Closing the Loop

Cindy Zimmerman

E3 logo The first ethanol plant to operate without the use of fossil fuels is scheduled to begin production before the end of the year in Nebraska.

E3 BioFuels has announced that the Genesis plant in Mead, Nebraska is “the first-ever closed-loop system for distilling commercial quantities of ethanol using methane gas recaptured from cow manure, instead of fossil fuels. This virtually eliminates the need for fossil fuels in the production of ethanol.”

According to a press release, The closed-loop system — derived from an exclusive patent co-owned by an affiliate of E3 BioFuels — combines a 25-million-gallon ethanol refinery, beef cattle feedlot, and anaerobic digesters to maximize energy efficiencies unavailable to each component on a stand-alone basis. This system eliminates the potential for manure to pollute watersheds, and it enables the wet distillers grain from ethanol production to be fed on-site to cattle without energy-intensive drying and transportation costs.

Ethanol, News

E85 Pump Hearings

Cindy Zimmerman

E85 Underwriters Laboratories and the U.S. Department of Energy are holding two days of hearings this week at the testing group’s headquarters outside Chicago, inviting oil companies, automakers and researchers to help develop standards for E85 equipment.

The National Ethanol Vehicle Association is “confident” that the meeting will address E85 pump safety concerns that first surfaced in an October 5 memo from Underwriters Laboratory.

According to a press release from NEVC, UL has issued a follow up document “that should serve to assuage most concerns that have been voiced by local Fire Marshals and others with jurisdiction.”

Phil Lampert, Executive Director of the NEVC said, “We have personally met with the Director of Government Affairs for UL and have had daily conversations with senior UL management. We believe that much of the current confusion has been addressed with the subsequent UL E85 update announcements. Our management and staff are working very closely with UL officials and will be attending a technical meeting to discuss this matter. We are confident that UL is aggressively addressing this matter and are working with them to establish proper certification standards.”

Ethanol, Flex Fuel Vehicles, News

More Nebraska Ethanol Plants Going Up

Cindy Zimmerman

Altra Another Nebraska ethanol plant officially started construction with groundbreaking on Friday in Carleton.

California-based developer Altra broke ground on the 360 acre, $200 million project which will have a capacity of 110 million gallons per year.

Altra also owns and operates California’s only large scale operating ethanol plant, located in Goshen, CA and is currently constructing a 60 MMGY ethanol facility located in Coshocton, Ohio, which is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2007, and an 88 MMGY ethanol facility in Cloverdale, Indiana, that is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Nebraska currently has nine ethanol plants under construction, more than any other state except Iowa which also has nine. Nebraska also has ten biorefineries currently operating.

Ethanol, Facilities, News

Another Cellulosic Partner for Broin

Cindy Zimmerman

Broin CompaniesIn its quest to make cellulosic ethanol an affordable reality in the near future, Broin Companies has formed a partnership with biotech industry leader Novazymes.

According to a press release, the partnership will “take the next steps needed to bring cost-effective ethanol derived from corn stover to market.”Novezymes
The collaboration is an extension of the close partnership between the two companies and is a great opportunity for Novozymes to put its unique biotechnology platform at work and for Broin to aim at a fast commercialization.

Earlier this month, Broin announced a partnership with DuPont for the same purpose.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, News

Ethanol Injection Engine Could Help Boost Fuel Efficiency

Cindy Zimmerman

MIT MIT researchers are working on a smaller gasoline engine that could get better fuel economy by injecting ethanol when a performance boost is needed.

According to MIT, these small engines could be on the market within five years, and consumers should find them appealing: By spending about an extra $1,000 and adding a couple of gallons of ethanol every few months, they will have an engine that can go as much as 30 percent farther on a gallon of fuel than an ordinary engine. Moreover, the little engine provides high performance without the use of high-octane gasoline.

Basically, the researchers say this technology would be similar to a hybrid, but less expensive, and would help reduce the amount of gasoline used. The ethanol injection system with the turbocharger would give a driver more power than a conventional engine of the same size.

Reuters did a good story on this development, so did CNET news.

Ethanol, News

Alternative Fuel Project Funding

Cindy Zimmerman

DOE The U.S. Department of Energy is providing $8.6 million for 16 projects to expand the use of alternative transportation fuels.

According to a DOE release, combined with funding from the participants, more than $25 million will be invested in the nation’s alternative fuel infrastructure. The grants are part of the Clean Cities program and were selected under three topic areas including Refueling Infrastructure for E85 and Alternative Fuels; Incremental Cost for Alternative Fuel Vehicles; and Idle Reduction Training and Awareness for School Districts.

The funding includes projects all over the country, and includes both ethanol and biodiesel. Under the Refueling Infrastructure topic area alone, the 13 projects selected include the installation of alternative fuel blending and refueling infrastructure at over 180 locations in 25 states and the District of Columbia.

Read full press release.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Government, News

Secretaries Stump for Cellulosic

Cindy Zimmerman

Mike Johanns energy secretaryThe US Secretaries of Energy and Agriculture each talked about the need for cellulosic ethanol in two different venues this week.

Energy Secretary Sam Bodman speaking at the Chicagoland Innovation Summit on Tuesday said ethanol is America’s best alternative energy source for the future, but researchers must develop a material other than corn to make it from. According to a Dow Jones report, “Eventually, we’re going to run out of the ability to make ethanol from corn,” Bodman told Dow Jones Newswires after the speech.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns was in Minnesota meeting “with state and local leaders Tuesday to talk up the emerging technology of cellulosic ethanol production – making ethanol from wood chips, corn stalks, alfalfa and other biomass types,” according to this Associated Press report. Johanns also said corn-based ethanol can’t meet the nation’s demand.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, Government, News

HyVee Gas Pump in Iowa

Chuck Zimmerman

HyVee Gas Pump in IowaHello from Iowa. I’m not up here for anything related to renewable fuels but when you’re a blogger you see things of interest everywhere.

I gassed up at a HyVee gas station and their higher octane gas containing ethanol was a lower price than regular. All the pumps have ethanol labels that promote the fuel additives benefits for cleaner air.

Ethanol

AgriTalking about Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

AgriTalk Ethanol is pretty much a daily topic of discussion on the “AgriTalk” radio show that airs on about 70 mostly Corn-belt area radio stations, as well it should be considering major sponsors of the program include ADM, Monsanto, VeraSun, and National Corn Growers. Here are a couple of recent programs:

Ethanol design company Fagen Inc. was a major sponsor of this year’s national cornhusking contest in Columbus, Neb. where Agri-Talk did a live broadcast on October 20, 2006.

Robert White, Director of Operations for the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council was a guest on Agri-Talk October 23 to discuss the new E85 equipment rulings.

Ethanol, News