In the UK, Vivergo will open an ethanol and animal feed plant in the Humber Estuary. Vivergo, which represents BP’s investment in British biofuel, utilizes wheat in its production of fuel at their major biorefinery. Unfortunately, Britain’s wheat crop is expected to be a record-small crop, and the country is expected to be a wheat-importer […]
In Brazil, ethanol demands are expected to rise as the current price of ethanol is more attractive at the pump than gasoline, according to Copersucar SA. Ethanol prices are 62 to 63% of gasoline, making filling up with ethanol more advantageous than with gasoline. “If the current parity is maintained, we start to stimulate demand,” […]
In Spain, Aqualia’s pilot waste-water plant is in its pilot stage, but is expected to be producing USD$128,000 of fuel by 2015. The plant, the first int he world to convert sewage into clean fuel, uses sunlight to produce algae biomass, which is the converted into gas. The project is part of a USD$15 million […]
In Germany, the turkey tail fungus Trametes versicolor is subject of research being performed at the University of Freiburg in an attempt to source a catalyst for the conversion process. The fungus releases an enzyme called laccasse, allowing electrochemical conversion of oxygen within the biofuel power cell. The findings were recently published in ChemSusChem. More […]
In Washington, ethanol giant POET has hired a DC lobbyist as the company gears up for fightin the oil industry. Rob Walther, former deputy director for energy at Third Way, will represent the company as they work to protect the Renewable Fuels Standard. Walther will highlight the value of domestic, renewable biofuel in talks with […]
In Washington, more than 1.16 billion D6 renewable fuel RINs were generated during May, according to EPA data. Also generated were 211.93 million D4 biomass-based diesel RINs and 34.23 million D5 advanced biofuel RINs. While a majority of the RINs were generated by domestic producers, only 18.3 D5 advanced biofuel RINs have been generated domestically, […]
In Iowa, Royal DSM plans to license its cellulosic ethanol technology after the company’s first commercial plant is completed, said CEO Feike Sijbesma. The $250 million Iowa plant, which has a 25 mgy nameplate capacity will begin production by early next year. Although the plant won’t reach full capacity in 2014, the company will consider […]
In Germany, Cargill has asserted that Germany continues to be an attractive business location, with biodiesel regarded as a long-term activity in the country despite the currently tough biofuel market. “If there are possibilities in Germany acquisitions cannot be ruled out if the suitable opportunity arises,” said Cargill’s German head Ludger te Laak. “However this […]
In France, ILUC factors used by the European Commission are inconclusive and vary considerably, according to a study completed by the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA). The study compares the different models used, and how these models use very low values for increasing yields of cultivated areas in the EU. The European Biodiesel […]
In Brazil, the first batch of exported biodiesel is making its way to the EU, shipped out by BSBIOS to the Netherlands. BSBIOS was the first company in brazil to receive authorization to export biofuels in 2008, and has since been working at making official partnerships in order to export their fuel. The shipment, 22 […]
