Other News

Science-based products and services company DuPont has entered into a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Danisco, a global enzyme and speciality food ingredients company. The transaction would see DuPont acquire Danisco for $5.8 billion (€4.4 billion) cash. It will also take on Danisco’s net debt of $500 million. Speaking about the deal DuPont’s chair and CEO Ellen…
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After almost two years since operations ceased at biofuels producer Abengoa Bioenergy’s ethanol plant in Portales, New Mexico in the US, the facility has now restarted. The plant has a 27 million gallon a year output capacity, producing ethanol from sorghum and milo. Located just 20 miles from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, California and Texas are the facility’s key…
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Operations have started at a biodiesel production facility in Groveland, Florida, US. Owned by Greenwave Biodiesel, a key player in Florida's emerging biofuels industry, the plant has already produced its first batch of ASTM-certified biodiesel and is now preparing to begin production at commercial-scale. The plant is fitted with technology provider Raptor Fabrication's production system, which…
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Oil major BP has been forced to replace its ethanol-blended petrol (E10) in Queensland, Australia, due to severe flooding in the state. From 17 January 2011 Regular Unleaded 91 will take the place of E10, as the Queensland-based biofuel supplier cannot continue to deliver. Over 75% of Queensland, a state larger than California and Texas combined, has been declared a disaster zone.
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Severe flooding in Colombia in December last year has led to a loss of $29 million (€21.77 million) for the country's ethanol industry. Six ethanol refineries were also forced to close down throughout December, after sugarcane fields were immersed in water and access to harvesting equipment was restricted. Speaking about the flooding, which first hit the nation back in mid-November, Jorge…
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It has been over three years since the mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newsom announced that the 1,500 city-owned diesel-powered vehicles had been converted to run on B20 – a blend of 80% conventional diesel and 20% biodiesel. However for a minimum of 12 months, while around 50% of Muni’s buses have been using B20, the remaining buses and the Department of Public Works trucks have been running…
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In Hawaii, power company Hawaiian Electric Industries' (HEI) subsidiary Hawaiian Electric is to generate electricity from biofuel sourced from locally grown materials. Aina Koa Pono will provide the biofuels, which will be supplied to the Ka'u region-based 80MW Keahole Power Plant. The new contract will help Hawaii reach its clean energy target of 70% renewable electricity by 2030. 30% of the…
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The $12 billion (€9.1 billion) joint venture between Brazilian sugar and ethanol company Cosan Indústria e Comércio and oil major Royal Dutch Shell has been cleared by the European Commission. The approval was granted on the 4 January 2011, following a binding agreement which both companies signed in August last year. Shell and Cosan will together produce and commercialise ethanol and…
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UK-based storage operator Oikos has revealed it is to upgrade its fuel terminal on Canvey Island, facing opposition from campaigners. The terminal has yet to hold its forward strategy meeting, so is unable to reveal any further details. Campaigners against the project, The People Against Methane Group, believe there are not enough emergency services facilities on the island to deal with any…
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In the European Commission’s report on indirect land use change (ILUC) relating to biofuels and bioliquids, the Commision recognises that GHG emissions savings with regards to biofuels are in fact reduced by ILUC. However the Commission also points out that there are uncertainties with the existing models for the impact of biomass on agricultural markets. According to the report, it is now to…
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A new company has been set up in Australia that will produce biofuels from algae at commercial-scale. Muradel Pty is a joint venture between Murdoch University, Adelaide Research and Innovation Pty, and SQC Pty. Murdoch University will bring to the company its knowledge in the commercial production of algae and algae production, while engineering expertise in algal processing lies with the…
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The Oil Independence for a Stronger America Act of 2010 has been introduced in the US by Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash) and Mike Castle (R-Del). According to The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), an organisation representing over 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centres and related organisations across the US and in more than 30 other nations, the…
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Green Plains Renewable Energy, the fourth largest ethanol producer in the US, has signed an asset purchase agreement with Otter Tail Ag Enterprises to acquire its 55 million gallon-a-year capacity dry-mill ethanol plant near Fergus Falls, Minnesota. The proposed transaction is anticipated to progress through a court-approved bankruptcy processing initiated by Otter Tail Ag Enterprises. If…
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