ePure: Strengthen the Framework for Sustainable #Ethanol

Joanna Schroeder

Screen Shot 2016-07-28 at 12.38.47 PMA new report released by the European Court of Auditors finds that there are several gaps in the European Commission’s existing biofuels sustainability certification framework even thought the study only looked at four member states. In response to the report, the European renewable ethanol association (ePure) agrees with the assessment that the sustainability framework for biofuels in Europe can, and should be, strengthened further to ensure that only the most sustainable biofuels are promoted via EU policy in 2020 and beyond.

Under the Renewable Energy Directive, European Union (EU) Member States can only use biofuels certified as sustainable to reach their 2020 target of sourcing 20 percent of the energy in transport from renewable sources. Most biofuels placed on the EU market are certified through voluntary schemes recognized by the European Commission, but the auditors concluded that the schemes suffer from weaknesses in the Commission’s recognition procedure and in its supervision.

In their recommendations, the auditors call on the Commission to ensure that the certification processes:

  • assess how much biofuel production entails significant socioeconomic risks and indirect land ‐use change;
  • verify that feedstock producers comply with environmental requirements for agriculture; and
  • provide sufficient evidence of the origin of waste and residues used for biofuels.

The report recommends that the Commission:

  • assess whether the schemes’ governance reduces the risk of conflict of interest and are sufficiently transparent;
  • check that the operations of the certified schemes comply with the standards presented at the time of recognition and that the schemes set up transparent complaints systems; and
  • seek evidence from Member States on the reliability of their biofuels statistics and harmonize the definition of waste substances.

“We are the only sector in the entire world which actually apply any type of mandatory sustainability rules for our products,” said Robert Wright, ePURE secretary-general. The GLOBIOM study clearly shows that there are a number of good biofuels, including European ethanol, that are entirely sustainable and the Commission should fully back these biofuels in its post-2020 policies. European ethanol has 63 percent of GHG savings, low land use impacts, and no negative social consequences or effects on food prices – it’s the type of good biofuel that Europe should support.”

biofuels, Ethanol, International

Texas A&M AgriLife Receives $2.5M DOE Grant

Joanna Schroeder

Researchers from Texas A&M AgriLife Research have received a $2.5 million grant to conduct a three-year study to find ways to use a biorefinery waste to make new products. Dr. Joshua Yuan, a biotechnologist, is the lead scientist on the project that will primarily focus on ways to make plastic materials from the lignin waste.

Dr. Joshua Yuan is a Texas A&M AgriLife Research plant pathologist. Photo Credit: Texas A&M AgriLife Research photo by Kathleen Phillips.

Dr. Joshua Yuan is a Texas A&M AgriLife Research plant pathologist. Photo Credit: Texas A&M AgriLife Research photo by Kathleen Phillips.

In the biorefinery field, we have a saying: You can make anything but money out of lignin. And yet, that is the majority of waste or what’s left over in the biorefinery plants,” said Yuan who has been researching sustainability of biofuel for years. “Until we resolve this problem, biorefinery is not going to become economically viable.”

Nearly a billion dollars has been invested in creating a modern biorefinery industry, said Yuan who noted that progress has been made using energy grasses to produce biofuels. However, said Yuan, these types of biomass leave lignin after the fuel is extracted. Rather than try to burn it or otherwise dispose of it leaving an impact on the environment, he said, biorefineries prefer using the byproduct in additional products, which would help their overall bottom line.

This new project will use the biorefinery waste to develop plastic materials that could then be used to make other products, which in turn would be recyclable. “We’re hoping to help create an integrated biorefinery that will not only produce ethanol but also produce a lot of good and useful products out of this waste,” Yuan said.

In a corn refinery where ethanol is produced, for example, the waste can be used for animal feed and to make corn oil, he noted. In a petroleum refinery, along with gasoline, diesel and kerosene, the leftover becomes asphalt.

That is the model we seek for the grassy plant materials — to produce ethanol as the main product, but in the meantime to also produce bioplastics,” explained Yuan. “When we talk about renewable energy or renewable fuel, there are two important considerations: One is economic. It has to be product cost effective. We cannot compete with $30-per-barrel petroleum — it has to be more like $80-per-barrel petroleum for a biorefinery to complete, unless we have another product for which we can use the waste to make something wonderful.”

