In New York state, the City of New York is set to spend the next two years analyzing the use of alternative fuels to power the city’s ferries following a successful City Council vote in mid-December. The study will look at biodiesel and hybrid electric, battery electric and fuel-cell electric technologies but also look at […]
Last year, industry consultant Vonnie Estes — whose latest Digest column is here — picked up the Rosa Franklin Award for leadership in industrial biotechnology — and her most recent presentation decks offer a pretty good sense of why — she’s given us this overview on cellulosic sugars, this on Caribou and CRISPR technology, this one on partnering […]
A mere “The Year in Rewind” as we sail into 2018? Not the good ship Digest! Instead, we dust off our crystal ball and offer our predictions for the year ahead. As the sunset of 2017 gives way to the dawn of 2018, once again roll the dice as we list the Digest’s 10 Top Advanced Bioeconomy Predictions […]
In Washington, Reuters reports the Energy Information Agency data for October shows biodiesel production fell to 146 million gallons, about a million gallons less than the month prior. With 577 million pounds of soybean oil used to produce biodiesel, soybean oil remained the largest feedstock employed for the month, although it was less than September’s […]
In the Netherlands, Platts reports that European biodiesel premiums fell to nearly three-year lows last week as the RME premium fell to $328/mt FOB ARA, the lowest in 31 months and down $1/mt on the week, while FAME 0 premium slid $26/mt on the week to $224/mt FOB ARA, the lowest in 32 months. Gas […]
In Washington state, REG confirmed to local authorities it will not continue with Imperial Renewables earlier plans to handle crude oil through its facility in Hoquiam. The company originally announced the unlikelihood of moving forward with the plan when it bought Imperial Renewables in 2015 but only now officially confirmed it through the withdrawal of […]
In Pennsylvania, Platts reports short term logistical rail challenges have kept Midwestern ethanol from moving towards New York Harbor where an unexpectedly large volume of ethanol barges have been booked for January, causing a momentary spurt in prices to 10.75 cents above the January Chicago ethanol swap last Thursday. With Midwest ethanol producers continuing to […]
In Thailand, the cabinet is waiting to receive the first ever proposal for a bioeconomy development plan that is aimed at attracting private sector investment to boost the agri-economy as well as interest in tech companies. Hopes are that the policy could be approved by the cabinet early in 2018 and follows on work begun […]
In Ireland, Lisheen Task Force and the Irish Bioeconomy Foundation (IBF) welcomed the announcement by Minister Heather Humphreys of EUR4.3 million of financial support through Enterprise Irelands’ Regional Economic Development Fund for the establishment of a Bioeconomy innovation and piloting facility at Lisheen Co. Tipperary. The facility will enable industry, entrepreneurs and researchers to scale […]
In Australia, researchers led by the University of Wollongong have developed a cost effective method to turn biomass into xylose and arabinose, furfural and HMF (5-hydroxymethylfurfural). The catalysts employed are recyclable, helping to reduce production costs significantly while resulting in very high yields of five carbon sugars and furfural. There is hope the technology can […]
