Genuine Bio-fuel Expands to the Caribbean

Joanna Schroeder

Genuine Bio-Fuel is expanding to the Caribbean region with the formation of a new subsidiary Caribbean Bio-Fuel (CBF). The company will be based in Puerto Rico and serve Caribbean and South American markets. The company will build a biodiesel plant in the region that will have the capacity to produce nearly 12 million gallons of biodiesel per year. The new 35,000 …

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Renewable Energy

Algae. Tec Facility Continues to Attract Attention

Joanna Schroeder

Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and Member for Eden-Monaro Dr Mike Kelly recently visited Alage.Tec facility in Shoalhaven (Australia). The plant is proving out technology that produces low cost, high grade algae-based biofuels. While on site, Dr. Kelly was briefed about the technology by company representatives. One element with great promise is the fact that algae “eat” carbon to grow. In …

advanced biofuels, algae, Alternative energy, aviation biofuels, Carbon, International, Renewable Energy

Propel Receives $21M in Investments

Joanna Schroeder

Propel Fuels has closed on the initial phase of its Series D round of funding with $11 million in equity capital from existing investors Nth Power, Craton Equity Partners, and @Ventures as well as a new investor, Gentry Venture Partners. In addition, the company has secured $10 million in debt financing from CapX Partners. With the additional funds, Propels plans …

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Carbon, E85

EIA Releases 2013 Annual Energy Outlook Forecast

Joanna Schroeder

The Energy Information Agency (EIA) has released its 2013 Annual Energy Outlook forecast summary. While the report looks at all forms of energy with estimates going as far as 2040, there were two areas pertinent to biofuels. The summary forecast stated that renewable fuel use will grow at a much faster rate than fossil fuel use, and the share of …

ACE, advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, Growth Energy, Renewable Energy, RFS

Pacific Successfully Produces Sorghum Ethanol

Joanna Schroeder

Yesterday the EPA announced that grain sorghum is now an official pathway for a renewable fuel under the RFS. Currently, Pacific Ethanol has successfully produced ethanol from sorghum feedstock that was bred by Chromatin. According to Chromatin, this achievement paves the way for future opportunities to use locally grown sorghum as a versatile and resilient crop that is a more …

advanced biofuels, Alternative energy, Ethanol, feedstocks, sorghum

EPA Approves RFS Path for Grain Sorghum

Joanna Schroeder

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has just announced it’s approval of grain sorghum as an approved pathway for a renewable fuel as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). According to EPA, ethanol produced from grain sorghum emits 32 percent less greenhouse gas than the baseline petroleum it replaces and uses one-third less water than some other biofuel feedstocks. The EPA …

advanced biofuels, Alternative energy, Ethanol, RFS, sorghum

Could Biofuels Be Produced from A Tobacco Tree?

Joanna Schroeder

Could biofuels be produced from the tobacco tree? With a grant from the European Union, researchers at Royal Holloway, School of Biological Sciences, will test this theory based on initial findings that the Nicotiana Glauca produces compounds that could be used to produce biodiesel or cracked to produce petroleum products. There are some advantages of the tobacco tree: it is …

advanced biofuels, Alternative energy, Biodiesel, feedstocks, Renewable Energy, Research

Transforming Marine Algae into a Biofuel Crop

Joanna Schroeder

Are marine algae just as good as fresh water algae in producing biofuels? Yes, according to biologists at University of California San Diego. In a research study published in Algal Research, scientists genetically engineered marine algae to produce five different kinds of industrially important enzymes. The same process, say the researchers, could be used to enhance the yield of petroleum-like …

advanced biofuels, algae, Renewable Energy, Research

Harms Oil Heated Biodiesel Blending Facility Opens

Joanna Schroeder

One of the challenges with biodiesel are extremely cold temperatures – the fuel can gell up. But one element of this challenge has been overcome with the opening of the Harms Oil Biodiesel Blending Facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This year-round facility, features two underground tanks – one heated and will hold biodiesel in the winter, while the second …

advanced biofuels, Alternative energy, Biodiesel, Renewable Energy

Fulcrum BioEnergy Raises $175M

Joanna Schroeder

Fulcrum BioEnergy has raised $175 million to fund construction of the Sierra BioFuels Plant, its first municipal solid waste (MSW) to low-carbon fuels plant. The monies will also be used to fund the development of other projects. The company had been moving toward an initial public offering (IPO), but with the capital raised, has postponed its IPO plans. “With our recent success …

advanced biofuels, Renewable Energy, Waste-to-Energy