Yuan said his team will work with an engineered microorganism that is able to convert lignin to plastic while also concentrating on maximizing the amount of plastic that can be made from the waste.

advanced biofuels, biomass, biomaterials, Research

Cologne Scientists Cultivate #Algae for Less

Joanna Schroeder

One of barriers that keep the cost of algal products from being competitive is cultivation. But in the near future, these costs could go down with research from scientists in at the University of Cologne. Professor Michael Melkonian, an algae specialist, along with his team have developed a new method that could make harvesting algae easier and thus reduce the costs of the algal products. The findings were published in the journal Trends in Biotechnology.

dreamstimefree_60120Using research on photobioreactors as the basis, the team used a “Porous Substrate Bioreactor” (PSBR), also known as the twin-layer system, to separate algae from a nutrient solution by means of a porous reactor surface on which the microalgae are trapped in biofilms. What is different is their procedure is that it reduces the amount of liquid needed in comparison to the current technology, which cultivates algae in suspensions, by a factor of up to one hundred. The PSBR procedure thus allows for a significant reduction in energy and for an increase in the portfolio of algae that can be cultivated.

Current successes in PSBR development and the rise in interest in this technology in recent years could signal a turn in the conception of future photobioreactors in microalgae biotechnology.

advanced biofuels, algae, bioproducts

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1KXO Radio is reporting that the Imperial Irrigation District Directors have approved a $2.5 million grant for California Ethanol and Power for its processing plant located in Keystone Industrial Park in California’s Imperial Valley. The proposed $500 million facility would produce an estimated 66 million gallons of ethanol per year from 55,000 acres of locally grown sugarcane. At the same time, the project expects to generate up to 50 megawatts of electricity.
  • The European Commission has provided EUR 88,5 million in grants of NER 300 investment subsidies for the biofuel refinery planned by Kaidi in Ajos, Kemi.  The subsidy, which is directed towards producers of renewable energy, was initially granted in 2012 for the realization of a biofuel refinery planned by Vapo. Vapo halted the project in 2014. The funds will be used to complete the project.
  • The European Commission has published its Communication on a European Strategy for Low-Emission Mobility that explores policy options to decarbonise transport beyond 2020. The European renewable ethanol association (ePURE), representing conventional and advanced ethanol producers, welcomes the Commission’s commitment to assess the future role of low carbon fuels in Europe’s transport through a science-led approach.
  • Attendees at the STN Expo had their first opportunity to experience Blue Bird’s new Vision CNG bus, along with Blue Bird’s newest offering, the Vision Gen 4 Propane bus. It features Blue Bird’s industry-exclusive Ford/ROUSH CleanTech powertrain.  The new Type C Vision Gen 4 Propane bus exceeds emission standards, with virtually zero emissions, and has better fuel economy than other propane-fueled school buses due to the bus’ EconoShift optimization.
Bioenergy Bytes

IIT Researchers Receive #Bioethanol Patent

Joanna Schroeder

Two scientists from Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), Ben Stark and Tony Sanny, have received a patent for a method to genetically engineer bacteria and yeast to increase bioethanol production. During the development process, the team focused on cellulosic biomass from twigs, branches, plant stalks, husks and woodschips.

3D View of VHbThis patent is Stark’s, who is a professor of biology, and Sanny’s, a former Ph.D. student and now a partner with Swanson & Bratschun, third since 2014 for increasing bioethanol production by genetic engineering of microorganisms to express Vitreoscilla hemoglobin.

The team developed a method to genetically engineer Escherichia coli and Zymomonas mobilis, two bacterial ethanol producers, and yeast, a eukaryotic ethanol producer, to express Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb). Engineering of microorganisms with VHb has been shown to enhance the production of many useful bioproducts as well as improve microbial degradation of certain toxic chemicals. Physical addition of small amounts of oxygen to ethanol producing cultures has been shown by others to enhance bioethanol production; the Illinois Tech (VHb) approach is a biological correlate of the physical method, and so works on its own without the need for an oxygen feed to the growth chamber.

According to the researchers, cellulosic and hemicellulosic-based bioethanols are the least common right now, because these polymers are fairly difficult to break down into their component sugars, thus making it difficult to produce enough fuel-grade ethanol cost-effectively. However, bioethanol from these feedstocks has the promise of being much more cost effective and sustainable, producing less greenhouse gas, and having a less direct impact on the food supply than using corn starch as a source of sugar. Work in recent years has focused on genetically modifying yeast and other materials used in producing bioethanol from cellulose and hemicellulose to speed the breakdown process, improve yields, and lower costs.

