#Biodiesel Industry Storms Capitol Hill

Joanna Schroeder June 28, 2016

The biodiesel industry is storming Capitol Hill today to share the widespread benefits of the advanced renewable fuel. Nearly 100 leaders are calling on legislators to strengthen the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as a new report released found that in 2015, the biodiesel industry produced 2.1 billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel that supported $8.4 billion in economic impact across multiple sectors along with 47,000 jobs and $1.9 billion in wages.

The study, conducted by LMC International and commissioned by the National Biodiesel Board (NBB), also found that increasing biodiesel imports – nearly a third of total biodiesel use in America in 2015 – are eating into domestic production and its positive economic impact. Should this fuel have been produced domestically, the industry would have been able to support 21,000 additional jobs.

Anne Steckel, vice president of federal affairs for NBB, said the study underscores the benefits of strong policy that encourages further development of the domestic industry. “Ending our dependence on oil is an opportunity, not just for the environment and our national security, but for the economy and for American workers,” said Steckel. “This industry is supporting tens of thousands of jobs from coast to coast, and we’re just getting started.”

The biodiesel producers, feedstock suppliers and other stakeholders in DC today are calling for higher Biomass-Based Diesel and Advanced Biofuel volumes under the RFS going in to 2018. In addition, they are calling for reform of the biodiesel tax incentive, set to expire at the end of this year, to become a $1-per-gallon incentive for domestic production only. Under the current blender’s credit, biodiesel imported to the U.S. qualifies for the incentive.

NBB believes EPA should set stronger volumes of Biomass-Based Diesel under the RFS, calling for at least a 2.5-billion-gallon requirement in 2018. LMC found, with 2.5 billion gallons of production, the industry would support 81,600 jobs and $14.7 billion in total economic impact if all production were domestic. The impact is 55,000 jobs and $9.8 billion in total impact under a split of two-thirds domestic production and one-third imports.

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, NBB, RFS

.@EthanolbyPOET Expands Cover Crop Research

Joanna Schroeder June 28, 2016

POET is continuing its sustainability research as the need for biomass continues to grow as the company heads out of its start-up phase and into full production at its cellulosic ethanol biorefinery in Emmetsburg, Iowa. The company says the program is part of their ongoing commitment to assisting growers in making sound management decisions around harvesting crop residue for cellulosic ethanol.

Corn biomass residue. Photo Credit: Joanna Schroeder

“Agriculture is the solution to so many of the world’s challenges, and there’s an enormous opportunity in cellulosic ethanol,” POET CEO Jeff Broin said. “As this industry starts to grow, we’re working to make sure that it’s done in a way that is as sustainable as possible.”

In 2014, POET DSM launched its first cellulosic facility, Project Liberty. When in full production, the ethanol plant can produce 20 million-gallons-per year using crop residues such as corn stover. With new avenues for the biomass came a need to better understand the affects of harvesting on land management and soil health. With this in mind, POET has worked with Iowa State University and the USDA for the past eight years, monitoring the soil under various residue removal practices.

In addition to this ongoing research, POET Biomass added two fields of cover crops (a mix of tillage radish and oats) last year to ascertain what impact field cover has when paired with a variety of tillage practices and residue removal rates. This year they are planting rye as a cover crop and adding a third field to expand the variety of cover crop species and mixes to assess their specific soil benefits and the economic implications.

“One year of data is too soon to make any bold statements, but we’re certainly optimistic about pairing cover crops with biomass harvesting for cellulosic ethanol in the future,” said Associate Biomass Research Scientist Alicia ElMamouni. She added that the goal of the research is to determine how cover crops affect soil health, biomass harvesting and feedstock quality as well as the quantity of biomass that can be sustainably removed.

biomass, Cellulosic, Environment, Ethanol

#Ethanol Helps Consumers Save $$ at the Pump

Joanna Schroeder June 27, 2016

Ethanol’s exposure was ramped up at the Iowa Speedway during the American Ethanol E15 250 presented by Enogen. One person who got media and NASCAR fans alike exited about the high-performance E15 racing fuel was Delayne Johnson with Quad County Corn Processors. His ethanol biorefinery broke some speed records of its own two years ago when they successfully launched the first cellulosic ethanol production technology of its kind that converts the corn kernel fiber into cellulosic ethanol.

Chuck Zimmerman caught up with Johnson during the race weekend to learn more about the technology. Johnson said that his plant is also using Enogen corn and when you combine that with the Cellerate technology, you get more ethanol per kernel. In addition, he said they are delivering more than $1 million back to local corn farmers in premiums for their Enogen corn.

