Renmatix Secures $14M

Joanna Schroeder

Sample applications for 1M tons of cellulosic sugar, produced by the Plantrose process

Sample applications for 1M tons of cellulosic sugar, produced by the Plantrose process

Renmatix has announced a $14 million investment led by Bill Gates. The company has developed a process called Plantrose that produces cellulosic sugars that can be used to produce bioproducts such as biofuels and biochemcals. The monies raised will be used, in part, to commercialize Plantrose through license sales.

“To effectively address climate change, we need to develop an energy infrastructure that doesn’t emit greenhouse gas and is cost competitive,” said Gates. “A critical component in this effort must be to decarbonize the industrial sector. Another is the possibility of cost competitive biofuels. Renmatix provides an innovative process that is an exciting pathway to pursue.”

Gates is joined in the round by Total the global energy major which, after an initial investment in 2015, has expanded its investment and has additionally signed a licensing agreement with Renmatix for 1M tons of annual cellulosic sugar production capacity, at Total’s discretion to build corresponding facilities. According to Renmatix, the license represents significant revenue potential for the company, extending over the lifetime of the agreement.

The Plantrose process uses supercritical water to reduce costs in conversion of biomass to cellulosic sugars, the critical intermediary for second-generation biochemicals and biofuels. According to the company, with faster reactions and virtually no associated consumable-expenses, its supercritical hydrolysis economically enables a multitude of renewable process technologies to access the market for ‘high volume, low cost, broadly sourced’ cellulosic sugars.

Renmatix CEO, Mike Hamilton added, “This continued progress marks the pronounced acceleration of a new, sugar based, chemistry regime. One that can go beyond conventional oil based products for cleaner, more sustainable solutions. While we’re working with partners to capitalize on the vast opportunity for biobased transformation in markets as diverse as the U.S. and India, this investment from Gates and Total together — shows recognition of our technological achievements, and magnifies our commercial momentum. That acknowledgment and Total’s signing of the million-ton license, are compelling indicators of our Plantrose technology’s maturation towards biorefinery scale.“

biochemicals, biofuels, biomass, bioproducts

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1September 21, 2016 is Zero Emissions Day, the global 24 hour moratorium on the use of fossil fuels. On this day, people are challenged to not use or burn oil, gas or coal as well as to minimize (or eliminate) the use of electricity generated by fossil fuels.
  • Excelerate Energy L.P., in collaboration with Dubai Supply Authority, has completed the first commercial gas-up operation at DUSUP’s Jebel Ali LNG Import Terminal via Excelerate’s floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) Explorer on August 31, 2016. The FSRU gassed-up all five tanks of a 173,000 m3 LNG Carrier, in a 17-hour period. DUSUP’s ability to utilize the FSRU for these operations will allow LNG vessels departing regional dry docks avoid having to travel significant distances to perform this required step in the LNG cargo cycle, making Dubai a full-service LNG hub. A second similar gas-up operation was completed a few days later on another vessel.
  • Norway continues to lead the global market for electric vehicles, according to the most recent plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) index from IHS Automotive, part of business information provider IHS Markit. Based on analysis of new vehicle registrations during the first quarter 2016, one out of every three vehicles registered in Norway during the quarter was a plug-in electric vehicle, reflecting more market penetration in Norway than any other major market tracked by IHS Markit within the index.
  • The global biofuels market is expected grow at a CAGR of nearly 6% during the forecast period, according to Technavio’s latest report. In this report, Technavio covers the market outlook and growth prospects of the global biofuels market for 2016-2020. The market is further categorized into two fuel type segments, including ethanol and biodiesel, of which the ethanol segment dominated the market with almost 70% of the overall market share in 2015.
Bioenergy Bytes

Biofuel Champions Celebrate Return of #E15

Joanna Schroeder

A group of America’s biofuel champions joined together this week to celebrate the return of #E15 at the pump for consumers who drive a 2001 or newer vehicle. In Minnesota, Governor Mark Dayton has proclaimed today (Sept. 16, 2016) as Ethanol Day in his state. This announcement followed E15 decrees by Mayors of South St. Paul and Minneapolis. And in Iowa, Governor Terry Branstad declared E15 Day in Iowa and North Carolina Mayors Jennifer Roberts of Charlotte and Bill Bell of Durham also declared E15 Day in two of North Carolina’s largest cities.

