by Daniel Gallas (BBC) ... It is widely available in gas stations across the country. The majority of new cars are able to run on either petrol or sugarcane-based ethanol. The government played a key role in boosting this alternative. Ethanol prices
sugarcane
Back TO HOMEZimbabwe: Biofuels - Zim Losing Billions
by Stephen Tsoroti (Financial Gazette/All Africa) Hamstrung by debilitating liquidity challenges, Zimbabwe is missing the chance to improve its revenue position by neglecting the development of biofuels, a renewable energy expert has noted. Clement Shonhiwa, a renewable energy expert and consultant at
June 30, 2015 Read Full Article
European Biomass Conference and Exhibition 2015: Biomass: Challenges and Promises
by Maija Sihvonen* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The 23rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition (EUBCE) held in Vienna 1-4 June was a massive event with nearly 1300 participants from 76 countries and some 800 presentations. The event consisted of multiple parallel
June 29, 2015 Read Full Article
Ceres Refocuses on Food, Forage Options as Brazilian Bioenergy Results Disappoint
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The news may come as a surprise to the broader community, since in March 2015 the company signed a multi-year collaboration agreement Raizen, a joint venture of Royal Dutch Shell and Cosan, to develop and produce
June 29, 2015 Read Full Article
4 Minutes with… Valentin Perez, Project Manager, SINMT
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... My company is building the first bioethanol plant using sugarcane in Mexico. We will sell ethanol to Pemex and other companies. The scope of the project is not only the plant, but also the support to
June 25, 2015 Read Full Article
Looking at Next-Generation Biofuel, Converting Waste into Fuel: Brekelmans of Shell
by Anilesh S Mahajan (Business Today) Shell Global's Harry Brekelmans is very optimistic about the India story. Brekelmans sits on the board of the Executive Committee of Royal Dutch Shell PLC and is the director in-charge of projects & technology. He,
June 22, 2015 Read Full Article
API Announces First Commercial Implementation of GreenBox+ Technology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Backed by a $10M investment from Natural Resources Canada’s Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program and an additional $4.4M from the Québec Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs, the Cabano plant
June 22, 2015 Read Full Article
Joule Wins Key Patent for Direct Conversion of CO2 to Hydrocarbon Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Massachusetts, Joule, the pioneer of liquid fuels from recycled CO2, announced the issuance of an additional patent on the direct, continuous production of hydrocarbon fuels – extending its ability to target the highest-value molecules
June 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Researchers Develop Process for Drop-In Aviation Biofuel
(Department of Energy/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/ECNMag.com) While biofuels have proven to be an effective, renewable, low-carbon alternative to gasoline and diesel, jet fuels pose unique challenges. These challenges have now been met with a new technique developed by researchers at
June 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Queensland Issues Biofuels Mandate Discussion Paper, Launches Public Forums
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Australia, the Queensland state government has released the Towards a clean energy economy: achieving a biofuel mandate for Queensland discussion paper, which outlines key issues associated with the proposed mandate and provides details on the
June 15, 2015 Read Full Article
Government Boosts Ethanol Fuels to Create New Industry Jobs
by Tony Moore (The Age) The Queensland Government wants to boost the proportion of sugarcane-derived ethanol in petrol sales from 1.2 per cent to 2 per cent by July 2016, as a catalyst to a $1.8 billion bio-refining industry. It wants to
June 04, 2015 Read Full Article
Kuwait Invests US$1.5 Billion in Agro-Industrial Project in Mozambique
(Macau Hub) The Al-Bader International Development Company plans to invest U$1.5 billion in an agro-industrial project for the production of sugarcane in Mozambique, with a view to producing ethanol, the Chief Executive of the Kuwaiti company said Wednesday. Ali Mahmoud, who
June 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Thailand Set to Become Regional Bioenergy Hub
by Krissana Parnsoonthorn (Bangkok Post) Thailand has high potential to transfer biomass and biogas technology to other Asean members in the next five years, say industry experts. With abundant biomass resources and the government's past success in promoting bioenergy, the
June 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Illovo Says Policy Certainty Key to Unlocking Sugar’s Cogeneration Potential
by Terence Creamer (Engineering News) ... For Illovo, meanwhile, electricity generation forms part of a larger downstream diversification strategy, designed to lower the group’s reliance on sugar prices. Besides power, the JSE-listed group is also moving to expand its ethanol production
May 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Ecuador to Roll out Argus-Linked Ethanol
(Argus Media) Ecuador's President Rafael Correa issued a decree that orders the gradual roll out of a 10pc ethanol blend nationwide, using the Argus US Gulf Coast ethanol price as an index. ... The Ecopais plan is aimed at reducing Ecuador´s growing
May 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Petrojam Ethanol Reluctant To Relocate
by Avia Collinder (The Gleaner) The planned expansion of the Petrojam oil refinery will result in the physical displacement of sister company and tenant Petrojam Ethanol Limited (PEL), but the biofuel trader says it is yet to craft plan for the
May 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Developed after Genetic Enhancing, "Super Sugarcane" Is Intended for Energy
by Marcelo Toledo (Riberao Preto/Folha de S.Paulo) It is huge - it can grow up to six meters -, has the potential to produce 300 tons per hectare and represents a new era in the sugar-energy sector. The energy cane,
May 15, 2015 Read Full Article
Sugar Cane to Branch out to Bio-Ethanol, Electricity
