Virgin Flies Green

John Davis

virginplane.jpgUK-based Virgin Atlantic airlines has flown the world’s first flight of a commercial airlines running on biofuel today.

This story from Fox News says the flight from England to The Netherlands ran on a fuel made from coconut and babassu oils:

branson.jpg“This breakthrough will help Virgin Atlantic to fly its planes using clean fuel sooner than expected,” Sir Richard Branson, the airline’s president, said before the Boeing 747 flew from London’s Heathrow Airport to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.

He said the flight would provide “crucial knowledge that we can use to dramatically reduce our carbon footprint,” he said.

Sunday’s flight was partially fueled with a biofuel mixture of coconut and babassu oil in one of its four main fuel tanks. The jet carried pilots and several technicians, but no passengers.

Virgin Atlantic spokesman Paul Charles predicted this biofuel would produce much less CO2 than regular jet fuel, but said it will take weeks to analyze the data from Sunday’s flight.

The article goes on to say that the flight comes as airlines are trying to find ways to beat the high price of oil while also reducing their carbon footprint. Virgin officials point out that they had to make no modifications to the aircraft for the biofuel.

Biodiesel

Pennsylvania Gets First Ethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

BioEnergy InternationalBioEnergy International was the first to break ground in Pennsylvania and construct an ethanol plant. Pennsylvania will be home to a new Bionol Clearfield biorefinery.

BioEnergy International, LLC announces ground breaking for the Bionol Clearfield LLC, 100 mgpy corn ethanol biorefinery under construction in Clearfield, Pennsylvania.

The corn and cellulosic pilot plants to be built in Clearfield are core to BioEnergy’s mission of integrating the development of novel biocatalysts for use in innovative, state-of-the-art biorefineries. Guided by a strategic business model and supported by proprietary technology, BioEnergy is a responsible leader in the new industrial revolution.

“Renewable fuels like ethanol offer this nation an immediate opportunity to begin the hard work of mitigating the impacts of climate change, developing greater energy independence and creating jobs and economic opportunity at time when the economy faces significant challenges. The U.S. ethanol industry stands eager to join with Pennsylvanians and the people at BioEnergy International to help meet the energy and environmental challenges this country faces,” said Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen.

Ethanol, Facilities, News, RFA

Ethanol Fires Up LPP Gas Turbines

John Davis

LPP CombustionLPP Combustion has successfully created a way to operate gas turbines using ethanol. The company says their operation offers another alternative for clean, renewable energy.

LPP Combustion, LLC, using its patented LPP Combustion System, has recently demonstrated natural gas-level emissions from bio-derived ethanol (ASTM D-4806) during gas turbine combustor testing. Emissions of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter (soot) were the same as natural gas-level emissions achieved using current dry low emission (DLE) gas turbine combustion technology. In addition, the combustion of this bio-derived ethanol produced virtually no net carbon dioxide emissions.

LPP Combustion has developed a Lean, Premixed, Prevaporized (LPP) combustion technology that converts liquid biofuels, such as biodiesel and ethanol, into a synthetic natural gas. This LPP Gas can then be burned with low emissions in virtually any combustion device in place of natural gas, providing users with substantial fuel flexibility. A DLE gas turbine utilizing LPP Technology to burn biofuels creates a low emissions power plant with no net greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in the cleanest use of renewable fuels.

Biodiesel, Distribution, Energy, Ethanol, Facilities, News, Production

The Persian Gulf of Solar Energy

John Davis

abengoa.gifArizona is being touted as becoming the “Persian Gulf of solar energy,” as a Spanish company unveils plans to build a three-square-mile sized solar power plant in the desert.

This story on CNN says when it is done, it will be one of the largest solar plants in the world:

Abengoa Solar, which has plants in Spain, northern Africa and other parts of the U.S., could begin construction as early as next year on the 280-megawatt plant in Gila Bend — a small, dusty town 50 miles southeast of Phoenix.

The company said Thursday it could be producing solar energy by 2011.

Abengoa would build, own and operate the $1 billion plant, named the Solana Generating Station.

Solana will be enough to supply up to 70,000 homes at full capacity.

What makes this plant unique is that it relies on the sun’s heat… not the rays… to produce electricity. And with temperatures that soar to 120 degrees, there will be no shortage of a “feedstock” for this renewable energy source.

Solar

Industry Optimism

Cindy Zimmerman

The chairman of the Renewable Fuels Association is excited about the developments in cellulose technology for the future of the ethanol industry.

Chris Standlee“And we fully believe that many of these technologies will in fact be proven to be economically viable on a commercial scale,” said Chris Standlee, who is executive vice president of Abengoa Bioenergy in St. Louis.

He says support from the US Department of Energy through research grants is definitely helping to speed the process along. “We are fortunate enough to be the recipient of a grant to prove our cellulose technology on a commercial scale in a facility that we are building in southwestern Kansas,” one of six grant-funded plant that are scheduled to be in operation by 2010.

Standlee says the recent article in Science challenges the ethanol industry to step up its efforts to make sure the public gets the whole truth about ethanol, not just part of the story. “Even the study itself acknowledges the greenhouse gas emissions benefits of the use of ethanol,” he says. It just makes assumptions about land use for biofuels production that “just simply are not true.”

As chairman of the RFA, Standlee is looking forward to the upcoming National Ethanol Conference in Orlando February 25-27, to celebrate success and look forward to the future. “We have record attendance this year as we’ve had virtually every year since the start of the conference,” he said. “We expect somewhere in the neighborhood of 2500 people to be attending the conference. It really is an exciting opportunity.”

More information about the National Ethanol Conference can be found on the RFA website.

