Other News

Climate policies will continue chipping away at fossil fuels’ role as the mainstay of global energy use, despite Donald Trump's appointment as US president in 2017, according to a new report by The Economist Intelligence Unit. The report expects that while the election of Trump as US president is not likely to halt the gradual transition towards cleaner energy globally, it will…
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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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A new competitor to biofuels may be creeping up from the left field in the form of hydrogen-powered vehicles, which are breaking into the UK market. Arcola Energy, the UK’s hydrogen energy specialists, have sold or leased 32 of Renault’s Kangoo ZE-H2 electric vans with fuel cell range extender produced by Symbio FCell, making it the largest hydrogen vehicle fleet in the UK. According…
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Biofuels producer Gevo announced that gasoline blended with its isobutanol and marketed for use in automobiles has begun to be sold in Texas, Houston, US.   This marks the first time that Gevo’s isobutanol has been specifically targeted towards on-road vehicles, the company said in a statement. Previously, Gevo and its partners have focused on specialty markets such as…
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US biofuels company Gevo has announced that the first commercial flight using Gevo's cellulosic renewable alcohol-to-jet fuel (ATJ) is expected to take place today originating in Seattle and flying to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Previously, on 11 October 2016, Gevo announced that it had completed production of the world's first cellulosic renewable jet fuel that is specified for…
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Five new global companies have joined the sustainable fuels initiative called below50, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) has said. The companies are LGE Fund, Scania, United Airlines, UPM and UPS. These companies are some of the world’s largest investors in below50 fuels, investing in more than 100 million gallons annually. Their long-term commitment to…
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Six UK-based development and environmental organisations, including Greenpeace and Christian Aid, are calling on the Chancellor of Exchequer to use his Autumn Statement to announce new investment on low-carbon infrastructure. The groups announced this call in a new study they published showing how far the government has to go to reach a low-carbon energy, transport and heating shift. While…
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Denmark-based Novozymes will be establishing a new enzyme production facility near Mumbai on India’s west coast. With an initial investment of approximately DKK 300 million (Rs. 300 crore) the company plans to establish a new enzyme production and supply chain plant that is expected to be ready for operation in 2018 and will employ 150 people in the first phase. “We see a big…
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EXCLUSIVE - The European Commission (EC) is set to publish phase two of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) on 30 November and may set out plans to phase out crop-based biofuels from 2021. Market analyst Platts stated the news in a biofuels webinar, held on 17 November, 2016. During its webinar, a Platts spokesman said the company had viewed a draft EC document on the post-2020 renewables…
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Global Bioenergies, a French renewable fuels firm, has completed the construction of its Leuna demo plant in eastern Germany that converts renewable resources into high-purity isobutene for use in a number of industries, including the fuel sector. The plant will be switched on over the coming weeks after it secures a certificate from German authority TUeV, Rick Bockrath, Global Bioenergies’…
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Sweetwater Energy, a New York-based renewable biochemical producer, announced that it has signed a conditional lease with Eastman Business Park to locate a green integrated biochemical facility in the park. The $53-million facility will use local timber to produce high-value industrial biochemicals and clean-fibre products. The lease is contingent upon the Finger Lakes Regional Economic…
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The European Commission’s (EC) leaked draft proposal to continue supporting first-generation biofuels until 2030 will increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from European transport over the period 2021-2030 by an amount equivalent to the emissions from the Netherlands in 2014, according to environmental campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E). These are extra emissions from…
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