Offshore Wind Project Sails Ahead

Joanna Schroeder

The Blyth Offshore Wind Demonstration Site off the UK coast is sailing ahead. SeaRoc, a marine engineering company, has been contracted to install the foundation, equipment platform and meteorological mast for the wind energy project. SeaRoc is taking over for the previous contractor and construction is scheduled to begin within the next two months.

Andrew Mill, CEO of Narec, the company that owns the Blyth Offshore Wind Demonstration Project, said that this is the largest project of its type in the UK. He also commented that SeaRoc’s services were selected because of their proven track record and innovative approach.

The mast will be installed 3 nautical miles off the coast of Blyth consisting of a 635t tripod foundation, 100t platform and 25t meteorological mast to provide site wind speed measurements alongside the already installed ZephIR 300 wind lidar. In addition, the platform will collect environmental data and will be equipped with a various monitoring sensors.

“The Offshore Demonstration Facility is key to the future of Offshore Wind, both in the UK and globally – SeaRoc are very aware of this and believe there is enormous value for the offshore renewable sector in the development of the Narec site,” said Toby Mead, Operations Director at SeaRoc, who said his company is very well placed to deliver the project. “We view this project as an ideal opportunity to develop a strong working relationship with Narec.”

Electricity, Energy, Wind

Operation Free Campaign Supports Navy Biofuels

Cindy Zimmerman

A new campaign by a nationwide coalition of military veterans is targeting members of Congress who are opposed to increasing the use of biofuels in the military.

The Operation Free campaign has released a new television advertisement entitled “Trust,” featuring Marine Corps veteran Chris Marzoni who served in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the spot, Marzoni says advanced biofuels promise to provide our military a source of fuel besides petroleum, which ties us to a volatile world market and hinders mission readiness.

The first version of the ad to run targets Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), who recklessly voted to halt the Navy’s biofuels programs despite their promise to reduce the military’s dependence on petroleum-based fuels. In the ad, Marzoni asks why Senator Portman doesn’t trust our military leaders when it comes to keeping America safe. The ad is part of a significant buy which will also run in Arizona, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Watch the ad with Marzoni here:

advanced biofuels, aviation biofuels, Government, Video

Iowa Biodiesel Board Applauds Peck Motorsports

NASCAR driver Todd Peck of Peck Motorsports made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at the Iowa Speedway in Newton this past weekend.

The day before the race, Peck filled up with B15 at Love’s Travel Center near the track and took part in a pump promotion there. Area fans came to the event to learn about biodiesel and meet Todd Peck (center) who signed autographs. Peck is pictured with Grant Kimberly of the Iowa Soybean Association (left) and Randy Olson of the Iowa Biodiesel Board (right).

“Peck Motorsports is dedicated to be environmentally clean leaders in NASCAR,” said Peck. “Fueling our team transporter full of biodiesel has been a part of that process. We can’t thank the Iowa Biodiesel Board enough for joining our efforts in Iowa this race weekend in making our journey as ‘green’ as possible.”

Based in Pennsylvania, Peck Motorsports, with help from Renewable Engineered Systems, has outfitted its race hauler with solar panels on the roof, which power the newly installed LED lights and equipment. The team’s goal is to drive to and from races using biodiesel blends. He has has used up to 50 percent biodiesel when filling up.

“We commend Peck Motorsports for taking the initiative to use biodiesel, and would be thrilled to see more NASCAR teams follow suit,” said Randy Olson, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board. “NASCAR’s popularity as a spectator sport presents a great opportunity to raise public awareness on biodiesel, and I’m proud that Iowa biodiesel is helping to kick off this team’s racing series.”

Biodiesel, NASCAR, Racing

Ethanol Safety Seminar Comes to Iowa

Joanna Schroeder

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is partnering with the Canadian National Railway and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) to host two Ethanol Safety Seminars. The first will be held on July 30, 2012 in Sioux City, Iowa and the second on August 1, 2o12 in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The seminars are FREE to attend and open to the public

Participants will learn about proper training techniques needed by hazmat personnel and first responders to effectively respond to an ethanol related emergency. All attendees, upon completion of the course, will receive a Certificate of Completion.

