John Deere Developing Corn Cob Harvest Options

Chuck Zimmerman

There were 16 different equipment manufacturers involved with POET’s Project LIBERTY Field Day. One of them was John Deere, represented by Dean Acheson, Manager, Solutions Development. Dean says that what they’re working on is completely customer based. He says they don’t want to be slowed down during harvest and they want to keep up a high level of productivity. The …

Agribusiness, Audio, biomass, Cellulosic, corn, Equipment, Ethanol, John Deere, POET, Video

Project LIBERTY Field Day Underway

Chuck Zimmerman

POET CEO Jeff Broin, seen here being interviewed in the field this morning, is glad for sunshine. At last year’s Project LIBERTY Field Day we had a wet one. We watched several different equipment manufacturers display their latest products to handle collecting the corn cobs for use in cellulosic ethanol production. I’ve got video clips of them in action which …

Audio, biomass, Cellulosic, corn, Ethanol, POET

WI Biomass Biodiesel Plant to Commission Next Week

John Davis

A biodiesel plant that will make the green fuel from Wisconsin wood biomass is set for commissioning next week. This article from Biomass Magazine says the Flambeau River BioFuel LLC’s project will be commissioned using Honeywell Process Solutions’ supplies and automation equipment for what has been called the largest second-generation green diesel plant in the United States. The pilot testing …

Biodiesel, biomass

Switchgrass Varieties From Ceres

Chuck Zimmerman

We’ve certainly heard a lot about switchgrass as a biomass option for the production of ethanol. How many of you have seen it growing? That’s it behind Cory Christensen, Director of Product Managment, Ceres, who was conducting Sunbelt Ag Expo presentations in the field. He says it’s a first season stand of their Blade energy crop. It was developed specifically …

Audio, biomass, Cellulosic, Ethanol

Companies Working on Cellulosic Technology

Cindy Zimmerman

Two companies have formed an alliance to commercialize a patented process to economically and efficiently produce ethanol from cellulose feedstocks. The ChemPro Group of New Jersey has joined with Mo-Fuel (Rural Bio-waste) of Sikeston, Missouri on the project. According to Steve Lavorerio, President of ChemPro, the process can handle a full spectrum of cellulosic feedstock, from wood chips and pulp-and-paper-plant …

biomass, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Clemson Univ. Partners with Arborgen to Research Biomass

“This kind of research has global implications for climate change, energy security and the long-term stability of our local and national economy, particularly as it can help develop the rural infrastructure and jobs we need,” said Barbara Wells, president and CEO of ArborGen. Joint areas of research include exploration of possible sources of biofuel, such as sweetgum, loblolly pine and …

biomass, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

Fibrowatt Contracts Fagen for Poultry Litter Plants

Cindy Zimmerman

Waste from chickens and turkeys could soon become a power source in North Carolina. Fibrowatt LLC, which opened the nation’s first poultry-litter fueled power plant two years ago in Minnesota, has contracted with Fagen, Inc. for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of its first biomass-fueled power project in North Carolina. “We are delighted to work with the Fagen team,” …

biomass

Renewable Energy Grants Available in Colorado

Joanna Schroeder

The Colorado Department of Agriculture is now offering several Advancing Colorado’s Renewable Energy (ACRE) grants. Eligible projects include agricultural related renewable energy systems, feasibility studies and research projects. The ACRE program is a set of grants that provide funds to conduct feasibility studies, install renewable energy systems or do research into renewable energy projects. Grant applications submitted must be for …

Biodiesel, biomass, Energy, News, Research, Solar, Wind