Comet Biorefining Awarded CA $10.9M

Joanna Schroeder

Comet Biorefining has been awarded CA $10.9 million dollars from the Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDIC) to assist with the construction of its biobased chemicals plant located in Sarnia, Ontario. The biorefinery will convert corn stover into high-purity dextrose sugar. SDTC supports the development of technologies which address the challenges of clean air, soil, water and climate change.

Comet Biorefining logoAndrew Richard, founder of Comet, said, “This funding will support the commercialization of our feedstock-flexible technology and produce a much-needed raw material for the growing bioeconomy. By supporting Comet Biorefining, SDTC is investing in Canada’s environmental goals and economic future.”

Comet’s technology enables sugars to be produced cost- competitively with corn or sugarcane-derived dextrose, the conventional raw materials for today’s biochemical production. Comet’s facilities may be built on a small scale that enables flexibility to locate production close to biomass supplies, reducing transportation costs.

“Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) is incredibly proud to support Comet Biorefining,” added Leah Lawrence, president and CEO. “Our mission is to help Canadian cleantech entrepreneurs move their ground-breaking technologies to commercialization by bridging the funding gap between research and market entry. This dextrose sugar plant is the kind of technology that has the potential to generate jobs, growth and export opportunities, and to bring lasting economic, environmental and health benefits to Canadians and the world.”

biochemicals, biomass, biomaterials

Iowa Biofuel Impact Takes Small Step Back

Joanna Schroeder

A new study conducted by John Urbanchuk of ABF Economics and commissioned by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) found that while the renewable fuels industry continues to be a strong driver of Iowa’s economy, its impacts have taken a small step back from last year. The report cited reductions to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as the cause.

Iowa RFA logo-new“Iowa is the leading producer of ethanol in the United States,” said Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad during a press conference at the Capitol to release the study results. “We have been disappointed by the EPA’s unwillingness to restore a robust Renewable Fuel Standard. This study shows how important renewable fuels are for the future of our Iowa economy.”

The study found that in 2015 the renewable fuels industry in Iowa:

  • Supported nearly 43,000 jobs throughout the entire Iowa economy;
  • Generated almost $2.3 billion in household income for Iowans; and,
  • Accounted for about $4.6 billion, or 3.5 percent, of Iowa GDP.

“While Iowa’s ethanol and biodiesel industries continue to power the state’s economy, it’s disappointing that those impacts took a small step backwards last year,” added IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “What may be as equally frustrating is the missed opportunity to really grow Iowa’s economy. When the EPA reduced the statutory RFS levels, it reduced our ability to grow ethanol and biodiesel production, to grow forward-looking investments into new technologies, to grow farm income and to grow Iowa jobs.”

Ethanol, Iowa RFA, RFA

UT & Genera Harvest Poplar Trees for Biofuels

Joanna Schroeder

Harvester works the field web

A self-propelled forage harvester with a specialized woody harvesting head harvests a 10-acre stand of hybrid poplars being studied to advance lignocellulosic biomass as part of a USDA-funded project coordinated by the University of Tennessee Center for Renewable Carbon. Photo courtesy Genera Energy Inc

University of Tennessee AgResearch Center is harvesting its first batch of popular trees to be used as biomass to create biofuels. The 10-acre plot of hybrid poplars was planted about four years ago and now the 30-foot trees are expected to produce between 60-100 tons of woody biomass. The harvest is part of a five-year $15 million multi-disciplinary research and development effort (IBSS) funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reduce barriers to the development of the Southeastern bioeconomy.

Tim Rials, director of the UT’s Center for Renewable Carbon said, “The goal of the IBSS partnership is to demonstrate the production of advanced biofuels from sustainable sources of lignocellulosic biomass, that is, biomass made from designed herbaceous and woody crops.” IBSS has focused on perennial switchgrass and short-rotation woody crops like eucalyptus, pine and hybrid poplar, trees that can be grown in the Southeast.

“It’s important for the industry and producers to have a portfolio of crops that can supply the cellulosic biomass for the biorefineries,” Rials continued. “Very little information is available on the performance of hybrid poplar in the Southeast. This project is designed to identify the effect of both genetic differences and management practices on the growth and yield of this potentially important energy crop. The data should provide the basis for future productivity improvements.”

The harvest included plots of several hybrid poplar varieties, called clones. Although genetic differences clearly impacted the overall yield, research has shown little difference in the chemical composition of the different hybrid poplar clones. “This information provides valuable guidance for continued enhancement of this new energy crop,” Rials said. Similar field trials, some with the same varieties, are also underway in Alabama, Mississippi and North Carolina to evaluate environmental impacts on biomass yield.Read More

advanced biofuels, biomass, Cellulosic, Ethanol

Biodico Seeking Summer Interns

Joanna Schroeder

Biodico is looking for 10 interns this summer for its facilities in Fresno and Ventura Counties, California. Four interns will be based at the company’s laboratory at Naval Base Ventura County at Port Hueneme, Calif., and six interns will be based at the company’s “Westside” facility in the San Joaquin Valley located at Red Rock Ranch in Five Points, Calif. Biodico Westside recently went online and produces advanced biofuels while being powered by renewable heat and power generated on-site.

biodico logo“This program represents our commitment to create green energy jobs in economically depressed areas, as well as provide opportunities for the next-generation of bioenergy professionals to gain experience,” said Biodico President and Founder, Russ Teall. “Students who share our passion for the environment and finding economically viable solutions to power the future are encouraged to apply.”

