by Bryan Sims (Biorefining Magazine) The biorefining industry is hungry for a low-cost, high-quality and readily available supply of sugar feedstock from nonfood biomass sources. A number of pure-play sugar technology developers and manufacturers like Renmatix, Virdia (formerly HCL CleanTech),
Wisconsin
Back TO HOMEFifth Stop: Sustainability
by Margaret Broeren (Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) ...Much more than a buzzword, “sustainable” means that trade-offs—social, environmental and economic factors—have been measured, modeled and validated against actual “boots on the ground data” measured at agricultural research stations and on Midwestern
April 30, 2012 Read Full Article
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center Summer Programs for Educators: Accepting Applications!
The Education and Outreach area of GLBRC supports and collaborates on a diverse array of programs, which complement our mission and goals. These programs mainly address the needs of K-12 and undergraduate learning communities, and topically address bioenergy-related issues ranging
April 24, 2012 Read Full Article
Virdia, Virent Pioneer New Super-Performing, Parity-Cost Renewable Jet Fuel Pathway
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Virent, Virdia debut super-performing drop-in aviation biofuels made from drop-in cellulosic pine tree sugars; “passed under conditions where conventional jet fuels would fail,” says Air Force. In Wisconsin, Virent and Virdia (formerly HCL CleanTech), announced the
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Cenusa Bioenergy Receives $25 Million Grant from USDA
by Kelly Madsen (IowaStateDaily.com) The Iowa State University-led Cenusa Bioenergy project works to develop a biofuel with both a Midwestern and environmental focus. Through a five-year, $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture,
March 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Connecting Classrooms to Cutting-Edge Science
(Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) Students in Craig Kohn’s biotechnology classroom are on the hunt for biomass degraders. Scavenging for unique samples in piles of leaves or compost bins, they can use a simple filter paper test to determine if
March 05, 2012 Read Full Article
Shell Busts a Move: Builds Drop-In Biofuels Pilot Plant in Texas
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) While confusion reigneth on Shell’s plans for cellulosic ethanol, the company quietly builds a drop-in biofuels pilot plant in Texas, based on Virent’s bioforming technology. ...After a stunning move to establish an $12 billion joint venture
February 28, 2012 Read Full Article
Brazilian Demand Gives U.S. Ethanol Producers a Big Boost
by Steve Tarter (The State-Journal Register) More U.S. ethanol was shipped overseas in 2011 than any year in history. The Washington, D.C.-based Renewable Fuels Association reported that 1.1 billion gallons of ethanol — worth about $2.5 billion — were exported to
February 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Sensenbrenner's Position Isn't Best for Wisconsin
by Bob Sather (Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel/Wisconsin Bio-Industry Alliance) This week, U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) once again failed to support Wisconsin, instead choosing to target an industry that generates more than a billion dollars annually for the state's economy. Sensenbrenner's
February 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Wisconsin Bioenergy Research Center to Open in Madison This Fall
by Bryan Sims (Biorefinery Magazine) The newest of three bioenergy research facilities in the U.S. is slated to come online this fall on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison, as construction is progressing on schedule for the new 104,000
February 02, 2012 Read Full Article
Iowa State University-Led Group Awarded $25 Million Grant for Land Use, Biofuel Production Study
(Iowa State University) Now, an Iowa State University-based study over the next five years will examine whether a single, coordinated production system can address all of these concerns while making profits for producers. A multi-state, interdisciplinary team led by Ken Moore,
January 19, 2012 Read Full Article
Want Cheap Biofuel? A Startup Makes It with Natural Gas
by Kevin Bullis (MIT Technology Review) Virent says supplementing biomass with fossil fuel could increase yields and lower costs. Virent, a biofuels company based in Madison, Wisconsin, has developed a potentially inexpensive way to make gasoline and other valuable chemicals out
January 18, 2012 Read Full Article
Virent Announces Issuance of Five U.S. Patents
(Virent) Company Increases Protection of its BioForming® Technology Virent announced the issuance of five new U.S. patents covering aspects of its catalytic BioForming® platform. Three of the patents, U.S. Patent Nos. 8,053,615, 8,017,818 and 7,977,517, cover the production of various liquid
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Good Digestion: It’s Been a Bumpy Road to Full-Scale Adoption of Anaerobic Digestion Technologies at Ethanol Plants
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Despite the promise of methane from anaerobic digestion technology, low natural gas rates and other factors have kept ethanol producers from jumping in with both feet. ...On top of the digester, Western Plains Energy utilizes
December 29, 2011 Read Full Article
How Virent Is Using Plants To Replace Oil
