Wednesday 29 February 2012

US Congress Deals Blow to Wind Power Industry

The wind industry is predicting massive layoffs and stalled or abandoned projects after a deal to renew a tax credit for wind production failed last week in Washington. The move is expected to have major ramifications in states such as Illinois, where 13,892 megawatts of wind projects-enough to power 3.3 million homes per year-wait to be connected to the electric grid.

Many of those projects will be abandoned or significantly delayed without federal subsidies.

 Illinois is home to more than 150 companies that support the wind industry. At least 67 of those companies make turbines or components for wind farms. Chicago is the US headquarters to more than a dozen major wind companies who wanted to take advantage of powerful mid-western winds and the fact wind power could be fed into the electric grid. Read more ...
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Australia invests in advanced biofuels

The Australian Government has awarded a AUS$5 million (€4 million) grant to James Cook University, funding the development of Australia's first freshwater and marine macro-algae to biofuels project. Not only this, but a new AUS$15 million (€12 million) Advanced Biofuels Investment Readiness (ABIR) Program has been created.

ABIR Program is designed to support the investment case of scalable, pre-commercial advanced biofuels demonstration projects in Australia. "Advanced biofuels, particularly those that can integrate into existing liquid fuel supply chains and are compatible with existing engine technologies and infrastructure could also become a significant source of regional employment," says Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson. Read more ...
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Tuesday 28 February 2012

Farmers on Black Isle, Scotland urged to develop wind power

A farmers' co-operative, based on the Black Isle, Scotland, is spearheading a drive to develop locally owned small scale wind energy projects across the Highlands. But now with support from Highland LEADER and the Co-operative Enterprise Hub, they have turned their attention to a different kind of harvesting by encouraging farmers to take advantage of the Scottish region’s wind resource.

Steering Group Chairman Alan Whiteford, Castlecraig Nigg, said: "Most of the wind farm investment in the Highlands to date has come from investors outside the region and we are determined to reverse this situation and ensure local farmers and communities are the major beneficiaries of future developments." Read more ...
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Subsidies for solar power to be cut by Germany

Germany's government is planning to cut subsidies for solar installations by up to 30 percent due to higher-than-expected demand. The reductions, which could happen within one year, are also down to the scheme proving more costly than initially projected. Germany has been at the forefront of renewable installations in recent years, however the rise in solar projects has surpassed government expectations.

Owners of solar installations in Germany receive a guaranteed above-market price for the electricity they sell to the energy grid. Last year that amounted to a subsidy of around €6 billion (US$7.9 billion), which is financed through a levy on each household’s electricity bill. Concerns have been raised over how the subsidy cuts could affect domestic solar companies, as reductions could come into place as early as next month. Read more ...
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Monday 27 February 2012

Fish biodiesel supported by Canadian Government

The Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development will establish a demonstration bio-refinery that will convert fish oils into biodiesel with support from the Provincial Government. Darin King, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced support of this initiative with Can$89,100 (€66,275.043) in funding through the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program.

 

“The Provincial Government recognises the need to make the Newfoundland and Labrador fishery as environmentally friendly as possible,” said Minister King. “This new demonstration bio-refinery will provide for positive advancements in a more environmentally-sound industry, with the research undoubtedly benefiting Newfoundland and Labrador in the future.” Read more ...
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Inedible Biomass Key to Renewable Future?

SCI and the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) are hosting a one day meeting for people who want to learn more about the commercial potential of the next generation of biorenewable energy, materials and fuels based on biomass.

Every year more than 40 million tons of wood and agricultural residues is produced. Converting just a fraction of this biomass into chemicals and fuels, like ethanol, could go a long way towards reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and wouldn't take crops away from food production. Read more ...
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Friday 24 February 2012

Cap reform proposals attacked by farmersand the NFU

The National Farmers Union (NFU) and farmers have attacked the cap reforms, Gail Soutar, senior CAP and International Advisor to the NFU told the conference that the greening proposals contained in the CAP reforms proposed by the European Commission are far from perfect. She said "the greening of direct payments in the CAP is inevitable and there is a role for the environment in the reforms of the CAP, but it has to be introduced without affecting production".

