Researcher ID’s Genes to Make Ethanol More Economical

Joanna Schroeder

The University of Illinois (U of I) has recently announced that one of their metabolic engineers has taken a major step in helping biofuels production become more efficient and economical. Yong-Su Jin, an assistant professor of microbial genomics as well as a faculty member in the U of I’s Institute for Genomic Biology, has developed a strain of yeast with increased alcohol tolerance. Yeast is used during the biofuel fermentation process to convert sugars from biomass into biofuels.

“At a certain concentration, the biofuels that are being created become toxic to the yeast used in making them. Our goal was to find a gene or genes that reduce this toxic effect,” said Jin.

Jin worked with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the microbe most often used in making ethanol, to identify four genes (MSN2, DOG1, HAL1, and INO1) that improve tolerance to ethanol and iso-butanol when they are overexpressed.

“We expect these genes will serve as key components of a genetic toolbox for breeding yeast with high ethanol tolerance for efficient ethanol fermentation,” explained Jin.

According to a news release, researchers assessed the overexpressed genes’ contribution to the components that have limited biofuel production by testing them in the presence of high concentrations of glucose (10%), ethanol (5%), and iso-butanol (1%). These were then compared with the performance of a control strain of S. cerevisiae.

The results showed that overexpression of any of the four genes remarkably increased ethanol tolerance. However, the strain in which INO1 was overexpressed elicited the highest ethanol yield and productivity—with increases of more than 70 percent for ethanol volume and more than 340 percent for ethanol tolerance when compared to the control strain.

“Identification of these genes should enable us to produce transportation fuels from biomass more economically and efficiently. It’s a first step in understanding the cellular reaction that currently limits the production process,” Jin concluded.

Ethanol, Ethanol News

Chicago School Districts to Make Wind Power & Money

John Davis

Three school districts in the Chicago area plan not only to make all the power they need at a new wind farm, but they’ll also net an extra $3 million in the process.

UPI reports that the Keeneyville School District 20, Carpentersville’s Community Unit School District 300 and Prospect Heights School District 23 will be getting all of their energy from a wind farm they plan to build in rural Stark County 140 miles southwest of Chicago. And they’ll have enough extra energy to sell:

The districts’ school boards formed the School Wind Consortium, which is issuing bonds, seeking investors and applying for federal grants to raise $50 million.

All three districts have laid off staff and cut programs but still face budget shortfalls.

The consortium says it hopes to build and begin to operate the wind farm by fall of next year and expects it to bring in $3 million annually for about 30 years.

In 2007, Illinois passed legislation that allowed school districts, community colleges and towns to own and operate their own wind farms, but it’s not practical for too many locations to do so.

Wind

Commission In Calif. Considers Funds for Biodiesel Plant

John Davis

Commissioners in Santa Rosa County, California are considering whether to use the county’s name to help back bonds for a proposed biodiesel plant.

Biofuels Digest reports the chairman of the commission wants more information before signing off on the Integrated Energy Partners’ proposed biodiesel facility:

The facility intends to run year-round using camelina and other crops including cotton seed to produce 3 million gallons of biodiesel, 353,000 gallons of cellulosic ethanol, 9 million gallons of kerosene, and propane amounting to 437,000 gallons along with 47.8 MWh of electrical energy annually.

There are also plans to use municipal and other waste products as feedstocks for fuels.

Biodiesel, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

Biodiesel-Fueled Beetles Give Green Rides in Paradise

John Davis

Hawaii is already known as a lush, green, tropical paradise, but one rental car company on the islands is turning that green up a notch.

This article from BNET.com says the Bio-Beetle company in Maui focuses on biodiesel vehicles and looks to expand into electric vehicles one day:

President Shaun Stenshol presides over a 20-car fleet that includes diesel-powered Beetles, Jettas, Golfs and a Jeep Liberty, plus some Toyota Prius hybrids, in the bustling central city of Kahului. The office, which doubles as a cat shelter and the headquarters of the recycling business Stenshol also runs, was busy on a recent weekday – 18 of Bio Beetle’s cars were rented.

This is a business that caters to the tourists flocking to Maui, and Bio Beetle offers rates ($49.99 to $75 a day) that are on par with more established services. It also offers free pickups and drop-offs at the airport and popular tourist destinations. The company advertises 30 to 45 mpg from the 100 percent biodiesel it sources locally from Pacific Biodiesel. The “buy local” and “freedom from oil” pitches are a big part of Bio Beetle’s appeal.

