Author Archive: admin

Positive review of Sustainable Development of Biofuels in Latin America and the Caribbean

February 16, 2015 | admin

Solomon Barry D., and Robert Baillis eds. Sustainable Development of Biofuels in Latin America and the Caribbean. New York: Springer Press, 2014 By Thomas N. Thompson., Maritime Environmental and Energy Advisor, U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), Washington ([email protected]). Amongst all the renewable resources, biomass is one of the most promising, particularly for transportation fuels. This superb […]

$500/BOE Profit from Algae? Yes We Can!

February 9, 2015 | admin

By Stafford “Doc” Williamson The Biofuels Digest is a little treasure trove of goodies. I just found one that helps make the case that algae derived biofuels are closer than you think. I mean, economically viable algae-based biofuels. In an article published recently (Jan 12, 2015) in the Biofuels Digest with the unlikely title […]

Gorilla Sized Opportunity Blindness

January 12, 2015 | admin

On a recent trading day, (Dec. 26, 2014 to be specific) Western Texas Intermediate closed at $59.45 for Feb. 15, 2015 delivery. At the same time, Gasoline for Jan. 15 delivery closed at US$1.51 (and 54/110ths) per gallon (US gallon). Oddly enough, it wasn’t a scary event to me. Just barely less than a year […]

IEA Bioenergy Task 39 Group releases Netherlands country profile in year end newsletter

December 29, 2014 | admin

The IEA Bioenergy Task 39 Group released its end of year newsletter, which included a comprehensive country profile for biofuels activity in The Netherlands, authored by John Neeft, Elke van Thuijl and Oliver May . The overview includes images and descriptions of the TNO, ECN, Algae Park and Bioprocess Pilot Facility (BPF) pilot plants, Examples […]

Small Business Booster Rocket from DOE offers small business assistance

December 29, 2014 | admin

Small business owners either imagine or have actually experienced rushing headlong for an open door marked “federal funds” only to have it slammed in their face for one reason or another. This is especially true of certain kinds of small businesses, and that landscape is about to change. The current round of DOE funding opportunities […]

Is there enough feedstock for cellulosic biofuels? Yes, says review, but new R&D focus will help

October 6, 2014 | admin

In Maryland, Robert Kozak of Atlantic Biomass Conversions contributes a thoughtful approach to answering these questions posed in Biofuels Digest: “As the first wave of cellulosic biorefineries launch — is there really enough affordable feedstock for the next wave? Can growers make enough money to justify the switch…and risk?” Kozak’s answer, after outlining the current weaknesses in current […]

Taurus Energy notes global surge in cellulosic biofuels testing and partnering activity

September 1, 2014 | admin

In Sweden, Taurus Energy has revealed that it is currently holding discussions and negotiations on XYLOFERM with over 10 companies, noting that “The level of interest in producing second-generation ethanol has increased over the past year, since a number of production facilities have come on-stream. Leaders in the industry no longer regard ethanol produced from […]

Strong ethanol margins bring South Dakota’s Red River Energy plant back online

September 1, 2014 | admin

In South Dakota, the 25 million gallon Red River Energy ethanol plant in Rosholt is re-opening after an idle period that stretches back to early 2013, according to press reports. In an interview with the Watertown (SD) Public Opinion, general manager Rick Serie said “The margins are good in ethanol, corn is abundant at this […]

Turning Algae’s Golden Corner: Triton, Sapphire Energy, Heliae, Rincon, and Monsanto

October 2, 2013 | admin

How and why a foundational technology led to Sapphire, then spun out again and led to Triton, and attracted investment from Heliae. It seems a long time ago now that, out of Dr. Steve Mayfield’s lab at Scripps and later at the University of California at San Diego, a series of discoveries made it possible, […]

ARPA-E awards $34M in R&D for advanced liquid fuels from methane

September 19, 2013 | admin

ARPA-E boosts its original projected awards by 70% as it burrows deep into the problem of how to make something insanely great out of stranded methane. Here are the winners, the background and the stakes. In Washington, the US Department of Energy announced that 15 breakthrough energy projects will receive approximately $34 million from the […]