A study led by Professor John McGeehan from the University of Portsmouth has discovered a type of enzyme with the unique ability to break down lignin – a key component in plants. The discovery paves the way for plant waste to be recycled in such a way to produce products including nylon, chemicals, plastics and fuels. Detailing the study, Professor McGeehan explains:... [Read More]

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued proposed volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard programme for cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel for 2019. Biomass-based diesel volume standards have also been proposed for 2020. The biomass-based diesel standard for 2019 was set at 2.1 billion gallons in 2018 The proposed... [Read More]

Gevo and Avfuel have entered into a long-term renewable jet fuel supply agreement. The new contract will see Gevo supply its renewable alcohol-to-jet fuel (ATJ) to Avfuel. Avfuel is a global supplier of aviation fuel and services, servicing more than 3,000 locations worldwide. "We are pleased to have a customer and partner like Avfuel. Avfuel has tremendous reach with... [Read More]

Testimonies stressing the importance of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to the biofuels industry have been given before the Congress House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Environment.  The testimonies, delivered to a hearing titled “Advanced Biofuels Under the Renewable Fuel Standard: Current Status and Future Prospects”, stressed the importance... [Read More]

California is becoming increasingly important for the biofuels industry. The state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) is designed to encourage the use of cleaner, low carbon fuels. Biodiesel in particular stands to be a significant beneficiary, being one of the lowest cost compliance options for the standard. As a result, more and more producers are turning their... [Read More]

International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) is a certification system dedicated to verifying fully traceable and deforestation free supply chains. The system has been used widely in the biofuels sector to verify a range of feedstocks, from crops to waste. This has included UK producer Argent Energy, which produces biofuel from fats, oils and grease (FOG)... [Read More]

More than 2,800 US retail sites will offer E15 by 2021, generating approximately 350 million new ethanol gallons annually. The figures come from a report released by Growth Energy on 20 June. Growth Energy’s new report touts the success of both E15 and Prime the Pump, a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping build the infrastructure and distribution of higher... [Read More]

California based Fuel Delivery Services (FDS) has switched to Neste MY Renewable Diesel, the Finnish renewable fuels producer is reporting. FDS is a Stockton, CA based bulk transporter of refined petroleum products. The company provides transportation services to a variety of clients including major oil companies. Starting March 2017, FDS performed a test of Neste’s... [Read More]

Pioneering research has confirmed that a diverse mix of algal species in biofuel systems will significantly improve production. Scientists from the University of Michigan (UM) grew various combinations of freshwater algal species in 80 artificial ponds to test the effects of biodiversity on biofuel production. According to a press release, it was the ‘first’... [Read More]

The EU’s biofuels industry is continuing to react to the news last week that an informal agreement has been made on the revised Renewable Energy Directive (REDII). On 14 June it was announced that the European Parliament, Commission and Council had reached a preliminary agreement on REDII. The deal sets out a path for Europe’s renewable energy sector post 2020. Key... [Read More]

New research suggests the greenhouse gas emissions impact of rainforest deforestation for palm oil plantations could be worse than thought. For a study recently published in the journal Nature Communications, scientists from Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape research (WSL) set out to determine... [Read More]

The European Parliament, Commission and Council have reached a preliminary agreement on the new Renewable Energy Directive (REDII). The deal sets out a path for Europe’s renewable energy sector post 2020. Key components of the agreement include a 14% target for renewables in transport by 2030, a freeze on the use of high ILUC (Indirect Land Use Change) biofuels such... [Read More]

Finland’s government has sold 5% of its stake in Neste, Reuters reports. The Government, described by Reuters as ‘centre-right’, sold the 5% stake in the oil refiner and biofuel company for €861 million. The Finnish state’s stake in Neste has now fallen to 44.7%. Opposition parties have apparently criticised the decision, saying that it gives... [Read More]

The US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and its industrial partner LanzaTech claim that their new technology is helping clear the way to ethanol derived jet fuel. In April, the ASTM International revised ASTM D7566 Annex 15 – the Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing Synthesised Hydrocarbons – to... [Read More]

BASF Enzymes and Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits (LBDS) have formally entered into a marketing and sales collaboration agreement with the aim to ‘maximise value to customers in the ethanol market in the United States.’ In the collaboration, BASF’s enzyme portfolio will be used for applications in liquefaction and fermentation to improve fermentation... [Read More]

A series of engineered proteins could improve biomanufacturing processes for the production of biofuels and other products including pharmaceuticals and commodity chemicals, according to researchers. Kevin Solomon, an assistant professor in Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and colleagues have developed a series of engineered... [Read More]