January 2016 News and Matters of
Interest
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Remember to check our Highlights for new postings on other areas of
Teru Talk.
US EPA Schedules Workshop on Role of Biomass in Clean Power Plan
Goals
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an all-day stakeholder workshop scheduled for April 7, 2016
on 'Fostering Constructive Dialogue on the Role of Biomass in Achieving Clean Power Plan Goals'. Since the EPA
issued the Clean Power Plan (CPP), states and stakeholders have shown strong interest in the role biomass can
play in state plans to address carbon emissions under the rule. Many states have extensive expertise in the area
of sound carbon- and GHG-beneficial forestry and land management practices, and the CPP’s flexibility allows
states to build in approaches to biomass and bioenergy unique to their forests and land management programs and
policies. To respond to this interest and to support state and stakeholder efforts to incorporate bioenergy into
CPP plans, the EPA is hosting this public workshop for stakeholders to share their successes, experiences, and
approaches to deploying biomass in ways that have been, and can be, carbon beneficial. The workshop will be
staged in Washington D.C. and also will be webcast. There is no charge for the workshop but on-line registration is required.
01/30/2016
eBay Joins the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Circular Economy 100
Program
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has announced that the global online marketplace eBay has become a
corporate member of its Circular Economy 100 (CE100) program. Reuse and redistribution are
both key elements of a thriving circular economy, and with 162 million active buyers, eBay is one of
the world’s largest platforms for extending the useful life of products. The company hopes to learn from other
members within the CE100 network, and to identify further opportunities to influence and support the
acceleration to a circular economy. David Wenig, eBay’s CEO: "As a business that has extended the useful life of
products and enabled the recirculation of goods since our founding, eBay is thrilled to join a global movement
of like-minded companies. It’s vital that business takes up the challenge to innovate new ways of creating
economic opportunity that don’t rely on carbon emissions. With the collaboration of The Ellen MacArthur
Foundation and the many businesses involved, we think a tipping point is on the way – where circular models
become the norm. We’ll be playing our part by connecting circular economy to the way millions of individuals and
small businesses create wealth and opportunity around the world." 01/30/2016
EC Releases Report on EU's Separate Waste Stream Collection
Schemes
The European Commission (EC) has released the report 'Assessment of separate collection schemes in the 28 capitals of the EU' that was completed under contract in November 2015 by the Copenhagen Resource Institute (CRI). As of
2015, EU Member States must separately collect paper, glass, metal, and plastic to improve recycling quality of
these materials, a crucial element of the circular economy. The study focuses on both the law and practice of
separate collection in 28 member capitals. The capitals of Estonia, Finland, and Slovakia topped the list for
best collection rates as a percentage of total municipal solid waste generated. Currently, only 19 % of
generated municipal waste in the 28 capitals is collected separately, although separate collection was made
obligatory by 2015 in the European Union (EU). With the new Circular Economy Package adopted by the EC in December 2015, separate
collection takes on even greater importance. Among the key findings of the report: implementation of Pay As You
Throw (PAYT) for residual waste collection within a regional fee-based collection system is one of the main
success factors for successful separate collection of waste fractions.
01/29/2016
California Compost Coalition Submits Biomethane White Paper to CEC,
CARB
The California Compost Coalition has submitted a detailed proposal to the
California Energy Commission (CEC) to support new funding of $25 million proposed by the Governor as part of the
Cap-and-Trade proceeds for 2016-2017. The white paper, Biomethane Transportation Fuel Powering the Solid Waste Industry: Community-Scale Distributed
Fuel Production Facilities, was prepared for the Coalition and CleanFleets.Net by Sacramento firm Edgar & Associates, Inc. The community-scale anaerobic
digestion-renewable natural gas (AD-RNG) facilities system is a local business model that is proving out, and
this white paper was requested by the CEC following the September 2015 Peer Review Panel. The white paper was
also submitted to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) at the $500 million Low Carbon Transportation
Workshop to support $40 million in new funding for low carbon fuel production incentives. Methane mitigation
with the CARB Short-Lived Climate Pollution strategy to ban organics by 2025 is paving the way to make RNG in 30
days and use it in compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks instead of having landfills leak methane for 30 years.
01/29/2016
GTC Expands to Become Gasification and Syngas Technologies
Council
The Gasification Technologies Council (GTC) has announced that it is expanding to become the Gasification and Syngas
Technologies Council (GSTC) and will now encompass the syngas production, processing, and conversion industries
as well as gasification. Those eligible for GSTC include technology, equipment, and service providers, as well
as plant owners and operators in the energy, power, chemical, fertilizer, refining, fuel, and waste management
industries. GSTC is a global organization, with members from across the Americas, Europe and Asia.
01/28/2016
US DOE Invests $2.85M in Clean Energy Projects at Federal
Facilities
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $2.85 million in funding for four projects that will advance
the development of renewable energy technologies at facilities across the federal government. As the nation's
largest single user of energy, the federal government is leading by example and these projects will reduce
carbon emissions, while strengthening America's economic, energy, and environmental security. The Department of
Defense project at the US Marine Corps Installation Command in Albany, Georgia is a
10-megawatt biomass steam turbine generator to reduce annual electricity consumption by approximately 4,600
megawatt-hours annually. The model project demonstrates how military installations can work toward federal
energy goals and mandates, while achieving a net-zero status and addressing energy security challenges. The
other three projects for the Departments of State, Agriculture, and Justice are solar PV system installations
totaling 11.78 megawatts. 01/28/2016
Biffa Boosts Food Waste Conversion Capability with Major
Investment
Waste services provider, Biffa, is creating a network of strategic food waste transfer stations
across the United Kingdom (UK), and has announced a £1.5m investment into four new food waste transfer stations.
The new transfer stations will be used to collect and sort food waste before it is sent to be treated at the
company’s anaerobic digestion plants in Staffordshire, Leicestershire and West Sussex. The addition of the
transfer stations will enable Biffa to process more food waste, in less time, creating huge efficiencies in the
process of ultimately converting it into renewable energy. The first transfer station has now been installed
inside Biffa’s existing state-of-the-art waste transfer plant in St Helens, Merseyside, which was built in 2011.
