Major Stories
IPO market re-opens, sort of, as Calyxt raises $56M in NASDAQ offering
In Minnesota, Calyxt, the gene editing agriculture company, raised $56M and priced its NASDAQ initial public offering of 7 million shares at $8.00. The number of shares in the offering was sweetened to 7 million this week, from the original estimate of 6.06 million — and the price was substantially lower than the expected $15.00-$18.00 […]
The Greenest Skies You’ve Ever Seen are in Seattle: Sea-Tac Airport leads on financing strategy for sustainable aviation fuels
In Washington state, Carbon War Room and SkyNRG have joined with the Port of Seattle to announce recommendations for long-term funding mechanisms that could supply all airlines at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) with sustainable aviation biofuels. The report, titled Innovative Funding for Sustainable Aviation Fuel at U.S. Airports: Explored at Seattle-Tacoma International, reveals the financial […]
Heat Death: Joule Unlimited collapses as oil prices flag, time passes, pressure mounts
One of the more striking outcomes from the DOE Bioeconomy 2017 conference in Washington DC was confirmation of the demise of Joule Unlimited. “We had a lot of prospects last year,” former CEO Brian Baynes told The Digest, “but those new investor prospects walked away, particularly post election. The insiders would have been happy to […]
In search of next-gen bioproducts and fuels, DOE invests $40M in 4 Bioenergy Research Centers
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry today announced $40 million in Department of Energy awards for the establishment of four DOE Bioenergy Research Centers (BRCs), which will provide the scientific breakthroughs for a new generation of sustainable, cost-effective bioproducts and bioenergy. The following centers were selected based on an open competition using outside peer […]
Is It the End or Just the Beginning for Jatropha?
After winning a small victory over the Germans during World War II, Winston Churchill said “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” Today, Biofuels Digest asks is this the end of jatropha? Or is it just the beginning? […]
8-Slide Guides
Scalable, reliable, sustainable: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to NexSteppe
NexSteppe is dedicated to pioneering the next generation of scalable, reliable, cost-effective feedstock solutions for the biofuels, biopower and biobased products industries. Using advanced breeding techniques and cutting-edge analytical technologies, NexSteppe is developing Malibu sweet sorghum, Metano Alto, Carbo Alto and Palo Alto high biomass sorghum to produce feedstocks tailored for these biobased industries. Recently, […]
Ready for take-off: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Honeywell’s UOP and aviation biofuels
Honeywell’s UOP has developed a renewable jet fuel processing technology, a renewable diesel process, as well as a joint venture, Envergent Technologies, that will market technologies and equipment for generating power, transportation fuel and heating oil from biomass using pyrolysis. UOP also owns a Renewable Energy & Chemicals business that produced green diesel using its Ecofining […]
Cellulosics & the Whole Bio-Barrel: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Renmatix
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 CTO Fred Moesler gave this illuminating overview on the company and its […]
Cost-cutting, cutting-edge: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Rennovia
Rennovia, Inc. is a chemical process technology development company focused on the creation of novel processes for the cost-advantaged production of commodity and specialty chemicals from renewable feedstocks. Rennovia is developing processes for the production of biobased glucaric acid, adipic acid, 1,6-hexanediol, hexamethylenediamine (HMD), and other important building blocks for a wide range of functional materials. […]
From advanced algae to VMAX: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Synthetic Genomics
Last month, at the annual BIO convention, ExxonMobil and Synthetic Genomics announced a breakthrough in joint research into advanced biofuels involving the improvement of the Nannochloropsis gaditana algae strain. Currently at proof of concept scale, at the productivity rates seen under lab conditions, the strain could produce up to 1600 gallons per acre per year of […]
The Latest World News
Brazilian ethanol prices higher on rumors of increased gasoline taxes
In Brazil, the government may increase the CIDE or PIS/Cofins taxes on gasoline, a move which has supported ethanol prices in response. The former would take 90 days to be implemented but the latter could come into place immediately, however the level of possible taxation is not yet clear. PIS/Cofins could also be applied to […]
New York Green Bank could be model for federal green bank
In Washington, Rep. Paul Tonko, NY, has proposed a bill that would funnel federal funds for investment in renewable energy including biofuels through state green banks following the success of the New York Green Bank that is already profitable a year ahead of schedule. The bill would seek $10 billion minimum capitalization for the federal […]
Poor UK wheat harvest may see next imports for second year running
In the UK, this year’s wheat harvest looks to be similar to last year’s of around 14.4 million metric tons that not only was the lowest in three years but also prompted wheat imports despite being the EU’s third-largest grower. That was only the fourth time the UK was a net importer during the past […]
DDGS exports to SE Asia up 16% on year
In Washington, U.S. exports of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) to Southeast Asia have increased 16 percent so far this marketing year, according to data from the USDA and analysis by the U.S. Grains Council. The Southeast Asian region—which includes Brunei, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam—currently represents the third largest […]
Think tank slams EU’s impact assessments of REDII proposal
In Belgium, Institute for Impact Assessment and Scientific Evaluation of Policy and Legislation has scrutinized in detail the Impact Assessments accompanying the European Commission legislative proposal for a directive on the use of energy from renewable sources. The lack of availability for scrutiny of the models used to calculate macroeconomic parameters, indirect land use change […]
R&D News
Gen3Bio commercializing algae-to-biochemicals technology
In Indiana, Gen3Bio Inc., a Purdue Foundry-affiliated company, is developing a unique process that could more effectively and affordably transform microalgae into bio-based chemicals to maximize the value of biofeedstock and reduce landfill waste. The company is scaling up and commercializing an effective, efficient and low-cost algae extraction method to lyse open the algae cells […]
