Biodico Westside Bioenergy Facility Begins Production

Joanna Schroeder December 10, 2015

The Biodico Westside bioenergy facility is now in production in San Joaquin Valley, California. Biodico President and Rounder Russ Teall says the 20 million gallon-per-year biodiesel facility is the first world’s first fully sustainable liquid biofuel facility.

(From Right to Left) JJ Rothgery, Chairman of the Board at Biodico; Russ Teall, President and Founder of Biodico; Janea Scott, California Energy Commissioner; John Diener, President and CEO, Red Rock Ranch; Jim Costa, U.S. Congressman; Jim Houston, Undersecretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture; Dr. Frank Gornick, Chancellor of the West Hills Community College District; and Captain Monty Ashliman, Commanding Officer, Naval Air Station Lemoore, at Biodico Westside Facility Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Red Rock Ranch in Five Points, Calif. (Photo: Business Wire)

“Biodico Westside Facility is a result of years of research and development to produce biofuels that make good environmental, social and business sense,” said Teall during the commissioning event. “Today, we are forging a new path in biofuel production by utilizing sustainable solutions to convert diverse feedstocks into renewable sources of fuel and energy.”

Biodico Westside is located at Red Rock Ranch in Five Points, Calif., which is in one of the world’s most productive agricultural regions. According to Biodico, the facility operates entirely on renewable heat and power and incorporates advanced real-time and remote monitoring leading to complete system automation. In addition to processing multi-feedstocks, including used cooking oil, vegetable oil, and animal fats to name a few, the facility also utilizes anaerobic digestion, gasification and an advanced utility scale solar cogeneration system.

“We developed proprietary technology to greatly enhance the economics of producing high-quality biodiesel, as well as create a modular system that is easy to deploy on a global scale,” said JJ Rothgery, Biodico’s board chair. “The facility is uniquely designed to meet the practical needs of regional transportation companies, and at the same time, provide a solution to address energy security and sustainable farming practices.”

The development of Biodico Westside was supported, in part, by grants from the California Energy Commission and in collaboration with the U.S. Navy, UC Davis, UCSB and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. In addition, many of the jobs at Biodico Westside were created in partnership with West Hills Community College, a region with high unemployment rates. Biodico developed an internship program specifically for West Hills and hires graduates of their two-year Industrial Technology Program, which gives many farm laborers higher skills and more lucrative employment says Teall. Read More

advanced biofuels, Agribusiness, Biodiesel, Renewable Energy, Solar

U.S. Solar Market Shines Brighter Than Ever

Joanna Schroeder December 10, 2015

FIGURE: Cumulative U.S. PV Installed Capacity, 2007-2016E. Source: GTM Research / SEIA U.S. Solar Market Insight

The U.S. solar market is shining brighter than ever according to the U.S. Solar Market Insight Report, Q3, 2015. Installed solar PV capacity in the U.S. was 1,361 MW, marking the eighth consecutive quarter in which the U.S. has installed more than a gigawatt of capacity. It also sets the stage for the best year in history for solar installations. The report was prepared by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

“This past quarter marked the calm before the storm,” said GTM Research Senior Solar Analyst Cory Honeyman. “The one-gigawatt mark for quarterly capacity additions will serve as a distant floor as project developers ramp up installations in the next five quarters before the planned step down of the 30 percent federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC).”

GTM Research expects the fourth quarter of this year to be the largest quarter for solar installations in U.S. history. Led by the utility-scale segment, representing 42 percent of the nationwide total, the U.S. will install more than 3 GW. Looking further out, cumulative PV installations will nearly double between now and the end of 2016, bringing the nationwide total to 41 GW.

Key Findings from the Report:

The U.S. installed 1,361 MWdc of solar PV in Q3 2015, marking the eighth consecutive quarter in which the U.S. added more than 1 GWdc of PV installations.
Throughout the first three quarters of 2015, 30% of all new electric generating capacity brought on-line in the U.S. came from solar.
As of Q3 2015, more than 50% of all states in the U.S. have more than 50 MWdc of cumulative solar PV installed.
Totaling 18.7 GWdc, the current utility PV development pipeline is greater than all U.S. PV installations brought on-line through the end of 2014.
GTM Research forecasts that 7.4 GWdc of new PV installations will come on-line in 2015, up 19% over 2014. Growth will occur in the residential and utility PV segments, while for the second straight year, non-residential solar will dip 5%.
2014 was the largest year ever for concentrating solar power, with 767 MWac brought on-line. The next notable CSP project slated for completion is SolarReserve’s 110 MWac Crescent Dunes, which entered the commissioning phase in 2014 and is expected to become fully operational by early 2016.

