News

United Airlines last week announced the departure of the ‘Flight for the Planet’ on World Environment Day, described by the airline as ‘the most eco-friendly commercial flight of its kind in the history of aviation’. The commercial flight used sustainable aviation biofuel, and demonstrated zero cabin waste efforts, carbon offsetting and operational efficiencies. The flight…
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California, US-based Vertimass has signed its first technology license agreement with cellulosic ethanol producer Alliance BioEnergy Plus for the production of renewable jet fuel. Vertimass’ technology, which also results in the production of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX), enables the sustainable production of fuels and chemicals derived from ethanol. BTEX is widely used…
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VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has developed a new technique that offers a sustainable way to turn forest industry byproducts, such as bark, sawdust and forestry waste, into transport fuels and chemicals. The new technique uses gasification to turn biomass into intermediate products, such as liquid hydrocarbons, methanol or methane, in production units integrated with communal district…
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The US’ Montana State University (MSU) researchers are exploring a potential breakthrough in producing biofuels from algae. Supported by a $3 million grant from the US Department of Energy, the research team announced that they are in the early stages of a three-year project focused on developing a biofuel process that could bypass a limitation that has curbed the industry, according to…
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Swedish furniture group Ikea announced that it has invested into a pilot programme to bring biofuels to the shipping industry. Ikea’s Transport & Logistics Services division revealed that it will be investing in the ‘first-ever’ fuelling of a container vessel with biofuel oil. “Our long-term ambition at IKEA Transport & Logistics Services is to reduce greenhouse…
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Biological solutions provider Novozymes has announced two new partnerships to establish a broader alliance for the commercialisation of microbial solutions to increase crop yields: Univar Solutions and UPL. While Novozymes will continue its partnership with Bayer in the ‘stronghold of microbes for corn and for distribution to the main soy markets’, the announcement of the new…
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Quantum Energy and its subsidiary FTPM Resources have entered a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a targeted company that designs, manufactures, operates and sells modular biorefineries. The patented biorefineries are available in one million, two million and five million gallon per year capacities and produce alternative liquid biofuels from organic waste streams. According to…
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Jan De Nul Group has announced its commitment to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 15% per year during maintenance dredging works at the Nieuwpoort marina in Belgium. Under a collaboration with the Flemish government, the company also intends to include a minimum requirement of 15% CO2 reduction in 80% of maintenance dredging contracts in Flanders by 2020. With this commitment, the…
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The company formally known as, Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores of Iowa (PMCI) has launched a new brand, name and logo. The association is now known as, FUELIowa.  The state wide association represents fuel distributors, cooperatives, convenience and grocery stores, refiners, biofuel producers and other industry firms. President and CEO of FUELIowa, Dawn Carlson said, “For…
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Political party, Australia-first are trialling the use of 100% renewable diesel to fuel a Scania test engine, with support from the Palaszczuk Government’s Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund. Southern Oil’s Advanced Biofuels Pilot Plant at Yarwun, near Gladstone, is pioneering the refining of renewable diesel fuel made from waste plastic, old tyres, agricultural and forestry…
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In a letter addressed to US Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor has urged the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to help expedite the delivery of biofuels by rail amid ‘historic flooding’. Flooding in the US Midwest has delayed the transportation of supplies of biofuel, which could cause fuel prices for consumers to rise. Skor wrote: “While…
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Washington State Ferries (WSF)announced that it will be launching a Sustainability Action Plan that outlines objectives for more renewable ferries and terminals, which includes a commitment to using a 10% biodiesel mix. According to the release, the plan includes initiatives to protect orca whales, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality and reduce waste. “Because we operate…
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Engine developer Japan Engine Corporation (J-ENG) has announced a collaboration with shipowner Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line) for the research and development of a biofuel test engine. The two companies plan to carry out engine testing using biofuel supplied by GoodFuels, a leading biofuel supplier based in the Netherlands. According to a release from J-ENG, the test engine is located in…
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Maas Companies has announced the auction of Global Fuels’ $11 million (€9.67 million) biodiesel plant, located in southeastern Missouri, US. The facility, which has a capacity of 5 million gallons of biodiesel per year, was built in 2007 with an initial capacity of 3.1 million gallons per year. The capacity was increased after a technology upgrade in 2013, which also enabled feedstock…
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