11 awards recommended for Pilot-Scale and Commercial-Scale Advanced Biofuels Production Facilities In California, the California Energy Commission recommended awards of $46.6 million to 11 biofuels and biomethane projects. Funding of proposed projects resulting from this solicitation is contingent upon the approval of these projects at a publicly noticed Business Meeting at the Energy Commission in […]
Digest survey spells “low visibility” for cellulosic biofuels. Beta Renewables rates “best in class”. Dupont rates “most heard of”. Belief is big in “commercial eventually” but far less so for “commercial now”. For 18 out of 20 key cellulosic biofuels technologies, fewer than 10% of biofuels stakeholders report that they have a “through understanding” of the technology, and […]
By Tim Sklar Special to the Digest Part 1 of 2 Anyone that has followed the evolution of processes that are used to make fuels out of waste recognizes that the permutations and combinations of processes that can be used has become mind-boggling, as the pathways that can best be used, continue to change. As […]
Thinking of carbon dioxide as a green chemical? What about the effects on the environment and economy? By Sam A. Rushing, President, Advanced Cryogenics, Ltd. Carbon dioxide is ever – more a green-natured agent when applied in a growing number of industries. Further, it is often difficult to think of carbon dioxide as a green […]
In Mauritius, the E5 mandate is not expected to be implemented this year due to delays in implementing the infrastructure required to supply the blend across the island. Omnicane blames the government for not establishing a clear policy regarding the mandate.
In Brazil, a bumper corn crop is weighing on prices but that downward trend is making the crop more profitable as a feedstock for ethanol. Usimat, which uses corn to produce ethanol during the sugarcane inter-harvest period, expects to produce 100,000 metric tons of ethanol from corn this next period due to low corn prices, […]
In Ethiopia, the government is investing US$2.8 million, with the help of funding from the Norwegian government, to produce 500 million liters per year of biodiesel from jatropha. The project will take place in 18 districts in five states and is estimated to help more than 14 million farmers and pastoralists.
In Hong Kong, the government is commissioning a cost-benefit study looking at expanding the use of biodiesel, including a potential mandate. The study will also look at ways to ensure the biodiesel supplied is sustainable. The study should be completed during the second quarter of 2015 while a potential mandate as seen as still years […]
In Part 3 of 3 in our series on commercial-scale financing, we look at the real problems, the new paradigm, the nature of de-risking, the role of strategics. Plus, a 5-Minute Guide to the Major Players in biobased financing at scale. In Part I of our series, we looked at the slowdown in bioenergy financing, […]
The Complete List of Biofuels Digest’s 2014 5-Minute Guides, published to date: Abengoa Bioenergy Algenol Altranex American Process Amyris Applied Biorefinery Sciences Applied Research Associates (ARA) Avantium Avello Bioenergy BASF Beta Renewables BioAmber BP Biofuels Butamax Calysta Energy Cellana Ceres Clariant Cobalt Technologies Cool Planet Coskata Direvo Industrial Biotechnology DSM Bio-based Products & Services DuPont […]
Liquid Light develops electrocatalytic technology to make major chemicals from low-cost, globally abundant carbon dioxide (CO2). Licensees benefit from a lower cost of production and can reduce their carbon footprint. Liquid Light is funded by BP Ventures, Redpoint, Osage University, VantagePoint and Chrysalix, and now coming out of stealth after six years of developing a […]
Primus’ liquid fuel synthesis technology is a proprietary low cost process to convert syngas to gasoline, jet fuel and aromatic chemicals directly, without the need for further treatment. The result is a highly efficient process, producing approximately 5 gallons of drop-in transportation fuels per mmBTU of natural gas. The process produces drop-in fuels that are ready for […]
In the Netherlands, oil produced from biomass — such as wood chips or plant residues — seldom has the same quality and energy content as ‘classical’ crude oil. A new, simple catalyst, developed at the University of Twente, improves the quality of this oil before it is even transported to the refinery. This technology was […]
In South Carolina, the South Carolina Clean Energy Business Alliance (SCCEBA) is leading a “Farm to Fly 2.0” project to effectively create a “match.com” type of opportunities listing for fuel companies to get to know states and localities for biofuels. The group is extending a Pacific Northwest Regional effort under the original “Farm to Fly” […]
In Washington, the DOE and USDA announced the selection of 10 projects that will receive funding aimed at accelerating genetic breeding programs to improve plant feedstocks for the production of biofuels, biopower and biobased products. The $12.6 million in research grants are awarded under a joint DOE-USDA program that began in 2006 focused on fundamental […]
In Brazil, Petrobras is teaming with Embrapa to develop sugarcane varieties that will be successful in temperate climates, especially in Rio Grande do Sul state with the aim of producing ethanol there. Currently that state imports 100% of its ethanol consumption from other states.
