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Tag Bioenergy

At bioenergy crossroads, should corn ethanol be left in the rearview mirror?

February 14, 2022

New research shows that the carbon emissions from using land to grow corn can negate or even reverse any climate advantages of corn ethanol relative to gasoline.

Donohue to lead Wisconsin Energy Institute

November 23, 2021

Tim Donohue, a professor of bacteriology, has led the institute as interim director since 2017. WEI provides leadership in energy and clean technology research, scholarship, education and outreach.

Grassland conservation crucial to success of bioenergy

July 13, 2020

Protecting these natural lands right here in the U.S. offers an opportunity to make meaningful strides toward climate change mitigation while also improving wildlife habitat, water quality, and the delivery of many other ecosystem services.

New approach for breaking plastics down shows promise for ‘upcycling’ them

June 25, 2020

“Thirty percent of our plastic is ending up in the environment," says chemical and biological engineering Professor George Huber. "The current plastic infrastructure is not sustainable right now.”

Better solvents = better biomass conversion for biofuels and bioproducts

March 9, 2018

UW-Madison researchers are pushing for a broader understanding of solvents used to convert non-food biomass to biofuels and bioproducts, which would help them to optimize biomass conversion reactions.

Renewable plastic precursor could grow cellulosic biofuel industry

April 6, 2017

A team of chemical and biological engineers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison has found a way to produce from biomass a valuable compound used in plastic production that they estimate could lower the cost of ethanol produced from plant material by more than two dollars per gallon.

Food scientist aiding fuel ethanol with new engineered bacteria

November 28, 2016

James Steele’s new company, Lactic Solutions, is advancing a judo-like remedy: using genetic engineering to transform enemy into friend.

Lessons of lager: Yeast origin becomes a complex tale

July 6, 2016

The findings are important as yeasts are critical to many industries — brewing, fermenting other foods, making drugs like human insulin, and producing new biofuels.

Fundamental discovery slashes energy cost of chemical reactions

June 27, 2016

"We get two for the price of one," says researcher Shannon Stahl, "and we can save half a volt ... In a fuel cell, that is significant saving of energy."