The upgraded facility now has the capability to process general household food waste as well as meat-based food
waste produced by businesses. Further transfer stations are planned in Yorkshire, the South West, the South
East, and Scotland. Chris Savage, general manager of Biffa’s anaerobic digestion plant at Cannock: "The UK
generates around 15m tonnes of food waste each year, with businesses in the food service sector accounting for
just under half of this. Sadly, forty per cent of this waste is currently lost to landfill due in part to a lack
of regulation, which would enforce food waste segregation among businesses as well as a lack of facilities to
collect food waste." 01/28/2016
Ecoalf's Upcycle the Oceans Project Spins Textiles from Waste
Plastic
Spanish clothing manufacturer Ecoalf Recycled Fabrics, S.L. was established in 2009 with the intent
of showing that recycling can actually turn a profit. The company's newly launched Upcycle the Oceans program is structured to transform
the plastic debris found in the Mediterranean into thread to make fabric. With funding from its Ecoalf
Foundation, Ecoalf has begun to remove trash from the seabed via fishermen off the coast of Levante; a portion
of the collected materials can be recycled into pellets, thread, fabric, and products. Ecoalf Foundation has
involved 5 Spanish partners including waste managers, technology centers, recyclers, and thread and fabric
manufacturers to augment its own experience recycling different types of debris such as PET bottles, fishing
nets, and used tires. The goal is to achieve 100% recycled filaments of high technical quality and textures
without needing to use more of the planet’s natural resources. 01/27/2016
BioHiTech Installs Eco-Safe Digesters in 10 Golden Corral Florida
Restaurants
BioHiTech Global, Inc has announced that its subsidiary, BioHiTech America, has begun installing
its innovative commercial food waste disposal solution in Golden Corral restaurants in 10 franchised locations throughout
Florida. Golden Corral franchise owners Taylor Levy and Marc Verderame wanted to find a disposal solution that
considered the environment, while elevating the operational performance of their locations. BioHiTech's
on-site Eco-Safe Digester will allow their Golden Corral restaurants to safely
dispose of food waste in the sewer system, while at the same time collecting data and providing real-time
reports on the details of what exactly is being wasted. During the digestion process, the digester weighs each
increment of waste and allows employees to categorize its type, simultaneously transmitting this real-time data
to the BioHiTech Cloud. The visibility of the food waste data allows management to identify wasteful preparation
and staffing, improve profitability, and make important decisions regarding overall operations.
01/27/2016
Trestle Energy Wins CARB Approval for New Low Carbon Biofuel
Pathway
California-based Trestle Energy LLC has received approval from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for
its innovative method of producing ethanol using agricultural residues,
resulting in a new Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) biofuels production pathway (Pathway
Code: ETHC116). Trestle partnered with the Golden Grain ethanol plant in Mason City, Iowa to develop the detailed
life cycle analyses necessary to receive LCFS provisional credit status; full credits will only become available
after the process runs successfully for a specified period of time, and CARB staff amend the provisional Life
Cycle Analyses with actual data. The new pathway reduces the overall carbon intensity (CI) of Golden Grain's
standard dry mill corn ethanol production by co-production of lower CI biofuel from agricultural residuals,
allowing larger LCFS credits for the company's ethanol delivered to the California biofuel market. Once fully
certified, the methodology could be available for integration at other existing ethanol production facilities.
01/27/2016
B&W Awarded $90M Contract For UK Waste-to-Energy Power
Plant
North Carolina company Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc (B&W) has announced that its Denmark-based subsidiary, Babcock & Wilcox
Vølund A/S, has been awarded a contract for more than $90 million to design, manufacture, and build a
waste-to-energy power plant near Haresfield, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom (UK). B&W Vølund was awarded
the contract by a joint venture of Urbaser and Balfour Beatty. The facility will treat municipal and commercial
and industrial waste to supply 14.5 MW of electricity, enough to power the equivalent of 25,000 homes. B&W
Vølund’s scope includes the plant’s combustion system and air-cooled DynaGrate®, fuel handling equipment, steam
boiler island, steam turbine-generator, water treatment system, piping, valves and air systems, burners and
other plant equipment. Engineering work for the project is underway. The plant is scheduled to come online in
2019. 01/27/2016
PLUSfoam Secures Investment to Build US Manufacturing
Facilities
California-based PLUSfoam® Compound Technologies, LLC has announced a strategic partnership with Acorn Innovestments and the Noël Group, investors and operators based in North Carolina.
PLUSfoam will use the funds to expand its international manufacturing
footprint and to construct new facilities in the United States. PLUSfoam manufactures 100% recyclable and
sustainable alternatives that meet and exceed market specifications to replace traditional foams, plastics, and
rubber, and operates zero-waste manufacturing, reusing all post-manufacturing scrap on-site. The company also
manages a customer end-of-use program for brands using its materials, tagging products using PLUSfoam to
encourage customers to return them at the end of their useful life one of the company’s reclaim centers in the
USA, Brazil, Canada, Germany, China, Japan, and Korea. Returned goods will be reprocessed and reused, creating a
closed-loop product system. 01/26/2016
ExxonMobil and REG Partner to Research Biodiesel From Cellulosic
Sugars
ExxonMobil has announced an agreement with Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (REG) to
study the production of biodiesel by fermenting renewable cellulosic sugars from sources such as agricultural
waste. REG has developed a patented technology that uses microbes to convert sugars to biodiesel in a one-step
fermentation process similar to ethanol manufacturing. The ExxonMobil and REG Life Sciences research will focus on using sugars from non-food
sources. Through the research, the two companies will be addressing the challenge of how to ferment real-world
renewable cellulosic sugars, which contain multiple types of sugars, including glucose and xylose, but also
impurities that can inhibit fermentation. 01/26/2016
Due 02/10/2016: Comments to CEC on Fuel and Vehicle Technology
Solicitation
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has released a Request for Information (RFI), seeking public comment to assist in
development of a grant solicitation focused on Regional Readiness and Planning to draw upon the Alternative and
Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP). RFI responses should provide well-supported
recommendations regarding funding areas for solicitations, especially those that address challenges of electric
vehicle and zero emission vehicle awareness, market penetration and installation. ARFVTP has an annual budget of
approximately $100 million for projects that (a) Reduce California’s use and dependence on petroleum
transportation fuels and increase the use of alternative and renewable fuels and advanced vehicle technologies,
(b) Produce sustainable alternative and renewable low-carbon fuels in California, (c) Expand alternative fueling
infrastructure and fueling stations, (d) Improve the efficiency, performance, and market viability of
alternative light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicle technologies, (e) Retrofit medium- and heavy-duty on-road
and non-road vehicle fleets to alternative technologies or fuel use, (f) Expand the alternative fueling
infrastructure available to existing fleets, public transit, and transportation corridors, (g) Establish
workforce training programs and conduct public outreach on the benefits of alternative transportation fuels and
