NEC 2027

Ugly Biodiesel Brewer Beauty to Farmers, Businesses

John Davis

It’s not very pretty … but it’s a thing of beauty to farmers, school administrators and even some businesses that want to brew their own biodiesel.

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a story from the Flint (MI) Journal about Onsite Energy LLC‘s new Genesee Biodiesel Processor, a first-of-its-kind, automatic machine that can make cooking oil into biodiesel with only 20 minutes of work. Well, based on the response, you wanted to know more. So I called Onsite’s Operational Manager Jeff Woolman to find out more about these automatic biodiesel brewers, that come in 80 gallon, 150 gallon and 230 gallon sizes.

“We did a three-year research study with USDA and the Michigan Corn Growers Association, so we’ve got a lot of farmers’ inputs,” Woolman says.

So what makes this biodiesel maker any different than some of the other kits out there or someone’s homemade concoction they have in their garage? Woolman says it’s fully automatic, so a farmer … or anybody using the machine … only has to spend a few minutes with the rig and come back a few hours later to have a batch of biodiesel ready to use.

“We went into it knowing there were other ones on the market with turn valves, and we wanted to have something that was fully automatic where could walk up, push a button and walk away from it.”

While it works well and is rugged, Woolman admits it’s not the prettiest thing out there with only a face a mother … or a farmer or a school administrator or a trucking company owner … could love. He says the lowest priced unit in the line costs about $12,000, but it comes with a trailer so multiple users could share it, making it easier to recover their investment.

Woolman says they’re currently able to produce about 500 of these biodiesel makers a year, and Onsite could ramp that up with plenty of workers in the Flint, Michigan area looking for a job. He hopes they’ll be able to provide plenty of jobs for a long time to come.

You can find out more about the company at the Onsite Energy LLC website.

Listen to my interview with Jeff here: Jeff Woolman, Onsite Energy

Audio, Biodiesel, USDA

EPA Proposes 15 Percent Ethanol Warning Label

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency has released its proposed design for the label on fuel pumps that would dispense E15, or 15 percent ethanol, as promised under the fragmented ruling issued last week allowing the fuel mix in only vehicles of model year 2007 and newer. EPA must now solicit comment on the proposed label for 60 days before it can issue a final label.

“The RFA will certainly have some comments,” said Renewable Fuels Association president Bob Dinneen on the organization’s E-xchange Blog. “Since EPA has chosen the most confusing of options for E15 implementation, ensuring the label is clear, factual and non-threatening will be critical. The industry has worked for a long time to remove confusing and alarming labels from pumps, and the RFA will engage vigorously with EPA to create a label that does not unnecessarily deter motorists from choosing E15. The label is meant to instruct consumers on how to the use the fuel, not frighten them away from doing so.”

Renewable Fuels AssociationMeanwhile, Dinneen says the industry is working together on the technical issues to make this limited introduction of the ethanol blend as smooth as possible. “First, working with Growth Energy, the RFA has begun the health effects testing and fuel registration process that must be conducted for any new fuel,” he said. “This testing is required to determine if any new chemical species in evaporative and combustion emissions are created as a result of increased ethanol content. We do not believe this will be the case and early testing is confirming that belief.”

Other issues that need to be addressed include testing on dispensing equipment; changes to state laws to allow for the use of E15; and completion of the fuels registration process by industry.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, RFA

Weather Impacts Brazil Sugarcane Harvest

Cindy Zimmerman

Brazil’s sugarcane growing areas went from too little rain earlier this season to too much rain in September, putting a damper on harvest activity, according to the latest report from from the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA).

UNICAHeavy rains, nearly 60 percent higher than average for the month, hampered cane crushing for second consecutive two-week period, but reportedly favored ethanol production in the South-Central Brazil region. UNICA Technical Director Antonio de Padua Rodrigues says they are experiencing “another exceptional year” in terms of weather conditions. “From April to early September, the amount of rain was well below the historic average, reducing the availability of cane. Already in September, especially at the end of the month, rainfall returned with greater intensity than expected, hampering the harvest and, more importantly, reducing the quality of cane that will be crushed in October,” he said, adding that these factors should impact the overall production of sugar and ethanol at the end of the harvest.

UNICA reports that total ethanol production has reached 20.30 billion liters, an increase of 22.59% compared to the same period in last year.

Brazil, Ethanol, UNICA

Petrobras and Novozymes Partner for Cellulosic Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Brazil’s Petrobras and international enzyme development company Novozymes are working together to develop a new route to produce second generation biofuel from sugarcane bagasse.

