News

Officials in Lawrenceville, Georgia, US, are considering a proposal to build three ethanol storage tanks at a railway property near the area. The manpower currently required in the process of transferring ethanol shipments from trains to tanker trucks could be lessened by constructing storage tanks. Lawrenceville has been a key part of transportation of ethanol across Georgia for the past three…
Read More »

Indonesia's Pertamina is set to offer a third tender to buy palm oil for biodiesel blending, before the end of April. In August 2013, the world’s biggest producer of palm oil introduced a new regulation, targeting the increased burning of palm-based biodiesel. The move indicates the nation’s desire to up its alternative fuel usage, while cutting its oil import bill in the…
Read More »

A team of researchers have published the first study to focus on multiple genes that control steps in the pathway for seed oil production in oilseed crops. The researchers from Rothamsted Research have found that 'stacking' the right combination of genes can have an additive effect on seed oil content and oil yield. The research was carried out using the model oilseed plant Arabidopsis thaliana,…
Read More »

CHS, an ethanol marketer, has signed an agreement to acquire Sinav's Illinois River Energy ethanol plant at Rochelle, Illinois. The plant, which has a capacity of 133 million gallons per year, began operations in 2006. Sinav first acquired the plant in January 2012 when it bought GTL Resources. After making a number of improvements, it put the facility up for sale in January last year. The…
Read More »

By 2030, young mallee trees could create an aviation grade bio kerosene. Airline operations from Perth could see its flights fuelled up to 100% with the aviation grade bio kerosene, according to a report by the Future Farm Industries Cooperative Centre (CRC). The mallee jet fuel sustainability and life-cycle assessment study provides evidence to support continued R&D on mallee production -…
Read More »

A research project, initiated at Qatar university (QU), is looking at the use of biofuels sourced from indigenous natural resources. QU vice-president for research Dr Hassan al-Derham hopes that the project, led by Qatar Biofuel project manager Hareb al-Jabri, contributes toward attaining the Qatar National Vision 2030. The project aims to produce clean and environmentally-friendly alternative…
Read More »

In mid-June, ethanol production climbed to record high levels, largely as a result of the recent corn market instability. Throughout the late spring and early summer, ethanol plants embraced lower corn prices and healthy profit margins, which led to a production hike. June's developments suggest there is a surplus supply of ethanol and has the industry worried. The industry is unsure as to how…
Read More »

Tank Storage Asia, taking place on 24-25 September at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, boasts its strongest ever conference line up. Over 20 leading authorities in the bulk liquid storage sector will discuss the region's critical issues - everything from changing trade flows and the shale boom to the storage market in China and the growth of the Asian biofuels market. In a major show coup, Jack…
Read More »

The White House is evaluating a mandate sent by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), outlining planned quotas for renewable fuels. These are confidential at present, as the Office of Management and Budget carries out a final interagency review, offering biofuels producers, refiners and gives refiners, biofuel producers and other shareholders a final chance to comment on the mandates. Agency…
Read More »

Germany's biofuel consumption was 2.9 million tonnes in the year to October, a drop of 8.9% compared with the first 10 months in 2012, reports the country's economics agency BAFA. Despite a 0.5% increase in total road fuel consumption, bringing the total to 43.75 million tonnes and blending rates dropping for all biofuel types, the overall consumption still fell. There was however a 9.5% increase…
Read More »

US-based renewable fuels producer BlueFire Renewables has finalised and signed a new master engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for its cellulosic ethanol plant in Fulton, Mississippi. The contract is with China International Water and Electric, a subsidiary of renewable energy company China Three Gorges (CTG). 'The master EPC structure will utilise a US-based EPC contractor…
Read More »

North Carolina State University (NCSU) scientists are using biotechnology to overcome obstacles to producing biofuels from woody plants and grasses instead of the corn and sugarcane used to make ethanol. Lead author Quanzi Li says the biggest hurdle to producing more sustainable and economical biofuels comes from stubborn plant cell walls that resist being broken down into biofuel ingredients.…
Read More »

Big River Resources is teaming up with Prairie Gold to build a new facility that extracts corn protein. The duo, who joined forces last year, will construct a new ethanol facility in Galva, Illinois, using technology to extract zein from corn. The Illinois-based facility is expected to be completed in May, with production up and running in July. With ethanol plants in West Burlington and…
Read More »

The Public Utility Commission (PUC) in Hawaii has turned down a second attempt by a local biodiesel producer to supply product to a power plant. Honolulu-based Aina Koa Pono reportedly wants approval to sell around 16 million gallons of biofuel a year to Hawaii Electric Light on a 20 year contract via a proposed new $450 million (€330 million) facility. But the PUC ruled at the end of 2013…
Read More »