IIT Mandi researchers use orange peels to convert into biofuel

IIT Mandi researchers have employed hydrochar produced from orange peels as a catalyst to transform biomass-derived chemicals into biofuel precursors. The study will aid in the development of biomass-based fuels to address the socio-political instability caused by depleting petroleum supplies. The findings of the research which was led by Venkata Krishnan have been published recently

The time is ripe for green bonds

Budget 2022 is strong on infrastructure spending, with the overall government capex planned to go beyond Rs 10 trillion, or more than 4 per cent of GDP, in FY2023. Innovative financing mechanisms such as blended finance and impact capital have been instituted to crowd-in private investments. Another timely idea is the issuance of sovereign green

India’s flex-fuel push will fire booster cylinders of Indian Economy

India’s proper reform minister Nitin Gadkari is on a spree. The Union Road Transport and Highways minister on Monday announced that his ministry is going to issue an order directing carmakers to introduce Flex-fuel, or flexible fuel, engines. Gadkari said, “To reduce import of fossil fuels, I am going to sign a file in the

Wartsila, Solstad Offshore collaborate on fleet decarbonisation ambitions

In its efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of its 90 vessel fleet, Solstad Offshore has turned to the technology company Wartsila for collaboration. The aim is to achieve a 50 percent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030. Partnership is seen as being key to finding the right solutions. The agreement aims to identify, evaluate,

Ethanol no better than gasoline, study finds

Though popular with Midwestern farmers and long hailed as an environmentally friendly alternative to imported oil, ethanol made from corn isn’t actually reducing greenhouse gas emissions, a new study finds. But UW-Madison researchers say there are home-grown alternatives being developed at laboratories in Madison. Corn-based ethanol, which accounts for virtually all US biofuels, doesn’t really

Engineered bacteria convert captured carbon dioxide into valuable chemicals for fuels

Bacteria are known for breaking down lactose to make yogurt and sugar to make beer. Now researchers led by Northwestern University and LanzaTech have harnessed bacteria to break down waste carbon dioxide (CO2) to make valuable industrial chemicals. In a new pilot study, the researchers selected, engineered, and optimized a bacteria strain and then successfully

Shipping industry faces higher costs as marine fuel rises 23% this year

The shipping industry is starting to feel the full force of surging diesel and petrol costs. Ship fuel can be made from some of the same ingredients that refiners can also put into diesel and petrol. But soaring margins of the latter two fuels are making their production more attractive, resulting in tighter supplies for

Gazprom increases refueling of ships with environmentally friendly fuel

Russian oil major Gazprom Neft on Monday said it will increase supply of environmentally friendly marine fuel to Russian mining company Norilsk Nickel’s Arctic fleet by 30% to 80,000 tons per year. Throughout 2022, Gazpromneft Marine Bunker, operator of the Gazprom Neft’s bunkering business, will provide refueling for container ships, tankers and icebreakers of the

IOC Chairman seeks budgetary support for refiners for using green hydrogen

With oil refineries expected to be the largest consumers of green hydrogen, Indian Oil Chairman Shrikant Madhav Vaidya on Monday said that a budgetary support for the refining sector will help achieve the net zero target. Speaking at the post budget interaction of the Maharashtra industry with the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman here, Vaidya

Decarbonizing marine shipping: Clean fuels for a greener future?

Ship fuels manufactured using renewable electricity, and made purely from water and the gases found in the atmosphere, are being proposed as the solution to decarbonizing marine shipping. Net-zero by 2050 Countries around the world, including Canada, are adopting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets of zero emissions by 2050. The global marine shipping industry is