A joint American-Malaysian effort has completed an important oil palm genome sequencing project that could unlock even more potential from this oil-rich feedstock for biodiesel. Biodiesel Magazine reports that the Malaysian Palm Oil Board and St. Louis-based Orion Genomics have led a consortium that has sequenced three oil palm genomes from two oil palm species: Oil palm plantations on average …
World Biofuels Group Urges Action at Climate Change Conference
A global biofuels organization is urging world leaders to recognize the environmental benefits of renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel. The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) is calling on delegates to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen December 7-18 “to seize the historic opportunity to recognize the environmental importance of biofuels and begin to develop …
Highlights from World Ethanol 2009
World ethanol supplies may hit a surplus next year, Brazil’s ethanol production and exports will be off due to wet weather, and biobutanol may be in the pipeline by 2013. That’s just a few of the highlights from F.O. Licht’s World Ethanol 2009 12th annual conference held this week in Paris, France. F.O. Licht managing director Christoph Berg told attendees …
World Ethanol Leaders Gather in Paris
F.O. Licht’s World Ethanol 2009 12th annual conference kicks off today in Paris, France where leaders in ethanol development around the world have gathered. The conference features perspectives on global ethanol development from industry leaders in countries such as the United States, Brazil, India, France, Germany, Demark, Belgium and Nigeria. Among the US representatives is Bob Dinneen, President and CEO …
Brazil Moves Up Biodiesel Mandate Schedule
Already a world beater in ethanol use, Brazil is getting aggressive in the amount of biodiesel it will burn. Right now, diesel users in the South American country are required to run on a 4 percent biodiesel blend. Last week, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva upped the ante to 5 percent by 2010… three years ahead of schedule. …
Algae Biodiesel By-Product to be Sold to Indonesia
A Florida-based algae-biodiesel company has found an international market for a by-product of its clean energy business. This press release from PetroAlgae Inc. says it has has received official notice that the protein from PetroAlgae’s proprietary micro-crop production technology has successfully passed testing by the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture and is suitable for use in animal feed: Furthermore, the protein …
Biodiesel Makers Win Canadian Cleantech Award
A pair of pioneers in biodiesel production in Canada have been recognized for their green efforts. Timothy Haig and Kevin Norton of BIOX Corp picked up the 2009 Ontario Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year – Cleantech Award. They were congratulated by the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association: “BIOX is globally recognized as a biodiesel pioneer, and today’s cleantech entrepreneur …
IEA: Global Biofuel Production to Rise Big by 2012
Biodiesel production worldwide has risen by 10 times over the last eight years and could double again in just two more years, while global ethanol production has more than tripled over the same time period and could jump by another 50 percent by the year 2012. Farmers Weekly Interactive reports a new report from the International Energy Agency says biodiesel …
Grains Council Demos Ethanol Co-Product Use in Egypt
The U.S. Grains Council is setting up demonstration trials in targeted countries to educate livestock producers about the nutritional and economic benefits of using ethanol co-products like corn gluten feed (CGF) and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) “Conducting the trials locally gives local farmers a chance to see DDGS and CGF use firsthand in a trial that utilizes their …
Brazil Could Import US Ethanol
With persistent rain affecting ethanol and sugar production in Brazil this season, prospects are that U.S. ethanol may be exported to that country to meet the demand. According to the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association UNICA, ethanol production this year is down more than three percent so far while demand continues to grow. “While production has been negatively affected by weather …