MO power plants to cut emissions by growing algae for biofuels

According to an AP article, two Missouri power plants plan to test a system that would use waste CO2 to grow algae that could be turned into ethanol, biodiesel, and animal feed. CO2 acts like a fertilizer for the green algae which also gathers energy from the sun via photosynthesis. If successful, the system could be implimented at numerous facilities that currently vent CO2 into the atmosphere.
Mo. power plants to cut emissions by growing algae - Forbes.com

Company plans to scale up production of gasoline from biomass

Texas Engineering Experiment Station and Byogy Renewables say they have developed an integrated biorefinery that will take in any biomass, including cellulosics, and produces a biofuel that can be a direct replacements for gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel. All this at a competitive price, they say. They expect to scale up production within 2 years.
GRAINNET News and Information for the Grain, Milling, Feed, Seed and BioFuels Industry

Syngas from biomass gasification to power lime kilns

The gasifier unit being perfected by Nexterra Energy Corp. could also provide thermal energy for pulp mills, ethanol biorefineries, and many other facilities with biomass, displacing natural gas or other fossil fuels.
GRAINNET News and Information for the Grain, Milling, Feed, Seed and BioFuels Industry

Google Invests $10 Million in Engineered Geothermal

Engineered geothermal does not rely on existing hot water sources. Rather, water is injected into the dry hot rocks that are much more common. Steam from recovered water drives turbines to produce electricity. Much of the water is recycled by re-injecting. The potentail looks very good for this technology.
Warm Globe: Google Invests $10 Million in Geothermal

Variable Compression for better fuel economy on ethanol

With a high compression engine to take advantage of high octane, fuel economy on ethanol can be near that of fuel economy on gasoline. But most flex fuel engines are designed for optimum fuel economy on gasoline. That's why they get much worse fuel economy on E85. A variable compression engine like the research model described below could run with optimum efficiency on ethanol and gasoline. This would be huge for motorists, reducing cost per mile driven and making ethanol much more competitive with gasoline. 
Lotus developing efficient two-stroke OMNIVORE engine - Autoblog: "This engine design is expected to significantly increase fuel efficiency for sustainable bio alcohol fuels. The architecture features an innovative variable compression ratio system and uses a two-stroke operating cycle with direct fuel injection."

New catalyst for ethanol from syngas being developed

Researchers at Iowa State University are developing a catalyst that can be more selective in producing ethanol from syngas rather than other products. Through gasification, syngas can be produced from almost any organic material including waste materials. This technology ofr gasification is already in use and well developed. Syngas can be upgraded to replace natural gas or a catalyst can be used to convert syngas to ethanol.
GRAINNET News and Information for the Grain, Milling, Feed, Seed and BioFuels Industry: "“You can use the waste product from the distilling process or any number of other sources of biomass, such as switchgrass or wood pulp. Basically any carbon-based material can be converted into syngas.
'And once we have syngas, we can turn that into ethanol.”"

Agaves: more ethanol with less water

Here is yet another ethanol feedstock that seems to hold great promise without the need for cellulosic ethanol technology (though it does yield large amounts of cellulose in addition to simple sugars). According to the linked article, Agave could produce much more ethanol per acre per year than corn or sugarcane, with additional coproducts available as well. All this while using much less water and growing on soils poorly suited for corn or sugarcane crops or other food crops. Agave is mainly grown in very dry regions of Mexico, but should be able to thrive in similar climatic zones of the southwest United States. This is a crop high in simple sugars, very easily and processed into ethanol fuel.
Mexico & Agaves: Moving from Tequila to Ethanol: "High in sugar content, the project team estimates that varieties of Agave tequilana weber can yield up to 2,000 gallons of distilled ethanol per acre per year and from 12,000-18,000 gallons per acre per year if their cellulose is included, some 14 dry tons of feedstock per acre every year."

