Category: Top Stories

Getting the Most from Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Getting the Most from Sustainable Aviation Fuel

May 18, 2021 |

By Lloyd Ritter, Esq., Director, Green Capitol LLC Special to The Digest The aviation industry is currently responsible for less than 3% of total global carbon emissions, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). But with air travel expected to increase by more than 60 percent (compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels) by mid-century,[1] emissions will […]

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ARPA-E invests $35M to slash biofuels carbon intensity as the Drive to Zero continues

ARPA-E invests $35M to slash biofuels carbon intensity as the Drive to Zero continues

May 17, 2021 |

In Washington, the United States Department of Energy awarded $35 million in funding that will help slash carbon emissions and scale up the volume and efficiency of renewable biofuel. The 15 awarded research projects are housed at colleges, universities, and labs across nine states and will advance new technologies to decarbonize biorefining processes used across […]

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Former Kansas Abengoa ethanol plant to produce renewable diesel, Seaboard Energy, Neste, Phillips 66, Alto Ingredients, Haldor Topsoe, renewable diesel news

Former Kansas Abengoa ethanol plant to produce renewable diesel, Seaboard Energy, Neste, Phillips 66, Alto Ingredients, Haldor Topsoe, renewable diesel news

May 16, 2021 |

“You’ve always had the power my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself.” – Glinda We are only halfway through May 2021 and the renewable diesel news coming in is astounding. It’s like Glinda the Good Witch from Wizard of Oz is flying all over waving her wand turning facilities into renewable diesel […]

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POET+FHRe=HUGE: POET in ‘exclusive discussions’ to buy FHR’s 800m gallon portfolio: advanced biorefining, economies of scale in focus

POET+FHRe=HUGE: POET in ‘exclusive discussions’ to buy FHR’s 800m gallon portfolio: advanced biorefining, economies of scale in focus

May 14, 2021 |

From South Dakota, The Digest has learned that POET is in exclusive discussions with Flint Hills Resources over the possible acquisition of their biofuels business. Flint Hills Resources is the nation’s fifth-largest bioethanol producer, and this acquisition would include all six of their bioethanol production facilities in Iowa and Nebraska with a combined annual capacity […]

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3D printed bio-leather, bio-orthotics, hummus in space and more: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the week of May 14th

3D printed bio-leather, bio-orthotics, hummus in space and more: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the week of May 14th

May 13, 2021 |

  In a crazy week with gas shortages in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S. because of panic buying after a cyber-attack on the Colonial Pipeline, it’s enough to make us want to escape to the International Space Station – and maybe enjoy some hummus while we are up there as ISS astronauts are evaluating the […]

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I Got 99 Problems but Product vs. Platform ain’t one: Introducing Microbes-as-a-Service

I Got 99 Problems but Product vs. Platform ain’t one: Introducing Microbes-as-a-Service

May 12, 2021 |

By Moji Karimi, CEO, Cemvita Factory Special to The Digest Any SynBio (synthetic biology) company is faced with three principal questions right off the bat: 1. Product or platform? A) Product: develop the microbe, build the plant, and sell the product. The end molecule is the revenue source B) Platform: develop the microbe and commercialize […]

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Ginkgo’s Insanely Great $15B Deal, The Who & How Behind Biggest Sector Deal Ever

Ginkgo’s Insanely Great $15B Deal, The Who & How Behind Biggest Sector Deal Ever

May 11, 2021 |

In Massachusetts, Ginkgo Bioworks and Soaring Eagle Acquisition Corp. have agreed to a business combination that will result in Ginkgo becoming a publicly-listed company. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021. The $15B valuation and $2.5B to Ginkgo in proceeds The transaction implies a pre-money equity valuation for Ginkgo of […]

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Licella, Canfor’s Arbios Biotech JV form alliance with Shell Catalysts & Technologies

Licella, Canfor’s Arbios Biotech JV form alliance with Shell Catalysts & Technologies

May 10, 2021 |

Breaking news came in today from the wonders down under, Australia-based Licella, in their joint venture with Canfor (Arbios Biotech) – a just inked a new global alliance with Shell Catalysts & Technologies that aims to create low-carbon, circular economy focused biorefinery, with Licella’s Cat-HTR (Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor) technology at the core. In today’s Digest, […]

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Benson Hill to merge with Star Peak Corp. II in $2B SPAC deal, to emerge as public company: $625M in proceeds

Benson Hill to merge with Star Peak Corp. II in $2B SPAC deal, to emerge as public company: $625M in proceeds

May 9, 2021 |

In New York, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Benson Hill, the Midwest-based agtech company focused on Cloud Biology, will merge with special purpose acquisition company Star Peak Corp. II in a $2B transaction and emerge as a public company.   Benson Hill will receive as much as $625 million in cash from the […]

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From DNA storage to Net Zero Carbon: The 10 Biggest WOW’s of ABLC’s Closing Day

From DNA storage to Net Zero Carbon: The 10 Biggest WOW’s of ABLC’s Closing Day

May 9, 2021 |

In Florida, the online sessions of ABLC have drawn to a close. This week, delegates around the world will be joining in the ABLC Lounges for person to person networking. The final day of on-stage presentations was the best — including Aspirations for a Fragile Plant, the Due Diligence Wolfpack, and the Advanced Biofuels Summit. […]

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