The National reports of the growth of aviation in the gulf region and the issues for sustainability that this poses. A bright future ‘depends on having the right conditions in place to support competitive sustainable businesses. Many of these are beyond the direct control of airlines, and most require that industry and government work together with a common vision and purpose.’

CleanTech Authority reports on the creation of an algae powered street lamp, by a French Biochemist, Pierre Calleja recently. ‘The algae feeds off CO2 emissions. Pierre hopes that the CO2 reducing street lamps will become a household commodity, vicariously reducing CO2 emissions on a major scale.’

MarketWatch reports that The Biotechnology Industry Organization, the Advanced BioFuels Association, the Algal Biomass Organization, Airlines for America, and the National Farm Bureau Federation yesterday (25th April 2012) wrote leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee asking them to include authorization for the U.S. Department of Energy to transfer funds to the Defense Production Act necessary for an interagency project to ramp up production of military aviation and diesel fuels. Whilst at the same time NewsRoomAmerica reports that The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded more than $1 million in grants to 15 university and college teams from across the country who participated in the 8th Annual National Sustainable Design Expo on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for their innovative environmental solutions. University of Cincinnati was awarded for developing a pilot scale system to convert trap grease from restaurants, a waste set to landfill, to renewable biodiesel.

Xconomy published an interview with departing Sapphire Energy CEO, Jason Pyle. “From my perspective, this is essentially a positive thing for me and it should be for the company,” Pyle says. “I feel like I’ve done what I came here to accomplish.” “The next two to three years of the company’s existence is going to be built around the commercial demonstration facility” under construction in Luna County, New Mexico, Pyle says.

CNBC reports of the reality of renewable fuel alternatives by exposing the necessity and risks involved in the change over. The article also outlines the criticism that  that U.S. energy policy gets for being inconsistent and short-sighted, often the product of industry lobbying and political fancy. Concluding that “for now, we need every alternative energy that’s cost competitive and efficient.”

CleanTechnica reports on the five-year, $125 million alternative energy research project known as Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Center, (JCERDC), aimed partly at developing biofuels from non-food crops.The biofuel component totals about $21 million for a team from across the U.S.

Biofuels Digest unpack the history and look forwrd to the future of biofuels. “Sapphire Energy, among other hardy survivors, press forward, as others melt away or re-focus on higher-value, smaller-market products.”

BusinessWeek reports that Argentina has seized control of its leading oil company from Spanish hands. President Cristina Fernandez infuriated Spain, its largest foreign investor, but elated many Argentines by expropriating Repsol YPF SA’s majority stake in Argentina’s formerly state-owned YPF energy company.

HeraldNet reports on the potential of biofuels in the aviation industry. Highlighting that the motivation is both economic and environmental. Boeing and the airlines it serves know that to ensure their financial future, they must find ways to combat the volatility of fuel costs. Also that noting that with any new industry, one of the barriers to making biofuels viable for aviation is affordability.

R&D Magazine reports on the dangers of using food-based crops for biofuels production. “Using farmland resources has far-reaching implications for food security, energy security, and environmental sustainability” fueling the so-called “food versus fuel” debate.

Biofuels Digest reports on Pond Biofuels who have set up their algae operation alongside St. Mary’s Cement on the Thames River, allowing the algae to eat off of the CO2 and sulfur emitted from the cement production process. Rather than producing biodiesel, the oil from the algae is fed back into the cement production process to replace coke or coal.

Biodiesel Magazine reports that new energy legislation in the state of Florida became law on April 14, the legislation, HB 7117, contains several measures aimed to encourage the development and expansion of the renewable energy sector within the state, including biofuels production and distribution.

AINOnline reports that Boeing and Japan’s ANA conducted the first-ever transpacific flight powered with biofuel on Tuesday using the airline’s newest Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The 787 produced some 30 percent less CO₂ than a modern airplane of similar size would typically have emitted, said Boeing.

The Dubai Chronicle reports that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) called upon all parts of the aviation value chain in the Gulf region to work together on issues critical to aviation’s ability to serve as a catalyst for economic growth.  Qatar Airways, Rolls-Royce and others have formed the Qatar Advanced Biofuel Platform consortium to develop the world’s first large scale algae bio-jet value chain.  “This is a positive development. To move from large scale use of sustainable biofuels for aviation we need governments around the world to initiate policies that will attract investment and de-risk the scaling-up of production,” said Tyler, Iata’s Director General and CEO.

Biofuels International reports that Regus Advisors has invested in Algae International so that it can build its first $2 million algae to biofuel development in California.

