Major Stories
Biobased beer can rings, algae and bugs, chitin-based plastic breakthrough, gribble gut enzymes, banana-based products: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of December 14th
The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of December 14th. In today’s Digest, biobased beer can rings, algae and bugs, chitin-based plastic breakthrough, gribble gut enzymes, banana based products — these and more, ready for you now at The Digest online. #1 […]
Zymergen, the Porsche 911 of the Materials Superhighway, raises $400M in monumental Series C round
We call it the materials superhighway to suggest an awesome speed of innovation, a connection back to the genetics revolution and the information superhighway, and a focus on the new materials, chemicals, substances, and energies of the advanced bioeconomy. That superhighway may have just found its Porsche 911 — fast as lightning, stunning design and […]
Year of the Tree, CORSIA fuels, Mabus’ remarks, a breakthrough on woody biomass?: Heard on the Floor at the CAAFI general meeting
When the world’s leaders for sustainable aviation fuels have a general meeting the week before the COP24 global climate sessions (this year in Poland), you can bet that the focus will be breaking the “You Can Have Two out of Three Conundrum” of aviation fuels. Which is to say: affordable, available at scale, and sustainable, pick […]
What’s the Buzz? Heard on the floor at the COP24, on renewable fuels and more
COP24 descends on Katowice, Poland. What’s the buzz, what’s the mood? The Mood “Pretty intense I’d say. Good.” notes Climate Ethanol Alliances’s James Cogan. “We’ve been in a dozen transport energy events so far.” The Message “Fortunately the IEA had their big event today, and they shouted it loud and clear.. “use bioenergy in transport […]
COP24 brings new bioeconomy strategy from UK, $200B from World Bank and more
Amid rumors of President Trump’s coal and fossil-fuel side event at COP24 (the 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) in Poland this week and a Swedish 15 year old climate activist who tells it like it is, all hope for biofuels and bioenergy is not lost with […]
8-Slide Guides
Biofuels for Marine Engines and Pathways to Success: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide ABLC Guide to BETO
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) focuses on several bioproducts for R&D and has been assessing the value proposition of biofuels for marine engines. Zia Haq and Jim Spaeth, both from the U.S. DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, gave individual presentations at ABLC Global 2018 in San Francisco, but we’ve put them together […]
Pre-flight Checklist for Biofuture Takeoff: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide ABLC Guide to Biofuture Platform
Biofuture platform was launched at COP22 by 20 countries and top representatives of FAO, IEA, IRENA, UNIDO, SE4ALL, WBCSD, UNICA, and other leading organizations, whose aim is to kickstart a global, advanced bioeconomy and impact the future of bioenergy. Renato Domith Godinho, Biofuture Platform Interim Facilitator from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brazil gave […]
Torrefaction of Biomass: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide ABLC Guide to International Biomass Torrefaction Council
The International Biomass Torrefaction Council aims to promote biomass torrefaction and let the world know that integrated torrefaction process technology is mature, available and happening. Michael Wild from Wild & Partner LLC gave this illuminating overview of biomass torrefaction’s status, market requirements, and supply chain efficiency comparison at ABLC Global 2018 in San Francisco – […]
Residual Biomass to Gasoline: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide ABLC Guide to Bioliq Pilot Plant
Karlsruher Institut für Technologie’s Bioliq pilot plant is producing synthetic fuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic, ash rich biomass. Bernd Zimmerlin from Karlsruher Institut für Technologie gave this illuminating presentation on the technology behind the magic, from fast pyrolysis to entrained flow gasifier at ABLC Global 2018 in San Francisco – and it’s ready for you […]
Better Policy for Better Fuels: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide ABLC Guide to SEforAll and below50
Sustainable Energy For All and below50 aim to promote bioenergy, especially in developing countries, and grow the demand for sustainable alternative fuels, so that bioenergy can reach its full potential. Gerard J. Ostheimer, Global Lead for Bioenergy at SEforAll and Co-Founder of below50 gave this illuminating overview of international policy mobilization and messages at ABLC […]
