Other News

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Food for Progress programme has funded a biodiesel facility in Guatemala. The Biodiesel Mazat Agui facility in the country’s coastal region of Escuintla began operations this month. The Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture at Texas A&M University was also involved in establishing the cooperative biodiesel plant, which will use…
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The EU reached a deal on 9 December on the renewable energy targets it will adopt under its climate change action plan. A spokeswoman for the European Parliament confirmed that a preliminary deal had been reached between parliament and the European Council of member states that would retain the proposed target of ensuring renewable energy makes up 20% of the union's energy mix by…
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New York-headquartered clean technology development company GreenShift has received a $38 million (€26 million) investment to produce biodiesel from corn oil extracted from ethanol plants. GreenShift will receive the investment in a new GreenShift joint venture subsidiary that will use the proceeds to build 12 corn oil extraction facilities and to expand the capacity of GreenShift's…
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The value of forestry land in the UK has more than doubled since 2003, and land values remain strong, partly due to the growth of biomass-fuelled power stations. The 2008/09 Forest Market Report published by UK woodland management company UPM Tilhill and estate agent Savills found that wood-fired plants at Shotton, Teesside and Lockerbie, alongside new projects underway such as Tullis Russell…
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Escalating demand for E10 fuel in Jamaica has driven plans to expand the market. ‘We intend to have at least some Petcom stations providing up to E85 in the coming year,’ Ministry of Energy Portfolio Minister Clive Mullings says. Demand for E10 ethanol blended petrol has nearly tripled the projected 3,000 barrels, with calls for 8,000 barrels a week. The market's response to the fuel…
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In an effort to turn around the turbulent US economy, President-elect Barack Obama could introduce a $500 billion (€380 billion) stimulus package with 10% directed towards renewable energy. The stimulus plan would spend around half a trillion dollars over two years on tax-rebates and an array of green projects, such as building biomass or co-fired renewable energy plants, and could ramp up the…
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Continental Airlines will conduct the first algae- and jatropha-based biofuel-powered demonstration flight of a US commercial airliner in Houston on 7 January. Continental is partnering with Boeing; CFM International, a 50/50 joint company of General Electric and Snecma; refining technology developer UOP, a Honeywell company; algae oil provider Sapphire Energy; and jatropha oil provider…
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Oil firm Chevron Philippines will invest $20 million (€15.2 million) to increase the production of a petrol product blended with 10% ethanol, anticipating an increase in demand for biofuels. The oil firm is seeking to increase the number of stations that carry its E-10 brand to 35 from the existing 22 now. It hopes to hike this further to 400 retail stations by February, brand manager of…
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A partnership between General Atomics and Eastern Kentucky University could provide the basis for a new and sustainable fuel production industry in Kentucky. With the establishment of the Eastern Kentucky University Center for Renewable and Alternative Fuel Technologies (CRAFT), researchers will examine the potential for a cellulose-derived biodiesel industry in the state. By using algae…
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ExxonMobil has begun mixing petroleum-derived and renewable diesel fuels at its 15-acre Spokane Terminal in Washington. The facility is ExxonMobil’s first biodiesel blending facility in the US. The $3.1 million (€2.35 million) blending operation was build after the 2006-announced Washington state law that requires 2% of diesel fuel an oil company sells in the state be biodiesel. The…
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Pennsylvania, US-based Thar Technologies plans to build a biodiesel plant in Rajasthan, India, using the region's karanj and jatropha crops. Karanj is a herb commonly found in India. The region has a policy to give 30% of wasteland to private companies seeking to grow the two biodiesel feedstocks. Thar plans to grow some of its own feedstock and buy the rest from area farmers. The company…
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A total of 8,900 biogas plants will be built in 2009 generating 2,700 megawatts (MW) of electricity worldwide. Globally, Asia is leading with 34% of total capacity and Europe with 26%, followed by NAFTA and others, a survey conducted by Helmut Kaiser Consultancy in November says. Biogas from by-products and combinations is the most efficient form of renewable energy and therefore not affected…
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New Zealand will repeal a requirement for biofuel blends and implement tax breaks on fuels derived from proven sustainable sources instead. The fuel sale directive, rising to 2.5% of annual sales by 2012, will be revoked under legislation to be voted on later this week, Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee says. Retailers will continue to sell blended products and the government will prepare tax…
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Malaysia’s transport and industrial sectors will run mandatorily on biodiesel from January 2010, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui has announced. From February 2009, government vehicles will start using biodiesel with the Envo Diesel Esther (B5) brand, a blend of 5% palm oil and 95% diesel. ‘We expect that by 2010 an estimated 500,000 tonnes of…
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