Author Archive: Jim Lane

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Scientists in Cologne develop a more cost-efficient method to cultivate algae

Scientists in Cologne develop a more cost-efficient method to cultivate algae

July 17, 2016 |

In Germany, Professor Michael Melkonian and a team from the University of Cologne have developed a new method that could make the production of algae easier – and hence reduce the costs of the products based on this material. Their findings are published in the journal Trends in Biotechnology. The “Porous Substrate Bioreactor” (PSBR), also […]

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Sen. Grassley, 13 Others Introduce Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension Bill

Sen. Grassley, 13 Others Introduce Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension Bill

July 17, 2016 |

In Iowa, Senator Chuck Grassley and 13 other co-sponsors, including Sen. Joni Ernst, introduced a bill that would modify the $1.00 per gallon biodiesel blenders’ tax credit to a producers’ credit and extend it for three years. After being reinstated in late 2015, the federal biodiesel tax incentive is set to expire again on December […]

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Boeing, South African Airways, Mango mark Africa’s First Commercial Flights with Sustainable Aviation Biofuel

Boeing, South African Airways, Mango mark Africa’s First Commercial Flights with Sustainable Aviation Biofuel

July 17, 2016 |

In South Africa, Boeing, South African Airways and low-cost carrier Mango celebrated Africa’s first passenger flights with sustainable aviation biofuel.  The SAA and Mango flights carried 300 passengers from Johannesburg to Cape Town on Boeing 737-800s using a blend of 30 percent aviation biofuel produced from Sunchem’s nicotine-free tobacco plant Solaris, refined by AltAir Fuels […]

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US ethanol production rises to 15.15 billion gallon rate

US ethanol production rises to 15.15 billion gallon rate

July 17, 2016 |

According to EIA data as analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol production averaged 1.004 million barrels per day (b/d)—or 42.17 million gallons daily. That is up 20,000 b/d from the week before. The four-week average for ethanol production stood at 988,000 b/d for an annualized rate of 15.15 billion gallons. Stocks of ethanol stood […]

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“Tough couple of years, but survivors scaling”: DOE’s Bioenergy 2016 looks optimistically at biofuels future

“Tough couple of years, but survivors scaling”: DOE’s Bioenergy 2016 looks optimistically at biofuels future

July 17, 2016 |

By Ed Dodge Special to The Digest In Washington, a commercialization panel said that “the biofuels industry has been through a tough couple of years, but the survivors are scaling up and bringing product to market. The panel featured some leading players in the biofuels industry including Brooke Coleman from the Advanced Biofuels Business Council, […]

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PHYCO2 completes test pilots of Algae Growth, CO2 Sequestration at Michigan State

PHYCO2 completes test pilots of Algae Growth, CO2 Sequestration at Michigan State

July 17, 2016 |

In Michigan, PHYCO2 completed a year of testing an industry-disrupting and patented Algae Photo-Bioreactor (APB), and is now building two advisory boards to focus on the commercialization of technologies for human nutrition and animal feed. PHYCO2’s new technology allows pure microalgae to grow indoors 24 hours a day, and without sunlight, in any geographic location, […]

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Middle East regains oil dominance after scuttling fracking, biofuels through pricing strategy

Middle East regains oil dominance after scuttling fracking, biofuels through pricing strategy

July 17, 2016 |

In New York, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that “The Middle East is back as the world’s dominant oil-producing region, churning out its biggest chunk of global output since the 1970s and giving OPEC an edge in its fight for market share.” Last month alone, US oil output dropped 176 million gallons, while Middle […]

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National Governors Association honors Iowa Governor Branstad for Biofuels Leadership

National Governors Association honors Iowa Governor Branstad for Biofuels Leadership

July 17, 2016 |

In Iowa, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, the nation’s longest serving Governor, was honored today by renewable fuels industry leaders, the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition and the National Governors Association at a breakfast commemorating his steadfast leadership in renewable fuels. According to a recent IRFA study, Iowa’s renewable fuels industry accounts for more than $4.6 billion of […]

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I must break you, Price: DOE invests $15 million in algae tech to crush the costs

I must break you, Price: DOE invests $15 million in algae tech to crush the costs

July 14, 2016 |

In Washington, as the DOE’s Bioenergy 2016 conference opened its third day, the Energy Department announced up to $15 million for three projects aimed at reducing the production costs of algae-based biofuels and bioproducts through improvements in algal biomass yields. It’s one of those moments in the algae narrative that remind you of that scene […]

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Algae production, efficient and consistent: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Global Algae Innovations

Algae production, efficient and consistent: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Global Algae Innovations

July 14, 2016 |

Global Algae Innovations designs innovative technology to make algae production more efficient and consistent.  This week, the DOE made a major award to a group led by GAI, including the University of California-San Diego, TSD Management Associates, Texas A&M University, General Electric, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. They will accelerate the commercialization […]

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