US researchers hail biofuel breakthrough
Posted in: Biomas, Butanol | Comments (0)
According to newenergyworldnetwork Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, US, have found away to produce isobutanol, which can be used as a biofuel, using bacteria.
Compared to ethanol, isobutanol has an energy density and chemical properties much more similar to gasoline and can be blended with gasoline in any ratio, removing the need for specially designed fuel tanks and vehicles.
It can be produced from the same kind of plant feedstocks used for ethanol, including straw, lumber waste and plants such as switchgrass that are specially grown as biofuel feedstocks.
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admin @ March 9, 2011
European carbon allowances for airline fuel in 2012
Posted in: Policy | Comments (0)
The European Commission will use new emissions data to calculate the number of aviation carbon allowances it will make available from 2012.
According to newenergyworldnetwork the legislative body estimated that, based on average emissions between 2004 and 2006, carbon emissions for all flights covered by the emissions trading system will exceed 219 million tonnes.
Based on this data, it plans to make just under 213 million tonnes of carbon aviation allowances available in 2012, which will fall to about 208.5 million tonnes of carbon allowances each year after.
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admin @ March 8, 2011
Lufthansa becomes first airline to use biofuel on commercial flights
Posted in: Biodiesel | Comments (0)
As reported by NewEnergyWorldNetwork Lufthansa will become the first airline to use biofuel on commercial flights, with plans to launch the first flights next year as part of a €6.6m project.
The project is backed by the German government within the framework of its aviation research programme aimed at underpinning the sustainability of air traffic and follows an earlier announcement that the airline hoped to use biofuels on commercial flights by 2012.
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admin @ December 2, 2010
Spain May Cut Subsidies for New Photovoltaic Plants Today, Cinco Dias Says
Posted in: Fuel cells, Solar | Comments (0)
As reported by Bloomberg Spain may reduce subsidized rates for power from new photovoltaic solar generators during a cabinet meeting today, Cinco Dias reported, citing unidentified people.
Plants built on open land will receive 45 percent less than the current price they’re paid, the report said. Rates will decline 25 percent for large rooftop solar panels installations and by 5 percent for small ones, typically on homes, the report said.
The draft decree to be considered today would end subsidies after the first 25 years of a plant’s life, the newspaper said.
admin @ November 19, 2010
Neste Oil launches Singapore renewable diesel facility in clean fuel effort
Posted in: Biodiesel | Comments (0)
New Energy World reports that Finland-based oil refinery Neste Oil has opened a €550m renewable diesel production plant in Singapore.
With plans to ramp-up production of its NExBTL renewable diesel on a phased basis, the new plant marks a step forward in its clean traffic fuel strategy.
Having formerly focused on fossil fuel refining, Neste Oil has placed its focus on refining low emission fuels at its crude oil refineries in Porvoo and Naantali in Finland.
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admin @ November 16, 2010
Huaneng Power renewable energy spin-offs get IPO approval
Posted in: Wind | Comments (0)
As reported by newenergyworldnetwork Huaneng Power International (HPI) spin-offs Datang Renewable Power and Huaneng New Energy Industrial have both secured approval to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, according to reports.
Datang Renewable Power is seeking the largest gains out of the pair, hoping to raise HK11.7bn ($1.5bn), while Huaneng New Energy is seeking HK7.8bn ($1bn).
Huaneng New Energy has lined up a bigger arsenal of sponsors for its initial public offering, however, including Goldman Sachs, Macquarie, Morgan Stanley and China International Capital.
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admin @ November 15, 2010
Archer Daniels Midland expands biodiesel production
Posted in: Biodiesel | Comments (0)
Brazil’s fifth largest exporter Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), an NYSE-listed company that exports soybean meal and holds 21 per cent of the country’s bottled oil market, plans to construct its second biodiesel plant in a move that will increase its production capacity by more than 50 per cent.
The plant will be located adjacent to ADM’s existing soybean crushing and refining facilities in Joaçaba in Santa Catarina, and is slated to have an annual biodiesel production capacity of 164,000 metric tons.
Having entered the biodiesel trade three years ago, the company has chosen to expand its operations at an opportune moment, with the introduction of a five per cent biodiesel blends three years ahead of planned.
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admin @ November 4, 2010
Green Plains increases senior debt note offering target to $75m
Posted in: Ethanol | Comments (0)
Bioethanol producer Green Plains Renewable Energy has raised the amount it hopes to gain from a senior debt note offering to $75m, having previously sought to gain in the region of $60m.
The Nasdaq-listed company plans to offer convertible senior secure notes that are due to mature in 2015 to qualified institutional buyers.
It has also granted the initial buyers an option to purchase up to an additional $15m notes to cover any over-allotments.
More on page 371
admin @ November 1, 2010
Power product supplier MKS Instruments looks to expand in solar market, secures $20m order
Posted in: Solar | Comments (0)
Nasdaq-listed global power product provider MKS Instruments will supply its new vacuum-related products and power supply networks to an unnamed major Chinese solar cell manufacturer under a new $20m order.
The equipment will be used in the production of photovoltaic (PV) thin-film solar cells and will be installed in two fabrications currently under construction in China, the company said.
‘Our newly designed advanced power supply technology, with its superior power conversion efficiency and high reliability, was a key factor in the selection of MKS for this initial order,’ said Jerry Colella, MKS Instrument’s COO.
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admin @ October 24, 2010
Florida welcomes new Algenol biofuel laboratory
Posted in: Algae, Biodiesel | Comments (0)
Privately-owned biofuel developer Algenol Biofuels, based in Florida in the US, has opened a new green chemistry research and development facility in the state that will commercialise its algae- and bio-based biofuels.
The facility in Fort Myers was made possible with a $10m incentive grant from the Lee County Board of Commissioners and follows a recent $25m federal injection into the company in concert with its laboratory project partner, The Dow Chemical Company.
As well as housing an advanced algae biology, engineering, carbon and green chemistry laboratory as part of its wider Lee Integrated Biorefinery, the new facility will hold the company’s photobioreactors that are used with its proprietary processes to generate ethanol from algae.
‘With the opening of our new biofuels and green chemistry facility, we aim to make Florida a hub for green, clean technology innovation that will create jobs, lessen our dependence on foreign oil and reduce carbon pollution,’ said Algenol CEO Paul Woods.
More on page 364
admin @ October 24, 2010

