Other News

Researchers in the US have developed a method to convert a biofuel waste product into a ‘usable and valuable commodity’. Published in the journal Bioresources Technology, the research by scientists from Washington State University (WSU) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) could drastically change the economic viability of algae biofuels. The conversion of algae to…
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100% of the electricity used at the 2017 Helsinki International Horse Show will be produced from horse manure at Fortum’s Järvenpää power plant. The equestrian event taking place at the Helsinki Ice Hall will consume about 140MWh of electricity. According to a statement from Fortum, it is the first time in the world that the power for a major horse show will be produced…
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The future of bioethanol, advanced biofuel developments and an uncertain policy landscape were some of the hot topics discussed at this year’s Biofuels International and Bioenergy Insight conference. The conference took place in Edinburgh, Scotland, from 4-5th October. Rob Wakely, head of low carbon fuels division, energy technology and international directorate, at the UK’s…
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Chris Oldfield, chairman of waste shredding specialist UNTHA UK, has announced his retirement from the recycling industry following a career spanning almost 50 years. He now fully hands over the reins of the company to managing director Marcus Brew. With mechanical engineering, works and industrial management qualifications under his belt, Oldfield’s first major step into the world of…
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A new report on tackling food and commercial waste has been released by Dianne Saxe, Environmental Commissioner of Ontario. The report is entitled ‘Beyond the Blue Box: Ontario’s Fresh Start on Waste Diversion and the Circular Economy’. The study was given to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario following the launch of a new ‘Waste-Free Ontario Act’, which sets an…
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Bioenergy is one of the most scalable, cost-effective and flexible sources of renewable energy, according to the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI), who have released more than 100 documents including data sets and project reports from its bioenergy programme. The ETI is a public-private partnership between global energy and engineering companies – BP, Caterpillar, EDF, Rolls-Royce and…
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Scientists have successfully converted the wastewater from olive oil production into a green biofuel. To create oil, olives are crushed and mixed with water in mills. The oil is then separated out of this mixture, and dirty water and solid residue discarded. The wastewater created can pollute waterways, reduce soil fertility and trigger extensive damage to ecosystems. In Mediterranean countries,…
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Trade body Stove Industry Alliance (SIA) has issued a response to the Mayor of London’s plan to ban wood-burning stoves in some areas of London. In a statement, a spokesman from the Stove Industry Alliance said: “The problem in London is burning wood on open fires. According to BEIS 70% of the wood burnt in London is burnt on open fires, even though this is not permitted under the…
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The Mayor London, Sadiq Khan, has called on the UK government to grant him additional powers to potentially ban wood-burning stoves in some areas of London to combat air pollution. Wood-burning stoves, which would be banned under the proposals for urban areas with poor air quality, are increasingly popular – 1.5 million have been sold across Britain. They are most popular in south-east…
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A number of research projects focused on bioenergy and biofuels have been selected for the US Community Science Programme (CSP) of the US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute. The 30 successful CSP proposals were selected from 76 full submissions based on 94 letters of intent. Among the projects aiming to investigate genomic and analytical capabilities are several focused on the underlying…
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More than half of the UK’s electricity came from low-carbon sources this summer, according to the National Grid. The power transmission network has said that this summer was the “greenest” summer on record in the UK. Between late June and September, 52% percent of electricity generation was met by low-carbon sources, compared with about 35% four years ago. The Grid has launched…
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UK power giant Drax has started consultations on long-term options to repower up to two of its coal-fired units to gas and build battery storage at Drax Power Station. The company's plans to repurpose units to gas were announced in June and are part of an ongoing research and development project. The options could create up to 3.6GW of new gas generation capacity and 200MW of battery storage. The…
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InnoEnergy, Europe’s sustainable energy innovation engine, has announced the cut-off date for applications to its 2017 Investment Round for supporting and launching revolutionary clean energy innovations. Cleantech innovators looking for investment before the end of the year must apply by 23 October, 2017, to receive their support in time. According to InnoEnergy, the 2017 Investment Round…
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Solar and wind can reliably supply the UK’s needs for new electricity capacity as coal is phased out, and they are more cost-effective than biomass, according to a new report released  by non-profit international environmental advocacy group Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The report is entitled Money to Burn II. New economic modelling, commissioned by the NRDC and executed…
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