Other News

Developer of second generation biofuels technology TMO Renewables has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the authorities of Heilongjiang, China. The MoU will see TMO provide long-term large volume biomass feedstock supply for future biofuel production facilities from Heilongjiang State Farm, the largest state owned farming corporation in China. The MoU is also the first step towards…
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Biofuels producer Agri-Source Fuels (ASF) is seeking a buyer for its biodiesel refinery located in Dade City, US. ASF claims the plant is only currently refining glycerine but, although it is producing nearly 2 million gallons per year of 99.7% pure USP, further retrofitting and enhancements are  required to bring over 12 million gallons of bidiesel refining back on line. The refinery is the…
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The first phase of Europe’s first microbial oil pilot plant has been completed according to refining and marketing company Neste Oil. The first phase will enable the growth of oil-producing micro-organisms and subsequent phases will focus on raw material pretreatment and oil recovery. The construction has been on time and on budget. Neste’s goal is to develop the technology so that it…
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Biotechnology business Matrix Genetics (MG) will pursue developing biofuels-from-algae after receiving investment from Avista Corp. The value of the investment has not been disclosed but MG CEO Margaret McCormick says it will allow the Seattle-based biotech company to spin out from agricultural biotech firm Targeted Growth, which owns the majority of MG, and continue research far into…
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France-based aircraft manufacturer Airbus has worked with a Chinese university to complete a sustainability analysis report on converting feedstocks, including cooking oil, into sustainable aviation fuel. Airbus, with researchers from the Tsinghua University, hope the project will show how to support the development of a value chain to speed up aviation biofuel commercialisation. ‘The…
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The Daithi O’Mhurchu Marine Research Station in County Cork, Ireland is set to become the country’s first commercial algae production facility for biofuel. The facility has been experimenting with algae growth for three years and is funded by a Marie Curie grant from the EU. The grant is due to expire next year and has pushed the decision to commercial production to the fore. The…
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Danish enzymes-for-biofuels producer Novozymes will partner with yeast specialist Terranol to complete final testing on a yeast strain which could accelerate conversion of waste into biofuel. Novozymes will have the right to register and market Terranol’s C5 yeast technology under the agreement. ‘We feel Terranol's C5 yeast is currently one of the best strains developed and, by…
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The Japanese government will fund a joint project that aims to conduct research into an algae biofuel programme. US-based energy extraction company OriginOil and the Research Institute of Tsukuba Biotech (RITB) have confirmed the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries grant will go towards building 1-ac sites for the production of biofuels using algae. OriginOil will provide algae…
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A new 400,000 litres a day ethanol plant in Ubon Ratchani, Thailand is set to be completed by November this year. The Thai Ubon Bioethanol project is still under construction, but the plant will have the capacity to produce both hydrous and anhydrous material and could use both cassava and molasses as feedstock. ‘We will be able to produce both ethanol grades and can switch raw material…
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Seven biofuel organisations have filed an interveners brief in the American Petroleum Institute (API) case against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which challenges the 2012 cellulosic and advanced biofuel requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The groups are defending the EPA's ability to set cellulosic and advance biofuels targets that are based on market data and seek to spur…
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The successful completion of its sixth test period of ‘no harm’ tests for oxidation stabilisers and additional products has been announced by the Association Quality Management Biodiesel (AGQM). The tests make sure that the chemical and physical properties in biodiesel are not affected by the use of oxidation stabilisers, there are no inadmissible reciprocal effects occurring with…
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Switzerland-based chemicals group Clariant has entered into a partnership agreement with Emerald Technology Ventures. Clariant will work with Emerald in order to identify opportunities to invest in, or cooperate with, technology companies active in the area of cleantech advances like new catalysts to improve process efficiency, advanced materials for the reduction of energy consumption, materials…
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Two German researchers have re-ignited the debate that European-produced biodiesel does not meet the required sustainability targets claimed by Brussels. Gernot Pehnet and Christoph Vietze of the Friedruch Schiller University claim eight of the ten tests on locally-produced rapeseed biodiesel failed to meet the promised 35% of greenhouse gas savings promised. In many cases the results recorded…
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