News

Major US biodiesel producer Renewable Energy Group has published its financial results for the second quarter 2018. The figures cover the quarter ended 30 June, and they reveal a dramatic year on year improvement for the company. Net income per diluted share was $33 million over the period, compared to a net loss of $34.8 million in the second quarter of 2017. Adjusted net income was $23.5…
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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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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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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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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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Testimonies stressing the importance of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to the biofuels industry have been given before the Congress House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Environment.  The testimonies, delivered to a hearing titled “Advanced Biofuels Under the Renewable Fuel Standard: Current Status and Future Prospects”, stressed the importance of the RFS to the biofuels…
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Gevo and Avfuel have entered into a long-term renewable jet fuel supply agreement. The new contract will see Gevo supply its renewable alcohol-to-jet fuel (ATJ) to Avfuel. Avfuel is a global supplier of aviation fuel and services, servicing more than 3,000 locations worldwide. "We are pleased to have a customer and partner like Avfuel. Avfuel has tremendous reach with more than 650 Avfuel-branded…
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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued proposed volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard programme for cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel for 2019. Biomass-based diesel volume standards have also been proposed for 2020. The biomass-based diesel standard for 2019 was set at 2.1 billion gallons in 2018 The proposed volume requirements…
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A study led by Professor John McGeehan from the University of Portsmouth has discovered a type of enzyme with the unique ability to break down lignin – a key component in plants. The discovery paves the way for plant waste to be recycled in such a way to produce products including nylon, chemicals, plastics and fuels. Detailing the study, Professor McGeehan explains: “we have…
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ePURE, the European renewable ethanol association, has found that the use of European ethanol has contributed to a staggering 70% of greenhouse-gas reduction in 2017. The statistic is part of a larger movement to reduce Europe’s carbon footprint, one which has seen success each year since 2011. Emmanuel Desplechin, Secretary General of ePURE explains: “for the sixth year in a row,…
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A recent survey among vehicle manufacturers shows that the widespread use of biodiesel in the commercial vehicle sector is ‘technically possible’, according to the Association Quality Management Biodiesel (AGQM). AGQM, along with the Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP) and the Association of the German Biofuel Industry (VDB) has published an approval list for…
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More than $38 million in industrial revenue bonds has been approved to help fund Cargill’s new biodiesel plant in Wichita, Kansas, according to the Wichita Eagle. Currently, Cargill has a soybean processing plant, grain elevator and rail bulk loadout operation at the Wichita site. The site already produces vegetable oil, but will now make the transition to biodiesel production. According to…
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Scientists from Imperial College London claim to have developed a solution which could lead to cheaper and more environmentally friendly biofuel production. According to the researchers, the breakthrough means they can break down plant-based biomass ’30 times faster than currently possible.’ Dr Alex Brogan, of Imperial’s Department of Chemical Engineering, and colleagues…
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