Biofuel, biodiesel and biomass technology news articles 
OriginOil's Hydrogen Harvester generates hydrogen from living algae
OriginOil, Inc. has announced a new invention that generates hydrogen from living algae, providing an additional energy source from bioreactors. In contrast to previously reported developments in the area, the new Hydrogen Harvester™ uses little or no external energy inputs, requires no sulfur deprivation or other "stressing" of the algae, and no genetic modification. The process employs viable, high growth rate, high oil content algae strains. "One of the primary challenges for algae production is to achieve the best-possible energy balance," said Riggs Eckelberry, OriginOil CEO. "By harve... [more]
Unitel Technologies focusses on the production of algal fatty acids for making biofuels from microalgae
Currently, most of the proposed methods in the biofuels-from-algae space require the extraction of immobilized oil from algal biomass. However, regardless of the oil extraction technique used, and some are more efficient than others, getting to the oil is usually very expensive in terms of capital and energy costs. In some instances, the amount of energy consumed to extract the oil can actually exceed the energy value of the end product. Unitel Technologies, Inc. filed a patent application for a new technology for making biofuels from microalgae. The process involves minimal dewatering, and... [more]
Gasrec helps Waitrose cut CO2 emissions on delivery vans
Waitrose, part of the John Lewis Partnership, is committed to reducing its carbon footprint. Its latest initiative involves the use of sustainable fuel made from landfill gas to run five of its home delivery vehicles in central London. The liquid Biomethane fuel for five Mercedes Sprinters that Waitrose uses to deliver groceries is being supplied by UK company Gasrec - the first commercial producer of Liquid Biomethane in Europe. It is created by extracting naturally occurring methane from organic waste in landfill sites and converting it to a high quality, clean fuel. The natural ga... [more]
Planning permission given for Scotland's largest ever anaerobic digestion facility
With the escalation of landfill tax, a growing emphasis on recycling and recovery, new government incentives to encourage renewable energy from waste, and new technologies coming on stream, the opportunities for small and medium sized waste contractors have never been greater, especially in the area of commercial and industrial waste, where the volumes being generated in the UK are four to five times higher than municipal solid waste. And nowhere are the commercial and environmental pressures greater than in Scotland, where the recycling targets are the highest in Europe. So the recent news... [more]
New B30K biofuel for heating and cooking eligible for the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive
The Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) have tested fuels which blended either 30% or 50% of the bio element, fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) with either kerosene or gas-oil. The FAME was derived from used cooking oil. The fuel that blends 30% FAME with 70% kerosene (B30K) has been accepted by the Government as eligible for the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). If this is introduced households converting to the fuel will receive a substantial annual payment. Field trials for the new biofuel for heating and cooking, have been hailed a success. OFTEC says that the trials demonst... [more]
