News

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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Renewable fuels company Velocys has entered into a partnership to prepare the business case for a commercial scale waste-to-renewable-jet fuel plant in the UK. Velocys will lead the initial feasibility stage of the project, with funding support from all members of the partnership. Subject to successful completion of the feasibility stage and all the required development stages, the aim is to…
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The US National Biodiesel Board (NBB) has formally called for higher volumes of advanced biofuels and biomass based diesel in the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard RFS for 2018 and 2019. “NBB is extremely concerned with the proposed rule’s unprecedented cut to the advanced biofuel volume and freeze in the biomass-based diesel…
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With the price for crude oil at less than $50 a barrel, Iowa State University’s National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centre for Biorenewable Chemicals (CBiRC) is proposing a new model for creating, applying and commercialising chemicals made from corn stalks, wood chips and other sources of biomass. The researcher’s new model, based on nine years of research, calls for…
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The president and CEO of Edeniq, Brian Thome, has submitted written comments to the US Environmental Protection Agency on its proposed rule to set the 2018 cellulosic renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard. Thome urges the EPA to ensure that final 2018 cellulosic RVOs are set based on forward-looking methodology that considers increasing cellulosic ethanol…
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A 20% tax on imported ethanol has taken effect in Brazil, according to Reuters. The rules, which see the 20% penalty applied to volumes above a tax-free quota, came into force on 1 September. Reuters reports that Brazil’s foreign trade chamber Camex has issued an official written resolution which states that the new rules will be valid for two years. Brazil’s government has never…
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