Listen to RFA’s “The Ethanol Report” podcast with Chris here, or subscribe to it on “The Ethanol Report” blog.
[audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/rfa/ethanol-report-07.mp3]

Audio, Cellulosic, Ethanol, National Ethanol Conference, News, RFA

“Golden” Energy for the ‘Golden State’

John Davis

BTBT is getting a new solar power system for its Americas’ Headquarters in California. The new system will utilize a sun tracking system that’s meant to maximize the production of renewable energy.

BT has announced it has entered into an agreement to begin construction next month (March) of an approximately 500 kW-AC solar photovoltaic system for its North American corporate headquarters site, located in the City of El Segundo, California. Once the system is fully operational by late summer, BT expects to reduce carbon emissions by 642,000 pounds (291.2 metric tons) annually as well as decrease its overall power costs for the site in future years.

The solar power system is designed to maximize energy production, with the vast majority of the system’s approximately 2,000 solar modules mounted on top of a state-of-the-art, elevated single-axis tracking system to be installed above the site’s south facing parking lot. Once completed, the system will be among the largest of its type in Southern California and is expected to generate approximately 917,000 kWh per year.

According to Environmental Protection Agency figures, the solar power system is expected to reduce carbon emissions equivalent to removing 63 automobiles from operation for one year or planting 243 acres of trees or powering more than 150 average-sized California homes for 12 months.

Energy, Facilities, Solar

Conventional Wind

John Davis

RicardoCan you imagine the day when wind power is nothing special, just your average source for heating and lighting your homes? General Compression and Mechanology can. Both companies are teaming up with Ricardo, the Eco-Innovation Technology Company, to engineer and develop the technology and expertise to make wind power as reliable as conventional power.

Of the potentially large-scale renewable energy resources wind is perhaps the most universally available, as virtually every part of the earth’s surface experiences the natural force of the wind. However, as the wind is subject to the vagaries of the weather and as such is inherently unpredictable, wind energy has traditionally been seen as an intermittent source of electrical power.

General Compression’s proprietary Dispatchable Wind(TM) system carries the descriptive tagline ‘wind energy on demand’ because it decouples wind energy capture from electrical power generation by substituting the electric generators in its wind turbines with advanced compressor systems linked to a central high pressure compressed air reservoir at each wind farm. The reservoir acts as an energy buffer, storing compressed air which can be passed through an expander plant in order to generate electricity whenever it’s needed – not just when the wind is blowing.

Dispatchable Wind is based on the use of the innovative, high energy density Dragonfly(TM) compressor under development by Mechanology, Inc. Ricardo has been chosen by Mechanology to be one of its key product development partners to assist in developing the Dragonfly(TM) such that it will meet or exceed the rigours of round-the-clock operation with an expected life in excess of 20 years.

Energy, Wind

Last Survey Contest Reminder

Chuck Zimmerman

This is your friendly reminder and request to take our Domestic Fuel Reader Survey. There’s only about 12 easy questions so it will only take a minute and we’d really appreciate your participation.

We’re going to pick one lucky winner from all the people who participate in our survey for a brand new, personalized 4G iPod Nano.

The Official Rules here (Word doc). I thank you very much for participating!

Miscellaneous

NFU Gets Behind Renewable Energy Bill

John Davis

nfu.pngThe National Farmers Union is pledging its support to an energy bill seen as friendly to biofuels, while praising Democrat leaders who back the bill.

This story on CattleNetwork.com says National Farmers Union President Tom Buis lauded Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel for backing the bill designed to spark wind and biomass energy that will bring billions of dollars to rural areas. And the NFU is urging Congress to pass the legislation:

In a letter to Pelosi and Rangel, Buis stated NFU’s strong support for the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008.

buis.jpg“Not only does fostering renewable energy provide the opportunity for energy independence, it also provides a source for rural economic development that will significantly jump-start rural economies,” Buis said. “Two provisions of this bill, extending the Production Tax Credit and authorizing funds for the Clean Renewable Energy Bonds, are essential.”

The legislation would extend the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for three years. “The PTC provides the most critical federal incentive to continue developing wind projects in rural communities,” Buis said.

The NFU has been a longtime backer of ethanol, biodiesel, and other ag-based fuels.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Government, Legislation

Governors to Discuss Energy Future

John Davis

natlgovassoc.JPGA clean energy future will be the main topic of discussion when nearly 50 governors from across the nation and several U.S. territories meet this weekend in Washington, D.C for the 2008 National Governors Association (NGA) Winter Meeting.

According to a press release on the group’s web site, biofuels will be a big part of the discussion titled “Securing a Clean Energy Future”:

Making the nation a global leader in energy efficiency, clean energy technology, alternative fuels use and energy research will be the key topic on the governors’ meeting agenda this year. In addition, governors will explore the future of the nation’s surface transportation policy and finance system, strategies for improving struggling elementary and secondary schools, long-term care challenges facing states and the role of traditional domestic energy in a clean energy future during four standing committee sessions: Economic Development and Commerce; Education, Early Childhood and Workforce; Health and Human Services; and Natural Resources. All four committees will meet Sunday, Feb. 24.

Saturday’s opening plenary session will provide an overview of NGA Chair Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s Securing a Clean Energy Future initiative. During the plenary, three-time Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman will discuss states’ role in helping America achieve a cleaner, more independent energy future, and Jeffrey R. Immelt, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of General Electric Company, will talk about the role businesses can play in advancing energy and environmental innovation.

The discussion will last through Monday when Former CIA Director R. James Woolsey will talk to the group about developing and supporting alternatives to imported oil. Also, John Doerr, with Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers, will speak about promising energy technologies and how states can help spur clean energy innovation.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News