USDA Proposes Blending Solar and Wind Power

John Davis

A USDA scientist believes wind and solar power generating systems could be set up to complement each other.

A study by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) agricultural engineer Brian Vick at the agency’s Renewable Energy and Manure Management Research Unit in Bushland, Texas says that by using solar power during doldrum days and wind at night could help offset the two energy sources shortcomings:

Vick discovered that in the Texas Panhandle and West Texas, as well as in northern and southern California, there is almost an exact mismatch between wind power production and peak energy demands over a 24-hour period. In these locations, at the heights of modern wind turbines, winds are lowest at mid-day, when power demands are greatest. In Texas, there is also a seasonal mismatch: The winds are weakest in the summer, when power demands are highest.

But the sun’s rays are most intense at mid-day and in summer months.

Texas is the top state for wind-generated electricity production, with Iowa ranking second and California third. California is the leader in solar-generated electricity production.

The most efficient storage system is one being used in solar thermal power plants, where the sun’s heat is used to heat water or other fluids. The fluids are kept hot long after the sun goes down, ready to be used later to produce steam to generate electricity.

The excess electricity generated by wind in the late night and early morning hours could be pumped into the grid and removed by storage facilities (like pumped-storage hydroelectricity or compressed-air energy storage facilities) to match the utility loading in the daytime.

The article goes on to say that Vick and his colleagues have also been testing wind/biodiesel hybrid systems.

Biodiesel, Solar, USDA, Wind

First U.S. Wave-Energy Project Moves Forward

Joanna Schroeder

Ocean Power Technologies (OPT), a New Jersey-based company focusing on harnessing energy from oceans, announced a major step towards the approval of a license issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to build the first commercial wave park on the West Coast. OTC has signed a Settlement Agreement (SA) with 11 federal and state agencies along with three non-governmental stakeholders for its utility-scale wave power project to be located 2.5 miles offshore near Reedsport, Oregon.

The wave park will be comprised of 10 PB150 PowerBuoys with a maximum sustained generating capacity of 150 kiloWatts, an undersea substation to collect the power and a submarine cable to deliver the power to the Pacific Northwest Grid. Once complete, it is anticipated that 4,140 MegaWatt hours per year will be delivered to the grid – or enough electricity to power up to 375 homes. The company reports that the first PB150 PowerBuoy is already being constructed at the Oregon Iron Works.

As reported in a company press release, this first-ever wave energy SA was reached after extensive technical, policy, and legal discussions to place to discuss appropriate prevention, mitigation and enhancement measures.

Oregon’s Governor, Ted Kulongoski, said, “The Settlement Agreement is a groundbreaking document that demonstrates the State’s commitment to partnering with the private sector and coastal communities to explore how we can tap into the renewable resource of ocean waves to power our communities. The manufacture of the first buoy has already created dozens of green-energy jobs in Oregon and when the 10-buoy wave power project is built, a whole new industry will be created to benefit our coastal communities. This is an exciting time for our State and I look forward to continuing to foster this new industry in Oregon in a way that is sensitive to marine habitat and continues to value this important resource for Oregon’s fishermen.”

Electricity, Energy, News

Ethanol Production Strong, Exports Holding Steady

Joanna Schroeder

Ethanol production fell slightly for the week ending August 8, 2010 as compared to the week prior, yet remained strong totaling 866,000 barrels per day (b/d) or just shy of 36.4 million gallons per day. This according to Energy Information Administration (EIA) and reported by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). The four-week average ending August 6, 2010 shows ethanol production remains strong at 848,000 b/d.

Nationwide stocks of ethanol also dipped to 19.3 million barrels or 810.6 million gallons. This is down from 19.5 million barrels the previous week, and the lowest total since the week ending August 11, 2010.

Gasoline demand is down as well, landing just under 388 million gallons per day. As a percentage of daily gasoline use, daily ethanol production represents 9.38 percent – the highest percentage since weekly production reports began.

June ethanol exports (both denatured and un-denatured, non-beverage) came in 6 percent less than May numbers, totaling 16.07 million gallons. Overall, however, exports for the first six months of 2010 equaled total exports for all of 2008, the strongest export year in recent history. True to form, Canada and Mexico remained the top two markets for U.S. product.

U.S. ethanol producers consumed 13.131 million bushels of corn daily which produced 877,000 b/d of ethanol. In addition to ethanol, U.S. producers also supplied more than 97,000 metric tons of livestock feed daily, 86,300 metric tons of which was distillers grains. The industry also supplied 3.75 million pounds of corn oil daily.

Data from the federal government showed that 4.06 million metric tons of distillers grains had been exported in 2010 through June. This is down from 5.6 million metric tons exported in total during 2009 and 4.5 million metric tons exported in 2008. Not surprisingly, China is now the top importer of U.S. distillers grains, representing 25 percent of the market followed by Mexico and Canada.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Camelina for Biodiesel A Good Bet

Joanna Schroeder

Camelina continues to show promise as a second-generation feedstock for biodiesel. The feedstock has several advantages including a high oil content, grows on marginal land and needs little to no fertilizer or water. It contains a high amount of Omega-3s and its dried distillers grains have already been approved as cattle feed. Researchers at Penn State have been working with farmers along with HERO BX to test the viability of camelina for several years and early tests are showing great promise.

