Archive for 2019

Fluctuations in feedstock prices hardly move consumer prices

Fluctuations in feedstock prices hardly move consumer prices

October 11, 2019 |

In Germany, Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft (mbH) reports that consumer prices for rapeseed oil virtually remained at the same level of EUR 0.99 per litre on German average over the past five years. By contrast, movements of wholesale prices for rapeseed oil ex oil mill were much more pronounced – but had little impact on consumer prices. […]

Read More

New comprehensive report on European biofuel policy published

New comprehensive report on European biofuel policy published

October 11, 2019 |

In Germany, UFOP has published a a comprehensive overview about the state of the art on national and European biofuel policy. The main topics are the implementation and consequences of the Renewable Energies Directive (2018/2001/EC) and in particular the national framework conditions resulting from the Climate Protection Act. The Federal Cabinet will decide today on […]

Read More

Wood for skin: nanocellulose sensor developed for human skin health

Wood for skin: nanocellulose sensor developed for human skin health

October 11, 2019 |

In Switzerland, a team of Empa researchers, together with scientists from Canada, have produced a novel flexible sensor that lies on the skin surface and is biocompatible because it is made of nanocellulose. Nanocellulose is an inexpensive, renewable raw material, which can be obtained in form of crystals and fibers, for example from wood. Its […]

Read More

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem urge President Trump to take new biofuela actions

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem urge President Trump to take new biofuela actions

October 11, 2019 |

In Minnesota,  Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem urged President Trump to use his “… executive authority to restore and grow the nation’s agriculture and biofuels industries…” by taking the following administrative actions now: • Direct EPA to enforce the Clean Air Act and reduce the aromatics in gasoline, opening new market […]

Read More

French court OKs ban on palm oil biofuels

French court OKs ban on palm oil biofuels

October 11, 2019 |

In France, a French court upheld a law requiring that palm oil be excluded as a qualifying feedstock for biofuels, promoting immediate, negative reaction from Total. Total said that it may revisit its decision to convert its La Mede refinery from petroleum to renewable diesel. Reuters reports that the “The legislation will remove palm oil […]

Read More

Berkeley researchers produce diesel fuel precursors from crop residues, municipal solid waste

Berkeley researchers produce diesel fuel precursors from crop residues, municipal solid waste

October 11, 2019 |

In California, researchers at Berkeley Lab have created six blends that combined MSW items (non-recyclable paper and grass clippings) with biomass (corn stover and switchgrass). Using an ionic liquid-based process, they converted these blends into methyl ketones, which are chemical compounds that can be used as diesel fuel precursors. This is the first report on […]

Read More

Avantium joins the Paper Bottle Project for the fully plant-based and recyclable Paper Bottle

Avantium joins the Paper Bottle Project for the fully plant-based and recyclable Paper Bottle

October 11, 2019 |

In the Netherlands, the Paper Bottle Company (Paboco) – a joint venture between paper packaging material developer BillerudKorsnäs and bottle manufacturing specialist ALPLA revealed that Avantium has joined the Paper Bottle Project. Avantium will be one of the technology providers for the fully plant-based and recyclable Paper Bottle. A thin layer of Avantium’s PEF (polyethylene […]

Read More

Graanul lays cornerstone for Estonian wood-to-precursors project using Sweetwater technology

Graanul lays cornerstone for Estonian wood-to-precursors project using Sweetwater technology

October 11, 2019 |

In Estonia,  Graanul Biotech laid the cornerstone for wood processing flagship plant. The purpose of the flagship plant, which will be constructed on the territory of Graanul Invest in Estonia is development and production of biomaterials from low-quality wood residues. In result of temperature, pressure and mechanical force, the innovative technology of the plant splits […]

Read More

Kilpatrick Townsend takes lead as “Big Law Fights Climate Change”

Kilpatrick Townsend takes lead as “Big Law Fights Climate Change”

October 11, 2019 |

In New York, the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School is collaborating with several law firms, including Kilpatrick Townsend, to publish Legal Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in the United States, a legal playbook that will provide pathways for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. This resource will offer recommendations — […]

Read More

Tesla Model 3 vs Honda Accord LX: what’s the more cost-effective ride?

Tesla Model 3 vs Honda Accord LX: what’s the more cost-effective ride?

October 11, 2019 |

This sensational headline may have caught your attention this year, Tesla Model 3 Cheaper Than Honda Accord — 15 Cost Comparisons, as it appeared here on Clean Technica, one of our favorite sites. Here’s the money slide, if you will, concluding that a Tesla Model 3 was marginally, but definitely, ahead of the Honda Accord […]

Read More