http://www.biofueldaily.com/index.html Fri, 30 JUL 2010 14:30:39 AEST Fri, 30 JUL 2010 14:30:39 AEST en-us Environmental and industry groups that frequently oppose each other on a broad range of policy issues are launching a joint campaign calling on Congress to require thorough and objective scientific testing before allowing an increase in the amount of ethanol in gasoline. Raising strong concerns about consumer safety and environmental protection, the groups have joined forces to sponsor an ]]> Fri, 30 JUL 2010 14:30:39 AEST SynGest Inc. announced that the Iowa Power Fund and Iowa Office of Energy Independence are in final negotiations for a contract in the amount of $2.5 million for the development and commercialization of SynGest's bioammonia production technology in the state of Iowa. The award is subject to final contract negotiations, board approval, and contract execution. The contract would provide a gr]]> Fri, 30 JUL 2010 14:30:39 AEST Sensors currently used to monitor the quality of diesel fuel and biodiesel blended fuels during engine operation are unable to adequately detect certain important fuel quality concerns. Alan Hansen, professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the University of Illinois, and his colleagues are working to develop new technologies to improve these commercially-available sensors. ]]> Fri, 30 JUL 2010 14:30:39 AEST America's growing interest in renewable fuels has spurred a robust discussion about the pros and cons of continuing or changing current U.S. federal government ethanol policies, specifically, (1) mandates to increase the use of renewable fuels like ethanol from approximately 13 billion gallons today to 36 billion gallons by 2022, (2) a 45-cent-per-gallon tax credit for "blenders" who add ethanol]]> Fri, 30 JUL 2010 14:30:39 AEST Biomagnetics Diagnostics has announced that Zhuhai Oil Energy Science and Technology has significantly increased its biofuel production capacity at its Guangdong operation. Biomagnetics recently signed a letter of intent to acquire Zhuhai Oil Energy including all assets, intellectual property, plant, equipment, and a previously signed contract to supply cleaner burning biofuels to a local ]]> Fri, 30 JUL 2010 14:30:39 AEST Crops can be produced for bioenergy on a significant scale in west, eastern and southern Africa without doing damage to food production or natural habitats, according to a report produced by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Imperial College London, and CAMCO International. The study was released at the 5th African Agriculture Science Week in Burkina Faso. "If approache]]> Fri, 30 JUL 2010 14:30:39 AEST The oil extracted from oleaginous plants can be used as a fuel for agricultural vehicles without any reduction in their performance - thus enabling farmers to have greater energy self-sufficiency. Besides this, a sub-product known as oilseedcake is extracted, and which is optimum fodder for animal herds, given its significant protein and fatty acids content. The Basque Institute for Agricu]]> Fri, 30 JUL 2010 14:30:39 AEST Scientists are working hard to develop the tools and find the organisms to break down the complex structure of plant cellulose into its component sugars - the key step toward fermentation of those sugars into usable biofuel. This process needs to be simple and economically efficient before cellulosic biofuels can compete with fossil fuels for transportation energy use. As with any explorat]]> Fri, 30 JUL 2010 14:30:39 AEST Boeing has announced its ecoDemonstrator Program for accelerating environmental technologies. The ecoDemonstrator Program will emphasize emerging technologies in the areas of fuel efficiency, noise reduction and operational efficiency, while readying technologies at a faster pace for aviation applications. "Commercial aviation is in rapid pursuit of its goal of carbon-neutral growth by 202]]> Fri, 30 JUL 2010 14:30:39 AEST With pressure mounting to reduce dependence on petroleum products, CSIRO has convened the meeting to coincide with the International Symposium on Plant Lipids which is being held in Cairns from July 11-16. "In the face of increasing CO2 emissions and the knowledge that petroleum reserves are finite, it is imperative to develop and implement the technologies needed to help switch to a bio-b]]> Fri, 30 JUL 2010 14:30:39 AEST Gestamp Biomass and Clean Power Development have announced the signing of an agreement under which they will work together to develop, finance and operate biomass energy projects across the Northeast region of the United States. Clean Power Development is a Concord-based renewable energy development company focused on wood biomass-fueled electrical and thermal production projects. Gestamp ]]> Fri, 30 JUL 2010 14:30:39 AEST If the advanced biofuel industry is to grow to meet national goals for reducing reliance on imported oil, then enduring federal commitment is vital to maintaining progress in research, development and investment in building infrastructure. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has called on Congress to help the industry secure investment by strengthening and extending federal tax i]]> Fri, 30 JUL 2010 14:30:39 AEST BP and Verenium has announced an agreement for BP Biofuels North America to acquire Verenium's cellulosic biofuels business, including the Company's facilities in Jennings, LA and San Diego, CA for $98.3 million. Verenium will retain its commercial enzyme business, including its biofuels enzymes products and have the right to develop its own lignocellulosic enzyme program. Verenium will al]]> Fri, 30 JUL 2010 14:30:39 AEST By imaging the cell walls of a zinnia leaf down to the nanometer scale, energy researchers have a better idea about how to turn plants into biofuels. In a paper appearing online in the journal Plant Physiology, a team from Lawrence Livermore led by Michael Thelen, in collaboration with researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, has used fo]]> Fri, 30 JUL 2010 14:30:39 AEST BP Biofuels North America, a unit of oil giant BP, acquired the cellulosic biofuels business of Verenium Corp. for $98.3 million, the two companies announced Thursday. The agreement gives BP control of Verenium's research and development facilities in San Diego and a pilot plant and demonstration-scale facility in Jennings, La. Cambridge, Mass.-based Verenium will retain control of its ]]> Fri, 30 JUL 2010 14:30:39 AEST