Major Stories
Tasty Energy Treats You Can Make From Brownies
Terpenes may be the most unloved class of energy molecule of all time, if you compare R&D spending to potential. Even ARPA-E, the home of high-risk, high-reward government research into energy, hasn’t delved into terpenes since 2012’s OPEN invite, where Allylix picked up a single $467,6905 award to develop a “Renewable Platform for Production of […]
Tasty Energy Treats You Can Make From Brownies
Terpenes may be the most unloved class of energy molecule of all time, if you compare R&D spending to potential. Even ARPA-E, the home of high-risk, high-reward government research into energy, hasn’t delved into terpenes since 2012’s OPEN invite, where Allylix picked up a single $467,6905 award to develop a “Renewable Platform for Production of […]
Aux Farms, Citoyens! France’s Bioeconomy Plan is a stirring call to action on jobs, climate, innovation
It took a long time, but France in the past year published a national bioeconomy strategy and its national government has approved it. It’s here in full form. We’re publishing a digested version today not only as summary of activities in France (and its extensive bioeconomy resources, industrial base and technical innovation level), but as […]
Sanga Moses is on a Crusade
On 15th January, 2009, Sanga Moses travelled to his village in Uganda, in East Africa, to visit his mother. It was a day that would change his life. On his way home, he met his 12 year old sister carrying a bundle of firewood on her head. When she saw him, she started crying. She told him that […]
Two Up: Amyris, Queensland gamble on farnesene for SE Asia
The Digest discovered this hand-written lyric, we think written with a thumbnail dipped in biocrude, near Amyris headquarters in Emeryville, California. Somewhere north of Byron Bay where Cooktown orchids grow, and cane is ever-present and the Pioneer River flows, there’ll be a group of smarties along the coastal towns hawking tonnes of bio farnesene for a zillion yuan a […]
8-Slide Guides
N-butanol and beyond: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Green Biologics
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 works with downstream partners to deliver […]
In search of lowest cost hydrocarbons: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Global Bioenergies
Global Bioenergies is a pioneer in the development of one-step fermentation processes for the direct and cost-efficient transformation of renewable resources into light olefin hydrocarbons, the key building blocks of the petrochemical industry. Since inception, the company focused its efforts on the production of isobutene, one of the most important petrochemical building blocks that can […]
Things to do with lignin: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Upgrading Biorefinery Waste to chemicals and hydrogen
At the 2017 DOE Project Peer Review, John Staser of Ohio University gave this illuminating overview on a continuous electrochemical process to convert biorefinery waste lignin to substituted aromatic compounds for resins and resin binders. The hope? To generate additional biorefinery revenue stream and reduce the cost of biofuels to be competitive with petroleum fuels.
Can’t Get No (Liquefaction): The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide Liquefaction of Forest Biomass to Drop-in Fuels
Lysle Whitmer on behalf of an Iowa State-led group of researchers gave this illuminating overview of Liquefaction of Forest Biomass to Drop-in Fuels, at the 2017 DOE Project Peer Review sessions.
And no extra hydrogen: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to one-step, high-yield, drop-in biofuels
Vertimass’ John Hannon gave this illuminating overview of Done-step, high-yield production of drop-in fuels without added hydrogen, at the 2017 DOE Project Peer Review sessions.
The Latest World News
“Not worth reducing indirect land use emissions” using California’s approach: new study
In Illinois, a team of researchers writing in Nature Communications concluded California’s indirect land use change factors in the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, applied nationally, would imply that the cost of reducing a ton of carbon is 20 percent higher than the avoided damages from those emissions. Lead researcher Madhu Khanna found that “It penalizes […]
Brazil sugar production soaring, up 104% in June
In Brazil, a S&P Global Platts survey of analysts concludes that “sugar production in Brazil’s key Center-South region in the first half of June is expected to be nearly 2.45 million metric tons “, up 104% on the year and up 40% from the second half of May. The survey, which noted the drier weather […]
Quebec’s escalates renewable fuel blending targets, unveils $1.5B clean energy action plan
In Canada, Quebec’s provincial government unveiled its said it will spend $1.5B between now and 2019 to spir clean energy and reduce oil dependency. As a part of the 2017-2020 Action Plan, Quebec Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Pierre Arcand has announced the jurisdiction’s first ever volumetric requirements on renewable fuels (such as ethanol […]
Downstate New York to introduce biodiesel obligation for heating oil
In New York, downstate New York counties are set to join New York City as national leaders in providing cleaner air through increased use of biodiesel in home heating oil, a product called Bioheat fuel. Legislation passed yesterday by Assemblyman Steve Englebright (A.6954-A) and Senator Phil Boyle (S.B5422-A) would expand the state’s commitment to […]
Florida’s new high-speed intercity rail chooses biodiesel
In Florida, the new South Florida high-speed inter-city rail service Brightline will be utilizing biodiesel sourced from Florida Power & Light. Brightline is expectedl reduce emissions by removing three million cars from Florida’s roadways annually. The train will tarvel at speeds of up to 125 miles per hour. Under a new agreement, FPL will supply […]
R&D News
Genetics roadmap to develop more resilient farmed fish
In Scotland, researchers at WorldFish will embark on new research to create more resilient fish with characteristics such as disease resistance and more effective feed utilization, using advanced techniques such as genomic selection to introduce these characteristics into its improved tilapia strains. Use of genomic selection tools, which enable the selection of animals based on […]
