Ethanol Week - December 3, 2012

NREL breakthrough could optimize capture of sugars for biofuel U.S. DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the BioEnergy Science Center scientists combined microscopic imaging methods to gain a greater understanding of the relationships between biomass cell wall structure and enzyme digestibility. READ MORE SHARE
DuPont: Collaborations key in building 30 MMgy cellulosic plant DuPont's 30 MMgy cellulosic ethanol facility currently under construction in Nevada, Iowa, is the culmination of 10 years of work. The company kicked off construction Nov. 30 with a groundbreaking ceremony. READ MORE SHARE
	DuPont breaks ground at 30 MMgy cellulosic ethanol facility DuPont came one step closer to commercializing advanced biofuels by breaking ground on its cellulosic ethanol facility in Nevada, Iowa, on Nov. 30. The more than $200 million facility is expected to be completed in mid-2014. READ MORE SHARE
ICM successfully completes 1,000-hour run at pilot plant ICM Inc. announces that it successfully completed its 1,000-hour run of an integrated fiber campaign conducted at its pilot plant in St. Joseph, Mo. ICM has validated its proprietary Generation 1.5 Integrated Fiber to Cellulosic Ethanol Technology. READ MORE SHARE
DOE awards funding to several biofuel-related energy projects More than $6.1 million in funding has been awarded to four biofuel-related energy technology projects, including research and development in engineered bioenergy crops and a flexible molecular sieve for biofuel production. READ MORE SHARE
	Senate vote gives DOD power to invest in biorefinieries The U.S. Senate wants the U.S.Department of Defense to invest in advanced biofuel facilities. The Senate has passed amendment 3095, issued by Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., by a vote of 54-41, giving the DOD the ability to diversify its fuel mix. READ MORE SHARE
GRFA: G20 fails as subsidies to fossil fuels hit $523 billion The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance is criticizing G20 leaders for failing to hold up their commitment to phase out the costly fossil fuel subsidies that hurt developing economies and slow the development of alternative fuels. READ MORE SHARE
EIA releases monthly ethanol statistics The latest fuel ethanol statistics released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration show that ethanol production for August was down only slightly compared to production levels for the same period of 2011 and 2010. READ MORE SHARE
Scientists analyze optimum load rate for vinasse-to-biogas system A team of Mexican scientists recently published the results of a study that aimed to determine the optimum organic loading rate for operating an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor to generate biogas using waste from sugarcane ethanol production. READ MORE SHARE
Senate votes in favor of DOD, biofuels development The U.S. Senate passed an amendment, issued by Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., by a vote of 62-37 that allows the U.S. Department of Defense to continue its development and work in the advanced biofuels sector. READ MORE SHARE
Syngenta, Bonanza BioEnergy announce commercial agreement Syngenta in North America announces it has signed a commercial agreement with Bonanza BioEnergy to use grain featuring Enogen trait technology in 2013. The technology that allows corn to express a robust form of alpha amylase enzyme. READ MORE SHARE
Industry responds to latest report attacking the RFS A new report released by the National Council of Chain Restaurants, titled "Federal Ethanol Policies and Chain Restaurant Food Costs," generated a swift response from the organizations representing the ethanol and advanced biofuels industries. READ MORE SHARE
Peru ethanol producer ramps up production at new facility Peru's sugarcane ethanol producer, Maple Etanol S.R.L., continues to ramp up production at its new 35 MMgy facility. Since starting operations in March 2012, the plant has processed about 468,000 tons of sugarcane through mid-November. READ MORE SHARE
Companies advance sweet sorghum as ethanol feedstock in Brazil Ceres Inc. is proving the viability of using of sweet sorghum as an ethanol feedstock, extending ethanol production during the months sugarcane isn't actively harvested. The company is now working with more than 20 ethanol and sugar mills. READ MORE SHARE
FTC: US ethanol market remains unconcentrated in 2012 The market for fuel ethanol in the United States remains unconcentrated, with 154 firms nationwide either producing ethanol or likely to be in production in the next 12 to 18 months, according to the Federal Trade Commission's 2012 report. READ MORE SHARE
Whitefox to contribute membrane technology to Guyana pilot plant London-based Whitefox Technologies Ltd. recently announced that it has secured an ethanol contract with the government of Guyana. Together with its Brazilian partner, Green, Whitefox Technologies will install a demonstration plant at a sugar mill. READ MORE SHARE
API mounts another attack on RFS, ethanol industry fights back Less than two weeks after the U.S. EPA denied the request to waive the renewable fuel standard (RFS), the American Petroleum Institute is calling on Congress to repeal it. Organizations that support the biofuel industry were quick to respond. READ MORE SHARE
India to implement E5 mandate, approves price mechanism According to a release issued by India's Press Information Bureau, the country's Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a pricing formula for ethanol procurement by oil marketing companies for use under its E5 blending mandate. READ MORE SHARE
Australians develop glycerol-based biomass pretreatment process Australia-based Leaf Energy Ltd. is developing a new biomass pretreatment process that utilizes glycerol, a coproduct of the biodiesel process. The process uses lower temperatures and pressures, requires less enzymes and releases fewer inhibitors. READ MORE SHARE