News

The US federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and its overreliance on corn ethanol has created additional environmental problems in its 10-year history, claims a recent study by University of Tennessee (UT). The study states that the current US biofuels policy has resulted in unmet targets for cutting air pollution, water contamination, and soil erosion. The authors – Drs. Daniel G. De La…
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In Finland, UPM will start field tests of its wood-based BioVerno diesel fuel in urban buses together with Helsinki Region Transport (HSL) and the VTT Technical Research Centre. The field tests are also supported by the St1 petrol station chain, the auto manufacturer Volvo, and the transportation company Transdev Finland. The new round of tests with UPM BioVerno fuel will start in October and run…
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A researcher at the University of Texas at Austin (UTA) will receive two grants totalling $15 million (€13.2 million) to study a native prairie grass, including how it can become a sustainable source of biofuel. Tom Juenger, a professor of integrative biology, will lead scientists from multiple institutions — including federal agencies, universities, and the HudsonAlpha Institute for…
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In the US, Philadelphia-based bioenergy company SG Preston and IHI E&C – a Houston-based engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) subsidiary of IHI Corporation – have entered into an agreement to develop and construct a series of commercial volume biofuel plants. The plants, to be constructed in Midwest US and Canada, will use commercial scale technologies for the…
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UK-based Sunbird Bioenergy has entered into an agreement with the Republic of Zimbabwe to develop a 120 million litre cassava-to-bioethanol plant in the country.    Announcing the agreement on Friday, biorefineries builder China New Energy (CNE) said it expected to shortly sign a memorandum of understanding with Sunbird, with which it is partnering on projects in Africa. Under the…
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LT Group, owned by the tobacco and airline tycoon Lucio Tan, is set to expand its investment in the renewable energy sector with the opening of a new bioethanol facility in Lian, Philippines. The 30 million litre capacity plant will be a part of LT Group’s Absolut Distillers (ADI) project. The ceremony for the opening of the bioethanol facility is expected to be attended by…
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In California, US, the city of Oakland has started filling up its vehicles with Neste's NEXBTL renewable diesel in order to reduce the emissions of its municipal fleet. Oakland is the first major US city to convert its entire fleet to renewable diesel. The switch from petroleum diesel took place in the beginning of October 2015. Reduced emissions resulting from the use of renewable diesel will…
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DuPont Industrial Biosciences (DuPont) and Quad County Corn Processors (QCCP) have signed a multi-year contract to supply the enzymes that enable QCCP’s Cellerate process in the production of cellulosic biofuel from corn kernel fibre. In 2014, QCCP produced the US’ first cellulosic ethanol gallons and the world's first gallons from corn kernel fibre with a process developed by QCCP…
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The National Council of Energy Policy (CNPE) of the Brazilian government has authorized the sale and voluntary use of biodiesel blends exceeding the mandatory blending percentage. Currently, Brazilian service stations sell diesel with a 7% mandatory biodiesel blend. According to the resolution, captive fleets and public pumps can use and sell biodiesel with blends up to 20%, while rail…
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Governor of California Jerry Brown has signed into law Assembly Bill 1032 (AB1032), which corrects a tax problem with biodiesel and clears the way for a significant increase in the volume of biodiesel blended in the US state. The bill, introduced by Assembly Member Rudy Salas and sponsored by the California Biodiesel Alliance (CBA), amends Section 60501 of the Revenue and Taxation Code by adding…
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A researcher at Washington State University (WSU) has received a three-year $450,000 (appr. €395,000) federal grant to develop computer models for using iron to more efficiently refine bio-oils and make better biofuels. Jean-Sabin McEwen, assistant professor in the Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, will collaborate on the US Department of Energy Office of Basic…
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Clariant, a Swiss specialty chemicals company, expects the Volkswagen diesel engine emissions scandal to give a boost to biofuels. Hariolf Kottmann, CEO of Clariant, says the company is spending €30 million each year to expand it bioethanol-from-straw production capacity and expects its profits from the business to grow over the next four years. ‘And if in a few years we account for…
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Scania has given the green light to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) being used to power its Euro 6 range, provided the fuel used meets technical specification TS15940. Vehicles using HVO – which chemically mimics fossil-fuel-based diesel – can under optimal condition achieve up to a 90% reduction in CO2 emissions. HVO does not affect a vehicle's characteristics or its maintenance…
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IncBio, a Portuguese engineering company specialising in state-of-the-art fully automated industrial ultrasonic biodiesel plants, has completed the refurbishment work on its new headquarters in Maia, Portugal, in a move designed to accommodate growth. The company has moved in stages to the new facility over the course of 2015, whilst construction work was being carried out. The new facility was…
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