In Canada, Science magazine reports that researchers from McGill University have developed a method of producing ethanol from methanol by using sunlight. Using gallium nitride nanowires “spiked” with magnesium as a catalyst, following successful results producing benzene from methane gas using the same technology, they were able to absorb UV rays from sunlight, negatively charging […]
In Montana, an effort to improve the feasibility of a renewable energy source, Montana State University researchers are exploring a potential breakthrough in producing biofuel from algae. Backed by a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, the research team — which includes scientists from University of Toledo and University of North Carolina […]
In Australia, QUT researchers and Mercurius Australia have commenced work on a pilot plant to prove the economic viability of turning sugarcane waste into either biojet and biodiesel fuel or biochemicals. Their patented REACH technology, developed by U.S. parent company Mercurius Biorefining, has the potential to convert sugarcane bagasse and other biomass into cost effective […]
In Germany, researchers at the German Aerospace Center say the use of aviation biofuels can reduce soot emissions and contrail formations. By blending 50% biofuel, soot-related ice crystal formation can but cut by 80% while contrail formation can halve. They argue that by reducing the amount of clouds created by aviation can help to reduce […]
In Nebraska, a recent impact study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) economists reveals Nebraska’s ethanol production capacity increased by 23 percent since 2014 and continues to be a significant driver of economic impact for the state. “The state sees what economists describe as an economic ‘bounce’ when we take advantage of the added value when […]
In Canada, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Parliamentary Secretary Jean-Claude Poissant and Member of Parliament, Francis Scarpaleggia, were at the Macdonald Campus at McGill University to announce a federal investment of up to C$7 million to the Biomass Cluster under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The Cluster, led by the BioFuelNet Canada Network, will include […]
In France, Global Bioenergies announced that runs using wheat straw hydrolysate provided by its partner Clariant were successfully performed in its Leuna demo plant, leading to the production of cellulosic isobutene for the first time at this scale. These runs were part of OPTISOCHEM, a project which started in June 2017 and was granted €9.8 […]
In Washington, researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) have been modeling to understand the costs and benefits of thinning forests and the potential for improving habitat, yielding benefits not only for the environment, but also for the economy. Decision models linking process-based and […]
In Spain, researchers of Valencia University (UV) have developed the first global maps of phosphorus and nitrogen content in vegetation, as well as efficiency in water use, via artificial intelligence and big data techniques. The application of these maps could benefit fields such as biodiversity, agriculture and the adaptation of species to climate change. Artificial […]
In Washington, new study released Wednesday finds that the expanded Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) has been a tremendous success in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with nearly 600 million metric tons of GHG reduction since 2007. Actual GHG reductions under the RFS2 have far surpassed the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) original expectations of 422 million […]
