Duke Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy (IGSP) believes that it has altered a gene in perennial grasses to help them develop more robust roots speeding up the timeline for creating biofuels. According to Philip Benfey, the director of the IGSP Center for Systems Biology, says that perennial grasses for biofuels are advantageous because they can be harvested repeatedly. However, …
Oil to Run Dry Before Biofuels Run Freely
According to a new report by researchers at the University of California, Davis, at the current pace of research and development, global oil supplies will run out 90 years before replacement technologies are ready. The study was based on stock market expectations and was published in the journal of Environmental Science & Technology. The paper, “Future Sustainability Forecasting by Exchange …
What’s Next for Alternative Energy?
Many reports in the past year have come out and determined that alternative energy such as wind and solar will have a major impact by 2030. However, in a new report released today, the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) says that the impact could happen sooner than others predict. “What’s Next for Alternative Energy?” examines seven influential and promising alternative energy …
Global Oil Subsides Reach $312 Billion
Today, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released its 2010 Edition of the World Energy Outlook in which it reported that global fossil-fuel subsidies have amounted to more than US $312 billion in 2009. The number includes subsidies to fossil fuels used in final consumption and to fossil fuel inputs to power generation. However, the report did not include direct producer …
New Controversial Biofuels Report Released
According to a new study released this week, the European Union (EU) plans to increase its use of biofuels over the next 10 years and it will require 69,000 square kilometers of new land causing climate change to become worse. “Driving to Destruction” was commissioned by a coalition of environmental and development NGOs and the study reports that by 2020, …
Two Big Wins for Amyris
Amyris is having a busy week. Yesterday, they announced a partnership with Tate and Lyle Ingredients Americas, Inc (a subsidiary of Tate and Lyle) for them to produce farnesene. Amryis will take the farnesene and produce farnesane, the company’s unique diesel molecule that forms the basis of its renewable diesel. The product will be manufactured in Tate and Lyle’s facility …
CEC Awards $9.6M in Energy Grants
Good news today for several California biofuel producers. The California Energy Commission (CEC) has approved eight grants worth more than $9.6 million along with $11,969,855 in private funds. Each winning project demonstrated its ability to reduce petroleum use, reduce pollution and provide jobs. The categories of industry that were eligible for funding included biofuels, manufacturers of electric vehicles and batteries, …
Ag Secretary Vilsack to Keynote Cellulosic Biofuels Summit
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming Cellulosic Biofuels Summit on November 16, 2010 in Washington DC. His topics will focus on several recent announcements from the USDA that established five regional Biomass Research Centers, the funding of five new biorefineries and the final rules for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), a $525 million …
New Global Biofuels Alliance Announced
Five biodiesel companies have come together to launch an new biodiesel lobbying organization called the Global Biofuels Alliance, Inc. The effort was led by HERO BX, one of the country’s largest biodiesel producers. The first goal of the organization is to focus on reinstating the Biodiesel Blenders Tax Credit, which expired on December 31, 2009. According to Mike Noble, co-founder …
Biofuels Journal Ethanol Workshop A Success
The third annual BioFuels Journal Commercial Ethanol Technology and Research Workshop, in partnership with the American Coalition for Ethanol, was a success with nearly 100 attendees coming to St. Joseph, Missouri. This workshop is unique in that it focuses on bolt-ons for existing ethanol plants and new technologies for advanced biofuels. According to Myke Feinman, Publisher of BioFuels Journal, the …