Other News

Anellotech has developed proprietary technology to extend catalyst lifetime in its Bio-TCat process for low cost conversion of biomass into valuable aromatic chemicals and renewable fuels. The new MinFree technology reduces mineral (ash) content of biomass feedstocks, thereby enabling economic catalyst lifetimes. “This is a breakthrough innovation for the industry and vital to technological…
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A new biocrude and biofuels laboratory has opened in Queensland, Australia, on the site of the Northern Oil advanced biofuels pilot plant in Gladstone. Southern Oil and JJ Richards & Sons, joint venture partners in the Northern Oil Refinery at Yarwun, near Gladstone, built the multi-million dollar laboratory with funding support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). ARENA…
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German biofuels producer CropEnergies has increased its forecast for revenue growth next year on the back of strong third quarter results, In the first nine months of the financial year 2016/17, the company generated revenues of €558 million, which were slightly above the previous year’s level. This was possible because of a jump in revenues to €215 (previous year: €168m) in…
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Borregaard and Rayonier Advanced Materials announced that the companies have secured the necessary approvals from their boards of directors and the appropriate permits to proceed with the investment for construction of a new lignin facility at RYAM’s Fernandina Beach site in Florida. The venture, named LignoTech Florida (LTF), will serve the growing global demand for natural lignin-based…
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Eleven oil-making countries, who are not members of the Opec (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) oil cartel, have agreed to cut their output to boost prices. The news will be welcome by the biofuels industry as it eases pressure on the sector. The group of states, which includes Russia, said on 10 December that they will cut supplies by 558,000 barrels per day. Opec announced last…
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The US state of Maine has launched a new initiative called the Maine Born Global Challenge to help support and finance bio-based projects. The initiative covers a wide range of sectors including biomass handling and biofuels. Under the scheme, companies of complementary technologies will be grouped into project teams, assigned to specific power plant locations, given funding for…
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Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Vinod Khosla, Jack Ma, John Doerr and 15 other high-profile investors have formed a new venture firm, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, that will pour at least $1 billion (€943,000,00m) into cleantech companies over the next 20 years. The firm’s goal, according to its own website will be: “to provide everyone in the world with access to reliable,…
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Three members of the Governor’s Biofuel Coalition sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump thanking him for his repeated statements of support for biofuels and the renewable fuels standard (RFS) during the US presidential campaign. The letter signed by Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard. “We are very encouraged…
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French waste management specialist Suez and oil giant Total have teamed up to collect and recycle used cooking oil in France. As part of their ten-year partnership, Suez will supply 20,000 metric tonnes of used cooking oil a year to Total. Collected throughout France, the oil will be processed into biofuel at Total’s La Mede biorefinery. In response to growing demand for…
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US ethanol producer and marketer Pacific Ethanol has announced a series of agreements to refinance debt and acquire ownership in a grain elevator in Nebraska. The company is refinancing its $155.1 million (€ 146.1m) principal term debt, due in September 2017. The deals include a new $64-million five-year term amortising loan from CoBank and First Farm Credit plus a revolving credit line…
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A majority of American voters believe that shifting the point of obligation under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) from refiners to wholesalers and fuel retailers would harm the US economy, according to a survey released today by NATSO, the national trade association representing truckstops and travel plazas, the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America (SIGMA), and the National…
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As part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan to cut carbon pollution and create clean energy jobs, US Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell has announced new steps with Western states to encourage the development of renewable power, efficiently deliver that electricity to market, and meet growing consumer demands for clean energy.  Under a Memorandum of Understanding…
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More than one-fifth of the US population lives in a state with a goal of at least 50% renewable energy, according to the Fourth Annual Energy Report released by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). According to this new report, entitled Accelerating into a Clean Energy Future, America’s transition to a clean energy economy is irrevocably underway and delivering deep pollution…
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