However, camelina began its upward trajectory as a viable feedstock for biodiesel when aviation tests were successfully conducted using biodiesel blends including camelina (HERO BX was involved in some of these tests).

There is also research underway at Washington State University (WSU) and researchers Scott Hulbert and Bill Pan are working with local farmers to refine camelina varieties, cropping practices, economics and marketing. The research is part of a new major initiative called the “Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest” project. In partnership with Alaska Airlines, Boeing, the Port of Seattle, the Port of Portland, and Spokane International Airport, the project will look at biomass options, including camelina, within a four-state region as possible sources for creating renewable jet fuel.

According to a press release from July 12, announcing the project the partnership will examine all phases of developing a sustainable biofuel industry, including biomass production and harvest, refining, transport infrastructure and actual use by airlines. It will include an analysis of potential biomass sources that are indigenous to the Pacific Northwest, including algae, agriculturally based oilseeds such as camelina, wood byproducts and others. The project is jointly funded by the participating parties and is expected to be completed in approximately six months.

“The Pacific Northwest is a global gateway for people, cultures and commerce and aviation is a vital contributor to that process,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Jim Albaugh. “Developing a sustainable aviation fuel supply now is a top priority both to ensure continued economic growth and prosperity at regional levels and to support the broader aim of achieving carbon-neutral growth across the industry by 2020.”

Biodiesel, News

Investors Fuel Algae-Biofuel Maker Solazyme with $52M

John Davis

Algae-biofuel maker Solazyme has garnered $52 million in venture capitol from the likes of Morgan Stanley and Chevron.

This article from the New York Times says the San Francisco-based company is using the money to commercialize its green fuel:

Solazyme is one of the most successful companies working on algae, along with generously-funded Sapphire Energy. While most of its competitors struggle to scale, it already has a contract with the U.S. Navy to supply jet fuel made entirely of algae derivatives. The Navy agreed to fund the company in exchange for 20,000 gallons of fuel for its ships, valued at $8.5 million. It has already received 1,500 of these gallon.

What makes Solazyme special? It relies on a fermentation process that allows a certain type of bioengineered algae (which grows in the dark) to convert sugars directly into oils. Short and relatively easy, this procedure uses existing industrial equipment, saving money on what has proved to be an otherwise expensive, multi-phase operation. The company is able to produce a full replacement for petroleum-based fuel, not simply an additive.

Like many other biofuel companies, including those that use microbes to convert feedstocks, Solazyme is also applying its process to generate industrial chemicals, including food additives and cosmetics. This chemical business has proven to be a lot more lucrative than selling fuels for companies like LS9, Amyris Biotechnologies and Mascoma. But Solazyme seems to be closer to making its fuels profitable, perhaps in the next two to three years.

The article goes on to say that to be successful, Solazyme will have to be able to build a plant big enough to achieve reasonable scale. That size of facility could cost up to $100 million. An algae-based rival, Synthetic Genomics, has just opened its own test facility in Southern California with about $600 million from ExxonMobil. That explains Solazyme’s wooing of the Chevron money.

algae, Biodiesel

Am. Lung Assoc. in MN to Hold Biodiesel Workshops

John Davis

Just about everything in this country moves by a truck, train or barge running on diesel. The folks up in Minnesota, with their first-in-the-nation biodiesel mandate, are holding some workshops to show just how important the green version of diesel … biodiesel … is:

To help people better understand recent changes in diesel fuels and engines, and the growing role of biodiesel in Minnesota’s transportation industry, the American Lung Association in Minnesota is hosting two free workshops featuring Hoon Ge of MEG Corp. The workshops will discuss recent refining changes in traditional petroleum diesel and how to recognize and respond to problems with diesel fuels. The event and lunch are free, but attendance is limited. Contact Kelly Marczak at Kelly.Marczak@lungmn.org to register.

The workshops will be held in Duluth at the Duluth Holiday Inn, Downtown Waterfront, 200 West First Street on Monday, August 23rd and in Bemidji at Hampton Inn & Suites Bemidji, 1019 Paul Bunyan Dr S. Both run from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm.

The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and United Soybean Board are sponsoring the workshops.

Biodiesel

REG to Re-Open Seneca, Illinois Biodiesel Plant

John Davis

Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group (REG) will hold a grand re-opening of its Seneca, Illinois biodiesel plant. The biodiesel maker and marketer became the operator of the 60 million-gallon-a-year biodiesel and glycerin facility, taking over from Nova Biosource Fuels.

REG will have Congresswoman Deborah Halvorson on hand to make remarks on the start-up of the plant and to “[c]elebrate the start of biodiesel production at the 60 million gallon per year biodiesel facility, recognize industry partners, welcome 38 full-time employees and increase awareness of biodiesel’s benefits for Illinois’ environment, economy and energy independence.”

