BioEnergy News - Last 20 News Articles with full text

Hungary for Ethanol

2012-05-23T12:47:14+02:00 GMT

Dunafoldvar, Hungary, reminds John Handel of certain areas in the Midwest.

“There are expanses of really nice agricultural land,” the project manager of Fagen Europe LLC tells EPM. “It is pretty well suited for corn production.” Besides that, like many other areas of the United States and the world, Hungary needs jobs and economic activity.

Brazil Revamps Biodiesel Auctions After Regulatory Probe

2012-05-23T12:43:49+02:00 GMT

Brazil revised the way biodiesel is sold in the country after regulators found indications that producers colluded to keep prices high.

Fuel distributors will now negotiate contracts directly with producers in government-organized auctions, Marco Antonio Martins Almeida, secretary of petroleum, natural gas and biofuels at the Ministry of Mines and Energy said today at an event in Brasilia.

Heliae Breaks Ground on Commercial Demonstration Facility for Algae Production

2012-05-23T12:41:19+02:00 GMT

GILBERT, Ariz. - Heliae, an Arizona-based algae technology company, broke ground today on a commercial demonstration facility that will showcase the scalability and economics of its proprietary algae technology platform.

Nature Highlights Advancements in Biocatalysis and its Potential Impact on the Production of Biofuels, Renewable Chemicals, and Pharmaceuticals

2012-05-23T12:39:35+02:00 GMT

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - Nature published a paper that discusses the recent advances in biocatalysis, and the impact it is having on the commercial development of biofuels, renewable chemicals, and pharmaceutical products.

IRFA Urges AFP to Get Correct Ethanol Facts

2012-05-23T12:35:41+02:00 GMT

When Americans for Prosperity held a rally in Iowa last week, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association called on AFP to set the record straight and get the correct facts out when it comes to ethanol and oil policy.

Lignol Joins Carbon Fiber Consortium

2012-05-16T10:30:56+02:00 GMT

VANCOUVER - Lignol Energy Corporation a leading technology company in the advanced biofuels and renewable chemicals sector, announced that it has become a member of the Oak Ridge Carbon Fiber Composites Consortium.

The Consortium is composed of some 40 organizations with a common interest in the development and commercial deployment of new carbon fiber and composite materials. Members include some of the world's leading chemicals, materials and auto-manufacturing companies, as well as established carbon fiber manufacturers and several research institutes.

NCERC Researchers Produce First Cellulosic Ethanol From Corn Kernel

2012-05-16T10:25:52+02:00 GMT

Edwardsville, IL - Researchers at The NCERC announced that they have successfully produced ethanol from the cellulosic portion of the corn kernel.

“This research is demonstrated proof of the viability of ‘generation 2.0 ethanol,’” NCERC Director John Caupert said. “By utilizing existing technologies readily available in the commercial marketplace, the NCERC was able to produce a biofuel that builds upon the strengths of conventional corn ethanol and the promise of cellulosic ethanol, thus making bolt-on cellulosic ethanol a reality.”

Emerald Biofuels to Produce Green Diesel

2012-05-16T10:23:02+02:00 GMT

Honeywell has announced a deal to license it’s technology to Emerald Biofuels LLC to produce Honeywell Green Diesel at its facility in Louisiana.

Emerald will use Honeywell’s UOP / Eni Ecofining process technology to produce an estimated 85 million gallons per year of green diesel using non-edible second-generation oils and animal fats.

Agri Process Innovations Starts Up 22nd Biodiesel Plant

2012-05-16T10:17:49+02:00 GMT

In Louisiana, Agri Process Innovations has announced the startup of Oswalt Bioenergy of Lake Providence, Agri’s twenty second biodiesel plant opening.

Chemical engineer Brian Mattingly led the startup for the Louisiana company. Mattingly said that this startup, which was completed in only seven days, went smoothly, largely due to good planning and coordination between APInnovations and Oswalt Bioenergy. The facility is expected to have a 5 million gallon capacity, using multiple feedstocks.

