In South Carolina, a Clemson University researcher has received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture to develop genetically improved and more robust turfgrass and switchgrass. These perennial plants represent a multibillion-dollar segment of the U.S. agricultural economy. A key challenge to engineering better turf and switchgrass […]
In Washington, Newsweek reports that President Trump’s latest move regarding the missing gallons from the Renewable Fuel Standard has caused such a backlash in his major constituencies of farmers and blue collar workers working in oil refineries that pundits say he may never get them back. The president of Elite Octane even went so far […]
Over 10 years (2007–2017), three Bioenergy Research Centers produced multiple breakthroughs in the form of deepened understanding of sustainable biomass production practices, targeted re-engineering of biomass feedstocks, development of new methods for deconstructing feedstocks, and engineering of microbes for more effective production of a diverse range of biofuels. These successes are being leveraged in the […]
This week there’s Hallowe’en around the corner and we’ll point to the very latest in biobased DIY coffins, but leading this week is the unexpected ways to make the ordinary stuff we know — like, the paper beer bottle, a 3d printed boat, and pallets made from coconut husks. And, some more exotic inventions, too […]
In California, local press reports that around 250,000 gallons stored in two tanks were destroyed during a major fire that broke out at the NuStar storage facility in Crockett out of the 24 tanks at the tank farm that holds ethanol, gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel. Investigations are now underway to see if the explosion […]
In Vermont, Vanguard Renewables has selected Kinsley Energy Systems to supply high-efficiency combined heat and power (CHP) for a groundbreaking renewable energy project. Kinsley will provide an 800 kW TEDOM CHP system to power a new renewable natural gas (RNG) production facility located on Goodrich Farm in Salisbury, Vermont. The system, owned and operated by Vanguard, produces […]
In Canada, Enerkem Inc. announced the closing of a C$50 million equity investment from Suncor. As Canada’s leading integrated energy company, Suncor first participated in the ownership of Enerkem in April 2019 as part of a C$76.3 million equity financing alongside Enerkem’s existing shareholders. With this new investment, Suncor becomes a significant, strategic shareholder of Enerkem. […]
In the UK, despite an impressively growing preference for biofuels for transportation purposes and the rising demand for biofuel testing services, the high costs associated with biofuel testing services will continue to limit the growth of market over the next few years. With strong signs of biofuels entering the mainstream, it is highly likely that […]
In the Netherlands, Platts reports that Sunoil has bought the 80,000 metric ton Biodiesel Kampen facility, but not the legal entity, that has been beset with controversy the last couple of years and production is expected to ramp up before mid-2020. Kampen’s owner has been imprisoned for fraud, forging documents and money laundering while court […]
In Nigeria, the Nation newspaper reports that the national cassava growers association says the cassava supply chain is seriously under-utilized and that with proper investment the crop could be used as feedstock to produce ethanol, replacing 400 million liters of annual ethanol imports valued at $442 million. A properly functioning cassava supply chain could also […]
