Flights Fueled by Neste’s Biojet Fuel

Joanna Schroeder

Neste Corporation has announced that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will be using its renewable jet fuel in a series of flights between Oslo to Amsterdam. Over the next few weeks, KLM will use Neste Renewable Jet Fuel in about 80 flights with the EMBRAER 190 from Oslo to Amsterdam. Embraer will be conducting measurements during these flights to gauge the efficiency of biofuel in comparison with kerosene.

101903“We are very happy that KLM is using Neste Renewable Jet Fuel in dozens of flights from Oslo to Amsterdam. It shows that KLM is a pioneer in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from aviation,” said Kaisa Hietala, Executive Vice President of Renewable Products at Neste.

KLM has reported CO2 emission reduction goals of 20 percent by 2020 using 2011 levels. The company hopes to achieve this goal in part through the use of biojet fuels and increasing flight efficiency.

“KLM believes that sustainable biofuel is important for the airline industry. For this reason, we have for some time been cooperating with different partners, including those united within the scope of the KLM Corporate BioFuel Programme, to stimulate the development of the market. Our new cooperative relationship with Embraer and Oslo Airport (Avinor) serves to underscore just how important this is,” added Boet Kreiken, Managing Director KLM Cityhopper.

Neste Renewable Jet Fuel is refined in Porvoo, and meets the requirements of ASTM 7566 for aviation fuels using sustainably produced camelina oil. The fuel is blended at a 50 percent blend ratio with Jet A1 fuel and transported to Oslo Airport where it is pumped into the airport’s existing hydrant system.

advanced biofuels, aviation biofuels, biojet fuel

Alliance BioEnergy Reports Successful Cellulosic Pilot

Joanna Schroeder

Alliance BioEnergy + has been developing bolt-on cellulosic ethanol technology and the company has announced that its results from the testing of its pilot plant are positive. The tests looked at distillers grains (DDGs) and corn kernel fiber and it ability to be converted to cellulosic ethanol using the CoPro Max separation unit designed in conjunction with Harvest Technology. The two byproducts can be converted into cellulosic ethanol, adding millions of gallons of additional ethanol production to an existing facility.

alliance-bioThe pilot testing has demonstrated that the corn kernel fiber is an ideal feedstocks when used in the CTS process and converts nearly 100 percent of the available sugars in as little as 12 minutes, according to Alliance BioEnergy. When combined with the CoPro Max system (to an 100 million gallons per year) corn ethanol plant), the company is reporting the CTS process adds nearly 12 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol to the plant and recovers most all of the highly valuable corn oil and proteins, from the DDGs. In addition, Alliance BioEnergy is reporting the sale of the additional ethanol, corn oil and proteins as well as cellulosic credits could add an additional $48 million to the bottom-line of a typical 100 mmgy corn ethanol plant.

Advantages of the bolt-on technology, says Alliance, include no need to purchase or transport feedstock to the plant nor is there a pre-treatment process.

Alliance BioEnergy is reporting its intentions to build and install the first unit in an existing ethanol plant this year and begin marketing the combined unit to U.S. ethanol plants later this year.

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, Distillers Grains, Ethanol

Big Oil Wins Big on Taxes

Joanna Schroeder

Big OilToday is Tax Day. While many Americans will receive a modest refund, oil producers are raking in the big bucks, $4 billion to $6 billion, through tax incentives dating back more than 100 years. Today, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is pointing out that many of these century-old tax provisions never expire while the ethanol industry agreed to let its incentive expire in 2011.

The Joint Committee on Taxation recently estimated that elimination of certain “fossil fuel preferences” (i.e., subsidies) would save U.S. taxpayers at least $24.5 billion — or roughly $210 per U.S. household — between 2015 and 2020.

“Big Oil needing any government assistance is preposterous,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “Why would an incumbent industry that has a virtual monopoly at the pump need taxpayer dollars to compete?”

