1. Latest Biofuel News

11.06.08  100% Clean Fleet in Madrid by 2011

In February 2008, the Mayor of Madrid, Alberto Ruiz Gallardon, officially presented Madrid City Council's "Green Fleet". The Mayor also announced the City's commitment to gradually increase the role of clean vehicles in such a way that the whole public fleet (that is, the fleet of the official local administration) would be 'ecological' before 2011. Currently, the share of clean vehicles is approximately 20 percent of the entire public fleet.

Today, Madrid has a green bioethanol fleet comprised of 40 flexi-fuel cars, one official car for the Environment Councillor and five bioethanol buses. This fleet is the result of the City's participation in the European Project BEST (Bioethanol for a Sustainable Transport). >>more

09.06.08  'World's First' Green Diesel

Finnish based Neste Oil Corporation announced the launch of its "Green Diesel", said to be the first of its kind in the world to suit all diesel motors. The product is a 10% blend of a biodiesel component (called NexBTL) and 90% regular diesel. The biodiesel component is produced using a technology that uses a mix of feedstocks, such as palm oil, rapeseed oil and animal fats. The company's medium term goal is to increase the proportion of inedible feedstocks by 60% in the next ten years. According to the Renewable Energy Magazine, the inedible feed stock may include algae. The company also plans to construct two additional biodiesel plants in Porvoo (Finland) and in Singapore.  >>more

05.06.08  Supply of verified sustainable ethanol in Sweden

The Swedish company SEKAB has become the first company in the world to supply verified sustainable ethanol. This is ethanol from Brazilian sugarcane for inclusion in E85 and ED95. The ethanol is quality assured from environmental, climate and social perspectives.

Download press release

>>more

Delfzijl situated in the northeast of the Netherlands has been chosen as the location of a new bioenergy centre. 1.5 billion Euro will be invested in the centre over the next few years and will focus on converting biomass into energy resulting also in the creation of 500 new jobs, according to a spokesperson for the investing company, Ecofys.

The new bioenergy centre will be located on the industrial estate in Delfzijl, where its future neighbour is already involved in the production of biomethanol. The production capacity there will be increased considerably over the next few years, to one million tons of biomethanol per year, making it the largest biomethanol plant in the world. Electricity will also be produced, in addition to fuel, by two power plants that will use biomass as raw material.

2. Policies Update

12.06.08  International biofuel leaders react to Food Summit Resolution

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), along with the European Bioethanol Fuel Association (eBio) and the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA) released a statement coinciding with the conclusion of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation's (FAO) food summit, held on 3-5 June in Rome.

Many countries and international organisations that met at the summit cited multiple causes on how much the rush for environmentally friendly biofuels is contributing to soaring prices that are causing hunger and unrest worldwide.

Download press release

02.06.08  FAO calls for more dialogue on biofuels

The Summit on soaring food prices, convened by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has concluded with the adoption by acclamation of a declaration calling on the international community to increase assistance for developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and those that are most negatively affected by high food prices.

On the contentious issue of biofuels, the Declaration said that it is essential that the international community, including all relevant actors foster a coherent, effective and results-oriented international dialogue on biofuels in the context of food security and sustainable development needs. >>more

02.06.08  MEPs seek reduced biofuel commitments

The pressure is rising on the European Commission to water down plans to raise the share of biofuels in transport to 10% by 2020, as leading Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on the issue call for the target to be cut to 8% or scrapped entirely. >> more

3. Projects and Activities

Highlights of the new projects and activities added to the Biofuel Cities Project Database at www.biofuel-cities.eu/index.php?id=4024

Jatropha plantation

A project on plantation for the cultivation of Jatropha Curcas for the production of sustainable and renewable biomass that can be used for second generation biofuels and the production of bioenergy.

(Source: Biofuel Cities Project Database)

Nivoba B.V

Nivoba B.V. and Oosterhof Milieutechniek B.V., together with a number of local farmers, are building a bioethanol plant in Wijster (province of Drenthe, the Netherlands). Initially the main ingredient for the production process will be wheat, however rye, corn and sorghum are also suitable. Part of Essent's (as yet) unused residual heat is used for the production process.

Annual production capacity of 100 million litres of bioethanol (plus 25,000 tons of protein and 40,000 tons of bran) is expected for 2008. The plant will begin in 2008 with an annual production of 100 million litres of bioethanol. Before the wheat can be used to produce bioethanol, several valuable components such as protein and bran are separated from the wheat and used in the food industry. The residue that remains after bioethanol production is used as animal fodder.

