A DuPont executive says plans to bring advanced biofuels programs to market are on track and making significant technical progress toward the commercialization of biobutanol and the conversion of cellulosic feedstocks economically into biofuels. “Biobutanol and cellulosic ethanol have the ability to transform the biofuels industry,” Vice President & General Manager John Ranieri told an investor conference last week. “Our …
Iogen Ships Cellulosic Ethanol to Shell
Iogen Energy has shipped its first 100,000 litres of cellulosic ethanol to Royal Dutch Shell. Iogen announced the 26,417 gallons shipment on Thursday, part of 180,000 litre – or 47,550 gallons – order from Shell. The fuel, produced from wheat straw at Iogen’s Ottawa demonstration facility, is being purchased by Shell for use in upcoming fuel applications. Iogen officials say …
Petit LeMans Features Green Challenge
Road Atlanta’s Petit Le Mans, the American Le Mans Series signature endurance racing classic, will feature a race within a race next week as car manufacturers compete to excel in fuel efficiency and environmental impact in addition to performance. In conjunction with the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC), U.S. Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Society …
Florida to Host Third Cellulosic Ethanol Summit
Florida will host the 3rd annual Infocast Cellulosic Ethanol Summit to be held in November. The first two summits were held in Washington DC, but organizers say “the transitional stasis of a federal election year and the accelerated ambition of the states to pursue their own alternative fuel programs, prompted a venue change to Florida which is rapidly proving to …
First Step for Ethanol-Producing Microbes
A team of researchers from Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering and Mascoma Corporation say they have found a way to produce genetically engineered bacteria that ferment cellulose to produce ethanol more efficiently. The group reported last week that, tor the first time, they have been able to genetically engineer a thermophilic bacterium, capable of growing at high temperatures, and this …
State Provides Boost for Cellulosic Ethanol Project
A $14.7 million grant from the state of Iowa was welcome news last week to the company working on a commercial cellulosic ethanol project in the state. The grant was approved last week by the Iowa Power Fund Board for POET’s Project Liberty in Emmetsburg. The funding will help with research, development and demonstration costs for the integrated biorefinery. POET …
Wal-Mart Donation to Fund Ethanol Research
Wal-Mart Foundation recently donated $369,000 to the Arkansas Biosciences Institute at Arkansas State University to help fund biomass to ethanol research. According to a university news release, the donation will be used to meet the cost share requirement for a U.S. Department of Energy grant awarded to the university. The Arkansas Biosciences Institute is researching the commercialization of biobased product …
Austrian Views on Food Versus Fuel
The issue of food versus fuel was a topic of discussion among international agricultural journalists visiting Austria this past week. The group of 250 International Federation of Agricultural Journalists members representing nearly 20 countries was led by former commissioner of agriculture for the European Union Franz Fischler, a native Austrian. Fischler called the food versus fuel controversy “unfair.” “They don’t …
Energy Crop Trials
Energy crop company Ceres will begin test trials of improved switchgrass cultivars and high-biomass sorghum hybrids at the site of Range Fuels‘ commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant, now under construction in Georgia. According to a news release, while wood residues will be the primary feedstock for the biorefinery, Range Fuels is also interested in better understanding the economic, environmental and logistical …
Gulf Ethanol Offers Feedstock Powder Samples
Cellulosic feedstock powder may sound like a form of fairy dust – a powder that enhances the productivity and viability of cellulosic ethanol production. But producer Gulf Ethanol is prepared to prove it to anyone who asks. The company announced today that they are offering free samples of the microscopic cellulosic feedstock powder produced by its processing unit as a …