This question has been dissected in many ways by analysts, politicians, business leaders and countless other stakeholders, with numerous conclusions drawn. Clearly the term “energy independence” can be defined many ways. In terms of power generation, the country already is energy independent. But US petroleum import volumes usually lie at the heart of this question… Keep reading →
Algae based biofuel production is growing as the market for alternative fuel continues to expand. This video, the latest in advertising campaigns from Algenol Biofuels, is certainly eye catching. The video captures the simplicity of algae biofuel that is integral to its feasibility. New research has drastically improved the efficiency of the process of making… Keep reading →
Renewable energy sources and natural gas should be considered as complements and not rivals. A hybrid gas-electric clean energy provides a workable engineering solution while 100% Renewables models based heavily on wind, solar and efficiency fall short of the meeting the functional needs of a modern technology intensive society. Natural gas and renewables are already… Keep reading →
This second video in a 3-part series from the Advanced Biofuels Association highlights successes and challenges facing a company that seeks to commercialize next-generation, renewable transportation fuels. Sapphire Energy is the “first company to produce renewable crude oil on a continuous basis from algae biomass,” according to the ABFA. Sapphire CEO CJ Warner says the… Keep reading →
Siemens’ financing arm is seeing a shift in project finance from a focus on renewables to a more even mix of renewable and fossil fuel generation, according to US chief executive Kirk Edelman. “What we’re seeing now is a little bit of a shift away from a lot of focus on renewables to a more… Keep reading →
For those who missed it when the news broke that the Department of Energy was offering energy-themed stencils for Halloween pumpkin-carving, here is where you can find the DOE’s exciting patterns, which include a compact florescent lightbulb and an atom. As innocuous as this seems, oil and gas industry group the American Petroleum Institute has… Keep reading →
Alternative fuel company Primus Green Energy has just opened a gas-to-liquids demonstration plant in New Jersey. With natural gas prices trading well below oil prices, and US gas reserves abundant, Primus’ product could provide a cost-competitive alternative to petroleum-based fuels for the domestic market. Here are some of the quick takeaways from a recent plant tour, which Breaking… Keep reading →
In a departure from the large-scale infrastructure proposals that dominate international development politics, a thinktank, Fuel Freedom Foundation, funded by tech entrepreneurs Joseph Hollander and Eyal Aronoff proposes smaller scale investments to leverage local fuel availability, although early models rely on numbers from developed economies. The UN Secretary General’s Sustainable Energy for All campaign and… Keep reading →
An examination of liquid biofuels published in Strategic Studies Quarterly, a peer-reviewed journal for security professionals, has concluded that they fail to provide meaningful benefits when pitted against petroleum products. “The United States cannot achieve energy security through biofuels, and even the attempt is ironically achieving effects contrary to ‘clean’ and ‘green’ environmental goals and… Keep reading →
A U.S. Court of Appeals vacated a 2011 EPA rule that delayed GHG regulations for biomass facilities for three years, finding that EPA’s decision was groundless. On July 12, 2013, the U.S. Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit ruled in favor of conservationist groups that challenged a 2011 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)… Keep reading →
