Biomass Week - August 7, 2015

EPA releases Clean Power Plan, uncertainty for biomass remains The U.S. EPA has released the final Clean Power Plan rules, which contain some key changes from the original rule, as well as vague language related to using certain kinds of biomass fuel as a carbon reduction method. READ MORE SHARE
BioAmber to begin commercial operations at Sarnia this quarter BioAmber Inc. has released financial results for the second quarter, reporting construction is complete on its first commercial-scale bio-succinic acid plant. The facility is undergoing commissioning and expected to begin commercial operations soon. READ MORE SHARE
	Letter urges recognition of the carbon neutrality of bioenergy On July 31, 154 members of the U.S. House of Representatives issued a letter to the USDA, U.S. Department of Energy, and U.S. EPA urging the recognition of carbon neutrality of biomass energy. READ MORE SHARE
Abengoa highlights Hugoton plant during half year investor call Abengoa has released half year financial results, reporting revenues of EUR 3.39 billion ($3.71 billion), up 3 percent when compared to the first six months of the prior year. EBITDA increased by 9 percent, reaching EUR 650 million. READ MORE SHARE
Solazyme highlights algal oil plant, UPS contract in Q2 results Solazyme Inc. recently released its financial results for the second quarter of 2015, highlighting consistent power and steam supply coming from its cogeneration Moema facility and expanded relationship with UPS for supply of renewable diesel fuel. READ MORE SHARE
Amyris highlights business achievements during investor call Amyris Inc. has released second quarter financial results, reporting GAAP revenues of $7.8 million, down from $9.3 million during the same quarter of 2014. The company reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $47.1 million. READ MORE SHARE
Novozymes full-year profit outlook maintained in H1 earnings On Aug. 6, Novozymes released its interim report for the first half of 2015, reporting that sales to the bioenergy industry were up by 2 percent organically compared with the first half of 2014, however, overall, sales growth slowed in bioenergy. READ MORE SHARE
REG reports increased biomass-based diesel sales in Q2 earnings Renewable Energy Group Inc. recently announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, reporting 96.1 million gallons of biomass-based diesel sales, 24.5 percent more than the comparable period in 2014. READ MORE SHARE
Report predicts increase in Russian wood pellet production A report recently filed with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service's Global Agricultural Information Network provides an overview of the Russian Federation's pellet sector. Russia is currently the third largest exporter of wood pellets to the EU. READ MORE SHARE
Gevo highlights corporate developments during investor call Gevo Inc. has released second quarter financial results, reporting revenue of $8.9 million, up from $7.7 million during the same period of 2014. The net loss was $17.8 million, compared to $17.2 million during second quarter of last year. READ MORE SHARE
EPC announces new version of the ENplus Handbook The European Pellet Council has announced the release of an updated version of the ENplus Handbook, which which defines the rights, responsibilities and obligations of all the participants in the certification program. READ MORE SHARE
WSU: New course offers hands-on training in bioproducts A new summer course, titled Survey of Technical Equipment for Processing, is offered through Washington State University Tri-Cities and covers topics from fermentation and pyrolysis of biomaterials to process controls and industrial maintenance. READ MORE SHARE
ASABE announces progress in solid biofuel standards development Development of international standards for solid biofuels has been ongoing since 2007; with seven of the 12 published ISO standards being completed within the past year, and another 26 standards at various stages of development. READ MORE SHARE
SCRA completes landfill gas-to-hydrogen project at BMW facility SCRA recently announced the successful completion of the landfill gas- to-hydrogen project, which was conducted at the BMW Manufacturing Co.'s Spartanburg, South Carolina, facility. The project is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy. READ MORE SHARE
Pacific Ag raises $7 million from ACAP Pacific Ag has announced $7 million investment from Advantage Capital Agribusiness Partners LP. The capital will enable Pacific Ag to accelerate the expansion of its operations through acquisitions, technology, equipment, sales and marketing. READ MORE SHARE
Enel Energia begins work on first mini-biomass plant Enel Energia has begun construction of an innovative combined-cooling,-heat-and-power (CCHP) mini-biomass plant at the historic Luxottica factory in Agordo, in the Veneto region's Belluno province of Italy. READ MORE SHARE
Genera Energy launches unique biomass crop planning app Genera Energy Inc. announced the launch of its first mobile agriculture app, Biomass. The Biomass app was developed to serve as a practical, easy-to-use mobile crop planning and learning tool for biomass farmers and landowners. READ MORE SHARE
EPA paves the way for Algenol’s carbon reduction technology The Clean Power Plan rule acknowledges for the first time the value of carbon utilization, the cornerstone of Algenol's Direct-to-Ethanol technology, as a method for utilities to reduce emissions from electricity production. READ MORE SHARE
Argonne scientists study benefits of bioenergy crop integration Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory are studying multifunctional landscapes and how they can benefit farmers, the environment, and the bioenergy industry nationwide. Their study is set to be published in the journal Biomass and Bioenergy. READ MORE SHARE
Keeping algae from stressing out Some algae like Chlamydomonas reinhardtii produce energy-dense oils or lipids when stressed, and these lipids can then be converted into fuels. However, researchers walk a fine line in not killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. READ MORE SHARE
Researchers report a novel approach to cellulose hydrolysis A novel approach to cellulose hydrolysis using a consortium of motile bacteria moving on solid surfaces and carrying microbial luggage, another bacteria that can efficiently hydrolyze cellulose, was demonstrated by the group of researchers. READ MORE SHARE
Grains of rice hold big promise for GHG reductions, bioenergy Rice is a large source of atmospheric methane. With the addition of a single gene, researchers have developed rice that can be cultivated to emit virtually no methane from its paddies and features more starch for food and bioenergy production. READ MORE SHARE
Everbright International, DP to develop bioenergy plant in China DP CleanTech and China Everbright International have announced the development of a new 30 MW straw-fired biomass power plant in Nanqiao City, Anhui, China. This marks the fourth project for DP and Everbright International in 2015. READ MORE SHARE
Invista, Plaxica collaborate on biobased lactic acid technology Invista Performance Technologies and Plaxica have entered into a collaboration that is expected to accelerate the commercialization of Plaxica's technology for the production of biobased lactic acid. READ MORE SHARE
Bio-on, Cristal Union to produce PHA from sugar beet coprodcuts An agreement signed by Bio-on and Cristal Union will see France's first facility for the production of PHAs bioplastic from sugar beet coproducts. The companies will build a production site with an initial 5,000 tons of annual capacity. READ MORE SHARE