Exel Solar, the largest independent distributor of PV products in Mexico, has announced a strategic partnership with Sunpreme Inc. to offer Smart Bi-facial PV Modules, the most technically advanced product available on the market.- A Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (CSE)-led team has been selected for a $3.5M Sustainable and Holistic Integration of Energy Storage and Solar PV (SHINES) award from the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative. The three-year award will be used to design, develop, deploy a fully functional and integrated photovoltaic (PV), energy storage, and a facility load management system at the utility distribution scale and demonstrate in Massachusetts for at least one year. Fraunhofer CSE, with National Grid and its industry and state government partners, will match the award and put $3.5M towards the project.
- SPI Energy Co., Ltd. has begun trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “SPI”. Chairman Xiaofeng Peng, accompanied by members of SPI Energy’s leadership team, joined with employees, partners and investors to ring the opening bell at Nasdaq MarketSite in New York City to mark the occasion.
- Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC has announced today that it has opened an office in Portland Maine to service the expanding portfolio of alternative energy assets held by the Company throughout North America. Coincident with the office opening, the Company is pleased to announce that Ms. Carol Lambert has joined the Company as a Vice President focusing on financial and asset management.
Dupont, ADM Make Long Sought-After Biochemical
DuPont Industrial Biosciences and ADM have teamed up to develop a process to make a long sought-after molecule important for renewable biochemicals. This news release from DuPont says the technology has applications in packaging, textiles, engineering plastics and many other industries.
The companies have developed a method for producing furan dicarboxylic methyl ester (FDME) from fructose. FDME is a high-purity derivative of furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), one of the 12 building blocks identified by the U.S. Department of Energy that can be converted into a number of high-value, bio-based chemicals or materials that can deliver high performance in a number of applications. It has long been sought-after and researched, but has not yet been available at commercial scale and at reasonable cost. The new FDME technology is a more efficient and simple process than traditional conversion approaches and results in higher yields, lower energy usage and lower capital expenditures.
This partnership brings together ADM’s world-leading expertise in fructose production, and carbohydrate chemistry with DuPont’s biotechnology, chemistry, materials and applications expertise, all backed by a strong joint intellectual-property portfolio.
“This molecule is a game-changing platform technology. It will enable cost-efficient production of a variety of 100 percent renewable, high-performance chemicals and polymers with applications across a broad range of industries,” said Simon Herriot, global business director for biomaterials at DuPont. “ADM is an agribusiness powerhouse with strong technology development capabilities. They are the ideal partner with which to develop this new, renewable supply chain for FDME.”
One of the first polymers under development utilizing FDME is polytrimethylene furandicarboxylate (PTF), a novel polyester also made from DuPont’s proprietary Bio-PDO™ (1,3-propanediol). PTF is a 100-percent renewable and recyclable polymer that, when used to make bottles and other beverage packages, substantially improves gas-barrier properties compared to other polyesters. This makes PTF a great choice for customers in the beverage packaging industry looking to improve the shelf life of their products.
“We are excited about the potential FDME has to help our customers reach new markets and develop better-performing products, all made from sustainable, bio-based starting materials,” said Kevin Moore, president, renewable chemicals at ADM. “With their strong leadership in the biomaterials industry, DuPont is a great partner that can help us bring this product to market for our customers.”
The two companies plan to build an integrated 60 ton-per-year demonstration plant in Decatur, Illinois, which will provide potential customers with sufficient product quantities for testing and research.
Italian Company Debuts ‘Better Than Biodiesel’ Fuel
An Italian company is the first in the world to turn an oil refinery into a biofuel plant. This news release from energy company Eni says it has rolled out Eni Diesel + at more than 3,500 fuel stations all over Italy.
Using the Ecofining™ technology it owns (developed in 2006 in the San Donato Milanese laboratories, in cooperation with Honeywell UOP), Eni transforms plant oils into a complete hydrocarbon product that overcomes the qualitative problems of traditional biodiesel…
The numerous tests performed in the Eni research laboratories have shown that, compared to standard diesels comprising of 5% biodiesel, Eni Diesel + extends the life of car motors, ensures the highest power output thanks to clean injectors, improves motor performance reducing consumption by up to 4%, helps with cold starts and ensures motor noise reduction thanks to the high cetane number.
The product’s innovation impact is just as significant in environmental terms: Eni Diesel + has a more sustainable production cycle and so contributes to reducing CO2 emissions by 5% on average. Tests performed on Euro 5 vehicles in the Centro Ricerche Eni [research centre] in San Donato Milanese and the Istituto Motori del CNR [Motor Institute of the National Research Council] in Naples showed a significant reduction in polluting emissions (unburned hydrocarbons and carbon oxide reduced by up to 40 %, up to 20% less particulate matter).
