Antwerp | Reuters –– European oil refiners urged the European Union on Monday to review laws calling for increased biodiesel content in road fuel because the cost of such renewables will counter the recent plunge in crude prices and weigh on the refining sector. “Governments should not inflict extra burden on the public by increasing […] Read more
Refiners urge EU to rethink renewables policy after oil collapse
The environmental pros and cons of feeding dried distillers grains
Cattle fed DDGs produce less methane and more nitrogen, Lethbridge Research Station scientists have found
Reading Time: 2 minutes In beef production, finding a balance between feed costs and environmental health takes continuous navigation. Feed is one of the highest on-farm costs and when the price of barley, corn and wheat rises, producers often turn to using dried distillers grains (DDGs) in their rations. While this ethanol co-product lowers methane production in cattle by […] Read more
U.S. local corn prices dip below $2 in some areas
A review of ending stocks in the past does not give much hope for a turnaround
Reading Time: 2 minutes Even before the current U.S. Farm Bill was adopted, we shared our concern that a $4-plus plateau in corn prices, which was being widely predicted, was in all likelihood no plateau at all. A year ago many were predicting corn would average $4.50 a bushel, partly because of ethanol demand and partly because production costs […] Read more
EU raids ethanol companies over price-fixing concerns
Brussels | Reuters — The European Commission has raided ethanol companies in two EU countries as part of investigations into alleged price-fixing. The Commission, which acts as the competition watchdog in the 28-member European Union, said Thursday it had concerns that companies may have colluded in submitting price information used to set industry benchmarks for […] Read more
Scientists make ethanol without corn or other crops
The process converts carbon monoxide gas into liquid ethanol using copper electrodes
Reading Time: 2 minutes Scientists have developed a new way to make liquid ethanol efficiently without using corn or other crops needed in the conventional method for producing the biofuel. The scientists said April 9 their process turns carbon monoxide gas into liquid ethanol with the help of an electrode made of a form of copper. They said the […] Read more