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

American Ethanol Driver Picks Up Trophy at Pocono

John Davis

dillon1Ethanol-powered engines and sponsorship helped a young NASCAR driver to a recent win and could propel him to rookie of the year honor’s in NASCAR’s top division. According to the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), American Ethanol spokesman Austin Dillon picked up a trophy at Pocono in the Camping World Truck Series this past weekend and has himself racing for a slot in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Championship.

The feat accomplished three things: it reminded people how the rising race star got to be the truck champion in 2010; the win in a Chevy truck ended Toyota’s 12-race winning streak in the series; and it showcased American Ethanol, which was displayed on the side of his truck. Dillon scored his sixth career Truck Series win by surviving a green-white-checkered finish.

Ethanol supporters behind American Ethanol hitched a ride with Dillon three years ago as we he was just emerging as a household name in the sport. The move has proven to be a good one, with Dillon moving through the ranks of NASCAR’s finest, first winning the truck series in 2010, capturing the intermediate Nationwide title last year, and now vying for Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year honors.

Some experts say this year’s competition has been the best in a decade, as Dillon and fellow rookie Kyle Larson have been battling for one of the 16 spots in the race for the chase where the Sprint Cup Champion will be determined.

American Ethanol, corn, Ethanol, NASCAR, NCGA

Motorcycles Fill up on Free E10 at Sturgis

Cindy Zimmerman

rfa-sturgis14-fuelThe third annual “Free Fuel Happy Hours” sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association at the Buffalo Chip Campground for the Sturgis Motorcyle Rally was once again a rousing success.

“Obviously everyone has a motorcycle here, but they also have other engines at home, whether it be car, truck, SUV, lawnmower, you name it,” said RFA Director of Market Development Robert White. “The point is we want to talk to them about ethanol and make sure all their questions are answered.”

rfa-sturgis14-whiteWhite says they offered free 10% ethanol blended fuel for a total of nine hours this week over three days, allowing bikers to fill up, get a free Ethanol Fueled With Pride t-shirt, and get their questions about ethanol answered. “We even have people who don’t fuel up because their tank’s already full, but they stop by and talk to us,” White added.

RFA has had a presence at Sturgis for six years now, with the last three offering the free fill ups, and White says word has definitely spread. “They were talking about it on the radio, there’s banners and announcements throughout the campground, and a lot of people say their neighbor camping told them about it,” he said.

White says talking one on one with people allows them to correct lots of misinformation about ethanol out there. “This fuel has been proven for well over 30 years,” he said. “Every engine here in the United States has been built for it, its warranty is covered, and we’re just here to explain the details.”

Listen to Robert talk with Domestic Fuel reporter Leah Guffey who was at the rally this year: Interview with Robert White, RFA, at 2014 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

See all the photos from the rally and RFA’s involvement in the 2014 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Motorcycle, RFA, Sturgis

Export Opportunities for Ethanol and DDGs

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. exports of ethanol totaled 59.9 million gallons (mg) in June, up 13% from the seven-month low in May, according to a Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) analysis of government data, and the opportunities are expanding.

ace14-geneThat was the topic for the last session at the American Coalition for Ethanol conference this week in Minneapolis and one of the speakers was Gene Griffith of Patriot Renewable Fuels in Annawan, Illinois.

“U.S. ethanol is the cheapest motor fuel in the world, it’s needed and it can be blended in any country for clean air,” said Griffith, noting that the industry will continue to grow and produce more than we need in the country. “We must develop these worldwide markets. It’s not just Brazil, it’s not just the United States, there’s a lot of countries around the world that need our DDGs and our low cost, clean burning fuel.”

Listen to Gene explain in detail here: Gene Griffith, Patriot Holdings, on ethanol exports

ace14-chsClayton Haupt with CHS Renewable Fuels Marketing discussed China import issues with distillers grains, noting that the game has changed considerably since he was asked to do this talk in June.