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Research

Aviation: Benefits Beyond Borders

Joanna Schroeder

During the United Nations High Level Political Forum’s Sustainable Development Goal Business Day held in New York, the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) launched a new report detailing the path to global aviation sustainability. “Aviation: Benefits Beyond Borders,” finds that over the next 20 years, aviation-supported jobs worldwide will increase to over 99 million and GDP to $5.9 trillion. The leading areas of growth will be in Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.

Screen Shot 2016-07-27 at 9.53.56 AMHowever, the report finds that to achieve sustainable growth governments must be supportive in all facets of the sector including modernizing the fleet, reducing airfares and better access to air transportation. Today, 54 percent of all international tourists and 35 percent of international trade by value travels by air.

The report finds that in 2014, airline operations produced 739 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), just under 2 percent of the total human carbon emissions of over 36 billion tons. The aviation industry agreed in 2008 to the world’s first set of sector-specific climate change targets. The industry is already delivering on the first target to continue to improve fleet fuel efficiency by 1.5 percent per year until 2020, finds the report. From 2020, aviation will cap its net carbon emissions while continuing to grow to meet the needs of passengers and economies. By 2050, the industry has committed to reduce its net carbon footprint to half of what it was in 2005. Companies across the sector are collaborating to reduce emissions using a four-pillar strategy of new technology, efficient operations, improved infrastructure and a global market-based measure to fill the remaining emissions gap.

ATAG executive director, Michael Gill, says that the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the United Nations highlights a number of goals that the international community should strive to achieve by 2030: “We found that air transport in some way supports 14 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, from decent work and economic growth to quality education and reduced inequalities. By continuing to grow in a sustainable manner, aviation can strive to be a force for good for many years to come.

advanced biofuels, aviation biofuels, Climate Change, Environment

.@EthanolRFA Kicks Off FSMA Training in Omaha

Joanna Schroeder

The first of four sessions focused on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements and how ethanol and distillers grain producers can comply kicked off in Omaha, Nebraska today. The educational series is sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and led by Kelly Davis, RFA’s director of regulatory affairs. She was joined by Iowa State University professor Charlie Hurburgh and Matt Frederking of Ralco Nutrition, Inc. to provide two and a half days of FSMA training to approximately 50 attendees from across the ethanol industry.

FDA logoThe Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) FSMA regulations require a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) to oversee a written food safety plan at every facility that produces animal feed. The PCQI is a qualified individual who has successfully completed training in the development and application of risk-based preventive controls at least equivalent to that received under a standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by FDA, or who is otherwise qualified through job experience to develop and apply a food safety system. RFA has been actively involved with FDA’s Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) for the Animal Food curriculum development. The courses offered by RFA follow the standardized curriculum recognized by the FDA. PCQI certificates will be issued to attendees upon successful completion of the course.

RFA is offering additional courses in Des Moines, Iowa (Aug. 17–19), Minneapolis (Aug. 24–26) and Indianapolis (Sept. 14–16). All classes are at capacity; contact Ann Lewis to be placed on a waiting list. RFA may offer additional classes in the fall if interest is sufficient.

Distillers Grains, Education, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Al-Corn’s Randy Doyal Talks #Ethanol on Car Clinic

Joanna Schroeder

21416-randy-doyal-300x168Last Saturday, Bobby Likis, host of nationally syndicated car-talk radio program “Bobby Likis Car Clinic,” shared the mic with CEO of Al-Corn Clean Fuel Randy Doyal. The ethanol facility is located in Claremont, Minnesota. Doyal is also the chairman of the board of the Renewable Fuels Association.

During the program, Doyal discussed ethanol and its benefits to local and national economies, to the environment and to national security. He shared how Minnesota’s initiative in the industry is serving as a blueprint for helping solve future energy and economic challenges, as well as tackled misinformation swirling about the ethanol industry, debunking some of the more outrageous myths. In addition, Likis and Doyal will speak to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and why consumers/voters should support the RFS.

