Arkalon Ethanol, LLC based in Liberal, Kansas has signed an agreement with Syngenta to use corn that features Enogen trait technology. The ethanol plant will begin to use the trait, replacing its liquid alpha amylase, following the 2014 corn harvest. “We are excited to announce this agreement with Arkalon Ethanol and we’re confident that Enogen technology is a solution that …
New Funding to Develop Advanced Biofuels Projects
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the availability of $181 million to develop commercial-scale biorefineries or retrofit existing facilities with appropriate technology to develop advanced biofuels. The Biorefinery Assistance Program was created through the 2008 Farm Bill and is administered by USDA Rural Development. It provides loan guarantees to viable commercial-scale facilities to develop new and emerging technologies for advanced biofuels. …
Ethanol Production & Crush Margins Improve
According to forecasts published in Biofuelscan, a daily report from Platts that covers the global biofuels industry, U.S. ethanol production data, to be reported on October 23, 2013 by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), ethanol production for the week ending October 18, 2013 was 861,000 barrels/day (b.d). This number would show an increase of 0.58 percent from last week’s …
Biogas Project Added at Middlesex Water Company
A new biogas system designed to optimize the production of electricity from methane has been completed in the Village of Ridgewood, New Jersey. Partners in the project included Natural Systems Utilities (NSU), Middlesex Water Company (MWC) and American Refining and Biochemical (ARB). The biogas project will power the water pollution control plant and reduce its electric demand on the grid, …
Denmark Awarded for Climate Achievements
Denmark has received the “Gift to the Earth” from WWF, for their climate achievements and its commitment to achieve 100 percent renewable energy across the economy by 2050. Jim Leape, WWF International Director General, will present the report to the Prime Minister of Denmark, Ms. Helle Thorning-Schmidt on October 21, 2013. “Denmark shows that it is possible to develop a …
Team Austria Wins 2013 Solar Decathlon
Team Austria has won the 2013 Solar Decathlon by building the most energy-efficient solar-powered house at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California. Team Austria was made up of students from the Vienna University of Technology, who won top honors in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) event by designing, building and operating the most cost-effective, energy efficient and …
Government Shuts Down, Ethanol Rumors Abound
The government is shut down and rumors abound about ethanol and the 2014 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) to be set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). 2014 RVOS are anticipated to be announced within the next few weeks. With speculation and misinformation circulating at breakneck speeds, I went to Bob Dinneen, President …
Strong Optimism for Geothermal Globally
The GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo hosted nearly 2,000 delegates in Las Vegas, Nevada for an event that featured the latest technologies in geothermal, and frank discussions on opportunities and challenges internationally as well as within the United States. Optimism was felt throughout the conference and was underscored by the release of Geothermal Energy Association’s (GEA) release …
World’s Largest Advanced Biofuels Plant Opens
Today marked the official opening of what is believed to be the world’s largest operational, commercial scale advanced biofuels facility. Situated in the fields outside the city of Crescentino, Italy, Beta Renewables, part of the Mossi Ghisolfi Group, along with Novozymes celebrated the first plant to be designed and built to produce bioethanol from agricultural residues and energy crops as …
Quest for Carbon Neutral Beer
Göss Brewery is one step closer to producing carbon neutral beer with the start-up of its new solar plant. The solar farm occupies nearly 1,500 m² and will generate a portion of the heat required for the brewing process. The brewery, owned by Brau Union Österreich and a member of the HEINEKEN Group, has embarked on a “Green Brewery” project …