Archives

September 2, 2016

University Of Michigan Researcher Publishes Controversial Study That Finds Gasoline Produces Fewer C

On August 25, 2016, researchers at the University of Michigan, led by research professor John M. DeCicco, Ph.D., published "Carbon balance effects of U.S. biofuel production and use," a study examining the impact of biofuel production on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The study, funded in part by the American Petroleum Institute, examined USDA crop-production data and determined that the increasing use of biofuels has resulted in a net increase of CO2 emissions, with only 37 percent...
September 2, 2016

Brazil Backtracks From Plan To Increase Ethanol Use Through Tax Breaks

On August 24, 2016, Brazil's government announced that it would not be extending a tax break on ethanol sales that is due to expire in December 2016. During the 2015 Paris Climate Accord, Brazil pledged to increase cane-based ethanol and biodiesel to nearly 18 percent of its total energy mix by 2030, requiring an increase in annual ethanol production from 30 billion liters in 2015/2016 to 50 billion liters in 2030. The loss of the ethanol tax break prevents biofuel from being cost...
September 2, 2016

USDA Reports On Increasing Ethanol Production Capacity In The Philippines

On August, 24, 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service released an annual report on the Philippines' biofuel industry and ethanol imports. In January 2007, The Biofuels Act or Republic Act (RA 9367) was signed, creating biofuels legislation in the Philippines that now mandate a ten percent ethanol blend and a two percent biodiesel blend. While the Biofuels Act gives priority to local ethanol, supply issues with local ethanol production have resulted in...
August 26, 2016

Weekly Roundup of Other Biobased News

? Food Navigator, "Gelzen Seeks To Disrupt The Gelatin Market With Potentially Game-Changing Animal-Free Alternative" ? Solegear, "Solegear Awarded U.S. Patent For High Performance Bioplastics" ? Ethanol Producer Magazine, "EU Cannot Ignore Ethanol's High GHG Savings"
August 26, 2016

North Dakota To Study Technical And Economic Feasibility Of CCS

On August 10, 2016, Red Trail Energy, LLC, a North Dakota ethanol producer, announced that it, along with the Energy & Environmental Research Center, had been awarded $490,000 to examine the integration of carbon capture and storage (CCS). The study will consist of installing and operating a commercial CCS system in a facility producing approximately 63 million gallons of ethanol and 180,000 tons of CO2, and tracking the technical and economic parameters required. The total project is...
August 19, 2016

Weekly Roundup of Other Biobased News

? Ship & Bunker, "Competitively Priced, ECA Compliant, Sustainable Biofuel Bunkers Will Be a Reality in The Near Future" ? Plastics Today, "New Catalyst Offers a Route to Cost-Effective Biobased, Biodegradable Plastics" ? LabMate, "York Chemists Lead Breakthrough in Carbon Capture" ? Scicasts, "New Protein Process in E. Coli Could Lead to Production of Better Biofuels" ? Neste, "Neste Renewable Diesel to Power County of Sacramento's Fleet in...
August 12, 2016

Weekly Roundup of Other Biobased News

? Plastics Today, "A Scientific Look At The Value Proposition Of Biobased Plastics" ? MIT News, "Microbial Engineering Technique Could Reduce Contamination In Biofermentation Plants" ? IFAS, "UF/IFAS Study: Sweet Potato Crop Shows Promise As Feed And Fuel" ? UPS, "'Rolling Laboratory' Of More Than 7,200 Alternative Fuel Vehicles Helps Deliver On Sustainability Innovations And Drive Market Adoption" ? Tehran Times, "Italy To Invest $450m In...
August 12, 2016

DOE Releases $7 Million FOA For Co-Optimization Of Fuels And Engines Initiative

On August 1, 2016, DOE released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for $7 million to research fuel and engine co-optimization technologies. Funding will be provided through the Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines (Co-Optima) initiative, a collaboration between DOE's Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO), bringing together national laboratories and industry to conduct tandem fuel and engine research, development, and deployment assessments. This...
August 12, 2016

DOE Announces $11.3 Million In Funding Under MEGA-BIO:Bioproducts To Enable Biofuels

On August 2, 2016, DOE announced up to $11.3 million in funding to support the development of biomass-to-hydrocarbon biofuels conversion pathways. Three projects will receive the funding under MEGA-BIO: Bioproducts to Enable Biofuels to produce high-value bioproducts as well as economically competitive biofuels. The projects selected to receive this funding are: The Dow Chemical Company, working with LanzaTech and Northwestern University, to develop a process to convert biomass-derived synthetic...
August 5, 2016

Weekly Roundup of Other Biobased News

? Apparel, "Accelerating the Impact of Bio-Based Materials to Improve Apparel Industry Sustainability" ? Lancaster Farming, "USDA Advances On-Farm Biofuel Production" ? Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Growing" ? Forbes, "How to Make Biobased Policy Work" ? The Guardian, "Dabbling in Duckweed: Environmental Uses for a Green Menace" ? The Lane Report, "Owensboro Grain Forms Partnership with...