In South Africa, if Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland ratify the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiated between the countries and the European Union, South Africa will have a duty-free export quota to the EU of 80,000 metric tons of ethanol per year, in addition to other concessions.
In Washington, ABO has announced several successes in its Summer of Algae 2014 push. Sapphire Energy has announced a partnership with Sinopec in China to develop algae-derived fuels in one of the world’s fastest growing economies. This international announcement came on the heels of new from two more ABO members: Cellana inked a partnership with […]
In Washington, the American Petroleum Institute is pushing for legislative changes to the RFS but understanding that will be difficult with upcoming elections, is instead focusing its pressure on the EPA. The API gathered anti-RFS groups from chicken producers to the American Motorcyclist Association to gather the various arguments to help support their engagement with […]
In Brazil, the provisional increase of the biodiesel blend to 6% has been extended for another 60 days. The blend was raised in July to 6% and is expected to rise to 7% in November.
The Biofuels Digest Index, an index of publicly traded biofuels stocks, was flat at 81.14 despite a chemicals advance. For the day, Aemetis (AMTX) was up 3.48 percent to $12.78 on news of a California Energy Commission award, while Metabolix (MBLX) rebounded 7.43 percent to $0.59. Among other equities, Gevo (GEVO) dropped 5.37 percent to […]
The Biofuels Digest Index, an index of publicly traded biofuels stocks, rebounded 1.24 percent to 81.08 as ethanol equities rallied. For the day, Amyris (AMRS) jumped 5.28 percent to $3.59, while Metabolix (MBLX) lost 11.05 percent to $0.55. Among other equities, DSM (DSM.AS) rocketed up 4.31 percent to $52.09. Overall, advances led declines 11 to […]
The Biofuels Digest Index, an index of publicly traded biofuels stocks, fell 1.55 percent to 80.09 as global equities melted after the possible shooting down of a Malaysian airliner near the Russia-Ukraine border. For the day, Biox (BX.T) dumped 2. 31 percent to $0.57, while Metabolix (MBLX) lost 7.74 percent to $0.62. Among other equities, […]
The Biofuels Digest Index, an index of publicly traded biofuels stocks, slipped 0.15 percent to 81.35 as chemicals retreated. For the day, Codexis (CDXS) fell 7.39 percent to $1.88 after a record jump on Tuesday, while BioAmber dumped 16.98 percent to $11.80 after raising $33.6M in a post-IPO 2.8 million share offering. Among other equities, […]
In Brazil, Copersucar says that ethanol demand could jump by 2.11 billion gallons a year if the government eliminated the price cap on gasoline. Analysts estimate Petrobras is discounting gasoline prices by up to 15% compared to international prices. Boosting the ethanol blend in gasoline to 27.5% from the current 25% would increase demand by […]
In California, the Environmental Defense Fund’s Green Roads Map, completed with assistance from CALSTART, Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), plots the companies demonstrating how clean transportation policies help rather than hurt the growth of the clean transportation sector in the California. In addition to the interactive map, an Excel version […]
In Vermont, a project which uses cow manure and beer brewery waste to create a high-sugar content waste stream has projected yields and energy balances comparable to other projects which have used direct sugar streams, according to the project’s USDA grant. The Vermont Fuel Dealers Association was awarded a $51,000 grant in 2013 to research […]
In Georgia, John Dowdy III will be joining Meredian Inc., the world’s largest producter of PHA, as their Chief Financial Officer.Prior to joining the Meredian team, Dowdy served in various financial and accounting positions at Yandex, an internet company that is the leading search provider in Russia and holds a 60 percent market share in […]
In Georgia, UPS will release its 2013 sustainability report based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)’s new G4 reporting guidelines at the “Comprehensive in accordance” option and with GRI’s “Materiality Matters” check on July 30, 2014. GRI is the most widely used and respected sustainability reporting framework in the world. The G4 Guidelines mark GRI’s […]
In Canada, Altranex Corporation has entered into a Contribution Agreement with the National Research Council of Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP). The agreement shares the cost for Altranex to scale-up the production of Altranex’s Altra-HF shipping fuel and other products. The NRC-IRAP financial support is up to $200,000. The company produces bio-lubricants and commercial […]
