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 [...]
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.
Biofuel Investments of Big Oil Companies Part 1
Is Big Oil going green? Have you ever thought about the involvement of major oil companies in R&D or distribution of biofuels? Yeah… just like me! But I was disabused of the notion that most oil companies are predators who exploit earth’s resources, pollute the environment, rake in money and if they do something that [...]
Do Algae biofuels need 10 more years of R&D to compete?
According to the Energy Biosciences Institute at the University of California at Berkeley the algae biofuels industry is still in its infancy. The Institute published a survey of the state of industrial algae fuel production. Current commercial biomass production from algae is mostly restricted to nutritional products. The authors state: “Despite the scores, if not [...]
The Algae Biofuel Revolution
Currently, algae receive great attention due to their potential to become an alternative to fossil fuels. There is much talk about this new source of biomass for the generation of renewable energy and maybe some other commodity chemicals too. Algae can yield a high amount of biomass per unit of light and area, do not [...]
BtL Technology: The Future of Biofuels?
Attaining and expanding energy resources are a great challenge to the economic sustainability of a rising number of countries. Furthermore, biofuels have become crucial for the energy security and the diversification of energy supply for almost every nation. Biomass to Liquids (BtL) technology is maybe at the most vital phase of its evolution with escalating [...]
Most Widespread Types of Biofuels: Part 2
read the first part of this article Biofuels of the 2nd generation Besides the already mentioned, there are several further kinds of biofuels bearing tremendous potential to impact the future of transportation and energy fuels. Energy crops, agricultural residues, forestry residues, algae and other non-food cellulosic materials are refined for the production of second generation [...]
Biofuels – Overview
Due to global recognition of diminishing oil reserves and the devastating ecological impact of modern fossil fuel consumption, the urgent need for alternatives increases. The availability of energy in our current global framework, which is basically the fundament of global prosperity, relies extensively on the availability of fossil crude oil. As fossil fuels provide around [...]
Subscribe
to RSS Feeds