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New study finds GHG emissions from palm oil production significantly underestimated; palm oil biofuels could be more climate-damaging than oil sands fuels

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The majority (62%) of the plantations were located on the island of Sumatra, and more than two-thirds (69%) of all industrial plantations were developed for oil palm cultivation, with the remainder mostly being Acacia plantations for paper pulp production. Earlier post.).

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Ensyn receives EPA regulatory approval for its cellulosic renewable diesel RFDiesel

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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently granted Ensyn Corporation ( earlier post ) Part 79 registration for its renewable diesel product, RFDiesel. FCC units are found in most refineries worldwide and are used to produce gasoline and diesel from vacuum gas oil (VGO). The RTP process is actually an analog to FCC.

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Perspective: Drive Star Conversion Program Could Cut US Oil Use in Half by 2020

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In a pre-response to that speech, having successfully advocated for plug-in hybrids like the forthcoming Chevy Volt, we propose that the President follow that speech up with a “realistic and conservative” roadmap to halve our oil use in 10 years. Oil is holding us all hostage, economically and physically. Finally, it’s time to begin.

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Ensyn granted EPA Part 79 approval for renewable gasoline

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This approval follows the recently announced Part 79 approval of Ensyn’s renewable diesel product, RFDiesel. The RTP pyrolysis process is based on the application of a hot “transported” bed (typically sand) that is circulating between two key vessels. Earlier post.).

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New petroleum refining lifecycle model finds the variability in GHG emissions from refining different crudes as significant as magnitude expected in upstream operations

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PRELIM uses a more comprehensive range of crude oil quality and refinery configurations than used in earlier models and can quantify energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with detail and transparency the better to inform policy analysis, the duo suggests. Click to enlarge. —Abella and Bergerson. Click to enlarge.

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Smith School lifecycle study highlights importance for algae-derived biodiesel of co-product utilization and optimizing and decarbonizing every step of the supply chain

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times as energy intensive as conventional diesel (bottom). times as energy intensive to produce as conventional diesel, which restricts the current financial and environmental feasibility of algae production, according to a new life cycle analysis by a team from the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford.

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NABC pursuing 2 refinery insertion points for finished advanced biomass fuel production

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NABC’s primary objective is to develop to a near pilot-ready state one or more advanced biofuel conversion pathways to produce drop-in biofuels that will be economically competitive with current petroleum-based fuels. Catalytic conversion of lignocellulosic sugars. Catalytic Conversion of Lignocellulosic Sugars.