The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) has announced that Iowa’s first cellulosic ethanol project to break ground, POET – DSM Advanced Biofuels, LLC, is the IRFA’s newest member. POET – DSM’s Project LIBERTY will be a commercial-scale, cellulosic ethanol plant that will produce 25 million gallons of next generation ethanol from corncobs, leaves, husk and corn stalk annually.- The first ever biofuel ethanol plant in Guyana has gone online. The 1,000 litre a day capacity demonstration plant is a cornerstone of the government’s energy and transport policy, which includes moving towards a 10% ethanol blend. The unit will use black strap molasses as a feedstock, which is essentially a waste stream, from Guyana Sugar’s Albion Sugar factory. The plant will produce two streams of pure ethanol and pure water which can be re-used with no further treatment needed. The technology for the plant has been supplied by Whitefox Technologies and Green Social Bioethanol.
- Greenpeace has issued a new renewable energy initiative focused on Delhi. The nonprofit is challenging inventors, engineers and tinkerers to design a portable renewable energy-powered water pump for the farmers of the Indian region of Bihar. These farmers currently rely on diesel-powered pumps that are not only expensive to run, but accelerate global warming. Participants in the first challenge could win 30,000 euros and turn their concept into reality. Concepts must be submitted by November 15, 2013.
- Range Energy has purchased 7,118 short tons of refined beet sugar for $900,000 from the USDA as the only ethanol producer to buy sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program. The sugar was purchased from Denver-based Western Sugar. The USDA said sugar mill interest was encouraging but that transportation, volume of sugar feedstock and other concerns appear to have limited bioenergy company participation. USDA expects greater participation in FFP as these concerns are addressed.