As a 30-year veteran of the ethanol industry, I have seen the benefits we have provided to consumers in our communities and around the world, providing the lowest-cost, highest octane source on the planet. Ethanol use cleans the air, boosts local economies and helps to reduce our dependence on petroleum,“said Doyal prior to the program. “I look forward to making sure Bobby’s audience of fellow automotive consumers, voters and our policymakers are aware of ethanol’s numerous benefits and continue to support its use.”

Click here to hear an archived version of the program.

automotive, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1The General Motors Orion Assembly plant that builds the Chevrolet Bolt EV ranks as the eighth largest user of green power generated onsite in the U.S. among the EPA’s Green Power Partnership Partners. Over half of the plant is powered by methane captured from decomposing trash in a nearby landfill.
  • The Malaysian Biodiesel Association (MBA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB) to explore palm biodiesel investment and its export potential. In a statement, MBA said the agreement would pave the way for its member companies to potentially export palm biodiesel from Malaysia to a proposed palm biodiesel blending program in India.
  • Terra Biodiesel Holding has announced the closing of the sale of its biodiesel plant located in St. Joseph, Missouri to an undisclosed strategic buyer. Ocean Park Advisors acted as the exclusive advisor to the seller. The assets sold include a biodiesel refinery situated on an approximately 13-acre parcel of land as well as a license agreement for certain production technologies. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
  • Genesee & Wyoming has announced that beginning this fall, its Arkansas Midland Railroad Company subsidiary will offer the first ethanol unit train solution for the North Little Rock and surrounding gasoline-blending markets, serving the JP Energy terminal, which is the largest terminal at North Little Rock’s tank farm complex. Unit trains, which are able to handle up to 108 railcars, will be unloaded directly to JP Energy’s ethanol storage tanks on premises for onsite blending or direct outbound truck loading. Prior to this, the local ethanol market was served only by truck deliveries and single-car rail shipments.
Bioenergy Bytes

CEI Releases Another Anti-#RFS Report

Joanna Schroeder

A new report released this week by the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) is arguing that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) should be repealed for its “numerous economic, ethical and real-world problems”. “Running Drivers into the Blend Wall: Push to Ratchet up Renewable Fuel Standard Rewards Ethanol Lobby at Consumers’ Expense,” argues the RFS rewards the ethanol industry at consumers expense. Dozens of organizations would not agree with this assessment as less than two weeks ago a coalition of more than 40 diverse organizations sent a letter to Congress calling for an end to the more than 100 years of oil subsidies that reach into the billions of dollars each year.

In response to the report, Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association said:

rfalogo1CEI is a member of the API’s Smarter Fuel Future. All CEI is doing is regurgitating API’s talking points and its misinformation. For starters, ethanol and the RFS help to lower consumer gasoline prices, not drive them up. Numerous independent analyses have concluded that because ethanol is the lowest cost source of clean octane and is displacing higher priced dirty gasoline from tar sands and fracking, the RFS is saving consumers at the pump.

And the RFS is not mandating the use of E15 or E85. The RFA has demonstrated just how easy it would be for obligated parties to reach the 15 billion gallon statutory volume for conventional biofuels next year—through rising gasoline demand, increased E15 and E85 use by consumers choosing to utilize those blends. Better than 80% of the cars sold this year are E15 compatible, and there are more than 20 million flexible fuel vehicles on the road today capable of using E85.

By contrast, less than 12% of today’s autos require premium gasoline. The oil companies, though, have made the investment to supply the premium market. Why won’t they do so for an even larger share of the vehicle fleet that could use higher ethanol blends? The only reason is that they would prefer to maintain their monopoly over the gasoline market. That’s precisely the reason the RFS is necessary in the first place.

In CEI’s misleading, inaccurate and repetitive brief, it tries to attack the ethanol industry on issues such as the ethanol blendwall, RINs and biofuel infrastructure. However, the only thing that is ‘flimflam’ is CEI’s claims. Our industry has in fact invested and expanded biofuel retail infrastructure–more than $200 million will be invested in the next year–and despite what CEI claims, Big Oil does control what service stations sell, limiting what fuels can be offered under their canopy.

It’s ironic that CEI, whose core principles include limited government and free enterprise, is pushing for repeal or reform of the RFS, when the alternative is the continued near-monopoly of Big Oil. The RFS is all about loosening petroleum’s grip on the transportation sector and providing an alternative that is cleaner, domestically produced and boosts rural economies. Why wouldn’t CEI—or anyone—support that effort?”

biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, RFS