A colleague of mine, Will Thurmond, who is the CEO of markets research firm Emerging Markets Online, sent me this great article about why companies are spending billions of dollars investing in advanced biofuels in Brazil while companies are hesitant to invest in any biofuels projects here in the states. I thought that it was so insightful that I wanted …
USB: Unfair Argentinian Subsidies on Biodiesel Feed
The American soybean industry is crying foul over Argentina’s practice of taxing its whole soybeans for export at a higher rate than it taxes its soybean meal, oil and biodiesel destined for foreign markets. And this article from Feedstuffs.com says the United Soybean Board (USB) believes that is costing the U.S. soybean industry up to $500 million each year: The …
Possible Future World Cup Site to Use Solar Power
In light of the dramatic American soccer victory at the World Cup in South Africa (and moving on to the next round), I thought you’d be interested in knowing that the power of the sun could help run some of the venues at one country’s bid to host the event in the future. While seems a long way off, inhabitat.com …
Brazil Refutes Claims of Ethanol Sales to Iran
The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) is refuting a claim made by Growth Energy co-chairman Gen. Wesley Clark that they have agreed to sell ethanol to Iran. Clark made that statement in an address at the 2010 Fuel Ethanol Workshop this week and in an interview with Domestic Fuel. In that interview Clark said, “Brazilian ethanol comes with a lot …
Oil Spill Reality Check
Earlier today, the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) issued its top 10 list of offshore oils sites that they consider “at risk.” The list is an attempt to highlight the world’s choice between moving forward with the addition of more offshore oil rigs or building more sustainable biofuels plants. “The choice is clear,” said Global Renewable Fuels Alliance spokesperson, Bliss …
Plant to Produce Synthetic Oil from Biomass
A new plant is in the works that will produce synthetic oil from biomass that can in turn be made into transportation fuel. The process is called “fast pyrolysis” and two companies, Ensyn Technologies Inc. and Tolko Industries, have announced that they will build the world’s largest fast commercial pyrolysis plant in High Level, Alberta. When completed, the new plant …
Underwriters Laboratories Introduces Solar Certification
Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a US-based provider of safety testing and certification services, has just launched its latest UL-Europe (UL-EU) mark for the European photovoltaics market. The mark is based on the applicable EN safety standards for photovoltaic products. In the U.S. and among the biofuels industry, UL is most well known as the organization that has yet to approve an …
Brazil Invests in Next Generation Ethanol
The Brazilian Innovation Agency, FINEP (Research and Projects Financing), and Brazil’s National Development Bank have entered into a new partnership to promote bioethanol development, providing up to $540 million in financing to the country’s biofuels sector to promote innovation in the field of bioethanol. The funding will be invested in technology projects over the next three to four years, which …
Brazil Revs Up Sugarcane Ethanol Campaign at Indy 500
Indy car drivers from several countries extolled the virtues of sugarcane ethanol from Brazil in ads that aired during the telecast of the 2010 Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. The parade of Indy spokesdrivers in two 30-second Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) television ads that debuted on Sunday include Ryan Hunter-Reay, who briefly served as spokesman for the U.S. ethanol industry …
China on Fast Track for Celluosic Biofuel Production
Today COFCO, a leading producer and supplier of processed agricultural products, Sinopec, the world’s third largest oil refinery and Novozymes, the leader in biofuel enzyme development and production, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to take the next steps towards commercial production of cellulosic biofuels in China. As an element of the partnership, COFCO and Sinopec will build a cellulosic …