(Biofuels International) The Edo State government has signed a Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) worth N85.5 billion (€380 million), with four investors from the agricultural sector. Keen to expand and develop their agricultural practices, two of the investors are going to
sugarcane
Back TO HOMEZimbabwe: Another Ethanol Plant for Zimbabwe
by George Maponga (AllAfrica.com) Zimbabwe Bio-Energy has announced plans to set up the country's third ethanol plant at Nuanetsi Ranch in Mwenezi, where the firm wants thousands of locals to start sugarcane plantations using water from Tokwe-Mukosi Dam. Tokwe-Mukosi will
March 05, 2014 Read Full Article
Endophytics, LLC Announces an Advanced Biofuel and Green Chemicals Technology Platform Utilizing Fungi
(Virtual-Strategy.com) Changing the way the world looks at the source of hydrocarbons for biofuels and sustainable green chemicals, Endophytics LLC announces a new technology platform in Bozeman, Montana that is receiving attention from many throughout the industry. Endophytics, LLC recently announced
March 04, 2014 Read Full Article
Alkol, U of Madrid to Develop Sugarcane Varieties for Spain
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Alkol Bioenergy and the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid have signed an agreement to develop a Brazilian sugarcane variety for Spain. The School of Forestry, ETSI, at UPM, will conduct the research. ... Alkol has an
March 04, 2014 Read Full Article
Team Converts Sugarcane to a Cold-Tolerant, Oil-Producing Crop
by Diana Yates (University of Illinois) A multi-institutional team reports that it can increase sugarcane’s geographic range, boost its photosynthetic rate by 30 percent and turn it into an oil-producing crop for biodiesel production. These are only the first steps in
March 04, 2014 Read Full Article
State May Issue $50M in Bonds for Biofuel Effort
by Tom Callis (Stephens Media Hawaii/West Hawaii Today) Hawaii could issue up to $50 million in special purpose revenue bonds to support a company’s plans to turn agricultural waste into biofuel and animal feed. Since 2011, the Pacific Basin Agricultural
March 04, 2014 Read Full Article
Indian Oil Firms' Record Ethanol Purchase to Boost Blending Goal
by Rajendra Jadhav (Reuters) Indian oil marketing companies (OMCs) have bought a record 720 million litres of ethanol from the country's cash-strapped sugar mills for blending, in an attempt to curb fossil fuel imports, industry officials said. The purchases would help
February 18, 2014 Read Full Article
Biocombustibles y Mercado
(Global BioBusiness) The main problem in the biofuels industry is the lack of understanding about the market in general. The publications on biofuels being offered do not also tackle this problem, focusing too much on technical details. The end result is
February 10, 2014 Read Full Article
The Digest's Bioeconomy Achievement Awards for 2013-14
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Beta Renewables, Abengoa, Enerkem, Proterro among the winners for Project of the Year — as residues and waste are keys to the big wins. For Fuel of the Year, Renewable Chemical of the Year, Product
January 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Brazil’s Ethanol Sector, Once Thriving, Is Being Buffeted by Forces Both Man-Made, Natural
by Juan Forero (The Washington Post) ... The allure for these giants is Brazil itself, where most cars are built to run on the biofuel. An even bigger, largely untapped market awaits in the United States, where environmental standards favor cane-based ethanol
January 02, 2014 Read Full Article
Research Aims to Expand Brazil Sugarcane Acres Further South
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Brazil ethanol producers are looking for new areas for future expansion of sugarcane production. Petrobras signed a technical cooperation agreement with Embrapa, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corp., to develop sugarcane production in the
December 30, 2013 Read Full Article
Special Asia Biofuels Report: The Top 10 Stories of the Year, and More
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Asia looks at petroleum reserves and exploration and concludes: our future is in biomass. As we wrote in 2012: “There’s only one complete region for biofuels where abundant feedstock, lack of oil & gas production, rising energy
December 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Cassava-Based Ethanol Set to Boom in 2014 Tied to Crop Income Guarantee Scheme
(Bangkok Post) The amount of cassava used in producing ethanol will nearly double to 3 million tonnes next year, driven by Commerce Ministry moves to push up the price of the crop. At present, 38% of ethanol produced in the country
December 20, 2013 Read Full Article
Madagascar: The Application Decree on Ethanol Fuel Is Expected
(AgenceEcofin.com) Farmers, economic and other Malagasy researchers operators are waiting for an implementing decree on fuel ethanol. While the text, waited for more than a year, has not yet been enacted, the various actors in the ethanol industry are willing to
December 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Amyris Continues Successful Commercialization
(Amyris/MarketWatch) Amyris increased to 400 the number of São Paulo city buses running on a blend of Diesel de Cana(TM) In 2014, Amyris plans to produce its fragrance oil molecule from its own manufacturing facility in Brazil, following recent successful scale
December 17, 2013 Read Full Article
Scientists Help Adapt Brazil Farming to Climate Change
by Moises Avila (Phys.Org) Hundreds of scientists are helping Brazil's giant agricultural sector prepare for the effects of climate change and anticipate pests that hit neighboring countries. Spearheading the effort is the Brazilian Agriculture Research Corporation (Embrapa), a state agency
December 17, 2013 Read Full Article
Zimbabwe: Green Fuel to Build Four New Ethanol Plants
(AllAfrica.com) Green Fuel plans to set up four new ethanol plants and boost output to 1.5 billion litres annually by 2018, according to a company investment blueprint. Zimbabwe last week increased mandatory blending of fuel to 15 percent and plans to
December 10, 2013 Read Full Article
Energy Self-Sufficiency in Brazil
by Roberto Coelho* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The global energy demand will rise 35% by 2035 due to population and economic growth, taking into account environmental and countries’ regulations. Brazil's part of this forecast growth in energy demand can be significantly provided
December 09, 2013 Read Full Article
Petrobras, Embrapa Developing Sugarcane Ethanol Production Tech
(The Daily Fusion) Petrobras, a Brazilian multinational energy corporation, and Embrapa, a state-owned company affiliated with the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, are developing a new technology for sugarcane ethanol production. The project will generate knowledge for the expansion of sugar
December 04, 2013 Read Full Article
The Password Is….Bagasse: Raizen, Iogen Get Going on Cellulosic Ethanol at Industrial Scale
