Latest News

Enerkem has made three separate announcements relating to development plans in China. Firstly the waste-to-biofuels and chemicals producer announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Shanghai Environmental Group, a municipal solid waste (MSW) company and subsidiary of Shanghai Chengtou Holding, to develop a project partnership to build a municipal solid waste-to-biofuels and…
Read More

Renewable Energy Group (REG) has finished upgrades to its 30 MMgy biodiesel biorefinery in Mason City, Iowa, US, which enables the plant to produce biofuel from a number of diverse raw materials. Work on the $20 million (€16 million) project started approximately one year ago, shortly after plant operations were restarted, following REG's acquisition in July 2013. In addition to the refined…
Read More

Evogene, specialists in the improvement of crop productivity and economics for the food, feed and biofuel industries, has completed its expansion of crop protection activities at its facility in Rehovot, Israel. The facilities will support research and development activities for Evogene's product programmes, which focus on fungi, insect and weed control. The field of crop protection is a major…
Read More

Howard Tenens and Prins Autogas are the first companies to successfully convert a Mercedes-Benz Actros Euro 6 type vehicle to run on duel fuel, compressed natural gas and diesel. The new technology delivers a solution to the problem in adapting a Euro 6 type vehicle to run using the carbon saving technology. Howard Tenens, a UK-based logistics company, approached Prins to provide a solution to…
Read More

As the first African Sustainable Transport Forum took place in Nairobi, Kenya, on 28 October, Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA), which promote biofuel friendly policies internationally, called on forum attendees to adopt biofuels friendly policies and regulations that would encourage the increased use of sustainable biofuels in Africa’s transport sector. Earlier in the year, the GRFA…
Read More

From November, Malaysia will lift its biodiesel mandate from 5% to 7%. The world's second largest palm grower hopes to lower stocks and raise prices that have dropped more than 20% this year, while increasing the domestic consumption of palm-based biodiesel. The government hopes that the higher mandate for the subsidised sector will help reduce the country’s reliance on…
Read More

Renewable fuels company BlueFire Renewables has received a letter of intent (LOI) from the Export Import Bank of China (China EXIM) to provide up to $270 million (€212.7 million) in debt financing for its bioenergy project in Fulton, Mississippi. 'There are significant opportunities for replicating the BlueFire Fulton size or larger facilities in China and the US to deal with problematic…
Read More

A new 50 MW power plant in Oahu, Hawaii, will run on a biofuel blend, which will include liquid fuels and natural gas. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) will soon become available on the island as part of Oahu's plan to lower its reliance on oil and coal. Helsinki-based Wärtsilä Corporation will supply the plant to Hawaiian Electric Company. The project currently awaits approval by the Hawaii…
Read More

Quad County Corn Processors (QCCP), Galva, Iowa, has received EPA certification to generate D3 Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) for cellulosic ethanol produced using Cellerate process technology. Delayne Johnson, CEO, QCCP, says the move will prevent the biofuels industry from arguing a lack of D3 RINS are present to justify Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume obligation requirements. A…
Read More

A new plant producing Exilva microfibrillar cellulose (MFC) will be built at the Borregaard site in Sarpsborg, Norway. Borregaard's Board of Directors has decided to invest NOK 225 million (€27 million) in the facility. Exilva MFC is based on natural and renewable raw materials. It has the potential to replace products derived from petrochemicals, and organic solvent systems can also be…
Read More

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is suing the US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to provide documents relating to the oil industry's attempts to affect the outcome of the 2014 renewable fuel standard (RFS). Last May, CREW asked for an investigation by the EPA's Office of Inspector General and filed a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain records…
Read More

Renewable fuel producer Crimson Renewable Energy is retrofitting its Bakersfield, California, US biodiesel plant. Retrofitting the plant will modernise its capabilities, increase the plant's capacity to 75,000 tonnes a year and ensure waste materials are processed efficiently and sustainably into low carbon biodiesel transportation fuel. The plant, which has been operating since 2010, uses…
Read More