Food security was the topic for an address last week to the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) World Forum by DuPont Executive Vice President Jim Borel. “We need a new generation of food visionaries who can see the tremendous opportunity made possible by the simple fact that people have to eat,” Borel told the group of more than …
Enerkem Raises C$50 Million
Waste-to-biofuels company, Enerkem, has raised C$50 million in financing bringing the total equity investment raised by the company in 2013 to C$87 million. As part of this financing, institutional fund Investissement Québec joins existing investors Waste Management of Canada, Rho Ventures, Braemar Energy Ventures, The Westly Group, Cycle Capital, Fonds de solidarité FTQ and Fondaction, who each increased their investment …
Uncertainty over RFS Hurting Biofuel Investment
While Florida was debating the future of its Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) many biofuel companies fought hard to keep it in place. One supporter was Brad Krohn with Florida-based United States EnviroFuels. Brad recently spoke with our Chuck Zimmerman following a day of testimony heard by the Florida House. They just had a follow up discussion about how things are …
LCFS Remains Under Fire
Recently, the Institute for Policy Integrity (IPI) announced that it will not sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at this time to force it to promulgate a national Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). According to the Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), such a cap and trade program for transportation fuels would make drivers pay more at the pump and significantly …
Amyris-Total Biofuels Flight Successful
Amyris and Total have successfully completed a demonstration flight at the Paris Air Show using a breakthrough technology that converts plant sugars into renewable jet fuel. The Airbus A321 aircraft powered by two Snecma CFM56 jet engines flew from Toulouse to Paris with a blend of renewable jet fuel produced by Amyris and Total. This demonstration flight was in support …
Gevo Resumes Isobutanol Production
Gevo has resumed Isobutanol production at its plant in Luverne, Minnesota with the shipment of a single train mode. The fuel was successfully produced using the its Gevo Integrated Fermentation Technology (GIFT). “I am pleased to report that we have been successful in operating our full-scale fermentation and our GIFT® separation system that separates the isobutanol from the fermentation broth. …
Turning Plant Matter into Fuel
Charles Wyman, a University of California Riverside professor in the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department, recently edited a book, “Aqueous Pretreatment of Plant Biomass for Biological and Chemical Conversion to Fuels,” that provides in-depth information on aqueous processing of cellulosic biomass into fuel. The just-published book focuses on aqueous pretreatment of cellulosic biomass to promote sugar release for biological, catalytic, …
Study: Alt Fuels Developing Faster Than Expected
According to a new study commissioned by a coalition of investors, utilities and makers of alternative fuels, the alternative fuels market has developed faster than anticipated. Electric vehicle sales are beating early projections, the surge in natural gas supply is helping decrease the carbon intensity in trucking, and consumption of biodiesel and renewable diesel supplies are growing rapidly, according to …
USDA: $98.6 Mil Available for Advanced Biofuels
The USDA is making available up to $98.6 million to support the production of advanced biofuels. This news release from the agency says it will be an opportunity for eligible producers to submit applications and strengthen the rural economy: “The United States is on the path to a cleaner, more secure energy future,” [Agriculture Secretary Tom] Vilsack said. “By helping …
All the World’s A Stage
With debate on Capitol Hill on the future of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and pressure from oil companies to lower cellulosic fuel mandates as part of the legislation, BBI realized that the time was right to feature a panel discussing the progress to commercialization of several major renewable fuels players to bring advanced biofuels to market. All the World’s …