All Entries in the "Research" Category
Bioenergy Science Center presents stategy to overcome biomass recalcitrance
In California, Dr. Martin Keller, Director of the BioEnergy Science Center, presented on “An Integrated Strategy to Understand and Overcome Biomass Recalcitrance” at the Biofuels: Science and Innovation conference. “Solving this will cut processing costs significantly,” said Dr. Keller, “and be used in most
conversion processes”
He offered a 5-year timeline for “Modified plants to field trials”. [...]
U Wisconsin, Deutsche Bank release report on impact of rising demand for biofuels, water
In Wisconsin, Deutsche Bank and the University of Wisconsin released a report on a gap is emerging between agricultural production and demand. The disconnect is expected to be amplified by climate change, according to the authors, increasing demand for biofuels, and a growing scarcity of water. By 2050, world population is expected to exceed 9 [...]
Two Missouri five-year projects to study algae energy
In Missouri, researchers at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and Washington University in St. Louis will launch five-year research programs on algae. The DOE fund for Energy Frontier Research Centers granted the Danforth Center $15 million and Washington University $20 million. Danforth director Richard Sayre will a team studying ways to increase oil production.
Prof. [...]
North Carolina algae research program in jeopardy after funding cut
According to Star News, “The N.C. Community College BioNetwork will stop funding BCCs biotech program and others statewide in the upcoming fiscal year, said Michelle Sabaoun, the colleges lead biotech instructor.” The BioNetwork has provided $600,000 in funding over a four year period, with half going to support an algae-to-enbergy research project. The algae research [...]
Rand Corporation releases brief on “Integrating U.S. Climate, Energy, and Transportation Policies”
The Rand Corporation released a brief titled “Integrating U.S. Climate, Energy, and Transportation Policies,” after convening three workshops of climate change, energy and transportation that addressed technological innovation, public policy, potential legislation, international cooperation and public engagement.
The workshops concluded that “there are significant obstacles to achieving major emissions reductions through behavioral change, especially in the [...]
USDA ready to make incentive payments for biomass aggregation
According to a report in Fresh Plaza, the USDA has announced that phase one of its Biomass Crop Assistance Program, in this phase relating to collection and delivery of wood waste, is now ready to make federal incentive payments.
Producers or entities are eligible for up to a dollar per dollar match, up to $45 per [...]
DARPA seeks proposals for “godware” chemical system that self-organizes into fuel cells, biofuels
In Washington, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Administration is seeking research proposals “Physical Intelligence” for “godware”, biochemical systems that can “self-organize” into organic fuel cells, hydrocarbons from atmosphere, sunlight and water; or therapeutic drugs.
The Register said “It won’t have escaped alert Reg readers that the Physical Intelligence DARPA wonder-ware will be quite capable of becoming [...]
DOE, NREL launch Google map tool for E85 stations, cars
In Washington, the DOE and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory have released a new “transatlas” map tool that, using Google maps, displays the density of alternative fuel vehicles (flex fuel, diesel and hybrid) as well as current and future locations of refueling stations for natural gas, propane, hydrogen, E85 blends, biodiesel or electric-powered vehicles.
EPA report on biofuels prompts Seattle to abandon soy biodiesel: government to continue campaign to reduce green jobs?
in Washington state, a EPA report that “ethanol production could be harmful to the environment” has caused local Seattle officials to halt the purchase of soy-based biodiesel, according to a report in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and picked up by United Press International.
The city’s Fleets and Facilities Department said that it would be “looking for a [...]
Energy security, emission mandates on collision course, economist warns
In Iowa, Iowa State University economist Robert Wisner warns that the EISA Act and the EPA’s interpretation of emissions mandates are on “collision course,” and that “If changes are not made, their different paths could slow or halt the growth of some parts of the biofuels industry.”
Wisner has assembled one of the most intelligently-presented analyses [...]