by Linda Ensor (Business Day Live) ... The diversification plans included using sugar cane to produce bio-ethanol and to generate renewable electricity. This would also improve the long term viability of the industry, chairman of the South African Sugar Association Rolf Lütge
May 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Growers Want Permits to Produce Ethanol from Sugarcane
by N. Dinesh Nayak (The Hindu) The Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers Association has urged the Union government to allow sugarcane growers to produce ethanol from sugarcane. Speaking to presspersons here on Monday, the association president Kurabur Shantha Kumar said allowing sugarcane growers
May 13, 2015 Read Full Article
The Commercialization of Renewable Fuels, Chemicals and Biobased Product: 4 New Views, in Depth
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) New targets, new markets, new tech, new methods, new outcomes.LanzaTech, Genomatica, Amyris and Brazil’s CTBE share in-depth presentations from the 37th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals. 100 of the most fascinating slides you’ll
May 13, 2015 Read Full Article
For Biofuels and Climate, Location Matters
(Phys.org) A new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change shows that, when looking at the production site alone, growing biofuel crops can have a significant impact on climate depending on location and crop type. The study is the
May 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Cargill Joint Venture to Install FQPT Systems in Brazilian Plant
(Fluid Quip Process Technologies/Ethanol Producer Magazine) SJC Bioenergia, a joint venture between Cargill and Group USJ, has purchased Fluid Quip Process Technology’s systems to integrate corn ethanol production at its sugar-cane ethanol facility located in Quirinopolis, Brazil. SJC Bioenergia will utilize
May 11, 2015 Read Full Article
BP Warns State It Will Close Jennings Biofuels Site
(The Advertiser) BP is closing its biofuels plant in Jennings, ending jobs there for 56 people. Aline Thoeny, human resources manager for BP, sent notice Monday to Andre France of the Louisiana Workforce Commission Dislocated Worker Unit and to Jennings
May 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Canegrowers Welcomes Ethanol and Biofuel Announcement
(Daily Mercury) The Queensland government has recommitted to ethanol and biofuels with the announcement of a discussion paper looking to boost the industry. Energy Minister Mark Bailey was at Wilmar BioEthanol site earlier today to make the announcement. Although Mr Bailey said it
May 05, 2015 Read Full Article
New RSB Standard Proposed to Certify Low-Risk ILUC Biomass
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) It may soon be possible to certify that biomass is not only sustainably sourced, but also considered low-risk for indirect land use change (ILUC). The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials released its draft standard
May 04, 2015 Read Full Article
Argentinian Ethanol Producers Seek 12% Blend in Gasoline
(Platts) Argentinian ethanol producers are pressing the government to boost the blend in gasoline to 12% from 10%, an effort led by the struggling sugarcane sector, an industry source said Thursday. ... With a glut of sugar in the world, it is
May 04, 2015 Read Full Article
Harvester Banking on Ethanol Distillery
by John Anderson (Townsville Bulletin) Burdekin sugarcane harvesting contractor Michael Hodder has welcomed moves by the State Government to consider an ethanol mandate for Queensland. Mr Hodder, who plans to build an ethanol distillery to supply fuel for his own machinery, says
April 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies Develops Bio-Renewable Rubber to Reduce Carbon Footprint
(AZOCleanTech.com) With the ever-increasing emissions standards and push for sustainability solutions, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies has developed an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber compound from a polymer produced from sugarcane-based feedstock. The bio-renewable rubber, for which development began in 2012, is made
April 21, 2015 Read Full Article
Global Bioenergies Heads for Demo Scale: A Magic Path to Isobutane in Sight
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In France, Global Bioenergies announced that it has completed the financing of its demo plant, and is commencing construction immediately. The 5,000L demonstration-scale facility will be completed in spring 2015, and will be located at
April 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Construction Starts on Raceland Sugar Cane Conversion Plant
by Aaren Gordon (Daily Comet) Construction has started on a $60 million plant in Raceland that will convert sugar cane waste into chemicals, sweeteners and biofuels by 2017. The project next to Raceland Raw Sugar Corp. along La. 182 is a
March 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Visalia-Based Edeniq Engineering Ethanol’s Future
by George Lurie (The Business Journal NOW) ... Lower oil prices, (Brian) Thome (president and CEO of Edeniq) said, translate into “lower prices for ethanol too. That means margins for ethanol producers will be squeezed” — a scenario that plays right into
March 03, 2015 Read Full Article
USDA Publishes Final BCAP Rule
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) The USDA has released the final rule for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program, and though the general scope of BCAP is not changing with the recently published rule, there are some key changes being made
March 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Maui Sugar Plantation Still Looking for Biofuel Crop
(SunHerald.com/Associated Press/Maui News) Hawaii's last sugar cane plantation wants to transition to growing plants for energy. But it hasn't found another crop that grows as well as sugar cane in a variety of soils or one that can stand up
March 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Guatemala Launches Pilot Ethanol Tests
(SeeNews Renewables) Guatemala's energy ministry presented on Wednesday a pilot plan to test ethanol in 25 vehicles and five motorcycles during four months. The government will use blends containing 5% and 10% of ethanol, supplied by local alcohol association APAG. The ethanol
February 27, 2015 Read Full Article
