Cefic calls for balance between climate change policy and need for competitive energy prices
Competitively priced energy will be essential if the European Union is to deliver jobs and growth alongside progress in combating climate change, Cefic said at a business summit held recently at Brussels. Cefic leaders urged policymakers to balance climate policy objectives with the need to close the...

EU offers €31.5 million for eco-innovation projects
The European Commission has launched a call for proposals, offering €31.5 million ($40.4 million) for the best 45 eco-innovation projects. Businesses across Europe have until 5 September to submit their proposals for bringing novel environmental solutions to the market in five areas: material...

EU approves state aid to French R&D consortium to develop third-generation biorefineries
The European Commission has approved aid granted by the French government to Picardie Innovation en Végétal Enseignement Rechercher et Techologie (Pivert; Compiègne, France) and Institut d’Excellence en Énergies Décarbonées (Ieed; Compiègne, France) to...

Merck KGaA leads international consortium to develop cobalt-based dye-sensitized solar cells
Merck KGaA (Darmstadt, Germany) is leading a consortium sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bonn) to develop cobalt-based, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) for use in photovoltaic and other indoor and outdoor applications, the company announced today. The consortium includes 3GSolar...

PTT Global Chemical and Myriant form Auria BioChemicals joint venture
The board of PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC; Bangkok) has approved the formation of a joint venture with Myriant Corp. (Quincy, MA) to commercialize bio-based technology in Southeast Asia. The joint venture, Auria BioChemicals Co., was registered in Thailand on 3 May 2013 with a registered capital of 90 million...

BASF R&D conference: Chemistry powers energy
The central theme of the latest BASF research conference, held recently in Ludwigshafen, was “Chemistry powers energy: Renewable generation, safe storage, and efficient transport and use,” relying on “chemistry as an enabler.” Forecasts show that global energy demand will rise by more...

BASF and Genomatica team up to produce biosourced BDO
BASF plans to produce biobased 1,4-butanediol (BDO) using Genomatica's (San Diego) patented process, the companies announced today. The one-step fermentation process produces a renewable feedstock from sugars. Financial details were not disclosed. "In line with our strategy, we aim to offer biosourced...

Brazilian firm secures financing toward construction of commercial-scale, second-generation bioethanol plant
Bioflex Agroindustrial (São Miguel dos Campos, Brazil) has secured 300.3 million reais ($149.5 million) in financing from the Brazilian Development Bank (Rio de Janeiro) for construction of a second-generation bioethanol plant, the bank has announced. The plant will be located in the municipality of...

Solazyme's loss widens
Solazyme reported a GAAP net loss of $26.5 million for its fiscal first quarter ended 31 March, down from a net loss of $16.8 million in the prior-year period. On a non-GAAP basis, the net loss was $21.5 million, compared with a net loss of $12.8 million in the prior-year quarter. Sales fell 51%, to $6.7...

Indonesia may complain to WTO over EU biodiesel antidumping investigation
The EU antidumping investigation into biodiesel imports from Indonesia could provoke a complaint by Indonesia to the World Trade Organization (WTO; Geneva), according to Indonesian media reports. The European Commission decided earlier this year to track biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia as...