“July 24, it was announced you have to have a government stamp that has to say (DDGS imports are) clean of all GMO traits not approved in China,” said Haupt, noting that the U.S. Grains Council responded that simply cannot be done. “You’re kind of put in an environment today that you’re probably not going into China.”

Listen to Haupt’s presentation here: Clayton Haupt, CHS Renewable Fuels Marketing

ace14-ecoenergyLastly, Chad Martin with Eco-Energy wrapped up with an overall look at export markets.

“Ethanol demand is no longer driven solely by the U.S. blender,” said Martin. “That’s obviously a good thing but it comes with some complexities in terms of import quotas, different specs, different market factors to be considered…things our industry has never really had to focus on until we started exporting both distillers grains and ethanol.” Chad Martin, Eco-Energy

27th Annual Ethanol Conference photo album

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Audio, Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, RFA

Hawaii Funds BioTork Advanced Biofuel Technology

Joanna Schroeder

The Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance is now authorized to issue special purpose revenue bonds not exceeding $50,000,000 for the purpose of planning, permitting, designing, construction, equipping, and operating BioTork Hawaii LLC’s commercial facilities. Recently, the state passed legislation to assist in funding a zero waste project that converts crops, crop residues, dedicated energy crops and ag waste into sustainable biofuels and co-products.

According to BioTork, their bioconversion development efforts in Hawaii date back to 2010 when it began research of its technology. The company uses a “proprietary evolutionary optimization approach,” and “enhances the performance of non-GMO microorganisms under real-world industrial conditions in an unrivaled cost efficient way”. The conversion process takes a few days to cycle in a heterotrophic environment, meaning no sunlight is needed, to create oil for biofuel and high-protein feed.

bioTork“The passage of this legislation greatly enhances BioTork’s efforts in Hawaii. It demonstrates the attractiveness and the potential of our technology, which is focused on the bioconversion of agricultural waste, into a higher value product,” said Eudes de Crecy, CEO of BioTork.

Basing its efforts on the requirements of the “Hawaii Zero Waste Program,” BioTork entered into collaboration with the Daniel K. Inouye Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center. Since that time Hawaii committed $4,800,000 in research, development and capital improvement funding through a contract with DKI-PBARC to focus on BioTork’s evolution technology. Some of these funds have been committed through the state’s barrel tax allocations, which target energy and food security initiatives. Other funds have been appropriated through legislative capital improvement program allocations.

“At BioTork we firmly believe that in many circumstances there is much more value in converting carbon rich organic biomass into high value products, than just burning it, burying it or using it as fertilizer in the field. The model we pursue is to breed the good microbe candidates to specifically address the locally available biomass sources, using natural methods and to create much more value to the local and global economy,” added Tom Lyons, CSO of BioTork.

With the additional support of special purpose revenue bond funding, BioTork Hawaii LLC will be able to fuel the third step of its development program. This would involve scaling up to build and operate commercial facilities that will have the capacity to convert agricultural crops and by-products such as albizia, sweet potatoes, papaya, sugarcane bagasse, glycerol and molasses to biofuels and high-protein feed.

