News

Major US biodiesel producer Renewable Energy Group has published its financial results for the second quarter 2018. The figures cover the quarter ended 30 June, and they reveal a dramatic year on year improvement for the company. Net income per diluted share was $33 million over the period, compared to a net loss of $34.8 million in the second quarter of 2017. Adjusted net income was $23.5…
Read More »

A public school district in San Diego, California, has switched its fleet of 53 school buses to run on Finnish company Neste’s renewable diesel. The Vista Unified School District (VUSD) is the fourth largest in San Diego County, comprising 32 schools with programmes ranging from kindergarten through to adult educational facilities. The district serves more than 23,000 primary to high school…
Read More »

The US Department of Agriculture has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on the environmental assessment report for Velocys’ planned Bayou Fuels biorefinery in Natchez, Mississippi. Velocys is describing the FONSI as a significant step towards the permitting of the Bayou Fuels facility. It was issued as part of the company’s ongoing development of the 100-acre…
Read More »

Findings from a ground breaking study could prove crucial in boosting the ‘economic viability’ of algae biofuel, showing for the first time that raw plants can be used as a carbon energy source for cultivation of a strain of microalgae. In a study recently published in the journal Algal Research, it’s revealed that a freshwater production strain of microalgae, Auxenochlorella…
Read More »

Advanced Biofuels Canada (ABFC) has announced a significant expansion to its membership. ABFC is the industry association for biofuels in Canada. According to a statement, the new members include fuel distributors, global technology developers and strategic compliance services providers. These include Canada Clean Fuels, Canfor Pulp, EcoEngineers and Honeywell UOP. “Our organisation’s…
Read More »

The Indonesian government is planning to make the use of biodiesel blended fuels compulsory for all vehicles and heavy machinery from 1 September, according to Reuters. According to the wire service, Indonesia’s Renewable Energy Director General Rida Mulyana announced the government’s ambitious aim on 1 August. Indonesia’s president, Joko Widodo said in a cabinet meeting on 31…
Read More »

The US National Biodiesel Board (NBB) has filled an opening brief in its lawsuit objecting to EPA’s methodology for establishing the 2018 Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS). Significantly, NBB’s brief is the first to hit US courts arguing that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must account for all small refinery ‘hardship’ exemptions, including retroactively granted…
Read More »

$4 million AUD (€2.5 million) in funding is set to be provided to Australia’s Southern Oil Refining for a pilot plant which will turn biosolids from sewage to crude oil. According to a statement, the demonstration plant will be the first step towards developing biosolid waste to renewable fuels plants at sewage treatment facilities in Australia. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency…
Read More »

Sponsored content:   Court of Alessandria Bankruptcy Section Notice of initiation of a competitive procedure pursuant to art. 163 bis L.F. Biochemtex S.p.A. (No. 9/17), Beta Renewables S.p.A. (No. 10/17), IBP Energia S.r.l. (No. 11/17) and the Italian Bio Products S.r.l. (No. 13/17) companies belonging to the industrial group Mossi & Ghisolfi S.p.A., with registered office in Tortona…
Read More »

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a variety of pathways for renewable fuel derived from sorghum as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) programme. This includes the use of sorghum to produce biodiesel. Acting EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler signed the final pathway on 24 July. “Today’s approval sets the stage for more homegrown fuels under the Renewable…
Read More »

French biodiesel producer Avril’s plants are running at full capacity for the first time since June, according to Reuters. However, the company’s CEO says it could soon be pushed back to part-time operation due to Argentine imports. The boost in production is explained by strong oil prices and a surge in biodiesel demand, Reuters reports. Avril is Europe’s largest biodiesel…
Read More »

Argent Energy has taken over the biodiesel production assets of Biodiesel Amsterdam, as well as associated tank storage and tank cleaning facilities. The deal comes as part of a broader acquisition by biofuel producer Argent Energy’s parent company, the conglomerate John Swire & Sons. Alongside Dutch investment firm Parcom Captial, John Swire & Sons has taken over the Simadan…
Read More »

Velocys intends to raise £6 million (€6.7 million) through a placing, according to an announcement from the company. The renewable fuels specialist will place 60,000,000 new Ordinary Shares at a placing price of 10 pence per share. This represents a 0.52p discount to the closing mid-market price per Ordinary Share as at 20 July 2018. According to Velocys’ statement, net proceeds…
Read More »

A major new report has presented evidence claimed to highlight unnecessary Government caution over a roll-out of E10 petrol in the UK. The Unwarranted Caution report has been published by the All Party Parliamentary Group for British Bioethanol, a cross party group of MPs and Peers with an interest in promoting the benefits of the bioethanol industry and its products. One of the report's key aims…
Read More »