Eni says as a promotion, the new Eni Diesel + is available at the same price of the premium Eni Blu Diesel + previously offered in its stations.
Iowa Governor Blasts Ted Cruz Over Ethanol
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad made national headlines Tuesday at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit with his comments about presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) during an impromptu press conference.
“He is heavily financed by Big Oil,” Branstad said about Cruz. “I think it would be very damaging to our state…and I think it would be a big mistake for Iowa to support him.”
Branstad noted that Senator Cruz was not invited to speak at the renewable fuels summit specifically because of his views on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “That’s the reason why he hasn’t been invited to this because he hasn’t supported renewable fuels,” said Branstad. “He still supports immediately repealing the Renewable Fuel Standard.” Branstad added that Cruz is “against the wind energy tax credit as well.”
Listen to Branstad’s comments here: Gov. Branstad comments on Ted Cruz
Governor Branstad addressed the 10th Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit, which he has done almost every year that the event has been held. “I have supported ethanol and biodiesel from the very beginning,” he said. Gov. Branstad at Iowa RFA summit
“Kirby’s Future” Wins Fuel the Future Video Contest
A young woman from Des Moines, Iowa, Helena Gruensteid, who attends Roosevelt High School, took home the top honors in the Fuel the Future video contest. The top three placing high school videos were unveiled yesterday during the 10th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit held in Altoona, Iowa. Gruensteid was awarded $1,000 for her video “Kirby’s Future. The contest was sponsored by the BrownWinick Law Firm.
Evan Boss, Brock Henderson, and Christian Moore of North Linn High School and North Linn FFA and won the $600 second place prize for their video entitled, “North Linn FFA E15 Video.”
Hannah Song, a senior at Iowa City West High School, was awarded the $400 third place prize for her video entitled, “Fuel the Future with E15.”
“I want to thank all of the Iowa high school students who took on the challenge of entering this year’s contest and learning about the benefits of using renewable fuels, like E15 and biodiesel,” said IRFA Communications Director T.J. Page. “While all of the videos were fantastic, Helena’s entry stood out for its entertaining storyline, and imaginative presentation of benefits of using homegrown, cleaner-burning E15.”
Four GOP Candidates Address #Ethanol
Four Republican presidential candidates addressed the 10th annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit on Tuesday, putting a major national spotlight on the importance of ethanol to the nation.
First up was former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, the only candidate who had been there before, making his third appearance to the group. He stressed his long support for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “I am not a newbie to the RFS world,” he said. “I’m the only person in this race who actually voted for the RFS when I was in the United States Senate in 2005.”
Alluding to Senator Ted Cruz, who was not invited to speak at the summit but who has strong support in Iowa, Santorum encouraged ethanol supporters to “Stand up for someone who supports the RFS.”
Listen to Santorum’s remarks here: Rick Santorum at Iowa RFA
Front runner Donald Trump was next up, reading from prepared remarks and also stressing his support for the RFS. “The RFS is an important tool in the mission to achieve energy independence for the United States,” Trump said. “I will do all that is in my power as president to achieve that goal.”
Trump also noted remarks that Iowa Governor Terry Branstad made in a press conference at the event that “it would be a big mistake for Iowa to support him.”
Listen to Trump’s remarks here: Donald Trump at Iowa RFA
Following Trump was former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who stressed the importance of farmers in the goal of energy independence, saying people don’t appreciate “that our agricultural system not only provides the food and fiber for our tables, but now is doing something truly remarkable – helping provide fuel for our energy needs.”
Huckabee said the RFS created investment in renewable fuels and “something magic happened – the program actually worked!”
Listen to Huckabee’s remarks here: Mike Huckabee at Iowa RFA
Last to take the stage was businesswoman Carly Fiorina who talked about the EPA’s final rule for biofuels volume obligations under the RFS made last year that is lower than Congress intended.
“What’s going on with renewable rule standards, what’s going on with EPA, are an example of what’s wrong with our government,” she said. “They are one of the reasons why I’m running for the presidency of the United States.”
Listen to Fiorina’s remarks here: Carly Fiorina at Iowa RFA
BioEnergy Bytes
- A new report, “LNG and Renewable Power: Risk and Opportunity in a Changing World,” by economists at global consulting firm The Brattle Group finds that competition between renewable power and gas-fired generation using liquefied natural gas (LNG) from North America is increasing in overseas markets as a result of declining renewable power costs.
