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Corn Acreage Lowered But Record Crop Still Expected

Cindy Zimmerman

Farmland flooding is taking its toll on the outlook for corn acreage, but record production is still anticipated.

USDAThe latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates from USDA out today lowered corn planted area for 2011/12 by 1.5 million acres from March intentions to 90.7 million acres.

“Planting delays through early June in the eastern Corn Belt and northern Plains are expected to reduce planted area, more than offsetting likely gains in the western Corn Belt and central Plains where planting was ahead of normal by mid-May. Harvested area is lowered 1.9 million acres, to 83.2 million with the additional 400,000-acre reduction reflecting early information about May flooding in the lower Ohio and Mississippi River valleys and June flooding along the Missouri River valley.”

The decrease in acreage revised the expected production down 305 million bushels to 13.2 billion, but that would still be 753 million more than last year and a new record, based on a yield of 158.7 bu/acre.

Renewable Fuels Association Vice President of Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper notes that it is still too early to tell for sure how many acres may have been lost to flooding or abandoned due to prevented planting. “The June 30 Acreage Report will provide a much better picture of actual corn acreage,” Cooper said, also pointing out that the projected yield is likely to change as well. “It is extremely early in the season and much will change between now and harvest. Historical data has shown that the weather in July and August is a much more important factor in determining final yields than the planting date.”

Ethanol demand was unchanged in the report at 5.05 billion bushels. Ending stocks for the 2011 crop were reduced from 900 million to 695 million bushels, leading to a 50-cent increase in the projected average farm price for corn.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, USDA

Human Waste for Biofuels?

Joanna Schroeder

Can fecal sludge be used for biofuels? Maybe believes Kartik Chandran an associated professor of Earth and Environmental Engineering at Columbia Engineering. He has recently been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the Gates Foundation to continue his research into a new model for water, sanitation and energy. And this is where fecal sludge, aka poop comes in.

This is not the first time poop has been studied to make fuel. Companies have tried to use the waste from large scale cattle farms and from zoo animals. But this project is a bit different. Chandran is working with Ashley Murray, founder and director of Waste Enterprisers, and Moses Mensah, a Chemical Engineering professor at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, to develop an innovative technology to transform fecal sludge into biodiesel and create the “Next-Generation Urban Sanitation Facility” in Accra, Ghana.

“We are delighted to be awarded this project,” Chandran says. “And we are especially pleased that the Gates Foundation has recognized the critical importance of sustainable sanitation by investing in our pioneering project. Thus far, sanitation approaches have been extremely resource- and energy-intensive and therefore out of reach for some of the world’s poorest but also most at-need populations. This project will allow us to move forward and develop practical technologies that will be of great value around the world.”

Chandran has been working in Ghana for two years as the faculty advisor for the Columbia University Engineers without Borders Ghana team. He and his team have a goal of developing a bioprocess technology to convert the organic compounds present in fecal sludge to biodiesel and methane. In essence, this would convert the waste-processing facility into a state-of-the art biorefinery.

Not only would this biorefinery produce economical fuel but would also minimize the discharge of fecal sludge into the water system contributing to better human health and sanitation. Chandran hopes that once the project is proven successful, it could be integrated into a social enterprise business model that would improve economics and health in areas around the world.

Chandran concluded, “This project also affords a new path in engineering education, both in the United States and Ghana. By training tomorrow’s engineers in sustainable approaches to ‘resource and energy recovery’ rather than ‘wastewater treatment,’ a sea-change can be achieved in the way we perceive of and manage human waste. In fact, the term ‘wastewater’ is already archaic. Wastewater is, after all, just water with a different chemical and biological composition.”

Biodiesel, biofuels, Research, Video, Waste-to-Energy

Removing Barriers for Clean Technologies

Joanna Schroeder

A new “joint principles” document has been created by the Electricity Storage Association (ESA) and the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) to help level the playing field for clean energy technologies. Both organizations advocate for public policies that will remove barriers and increase market access for emerging clean energy technologies such as wind. In the current climate, it has been challenging for clean technologies to compete with established energy sources. Another challenge? Energy storage.

“ESA feels strongly about advocating for the use of energy storage to modernize the power grid,” said Brad Roberts, Executive Director of ESA. “Our policymakers need to understand the potential for these resources to improve our electric grid reliability, while creating jobs and stimulating American innovation and manufacturing.  While wind energy makes our grid cleaner, energy storage makes our grid more flexible and reliable.”

The agreed principles include the value of energy storage across the utility industry. The wind doesn’t always blow and the sun doesn’t always shine, so how do you capture and store the energy created by wind and sun for later use? The organizations want more focus on energy storage and potential solutions to strategically store energy on wind farms.

