BIOFUELS AND LAND USE
EuropaBio,
[March 2008]
Land is a limited resource. The development of sustainability criteria will help avert unsustainable use of plant material for biofuel production.
> Read more: http://www.europabio.org/Biofuels/PressBrief/land_use_March08.pdf

DIRECT USE OF VEGETABLE OIL AND ANIMAL FAT AS ALTERNATIVE FUEL IN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE
Mondal, et al.
Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining, March-April 2008, p. 155
Substitution of conventional fuels (i.e., gasoline and diesel) by renewable biofuels is considered to be a potential way to reduce pollution and support sustainable development.  Direct use of vegetable oil and animal fat is a promising alternative.  Issues surrounding "food vs fuel" may be resolved in further research into production of suitable fuel from non-edible vegetable oil, grown in wasteland.  This article review some of the issues and includes useful tables such as oil seed and vegetable oil production, composition, physical and thermal properties, problems and potential solutions.
> Contact the ITC Library to obtain this article.

NEBRASKAN SEES METHANE DIGESTERS AS WAVE OF FUTURE
Peter Shinn
Brownfield Network, March 26, 2008
A Nebraska pork producer thinks methane digesters are going to be commonplace in the future.  Although initially installing a methane digester in a wean-to-finish hog operation for the purpose of odor reduction, one important by-product is electricity.
> Read more: http://www.brownfieldnetwork.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=ECF64854-01C0-04C7-62836F49FE3B6C31

RESEARCH PROFILE: MAJOR BIDIESEL DEMO... HITS THE ROAD
Paul Miller
PROCESSWest, March 2008, p. 48
Shell Canada and other major funders under the Alberta Renewable Diesel Demonstration have launched Canada's largest cold-weather, on-road demonstration of renewable diesel.   The purpose of the project is to build industry knowledge about renewable diesel handling, storage, blending infrasturcture and fuel delivery requirements -- in a harsh Canadian climate.
> Read more: http://www.processwest.ca/Current_Issue.htm?ID=738

TR10: CELLULOLYTIC ENZYMES
Alexandra M. Goho
Technology Review, March/April 2008
Almost all the ethanol produced in the U.S. is made from the starch in corn kernels. This starch is easily broken down into the sugars that are fermented to make fuel. In order to move away from corn as a source for ethanol, and user cheaper sources, we require an efficient way to free sugar molecules packed together to form crystalline chains of cellulose, the key structural component of plants. That is "the most expensive limiting step right now for the large-scale commercialization of [cellulosic] biofuels," says protein engineer Frances Arnold, a professor of chemical engineering and biochemistry at Caltech.
> Read more: http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?ch=specialsections&sc=emerging08&id=20240&a

LIGNOL AWARDED UP TO US$30 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TO BUILD CELLULOSIC ETHANOL PLANT
British Columbia-based Lignol Energy (LEC.V) received $40 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to build a plant in Colorado, operated by Calgary-based Suncor Energy, that will process waste wood from trees killed by a beetle infestation. Lignol uses a solvent-based pre-treatment to break up cellulose.
> Read more: http://www.lignol.ca/news/2008-jan29.html

GAS PRICES MEAN COOKING OIL BECOMING POPULAR WITH SOME MOTORISTS
BEN SHINGLER
Canadian Press, April 27, 2008
With some analysts predicting gas to hit $1.50 a litre across Canada, a former Volkswagen mechanic in Montreal expects to have a busy summer converts diesel vehicles to run on cooking oil that can be obtained from a restaurant. This mechanic encourages his customers to use recycled vegetable oil rather than virgin oil derived from food crops. Vegetable oil freezes at a higher temperature than diesel or gas, at around -15 C, so motorists have to run their car on diesel until the vegetable oil heats up.  May not be a good fit for the Prairies, then.
> Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/080426/n042637A.html

Here...

BEYOND KYOTO OUTLINES MANITOBA'S GREEN FUTURE
Government of Manitoba News Release, April 21, 2008
Science, Technology, Energy and Mines Minister Jim Rondeau has released "Beyond Kyoto, Manitoba’s detailed action plan to reach its proposed legislated Kyoto target by 2012."   “The plan covers all sectors and focuses on expanding renewable energy, improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions from our transport and agriculture sectors.”
> Read more:http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?archive=2008-04-01&item=3541

CANADA'S FIRST CELLULOSIC ETHANOL PLANT PR Newswire. March 24, 2008 Enerkem has announced progress on the construction of its commercial demonstration plant for the production of cellulosic ethanol. The Westbury plant will be one of the first plants in the world to make cellulosic ethanol at an industrial scale. It will produce 1.5 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol from creosoted urban wood (end-of-life cycle power poles).
> Read more: http://www.biofpr.com/view/MTAzNTM4L05XLzUxL251bGw=/newsDetail.html

PROVINCE INTRODUCES EMISSIONS TAX ON COAL; NEW ENERGY CONVERSION PROGRAM PART OF MANITOBA'S CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION
Manitoba Government News Release, April 9, 2008
A new tax on coal emissions and a new program to help coal-reliant companies convert to greener energy were introduced in the recent provincial budget in Manitoba.
> Read more: http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?archive=2008-04-01&item=3497

Elsewhere...

BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS CENTRE FUNDED
Bio-Bulletin, March 2008
Ag-West Bio recently received $257,180 from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) program to establish a Biofuels and Bioproducts Centre.  The virtual centre will operate as an industry development centre, assembling research teams to exploit Saskatchewan’s natural advantages in biomass and in delivering technology solutions.
> Read more: http://www.agwest.sk.ca/publications/Bio-Bulletin/BBMarch08.pdf

BIOMASS FUEL PELLETS
Qi BioEnergy, April 6, 2008
Minnesota Valley Alfalfa Producers started plans to generate electricity from alfalfa stems 14 years ago.  After a rocky time, MnVAP went on to became one of the nation’s largest alfalfa pellet mills.  The cooperative wants to supply biomass fuel pellets to Minnesota’s growing renewable-energy sector.
> Read more: http://qibioenergy.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/biomass-fuel-pellets/

SHELL AND VIRENT ANNOUNCE COLLABORATION TO DEVELOP BIOGASOLINE
Shell News and Media Release, March 26, 2008
Shell and Virent Energy Systems, Inc., (Virent (TM)) of Madison, Wisconsin USA, have announced a joint research and development effort to convert plant sugars directly into gasoline and gasoline blend components, rather than ethanol.   The collaboration could herald the availability of new biofuels that can be used at high blend rates in standard gasoline engines.  This could potentially eliminate the need for specialized infrastructure, new engine designs and blending equipment.
> Read more: http://www.shell.com/home/content/media-en/news_and_library/press_releases/2008/biofuels_virent_26032008.html

ETHANOL: HOW THE PROMISE DWINDLED
Dale Kasler
Sacramento Bee, March 20, 2008
It appears that ethanol – hailed by some as a "green" fuel that would reduce America's dependence on foreign oil – is in a major slump there.  Why? Too much supply, too-expensive corn, and too many increases in plant construction costs.
> Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/103/story/799508.html

NESTLE CHIEF WARNS BIOFUELS THREATEN FOOD SUPPLIES
Laura Crowley
FoodNavigator.com, March 25, 2008
Nestle SA chief executive Peter Braback condemns proposals for increasing biofuel production as morally unacceptable, warning they will have devastating effects on food supplies.
> Read more: http://foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?id=84175

THE NEW GOLD: ETHANOL CRAZE RAISES CONCERNS
Murray Whyte
Toronto Star, March 16, 2008
Corn-derived biofuel already has dramatically altered the economic reality of the American heartland and promises boom times for Ontario farmers. But how can we possibly keep up with demand? And what about the spiralling cost of food?
> Read more: http://www.thestar.com/News/article/346536

AN INFORMATION GUIDE ON PURSUING BIOMASS ENERGY OPPORTUNITIES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA FOR FIRST NATIONS, SMALL COMMUNITIES, MUNICIPALITIES AND INDUSTRY
BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
BC Ministry of Forests and Range
February 7, 2008
This Primer is designed to assist stakeholders in small communities, aboriginal groups, municipalities and industry in developing and pursuing bioenergy options in the Province of British Columbia.
> Read more: http://www.energyplan.gov.bc.ca/bioenergy/PDF/BioenergyInfoGuide.pdf 

SOCIAL TECHNOLOGIES
Social Technologies is a global research and consulting firm specializing in the integration of foresight, strategy, and innovation.  One of their top 12 innovation trends to 2025 is The Future of Biofuels: http://www.socialtechnologies.com/FileView.aspx?fileName=PressRelease01282008.pdf
http://www.socialtechnologies.com/

All-Energy Exhibition And Conference
May 21-22, 2008
Aberdeen, Scotland
A Canadian Pavilion is being organized to showcase Canada's expertise in these green / renewable energy sectors.
> Interested in participating? Contact Duncan de Lugt / Duncan.delugt@international.gc.ca
> Conference bochure: http://www.all-energy.co.uk/UserFiles/File/All-Energy%20'07%20ShowGuide.pdf

World Bioenergy Conference & Exhibition 2008
May 27-29, 2008
JÖNKÖPING, SWEDEN
> Details: http://www.elmia.se/worldbioenergy/

The Third International Bioenergy Conference & Exhibition
June 3-5, 2008
Prince George, BC
> Details: http://www.bioenergyconference.org/index.php

BIO 2008 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION: THE GLOBAL EVENT FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY
June 17-20, 2008, San Diego, CA
>Details: http://www.bio2008.org/homepage.aspx?pagename=cv08_homepage