News

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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US ethanol trade body Growth Energy  has announced that in just five months, American drivers have surpassed another billion miles on E15, bringing the total miles driven across the US to 2 billion. This comes on the heels of Growth Energy’s recent announcement that more than 1,000 stations across the country are currently offering E15 to consumers. “This latest…
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Advanced Biofuels USA has made a new appointment to its board of directors. Chris Tindal, former director for Operational Energy working for the deputy assistant secretary for the Navy for Energy, has joined the nonprofit’s board. Frederick, Maryland based Advanced Biofuels USA is an educational organisation dedicated to the understanding, development and use of advanced biofuels. "Chris…
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Scientists in Japan claim to have developed a solution to a problem that has long plagued the creation of second generation biofuels from non-food biomass like weeds, waste, and paper. The solvents needed for the creation of second generation biofuels tend to be highly toxic to microorganisms, necessitating complex process such as washing with water, separation by centrifugation and compression…
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Finnish renewable diesel producer Neste has signed an agreement with Electrawinds ReFuel on the acquisition of a former biodiesel plant in Sluiskil in the Netherlands. Neste intends to use the Sluiskil plant for the storage and pre-treatment of renewable raw materials for the company's renewable diesel refineries. "By acquiring the Sluiskil plant, we enable expanding our raw material base…
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Velocys, a UK-based gas-to-liquids (GTL) company, that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) establishing a strategic alliance with Morimatsu Jiangsu Heavy Industry, a subsidiary of Morimatsu Industry Co. The AIM-traded firm said Morimatsu will be its preferred supplier of module engineering and fabrication services for its plants. It said the agreement will drive down costs for…
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The global biodiesel market is projected to reach a total worth of $41.18 billion (€38.45bn) by 2021, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 3.8%. A new study by RnR Market Research states biodiesel’s non-toxic and environmentally friendly properties, along with its greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, will increase its demand in automotive, power generation, marine, railway,…
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Coffee chain Caffè Nero has unveiled plans to recycle coffee grounds from 122 of its London stores to make coffee logs, which can be used in boilers and woodburners. The scheme, which was formally announced late last week but which has been running since July 2016, sees recycling specialists First Mile pick up coffee waste from Caffè Nero stores and take it directly to coffee…
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Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has said that he has been assured President Donald Trump’s administration will support producers of ethanol and biodiesel fuels, according to media reports. According to the Des Moines Reporter, Branstad was aware of reports to change the point of obligation in relation to the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). "I know the rumors and I can tell you who was…
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US officials have confirmed that biodiesel has been spilled into the Columbia River, based in the state of Washington, Wenatchee.  According to the Associated Press (AP), tests revealed evidence of a spill. The Department of Ecology said that investigators can now narrow their search for the source of the spill. The oil sheen stretched about a mile-long and 20-feet wide over the weekend…
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A protein used by common soil bacteria is providing new clues in the effort to convert aryl compounds, a common waste product from industrial and agricultural practices, into something of value. Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and Sandia National Laboratories working at the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) have resolved the…
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A new biodiesel tax credit bill has been introduced to the US Senate. The bill would extend the clean-fuel tax credit incentive for US producers of bio-fuels by three years. Supported by 16 senators, the bill’s lead sponsor is Iowa senator Chuck Grassley. Iowa is the US' biggest bio-diesel producer, and the industry supports around 4,000 jobs in the state, generating more than $300 million…
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Denmark-based biotechnology company Novozymes has announced a $36m (€32m) expansion of its enzyme manufacturing plant in Blair, Nebraska. The company said that this investment will increase the plant’s capacity to meet growing needs within the bioscience industry and global biofuels market. Novozymes’ expansion efforts support the company’s long-term commitment to the…
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US advanced biofuels producer Renewable Energy Group (REG) has hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the company’s operations centre in Amsterdam. The team in Amsterdam will support the company’s international operations and work closely with the operations center in Ames, Iowa.  REG utilises an integrated procurement, distribution, and logistics network to…
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