vehicle technologies. Comments must be emailed to and
the subject line must begin with “RFI Regional Readiness”. Note: Teru encourages the waste conversion sector to
respond, bringing to light the importance of low- and negative-carbon distributed alternative fuels production
to ARFVTP targets. 01/26/2016
Clariant’s Sunliquid® Technology Receives 2015 German Innovation
Prize
Switzerland based Clariant International Ltd was awarded first place in the Process Innovations category of the
2015 German Innovation Prize for Climate and Environment (IKU) for its innovative sunliquid technology. Clariant's biotechnological process for the
production of cellulosic ethanol from agricultural residues prevailed against 14 competitors. The sunliquid
technology convinced the jury of independent experts in the area of business, science, media, and politics,
chaired by Professor Klaus Töpfer. Biofuels and bio-based chemicals made from agricultural residues such as
wheat straw, corn stover, or sugarcane bagasse are produced sustainably and economically using this process
without competing with food or feed production. Since July 2012, Clariant has been operating a pre-commercial
plant in Straubing, producing up to 1.000 metric tons of cellulosic ethanol from around 4.500 metric tons of raw
materials each year. 01/23/2016
New York State Launches 10 Year, $5 Billion Clean Energy
Fund
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced the New York State Public Service Commission's approval
of a 10-year, $5 billion Clean Energy Fund to accelerate the growth of New York's clean energy economy, address
climate change, strengthen resiliency in the face of extreme weather, and lower energy bills for New Yorkers
starting this year. Additionally, the fund will attract and leverage third-party capital to support the
Governor's aggressive Clean Energy Standard, one of the nation's most ambitious goals to
meet 50 percent of our electricity needs with renewable resources by 2030. The fund will operate four major
portfolios: Market Development ($2.7 billion); NY-Sun ($961 million); NY Green Bank ($782 million); and Innovation and Research ($717
million). In the Clean Energy Fund order, the Commission also allocated $150 million for the development of new
Large Scale Renewables power projects in 2016. As the Commission develops a Clean Energy Standard, it will
create new incentives for large scale renewables and a new mechanism to prevent the premature retirement of
safe, upstate nuclear power plants during this transition. 01/23/2016
California ARB Schedules 1st Workshop on Carbon Capture and
Sequestration
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has scheduled a public workshop to launch development of ARB’s Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) program. For those focused on
clean conversion of waste and biomass for resource recovery, there are numerous pathways that effectively
capture and sequester carbon as crucial elements of the Circular Economy. The pathways include production and
use of compost and biochar, especially when this results in reduction of organics disposal to landfills. CCS has
the potential to deliver significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and is a prospective strategy for
meeting California’s 2050 climate goals. CCS is a process by which large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) are
captured, compressed, transported, and sequestered. ARB is currently developing a Quantification Methodology (QM) to be utilized when determining carbon
emission reductions from CCS for both the Cap and Trade and Low Carbon Fuel Standard programs. As the first in a
series of workshops on ARB’s CCS program, the objective is two-fold: 1) provide a high level overview of what
CCS is and why it is important to California and 2) kick-off public development of the CCS QM, including the
role of CCS in existing California regulations and ARB’s plan for development of the QM. The workshop will be
held on Friday, February 12, 2016 in Sacramento, California and will also be webcast.
01/22/2016
Oslo Airport Is First in the World to Offer Neste's Renewable Aviation
Fuel
Oslo Airport Gardermoen is the world's first airport to offer renewable aviation fuel refined by Neste for refueling
airplanes. Lufthansa, SAS, and KLM have already announced that they will be refueling their planes with aviation
fuel containing a renewable component in Oslo. Neste's renewable aviation fuel is refined in Porvoo, and it
meets the strict quality requirements for aviation fuels. The fuel is transported to Oslo as a 50% blend with
fossil aviation fuel, and its distribution takes place via the airport's existing distribution system. Neste's
renewable aviation fuel is refined as part of the EU-funded ITAKA project at the Porvoo refinery from sustainably produced, 100%
certified camelina oil. Its use reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 47% when compared to fossil fuel.
01/22/2016
Tesoro Supports Development of Renewable Biocrude for Its
Refineries
Texas based Tesoro Corporation has announced its plan to foster the development of biocrude made from
renewable biomass, which can be co-processed in its existing refineries, along with traditional crude oil.
Converting renewable biomass into biocrude is expected to enable existing refining assets to produce less
carbon-intensive fuels at a significantly lower capital and operating cost than competing technologies. Tesoro
is working with Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inc, which plans to supply biocrude produced from municipal solid waste to
Tesoro Refining & Marketing Company LLC (TRMC) to process as a feedstock at its Martinez, California Refinery. An estimated 800 barrels of biocrude
per day will be produced at Fulcrum's Sierra BioFuels Plant outside of Reno, Nevada, which is expected to be
operational in early 2018. Tesoro and Virent, Inc are working to establish a strategic relationship to support
scale-up and commercialization of Virent's BioForming technology which produces low-carbon, biofuel and
chemicals. Ensyn Corporation has applied for a pathway with the California Air Resources Board to co-process
its biocrude, produced from tree residue - called Renewable Fuel Oil (TM)
- in TRMC's California refineries. 01/22/2016
Global Bioenergies to Commercialize Isobutene Process with €6.5M
Placement
Paris based Global Bioenergies (Company) has announced successful completion of a private placement with qualified
French and international investors. The Company placed 274,931 new shares at a par value of €0.05 per share, at
a unit price of €23.70, including share premium, for a total of approximately €6.5 million amounting to 9.6% of
the Company's share capital. The proceeds will be used to further the development of the Isobutene process and to launch commercial roll-out. Marc Delcourt,
CEO of Global Bioenergies: "The success of this transaction demonstrates investors' confidence in our corporate
strategy. The proceeds of the placement increase the Company's unaudited cash to 16.5 million euros. They will
enable the Company to fully transition into the commercial phase." 01/21/2016
LanzaTech Wins Circular Economy Award at the World Economic
Forum
On January 20, 2016, the Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum, in collaboration with
Accenture, hosted The Circulars 2016, the first annual Circular Economy Awards, at the
World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Waste management for resource recovery factored high
in all categories. The seven categories included awards for Circular Economy Leadership, Enterprise, Entrepreneur, and
Investor, along with an award for Government, Cities, and Regions, for Multinational efforts and for the
'Digital Disruptor" of the year, and a people's Choice award. LanzaTech received the Circular Entrepreneur top award recognizing early-stage
organizations at the vanguard of the circular economy demonstrating innovation, market disruption and
scalability. LanzaTech's first commercial units are being built in Taiwan with China Steel, in China with
Shougang Group and in Belgium with the world largest steel company, ArcelorMittal. The circular economy is a
resource efficient alternative to the traditional waste to landfill approach.
