The Argentinians are not sitting by and letting the European Union block their exports of biodiesel. Bloomberg reports the country filed a challenge against the EU with the World Trade Organization: The EU is studying whether to levy import tariffs on countries including Argentina and Indonesia that may be exporting biodiesel with state aid like it did for U.S.-based ethanol …
New Mandate to Boost Biodiesel in Canada
The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA) welcomed the proposal of a new renewable diesel mandate in Ontario. The measure would be based on fuel percentage and carbon intensity and replaces the current biodiesel tax exemption for all diesel sold in the province. It’s also expected to boost biodiesel production in Ontario. “These consultations are a step in the right direction …
Argus India Ethanol Assessment Launched
Global energy and commodity price reporting agency Argus has added a new tool to its arsenal: Argus India ethanol assessment. The company says the new product is designed to meet the growing demand for price reference and transparency in the market and was created in response to India’s mandate for increased ethanol blending in gasoline. The daily assessment is specifically …
Senators Urge Probe in EU Ethanol Duty Decision
A bipartisan group of senators are asking for an investigation into a recent anti-dumping decision made by European Union regarding ethanol imports from the United States. Fourteen Democratic and Republican Senators have joined together to sign a letter sent to the Acting United States Trade Representative (USTR), Demetrios Manatos and Acting Secretary of Commerce, Rebecca Blank, calling on them to …
Europe Urged to Re-reconsider Biofuels Policy
It wasn’t that long ago that Europe was a champion of biofuels, in particular, biodiesel, as just a few years ago the continent adopted a policy of having 10 percent of transportation fuels come from renewable sources, including biofuels. This boosted biodiesel demand, coupled with favorable tax laws and the popularity of diesel vehicles. This piece in Public Service Europe …
FREIF Adds Two Mexican Wind Farms to Portfolio
The First Reserve Energy Infrastructure Fund (FREIF I) of First Reserve and Renovalia Energy have announced the expansion of their Renovalia Reserve joint venture with the addition of two wind power plants in Southern Mexico. The investments diversify the Renovalia Reserve portfolio beyond Europe into North America and nearly double the power capacity of the wind farm assets worldwide. Financial …
Producing Biodiesel from E. Coli
Researchers in the United Kingdom have figured out how to produce biodiesel from E. coli bacteria. This news release from the University of Exeter says the work with Shell Oil makes a product almost exactly the same as petroleum diesel, removing any blend limits other biodiesel forms might require: Professor John Love from Biosciences at the University of Exeter said: …
Indonesia, EU to Meet Over Biodiesel Subsidies
Indonesian and European Union (EU) officials will meet to discuss allegations by the EU that Indonesia is illegally subsidizing biodiesel exports to Europe. The Jakarta Post reports says the Indonesians are confident they’ll be cleared of any wrongdoing: An investigation initiated by the European Commission in November said that Indonesia had illegally subsidized its biodiesel producers. The EU has accused …
U.S.-Israel Bio-Energy Challenge Heads to DC
More than a dozen of Israel’s top academic and industrial biofuels research scientists and innovators will be arriving in Washington this week to begin a week-long dialogue with their American counterparts at the U.S. Departments of Energy (DOE) and Agriculture (USDA), as well as with the Navy, FAA and the private sector. The group be meeting with White House officials …
EU Looks to Tax Argentine, Indonesian Biodiesel
The European Union is targeting foreign biodiesel … again. Reuters reports this time the EU is looking to hit imports of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia with a duty to keep the green fuel out: Those countries represent 90 percent of EU biodiesel imports and face retroactive duties from Thursday if an investigation finds the countries have benefited from illegal …