An agreement to jointly fund a feasibility study for the establishment of a vertically integrated solar PV (photovoltaic) manufacturing complex at Wa’ad Al Shammal in Saudi Arabia has been signed. SunEdison, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of the Government of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Arabian Investment Company hope to move forward with a project to produce polysilicon through modules. …
BDI Retrofits Greek Biodiesel Plant to Take Grease
A Greek biodiesel plant gets retrofitted to take a wider range of lower quality feedstocks, including grease. BDI-BioEnergy International AG announced the retrofit of the Elin Biofuels S.A refinery in Volos, Greece. The aim of the RetroFit optimisation project was to increase both raw material flexibility and the quality of the final biodiesel product via the remodelling, expansion and process …
Crimson Renewable Gets $5 Mil Biodiesel Grant
A Colorado-based biodiesel maker has received a $5 million grant from the State of California to expand its biorefinery in that state. Crimson Renewable Energy LP was awarded the money from the California Energy Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP) to support expansion of its Bakersfield biorefinery. The Energy Commission said its solicitation was designed to …
Iowa Wind Energy Conference Around the Corner
The 7th Annual Iowa Wind Power Conference is just around the corner taking place at the FFA Enrichment Center on the Campus of Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, March 11-12, 2014. Sponsored by the Iowa Wind Energy Association (IWEA), there is a strong line-up of speakers, informative sessions, exhibitors and new research displays. The general sessions planned …
BioEnergy Bytes
Ennovor Group, a global sustainable biofuels company, has announced that it has signed a rolling tolling contract with one of Spain’s largest biodiesel refiners. An innovator of feedstock procurement, supply chain development and sustainability assurance, Ennovor plans similar tolling agreements with a number of specialist biodiesel refineries at strategic locations across Europe. VIASPACE previously announced that it had entered into …
Get Your Sustainable Energy in America Factbook
Bloomberg New Energy Finance has released the 2014 installment of the Sustainable Energy in America Factbook. The resource was developed for The Business Council for Sustainable Energy, and found that renewable energy, natural gas and energy efficiency advancements are leading a transformation of America’s energy. The 2014 Factbook documents the upward trajectory of energy efficiency, natural gas and renewable energy, …
What do You Like in New Farm Bill
Before we get to our new ZimmPoll let’s look at our latest one which asked the question, “Could drones (UAV’s) serve a purpose on your operation?” Well over half of the voters this week said that drones could in fact serve a purpose on their operation. Price is still a factor and may be the reason that some operations would …
Q&A on EPA 2014 RFS Proposal
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has received more than 15,000 comments on its 2014 proposed rules for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). According to the thousands of comments, should the renewable fuel volumes go forth as proposed, not only would the first generation biofuel industry be harmed, but significant harm would bestow advanced biofuel development including cellulosic ethanol and efforts …
Aemetis Upgrades Biodiesel Plant in India
A California advanced fuels and renewable chemicals company is now producing high-quality biodiesel in India. Aemetis, Inc. says its 50 million gallon per year capacity biodiesel and refined glycerin production facility in Kakinada, India will use advanced technology to produce the green fuel and glycerin by-product. “The new distillation production unit is fully commissioned and the India facility now produces …
Idle Nebraska Biodiesel Plant Looks to Start in 2015
A Nebraska biodiesel plant originally completed in 2007 but never opened could see new life next year. According to this story from the Beatrice (NE) Daily Sun, the new owners, Duonix Beatrice, a joint venture between Flint Hills Resources, which is a subsidiary of Koch Industries, Inc., and Benefuel, Inc., have spent the last couple of years renovating the 50-million-gallons-per-year …