by Sampad Nandy (S&P Global) Cites availability issues with sugarcane, rice, corn; Calls on experts to develop higher-yielding sweet sorghum; Targets 20% ethanol blending by 2025 -- The Indian government may push for sweet sorghum as an alternative to sugarcane to diversify ethanol feedstocks,
rice
Back TO HOMEAsia Feeling the Heat of Climate Change
(Biofuels International) The potential for biofuels to play a leading role in Asia’s under-pressure energy mix appears to be on the rise. Nailing down that potential will take time, effort and investment, but opportunities for sector growth are being strengthened by policy
November 04, 2024 Read Full Article
India Eyes Higher Ethanol Blend Post-2025 Mandate
by Samyak Pandey (Reuters) India plans to raise ethanol blend above 20%; The program saved costs and reduced emissions while benefiting sugar industry; Bioenergy remain key for India's clean energy transition. -- The Indian government has begun discussions to develop a post-2025
October 15, 2024 Read Full Article
Report: Low Corn Prices Support Expansion of Chinese Ethanol Production
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol production and demand in China are expected to increase 17% this year, according to a report filed with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural Information Network. Domestic ethanol production capacity in China is
September 20, 2024 Read Full Article
Marcos Urged to Reduce Rice Production Costs through Palm Oil Biofuels
(Philippines Graphic) In his third State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his commitment to making food affordable for every Filipino, particularly focusing on reducing the price of rice, which currently ranges from PhP45-65 per kilogram. To address this
August 08, 2024 Read Full Article
Corporate Window: Looking towards Ethanol
by Abdul Waheed Bhutto (Dawn) Liquid biofuels derived from renewable sources such as edible and non-edible oils and animal fats provide an eco-friendly alternative to traditional petroleum-based fuels. These biofuels can be easily blended with diesel and gasoline (petrol) for use in existing engines,
August 05, 2024 Read Full Article
Government Unveils Scheme to Establish Bio-Ethanol Plants
(Chemical Industry Digest) Government has unveiled plans to establish several bio-ethanol plants nationwide under the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana. The initiative is designed to foster the production of second-generation (2G) bioethanol from cellulosic and lignocellulosic biomass, promoting cleaner fuel alternatives and bolstering
August 05, 2024 Read Full Article
Next Gen Farmer In Arkansas Recasts The Future
by Cheyenne Kramer (AgWeb) ... In the heart of the Arkansas delta, Hallie Shoffner has a legacy to uphold. As a sixth-generation farmer in a town incorporated by her ancestors, she’s spent the past five years working to sustain and grow
June 10, 2024 Read Full Article
Nayara to Set up Two Ethanol Plants
by Kalpana Pathak (Economic Times/Microsoft Start) Mumbai: Russian energy giant Rosneft-backed Nayara Energy is planning to invest ₹600 crore to set up two ethanol manufacturing plants in the country, said a senior company executive. Each plant will have a production capacity of
May 14, 2024 Read Full Article
Govt Plans to Procure More Maize to Ramp up Production of Ethanol
by Zia Haq (Hindustan Times) ... India has drawn up plans to divert more maize to make ethanol for the country’s fuel-blending programme and ramp up output nearly 10 times in five years, three officials said on Monday. Maize, or corn, the
March 05, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Praj Industries and Leveraging Bioeconomy for Sustainable Future
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The eminent danger of climate change, Praj’s Expertise and Readiness for Sustainable Future, opportunities with the Multi-feed and Multi-product Biorefinery Complex, and the Collective Efforts Toward Sustainable Future represented by the new Global Biofuels Alliance. These
February 23, 2024 Read Full Article
OMCs to Procure over 300 Crore Litres Lines of Ethanol Annually from Upcoming Plants across 8 States
by Rish Ranjan Kala (The Hindu Business Line) The OMCs will procure the highest 97 crore litres annually from Tamil Nadu followed by Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh -- State-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) will procure more than 300 crore litres
February 15, 2024 Read Full Article
Interview: India's Biofuel Push to Be Driven by Power, Transport Sectors: Biofuel Junction Founder
by Sampad Nandy and Samyak Pandey (S&P Global) Measuring carbon intensity of feedstock pathway yet to arrive in India; India biofuel push should be market driven; Developing technology to process animal fat, tallow, UCO next step -- India's domestic power and road transport sectors should
February 15, 2024 Read Full Article
India Could Triple Its Biofuel Use and Accelerate Global Deployment
by Jeremy Moorhouse and Astha Gupta (IEA) India has quickly joined the ranks of major biofuel producer and consumer thanks to a set of coordinated policies, high-level political support, and an abundance of feedstocks. Over the next five years it has the
February 07, 2024 Read Full Article
EU Parliament’s Environmental Committee Supports Relaxing Rules on Genetically Modified Plants
by Samuel Petrequin (Associated Press) Lawmakers on the European Parliament’s environment committee on Wednesday backed a proposal to relax rules on genetically modified plants produced using so-called new genomic techniques, prompting strong criticism from environmental groups. The issue of genetically modified organisms
January 31, 2024 Read Full Article
India in Talks with Brazil for Tech Partnership to Expand Ethanol Usage
(Press Trust of India/Business Standard) India is in talks with Brazil for a technological partnership to expand usage of ethanol, amid a push for alternative fuels to cut carbon emission -- ... Brazil has been using ethanol for a very long time
January 16, 2024 Read Full Article
Green Ammonia Could Decarbonize 60% of Global Shipping When Offered at Just 10 Regional Fuel Ports
