Gevo has announced that the U.S. Army has successfully flown the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter on a 50/50 blend of Gevo’s ATJ-8 (Alcohol-to-Jet). ATJ is a renewable, drop in alternative fuel for JP8 that addresses the Army Energy Security Strategy and Plans mandate that the Army certify 100% of its air platforms on alternative/renewable fuels by 2016. This flight marks the first ever Army Aircraft to fly on the isobutanol ATJ blend. Flight testing is being conducted at Aviation Flight Test Directorate (AFTD) on Redstone Arsenal, AL and is anticipated to be complete by March 2014.- Hanwha SolarOne, a global photovoltaic manufacturer of solar modules, has announced that it will supply 11.5 MW of solar modules to Ikaros Solar Belgium NV. The modules are scheduled for delivery in January and February 2014. Ikaros intends to install the modules in a solar park in Norfolk County, United Kingdom. Hanwha SolarOne will supply its 72-cell module HSL-72 for the project.
- The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has approved a power purchase agreement (PPA) between the Hawaii Electric Light Co. Inc. (HELCO) and Hu Honua Bioenergy LLC for the Hu Honua biomass project. According to documentation published by the PUC, the proposed 21.5-megawatt (MW) Hu Honua plant is to be located on the site of the former Hilo Coast Power Co. in Pepeekeo, Hawaii.
- The USDA has awarded nearly $10 million to a consortium of academic, industry and government organizations to research the use of insect-killed trees in the Rocky Mountains as bioenergy feedstock. The consortium, led by Colorado State University, will explore recent advances in thermochemical conversion technologies that enable the production of onsite liquid biofuel and coproduct production. The project is working with Greenwood Village, Colo.-based Cool Planet Energy Systems.
