Biofuels Digest has announced its “Top 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy” and this year’s top spot goes to Amyris, a renewable fuels and chemicals developer based in Florida. The rankings recognize innovation and achievement in bioenergy development and are determined by 50 percent of votes from a 75-member panel of international selectors, and 50 percent of votes from subscribers of …
Thank You EPA!
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is celebrating 40 years on December 2, 2010. To commemorate their anniversary, Green For All, a national organization dedicated to building a green economy, launched ThankYouEPA.com. The site lists several of EPA’s more important accomplishments and encourages Americans to share those successes through social media tools like Facebook and Twitter. EPA’s actions have…. • …
Monsanto Ups Investment in Oilseed Canola
Seed giant Monsanto is upping the amount of money it is investing in the oilseed canola, which can be turned into biodiesel. This Reuters article says Monsanto is raising its spending on canola research and development to between about $20 million and $30 million, about the same amount the company puts into wheat, and will open a $12 million canola …
Lufthansa to Start Commercial Flights on Biofuel
Last May, I told you how Lufthansa was going to start flying some of its commercial flights on a biofuel mix sometime in 2011. Now, Biofuels Digest reports the German airliner will start a six-month trial of a 50-50 mix of biofuel and traditional kerosene in one of the aircraft’s engines on its regular Hamburg-Frankfurt-Hamburg route: During the six months …
2011 Renewable Fuels Standards Set
The EPA has finalized the 2011 percentage standards for the four categories of fuel under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2). As such, each producer and importer of gasoline and diesel determines the minimum volume of renewable fuel that it must ensure is used during the year in its transportation fuel. The required use of biofuels will increase each year until …
RFA Calls on EPA to Update RFS2 ILUC Models
Earlier this month, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) made a positive step for ethanol by updating its indirect land use models in the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). This in effect, will reduce the ILUC penalties in half. Unfortunately, the new rule doesn’t take effect until mid-2011 although LCFS kicks in on January 1, 2011. In light of this …
Brazil Ethanol Industry On Display At COP-16
In an effort to showcase decades of renewable energy use, the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) will be participating in events during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-16) and the World Climate Summit (WCS) which are taking place in tandem in Cancun, Mexico from November 29-December 10. According to UNICA, nearly 50 percent of all of Brazil’s energy comes …
Biomass for Biofuels Will Promote ‘Earth Grab’
Experts estimate that the biofuels boom could grow to be worth more than $1 trillion and has brought agriculture back to center stage, but according to advocates with Food Secure Canada (FSC), this movement will not feed people nor mitigate climate change. On Friday, November 26, 2010, FSC is hosting Earth Grab, a community forum that will discuss the growth …
Seaweed’s Promise for Algal Fuels
There just might be gold in algal biofuels and the team from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, based at the University of California San Diego (UCSD-SIO), is intent on finding it. UCSD-SIO has been researching micro and macro algae (seaweeds) for their potential to produce biofuels for more than 40 years. Researcher Greg Mitchell believes the search will be well rewarded …