Other News

Novozymes’ shares fell to the lowest they have been in two months following the announcement that the company’s earnings for the fourth quarter of 2011 were lower than predicted. The Denmark-based company, which uses enzymes to produce biofuels, says the results could be blamed on the price of raw materials rising and a drop in sales for bioenergy enzymes. However, net profit did grow…
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The Council of Energy Resource Tribes (CERT), a group made up of 57 Indian tribes, has formed a business relationship with renewable jet fuel supplier BioJet International. The CERT members, who own and manage coal, uranium, oil and gas reserves throughout the US, will work with BioJet to capitalise on supply chain projects relating to feedstock and refining projects. Mitch Hawkins, CEO of…
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Joule Biotechnology has closed a $70 million (€54 million) third round of financing which it says it will use to bring its developments to commercialisation. This means the total amount raised is more than $110 million and a facility will now be built in Hobbs, New Mexico, which will begin its commissioning process in the middle of this year. In the facility, Joule’s technology will be…
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Bioethanol producer CropEnergies has reported a 22% rise in group revenues to €425.8 million which the company says is because of the higher prices of bioethanol and protein food and animal feed products. ‘Ethanol prices in Europe have risen since 2010, mostly due to higher demand which is fuelled by the growing blending rates and implementation of the EU Renewable Energies Directive…
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Australian company Algae.Tec has raised AUS$5 million (€4 million) through Patersons Securities and the money will be used to fast-track the business’ commercial plans. Recently Biofuels International reported that Algae.Tec formed a joint venture with Chinese company Shandong Kerui to build a 250-module algae biofuels facility in China. Algae.Tec executive chairman, Roger Stroud, says…
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Boeing and Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) have joined forces to examine the potential for aviation biofuels’ feedstock growth in the north of the country. The partnership comes following the release of the Flight Path to Sustainable Aviation roadmap, which recommends research into the area. ‘The roadmap made a compelling case for…
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Lufthansa says it has finished its six month trial with biosynthetic fuel, during which time more than 1,000 biofuel flights were successfully flown between Hamburg and Frankfurt. However, the airline is ending its trials because it is unable to find reliable suppliers for its aviation biofuels. ‘As a next step, we will focus on the suitability, availability, sustainability and…
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Brazil says it has had the biggest grain harvest in its history, of nearly 160 million tonnes in 2011, and has forecasted a further rise for 2012. The cereal, pulse and oilseed harvest beat 2010’s harvest by more than 10 million tonnes, probably because the land for harvest has grown nearly 5% in size to 48.7 million hectares. This year it is predicted Brazil will harvest 160.3 million…
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A study carried out by San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) says the algal biofuels industry employed 466 workers in the San Diego region last year, providing more than $41 million (€32 million) in payroll and nearly $81 million in economic activity. Adding to this, the industry is also expected to generate about $12.5 million in payroll and about $33 million in additional economic…
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The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) says the ethanol exports for last year could have been more than 1.1 billion gallons, thanks to a new monthly record set in November. More than 150 million gallons was exported in that month, according to government figures, going mainly to Brazil. The fuel was also exported to Canada, Mexico and the Netherlands were the other main export destinations. From…
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Range Fuels has sold its cellulosic ethanol plant to New Zealand biofuels company LanzaTech after the company went into the red this month. In an auction, LanzaTech purchased the ethanol plant located in Soperton, Georgia, US, for $5.1 million (€4 million), as part of a liquidation process that was approved by the government. LanzaTech, that has received funding from Khosla Ventures, says it…
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Australian company Algae.Tec has signed a 50/50 joint venture (JV) with Chinese company Shandong Kerui.  Working together, the companies will build a 250-module algae biofuels facility in China, in which both companies will pay half to cover costs. The module system at the facility will be enclosed and the way the algae will be cultivated is meant to give it a high yield per acre, whilst at…
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Bioenergy crop company SG Biofuels has closed a $17 million (€13 million) round of fundraising to go towards further developments of its hybrid jatropha seeds which can be used for biodiesel production. The series B of financing was led by Thomas, McNerney & Partners; and Finistere Ventures and current investors Flint Hills Resources and Life Technologies were also involved. Using the…
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