ACE Conference 2026

Verenium Reports First Quarter Financials

Joanna Schroeder

Commission of Verenium's first cellulosic ethanol demonstration facility in Jennings, LA

Commission of Verenium's first cellulosic ethanol demonstration facility in Jennings, LA

Verenium Corporation today announced its first quarter earnings for 2009 reporting total revenues for the quarter ending March 31, 2009 at $14.4 million. Earnings are slightly down from first quarter 2008 when the Company reported $15.2 million in total revenues. 

According to a company news release, President and Chief Executive Officer, Carlos A. Riva, commented on the company’s financials by saying, “We had a strong start to 2009, beginning with the announcement of our 50/50 joint venture with BP for developing commercial cellulosic ethanol facilities. This critical partnership firmly positions us, along with BP, to be a first mover in the field of next-generation ethanol. As we look toward commercial operations, we continue to be very encouraged by the political climate and support for alternative energy and, specifically, biofuels.

Verenium has had several big announcements in the past few months including the consolidation of the company’s R&D headquarters to Jennings, LA; announced the second phase of the BP partnership to develop cellulosic ethanol from non-food feedstocks, and announced Highlands County, Florida as the location for their first commercial cellulosic ethanol facility. In addition, launched a new enzyme for the food and beverage industry called Veretase.  Visit www.verenium.com for more information about the Company’s financial report.

Cellulosic, Company Announcement

Biofuels Part of World Ag Forum in St. Louis

John Davis

worldagforumJust got word today that I’m headed to St. Louis next week to help cover the World Agricultural Forum’s Sixth Biennial World Congress, “Our Global Priority: Food Security—Financial, Trade and Technical Services,” for ZimmComm New Media, mostly on our sister Web site, AgWired.com.

For Domestic Fuel followers, there is plenty going on at the forum, especially in the sustainability field:

The 2009 World Congress will seek solutions to issues around agricultural production and supply, rising food costs, the crucial resource of water, and the impacts on agricultural economies and resources during a period of unprecedented financial uncertainties on a global scale. Defining strategies and creating solutions will require a better understanding of the drivers and challenges of agriculture and food production including labour, rising prices, shrinking sources of credit, leveraging of innovation and technology, creation of incentives for production and higher productivity, and reducing the impact of input costs to farmers. Each sector — government, private and private-public partnerships and civil society (NGOs) will be challenged to provide a road map to success by addressing the crucial issues of safe, affordable and reliable supplies of food, fuel, fiber and water.

If you’re in the St. Louis area on Tuesday, May 19th, check out the session entitled Food Security: An Integrated Approach to Biofuels. The session will be moderated by Henk Joos, Plant Science and Agronomy Director, D1 Oils and feature panelists Smt. Radha Singh, Former Secretary, Department of Agriculture, from India; Lee Broughton, Director, Corporate Sustainability, Enterprise; Ernie Shea, Project Coordinator, 25 X ’25; and Prof. Nuhu Hatibu, CEO, Kilimo Trust, East Africa.

Should be a pretty interesting conversation. Both Cindy and I will be providing coverage for the event, May 17-20. We’ll either see you there at the St. Louis Ballpark Hilton Hotel in downtown St. Louis or over on AgWired.com!

Biodiesel, Ethanol, International, News

Proven Energy Becomes Small Turbine Wind Leader

Joanna Schroeder

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has recognized Proven Energy, based in the west of Scotland (U.K.), as one of the world’s largest manufacturers of small wind turbines. A small wind turbine is defined as those with capacities of 100 kW and under. Proven Energy sold more than 5,800 kilowatts of wind energy worldwide in 2008, making them one of the most successful wind turbine manufacturers globally.

mainimage001According to AWEA’s recent small wind turbine global market study, at least 219 companies manufacture or will manufacture small wind turbines in the world. The small wind turbine market grew 78 percent in 2008 with the installation of 17,300kW of capacity. 

The company manufactures 2.5kW, 6kW and 15kW sized wind turbines for use in homes, businesses, schools, and municipalities. Replacing traditional forms of electricity generation (coal, natural gas) with a wind turbine can nearly reduce or eliminate electrical bills. The wind turbines can also provide electricity for remote applications including telecommunications sites operating in isolation of existing power. 

