One of the first transportation-fuel related climate initiatives was announced during COP22 this week. The Biofuture Platform was launched in COP22 host country Marrakech by co-hosts Brazil and Morocco, and is a coalition formed to accelerate development and scale up deployment of modern sustainable low-carbon alternatives to fossil based solutions in transport fuels, industrial processes, chemicals, plastics and other sectors. …
UNIST Discovers Waste Gas to Biofuel Catalyst
A research team led by Professor Jae Sung Lee of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST has discovered a new way to make biofuels directly from carbon dioxide. The team has produced road ready diesel through a direct CO2 conversion to liquid transportation fuels by reacting with renewable hydrogen generated through solar water splitting. The research was published in the …
KAAPA Ethanol Ravenna Joins RFA
KAAPA Ethanol Ravenna has joined the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). The ethanol company, KAAPA Ethanol Holdings, recently closed on its purchase of the Abengoa Bioenergy ethanol facility located in Ravenna, Nebraska. The company also owns an ethanol facility in Minden, Nebraska. With the addition of Ravenna, KAAPA’s total ethanol production is 170 million gallons per year. This is the KAAPA’s …
Iowa Biodiesel Board Leader Elected to NBB Board
This week, Iowa Biodiesel Board (IBB) former leader Chad Stone, with the Renewable Energy Group (REG), was elected to a leadership position with the National Biodiesel Board (NBB). Stone recently served as the immediate past chair of IBB. The election took place in St. Louis, Missouri last week during NBB’s annual fall meeting. NBB’s board is comprised of 15 governing …
DuPont & MIAVIT Forge Biogas Enzyme Supply Contract
DuPont Industrial Biosciences and MIAVIT GmbH have forged a biogas enzyme supply contract. An integral part of the agreement will be DuPont supplying enzymes for incorporation in MIAVIT biogas boosting products. According to DuPont, its enzyme technology is proven to improve several production areas including biogas yields and process robustness. This, says DuPont, will increase revenues and profitability. MIAVIT will …
GRFA Calls For Global #Biofuels Commitment at COP22
With COP22 under way, the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) is calling for a global commitment to biofuels as countries transition to low-carbon economies. Bliss Baker, GRFA president, says that biofuels such as ethanol are proven to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from 40 percent to 90 percent as compared to fossil fuels. Prior to COP22, the United Nations released …
BioEnergy Bytes
Acting on behalf of North European Bio Tech Oy (NEB), St1 has begun the analysis and signed letters of intent with Alholmens Kraft and UPM on a sawdust-based ethanol plant in the Alholma industrial area in Pietarsaari. The planned production capacity of the plant is 50 million litres of advanced bioethanol per year. The Cellunolix® plant, which utilises sawdust and …
USDA Releases $1.5M in BCAP for #Biomass Harvesting
Farmers and others who harvest biomass crops for renewable energy will have access to $1.5 million in FY2017 under the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). The total funds available under the program for 2017 is $3 million with the other $1.5 allocated to growers who establish or maintain biomass crops to be used specifically for energy or biobased products. “USDA …
Natural Chem Acquires Abengoa #Ethanol Plant
Another Abengoa plant has been sold. Natural Chem Group (NCG) has acquired the ethanol plant in Portales, New Mexico via a bidding process. The new owner has plans to re-purpose the facility into an Eco-Fuels Blend Terminal with the ability to produce 4.5 million gallons of B20 biodiesel each month. The biodiesel blend will be blended with diesel at the …
KIPP Jacksonville Schools Go Propane
KIPP Jacksonville Schools has converted to propane – the first U.S. charter school to do so. The 100 percent propane fueled school bus fleet will be used to transport students to and from campus. The 14 Blue Bird Vision Propane buses will reduce the fleet’s carbon footprint; the buses emit 80 percent less smog-producing hydrocarbon and nearly eliminate particulate matter …