All Knowledge & Insights By Date

By Lynn L. Bergeson On March 29, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in a Federal Register notice it is seeking public comment on the use of isobutanol in gasoline.  EPA specifically seeks comment on issues to consider regarding an application submitted by Butamax Advanced Biofuels, LLC (Butamax), a manufacturer of isobutanol, pursuant to the regulations titled “Registration of Fuels and Fuel Additives” for the registration of isobutanol as a...

AkzoNobel, “AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals’ 2018 Imagine Chemistry Challenge Generates 150 Innovative Business Ideas” Enerkem, “Enerkem Makes A Major Breakthrough By Producing A New High-Octane Biofuel” Fast Company, “This USDA Lab Is Turning Billions Of Pounds Of Almond Waste Into Beer, Plastic, And Power” Electrolux, “Electrolux Builds The World’s First Bioplastic Concept Fridge”...

By Lynn L. Bergeson On March 19, 2018, Neste, a member of the Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®), announced the delivery of its first batch of 100 percent renewable propane to SHV Energy.  Neste is operating the world’s first large-scale renewable production facility in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.  The new facility, that primarily produces Neste MY Renewable Diesel, purifies and separates renewable propane from the sidestream gases.  The refinery...

Renewable Fuels Association, “Ethanol Industry Workers, Veterans Ask Trump To Support RFS” Reuters, “U.S. Biofuels Sector Blasts EPA Settlement With Bankrupt Philadelphia Refinery” Chemical & Engineering News, “Why Efforts To Use Green Fuels Sometimes Run Afoul” Great Lakes Bioenery, “It Pays To Study The Solvent: Better Biomass Conversion For Biofuels And Bioproducts” North Queensland Register, “Cloncurry Treated Sewage Water...

By Lynn L. Bergeson On March 12, 2018, Valtra, a leading tractor manufacturer in the Nordic countries, announced that Neste MY Renewable Diesel would be used as the start-up fuel for all new tractors.  All new Valtra tractors will be delivered to customers with fuel that is produced from 100 percent renewable waste and residues and produces up to 90 percent less greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil diesel fuel.  Furthermore, Neste MY will be used...

Biotechnology Innovation Organization, “The U.S. Biobased Economy:  Economic Impact” DuPont Tate & Lyle BioProducts, “DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products Expanding Bio-based Propanediol Production in Tennessee” Hasbro, “Hasbro to Roll Out Plant-Based Packaging” University of Wisconsin, “Protein Studies Inform Biofuels Research” GCB Bioenergy, “Field-Grown Transgenic Switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum L.) with Altered Lignin Does Not...

By Lynn L. Bergeson On March 8, 2018, Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced companion legislation (S. 2519, H.R. 5212) in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, respectively, to reform the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).  The Growing Renewable Energy through Existing and New Environmentally Responsible (GREENER) Fuels Act aims to: Phase out the corn ethanol mandate and immediately reduce the amount of ethanol in fuel by as much as one...

Reuters, “White House Pushes For More Talks After 'No Deal' On Biofuels” International Air Transport Association, “Aim For 1 Billion Passengers To Fly On Sustainable Fuel Flights By 2025” Colorado State University, “How Biofuels From Plant Fibers Could Combat Global Warming” Lego, “First Sustainable Lego® Bricks Will Be Launched In 2018” Coursera, “Introduction to Algae”...

By Lynn L. Bergeson On March 1, 2018, the European Commission announced the approval of a €4.7 billion Italian support scheme for the production and distribution of advanced biofuels, including advanced biomethane, for use in the transport sector.  Under the scheme, producers of advanced biomethane and biofuels will receive a premium to compensate for higher production costs compared to fossil fuels.  The scheme will run from 2018 until 2022 and will be financed by transport...

By Lynn L. Bergeson On February 25, 2018, the University of Illinois announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded a $10.6 million grant for the Renewable Oil Generated with Ultra-productive Energycane (ROGUE) project.  The project is a collaborative effort between researchers from the University of Illinois, Brookhaven National Lab, University of Florida, and Mississippi State University.  ROGUE aims to transform sugarcane and Miscanthus into sustainable sources of...