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CO2 Issues: As a general rule, fuels made from biomass recycle CO2 that is already in the atmosphere. However, to the extent that these fuels replace the use of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas) - biomass lowers CO2 in the atmosphere. The production of fuel from biomass typically utilizes a plant burning natural gas and incremental CO2 enters the atmosphere in this way - which must be taken into account when measuring net CO2 reductions via biomass.
Biofuel is defined broadly as solid, liquid, or gas fuel consisting of, or derived from biomass. The more narrow definition used in this article is liquid or gas fuel derived from biomass and used as a fuel in transportation. Biomass used directly as a fuel is commonly called biomass fuel. Wikipedia.
Bioenergy is eligible for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) - see Energy - Renewable Energy Credits Page.
Ethanol focused companies - see Energy - Ethanol Page.
Additional Resources
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Algae Biomass
Once algae is dewatered, they can be converted into high-quality transportation fuels. Algae biomass contains lipid oils that can be processed into high-quality transportation fuels. The algae biomass contains oils that can be processed into biodiesel, carbohydrates that can be fermented into ethanol, and protein that can be fed into a boiler as a high-quality fuel to generate green electrons or processed into animal feed and high-valued food supplements. Technology Overview.
Aurora BioFuels - a renewable energy company exploring new sources of feedstock for the production of biofuels. In particular, Aurora focuses on utilizing microalgae to generate bio-oil, which can be converted into biodiesel.
Investor: Noventi - Energy - Capital - Venture Capitalists Page. Locations: Menlo Park, California.
Locations: Berkley, California.
Website: http://www.aurorabiofuels.com/
Biomass Investment Group - a globally-focused company based in Gulf Breeze, Florida. BIG is committed to large-scale production of biomass resources using environmentally-friendly and sustainable production systems and conversion technologies. Website. Management.
GreenFuel Technologies Corporation - is a pioneer in the development of algae bioreactor technology to convert the CO2 in your smokestack gases into clean, renewable biofuels. Website. Locations: Cambridge, Massachusetts *
HR BioPetroleum - is a Hawaii-based and -founded renewable biofuels company focused on using the most productive plants on earth -- marine microalgae -- to produce biofuel feedstocks while simultaneously reducing industrial emissions of CO2. HRBP intends to construct and operate commercial algae facilities that will convert carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and other large point sources of carbon dioxide into feedstocks for biofuels and other valuable products. In 2007, HRBP and Royal Dutch Shell PLC, the international energy company, formed Cellana, a separate joint venture, to operate a demonstration facility to grow marine algae and produce vegetable oil for conversion into biofuel.
Locations: Hawaii.
Website: http://www.hrbp.com
LiveFuels - is a national alliance of labs and scientists dedicated to transforming algae into biocrude by the year 2010. Website. Management.
PetroAlgae - is commercializing extraordinary new technologies to grow and harvest oil from algae. This remarkable process creates a sustainable, renewable, cost-effective substitute for petroleum oil and a reliable, environmentally-friendly feedstock source for Biodiesel and many other products. Website.
Articles
Biofuel Crops That Require Destroying Native Ecosystems Worsens Global Warming - Turning native ecosystems into "farms" for biofuel crops causes major carbon emissions that worsen the global warming that biofuels are meant to mitigate, according to a new study by the University of Minnesota and the Nature Conservancy. Webpage.
Companies
Acciona Energy - Maintains 3 biomass plants (33 MW total). See Wind Page.
Agri.Capital - core competencies are planning, building, financing and operating decentralised plants for the production of regenerative energy from biomass.
agri.capital is headquartered in Münster. Due to our success we are looking for reinforcements for our team.
We offer interesting task areas in a performance-oriented, team-oriented, and customer-oriented environment. Do you want to help shape the processes in a successful, expanding enterprise? We look forward to your application.
Locations: Munster, Germany.
Website: http://www.agri-capital.de
BioFuelBox - solution is a "bio-refinery in a box" — a modular, containerized innovation that produces biofuel cost-effectively and easily. With such convenience and without the complexity associated with operating traditional biorefineries, our boxes are perfect for co-location at sites where waste material or standard feedstock are available for fuel production. This flexible, scalable and distributed approach to biofuel production ensures that virtually every community and business has the opportunity to become self-reliant. Investors: DFJ Element Fund. *
BioGasol - BioGasol has developed a process to extract ethanol from agricultural residue. Biogasol is expected to be among the first companies in the world to introduce commercial processes which can produce ethanol from readily available residue from farms, such as straw and bellows. Website. Locations: Denmark. Investors: Bankinvest.
ClearFuels Technology - Energy - Ethanol Page.
Cobalt Biofuels - is developing advanced methods of producing biofuels via the bacterial fermentation of renewable plant materials.
