Biomass Week - May 16, 2014

DECC announces which technologies will compete for initial CfDs On May 13, the U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change published several renewable energy proposals that are likely to impact the availability of support mechanisms for renewable energy technologies, including those in the bioenergy sector. READ MORE SHARE
Rentech provides fiber, pellet update in Q1 investor call While revenues attributed to its wood fiber business represented just one-third of Rentech's first quarter revenues, CEO Hunt Ramsbottom opened the Q1 investor call with a point-by-point update of the company's rapidly expanding wood fiber business. READ MORE SHARE
	HSU wins $5.8 million federal grant for biomass research Humboldt State University, along with 15 regional partners, has received a $5.88 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy under the Biomass Research and Development Initiative to conduct innovative biomass research. READ MORE SHARE
Energy grass a good thermal option in Vermont, the Northeast A new report published by Wilson Engineering on behalf of the Vermont Bioenergy Initiative explores the potential of growing and harvesting energy grasses for thermal energy in Vermont. READ MORE SHARE
BioAmber reports progress with Sarnia plant in Q1 results BioAmber Inc. has announced first quarter financial results, reporting increased bio-succinic acid sales. The company also reported progress in the development of its Sarnia, Ontario, plant, which is expected to begin operations in early 2015. READ MORE SHARE
Ames Lab creates multifunctional nanoparticles for biofuel The U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory has created a faster, cleaner biofuel refining technology that not only combines processes, it uses widely available materials to reduce costs. READ MORE SHARE
IRENA: Renewables employ 6.5 million globally The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has published a study that determined 6.5 million people were employed by the renewable energy globally last year. The report highlights the role that renewables play in the global economy. READ MORE SHARE
Joule achieves ASTM compliance for sustainable diesel, jet fuel Marking another step towards commercial readiness of CO2-neutral fuels, Joule Unlimited Inc. has announced that its Sunflow-D and Sunflow-J products meet the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials for diesel and jet fuel. READ MORE SHARE
Honeywell UOP technology powers advanced biofuel plant UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, has announced that its UOP/Eni Ecofining process technology is powering the largest commercial advanced biofuel facility in the U.S., capable of producing more than 130 million gallons of renewable diesel per year. READ MORE SHARE
Advanced biofuel companies advocate for RFS in letter On May 15, 33 advanced biofuel companies, led by the Advanced Ethanol Council and Biotechnology Industry Organization, sent a letter to President Obama to express the industry's concern about the proposed rule for the 2014 renewable fuel standard. READ MORE SHARE
Gevo releases Q1 results, launches side-by-side operations Gevo Inc. has released its first quarter financial results, reporting it recently closed on $25.9 million in financing and has successfully begun side-by-side operation at its Luverne, Minn., plant, with the intent to produce ethanol and isobutanol. READ MORE SHARE
Repreve Renewables adds genetic assets from Mendel Repreve Renewables announced it has purchased certain genetic assets or germplasm for its giant miscanthus grass product development program from Mendel Biotechnology Inc., a privately held company in Hayward, Calif. READ MORE SHARE
Clarke Energy to supply Biffa with GE Jenbacher engines GE Power & Water's Distributed Power business has announced Clarke Energy,has been selected to supply U.K. waste management company Biffa with eight of GE's Jenbacher landfill gas engines. READ MORE SHARE
Vermeer to showcase perennial grasses at its global headquarters Vermeer Corp. and CenUSA Bioenergy, a multi-state USDA sponsored research project led by Iowa State University, have announced a new, perennial grass energy collaboration. READ MORE SHARE
Dyadic reports increased revenues in Q1 results Dyadic International Inc. has released first quarter financial results, reporting a strong start to the year. "Investments in our proprietary technologies are continuing to pay off on multiple fronts," said Mark Emalfarb, CEO of Dyadic. READ MORE SHARE
Report: price is the renewable jet fuel challenge While U.S. government branches are supporting efforts to achieve federal renewable and alternative fuel goals, difficulties in obtaining private investment, policy uncertainty and high feedstock costs are resulting in prohibitive fuel costs. READ MORE SHARE
KiOR expresses doubt about the future in Q1 filing On May 12, KiOR Inc. filed a quarterly report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In the filing, the company reported that it has suspended all optimization projects in order to bring the Columbus, Miss., facility to a safe, idle state. READ MORE SHARE
Purdue, Navy partner to advance the use of alternative energy The U.S. Department of the Navy and Purdue University signed a statement of cooperation May 8, agreeing to work together to convert up to half of the Navy and Marine Corps' energy consumption to alternative sources, including biofuels, by 2020. READ MORE SHARE
DuPont CEO calls on Congress, administration to preserve RFS In a keynote speech at the 11th Annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology on May 13, DuPont Chair and CEO Ellen Kullman called on Congress and the administration to preserve the renewable fuel standard (RFS). READ MORE SHARE
UK report highlights economic impact of bioenergy, biofuels The U.K.-based Renewable Energy Association has published the results of an analysis that determined the renewable energy supports more than 100,000 jobs in the U.K. and has attracted almost $50.95 billion in investment since 2010. READ MORE SHARE
Bluesphere begins detailed engineering on N.C. biogas project Bluesphere Corp., a clean energy company that develops, manages and owns waste-to-energy projects, has announced commencement of detailed design and engineering work for its 5.2 MW waste-to-energy project in Charlotte, N.C. READ MORE SHARE
Drax announces progress with biomass projects, co-firing Drax Group plc released an interim management statement on May 9, reporting progress with its biomass energy operations and the development of its U.S. pellet plants. In May, the company began operating an enhanced co-firing unit. READ MORE SHARE
Boeing, Embraer plan joint research center for aviation biofuel Boeing and Embraer S.A. have announced that they will open a joint research center to advance a sustainable aviation biofuel industry in Brazil. The research center will be located at the Sao Jose dos Campos Technology Park. READ MORE SHARE