In Washington state, microbiologist Hal Collins and agronomist Rick Boydston, of the ARS Vegetable and Forage Crops Research Laboratory in Prosser, report that it could take anywhere from 50 to 70 acres for a farmer with 1,000 acres and an onsite crusher and biodiesel facility to grow enough canola to produce the fuel needed to […]
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Innovation Portal now has more than 300 business-friendly marketing summaries available to help investors and companies identify and license leading-edge energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. The Portal is an online tool that links available DOE innovations to the entrepreneurs who can successfully license and commercialize them. By helping […]
In the EU, a new independent study published by the Öko-Institut has revealed that by 2050 the EU could source 80% of its transport fuel needs from biofuels. The comprehensive study titled “The Vision Scenario for the European Union”, commissioned on behalf of The Greens / European Free Alliance group in the European Parliament, concludes […]
In New York, the Development Authority of the North Country is teaming with researchers from Clarkson University to see whether its wastewater from its regional landfill would be a good environment to grow algae for biofuels. Heat produced from the landfill’s waste-to-energy electricity generator would be captured to grow the algae. More on the story.
In India, the expert panel set up to devise the government-regulated purchase price for ethanol has suggested making permanent the interim price of INR27—or 58 cents per liter. The final decision will now be made by an executive group of ministers or the cabinet. It had suggested three criteria for consideration: first, landed price of […]
In Norway, a new study shows that 7% biodiesel blending is safe for human health but that raising the blend or adding in newer alternative fuels could pose health risks and requires further study. The country currently blends 3.5% biodiesel and will soon raise it to 5%. More on the story.
In Alabama, a University of Alabama Huntsville graduate student is is using Clostridium pasteurianum bacteria to ferment glycerol, a biodiesel waste product, into acetic acid, butanol, butyric acid, ethanol, and propanediol. Keerthi Venkataramanan, a Ph.D. biotechnology student, notes that glycerol disposal is problem for the biodiesel industry. Glycerol is produced at a rate of one […]
In Tanzania, the energy minister has released a 18-page document outlining guidelines for sustainable biofuels development amidst criticism of biofuels supposedly competing with the food supply. He urged small-scale farmers and other entrepreneurs to form groups or primary cooperative societies that could enter into contractual agreements with investors in the bio-fuel business. More on the […]
In Illinois, University of Illinois researchers have discovered that up to 15% biodiesel byproduct glycerin can be successfully fed to pigs, mimicking a corn/soybean diet. Researchers didn’t test it at higher levels because the efficiency of use of the energy may decrease so they don’t recommend using glycerin at levels higher than 15%. More on […]
In Japan, machinery maker Chiyoda Seisakujo has teamed with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)’s Shikoku research center and Kagawa Industrial Technology Center’s food research institute to produce ethanol from udon noodles. The residue remaining after taking out ethanol from the noodles will also be processed at a methane fermentation plant […]
