Plant to Produce Synthetic Oil from Biomass

Cindy Zimmerman

A new plant is in the works that will produce synthetic oil from biomass that can in turn be made into transportation fuel.

The process is called “fast pyrolysis” and two companies, Ensyn Technologies Inc. and Tolko Industries, have announced that they will build the world’s largest fast commercial pyrolysis plant in High Level, Alberta. When completed, the new plant will be capable of processing 400 bone dry tonnes of biomass per day into 85,000,000 litres (22.5 million U.S. gallons) of pyrolysis oil annually.

Canadian RFAGordon Quaiattini, president of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association called the announcement a breakthrough in more ways than one. “It is a landmark partnership between the renewable fuels and forestry sectors. It highlights yet another commercial breakthrough for next generation technologies. And it marks the first and most impressive plant of its kind anywhere in the world,” said Quaiattini.

The announcement also brings together the bio-energy and forestry sectors in a new and exciting fashion with the formal partnership between Ensyn and Tolko. Increasingly, cellulosic and other advanced technologies present new value-added opportunities for the forestry sector leveraging waste wood and by-products.

biomass, Cellulosic, International

New Yeast Strain For Cellulosic Ethanol Production

Cindy Zimmerman

Purdue University scientists have improved a strain of yeast that can produce more biofuel from cellulosic plant material by fermenting all five types of the plant’s sugars.

purdueThe researchers used genes from a fungus to re-engineer a yeast strain developed at Purdue. The new yeast can ferment the sugar arabinose in addition to the other sugars found in plant material such as corn stalks, straw, switchgrass and other crop residues.

The addition of new genes to the yeast strain should increase the amount of ethanol that can be produced from cellulosic material. Arabinose makes up about 10 percent of the sugars contained in those plants.

In addition to creating this new arabinose-fermenting yeast, the scientists also were able to develop strains that are more resistant to acetic acid, which gets into yeast cells and slows the fermentation process, adding to the cost of ethanol production.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, University

Verizon Fitting Ford Vans with CNG

John Davis

Communications giant Verizon is adding about 500 Ford cargo vans that will burn compressed natural gas (CNG).

This Ford press release calls the work on the E-250 cargo vans an upfit that will help Verizon reduce its energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions:

“Verizon’s fleet team is constantly on the watch for new, lower-carbon technology,” [Ken McKenney, Sustainable Fleet-Technical Engineering Lead for Verizon] said. “CNG is a leading alternative fuel choice right now, so converting these cargo vans to run on the cleaner-burning fuel helps us cut CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. We will continue to find ways to increase the efficiency of our fleet.”

Cargo vans represent the single largest group of vehicles in Verizon’s vehicle fleet. They are primarily used by technicians who install and maintain phones and FiOS TV and Internet services for homes and businesses. The CNG-equipped Ford E-250 vans will be used in key Verizon markets throughout the country that have retail infrastructures in place for fueling.

The vehicles are being converted to CNG by BAF, a wholly owned subsidiary of Clean Energy Fuels Corp.

Officials say that this is a move more company fleets could emulate.

Car Makers, Natural Gas

Hawaiian Utility Gets Green Light on Green Biodiesel

John Davis

The utility that provides almost all of the power for Hawaii has been given the go ahead to use biodiesel for some of that power production.

The state’s Public Utilities Commission has cleared Hawaiian Electric Company to use between three and seven million gallons of the green fuel made from used cooking oil and waste animal fat, from Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group. This post from BrighterEnergy.org says Maui Electric Company has also been given the go-ahead to use biodiesel from Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby made from palm oil at a demonstration plant:

HEC will be using the recovered oil biodiesel known as REG-9000 in the new 110-megawatt combustion unit at the Campbell Industrial Park Generating Station, which was completed last year.

The new unit can start quickly and also increase or decrease power output quickly, with HEC saying it would be important in helping balance the electricity network as more intermittent renewable energy sources like wind or solar power come online. It will also help restart the electric system in the event of a blackout.

Meanwhile Maui Electric is to demonstrate the use of biodiesel in replacing petroleum-based diesel in its generating units at Ma’alaea over a four-month period. The test will assess impacts on air emissions, heat rate, operations and maintenance costs.

