Flux Capicitor Travels in Time to Return With Algal Fuels

Joanna Schroeder

Just in time for the 25th anniversary of Back to the Future, the flux capacitor is back in action. Only this time, it’s not taking us back in time – it’s bringing us fuel. Last week, a bubble-maker that mimics the flux capacitor in looks alone, was awarded the Royal Society’s Brian Mercer award for innovation, a £250,000 prize. The money will help bring the technology to market. The technology received the award due to its ability to transform the cost and effectiveness of growing algae for biofuel, treating sewage and cooling computers.

The machine was invented by Prof Will Zimmerman, a chemical engineer at the University of Sheffield. His muses were children and how they blow bubbles. “If you blow slowly and steadily, you blow a big bubble, but we use our fluidic oscillator to blow short puffs and make small bubbles,” explained Zimmerman to the Guardian.

According to the paper, the device has already been involved in several field trials with the goal of diverting the carbon dioxide produced during the manufacturing process of steel plant and routing the CO2 bubbles to algae, which need it to survive and grow. A bonus from the system is that that small bubbles carry away waste oxygen and allow 100 percent of the algae to survive.

“If you sit in your own waste products, it’s not good for your health, it stunts your growth and leads to death,” said Zimmerman. “The bubble-maker also stirs the algae, meaning each cell is better exposed to the light it needs to grow. I call it a five star hotel for algae.”

It appears that both ExxonMobil and Shell have both separately invested in the technology.

“There has been a lot of hype in this area and we think algal biofuels are 10 years from being commercialized, as most of the expertise is in the laboratory at the moment,” said Ben Graziano, Carbon Trust manager of the Algae Biofuels Challenge. “But biofuel from algae can reduce carbon dioxide emissions significantly better than many existing biofuels, and can be sustainable as they don’t need arable land.”

algae, biofuels

Algenol Opens New R&D Algae Lab

Joanna Schroeder

Algenol Biofuels has officially christened its new biofuels and green chemistry lab and R&D facility in Fort Myers, FL yesterday with a ribbon cutting celebration. On hand for the event were U.S. Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fla.), Lee County Commission Chairwoman Tammy Hall, Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah, and Algenol Founder and Chief Executive Officer Paul Woods. The lab in part, became a reality with a $10 million incentive grant from the Lee County Board of Commissioners.

The 40,000 square-foot facility houses an advanced algae biology, engineering, carbon dioxide (CO2) and green chemistry laboratory, as part of the larger Lee Integrated Biorefinery. An adjoining 4-acre outdoor R&D area and 36-acre outdoor commercialization area will hold the company’s proprietary photobioreactors—the containers that generate ethanol from algae, saltwater and CO2 using Algenol’s patented Direct to Ethanol™ technology.

“Today is a remarkable milestone in our quest to bring algae-based biofuels and bio-based chemicals to commercialization, said Woods during the ceremony. “With the opening of our new biofuels and green chemistry facility, we aim to make Florida a hub for green, clean technology innovation that will create jobs, lessen our dependence on foreign oil and reduce carbon pollution.”

Congressman Connie Mack (FL-14) welcomed Algenol Biofuels and said that the lab was a win for Southwest Florida as well as the state. “This company is a terrific example of how private enterprise can lead the way in alternative energy development. By working together, we can diversify our nation’s energy needs and strengthen our economy,” added Mack.

Algenol is also researching related ethanol products including using ethanol and other green chemicals as a replacement for petroleum in plastic and chemical building blocks. To further is research goals, the company has formed a partnership with Florida Gulf Coast University to assist in establishing programs for students interested in pursuing careers in the green chemistry and biofuels industries.

algae, biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol

Illinois Biodiesel Maker Gets Equipment, to Install Soon

John Davis

An Illinois biodiesel maker has secured the equipment it needs to finish its 30 million-gallon-a-year plant.

BN National Trail has bought the biodiesel process equipment from Kreido Biofuels, and it is expected to arrive at Newton, Illinois, near the second largest transportation corridor in the U.S. later this month:

The scalable 30 MGPY facility’s key differentiator is the multi-feedstock capability of the technology, proven in large-scale production in Europe today. This enables BN National Trail to establish purchasing contracts with local feedstock providers who will be able to supply crude soybean, corn oil, or other low-saturated oil at an opportunistically low price throughout the lifecycle of the plant.

“Enhancements from the plant in Newton will come from the advanced feedstock technology program in Budapest where a pilot plant is being expanded to include algae as a feedstock. QSB, a BNE licensed technology will be integrated with the new process equipment,” confirmed CTO Robert Brooks. No timeframe has been provided for when the plant would begin production.

Company officials say being able to buy the equipment provides revenue and moves up BN National Trail’s plans by two years.

Biodiesel

Pennsylvania School Unveils Large Solar Array

John Davis

A Pennsylvania school district has unveiled a solar array that will generate 1.2 megawatts of power while teaching about the power of clean renewable energy.