Stenshol, who relocated to Maui in 1998 and started his company in 2003 with a single diesel Beetle he found on a used car lot, has applied for a State of Hawaii grant to help him buy electric cars and set up charging stations. EVs, he says, will nicely complement his biodiesel cars, though he worries about the 100-mile range being a challenge.

The article goes on to say that Hawaii has tapped into $4 million in federal stimulus money for people in the state who buy electric vehicles or chargers after August 1st. There’s word that Korean automaker CT&T wants to build a plant on the islands to assemble as many as 10,000 electric vehicles a year.

Biodiesel, Electric Vehicles

Blender Pump Opens in ND

Grand Forks, North Dakota is now offering flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) owners the choice at the pump. The Valley Dairy station at 2401 S. Columbia Road is offering the ethanol blends of E20, E30, and E85.

According to the American Lung Assn. of North Dakota, a grand opening celebration will be held Aug. 24 and 25 at the Grand Forks facility. A ribbon cutting will take place at 10 a.m. on August 24 and ethanol-blend fuel discounts on August 25 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. During the promotion, E85 will be priced at $1.85 a gallon, the price of E30 will be discounted by 30 cents, and the price of E20 will be discounted by 20 cents. There will also be in-store specials throughout the week.

“Only flex fuel vehicles should use E85 or high blend ethanol fuels, because they are specifically designed for them,” said Lisa Thurstin, a manager for the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest’s Clean Air Choice program. “There are more than 41,000 flex fuel vehicles already on the road in North Dakota, and more models that can use cleaner-burning E85 as well as gasoline are coming out every year. If you are driving one, we hope you will come out to Valley Dairy on Wednesday and try one of these new fuel choices.”

The fuel promotion is being sponsored by Valley Dairy and members of the North Dakota Clean Air Choice Team including the North Dakota Corn Council, North Dakota Renewable Energy Council, North Dakota Department of Commerce, North Dakota Ethanol Council, North Dakota Ethanol Producers Association, General Motors Corporation, U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities and American Lung Association in North Dakota.

Currently, the state of ND has 67 E85 outlets including 44 ethanol mid-blend pumps.

E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

E85 in Marion, Illinois

Cindy Zimmerman

The 212th E85 station has opened in Illinois.

Russell Oil Company worked with Growth Energy’s 2010 E85 and Blender Pump program to bring E85 fuel to their ROC One Stop in Marion, Ill. “We wanted to provide a quality fuel that is better for the environment, supports our local farmers, as well as help us to increase sales and fuel margins,” said manager Jonathan Russell. “We appreciate the support of Growth Energy, the availability of informational materials, signs and the advice we have been given to promote the sale of E85.”

Growth Energy offers funding to retailers to assist in ethanol blender pump infrastructure. Grants of $2,500 and $5,000 are available to vendors who wish to install new or convert existing equipment for ethanol fueling, in addition to any Federal or state grants or incentives a retailer may be eligible.

E85, Ethanol, Growth Energy

Scottish Turn Whiskey Waste into Butanol

Joanna Schroeder

Did you know that the Scottish have a $6.2 billion a year whiskey habit? I didn’t until I came across an article in the Guardian about how researchers in Edinburgh Napier University are researching turning whiskey waste into butanol. During the whiskey distillation process, two main waste products are created – pot ale, a liquid, as well as draff, which are the remains of grains used when distilling the alcohol. These are now being turned into biofuel.

Unlike ethanol, researchers are finding that butanol gives 30 percent more power output than ethanol and can be used in conventional vehicles without engine modifications. They also like the fact that no “food” products are used in the creation – only waste and say that the process is more environmentally sustainable than other forms of ethanol production.

The European Union has set a goal that biofuels should account for 10 percent of all fuel sales by 2010 but this regulation has been under fire recently as concerns have continued to surface over using grains for biofuels in addition to land use and soil sustainability issues. In fact, England has actually scaled back on their biofuels goals and other countries are considering following suit unless they determine that other feedstocks will be more sustainable.

