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Biofuel maker Nova Biosource Fuels, Inc. has updated the progress on its Seneca, Illinois biodiesel plant.

According to this company press release, Nova Biosource is producing biodiesel from low free fatty acid animal fats and vegetable oils with the plant right now at about 75 percent capacity:

Nova anticipates gradually changing the mix of feedstock to incorporate lower cost, higher free fatty acid content feedstocks through the remaining
commissioning process and then begin commissioning the remaining 20 million gallon per year trains. At the 20 million gallon per year biodiesel refinery built for Scott Petroleum Corporation in Greenville, Mississippi, a mechanical pump failure resulted in damage to the refinery. The refinery had previously been operated at full capacity. For example, during its performance test run in February, the refinery processed variable free fatty acid feedstock (primarily choice white grease with some poultry fat and fish oil with an average free fatty acid level of 4 to 5%) and the output of finished ASTM D 6751 quality biodiesel was measured in excess of 2,400 gallons per hour, or about 100%+ of rated nameplate throughput. The owner has commenced cleanup and repairs and a Nova engineering team is on site to consult with the owner to assess the situation and further develop the repair plan.

“We are pleased with the progress at the Seneca refinery,” said Kenneth T. Hern, Chairman and CEO of Nova. “Our commissioning team is doing a fantastic job of producing biodiesel that exceeds the ASTM standards. We are disappointed with the pump failure at the Scott biodiesel refinery and hope that repairs to the facility will be completed to bring it back to nameplate capacity as quickly as possible.”

When the facility is fully operational, the plant will produce 60 million gallons of biodiesel a year.

A commercial launch company in Massachusetts will run some of its boats this summer on biodiesel.

This story in the Salem News (Beverly, Mass.) says that after testing biodiesel on a partner company’s research boat, Mid-Harbor Launch Service will run a few of its boats vessel on the green fuel to test the viability of the product:

Mid-Harbor Launch plans to begin using a mixture called B20, and possibly higher mixes, on three or four of its new launches for the upcoming boating season.

Upon delivery, it will be the first commercial marine use on the North Shore, according to Ed Burke, chairman of the board at Dennis K. Burke Inc., the first major fuel distributor in the Boston area to offer B20 and B5 biodiesel blends.

While the biodiesel will yield obvious environmental benefits, there are some drawbacks that need to be overcome. It can degrade natural rubber in older engines, and sometimes, the cleaning nature of biodiesel can knock loose sediment that has built up in engines, possibly clogging fuel filters. Most truck operators have run into similar problems, and usually, they just keep extra filters on hand.

A $50 million project could help one of Canada’s biggest biofuels producers build the largest biofuels facility north of the border.

Biomass Magazine reports that Canadian Green Fuels Inc. Chief Executive Officer Mike Shenher recently announced the investment that includes building a new plant and upgrading the current Canadian Green Fuels plant in Regina, Saskatchewan:

“We expect these plants to have the capacity to produce 240 million liters (63 MMgy) of biofuel products a year and be considered a “green” plant, as all aspects of the plant and waste products are used to create revenue,” Shenher said, adding total revenue from the two plants could bring potential revenues of approximately $300 million per year.

The new plant, which is expected to produce approximately 52 MMgy (200 million liters), will run on energy it creates and is expected to produce biodiesel, biofuels, bio-oil, and bio-additives. The plant will crush 1,200 metric tons daily, and operate equipment that can crush any oil seed.

Shenher adds that putting together Canada’s largest oil seed crushing facilities with the biggest biofuel processing and production system will make it a world-class facility.

Biodiesel made from algae is proving it can stand up to the cold weather… a key to wider acceptance of the REALLY green fuel.

This story from Emerging Energy News says that Soladiesel, made by Solazyme, was tested at the Southwest Research Institute (SWRI), requested by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD):

“The DoD’s requested testing of the Soladiesel fuel showed superior performance especially in terms of its cold temperature properties,” said Solazyme Inc.’s CEO Jonathan Wolfson.

R. James Woolsey, former director of central Intelligence and under -secretary of the navy, claimed the test drive showed algae can be tapped to enable the U.S. to grow its own military fuels in the country.

As we approach Earth Day, 2008… Tuesday, April 22nd… the National Biodiesel Board is reminding everyone how biodiesel is part of green efforts for the world.

In a press release, the NBB points out that biodiesel reduces emissions, adds green jobs to the economy, reduces dependence on foreign oil and increases feed and food supplies, while lowering their costs:

“Some have inaccurately portrayed the environmental impact of biodiesel,” said Emily Bockian Landsburg of Philadelphia Fry-O-Diesel and Chair of the National Biodiesel Board’s Sustainability Task Force. “The facts are clear. An overwhelming body of data demonstrates that biodiesel has substantial carbon benefits and the best ratio of energy input to energy output of any liquid fuel. Biodiesel is already one of the most environmentally friendly fuels available, and as an industry we’re going even further, continually increasing those environmental benefits.”

Biodiesel also has a 78 percent life cycle carbon dioxide reduction, according to the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy. This takes into account everything from planting the soybeans – for soy-based biodiesel – to delivering biodiesel to the pump. The use of biodiesel also substantially reduces unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. In 2007 alone, biodiesel’s contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions was the equivalent of removing 700,000 passenger vehicles from America’s roadways.

Landsburg also notes that biodiesel producers are also finding more non-food sources for feedstocks for the green fuel, helping put to rest the food vs. fuel debate.

So if you want to save the world, start with what you put into your gas tank.