News

As with many countries reduced demand for diesel in the past few months has had an impact on the sector in the Czech Republic. And added to this future blend rates are not yet set. Total production capacity in the Czech Republic is about 300,000 tonnes a year but use is only around 40%. The government proposal which has been sent to the Czech Parliament suggests a change to the Air Protection…
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The German biogas market accounted for nearly 70% of the global/European total in 2009. Estimates put its worth at $1 billion (€735 million). The German market fell 80% in 2008, however, pushed by the close succession of the global financial crisis, rising energy crops prices, and the revision of the German Renewable Energy law (EEG). New analysis from Frost & Sullivan finds that despite…
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Biomass-based cogeneration plants are springing up in Punjab, India. Sukhbir Agro Energy is planning to set up two paddy processing and co-generation power plants in Ferozepur and Mansa districts of Punjab with capital outlay of Rs 250 crore (€4 million) under a project scheme of the Punjab government. The project in Ferozepur envisages setting up of 80 tonnes per hour (TPH) rice mill,…
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European mid-market investment specialist BLM Partners has invested €10 million in biogas and bioelectricity producer agri.capital. agri.capital based in Munster, Germany is one of Europe’s largest biogas producers, operating 49 sites with an installed generation capacity of 36MW. Germany is Europe’s largest producer of biogas. Biogas is produced in a microbial degradation process…
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The European Commission is taking an active role in steering member states on to the right path for renewables. It has worked with key industry associations and producers, many of which say they will produce surplus biofuels and bioenergy than mandated. By 2020 the European Union must source 20% of its total energy (including heat, power and transport) from renewable sources. This target was set…
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Hawaii-based ClearFuels Technology will build a biorefinery in Wayne County, Tennessee, US. The $200 million (€148.3 million) biorefinery will turn sawdust, wood shavings and wood chips into diesel or jet fuel. The refinery would employ 50 people and be built at lumber supplier Hughes Hardwoods’ facility in Collinwood. Construction is scheduled to begin near the end of 2011 with operations…
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Europe’s largest wheat to ethanol refinery has shipped its first renewable fuel product. Tanker Clipper Nelly left independent terminal operator Vopak’s North Tees, UK, terminal loaded with Ensus ethanol and headed for Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Ensus’ £300 million (€332 million) plant at Wilton went into production last month, making the green road fuel, valuable animal feed and…
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Brazil state-run oil company Petrobras has begun work on raising capacity at its Candeias biodiesel plant. Petrobras aims to double capacity to 217.2 million litres a year from its current capacity of 108.6 million litres. The Candeias plant is located alongside a Petrobras refinery near Salvador, Bahia State in northeast Brazil. Candeias is sited on Todos Os Santos Bay and benefits from…
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In Wales, UK, Elin Jones, rural affairs minister, has revealed a multi-million pound scheme, called the Wood Energy Business Scheme 2, which could see Wales sitting at the top of wood-to-energy production in Britain. The scheme is managed by Forestry Commission Wales on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government, and will provide £7.8 million (€8.6 million) in European funding. This financial…
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A pilot biogas project in Narahenpita, Sri Lanka, has begun. Due to the high number of complaints about garbage collection received by CMC, the mediation of Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority aims to reduce this problem by instigating a biogas production project at the place where biomass is plentiful. The recyclable waste can be separated on the site itself and has therefore been chosen…
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It has long depended on neighbour Russia for its natural gas and oil imports, but now Ukraine is building up renewable energy sources of its own. Richard Spinks, previous CEO of agricultural company Landkom International, has set up a new company, Alternativa (IOM) and now plans to develop various biofuels projects in the Ukraine, Russia and Canada. According to a report, Alternativa (IOM) and…
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In Georgia, US, American Process Inc (API) has unveiled its cellulosic ethanol pilot plant. A joint venture between ethanol producer Valero and API, the plant will produce cellulosic ethanol from wood biomass and will be the foundation for eventual expansion to a commercial scale plant co-located with a pulp and paper mill. According to API, it might license its technology for…
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The Renewable Fuel Pipeline Act of 2010 is being brought back under US congressman Leonard Boswell. The reintroduced act has been restructured in order to help it pass through the committee and reach consideration. According to Boswell, ‘The Renewable Fuel Pipeline Act is an important piece of legislation to Iowa’s local communities and economies that have come to rely on the biofuels…
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