Sustainable Oils Leads in Camelina Biojet Fuel

Joanna Schroeder

Bozeman, Montana-based Sustainable Oils is working toward an important goal. They are working to produce advanced biofuels using sustainable methods and feedstocks. One of their prime energy crops is camelina, which has a naturally high oil content and relatively low input costs (the crop needs little water or fertilizer and is suited well to grow on marginal land). It is also an excellent rotation crop with wheat.

Sustainable Oils‘ focus is on the aviation market and they have partnered with Boeing Company as well as UOP, a Honeywell Company, to bring renewable aviation fuels to market. But the big question is can the renewable aviation fuels withstand the extreme pressures of both commercial planes as well as military jets?

To find out, the U.S. Navy and Air Force both selected Sustainable Oils, as did Japan Airlines, as a fuel partner for several tests and so far the results have been promising. Sustainable Oils President Scott Johnson told DF, “We’ve seen strong demand for camelina biojet and expect that demand to continue to grow in the coming years. The success of the 2009 Japan Airlines test flight, as well as with the 2009 Navy and Air Force test flights, demonstrate that our fuels meet the quality and performance requirements that these aircrafts demand. We’re going to continue to work closely with the U.S. military and commercial airlines to provide the next generation of domestically produced, renewable aviation biofuels that help reduce emissions and enhance energy security.”

Despite the promise that biojet fuels hold, there are grave concerns among the biofuels industry as to its future. The biodiesel tax credit expired at the end of 2009 and has not yet been extended. In addition, the DOE loan guarantee program, that was in part designed to ensure that advanced biofuels companies could have access to much need monies, has stalled with funds not dispersed to companies that have already been awarded the loans. These two issues have created a hesitancy among private investors to infuse much needed dollars into the industry to be used to go from pilot-scale projects to commercial scale production.

I asked Johnson how the lack of the biodiesel tax credit was affecting both his company and the industry. He replied, “Let’s be clear. The petroleum industry not only has a 100 year head start on the renewable fuels industry, but it also has received, and continues to receive billions of dollars in subsidies, incentives and other financial benefits.”Read More

Biodiesel, bioenergy, biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, News, Opinion

2 Days Left to Register for Export Exchange

Joanna Schroeder

Export Exchange 2010 is 10 days away but it’s not too late to register. You have two days to take advantage of pre-registration for the event which will connect DDGs (dried distillers grains) and course grain buyers with domestic sellers. Export Exchange is being held in Chicago and will be the place to get answers, make contacts and build your business. Conference attendees will learn from international leaders about current opportunity and constraints surrounding the export of U.S. DDGs and course grains, both of which are growing each month.

In addition, breakout sessions will cover contracting and risk management. coarse grain production, supply and demand, DDGs shipping, handling and contracting, and the use of DDGs in livestock industries.

Export Exchange is co-sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council and the Renewable Fuels Association. The event will bring together more than 170 international buyers of U.S. DDGS and coarse grains with hundreds of U.S. producers and agribusinesses. Click here to register before it’s too late.

corn, Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, RFA

Clean Energy Policy Under Fire by Big Oil & Friends

Joanna Schroeder

The Center for American Progress Action Fund (CAPAF) has released a new analysis that concludes that Big Oil and other special interests have spent millions of dollars in lobbying and campaign contributions to defeat clean energy legislation. The study, “Dirty Money” found that the top 35 spending companies and trade associations, including oil, mining and electric utility,  invested more than $500 million in lobbying and campaign contributions from January 2009-June 2010 to crush clean energy and clean tech legislation. Besides the federal level, one of the states Big Oil has been most active in is California. When analyzed the groups spent $1,800 in lobby expenditures a day for every senator and representative during the time of the study.

According to CAPAF this high dollar spending and political pressure has convinced enough legislators to oppose clean energy measures that would have created jobs, reduced oil use and cut pollution caused by global warming. To date, no comprehensive environmental policy has been passed, the renewable electricity industry is struggling for a federal renewable energy mandate, the biodiesel industry has lost its tax credits, and rumors coming out of DC this week are that the ethanol tax credit will not be extended either.

