Small American companies are directing the global algae industry's commercialization approach. With Big Oil, Big Food and big money behind them, U.S. algae startups continue to scale up, build out, and tap into the infrastructure of industrial hosts.
Maverick Biofuels, an advanced biofuels and chemical technology company, and Enerjetik LLC, a manufacturer of advanced gasification technology, have entered into a joint technology development agreement to design and build a pilot-scale facility.
On Sept. 21, Eni S.p.A. met local and national institutions as well as trade unions to explain the Green Refinery process which will lead to the conversion of the Venice Refinery into a "biorefinery," producing innovative and high quality biofuels.
During each presidential campaign, the American Farm Bureau Federation asks the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees to address issues that concern the farming and ranching communities. Responses to this year's questions are now available.
Solegear Bioplastics Inc., has formed a new partnership with the National Research Council of Canada. The partnership will combine the companies' proprietary formulations to create new products that would otherwise not be possible on the open market.
The Japan-based Hydrogen Innovation Town Business Research Group recently announced that it has begun verification tests for an innovative technology that produces hydrogen from biomass, specifically sewage sludge.
With Sept. 21 being the final day of the last scheduled legislative session prior to the November election, all whom have stakes in the agriculture industry continue to pressure Congress to pass a new Farm Bill or an extension.
Winners of this year's Annual Brazilian Bioenergy Awards include collaborations of companies developing algae biofuels and cellulosic ethanol. The awards were announced at the 2012 World Biofuels Markets Brazil conference and exhhibition on Sept. 18.
Diatoms, tiny marine life forms that have been around since the dinosaurs, could finally make biofuel production from algae truly cost-effective, because they can simultaneously produce other valuable products such as semiconductors.
If Purdue University researchers have their way, the term "biofuel plant" will take on a whole new meaning. A team received a $5.2 million U.S. DOE grant to develop a plant that can make substances that could be used directly as a biofuel.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Ala., recently announced that a biomass-related amendment she submitted for inclusion in the Tribal Energy Bill, S. 1684, was passed unanimously by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on Sept. 13.
Despite weather challenges and the learning curve for farmers unfamiliar with this energy sorghum, one of the first commercial-scale plantings of the crop in the U.S. has been a success. A recent field day in New York focused on the crop.
A team of researchers that has been working on getting fuel-grade oil out of algae may be within four years of a near-commercial-scale production level. The team has received a $2 million National Science Foundation grant to help hasten the process.
Putting the water-use-efficient and turbo-charged photosynthesis from plants such as agave into woody biomass plants such as poplar can hedge against predicted long-term increases in temperatures and reduced precipitation.
The Algae Biomass Organization announced that Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper will deliver the keynote address at the 6th Annual Algae Biomass Summit, when the event convenes in Denver on Sept. 24. A panel discussion by industry leaders will follow.
The U.S. DOE has selected the Arizona State University-led Algae Testbed Public-Private Partnership (ATP3) for a $15 million award for its Advancements in Sustainable Algal Production opportunity to support an an algae national testbed.
Biofuel production can be an expensive process that requires considerable use of fossil fuels, but a Missouri University of Science and Technology microbiologist's process could reduce costs, reliance on fossil fuels, and streamline production.
European Bioplastics, the association serving the European bioplastics industry, recently published a 32-page communication guide, titled "Accountability Is Key: Environmental Communications Guide for Bioplastics."
MGP Ingredients Inc. has announced the development of Terratek BD, a new line of biodegradable composite resins. Terratek BD is produced from a proprietary blend of wheat- and corn-based products, as well as other compostable materials.
A U.S.-based bioplastics developer is heading overseas. Cereplast Inc. has opened a corporate office in India to better serve current and future clients in the Southeast Asia markets. The company recently held a press conference to announce the move.
Houston-based Terrabon Inc. has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Under Chapter 7 proceedings, the company's operations will cease and a trustee will be tasked with liquidating the company's assets for the benefit of creditors.
LS9 Inc. recently announced the successful start-up of its Florida operations with an initial production run of fatty alcohols. The company completed the retrofit of the demonstration facility in Okeechobee, Fla. in May of this year.
NatureWorks LLC and Sulzer Chemtech announced that Sulzer has shipped proprietary production equipment to NatureWorks' Blair, Neb., plant that will enable NatureWorks to increase production of Ingeo biopolymer and produce new resins and lactides.
The research agreement between Royal Dutch Shell and Codexis Inc. may be over, but the California-based enzyme producer now has the ability to commercialize cellulose enzymes developed during the research partnership that started in 2006.
LS9 Inc. announced a new chief financial officer. Jon Foster, a Silicon Valley veteran, will take on the CFO role and bring LS9 a mix of financial skills and the experience gained from an advisory board position with the California Clean Energy Fund.
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