01/21/2016
New Report Offers Blueprint for a Circular Future for Plastic
Packaging
Applying circular economy principles to global plastic packaging flows could transform the
plastics economy and drastically reduce negative externalities such as leakage into oceans, according to the latest report by the World Economic Forum and Ellen
MacArthur Foundation, with analytical support from McKinsey & Company. The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the future of plastics provides
for the first time a vision of a global economy in which plastics never become waste, and outlines concrete
steps towards achieving the systemic shift needed. The report, financially supported by the MAVA Foundation, was
produced as part of Project MainStream, a global, multi-industry initiative that aims to
accelerate business-driven innovations to help scale the circular economy. The new report acknowledges that
while plastics and plastic packaging are an integral part of the global economy and deliver many benefits, their
value chains currently entail significant drawbacks. Assessing global plastic packaging flows comprehensively
for the first time, the report finds that most plastic packaging is used only once; 95% of the value of plastic
packaging material, worth $80-120 billion annually, is lost to the economy. 01/20/2016
Secretaries of US Navy, Agriculture Launch Deployment of Great Green
Fleet
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack kicked off the Great Green Fleet with the deployment of the USS John
C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (JCS CSG) during a ceremony at Naval Air Station North Island. The
Great Green Fleet is a Department of the Navy initiative highlighting
how the Navy and Marine Corps are using energy efficiency and alternative energy to increase combat capability
and operational flexibility. At the close of the ceremony, the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS
Stockdale (DDG 106) left the pier to begin its deployment, becoming the first U.S. Navy ship running on an
alternative fuel blend as part of its regular operations. The blend fueling the JCS CSG's surface ships contains
alternative fuel made from waste beef fat provided by farmers in the Midwest. It was purchased at a
cost-competitive price through a partnership between the Department of the Navy and U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) aimed at making alternative fuel blends a regular part of the military's bulk operational
fuel supply. 01/20/2016
New Energy Plant Helping Peterborough Towards Its Zero Waste
Ambitions
Viridor has announced the startup of Peterborough’s state-of-the-art Energy
Recovery Facility (ERF), now operational on the city’s Fengate industrial estate. Viridor will be operating the
plant that is part of the United Kingdom’s largest network of landfill diversion and energy recovery facilities.
Peterborough City Council is now able to divert up to 95% of its non-recyclable waste from landfill, instead
using it as fuel to generate electricity. The £72m ERF has been built by Babcock & Wilcox Volund using best in class technology and will
serve the city for the next 30 years. Marking an important milestone in the ERF’s commissioning process, it
passed its first 30 day testing in late December and will now undergo further reliability testing to make sure
operations are within the guaranteed plant specifications. 01/19/2016
Foresight Invests £3.9M in 4th Northern Ireland On-Farm AD
Plant
Foresight Group has announced the investment of £3.9 million from the Foresight AD EIS
Fund to construct an Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plant in County Down, Northern Ireland. The plant will process
18,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of feedstock, which will be supplied under contract by Glenmore Estate Farms
Limited, comprising 9,000 tpa of grass silage from the landlord farmer and adjacent lands, 7,000 tpa of cattle
slurry and 2,000 tpa of chicken litter from Moy Park, a local major poultry farm. The plant is expected to be
commissioned and operational by October 2016. The transaction, which reached financial close on December 15,
2015, is the first investment made by Foresight AD EIS Fund, which raised £25 million from private investors,
and is the fourth such project Foresight has backed in Northern Ireland. Foresight and Green Investment Bank previously funded a £3.4 million AD plant in Armagh, and two others located in County
Tyrone and County Down. 01/19/2016
ANDRITZ Supplies Equipment for Recycled Fiber System at Finnish
Mill
ANDRITZ has received an order from Sonoco-Alcore to supply pulping and de-trashing equipment for the OCC
stock preparation line at its Karhula paper mill in Finland. Start-up is scheduled for the third quarter of
2016. The order comprises supply of a new ANDRITZ FSR pulper rotor and a screen plate for the existing
low-consistency pulper, a completely new de-trashing system including a trash trap, a de-trashing pump, a
de-trasher FibreGuard, a new reject wash drum, field instruments, spare and wear parts, and a field service
package. After completion of the modification work by ANDRITZ, the production capacity of the pulping system
will be increased significantly, while at the same time energy consumption will remain unchanged, fiber loss
will be reduced, and pulping efficiency improved. 01/18/2016
RPSM Releases Revised Handbook for Product Social Impact
Assessment
The Netherlands-based Roundtable for Product Social Metrics (RPSM), a multi-stakeholder
organization led by PRé Sustainability consulting, has released Version 3.0 of their Handbook for Product Social Impact
Assessment. Companies are increasingly held accountable for the sustainability of their entire supply chain. The
revised handbook provides a pragmatic methodology that assesses the social impact of products. The
Roundtable for Product Social Metrics is a business-led initiative
dedicated to developing and disseminating the Product Social Impact Assessment method, designed to make the
social benefits and burdens of a product visible. The Roundtable aims to create a standard framework for Product
Social Impact Assessment, in close cooperation with external stakeholders such as academia, NGOs, governments
and industry organizations. there is no charge to download the handbook; international stakeholder participation in the
Roundtable is encouraged. 01/18/2016
Due 02/12/2016: Comments to CalRecycle on 2016 Manufacturer's
Challenge
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) conducted the 2016
Manufacturer's Challenge workshop on January 5, 2016. The meeting sought input from
stakeholders regarding implementation of a voluntary industry-wide initiative to reduce by 50% the amount of
