Pushing Back: Biofuels Industry

By Ron Kotrba

Big Food's sustained assault on biofuels has spurred the industry to take a new, more assertive stance.

Sugarcane Economics

By Erin Voegele

Although the sugarcane-based ethanol industry is booming in Brazil, only a handful of companies are developing processing plants in the U.S., where market conditions in most parts of the country can't support them. A few projects are poised to thrive in unique pockets of the country, but the crop's real potential will rely upon the commercialization of cellulosic technologies.

The Importance of Environmental Risk Protection

By Kris Bevill

Ethanol is an environmentally friendly fuel, especially compared with petroleum-based fuels, but that doesn't mean there are no environmental risks involved in the production process. For a variety of reasons, environmental insurance should be considered when determining how best to protect a company's investment.

Catalysts of Efficiency

By Susanne Retka Schill

Genencor shares an inside view of the ethanol process, with a focus on optimizing enzyme use.

Tackling Indirect Land Use

By Susanne Retka Schill

If a tree falls in the Amazon should American biofuels be held responsible?

Craving Corn and the Cob

By Ryan C. Christiansen

The ethanol industry's declaration of energy independence for the U.S. is leading producers to generate more energy from an acre of corn.

DDGS: Supplying Demand

By Ryan C. Christiansen

The success of the dry-mill ethanol production process means that in the near future, the ethanol industry could produce more distillers grains than the domestic livestock feed market and the fledgling export market will bear. Distillers dried grains with solubles is already considered by many to be an undervalued co-product of ethanol production. How will the ethanol industry expand the market and how will they move it all from here to there?

A Shocking Ethanol Enhancer

By Anna Austin

Squeezing more ethanol from a bushel of corn is one way for an ethanol producer to stay on top of his game. California-based OptiSwitch Technology has developed a process that could increase ethanol production by 5 percent or more, using high-power silicon switches to apply voltage to the cell walls of the corn kernel.

The Art of Biomass Pelletizing

By Ryan C. Christiansen

Pelletizing biomass can be challenging. The lack of a one-size-fits-all process means that it can be more art than science.

Last year, a significant amount of coal-fired power plant proposals were shot down by regulators, and an increasing number of utilities are developing plans to convert to biomass. Is this a trend and, if so, will it continue?

Contaminated Sites = Renewable Energy Hotspots

By Jessica Ebert

To encourage the reuse of contaminated lands for renewable energy production facilities, the U.S. EPA has developed an interactive Google Earth map that tracks these sites and provides information on the potential of each property for biomass energy, solar or wind development.

Synthesizing Multiple Feedstocks Into Quality B100

By Ron Kotrba

For many biodiesel producers, volatile commodity markets and paper-thin margins mean feedstock flexibility is absolutely critical for survival. Biodiesel Magazine interviews several different "multifeedstock" technology providers about their approach to processing with flexibility, and fuel quality, in mind.

Glycerin: Research Turns Up New Uses

By Erin Voegele

Researchers worldwide are stepping up efforts to develop new uses for crude glycerin. Once commercialized, these technologies have the potential to improve the economics of biodiesel production.

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee Biodiesel

By Susanne Retka Schill

Diesel-powered vehicles could emit the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee, thanks to the research being conducted at the University of Nevada-Reno.

The ethanol industry was hit hard in 2008 with a steep rise in corn prices. However, the episode should provide a risk management advantage in 2009.

The 2009 Corn Market Outlook

By Darin Newsom

The ethanol industry faced steep challenges in 2008 as corn prices touched record highs. 2009 is providing a fresh start and the possibility of a return to normalcy.

Initial RFS Audits, Updated Rules Require Comprehensive Evaluations

By Wade Watson

Tracking the Renewable Identification Numbers required by the renewable fuels standard is a daunting task. The first full year of the system provided experience that will pay off in the future.

A large wood pellet plant looked to experience in the panelboard industry for a proven approach to controlling its emissions. A reliable technology provided the answer for its low emissions goal.

The potential to use biomass as a low-cost fuel that reduces carbon footprint is growing. The equipment options for firing biomass to replace fossil fuel in plant operations are equally vast.