News

A team of chemists are investigating the potential improvements genetic mutations in plants could make to the conversion of cellulosic biomass to biofuels. The study is being led by Seth DeBolt, an associate professor of horticulture at the University of Kentucky in Lexington and was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy. DeBolt assembled…
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Shell has built a drop-in biofuels pilot plant in Texas, based on Virent's bioforming technology. Shell invested in Virent in June 2010, aiding the opening of the Virent 'Eagle' demonstration plant, producing 10,000 gallons per year of the drop-in renewable fuel, biogasoline. The biofuels pilot plant has been constructed at Shell's Westhollow Technology Center in Houston, USA, and will…
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China Petroleum & Chemical, also known as Sinopec, has applied to China's aviation regulator with the aim to produce aviation biofuel commercially. China is reportedly expected to use 12 million metric tons of aviation biofuel a year by 2020. This will equal about 30% of projected total jet fuel consumption, which in itself is predicted to double to 40 million metric tons a…
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New research at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory could see Tobacco become the new biofuel. A team at Berkeley is aiming to use microbial fermentation to convert the hydrocarbon molecules from tobacco directly into a fuel. 'We want to bypass downstream processes like fermentation and produce fuels directly in the crop,' says Christer Jansson, a biochemist at Berkeley. 'After the biomass…
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The Australian Government has awarded a $5 million (€4 million) grant to James Cook University, funding the development of Australia's first freshwater and marine macro-algae to biofuels project. Not only this, but a new $15 million (12 million) Advanced Biofuels Investment Readiness (ABIR) Program has been created. ABIR Program is designed to support the investment case of scalable,…
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The Brazilian federal government is developing a strategic plan to increase sugarcane output during the 2012-2015 period, for use as ethanol fuel. The aim of the strategy is to solidify ethanol's role as the leading fuel for Brazil's fleet of light vehicles. It would see the proportion of anhydrous ethanol to gasoline rise to 25%. Furthermore, the percentage of light vehicles using hydrated…
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The US Energy Department is planning to invest $14 million (€10.41 million) in the process of making transportation fuels out of algae. 'We could replace up to 17% of the oil we import for transportation with this fuel that we can grow right here in the United States,' says President Barack Obama. The Energy Department is reportedly backing approximately $85 million (63.12 million) for more…
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Renewable fuels and chemicals company, US-based Amyris, has completed a $58.7 million (€44 million) private placement of its common stock. The company has also entered into a definitive agreement to privately place $25 million in aggregate principal amount of 3% senior unsecured note due 2017. The placement of notes is subject to customary closing conditions and expected to be completed by…
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Cool Planet BioFuels has announced a breakthrough in converting biomass to petrol. A 4,000 gallons per acre biomass to petrol conversion was achieved in pilot testing using the giant miscanthus, an advanced bioenergy crop developed at the University of Mississippi. With petrol boasting approximately 150% higher energy levels than ethanol, achieving nearly 12 times more yield than existing corn…
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Renewable Energy Group (REG) has announced its financial results for the 2011 fourth quarter and full-year. The company achieved record 2011 Adjusted EBITDA (for the year) of $107 million and record revenues (for the year) of $824 million, compared to $8 million and $216 million, respectively, in 2010. Furthermore, the 2011 fourth quarter saw an increase of 126% to the number of gallons…
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A planned 2 billion rand (€196 million) is to be invested by South Africa in the construction of an ethanol plant located in the Eastern Cape province. About 60% of South Africa's fuel is currently imported. Furthermore, due to 4 of its 6 oil refineries recently shutting down, the country has been experiencing fuel shortages. The government-funded plant would help develop South…
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Locally manufactured, fuel grade ethanol from Chisumbanje, is causing Zimbabwean fuel prices to decrease. This price drop sits somewhat out of sink with other countries in the region that have seen increased prices as a result of global market developments. A litre of blended fuel ranges from $1.32 (€0.1) - $1.36 (1.03), and unleaded petrol has dropped from $1.44 (1.09) per litre to…
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LanzaTech has bought a failing ethanol plant in Soperton, middle Georgia, with plans in motion to breathe new life into the 280-acre industrial site. After buying the plant for $5.1 million (€3.85 million) at a foreclosure sale, LanzaTech has subsequently met with suppliers and state officials, pushing forward with plans to resume ethanol production. The company intends to re-hire employees…
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The Environmental Protection Agency has approved the voluntary use of E15 in all autos and light trucks built since 2001, equalling over 70% of US on-road vehicles. An evaluation of E15's health effects as part of Growth Energy's three-year petition to approve sales of the mid-level ethanol blend has been issued and whilst the EPA must approve individual fuel blends, Tom Buis of Growth…
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