Major Stories
Hardship Relief: Tenth Circuit strikes down three small oil refinery waivers in win for renewable fuels
In Colorado, in an unanimous ruling, the Tenth Circuit of the US Court of Appeal has struck down three small refinery hardship waivers from compliance with the United States’ Renewable Fuel Standard. The court ruling stems from a May 2018 challenge brought against EPA by the Renewable Fuels Association, the National Corn Growers Association, the […]
Big Bucks coming from DOE – $300M for sustainable transportation includes $100M for biofuels
No, we aren’t going to be riding on the backs of big bucks for transportation, but transportation will be changing with the big news from Washington, D.C. at the Washington Auto Show, that the U.S. Department of Energy is investing nearly $300 million in funding for research and development of sustainable transportation resources and technologies. […]
The Competitive Edge: Activated Research Company (ARC)
Q: What was the reason for founding your organization – what was the open niche you saw that could be addressed with a new product or service? What was the problem, or gap, or opportunity? Activated Research Company (ARC) was founded in 2014 with a mission to make chemical analysis easy. Utilizing our expertise in […]
Living robots, fungus homes, biobased aquaculture ropes, biopolymer food films, and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of January 23rd
It was a week of lots of deal-making, like edible straw startup Loliware’s raising of $5.9 million to scale production, and deal-breaking, like Itaconix and Nouryon’s break-up over biobased chelating agents for detergent applications. But it was also a week of innovating like the development of biobased food packaging films made from biopolymers based on […]
The Democratic Party’s Choice for President: The Digest’s endorsement
The first votes of the 2020 Presidential election season are due to be cast in Iowa in less than two weeks, and it is fitting that this farm state is where the journey towards Decision 2020 begins. Iowa touches all of us, as the epicenter of the world’s bioeconomy. The bioeconomy is the source of […]
8-Slide Guides
Interfacing with R&D and Industry: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to BETO’s Advanced Development & Optimization
We are always trying to optimize – optimize processes, efficiencies, cost, value, and more, but did you know that the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office has a program just for this sort of thing? The ADO or Advanced Development and Optimization program has several goals including selecting three or more drop-in jet and/or […]
#1 Biggest Barrier to Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Bioeconomy Bottlenecks
What are the bottlenecks that prevent technologies from fueling the bioeconomy? Is it government? Is it lack of public acceptance or perception? Is it lack of access to capital? How about lack of market pull? Find out what THE top bottleneck is, according to Roger Wyse, Managing Partner at Spruce Capital Partners in his presentation […]
The New Carbon Economy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Waste Carbon Utilization and Management
Electrification and batteries can’t remove the need for carbon, and a more sustainable economy is not a low-carbon economy as much as it will be a renewable carbon based economy, according to Ian Rowe, Technology Manager at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office. Check out his illuminating presentation from BETO’s Peer Review where […]
Flying High on Biobased Waste Oils: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to SkyNRG’s SAF
SkyNRG recently announced the first dedicated European SAF production unit, but how do we accelerate market growth for sustainable aviation fuel? That’s a question SkyNRG is tackling by talking about challenges with scaling up and how to meet those challenges head on. Check out Misha Valk, Head of Future Fuels at SkyNRG, presentation from ABLC NEXT […]
How Plastic Can Fit in a Circular Carbon Economy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Recycling and Upcycling Plastics
We’ve seen the staggering numbers, 78 million tons of annual plastics production, 98% virgin feedstock, and only 14% gets collected for recycling. So what do we do about it? Jay Fitzgerald from the Bioenergy technologies Office (BETO) office gave this engaging presentation that will get your brain thinking about how a circular carbon economy ties […]
The Latest World News
Aemetis receives $14 million in CEC grants for Keyes ethanol plant
In California, Aemetis announced that its subsidiary Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc. has received from the California Energy Commission two grants for a combined total of $14 million to implement upgrades that would reduce natural gas use, lower greenhouse gas emissions, decrease operating costs, and reduce the carbon intensity (“CI”) of fuel grade ethanol produced at […]
French airline industry applauds steps taken in development of national sustainable aviation fuel production
In France, after the French Government presented the country’s ambitions with regards to sustainable aviation fuel, in Toulouse, Airbus, Air France, Safran, Suez and Total acknowledged the launch of a new Call for Expression of Interest (CEI). The ambition presented set forth the conclusions of a working group which included government agencies and industrial partners, […]
Alcogroup and Abengoa to fight EU’s claims of ethanol price manipulation at hearings
In Belgium, Reuters reports that Alcogroup and Abengoa plan to fight against anti-trust charges of manipulating ethanol prices at hearings in front of the European Commission and national authorities on Tuesday and Wednesday. The companies could be charged up to 10% of the global turnover if the hearing rules against them, or the case could […]
Brazilian ethanol production breaks record through mid-January at 32.2 billion liters
In Brazil, Platts reports that UNICA data shows ethanol production between April and January 16 reached 32.3 billion liters, the highest ever seen during the period. Of the total, 22.3 billion liters were hydrous while corn ethanol reached 1.14 billion liters, an increase of 103% on the year. Total ethanol sales for the period reached […]
Western Dubuque Biodiesel restarts production following biodiesel blenders tax credit extension
In Iowa, following the recent extension of long-awaited $1/gallon biodiesel blenders tax credits, Ag Professional reports that Western Dubuque Biodiesel started up production again last Friday after being shut most of December and January. The biodiesel market had been negatively impacted by the Environmental Protection Agency’s issuance of small refinery exemptions that led to demand […]
R&D News
Portuguese consortium developing advanced biofuels from vine and tree trimmings
