NEC 2027

The Real Impact of U.S. Biofuels on ILUC

Joanna Schroeder

A new study has looked at the “real” impacts of U.S. biofuels production both domestically and internationally and has concluded it is “negligible or nonexistent.” The research was coauthored by Dr. Seungdo Kim and Dr. Bruce E. Dale and was published in the July issue of Biomass and Bioenergy Journal under the title, “Indirect land use change for biofuels: Testing predictions and improving analytical methodologies.”

“It is the first evidence-based evaluation of ILUC utilizing actual historic data, employing a ‘bottom-up’, data-driven, statistical approach based on individual world regions’ land use patterns and commodity grain imports,” stated Dr. Roger Conway, senior partner at Rosslyn Advisors LLC and former director of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Office of Energy Policy and New Uses.

The authors say that very few previous studies have attempted to find empirical evidence for or against indirect land use change from historical data, rather most studies rely on global economic simulations.

Dale said, “Unlike most other ILUC work this study relied on very few assumptions and did not attempt to quantify nor to predict ILUC effects. We searched for direct historical evidence for ILUC in relevant world areas rather than attempting to project or predict what course ILUC might take. Projecting forward can force scientists to make untestable assumptions.”

This study was unique in that is used data from 1990, when the U.S. biofuels industry was very small, as its baseline. It then measured crop changes against that as U.S. ethanol production has significantly grown during the past decade. Read More

biofuels, Ethanol, food and fuel, Research

Paul Beckwith Takes the Reigns at Butamax

Joanna Schroeder

Butamax announced today the changing of the guards with Paul Beckwith taking over the reigns as CEO. Beckwith will be leading the company into its next phase of commercial development in biobutanol. He succeeds Tim Potter, who served as CEO for Butamax during the company’s start-up phase that began in 2009. Butmax is a partnership between DuPont and BP and is international in scope.

During the past few months, Butamax says it has progressed in its commercialization and is preparing to launch biobutanol as a renewable transportation fuel. With Beckwith’s expertise in bringing new products to market, he was chosen to lead the team. He has 27 years of experience in the fuel sector and led the market introduction of multiple major new fuels products in the United States and Europe, together with development of BP’s long-term global fuels product strategy. Prior to this promotion, Beckwith was a member of the Butamax leadership team and in this role led development of the company’s strategy.

“I want to thank Tim for his many contributions over the last two years in establishing Butamax as a leader in biofuels and wish him every happiness,” said Butamax Board Chairman Jan Koninckx. “Tim’s leadership during the formation and early development of the company has resulted in the generation of great passion and enthusiasm for biobutanol and Butamax. He has positioned the company for the next stage in the company’s commercialization and hands over to Paul Beckwith, who, with unrivalled experience of bringing new fuels products to market, is ideally suited to lead Butamax as we enter the commercial launch phase.”

biobutanol, biofuels, Company Announcement

USDA Announces Biomass Production Projects

Cindy Zimmerman

More biomass production projects have been announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

USDAAgriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, keynoting the Department of Energy Biomass 2011 conference today, announced the creation of four additional Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) project areas in six states to expand the availability of non-food crops to be used in the manufacturing of liquid biofuels.

Two of the new BCAP project areas, targeted for California, Montana, Washington and Oregon, will grow camelina at a significant scale. Camelina, an oilseed, is a rotation crop for wheat that can be established on marginally productive land. Biofuel from camelina is an ideal jet fuel substitute, and the announcement of these projects coincides with the first anniversary of a joint announcement by USDA, the Boeing Corporation and the Air Transportation Association on an initiative to bring sustainable and renewable aviation fuels to the marketplace. The project has a target of 51,000 acres. The sponsors are Beaver Biodiesel, LLC and AltAir Fuels LLC. The project areas are near biomass conversion facilities in Bakersfield, Calif., Tacoma, Wash., and Albany, Ore.

Another BCAP project area, part of an effort sponsored by cellulosic biofuels company ZeaChem, will encourage growth of hybrid poplar trees in Oregon. The goal is to enroll up to 7,000 acres. This project is part of a series of measures that comprise USDA’s Wood-to-Energy Initiative. It seeks to build a forest restoration economy by integrating energy feedstock within the larger forest products sector to sustain rural jobs and prosperity. The project area surrounds a biomass conversion facility in Boardman, Ore.

