Sustainable Power Corporation (SSTP.PK) has sold a 2.44 percent stake to Borneo Oil (KLSE: BORNOIL) for $2.0 million, and has signed a collaboration agreement to install a pilot bioreactor in Malaysia, using the Rivera process to produce biocrude. Under the agreement, Borneo Oil will install and commence production with up to 20 additional […]
In Washington, researchers Michael Wang, at the Argonne National Laboratory, and Zia Haq, at the Department of Energy, offered a detailed response to the Science magazine article authored by a team led by Timothy Searchinger.
Wang’s analysis shows a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from corn ethanol, compared to the Science magazine results. In the response, […]
In Washington, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said that he favors reduction of the Brazilian ethanol tariff, to reduce pressure on food prices from diversion of the corn crop to ethanol production. The chairman added that he is an open trade advocate and was unsure of the exact impact that ethanol is having on food […]
In Malaysia, palm oil futures crossed the psychologically important M$4000 barrier, reaching $1248 per tonne (M$4,001) for the benchmark May contract. The May contract has increased 32 percent since the beginning of the year on concerns over inadequate supply to meet rising demand from the food sector, and biodiesel producers.
Yesterday, Godrej International projected that crude […]
In New York, General Motors will invest $31 million in upgrading its engine manufacturing plant at Tonawanda. The upgrade will make the Ecotec 2.2-liter engines E85-enabled, and will also improve emissions in time for 2009 models. The Tonawanda plant produces 25 percent of GM’s E85 fleet.
GM continues to push hard on promotion of E85 and […]
In Kansas, the 55 Mgy Gateway Ethanol plant in Pratt shut down due to financial restructuring. The plant commenced operation last fall after commencing construction in January 2006. The owners expect to restart the plant following recapitalization.
The closing is the second setback in as many days for Kansas ethanol. Yesterday, Cargill canceled plans to construct […]
In Washington, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA)., and Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) have called on the Department of Defense to comply with section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act by discontinuing purchase of fuel made from Canadian tar sands or US coal-to-liquid technology. The two sources of fuel are prohibited under the Act because […]
In Portugal, Galp Energia has cancelled development of its Matosinhos refinery, due to the escalating cost of feedstocks. Galp announced a year ago that it would invest up to $350 million to adapt its refineries to produce second generation biofuels, with more than $70 million earmarked for Matosinhos. The company did not make announcements with […]
In Massachusetts, Mascoma has raised an additional $30 million in equity and $20 million in debt from Khosla Ventures, Atlas Venture, Flagship Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Pinnacle Ventures, and VantagePoint Venture Partners. A Dartmouth College spin-off, Mascoma has commenced construction of its demonstration-scale plants, and is raising money to complete construction and fund future commercial-scale plants.
The […]
In Kenya, Japan’s Biwako Bio-Laboratory will invest $19.4 million in a jatropha biodiesel facility and jatropha plantations at an undisclosed location. Production capacity was not disclosed. The Green Africa Foundation is coordinating the plantation effort in Biwako’s behalf. More than 500,000 seedlings have been planted in the Eastern Rift Valley, Coast and Nyanza provinces […]
