News

New ethanol market developments, legislation and trading were just some of the themes analysed at this year’s Argus Biofuels conference. The conference, which is taking place in London at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower over three days, focused on the topic of ethanol on 17 October, 2017. Mark Chesworth, CEO at UK-based bioethanol producer Vivergo Fuels, gave an overview of the global markets in…
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The US Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture has awarded a five-year grant worth up to $15 million to the University of Arizona (UA) to lead a new centre focusing on the mass production of biofuels and bioproducts in the Southwestern US. According to a statement from UA, the goals of the new Sustainable Bioeconomy for Arid Regions Centre will be to address…
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Four Republican governors have sent a letter to US President Trump expressing concern over the changes recently proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency to the US’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “The renewable fuels industry in our states, and others, is poised to grow if the EPA sends positive and consistent market signals through increases in the required volumes. That will…
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A general ban on palm oil in biofuels in Europe punishes the wrong producers while having little impact on reducing deforestation, according to Jaboury Ghazoul, a professor of ecosystem management at ETH Zurich. He claims in an article published by the university that banning palm oil actually blocks good practice. In April 2017, the European Parliament voted to ban the use of palm oil in…
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Through increased use of biofuels in the transport sector, Uruguay has achieved a 7% annual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, according to a statement from the South American country’s government. In addition to using biodiesel and bioethanol as a substitute for gasoil and naphtha, emissions are reduced by 60-70%. The figures come from a study commissioned by Alcoholes de Uruguay…
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 Alkol Biotech has been selected as a finalist for the 2017 edition of the Global Energy Awards. The prize, created by Platts, has been running yearly since 1999 and honours organisations and individuals who are dedicated to achieving excellence in the energy industry. Platts receives more than 200 nominations each year: nominations have come from more than 25 countries including Brazil,…
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Qantas has announced that its Los Angeles based aircraft will be powered by biofuels from 2020, in a bid to reduce the airline’s carbon emissions on its US to Australia services. Over the next ten years, Qantas will purchase eight million gallons (30 million litres) of renewable jet fuel each year from US based biofuel producer SG Preston. The fuels will be used in flights from Los Angeles…
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Scientists have gained new insight into the functioning of hydrolytic enzymes, in a study that could pave the way to more competitive biofuels. The current technical complexity and costs of obtaining biofuels from biomass restrict their cheap, efficient and sustainable production. At a time when oil prices are at record lows, this is hindering their ability to compete on the fuels market. One of…
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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved Flint Hills Resources’ registration of its 100 million gallons per year Iowa-based ethanol plant. The plant will use Edeniq’s technology. Flint Hills Resources’ Iowa Falls plant is the fifth existing ethanol plant to receive approval from the EPA for cellulosic ethanol production using Edeniq’s Pathway…
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Concerns remain over the safety of rail to transport energy liquids and gases, according to a newly published report. The research from the US National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine argues that both pipeline and maritime transportation have a more comprehensive safety system in place than rail road transportation. Long-distance transportation of domestically produced crude oil,…
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China has lowered its forecasts for its corn output, according to news agency Xinhua Net. The news agency reported that China’s output will now be 210 million tonnes in the 2017/18 crop year, down 2.37 million tonnes from predictions made last month. According to Xinhua, a committee from the Ministry of Agriculture ( MOA) also raised forecasts on industrial consumption of corn by 1.05…
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A plan for cutting carbon emissions while growing the economy has been released by the UK government. ‘The Clean Growth Strategy: Leading the way to a low carbon future’ has been published by Greg Clark, the UK’s Business and Energy Secretary. It highlights progress already made in the UK towards a low carbon economy, while also setting out how the ‘whole country’…
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Paris is planning to “banish” all non-electric cars by 2030, ten years earlier than the rest of France, according to an article by Reuters. Petrol and diesel fuelled cars will have all disappeared from the city by 2030, Paris City Hall has said. Earlier this year, the French government set a target date of 2040 for the phase out of all cars that are dependent on fossil fuels.…
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Several environmental groups have handed over a petition to the UN’s aviation body, ICAO, urging the agency to scrap its plan for the widespread use of biofuels in planes. Co-ordinated by the conservation group Rainforest Rescue, the petition has been signed by 172,000 citizens from across the globe. It argues that using biofuels on a large scale will inevitably accelerate palm oil…
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