Chromatin Sorghum Hybrids Topping the Charts

Joanna Schroeder

In 2010 biomass and sugar testing programs, Chromatin sorghum hybrids have demonstrated top performance when compared to other materials from public, private and commercial sorghum collections. This according to a company press release. Chromatin is a biotechnology company and its subsidiary, Sorghum Partners, LLC, sells sorghum seed products to growers.

Several trials were conducted. In the first trial, 50 biomass sorghum hybrids were planted in four replicate plots and tested for total yield, moisture, energy, and ash content. In a second trial, Chromatin tested 50 types of sweet sorghum, measuring total biomass yield and fermentable carbohydrate in harvested juice. The results of the trials have indicated that Chromatin’s hybrids provide the three top-yielding biomass sorghum hybrids. In addition, these hybrids also demonstrated very high energy content (BTU’s), low ash content and low moisture retention. Another notable characteristic – several of the company’s hybrid’s generated more fermentable sugar per acre than many of the competitors.

“These results are highly significant,” said Dave Jessen, Chromatin’s CTO. “With a range in the biomass testing program of 18.8 to 4.3 dry tons per acre (entry mean = 10.6), we are very confident that our best materials will deliver superior biomass yields. Further, two of our sorghum hybrids have sugar yields per acre that surpass many sweet sorghum cultivars that are used today.”

While the test were conducted in small scale, Jessen is confident that the company’s hybrids will still perform as well on larger scale tests.

“These tests show that our biomass has a combination of qualities that are high priority for thermochemical processors, and that our sweet sorghum provide solutions that can meet today’s growing demand for soluble sugar,” said Daphne Preuss, CEO of Chromatin. “BTU values ranged over $1000 / acre between the biomass at the extremes in the trial. This clearly shows that a key economic driver for cleantech projects will be the ability to access a high-performance feedstock.”

Ethanol, Ethanol News, sorghum

New Ethanol Fuel Finder App from RFA

Cindy Zimmerman

iphone appThe Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is excited to announce the release of a new Flex-Fuel Station Locator application for iPhones, iPads and the iPod Touch – free and available from the App Store.

The Flex-Fuel Station Locator iPhone application will help users pinpoint any E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) station in the United States, providing the user with station locations, fuel prices, directions and a phone number to each station. The main screen features three buttons: Nearest, Favorites and About.

The app was developed by RFA utilizing the E85 station database hosted by the Alternative Fuels & Advanced Vehicles Data Center and the U.S. Department of Energy. This data is continuously updated to help users locate over 2,600 E85 fueling stations across the United States. To download the Flex-Fuel Station Locator, visit the Apple App Store and search “Flex-Fuel Station Locator” for a free and easy download directly to your iPhone, iPad or iTouch.

In addition to the Flex-Fuel Station Locator for iPhone, the RFA has developed a similar application for the Android series phones. This application is available at no cost on the Android Marketplace. For GPS users, the RFA also has an E85 Points of Interest (POIs) application for Garmin and TomTom GPS users.

E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Flex Fuel Vehicles, RFA

National Biodiesel Foundation Silent Auction Raises $50K

John Davis

Biodiesel outreach, education, research and demonstration activities have gotten a big boost as the National Biodiesel Foundation‘s 3rd Annual Silent Auction netted nearly $50,000 during last week’s National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in Phoenix.

The Foundation is also recognizing Cima Green Energy Services for a very generous $25,000 donation at the opening of the auction:

Executive Director of the National Biodiesel Foundation (NBF) Tom Verry was pleased with the auction results. “The generosity of both donors and bidders this year shows the level of commitment and optimism of the future of the biodiesel industry,” said Verry. “We are thrilled to see the auction grow each year. With donations like those from Cima Green Energy Services and our other donors, we are now able to contribute significantly toward industry goals.”

Funds raised by the 2011 Silent Auction will support Foundation goals and activities for the coming year such as Biodiesel Sustainability Awareness. This program includes vital research contributing to the fuel’s long-term sustainability, such as lifecycle analysis, land use analysis, and water usage. Other programs it supports include Bioheat Education and Infrastructure Development. The Bioheat market alone represents potentially seven million biodiesel gallons annually. Infrastructure Development is another program supported by the NBF. This program includes jet aircraft testing, installing 150 biodiesel terminals nationwide and environmental certifications.

