According to Lux Research, biojet fuels will be key to achieving the aviation industry’s pledge to cut CO2 emissions to 200 million tons in 2050—half the 2005 figure—as opposed to the staggering 2.1 billion tons projected by current growth rates. Biojet fuel innovations, led globally by Honeywell UOP and Boeing, will account for 56 percent of the targeted CO2 emissions reductions, while a third of the cuts will come from new aircraft technology, and optimization of operations and infrastructure.- Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection has issued the final permits for a first-of-its-kind waste management plant in Hampden that would convert trash from more than 100 central Maine communities into biofuel. The plant is being built by Fiberight.
- TruStar Energy has announced it was awarded the contract to build and maintain the first CNG fueling station for the City of Long Beach, California. The new CNG station supports the city’s commitment to using cleaner, safer and domestically produced fuels for its vehicles. Long Beach, which is in midst of shifting from liquefied natural gas (LNG) to CNG for its fleets, currently has 24 CNG-fueled vehicles. Over the next six years, the City plans to acquire an additional 307 CNG vehicles.
- The U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, and Energy have announced an opportunity for U.S.-based suppliers and providers of clean energy, smart grid, and energy efficiency solutions to participate in an interactive directory of renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions. The Interagency Team has developed the beta version of an interactive app to serve as a mobile business directory for U.S. clean energy exporters. The app highlights deployments of sustainable technologies and systems at U.S. diplomatic missions and provides potential business partners around the world with a searchable interface to find information on potential U.S. technology and service providers.
Bioenergy Crop Modeling Predicts Soil Carbon Increases
Researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Argonne National Laboratory are using computational modeling to predict which counties in Illinois could see increases in soil organic carbon from crops such as switchgrass for biofuels. Increasing carbon stored in soil is one way to help mediate the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requires the use of advanced biofuels and feedstocks like switchgrass that can grow on a range of crop and marginal lands across the country. And because Earth’s soil stores about three times as much carbon as the atmosphere, these deep-rooted plants that return season after season might also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions before they are even harvested for fuel by increasing the amount of carbon stored in the soil.
Switchgrass is one of the five crops modeled for local soil carbon sequestration rates in an Argonne study that predicts the impact of different biofuel crops on soil carbon across the country. (photo credit: hjochen/Shutterstock)
The Argonne researchers note that for bioenergy crops in particular, modeling land types and local climates at high spatial resolution is important because the yield of the crop and its impact on soil carbon stocks can vary significantly across the country. The study, published in Global Change Biology – Bioenergy, the team combined county-level crop yield, weather data and soil data at depths relevant to bioenergy crops. The researchers than used a soil carbon model to calculate sequestration rates. This study was done in collaboration with Steffen Mueller at the University of Chicago, Michelle Wander at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Ho-Young Kwon at the International Food Policy Research Institute. The results are contributing to DOE’s third Billion-Ton report.
Researchers modeled soil carbon sequestration rates for five crops: corn and four energy-dense crops including switchgrass, poplar, willow and Miscanthus. The production of each species was modeled on four types of land, including cropland, cropland pasture (which fluctuates between producing crops and serving as pastureland) and flong-standing undisturbed grassland and forest — totaling 20 land scenarios depicting different initial and final land uses or covers. Researchers also considered changes to soil carbon stocks when 30 percent of the corn stover remaining after corn harvest is collected, which is likely to contribute to future biofuel production and can also affect carbon stocks.
By modeling soil carbon at a depth of 100 centimeters rather than the standard 30, the study results represent the deeper root systems of crops like switchgrass and poplar trees that transport carbon below the topsoil, unlike more shallow-rooted row crops like corn. The team also collected detailed data on local weather patterns, soil conditions, historical land use and local crop yields for each county, as well as data from bioenergy crop field trials conducted by other agencies and national laboratories.
For bioenergy crops in particular, modeling land types and local climates at high spatial resolution is important because the yield of the crop and its impact on soil carbon stocks can vary significantly across the country.
“By doing this type of analysis we can find areas where bioenergy crops can have positive environmental effects — but also hotspots where growing bioenergy crops may cause a decline in soil carbon,” said Argonne postdoctoral researcher Zhangcai Qin, who is examining the environmental effects of biofuel production.Read More
The Ecology of a New Crop
Researchers at the UConn Plant Science Farm are studying the ecology of camelina as a high-tech crop. The research team is led by professor emerita Carol Auer and she and her team have been working with Camelina sativa, an oilseed crop that has never been grown commercially in the state. The feedstock has been subject to genetic modification for use to make biofuels, dietary supplements and bioplastics and could soon be a viable cash crops for farmers.
