Poet puts dedicated ethanol pipeline project on hold
By Poet LLC
January 20, 2012
Citing slim prospects for a federal loan guarantee, Poet LLC has decided to put a dedicated ethanol pipeline on hold in order to focus on other priorities.
Success in San Francisco
January 20, 2012
This past week in San Francisco, Calif., was a big success. The Pacific West Biomass Conference & Trade Show was a great event, packed with interesting presentations and a lot of new faces.
Algae technology developer OriginOil Inc. and Idaho National Lab have announced plans to co-develop an integrated system for direct conversion of algae into renewable crude oil that can be refined into a host of advanced biofuels and biochemicals.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Jan. 20 that USDA has approved a conditional commitment for a $25 million guaranteed loan for Fiberight LLC to build a biorefinery plant with funding support from USDA's Biorefinery Assistance Program.
OPXBio's proprietary conversion platform, trademarked EDGE (Efficiency Directed Genome Engineering), incorporates a novel genome optimization technology invented at CU-Boulder by Michael Lynch, then a graduate student working with professor R. Gill.
An increasing number of specialty chemical manufacturers are broadening their product portfolios to become global suppliers of biochemicals. Arkema bought two Chinese chemical companies, while Vantage Specialty Chemicals was sold to The Jordan Co.
Renewable polymer developer Novomer Inc. has entered into a joint development agreement with Penford Corp. to commercialize sustainable packaging using a combination of starch and polypropylene carbonate-based thermoplastic polymer composites.
USDA launches renewable energy data website
January 19, 2012
The USDA has launched a new energy website dedicated to providing information and statistics related to the agency's energy efficiency and renewable energy data.
The U.S. EPA said it's not aware of any sources that would be adversely impacted by the recent court ruling that vacated the stay on the Maximum Achievable Control Technology rules.
Lux Research rates winners in the biochemicals and biomaterials space, and some of the usual suspects are at the top.
Verdezyne Inc. has been granted a U.S. patent titled "Engineered Microorganisms With Enhanced Fermentation Activity" for an engineered yeast and class of enzymes it developed, which can be used to ferment hard-to-process xylose from lignocellulosics.
Public and private enterprises in Oregon are working diligently to develop and expand a local biobased economy, including new energy feedstocks and advanced biofuels development.
Rep. Pete Olson, R-Texas, introduced legislation on Jan. 17 that would amend the Clean Air Act to allow ethanol produced from domestic fossil fuel sources other than petroleum to qualify as a conventional biofuel under the RFS beginning this year.
Verdezyne receives patent for xylose-eating yeast
January 18, 2012
California-based biotechnology developer Verdezyne has been granted a U.S. patent for an engineered yeast and class of enzymes it developed which can be used to ferment the abundant, but hard-to-process, xylose found in cellulosic feedstocks.
Exports of DDGS are expected to reach 7.72 million metric tons by the end 2011, down from the record 9.03 million metric tons exported in 2010, although up from the 2009 total, which was 5.65 million metric tons.
Public and private enterprises in Oregon are working diligently to develop and expand a local biobased economy, according to speakers at the Pacific West Biomass Conference & Trade Show.
The Manitoba, Canada, Biomass Energy Support Program (MBESP) has officially been implemented, providing coal users in Manitoba grants up to $400,000 to finance the switch from coal to biomass energy.
At the PacWest biomass show in San Francisco, Christine Kelly, an associate professor at Oregon State University, outlined achievements made by private companies, research institutions and universities in the biopower, biomass and biofuel sectors.
Bridging the gap from lab- and pilot-scale through demo and full operation is neither cheap nor quick, said Eric Darmstaedter, president of ClearFuels. At the PacWest show, he walked through the case study of ClearFuels and Rentech's partnership.
By the end of 2011, the U.S. ethanol industry will have exported more than twice the amount of ethanol than was exported the year before. Government data released Jan. 13 shows 1.02 billion gallons of U.S. ethanol was exported through November.
A dedication ceremony was held recently for the Stan Mayfield Biorefinery Pilot Plant in Perry, Fla. -- a cooperative venture between the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and Buckeye Technologies Inc.
MGP, KABB, Kan. universities forge biorefining R&D collaboration
By Bryan Sims
January 17, 2012
The Kansas Alliance for Biorefining and Bioenergy has teamed up with Atchison, Kan.-based MGP Ingredients Inc. and four Kansas universities to develop innovative technologies and bioproducts using biobased raw materials.
Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes made by the biomass industry is not following the lead of the natural gas industry to come up with an industry title that sounds more environmentally friendly, according to Sierra Energy CEO Mike Hart.
Attendees at the 2012 Pacific West Biomass Conference & Trade Show in San Francisco, Calif., Jan. 16-18 had the opportunity to learn about current trends in financing mechanisms during the event's opening general session.
Key factors to fuel handling design and implementation include raw material supply and power purchase agreements, according to Desmond Smith, vice president of Bruks Rockwood Inc. and speaker at the Pacific West Biomass Conference & Trade Show.
Thinning of pinyon-juniper woodlands would create healthier stands, as well as provide biomass feedstock for energy production, according to Mike Baughman, executive director of the Lincoln County, Nev., Regional Development Authority.
Viability of electricity generation from biomass in the Pacific West was the topic of a breakout panel discussion at the Pacific West Biomass Conference & Trade Show in San Fracisco, Calif, Jan. 16-18.
The Kansas Alliance for Biorefining and Bioenergy has teamed up with MGP Ingredients Inc. and four Kansas universities to develop innovative technologies and products using biobased raw materials. KABB is awarding a $1.4 million grant for the work.
Attendees at the 2012 Pacific West Biomass Conference & Trade show in San Francisco had the opportunity to learn about current trends in financing mechanisms during the event's opening general session panel on financing in a tight capital market.
The Florida biorefinery is slated to produce up to 400 gallons of ethanol and 5,000 pounds of organic acids for bioplastics per day. A wide variety of cellulosic feedstocks, such as crop residue and yard waste, will be tested at the pilot facility.
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