In Illinois, researchers at Western Illinois University are exploring the virtues of pennycress as a bioenergy feedstock and are already working with 62 varieties from far flung places such as Tibet and Germany. The crop could fit well in rotations by planting it right after corn is harvested with harvest coming the following May, just […]
In Illinois, EBI Network and Pennycress Energy are partnering to promote pennycress as a fuel crop for the Galesburg/West Central Illinois Region. The project, generating interest among growers, will identify possible investors and explore a press mill in the region. Pennycress Energy states that their goal is to net farmers an additional $100 per acre, […]
In Minnesota, SarTec Corp. has landed a $500,000 grant from DOE to produce biodiesel from camelina and pennycress using the patented Mcgyan biodiesel process at the 3 million gallon per year Ever Cat Fuels facility in Isanti. Farmers across the Midwest will be contracted to produce the feedstock.
We haven’t heard of anyone making biofuels out of chickens, or eggs, but we hear a lot about the chicken-and-egg problem. “How do get growers to grow if there’s no market? How do you get a market if there are no growers?” Arvens Technology CEO Sudhir Seth summed up the problem. A few years back, […]
In Florida, Digest Data launched the BRISKIs, the Bioeconomy Risk Indexes, tracking risk for 30 bioeconomy fuels and chemical molecules, and 60 feedstocks. They are free, and here. The purpose The BRISKIs offer insight for decision makers, at a time in the bioeconomy when the industry turns from development to deployment, and risks are a […]
By Glenn Farris, Managing Director, Lee Enterprises Consulting Special to The Digest In the drive towards a clean energy future and a low-carbon energy environment, purpose-grown energy crops will play a major role. At this time and for many years, researchers associated with universities, national labs, seed companies, and other institutions both public and private […]
In Minnesota, the University of Minnesota said that Cargill has awarded $2.5 million to the Forever Green Initiative at the University of Minnesota to support research into two novel oilseed crops—winter camelina and domesticated winter pennycress—that can produce seed-based oil for low-carbon transportation fuels. “Winter camelina and pennycress could be truly transformative for farmers, the […]
In Washington, the US Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office announced its notice of intent (NOI) to issue a funding opportunity announcement that will drive the research and development of low-carbon, purpose-grown energy crops leading to the deployment of clean energy technologies. The planned Regional Resource Hubs for Purpose-Grown Energy Crops funding opportunity will support […]
By Mike Sticklen, Lee Enterprise Consulting Special to The Digest Throughout my work with Lee Enterprises Consulting, I often get asked about producing renewable and biobased fuels, chemicals and plastics from alternative feedstock sources such as cellulosic biomass or other waste. Many potential investors and policymakers believe that alternative feedstocks will reduce greenhouse gas emissions […]
The arrival of revolutionary cover crops and use cases recall the days of the Neolithic. When news arrived that Bunge and CoverCress signed commercial partnership to support the expansion of CCI’s CoverCress technology, a new winter oilseed crop, and that Bunge Ventures recently increased its stake in CCI through a Series C-1 round, we were […]