The REG Seneca facility has three side-by-side 20 mgy biodiesel process units, a technical grade glycerin refining facility, raw material and finished product storage as well as rail car and truck unloading and loading with the potential for barge transportation that had been idled for more than a year.

REG now wholly-owns five biodiesel production businesses and markets biodiesel in 49 states.

Biodiesel

New Blender Pumps in Kansas

Cindy Zimmerman

Growth Energy and Pro Ag Marketing have joined forces to install two new blender pumps in Kirwin and Kensington, Kan. The Kirwin Blender pump station is branded Pro Ag Marketing and the Kensington facility is named Corner Corral Cenex.

“Selling ethanol blended fuels in our communities makes sense, as there is great synergy between what we do in producing the crops that are used in making ethanol and putting that ethanol fuel right back into our cars and trucks that we use every day,” said James Jirak, General Manager of Pro Ag Marketing and station owner. “In a way, we are supporting our own local economy as we create demand for our crops by using ethanol.”

On Friday, Kansas ethanol producer Prairie Horizon, headquartered in Phillipsburg, will sponsor a grand opening event at the Corner Corral Cenex featuring industry representatives, state lawmakers and officials. The station will offer special pricing for ethanol-blended fuel, with E85 for 85 cents per gallon and 25 cents discounts on E10, E20 and E30. “Blender pump infrastructure is important to us as an ethanol producer because it further promotes ethanol as America’s fuel,” said Mike Erhart, General Manager of Prairie Horizon.

The new pumps installed will bring the total number of blender pumps in the state to 14. The Kansas Corn Commission also provided funding for the blender pumps.

blends, E85, Ethanol, Growth Energy

Biodiesel Product Can Clean Up Oil on Beaches

Cindy Zimmerman

Biodiesel producers could be utilized to help clean up oil the coastline after the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

biodiesel oil spillAccording to the National Biodiesel Board, methyl esters – a chemical yielded in biodiesel production – can be formulated into a biobased solvent that is federally listed as a shoreline washing agent for oil spill clean-up. An effort is underway to encourage the use of this product to remediate oiled shorelines, particularly the more sensitive marsh habitats.

“The chemical dispersants used in the Gulf have been criticized because all they do is dissolve the oil back into the water, which actually makes it more toxic to sea life,” said Randall Von Wedel, founder and principal biochemist of CytoCulture International, a company that pioneered the method in the 1990s. “A biobased solvent does the opposite of a dispersant. It removes the oil from impacted vegetation and shoreline and floats it into the water for easy recovery.”

The process involves crews spraying the methyl esters from shallow draft boats onto oil-covered marsh vegetation or small beaches normally unreachable by land. After the biobased solvent is applied, a gentle “rain” of seawater rinses the dissolved petroleum mixture off the plants and shoreline for recovery, using small mechanical skimmers. The mixture can be recycled.

Von Wedel recently visited the Gulf of Mexico, where his team submitted documentation on his product, branded “CytoSol Biosolvent.” He says a BP contractor and the U.S. Coast Guard have submitted a proposal to use the process to enhance a mechanical beach cleaning technology. The methyl ester product was licensed by the State of California in 1997 and used to clean oiled ships and response vessels during the San Francisco Bay oil spill of 2007.

See a demonstration of how it works here:

Biodiesel, NBB, Oil

DOE’s Loan Guarantee Program to Receive Cuts

Joanna Schroeder

At a time when the alternative energy industry is calling for the Department of Energy (DOE) to follow through on loan guarantees, the U.S. House of Representatives is attempting to pass a Senate bill that would cut the program’s budget by $1.5 billion. According the the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), this move is part of a $26.1 billion package that is reallocating funds to cover other struggling areas including Medicaid and teacher salaries.

This program came to the public’s attention last year when it was used to fund the $2 billion Cash for Clunkers Program – a program that ran out of funds within days of being launched.

According to an article in Solar Industry News, SEIA is furious over the proposed cuts even though the program is already significantly over budget. The association estimates that to date, there are 81 renewable energy project applications that total an estimated $31 billion, yet there is only $25 billion left in funding, not calculating any additional program cuts.

Al Gore has entered the fray publishing a quote on his website about his outrage. “These rescissions put into jeopardy the green jobs that the administration has touted as part of our clean-energy future and put us further behind the rest of the world.”

The alternative energy industry has been struggling for the past several years due to both dwindling private investment funds, lack of cohesive policy that would ensure long-term markets, and the lack of loans from the financial sector. The loan guarantee program is one of the last sources of monies for companies to tap in to as they struggle to develop and bring to market new technologies.

In a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi dated August 6th and endorsed by the American Wind Power Association, Biomass Power Association, Geothermal Energy Association, and the National Hydropower Association, the groups wrote that the cuts significantly undermine the DOE Loan Guarantee Program.

“Failure to act on the Treasury Grant Program and other tax incentives or to restore funding to the DOE Loan Guarantee Program will jeopardize the renewable energy industries’ efforts to develop clean electric generation and create tens of thousands of jobs. We urge you to work with the Administration and the Senate to reverse these cuts and restore funding for the renewable energy loan guarantee program,” the letter concluded.

Electricity, Energy, politics, Solar