News

Scania will provide ‘clean’ buses to 20 major cities in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Australia, and has called for more investment in cleaner fuels.   The ‘soot-free’ buses are designed to address the issue of black carbon – fine particulate matter (PM2.5) outdoor air pollution which has been linked to a series of adverse health effects and even death. Recent…
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Brazilian sugar and ethanol producer Abengoa Bioenergia Brasil has filed for bankruptcy protection, according to Bloomberg. This follows on from the country’s economic crisis and slump in commodity prices, according to the news agency. The company, a unit of Spain’s Abengoa SA, requested judicial protection in a court in Santa Cruz das Palmeiras municipality, Sao Paulo state,…
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The European Biodiesel Board (EBB) is preparing to launch an anti-subsidy case against Argentinean biodiesel imports, following the recent decision by the European Union to substantially lower anti-dumping duties for the country. According to a statement, the move comes in response to EBB’s growing concerns about the impact the reduction in anti-dumping duties is having on the EU biodiesel…
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China is planning to extend its use of bioethanol as it seeks to intensify its anti-pollution efforts. China plans to use an ethanol gasoline blend across the country by 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission and National Energy Administration (NEA) said on 13 September, 2017. “The plan was unveiled as the country is pushing the use of biofuel, which is renewable, applicable,…
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A Boeing 747 could fly for ten hours on biojet fuel produced on 54 acres of specially engineered sugarcane, according to research from the University of Illinois. The same aircraft would burn one gallon of conventional jet fuel each second. Plants Engineered to Replace Oil in Sugarcane and Sweet Sorghum (PETROSS), funded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E), has developed sugarcane…
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The governor of New York has signed a bill to increase the use of biodiesel in domestic heating oil. In a statement, trade body National Biodiesel Board said this “Bioheat” fuel will help New Yorkers to benefit from cleaner air. The legislation was signed by New York governor Andrew Cuomo and requires Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties to follow New York City’s lead by…
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A new computational method to rapidly screen the effects of point mutations in bacteria has the potential to make biofuel production more efficient. The conversion of fibrous plant waste such as corn stalks and wood shavings into fermentable simple sugars is a basic requirement of biofuel production, but the process is far from simple. Bacteria must break down tough leaves, stems and other…
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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 Biofuels International Conference, which takes place in Edinburgh, Scotland, has the most impressive speaker line-up and agenda to date – all designed to bring the industry together. The event, which takes place from 4-5th October,  brings together biodiesel and ethanol producers (both first and second generation), advanced technology providers, plant contractors, oil majors,…
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UK bioethanol producer Vivergo Fuels has cautiously welcomed the government’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RFTO) proposal. 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…
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Clariant, a developer of specialty chemicals, and Enviral, Slovakia’s largest bioethanol producer, have announced a license agreement on sunliquid cellulosic ethanol technology. The move will see one of Europe’s first advanced biofuel plants built at the Enviral site in Leopoldov. Enviral will use Clariant’s sunliquid technology to help construct a full-scale commercial plant…
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Enerkem has announced that commercial production of cellulosic ethanol has started at its facility in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. According to a statement from the company, it is the first commerical scale plant in the world to produce cellulosic ethanol from non-recyclable, non-compostable mixed municipal waste. “The commercial production of cellulosic ethanol at our facility in Edmonton…
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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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