The biofuels industry got married when a first generation ethanol plant walked down the isle with a second generation algae plant in Shenandoah, Iowa. BioProcess Algae and Green Plains Renewable Energy (GPRE) tied the knot and celebrated their anniversary last month with the announcement that their first babies, a set of Grower Harvester bioreactors, went online. This marked the last …
Book Review – Switching to Solar
I’m writing this post, sitting outside, overlooking a pool sparkling in the sunshine. OK, not really but it gets your mind in the right place – a sunny day. Solar energy has been gaining ground in both the U.S. and especially Europe so I thought it was high-time I learn more about the history of solar. “Switching to Solar,” by …
Students In India Study Water Hyacinth for Ethanol
Students around the world are in search of new alternatives to fossil fuels. Several biotech students in Surat, Gujarat are studying the water hyacinth as a feedstock to produce ethanol. The students are looking for ways to reduce fuel costs – earlier this month the Central government announced that the price of fuel would increase five rupees across the country. …
Technology Can Make Ethanol From Coal
A new technology to produce ethanol from coal could be a new alternative to plant-produced ethanol. Chemical product company Celanese recently introduced investors to Celanese TCX™, a new and proprietary technology for ethanol production from coal, petroleum coke or natural gas. According to company officials who call it game-changing technology, Celanese TCX™ can produce ethanol at the equivalent of gasoline …
Turning Glycerin to Soap Could Add Profits
A byproduct of the biodiesel production process is crude glycerin. The boon of the biodiesel industry has helped to create a glycerin glut and many biodiesel producers are having to dispose of the product rather than sell it. However, Diesello Verde S.A., based in Costa Rica, has developed technology that could provide biodiesel producers with a new revenue stream for …
NASCAR Driver Kenny Wallace to Keynote Southeast Bioenergy Conference
NASCAR Series Driver Kenny Wallace and co-host of the shows Race Day and Victory Lane, will be giving the keynote address during the 2011 Southeast Bioenergy Conference on August 9-11 in Tifton, Georgia. Wallace drives the No. 9 American Ethanol Toyota Camrey and is currently ranked 7th in the Series. Last week, Wallace completed his 500th Nationwide start bringing his …
Iowa Governor Signs Bill to Boost Ethanol and Biodiesel
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has made good on a promise he made to the state’s renewable fuels industry back in January to revitalize Iowa’s rural economy by boosting sales of ethanol and production of biodiesel. “I want to work with the legislature to change the incentive from 10 percent to 15 percent,” Branstad said of ethanol in Iowa during an …
RFA: Ethanol Means Memorial Day Savings for Travelers
According to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), ethanol will save Memorial Day travelers this year $440 million on gas. As the summer season kicks off this weekend, AAA estimates that almost 31 million Americans will take a trip with an average distance of 792 miles, even though gas prices are up 40 percent, averaging $3.91, compared to $2.85 this time …
Umbria Italy Home of New Solar Farm
Next time you visit Italy there will be a new “eco-tourist” destination. A solar farm is up and running in the municipality of Castel Giorgio in the region of Umbria Italy. The solar farm is nestled among farming land on the summit of a high plateau a few miles from Lake Bolsena a popular agrotourism area. The 2 megawatt system …
New Study Released – Driving California’s Economy
Maybe a coincidence, but on the same day the EPA and DOE released new fuel economy labels, Next 10 released a new study, “Driving California’s Economy: How Fuel Economy and Emission Standards Will Impact Economic Growth and Job Creation.” The study found that policies that support fuel efficiency will drive consumer savings, drive job creation and spur economic growth. In …