Other News

In Canada, renewable energy company Suncor Energy's St. Clair ethanol plant reached a production milestone in May 2011, when it produced 1 billion litres of the biofuel. Operations at the St. Clair first started in June 2006 and it had an annual production capacity of 200 million litres. The facility then underwent an expansion project, which was completed in February 2011 and saw the plant's…
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In Mozambique, a total of 31 biofuel projects have been announced since 2007, according to figures from the nation's Centre of Agricultural Promotion (Cepagri). These projects are reported to span across 324,000 hectares. It was not disclosed how much has been invested in these 31 developments.In recent years the government has begun supporting biofuels in order to promote a domestic biofuel…
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In Virginia, US, Osage Bio Energy is to be marketed for sale. And in Hopewell, Virginia, production will not go ahead at the company's Appomattox Bio Energy barley-to-ethanol plant. The result of this decision by the company's board of directors will see Osage Bio Energy begin to lay off its staff, effective 25 May 2011. Only a core team of employees will continue to work at the plant to help…
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The US Pacific Northwest could be the ideal location in which to create a viable aviation industry, according to a study conducted by Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest (SAFN) released on 25 May 2011. The area comprises a variety of feedstocks, sufficient infrastructure and governmental interest which can form a successful industry, but early support in the form of federal mandates is…
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In the US renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels company Gevo has started retrofitting its Luverne, Minnesota ethanol plant to produce biobased isobutanol. 'Through this retrofit, Gevo is providing a high-value products that supports our nation's agriculture industry,' says Gevo's CEO Patrick Gruber. The retrofit is scheduled for completion by mid-2012, making Gevo's facility one of the first…
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In Africa, more biofuel plantations can be traced back to British companies than any other country, according to an investigation by the Guardian. Of the total 3.2 million hectares of land used for biofuel crop cultivation in Africa, over 50% is owned by 11 British companies. Crest Global Green Energy is reported to own the largest amount of land – a total of 900,000 hectares in Mali,…
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In the UK, Milford Haven Port is looking to push plans that will attract new renewable energy and biomass businesses, after it reported 2010 as a strong year from the clean gas and oil activities. In its annual report released on 1 June 2011 Milford Haven Port, which handles a fifth of the UK's fuel needs, reported increased revenues of almost 20% throughout 2010. Profits also rose by more than…
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Deinove, a specialist in Deinococcus bacteria for biofuels, green chemistry and antibiotics, has received €1.6 million from the French state innovation agency Oseo. The payment corresponds to the second tranche of Oseo's financial support for the Deniol project and takes the total amount received by the company to just under €3 million. 'We are delighted to announce that the technical…
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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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Iveco has revealed its Iveco Trakker Bi-Fuel Ethanol-Diesel automobile in Ribeirao Preto. Iveco is a subsidiary of its holding company Fiat Industrial and the Iveco Trakker Bi-Fuel Ethanol-Diesel vehicle was developed together with technology company Bosch. The truck has been fitted with an FPT Industrial Cursor 360CvCommon Rail Cursor nine engine, which is powered by a combination of ethanol and…
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Neste Oil's NExBTL renewable diesel is to be tested under race conditions for the first time this summer in Germany. Between 23 and 26 June two teams will compete in the ADAC 24-Hour Race at the Nürburgring circuit and run their cars on 100% renewable diesel regenerative. The fuel contains NExBTL renewable diesel and up to 7% conventional FAME biodiesel, both produced from rapeseed…
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The multi-billion dollar joint venture between energy and petrochemical company Shell and Cosan was launched on 2 June 2011. Based in Brazil, Raízen will manufacture and sell more than 2 billion litres of sugarcane-derived ethanol annually. Raízen’s 24 mills can process up to 62 million tonnes of sugarcane into biofuel a year.   ‘We are building a leading position…
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A university has produced jet fuel from a mixture of both coal and biomass feedstocks which will be tailored to be used in US military jet fuel applications. The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota says its refining technologies helped to produce the coal-biomass feedstock which will be used as another source of fuel that is an alternative to…
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