Biodiesel Drives the Work Truck Industry

Cindy Zimmerman

New research from NTEA – The Association for the Work Truck Industry confirms that fleets across the country are increasingly relying on the power and performance of biodiesel in their existing and new diesel vehicles. For the third time in four years, surveyed fleets named biodiesel as their top alternative fuel choice both for current use and future interest.

Each year, NTEA conducts a comprehensive Fleet Purchasing Outlook Survey to better understand the commercial vehicle landscape and give the entire work truck industry perspective on anticipated purchasing intent and areas of greatest interest to fleet managers. The new survey results for 2019 were announced last week at The Work Truck Show® held in conjunction with Green Truck Summit and Fleet Technical Congress in Indianapolis.

Specifically, the 2019 NTEA Fleet Purchasing Outlook revealed that the majority of fleet survey respondents – 76 percent – anticipate maintaining or increasing use of diesel engine-powered trucks in their fleets, and more than 33 percent of survey respondents acknowledged currently operating alternative fueled trucks in their fleets. Survey participants named biodiesel as their top alternative fuel choice at 16 percent. Additionally, biodiesel was named as their top choice for future interest at 14 percent.

The National Biodiesel Board credits the nation’s growing interest in reducing carbon and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector as indicators for future growth in the use of biodiesel. NBB featured the Chicago Park District’s biodiesel fleet success story along with many others at the combined events of the 2019 NTEA’s Work Truck Show, Green Truck Summit, and Fleet Technical Congress. Along with presenting an educational session on the Future of Diesel Technology and Biodiesel for Work Trucks, NBB partnered with Isuzu Commercial Truck of America to power its 2019 Isuzu FTR medium-duty truck with B20 biodiesel for The Work Truck Show Ride-and-Drive event. Also on display in the NBB booth was Cummins’ new crated aftermarket diesel engine offering – the R2.8 Turbo Diesel – re-powering a 1972 Jeep Commando that was brought back to new life by NBB.

Biodiesel, Fleet, NBB, Trucks

2018 Second Highest Year for Distillers Grains Exports

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. exports of the ethanol co-product distillers grains (DG) were the second-highest on record in 2018, totaling 11.88 million metric tons (MMT), according to a new report from the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

An estimated 31 percent of U.S. DG production was exported in 2018, meaning nearly one out of every three tons produced was exported to 50 countries on six continents last year. Mexico remained the top destination for U.S. DG, representing 17 percent, followed by Vietnam (11 percent), South Korea (10 percent), Thailand (9 percent) and Turkey (7 percent). Compared to 2017, Vietnam and the United Kingdom saw the most growth in U.S. DG exports, increasing by 306 percent and 52 percent, respectively.

However, U.S. DG exports to China continued to see a significant drop since 2016, when the country imposed punitive anti-dumping and countervailing duties against U.S. product. “Exports to China fell further after plunging 84 percent in 2017 due to the imposition of duties; it ranked 17th in 2018, accounting for only 2 percent of U.S. exports,” the summary noted.

The report also details exports of corn gluten meal, another ethanol co-product for livestock feed. U.S. exports totaled 821,000 MT in 2018. Indonesia, Chile, and Egypt were top destinations; U.S. exports of corn gluten feed reached 1.17 MMT in 2018, down slightly from the prior year. Ireland, Israel and the United Kingdom accounted for a combined 76 percent of total U.S. corn gluten feed exports.

Read the report.

corn, Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, Feed

New RFA Report Summarizes 2018 Ethanol Export Statistics

Cindy Zimmerman

On the heels of new government data this week confirming record U.S. ethanol exports in 2018, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has released a 10-page report summarizing 2018 ethanol export and import data and highlighting key facts and trends related to global ethanol trade.

RFA’s new report is the go-to source for all the key facts and figures regarding U.S. ethanol trade. It provides annual and monthly data on U.S. ethanol exports, highlighting the fact that a new export record of 1.70 billion gallons was set in 2018. Top destinations for U.S. ethanol exports are also discussed in the report, along with information on the impact of trade barriers on shipments to certain markets.

The booklet also offers data on ethanol imports, showing that the U.S. continues to import very little fuel ethanol and remained a net exporter by a large margin in 2018. Maps depicting the leading ports of entry and departure for U.S. ethanol imports and exports are also offered, as are figures showing the annual economic value of U.S. ethanol exports.

Read it here – 2018 U.S. Ethanol Export and Import Statistical Summary.

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, RFA

Biodiesel Industry Grows Stronger with New Additions

Cindy Zimmerman

Six more entities have become members of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) in recent months, strengthening the voice of the industry.

The new companies range from biodiesel producers, to distributors, to commodity traders, who join the extensive and diverse organizations that make up NBB.

NBB’s newest members include:

Novozymes North America – global producer of a wide range of industrial enzymes and microorganisms.
New England Fuel Institute – a trade association focused on the liquid heating fuels market.
Rio Valley Biofuels, LLC – a biodiesel producer and distributor from the southwest.
ENI Trading and Shipping – a commodity trader of crude oils and refined products.
DEASYL SA – an international supplier of technologies and catalysts for the petroleum industry.
Genuine Bio-Fuel Inc. – a biodiesel producer from Florida.

Biodiesel, NBB

2018 Ethanol Exports Officially Record High

Cindy Zimmerman

The latest government data shows U.S. ethanol exports hit a new record in 2018 with 1.70 billion gallons of ethanol shipped to over 80 countries. That’s almost 11% of total U.S. ethanol production. The value of U.S. ethanol exports was $2.7 billion in 2018, up 14% from 2017’s value and the highest on record.

