EWEA Welcomes ETS Reform, Carbon Reserve Goals

Joanna Schroeder

The EU-28 Member States and the European Parliament have agreed to introduce a market stability reserve in 2019 to tackle a glut of over 2 billion excess permits in the Emissions Trading System (ETS). At hearing the news, the European Windy Energy Association welcomed the move made between lawmakers to reform the ETS before 2021.

ewea-logoAccording to EWEA, the surplus of allowances is currently suppressing the carbon price and failing to hold Europe’s worst polluters to account over their emissions.

Policymakers have also agreed to transfer the backloaded and unallocated allowances into the market stability reserve before they flood the market at the end of the decade. The number of these allowances could be as high as 1.7 billion according to analyst estimates.

Ivan Pineda, Director of Public Affairs at the European Wind Energy Association, said, “The start date of 2019 shows that Member States are prepared to compromise. It is also pleasing to see that a substantial number of excess allowances will not be returning to the market and will instead go directly into the reserve. But we have to acknowledge that Member States and the Parliament could have been far more ambitious in the shake-up of the carbon market and that much more comprehensive reform is needed in order for this instrument to provide a meaningful signal to investors.”

Carbon, Clean Energy, Renewable Energy, Wind

Georgia Power Rolls Out EV Fleet

Joanna Schroeder

Georgia Power has rolled out a new fleet of 32 new plug-in electric hybrid Chevy Volts during an onsite event. Georgia Power Chairman, President & CEO Paul Bowers was joined by Commissioner Tim Echols of the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) and Michael Beinenson of the EV Club of the South to celebrate the edition of the alternative energy electric vehicles (EVs).

Georgia Power rolls out new fleet of EVs. (PRNewsFoto/Georgia Power)

Georgia Power rolls out new fleet of EVs. (PRNewsFoto/Georgia PowerCEO Paul

“We are leading by example and demonstrating to our customers, and other Georgia businesses, that electric transportation works for all drivers,” said Bowers at the event. “Through constructive regulation, and partnerships with organizations like the EV Club of the South, we are growing the EV market in Georgia and helping our customers reap the overwhelming benefits of driving electric.”

Bowers also noted Commissioner Echols’ leadership in increasing awareness of EVs in Georgia, including support and involvement in the annual Alternative Fuel Vehicle Roadshow each June.

Georgia Power, elected officials and community leaders mark the roll out of Georgia Power's new fleet of EVs. (Left - Right) Latanza Adjei (Vice President of Sales, Georgia Power); Kenny Coleman (Senior Vice President of Marketing, Georgia Power); Michael Beinenson (President, EV Club of the South); Commissioner Tim Echols (Georgia Public Service Commission); Paul Bowers (Chairman, President & CEO of Georgia Power); and Carl Jackson (Electric Transportation Manager, Georgia Power). (PRNewsFoto/Georgia Power)

Georgia Power, elected officials and community leaders mark the roll out of Georgia Power’s new fleet of EVs. (Left – Right) Latanza Adjei (Vice President of Sales, Georgia Power); Kenny Coleman (Senior Vice President of Marketing, Georgia Power); Michael Beinenson (President, EV Club of the South); Commissioner Tim Echols (Georgia Public Service Commission); Paul Bowers (Chairman, President & CEO of Georgia Power); and Carl Jackson (Electric Transportation Manager, Georgia Power). (PRNewsFoto/Georgia Power)

The new, Georgia Power-branded Chevy Volts will be seen around town in communities from Savannah to Columbus to Rome and will be driven daily by Georgia Power employees as they serve customers. The EVs will be used primarily by the company’s energy efficiency experts as they travel to conduct energy audits at homes and businesses, a service provided to help Georgia Power customers save money and energy.

In 2014, Georgia Power launched a new electric transportation initiative to advance Georgia as an exceptionally EV-friendly state through its Get Current. Drive Electric. program. The program currently includes an ongoing public education campaign, EV charger rebates for business and residential customers and special rates and charging options for EV customers.

Alternative energy, Alternative Vehicles, Electric Vehicles

Georgia’s First E15 Stations to Open Friday

John Davis

protecfuel1Georgia gets its first three E15 stations this week. To help celebrate the event at the Atlanta area stations, Protec Fuel will be running special “Happy Hour” pricing from 4-5 pm on Friday, May 8, at the Gulf Quick Stop Food Store, 855 S Cobb Dr SE, in Marietta.

88-octane E15 fuel costs less and can run in any 2001 and newer gas vehicle! Plus, it’s American-made, higher octane fuel that’s better for the environment. And, for the first time, it’s available in Georgia!

