JetBlue Plans to Test Biofuels

John Davis

jetblueIn the wake of Air New Zealand, Continental Airlines and Japan Airlines successfully testing biodiesel in their airliners, discount flyer JetBlue has announced it will try biofuels in its Airbus A320-200 by the spring of 2010.

This story from Flightglobal.com says the company plans to use non-food feedstocks:

Feedstocks being considered for the trial include jatropha, algae, waste forest residues, organic waste streams and the non-edible component of corn plants, corn stover, the spokesman says.

The biofuel should have the same properties as standard jet fuel and should not require engine or auxiliary power unit (APU) modifications, the spokesman adds.

And if I know JetBlue, the company will probably find a way to do it cheaper than everyone else.

Biodiesel

Editorial Defends Minnesota Biodiesel

John Davis

It’s been nearly a month since some school buses in Minnesota wouldn’t run after temperatures dropped to -20 to -30 degrees F. Commentators such Fox TV’s Glenn Beck derided the state’s 2 percent biodiesel mandate as the cause of the stalled Bloomington school buses… although he offered no explanation why this didn’t happen at EVERY other school district that had the exact same requirement.

Well, apparently, Beck has shot his mouth off again last Friday as he’s continuing his tirade against the green fuel, and according to this opinion piece in the Minneapolis Star Tribune Beck said, “Lawmakers put children’s safety at stake because they don’t want their buses to run on a politically incorrect kind of fuel.” But the editorial doesn’t want to give Beck the last word:

With Minnesota poised to transition to a higher percentage of biodiesel this spring, it’s important to set the record straight on the Bloomington bus issue. Biodiesel wasn’t the culprit causing the school buses to stall out. Unfortunately, the brouhaha has given the state’s pioneering mandates and the promising biodiesel industry an undeserved black eye.

Minnesota law currently mandates that virtually all diesel in the state contain 2 percent biodiesel. Almost any oil can be used to make biodiesel, according to Ed Hegland, an Appleton, Minn., farmer and chairman of the National Biodiesel Board. In Minnesota, it’s mostly made from soybeans, then blended with regular petroleum diesel. Petroleum diesel is the fuel on which most of the nation’s trucks, tractors and road equipment run. Minnesotans in particular are long acquainted with regular diesel’s drawbacks in cold weather. When the temperature drops below a certain point, wax crystals can form and gum up fuel filters. It’s why truckers idle their trucks overnight in cold weather and why many who rely on diesel during the winter switch to a different blend to minimize the problem.

I’m sure this won’t even be the final word. But the next time biodiesel opponents try to point to the Bloomington bus story as evidence that biodiesel doesn’t work, I’d like them to explain why it worked everywhere else on that cold January day.

Biodiesel, Opinion

2010 Saab 9-3X FFV to be Revealed

2010saab-wagonAccording to Motor Trend, the E85 compatible Saab 9-3X will appear at the Geneva Auto Show. The wagon is similar to the Audi Allroad. It is to appeal to outdoor enthusiasts looking for an alternative to large SUVs.

Saab designers lifted the chassis 1.4-in over the standard SportCombi and included the company’s “XWD” all-wheel-drive system. With multiple wet clutch plates and an optional rear limited slip differential, the system can dole out torque between the front and rear axles as it sees fit. For power supply, a turbo 2.0-liter E85-capable and a turbo 1.9-liter diesel engine. The all-wheel-drive-attached FFV engine produces 210 hp, and offers six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.

E85, Ethanol, Flex Fuel Vehicles

Virginia Legislature Moves Biodiesel, Renewable Energy Measures

John Davis

virginiaflagTwo bills aimed at helping the renewable energy business in Virginia have advanced in the State Legislature.

This story from the Richmond Times-Dispatch says the measures are part of Gov. Timothy Kaine’s eco-friendly “Renew Virginia” and cleared the Virginia Senate:

Senate Bill 1146, carried by Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple, D-Arlington, would require the government to purchase diesel fuel for its vehicle fleet that contains at least 2 percent biodiesel.

The requirement would not apply if the cost of the biodiesel fuel exceeds the cost of regular diesel by more than 5 percent. Whipple estimated the measure would cost the state a maximum of $1.25 million.

The original legislation would have required that diesel fuel sold to any consumer contain at least 2 percent biodiesel. It also would have set a 10 percent cap on the price difference.

By a vote of 38-1, senators also passed another Kaine priority Senate Bill 1141, which would allocate $2 million in renewable energy property tax credits for individuals and corporations.

The bill, carried by Sen. L. Louise Lucas, D-Norfolk, provides credits for the installation of solar electric generation, solar heating systems and wind-powered electrical generators.

Biodiesel, Government

Green Grand Prix Features Speed and Economy

John Davis

greengrandprixThis year’s Green Grand Prix is taking a dual-track in the nation’s premier event featuring alternatively-fueled vehicles.

This press release says along with the road rally… the signature event for the grand prix… this 5th rendition at Watkins Glen, New York on May 2, 2009 will also feature a new fuel economy competition:

Both road events are open to anyone, and organizers anticipate vehicles that will include all hybrid models, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen fuel cell cars and cars running on biodiesel, diesel, flex-fuel and pure electric. Organizers also expect many other interesting alternate fueled vehicles such as those powered by vegetable oil, as well as by LP and compressed natural gas.

The Doris Bovee Memorial Road Rally is the only official Sports Car Club of America road rally of its kind in the nation. The time-speed-distance rally covers more than 60 miles of scenic roadways…

The new ChicagoSoft Green Grand Prix Fuel Economy Run will offer its competitors the opportunity to set fuel economy records in various categories around the 80-mile perimeter of Seneca Lake. Fuel Economy Run entrants also will return to the Racing Research Center to take part in afternoon festivities.