“This year had many extreme weather disasters and fossil fuel catastrophes. Yet too many senators ignored these events and instead heeded the extreme views of big oil, dirty coal, and their allies rather than those of the American people,” said Daniel J. Weiss, Senior Fellow and Director of Climate Strategy for the Center for American Progress Action Fund. “America suffered from its hottest temperatures and worst offshore oil blowout, yet enough senators opposed clean energy reforms that made change impossible so far.”

Six of the seven companies with the largest lobbying expenditures are Big Oil companies*ExxonMobil (1), ConocoPhillips (2), Chevron (3), BP (5), Koch Industries (6), and Shell (7). According to “Dirty Money,” their 18-month lobbying expenditures total $143 million. In addition, the study reports that the American Petroleum Institute, a Big Oil front group, spent $11 million to lobby Congress to defeat pollution reductions and maintain their tax loopholes, along with another $126 million on television ads just this year alone.

“While big oil, dirty coal, and other special interests profit from inaction, everyday Americans will pay the price of doing nothing. Clean energy investments and pollution reductions would create jobs, protect public health, and reduce our oil dependence,” noted Weiss. But because enough senators caved to special interests, China will get our clean energy jobs while we are stuck with the dirty energy pollution.”

Ironically, this past July, China became the world’s largest user of energy, surpassing America and according to analysts polled by Bloomberg, China will become the largest importer of oil within the next 1o years.

Biodiesel, biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Oil, Research

POET to Keynote at Wisconsin Bioenergy Summit

Joanna Schroeder

Next month, Wisconsin will host a summit to focus on the state’s future in bioenergy. The Wisconsin Bioenergy Summit, hosted by the Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative (WBI), will be held on October 14, 2010. This year’s event will focus on fueling Wisconsin’s future and will feature presentations from multidisciplinary university experts, state policymakers and innovators from the private sector.

One of this  year’s keynote speakers at the Summit is Greg Hartgraves, POET’s Senior Director of Research. Hartgraves will be discussing the progress in advancing both cellulosic and corn ethanol and how they will work together in the future to make ethanol in more sustainable. Hartgraves will speak at 3:45 pm at the Montona Terrace in Madison, Wisconsin.

Last month, Project Liberty, POET’s first cellulosic pilot plant that when in production will produce 25 million gallons per year of ethanol from light corn stover and corn cobs, began the world’s largest biomass harvest.

Registration for the event is open for both professionals and students and is $25 for professionals and free for students. Click here to learn more.

Biodiesel, biofuels, Cellulosic, conferences, Ethanol

Green Star to Build Algae-to-Biodiesel Plant

John Davis

Utah-based Green Star Products, Inc. has announced it will build an algae-to-biodiesel refinery on the west coast.

This company press release says Green Star has already started building the 13 modules to process the algae oil into biodiesel:

The algae to biodiesel plant will be rated initially at two million gallons per year with all necessary provisions incorporated so that the plant can easily be expanded to larger capacities in the future. The algae bioreactor system associated with this biodiesel plant is still under negotiation. Green Star will also participate in the engineering, fabrication and construction of the algae facility.

Since this algae-to-biodiesel facility will be one of the largest of its kind ever built, it will not only be designed as a commercial facility but also serve as a giant research facility. Many other organizations will be involved, including universities and international research companies.

Mr. Joseph LaStella, President of Green Star, stated: “There are many technologies that will be incorporated into the facility including the MMB formula for algae growth, which has been verified by industry professionals in the past two years to increase algae growth 200% and more over a six day growth cycle. This algae growth booster formula has been successful in many types of algae strains including saltwater and freshwater species.”

More information is on Green Star’s website.

algae, Biodiesel

Alltech Buys Algae Fermenter for Biofuels

John Davis

Kentucky-based Alltech Inc. has bought a $14 million state-of-the-art algae fermentation facility in Winchester, Kentucky from Martek Bioscience Corporation.

