“What we highlight here is that a significant trend, particularly the warming trend in terms of temperatures, can also be partially explained by land-use change,” said Niyogi, a Purdue earth and atmospheric sciences professor and the Indiana state climatologist, who is the corresponding author of the article.The study found that, the more vegetation covering an area of land, the cooler its contribution to surface temperature; Conversion to agriculture results in cooling, while conversion from agriculture generally results in warming. Deforestation generally results in warming, with the exception of a shift from forest to agriculture.

Paper in Climatology Journal finds “Deforestation generally results in [climate] warming, with the exception of a shift from forest to agriculture.” is a post from: Biofuels Digest

The group said that they have achieved production rates of  50 tonnes of algal biomass per hectare per year, or 13 grams per square meter per day, and said that they were achieving a 50 percent of higher oil content, and expected to do better at a new pilot scale facility. The project is supported by $1.89 million Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.

Aussie researchers achieve sustained 50 tonnes/ha/year algae yields in open, saline ponds: new pilot will do even better, team says is a post from: Biofuels Digest

The team says they are shifting the infrastructure investment,  which they say represent 47 percent of the cost of algal fuel production systems, from “pavements to investing in lighting systems,” according to a NYT report. The group said they are investigating geothermal sources of energy to provide power to the system for the LED lighting system.

Missouri researchers persist with vision of growing algae in abandoned mines, despite skeptics is a post from: Biofuels Digest

UK study shows chickens convert feed into meat more efficently with added glycerol, a biodiesel byproduct is a post from: Biofuels Digest

Monte Shaw of the  Iowa Renewable Fuels Association said “While the rest of the country has steadily increased ethanol use since 2006, Iowa has at best held even and now seems to be falling back.”  In 2006, the Iowa Legislature adopted the 25% Iowa Renewable Fuels Standard.  The program provided three years of infrastructure grants and E85 and biodiesel tax credits to help retailers prepare for the 2009 standard. A retailer calculates its renewable content by comparing all ethanol and biodiesel gallons to total gasoline sales.  For example, 71% E10 sales, with no E85 or biodiesel sales, would equate into a 7.1% renewable content.

Shaw notes, “Those retailers offering consumers biodiesel, mid-level ethanol blends, or E85 should easily achieve the 10% threshold set by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Standard.  But with only three months of overall sales data to go, it is clear that the state as a whole will not only miss the first year target, but could likely take a step back.”

Iowa’s ethanol love affair with ethanol fades? State trails national average in E10 usage is a post from: Biofuels Digest

New Grupo Ypioca sugarcane processing plant in Brazil to produce cachaça, ethanol, neutral alcohol, anhydrous alcohol is a post from: Biofuels Digest

Report says algae-related biofuel inventions have surged 2,000% since 2003 is a post from: Biofuels Digest

The Synthesis will analyze pending federal and state legislation efforts and their implications, and offer comprehensive descriptions of existing carbon market opportunities. The quantification and analysis in the Synthesis is built upon the proprietary AgRefresh REV MAX MODEL-2010 analytics and incorporates experience from policy consulting, protocol development, and greenhouse gas accounting.

AgRefresh releases Liquid Biofuels Carbon Market Monetization analytic tool is a post from: Biofuels Digest

The Report includes chapters on cellulosic ethanol, algal biofuels, US government investment, venture capital, bankruptcies and the role of Big Oil.

BioWorld releases Biofuels Report 2009, highlights “Big Oil’s cooption-or-collision course with biofuels.” is a post from: Biofuels Digest

The Digest poll closes on Friday.

Digest poll on Hot Fuels, Feedstocks and Processing Technologies closes Friday is a post from: Biofuels Digest