Registration and more information is available on the Green Grand Prix Web site.

Biodiesel, Hydrogen

Toyota and Other Japanese Companies to Develop Cellulosic Ethanol

toyotaToyota Motor Corporation along with other Japanese companies announced they would be setting up a research company to develop a next-generation cellulose-derived biofuel — at low-cost. Contrary to feedstock crops, cellulosic ethanol uses inedible plant matter. Recently in the U.S., feedstock based ethanol has been blamed for raising food prices however, next-generation alternatives have proven more expensive than gasoline.

According to Reuters, the consortium has set itself the goal of producing 250,000 kilolitres (1.6 million barrels) per year of bioethanol by March 2014, and producing bioethanol at 40 yen ($0.437) per litre (about $70 a barrel) by 2015.

The other firms involved include: Nippon Oil Company, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Toray Industries Inc, Kajima Corp and Sapporo Engineering Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sapporo Breweries.

Miscellaneous

Study Shows Cellulosic Ethanol Goals Attainable

Cindy Zimmerman

A new study finds that large scale production of cellulosic ethanol beyond the level of the Renewable Fuel Standard is achievable and sustainable by 2030, with accelerated development of biofuel and agricultural technology.

BIOThe Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today announced the release of “The 90-Billion Gallon Biofuel Deployment Study,” a new report by Sandia National Laboratories and General Motors Corp. The report investigates the challenges and feasibility of increasing biofuel production targets to 90 billion gallons, which would displace nearly a third of projected transportation fuel use in 2030.

Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial and Environmental Section, says “This new study shows clearly that building U.S. production of cellulosic biofuels is a sound way to significantly reduce U.S. reliance on petroleum in the transportation sector. The study uses relatively conservative assumptions about the development of cellulosic biorefineries as well as the availability and possible yields of biomass to show that large-scale production of cellulosic biofuels can be done. Moreover, cellulosic biofuels can compete with high prices for oil while requiring investment equal to or less than that needed to find and develop new sources of domestic oil.”

Sandia National Laboratories’ Biofuels Deployment Model was used to complete the 90 billion gallon study, which found that cellulosic biofuels could compete without incentives with oil priced between $70 and $90 per barrel in 2030, with accelerated development of
technology and feedstocks.

BIO, Cellulosic, Ethanol, News

RFA Analyzes Recent Ethanol Impact Studies

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol Report PodcastThis edition of “The Ethanol Report” podcast features comments from Renewable Fuels Association Vice President of Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper about recently released studies from the University of Nebraska and the University of Minnesota regarding life cycle analysis and greenhouse gas emissions of ethanol compared to gasoline. Cooper compares the two reports and discusses RFA’s major concerns with the Minnesota study.

You can listen to “The Ethanol Report” on-line here:
[audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/rfa/ethanol-report-26.mp3]

Or you can subscribe to this podcast by following this link.

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol Report, RFA

Biodiesel Jet Truck Makes Its Debut

John Davis

prairielandtruckSaskatchewan-based Prairieland Motorsports has unveiled the world’s first jet-powered biodiesel truck.

This picture from the Prairieland Web site is the truck in progress. This story from CanadianDriver.com has details:

The truck, named Prairie Gold, was shown at the Manitoba Ag Days in Brandon, and at the Farm Tech Show in Edmonton in January. The body resembles a 2009 Ford F-150 pickup truck, but uses a J60 Pratt and Whitney jet engine, normally found in the U.S. Navy’s T-2 Buckeye intermediate training aircraft.

The truck is expected to reach speeds of 402 km/h in about 6.5 seconds on a drag racing track. It will be attending car shows, trade shows and drag races throughout Canada in 2009, including the World of Wheels Show in Calgary from February 19 to 21.

The truck runs on canola-based B100 biodiesel from local biodiesel supplier Milligan Bio-Tech Inc. of Foam Lake, Saskatchewan.

Biodiesel

Sirona Fuels Joins Biodiesel Business

John Davis

sironaSan Francisco-based Sirona Fuels has joined the biodiesel business. During an announcement, fittingly enough, at the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo last week in the Golden Gate city, company officials said they bought Blue Sky Biofuels, giving them a 15 million gallon a year refinery using recycled cooking oil:

Sirona has implemented plans for the rapid expansion of its used cooking oil collection business, and by the end of 2009 expects to produce the majority of its biodiesel from jatropha, an oil-yielding plant that grows on non-arable land and is not part of the food chain. The company has identified commercial sources for jatropha in several countries and is developing businesses that will promote the establishment of jatropha farms in Haiti, India and other developing countries.

By working with sustainable and affordable feedstocks like used cooking oil and jatropha, Sirona’s business model is designed to stabilize fuel prices for its customers, provide sustainable revenue to its suppliers and make significant volumes of high-quality biodiesel available to the market. Paul Lacrouciere, CEO of Sirona Fuels, has a 20 year history in the energy industry. Over the last ten years as an attorney he has structured and negotiated transactions with the some of the largest energy companies in the world.

“There is no better way for a company to go green or get ahead of rising oil prices and upcoming low-carbon fuel standards than with a fixed-price, high-quality biodiesel like Sirona offers,” said Lacourciere. “Sirona’s biodiesel exceeds ASTM standards and has among the highest quality of any biofuel in America. We plan to grow the company exponentially by acquiring more refineries and aggressively expanding our local and international feedstock supplies.

Sirona also is doing some pretty impressive philanthropic things as well, including helping underdeveloped countries develop their potential and establishing a relief fund for more than 1,100 orphans in Haiti. Check ’em out!

Biodiesel