Royal Dutch Shell has revealed the oil and gas sector’s extensive strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, stating its plans depended on its customers also mitigating emissions. Oil and gas producers have announced spending cuts as oil prices have hit 18-year lows and drastic restrictions on movement to slow the spread of the new coronavirus... [Read More]

The Biofuels International Conference and Expo that was due to take place in October has been moved to a the new date of 23 and 24 March next year due to the global pandemic. It is hoped that life and business will have returned to some sense of normality by the originally slated date, but there is no guarantee of this. Some organisations may still have travel restrictions... [Read More]

Worldwide soybean output is expected to increase to a record high, according to the International Grain Council (ICG). The ICG estimates another bumper crop in Brazil, a standard US crop and production increases in smaller soy-countries will assist the market in 2020/21. After the almost one-fifth decline in production in the past season, the IGC estimates a rebound... [Read More]

US-based Valero Energy Corp has revealed it has temporarily idled eight of its ethanol plants and is reducing production at its remaining six ethanol plants following the coronavirus pandemic. Due to the fall in demand, Valero explained that this together with the decline in the price of crude oil has resulted in a significant decrease in the price of the refined petroleum... [Read More]

European renewable ethanol producers have asked the European Commission to consider addressing challenges that have arisen from shifting market conditions as a result of the Covid-19 health crisis. In a letter sent to several Commissioners, ePURE (the European renewable ethanol association) highlighted the conditions facing the European industry as demand has shifted... [Read More]

A chemical company has announced it has started monthly production of 2 million litres of disinfectant at its facilities in Germany. This disinfectant made by Clariant in Gendorf will then directly, or via repacking partners, be sent to regional hospitals and other vital institutions in Bavaria, who are currently facing limited availability of this critical product during... [Read More]

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor has thanked rural America’s top elected leaders for their ongoing efforts to protect biofuel and farm jobs amid a steep drop in demand due to the Covid-19 global pandemic. Led by Senators Chuck Grassley and Tammy Duckworth, a bipartisan coalition of 13 senators sent a letter calling on the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to utilise resources... [Read More]

Researchers have found that plants can be genetically modified to produce valuable chemical compounds, known as bio-products, to help cover the cost of converting plant waste into biofuel. Scientists at the Berkeley Lab in the US have found new evidence that this strategy is economically feasible. Biofuels have potential as an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based... [Read More]

A group of European biofuel trade groups have dispatched a letter to the European Union to voice their concerns that countries could cut back on blending commitments as the virus pandemic continues to spread. The letter was sent to Frans Timmermans, the executive vice president for the European Trade Deal at the European Commission, at the end of last month. The group... [Read More]

The US biofuel industry has asked the Trump administration for funds from the Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) commodity credit corporation to help it survive a demand slump triggered by the growing coronavirus outbreak. The funds could be used to offset a portion of the industry’s corn and soy bean purchases, or as direct assistance to companies to help them retain... [Read More]

The agave plant used to make tequila could be used to make biofuels. Found in the semi-arid Australia, the plant could become an environmentally friendly solution to Australia's transport fuel shortage as reported in the Journal for Cleaner Production. A team of researchers at the University of Sydney, University of Exeter and University of Adelaide have been carrying... [Read More]

Ethanol production has plummeted to a six-and-a-half year low in the US. According to data from the Energy Information Administration that has been seen by the Renewable Fuels Association, production has fallen by 16.4%, or 165,000 barrels per day to a total of 840,000 barrels per day. This is the largest drop since the Administration began reporting on ethanol production... [Read More]

A fifth of the petrol motorists put into their vehicles could be alcohol by 2030, according to new European research. It found that new petrol and ethanol blends will be able to reduce carbon emissions from Europe’s transport sector with little additional cost to consumers. The alcohol, in the form of ethanol derived from plants, is part of efforts to make the fuels... [Read More]

A Dutch consortium has successfully started an engine test programme on 100% methanol. The Green Maritime Methanol consortium, made up of Dutch shipping providers and professional bodies, has been looking into the application for renewable methanol as a maritime transport fuel since early last year. Green methanol has been touted as a future fuel for the shipping... [Read More]