However, she said "that British farmers and those who are already involved in environmentally friendly production systems would be disadvantaged by three aspects of the current greening proposals in the reforms, crop diversification, retention of permanent grasslands and the seven percent ecological focus areas. Read more ...
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Canadian Government supports fish oil biodiesel

The Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development will establish a demonstration bio-refinery that will convert fish oils into biodiesel with support from the Provincial Government.Darin King, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced support of this initiative with Can$89,100 (€66,437.269) in funding through the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program.

“The Provincial Government recognises the need to make the Newfoundland and Labrador fishery as environmentally friendly as possible,” said Minister King. “This new demonstration bio-refinery will provide for positive advancements in a more environmentally-sound industry, with the research undoubtedly benefiting Newfoundland and Labrador in the future.” Read more ...
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Thursday 23 February 2012

GreenPower Forthcoming Events

Bio-Based Chemicals

 March 13 – 14, 2012 
Rotterdam, The Netherlands. 

A growing number of bio-based chemicals are already in commercial production with several additional products expected to reach commercialisation in the next few years. With advances in conversion methodologies and developments in achieving economies of scale, new building blocks and platform chemicals of bio-based origin are being developed and starting to compete effectively with their petrochemical equivalents. 


As a new value chain for bio-based products begins to strengthen and develop, the Bio-based Chemicals Summit will bring together the full spectrum of stakeholders. 

Key focus at Bio-Based Chemicals 2012 will be on: 

  • Bringing chemistry majors and bio-chemical companies together to move towards an integrated chemicals supply chain
  • The end user perspective on future market trends - what will be driving the market in years to come?
  • Achieving technology scale up - what paths are being taken, where is investment available? Exploring future-proof feed stocks - breaking the link with volatile oil prices
Early confirmed speakers include:
  • Glenn Johnson, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, Gevo
  • Kelly Ogilvie, CEO, Blue Marble Biomaterials
  • David Berry, Partner, Flagship Ventures 
  • Bogdan Comitia, Director Marketing & Sales Europe, Pennakem  
  • Dr Warwick Raverty, Chief Scientist, Circa Group 
  • Yvon Durant, Principal, Itaconix
Register your place online at www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com/biochem Or alternatively Call: +44 (0)20 7099 0600 Email: samantha.coleman@greenpowerconferences.com
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Denmark and Korea working together for the future

Both Denmark and Korea are embracing the future by forming "Green Growth Alliance" under which both countries will collaborate on developing eco-friendly technologies and adopt joint action plans, when President Lee Myung-bak visited Copenhagen in May.

A broad range of initiatives will encourage a shift to biomass in the power plans of major cities, increase consumption of renewable energy, and promote more efficiency energy use. Initiative include biomass and biogas, wind power, intelligent energy networks, energy efficiency and research, development and demonstration activities. Read more ...
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Wednesday 22 February 2012

Drax ends biomass plans at Selby due to poor support by government

Drax PLC has announced that they will not now be building a new dedicated biomass power plant at Selby because of the 'disappointing' support of the British government, but they will consider more co-firing of biomass with coal. Co-firing is a cost effective solution to decarbonising the electricity sector but dedicated biomass plants can offer even greater opportunities for reducing carbon emissions and there had been hopes that the company would build three new dedicated plants with German engineering giants Siemens.

However, the company has now abandoned plans to build the first of these plants near Selby because of the lack of financial support from Government and high cost to transport biomass inland from the continent, where most of the biomass would have originated. Read more ...
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UK Government to launch solar appeal at supreme court

The British Government is poised to launch an appeal at the Supreme Court against the two court rulings that they lost over the Feed in Tariff (FiT's) incentives. The government had planned to halve the payments for solar power projects, but when this was challenged in the British courts, the courts ruled against the government saying their actions were illegal.