Positive Review of "Sustainable Development of Biofuels in Latin America and the Caribbean"
by Thomas N. Thompson (Biofuels Digest/U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), Washington) ... This superb collection of essays shows that Latin America is emerging as a major global producer of biofuels as countries across the region seek to leverage competitive advantages like vast
February 16, 2015 Read Full Article
The Cellulosoic Biofuels Odyssey: Crossing the Finish Line
[caption id="attachment_59604" align="alignleft" width="300"] "The Cellulosic Biofuels Odyssey," artwork by David R. Dudley; concept by Heather Youngs, Susan Jenkins, and David Dudley.[/caption] by Greg Breining (Bioenergy Connection) When Bioenergy Connection first covered the progress to commercial cellulosic ethanol in 2011, a dozen
February 15, 2015 Read Full Article
DOE Accepting Comments on Engineered High-Energy Crop Proposal
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of the Engineered High Energy Crop (EHEC) Programs Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
February 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Welcome to the Twilight Zone
by Robert E. Kozak* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Imagine if you will a country with two natural resource industries. Both produce high demand products. One is the lowest priced producer on the planet and is able to sustain output from their
January 27, 2015 Read Full Article
Department of Food Directs Sugar Mills to Expedite Ethanol Supply
by Anindita Dey (Business Standard) The department calls meet to gather information on number of sugar mills supplying ethanol and supply position of ethanol blending programme The department of food has asked all sugar mills to expedite supply of ethanol to the
January 20, 2015 Read Full Article
BP’s Exit from Cellulosic Ethanol: the Assets, the Auction, the Process, the Timing, the Skinny
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The complete details on BP’s exit and the considerable physical and intellectual assets available for acquisition, in part or in whole. As BP continues to reel from its oil leak capital calls and the impact
January 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Boeing, Embraer Open Joint Aviation Biofuel Research Center in Brazil
(Boeing) Collaboration supports Brazil’s role in developing sustainable biofuel, helps meet aviation’s environmental goals. Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Embraer [BM&FBOVESPA: EMBR3, NYSE: ERJ] today opened a joint sustainable aviation biofuel research center in a collaborative effort to further establish
January 15, 2015 Read Full Article
Zimbabwe: Govt Okays Ethanol Project
(AllAfrica) The Zanu-PF leadership here has given the Zimbabwe Bio-Energy the green light to set up a US$500 million ethanol plant at Nuanetsi Ranch in Mwenezi in a development expected to help the province attain targets set under Zim-Asset. The proposed
January 15, 2015 Read Full Article
Praj Contracts Order for Uganda's Largest Ethanol Plant from Kakira Sugars
(Praj/PR NewsWire/CNBC) Sustainable Technology resulting in generation of 50-60% power requirement through captive cogen unit; Employs Praj's latest ECOSMART technology for multi-product distillery producing fuel ethanol as well as premium grade beverage alcohol; Biocompost from the plant to be used
January 07, 2015 Read Full Article
Government Relaxes Fuel Blending Rules
(New Zimbabwe) Government has further reduced the mandatory fuel blending with ethanol to 5% from 15% owing to low sugar cane supply. Mid this year government increased the mandatory blending level to 15% [E15] from 10%. In a statement this week Energy
December 31, 2014 Read Full Article
Raizen, Iogen’s Brazilian Cellulosic Ethanol Project, in Pictures
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s the world’s first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol facility utilizing (waste) sugarcane bagasse as a feedstock. And the first of what Raizen says will be a network of seven full commercial-scale plants. What does it
December 30, 2014 Read Full Article
Biofuels Program under Review
by Riza T. Olchandra (Philippine Daily Inquirer) Energy authorities are calling for more investments in biofuels as officials review a current program mandating the blending of biodiesel and ethanol in locally distributed diesel and gasoline. There has been market buzz that
December 29, 2014 Read Full Article
USGC Ethanol Assessment Team Finds Potential in the Philippines
(U.S. Grains Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Grains Council recently led a delegation of industry leaders representing the USDA, Renewable Fuels Association, and Growth Energy to the Philippines to assess factors contributing to the large exports of U.S. ethanol to
December 22, 2014 Read Full Article
Can Brazil Get Its Ethanol Mojo Back?
by Mac Margolis (Bloomberg View) Brazilian airline Gol set out earlier this year to launch the world's first commercial flight powered partly by renewable fuel made from sugar cane. Fermenting ordinary sugar into jet fuel ended up being the easy bit.
December 22, 2014 Read Full Article
To Clean up Air in Cities, Govt Plans Biofuel, Electric Buses
(Times of India) The government is set to come out with policies to introduce clean fuels such as biodiesel, bioethanol and electricity for public transport vehicles and school buses in big cities to tackle air pollution, road transport minister Nitin
December 19, 2014 Read Full Article
UNICA Says Hard for Ethanol to Compete with $60 Oil as Nine More Mills Shut
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Brazil, UNICA says that ethanol and all renewable energies become a challenge with oil at $60 per barrel, but that the choice of ethanol over gasoline has to be about more than just price. READ
December 19, 2014 Read Full Article
BNDES OKs $116M in Financing for Abengoa Cellulosic Ethanol Plant in Sao Paulo State
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Brazil, the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) approved $223.38 in financing for four sugarcane projects. The largest announced financing is for Abengoa Bioenergy SA Agribusiness, which will receive $116.8M to implement its second-generation
December 19, 2014 Read Full Article
York’s Contribution to International Biofuel Research Is Recognised by Brazil.
