NASA researchers are conducting a series of lights using the agency’s DC-8 flying laboratory to study the effects of biofuels on engine performance, emissions and aircraft generated contrails at altitude. The Alternative Fuel Effects on Contrails and Cruise Emissions (ACCESS) research involves flying the DC-8 as high as 40,000 feet while an instrumented NASA Falcon HU-25 aircraft trails behind at …
Biodiesel Quality Reaches All Time High
According to a National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) biodiesel fuel quality survey, a record 97 percent of the samples tested met requirements in ASTM D6751, the biodiesel fuel quality specification. NREL obtained B100 samples from 53 producers and 14 terminals between August 2011 and February 2011 and according to Teresa Alleman, a senior chemist with NREL’s Fuels Performance Group, the samples …
Cellulosic Biofuels Begin to Flow
U.S. cellulosic biofuels production totaled about 20,000 gallons last year, way below the 500 million gallons target set by Congress. In a recent addition of “Today in Energy,” the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) looks at the American cellulosic biofuels industry and how production may sharply rise in 2013. According to the brief, several companies combined to produce about 20,000 …
Clean Diesel Technology, 20 Years in the Making
This year marks the 20th Anniversary of the National Biodiesel Board and much of the focus on their 10th annual NBB Conference and Expo held in Las Vegas was spent on reminiscing over the past 20 years and looking forward to the next 20 years. “It’s amazing how far we’ve come in 20 years,” said Steve Howell, NBB’s Technical Director …
EPA Approves New Biofuel Pathways Under RFS
Camelina, energy cane and renewable gasoline are now added to the list of qualifying feedstocks and fuels approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for use under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). EPA released its final rule to identify additional fuel pathways that meet the “lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction requirements for biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and cellulosic biofuel” under the …
VayuSap Project Wins $1M Grant
India-based VayuGrid and Zambia-based BetterWorld Energy are partnering on VayuSap biofuel development zones in Zambia. The development zones, based on Elite VayuSap trees, will produce sustainable energy, local jobs, and reforest and rehabilitate degraded lands which will, in turn, according to VayuGrid, raise living standards for the local communities and replace imports of petroleum fuels across the country. The Energy and …
N.C. Solar Center Receives DOE Grant
The North Carolina Solar Center at North Carolina State University has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to expand the use of alternative fuel and advanced vehicle technologies with a $500,000 award for the Alternative Fuel Implementation Team (AFIT) for North Carolina Project. The AFIT project is a two-year collaboration of U.S. DOE designated Clean …
Sensenbrenner Introduces Bill to Cap Cellulosic Fuels
As last week came to a close, U.S. Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) introduced a bill to place what the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) calls artificial caps on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) annual cellulosic biofuel projected production numbers. The proposed limits for any given year would be no more than five percent or one million gallons, whichever is greater, of …
Innovative Research From Budding Biodiesel Scientists
During the National Biodiesel Board Conference & Expo, several Next Generation Scientists displayed their biodiesel research through “posters”. These budding scientists are smart, talented, creative and innovative. Did I mention they are innovative? These college students are conducting research that has never been done before and as it moves forward, should help improve biodiesel production. A bit of a plug- …
Advanced Biofuel Orgs Set Record Straight
The American Petroleum Institute (API) is currently engaging in an all-out attack on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the advanced biofuel industry is continuing to fight back. Last month, the Court ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider the cellulosic biofuels obligations. In response, API is pressuring the EPA to actually zero out the 2012 obligation, according to …