According to a company release, the agreement covers the development of enzymes and production processes to produce second generation lignocellulosic ethanol from bagasse in an enzymatic process.

NovozymesThe commercial potential of cellulosic ethanol in Brazil is substantial due to the great amount of sugarcane bagasse, a fibrous residue of sugarcane production, available in the country. Brazil is the world’s largest sugarcane producer with an extraction capacity of approximately 600 million tons per year, currently yielding 27 billion liters (7 billion gallons) of ethanol. It is estimated that bagasse-to-ethanol technology can increase the country’s ethanol production by some 40% without having to increase the crop area.

Novozymes is already carrying out research on enzymes to convert bagasse to cellulosic ethanol in order to make the process commercially viable. Enzymes break down plant waste such as corn stover, wheat straw, wood chips, and sugarcane bagasse, which is then fermented to produce ethanol.

Since 2006 Petrobras has been carrying out research on integrated biochemical processes for converting sugarcane bagasse to ethanol.

Brazil, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News

BioEnergy and Perdue Partner for Pennsylvania Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Under a new agreement, a subsidiary of Perdue Agribusiness will supply feedstock and sell co-products for a 110 million gallon per year ethanol plant in Clearfield, Pennsylvania.

BioEnergyPerdue BioEnergy has partnered with Bionol Clearfield, a subsidiary of BioEnergy International, to supply approximately 40 million bushels of corn as feedstock for the Clearfield plant. Perdue plans to purchase as much corn as possible from area farmers and bring the remainder from Midwest rail locations. In addition, Perdue will market and sell the 385,000 tons of the distillers grains, a co-product of ethanol production, as a feed ingredient to area feed mills serving Pennsylvania dairy, turkey and chicken operations as well as to international markets.

“Perdue’s ability to capitalize on home-grown corn and to market the distillers grains locally will continue to maximize the competitiveness of this important destination ethanol plant,” said Stephen J. Gatto, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BioEnergy International. “Bionol and Perdue AgriBusiness working together is an excellent fit,” said Dick Willey, President of Perdue AgriBusiness. “We share a commitment to farmers and agriculture in Pennsylvania and are pleased to support the PennSecurity Fuels Initiative.”

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News

NASCAR to Use Ethanol Blend

Cindy Zimmerman

NASCAR has announced it will race with ethanol-blended fuel in its three national touring series in next year.

“NASCAR is committed to being an environmental leader, and the sport has taken significant steps over the years toward conservation by introducing measurable, best-in-class initiatives in recycling, alternative energy, and carbon mitigation,” said Brian France, chairman and CEO of NASCAR. “The transition to Sunoco Green E15 takes our long-term sustainability strategy to the next level. Sunoco Green E15 is good for racing, good for the environment and good for America. While fueling the same close, door-to-door racing that thrills our fans, American ethanol creates jobs in the United States, helps foster energy independence, and continues the greening of our sport.”

sunocoThe fuel will be provided to NASCAR by Sunoco. The new high-performance fuel is called Green E15, described as “a 15-percent ethanol blend using American-made ethanol from corn grown by American farmers.”

“Since 2004, Sunoco has produced and delivered to NASCAR the world’s best racing fuel flawlessly in a challenging, high-stakes environment,” said Bob Owens, senior vice president of Sunoco. “We’re proud to be part of NASCAR’s dedication to conservation with Sunoco Green E15 — the ultimate high-test ethanol fuel blend. In our six years as official fuel partner, Sunoco has changed with the times by helping NASCAR transition to unleaded fuel, and now we are eager to produce for the sport a high-performance ethanol blend.”

As the new official fuel of NASCAR, Sunoco Green E15 will replace Sunoco 260 GTX, the 98-octane, unleaded race fuel that set the standard for performance. Starting in 2011, Sunoco Green E15 will be used by every car and truck in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Racing

US Investigates Chinese Wind, Solar Support

John Davis

American officials say they are looking into allegations that China is providing unfair support to the country’s wind and solar products makers, as well as the advanced batttery and energy-efficient vehicle industries.

This Wall Street Journal article says U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk promises a vigorous pursuit of these allegations through the World Trade Organization:

The United Steelworkers union on Sept. 9 petitioned the Obama administration to examine China’s green technology practices, saying the country employs export restraints and subsidies, discriminates against foreign companies and imported goods, and engages in other practices that harm U.S. interests and run counter to global trade rules.

A spokesman at China’s embassy said the country’s policies promote energy security and sustainable development, and conform with WTO rules.

“As allegations contained in the petition in question are unwarranted, it’s not a right move by the U.S. side to decide to conduct investigation into it,” said embassy spokesman Wang Baodong.

