Major Stories
Biofuels leaders respond to Feinstein-Toomey anti-RFS bill, and send Obama a letter
You may find yourself wondering exactly why the centerpiece of the renewable fuels industry’s response to the introduction of the Toomey-Feinstein “Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act” in Congress today is a letter to President Obama about EPA action or the lack thereof. In a nutshell, a variety of forces have joined forces against the RFS […]
Amyris says 132% increase in sales to $100M is in the cards for 2015
The first of the “2010-12 IPO kids” completes its transformation to a lively, product-driven commercial company with revenues in fragrances, emollients, solvents and fuels. In California, Amyris announced Q4 2014 revenues of $11.6 million and $43.3M for the full year, a 5% increase over 2013, and Q4 net income of $58.0 million and $2.3 million […]
Raízen: Biofuels Digest’s 2015 5-Minute Guide
Based from the merger of Shell and Cosan, Raízen is now the Brazil’s fifth largest company in terms of billable revenues and the nation’s leading manufacturer of sugarcane ethanol, with production of about 2 billion litres of biofuel per year. This activity also includes the production of 4 million tonnes of sugar and the sale of […]
The Neodiesel Revolution heads offshore: Benefuel, Felda expand in Malaysia
It’s New, it’s Neo — the neodiesel companies — brimming with technologies to create cleaner alternatives to a powerhouse fuel. They have the performance, half the carbon, and a range of low-cost feedstocks to choose from. Now, neodiesel heads for Malaysia as a JV opens up ultra low-cost feedstocks with Benefuel’s ENSEL technology. From Malaysia have […]
Producer News
Biodiesel producers buy up European rapeseed as euro slides against the dollar
In France, biodiesel producers are boosting their purchases of rapeseed oil as the Euro’s slide to its one-month low makes dollars stretch further. Several trades have been done with prices 10-11 euros per ton higher on Wednesday. Oils prices were supported by slightly higher Malaysian palm oil prices.
Demand for UK wheat and rapeseed oil seen falling on EU parliament vote
In the UK, the vote earlier this week by the European Parliament’s ENVI committee could have a negative impact on British rapeseed and wheat prices if the Council and European Commission agree to the 6% cap on first generation biofuels. About 2.2 million metric tons of wheat are used for ethanol production while up to […]
Excitement over Indonesian palm biodiesel subsidy fades
In Indonesia, excitement over the 31 cents per liter subsidy for palm oil biodiesel has already begun to fade in the face of falling palm oil demand for products aside from biodiesel such as food and cosmetics. Palm oil futures jumped 10% on news of the subsidy but three weeks later are down nearly 5% […]
European Commission to support alternative fuels via Energy Union plan
In Belgium, the European Commission is looking to again support biofuels from 2017 when it presents an action plan for alternative fuels as part of legislation supporting the new Energy Union plan announced on Wednesday. Legislative proposals supporting the new policy should be unveiled throughout 2016 and 2017. Electric vehicles are expected to play a […]
5-Minute Guides
OPX Biotechnologies: Biofuels Digest’s 2015 5-Minute Guide
OPXBIO styles itself in the “Good Chemistry” business, developing and producing bio-based chemicals that deliver more sustainable value for customers compared to traditional petro-based chemicals. The company’s says that its patented, leading EDGE (Efficiency Directed Genome Engineering) technology “has proven advantages over traditional bioengineering approaches”. Primarily, EDGE enables OPXBIO to more rapidly engineer microbes and […]
Renmatix: Biofuels Digest’s 2015 5-Minute Guide
Renmatix is a technology licensor that enables the production of petrochemicals from plants. The company’s water-based Plantrose process is the lowest cost method for converting a wide range of non-food biomass into cellulosic sugars, used in the global chemical and fuels markets. Renmatix’s supercritical hydrolysis technology deconstructs non-food biomass an order of magnitude faster than […]
Fulcrum BioEnergy: Biofuels Digest’s 2015 5-Minute Guide
Fulcrum BioEnergy has developed a “game-changing process for converting municipal solid waste that would otherwise be landfilled, into renewable transportation fuels including syncrude, jet fuel and diesel”. The company has successfully proven and demonstrated this process for converting MSW to fuels utilizing its proprietary, innovative, clean and efficient thermochemical process. Fulcrum has secured long-term, zero-cost […]
Ceres: Biofuels Digest’s 2015 5-Minute Guide
Ceres develops & markets low-carbon, non-food grasses for advanced biofuels and biopower. It’s energy crops “can provide more fuel or electricity, new opportunities for growers and a cleaner environment for us all.” Using advanced plant breeding and biotechnology, Ceres is developing dedicated energy crops as raw materials for renewable transportation fuels, electricity and bio-based products. […]
R&D News
UCR researchers invent pretreatment that cuts biofuels production cost by 30%
In California, researchers at the University of California, Riverside have invented a novel pretreatment technology that could cut the cost of biofuels production by about 30 percent or more by dramatically reducing the amount of enzymes needed to breakdown the raw materials that form biofuels.