(IOP Publishing) A study published today in IOP Publishing’s journal Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability has found that green ammonia could be used to fulfil the fuel demands of over 60% of global shipping by targeting just the top 10 regional fuel ports. Researchers
January 11, 2024 Read Full Article
No Dilution in Ethanol-Petrol Blending Plan Despite Sugar Feedstock Curbs: Govt
by Sukalp Sharma (The Indian Express) The decision to stop diversion of sugar cane juice and sugar syrup for ethanol production, taken to ensure enough sugar supply in the country and keep prices of the sweetener in check, led to concerns
December 08, 2023 Read Full Article
Not Just EVs, Min. Nitin Gadkari Plans to Fight Pollution with Biofuels, Alt Fuels; Unveils New Green Roadmap
(FirstPost) While speaking in today's Rajya Sabha session, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, revealed a new roadmap for India's green mobility revolution, which is based not just on EVs, but also biofuels, and alt fuels -- ... Nitin Gadkari
December 06, 2023 Read Full Article
Villagers Resist India's Biofuel Push over Hidden Health Risks
by Bhasker Tripathi (Context) Tensions caused by a new ethanol plant in the south reveal the social and environmental challenges of India's plan for greener fuel -- India's millions of small-scale farmers face rising pressure from climate change, which is hurting harvests
November 30, 2023 Read Full Article
Villagers Resist India's Biofuel Push, Fearing Hidden Health Risks
By Bhasker Tripathi (Reuters) Communities fear pollution from new ethanol plants; Using rice, maize for fuel threatens food security; Climate benefits of crop-based biofuels questioned -- Over a year ago, locals were alarmed when they saw construction begin on the
November 24, 2023 Read Full Article
Biofuels Hold Promise as Alternative to Fossil Fuels
by Pitambara and Bishwa Bhaskar Choudhary (The Tribune) The govt should consider making a budgetary allocation to implement measures to promote wasteland for the cultivation of energy crops and impart technical know-how to farmers. Increasing the allocation and extending the term
October 16, 2023 Read Full Article
Biofuels Production and Development in China
by Fuli Li and Yixuan Fan (Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences/IEA Bioenergy Task 39) Summary: China is the world’s largest liquefied natural gas import country, has the world’s largest car fleet, the second largest gasoline
October 13, 2023 Read Full Article
Opinion: A Future with Biofuels
by Nripendra Abhishek Nrip (Telangana Today) India should take a lesson from Brazil which has successfully scaled up its bioethanol marketing by focusing on flexible fuel vehicles -- The New Delhi Declaration adopted at the G20 Summit announced the setting up of
October 02, 2023 Read Full Article
Yokogawa and Phytochem Products to Collaborate on Recovery Technology for Bio-based Ingredients
by Mary Bailey (Chemical Engineering) Yokogawa Solution Service Corp. and Phytochem Products Inc. announced the signing of an agreement whereby the two companies will collaborate in the development of a technology for the extraction of functional ingredients and biofuels from byproducts that have been
September 11, 2023 Read Full Article
Sugar Body ISMA Seeks 5% GST on Flex-Fuel Vehicles in Line with EVs
(Press Trust of India/Business Standard) Sugar industry body ISMA on Monday sought GST rate of 5 per cent for vehicles using flex fuels, same as that on electric vehicles -- Sugar industry body ISMA on Monday sought GST rate of 5 per
August 30, 2023 Read Full Article
Exclusive: India Set to Ban Sugar Exports for First Time in 7 Years
by Rajendra Jadhav and Mayank Bhardwaj (Reuters) India is expected to ban mills from exporting sugar in the next season beginning October, halting shipments for the first time in seven years, as a lack of rain has cut cane yields, three
August 23, 2023 Read Full Article
Govt Said to Have Hiked Ethanol Rates Fearing Fall in Blending as Distilleries Close Operation
by Prabhudatta Mishra (Business Line) According to the new rates effective from August 7, the purchase price of ethanol produced from rice has been increased by ₹4.75/litre to ₹60.29/litre and for ethanol produced from maize, price has been hiked by ₹6.01/litre
August 08, 2023 Read Full Article
Bold Biofuel Ambitions: This Is an Important Year for India
(Biofuels International) This is an important year for India with the country holding the G20 presidency through to the end of November, giving the nation’s leaders several opportunities to help shape future policies and programmes across many sectors, including their already-declared
August 03, 2023 Read Full Article
Why FCI Stopped Rice Supply For Ethanol
by Sanjeeb Mukherjee (rediff.com) In a move that could impact India's ambitious ethanol blending petrol (EBP) programme, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has stopped the supply of rice from its depots for ethanol production. About 100 distilleries across the country that
August 01, 2023 Read Full Article
Crop Science Innovation Summit 2023: Bayer Sees More than Doubling of Accessible Markets and Potential to Shape Regenerative Agriculture on More than 400 Million Acres
(Bayer/PR Newswire) • Expectation to tap into more than 100 billion euros of value in accessible and ag-adjacent markets Unparalleled pipeline with estimated peak sales potential of more than 30 billion euros to promote regenerative agricultural practices and enable farmers to support both global food security
July 12, 2023 Read Full Article
Cyanobacteria in Sustainable Agriculture
by Randy Simpson (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) Cyanobacteria are a group of photosynthetic bacteria that can live in diverse environments, such as soil, water, and rocks. Handled properly, they can have several beneficial effects on crop growth, including helping control plant
June 27, 2023 Read Full Article
Unlocking the Deployment of Advanced Bioethanol Refineries
by Melich Seefeldt (Praj Industries/Biofuels Digest) Advanced bioethanol (also named 2G or cellulosic bioethanol from inedible biomass) and its co-products lignin, stillage, and biogenic CO2 are sustainable key tools to decarbonize the difficult-to-abate transport sector. In addition, they can be
June 12, 2023 Read Full Article
Will Low Carbon ‘Fuel’ Ag’s Next Golden Age?
