July 15, 2022 Read Full Article
Badass POP Missile Fuel Arrives from Berkeley’s Labs: Will America Keep a Hold of Them?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Simulation data from Sandia suggests “that POP fuel candidates are safe and stable at room temperature and will have energy density values of more than 50 megajoules per liter after chemical processing. That’s 56 percent more
July 12, 2022 Read Full Article
ANL: Can Farms Produce to the Max and Still Reduce GHG Emissions?
by Kristen Mally Dean (Argonne National Laboratory/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... With new practices, farmers can make farms a net sink of CO2, helping the U.S. reach its goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Sustainable intensification is a two-prong approach many think
July 08, 2022 Read Full Article
Whatever Happened to Cellulosic Ethanol?
by David Kramer (Physics Today) Technological immaturity, falling oil prices, overoptimistic investors, and regulatory uncertainty are blamed for the failure of a promising biofuel technology to perform as hoped. -- Despite a decade and a half of big US federal investments
July 06, 2022 Read Full Article
Bacteria for Blastoff: Using Microbes to Make Supercharged New Rocket Fuel
by Aliyah Kovner (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) ... Well aware of the advantages biology has to offer, a group of biofuel experts led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) took inspiration from an extraordinary antifungal molecule made by Streptomyces bacteria to
July 04, 2022 Read Full Article
Biofuel Revolution: Could Common Bacteria Found in Soil Fuel Jet Planes
by Trenton Doyle (NZ Herald) New research has found a way to make explosive compounds using bacteria commonly found soil - which could pave the way for cleaner alternatives to jet fuel. And with fuel prices at record highs, some scientists
July 01, 2022 Read Full Article
Can Farms Produce to the Max and Still Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions?
by Kristen Mally Dean (Argonne National Laboratory) Decarbonizing agriculture is critical for the U.S. to reach net zero emissions by 2050. A new data-driven approach looks at practices that are good for the earth and profitable for farmers. -- The
June 27, 2022 Read Full Article
Biofuel, Ag Groups Comment on SEC Climate Disclosures Rulemaking
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) ... Growth Energy’s comments focused on the calculation of biofuel GHG emissions. “The proposed rule would require many public companies to calculate and disclose GHG emissions from throughout their entire supply chain and production cycle,” Growth Energy
June 26, 2022 Read Full Article
Ethanol vs. Petroleum-Based Fuel Carbon Emissions
by Valerie Sarisky-Reed (U.S. Department of Energy) Biofuels have been proven to emit significantly lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than petroleum-based fuels, and recent scientific studies indicate that net-zero emission biofuels are not only possible, but achievable. Corn ethanol and other biofuels are
June 24, 2022 Read Full Article
The Biofuel Folks Might Like a Word about Your Corn Stover
by Brian O'Connor (No-Till Farmer) ... A study published in the Journal of Cleaner Production found that harvesting up to 30% of corn stover on a field for use in fuel products could increase revenues for growers and decrease the negative impact on the environment,
June 20, 2022 Read Full Article
Quantity in Search of Quality: Los Alamos National Laboratory Makes a Case for Improving Algae Genome Data
by Sheila Van Cuyk (U.S. Department of Energy) The potential for advancing algal biofuels and bioproducts relies on using algae strains that are best suited for industrial production. Genomic sequence data—the functional information in the DNA of a specific organism such as
June 16, 2022 Read Full Article
On the Road to a Net-Zero-Carbon Transportation Future
(U.S. Department of Energy) America’s car, truck, and train wheels keep turning, while planes and boats take to the skies and oceans, releasing 1.5 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere every year. Breakthroughs from the U.S. Department of Energy
June 14, 2022 Read Full Article
Plastic Waste in America Could Help Power Transportation and Industry
(U.S. Department of Energy) With funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) were able to calculate that America’s landfills hold nearly 44 million metric tons—or 97 billion pounds—of discarded plastic, a
June 02, 2022 Read Full Article
Southwest Airlines Invests in Sustainable Aviation Fuel Pilot Project Supported by the Department of Energy
(Southwest Airlines/PR Newswire) Carrier's first-of-its-kind investment supports the development of technology intended to commercialize sustainable aviation fuel -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) ("Southwest" or the "Company") today announces an investment into SAFFiRE Renewables, LLC (SAFFiRE), a company formed by D3MAX, LLC
June 01, 2022 Read Full Article
New Artificial Enzyme Breaks Down Tough, Woody Lignin
