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Biofuels

Valero idles two US ethanol plants on low margins

Valero suspended production last week at its Albion, Neb., ethanol plant, while its Linden, Ind., facility shut down production on Tuesday. Each plant has the capacity to produce 120 million gal/year of ethanol.

Brazil ethanol industry needs years to recover lost production, says IEA

Brazil's ethanol industry will take several years to recover from recent production setbacks due to aging agricultural infrastructure and economic uncertainties, an official at the International Energy Agency said. Brazil's growers are struggling to bounce back from a bad crop in 2011-12

Global liquid fuels demand seen rising 0.9%/yr - EIA

Global liquid-fuels demand is expected to rise by 0.9% between 2010 and 2035, to 109.5 million bpd, with the world becoming more reliant on OPEC oil, according to a new US government forecast released on Monday. OPEC's share of world demand will rise to 41.9% in 2035 from 39.7% in 2010.

Gevo eyes Malaysia for cellulosic isobutanol plant

After a year of ongoing development work in Malaysia, Gevo is strategically partnering along the supply chain to provide bio-based isobutanol at a cost-competitive price. The company is in the final stages of evaluating additional partners to complete the biomass to isobutanol value chain, it said.

Enerkem opens cellulosic ethanol plant at Québec waste-to-fuel facility

Waste-to-biofuels and chemicals company Enerkem has begun initial production of cellulosic ethanol from waste materials at its demonstration facility in Westbury, Québec. Enerkem, which converts garbage into gases that are processed into ethanol and chemicals, may soon license its technology.

Gevo starts up commercial bio-based isobutanol plant in Minnesota

Next-generation biofuels company Gevo has successfully started up what it says is the world’s first commercial bio-based isobutanol production plant, located in Luverne, Minnesota. Gevo said it expects to reach full-capacity run rates by year-end 2013 after a run rate of 1 million gal/ month by late 2012.

EPA could double fraudulent US biofuel claims

HP Editorial Staff: HP News Services

Republicans say they have evidence the EPA may double the number of US biodiesel credits it has deemed fraudulent, raising the specter of more financial penalties for refiners.

Neste Oil produces renewable diesel in Singapore from waste fish fat

Neste Oil has expanded the range of renewable raw materials it uses by producing NExBTL renewable diesel at its Singapore refinery from waste fat sourced by the fish processing industry. Waste fish fat is also accepted as a raw material for renewable fuel in the US, according to the company.

E15 ethanol fuel can damage auto engines - study

Compared with typical gasoline, issues include damaged valves and valve seats, misfires, lower performance, engine damage, poor fuel economy and increased emissions.

UOP licenses 'green' diesel production technology to US transport fuels firm

Honeywell’s UOP has agreed to license technology to Emerald Biofuels to produce the company’s Green Diesel at a facility in Louisiana. Chemically identical to petroleum-based diesel, Honeywell’s Green Diesel can be used in any proportion in existing fuel tanks without infrastructure changes.