US biofuels lobby group Growth Energy has submitted comments to a public consultation on the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2017 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs), which are part of the broader Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, said: “The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has been the most successful energy policy in the last... [Read More]

PLN, an Indonesian state power firm, has announced that  it cannot comply with government rules on burning diesel with a bio content of at least 30% as it would damage generators, potentially curbing demand for biofuel ingredient palm oil in the world's top producer of that commodity, according to news agency Reuters. Under regulations released in 2015, Jakarta mandated... [Read More]

UK-based environmental consultancy Ricardo and Recycling Technologies, a UK-based waste-to-energy specialist, have announced they are to begin work on a new project to characterise plastic-waste-derived clean fuel.  Recycling Technologies has developed a machine (the RT7000) and is industrialising a process to convert residual plastic waste into a low sulphur hydrocarbon... [Read More]

Automaker Mercedes-Benz’ Indian subsidiary BharatBenz has given the green light to using alternative fuels in its fleet of trucks without major changes to their engine technology. The German car giant has approved the fuels under the prEN 15940 paraffinic diesel standard and made them applicable immediately, according to the TrucksDekho website. Two of the company’s... [Read More]

Around 60 producers and providers of clean fuels – ranging from electricity to biofuels – signed a joint letter urging state policymakers to sustain California’s low carbon fuel policy. The industry leaders say the tool is a “critical” part of the plan to reduce California’s greenhouse gases and that it is already driving in-state investment. Biofuel... [Read More]

Indonesia-based paper and packaging firm Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) has announced its support for a new community-led biofuel pilot initiative. The initiative aims to help reduce the use of fossil fuels in Indonesia, increase the availability of renewable biofuels, provide incomes for local communities and help to reduce the vulnerability of Indonesia’s forest to... [Read More]

Pacific Biodiesel president Robert King has attended the formal signing by Hawaii’s Governor David Ige of the Renewable Fuels Production Tax Credit, a long-awaited incentive for biofuels producers in the state. This move supports Hawaii’s commitment to generate 100% of its electricity from renewable energy resources by 2045. Hawaii State Act 202 is a non-refundable... [Read More]

Germany-headquarted bioethanol producer CropEnergies has announced that it has restarted operations at its bioethanol plant in Wilton, UK, by July at the latest. The Ensus facility, based in the north east of England, has been mothballed since February 2015. Work was halted after bioethanol prices dropped amid sluggish European markets and low oil prices. Since this pause... [Read More]

Biofuels industry players who wish to say their word on the production volumes in the US next year have only this weekend left to do so. The comment period on US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed renewable volume obligations (RVO) for 2017 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is set to close on 11 July. EPA’s proposal would see the RVO for... [Read More]

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that US exports of ethanol and distillers grains (DG) have shrunk from last year, but biodiesel exports are soaring. US ethanol exports totalled 55.7 million gallons in May, which represents a 14% decrease year-on-year, yet in the first five months of 2016 US ethanol exports were up 6% from year ago. Canada was the US’... [Read More]

Biox Corp. and Boston-based biodiesel company World Energy have entered into a 50/50 joint venture to acquire and operate a 90 million gallon (341 million litre) biodiesel production facility. The facility, formerly known as Green Earth Fuels, is located within the Kinder Morgan Liquids terminal on the Houston Ship Channel in Texas and is the third largest biodiesel production... [Read More]

Global Bioenergies has secured a €400,000 grant from the German federal ministry for research and education (BMBF) to finance a 14-month project aimed at producing renewable petrol additives. The company will first produce ETBE, a molecule obtained by the condensation of ethanol and isobutene, and presently used as a petrol additive in large volumes with a worldwide... [Read More]

In India, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corp. (KSRTC) is set to launch a 100% biodiesel bus as part of its efforts to reduce fuel expenditure and air pollution. This India’s first solely biodiesel-fuelled bus, operating a line between Bengaluru and Chennai, will be inaugurated by transport minister Ramalinga Reddy, according to The New Indian Express. Last year... [Read More]

Three fossil fuels – petroleum, natural gas, and coal – have provided more than 80% of total US energy consumption for more than 100 years, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). In 2015, fossil fuels made up 81.5% of total US energy consumption, the lowest fossil fuel share in the past century, the energy information service found. In... [Read More]

US ethanol producer Poet is expanding its cover crop research as part of soil sustainability work in Emmetsburg, Iowa for cellulosic ethanol development. The work is part of an ongoing commitment to helping farmers make sound management decisions around harvesting crop residue for cellulosic ethanol. “Agriculture is the solution to so many of the world’s challenges,... [Read More]

Confectionery giant Mars has announced that all of its factories across the globe achieved their "zero waste to landfill" goals in 2015, helped by recycling and converting waste to fuel. In a statement, the US firm said 126 locations had achieved this goal. It also said that the group had accomplished seven of its 16 sustainability targets in 2015. “We have made... [Read More]