by Mike Wilson (Farm Progress) Oil, ag processors combine to expand demand for low carbon oilseeds. -- ... There is a scenario unfolding that could keep this bull market hot for several years, even if high prices ‘cure’ high prices
May 13, 2023 Read Full Article
EBP Goal. India Eyes Sugarcane Model to Raise Maize Output to Meet 20% Ethanol Blending Target
by Prabhudatta Mishra (The Hindu Business Line) The area under sugarcane has to increase, and the subsidised rice offered by FCI is not sustainable, says Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra -- The Indian government may have to develop a sugarcane-type ecosystem
May 04, 2023 Read Full Article
Hardeep Singh Puri Confident of Meeting 20 pc Ethanol Blending Target Next Fiscal
(Economic Times) Use of E20 leads to an estimated reduction of carbon monoxide emissions by about 50 per cent in two-wheelers and about 30 per cent in four-wheelers compared to E0 (neat petrol). Hydrocarbon emissions are estimated to reduce by
April 17, 2023 Read Full Article
The Promise of Advancing Biomanufacturing Innovation
by Greg Potter and Glenn Farris (Lipiferm Scientific andFarris Advisory Services/Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) On September 12, 2022, President Joe Biden issued an Executive Order to Advance Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation to support solutions in health, climate change, energy, food security,
February 20, 2023 Read Full Article
PM Modi Rolls out 20% Ethanol-Blended Petrol in 11 States/UTs
(The Hindu/PTI) It has been launched ahead of the planned rollout in April, at the India Energy Week in Bengaluru. -- Petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol was rolled out on Monday, February 6, 2023, at select petrol pumps
February 07, 2023 Read Full Article
India's Sugarcane-Based Ethanol Plan Has a Big Problem: Water
bySupriya Vohra (Quartz) While India is making a push for ethanol-blended petrol, by incentivizing sugarcane-derived ethanol, concerns remain about the water-guzzling nature of the sugarcane and fair remuneration for farmers. On Nov. 2, the center, as part of its ethanol blending programme
December 19, 2022 Read Full Article
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Urges IITians to Focus Their Research on Use of Bio-technology for Production of Bio-CNG, Bio-LNG and Green Hydrogen from Bio-mass
(Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways/ PIB Mumbai) We need to identify the commodities being imported in the country and then focus on developing Swadeshi alternatives for those: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister -- "Prioritize research on forest-based
November 29, 2022 Read Full Article
Spirited Manufacturing: Why Grain-Based Distilleries Might Be the Answer to India’s Rising Ethanol Demand
by Vasu Naren (Voices, India/Times of India) ... India currently produces significantly more grain than its total domestic and export requirement. Around 10-15% of the grain is also lost to spoilage during harvest, transport, and storage every year, amounting to
October 26, 2022 Read Full Article
20% Ethanol-Blended Petrol May Be Available by Dec or Jan: Puri
(The Tribune) Twenty per cent ethanol-blended petrol is likely to be available in the country from December or January, ahead of the April 2023 target, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Friday. "We are constantly reviewing
October 15, 2022 Read Full Article
Pretreating Soil with Ethanol Protects Plants from Drought
(RIKEN/Phys.Org) Ethanol can help plants survive in times of drought says a new study conducted at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science in Japan. Led by Motoaki Seki, researchers show that adding ethanol to soil allows plants, including rice
August 26, 2022 Read Full Article
Mumbai to Roll out Its First Green Hydrogen Buses
by Somit Sen (Times of India/Net4News) BEST has proposed to convert 220 diesel buses of Mumbai to ones running on "green hydrogen" with a pilot project planned with the Union transport ministry, announced BEST general manager Lokesh Chandra. It is a
August 24, 2022 Read Full Article
India’s Sugar Industry Set for Windfall Amid Ethanol Push
by Ravi Gupta (Times of India) India’s determination to increase use of biofuels drove a massive increase in ethanol production in the last 5 years and continuing. The demand for ethanol is keeping the pace and is only set to grow
August 17, 2022 Read Full Article
Government's Ethanol Blending Programme to be a Game Changer for India
(PTI/Devdiscourse) Rs. 30K Cr Annually Mumbai, Maharashtra, India NewsVoir Bharat Petroleum, the second largest Indian Oil Marketing Company and one of the premier integrated energy companies in India, has reiterated the strategic importance of biofuels in India, on occasion of World
August 09, 2022 Read Full Article
Work on Ethanol Plant in Ambala to Commence by Oct 2022
(Projects Today) Fylfot Geoworks is planning to set up ethanol unit with at Patvi in Ambala district of Haryana. The proposed unit will have a capacity of 100 klpd and will spread over 25 acres land parcel. The project will
August 05, 2022 Read Full Article
Can We Hack DNA in Plants to Help Fight Climate Change?