The Carlisle School District has the 5,192 panel array, designed by Henkels & McCoy, Inc., headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania with panels from Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group. It’s one of the largest arrays in the state:

The new ground-mount solar array includes 1,227 kW of Sharp’s 240 W monocrystalline panels and 9.2 kW of Sharp’s 115 W framed thin film panels, allowing students to study and compare the performance of both technologies. This project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority. The Project was also funded by the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority using monies from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Additional Funding will be provided to the school district under the ACT 129 renewable energy rebate program.

“We’re thrilled that the largest solar installation at a Pennsylvania school district is here in Carlisle,” said John Freind, Superintendent of the Carlisle Area School District. “Bringing the message of the importance of renewable energy sources to our students will help create a greener future. It’s a win for our students, for the state and for the future of our planet,” he said.

“We are very honored to have participated in this landmark and visionary project from the start. It is extremely gratifying to see the involvement of local labor in an initiative with so many benefits to the community. The Carlisle Area School District has our sincere best wishes for long-term success,” stated Rod Henkels, President and CEO of Henkels & McCoy.

“Sharp is delighted to work with Henkel’s & McCoy to help the Carlisle Area School District educate its students about renewable energy while simultaneously reducing its carbon footprint,” said Eric Hafter, senior vice president of Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group. “Renewable energy projects such as this one are not only good for the environment – they’re good for the economy as well as we they create new green jobs here in Pennsylvania and nationwide.”

The Sharp solar panels are built rugged to put up with tough operating conditions, while giving great solar power output.

Solar

Colorado Cleantech Industry Presents Awards

Joanna Schroeder

Today the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association (CCIA) presented eight awards during its inaugural “Colorado Cleantech Awards Celebration.” The event was created to honor leaders who are working to advance cleantech developments. Christine Shapard, CCIA executive director said during the event, “Winners were selected by our Awards Committee from twenty finalists that emerged from a statewide call for nominations. The event, showcasing those companies and individuals who have made a significant impact on Colorado’s cleantech industry during the past year.”

Awards & Winners include:

  • §      Political Advocate of the Year: Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr.
  • §      High Impact Cleantech Company of the Year: Abound Solar
  • §      Runner-Up High Impact Cleantech Company of the Year: Tendril
  • §      Breakout Cleantech Company of the Year: Ice Energy
  • §      Emerging Cleantech Company of the Year: VanDyne SuperTurbo
  • §      Colorado Cleantech Entrepreneur of the Year: Raymond R. Johnson
  • §      National Cleantech Leader: Rocky Mountain Institute
  • §      Governor’s Award for Excellence: Ron Bernal, NEA

Shapard concluded, “We want to extend our congratulations to this year’s winners and finalists, plus extend sincere appreciation from the Colorado Cleantech Industry to these outstanding companies and individuals who have truly made a difference as they’ve forged their paths in the cleantech sector. Further, we want to convey our appreciation to Ira Ehrenpreis, noted venture capitalist and cleantech industry expert, who served as the keynote speaker for our first awards event.”

Electricity, Energy, Smart Grid, Solar

ROUSH CleanTech Launched

Joanna Schroeder

ROUSH has announced a new venture, ROUSH CleanTech, to develop “green” vehicles fueled by propane and other alternative fuel options. The news was given by Jack Roush, the company founder. The company has invested millions of dollars into developing liquid propane injection powered vehicles. To date, ROUSH has focused on Ford Trucks and vans but with this new initiative, more types of vehicles should be added to the line up.

“For more than 35 years the ROUSH brand has developed experience in OEM-level automotive engineering, design, manufacturing, certification, and assembly,” said Todd Mouw, vice president of sales & marketing. “Today we announce the formation of ROUSH CleanTech, which blends our corporate talents into delivering product into the alternative fuels landscape. Our focus is on three key areas: providing the very best in quality, performance, and service for our customers.”

In the United States there are only 300,000 propane fueled vehicles whereas there are 14 million worldwide. Mouw believes that the company’s current and future product offerings will revolutionize the way people view alternatively fueled vehicles.

According to Joe Thompson, the president of ROUSH CleanTech, propane offers a variety of advantages. “Propane burns cleaner than gasoline or diesel, with up to 20 percent less nitrogen oxide, up to 60 percent less carbon monoxide, 24 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and fewer particulate emissions when compared to gasoline,” said Thompson. “Already the third most widely used fuel, it is available ‘right here, right now’ with a national infrastructure already in place. Propane plays a strong role in lowering our national dependence on imported oil, as 90 percent of the propane used today comes from domestic sources of production, and an additional 7 percent from Canada.”

Propane

Ethanol Producers Value DDGs Exports

Cindy Zimmerman

RFAEthanol producers who attended the recent Export Exchange event sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the U.S. Grains Council know how important it is to promote increased exports of the ethanol co-product distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS).

“For every three bushels of corn that comes in, you get a bushel of DDG out, and what we sell that DDG for helps us to create a revenue stream so we can buy more corn,” said Walt Wendland with Golden Grain Energy of Mason, Iowa who serves as secretary on the RFA board.