Each seminar will be offered from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm CDT and 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm CDT on the respective dates. Lunch and dinner will be provided by Siouxland Ethanol based in Sioux City and Little Sioux Corn Processors in Fort Dodge.  Click here to register.  If you are not a registered member, click the “REGISTER” button for further instructions.

Ethanol, RFA

FREE Webinar: Solar in the Military

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. military has taken a strong lead in the use and development of alternative energy including solar energy. On Thursday, July 19th at 12:00 pm EDT, Principle Solar Institute is hosting a free webinar: Solar in the Military. The focus is on the Department of Defenses’s (DOD) strategic vision for solar energy and its goal for implementation. Pew Charitable Trusts says that DOD clean energy investments increased nearly 300 percent between 2006 and 2009.

The webinar will feature two speakers:

The pair will review DOD’s strategy for solar energy adoption as well as discuss current and future implementation strategies. Click here to learn more about the webinar and to register for the free event.
Electricity, Energy, Solar

New Biofuels Conference on the Block

Joanna Schroeder

There is a new conference on the block – the 2012 Collective Biofuels Conference hosted by Promethean Biofuels. The event takes place at Temecula Creek Inn on August 17 – 19, 2012 and is designed for small biofuels producers with a focus on industrial scale-up production. The conference will educate the industry on biofuels basics, research, community, quality, ASTM testing, and more.

Jon Van Gerpen, PhD, a professor in the Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering at University of Idaho will be the featured speaker. Other speakers include: Don Scott, National Biodiesel Board; Dr. Virginia Gordon, Rapid Biodiesel Testing; Jeff Fetkenhour, Gorge Analytical; Rod Yawn, ALX Enterprises; Atul Deshmane, Whole Energy; and Dara Lor, National Cooking Oil Recyclers Association.

“I highly recommend attending this conference. It’s one of the best places to get such a wealth of information all in one place,” said Graydon Blair with Utah Biodiesel.

For more information about the Collective Biofuels Conference and to register, click here.

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, conferences

South Dakota to Award Blender Pump Grants

Cindy Zimmerman

The South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) is now accepting applications for nearly $1 million in funding for the Ethanol Infrastructure Grant Program in the 2013 fiscal year.

The program was created last year to help station owners defray the cost of installation of ethanol blender pumps, which offer consumers a greater variety of fuel choices, including non-ethanol fuels and higher blends like E15, E30, and E85. The first $760,000 of qualifying project applications will be awarded grants. The additional $200,000 portion of the program funds will be awarded on a competitive basis following the completion of the first phase of funding.

“The fact that the first year’s grants were snatched up so quickly proves that South Dakota retailers see the tremendous benefit in installing blender pumps,” said Dana Siefkes Lewis, president, South Dakota Ethanol Producers Association. “We’re expecting that same enthusiasm this year as even more stations opt for offering consumers a home-grown, renewable choice at the pumps that is good for our state and for our nation.”

“Since the start of the program earlier this year, we are already helping to fund the installation of 55 ethanol blender pumps in the state at 26 different retail locations,” said Hunter Roberts, GOED energy policy director. “We are happy that we can continue to have a program in place that helps support local industries and local jobs as well.”

Ethanol producer organizations says the program will help provide more consumer choice at the pump.

“Ultimately, retailers and consumers both benefit from this program,” said Ron Lamberty, vice president, American Coalition for Ethanol. “Retailers can afford to install pumps that offer choices like E15, E30, and E85 to consumers, drivers can choose the blends that work best for them, and since ethanol costs less than gasoline, history tells us they’ll choose more ethanol.”

“South Dakota has always been at the forefront of providing its consumers with more choices at the pump,” said Growth Energy CEO, Tom Buis. “Governor Daugaard is a true champion of ethanol and a leading voice when it comes to the future progress of the industry.”

The grant program was created in 2012 to help businesses offset the cost of installing Flex Fuel pumps, which offers higher blends of ethanol like E15, E30 and E85. Last year, the program resulted in 55 new Flex Fuel pumps at 26 locations.