(Science Daily/DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Study shows promise for developing a new renewable energy source -- An innovative artificial enzyme has shown it can chew through woody lignin, an abundant carbon-based substance that stores tremendous potential for renewable energy and
June 01, 2022 Read Full Article
SAF Production Expands for a Low-Carbon Future
by Scott Jenkins (Chemical Engineering Magazine) ... The current environmental and geopolitical situation is prompting petroleum refiners across the globe to evaluate their assets and explore how to adapt to a carbon-constrained future, and one in which the negative climate effects
May 30, 2022 Read Full Article
RFA Calls on EPA to Remove Controversial Studies from Peer Reviewed Congressional Process
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, a recent, highly publicized report led by Tyler Lark of the University of Wisconsin attacking the Renewable Fuel Standard is “more problematic than what we initially evaluated to be the case,” according to a new review
May 27, 2022 Read Full Article
Ethanol’s Own SAF Runway
by Luke Geiver (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The world’s major airlines are racing to decarbonize air travel by backing and using sustainable aviation fuel. Much of it is now being produced via plant-based oils in tandem with renewable diesel. Soon, it
May 23, 2022 Read Full Article
NREL Senior Research Fellow Honored for International Leadership and Innovation in Energy Chemistry
by Cassandra Sulmeisters (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Senior Research Fellow Bob McCormick was recently recognized with one of the highest honors by the American Chemical Society (ACS): the Henry H. Storch Award in Energy Chemistry for
May 09, 2022 Read Full Article
News Release: NREL Scientists Advance Renewable Hydrogen Production Method
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Perovskite materials may hold the potential to play an important role in a process to produce hydrogen in a renewable manner, according to an analysis from scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Hydrogen has emerged as
May 09, 2022 Read Full Article
The “Green Crude” SAF Alternative: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Alder Fuels
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Alder Fuels’ Chief Technology Officer, Derek Vardon, shared this illuminating slide guide at ABLC highlighting how they are seeing a future of gathering energy instead of drilling for it and how the solution for
May 02, 2022 Read Full Article
15 AlgaePrize Teams Advance as Finalists
(U.S. Department of Energy) 15 teams are advancing as finalists in the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) 2022–2023 AlgaePrize competition. Finalist teams were selected based on their 10-page research synopsis which described each team’s research plan for their proposed project
April 25, 2022 Read Full Article
Rural Partners Network Launched: Empowering Rural Communities to Access Federal Resources
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Rural Partners Network is a new collaboration to strengthen the link between federal agencies and rural communities. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is proud to join this effort to help create jobs, build
April 23, 2022 Read Full Article
Co-Processing Cooperation: National Labs Working Together to Create Clean Energy Fuels
(U.S. Department of Energy) Since 2018, a multi-laboratory consortium, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and guided by an industrial advisory board, has focused on adding co-processing of bio-oils into existing refinery units with petroleum feedstocks to produce
April 22, 2022 Read Full Article
U.S. Biomethane Vehicle Projects Grow 85% in Two Years, Says Argonne
(Argonne National Laboratory) Made from organic waste, renewable natural gas is rapidly gaining ground as an alternative fuel source with the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Public and private interest in this low-carbon fuel has grown dramatically in
April 19, 2022 Read Full Article
Global Food Crisis Coming and Changes to GHG Modeling for Biofuels
(KIT) ...Two Senate Ag Committee members recently urged the EPA to update its greenhouse gas modeling for biofuels. Senators John Thune, of South Dakota, and Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota, asked the EPA to adopt the Argonne National Lab's Greenhouse Gases, Regulated
April 16, 2022 Read Full Article
Thune, Klobuchar Urge EPA to Update Biofuel Emissions Modeling
(KLGR) Two Senate Ag Committee members recently urged the Environmental Protection Agency to update its greenhouse gas modeling for biofuels. Senators John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, and Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, asked the EPA to adopt the Argonne National Lab’s
April 07, 2022 Read Full Article
GTI’s Terry Marker to Be Honored with Prestigious Don Klass Award at Upcoming tcbiomass2022
(GTI) GTI Senior Institute Engineer and Bioenergy Initiatives Manager, Terry Marker, will be presented with the prestigious 2022 Don Klass Award for Excellence in Thermochemical Conversion Science on April 20th at tcbiomass2022, being held in Denver, Colorado and co-hosted by the
