The European Parliament will begin its fall session soon, and the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) is calling on the members to vote against any changes to the Renewable Energy Directive (RED). GRFA says the proposed changes are based on unproven theories and will restrict the biofuel industry’s critical access to transportation fuel markets, negatively impacting the economy and environment. …
RFA: Facts Erode Big Oil’s Narrative
Congress is preparing to return to work and there are two issues top of mind: The FAARM Bill and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). During the break the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) took a look at some of the Big Oil’s summer arguments against ethanol and created a narrative around why these are not valid. “While Congress has been away, …
Global Solar PV Module Installations to Increase
According to a new report, “Solar PV Modules – Market Size, Annual Production, Average Price, Competitive Landscape and Key Country Analysis to 2020,” solar module installations saw a significant increase from approximately 1.4 GW in 2006 to 29 GW in 2011, but the industry has started to move away from the initial spur. GlobalData’s latest report finds that the growth …
BioEnergy Bytes
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) has announced that Iowa’s first cellulosic ethanol project to break ground, POET – DSM Advanced Biofuels, LLC, is the IRFA’s newest member. POET – DSM’s Project LIBERTY will be a commercial-scale, cellulosic ethanol plant that will produce 25 million gallons of next generation ethanol from corncobs, leaves, husk and corn stalk annually. The first …
BioEnergy Bytes
Law firm Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy has advised international lenders in funding construction of a new wind project on 18,000 acres in Carson County, Texas, near Amarillo. The 218-megawatt Panhandle Wind Project is being developed by Pattern Energy. Operational next year, the facility will operate with 118 turbines built by General Electric. GE Energy Financial Services and Citigroup are …
Report Shows Geothermal Continues to Grow
According to a new report, there are strong growth signals in the international market for geothermal power. Released by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA), “2013 Geothermal Power: International Market Overview,” identifies 70 countries moving forward with nearly 700 geothermal power projects. “The number of geothermal projects continues to grow as more and more countries recognize the potential economic and environmental …
Argonne Take Cues From Nature
Scientists working at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF) are looking to nature’s catalysts, enzymes, for inspiration in their quest to find a more effective means of converting biomass into renewable fuel. The research is focused on inedible plant materials that contain cellulose (such as wood chips and switchgrass), which can be broken down into sugars and then converted into …
Cool Planet Chooses Louisiana for Biofuel Project
Cool Planet Energy Systems, a developer of small scale biorefineries which convert non-food biomass into gasoline, jet fuel, and soil biochar, has announced the selection of Alexandria, Louisiana as the location for their first commercial biorefinery. The facility will be located on the Port of Alexandria in Rapides Parish and will serve as a showcase facility. The goal of Cool …
Getting to Know Nelson Engineering
Do you know Nelson Engineering? No, well you should. The company hit my radar a few weeks ago while in Galva, Iowa during the Quad County Corn Processors ground-breaking for its new Adding Cellulosic Ethanol “ACE” project, a bolt-on technology innovation that will specialize in converting corn fiber into cellulosic ethanol. Nelson Engineering is the lead engineering firm on this …
Students Fly the Skies with Biofuel
Purdue faculty and students took to the skies with biofuel when the Purdue Embrarer Phenom 100 flew during the recent Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture, an international plane show. The airplane was unique in that one engine was filled with traditional jet fuel while the other engine was filled with a biofuel blend prepared by the Air Force. The plane was …