Other News

The construction of biomethanol producer BioMCN’s second generation biofuel plant has been completed and began operations on Friday 25 June. Located in the city of Delfzijl, the Netherlands, BioMCN’s plant has the capacity to produce 250 million litres of biomethanol annually and is thought to be the largest in the world. Rob Voncken, director at BioMCN, said: ‘There is a lot of demand,…
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The US department of energy (DoE) will pump $106 million (€82 million) from the American Recovery and Reinvestment into six projects which will convert captured carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial sources into useful products such as fuel, plastics, cement, and fertilisers. The funds were matched with $156 million in private cost-share. Converting captured CO2 into products such as…
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Ethanol producer Aventine Renewable Energy has recently completed the acquisition of an ethanol plant in Illinois, US. Aventine purchased the Canton-based facility and all of Riverland’s remaining assets for $16.5 million (€12.8 million). Commenting on the deal, which closed on 6 August 2010, the CEO of Aventine Torn Manuel said: ‘This is an exciting opportunity to acquire a 38 million…
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In Hereford, Texas, US, oil and gas production firm Murphy Oil has acquired an ethanol production facility that was formerly owned by Panda Ethanol. Construction work was continuously postponed due to delays and financial issues but the VP of Murphy Oil Mindy West explained that it will finish work on the plant before operations are expected to start by the end of 2010. It has been estimated…
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Buffalo Lake Energy has received a $285,000 (€204,000) fine from the US-based Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for operations at its ethanol plant in Fairmont. Since operations began in June 2008 the facility has breached the conditions of its air and water quality permits. The most significant violation came when Buffalo Lake Energy constructed and ran an alternative system for…
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China's biodiesel producing power is growing following the news of China Integrated Energy’s acquisition of a 50,000-tonne biodiesel production facility in Chongqing City. The company expects to ramp up production and distribution of biodiesel product from the former Chongqing Tianrun Energy Development facility immediately after the acquisition. The acquired facility uses…
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With its ability to be blended with conventional fossil fuels without the need for a new type of engine, drop-in fuel is a major part of the biofuels industry right now. In a move that will see the production of drop-in jet fuel, New Zealand-based biofuel firm LanzaTech is to work with the US DoE. Working with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) LanzaTech will produce drop-in jet…
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In the US, Kansas city-based Spectrum Business Ventures has acquired an ethanol production plant in Mead, Nebraska. The plant was formerly owned by E3 Biofuels – Mead but Spectrum purchased the company’s assets out of bankruptcy. The $90 million (€67.9 million) facility, called the Genesis Complex, was launched back in 2007, however full-time operations failed to commence after E3…
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While people are trying to cut down on tobacco, one research unit has increased the amount of oil produced from tobacco leaves, a potential feedstock for biodiesel. Tobacco seeds produce around 40% oil per dry weight but a crop of the plant yields only around 600kg of seeds per acre. The leaves have an oil content of around 1.7-4% oil per dry weight. In Pennsylvania, US, researchers from the…
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Following the success of the 2009 combined Biofuels International / Tank Storage Asia expo & conference in Singapore, this year’s event will be held in the new and exciting location of Kuala Lumpur, on 10 to 11 November. The Biofuels sector in Malaysia along with the rest of Asia has steadily begun to grow but not without threat. With an approximate 92 biodiesel projects approved in…
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Leading the way in the development and commercialisation of cellulosic ethanol, Verenium Corporation and energy giant BP have extended their original 18-month partnership. Scheduled to terminate on 1 February, the collaboration will now expire one month later, on 1 March 2010. In a joint venture with BP that is expected to be extended yet again during these approaching weeks, Verenium is…
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In Rome, New York, a biomass plant has been given the go-ahead by New York State Public Service Commission. The plant, generating 9.6MW, will provide Grississ Business and Technology Park with 75% of its electricity needs. The biomass refinery will save the park a total of $1.5 million (€1.1 million) in utility costs. Carbon emissions will also be reduced by 46,000 tonnes a year. Costing…
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Europe’s largest wheat to ethanol refinery has shipped its first renewable fuel product. Tanker Clipper Nelly left independent terminal operator Vopak’s North Tees, UK, terminal loaded with Ensus ethanol and headed for Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Ensus’ £300 million (€332 million) plant at Wilton went into production last month, making the green road fuel, valuable animal feed and…
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In California, US, Golden State Biofuel has chosen Riverside County, Indio, to be the location for its first advanced biofuels refinery. Once built the facility will produce 1 million gallons of biofuels from a variety of different feedstocks every year and will serve California, the High Desert, Inland Empire, Orange County and San Diego. A blending terminal and a used cooking oil feedstock…
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