To make a donation or for more information about the National Biodiesel Foundation, check out its website: www.biodieselfoundation.org.

Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, NBB

Trojan Battery Sponsors PV Solar Training Program

Joanna Schroeder

Trojan Battery Company has become a new sponsor of the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). This is an entry-level certification program for renewable energy professionals based in North America. One of Trojan’s goal’s with this sponsorship is to provide support for the continuing development of industry standards for certification of photovoltaic (PV) system professionals. The company believes it is critical to have qualified professionals building and installing PV systems and gives consumers the knowledge that proper installation will preserve the longevity of the batteries that may power the systems and confidence that their system will function properly.

“As the renewable energy market continues its rapid growth, demand for skilled installation professionals will continue to be needed,” said Dean Middleton, Trojan director of renewable energy sales, Americas. “Trojan’s sponsorship of NABCEP will assist in expanding the knowledge and expertise of renewable energy system professionals which will greatly support the adoption of alternative energy applications. The more qualified the installer is, the less failures in the field.

As part of its support for NABCEP programs, Trojan will provide product literature, technical support and sample batteries to the many training organizations that help prepare PV professionals for NABCEP certification exams. Trojan also will offer its expertise in deep cycle battery technology by developing continuing education programs which are offered to PV industry professionals.

“Trojan has a long history of leadership in the renewable energy marketplace and the company’s generous support of NABCEP is one more example of its commitment to continuous improvement and growth of the industry,” said Ezra Auerbach, executive director of NABCEP.  “Trojan already has an excellent relationship with our organization and its installer training on batteries is a valuable contribution to the continuing education of our certified professionals.

In other recent news, Trojan launched a new renewable energy website focusing on renewable energy and backup power solutions the company provides with its deep cycle battery lines. The site is designed to be a premiere source of information for installers, integrators, distributors and end users of energy storage systems to specifically address their unique requirements.

Electricity, Energy, Solar

CARB Tackling Crude Oil’s Carbon Intensity in LCFS

Joanna Schroeder

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is getting ready to move forward with determining the carbon intensity of crude oil. On February 17, they are holding a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) Crude Oil Screening Workgroup Meeting. For those following the LCFS debate, you’ll note that still under fire is CARB’s final ruling on the carbon intensity levels given for ethanol and biodiesel. When CARB determined the original levels of corn ethanol, it essentially barred the fuel from qualifying as a low carbon fuel. While CARB has amended corn ethanol’s carbon intensity levels, basically allowing corn ethanol back into the marketplace, the amendment doesn’t take take effect until July 1 although LCFS took effect on January 1 of this year.

Now it’s oil turn to be under fire. In California, 40 percent of the state’s fuel supply comes from TEOR petroleum, while 10 percent of the gasoline is blended with ethanol. Life Cycle Associates have found the value for Thermally Enhanced Oil Recovery (TEOR) to be at least 109, though it might approach 120, and to have a carbon intensity value of 20 for total production and transportation. Ironically, this is in the same ballpark as corn ethanol. They are critical of the original GREET model, which found the value to be much lower originally, near 96.

The Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) submitted a letter to CARB with their recommendations of how crude oil should be treated under LCFS. They believe that crude oils should not be differentiated. So oil produced from tar sands should be treated the same as oil drilled in Alaska. Second, they believe that “future production from the same geographical areas and using the same techniques as represented in the 2006 California baseline, are extensions of that baseline and should receive the same treatment.” In other words, new oil fields should not be subject to a screening process and this is important because the state is moving to open new TEOR oil fields that were once considered too uneconomical to extract the oil.

Third, WSPA is arguing that given that the regulations currently call for differentiation of crudes that are not included in the 2006 baseline into high carbon intensity crude oil (HCICO) and non-HCICO categories, WSPA has been working with staff and other stakeholders in the HCICO Workgroup to develop a process to make the necessary categorizations. Finally, once the categorizations are in place, they are asking for a retroactive application of the carbon intensity of re-classified crudes. Ultimately, WSPA offered up a proposed model for the crude oil screening process.

