In Kenya, a $150m biofuel production plant will open in Bungoma and will produce ethanol from tropical sugar beet. The plant, funded by Webco, is expected to open for a trial run early next year. The fuel will eventually be sold to Kenol Kobil and the National Oil Cooperation for blending. Sugar beets are seen […]
In Iowa, Iowa State researchers are studying methods for breaking down the crystalline structure of cellulose in plants to ease the process of breaking down cellulose into sugar. Their research, which was funded by the DOE and the National Science Foundation, has recently been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
In Tennessee, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack addressed the Commodity Classic on Friday, focusing on strengthening agriculture and rural economies through the 2012 Farm Bill. He closed his address by discussing the role of biofuels in energy and national security. Vilsack asked attendees to spread support for the understanding that biofuels currently reduce prices at […]
In Louisiana, LSU held a forum regarding the use of waste wood products for biofuels after Sundrop Fuels of Colorado recently announced their plans to build a woody biomass and natural gas biofuels plant in Alexandria. Due to the recent recession, tree farms have seen their land value dip tremendously and view biofuels as a […]
In Washington state, the Tri-Cities campus of Washington State University is developing a clean jet fuel program, calling for a Center of Excellence in the area of biofuel. This year, the campus hosted scientists from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to work on aviation fuels, where they received over $15 million in grants jointly with the […]
In Brazil, the Brazilian government announced a program giving $38 billion in subsidized credit to the ethanol sector. The program is expected to increase sugar production and milling industries while ultimately doubling the annual turnover of the ethanol industry. In light of Brazil’s $48 billion dollar sugar and ethanol industry, the program is also expected […]
In Israel, Bloomberg predicts that Israel Corp backed Primus Green may be holding an IPO next year. Said the company’s vice president of business development, Primus is hoping to raise up to $100 million this year for a 4.8 million gallon facility to expand the influence of the New Jersey-based company. They have broken ground […]
In California, Berkeley researchers may be able to turn tobacco into a viable biofuel feedstock. The project is looking to develop a strain of the crop which is highly efficient at harvesting sleight and converting carbon dioxide to hydrocarbon molecules. The enzyme involved with the process would be cyanobacteria, already used in many biofuels projects.
In Malaysia, local consumption of palm oil has not increased as expected after the government implemented an B5 mandate. The program, which was expected to consume 500,000 tonnes of palm oil, has come in conjunction with a 20% decline in local palm oil consumption. Said analyst Alvin Tai, “the biodiesel program is more important now […]
In Indonesia, Mission NewEnergy has expanded its portfolio by acquiring an 85% interest in Singapore-based company Oleovest Pte. Oleovest, which has interests in a 250,000 tonnes per year methyl ester biodiesel plant, expects its primary project to be fully implemented in three years after the fundraising round is complete. Mission will be required to invest […]