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In Brazil, Raizen has started construction on a 10 million gallon per year cellulosic ethanol plant using Iogen Energy technology. The $100 million project, located adjacent to Raízen’s Costa Pinto sugar cane mill in Piracicaba,
December 03, 2013 Read Full Article
Company Hopes to Tap into Sugar Cane, Sorghum for Fuel-Grade Ethanol
by James Palen (The Daily Transcript/San Diego Source) ... Brawley-based California Ethanol + Power is bringing the matter closer to home. The company has yet to build its first facility, but by possibly the first quarter of 2014, it looks to break ground on
November 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethiopia: Sugar Factory to Commence in January
by Addis Fortune (AllAfrica.com) The Tendaho Sugar Factory will commence production in January, according to the Ethiopian Sugar Corporation. Some 85 pc of construction of the first phase of the factory has so far been completed, Corporation's Communications director, Zemedkun Tekle,
November 13, 2013 Read Full Article
Sugarcane Diesel Tests Yield Positive Results in Brazil
(Biofuels International) It has been reported auto manufacturer MAN Latin America has completed tests on diesel made from sugarcane. The company is believed to have performed over 500 hours of testing on Euro 5 engines within four Volkswagen Constellation trucks and
November 07, 2013 Read Full Article
Why the New Biofuel Feedstocks Deserve Investment, Incentives
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Industry Organization/National Geographic Magazine) ...Biotechnology companies today are working to develop cyanobacteria, algae, and even municipal waste as feedstocks for advanced biofuels. But these promising abundant non-food sources lack either the government subsidies or the commercial
November 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Re-Opening of Ethanol Plant Boon for Business
(ZimbabweDemocracy.com) Following the re-opening of the Chisumbanje Ethanol Plant run by Green Fuel in the poverty-stricken Lowveld, major investments are taking place at Checheche Growth Point with several top banks, retail outlets and other big companies opening branches. A tour of the
October 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Bunge Signals a Shift from Sugar; What’s the Impact for Advanced Biofuels?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In New York, in the wake of a $37 million Q1 loss in its sugar unit, Bunge CEO Soren Schroder, who took the reins of the company in June, announced yesterday that the trading giant
October 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Amyris to Enter Partnership to Supply Renewable Jet Fuel to GOL Airlines
(Amyris/MarketWatch) Leading Airline in Brazil Seeks to Use Amyris's Sugarcane-Derived Jet Fuel Following Industry Validation and Regulatory Approvals Amyris, Inc. AMRS -0.04% , a leading renewable fuels and chemicals company, and GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (bm&fbovespa:GOLL4)GOL -0.54% , the largest low-cost and low-fare airline in
October 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Sugar Industry for Direct Manufacture of Ethanol
by Dilip Kumar Jha (Business Standard) A practice prevalent globally, to reduce fuel needs Sugar mills have urged the government to allow direct manufacturing of ethanol from cane. A practice prevalent globally, to reduce fuel needs, it is currently banned in India
October 22, 2013 Read Full Article
How the OPEC Oil Embargo Sparked Energy Independence -- in Brazil
by Tiffany Stecker (ClimateWire/EENews.net) Forty years ago, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries placed an embargo on petroleum, bringing an oil-addled world to its knees. ... And Brazil -- a developing country under military dictatorship at the time -- began the
October 21, 2013 Read Full Article
Avianca Brasil Selects Byogy To Source Clean Aviation Biofuels
(Avianca Brasil/Byogy/PR NewsWire) Continuing its commitment to deliver economical, 100% drop-in replacement biofuels, Byogy is delighted that Avianca Brasil has selected the Byogy Renewables Alcohol to Jet ("ATJ") fully renewable aviation biofuel process to source their environment friendly alternate low
October 17, 2013 Read Full Article
Brazil Can Quadruple Ethanol Output Per Hectare of Cane by 2030 -- Datagro
by Jeffrey T. Lewis (The Wall Street Journal) Brazilian ethanol plants should be able to more than quadruple the amount of ethanol they can produce from a hectare of sugar cane by 2030 or 2035, Plinio Nastari, head of the
October 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Unilever and Solidaridad to Further Improve Conditions for Sugar Cane Workers in Central America
(Unilever) Unilever has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with international NGO, Solidaridad to further drive sustainable development in the sugarcane industry in Central America. This initiative supports the company’s commitment in the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan to source 100%
October 15, 2013 Read Full Article
India's Struggling Sugar Mills Seek Solace in Ethanol
by Rajendra Jadhav (Reuters) * Govt wants oil companies to achieve 5 pct blending of ethanol in gasoline * Hopes to reduce record current account deficit by cutting crude imports * Demand for ethanol will give sugar mills a shot in the
October 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Avianca Brasil Selects Byogy To Source Clean Aviation Biofuels
(PRNewsWire/BizJournals.com) Byogy and Avianca Brasil Announce Collaboration to Accelerate Global Certification Continuing its commitment to deliver economical, 100% drop-in replacement biofuels, Byogy is delighted that Avianca Brasil has selected the Byogy Renewables Alcohol to Jet ("ATJ") fully renewable aviation biofuel process
October 10, 2013 Read Full Article
Bureau of Energy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) : Significant Advancement in BOE-Funded Biofuel Technolgy International Award Recognizes Cellulose Butanol Technology
(4-Traders) The Bureau of Energy, MOEA has been funding long-term R&D on biofuel, and new biofuel technology has successfully been developed. The project, entitled "Carbon loss-free cellulose butanol production technology" won the 2013 R&D 100 Awards. This technology has the
October 02, 2013 Read Full Article
More Than a Vacation: Visiting an Ethanol Biorefinery in Brazil
by Amanda Ferreira (Advanced Biofuels USA) This past summer I had the opportunity to go to Brazil to visit some of my family whom I hadn’t seen for more than five years. A lot had changed since the last time
October 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Farmers Demand Permission to Produce Ethanol from Sugarcane
by Vivek Waghmode (Times of India) Farmer leaders on Tuesday stepped up their demand for permission to tillers to produce ethanol from sugarcane they produce and sell the byproducts. "The Centre has permitted to blend only five per cent ethanol into petrol, while countries like Brazil
September 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Is Ethanol Starving Africa?
