RFA’s Dinneen to Keynote 2017 @IowaFuel Summit

Joanna Schroeder

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen will keynote the 2017 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit. His theme: Making Ethanol Great Again. The annual event is taking place January 31, 2017 at the Prairie Meadows Conference Center in Altoona, Iowa. Registration is open and it’s free to attend.

“The inauguration of a new President always creates the potential for changes to U.S. energy and trade policy,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Managing Director Lucy Norton. “As head of the Renewable Fuels Association, Bob Dinneen is well-positioned to forecast the future impact any policy changes could have on the ethanol industry and ensure renewable fuels always plays a key role in that discussion.”

Dinneen, who has more than 30 years experience in the ethanol industry, is a national leader on ethanol issues. He is also a key strategist in advancing policies that create robust and dynamic markets for renewable fuels such as ethanol. RFA was an instrumental organization in helping to get the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) passed in 2005 and then expanded two years later to 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels per year by 2022.

Click here to register to attend, learn more about the Summit, and review sponsorship and trade show opportunities.

biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA, RFA

Solenis Licenses Corn Oil Technology to Hydrite

Joanna Schroeder

Solenis has announced that the company has licensed its corn oil extraction technology to Hydrite Chemical. This resolves pending legal action filed by Hydrite against Solenis regarding Solenis’ patents for using polysorbate as an additive for corn oil extraction aids. Going forward Solenis has licensed the use of its corn oil extraction technology to Hydrite; thus, Hydrite will become an authorized licensee in the U.S. and Canada of Solenis’ technology. Solenis says that its technology enhances the efficiency of corn oil extraction in the corn-to-ethanol process.

“Our corn oil extraction technology is a game changing invention that has enabled many ethanol producers to improve their profit potential. This agreement is a win-win for the industry as it will enable more ethanol producers to reap the benefits of our technology,” said Shruti Singhal, Vice President, Industrial Water, North America, Solenis.

Jon Murnik, Executive Director – Foam Products, Hydrite, added, “As a market leader in ethanol, we are pleased to have reached an agreement with Solenis to continue to offer polysorbate chemistries to our customers, in addition to other products that enhance the biofuels process and produce more corn oil.  We remain focused on product innovation to expand our current offerings of non-polysorbate chemistries.”

biofuels, corn, Ethanol

Green Fuels Lab Opens in Australia

Joanna Schroeder

A new advanced green fuels laboratory developed and constructed by Southern Oil Refining (SOR) has opened in Yarwun, near Gladstone in QLD Australia. The lab is one step in Southern Oil’s goal of completing a commercial-scale biorefinery in the country. The facility will research biocrude and biofuels technologies and came to fruition with the help of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). This is the first laboratory of its kind in Australia. ARENA contributed $2.37 million in the project with a goal of advancing the green-fuel industry in the country.

ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said Australia boasted innovative biocrude development companies like Muradel and Licella, but until now the nation had no facility to help them test and refine their products. “ARENA is committed to helping accelerate the shift of new solutions like biofuels toward commercialisation and the Southern Oil laboratory is an important step that will enable local biofuel projects,” he said.

Frischknecht said any Australian biofuel company can use the lab at no cost. This lab fills a gap, he added, because it enables companies to test the technologies in their own country in local conditions. “The testing will be able to determine the viability of refining different kinds of biocrude, which can be made from biomass such as regional agricultural waste, into usable fuel,” said Frischknecht.

Australia has been executing its mission, said Frischknecht, to support the development and commercialization of advanced biofuel technologies. Frischknecht concluded, “The Australian commercial biofuel industry is in its infancy but its potential is significant. It could, for example, see plant waste from our sizeable agricultural industries turned into green fuels for use domestically or for export to meet aviation, shipping and defence demands.”

 

advanced biofuels, aviation biofuels, green diesel

Carbon Intensity Surpasses #Biofuel Volumes as Key Metric

Joanna Schroeder

Lux Research is reporting that new policies are being put forward based on technology-agnostic carbon intensity metrics rather than focusing on mandating volumes of specific biofuels. The move to low carbon fuels is being led, says Lux Research, by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the near-term winners will be renewable diesel and conventional electricity followed by renewable electricity.

Carbon intensity is the amount of carbon by weight emitted per unit of energy consumed. Factors that affect carbon intensity include feedstock, process technology, power source and technology viability.

“Energy companies with diversified energy portfolios are well-positioned to take advantage of this paradigm change, shifting towards renewable sources to reduce carbon intensity values,” said Yuan-Sheng Yu, Lux Research Analyst and lead author of the report titled, “Identifying Winners in Low-Carbon Fuels.” He added, “With electricity a near-term winner, pioneers for the ‘utility of the future’ hold a strong position moving forward.”