April 05, 2022 Read Full Article
Not Your Average SOS: Research Methods to Respond to and Prevent Algae Crop Collapse
by Daniel B. Fishman and Anne Otwell (U.S. Department of Energy) National laboratories discover the telltale signs of algae distress to target effective treatments and mitigate crop collapse. -- Algae are an exciting renewable feedstock for the future of sustainable
April 01, 2022 Read Full Article
Bioconversion of Algae Proteins & Carbs: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Sandia National Lab’s Algae Work
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) If you want to know what is being done to overcome current limitations for conversion of algae biomass to fuels and bioproducts by efficient utilization of proteins and carbohydrates, which are the dominant components of
April 01, 2022 Read Full Article
New Perspective Highlights Promise of Hybrid Approach for Cellulosic Biofuel Production
by S. Heather Duncan (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) Scientists with the Center for Bioenergy Innovation at ORNL highlighted a hybrid approach that uses microbes and catalysis to convert cellulosic biomass into fuels suitable for aviation and other difficult-to-electrify sectors. -- The
March 31, 2022 Read Full Article
Separation Innovations & Tech: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Bioprocessing Separations Consortium
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 50-70% of bioprocessing costs are associated with separations, so there is a need to raise technical maturity of separations for biomass-derived intermediate and product streams while reducing costs and addressing the major separation challenges. So
March 31, 2022 Read Full Article
Argonne Researcher Tests New Approach to Lighten the Carbon Footprint of Locomotives
by Kristen Mally Dean (Argonne National Laboratory) Using hydrous ethanol as a dual fuel in internal combustion engines may help reduce greenhouse gases in the rail industry. -- ... Essam El-Hannouny, a principal mechanical engineer at the Department of Energy’s (DOE)
March 30, 2022 Read Full Article
AECOM Enters Strategic Partnership with Genifuel to Transform Algae and Wastewater Biosolids into Sustainable Aviation Fuel
(AECOM) AECOM, the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, today announced it has signed a strategic agreement with Genifuel Corporation to scale production of carbon neutral sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and biogas from wild algae and biosolids. The partnership employs a patent-pending
March 25, 2022 Read Full Article
New Bioprocesses for Lignin Valorization: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to NREL’s Biological Lignin Work
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) NREL is focusing on commodity productswith sufficient market sizes to aid biofuels production (e.g., adipic acid), working with Lignin Util. & SepConfor lignin substrates, and developing innovative biocatalysts and bioprocesses for lignin valorization. Get all
March 25, 2022 Read Full Article
Three Partners, Two Problems, One Bioenergy Research Article Published
by Valerie Sarisky-Reed (U.S. Department of Energy) ... The journal Nature Biotechnology recently published a paper featuring cutting-edge work funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). The article details a carbon-negative platform that uses microorganisms to convert carbon captured
March 24, 2022 Read Full Article
Greener Biofuel Production Beckons
(Chemical Processing) Novel electrocatalyst-based system operates at mild conditions and produces hydrogen -- A research team at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, Wash., has developed a patent-pending system that uses a flow cell bioreactor to turn carbon previously
March 24, 2022 Read Full Article
The Comment that Silenced the Crowd: Heard on the Floor at ABLC 2022
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Topsoe’s Mikala Grubb stepped in. “What we have is a solids to liquids conversion problem.” The room went quiet, quiet like a church. “750 delegates negotiating in a small hotel but you can hear a watch
March 22, 2022 Read Full Article
In Search of a Later Biomass Expiration Date
by Nichole Fitzgerald (U.S. Department of Energy) How Idaho National Laboratory's Dr. Lynn Wendt has come to understand and mitigate the detrimental impacts of biomass decay after harvest. -- Renewable biomass is one of the key clean energy resources that will
March 21, 2022 Read Full Article
oneworld® Alliance Members Plan to Purchase Up to 200 Million Gallons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel per Year from Gevo
(Gevo) oneworld® Alliance, a network of world-class airlines, and Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) announced today that certain oneworld members plan to purchase up to 200 million gallons per year of sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”) from Gevo (the “ oneworld Alliance SAF Purchase Goal”).
