The Cleantech Open, the world’s largest clean-technology accelerator, has awarded PowWow Energy of Sunnyvale, California the Grand Prize “Cleanie” award for the Top Cleantech Entrepreneur of the year. PowWow Energy has developed technology that enables farmers and ranchers to quickly detect water leaks that can destroy an entire crop or cause thousands of dollars of damage. Two runners-up were also …
Biodiesel By-Product Could Make Marine Fuel
A by-product of biodiesel could become a green fuel for maritime operations. This article from Seatrade Global says glycerol, or better known as glycerine, is being looked at for use in shore-side operations. If adopted by shipping, glycerol could potentially match the emissions-saving properties of low-sulphur marine diesel or even liquid natural gas at a fraction of the cost of …
London Buses to Run on Waste Grease Biodiesel
Some buses in London will soon be running on biodiesel made from waste cooking grease. This story from the East London Advertiser says more than 100 buses are testing a B20 blend of the green fuel. Matthew Pencharz, Boris Johnson’s senior advisor for Environment and Energy, said: “This is another example of the mayor’s commitment to cutting carbon emissions and …
EPA Setting Dangerous Precedent for Biofuels Globally
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is setting a dangerous precedent for the global biofuels industry according to spokesman Bliss Baker with the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA). On November 15, 2013, the EPA announced its proposed biofuel volumes for 2014 for the Renewable Fuel Standard and for the first time since the legislation was passed in 2007, the amount of …
Genera Energy, UTIA Complete $5M Biofuels Grant
Genera Energy and the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) were awarded a $5 million grant in 2009 from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), to research and develop economical systems for bulk-handling and processing of chopped switchgrass and reduce the costs of baling in the field and subsequent bale grinding. Genera has announced that the research supported by …
Renewable Energy Project in NC Begins
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was recently held by Revolution Energy Solutions (RES), a company focused on waste-to-electricity projects, for its inaugural North Carolina anaerobic digestion project, coined NC-1. The project is currently one of the largest and most progressive farm-based biogas projects in the state. The event included representatives from RES along with farm hosts Murphy Family Ventures, as well as …
Patriot to Build Biodiesel Production Facility
Patriot Holdings, LLC has announced that Patriot’s Board of Directors approved the formation of a new subsidiary (Patriot Fuels, Biodiesel, LLC) to build a five million gallon biodiesel production facility adjacent to the Patriot Renewable Fuels, LLC (“PRF”) ethanol plant in Annawan, Illinois. The plant will utilize corn oil extracted from the 40 million bushels of corn that PRF processes …
BioEnergy Bytes
Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. has announced that it completed the previously-announced acquisition of two ethanol plants, located in Wood River, NE and Fairmont, MN, from Ethanol Holding Company, LLC, an entity composed of the predecessor owners’ lender group. The acquisition increases Green Plains’ production capacity to over one billion gallons of ethanol per year. Research and Markets has announced …
Big Oil Reaps $23 Billion In One Day
Americans United for Change said that the oil industry scored a big victory on Friday, November 15, 2013 when the U.S. EPA released a draft rule that – if allowed to stand – rolls back the highly successful Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). Following the announcement that calls for gasoline to include more oil and less biofuel next year, stock values …
Idled Biodiesel Plant Gets New Tenant
A biodiesel plant idled by bankruptcy last year will get new life as a new tenant moves in. This article from Capital Press says TransMessis Columbia Plateau has moved into the former Inland Empire Oilseeds, LLC refinery in Odessa, Wash., and could be operating in the next few days and at full capacity early next year. TransMessis Columbia Plateau (TCP) …