Increasing Ethanol Plant Throughput

Cindy Zimmerman

ace14-enogen-lopezSyngenta’s Enogen corn trait technology is the first genetically modified output trait in corn specifically for the ethanol industry and in the past two years since it has been released the industry has seen increasing adoption.

“We’re a new product that’s been adopted by 6-8 plants already,” said Paul Lopez with Syngenta who gave a break out session at the American Coalition for Ethanol conference on how Enogen is helping plants increase throughput. Giving the presentation with him was Tory Kort with Chief Ethanol Fuels in Nebraska, which uses Enogen corn, who shared the results they have seen. “Our enzyme is pretty unique in terms of how it works … it really reduces starches down, making more sugars available, increasing the plant’s efficiencies, so increasing yield and increasing throughput,” added Lopez.

The first plant to adopt Enogen was Quad County Corn Processors, which produced the first gallons of cellulosic ethanol just last month. “They’ve been using our product for two years now,” said Lopez. “This is a win-win. The ethanol plant wins, the local grower wins, the local community wins.”Interview with Paul Lopez, Syngenta Enogen

27th Annual Ethanol Conference photo album

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Audio, Cellulosic, corn, Enogen, enzymes, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Syngenta

Urban Air Initiative Update at ACE

Cindy Zimmerman

ace14-uaiThe Urban Air Initiative (UAI) is a non-profit organizations dedicated to improving the quality of motor fuels to improve air quality and enhance public health, especially in urban areas.

UAI is building a diverse coalition of stakeholders to work on replacing harmful aromatic compounds in gasoline with safer alternatives, like ethanol. At the American Coalition for Ethanol conference last week, UAI’s Steve Vander Grind (left) and attorney Todd Palmer with Michael Best and Friedrich provided an update on the organization’s plans and how they hope to grower domestic use of ethanol.

Urban Air Initiative Update

27th Annual Ethanol Conference photo album

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Ethanol, Ethanol News

RFS Update from EPA at ACE Meeting

Cindy Zimmerman

ace14-epaEnvironmental Protection Agency official Paul Machiele visited the American Coalition for Ethanol conference this week in Minneapolis to discuss various issues, including plans for the 2014 volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Machiele, who is director for Fuel Programs in EPA’s Assessment and Standards Division, said they understand the rule is very important and they are working very hard to get it finalized as soon as possible. “I can’t say when it’s going to come out because that will depend in a large part on the review time when it gets into the interagency review process,” he said. “That review can take anywhere from 30-90 days,” he continued, saying he hopes it will be expedited.

“We were blessed with 300,000 comments on this rule-making and not only do we have to finalize the rule-making but we have to respond to the comments that we receive,” said Machiele, adding that his staff is working on that project right now.

As it stands, Machiele says EPA has extended the compliance deadline for obligated parties so “they know what the standards will be for 2014 before they make their final decisions on buying, selling, trading, holding RINs for 2013.” Meanwhile, he acknowledged that the 2015 standards should already be proposed by now, but they expect to get that done shortly after the 2014 rule is finalized and “hoping that we can move that to final rule a little faster.”

Machiele also discussed final rules for new pathways, cellulosic feedstocks, and RINs, as well as Tier 3 regulations, and frankly answered several questions from producers at the conference. Comments from Paul Machiele, EPA

27th Annual Ethanol Conference photo album

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Audio, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFS, RINS

Ethanol at the Buffalo Chip

Cindy Zimmerman

rfa-sturgis-14-woodyEvery year that the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has been a sponsor at the Buffalo Chip Campground for the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally we get the chance to visit with founder and president of The Chip Rod “Woody” Woodruff, and this year was no exception.

Woody is a laid back guy who founded the campground 33 years ago so people would have a place to stay and visit for the rally, at a time when some people in Sturgis wanted to get the bikers out of town. “So, a small group of us decided to look for a place to have a party outside of town,” he said. “This property kind of fit the bill.” After that, the party site grew into a campground and concert venue where thousands of rally attendees gather every year.

A few years ago, when RFA wanted to reach bikers with the positive message of ethanol, they decided to become a major sponsor at The Chip and Woody says it’s been great, especially when RFA started Free Fuel Happy Hours three years ago. “I have two motorcycles and I don’t know that I’ve ever used anything but ethanol (blended fuel),” he said. “There’s continuing to be more acceptance in using ethanol in your bike… and I don’t know why not. It’s higher octane than regular and less expensive. A cheap guy like me who gets a better product for less money, that’s my kind of tea.”

Listen to Leah’s interview with Woody here: Interview with Rod Woodruff, Buffalo Chip Campground

2014 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Motorcycle, RFA, Sturgis

Future for Ethanol Blends

Cindy Zimmerman

ace14-lambertyGetting higher blends of ethanol in the marketplace continues to be frustrating, even with the approval of E15 (15% ethanol).