by Amar Toor (The Verge) Accusations of land grabbing revive debate over "food versus fuel" ... But some experts say that when it comes to biofuels and food security, it’s not an “either-or” question. "At the moment we have a false dichotomy
September 20, 2013 Read Full Article
Argentinean Biofuels Production
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) ... Argentine ethanol production is much smaller, but on the rise. “I would say that Argentina is moving forward with corn-based bioethanol, but we are betting on sugarcane bioethanol,” Argentina’s Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture Lorenzo
September 19, 2013 Read Full Article
USDA Solicits Additional Bids Under the Feedstock Flexibility Program
(US Department of Agriculture) The Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced another iteration of the Feedstock Flexibility Program (FFP). These invitations are subsequent to the first series of invitations issued Aug. 15. Congress created
September 19, 2013 Read Full Article
‘Sorghum Ethanol’ Is a Topic in Nebraska
by Ken Anderson (Brownfield Ag News) Sorghum Field Days are being held at six locations in Nebraska this week. One of the stops will be the John Dvoracek farm near Farwell, where there are more than 50 sorghum varieties planted
September 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Amyris Applies for RSB Sustainbility Certification
(Amyris) Amyris's Farnesene Production Unit would be First RSB-Certified Plant in Brazil The RSB Services Foundation, the implementing entity of the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), a global sustainability standard and certification system for biofuels and biomaterials production, is pleased to
September 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Brazil’s Big Six in Advanced Biofuels & Chemicals: Who’s Doing What Now?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) After taking a leading role in the global first generation wave of ethanol production, here come the Brazilians — with some hot North American technologies in tow — to take on next-generation biofuels and chemicals.
September 18, 2013 Read Full Article
CA Ethanol and Power Project Approved by Board of Supervisors
by Krista Daly (Imperial Valley Press) The California Ethanol and Power Project is moving forward with its plan to generate clean fuel from sugar cane and sweet sorghum. Imperial County Board of Supervisors approved seven resolutions Tuesday dealing with water, zoning,
September 12, 2013 Read Full Article
Zimbabwe: Clashes At Chisumbanje Ethanol Plant 'Politically Motivated'
by Tererai Karimakwenda (AllAfrica.com/SW Radio Africa (London)) New clashes between local villagers and the police in the Nyamukwakwa area of Manicaland have been attributed to activists within ZANU PF, who are allegedly instructing the police and officials at the
September 09, 2013 Read Full Article
Flagship VentureLabs Launches Midori Renewables
(Flagship Ventures/PR NewsWire) New Venture is Commercializing a Novel Catalytic Process to Convert Non-Food Biomass Into Sugar Flagship VentureLabs announced today that Midori Renewables is globally deploying their Breaking the Biomass Barrier™ technology, a novel catalyst that melts non-food biomass into
September 06, 2013 Read Full Article
10% Ethanol Blending Can Save Rs 9000cr of FX: Shree Renuka
(MoneyControl.com) According to Narendra Murkumbi, blending 10 percent ethanol in petrol will reduce sugar surplus by almost one million to one-an-half-million tonne and that will be beneficial for the sugar industry. Overall, manadatory ethanol blending by the government will have
September 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Clariant Certifies Cellulosic Ethanol Plant under European Directives
(Clariant) Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, has received the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) for its sunliquid® demonstration plant in Straubing (Germany), which was opened in July 2012. The certificate confirms that the cellulosic ethanol from agricultural
September 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels and the Straw Man
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...ActionAid UK released a report this week focusing on the story of Addax Biofuels in Sierra Leone. As Addax points out, it was not given the opportunity by Action Aid to review the serious allegations in
September 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Designer Sugarcane, Not Switchgrass, Being Retooled to Produce Biofuels
by Rod Santa Ana (AgriLife) Second-generation bioenergy plants could be released in two years ...“Unlike corn, or even switchgrass, sugarcane is unique in that it can be crossed with different species, including sorghum, to create new plant varieties with favorable traits that
August 30, 2013 Read Full Article
California, Federal Methods to Push Renewable-Fuel Use Stir Conflict
by Evan Halper (Los Angeles Times) It's even possible that conflicting state and federal policies on renewable fuels, both aimed at reducing global warming, could actually make things worse, some scientists say. California and the federal government want drivers to use
August 29, 2013 Read Full Article
Court Green Lights Changes to Proposed Ethanol Plant
by Allyson Horn (ABC) The Planning and Environment Court has accepted changes made to a proposal to build an ethanol processing plant in north Queensland. Austcane is planning to process one million tonnes of sugarcane each year to produce the ethanol.