by Rachel Z. Arndt (FastCompany) ...(W)e speak with Mary Tilton, VP of plant operations at Virent, which is using chemistry to turn plants into fuel. "We are replacing crude oil. We're using catalytic chemistry to manipulate the carbon-oxygen bonds of
December 29, 2011 Read Full Article
Seminar Touts Small-Scale Biofuel Production on Wisconsin Farms
by Nathan Phelps (Green Bay Press-Gazette) On-site production of fuel builds security ...Small-scale production of biodiesel and other biofuels derived from sources like canola was the focus of a seminar Friday in Denmark. On-farm production of fuels like soybean-based biodiesel and ethanol
December 14, 2011 Read Full Article
Synergy by Design
by Bryan Sims (Biorefining Magazine) ...Co-founded in 2002 by Randy Cortright, Virent’s current chief technology officer, and James Dumesic, professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Virent deepened its relationship with Shell and refocused its business strategy in 2008 to produce
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Station Opens Near Duluth
by Steve Kuchera (Duluth News Tribune) A Northwestern Wisconsin biodiesel producer recently opened its first Minnesota station at a former Armor Fuel & Save station on Midway Road just off Interstate 35. A Northwestern Wisconsin biodiesel producer recently opened its first
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
Wisconsin Congressman Introduces Bill to Require More E15 testing
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Citing “serious concerns” with the U.S. EPA’s decision to allow E15 to be used invehicle models 2001 and newer, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., introduced legislation to the House of Representatives on Oct. 13 that
October 20, 2011 Read Full Article
Green Racing Marks Its 25th Competition
by Lee Slezak (US Department of Energy) The Green Racing program, a motorsports competition geared toward raising awareness of fuel efficiency, alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies, recently hit a major milestone as the state of Wisconsin played host to
September 28, 2011 Read Full Article
Conversion Pathways for Bioenergy: Cellulosic Bioproducts--Virent is Replacing the Crude Oil
Andrew Held (Virent) Andrew Held, Director of Virent Feedstock Development, explained that Virent creates gasoline, jet fuel, diesel and chemicals from biomass feedstocks. Virent, founded in 2002 and based in Madison, WI , has a 63,000 sq. ft. facility with
September 20, 2011 Read Full Article
USDA Gives $2 Million for Blender Pumps in 22 States
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Thirty-three projects in 22 states have been approved for blender pump grants in the latest round of funding to be dispersed through the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program. A total of $27 million
September 19, 2011 Read Full Article
Study: Wisconsinites Have Mixed Views on Ethanol
(University of Wisconsin-Madison) A majority of Wisconsinites support the use of ethanol blends if it keeps dollars and jobs in the United States and reduces air pollution, according to a new study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers. But that support dropped
September 14, 2011 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Announces up to $12 Million in Investments to Support Development and Production of Drop-In Biofuels
(US Department of Energy) In support of the Obama Administration's comprehensive efforts to strengthen U.S. energy security, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced up to $12 million to fund three small-scale projects in Illinois, Wisconsin, and North Carolina that
September 01, 2011 Read Full Article
Virent’s Biogasoline Passes First Test in European Auto Fleet Trial
(Virent) Virent’s Biofuel Satisfies “No Harms” Criteria in Shell Road Trial Virent has taken another step in the gasoline certification process, successfully completing its first road fleet test organized and executed by Virent collaborator, Royal Dutch Shell. Virent’s biogasoline was found to cause
August 24, 2011 Read Full Article
A Quick Way to Grade Grasses for Ethanol Yields
by Don Comis (US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers have developed an inexpensive way to grade the ethanol potential of perennial grasses at the biorefinery's loading dock. That future has been made possible by
August 22, 2011 Read Full Article
Scouting for Biofuels Crops in Indian Creek Watershed
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory is looking for the best biofuels crops to grow in the northeast Illinois Indian Creek Watershed. During a recent field tour of the watershed sponsored by theConservation Technology Information Center, Argonne
August 15, 2011 Read Full Article
Biofuel Firm Seeks to Convert Yellow Grease into Liquid Gold
by William D'Urso (Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel) ...Cream City Grecycling, a division of Fushion Renewables, was launched in July and it's seeking out restaurants for their used cooking grease. The plan: Turn the waste grease into biodiesel. The company hopes to
August 12, 2011 Read Full Article
Novel Gene Increases Yeast's Appetite for Plant Sugars
(Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) For thousands of years, bakers and brewers have relied on yeast to convert sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Yet, University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers eager to harness this talent for brewing biofuels have found when
August 01, 2011 Read Full Article
Ready For a New Fuel Mix in a Dual Fuel Engine?
