“Proud History, Bright Future” is the theme for the upcoming 25th annual ACE Ethanol Conference to be held August 8-10th in Omaha, Nebraska. The conference will cover topics such as an outlook on markets and policies that will impact ethanol plant profitability; the role octane and vehicle technology innovations will play for ethanol demand; an update on E15 implementation; product …
Senator Visits Michigan Cellulosic Ethanol Facility
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) highlighted the benefits of next-generation biofuels during a tour of the Alpena Biorefinery in the northern part of her state. “This innovative partnership is producing Michigan-grown fuel that has the potential to spur new job growth and help reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” said Stabenow, who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee which just sent a …
Novozymes to Supply Biofuels Factory in Brazil
In December 2013, Brazilian bioenergy company GraalBio will start producing 82 million liters (22 million gallons) of advanced biofuels per year at a new factory in the Brazilian state of Alagoas. The plant will produce cellulosic ethanol from sugarcane bagasse and straw, and Novozymes will supply the necessary enzyme technology while Beta Renewables and Chemtex, both part of Italian chemical …
Subcommittee Hears Support for Energy Programs
The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy and Forestry was urged to reauthorize Farm Bill energy programs and provide them with mandatory funding during a hearing on “Formulation of the 2012 Farm Bill: Energy and Forestry Programs” on Friday. “American agriculture is the key to the successful development and commercialization of clean, abundant, renewable, domestic energy and biobased products in …
Domestic Energy Tax Credits on Congress “To Do” List
President Obama made up a “to-do list” for Congress during a stop in Albany, New York yesterday that includes renewing tax incentives for the development of new domestic energy sources. At a speech to students at the State University of New York, the president said if Congress fails to act soon, clean energy companies will see their taxes go up …
Fagen to Build Cellulosic Ethanol Plant in Iowa
Fagen, Inc. has been contracted by DuPont Industrial Biosciences to build the company’s first commercial cellulosic ethanol biorefinery in Nevada, Iowa. Last year, DuPont bought land adjacent to Lincolnway Energy ethanol plant, which will enable synergies in energy and logistics. Last week, Butamax Advanced Biofuels announced its collaboration with Fagen to build out the biobutanol industry. “Our selection of Fagen …
Novozymes Partners with Chinese Firm for Cellulosic Ethanol
Novozymes has announced a partnership with Shengquan Group, a Shandong-based company specializing in furan resin and polymers, to start commercial-scale production of cellulosic ethanol for solvents in June 2012 using Novozymes’ technology. “Shengquan is a global first mover in this industry, which is on the verge of materializing right now,” says Poul Ruben Andersen, Vice President for Bioenergy at Novozymes. …
Oregon Governor Tours ZeaChem Biorefinery
Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber took a tour of the ZeaChem 250,000 gallon-per-year biorefinery in Boardman Monday as the company announced it has begun construction on the Department of Energy-funded project for the production of cellulosic ethanol. Earlier this year, the company announced the start of operations of the core facility for the production of intermediate chemicals acetic acid and ethyl …
Sustainable Biofuels Awards Presented
The Sustainable Biofuels Awards were presented this week at the World Biofuels Markets 2012 Congress in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The awards include biofuels leadership, technology, adoption, bioethanol, biodiesel, feedstock innovation, innovation in aviation, biopower generation and bio-based chemicals and are determined based on judging by an elite panel of independent industry experts, with final voting by individuals in the general biofuels …
Field Trial Planned for PowerCane Miscanthus
Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. and BP Biofuels will be conducting demonstration field trials of a newly developed energy specific variety of miscanthus. The two companies have signed a four-year agreement to test Mendel’s PowerCane™ Miscanthus and evaluate its performance as feedstock for biofuel production at BP Biofuels’ demonstration plant at Jennings, Louisiana. A total of 100 acres of PowerCane™ Miscanthus will …