In Denmark, Global Clean Energy Holdings selected Haldor Topsoe’s HydroFlex for revamp of the Bakersfield, California refinery for renewable fuel production. Global Clean Energy’s retooled facility will produce 15,000 barrels per day of renewable diesel from proprietary camelina oil and other traditional biofuel feedstocks. Topsoe will deliver basic engineering, license, proprietary equipment and catalyst for […]
In Germany, after having announced their three-month biofuel trial, leading short sea shipowner UECC and the GoodShipping Program have now partnered with premium car manufacturer BMW Group to continue to test marine Bio Fuel-Oil (BFO) on UECC’s ‘roll-on, roll-off’ (ro-ro) car carrying vessels. BMW Group joins UECC and the GoodShipping Program in the previously announced […]
In Illinois, Platts reports that Chicago Argo ethanol prices have reached $1.2710/gal, the highest seen since early March when the COVID-19 pandemic was starting to ramp up worldwide. It reached an all-time low of 81.05 cents on April 1 but the benchmark indicator for Midwest ethanol prices has increased in six of the last trading […]
In Nigeria, the Daily Sun newspaper reports that the push to create a large-scale ethanol industry in Kebbi state could result in direct and indirect revenues of more than $1 billion annually. About 32,000 hectares in the state have been set aside for cassava production and another 15,000 hectares for sugarcane to supply the planned […]
In Indonesia, Bloomberg reports the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has managed to cut the cost of palm oil biodiesel production by 20%. Getting biodiesel down to $80 per metric ton will help to ensure that the B30 blending mandate is affordable for the country’s subsidy schemes that are primarily funded on duties levied on […]
In Brazil, Reuters reports that ethanol producer GVO was issued with an order by its largest bondholders to fork out $750 million, which is expected to push the company towards bankruptcy. The company failed to make payments in 2018 which has left one bond in default since, which allows bondholders to push for immediate repayment. […]
In Sweden, researchers at Linköping University are attempting to convert carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, to fuel using energy from sunlight. Recent results have shown that it is possible to use their technique to selectively produce methane, carbon monoxide or formic acid from carbon dioxide and water. The study has been published in ACS Nano. […]
In Washington, top biofuel and farm advocates called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to offer answers on a new effort to undermine the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). During a Senate hearing last month, administration officials confirmed their consideration of retroactive small refinery exemptions (SREs) covering previous years. The “gap-filings” are designed to reconstitute a […]
By Professor Martin Freer – Director of the Birmingham Energy Institute (BEI) Special to The Digest As the Bank of England predicts a decline in the UK’s economy with a shrinkage of 14%, the worst recession on record, with dramatic impact for UK jobs, there is a feeling of helplessness as the country emerges cautiously […]
Everything’s better with biology, so here’s The Digest’s newly released Top 15 case studies of today’s hottest technology and new markets for traditional oil and gas refiners. What are our top picks? Spoiler Alert: The top 15 may include converting oil refineries to biorefineries, something to do with algae, Eni’s conversion to renewable diesel production, The Paramount […]
