ACE Conference 2026

Coal-to-Liquids Plant Goes Online in China

Joanna Schroeder

A new coal to liquids plant has gone online in China that is expected to produce the equivalent of 80 barrels of oil per day. China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, one of the largest crude oil and petrochemical companies in China and Asia, along with Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Syntroleum Corporation celebrated the grand opening of the Sinopec/Syntroleum Demonstration Facility (SDF) today in Zhenhai, China. The process uses the Syntroleum-Sinopec Fischer Tropsch technology and is able to convert coal, asphalt and petroleum coke to synthetic petrochemical products.

The two companies entered into a technology transfer agreement in 2009 and as part of the deal, Sinopec relocated its natural gas fed Catoosa Demonstration Facility to the Zhenhai Refining and Petrochemical Complex. Upon success at demonstration scale, Sinopec plans to build a commercial scale plant.

“We are pleased to be working with Sinopec on the SDF,” said Gary Roth, President and Chief Executive Officer of Syntroleum. “This facility will make a significant contribution to the global endeavor to pursue alternative feedstocks for growing economies.”

Natural Gas

Big Green Bus Rolls Across the U.S.

Joanna Schroeder

The Big Green Bus rolled into Dallas last week and subliminally, the people in its wake couldn’t help but think about french fries. Okay, so I’m exaggerating a bit but 13 students from Darmouth College converted a Greyhound bus that runs on biodiesel and vegetable oil derived from used cooking grease.

According to an article in the Dallas Morning News, the students have discovered that although the cooking oil must be filtered four times to get rid of any water before it’s used as a fuel, running on the oil is 90 to 95 percent as efficient as biodiesel.

“We really don’t notice a difference,” said David Garczynski, who will be a senior at Dartmouth in the fall. Coincidentally, Dartmouth is the home of Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel co-founder, Lucas Ellis.

The students are spending their summer traveling across the U.S. to spread the word about sustainability. Not only does the bus run on renewable biofuels, but it is equipped with solar panels to power the equipment inside.

During his interview, Garczynski called living on the bus with 12 others “a lesson in social dynamics” but that he couldn’t resist the opportunity to travel the country and spread the word about something he is passionate about.

The theme of the trip for consumers is that “every little thing is valid.”

You can follow the Big Green Bus Tour here.

Biodiesel, biofuels

Vermont Home to Largest Solar Farm in U.S.

Joanna Schroeder

Want to move the angle of your solar panels? Got an app for that. At the touch of an iPhone, 382 solar trackers were brought into position perpendicular with the sun marking the completion of the largest solar installation in Vermont and according to AllEarth Renewables, the largest solar installation of its kind in North America.

The 382 AllSun Trackers use GPS and wireless technology to follow the sun’s path throughout the day producing more than 40 percent more energy than fixed solar according to AllEarth Renewables. The company manufactured the technology just four miles from the site of the 2.2 megawatt solar farm.

“This project not only produces renewable energy from the sun, it creates a lot of local clean energy jobs,” said David Blittersdorf, CEO and founder of AllEarth Renewables. “We’ve innovated and refined our AllSun Tracker so it can be affordably used to power homes or businesses, and at the same time make up a utility-sized farm like this project in South Burlington.”

The solar farm will sell an estimated 2.91 million kWh of power each year to Vermont’s Sustainably Priced Energy Development (SPEED) program. This is part of the state’s Standard Offer program that was established as part of the Vermont Energy Act of 2009. Attending the ribbon cutting event was Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin, Lt. Governor Phil Scott and Speaker of the House Shap Smith. They joined nearly 75 others on hand to commemorate the solar farm.

Electricity, Energy, Solar

CAFE Standards Hiked to 54.5 MPG

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. government may not be able to figure out how to save our country from it’s multi-trillion dollar debt, but for the second time during his administration, President Obama has increased CAFE standards or the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards. The goal for all new cars and light duty trucks manufactured in 2025 and beyond must be at least 54.5 miles per gallon (54.5 MPG) up from the increase to 35.5 mpg goal set for 2016 that was announced in 2009. This marks the largest mandatory increase in fuel economy in the history of the country; however it is short of the original goal of 62 mpg.

