Growth Supports Next Energy Generation

Joanna Schroeder

The next generation of renewable energy, and by extension agricultural experts, are in college and now have an opportunity for some financial support. Growth Energy is providing $90,000 in scholarships over the next three years to students majoring in agricultural education.  The “Upper Division” scholarships will be awarded by the National Association of Agricultural Education and given to students during their student teaching appointments.

NAAE logo“Student teaching can be a financial strain on agricultural education majors,” said Dr. Wm. Jay Jackman, NAAE executive director. “They spend every day teaching, so they are essentially working a full-time job with no pay. There is a national shortage of agriculture teachers, so anything we can do to help students finish their degree and get into the classroom is critical.”

Previously, NAAE’s Upper Division Scholarships were $750 each, and approximately 15 were given each year. Growth Energy’s gift means that the scholarship amounts will be doubled, and beginning in 2016, more of these larger scholarships will be awarded.

Tom Buis, co-chair of Growth Energy added, “There is nothing more important to the future of agriculture than those who wish to enter a career that will help further the innovation, promise and bounty of America’s farmers. American agriculture and those invested in it are the backbone of this nation and Growth Energy is thrilled to help support the future leaders of this industry. We are thrilled to help support those who will write the next great chapter of American excellence by providing food, feed and fuel to move our nation forward.”

Growth Energy’s gift is a special project of the National FFA Foundation.

Agribusiness, biofuels, biomass

Coal-fired Plant in MO Soon to Burn Biomass

John Davis

columbiawaterlightA Central Missouri coal-burning power plant that’s been around for more than 100 years will soon get new life using biomass as its fuel. This story from KOMU-TV says Columbia Water and Light’s Municipal Power Plant burned its last coal on Sept. 22 and is undergoing changes to burn the cleaner biomass.

[Columbia Water and Light spokesperson Connie] Kacprowicz said Columbia’s energy efficiency initiative is part of the reason the plant is undergoing changes. In 2004, voters passed the energy mandate before the city council increased the percentages. The ordinance says Columbia must generate 15 percent of its electric sales from renewable sources by 2018. The percentages jump to 25 percent by 2023 and 30 percent by 2029. Kacprowicz said Water and Light is experimenting with several alternatives to coal.

“Our plans at this point are to test out more biomass, which is an approved renewable resource according to Columbia’s ordinance,” Kacprowicz said. “But you can’t just all of a sudden switch from coal to biomass.”

Kacprowicz said the city must either find a biomass that mimics coal or switch out some of the equipment at the plant. The plant was burning small amounts of wood, a type of biomass source, in addition to its coal production.

Christian Johanningmeier, the power production superintendent, said the plant’s experience burning wood makes it a good candidate as an alternative energy source.

“We are looking at converting one of our boilers to 100 percent wood,” Johanningmeier said. “We have lots of years of experience burning the wood and we know that’s a good fuel, it’s readily available and it seems like it works good for us.”

biomass

Novozymes Intros Avantec Amp Ethanol Enzyme

Joanna Schroeder

The ethanol industry has a new enzyme with the introduction of Avantec Amp. Developed by Novozymes, the company says the enzyme improves yield and throughput in corn ethanol production while also increasing corn oil extraction. The product also reduces the need for several harsh chemicals used in production. According to Novozymes, by switching from standard technology to Avantec Amp, a 110 million gallon-per-year plant can see up to $2.5 million a year in additional net profits.

Novozymes_logo_left“Avantec Amp enables yield improvements and chemical reductions that were previously impossible,” says Peter Halling, vice president – Biofuel, at Novozymes. “It will boost our customers’ bottom line and give them flexibility to adjust their various revenue streams based on market conditions. Ultimately, it will give them a competitive advantage in a challenging market.”

Avantec was introduced in 2012 and Avantec Amp is the next generation. The new products combines multiple enzymes activities into one product, and, says Novozymes, surpasses competing enzyme solutions by squeezing more ethanol from each kernel of corn, thus enabling increased output and saving energy and water. The company also says the enzyme can also boost corn oil production by freeing up oil bound in the corn germ.

In addition, Avantec Amp reduces the need for a number of chemicals used to control and accelerate production processes at ethanol plants. Urea, which is used to improve the fermentation of ethanol, can be cut by more than 70%. Surfactants and ammonia, used to extract corn oil and adjust pH levels, can also be significantly reduced. According to Novozymes,  Avantec Amp is the first enzyme product to replace urea and surfactants.