Brazil was the leading destination for U.S. ethanol exports, receiving 513.2 million gallons (mg), or 30% of the total. Canada was the second-leading market with 349.6 mg, followed by India at 156.8 mg. Together, the three countries accounted for 60% percent of total ethanol exports. The European Union, South Korea, and the Philippines were other top markets in 2018. Export volumes to nine of the top 10 destinations saw increases over 2017 volumes, with Brazil, the Netherlands, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and Colombia showing the largest gains.

“One of the greatest successes for our industry in 2018 was growth in the export market, driven in large part by the sustained international market development efforts of RFA and its partners,” saied Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “More than one out of every 10 gallons of ethanol produced in the United States went into the international market—providing savings at the pump and cleaner air for drivers in more than 80 countries around the globe. This accomplishment is even more impressive when you consider that U.S. ethanol faced punitive trade barriers in several key markets. RFA will continue to work with its partners to break down artificial trade barriers, expand export opportunities for U.S. producers, and educate the world’s consumers on the benefits of low-carbon renewable fuels.”

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, RFA

Diverse Coalition Submits Soil Health Comments

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) joined agricultural and environmental groups in submitting comments on soil health this week.

The Soil Health Demonstration Trial will provide economic assistance to assist willing farmers participating in the project to assess baseline soil carbon conditions, adopt conservation practices to improve soil carbon sequestration, and measure the resulting soil carbon improvements.

“We look forward to working with USDA to implement this important tool to encourage farmers to implement practices that improve soil health to increase drought resiliency, improve nutrient utilization, and enhance soil carbon sequestration,” said ACE CEO Brian Jennings. “By providing producers with financial assistance to document the changes in soil carbon sequestration, this trial will help quantify the SOC sequestration benefits for the project area, facilitate extrapolation over a larger region, and establish the necessary predicates for lucrative producer access to mandated low carbon fuel (LCF) markets (e.g., CA, OR) and voluntary carbon markets.”

Last year, ACE published a report entitled “The Case for Properly Valuing the Low Carbon Benefits of Corn Ethanol,” based in a large part on work done by South Dakota farmer and ethanol producer Ron Alverson.

Listen to an interview with Alverson about
Interview with Ron Alverson, Dakota Ethanol

ACE, Audio, corn

Lallemand and Toyota Sign Cellulosic Yeast Agreement

Cindy Zimmerman

Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits (LBDS) has signed an agreement with Toyota Motor Corporation to produce and market a new portfolio of yeast strains “TOYOTA XyloAce™” for cellulosic ethanol production in North America.

Toyota, through the use of gene recombination technology, has recently developed new yeast strains that will play an important role in the fermentation process for producing cellulosic ethanol. TOYOTA XyloAce™ strains are not only highly efficient at fermenting xylose and arabinose, but are also highly resistant to fermentation-inhibiting substances such as acetic acid. As a result, these yeast strains have achieved some of the highest ethanol fermentation density levels in the world, and are expected to improve biofuel yield and significantly reduce production costs.

Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits President, Angus Ballard comments “adding the TOYOTA XyloAce product line to our portfolio will allow our customers to choose from the very best cellulosic yeast strains available. We are proud to be working with Toyota and look forward to driving increased profitability for cellulosic ethanol producers throughout North America.”

Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Ethanol Report from Commodity Classic

Cindy Zimmerman

Whether or not EPA can get to the finish line with a rule allowing year round sales of E15 before June 1 was a major topic of discussion last week, from hearings on Capitol Hill to the stage of the Commodity Classic in Orlando. First, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told the House Agriculture Committee that the rule would not be done in time, then at Classic he said the administrator had found a way to make it happen.

This week, EPA sent its E15 proposal to the Office of Management and Budget for review, the first step in the process, with less than 90 days at this point to make it happen.

In this episode of The Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper talks about that issue and others from the 2019 Commodity Classic. Ethanol Report from Commodity Classic

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Audio, Commodity Classic, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, RFA

Ethanol Safety Webinar This Month

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association, in partnership with TRANSCAER®, is hosting an ethanol safety webinar on March 19 for ethanol emergency response teams.

The “Train the Trainer” webinar, which is funded through a Federal Railroad Administration/TRANSCAER® grant, is intended to develop instructors to lead operations-level training and is open to all professional individuals above the technical level of training who are interested in learning how to teach ethanol emergency response. A single webinar can train a group of individuals, who can then turn around and pass that information forward, equipping entire communities with the knowledge necessary to respond to any potential ethanol-related emergency.

The webinar will be held from 12pm – 2pm ET on March 19. Registration is limited 100 attendees and certificates will be emailed to all completing the webinar.

RFA will hold additional webinars on July 2 and Aug. 13. For more information or to register, visit www.rfa.traincaster.com.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, safety

Luke Perry’s Ties to Farming and Biodiesel

Luke Perry is being eulogized for many reasons upon his sudden passing this week at the age of 52, but not so much about his rural background and his support of biodiesel.

Back in 2006, Luke Perry showed up at the National Biodiesel Conference in San Diego sporting an FFA jacket with his name on it and talked about the agriculture influence in his early life and how he was converted to biodiesel by actress Daryl Hannah.

“My neighbors growing up farmed soybeans and I used to work in the bean fields, I’m from Ohio, you know,” said Perry, during an informal press conference with Hannah. He admitted that he was not an FFA member in high school and called it “one of the biggest regrets” of his life.

“I thought I could escape the farmer in me,” said Perry. “When I got to the point where I could live anywhere in the world that I wanted, what did I do, I bought land and cows and a tractor. Because you can’t escape who you are.”

Perry was very enthusiastic and informed about biodiesel in the press conference. Listen here: 2006 National Biodiesel Conference presser with Luke Perry and Daryl Hannah

2006 was the first biodiesel conference on the Biodiesel Conference Blog and it also featured Willie Nelson.

AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, Biodiesel