The Philippines is dead set on its quest to become the leader in clean and green energy among the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The Philippines’ Department of Energy (DOE) might just heed the advice. Early last week, the DOE laid down its plan to allow the temporary importation of ethanol to address the demand for the 10% ethanol blend requirement of the Biofuels Act for next year.

A research team from Purdue University has developed a new technique to convert biomass to biofuels through the use of hydrogen.

Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Livermore Laboratory are currently studying the feasibility of using the leaves of a common garden plant to improve cellulosic biofuel production.

Just a few weeks ago, Zenaida Monsada, Director for Oil Industry Management Bureau of the Department of Energy, has called the attention of the Congress to review the Biofuels Act of 2007. According to her statement, next year’s ethanol production will not be enough to address the local demand and as such, suggests that the Congress should amend the law to import more ethanol from other countries.