But the money track doesn’t stop there. “We’re also pleased to allow consumers who save a dollar to a dollar fifty a gallon on the gas they are buying today because of the extra supply ethanol provides,” Johnson said. “Ethanol really is good throughout the supply chain and is good for the American people from a national defense standpoint and from a reduction of imports of crude oil, and we’re just pleased to be part of the process.”

Quad County Corn Processors is one of the most efficient ethanol plants in the country. One reason is because using their proprietary technology Cellerate, they take the fiber left over after the production of traditional corn ethanol and convert it to cellulosic ethanol enabling the plant to producing another 6 percent of ethanol out of the same kernel of corn. “When you add Enogen and Cellerate, you’re able to increase the throughput of our plant by more than 20 percent so far but we believe we can do better than that.”

To learn more about Quad County’s Cellerate + Enogen ethanol and DDGs, listen to Chuck’s interview with Delayne Johnson here: Interview with Delayne Johnson, Quad County Corn Processors

You can find lots of photos from Iowa Speedway race weekend here: Enogen Syngenta NASCAR Photo Album

advanced biofuels, Audio, Cellulosic, corn, Enogen, enzymes, Ethanol, NASCAR, Syngenta

Developing the Road to Faster Biomass Breakdown

Joanna Schroeder June 27, 2016

A major challenge of using biomass for bioenergy is the breaking down of biomass into cellulose that can be used as the basis for biomaterials. One researcher is trying to overcome this barrier when using perennial plants for renewable energy. Feng Wang, associate professor of physical chemistry at University of Arkansas, has been awarded $400,000 from the National Science Foundation to study this challenge.

A University of Arkansas researcher is investigating a critical roadblock to harvesting biomass from perennial plants, such as grass, for the purpose of creating renewable energy. Photo Credit USDA.

“Biofuel derived from perennial plants, such as grass and common weeds, is most desirable because these plants grow on marginal land and can be harvested repeatedly,” said Wang, who works in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. “But first we have to solve the problem of breaking down cellulose fibrils before biomass can be considered an economically viable source of renewable energy.”

Wang explains that cellulose fibrils are microfibers of inert carbohydrates within plants and give wood, for example, its durability. Through pretreatment chemists separate these fibrils into individual carbohydrate chains that can be digested by enzymes but this process takes a long time. However, Wang and other chemists are studying ways to speed it up.

According to Wang, computational modeling is an important route toward understanding this process. He and his team is developing computer models of cellulose fibrils to help scientists understand how they interact with water, alternative solvents and enzymes. His and other models will also lead to the design of catalysts for the pretreatment and hydrolysis of biomass. Wang will use a method called adaptive force matching, which relies on a process using repeated iterations for developing simple but highly efficient and accurate force fields.

“The beauty of this method is that it allows us to develop accurate force fields without using complex energy expressions,” said Wang. “And maximizing its simplicity will enable larger structures to be modeled efficiently.”

Using the adaptive-force-matching method as a reliable protocol for mapping the molecular energy landscape of cellulose fibrils will have broad impact for computational chemistry and material research in general, Wang said. The ultimate goal is to understand the mechanisms that prevent scientists from making clean and renewable fuel from biomass, which would decrease reliance on fossil fuels and reduce carbon emissions.

advanced biofuels, bioenergy, biomass, Research

Strong Senator Support for Final #RFS

Joanna Schroeder June 27, 2016

As the week came to a close last Friday, 39 U.S. senators sent a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy calling on the EPA to step up on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The letter urged the EPA to ensure the final 2017 RFS rule “promote[s] growth in the U.S. biofuel sector and capture economic opportunity rather than drive investment overseas.” The 2017 proposal calls on refiners to blend 14.8 billion gallons of conventional biofuels in 2017, slightly below the 15-billion-gallon level envisioned by Congress when it expanded the RFS in 2007.

“We thank the lawmakers for their leadership to ensure EPA finalizes a strong RFS that gets the program back on track. In proposing a lower conventional biofuel target for 2017, the EPA is catering to the oil industry by relying upon an illegal interpretation of its waiver authority and concern over a blend wall that the oil industry itself is creating,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen who last week testified on behalf of the RFS during the Energy and Power Subcommittee Hearing. “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 and 2 billion surplus renewable identification numbers available to refiners.”

Dinneen added, “Meantime, continued uncertainty has caused investments in new technology and advanced biofuel to languish or move overseas. It’s time EPA follows the statutory requirement and increase the conventional biofuel target to 15 billion gallons.”

