Global Bioenergies Leads Wood Residue to Energy Team

Joanna Schroeder

A new team has been created, led by Global Bioenergies, to produce fuel from forest residues. The first step of the partnership, that also includes Preem, Sekab and Sveaskog, will be to conduct a conceptual scope study for building the first biorefinery in Sweden. Back in April the consortium announced its partnership with partial financial support from the Swedish Energy …

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Waste-to-Energy

USDA Grant to Explore Waste-to-Energy

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a Rural Business Development Grant to fund a feasibility study to evaluate converting a coal-fired power plant into a waste-to-energy transportation fuel production facility. Partners in the project include the City of Becker, Minnesota, where the power plant resides, Wenck and VONCO. The idea was created after Xcel Energy announced plans to …

advanced biofuels, Waste-to-Energy

Borregaard Invests in Bioethanol Upgrade, Biogas

Joanna Schroeder

Norway company Borregaard has announced a bioethanol upgrade project. The company is committing NOK 63 million to the project that includes a new facility to capture and store biogas. Norwegian government agency Enova has awarded Borregaard a NOK 18.9 million grant. The funds are given to projects that promote environmentally friendly restructuring of energy end-use renewable energy production and new …

advanced biofuels, biogas, Ethanol

Rep Black Intros Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension Bill

Joanna Schroeder

Another federal bill has been introduced to extend the biodiesel tax credit. Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.) has introduced the “Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel Incentive Extension Act of 2016” (H.R. 5994). The bill extends the tax credit through 2018 and according to Black, would help fuel retailers continue to sell biodiesel blends at a cost competitive price as compared to traditional …

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Legislation

Virent Spearheads Strategic Biobased Group

Joanna Schroeder

In an effort to complete the development and ultimately bring to commercial production its BioForming technology, Virent has spearheaded a strategic consortium. Members include: Tesoro, Toray, Johnson Matthey and The Coca-Cola Company- companies who would all benefit from biobased products. The group will work together to finalize technical developments and commercial arrangements, with the goal of getting a commercial scale …

advanced biofuels, biomaterials, bioproducts

JetBlue Embraces Biojet Fuel

Joanna Schroeder

JetBlue has contracted with SG Preston to purchase renewable jet fuel for the next 10 years. According to JetBlue, this is one of the largest renewable biojet fuel purchase agreements to date and the largest, long-term, binding commitment by any global airline for HEFA (hydro-processed esters and fatty acids) based renewable jet fuel. “The future of aviation relies in part …

advanced biofuels, aviation biofuels, biojet fuel

High Plains Bioenergy Acquires #Biodiesel Plant

Joanna Schroeder

High Plains Bioenergy (HPB) is expanding its biodiesel business with the acquisition of a biodiesel plant located in St. Joseph, Missouri. The new biorefinery will operate as HPB- St. Joe Biodiesel. Under the HPB brand, the biodiesel facility will use regionally sourced feedstocks and feature technology that will produce biodiesel with lower cloud point specifications. The plant is in production …

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel

LanzaTech Produces First Lanzanol

Joanna Schroeder

LanzaTech has produced its first 1,5000 gallons of jet fuel from Lanzanol – low carbon ethanol produced from waste industrial gases from steel mills via a fermentation process. In partnership with Virgin Atlantic, the fuel has been tested and passed all performance tests with early results showing the ethanol derived biojet fuel has carbon savings of 65 percent as compared …

advanced biofuels, aviation biofuels, biojet fuel, Ethanol

Iowa Biodiesel Board Elects Tom Brooks New Chair

Joanna Schroeder

Tom Brooks, general manager of Western Dubuque Biodiesel, was elected as the chair of the Iowa Biodiesel Board (IBB) during the organization’s annual meeting on September 14, 2016. Brooks will lead the organization for the next year with the option of being elected to a three-year term. “This is an exciting time for biodiesel in Iowa, with our state leading …

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel

New Data Supports #Biodiesel Carbon Benefits

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) hosted an alternative fuels workshop in Macon, Georgia this week that reviewed the sustainability of feedstocks, such as soybean oil, used when producing biodiesel or biojet fuel. During the event, Purdue University Professor Wally Tyner presented the latest findings from a team research project (funded by the James and Louis Ackerman endowment) focused on …

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Indirect Land Use, NBB