Sweet Source for Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

A sweet source for ethanol could be a smart choice for food and fuel that can grow almost anywhere.

ICRISATAccording to the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), sweet sorghum may be the perfect crop for ethanol production. It grows in dry conditions, tolerates heat, salt and waterlogging, and provides steady income for poor farmers.

ICRISAT Director General Dr. William Dar says, “We consider sweet sorghum an ideal ‘smart crop’ because it produces food as well as fuel.”

Sweet SorghumUnlike sugarcane, sweet sorghum can be grown in many different areas. It is the world’s fifth largest grain crop—behind rice, corn, wheat and barley – grown on more than 107 million acres in 99 countries with United States, Nigeria, India, China, Mexico, Sudan and Argentina being the leading producers.

Last year, ICRISAT helped to build and operate the world’s first commercial ethanol plant using sweet sorghum as a feedstock, together with farmers in Andhra Pradesh, India. Scientists from ICRISAT and from India’s National Research Centre for Sorghum (NRCS) have developed varieties of sweet sorghum that would contribute to a reliable and steady supply of sweet juice for ethanol production.

Ethanol, News

Greasy Thieves Stealing Biodiesel Bounty

John Davis

A few years ago, restaurants couldn’t GIVE the stuff away… literally. But now that people have figured out how to turn used, dirty, old cooking grease into clean-burning biodiesel, what used to be waste is now a hot commodity… so hot that thieves are starting to snatch up the used grease.

We told you about this problem last August 20th. Now, this story from the Christian Science Monitor says the thefts of the now-valuable used cooking oil are on the rise nationwide:

In March, grease bandits in South Bend, Ind., broke bin locks to get to their oozy booty. One collector, Griffin Industries Inc., has two detectives working cases in Kentucky, Texas, Florida, Missouri, and against an entire grease gang in northern Arkansas.

Grease is a traded commodity like gold or pork bellies, and its price has tripled in the past two years – leading to increased theft. The reason: Grease can be used to make bio-diesel and has seen the same price spike as corn and other biofuel inputs.

“We monitor grease theft on a regular basis. Right now it’s a big issue,” says Christopher Griffin, director of legal affairs for Griffin Industries Inc. in Cold Spring, Ky. The company collects raw grease in 20 states and boils and filters it into “yellow grease,” which is what is used to make biodiesel.

Yellow grease is becoming liquid gold. It now trades on US commodities markets for 32 cents per pound, up from a low of 12 cents in 2006, according to data from The Jacobsen website.

“People who were not in the industry in 2006 are seeing this is a moneymaker,” says Mr. Griffin. The trouble for these grease greenhorns, he says, is that there’s no free grease anymore – it’s all under contract. “So those people, if they can’t get the volume of grease they want, then they will just steal it.”

The story goes on to say that police departments, which used to think the grease theft reports were just jokes, now take them seriously. And the problem has gotten so bad there’s a lawyer out there who specializes in defending these grease thieves. Now there’s a greasy shyster if ever there was one!

Biodiesel, Miscellaneous

Big Plans for Biodiesel in Miami

John Davis

The City of Miami is moving forward with plans to run a thousand of its vehicles on biodiesel.

This story from Emerging Energy News, based on a report from the South Florida Business Journal, says Mayor Manny Diaz has received the green light from the city council and has signed into law the measure to make the conversion:

Biodiesel of South Florida, led by Federico Garcia-Cartaya, reportedly emerged as the top bidder for the biodiesel supply contract, according to the report. Biodiesel of South Florida’s supplies will be drawn from soybeans grown in the United States.

Diaz aimed to have 1,000 city vehicles operating on hybrid technology or alternative fuels by 2012. The mayor has identified biodiesel and ethanol as the two main alternative fuels in his campaign.

The article goes on to say that nearby Coral Gables is already testing biodiesel… but on a much smaller scale.

Biodiesel

Green Star Releases Report on Algae-to-Biodiesel

John Davis

Green Star Products has released a report that shows the company’s progress in the new field of algae-based biodiesel.

In a press release, Green Star says its 40,000 liter demonstration facility in Montana is one of the world’s largest and has served as a scientific and engineering milestone towards the commercial production of algae for energy and food:

The algae industry is in such an embryonic state that very few people even understand the real algae production problems, much less, claim solutions for the production of algae.

Contents of the 20-page report are available on Green Star’s web site:

Phase I now is complete and has been successful in controlling the most important variables in algae production, i.e. temperature of water in large systems, salinity (salt content), evaporation, pH (acidity-alkalinity) and most all initial costs of construction.

Experts agree that the major hurdles in production of algae are associated with the control of the mechanical and physical parameters of the growth environment for the algae and the high capital costs of construction of that environment.”

Many suitable high-lipid (oil) algae species have been cultivated and already exit to produce the First Generation of sustainable energy farms. Present available algae species can produce 4,000 gallons of oil per acre each year, which is 50 times greater than the oil yield from oilseed crops such as soybean or canola crops.

The press release goes on to say that the development of algae as a biodiesel source will help the world solve the energy crunch, global warming, and the food supply crisis simultaneously.

Biodiesel

Minnesota Adopts Biggest Biodiesel Standard

John Davis

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has signed into law a measure that will increase his state’s biodiesel mandate from 2 percent currently to a whopping 20 percent by 2015.

As you might remember from my post last Friday (May 9th), the standard will be phased in over the next several years and will only be in effect when there’s adequate supplies of biodiesel available. In addition, due to Minnesota’s cold winters, the standard will apply only during the months of April, May, June, July, August, September, and October.

The news was welcomed, obviously, by the National Biodiesel Board:

Ed Hegland, Chairman of the National Biodiesel Board and a Minnesota farmer, praised the legislation’s commitment to fuel quality. “The legislation includes quality assurance and national ASTM fuel specifications,” he said. “We will continue to work with state leaders and stakeholders impacted by this legislation to ensure only quality fuel continues to enter the marketplace.”