What the ethanol industry is lobbying for as a result of the meeting is that it will be determined that TEOR is required to be submitted to a full “Method 2B” carbon intensity determination, which opens the fuel pathway up to a thorough review including public comment.Read More

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Oil, Opinion

Propel’s Iacoponi Appointed to LCFS Advisory Panel

Joanna Schroeder

Jim Iacoponi, Vice President of Operations for Propel Fuels has been appointed to the California Air Resources Board (CARB’s) Low Carbon Fuels Standard (LCFS) Advisory Panel. Alongside other qualified industry members of the panel, Iacoponi will provide guidance to CARB as they monitor and evaluate progress of the LCFS program. Propel, as California’s largest retail provider of alternative fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel, is uniquely positioned to provide CARB with key insights into the fueling habits of low-carbon fuel consumers and fleets in order to better implement the state’s carbon reduction strategies.

“Through this panel, we aim to support CARB with market data and trends on the use of low-carbon fuels directly from our pumps and customers,” said Iacoponi. “This also provides an opportunity for all parts of this industry, from advanced fuel producers to vehicle manufacturers, to better align around California’s emissions reduction goals.”

According to Propel they source the cleanest, most sustainable fuels on the market that meet their cost and quality targets. As commercial scale cellulosic facilities prepare to break ground in California, the company believes their fueling infrastructure is a critical link between California’s drivers and the next generation of low-carbon fuels.

CARB held the first meeting of the LCFS Advisory Panel today in Sacramento. The panel reviewed progress towards the LCFS targets, advised CARB’s Board of Directors on advances in fuels and production technology, vehicle technologies and availability, the program’s impact on the state’s fuel supplies, and other issues.

Biodiesel, Ethanol

The “One-Stop” Shop Biodiesel Plant

Joanna Schroeder

With the explosive growth expected in the biodiesel industry this year, many investors are looking to update their technologies as they bring their biodiesel plants online. Those looking for a “one-stop shop” for an entire biodiesel plant should look at two seemingly unlikely partners: McGyan Biodiesel and Biodiesel Analytical Solutions (BAS).

There is much talk in the biodiesel industry that the days of the single feedstock producer are nearing an end. The new emerging technology – multiple feedstock technologies. One such technology is the McGyan technology, a multi-feedstock technology that was first proven out in Ever Cat Fuels, a biodiesel producer located in Isanti, Minn. The plant went online in November of 2009 and was one of only two biodiesel plants that stayed in production last year.

So what is unique about this technology? David Wendorf, Director of Marketing for McGyan said that they use a transferication process. This allows them to use a wide variety of feedstocks ranging from 0 percent FFAs to 100 percent FFAs. The advantage is that the plant can always use the most cost-effective feedstocks. In addition, their technology uses no harsh chemicals, no water, produces no waste products and is scalable. And since it can use a full range of FFAs, it hasn’t meet an oil-based feedstock that it doesn’t like.

Another option with the McGyan technology is that you can add it to an ethanol plant that has corn oil extraction technology. Wendorf explained that you can use the corn oil to create biodiesel and the process also uses ethanol. In addition, you can actually create biodiesel from the excess ethanol if there is a situation where the market has too much ethanol and not enough demand. Wendorf explained that this would be another revenue stream for an ethanol plant, using the corn oil as a hedge – if the price of corn oil does go up, you can simply substitute other low cost feedstocks.

So what’s the tie with BAS? Read More

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, NBB

Air Force C-17s Certified for Unlimited Use of Biofuels

John Davis

The big, beautiful cargo plane you see here is the C-17 Globemaster III, capable of bringing in everything from beans to bullets, as well as taking to war and bringing back home the men and women who serve our country so proudly. And U.S. Air Force officials have certified it for unlimited usage of biofuels, more specifically, hydrotreated renewable jet (HRJ) fuels, the first aircraft to receive such a certification.

“This certification marks the Air Force’s first platform to be fully certified using an HRJ blend,” said Dr. Kevin Geiss, the deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for energy. “This marks a significant achievement for the Air Force, our alternative fuel certification office and our partners in both industry and across the Department of Defense.”

The certification for usage of HRJ biofuel blended with petroleum-based JP-8 fuel represents part of ongoing efforts by Air Force officials to certify and test biofuels from non-petroleum sources.

The move to certify the fleet using the HRJ blend of fuel represents the Air Force’s commitment to assuring the supply, no matter the source, meets the service’s required standards, and demonstrates the Air Force’s commitment to reducing its dependency on foreign sources of oil, Dr. Geiss added.