Ethanol from thin air advances with catalyst breakthrough
In California, Stanford University scientists reported on a promising technology to make renewable ethanol from water, carbon dioxide and electricity delivered through a copper catalyst. The results are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). For the PNAS study, the Stanford team chose three samples of crystalline copper, known as copper […]
US ethanol production drops to 15.38B gallon annual rate
In Washington, according to EIA data as analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association, US ethanol production averaged 990,000 barrels per day (b/d)—or 41.58 million gallons daily. That is down 12,000 b/d from the week before and the lowest in seven weeks. The four-week average for ethanol production decreased to 1.003 million b/d for an annualized […]
UK researchers unlock genetic secrets of plant cell walls
In the UK, Researchers from the University of York and the Quadram Institute have unlocked the genetic secrets of plant cell walls. Recent developments in genome sequencing technology have provided detailed information about the genetics of crop plants, but what has been lacking to date is the technology needed to collect comparable cell wall data […]
German researchers develop biodiesel production method using lower temperatures
In Germany, researchers from Kaiserslautern, Bochum, and Rostock have developed a method for producing a petroleum diesel-like fuel from conventional biodiesel at low temperatures. The new biofuel fulfills the current EU and US requirements. It can be used undiluted in modern diesel engines or mixed in any ratio with petroleum diesel. The researchers present their […]
Policy & Policymakers
India’s GST tax plan may slow biodiesel, ethanol adoption
In India, the Times of India is reporting that a 18% GST tax that has been proposed for ethanol and biodiesel is expected to slow efforts to increae blending, according to experts and producers polled by the news outlet. G Chandrashekhar, commodity expert and Biodiesel Association of India honorary member told The Timnes, “Tax on […]
President Trump re-affirms Administration support for biofuels in two Iowa speeches
In Iowa, in remarks to Iowa ag leaders at Kirkwood Community College and again at his Cedar Rapids rally, President Donald Trump reiterated his support for American renewable fuels. His remarks come as several issues vital to the future of renewable fuels are pending within his administration. At Kirkwood the President said: “We’re here today […]
Mexico OKs E10 ethanol limit excepting 3 cities
In Mexico, The Mexican Energy Regulatory Commission will increase the maximum amount of ethanol that can be blended in Mexican gas supplies from 5.8 percent to 10 percent, except in the cities of Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City. The announcement modifies the Mexican Official Standard NOM 016-CRE-2016 regarding the quality specifications for fuels by increasing […]
Trump stumps for ethanol in Iowa despite concerns on RFS blending volumes
In Iowa, President Trump said the ethanol industry was under siege by his Environmental Protection Agency but promised that he would save it as he said he’d do during his campaign. The White House has given the EPA the green light to publish the 2018 blending mandate proposal after reviewing it last week but changes […]
Thailand orders 40% increase in biodiesel stocks to support palm fruit prices
In Thailand, the government is calling for a 40% increase in biodiesel stocks held by oil companies to 90 million liters to help absorb excess palm oil supplies and support prices. Palm fruit prices were expected to respond within a week as a result of the policy shift. The country currently blends 7% biodiesel. About […]
Other Recent Articles
Penn State research on aviation biofuels focuses on regional supply chains
In Pennsylvania, researchers at Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences are evaluating regional supply chains that could be used for alternative jet fuel production, including feedstock production, transportation and fuel conversion. Researchers are examining fuel-production pathways, feedstock and infrastructure requirements, and commercial fuel demand to create scenarios for future production. “As oil prices plummet, it […]
Velocys pivots from “FT tech co” to “renewable fuels company”, eyes California
In the UK, Velocys CEO David Pummell said that “Our new strategy is for Velocys to be at the heart of building plants that convert woody biomass to high specification renewable diesel and jet fuel for the US market, our primary focus market. We have a world class, proven technology and highly skilled operations and […]
Algae biodiesel reduces emissions up to 80%: report
In Chile, FLS is reporting that researhers at Department of Chemical Engineering and Bioprocesses of the Catholic University have found that that algae-based biodiesel can reduce emissions and particulates by up to 80 percent in high-power diesel engines, compored to fiossil diesl. The research effort is a partnership with Automotive Mechanics of the Duoc UC,and […]
COFCO on the sidelines, saddled with debt, but Bunge-Glencor merger talks continue: report
In China, Reuters is reporting that COFCO is now expected to sit out the current wave of global M&A amongst major agricultural firms, citing that “he state-run conglomerate is struggling to integrate businesses it bought three years ago, deals which made it a significant global agricultural trader but are now hindering its ability to swoop […]
Evogene advances against Western corn rootworm
In Israel, Evogene has advanced a gene displaying insecticidal activity against Western corn rootworm into Phase-I focusing on validation in target crops, following positive laboratory assay results. Additionally, the company announced for the first time the identification of a set of genes displaying initial toxic activity against southern green stinkbug, a major pest in soybean […]
Nanomaterials Global Market Is Expected To Reach $19.83B by 2022: study
In New York, Stratistics MRC has released a report projecting that the Global Nanomaterials Market accounted for $4.79 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach $19.83 billion by 2022 growing at a CAGR of 22.5% from 2015 to 2022. The nanomaterials market is favoured by the governmental funding to support the prospective growth. The […]