Grass crossed with sugarcane might yield more ethanol then sugarcane

A central Florida landowner estimates huge rthanol yields per acre possible from a cross between African Elephant Grass and Sugarcane. Like sugarcane, this grass is high in simple sugars, so ethanol conversion would be inexpensive and not require advanced cellulosic ethanol techniques.
Retired Lakeland Minister Thinks Grass Can Be Used for Ethanol theledger.com The Ledger Lakeland, FL

Miscanthus Shows Great Potential as Ethanol Feedstock

Trials by Illinois researchers indicate the perennial grass known as Miscanthus could produce 2.5 times more biofuel energy per acre as compared to corn. This is with much less fertilization and erosion as compared to corn cropping. The variety used is sterile, and invasion of nearby fields has not been a problem in European and U.S. trials. Breeding for increased biomass could raise yields still more. Higher yields per acre will allow for shorter transportation distance for biomass to the biorefineries. This perennial grass will grow on marginal soils and actually improve soil fertility and carbon content over time. That's why long-term rotations with these grasses could actually improve food production over time. Land previously marginal for food production could be better for food production after a number of years in grass.
Miscanthus Shows Great Potential as Ethanol Feedstock

Renergie supports repealing ethanol Import tariff

A Louisiana biofuel company focused on non-corn kernel feedstocks is arguing that ethanol import tariffs should be eliminated. They argue that more supply would permit and promote a building out of infrastructure for use of ethanol beyond 10% blending. Blender pumps, especially, would allow blending of gasoline and ethanol at various proportions. Also, imported ethanol would be valuable for U.S. coastal areas located far from the midwest ethanol production regions. Additional arguments are included in the linked article.

Why the Ethanol Import Tariff Should be Repealed � Renergie’s Weblog

Biogas power from U.S. cow manure

The linked article describes large scale biogas production in Texas and California. Biogas can be used to produce electricity or can be upgraded as a direct replacement for natural gas. This upgraded biogas can be injected into the natural gas pipeline grid. The Texas facility processes manure from a nearby farm and mixes it with food waste. The output is able to power a little more than one house for every cow. If you add up the confined livestock numbers in the U.S., you will quickly see that the power potential is astounding, not to mention the great reduction in pollution. In the process of extracting biogas, manure is transformed into a fertilizer that is much more valuable for farmers and far less polluting, less reactive than the original manure.
Power from cow poo heats homes — Plenty Magazine

Dominican complex plans ethanol and methane from sweet sorgum

Using Sweet sorghum as the main input, a Dominican agricultural complex plans to produce 100 million gallons of ethanol per year in addition to methane, hydrogen, and several types of livestock. Such an integrated system should be able to get more value from each ton of energy crop inputs. 
Firm announces $340 mn ethanol venture in Dominican Republic

Florida company tests sweet sorghum for sugar-based ethanol

A Florida company, Global Renewable Energy, is considering the kind of sorghum that produces lots of sugar-laden juice in the stems, similar to sugar cane. The ethanol would be made from this juice rather than grain. Ethanol is easier to make from these simple sugars, but the stems must be processed quickly after harvest because of spoilage. Refineries will need to be close to production fields. Florida's year-round growing season will be an advantage, and the sweet sorgum requires less water and fertilizer than does corn, the favorite ethanol feedstock currently.
Sebastian-based business hoping crop can play key role in ethanol production : Treasure Coast : TCPalm

New Pretreatment Technology Dramatically Increases Cellulosic Ethanol Yield

A new mild acid pretreatment process promises to increase sugar yields from cellulosic biomass by 10 times according to researchers at the University of Georgia. It also uses less harsh chemicals than previous processes and works for a wide variety of biomass materials.
New Biomass Technology Dramatically Increases Ethanol Yield From Grasses And Yard Waste

U.S. study: Livestock manure could be major power source

Researchers at the University of Texas found that biogas (mainly methane) from livestock manure could produce about 2.4% of U.S. electricity needs while reducing greenhouse gas emmissions. A useful fertilizer would be left as a byproduct. Currently, a large portion of livestock manure is wasted or even produces environmental contamination.
Cow power: the energy and emissions benefits of converting manure to biogas

Encouraging use of wasted heat

A tremendous amount of power is wasted in the form of heat from power plants. Changes in regulations related to retail pricing and emissions would likely encourage use of this heat resource through the market system. The rising cost of energy makes this more likely. Thomas Blakeslee's article linked below explains some of the details of these needed changes in regulations.
Heat is Power. Let's Stop Throwing it Away!

