Author Archive: Jim Lane

The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Clariant biotechnology

September 15, 2018 | Jim Lane

Clariant’s Group Biotechnology — responsible for the Technology Platform Biotechnology — develops tailor-made biotechnological processes for the economic and sustainable production of bio-based chemicals and biofuels. It focuses on bio-catalysis and bio-refining. Innovative technologies for the sustainable conversion of renewable feedstocks into biofuels and bio-based chemicals through energy-efficient processes allow to substitute fossil-based products and […]

Construction complete at Unibio/Protelux commercial scale methane to protein plant

September 13, 2018 | Jim Lane

two of the four U-Loop reactors visible during the Protelux construction process. Notice the size of the worker in the bottom of the picture.In Russia, Protelux completed the construction of its 6000 ton per year methane-to-proteins plant, based on Unibio technology. The parties are currently testing the plant and expect to commission it by late […]

Driving Decarbonization: How California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard Is Helping the Environment While Saving Lives and Growing the Biobased Economy

September 12, 2018 | Jim Lane

By Bryan Sherbacow, Chief Commercial Officer, World Energy Special to The Digest As 2018 has made all too clear, climate change is real and it’s impacting all of our lives. July 2018 was the hottest month ever recorded in California. We have dealt with the state’s largest wildfire this summer, just one year after the […]

The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Airlines 4 America and sustainable aviation fuels

September 11, 2018 | Jim Lane

Airlines for America (A4A) advocates on behalf of its members to shape crucial policies and measures that promote safety, security and a healthy U.S. airline industry. They work collaboratively with airlines, labor, Congress and the Administration and other groups to improve air travel for everyone. Annually, commercial aviation helps drive nearly $1.5 trillion in U.S. […]

ENVIA suspends operations, Velocys renews focus on Mississippi, UK projects

September 11, 2018 | Jim Lane

In Oklahoma, the Board of ENVIA Energy has suspended operations at the Oklahoma City plant and is undertaking a review of strategic alternatives in order to preserve the value inherent in the facility. This decision was driven by financial circumstances following a leak at the plant, as announced on 15 May 2018. ENVIA’s investigation into […]

Biobased smartphone chargers, biocomposite boats, smart fields, smart farms, surgery-scale biomaterials: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of September 13th

September 10, 2018 | Jim Lane

Here are the top innovations for the week of September 13th — another illuminating set of advances. This week, we’re seeing biobased smartphone chargers, biocomposite boats, smart fields and smart farms, surgery-scale biomaterial scaffolding, biobased pet caskets, biobased synlawns, and fashion biomaterials — and more. #1 New funding for MyAgData expands geospatial data collection on […]

Energy security: a bipartisan issue in a partisan year

September 9, 2018 | Jim Lane

Former President Obama gave a widely-reported speech in Illinois last week which was long on rhetoric about the purpose of democracy and short of hard detail about what issues can unite the fractured American democracy. He said: In order to move this country forward, to actually solve problems and make people’s lives better, we need […]

The Idaho team that lopped $1 a gallon off the cost of fuel, and how they did it

September 9, 2018 | Jim Lane

In Idaho, researchers at Idaho National Laboratory have have cut the modeled cost of harvesting, storing, transporting, and preprocessing biomass from $149.58/dry ton to $82.86/dry ton. As INL’s Kevin Kenney explained, “when applying least-cost formulation and blending strategies in an analysis of data from DOE’s 2016 Billion-Ton Report, INL researchers achieved a 46% reduction […]

Any alcohol into any drop-in fuel: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Byogy Renewables

September 8, 2018 | Jim Lane

Byogy has developed a catalytic platform that converts any source of ethanol, butanol, mixed alcohols, or related olefins, into full replacement, and cost competitive biofuels including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Byogy’s jet fuel is not an additive, but instead, a full replacement standalone fuel, and hence can be used at any blend ratio up […]

Advancing energy independence: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Biogas and the Global Methane Initiative