The projects will help Hawaii reach its goal of getting 40 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

Biodiesel

New Class of Tractor Pullers to Use Biodiesel

John Davis

Some tractor pullers will be running green … and I’m not just talking about the John Deere machines out there.

This article from Wallaces Farmer says the National Tractor Pullers Association’s 2010 season will feature a new competition division, the Light Pro Stock class, and with sponsorship from the United Soybean Board (USB), those tractors will be running on soy biodiesel:

“I think tractor-pull enthusiasts will be very impressed by the performance of biodiesel,” says USB director Russ Carpenter, a soybean farmer from New York. “Biodiesel, in many ways, is superior to traditional diesel, and what better way to demonstrate that superiority than to push it to the max the way tractor pullers push their fuel to the max?” According to NTPA General Manager Gregg Randall, many pullers already realize the performance benefits of biodiesel and use biodiesel in competition. “We sent out a questionnaire to our NTPA Grand National Super Farm competitors, and 60% said they use biodiesel fuel in competition,” says Randall. “Many pullers believe in the fuel, and they use it in competition. The consumption should grow with the sponsorship of the Light Pro Stock class.”

The use of soy biodiesel makes sense since it is still the most popular feedstock for biodiesel and the fact that many of the drivers and fans have direct connections to the soybean industry.

Biodiesel, Soybeans

Making the Case for Getting Rid of Biofuels Subsidies

John Davis

As the biodiesel industry anxiously awaits Congress’ renewal of the federal $1-a-gallon biodiesel tax credit, an energy consulting company that specializes in biodiesel and ethanol operations is actually calling for elimination of these types of credits for all biofuels.

This opinion piece in Biofuels Digest from Sklar & Associates makes the case that we don’t have to give the biofuels industries government money to make them competitive with petroleum (which, by the way, gets plenty of government funds):

Although these blenders’ credits have had the effect of keeping biofuels prices comparable to prices received for petroleum based transportation fuels, while providing biofuels producers with enough additional revenue to allow them to remain in operation at a time of falling petroleum prices, it appears that blenders’ credits programs will ultimately prove to be inadequate.

First, they do not provide the certainty that adequate biofuels prices can always be obtained. The obvious problem is structural, as the blenders’ credits are set by legislation as a fixed amount per gallon, and subject to change, without regard to changes in fuels market prices.

Second, blenders’ credit legislation that is passed is subject to potential revision, discontinuance or repeal, depending on the prevailing mood in the Congress. And investors in projects that rely on price floors that are propped up by blenders’ credits, have no assurance that these floors would be sustained over the project’s life.

So what’s the solution? The article goes on to say that while more taxes on petroleum-based fuels are bad ideas, there are a couple of things that can be done that would equalize cost differentials that different blenders actually incur:

a) A biofuels use mandate imposed by the Federal Government on blenders of gasoline and diesel fuel to create a demand for biofuels; and,

b) A biofuels cost equalization program similar to the FEA’s Old Oil Entitlements program that would make those blenders who do not blend the mandated percentage of biofuels into their petroleum fuels products, to pay the added cost they would have incurred for doing so, to those resellers who blend more than the mandated percentage at a higher cost.

It’s an interesting concept, but I think I would feel better if we got rid of the subsidies to Big Oil and cut the biofuel makers a bit a slack. But, hey, I’m no consultant.

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, Legislation, News

EIA Releases Weekly Ethanol Supply & Production Info

Joanna Schroeder

Beginning this week, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) will release weekly ethanol supply and production numbers. In tandem with this change, the Renewable Fuels Association announced that it will begin providing a weekly note in addition to these statistics as well as offer any additional information that the organization feels is important to the market.

For the week ending June 4, 2010, EIA has reported that domestic ethanol production averaged 839,000 barrels per day (b/d). This equates to more than 35 million gallons per day. In addition, EIA noted that more than 768.6 million gallons of ethanol are in storage. For comparison, total finished gasoline demand (including conventional gasoline, reformulated gasoline or RFG and imports) averaged more than 386 million gallons daily for the week.

Due to the fact that this is the first week of data available, there is no historic data with which to compare. However, as a point of reference, the average daily production for June was 694,000 b/d.