Additionally, a BCAP project area in Kansas and Oklahoma, sponsored by Abengoa Biofuels, has been designated to grow up to 20,000 acres of switchgrass. The project area surrounds the future facility’s biomass conversion facility in Hugoton, Kan.

The projects are expected to create more than 3,400 jobs in the biorefinery, agriculture and supporting sectors, and provide the feedstocks to produce more than 2 million gallons of biofuels annually when full production levels are achieved.

biomass, USDA

RFA Ads Tout Ethanol Reducing Gas Prices

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association is spreading the news that ethanol is helping to keep gas prices lower than they could be.

The new advertising campaign quotes a recent study that found ethanol reduced gas prices by 89 cents in 2010 and if ethanol were to disappear, gas prices could rise by as much as 92%.

In the past month, the ad appeared on 100 buses, in 49 bus shelters, and on 91 signs in 31 Metro stations in Washington, DC with locations highly targeted for Capitol Hill, EPA, Department of Energy, and the White House. In addition, the print ads are also running in Capitol Hill newspapers such as Politico, Roll Call and The Hill.

The RFA’s television image ad focuses on the success of the ethanol industry and jobs created. It is running on political shows on FOX, MSNBC, and CNN in the DC media market only. This campaign continues through September 1st. During the Congressional August recess, however, the campaign will move to a strictly internet-based run focused on RealClearPolitcs.com which has proven quite effective for reaching policymakers and their staffs when they are scattered across the country in their home states and districts.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, politics, RFA

DuPont Expands Into Solar Market

Joanna Schroeder

DuPont has expanded it’s solar market portfolio with the acquisition of Innovalight, Inc., a company that develops silicon inks and process technologies that increase the efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cells. According to DuPont, Innovalight will broaden and more integrate its efforts in the photovoltaic market.

In 2010, DuPont exceeded revenues of $1 billion from sales into the photovoltaic market and has set a goal of surpassing $2 billion by the end of 2014 based on continued growth supported by new innovations and improved technologies.

“Innovalight has very exciting technology that improves cell efficiency and DuPont can help expedite its adoption,” said David B. Miller, president – DuPont Electronics & Communications. “DuPont and Innovalight share a commitment to innovation in materials that have a common purpose – to make solar energy more efficient and more affordable.”

The company is based in Sunnyvale, Calif and was founded by Conrad Burke. They have developed several silicon ink products that use DuPont’s Solamet photovoltaic metallization pastes to boost the amount of electricity produced from sunlight. The resulting product is known as Emitter solar cells. The company anticipates its Selective Emitter technology could represent 13 percent of crystalline silicon solar cell production by 2013 and increase to 38 percent by 2020.

Burke added, “Innovalight brings in-depth knowledge of solar devices, silicon technology and Selective Emitter technology, and DuPont adds expertise in materials science, manufacturing capabilities and global market access. Our offerings are complementary to one another, and together we will broaden and accelerate our ability to meet customer needs and address today’s energy challenges with our continued innovations.”

This is the second renewable energy company that DuPont has been in partnership this year that it has acquired. Earlier this year, it purchased Danisco.

Agribusiness, Solar

Chevy to Sell Diesel Vehicles in US

Joanna Schroeder

Chevrolet is planning on introducing a diesel version of the Chevrolet Cruze to be sold in the United States beginning in 2013. Diesel versions of the Cruz are already being sold in Europe. The advantage of offering a diesel version in the U.S. is that consumers will be able to fuel the vehicle with biodiesel blends.

Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum noted, “In just its first year, the Cruze has proven to be extremely popular with American drivers. In June, it was the best-selling car in the U.S. and has exceeded sales of more than 20,000 per month since February.

“General Motors has been a global leader in clean diesel engine technology and this announcement is great news for North American consumers,” added Schaeffer. “Given the overwhelming success of the Duramax diesel heavy-duty pick-up truck in North America, and diesel engine options in the Opel brands in Europe, we can only predict the Diesel Cruze will be a huge hit in the U.S. This announcement clearly signifies the increasing importance of clean diesel technology as a key and viable strategy for meeting fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions goals.

There are currently 22 diesel cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. and several auto manufacturers, including Volkswagen have announced new diesel models aimed at the American market.

