Other News

The US Department of Energy (USDoE) is to work with several energy industry institutes and stakeholders to make biofuels more cost-competitive to gas alternatives. Ernest Moniz, US energy secretary, revealed more than $22 million (€16.5 million) will be made available for investment into new projects, with algae-based production expected to benefit the most. This is because the advanced…
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A record for biodiesel production has been claimed this August by the US state of Iowa. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) believes a combination of ‘a strong federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and reinstatement of the federal biodiesel blenders’ tax credit’ has led to state facilities producing 56.7 million gallons of biodiesel during the second quarter of 2013. The…
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News reports from Argentina claim biodiesel and feedstock exports will be disrupted on 18 July as port and shipping workers go on strike. The country’s unions for grain handlers, port workers and some shipping workers are downing tools in protest against government taxes. Although many workers allegedly received a pay rise this year, it now means they have to pay higher income tax. This,…
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A new study has revealed that more countries outside the European Union are now meeting sustainable certification systems for vegetable oils. Germany-based Union zur Forderung von Oel-und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP) believes domestic production of vegetable oils for biofuels, particularly rapeseed which is currently the most popular feedstock used for biofuels at the pump, could be under threat. The…
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Germany-based CropEnergies has acquired UK bioethanol producer Ensus from funds affiliated to The Carlyle Group in an all stock deal worth €13.5 million. Following the completion of the transaction, Carlyle is expected to gain 2.6% stake in CropEnergies. The company is set to invest nearly €58 million to enhance the competitiveness of the UK producer and increase its own production…
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China's oil product storage capacity is expected to reach close to 500 million barrels by 2015, and it's not difficult to see why, with so much change happening in the market. There's no denying China's massive economic growth over the past decade -the country has recorded an average GDP of more than 10% per year. In only seven years, China's economy doubled; in 13 years, it tripled. Seventeen…
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The European Parliament's Environment Committee has voted to approve draft legislation to cap the proportion of first generation biofuel in transport fuel at 5.5%, but it will be to the full Parliament in Strasbourg in September. The vote will take place on 10 September, the day before the start of Biofuels International conference on 11-12 September in Antwerp. This will provide the perfect…
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Alaska Airlines is to buy biojet fuel for its aircraft from Hawai'i BioEnergy, a consortium of three of Hawaii's largest landowners and three venture capital firms, after the two companies signed an agreement. The material used to produce the renewable aviation fuel is likely to be woody biomass and will comply with the Roundtable for Sustainable Biofuels' criteria. Alaska Airlines is Hawai'i…
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John Swire and Sons (Green Investments) has acquired Scottish biodiesel producer Argent Energy. The deal was closed for an unknown sum and will see Argent remain in private ownership and will continue to operate independently. Argent Energy owns a commercial-scale biodiesel production plant, which began operating in Motherwell, Scotland in 2005. Barnaby Swire of John Swire and Sons says: 'We…
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Biodiesel producer and marketer Renewable Energy Group (REG) is to supply biodiesel at IMTT's storage terminal located at the New York Harbor in Bayonne, New Jersey. As one of the world's largest trading hubs, the new location will allow REG to sell large volumes of biodiesel via barge or truck. 'The Northeast has an active biodiesel market and this terminal position allows us to provide more…
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Buckeye Terminal's biodiesel facility in Hartford, Illinois has temporarily ceased supplying fuel, according to reports. The delivery system has been shut down to replace a meter and will not resume operations until the part is tested and proved. Biodiesel supplier Gulf Hydrocarbon Partners says it is no longer bringing biodiesel into the facility and has also stopped delivering fuel out of the…
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US ethanol producing company Ace Ethanol has completed the purchase of a dormant ethanol plant in Wisconsin. The price is a reported $16.5 million (€12.6 million) and Ace is aiming to reopen the facility in the autumn. Ace co-founder Robert Sather was quoted as saying to build a plant of this size, capable of producing 50 million gallons a year, from new would cost Ace about $75…
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Green crude producer Sapphire Energy (SE) has paid off the entire loan guarantee it was awarded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in December 2009. SE was awarded a $54.5 million (€41 million) loan guarantee through the Biorefinery Assistance Programme, administered by the USDA Rural Development-Cooperative Service, to build a fully integrated, algae-to-crude oil commercial…
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