Cold Crushing Explored for Biodiesel

John Davis

BioExxToronto, Canada-based Bio-Extraction Inc. is joining with BioNex Energy Corp to develop and test, and then prove the commercial viability of using a cold crushing technology to more efficiently extract oils from seeds for use in a BEC biodiesel refinery in the works in western Canada.

Check out this story from Renewable Energy Access.com:

BEC is a developmental stage company that intends to use cold crushing technology in its plant as a first-stage process for removal of oil from canola and other high oil-content crops; BioExx would provide the second-stage process.

The first stage of oil removal will remove approximately 80% of the oil from the biomass while maintaining a consistently low temperature. In the second and final stage of oil removal, the process will remove up to 100% of the remaining oil while at the same time maintaining the protein value originally contained in the biomass.

The story says the technology could allow a greater amount of oil to be extracted from feedstocks while preserving the food value content of the original material. That could make biodiesel production more economical and end some of the debate of fuel taking up food sources.

Biodiesel

Caltrans Considering Biodiesel

John Davis

CaltransAfter testing B20 biodiesel for nearly the last six months, the California Department of Transportation could be switching some of its vehicles to the cleaner fuel.

According to this story in the Central Valley Business Times, up to 4,500 diesel-burners could make the switch later this summer:

Caltrans uses about three million gallons of regular diesel from its fuel sites annually. A switchover to B20 would decrease its consumption of petroleum by as much as 600,000 gallons yearly, the agency says.

Biodiesel is seen as viable because the infrastructure is already in place. Caltrans has about 230 diesel fuel sites statewide and only minor, relatively inexpensive modifications would need to be made to these facilities, a spokesman says.

The article goes on to say that most of the biodiesel being tested comes recycled cooking oil.

Biodiesel

Ethanol 2012 Study

Cindy Zimmerman

E 2012What’s ahead on the road for ethanol? That’s what a new report will attempt to predict.

Representatives from agriculture, energy, public policy and technology are working on the Ethanol 2012 study, being spearheaded by consulting firm The Hale Group, according to a news release.

The Hale Group is working with Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA), which is led by global energy expert Dr. Daniel Yergin, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and U.S. Trade Ambassador Clayton Yeutter, and Dr. Bruce Dale of Michigan State University.

“Over the next five years, the U.S. corn-based ethanol industry is going to face major strategic challenges as it becomes a more mature industry given that the commodity markets remain volatile and the government is developing policies for renewable energy and climate change,” said Clayton Yeutter. “The Ethanol 2012 Study brings together a highly qualified group with the petroleum, agricultural, technology and policy expertise to develop winning strategies that respond to the challenges.”

According to the Ethanol 2012 website, the study is “designed to meet the strategic planning needs of current ethanol producers, companies that are considering entry into the industry, financial firms that have an investment in the ethanol industry, service providers to the ethanol industry, and governmental agencies.”

Ethanol, News

Oklahoma to Host Biofuels Conference

John Davis

Grow logoOklahoma Governor Brad Henry is hosting a conference on biofuels October 16-17th in Oklahoma City. More information is on the way but this web site www.growok.com is a start.

From the governor’s welcome:

Gov. HenryIt is my pleasure to invite you to attend to the Oklahoma Governor’s Conference on Biofuels.

For reasons of national security, economic well-being, concern for our environment and concern for our finite oil and gas resources, our country has embarked on a policy to develop alternative transportation fuels and free ourselves from dependence on imported foreign oil.

Henry points out that Oklahoma is uniquely placed to be a leader in the biofuels market with its prairie grass resources and refining capacity and infrastructure already in place.

This is the second annual biofuels conference for the state.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News

Ethanol Key Topic at OAS Meeting

John Davis

OAS logoA showdown over ethanol is brewing at the Organization of American States’ General Assembly meeting this week in Panama. According to this story in the Washington (DC) Times, the U.S. and Brazil are pushing an OAS paper promoting looking for alternative fuel sources in the Western Hemisphere, more specifically, ethanol, which the Americans and Brazilians are producing in the billions of gallons:

OAS meetingIn a paper prepared to be delivered at the assembly, the OAS says that although the hemisphere is “endowed with abundant natural resources for energy production,” the bloc’s leaders should discuss alternatives to the region’s continuing dependency on fossil fuels.

In the case of the United States, it would mean reducing dependence on fuels originating in nations hostile to U.S. interests and promoting increased production of biofuels already widely used in countries such as Brazil, the world’s largest producer of sugar-based ethanol.

“The United States and Brazil are the world’s two largest biofuels producers, so cooperation is natural,” State Department spokesman on Latin American affairs, Eric Watnik, said in March. “Our goal is to advance global energy security by helping countries diversify their supply.”

Chavez-CastroNot surprisingly, on the other side of the issue is the U.S.-hating Hugo Chavez, leader of oil-rich Venezuela. He’s joined by Cuba’s Fidel Castro, and not too surprisingly, Mexico… which has great oil reserves of its own:

Increased demand for corn used to produce the starch-based version of ethanol made in North America has driven corn prices higher in recent months, subsequently raising Mexico’s tortilla prices.

Venezuela is the world’s sixth-largest exporter of oil, and the country’s anti-American president, Hugo Chavez, has been using its oil wealth to win the support of countries in the region. In the long run, the world’s reduced dependence on oil could lower Venezuela’s influence on international politics.

