VERBIO Vereinigte BioEnergie AG (VERBIO) has just opened the world’s first industrial straw processing plant for the production of biomethane in Zörbig, Saxony-Anhalt. Marketed as verbiogas, the fuel is produced from agricultural residue, with VERBIO consciously refusing to use raw materials which could otherwise be used for food production. “I’m very proud that we’ve managed [...]
Biodiesel Drives Your Energy Further
This is a guest post from Richard Kirk. He is an activist in the green movement and enjoys researching and distributing tips and ideas that will help improve the future well-being of our planet. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel for diesel engines derived from vegetable oils or animal fats. It is made from renewable sources, [...]
World’s first continuous algae-breeding facility starts operation on a commercial scale
Recently, Vattenfall, the largest thermal energy suppliers in Europe, celebrated the opening of a commercial algae-breeding facility at their premises in Senftenberg (Brandenburg), Germany. The facility, supplied by the Austrian company ecoduna, will use CO2 from the nearby power station, thereby reducing CO2 emissions. Vattenfall has been running tests on the reduction of CO2 through [...]
Bio – Isobutanol on the Large Scale
It’s been a while since I posted an article. I’ve been busy with my own CleanChem Startup. But here is some news that you should know about. Do you remember? The InnovativeIndustry.net blog previously published an article about biobutanol. Now, one of the companies mentioned therein – in particular Gevo – announced to enter a [...]
The Food vs. Fuel Controversy
A few years ago, the world faced new price highs for a number of food commodities. Generally, increasing biofuel production was blamed responsible for those highs. Although it was proven several times that the growing energy crop production did not and still does not affect food prices, the myth still remains for some reason. It [...]
World’s First Commercial Cellulosic Ethanol Plant
The good news: After developing the technology, improving enzymes and yield and building demonstration plants, it is finally getting serious. The building of the first commercial scale cellulosic ethanol plant has begun. Novozymes partner Mossi & Ghisolfi Group (M&G) started construction of the world’s first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant. The plant will produce 13 million [...]
Biobutanol Enters the Biofuel Stage
According to estimation from DuPont the biofuel industry worldwide will grow from a $50 billion opportunity today to a $75 billion opportunity by 2015. Besides the already well known biodiesel and bioethanol a further promising biofuel is on the rise. Biobutanol! While being currently used as an industrial solvent and mostly produced via petrochemical processing, [...]
Biofuels in the Airline Industry
Just a few years ago, it seemed to be absurd to replace kerosene based aviation fuels with biofuels derived from renewable resources. The cost of producing alternative fuels that meet the high requirements in this industry was the economically restricting factor. What happened? The 2008 spike in oil prices boosted new interest. Today, biofuels offer [...]
Biofuel Investments of Major Oil Companies Part 3
This is the final piece of the 3 part article about biofuel investments of major oil companies. To read the first part, follow this link. To read the second part, follow this link. Shell Royal Dutch Shell claims to be the world’s biggest distributor of biofuels, distributing 9 billion liters in 2009 – mainly ethanol [...]
Biofuel Investments of Major Oil Companies Part 2
Are major oil companies already preparing for the post-fossil-fuel-age? Within recent years, big oil corporations are increasingly involved into research and development of different petroleum alternatives and now, they seem to focus on commercial viable biofuels. The petroleum industry is aware of rising crude oil prices, a rising demand of energy and an increasing environmental pollution. To contribute to these circumstances, a variety of joint ventures with smaller biofuel or biotechnology firms have started to exploit the potential of renewable fuels.