2010 exports of DDGs are expected to exceed last year’s record 5.65 million tons. “One of the surprising things is that the amount of distillers grains that we’re going to be exporting for the first time is going to exceed the amount of soybean meal,” Wendland says. “We’re recognized now as being a very reliable supplier of DDG around the world.”

Listen to or download an interview with Walt Wendland here: Walt Wendland Interview

RFA Ray DefenbaughThe Export Exchange included nearly 500 attendees from 33 countries and the proceedings were translated into 7 languages. Ray Defenbaugh of Big River Resources West Burlington ethanol plant in Iowa says he has been coming to the event since it was started by USGC a few years ago. “It’s just an opportunity for networking and there’s a huge demand in other countries for DDGs,” said Defenbaugh. “If you come here and go away without having met somebody that could help you in transportation or sales from another country, than you’ve not really tried very hard.”

Defenbaugh is chairman of the DDG committee for RFA and is very pleased with the efforts they are making to increase exports of the ethanol co-product.

Listen to or download an interview with Defenbaugh here: Ray Defenbaugh Interview

Export Exchange 2010 Photo Album

Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, RFA, USGC

CME Webcast on Food vs Fuel

Cindy Zimmerman

CME Group is holding a live webcast today of a panel discussion on food versus fuel.

The webcast will be coming from CME’s third annual Global Financial Leadership Conference in Naples, Florida and the panel will focus on commodity markets and the fundamental factors driving supply and demand for global food and energy. Participants will include Tim Gallagher, Executive Vice President–Grains and Biofuels, Bunge North America; Ian Goldin, Former Vice President, World Bank and Director, Oxford University’s Oxford Martin School; John Hofmeister, Former President, Shell Oil Company and Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Citizens for Affordable Energy. The webcast of the panel will be from 1:20 to 2:00 pm Eastern time.

The GFLC is an event that brings together decision-makers from the world’s leading financial institutions to discuss emerging geopolitical trends, debate critical economic issues and provide perspectives on future developments in the financial marketplace. Registration for the webcast can be found on the GFLC website. You can also follow the entire GFLC conference on the company’s blog at Open Markets.

food and fuel

Construction to Start on Iowa Fat-to-Biodiesel Plant

John Davis

Construction is expected to begin soon on a new biodiesel plant in northern Iowa that turns animal fats, grease from restaurants, and other feedstocks into biodiesel.

The Mason City (IA) Globe Gazette reports that the plant will produce three million gallons of biodiesel a year using the Mcgyan process, a method that uses less water and is capable of converting several different types of feedstocks into the green fuel:

“Ideally we’d like to have Holland Contracting to have the cement laid before a freeze to allow us to build during the winter,” said Shelley Burgess, senior vice president for communication and investor relations for Growth Design.

“Once the slab is down and the walls are up we can work inside,” [Bill Luetscher, president of Growth Design Energy Group] said.

Company officials say they had hoped to break ground last spring, but Iowa’s environmental assessment process delayed that date.

Biodiesel

Lame Ducks Could Renew Biodiesel, Ethanol Tax Breaks

John Davis

Groups that represent the biodiesel and ethanol industries in this country believe when Congress comes back to Washington after the election … for what is known as the lame duck session … members could renew the pending federal $1-a-gallon biodiesel tax credit and the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC).

Michael Frohlich, Director of Federal Communications for the National Biodiesel Board’s Washington, DC office tells Domestic Fuel that while it’s not a sure thing, there seems to be many of the pieces in place.

“That being said, though, it’s very difficult to handicap or put what the odds might be because the length of the lame duck session and how they approach it could vary differently depending on the outcome of the upcoming mid-term elections.”

Frohlich adds that if the Republicans take control of the U.S. House or Senate, there’s two schools of thought that could both help the biodiesel credit’s chances: 1. members will try to cram something they’ve wanted through before the change, or 2. everyone will be a lot more amicable. He says another issue that could cause problems is finding an offset to meet Congress’ pay-go rules to pay for the credit.

Meanwhile, in a piece for Ethanol Producer Magazine, Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen says since the VEETC has been vetted and enjoys bipartisan support, it could be ripe for a lame duck session victory:

With a lame duck Congress in chaos resulting from the retirements and new members-elect, it will not have an appetite for new legislation that requires committee hearings and markups. Rather, it will be looking to legislation and policies that are already vetted and, for lack of a better analogy, they can simply cut and paste.

Frohlich adds that the lack of support from the Obama Administration, despite paying lip service to supporting green fuels, has been frustrating.

“It seems like it’s great for a press event or a soundbite, [but] they can’t see the forest for the trees.” He says 24,000 jobs could be either saved or created with the renewal of the biodiesel tax credit … at a time when this country desperately needs to put people back to work.

“It’s kind of one of those things where you’re left scratching your head wondering why something so fundamental and rudimentary Congress seems to ignore.”

Listen to my conversation with Michael here: Michael Frohlich, NBB

Audio, Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, Legislation, NBB, News