- Regulation & Legislation
- Vehicle CO2 Emissions Likely to Jump 40%-130% by 2050: Study
- Los Angeles Kills Last Diesel Bus; Dallas Moving to CNG
- Technology
- GTI, Criterion Ink ‘IH2’ Deal; Enables Direct Bio-Based Diesel/Gasoline
- Japan’s METI Spearheads Oil-Refining Efficiency Project
- UOP Reports Progress on Py-Oil ‘Green’ Transport Fuels Research
- U.S. Army Testing Trash-to-Fuel Scheme
- Hawaii Electric Inks Deal for ‘Depolymerization’ Biofuel Supply
Regulation & Legislation
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Vehicle CO2 Emissions Likely to Jump 40%-130% by 2050: Study
A new study financed by the European Commission (EC) finds that global vehicle carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions are likely to jump by 40% to 130% by 2050, despite “low-carbon” technology advancements such as electric hybridization.
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Los Angeles Kills Last Diesel Bus; Dallas Moving to CNG
Following 20 years of consistent decisions to replace diesel buses with compressed natural gas (CNG), the Los Angeles County Metro Transportation Authority (MTA) on January 12 retired its last remaining diesel bus.
Technology
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GTI, Criterion Ink ‘IH2’ Deal; Enables Direct Bio-Based Diesel/Gasoline
The Gas Technology Institute (GTI) announced January 13 that it signed an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with CRI/Criterion for GTI’s “Integrated Hydropyrolysis and Hydroconversion” (IH2) technology.
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Japan’s METI Spearheads Oil-Refining Efficiency Project
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is heading-up a five-year project aimed at developing technologies to refine crude oil with greater efficiency in order to yield more gasoline, diesel and other high-value petroleum products, according to a January 14 Nikkei news service report.
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UOP Reports Progress on Py-Oil ‘Green’ Transport Fuels Research
Since first announcing a novel biomass-pyrolysis “green” transport fuel research and development scheme last year, UOP is now moving ahead on several key fronts this year.
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U.S. Army Testing Trash-to-Fuel Scheme
The U.S. Army on January 9 announced that it’s testing a garbage-to-fuel scheme that not only could boost its “green” credentials but also provide valuable energy to battlefield areas.
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Hawaii Electric Inks Deal for ‘Depolymerization’ Biofuel Supply
Hawaii Electric Co. (HECO) announced January 6 that it signed a contract with Aina Koa Pono (AKP) to obtain a novel biofuel derived from a “depolymerization” technology. The fuel would be burned in gas turbines to generate “green” electricity.
Feature
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Marine Emissions Scrubbing: Solutions Emerging to Avoid Fuel-Oil Conversion
Promoters of seawater or freshwater marine diesel stack emissions scrubbing see an opportunity for ship owners to avoid the high cost of switching from relatively cheap high-sulfur heavy bunker fuel to costlier (but much cleaner) marine gasoil (MGO) or marine diesel oil (MDO) for upcoming International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marpol Annex-6 emissions compliance.
Transport News
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U.S. Diesel Car Sales Rose 33% in 2010: VDA
German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) president Matthias Wissmann announced at the annual Detroit auto show January 10 that U.S. sales of diesel passenger cars rose one-third in 2010, to 55,650 units.
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VW to Roll-Out ‘Passat’ Diesel in U.S.
Volkswagen announced at the annual Detroit auto show January 11 that it will debut a diesel version of its “Passat” car in the 2012 model year.
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Cat to Launch Mining Truck Plant in Thailand
Caterpillar announced January 10 that it plans to open a new manufacturing plant in Thailand, producing underground mining articulated trucks and loaders.
Distillate Markets
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India’s BPCL Diesel-Oriented JV Refinery in Production Next Month
The Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd. (BPCL) “Bina” joint-venture refinery in Madhya Pradesh is likely to start commercial fuel production by mid-February, according to a January 14 Press Trust of India report.
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U.K. Diesel Prices to Hit US$10/Gallon This Year
Retail prices for diesel fuel are on-track to hit a staggering US$10.10 per U.S. gallon in the U.K. this year, thanks to a pending “fuel duty escalator.”
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Thailand’s Biodiesel Price-Target Scheme Faltering
Rising global oil prices are likely to stymie Thai government plans to keep biodiesel blends below 30 baht (US$0.98) per liter, according to a January 13 report from Bangkok Post.
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CHS Fiscal 1Q 2011 Net Up Sharply
Minnesota-based farm co-op CHS announced January 11 that its fiscal first-quarter 2011 net earnings (covering September 1 to November 30) rose 68%, thanks to higher revenue in its energy, grains, oilseeds, crop nutrients and processed oilseeds divisions.
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Market Report: ULSD Spot, Futures Rise on Strong Demand
Ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) spot and futures prices initially jumped last week on strong demand, but began to soften later with warmer weather in Europe and ample supplies in New York Harbor, despite bitter cold in that region.
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Distillate Watch
Distillate prices rise in major spot and futures markets.
