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First Brazil-US biofuels short course offeredA network of researchers and institutions from Brazil and the U.S. was developed a couple of months ago by the Brazil-U.S. Higher Education Council under the auspices of the U.S. State Department through the Fulbright Commission in Brazil. Now, the network is offering a free short course July 27 to Aug. 7 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Dubbed the "1st Brazil-U.S. Short Course in Biofuels: Proving Interdisciplinary Education in Biofuels Technology," the objective is to provide interdisciplinary education in bioenergy and biofuel technology, and to improve the communication among institutions of higher education, science, and other public and private organizations in Brazil and the U.S.READ MORE Khosla Ventures, Burrill invest in cellulosic companyKhosla Ventures and Burrill & Co., two U.S. venture capital funds, recently announced they are investing in HCL CleanTech to further development of converting cellulosic materials into low-cost fermentable sugars. HCL CleanTech efficiently uses concentrated hydrochloric acid to hydrolyze all cellulosic materials, allowing a large variety of feedstocks to be used with minimal configuration. It also requires minimal water and is energetically self-sufficient.READ MORE Agreement may result in Prince Albert ethanol plantA letter of intent established this week between the Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources and Iogen Energy and Domtar sets the stage for a potential redevelopment of the Prince Albert Pulp Mill into a cellulosic ethanol plant and bioenergy facility. If the investment decision is positive, the multi-million dollar project, in partnership with Royal Dutch Shell, will include a power plant producing green electricity from forest and ethanol plant residues, according to the Ministry of Energy and Resources.READ MORE Nexterra, Dockside Green fire-up biomass gasifier Biomass gasification system provider Nexterra Energy Corp. announced its system installed at Dockside Green on the inner harbor at Victoria, British Columbia, is now operational and able to provide heat and hot water for up to 2,500 Dockside Green residents. Nexterra announced its involvement with Dockside Green in March 2007, which is a $600 million residential and commercial development located on 15 acres of former industrial land. Residential phases are complete, and commercial buildings are currently being constructed.READ MORE Biomass generates most jobs in renewable energyBiomass, wind and hydro are the most important technologies to generate jobs under the EU's Renewable Energy Directive, according to a study recently conducted on behalf of the European Commission's Directorate-General Energy and Transport. In general, the study assessed the economic effects of supporting the RES, looking at jobs in the RES sector as well as its impact on all sectors of the economy. The report found that more than 60 percent of total RES sector employment generation is due to biomass technologies.READ MORE Florida city to use sludge-to-energy gasifierSanford, Fla., will be the first municipality in the country to convert wastewater sludge to energy using MaxWest Environmental Systems Inc. gasification technology. The resulting syngas will be used to power the city's sludge dryer at the South Water Resources Center. The gasifier will consume about 30 to 40 cubic yards of biosolids-the end product of a sewer plant-per day to start with, working toward more.READ MORE Vermont first to pass renewable energy feed-in lawVermont has become the first U.S. state to adapt a full system of renewable energy feed-in tariffs, a program that closely resembles Ontario's Green Energy Act passed into law in mid-May. The new legislation puts in place a "standard offer" that will establish minimum rates to be paid by electric customers for various renewable sources in long-term fixed-price contacts.READ MORE New process uses ionic liquid to dissolve woodA new process for dissolving wood to separate cellulose-rich material and pure lignin uses ionic liquid and mild temperature and pressure conditions. Researchers from the Queen's University, Belfast, UK, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering discovered the method, with the help of researchers from the University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa. It's more eco-friendly than the currently used Kraft pulping process, which originated in the 19th century and uses toxic chemicals.READ MORE |
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