Biodiesel blends in Brazil could soon rise above the 5 percent mix to 7 or even as much as 10 percent. This story from Bloomberg says the South American country wants to move more of its biodiesel glut. “We’ve already sent to the Presidency a proposal to increase the mixture of biodiesel with diesel,” Energy Minister Edison Lobao told reporters …
Bob Greco’s Greatest Hits
The fight over the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was not in recess during the government shutdown and the accusations and arguing are ratcheting up in fervor this week as the introduction of new anti-RFS legislation is pending as well as a Dear Colleague letter being circulated by Representative Bob Goodlatte sent to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is causing a …
Biodiesel Import Ban Boosts Feedstocks to Europe
As the European Union (EU) blocks biodiesel imports to the continent, demand for biodiesel feedstocks are getting a boost. Bloomberg reports imports of of palm oil and rapeseed oil to Europe are going up, as is domestic production of the green fuel. Biodiesel production is climbing within the EU as the bloc implements duties on imports from Argentina and Indonesia, …
Methes Energies to See Best Biodiesel Quarter Ever
Several developments are prompting a biodiesel company to predict its best production quarter ever. Methes Energies International Ltd., a company with biodiesel production operations north of the border in the form of Methes Energies Canada Inc., says its $1.5 million facility has helped it really get its biodiesel operations moving. Over the last several weeks Methes Canada has made good …
Arkansas Town to Brew Camelina into Biodiesel
An Arkansas town will soon be home to a new biodiesel refinery that makes the green fuel out of a new crop for the region, camelina. The Stuttgart (AR) Daily Leader reports DeWitt is home to the the first Farm to Fuel project, an Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation (AAEF) initiative. According to AAEF, the mini-biorefinery, operated by Johnny Davis, will …
Biodiesel Supply & Demand Curves and RIN Pricing
The latest in a series of thoughtful analyses by the folks at the University of Illinois Ag and Consumer Economics is out and shows the relationship between the biodiesel supply and demand curves and Renewable Identification Number (RIN) pricing. This article from Scott Irwin shows how RIN prices are made of two components – intrinsic and time value. [T]he model …
Mercedes Offers Biodiesel-Compatible Engines Again
Biodiesel lovers might soon be singing a the line from the old Janis Joplin song, “Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz?” The German car maker will once again offer its line of biodiesel-compatible vehicles. This news release from EINNews.com says that after several years of not selling its BlueTEC diesel engines, the clean burners are back. Improving …
Darling Buys Biodiesel Feedstock Renderer
Texas-based Darling International Inc. has closed the deal to buy a Canadian company dealing with rendering and biodiesel. This company news release says Darling bought Rothsay, the rendering and biodiesel division of Maple Leaf Foods Inc., for about $618 million. Darling International Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Randall Stuewe said, “We are excited to add the Rothsay assets and employees …
REG Opens Mason City Biodiesel Plant
Renewable Energy Group today formally opened the company’s recently acquired biodiesel refinery in Mason City, Iowa. The biodiesel company also announced the start of a $20 million project to upgrade the plant to a multi-feedstock facility. REG completed the acquisition of the former Soy Energy, LLC refinery on July 31, 2013. REG immediately began efforts to repair and re-start the …
ShockWave Reactor Helps Biodiesel Efficiency
A new video demonstration is showing how the new ShockWave Power Biodiesel Reactor (SPR) is making production of the green fuel more efficient. Hydro Dynamics, Inc. (HDI) posted the video to show how its product will make the transesterification process go better. Although not a complete replacement for seeing the technology in person, video is becoming commonplace on the web …