Other News

Choren Industries, a biofuel technology company headquartered in Feiberg, Germany, has started bankruptcy proceedings, along with its two German subsidiaries Choren Fuel Freiberg and Choren Components. Choren USA and Choren China have not yet been affected by the insolvency. Choren was currently commissioning a demonstration plant in Feriberg, which was to produce second generation ethanol using…
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In the US, ethanol producer Poet has been offered a conditional commitment for a $105 million (€75 million) loan guarantee from the US Department of Energy (DoE). If finalised, the loan will go towards building a biofuel production plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa, that will convert corncobs, leaves, husks and stalks into 25 million gallons a year of cellulosic ethanol. 'This project will help…
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'Brazil ended trade-distorting subsidies for ethanol more than a decade ago and eliminated its ethanol tariff early last year. We are pleased that this agreement would have the United States do the same. As the world's top producers of ethanol, the US and Brazil should lead by example in creating a free market for clean, renewable energy.' This is a statement released by the Brazilian Sugarcane…
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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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Renewable Energy Group (REG), the largest biodiesel producer in the US, has finalised the acquisition of the majority of SoyMor Biodiesel's Albert Lea, Minnesota assets. The assets include the company's biodiesel plant and the soya lecithin facility assets of SoyMor Cooperative in exchange for common stock and the assumption of certain liabilities. The biodiesel plant has been out of service…
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In Miller, South Dakota, US, oilseed processing facility South Dakota Oilseed Processors is to be sold at auction by Maas Companies of Minnesota. South Dakota Oilseed Processors began building the 25,536 square foot plant in 2007 before it came online in 2009. However, the facility closed in December 2010, citing market conditions. Located on 22 acres of land, the defunct plant can handle 375…
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Germany-based bioethanol producer CropEnergies has released its first quarter results for the 2011/12 financial year. Revenues for Q1 reached €132.1 million – a 41% increase on the previous year's €93.5 million in revenues. The operating profit also increased, from €2.4 million to €15.3 million. The production of bioethanol increased by 14% in Q1 2011/12 to 157,000m3,…
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In Brazil, a wholly owned subsidiary of energy giant Petrobras, Petrobras Biocombustível S.A. – Pbio, has purchased a 50% stake in a biodiesel plant for $128 million (€88 million). The plant is located in Rio Grande do Sul and owned by BSBIOS Indústria e Commércio de Biodiesel Sul Brasil. The biodiesel production plant is able to produce 42 million gallons a year…
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Virgin Australia, Richard Branson’s airline, is to fuel its planes with biofuel derived from gum trees. In the first project of its kind in the world, the airline has partnered with the Renewable Oil Corporation, Dynamotive Energy Systems Corporation (DYMTF) and Future Farm Industries Co-operative Research Centre (FFI CRC), to process eucalyptus trees into fuel in a Western Australian-based…
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In Peru, the nation's largest sugar producer is to start manufacturing ethanol. By the end of 2011, Gloria S.A. is to produce ethanol at two of its sugar mills; Casa Grande and Complejo Agroindustrial Cartavo.
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In the US, Western Wisconsin Energy's board of directors has decided to sell the biofuel plant. The company was set up in 2003 and in 2006 finished building its 40 million gallon a year ethanol plant. Today, the Western Wisconsin Energy plant can produce 55 million gallons of ethanol a year. Tours of the plant will be taking place between 1 August and 12 August. Ascendant Financial Partners has…
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In its largest effort yet to raise awareness of biodiesel, the National Biodiesel Board is launching a multi-million dollar campaign to highlight to its economic, environmental and national security advantages. The national outreach includes a television advert, which features a school bus and the tag line: 'Biodiesel. America's Advanced Biofuel'. Also part of the awareness investment is radio…
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In the south-central region of Brazil, the total sugarcane crush has fallen to 533.5 million tonnes – a drop of 4.21% compared to the 2010/11 end of season harvest. According to the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA), the major factors which led to the decrease in sugarcane crush were the increased age at which sugarcane fields are now expected to produce yields, coupled with…
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