The Guardian reports that only biofuels can cut plane emissions. “The positive progress on including aviation in Europe’s carbon trading scheme this week is welcome, but neither that nor more efficient aircraft will deal with the industry’s climate problem, only biofuels can do that.” Airlines would benefit from a genuine and cost-effective emission reduction strategy, which might even attract environmentally conscious flyers.

Ethanol Producer Magazine reports that Scientific Certification Systems  is the first certification body in the United States to be accredited by the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification biofuel certification system. SCS has been approved to conduct biofuel certifications, and in addition, to conduct “ISCC Plus” certification for food, animal feed and derivative chemicals produced from any feedstock.

Co.Exist published an interview with Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers as he highlights the responsibility of big utilities like themselves to be responsible energy producers and consumer. Rogers said “[After the merger] we will be [one of the] largest emitters of CO2 in the U.S. We have a special responsibility to lead on that issue.”

E2B Pulse reports that the UK could take the global lead on sustainable biofuels from algae. Research by the NNFCC has identified a number of market opportunities which could be developed for the production of biofuels, as well as commodity chemicals, from both micro and macro algae. Dr Claire Smith, lead author of the report, said “The UK has world leading research strength in algae environmental research and could become an international leader in algae sustainability thinking as it is now for terrestrial biomass.”

Bangkok Post reports that Loxley Plc is spending 60 million baht to build a pilot plant for algae-based biofuel, possibly in Ratchaburi province. The investment came after Loxley signed a memorandum of understanding for the algae-based biofuel development project with Bangchak Petroleum Plc, Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding and the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE).

BusinessWorld reports in the Philippines The Energy Department is reviewing projections for the country’s biofuel requirements. “We will revisit the national biofuels program and hopefully provide a more realistic target in the next five years,” said Energy Undersecretary Jose M. Layug, Jr. said. He noted that “five years ago, the government wanted the Philippines to be the top ethanol producer in Asia, but we hardly produced…” The country has demand for 460 million liters of ethanol under the 10% blend, up from 200 million liters under the 5% blend. Existing supply has been estimated at 79 million liters.

Bloomberg Business Week reports that ‘on the way to a renewable energy future, a funny thing has happened: Big Oil has become the biggest investor in the race to create green fuels.’ BP (BP) has invested $7 billion in alternative energy since 2005. ExxonMobil (XOM) is spending $600 million on a 10-year effort to turn algae into oil. And Royal Dutch Shell (RDS/A) has invested billions of dollars in a Brazilian biofuels venture, buying up sugar cane mills, plantations, and refineries to make ethanol. \

Ethanol Producer Magazine reports on the contribution of biofuels to the global economy. A new report reveals the biofuels industry contributed $277.3 billion to the global economy in 2010.“It is promising to see the global biofuels industry growing during these difficult economic times,” Bliss Baker, spokesperson for GRFA (Global Renewable Fuels Alliance.). “The global biofuels industry is a bright spot in the current world economy and is contributing billions of dollars to output and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs all while reducing our reliance on crude oil.”

GreenAirOnline reports on Boeings biofuel investment and how it is paying off. “It was a dream five years ago, and now it’s a reality,” said Billy Glover, Vice President, Environment and Aviation Policy, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Biofuels that can be used as a ‘drop-in’ replacement for kerosene are “not only feasible but highly desirable. The next step is to make it commercially viable.” Boeing has taken a leading role in accelerating biofuel development. It’s critically important for Boeing, its customers and the aerospace industry to reduce the environmental impact of jet aircraft, as well as to have another option for fuel supply, Glover said.

NewHope360 reports on new legislation that makes Arizona algae friendly. Arizona is just the second state, after Ohio, to classify the algae industry as agriculture. Dr. Mark Edwards, AlgaeBio’s vice president of corporate development and marketing, is excited about this new legislation that potentially means extra investment capital, well-paying jobs, a larger tax base, and long-term, sustainable use of agricultural lands for Arizona.

Gulf in the Media reports that senior vice president for Qatar marketing with ExxonMobil Qatar, Jos Evens said ” If research and development milestones are successfully met, the company expects to spend more than $600M on the algae biofuels program over the next decade.”

The  Energy Collective reports on a presentation by the Department of Energy’s Biomass Program; Biofuels Design Cases. The presentation explored the question of whether the U.S. government is spending money on the right technology pathways. Costs were presented for biofuel produced from pyrolysis, algae, Fischer-Tropsch (FT), and methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) routes.

Green Chip Stocks report simply on the facts of biofuels and the pros and cons of this sustainable fuel. Not surprisingly algae comes out on top.

GreenCarCongress reports that France recently launched GreenStars, a federation which will bring together all the players in the development of micro-algae in France. A budget of US$210 million for 10 years has been estimated, of which 20% come from public grants. The primary goal by 2020 is to develop compounds of interest such as efficient biofuels and high added-value substances with micro-algae feeding on industrial emissions of carbon dioxide and nutrients contained in waste.

Biofuels Digest reports that OriginOil and Algasol announced that they will collaborate on the development of an integrated algae growth and harvesting system. By bundling their products, the two companies plan to achieve new levels of cost and performance in micro algae cultivation for biofuels and high value products.

CleanBizAsia reports that World Health Energy Holdings, a US-Israeli company commercializing algae-based biodiesel, has plans for two projects in India this year, and is targeting over USD200 million in sales in 2013, according to Reuters.