Other News

Up to 125 advanced biofuel producers will be receiving payments from the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Bioenergy Programme for Advanced Biofuels. Producers become eligible for payments from the programme based upon the amount of biofuels that are produced from renewable biomass other than corn starch. Some biofuels eligible for the program include those produced from cellulose,…
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The European Commission has given a boost to the Scottish rapeseed industry by accepting Scottish Quality Crops (SQC) into its sustainability certification scheme for biofuels. This means SQC’s quality assurance schemes, which covers both oilseed and cereal crops throughout the country, have met sustainability criteria set by the EU renewable energy and fuel quality directives. ‘For…
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NuStar and biofuel supply chain company Eco-Energy Holdings are to build an ethanol storage facility complete with unit train infrastructure after forming a partnership. To be located at NuStar's Dumfries site in Virginia, US, the facility will benefit the northern Virginia and Washington, DC markets. It will comprise ethanol unloading, storage and truck loading solutions. The terminal will be…
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Plantation company PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) is to construct a bioethanol plant in Mojokerto, Indonesia. The company claims the plant will be the first ever bioethanol plant to be operated by a state-owned company and aims to produce up to 30 million litres of fuel a year. PTPN finance director Dolly Bulungan says the project will abosrb around $48 million (€39 million) split between a…
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A new report conducted energy research publisher SBI claims algae biofuels technologies should grow by double digits in the short-term. The report states algae biofuels will post a compound annual growth rate of 43.1% and lead the market to $1.6 billion (€1.29 billion). Investment by strategic partnerships and internal company revenue growth, which are slowly replacing government grants, is…
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A recent survey of German motorists by ethanol association BDBE shows that most are still hesitate when it comes to using gasoline-ethanol blend E10. Seven out of 10 motorists interviewed still fear E10 will damage their engines and only 33% have ever filled their cars with it compared with using the older Super E5 fuel option. ‘If at least 90% of German gasoline engines are suitable for…
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British Petroleum (BP) is set to use its position as event partner of the London 2012 Olympic Games to springboard its latest advance in biofuels technology. BP will provide biofuels and lubricants to a fleet of over 5,000 BMW-supplied vehicles throughout July and August, including one based on a 24% biobutanol-blended gasoline. And, if all goes well, BP executives are hopeful to offer…
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A new biobutanol plant is being devised through a joint venture between chemical company Rhodia and next generation bio-based chemicals developer Cobalt Technologies. The demonstration facility will be based in Brazil and is set to utilise Cobalt’s technology to convert bagasse and other local non-food feedstock in biobutnaol in Latin America. ‘This agreement puts us on a clear path…
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The Brazilian state of Pernambuco will be home to a proposed new biofuels plant that will use seaweed as its feedstock. The $9.8 million (€7.9 million) plant will be constructed by Austrian-based company SAT at the site of a sugar cane plantation. It will produce up to 1.2 million litres of algae-based biofuels a year by using carbon dioxide created during ethanol production to help speed up…
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Hong Kong-based ASB Biodiesel, which is building a 100,000 tonne per year plant to produce biodiesel through processing city waste materials, claims it will aim to roll out the business to the mainland if the model proves successful. The new factory, based at the Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate, is aiming to be completed by the end of 2012 and start commercial production in the second quarter of…
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A new pilot plant for the production of climate-friendly cellulose ethanol in Germany has been inaugurated. Developed by Swiss chemicals company Clariant, the €28 million ($33.8 million) project will produce up to 1,000 tonnes of cellulose ethanol from around 4,500 tonnes of wheat straw. It is believed that Germany has around 22 million tonnes of available straw for use that wouldn’t…
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Algae company Algae.Tec officially opened its algae-to-biofuels facility Shoalhaven One on 2 August, in New South Wales, Australia. The facility showcases the company's algae growth and harvesting system, which can then be used to produce jet fuel or diesel. Algae.Tec has recently recruited biofuels and aviation fuels specialist engineer Colin McGregor as GM of project operations. Algae.Tec…
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US-based biofuels company Coskata has decided not to go forward with a proposed $100 million (€82.5 million) initial public offering (IPO) as it looks instead towards natural gas options. Plans to build a commercial scale plant in Alabama, which would convert wood waste to ethanol, will be put onto the back burner as it looks into feeding the plant with natural gas, which is currently…
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