
Jan 7, 2010
ADM awarded biomass plant grant
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Jan 7, 2010
On 29 January DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol (DDCE) and University of Tennessee/Genera Energy will open their first cellulosic ethanol demo plant, dedicated to converting both agricultural residue and bioenergy crops to fuel ethanol.
The facility, located in Vonore, Tennessee, has initiated start-up and commissioning and will begin producing ethanol in mid-January.
The... [Read More]
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Jan 6, 2010
In November last year the Norwegian Government proposed to remove a tax exemption on biodiesel, and now other renewable fuel is gaining greater presence thanks to energy giant Statoil.
Statoil is the first company in Norway to offer 5% bioethanol to general consumers at its petrol stations. From January 2010 onwards 40% of Statoil’s stations will be selling the new... [Read More]
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Jan 6, 2010
A biomass plant could be built in the third largest Malaysian state of Pahang following an evaluation by Federal Land Development Authority (Felda).
The proposed plant is a joint venture between Felda Palm Industries (FPI), which will hold 51% of the equity, and Tenaga Nasional and J Power of Japan, both holding 24.5%.
The tender for the joint venture company, known... [Read More]
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Jan 6, 2010
A combined heat and power (CHP) plant fuelled on biomass will be built in the Belgian municipality of Ham.
Belgian renewable energy company 4Energy Invest’s unit 4HamCogen has signed a deal with Finland-based industrial machinery company Metso, which will supply the 30 million plant.
Metso will deliver the equipment via MW Power, its joint venture with fellow Finnish... [Read More]
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Jan 6, 2010
In Bangladesh poultry firm Paragon Group is setting up the country's biggest biogas plants.
State-run Infrastructure Development Company will provide loans of up to Tk 150 million (€1.5 million) for the plants in Gazipur and Mymensingh districts, which will generate a total 350 kilowatts of electricity.
Three biogas plants will be located at Bhaluka, Bhabanipur... [Read More]
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Jan 6, 2010
In Zimbabwe, electricity shortages have led to severe power cuts harming industrial activities, and the rate of deforestation has been accelerated as more people resort to firewood as an alternative source of fuel.
As a result, stakeholders in the energy sector are looking into alternative energy sources like a methane gas project in Lupane, ethanol project in Chiredzi... [Read More]
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Jan 4, 2010
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,... [Read More]
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Jan 4, 2010
In the US bankruptcy forced Mid-America Agri Products to auction its 44 million gallon a year ethanol plant in south-central Nebraska, with a finalised sale on 30 December.
Nebraska Corn Processing bought the plant for more than $30 million (€20.8 million) in a bankruptcy auction.
Mid-America Agri Products filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last Q3, several... [Read More]
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Jan 4, 2010
Struggling Swiss biodiesel producer Biopetrol has received a helping hand from fellow national commodities trader Glencore.
The trader has taken a majority stake in Biopetrol Industries, which underwent financial restructuring earlier this year.
‘The changes in market conditions in the biofuels industry have made it necessary to achieve further economies of scale and... [Read More]
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Jan 4, 2010
Houston, Texas-based Renewable Biofuels has idled its 180 million gallon a year biodiesel fuel plant in Port Neches, just a year after it opened.
The company says the decision became unavoidable after Congress failed to renew a tax credit of $1 (€0.69) per gallon for the alternative fuel on 31 December.
The credit gave a dollar to refiners for every gallon of biodiesel... [Read More]
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Dec 31, 2009
Upson County in Georgia, US, will be home to a new biorefinery demonstration plant as a result of the partnership between Diamond Alternative Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Valero Energy, and consulting firm American Process (API).
The opening of the new facility, expected around the first quarter of 2010, represents the creation of 25-30 jobs in Thomaston and... [Read More]
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Dec 30, 2009
France’s government-funded technological research organisation CEA – Atomic Energy Commission, now renamed the Atomic and Alternative Energy Commission – is launching a biomass to liquids (BTL) project in north-east France.
The Bure Saudron pilot will demonstrate a complete BTL production chain, which involves gathering and conditioning of biomass, gasification,... [Read More]
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Dec 30, 2009
The Indian government has given its consent to the National Policy on Biofuels, a move which will open doors to greater funding in the green fuel sector.
There will be a commissioning of National Biofuel Fund and a Biofuel Coordination Committee headed by the Prime Minister.
India wants to cut its dependence on hydrocarbon and coal, 70% of which is derived from imports.... [Read More]
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Dec 29, 2009
In Brazil Petrobras’ biofuels arm Petrobras Biocombustivel has acquired a 40.4% stake in Total Agroindustria Canavieira.
The $84 million (€58 million) move enables Petrobras Biocombustivel, originally a biodiesel producer, to enter the ethanol business.
Total runs an ethanol mill in the city of Bambui, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, with total capacity of... [Read More]
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Dec 29, 2009
In Argentina, Ledesma has announced it will invest $37 million (€25.8 million) to produce ethanol from sugarcane.
The sum will enhance sugarcane cultivation, expand a distillery, and install a dehydrator to produce ethanol for the Argentine market.
The initiative is part of the $222 million investment package planned by the agro-industrial complex for 2008-2011.... [Read More]
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Dec 29, 2009
In Japan an affiliate of Toyota Motor corporation will grow jatropha to use its oil as an alternative fuel in 2010.
Toyota Tsusho is in negotiations with a Philippine banana plantation to introduce the non-edible feedstock. Toyota Tsusho bought a stake in Singapore-based seed researcher JOIL(S) this year to develop a better plant after erratic yields prompted BP and rivals... [Read More]