DOE Announces Additonal $100M in ARPA-E Funding

Joanna Schroeder

New_DOE_Logo_DFU.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today an additional $100 million round of funding opportunities for transformational energy research projects that will be made available through the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). This announcement was made along side Commerce Secretary Gary Locke in advance of the Copenhagen Climate Conference.

In a statement, Chu said, “I am pleased to announce ARPA-E’s second funding opportunity because it demonstrates our commitment to lead the next Industrial Revolution in clean energy technologies, creating thousands of new jobs while helping cut carbon pollution,” said Secretary Chu. “This solicitation focuses on three cutting-edge technology areas which could have a transformational impact.”

Unlike the last round which focused on supporting projects such as biofuels, carbon capture, renewable power vehicles and more, this round will focus on three key areas: new approaches for biofuels, carbon capture and batteries for electric vehicles.

In a new category coined electrofuels, “ARPA-E is seeking new ways to make liquid transportation fuels – without using petroleum or biomass – by using microorganisms to harness chemical or electrical energy to convert carbon dioxide into liquid fuels.” More specifically, they are looking at funding projects that will research, “organisms capable of extracting energy from hydrogen, from reduced earth-abundant metal ions, from robust, inexpensive, readily available organic redo active species, or directly from electric current.

It is theorized that such an approach could be 10 times more efficient than current photosynthetic-biomass approaches to liquid fuel production. Click here to learn more about submiting a proposal.

biofuels, biomass, Energy, Government, News

EPA Determines CO2, Other GHGs Endanger Society

Joanna Schroeder

coal_fired_power_plantSome of the biggest news to come out of Copenhagen yesterday was the ruling from the Environmental Protection Agency that greenhouse gas emissions are now considered “an endangerment” to society. This ruling now gives the EPA the authority, under the Clean Air Act, to regulate greenhouse gases. This decision could lead to stricter vehicle, manufacturing and power plant emissions – including ethanol and biodiesel plants.

The timing was no coincidence as President Obama is looking to improve America’s bargaining hand during the two week Climate Change Conference where leaders from nearly 200 countries are attempting to create a global climate policy plan.

On December 7, 2009, the Administrator signed two distinct findings regarding greenhouse gases under section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act:

  • Endangerment Finding: The Administrator finds that the current and projected concentrations of the six key well-mixed greenhouse gases–carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)–in the atmosphere threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations.

  • Cause or Contribute Finding: The Administrator finds that the combined emissions of these well-mixed greenhouse gases from new motor vehicles and new motor vehicle engines contribute to the greenhouse gas pollution which threatens public health and welfare.

In addition to tightening emission standards, there are two other ways that have been discussed at length to regulate CO2 emissions, the gas that is in the most abundance. First is through a carbon tax and second through a cap and trade system.

Biodiesel, Environment, Ethanol, global warming, Government

American Process Receives $17.9M for Cellulosic Plant

Joanna Schroeder

Ethanol_PlantAmerican Process, a company based in Atlanta, Georgia, has received a portion of the funds that were awarded by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Biorefinery Assistance Program – $17.9 million to be exact. The funds will be used to develop a plant that will produce ethanol and potassium acetate, a deicer, from wood waste generated by a local hardboard company, Decorative Panels International.

According to an article in the Michigan Messenger, Governor Jennifer Granholm said in a statement, “This grant, in support of one of our Centers of Energy Excellence, will bring 160 jobs to the Alpena area and strengthen Michigan’s efforts to be a leader in the development of the next generation of advanced biofuels.”

Back in June, the state approved the site location as part of a tax-exempt Renewable Energy Renaissance Zone for 15 years beginning next January. In addition to the DOE funds, the project has had other investments including the receipt of $4 million from the Center of Energy Excellence.

biomass, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Solayme Awarded $21.8 Million for Algal Fuel Project

Joanna Schroeder

Solazyme_logoSolazyme, Inc., which was just named the ‘Top 50 Hottest Company in Bioenegy‘ by Biofuels Digest, announced that it has received a $21.8 million federal grant to build its first integrated biorefinery in rural Riverside, Pennsylvania. The funding was announced by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and marks the next step in producing algal based fuel. Research conducted by the company has shown that their algal oil will reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions between 85-95 percent.