Photo Credit: Joanna Schroeder

Photo Credit: Joanna Schroeder

“Across the country, policymakers and consumers are recognizing how renewable fuels grow the economy, protect our environment, and dramatically reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor in acknowledgement of the support both the ethanol industry and consumers are receiving to expand choice at the pump. “We’re grateful our champions in Iowa, Minnesota and North Carolina for helping us bring new options to consumers that will save them money at the pump. Higher ethanol blends like E15 support new jobs, and they keep our engines running strong without the toxic additives associated with fossil fuels.”

Most gasoline sold in the United States contains at least 10 percent ethanol. Fifteen percent blends were approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2011 for all 21st century passenger vehicles, and are being offered at approximately 330 locations in 26 states. Due to summer fuel regulations from the EPA, many retailers are largely prohibited from selling E15 from June 1 through September 15. Growth Energy and other champions hope to change that, and a bipartisan coalition of governors recently joined their call with a letter urging EPA officials to lift outdated regulatory barriers on clean, affordable biofuel.

“E15 is critical to America’s energy future. Ethanol and other advanced biofuels help slash carbon emissions and keep U.S. dollars out of the hands of hostile nations,” Skor added.

Leading retailers offering E15 include: Sheetz, Thortons, Murphy USA, MAPCO, RaceTrac, Minnoco, Protec and Kum & Go.

E15, Ethanol, Growth Energy

High Plains Bioenergy Acquires #Biodiesel Plant

Joanna Schroeder

hpb-st-joe-biodieselHigh Plains Bioenergy (HPB) is expanding its biodiesel business with the acquisition of a biodiesel plant located in St. Joseph, Missouri. The new biorefinery will operate as HPB- St. Joe Biodiesel.

Under the HPB brand, the biodiesel facility will use regionally sourced feedstocks and feature technology that will produce biodiesel with lower hpbcloud point specifications. The plant is in production and product is available for sale by truck and rail. When the plant reaches full production capacity, it will produce 28 million gallons annually.

“The growth of the biodiesel industry over the past decade has been tremendous. With the addition of HPB Biodiesel – St Joe, we are expanding our geographical footprint and adding value to customers by offering an integrated approach to our sales and marketing paradigm,” said Gene Binder, HPB director of sales and business development.

High Plains Bioenergy is a subsidiary of Seaboard Foods.

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel

LanzaTech Produces First Lanzanol

Joanna Schroeder

LanzaTech has produced its first 1,5000 gallons of jet fuel from Lanzanol – low carbon ethanol produced from waste industrial gases from steel mills via a fermentation process. In partnership with Virgin Atlantic, the fuel has been tested and passed all performance tests with early results showing the ethanol derived biojet fuel has carbon savings of 65 percent as compared to conventional jet fuel.

This initial batch of Lanzanol was produced in China at the Roundtable of Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) demonstration facility. The ethanol to jet fuel process deveopment also included assistance from the Pacific Northwest National Lab and the U.S. DOE.

virgin-atlantic-logo“This is a real game changer for aviation and could significantly reduce the industry’s reliance on oil within our lifetime,” said Sir Richard Branson. “Virgin Atlantic was the first commercial airline to test a bio-fuel flight and continues to be a leader in sustainable aviation. We chose to partner with LanzaTech because of its impressive sustainability profile and the commercial potential of the jet fuel. Our understanding of low carbon fuels has developed rapidly over the last decade, and we are closer than ever before to bringing a sustainable product to the market for commercial use by Virgin Atlantic and other global airlines.”