At a Court of Appeal ruling last month, three judges said the government would be acting unlawfully by trying to impose retrospective cuts to the solar incentive scheme. They set DECC a deadline to request another appeal to the Supreme Court, which the government is now expected to meet. Read more ...
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Tuesday 21 February 2012

Renewable options for the farming community

One of the major drives for the farming community to adopt a variety of renewable fuels, will be the rising costs of oil processing along with the issues of food security. The fluctuations that occur in the price of oil is a major consideration, at present the cost of oil per barrel is at US$120 (€90.746) a barrel, but in the recent past it has reached as much as US$150 (€113.432) a barrel. Put this worry with the concerns of climate change and rising greenhouse gas emissions and renewable energy starts to look like a very good choice in the long run.

However, at the same time the government is pressing for increasing amounts of renewable energy to be adopted. Speaking at the recent Energy Now conference and exhibition in the UK, Dr Jonathan Scurlock, chief advisor to the National Farmers' Union on renewable energy, said that in recent times in the UK there has been a turnaround in the take up of renewable energy in the country. "Photovoltaic has come from nowhere and anaerobic digestion, wind and small scale hydro all have a place," Dr Scurlock said. Read more ...
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Malaysia targets nationwide biodiesel use by 2014

Malaysia is to set in motion a plan for nationwide biodiesel by 2014, according to Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok. The implementation could not be made sooner because there were not enough blending facilities for the alternative fuel. "The in-line blending system for biodiesel currently involves six petroleum depots in the country," Mr Dompok told reporters after launching the B5 biodiesel program for the central region at Jeti Bagan Pasir yesterday.

Mr Dompok also said his ministry was studying ways to reduce the amount of regular diesel in biodiesel by increasing the use of palm methylester. "We can increase the use of palm methylester in biodiesel by 10 per cent, 30 per cent or 50 per cent in the future after conducting research," Mr Dompok added. He also said that the government had no intention on increasing the price of B5. B5 is sold at the same price as regular diesel - RM1.80 (S$0.74) per litre. Read more ...
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Monday 20 February 2012

China and the US to establish biofuel company in the US

China largest egg producers has agreed to co operate with a major meat supplier in the US to establish a biofuel company in the US, with a total investment of US$1.8 billion (€1.357 billion) Beijing DQY Agriculture Technology Co Ltd (DQY) and Virginia-based Smithfield Foods will set up a joint venture co-run by their subsidiaries, Beijing Helee Bio-Energy (HELEE) and Murphy-Brown, DQY.

The two companies also plan to utilise wastes at more than 2,600 pig farms of the Smithfield Foods over the next 10 years, which will lead to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 21 million tons annually, four times the current yearly emission of Chicago, according to DQY. Read more ...
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Zimbabwe fuel prices drop due to ethanol blend

As the oil industry in Zimbabwe absorbs the full impact of locally manufactured fuel grade ethanol from Chisumbanje, prices have began to drop. The recent price decrease is in sharp contrast to the pattern in other countries in the region, where the fuel prices have increased in response to the development in the global market.

Economist Mr Brains Muchemwa welcomed the use of blended fuel, as it was "good" for the economy: "The current account deficit at around 35 percent of GDP is not sustainable and requires such initiatives as ethanol fuel that allows Zimbabwe to improve on national savings," he said. "With cars now increasing at a rate of 35,000 per annum, compared with just around only 2,800 for the whole year in 2008, Zimbabwe will be spending more on fuel each year and a sustainable solution that conserves foreign currency is commendable," he said. Read more ...
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Friday 17 February 2012

The GRAPAS Award made this week in Bangkok, Thailand

The GRAPAS Award made this week in Bangkok, Thailand at the Victam Asia Exhibition acknowledged the contributions in innovation made by four companies submitting products for consideration; two were ‘highly commended’ and two ‘commended’.

Dutch equipment manufacturer, Van Aarsen received a ‘highly commented’ award for its ‘Automatic Screen Exchange for GD Hammer Mills.

Van Aarsen receiving their award
 “Automatic screen exchange on a hammer mill is a distinct advance on normal operating practice and which will improve overall feed milling plant operating efficiency and safety. Screen changing is typically a laborious procedure which this innovation will address. The animal feed industry can achieve improvements in its utilisation of plant by applying this device,” the judges stated in their summing up.

