Flint Hills Resources is preparing for the launch of its Duonix plant in Nebraska, US, is preparing to run pre-commissioning tests. The 50 million gpy former Beatrice Biodiesel-facility is being retrofitted for multi-feedstock production using Benefuel’s catalytic process for refining high free-fatty-acid feedstock. This is the first time the Benefuel technology... [Read More]

The city of Sault Ste. Marie, in Ontario, Canada, is preparing to phase out the use of biodiesel in its public transport buses. The decision to give up biofuels is due to city officials deeming the achieved benefits insufficient to justify their two cents higher cost per litre when compared to fossil fuels. The biodiesel the city uses is not produced locally and instead... [Read More]

Gevo has entered into a license agreement and joint development agreement with Praj Industries to enable the licensing of its isobutanol technology to processors of non-corn based sugars, including the majority of Praj's global customer base of ethanol plant owners. As part of the agreements, Praj will invest in the development and optimisation of Gevo's isobutanol technology... [Read More]

Sweetwater Energy, a renewable biochemical company headquartered in Rochester, New York, has received commitment for $26 million (€24 million) in long-term loans from the US state of Minnesota to build a biochemical production plant near Mountain Iron in Minnesota's northeast. The $53 million facility will use local timber to produce high-value industrial alcohol... [Read More]

Renewable diesel producer Neste and aircraft manufacturer Boeing have partnered to promote and accelerate the commercialisation of renewable aviation fuel. The companies will work toward American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) fuel standard approval allowing the commercial use of high freezing point renewable aviation fuel by airlines. The goal is also to gain... [Read More]

In Sweden, renewable fuels now make up two thirds of total fuel consumption of buses in public transport, new statistics show. According to the Swedish Public Transport Association data, the use of renewables in Sweden’s public transportation has increased from six to 58% from 2006-2014. This year, renewables accounted for 67% of fuel used by buses. The biggest consumer... [Read More]

Maas Companies will auction surplus biodiesel process equipment for Biodiesel One via a timed online auction ending on 3 December for piecemeal offers and 4 December for entirety offers. The Biodiesel One plant opened in 2007 and was the second biodiesel plant to be built in Connecticut, US. The plant handled used cooking oil from local restaurants in a batch water wash... [Read More]

A 5 MMgy supercritical biodiesel plant in Illinois, US, designed and built by Jatrodiesel, has been commissioned and is now operational. The facility is co-located with the 125 MMgy CHS-owned Patriot Renewable Fuels ethanol plant in Annawan. It makes use of the existing refinery’s infrastructure, steam, and distillers corn oil byproduct to produce biodiesel. According... [Read More]

In the US, nearly 200 members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), urging it to not increase the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In the letter, addressed to the EPA administrator Gina McCarthy, 184 House members from both major US parties claimed that increasing the amount of biofuel in the nation’s fuel supply... [Read More]

Argentina’s biodiesel production is expected to decrease by 30% in 2015 as growth of domestic demand cannot compensate for declining foreign exports. The Argentine Biofuels and Hydrogen Association (ABHA) estimates this year’s total biodiesel output to cap at 1.8 million tonnes, a significant decrease from 2.58 million tonnes in 2014. Exports are expected to... [Read More]

United Biscuits (UB), the one of the leading international manufacturers of biscuits, cakes, and snacks, has extended its initiative that leverages used cooking oil (UCO) to power its delivery vehicles. The UK-based manufacturer of Jaffa Cakes now has a total of 16 vehicles running on Ultra Biofuel brand biodiesel, which generates carbon savings of up to 97% compared to... [Read More]

Hero BX (Hero), one the largest biodiesel producers in the US, is exploring the possibility of building the Caribbean’s first commercial-scale biodiesel plant in Jamaica. Hero is in talks with the Jamaican government and various private stakeholders to confirm the construction plans. The plant would boost Jamaica’s renewable energy programme and have a multi-industry... [Read More]

The results of a major UK research project show greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to nitrogen fertiliser use on UK arable land to be less than half the level previously estimated. The results are good news for the UK biofuels industry, as the project also confirmed that sourcing of nitrogen fertilisers from production facilities which are modified to abate nitrous oxide... [Read More]

Green Plains and petrol retailer Murphy USA have signed a definitive agreement regarding the purchase by Green Plains of Murphy USA's ethanol production facility located in Hereford, Texas. Under the terms of the agreement, Green Plains will acquire Hereford Renewable Energy for approximately $93.8 million (€85 million), subject to customary closing adjustments. The... [Read More]

In India, the government of the state of Punjab  has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a consortium of Beta Renewables, Novozymes, and CVC India Infrastructure to set up a bioethanol refinery in the state. The INR9.5 billion (€131 million) facility is expected to begin operation in 2017, and it is projected to make Punjab the Indian state... [Read More]

A recent national US survey shows that biodiesel is an increasingly popular alternative fuel and that support for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is on the rise, according to the National Biodiesel Board (NBB). With just one month until the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) releases the final RFS rule, 80% of voters support a renewable fuel standard, with 10% opposing... [Read More]