March 21, 2022 Read Full Article
Bioenergy Research and Development for the Fuels and Chemicals of Tomorrow
(Bergeson & Campbell) On March 16, 2022, the House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing on “Bioenergy Research and Development for the Fuels and Chemicals of Tomorrow.” According to the hearing charter, the purpose of the hearing
March 19, 2022 Read Full Article
Biofuels Leaders Agree Robust, Consistent Policy Needs to Support Decarbonization Goals
by Nicole Heslip (Brownfield Ag News) Leaders from the biofuels industry say the dialog between biofuels and refining communities is changing as efforts increase to decarbonize the economy. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor says the U.S. simply cannot achieve its climate goals
March 19, 2022 Read Full Article
Argonne Pioneers New Processes to Create Materials for Batteries, Biofuels
(Newswise/Argonne National Laboratory) New chemical separations enable battery recycling, biodiesel -- When recycling cans and bottles, at some point it becomes necessary to separate out plastic from metal. When recycling car batteries, getting out the most valuable metals also requires a separation,
March 19, 2022 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Calls on DOE to Set the Record Straight on Anti-Ethanol Study
(Growth Energy) Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor sent a letter to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm calling on the department to address the most recent inaccurate and misleading study by Tyler Lark and others that claims to have been partially
March 16, 2022 Read Full Article
Beyond Corn: Panel Mulls Future of Bio-Based Fuels, Chemicals
by Mark Heller (E&E Daily) The House Science, Space and Technology Committee will hold a hearing this week on bioenergy. -- The House Science, Space and Technology Committee this week will peek into the future of biofuels — a future that's
March 14, 2022 Read Full Article
UNT BioDiscovery Institute Is One Step Closer to Sustainable Plant-Based Fuel
by Amy Brundeen (University of North Texas) ... Helping plants produce C-lignin could lead to crops that are useful for creating an economically feasible plant-based jet fuel, among other applications. The latest findings from (Richrd) Dixon’s lab at UNT’s BioDiscovery
March 12, 2022 Read Full Article
Ethanol Can Help Reduce Toxic Gasoline Aromatics
by Savannah Bertrand (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Every gallon of gasoline sold in the United States contains toxic chemicals called aromatic hydrocarbons—mainly mixtures of BTEX chemicals, which stands for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene—that increase octane. Higher octane levels prevent engines from prematurely
March 09, 2022 Read Full Article
Outstanding Faculty in Discovery: Kilaz Aims for Sustainably Fueled Future
by John O'Malley (Purdue University) Gozdem Kilaz, associate professor of engineering technology, has been recognized for her contributions to the research mission in Purdue University’s Polytechnic Institute. In May 2021, Kilaz received the college’s Outstanding Faculty in Discovery Award. Kilaz holds bachelor’s
March 08, 2022 Read Full Article
To the (Climate) Rescue: From First Blip in Chromatogram to Deployment at Industrial Pilot Scale
by Fungmin Eric Liew (Lanza Tech/Nature Bioengineering Community) Industrial waste gas can serve as feedstock to manufacture fuels and chemicals through gas fermentation. Our work describes a collaborative and multidisciplinary team effort to engineer gas-utilizing microbe to produce acetone and
March 08, 2022 Read Full Article
Now on Broadway: LanzaTech’s $2.2B SPAC Merger Takes the Advanced Bioeconomy’s Biggest Hit to an Even Bigger Stage
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Illinois, news arrived that LanzaTech will go public in a merger with the NASDAQ-traded blank check firm AMCI Acquisition Corp II. The deal is reported to value the company at $2.2 billion. The transaction is expected
March 08, 2022 Read Full Article
Energy Vision/Argonne Analysis Shows Growth in US Renewable Natural Gas Industry
(Energy Vision) Expanding RNG Could Be a Key Strategy for Cutting Methane Emissions and Tackling Climate Change -- The sustainable energy NGO Energy Vision today released its latest assessment of the US renewable natural gas (RNG) industry, performed on behalf