(Biorenewables Development Centre) Brazil’s National Laboratory of Science and Technology of Bioethanol (CTBE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC), based in York. Brazil is the world’s largest producer of ethanol extracted from sugar
December 18, 2014 Read Full Article
Raizen, Iogen Commence Cellulosic Ethanol Production in Brazil
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 1 billion liters by 2024, vows Raizen. Record speed on start-up. What’s the story on the ground? In Brazil, Iogen and Raízen announced they have begun production of cellulosic ethanol on schedule at Raízen`s newly expanded
December 18, 2014 Read Full Article
Rautenbach's Mwenezi Ethanol Project Gets Nod
by Godfrey Mtimba (Daily News) The new Zanu PF provincial executive here has promised to give businessman Billy Rautenbach the green light to continue his multi-million ethanol project in the vast Nuanetsi ranch in Mwenezi. Zanu PF acting chairman Paradzai Chakona
December 17, 2014 Read Full Article
Amyris Renewable Jet Fuel Receives Regulatory Approval in Brazil
(Amyris) Brazil Now Cleared for Flying With Locally-Produced, Sugarcane-Derived Jet Fuel as Study Indicates That Amyris’s Renewable Fuels Greatly Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Compared to Fossil Fuels Amyris, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMRS) welcomed the approval of its renewable jet fuel by Brazil’s fuels
December 17, 2014 Read Full Article
Falling Oil Prices Will Push Many Cellulosic Fuel Makers into the Red
(Lux Research, Inc.) Cellulosic feedstocks can keep bio-based fuels and materials from competing with food, but despite 2.4 billion tons of feedstock available, costs may be too high, says Lux Research Most bio-based fuels and chemicals are made from food crops
December 16, 2014 Read Full Article
USDA Report Highlights Impact of CTPA on Exports to Columbia
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A report recently filed with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural Information Network highlights the impact of the Columbia Trade Promotion Agreement on U.S. ethanol exports. The agreement went into force in May
December 08, 2014 Read Full Article
Edeniq Heads down Success-at-Scale Avenue, in China
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Virtuosos of Visalia land a major contract with China giant Global Bio-chem — a 50KT cellulosic sugars plant is underway in Jilin province. In California, Edeniq announced a Joint Development Agreement with Global Bio-chem Technology Group
December 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Briefing: Cellulosic Ethanol: A Technology Update
by Carole Abourached* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) recently held a briefing on the technologies involved in commercial cellulosic ethanol production. Cellulosic ethanol is produced from agricultural residues such as corn stover and wheat straw
December 01, 2014 Read Full Article
Challenges which Hinder the Growth of the Sugar and Alcohol Sector in Brazil
by Roberto Coelho* (Advanced Biofuels USA) As discussed at the recent F.O. Licht’s conference, Sugar and Ethanol Brazil, the current status of the installed capacity in Brazil has grown enormously in recent years with the launch of 29 new power plants
November 26, 2014 Read Full Article
Gevo Signs Letter of Intent With Highlands EnviroFuels to License Isobutanol Technology for Florida Plant
(Gevo) Plant to Convert Sugar Cane and Sweet Sorghum to 20-25 Million Gallons Per Year of Isobutanol Gevo, Inc.(Nasdaq:GEVO), the world's only commercial producer of renewable isobutanol, announced today that Highlands EnviroFuels, LLC ("Highlands") has signed a letter of intent to
November 25, 2014 Read Full Article
Consortium Creates Sugarcane Research Center in Spain
(Global BioBusiness) The EunergyCane Consortium officially started operations with the signing of an agreement with the city of Motril in Spain which will create Europe's first sugarcane research center. The consortium is a group of public and private European entities such
November 25, 2014 Read Full Article
Brazilian Biofuels Policy Under a Second Rousseff Term
by Leticia Phillips (UNICA/Ethanol Producer Magazine) UNICA is looking forward to working with Brazil's newly re-elected President Dilma Rouseff on putting the right policies in place for the country's future, writes Leticia Phillips. Brazil’s sugarcane ethanol industry has grown along with the U.S.
November 21, 2014 Read Full Article
Shell: Expects to Be Producing Advanced Biofuels at Scale, in US, by End of Decade
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Shell VP Matthew Tipper, at ABLCNext: “We will likely begin manufacture in the southeast United States. We plan to be operational by late this decade. “We believe our best bet is woody biomass and energy
November 21, 2014 Read Full Article
PMO Discusses Clearing Hurdles in Ethanol Blending Programme
(The Economic Times) Keen to ensure success of ethanol blending in petrol, the Prime Minister's Office held parleys with the ministries of food and petroleum to clear bottlenecks to ensure adequate supplies so that the programme can be extended across
November 20, 2014 Read Full Article
Smokeless Biofuel Saves Lives in Africa
by Julie Fahnestock (Just Means) ... In fact, traditional cooking methods—open fires of wood and chemically based charcoals—have been deemed “the silent killer.” According to the World Health Organization, more people in the developing world die each year from illness
November 18, 2014 Read Full Article
Angola: Biocom Produces Over 3000 Tons of Ethanol in Experimental Phase
(AllAfrica.com) At least 1.550 tons of sugar and 3.600 cubic metres of ethanol have already been produced in the experimental phase of the Angolan Bio-energy Company (Biocom), located in the Agro-industrial Park of Capanda, Cacuso municipality, northern Malanje province. READ
November 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Yield Quest for Cellulosic biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Could a new wave of cellulsoic processes find the key to capturing the carbon lost by today’s technologies — and providing a drive to lower costs that busts through infrastructure barriers? Iogen has been running its
November 13, 2014 Read Full Article
Indo-US Joint Effort to Derive Non-Food Biofuels from 2017
by N Madhav (Business Standard) The initiative would work to deliver a model for production using crops like energy sorghum, bamboo, pearl millet and switch grass In a significant step towards generating biofuels from non-food plant sources, the US-India joint consortium for
