One of the keys to achieving the next step in commercializing renewable transportation fuels is to have a refining technology that can utilize a variety of biomass feedstocks. In the case of cellulosic ethanol, there are a lot of competing technologies out there, but not very many that can operate using virtually any cellulosic feedstock. [...]

Most of us have heard about the “Hydrogen Highway,” that mythical roadway which, along with bullet trains and bridges to nowhere, may actually get built someday at a staggering expense to the taxpayer (to be fair - we’re as hopeful as anyone the formidable technological barriers to using hydrogen as a transportation fuel are eventually overcome).  But [...]

A few days ago we got an email from a proponent of Algae farming to produce biodiesel.  He referenced a study from 1998 sponsored by NREL entitled “Biodiesel from Algae.”  Referencing the study, the writer stated, “Spanning almost two decades of research, this article covers the prospect of large scale production of biodiesel using relatively [...]

EFuel Corporation. located in Los Gatos, California, is heralding the next generation of biofuel production and distribution, by selling a ” EFuel100 MicroFueler,” a turnkey device that will turn biofuel sugars feedstock into ethanol, and pump it into your vehicle’s tank.
This company claims this machine consumes 3.0 kilowatt-hours to produce one gallon of E100 ethanol.  [...]

We have reported on the state of cellulosic ethanol development, and the potential of cellulosic ethanol, in our recent feature entitled (not surprisingly) “Cellulosic Ethanol.”  But if you take an interest in the future of biofuel, this is only half the story, if that.  What about biofuel derived from algae?  Despite the title of this post, it [...]

In the March 27th issue of Time Magazine, an in-depth article entitled “The Clean Energy Scam” by Michael Grunwald is indicative of how rapid the descent has been for biofuel in the eyes of environmentalists and mainstream media.  One isn’t sure whether to cheer or be derisive - after several years of relentless molding of public [...]

Since publishing “Jatropha Reality Check” we’ve received comments, but also direct emails to the Editor.  Many of these were from growers - and one new writer, a grower also located in Madagascar, provided some interesting insights.
“We planted Jatropha in 2003 and have been taking care of the plantation by pruning, irrigating, applying fertilisers and managing [...]