CNH Industrial’s Innovation Group has developed concept autonomous tractors to allow remote deployment, monitoring and control of the machines. Designed to remove the operator from the cab, the new tractors have complete sensing and perception systems, including radar, LiDAR (range finding lasers) and video cameras, to ensure obstacles or obstructions are detected and avoided. An […]
Solegear Bioplastic Technologies Inc. has been granted US Patent 9,416,255 titled “Compositions Comprising Polylactic Acid, Bentonite, and Gum Arabic”. The patent broadly covers the synthesis of bio-based additives along with polylactic acid (“PLA”) to deliver a number of key performance characteristics required for rigid packaging and durable goods applications. This proprietary technology enables Solegear to […]
According to EIA data as analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol production averaged 998,000 barrels per day (b/d)—or 41.92 million gallons daily. That is down 25,000 b/d from the week before and the lowest in five weeks. The four-week average for ethanol production stood at 1.020 million b/d for an annualized rate of 15.64 […]
In Virginia, bioenergy industry legend and retired Marine Lt. Col. William C. Holmberg has died of complications from cancer. He was 88. He was the first recipient of the Digest’s Holmberg Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2014, which was subsequently named in his honor and is presented annually at the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference. Holmberg was […]
In Colorado, Gevo has entered into a heads of agreement with Lufthansa to supply Gevo’s alcohol-to-jet fuel from its first commercial hydrocarbon facility, intended to be built in Luverne, MN. The terms of the agreement contemplate Lufthansa purchasing up to 8 million gallons per year of ATJ from Gevo, or up to 40 million gallons […]
In Washington, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization released a landmark report “Advancing the Biobased Economy: Renewable Chemical Biorefinery Commercialization, Progress, and Market Opportunities, 2016 and Beyond,” documenting substantial, ongoing growth in the renewable chemical industry and outlining federal and state policies that support the industry. Explosive growth in renewable chemicals BIO reports that “McKinsey & Co. […]
By Dick Roche, Special to The Digest Just as the EU institutions were shutting up shop for the long summer break the EU Commission issued its strategy to reduce transport emissions in the post 2020 period, ‘European Strategy for low Emission Mobility’. The strategy will ‘axe’ any support for conventional biofuels. This should come […]
In Wisconsin, Tesoro reached an agreement for Tesoro to acquire Virent. The acquisition, the partners said, will support the scale up and commercialization of Virent’s BioForming technology for the production of low carbon bio-based fuels and chemicals. As a result of the acquisition, Virent will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Tesoro and remain in […]
By James Cogan, Special to The Digest Europe’s Big 4 ethanol CEOs (Tereos, Cristal Union, Alco Group, Crop Energies) are in a curious situation. Together with their smaller peers they produce about 6 million tonnes of the fuel commodity annually, with combined revenues of around 4 billion euro. The product gets blended into petrol accounting for 4% of […]
Yes, it’s time for voting in the Hot 40. Who will be #1? In Florida, The Digest announced the official opening of voting for the 40 Hottest Emerging Companies in the Advanced Bioeconomy. Voting Rules Voting will be open to all registered subscribers of The Digest and invited selectors; this year, votes may also be […]
