Major Stories
Pathway to Progress: Edeniq secures $16M in funding for cellulosic sugar expansion
The Virtuosos of Visalia are at it again — last month, expansion to China. This month, accelerating PATHWAY with a hefty invest from the likes of I2BF, Koch/FHR and others. From California comes the news this week that Edeniq has raised more than $16 million in equity. The equity investment was led by I2BF Global Ventures, […]
First commercial! Green Biologics raises $76M round in Debt and Equity Financing
Company now ready to Deliver 1st Commercial Plant in U.S. From the UK, we hear that Green Biologics announced the closing of an internal follow-on equity round of $42 million co-led by Swire Pacific Limited and Sofinnova Partners. Existing investors Capricorn Venture Partners, Oxford Capital Partners, Morningside Technology Partners and ConvergInce Holdings also participated in […]
Declaring “truth matters,” biodiesel leaders say facts will re-energize the Renewable Fuels Standard
The National Biodiesel Conference and Expo opens with a fiery speech by the industry’s chief spokesperson In Texas, arguing that federal policy makers must see through the false attacks by renewable fuels opponents and provide certainty for their advanced biofuel industry, biodiesel advocates opened the doors to the public today at the National Biodiesel Conference […]
Biodiesel 2015: The top 14 trends for the new year
New technologies, new markets, new research and most of the same policy challenges, as we look at the 14 top trends for 2015. This morning, the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo opens in Ft. Worth, just hours before President Obama delivers what is expected to be a realistic-legislation-free State of the Union Address in Washington. […]
Producer News
Carbio’s 2014 exports up 41% on year
In Argentina, Carbio says its members exported more than 1.6 million metric tons of biodiesel during 2014, up 41% on the year. West Africa was the main destination while significant volumes also went to the US and Peru. Anti-dumping duties kept most of the biodiesel out of the European Union despite low soy oil prices […]
Petrobras Biofuels to produce biodiesel from fish waste
In Brazil, Petrobras Biofuels will begin producing biodiesel from fish oil, buying 15 metric tons per month of fish waste from around 300 fishing families. Production will take place at the company’s facility in Quixadá, near Ceará. By the end of the year the company expects to purchase fish waste from 600 families.
EPA may release 2014 RFS at last this spring
In Washington, the Environmental Protection Agency may at last finalize the 2014 RFS this spring. The statement was made during the National Biodiesel Board conference this week and then was confirmed by the EPA that the timing seemed on track but no more specifics were given.
New York City officials backtrack on claims that engine warranties won’t allow biodiesel
In New York state, city officials from New York City are backtracking on comments made at a recent hearing concerning proposed biodiesel blending mandates for official maritime vessels such as sludge ships and the Staten Island Ferry. The officials said that companies such as Caterpillar and EMD wouldn’t cover biodiesel blends in their warranties, but […]
5-Minute Guides
Edeniq: Biofuels Digest’s 2015 5-Minute Guide
Edeniq is a biorefining and cellulosic technology company. Edeniq delivers integrated process innovations that unlock sugars. These technological innovations uniquely combine mechanical and biological processes. Edeniq’s capital light and operationally efficient solutions can be easily integrated into existing biorefineries that produce ethanol, other biofuels, biochemicals, and/or bio-based products. Rankings 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy: #38, […]
Green Biologics: Biofuels Digest’s 2015 5-Minute Guide
Green Biologics is focused on the production of renewable n-butanol and other C4 chemicals from various renewable feedstocks, including sugar (cane, molasses, beets), starch (corn) and cellulosic biomass (corn residues, sugar cane bagasse, forest materials and grasses). GBL works with feedstock partners to deliver capital efficient production models, and we work with downstream partners to […]
Renewable Energy Group: Biofuels Digest’s 2015 5-Minute Guide
Renewable Energy Group, Inc. is a leading North American advanced biofuels producer and developer of renewable chemicals. REG utilizes a nationwide production, distribution and logistics system as part of an integrated value chain model to focus on converting natural fats, oils and greases into advanced biofuels and converting diverse feedstocks into renewable chemicals. With 10 […]
Abengoa Bioenergy: Biofuels Digest’s 2015 5-Minute Guide
The company is active in three areas in biofuels: a. Traditional fermentation of cereal grains and sugar cane for the commercial production of bioethanol b. Traditional transesterification for the production of biodiesel from cereal and vegetable oils. c. Commercial scale cellulosic fuel production. Overall, the company has €7256 in sales, 24,000 employees and €1.365 in […]
R&D News
Universities team to trial seaweed for biofuels in Ghana
In Ghana, the Technical University of Denmark, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research are launching Africa’s first algae biofuels project with the aim of helping to secure the country’s coastline. The project that will cultivate seaweed as feedstock will use locally available enzymes for processing.
JBEI identify microbial metabolism pathway to boost terpene yields
In California, researchers from the DOE JGI and the Joint Bioenergy Institute identified genes in an E. coli microbial metabolism pathway that could improve the production of terpenes. Terpenes are high-energy compounds produced in microbes and plants that could be used for producing biofuels. Enhancing terpene yields could lead to commercial-scale production of these biofuels.