Alco coming ‘highly commented’ was the Batch Call Optimiser from Norvidan Overseas A/S of Denmark.

“Plant control systems which optimise the utilisation of the plant are of ever increasing significance. Norvidan are offering an impressive facility to ensure the optimum use of  parallel lines of a process to ensure maximum output and thus best economic return,” the judges said.

Commended
The two companies receiving a commendation for their submissions were the Morillon company of France for its All-in-one Hydrascrew and the Queue-plus Software for Feed Plants by the Thai company Agentis Innovation. The hydraulic drive for the HydraScrew discharge screw is advantageous due to its good torque characteristics – “a commendable innovation with fairly wide opportunities for application as flat-bottomed storage grows in importance.,” said the judges.

“Queue-plus, as described, is an innovative software development which will provide material benefits for the feed miller and his customers of bagged products. A reduction in traffic congestion and turnaround time resulting from the improvements in scheduling is a major objective for a plant operator, concluded the judges.
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FOSS wins the Asian GRAPAS Award for 2012

January 15, 2012 – Bangkok, Thailand: The winner of the 2012 GRAPAS Innovation Award has gone to the Foss company from Denmark at the Victam Asia exhibition held this week at the BITEC centre in Bangkok, Thailand.
Darren Robey, represented FOSS at the award ceremony receiving his award from Mr Roger Gilbert
 The ProFoss Online Analysis has true in-line capability has very great potential, said the judging panel. It was the product that swept the pool of innovations coming from the grain milling industry and on display at the exhibition.

GRAPAS is the name given to an exhibition within an exhibition on flour, grain, rice and pasta milling. The judges said the application of effective on-line instrumentation linked to control systems can make a very large contribution to the profitability of a continuous process industry.

“Most cereal-related industries for both human food and animal feed milling are continuous processes.

“The ProFoss appears to offer a significant improvement on previous online instrumentation. Although it uses well-proven NIR technology it offers great practical and functional advantages by virtue of its ability to continuously measure parameters of cereal grains and ground products without interruption to the product flow. This true in-line capability has very great potential.”

The award was presented by Roger Gilbert Perendale Publishers Limited.

The runner up was Buhler AG of Switzerland with its Dolomit rollermill.

“The rollermill is the basic principles of the four and eight rollermill have been established for over a century. Nevertheless, the incremental improvements in design, materials and manufacture have resulted in enormous gains in efficiency,” added the judges. 
Runner Up Buhler AG
“The Dolomit rollermill offered provides a ‘state of the art’ product which can be applied across a broad spectrum of the milling of cereals for both human food and, to a lesser extent, animal feed.

“In addition to its claimed practical merits the Dolomit rollermill has good aesthetic design which will suit it for modern food manufacture.”

Overall the judges acknowledged the “interesting selection of products has been submitted for judging this year.

“Although each of the products offered for judging provide clear benefits and advantages to one or more milling processes, they are generally the result of evolutionary improvements and are not in themselves truly revolutionary.

“It is our recommendation therefore that in judging, weighting is also given to the breadth of fields in which they can be applied. The recommended winner and runner-up are both products that can be applied to a wide range of milling sectors and thus they will thereby contribute more to the industry as a whole.” The panel stated.
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Thursday 16 February 2012

Southern Iowa Biomass Crop Workshop

There is increasing interest in biomass crops for energy in Iowa. Initially, it was thought that strong commodity prices would limit the interest of growers in planting perennials for bioenergy, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. A Biomass Crop Production workshop Thursday, March 8, at Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa will explore why interest is increasing. The program will start at 8:45 am and conclude at 2:15 pm

The Southern Iowa Resource Conservation and Development Area has been working with Iowa State University and the Iowa Farm Energy Working Group to evaluate biomass crops, including giant Miscanthus and warm season grasses that can be used to produce renewable energy feedstocks. Read more ...
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EU Commission proposes sustainable bio-economy

New European Union strategy intended to shift the European economy towards greater and more sustainable use of renewable resources has been welcomed by the industry. With limited natural resources and a world population predicted to reach 9 billion by 2050, Europe needs renewable biological resources for food and feed, as well as for materials, energy and other products.