(University of Wisconsin-Madison) An award-winning University of Wisconsin-Madison team led by professor Rolf Reitz will showcase at the Wisconsin State Fair a student hybrid vehicle for advanced fuel technology that harnesses the advantages of both diesel and gasoline. The fuels
July 27, 2011 Read Full Article
Study: Regulatory Hurdles Hinder Biofuels Market
by Phil Ciciora (University of Illinois) Regulatory hurdles abound for the successful commercialization of emerging liquid biofuels, which hold the promise of enhancing U.S. energy security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and serving as a driver for rural economic development, according
July 22, 2011 Read Full Article
Sensenbrenner Wants to See Results of DOE's E15 Tests
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) Wisconsin Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner is stepping up his efforts to do away with proposed mandates that would require gasoline for newer vehicles to use 15-percent ethanol. This week, the Brookfield Republican wrote to U.S. Department of Energy
July 14, 2011 Read Full Article
Biofuel Maker Claims New Technology Can Create PET Bottles from Waste
by Guy Montague-Jones (FoodProductionDaily) The US-based company recently announced that it had created a PET feedstock - paraxylene (PX) - entirely from plant-based sugars using its own catalytic process. The process results in the creation of a PET product, which
July 14, 2011 Read Full Article
UW & Iowa St. Report: Ethanol Lowered Gas Prices $0.89 per Gallon in 2010
(Wisconsin BioIndustry Alliance) A report by the University of Wisconsin and Iowa State University found that ethanol production helped reduce gas prices at the pump by an average of $0.89 per gallon across the country in 2010. The report, which updated the findings
July 05, 2011 Read Full Article
DOE Bioenergy Research Centers Help Lead Nation to 25x'25 Goal
(25 x '25) A critical component of the 25x’25 mission is to educate and share with policy makers and consumers alike the value of renewable solutions to our nation’s energy needs. In the spirit of that undertaking, the 25x’25 Alliance
July 01, 2011 Read Full Article
EdeniQ Licenses Yeast Technology From USDA
(PR NewsWire/The Street) EdeniQ, Inc., a California-based clean technology company serving the global biofuels industry, announced today that it has licensed yeast technology from the USDA Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) associated with the fermentation
June 14, 2011 Read Full Article
DOE Awards $36M to Six Projects for Drop-In fuels, Chemicals
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Virent, Genomatica, HCL Clean Tech among the winners, as DOE fosters replacement of “entire barrel of oil” in latest funding round In Washington, US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced up to $36 millionto fund six small-scale
June 13, 2011 Read Full Article
Making the Most of DDGS
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Researchers coax more products and income streams from distillers grains ...(R)esearchers see a time when distillers grains will be used for more than feed. Diversifying uses for distillers grains can provide multiple revenue streams and
June 09, 2011 Read Full Article
SunPower Biodiesel Goes Into Production
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) SunPower Biodiesel is official producing biodiesel at its plant located in Cumberland Wisconsin. The plant is using locally grown canola oil to produce the biodiesel. To celebrate, SunPower held a grand opening event that included a
June 07, 2011 Read Full Article
Virent Makes Gasoline from Cellulosic Biomas
(Virent) Biofuels Pioneer Converts Corn Stover and Loblolly Pine Into BioFormate™ Gasoline with Molecular Composition Similar to Gasoline Derived from Fossil Fuels Virent announced it has successfully produced biogasoline from corn stover and pine harvest forest residuals, as a recipient of the U.S.