Regardless, turning alcohol waste into biofuels is not a new concept – Coors has been doing this in one of their breweries in Colorado for several years. Well, I can’t help but wonder if a new drinking saying will be. “I drink so that I can drive on biofuels.”

biofuels, Ethanol

Genera Energy & Alcoa Partner to Grow Switchgrass

Joanna Schroeder

Tennessee is becoming a hotbed for switchgrass activity, and one of the newest partnerships is between Alcoa, Inc, the steel giant, and Genera Energy. Alcoa has leased nearly 238 acres of land to a local farmer who is participating in an incentive program with Genera Energy. Genera Energy, along with the University of Tennessee, is  researching and developing technology to bring commercial cellulosic ethanol to market using switchgrass.

The crop was planted in June by farmer Gerald Orr, who planted three varieties of the seed including one standard and two improved varieties to determine which varieties have the highest performance. When the crop is harvested in three years, researchers have estimated that the acres could produce up to 160,000 gallons of ethanol per year.

“Participating in the switchgrass program is giving me the opportunity to put this acreage to use for something that will hopefully have long-lasting benefits,” said Orr. “I look forward to seeing the switchgrass crop continue to grow and prosper.”

Genera’s research is showing that there are some environmental benefits of the feedstock including its ability to sequester between one and two tons of carbon per acre in the soil each year. In addition, it improves soil stability and structure.

“With more than 1,600 acres of property here in Blount County, Alcoa is constantly looking for environmentally-friendly, effective uses of the land,” said Dave Hensley, property manager and interim smelting plant manager. “We are pleased that Mr. Orr is involved in this program and we believe his effort align with the ‘green’ qualities of Alcoa’s products. Recycling aluminum to save energy and offsetting oil consumption with biomass go well together.”

Most recently, Genera opened a bioenergy production plant located in Vonore, Tennessee in late 2009 and it is expected to be operational by the end of this year.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Utah Field Holds Promise for US Army’s Biodiesel Efforts

John Davis

A small patch of safflower near the Salt Lake City International Airport has caught the attention of the U.S. Army as part of the military’s efforts to implement more biodiesel into its operations.

The Salt Lake Tribune says about 20 acres of the prickly leafed crop, planted as part of Salt Lake County’s urban-farming initiative, could be a feedstock for the green fuel:

Jeffrey Ward, deputy engineer for the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, inspected the safflower crop Monday with a National Biodiesel Board representative and a consultant from the environmental engineering and restoration firm Louis Berger Group to determine whether to seed a similar program on military lands.

“We are very interested in getting biodiesel and using our lands to support our own energy needs,” Ward said. “We want to use what you have learned to potentially go onto Army installations and see what might be possible.”

It is a welcome recognition to a program pursued jointly by Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah State University, the South Davis Sewer District and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to put fallow public lands to good use.

The safflower now stands on a dusty grassland on the south side of Salt Lake International Airport — a property the city will someday use for a wastewater treatment plant. That transformation is decades away, however. So officials have decided to cultivate the land, growing a drought-resistant crop capable of producing 50 gallons of biofuel per acre.

Officials started with 20 acres, as a test. But ultimately, biofuel production is expected to spread to the entire 200-acre property.

Utah is also home to the FreeWays to Fuel program, which would plant safflower, canola, flax and other biofuel crops along highways. Researchers at Utah State University believe the country could produce a billion gallons of biodiesel a year from the roadside crops.

Biodiesel, Government, NBB

New Incentives Proposed for ND Biodiesel Plants

John Davis

Some biodiesel plants in North Dakota could be enjoying new operations incentives, if a proposed bill passes that state’s legislature and gains the governor’s signature.

The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead reports the measure, currently before the state legislature’s Energy Development and Transmission Committee, would give up to $1.5 million in incentives annually:

The amount would be determined by multiplying the number of gallons of biodiesel sold by 5 cents.

The second incentive relates to biodiesel plants operating in the state before July 2011 and with a production capacity of more than 1 million gallons.

The plant could receive incentive payments if production is increased by the lesser of 10 million gallons or 50 percent of its production capacity during a 12-month period.

The incentives are similar to what was done with the ethanol industry, said Shane Goettle, the state’s commerce commissioner and chairman of the EmPower North Dakota Commission.

Some lawmakers questioned the wisdom of the legislation that doesn’t take into account market conditions. The committee is expected to discuss the measure more next month.

Biodiesel, Legislation