REG to Offer More Biodiesel Blends in NE and Midwest

John Davis

reg-logoBiodiesel giant Renewable Energy Group is adding to the locations that will be selling its green fuel. This company news release says REG Energy Services will be offering additional biofuel blends in New York, Minnesota and Iowa.

REG Energy Services, LLC will offer ultra-low sulfur heating oil and diesel (ULSHO/ULSD) blended with up to 20 percent biodiesel at its New Hyde Park, NY terminal. In addition, ULSD blended with biodiesel will be offered at Minnesota terminals in Alexandria, Mankato, Roseville and Rochester and Iowa terminals in Mason City and Des Moines. This adds ULSD to REG’s existing biodiesel offerings at those locations.

This is the first time REG Energy Services will offer biodiesel fuel blends along the Magellan Midstream Partners terminal system in Iowa and Minnesota. Iowa has a 4.5 cent per gallon incentive for retailers utilizing blends of 5 percent and above. Minnesota has a B5 requirement in the winter when using ULSD and B10 during the summer months.

“This expansion of REG Energy Services provides further access to our fuel portfolio in the Northeast and Midwest markets where we will now offer biodiesel fuel blends in addition to REG-9000™ biodiesel,” said Gary Haer, REG Vice President, Sales and Marketing. “Biodiesel blended fuel provides a convenient solution that further improves REG’s ability to better meet our customers’ needs and growing demand, while enhancing America’s energy and food security, and our environment.”

Iowa-based REG now offers fuel at 34 locations across the US.

Biodiesel, REG

Simplifying Propane Autogas Dispensers

Cindy Zimmerman

2014 World LP Gas Forum Photo Album

perc-wlpgf14-superiorOne of the keys to getting more propane-powered vehicles on the road is getting more propane autogas fueling infrastructure and making it safe and simple for users.

Superior Energy Systems offers a whole line of autogas dispensing systems and during a Propane Education & Research Council event at the World LP Gas Forum, Mike Walters talked about how they are making it so easy your grandmother can use it. “The whole idea is to get autogas fueling to the point of being so similar to gasoline that people aren’t afraid of it,” said Walters, showing off what they nicknamed the Granny Nozzle. “It’s so simple that granny can pull into the C-store and fuel up her SUV without having to have personal protective equipment.”

“What we’re talking about here is low emission transfer versus no emission transfer,” Walters said.

Listen to Walters here and watch the video below to see the system. Mike Walters, Superior Energy Systems

Audio, automotive, PERC, Propane

Canadian Youth Speak Out For Wind

Joanna Schroeder

The winners of the Canadian Wind Energy Association’s (CanWEA) Power of Wind contest were announced during the association’s 30th Annual Conference and Exhibition in Montreal, Quebec this week. The contest is launched each year during Global Wind Day (June 15, 2015) to bring positive attention to the benefits of wind energy and its growing contribution in Canada.

Power of Wind submissionEach year, CanWEA awards several bursary prizes to students entering or in post-secondary education. This year, students were invited to submit multimedia and written entries on why they believe wind energy is important to Canada’s energy future.

“CanWEA’s Power of Wind contest presents an opportunity for students to share their unique perspective on energy. This year, we reviewed over 200 captivating multi-media entries,” said CanWEA President, Robert Hornung. “The submissions revealed a high awareness among students of wind energy’s role in powering new economic and environmental opportunities, and the ways that Canada can demonstrate global leadership in the development of renewable energy.”

And this year’s Power of Wind contest winners are…

  • Best English language blog: Audrey Cheung, University of Calgary
  • Best French language blog: Pierre-Luc Blain, University of British Columbia
  • Best multimedia entry: Maya Olechnowicz, University of Western Ontario
  • Most creative submission: Long Ting (Tina) Chan, University of Waterloo

Click here to read the winners’ blogs.

Education, International, Renewable Energy, Wind

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFTrina Solar Limited has announced the appointment of Mr. Jeff Dorety as president of its Americas Region, effective October 8, 2014, and Mr. Longxing Huang as president of its Distributed PV Generation Business Unit, effective October 27, 2014. Both Mark Mendenhall, the former president of Trina Solar’s Americas Region, and Mr. Haiyan Sun, the former president of Trina Solar’s Distributed PV Generation Business Unit, have left the Company for personal reasons.
  • NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy announced that it has received the final required regulatory approval in connection with its pending $900 million purchase of eleven hydroelectric facilities representing 633 megawatts of capacity and one storage reservoir from PPL Montana.
  • Satsumasendai City and Sumitomo Corporation have agreed to carry out a joint project on the Koshiki Islands to establish an effective use of reused batteries from electric vehicles as large-scale power storage facilities and to promote renewable energy into the micro-grid of these remote islands. The two parties reached this agreement on October 10, 2014.
  • Vaisala, a global leader in environmental and industrial measurement, has entered the competitive Brazilian renewable energy market auction process as an energy assessment provider, and as a result, has already secured its first certification of a 30MW solar project. Vaisala’s successful auction and tendering certification enables the renewable energy assessment and forecasting firm to work directly with developers and financiers making active investments into this emerging renewable energy market.
Bioenergy Bytes