To evaluate a fuels’ commercial, technological and economical attractiveness, the firm’s analysts looked at addressable market size, carbon intensity and pathway among other factors. The findings include:

  • California is a model. Currently, California uses seven different low-carbon fuels derived from 26 different feedstocks, making up 11.3% of its fuel consumption. Under the state’s new regulations, growth of petroleum consumption has slowed to a mere 0.5% quarterly, while low-carbon fuels grew at 1.6% quarterly.
  • Waste oil halves biodiesel’s carbon intensity. In ideal conditions, biodiesel derived from fats, oil and grease (FOG), has the potential to cut carbon intensity by half. Plenty of FOG-derived biodiesel is projected to be available – up to 2.5 billion gallons per year – and even though processing poor quality waste adds to cost, FOG-based diesel remains a significant opportunity.

Another finding: carbon-negative fuel is commercially viable today with biogas a leading technology.  Lux Research says with California’s policies in place, improved biogas technologies along with other carbon-negative fuel pathways, will emerge to speed-up carbon emission reductions.

biofuels, biogas, Carbon, Low Carbon Fuel Standard

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • Amyris, Inc. and the Government of Queensland, Australia have announced a partnership to create a southeast hub of sustainable ingredients production for the rapidly-growing personal care sector in Asia, while supporting Queensland’s local economy and sugarcane industry. The partnership aims to develop a new production plant with support from local partners. The plant will produce Amyris’s high-value personal care and nutraceutical actives, as well as farnesene-derivative products.
  • Abengoa Bioenergy Biomass of Kansas has closed the $48.5M sale of its cellulosic ethanol plant located in Hugoton, Kansas, to Synata Bio, a renewable energy company that was the successful bidder in an auction conducted under the US Bankruptcy Code. Ocean Park acted as exclusive sell-side advisor to Abengoa.
  • Cellulosic and biorefining technology company, Edeniq Inc, has joined the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association as a vendor member. “Minnesota is one of the most forward-thinking states when it comes to supporting next generation biofuels,” said Cam Cast, chief operating officer of Edeniq. “We are excited to join the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association to reach new customers by better understanding the needs of local ethanol producers interested in increasing ethanol yield by producing EPA-approved cellulosic ethanol.”
  • Advanced sensor technology has been developed for the accurate determination of the biofuel content of diesel blends used in a wide range of automotive and industrial power applications. Hand held DieselProve technology from Salunda Limited is designed to provide a fast and simple diagnostic tool to assess the biofuel content in biodiesel fuels, as well as identifying other impurities such as vegetable oil, white spirit and water.
Bioenergy Bytes

Governors Thank Trump for #Biofuels Support

Joanna Schroeder

The Governors’ Biofuels Coalition is thanking President-elect Trump for his “repeated statements of support for biofuels and the Renewable Fuel Standard” during his campaign. In the letter the governors pointed out that the  “nation’s biofuels industry has generated thousands of jobs” and will “continue to grow” the states’ economies. The governors also noted they are looking forward to working with his new administration “to advance sound policies that will add value to the agriculture economy.”

In response to the letter, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen had the following statement, “We thank Governors Pete Ricketts (Nebraska), Terry Branstad (Iowa) and Dennis Daugaard (South Dakota) for reaching out to President-Elect Trump to thank him for his support for biofuels and the RFS, and highlighting our industry’s economic impact that has rippled throughout the nation. The President-Elect understands the importance of clean, domestic energy resources and the economic power of value-added agriculture. We are confident he will continue to support the RFS and expanded production and use of fuel ethanol during his administration.”

biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Ron Wulfkuhle Appointed Head of Enogen for Syngenta

Joanna Schroeder

Thirty-year agriculture veteran Ron Wulfkuhle, head of GreenLeaf Genetics, has been appointed as the new head of Syngenta’s Enogen corn enzyme technology division. He will replace 35-year Syngenta veteran Jack Bernens who is retiring at the end of this year. Syngenta reports that Bernens was instrumental in the establishment and growth of the Enogen business.

Wulfkuhle was raised on a family farm in Kansas and attended Kansas State University. In 1984, he began his career as a sales rep for Arkansas-based Ciba-Ceigy and from there served in various sales and marketing positions for a number of commercial units and legacy companies of Syngenta. In his most recent position, he headed-up the company’s GreenLeaf™ business after it was fully acquired by Syngenta in 2010.

“Ron is a tremendous colleague and well-respected leader at Syngenta,” said Jeff Rowe, president of global seeds and North America, Syngenta. “His more than three decades of experience in this industry make him the perfect candidate to continue expanding access to Enogen, growing adoption of innovative initiatives like the Ethanol Grower Advantage, and further building demand for Earth-friendly American ethanol.”