The Latest World News
Enerkem agrees deal with Twin Cities allowing it to move forward with planning MSW-to-ethanol project
In Minnesota, the Pioneer Press reports that Minneapolis-St. Paul’s Metropolitan Council has made an agreement with Enerkem to move the company’s proposed garbage-to-ethanol plant project forward. The City has agreed to supply 1.6 million gallons of treated wastewater per day for use at the facility. The company is moving forward with a $600,000 investment in […]
Philippines CIF ethanol prices fall to four-month low as it tracks Argo lower
In the Philippines, Platts reports that imported ethanol prices basis CIF Philippines fell to $415.33/cu m earlier this week, a four-month low US ethanol prices continue to fall. Argo Ethanol prices fell to 15-year lows earlier in the week as production continues to pass more than a billion barrels per day despite rising corn prices […]
Zimbabwean villagers sue Green Fuel for alleged landgrabbing
In Zimbabwe, villagers are suing Green Fuel claiming that the company is illegally occupying community lands and interfering with their crop production activities. Currently 138 families claim historical use of the land for growing cotton and subsistence corn, saying the company has started to till their land to plant sugarcane. In response, the villagers are […]
Edeniq withdraws cross-claims against Aemetis after defeating all claims in court
In California, after its recent success in defeating all claims in the lawsuit filed by Aemetis, Inc., Edeniq, Inc. announced that it has voluntarily withdrawn its cross-claims. Edeniq had brought this countersuit to assist it in defending against Aemetis meritless case; having now achieved that clear victory, Edeniq has chosen not to incur the time […]
Benefuel to develop biodiesel plant in British Columbia on the back of expanded LCFS
In Canada, Benefuel Inc. responded to British Columbia’s recently publicized climate change plan that included an expanded Low Carbon Fuel Standard by announcing Dec. 11 that it has begun a site search and discussions with interested parties on a few specific locations for Benefuel’s next state-of-the-art biodiesel facility. This announcement has assisted Benefuel in prioritizing […]
R&D News
Nigerian university developing mini-biodiesel plant to promote jatropha use
In Nigeria, the University of Ilorin is developing a pilot mini-biodiesel production facility that will use jatropha as feedstock. The mini-plant is meant to show rural communities who already grow the oilseed tree extensively the energy production opportunities available to offset fossil fuel consumption. The university itself already planted 55 hectares of jatropha back in […]
Harvard researchers develop yeast bio-hybrid system
In Massachusetts, researchers at Harvard University have expanded the concept of “biological-inorganic hybrid systems” to baker’s yeast that in combination with light-harvesting semiconductors is able to produce shikimic acid, an important precursor of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu, several other medicines, nutraceuticals, and fine chemicals. When kept in the dark, the yeast cells produced ethanol and […]
TU Delft researcher develops model assessing impacts of transportation emissions on climate
In the Netherlands, a PhD candidate at TU Delft created a unique chemistry-climate response model called TransClim (Modelling the effect of surface Transportation on Climate) which assesses the impact and the contribution of road traffic emission scenarios on O3 and CH4 concentration as well as their subsequent climate effect. ‘Comparing the results delivered by TransClim […]
Germany researchers find that bioplastics aren’t necessarily more environmentally friendly than petroleum-based
In Germany, bioplastics are often promoted as an environmentally and climate-friendly alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. However, a recent study from the University of Bonn suggests that shifting to plant-based plastics could have less positive effects than expected. Specifically, an increased consumption of bioplastics in the following years is likely to generate increased greenhouse gas […]
Two-dimensional materials skip the energy barrier by growing one row at a time
In Washington, a new collaborative study led by a research team at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and University of California, Los Angeles could provide engineers new design rules for creating microelectronics, membranes, and tissues, and open up better production methods for new materials. At the same time, the research helps uphold […]
