Archive for 2019

An Identity Crisis—Ethanol Blending is a Refinery?

An Identity Crisis—Ethanol Blending is a Refinery?

October 2, 2019 |

By Dave VanderGriend, President Urban Air Initiative Special to The Digest There have been many Hollywood movies where a character woke up to find they had become something else—a grown up becoming a kid, or a woman becoming a man, and so forth. Seems crazy but perhaps not so much because anyone who owns a […]

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“The mindset is there, we need the technologies and to integrate them: the time is now”: Looking at Enerkem’s evolution and the rise of the circular economy

“The mindset is there, we need the technologies and to integrate them: the time is now”: Looking at Enerkem’s evolution and the rise of the circular economy

October 2, 2019 |

From Enerkem in Canada comes the news that the company has snagged outgoing Chief Technology Officer and Director of Sustainability at AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals, Peter Nieuwenhuizen. AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals spun out as Nouryon and now Nieuwenhuizen has spun out in to the world of emerging companies, after a 25-year run at Akzo. Nouryon, and Enerkem […]

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RINs lose $1.4 billion in value in just two weeks as biofuels fight continues

RINs lose $1.4 billion in value in just two weeks as biofuels fight continues

October 2, 2019 |

In Washington, Bloomberg reports that the ongoing fight between oil and biofuel interests over the lost gallons associated with the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of 31 hardship waivers for small refineries, RIN prices are feeling a lot of pain. As of earlier this week, the news agency estimates $1.4 billion in RIN value has been […]

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Thailand subsidizes B10 and B20 to boost demand ahead of January 1

Thailand subsidizes B10 and B20 to boost demand ahead of January 1

October 2, 2019 |

In Thailand, the Bangkok Post newspaper reports that the government has implemented subsidies on B10 and B20 as of October 1 in an effort to encourage more demand at the pump before B10 takes over B7 as the mandatory blend on January 1. The subsidies will be sourced from the Oil Fuel Fund Administration Office. […]

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Trump may sign biofuels deal by Friday

Trump may sign biofuels deal by Friday

October 2, 2019 |

In Washington, Reuters reports that the Trump Administration is getting nearer to announcing the long-awaited deal to end the war between the biofuel and oil industries, and the president could sign the agreement as soon as Friday. A price cap on RINs is unlikely to be included in the deal that will be announced early […]

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Little Sioux Corn Processors to install FQT technology in Iowa

Little Sioux Corn Processors to install FQT technology in Iowa

October 2, 2019 |

In Iowa, Little Sioux Corn Processors announced it will install Fluid Quip Technologies’ (FQT) patented Maximized Stillage Co-Products (MSC) system at its Marcus, Iowa, ethanol plant.  This will be the 7th installation of this technology, worldwide, and the 3rd installation of the MSC™ system in Iowa.  FQT currently has two other MSC installation projects ongoing, […]

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Neste and Lufthansa extends collaboration on aviation biofuel

Neste and Lufthansa extends collaboration on aviation biofuel

October 2, 2019 |

In Finland, Neste and Lufthansa will strengthen their collaboration regarding the development of renewable solutions for aviation. As part of the collaboration, Lufthansa will use Neste’s sustainable aviation fuel, blended with fossil jet fuel on flights departing from Frankfurt. The first batch of sustainable aviation fuel was delivered to Lufthansa earlier this year. Collaboration between […]

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Optimus Technologies wins $1 million grand prize at NY’s 76West Clean Energy Competition

Optimus Technologies wins $1 million grand prize at NY’s 76West Clean Energy Competition

October 2, 2019 |

In New York state, Pittsburgh-based Optimus Technologies, which manufactures biodiesel fuel systems for diesel trucks that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fuel costs, was named the $1 million grand prize winner of the 76West Clean Energy Competition, one of the largest competitions in the country that supports growing clean energy businesses to foster economic development, […]

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MSU scores $2.7 million DOE grant to study sorghum genetics and crop modeling

MSU scores $2.7 million DOE grant to study sorghum genetics and crop modeling

October 2, 2019 |

In Michigan, Michigan State University researchers are part of a multi-university team that has been awarded a $2.7 million DOE grant for a new study on sorghum that melds differing sciences — from genomics to crop modeling. The aim is to identify and better understand genes that lead to improved growth and yield in various […]

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EPA puts biofuels policy work on hold awaiting White House guidance

EPA puts biofuels policy work on hold awaiting White House guidance

October 2, 2019 |

In Washington, Reuters reports that the Environmental Protection Agency has temporarily stopped working on ways to help farmers by compensating for missing gallons due to its recent approval of 31 hardship waivers for small oil refineries, apparently waiting for direction from the White House before furthering policy development. But the White House and the President […]

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