In addition, state officials will be on hand for the event, plus festivities will include 94.9 The Bull & Zac Brown Band tics giveaway, face painting, balloons, karaoke/bands, a moon walk for kiddos, and more!

E15 will also be available at the Gulf Sunflower Food Mart 1241 Eaton Road, Madison, Georgia and Gulf Food Mart 405 S. Walnut St., Greensboro Georgia.

E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News

New Iowa E15 Station Having $1.99/Gallon Event

John Davis

kum-and-go1Not only does it burn green, but this coming Monday at Iowa’s newest E15 station, the higher blend of ethanol will save you some green. The Kum & Go in Windsor Heights near Des Moines will sell E15 for $1.99 per gallon from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Monday, May 11. This news release from the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) says the promotion also coincides with Kum & Go’s announcement last week that the company plans to add E15 to an additional 65 locations in Iowa and six other states over the next two years.

“We have a strong tradition in our company to implement sustainability within our business and at our locations. From our 100 LEED-certified stores, to our selection of alternative fuels, E15 was a natural addition to our fuel offering,” stated Kum & Go Vice President of Fuels Jim Pirolli. “Having E15 in our portfolio allows Kum & Go to offer our customers a quality product at a great value.”

“Motorists have been clamoring for wider availability of E15, and we applaud Kum & Go for providing Iowans with yet another low-cost, cleaner-burning fueling option,” stated IRFA Managing Director Lucy Norton. “E15 is the most extensively tested fuel in history, is safe for use in all 2001 and newer vehicles, and will be priced at a great money-saving discount through this special promotion. That’s a win-win-win for Iowa’s motorists.”

“The American farmer is a backbone of the renewable fuels industry. Thanks to partners like Kum & Go, Iowans can fill up with more American-grown fuels like E15 and E85 that are better for our environment, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and create new Iowa jobs,” stated Iowa Corn Promotion Board Director of Marketing and Communications Shannon Textor. “E15 is five percent more Iowa-grown fuel that supports Iowa’s farmers.”

The Kum & Go Windsor Heights store is located at 7229 University Avenue.

Ag group, Agribusiness, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA

Abengoa to Build U.S. MSW Biorefinery

Joanna Schroeder

Abengoa has been selected by Fulcrum BioEnergy to build the first biorefinery using gasification technology to convert more than 200,000 tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) into syncrude that will be converted into more than 10 million gallons of jet fuel. The plant will be located in the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center, around 20 miles east of Reno, Nevada. The contract, worth $200 million, gives Abengoa the responsibility for the execution of the plant including engineering design and construction. The will also participate in the development of the project.

Fulcrum-Abengoa logo“Abengoa is the seventh largest EPC company in the U.S. and is one of, if not, the premier engineering and construction firms in the renewables space. They have the demonstrated experience and capabilities and have stepped up and made the business commitments to get the job done for us,” said James Macias, Fulcrum’s president and CEO. “We are eager to add Abengoa to our team. Abengoa has the skill and horsepower to take our design and technology development and successfully turn it into an operating commercial plant.”

This initiative, says Abengoa, provides a sustainable alternative for the large volumes of municipal solid waste generated in the area every year, which would otherwise be disposed of in a landfill. The process of converting MSW into renewable transportation fuels will significantly reduce the number of landfills, a growing concern because of the chemical pollutants released into the air and seeping into the groundwater.

The MSW biorefinery is set to go into operation in the third quarter of 2017.

advanced biofuels, Renewable Energy, Waste-to-Energy

Vattenfall’s DanTysk Offshore Wind Project Online

Joanna Schroeder

Vattenfall has officially begun operations of its DanTysk offshore wind farm. Located 70 kilometers west of Sylt Island, the project is the first infrastructure project jointly implemented by Vattenfall and SWM. DanTysk is comprised of 80 Siemens wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 288 MW.

globalassets-cision-images-20150430-en-1881382-1The event was celebrated by several key energy players in Europe including: German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Sigmar Gabriel; Swedish Minister for Enterprise and Innovation Mikael Damberg; Hamburg Mayor Olaf Scholz and Torsten Albig; Prime Minister of the State of Schleswig-Holstein; Magnus Hall, President and CEO of Vattenfall; and Dr Florian Bieberbach, CEO of SWM.