Emily Skor, Growth Energy CEO, who gave her first keynote speech to thousands of attendees last week at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop, also commended the senators for their RFS support. “We must not turn back the clock on the progress we have made, and commend these Senators for protecting America’s security and economy through the RFS. The EPA must return stability to this policy to ensure that we keep America moving forward. The RFS decreases our dependence on foreign oil, improves our environment by reducing harmful emissions and displacing toxic chemicals found in gasoline, and gives American consumers a choice of a less expensive, higher performing fuel.

The RFS is our nation’s most successful energy policy. We stand united with this group of bipartisan Senators in sending a message to EPA that our support for this policy is unwavering, and that EPA must set the final RVO volumes to 15 billion gallons as Congress intended,” Skor concluded.

Comments for the proposed 2017 and 2018 RFS rules are being accepted until July 11, 2016. Click here for information on how to submit your comments.

biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, politics, RFA, RFS

Consumer Perception, High Octane Keys to #Ethanol’s Future

Joanna Schroeder June 27, 2016

Senior Vice President for the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Geoff Cooper participated in the panel discussion “Pathways to Fully Realizing the Bold Promise of the Broader Biofuels Industry,” during this year’s Fuel Ethanol Workshop. Chuck Zimmerman spoke with Cooper about some of the things that struck him as particularly interesting during the conversation. Cooper noted that they spoke about policy issues, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), high octane fuels, the longer term future of ethanol as well as consumer perception issues.

On the left, @EthanolRFA VP of Market Development Robert White, and the right, RFA’s Senior VP Geoff Cooper at #FEW16.

In terms of “promise” Zimmerman asked Cooper, what in fact the promise was. He answered that in his perspective, high octane fuels is the promise. “We have a tremendous benefit with the high octane rating of ethanol. It’s just one of those inherent properties that’s kind of a secret weapon for ethanol. We’ve seen over the past several years how refineries have optimized their operations to really take advantage of the clean, low carbon octane that is ethanol. I see that as really the cornerstone of the industry’s future movement moving forward.” He added that automakers are asking for higher octane fuels for the future and they plan on ethanol having a role in this.

RFA was also represented on the next panel discussion via Robert White, vice president of Industry Relations, who participated on the, “Exploring Strategies to Unlock Greater Marketplace Access for Conventional and Advanced Biofuels,” panel. One conversation point was consumer perception of ethanol. White said it’s important for the industry to continue to promote itself. He noted that other industries spend a significant amount of money promoting their brand and products but this industry does very little of this.“Our resources have been spent defending ourselves. Our resources have been spent on research and analysis and market development,” said White. “All the hurdles we need to overcome to get our fuel to market.”

One of the questions was, “Does the industry need to rebrand itself?”

“I said no because I think our story is as good as it’s ever been,” White answered. “We continue to improve that story with efficiencies at the plant, with technology and the innovations we see within our membership every day.”

White said the rest of the panel discussion focused on increasing infrastructure and offering consumers the choice at the pump.

To learn more about the future of ethanol, listen to Chuck’s interview with Geoff Cooper and Robert White here: Interview with Geoff Cooper & Robert White, RFA

You can find photos from the 2016 FEW here: 2016 FEW Photo Album

Coverage of the Fuel Ethanol Conference is sponsored by

Audio, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

.@Novozymes Joe Jump Developing Better DDGs

Joanna Schroeder June 24, 2016

Joe Jump is an organic chemist who has been working for Novozymes for 15 years. However, for the last six years he has worked in Research & Development making new enzymes applications and yeast applications for biofuels. Jump presented a session during this year’s Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) that focused on applications for ethanol producers who are producing dried distillers grains (DDGs).

“DDGs are a great co-product for ethanol producers and we’re trying to make it even better by taking a certain component of it, the fiber fraction, and trying to upgrade it so monogastrics can uptake its nutrition much better than it currently does, which is basically none,” explained Jump. “We have some enzyme lead candidates we’d like to scale up and test into the biofuels process.”

So what will this new enzyme technology mean for ethanol producers?

“It’s really about them [ethanol producers]. So if we can help them make money, in this case upgrading DDGs for our producers will allow them to have a lot more opportunities in the monogastric area. Currently there is not much they can add to a monogastric feed ration because of the fiber component. It kind of gets in the way.” So, explained Jump, if they can nutritionally enhance the DDGs using enzymes, producers will be able to have more inclusion rate for DDGs rations.

Jump said that this emerging technology is in early stages but they wanted to share it with the industry so they were aware of Novoymes’ commitment to creating new products for their customers, whether it be short-term or long-term opportunities.

