The Aviation Initiative for Renewable Energy in Germany (aireg) has welcomed two new members: Rosneft Deutschland and BP Europa. Founded in 2011, the German initiative aims to promote the research, production and usage of sustainable aviation fuels in Germany. Members of aireg include universities, research institutions, plant manufacturers and operators, petroleum... [Read More]

Chinese company Zhongkai International has launched an ethanol processing plant in central Zambia, as reported by Chinese news agency Xinhau. The plant, which will cost $9 million (€8 million), will help the country to tackle fuel source problems and alleviate poverty, creating around 200 direct jobs. Ethanol will be produced from agricultural feedstock, including... [Read More]

Air Liquide company Airgas has opened its new liquid carbon dioxide and dry ice facility, which will convert gaseous carbon dioxide (CO2) produced as a by-product of ethanol into liquid CO2. Located in Stockton, California, the facility will capture and recycle all process and rain water that comes into contact with equipment to create a zero discharge site. CO2... [Read More]

Transportation fuel producer Valero Energy has reported a mixed bag of results for the second quarter of 2019. Reported net income attributable to stockholders was $612 million (€549.5 million), down from €845 million (€758.8 million) in the corresponding quarter in 2018. “We had solid operating performance while also completing major turnarounds at our Memphis,... [Read More]

Process technology company Ayas Renewables is in the final stages of selecting a site for a large-scale plant that will convert low-value waste biodiesel crude glycerol into high-value propylene glycol. The facility will use the company’s patented vapour-phase process, which is based on research carried out by Dr. William Sutterlin, in collaboration with the Missouri... [Read More]

Finnish renewable diesel producer Neste has reported strong results for the first half of 2019, boosted by record sales in its renewable products division. The company’s comparable operating profit totalled €746 million in the first six months of the year, up from €670 million in H1 2018. Renewable products posted a comparable operating profit of €286 million... [Read More]

Egypt’s national airline EgyptAir has fuelled its newest Boeing 787 Dreamliner with biofuel on the post-delivery return flight. The 787 Dreamliner, which was delivered under a lease agreement with AerCap, was fuelled with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) under a new Boeing programme that offers operators the option to use sustainable fuel for the flight home. “We... [Read More]

Lallemand offers a brief insight into the ever-changing world of industrial enzymes for alcohol production What do enzymes do? Why do we need them? Enzymes can be defined as any of a group of complex proteins or conjugated proteins that are produced by living cells and act as catalysts in specific biochemical reactions. What exactly are enzymes? So enzymes, despite... [Read More]

Clean fuel provider Renewable Energy Group (REG) has been forced to close its biodiesel plant in New Boston, Texas, citing ‘challenging business conditions and continued federal policy uncertainty’ for the closure. The 15 million gallon per year biorefinery, which was acquired by REG in 2012, is located near Texarkana in Texas. The plant is able to run both high... [Read More]

In announcing its half year results for 2019, the UK’s Heathrow Airport has appealed to aviation body International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to set targets for the use of biofuels in aviation. The airport, which supports the goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, has called upon the United Nations’ aviation body to introduce targets for using biofuels... [Read More]

UK energy major BP has agreed to form a 50/50 joint venture (JV) with US agricultural trader Bunge, creating a bioenergy company in Brazil. The JV, which will be known as BP Bunge Bioenergia, will operate 11 mills across the southeast, north and Midwest regions of Brazil, one of the largest fast-growing markets for biofuels in the world. The new company will have... [Read More]

A new biodiesel facility has commenced production in Barnawartha in the Australian state of Victoria, supplying biodiesel fuel blends B5, B20 and B100. Operated by new owners Just Biodiesel, in partnership with Refueling Solutions, the biorefinery will produce the renewable, clean burning diesel replacement. “A return of 11 former employees to the recommissioned... [Read More]

Following a recent policy change by the Japanese Government, the country has received its first shipment of ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) made from US corn-based ethanol. According to the US Grains Council (USGC), this first shipment to Japan marks the country’s new demand for US ethanol-based products, as well as a milestone in efforts to develop the US ethanol market... [Read More]

Two new studies have offered further evidence of grain-based ethanol’s potential to significant reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has revealed. The academic studies additionally call into question the reliability of recent analysis of land use change, which have been based on apparently flawed satellite imagery-based methodologies. According... [Read More]

Growth Energy, the largest ethanol association in the US, has welcomed three new innovative business members: Frazenburg, Brown Tank and Bioleap. “Growth Energy is fortunate to now have three more innovative business members, each leaders in their respective fields, as part of our association,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. “Frazenburg, Brown Tank, and... [Read More]

US advanced biofuels producer Renewable Energy Group (REG) has opened its first biodiesel fuelling station in Seneca, Illinois, US. Customers will be able to fill up their vehicles with biodiesel blended fuel at the fully-automated station, which operates 24/7. “This diesel fueling station is another example of how REG is moving fuel forward by expanding our capabilities,”... [Read More]