Biofuels Journal - September/October 2008 - (Page 50)

Germany Verbio, a German bioenergy company, announced July 1 it was cutting its ethanol production effective Sept. 1. Verbio said domestic demand for ethanol was weak and that cheap imports, from countries like Brazil, were covering demand. The company said it will ratchet down production at its Zoebig ethanol plant and put its workforce on short-time work schedules. utilizes E25. Suzuki is also considering selling lowemission diesel cars in Japan , which the company already has been selling in India and Europe. Brazil • According to the Brazil’s state-run National Food Supply Company (Conab), the country is on course to set a record for sugarcane and ethanol production in 2008. Conab attributed the increase to growing domestic and foreign demand for biofuels. According to Conab’s projections, Brazil’s sugarcane harvest in 2008 will total 558.72 million tons, of which 317.82 million tons (57%) will be used for ethanol production—17% more than 2007. • Brazil, the world’s biggest ethanol exporter, said in early September it may challenge the United States at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over U.S. tariffs on imported ethanol. Presently, the United States imposes a 54-cent-per-gallon import tariff. The Brazilian Sugar Cane Industry Association has hired lawyers to study the compatability between the U.S. tariff and WTO rules. United Kingdom • The Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA) in early August released its first monthly report on the United Kingdom’s (UK) supply of biofuels. The report covered the time period between April 15 and May 14. The report found that of total biofuel use in the UK, biodiesel represented 86% and ethanol 14%, with only 19% of the 87 million liters of biofuels sold met environmental quality standards. The target for 2008 is 30%. The report also found there was a 42% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, but the numbers exclude emissions from indirect changes in land-use. The UK government recently introduced the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), which requires 2.5% ofUK road fuels to be derived from renewable sources. India India’s government announced in late August—just prior to enactment—a decision to delay a mandate that gasoline contain 10% ethanol. The delay was attributed to a 40% to 50% increase in sugarcane this year. The government now most likely will wait until 2009 to review the ethanol mandate. Jamaica Jamaica Prime Minister Bruce Golding’s plan to mandate 10% of all motor vehicle fuel to include ethanol was halted in August. It had been scheduled to take effect in September. Instead, Energy Minister Clive Mulllings announced in early August that there would be a phased rollout of E10/87 octane gasoline starting Nov. 1. Vietnam A blend of ethanol (5% to 10%) and petroleum fuel went on sale for the first time in early September at Thai Thinh and Hoang Quco Viet petrol stations in Hanoi. Professor Bui Van Ga, Vietnam’s top fuel expert, says the country’s vehicles will not require modification to handle the fuel. He added that if sales are successful, the fuel blend will be introduced nationwide. Compiled from news reports by Adam Tedder, associate editor China The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) signed an agreement in mid-August to collaborate on biofuels research. The research will establish processes and infrastructure for conversion of sorghum and other feedstocks to ethanol. Japan Japanese-Suzuki Motor Corp. in August announced a plan to develop cars by 2010 that run purely on ethanol. They are to be marketed in the United States and South America. The first step will involve the release of a car by the end of March 2009 that 50 BFJ | SEPT/OCT 08

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Biofuels Journal - September/October 2008

Biofuels Journal - September/October 2008 Contents Transportation Mainbar Ethanol Terminal Florida Ethanol Pipeline Ethanol Pipeline Study Rail, Truck Safety NAR Updates Dave Vander Griend, ICM, Inc. Renew Energy LLC, Jefferson, WI I-65 Biofuels Corridor POET’s Project Bell Robert Zubrin, Pioneer Astronautics Calendar ICM Blend Study Ethanol Terminal, Pipeline Study POET BioRefining-Alexandria, Alexandria, TX Steve Przesmitzki, National Renewable Energy Lab What’s Driving Up Food Prices Ethanol World Profile: Charlie Martin, Golden Triangle Energy State Report: Wisconsin Ethanol Plants in the Pipeline Monthly Ethanol Production Ethanol Industry News REG Houston LLC, Seabrook, TX Biodiesel Adhesives Farmer’s Fuel Two-Million Mile Haul Update Bratney/Orbitek New Technology Innovation Fuels, Inc., Newark, NJ NBB Biodiesel Emissions Study Profile: Mike Chandler, Renewable Energy Group Biodiesel World REG—Algal Biodiesel Technology Biodiesel Roundup Camelina Biofuels Biodiesel Industry News New Energy Credits Passed RFS Waiver Cellulosic Ethanol Plants Under Construction Cellulosic Ethanol Plants Construction Map BP Alternative Energy Projects Switchgrass and Soil Local Feedstocks - Clemson SDSU Sun Grants Robert Nixon, Davenport Dryer, LLC Bob Delaney, Gamajet Cleaning Systems Energy Partners Antioch International, Inc. Aeroglide Corp. Strongform Nationwide Industrial Builders Pro-Environmental, Inc. The Eagle Group, Ltd. Biofuels Action Plan Ad Index

Biofuels Journal - September/October 2008

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