New Land Use Change Report Released

Joanna Schroeder

According to CABI and Hart Energy Consulting, while there has been much attention given to the idea that biofuel development will change land use around the world, there are still many gaps in knowledge about how much and in what ways those changes will manifest. To determine where more information about land use change is needed, the two organizations worked …

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Indirect Land Use

A New Look At Ethanol’s Net Energy

Joanna Schroeder

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to interview Merle Anderson for my Between the Lines blog (Three Pieces of Advice From the Father of Ethanol). For those who truly know, love and respect Merle, he is none other than the “Father of Ethanol”. It has been more than a year since I last caught up with him at the …

ACE, Ethanol, Opinion

Is Natural Gas A Viable Partner In the Low-Carbon Future?

Joanna Schroeder

Is, and should, natural gas be a viable partner in the movement to a low-carbon future? This was the question asked and answered in a new report published by the Worldwatch Institute and authored by Worldwatch Sustainable Energy Fellow Saya Kitasei. “Powering the Low-Carbon Economy: The Once and Future Roles of Renewable Energy and Natural Gas,” concludes that natural gas …

Electricity, Energy, Natural Gas, Research, Solar, Wind

ZeaChem’s Cellulosic Biorefinery Within Sight

Joanna Schroeder

ZeaChem’s cellulosic biorefinery is within sight. The company has announced two recent milestones in the process for their 250,000 gallons-per-year plant to go online in 2011. First, they secured full construction funding for their facility including a $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to be used toward the cost of constructing the front and back-end cellulosic process …

Cellulosic, Company Announcement, Ethanol

ACORE Calls for Global Renewable Energy Standard

Joanna Schroeder

During COP-16, the ongoing global climate talks taking place in Cancun, Mexico, the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) called for a global agreement on the adoption of a 25 percent renewable energy standard by the year 2025 to be called the Global Renewable Energy Standard (G-RES). In addition, ACORE went further and asked the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) …

conferences, Energy, Environment, global warming

Hawaii Hydrogen Initiative Announced

Joanna Schroeder

California is not the only state to take on a “hydrogen highway“. This week, General Motors (GM) and The Gas Company (TGC) have launched an initiative to make hydrogen-powered vehicles and a fueling infrastructure a reality in Hawaii by 2015. Ten companies, agencies and universities have joined the program, called the Hawaii Hydrogen Initiative (H2I) in what participants hope will …

Hydrogen

All I Want For the Holidays Is Some Extra Green

Joanna Schroeder

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, But the fire is so delightful, And since we’ve got no place to go, Fill Out a Survey! Fill Out a Survey! Fill Out a Survey! The snow doesn’t show signs of stopping, And I’ve bought some corn for popping, The lights are turned way down low, Fill Out a Survey! Fill Out a …

Miscellaneous

Camelina-Based Biojet Fuel On Course For Success

Joanna Schroeder

According to a recent peer-reviewed paper published in the journal of Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy, camelina-based biojet fuel reduces CO2 emissions by 75 percent compared to traditional petroleum-based jet fuel. The study also found that “green diesel” made through the same process reduces CO2 emissions by 80 percent. “This peer-reviewed analysis proves what we’ve known for a long time …

Biodiesel, biojet fuel, green diesel

2010 Green Fuels Awards Announced

Joanna Schroeder

The 2010 Green Fuels Award recipients have been announced by the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association during the 7th Annual Canadian Renewable Fuels Summit in Ottawa-Gatineau. The awards honor pioneers in the development and commercialization of low carbon renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel in Canada. The Fuel Change Award 2010 was presented to Husky Energy Inc. for their promotion …

Biodiesel, Ethanol

Top 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy

Joanna Schroeder

Biofuels Digest has announced its “Top 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy” and this year’s top spot goes to Amyris, a renewable fuels and chemicals developer based in Florida. The rankings recognize innovation and achievement in bioenergy development and are determined by 50 percent of votes from a 75-member panel of international selectors, and 50 percent of votes from subscribers of …

bioenergy, biofuels