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 …
Global Renewable Fuels Calls Food Lobby Letter Misleading
Officials with the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) say a letter criticizing biofuels sent to British Prime Minister David Cameron by a group led by two of the world’s largest multinational food companies is “biased and misleading.” “Nestlé Chairman, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe who co-authored this misguided attack on biofuels has no credibility on this issue,” said Bliss Baker, spokesperson for the …
Biomass Diesel Imports: Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Recently, we told you about how the amount of biomass-based diesel imports had jumped dramatically. Part of the reason for the jump in imports was seen as Argentina and Indonesia being shut out of selling their biodiesel to the European Union, due to a trade dispute. While some people might be concerned that importing biodiesel would hurt the domestic market …
DuPont, Chinese Company Ink Solar Energy Deal
DuPont and Chinese green power company Yingli Energy Company Limited have signed a one-year, $100 million solar energy deal. The strategic agreement includes the supply of advanced solar materials, the installation of a solar power plant and co-marketing initiatives and expands a previous $100 million supply agreement between the companies announced in February of last year. “Materials are critical to …
World Prepares for the Power of Global Wind Day
People around the world will participate in hundreds of activities to discover the power of wind energy during Global Wind Day on June 15. This news release from the European Wind Energy Association says there will be a wide variety of things going on … from concerts to boat trips … as well as a big push through social media …
Jordan to Get First Wind Research Plant & Lab
An agreement has been signed that will establish the first research plant and lab for wind energy in Jordan. The National Center for Research and Development of the Higher Council for Science and Technology has signed an agreement with Elsewedy for Wind Energy Generation (SWEG) to establish a pilot plant and research lab for wind energy in Al Fujaij, Al …
Biomass-based Diesel Imports Jump in March
We’re seeing a big spike in the amount of biomass-based diesel imported into the U.S. Biodiesel Magazine reports the latest numbers from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show gross imports at 17.3 million gallons in March… a more than eight-fold increase above February’s 2.2 million gallons, and it marks the first biomass-based diesel from Argentina in about four years and …