Biofuels Digest

International Algae Congress convenes in Hamburg on December 1-2

In Germany, the International Algae Congress will convene DEcember 1-2, 2009 in Hamburg. In attendance are delegates from: Evonik Degussa, University of Groningen, Exxonmobil, CTI BioChemicals, Ghent University, German Renewable Energy Federation, Danish Food Industry Agency, WageningenUR,  European Society of Microalgal Biotechnology, European Commission, European Algae Biomass Association and the Danish Technological Institute.

Biofuels Digest Index falls 0.17 percent despite large-cap gains

The Biofuels Digest Index™ (BDI), a basket of public biofuels stocks, fell 0.17 percent to 66.27 despite big cap advances. For the day, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) gained 0.68 percent to $32.43, while BP advanced 1.65 percent to 58.53.  Among smaller caps, The Andersons (ANDE) fell 15.41 percent to $25.37. Overall, advances led declines 3 [...]

Catilin says its solid catalyst process reduces cost of biodiesel production by up to 19 cents per gallon

In Iowa, Catilin announced today that a technical and economic analysis of the Catilin solid catalyst process has a value advantage over the traditional catalytic process of 13 cents per gallon of biodiesel.  When the capital expense savings are included, the advantage increases to 19 cents per gallon of biodiesel. The analysis was conducted by [...]

Bioenergy PROFITS Principles: Reality, and Codexis

REALITY – How Broad is Your Customer Platform?

Bioenergy PROFITS Principle – Reality
Successful companies build core areas of content.  This may be a technology platform or a basic product upon which to expand. This core is the basic element though you may later customize your offerings,
What can you do to deal most effectively with [...]

Today in Biofuels Opinion: “I thought you might be interested in a more current aerial of our Soperton Plant.”

Patrick Wright of Range Fuels: “I thought you might be interested in a more current aerial of our Soperton Plant to give you a better visual sense of where we stand on construction efforts on the first phase.  I also wanted to pass on that we’re on schedule to begin production of cellulosic biofuels from [...]

Iogen: 50 Hotttest Companies in Bioenergy candidate profile

Iogen
Based in: Canada
2008-09 rank: 18
Business: Cellulosic ethanol production
Model: Owner-operator.
Past milestones:
In 2009, a Shell station in Ottawa became the first in the country to serve cars with cellulosic ethanol, offering a 10 percent blend of gasoline and wheat straw ethanol manufactured at a demonstration-scale cellulosic ethanol plan jointly owned by Shell and Iogen.
A [...]

$100,000 renewable energy business plan prize announced for African countries

In the Netherlands, PANGAEA (Partners for Euro-African Green Energy) advises that the Dutch development bank along with E + Co and other partners have announced a business plan competition for selected African countries to develop renewable energy. The prize is US$100,000 for the winning business plan to go towards implementation of the project. More information [...]

Honeywell, China National Petroleum ink agreement on advanced biofuels for China; focus on Chinese feedstock evaluation

In China, the China National Petroleum Corporation signed a MOU with Honeywell’s UOP to evaluate Chinese feedstocks for the production of green diesel and green jet fuels, evaluate installation of units to produce renewable fuels and improve ethanol energy efficiency.
CNPC will also evaluate the installation of a demonstration-scale UOP/Eni Ecofining process unit for the production [...]

Neste, St1 target enhanced fuels for cars after success with NExBTL renewable diesel

In Finland, Neste Oil and St1 have commenced a collaborative effort to develop high-efficiency biofuels for cars, after a successful project to optimize diesel fuels that resulted in the introduction of Neste Green diesel fuel in Finland, which contains a minimum of 10% NExBTL renewable diesel.
In the new project, St1 will concentrate on optimizing high-blend [...]

Aussie researchers achieve sustained 50 tonnes/ha/year algae yields in open, saline ponds: new pilot will do even better, team says

In Australia, scientists in a algal fuel project which includes Murdoch University and the University of Adelaide said that they are have proven that it is possible to grow large amounts of algal biomass in open saline ponds, and have done so consistently and without contamination.
The group said that they have achieved production rates of  [...]