Category: Top Stories

Raizen, Iogen commence cellulosic ethanol production in Brazil

Raizen, Iogen commence cellulosic ethanol production in Brazil

December 17, 2014 |

1 billion liters by 2024, vows Raizen. Record speed on start-up. What’s the story on the ground? The Digest investigates. In Brazil, Iogen and Raízen announced they have begun production of cellulosic ethanol on schedule at Raízen`s newly expanded Costa Pinto sugar cane mill in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Raízen broke ground on the $US100 […]

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US Senate passes tax extenders through 2014 only; biodiesel tax credit renewed, but will expire again in two weeks.

US Senate passes tax extenders through 2014 only; biodiesel tax credit renewed, but will expire again in two weeks.

December 17, 2014 |

In Washington, the US Senate passed the tax extenders bill, including the $1 per gallon biodiesel tax credit, 76-16. The tax extender legislation including a one-year retroactive extension of four key advanced biofuels tax provisions as part of a larger package of tax credit extensions. These four advanced biofuels incentives include: (1) the Second Generation […]

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A new three-legged platform for the advanced bioeconomy? The Castor, jatropha, pongamia strategy.

A new three-legged platform for the advanced bioeconomy? The Castor, jatropha, pongamia strategy.

December 16, 2014 |

Castor, jatropha, pongamia — the three steps that Bosques Energeticos is taking in piloting its way to success in fuels, chemicals and other markets. Can the early-stage company thrive, based on its uncommon approach to intercropping? The Digest investigates. In science, there exists the difficulty in developing a new energy crop —  improving yields and stress tolerance, […]

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Does the oil glut spell DOOM, GLOOM or BOOM for alternative fuels?

Does the oil glut spell DOOM, GLOOM or BOOM for alternative fuels?

December 15, 2014 |

How does $60 oil impact payback for natgas or hybrid electric vehicles, and cellulosic biofuels? The going assumption is that low oil prices are bad for alternative fuels — but it’s not always the case. Consider the competition. Quite a bit of ink has been spilled regarding hybrid electrics and natgas vehicles — as alternatives […]

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Mezmerized by cheap oil? Looking to bioeconomy challenges within industry’s control.

Mezmerized by cheap oil? Looking to bioeconomy challenges within industry’s control.

December 14, 2014 |

Lost your biobased mojo? Mesmerized by tumbling energy prices? Tired of the “calls to inaction”? Why not REnew, REthink, REfocus on renewable energy’s solvable challenges – starting with The Digest’s REFocus 2015 survey. (Skip to the 2015 REfocus Survey, right here) The global worryfest over oil prices intensified this weekend when OPEC head Abdullah al-Badri […]

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The Advanced Bioeconomy Dashboard for 12/15/14: equities, fuels, chemicals, and feedstock prices and data

The Advanced Bioeconomy Dashboard for 12/15/14: equities, fuels, chemicals, and feedstock prices and data

December 14, 2014 |

The Digest’s Dashboard is a convenient “news you can use” 5-Minute summary of current markets including key commodity prices, relevant futures, bioenergy-related stocks, and historical equities data. Latest prices – key commodities. Most recent commodity closing prices, and price changes, for NYMEX’s crude oil, Brent Crude, Ultra-Low Sulphur Diesel, Natural Gas, RBOB gasoline, and Ethylene; ethanol […]

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Where’s the upside in $60 oil?

Where’s the upside in $60 oil?

December 11, 2014 |

Boom times for two-product strategies? Can feed markets offer relief for the challenges on the fuel side? The Digest investigates. The energy industry continues to feel the impact of falling energy prices. In Wednesday’s Top Story, we noted that the industry conversation has shifted from long-term fundamentals to a form of “oil price watching” — […]

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Rivertop Renewables to start commercial-scale production in 2015

Rivertop Renewables to start commercial-scale production in 2015

December 10, 2014 |

Contract manufacturing agreement with DTI speeds Rivertop’s time to market for its novel performance chemicals In Montana, Rivertop Renewables announced that it has begun construction of its first commercial plant, located at DanChem Technologies’ facility in Danville, Virginia. DTI, a custom manufacturer of fine and specialty chemical products, is expected to begin production of Rivertop’s sustainable, […]

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REG acquires majority stake in Petrotec; tender offer for all shares imminent

REG acquires majority stake in Petrotec; tender offer for all shares imminent

December 10, 2014 |

US biodiesel leader heads for the EU – what’s up with used cooking oil, and what is REG’s path forward with the German-based biodiesel producer? In Iowa, Renewable Energy Group and IC Green Energy announced that REG will acquire ICG’s majority equity ownership position in German biodiesel producer Petrotec AG (XETRA: PT8). Closing of the […]

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$60 oil: the new normal, or a bump in the road?

$60 oil: the new normal, or a bump in the road?

December 9, 2014 |

Oil prices in the 60s — what does that mean for the global economy, energy markets, and alternative fuels in the short-term and long-term? As if tough financing conditions and policy instability weren’t worrying enough for many observers, along comes a crash in global oil prices. One of the US-based Digesterati writes: “Most of the […]

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