Research from ORNL reveals new details of bioenergy’s most daunting technical barrier “You can make anything out of lignin, except money.” – old industry saying Lignin, for those newer to the biofuels world, is a complex chemical compound that makes veggies, plants and wood firm, confers resistance to pests, and provides the skeletal strength to […]
No commercial scale torrified wood plants have materialized and there have been a number of failed attempts. That’s changing. By special correspondent Tim Sklar One of the primary reasons for all of these failed attempts is that the TW processes that were being considered had not yet been proven to be technologically sound or commercially […]
In Michigan, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Association of Global Automakers say that they oppose the Open Fuel Standard Act of 2011, which would require that 95 percent of US light duty vehicles be flex-fuel enabled, by 2017. The manufactures note that the 8 million flex-fuel cars available in the US average less […]
In Texas, Celanese is planning to invest nearly $700 million in a project that will produce ethanol from natural gas and coal, and says the technology will reduce pressure on food prices as well as compete with gasoline on an unsubsidized basis. However, the company is experiencing difficulty gaining traction with offtake contracts, because the […]
In the UK, CME Clearing, the European arm of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, has added two new over-the-counter biodiesel contracts. The company said it will add new agricultural and energy contracts over the coming weeks as it expands its operations for European customers. It also said that Credit Suisse has joined as its 16th clearing […]
In the UK, Four Rivers BioEnergy announced that its electricity generation subsidiary, Verta Energy Generation, had successfully installed and operated its first electricity generator, utilizing the Cummins 1,250 KVA (1MW) diesel generator that it purchased last week and Verta’s customized generator biofuel as feedstock. Verta Group will own and operate the Waste-to-Energy plant that Four […]
In Japan, JSR reports that they have made significant improvements in key properties and characteristics for its polylactic acid-based bioplastic, “BIOLLOY”. The material is showing good results in thin wall applications, which will enable lighter weight product and lead to reduced costs for end users. The newly-developed “BIOLLOY” has improved compatibility with petroleum-based plastic. JSR […]
Today on Twitter. GeneralClark: The #Pentagon is moving toward use of alternative energy, including renewable sources and biofuels, on the battlefield MatthewSpoor: Thune-Klobuchar #ethanol bill could go head-to-head with elimination amendment in Senate next week LutherPendragon: 747-8F will use Biofuels in all 4 engines for transatlantic flight to Paris ACSPublications: Research published in Biochemistry clears […]
In Minnesota, scientists say they are close to producing super varieties of wheat that will resist from variants of Ug99, a new and deadly form of wheat rust and at the same time boost yields by as much as 15 percent. Scientists report that new data show key Ug99 variants have now been identified across […]
In Washington, the Renewable Fuels Association is tipping that the United States Senate will schedule another vote on the Coburn Amendment, to immediately repeal the ethanol tax credit (VEETC), and at the same time have a vote on the Ethanol Reform and Deficit Reduction Act offered by Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). Under […]