NC State Breaks Down Cell Walls

Joanna Schroeder

According to Quanzi Li, the greatest barrier to producing biofuels is from stubborn plant cell walls that resist being broken down into biofuel ingredients. Li is the lead author of a paper published in Plant Biotechnology Journal about North Carolina (NC) State’s Forest Biotechnology Group biofuel research progress. Cell walls contain desirable cellulose and hemicellulose, which is “covered up” with lignin, the substance that contributes to the strength of wood but gets in the way of biofuel production.

In the case of wood, the lignin must be removed and then the resulting cellulose is converted to ethanol. Production begins with an expensive pretreatment, followed by enzyme use to release the sugars that can be fermented to produce ethanol. Li and her team are focusing on simplifying the process in various ways.

NC State lignin researchNC State’s team has created genetically modified trees with reduced lignin content. “Normally when you reduce lignin, plant growth is negatively affected, which also reduces biomass production,” explained Li. “However, we now know that we can produce transgenic plants with strong cell walls and normal development but much less lignin.”

Fast-growing trees with high energy content could grow on marginal land without disrupting crop production. NC State has worked extensively with black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa). Forest Biotechnology Group researchers in the College of Natural Resources have developed engineering models that predict how 21 pathway enzymes affect lignin content and composition, providing the equivalent of GPS directions to guide future research.

This comprehensive approach, which involves genes, proteins, plant chemical compounds and mathematical models, fits into a systems biology perspective that’s the key to future breakthroughs, Li said. She added, “Progress has been made in many areas, but we still lack a complete understanding of how the cell wall is formed. We have to have a better idea of the factors that control its formation to produce better biomass for biofuels.”

advanced biofuels, biomass, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Research

GDA Commissions Geothermal Plant in Indonesia

Joanna Schroeder

Ulumbu geothermal power plantThe Ulumbu 2 x 2.5 MW Geothermal Power Plant, located in Indonesia, has been commissioned and is now providing base load power for the local grid. The project was designed and developed by Geothermal Development Associates (GDA) who also provided major equipment including the steam turbine generator sets. In addition, GDS manufactured auxiliary equipment packages to minimize installation time, including the lube oil system, turbine inlet control valve assembly, and the plant control system.

PT Rekadaya Elektrika (Rekadaya) of Indonesia served as the general contractor, responsible for construction of the plant. Throughout 2014, GDA engineers were on-site working closely with Rekadaya engineers and construction crews to erect the plant and subsequent commissioning and performance testing. PLN UIP XI-UPK 3 formally handed the power plant over to PLN Wilayah NTT in a Taking Over Ceremony on September 4, 2014.

PLN is Indonesia’s state owned electricity company with a total installed electric capacity of 34,205 MW as of December 2013, of which 568 MW (2%) were geothermal. The Ulumbu geothermal field is located 13 km to the south of Ruteng, the capital of Central Manggarai Regency, Flores Island, in the East Nusa Tenggara Province of Indonesia.

Geothermal, International, Renewable Energy

Latest School Fundraiser: Biodiesel

John Davis

biodiesel4schools1Tired of buying lop-sided candles or ugly wrapping paper just because you want to help your school make a few bucks? Well, maybe you can do like another school in North Carolina is doing in this story from WNCT-TV and sign up for the Biodiesel 4 Schools program, an initiative that helps school districts raise money by collecting cooking oil from local restaurants, and then selling the green fuel to businesses with school districts getting a cut of the profit.

Beaufort County Schools officially signed on with the Biodiesel 4 Schools program this month…

Pitt County was the pilot school for the program, and after seeing its success, Beaufort County wants in on it too.

“In some ways for us it’s like liquid gold for what it can bring in,” said Beaufort County superintendent Dr. Don Phipps. He hopes to put that gold towards technology in the classroom…

The program is just getting started in Beaufort County and the Green Circle NC Biodiesel 4 Schools representative says the next few weeks are all about recruiting restaurants and businesses with cafeterias.

“The local budget for schools is getting smaller and smaller every year, and this is the easiest way for people to give back,” said program representative, Ken Weeks.

Learn more about the program on the Biodiesel 4 Schools website.

