Chile is ramping up its renewable energy sector with two recent project announcements. SunEdison and the Chilean mining and steel group CAP have signed an agreement to construct what the two companies believe will be the largest solar photovoltaic power plant in Latin America and one of the largest on the world. The plant is designed to have an installed capacity …
Changing Tunes on Brazilian Ethanol vs. US Biodiesel
A pair of University of Illinois researchers say the reinstatement of the $1 a gallon biodiesel blenders credit has changed the equation back in favor of American biodiesel versus Brazilian ethanol. Back in December and even earlier this month, Darrel Good and Scott Irwin found that Brazilian sugarcane ethanol, which qualifies as an advanced biofuel under the Renewable Fuels Standard, …
Bunge, Sofiproteol to Review Joint Biodiesel Venture
Two agribusiness giants from each side of the Atlantic are considering their joint biodiesel venture. U.S.-based Bunge and Europe’s Sofiproteol are reviewing their operation in Europe, according to this Reuters story, as the two look to cut overproduction while demand is weak for the green fuel. Sofiproteol, owner of the European Union’s biggest biodiesel maker, Diester Industrie, and Bunge have …
EC Proposes Duties on Imported Ethanol
Following an investigation that concluded U.S. exporters sell ethanol to Europe at illegally low prices after receiving subsidies, The European Commission (EC) has proposed a rare duty on all U.S. producers of ethanol. In response, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office expressed its disappointment in the EC proposal, seeking anti-dumping duties of 9.5 percent on American ethanol. The EC distributed a …
GRFA: Biofuels Support Rural Communities
As the world’s Agriculture Minister’s gather in Berlin at the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA), the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) is calling on ministers to include biofuels for agricultural investment and to improve food security in the world’s most impoverished areas. “It has been shown that developing a biofuels industry can attract significant agricultural investment to the …
Commit to Increasing Biofuels
As the World Future Energy Summit takes place in Abu Dhabi, the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance called on policy development, business and technology sector leaders to commit to increasing biofuels’ share of the future global energy mix. The goal of the Summit is to advance future energy, energy efficiency and clean technologies. “The GRFA has demonstrated that increasing biofuels production …
Algae.Tec Awarded $12.15M from Australian Gov.
Algae.Tec has been awarded AU$12.15 million cash refund on Australian and overseas development costs for the financial years June 30, 2012 through June 30, 2015. The terms of the payment allow for an additional investment of AU$27 million on Algae.Tec technology developments, of which the Australian Government will reimburse 45 percent or $12.15 million. The approval is to support the …
Mexico’s Future Shines Bright
There is gold in Mexico. Not the kind you wear around your neck and fingers in the form of jewelry, but the kind that produces renewable energy. The field of energy dreams lies in the Sonora Desert in Northern Mexico, and some experts believe that only 25 square kilometers could provide enough solar energy to supply Mexico’s 114 million residents with …
Wind Power Makes Gains in China
According to Liu Qi, deputy director general of the National Energy Administration, wind power is the third-largest source of electricity in China. He proclaimed that there is no electric power to substitute the position of wind power as No. 3, during the 18th CPC National Congress. He added that China “is determined to promote the revolution of energy generation and …
Two Solar Projects Kick Off in South Africa
Two ground-mounted solar power projects totaling 33 megawatts are underway in South Africa, a joint venture between AE-AMD Renewable Energy and Tenesol, a subsidiary of SunPower. Tenesol will construct both projects, located near Douglas, South Africa in the Northern Cape Province. The ground-mounted solar systems will feature 138,000 Tenesol TE 240 photovoltaic solar panels on single-axis trackers. The solar panels are …