DNV GL, the world’s largest resource of independent energy experts and certification body, has created the preliminary wind atlases for Zambia, Tanzania and The Maldives, as part of phase 1 of an Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) project funded by the World Bank. The project aims to reveal the true extent of wind energy production potential in each of the three countries. DNV GL’s early test results have already revealed huge opportunities, with extensive wind flow modelling in Zambia, Tanzania and The Maldives indicating great wind energy production potential.- Tri-State Generation, Transmission Association and D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments have announced the execution of a 25-year contract to supply the utility with renewable energy from the planned Alta Luna Solar Project to be constructed in Luna County in southwest New Mexico. Tri-State will purchase the entire output of the 25 MW solar farm over the life of the contract. The facility is expected to come online in December 2016.
- According to a new report from Navigant Research, global cumulative revenue from investment in biogas production capacity is expected to reach $25.8 billion between 2015 and 2024.
- A researcher at Washington State University has received a three-year $450,000 federal grant to develop computer models for using iron to more efficiently refine bio-oils and make better biofuels. Jean-Sabin McEwen, assistant professor in the Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, will collaborate on the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Basic Energy Sciences grant with colleagues at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Université Libre de Bruxelles.
Illinois Teen’s Cellulosic Ethanol Wins Science Prize
An Illinois teen is being recognized for his efforts to make cellulosic ethanol. This article from the Chicago-area Daily Herald says 17-year-old Tavis Reed, a senior at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora, won the 2015 gold medal in the chemistry/biochemistry division of the National Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics competition, besting more than 700 students from 150 ACT-SO chapters across the nation.
He did so by developing a process — for which he has a provisional patent — for the production of cellulosic ethanol, a “next-generation biofuel” made from cellulose, the structural part of plants.
The process uses bacteria to make ethanol as a potential fuel source in a cheaper and more environmentally conscious manner. He’s now working to find a way to scale up his research and make sure its results can be repeated in large quantities.
“That’s really important to me,” he said. “I feel like for my generation, the environmental impact that humans have on the world is a lot more evident than it has been in earlier decades.”
Tavis is unfailingly enthusiastic about science, said Sarah Soltau, his mentor through Argonne National Laboratory’s ACT-SO high school research program.
“He’s got many more ideas than I’d expect as a high school student,” she said. “He’s gone above and beyond anyone else I’ve seen at the high school level — and some even in college.”
Tavis’ teacher admits she had to learn a lot, just to keep up with the teenager.
The ACT-SO award was announced in July at the 106th Convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, held in Philadelphia, which Tavis actually had to leave early to tutor some incoming students.
Tequila Source Could be Next Ethanol Source
What makes a mighty fine drink could also make a pretty good fuel. Researchers at the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls have figured out how to get about 4,000 gallons per hectare a year of ethanol from the agave plant, well adapted to grow on marginal land under low rainfall conditions.
The paper, titled “Prospecting for Energy-Rich Renewable Raw Materials: Agave Leaf Case Study” published in the journal PLOS ONE, outlined agave leaf composition and fermentation efficiencies that could produce competitive biofuels from this fast-growing, highly water use efficient plant.
“Bioethanol yields from agave fermentation could rival the most successful biofuel feedstock crops around the world,” says Associate Professor Rachel Burton.
“Importantly, it doesn’t compete with food crops, it’s fast growing so the whole plant could be used rather than just harvesting the leaves, and it is up to 10 times more water efficient than some other crop plants.”
Associate Professor Burton and her team, including PhD student Kendall Corbin, are working with AusAgave who have trial sites of agave established in Ayr in northern Queensland and Whyalla, South Australia.
The researchers are now looking at the best cultivation methods for ethanol production.
DC Water Turns Poop to Electricity
DC Water has unveiled it’s $470 million Blue Plains waste-to-energy project that converts biosolids waste to electricity. The facilities include a dewatering building, 32 thermal hydrolysis vessels, four concrete 80 foot high anaerobic digesters that each hold 3.8 million gallons of solids, and three jet engine-sized turbines.
CAMBI thermal hydrolysis vessels in foreground, anaerobic digesters in the background. Photo Credit: DC Water
The company said the project was viable through CAMBI thermal hydrolysis process, the first time the technology has been used in the U.S. DC Water also says with the process now in operation, the Blue Plains facility is the largest of its kind in the world.
DC Water CEO and General Manager George S. Hawkins, said of the facility, “This project embodies a shift from treating used water as waste to leveraging it as a resource. We are proud to be the first to bring this innovation to North America for the benefit of our ratepayers, the industry and the environment.”
