Other News

Next generation biofuel developers Cobalt Technologies has signed a global cooperation and supply agreement with Andritz to produce cellulosic n-butanol. The agreement will integrate Cobalt's lignocellulosic pre-treatment process for the production of n-butanol with Andritz's customised pre-treatment systems. Cobalt's technology naturally converts C5 and C6 sugars into biobutanol, using any…
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Global biofuel output is expected to grow during the period up until 2023, fuelled by a surge in demand, increased crude oil prices and government policies. The rise however, is expected to be lower than in the past decade. In a joint report, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) expect ethanol and biodiesel output to…
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The travel industry intends to answer industry demands to lower taxes on jet fuel. 'We look forward to some fundamental changes that will give the travel and tourism market a big boost. There is a pressing need to review taxes on air travel, which is probably the most heavily-taxed product in the country, where the tax component of airfare often exceeds the underlying price of that ticket,' says…
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Petrobras has announced a joint venture with agricultural research firm Embrapa to expand ethanol production in southern Brazil. The partnership aims to develop varieties of sugarcane that can be adapted to temperate climates, Brazil's federal energy Petrobras said in a statement. The new crop is thought to be resistant to plagues and designed thrive in cool, dry climates. Research will be…
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A quick peek at what you can expect to find in this issue's Biofuels International The July/August issue of Biofuels International is hot off the press and we would like to fill you in on some of the content you can expect to find. This issue's theme is first generation production and we have a number of articles covering this prevalent issue. In this issue's featured article on first generation…
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The US Energy Information Administration has published the July issue of its Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), which increases its 2014 and 2015 ethanol production forecasts for the second month running. The EIA expects ethanol production to average 932,000 barrels per day this year, up from the June forecast of 920,000 barrels per day. In the week beginning the 9 June, the highest weekly level…
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Aemetis has received EPA approval to issue D4 RINs on the importation into the US of biodiesel produced from waste fats and oils (WFO). The EPA also approved the issuance of D6 RINs when biodiesel is produced using other feedstocks. Aemetis built and operates a 50 MMgy biodiesel production facility on the East Coast of India, which has recently achieved International Sustainability and Carbon…
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Two US senators have urged federal regulators to investigate allegations made by a biofuel trade group that the oil industry uses 'strong-arm tactics' to block the extensive use of higher blends of ethanol in petrol. A report produced by the Renewable Fuels Association argues that major oil companies discourage the sale of ethanol by implementing levels of 15% per gallon (E15) and 85% per gallon…
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Algae technology company Heliae has paired up with Japan-based waste management Sincere, to develop a commercial algae production facility in Saga City, Japan. Construction of the Saga City facility by the joint venture, known as Alvita, is expected to start in 2015. The Japanese facility will be designed based on Heliae's first algae production facility located in Gilbert, Arizona, operational…
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Honduras has opened its first ethanol production plant in the city of Catacamas in the department of Colancho. Located at the headquarters of the National Agricultural University, the country's plant is part of a wider initiative led by the Organisation of American States (OAS) to expand biofuels activity within the area. Its development is supported by the Brazilian and US governments, along…
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Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, has sent a letter to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) outlining transportation concerns within the ethanol industry. The move follows a recent order made by the STB, requesting that rail providers clear backlogs of grain orders transported by rail cars, but excluded the poor rail service that is used to deliver ethanol. In the letter, Buis states: 'We…
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The World Bank looks to invest $775 million (€570 million) in the renewable energy segment in India, after the government's newly-announced fiscal and policy reforms. The World Bank is planning to join the government in their focus to invest in the clean energy market. To date, the World Bank has approved two investment projects, a $100 million Himachal Pradesh development policy loan and…
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Dong Energy and Novozymes have been awarded €39 million from the European Union (EU) to build a plant in Denmark. The plant will use straw to produce clean fuel. 'European Union funding is a crucial step, but we also need to be sure we can sell the 80 million litres of second-generation bioethanol that we plan to make,' Jorgen Udby, chairman of the board at Maabjerg Energy, said in a…
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