"Europe needs to make the transition to a post-petroleum economy. Greater use of renewable resources is no longer just an option, it is a necessity. We must drive the transition from a fossil-based to a bio-based society with research and innovation as the motor. This is good for our environment, our food and energy security, and for Europe's competitiveness for the future," said Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Máire Geoghegan-Quinn at the launch of the strategy. Read more ...
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Wednesday 15 February 2012

Ikea officially switches on their new solar energy system

Home furnishings retailer IKEA today officially plugged-in the solar energy system installed at its store in College Park, Maryland. The 148,200-square-foot PV array consists of a 1,196-kW system, built with 4,984 panels. This investment by IKEA reinforces the company’s commitment to sustainability and confidence in photovoltaic (PV) technology.

“We at IKEA believe in the never-ending job of striving to improve the sustainability of our day-to-day business,” said Tracie Wiesman, IKEA College Park store manager. “The IKEA coworkers in College Park are excited to help contribute to this goal with our newly operational solar energy system. We appreciate the support of the City of College Park, PEPCO and REC Solar, our partners in this project.” Read more ...
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FiT reforms causing conflicting opinions

The feed in tariff's (FiTs), are again causing problems for the Government after they announced that they will reform them this has raised conflicting opinions, with one company declaring the reforms favour solar power and ignore wind energy. The government last week announced plans to ensure the future of the Feed-in Tariffs scheme to make it more predictable, stating that transparency, longevity and certainty are at the heart of the new improved scheme.

The DECC announced that the reforms would provide greater confidence to consumers and industry investing in exciting renewable technologies such as solar power, anaerobic digestion, micro-CHP, wind and hydro power. "A proposal to develop a small hydro or wind project can take up to two years to achieve planning consent and a further year to complete. Anaerobic digesters can take just as long. Pre-registration would help smooth this process to guarantee a viable project." Read more ...
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Tuesday 14 February 2012

Australia agriculture sector looks to clean energy future

More than 500 applications received from universities, land managers, industry and government agencies for Gillard Government funding to test and develop new ways for farmers to reduce carbon emissions. “The Action on the Ground and Filling the Research Gap programs provide funding for research into on-farm practices and new technologies,” Minister Ludwig said. “The level of interest in these programs shows how keen the agriculture sector is to benefit from the opportunities in the land sector to cut carbon pollution. Read more ...
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The new Vivergo biorefinery being built at Saltend

The new Vivergo biorefinery being built at Saltend near Hull is nearly complete and the Managing Director of Vivergo Fuels the joint venture behind the plant says operations will begin in late spring. When finished the Vivergo biorefinery will be one of the largest in Europe and each year it will turn 1.1 million tons of locally grown feed wheat into 420 million liters of bioethanol and 500,000 tons of animal feed.

Mr Richards said the company had already started commissioning the "farm end" of the plant where the first stage of the refinery process takes place and the animal feed byproduct is produced. There are two other processing sections which must be finished before fuel can be made but work is more than 95 percent finished. Read more ...
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Monday 13 February 2012

NGO study on Biofuels is full of factual errors

A new study that was commissioned by NGO's Friends of the Earth, ActionAid, has been criticised by the ethanol association ePURE as being flawed and full of factual errors. The new reports claims that biofuels are expected to cost EU consumers about €126 billion (US$167 billion), at the pump between now and 2020. According to ePURE, analysts FO Licht’s looked at the report and say: "There are inherent difficulties in calculating the differences in the cost of producing fossil fuels on the one hand and biofuels on the other. Even the study authors warn that it should be noted that these projections are extremely uncertain, and thus the results derived are indicative." Read more ...
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Farmers invited to see biomass in action at Country Estate

Farmers are being invited to a historic country estate, to learn about biomass and how to get into renewable fuel. The Barningham Park Estate a 7000 acre estate in North Yorkshire, has set up a commercial operation to supply wood chip biomass boilers in the region.