The biggest problem continues to be roadblocks by oil companies, according to American Coalition for Ethanol Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty, who compared the sale and use of E15 to premium gasoline. “If you total (all the) vehicles that could use E15, we’re closing in on 15 million vehicles,” said Lamberty, which is 20% of the vehicles on the road. In contrast, about 12% of total cars are supposed to use premium gas, according to their owners manuals, but only 3% of the gas sold is premium. “Oil companies demand that marketers put premium in their stations … oil companies ban E15 sales,” said Lamberty. Ron Lamberty, ACE Senior VP

ace14-drakeFollowing Lamberty at the ACE annual conference this week, Dean Drake of the DeFour Group talked about the next chapter for ethanol blend fuels.

Drake, who spent 34 years with General Motors, says increasing ethanol blends will require significant cooperation between automakers, government, and the ethanol industry. “Neither oil nor ethanol by themselves are a perfect transportation fuel, largely because of octane,” said Drake. “Gasoline is the king when it comes to energy density, but it also has a fairly low octane rating. Ethanol, while having less energy, has a very high octane rating.”

He talked about the potential for what he calls “eco-performance” fuels. “What we’re talking about here is a fuel that would be widely available that would allow auto manufacturers to build advanced vehicles,” he said.

Learn more here: Dean Drake, DeFour Group

27th Annual Ethanol Conference photo album

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Audio, automotive, blends, Car Makers, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Volkswagen Focuses on Ultra-Low-Carbon Mobility

Joanna Schroeder

Volkswagen of America, Inc. is continuing to roll out plans for its holistic approach to e-mobility. Beginning with the launch of the zero-tailpipe emissions 2015 e-Golf model later this year, Volkswagen will invest in carbon reduction projects to offset emissions created from e-Golf production, distribution and up to approximately 36,000 miles of driving. Volkswagen also named SunPower as the official solar energy partner power provider. Volkswagen believes they will be one of the first high-volume manufacturers to deliver a truly holistic approach to ultra-low-carbon mobility.

volkswagen-egolf-charging-620To help determine its carbon offset projects, Volkswagen has teamed with 3Degrees, a renewable energy and carbon offset services provider. By investing in carbon reduction programs, Volkswagen said they will offset the e-Golf’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that result from its production, distribution and from the estimated emissions produced from keeping the vehicle charged through the initial 36,000 miles of the vehicle’s life. Volkswagen of America chose to include carbon reduction efforts in California and in Texas with projects geared towards forestry conservation and landfill gas capture.

“Volkswagen feels it is important to look beyond the benefits of driving a vehicle without tailpipe emissions and to take a holistic approach to e-mobility,” said Oliver Schmidt, general manager, Environment and Engineering Office, Volkswagen Group of America. “We now have the ability to offer offsets that approximate the emissions created from production, distribution and the initial 36,000 miles of use.”

Volkswagen-supported projects included the Garcia River Conservation-Based Forest Management Project, located in Mendocino County, Calif., to protects and preserves a 24,000-acre native redwood forest, increasing carbon sequestration and storage, while also helping to restore the natural wildlife habitat. The company is also supporting the Big River and Salmon Creek Forests, located in Mendocino County, California, and the McKinney Landfill project, based at a closed landfill in McKinney, Texas.

“Volkswagen is showing leadership by including carbon offsets standard with this e-Golf electric vehicle,” added Steve McDougal, President of 3Degrees. “As more people choose low and no emission cars, Volkswagen is making it possible – and easy – to think comprehensively about the greenhouse gas emissions profile of a vehicle.”

Alternative energy, Alternative Vehicles, Car Makers, Carbon, Solar

Cathay Pacific Airlines Invests with Fulcrum BioEnergy

Joanna Schroeder

Cathay Pacific Airways is the first airline investor in Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inc. The investments was made as part of the airline’s biofuel strategy and to help it achieve a target of carbon-neutral growth from 2020. Fulcrum is focused on the development and commercialization of converting municipal solid waste into sustainable aviation fuel or “biojet fuel”. Cathay Pacific also has an option for further investment.

“We are very pleased to become the first airline investor in this sustainable biofuel developer. We are well aware of the impact the aviation industry has on the environment Cathay-Pacific-Logoand have been doing a great deal to minimize our own impact,” said Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Ivan Chu. “We are pleased to have identified Fulcrum as a strategic business partner that has the necessary vision and technological know-how to help Cathay Pacific pursue the use of biojet fuels. These fuels are an important component of our sustainable development strategy, under which we aim to achieve carbon-neutral growth from 2020.”

Cathay Pacific has also negotiated a long-term supply agreement with Fulcrum for an initial 375 million U.S. gallons of sustainable aviation fuel over 10 years (representing on an annual basis approximately 2% of the airline’s current fuel consumption) that meets all the airline’s technical requirements and specifications. Fulcrum plans to commence construction of its first commercial plant later this year and to build large scale, waste-to-renewable jet fuel plants at multiple locations, including locations strategic to the Cathay Pacific network, primarily in North America.

Cathay Pacific Biofuel Manager Jeff Ovens said of their technology, “Fulcrum has successfully demonstrated a process of converting municipal solid waste feedstock into sustainable aviation fuel at its scale demonstration facility. The feedstock will be pre-sorted to remove any recyclables prior to being processed into fuels. The company has proved that its technology is viable and has supply commitments in place for feedstock needed for the fuel production. These supply commitments will cover both near-term and future developments.”