by Madeleine Stone (National Geographic) Using CRISPR genome editing on a few common crops, a team of plant and soil scientists seeks to vastly increase and speed up carbon storage to help fight climate change. -- ... we will also need to
July 19, 2022 Read Full Article
How CRISPR Rice Could Help Tackle Climate Change: Gene-Edited Rice Might Be Better at Trapping Carbon Dioxide
by Justine Calma (The Verge) Can gene-editing technology CRISPR create new crops that help fight climate change as they grow? That’s what a group of researchers hopes to do with $11 million in funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. The
July 01, 2022 Read Full Article
Government Signs Protocol of Intentions with the Company BSBios to Enable Ethanol Plant in Passo Fundo
(Governo do Estado Rio Grande do Sul (Google Translation)) Governor Ranolfo Vieira Júnior signed, on the morning of this Monday (20/6), at an event at Palácio Piratini, a protocol of intentions between the state government and the company BSBios to
June 24, 2022 Read Full Article
Buzz in Bihar: A Rs 500-cr Bottling Unit, Rs 105-cr Ethanol Plant, ‘More Coming’
by Santosh Singh (Indian Express) ... About 200 km to the east, a former brick-kiln owner is juggling “at least 200 calls every day”, from farmers, traders, suppliers and job-seekers ready to sign up for the new ethanol plant he is
June 06, 2022 Read Full Article
Roadmap for Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) in India
(The Statesman) ... For the past two decades, India has been making progress towards putting in place an ecosystem to increase the quantities of fuel-grade ethanol blended into petrol under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) program for its use in
June 06, 2022 Read Full Article
GACL and GAIL Signed Term Sheet for Setting up a 500 KLD Bioethanol Plant in Gujarat
(Equity Bulls) Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL) and GAIL (India) Limited (GAIL) have joined hands to set-up a Bioethanol plant of 500 KLD capacity. A Term Sheet for setting up a Bioethanol plant in Gujarat was signed by Shri
May 11, 2022 Read Full Article
Nitish Kumar Inaugurates First Greenfield Ethanol Plant in Bihar
by Rakesh Mohan Chaturvedi (Economic Times) The ethanol plant has been built using the latest technology and will not discharge any waste, making it a zero-liquid discharge plant that is completely environment friendly. It was commissioned under the Government of
May 04, 2022 Read Full Article
6 Key Takeaways from CII Webinar on ‘Ethanol Roadmap for 2025’
by Shivam Dwivedi (Krishi Jagran) CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) held a webinar titled "Ethanol Roadmap for 2025" on April 22, 2022, and GPS Renewables sponsored the webinar. The 'Ethanol Roadmap for 2025' webinar highlighted the market opportunity of 1G Ethanol
April 26, 2022 Read Full Article
Hydrise Group Gets Rs 50-cr Funding, to Set up an Ethanol Plant in Madhya Pradesh
(Economic Times) Already in its final stages, the ethanol plant is expected to start production in the year 2023. -- On a recent visit to London, Anuj Kumar Agarwal, promoter of Hydrise Group and Trade Commissioner of Tanzania, got funding
April 19, 2022 Read Full Article
The Implications of India’s Revised Roadmap for Biofuels: A Lifecycle Perspective
by Promit Mookherjee (Observer Research Foundation) Transport activity in India has increased more than sevenfold over the last two decades, its gasoline-fuelled pathway leading to a rapid rise in negative environmental externalities. To decouple the sector’s growth from high emissions,
March 08, 2022 Read Full Article
India May Continue Rice Subsidy for Ethanol to Reduce Stock
(UkrAgroConsult) Rice stock with FCI was at 53.89 mt as on Jan 1 — more than 7-times the stocking norm of 7.61 mt ... As the Centre has approved about 860 crore litres capacity of grain-based ethanol plants, taking the total capacity
February 03, 2022 Read Full Article
Report: Japan’s Ethanol Blend Level Averages 1.8% in 2021
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Fuel ethanol consumption in Japan is expected to reach 823 million liters (217.41 million gallons) in 2021, down from 850 million liters in 2020, according to a report filed with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s
January 06, 2022 Read Full Article
Govt Assures Ethanol Blending Plan Will Not Affect India's Food Security
(MSN/BusinessToday.IN) The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas said on Thursday that India's ambitious Ethanol blending plan will not affect the country's food security as meeting food grain demand is the top focus of the government. Noting that certain reports
October 08, 2021 Read Full Article
An Ambitious Ethanol Plan Spurs Food Security Fears in India
by Bibhudatta Pradhan and Pratik Parija (Bloomberg) Modi advances target for use of 20% ethanol-blended gasoline; Biofuel makers buying rice meant for poor at subsidized prices -- India’s ambitious plan to cut the use of fossil fuels by promoting ethanol derived
October 06, 2021 Read Full Article
China Backs away from Ethanol Commitment
by Sean Pratt (Western Producer) Corn is the top feedstock for China’s ethanol sector, followed by rice, cassava and wheat. The country’s production plants are expected to consume 4.07 million tonnes of corn in 2021. -- Country has unofficially abandoned its
October 05, 2021 Read Full Article
Centre Not Giving Permission to Chhattisgarh for Ethanol Production from Paddy: Bhupesh Baghel
(ANI/Sify) Expressing resentment against the central government for not giving permission to Chhattisgarh for ethanol production from paddy, state Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday said the state has infrastructure and paddy surplus for ethanol production. Addressing the inaugural event of
September 29, 2021 Read Full Article
The Insect Love Story that Never Happens: The Digest's 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Provivi
