Ukrainian state-run spirits group Ukrspyrt has brought online an upgraded bioethanol plant in the western region of Ternopil, it has been reported. Investments in the plant's modernisation stood at UAH 60 million (€2.3 million), with financing coming from Armenian investors, according to a company statement. The facility was launched on the premises of Zarubynsky... [Read More]

Air Liquide has announced the start-up of a second generation biofuel production plant in Germany through the 'bioliq' project, in partnership with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The bioliq pilot plant aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a process to produce high-quality sulfur-free fuel from residual biomass. These 'second generation' biofuels are produced... [Read More]

In San Francisco, US, petrol blended with 85% ethanol (E85) is now available to flex-fuel vehicle owners. Robert White, VP of industry relations at the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), says: 'There are more than 18 million flex-fuel vehicles registered in the US. Drivers of these vehicles deserve access to E85.' E85 is approved for use in all flex-fuel vehicles and more... [Read More]

Waste-based biodiesel producer Greenergy has earned the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) sustainability certification for the production of biodiesel from used cooking oil at its UK facilities in Immingham and North Cave. Greenergy supplies more than a quarter of the UK's road fuel and manufactures its own biodiesel from wastes in order to meet its biodiesel... [Read More]

Small-scale biodiesel processing equipment from Springboard Biodiesel, a California-based, clean-tech manufacturer, is to be installed at Bagram Airfield in the Parwan Province of Afghanistan. Springboard Biodiesel's BioPro 380EX and SpringPro T76 comprise a small-scale biodiesel processing system designed to inexpensively convert the base's used cooking oil into ASTM-grade... [Read More]

Praj Industries, a global process solutions company, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to become a Gevo licensee for producing renewable isobutanol at sugar-based ethanol plants. Under the MoU, Praj will undertake to license up to 250 million gallons of isobutanol capacity for sugar-based ethanol plants over the next 10 years. Gevo will market the isobutanol... [Read More]

Hainan Airlines, Boeing and Sinopec have celebrated China's first passenger flight with sustainable aviation biofuel. The regularly scheduled Hainan Airlines flight – which carried more than 100 passengers from Shanghai to Beijing – used biofuel made by Sinopec from waste cooking oil collected from restaurants in China. Both of the airplane's CFM International... [Read More]

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) have announced a settlement with Utah-based Washakie Renewable Energy that resolves allegations that the company generated more than 7.2 million invalid renewable fuel credits worth more than $2 million (€1.8 million). From January to October of 2010, Washakie generated more than 7.2... [Read More]

Nano Labs has entered into a joint venture agreement with DerTek to launch a research and development, marketing, and manufacturing programme to produce biofuels in North America. The JV will initially begin in Mexico. DerTek is a technology-based company presently located in Mexico that has developed a novel technology highly effective as a catalyser to produce biofuels... [Read More]

In the US, renewable fuels company Red Rock Biofuels has formed a strategic partnership with Flagship Ventures that sets the stage for the construction of its first commercial scale refinery in Lakeview, Oregon. As part of this partnership, Flagship Ventures, a venture capital and venture creation firm focused on innovations in healthcare and sustainability, will invest... [Read More]

Ceres, an agricultural biotechnology company, and Brazilian energy company Raízen have signed a multi-year collaboration agreement to develop and produce sweet sorghum on an industrial scale. Sweet sorghum can be grown to complement existing feedstock supplies and extend the operating season of Brazilian sugarcane-to-ethanol mills. Under the collaboration, the companies... [Read More]

Indonesia, the world's largest palm oil producer, has plans to increase the diesel blending rate this year to cut fossil fuel import costs, reports Bloomberg. The blending rate will be raised from 10% to 15% this year and subsequently to 20%, according to Sofyan Djalil, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs. Indonesia is promoting biofuel use in an attempt to help... [Read More]

Ergon Biofuels, a subsidiary of Ergon, a privately held company that operates under six primary business segments (refining and markets; asphalt and emulsions; transportation and teminaling; oil and gas; real estate; and corporate and other) has entered into a comprehensive services arrangement with logistics company Gavilon to originate and market grain at the company's... [Read More]

Dragonair, part of the Cathay Pacific Group, will operate will operate its first-ever commercial flight using a certified sustainable biofuel blend later this month. The KA859 service from Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport to Hong Kong on 21 March will take off with the aircraft tanks filled with a 50/50 blend of fossil-based jet fuel and bio-based jet fuel, refined from 100%... [Read More]

Celtic Renewables, the world's first company to produce biofuel capable of powering cars from residues of the whisky industry, has received £500,000 (€702,124) in a new round of investment, taking its valuation to £10 million. The company has announced investment worth £250,000 from the Scottish Investment Bank. The investment arm of Scottish enterprise,... [Read More]

A survey of the algae industry conducted by the Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) shows high expectations for continued growth in the sector as well as increased production of a wide range of algae-derived products. The survey was conducted in February 2015 and includes more than 230 responses from companies and individuals involved in directly producing and buying algae... [Read More]