Biodiesel

PERC Names Top Propane Autogas Green Fleet

Cindy Zimmerman

alpha-bakingChicago-based Alpha Baking Company received this year’s Propane Autogas Fleet award from the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) at the annual Green Fleet Conference & Expo in Schaumburg, Illinois this week.

The award honors one public or private fleet every year for leadership in sustainability by switching to clean, American-made propane autogas. Alpha Baking, a national bakery products distributor and home to the iconic S. Rosen’s brand, developed and implemented 22 Ford E-450 bread delivery trucks in 2012 with the help of Roush CleanTech.

“Alpha Baking’s primary reason for adopting propane autogas was because it was the right thing to do. Propane autogas reduces harmful emissions, it’s made in the U.S., it reduces our dependency on foreign oil, it’s efficient, and it keeps our communities clean,” said Bob McGuire, Alpha Baking’s vice president and director of logistics, who accepted the award during the Green Fleet Awards ceremony. “Choosing vehicles that run on American-made propane autogas has also allowed us to lower fuel costs without sacrificing performance.”

Hear more about Alpha Baking’s experience with propane autogas in PERC’s latest Straight Talk video at propanestraighttalk.com.

automotive, PERC, Propane

Virginia to Get New Enymatic Biodiesel Refinery

John Davis

virginiaflagVirginia will soon be home to a new enzymatic biodiesel production facility. In this news release from Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s office, Appalachian Biofuels LLC says it will invest $3.5 million in the new production facility that will process multiple waste feedstock material and refine it using an enzyme, developed and manufactured in Haifa, Israel, to produce biodiesel.

“We were introduced to Southwest Virginia and to this new ‘immobilized enzyme’ through the Virginia Israel Advisory Board and its Director, Ralph Robbins,” said Chuck Lessin, President and CEO of Appalachian Biofuels LLC. “This revolutionary process will allow us to use the many tools, information and human resources that the Commonwealth has available. We are proud to be hiring former coal miners in the region who will transfer their significant experience in mining energy underground to our new green energy above ground in beautiful Russell County. We are excited to call Virginia our home, and we hope to grow and expand our business here in Southwest.”

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “The addition of a new company and job creator in Russell County is tremendous for a region that has been hard hit by economic loss. Appalachian Biofuels has the advantage of locating its headquarters and center of operations in a formerly vacant facility that can be retrofitted to meet its needs, allowing for quick start-up to production. This green energy company processes multiple waste feedstock material and refines it to produce biofuel to be blended with petroleum diesel fuel as mandated by the federal government. My recently released Virginia Energy Plan aims to catalyze the growth of green energy companies in the Commonwealth, and we are proud that Appalachian Biofuels will produce this alternative fuel right here in Virginia. Jobs in the energy industry aid in our efforts to build a new Virginia economy with diverse opportunities for growth, and we look forward to the company’s success in the Commonwealth.”

McAuliffe approved a $200,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Russell County with the project. Another $210,000 for the project came from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission.

No timetable was given for when it might open.

Biodiesel

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFExtensive government support and wind turbine technology modernization will assist the continued growth of Denmark’s cumulative offshore wind power installed capacity, from 1.27 Gigawatts (GW) in 2013 to 2.24 GW by 2020, according to research and consulting firm GlobalData. The report states that Denmark, excluding Greenland, is one of the leading wind power markets in the world. The country’s cumulative offshore installed capacity witnessed an increase from 0.42 GW in 2006 to 1.27 GW in 2013, at an impressive Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 17%.
  • Marking the two year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, Clean Energy Group has released a paper about new financing options for the installation of resilient power projects. Resilient power technologies, such as solar PV with energy storage, could ensure against the devastating consequences of power outages from future disasters. “Financing for Clean, Resilient Power Solutions,” provides an overview of several clean energy finance strategies for low-cost, long-term financing of resilient, clean-energy technologies.
  • Speaking in Singapore on Wednesday, Hanergy Holding Group Chairman and CEO Li Hejun lauded the island country’s sustained commitment to clean energy development. The English version of Li Hejun’s first book, China’s New Energy Revolution, is now available. The book describes how new energy, led by thin-film solar, will revolutionize the way China and the rest of the world generate power.
  • Hertz and Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Company announced the completion of two solar power installations at Hertz Rent-a-Car facilities at Denver International and St. Louis International Airports. Additionally, solar installations are underway at Hertz’s Newark Liberty International Airport, to be completed later this year, and construction at Hertz’s John F. Kennedy Airport location is planned to start in 2015. Once completed, the total installed solar capacity at the four Hertz airport locations will reach 1 megawatt of clean energy which will used to power Hertz customer service areas and other nearby Hertz buildings.
Bioenergy Bytes