In China, Reuters reports that Marquis Energy believes US ethanol exports to China could reach 400,000 metric tons this year as long as an additional 15% tariff isn’t added to the current 30% tariff in retaliation for US steel import tariffs. Some estimates had been as high as 800,000 tons but the threat of higher […]
In California, researchers at the Department of Energy’s Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have discovered a new enzyme that will enable microbial production of a renewable alternative to petroleum-based toluene, a widely used octane booster in gasoline that has a global market of twenty nine million tons per year. […]
In Washington, Platts reports that consultants the Brattle Group believe if Philadelphia Energy Solutions is allowed to forego half of its RIN buy for 2016 and 2017 as part of a proposed settlement with the Department of Justice, as much as 2% of the ethanol blending mandate would shrink and RIN prices would fall accordingly […]
In Illinois, Royal DSM announced its commitment to bring innovative solutions to the biofuels industry with a full portfolio offering of yeast and enzymes for starch, fiber and biomass conversions. • For starch conversion, DSM says its yeast is tailored to provide a consistent increased ethanol yield, while significantly reducing glycerol production. • For fiber […]
In Belgium, ahead of trilogue talks between the EU institutions on the EU’s renewable energy plans, Copa and Cogeca call for a stable long-term policy to maximize the potential of crop-based biofuels to decarbonize the transport sector. Copa and Cogeca have adopted an updated position on the promotion of EU renewable energy. Outlining key points […]
In China, Reuters reports that February ethanol imports jumped to 197,652 cubic meters, the highest imports seen since May 2016, with 189,035 cubic meters coming from the US. Cheap US ethanol due to high stocks mean that landed ethanol is still profitable even with the 30% import tariff in place. Threats of boosting that import […]
In Indonesia, even though trade with Norway is limited and has been shrinking since 2012, the Indonesian Ministry of Trade is still threatening to stop imports of Norwegian fish if the Nordic country goes ahead with the palm oil ban proposed by Parliament last year. The threat is more symbolic than anything else due to […]
In Australia, local media reports there is growing interest to produce hydrogen from biodiesel produced by Northern Oil, fuel that could be exported to Japan for use during the 2020 Olympic games. Two companies have already indicated interest in developing hydrogen in Gladstone, Queensland region near the Northern Oil facility thanks to the state development […]
In Germany, Reuters reports the CEO of German biofuels producer Verbio AG said Argentine and Indonesian biodiesel producers can sell landed biodiesel in Europe for as much as $60 per metric tons cheaper than European biodiesel producers can source feedstock, meaning the European market is likely to be inundated with imports following the European Court […]
In Colorado, it was more than 10 years in the making, but when it came to uncovering the secrets of the molecular structure of enzymes, perseverance paid off. By studying and comparing the workhorse cellulose-degrading enzymes of two fungi, researchers from the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have pinpointed regions on these enzymes […]