November 12, 2014 Read Full Article
Verticality: A Key Factor in the Food x Fuel Issue
by Al Costa (Global Biobusiness) ...To this end, it becomes increasingly clear that "verticality" is a key issue. This means crops which occupy little space horizontally and as much space vertically. After all, a crop is free to be
November 11, 2014 Read Full Article
Louisiana Biofuels Projects Help Spur Nationwide Green Jobs Growth
by Jennifer Larino (NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune) Louisiana added 225 jobs in the biofuels industry during the third quarter, ranking alongside states such as Texas and Connecticut for clean energy job growth, according to the latest Environmental Entrepreneurs report. The report, which
November 10, 2014 Read Full Article
Researchers Win Funding for Miscanthus, Sorghum Research
(University of Illinois/Biomass Magazine) Two University of Illinois crop sciences researchers interested in improving plant feedstocks for bioenergy production were selected to receive funding by the USDA and the U.S. Department of Energy as part of a larger Obama administration
October 31, 2014 Read Full Article
GranBio Planing Second Brazil Site for Cellulosic Ethanol
by Vanessa Dezem and Gerson Freitas Jr. (Bloomberg) GranBio Investimentos SA, the Brazilian biotechnology company that opened the southern hemisphere’s first cellulosic ethanol plant last month, is close to announcing a partner for its second facility. The new plant will be comparable
October 16, 2014 Read Full Article
Airlines Fly the Skies on a Sugar High
by Amy Yee (The New York Times) The red-and-white Boeing 737 looked like any other plane on the tarmac at Orlando International Airport. But on a clear day last July, the plane became the first commercial flight powered by a
October 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Bioethanol Plant Fuelling CHP Facility
By David Appleyard (Co-Generation and On-Site Power Production) A new bioethanol production plant that has been commissioned in Brazil is helping to fuel an adjacent cogeneration facility that supplies process steam, as well as electricity to the grid. Granbio has
October 10, 2014 Read Full Article
Madagascar Energy Starts the Race by Domestic Biofuel Ethanol
(Agence Ecofin) ... "It is an ecological project to reduce deforestation by reducing the use of wood as fuel," noted Roland Jules Etienne, Minister of Industry and private sector development, while unveiling the vision Malagasy government to open more units in
October 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Ahead of His Time
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The idea of wet biomass storage has yet to catch on in the cellulosic industry, despite long-term use in the pulp and paper industry. Jim Hettenhaus is a passionate advocate of wet biomass storage. ...
October 01, 2014 Read Full Article
4 Minutes With…Manoel Carnauba, COO, GranBio
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... GranBio is a Biotech company based in Brazil and USA. We’re now starting up the first 2G ethanol plant in Latin American, using sugar cane straw as raw material. ... What do you feel are the most
October 01, 2014 Read Full Article
Brazil Study Shows 30 Ethanol Mills Near Bankruptcy, Valor Says
by Vanessa Dezem (Bloomberg) Brazilian policies to cap gasoline prices may lead 30 ethanol and sugar plants to file for bankruptcy, Valor Economico said, citing a report from a research firm. The mills, with a combined capacity to process 60 million metric
October 01, 2014 Read Full Article
Lufthansa Operates Commercial flight using new sugar-based biofuel and signs jatropha agreement
(GreenAir Online) Following its recent approval by international fuel standards body ASTM, the sugar-based biofuel developed by the Total oil group and US-based biotech company Amyris was used by Lufthansa on a commercial flight from Frankfurt to Berlin on Monday
September 30, 2014 Read Full Article
Cuba's Sugar Industry to Use Bagasse for Bioenergy
(Inter Press Service) Cuba's sugar industry hopes to become the main source of clean energy in the country as part of a programme to develop renewable sources aimed at reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels and protecting the environment. The
September 30, 2014 Read Full Article
Clariant’s Demonstration Cellulosic Ethanol Plant in Germany: The Complete Facility, in Pictures
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Producing enzymes and yeasts on site, as part of the complete biomass-to-fuels manufacturing process. ... In recent years — the region around Straubing turned to biotech to access the high returns in high tech for its
September 29, 2014 Read Full Article
Proterro and Bunge To Conduct Pilot Study in Brazil of Proterro’s Sucrose-production Technology
(Proterro/BusinessWire) Biofeedstock company Proterro and Bunge Global Innovation, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of global agribusiness and food company Bunge Limited (Bunge), will conduct a pilot study of Proterro’s sucrose-production technology in Brazil. Under a joint development agreement, a pilot plant
September 25, 2014 Read Full Article
Farmers Supply 1 Crore Litre Ethanol to IOL, BPCL, Says Nitin Gadkari
(IBN Live) Efforts are on to promote ethanol to cut the huge Rs 6 lakh crore bill on import of crude and farmers have already supplied 1 crore litre of ethanol to Indian Oil and Bharat Petroleum, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
September 25, 2014 Read Full Article
GranBio Starts Cellulosic Ethanol Production at 21 Million Gallon Plant in Alagoas, Brazil
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) World’s largest-known cellulosic ethanol project to date comes online in Brazil in record time. In Brazil, GranBio has initiated production at the first commercial-scale plant for second-generation ethanol in the Southern Hemisphere. The Bioflex 1, unit
September 25, 2014 Read Full Article
Louisiana Entrepreneur Embodies Industry Switch from Emphasis on Biofuels to Bioproducts
[caption id="attachment_56190" align="alignleft" width="300"] Entrance to industrial Harvey Canal, Harvey, Louisiana[/caption] by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Golden Leaf Energy’s Troy A. Clark grew up in Louisiana. Studying chemical engineering at Tulane University brought him into contact with the oil industry.
