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Novamont Buys Eastman's Eastar Bio Technology

Novamont S.p.A. and Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN – News) announced that Novamont purchased Eastman's Eastar Bio copolyester business and technology platform. Novamont is a manufacturer of biodegradable materials. Terms of the sale were not disclosed. "The acquisition of Eastman's Eastar Bio copolyester technology, including the excellent manufacturing skills and an extensive patent portfolio, represents an important strategic breakthrough for Novamont," said Catia Bastioli, managing director of Novamont S.p.A. "The acquisition will permit us to widen the range of Novamont's proprietary products and speed up the internal development of polyesters from renewable resources. The patent portfolio related to Eastar Bio technology will further strengthen Novamont's position in the sector of polyesters and starch/polyester systems." Novamont S.p.A. started its activity as a research center in 1989 and today is a market leader in the sector of bioplastics. Under the Mater-Bi trademark, Novamont offers a family of competitive materials based on renewable agricultural origin. Industrial applications covered by Mater-Bi are very broad ranging from separate collection of organic waste and composting to agriculture, hygiene, packaging, food service ware and additives for rubber. "The emerging biodegradable industry is experiencing exciting market development activities; however, only limited synergies exist with markets currently served by Eastman," […]

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Alternative Building Materials Co., Structures USA, Goes Public

Structures USA (OTC:STUS.PK), an alternative building materials company, has just begun trading on the OTC market under the symbol "STUS". The Company has developed several new technologies aimed at the Global construction industry. GigaCrete is a new type of concrete product that is one-fourth the weight of conventional concrete and can reach strengths of 8,000 psi. GigaCrete can be made into building panels to make floors, walls and roofs, or sheets of cement board siding and roofing. Not only is the product stronger and lighter, it can cure in 8 hours as opposed to concrete that takes up to 28 days to cure. The end result is a line of products that are easier to handle, lighter, stronger and faster to install and more cost effective building components. The primary material in "Structures" technology is waste ash and a proprietary binder. Waste ash is produced by coal burning power plants. The ash is readily available and allows the production of GigaCrete and other products at a lower cost as compared to Portland cement products. This product is totally fireproof and engineered to be Hurricane and Earthquake resistant. Independent lab tests verify the strength and fire resistance of this new building […]

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Weekly Clean Energy Roundup:September 8, 2004

*News and Events Minnesota Utility to Award $22 Million to Renewable Projects Renewable Energy Powered the Republican National Convention Energy-Efficient Solar Homes Sprouting Up Nationwide NASA Releases Report on Crash of Helios Solar Plane U.S. Wind Power Industry Expects Meager Growth in 2004 California Utility Reopens Residential Energy Efficiency Program News and EventsMinnesota Utility to Award $22 Million to Renewable ProjectsXcel Energy announced last week its selection of 25 proposed renewable energy projects to receive $22 million from its Renewable Development Fund. The projects include seven efforts to draw on renewable energy in Minnesota, including two wind turbines, two anaerobic digesters, a biomass energy combined heat and power plant, a project to increase biomass use at a University of Minnesota steam plant, and a hydropower facility refurbishment. The remaining 18 projects are research efforts relating to biomass energy, solar cells, and hydrogen production. DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory is working with the University of Minnesota on two of the three solar-cell research projects. The Renewable Development Fund was established by Minnesota statute and is funded by the state’s ratepayers. The 25 selected projects are subject to final approval by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. See Xcel Energy press release or […]

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Rhode Island Wave Energy Project Gets Funding

Energetech America LLC today announced plans for a "first of its kind" wave energy project in the United States. Planned for an area more than a mile off the southern coast of Rhode Island, "GreenWave Rhode Island" is an estimated $3.5 million project to convert ocean waves into clean electricity. The pilot project, planned to operate for three years, has received $1 million in planning and development funds from the renewable energy funds of three New England states (Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut). Company officials said the facility is planned as a not-for-profit operation intended to demonstrate the commercial viability of its wave energy technology. Research for the project is being conducted by the University of Rhode Island (URI), world-renowned for oceanographic science and education. Energetech has developed a technology using an "oscillating water column" (OWC) as a key component. Its technology enhances OWC's commercial viability. In brief, the up-and-down movement of waves forces air to rush into a hollow chamber where it is compressed, turning a turbine and powering the generator. The structure, with its four legs resting on small pads on the ocean floor, is stabilized by cables moored to the seabed. Plans call for electricity to be […]

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