OriginOil Announces Algae Appliance

Joanna Schroeder

During the 4th Algae World Asia conference in Beijing, China, OriginOil announced it’s newest algae extraction technology – Algae Appliance. This entry-level commercial algae harvesting system was designed to help producers process algae at a low cost and without chemicals.

Algae Appliance is set for release in the first half of 2012 and is a continuous flow ‘wet harvest’ system that has the potential to remove up to 90 percent of water volume. Field testing will begin shortly and the companies are looking for additional project partners.

MBD Energy’s Technical Director Larry Sirmans, and an OriginOil Australian partner, said of the technology, “This Algae Appliance should be very beneficial to producers and researchers who are developing the most efficient processes for growing algae at commercial scale.”

Bill Charneski, OriginOil senior director of product engineering added, “We are continuing to scale up our technology at MBD’s pilot site in Australia. Now, everything we have learned is going into a standardized entry-level system to help the worldwide algae industry meet the high demand for sustainable, low-cost algae production.”

The company anticipates that this technology, and ultimately algae production, will help to meet the renewable aviation fuels demand of the commercial airline industry and of the various branches of the U.S. military.

advanced biofuels, algae, biofuels

Solar Adoption Highest Among Middle Class

Joanna Schroeder

A new study from PV Solar Report and SunRun reports that families in median zip codes make up the majority of California home owners who have installed solar energy. Nearly two-thirds of solar installations in ’09, ’10 and ’11 were completed in homes where the household median income is than $85,000 per year. In addition, the state is seeing a rise in solar projects in lower income zip codes as solar prices continue to drop.

The findings are in line with PV Solar’s Report of the Top 10 Solar Cities that was published in October. Two cities to make the list – Bakersfield, CA and Fresno, CA have average household incomes between $40,000 to $50,000. Only 2-3 percent of solar projects in Cali are in the state’s highest income zip codes.

“In 2007 we invented a way for homeowners to go solar without the high upfront costs so income would not prevent a switch to cleaner and less expensive energy,” said SunRun President and Co-founder Lynn Jurich. “The data from PV Solar Report shows this model is working, and that it’s not just the wealthy driving and benefiting from solar adoption. We are working to educate consumers that solar is finally affordable.”

SunRun owns, maintains and insures and installs solar panels on rooftops. Homeowners pay a fixed, low monthly cost for 20 years. This type of solar project accounted for 59 percent of residential projects in Q3 of 2010.

Solar is not reserved for the wealthy and the trends cited in the report support this according to Stephen Torres who is the founder and managing director of PV Solar Report. “Solar prices are coming down, it’s great for job growth from installing, financing, and servicing solar in local communities, and models like SunRun are helping drive growth because they eliminate large upfront investments,” he concluded.

You can download the report here.

Electricity, Energy, Solar

San Diego Utility Considers Increasing Solar Costs

Joanna Schroeder

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has proposed a General Rate Case (GRC) “network use charge” that would impose new costs on more than 14,000 solar power producers in the utility territory who are exporting solar energy to the grid. In response, the San Diego Solar Coalition has filed for intervenor status with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) that allows local solar firms to dispute the GRC.

The Coalition believes that these proposed new charges are an “attack on solar” and has “vowed” to protect its customers. Solar companies in the territory have combined invested more than $500M in solar electric systems and solar is the fastest growing sector in the city.

“SDG&E’s proposal wipes out 20 years of progressive energy policy in California for the benefit of the utility,” said Daniel Sullivan, a member of the San Diego Solar Coalition. He also said that the GRC proposal, if passed, will kill jobs in a dim economy.

What is interesting is the GRC proposal came following a commitment by California Governor Jerry Brown to generate 12,000 megawatts of clean energy such as solar by 2020. Brown appears to be in line with the American’s desire for more solar. According to a poll conducted in October 2011 by Kelton Research, 89 percent of Americans think it is important for the U.S. to develop and use solar energy.

“Solar power enjoys widespread, bi-partisan support both in the Capitol and among the public. One company should not be able allow to ignore the will of the people,” concluded Sullivan. 

