Algae high-yield production technology designed to deliver low cost and sustainable biofuels and carbon capture

Australia is well placed to be a leader in commercialising second-generation biofuels: Climate Spectator

September 19, 2011 By Editor

Climate Spectator has republished an article from The Conversation about first and second generation biofuels.

‘The evolution of biofuels’ explains the increasing need for biofuels, their sources and the associated challenges.

Ian O’Hara, senior research Fellow at Queensland University of Technology, and author of the article writes:

“Companies including car manufacturers, trucking operators, airlines, mining groups, fuel distributors, and consumers, are coming out in support of biofuels.”

The article continues:

“But the challenge of transforming our transport energy use is complex. It requires a significant long-term commitment to policy measures that support industry development.

“With the right policy measures, the uptake of second-generation biofuels in Australia could be rapid – only constrained by our capacity to build new production facilities and supply.”

Read: ‘Explainer: The evolution of biofuels’

9/11: Bringing biofuels into focus: Climate Spectator

September 12, 2011 By Editor

Climate Spectator has republished an article from The Conversation – ’9/11: Bringing biofuels into focus’ by Susan Pond.

The article tracks biofuels developments and policies since 9/11 when energy security and reducing reliance on foreign oil were reignited as issues in the U.S.

Pond explains: “The decade since 9/11 has seen substantial development in US energy policy. Because transport accounts for 70 per cent of oil consumption, it was the obvious sector to target for petroleum oil replacement.”

The article goes onto explore changes in the defence forces and their clean energy milestones. “The US Navy aims to convert 50 per cent of its energy requirements to fossil fuel alternatives by 2020. By 2016, the Navy will sail a “Great Green Fleet” powered by 8 million barrels of advanced biofuels, including bio-jet fuel.”

Pond concludes the article by looking at what the decade since 9/11 has meant for the production and use of biofuels.

“9/11 was a catalyst for development of advanced biofuels industry in the US.

“The challenge will be to maintain policy certainty across election cycles. The industry needs time to reach commercial scale and manufacture advanced biofuels at parity pricing to oil.”

’9/11: bringing biofuels into focus’ can be read on Climate Spectator.

US Government to invest $150 million in advanced biofuels

August 17, 2011 By Editor

As part of their efforts to reduce reliance on foreign oils and ensure a secure energy future, the US Government has announced that the Departments of Agriculture, Energy and Navy will invest up to $510 million in advanced, drop-in biofuels.

The government will partner with the private sector to “produce advanced drop-in aviation and marine biofuels to power military and commercial transportation”, according to Biofuels Digest.

The article by Jim lane quotes President Obama, “Biofuels are an important part of reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil and creating jobs here at home. But supporting biofuels cannot be the role of government alone. That’s why we’re partnering with the private sector to speed development of next-generation biofuels that will help us continue to take steps towards energy independence and strengthen communities across our country.”

The full article, ‘US Government to invest $510M in advanced, drop-in biofuels’ by Jim Lane can be read online at Biofuels Digest.