MIT researchers better understand how plants protect themselves from too much energy production
In Massachusetts, photosynthesis, which allows energy from the sun to be converted into life-sustaining sugars, can also be hazardous to green plants. If they absorb too much sunlight, the extra energy destroys their tissue. To combat this, green plants have developed a defense mechanism known as photoprotection, which allows them to dissipate the extra energy. […]
MSU-DOE researchers find chloroplast role in seed oil production
In Michigan, researchers at the MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory have found that chloroplast not only is responsible for photosynthesis but also plays a role in seed oil production which could be manipulated to boost oil yields and therefore increase biofuel production efficiency. The process could boost yields as much as 10% but some bugs in […]
Brazilian researchers determine ultrafine particles in air falls with more ethanol use
In Brazil, the concentration of ultrafine particles less than 50 nanometers in diameter rose by one-third in the air of São Paulo, Brazil, when higher ethanol prices induced drivers to switch from ethanol to gasoline, according to a new study by a Northwestern University chemist, a National University of Singapore economist and two University of […]
ChemCatBio launches 2017 directed funding assistance opportunity
In Colorado, ChemCatBio announced a new 2017 directed funding assistance opportunity. It’s an opportunity for industry and academia to engage with ChemCatBio to tackle challenges associated with these core research themes, to leverage our capabilities and expertise to overcome any process-specific obstacle, or to collaboratively generate new advanced capabilities. ChemCatBio is a research and development consortium dedicated […]
Policy & Policymakers
Year-round E15 bill may get Senate committee vote on Wednesday
In Washington, a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee vote on the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act that seeks to allow sales of E15 year-round could be held as soon as Wednesday. The fight over the bill has brought together pro-ethanol states and industries on one side against those who say the law would […]
EU to cut anti-dumping duties on Argentine and Indonesia biodiesel by almost half
In Belgium, following rulings by the World Trade Organization, the European Commission will lower anti-dumping tariffs against Argentine biodiesel imports by up to 10.6% and up to 6.9% for imports from Indonesia, roughly half of the levels that had been in place in 2013. Argentine companies who cooperated with the EU’s investigation could see their […]
India getting closer to bamboo ethanol policy
In India, the petroleum minister has so far signed 15 supply contracts for bamboo-based ethanol as part of the government’s push towards diversification of biofuel feedstocks. The transport minister said he has so far held three meetings with the Prime Ministers office on a proposed bamboo-based ethanol policy and believes it should be ready soon. […]
Malaysia and Indonesia ready to fight EU at WTO over palm oil ban
In Malaysia, during a meeting between the trade ministers for Malaysia and Indonesia, the countries expressed deep disappointment in the allegedly unfair treatment by the EU on palm oil in favor of other vegetable oils and commodities which they say also contribute significantly to deforestation. This EU resolution as well as the unfair labeling practices […]
Trump Nominates Soybean CEO Censky as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
In Washington, DC, President Trump nominated American Soybean Association CEO Steve Censky to serve as deputy secretary of agriculture to manage day-to-day operations at the USDA. Censky has been CEO of the American Soybean Association for 21 years, making this a big change for him. He grew up on a soybean, corn, and diversified livestock […]
Other Recent Articles
June RIN generation falls slightly on month
In Washington, the Environmental Protection Agency said June RIN production fell to 1.26 billion from 1.27 billion the month prior. Biomass-based diesel increased over the previous month to 262,875,064 from 231,107,617 while cellulosic diesel generated the first RINs for the year at 756,020. D5 RINs also saw a big jump to 14,965,286 from 12,398,941 in […]
Fires causing problems in abandoned Bionet Europa biodiesel facility
In Spain, two fires in as many weeks have erupted at the former Bionet Europa biodiesel factory near Reus after solidified old fuel left behind on site caught fire. This week’s fires took place in some old storage tanks that firefighters say are no longer at risk of catching fire again with the one in […]
Indonesia gives Greenbelt’s ECOsystem technology the green seal of approval
In California, the Indonesian government’s Technical Committee on Verification of Environmentally Friendly Technology has officially recommended that be awarded “Eco Friendly Technology” registration for Greenbelt Resources’ proprietary waste-to-energy systems process “ECOsystem” technology. When awarded, the registration will designate Greenbelt’s technology as environmentally friendly. The registration will apply to all food waste applications including the technology’s […]
Report says high aviation biofuel costs and regulation over airport spending obstacles for fuel uptake
In Washington state, the two biggest challenges facing broader adoption of sustainable aviation fuel at Sea-Tac are the higher cost compared with petroleum jet fuel, and the constraints imposed by state and federal regulations on use of airport funds. A report, titled Innovative Funding for Sustainable Aviation Fuel at U.S. Airports: Explored at Seattle-Tacoma International, […]
European feed and grain associations say pro-soy policy contradicts biofuels cap
In Belgium, COCERAL, FEDIOL and FEFAC say the foreseen strategy of enhancing soy and protein production in the EU policy coherence: in this sense, over 11 million tons of protein-rich meals, mainly from rapeseed, are directly related to the production of biodiesel and will disappear if the phasing out of crop-based biofuels proposed in the […]
US ethanol exports ease thanks to higher prices at home
In Texas, ethanol exports are beginning to ease in light of stronger domestic prices that are keeping the fuel at home, especially for the case of Brazil and India where much of the exports earlier this year were destined. Corn futures are helping to support ethanol prices in the US with a wary eye on […]