It’s anticipated that the small wind turbine market will continue to grow as recent federal legislation offers American taxpayers a 30 percent tax credit for installing renewable energy including wind or solar. Other tax incentives are available through the Rural Energy for America Program. 

Company Announcement, Wind

Japan to Start Study on E10

japan2Japan will begin a three year study on their allowance of 10 percent ethanol in their fuel. Currently, ths country only allows up to three percent of ethanol to help cut its greenhouse gas emissions.

Japan’s Ministry of Environment said they have given approval for two groups to study E10 issues. Osaka prefectural government will focus on ethanol made from discarded construction materials, while the Tokachi area in Hokkaido, northern Japan, will study E10 with ethanol made from farm waste.

Even if E10 were allowed, local feedstocks are at present too limited to make ethanol. Last year, Japan produced only 90 kilolitres of biomass ethanol at government-backed test plants. Also, no vehicle suitable for E10 is available in Japan although Japanese car makers sell such vehicles overseas.

Environment, Ethanol

Algae Project at Iowa Ethanol Plant Closer to Reality

John Davis

gpreAn ethanol plant in Southwest Iowa is closer to being able to produce algae, most likely to turn into biodiesel.

This press release from Green Plains Renewable Energy says the company and BioProcessAlgae LLC, a joint venture between Green Plains, CLARCOR Inc. (NYSE: CLC), BioProcessH2O LLC and NTR plc., have executed a grant award agreement with the Iowa Office of Energy Independence for a $2.1 million research and development grant from the Iowa Power Fund to build a project to use the water, heat and carbon dioxide from the production of ethanol to make algae at Green Plains’ ethanol plant in Shenandoah, Iowa:

“Algae has the potential to become an important carbon sequestration solution, biofuel feedstock and feed product,” said Todd Becker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Green Plains. “If the pilot project is successful, BioProcessAlgae will move to expand the photobioreactor system to full commercial scale. We believe that this pilot project will be one of the first operational installations of a photobioreactor system at an industrial plant in the United Sates utilizing emerging technology out of the laboratory.”

The Iowa Power Fund grant provides matching funds to install a series of photobioreactor units at Green Plains’ Shenandoah ethanol plant. Water, heat and carbon dioxide will be recycled from the ethanol manufacturing process to support continuous algae production. The grant provides funding through the end of the first quarter of calendar year 2010 with installation of the pilot project expected in the third quarter of 2009.

Now, while the press release never directly says what the algae would be used for, one would have to assume it would be for biodiesel. BioProcessAlgae officials believe the photobioreactor system is a very important step toward system commercialization of algae technology.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News

New Company Buys Former VeraSun Ethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

AgStar Financial Services has agreed to sell one of the six former VeraSun ethanol plants it purchased to the newly-formed Carbon Green BioEnergy of Chicago.

According to a news release, the 40-million gallon plant in Woodbury, Michigan will be the first direct ownership of ethanol production for Carbon Green BioEnergy when the sale closes in the next 30 days.

“This acquisition is particularly rewarding because it is a win, win,” said Jim Murphy, president of Carbon Green BioEnergy. “Clearly it represents a sustainable business opportunity for us and our partners. But importantly, it also demonstrates our tangible commitment to the Woodbury and neighboring communities with our focus on buying corn and selling ethanol and its
by-products locally, while reducing our carbon footprint.”

AgStar lending group continues ongoing discussions with qualified buyers for the five other acquired ethanol plants. “It takes a fair amount of time to work through the sales process for this size of facility. We look forward to making announcements on some of the remaining plants in the very near future,” said Paul DeBriyn, president and chief financial officer of AgStar Financial Services.

Ethanol, News

Corn Growers Adding Value to Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Iowa corn growers are investing in a corn oil and animal feed processor plant to add value to corn ethanol.

