Brazilian ethanol giant Cosan S.A. and biotech firm Amyris Inc. have partnered to form Novvi S.A., a joint venture entity aimed to launch the worldwide development, production and commercialization of renewable base oils.
Bolingbrook, Ill-based Elevance Renewable Sciences Inc. has announced the acquisition of an idle biodiesel plant in Natchez, Mississippi. The former Delta Biofuels facility will be converted and retrofitted with Elevance's technology.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today announced up to $36 million to fund six small-scale projects that will advance the technology improvements and process integration needed to produce drop-in advanced biofuels and biobased chemicals.
Private financial support for technology acceleration continues to be important, and certain technologies are becoming clear favorites for investors, according to a recent Bloomberg New Energy Finance analysis.
A California Council on Science and Technology report demonstrates how biomass and biofuels will help meet the state's emission reduction goals through 2050, achieving emissions levels 80 percent below 1990 levels.
Notes from Associate Editor Erin Voegele's trip to Netherlands.
Partnerships keep on forming for Kior, the renewable crude oil developer that has plans to construct and operate a commercial-scale plant in Columbus, Mississippi, and a new partnership with Catchligh could prove to be one the best.
Virent Energy Systems Inc. recently announced it has successfully converted plant sugars into paraxylene. When combined with existing PET technology, the PX molecule allows manufacturers to offer customers 100 percent biobased PET and packaging.
If early fuel property tests are any indication of future success for the Energy & Environmental Research Center's (EERC) work on a combined coal and biomass feedstock-based fuel, the future looks pretty good.
Vinod Khosla believes that renewable energy ventures like LS9 or Amyris are worth the risk. Along with several members from the oil majors, he spoke about renewable fuels and the promise of the future during a recent ethanol summit.
Independence Bio-Products has been issued a patent for its open pond algae production system. The patent includes methods and systems for growing algae in water and drying with heat sources, and the use of covers as a heat alternative.
OpenAlgae, a Houston-based algae developer formed in 2008 with help from the University of Texas, hasn't been "blowing its own horn" for the past few years, according to CEO Hoyt Thomas. That is until now.
The racing season is in full swing across the globe for nearly every type of vehicle, and for two teams set to compete in a 24-hour race in Germany, a blend of renewable diesel and biodiesel might be the secret to earning a victory.
Enerkem announced June 1 the closing of $60 million in financing. Valero became a new investor in the company as part of an equity round, joining existing investors Waste Management Inc., Rho Ventures, Braemar Energy Ventures and Cycle Capital.
Two Italian-based companies, oil and gas company Eni and bioplastics developer Novamont, have formed a joint venture to build a biorefinery at a petrochemical plant in Italy. The facility will be referred to as the "Green Centre."
Oxford and Velocys scale-up their microchannel BTL process, taking it from a small demo plant in Austria to a larger commercial facility in Brazil.
Diamond Green Diesel, a joint venture of Darling International and Valero Energy, has secured financing for the construction of its renewable diesel plant in Norco, La. According to information released by Darling, Valero is financing the project.
ZeaChem Inc. announced on June 1 a binding, multiyear joint development agreement with Procter & Gamble to accelerate commercialization of drop-in biobased chemicals. P&G and ZeaChem will research, develop and commercialize this new product platform.
Novozymes has formed an early-stage partnership with Meihua Group in China to develop food additives, such as glutamic acid, lysine and threonine, from biomass. China is also the world's largest consumer of MSG, using 1.8 million tons annually.
Alltech opened one of the largest algae production facilities in the world in April, and now the company has revived its plans to build the farm of the future. The farm would truly be a closed-loop system, said Alltech's Becky Timmons.
A pilot-scale project in Olgergen, Holland, is investigating the use of algae cultivation as a method to remove nutrients from wastewater. The project, under development by Ingrepro Renewables, is housed at Waterstromen bv.
Tune in for algae TV
May 27, 2011
Is a team of researchers from the University of Arkansas developing an algae-to-butanol process the next big thing in reality TV? Let's hope so.
A company in the northern region of the Netherlands that already produces second-generation biobased methanol from glycerin, BioMCN, is working to develop a new plant that would produce the same chemical from woody biomass.
MBD Energy Ltd. has placed a firm order for a large-scale algae extraction system from California-based OriginOil Inc. to be installed at its coal power station in Tarong, Australia. The order follows recent trials of the equipment by MBD.
Political support needed to jumpstart growth of domestic biofuels industry.
A team of researchers at State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry are experimenting with different strains of microorganisms to efficiently ferment sugars, extracted from wood, into biobutanol and other biochemicals.
An international collaboration of nine partners from seven countries has come together to form the BIOFAT project that focuses on the feasibility of producing ethanol, biodiesel and other bioproducts derived from microalgae on commercial scale.
Private companies, government agencies and research institutions are working together to build a biobased economy in Holland, with a focus on renewable chemistry. Holland's chemical sector created nearly $68 billion in revenue last year.
Amsterdam-based Avantium is developing solutions to produce biobased plastics using existing infrastructure. The catalyst-development company spun off from Shell in 2000, and began transitioning into biobased material development in 2005.
A team of NDSU researchers is working to develop biobased composite building materials. The North Dakota Renewable Energy Council recently awarded the project, titled Biobased Non-Isocyanate Urethane Hybrid Resins, a two-year, $200,000 grant.
Advertisement
@ Copyright 2026 - BBI International - All rights reserved.