Investor: @Ventures - Energy - Capital - Venture Capitalists Page. Locations: Menlo Park, California; Wilmington, Massachusetts.
Locations: Mountain View, California.
People: http://www.cobaltbiofuels.com/about-cobalt/executive-team/
Website: http://www.cobaltbiofuels.com
EdenSpace - a commercial leader in the use of plants for environmental protection and renewable fuels. With projects throughout the United States and Japan, the company is transforming the energy, environmental and agricultural industries with proprietary plants and plant-based services. Website. Advisory Board: No. *
Genencor - remains committed to the fuel ethanol industry by providing the first innovative stepping stone product that will facilitate process development and scale up in the emerging biomass hydrolysis industry.
Locations: Rochester, New York.
New Generation Biofuels - is a renewable fuels provider. We hold an exclusive license for North America, Central America and the Caribbean to commercialize proprietary technology to manufacture alternative biofuels from vegetable oils and animal fats that we intend to market as a new class of biofuel for power generation, heavy equipment, marine use and as heating fuel. We believe our proprietary biofuel can provide a cheaper, renewable alternative energy source with significantly lower emissions than traditional fuels. Our business model calls for establishing direct sales from manufacturing plants that we may purchase or build and sublicensing our technology to qualified licensees.
Locations: Houston, Texas.
Website: http://www.newgenerationbiofuels.com
Qteros - (formerly SunEthanol) is about science...and people. Our core team of scientists and business people are dedicated to producing low-carbon fuel energy from plant and tree waste.
Locations: Hadley, Massachusetts.
Website: http://www.qteros.com/
Sapphire Energy - was founded by a unique interdisciplinary team of scientists, entrepreneurs and investors to address the overwhelming inadequacies of current biofuel approaches — and the profound costs of American dependence on foreign oil. Sapphire’s goal is to be the world’s leading producer of renewable petrochemical products. The team has built a scientifically superior platform that uses photosynthetic microorganisms to convert sunlight, and CO2 into carbon-neutral alternatives to conventional fossil fuels.
Locations: La Jolla, California.
Website: http://www.sapphireenergy.com
SunEthanol - See Qteros - Energy - Biomass Page. Locations: Hadley, Massachusetts.
SunOpta BioProcess Inc. - specializes in the design, construction and optimization of biomass conversion equipment and facilities. With over 30 years experience delivering biomass solutions worldwide, we combine our application expertise with innovative technologies to produce cellulosic ethanol, cellulosic butanol, xylitol and dietary fiber for human consumption. Raw materials include wheat straw, corn stover, grasses, oat hulls and wood chips. Website.
US Renewables Group - Energy - Renewables Page.
Verenium Corporation - is a leader in the development and the commercialization of cellulosic ethanol, an environmentally-friendly and renewable transportation fuel, as well as higher performance specialty enzymes for applications within the biofuels, industrial, and animal nutrition and health markets.
Locations: Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Website: http://www.diversa.com/about.asp
Locations: New York, New York.
Website: http://vertustechnologies.nvisage.uk.com/aboutus/index.asp?id=1
Virent - is an energy technology company that enables the renewable replacement of fossil fuels. Virent’s patented BioForming™ platform technology renewably produces transportation fuels, fuel gases, and many chemicals, all products most commonly made from fossil fuels. Based on the innovative Aqueous Phase Reforming (APR) pathway to biofuels and bioproducts, the BioForming process delivers more net energy and offers a scalable, cost‐effective alternative to traditional biofuel production routes. Headquartered in Madison, WI, Virent has 57 employees in a state of the art catalytic biorefining development facility. Virent has an exclusive license to the APR process from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. Website. *
Xethanol Corporation - Energy - Ethanol Page. *
Plants
Arundo donax - is a giant perennial grass that produces more biomass per acre per year than any other known biomass plant. Arundo donax has long been recognized as important non-wood industrial biomass-producing plants that can be grown on a wide variety of soil types and climatic conditions. Arundo donax reaches maturity (15 to 25 feet) in about a year, can be harvested, depending on climate, once to three times annually. Wikipedia.
Resources
Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC) - Our home is in Montpelier, Vermont, and we work on projects around the country to install systems that use biomass fuel to produce heat and/or electricity. Our partners in these projects have included schools, communities, colleges, businesses, utilities, and government agencies. Website.
British Biogen - Website.
EcoWorld - news and information - Biofuel Portal.
Evolution Markets Inc. - Biofuels Markets - Website. See Energy - Renewable Energy Credits Page for Evolution Markets Inc. info.
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) - part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) works to improve foreign market access for U.S. products, build new markets, improve the competitive position of U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace, and provide food aid and technical assistance to foreign countries. Website.
Additional Resources
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Paul J. Feldman