For more information on current ethanol production numbers and historical data, visit RFA’s website at www.ethanolrfa.org.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Senate Leaders Promise Enough Biodiesel Votes…Again

John Davis

Senate leaders are promising again that there are enough votes to get the biodiesel tax incentive renewed.

This article from The Hill says New York Democrat Sen. Charles Schumer believes his chamber will have the 60 votes needed to pass the federal $1-a-gallon biodiesel tax credit as part of a larger measure introduced by Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Montana). But there are still some concerns that differences with the recently passed House version could still hold up the vote possibly next week:

The Senate extenders bill differs from the House-passed version by going easier on taxing “carried interest.” However, income from the sale of investment partnerships would still be taxed as ordinary income, as in the House proposal.

Schumer was uncertain if changes to carried interest would be accepted in the House…

Like the House legislation, the Senate bill resuscitates several individual and business tax breaks that expired last year. It includes measures like a deduction for teachers who buy school supplies and a research and development tax credit for businesses.

“The bill would also extend important energy tax incentives,” Baucus said. “For example, the bill would extend the dollar-per-gallon credit for biodiesel and renewable diesel. And the bill would extend the manufacturer’s credit for the construction of new energy-efficient homes.”

Biodiesel Magazine is reporting there is enough support to accept House amendments to the Senate amendments that would get the credit to final passage…finally. We’ll keep watching.

Biodiesel, Legislation

E85 Compatible Hose Approved

Cindy Zimmerman

Growth Energy and Veyance Technologies, a manufacturer of liquid fuel dispenser hoses, announced today certification has been issued on the final component for an E85 and blender pump dispenser by Underwriters Laboratory (UL). Approval has been given to the Veyance Flexsteel® Futura liquid fuel dispenser hose for use with mid- and high-level blends of ethanol.

An October 2006 decision by UL rescinded previous certification for the hose and entire E85 dispenser. Late last year, financial assistance was provided by Growth Energy to Veyance to accelerate submission of the hose testing. This announcement concludes the final series of UL testing for the “hanging hardware” which is attached to the basic fuel dispenser.

“We have been pleased to work with Veyance on this project in order to facilitate the testing and certification of the hose needed to dispense mid- and high-level blends of ethanol in blender pumps,” said Growth Energy CEO, Tom Buis. “Veyance’s certification on their liquid fuel hose represents a significant step in acquiring the complete certification of a mid- and high-level blend dispenser.”

“Veyance is pleased to offer our customers a dispensing hose that is certified for all level blends of ethanol,” stated Keith Collett, industrial hose marketing manager for Veyance. “Within the next few weeks we’ll start production of the Futura Ethan-ALL hoses and are excited about the potential of mid- and high-level ethanol blends. We appreciate Growth Energy’s support, which was instrumental in advancing the timeline for certifying our hose.”

Certification of a complete E85 and blender pump by UL is expected soon.

E85, Growth Energy

Underwriters Laboratories Introduces Solar Certification

Joanna Schroeder

Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a US-based provider of safety testing and certification services, has just launched its latest UL-Europe (UL-EU) mark for the European photovoltaics market. The mark is based on the applicable EN safety standards for photovoltaic products. In the U.S. and among the biofuels industry, UL is most well known as the organization that has yet to approve an E85 dispenser – a necessity as our country moves forward with achieving the goals set out in the Renewable Fuels Standard.

For companies operating in the photovoltaics markets based in both North America as well as other countries, UL now offers the ability to obtain the UL-EU mark in combination with UL certificates for the U.S. and Canada, as well as the IEC certificates from a single source. According to UL, the advantage of obtaining the certification is an easier entry to market due to lower administrative and logistics costs, and ultimately, certification expenses. Once certification is achieved, it is valid for 10 years as long as the product does not change or safety requirements are not altered.

In support of the new safety certification, UL is offering companies who are interested in obtaining UL and IEC certificates for global market access the new UL-EU mark for free. This offer also applies to companies that only require the IEC certificate. In addition, for any project started before the end of 2010, UL will not charge for inspection, administration or annual costs for the first year.

In March of this year, UL opened its largest global photovoltaic testing and certification facility in Frankfurt, Germany.

International, News, Solar