Solenis’ Antibiotic-Free Fermentation Aids for Ethanol

John Davis April 29, 2015

Specialty chemical company Solenis will soon introduce a new line of antibiotic-free fermentation aids and a new scale inhibitor for ethanol. This company news release says the debut happens during the 2015 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW) to be held June 1-4 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

On Tuesday, June 2 at 1:20 p.m. Allen Ziegler, global biorefining marketing director for Solenis, will provide an overview of the new fermentation aids on the Innovation Stage on the Expo floor at the FEW. In addition, Robert Yule, platform launch manager for Solenis, will deliver a presentation on the new scale inhibitor during the FEW Production and Operations seminars on Tuesday, June 2, 3:30-5:00 p.m. in room 200 DEFG.

Antibiotic-free Fermentation Aids: The Solenis™ family of fermentation aids provides better yeast propagation while simultaneously reducing bacterial growth without the use of antibiotics in both high pH and standard pH fermentation processes. The company’s offering of patented and patent-pending antibiotic-free fermentation aids can help fuel ethanol producers improve efficiency and address regulatory and consumer concerns about antibiotics in the food chain.

Scale Inhibitor to Improve Evaporator Efficiency: Solenis’ Polystabil™ AS4535 scale inhibitor is specifically designed to help fuel ethanol producers reduce scale, improve heat transfer and reduce downtime in their evaporators. This patent-pending blended product starts working at a dosage level below traditional polyacrylate chemistries and allows higher dosages, up to 20 ppm, while still meeting regulatory requirements ‒ making it significantly more effective than conventional technologies.

During FEW, Solenis will also talk about new cooling water treatments, FDA-approved corn oil extraction aids for both disk-stack and tricanter systems, and a proprietary control system that allows for around-the-clock surveillance and control of process and water treatment programs.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, FEW

Canadian Canola Growers Want More Biodiesel

John Davis April 29, 2015

Canola growers in Canada want politicians to prove they are truly dedicated to addressing climate change – by voting for biodiesel. This article from the Alberta Farmer Express says Ward Toma, the general manager of Alberta Canola Producers Commission, wants them to start by hiking Alberta’s biodiesel mandate.

“In their election platforms, almost all political parties talk about climate change and greenhouse gas reduction,” said Ward Toma. “Biodiesel is a low-carbon fuel, compared with some of the other ones, so it does help with greenhouse gas and carbon emissions.”

And Toma is quite specific about what government should do: Hike the percentage of biodiesel blended with regular diesel to five per cent (up from the current two per cent) by 2020; set tougher greenhouse gas reduction and biomass production targets; and extend the bioenergy producer credit program (set to expire in March 2016).

Those changes would be a win-win for both the province and growers, he said.

“One of the things biodiesels can do is create another demand stream for the crop sector, but we can also help with greenhouse gas target reductions and have a sustainable biomass,” said Toma.

Toma says that they’ll have to see where the politicians truly stand on biodiesel… after the elections are over.

Ag group, Agribusiness, Biodiesel, International

Renewables Exceed 75% Of New Gen Capacity

Joanna Schroeder April 28, 2015

Renewable energy sources including wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower provided over 75 percent of the 1,1229 MW of new electrical generating capacity that went online in first quarter of 2015. The results were published in the recent “Energy Infrastructure Update” report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Office of Energy Projects. The remaining 302 MW added was from natural gas. FERC reported no new capacity from biomass sources for the quarter nor any from coal, oil, or nuclear power.

© Kennytong | Dreamstime.com - Solar Panels And Wind Turbine Power Photo

During Q1 2015, eight new “units” of wind came online with a combined capacity of 647 MW — accounting for 52.64 percent of all new generating capacity. Solar provided 30 units (214 MW), geothermal steam provided one unit (45 MW), and hyrdropower provided one unit (21 MW). Five units of natural gas provided the new capacity from that sector.

According to the SUN DAY Campaign, the numbers for the first three months of 2015 are similar to those for the same period in 2014 when renewable energy sources (biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind) provided 1,422 MW of new capacity and natural gas 159 MW while coal and nuclear provided none and oil just 1 MW. Renewable energy sources accounted for half of all new generating capacity last year.

