Author Archive: Jim Lane

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Renewables 2016 Global Status Report is published

Renewables 2016 Global Status Report is published

June 5, 2016 |

In France, REN21 published the most comprehensive annual overview of the state of renewable energy. reveals that renewables are now firmly established as competitive, mainstream sources of energy in many countries around the world.  Data are provided by a network of 700 contributors, researchers, and authors from all over the world. 2015 was a record year […]

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The Carbon XPRIZE: Exponential Approaches to Energy and Climate

The Carbon XPRIZE: Exponential Approaches to Energy and Climate

June 5, 2016 |

By Marcius Extavour and Paul Bunje Special to The Digest Climate change and energy transformation may be the 21st century’s greatest challenge. And Biotech, and biofuels in particular, are fields that are poised to bring forth breakthrough solutions. By touching elements of agriculture, photosynthesis, water use, and energy generation, storage, and distribution, biofuels are a […]

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Big Buckaroos in Tiny Town: the gold rush ahead in nanocellulose

Big Buckaroos in Tiny Town: the gold rush ahead in nanocellulose

June 2, 2016 |

If you are among the millions who have seen Captain America: Civil War, you’ll note that Ant Man is displaying the ability to shrink beyond belief, yet grew into a 100-foot tall Giant-Man for the airport battle. It’s that way for nanocellulose, too — a material made from the largest organisms imaginable — our friends, […]

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Where did biofuels technologies come from?

Where did biofuels technologies come from?

June 1, 2016 |

By Gerald Kutney. VP, Lee Enterprises Consulting Special to The Digest In the modern world, fuels are often equated with fossil fuels: coal, oil and natural gas.  However, fossil fuels only came into their own during the 20th century. From the time of the caveman until the early Industrial Revolution, biofuels – namely wood and […]

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Of sausage-making, DC and bioenergy budgets

Of sausage-making, DC and bioenergy budgets

June 1, 2016 |

The signals coming out of Washington DC are so confusing, you might be wondering if there’s going to be a budget for the US Department of Energy for the fiscal year starting this October. Yep, there will be, but let us explain the current pile of doggy droppings. You see, the Senate took no action on […]

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Cathay sets biofuels-based flight record, as new A350 ushers in renewable jet era at Hong Kong

Cathay sets biofuels-based flight record, as new A350 ushers in renewable jet era at Hong Kong

May 31, 2016 |

These days, Cathay Pacific trades under the slogan “Life Well Travelled” and the delivery of the first of 48 super-modern, super-quiet, super-chic Airbus 350-900s is another milestone for that branding — but it might as well be “Life Sustainably Travelled” because the plane that arrived in Hong Kong last night on delivery from Toulouse flew […]

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Big Data, robotics and synth bio: Driving “The New Agriculture”

Big Data, robotics and synth bio: Driving “The New Agriculture”

May 30, 2016 |

The MLS Capital II fund closed its capital raise around a year ago, and The Digest stopped by the Limited Partners meeting last week to check on the latest in the BioGreenTech space from what is shaping up as the most interesting and dynamic investment portfolio we have seen in quite a long time. The fund […]

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Licella, Canfor form JV for low-cost, drop-in biofuels from wood residues and biomass

Licella, Canfor form JV for low-cost, drop-in biofuels from wood residues and biomass

May 29, 2016 |

Licella and Canfor will form a joint-venture under the name “Licella Pulp Joint Venture” to integrate Licella’s unique Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor upgrading platform into Canfor Pulp’s kraft and mechanical pulp mills to economically convert biomass, including wood residues from Canfor Pulp’s kraft pulping processes, into biocrude oil, to produce next generation biofuels and biochemicals. This […]

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EPA sets June 9 for national hearing for Renewable Fuel Standard program

EPA sets June 9 for national hearing for Renewable Fuel Standard program

May 29, 2016 |

In Washington, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  is announcing a public hearing to be held in Kansas City, Missouri on June 9, 2016, for the proposed rule “Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Standards for 2017 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2018.” The hearing will provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposal. All […]

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GBB, Stern Brothers & Co. Announce Renewable Energy from Waste Agreement

GBB, Stern Brothers & Co. Announce Renewable Energy from Waste Agreement

May 29, 2016 |

In Virginia, Gershman, Brickner & Bratton and Stern Brothers & Co. will enter into an agreement for Waste-to-Energy, infrastructure and alternative energy sector projects. Under the advisory relationship agreement, GBB will support Stern’s execution of specific transactions by providing strategic industry consulting, industry research, project due diligence, financial analysis and other functions related to the […]

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