A new report, Motor Vehicle Biofuels: United States, looks at the U.S. market for motor vehicle biofuels. It is forecast to total 395 million barrels in 2020, representing annual increases of 0.7% from 382 million barrels in 2015. Advances will primarily stem from regulatory quotas for biofuel in the U.S. fuel supply. At the same time, rising crude oil prices will incentivize consumers to purchase bioethanol blends beyond those mandated by the government. However, further increases in biofuel blend concentrations will be restrained by motor vehicle specifications and a limited infrastructure for distributing these fuels.- Researchers are actively studying polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a family of natural polyesters produced by microorganisms that may represent biodegradable and biocompatible substitutes for petroleum-based plastics. For the past 30 years, investigators have been striving to determine the crystal structure of an important enzyme in the production of PHAs– called PHA synthase– but without success. Now a team publishing two articles in Biotechnology Journal reports success, while also elucidating mechanisms of the enzyme reaction involved in PHA production.
- American Electric Technologies, Inc has announced that its M&I Electric business has recently been selected to provide a turnkey power delivery solution for a land fill gas reclamation project in the United States. M&I will provide a turnkey power delivery solution including a M&I Power Distribution Center with Medium Voltage Switchgear, Medium Voltage Motor Controllers, Low Voltage MCC, transformers and other ancillary power distribution equipment.
- Biofuels International is reporting that Shell and Brazilian ethanol company Cosan have reached an agreement to strengthen their sugarcane ethanol joint venture (JV), Raízen, in Brazil, through a change in its contractual structure. The partners have agreed to remove the mutual time-bound buyout options included in the original JV agreement, signed in June 2011, and in doing so have transformed Raízen from a temporary to a permanent joint venture.