Biodiesel, Car Makers

Rollins Wind Project Completed

Joanna Schroeder

First Wind has completed a 60 megawatt (MW) wind farm in Penobscot County, Maine. The Rollins Wind project is comprised of 200 wind turbines that are estimated to power nearly 23,000 average sized homes each year. The power is being delivered to Maine homes and businesses and is cost-competitive due to two long-term electricity supply contracts with Bango Hydro and Central Maine Power, the state’s Public Utilities Commission.

“The Rollins Wind project is clean energy, made in Maine for the people of Maine. It will deliver clean, renewable energy to Maine homes and businesses at a cost competitive with fossil fuel plants, but without the emissions of many other forms of energy,” said First Wind CEO, Paul Gaynor. “This is a significant addition to our growing portfolio of wind projects in Maine that now have the capacity to generate 185 MW of clean energy. We’d like to thank all of our partners, the members of the surrounding community and our supporters for helping to make this project a reality.”

First Wind says this project was a significant source of revenue and new jobs in the area with more than $30 million spent directly with 97 Maine-based businesses. The Rollins Wind Project will also generate additional activity through its ongoing operations.

“The State of Maine is fortunate to have a company like First Wind and its partners in the Rollins Project bringing such a significant investment into the Lincoln Region,” said Rep. Stacey Fitts, House Chair of the Legislature’s Energy Utilities and Technology Committee, who spoke at the event. “This project is a significant step in the effort to move Maine away from our dependence on fossil fuels. This is not easy, and we should congratulate everyone involved in this project for their efforts.”

Electricity, Energy, Wind

New Study Shows Energy Efficiency of Soy Biodiesel

Cindy Zimmerman

A new study shows that biodiesel offers an amazing 5-to-1 return over fossil energy sources.

The study by the University of Idaho and U.S. Department of Agriculture concludes that for every unit of fossil energy needed to produce biodiesel, the return is 5.54 units of renewable energy. This energy-in, energy-out ratio is called “energy balance” or “fossil energy ratio.”

“This study shows the clear trend that biodiesel production continues to improve when it comes to efficient use of resources,” said Don Scott, director of sustainability for the National Biodiesel Board. “No other fuel available in the U.S. comes close to such a high energy balance.”

Scott noted the most recent data available for this study was from 2006. “Using data from 2009 or 2010 would likely show an even greater gain in energy efficiency,” he said.

Read the study here.

Biodiesel

First Biodiesel School Bus Retires

Cindy Zimmerman

What is believed to be the nation’s first school bus to run on a biodiesel blend was put out to pasture at the end of the 2010-11 school year, according to the National Biodiesel Board.

When Medford, New Jersey’s 1998 International school bus retired at the end of June, it reached a milestone in the process. The bus was the first in New Jersey, and possibly the country, to be filled with B20.

Over the course of its life, it consumed over 28,000 gallons of biodiesel and exposed hundred of young people to a cleaner-burning advanced biofuel that not only helped protect their health, but hopefully taught them something about the importance of alternative fuels.

“Similar to the biodiesel industry, the bus certainly bears the marks of a traveling a long and difficult path and weathering a number of storms,” said Joe Biluck, Director of Operations and Technology for the Medford Township Public School district. “The industry has made monumental strides over the past 13 years. Since then, thousands of public and private fleets have made the switch to biodiesel blends in an effort to lessen their environmental impact.”

“Without early support from people like Biluck, the industry wouldn’t be where it is today,” said NBB Chairman Gary Haer. “As America’s only commercially available advanced biofuel, biodiesel stands ready to help meet our energy challenges for years to come.”

The National Biodiesel Board awarded Biluck its annual Inspiration award in 2005.

Biodiesel, NBB

Effort to Block 15% Ethanol Waiver in the House

Cindy Zimmerman

An effort that would prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from implementing its approved waiver for E15 ethanol blends in America’s fuel supply is being led by Reps. John Sullivan (R-OK) and Gary Peters (D-MI).

Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis says they intend to fight against an amendment to the FY 2012 Department of the Interior and EPA funding bills that would block EPA from moving forward with the regulatory decision made in January approving E15 for all vehicles built in the last decade. “The Sullivan/Peters amendment picks politics over science,” Buis said in a statement. “Voting for this amendment is like voting to keep our nation addicted to foreign oil and all the economic and military consequences of that addiction.”

The amendment is expected to be printed in the record today and could come up for a vote later this week.

Ethanol, Government, Growth Energy