September 23, 2014 Read Full Article
Green Growth: A U.S. Program for Controlling Climate Change and Expanding Job Opportunities
by Robert Pollin, Heidi Garrett-Peltier, James Heintz, and Bracken Hendricks (Center for American Progress) ... This report quantifies the level of investment required for the United States to align emissions reductions with international goals in an economically beneficial and
September 18, 2014 Read Full Article
Biofuels in Brazil
by Antonio Maria Bonomi, Paulo Barbosa and Susan van Dyk (IEA Bioenergy Task 39 Newsletter #37) Brazil was the leader in biofuels production and exports until the USA became the world’s largest biofuel producer in 2006 and the leading exporter of biofuels
September 17, 2014 Read Full Article
NFR BioEnergy to Develop Bagasse Pellet Projects in Louisiana
(Office of the Governor Bobby Jindal) Governor Bobby Jindal and Chief Operating Officer Frank Randazzo of NFR BioEnergy announced the company will make a $312 million capital investment to install biorefineries at more than 10 sugar refining hubs in South
September 16, 2014 Read Full Article
Braskem Joins Amyris and Michelin to Accelerate the Industrialization and Commercialization of Renewable Isoprene
(Amyris) Partnership aims to develop and produce renewable isoprene for production of tire and other rubber applications Amyris, Braskem and Michelin announced today that Braskem is joining a collaboration already launched in 2011 between Michelin and Amyris. This collaboration was initiated
September 09, 2014 Read Full Article
VIII Annual ISO DATAGRO New York Sugar and Ethanol Conference: Report
by Pamela Rockwell* (Advanced Biofuels USA) It was fitting that the VIII annual ISO DATAGRO New York Sugar and Ethanol Conference took place in the Empire Room of the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. The event is sponsored jointly by
September 08, 2014 Read Full Article
$60M Biomass Plant to Tap into Lafourche Bagasse
(New Orleans City Business) A Lafourche Parish mill will be the site of a $60 million biochemical facility that will turn the waste product of the sugar refining process into a useable product. Virdia Inc. announced today, with Gov. Bobby Jindal,
September 08, 2014 Read Full Article
Brazil to Provide $843.5 Million for Sugar Cane Research Program
(Bloomberg Businessweek) Brazil’s state-development bank BNDES agreed to provide 1.9 billion reais ($843.5 million) in funding to companies seeking to increase productivity at ethanol and sugar plants. Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Economico e Social, along with Brazil’s research-financing agency Finep, selected
August 28, 2014 Read Full Article
White Lists: A Proactive Approach to Risk Reduction for the Bioenergy Industry
by Dr. Doria Gordon (The Nature Conservancy/Biofuels Digest) Cultivation of bioenergy crops is predicted to increase to between 27 and 120 million acres by 2022 in order to meet the renewable energy needs of the U.S. and the Environmental Protection
August 26, 2014 Read Full Article
Alkol Biotech to Develop Sugarcane Research Lab in Europe
(Global BioBusiness) ... Alkol Biotech, signed an agreement with the council of the city of Motril in the Andalusia region of Spain to develop what could be Europe’s first sugarcane development lab. The lab will develop new sugarcane varieties with better
August 22, 2014 Read Full Article
OMCs May Have to Raise Price for Ethanol to Be Procured for EBP 2014-15
by Anindita Dey (Business Standard) Sugar mills will not be in a position to supply ethanol if they are not offered at least Rs 35-37 per litre this year The food ministry has assured the sugar mills of an enhanced price of
August 21, 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
Answers for Your Questions about the Bioeconomy, Biofuels, Renewable Chemicals and Bioproducts
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... With great sessions at conferences, delegates are usually keen to get a hold of the powerpoint decks. But how do you get a hold of the great Q&A that follows the presentations — or the
August 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Building a Long Term, Sustainable Supply Chain for Cellulosic Biofuels Industry
by Olatomiwa Bifarin* (Advanced Biofuel USA) On Tuesday, July 15 2014, Biofuels Digest hosted a webinar discussing creating sustainable supply chains for cellulosic biofuels – a germane issue that will ultimately determine the commercial viability of cellulosic biofuels. One of the
August 11, 2014 Read Full Article
Brazil's GOL to Start International Flights using Newly-Certified Amyris/Total Renewable Jet Fuel
(GreenAir Online) Less than a month after approval for commercial use by fuel certification body ASTM International, Brazilian carrier GOL has announced it is to begin flying with blended farnesane renewable jet fuel developed by the Amyris/Total partnership. The sugarcane-derived Synthetic
August 11, 2014 Read Full Article
The Clean Plate Club: The Search for Value from Food Waste Finds a Center of Gravity in Hawaii
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) All that food waste, all that potential value. What’s being done about all that material heading from the garbage pail to the landfill? Turns out, the State of Hawaii and BioTork are doing a lot.
