Category: Top Stories

Up, Up & Away: The Top 10 Magic Moments in Aviation Biofuels in 2016

Up, Up & Away: The Top 10 Magic Moments in Aviation Biofuels in 2016

March 16, 2016 |

We reported this week that  Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia formed a partnership to investigate options for locally produced aviation biofuel. The trans-Tasman alliance partners are issuing a Request for Information (RFI) to the market to explore the opportunity to procure locally produced aviation biofuel. A few years ago, that would have been the […]

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The renewable plastic bottle goes commercial: BASF and Avantium to establish JV for biobased plastics, chemicals

The renewable plastic bottle goes commercial: BASF and Avantium to establish JV for biobased plastics, chemicals

March 15, 2016 |

In the Netherlands, BASF and Avantium have signed a letter of intent and entered into exclusive negotiations to establish a joint venture for the production and marketing of furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), as well as marketing of polyethylenefuranoate (PEF), based on this new chemical building block. FDCA is produced from renewable resources. The JV will use […]

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R20 and WRI, a Roadmap to Zero Waste and Sustainable Investing

R20 and WRI, a Roadmap to Zero Waste and Sustainable Investing

March 14, 2016 |

By James L. Stewart, Special to The Digest A major worldwide effort is underway through the non-profit organization R20 Regions of Climate Action to assist sub-national states and jurisdictions in developing projects that promote clean energy and combat climate change. Currently, R20 has more than $1 billion of low-carbon, economic development projects in process in 20 countries. […]

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“Call me TerraVia”: Solazyme transforms, shakes up and refinances

“Call me TerraVia”: Solazyme transforms, shakes up and refinances

March 13, 2016 |

Solazyme undergoes Focus Reassignment Surgery and re-emerges as TerraVia. Industrials to spin off, nutrition the focus now. The what, the why, and the “why now?” In California, Solazyme said that it is now focusing exclusively on food, nutrition and specialty ingredients, renaming the company TerraVia. Having elevated CEO and co-founder Jonathan Wolfson to the Executive […]

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Connell Brothers inks 2 million pound per year sales, distribution contract for Verdezyne renewable chemicals

Connell Brothers inks 2 million pound per year sales, distribution contract for Verdezyne renewable chemicals

March 10, 2016 |

In California, Verdezyne and Connell Bros. signed an exclusive agreement for sales and distribution of Verdezyne’s BIOLON DDDA (biobased dodecanedioic acid or DC12). BIOLON DDDA will be produced at Verdezyne’s commercial-scale plant in Malaysia and will be distributed in 17 countries throughout Asia-Pacific, including China, Japan and South Korea.  CBC is the largest Marketer and […]

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Is this the Amyris year, as management expects revenue to triple?

Is this the Amyris year, as management expects revenue to triple?

March 10, 2016 |

Despite a dismal beginning to earnings season, as Amyris, Arcadia disappoint, the Eco-Emirates of Emeryville look set for huge expansion in 2016. In California, Amyris reported Q4 revenues of $9.6mn and a net loss for Q4 of $41.9 million ($34 million after elimination of non-recurring items), well below Wall Street consensus estimates of $32.4 million. […]

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Fly the eco-friendly skies: United to launch 50% jet biofuels on LAX-SFO route

Fly the eco-friendly skies: United to launch 50% jet biofuels on LAX-SFO route

March 10, 2016 |

In California, United Airlines will be using jet biofuels produced by AltAir using Honeywell UOP technology on up to 150 flights a day out of Los Angeles, the Digest has learned. March 11. A two week, 14-day Los Angeles to San Francisco service will launch United’s jet biofuels plan. After the first two weeks, “pretty […]

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The Digest’s March Madness: 64 webinar presentation options. The slides, the experts, you choose, no cost.

The Digest’s March Madness: 64 webinar presentation options. The slides, the experts, you choose, no cost.

March 8, 2016 |

In Florida, The Digest announced the opening of reader voting for March Madness, a 20-webinar series running from March 15-April 15, in which readers choose the topics for the biggest free content and online industry event yet stages in renewable fuels, chemicals and biobased materials. Which 20, exactly? That’s where you come in. If you […]

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Comet Biorefining picks up $10.9M SDTC Grant for low-cost, non-food, bio-based sugars project

Comet Biorefining picks up $10.9M SDTC Grant for low-cost, non-food, bio-based sugars project

March 8, 2016 |

In Canada, Sustainable Development Technology Canada awarded Comet Biorefining a CA$10.9 million grant for the construction of its first-of-a-kind advanced bio-based chemicals plant. Located in Sarnia, Ontario, the plant will use proprietary conversion technology to transform corn stover, an agricultural residue, into high-purity dextrose sugar. What does Comet make, and why is that important? Bottom […]

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“Lack of collateral” damage: Abengoa’s descent into fiscal hell, and its hopes for redemption

“Lack of collateral” damage: Abengoa’s descent into fiscal hell, and its hopes for redemption

March 7, 2016 |

Digest readers will have noted that Abengoa shares jumped 41% on Friday and another 38 percent in Monday morning trading. What’s the good news? Let’s review. The state of play For Abengoa Bioenergy, a break-up and sale. Last week, we reported that potential buyers of Abengoa Bioenergy’s six first generation ethanol facilities have been looking […]

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