| | | | | | Top Story
 DOE taps three new algal fuels consortia
Awards $24 million to address key algal fuels challenges; releases National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap
Speaking at the BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing in Washington, DC yesterday, the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Cathy Zoi announced the investment of up to $24 million for three research groups to tackle key hurdles in the commercialization of algae-based biofuels.
The selections will support the development of a clean, sustainable transportation sector - a goal of the Department's continued effort to spur the creation of the domestic bio-industry while creating jobs.
At the same time, Zoi announced the release of the final version of the National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap, a draft of which was released last June, based on workshop results from a meeting in DC that attracted 200 stakeholders. The final report reflects the substantive comments received during the public comment phase and, according to the DOE, "is intended to guide future work and investments in algal biofuels."
A complete report on the three selected consortia, and a download of the full National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap, plus more heard from the floor at the BIO World Congress, at biofuelsdigest.com.
| | Producer News
In Illinois, Elevance Renewable Sciences announced that it has entered into an agreement to form a joint venture with Wilmar International, one of the largest global agribusiness groups, to construct a world scale biorefinery. The joint venture will use Elevance's proprietary biorefinery technology to produce high-value performance chemicals, advanced biofuels and oleochemicals.
In Washington state, a $1.2 million investment by Snohomish County in a grain dryer and seed crusher for local production of biodiesel from nearby-grown canola is drawing fire.
In Colorado, ZeaChem has announced the successful production of ethanol at a capacity that can be scaled to commercial production. Its results have been confirmed by third party vendors who will enable production of ZeaChem biofuels and bio-based chemicals.
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| | Opinion
Brent Erickson, Exec VP, BIO, in his BIO World Congress opening remarks: "I think we all know now that there are limits to what governments can do for advanced biofuels, particularly in the area of commercialization and scale. The private sector has to step up and become more active."
Iowa Governor Chet Culver, chair of the Governors' Biofuels Coalition: "If we can't extend the biodiesel tax credit, how can we even think about anything beyond that relating to renewable energy?"
| | International News
In the Netherlands, BioMCN has fired up its new second-generation methanol plant in Delfzijl, which at 250 liters per year capacity is said to be the largest in the world.
In Australia, the country's first grain-based ethanol plant has been put into administration-a first step towards bankruptcy.
In Zimbabwe, local chiefs have given the thumbs up to the proposed $600 million Chisumbanje ethanol project.
| | Research News
In California, the Milken Institute has released a new report looking at ways to jumpstart intensive investment in the biofuels sector and especially R&D after years of fading involvement in the industry.
| | Policy and Policymakers
In Washington, the Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) posted a Request for Information (RFI) from theon FedBizOpps this past Friday. This is DESC's first step toward procurement of commercial, as opposed to test, quantities of aviation and marine biofuels for military use.
| | Consumer, Fleet, Event News
In California, Growth Energy is offering pre-paid gas cards that include five free gallons of E85 or biodiesel at Sacramento-area gas stations through July 4 along with ethanol and biodiesel retailer Propel Fuels.
| | Advanced Biofuels Tracking Database and 100+ Free Downloads
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1. Advanced Biofuels Tracking Database - download your free copy, tracking 65+ pilot, demo and commercial projects.
2. Biofuels Investments details 81 investments made in 2009 by biofuels companies or in the biofuels sector, totaling $8.737 billion in 18 countries.
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| | Financial News
The Biofuels Digest Index™ (BDI), a basket of public biofuels stocks, fell 0.20 percent to 59.77 on ethanol declines. For the day, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) gained 1.18 percent to $26.65, while BP recovered 0.11 percent to close at $27.05. Among smaller caps, Gushan (GU) gained 34.18 percent to $1.06. Overall, declines led advances 2 to 1 for the day.
| | Camelina Aviation Biofuels Study
 1 billion gallons of Camelina biofuel are projected to be produced for the aviation and biodiesel sectors by 2025, creating 25,000 new jobs; producing over $5.5 billion in new revenues and $3.5 billion in new agricultural income for U.S. and Canadian farmers. The projections are contained in "Camelina Aviation Biofuels Market Opportunity and Renewable Energy Strategy Report," released today by Biomass Advisors, the research division of Biofuels Digest.
"Camelina Aviation Biofuels Market Opportunity and Renewable Energy Strategy Report," is 116 pages, and includes more than 60 figures, tables and charts, along with regional crop forecast maps for visualizing business opportunities and planning infrastructure needs. The report is available for a purchase price of $695. More information here.
| | These stories and more are available at BiofuelsDigest.com. Your comments and story requests are warmly welcome: email me at jlane@biofuelsdigest.com.
Digest Staff:
Editor & Publisher: Jim Lane
Senior editors: Joelle Brink, Meghan Sapp, Marc Favreau
Assistant Editors: Michael Theroux, Thomas Saidak
Editorial Assistant: Isabel Lane
Columnists: Will Thurmond, Dr. Rosalie Lober
Director of Sales: Steve North
Disclosure: I do not own any renewable energy securities; no payments or compensation of any kind is received in return for placing articles or favorable opinion in the Digest - Jim Lane, Editor and Publisher, Biofuels Digest.
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