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Keeping pests apart – mating disruption is what it’s all about for Provivi which uses a patented production method, enabling a step-change in the cost of manufacturing of pheromones, allowing the use of this technology
September 16, 2021 Read Full Article
West Bengal Will Be Self-Sufficient in Rice Bran-Based Ethanol Production: CM Mamata Banerjee
(Financial Express) West Bengal will soon come up with an ethanol production and promotion policy to make the state self-sufficient in rice bran-based ethanol production that has to be blended with petrol and diesel for lowering pollutants from the fossil fuel. West
September 03, 2021 Read Full Article
Offering Biofuel Vehicles Will Be Mandatory for Auto Makers within 6 Months: Nitin Gadkari
(The Print) Consumers will have a choice between petrol & bioethanol. The switch to alternative is due to the surplus production of crops in India, from which bioethanol is made, Gadkari said. -- Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said India will
September 01, 2021 Read Full Article
Biofuels, RNG, SAF, Renewable Chem: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Praj
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) You may know Praj as a biofuels company but this slide guide from ABLC Digital highlights their growth and expansion into more. Check out Praj’s 2G tech enfinity, Bio-Mobility, Bio-Prism, ethanol projects updates, renewable natural
August 16, 2021 Read Full Article
Chhattisgarh Plans Biofuel Production from Paddy
(Mongabay/MoneyControl) Prasad said that the Bastar region is suitable for setting up rice-based biofuel plants, and even though biofuel can be made from any type of carbohydrate there should be a regular and assured supply of raw materials. -- Chhattisgarh had
July 30, 2021 Read Full Article
25 % Subsidy for Investors for Ethanol Production
(The Pioneer) In a bid to attract investors for ethanol production in the State, Department of Industries organised a Stakeholders’ Meet on the draft Jharkhand Ethanol Production and Promotion Policy 2021 on Tuesday during which the department announced that the State
July 28, 2021 Read Full Article
HPCL to Set up Ethanol Plant in Himachal's Una
(ANI/Yahoo!) The Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has decided to set up a grain based ethanol plant here in the Una district with a capacity of 125 KL per day, informed Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday. The state
June 22, 2021 Read Full Article
Editorial: Tread Cautiously on Ethanol Drive: Focus Should Be on Raising Non-Cane Contribution to Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme to Protect Crop Diversity
(Telengana Today) In the midst of soaring fuel prices and growing concerns over the environment, India has given a big push for the ethanol blended petrol programme (EBP), designed to reduce the country’s fossil fuel dependence and also lessen the burden
June 10, 2021 Read Full Article
India Takes Action to Increase Use, Production of Ethanol
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) India is taking action to increase domestic production and use of ethanol. The government in December opened a comment period on draft automotive industry standards (AIS) related to the country’s plans to introduce E85 and
January 25, 2021 Read Full Article
Govt Notifies Modified Scheme to Produce 1G Ethanol
(Indian Express News Service) “To increase production of fuel grade ethanol, Govt. is also encouraging distilleries to produce ethanol from maize; & rice available with Food Corporation of India,” the statement said. -- The government on Thursday notified the modified scheme
January 15, 2021 Read Full Article
Government Extends Interest Subvention for Ethanol to Grain-Based Units
by Sanjay Dutta (MSN/Times of India) The government on Wednesday approved interest subvention of Rs 4,573 crore to raise ethanol manufacturing capacity to 1,000 crore litres by including grain-based distilleries in addition to just molasses-based units. The government aims to use the
January 01, 2021 Read Full Article
India Mulls E20 Fuel to Cut Vehicular Emissions
(The NewzBox) The government on Friday proposed the adoption of E20 fuel — a blend of 20% of ethanol and gasoline — as an automobile fuel in order to reduce vehicular emissions as well as the country’s oil import bill. The Ministry
December 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Report: Japan’s Ethanol Blend Rate Expected at 1.9% in 2020
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Japan achieved an average ethanol blend rate of 1.6 percent in 2019. The blend rate is expected to increase to 1.9 percent this year due to an estimated 8 percent decrease in gasoline demand during
November 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Government Mulls Advancing 20% Ethanol Blending Target
(The Hindu Business Line) May also tap rice lying with FCI and maize from surplus States -- The Centre, which is trying to create an additional 468-crore litre ethanol capacities through loans for setting up distilleries, may advance the deadline for
November 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Chhattisgarh Seeks Centre’s Nod to Make Bio-Ethanol from Surplus Paddy
by Ritesh Mishra (Hindustan Times) Bhupesh Baghel informed Pradhan that an estimated 6 lakh tonnes of surplus paddy will be made available by the state government to ethanol plants for production. -- Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel met Union petroleum,
November 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Bharat Petroleum Confident of Meeting 10pc Ethanol Blending Target by 2022
(PTI/Outlook India) Bharat Petroleum, which is the national coordinator for ethanol blending by state-owned refiners, is confident of meeting the new government target of blending 10 per cent biofuel with petrol by 2022 with the latest addition of maze to
November 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Nano Grain-Based Ethanol Unit Opened at NSI
(Times of India) A nano grain-based ethanol unit, installed at the National Sugar Institute-Kanpur, was inaugurated by the vice-chancellor of the Harcourt Butler Technological University Kampur, on Thursday This unit is integrated with existing molasses-based ethanol unit and thus now the
