The Edo State government has signed a Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) worth N85.5 billion (€380 million), with four investors from the agricultural sector. Keen to expand and develop their agricultural practices, two of the investors are going to specialise in ethanol production, sourced from cassava and sugarcane. At the signing of the MoU last week, Abdul Oroh,... [Read More]

Industry experts anticipate an increase in biofuel demand, after crude oil prices jumped 2% yesterday. As the Ukraine crisis intensifies, palm oil prices are on the rise. Analysts and traders predict there will be an increase in consumer demand for biodiesel despite the soaring cost, as biodiesel and palm oil blends may prove an effective and cheaper alternative. Regardless... [Read More]

Michael L. Fitzgerald, Iowa's State Treasurer, has argued for the Environmental Protection Agency to scrap its proposal to reduce its Renewable Fuel Standard. The proposed rule would reduce the state's volume requirement for ethanol, potentially harming the environment. 'I am urging the EPA to not reduce the ethanol amount in the RFS. Limiting the amount of ethanol produced... [Read More]

By this summer, Missouri drivers may have access to a higher blend of ethanol petrol if the current proposal gets the go ahead. Since October, the Missouri legislative committee have placed a temporary block on a proposed rule that would allow petrol to be sold with a 15% ethanol blend. In order to put a permanent block on the proposal, the legislature must pass a resolution... [Read More]

Sugarcane may address a government biofuel mandate, university researchers at Illinois report. The research team at Plants Engineered to Replace Oil with Sugarcane and Sweet Sorghum (PETROSS) are currently genetically engineering sugarcane, in three prime locations. Ank Michielson, the project’s manager explains that the purpose of this project is to increase the... [Read More]

Michigan State University scientists have created a new technology that improves algae's biofuel properties. The team's environmental photobioreactor (ePBR) – the first of its kind - grows algae, by imitating its complex and natural habitats. To identify which forms of algae produce the most oil when removed from the laboratory-based pond and placed into real-life,... [Read More]

Dreyfus Unit is one of several companies thought to be sending a shipment of US ethanol to Brazil, to aid increase in demand, say several parties with knowledge of the shipment. 3.56 million gallons of ethanol are scheduled to be delivered this week by the tanker Nordisle, stopping at ports Miramar, Itaqui and Suape. Brazil is the world's second-largest producer of ethanol,... [Read More]

The recent free trade agreement between Australia and Korea has strengthened the proposal for a $90 million (€65 million) ethanol plant to be constructed in New South Wales, Australia. Located in a 400km area of Deniliquin, the project is awaiting signature from Korean investors. The plant, which will produce fuel and by-products from grain, will have the capacity... [Read More]

Targray, a North American biofuel supplier, has announced a new inventory location for biodiesel in Bakersfield, California, US. Service for B99 and B100 began in mid-February 2014. Targray will supply biodiesel to its growing customer base in California using the terminal's 24/7 truck rack. 'Targray has been a major supplier of biodiesel by railcar to the California market.... [Read More]

UPM's first fleet tests of renewable diesel have proved that its BioVerno works in cars just as well as any regular diesel, the company has announced. The fleet tests were conducted by the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, starting in May last year and running until early 2014. Tests focused on investigating UPM's renewable diesel in terms of fuel functionality... [Read More]

In New York, US, Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that the State will commit $3 million (€2.19 million) to the Eastman Business Park (EBP) Bioscience Manufacturing Centre in Rochester which will begin construction later this year. The construction of the $25 million, 60,000 ft2 facility will improve equipment for converting non-food plant materials into biofuels... [Read More]

China New Energy has announced that it will not be continuing with its acquisition of BAPP Ethanol Holdings following due diligence findings. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was entered by the bioenergy engineering and technology company to acquire BAPP Ethanol in December last year. At the time, China New Energy said that BAPP will have an indirect 75% interest in... [Read More]

The Chinese government has approved a domestic aviation biofuel for commercial use, with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) awarding Sinopec the first ever certificate of airworthiness for biobased jet fuel. According to the CAAC, the bio jet fuel complies with the CTSO-2C701 standard that applies to civil aviation jet fuel containing synthesised hydrocarbons. The... [Read More]

Aemetis announced earlier this month that its 50 MMgy biodiesel and refined glycerin production facility in Kakinada, India, has been upgraded to produce high-quality distilled biodiesel. The plant was built in 2008 using advanced technology to produce biodiesel and refined glycerin using nonfood byproducts from the edible oil industry as feedstock to supply the biofuel,... [Read More]

Indian firm Rasoya Proteins has outlined a capital expenditure of R400 crore (€47 million) to increase the capacity of its manufacturing units across Maharashtra. As part of these plans, the company has proposed to set up a plant to manufacture ethanol from maize and other agro products in light of increasing demand for green fuels. At present Rasoya Proteins sells... [Read More]

Thomas Biodiesel is to construct a $30 million (€21.8 million) biodiesel plant in Texas, US, after a local council finalised its decision to approve $1.5 million in incentives for the company. Temple City Council approved tax incentives for the 9 million gallon per year plant, which will be the third major energy project to land in the city in the past 15 months. Thomas... [Read More]