Biofuels Digest reports that Iceland is looking to biodiesel as the answer to imported fuel. Because of the algae potential of the country, the managing director of Vistvæn orka ehf, one of Iceland’s most prominent bioenergy companies, said “Iceland even has the potential to export biodiesel.” Ásbjörn Torfason.

The Energy Report reports that industry experts see biofuels accounting for up to 25% of global energy consumption by 2050. Mark McHugh, president and CEO of consultancy firm CenAm Energy Partners SA, assesses the current biofuel industry from Brazil, the seat of the growing industry.

Green Valley News reports that Arizona’s legislature wants to make sure there are algae-friendly laws on the books. Rep. Matt Heinz, D-Tucson sponsored two bills to encourage algae growth in the state. “This is a potential new energy source, a potential source of long-term job and economic growth here,” Heinz said. “This is setting things up in a way to make sure that algae is treated the same way other agricultural endeavors are.”

CNBC reports that a new generation of renewable-chemical startups could soon begin breaking the industrial behemoths’ grip on the sector. John Quealy, analyst with Canaccord Genuity says “renewable chemicals can  de-risk the chemical supply chain from persistently high petroleum costs.”

Adelaide Now reports on the Qantas passenger jet powered by cooking oil that will take off from Sydney today in an Australian first, landing in Adelaide at 12.05pm.Unveiling the historic flight at Sydney’s domestic airport this morning, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the project would explore the conditions needed for the production of aviation biofuel from sustainable sources within Australia.

TPM reports on the opening of a 30,000 square foot Army laboratory in Warren, MI, dedicated to cutting edge, alternative energy technology for powering new tanks and other military vehicles. The new lab, Ground Systems Power and Energy Lab (GSPEL) is will see the partnership of academic and industry researchers to develop next-generation fuel cells, energy storage systems, hybrid systems, and yes, alternative fuels such as algae biofuel.

Dallas News reports that Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, has just launched their new journal Algal Research.

Renewable Energy Mgazine reports that the Government of Québec has announced its plan to inject $27 million in Québec’s first full-scale commercial cellulosic ethanol plant through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife and Investissement Québec. “This waste-to-biofuels production facility will help reduce greenhouse emissions, fossil fuel imports and landfilled volumes.”

Technology Review reports that NASA wants to launch floating algae farms in the form of a $10 million project growing algae for biofuels inside plastic bags.The setup has been tested in four nine-meter-long plastic bags at a wastewater plant near San Francisco. “The researchers demonstrated that they can grow enough algae to produce nearly 2,000 gallons of fuel per acre per year—if the weather cooperates.”

OilPrice reports that the US Department of Energy and the US Department of Agriculture will jointly spend $35 million in research toward developing biomass-based oil supplements (bio-oils) that could eventually be mixed with petroleum, as the world struggles with increasing food prices as a result of biofuels production. The DOE describes the bio-oils as “precursors for fully renewable transportation fuels” that could be integrated into the oil refining processes for conventional gasoline, diesel and jet fuels.

Energy Business Review reports that Regus Advisors has completed an agreement with Algae International Group (AIGI) for the development of their first $2m Algae2BioFuel venture in US state of California. Regus Advisors president Mervyn Price said many companies have explored the opportunity of creating Biofuel from Algae like Bill Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation and the US Government.

Midlands Business News reports on an innovative €8m bioenergy project where five European countries will collaborate to develop bioenergy initiatives that will significantly reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill, has been officially launched in the West Midlands.Waste materials such as straw, wood, algae and sewage sludge could potentially be explored as sources of biofuel, therefore removing any reliance on the production of dedicated food crops.

Biofuels Digest reports on two biofuel projects due for launch in 2013. World Health Energy Holdings expects to launch both its $100 million, 250 acre algae biodiesel project with local company Prime Inc. and its $25 million, 45 acre algae farm with another local company SHK Energy Projects during 2013.

CleanTech PatentEdge reports that algae biofuels outpace traditional biofuels competitors in 2011. The report also highlights technology trends, key patents, and top competitors and inventors in the algae biofuels space. It is available for download here.

Pike Research reports on the shipping industry as the latest sector looking to biofuels following in the footsteps of the aviation industry. The article says shipping ‘could emerge the winner in integrating renewable fuels in this decade.’

iStockAnalysis reports that the ‘U.S. Energy Department said up to $15 million is available to help support nearly a dozen so-called bio-oil projects targeted for the transportation sector.’ ”Driving innovation through targeted investments helps to speed development of next-generation biofuels made in America, biofuels that will help to protect American families and businesses from the ups and downs of the global oil market,” Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in a statement.