Other News

One hundred and sixty wood pellet producers in 41 US states will receive grants from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand their biomass and biofuel output capacities. Agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement on 27 September, highlighting that the financial backing will help support the economy and the biofuels market in the US. ‘Renewable energy production will…
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Plane maker Boeing and commercial jet manufacturer Embraer have formed a collaboration with Sao Paulo State Research Foundation (FAPESP) for research to be conducted into aviation biofuels. The companies plan to work together to research and write a report, due to be published at the end of next year, which will include information on a new technology and sustainability roadmap. The report will…
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A biomass plant proposed by Schneider Electric and Clarke County has been officially blocked following a six-week battle with locals. Residents of downtown Vancouver in Washington, US, opposed the plans claiming the facility did not fit in with the existing buildings in the area. But Schneider Electric and Clarke County appealed against this, explaining that the proposed plant was no different to…
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Energy systems company Danish Stirling DK has commissioned a four-engine biomass plant at the spa resort of Tabbs in Tabarz, Thuringia, Germany. The plant, the first of its kind in the world according to the company, is powered by wood chips given from the local area, generating 4,000MWh of heat and 1,000MWh of electricity each year, which is the highest the amount for Stirling DK so far. The…
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In India, the price of biodiesel made from jatropha needs to increase if the nation is to create a financially viable and sustainable biodiesel market. This was the message communicated by The Confederation of Indian Industry and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Together the two organisations conducted a study titled Realistic Cost of Biodiesel in India, which found that biodiesel…
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In the US, renewable energy company Clean Power Concepts has executed a letter of intent to acquire Alabama Bio Energy and its subsidiary, Bridgeport, Alabama-based Eagle Bio Diesel. Currently, the Bridgeport facility produces 100 million litres of biodiesel from several different feedstocks. The deal is expected to close on 15 March this year. CEO of Eagle Bio Diesel William Freeman will join…
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Norway-based biodiesel company Uniol is close to resuming full production after it was forced into closure in 2010. The Norwegian firm closed down after the nation introduced biofuels taxes but is able to commence operations since another company acquired the plant, located in Fredrikstad. Einer Energy Sarl of Luxembourg purchased the facility back in January 2011. 'Now we are working five shifts…
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South Africa's AGZAM Project Developers has made one of the largest investments into a sector outside of the mining industry, in Zambia. The company is planning to build a $251 million (€175.65 million) sugar and ethanol facility after it signed a deal with the nation at the end of March 2011. Work on the biofuel plant is slated to begin in May this year before operations start in 2013. 'The…
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The 5 May 2011 saw the US Department of Energy (DoE) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) expose a new $47 million (€32.7 million) grant programme. The new R&D grants, which are part of the Obama Administration's aim to address the rising costs of fuel, will support the generation of energy from biomass. The funding will help finance a total of eight projects dedicated to the…
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A producer of fuel and biodiesel, Colombia-based Odin Grupo de Energia will switch from using diesel to natural gas to power the boilers at its biodiesel production facilities in Santa Marta. Despite meeting all gas emission requirements put in place by Colombia's environment ministry, the group said the change will help it further reduce its environmental impact. And in addition to decreasing…
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In Cumberland, Wisconsin, US, SunPower Biodiesel has started producing biodiesel at its new facility. The plant will convert locally grown canola into the biofuel. A ribbon cutting ceremony, tours of the facility and a biodiesel workshop marked the opening. 'SunPower is very unique in our region,' says Laura Richard, Wisconsin Clean Cities, Southeast Area. 'It's a full circle. The canola is grown…
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In the US, biofuels company Sundrop Fuels and Chesapeake NG Ventures (CNGV), a wholly owned subsidiary of Chesapeake Energy, have struck a deal that will see Sundrop break ground on a commercial demonstration facility to produce bio-based transport fuel from cellulosic materials. The deal, which closed on 11 July 2011, will see CNGV invest $155 million (€110 million) in Sundrop. Current…
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With a goal to produce 3 billion litres of ethanol in the 2012/2013 crop year, biofuels company ETH Bioenergia of Brazil is looking to expand its sugarcane plantation by 100,000 hectares. In addition to the 3 billion litres of ethanol, ETH plans to generate 2,700GWh of renewable power. The company has already started building its Agua Emendada ethanol plant, located in Perolandia, in the state of…
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General Electric (GE) is the newest member of a consortium set up to research and develop biomass-based aviation fuel. In addition to GE, the association consists of Virgin Australia, Renewable Oil, the Future Farm Industries CRC and Dynamotive Energy Systems, of Canada. Together the companies are looking to mallee eucalypt trees as a feedstock for producing commercial quantities of bio-jet…
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