Renewable energy sources now account for 16.92 percent of total installed operating generating capacity in the U.S.: water – 8.53 percent, wind – 5.65 percent, biomass – 1.38 percent, solar – 1.03 percent, and geothermal steam – 0.33 percent. Renewable energy capacity is now greater than that of nuclear (9.11%) and oil (3.92%) combined. Moreover, as noted, total installed operating generating capacity from solar has now reached and surpassed the one-percent threshold.

“The trend lines for the past several years have been consistent and unmistakable,” said Ken Bossong, executive director of the SUN DAY Campaign. “Each month, renewable energy sources – particularly wind and solar – increase their share of the nation’s generating capacity while those of coal, oil, and nuclear decline.”

biomass, Geothermal, Hydro, Renewable Energy, Solar, Wind

DOE Selects FORGE Geothermal Projects

Joanna Schroeder April 28, 2015

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced five projects for the first part of the multiphase Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) effort, totaling $2 million. The lab is focused on unlocking the potential for enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) that could lead to more than 100 gigawatts of renewable, clean energy.

EGS are engineered geothermal reservoirs, created beneath the surface of the earth, where there is hot rock but limited pathways through which fluid can flow. During EGS development, underground fluid pathways are safely created and their size and connectivity increased. These enhanced pathways allow fluid to circulate throughout the hot rock and carry heat to the surface to generate electricity.

The five selected teams represent proposed projects in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah. In Phase 1, the teams will spend the next year completing mission-critical technical and logistical tasks that demonstrate site viability and show the team’s capability of meeting FORGE objectives and developing plans for Phase 2. Phase 1 tasks will include conceptual geologic modeling and the creation of comprehensive plans for data dissemination, intellectual property, environmental, health and safety information, communications and outreach, stakeholder engagement, R&D implementation, and environmental management.

“Through these kinds of critical investments in renewable energy, the Department is helping develop cost-effective technologies for engineering geothermal systems that supply affordable, zero-carbon energy to millions of American homes and businesses,” said Under Secretary for Science and Energy Lynn Orr. “Enhanced geothermal systems could represent the next frontier of renewable energy and hold the potential to diversify the nation’s energy portfolio while reducing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.”

The FORGE initiative consists of three phases. The first two phases will provide a total of up to $31 million over two years for selected teams and will focus on selecting both a site and an operations team, as well as preparing and fully characterizing the site. Up to three teams selected next year will to move into Phase 2 will work to fully instrument, characterize, and permit candidate sites for full-scale operations at FORGE in the third and final phase. Subject to the availability of appropriations, Phase 3 is anticipated to fund the full implementation of FORGE at a single site, managed by one operations team.

Electricity, Geothermal, Renewable Energy

RFA CEO Talks RFS with NAFB

Cindy Zimmerman April 28, 2015

Members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) are on Capitol Hill this week talking with lawmakers, administration officials, and industry organizations about topics important to agriculture, which include the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen had some new information to share with broadcasters about support for the RFS among the general public. “We released a poll (Monday) that shows 62% of voters support the RFS, compared to only 18% that oppose it,” said Dinneen in an interview with Agri-Pulse reporter Spencer Chase. “I hope both EPA and the president and Congress are paying attention to what Joe Public wants.”

In this interview, Dinneen also discusses the proposed EPA timeline for releasing overdue volume requirements for the RFS. “Typically EPA doesn’t act until they absolutely have to so my expectation is that the clock will run until the very last second,” he said. Interview with Bob Dinneen, RFA CEO

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, RFS

DOE Announces Wave Energy Prize

Joanna Schroeder April 28, 2015

During the annual National Hydropower Association and International Marine Renewable Energy Conferences, the Department Of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Assistant Secretary Dr. Dave Danielson announced the Wave Energy Prize. The prize, totaling more than $2 million, is designed to encourage the development of wave energy conversion (WEC) devices that double the energy captured from ocean waves, which in turn will reduce the cost of wave energy, making it more competitive with traditional energy solutions.

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Chief of Staff Cristin Dorgelo addressed the audience about the role public prize challenges can play in sparking innovation.

“Prize challenges are an effective way to spur innovation and solve tough problems by attracting, untapped talent,” said Dorgelo. “By reaching beyond existing communities of interest, prize challenges source out-of-discipline perspectives that can yield outstanding and novel solutions. This effort brings new perspectives to the table with minimal risk.”