Electricity, Energy, Solar

More Law Enforcement Vehicles Running on Propane

Cindy Zimmerman

A police department near Birmingham, Alabama is the latest law enforcement agency to use propane for its cruisers.

The Vestavia Hills, Ala., Police Department recently converted 14 cruisers to autogas as a cost-effective, efficient way to go green, according to Alliance AutoGas which outfitted the Ford Crown Victorias with bi-fuel systems and installed an on-site autogas station to give officers easy fueling access.

“Converting to autogas is simply the most viable solution for law enforcement looking to save money and drive clean, without sacrificing vehicle performance,” says Alliance AutoGas President Stuart Weidie. “Not only is autogas about $1.25 per gallon cheaper than gasoline but vehicle conversions and fueling stations are more affordable compared to other alternative fuels.”

The Vestavia Hills department joins others who have made the switch to propane autogas including sheriff’s departments in Jackson County, Georgia; Augusta County, Va., and Iredell County, North Carolina and police departments in Raleigh, N.C. and West Point, Mississippi.

Propane

Smith Electric Vehicles Open New Facility in NY

Joanna Schroeder

Smith Electric Vehicles is expanding its U.S. manufacturing facilities into New York state. The new facility will manufacture the zero-emission Newton, an electric vehicle (EV) that has a range of up to 150 miles and boasts an average yearly operational cost that is one-third to one-half that of driving a fuel-powered vehicle. The new facility is expected to be operational by 2012 and provide jobs for up to 100 people.

“This expansion reflects an important step in executing Smith’s localized assembly, sales and service strategy,” said Bryan Hansel, CEO and chairman of Smith. “Our approach creates jobs, provides Smith customers with more localized support and significantly reduces the costs associated with shipping completed vehicles to our customers.”

Simultaneously to this announcement, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the creation of a federally-funded multi-year commercial EV buyer incentive program aimed at commercial fleets. The five-year program will help companies in the state covert fleet vehicles to EVs. The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has committed $10M in federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funding for the first year. This will equate to an average of $20,000 voucher per vehicle.

Sam Ori, director of policy for the Electrification Coalition, added, “New York has shown tremendous leadership at the borough, city and state level in paving the way for commercial fleet electrification. This multi-year commercial EV incentive program is a strong example of the state’s commitment to accelerate deployment of this technology, which is critical for reducing U.S. oil dependence and enhancing long-term national and economic security.”

This will be Smith’s second US facility. The Kansas City, Missouri based company also have a manufacturing facility in Kansas City.

Electric Vehicles

San Diego School Buses Now Running on Biodiesel

Joanna Schroeder

San Diego-based Buster Biofuels has formed an Alliance with LEGOLAND California, the San Diego Padres, hundreds of restaurants, hotels, and resorts to collect their grease and oil and turn it into biodiesel. Now this biodiesel is being used to fuel the San Dieguito Union High School District (SDUHSD) school buses. Emissions from the use of the biodiesel are being reduced nearly 78 percent as compared to traditional diesel fuel.

“Organizations like LEGOLAND and the Padres have a huge amount of oil and there is just no way they can use it all themselves (in the form of biofuel),” said Buster Halterman, CEO of Buster Biofuels. “The concept is to take that oil and recycle it into biodiesel then to reduce carbon emissions locally by putting the fuel into the buses of the San Dieguito Union High School District.”

The school district is using a B20 blend in two of their buses and is in the process of converting its entire fleet to the biodiesel blend.

“We want to be at the forefront of green technology,” said Daniel Love, the director of transportation for SDUHSD. “It’s really exciting to work with Buster Biofuels and to know that we are some of the first ones making this change.”

Jason Biddle, Chief Sales Officer for Buster Biofuels added, “It’s about asthma, it’s about emphysema and it’s about helping out the kids! It’s about local companies helping local school buses via Buster Biofuels.”

Biodiesel, biofuels

HyperSolar to Use Solar to Make Natural Gas

Joanna Schroeder

HyperSolar has filed a patent application for its technology to produce natural gas using solar power. According to the company, the natural gas is a carbon neutral methane gas that can be used as a replacement for fossil-fuel based natural gas.

