Other News

Land O’Lakes, a US agribusiness, has acquired California-based biotechnology firm Ceres. Ceres will become part of Land O'Lakes' forage business unit currently comprised of Forage Genetics International (FGI). Ceres develops and produces seeds of genetically modified crops used for biofuels production. The transaction brings new advanced plant breeding and biotechnology to FGI's research…
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UPS, a package delivery giant, has announced that it will invest more than $750 million (€670m) for its alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles by the end of 2016. It also announced that it has successfully completed one billion miles in its ‘rolling laboratory' fleet of electric, hybrid, natural gas, and biofuel-powered delivery vehicles. The company announced these measures…
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Renewable Energy Group (REG), a US-based biofuels producer, reported second-quarter net income of $6.9 million, after reporting a loss in the same period a year earlier. The Ames, Iowa-based company said it had net income of 16 cents per share, for the period ended 30 June, 2016. It posted a net loss of $2 million in Q2 2015. The biodiesel producer posted revenue of $558.3 million in the…
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There are a number of gaps in the European Commission’s existing biofuels sustainability certification framework and this could undermine the basis of the EU’s 2020 targets for renewable energy in transport, according to a new report from the European Court of Auditors. Under the Renewable Energy Directive, EU Member States can only use biofuels certified as sustainable to reach their…
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A new project to develop technology to drive forward an algae-based biorefinery which aims to develop and validate technological processes designed to obtain biodiesel through algae cultivation has been launched with €1.4 million of European funding. A consortium of six R&D centres in the Basque Autonomous Community, Navarre and France -NEIKER-Tecnalia, National Centre of Renewable…
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The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking applications for funding to help support the development of advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals and bio-based products, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced. "The bioeconomy is a catalyst for economic development in rural America, creating new jobs and providing new markets for farmers and ranchers," Vilsack said. He added:…
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Independent refiner Valero Energy Corp. said its biofuel blending costs more than tripled to $173 million (€157m) for the second quarter of 2016, primarily due to its purchase of Renewable Identification Numbers (RIN) credits. The group announced the statement in its second-quarter 2016 results. The US-based RFS programme requires oil refiners and importers to blend more renewable fuel or…
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Renewable diesel producer Neste has been selected as the environmental partner for Finland’s Flow Festival for the third year running. The Finnish company will provide its green fuel, named Neste Renewable Diesel, made from wastes and residues, to the festival. The diesel will be used to create electricity. Most of the electricity required for the festival will come from generators, as the…
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Industry giants such as GE Marine, Mitsubishi Corporation and Shell have launched a new cross-industry initiative to accelerate the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel. Other coalition members of SEALNG are the Port of Rotterdam, Carnival Corporation & plc, DNV GL, ENGIE, ENN, GTT, Lloyd’s Register, NYK Line, Qatargas, TOTE Inc and…
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The University of West England is working with waste-to-energy specialist Recycling Technologies to test if a fuel, called Plaxx,  made from mixed plastic waste can be used to power ship engines.  The UK-based research, funded by Innovate UK and ESPRC will be led by Associate Professor Farid Dailami, Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL), in partnership with Recycling Technologies,…
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Production of biofuels has been a key factor behind the growth of food commodity demand over the past decade, according to a new report from the World Bank. The World Bank recently unveiled its Commodity Markets Outlook report, looking at energy and food prices. The report maintains that global energy prices declined 45% in 2015 and are projected to drop another 16% in 2016. Even though the…
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Scientists from the US-based Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have discovered why the cyanobacteria called Synechococcus 7002 can produce high concentrations of biofuels. The organism, commonly called a blue-green algae, triples in size to accommodate a rapid expansion of the cellular machinery it uses to build proteins, the workhorses of cells, according to the researchers. The…
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The UK’s new Prime Minister Theresa May has scrapped the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in her Cabinet reshuffle. DECC policy areas will now move to the new Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The energy portfolio will now be led by former Communities Secretary Greg Clark. A DECC spokesman confirmed to Biofuels International that DECC policy areas will…
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