News

In the US, ethanol producer Poet has been offered a conditional commitment for a $105 million (€75 million) loan guarantee from the US Department of Energy (DoE). If finalised, the loan will go towards building a biofuel production plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa, that will convert corncobs, leaves, husks and stalks into 25 million gallons a year of cellulosic ethanol. 'This project will help…
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'Brazil ended trade-distorting subsidies for ethanol more than a decade ago and eliminated its ethanol tariff early last year. We are pleased that this agreement would have the United States do the same. As the world's top producers of ethanol, the US and Brazil should lead by example in creating a free market for clean, renewable energy.' This is a statement released by the Brazilian Sugarcane…
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In the US, biofuels company Sundrop Fuels and Chesapeake NG Ventures (CNGV), a wholly owned subsidiary of Chesapeake Energy, have struck a deal that will see Sundrop break ground on a commercial demonstration facility to produce bio-based transport fuel from cellulosic materials. The deal, which closed on 11 July 2011, will see CNGV invest $155 million (€110 million) in Sundrop. Current…
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Renewable Energy Group (REG), the largest biodiesel producer in the US, has finalised the acquisition of the majority of SoyMor Biodiesel's Albert Lea, Minnesota assets. The assets include the company's biodiesel plant and the soya lecithin facility assets of SoyMor Cooperative in exchange for common stock and the assumption of certain liabilities. The biodiesel plant has been out of service…
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Germany-based bioethanol producer CropEnergies has released its first quarter results for the 2011/12 financial year. Revenues for Q1 reached €132.1 million – a 41% increase on the previous year's €93.5 million in revenues. The operating profit also increased, from €2.4 million to €15.3 million. The production of bioethanol increased by 14% in Q1 2011/12 to 157,000m3,…
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Virgin Australia, Richard Branson’s airline, is to fuel its planes with biofuel derived from gum trees. In the first project of its kind in the world, the airline has partnered with the Renewable Oil Corporation, Dynamotive Energy Systems Corporation (DYMTF) and Future Farm Industries Co-operative Research Centre (FFI CRC), to process eucalyptus trees into fuel in a Western Australian-based…
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In the US, Western Wisconsin Energy's board of directors has decided to sell the biofuel plant. The company was set up in 2003 and in 2006 finished building its 40 million gallon a year ethanol plant. Today, the Western Wisconsin Energy plant can produce 55 million gallons of ethanol a year. Tours of the plant will be taking place between 1 August and 12 August. Ascendant Financial Partners has…
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In the south-central region of Brazil, the total sugarcane crush has fallen to 533.5 million tonnes – a drop of 4.21% compared to the 2010/11 end of season harvest. According to the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA), the major factors which led to the decrease in sugarcane crush were the increased age at which sugarcane fields are now expected to produce yields, coupled with…
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Algae.Tec, an Australia-headquartered biofuels company, has signed a deal to partner with Australian ethanol producer Manildra. The collaboration will see Algae.Tec construct its demo-scale plant Shoalhaven One in Nowra, New South Wales. 'Algae.Tec is one of only a few advances biofuels companies globally with technology designed to grow algae on an industrial scale and produce valuable biofuels…
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In the US, Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) and Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) will partner for the cultivation of energy crops. Between them, DTW and another airport operated by the Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA), Willow Run, have around 1,700 acres of land suitable for growing energy crops. MSUE is currently growing canola and oriental mustard seed on 3 acres of WCAA land. These…
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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released new specifications for a label that will be displayed at all fuel pumps dispensing petrol blended with 15% ethanol (E15). The new orange and black label will include information about which vehicles can use E15. It will also discourage the use of E15 in cars manufactured before 2011, motorbikes and boats, as well as in petrol-powered tools…
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Between 2005 and 2015 the worldwide market value of biodiesel is expected to increase by 26%, reaching $62 million (€43.3 million) in 2015. This is according to a report released from market research reports database companiesandmarkets.com. In 2009, a total of 14.7 billion gallons of biodiesel were produced. The report, entitled Biodiesel and Feedstocks: A Global Market Outlook, predicts…
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A revised version of the ASTM D7566-11, Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing Synthesized Hydrocarbons, was approved on 1 July 2011. The new specification means that up to 50% renewable fuels can now be blended with traditional fossil jet fuel. These renewable fuel components are derived from vegetable oil-containing feedstocks, including algae, camelina and jatropha, or tallow. The…
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