Archive for December, 2008
The Top 10 Biofuels Stories of 2008: #10, Airlines test biofuels
Virgin Atlantic and Air New Zealand completed 747 biofuel tests this year, with Virgin testing a B20 blend using babassu palm oil and coconut oil in February while Air New Zealand used a B50 blend from jatropha in its December test.
Continental and Japan Airlines announced early 2009 tests as well. British Airways announced future tests, [...]
Air New Zealand successfully completes jatropha biodiesel flight test: eyes 10 percent conversion to B50 by 2013
An Air New Zealand Boeing 747-400 successfully completed a two-hour test flight with one engine operating on a B50 blend of jet fuel and jatropha biodiesel. Air New Zealand said that the use of its B50 blend would reduce the carbon footprint of a 747 flight operation by 25 percent.
Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer [...]
BARD raises $40 million for 60 Mgy algae biodiesel plant in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, Biodiesel Advanced Research and Development (BARD) announced that it has raised $40 million towards the construction of a 60 Mgy algae biodiesel plant that will be sited in Philadelphia. The company will utilize CO2 acquired from a local power company and will utilize a closed photobioreactor system. The company said the $40 million [...]
Khosla Ventures, Hawaii Electric form renewable energy partnership; testing, info sharing in focus
In Hawaii, Khosla Ventures and Hawaiian Electric Co. (HECO) announced a partnership to share information regarding new renewable energy technologies. Under the agreement, HECO will evaluate and test new technologies in its systems, with a goal of accelerating clean technology deployment in Hawaii. Khosla in turn will use the HECO evaluations to accelerate the commercialization [...]
Commodity prices, delays in cellulosic ethanol, struggles of corn ethanol among Oil Drum’s Top 10 Stories for 2008
The Oil Drum, one of of the most prominent and prescient energy blogs, has published its top 10 energy stories summary for 2008. Topping the list: commodity price volatility; delays in cellulosic ethanol deployment and the struggles of first generation ethanol plants to stay in business also made the top 10.
Today in Biofuels Opinion: “The technology and industry aren’t there yet for commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol refining.”
KVOA.com: “Bud Klepper developed the technology that takes wood chips and beetle kill and turns them into ethanol in Denver….You may be wondering if the wood chip approach to making ethanol is cheaper than corn based ethanol. Well, the company says it is cheaper, but it wouldn’t say by how much.”
The Jamestown (ND) Sun: “Trying to [...]
German Biomass Research Center opens with support from Saxony state government
In Germany, the Saxony state government approved the formation of the German Biomass Research Center in Leipzig. Under an agreement with the federal government, the Saxony ministry of agriculture will invest up to $3 million in the new facility.
Baja Hindustan reels from sugar losses, Indian pricing policy; ethanol investments in jeopardy
In India, shares of Bajaj Hindusthan have plummeted 84% this year from its highs in January, and the company has reported losses of $9 million for the year after the High Court ruled that sugar manufacturers had to purchase sugar cane at a state-mandated price that is 50 percent above the state minimum price. The [...]
BioWanze commences production at 79 Mgy ethanol plant in Belgium
In Belgium, BioWanze has commenced production of advanced biofuels at its plant in Wanze. The $350 million project has a 79 Mgy annual capacity for ethanol produced from wheat and sugar syrups.
Researchers study methane and hydrogen producing organisms on seafloor for biofuels potential
In the submersible Alvin, researchers from UMass are discovering and cataloguing exotic anaerobic microorganisms that grow near volcanic “black smokers” on the ocean floor, and tolerate temperatures of up to 200 degrees F. The researchers hope to study the methane and hydrogen producing organisms for their potential in unlocking improvements in biofuels yields.
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The 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy - Sponsored by Core Informatics
Click on company name for latest company news
1. Coskata
2. Sapphire Energy
3. Virent Energy Systems
4. POET
5. Range Fuels
6. Solazyme
7. Amyris Biotechnologies
8. Mascoma
9. DuPont Danisco
10. UOP
11. ZeaChem
12. Aquaflow Bionomic
13. Bluefire Ethanol
14. Novozymes
15. Qteros
16. Petrobras
17. Cobalt Biofuels
18. Iogen
19. Synthetic Genomics
20. Abengoa Bioenergy
21. KL Energy
22. Ineos
23. GreenFuel
24. Vital Renewable Energy
25. LS9
26. Raven Biofuels
27. Gevo
28. St.1 Biofuels Oy
29. Primafuel
30. Taurus Energy
31. Ceres
32. Syngenta
33. Aurora Biofuels
34. Bionavitas
35. Algenol
36. Verenium
37. Simply Green
38. Carbon Green
39. SEKAB
40. Osage Bioenergy
41. Dynamotive
42. Sustainable Power
43. ETH Bioenergia
44. Choren
45. OriginOil
46. Propel Fuels
47. GEM Biofuels
48. Lake Erie Biofuels
49. Cavitation Technologies
50. Lotus/Jaguar – Omnivore -
