Researchers in Asia have developed the first carbon-negative biobutanol production technology using cellulose biomass feedstock. ITRI (Industrial Technology Research Institute) in Taiwan introduced ButyFi, the first biochemical technology for a biobutanol transportation-fuel production with a negative carbon footprint using cellulosic biomass instead of corn. The total energy content in the lignin-rich biomass has the surplus to cover the energy for …
SeQuential Adds Seattle Locales for Biodiesel Stock
SeQuential Pacific Biodiesel is adding more Seattle, Washington locations to its customer base. This story from Pacific Business News says the joint venture between Oregon’s SeQuential Biofuels and Maui-based Pacific Biodiesel is adding the Woodland Park Zoo and Husky Stadium as providers of used cooking oil for the biodiesel producer. The longest-running commercial biodiesel producer in the Pacific Northwest, the …
Dutch Researchers ID Fittest of Fattest for Biodiesel
Researchers in The Netherlands are finding the fattest, or best oil-producing, algae in hopes of developing the fittest strain for biodiesel production. This story from TU Delft says the school’s scientists have published their findings in the scientific journal Energy & Environmental Science. ‘The ultimate goal of our research is to make oil-producing algae as fat as possible, then press …
IRFA 2014 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit Announced
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) has announced the start of registration for the 8th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit and Trade Show. The Summit is free, open to the public, and will be held January 28, 2014 at The Meadows Conference Center at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa. With discussion over renewable fuels policy at fever pitch, the 2014 …
GPRE Acquires BioFuel Energy Ethanol Plants
Green Plains Renewable Energy (GRPE) has announced a definitive agreement to acquire two of BioFuel Energy Corp’s (BIOF) ethanol plants from its lender group. The ethanol plants are located in Wood River, Nebraska and Fairmont, Minnesota. The two facilities have a combined annual production capacity of approximately 220 million gallons, and the acquisition will increase GPRE’s production capacity by 28 …
SunPower Announces Acquisition of Greenbotics
SunPower Corp. has announced that it has acquired Greenbotics, Inc., a Davis, Calif.-based company that offers panel cleaning products and services for large-scale solar power plants. With this acquisition, SunPower expands its energy services portfolio for global customers with the SunPower Oasis Power Plant product, especially, says SunPower, in markets with challenging dirt and dust environments. SunPower expects to utilize …
BioEnergy Bytes
San Antonio, Texas is the host for the 29th annual conference of the Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association (TREIA), titled “Renewable Energy in an ‘All-of-the-Above’ World.” The conference will be held Nov. 11-13, 2013 at the Omni Colonnade hotel. The potential for productive collaboration between the renewable energy and fossil fuels industries will be among several topics of discussion at …
Legislation Introduced to Support Renewable Electricity
U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and Mark Udall (D-CO) have introduced a bill that if passed, would establish a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). The bill would require utilities to generate 25 percent of their power from wind, solar and other renewable energy sources by 2025. The first cousins, say the bill would create jobs, reduce pollution, reduce dependence on …
Campo Verde Solar Facility Lights Up
The 139 MW Campo Verde Solar Facility has begun operations in Imperial County, California. The project, acquired by Southern Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company, in partnership with Turner Renewable Energy, consists of nearly 2.3 million thin-film modules and is expected to generate enough electricity to power nearly 48,000 homes. “Southern Company is building for America’s energy future – and …
Waste Grease-to-Biodiesel Plan Wins Aussie Prize
A plan to turn waste grease into biodiesel wins a prize from Down Under. Impress Media Australia reports Energy from Waste Pty Ltd., with members Lisa Chao, Philip Curran, Dr David Rutley, Brian O’Neil and Ted McMurchie, picked up first place in the 2013 University of Adelaide Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and Innovation Centre (ECIC) Australian eChallenge, and the group will travel …