News

Indonesia and South Korea have agreed to develop a seaweed-based biofuel in an attempt to encourage green energy in the two countries. The use of seaweed is gaining support from environmentalists who have criticised the use of land-based raw materials such as palm oil, maize and sugarcane as causing deforestation across Indonesia's tropical forests. Indonesia's vast sea territory and…
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Praj Industries’ cellulosic ethanol pilot plant at Praj Matrix in India has successfully demonstrated production of ethanol from corn cobs and sugarcane bagasse under varying operating conditions. A new laboratory facility at Praj Matrix, the company’s research and development centre in Pune, India, began working on the company’s process in April 2008. The Praj team of scientists and…
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According to The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the UK produces more than 100 million tonnes of organic material per year that could be used to produce biogas. Around 90 million tonnes of this material comes from manure and slurry. Defra is launching a task force to help farmers and the water industry meet goals to produce energy from anaerobic digestion, which…
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Solid Energy’s subsidiary Biodiesel New Zealand is proceeding with its development plans, increasing capacity at its existing Christchurch facility to 4 million litres a year, but reconsidering stage two of its plans. In recognition of the economic conditions, the company is reviewing its next planned step to 15 million litres a year. During 2009 Biodiesel New Zealand will complete the first…
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Switzerland-headquartered biodiesel producer Biopetrol has announced a major corporate restructuring, but will continue output at both its major German biodiesel plants on a short-time working basis. The short-time basis is being prepared at its 200,000 tonne capacity biodiesel plant in Rostock alongside its previously announced short-time working basis for the 150,000 tonne plant in…
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Energy company BP and cellulosic ethanol developer Verenium have announced the formation of a 50-50 joint venture to develop and commercialise cellulosic ethanol from non-food feedstocks. The companies have agreed to commit $45 million (€35.7 million) in funding and assets to the joint venture company. The joint venture company will initially focus on developing and securing financing for a…
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Denmark-based renewable energy company BioGasol has received €10.4 million to help finance its 5 million litre (1.3 mgy) BornBioFuel cellulosic ethanol demonstration plant project in Bornholm, Denmark. The sum was awarded by the Danish Energy Agency’s Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Program. BioGasol received €3.6 million from the agency in December 2007 for the €35…
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Northumberland, UK-based biodiesel producer V-Fuels has entered administration owing to a combination of events borne from poor market conditions. ‘It doesn’t mean that as a site and as a business we are a dead duck. We are hoping that the business will be able to move forward, whether as V-Fuels or as another entity,’ V-Fuels site director John Moller comments. The plant, which is…
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UK-based Bentley Motors, one of the latest vehicle manufacturers to announce it is developing bioethanol-powered versions of its cars, is to give the keynote presentation at this year’s Biofuels International expo & conference. The two day conference and exhibition will be held on the 27-28 May at the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam. The event aims to bring together medium-to-large…
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An early morning fire at Hardin County Fuel in Texas, US, caused an estimated $300,000 (€234,000) in equipment and building damage and has halted biofuels production. Nearly all of the facility’s operating equipment was destroyed, along with the building it was being housed in on Friday 20 February. Fuel being stored on the property was not damaged. Biofuel contains no explosive agents.…
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The European Commission (EC) plans to propose anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on imports of biodiesel from the US. The Commission, which oversees trade policy for the 27-country European Union, is due to propose the measures at a March meeting of EU national trade officials, known as the anti-dumping committee. The anti-dumping duties would range from €2-19 per 100kg and the anti-subsidy…
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Danish biotech pioneer Inbicon has announced a series of technical and marketing initiatives for bringing commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol to the US. Under the banner of The New Ethanol, and in collaboration with US-based G-team, Inbicon will incorporate its proprietary technology into a new pathway for converting biomass to ethanol. CEO Niels Henriksen says: ‘Our new model of the…
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US governors expect regulators will soon boost the allowed blend rate for ethanol in petrol to 13% from 10%. Members of the Governors' Biofuels Coalition said they want the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue a waiver to allow the sale of 13% ethanol blends. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack have expressed support to the governors for increased biofuels…
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