Clean Energy, Electricity, Solar

EDF EN Commissions Mont-Rothery Wind Project

Joanna Schroeder December 10, 2015

The Mont-Rothery wind project has been commissioned. The 74 MW wind farm is sited on public lands in the MRC of Haute-Gaspésie and MRC of Côte-de-Gaspé. Construction of the project, owned by EDF EN Canada Inc., began in 2014 and features 37 turbines of 2 MW each supplied by Senvion. The electricity will be delivered to Hydro-Quebec Distribution under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement.

“Throughout the development and construction phases, EDF EN Canada has worked hand in hand with the host community and elected officials of the region. The project is a practical example of our company’s philosophy in action – achieving sustainable development through cooperation and harmonious relations with our host communities,” said Al Kurzenhauser, Chief Operating Officer for EDF EN Canada.

Throughout the 20-year contract with Hydro-Quebec, the MRCs involved will share a combined annual contribution of CAD $185,000. By the end of 2017, EDF EN Canada will have placed in service 1,599 MW of wind and solar projects in Canada.

Alex Couture, Director of Generation for EDF EN Canada added, “We extend a special thanks to Mr. Gaétan Lelièvre, deputy of Gaspé, Ms. Délisca Ritchie-Roussy, the mayor of Murdochville and the prefect of the MRC of Côté-de-Gaspé, as well as Mr. Allen Cormier, the prefect of the MRC of Haute -Gaspésie. We are grateful for the spirit of partnership and for the confidence they have showed since the first steps of Mont-Rothery development. We look forward to many years of continued collaboration and success with them.”

Clean Energy, Electricity, Wind

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder December 10, 2015

On December 14, the Edison Foundation Institute for Electric Innovation (IEI) will release the first book of a three-part series, titled Thought Leaders Speak Out: Key Trends Driving Change in the Electric Power Industry. The new book is a collection of essays by electric utility, policy, and technology thought leaders focused on three power sector megatrends, including: the transition to a clean energy future, an increasingly digital and distributed power grid, and individualized customer services.
Solar Power Rocks has released its 2016 State Solar Power Rankings. The report contains ratings of all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on twelve key criteria leading to strong financial results for homeowners interested in installing solar panels. State summaries include links to pages with detailed discussions of policy, incentives and rules that affect each state’s residential solar power prospects.
According to a new report, strong policy frameworks in the Latin American countries of Brazil, Mexico and Argentina have led to increased investment in renewable power over the past few years, and these nations’ future targets suggest the landscape is ripe for further clean energy growth in the region, says research and consulting firm GlobalData.
Duke Energy Renewables is increasing savings for commercial solar customers through an alliance with Green Charge Networks, the country’s largest provider of commercial energy storage for retail, industrial and government customers. The agreement provides these customers with “solar firming,” a way to smooth the peaks and valleys of a variable energy source. It also saves customers money by offsetting the higher prices of peak demand power.

Bioenergy Bytes

Pratt & Whitney to Test Biodiesel Engine

John Davis December 10, 2015

Airplane maker Pratt & Whitney Canada will field test an engine running on biodiesel. This company news release says the new PT6A-140AG turboprop engine – selected to power Air Tractor’s new AT502XP aircraft – works in agricultural applications.

P&WC received Transport Canada authorization for field testing of PT6A-34AG engines in Brazil this spray season with S10 and S500 Type B biodiesel comprised of up to 10 per cent bio content. Additionally, P&WC was granted full approval for S500 and S10 Type-A regular diesel fuel.

“The launch of the new PT6A-140AG and our advancements related to biofuels demonstrate our commitment to the agricultural segment and our ability to continuously innovate and raise the bar with the PT6A family to make the world’s best engines even better,” said Denis Parisien, Vice President, General Aviation, P&WC. “The agricultural segment is core to our business. By continuing to drive innovation around biofuels and the latest engine manufacturing technologies, we best serve our customers, the environment and the industry as a whole.”

