In California, 27 teams representing six countries advancing in the $20M NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE, a global competition to develop breakthrough technologies that convert the most carbon dioxide emissions from natural gas and power plant facilities into products with the highest net value. The semi-finalist teams propose converting CO2 into products as varied as enhanced concrete, biofuels, toothpaste, […]
One thing that is clear in hindsight from the flow of energy project investment between 2010 and 2014 is that investors believed in three predictions that didn’t come true: 1. The spread between natgas and oil would continue at historically high levels — a belief that touched off a spate of announced gas-to-ethylene projects, that otherwise would […]
One of the newer arrivals in Florida’s small bio-based industry is Culture Biosystems, which produces attractive economics for its advanced algae cultivation platform which enables large-scale production of algae to be used in producing biofuels, aviation fuels, feed, protein and nutraceuticals. Culture BioSystems has developed a hybrid technology platforms that takes the best of both […]
In California, Amyris has a new partner, described fetchingly yet with near-to-complete vagueness as a “a leader in food ingredients and nutraceuticals” which is roughly as helpful as describing a person as “someone who enjoys ice cream”. Some ice cream there is, nevertheless, in this agreement, which will bring a short-term collaboration investment of […]
From India this week we reported that the government will invest $74.8 million in a second generation ethanol plant using crop residues as feedstock. The facility will be located at the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC)’s oil refinery in Panipat where the government is also investing heavily to upgrade production capacity and achieve higher standards. The […]
In today’s Digest, we looked at some of the industry rock star CEOs of recent years who have moved on to other duties. Some have remained within the sector, in several cases in equally or more prominent roles — some are soaring with the eagles elsewhere. But they were always interesting, dynamic, sharp, worth knowing […]
In California, Zymergen has raised $130 million in Series B funding led by SoftBank Group. The round also includes prior lead investor Data Collective (DCVC), as well as return investors True Ventures, AME Cloud Ventures, DFJ, Innovation Endeavors, Obvious Ventures, and Two Sigma Ventures. New investors include Iconiq Capital, Prelude Ventures, and Tao Capital Partners. […]
In Florida, Nuu, the Digital Voice of the Advanced Bioeconomy officially debuted as a new digital content portal for the new physical world of the advanced bioeconomy NUU will cover advanced genetics, nutrition, biomaterials, renewable fuels, green chemicals, advanced agriculture, robotics, microbes and catalysts. If it’s new and sustainable, it’s in Nuu. “Innovation in the advanced […]
In Florida, The Digest announced the launch of TerraTech, a weekly one-hour radio program on new technologies, rising companies and personalities in the advanced bioeconomy. TerraTech will air live each Wednesday at 9am ET on VoiceAmerica. Recorded broadcasts will be available via BioChannel Audio at nuudigest.com and biofuelsdigest.com. The first 13-week series will debut on […]
In the Netherlands, BASF and Avantium have formed a joint venture for the production and marketing of furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), which is produced from renewable resources, as well as the marketing of polyethylenefuranoate (PEF) based on the new chemical building block FDCA. The Synvina JV plans to invest a medium three-digit million Euro sum to […]