Policy & Policymakers
Indonesia looking at B30 after successful ramp up to B20
In Indonesia, the Jakarta Post reports that the government is looking to expand biodiesel blending to 30% from the current 20% but a target date for the policy implementation wasn’t reported. Already 20% uptake has reached 97% following the blending mandate increase in September. For B20, palm oil demand is 4.3 billion liters. The country […]
Malaysia PM launches B10 for February 1
In Malaysia, the Prime Minister officially launched the B10 mandate that will come into effect from February 1, up from the current 7%. The move is expected to reduce an additional 1.7 million metric tons of CO2 emissions from transport per year. Concerns about air pollution as well as the surplus palm oil situation have […]
Biodiesel companies urge Congress to extend biodiesel and renewable diesel tax breaks
In Washington, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and more than 50 member companies and affiliated organizations delivered a letter to House and Senate leaders, urging them to enact a multiyear extension of the biodiesel and renewable diesel tax incentive before Congress adjourns for the year. In February 2018, Congress retroactively extended the tax incentive for […]
CleanBC looks to strengthen low carbon fuel standard and boost biofuel production
In Canada, the Government of British Columbia released on December 5th its CleanBC climate plan, which charts a path to 19 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions reductions by 2030—an ambitious yet achievable set of measures that put low-carbon biofuels at the forefront of the Province’s climate efforts. It also puts BC firmly in a […]
Norway first country to ban biofuel from palm oil
In Norway, the Parliament voted to no longer allow biofuel from palm oil into the country in an effort to stop deforestation in Indonesia and other countries that export palm oil. The decision is set to go into force in 2020. The recent vote came after earlier attempts at slowly phasing out palm oil, like […]
Other Recent Articles
Maharashtra teams with Praj to test cashew apple as biofuel feedstock
In India, two coastal communities in Maharashtra have been short-listed as potential sites for a government program that will trial the use of cashew apple and press cake as feedstock for biofuel production. Praj as well as a local university and other partners are teaming on the project that could help reduce the 2.2 million […]
New Year, New Farm Bill: BIO Celebrates Legislation’s Role in Strengthening America’s Bio-based Economy
By Brent Erickson, Executive Vice President; Head, Industrial & Environmental Section, Biotechnology Innovation Organization Special to The Digest As we move closer to celebrating the end of 2018, Congress has given those working in America’s bio-based and agricultural sectors a reason to celebrate early. The 2018 Farm Bill has passed both chambers of Congress, with […]
Intellectual Property for Project Development
By Dr. Terry Mazanec and Justin Krieger, Esq. Special to The Digest Early movers in a new field can make audacious claims and often become incredibly wealthy. In 1612, some of the first English settlers in America were able to persuade King James I to grant the “Virginia Company” a Charter to a huge portion of […]
Neste takes the plunge and decides to invest EUR1.4 billion in tripling renewable production in Singapore
In Finland, Neste Corporation has made the final investment decision on additional renewable products production capacity in Singapore. The decision is based on a growing global market demand for low-carbon solutions in transport and cities, aviation, polymers and chemicals. The investment worth approximately EUR1.4 billion will extend Neste’s renewable product overall capacity in Singapore by […]
Shuttered Florida biodiesel facility leaking glycerin from old storage tank
In Florida, local news reports that a mothballed biodiesel facility in North Fort Meyers owned by Green Gallon Solutions has begun to leak glycerin-like products that are treated as hazardous materials. The state’s department of environmental protection has called for immediate cleanup of the leaking 10,000-gallon tank that had glycerin oozing from it when inspectors […]
Call for Philippines to boost ethanol blending to 20% in light of higher taxes
In the Philippines, a governor who is running for the Senate next year is calling for an E20 blending mandate to reduce the rising cost of fuel resulting from increased taxes. She claims that the current blending law wouldn’t need to be amended to facilitate the E20 policy because the domestic industry could only support […]
