A 20 percent blend of cellulosic ethanol was tested in Mercedez Benz fleet vehicles in Germany over the past year and found to provide “excellent combustion characteristics without additional consumption.” Specialty chemicals company Clariant joined with Mercedes-Benz and Haltermann Carless to perform the fleet test using sunliquid® 20, a fuel produced by Haltermann Carless with a cellulosic ethanol content of …
Molecular Velcro Boosts Algae to #Biofuel
Researchers from Michigan State University have engineered “molecular Velcro into cyanobacteria with the result being a boost to the microalgae’s ability to produce biofuels and potentially other products. The MSU scientists designed a surface display system to attach the blue-green algae to yeast and other surfaces. Early results show that this technology may prove the efficiency of harvesting algae and …
Biodiesel Grows, Food Prices Fall
As Americans celebrate the holiday season, they are paying less for food according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Price Outlook. While biodiesel production is higher than ever, the Consumer Price Index for grocery store items is 2.3 percent less than 2015. “Food is a universal part of most holiday celebrations, and this year prices have dropped even as …
Flint Hills Resources Awarded EPA Pathway Approval
Flint Hills Resources ethanol facility located in Shell Rock, Iowa has been given U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval for its cellulosic production using Edeniq’s Pathway Technology. The 120 million gallon per year biorefinery is the second in the U.S. to receive EPA approval for cellulosic production using Edeniq technology. “We are greatly encouraged by the EPA’s rapid approval of …
EPA Wins Biodiesel Suit
The District of Columbia Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) when it included biodiesel from Argentina under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for obligated parties to use when meeting their volume obligations. Back in 2015, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) filed a petition with the EPA urging them to change their rulemaking …
Losing Topsoil? Plant Switchgrass.
Switchgrass, an energy feedstock that can be used for biofuel production, now has another benefit: it can improve soil quality and can be grown on farms that have lost fertile topsoil. According to new research from the University of Missouri (MU) College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources has found that switchgrass may be a promising option for growers who …
Today in Energy Looks at RFS
With the final 2017 rule for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in place, a recent Today in Energy looks at a revised biofuels forecast through 2017 published by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) finds that the new rule will have the greatest impact on biomass-based diesel consumption. This category is expected to grow while ethanol …
Fuels America Sends Trump RFS Support Letter
The renewable fuels industry has come together, through Fuels America, to submit a letter to President-Elect Donald Trump congratulating him on his campaign and his vocal support of biofuels such as ethanol during his campaigning. The letter, signed by 17 organizations, also calls on the new administration to “stand strong against those who seek to undermine this vital program.” In …
Turf Feeding Kicks off Hydroponic #Biofuels Project
Turf Feeding Systems has been selected to design, build and manage a unique hydroponic biofuels project in Mexico for Zphere Works. The biojet fuel will be produced from Jatropha grown on an 80,000 acre Monarca plantation in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. Turf Feeding Systems says this is the first project to bring together products and technologies to create a …
Green Fuels Lab Opens in Australia
A new advanced green fuels laboratory developed and constructed by Southern Oil Refining (SOR) has opened in Yarwun, near Gladstone in QLD Australia. The lab is one step in Southern Oil’s goal of completing a commercial-scale biorefinery in the country. The facility will research biocrude and biofuels technologies and came to fruition with the help of the Australian Renewable Energy …