Specific policies supported by ESA and AWEA include:

  • • Wholesale energy markets and ancillary services markets should be created and expanded, and barriers to entry into those markets eliminated.
  • • Market and operating rules should be based around the type of service needed, and any technology that is able to reliably provide a needed service should be able to provide it. In many cases, previously bundled services should be disaggregated
  • • Low cost grid operating reforms that will create more competition and make the grid operate more efficiently, such as greater balancing are coordination and faster generator dispatch intervals, should be implemented as soon as possible.

“Large amounts of wind energy are being reliably and cost-effectively integrated onto the power system today,” said Denise Bode, CEO of AWEA. “Energy storage can be a valuable resource for the power system in maximizing the efficient use of this resource, and add flexibility for electric utilities. We look forward to working closely with ESA on regulatory policy that will enable these growing industries to fully benefit both consumers and the economy of the U.S.”

Electricity, Energy, Wind

Third Annual SolarDay June 18

Joanna Schroeder

For those living in Canada, United States and England, SolarDay is June 18, 2011. However, if you live in Australia, you’ll have to wait until November 19, 2011 – but no worries, I’m sure you’ll get some great ideas from the events that will take place on or around June 18th. The event has grown from one event in 2009, a biodiesel bus tour of solar homes and businesses in San Francisco, to events in 26 U.S. cities in 2010.

This year the international event, designed to create awareness and adoption of solar energy, has gained momentum with recognition from the U.S. Congress. U.S. Congresswoman Doris Matsui and California Senator Dianne Feinstein have submitted letters in support of SolarDay 2011 and both women are encouraging the public to learn about how solar energy can save on energy costs while providing green collar jobs.

One tip on saving some coin on your energy bill? Install a solar hot water heater. China is one of the countries leading the way with this technology. While in the U.S. there is an upfront cost to the solar water heater, it will save money over time and needs little to no maintenance. To sweeten the pot, many utility companies offer rebates. Click here to learn more about local SolarDay 2011 events in your city.

Electricity, Energy, Solar

Study Underway to Make Plastics From Soy Oil

Joanna Schroeder

University of Minnesota researchers are developing degradable plastics from soybean oil. These bioplastics could become a replacement for those made with petroleum and natural gas. Marc Hillmyer, Distinguished McKnight University Professor of chemistry and Director of the Center for Sustainable Polymers, believes that to wean the country from all things fossil fuels, including chemicals and plastics, alternatives based on renewable resources must be developed.

One of the greatest challenges that must be overcome is the fact that while polylactides (PLA) are degradable polymers that can be used in a variety of products, they tend to soften at higher temperatures. This rules them out for extensive use in food and beverage packing applications. Enter Hillmyer. He and his team have developed new types of polyactide-based materials that could overcome this challenge.

Hillmyer believes this discovery could be used in a wide variety of applications that require high temperature stability and toughness. These include plastic bottles, microwave trays, cell phones and more. Hillmyer believes sustainable polymers are the “materials of tomorrow.”

The plasticizers developed by Hillmyer and his team including Dr. Dharma Kodali, are derived from soy oil. Kodali explained that the new plasticizers are synthesized in their lab and could be a viable replacement for petroleum-derived plasticizers. They are comparable in price and performance but are safer, says Kodali, because they are made from renewable resources and degrade readily if leaked into environment.Read More

Agribusiness, bioplastics, Research, Soybeans

Spotted in DC

Joanna Schroeder

This advertisement was spotted in Washington DC this week and is part of a Beltway campaign being deployed by the Renewable Fuels Group (RFA). The ethanol organization is also advertising on politically geared websites as well as in DC political magazines such as Roll Call. This is just one element of a broader campaign the group is currently engaged in to educate policymakers about the benefits of ethanol.

Ethanol, RFA

Algae to Omega Chooses LumiGrow

Joanna Schroeder

Algae to Omega, an algae company focused on producing algae crops in vertical indoor farms, has chosen LumiGrow to provide its lighting solutions for its facility in Oakland Park, Florida. The LED efficient lights are being utilized to increase algae crop yield. The algae is used for high-value products including cosmetics, fish meal and nutritional supplements. During the day the algae farm receives natural sunlight, and now at night the algae will get constant light from the LED lights. Algae to Omega said that without these lights, they would need to double its space to produce the same amount of crops.