Sigmar Gabriel, German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs said during the event, “Last year we created the necessary investment security with EEC 2014, which led to a real breakthrough in the development of offshore wind power. By 2030 there should be 15 gigawatts of installed capacity, amounting to a capital investment of several billion Euros in wind farms and infrastructure, with high added value for Germany. Together with the DanTysk wind farm, by the end of this year Germany will generate green power from more than 3,000 megawatts of installed offshore capacity. That is a real boost for the energy transition.”Read More

Clean Energy, Electricity, International, offshore wind, Renewable Energy

FEW Set to Break Records

Joanna Schroeder

The International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW), is taking place June 1-4, 2015 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is set to have the largest number of ethanol producers ever FEW14-color-web-NoYeargathered at an industry event with more than 600 producers. During the course of the event, they’ll discuss issues categorized into four tracks: Track 1: Production and Operations; Track 2: Leadership and Financial Management; Track 3: Coproducts and Product. Diversification; and Track 4: Cellulosic and Advanced Ethanol.

BBI Marketing Director John Nelson notes that the event will “create an unprecedented opportunity for industry supplier and supporters to network with ethanol producers and share their products or services.” He also said they are attendees registered from 25 countries. Registration is still open.

There are 194 operational ethanol plants in the U.S. today producing more than 15 million gallons of ethanol per year including several advanced ethanol production facilities.

energy.agwired.com will be onsite covering this event with special thanks from our sponsor Novozymes.

advanced biofuels, biofuels, conferences, Ethanol

DDGS Exports to China Returning to Normal

Cindy Zimmerman

Exports of U.S. distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are starting to return to normal levels, according to the latest numbers for March.

Patriot Renewable Fuels DDGsThe Renewable Fuels Association reports that exports of the animal feed ethanol co-product rose in March for the fourth consecutive month, at 923,515 metric tons (mt), up 15% from February, with half of those shipments going to China. Exports of DDGS to China have been increasing this year after falling off last year due to a biotech trait issue. If normal shipments to China resume on an ongoing basis, 2015 theoretically could see total exports reach the 11 million mt mark. Mexico, Canada, Vietnam, and Thailand account for most of the remaining global market.

U.S. exports of ethanol in March were down slightly from February at 83.8 million gallons (mg), but that still represents the third-highest monthly volume in the last 12 months. Brazil and Canada accounted for half of total U.S. ethanol exports in March, followed by Oman and South Korea. The Netherlands, Tunisia and Nigeria were other key destinations in March.

Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, RFA

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • http://energy.agwired.com/category/bioenergy-bytes/Mississippi Power is expanding its renewable generation portfolio with an agreement to team on another utility-scale solar electric generating farm, this time with solar provider Origis Energy. The company, and Origis, are working to develop a 52 MW solar project on 485 acres in Sumrall, Miss. pending approval by the Mississippi Public Service Commission.
  • More than 104,000 Illinois residents now work in the clean energy sector, according to a new report released today called “Clean Jobs Illinois”. The report found employment in the Illinois clean energy economy grew by 7.8 percent the past 15 months alone, with more than 7,500 new clean energy jobs added statewide.
  • Renmatix has announced that it has acquired existing assets of the former Mascoma corporation’s 56,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Rome, NY. The new Feedstock Processing Facility is dedicated to the first step in conversion to cellulosic sugar (from different types of biomass materials) utilizing proprietary Plantrose process conditions. The FPF opened officially on April 20, 2015, as the third U.S. location for Renmatix.
  • Finavera Wind Energy Inc. has announced it has signed a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire 100% of the equity of Solar Alliance of America, Inc., thus entering the U.S. market. Under the terms of the Agreement, Finavera will acquire Solar Alliance for 11,915,238 shares of the Company and contingent payments of up to $4 million USD in cash comprised of up to four installments of $1 million USD.
Bioenergy Bytes

Innovating Biodiesel By-Product Wins Award

John Davis

nbb-advancedResearch that has turned a glut of a biodiesel by-product into high value products has earned its innovator an award. This National Biodiesel Board news release says the French researcher’s work was honored at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS).

Dr. Franck Dumeignil, Full Professor at Lille University and Deputy Director of the School’s Unit of Catalysis and Solid State Chemistry, is the winner of the 2015 Glycerine Innovation Award, sponsored by the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) and the National Biodiesel Board (NBB).

The ACI/NBB Glycerine Innovation Award recognizes outstanding achievement for research into new applications for glycerine, with particular emphasis on commercial viability.

Prof. Dumeignil undertook his research in the context of the rapid growth of the biodiesel industry worldwide creating an urgent need to quickly and effectively convert crude glycerine into value-added chemical products. The research has enhanced the value of glycerine by successfully tackling many bottlenecking problems, with his research showing the potential to mass produce high value products from glycerine.

“The use of crude glycerine, much less costly than purified glycerol, is still a problem as its impurities are detrimental to the whole process efficiency,” said Prof. Dumeignil.

The award includes a plaque and a $5,000 honorarium.

Biodiesel, NBB