Thermal hydrolysis uses high heat and pressure to “pressure cook” the solids left over at the end of the wastewater treatment process. This weakens the solids cell walls and the structure between cells to make the energy easily accessible to the organisms in the next stage of the process–anaerobic digestion. The methane these organisms produce is captured and fed to three large turbines to produce electricity. Steam is also captured and directed back into the process. Next, the solids at the end of the process are a cleaner Class A biosolids product that DC Water uses as a compost-like material. Biosolids products are currently being used around the District for urban gardens and green infrastructure projects. DC Water also plans bring a compost-like product to market.
“This is yet another example of the District leading the nation in the adoption and implementation of sustainable practices,” added District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser. “DC Waters Blue Plains facility is converting waste to clean water and a nutrient-rich soil byproduct, producing energy and helping to put the District on the path towards a zero waste future.”
The company did more than a decade of research prior to bringing the new facilities into operation. The project received the 2012 Grand Prize in Planning Award from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists, the 2012 Global Honour Award in Planning from the International Water Association, as well as one of two WERF Excellence in Innovation Awards, first presented at WEFTEC 2011.
Algae Foundation to Launch Algal College Program
The Algae Foundation will be creating a college degree in algal cultivation technologies and an aquaculture extension training program. The nonprofit received a multi-year grant from the Department of Energy and with the funds has formed the Algae Technology Educational Consortium (ATEC). The Consortium, a partnership between academic institutions, national research laboratories, and industry leaders, will develop educational programs to strengthen the industry workforce working on developing algal products.
“We believe this will be the first ever associates degree in algal biology, cultivation and technology,” said Ira Levine, a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Southern Maine and the P.I. of the grant. “This will help develop the next generation of algae researchers, scientists and engineers whose skills are in great demand from the hundreds of companies developing and deploying algae technology in the U.S. and around the world.”
The grant will fund a three-year program, during which the Algae Foundation will establish the ATEC team, design a curriculum for a college degree, develop and publish textbooks, and partner with community or technical colleges to implement the degree. The team will deploy an educational assessment team to evaluate the college courses created for the degree.
“National Renewable Energy Lab is committed to supporting and advancing algal technologies and we are very excited to participate in this project as strong growth in this industry is anticipated, added Cindy Gerk, NREL Project Leader. “We look forward to the success of this project and enabling high value jobs for the workforce of tomorrow.”
Dong Opens Offshore Wind Farm
DONG Energy and LEGO Group along with William Demant, have opened BorkumRiffgrund 1, an offshore wind project expected to power more than 320,000 homes. The wind farm was officially commissioned by His Royal Highness, Prince Joachim of Denmark.
Offshore-Windpark Borkum Riffgrund 1 / Borkum Riffgrund1 offshore wind farm
Thomas Thune Andersen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of DONG Energy said during the opening event, “BorkumRiffgrund 1 is our first operational project in Germany and I’m very satisfied with the fact that we can now harvest the fruits of the investment we have put into this project. I’m also very pleased with the confidence that our joint venture partners have shown us by investing in this project.”
He continued, “Our journey in Germany is far from over: We are currently building another two offshore wind projects and have a number of other projects in our pipeline that will allow us to demonstrate the skills and competences we have gained and will allow us to continue to show the trust we have in the German offshore wind market.”
The wind project consists of 78 wind turbines each with a power of 4 MW. The wind farm is located 37 kilometres north of the German island Borkum and 54 kilometres from the German coast. Thus, BorkumRiffgrund 1 contributes considerably to the aim of the German government to install a total of 6.5 GW of offshore wind energy until the year 2020. Almost 3 GW have been installed in the German North and Baltic Sea so far.
BioEnergy Bytes
- ET Solar, through its Latin American subsidiary, ET Solar Chile has announced it has formed a consortium with WEG, one of Brazil’s most prestigious industrial companies. The consortium will deliver professional, turnkey PV solutions for the growing Brazilian market.
- The Economist Events is hosting the Energy Summit 2015 at The HAC in London on November 4-5th 2015. The Energy Summit will unite senior representatives from the supermajors, independents and national oil companies with executives from the utility and renewable sectors, together with policy makers, economists and academics. With major changes taking place across the energy sector due to the fall in oil price, the introduction of new regulation, innovation in technology, the shale gas boom and the exploitation of new energy sources, the industry has to decide what new initiatives and technologies to embrace to achieve a secure, affordable and sustainable energy supply.
- The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, has announced that the AfDB would nearly triple its annual climate financing to reach $5 billion a year by 2020. AfDB’s climate spending will increase to 40% of its total new investments by 2020.