August 08, 2014 Read Full Article
Automakers Gear up for Changes as Govt Pushes Ethanol-Blended Petrol
by Swaraj Baggongkar (Business Standard) To curb petrol import costs, the NDA government is pushing for a 10% ethanol mix in petrol A long-delayed proposal to add 10 per cent ethanol into petrol will most likely force manufacturers to make changes to
August 07, 2014 Read Full Article
Ireland Forced to Import 84% of Biofuel Needed
by Margaret Donnelly (Agriland) Ireland imported 126 liters of biofuels in 2013, 84% of what we used, according to An Taisce. An Taisce says the EU biofuels policy is failing to meet one of its key aims, namely, to boost self-sufficiency in terms
August 06, 2014 Read Full Article
Ceres to Expand Product Development in Sorghum and Sugarcane Under Brazil's Agricultural Innovation Program
(Ceres) Ceres, Inc. (Nasdaq: CERE), an agricultural biotechnology and seed company, today announced that the company will enhance its product development programs in Brazil and expand its development activities in biotech traits for sorghum and sugarcane over the next four years. The programs
August 05, 2014 Read Full Article
First International Commercial Flight Completed with Newly Approved Amyris-Total Aviation Biofuel
(Amyris) GOL Airlines Flight from Orlando to Sao Paulo First to Use Sugarcane-Derived Renewable Jet Fuel On July 31, Amyris partnered with Brazilian airline, GOL, to fly the industry’s first commercial flight with farnesane, the recently approved renewable jet fuel. The first flight,
August 01, 2014 Read Full Article
The Economic Competitiveness of U.S. Ethanol
by John M. Urbanchuk (ABF Economics/Renewable Fuels Association) ... Reflecting this enhanced competitiveness and maturation, ethanol prices (both FOB plant and delivered at key U.S. markets) have declined, while crude oil and conventional gasoline prices remained stable or increased. Consequently: 1. U.S.-produced ethanol continues to improve
July 23, 2014 Read Full Article
Low Corn Prices Favor New Type of Ethanol in Brazil
by Gustavo Bonato and Caroline Stauffer (Reuters) Low corn prices in Brazil following a bumper crop are worrying farmers but providing favorable margins for an incipient corn-ethanol industry, said the manager of Usimat, the first Brazilian mill to produce the corn-based
July 22, 2014 Read Full Article
Mascoma Confirms Strategy Shift, Outlines Plans for Technology
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Larry Klein and the Sierra Club sued Frontier and the DOE after the DOE issued a finding of “no significant impact” and granted a Frontier funding application which pledged about $100 million, or about
July 22, 2014 Read Full Article
Bioenergy Education Program Comes to SFSC This Fall
(South Florida State College) Beginning this fall, South Florida State College (SFSC) will offer a Bioenergy Education Program to provide students with a foundation of environmental sciences and renewable energy. With a rising interest in green chemistry, sustainability, and escalating oil
July 18, 2014 Read Full Article
Research Projects to Improve Plant Feedstocks for Bioenergy Production: Departments of Agriculture and Energy Announce Projects in 10 States
(US Department of Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today (July 17, 2014) announced the selection of 10 projects that are being awarded funding aimed at accelerating genetic breeding programs to improve
July 18, 2014 Read Full Article
Angola’s Biocom Project to Begin Ethanol and Sugar Production in 2014
(Macauhub) Companhia de Bioenergia de Angola (Biocom), an Angola-Brazil partnership based in Angola’s Malange province, is due in September of this year to start producing 120 megawatts of electricity, the company said in a statement. Biocom also said that in September
July 09, 2014 Read Full Article
Brazilian Airline GOL to Make First International Commercial Flights With Newly Approved Amyris-Total Aviation Biofuel
(Amyris/GlobeNewsWire) International Flights From Florida to Sao Paulo Using Sugarcane-Derived Renewable Jet Fuel Support GOL Environmental Performance Objectives Amyris (Nasdaq:AMRS) has partnered with Brazilian airline GOL (NYSE:GOL) to begin the first commercial route with farnesane, the recently approved renewable jet fuel. GOL
July 09, 2014 Read Full Article
Ceres Initiates Field Evaluations of its Biotech Traits in Sugarcane
(Ceres) Ceres, Inc. (Nasdaq: CERE), an agricultural biotechnology and seed company, will evaluate a number of its biotech traits in sugarcane in South America. Plantings were recently completed and preliminary performance observations will be available by the end of the
July 01, 2014 Read Full Article
Ethanol Producer Looks Inward For Feedstock
by Avia Collinder (The Jamaica Gleaner) Discussions are under way between energy and sugar interests for local sugar estates to set aside about one million tonnes of cane annually for the production of wet ethanol. But at least one company in the agro-processing
July 01, 2014 Read Full Article
Revised ASTM Aviation Fuel Standard Paves the Way for Biojet
(ASTM International/Biomass Magazine) Renewable Synthesized Iso-Paraffinic fuel has now been included in ASTM International standard D7566, Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing Synthesized Hydrocarbons. A recently approved revision that adds SIP fuel to the ASTM D7566 annex will facilitate use
June 27, 2014 Read Full Article
Byogy Renewables Strengthens Competitiveness by Investing in Supply Chain
(Byogy Renewables/Nassau News Live) Continuing its commitment to deliver price competitive, 100% replacement biofuels and chemicals, Byogy Renewables Inc. has invested in a strategic partnership with AusAgave Australia, as part of the upstream integration of multiple feedstocks to develop low
June 12, 2014 Read Full Article
Developers of the First Cellulosic Plants Share Updates at FEW
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... A week before the FEW, Enerkem Inc. celebrated the inauguration of its 10 MMgy facility in Edmonton, Alberta. Commissioning is nearly completed, reported Tim Cesarek, senior vice president of business development. The thermochemical process
June 12, 2014 Read Full Article
Neol Biosolutions to Scale up Microbioil-2.0 Process at CB2G
(Neol Biosolutions/Biomass Magazine) Neol Biosolutions, a 50/50 joint venture between Repsol and Neuron Bio, has reached an agreement with the Center for Second Generation Biofuels (CB2G) of CENER, the Spanish National Renewable Energy Centre, in order to carry out the scale-up
June 02, 2014 Read Full Article
The Bio-Fuel Sector Is Attracting Some Big Names
by Reuben Brewer (The Motley Fool) Solazyme (NASDAQ: SZYM ) and FutureFuel (NYSE: FF ) are two relatively small companies largely focused on the emerging bio-fuel market. However, they aren't the only players in the space. And some of the other companies, like DuPont (NYSE: DD ) , operate on a
May 22, 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
Tanzania Hosts Ethanol Project