Neste Oil produces premium-quality NExBTL renewable diesel from waste fat sourced from the fish processing industry

2012-05-16T10:12:58+02:00 GMT

Neste Oil has again expanded the range of renewable raw materials it uses by beginning to produce NExBTL renewable diesel from waste fat sourced from the fish processing industry at its Singapore refinery.

The fat in question comes from the gutting waste generated when processing freshwater pangasius farmed in Southeast Asia after the fillets have been removed for human consumption.

Relative reference: Foxtail millet offers clues for assembling the switchgrass genome

2012-05-15T12:33:13+02:00 GMT

Arranging DNA fragments into a genome sequence that scientists can interpret is a challenge often compared to assembling a puzzle, except there is no box to provide an idea of what the picture is even supposed to be.

Genes underlying the key domestication process in sorghum and other cereals

2012-05-15T12:30:09+02:00 GMT

A study by a team of university and government scientists led by a Kansas State University researcher, indicates that genes responsible for seed shattering - the process by which grasses disseminate their seeds - were under parallel selection during sorghum, rice and maize domestication.

Microbe that can handle ionic liquids

2012-05-15T12:27:22+02:00 GMT

In the search for technology by which economically competitive biofuels can be produced from cellulosic biomass, the combination of sugar-fermenting microbes and ionic liquid solvents looks to be a winner save for one major problem: the ionic liquids used to make cellulosic biomass more digestible for microbes can also be toxic to them.

A solution to this conundrum, however, may be in the offing.

Researchers look to relatives for clues in quest to develop sources of bioenergy

2012-05-15T12:21:28+02:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS, MO - Arranging DNA fragments into a genome sequence that scientists can interpret is a challenge often compared to assembling a puzzle except you don’t have the box and have no idea what the picture is supposed to be.

GM Jatropha hopes to break into biodiesel market

2012-05-15T12:16:20+02:00 GMT

A Singapore partnership has developed what it hopes to be an eco-solution to the world's demand for biofuel.

The world's first genetically modified Jatropha plant can produce biodiesel faster and better.

Plans are in the pipeline to start field trials and commercialise it in three years.

With genetic modification, the seeds from the Jatropha plant will contain 10 per cent more extractable oil than ordinary seeds.

Biofuel produced from this variant is also more combustible and environmentally friendly by emitting less oxides.

Minnesota, Arizona sign new biofuel legislation into law

2012-05-14T13:45:30+02:00 GMT

Minnesota and Arizona have recently passed new laws related to biofuels.

In Minnesota, the 2012 Omnibus Agriculture Policy bill extends exceptions to the state’s biodiesel mandate for three more years, and also extends and expands the state’s E20 mandate for two years. The two new Arizona laws help insure algae cultivation is treated the same as other agricultural operations under state law.

Canada awards $36M for biofuels, renewable chemicals, other innovative public-private partnerships

2012-05-14T13:41:45+02:00 GMT

In Canada, The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology announced that a total of 60 innovative partnerships between colleges and businesses will be provided more than $36 million over a period of up to five years through the College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program.

The announcement includes 14 new Industrial Research Chairs for Colleges to support the development of longer term business-focused applied research programs at colleges.

Peeking at the Future of Algae: International Algae Competition announces winners

2012-05-14T13:39:27+02:00 GMT

Cities where buildings are covered with green photosynthetic membranes?

Where vertical gardens collect the sun’s energy and produce food for urban citizens.

The International Algae Competition’s winners spark visions of algae landscape and architecture design, novel algae production systems and new foods.

Lack of Profitability Drives U.S. Company Out of Biofuels Business

2012-05-14T13:37:55+02:00 GMT

A U.S.-based company that used genetic engineering to develop a technology to convert sugar into biofuel has announced that it will stop producing the fuel, at least temporarily, because the process simply isn’t profitable.

Novozymes Partners with Chinese Firm for Cellulosic Ethanol

2012-05-14T13:35:37+02:00 GMT

Novozymes has announced a partnership with Shengquan Group, a Shandong-based company specializing in furan resin and polymers, to start commercial-scale production of cellulosic ethanol for solvents in June 2012 using Novozymes’ technology.