Features

It all began in 2005 in a leaky greenhouse on the campus of Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, Iowa. I was tasked with the job of creating a biofuels technology programme and teaching laboratory for students, who could then learn the basic skills to allow them to work in one of the many surrounding biofuels processing facilities here in Iowa and in the Midwest. Early development…
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To reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and work towards sustainability, the European Commission has introduced the Fit-for-55 package. This is a set of European policies implemented to help the transition of Europe to climate neutrality by 2050. These policies aim to reduce Europe’s greenhouse emissions by at least 55%, as well as strengthen European partnership and unity on climate action…
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Prices stabilising, overall production exceeding demand and stocks at an all-time high - the current picture seems rosy for the oilseed processing industry. Following an especially challenging 18 months, these signs of partial recovery are surely a relief for biofuel processors and – in many respects – there is more good news to come. As nations and corporations step up plans to replace…
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Governments are setting ambitious targets for the use of synthetic fuels in the aviation sector. However, clarity is still needed before the industry can step up to meet these objectives. Recent policy changes mean sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will become a reality within the sector’s decarbonisation efforts. Over 21 gigatons of CO2 – this is the amount of CO2 emissions that airlines…
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The growing global energy demand has been the strongest factor for the increasing levels of fossil-CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. To decrease the dependency on fossil fuel and at the same time decrease the emitted greenhouse gases (GHG), renewable energy sources are required. According to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), negative CO2 emissions are needed to meet the…
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There is concern in the marine sector that future demand for biofuels will surpass supply availability, in part due to feedstock competition from the road and aviation sectors. Quadrise’s Oil-in-Water (OIW) emulsion fuel technology provides an innovative solution to this problem, allowing ship owners to unlock cheaper, low-carbon biofuel streams that were previously inaccessible for energy…
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Assessing this year’s prospects for biofuels in South America is about much more than just what is happening in Brazil. As a starting point, however, it’s difficult to move pass the country’s recent change of government and subsequent upheaval surrounding the actual changing of power. With more than 400 biofuel plants operating in Brazil, according to the latest USDA figures, and the…
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Nicholas Ball, founder & CEO at Xfuel, outlines what inspired him to become involved in the biofuels space. What was your first job? My first job was a summer job when I was 12 years old, supporting an electrician with the electrical installation of a new hotel in Mallorca, Spain - which is where I grew up. When I entered the workforce following my engineering master’s degree from Imperial…
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This is an important year for India with the country holding the G20 presidency through to the end of November, giving the nation’s leaders several opportunities to help shape future policies and programmes across many sectors, including their already-declared strong focus on biofuels. Adopting a presidency theme of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth One Family One Future, India has named…
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Gevo Inc., is a technology development and commercialisation company focused on largescale deployment of net-zero renewable hydrocarbon fuels, chemicals and nutritional products. Using a combination of proprietary biological and chemical transformations and a strategic alliance with Axens, the company plans to offer the technological know-how and systems design for a wide range of products…
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Gevo is a technology development and commercialisation company focused on largescale deployment of net-zero renewable hydrocarbon fuels, chemicals and nutritional products. Using a combination of proprietary biological and chemical transformations and a strategic alliance with Axens, the company plans to offer the technological know-how and systems design for a wide range of products while…
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The North American ethanol industry is nothing if not persistent and innovative, qualities which have served the sector well in the past and are set to play a central role in helping to secure a sustainable place within the net-zero future of the world. Buoyed in the US by the Inflation Reduction Act and the steady approach of future clean fuel policies and, in the US and Canada, by the…
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Prices stabilising, overall production exceeding demand and stocks at an all-time high - the current picture seems rosy for the oilseed processing industry. Following an especially challenging 18 months, these signs of partial recovery are surely a relief for biofuel processors and – in many respects – there is more good news to come. As nations and corporations step up plans to replace…
Read More »

Renewable feedstock is seen by many as the way forward to achieve a sustainable source of aviation fuel and diesel. The renewable feedstock can be based on a wide variety of raw materials, such as animal fat, used cooking oil, vegetable oil, or pyrolysis oils from waste plastics or car tyres. Depending on the feedstock, processing can include a pretreatment step, but it is always followed by…
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