“By replacing these chemicals with enzymes you get greater safety for workers and lower costs,” adds Halling. “When you simplify the recipe, you reduce the risk of errors associated with handling multiple different compounds and you also have less need for storage.”

biofuels, enzymes, Ethanol

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1Poland can increase its share of renewable energy in power generation from seven percent in 2010 to nearly 38 percent by 2030, according to a report released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). REmap 2030 Renewable Energy Prospects for Poland, prepared with input from the Polish Ministry of Economy, also finds the share of renewable energy in total final energy consumption can more than double to nearly 25 percent by 2030.
  • ampCNG has announced the opening of its public-access compressed natural gas station in Dalton, Georgia. Located at 107 Tilton Road SE near exit 326 on Interstate 75, the station features the company’s proprietary fast-fill hydraulic intensifier compressor (HY-C), capable of fueling 3 Class 8 trucks simultaneously at 10 diesel gallon equivalents per minute.
  • Capstone Turbine Corporation has announced today that it has partnered with Argonne National Laboratory, a non-profit science and engineering research facility operated by the University of Chicago for the U.S. Department of Energy, for participation in the innovative Technologist in Residence (TIR) pilot program.
  • ReNew Power Ventures, one of India’s largest clean energy companies, has announced that it has raised new equity funding of $265 million from new and existing investors. The lead investor in this round is a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), with a commitment of $200 million for a significant minority stake in ReNew Power. The new funds will be used for capital expenditure related to implementation of solar and wind projects.
Bioenergy Bytes

RFA & RFF to Offer NEC Scholarships

Joanna Schroeder

The Renewable Fuels Foundation (RFF) is partnering with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) once again to offer scholarships to students who are interested in attending the National Ethanol Conference (NEC). The annual ethanol event will take place February 15-17, 2016 in New Orleans.

21st NEC“The NEC is the premier event for the ethanol industry, and it offers students a one-of-a-kind opportunity to meet the industry’s movers and shakers up close and personally,” said Mike Jerke, chairman of the RFF and CEO of Guardian Management LLC. “Our goal is to prepare the next generation of biofuel leaders to take over the reins so that the industry remains vibrant. The NEC is the perfect place for students to learn, ask questions, and network.”

“Fueling a High Octane Future,” this year’s theme, will enable students the opportunity to receive an in-depth look into the ethanol industry. Speakers will be discussing topics including higher ethanol blends, the Renewable Fuel Standard, E15 and global marketing.

Students who are interested should submit a 500 word essay explaining how their attendance at the NEC will help them achieve their future goals. Students will also need to submit two letters of recommendation, an up-to-date resume and school transcript. Scholarships are only available to students who are attending a U.S. institution of higher learning or foreign students who are affiliated with the U.S. ethanol industry. Applications are due by December 18, 2015. Click here for application materials.

biofuels, Education, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

Maine Biomass Plant Gets $500K USDA Grant

John Davis

woodpelletsA Maine-based power plant is getting $556,520 in U.S. Department of Agriculture grants. This article from BDN Maine says Athens Energy is getting the money to build a new biomass-fueled power generator that runs on wood waste from logging and timberland thinning operations.

The USDA said the proposed Athens biomass plant would produce enough electricity to power about 5,409 homes. It would use $56,520 of the award to use waste heat from the biomass generator to dry wood chips at an adjacent pellet plant, owned by a sister company.

The agency also gave $500,000 to a subsidiary of the company Village Green Ventures, VGBLADS LLC, to build an anaerobic digester that can produce enough electricity to power 727 homes.

USDA also awarded grants to a dozen other rural Maine businesses, mostly to install roof-mounted or sun-tracking pole-mounted solar panels.

biomass, Solar, USDA

Green Plains Acquires Ethanol Plant in Virgina

Joanna Schroeder

Vireol logoGreen Plains Inc. has acquired Vireol Bio Energy an ethanol facility owned by Future Fuels located in Hopewell, Virginia. The dry mill ethanol plant will increase the company’s annual production capacity by nearly 60 million gallons to nearly 1.1 billion gallon per year. The ethanol plant ceased production in September of this year due to low gas prices and at the same time began courting investors to purchase the plant.

GPRE logo“We are confident in our ability to significantly improve the plant’s production economics by applying our operational and commercial expertise,” said Todd Becker, president and chief executive officer. “We plan to make several capital investments before restarting the plant to increase its operational efficiency and production volume. In addition, we anticipate using the site to transload distillers grains that are produced locally and at our other plants located on the Norfolk Southern rail line into containers destined for export markets to further enhance the property’s profitability.”