manufactured product packaging now disposed in landfills. In spite of efforts thus far, CalRecycle estimates
that about 10 million tons of packaging is still landfilled in California every year, representing about one
quarter of the state’s total disposal stream. CalRecycle sees the initiative as integral to reaching the state's goals of 75% source
reduction, recycling, and composting by the year 2020. Video recordings of the workshop are now posted to
CalRecycle's website, with the agenda and twelve presentations given during the summit. CalRecycle now seeks
public comment on the initiative's approach, the workshop and the presentations; please submit comments by
February 12, 2016 by email to <>. 01/16/2016
JBEI Researchers Develop 1st One-Pot Process to Produce Cellulosic
Ethanol
The US Department of Energy's (DOE) Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) researchers have developed a "high-gravity" one-pot process for producing ethanol from
cellulosic biomass that gives unprecedented yields while minimizing water use and waste disposal. The process
utilizes a combination of ionic liquid pretreatment, enzymatic saccharification, and yeast fermentation for the
production of concentrated fermentable sugars that result in high-titer cellulosic ethanol. "High gravity" means
high biomass loading – the higher the biomass loading, the lower the costs for converting it to fuels. Blake
Simmons, JBEI’s Chief Science and Technology Officer: "Our new one-pot process for making cellulosic ethanol was
enabled by the discovery and use of a renewable ionic liquid derived from amino acids that commercially
available enzyme mixtures and organisms can tolerate." The renewable ionic liquid to which Simmons refers is one
made from lignin and hemicellulose, two by-products of biofuel production from biorefineries, the
discovery of which was also led by Singh and
Simmons. Details on this one-pot process for producing ethanol from
cellulosic biomass have been reported in Energy and Environmental Science. The paper is titled "Transforming biomass conversion with ionic liquids: process intensification and the development
of a high-gravity, one-pot process for the production of cellulosic ethanol." In
addition to lead researchers Blake Simmons and Seema Singh, other co-authors are Feng Xu, Jian Sun,
Suryanarayana Konda, Jian Shi, Tanmoy Dutta and Corinne Scown. 01/15/2016
Due 02/12/2016: Proposals for Central Oregon Woody Biomass Supply
Analysis
The Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC) has issued a Request for Quotes (RFQ) seeking expertise to develop a biomass supply
analysis in support of the organization's Biomass Energy Cluster Development Project. The analysis will update a
ten-year-old assessment and comprehensively assess volume, characteristics, sources, costs, and barriers to
market development of current biomass supplies in Central Oregon. Specific project area boundaries remain to be
defined. Interested firms must email an Intent to Bid notice to COIC by January 22. Bids should be submitted via
email to Laura Skundrick, COIC: <>. Questions about this bid process may be
submitted via email to Kiley Rucker-Clamons, COIC at <>. All questions and answers
will be shared with identified proposing firms. 01/15/2016
1st Comprehensive Impact Assessment of Trash on Marine Wildlife
Published
A first-of-its-kind analysis of the impact of 20 ocean trash items on seabirds, marine mammals,
and sea turtles conducted using expert elicitation was published this week in Marine Policy by Ocean Conservancy and
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO). Until now, the impact of marine debris
items, such as plastic bags and fishing gear, to populations of these animals has been far less clear. An
analysis based on a survey of 274 experts representing 19 fields of study assigned scores for entanglement,
ingestions and contamination on a shortlist of items culled from 30 years of data from Ocean Conservancy's
International Coastal Cleanup. The study found that a wide variety of items pose threats to marine wildlife
through entanglement, ingestion, or contamination, suggesting that a comprehensive approach to preventing
plastics from entering the ocean is vitally needed. The study, "Using Expert Elicitation to Estimate the Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Marine
Wildlife," calls for a holistic, cross-sector approach to minimize the overall impact
of plastic pollution on the ocean. Product-by-product approaches to reducing ocean plastic impacts alone will
not suffice—a key finding from Ocean Conservancy's Stemming the Tide report that outlines a solution set to reduce ocean
plastic pollution by 45 percent by 2025. 01/14/2016
BGL Research Article Addresses 'Rethinking Waste to Tackle
Diversion'
A periodic research publication by Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) addresses capital markets and
mergers and acquisitions activity, financial and operating performance of certain publicly-traded companies, and
trends within the environmental services industry. The January 12, 2016 issue of BGL Environmental Services Insider includes
an article starting on page 9 entitled "Rethinking Waste to Tackle Diversion" that considers the
societal impact of waste generation and the need to change the way we think about and
handle waste. Diversion is gaining traction as corporate
sustainability initiatives and regulations advance recycling and zero waste goals. In a roundtable discussion,
executives from national and middle market waste companies share insight on market factors driving diversion and
the impact of changing waste streams, regulatory change, and technology on the recycling business model. The
biggest change in the coming years is expected to be in recycling and diversion of food waste. Other highlights
of the article include more strategic management of waste streams by waste companies, and advancements in
technology, infrastructure development, and extended producer responsibility leading to accelerated diversion.
01/14/2016
BioHiTech and Partners Convert Supermarket Food Waste to
Energy
BioHiTech Global, Inc has announced that its subsidiary, BioHiTech America, has partnered
with Natural Systems Utilities, Ridgewood Green RME, and the Village of
Ridgewood, New Jersey to test a process that will allow BioHiTech's Eco-Safe Digester to digest, tank, and
deliver the effluent from its Eco-Safe Digesters to Anaerobic Digestion (AD) facilities at other locations. The
test is taking place at a high-volume supermarket in New Jersey and transported to an anaerobic digestion
facility operated by the Village of Ridgewood at its water pollution control facility. Ridgewood Green RME owns
a 20,000 gallon per day liquid waste receiving facility and a 240 kW digester biogas power plant that is
co-located at the anaerobic digestion facility.
