DuPont and California-based feedstock development company NexSteppe have entered into a collaboration to develop new sweet and high-biomass sorghum hybrids in Brazil and the U.S., for use in the biofuels, biopower and biobased products industries.
The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany is leading a project that will focus on converting biomass into engine fuels and chemicals, as well as heat and electricity.
A new biofuel initiative in the EU is set to kick off on the first of the year. The project, referred to as BioBoost, aims to convert residual biomass into intermediates, such as biocrude, for the production of drop-in biobased fuels and chemicals.
LanzaTech buys Range Fuels site for pennies on the dollar
By Kris Bevill
January 04, 2012
New Zealand-based technology developer LanzaTech became the new owner of the former Range Fuels Inc. cellulosic biofuels plant in Soperton, Ga., on Jan. 3, paying just $5.1 million for the site during a foreclosure sale held in Soperton.
Chromatin awarded $5.7M from US DOE to develop drop-in biofuels
By Chromatin Inc.
January 04, 2012
Chromatin Inc., a developer of energy crop feedstock solutions, announced Jan. 4 the award of a $5.7 million contract under the PETRO (Plants Engineered to Replace Oil) program of the U.S. DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).
On Dec. 29, Judge Lawrence O'Neill of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California issued a ruling preventing the California Air Resources Board from enforcing the state's low carbon fuels standard (LCFS) during pending litigation.
For two days in February, Alternative Energy Solutions International Inc. (AESI) will open the doors to its Kansas Biomass Research Institute (BRI), providing tours of a fully functional biomass power and testing facility.
Follow the green-brick road
December 30, 2011
While most members of the biorefining sector think biofuels when they think about algae, a group of students in Singapore is showing that the photosynthetic organisms might also serve as a renewable component of some concretes.
Michigan Molecular Institute announced it will participate in two new biobased chemistry projects, one on biopolymers and the other on propylene glycol. MMI recently began its expansion into the biobased segment and is dedicated to polymer research.
While most of the festive greeting cards and wrapping paper used this holiday season will end up in the landfill, a group of researchers in the U.K. has shown that these materials could serve as feedstock to produce a significant amount of biofuel.
Lux Research report sifts biorefining field for winners, losers
By Bryan Sims
December 29, 2011
Lux interviewed between 120 and 150 companies, including more than 450 interviews with key stakeholders, analyzing and ranking each based on a range of specific metrics such as IPO score, partnership score, employee count, revenue cash and so forth.
Biodiesel consulting group expands to other alt fuels
By Ron Kotrba
December 29, 2011
The new year brings new alternative fuel projects for the world's largest biodiesel consulting group, which is expanding to include consulting in ethanol, biomass, wind, solar and geothermal.
World Health Energy Holdings plans algae project in India
By Bryan Sims
December 28, 2011
Algae and commercial aquatic feed developer World Health Energy Holdings signed a letter of intent with Prime Inc. India to develop a proposed biodiesel production facility in India that would ramp up to 250 acres with a budget of up to $100 million.
US EPA finalizes 2012 renewable fuel standards
By U.S. EPA
December 27, 2011
The EPA finalized the 2012 renewable fuel volume standards today. Biomass-based diesel is set at 1 billion gallons; advanced biofuels, 2 billion gallons; cellulosic biofuels, 8.65 million gallons; and total renewable fuels, 15.2 billion gallons.
Researchers at Finland's Aalto University have developed and patented a method to produce butanol and other industrial chemicals from woody biomass. The method involves an altered pulping process resulting in sugars that can be converted by microbes.
Feedstock development company NexSteppe recently announced it has raised $16 million in its second round of funding led by Braemer Energy Ventures. Previous investors also participated in the funding round, including CYM Ventures and Zygote Ventures.
New company targets biobased C-glycosides for surfactant market
By Bryan Sims
December 23, 2011
Elm Street Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in New Haven, Conn., has provided financing for the formation of a new company, P2 Science, which aims to usher in a new class of high-performance surfactants called C-glycosides.
New Energy Farms has announced three separate events in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. that will provide landowners, farmers and end users with a chance to learn more about the different energy crops the company grows.
ABFA launches Biofuel STAT video series
By Ron Kotrba
December 22, 2011
Lawmakers and opinion leaders in Washington now have access to first-hand accounts from the C-Suite of the nation's top advanced biofuel companies.
Denmark-based CLC bio, a bioinformatics sequence analysis software provider, recently announced that Sapphire Energy Inc. has installed a custom-made bioinformatics solution from CLC bio in its San Diego-based research center.
Air New Zealand signs MOU with biocrude developer
December 20, 2011
Air New Zealand has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Sydney, Australia-based Licella Pty Ltd. to examine the development and commercialization of a process to convert woody biomass into biofuel.
EU Commission releases long-term look at decarbonization
By Kris Bevill
December 20, 2011
The EC recently released a long-sighted roadmap for the continent's decarbonization plan, exploring possible scenarios that could be deployed to meet the EU's ambitious goal of reducing GHG emissions to 80 to 95 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
ABO engages K&L Gates to help advocate for US algae industry
By Algal Biomass Organization
December 20, 2011
The Algal Biomass Organization has engaged the Washington, D.C. office of the global law firm, K&L Gates LLP. The firm will help ABO in its efforts to educate federal policy makers about the growing potential for algae biofuels.
Neste Oil achieves milestones at Rotterdam, Porvoo refineries
By Bryan Sims
December 20, 2011
Neste Oil celebrated the grand opening of its renewable diesel production facility at the Port of Rotterdam, The Netherlands and announced plans to build a pilot plant at its Porvoo refinery to produce waste-based microbial oil for fuels production.
Agilyx lands $25 million in Series C round of funding
By Bryan Sims
December 20, 2011
Agilyx Corp. has secured $25 million in a Series C round of funding led by new lead investor Keating Capital that will provide working capital to fund marketing, business development, deployment of new projects, as well as aid in scale-up efforts.
OriginOil enters into JV to develop biorefineries for military
By Bryan Sims
December 19, 2011
California-based algae technology developer OriginOil Inc. has cofounded a new joint venture, called Future Energy Solutions Unlimited Inc., that aims to deploy biorefinieries in strategic locations around the globe for the U.S. and NATO military.
On Dec. 14, the U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority issued adjudication in favor of Shell International Ltd. in response to a complaint filed against one of its advertisements. The compliant challenged CO2 emission reduction claims made by Shell.
Coskata files registration statement for proposed IPO
By Bryan Sims
December 18, 2011
Warrenville, Ill.-based Coskata Inc. filed an S-1 registration statement on Dec. 16 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to raise a proposed maximum of $100 million in an initial public offering of shares of its common stock.
Coca-Cola partners with three biotech firms to develop bio-PET
By Bryan Sims
December 16, 2011
The Coca-Cola Co. executed partnerships with three leading biorefining companies to accelerate the development and production of its next-generation trademarked PlantBottle packaging made 100 percent from plant-based materials.
A new Lux Research report finds that the biobased chemicals and materials industry has reached a tipping point, with capacity expected to double in market potential to $19.7 billion in 2016 as global manufacturing capacity increases by 140 percent.
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