Other News

Japan Airlines (JAL) will be the first airline to conduct a demonstration flight using camelina-based biofuel, planned for 30 January 2009 at Haneda Airport, Tokyo. A blend of 50% biofuel and 50% traditional Jet-A jet (kerosene) fuel will be tested in one of the four Pratt & Whitney JT9D engines of a JAL-owned Boeing 747-300 aircraft. The biofuel component to be used will be a mixture of…
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Air New Zealand has postponed its biofuel test flight planned for Wednesday 3 December after an Airbus crash last week near France. The two-hour test flight, now scheduled for January, will use a jatropha-based fuel, which has been certified by engine maker Rolls-Royce. Air NZ will confirm the revised date later this week. ‘The full efforts and resources of Air NZ will be focused over the…
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The Canadian province of Alberta will implement renewable fuel standards as part of a provincial energy strategy. Beginning in 2010 Alberta will require regular fuel to contain 5% ethanol, and diesel to contain 2% renewable diesel. The blending requirements are in line with federal standards to reduce carbon emissions. The province has set aside CA$239 million (€140 million) to support the…
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One of the world's most energy-efficient ethanol plants is set for start-up in Norrköping, Sweden. Sweden-based manufacturer Lantmännen Agroetanol will produce more than 3 million litres of ethanol a week, using technology from Vogelbusch, making it the largest ethanol plant in north Europe. Initially the plant was due to come on line before the end of 2008, but is now likely to reach…
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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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