(Biofuels International) Agro EcoEnergy has invested $550 million (€400 million) in sugarcane farming for an ethanol project. The subsidiary of Swedish based EcoEnergy Africa AB has set up a special purpose project company, Bagamoyo EcoEnergy, to develop a modern sugarcane plantation
May 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Mozambique Plans to Start Ethanol Production
(Biofuels International) xperts in Mozambique are meeting to discuss strategies for producing clean energy to reduce pollution and costs in the import of fossil fuel. Mozambique is looking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by producing ethanol from sugarcane. Jaime Himede, the country's
May 13, 2014 Read Full Article
Zimbabwean Investor Keen to Launch $500 Million Ethanol Plant
(Biofuels International) A Zimbabwean investor is looking to plough $500 million (€360 million) into an ethanol production plant in Kawambwa, Luapula Province, in Zambia. ... (Luapula Province's permanent secretary Chanda) Kasolo believes Zambia can save huge sums of money by using ethanol blended
May 13, 2014 Read Full Article
Brazil: Biofuels Digest’s 10 Top Trends For 2014
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest's) ... 1. Feedstock diversification. If you thought it was all cane, cane, cane, think again. There’s a lot of movement on sorghum, and castor beans — and even some on corn. Sorghum. The biggest news of late
May 08, 2014 Read Full Article
UF/IFAS Researchers Target Eucalyptus as Source of Fuel for Biomass Production
(University of Florida) University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers working to produce ethanol from plant material are taking a hard look at eucalyptus as a possible source for the clean fuel. Joe Sagues, director of operations at the UF’s Stan
May 07, 2014 Read Full Article
Amyris Receives Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) Sustainability Certification
(Amyris/GlobeNewsWire) Amyris, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMRS) has completed the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) certification process and has earned one of the most respected sustainability certifications in the world. Amyris, a leading renewable products company, is one of the first commercial-scale second-generation biomaterial producers and
May 07, 2014 Read Full Article
Sugar Looks to Ethanol to Help Pick up Speed
by Loni Prinsloo (Business Day Live) ... South Africa has been producing sugar on a large scale since the first Indian labourers docked in Durban in 1860. The sweet cane has been processed mostly to be used in food and drink. However,
April 29, 2014 Read Full Article
Nebraska Corn Producers Are Excited About Brazilian Biofuels
(Nebraska Corn Board/Ethanol Producer Magazine) A group of Nebraska, Iowa, and Ohio corn farmers have returned from a multi-state trade mission to Brazil excited about the potential relationships and similarities of ethanol fuel. The objective of this joint mission was to gain
April 18, 2014 Read Full Article
Sierra Leone’s Ethanol Plant Close to Operation
(Biofuels International) Addax BioEnergy's plant, which processes ethanol from sugar cane and is the first of its kind in Africa, will start processing in eight days' time. ... The plant will produce about 85,000m3 of ethanol and approximately 100,000 MWh of renewable
April 15, 2014 Read Full Article
10 Bellwether Biofuels & Biobased Projects for 2014
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Advanced biofuels – are plans turning into reality? Are development plans realistic? When these 10 projects open for business (or not) in 2014, you’ll know for sure. ...Well, the picture is incomplete. Plants like the Valero Darling renewable
April 15, 2014 Read Full Article
Biobased Investment Triples, to $391M for Q1; Biofuels Digest’s 5-Minute Guide to the Investment Landscape
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, Biofuels Digest reports that 9 biobased ventures raised $391 million in new capital in Q1 2014, while 8 biobased ventures raised $128.6 million in Q4 2013. This compares to $363.8M million in Q2,
April 03, 2014 Read Full Article
BP Sustainability Report Highlights Biofuel Projects
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) BP has released its 2013 sustainability report, announcing that it has fulfilled its 2005 commitment to invest $8 billion in alternative energy by 2015 a full two years early. ... Regarding biofuels, the report noted
April 01, 2014 Read Full Article
European Report Shows Increased ILUC Levels for Ethanol
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The European Commission’s Joint Research Center recently published a new report on indirect land use change (ILUC) emissions from biofuels. The study presents the results of a new run on the economic model MIRAGE
April 01, 2014 Read Full Article
Biofuel from Cane ‘Reliant on Subsidy’
by Nompumelelo Magwaza (Independent Online/Business Report) he Local sugar industry would need to be highly subsidised to kick-start the production of fuel grade ethanol, the SA Sugar Association (Sasa) said last week. Production had been in the pipeline since 2007,
April 01, 2014 Read Full Article
E-Fuel from Albion Plant for Test in Agri Ministry Vehicles
(GINA/Government's Information Agency) Twenty (20) vehicles from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) will shortly begin using renewable fuel, as the sugar company has started fuel production using ‘blackstrap’ molasses at its Bio-Ethanol Demonstration Plant in Albion,
March 20, 2014 Read Full Article
California to Consider Updating ILUC for Biofuels
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The California Air Resources Board (ARB) is holding two public workshops regarding the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) this week – one to discuss general updates to the LCFS regulation, and the second to discuss updates to the
March 11, 2014 Read Full Article
Biofuel Plant in South Africa to Begin Construction
(Biofuels International) A major renewable energy plant in Jozini, KwaZulu-Natal, which has been in planning for seven years, is set to start preliminary work in September. Silvapen Group, the South African – Brazilian company, plans to build the proposed R1.2 billion
March 07, 2014 Read Full Article
Tennessee’s Biomass Innovation
by Susanne Retka Schill (BBI International/Biomass Magazine) Genera Energy is applying a systems approach to developing customized energy crop supply chains. ... Genera Energy aims to help clients answer those questions using a systems approach to developing customized supply chain solutions. As it wrapped
March 05, 2014 Read Full Article
Mackay Could Be Port of Call to Refuel Australian and US Navy
by Kim Waters (Daily Mercury) MACKAY has been flagged as a potential location to supply the Australian and US Navy with biofuel. Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning's Lindsay Pears said if an investor jumped on board a project to
March 05, 2014 Read Full Article
Edo Signs MoU Worth N85.5 Billion to Develop Agricultural Projects
(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
March 05, 2014 Read Full Article
Zimbabwe: 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