Other News

Canada-based cellulosic ethanol producer Lignol Energy’s subsidiary Lignol Innovations has successfully completed integrated production campaigns and met operability targets for the production of cellulosic ethanol and lignin with its industrial-scale biorefinery pilot plant in Burnaby, British Columbia. The company made enhancements to its biorefinery pilot plant in late 2009 and over the…
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Covanta, a US company which incinerates municipal solid waste to generate electricity, and its partner Global Energy have completed construction of a commercial pilot municipal solid waste to diesel plant in the US. The two companies signed a contract to set up the plant two and a half years ago. Covanta will operate hundreds of facilities, which will use Global Energy's KDV technology…
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Following US-based Amyris’ advancements in the development of its second generation technology, which uses microorganisms to produce biodiesel from crushing cane, oil group Total wishes to acquire a percentage in the company. Located in France Total is to invest an undisclosed sum to purchase a 17% stake in the biofuels producer as it plans to expand into sustainably-sourced fuels and…
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On 17 July this year a biodiesel project commenced that will see BNSF Railway test Montana, US-made biodiesel produced by biofuels manufacturer Earl Fisher Biofuels. 20% of the fuel will be blended with conventional diesel and used in one of BNSF Railway’s switch engines at the Havre Depot. Throughout the year Montana State University-Northern’s BioEnergy Center will test the biodiesel…
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In Mozambique Petromac, Portugal-based Galp Energia and biodiesel producer Ecomoz have formed Moçamgalp, a consortium that will produce biodiesel from jatropha in a $19 million (€14 million) project in the Manica province. The jatropha plantation will expand no less that 10,000 hectares, with the possibility of later expanding this to 50,000 hectares. Moçamgalp is also looking to expand to…
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With car giants such as Ford, General Motors and Chrysler all aiming to double their production of flex-fuel vehicles in the US by 2012, refining and marketing business Valero Energy is planning to increase the availability of E85 at new Valero Corner Stores. According to Valero, every newly built store will be fitted with E85 pumps, in addition to some existing stores as they are updated and…
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The Japanese government has implemented a set of guidelines that could see the nation cut its CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to levels in 1990. Japan is the fifth largest producer of greenhouse gases in the world and is looking to boost the amount of electricity generated from non-fossil fuels in a bid to cut these emissions by 25% by 2020. Currently just 34% of the country’s…
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Quality standards for aviation jet fuel in both Europe and the US have been amended to set a maximum fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) content of 5ppm. However, following over two years of negotiations, an agreement has been reached between the major engine and aircraft manufacturers and the aviation fuel suppliers to use jet fuel even if it is found to contain FAME up to 30 mg/kg, the…
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US-based renewable energy firm PetroAlgae and Sky Airline, a Chilean airline providing passenger, mail and cargo air transportation services, have entered into a non-binding offtake agreement. Subject to certain conditions, the collaboration will see Sky Airline purchase the fuel feedstock produced by licensees of PetroAlgae’s technology as a feedstock for conversion into renewable jet fuel.…
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Japan-based Itochu Corp is to collaborate with PetroVietnam for the production of bioethanol in Vietnam. Earlier this year the Vietnamese government began testing E5 and is now looking for the ethanol blend to be introduced by 2012. With this in mind, PetroVietnam has developed a project that will see three new bioethanol production facilities come online in two years’ time. These three…
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While northern Europe is shut down following snow showers, it seems poor weather has damaged Brazil’s ethanol industry. Excessive rain has slowed the harvest of sugarcane, reducing supplies. This has led the government to announce it may need to cut the mandatory amount of biofuel mixed in petrol from 25%, as soon as next week. Above-average rainfall in Brazil’s Centre South, the world’s…
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A Californian ethanol plant could soon start grinding again. The former $130 million (€92.2 million) Cilion ethanol plant in Keyes is expected to be in operation again by the end of March after AE Biofuels took up the lease. Leasing the 55 mgy plant will cost $250,000 a month and AE Biofuels plans to install its cellulosic ethanol technology so wheat straw, corn stalks and agricultural waste…
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RWE npower renewables has teamed up with paper maker Tullis Russell to construct a biomass plant. RWE develops renewable energy in the UK and the new biomass plant and will be its biggest plant yet. The facility will use biomass to provide steam and electricity to the company’s power plant. 50MW of energy will be generated, taking the place of the coal-burning plant currently used by…
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The legally binding Recommendation 141, issued by the Bern Convention, is warning that some foreign biofuel crops are having a detrimental effect on the natural environment. It states that certain imported crops are disturbing areas outside of cultivated fields and having a negative impact on native biodiversity. As a result, the Council of Europe has made advances to reduce the potential…
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