While algae-based biodiesel continues to grow in interest, producers of the REALLY green fuel are trying to find ways to make sure they can turn a profit… just like any biodiesel producer. Being able to grow algae in the more plentiful saltwater could be key to making the process profitable. This story from the gas2.0 Web site says California-based Aurora …
Study Shows Biodiesel Reduces CO2 Emissions
Just in case you need more evidence of the clean-burning nature of biodiesel, a new study once again confirms the fuel’s green nature. A six-month demonstration by California-based fleet States Logistics’ saw carbon dioxide reduction of 72.9 tons compared to straight petroleum diesel. This National Biodisel Board press release says the company will be able to use the information to …
Myrtle Beach Area to Get Biodiesel Plant
A new biodiesel plant is set to open in the Myrtle Beach area of South Carolina. This story from WCBD-TV in Charleston says Coastal Biodiesel Group, Inc. is opening a $4.5 million facility in Horry County that will employ 50 people making the green fuel from used cooking oils: “We are pleased to begin operations in South Carolina with our …
Manitoba Opens First Biodiesel Plant
An American biodiesel maker has headed north of the border, but its product will come back to the U.S. This story from the Winnipeg Free Press says North Carolina-based Greenway Biodiesel is opening a approximately 5 million-gallon-a-year refinery in St. Boniface, Manitoba… the first for the Canadian province. While the green fuel will be headed for sale in Minnesota, it …
Verenium, Alfa Laval Ink Biodiesel Deal
Massachusetts-based Verenium Corporation, a developer of next-generation cellulosic ethanol, has signed a deal with Swedish provider of heat transfer, separation and fluid handling technologies Alfa Laval to market processes that degums vegetable oils, making them better for biodiesel production. This Verenium press release says they’ll use Verenium’s Purifine PLC enzyme and Alfa Laval’s engineering services and equipment. “Verenium is pleased …
World Congress Focuses on Biofuels Progress
Progress toward next generation biofuels will be a focus of the 2009 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing, to be held July 19-22, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Now in its sixth year, the conference will move to its largest venue to date, the Palais des congrès de Montréal (the Montreal Convention Centre). The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has …
Illinois Offering Bioenergy Masters Degree
Knowledge is power, and the folks at the University of Illinois are giving a new crop of students the power they’ll need in the fields of bioenergy… biodiesel and ethanol. The Center for Advanced BioEnergy Research (CABER) on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus is offering the first new master’s degree in bioenergy approved by Illinois Board of Higher …
North Carolina Funds Biofuels Projects
The Biofuels Center of North Carolina is giving the emerging biofuels sector in the state a $2.77 million jolt. The Center has approved a total of 18 grants to accelerate the technologies and feedstocks needed to develop the state’s biofuels sector. “The Midwest has corn and Brazil has sugarcane. North Carolina needs to develop conversion technologies for the types of …
Report Makes Case for Homegrown Biodiesel
Can small and community-scale biodiesel plants be economically viable and contribute to rural development in the Western United States? A new report by the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC), “Homegrown Prosperity from the Bottom Up,” answers that question with case studies of biodiesel plants in those western rural communities… and the answer is YES! This article from Biodiesel Magazine …
Bug Helps Make Biodiesel
The little guy on the left might not look very pretty, but it could be beautiful when it comes to turning food waste into biodiesel. It’s the larva of the Black Soldier Fly, and this bug is at the heart of EcoSystem Corporation’s MAGFUEL™ biofuel feedstock model. This company press release says EcoSystem is using the larvae to turn food …