This press release from the natural animal nutrition company says the facility will be used, in part, to make biofuels, including ethanol:

“For Alltech, algae fermentation presents our latest technological platform from which we expect incredible opportunities in the areas of food, feed and fuel to arise.” said Alltech Founder and President, Dr Pearse Lyons. “We have worked in this area for several years and see it playing a major role in both human and animal health and nutrition as one of the world’s more renewable food and energy sources. As with virtually all facilities we acquire, we expect to start an expansion phase here in Winchester within the next 18 months. I am confident that this will be one of the key pieces that will help our company pass the $1 billion revenue threshold in 2015,” Lyons continued.

The purchase price will be paid over four years and will include the majority of the assets on the 23 acre site. The site will be renamed Alltech Winchester and will represent a further increase of over 1 million liters of fermentation capacity for the company and become its 5th primary production site in North America and 10th globally. Alltech also has 21 further production sites, which tailor its products for its 120 local markets.

Algae are some of the fastest growing plants in nature and have the ability to convert large amounts of carbon dioxide into oxygen, a characteristic that makes it particularly interesting in today’s more environmentally conscious world.

“Alltech is actively developing processes that are derived from a variety of different algae types,” said Becky Timmons, Alltech’s Director of Applications and Quality Assurance. “Algae are one of the most diverse organisms in the world and their potential for product development is tremendously exciting for us. Alltech currently has the largest carbon dioxide sequestering algae pilot plant system in the state of Kentucky and this new acquisition will allow us to move our research yet further towards true implementation.” she continued.

The facility will allow for continued work with Alltech’s carbon dioxide sequestering algae strains as well as strains that are grown with other carbon sources. The algae will then be used for value-added feed products, algae derived bio-fuel, and the production of ethanol.

Alltech’s rural Biorefinery, which started the company’s interest in algae, will be shown off at the Future of Farming section in the Alltech Experience Pavilion at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 held in Lexington, Kentucky from September 25 to October 10, 2010.

algae, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

Ohio Offers $8M Boost to Ethanol, Biodiesel Plants

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. federal government may be dragging its heels on its support for biofuels, but many states, including Ohio, are stepping up to plate. The Dayton Business Journal has reported that Ohio has designated an $8 million fund to boost biofuel production by subsidizing ethanol and biodiesel refining equipment purchases. The program is designed to give ethanol and biodiesel equipment manufactures based in Ohio a market boost.

The money is actually coming from the state’s $96 million energy project allocation as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Ohio Department of Development’s Energy Resources Division is currently accepting applications for funding under the Advancing Biofuels Beyond the Basics program. Awards will be given for projects not to exceed $1 million for any one project, and are designated for the purchase of equipment that will increase second generation ethanol refining capacity or biodiesel production facilities.

Requirements of the program include a stipulation that the company receiving the award must pay at least 25 percent of the total project cost, the project must be complete within one year of the award and it must demonstrate a direct economic benefit to Ohio.

A bidders’ conference is scheduled in Columbus on Oct. 6. Registration is required by e-mail at Recovery.Stickel@em.ohio.gov.

biobutanol, Equipment, Ethanol

Hart Releases Global Biofuels Outlook Report

Joanna Schroeder

Despite the growing number of people who are calling for a global halt or scale back of biofuels development, global biofuel demand is still expected to grow. Biofuel use is projected to grow by 133 percent by 2020, primarily driven by government policies and renewable fuel mandates. However, despite the growing demand, the market is expected to be short by more than 8 billion gallons during this same time frame. This according to the newly released Hart report Global Biofuels Outlook, 2010-2020: Projecting Market Demand by Country, Region and Globally. The report looks at biofuel supply and demand in four key global regions and 35 countries.

“Many countries are projected to find themselves with a supply deficit for ethanol and biodiesel by 2020,” said Tammy Klein, Assistant Vice President, Hart Energy Consulting, and global study leader. “This deficit is worse for ethanol than for biodiesel,” she said.

Hart projects that the global supply may be short 5 billion gallons for ethanol, and 3.4 billion gallons for biodiesel by 2020. Meantime, demand for biofuels is expected to grow through 2020 driven by public policies requiring biofuels blending. “We actually see the biofuels supply deficit begin to appear around the 2015 time frame,” said Klein.

It should come as no surprise that Brazil is leading the way for biofuel expansion and development followed by the U.S. Next in line is China, Japan, the UK, and Germany.

