Other News

The first US commercial flight to be powered by biofuels derived from algae has flown from Houston’s IAH airport to Chicago’s O’Hare airport. The microbially-derived biofuel, called Solajet, was manufactured by Solazyme and is a 60% petroleum-derived jet fuel. Solazyme has signed a letter of intent with United Airlines to produce 500,000 tonnes of renewable fuel by 2015, and to…
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Phase one of Botlek Tank Terminal's (BTT) construction project, which began in April 2010, has been commissioned. On 4 December BTT sent out a tanker from tankpit 20, which was carrying 4,000 tonnes of biodiesel. In addition, BTT has since discharged an additional 3,000 tonnes of biodiesel from a cargo ship that was stored in tankpit 20 also. Polimex-Mostostal of Warsaw, Poland constructed the…
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A new 30 million gallon a year biorefinery is to be built in Port Arthur, Texas, following a deal between Endicott Biofuels (EBF) and KMTEX. The site is to use EBF’s technology to produce the biodiesel and KMTEX will provide the project with construction and operational services. Haddington Ventures has funded the development, on which construction is due to begin at the end of this…
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While the recently approved E15 blend in conventional petrol will decrease GHGs emitted to the atmosphere, it may increase repair bills for boat owners and those with smaller engines. It is thought that boaters will fill up their boats with E15 at participating stations despite the fact that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did not approve the blend for many types of engines. As…
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Renewable energy firm Mission NewEnergy and palm oil producer Felda Global Group have entered into a long-term supply agreement to establish the first fully integrated ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification System) certified palm biodiesel supply and production chain in Asia. Together Felda and Mission have completed ISCC certification of two of Felda's mills and eight…
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At around 11am on 20 April 2011, a tanker transporting ethanol in Cheatham County, Tennessee in the US was involved in a crash, which left the vehicle overturned and leaking the fuel onto the Interstate 24. Both the eastbound and westbound lanes were closed as teams threw sand over the spill to contain it. The spill was later contained but the cleanup continued. It was reported that a car and a…
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In Visalia, California, US, EdeniQ and Logos Technologies are to begin building a corn-to-ethanol pilot plant in, funded partly by a $20 million (€14.2 million) federal Department of Energy (DoE) grant. The companies will break ground on the facility on 19 May 2011, marked with a groundbreaking ceremony at 10am. The pilot plant will be installed with EdeniQ's technology that converts…
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In the south of Brazil, 99.63 million tonnes of sugarcane was crushed between April 2011 (the start of the 2011/2012 harvest) and 1 June 2011, according to Unica, the sugarcane industry association. This figure is down on the 134.17 million tonnes crushed the previous year. Of the 99.63 million tonnes crushed, 57.12% was used in the manufacturing of ethanol, while the remaining 42.88% went…
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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released new specifications for a label that will be displayed at all fuel pumps dispensing petrol blended with 15% ethanol (E15). The new orange and black label will include information about which vehicles can use E15. It will also discourage the use of E15 in cars manufactured before 2011, motorbikes and boats, as well as in petrol-powered tools…
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In Straubing, Germany, chemicals company Süd-Chemie has broken ground on what will be the nation's largest cellulosic ethanol plant. By Q4 2011, the plant is expected to be producing 1,000 tonnes a year of cellulosic ethanol from locally sourced agricultural waste, including wheat straw. Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs, Martin Zeil, was present at the ceremony, which took place on 26…
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The development of advanced drop-in biofuels will soon be underway as the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Energy (DoE) and Navy will invest up to $510 million (€354 million) into the development of advanced drop-in biofuels. US President Barack Obama made the announcement on 16 August. The investment will be made over a three-year period and will go towards the production of advanced…
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In Mozambique, it is thought that more than $100 million (€73.5 million) has been invested in over 30 biofuel projects, which are currently being developed. It is not yet known exactly how many biofuel plants are underway in the nation, but the majority are thought to be in the initial stages, with plant owners still unsure of which feedstock would be most advantageous to use. However, it…
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A Qatari government adviser has been criticised by the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) after he made comments favouring a report that attributes the issues of high food prices and world hunger to biofuels. The government figure appeared to support the paper, which is funded by the International Development department of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), at the…
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Renewable fuels producer Pacific Ethanol has entered into an agreement with Pacific Ethanol Management Services (Pacific Services), a wholly owned subsidiary of Pacific Ethanol, and ZeaChem. Together the companies will provide operations, maintenance and accounting services for ZeaChem's Boardman, Oregon, US-based biorefinery. Under the terms of the agreement, Pacific Services will provide…
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