The PT6A-140AG engine has 867 mechanical shaft horsepower (SHP) and 1,075 thermal SHP. Its modular design and externally mounted fuel nozzles make it the easiest engine in the agricultural segment to access and maintain. The Time Between Overhaul (TBO) can also be extended up to 8,000 hours or 12 years depending on the operation and it is independent of engine cycles. Designed and built to outlast others in the same class, the PT6A-140AG has a minimum component life limit which is 50 per cent higher than competing engines, and will continue to be a productive asset for any operator long after similar engines have been sent in for overhaul. Simple routine engine inspections can be done while still on-wing, in the field or in the hangar, eliminating surprises, reducing costs and providing peace of mind.

Company officials expect full approval of the biodiesel option for the start of the 2016/17 season.

Biodiesel

Volvo OKs Use of Renewable Diesel

John Davis December 10, 2015

Truck maker Volvo has given the green light the use of renewable diesel in its proprietary engines. This company news release says it is the first to endorse the use of renewable diesel, and the green fuel will offer environmental and cost-savings benefits to customers.

“Environmental care is a core value of Volvo Trucks, and we are pleased to offer our customers another alternative fuel choice,” said Frank Bio, director – sales development, specialty vehicles and alternative fuels for Volvo Trucks North America. “Availability of renewable diesel fuel is growing in California and throughout the country. Renewable diesel meets the same ASTM D975 standard for petroleum diesel, making it a true ‘drop in’ fuel.”

There are multiple benefits to using renewable diesel fuel as a commercial transportation fuel. It has the potential to improve the environmental impact of vehicle operation, reducing particulate matter for pre-EPA 2010 engines. Renewable diesel also requires less maintenance costs when compared with other alternative fuels, and there is no warranty risk for using renewable diesel fuel to power any Volvo model equipped with a Volvo engine.

The addition of renewable diesel as an approved fuel for Volvo models is in line with the company’s longstanding focus on the environment since it allows vehicle owners to reduce CO2 emissions beyond those coming from the fuel economy improvements in the vehicle itself. According to the California Air Resources Board, the Life Cycle Analysis of renewable diesel under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard showed reductions in greenhouse gases by 15-80 percent depending on feedstock source. It also increases Volvo’s options for alternative fuels.

Volvo currently offers natural gas-powered versions of its VNL and VNM daycabs, which are built at Volvo’s New River Valley assembly plant in Dublin, Virginia, where all Volvo Trucks sold in North America are built. The Volvo VNL model features a 12-liter Cummins-Westport ISX12 G engine and the VNM daycab is powered by a factory-installed 8.9 liter Cummins ISL G engine.

Car Makers, renewable diesel

U.S. & Britain Partner to Power Up Africa

Joanna Schroeder December 9, 2015

Bringing reliable, renewable power to Africans has been an ongoing conversation around the climate talks in Paris this month. Both the U.S. and the UK have programs with goals to do just this. Going forward, however, the programs will be power amplified with the new collaboration between the two countries. The partnership was announced during COP21 by UK International Development Minister Nick Hurd and Associate Administrator of USAID Eric Postel.

The goal of the new partnership between the UK’s Energy Africa campaign and the America’s Power Africa initiative is to leverage much-needed private investment, develop networks to share power across borders and harness geothermal resources to boost access to electricity across the continent.

ID 40753251 © Meshmerize | Dreamstime.com

“It is shocking that 600 million Africans still live without power at home. This is not just holding back individuals; it is holding back an entire continent,” said Hurd during the announcement. “No one can tackle Africa’s energy challenge alone. We will only make progress if we work together. That is why this new partnership is so important.

Hurd added, “The US has led the way over the past few years with its Power Africa campaign. Together with our Energy Africa campaign we can boost access to reliable, clean and affordable household energy, helping millions of people to lift themselves out of poverty.”

A Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries was signed at COP21 during the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and New Climate Economy event “Climate change in Africa: Financing low-carbon pathways for Development”. The new deal will harness the skills, expertise and investment power of the private sector to help improve energy access, boost economic growth and reduce poverty.

“The United States Government is thrilled to work closely with DFID on the Energy Africa campaign, to accelerate the household solar market,” added Postel. “In partnership with DFID, development agencies, African governments, the private sector, and civil society, we can help accelerate Africa’s energy path toward economic and environmental sustainability and ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.”

