ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification), has announced details of its upcoming Global Sustainability Conference 2018, set to take place on 20 February in Brussels, Belgium. According to ISCC, the overarching topic of the conference will be the future of bioenergy, a highly topical theme at a time of political and legislative uncertainties such as the... [Read More]

The company has submitted a fuel pathway petition to the EPA to certify that it has met lifetime emissions targets for its Oklahoma City gas-to-liquids plant. The company expects that the gas-to-liquid plant, which is run by a joint venture called ENVIA energy, will qualify for the most valuable renewable identification number (RIN): D7 cellulosic biofuel or biomass-based... [Read More]

UPM Biofuels has received a RSB sustainability certificate for the cultivation of the Brassica carinata crop, a new feedstock for biofuel production. It is the first time an RSB (Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials) certificate has been issued in Uruguay. "RSB certification acknowledges our strong commitment to sustainability in all operations, now also in biofuel feedstock... [Read More]

Platts analysis of data released by the Korea Customs Service shows that imports have increased year-on-year by 39% to 261,584 megatons (mt). The data was released 11 January and shows a significant decline in Brazilian ethanol, making up only 9% of supply in 2017 from 49% in 2016. America remained the primary exporter of denatured ethanol to the country, with 78% of imports... [Read More]

The governments are calling for cooperative research into subjects including cellulosic biofuel, management of waste resources, crop productivity and transgenetic crops. According to the Iranian Ministry of Science Research and Technology, the goal of the programme is to strengthen ties between national scientific communities and to promote the findings of the research... [Read More]

E-Fuel has launched its solution for people who want energy independence and to be green about it. The Silicon Valley company introduced its 100% ethanol generator, the Personal Energy System (PES), 8 January. It is intended to give customers full independence from the public power grid. With the smallest version starting at US$96,000, the generators can be purchased with... [Read More]

A new study suggests that by suppressing a gene that stiffens cell walls, biorefineries would have access to 60% more sugar than they would otherwise from the same amount of feedstock. The researchers from the UK, Brazil and the US announced the discovery in New Phytologist. Cell wall stiffening evolved in grass as a method to impede digestion by grazers. By reducing the... [Read More]

Alkol Biotech and Bio Refinery Development have signed a letter of intent (LOI) for the sourcing of up to 500 thousand tonnes of non-woody lignocellulosic biomass for what would be Europe’s ‘largest’ biorefinery. UK based Alkol Biotech adapts plant varieties to grow in colder and drier climates, have better resistance to pests and diseases, and higher... [Read More]

4 January, the Government of Finland announced that it is donating €50 million worth of shares to a children’s charity in celebration of a century of independence. The donation reduces their voting rights from 50.1% to 49.7%. Last year Finnish legislators voted to reduce their stake in the company to 33.4%, according to Reuters, the decision was meant to make... [Read More]

The legislation will allow the use of ethanol with conventional fuels, but does not mandate production levels. Local outlets are reporting that the government is allowing a 5% blend of bioethanol with octane and gasoline. According to them, the government is responding to interest from producers to set up the plants. Plant owners will have to get government permission... [Read More]

Brazilian President signs biofuels initiative into law The law establishes a national biofuels policy, called RenovaBio, encouraging all biofuels, not just bioethanol and biodiesel. According to a press release, RenovaBio is designed to reduce uncertainty for biofuel producers by establishing mandates to apply over a minimum period of ten years. President Michel Temer... [Read More]

Next generation biofuels company Gevo has reaffirmed its focus on the commercial development of renewable jet fuel, renewable isooctane, isobutanol and related products, in its corporate update for 2018. The commitment comes amid a range of cost saving measures at the company which have seen staff reductions and pay cuts. According to the update, issued on the company’s... [Read More]

In his Autumn Budget, the UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond confirmed that there would be no fresh funds for new renewable energy projects levied through electricity bills until 2025 to help keep energy costs down. It said: "In order to protect consumers, the government will not introduce new low-carbon electricity levies until the burden of [energy]... [Read More]

19 December, the EPA published a proposed rule that would classify the fuels as ‘advanced biofuel’ in the Renewable Fuels Standard. If approved, the EPA would set out a new fuel pathway for the distilling of the oil into fuel. The provisional rule is to be released onto regulations.gov for comment. The document stems from an EPA assessment of lifecycle GHG... [Read More]

The project aims to raise awareness of alternate fuels for the industry. According to World Bank statistics, 3.6 billion people travelled by air in 2016. In a survey conducted by Neste, 53% of European passengers are concerned by the environmental impact of air travel and over 50% would be willing to pay more for a flight that used renewable fuel. In November, a Dutch... [Read More]

The abundance of croton trees in Kenya and the nuts’ potential use in biofuels present promising opportunity for local farmers. An article from the College of Agricultural science, published in Forest Policy and Economics, found that croton trees are readily available to most farmers. However, seed price and tree maturity periods were a concern for some. Although... [Read More]