Masdar awards IMECO contract to build its desert bioenergy pilot project
In the UAE, based on research at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC) announced it is awarding a contract to International Mechanical & Electrical Co. L.L.C. (IMECO) to construct the world’s first bioenergy pilot project to use desert land – irrigated by seawater – to produce both bioenergy […]
Report shows animal fat biodiesel reduces GHG emissions by 85%
In Belgium, biodiesel made from animal fat reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 85% compared to fossil fuels. This exceptional figure has been confirmed by the findings of a recent study by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IFEU) in Heidelberg. The methodology underlying this calculation was examined by the IFEU as part of a study commissioned […]
Policy & Policymakers
Brazil preparing to boost ethanol blend again in early February
In Brazil, the government is set to approve an increase to the ethanol blend during the first week of February above the current 27.5%. The exact level of the blend hasn’t been announced yet because tests on compatibility with the national fleet are still ongoing.
Thailand slashes B7 mandate by half due to low palm oil supplies
In Thailand, the government is slashing the B7 mandate to just 3.5% in order to reserve palm oil supplies. With stocks down to just 100,000 metric tons, the importation of 50,000 tons has been approved to ensure enough supplies for cooking oil. The smaller stocks is a result of the annual dry season period when […]
Brazil’s government boosts gasoline and diesel taxes to support ethanol
In Brazil, the government has announced it will raise one tax on gasoline and diesel on Feb. 1 and another tax 90 days later, a move which is expected to make both fuels more expensive at the pump and as a result drive demand for ethanol. The hope is that the move will encourage mills […]
New York City pushing back at attempt to mandate B5 in ferries and boats
In New York state, New York City Council is looking at legislation that would require city-owned vessels including Staten Island Ferry to use B5 and later work up to higher biodiesel blends, but the Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Protection are pushing back saying blending with biodiesel would cause a host of operational […]
Columnists
Editor’s Sketchbook: DuPont cellulosic ethanol project, Nevada, IA
It towers above the surrounding central Iowa countryside like the Launch Assembly Building lords it over Cape Canaveral — it’s the new DuPont cellulosic ethanol project, on the outskirts of the town of Nevada. Functional yet inspiring, imposing yet accessible — when it opens before year end 2014 it is sure to be a monumental addition […]
Life in the Slow Lane: Conversion Technologies at a Standstill in California
By Jim Stewart, Chairman, BioEnergy Producers Association The momentum leading to the introduction of new technologies for alternative energy production has become increasingly evident during 2014. The year has brought a steady stream of announcements from the industry regarding equity infusions, strategic alliances and commercial demonstration projects. However, as far as the use of conversion […]
White Lists: A Proactive Approach to Risk Reduction for the Bioenergy Industry
By Dr. Doria Gordon, The Nature Conservancy Cultivation of bioenergy crops is predicted to increase to between 27 and 120 million acres by 2022 in order to meet the renewable energy needs of the U.S. and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard. These crops may be used for production of ethanol, biodiesel or heat through […]
In Defense of the Bio-Skeptic
By Todd Taylor, partner, Fredrikson & Byron Skeptic: from the Greek “skeptikos” meaning “to consider, examine” “Skeptic does not mean him who doubts, but him who investigates or researches as opposed to him who asserts and thinks that he has found.” [Miguel de Unamuno, “Essays and Soliloquies,” 1924] “Trust, but Verify” – President Ronald Reagan […]
Other Recent Articles
Methes Energies grants licens to US company for $4 million
In Canada, Methes Energies International Ltd. announced Jan. 20 that it has granted a U.S.-based entity a nonexclusive license to use Methes’ design and software for a 3,000 liter per hour biodiesel processor to manufacture biodiesel processors for its own projects in the U.S. Methes is to receive a $4 million upfront cash payment and […]
PANGEA releases first of three animations looking at sustainable bioenergy in Africa
In Belgium, Partners for Euro-African Green Energy (PANGEA) released the first of three animations developed in collaboration with Chouette Films looking at the opportunities and challenges of bioenergy in the African context. The three videos look separately at economic, social and environmental sustainability of bioenergy in Africa and the impacts access to sustainable bioenergy can […]
4 minutes with… Victor Covone, Senior Director of Engineering, Yulex Corporation
Tell us about your company and it’s role in the Advanced Bioeconomy. Yulex is a biopolymer company that creates renewable products from plant-based materials in a zero-waste, sustainable way by producing and converting our own raw material. Our biomaterials provide an alternative to synthetic rubber medical, consumer and industrial products. We are continually looking for […]
Biofuels Digest Index gains to 59.87 as ethanol shares rally
The Biofuels Digest Index, an index of publicly traded biofuels stocks, gained 1.41 percent to 59.87 as ethanol shares rallied. For the day, Ceres (CERE) jumped 11.43 percent to $0.23, while Pacific Ethanol rebounded 9.20 percent to $8.90. Among other equities, Amyris (AMRS) bounced up 9.36 percent to $1.87. Overall, advances led declines 11 to […]
Lack of ethanol supply keeping Ethiopia from implementing E20
In Ethiopia, the country can’t reach its E20 goals as planned for this year due to the lack of ethanol supplies following delays in upgrading sugar mills. As a result, the E10 policy will remain in place for now. The Ethiopian Sugar Corp. has 4 million liters of stock on hand, enough for almost four […]
FAO chief says time to move beyond food vs fuel to food and fuel
In Germany, the Director General of the FAO says that the food vs fuel debate most move on to food and fuel, where biofuels are not good nor bad. Biofuels mandates should be flexible, he said, to ensure that food always comes first. Food prices supported by biofuels benefit rural farmers.
