
Jan 4, 2010
A smoking new feedstock
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Jan 4, 2010
In the US bankruptcy forced Mid-America Agri Products to auction its 44 million gallon a year ethanol plant in south-central Nebraska, with a finalised sale on 30 December.
Nebraska Corn Processing bought the plant for more than $30 million (€20.8 million) in a bankruptcy auction.
Mid-America Agri Products filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last Q3, several... [Read More]
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Jan 4, 2010
Struggling Swiss biodiesel producer Biopetrol has received a helping hand from fellow national commodities trader Glencore.
The trader has taken a majority stake in Biopetrol Industries, which underwent financial restructuring earlier this year.
‘The changes in market conditions in the biofuels industry have made it necessary to achieve further economies of scale and... [Read More]
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Jan 4, 2010
Houston, Texas-based Renewable Biofuels has idled its 180 million gallon a year biodiesel fuel plant in Port Neches, just a year after it opened.
The company says the decision became unavoidable after Congress failed to renew a tax credit of $1 (€0.69) per gallon for the alternative fuel on 31 December.
The credit gave a dollar to refiners for every gallon of biodiesel... [Read More]
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Dec 31, 2009
Upson County in Georgia, US, will be home to a new biorefinery demonstration plant as a result of the partnership between Diamond Alternative Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Valero Energy, and consulting firm American Process (API).
The opening of the new facility, expected around the first quarter of 2010, represents the creation of 25-30 jobs in Thomaston and... [Read More]
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Dec 30, 2009
France’s government-funded technological research organisation CEA – Atomic Energy Commission, now renamed the Atomic and Alternative Energy Commission – is launching a biomass to liquids (BTL) project in north-east France.
The Bure Saudron pilot will demonstrate a complete BTL production chain, which involves gathering and conditioning of biomass, gasification,... [Read More]
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Dec 30, 2009
The Indian government has given its consent to the National Policy on Biofuels, a move which will open doors to greater funding in the green fuel sector.
There will be a commissioning of National Biofuel Fund and a Biofuel Coordination Committee headed by the Prime Minister.
India wants to cut its dependence on hydrocarbon and coal, 70% of which is derived from imports.... [Read More]
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Dec 29, 2009
In Brazil Petrobras’ biofuels arm Petrobras Biocombustivel has acquired a 40.4% stake in Total Agroindustria Canavieira.
The $84 million (€58 million) move enables Petrobras Biocombustivel, originally a biodiesel producer, to enter the ethanol business.
Total runs an ethanol mill in the city of Bambui, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, with total capacity of... [Read More]
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Dec 29, 2009
In Argentina, Ledesma has announced it will invest $37 million (€25.8 million) to produce ethanol from sugarcane.
The sum will enhance sugarcane cultivation, expand a distillery, and install a dehydrator to produce ethanol for the Argentine market.
The initiative is part of the $222 million investment package planned by the agro-industrial complex for 2008-2011.... [Read More]
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Dec 29, 2009
In Japan an affiliate of Toyota Motor corporation will grow jatropha to use its oil as an alternative fuel in 2010.
Toyota Tsusho is in negotiations with a Philippine banana plantation to introduce the non-edible feedstock. Toyota Tsusho bought a stake in Singapore-based seed researcher JOIL(S) this year to develop a better plant after erratic yields prompted BP and rivals... [Read More]
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Dec 29, 2009
Korea will raise its biodiesel blend levels in 2010.
The proportion of plant and animal oil mixed with diesel will be raised to 2% from the current 1.5%.
The government will also waive the oil tax of 529 won (€0.31) per litre for diesel fuel next year due to the rise in biomass content.
Korea was the first Asian country to mix biodiesel with common diesel in July... [Read More]
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Dec 23, 2009
Sugarcane ethanol powerhouse Brazil might just have a whole new market to sweeten up. The South American nation is likely to take advantage of China’s agreement to lower the tariff on imports of ethanol to 5% from the previous 30%.
The Finance Ministry announced the new import tax for alcohol and other spirits denatured of any strength will be effective from 1 January... [Read More]
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Dec 22, 2009
The deal was done less than a month ago and now the plant Zenergy International acquired from Greenlight Biofuels is due to undergo expansion.
Capacity will double from 5 to 10 million gallons a year with Zenergy investing in an additional biofuel reactor with the potential to double profit.
The Littlefield, Texas, plant is situated on 40 acres of productive land and... [Read More]
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Dec 22, 2009
Pigs might not fly, but chickens could.
Illinois, US-based Elevance Renewable Sciences plans to build a $15 million (€10.5 million) that will use plant oils and poultry fat to create jet fuel.
The project, funded in part by $2.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy, could get the final go-ahead by late January.
Construction of the plant would create up to 50... [Read More]
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Dec 22, 2009
Canada’s forest industry has been hit hard by the recession. Now increasing efforts could resurrect the industry as it branches out to renewable energy.
Dimethyl ether, or DME is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide that can be produced from biomass, natural gas or coal.
DME has the potential to replace diesel fuel because it produces 95% fewer greenhouse gases,... [Read More]
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Dec 22, 2009
In the UK, Scottish Water Horizons, the commercial arm of Scottish Water, has received an anaerobic digestion tank that will turn food waste into energy at its Deerdykes Organics Recycling facility in Cumbernauld.
From Q2 next year, the £7 million (€7.83 million) food recycling unit will turn 30,000 tonnes of solid and liquid food waste into around 8,000 megawatts... [Read More]
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Dec 18, 2009
The Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, has approved a project proposal put forward by Pond Biofuels that includes funding for its biomass from algae demonstration plant.
The proposal was submitted under the Asia-Pacific Partnership (APP) on Clean Development and Climate programme.
Along with the biomass plant in Ontario, Canada, the project also includes a feasibility... [Read More]