Renewable Energy Group's wholly-owned subsidiary, REG European Holdings, has completed the acquisition of IC Green Energy's (ICG) majority equity ownership position in German biodiesel producer Petrotec. The US advanced biofuels producer and developer of renewable chemicals' subsidiary purchased ICG's 69% equity ownership in Petrotec for $20.9 million (€18 million),... [Read More]

A small fire broke out at Didion Ethanol's plant in Cambria, Wisconsin, US, which resulted in a brief evacuation. The fire ignited at approximately 4am on 28 December inside the ethanol plant. Only a small crew of workers was on duty at the time and all were evacuated. The plant's operations then resumed about two hours later. Company officials are investigating how the... [Read More]

The joint project focuses on the development of an integrated, sustainable biorefinery for local lignocellulosic feedstocks. Russian and Indian scientists will join forces to develop technologies for producing fuels and chemicals from biomass within a 3-year period for a biorefinery project. Representatives of the Institute of Catalysis, Siberian Branch of the Russian... [Read More]

A new report by Allied Market Research, a market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics, called 'Global Second Generation Biofuels - Size, Industry Analysis, Trends, Opportunities, Growth and Forecast, 2013 – 2020', states that the global second generation biofuels market will reach $23.9 billion (€20 billion) by 2020, registering a Compound... [Read More]

Predictions suggest that by 2017, up to 180 companies are expected to produce 1.7 billion gallons of advanced biofuel, doubling current capacity, according to a new market report released by the national nonpartisan business group Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2). North America's advanced biofuel industry reached over 800 million gallons in production capacity in 2014,... [Read More]

The American Soybean Association (ASA) emphasises the industry's support for the establishment of a tax extenders package. It is calling for its members to contact their senators and representatives to extend the $1 (€0.80) per gallon biodiesel tax credit, bring back the  maximum $500,000 expensing, which was available in 2013, and restore the expired 50% bonus... [Read More]

Researchers at KU Leuven's Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, in Belgium, have found a way to turn sawdust into building blocks for petrol. Adopting a new chemical process, the scientists can convert the cellulose in sawdust into hydrocarbon chains. These hydrocarbons are then used as an additive in petrol. These findings were then reported in the Energy &... [Read More]

Investor Brooke Renewables will provide up to $1 billion (€800,000) over a five-year period to build a facility that converts inedible crops into green fuel. Brooke Renewables, a venture comprising of Hock Lee Group, Brooke Asia and Biochemtex, will build a second-generation bioethanol and biochemical plant in Sarawak. The 'Sarawak biomass hub' will be the first commercial... [Read More]

Global energy producer Total is preparing to convert sugars from plant waste to operate as fuel in aircrafts while cutting greenhouse gases. Commercial production of transportation fuel made from plant waste has been realised in the US, Brazil and Europe. As a result, Total is now searching for ways to develop technologies to extract maximum amounts of sugar from... [Read More]

China imported 51,507 tonnes of biodiesel in October, down 58.32% from September, data released by the General Administration of Customs shows. The country's main source of palm methyl ester is exported from Indonesia. These figures fell 56% month on month to 46,500 tonnes in October, while UCO methyl ester exports from Hong Kong fell 28.17% to 4,972 tonnes. PME shipments... [Read More]

Highlands EnviroFuels has signed a letter of intent with Gevo to become a licensee producing renewable isobutanol. Ethanol producer Highlands Envirofuels will build a commercial-scale syrup mill in Highlands County, Florida. The plant will have a production capacity of approximately 200,000 tonnes per year of fermentable sugar. The facility will process locally grown sugarcane... [Read More]

A jury has ordered an Irish investor to pay $2 million in damages to an Iowa, US, doctor who was eliminated from an ethanol development in eastern Europe. Branimir Catipovic, a doctor at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Iowa, claimed unjust enrichment against Mark Turley, which was proven following a long civil trial. Catipovic's claim of breach of contract was rejected. After... [Read More]

Renewable fuel producer Pacific Ethanol has been awarded $3 million (€2.4 million) to develop grain sorghum as a low-carbon feedstock. The research will take place at its plants in Stockton and Madera in a bid to replace a percentage of the corn that is used. The renewable energy producer's award is part of $7.7 million awarded in grants by the California Energy Commission... [Read More]

The Obama administration has further delayed its decision on whether to lower the amount of ethanol contained in the US's fuel supply.After months of delay, a final decision was due to be delivered by the end of the year, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed that this will not be made until 2015.In 2014 the EPA suggested reducing the amount of ethanol... [Read More]