News

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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Biotechnology company Novozymes has published its results for the first half of 2018. The Denmark headquartered company produces enzymes for biofuel production among its range of products. The company reports an overall organic sales growth of 4% in the first half of the year, and net profit growth of +5%. “Overall, I’m satisfied with our performance in the first half year”,…
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US biofuel producer Hero BX is aiming to drastically boost the capacity of a shutdown biodiesel facility it recently purchased in South Roxana, Illinois.   As reported by Biodiesel Magazine, the acquisition of the 12MGY facility was made in an auction held by Maas Companies, which closed on 24 July 2018. Financial terms for the acquisition of the former Midwest Biodiesel Products facility…
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Researchers claim to have found a way to protect yeast from damage inflicted by pretreatment chemicals in the biofuel production process. Pretreatment chemicals are used in biofuel facilities to accelerate the breakdown of plant material, however, these chemical are sometimes poisonous to the yeasts that turn the plant sugars into fuel. In a study published in the journal Genetics, a team from…
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