According to Jim Macias, CEO of Fulcrum BioEnergy, jet fuel produced by Fulcrum’s waste-to-fuels process will reduce lifecycle carbon emissions when used in aircraft or road Fulcrum logotransport by more than 80 percent when compared to traditional fuels derived from crude oil and other fossil sources. This process also reduces the amount of municipal solid waste going into landfill sites and the methane gas emissions that result from this. If not captured, methane gas is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a global warming contributor.

“We value our strategic relationship with Cathay Pacific, one of the world’s premier airlines. Cathay Pacific shares our vision and plan to bring a whole new source of sustainable fuel to the airline industry,” added Macias. “A new fuel that has the exact same molecules as fossil fuel but is cleaner, lower in carbon, renewable and lower cost than traditional fossil fuels. Cathay Pacific is really stepping up to help accelerate deliveries of this fuel to the market. This relationship adds to Fulcrum’s existing feedstock, technology and fuel off-take partners that enhance Fulcrum’s low-cost business model for the production and sale of large volumes of low-carbon, jet fuel.”

advanced biofuels, aviation biofuels, biojet fuel

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFScottMadden, Inc. has joined forces with Energy Central to present an interactive webinar, “State of the Energy Industry: A Mid-Year Review,” on Friday, August 22, 2014, from 12:00–1:00 PM EDT. This free webcast will be based on ScottMadden’s upcoming Energy Industry Update, a semi-annual publication featuring their view of recent significant events and emerging trends that is received by more than 10,000 industry leaders. During this 60-minute webcast, ScottMadden industry experts will share their views on renewables, fossil generation, and transmission and field questions.
  • As students across Georgia return to the classroom this month, Georgia Power’s Learning Power program will go back to school as well. Learning Power is a statewide education initiative focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects. The initiative is designed to bring energy education to the classrooms for students at no cost to schools. Through the program, education coordinators visit Georgia schools to present special hands-on STEM-related lessons highlighting energy basics such as simple circuits and energy efficiency, plus activities that help students understand how energy is made and distributed from generation facilities to their homes.
  • FirstEnergy Corp. is offering education grants for creative classroom projects planned for the 2014-2015 school year. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Classroom Grants of up to $500 will be awarded for teacher professional-development initiatives and creative, individual classroom projects for grades prekindergarten through 12. The grants are available to educators and youth group leaders located in communities served by FirstEnergy’s 10 electric operating companies, and in communities where the company has facilities or does business. STEM grant applications must be submitted by September 19, 2014. Grants will be awarded based on the recommendations of the FirstEnergy Education Advisory Council. Winners will be notified by October 13, 2014.
  • Sunnova Energy Corporation has today it has secured an additional $110 million in financing specifically allocated to support the growth of its solar service offering to homeowners and promote strategic market expansion. The $110 million joins the previously announced $145 million to facilitate an increase in new customers.
Bioenergy Bytes

WBIA to Host Free Ethanol Webinar

Joanna Schroeder

The Wisconsin Bio Industry Alliance (WBIA) is hosting a free webinar on Google Hangouts August 12, 2014 at 2:00 pm EST to discuss the results of their ethanol poll. Recently, the WCGA released a poll showing Wisconsin citizens favor the use of ethanol in fuel by a 2 to 1 margin. Sixty percent of individuals support blending ethanol into gasoline versus only 32 percent who oppose.

WBIA logo“Less than one third (32%) of participants were unsupportive of ethanol blends in their fuel,” said Joshua Morby, executive director of the Wisconsin Bio Industry Alliance. “Clearly the public understands what Big Oil is doing their best to cover up and ignore: Ethanol is cleaner-burning, efficient, and homegrown right here in Wisconsin.”

The webinar will include a detailed analysis of the responses from WBIA and WCGA representatives. The webinar will be available as a live YouTube stream through Google Hangouts. Viewers can post comments and ask questions before, during, and after the webinar.

Education, Ethanol

Audi Moves to Improve EV Owner Experience

Joanna Schroeder

A3-sportback-etron-exterior-08Audi of America has announced the launch of a new program: Audi energy. The program is designed to improve the electric vehicle ownership experience as well as reduce the carbon footprint that comes with vehicle production, distribution and driving. Ultimately, the program will produce a new plug in hybrid vehicle – the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron – estimated to be available in the U.S. in mid 2015.

The program has three elements associated with the A3 e-etron:

  • At-home Audi-designed Level 2 charging developed with Bosch Automotive Service Solutions;
  • Audi will purchase carbon offset certificates in California and Africa to offset GHG emissions; and
  • Sunpower will provide optional home solar power system for Audi owners including a new home energy storage solution to capture additional solar energy.

“The Audi A3 Sportback e-tron will offer drivers an eco-conscious vehicle ownership experience,” said Wayne Killen, General Manager, Product Strategy and Launch. “Audi energy takes this to the next level with solutions that allow for sustainable fuel driving and a lower carbon footprint. We believe this will be one of the most comprehensive offering in the industry today.”

Alternative energy, Alternative Vehicles, automotive, Electric Vehicles, Solar