Ed Milbank, who manages the family estate near Richmond, said: "The estate's woodland has now become a big asset for us, especially as oil prices are forecast to continue rising and demand for timber is growing. "We are now felling old, thin conifer blocks and re-planting and this year we have planted a further 70 acres of mixed woodland. Read more ...
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Thursday 9 February 2012

The GRAPAS Theme, "Guaranteeing food and feed safety"


"Guaranteeing food and feed safety through greater use of technology in the control of product quality at each step of the milling process, from raw material collection-through processing-to-product dispatch." The GRAPAS Conference starts at 09:30 on February 15, 2012 and is part of the GRAPAS Exhibition, hosted and co-located with Victam Asia 2012. The Conference will be in English and translated simultaneously into Thai and is free to register. Please register here.

7 Days to go

Join the Revolution at GRAPAS "Guaranteeing food and feed safety"

Download your free GRAPAS ticket and badge
 

Wednesday 8 February 2012

Free your mind - Be part of the GRAPAS experience


If you're in Bangkok next week be sure not to miss the one-day GRAPAS Conference - which will be held above the Victam Asia 2012 exhibition area (in Meeting Room 222-223 on the second floor) of BITEC.This event looks at milling in general and rice milling developments in particular. Specialists will be sharing their knowledge and insight in rice and milling technology. The GRAPAS Conference starts at 09:30 on February 15, 2012 and is part of the GRAPAS Exhibition, co-located with Victam.

Get to the BITEC on Bangkok's (Rapid Transit Systems) Skytrain – to Bang Na Station - on the E line to E13.

                                                                  Eight days to GRAPAS

                                          Free your mind be part of the GRAPAS experience

                                            Download your free GRAPAS ticket and badge
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How do you get to the GRAPAS Conference


How do you get to the GRAPAS Conference for a 09:30 start on February 15, 2012 in a city you are not that familiar with? Especially when it’s located alongside an exhibition that is at a new location for the first time. BITEC, the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre, is on the Bangkok Rapid Transit Systems’s network. You can reach BITEC by Skytrain –Bang Na Station -  on the E line to E13. If you arrive at BITEC from the Skytrain, you will enter BITEC on the 2nd floor and will pass the entrance to the conference areas. If you enter via the trade show on the 1st floor, you can reach them by escalators, lifts and stairs. The conferences are well signed.

How do you get to the GRAPAS Conference




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OriginalOil and Aquaviridis join together in a joint venture for development

Algae producer Aquaviridis has joined forces with OriginOil to develop a new technology that extracts oil from the algae and will develop this multi-phase production at its Mexicali site in Mexico. Through the North American Free Trade Agreement, a region in the country has been put aside for such developments and OriginOil will help by harvesting and developing its algae cultivation technologies, as well as using the site as a testing area. Commercial scale production is scheduled for the second quarter of next year, and the site chosen is expected to have good growing conditions, as well as positive local and government support.

OriginOil's vice president of marketing, Ken Reynolds, says: "The Mexicali Valley is a great place to develop an algae industry, given its climate and access to industry research and resources throughout North America. With the US as a neighboring market for high value exports, Mexico is in an excellent position to take the lead in areas such as research and production of algae for nutritional products, animal feed, and oil for biofuels, which would create long-term regional economic growth and job production." Read more ...

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The UK Energy Now Expo countdown begins

Thousands of farmers are expected at the Malvern Showground in Worcestershire next week for the third Energy Now Expo. Despite the recent legal challenge to proposed changes to the level of Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) for solar PV, renewable energy remains one of the best choices for farmers and landowners looking to diversify their business.

With the cost of energy rising and many observers warning about the damaging effect of fossil fuels on the world's climate, adopting renewable alternatives will allow farmers to offset costs and reduce their carbon footprints. Read more ...
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Tuesday 7 February 2012

If you’re going to Victam Asia


If your first choice of conference at Victam Asia 2012 is sold out, why not consider attending the GRAPAS Conference on February 15, 2012 from 09:30 where space is unlimited? It's located at the same venue as Aquafeed Horizons and FIAAP (on the second floor of the BITEC) and there is no registration fee. GRAPAS is in both Thai and English and focuses on rice milling and milling technology in general. Register here to attend this informative event. Make you visit to Victam Asia even more worthwhile by attending GRAPAS!