“DOE recognized that the complex technology challenges associated with WEC concepts made this a great candidate for the challenge mechanism, particularly since one of the goals of the Wave Energy Prize is to attract new developers to the industry as well as next-generation concepts from those developers already working in clean energy,” said Wes Scharmen, Wave Energy Prize principal investigator at Ricardo, Inc. “There is so much opportunity to achieve real gains in the field of wave energy, and by solving the energy capture efficiency challenge of WEC concepts we expect to see significant impact in terms of energy cost. There is a vast, untapped resource potential along our coasts; this prize focuses on innovative approaches that get the nation closer to realizing its potential.”

The 20-month design-build-test competition will offer participants seed money and a chance to take part in two rounds of testing, the second being an opportunity for finalists to test their scaled WEC prototypes at the nation’s most advanced wave-making facility, the Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Maneuvering and Seakeeping (MASK) Basin at Carderock, Md., beginning in the summer of 2016.

Registration for the Wave Energy Prize is scheduled to remain open until June 15. For more information or to register, go to waveenergyprize.org. Additional information can also be found in the DOE Progress Alert.

Clean Energy, Electricity, ocean energy, Renewable Energy

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder April 28, 2015

NextEnergy has awarded $295,000 in Michigan Accelerating Technology (MATch) Energy Grant funds to three Michigan companies – Navitas Advanced Solutions Group, LLC., REL, Inc. and Temper, Inc. The MATch Energy Grant provides matching funds, or cost-share, as well as funding for follow-on commercialization projects, to eligible Michigan businesses and universities applying for federal funding in the area of advanced energy. Launched in 2012 with funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the MATch Energy Grant directly supports the commercialization process for applied research projects.
BIRD Energy is in its sixth funding cycle for U.S.-Israel joint Project Proposals with a focus on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. A project proposal must include R&D cooperation between two companies or cooperation between a company and a university/research institution (one from the U.S. and one from Israel). The proposal should have significant commercial potential and the project outcome should lead to commercialization. The following areas of research and development themes are within the scope of this call: Solar Power, Alternative Fuels, Advanced Vehicle Technologies, Smart Grid, Water-Energy Nexus, Wind Energy or any other Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency technology. The conditional grant per project is up to 50% of the R&D costs associated with the joint project, and up to a maximum of $1 million per project.
Global Bioenergies has been selected to be part of the new Tech40 label which highlights 40 high-tech companies listed on Alternext. The list of the 40 companies that constitute the Tech40 label was revealed on April 27, 2015 during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Economy and Industry. The selected companies are now regrouped in a dedicated market index.
Electric drive vehicles—with improved fuel efficiency, technological advances, and an alternative to gasoline and diesel fuels—are beginning to make inroads in this segment as commercial and government fleet operators consider investing in greener vehicles. According to a recent report from Navigant Research, sales of electric trucks and buses are expected to total more than 805,000 from 2014 to 2023.

Bioenergy Bytes

SolarReserve Wins Edison Award

Joanna Schroeder April 28, 2015

SolarReserve has been named a 2015 Silver Winner for innovation by the internationally renowned Edison Awards™ for its efforts in advancing solar energy and solar thermal energy storage worldwide. The awards recognize innovation, creativity and ingenuity in the global economy. Being recognized with an Edison Award has become one of the highest accolades a company can receive in the name of innovation and business. The awards are named after Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) whose inventions, new product development methods and innovative achievements changed the world, garnered him 1,093 U.S. patents, and made him a household name.

“It’s exciting to see companies like SolarReserve continuing Thomas Edison’s legacy of challenging conventional thinking,” said Frank Bonafilia, Edison Awards’ executive director. “Edison Awards recognizes game-changing products and services, and the teams that brought them to the market.”

The need for storage technology is growing – especially as the use of renewable energy grows. Intermittency has been a concern along with the need to be able to deliver renewable power during peak demand periods. SolarReserve is addressing these issues and currently has more than $1.8 billion of projects in construction and operation worldwide, with development and long-term power contracts for 482 megawatts (MW) of solar projects representing $2.8 billion of project capital.

“We are honored to receive recognition from the Edison Awards and its distinguished panel of judges for our success in developing and commercializing breakthrough technology that solves the intermittency issues experienced with other renewable energy sources,” said SolarReserve’s Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Smith. “It is gratifying to have industry experts recognize the value and strategic vision of this technology as well as SolarReserve’s leadership in solar power and energy storage.”

