In the EU, ethanol’s direct greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) savings compared to fossil fuel have increased from 59% in 2014 to 64% in 2015, an increase of 8.5% against the 2014 figure, according to new industry statistics published by the European renewable ethanol association ePURE. The European renewable ethanol industry – Annual statistics report 2016*, […]
In a new process for the economical conversion of carbon dioxide into fuels such as ethanol has been developed. The proprietary noncatalytic process combines CO2 with a carbonaceous feedstock and water in the form of steam at temperatures between 1,600 to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit and low pressure, near atmospheric, in a gasifier to produce a […]
In Australia, researchers from the Australian National University said in a new study eucalyptus-based fuel would initially be more expensive than fossil fuels to make on a mass scale, but would produce significantly less net carbon emissions. “If we could plant 20 million hectares of eucalyptus species worldwide, which is currently the same amount that […]
In Texas, chemists at The University of Texas at Arlington have been the first to demonstrate that an organic semiconductor polymer called polyaniline is a promising photocathode material for the conversion of carbon dioxide into alcohol fuels without the need for a co-catalyst. In this proof-of-concept study, the researchers provide insights into the unique behavior […]
In New Mexico, A wide-ranging analysis of water vulnerability across the Pacific — including the U.S., China, Russia and Japan — has identified hundreds of locations where energy production depends upon scarce water supplies. The Sandia National Laboratories study, “Mapping Water Consumption for Energy Production Around the Pacific Rim,” was published in Environmental Research Letters. […]
The European Union organizes every year the EUCYS Prize, which has been set up to promote the ideals of co-operation and interchange between young scientists. It serves as an annual showcase of the best of European student scientific achievement and gives students the opportunity to compete with the brightest of their contemporaries at European level. […]
Michael Hummel, postdoctoral researcher at the Aalto University in Finland, has been awarded a €1.5 million ($1.68 million) starting grant by the European Research Council (ERC). The funding is allocated to a five-year project aiming at the manufacturing of high-quality carbon fibers from wood. “We can produce hybrid fibers composed of cellulose and lignin as […]
In Georgia, biomass-based fuels present a tremendous opportunity to transition toward a more sustainable mix of renewable energy. This was a key theme of an alternative fuels workshop hosted Sept. 14 by the U.S. DOE in Macon, Georgia. The workshop examined the sustainability of feedstocks like soybean oil, which can be used to make biodiesel […]
In the UK, an innovative low carbon fuel project has taken a significant step forward after successfully producing 1,500 US gallons of jet fuel. The breakthrough towards developing commercially viable low carbon fuel is the result of a partnership between Virgin Atlantic and LanzaTech. Since 2011 they have been committed to producing the world’s first […]
In the UK, Oakland Biofuels is working with Scottish Land & Estates to explore the possibility of producing ethanol from bracken. A demonstration of the equipment used to harvest the nuisance plant was held near Blair Atholl last week, showing farmers and landowners how it could be useful thanks to processing rather than spraying it […]
