Noting the hydrogen deficits are a concern at many refining facilities, refiners have increased investments in recovering hydrogen from off gas streams. Maintaining the purity of that recovered hydrogen is achievable with pressure swing absorption technology.

India’s Essar Group and South Africa’s Sasol Ltd. are among foreign companies competing to acquire a majority stake in Zambia’s state-owned Indeni Petroleum Refinery, according to The Post (Zambia).

RISI, an information provider for the global forest products industry has published the 2010 Wood Biomass Policy Review, a new study providing a review and analysis of the policy drivers and underlying objectives influencing development of the biomass energy sector in the United States and Europe.

SG Biofuels, Inc., a plant science company, Jan. 12 announced a strategic alliance with Life Technologies Corp., a provider of innovative life science solutions, to advance the development of jatropha as a sustainable biofuel feedstock.

UOP officials announced Jan. 12 that they’ve been selected for negotiation of a US$25 million grant from U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) to build a biomass pyrolysis-oil plant in Hawaii for a “green” transportation fuel scheme.

Chevron Corp. Jan. 11 reported in its interim update that earnings for the fourth quarter 2009 are expected to be lower than in the third quarter 2009.

Alaska state Sens. Lesil McGuire (R) and Bill Wielechowski (D) recently announced they’ll co-sponsor new legislation this year aiming to promote construction of gas-to-liquids, coal-to-liquids and biomass-to-liquids fuels plants in the state.

A new Hart Energy Consulting study finds that refiners with capability to produce cleaner fuels – such as Euro-4 fuel (50 parts per million sulfur maximum) or better – are more likely to show better profitability once an expected global economic recovery returns.