EU calls time on first-generation biofuels

Production of fuel-biodiesel in the EU-27 and Switzerland in 2009

EurActiv.com, October 18, 2012

The EU yesterday (17 October) launched new rules to account for indirect greenhouse gas emissions from biofuels, sending what EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard called a clear signal that first-generation biofuels were “not the future in Europe”. Read more...

Palm Oil Biodiesel and greenhouse gas emissions

ENN, January 30, 2012

Greenhouse gas emissions from palm oil-based biodiesel are the highest among major biofuels when the effects of deforestation and peatlands degradation are considered, according to calculations by the European Commission. The emissions estimates, which haven't been officially released, have important implications for the biofuels industry in Europe. Read more...

Canadian Cement Plant Becomes First to Capture CO2 in Algae

ENN, April 06, 2010

A Canadian company called Pond Biofuels is capturing CO2 emissions from a cement plant in algae — algae the company ultimately plans on using to make biofuel.
It’s no secret that the process of manufacturing cement is both energy intensive and dirty. Global cement production alone emits roughly five percent of greenhouse gas emissions annually, both as a byproduct of limestone decarbonation (60%) and from the burning of fossil fuels in the cement kilns (40%). Read more...

Environmental Leader, February 15, 2010

British Airways plans to build a plant that will produce biojet fuel from plasma gasification of biomass, reports The Engineer. Touted as Europe’s first sustainable jet-fuel plant, the facility will process all types of biomass and residue feedstock that will primarily be sourced from local waste management facilities, according to the article.
In partnership with the Solena Group, British Airways says the jet-fuel plant will help power its fleet from 2014, and help the company meet its goal to reduce net carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2050, reports New Energy Focus. Read more...

Τα γαϊδουράγκαθα κάνουν καλό... στον ΑΗΣ Καρδιάς

Ογδόντα αγρότες της Κοζάνης καλλιεργούν αγριοαγκινάρες που θα χρησιμοποιηθούν ως «καθαρό» καύσιμο από τη ΔΕΗ

H ΚΑΘΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ, 09 Αυγούστου 2009

Του Θαναση Τσιγγανα

Μια φορά την εβδομάδα, μόλις ο ήλιος κάνει την εμφάνισή του πάνω από τα φουγάρα των εργοστασίων στο λεκανοπέδιο της Πτολεμαΐδας, ο 42χρονος Κυριάκος Τσανακτσίδης ανακατεύει το χώμα στη νέα του καλλιέργεια για να δει αν τα φυτά θέλουν πότισμα.
Ο γεωργοκτηνοτρόφος από την Ακρινή Κοζάνης είναι ένας από τους 80 καλλιεργητές του νομού, που φέτος δεν φύτεψαν καλαμπόκι, σιτηρά ή ζαχαρότευτλα στα χωράφια τους, αλλά επέλεξαν να σπείρουν (και να επενδύσουν σε...) γαϊδουράγκαθα ή όπως τα λένε οι ειδικοί των ενεργειακών φυτών, αγριοαγκινάρες.
Τέσσερις χιλιάδες στρέμματα στους δήμους Ελλησπόντου, Δημ. Υψηλάντη, Αγίας Παρασκευής, Μουρικίου, Πτολεμαΐδας και Κοζάνης αποτελούν το φιλόδοξο πείραμα πράσινης οικονομίας στη Δυτική Μακεδονία, μια επανάσταση κατά τους εμπνευστές του, μια ανατροπή στο καλλιεργητικό κατεστημένο των κατοίκων της περιοχής. Διαβάστε περισσότερα...

Exxon to Invest Millions to Make Fuel From Algae

ENN, July 14, 2009

The oil giant Exxon Mobil, whose chief executive once mocked alternative energy by referring to ethanol as "moonshine," is about to venture into biofuels.
On Tuesday, Exxon plans to announce an investment of $600 million in producing liquid transportation fuels from algae — organisms in water that range from pond scum to seaweed. The biofuel effort involves a partnership with Synthetic Genomics, a biotechnology company founded by the genomics pioneer J. Craig Venter. Read more...

Exxon Mobil biofuel program

Britain exceeds biofuels target - govt agency

ENN, October 8, 2008

Britain is exceeding its 2.5 percent target for biofuels use in motor fuel but several oil companies have failed to meet environmental goals, a government agency said on Tuesday.'These early figures demonstrate that some companies have risen to the challenge of sourcing biofuels to meet good sustainability standards,' Nick Goodall, chief executive officer of the Renewable Fuels Agency said in a statement. Read more...

Airline in first biofuel flight

BBC News, February 24, 2008

The first flight by a commercial airline to be powered partly by biofuel has taken place.
A Virgin Atlantic jumbo jet has flown between London's Heathrow and Amsterdam using fuel derived from a mixture of Brazilian babassu nuts and coconuts. Read more...

Low faith in biofuels for climate

BBC News, December 11, 2007

By Richard Black Environment correspondent, BBC News website

Campaigners outside the talks have a simple message for delegatesDecision-makers in the climate change field have little faith in biofuels as a low-carbon technology, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) has found. Unveiled at the UN climate convention meeting in Bali, its survey shows professionals have more confidence in bicycles than in biofuels. The findings come as ministers assemble for the final part of the UN talks. Read more...

EU cuts back on biofuel crop subsidies

Planet2025 News, 24 October, 2007

A special farm aid scheme aimed at developing Europe's energy crop sector will be scaled back, after it emerged that farmers have already massively shifted production towards biofuels, overshooting a two million hectare target, the Commission has announced.
The amount of land for which farmers may receive a subsidy of €45 per hectare (ha) in exchange for planting energy crops (such as rapeseed or sugar beet that can be processed into biofuels for cars or biomass for heating or electricity) will be reduced after the scheme proved too popular, the Commission said on 17 October. Read more...

Biofuel trial flight set for 747

BBC News September 28, 2007

Air New Zealand says it plans to mount the first test flight of a commercial airliner partially powered by biofuel. The 747 flight is one part of a deal signed by the airline, engine producer Rolls-Royce and aircraft manufacturer Boeing to research "greener" flying.
One of the four engines will run on a mixture of kerosene and a biofuel, and is set for late 2008 or early 2009. Read more...

OECD blasts EU biofuels rush

EurActiv, September 11, 2007

Government support for biofuels will cause food shortages and lead to the destruction of natural habitats - while making little impact on climate change, warned the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), delivering a blow to EU plans to obtain 10% of its transport fuel from plants by 2020. Read more...

Read the OECD report...

Biofuels switch a mistake, say researchers

The Guardian, August 17, 2007

Increasing production of biofuels to combat climate change will release between two and nine times more carbon gases over the next 30 years than fossil fuels, according to the first comprehensive analysis of emissions from biofuels. Read more...