November 10, 2020 Read Full Article
TerraSync Algae Micro Cover Crop: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Accelergy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Mark P. Allen, Vice President of Integrated Carbon Solutions at Accelergy, shared this illuminating slide guide on how Accelergy’s TerraSync is cost competitive, has soil health benefits, gobbles up CO2 better than any other
October 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Govt May Extend Soft Loans to Grain-Based Units to Spur Ethanol Output
(Business Standard/Trust of India) Under the scheme, the government has extended twice the interest subvention that comes up to Rs 4,600 crore for a loan amount of Rs 22,000 crore -- To boost ethanol production in the country, the government is considering extending
October 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Renewable Chemicals and Materials: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Praj’s Bioeconomy Perspective
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Praj Industries recently added renewable chemicals and materials to their portfolio of products going beyond biofuels and their Executive Chairman Dr. Pramod Chaudhari shared this illuminating presentation at ABLC Digital on the India story, the
July 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Bayer Takes Steps to Make Carbon Sequestration a Farmer’s Newest Crop Opportunity
(Bayer) Bayer to reward growers to generate carbon credits by adopting climate-smart practices and creating a new revenue stream on-farm / The initiative makes Bayer the first company to develop a transparent, science-based and collaborative approach to a carbon market
July 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Using Damaged Grains to Make Ethanol: Oil Retailers Await Norms
by Richa Mishra, TV Jayan (The Hindu Business Line) Commitment to EBP scheme gives sugar industry confidence to set up distilleries -- To ensure that the country does not miss any opportunity to generate its own fuel and bring down import
May 07, 2020 Read Full Article
Govt Approves Plan to Convert FCI's Surplus Rice into Ethanol
(Outlook The News Scroll) The government on Monday approved that surplus rice available with Food Corporation of India (FCI) can be converted into ethanol in order to manufacture alcohol-based hand sanitisers and also for blending with petrol. The decision was taken
April 21, 2020 Read Full Article
CM Writes to PM Seeking Approval for Bio-ethanol Plant
(Daily Pioneer) Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking approval for establishment of rice based bio-ethanol plant in the state. Notable, an application of the state is at present pending before the Union
February 11, 2020 Read Full Article
More May Be Needed to Sell Rice to Ethanol Makers
by Sampad Nandy (Cogencis) The government's plan to divert excess rice from the central pool towards ethanol production may run into a rough weather as higher price at the government's auction could just prompt distillers to move to spot markets. The government
December 27, 2019 Read Full Article
Commerce Min Turns down US Proposal to Reduce Import Duty on Ethanol
by Preeti Bhagat and Sampad Nandy (Cogencis) he commerce ministry has turned down a request by the US to reduce the import duty on de-natured ethanol entering the country to protect the domestic sugar and potable industry, as well as farmers,
December 03, 2019 Read Full Article
Biobased Battery, Starch-Based Gift Cards, Future Fashion, Plant-Based Flame Retardants, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of September 5th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week is a merry mix of biobased innovations around the world. From the creation of artificial reefs made from PLA in Israel and Spain’s starch-based gift cards to the U.S. where biobased battery materials are
September 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Chhattisgarh Mulls Plan to Become First Indian State Make Biofuel from Rice
R Krishna Das (Business Standard) Chief Minister Baghel says farming activity in the state was conducive to making fuel from rice, even sugarcane was in surplus and there would be no raw material crisis -- Chhattisgarh is planning to produce biofuel from
May 23, 2019 Read Full Article
Gevo to Work With Praj Industries to Commercialize Renewable Isobutanol, Jet Fuel and Isooctane in India
(Gevo/Globe Newswire) Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) announced today that it has signed a binding, definitive Construction License Agreement with Praj Industries Ltd., dated April 4, 2019, to commercialize the production of renewable isobutanol using sugary-based feedstocks, such as juice, syrup and
April 10, 2019 Read Full Article
New 'Architecture' Discovered in Corn: Scientists' Findings May Improve Biofuel Production
(Louisiana State University/Science Daily) New research on the United States' most economically important agricultural plant -- corn -- has revealed a different internal structure of the plant than previously thought, which can help optimize how corn is converted into ethanol. -- It
January 22, 2019 Read Full Article
China Set to Triple Its Ethanol Production Capacity: Government Researcher
by Hallie Gu and Dominique Patton (Reuters) China is set to more than triple its ethanol production capacity by 2020, a government researcher said on Tuesday, with demand for the commodity expected to surge as the country shifts toward cleaner fuels. The
December 11, 2018 Read Full Article
Rotten Potatoes: That's the Government's Answer to Your Rising Fuel Bill
by Garima Singh (Economic Times) ... While the government is hoping the rally in global rates declines soon, it is also looking at alternatives to lessen future pinches. This explains its current interest in rotten potatoes. You heard it right. India often overproduces
September 03, 2018 Read Full Article
A Yield Revolution in Row Crops Cometh
