In Finland, the Biofore Company UPM and the conservation organization WWF Finland have agreed on versatile cooperation to promote sustainable wood-based biofuels, forest management, and sourcing of raw materials in Finland. “Sustainably produced, wood-based biofuels provide a promising alternative to decrease both emissions in traffic and oil import, as well as to increase national energy […]
In Illinois, a study from the Energy Biosciences Institute at the University of Illinois looked at 21 species of short-rotation woody biomass, planted in 2010 and harvested and measured in 2011 and 2012. Of the 21, black locust, northern catalpa, flameleaf sumac, silver maple and sycamore proved to be the best short-rotation biomass crops for […]
In Norway, until now, it has taken weeks to make biofuel from trees. This slow pace has been a bottleneck for the industry. Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology have now shortened the process to a few hours. The biggest challenge in making biofuel from wood to date has been that it […]
In Canada, Cellufuel’s demonstration pilot plant to covert wood into biofuel slated for Nova Scotia is set to come online in February after securing a $1.5 million loan from the province. The remaining $2.5 million needed for the facility has already been secured from private investors. The facility expects to produce 1 million liters per […]
In the UK, researchers at the University of York, University of Portsmouth and the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory have used advanced biochemical analysis and x-ray imaging to identify a new enzyme to convert woody biomass into liquid biofuel. The enzyme is produced by gribbles, tiny marine wood-borers often responsible for destroying seaside wooden piers. […]
Today on Twitter: PVwizard EU Tension Over Biofuels Cap Intensifies xs4green @Ductor a #winner of the Red Herring Europe 100 Award Presseurop: Wood – Europe’s fuel of the future, really? (The Economist, London) #Biofuels via @theeconomist shareActionUK That leaves advanced biofuels as #BP focus for alternative energy
In France, the European Commission has awarded a $222 million grant to Finland’s UPM to develop a wood-to-biodiesel facility in Strasbourg. Finalization of the project is expected to take place during the next 12-18 months as the last studies regarding the availability and sourcing of wood-based raw materials are completed.
In Minnesota, the J.M Longyear company has purchased a 120-acre lumber mill site that has been shuttered since 2009, most likely in hopes of retrofitting the mill into a biofuel facility. Longyear, who have invested in Mascoma’s $232m cellulosic ethanol plant in Kinross, MI, have expressed interest in woody biomass to ethanol processes. Rumors also […]
In Washington state, the state House of Representatives has approved a request by the Washington Department of Natural Resources to test forest biomass as a feedstock for renewable jetfuel. The proposal now moves on to the state’s Senate. More on the story.
Core BioFuels announced plans to build a $100 million 92 octane biogasoline plant that will employ 40-50 people and begin operations by the end of 2012. The plant will use new technology to turn wood chips into ethanol using gasification and catalytic reactors. Technology for gasification of wood chips for co-generation is not new, but […]