Interns will be exposed to an array of biofuel and bioenergy technologies, including biodiesel production, anaerobic digestion, gasification, solar cogeneration and wind, as well as cultivation of biofuel crops and laboratory work. Students will be placed based upon their field of study and interests.

Several of the jobs at Westside were created in partnership with West Hills Community College in Fresno County, a region with historically high employment rates. Biodico developed an internship program specifically for West Hills’ students, and hires graduates of the school’s two-year Industrial Technology Program. Biodico has also partnered with University of California Santa Barbara to provide internships for environmental studies majors.

For more information about applying for the internship program, please email internships@biodico.com. Applications for the summer of 2016 are due March 31.

advanced biofuels, bioenergy, Education

Admin Takes Swift Action on China Antidumping Case

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. ethanol industry recently called on the Obama administration to take quick action against China who has opened an antidumping case on U.S. exports of dried distillers grains (DDGs). In the letter, the groups asked for swift action to “mount an aggressive defense of our access to the Chinese livestock feed market.”

This week the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) as well as the Department of Commerce contacted the appropriate Chinese officials, expressing their concern over the process and sampling methodology utilized in selecting U.S. companies for participation in the antidumping and countervailing duty cases.

Following the decisive response, Growth Energy and RFA praised the administration for action to defend the U.S. DDG industry.

growth-energy-logo1Tom Buis, co-chair of Growth Energy noted, “I would like to commend President Obama and his administration for taking immediate action to protect the U.S distiller’s grains industry. The simple fact is that there is no reason the People’s Republic of China should file a case like this – it is counterproductive, disrupts trade and produces uncertainty throughout the domestic ethanol industry. Growth Energy and its members are grateful for the position this administration has taken to ensure that unnecessary trade restrictions such as this anti-dumping and countervailing duty case are resolved as quickly as possible.”

rfalogo1“I congratulate and appreciate the administration for getting involved in this crucial issue,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “I am glad both the United States Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce are recognizing the urgent need to address our concerns. I look forward to a quick resolution of these cases and returning to fair trade of the U.S. distillers dried grains industry.”

Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Exports, Growth Energy, RFA

PERC Promotes Farm Incentive Program

Joanna Schroeder

Several years ago, the Propane Research and Education Council (PERC) launched the Propane FEED Program for farmers. Today the program has evolved as is now called the Propane Farm Incentive Program and it’s taking off. To learn more about the program and how farmers can get involved, Chuck Zimmerman spoke with PERC’s Director of Agriculture Business Development Cinch Munson during Commodity Classic 2016 in New Orleans.

classic16-percThe results for 2015 are in, said Munson, and they follow the trends for the past five years. “Folks who switched to a propane irrigation engine from a diesel engine saw their energy costs go down 58 percent in 2015. So by making that switch they’re ending up with a lot of money in their pocket. Grain dryers a similar story. By upgrading their equipment from an old generation propane grain dryer to a new propane grain dryer people saved 42 percent on energy.”

Technology is changing; technology is getting better and equipment is so much more efficient, said Munson. He noted that when you combine that with the fact that propane supplies are up and propane prices are down, people who make the switch are seeing more money in their pockets.

To learn more about the Propane Farm Incentive Program, listen to Chuck’s interview with Cinch Munson: Interview with Cinch Munson, PERC

2016 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Agribusiness, Alternative energy, Audio, Commodity Classic, Propane

Spring is in the Air – What are you looking forward to?

Jamie Johansen

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “How important are farm shows to farmers’ buying decisions?”

Farm equipment and technology are big investments for farmers and ranchers. Buying on the fly isn’t an option. Our latest poll confirms the need for farms shows that display the latest opportunities in the agriculture world.

Here are the poll results:

  • Very – 25%
  • Somewhat – 54%
  • Not at all – 13%
  • Depends – 8%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, What do you look forward to most in spring?

Spring is knocking at our door and I will assume we are all beginning to get Spring Fever. What are you looking forward to most this spring? Is it simply warmer weather or are you dying to dive into spring cleaning?