The article goes on to point out that while the U.S. also supports its own clean-energy sector, the USW says China is using its subsidies specifically to help exports, a violation of trade rules.

International, Solar, Wind

Report: Diesel’s Compatibility with Biodiesel Key

John Davis

A new report says that diesel’s compatibility with biofuels, especially biodiesel, makes it poised to play a bigger role in the clean fuel options of the future.

A new Hart Energy Report, entitled “Diesel: Fueling the Future of a Green Economy,” says “diesel fuel’s unique attributes – its energy density, low-sulfur content, widespread availability and compatibility with biofuels, it is easy to recognize diesel’s emergence as a leading fuel of the future.”

With the United States moving to implement stronger environmental and fuel economy standards and expand the use of renewable fuels, clean diesel fuel is “poised to take on an even greater role in the U.S. transportation market”, according to a newly-released Hart Energy Consulting report.

“While there has been a lot of speculation about the role of unproven energy technologies in the emerging green economy, this new analysis clearly highlights that clean diesel will play a vital role in the green economy both today and in the future generations of energy and transportation,” said Allen Schaeffer, the executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum.

“A search for secure, reliable energy supplies has led policy makers and industry to explore the use of new transportation fuels such as electricity and renewable fuels. Because of diesel fuel’s unique attributes – its energy density, low-sulfur content, widespread availability and compatibility with biofuels, it is easy to recognize diesel’s emergence as a leading fuel of the future,” according to the Hart report (p.5).

“Diesel offers energy and environmental improvement without the need for development of an infrastructure to support the advanced technology. Diesel’s unique capability to utilize a range of renewable fuels and blends enhances its desirability under emerging renewable fuel requirements.” (p.27)

You can read the report for yourself here.

Biodiesel

Biodiesel Board Invites You to Meet Biodiesel Influencers

John Davis

The National Biodiesel Board is inviting you to meet the people committed to the biodiesel industry at the upcoming National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, Feb. 6-9, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona.

The group wants those who are on the fence about going to the green fuel’s premier event to think about what they might miss … such as the chance to meet and talk with the true movers and shakers in the biodiesel industry:

The National Biodiesel Conference & Expo attendance continues to attract the very best in the biodiesel industry! From our Monday evening reception in the Exhibit Hall, the Biodiesel Networking Center in the Exhibit Hall, to the numerous open forum “Conversessions” that will be offered this year, NBB wants to assist in your efforts to network, connect and learn! We believe these additions and changes to the program will create boundless networking opportunities and allow you to meet new people with some of the same biodiesel interests. Where better to meet than the premier biodiesel conference in the country?

More information on registration and booth availability is on the conference website. And look for our coverage of the event on the conference blog.

Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, NBB

Florida Waste to Biofuel Plant Progress

Cindy Zimmerman

A Florida company has announced today that it is three permits closer to opening the BioEnergy Center, the first commercial waste to energy facility in the US.

INEOS Bio’s first commercial project in the United States has secured key permits to build its waste to bioenergy facility in Indian River County, Florida.

The BioEnergy Center will be developed entirely within the existing footprint of a former agricultural processing facility. The DOE Finding and Environmental Assessment established that the BioEnergy Center would have no adverse impacts with respect to sound, traffic, air quality, water quality or to threatened or endangered species. The assessment also found that no changes to land use, planning or zoning were necessary and will not result in any significant change to the existing visual quality of the site and surrounding area. As part of the extensive assessment, the DOE requested input from various entities including Federal, state, local agencies, elected officials, tribal interests, businesses, organizations and members of the general public.

The BioEnergy Center will generate eight million gallons of third-generation bioethanol each year from renewable biomass including yard, wood, agricultural and vegetative wastes. The Center will also generate six megawatts of renewable electricity. The facility will be the first to use INEOS Bio’s advanced BioEnergy technology, the world’s leading feedstock flexible technology for advanced biofuels. The technology breaks the link between food crops and ethanol production. At the heart of the INEOS Bio technology is a patented anaerobic fermentation step, through which naturally occurring bacteria convert gases derived directly from biomass into bioethanol.

Unlike other technologies that rely on one primary source of feedstock, the INEOS Bio process can produce bioenergy from numerous feedstocks, including forestry and agricultural waste, sustainable energy crops, construction waste and municipal solid waste. This flexibility allows facilities to be built anywhere that a renewable biomass feedstock is available, providing jobs and locally sourced energy for urban and rural communities. The Indian River facility is scheduled to begin construction in 4th quarter of 2010 and begin production in 2012.

bioenergy, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News