From left, postdoctoral fellow Chuan-Jie Zhang, professor emerita Carol Auer, and graduate student Richard Rizzitello in a field of Camelina sativa at UConn’s Plant Science Research Farm. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
Camelina has historically been considered a weed and is closely related to other common weeds in the mustard family. According to Auer, this raises questions about future interactions between cultivated plants and their surrounding environment. With this in mind, one of the team’s main goals is to understand gene flow, the movement of genes between individual plants within a species or between closely related plant species. Gene flow between plants depends upon the movement of pollen by wind or insects, and the fields at UConn have demonstrated that camelina attracts pollinators such as honey bees, native bumble bees, and flies.
Graduate student Richard Rizzitello has been studying these insect visitors. “If camelina is planted across the U.S., it could provide good food resources for bees and other pollinators that are in decline,” he said. “But we need to know if the new traits from genetic engineering could cause problems in the environment. For example, we don’t want camelina to change from a cultivated plant to an aggressive weed.”
Over the next few years, the UConn research team will share their information about camelina gene flow and weed dynamics with farmers and other groups including government regulators who are responsible for crop biotechnology regulation.
“These experiences have given me a lot of insight into the challenges that regulators face. That’s a big driver for me in these projects,” said Auer. “Although it sounds simple, good baseline data about crop biology and ecology are essential to many regulatory decisions. In the long run, this research will help us manage biotechnology and improve coexistence in our farming systems.”
The research is supported by a grant from the Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grant Program, an initiative of the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
#Ethanol Report on E15 at Fuel Terminals
Illinois-based HWRT Oil Company will soon be the first company in the United States to offer pre-blended 15% ethanol at the terminal level, something the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is calling a “game-changer” for increasing access to E15.
RFA Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White talks about why this is such a big deal in this edition of the “Ethanol Report.”
Listen to the Ethanol Report: Ethanol Report on E15 at Fuel Terminals
Is the Trump-Pence Republican Ticket Good for Biofuels?
Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What do you think about the Senate’s GMO Disclosure Bill?
The Senate has passed it’s version of the GMO Disclosure Bill followed by the House passing the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, and the President is expected to sign the bill into law soon. However, 40 percent of voters believe the legislation is bad for everyone.
Here are the poll results:
Good for Ag – 10%
Good for consumers – 5%
Good for both – 25%
Bad for everyone – 40%
Other – 20%
Our new ZimmPoll is live and asks the question, Is the Trump-Pence Republican ticket good for agriculture and biofuels? During his campaigning Trump has been a vocal supporter of biofuels visiting an ethanol plant in Iowa last summer and has repeatedly said he could “be a farmer“. However, one-term Indiana Governor Mike Pence is being heralded by the ag industry as understanding and supporting many facets of agriculture from small farms to large agribusinesses.
BioEnergy Bytes
- Richmond BizSense is reporting that Vireol Bio Energy, a bankrupted ethanol plant located in Virgina, confirmed they will pay creditors around $0.29 for every $1 they’re owed by the company. This amounts to about $1.7 million to potentially be paid out on around $4.98 million in debt claims.
- Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation and Mitsui Zosen Machinery & Service have agreed to form a business tie-up to produce and sell zeolite membranes. With the goal of entering new markets and expanding sales, MCC will purchase MZM’s entire output of zeolite membranes and hold the sole sales rights in the U.S. and other global markets. Their agreement also provides proposals for new dehydration processes that will draw upon both companies’ technologies.
- Alliance BioEnergy Plus has announced that as the scientific and engineering team at subsidiary Ek Laboratories continues to optimize the CTS process for dry distiller’s grain (DDG) and various other cellulose biomass, the team has developed a pathway to produce JP-8, an advanced military grade aviation biofuel, at the suggestion of government officials at the DOE and NREL. Much like the commercial aviation fuel, Jet A-1 except with the addition of corrosion inhibitors and anti-icing additives in order to meet the stringent U.S. and British defense standards.
E20 Would Reduce Europe’s GHGs in Transport Sector
Ricardo Energy & Environment has found that a higher use of ethanol blends in Europe would contribute to a 14.1 percent greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) reduction in the continent’s transportation sector even after taking into account possible land use change (ILUC) emissions. The new study was commissioned by ePURE and looks at the potential contribution ethanol could play in reducing GHG emissions in the transport sector through 2030.
Building on previous research, this study focused on the introduction of E20 (20% ethanol, 80% gas) high-octane fuel, along with vehicles optimized to run more efficiently on the E20 fuel blend. Europe has set a goal of 12-20 percent reduction in emissions in the transport sector by 2030.
In particular the study found:
- Even after accounting for estimates of ILUC emissions, the use of biofuels results in significant well-to-wheel GHG reductions compared to the use of conventional fossil based fuels, i.e. petrol and diesel.
- Increasing the share of ethanol beyond 2020 levels further reduces GHG emissions. In particular, the highest GHG reductions in transport (14.1%) compared to 2005 are achieved when ethanol use is increased through the introduction of E20. This reduction is compared to a 9.3% GHG reduction in a scenario with no biofuels at all.
