News

Formed in 2007, Vivergo aimed to deliver a substantial and significant portion of the UK’s forecast Biofuel demand. Originally a joint venture between AB Sugar and Du Pont, the company set out to become a biorefinery for the future. However, on the 6th of September it announced its proposal to cease production. In a statement made by Mark Chesworth, Vivergo’s Managing Director, he…
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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…
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According to new data, European renewable ethanol association (ePURE) members produced 5.84 billion litres of ethanol and 5.71 million tonnes of beneficial co-products in 2017. This record high greenhouse gas reduction, compared to petrol is being attributed to major production of animal feed.    There has been an average of more than 70% greenhouse gas savings compared to petrol in…
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India’s frontrunner for biofueled aerial operations, SpiceJet, conducted the nation’s first biofueled demonstration flight from Dehradun to Delhi. Another milestone in Asia’s growing efforts to find renewable alternatives for jet fuel, the flight followed China’s first cross-ocean biofueled flight last November. According to a press release, SpiceJet intends to undertake…
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The US Department of Energy has announced a $1.1 million (€940,000) grant for research into sorghum disease resistance led by the University of Illinois, reflecting the growing interest in the crop as a feedstock for renewable fuel and energy. Earlier this year, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved a variety of pathways for renewable fuel derived from sorghum as part of the…
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Scientists at the University of Kent, UK, have developed a new technique for manipulating small cell structures for use in a range of applications, including the production of biofuels and vaccines. Key to the breakthrough are tiny bacterial cellular structures known as organelles, which the researchers redesigned and engineered so they can be more easily manipulated and deployed to turn bacteria…
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The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced up to AUD$500,000 (€311,719) in funding will be awarded to Boral Timber to investigate the feasibility of building a biorefinery capable of producing biodiesel from sawmill residues. If the facility at Boral Timber’s Hardwood Sawmill at Herons Creek near Port Macquarie, New South Wales, goes ahead, it will be the first of its…
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The UK’s Renewable Energy Association (REA) has published new analysis on the impact the introduction of E10 blended petrol would have in the UK, arguing that the switch should be made ‘as soon as possible.’ Crucially, REA’s analysis suggests that there are significantly fewer main household cars on the road that are unwarrantied to use E10 than the Department for…
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New research shows that seawater could be used in place of freshwater for the production of bioethanol, lowering the process’ water footprint. In a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, scientists from the University of Nottingham show that when combined with a new strain of marine yeast, the seawater can be used to replace freshwater during fermentation. "Current fermentation…
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The US National Biodiesel Board has reiterated the industry’s strong support for the passage of a new Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (commonly known as the Farm Bill) that includes funding for programmes that support biodiesel, in a letter to the Conference Committee working to finalise the legislation. The 2018 Farm Bill would lay out agricultural and nutritional policies for the…
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Major waste-based biofuel producer Argent Energy has announced the appointment of Erik Rietkerk as the company's new CEO. Rietkerk takes over leadership of the company from Jim Walker, the former managing director. Rietkerk has joined Argent from Amsterdam Commodities, a listed trading company in the Netherlands. According to a statement, he’ll bring experience in growing and integrating…
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All diesel vehicles in the City of Vancouver’s fleet will be fuelled by 100% renewable diesel, according to a statement. The City has signed a new supply contract with integrated energy company, Suncor. “This new contract concretely demonstrates our commitment to greening our operations and deriving 100% of our energy from renewable sources,” said Jerry Dobrovolny, manager of…
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In a bid to reduce its crude oil imports over the next four years, India is set to invest heavily in biofuels. Various media outlets are reporting that on 10 August, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the plans to build the country’s biofuel capacity through 100 billion rupees of investment. India is one of the world’s biggest oil importers and consumers. According…
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