Technology

Foresight and UK Green Investment Bank complete £20 million Northern Ireland investment

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Derry/Londonderry
Derry/Londonderry

Foresight Group – a leading, independent alternative asset manager with current assets of over £650 million – and the UK Green Investment Bank – the bank created in 2012 to accelerate the UK’s transition to a  green economy and to create an enduring Institution, operating independently of Government –  have invested £20 million into the construction of the Evermore Renewable Energy (15.8MWe) wood fuelled combined heat and power (CHP) station to be built in Derry/Londonderry, in Northern Ireland. The Foresight managed fund, UK Waste Resources & Energy Fund (Ukwrei), in which the Green Investment Bank is the cornerstone investor, has made the investment, which is the first GIB funded project in Northern Ireland.

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Evonik’s new step forward in the production of bioplastics

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Robert Lewandowski, striker of Borussia Dortmund sponsored by Evonik
Robert Lewandowski, striker of Borussia Dortmund sponsored by Evonik

Another step in the bioeconomy for Evonik, the German company based in Essen, which is one of the world’s leading specialty chemicals companies, with sales of 13.6 billion euros and an operating result (adjusted EBITDA) of 2.6 billion in 2012. In early 2013, Evonik Industries began operating a pilot plant for ω-amino lauric acid (ALS) in Slovenska Lupca, Slovakia. The effort represents Evonik’s next step forward in the production of sustainable high-performance plastics.

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UK’s government approves a £250 million biomass power station on the Northumberland coast

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Computer-generated aerial view of the North Blyth biomass power station
Computer-generated aerial view of the North Blyth biomass power station

North Blyth Energy Ltd has been given permission to build the 100mw plant at Battleship Wharf, Blyth Harbour. Parent company RES, leading British renewable energy company, said the project would provide “significant investment” and jobs in the area. Once operational the 100mw power station will be able to generate low carbon electricity to power the equivalent of over 170,000 UK households every year using sustainably sourced wood-based fuel.

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Interview with Nathalie Moll (EuropaBio): In Brussels at EFIB to meet, discuss and shape the future of the bioeconomy

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Nathalie Moll, EuropaBio Secretary General
Nathalie Moll, EuropaBio Secretary General

“We believe that EFIB (European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and Bio-based Economy, editor’s note), taking place during the first European Biotech Week, contributes to increase the awareness of Europeans to the bioeconomy.” To say it is Nathalie Moll, Secretary General of EuropaBio, The European Association for Bioindustries, one of the organizers, with Smithers Rapra, of the event which will be held in Brussels from 30 September to 2 October. In this interview with Il Bioeconomista, Moll talks about EFIB – “a single platform for European business leaders, innovators and policymakers to meet, discuss and shape the future of the bioeconomy” – and the latest development of European Bioeconomy, focusing on the Public Private Partnership for Biobased industries (Bridge), “a multisector initiative whose vision is that of a society and economy which increasingly makes everyday products, such as food, feed, textiles, chemicals and fuels, from locally sourced biomass and wastes, rather than from fossil fuels.”

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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Heinrich Hiesinger, ThyssenKrupp Ceo: “Industrial Biotechnology is part of our growth strategy”

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Heinrich Hiesinger, ThyssenKrupp Ceo, in Leuna
Heinrich Hiesinger, ThyssenKrupp Ceo, in Leuna

Europe’s first multi-purpose fermentation plant for the continuous production of bio-based chemicals has been recently inaugurated in Leuna, Saxony-Anhalt (Germany). Built at a cost of around 20 million euros, the facility will enable the German multinational conglomerate corporation ThyssenKrupp, one of the world’s largest steel producers (more than 43 billion euros in revenue), to further expand its research and development activities in the area of biochemicals based on renewable raw materials.

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Interview with David Newman: The Italian approach in reducing the use of plastic bags

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David Newman, Secretary General of Assobioplastiche
David Newman, Secretary General of Assobioplastiche

Marine litter caused by plastic bags is threatening the oceans and causing already an ecological disaster . The European Commission is pushing for an ambitious resource efficiency agenda and is struggling to reduce landfills and enforce waste prevention across all Member States. Europe is a leader in the bioeconomy. What do all these facts have in common? More than we think. Italy demonstrated to the world that substituting traditional plastic bags with reusable and biodegradable and compostable ones can be, even at times of crisis, a solution to trigger separate collection rates, enhance waste prevention and unleash new investments in ground breaking technologies. We discussed the Italian case study and the recent reaction of UK against the Italian ban on plastic bags recently reported by several UK media with David Newman, Secretary General of Assobioplastiche, the Italian Bioplastic and Biodegradable and Compostable material Association.

Interview by Isabella Dalbelgio

(from Brussels)

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Nova-Institut: “All kind of biomass should be accepted for industrial uses”

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Michael Carus, managing director of the nova-Institut
Michael Carus, managing director of the nova-Institut

Food or non-food: Which agricultural feedstocks are best for industrial uses? This is the title of the new paper published by the German nova-Institut led by Michael Carus, who is one of the author, together with Lara Dammer. In less than ten pages the two authors analyze one of the most controversial issues of the bioeconomy, also underlined by the recent decision of the European Parliament’s environment committee to limit the share of food-based biofuel used in cars and trucks to 5.5% of the total consumption. Continue reading →

EU imposes limit on food-based biofuel used in cars and trucks to 5.5% of total consumption

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European Parliament, Brussels
European Parliament, Brussels

The European Parliament’s environment committee voted last Thursday in favor of limiting the share of food-based biofuel used in cars and trucks to 5.5% of total consumption. It said the change would address concerns that biofuels of this kind are raising food prices and may not be as environmentally beneficial as originally hoped. However, it means that to meet its 2020 mandate that 10% of Europe’s transport energy comes from renewable sources, the bloc will be relying on a much-faster expansion of electric cars and commercially unproven biofuels made from nonfood crops.

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The UK’s largest biorefinery is officially opened in Hull

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Vivergo bioethanol plant in Hull (England)
Vivergo bioethanol plant in Hull (England)

The £350 million Vivergo bioethanol plant in Hull (England) was officially opened this week by Vince Cable, Member of Parliament, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. The new plant is the UK’s biggest bioethanol producer and largest single-source supplier of animal feed providing valuable commodities that the UK would usually import.

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EC unveils an unprecedented 3.8 billion euros investment in biobased industries

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European Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
European Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn

The Biobased Industries Consortium (BIC), a cross sector group of 48 large and small companies, has joined forces with the European Commission to set up an unprecedented Public Private Partnership worth 3.8 billion euros to accelerate the deployment of biobased products in Europe by 2020.

The Biobased Industries PPP is part of the European Commission’s Innovation and Investment Package that was released today in Brussels. The package is intended to stimulate the European economy, create jobs and tackle major societal challenges through research, innovation and deployment. Continue reading →