Indian state-run fuel retailers Indian Oil Corp. (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corp. (BPC), and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. (HPC) will set up around seven second-generation (2G) ethanol plants across the country. The plants will be set up at a cost of Rs40 billion (€552.7m) and will help enhance ethanol availability for blending with petrol, according to online... [Read More]

Sweetwater Energy, a New York-based renewable biochemical producer, announced that it has signed a conditional lease with Eastman Business Park to locate a green integrated biochemical facility in the park. The $53-million facility will use local timber to produce high-value industrial biochemicals and clean-fibre products. The lease is contingent upon the Finger Lakes... [Read More]

Exports of US ethanol began with notable growth in the first month of the new marketing year, according to recent data published by US Department of Agriculture’s Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS).  The top three customers of US ethanol in September 2016 were Canada, Brazil, and China, respectively. Exports of US ethanol totalled 99.6 million gallons... [Read More]

Global Bioenergies, a French renewable fuels firm, has completed the construction of its Leuna demo plant in eastern Germany that converts renewable resources into high-purity isobutene for use in a number of industries, including the fuel sector. The plant will be switched on over the coming weeks after it secures a certificate from German authority TUeV, Rick Bockrath,... [Read More]

Millions of Americans preparing for Thanksgiving next week are undoubtedly noticing that dinner will cost less than it did a year ago. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), overall grocery prices are roughly 2% lower than at this time last year, and prices specifically for poultry products — like turkey — are down 1.5% compared to last fall. Meanwhile,... [Read More]

National Biodiesel Board members have voted to fill seven board member spots. The US trade association represents around 200 members involved in biodiesel and renewable diesel. “The biodiesel industry is fortunate to have a strong team of leaders from all sectors of the industry," said NBB CEO Donnell Rehagen. “The membership is united, optimistic, and will... [Read More]

EXCLUSIVE - The European Commission (EC) is set to publish phase two of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) on 30 November and may set out plans to phase out crop-based biofuels from 2021. Market analyst Platts stated the news in a biofuels webinar, held on 17 November, 2016. During its webinar, a Platts spokesman said the company had viewed a draft EC document on the... [Read More]

Denmark-based Novozymes will be establishing a new enzyme production facility near Mumbai on India’s west coast. With an initial investment of approximately DKK 300 million (Rs. 300 crore) the company plans to establish a new enzyme production and supply chain plant that is expected to be ready for operation in 2018 and will employ 150 people in the first phase. “We... [Read More]

US-based Natural Chem Group has acquired the mothballed Abengoa ethanol plant in Portales, New Mexico. The plant was acquired through a competitive bidding process. According to media reports on Hydrocarbon Processing, the company will blend diesel with biodiesel to produce varying blends of commercial transportation fuel, primarily a 20% biodiesel blend, which is the industry standard. The... [Read More]

Six UK-based development and environmental organisations, including Greenpeace and Christian Aid, are calling on the Chancellor of Exchequer to use his Autumn Statement to announce new investment on low-carbon infrastructure. The groups announced this call in a new study they published showing how far the government has to go to reach a low-carbon energy, transport and... [Read More]

Finland-based biofuels firm St1 has begun the analysis and signed letters of intent with Alholmens Kraft and UPM on a sawdust-based ethanol plant in the Alholma industrial area in Pietarsaari, Finland. The planned production capacity of the plant is 50 million litres of advanced bioethanol per year. The Cellunolix plant, which utilises sawdust and recycled wood,... [Read More]

Aemetis, a California-based advanced renewable fuels and biochemicals company, reported a narrower financial third-quarter net loss due to continued cost cuts. The US firm reported a net loss of $4.1 million (€3.79m) for the three months ended 30 September, 2016, compared with a net loss of $5.8 million for the same period last year. Revenues were $39.4 million for... [Read More]

The Malaysian government will defer implementation of its B10 mandate to a later date, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Mah Siew Keong, said. The government was due to introduce a higher biodiesel mandate for the transportation and industrial sector starting from 1 December, 2016. However, it is now unclear when Malaysia will now implement the B10 initiative. Keong... [Read More]

Five new global companies have joined the sustainable fuels initiative called below50, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) has said. The companies are LGE Fund, Scania, United Airlines, UPM and UPS. These companies are some of the world’s largest investors in below50 fuels, investing in more than 100 million gallons annually. Their... [Read More]

US biofuels company Gevo has announced that the first commercial flight using Gevo's cellulosic renewable alcohol-to-jet fuel (ATJ) is expected to take place today originating in Seattle and flying to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Previously, on 11 October 2016, Gevo announced that it had completed production of the world's first cellulosic renewable jet fuel... [Read More]

Biofuels producer Gevo announced that gasoline blended with its isobutanol and marketed for use in automobiles has begun to be sold in Texas, Houston, US.   This marks the first time that Gevo’s isobutanol has been specifically targeted towards on-road vehicles, the company said in a statement. Previously, Gevo and its partners have focused on specialty... [Read More]