March 07, 2022 Read Full Article
Delegations From Latin America, Mexico Visit U.S., Attend Ethanol Events
(U.S. Grains Council/GrainNet) As part of ongoing market development efforts in Chile, Guatemala, and Mexico, and to increase ethanol use in Colombia, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC)hosted a delegation comprised of key government and industry representatives last week. The group attended the National Ethanol Conference (NEC) in New Orleans before visiting the Denver area
March 04, 2022 Read Full Article
Composition and Yield of Non-Cellulosic and Cellulosic Sugars in Soluble and Particulate Fractions during Consolidated Bioprocessing of Poplar Biomass by Clostridium thermocellum
by Ajaya K. Biswal, Neal N. Hengge, Ian M. Black, Melani A. Atmodjo, Sushree S. Mohanty, David Ryno, Michael E. Himmel, Parastoo Azadi, Yannick J. Bomble & Debra Mohnen (Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts) Terrestrial plant biomass is the primary renewable
March 02, 2022 Read Full Article
Beyond Fossil Carbon? Green Electricity Is Opening Doors to Low-Emission Alternatives for Making Fuels and Chemicals
by Erik F. Ringle (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) With Extensive Data, Broad Analyses, and Detailed Models, NREL Scientists and Collaborators Stake the Boundaries of Producing Chemicals and Fuels From Carbon Dioxide, Biomass, and Renewable Electricity -- ... In fact, growing supplies of
February 28, 2022 Read Full Article
De-Risking Biorefinery Scale-up and Startup: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to FCIC
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium is led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and coordinates efforts among 9 labs – big ones like NREL, ORNL, Sandia, INL and others. Check out the
February 28, 2022 Read Full Article
Impact of Ethanol-Blended Fuel in Vehicles: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to NREL’s Ethanol Study
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) National Renewable Energy Laboratory’sstudy looks at the impact of ethanol-blended fuel at various blending levels (10%, 15%, and 20% vol.) on “in-operation” vehicles built to differing emissions and manufacturing standards around the world – focusing
February 24, 2022 Read Full Article
Carbon-Negative Production of Acetone and Isopropanol by Gas Fermentation at Industrial Pilot Scale
by Fungmin Eric Liew, Robert Nogle, Tanus Abdalla, et al. (Nature Biotechnology) Many industrial chemicals that are produced from fossil resources could be manufactured more sustainably through fermentation. Here we describe the development of a carbon-negative fermentation route to producing
February 21, 2022 Read Full Article
From the Lab to the Sky: Five Things to Know about Biofuel-Powered Flights
(U.S. Department of Energy ) On December 1, 2021, a United 737 Max 8 carried more than 100 passengers from Chicago to Washington, D.C.—just one of roughly 87,000 flights over the United States that day. Reporters and TV crews gathered to
February 12, 2022 Read Full Article
LanzaJet and Marquis Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Partner to Build an Integrated Sustainable Fuels Plant in Illinois
(LanzaJet) This partnership will utilize carbon capture and sequestration, renewable energy, and other innovative practices to bring lower-cost, low carbon-intensity sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel, and other sustainable hydrocarbons to the global market and help accelerate the decarbonization of various
February 10, 2022 Read Full Article
Garbage Changing the Game? How Municipal Waste Is Becoming a Bioenergy Champion
by Michelle Goff (Idaho National Laboratory) As our global need for sustainable fuel grows, bioenergy is one resource that holds the key to unlocking a cleaner, more renewable energy future. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) bioenergy researcher Rebecca Brown is leading new research that supports
February 10, 2022 Read Full Article
Alder Fuels CEO Bryan Sherbacow Wins the 2022 Global Bioeconomy Leadership Award for 2022
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, The Daily Digest announced that Alder Fuels CEO Bryan Sherbacow will receive the 2022 Global Bioeconomy Leadership Award and will give the Global Leadership Address at ABLC 2022, the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference, on