Other News

Researchers at Washington State University Tri-Cities in the US have been awarded a National Science Foundation I-Corps grant to explore the market potential of their jet biofuel research. The team has successfully demonstrated a new, water-based process for deconstructing and recovering lignin from biomass and converting it into jet fuel-range hydrocarbons, which could be certified as jet fuel…
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Monsanto and Novozymes are introducing a new corn inoculant Acceleron B-300 SAT to solve issues with spore stability through the BioAg Alliance. Derived from a fungus found in soil, Acceleron B-300 SAT inoculant is the first “upstream” corn inoculant ever developed.   Tests have shown a two-year average yield advantage of more than three bushels per acre, and it will be applied…
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Global Bioenergies, a French renewable fuels company, has received an official permit to commence operations at its Leuna demo plant from TÜV, the main state certification agency in Germany. The company converts renewable resources into high-purity isobutene for use in a number of industries, including the fuel sector. The clearance from the TÜV was obtained for the fermentation area…
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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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Leaf Resources, an Australia-based biochemicals company, has announced a collaboration with Novozymes, a Denmark-based industrial enzymes producer, to further increase the yields and efficiency associated with Leaf Resources’ biomass conversion technology. Leaf Resources’ Glycell process converts plant biomass into industrial sugars — a key component used to create sustainable…
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Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) will use a by-product from its corn processing facility in Decatur, US, to produce a renewable natural gas, which will be distributed by Ameren Illinois into the nation’s natural gas infrastructure. “We’re proud to work with Ameren Illinois on this innovative project,” said Colin Graves, project manager for ADM. “Consumers and the…
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Consumers are willing to pay more for second-generation biofuels than conventional fuel, according to a new study from Washington State University. In fact, the study found that consumers are willing to pay 11% more over traditional fuel.  “We were surprised the premium was that significant,” said Jill McCluskey, WSU professor in the School of Economic Sciences. “We wanted…
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Finnish forest industry company UPM has become member of RSB, the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials. RSB is a global standard and certification scheme for sustainable production of biomaterials and biofuels. It is also an independent multi-stakeholder coalition, which works to support the sustainability of biomaterials. RSB is considered one of the strongest sustainability schemes, verifying…
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US speciality chemical producer Solenis and Hydrite Chemical Co. have announce dthe resolution of pending legal actions filed by Hydrite against Solenis regarding Solenis’ patents for using polysorbate as an additive for corn oil extraction aids. As a result of the settlement, Solenis has licensed the use of its corn oil extraction technology to Hydrite. Under the license agreement, Hydrite…
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Ecologist, environmental policy analyst and former Ontario Environment Commissioner Gord Miller has criticised Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission’s anti-biofuels report titled Course Correction. Miller's report, Staying the Course, rejects Ecofiscal's data, methodology and conclusions. According to the Ecofiscal report, provincial and federal production subsidies should be…
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The UK’s Department of Transport has published a consultation on the future of renewable transport, setting out long-term targets towards 2030. The consultation proposes capping crop-based fuels to below EU levels. It also introduces a new sub-target for development fuels such as biomethane, hydrogen and aviation fuels. Some of the proposals include the following: Raise the Renewable…
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The European Commission has released its long-awaited revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED) and proposed the phase-out of food crop-based biofuels from 2021. The EC also wants to simultaneously introduce a sub-mandate for advanced biofuels. It also proposes to introduce a new sustainability criterion on forest biomass. It proposes an obligation on European transport fuel suppliers to provide…
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The European biofuels industry has sharply criticised the European Commission’s revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED). The EC has made plans to minimise Indirect Land-Use Change (ILC) impacts. In relation to this, the revised RED will introduce a cap on the contribution of food-based biofuels towards the EU renewable energy target, starting at 7% in 2021 and going down progressively to…
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