August was a strong month for biofuel production. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), biodiesel production for the month of August 2012 was 100 million gallons. Year-do-date biodiesel production is 757 million gallons. There was also 3 million additional gallons of biomass-based diesel produced during the month, raising the total category production under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to …
Scholarships Offered for Students to Attend NEC
The Renewable Fuels Association’s (RFA) annual National Ethanol Conference (NEC) is a great place to learn the ins and outs of the ethanol industry as well as network with key industry experts. That is why RFA is offering several scholarships for current college students interested in renewable fuels to attend the 2013 event. The awards will cover the cost of …
Diatoms Could Lead to Biofuel Breakthrough
Researchers at Oregon State University (OSU) are looking back to life during the dinosaur age and studying the role diatoms could play in algae-based biofuel production. Diatoms are tiny marine pre-historic life forms and can simultaneously produce biofuels as well as semiconductors, biomedical products and health foods. The technology has moved out of a science fiction movie and landed in …
Don’t Miss Advanced Biofuels Markets
Today is the last day to register for the Advanced Biofuels Markets conference at the discounted rate in San Francisco taking place on October 29-31, 2012. There are more than 30 CEOs of advanced biofuels companies from around the world scheduled to speak. The focus will be on how to scale up to commercial production levels while tapping into the …
Vilsack Tours AGP Biodiesel
AGP Biodiesel based in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, hosted Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack last week who is highlighting the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) action to increase the biodiesel amount required in 2013 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The RFS was established by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) and specifies a one billion gallon minimum volume requirement for …
Biodiesel Requirement in RFS Increases
The Obama Administration has announced that there will be an increase in the biodiesel volume requirement for next year under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision was released today in a draft proposal that would increase the requirement for biomass-based diesel to 1.28 billion gallons. This represents a modest increase from the industry’s record production last …
Magellan Completes Biodiesel Distribution Facility
Magellan Pipeline Company has completed a new biodiesel distribution facility in Des Moines, Iowa. The new equipment will allow for unloading, storage and blending of biodiesel at the terminal. The infrastructure upgrade will enhance distribution of biodiesel by making it simple for petroleum distributors to access pre-blended fuel. “Having biodiesel available at major distribution points is critical to maintaining the …
New Study on Water-wise Biofuel Crops
A new study has shown that putting the water-use-efficient and turbo-charged photosynthesis from plants such as agave into woody biomass plants can hedge against high temperatures and low moisture. It can also enable growers to plant dedicated energy crops on marginal land. A team of researchers including John Cushman, a biochemistry professor at the University of Nevada, Reno; Xiaohan Yang at …
ReadiJet Fuel Ready for the Skies
ReadiJet Fuel, a drop-in renewable fuel for aviation use, is ready to fly the skies. Developer Applied Research Associates (ARA) along with Chevron Lummus Global (CLG), are partnering with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to evaluate the fuel in flight. The fuel, produced under contract to AFRL, was produced by ARA …
LS9 Starts Up Demonstration Plant
LS9 has started up its retrofitted demonstration plant in Okeechobee, Florida with an initial production run of fatty alcohols. These will eventually be converted to renewable fuels and biochemicals. Fatty alcohols are long carbon chain alcohols, and used widely in the $5 billion market for surfactants that include detergents. The facility will also be used to test and optimize new …