Algenol is partnering with South China’s Fujian Zhongyuan New Energy Company (ZYNE) to solve three major problems: lack of clean air, clean water and the needs for sustainable, low carbon fuels. The two companies will work together on an exploration project where Algenol will take ZYNE’s captured CO2 and covert it to ethanol. Algenol’s technology, Direct to Ethanol, uses the CO2 as …
U of W Research Converts Poplar Trees to Biofuels
New research from the University of Washington is laying the foundation to use woody biomass from poplar trees into sustainably produced biofuels and biochemicals. A five-year $40 million dollar study funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is in its last year and results will seed a wood-based cellulosic ethanol production facility. ZeaChem, one of the industry partners in …
Biofuels Capacity to Grow to 61B Gallons by 2018
According to new research, global biofuels capacity will grow to 61 billion gallons per year (BGY0 by 2018. Ethanol and biodiesel will continue to dominate with 96 percent of the capacity in 2018, but novel fuels and novel feedstocks will be major drivers of capacity growth, according to Lux Research. The study finds that novel fuels and novel feedstocks will …
Molecular Swiss Army Knife Improves Algae-Fuel
A molecular Swiss Army knife may hold the key to making blue-green algae biofuel and biochemical production more viable. A research team from Michigan State University (MSU) fabricated a synthetic protein that both improves the assembly of the carbon-fixing factory of cyanobacteria while providing proof of concept for a device that could potentially improve plant photosynthesis or be used to …
Executives Criticize RFS Delays on Cellulosic Growth
Executives from the advanced biofuels industry are criticizing the Obama Administration for not adhering to its promise to support the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). They say the lack of adhering to mandates has undercut investment in advanced biofuels and sent innovative companies, technologies and jobs oversees. In a letter they write that “broken promise…flies in the face of the President’s …
Prez Candidate Bernie Sanders Gives RFS Support
During a recent Roske on Politics show with host Brent Roske, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont (Dem) gave his support of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Last month he was in Des Moines, IA for the Iowa State Fair and spoke on the Soapbox but did not mention biofuels or the RFS. However, this visit he was asked directly …
Algenol’s Algae-based Ethanol to Be Sold Via Protec
Protec Fuel Management has taken another innovative route to bring ethanol to consumers. The company has signed an agreement to market and distribute Algenol Biotech’s algae-based ethanol being produced in Fort Myers, Florida. In addition, Protec will purchase 18 million gallons per year from Algenol’s commercial plant expected to be online in 2016 and distribute the fuel as E15 and E85 …
Enerkem Raises C$152M in Funding
Waste-to-biofuels and biochemical company Enerkem has raised C$152.6 million and initiated the production of biomethanol from non-recyclable household garbage at the Enerkem Alberta Biofuels full-scale facility in Edmonton, Canada. The financings are comprised of a recently accessed C$29 million debt facility from Integrated Asset Management Corp.’s (IAM) Private Debt Group as well as C$50 million in private placements from current investors …
Tokyo Scientists Increase Algal Oil Production
Hiroyuki Ohta, a researcher at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, together with scientists based at institutions across Tokyo, Japan, have discovered a way of increasing the oil production in algae. The oils are used to create biofuels and biochemicals and researchers are looking for ways to increase the production of triacylglycerols in the Nannochloropsis algal strain NIES-2145. Triacylglycerols, or TAGs, …
REG’s Geismar, LA Plant Has 2nd 2015 Fire
Renewable Energy Group’s (REG) hydrocarbon diesel (RHD) refinery, located in Geismar, Louisiana, has had its second fire this year. According to REG, on Friday, September 4th, at approximately 12 a.m. central, a fire occurred at their Geismar biorefinery. In a statement, REG said emergency crews quickly responded to contain the fire and it was declared completely extinguished at 4:20 a.m. …