“As a company committed to green technologies, we were drawn to the LumiGrow solution’s demonstrated ability to cut energy use and costs by half versus traditional greenhouse lighting systems,” said Geronimos Dimitrelos, CEO of Algae to Omega. “But what really drove our selection is that the LumiGrow system’s adjustable color spectrum makes it the best choice for boosting algae growth. The algae grown under the 23 LumiGrow fixtures we have already installed is a vibrant healthy green.”

LumiGrow said that unlike other greenhouse lighting systems that emit broad swaths of color spectrum that plants cannot use, all the light emitted from their lighting system is used by the plants improving plant growth and health. In addition the system can be adjusted to meet the algae’s specific photosynthesis needs.

“Algae to Omega sets an example of how forward-thinking growers innovate to keep abreast of changing market conditions,” said Kevin Wells, CEO of LumiGrow. “We’re delighted that the LumiGrow solution is helping Algae to Omega realize their vision of a highly productive and cost-efficient vertical farm.”

algae, biomaterials

Solar Panel Efficiency on the Rise

Joanna Schroeder

The efficiency of solar panels are on the rise with several companies making recent announcements that new products have increased sun to energy conversion rates. Today SunPower Corp has launched the SunPower E20 series of solar panels that achieve total area efficiencies of 20 percent or more. The 96-cell E20 solar panels are available in 333 watt and 327 watt models for rooftop installations and feature the company’s 22.4 percent efficient patented Maxeon cell technology.

According to the company, the Maxeon solar cell captures more sunlight and conducts more electrical current than other solar cells on the market. The cells hold the world record for efficiency among all commercially available mass-produced solar cells. The new cells also offer positive power tolerance rating and comprehensive inverter compatibility.

“With the E20 series solar panels, SunPower has once again broken a world record for efficiency,” said SunPower CEO Tom Werner. “SunPower consistently delivers the most efficient and reliable solar technology on the market, guaranteed to deliver the greatest return on investment to our customers.”

To help with the development of the E20 solar cells, SunPower received funds provided by the U.S. Department of Energy as part of its Solar America Initiative. The funds were awarded four years ago. The E20 efficiency rating was confirmed by the DOE’s National Renewable Energy Lab. The solar cells will be available in Europe and Australia this year with North American and Asia rollouts in early 2012.

Electricity, Energy, Solar

ROUSH Offers New Propane Buses

Joanna Schroeder

A new paratransit bus fueled by propane is being launched during the Community Transportation Association Expo this week being held in Minneapolis, Minn. The bus is a result of the partnership between ROUSH CleanTech and National Bus Sales, who will sell the buses. Also involved in the project is Elkhart Coach, a division of Forest River, Inc., who will be using the first buses in Texas as part of the Capital Area Rural Transit (TX-CARTS) fleet that transports ambulatory and wheelchair passengers. ROUSH expects an order for eight buses within the next three months.

“National Bus Sales has been searching for a high-quality propane autogas solution, and we are thrilled to be partnering with ROUSH CleanTech to bring dedicated liquid propane autogas technology to America’s public and private bus fleets,” said John Walsh, president of National Bus Sales and Leasing, Inc. “In this time of high gas prices and the need for sustainability, this unequivocal product is guaranteed to lower harmful carbon emissions and operating costs.”

TX-CARTS currently has buses in its fleet that use traditional fuels. The new bus that they will be adding will feature the frame of a Ford E-450 cutaway with the shuttle bus body added by Elkhart. The buses will seat 20 passengers and two wheelchairs and be equipped with the ROUSH CleanTech liquid propane autogas fuel system.

“This new venture has the potential to revolutionize the way governments, municipalities, and the public view the paratransit industry,” said Joe Thompson, president of ROUSH CleanTech. “No longer does the traditional image of dirty exhaust and compromised air quality from buses have to be the norm.”

Propane

QR Codes Defined

Chuck Zimmerman

So, we’ve got a little way to go as far as getting the whole QR Code thing going from the looks of our last ZimmPoll. We asked, “Have you ever used a smartphone to scan a QR code?” I was a little surprised to see the answer, What’s a QR code?, had the biggest response at 41%. But 37% of you responding said Yes and 22% said No. So what is a QR code? Here’s the Wikipedia definition:

A QR code (abbreviation for Quick Response code) is a specific matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) that is readable by dedicated QR barcode readers and camera telephones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded may be text, URL, or other data.

So give it a try. The QR code shown is for Wikipedia’s main web page. You might need to get a QR code reader app for your smartphone btw. Are you using QR codes in your business?

Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “What’s your favorite meat?” If you have a choice not in our poll feel free to suggest it in comments. I can always add it to the poll.

And if you have any questions you want to suggest for future ZimmPolls please let us know.

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

ZimmPoll