- An October 23 webinar, the first in a series of three for fall 2015, will present in-depth information on the $5.88 million Waste to Wisdom project and its efforts to better utilize forest residues for the production of bioenergy and bio-products. Waste to Wisdom is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy under the Biomass Research and Development Initiative program, Award Number DE-EE0006297, and is led by Humboldt State University with support from 15 regional partners.
Canadian Biodiesel Brewer Makes Cold Weather Fuel
A Canadian biodiesel maker is celebrating the production of its high quality biodiesel suitable for cold weather. The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA) congratulated its member Atlantic Biodiesel on its “first pour” of the fuel coming less than four months after opening its state-of-the-art renewable fuel facility in Welland, Ontario.
“Atlantic Biodiesel’s first pour represents the collaboration, commitment and hard work that drives Canada’s biofuels industry,” said Jim Grey, Chairman of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA). “The industry produces well over two billion litres of fuel a year; generates gross economic benefits of nearly four billion dollars; and has delivered more than 14,000 direct and indirect jobs in Canada since 2007. Atlantic Biodiesel’s work has come to fruition, and brought approximately 25 direct jobs and significant indirect business to the Welland area.”
Atlantic Biodiesel’s facility is one of the largest in North America and produces 170 million litres of renewable, clean-burning biodiesel and 15 million litres of high-grade glycerin per year. For more information, visit www.atlanticbiodiesel.com.
The contributions of the renewable fuels industry are recognized by governments and various political parties. Alongside Atlantic Biodiesel’s ‘first pour’ event, NDP candidate and incumbent for Niagara Centre and NDP Critic for Agriculture, Malcolm Allen, announced that he and his party are committed to pushing for an increase in the national biodiesel mandate from where it currently sits at two percent: “Investing in renewables is a good idea and this is something governments should turn their focus to. Companies like Atlantic Biodiesel are creating the type of manufacturing jobs Niagara needs.”
CRFA wants Canada’s federal renewable diesel mandate to reach 5 percent by 2020.
New Holland Hero Growing for Energy
This year during the Expo Milano New Holland announced its “heros” as part of its “Seeds of Life Series“. One such hero was Brazilian Victor Campenelli, who grows 37,000 acres of corn and sugarcane and also has a cattle operation in Southern Brazil. Looking in to the future, Victor is looking forward to building a power plant utilizing cane straw.
He works as part of his family business dating back to 1982. Since 2002 their main crops are sugarcane, cattle and corn. He was proud to be a winner because he feels that it helps farmers in his country gain more respect for the work they do to feed, fuel and power the country.
Victor also noted that one thing Brazil hasn’t really capitalized is producing power from biomass. They have completed a project where the plant is able to produce 30 MW per hour and about 240,000 MW per year just using cane straw, a material he said is like trash, its just left behind on the field. He added that it’s good for the land because they only take a portion of the biomass from the field and the remaining cane straw puts organic matter back in the soil and protects from erosion.
There are plans to develop additional power plants using cane straw.
Listen to Cindy interview with Victor Campenelli here: New Holland Hero Victor Campanelli from Brazil
Alliant Launches Solar Demonstration Project
Alliant Energy is launching a solar demonstration project at its headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin. As part of the initiative, Telefonix, Inc. installed 13 L2 PowerPost electric vehicle charging stations.
The goal of the program is to evaluate solar technologies in climates with varying weather including extreme cold. Alliant is planning on installing more than three dozen unique renewable energy features over the next few years. In phase one the company will install solar power canopies over 50 parking spaces, solar café tables, and over 1,000 solar panels from multiple manufacturers with 11 different types of panels being used. The 13 PowerPost EV Charging Stations are being powered by the building, but the solar energy generated will offset total building consumption.
L2 PowerPost(TM) EV charger (PRNewsFoto/ Telefonix Inc.)
“As a Midwest company ourselves, we are excited to see other organizations taking the lead in these types of research initiatives that will be critical in the adoption of sustainable energy solutions in the coming years,” said Bill Williams, business development manager at Telefonix Inc. “Alliant Energy’s solar lab will help answer a lot of questions about solar energy in the Midwest and help move forth renewable energy as a whole.”
As part of the testing, solar energy features will be located in various areas and positioned in multiple angles an elevations. The learnings will inform Allliant Energy on how best to optimize solar energy in the Midwest. A unique interface available both onsite and on the internet will allow anyone to view real-time performance data of the solar lab.
“We are excited about this innovative demonstration project and view it as a learning laboratory for research that our customers can view on a regular basis,” added John Larsen, president of Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin utility. “This multi-year effort will enable our company and our customers to discover the many ways solar energy and renewable technology can be used in a Wisconsin setting.”