“We are honored to partner with the Department of Energy and are excited to be creating jobs in California and Pennsylvania. Our technology reduces reliance on foreign oil and enhances national security while providing strong environmental benefits,” said Jonathan Wolfson, chief executive officer of Solazyme.

According to the company, the DOE funds, along with other private investments will be used, “to move toward commercialization faster, creating and preserving jobs in diverse regions across the country and creating jobs in manufacturing, construction and agricultural processing.” Solazyme’s Integrated Biorefinery will be located on the site of Cherokee Pharmaceuticals’ existing commercial biomanufacturing facility in Riverside, Pa.

“Last year’s record high gas prices and their impact on families and businesses proved that we must reduce our dependence on foreign oil in favor of biofuels produced here at home. Solazyme’s innovative project is working towards that goal by demonstrating how we can turn algae into fuel in a cost-effective way and on a commercial scale. These are the types of investments we must make today in order to strengthen our economy, our environment and our national security in the long-run,” said Governor Edward Rendell of Pennsylvania.

algae, biofuels, News

Grant to Help Iowa Plant Produce Biodiesel & Cosmetics

John Davis

elevanceAn Illinois company has received a $2.5 million federal grant to put in a demonstration project in an Iowa biodiesel plant that could allow the facility to produce the green fuel and cosmetics.

Last month, I told you how Elevance Renewable Sciences of Bolingbrook, Ill., was looking to get some government assistance to put in the $8.1 million project in Renewable Energy Group’s Central Iowa Energy biodiesel plant in Newton (see my post from Nov. 23, 2009). Now, the Des Moines (IA) Register reports the U.S. Department of Energy has come through with part of the money Elevance was looking for:

Elevance uses a proprietary technology that could produce fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics from the same soybean oils and animal fats used at biodiesel plants. It has told state officials that the process could be bolted on to other biodiesel plants around the state.

Elevance also has requests pending for a $3.8 million grant from the Iowa Power Fund and another $800,000 from the Iowa Department of Economic Development.

Elevance is backed by the Texas Pacific Group investment fund of Fort Worth as well as Cargill and Materia Inc. of Pasadena, Calif., which owns the patents to the Olafin Metathesis process that won the 2005 Nobel Prize.

This grant is part of that $600 million the feds announced last week that went to 19 biorefinery projects in 15 states.

Biodiesel, Government

Biodiesel Completes Capitol Christmas Tree Journey

John Davis

CapitolChristmasTree2Tomorrow (Tuesday) night will be a magical time in Washington, D.C., as the Capitol Christmas Tree is officially lit.

The National Biodiesel Board points out that the 85-foot blue spruce made the 4,000-mile cross-country trip from Arizona to the nation’s capital on a truck fueled with biodiesel … a first for the tradition of the Capitol Christmas Tree that goes back to 1964:

Two diesel trucks running on B5 (a 5 percent biodiesel fuel mix) were part of a caravan carrying the approximately 125-year-old tree from the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.

NBB-logo“It is significant that the Capitol Christmas Tree was delivered with biodiesel because economic development, carbon reduction, and energy security continue to dominate national priorities,” said Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board. “Biodiesel helps us achieve all of those things.”

The trucks carrying the tree and its accompanying 10,000 handmade ornaments and 80 companion trees that will be placed in offices throughout the Capitol Complex made their way across country, using the BioTrucker system going from biodiesel station to biodiesel station to pick up donated biodiesel along the way.

Biodiesel, NBB

IA RFA to Hold Their 4th Annual Renewable Fuels Summit

irfaThe Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) will be holding their 4th Annual Renewable Fuels Summit on January 25, 2010 in Des Moines, Iowa. The one day event will cover several topics that will negate the misinformation leading to harmful renwable fuels policies.

Several of the topics covered during the summit include: Biofuels: Charting a New Course for Energy Independence; Life After RFS; Beating the Blend Wall; Driving Iowa’s Energy Future; and Unlimited Future for Biofuels.

“Whether a biofuels investor or just interested in the renewable fuels industry, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit will put the hot topics front and center,” said IRFA Managing Director Lucy Norton. “There are decisions being made in Des Moines and DC now that will shape the renewable fuels industry for years to come. This conference is our way of keeping everyone up-to-date on these issues – whether E15, alternative biofuels feedstocks or federal policies that will influence future demand.”

