The Rancho California Water District (RCWD) is going solar. They have hired SunPower to design and construct two solar power systems that will total 1.7 megawatts (mW) at two of their facilities. It is anticipated that the solar systems will save RCWD nearly $8.5 million in energy costs over the next 25 years. Back in 2009, SunPower completed a 1.1 …
Hybrid Ford F150 Launched
The F150 pickup truck, the best selling truck in America, now comes in a hybrid version. Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide has launched a new line of hybrid vehicles including a plug-in hybrid F150. The trucks were specifically designed for fleet operators. The PHEV F150 will provide drivers with the same performance from a conventional truck, but with higher fuel …
BP Backs Verdezyne
BP Alternative Energy Ventures and DSM Venturing B.V. have both invested in renewable fuel and chemical company Verdezyne. The two companies were part of a funding round that also included additional monies from existing investors OVP Venture Partners and Monitor Ventures. The announcement was made today during the BIO World Congress underway in Toronto. “We are thrilled to have these …
IPPC Releases Renewable Energy Report
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released a paper on the potential of renewable energy and its impacts on reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are believed to contribute to global climate change. The report found that close to 80 percent of the world’s energy supply could be met by renewables by mid-century if supported by the right policies. …
FREE Webinar: Navigating the USDA REAP Application Process
The Blend Your Own (BYO) Ethanol Campaign is hosting a FREE webinar called “Navigating the USDA REAP Application Process.” The webinar will provide participants with updated and in-depth information on ethanol blending, mid-level ethanol blends, E85 and infrastructure incentives. The BYO Ethanol Campaign is a joint effort between the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE). …
DSM CEO Wins George Washington Carver Award
Royal DSM Ceo Feike Sijbesma has received the George Washington Carver Award for Innovation in Industrial Biotechnology during BIO World Congress. In its 4th year, Sijbesma is being honored as a visionary leader of the bio-economy, an industry that the World Economic Forum projects will contribute nearly $250 billion to the world economy by 2020. Under his leadership, DSM has …
GreenField Ethanol Launches G2 BioChem
The World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing (BIO World Congress) kicked off this morning in Toronto, Canada with a bang. GreenField Ethanol, the largest producer of ethanol in Canada, announced the launch of G2 BioChem, a collaborative partnership that will validate and bring to commercialization GreenField’s innovative patented process technology. The partnership includes companies such as Novozymes and Andritz …
St. Louis Science Center Seeking Backyard Biofuels
The next big thing in biofuels could be right in your own backyard. For the second year, the Saint Louis Science Center is collaborating with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in a research project that “has the potential to discover algae species located within the St. Louis metro area which may be used in cutting-edge biofuels research.” According to …
Oil Prices Drop, Gas Prices Rise
It’s Friday and that means its time to fill the gas tank. Just in time for weekend fun, it always seems like gas prices go up. Here in California, prices are hovering near the $4.40 per gallon mark. But this week, oil prices dropped 15 percent from a two-year high of $114.83 on Monday and today prices closed at $97.18. …
Kautz Joins Dresser Wayne Team
Michelle Kautz has joined Dresser Wayne as the company’s new product manager, alternative energy. She will work with Scott Negley, the director of alternative energy and will be responsible for ensuring the commercial success of the company’s global ethanol and biodiesel products with a specific focus on capturing the business incentives for biofuels equipment. In her role, she will also …