The next step is for the two companies to work with with Boeing and other industry colleagues to complete additional testing and begin the approval process to use Lanzanol in commercial flights. Once the biojet fuel is approved, LanzaTech will raise funds for its first commercial production biorefinery with an eye on the UK for its home.

screen-shot-2016-09-16-at-8-58-45-am“We can now truly imagine a world where a steel mill can not only produce the steel for the components of the plane but also recycle its gases to produce the fuel that powers the aircraft,” said Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, chief executive of LanzaTech. “This program illustrates that such breakthroughs are only possible through collaboration. In this case, it is governments (US DOE, FAA, DARPA), laboratories (PNNL, AFRL, SWRI, MTU, UDRI), NGOs (RSB) and industry (Virgin, HSBC, Boeing, Shougang, Airlines for America) coming together to disrupt our current global carbon trajectory. We look forward to working with colleagues past, present and future to make this pioneering new fuel a commercial reality.”

advanced biofuels, aviation biofuels, biojet fuel, Ethanol

Governors’ Biofuels Coalition Turns 25

Cindy Zimmerman

governor-biofuelsThe Governors’ Biofuels Coalition is celebrating its silver anniversary this month.

“No one would have guessed that a meeting I had with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad 25 years ago this month, in the basement of the governor’s mansion in Lincoln, Nebraska, would lead to the formation of a group of governors who changed the nation’s energy history,” said former Nebraska Governor and U.S. Senator Ben Nelson. Membership in the Coalition quickly grew to 19 states during the first year, and peaked with 36 states along with international representatives from Brazil, Quebec, Mexico, Australia, Sweden and Thailand.

“Twenty-five years later, the spirit of bipartisanship, so rare in today’s political arena, remains the Coalition’s foundation,” said Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and co-founder of the Coalition. “It’s my hope that the Coalition can redouble its efforts to address the challenges and opportunities facing the biofuels industry today.”

Beginning in 2003, the Coalition’s governors began working with Congressional leadership and the White House on legislation that would allow biofuels to fairly compete with the petroleum industry in the transportation fuel market — a market that the petroleum industry had dominated for more than a 100 years. The result of that collaboration was the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), which members of Congress from both parties overwhelmingly supported. President George W. Bush signed the RFS into law in 2005. Two years later, President Bush signed an expanded RFS that would pave the way for the production of cellulosic ethanol and biofuels from diverse feedstocks.

“Passage of the RFS would not have happened without bipartisanship leadership from the states,” said Senator Nelson, who was the floor manager for the RFS legislation in the Senate. “It would have been impossible to pass the RFS without the work and collaboration of senators from both sides of the aisle. Although they were from different parties, they all agreed that something had to be done to end the petroleum industry’s monopoly of the nation’s transportation fuel market.”

Many governors also worked to pass the RFS. The rest is history: billions invested in new biofuels plants, thousands of new jobs, and revitalization of the nation’s rural economy.

biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, RFS

Iowa Biodiesel Board Elects Tom Brooks New Chair

Joanna Schroeder

tombrooks

Tom Brooks, GM of Western Dubuque Biodiesel. Photo Credit: National Biodiesel Board

Tom Brooks, general manager of Western Dubuque Biodiesel, was elected as the chair of the Iowa Biodiesel Board (IBB) during the organization’s annual meeting on September 14, 2016. Brooks will lead the organization for the next year with the option of being elected to a three-year term.

“This is an exciting time for biodiesel in Iowa, with our state leading in production and leading in positive state policies that foster supply and demand,” said Brooks. “I look forward to leading the organization as biodiesel continues to bring tangible economic, energy security and environmental benefits to Iowa and America.”

Other officers of the organization include:

  • Vice Chair: Brad Wilson, Western Iowa Energy (newly elected)
  • Treasurer: Ron Heck; soybean farmer from Perry, Iowa
  • Secretary: Dawn Carlson, Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores of Iowa (PMCI)

Chad Stone, chief financial officer of Renewable Energy Group (REG), is stepping down as chair to focus on serving as a director on the National Biodiesel Board (NBB). REG’s Doug Lenhart, executive director of procurement and logistics, will take his place as a director on IBB.

Lenhart noted, “I look forward to working with IBB members and stakeholders as we continue to grow the production and consumption of cleaner burning Advanced Biofuel in Iowa and beyond.”

