Tag Archives: development
More Plant Sugars, More Biofuels: Funding Continues For J.B.E.I. Work
Monday, 15 April 2013 JBEI’s Henrik Scheller (left) and Dominque Loque, shown here with Arabidopsis plants, are engineering plant cell walls to make the sugars within more accessible. (Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt, Berkeley Lab) The Joint BioEnergy Institute has received a five-year renewal of funding from the United States Department of Energy. Under the terms of the renewal, J.B.E.I. will be funded by up to $25 million annually through 2018. The J.B.E.I. is a Bioenergy Research Center created by the D.O.E. to conduct research on the development of advanced, next-generation biofuel. Originally established in 2008, it was backed by a $125 million grant for the first five-year period. The J.B.E.I. is led by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory but also includes researchers from the Sandia National Laboratory, the University of California campuses of Berkeley and Davis, the Carnegie Institution for Science, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. J.B.E.I. research, for the past five years, has focused on developing advanced biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass, which uses grasses and other non-food crops and agricultural waste to create alternatives to fossil fuels. Using synthetic biology techniques, the J.B.E.I. researchers seek to engineer plants to enable easy extraction of plant sugars from biomass and to increase the sugar yields of energy crops. Softer walls, less sugar A recent example of the work done in J.B.E.I. would be a genetically engineered Arabidopsis plant that produces less xylan in its cell walls (see related story ) and another with less lignin then the natural plant with more extractable sugars for the biofuel process. “Through the tools of synthetic biology, we have engineered healthy plants whose lignocellulosic biomass can more easily be broken down into simple sugars for biofuels,” said Dominique Loque, who directs the cell wall engineering program for J.B.E.I.’s Feedstocks Division. Lignocellulosic biomass is one of the most abundant organic materials found on Earth. It has been used as animal feed and in the creation of paper. Now scientists are focused on using lignocelluloses as a source of sugars for advanced biofuels. Lignocellulose makes up the plants cell walls. In order to get to the fermentable sugars, the lignocelluloses need to be broken down, a process that can be difficult, expensive and time consuming. Researchers have been searching for a way to reduce lignin, a major polymer in plant cell walls, to enable easier sugar extraction. Most efforts have however resulted in sever biomass yield reduction or a loss of integrity in the plant’s vessels, a key tissue for water and nutrient distribution. What Mr. Loque and his colleagues did was rewire the regulation of lignin biosynthesis and create an artificial positive feedback loop to enhance secondary cell wall biosynthesis in specific tissue. “When we applied our APFL to Arabidopsis plants engineered so that lignin biosynthesis is disconnected from the fiber secondary cell wall regulatory network, we maintained the integrity of the vessels and were able to produce healthy plants with reduced lignin and enhanced polysaccharide deposition in the cell walls,” said Mr. Loque. The researchers believe that this technique can also be implemented to other plant species for biofuel crops with less lignin and more sugar. Enhancing national security, increasing green jobs Aside from the J.B.E.I., the Energy Department also funds two other Bioenergy Research Centers, the BioEnergy Research Center led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center led by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. According to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, the establishment and support of these centers by the administration is intended to help the biofuels industry move forward to decrease the country’s dependence on foreign oil, as well as generate new clean energy jobs. As with the J.B.E.I., both the B.E.S.C. and the G.L.B.R.C. will be funded worth $25 million for the next five years. Emphasis during these years will be on bringing the new methods and discoveries in the centers to maturity to enable their transition into the marketplace. – K.R. Jabuena Continue reading
Boeing, USDA, FAA Extend Aviation Biofuels Program
Environmental Leader – April 16, 2013 The USDA has extended for five years its agreement to work with the FAA and commercial aviation partners, including Boeing and industry trade group Airlines for America, to help develop a viable biofuel for the aviation industry. The new agreement follows the 2010-2012 Farm to Fly initiative, a collaboration between USDA, Airlines for America and Boeing that builds upon the work of USDA’s Regional Biomass Research Centers, which are working with industry partners to produce energy-producing feedstocks within different regions of the US. The renewed agreement focuses on future goals: designating personnel, evaluating current and potential feedstock types and systems, developing multiple feedstock supply chains, developing state and local public-private teams, communicating results, and issuing periodic reports. In October, 2010 USDA and the FAA jointly announced a three-year agreement to develop aviation fuel from forest and crop residues and other “green” feedstocks in order to reduce dependence on foreign oil. Under this partnership, the agencies have combined their experience in research, policy analysis and air transportation to explore the different kinds of feedstocks that could be processed by bio-refineries to produce jet fuels. The federal government and its partners hope to support the annual production of 1 billion gallons of drop in aviation biofuel by 2018, USDA says. Earlier this week, biofuels manufacturer Joule announced it has converted waste CO2 into gasoline and jet fuel components. The company says this technology will allow it to expand its Sunflow product line — which uses solar energy to convert industrial waste CO2 into fuels — and help address global demand for hydrocarbon fuel replacements. United Airlines this month announced a host of fuel-savings initiatives, including using biofuels, intended to help the company reach its goal to save 85 million gallons of fuel in 2013. In 2011, United operated the first US passenger biofuel flight powered with a mixture of renewable algae-derived jet fuel and conventional jet fuel, and has signed letters of intent to negotiate the purchase of more than 50 million gallons of sustainable biofuels. Last summer, United Airlines joined the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group , an industry working group that aims to accelerate the development and commercialization of aviation biofuels. The group’s members, including AirFrance, British Airways and Boeing, represent around 32 percent of commercial aviation fuel demand, United says. Continue reading