Natural Systems Utilities operates those components of the project owned by Ridgewood
Green RME. BioHiTech's Eco-Safe Digester utilizes an aerobic digestion process to convert
food waste to grey water, also referred to as effluent. Typically the effluent is discharged safely into the
sewage system and individual wastewater treatment facilities to treat it with other sanitary waste. This new
process will tank the unit's effluent allowing for transportation to an anaerobic digestion plant where biogas
can be captured and used to create renewable energy. 01/14/2016
DOE BETO Webinar: Presentation of 100 Award Winning Bioenergy
Projects
The US Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (DOE BETO), the National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL), and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) will present a live webinar titled "Excellence in Bioenergy Innovation—A
Presentation of 2015 R&D 100 Award Winning Projects" on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Eastern Time. Two projects funded by BETO have received awards at this year’s 2015 R&D 100 Awards. The
webinar will feature state-of-the-art research by Dr. Jianping Yu of NREL and Douglass Elliott of PNNL—winners
of 2015 R&D 100 Awards for breakthrough bioenergy advances. Yu and his team at NREL took home a prize in the
mechanical/materials category, as well as an R&D Magazine Editor’s Choice Award for their process for
producing ethylene, a valuable chemical precursor to plastics, in a
way that reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional methods. Elliott and his team at PNNL, along
with Genifuel Corporation, received a prize in the processing/prototyping category for their hydrothermal process to convert wet biomass into biofuels quickly and efficiently. On-line registration is required for the no-charge presentation.
01/13/2016
Sierra Energy
Sponsors $10,000 Prize For Syngas Business Challenge
A new $10,000 Syngas Challenge Award will be available at the Big Bang! Business Challenge hosted by the University of California at
Davis. Furnished by Davis based Sierra Energy, the prize will be awarded to the most innovative business
solution for the use of synthesis gas. Sierra Energy's mission is to make gasification globally accessible,
eliminating landfills with the goal of fostering the development of new ideas that can disrupt the inertia of
our current energy market, which relies heavily on fossil fuels and the mining of virgin materials. CEO Mike
Hart: "We are excited to sponsor the Syngas Challenge, which will encourage UC Davis’ talent and innovation to
spur the development of profitable, net-carbon negative fuels, chemicals and fertilizers in California." Sierra
Energy is a waste gasification and renewable energy company that is commercializing the FastOx Waste Gasification Technology, a simple derivative of the
centuries-old blast furnace technology. 01/13/2016
Anellotech and Suntory Advance Toward 100% Bio-Based Beverage
Bottles
New York company Anellotech, Inc has announced entering into the next phase of its strategic partnership
with Suntory Holdings Limited, one of the world’s leading consumer beverage
companies. Anellotech's core technology, Thermo Catalytic Biomass Conversion (Bio-TCAT™) produces chemicals
from renewable, non-food biomass, such as wood, sawdust, corn stover, sugar cane bagasse (byproduct), and other
non-food materials. The partnership, which began in 2012 under a collaboration agreement that has provided more
than $15 million in funding to date, is focused on advancing the development and commercialization of
cost-competitive 100 percent bio-based plastics for use in beverage bottles as part of Suntory’s commitment to
sustainable business practices. Suntory currently uses 30 percent plant-derived materials for their Mineral
Water Suntory Tennensui brands and is pursuing the development of a 100 percent bio-bottle through this
partnership. 01/13/2016
Due 03/18/2016: Proposals for High Diversion MRFs in Baltimore
Region
The Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority is requesting proposals from qualified companies to provide for the
design, permitting, construction, and long-term operation of up to two High Diversion Material Recycling
Facilities (HD MRF) in the Baltimore, Maryland region. The two facilities may include a staged construction,
with the first being constructed at an existing site and the second optional facility located at a yet to be
determined site. Copies of the Request for Proposals are available from the Northeast Maryland Waste
Disposal Authority at <>, 410-333-2730, or at the counter. A non-mandatory
Pre-Proposal Conference and site visit will be held at 10 A.M. on Thursday, January 28, 2016. Proposals will be
accepted until 1 P.M. on Friday, March 18, 2016. 01/13/2016
California Safe Soil to Open 1st Commercial Food Waste Composting
Facility
California Safe Soil (CSS) is moving its aerobic, enzymatic digestion technology development from
pilot stage to full scale commercialization with the announcement of a long-term lease at McClellan Business Park in
Sacramento County, California. The company will construct a new facility designed to recycle up to 32,000 tons
of organic food waste from supermarkets per year. Save Mart Supermarkets will provide the organic feedstock as part of a
long-term agreement. For the past three years, CSS has operated a pilot program in West Sacramento that turns
food from supermarkets, which can no longer be safely sold or donated, into liquid fertilizer for farms. The
drought-friendly product is called Harvest to Harvest (H2H), and it takes only three hours to produce.
Farmers can use H2H in their fields to restore organic matter to the soil and grow the next crop. With a target
opening date of Spring 2016, this new 80,000-square foot location will produce enough H2H for 128,000 acres of
sustainable local California agriculture. 01/12/2016
GLOBAL BIOENERGIES and LANZATECH Expand Collaboration
French company Global Bioenergies and US based LanzaTech have announced entering into a new collaboration agreement to broaden the
feedstock flexibility of Global Bioenergies’ Isobutene process and the product-portfolio of LanzaTech’s carbon
capture technology. The two companies entered into a collaboration agreement in 2011 with the goal to synergize their technologies, and build
microbial strains capable of converting non-sugar feedstock into isobutene. Global Bioenergies has developed
a process in which a microorganism can produce isobutene from renewable
feedstock, and is now envisioning a broader range of feedstocks, including non-biomass-derived sources of
carbon. LanzaTech’s carbon recycling technology enables the bio-based transformation of industrial wastes,
such as carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide and hydrogen, into valuable commodities. LanzaTech is currently
building its first commercial facilities, which will produce ethanol from waste steel mill gases. These ethanol
facilities will be able to change production to chemicals if desired through application of LanzaTech’s novel
microorganisms. 01/12/2016
Due 03/10/2016: Comments on Update to US Dairy Sustainability
Indicators
The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy has scheduled an update to dairy sustainability indicators, and seeks
stakeholder input by March 10, 2016. The indicators are the foundation of the association's Stewardship and
Sustainability Guide for U.S. Dairy, launched in 2013. The Guide provides a voluntary, science-based framework
for the dairy value chain to measure and communicate sustainability progress. The draft document can be viewed and comments submitted online. Farm indicators
address soil health, landscape stewardship, resource recovery, feed management, and water quality and quantity.
