Researchers at the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have engineered a strain of bacteria that enables a “one-pot” method for producing advanced biofuels from a slurry of pre-treated plant material. The traditional method for producing advanced biofuels is a three-step process: Liquid salts break down plant... [Read More]

Canadian ethanol producer Calgren Renewable Fuels has invested in key co-products to sell in addition to its 58 million gpy ethanol output. The Calgren plant, located in Pixley, California, was the state’s first when it was built in 2009. Today, the company also sells 400,000 tpy of distiller’s grain for use as animal feed to local dairies and feedlots as well... [Read More]

National Biodiesel Board’s CEO Joe Jobe has left the organisation to pursue other interests after nearly 20 years of service. Jobe started at the NBB in 1997 and became the CEO just two years later in 1999. Between then and his date of leaving, Jobe helped grow the US biodiesel industry from producing 200,000 gallons annually to the 2 billion gallons projected for... [Read More]

Mexico-based Tequila Cazadores distillery has installed a biomass boiler that is designed to harness as much green energy it can from the discards made during regular production of the brand's top-shelf spirits. These discards are then transformed into fuel. The ashes created within the boiler are used for composting and transforming the ashes into a nutrient-rich... [Read More]

Aemetis, a US-based advanced fuels and renewable chemicals company, has signed an agreement to acquire Edeniq, a US cellulosic ethanol technology company. Under the terms of the agreement, Aemetis will acquire all of Edeniq's outstanding shares in a stock plus cash merger transaction. Edeniq has developed patented innovations that unlock cellulosic and starch sugars through... [Read More]

Advance Bioenergy, a Minnesota, US-based biofuel producer, has shut down its South Dakota ethanol plant due to the facility falling behind in technological development. The plant, located in the city of Aberdeen, was one of the first ethanol plants in the US when it began production in the early 1990s under the name of Heartland Grain Fuels. But the plant was closed last... [Read More]

Valmet, a Finnish energy technology firm, and Biochemtex, an Italian engineering firm, will start to cooperate in the field of conversion of lignin into biochemicals. The development project will combine and adapt LignoBoost and Moghi technologies.  LignoBoost is Valmet's proprietary technology for the extraction of purified lignin from black liquor produced by pulp... [Read More]

Renewable Energy Group (REG), a US-based biofuels producer, reported first-quarter net income of $1.6 million, after reporting a loss in the same period a year earlier. The Iowa-based company said it had profit of 4 cents per share. Losses, adjusted for non-recurring gains, were 1 cent per share. The biodiesel producer posted revenue of $305.6 million in the period... [Read More]

The European Commission (EC) has called on Portugal to ensure the full compliance of its biofuel legislation with the Renewable Energy Directive (Directive 2009/28/EC). In a statement, the EC said it had sent a reasoned opinion to the Member State to ensure it complied with the laws within the Renewable Energy Directive. The Directive sets the objective of reaching... [Read More]

The global agricultural micronutrients market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 8% until 2020 due to a strong demand for biofuels, according to new research. The report was published by UK-based research firm Technavio. It is called Global Agricultural Micronutrients Market 2016-2020 and provides an in-depth analysis of market growth... [Read More]

Car giant Volkswagen (VW) has published a new study and called for the promotion of biofuel-powered cars over electric ones to help tackle carbon emissions. The report, entitled Integrated Fuels and Vehicles Roadmap 2030 and Beyond, and was commissioned by automakers and oil companies. In the report the companies maintain that additional reduction potential through 2030... [Read More]

Poet-DSM, a joint venture cellulosic ethanol company, is expanding production capacity at its Iowa-based plant called Project Liberty. The firm said it is ramping up production at its cellulosic ethanol plant to its full 20 million gallon per year capacity. Project Liberty converts baled corn cobs, leaves, husk and stalk into renewable fuel. It converts around 770 tonnes... [Read More]

A judge at the US Bankruptcy Court has approved Abengoa SA’s filing for protection under Chapter 15, according to media reports in the Wall Street Journal. This judgement helps to protect the Spain-headquarted renewable and engineering company from claims from creditors. The decision also recognises the firm’s bankruptcy case in Spain. In March, some of the... [Read More]

German automaker Mercedes-Benz is probing the possibility to shift its diesel cars and other vehicles in India to biodiesel.  "Mercedes has given me a letter that they can use 100% biodiesel in their cars and buses," Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari told the India Times nespaper. "Mercedes India chief has told me that the standards which we have... [Read More]

The palm oil industry in Indonesia may experience a further decline after last year’s dry spell if the rain-bringing La Nina weather phenomenon kicks in, an expert says. Franky Oesman Widjaja, chairman of Sinar Mas Agribusiness & Foods, expects Indonesia's crude palm oil production in 2016 to drop by 5-10% year-on-year. The decrease is due to the impact of the... [Read More]

Renewable Energy Group (REG) has formally opened its REG Madison biorefinery and also announced upgrades to the plant. REG leaders were joined by state and local business, government, and community leaders for the opening ceremony, recognising the transition to REG’s ownership of the 20 million gpy nameplate capacity biodiesel refinery, formerly owned by Sanimax... [Read More]