News

Three years ago, scientists at the US’ National Renewable Energy Laboratory discovered an enzyme that proves adept at breaking down cellulose fibres regardless of whether their crystalline structure is simple or highly complex. According to the research, no other enzyme has shown this ability. Now, in a follow-up paper, the researchers have looked at the significant worth the enzyme, CeIA,…
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The US National Biodiesel Board (NBB) has reacted positively to the confirmation of Stephen Censky to be the US’ Deputy of Agriculture. Censky has substantial experience in both the soybean and biodiesel industries, something which the NBB’s CEO, Donnell Rehagen, believes makes him well suited to the new role. “Congratulations to Steve on his confirmation to be Deputy Secretary…
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Policymakers in the European Parliament’s environment committee (ENVI) have voted in support of a proposal for a total phase out of crop-based biofuels by 2030 and have backed the use of biomass for electricity production. The ENVI vote on the revised Renewable Energy Directive, dubbed RED II, happened yesterday evening (23 October). RED establishes an overall policy for the production…
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Trade associations representing key players in Europe’s energy transition have urged policymakers to take a step-wise approach towards the market integration of small-scale renewable and high efficiency cogeneration installations. Whilst the European institutions are negotiating the recast of the Electricity Market Design Regulation, the signatories of the declaration have recently launched…
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The European renewable ethanol association ePure has responded to the European Union’s third State of the Energy Union report. A key finding of the report is that thanks to progress in 2017, the EU is on track to implement the Energy Union project and deliver jobs, growth and investments. Enabling actions are being put in place to support a socially fair clean energy…
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Canola grown in Australia is eligible to enter the EU market as an environmentally-friendly biodiesel feedstock, opening up a potential $1 billion export market for Australian farmers of the crop. The European Commission has confirmed that the Australian canola meets the EU’s strict new feedstock requirements for biodiesel. Stringent EU greenhouse gas reduction targets could have seen the…
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The US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) announced the publication of a report, titled Biofuels and Bioproducts from Wet and Gaseous Waste Streams: Challenges and Opportunities. According to the US department, the report is the first comprehensive assessment of the resource potential and technology opportunities provided by feedstocks, including…
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The Australian state of Queensland is continuing work to protect motorists from confusion at petrol pumps through reforms to legislation governing fuel price boards. Minister for Energy, Biofuels and Water Supply Mark Bailey said the Palaszczuk Government was determined to end the confusion motorists face when filling their cars with petrol. “Following the Fuel Price Summit in 2016, the…
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UK-based gas-to-liquids firm Velocys and US-based ENVIA Energy have produced their first Fischer-Tropsch product at ENVIA’s Oklahoma City plant. The plant deploys a number of Velocys' full-scale commercial Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reactors. These Fischer-Tropsch products are fractionated on site to produce premium wax, diesel and naphtha. The fuels produced at the plant are expected to qualify…
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President Donald Trump has reiterated his support for American ethanol in a letter he sent to attendees of the National Ethanol Conference in San Diego, US. President Trump sent the letter to the conference yesterday (21 February) as he was unable to attend. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen read the letter aloud. “Rest assured that your president and this…
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Kansas-based bioethanol producer Conestoga Energy Holdings has acquired the assets of VicNRG, a Texas-based marketing, distribution and terminal operating company for biodiesel. In a statement, Conestoga said that the purchase will enable Conestoga and VicNRG to better serve the needs of their customers in the energy and agriculture sectors.  “Our acquisition of VicNRG complements our…
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Butamax Advanced Biofuels, a 50/50 joint venture between BP and DuPont, has announced the acquisition of Nesika Energy and its ethanol facility in Scandia, Kansas. Butamax will now start engineering work to add bio-isobutanol capacity to the facility. A cost-effective alternative to isobutanol, bio-isobutanol is derived from renewable feedstocks. It provides an option for developing the renewable…
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Scientists in Brazil have developed a new method for verifying the purity and quality of biodiesel. The pioneering new technique uses nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, according to spectroscopynow.com. Biodiesel and biodiesel blended fuels are increasingly being used around the world in an attempt to cut down dependency on unsustainable fossil fuels in both public and private…
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Raffaello Garofalo, Secretary General of the European Biodiesel Board (EBB), will speak at the tenth Biofuels International Conference, which will take place in Edinburgh, Scotland. Garofalo was appointed Secretary General of the EBB - i.e. the European federation of biodiesel producers - in May 2002. Garofalo is also executive director of the RBO – Register on Biofuels Origination,…
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