Posted by Joanna Schroeder/An ethanol plant that stops looking for ways to diversify its business and improve its profits is an ethanol plant that will drown faster in bad weather. A new option for the ethanol industry to diversify is to add a biodiesel plant to the end of its corn oil extraction technology. This idea lends itself one step closer to a true biorefinery.

So what is the value proposition of doing this? Profits, as Mark Fashian, president of Ethanol Analytical Solutions (EAS) and Biodiesel Analytical Solutions (BAS) explained to me during a Skype interview following the Fuel Ethanol Workshop recently held in Indianapolis, Indiana. For example, Fashian said a 100 million gallon per year ethanol plant will sell 100 million RINS. By adding a 3 million gallon biodiesel plant you’ll make your plant more valuable because each of these gallons is worth 1.5 RINS, or an additional 4.5 million in total. Leer más »

By Erin Voegele/Events planned in Thailand and India aim to provide interested parties with knowledge and information related to each country’s respective biodiesel industry. Bangkok, Thailand is hosting the Clean Power Asia conference June 28-30, while the Center for Jatropha Promotion & Biodiesel (CJP) will hold the 4th Global Jatropha Hi-tech Integrated Nonfood Biodiesel Farming & Technology Training Programme in Jaipur, India Sept. 14-18.

“Thailand is committed to the low-carbon pathway,” said Twarath Sutabutr, deputy director of the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency within Thailand’s Ministry of Energy. Sutabutr is leading the list of speakers for this week’s event. Leer más »

By National Biodiesel Board | January 12, 2011/ NBB CEO Joe Jobe is among the five speakers presenting during the biodiesel symposium at the 2011 North American International Auto Show.

National Biodiesel BoardThe North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit has long been known as the event of the year for the latest vehicle technologies and innovations, setting the pace and direction for the world’s economic future. What more fitting venue, then, to also highlight the fuel that will be used increasingly now and in the future to power these vehicles in a cleaner, greener, more sustainable manner: biodiesel—America’s first advanced biofuel. Leer más »

UK explorers claim fastest Antarctic land crossing.

LONDON — A British expedition team say they have broken previous records to achieve the fastest ever land crossing of Antarctica.

The Moon Regan Transantarctic Expedition left Union Glacier on November 25 and arrived on the Ross Ice Shelf on Thursday, after covering 1,945.9 kms in 303 hours, it announced on its website.

The ten-man crew of researchers, scientists and explorers will now retrace their tracks to the South Pole, and back to the west coast at Union Glacier. Leer más »

DANIEL LOOKER, Business Editor.After meeting with Republican leaders Tuesday morning Senator Chuck Grassley, the ranking GOP member of the Senate Finance Committee, told reporters that 71 tax credits that expired in 2009 as well as credits expiring this month will be renewed to last through the end of 2011 as part of the tax deal worked out between Congress and the White House.

“I’m led to believe the extenders of 2009 would be extended for the years 2010 and 2011,” the Iowa Senator said. That would be good news for the struggling biodiesel industry, which lost its $1-a-gallon tax credit at the end of 2009. Leer más »

Algae Fuels, a corporate technology group in Chile, has created a biodiesel from microalgae in the Mejillones’ Pilot plant. This pioneering initiative was aimed at obtaining energy based on renewable and domestic sources, at the same time reducing CO2 emissions.

Algae Fuels is a group of companies such as Copec, E-CL, Rentapack, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile and Bioscan and is financially supported by both the Corporations for the Promotion of Production (Corfo) and InnovaChile. Leer más »

By James Cartledge/A consortium of scientists and engineers from public and private sectors, as well as academia, has successfully produced biodiesel using oil extracted from algae.

The National Alliance for Biofuels and Bioproducts (NAABB), which received a $44 million stimulus grant in January (see this BrighterEnergy.org story), produced the biodiesel from algae that meets specifications set by the American Society for Testing and Materials. Leer más »

WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Oct. 21 urged Congress to reinstate the biodiesel tax credit and extend the ethanol tax credit. By: Jerry Hagstrom, Special to Agweek.

Vilsack also announced a range of federal assistance for renewable energy development through the Biomass Crop Assistance Program established in the 2008 farm bill. Leer más »

* USDA to help fund five biorefineries, bioenergy plants

* Subsidizes 10,000 blender pumps and storage tanks

* Also helps pay to produce, store, ship new crops

* Vilsack to Congress: renew industry tax credits (Updates with quote, additional details.)

WASHINGTON, Oct 21 (Reuters) – The U.S. Agriculture Department will provide new subsidies to increase production, storage and distribution of biofuels Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on Thursday. Leer más »

Motorists may face yet another handle at the gas pump — in addition to the E-85 and normal motor fuel choices at this gas station. The new E-15 would be for use only in vehicles built since 2007.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it now will allow up to 15% ethanol to be blended with gasoline in motor fuel — but only for use in cars and trucks built since 2007.

Engine valve damaged by carbon buildup from fuel with 20% ethanol. The blend created resin in a fiberglass boat fuel tank and the resulting gunk coated the valve. Leer más »