Native grasses build soil fertility

This news is very important to the food vs. fuel debate. A new study lends support to the idea that native grasses can improve the soil while providing biomass for biofuel production at the same time. Soils currently too exhausted for food production could be restored while providing biofuel feedstocks. With a long-term rotation, these soild could then be returned to food production. This would end the food vs fuel debate, and in fact would mean more biofuel production equals more food in the long run.
Switchgrass May Mean Better Soil

KSU Reasearchers study Pelletizing for cellulosic ethanol

A major barrier for cellulosic ethanol from energy crops is transportation of huge volumes of biomass. KSU researchers want to find out whether pelletizing cellulosic biomass using proven technology could be an answer to this dilemma, reducing volume considerably. Pellets could also be handled with existing grain handling equipment, reducing infrastructure cost.
Kansas City infoZine News - Biofuels Proof of Concept Study on Producing Cellulosic Ethanol from Pelleted Forage Crops Nets K-State Team - USA

Increased biogas injection into Germany's natural gas grid

Improved injection technologies are helping the feasibility of putting upgraded biomethane into the natural gas system as a direct replacement for natural gas. this sdresses difficulties with moving biofuels to where they are needed. The article indicates Germany could soon provide 20% of natural gas needs from biogas.
Biogas Flows Through Germany's Grid Big Time

Add Biogas to the T. Boone Pickens Plan

T. Boone Pickens propese massive wind farms to free up natural gas that is now used for generating electricity. Much of that natural gas would be used to fuel CNG (Compressed natural Gas) vehicles. These vehicles are proven and available already in some states. Honda makes one suitable for commuting. Driving cost is generally much less than gasoline.

My only suggestion would be to add biogas to the mix as a natural gas replacement. Biogas is mainly methane siphoned from landfills or produced by digestion of all kinds of organic materials, including sewage, livestock manure, and trash. We should be taking advantage of these resources!

More about the Pickens plan here:

FuturePundit: T. Boone Pickens: Wind For Electricity And Natural Gas For Cars

Biobutanol research makes progress

The Wall Street Journal reports on the current status of biobutanol research. It's still too expensive to be practical as a transportation fuel, but progress is being made toward getting costs down. Research is also confirming that biobutanol will be easier to transport by pipeline as compared to ethanol and it can be used at a greater proportion in non-flex vehicles.
Betting on a Biofuel - WSJ.com

New technology nets clean water byproduct from sugar cane ethanol production

Biorefineries using this new design will be able to capture water from the sugar cane rather than losing it to evaporation. This will make cane ethanol biorefineries into net producers of relatively clean water, reversing one of the concerns about biofuel production (water use). This process would not work for drier feedstocks such as corn kernels, but my guess is that it could be modified for feedstocks such as cane sorghum, sugar beets, and Jerusalem artichoke tops -- crops than can be grown across much of North America. This would be especially welcome in areas with lower rainfall.  

Dedini launches ethanol mill that produces water | Environment | Reuters

Biofuels from abandoned farmlands

The Carnegie institute has released a study showing significant potential for biofuel production from feedstocks grown on land that has been worn out and abandoned around the world.
GRAINNET News and Information for the Grain, Milling, Feed, Seed and BioFuels Industry

Ottawa facility to turn waste to energy

Facility will convert 400 tonnes per day of city-generated trash to energy.
GRAINNET News and Information for the Grain, Milling, Feed, Seed and BioFuels Industry

Ethanol to be made from city solid waste in Canada

Using solid waste for biofuels makes sense where feasible because it pretty much eliminates the feedstock transportation issues faced with energy crops. It also keeps some waste volume out of landfills.
Edmonton to use waste for fuel

Prospects for Cellulosic Ethanol

This is a good comprehensive article on EcoWorld about the current status of ethanol pros and cons and how we might transition to cellulosic ethanol:
Cellulosic Ethanol

Combining plug-in electric and biofuels

Check out this very important report about combining two well-developed technologies for greater efficiency and less reliance on imported energy. Small Flex-fuel engines can easily be combined with electric motors and the latest battery technology. Electricity is quite versatile in how it can be produced and used. It could be produced more locally by home-based solar, wind, and regional generation stations powered by biogas from landfills and municipal waste.
Driving Our Way to Energy Independence - commentary on flex-fuel, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles