Winter & Double Crops Increase Biofuels Opportunities

Joanna Schroeder

I recently wrote about the potential of energy crops for biofuels, but there are many more opportunities including the biofuels value of planting winter crops or double crops. Last week during the AG CONNECT Expo, I spoke with Dr. Tom Richard, associate professor with Pennsylvania State University, who discussed the opportunities for biofuels and agriculture through the planting and harvesting …

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, feedstocks

Miscanthus Rhizome Root Harvester & Planter Unveiled

Joanna Schroeder

While researchers continue work on miscanthus’s viability to produce cellulosic ethanol, and growers now have a way to plant and harvest the feedstock more efficiently. After years of collaboration and research, a miscanthus rhizome regeneration harvester and planter system has been developed. The unveiling took place during the Bioenergy Feedstocks Symposium held at the University of Illinois (U of I). …

bioenergy, biofuels, Cellulosic, Equipment, feedstocks

Could Salicornia Be a New Wonder Feedstock?

Joanna Schroeder

On the Eve of the World Future Energy Summit, which began today in Abu Dhabi, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Honeywell UOP, Boeing and Ethiad Airways announced a project that would study how to combine fish farms and biofuel crops to lower CO2, reduce ocean waste and produce renewable jet fuel. The star feedstock? Salicornia. Salicornia, also known …

Biodiesel, biofuels, biomass, Energy, feedstocks

More Sorghum Going to Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Corn may have competition for ethanol use from less expensive sorghum. According to a survey by the United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP), 29 percent of the grain sorghum grown in the United States this year will be used to produce ethanol – a total of nearly 137 million bushels. “In the past year, the price differential has greatly benefited the …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, feedstocks

Cellulosic Ethanol Firms Testify Before House Panel

Cindy Zimmerman

Leading industries in the race to commercialize next generation biofuels told a House agriculture subcommittee hearing on Thursday that more funding and stable government policy are needed to do the job. “The current financial crisis has prevented venture capitalists and bankers from investing in many worthwhile investments,” BP Biofuels North America president Susan Ellerbusch testified. “The industry and investors must …

algae, biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, feedstocks, Government

HERO BX Biodiesel Plans to Lead Green Energy Revolution

Cindy Zimmerman

Global Biodiesel Producer Lake Erie Biofuels today announced a name change to HERO BX and a new technology pathway for the future of biofuels. CEO Leonard Kosar says America needs a hero in the biofuels business. “HERO BX stands for high-quality biodiesel and that is what we produce everyday using multiple feedstocks,” said Kosar. “In the future, we will utilize …

algae, Audio, Biodiesel, biofuels, feedstocks

Studying New Feedstocks for Biofuels

Cindy Zimmerman

The “World’s Largest Urban Farm and Research Test Facility” is studying a wide variety of new feedstocks that hold promise for future sources of both ethanol and biodiesel. Agricenter International recently offered a closer look at the new crops being grown there by the Memphis Bioworks Foundation AgBioworks program and BioDimensions, Inc. Among the crops that were planted this season …

Biodiesel, biomass, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Farming, feedstocks, Research

Barley Ethanol Business Building

Cindy Zimmerman

Osage Bio Energy has a barley business partner and a winning bin builder. The Virginia-based company just announced an agreement with Perdue AgriBusiness to source barley to operate its first barley-to-ethanol bioprocessing facility. Perdue, a leading grain supplier in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, is committed to working with local farmers to supply Osage Bio Energy with its barley needs for …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Farming, feedstocks

EPAC Conference a Success

Fuel, Food and the Future, the 19th annual national Ethanol Producers and Consumers (EPAC) sponsored Biofuel Conference was recently held at the Best Western Grantree Inn, in Bozeman, MT. This educational conference featured many educated speakers who addressed attendees on biofuels and feedstock. “EPAC was formed to educate, and this was another great opportunity for learning and networking,” said Shirley …

biofuels, conferences, Ethanol, feedstocks