If you’re going to Victam Asia
Be sure to wear some …
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Whisky bi products could be next biofuel

"Scotland’s whisky has a world-wide reputation for excellence and generates huge benefits for our economy. It’s fitting, then, that the by-products of this industry are now being used in an area where we have so much promise sustainable biofuels," said Fergus Ewing the Scottish Energy Minister as he launches a new company to commercialise a process making biobutanol from whisky by-products.

The new company, called Celtic Renewables, has been set up to capitalise on Scotland's UK£4 billion (US$6.3 billion) malt whisky industry to develop biobutanol a next generation biofuel along with other renewable chemicals and animal feed. Read more ...
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India shows record growth in renewable energy investments

A BNEF report into renewable energy investments in India showed that renewable energy investments increased by more than 52 percent in 2011, the fastest growth among major global economies. More than US$10.3 billion (€7.836 billion), was invested in renewable energy projects in India last year, with about US$4.6 billion (€3.5 billion) targeting wind energy projects and another US$4.2 billion (€3.5 billion) going toward solar project. “India’s record performance in 2011, and the momentum it is carrying into 2012, is one of the bright spots in the clean energy firmament,” said Michael Liebreich, BNEF’s chief executive. Read more ...
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Monday 6 February 2012

Funding for energy programs announced by USDA

The US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the available funding for the fiscal year 2012 for two key programs to encourage the use of renewable biomass and production of advanced biofuels. Around US$25 million (€19.1 million) is to be made available through each program.

"President Obama has laid out a new era for American energy an economy fueled by homegrown and alternative energy sources that will be designed and produced by American workers," said Secretary Vilsack. "These programs support that vision by helping biorefineries use renewable biomass as a replacement fuel source for fossil fuels and supporting advanced biofuel producers as they expand production." Read more ...
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Calls to cut subsidies by conservative MP's

More than 100 Conservative MPs are urging the Prime Minister to cut the subsidies for wind turbines. In a letter sent the MPs said that they had “grown more and more concerned” about state payments offered to the industry. More than 50 percent of the revenue by onshore and offshore wind farms in the UK are from subsidies through renewable obligation certificates, which were worth UK£1 billion (€1.2 billion) in 2009. Some expert are concerned that by 2020 these subsidies could cost as much as UK£5 billion(€6.038 billion) a year. Read more ...
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Friday 3 February 2012

2012 Grapas Conference in Bangkok


The count down has started! Victam Asia 2012 is just TWO weeks away. So too is the 2nd one-day GRAPAS Conference, which will be held above the exhibition area (in Meeting Room 222-223 on the second floor) of the BITEC centre in Bangkok.
 
I am inviting you personally to attend a unique event that looks at milling in general and rice milling developments in particular. Where else would you get specialist knowledge, insight and contacts in rice milling technology than at this event? 
 
The GRAPAS Conference (which starts at 09:30 on February 15, 2012 in Bangkok's BITEC Centre) is part of the GRAPAS Exhibition hosted and co-located with Victam Asia 2012.
Conference Theme  
"Guaranteeing food and feed safety through greater use of technology in the control of
product quality at each step of the milling process, from raw material
collection-through processing-to-product dispatch."
 
Places are limited to 200. The Conference will be in English and translated simultaneously into Thai. The Conference fee is US$25 (or Baht 770 or UK£15). You can register and pay using our secure service below.
Perendale Publishers Limited (PPL) is pleased to be patron of this important event for Asian milling industry representatives. PPL's Grain & Feed Milling Technology magazine (the event's Media Partner) is also proud to announce that it will once again be sponsoring the GRAPA Milling Award 2012 at Victam Asia.
 
Thank you for your attention. We look forward to seeing you at GRAPAS 
Conference on February 15, 2012.
Tel: +44-1242 267700


GRAPAS Conference 2012 Asia 'Speaker Sponsors':



  

                      
                     

 


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