During a press announcement, President Obama cited this action would save consumers money at the pump – $1.7 trillion dollars in real fuel costs over the life of the vehicle and save families an estimated $8,200 in fuel savings over the lifetime of the vehicle, relative to the Model Year 2010 standard.

The movement to better fuel economy has been caused by many factors but concerns about prices at the pump, a dwindling supply of oil and climate change have all played major roles in causing auto manufacturers to finally spend some R&D in producing cars with better fuel mileage. The leading sector in improved mileage has been electric vehicles and hybrids, a combination of an electric vehicle with a gasoline engine (and some are flex-fuel vehicles meaning they can use up to 85 percent ethanol).

So what do consumers think about this move and who do they think will get their first? In a recent poll commissioned by LeaseTrader.com, 63.6 percent of respondents believe Hyundai is best positioned to meet these standards, even before 2025. During the week of July 18-22, 1,138 drivers from across the U.S. responded. Seventy two point four percent of the respondents are in favor of the higher fuel standards, but only 34.5 percent remain supportive if it means vehicle prices will rise more than $2,000.

Other results show that 63.3 percent of those polled believe the automakers already have the technology to significantly improve fuel standard technology and 47.2 percent believe domestic carmakers can be profitable under these fuel standards.

biofuels, Car Makers, Electric Vehicles

Corn Growers Have Chance to Win NASCAR Tickets

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and Pioneer HI-Bred are offering corn growers a chance to win a NASCAR dream day to the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn., on Saturday, Aug. 27.

The package includes two tickets to the race, as well as a personal visit with racing legend Jeff Gordon. Only members of NCGA who sign up for NASCAR-NCGA’s Fuel for Members Program before 12 p.m. central time this Friday, Aug. 5 will be entered for the drawing to win.

NCGA is part of the American Ethanol partnership with NASCAR, which began racing on 15% ethanol this season.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NASCAR, NCGA

Florida Farm to Fuel Event Reorganizing

Cindy Zimmerman

New dates have been scheduled for a conference on the future of energy in Florida.

FL Farm to FuelThe 6th annual Farm to Fuel Summit had been scheduled for August 3-5 in Orlando but was postponed in May after the Florida legislature approved the transfer of the State Energy Office from the Executive Office of the Governor to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services effective July 1.

“With the new responsibilities, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is taking a more comprehensive approach to energy policy,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam “On October 26 through 28, the Department will host an event where elected officials, academics and key stakeholders in the energy industry will come together to discuss the future of energy in Florida.”

Putnam promises more details to come soon.

bioenergy, biofuels, conferences

Summer of Solar

Joanna Schroeder

This has definitely been a summer of solar – both in terms of oppressive heat as well as dozens upon dozens of new solar power systems going online. Recently Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) along with the Matrix Group, commissioned a 3 megawatt (MW) solar power project in South Brunswick, New Jersey that is part of PSE&G’s Solar 4 All program, aimed at helping the state reach it solar energy goals. The 12,684 crystalline solar panels cover more than 318,000 square feet of roof space and will produce enough power for 500 homes.

“We have put more than 43 megawatts of solar capacity into service over the last 18 months, and along the way created good jobs, developed the New Jersey solar market in a cost effective way and helped the environment,” said Al Matos, PSE&G’s Vice President – Renewables and Energy Solutions. “All of this solar power flows into the grid, to provide clean solar energy to all of our electric customers.”

Over three years, Solar 4 All will develop 80 solar megawatts, enough to power 13,000 average sized homes in New Jersey. The program is structured so the financial benefits – the value of the solar credits (SRECs), federal tax credits and the sale of the solar energy and capacity– are returned to customers by offsetting the overall cost of the program. In addition the solar now powering the South Brunswick site, Matrix also hosts a 2.8MW solar system in Perth Amboy that went online in January 2011.

Richard F.X. Johnson, Partner of Matrix Renewable Energy Services added, “We are extremely proud of the partnership we’ve established with PSE&G in New Jersey, where Matrix is committed to energy-efficiency best practices at the more than 10 million square feet of commercial space that we own and manage throughout the state, as well as the buildings owned by clients of our Renewable Energy Services division,” stated Johnson. “This solar venture gives us the ability to play a significant role in expanding access to clean energy— an important step toward achieving the state’s goal of becoming a recognized leader in the renewable energy arena.”

