Sweet Sorghum Leading Southern Bioenergy Crop

Joanna Schroeder

A lot of research has gone into studying sweet sorghum’s potential as a bioenergy crop. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has found that there are several attributes of the feedstock that make it uniquely suited to produce biofuels. One assest is its lower need for water, making it an ideal crop to grow in drought prevalent areas. In addition, it has …

advanced biofuels, bioenergy, feedstocks, Research, sorghum

Using ‘Old’ Tools For Better Biodiesel

Joanna Schroeder

Findings from studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists, and published in the Journal of Near Infrared Spectroscopy, have shown that “old” stand by techniques could help optimize oilseed yield for biodiesel production. For more than 30 years, near infrared (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy has been used to measure protein, moisture and oil levels in whole grains. Dan Long, …

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Research

Algae Aviation Facility Lands in Europe

Joanna Schroeder

Lufthansa and Algae.Tec have created a partnership to construct a large scale algae to aviation biofuels production facility. The facility will be located adjacent to an industrial CO2 source. Lufthansa will arrange 100 percent funding for the project and has committed to a long-term offtake agreement of at least 50 percent of the crude oil produced at an agreed upon …

advanced biofuels, algae, aviation biofuels

Brazilian Bioenergy Innovation Awards Announced

Joanna Schroeder

During the World Biofuels Markets Brazil 2012 conference in São Paulo, SEE ALGAE Technology and Grupo JB took home the Brazilian Bioenergy Innovation of the Year award for their algae biofuel project. The Brazilian Bioenergy Deal of the Year award was given to GraalBio, Beta Renewables, DSM and Novozymes for their collaborative cellulosic ethanol production project. Nadim Chaudhry, CEO of …

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

Ethanol, Biodiesel Production Remains Strong

Joanna Schroeder

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 …

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Ethanol

Scholarships Offered for Students to Attend NEC

Joanna Schroeder

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 …

advanced biofuels, biofuels, Ethanol, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

Diatoms Could Lead to Biofuel Breakthrough

Joanna Schroeder

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 …

advanced biofuels, algae, Research

Vilsack Tours AGP Biodiesel

Joanna Schroeder

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 …

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, RFS

Biodiesel Requirement in RFS Increases

Joanna Schroeder

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 …

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, NBB, RFS