June 03, 2011 Read Full Article
View the Wisconsin Bioenergy Atlas
(Wisconsin Bioenergy Information and Outreach Network) We have gathered and organized numerous spatial data layers relevant to siting and facility operations and present these through interactive mapping. Users can select data useful to their interests and use mapping tools to
May 04, 2011 Read Full Article
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center Seminar Series
This spring GLBRC launched a seminar series featuring a wide range of bioenergy experts. The series is open to the public and alternates between the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Michigan State University campuses. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend
May 04, 2011 Read Full Article
Knocking Natural Gas Off Its Throne
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Although natural gas is king of power generation at ethanol plants, there’s increasing interest in renewable energy technologies that could help ethanol plants someday produce a domestically grown fuel without using fossil fuels.
April 27, 2011 Read Full Article
State Corn Checkoff Sponsors Ethanol Eco-Challenge Team
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) A team of high school students from Durand placed third overall at the Shell Eco-marathon Americas competition in Houston, Texas last week, where they drove 572 miles per gallon with 100-percent ethanol fuel. The group's trip to the
April 22, 2011 Read Full Article
Waste Management, Total Invest in Agilyx, Waste Plastics-to-Crude Oil Pyrolysis
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The Portland-based company, once known as Plas2Fuel, is developing a novel, scalable technology that converts difficult-to-recycle waste plastics into synthetic sweet crude oil. Last year, it received TechAmerica’s 2010 Cool Product of the Year Award.
April 04, 2011 Read Full Article
Fearing Ethanol Damage, Engine Makers Want Current Gas Blends to Stay
by Rick Barrett (Journal Sentinel) Briggs & Stratton Co. and other engine manufacturers want the government to ensure that current grades of gasoline will remain available when fuel with a higher ethanol content - which could damage engines - is
March 30, 2011 Read Full Article
State of Wisconsin Issues Air Permit for United Ethanol
by Maureen White (Eisenmann Corporation/Renewable Energy World) The Air Permit was recently approved by the State of Wisconsin for United Ethanol to begin construction of the EISENMANN BIOGAS-TS Anaerobic Digester. The $6.75 million project will install an anaerobic digester and
March 22, 2011 Read Full Article
Ethanol Is Valuable State Crop, Group Says
(Ashland Current) A recent report issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture says the total value of Wisconsin crops rose by more than $1 billion dollars last year to $4.8 billion, up from $3.5 billion in 2009. More than half of
February 22, 2011 Read Full Article
Small-Scale Enzyme Research Could Have Big Biomass Implications
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...Researchers at the U.S. DOE’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, based at the University of Wisconsin and Michigan State University, are three years into a research project focused on identifying new enzymes for cellulosic ethanol
January 31, 2011 Read Full Article
“Stay Midwest, Young Biofuels Entrepreneur”: a Counterpoint
by Todd Taylor with Christina Connelly, Ralph Groschen, Mark Lindquist, Gregg Mast, Tim Welle and Doug Cameron (Biofuels Digest/Minnesota) ...Venture capitalists in California support and encourage these and many other companies and deserve ample credit for the Cambrian-like explosion of new
January 31, 2011 Read Full Article
USDA Announces Grants to Boost Sustainable Bioenergy Education
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced January 18, 2011, two grants that will create educational opportunities in math and science for students interested in bioenergy and bio-based products. “Bioenergy and bio-based products hold vast potential as the foundation
January 21, 2011 Read Full Article
Green Dream Team Memories: Gunnar Jeanne
(ALMS) GETG's ace pilot talked green with students from UW-Madison Gunnar Jeannette did not hesitate to raise his hand last season when personally invited by the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón to become an environmental ambassador in 2010.