The summit is free and open to the public. It will begain at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. The summit will be held at the Polk County Convention Complex. To register, click here.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

Book Review – Our Choice

Joanna Schroeder

OurChoiceThis morning the Copenhagen Climate Conference kicked off. As I mentioned in earlier posts, the two big issues are the reduction of CO2 and the halting of deforestation. As I noted in other writings, there are Climate Alarmists and Climate Skeptics. Climate Alarmists, which Al Gore would be considered, believe that if we don’t curb global warming now, the earth will face unprecedented consequences. The climate skeptics, as Bjorn Lomborg would be considered, offer the view that the problem has been blown out of proportion or is focused on the wrong culprits. Actually there would be nothing more fun than a Lomborg/Gore debate.

On Friday, I presented a ‘skeptics’ view…today I will present an ‘alarmists’ view. For the third book review, I chose Al Gore’s, “Our Choice A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis.” Most people know that Gore helped to put the global warming debate on the map with his first book and movie, “An Inconvenient Truth.” These efforts led to a shared Oscar and co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. Gore will also be playing a major role in Copenhagen over the next two weeks.

Gore begins, “It is now abundantly clear that we have at our fingertips all of the tools we need to solve the climate crisis. The only missing ingredient is collective will.”

Throughout the book, Gore uses a combination of words, graphics and pictures to demonstrate the climate change debate, detail many of the solutions and offer policy recommendations. There is one area where I think Gore did a great job, and that is explaining what the six categories of global warming pollution are: carbon dioxide, methane, black carbon, sulfur hexaflouride, tetrafluoroethane, carbon monoxide, butane and nitrous oxide. To date, the biggest focus has been on carbon dioxide and Gore’s focus throughout the book is no different.

Along those same lines, Gore advocates that the most effective way to curb CO2 is through putting a price on carbon. He writes, “An effective plan for solving the climate crisis must include aggressive remedies for our erroneous reliance on deceptive market signals in carbon-based energy.”Read More

book reviews, Environment, global warming, Opinion

Copenhagen VIPS travel in Limos Fueled by Straw

Joanna Schroeder

Tanking of the Volvo VIP Fleet with Biomass Made from Waste

Tanking of the Volvo VIP Fleet with Biomass Made from Waste

VIPS traveling around Copenhagen during the Climate Conference are not only traveling in style, their limos are fueled with biofuel produced from straw. According to Novozymes, the largest enzyme producer in the world, this is the first time ever a fleet of limos has been fueled with this type of biofuel.

The advanced fuel is made from waste biomass, namely straw, by Inbicon, at its new USD-60 million gallon demonstration plant in Denmark. The fuel boasts an 85 percent reduction in CO2, as compared to cars running on gasoline. The reduction of CO2 is a hot topic during the conference.

Another hot topic is developing more effective enzymes to convert starch to sugar during the biofuel production process. Novozymes developed the enzyme that is being used in Inbicon’s ethanol production process.

The fleet of Volvo limousines is sponsored by Partnership for Biofuel, which is a cooperation between Inbicon, Statoil, Danisco, and Novozymes, as well as Volvo.

biomass, Environment, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Growing Biodiesel Crops on the Road

Cindy Zimmerman

Roadsides and median strips may turn out to be the perfect place to grow crops for biodiesel.

freewayfuel“It’s a very non-traditional approach to utilizing some public lands that are not being utilized as well as they could be,” says Utah State University researcher Dallas Hanks. It is estimated that there are some 10 million available acres of land in roadsides, airports, military bases, railroad areas and more that currently require significant maintenance cost that could be used for producing biofuel crops such as safflower and canola which could be harvested a couple times a year. The benefits include a new source for biofuel feedstocks, as well as improved aesthetics and reduced roadside maintenance costs.

nafb dallas hanks“We’ve been lucky enough to get a national coalition with an executive committee and land grant universities all around the country involved in this,” Hanks said during a recent interview at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual meeting. “We are excited about their interest and we are excited to put some seeds in the ground.”

Other partners in the project include the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and New Holland Ag. “New Holland has been wonderful from the get-go on this,” said Hanks. “They were very gracious in giving us some equipment to help us with our research costs and further this project.” NBB has been the main source of funding for the project, for which Hanks says they are very grateful.

Some of the states already moving on the project include Tennessee, Michigan, North Carolina and Washington.

Find out more about this initiative from biodieselsustainability.com and freewaystofuel.org. Listen to or download my interview with Dallas Hanks below.

Audio, Biodiesel, NBB, New Holland