Category: Top Stories

Low Carbon Transport on the Move: What’s up in Australia?

Low Carbon Transport on the Move: What’s up in Australia?

May 14, 2015 |

Electrics, fuel cell vehicles, smart cars, biofuels for road and sky, and greening the grid come under the microscope Down Under. In Sydney this week, a number of US and Australian leaders gathered at the Australian Technology Park to debate the models and options offered by the cleantech revolution in decarbonizing road transport. “Road transport […]

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Thrive, survive, jive or take five: Who is weathering the $50 oil storm in biofuels, and how?

Thrive, survive, jive or take five: Who is weathering the $50 oil storm in biofuels, and how?

May 13, 2015 |

A period of lower-cost oil has, famously, descended on the market, reminding us that business models should always take into account “black swan” economic events such as the battle between OPEC and unconventional oil producers over some 10% of global market share, which has tumbled oil prices some 20% down, with US currency strength causing […]

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Pacific Ethanol reports Q1 2015 loss of $4.7M as ethanol begins rebound

Pacific Ethanol reports Q1 2015 loss of $4.7M as ethanol begins rebound

May 13, 2015 |

In California, Pacific Ethanol reported a net loss for Q1 2015 of $4.7 million, compared to $11.1 million for the first quarter of 2014. Net sales were $206.2 million forQ1  2015, a decrease of 19% when compared to $254.5 million for Q1 2014. The decline in net sales was attributable to a decrease in the […]

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Gevo reports loss of $7.3M for Q1 3015 as revenues improve

Gevo reports loss of $7.3M for Q1 3015 as revenues improve

May 13, 2015 |

In Colorado, Gevo announced a net loss of $7.3 million for Q1 2015 compared to $12.0 million in Q1 2014. The company ended the first quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $4.4 million, and the exercise of warrants since the beginning of April 2015 is expected to result in net proceeds of $6.2 million. […]

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The commercialization of renewable fuels, chemicals and biobased product: 4 new views, in depth

The commercialization of renewable fuels, chemicals and biobased product: 4 new views, in depth

May 11, 2015 |

New targets, new markets, new tech, new methods, new outcomes. LanzaTech, Genomatica, Amyris and Brazil’s CTBE share in-depth presentations from the 37th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals. 100 of the most fascinating slides you’ll see all year. This past week, a notable session wrapped up at the 3th SBFC convention, this one on […]

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The push is on for “high renewable content fuels”

The push is on for “high renewable content fuels”

May 11, 2015 |

Something exciting is happening in the distribution of what could be broadly described as “high-renewable-content” fuels, which we’ll dub HRC fuels in order to give them  an obscure three-letter acronym. What is an HRC fuel? In the world of gasoline replacement, it is any fuel which has a renewable content higher than the typical E10 […]

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Propel Fuels CEO Rob Elam: The Digest interview

Propel Fuels CEO Rob Elam: The Digest interview

May 11, 2015 |

Propel Fuels has been on a tear of late in expanding distribution of what we call “high renewable content fuels”. We spoke with CEO Rob Elam to see what’s driving the latest surge in renewable fuels. Digest: What the price target to turn renewable fuels into consistent sellers? RE: Our target is just under street […]

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Joule raises $40M, as “fuel from thin air” preps for commercial scale in 2017.

Joule raises $40M, as “fuel from thin air” preps for commercial scale in 2017.

May 11, 2015 |

In Massachusetts, the remarkable journey of Joule Unlimited towards commercial-scale continued to add exciting chapters with the news that the company has closed on $40 million in private equity and venture debt financing, supporting the company’s growth towards commercialization. The round was led by existing investors, including Flagship Ventures, and brings the company’s total to […]

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Joule, Audi confirm revolutionary Sunflow fuel meets US, EU specs

Joule, Audi confirm revolutionary Sunflow fuel meets US, EU specs

May 11, 2015 |

In Massachusetts, news arrives from Joule that the company’s CO2-recycled  ethanol meets US and European fuel specifications. No one is dying of surprise that they would do so, but  getting Joule fuels registered for commercial sale is an important step towards commercialization of the technology, and Audi, Joule’s strategic partner in the automotive space, initiated […]

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Syngenta rebuffs Monsanto $45B offer as key shareholders say $50B might do the trick

Syngenta rebuffs Monsanto $45B offer as key shareholders say $50B might do the trick

May 10, 2015 |

In Switzerland, the Board of Syngenta confirmed that it has received an unsolicited proposal from Monsanto to acquire the company at a price of $45 billion (CHF449 per Syngenta share) with approximately 45 percent in cash. Reporting on the proposed acquisition has sugested that key Syngenta shareholders would back a deal which valued Syngenta at […]

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