USDA Lowers Corn for Ethanol Forecast

Cindy Zimmerman

usda-logoIn the June World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate, USDA raised corn beginning stocks for 2015/16 with a 25 million bushel reduction in 2014/15 forecast corn use in ethanol production. The revision, the result of a reduction of the forecast corn use in ethanol reduction for 2014/2015, is based on data reported in the Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production report through April.

Forecasts continue to show farmers planting 89.2 million acres and harvesting 81.7 million acres, with an average yield of 166.8 bushels per acre and production of 13.6 billion bushels, down from 2014 corn production of 14.2 billion bushels.

Despite total supply and ending stocks revisions, USDA continues to estimate the average farm price for the current market year at $3.55 to $3.75 per bushel, and a broader range of $3.20 to $3.80 for the next market year, which begins Sept. 1.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, USDA

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc. has announced the opening of Ek Laboratories, Inc. After completing construction at the end of April 2015, the company began installing and optimizing its full service analytical laboratory equipment and building its patented CTS Pilot plant. Both operations have been completed this week.
  • The K2 Wind Power Facility (“K2 Wind”) in Ontario has reached commercial operation. One of Canada’s largest wind projects, the 270 MW facility is owned and operated by Capital Power, Samsung Renewable Energy Inc. and Pattern Energy Group LP. Located in the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh in southwestern Ontario, K2 Wind is comprised of 140 Siemens 2.3 MW wind turbines and operates under a 20-year PPA with the Independent Electricity System Operator.
  • Envision Energy has announced the appointment of John Childs as Head of Turbine Business Development in Europe Middle East & Africa. Childs will be based in its Global Innovation Center in Denmark to lead the company’s turbine business in the EMEA markets.
  • Boralex Inc. has announced the signature of a conditional buy/sell option for a 25% economic interest in the 230 MW Niagara Region Wind Farm project in which Enercon is the majority owner. The total investment is between $900 million and $950 million and Boralex will immediately begin coordination of the project construction phase in partnership with Enercon. Extending across the Regional Municipality of Niagara, the Township of West Lincoln, the Town of Wainfleet and Haldimand County in Ontario, the Niagara Region Wind Farm project will comprise 77 3 MW Enercon turbines and construction will begin in June.
Bioenergy Bytes

“May Day, May Day” Video Released

Joanna Schroeder

Americans United for Change has released a new video in response to the recent oil spill in Santa Barbara, California as well as several other recent oil spills. ‘May Day, May Day‘ is a roundup of news coverage showing why May was another messy oil spill month. The nonprofit notes the images of beach-goers trudging through tar to rescue oil soaked birds serve as a vivid reminder of the consequences of America’s dependence on oil.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that there will be 14,000 oil spills this year. This, cites American United for Change, is why people should be asking the EPA ‘what they were thinking’ when they cut back the Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The RVOs are significantly under what was mandated by Congress when the legislation was passed. The organization said this decision continues to limit consumer choice at the pump and encourages the oil industry to keep drilling and spilling.

The move would also discourage investment in infrastructure, said Americans United for Change, that would “bust through the so-called ‘blend wall'” and discourage innovation towards cleaner and cheaper fuels.

The new video is as part of the organization’s ongoing project RareIncidents.com, inspired by American Petroleum Institute President Jack Gerard who in 2011 attempted to dismiss the BP spill disaster in the Gulf Coast as “clearly a rare incident”.

Americans United for Change, Biodiesel, biofuels, EPA, Ethanol, RFS, Video

Novozymes Tech Service Adds Profitability

Cindy Zimmerman

One of the themes that Novozymes wanted to drive home to ethanol producers at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop last week was that they deliver more than enzymes when they partner with plants.

few15-novo-billy-kevinA big part of the Novozymes philosophy in helping ethanol plants is technical service. “We have a team of over 40 scientists deployed across the U.S. supporting the biofuels industry,” said Kevin Cox, Novozymes director of technical service for biofuels. “It’s a unique part of our company in that we provide a different value proposition through technical service.”

Novozymes technical service offerings include customer training, process optimization, data analysis, and laboratory support. “Our overarching goal is to be a trusted adviser and a partner to our customers and help them succeed in their business,” Cox said. Interview with Kevin Cox, Novozymes

Billy Whitlock, plant support tech services manager for Novozymes, says they work with plants on trials to make sure new products are right for them. “We’re there working with them whether it’s products that improve yield, to products that try to streamline the production process to increase output,” said Whitlock. “Our arm of the tech services division is really tasked with bringing the knowledge and the information from our headquarters to our customers.”