Electricity, Renewable Energy, Solar

Kum & Go to Offer E15

John Davis April 28, 2015

Iowa-based convenience stores Kum & Go will begin offering E15 as a fuel option. The first station will be in Windsor Heights, Iowa on April 30 with 65 stores in Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas, Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma, and South Dakota planning to offer the higher blend within 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,” said Jim Pirolli, Vice President of Fuels, Kum & Go. “Having E15 in our portfolio allows Kum & Go to offer our customers a quality product at a great value.”

The news was welcomed by the ethanol industry.

Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, issued the following statement:

“We are thrilled to hear that Kum & Go will be offering E15, providing motorists with a choice and savings at the pump. Kum & Go prides themselves on their exemplary service and a drive to give the customer more than what they expect, and this latest announcement underscores their role as an innovator and leader in the convenience store marketplace. Furthermore, this announcement shows that customer demand for higher blends of homegrown, renewable fuels, such as E15, is growing and Kum & Go is taking the necessary steps to deliver what the marketplace demands and what the consumer wants.”

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) pointed out that that this action will bring the total number of states offering E15 to 20.

“RFA would like to thank Kum & Go for their continued leadership in ethanol,” said Robert White, vice president of industry relations at the Renewable Fuels Association. “They have been offering E85 to consumers for years, and this addition of E15 in these seven states just makes sense. These continued E15 announcements demonstrate that the business case is solid for higher blends, and should lead other retailers to explore their options.”

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty offered congratulations and thanks to Kum & Go for making E15 more widely available.

“Kum & Go has been a leader in offering E85 as a fuel choice at most of the locations they’ve built in the last several years – it seems fitting that they would now be the first large Midwest retailer to announce the addition of E15 as a fuel option. In the c-store business, everyone “wants to be first to be second,” so other retailers will take notice when a chain like Kum & Go is added to the list of E15 retailers that includes Mapco, Murphy Oil, Protec, Sheetz, and other smaller chains and single stores that have been offering E15 for two years or more. E15 is real, and with the number of vehicles built and warrantied for E15 growing by 10 million or more a year, it’s a smart option for stations to offer in the future,” said Lamberty.

ACE, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, RFA

Navajo Students Wind Schoolyard STEM Lab

Joanna Schroeder April 27, 2015

Nizhoni Elementary School in Shiprock, New Mexico has been awarded the first-ever Schoolyard STEM Lab from Samsung and the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF). The STEM Lab was donated during the 10th annual National Environmental Education Week.

The Schoolyard STEM Lab is an outdoor classroom space designed to work in any climate for a hands-on, immersive environmental education program that consists of a Growing Dome greenhouse where students can apply the scientific method to cultivation projects. The school’s plan is to have all students take part in exploring such topics as aquatic life, solar power and sustainability, conduct geothermal energy experiments, and conserve native plants and natural resources. The Growing Dome will help students better understand STEM, and will help them make connections between the natural environment and Navajo culture.

“We are excited to award Nizhoni with the Lab. It is a solid resource that they can use to leverage the natural environment to promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a way that is relevant to the community,” said Diane Wood, president of NEEF. “We thank Samsung for their financial support and Growing Spaces for its partnership and installation of the Schoolyard STEM Lab.”

Located on Navajo Nation in northern New Mexico, Nizhoni’s school is considered a turnaround school- Nizhoni Elementary went from an F in 2012 to a B in 2013 on the New Mexico Public Education Department’s School Report Cards. The school district is 100 percent Title 1 federally funded due to the high-level poverty within the communities it serves and provides free breakfast and lunch to all of its students. Despite these challenges, the school is committed to equipping its students with the necessary knowledge and skills they will need to succeed in pursuing post-secondary education and early career opportunities.

“Students at Nizhoni are eager to learn,” said Principal Patsy Marquez. “We have been working hard to raise our student’s levels of achievement in areas like math, science and technology. In doing so, we need to make sure that they have access to the tools that they need in order to learn. The Schoolyard STEM Lab is a great tool that we can use to accelerate student learning by introducing all of our students to the scientific inquiry process within the context of the natural environment.”

Jennifer Choate, Nizhoni’s gifted education teacher who submitted the winning application on behalf of the school, added, “The Schoolyard STEM Lab also provides an opportunity for students to harvest their own herbs and vegetables which can be shared with the community and used by the school to prepare more nutritious meals,” added

Alternative energy, Environment, Geothermal, Renewable Energy, Solar

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