Other News

Less than one month after it sold its stake in Germany-based biomass to liquid (BTL) producer Choren, energy major Shell forecasts a more distant commercial reality for advanced biofuels. Since the turn of the twenty-first century it was widely believed that by 2010 advanced fuels such as BTL, biobutanol and biomethanol would become widely commercial. Now Shell CEO Peter Voser says these fuels…
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A biodiesel plant in Washington, US, was the scene of a ferocious explosion that forced the evacuation of several businesses nearby. All plant workers are safe and have been accounted for. Experts are now assessing the damage, determining what caused the blast. The Imperium Renewables Biodiesel refinery stores thousands of gallons of dangerous materials. The explosion apparently occurred when…
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The US state of New Jersey is well on its way to biofuels mandates after it recently increased biodiesel blending capabilities from 5% to 30%. Norman Woolley Jr, of New Jersey’s Woolley Fuels, stated that biofuels mandates in the state are ‘around the corner’. Woolley said: ‘We’re trying to stay ahead of the curve and were the first to put in a biodiesel pump in New Jersey. It’s…
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Biorefinery projects in the US will receive an investment of nearly $1.3 billion (€877 million) to advance next generation biofuel. Nineteen biorefinery projects will receive $600 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and $700 million from private company investment. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu said: ‘Advanced biofuels are critical to building a cleaner, more…
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After receiving a healthy grant from the Department of Energy, Archer Daniel Midland (ADM) has announced plans to build a biomass facility in the city of Decatur in Illinois, US. According to the Department of Energy, ADM was awarded $24.8 million (€16.8 million) in federal funding for the project and an additional $10.9 million from private sources. Todd Werpy, vice president of Biofuels and…
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Logos technologies and EdeniQ received $20.4 million (€13.8 million) to operate a pilot scale biorefinery plant. The plant will produce low cost ethanol from cellulosic feedstock such as corn stover and switchgrass. EdeniQ CEO Larry Gross says: ‘We are delighted to partner with the DoE to accelerate the development and commercialisation of low cost cellulosic biofuel production. ‘The…
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An energy consultant has predicted that the worldwide demand for biofuels will double by 2015. Tammy Klein, executive director of global biofuels services for Hart Energy Consulting, stated that Asia-Pacific and Latin America would be capable of producing biofuels viewing it as a way to improve rural economies. Klein says: ‘Currently, there is massive overcapacity on a global basis in the…
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Praj Industries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ardent Energy Group Ethiopia and Eco-Energy S.C Ethiopia to target the cultivation and refining of biodiesel from non-food feedstocks. The agreement is based on the EU sustainability criteria and principles on biodiesel. Chairman and CEO of AEG, Daniel Gezahegne says: ‘AEG and Praj are planning to attain 20% biodiesel for…
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The demand for biodiesel in Europe has spurred one Bulgarian port to develop a storage terminal. Infrastructure is being eyed for an imported palm oil storage facility at one of its Black Sea ports. Palm oil will arrive from Indonesia. The nation is conducting market expansion of agricultural products to Europe. Aside from feedstocks that could be used to create biodiesel, Indonesia will…
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Japan’s first cellulosic bioethanol demonstration plant capable of continuous processing is about to launch operation. The facility is located at the Futami Plant of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ Kobe Shipyard & Machinery Works in Hyogo Prefecture. It will produce ethanol, for use in petrol, from rice straw and wheat straw. The companies MHI, Hakutsuru Sake Brewing and Kansai Chemical…
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It has been tested in aeroplanes before, but now biofuels have made new aviation headlines. On Monday 23 November KLM Royal Dutch Airlines transported passengers above the Netherlands for 90 minutes with one engine powered with a 50% mix of biofuel and 50% kerosene, the typical air craft fuel, which fuelled the three other engines. Biofuel used on the flight reduces carbon dioxide emissions by…
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Energy group Mercuria Energy has acquired Germany-based biodiesel refinery 3B Biofuels The refinery has 250,000 tonnes of production capacity. 3B Biofuels will help Mercuria to meet its customers’ need for diesel that is pre-blended with mandatory biofuel components. The plant is a state of the art facility with multi-feedstock technology and was recently upgraded in June 2009. Mercuria…
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Europe may be the world's biodiesel leader and the Americas are second to none for ethanol but another region is growing in status as a biofuels producer. Thailand’s energy minister says the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a biofuels hub with the potential to become the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) of biofuels. Wannarat Channukul says Indonesia…
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