Frederick L. Potter, Executive Vice President, Hart Energy Publishing notes why Brazil has the lead. “With its favorable GHG profile, these countries will primarily look to Brazilian advanced sugarcane bio-ethanol for supply, especially given the global context of tightening GHG limits — and limited commercial volumes of cellulosic ethanol. Obligated parties in the U.S. will find themselves competing for these volumes as never before. We expect this to lead to continued price appreciation for sugarcane ethanol over the 2011- 2020 period.”

Klein noted that not only will Brazil retain its position as the world’s top exporter of ethanol through 2020 (Brazil is estimating that its ethanol production will double in the next 10 years) Read More

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Research

EPAC Hosting Free Ag Biofuels Summit

Joanna Schroeder

The Ethanol Producers and Consumers (EPAC) is hosting an Agricultural Biofuel Summit on October 19 & 20, 2010 at the MSU Northern Bio Energy Center. The focus of the Summit will be wheat and barley ethanol production using small grains. Discussions will also focus on barely research and development, the Appomattox Barley to Ethanol plant model, biofuels and biodiesel in agricultural business, biodiesel products and warranties, the closed loop system of ethanol production, and more. Additional partners involved in the event include the Montana Department of Agriculture, Bear Paw Development Corporation, Montana Economic Developers Association, and the MSU Northern Bio Energy Center.

Of special interest will be speaker Craig Shealy, President of OSAGE BioEnergy who will present the Appomattox Barley Ethanol Plant model. The plant, which is scheduled to go online in November, will become the first working barley to ethanol plant in the country. Additional speakers include Phil Madson, President of KATZEN International, who served as the construction and service provider for OSAGE.

Also speaking is Bruce Nelson, Farm Service Agency State Executive Director, who will conduct a brief community outreach forum focusing on the 2010 USDA Biofuels Strategic Production Report. The presentation will follow the Biofuel Summit. Nelson chairs USDA’s Montana Food and Agriculture Council.

Individuals including agricultural producers, consumers, biofuel distributors, educators, students, livestock producers, and financing institutions are especially encouraged to attend. The event is open to the public and is free to attend compliments of funds provided by a Growth Through Agriculture Grant from the Montana Department of Agriculture. Registration forms and additional information is available at the EPAC website at www.ethanolmt.org, or by calling 1-406-785-3722.

Agribusiness, Biodiesel, conferences, Ethanol

Don’t Miss the Down on the Farm Solar Tour

Joanna Schroeder

Mississippi Solar is getting excited for the National Solar Tour, an event that showcases solar energy for home buyers, businesses and everyone in between. The event is overseen by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES), and this year more than 650 tours are already scheduled for early October. This is the second year that Mississippi Solar will participate in the natural grassroots event.

“The appetite for solar in America’s southeast is growing, and Mississippi Solar’s Will and Carolyn Hegman are serving up some mouth-watering, cost-effective ideas to feed that hunger during their “Down on the Farm Solar Tour,’” said ASES National Solar Tour Manager Richard Burns. The tour is part of the non-profit American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Tour, the world’s largest grassroots solar event.

The “Down on the Farm Solar Tour” takes place October 2, 2010 from 9 am to 4 pm at 211 Popes Road, Carthage, Mississippi, 39051. Guided tours, which run every two hours beginning at 9 am, will highlight three distinctly different grid-tie installations. The first is a 2.4 kW solar carport ready for Tennessee-made electric vehicles rolling off assembly lines next year. Also featured is a ground-mount system with battery back-up. However, homes are not the only stop on the tour. Participants will also see the 8.4 kW, solar PV solution that sits atop a chicken house located at Spencer Pope Farms.

“We’re in the business of solar, but here in Mississippi we’re also in the business of educating. That’s what this tour is about,” said Hegman. “There are so many myths we’re battling, like there’s not enough sunshine to make solar viable – or that solar is just a fad. Truth is, all production figures for our solar installations have exceeded forecast projections thus far.”

Schools are getting involved in the tour by hosting their own solar day. In addition, the Choctaw Central High School, winners of the Hunt-Winston Solar Car Challenge, will also have their car on display. Click here to learn more about the “Down on the Farm Solar Tour.”

Electricity, Energy, Promotion, Solar