News

Funds provided by the National Science Foundation will go towards the assessment of bioenergy projects in both North and South America over the next five years. The $4.81 million (€3.67 million) grant will fund a team of researchers, led by Michigan Tech University professor Kathy Halvorsen, which will visit bioenergy projects in Argentina, Mexico, Brazil and Michigan for the first three…
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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to establish the amount of bio-diesel products required to be included in diesel fuel markets in 2013. EPA’s action sets the 2013 volume at 1.28 billion gallons under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) which established the second phase of the Renewable Fuel Standards programme. EISA specifies a one billion…
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A number of sites across the mid-west of Western Australia and Pilbara areas have been identified as capable of producing large quantities of commercial biofuel from microalgae. University of Western Australia’s assistant professor Bryan Boruff studied over 2,000km of coastline and 170km inland areas on behalf of the university’s School of Earth and Environment. ‘Algal biofuels…
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Biofuels production could be potentially capped in the near future in France following a cabinet meeting this September. Agriculture minister Stephane Le Foll mentioned that France should reconsider its plans to further develop the use of biofuel during the meeting. Le Foll was quoted as saying that France’s targets for incorporating biofuel elements into traditional fuel…
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A new biofuels station selling both biodiesel and E85 has opened in Sacramento, California. The petrol station is owned by Propel Fuels but co-located at a Mak’s Valero station in the downtown area. Local drivers will be treated to $10 (€7) worth of free biofuel to encourage participation and increase brand awareness.  ‘Fleets and families in greater Sacramento have shown us…
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Texas-based advanced biofuels business Terrabon has filed for chapter seven bankruptcy. The company’s operations will cease and a trustee will be appointed to help liquidate its assets for the benefit of creditors. The reason behind the bankruptcy, according to a statement from Terrabon, was the lack of forthcoming additional corporate funding to finish development of its first…
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The first production run at a new biofuels plant in Florida, US is being hailed as a ‘success’. Officials at the LS9 facility in Okeechobee say the production run produced several tonnes of fatty alcohol with ‘excellent replication of technical metrics’. ‘We are pleased that our very first run at 135,000 litre scale went so well. It is a direct reflection of the…
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Biofuels consultancy AdvanceBio Systems has announced its SuPR2G reactor has been chosen for a pre-treatment research project by the Brazilian Bioethanol Science and Technology Laboratory. The project will focus on the production of biofuels, fermentable sugars and chemicals from lignocelluloses rich biomass feedstocks, with both parties focusing mainly on both pre-treatment research and other…
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US-based Patriot Bioenergy (PB) has announced plans for the construction of an ethanol plant in Whitley County, Kentucky. PB is already growing beet feedstock in Whitley and Adair counties as a base for its ethanol production, moving away from corn which is no longer subsidised by the US government. ‘What we have been doing over the last eighteen months is looking at the viability of using…
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New Zealand-based natural energy provider Solid Energy (SE) is weighing up proposals that may see the sale of its biodiesel division. The state-owned business has mooted the potential sale or even closure of subsidiaries Biodiesel New Zealand (BNZ) and wood pellet company Nature’s Flame. This all comes as part of a major restructuring of SE amid claims neither of the renewable businesses…
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Fuel brand BP Biofuels has signed a three year agreement to work alongside Texas AgriLife Research (TAR) in developing feedstocks in the US Gulf coast. The team at TAR will focus on production agronomics and plant breeding, while also concentrating on researching new varieties of energy cane, napiergrass, pearl-millet, miscane and kinggrass. ‘The goal is to develop a pipeline of genetics…
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US-based biofuels development company Infinite Enzymes (IE) has received a Small Business Innovation Research (SIBR) Phase Two grant. The $450,000 (€356,450) grant is IE’s second investment via SIBR and will be used to further IE’s enzyme development technology. IE develops natural enzymes that can be used to convert plant byproducts into biofuels and other uses. ‘Our…
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Switzerland-based chemicals group Clariant has entered into a partnership agreement with Emerald Technology Ventures. Clariant will work with Emerald in order to identify opportunities to invest in, or cooperate with, technology companies active in the area of cleantech advances like new catalysts to improve process efficiency, advanced materials for the reduction of energy consumption, materials…
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The first truckload of biodiesel was collected from Renewable energy Group’s (REG) new biodiesel location in California, US this month. The product was picked up by regional distributor Whole Energy, which has locations in California, Washington and Oregon, following an agreement between REG and terminal owners Maxum Petroleum. ‘Our terminal agreement with Maxum expands the…
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