In Portugal, the Lusa news agency reports that the BLC3 association is working to produce advanced biofuels from vine and fruit tree and olive tree waste. More than half a million hectares of land grow these crops around the country, providing sufficient sources of biomass. The drop-in fuel that could also use crop waste as […]
MU researchers using AI to make algae biodiesel cheaper and easier to produce
In Missouri, researchers at Missouri University have teamed with Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis to use artificial intelligence in an effort to significantly reduce the cost of biodiesel production from algae by mapping the shapes and amino acids of proteins. With that information, bioengineers can then change the structure so it’s cheaper […]
Scientists unravel the two-way molecular inner dialogue of seeds
In Germany, plant physiologists from the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, the Universities of Geneva, Lausanne and the University of Lyon have jointly tracked down the internal molecular dialogue between the embryo and endosperm, genetically two different organisms, that is required for seed development. The communication of the embryo and the surrounding endosperm is based […]
DOE to invest nearly $300 million in sustainable transportation R&D
In Washington, at the Washington Auto Show, Under Secretary of Energy Mark W. Menezes announced the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) investment of nearly $300 million in funding for research and development of sustainable transportation resources and technologies. This investment, split up between three, separate funding opportunity announcements (FOA), supports DOE’s goal of ensuring that […]
Worcester Polytechnic Institute score $2 million to improve MSW-based biofuel
In Massachusetts, chemical engineers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are broadening attempts to convert waste into environmentally friendly biofuels, lowering reliance on fossil fuels, cutting the amount of municipal waste going into landfills, and reducing water pollution and unhealthy emissions from petroleum products and landfills. Now, with a $1,995,199 three-year grant from the Department of Energy […]
Policy & Policymakers
Indian sugar industry calling for ethanol price policy stability to fuel investments
In India, Cogencis news agency is reporting that the national sugar industry is calling on the prime minister to establish long-term ethanol pricing policies to ensure stability in the market that will allow it to invest in additional production. Although the government has been offering soft loans to sugar mills over the past 18 months […]
Court forces U.S. EPA to reconsider three refinery biofuel waivers
In Washington, Reuters reports that a federal appeals court has ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider 2016 hardship waivers granted to Holly Frontier’s Woods Cross and Cheyenne refineries as well as CVR Energy’s Wynewood refinery following legal challenges by a consortium of biofuel groups. The court said that the rules say waivers issued after […]
USDA Seeks Input on New Ethanol Sales Infrastructure Incentive Program
In Washington, D.C., the U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking public input to help with the creation of the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP), a new program that will expand the availability of domestic ethanol and biodiesel by incentivizing the expansion of sales of renewable fuels. “Feedback from farmers, retailers and biofuels producers is […]
Manitoba to have cleanest fuel standards in Canada
In Canada, Manitoba will have the cleanest fuel standards in Canada by increasing the ethanol and biodiesel content of its transportation fuels as it implements its Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan, Premier Brian Pallister announced during his dignitary address at the annual Manitoba Ag Days exhibition. These new clean fuel standards will reduce Manitoba’s emissions […]
Thai government wants drivers to fill up with B20 to reduce smog
In Thailand, Malaysia’s Star newspaper reports that the Thai government is encouraging motorists to fill up with B10 and B20 which the energy ministry says can reduce smog by up to 25%. The country, and especially the capital, are suffering from severe smog conditions recently. Although all six Thai refineries have committed to produce Euro […]
Other Recent Articles
French ethanol demand seen soaring in 2020
In France, Reuters reports that as the country aims to achieve the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive of 10% renewable energy in transport by this year, ethanol demand is expected soar while tax breaks, wider availability at the pump and increasing demand for flex-fuel look to see 2020 consumption break another record following the one […]
Clearing the FOG – Reclaiming advanced biofuel from Fats, Oils and Grease
By Ron Crosier, President, Downey Ridge Environmental Company Special to The Digest Biofuels offer a renewal energy source that can reduce dependence upon fossil fuels. The EPA reports that replacing fossil fuels with biofuels has the potential to reduce the negative effects of fossil fuel production and use, including conventional and greenhouse gases (GHG) pollutant […]
Ford approves HVO for its Transit vans
In Michigan, Ford has approved the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in its Transit vans. This renewable diesel fuel is based on waste oils, including used cooking oil that can be sourced from restaurants and takeaways – and even kitchens at home. The use of HVO – or renewable diesel – in place of […]
Tadweer to begin paying for UCO to source feedstock for biodiesel production
In the UAE, Gulf News reports that Tadweer says residents as well as restaurants will be able to sell, not donate as is common in many markets, their used cooking oil for biodiesel feedstock by the end of 2020. Cafeterias and hotels can also participate in the scheme. The company’s general manager said UCO will […]
UK trade associations team up on bio-heat liquid fuels strategy
In the UK, trade associations OFTEC, the Tank Storage Association (TSA) and the UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA) have kicked off 2020 with the launch of a future vision for liquid fuels ‘Supply Chain Strategy for Liquid Fuels’, which details the steps to be taken toward a transition to 100% biofuel to replace […]
Just 37 Indian sugar mills have received soft financing to boost ethanol production
In India, the Financial Express newspaper reports that just 37 sugar mills have received soft loans for boosting ethanol production from a total 417 who applied for funding. More than 360 mills received “in principle” approval but only 96 actually approached banks for the financing. Of the approved funding, eight projects have been completed, adding […]
