In California, the US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (DOE JGI) is working to isolate the “evergreen” locus in peaches, which extends the growing season of the plant. Said Daniel Rokhsar, head of the DOE JGI Eukaryotic Program, “In theory, it could be manipulated in poplar to increase the accumulation of biomass.” Peach genes […]
In California, SG Biofuels has identified over two million individual genetic markers (SNPs) in its Jatropha curcas germplasm collection, confirming the non-food energy crop has a genetic diversity comparable to corn and other domesticated crops, and validating the ability to drive significant yield and performance gains through molecular breeding. Through the use of emerging genetic […]
In Denmark, Bloomberg reports that Novozymes will boost its R&D in biofuels and agriculture products, above the 16% of its revenue, about $260 million that it spent last year. In comparison, Dupont spent $2.1 billion in 2012. Novozymes already has 10% of the global bioagriculture market and 60% of the biofuel enzymes market. It expects […]
In Florida, the Cleantech Open, which has helped startups raise $800 million for over 700 alumni since its inception in 2006, announced that it is expanding to South Florida to attract the best and brightest cleantech entrepreneurs, technologists, and researchers from Florida, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The launch event will be held on March […]
In Kansas, Kansas State University civil engineers are developing the right mix to reduce concrete’s carbon footprint and make it stronger. Their innovative ingredient: biofuel byproducts. To reduce carbon dioxide emissions from concrete production, the researchers are studying environmentally friendly materials that can replace part of the portland cement used in concrete. They are finding […]
In Colorado, Sara Volz of Colorado Springs won the top award of $100,000 in the Intel Science Talent Search for her research of algae biofuels. Algae produces oil that can be converted into a sustainable, renewable fuel; however, the fuel can be costly. Sara used artificial selection to establish populations of algae cells with high […]
In North Carolina, the Bioenergy Deployment Consortium is having its Spring Symposium form 22 to 24 March in Greensboro. At the request of members Pyrolysis oil (wood oil or bio-oil) will be featured. Two tours of pilot plants will be included.
In Kansas, Praveen Vadlani, the Gary and Betty Lortscher associate professor of renewable energy in Kansas State University’s department of grain science and industry, is a co-principal investigator in a more than $6.5 million biomass research project between universities, industries and federal agencies. The three-year project, a jointly funded effort by the U.S. Department of […]
In the UAE, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology has presented data on the UAE’s export potential in the biofuels-from-algae sector to delegates from the Algae World MENA2013 Conference, Seminar, and Summit. Dr. Hector H. Hernandez, Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering program, Masdar Institute, said: “The algae available in the UAE desert is unique because it […]
In California, Ian Wheeldon, an assistant professor of chemical and environmental engineering, received a $360,000 grant to better organize enzymes on electrodes to create nanoscale devices that more efficiently convert the chemical energy of sugars and complex carbohydrates into electricity. The award came from the Young Investigator Program run by Air Force Office of Scientific […]