(Source: Biofuel Cities Project Database)

TPG Post Pakketservice Amsterdam: Driving Clean Programme

TPG Post Pakketservice is changing its fleet of vehicles to run on 100% biodiesel. TPG Amsterdam has a fleet of 56 delivery vans that are used to deliver packages six days a week all around the Amsterdam area. The aim of the programme is to make the vehicles more environmentally friendly.

Wiersma & Zn Oliehandel in Sneek supply the biodiesel made from rapeseed oil. The TPG drivers refuel the vehicles on their company's premises. Importer Pon VW and owner Athlon Car Lease Netherlands are also involved in the project, and monitor whether the use of pure biodiesel results in extra maintenance or other problems. The Volkswagen plant in Germany has approved the use of 100% biodiesel in these delivery vans.

This project is part of the Driving Clean programme, an initiative of the parent company, TNT. In addition to driving around Amsterdam on biodiesel, a trial is also being conducted into fitting soot filters to the existing fleet of vehicles, and 176 lorries have been ordered with Euro V engines.

(Source: Biofuel Cities Project Database) 

4. New Publications and Resources

Some of the new resources that arrived at the editor's desk this month are a number of publications which include: 

• Cleaner Fuels and Vehicles;

• Impact of biofuels on air pollutant emissions from road vehicles; and

• Assessment of global biomass potentials and their links to food, water, biodiversity, energy demand and economy

All resources can be accessed through the Biofuel Cities Resource Database. Access to the Resources Database is for Biofuel Cities European Partnership participants only.

5. Event Highlights

24.06.08  3rd Biofuel Cities Workshop on the Role of End-users, Zaragoza, Spain

This workshop, with participation by invitation only, addresses the needs of biofuel end-users (e.g. municipal or company fleet owners) who work or wish to start using biofuels in their fleets, and who are interested in the following issue: the challenge of sustainable biofuel procurement in the field of transport. >>more

21-27.06.08  11th International Conference on Applied Phycology, Galway, Ireland

This scientific conference focuses on industrial uses of microalgae and macroalgae, among them the production of biofuels. Participants will include engineers, manufacturers, contractors, scientists, researchers, students, economists, industry representatives, and policymakers. The conference will provide an important forum to discuss the latest research and to establish new synergies. >>more

22-26.06.08  4th EPSO Conference 2008 - Plants for Life, Toulon (Côte d'Azur), France

24-25.06.08  European Biofuel Congress, Essen, Germany

After the success of the first European Biofuel Congress, this second Congress will communicate alternative fuel issues from the point of view of the petrochemical and chemical industry. Among the issues that will be discussed are the high price levels for fossil fuels, a safer and more ecological supply of fuels, the EU directives for alternative fuels and the position of the European alternative fuel industry in the international market.  >>more

25-26.06.08  Biofuels - A New Shipping Market, London, United Kingdom

This conference will bring together the key players in the biofuel chain, from producers to end consumers and those involved in transport and storage. Attendees will hear the latest assessments of current global biofuels production, supply and demand forecasts and the impact on sea and land transport. >>more

26-27.06.08  Fuelling the Climate - Biofuels Symposium on technological developments in Renewable Energy, Hamburg, Germany

International and German experts will show-case and demonstrate the various technological developments in biofuels seen until now, and inform the general public about the usefulness and value of biofuels and how their use can be related to individual attempts to protect the climate.

6. Editorial and Legal Information

The Biofuel Cities Update is a monthly e-newsletter that aims to keep you informed of developments in the field of biofuels and in the Biofuel Cities European Partnership.

The Biofuel Cities European Partnership is a forum for the application of biofuels. Open to all stakeholders in the area of biofuels for vehicles, it offers access to the www.biofuel-cities.eu information and exchange portal; workshops and study tours; news, publications and tools. The Partnership is supported by the European-Commission funded Biofuel Cities project. Participation in the Biofuel Cities European Partnership is free. To join more than 850 peers or to find out more, visit www.biofuel-cities.eu or write to secretariat@biofuel-cities.eu

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Please send your news and comments to: secretariat@biofuel-cities.eu

Published by the ICLEI European Secretariat GmbH

Editors: Stefanie Lay (responsible) / Amalia Ochoa

Copyright © 2008 ICLEI European Secretariat GmbH, Freiburg, Germany

We welcome you to reproduce and / or translate any part of Biofuel Cities Update for further dissemination purposes, providing source is acknowledged.

Acknowledgement:

This publication is part of the activities of the Co-ordination Action Biofuel Cities European Partnerships Consortium. The Coordination Action is funded by the Sixth Research Framework Programme of the European Union, under the Activity "Alternative Motor Fuels: Biofuels Cities".