August 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethiopia: Nation Blends Ethanol With Benzene, Saves U.S. $7.6 Million
by Nesru Jemal (All Africa) Over 8.6 million liters of ethanol has been blended with benzene and supplied to local market over the concluded fiscal year, the Ministry of Mines and Energy said. According to Bizuneh Tolcha, public relations and communication director with
August 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Ministry of Agriculture of Guyana : Guyana on Path to Agro Fuel Revolution – as President Commissions Bioethanol Demonstration Plant G
(4-Traders.com) Guyana's first ever bioethanol demonstration plant was commissioned today at what was regarded the start of an agro fuel revolution in a country that is leaning aggressively towards a renewable energy pathway. The plant located at the Albion Estate on
August 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Cosan Shareholder May Build $150 Million Paraguay Ethanol Mill
by Lucia Kassai (Bloomberg) Roberto Rezende Barbosa, one of the largest shareholders in Cosan SA Industria & Comercio, is considering building a $150 million ethanol mill in Paraguay, where profits are higher than in Brazil. ... Rezende Barbosa may expand into neighboring
August 23, 2013 Read Full Article
4C-Able Future: Biobased Butanol, Butadiene and BDO Are Having a Hot Year
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... It’s been quite a year on the four-carbon platform — also known as C4, 4C, buta-something, Fantastic Four, or what have you. Though two-carbon fuels such as ethanol have long dominated the biofuels market — and
August 22, 2013 Read Full Article
USDA Solicits Bids Under the Feedstock Flexibility Program
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) The Farm Service Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that purchase invitations have been extended to solicit bids to the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) through the Feedstock Flexibility Program (FFP). Congress created FFP
August 20, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol Production Part of Australian Political Push
(Biofuels International) A political party in Australia considers ethanol production as the key to reinvigorating a region in Queensland. Ray Sawyer, federal election candidate of the Katter Australia Party, reveals he has feedback from locals in Nambour that directly links problems
August 13, 2013 Read Full Article
Board Ties Sugar Mill Licences to Power Generation
by Gerald Andae (Business Daily Africa) The Kenya Sugar Board asks firms to start ethanol and electricity production in next two years. Private and State-owned sugar millers that will not have started electricity generation and ethanol production in the next
August 08, 2013 Read Full Article
7 Hot Energy Crops for Advanced Biofuels: What’s Happening?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Miscanthus, sorghum, switchgrass, jatropha, camelina, carinata, and arundo. Who’s doing what to bring these crops to scale — and who are the potential big winners? ... Just when you start feeling great about bagasse or stover, you
August 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Brazil Loans for Sugar-Cane Mills to Grow 46% to Boost Ethanol
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg) Brazil’s state development bank expects to disburse 46 percent more in loans this year to sugar-cane mills as the nation seeks to boost ethanol production. The lender expects to loan 6 billion reais ($2.6 billion) this year,
August 07, 2013 Read Full Article
EPA Finalizes 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards to Help Promote American Energy Independence, Reduce Carbon Pollution
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) EPA also announces steps to address concerns about the E10 blend wall As part of an ongoing effort to enhance energy security and reduce carbon pollution, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today finalized the 2013 percentage
August 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Routes to the Summit: 3 Keys to First Commercial Advanced Biofuels, and Beyond
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...It’s become an cliché of late that “financing is tough” and that “the US is slowing” while “China is speeding up” on advanced biofuels. It’s also become a cliché that “cellulosic biofuels are slow, the
July 23, 2013 Read Full Article
12 Bellwether Biofuels Projects – Where Do They Stand?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Advanced biofuels – mirage or reality? In January we wrote: “When these 12 projects open for business (or not) in 2013, you’ll know for sure.” So, what do we know? ... We identified 12 “Bellwether projects” in
July 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Zambia Sugar to Set Up Ethanol Plant
by Maimbolwa Mulikelela (AllAfrica) ZAMBIA Sugar Plc has pledged to support Government's efforts in mitigating the high cost of fuel and help create employment opportunities through the establishment of an ethanol plant in Zambia. This follows a recent announcement by the
July 18, 2013 Read Full Article
ANALYSIS-New EPA Rules Could Cripple Brazil-U.S. Ethanol Trading
by Cezary Podkul (Reuters/CNBC) Importing cheap Brazilian ethanol into the United States could become much less profitable next year if a proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency to expand tough documentation and transportation rules to non-U.S. producers takes effect. The proposal,
July 15, 2013 Read Full Article
EU Committee Votes on RED, Prompting Response from ePURE, UNICA
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A recent vote by the EU Parliament’s Environment Committee prompted comment by ePURE, which represents the EU ethanol industry, and UNICA, the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association. On July 11, the committee voted 42 to 26
July 15, 2013 Read Full Article
ICM, Inc. Announces Contract with INPASA on Evaporator and Dryer System for Ethanol Plant in Nueva Esperanza, Paraguay
(ICM) ICM, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has signed a contract with Industria Paraguaya de Alcoholes S.A. (“INPASA”) for sale of an evaporator and dryer system at its plant in Nueva Esperanza, Paraguay. INPASA was founded in 2006 to
July 10, 2013 Read Full Article
Momentum: 12 Biobased Ventures Raise $435M in Q2 2013; 32 Projects Being Built off the Balance Sheet
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Despite negative press from Bloomberg, biobased investing is surging, both direct and via strategics. The Digest has the data and the scoop. After we profiled, last April, 17 biobased ventures who raised $434 million in new
July 10, 2013 Read Full Article
US Sugar-for-Ethanol Plan Advances
(Business Recorder) The US government is close to buying surplus sugar to sell to ethanol producers at a loss, in an effort to bolster weak domestic sugar prices and avoid losing hundreds of millions of dollars in defaulted loans. The
July 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Who is the Winner? EVs or Flex-Fuel Vehicles and Biofuel?