The measure also calls for additional feedstocks of algae, waste oils, and tallow, as well as other future feedstocks being researched in the state make up 5 percent of the biodiesel’s content.

Biodiesel, Government, Legislation

Ethanol Group Names Deputy Director

Cindy Zimmerman

The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) has promoted Robert White to the new position of Deputy Director.

Robert WhiteWhite joined EPIC in 2006 as Director of Operations. He has played a major role in the expansion of E85 across the country. White also spearheaded the effort for a uniform labeling effort at the pump, which now has the EPIC “e” logo approved for use at retail outlets in 30 states. His latest accomplishment is the start of a blender pump program for the industry.

Prior to joining EPIC, White was the Deputy Director of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (NEVC). He has served on various boards and advisory committees, and has worked in the corn and sorghum industries on ethanol affairs.

EPIC, Ethanol, News

Iowa to Increase Ethanol and Biodiesel Infrastructure

Cindy Zimmerman

A new state law will help expand ethanol and biodiesel availability in the state.

Iowa Governor CulverAmid several bills signed by Iowa Governor Chet Culver on Monday was one that makes changes to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program created in 2006 to expand renewable fuel infrastructure and access to renewable fuels all across Iowa.

Among the changes are enhanced grants for E85 and biodiesel infrastructure, bonus grants for adding pumps at multiple retail outlets, allowing retailers to receive grants for both E85 and biodiesel pumps, and allowing blender pumps to qualify for the grant program.

Governor Culver says the law “modernizes the very successful state renewable fuels infrastructure program and makes biofuels more accessible and available for individuals traveling throughout Iowa.”

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association executive director Monte Shaw says the bill will boost Iowa’s efforts to bring more E85 and biodiesel to Iowa consumers. “Roughly 80 percent of Iowa flexible fuel vehicle owners do not have access to E85 within their ZIP code,” said Shaw. “This proactive legislation should cause petroleum wholesalers and retailers to rethink the profit potential for adding renewable fuels to their product mix.”

The bill also calls for the creation of a state-wide renewable fuels marketing plan and marketing campaign for owners of flex fuel vehicles.

Biodiesel, E85, Ethanol, Flex Fuel Vehicles, Government, News

Look To Ohio For Fuel Cell Innovation

John Davis

Fuel Cell CorridorOhio describes itself as a leader in the fuel cell industry and a prominent figure in clean energy innovations. And, to support its claim, the state will host the Ohio Fuel Cell Symposium at the University of Akron this Tuesday and Wednesday (May 11-12). The Ohio Business Development Coalition wants to showcase the state’s “nurturing business environment” for renewable energy.

Fresh on the heels of the passage of Ohio’s Energy Bill, the Symposium provides an opportunity for fuel cell industry leaders to discuss the critical role of alternative energy resources for Ohio’s future.

This month, Ohio Gov. Strickland signed into law a landmark energy reform bill that will require at least 25 percent of the electricity sold in Ohio to be generated from advanced energy technology by 2025 — with a minimum of 12.5 percent from renewable energy resources. At the same time, Ohio government leaders have agreed to pursue a jobs and economic development stimulus package that will provide $150 million in advanced energy supply chain funding to further stimulate industry development.

Ohio is one of the few places in the world where you can find all phases of fuel cell development taking place. The state is also home to the Ohio Fuel Cell Initiative, a multi-million-dollar program that aims to spur job creation in Ohio while positioning the state as a national leader in the growing fuel cell industry.

conferences, Energy

USDA Expects Enough Corn for Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast calls for enough corn and soybeans to meet both food and fuel needs.

The May supply and demand report released on Friday based predictions for the 2008-09 marketing year on an expected corn crop of 12.1 billion bushels, down 7 percent from last year’s record crop.

USDAUSDA is expecting total U.S. corn use in 2008-09 to be 2 percent lower than the current marketing year, which ends in August. The report calls for reductions in feed and residual use and exports to more than offset a continued expansion in ethanol production.

Feed and residual use is projected down 14 percent as corn feeding declines with increased production of distillers grains, higher corn prices, and reduced red meat production. Corn exports are projected down 16 percent as U.S. supplies face increased world competition with increased foreign production and a sharp drop in EU-27 imports. Ethanol use is projected at 4 billion bushels, up 33 percent from 2007/08. The slowing pace of plant construction and expansion, and lower capacity utilization are expected to modestly dampen growth in ethanol corn use. With total corn use expected to exceed production by 635 million bushels, ending stocks are projected down 45 percent. At 763 million bushels, ending stocks would be the lowest since 1995/96.

Meanwhile, on the soybean side, production is expected to be up by 520 million bushels this year, but biodiesel production is expected to be only slightly higher in the coming marketing year. USDA is projecting biodiesel will use 15 percent of total soybean oil production in 2008-09, compared with 14 percent this year.

Biodiesel, corn, Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Farming, Government, News

Biofuels Emerging Online

John Davis

Adino Energy Corporation has a new online identity. Consumers can log onto www.ifl-usa.com to find information about Intercontinental Fuels. The Houston-based wholesale fuel distributor and fuel terminal operator offers storage, delivery, and blending of both diesel fuel and biodiesel fuel.

“We are pleased to announce the successful launch of Intercontinental Fuels’ new website, redesigned to help visitors better understand our terminalling operations and enhance their on-line experience,” commented Timothy G. Byrd, Sr., Adino Energy Corporation’s chief executive officer.

“We also have a new website under construction for Adino Energy, and I look forward to soon unveiling it to our shareholders and the general public.

Biodiesel, Distribution, Energy