“On this tax day, Congress should seriously consider repealing this absurd and costly corporate welfare,” continued Dinneen. “Consumers will benefit when there is a truly free market in motor fuel, when alternatives like ethanol have access to the pump, when a variety of biofuel blends (E15, E25, E85) are accessible to consumers and when taxpayers no longer have to subsidize the most profitable industry on the planet. Until then, programs like the Renewable Fuel Standard are all we have to compel some level of competition and cost-control on an otherwise broken and unfair market.”

biofuels, Ethanol, Legislation, RFA

Research Uses Waste Papayas for Biofuels

Joanna Schroeder

Research led by the U.D. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists is looking at how to encourage algae in to producing oil from waste papayas and other unmarketable crops or byproducts such as glycerol. The lead scientist for the project is Lisa Keith, a plant pathologist with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS). The experiments are taking place in Hilo Hawaii and utilizing Chlorella protothecoides algae. They are part of larger efforts to reduce Hawaii’s need for imported oil and energy through zero-waste systems.

papayasKeith’s research uses specialized vats called “bioreactors,” which allow for the growth of 150 liters’ worth (approximately 40 gallons) of algae. Her team selected “UTEX 249,” a top-performing strain of C. protothecoides that can store as much as 60 percent its cellular weight in lipids when grown—in the absence of sunlight—on a diet of 35 percent papaya juice.

In addition to sugar, papaya juice contains carbon, a critical but costly component of current algal-based methods of producing oil for conversion into biodiesel. The zero-waste system only uses unmarketable papayas, which account for one-third of Hawaii’s $11-million crop and represent a substantial revenue loss for growers there.

Keith has been awarded a $1.6 million grant for the project from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s Agribusiness Development Corporation.

advanced biofuels, algae, Research

Grains Council CEO at #ACE16DC

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is a new member of the U.S. Grains Council, recognizing the important role that organization plays in the promoting exports of both ethanol and the livestock feed co-product DDGS.

ace16dc-sleight“We have a unified (ethanol) industry effort working together to build exports,” said USGC president and CEO Tom Sleight who visited with members of ACE in Washington DC last week for their annual legislative fly-in. “For 15, 20 years we’ve been doing DDGS and now for about three years we’ve been looking at ethanol and the effort is going farther and faster then I thought it would, again because of the strong cooperation we’re getting from the full ethanol industry.”

Sleight says China, Japan, Mexico and India are top priorities for U.S. ethanol exports. Secondary markets include Canada, Philippines, Colombia, and Peru.

In this interview, Sleight also discusses the U.S. DDGS market outlook and upcoming Export Exchange this year to bring buyers and sellers of DDGS together. Interview with Tom Sleight, USGC

ACE 2016 DC Fly-in Photo Album

ACE, Audio, Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, USGC

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1KMA Land Radio is reporting that the Missouri House has voted to extend the state’s ethanol producer incentive program until 2020. The program provides grants to ethanol biorefineries to assist in renewable fuel production.
  • The Geothermal, Hydropower and Biomass Associations have launched the first Baseload Renewable Energy Summit, to be held June 7-8 in Reno, Nevada. The Summit will bring together industry leaders, policy makers, public representatives and other experts to engage in a dialogue about the issues and opportunities facing these industries. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. renewable electricity comes from baseload sources – hydropower, biomass and geothermal. And, as renewable production grows, these baseload technologies are projected by EIA to continue to produce a majority of renewable power through at least 2040.
  • The Dickinson Press has reported plans for a $150 million cellulosic ethanol plant at the Spiritwood Energy Park Association industrial park are underway. If built, the plant would employ around 40 people. One of the projects founding partners is Pennsylvania-based New Energy Investors.
  • The Connecticut Energy Marketers Association (CEMA) has appointed the team of Decker Creative Marketing and Makiaris Media Services to spread the good news about the home heating fuel industry’s new energy-efficient blend called Bioheat. The renewable, cleaner burning, more cost-efficient fuel is already being delivered to customers statewide by the more than 230 independent CEMA member companies.

 

Bioenergy Bytes

Growth Energy Names Emily Skor as CEO

Joanna Schroeder

Emily Skor will be taking over the role of CEO for Growth Energy effective May 16, 2016. She most recently served as the Vice President for Communications of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) and the Executive Director of the CHPA Educational Foundation. Former and acting CEO and Growth Energy Co-Chair Tom Buis will continue to serve in his role as Board of Director’s Co-Chair.