by Kon Thueanmunsaen (J.D. Power Global Auto Blog) In looking at the future of alternative fuel vehicles—principally electric vehicles (EVs)—in the Thai market, it appears that the only push for promoting EVs is coming from the Electricity Generating Authority of
July 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Clariant Demonstrates Sunliquid Process with Stover, Bagasse
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Not quite a year after opening a demonstration facility, Switzerland-based specialty chemicals company Clariant AG announced that it has expanded the feedstocks successfully converted to cellulosic ethanol beyond wheat straw to include corn stover
June 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Cost of Biofuels No Longer Sky High
by Peter Hannam (The Age) Whether it's the use of organisms first found in the guts of rabbits in New Zealand or converting the mountains of rubbish disposed of by Londoners, airlines around the world are hunting for ways to power
May 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Sugar for Food, Fuel and Power: The ISO Datagro Sugar & Ethanol Conference in New York City
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) What used to be known as “The New York Sugar Conference” has become “The ISO and Datagro Sugar & Ethanol Conference” with a record-setting number of attendees (350 from 25 countries) demonstrating the growing
May 16, 2013 Read Full Article
Out of the Shell: Oil Giant’s Big Biofuels Ambitions
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In an exclusive Digest interview, Shell’s VP for Alternative Energy, Matthew Tipper, reveals the company’s thinking about RFS2, their increasing re-focus on North America and the EU. Plus, Shell’s ambition to “build, own and operate”
May 14, 2013 Read Full Article
Public Invited to Bon Secour Farm for Rare Glimpse into the Potentially Sweet Future of Alternative Fuels
by Jeff Dute (AL.com) Corporate America does not often invite the public into the research and development process of products that could potentially revolutionize how their vehicles are fueled, how plastics are made and even how their food is sweetened. But
May 09, 2013 Read Full Article
UC-Davis Publishes Status Update of Calif. LCFS
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The University of California-Davis Institute of Transportation Studies has published a new status review of the state’s low carbon fuel standard (LCFS). The review is the second in a series of periodic status reports.
May 08, 2013 Read Full Article
API Lands Brazil Investment to Commercialize Cellulosic Process
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) With a fresh investment from Brazil’s GranBio, American Process Inc. is poised to develop its first commercial-scale cellulosic biorefineries in both the U.S. and Brazil. API CEO Theodora Retsina, said the companies hope
May 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Renewable Energy Groups in Spat over Imports
by Darren Goode (Politico) An effort by ethanol backers to get the Environmental Protection Agency to scale back the amount of advanced biofuels required in the U.S. gasoline supply this year has opened a rift in a decades-old friendship within
May 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Canergy Taps Beta Renewables for 25M Gallon Advanced Biofuels Project in California
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Energy cane for California’s Imperial Valley? Canergy lines up Beta, CHS, Certis as partners for greenfield low-carbon fuel project slated for 2016 opening. In California, Canergy announced that it has selected Chemtex and Beta Renewables for
May 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels and the Problem of Tropical Islands, Part II of II
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...It used to be that the outskirts of Honolulu had the dual scent of diesel and pineapple processing — but now, all you really smell is the diesel. Sugarcane and pineapple are every year less
April 30, 2013 Read Full Article
Groundwork Begins on Florida Sweet Sorghum-to-Ethanol Plant
By Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Site preparation has begun and plans are being finalized for a formal groundbreaking ceremony to be held in the next few weeks at the country’s first sweet sorghum-to-ethanol plant being built by Southeast
April 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry Seeks Toned-Down Renewable Fuel Goals
by Ben Goad (The Hill E2Wire) A key industry group is urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ratchet back this year’s volume requirements for biofuel production, arguing the proposed standards are unrealistic. In formal comments submitted Monday, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA)
April 09, 2013 Read Full Article
Effective Fertilizer Use Could Cut Emissions from Biofuel Production
(EnvironmentalResearchWeb.org) Scientists in Brazil have found that nitrous-oxide emissions from sugarcane fields vary depending on the nitrogen source employed as a fertilizer. Ammonium nitrate results in higher nitrous-oxide emissions than urea, they discovered. With around half of Brazilian sugarcane production
April 09, 2013 Read Full Article
Governor Awards $200K to Hawaii Isle Biofuels Initiative
(Star-Advertiser) The state has invested $200,000 toward a initiative that seeks to develop an economically sustainable zero-waste conversion project in Hilo that will turn unmarketable papaya into biofuel and high-protein animal feed. Gov. Neil Abercrombie presented a check from the state
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
Zimbabwe: Chisumbanje Ethanol Plant Reopens
by Tendai Mugabe (AllAfrica.com) Green Fuel resumed operations at its ethanol plant here yesterday, raising prospects that the country could soon start the mandatory blending of fuel that has been on the cards for sometime. There was jubilation as workers who
March 28, 2013 Read Full Article
ETH Bioenergy, Inbicon Partner on Cellulosic Ethanol in Brazil
(ETH Bioenergy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Brazil-based ETH Bioenergy, a company of the Odebrecht Group, which operates in the production of ethanol, sugar and electricity from biomass of cane sugar, and Inbicon, a Danish company owned by DONG Energy has technology that
March 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Raizen to Spend $102 Million on Brazil Cellulosic Ethanol Plant
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg) Raizen Energia SA, a Brazilian joint venture of Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) and Cosan SA Industria & Commercio (CSAN3), will invest 200 million reais ($102 million) in a plant that will produce ethanol from sugar-cane
March 14, 2013 Read Full Article
Who’s Ahead Now in Enzymes? Codexis Launches Next-Gen CodeXyme4
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Compared to prior generations, CodeXyme 4 and CodeXyme 4X significantly reduce the cost of cellulosic sugar production for biofuels and bio‐based chemicals. ...Codexis’ latest generation of advanced cellulase enzymes, CodeXyme 4 for dilute acid pretreatments and
March 13, 2013 Read Full Article
As Brazil Ramps up Sugarcane Production, Georgescu and Colleagues Foresee Regional Climate Effects
by Skip Derra (Arizona State University) Conversion of large swaths of Brazilian land for sugar plantations will help the country meet its needs for producing cane-derived ethanol but it also could lead to important regional climate effects, according to a team
March 12, 2013 Read Full Article
Impressions on Conference Style in Asia and Challenges Facing the Biofuel Industry in Asia
by Stefaniya Becking* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The “Sugar & Ethanol Asia 2013” conference organized by F.O. Licht took place in Bangkok, Thailand, on February 26-27, 2013. This event attracted 125 people representing 20 countries (mostly private sector in Asian countries).