Wulfkuhle stated, “Syngenta is proud to support and promote corn ethanol production, an industry that is helping America reduce its dependence on foreign oil, lower prices at the pump, improve the environment with lower emissions and grow the economy with jobs that can’t be outsourced. It’s my pleasure to continue – and grow – this commitment.”

Enogen corn enzyme technology is an in-seed innovation available from Syngenta that features the first biotech corn output trait designed to enhance ethanol production. It creates a win-win-win scenario by adding value for ethanol plants, corn growers and rural communities.

biofuels, corn, Enogen, Ethanol, Syngenta

IA Retailer Charlie Good Wins Distinguished Ag Award

Joanna Schroeder

Iowan and avid ethanol promoter Charlie Good has been honored with the 2016 Iowa Farm Bureau Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF). The award, in its 38th year, honors an individual for his or her lifetime of achievement and promotion of Iowa ag. Dr. Maynard Hogberg was also given the honor for his academic work related to animal science. The gentlemen received plaques honoring their achievements during IFBF’s annual meeting and they will be on permanent display at the IFBF headquarters.

For more than 35 years, Charlie Good has been a staple of rural Iowa serving as an expert auto repair mechanic, small business owner, and a leading advocate for renewable fuels both in Iowa, but throughout the country. Good, who is an ASE-certified mechanic and board member of the Petroleum Marketers Retail Committee, owns a station that was one of the first to begin selling E15 and other blends of ethanol including E20, E30 and E85. His efforts to promote ethanol in particular, has greatly benefited Iowa farmers. He was nominated by the Story County Farm Bureau.

As a nationally-recognized advocate for renewable fuels, Good has regularly helped consumers understand the difference between crop production for renewable fuels versus crops raised for food, an important distinction that is confusing for many. He has regularly traveled to Washington, D.C. to lobby for a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and expanded markets for ethanol and biodiesel products.

Reflecting back on his lobbying efforts, Good is pleased he took the time to share his expertise and advocate for renewable fuel. “I was very proud to represent Nevada and represent Iowa,” Good says. “It was shocking to me that a little guy from Nevada, Iowa, could actually make a difference on something so important in Washington, D.C.”

biofuels, Ethanol

Should EPA Increase Biofuels Use? Yes, It’s the Law

Jamie Johansen

zp-nh1Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Should EPA increase biofuels use?”

Energy diversity takes the win this week. EPA set final levels for biofuels use in 2017 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that are in line with the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, calling for the maximum 15 million gallons of conventional ethanol for the first time and increasing volumes for biomass-based biodiesel.

Here are the poll results:

  • Yes – it’s the law – 60%
  • No – repeal RFS – 23%
  • Don’t know – 11%
  • Other – 6%

Our new ZimmPoll is live and asks the question, What’s on your Christmas list?

I find it hard to believe it is already time for Christmas. I guess times flies when you’re having fun! Have you made your list for Santa? My nearly three-year-old has and it’s a doozy. I fit into the category of #AgNerd and check daily to see if Apple’s Airpods have been released yet. Sadly, the day hasn’t come. Are you looking for some new warm gear to do chores in, some ag tech to help make life on the farm easier or are you one of those who just asks for cash or gifts cards? Let us know!

ZimmPoll

#Biofuels Could Benefit Under Trump

Joanna Schroeder

At the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) CSS & Seed Expo this week, noted agricultural economist Dan Basse with Ag Resource Company once again provided his global outlook for agriculture, which includes the outlook for biofuels.

Basse noted that he doesn’t believe the Biodiesel Tax Credit, which expires on December 31, 2016, will be extended before the end of the year. However, he said the incoming Trump Administration has suggested this legislation will be wrapped up with other tax legislation and we could possibly see something passed towards the end of the first quarter next year.

Basse believes that President Trump will be very good for biofuels. “He is promising biofuel policies that will be more open,” said Basse. “I think ethanol has a secure place in the gas tank at a ten percent blend rate.” He adds, “It is surely a mature market unless the government wants to legislate higher blend rates in the future.”

By 2022-2023 Basse believes anywhere between 20-25 percent of the U.S. auto fleet will be electric. “Everyone is coming out with an electric car. We believe the efficiency, the ability to maybe have some driverless opportunities will lead us in that direction. So renewables, having solar panels on your house, plugging your car in at night or running your heater, will lead to decarbonization in the world sometime in the vicinity of 2027 to 2032.”

Basse talks more about renewables in this interview covering the ag outlook for 2017: Interview with Dan Basse, Ag Resource Company

ASTA CSS 2016 Photo Album

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Coverage of ASTA CSS 2016 and Seed Expo brought to you by the American Seed Trade Association and Coverage of ASTA CSS 2016 and Seed Expo brought to you by BASF Ag Products
Audio, Biodiesel, biofuels, Electric Vehicles, Ethanol, Solar