E.Skor Headshot copy“For the last seven years, Tom Buis has been a tremendous ally to the ethanol industry, leading Growth Energy through some of its toughest fights, and on behalf of the entire organization, we are thankful for his service and continued commitment to the industry,” said POET Executive Chairman and CEO and Growth Energy Co-Chair Jeff Broin. “As the ethanol industry continues to evolve – facing new opportunities and challenges – Emily is poised to lead Growth Energy as our next generation leader for next generation fuels. Emily brings a new perspective on policy, reputation management and communications to the organization during this dynamic time for the industry.”

At CHPA, Skor oversaw public affairs campaigns, integrated strategic communications into legislative campaigns and coordinated ally development. Before joining CHPA Skor served as Senior Vice President at Dezenhall Resources, a nationally recognized crisis communications and issues management firm. For more than a decade, she helped Fortune 500 companies and industry associations manage issues affecting brand confidence and corporate reputation through media, advocacy, coalition building and consumer education campaigns. She is a Minnesota native and graduate of Wellesley College.

“Since its inception, Growth Energy has been a champion for pro-biofuels policies and represented thousands of voices for the ethanol industry,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “The organization and its members are committed to advancing fuel technologies that are proven to be better for the environment and automobile engines. I am thrilled to be part of this effort to take Growth Energy to the next level. As more consumers and automakers alike embrace higher blends of ethanol and legislators continue to support its environmental benefits, we will protect our environment for future generations and give drivers choices at the pump.”

Company Announcement, Growth Energy

#ACE16DC Gets Update on China DDGs Investigation

Cindy Zimmerman

Back in January, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) initiated an investigation into anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports of U.S. produced distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). The U.S. Grains Council has been on top of the situation from the start and provided an update for members of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) meeting in Washington DC this week.

ace16dc-erbUSGC Director of Industry Relations Lyndsey Erb says the issue is important because China is such a huge market for the ethanol co-product used as animal feed. “China had been the largest importer of U.S. DDGS, taking 56% of exportable supplies last year,” said Erb. USGC has been coordinating the response from the U.S. ethanol industry to provide the information needed to help address the concerns and get China back in the market.

“We’re still very much in the beginning stages,” Erb says. “Ultimately the case has to wrap up between a year and a year and a half after the initiation so we still have a long road ahead of us in this case but such a large percentage of the U.S. industry is joining the Grains Council to fight that we are optimistic we can put together a good defense.”

Erb explains more in this interview: Interview with Lyndsey Erb, USGC

ACE 2016 DC Fly-in Photo Album

ACE, Audio, Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, International, USGC

Nebraska Congressman Visits #ACE16DC

Cindy Zimmerman

ace16dc-smithAll Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) wants is for consumers to be able to have the choice to fill up with 15% ethanol all year long. That’s why he introduced H.R. 1736 to extend the current EPA Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver to include E15.

“My bill would reverse this antiquated, non-scientific regulation out of EPA that was created in 1990,” said Rep. Smith during an interview at the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) annual legislative fly-in. “It’s about generating interest and enthusiasm by consumers to exercise their choice.”

Smith recognizes that getting any legislation passed during this election year is challenging, but he hopes to find a legislative vehicle on which to attach the bill.

In this interview he also makes some comments about the budget and appropriations process going on in Congress right now: Interview with Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE)

ACE 2016 DC Fly-in Photo Album

ACE, Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

Political Strategist Speaks to #ACE16DC

Cindy Zimmerman

ace16dc-tewesAs we all know in this contentious presidential campaign, most candidates spend at least as much time attacking their opponents as they do talking about their own good qualities and experience. That is a strategy that the ethanol industry should employ more often, according to an experienced political strategist.

Paul Tewes of the Smoot Tewes Group (STG) has 20 years experience as a political operative and he believes that in the ethanol public relations battle, there is a clear villain on the other side. “We’re only going to win if we always make it a contrast with oil,” said Tewes, speaking to members of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) meeting in Washington DC this week. “We always have to continue to stress our positives because there are so many of them but we have to contrast that with the negative facts about the oil industry.”

Listen to an interview with Tewes here: Interview with Paul Tewes, Smoot Tewes Group

ACE 2016 DC Fly-in Photo Album

ACE, Audio, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, politics