Sumitomo Invests in Cosan Biomassa

Joanna Schroeder

Sumitomo Corporation has signed a contract to acquire up to 20 percent of Cosan Biomassa, a producer of sugarcane pellets for power generation. With an eye on Asia’s need to reduce fossil fuel use and meet goals as set forth in the Climate Treaty last December, the partnership between Sumitomo and Cosan will focus on increasing exports to Japan and …

bioenergy, biomass, Brazil

New Holland Hero Growing for Energy

Joanna Schroeder

This year during the Expo Milano New Holland announced its “heros” as part of its “Seeds of Life Series“. One such hero was Brazilian Victor Campenelli, who grows 37,000 acres of corn and sugarcane and also has a cattle operation in Southern Brazil. Looking in to the future, Victor is looking forward to building a power plant utilizing cane straw. …

Agribusiness, bioenergy, biomass, Brazil, Electricity, New Holland

What Do You Think About the Brazilian Bioeconomy?

Joanna Schroeder

Leading up to World Bio Markets Brasil, taking place November 30-December 1, 2015 in Sao Paulo, GreenPower Conferences asked over 100 people their thoughts on the Brasilian bioeconomy and the factors influencing it, including: What the biggest change in the last 12 months has been; the biggest threat to the industry; and the most important factor over the next year. …

bioenergy, biofuels, biomaterials, Brazil, conferences

Brazil Sets Record for Ethanol Consumption

John Davis

Brazil hit a record high in ethanol consumption in July. The country’s ethanol industry group, the Union of Sugar Cane Industry Association (UNICA), says Brazilians used 1.55 billion liters, or about 400 million gallons, breaking a previous record of 1.51 billion liters in December 2009. The national demand for light fuels increased 3.4% compared with July 2014 and 2.75% as …

Brazil, Ethanol, Ethanol News, International

New Ethanol Production, Corn Oil Comes to Market

Joanna Schroeder

Pacific Ethanol has begun commercial production of corn oil utilizing Valicor’s corn oil recovery system at its Columbia ethanol plant located in Boardman, Oregon. With the completion of this 2-year initiative, all four of the western Pacific Ethanol plants are now producing corn oil. Neil Koehler, the company’s president and CEO, said of the milestone, “With the production of distillers …

advanced biofuels, Brazil, Cellulosic, corn, Ethanol, Renewable Energy

UNICA Joins Global Renewable Fuels Alliance

Cindy Zimmerman

The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) with its president Elizabeth Farin has become the newest member of the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA). “Brazil is truly a trailblazer in the global biofuels industry, not only as one of the world’s largest producers of biofuels, but one of the first,” said Bliss Baker, spokesperson for the GRFA. “As the largest ethanol …

biofuels, Brazil, Ethanol, Ethanol News, UNICA

Brazilian Tariff on Imported Ethanol Increases

Cindy Zimmerman

The Brazilian government this week increased the tariff on imported ethanol from 9.25 percent to 11.75 percent, effective immediately. The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) issued a statement regarding the changes to Brazil’s tax policy signed into law by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff Monday. Ethanol produced in Brazil is subject to a range of federal taxes with revenue allocated to …

Brazil, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, UNICA

Brazil Ethanol Group Moves Summit Dates

John Davis

A group representing sugarcane ethanol producers in Brazil is rescheduling its biennial meeting. The Union of Sugar Cane Industry Association (UNICA) has moved its Ethanol Summit 2015 to July 6-7, 2015 at the Golden Hall of World Trade Center to accomodate Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who will be in Washington, D.C., on the original dates at the end of June. …

Ag group, Agribusiness, Brazil, Ethanol, Ethanol News, UNICA

Platts Pre-Report Survey of Sugarcane Crush

Joanna Schroeder

In preparation for the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA)’s bi-monthly harvest data, Platts survey has announced that sugarcane crush volumes in the Key Center-South region of Brazil in the first half of April are expected to total 13.10 million mt with a focus on ethanol production. The wider range of analysts’ advance expectations for cane crush spanned from 10.2 million …

Brazil, Ethanol, Renewable Energy, UNICA

CARB Holds LCFS Workshop Update

Cindy Zimmerman

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) held a public workshop on Friday to discuss updates to the recently modified Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (CA-GREET 2.0) Model under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). Stakeholder input was received at the workshop on the new model which made some changes to the Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) …

Brazil, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Indirect Land Use, Low Carbon Fuel Standard, RFA, UNICA