Ethanol, News

Finding A Place to Fill Up

John Davis

EPICOn empty in East Lansing? Runnin’ low near the Alamo? The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council or EPIC has an E85 station finder on its web site www.drivingethanol.org.

Playing around with it a bit, I was able to easily find a station on the northeast side of San Antonio… on the way to New Braunfels, home to German brats and Schlitterbaun, a local waterpark. Check out the map below (the station is the red triangle):
E85 Map

Of course, if you’re traveling a bit further, you can expand the search settings to show an entire state or region:
Texas E85 Map

If you run on another alternative fuel, the locator can find electric, hydrogen, compressed natural gas, propane, biodiesel, and more stations as well. Check it out at www.drivingethanol.org!

EPIC, Ethanol, News

Biofuel Pipelines Proposed

John Davis

Congs. Boswell & MoranCongress is considering some proposals that would fund studies to figure out if pipelines that would carry ethanol and biodiesel are viable options. Wallaces Farmer reports Democrat Iowa Congressman Leonard Boswell, and Republican Cong. Jerry Moran of Kansas have introduced the bill:

The Ethanol Infrastructure Expansion Act, H.R. 2426, would direct the U.S. Secretary of Energy to fund studies on the feasibility of constructing a dedicated ethanol pipeline and to study the technical factors that prevent the transportation of ethanol in existing pipelines.

“As the ethanol and biodiesel industries continue to expand, we need to examine practical and economical ways to transport ethanol across the country,” says Boswell. “This bill is a necessary first step in bringing ethanol to the rest of the country. We need to break our bondage to OPEC and if we are going to produce more biofuel to do that, we need to get that ethanol and biodiesel to the motoring public as efficiently as possible.”

This is an important bill for Congress to consider. “Ethanol and biodiesel are currently moved primarily by railcars and by truck. But the rapid growth in production of ethanol and also biodiesel production makes a study and determination of additional transportation options critical,” he says.

If the bill is passed, the Department of Energy would also have to study if existing pipelines could be modified to carry the biofuels. The measure is similar to a bill introduced earlier this year by Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) (see Cindy’s March 13th post).

Biodiesel, Ethanol

Ethanol: The Hot Rod Fuel of the Future

John Davis

Gale Banks with Gale Banks EngineeringNearly 50 years in the business of engine performance should be enough experience to earn one the title of “Auto Performance Expert.” Gale Banks with Gale Banks Engineering started his business in 1958. His business, which consists of designing engines for various factories, manufacturing his own line of engines and developing after market performance products, is just a year shy of that half-century milestone; and that experience was expertise enough to earn him a spot on a video segment with Jay Leno. When Chuck dropped by Jay’s garage last month, he spoke with Gale just before the taping about ethanol, the E85 ethanol fuel blend and what the food stock-based fuel means for performance:

[audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/audio/jay-leno-garage-banks.mp3] 3:36 mp3

Audio, Car Makers, E85, Ethanol, Flex Fuel Vehicles, News, Promotion

VeraSun Production Feeds EPIC Promotion

John Davis

EPIC Marketing Director Melissa UllerichVeraSun Energy, one of the country’s largest producers of ethanol, aims to expand its business as consumers become more educated about the fuel. Marketing Director Melissa Ullerich said VeraSun Energy supplies E85 fuel to more than 90 locations. Melissa said with plants in Aurora, SD, Fort Dodge, IA and Charles City, IA the company produces about 340 million gallons of ethanol. She adds that the company has three more plants under development in Welcome, MN, Heartly IA and Reynolds, IN – or, she said, otherwise known as BioTown.

Chuck caught up with Melissa at the 91st Indianapolis 500. She was attending “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” as a board member of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council. She tells Chuck why EPIC is important to VeraSun Energy:

[audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/audio/indy-07-ullerich.mp3] 2:07 mp3

Audio, BIO, E85, EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News, Production, Promotion, Racing

Clean Diesel, Bosch Ink Deal

John Davis

Clean DieselClean energy innovator Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc has struck a deal with Stuttgart, Germany-based Bosch GmbH, a leading global supplier in the areas of automotive and industrial technology, customer goods and building technology, to allow Bosch access to key patents developed by Clean Diesel for selective catalytic reduction (SCR).

Dr. Walter CopanDr. Walter Copan, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Clean Diesel (you might remember my May 24th interview with him) says SCR is the preferred method of reducing oxides of nitrogen (NOX). He says Bosch applying Clean Diesel’s ideas to their motor supplies will mean a low-cost method of fixing biofuels problems with NOX.

“The unfortunate downside of biodiesel has been seen in some of the older engines (with biodiesel increasing the formations of NOX),” said Copan. “With the NOX control technology, such as SCR, there’s full compatibility with a high-quality biodiesel or biomass liquid fuels.”

Copan adds this new technology will mean more engines will be able to run more efficiently and cleanly.

“The SCR technology is very fuel flexible. Ultimately the goal is to have a system that is robust, that provides overall good fuel efficiency, and delivers the kind of environmental performance with a view to overall sustainability in the years to come.”

You can hear more of my interview with Dr. Copan below. More information about Clean Diesel Technologies is available at www.cdti.com.

[audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/audio/CopanBoschIntvw.mp3]

Biodiesel