Pure Biodiesel OKed for Deutz Agripower Engines

John Davis

Some agricultural diesel engines made by German manufacturer Deutz are greenlighted for running on pure biodiesel. In this article from Biodiesel Magazine, testing funded by the German oilseed organization Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP) shows Deutz Agripower engines of the series TCD 7.8 L6, TCD 6.1 L6 and TCD 4.1 L4 can use B100. In the course …

Agribusiness, Biodiesel, International

Wine Chemicals Uncork Biodiesel Potential

John Davis

Chemicals found in wine could help uncork the potential in biodiesel. Researchers at the UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country in Spain are looking into how acetals, chemical compounds found in many wines, can improve biodiesel’s properties. From the point of view of chemistry, acetals are obtained through the reaction of an alcohol and an aldehyde. They are generated naturally in …

Biodiesel, International

Importance of Argentine Soy Complex

Cindy Zimmerman

Foro PAIS – Productores Agro Industriales de Soja – was born in 2011 with the purpose of promoting the Argentine soy agro-industry and we learned more about it during the IFAJ 2013 Congress. Foro PAIS Communications and Institutional Relations Director Dr. Adrián Figueroa says soybean production is a huge industry for Argentina. “Soybean production in Argentina in the last ten …

Audio, Biodiesel, International, Processing, Production, Soybeans

European Wind Industry Unites for Growth

Joanna Schroeder

CEOs of 13 national wind energy associations from across Europe recently met in Spain to put out a united call for a binding 2030 renewable energy target. Binding EU targets for renewables have driven the wind energy sector to become a mainstream energy technology. “By giving investors certainty, a compulsory 2030 renewables target will allow the wind energy sector to …

Alternative energy, Electricity, International, Wind

India’s First Green Building Features Solar

Joanna Schroeder

Swadeshi Civil Infrastructure has completed the installation of a 930-kilowatt (kW) SunPower solar system on the rooftop of the Indira Paryavaran Bhavan building in New Delhi, India. The solar panels were selected in part due to the relatively little amount of rooftop space for the solar panels. The building is India’s first net zero building. Its design emphasizes conservation featuring …

Alternative energy, Energy, energy efficiency, International, Solar

Castor-Seed-to-Biodiesel Trials Successful

John Davis

An Israel-based company has completed three years of field trials turning the oil from castor seeds into a biodiesel feedstock and other uses. Evogene Ltd. announced its wholly owned subsidiary, Evofuel Ltd., finished the testing in Brazil: The field trials, which were conducted in cooperation with SLC Agrícola S.A., one of Brazil’s largest landowners and leading agriculture businesses, demonstrated strong …

Biodiesel, International

Tanzania to Transform Energy Sector

Joanna Schroeder

The Republic of Tanzania is set to transform its energy sector. The country received an endorsement from Climate Investment Funds (CIF) of an investment plan which will help the country to scale-up the development of its renewable energy resources. The plan is designed to transform the country’s energy sector, shifting from its increasing dependence on fossil fuels and climate-sensitive hydro …

Geothermal, International, Renewable Energy, Solar

Emotions Mixed on EU Biofuels Vote

Joanna Schroeder

There are very mixed emotions with the European Union’s (EU) vote on the biofuels and indirect land use change (ILUC) that took place earlier this week. The EU voted for 6 percent cap. In October of 2012, MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) were voting to cap the amount of land-based and food-based biofuels used in transport fuel. In October, …

biofuels, Indirect Land Use, International, Legislation

Incbio to Equip North African Biodiesel Plant

John Davis

Portugal’s biggest supplier of biodiesel equipment will soon be outfitting a new biodiesel refinery in North Africa. Incbio signed a deal with Biokast Energy S.A, to supply a soon-to-be-built 8,000MT per year biodiesel plant in Tunis, Tunisia. [The new facility will use] Incbio’s ultrasonic reactors to produce EN14214 Biodiesel from Used Cooking Oil (UCO), collected from restaurants in Tunis. This …

Biodiesel, International

Europe Votes to Limit Crop-based Biofuels

John Davis

Biofuel makers in Europe could be facing a real uphill battle, as the European Parliament votes to limit the amount of green fuels made from crops in transportation. Bloomberg reports the 6 percent limit on the use of crop-based biofuels comes from concerns about indirect land use change. The vote … in Strasbourg, France, sets the stage for talks among …

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Indirect Land Use, International