“The sun is our greatest source of energy and a method to use this energy to make clean, renewable fuel is a very significant discovery,” said Tim Young, CEO of HyperSolar. “We intend to focus all our energies and resources on commercializing this breakthrough technology.”

The technology was inspired, according to HyperSolar, by the photosynthetic processes that plants use to create energy. The company is developing a solar-powered nanoparticle system that mimics photosynthesis to separate hydrogen from water. The hydrogen is then reacted with carbon dioxide to produce the methane, which is the primary component of natural gas.

“With global consumption projected to surpass coal in 2035, natural gas will be the next great fuel, continued Young. “From sunrise to sunset, our proprietary nanoparticles will work in a water based solution to produce clean and environmentally friendly renewable natural gas that can be collected for later use in power plants, industrial plants and vehicles – anywhere and anytime.”

Young also noted that there has already been hundreds of billions of dollars invested in natural gas infrastructure. He believes a renewable natural gas fuel is a reality.

bioenergy, Electricity, Solar

ZimmPoll on Republican Presidential Candidates

Chuck Zimmerman

It looks like there are a lot of Ron Paul supporters out there. In our latest ZimmPoll we asked the question, “Which Republican candidate for President is best for ag?” The big leader was Ron Paul at 41% followed by Newt Gingrich, 16%; Herman Cain, 13%; Rick Perry, 8%; Rick Perry, 8%; Mitt Romney, 7%; Jon Huntsman, 6%; Michele Bachmann, 5%; Gary Johnson, 3% and Rick Santorum, 2%. Does this surprise you?

Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “Will higher cost (13%) of Thanksgiving dinner affect your meal?” The increased cost of a traditional Thanksgiving meal comes from an announcement by the American Farm Bureau Federation last week.

AFBF’s 26th annual informal price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is $49.20, a $5.73 price increase from last year’s average of $43.47.

You can find the announcement here.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

ZimmPoll

California Now Has 100 New EV Charging Stations

Cindy Zimmerman

California has reached a major milestone in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure with 100 upgraded EV charging stations installed.

ev connectEV Connect, a leading provider of electric vehicle infrastructure solutions and Clipper Creek, producers of the world’s first Underwriters Laboratories listed vehicle charge stations, announced the 100th charging station deployment this week. It is located in the Waterfall Building garage in downtown Sacramento. The public access garage serves primarily government employees and the EV spaces are consistently full.

ev connectEV Connect and ClipperCreek have been upgrading legacy charge stations throughout California to be compliant with the North American SAE-J1772 standard connector for electric vehicles. The statewide upgrade, slated for at least 600 EV charging stations, is being completed by EV Connect’s North American network of over 150 qualified, trained and certified contractors.

“Upgrading legacy infrastructure is critical to making electricity a viable fuel for the growing number of EV owners in California. There’s great momentum, with many automakers delivering plug-in vehicles to dealerships in the next 18 months and the California Energy Commission estimating 1.5 million electric vehicles on state roads by 2020,” said Jordan Ramer CEO of EV Connect.

“As California leads, the rest of the country is sure to follow,” said Jason France, CEO of ClipperCreek. “We’re proud to be leading the charge.“

Electric Vehicles

Global Futures CEO to Keynote Ethanol Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Engaging the consumer to grow demand and improve industry image for biofuels will be among the topics addressed at the 2012 National Ethanol Conference by the CEO and Chairman of the Institute for Global Futures, Dr. James Canton.

Canton is a renowned global futurist, social scientist, keynote presenter, author, and visionary business advisor who has been insightfully predicting the key trends that have shaped our world for over 30 years. He founded the Institute for Global Futures in 1990 as a leading think tank to advise business and government on future trends.

Canton is scheduled to deliver the keynote address during the opening general session of the National Ethanol Conference on Thursday morning, February 23, in Orlando. Registration is now open for the Renewable Fuels Association 17th Annual National Ethanol Conference – Accelerating Industry Innovation. The conference will be held February 22-24 in Orlando, Florida at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center.

More information can be found on the conference website – NationalEthanolConference.com.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, RFA