French-based genome engineering specialist Cellectis announced it has successfully used engineered nucleases to genetically reprogram diatoms, a major group of algae, to produce biofuels. The company says its VP of Synthetic Biology and Technology, Dr. Fayza Daboussi, presented his research results at a meeting in Paris: The results presented at the “Molecular Life of Diatoms” meeting by Dr. Fayza Daboussi, …
Brazil’s First Biodiesel Export Headed to EU
The first batch of Brazilian biodiesel for export is headed for the European Union. BSBIOS announced that its first load of 22 tons of biodiesel is on a ship headed for The Netherlands. The CEO of BSBIOS, Erasmo Carlos Battistella, emphasizes that this is a great step towards the market opening. “There are many difficulties, with relation to taxes mainly, …
India Solar Project Advances
CNPV Solar Power SA and Cheenu Group of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India have announced the advancement of the first large scale captive consumption Solar utility project in India as part of their 10MWp strategic agreement. Cheenu Group began the project due to ability to expand its business because of lack of available power and rising electricity acquisition costs. The company …
Australian Biodiesel Headed for U.S.
About 1.5 million gallons of Australian biodiesel is headed for the U.S., with another 1.32 million gallons fast on its heels. Biodiesel Magazine reports Australian Renewable Fuels Ltd. sent 5.7 million liters, and the other shipment is scheduled for August: Customers for the order are Valero Energy Corp. and Gavilon Inc., two of the world’s leading energy companies. Gavilon is …
Kyocera Corporation Donates Solar Power
Kyocera Corporation has donated solar power generating systems to four secondary schools in Tanzania and three primary schools in Uganda. Donation ceremonies were held at the schools in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania and Bushenyi (Uganda) during which Kyocera executives shared hopes that the solar systems would improve the schools’ infrastructure and contribute to the students’ educational development. In Tanzania, ceremonies were held …
Renewable Energy Roadmap for Central America
According to a new report, The Way Forward for Renewable Energy in Central America, authored by the Worldwatch Institute, Central America is far from harvesting its enormous renewable energy resources to their fullest potential. The region is a worldwide leader in hydropower and geothermal and is developing wind energy, yet has room to expand. “Central America is at a crossroads,” …
Biodiesel Keeps U.S. Tallow at Home
The world is seeing less of American tallow as biodiesel makers turn more of the animal grease into the green fuel. This article from Bloomberg says U.S. tallow exports are expected to fall nearly 4 percent because the biodiesel market is squeezing the supply and keeping the price up: Tallow shipments from the U.S. may decline to 680,000 metric tons …
Volvo Debuts Noiseless Electric Buses
The launch of an ultramodern bus service in Gothenburg, Sweden will pick up passengers indoors, without noise or emissions via electric buses. The initiative is sponsored by the Volvo Group, Swedish Energy Agency, the City of Gothenburg, Västtrafik, Lindholment Science Park and Johanneberg Science Park. The project has been coined, ElectriCity. “This represents an entirely new mode of travel and …
CRFA: Gov’t Inflating Renewable Diesel Numbers
The Canadian government says imports are flooding its renewable diesel mandate, but a group that works for renewable diesel and biodiesel says those numbers are being overblown in an attempt to hurt that mandate. This article in The Western Producer says the government believes the country’s renewable fuel content will consist of 90 percent imports, buoyed by imported soybean and …
Colombians Find Algae with Biodiesel Potential
Researchers in Colombia have found a couple of strains of freshwater algae that could be good for biodiesel. FIS.com reports that the scientists at the National University of Colombia (UNC) believe Scenedesmus ovalternus and Chlorella vulgaris will produce biodiesel with less impact on the environment. Luis Miguel Serrano Bermudez, Master in Chemical Engineering at the UNC and one of the …