“European ethanol already makes a strong contribution to decarbonising Europe’s transport sector and can help to reduce the climate impacts of the fuels we use to power petrol cars,” noted Robert Wright, secretary-general of ePURE. “This study shows that ethanol’s climate benefits can be further enhanced through the use of higher ethanol blends. E20 fuel is a win-win for Europe’s climate because it significantly reduces emissions and its high-octane content increases engine efficiency resulting in less fuel consumption.”
Ricardo says its findings also validate a meta-analysis by the University of Vienna, which found that ethanol makes petrol combust more cleanly and efficiently. The study concludes that policy makers should explore the deployment of high-octane E20 fuel and vehicles with E20 optimized engines in the context of reducing transport emissions by 2030 and in the longer-term to 2050.
Ocean Park Advisors Retained by Abengoa
Abengoa Bioenergy Biomass of Kansas has retained Ocean Park Advisors to sell its cellulosic ethanol plant in Hugoton, Kansas. The biorefinery, one of the first using biomass to produce cellulosic ethanol and renewable electricity in the U.S. went online in October of 2014. The sale is part of the company’s filings under Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
According to Ocean Park Advisors, there is also an opportunity for interested parties to acquire the cellulosic technology and other intellectual property assets that are owned by Abengoa Bioenergy New Technologies, LLC a debtor in a separate bankruptcy case pending in Delaware, in connection with or separately from, the sale of the Hugoton plant.
Interested parties are encouraged to submit proposals by mid-August with target closing date by the end of October 2016.
HWRT to Offer Pre-blended 15% #Ethanol at Terminals
HWRT Oil Company will soon be the first company in the United States to offer pre-blended 15% ethanol at the terminal level.
Currently there is no access to E15 at local fuel terminals and retailers across the country interested in offering the fuel have done so by diluting a higher ethanol blend (like E85) with regular unleaded, a process that takes additional storage and equipment.
Beginning September 16, HWRT President Matt Schrimpf says, they will include E15 in its slate of product offerings at terminals located in Hartford, Illinois; North Little Rock, Arkansas; Norris City, Illinois; and Seymour, Indiana.
“HWRT was one of the very first terminals in the country to offer automated ethanol blending at the terminal rack, so the move to E15 is a natural progression for our company. We have over 30 years of experience blending ethanol, and we look forward to helping our customers experience the benefits E15 can offer,” said Schrimpf.
Renewable Fuels Association Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White calling this a “game-changer” for increasing access to E15. “HWRT’s leadership will give thousands of retailers in multiple states access to a new fuel option, one that consumers are embracing quickly where available,” said White. “Offering E15 at the terminal level provides new opportunities for retailers and greater choice for consumers.”
RFA has been working with HWRT on a number of issues related to offering E15 at the terminal, including regulatory compliance, participation in the EPA’s required fuel survey, and adoption of RFA’s Misfueling Mitigation Plan (MMP). RFA will immediately begin working with interested retailers serviced by the four HWRT-owned terminals to assist them with the transition to offering E15 at retail. HWRT plans to eventually expand the E15 offering to 17 additional terminals in a total of seven states where the company holds positions.
Hawaii Gov David Ige Signs State #Biodiesel Tax Credit
Hawaii Governor David Ige has signed the state’s Renewable Fuels Production Tax Credit into law. The bill is another mechanism the state is using to reach its goal of generating 100 percent of its electricity from renewable resources by 2045. Hawaii has the highest energy costs across America’s 50 states. Pacific Biodiesel Technologies President Robert King attended the formal signing, another positive step in the use and promotion of biodiesel in the state. Also this month the city of Maui eliminated its 9 cents per gallon biodiesel tax.
Among those attending the signing ceremony included (L to R) Warren Bollmeier, Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance; Sharon Moriwaki,Hawaii Energy Policy Forum; Gov. David Ige; Robert King, Pacific Biodiesel. Photo Credit: Pacific Biodiesel Technologies.
Hawaii State Act 202 is a nonrefundable tax credit for the production of renewable fuels, including biodiesel, which will take effect in 2017 for five years. The annual dollar amount of the tax credit is equal to 20 cents per 76,000 Btu of renewable fuel (the equivalent of one gallon of ethanol). The tax credit is capped at $3 million per year. This news comes on the heels of improved biodiesel tax credits in the state of Iowa and as the industry fights for the extension of the federal $1 per gallon biodiesel credit to three years and for domestic producers only.
“This is an excellent incentive because it will encourage investors to fund renewable fuel production facilities in Hawaii, creating jobs and energy security while fighting climate change and reducing environmental damage,” said King. “We’ve been diligently working for the past six years to help pass this legislation.”
Pacific Biodiesel was recently awarded a sustainability certification by the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance and is Hawaii’s only commercial biofuel producer.