ACE, blends, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy

Ethanol Output and Exports Drop

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. ethanol production is the lowest its been in nearly two years, and exports are continuing to drop.

eiaAccording to the latest Energy Information Administration data, ethanol production averaged 821,000 barrels, or just under 34.5 million gallons, per day the week ending July 6. That is down 36,000 barrels per day from the week before and is the lowest weekly output figure of the year, in fact, the lowest since this time in 2010. Stocks of ethanol stood at 19.5 million barrels, the lowest since January.

U.S. exports of ethanol of all types totaled 58.6 million gallons (mg) in May, down 21% from April and the lowest level since August 2011. Exports of denatured ethanol for fuel use accounted for most of the May shipments, totaling 46.7 mg. Exports of undenatured ethanol for fuel use in May totaled 11.3 mg. Canada was the top destination, followed by the United Kingdom, and Finland. Notably, Brazil did not import any U.S. ethanol in May.

However, May U.S. distillers grains exports were up 25% from April, reaching the highest level since November 2010. Exports totaled 761,470 metric tons (mt) in May, with China accounting for 253,437 mt. Notably, in May, Chinese ethanol producers withdrew their complaint alleging dumping of U.S. DDGS and the Chinese government abandoned its anti-dumping investigation in June.

Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports

Dyadic Unveils Biofuels Enzyme Product

Cindy Zimmerman

Global biotech company Dyadic International today unveiled its latest biofuels enzyme advancement, AlternaFuel® CMAX3™, which the company says is a next generation product that enables the production of cellulosic biofuels and bio-based chemicals from a wide range of renewable non-food feedstocks under broad operating conditions.

“The data supporting this product clearly demonstrates Dyadic’s scientific capabilities to leverage our C1 technology platform to create enzyme mixtures whose performance rivals the leading biofuels enzyme product on the market,” said Dyadic President and CEO, Mark Emalfarb. “The results obtained with AlternaFuel® CMAX3™ are not only relevant for the production of biofuels but also for bio-based chemicals and biogas. Dyadic and its licensees are continuing to develop better performing enzymes to further reduce the total cost of producing advanced biofuels and other bio-based products.”

AlternaFuel® CMAX3™is the latest generation of a cellulase and hemicellulase complex based on Dyadic’s C1 platform technology which enables efficient conversion of multiple forms of non-food biomass into fermentable sugars at broad pH and temperature ranges that can be used to produce biofuels, bio-based chemicals, biogas and other bio-based products.

advanced biofuels, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News

SoloPower’s Flexible Solar Cells Receive Certification

John Davis

California solar cell maker SoloPower received ETL certification for its next-generation, thin, flexible SF1, SP1, and SP3L SoloPanels to UL 1703 and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards. Company officials say this just adds to to its track record on flexible solar modules:

[Tim Harris, CEO, of SoloPower says,] “It represents another step towards our goal of making solar the main source of energy for commercial and industrial buildings worldwide…”

“Being ETL certified to both UL and IEC standards is a significant milestone on the road to full scale commercialization,” said Bruce Khouri, President & Chief Commercial Officer and a building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) pioneer. “In addition to bringing to the market world-class, high efficiency, flexible modules, our first-of-their-kind rooftop installation kits are designed to rapidly expand the versatility for commercial and industrial rooftop solar applications. With BIPV as one of the fastest growing segments of the solar industry, we are thrilled to be able to share our unique solutions at Intersolar.”

Another SoloPower product, the SP3S SoloPanel, has been ETL certified to UL standards and is anticipated to be certified by the IEC soon. The SF1 and SP1 SoloPanels are made for twelve-inch and sixteen-inch standing-seam metal roofs, with the SP3L and SP3S SoloPanels best for commercial and industrial low-slope buildings. The company is also boasting three first-of-their-kind, easy, non-penetrating installation kits: the SoloSaddle(TM), SoloEdge(TM), and the SoloBridge(TM), more versatile on a variety of roofs.

Solar, technology