Interview with Billy Whitlock, Novozymes

2015 Fuel Ethanol Workshop Photo Album

Coverage of the Fuel Ethanol Conference is sponsored by
Coverage of the Fuel Ethanol Conference is sponsored by Novozymes
Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, FEW, Novozymes

Camelina Offers Dual-Crop Possibility for Biodiesel

John Davis

camelina harvest1Camelina could help end the food-versus-fuel debate for biodiesel. This article from the American Society of Agronomy says that new research found that growing camelina with soybeans in the Upper Midwest has promising signs.

Russ Gesch, a plant physiologist with the USDA Soil Conservation Research Lab in Morris, Minnesota, found encouraging results when growing Camelina sativa with soybean in the Midwest.

Camelina is a member of the mustard family and an emerging biofuel crop. It is well suited as a cover crop in the Midwest. “Finding any annual crop that will survive the [Midwest] winters is pretty difficult,” says Gesch, “but winter camelina does that and it has a short enough growing season to allow farmers to grow a second crop after it during the summer.”

Additionally, in the upper Midwest, soils need to retain enough rainwater for multiple crops in one growing season. Gesch and his colleagues measured water use of two systems of dual-cropping using camelina and soybean. They compared it with a more typical soybean field at the Swan Lake Research Farm near Morris, MN.

First, researchers planted camelina at the end of September. From there growing methods differed. In double-cropping, soybean enters the field after the camelina harvest in June or July. Relay-cropping, however, overlaps the crops’ time. Soybeans grow between rows of camelina in April or May before the camelina plants mature and flower.

While dual-cropping might not work for everyone, such as farms in the more arid West, where it does work, it also offers benefits, such as boosting soybean yields. Plus, the camelina flowers offer a good food source for pollinators at a time when there might not be a lot for the bees to eat.

Agribusiness, Biodiesel, food and fuel, Soybeans

ZimmPollers Turn to Gas to Fuel Grills

Jamie Johansen

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What fuels your grill?”

My family was a little late pulling out our grill this summer, but it’s now out and we have been enjoying it thoroughly. I honestly don’t have a preference, but my husband is pretty adamant about what fuels his grill. So, it’s charcoal all the way in my household. But apparently we are the minority. Our pollers clearly like a gas grill and I was a little surprised we had no electric grillers out there.

Here are the poll results:

  • Charcoal/wood – 44%
  • Gas – 56%
  • Electric – 0%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, How will a ban on antibiotics impact your livestock operation?

This change in federal guidelines will require many regulation modifications and a lot of label changes. The livestock industry is currently working with producers to help with his transition. We want to know how you think this ban on antibiotics will impact your operations.

ZimmPoll

Intel Pilots Micro-Turbine Rooftop Wind Power

Joanna Schroeder

Intel is participating in a unique pilot wind power project. The company is installing 58 micro-turbines on the roof to help renewably power their building. According to Marty Sedler, director of global utilities & infrastructure for Intel, the project came about due to their ongoing efforts to find more sustainable ways to use technology. This is why, he said, Intel began piloting one of the world’s largest operating rooftop arrays of wind micro-turbines on the roof of its worldwide headquarters in Santa Clara, California.

Rendering of the planned installation of 58 Wind Micro-Turbines on the rooftop of Intel's global headquarters building in Santa Clara, California. The installation is underway and will be complete in May 2015. IMAGE SOURCE: JLM Energy, Inc.

Rendering of the planned installation of 58 Wind Micro-Turbines on the rooftop of Intel’s global headquarters building in Santa Clara, California. The installation is underway and will be complete in May 2015. IMAGE SOURCE: JLM Energy, Inc.

Sedler explained that the micro-turbines are a proof-of-concept project, in which Intel hopes to collect data that could help the company better support green power applications and identify ways to continue evolving its sustainability programs. Intel also hopes the project will inspire other companies and electric users to consider creative new options to conserve energy.

Many companies, such as Intel, are not in a position to install full-scale wind turbines on their property. This is why the company partnered with JLM Energy, a Rocklin, California-based company that built and installed the micro-turbines. Sedler said each micro-turbine is between 6 and 7 feet tall and weighs approximately 30 lbs. The model of micro-turbine that Intel is using is the smallest design available for commercial buildings and is considered the most efficient turbine in its size class. Due to their small size, the micro-turbines are versatile in their potential uses and applications, said Sedler.

Each micro-turbine generates approximately 65 kWh. The array was sized to provide the electricity required for the lighting and general operation of Intel’s Executive Briefing Center. Sedler explained that since the micro-turbines need no fuel other than wind, they produce green power at no additional cost. For every kWh of green electricity the micro-turbines produce, Intel will require one fewer kWh of grid power, therefore reducing the need for power sources that produce much higher levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.Read More

Clean Energy, Electricity, Environment, Renewable Energy, Wind

America’s Renewable Future Announces Partners

Cindy Zimmerman

ARF-LogoAmerica’s Renewable Future (ARF) today announced its diverse coalition of partners that includes state and national ethanol and biofuels associations and companies committed to educating presidential candidates in both parties about the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

The partners include organizations such as the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA), Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA), Iowa Biodiesel Board, Iowa Ethanol Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Biotechnology Association, Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealer Association, Growth Energy, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and companies such as POET, DuPont, Stine Seed Company, Archer Daniels Midland, and Novozymes.