March 07, 2013 Read Full Article
Kittiratt Urges Ethanol for Buses
(Bangkok Post) Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong wants new passenger buses in Thailand to run on ethanol instead of natural gas, while PTT Plc assures it can supply the fuel as is needed. Mr Kittiratt made his preference
March 07, 2013 Read Full Article
Australian Biofuels Project Another Step Closer
(Biofuels International) Australian research company Agritechnology has found a location as it further develops a biofuels demonstration plant. A site for the plant has been chosen in Orange, New South Wales and it will aim to convert sweet sorghum, native grasses
March 07, 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
Addax Bioenergy Earns First African Certification by Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB)
(RSB Services) The RSB Services Foundation, the implementing entity of the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) which has developed a global sustainability standard and certification system for biofuel production, is pleased to announce that Addax Bioenergy Sierra Leone (SL) Limited
February 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Sugarcane Fibre Could Boost Biofuel Development – Study
by Natasha Odendaal (Creamer Media's Engineering News) A doctorate study undertaken by Stellenbosch University Department of Process Engineering student Yuda Benjamin has found that the fibres of some varieties of sugarcane had the potential to boost the production of ethanol at a reduced
February 21, 2013 Read Full Article
Peru’s Maple Shifting to Cane Ethanol in ‘Transformational Year’
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) Maple Energy Plc, the Peruvian company that made more than 99 percent of its revenue from selling petroleum products in 2011, expects to get more than half its business from ethanol sales this year as
February 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Praj to Start Building India Sugar-Cane Waste Fuel Plant by May
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) Praj Industries Ltd., an engineering company backed by billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, expects to begin construction on a $30 million biofuel demonstration plant in India before building one in the U.S. Construction on the 30,000-litre (7,925-gallon) facility will
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Sugar Company Expands to Biofuel and Electricity
by Tassia Sipahutar (The Jakarta Post) State-owned sugar and tobacco plantation firm PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) X is expanding into biofuel production and electricity this year in an effort to offset increasing sugar manufacturing costs. The firm needs additional income from other
February 11, 2013 Read Full Article
Glencore Director Says Corn Use in Biofuel Questionable
by David Brough (Reuters) A director of commodity trading giant Glencore on Sunday questioned the conversion of corn into ethanol biofuel, saying it can contribute to higher prices. Critics of using foodstuffs to make fuel say the process can drive up food
February 10, 2013 Read Full Article
Well-to-Wheels Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Ethanol from Corn, Sugarcane and Cellulosic Biomass for US Use
by Michael Wang, Jeongwoo Han, Jennifer B Dunn, Hao Cai and Amgad Elgowainy (US Department of Energy/IOP Science) corn-based ethanol production occurring mostly in the US and sugarcane-based ethanol production occurring mostly in Brazil. Advances in technology and the resulting
February 08, 2013 Read Full Article
The 2013 Renewable Fuel Standard: Biofuels Digest’s 10-Minute Guide
by Jim Lane ( Biofuels Digest) ...In Washington, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its proposed 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS2). The proposal will be open for a 45-day public comment period and EPA will consider feedback from a range
February 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Local Ethanol Could Power Cars This Year
(Stabroek News) The Agriculture Ministry and the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) are in talks to use locally produced ethanol to woo investors and sharpen skills that would be put into developing the fledgling non-fossil fuel sector. Guyana is set to start producing
January 24, 2013 Read Full Article
The Oilcane Boom
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Though building capacity globally, Solazyme’s operations in Brazil are getting traction fast – and raised $235M last week. How much oil could be produced in Brazil via sugar-munching microalgae? Today, the Digest looks at
January 21, 2013 Read Full Article
12 Bellwether Biofuels Projects for 2013
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A long war of opinion has been waged for years between advanced biofuels’ detractors and supporters. Mirage or reality? Completion of 6 key projects 2012 decided much of the debate. When these 12 projects open
January 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Sorghum Acres to Grow Due to Drought Tolerance, New Varieties
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Sorghum is poised to come into its own as an alternative to corn. It proved its mettle in the 2012 drought, producing decent dryland yields with very little rainfall. And, with the U.S.
December 31, 2012 Read Full Article
Well-to-Wheels Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Ethanol from Corn, Sugarcane and Cellulosic Biomass for US Use
by Michael Wang, Jeongwoo Han, Jennifer B Dunn, Hao Cai and Amgad Elgowainy (IOP Science/Argonne National Laboratory) Globally, bioethanol is the largest volume biofuel used in the transportation sector, with corn-based ethanol production occurring mostly in the US and sugarcane-based ethanol
December 30, 2012 Read Full Article
Energy Cane for Biomass Promising in South Carolina Testing
by Roy Robertson (Southeast Farm Press) • Steve Kresovich is part of a team of USC researchers looking for crops that can be adapted to less productive and often under-utilized South Carolina soils. • The end goal, Kresovich says, is to
December 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Asia Special Biofuels Report
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There’s only one complete region for biofuels where abundant feedstock, lack of oil & gas production, rising energy demand and supportive government policy come together — and that is Asia. We’re never quite sure which factor
December 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Why Affordable Renewable Sugars are a Monster Prize
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Today, we could use a good five-cent renewable sugar, suitable for microorganisms that, from sucrose, make affordable renewable fuels and chemicals. The technologies of companies like Virent, Solazyme, LS9 and Amyris depend on access to