January 11, 2011 Read Full Article
Virent and HCL CleanTech Receive Grant to Demonstrate Cellulosic Sugars as Feedstocks for 'Drop-In' Biofuels and Bioproducts
(Virent) BIRD Energy Grant Will Support Virent's Conversion of HCL CleanTech's Pine Tree Sugars Into Hydrocarbon Fuels and Products That can be Sustainable, Cost-effective, and Compatible With Existing Infrastructure Virent Energy Systems Inc. and HCL CleanTech announced today that they have been
January 05, 2011 Read Full Article
DuBay Biofuel Plans Cheese Byproduct Processing Facility
by Molly Newman (Marshallfield News Herald) A new company will convert waste product from the cheese-making process into the very product that drives cheesemaking -- food for cows. DuBay Biofuel-Greenwood LLC was awarded a $1.9 million State Energy Program loan Thursday
November 03, 2010 Read Full Article
Virent Biogasoline Blended by Shell into Scuderia Ferrari Race Fuel at South Korea Grand Prix
(Virent) Virent’s biogasoline has been blended into fuel supplied by Shell to Scuderia Ferrari for the last three races of the 2010 Formula One championship . Virent Energy Systems, Inc. announced October 19, 2010, that Scuderia Ferrari will use a fuel containing Virent’s
October 20, 2010 Read Full Article
Biorefinery Town of Tomorrow
by Luke Geiver (Biorefining Magazine) The work of ThermoChem Recovery International has already changed the future for one small Wisconsin community. A small town in the woods of Wisconsin, fresh off the bankruptcy and closing of its century-old paper mill, might
September 14, 2010 Read Full Article
Doyle Signs Renewable Fuels Bill into Law
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) A legislative proposal that would encourage the development, production and use of renewable fuels in Wisconsin is now the law of the land. On Tuesday, Governor Jim Doyle signed SB 279, also known as the 'ethanol bill,'
May 20, 2010 Read Full Article
High Schoolers win Gold for Vehicle that Gets 345 mpg Using Ethanol
by Megan Peterson (WEAU.com) A group of Durand High School (Wisconsin) students made the trip to Texas this past weekend to compete in a national competition to see who can build the most fuel efficient vehicle. The team ended up bringing
April 06, 2010 Read Full Article
Milwaukee Brewing Co. Saves Big on Energy Costs by Brewing Biodiesel
(BizTimes.com) Every Monday morning, a crew of workers inside the Milwaukee Brewing Company brews up a special batch of product. Unlike the brewery’s beer, this product is usable right away, and becomes fuel for the brewing process. For more than one
March 23, 2010 Read Full Article
Virent and Shell Start World’s First Biogasoline Production Plant
Virent Energy Systems, Inc., (Virent®) and Shell today announced the successful start of production at the world’s first demonstration plant converting plant sugars into gasoline and gasoline blend components, rather than ethanol. The demonstration plant, located at Virent’s facilities in Madison,
March 23, 2010 Read Full Article
Niagara, Wisconsin Cellulosic Ethanol Biomass Supply Studies
New North contracted with Resource Analytics to conduct a biomass supply analysis within a fifty mile radius of Niagara, WI for the purposes of evaluating this site as a location for a cellulosic biomass ethanol plant. Primary focus was on
December 10, 2009 Read Full Article
Company Planting Camelina Crops for Biodiesel
by Nathan Phelps (Green Bay Press Gazette) An upstart seed and biodiesel plant is harvesting the first seed crop of camelina — the plant that makes up the basis of the biofuel of the same name — in eastern Wisconsin. JR
August 20, 2009 Read Full Article
An Apple a Day Keeps the Gas Pump Away
by Jeremy Elton (Treehugger) A team of scientists led by James Dumesic at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has discovered a way (subscription needed) to turn the sugar commonly found in fruits like apples and oranges into a biofuel with 40%