biofuel

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have devised a technique for turning some of the harder parts of a plant into fuel, a breakthrough that could further bring down the cost of biofuels.

Two of the major components of plant material are cellulose and lignin. Lignin essentially turns fibers into wood. It hardens cell walls and binds cellulose fibers together. It's the reason we have coal. If ancient plants hadn't had lignin, microorganisms would have eaten them and thus, the plants would never have been transformed into rock. (There's your fun primordial fact for the day.) … Read more

The recently passed energy act is a boon for ethanol. But other biofuels, including plant-derived fossil fuel look-alikes, are also poised to get a boost.

A handful of companies are using different approaches to designing synthetic versions of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. They include including LS9, Amyris Biotechnologies, Codexis, and J. Craig Venter-founded Synthetic Genomics.

These biofuels, which some refer to as "renewable petroleum," will be designed with the same properties of hydrocarbons that now fuel our vehicles, but be made from biomass, rather than petroleum.

Custom-designed synthetic fuels are very appealing to established fossil fuel providers … Read more

At the Detroit auto show, attendees are going to be talking about the magic 100 mile per gallon mark.

EcoMotors will be at the show to talk about its diesel engine which it says will let cars go 100 miles a gallon by 2011. At that level, you could get across the country and only have to stop once for gas.

Khosla Ventures has invested in the company. The firm also has an interest in Transonic Combustion, which has developed a fuel injection system for getting diesels (as well as other types of engines) to go 100 miles per gallon. … Read more

Imperium Renewables has cut its workforce, only weeks after pulling plans for its public offering and replacing its CEO, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports.

The Seattle-based biodiesel producer told the newspaper that the workforce reductions were done to "address short-term challenges and ensure the company's long-term growth."

It said that the changes will not affect the operation of its Grays Harbor, Wash., biodiesel plant which will produce 100 million gallons of biodiesel a year.

The news follows the company's announcement that it has delayed its planned initial public offering citing market conditions and the departure of former CEO Martin Tobias … Read more

A large-scale test on the effectiveness of switchgrass to make ethanol gave the native grass high marks on energy production and greenhouse gases.

Switchgrass is a favorite of politicians and cellulosic ethanol advocates who say that the grass, which can grow to nine feet, is a better feedstock than corn--the source of most ethanol made today.

A study published on Monday by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) found that switchgrass contains five times more energy than it takes to grow it, which makes it significantly more cost-effective than corn.

The average greenhouse gas emissions from cellulosic … Read more

Koenigsegg released more details on its special edition CCX and CCXR cars.

While the car will not be officially unveiled until the 2008 Geneva auto show in March, the company has released some early images and a full set of specs for fans to salivate over.

Both versions of the limited-edition run will feature a 5-liter twin supercharged engine with 6-speed plus reverse gearbox. Both models will go 0-62 mph in 2.9 seconds. The CCX tops out at 245 mph, while the biofuel CCXR tops out at 250 mph.

But you better act fast if you have the 1,… Read more

In the battle for congressional funding, sounding the national security alarm is a proven winner.

So it is that the Renewable Fuels Association--yes, there's a trade group for everything under the sun, folks--is arguing that renewable fuel is "critical to reducing dangers associated to increasing foreign oil dependence."

That's the headline of a press release which crossed the wires earlier today. And to be fair, you can make a strong argument that energy alternatives, which include renewable fuels, offer a way out of our reliance upon Middle Eastern (and Venezuelan) oil.

The problem with ethanol, as … Read more

When it comes to navigating a way out of the nation's energy crisis, you have to wonder whether the fix is already in.

The government has picked the winner--even as senior policy makers issue bland pronouncements about finding new technologies to help break our energy dependence on foreign oil. Between now and 2012, biofuel subsidies will total more than $92 billion, according to a recent report conducted under the auspices of the Global Subsidiaries Initiative.

The timing is coincidental, but the report came out just as Senate and House leaders were weighing a plan which would leave renewable energy … Read more

Certain biofuels, though eco-friendly, have a reputation for gumming up engine parts, which affect vehicle performance and ultimately reduce engine life. So the idea of a bio-based motor oil makes some of us a little nervous. But one Bay Area-based company is hawking a green, biodegradable motor oil that it says will protect engines as well as name-brand, petroleum-based oil.

G-Oil, made by Green Earth Technologies, is made by converting tallow -- that's saturated cow fat to you and me -- into a high-value unsaturated oil, which is less likely to clog up engine parts. (Tallow was used historically … Read more