For crop- and field-specific topic areas, the Innovation Center proposes adopting the metrics developed by Field
to Market, the leading U.S. initiative focused on the sustainability of row crops. The new processor and
manufacturer indicators include resource recovery and air emissions. Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy® is a
forum for the dairy industry to work together pre-competitively to address barriers and opportunities to foster
innovation and increase sales. Visit USDairy.com for more information about the Innovation Center for U.S.
Dairy. 01/12/2016
Agenda for 2016 ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit Is Now
Available
The US Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) has hosted
the annual Energy Innovation Summit for the past six years. The agenda for the 2016 ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit has now been posted online. ARPA-E will be organizing 30+ panel discussions
(including topics on energy storage, bio-manufacturing, grid technologies, and commercialization programs),
networking receptions, and technology demonstrations. (Please note the agenda is subject to change). One of the
premier attractions at the Summit is the Technology Showcase, in which 250+ energy technologies will be
exhibited. The showcase highlights recent ARPA-E awardees and a highly selective group of other companies and
research organizations. The ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit will take place February 29 to March 2, 2016 at the
Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, National Harbor, Maryland, just south of Washington DC.
01/09/2016
Canada Invests $4M in Development of Next Generation Clean
Technologies
The Discovery Frontiers initiative of the Natural Sciences and Engineering
Research Council of Canada (NSERC) has awarded a $4 million grant to a nation-wide team for investigation and
development of three inter-related clean energy challenges. The team, led by Dr. Gregory Jerkiewicz of Queen's
University, will work together on (a) hydrogen production from water using a new class of nickel catalysts, (b)
the use of nickel catalysts to break down glycerol, a waste product from biodiesel production, into commercially
useable chemicals, and (c) a new generation of membranes, a "high tech version of food wrap", that can be used
with alkaline solutions to break down water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. The Discovery Frontiers initiative
addresses national research priorities and global challenges by supporting a small number of major
transformative activities. NSERC invests over $1 billion each year in natural sciences and engineering research
in Canada. 01/09/2016
Due 02/05/2016: Comments to AFRL on EA for Red Rock Biofuels
Biorefinery
Red Rock Biofuels LLC is developing a domestic commercial-scale military specification
transportation fuel production facility in Lake County, Oregon, capable of using woody biomass feedstocks.
The Integrated Biofuel Production Enterprise (IBPE) will be located on approximately 54 acres adjacent to US 395
and the Town of Lakeview's southern border. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
US Air Force Regulations, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Draft Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) to evaluate the proposed development. The Biorefinery would use gasification, Fischer-Tropsch (FT) and fuel
upgrading technologies to produce approximately 14 million gallons per year of military specification liquid
transportation fuels from regional woody biomass. The public is invited to review the documents and make written comments during the 30 day open review
period from December 27, 2015 through February 05, 2016. 01/09/2016
Rolls-Royce Tests Confirm 50% Emissions Reduction Using Virent
Bio-Jet
Bio-jet emissions testing by Rolls-Royce confirmed that jet fuels containing Virent’s BioForm® Synthesized
Aromatic Kerosene (SAK) fuel blend produced a 50% to 80% reduction in particulate matter emissions depending on
engine operating conditions as compared to conventional jet fuel. The testing program is being supported by the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under the Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions, and Noise (CLEEN) program. The
emissions data and other successfully completed test results have been summarized in a report released by
Rolls-Royce, British Airways, and the FAA. The testing verified the potential for the SAK fuel to reduce the
adverse environmental impact and health effects resulting from jet fuel combustion. BioForm SAK fuel is a unique
jet fuel-blending component produced by Virent’s BioForming® process, a catalytic route that converts plant-derived
feedstocks to hydrocarbons. Virent produced the renewable SAK fuel in its pilot demonstration plant in Madison,
Wisconsin. 01/08/2016
Company Executives Join AEE Board to Spur Growth of Clean US
Energy
Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) announced that executives of seven market-leading companies have
joined its board of directors to support the business group's efforts to spur the
growth of secure, clean, affordable energy in the United States. The new directors are Mary Rhinehart, Chair and
President, Johns Manville; Terrill Laughton, Vice President and General Manager, Integrated Demand Resources,
Johnson Controls; Dan'l Lewin, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft; André DeVilbiss, SVP, Strategic Development,
Recurrent Energy; Bill DiCroce, President and COO, Veolia North America's Municipal & Commercial Business;
and Chris Brown, President, Vestas Americas. Remaining on the board, now in his new role at Schneider Electric,
is Kevin Self, SVP, Strategy, Business Development & Government Relations.
01/08/2016
Reverdia and BioAmber Sign Non-Assert Agreement on Bio-Succinic
Acid
The Netherlands based Reverdia and Canadian company BioAmber Inc have signed a non-assertion (non-assert) agreement concerning
Reverdia's Biosuccinium™ technology. BioAmber and Reverdia are both involved in
the production and commercialization of bio-based succinic acid using their own unique proprietary yeast-based
technologies. Pursuant to the key provisions of this agreement, BioAmber will benefit from non-assertion
covenants with respect to certain intellectual property rights of Reverdia in the field of bio-based succinic
acid, in exchange for undisclosed financial consideration. Furthermore, the agreement provides comfort to both
BioAmber and Reverdia to continue the implementation of their respective businesses using their own unique,
proprietary yeast-based technologies. Succinic acid can be used to make a broad range of products, including
polyurethanes, paints and coatings, adhesives, sealants, artificial leathers, food and flavor additives, and
cosmetics. 01/07/2016
RENAC Offers Training in Private Finance for Green Energies
The Berlin based Renewables Academy AG (RENAC), in cooperation with the Association of
Development Financing Institutions in Asia & Pacific (ADFIAP) has announced the three-year scholarship program "Green Banking - Capacity Building for Development and Commercial Banks on Climate
Finance". The Green Banking training program aims at increasing the availability of
financing instruments for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the five partner countries. The
project is part of the International Climate Initiative (ICI) with the support of the German Federal Ministry
for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB). Scholarships are available for
professionals from private and public institutions involved or interested in financing green energy projects
will gain specific knowledge in technologies, financial schemes, risk evaluation, mitigation measures and access
to international Climate Funds. The project started in November 2015 and will run until October 2018.