ZimmPoll

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1Bimbo Bakeries USA is now delivering its bread and baked goods in vehicles fueled by propane autogas. The company’s 84 new Ford F-59 trucks are equipped with ROUSH CleanTech fuel technology, and operate in three of BBU’s major markets. In January, 30 units began operating from the company’s Chicago-area location, and 27 units began operating from its Denver-area office. The remaining 27 units that will serve the Washington, D.C., region will begin making deliveries this month.
  • Lallemand Biofuels &  Distilled Spirits’ 36th annual “The Alcohol School” is taking place April 11-15, 2016 in Toulouse, France. The educational event educates fuel ethanol and distilled beverage producers in the science of alcohol production. The week long program will cover a variety of timely industry topics including: enzyme usage; yeast biology; new technologies for alcohol production; and bacterial contamination and control. Space is limited so register now.
  • In Jamaica, Benchmark Renewable Energy has inked a deal to develop a 10 million gallon per year advanced ethanol project that will also produce 3 MW of renewable power. Project plans also include the production of 500,000 gallons of drop-in aviation fuel and 60,000 gallons per day of fresh, desalinated water. The project should be complete by the end of 2017.
  • Ethanol 2016: Emerging Issue Forum is taking place in Omaha, Nebraska April 28-29, 2016. Confirmed speakers include Ashley Kongs, U.S. Grains Council; Vijay Singh, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Jeff Carver, Syngenta (Enogen & Cellerate); Doug Durante, Clean Fuels Development Coalition and more. Registration is now open. Students may apply for a scholarship to attend the event. For more info click here.
Bioenergy Bytes

Ethanol Contributed $2B to Minnesota’s Economy

Joanna Schroeder

A new study by ABF Economics found that the ethanol industry in Minnesota contributed $2.13 billion to the state’s gross domestic product in 2015. The report also found the industry generated $7.37 billion in gross sales for the same year. This in turn generated $1.6 billion worth of income for Minnesota households, supported 18,116 full-time jobs and contributed $93 million to state and local taxes. In addition, the ethanol industry created indirect jobs including jobs in retail trade, health care, natural gas distributors, banking and finance.The report was commissioned by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.

Refinery_1“The ethanol industry continues to be a significant contributor to Minnesota’s economy and is vital to continued economic growth in the state,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.

For the study, ABF Economics used the Impact Analysis for Planning (IMPLAN) economic model to construct a model of the Minnesota economy including the sectors that support the ethanol industry, the links between them and the level of economic activity.

John Urbanchuk, managing partner of ABF Economics said of the report, “Ethanol plants provide jobs and income not only for people who work at the plants, but also for businesses that sell ethanol plant supplies including Minnesota farmers who produce most of the corn used by Minnesota’s biofuel industry.”

The study found Minnesota’s 21 ethanol plants spent $2.05 billion in 2015 to produce 1.2 billion gallons of ethanol, 3.6 million tons of dried distiller’s grains (DDGs) and 198 million lbs of corn oil. In addition, the study reported the volume of ethanol produced last year, the study said, was 11 percent higher than 2014.

Also of note, the study found, “If all of the corn refiner’s oil produced by Minnesota ethanol plants was used as a biodiesel feedstock, it could produce more than 26 million gallons of biodiesel, or more than 40 percent of the biodiesel produced by Minnesota’s biodiesel plants.”

biofuels, Ethanol

RFA: Corn Ethanol Net Energy Improves

Joanna Schroeder

A new analysis from the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) finds that the net energy balance of corn-based ethanol at dry mill ethanol plants averages between 2.6 to 2.8, a improvement over previous estimates. Recent estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), found net energy gains between 2.1 to 2.3. However, RFA says its analysis uses more current dry mill energy use data than the USDA study; thus, explaining why its net energy balances are more favorable.

rfalogo1The net energy balance is a ratio of how much energy is required to grow the corn and produce the ethanol, and then transport the fuel to end users. For example, a ratio of 2.8, means every BTU of energy invested in the process to make and deliver ethanol results in 2.8 BTUs of available energy to the end user. (BTU is the acronym for British Thermal Energy, a measurement for energy.)

In February 2016, USDA issued its updated net energy balance report on corn-based ethanol, finding “[t]here has been a large improvement in energy balance since 1995, and a small but positive improvement since 2008.” The previous USDA report, conducted in 2010, was based on 2008-era data and found that the balance was 1.9–2.3. RFA’s analysis found that USDA used the same 2008-era dry mill energy use estimates for both its 2010 and 2016 reports.

According to RFA’s own analysis, “[t]he energy balance of the top-performing quartile of biorefineries is in the range of 3.2–3.4, which approaches the USDA estimate of 4.0 for an ideally situated dry mill producing wet distillers grains.”

RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen commented, “As this new analysis shows, the U.S. ethanol industry has made tremendous efficiency gains in recent years. EPA should take note and update its lifecycle greenhouse gas modeling of corn-based ethanol under the renewable fuel standard to reflect these improvements. Today’s ethanol plants are achieving the levels of efficiency that EPA assumed wouldn’t occur until 2022.”

The RFA analysis used dry mill energy use data from two other widely respected findings to support its results — Mueller & Kwik (2013) and Christianson & Associates (2016).

biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA