News

AB Mauri, a well-known specialist in yeast and bakery ingredient products, has launched a new business unit that will develop yeast solutions for the biofuel, liquor and nutrition industries. The new division will be called AB Biotek.  “AB Mauri has a long history of providing leading-edge products to industrial customers outside of the bakery markets in other parts of the…
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US advanced biofuels producer Renewable Energy Group (REG) has announced that it has secured financing of up to $20 million (€18.3 million) from First Midwest Bank for the $24 million capacity-expansion project at the company’s Ralston, Iowa biodiesel refinery. The upgrade project, announced last November, is expected to increase the annual nameplate capacity of the Ralston biorefinery…
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The UK Labour Party has published its manifesto for the forthcoming General Election, placing significant emphasis on renewable and sustainable energy sources.   Three principles guide the party’s energy policy: security of the energy supply; affordable energy costs for consumers and businesses; meeting climate change targets and transitioning to a low carbon economy.   A key part…
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A new sustainable biofuels initiative has been launched with the intention of handing freight companies “control of their carbon footprint”. The GoodShipping programme from Dutch company GoodFuels is designed to ‘accelerate’ the amount of low-carbon fuels in the marine-fuel mix. Put simply, it allows the cargo owner to purchase low-carbon, compatible and sustainable…
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Renewable European ethanol achieved its highest greenhouse gas (GHG) savings yet in 2016, according to the latest producer data. A European association of renewable ethanol producers, ePure says that the new figures mark “another increase in ethanol’s EU decarbonisation performance.” European renewable ethanol delivered an average of more than 66% greenhouse gas savings over…
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InnoEnergy, Europe’s sustainable energy innovation engine, is making its “Investment Round”, for supporting and launching revolutionary clean energy innovations, open year-round to offer flexibility to businesses to shorten the journey from lab to launch. During 2017, the Investment Round has already supported seven new projects in the fields of renewables, smart and efficient…
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Aviation biofuels can be priced competitively to help decarbonise air travel, a new study has found. The study was conducted by US-based NGO Carbon War Room (CWR), Netherlands-based sustainable jet fuels SkyNRG and the Port of Seattle. The study unveils recommendations for long-term mechanisms that could supply all airlines at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) with sustainable…
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Minnesota is set to double its biodiesel standards to a 20% blend, following endorsement from the commissioners of the state's agriculture, pollution and commerce departments From next summer the state’s biodiesel standard will be 20%, up from the current 10%, the administration of Governor Mark Dayton announced at the state’s recent Farmfest. “Implementing the B20 mandate is…
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US production of biodiesel was 136 million gallons in May 2017, according to the US Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Monthly Biodiesel Production Report. The newly published figures reveal that biodiesel production was 9 million gallons higher in May than in April 2017. Year on year, the figures for April showed significant improvement on 2015 and 2016 (108 and 120 million gallons…
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The UK government has made proposals to introduce a cap on crop-based biofuels in order to meet its renewable fuel obligations. The maximum level for the use of fuels made from agricultural crops will begin at 4% in 2018 and reduce linearly year on year from 2021 to reach 3% in 2026 and 2% in 2032. In a statement, the Department for Transport said: “The level is intended to provide a market…
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The US Grains Council (USGC) has announced that it is looking to identify new market opportunities for US ethanol to be exported to Africa, which it says represents a significant potential source of demand.     According to the export-orientated trade body, efforts include promoting the development of ethanol supportive policies across the region. Brian Healy, USGC manager of…
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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 Commerce Department has issued a final determination in a case brought by the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) Fair Trade Coalition regarding subsidised biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia. Earlier this year, the Commerce Department made a preliminary finding that Argentina and Indonesia provide subsidies to their biodiesel producers in violation of international trade rules.…
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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has denied requests from petitioners to change the point of obligation for compliance under the Renewable Fuels Standards (RFS) programme. Major oil companies had petitioned to relieve refiners of their obligation to fulfil annual biofuel quotas under the RFS. The move encountered strong opposition from the biofuel industry and law makers in so-called…
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