Clean Energy, Climate Change, Electricity, International, Renewable Energy

PG&E Service Centers to be 100% Solar Powered

Joanna Schroeder December 9, 2015

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has launched a new renewable energy initiative. The company plans to power all its operations service centers – nearly 100 in Northern and Central California – with solar energy. In addition, through the Solar Choice program, customers will have the choice to choose 50 or 100 percent of their electricity from solar sourced from new small to mid-sized solar projects that range in size from 0.5 to 20 MW. The program officially kicks off in early 2016.

The news came on “Action Day” during COP21, a day where businesses and governments around the globe announced new climate-centric initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. PG&E hopes that through their company commitment to use solar energy, their customers will also make the choice. The Solar Choice program also enables homeowners without rooftop solar to still power their homes with clean energy.

“Solar power is critical to achieving California’s goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and we strongly support its growth—whether it’s for customers who install rooftop solar or for others through our Solar Choice program,” said PG&E’s Geisha Williams, President, Electric.

PG&E has already connected more than 200,000 rooftop solar customers to the grid, more they say, than any other U.S. utility. The company has also made other climate commitments and this fall, signed the White House’s American Business Act on Climate pledge.

Clean Energy, Climate Change, Electricity, Solar

Global Geothermal Alliance Launched at #COP21

Joanna Schroeder December 9, 2015

As a means to increase geothermal energy globally, this week during the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, (COP21) a coalition of 38 countries along with 20 development and industry partners have launched the Global Geothermal Alliance (GGA). The nonprofit was organized by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and was founded with the goal of achieving a 500 percent increase in global installed geothermal capacity by 2030 as well as a 200 percent increase in geothermal heating.

From left to right: Minister Ségolène Royal, France; President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, Iceland; Director-General Adnan Z. Amin, IRENA. Photo by IISD/ENB

“Geothermal has proven its potential to be part of both the global climate and energy action agenda,” said IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin. “While geothermal can provide baseload power at some of the lowest costs for any power source, it remains under-developed. The Global Geothermal Alliance will provide a platform for partners to share best practices, further reduce costs and get the most benefit out of this sustainable energy resource.”

IRENA cites that nearly 90 countries have potential for geothermal energy resource development; however, just 13 gigawatts of installed capacity exists worldwide. The agency says the main obstacle for geothermal power investment and development has been the high upfront costs of surface geophysical studies and drilling to explore for geothermal resources. However, the agency explains, once a geothermal project is in operation, it can generate electricity at a low cost. The GGA will aim to overcome these barriers by mitigating risks, promoting technological cooperation, coordinating regional and national initiatives and facilitating geothermal energy investments into energy markets.

The launch took place in the context of the Energy Action Day at COP21, co-organised by IRENA along with several members. In two years of preliminary consultations, IRENA says the GGA has gathered substantial support from governments, leading industry players, development partners, regional and national institutions and non-governmental organizations. The initiative was initiated in September 2014 at the Climate Summit organized by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Clean Energy, Climate Change, Electricity, Geothermal, International

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder December 9, 2015

While Russia’s cumulative installed non-hydro renewable capacity is expected to increase from 0.26 GW in 2015 at a steep Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 27.4%, it will only reach 2.87 GW by 2025, according to research and consulting firm GlobalData. The company’s report states that Russia’s production of non-hydro renewable technologies has historically been very poor, constituting a mere 0.1% of total installed capacity in 2014.
Sungevity, Inc. has expanded its residential and commercial solar services, including hardware, software and ongoing consultation, to Rhode Island. The launch in Rhode Island expands Sungevity’s footprint to 13 states domestically, in addition to the District of Columbia and the Netherlands, the UK and Germany.
Gevo, Inc. has announced that it has priced its underwritten public offering of common stock and warrants. The company has agreed to sell 2,050,000 Series A units, with each Series A unit consisting of one share of common stock and a Series D warrant to purchase one share of common stock at a public offering price of $1.00 per Series A unit. Gevo has also agreed to sell 8,000,000 Series B units, with each Series B unit consisting of a pre-funded Series E warrant to purchase one share of common stock and a Series D warrant to purchase one share of common stock at a public offering price of $0.99 per Series B unit.
With the commissioning of the Mont Rothery wind farm, Senvion Canada Inc. is celebrating an installed capacity of over 1000 megawatts (MW) of wind power in Quebec within just five years. Senvion has installed over 500 turbines in the province, representing nearly a third in Quebec’s total installed capacity, and roughly 10% of the total turbine installations across Canada.

Bioenergy Bytes

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