Boeing, South African Airways (SAA) and SkyNRG are partnering together to develop aviation biofuel from a specific type of tobacco plant. SkyNRG is currently expanding its production of Solaris, an energy crop hybrid derived from the tobacco plant. Pilot farming of the plant, which is effectively nicotine-free, is underway in South Africa with to end goal of producing advanced biojet …
BioEnergy Bytes
Pattern Energy Group LP has acquired the Logan’s Gap wind project from Pioneer Green Energy. Logan’s Gap is a 200 megawatt (MW) wind project to be built in Comanche County, Texas. As the developer of the project, Pioneer Green Energy began work of a significant nature in 2013 and executed a 10-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. …
SG Preston Announces Renewable Diesel Project
SG Preston (SGP) has announced the planned development of a 120 million gallon renewable diesel facility in Lawrence County, Ohio. The $400 million bioenergy facility will be the world’s largest producer of renewable diesel when finished in 2017 according to SGP. The company said a key component of the facility’s development is the licensing of their advanced process technology that …
UC Riverside Researchers Enhance Biofuel Yields
University of California, Riverside researchers have developed a versatile, virtually non-toxic and efficient way to convert raw ag and forest residues along with other plant matter into biofuels and biochemicals. Professor Charles E. Wyman is leading the research team and their patent-pending method coined Co-solvent Enhanced Lignocellulosic Fractionation (CELF) and they believe they are another step closer to solving the …
ACE Celebrates “Power by People”
This morning during the opening session of the 27th Annual Ethanol Conference, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) launched a new campaign featuring the people of ethanol. Their redesigned website features personal and authentic stories of the people who built and continue to innovate the ethanol industry. In addition, ACE released a new video, “The Home Place”. “Instead of keeping …
BioEnergy Bytes
Dyadic International, Inc. has signed a collaboration agreement to commercialize second generation biofuel and bio-based chemical technology with Compagnie Industrielle de la Matière Végétale (CIMV). CIMV’s patented approach of separating the three main components of plant material allows both production of high quality cellulose and hemicellulose, especially well-suited for the enzymatic process, and Biolignin, a pure form of lignin that …
Report Shows Oil Companies Paid 11.7% Tax Rate
According to a new report from Taxpayers for Common Sense, oil companies paid only 11.7 percent of the U.S. income in federal taxes over the last five years. This is compared to the statutory 35 percent corporate tax rate paid by other companies. “This is a perfect example of how the oil industry is allowed to play by a different …
Students Present Research at Ethanol Conference
Several University of Minnesota students are giving the ethanol industry a preview of their cutting-edge research in biofuels, biochemicals and bioproducts during the 27th Annual Ethanol Conference in Minneapolis. One such student is Sahana Ramanna who is a PhD student who is working on improving the pre-treatment technologies used for biomass, specifically Aspen. Ramanna explained that one of the most …
Minnesota Gov Mark Dayton Kicks Off 27th ACE Conf
The 27th Annual Ethanol Conference kicked off last night with some brief remarks from Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton. The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) annual event, taking place at the Depot Renaissance Hotel, began with hundreds of ethanol advocates who heard from Governor Dayton that he appreciated ethanol producers, “for what you are doing,” to boost the nation’s energy independence, …
Ethanol Safety Seminars Head to Alabama & Kansas
The Ethanol Safety Seminars are heading to Alabama and Kansas. The first seminar will be held August 7, 2014 at the Alabama Fire College in Tuscaloosa and is co-hosted by Alabama Southern Railroad and the second seminar will be held on August 8, 2014 at Doster Community Center in Prattville and is co-hosted by Autauga Northern Railroad. Tuscaloosa is hosting …