Flexible feedstock ethanol getting closer

Plasma gasification is one route to ethanol production. It can utilize just abot any carbon-based feedstock, includung municipal solid waste. Coskata is getting close to going full scale with this technology.
Coskata's new Lighthouse cellulosic ethanol plant, in depth — Autoblog Green: "Flex ethanol is the term Coskata is using for ethanol that can be made with almost any feedstock, i.e., ethanol made using the Coskata process."

Iowa Ethanol producer deploys algae production

A Shenadoah, Iowa ethanol biorefinery is using waste heat and C02 to nourish algae production. In the future, algae could be used for feed, food, or fuel. The unveiling will be October 14, 2009.
BioFuels Journal - News & Information for the Ethanol and BioDiesel Industries: "Omaha, NE—Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: GPRE) announces the unveiling of BioProcessAlgae, LLC’s Phase I photobioreactor pilot project."

Hydrated Ethanol can increase diesel engine efficiency

CleanFlex Power Systems is retrofitting diesel engines to run on hydrated ethanol combined with diesel. The ethanol is a mixture of 40% water and 60% ethanol, dubbed EM60. Two separate tanks are used. the hydrated ethanol and diesel come together at the last second during combustion. The result is less emmissions and more horsepower. I consider this to be a high-efficiency use of ethanol. Click the link for an article with more details.
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