New research claims that the concentration of ultrafine particles less than 50 nanometres in diameter, which studies have shown to be harmful to human health, increases in the air when motorists switch from ethanol-to-gasoline. Carried out by Franz M Geiger, a professor of chemistry at the National University of Singapore, the research found that when higher ethanol prices... [Read More]

North Dakota’s Tesoro Refinery is looking to develop a vegetable oil-to-fuel facility, according to the Associated Press. The Dickinson, North Dakota based oil refinery is planning to implement an 8,000 barrel-per-day diesel hydrotreater to process soy or distillers corn oil into renewable diesel, a recent article in the <a href="http://bismarcktribune.com/news/opinion/editorial/two-projects-bode-well-for-north-dakota/article_7ba6d74b-1f6b-5feb-97c4-cb9836455648.html">Bismarck... [Read More]

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has published its July Short-Term Energy Outlook, which among other things shows the administration’s expectations for bioenergy and biofuel’s roles in the US energy supply. In the report, EIA says total generation from renewables in the electric power sector is set to increase by 11% in 2017, and then remain relatively... [Read More]

Biofuels are needed to meet the UK’s commitments to mitigating climate change, according to a new report requested by the county's government. Second generation biofuels, made from wastes and by-products of other sectors, will be especially important according to the major new review of the sustainability pros and cons of biofuels by The Royal Academy of Engineering. Titled... [Read More]

Arriva has been named as the winner of the next contract to operate regional passenger rail services in Groningen and Friesland, the Netherlands. The move will see 18 new biodiesel trains added to the busy rail network in the area, a precursor to eventually transitioning to an emissions free electrical network. The new contract will run for 15 years from 13 December 2020,... [Read More]

MEP Sean Kelly, the lead negotiator for the largest group in the European Parliament on the Renewable Energy Directive, has heavily criticised the European Commission’s proposal to phase out conventional biofuels made from food or feed crops. Proposed changes to the Renewable Energy Directive, dubbed ‘RED II’, would see a gradual phase out of crop-based... [Read More]

German biofuels producer CropEnergies has reported strong first quarter results. In the company’s statement for the first quarter of the current financial year 2017/18 , CropEnergies said revenues increased by 38% to €231 million, compared to €168 million the year before. The main reasons for the growth were the “significantly increased sales volumes... [Read More]

Danish methanol fuel cell manufacturer SerEnergy has launched a commercial reformed methanol fuel cell vehicle with a driving range of up to 800km on a tank of methanol. The engineers and mechanics at SerEnergy’s mobility development centre, located in Aalborg, Denmark, have developed a reformed methanol fuel cell (RMFC) vehicle based on the Nissan e-NV200 electric... [Read More]

Following France’s recent announcement that it will take steps to restrict the use of palm oil in biofuels, Malaysia has said it may review its trade with France, and possibly cut down on buying French products. Recently, Nicholas Hulot, the French Minister of Environment suggested measures should be taken to restrict the use of palm oil in biofuels to reduce deforestation... [Read More]

New research shows that biogas generated from food and drink byproducts has growing potential as a low-carbon alternative to diesel in HGVs and other commercial vehicles. Published this week, the study was performed by Aker Associates for British bioenergy company Clearfleau. The focus of the report is biomethane generated by anaerobic digestion (AD) for use in the commercial... [Read More]

Fuel retailer the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and carbon-recycling company Lanzatech have signed a statement of intent to build what they claim is the world’s first refinery for off gas-to-bioethanol production in India. The new facility is set to be constructed at IOC’s Panipat refinery Hayrana, at an estimated cost of 350 crore rupees. According to an IOC... [Read More]

A new biorefinery project has been proposed in the Atherton Tablelands of Queensland, Australia. According to a statement, the regional government is “throwing its support” behind the new multi-million dollar project. The $60 million Atherton Tableland biorefinery could generate 130 regional jobs and also encourage diverse cropping in the region. The proposed... [Read More]

The National Biodiesel Board Fair Trade Coalition has filed a new allegation with the US Department of Commerce claiming that “critical circumstances” exist regarding biodiesel imports to the US from Argentina. In US antidumping and countervailing duties laws, “critical circumstances” provision allows for the imposition of duties on imports prior... [Read More]

Scientists have demonstrated how to design and genetically engineer enzyme surfaces to bind less with corn stalks and other cellulosic biomass, reducing enzyme costs in the production of biofuels such as ethanol. A study detailing the research by scientists from Rutgers University-New Brunswick and Michigan State University, has been published in the journal ACS Sustainable... [Read More]

The European Biodiesel Board (EBB) has heavily criticised what it deems unfairly low priced biodiesel exports from Poland, claiming they are causing serious harm to the EU internal market for renewable fuels, and to fuel operators in many countries. For more than a year Polish ‘fuel market players’ have been deliberately exploiting a loophole in the country’s... [Read More]

France is set to end the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2040. The move is part of the country’s renewed commitment to the Paris climate deal under the leadership of new President Emmanuel Macron. Nicolas Hulot, France’s ecology minister, has hailed the move as a revolution, according to the Guardian. Addressing concerns over how France’s automotive... [Read More]