Production is expected to resume by the end of the year and corn oil processing is expected to be operational during the second quarter of 2016. When the plant is fully operational, Green Plains expects to offer the Hopewell plant’s transportation and storage assets to its master limited partnership, Green Plains Partners LP.

biofuels, Company Announcement, Ethanol

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1SunPower has launched its Helix platform, the world’s first fully-integrated commercial solar solution combining solar power production and energy management. Helix is a pre-engineered, modular solution that is built to last and fast to install, enabling customers to scale their solar programs quickly with minimal business disruption. The Helix platform is standardized across rooftop, carport and ground installations.
  • JA Solar has announced the launch of its high-performance 400 MW photovoltaic (PV) solar cell manufacturing facility in Penang, Malaysia. JA Solar’s first manufacturing facility outside of China, the facility is equipped to produce high-efficiency multi-crystalline solar cells for use in PV power generation. These cells will primarily be used to manufacture JA Solar modules outside of China to provide competitive product solutions for certain overseas markets.
  • Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. has announced it has agreed to jointly develop a 150 MW construction stage wind project in the United States with Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. The Deerfield wind power project is located in central Michigan and is being constructed on approximately 20,000 acres of land leased from a supportive wind power land owner group. The project will utilize proven turbine technology comprised of 44 Vestas V110-2.0 wind turbines and 28 Vestas V110-2.2 turbines and is estimated to generate 555.2 GW-hrs annually.
  • Sol Luna Solar, a leading Solar Integrator in New Mexico and 2015 Best of Santa Award recipient (Santa Fe Reporter), has released their industry analysis of consumer owned distributed generation for New Mexico, highlighting the factors that are contributing to a renewable energy integration revolution in New Mexico and nationally.
Bioenergy Bytes

The Clean Power Plan: The Fight is On

Joanna Schroeder

Fighting over the Clean Power Plan is getting heated with the Republican Attorneys General filing a lawsuit against the Obama Administrations for the recently published legislation. Focused on utilities, the goal of the program is to reduce carbon pollution by 32 percent. In response to the suit, Americans United for Change launched a digital ad campaign challenging the Attorneys General to quit doing the work of their “corporate polluter donors” like the Koch brothers. The campaign will be seen on Twitter and Facebook.

A December 2014 New York Times exposé revealed an “unprecedented, secretive alliance” and coordination between Big Oil and Republican AGs against environmental regulations. The article cited one Attorney General literally copying and pasting a letter drafted by energy lobbyists and sending it to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on official letterhead. Such legal and legislative efforts have been rewarded with campaign contributions to the tune of $2.4 million in the last two election cycles according to Americans United for Change.

While accusations fly that the EPA has overstepped their bounds, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the EPA’s authority to take action to limit carbon pollution three times. The argument also points to the Clean Power Plan hurting the economy, but according to Americans United for Change, limits will save the average American nearly $85 a year on energy bills as well as bring down costs for asthma, lunch cancer and other air pollution-related illnesses while supporting more than a quarter million new jobs.

“Some might call it a coincidence that the Republicans AGs who’ve taken tens of thousands of dollars from dirty energy interests are the same ones filing lawsuits against the Clean Power Plan, but I’d call it a serious conflict of interest and a breach of the public trust,” said Brad Woodhouse, president, Americans United for Change. “When a state AG chooses to serve as part of dirty energy’s unofficial defense team, who is left looking out for the public interests? If you’re a public servant and find yourself standing in the way of something that will save thousands of lives and leave millions of Americans less susceptible to air-pollution related illnesses like lung cancer to asthma attacks in children, maybe it’s time to consider a clean break from your dirty energy friends. Or perhaps a new line of work.”

Americans United for Change, Clean Power Plan, Electricity, Video

USDA Awards $71M for REAP Projects

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding more funds to help rural businesses reduce energy costs in every U.S. state including the Virgin Islands, the Western Pacific and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The USDA is providing $102 million in loan guarantees and $71 million in grants for 1,114 projects financed through the Rural Energy for American Program (REAP), and the funding is for energy efficiency improvements and/or renewable energy systems.

USDA logo“More rural business owners and ag producers are incorporating energy-saving measures into their business plans,” said Secretary Tom Vilsack. “These actions improve an operation’s bottom line and help reduce its carbon footprint. This funding will help incorporate renewable energy and energy efficiency technology and reduce energy costs. But beyond the local benefits seen by a company saving energy costs and the global benefits of reducing carbon emissions, this funding will also create American jobs by supporting energy production and efficiency installations that are made in rural America.”

Among the projects, nearly $6 million is being awarded for 17 anaerobic digesters in California, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Washington. In total, these projects are expected to generate and/or save 906 million kilowatt hours (KWh) of energy – enough to power more than 83,675 homes for a year and cut carbon pollution by an estimated 455,000 metric tons. That is the equivalent of taking more than 131,500 cars off the road for a year.

biogas, Electricity, Energy, Solar