Renewed World Energies (RWE) has agreed to enter into a partnership with ReVenture Park in Charlotte, North Carolina to develop an algae-to-fuel pilot plant. The Eco-Industrial Park caters to clean energy businesses and will work with RWE to expand its technology from pilot scale to commercial scale. The company is developing different strains of algae that will be utilized to …
Getting More Products From Soybeans
During the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society a new integrated soybean biorefinery was revealed. The technology is designed to create a wider portfolio of products from soybeans. “Mention soybeans to most people, and they immediately think of the oil,” said Ramani Narayan, Michigan State (MSU) University Distinguished Professor, who reported on the new biorefinery technology. “Soybean …
Sweetwater Energy Exceeds Funding Expectations
Sweetwater Energy has exceeded its goals for Series A funding raising $9 million, $4 million over its original goal. The New York-based company is developing a process to produce cellulosic sugar that can be used to produce biofuels, biochemicals and bioplastics. The company’s primary target is is refineries. “As anyone trying to start a business today knows, the economic climate …
LS9 Announces Grand Opening Ceremony
The Florida Opportunity Fund’s (FOF) Clean Energy Investment Program has awarded funds to LS9 to aid in the company’s grand opening plans for its biorefinery in Okeechobee, Florida. Earlier this year, FOF awarded LS9 $4.5 million to help fund the retrofit of their demonstration facility that when in operation will produce biodiesel and renewable chemical products. With the retrofit complete, …
EdeniQ Secures $30M in Bio Funding
Despite the sluggish economy, select advanced bioproducts companies are still receiving funding. EdeniQ has announced that they have secured over $30 million in capital in the form of an equity investment and debt facility. The funds will be used to continue development of its technology to convert sugars to biomaterials such as biochemicals and biofuels. The investment was led by …
Driving The Bioeconomy Highway
The National Bioeconomy Blueprint was recently released by the Obama Administration. The report outlines the steps that agencies need to take to drive the bioeconomy highway. The Administration recognized the growing sector has a priority due to its potential for growth and job creation. The bioeconomy will also help drive new sources of bioenergy, improve the agricultural industry, change the …
Virdia Opens New Pilot Facility
A new cellulosic demonstration facility has opened in Danville, Virginia. Virdia, a company focused on developing cellulosic sugars, located the facility on the campus for the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR). The facility will prove out Virdia’s CASE process in pilot scale and the resulting cellulosic sugars and lignin will be designed for use in commercial applications. Philippe …
Sustainable Biofuels Awards Presented
The Sustainable Biofuels Awards were presented this week at the World Biofuels Markets 2012 Congress in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The awards include biofuels leadership, technology, adoption, bioethanol, biodiesel, feedstock innovation, innovation in aviation, biopower generation and bio-based chemicals and are determined based on judging by an elite panel of independent industry experts, with final voting by individuals in the general biofuels …
HCL CleanTech Changes Name, Announces Financing
HCL CleanTech has changed its name to Virdia and announced new funding for the development of cellulosic sugars for biofuels and other uses. Virdia today officially announced the closing of $30 million in private financing and a $75 million loan package from the Mississippi Development Authority to build manufacturing plants in the state. Founded in 2007 as HCL CleanTech, Virdia …
USDA Launches Clean Energy Website
The U.S. Department of Agriculture this week launched a new energy website to provide quick access to the agency’s energy efficiency and renewable energy data. The website, usda.gov/energy, provides access to all USDA energy resources, including: agricultural, forestry, economic, and social data. This is done in part through a set of new complementary web-based tools: the USDA Renewable Energy Investment …