01/07/2016
First US Resource Recovery MBT Facility Breaks Ground in West
Virginia
Entsorga West Virginia (WV) has announced the groundbreaking of the first resource recovery facility
in the US to utilize Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT). The state-of-the-art
waste-to-solid fuel plant will be located in Martinsburg, WV and is expected to be operational in early 2017. By
utilizing the HEBioT MBT system, Entsorga WV will recover bio-mass, plastics, and other carbon based materials
from the mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) stream and convert them into a safe alternative fuel source. When
processing the MSW, Entsorga WV will remove other valuable recyclable commodities such as ferrous and
non-ferrous metals utilizing its proprietary system. The MSW will be converted to a clean burning alternative
fuel (Solid Recovered Fuel or SRF), which will be used as an alternative or supplement to fossil fuels. It is
ideal for co-processing plants such as cement kilns and steel mills as a source for the production of renewable
energy. At capacity, the plant will be capable of producing approximately 50,000 tons of SRF annually, which
will be delivered to the Essroc Cement Plant and used in conjunction with coal in the production of Portland
cement. The companies have entered into a long-term contract for the provision and acceptance of the SRF. The
project is being financed with $25 million in tax exempt, private activity bonds issued by the West Virginia
Economic Development Authority on behalf of Entsorga West Virginia, LLC. Entsorga WV is a joint venture
between Apple Valley Waste Technologies, LLC, Entsorga USA (subsidiary
of Entsorga Italia S.p.A) and Chemtex International. 01/07/2016
Buckinghamshire County Council Awards Food Waste Contract to
Shanks
Shanks Group plc has been awarded a food waste contract by Buckinghamshire County Council to
manage the treatment of approximately 7,000 tonnes of food waste in the northern part of Buckinghamshire. The
contract will begin on February 1, 2016 and will run for the next two years, with options for three additional
one year extensions. Under the contract, The food waste will be treated at Shanks’ Westcott Park anaerobic
digestion (AD) facility near Aylesbury, increasing throughput at the facility and maximizing operations.
Westcott Park has the capacity to process 48,000 tonnes of food waste each year and export 3 megawatts of green
electricity back to the National Grid, enough to power 6,000 homes. Westcott Park also benefits from a three
year contract to supply digestate from the facility. The digestate product is generally used in the agricultural
sector to replace less environmentally-friendly fertilizers and will benefit land across Buckinghamshire and the
surrounding areas. 01/06/2016
New California Laws for 2016 - Organics Recycling, Infrastructure in
Focus
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) composed a year-end roundup of new legislation include those that
improve organics management, create tax incentives to increase the state’s recycling infrastructure, and bolster
CalRecycle’s ability to collect recycling and disposal data. Each promises to be a valuable tool in
implementation of the state’s overall waste management strategy. CalRecycle is working with local government
partners and industry to expand California’s recycling infrastructure and keep methane-emitting food and other
organic waste out of landfills. Some of the legislation passed in 2015, or taking effect in 2016 to help
accomplish these goals include: AB 1826 of 2014--Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling; AB 199 of
2015--Alternative Energy: Recycled Feedstock Tax Break; AB 876 of
2015--Compostable Organics Infrastructure; AB 901 of 2015--Direct Reporting Requirements; and AB 1045 of 20150--Organic Waste Composting Promotion.
01/06/2016
Value of Integrating 2nd Gen Co-Products into 1st Gen Ethanol
Production
Researchers in the Department of Chemical Engineering in Sweden's Lund University
have released findings on the integration of first generation ethanol
production with second generation lignocellulosic co-production. The team found that consolidation of the
second-generation with the first-generation process can potentially reduce the downstream processing cost for
the second-generation process, as well as providing the first-generation process with energy. In addition to the
impact on primary ethanol production, the paper explores the economic trade-off between plant optimization for
co-products of biogas and/or distiller's dried grains and solubles (DDGS). Secondary anaerobic digestion for
production of biogas was found to be less economical that simpler production of DDGS, where the biogas was not
upgraded to vehicle fuel quality. Which plant configuration provided the best economic profile depended on local
markets for those co-products, markets that have been fluctuating significantly in the last few years. The paper
'Techno-economic evaluation of integrated first- and second-generation ethanol production from
grain and straw' has just been published in the journal Biotechnology for Biofuels and
is available for download without charge. 01/05/2016
Amyris Signs First Biofene® Ingredient Supply Agreement
California based Amyris, Inc has announced signing its first Biofene® ingredient supply agreement for
the global nutraceuticals and vitamins market. The agreement represents a multi-million-dollar arrangement with
one of the world’s leading nutraceuticals manufacturers. Initial volumes of farnesene were delivered to the customer in the fourth quarter for
conversion to the final product. This agreement and the related processing technology for the farnesene building
block will enable a significant cost advantage for this key product used for daily nutritional benefit. Due to
the competitive nature of this market both parties have agreed to keep the targeted product and the customer’s
name confidential. Amyris applies its bioscience solutions to convert plant sugars into hydrocarbon
molecules, specialty ingredients and consumer products. 01/04/2016
Global Bioenergies Delivers First Batch of Drop-in Bio-Isobutene Fuel to
Audi
French company Global Bioenergies and Audi have announced signing a new collaboration agreement to further broaden the
feedstock flexibility of Global Bioenergies’ Isobutene process. The two companies recently announced the
delivery by Global Bioenergies to Audi of a first batch of isobutene-derived isooctane, a premium drop-in fuel
for gasoline engines. Global Bioenergies had produced isobutene using its pilot plant located on the
agri-business site of Pomacle, France. The isobutene was then shipped to Germany and converted into isooctane.
The initial collaboration, expected to end in 2016, also encompasses the
delivery of larger batches that will allow Audi to run comprehensive engine testing and thus validate the
specifications of Global Bioenergies’ isooctane. Global Bioenergies will use its Demo plant, presently under construction on the site of the Leuna
refinery, to produce these batches. The newly signed extension and enhancement of the collaboration agreement
between the two companies focuses on making Global Bioenergies’ technology accessible for non-biomass derived
carbon sources such as CO2 or CO and energy sources such as green hydrogen produced from wind or solar energy.
This new agreement includes the payment of upfront and milestone fees, as well as the possibility for Audi to
acquire shares of Global Bioenergies corresponding to less than 1% of its capital.
01/04/2015
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