Other News

Global research company FuturaGene, which focuses on plant genetics development for forestry, biopower and biofuels markets, is to collaborate with the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture research organisation EMBRAPA after the signing of a cooperation framework agreement. The pair will research eucalyptus and other tree species with an aim of increasing the development of sustainable energy…
Read More »

The US-based Biotechnology Industry Organisation (BIO) has applauded the acceleration in development of advanced biofuels technology that could lead to an improvement to US energy security. The executive VP of the BIO Industrial and Environmental section Brent Erickson responded after the American Petroleum Institute asked  Congress to reform the RFS. ‘Reducing reliance on imported oil…
Read More »

The US senate has voted to repeal certain language being included in section 313 of the annual Defense appropriations bill which concerned the future use of alternative fuels in the US military. The final vote, taken in late November, was 62-37 in favour of prohibiting a proposed clause by Republican senator Jim Inhofe which would have prohibited the Department of Defense (DoD) from buying…
Read More »

The first UK Green Investment Bank was officially opened by business secretary Vince Cable in November. Headquartered in Edinburgh, with a large presence also in London, the bank will use £3 billion ($4.8 billion) of government money to invest in sectors like carbon capture and storage, renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. Cable believes the bank will place green economy at the…
Read More »

Bioinnovation business Novozymes has increased its bioagriculture presence with a new acquisition. It has signed a definitive agreement to acquire US-based bioagricultural company Natural Industries which has posted revenues of $5 million (€3.8 million). ‘I am excited to have the people and technologies of Natural Industries join our growing BioAg division.It will expand…
Read More »

A new ethanol plant has been mooted for construction in Barbados according to the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC). The plant would use sweet potatoes as feedstock and convert them into ethanol. Speaking at the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association’s quarterly networking meeting, BIDC CEO Leroy McClean said: ‘I have a Chinese company awaiting a response from…
Read More »

US-based biofuels producer Renewable Energy Group (REG) has unveiled new biodiesel positions at four New York terminal locations. Biodiesel distribution points in Whippany, New Jersey, plus New York locations in New Hyde Park, Port Chester and near Brookhaven have been identified as offering quick access for blending biodiesel to augment heating oil and diesel supplies. ‘Gaining access to…
Read More »

Science and engineering giant Dupont has broken ground on its cellulosic ethanol facility in Iowa, US as it moves towards the commercialisation of advanced biofuels. The plant is expected to be complete before the end of 2014 and cost in excess of $200 million (€154 million). It is expected to generate 30 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel annually via corn stover residues, a non-food…
Read More »

Cargill, a US-based agribusiness business, will be closing one of its two biodiesel plants in Germany. The 120,000 tonne capacity per year facility has stopped production because of what Cargill calls an ‘overcapacity’ in the European green fuels sector. The plant is a joint venture with German agricultural co-op Agravis. The recent announcement by the European Commission to reduce…
Read More »

UK-based Whitefox Technologies has secured a bioethanol contract with the government of Guyana as it aims to move itself away from imported oil dependence. Together with Brazilian business Green,  Whitefox will install the units for a bioethanol demonstration plant at the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s Albion sugar factory, with a turnkey unit set for delivery in early 2013. Guyana’s…
Read More »

Germany-based biotechnology company Direvo is set to commercialise its new conversion process of non-food feedstocks into fuels and chemicals. Its BluCon platform is the result of an intensive research programme to identify microorganisms viable to cheaply produce chemicals and fuels from carbohydrates created from non-food biomass, so-called second generation biomass conversion. ‘After two…
Read More »

The UK government has revealed the details of its revised Energy Bill this November but a decision on carbon emission targets will be delayed. Energy companies will be allowed to charge households an extra £7.6 billion ($12.1 billion) to go towards low-carbon electricity infrastructure by 2020. Chancellor George Osborne, who is in favour of gas-powered generation, has not enjoyed a smooth…
Read More »

Australia-based Mission NewEnergy has revealed its subsidiary Mission Biofuels (MB) has been served with a winding up petition. The petition against the Malaysian biofuels producer has been served by the contractor for its second proposed biodiesel refinery, KNM Process Systems. It states that KNM is in dispute with MB over a sum of $16.1 million (€12.7 million) for goods delivered and work…
Read More »