“We’re very proud of this certification,” said Terry Yonkers, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and logistics. “By using a ‘pathfinder’ approach, we’ve taken the success of our processes developed in our previous alternative fuel certifications work and learned how to efficiently streamline our HRJ certification efforts, while guaranteeing the fuel blend will work without notable difference to the pilots.”

According to Jeff Braun, the Air Force’s alternative fuel certification office chief, the blended fuel evaluation that combined additional analyses from Boeing, Parker ESD and Pratt & Whitney resulted in no significant differences in engine stability, thrust response or engine steady-state performance.

This means that C-17s will be able to fly on a 50 percent mix of the biofuel when using JP-8, the military’s long-time standard fuel for aircraft and a 25 percent blend of HRJ when mixed with synthetic paraffinic kerosene fuel (25 percent) and JP-8 (50 percent). Officials say there will be no need for any aircraft modifications or special handling with the blends.

biofuels, biojet fuel, Government

New Energy Tech. Debuts SolarWindow Application

John Davis

A Maryland company has taken a big technological step forward in the solar power generation field. New Energy Technologies has announced it has moved up to a 12″x12″ square of a spray-on type of coating, known as SolarWindow. While a 12″x12″ square doesn’t sound very big, it wasn’t very long ago the company was working with areas smaller than a grain of rice and hopes to soon be able to use SolarWindow on a large scale, such as an office building.

In the first in a two-part series with New Energy Technologies (tomorrow, we’ll talk about the company’s MotionPower technology to get energy from the movement of cars and trucks on highways), I talk with John Conklin, President and CEO of New Energy Technologies about this breakthrough. He says this milestone is part of their road map toward commercializing this new technology.

“Part of that road map was our committment to not only commercializing but also expanding the way by which we are going to be applying the types of solar window we are going to be installing,” says Conklin. To that end, New Energy has spray applied the coating and produced the 12″x12″ working array. He said that coating should help eliminate some of the more brittle, and expensive materials usually used for solar energy. The lower cost liquid is see-through and can be applied to a window at room temperature without the use of high-vacuum, important to making it commercially viable.

Conklin says this electricity-generating coating works in natural, artificial and low-light conditions, making the solar array much more flexible. “Under very low-light conditions, such as an early morning or late day, it gives us the ability to produce electricity,” giving them the option of placing the photovoltaic material on east and west faces of structures, as well as the interior light in the entire building envelope, increasing the area on a building able to produce electricity.

Conklin can’t give specifics about when they hope this technology will be commercially viable, but he says 2011 will be a very productive year for New Energy.

You can hear more of Conklin’s remarks here: John Conklin, New Energy Technologies.

Plus, I’ll have part two of my conversation with him about New Energy’s MotionPower right here tomorrow.

Audio, Solar

Ethanol Report on New Advanced Ethanol Council

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol Report PodcastIn this edition of “The Ethanol Report” podcast, we hear from the executive director of the newly formed Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC), Brooke Coleman.

Brooke ColemanColeman has been involved with the ethanol industry for over a decade, most recently as Executive Director of the New Fuels Alliance. He says that the new organization came together around a common theme. “The common theme is that both existing corn ethanol producers and tomorrow’s cellulose and advanced ethanol producers have a common interest – opening up U.S. fuel markets to the use of ethanol.”

“Advanced ethanol is truly on the cusp of commercialization,” he continued. “It’s a fuel that is not 15 years down the road, it’s a realistic option and there are plants in the ground already today producing advanced ethanol at demonstration and commercial scale.”

Coleman points out that the organization encompasses all types of advanced ethanol, not just cellulosic, which is a process that specifically uses cellulose to create ethanol. “At the end of the day, we want to make sure we develop market places for advanced ethanol – not just one type,” he said.

The AEC represents a wide range of advanced ethanol technologies utilizing feedstock from grasses and corn stalks to wood waste, municipal solid waste and algae to produce ethanol. The industry leaders founding the AEC include Abengoa Bioenergy , BlueFire Renewables, Coskata, Enerkem , Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inbicon, Iogen, Mascoma, Osage Bio Energy and Qteros, together with the Renewable Fuels Association.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report on the new AEC here: Ethanol Report on Advanced Ethanol Council

advanced biofuels, AEC, Audio, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, RFA