Indian ministry test-drives diesel vehicle on algae biofuel
By Ron Kotrba
April 03, 2012
The Indian Ministry of Science and Technology announced on March 30 the government's first test-run of 100 percent algae-derived biodiesel in a Chevrolet Tavera, a diesel multi-utility vehicle made by General Motors for the Indian automotive market.
KiOR President and CEO Fred Cannon addressed FY 2011 and the status of his company's first commercial plant, which is under development in Columbus, Miss. He also noted its next project will be located in Natchez, Miss., rather than Newton, Miss.
Cenusa project promotes regional advanced biofuels development
By Bryan Sims
March 30, 2012
An academic research project led by ISU, coined Cenusa Bioenergy, is linking university researchers with enterprising farmers to create a Midwestern regional system for converting biomass grasses into advanced biofuels using fast pyrolysis.
Roadmap released for Minnesota's advanced biofuels, biochemicals
By The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota
March 30, 2012
The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota released a comprehensive white paper, available for free, detailing the extent and impact of the advanced biofuels and biobased chemicals industry and providing a roadmap for their continued growth in Minnesota.
Myriant develops new product, partners with DaniMer Scientific
By Bryan Sims
March 30, 2012
Myriant noted that it intends to scale-up activities of its new bioacrylic acid in order to provide product samples to downstream customers by the second half of this year. Myriant also announced DaniMer will use its biosuccinic acid in biopolymers.
A new study highlights the important role market forces play in calculating the GHG emissions from woody biomass used for bioenergy applications.
OPXBio hits key production milestone for bioacrylic acid
By Bryan Sims
March 29, 2012
OPXBio achieved a production milestone toward commercialization of its first target market offering, a biobased alternative to petroleum-derived acrylic acid called BioAcrylic, by demonstrating its fermentation process at the 3,000-liter scale.
New biojet legislation in Washington state
By Ron Kotrba
March 29, 2012
Gov. Gregoire signed legislation to complete the biojet supply chain from research to market
A unique algae technology company has been named by the Tulane Entrepreneurs Association and the Freeman School's Levy-Rosenblum Institute for Entrepreneurship as one of six finalists that will compete in the two business plan competitions.
AgEC applauds senators on bill to fund Farm Bill energy title
By Agriculture Energy Coalition
March 29, 2012
AgEC commends several senators for their leadership on new legislation to reauthorize and mandatorily fund the most vital energy programs found in the current Farm Bill. It would serve as basis for the energy title as the new Farm Bill debate begins.
USDA explores alternative energy production at airports
By USDA
March 29, 2012
A study conducted by researchers from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service highlights the potential for alternative energy production at airports. The study findings were published in a recent edition of "Environmental Management."
According to information released by the company, the project with Prime Inc. would include the development of a biodiesel production facility that includes 250 acres of algae production. The budget for the project could be up to $100 million.
BioAmber produces biobased 1,4-Butanediol from biosuccinic acid
By BioAmber Inc.
March 27, 2012
BioAmber Inc. has scaled up its hydrogenation catalyst technology under license from DuPont and converted multiton quantities of biosuccinic acid into 100 percent biobased 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO), tetrahydrofuran (THF) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL).
Researchers from Argonne National Laboratory published a scientific paper that identifies key parameters for algal biofuel production using the GREET model, which models GHG emissions, regulated emissions and energy use for transportation fuels.
More collaborative efforts to expedite biojet commercialization
By Bryan Sims
March 27, 2012
Three of the world's leading airframe manufacturers are setting aside competition in the market to stand united in an effort to seek collaborative opportunities with governments, biofuel producers and other stakeholders for aviation's green future.
Virent biojet from Virdia cellulosic sugars passes rigorous tests
By Bryan Sims
March 26, 2012
Virent Energy Systems Inc. has successfully converted cellulosic pine tree sugar feedstock into drop-in hydrocarbon fuels such as biogasoline and biojet via its BioForming technology platform at its 10,000 gallon per year production facility.
Rivertop contracts with DTI on bioglucarate-based production
By Bryan Sims
March 26, 2012
Rivertop Renewables has successfully scaled its patented process technology from the lab to pilot manufacturing as the Missoula, Mont.-based firm contracted with DanChem Technologies to pilot production of its biobased glucarate-derived products.
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition has released its 2012 Farm Bill platform, which provides suggestions to improve some federal bioenergy programs, including the Repowering Assistance Program and the Biomass Crop Assistance Program.
Amyris, Solazyme partner with Volkswagen on renewable fuel tests
By Bryan Sims
March 22, 2012
Volkswagen of America has partnered with biorefining firms Amyris Inc. and Solazyme Inc. to evaluate emissions reductions and demonstrate the performance of Volkswagen's TDI Clean Diesel technology. Volkswagen is supplying two cars to each company.
Avantium, Danone sign partnership for next-gen bioplastic: PEF
By Avantium
March 22, 2012
Avantium announced its second major partnership for its YXY technology to produce PEF bottles. Danone Research and Avantium signed a joint agreement for the development of PEF bottles for Danone, No. 2 worldwide in bottled water business.
Schaeffer: 'Obama administration ignoring clean diesel'
By Ron Kotrba
March 22, 2012
The White House shouldn't underplay clean diesel's efficiency, power and ultra-low emissions.
Albemarle lands Navy alcohol-to-jet contract using Cobalt butanol
By Bryan Sims
March 22, 2012
The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division awarded a manufacturing contract to global specialty chemical firm and catalyst supplier Albemarle Corp. to complete its first biojet fuel production run based on biobased n-butanol provided by Cobalt.
White House announces new funding for biomass R&D initiative
By The U.S. DOE
March 22, 2012
As Obama went to Ohio State University to discuss the administration's all-out, all-of-the-above strategy for American energy, the White House announced up to $35 million over three years to support research and development in advanced biofuels.
Results of a survey of 100 leaders in the biofuels industry were released in mid-March at the World Biofuels Markets 2012 Congress & Expo in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Trends include a shift to nonfood and waste feedstocks and Asian opportunities.
Mendel Biotechnology, BP Biofuels to conduct miscanthus trials
By Bryan Sims
March 21, 2012
Mendel Biotechnology, together with its wholly owned subsidiary Mendel Bioenergy Seeds, and BP Biofuels have signed a four-year agreement to conduct a demonstration field trial of Mendel's trademarked PowerCane Miscanthus to evaluate as feedstock.
Primus Green Energy Inc. has announced completion of its third round of funding with a recent $12 million investment by IC Green Energy Ltd., the renewable energy arm of Israel Corp. Ltd. Primus Green Energy also hired Robert Johnsen as its new CEO.
Life Technologies Corp. announced the launch of GeneArt Precision TALs, generally referred to as TAL effector proteins, which allow researchers the ability to edit genomes and control gene activity with unprecedented precision and reliability.
The "Washington Forest Biomass Supply Assessment" report describes the contribution that woody biomass byproduct from sustainable forest operations can make in terms of economic development within economic, technological and ecological constraints.
Virent biojet from Virdia cellulosic sugars passes rigorous tests
By Bryan Sims
March 21, 2012
Virent Energy Systems Inc. says the biojet fuel produced from Virdia's cellulosic pine tree sugars was sent to the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio for further analysis, where it passed rigorous testing.
As a result of collaboration between California-based Ceres Inc. and Aberystwyth University in Wales, the first comprehensive genetic map of miscanthus has been published.
Advertisement
Advertisement