December 18, 2012 Read Full Article
Brazil Sugar-Cane Research Agency to Build Demonstration Plant
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg) Centro de Tecnologia Canavieira, the Brazilian sugar-cane research agency, will build an 80 million- real ($38.5 million) plant to demonstrate a method of producing ethanol from crop residues. The plant, with the capacity to make 3 million
December 11, 2012 Read Full Article
Novel Pretreatment for Cellulosic Bio-Ethanol Production “Glycerol Bio-Refinery Process”
(Leaf Energy) The patent application titled “Methods for Converting Lignocellulosic Material to Useful Products” (“Glycerol Bio-refinery process”) describes the process developed at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) by Zhanging Zhang, Ian O’Hara and William Doherty. The production of biofuels from
December 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Peruvian Sugar Giant Gears up for Ethanol Production
(Argus Media) Peru's Coazucar is set to become that country's third producer of fuel-grade ethanol. Coazucar, a subsidiary of Peru's multinational Grupo Gloria and the country's largest sugar producer, has secured the required permits to begin ethanol production using sugarcane feedstock
December 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Guyana, UK Company Sign Contract for Bioethanol Oroduction at Albion
by Denis Scott Chabrol (Demera Waves) The United Kingdom-based Whitefox Technologies, together with its partner Green, have secured a bioethanol contract with the Guyanese Government. Whitefox said it is working together with the Brazilian company, Green, to install the units for
December 05, 2012 Read Full Article
Cote d’Ivoire Launches PPP for Biofuels
(Alternative Energy Africa) A public-private partnership (PPP) has been launched to promote the production of ethanol from cassava and sugarcane in Cote d’Ivoire which would be used for clean cook stoves. READ MORE
December 05, 2012 Read Full Article
RFA to EPA: “Time is Now” to Revise Lifecycle GHG Analyses of Corn and Sugarcane Ethanol
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should immediately initiate a process to update its obsolete lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) analyses of corn and sugarcane ethanol for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2), according to a letter sent Friday to EPA Administrator
December 05, 2012 Read Full Article
Brazil Local Sugar Sale More Profitable Than Exports, Cepea Says
by Marvin G. Perez (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) ...Making crystal sugar from cane was 29 percent more profitable than producing anhydrous ethanol, the type blended into gasoline, and 36 percent more advantageous than hydrous ethanol, used in flex-fuel cars, (University of Sao
November 29, 2012 Read Full Article
False Hope: The Harmful Promotion of Agrofuels in Asia and Canada
by Jack Litster (CCCI-CCIC) When the price of agrofuel production finally became economically competitive with the high price of oil around 2005, a debate soon opened up about whether transport fuel produced from crops (such as palm oil, corn, sugarcane,
November 17, 2012 Read Full Article
BBC World News Horizons: How San Francisco and Brazil Are Pioneering a New Generation of Biofuels
(The NonProfit Press) Broadcasting on 17th November and 18th November 2012, in the seventeenth episode of the Horizons series, presenters Adam Shaw and Saima Mohsin take a closer look at a new generation of energy crops in Brazil and
November 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Berkeley Fermentation Process Converts Sugar Directly to Diesel
by Robert Sanders (Biodiesel Magazine/UC Berkeley) A long-abandoned fermentation process once used to turn starch into explosives can be used to produce renewable diesel fuel to replace the fossil fuels now used in transportation, University of California, Berkeley, scientists have
November 07, 2012 Read Full Article
Financing in Place, Cobalt Ready to Deploy n-butanol in Brazil
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) With the announcement of new investment from Bunge Global Innovation LLC, Cobalt Technologies’ n-butanol development is ready for deployment in Brazil. “We’re in a position now where the demonstration plant is fully funded and
November 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Aussie Brothers Make Biofuel Breakthrough
by Nick Perry (The Australian) A Technology breakthrough by two Australian brothers could offer a solution to the world's insatiable appetite for food and fuel. Phillip and Geoff Bell have developed a new way to produce ethanol from waste products such
November 01, 2012 Read Full Article
Will Global Biofuel Investments Continue?
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Historically, 2009 was a hard year for biofuels. Biofuel spending was down to $5.6 billion from $15.4 billion in 2008. Investments in the industry focused on cellulosic technologies and sugarcane. This according to NRG Expert’s World Biofuels Report. ...The
October 29, 2012 Read Full Article
Aviation Biofuel: Technology-Ready, Needs Capex Infusion, RIN Reforms
by Marsha W. Johnston (Renewable Energy World) By all rights, many believe aviation biofuel producers should be attracting deep-pocketed investors ambitious enough to build the infrastructure necessary to meet a clearly burgeoning industrial-sized demand. At the Aviation Biofuels Development Conference, representatives
October 24, 2012 Read Full Article
The Big Bagasse Biofuels Boom
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Deployment of next-gen bagasse-to-biofuels technologies could expand ethanol production in Brazil, India by 35 percent without land, water intensification. ...Guidance being given by the projects is that capacities could increase by up to 35 percent at
October 24, 2012 Read Full Article
Cane Growers Want Ban on Sugar Export Lifted
(Times of India) Nearly a thousand sugarcane farmers held a rally at the office of the sugar commissioner on Monday in support of their five demands, which includes lifting ban on export of sugar. The rally was led by farmer leader Raghunath
October 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Iogen Makes a Comeback in Landmark Sugarcane Cellulosic Ethanol Deal with Brazil’s Raizen
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) World’s largest producer of sugarcane ethanol commits investment to cellulosic ethanol development with Iogen. In Brazil, Raízen Group and Iogen Energy announced that Raízen has committed an initial investment to develop a commercial cellulosic ethanol project in Brazil
October 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Milestones Reached: Cellulosic Ethanol Is Arriving, with Commissioning under Way and More Than 100 MMgy under Construction.
