Other News

Ecofuels Netherlands (EN) is to look into further developing its ability to produce second generation biofuels. It already produces biodiesel from used cooking oil and fat free acids, but EN wants to expand its range of feedstocks it can use plus develop more advanced cleaning processes. Support for the project comes from the province of Groningen and around €100,000 ($129,000) is available.
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The European Renewable Ethanol Association (ePure) has asked the European Commission to investigate if EU customs legislation is properly applied in Finland. Evidence from several sources indicates that ethanol blended with gasoline coming from the US, destined for the EU market, will be classified as an ethanol blend with much lower import duties than denatured ethanol, creating unfair market…
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Chemical company BASF and biotechnology provider Dyadic International have entered into a non-exclusive worldwide research and license agreement.  BASF will be able to use Dyadic’s patented and proprietary C1 platform technology to develop, produce, distribute and sell industrial enzymes in certain fields for a variety of applications.  It will also fund research and development…
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Biomaterials and sustainable fuels company Edeniq has completed a successful "performance test" at its first demo plant which exceeded the benchmark of 1,000 hours of continuous operation. The corn-to-cellulosic facility uses Edeniq's own proprietary technology to process over 1 tonne of cellulosic feedstock per day into cellulosic ethanol. The project was initially funded with a $20.5 million…
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Lignol Energy (LE), a technology company which works in advanced biofuels sectors, has revealed that the convertible notes it held, issued by Territory Biofuels (TB), have been converted into a 40% fully diluted equity stake in TB. This makes LE the largest stakeholder in TB, which owns a 150 million litre per year biodiesel plant and glycerine refinery located in Darwin, Australia. It was…
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A NASA research programme carried out in California has revealed that a fuel blend of camelina-based biofuel and conventional kerosene poses no risk to commercial jets. Scientists at NASA's Langley Research Centre say test flights revealed engine performance remained unchanged when a DC-8 aircraft reached 39,000 feet powered by the fuel mix, AP reports. The study also found a 30% reduction in…
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Menlo Energy Florida (MEF) has purchased a biodiesel plant located in Tampa from Agri-Sources Fuels. As well as the 12 million gallon capacity biodiesel plant, the deal also includes a 3.6 million gallon glycerin purification plant. MEF is to use its own technology and staff to upgrade the biodiesel plant to 60 millions gallons a year by adding waste fat, oil and grease conversion…
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UK-based biofuels producer Vireol is still hoping to secure more funding for its proposed ethanol plant in Grimsby. It wants to raise £80 million (€95.4 million) to go towards constructing the 200 million litres per year facility which is reported to be using wheat as feedstock. Vireol aims to commence building next year with operations slated to begin in 2016. CEO David Knibbs was…
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Germany-based oil association UFOP has highlighted the declining level of rapeseed oil from German mills used within national biodiesel fuel production. According to information published by the German Federal Office for Agriculture and Food, the amount of German rapeseed oil used for biodiesel fuel production slumped to 1.036 million tonnes in 2012, down 28% on 2011 and 43% on 2010. It believes…
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Researchers from US space agency NASA have stated, after successful trials, that conventional jet fuel can be blended with biofuels to offer safe flying. NASA scientists based at its research centre in California claim to have found ‘no noticeable difference’ to the performance of a DC-8 aircraft flying at 39,000ft using jet fuel and camelina oil. Senior research scientist Bruce…
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Seaweed Energy Solutions (SES) has reached an agreement to acquire 100% of Danish company Seaweed Seed Supply (SSS) to reinforce its position in large-scale seaweed cultivation for renewable energy. SSS´ goal of increasing production to 100,000 tons by 2017 from the current 5,000 tons capacity can now become a reality via this purchase. SES technology will be introduced into Denmark and the…
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It has been reported that US energy company Kinder Morgan (KM) is to begin biodiesel production at two terminals sometime in the second quarter. Recent modifications at facilities in Phoenix and Las Vegas, plus the recent price spike for RINs, means KM can allow for receipt, storage and blending of biodiesel. ‘This move is positive for us because we generate excess RINs at our transmix…
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The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Centre in Wisconsin, US has had its funding by the US Department of Energy (US DoE) renewed for another five years. The centre receives $25 million (€19.2 million) a year from the US DoE and supports almost 400 researchers. ‘Our researchers, in partnership with the states of Wisconsin, Michigan and affiliated industries, have made…
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