Enerkem Inc., a Canadian waste-to-biofuels and chemicals producer, yesterday announced it has obtained certification from the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) system for the biomethanol production of its Enerkem Alberta Biofuels full-scale facility in Edmonton, Canada. This biorefinery therefore becomes the first ISCC certified plant in the world to convert municipal solid waste into biomethanol.
California goes green. Neste Renewable Diesel, the biodiesel developed by the Finnish company Neste, is now being used by the County of Sacramento. In moving to this renewable diesel, the County Sacramento joins California’s cleanest and greenest fleets that include the City of San Francisco, City of Oakland, City of Walnut Creek, City of Carlsbad, Google, and UPS.
Everything is ready in Altavilla Vicentina (Vicenza, Italy) to host the Italian Forum on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy. Taking place on 22-23 September at CUOA Business Center, IFIB 2016 will bring together the European bioeconomy stakeholders, from universities and research centers to big companies.
Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) has launched the creation of the $27 million Centre for Commercialization of Sustainable Chemistry Innovation (COMM SCI) through a $12 Million non-repayable contribution from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario’s (FedDev Ontario) Investing in Regional Diversification (IRD) initiative, a $3 Million grant from the Province of Ontario and a minimum $12 Million in matching contributions from BIC and their partners.
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The cutting-edge bio-plastic Minerv-PHA developed by Bio-on is now available in the prestigious database “Materials Library” of Material ConneXion, the world’s largest resource for innovative and sustainable materials and processes. This resource, both as a physical samples library and an online searchable database, with thousands of references, aims to collect only the most interesting materials from the point of view of innovation, technical characteristics and possible application.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack last Monday announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking applications for funding to help support the development of advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals and biobased products.
“The bioeconomy is a catalyst for economic development in rural America, creating new jobs and providing new markets for farmers and ranchers,” Vilsack said. “Investing in the businesses and technologies that support the production of biofuels and biobased products is not only good for farm incomes. The whole economy benefits from a more balanced, diversified and consumer-friendly energy portfolio, less dependence on foreign oil and reduced carbon emissions.”
Cellulac yesterday formally requested Metabolix shareholders to consider merger proposal. Cellulac plc is an industrial biochemicals investment technology company, that have been interested in Metabolix Inc., ($MBLX) for some time and after their announcement, in May 2016, of a strategic review, Cellulac made a formal proposal via the CEO to merge both companies.
“I expect 30% of jet fuel to be renewable by 2030 and we hope to have at least 1/3 of this market share”. John Melo talks to Il Bioeconomista. In this exclusive interview the President & Ceo of Amyris, the California-based company which has been named the #1 company in the 50 Hottest Companies in the Advanced Bioeconomy (“Hot 50”) contest, talks about his company and the bioeconomy, the role played by the U.S. government and the public opinion. “To me – Melo says – ecology and economy must go together. Producing less CO2 emissions should cost less, not more. When this happens ecology and climate are working in the same direction. What’s good for the planet should be good for business and we are making this a reality”.
Interview by Mario Bonaccorso
German chemical colossus Basf and The Linde Group, one of the leading gases and engineering companies in the world, successfully completed a joint pilot project to improve capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) from flue gas at a coal fired power plant at the National Carbon Capture Center (NCCC). The NCCC is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) research facility managed and operated by Southern Company, in Wilsonville, Alabama. Since January 2015, the project operated a pilot plant under a cooperative agreement with DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Based on the successful completion, Basf and Linde will begin larger-scale testing and explore commercial opportunities.
IL BIOECONOMISTA 