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel

#Ethanol Report on #E15

Cindy Zimmerman

ethanol-report-adConsumers once again have the choice to purchase E15 at the pump as of September 15, which marks the end of EPA’s “volatility control season” opening the fuel back up to non-flex fuel vehicles. For drivers owning a 2001 or newer vehicle, E15 sales are restricted during summer months due to EPA regulations on Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) – which could be solved by extending the 1-pound per square inch (psi) waiver that is offered for E10 blends.

In this Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen talks about the issue and what should be done about it: Ethanol Report on E15

Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, RFA

Iowa Gov Branstad Declares Sept 16 E15 Day

Joanna Schroeder

September 16, 2016 marks the official day retailers across Iowa, and the country, will begin selling E15 to consumers who drive vehicles 2001 or newer. After a three-month hiatus, in which only flex fuel vehicles drivers are allowed to fill up with the fuel, E15 is returning to the masses. In Iowa, the fuel will be available at nearly 70 stations across the state. To celebrate, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad is declaring September 16, 2016 “E15 Day”.

Retailers across the Des Moines, Iowa metro will be selling E15 for $1.15 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Friday, September 16. Click here for location details.

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Photo Credit: Joanna Schroeder

“With more stations offering E15 than ever before, even more Iowa motorists can once again reap the low-cost benefits of choosing E15,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. “Motorists have logged hundreds of millions of trouble-free miles traveled on E15 while achieving essentially the same mileage as E10.  Considering E15 is more widely available in Iowa than ever before, I expect E15 sales to skyrocket over the next several months.”

According to Shaw, Sept. 16 is significant because federal fuel volatility regulations restrict the sale of E15 to flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) from June 1 through September 15 each year. E15 can then be sold to all 2001 and newer vehicles from September 16 through May 31. These vehicles make up about 85 percent of the vehicles on the road today.

“E15 is vitally important, not just to Iowans’ pocketbooks, but to air quality, competition at the pump and Iowa jobs,” added Shaw. “And given Governor Branstad has proclaimed today ‘E15 Day’ in Iowa, there’s no better time to get out there and try some cleaner-burning E15.”

E15, Ethanol, Iowa RFA

GFRA: Biofuels Will Help Lower CO2, Temps

Joanna Schroeder

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has released a global temperature analysis that finds 2016 is on track to be one of the hottest years on record, even surpassing 2014 and 2015. Recent data from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have also shown upward trends in temperature as well as carbon dioxide, that according to the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) are nearing the symbolic limits on which the Paris Agreement reached at COP21 were based.

© Claudynka | Dreamstime.com - Scorched Earth. Photo

© Claudynka | Dreamstime.com – Scorched Earth. Photo

“These latest findings clearly outline the need for signatories of the Paris Agreement to take all available steps to significantly reduce their national emissions without delay,” responded Bliss Baker, GRFA President to NASA’s temperature analysis. “The current potential for the increased use of biofuels, like ethanol, in the global transport sector represents substantial CO2 emission reductions that aren’t being fully exploited.”

Baker says that biofuel technologies are demonstrated to be affordable, immediately available and effective at reducing GHG emissions. Baker cites that in 2014, total GHG emissions reduction from global ethanol production and use was 169 million tonnes CO2 equivalent. With a conservative annual biofuel production growth rate of just 2.8 percent, emissions savings from ethanol would increase 56 percent to 264 million tonnes CO2 equivalent in 2030.

NASA’s recent temperature analysis followed data released in July 2016 that demonstrated the average global temps in the first six months of the year were Celsius 1.3 degrees hotter than the pre-industrial era. Baker points out that these readings contrast sharply with the main aim of the Paris Agreement: to keep global temperature rise “well below” 2 degrees Celsius, with an aspirational target of 1.5 degrees Celsius, above pre-industrial levels this century.

“It is clear that changes to the global climate are occurring faster than was predicted when the timelines for the negotiations at COP21 were established,” Baker added. “The potential for the increased use of biofuels in the global transport sector, using the existing fleet of cars and fuel infrastructure, represents exactly the kind of immediate action to achieve emissions reductions that is demanded by these changing circumstances.“

biofuels, Climate Change, Environment