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Yield10’s Brave New World of Metabolic Engineering, Benson Hill’s cloud biology and CRISPR/Cas9 from Purdue and the Chinese Academy of Sciences? Crop yield may never be the same. And developers using crops for bioindustrials or nutrition stand
May 24, 2018 Read Full Article
Cabinet Approves National Biofuel Policy
(Times of India) The Cabinet today approved the National Policy on Biofuels which allows doping of ethanol produced from damaged foodgrains, rotten potatoes, corn and sugar beet with petrol to cut oil imports by Rs 4,000 crore this year alone. Till now
May 16, 2018 Read Full Article
Rising from the Ashes: Renewable Silica from Rice Husk Ash
(Biofuels Digest) At 758.8 million tonnes (503.6 million tonnes, milled basis), world paddy production in 2017 would stand 0.8 percent, or 5.8 million tons, above a revised estimate for 2016. The comparatively modest year-on-year increase mirrors constraints posed by tight
September 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Japan Considers Allowing US Ethanol to Meet Biofuel Mandate
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Japan recently filed a report with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural Information Network, noting the government plans to maintain its 500 million liter (132.09 million gallon) crude oil equivalent mandate for biofuels
August 31, 2017 Read Full Article
Production of Bioethanol from Multiple Waste Streams of Rice Milling
LorenzoFavaro, et al. (Bioresource Technology) Rice milling by-products are promising feedstocks for bioethanol. Starch-rich residues were efficiently fermented by two engineered amylolytic yeast. Rice husk, composed by lignocellulose, was pre-treated with alkaline peroxide. Pre-treated husk was saccharified by commercial enzymes and
August 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Rice Aids in the Study of Biofuel Feedstocks
(U.S. Department of Energy, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Rice is a staple food for over half of the world's population and a model for studies of candidate bioenergy grasses such as sorghum, switchgrass, and Miscanthus. To optimize crops
July 24, 2017 Read Full Article
From Sake Brewing to Energy Production: How Innovation in Biofuels Is Coming From Unlikely Places
(Mitsubishi Heavy Industries/Forbes) ... Biofuels are one example of the unique synergy that arises when energy developers think “outside the box”. In shifting the focus to fermentation, researchers find themselves relying on sake brewers to produce the biofuels they need. Biofuels,
March 27, 2017 Read Full Article
Thailand Announces 3.66 Million Tons of Rotten Rice to Be Auctioned March 23
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Thailand, the National Rice Policy Committee agreed to open another round of bidding for rotten rice on March 23 for 3.66 million metric tons. The rotten rice is allowed for industrial uses including biofuels
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Thailand Announces $11.3 Billion 10-Year Plan to Build Sugarcane and Cassava Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week we reported from Thailand: “The government launched its 10-year plan to build a bioeconomy hub for the region with private and public sector investment expected to reach $11.3 billion as it focuses on sugarcane
January 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Rotting Rice to Be Used to Make Ethanol
by Yuthana Praiwan (Bangkok Post) Almost 4 million tonnes of decaying rice kept in government stocks for more than two years is expected to be used as feedstock to produce ethanol, due to be in short supply soon, according to
December 08, 2016 Read Full Article
All City Buses Will Run on Biofuel: Nitin Gadkari
by Anjaya Anparthi (Times of India) While launching nation's first ethanol-run Green bus service, Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari promised Nagpur will be the first city to have all its city buses run on biofuel. He said
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Japan’s Ethanol Imports Expected to Increase Slightly
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Japan recently filed an annual biofuels report with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural Information Network that highlights the country’s ethanol use and production. According to the report, Japan has established its own sustainability
September 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Ag Carbon Credits Go to Market, Just as Cap and Trade Is Questioned
by Barbara Grady (Green Biz) ... Letting the fields temporarily dry has reduced the methane released from that rice field by 50 percent, compared to an adjacent field that was flooded all through the growing season, according to measurements taken by the
August 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Second Auction for Rotten Rice Attracts Interest from Private Sector
(Thai PBS) The second government auction for low-quality rice stocks has been met with positive feedback yesterday with the private sector making bids for a total of 240,000 tons worth over 1.5 billion baht. Sixteen bidders handed in their bids for
April 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Analyzing Biofuels From Rice 2016 - Research and Markets
(Research and Markets/BusinessWire) Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fnbdpf/analyzing) has announced the addition of the "Analyzing Biofuels from Rice" report to their offering. This report on Analyzing Biofuels from Rice is a comprehensive digest on biofuels and endeavors to deliver a better understanding
February 08, 2016 Read Full Article
The Ministry of All the Talents: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to the Joint BioEnergy Institute
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) JBEI’s mission is to convert biomass to biofuels. The goal is to provide the nation with clean, renewable transportation fuels identical to gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Inside JBEI’s Emeryville laboratories, researchers are using the latest