The investment in Merrill, IA-based Plymouth Oil Company is being made through Iowa Corn Opportunities, an equity fund established by the Iowa Corn Growers Association for investment and business development. “Plymouth Oil Company represents an important step forward for the corn ethanol industry which is currently suffering from depressed margins. Adding value to corn made ethanol is critical right now,” says Pam Johnson, President of ICO and corn grower from Floyd, Iowa. “Plymouth Oil Company is creating high value human food, high value animal feed while demonstrating that both food and fuel can be economically produced from the same kernel of corn.”

“We are able to increase the protein content of the distillers’ grains, making them more useable as a feed source in the poultry, swine and dairy markets,” says Dave Hoffman, President of POC. Hoffman also says that “corn oil is a high value vegetable oil product that is increasing in demand as food processors switch from hydrogenated soybean oil in an effort to reduce trans-fats.”

Iowa Corn Opportunities made the decision to invest in Plymouth Oil Company because it “ultimately represents an important value added opportunity for the ethanol industry, livestock producers, consumers and corn growers alike.”

corn, Ethanol

Wind Energy Web Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

More than 25 North American experts will discuss opportunities, trends and challenges related to community wind energy projects during an online web conference May 26 and 27 offered by Green Energy Web Conferences.

Presenters at the web conference include experts from organizations ranging from the American Wind Energy Association, Windustry and the World Wind Energy Association to the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy to Atlantic County Utilities Authority and Citibank. Organizers say the web conference is designed for people who are interested in learning more about community wind projects as well as for professionals already in the business wanting to keep up with this fast-changing alternative energy technology.

“When you include the savings from travel, hotel, and restaurant costs, a web conference costs only 10 percent of attendance at a traditional conference,” says Mathijs Gajentaan, CEO of Green Energy Web Conferences. “We’ve set it up interactively, so you can ask the speaker questions, browse the attendees’ profiles to see what they are doing and looking for, and connect with them. And if you can’t attend any of the live sessions, you can review the presentations at your convenience.”

Other upcoming Green Energy conferences will focus on Solar, Bio and Hydro power. The agenda and registration information for the wind energy conference is available on-line here.

conferences, Energy, Wind

Company to Produce Synthetic Diesel

Cindy Zimmerman

A California company has announced plans to build a plant in Rialto, California for the production of ultra-clean synthetic fuels and electric power from renewable waste biomass feedstocks.

Rentech, Inc. is working on what they are calling the Rialto Renewable Energy Center, or Rialto Project, which is designed to produce approximately 600 barrels per day of pure renewable synthetic fuels and export approximately 35 megawatts of renewable electric power. According to the company, “RenDieselTM, the renewable synthetic diesel to be produced at the facility, meets all applicable fuels standards, is compatible with existing engines and pipelines and burns cleanly, with emissions of particulates and other regulated pollutants significantly lower than the emissions from the combustion of CARB ultra-low sulfur diesel.”

The primary feedstock for the Rialto Project will be urban woody green waste such as yard clippings, for which Rentech is currently negotiating supply agreements. The location of the project will provide local green waste haulers with a cost-effective alternative to increasingly scarce landfills for the disposal of woody green waste. The plant is designed to also use bio-solids for a portion of the feedstock which is expected to be provided under a supply agreement with EnerTech Environmental.

biomass, Energy

Gen. Wesley Clark to Present Keynote at FEW‏

wesley_clarkGrowth Energy Co-Chairman Gen. Wesley Clark will present the keynote address at the 25th annual International Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) & Expo. Clark is expected to follow Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, who has been invited to give the FEW welcome address.

The FEW conference will take place June 15-18 in Denver, Colorado. The focus of the conference will be on commercial-scale ethanol production, new technology, and near-term research and development. FEW expects more than 700 booths at their expo and boasts that they are the world’s largest, longest-running ethanol conference.

few2009After opening remarks and a welcome, the conference will be in full swing. A few of the sessions will include the following: The Future of Ethanol Production in America — Part 1: The Next Three Years; The Future of Ethanol Production in America — Part 2: 2012 and Beyond; and Cellulosic Ethanol Project Development.

For more information on FEW, go to http://www.fuelethanolworkshop.com/.

Ethanol, FEW, Growth Energy, News