News

A problem facing biorefinery operations is the flow of biomass into and throughout facilities. Lignocellulosic biomass, often made up of post-harvest agricultural materials such as corn stover and soybean hulls, often accumulates and compacts while moving through augers, forcing shutdowns for maintenance. A team led by Purdue University scientists is to receive a $1.8 million grant from…
Read More »

UPM has joined Together for Sustainability, a chemical industry initiative designed to promote and improve sustainability practises within supply chains. TfS has set up a standard approach to evaluate and improve the sustainability performance of suppliers. These evaluations cover areas such as environmental impact, health and safety, labour and human rights, and governance and management. "We…
Read More »

On 30 August 2018, bioethanol trade association Growth Energy announced in a press release that it, alongside the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), has decided to file a lawsuit in federal district court against the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) for improperly denying access to agency records, particularly those surrounding Renewable Fuel Standard…
Read More »

Major European bioethanol producer CropEnergies is to ‘pause’ production at its plant in Wilton, UK due to ‘difficult market conditions’, according to a company announcement. The plant, situated in the North-East of England, is operated by Ensus, a member of the Germany headquartered CropEnergies group since 2013. Production at the facility will be idled from the end of…
Read More »

New research has evaluated a number of specific regions across the United States and concluded Florida is the best for algae production. According to a statement, the 19 month long study involving scientists from NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) and Arizona State University (ASU) concluded that Florida’s humidity and lack of dramatic swings between hot and cold made it the best…
Read More »

Researchers in Canada claim to have found a simpler, cleaner way to produce fuel from biowaste such as sewage. Currently, biowaste is converted into biofuel with a two-step process. Biomass is converted into a biocrude oil with a chemical and thermal process. The second stage is refining, where hydrogen is added under high pressure and heat, serving to remove contaminants such as sulphur,…
Read More »

Non-road engines conforming to exhaust emission category EU Stage IV are suitable for operation with pure biodiesel, claims new research. The University of Rostock research relates to EU Stage IV engines for industry and agriculture. Long-term studies and comparative measurements with fossil diesel fuel show that engine performance and exhaust gas aftertreatment system is unaffected by using pure…
Read More »

The three smallest of Andeavor’s ten oil refineries are now exempt from US biofuels legislation. The ‘hardship’ waiver is meant to protect smaller refiners from being disproportionately impacted by the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Last year, Andeavor posted $1.5 billion in net profits. The exemption allows Andeavor to disregard legislation requiring it to blend ethanol into…
Read More »

3 May, US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry announced $78 million (€65.7 million) in new funding opportunities for early-stage biofuels research and development. The money is being administrated through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). The Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) are organised into four categories: bioenergy…
Read More »

A series of engineered proteins could improve biomanufacturing processes for the production of biofuels and other products including pharmaceuticals and commodity chemicals, according to researchers. Kevin Solomon, an assistant professor in Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and colleagues have developed a series of engineered proteins derived from…
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 »

Angel Alvarez Alberdi, Secretary General of the European Waste to Advanced Biofuels Association (EWABA) will be at the Biofuels International Conference discussing the renewable energy directive (REDII). Angel’s slot at the conference is titled, The Renewable Energy Directive: Providing clarity on the 2020-2030 regulatory frameworks, from waste-based biofuels perspective. The Biofuels…
Read More »

Large-scale production of algae derived starch could be possible, thanks to new research by the Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) and Tohoku University, Japan. This algae derived starch is a valuable resource for the production of biofuels and other biomaterials. According to a statement, the team, led by Sousuke Imamura from Tokyo Tech, have found a ‘switch’ affecting…
Read More »

Major US biofuel producer Renewable Energy Group (REG) has announced Cynthia CJ Warner as the company’s new president and chief executive officer. Warner's appointment was made by the company’s Board of Directors. She will take on the president and CEO positions effective 14 January 2019. Her predecessor, Randy Howard, who has served as president and CEO since July 2017, will remain…
Read More »