Bioethanol News

State-run agricultural research firm Embrapa states Brazil can increase planted areas for bioenergy sixfold without removing rainforest. Manoel Texeira Souza, general manager, Embrapa, said at BNamericas' 11th Southern Cone Energy Summit that as much as 50 million hectares were available for future growth. 'If we can transfer 20% or 30% of that land into new [plantations] we will exceed our…
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Companhia de Bioenergia de Angola (Biocom) has produced 1,550 tonnes of sugar and 3,600m³ of ethanol (ethyl alcohol). Carlos Martins, director of Biocom says the company is still testing the machines for processing sugarcane into sugar and ethanol to enable productions to start soon, cites Angolan news agency Angop. Continuous rainfall in the South African country has led to a halt in sugar…
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The Fuels Institute, an expert non-profit organisation, has released a study that estimates a large increase in E85 sales over the next nine years. E85 sales will at least double by 2023, the report states. How much these sales will rise depends on specific market circumstances, but the report predicts E85 sales could grow by 20 times over this period. The Fuels Institute reveals that the report,…
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The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has released the November issue of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, which expects ethanol production to average 934,000 barrels per day in 2015. June's ethanol production matched the monthly average production record of 959,000 barrels per day set in December 2011. At present, the EIA anticipates 2014 production to average 927,000 barrels per day…
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A new plant producing Exilva microfibrillar cellulose (MFC) will be built at the Borregaard site in Sarpsborg, Norway. Borregaard's Board of Directors has decided to invest NOK 225 million (€27 million) in the facility. Exilva MFC is based on natural and renewable raw materials. It has the potential to replace products derived from petrochemicals, and organic solvent systems can also be…
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A new 50 MW power plant in Oahu, Hawaii, will run on a biofuel blend, which will include liquid fuels and natural gas. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) will soon become available on the island as part of Oahu's plan to lower its reliance on oil and coal. Helsinki-based Wärtsilä Corporation will supply the plant to Hawaiian Electric Company. The project currently awaits approval by the Hawaii…
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Enerkem has made three separate announcements relating to development plans in China. Firstly the waste-to-biofuels and chemicals producer announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Shanghai Environmental Group, a municipal solid waste (MSW) company and subsidiary of Shanghai Chengtou Holding, to develop a project partnership to build a municipal solid waste-to-biofuels and…
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A Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) analysis of model year (MY) 2015 warranty statements and owner's manuals shows that auto manufacturers explicitly approve the use of E15 (15% ethanol, 85% petrol) in approximately two-thirds of new vehicles. The US EPA approves E15 for all 2001 and newer vehicles, which make up approximately 80% of vehicles on today's roads. Based on recent vehicle sales and…
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North Carolina State University (NCSU) scientists are using biotechnology to overcome obstacles to producing biofuels from woody plants and grasses instead of the corn and sugarcane used to make ethanol. Lead author Quanzi Li says the biggest hurdle to producing more sustainable and economical biofuels comes from stubborn plant cell walls that resist being broken down into biofuel ingredients.…
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DuPont and Ethanol Europe have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the government of the Republic of Macedonia to develop a commercial-scale 2G ethanol plant to supply the European market. According to the terms of the MOU, the government of Macedonia will facilitate the project by establishing a viable supply chain using energy crops, increasing local production of cereals and…
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Zimbabwe’s energy sector regulator plans to licence new ethanol producers to avoid dependency on single supplier Green Fuel (GF). Under the country’s mandatory blending policy, only GF can license or is accredited to trade the commodity for petrol blending purposes. The current law states that an ethanol producer for mandatory blending has to be in partnership with the State, and…
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Biochemtex and Beta Renewables signed a contract with Energochemica for the construction of a second generation ethanol plant in the Slovak Republic. The plant, which will be built in Strazske, Slovak Republic, will deliver 55,000 metric tonnes per year of cellulosic ethanol while using non-food biomass as its feedstock. The project begins immediately and the start-up of the plant is expected in…
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Ecuador's government is looking to expand local ethanol distribution throughout the country by 2017 to reduce gas emissions and fuel imports. The mix, which contains locally-produced sugarcane ethanol is expected to replace a type of petrol named extra, and will represent 45% of the national fuel market, after diesel and other types of petrol. The government anticipates private investments of…
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US-based renewable fuels producer BlueFire Renewables has finalised and signed a new master engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for its cellulosic ethanol plant in Fulton, Mississippi. The contract is with China International Water and Electric, a subsidiary of renewable energy company China Three Gorges (CTG). 'The master EPC structure will utilise a US-based EPC contractor…
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