Deinove gets US patent for its high-performance metabolic bacteria
In France, Deinove announced its patent, “High-performance metabolic bacteria”, has been granted in the United States. This patent covers the biofuel production process from cellulosic or hemicellulosic material – biomass components – by a consolidated bioprocess of degradation and fermentation based on Deinococcus bacteria. This issuance is a recognition of the innovative nature of the […]
Czech researchers develop method to produce biodiesel from tannery waste
In the Czech Republic, researchers at Tomas Bata University are working with the fat leftovers from leather production called fleshings to produce biodiesel from an otherwise toxic waste. Burning fleshing releases dioxins and nitrogen oxides, leaving few options for disposal, but now by melting down the fat to reduce the high levels of proteins and […]
Oman researchers look at biofuels from paper waste
In Oman, researchers from Sultan Qaboos University setting up a pilot scale bioprocessing laboratory to test various ways of making biofuels and bioplastics from paper waste. The country produces about 62,000 metric tons of paper waste annually but the research is looking to tackle the problem globally. The project has secured funding through 2017 and […]
Policy & Policymakers
Guatemala launches E5 and E10 pilots while looking at E10 blend
In Guatemala, the country’s energy ministry is embarking on a pilot trial using E5 and E10 in 25 vehicles and five motorcycles during four months. The country mostly exports the 65 million gallons of ethanol its produces annually but introducing an E10 would consume 36 million gallons. The US and Brazilian governments along with the […]
Ethiopia looks to revive former jatropha investments to produce biodiesel
In Ethiopia, the country’s Ministry of Water and Energy has recently launched a biofuels private enterprise unit in hopes of attracting investors to produce 450 million liters of biodiesel in the next five years. The government hopes to revive previous jatropha plantations that investors launched and abandoned during the jatropha boom and bust in hopes […]
European Parliament committee agrees to cap first generation biofuels at 6%
In Belgium, the European Parliament’s environmental committee voted to cap first generation biofuels at 6%, lower than the 7% sought by member states and 8% sought by the biofuels industry. Rather than waiting for a parliamentary vote, the committee agreed to move forward with negotiations the European Commission.
EU biofuels policy not negatively impacting Ireland’s animal feed market
In Ireland, the country’s agriculture minister says that EU biofuel policies have no impact on national animal feed prices because cereals markets are global. The country imports 3 million metric tons of animal feed out of a total 4.7 million tons, most of which comes from North and South America, biofuel byproducts themselves.
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
Purdue-led researchers back up ILUC with new analysis
In Indiana, Using models that blend global economics, geography, ecology and environmental sciences is essential to understanding how changes in trade and natural systems in one part of the world affect those in another, a review concludes. Tom Hertel, distinguished professor of agricultural economics, collaborated with an interdisciplinary team of experts led by Jianguo Liu […]
Byogy Renewables teams with Gen 2 Energy on yeast tech for agave
In California, Byogy Renewables has executed a strategic partnership agreement with Gen 2 Energy, an alternative energy company from Ames, Iowa, to develop a more cost-effective biofuel production process. New yeast strains developed by Gen 2 Energy, Iowa State University and the USDA, improve the alcohol yield of conventional fermentation from a variety of feedstocks […]
4 minutes with… Rod Cummings, President, EUDORA Biomaterial Consulting
Tell us about your company and it’s role in the Advanced Bioeconomy. New Business Development and Management including strategic opportunity assessment, product concept definition, market research; competitive landscape evaluation; economic model, Partnership collaboration and alliance development, licensing strategies and implementation; markets and technologies scouting. Tell us about your role and what you are focused on […]
Biofuels Digest Index rises to 65.62 as advanced biofuels surge
The Biofuels Digest Index, an index of publicly traded biofuels stocks, gained 0.86 percent to 65.62 as advanced biofuels surged. For the day, Amyris (AMRS) soared 16.77 percent to $2.82, while Metabolix (MBLX) rallied 22.43 percent to $0.59. Among other equities, Gevo (GEVO) jumped 7.80 percent to $0.27. Overall, advances led declines 9 to 7 […]
Investors look to build $385 million sorghum ethanol plant in the Philippines
In the Philippines, investors from Manila will put up a $385 million million sorghum-based ethanol plant in the island barangays of Limaong and Tumitus. The consortium is currently filing required paperwork with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Local landowners are expected to benefit by supplying feedstock to the project.
ADM cuts biodiesel production while transferring to other products at Velva
In Illinois, ADM has temporarily pulled back biodiesel production at its Velva, North Dakota in favor of other products while scaling down production at other facilities across North America. The production shift in Velva apparently began a few months ago but the company didn’t comment on production volumes or timetables until returning to production capacity.