November 13, 2015 Read Full Article
Rice Is Nice, but Can It Be Less of a Methane-Belching Device? PNNL Says “Yes, If You Take Our Advice”
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington state, researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have found that with the addition of a single gene, rice can be cultivated to emit virtually no methane from its paddies during growth. With
July 31, 2015 Read Full Article
Plan to Convert Deteriorated Rice into Fuel
by Erich Parpart (The Nation) The Energy Ministry has been assigned by the government to help off-load around 5.89 million tonnes of deteriorated rice held in stockpiles with the plan at the first stage to convert around 1.3 million tonnes of
July 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Cracking The Kernel For Higher Value Products
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Researchers hope phytate replicates the corn oil extraction success story, but the history of zein shows it can be a slow and difficult road to success. Diversification of coproducts is increasingly important to the
June 29, 2015 Read Full Article
Renewable Biofuel Production Avoids Competition with Food Resources
(EurekAlert!) The efficient production of both biofuel and animal feed from 1 crop is now possible, and can be done on a farm without the need for off-site processes The efficient production of both biofuel and animal feed from one crop is
February 06, 2015 Read Full Article
JBEI GT Collection: A New Resource for Advanced Biofuels Research
(Joint BioEnergy Institute/Biomass Magazine) Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Joint BioEnergy Institute have unveiled the first glycosyltransferase clone collection specifically targeted for the study of the biosynthesis of plant cell walls. The idea behind what is being called “the
August 28, 2014 Read Full Article
Thailand Looking to Produce Ethanol from Rotten Rice Stocks - Officials
by Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat (Reuters) Thailand's military government is studying a plan to use rotten rice from state stocks to produce ethanol, hoping to make use of grains that have gone bad and help reduce losses from a costly rice-buying scheme,
August 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Addax Bioenergy Certified by Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials
(Sierra Express Media) Addax Bioenergy (SL) Limited has been fully and formally certified under the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB). This is said to quite an achievement and everyone involved has to be commended. RSB is recognized as being the
May 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Call Waiting, Biofuels, Genetics and You
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The company (Kaiima) started up in 2006, and by 2009, the results were starting to show in castor beans. Castor oil is a good source for a variety of applications, including biofuels — but castor
September 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Oxygen for High Altitudes: 17 Biofuels Ventures Raise $434M in Equity
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Despite the sluggish economic recovery and questions over policy stability — biofuels ventures have been busy raising lots of capital. In the past 6 months, $434 million. Who got what, where, when and why? ...supplemental oxygen,
April 08, 2013 Read Full Article
The Carbon Fix? Think Carbon Suit. ZeaKal Raises $3.8M in Series A Financing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Crop yield and oil content increases of up to 50% and 34% seen from ZeaKal’s HME technology. Though in early days — what’s going on? ... A successful Series A is always a good indication that,
April 02, 2013 Read Full Article
'Scarecrow' Gene: Key to Efficient Crops, Could Lead to Staple Crops With Much Higher Yields
(Science Daily) With projections of 9.5 billion people by 2050, humankind faces the challenge of feeding modern diets to additional mouths while using the same amounts of water, fertilizer and arable land as today. Cornell researchers have taken a leap toward
March 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Vinema Plans $354 Million Brazil Grain-Ethanol Projects
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) Vinema Biorefinarias do Sul Ltda., a Brazilian biofuel company, plans to spend 720 million reais ($354 million) building the nation’s first six ethanol-fuel mills that use grains as raw material. ...The plants will be built in
January 14, 2013 Read Full Article
A Better Route to Xylan
by Lynn Yarris (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Joint BioEnergy Institute Researchers Find New Access to Abundant Biomass for Advanced Biofuels After cellulose, xylan is the most abundant biomass material on Earth, and therefore represents an enormous potential source of stored solar
November 17, 2012 Read Full Article
Alta Vista Securities Announced It Has Closed a Seven Million Dollar Joint Venture Investm
(PRLog) Alta Vista Securities today (December 29, 2011) announced today a new Bioenergy Joint Venture focusing on the processing of Rice, Sugarcane and Coconut into energy producing Biofuels Pacific Biofuels Corporations will establish three biofuels plants in the Philippines. Each plant
December 30, 2011 Read Full Article
Map Identifies Potential Areas for Boosting Biofuel Crop Yield
(EnvironmentalResearchWeb.org) A global map that identifies areas of low-yielding biofuel crops whose productivity could be increased through intensification has been produced by researchers in the US. ..."The US biofuels target for 2022 is 136 billion litres," Matt Johnston, from the University of
October 11, 2011 Read Full Article
Laila Padi 'Waste' Found to Have Great Potential as Biofuel
by Ubaidillah Masli (Brunei Times) LAILA, the rice variety heralded as the answer to Brunei's food self-sufficiency woes, might also fuel the Sultanate's cars in the future as an efficient and more environment-friendly biofuel. This is the finding of a