Last May, I told you how Lufthansa was going to start flying some of its commercial flights on a biofuel mix sometime in 2011. Now, Biofuels Digest reports the German airliner will start a six-month trial of a 50-50 mix of biofuel and traditional kerosene in one of the aircraft’s engines on its regular Hamburg-Frankfurt-Hamburg route: During the six months …
Brazil Ethanol Industry On Display At COP-16
In an effort to showcase decades of renewable energy use, the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) will be participating in events during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-16) and the World Climate Summit (WCS) which are taking place in tandem in Cancun, Mexico from November 29-December 10. According to UNICA, nearly 50 percent of all of Brazil’s energy comes …
Global Leaders Want Action During World Climate Summit
International business leaders are calling for immediate action during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-16) and the World Climate Summit (WCS) that are both set to begin on November 29, 2010 in Cancun Mexico. A group of global investors with collective assets worth more than $15 billion are asking global leaders to “take action now in the fight against …
OPEC Slams International Biomass Programs
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) slammed global biomass programs in its most recent oil report while at the same time raising oil demand forecasts for 2011. The organization was highly critical of global incentives designed to aid companies who are focused on developing biofuels from biomass and reducing the use of fossil-fuel based energy. In the report, …
Jatropha Grower Ups Land After EU Raises Biodiesel Targets
An American-based company that has land in the Philippines for jatropha plantations has announced it will try to acquire more land after the European Union has upped its targets for biodiesel sales. Corpus Christi, Texas’ GreenGold Ray Energies has announced it will try to add another another 200,000 acres for jatropha cultivation by 2012 because current biodiesel production is not …
Global Oil Subsides Reach $312 Billion
Today, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released its 2010 Edition of the World Energy Outlook in which it reported that global fossil-fuel subsidies have amounted to more than US $312 billion in 2009. The number includes subsidies to fossil fuels used in final consumption and to fossil fuel inputs to power generation. However, the report did not include direct producer …
New Controversial Biofuels Report Released
According to a new study released this week, the European Union (EU) plans to increase its use of biofuels over the next 10 years and it will require 69,000 square kilometers of new land causing climate change to become worse. “Driving to Destruction” was commissioned by a coalition of environmental and development NGOs and the study reports that by 2020, …
Petrobras Signs $1.23 Billon Ethanol Supply Deal
Brazil’s largest state-owned energy company made another play today to become a world leader in biofuels. Petrobras announced a $1.23 billion deal with Tereos International’s Brazilian Branch, Acucar Guarani, to supply up to 2.2 billion litres of sugarcane ethanol to Petrobras’ fuel distribution subsidiary, BR, over the next four years. Petrobras said in a statement today, “The contract ensures commitment …
Bioethanol Pilot Plant Opens in Norway
Norwegian biofuels company Weyland has opened a pilot plant for second generation bioethanol in Bergen, Norway. According to a company release, the plant was formally opened today by State Secretary Per Rune Henriksen of the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy during an opening ceremony. The pilot plant has the capacity to produce 200,000 litres (about 53,000 gallons) of bioethanol …
US Investigates Chinese Wind, Solar Support
American officials say they are looking into allegations that China is providing unfair support to the country’s wind and solar products makers, as well as the advanced batttery and energy-efficient vehicle industries. This Wall Street Journal article says U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk promises a vigorous pursuit of these allegations through the World Trade Organization: The United Steelworkers union on …