Green Investments: Biofuel Stocks to Watch
Posted: 04/17/13 By: Freda Ding RESEARCH THESE STOCKS ON KAPITALL’S PLAYGROUND NOW RESEARCH NOW Biofuel is an alternative fuel source, whether solid, liquid, or gas, which is derived from biomass. Biofuel converts the sugars and starches from sugarcane, corn, barley, canola and other high-cellulose plants into ethanol. Also, that slimy algae has made major headway in becoming a great renewable source of energy. The resulting “fuel” products include bioethanol, biodiesel, gases, and even solid forms of biofuel. Extracting energy from these familiar substances requires its own technology, processing, marketing, and distribution. We’ve compiled a list of companies that provide services in bioscience that develop fuel alternatives, process and commercialize renewable fuel products. List of biofuel stocks: Analyze These Ideas: Getting Started Read descriptions for all companies mentioned Access a performance overview for all stocks in the list Real-Time Opinion: Scan the latest tweets about these companies (feed will open in a new window) https://www.kapitall…bol=AMRS&size=2 1. Amyris, Inc. ( AMRS , Earnings , Analysts , Financials ): Amyris, Inc., an integrated renewable products company, offers renewable compounds for a variety of markets. Market cap at $209.82M, most recent closing price at $2.84. https://www.kapitall…bol=ANDE&size=2 2. The Andersons, Inc. ( ANDE , Earnings , Analysts , Financials ): Engages in the agriculture and transportation businesses in the United States. Market cap at $946.84M, most recent closing price at $50.66. https://www.kapitall…bol=CDXS&size=2 3. Codexis, Inc. ( CDXS , Earnings , Analysts , Financials ): Develops proprietary biocatalysts for pharmaceuticals and biofuels markets. Market cap at $78.3M, most recent closing price at $2.06. https://www.kapitall…bol=GEVO&size=2 4. Gevo, Inc. ( GEVO , Earnings , Analysts , Financials ): Focuses on the development and commercialization of alternatives to petroleum-based products based on isobutanol produced from renewable feedstocks. Market cap at $77.6M, most recent closing price at $1.89. https://www.kapitall…bol=GPRE&size=2 5. Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. ( GPRE , Earnings , Analysts , Financials ): Engages in the production, marketing, and distribution of ethanol and related distillers grains in the United States. Market cap at $312.84M, most recent closing price at $10.39. https://www.kapitall…mbol=GRH&size=2 6. GreenHunter Energy Inc. ( GRH , Earnings , Analysts , Financials ): Engaged in providing water management solutions to oil and gas operators. The company has three business segments: Wind Energy, Water management and Biomass. Market cap at $51.44M, most recent closing price at $1.41. https://www.kapitall…bol=KIOR&size=2 7. KiOR, Inc. ( KIOR , Earnings , Analysts , Financials ): Focuses on operating as a renewable fuels company. Market cap at $418.89M, most recent closing price at $3.96. https://www.kapitall…bol=MBLX&size=2 8. Metabolix, Inc. ( MBLX , Earnings , Analysts , Financials ): Provides environmentally friendly solutions for the plastics, chemicals and energy industries with expertise in microbial genetics, fermentation process engineering, chemical engineering, polymer science, plant genetics and botanical science. Market cap at $50.77M, most recent closing price at $1.38. https://www.kapitall…bol=MEOH&size=2 9. Methanex Corp. ( MEOH , Earnings , Analysts , Financials ): Engages in the production, marketing, and sale of methanol. Market cap at $3.54B, most recent closing price at $37.40. https://www.kapitall…bol=MGPI&size=2 10. MGP Ingredients Inc. ( MGPI , Earnings , Analysts , Financials ): Produces ingredients and distillery products in the United States. Market cap at $85.53M, most recent closing price at $4.77. https://www.kapitall…bol=REGI&size=2 11. Renewable Energy Group, Inc. ( REGI , Earnings , Analysts , Financials ): Market cap at $263.49M, most recent closing price at $8.58. https://www.kapitall…mbol=RTK&size=2 12. Rentech, Inc. ( RTK , Earnings , Analysts , Financials ): Provides alternative and clean energy solutions; and manufactures and sells nitrogen fertilizer products. Market cap at $440.35M, most recent closing price at $1.95. https://www.kapitall…bol=SZYM&size=2 13. Solazyme, Inc. ( SZYM , Earnings , Analysts , Financials ): Engages in the production of renewable oil. Market cap at $457.02M, most recent closing price at $7.40. https://www.kapitall…bol=VRNM&size=2 14. Verenium Corp. ( VRNM , Earnings , Analysts , Financials ): Develops enzymes for use in industrial processes in industries such as animal health and nutrition, ran processing, oilseed processing, oilfield services and processes in pulp/paper/textiles. Market cap at $29.14M, most recent closing price $2.30. – Freda Ding, Rebecca Lipman Dig Deeper: Access Company Snapshots, Charts, Filings Amyris, Inc. ( AMRS , Chart , Download SEC Filings ) The Andersons, Inc. ( ANDE , Chart , Download SEC Filings ) Codexis, Inc. ( CDXS , Chart , Download SEC Filings ) Gevo, Inc. ( GEVO , Chart , Download SEC Filings ) Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. ( GPRE , Chart , Download SEC Filings ) GreenHunter Energy Inc. ( GRH , Chart , Download SEC Filings ) KiOR, Inc. ( KIOR , Chart , Download SEC Filings ) Metabolix, Inc. ( MBLX , Chart , Download SEC Filings ) Methanex Corp. ( MEOH , Chart , Download SEC Filings ) MGP Ingredients Inc. ( MGPI , Chart , Download SEC Filings ) Renewable Energy Group, Inc. ( REGI , Chart , Download SEC Filings ) Rentech, Inc. ( RTK , Chart , Download SEC Filings ) Solazyme, Inc. ( SZYM , Chart , Download SEC Filings ) Verenium Corp. ( VRNM , Chart , Download SEC Filings ) Continue reading