“We’re involved because over a third of our corn crop goes directly into the ethanol industry,” said ICGA CEO Craig Floss, during a conference call today with representatives of several partners. The corn growers were one of the coalition’s founding partners, along with Iowa RFA. “We are very excited to see support (for ARF) grow and I think we’ll see more in the future,” said IRFA executive director Monte Shaw. “It really shows this is not just about farmers, or ethanol and biodiesel plants, it’s something that really affects every one of us.”

During the call, representatives of ARF discussed reaction to the EPA’s new proposed volume obligations under the RFS. Others on the call included former Iowa Lt. Gov. and ARF Co-Chair Patty Judge, Lincolnway Energy Director and ARF Co-Chair Bill Couser, and Iowa farmer Mark Recker. America's Renewable Future partners press conference

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, Novozymes, RFA, RFS

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1A new report, “Integrating Renewable Energy Into the Electricity Grid,” prepared by The Brattle Group for the Advanced Energy Economy Institute (AEE Institute) finds that high penetration levels of renewable generation are not only technically feasible but are already being managed without compromising reliability of electric power service. This suggests that an increasing share of renewable energy can be integrated into the nationwide electricity system going forward.
  • Shunfeng International Clean Energy (SFCE) has announced that it has signed a cooperative agreement with the French Polynesian government to deploy its low-carbon, integrated solutions, to facilitate a sustainable environment for its citizens. With SFCE’s clean energy applications, French Polynesia will be the first country in the South Pacific Region to demonstrate the move towards a clean energy future, by establishing itself as a low-carbon, green island.
  • ClearPath, a private foundation dedicated to building support for center-right clean energy and climate solutions, has announced the launch of its first major initiative, ClearPath.org. The digital platform showcases information on solutions that support U.S. innovation, economic growth, job creation, and energy independence. With a total endowment of $165 million, ClearPath develops cutting edge digital media platforms, makes strategic grants for research and policy development, and engages in targeted advocacy at both the state and national levels. $40 million is committed to these collective efforts through to the end of 2016. Founder Jay Faison has personally committed an additional $10 million endowment to a 501(c)(4), which is underway and will raise additional funds.
  • eMotorWerks has announced a partnership with Slingshot Power to offer a solar package that delivers the most advanced residential charging solution at an attractive bundled price to enable a cleaner, more resilient and more affordable way of charging electric vehicles. Customers contracting with Slingshot Power will receive a free JuiceBox Pro 40. Its advanced time-of-use functionality and ability to react to electric grid conditions allows EV drivers to minimize adverse impact on the grid while maximizing the use of clean energy to recharge their cars.
Bioenergy Bytes

Propel Fuels Leads California in E85

Joanna Schroeder

Propel Fuels has released a new white paper, “E85: A California Success Story,” that details their leadership as an E85 leader in California as well as in the U.S. Developed by the Propel Silicon Valley Workshop, the paper, and subsequent website, examines the productive role in what the paper terms as “low carbon E85” has had in enabling California to meet its carbon reduction and petroleum reduction targets, while improving air quality in the state’s severe non-attainment communities.

E85 a California Success Story“Thanks to smart public policy and a strong value proposition for consumers, California’s E85 use has become a success story, and a road map for our nation for implementing low carbon fuels,” said Rob Elam, CEO of Propel Fuels. “This research conclusively demonstrates that E85 is a successful, sustainable, cost-effective fuel that consumers are choosing when they have retail access.”

Today, California has more than 1 million flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) on their roads. Utilizing data collected by Propel’s research team coupled with work done by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and California Energy Commission (CEC), the paper highlights information on E85 market growth, consumer demographics, value perceptions, emissions reductions, and the future potential of E85.

Key research findings include:

  • California has the highest rate of E85 growth of any state in the nation. E85 use has expanded 600% in California since 2009, while gasoline demand has decreased.
  • E85 use has significant positive impacts on air quality, greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions and petroleum reductions; providing air quality benefits in severe non-attainment areas by contributing 18-67% reduction in NOx as well as a 32% reduction in GHG emissions.
  • E85 use has specifically benefited CalEPA designated Disadvantaged Communities.
  • E85 is California’s value fuel, with 92% of users saying it is the same or better value than gasoline.
  • California’s 1 million FFVs can displace 600 million gallons of petroleum gasoline with E85.
  • California’s retail E85 volume per location exceeds the national average by 300%.
  • As a result of its policies, California is home to the lowest carbon ethanol in the country.
E85, Ethanol, Renewable Energy