JUIZ DE FORA, Brazil, Jan 19 (Reuters) – Brazil on Tuesday opened the world’s first ethanol-fueled power plant in an effort by the South American biofuels giant to increase the global use of ethanol and boost its clean power generation.

State-run oil giant Petrobras (PETR4.SA)(PBR.N) and General Electric Co (GE.N), which helped design the plant, are betting that increased use of ethanol generation by green-conscious countries will boost demand for the product.

Brazil, the top global ethanol exporter, is already in talks with Japan to develop biofuels power generation there. Leer más »

Soybean, one of the most important global sources of protein and oil, is now the first legume species with a published complete draft genome sequence. Credit: Roy Kaltschmidt, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Soybean, one of the most important global sources of protein and oil, is now the first legume species with a published complete draft genome sequence. The sequence and its analysis appear in the January 14 edition of the journal Nature. Leer más »

There has been quite a bit of activity in Brazil during the last few months of 2009 and it looks like it will continue. Bunge Limited announced today that it will become the 100 percent owner of Usina Moema Participacoes S.A.

Moema Par is a holding company that owns one sugarcane mill and has ownership in five others. Together the six mills, known as the Moema Group, have the capacity to crush 15.4 metric tons. This agreement, which is structured as a share exchange worth approximately $896 million, gives Bunge 60 percent effective share of the total capacity. Leer más »

In past days the envelopes with the technical offer of the Official Plan of Renewable Energies (GENREN) bid were opened. The proposing companies are now waiting for the economic offer envelopes.

he Argentine government announced the results of the 1,015 megawatt (MW) renewable energies tender proposed last May. The total offers reached 1,461 MW, a 46% oversubscription. The offers were broken down by technology: 1,203 for wind power; 155.4 MW from biofuels; 54.1 MW from biomass; 14 MW from biogas; 22.5 MW from photovoltaic solar energy; and 12.7 MW from small hydro projects. Leer más »

Energy from the Sahara plants is expected to supply Europe by 2015.

A sustainable energy initiative that will start with a huge solar project in the Sahara desert has been announced by a consortium of 12 European businesses.

The Desertec Industrial Initiative aims to supply Europe with 15% of its energy needs by 2050.

Companies who signed up to the $400bn (£240bn) venture include Deutsche Bank, Siemens and the energy provider E.On. Leer más »

JATROPHA CURCAS, ENERGY AND SOCIAL CULTIVATION

The Second Monographic International Conference on Jatropha Curcas, held during the past 14th and 15th of May in Madrid, fulfilled its objective of showing the current state of this important energy cultivation. Of the hand of Global Energy, the appointment gathered ten important experts at world level with more than 150 conference members interested in the production and commercialization possibilities of the Jatropha Curcas. The reports also highlighted the important social side of this cultivation. Leer más »

It will begin the development of jatropha plantations, cultivation used for the generation of this type of fuels non contaminating (biodiesel), for what will invest, in a first stage, around 300 thousand Eurus. Leer más »

After yesterday’s announcement of the OPEC, the price of the barrel of petroleum exceeded the US $129 dollars for the first time in New York; the naphthas in the entire world raise.Â

After the announcement of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that the production won’t be increased, at least until its meeting of September, the crude marked a new historical record when going over the mark of the US$ 129 in New York. Leer más »

The founders of Google said in November of 2007 that they would dedicate hundred of millions to the renewable energy. They seem to be fulfiling their words, and now next to the big world oil companies.

The Californian company of solar energy BrightSource Energy closed yesterday a financing round of 115 million dollars (about 74 million Eurus) in wich have participated Google, BP, the norwegian oil company StatoilHydro and the firm BlackRiver. Leer más »

The Principles of Sustainability will be integrated in the Financial Operations of Climatic Change of the IDB based on a New Collaboration with the Round Table on Sustainable Fuels.

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