To learn more about this emerging technology, listen to Chuck’s interview with Joe Jump here: Interview with Joe Jump, Novozymes

You can find photos from the 2016 FEW here: 2016 FEW Photo Album

Coverage of the Fuel Ethanol Conference is sponsored by

Audio, biofuels, corn, Distillers Grains, enzymes, Ethanol, FEW, Novozymes, Research

New Workshops, Tools @Novozymes Bioenergy University

Joanna Schroeder June 24, 2016

A year ago during the Fuel Ethanol Workshop, Novozymes officially launched its Bioenergy University. This year, Chuck Zimmerman was able to speak with Novozymes’ Rachel Burton to get the update on how the program is going. She said they are getting excellent feedback from their customers with hundreds of customers actively engaged with the tool and the training platform. In particular, she said there has been a great response to their online, interactive courses and videos.

This year Burton said they just launched a new and improved version of the tool that has more information about their industry excellence workshops where their customers can sign up for two to three day workshops right on Bioenergy University.

“Bioenergy University can be a platform for any kind of operator training certification program,” said Burton. “We have many customers that are interested in developing a more formal program and many of them are using Bioenergy University as a piece of that puzzle.”

Burton says they are constantly improving the site and building new content based on customer needs. One thing they are working on is advancing the trainings they do in the interactive module.

To learn more by Novozymes’ Bioenergy University, listen to Chuck’s interview with Rachel Burton here: Interview with Rachel Burton, Novozymes

You can find photos from the 2016 FEW here: 2016 FEW Photo Album

Coverage of the Fuel Ethanol Conference is sponsored by

Audio, bioenergy, biofuels, Education, enzymes, Ethanol, FEW, Novozymes

#Brexit – Good or Bad for Agriculture?

Jamie Johansen June 24, 2016

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Did/do you have a summer job on a farm?”

Growing up on a beef cow/calf operation in Southwest Missouri meant my summers were spent in the hay field or showing my Herefords at local, state and national livestock shows. I was thrilled to see such a diverse response to this week’s poll. No matter the type of farm work, it teaches young people what hard work and dedication is all about. Even though my farm work experiences were year round and sometimes I wasn’t a big fan, I wouldn’t trade lessons learned on the farm for the world.

Here are the poll results:

Yes, feeding cattle – 17%
Yes, hauling hay – 20%
Yes, on a dairy – 6%
Yes, building fence – 15%
Yes, in row crops – 20%
No – 20%
Other – 2%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, What does Brexit mean for ag?

The United Kingdom has voted themselves out of the European Union. Markets around the globe are down and it seems time will only tell the complete global impact. What does this mean for agriculture. With the value of the Euro in question, will this reduce agricultural trade and impact the agricultural economy?

ZimmPoll

.@Novozymes #FEW16 Message: Focus on Future

Joanna Schroeder June 24, 2016

The Novozymes booth was a busy one during this year’s Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) in part because not only is the company continually innovating with new product platforms, but because they have launched several new services for customers to assist them with improving optimization and profitability. Current market conditions was a hot topic at FEW and Novozymes has been focused on their customers during the current state, which according to Hans Klingenberg, global marketing director for the global biofuels business in North America, said is one of tight margins.

During FEW, Klingenberg said his company was focused on corn ethanol producers through discussions around their new product launches. He also supports the company’s strategy of how to build more value for their customers. They are doing this through innovation – identifying early what are the new things that they’re going to be developing internally to grow the industry.

So what is the current market doing? “That’s a really interesting question,” noted Klingenberg. “We really look at the industry as having reached the top of an S curve. So we have enjoyed and really grown up with the ethanol industry over the last years. We’ve come from a period where we all enjoyed tremendous growth and with that a really nice environment. As things have begun to peak, so this near-term period of plateau I would say, and you’re now seeing ethanol demand basically being outstripped by ethanol capacity. We’ve seen the industry tighten up and we’re really seeing that our customers are facing tougher margins as it becomes more tricky to figure out where you’re going to put all that ethanol that being produced.”

However, stressed Klingenberg, no matter the market conditions, there are always ways to advance, and this was their primary message to ethanol producers at FEW: focus on what’s ahead. “I’d say the plateau we’ve reached is really more like a train station and getting to the next stop. We see tremendous opportunities for ethanol producers to continue to develop their business and to grow both their top line and their profitability. And,” added Klingenberg, “we’re here to help them both in products and new services in helping them optimize their plants and increase their profitability.”

Learn more by listening to Chuck’s interview with Hans Klingenberg here: Interview with Hans Klingenberg, Novozymes

You can find photos from the 2016 FEW here: 2016 FEW Photo Album

Coverage of the Fuel Ethanol Conference is sponsored by

Audio, corn, enzymes, Ethanol, FEW, Novozymes

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