Scientists in the St. Louis, Missouri area are hoping to get some help from local residents in finding the ideal algae to turn into biodiesel. During the upcoming 2nd annual Algaepalooza, held Saturday, May 7, 2011 from 10am to 4pm in the Life Science Lab at the Saint Louis Science Center, people will be able to pick up algae-collecting kits …
First Biofuel Flight Takes Air in Mexico
Interjet, Mexico’s domestic airline carrier, along with Airbus received praise today from The Consejo de Promocion Turistica de Mexico for the first successful test flight using biofuels. The test was conducted earlier this month with an Airbus A320 aircraft using a 30 percent biofuel blend produced from jatropha. The biojet fuel blend was made from locally sourced jatropha grown and …
How Much CO2 Does an Electric Vehicle Emit?
Ever wonder how much carbon dioxide (CO2) you are emitting when you drive? How about when you’re driving an electric vehicle (EV)? Well, technically EVs don’t emit CO2 but there is CO2 emitted during the process of creating the electricity used to “charge up” the batteries. There is an online tool helps people calculate their greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from …
The Changing Face of Biodiesel
There are few people who know the biodiesel industry like Brad Albin, vice president of manufacturing for REG. Albin has been in the industry for more than 20 years – before many of us even knew what biodiesel was. Albin was on hand for the briefing and tour of REG’s Newton, Iowa biodiesel plant by USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack …
REG Insights on Biodiesel State of the Industry
All eyes are on the biodiesel industry including those of the USDA and EPA. Last week, USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack along with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, stopped by REG’s Newton, Iowa biodiesel plant for a little learning and a hands-on biodiesel tour. During the event, the big question: will the biodiesel industry be able to meet RFS2 goals this …
Developing Partnerships for Biodiesel Feedstocks
The Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference held in Washington, D.C. last week was a meeting of the minds. During one of the sessions on hot technologies, Jeffrey Stroburg, Chairman and CEO of REG, gave a presentation on advanced partnership strategies for development and commercialization. REG has been the driver in helping to commercialize corn oil extracted from the back end of …
Cornoil – A Growing Feedstock for REG
The synergies between the biodiesel, ethanol and advanced biofuels industries are growing. One of the things that’s been happening over the past few years is the ethanol industry creating a new feedstock for the biodiesel industry – inedible corn oil. Inedible corn oil was one of the feedstocks that REG highlighted during USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and EPA Administrator …
REG Says 2011 RVOs Can Be Met
This year is poised to be a great year for the biodiesel industry. The EPA upheld the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) for this year and along with the return of the tax credit, the industry is busy getting back online and producing quality fuel. However, despite the RVO, there are still some challenges that need to be addressed to ensure …
DF Cast: Researchers, Advocates Clash on Algae Biodiesel Feasibility
Some researchers say that, at current production levels, algae biodiesel is not a commercially viable product. But some algae advocates believe researchers might have some ulterior motives for coming to that conclusion. One of the study’s authors, Dr. Peter Pfromm, a professor in Kansas State University’s department of chemical engineering, says that while they found that it’s possible to produce …
Military Will Buy Biofuels But Won’t Drive Market
The U.S. military plans to up its share of biofuels, including biodiesel and ethanol, by nearly a billion gallons over the next few years. But this article from Biofuels Digest says officials warn that won’t be enough to be the sole driver in the market: Mark Iden of the Defense Logistics Agency confirmed that the US government proposed to purchase …