Category: Research

University of Louisiana at Lafayette gets DOE grant to study aviation fuel cells

University of Louisiana at Lafayette gets DOE grant to study aviation fuel cells

December 24, 2020 |

In Louisiana, an energy storage and power generation system being designed at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette could make flying the friendly skies less harmful to the environment. Solid oxide fuel cells are “a key component” within that system, said Dr. Xiao-Dong Zhou. Their inclusion in the next generation of electric aircraft could cut […]

Read More

Trinity and TOTAL design additives to boost fuel efficiency

Trinity and TOTAL design additives to boost fuel efficiency

December 23, 2020 |

In Ireland, researchers from Trinity and TOTAL have designed, synthesized and tested new additives that increase fuel efficiency. Led by researchers in Trinity’s School of Physics, the Trinity researchers undertook the project as a result of an open competition by TOTAL, where their proposal welcomed several applications from research teams across the globe. The research […]

Read More

AgBioEn working with La Trobe University on crop trials for Katunga project

AgBioEn working with La Trobe University on crop trials for Katunga project

December 22, 2020 |

In Australia, a cropping trial is now in the ground at Katunga as a forerunner to a A$1 billion renewable fuel development. Investment company AgBioEn is planning a massive biofuel plant on a 40 ha former dairy farm, which will use agricultural waste. The company is looking for ways of generating the biomass as an energy source […]

Read More

NREL scores nearly $10M from DOE to boost biosecurity for bioengineered organisms

NREL scores nearly $10M from DOE to boost biosecurity for bioengineered organisms

December 21, 2020 |

In Colorado, two awards totaling nearly $10 million from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program will support two research projects at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and partner laboratories that aim to analyze and reduce biosecurity risks of promising bioengineered organisms.  Working under BER’s Secure Biosystems […]

Read More

New study uses waste biomass, biobased solvent to extract key nutrient to combat COVID-19

New study uses waste biomass, biobased solvent to extract key nutrient to combat COVID-19

December 20, 2020 |

In Australia, new research published in the ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering journal used renewable solvent Cyrene – produced by biotechnology company Circa Group from waste biomass – to extract two key phytonutrients, hesperidin and rutin, natural flavonoids being looked at to help tackle COVID-19, as it binds to the virus’ key proteins and counteracts […]

Read More

Aarhus University and MIT develop drop-in fuels from biowaste with new tech

Aarhus University and MIT develop drop-in fuels from biowaste with new tech

December 17, 2020 |

In Denmark, using an unusual, light-dependent enzyme and a newly discovered enzymatic mechanism, researchers from Aarhus University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have enabled the biological synthesis of high-yield industry relevant production of climate neutral drop-in fuels from biowaste. A special light-dependent enzyme, which was first discovered about three years ago, is the focal point […]

Read More

Texas A&M researchers develop way to make biodegradable plastics from sludge

Texas A&M researchers develop way to make biodegradable plastics from sludge

December 16, 2020 |

In Texas, Texas A&M University researchers have uncovered an efficient way to use leftover sludge to make biodegradable plastics. In the September issue of the journal American Chemical Society (ACS) Omega, the researchers report that the bacterium Zobellella denitrificans ZD1, found in mangroves, can consume sludge and wastewater to produce polyhydroxybutyrate, a type of biopolymer that can be used […]

Read More

Cornell University researchers use microbes to produce energy from sun and CO2

Cornell University researchers use microbes to produce energy from sun and CO2

December 15, 2020 |

In New York state, Cornell University bioengineers have found a way to efficiently absorb and store large-scale, low-cost renewable energy from the sun – while sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide to use later as a biofuel. The key: Let bioengineered microbes do all the work. Researchers have assembled theoretical solutions and models that calculate efficiency in […]

Read More

Mitsui and ebi successfully trial biodiesel on tugboat

Mitsui and ebi successfully trial biodiesel on tugboat

December 14, 2020 |

In Japan, Mitsui O.S.K. Line and euglena announced a successful sea trial in the Port of Nagoya of the MOL Group-operated tugboat 13 Tamashio using next-generation renewable biodiesel fuel developed by euglena Co. The test was conducted with the cooperation of the Nagoya Port Authority. The 13 Tamashio is owned and operated by MOL Group […]

Read More

U.S. Department of Energy announces $35M for bioenergy research and development

U.S. Department of Energy announces $35M for bioenergy research and development

December 13, 2020 |

In Washington, D.C., the U.S. Department of Energy announced up to $35 million in funding for bioenergy feedstock technologies and algae research and development. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) supports the White House priority for advancing the domestic bioeconomy, as well as the Bioenergy Technologies Office’s goals of improving the performance and lowering the cost […]

Read More