- Sullivan Solar Power recently installed a solar PV system at National Association of Music Merchants‘ headquarters in Carlsbad, Calif. Six solar carport structures were installed to not only provide shade for vehicles, but also to eliminate 73 percent of the organization’s energy needs. Sullivan Solar Power designed and installed 714 locally manufactured Kyocera solar panels. The 235,950-Watt solar power system will provide the organization an annual savings of $56,000.
- Southern California Edison (SCE) has received the green light from state regulators to begin a pilot project to support installation of as many as 1,500 electric vehicle charging stations within its service territory. The California Public Utilities Commission’s approval clears the way for SCE to begin implementing its $22 million “Charge Ready” program to get more electric vehicle charging stations installed in locations where people park their cars for extended periods of time.
- Green Charge Networks has announced $20 million in non-recourse project finance debt plus a $30 million accordion from Ares Capital Corporation. The financing will be used to fund Green Charge’s rapidly growing Power Efficiency Agreement portfolio that includes equipment, construction, operations and maintenance of behind-the-meter projects. Green Charge has more than 31.3 megawatt hours of energy storage projects in operation or under construction ranging from school districts, retail, governments and utilities. Green Charge’s projects are the energy storage industry’s first to be financed through non-recourse debt.
Vilsack Featured Speaker at Nat’l Ethanol Conference
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has been named to the lineup for this year’s National Ethanol Conference. The gathering, going on Feb. 15-17 in New Orleans, is the most widely attended executive level conference for the ethanol industry. Vilsack, a former governor of Iowa, was praised by the Renewable Fuels Association as being a long-time ally of ethanol.
Vilsack is a strong proponent of ethanol, renewable fuels and American agriculture. As leader of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Vilsack is working hard to strengthen the American agricultural economy, build vibrant rural communities and create new markets for the tremendous innovation of rural America.
Other topics at the conference include, global marketing and logistics trends, ethanol’s benefits as a high octane fuel source, and much more!
More information and registration are available here.
Canadian Biomass Gets Government Boost
A dozen biomass projects in Manitoba, Canada, are getting a boost from the provincial and federal governments. This article from Canadian Manufacturing says the $500,000 in assistance is designed to help end coal use in the province.
“There are renewable energy resources readily available for use as biomass energy sources,” Manitoba’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Ron Kostyshyn, said. “By increasing our capacity to make and use green energy we are reducing carbon emissions in Manitoba while promoting the growth of new industry.”
Among the proposals selected to receive funding two projects to convert a coal-fired heating systems to a biomass and funding for new equipment for Southeast Pallet and Wood Products in Blumenort, Man., which will allow the company to double its annual biomass processing capacity.
The program is funded partly through Manitoba’s Coal Tax, and like other bio-fuel programs across the country aims to promote the growing industry as well as reduce emissions.
Secy Vilsack: Continue to Tout Biofuel Benefits
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack, spent the morning back in his home state of Iowa (Vilsack is a former Iowa Governor) to kick off the 10th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit. He began his remarks by saying its great to be back in Iowa and great to be back in front of folks who understand the importance of the renewable fuels industry. He also mentioned he is proud of the work the USDA has done to help expand the industry.
The key focus on his speech was the amount of people, both consumers and legislators, who don’t see the benefits of this industry the way we see them, who are attacking the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in the courts, and attacking the Renewable Fuel Standard in the halls of Congress. “But we continue to point out to those who oppose this industry, the benefits of the country.”
For example, the ethanol industry has helped reduce the price of gas at the pump, even as gas prices go down, and given consumers choice at the pump. He also noted biofuels benefit the farm and rural communities, and help to reduce the trade deficit.
Vilsack discussed several of the programs the USDA has implemented to help grow and improve the industry including the Biomass Assistance Program, Biomass Research Centers and Loan Guarantees. But he said he was most excited of the new markets that are being developed. He also highlighted the Farms to Fly program that is looking at producing renewable biofuels for the aviation and shipping industry as well as biofuels for our military.
We need consumers to understand that every time they go to the pump, they are helping the industry. He also stressed the importance of the blender pump program and continuing to bring more mid-level blends to consumers.
In closing, Vilsack said expanding the renewable fuels industry is more than just the benefits (choice at pump, environment, national security, etc.). “It’s really about preserving the value system of rural America. This is an industry that allows us the process of diversifying the opportunities in rural America, to support production agriculture, to expand the biobased economy…so that we have more stable farm income and we give people opportunities to live, work and raise their families in rural areas. That is important to me.”
Listen to USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack’s full remarks: Vilsack Remarks During IRFA Summit