Electricity, Energy, Solar

Genomatica Voted As Hottest Company in Renewable Chemicals

Joanna Schroeder

Biofuels Digest’s debut of “The 30 Hottest Companies in Renewable Chemicals and Materials” saw the top spot go to Genomatica. This honor, however, is not the first for the company. They also received the EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award for its strategy and progress in producing industrial biochemicals. The “biochemical” market is a multi-billion dollar industry and they offer better economics and a smaller ecological footprint than traditional chemicals.

“The momentum in the renewable chemicals and materials space inspired us to run the first ‘hottest’ companies competition in Biofuels Digest history,” said Biofuels Digest founder and editor Jim Lane. “The Biofuels Digest community recognized the slew of meaningful technology, production and commercialization milestones Genomatica has achieved over the past year, and the solid leadership they provide for the industry.”

So what was it about Genomatica that helped them rise to the top spot? In 2011, they had already reached demonstration-scale production in partnership with Tate & Lyle. In addition, the company has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding for sustainable chemicals in Asia with Mitsubishi Chemical. As if that isn’t enough, they have also established a partnership with Gruppo M&G for biomass-to-chemicals in Europe and signed a joint development agreement with Waste Management to convert syngas to high-value chemicals.

“The readers and panelists of Biofuels Digest represent the forefront of our industry, so we are gratified by their recognition,” said Genomatica CEO Christophe Schilling. “The hard work, passion and perseverance of every employee and partner got us to this place, so it’s nice to take a moment and feel good about what we have accomplished so far this year.”

biochemicals, biogas

New Propane School Bus Unveiled

Joanna Schroeder

School bus transportation is heading for a new future of fuel choices with the unveiling the Blue Bird Next Generation Propane-Powered Vision school bus that is fueled by propane autogas. The Blue Bird’s grand entrance occurred during the School Transportation News (STN) Expo at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada.

The propane autogas bus is built on a Blue Bird chassis and powered by a Ford 6.8-liter V-10 engine with the ROUSH CleanTech liquid propane autogas fuel system. The bus boasts 362 horsepower, 457 pounds of torque. In addition, ROUSH says the technology will reap saving reductions of 30 to 40 percent on average when compared to diesel.

“Blue Bird’s Propane-Powered Vision has been the industry leader in alternative fuel offerings since its introduction in 2007. We are committed to providing state-of-the-art, reliable and efficient green solutions that our customers want and value,” said Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “In partnership with established industry leaders, Ford and ROUSH CleanTech, the introduction of Blue Bird’s Next Generation Propane-Powered Vision will reinforce our leadership position by providing increased benefits and value to our customers.”

The bus meets all EPA and California Air Resources Board requirements and its success is owed in part to the Propane Education & Research Council who helped to fund the project. This is the second collaboration between ROUSH and Blue Bird. Together they launched a Type A school bus in September 2010.

“ROUSH CleanTech is excited to partner with Blue Bird to roll out this new propane autogas technology,” added Todd Mouw, vice president of sales and marketing for ROUSH CleanTech. “Hands down, propane autogas is the right choice for school districts. Propane autogas is safe, economical and the leading alternative fuel in the United States.”

Propane

U.S. Foodservice Activates Solar System

Joanna Schroeder

U.S. Foodservice, located in La Mirada, Californa, has activated its new rooftop solar system consisting of 5,000 DelSolar modules. The system is powerful enough to provide 16 percent of the facility’s power needs each year, or about the equivalent of powering 150 average sized homes annually. The solar system was designed and installed by California-based Stellar Solar who has a goal of installing 6 megawatts of solar energy in 2011.

“This was a very exciting project to be a part of. Working with two global leaders in DelSolar and U.S. Foodservice was a great experience,” said Kent Harle, founder and CEO of Stellar Solar. Both of those companies are walking the talk when it comes to business practices that are sustainable and have a positive effect on the bottom line. Two thousand eleven is shaping up to be our best year ever at Stellar Solar and this project played a significant part in making that happen.”

In addition to the completion of this project, the company is also in the process of installing solar systems for Salk Institute in La Jolla, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Cedars Sinai Hospital, San Diego Cardiac Center and the City of Tustin. Stellar Solar also installs residential solar power systems.

Electricity, Energy, Solar