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The next five years—the often scoffed mantra of cellulosic ethanol developers—is getting whittled down to the next year or two. A milestone was reached this year when Blue Sugars Corp. got the first cellulosic
October 14, 2012 Read Full Article
$1-2/gal Price Hikes, Refinery Closures Seen Under California LCFS
(Opisnet.com) While already suffering through the highest pump prices in the continental U.S., Californians could face even higher gasoline and diesel costs when new low carbon fuel regulations gain traction Jan. 1, warn fuel experts. Price hikes of as much
October 03, 2012 Read Full Article
Analysis: Brazil Ethanol Returns to US as Biofuel Rules Pave Way
by Reese Ewing (Reuters) Brazilian ethanol is rushing back into the United States after a three-year ebb, drawn less by the severe drought that has inflated corn costs than by biofuel regulations that could more than triple next year's shipments. Even
September 21, 2012 Read Full Article
Brazilian Biofuels That Cause Land-Use Change May Have Much Larger Non-GHG Air Quality Emissions Than Fossil Fuels
by C.-C. Tsao , J. E. Campbell, M. Mena-Carrasco, S. N. Spak, G. R. Carmichael, and Y. Chen (Environmental Science and Technology) Although biofuels present an opportunity for renewable energy production, significant land-use change resulting from biofuels may contribute to negative
September 21, 2012 Read Full Article
Finding the Right Biofuels for the Southeast: A Range of Alternatives
(US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service) ...Of the five regions, the Southeast has the greatest natural capacity in the continental United States, with sufficient sunshine, soils, water, and other natural resources to produce more than 10 billion gallons of
September 19, 2012 Read Full Article
Sorghum Eyed as a Southern Bioenergy Crop
(Phys.Org) Sweet sorghum is primarily grown in the United States as a source of sugar for syrup and molasses. But the sturdy grass has other attributes that could make it uniquely suited to production as a bioenergy crop, U.S. Department
September 19, 2012 Read Full Article
Finland’s Chempolis in Talks for Biorefinery Plant in India
by Natalie Obiko Pearson (Bloomberg) Finland’s Chempolis Ltd. is in talks with Indian sugar companies to set up a biorefinery in the South Asia nation. The Oulu-based company, which provides technology that allows raw materials like sugar-cane pulp, bamboo and straw
September 18, 2012 Read Full Article
Tranquility Base Here. The Crescentino project has landed.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Once described as a “moon shot”, Beta Renewables’ commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol project hovers just over the lunar surface, weeks from completion. It’s transformative cost structure may well reignite the cellulosic rockets. The first thing you
September 18, 2012 Read Full Article
Insight: U.S. and Brazil - At Last, Friends on Ethanol
by Brian Winter (Reuters/Chicago Tribune) After years at each other's throats, Brazil and the United States are working together to promote the use of ethanol in a collaboration that could revolutionize global markets and the makeup of the biofuel itself. The breakthrough came
September 17, 2012 Read Full Article
Researchers Win Grant to Assess Impact of Bioenergy Projects
by Luke Geiver (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A team of researchers will spend the next five years assessing the social, economic and ecological impacts of bioenergy projects happening in Michigan, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. Led by Michigan Tech University Professor Kathy
September 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Sugarcane As Industrial Commodity Pressed
by Melody M. Aguiba (Manila Bulletin) The government should now position sugarcane as an industrial commodity, particularly for bioethanol, and sugar as a mere by-product which is the way to survive in a stiffly competitive environment by 2015. This new policy
September 05, 2012 Read Full Article
The Top 10 Advanced Biofuels and Biorefining Companies in Asia
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...While the economic growth in China has been drawing virtually all the headlines in recent years, the “Tiger” economies of Southeast and South Asia have been fast-growing for a long time, and with resources including
September 04, 2012 Read Full Article
Novozymes, Terranol Partner on Yeast to Boost Biofuels Industry
by Sally Bakewell (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) Novozymes A/S (NZYMB) agreement to market Terranol A/S’s yeast technology as the world’s biggest maker of enzymes seeks to make biofuels from energy crops and agricultural waste commercially viable. ...Novozymes supplies enzymes to break down matter such
August 30, 2012 Read Full Article
What Does a Brazilian Ethanol Producer Weigh?
by Nick Cressey (Green Power Conferences/World Biofuels Markets News) I am a Brazilian ethanol refinery. I am not very big but I am happy and I make a comfortable profit. I have one nice big field of cane and one
August 30, 2012 Read Full Article
International Cooperation to Develop Global Bioenergy Capacity: US and Brazil Bilateral Collaboration on Biofuels
Presentation by Helena Chum (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) US led by its State Department, and Brazil led by Department of Energy of the Ministry of Foreign Relations, have entered into an MOU to advance cooperation of Biofuels. Sharing best practices
August 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Entrepreneur-Grower Developing a Blueprint to Make Sugarcane a Fuel
(Sunshine State News) Picture a fuel that doesn't come from the Middle East, costs as much as six times less to produce than corn ethanol and could actuallyhelp the environment. That's ethanol from sugarcane, which grows like weeds in Florida, and it made something
August 17, 2012 Read Full Article
Brazil Is Zooming Ahead on Ethanol
by Weiner and George Clingan (Miami Herald) As the world watches the 2012 London Olympics, the United States ought to brace for a looming embarrassment at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Unless we act fast, everyone will see Brazilians
August 10, 2012 Read Full Article
Biofuel Expansion in Central America and the Myth of Vacant Land
(World Watch Institute/Environmental News Network) ...In response to global criticisms that biofuels drive deforestation and threaten food security, Central American governments and interest groups specify that biofuel expansion will occur on “tierras ociosas”�—or vacant, unproductive land. This may include land
July 25, 2012 Read Full Article
Guatemala Farmers Losing Their Land to Europe's Demand for Biofuels
by John Vidal (The Guardian) Indigenous smallholder farmers are being violently evicted as companies move in to satisfy Europe's hunger for biofuels ...Over the next four days, 10 more villages were cleared. By the end of March 2011, around 800 families
July 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Growing Better Biofuel Crops
by Heather Youngs and Chris Somerville (The Scientist) Research is underway to reduce the use of food crops for biofuels by shifting to dedicated energy crops and agricultural residues. ...Conversion of biomass is currently the most cost-effective route to produce renewable
July 05, 2012 Read Full Article
Shell Scraps Controversial Biofuels Plan after Brazilian Indian Protest
(SurvivalInternational.org) ...But some of its sugar cane is grown on land claimed by the Guarani tribe, one of the most persecuted and impoverished in South America. Their leaders are regularly killed by gunmen acting for the sugar cane growers and cattle ranchers who
June 30, 2012 Read Full Article
EdeniQ, NREL, Aemetis, Kent Bioenergy among Winners of California Clean Energy Grants
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, the California Energy Commission approved funding of $23,110,015 for projects that will advance the development of green fuels, and the installation of fueling stations. The awards are provided through the Energy Commission’s Alternative