advanced biofuels, biochemicals, biomaterials, Renewable Energy

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFThe 6th Annual OPIS RFS2, RINs & Biodiesel Forum is being held October 16-17, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. Sponsored by OPIS, the company notes those impacted by the RFS are frustrated with EPA’s recent announcement of extending the 2013 RFS deadline a third time — this only adds to the aggravation of the already late 2014 final targets. The event will teach attendees what they need to know to stay in compliance and avoid fines of up to $37,500 per day per violation from our top experts. Other topics include comprehending the complexities of EPA’s new QAP program, staying on top of the latest RVOs and creating a rock-solid compliance strategy.
  • Bond Dickinson’s Planning & Infrastructure team has advised on two successful offshore wind farm consents this summer, the latest of which represents its sixth Development Consent Order. The firm advised E.ON Climate & Renewables on the development of the Rampion offshore wind farm off the Sussex coast together with the underground onshore cable route and a new substation near the existing substation at Bolney, Mid Sussex. The development was granted consent to go ahead on July 16, 2014 by Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. This follows the consent granted for East Anglia ONE in June, the first of Bond Dickinson’s successful offshore wind farm consents this summer.
  • Lumos Solar, a Boulder, Colorado based design-centric solar product company, has announced that TD Bank has chosen Lumos LSX frameless solar modules to cover their retail drive-thru structures. These structures provide essential shade and protection from the elements for bank customers as well as producing clean, renewable energy, helping TD Bank meet their sustainability goals.
  • ContourGlobal, an international power generation company, has announced that it has acquired an additional 122.6 MW of installed wind capacity in Brazil through a transaction with Casa dos Ventos. The transaction expands ContourGlobal’s operations in the attractive Chapada do Piaui wind complex located in Brazil’s windy northeast adding a new 59.2 MW fully contracted wind project (Chapada III) located adjacent to its existing Chapada I and Chapada II wind farms. Additionally, ContourGlobal has acquired Casa dos Ventos’s minority interest of 5% in Chapada II and will acquire its minority interest of 15% of Chapada I as well as its minority interest of 15% in the 160 MW Asa Branca wind farm that ContourGlobal placed into operation in September 2013.
Bioenergy Bytes

Boeing & SAA Collborate on BioJet Fuel From Tobacco

Joanna Schroeder

Boeing, South African Airways (SAA) and SkyNRG are partnering together to develop aviation biofuel from a specific type of tobacco plant. SkyNRG is currently expanding its production of Solaris, an energy crop hybrid derived from the tobacco plant. Pilot farming of the plant, which is effectively nicotine-free, is underway in South Africa with to end goal of producing advanced biojet fuel from the seeds. As the program expands, Boeing expects emerging technologies to increase South Africa’s aviation biofuel production from the rest of the plant.

The project is an effort to expand the support of South Africa’s goals for improved public health along with economic and rural development.

Tobacco Photos“It’s an honor for Boeing to work with South African Airways on a pioneering project to make sustainable jet fuel from an energy-rich tobacco plant,” said J. Miguel Santos, managing director for Africa, Boeing International. “South Africa is leading efforts to commercialize a valuable new source of biofuel that can further reduce aviation’s environmental footprint and advance the region’s economy.”

In October 2013, Boeing and SAA agreed they would work together to develop a sustainable aviation biofuel supply chain in Southern Africa. As part of that effort, they are working with the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials to position farmers with small plots of land to grow biofuel feedstocks that provide socioeconomic value to communities without harming food supplies, fresh water or land use.

Ian Cruickshank, South African Airways Group Environmental Affairs Specialist said of the expanded project, “By using hybrid tobacco, we can leverage knowledge of tobacco growers in South Africa to grow a marketable biofuel crop without encouraging smoking. This is another way that SAA and Boeing are driving development of sustainable biofuel while enhancing our region’s economic opportunity.”

“We strongly believe in the potential of successfully rolling out Solaris in the Southern African region to power sustainable fuels that are also affordable,” added Maarten van Dijk, Chief Technology Officer, SkyNRG.

advanced biofuels, aviation biofuels, biojet fuel, International, Renewable Energy

Getting Farm News You Can Use

Jamie Johansen

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “I prefer to get my farm news from:”

I am sure many of the younger generation feel real magazines and radio are a little out dated, but it is clear that they still serve a purpose when it comes to getting news that is relevant to our industry. Computers seem to easily take the the lead when it comes to a resource for farm news. Do you think we will see the day when computers seem dated? I might still be considered the ‘younger generation’ but I would rather listen to the radio any day.

Here are the poll results:

  • Magazine – 14%
  • Mobile Phone – 24%
  • Radio – 15%
  • Tablet – 10%
  • Computer – 34%
  • Other – 3%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, What’s your favorite way to eat peanut butter?

Peanut butter is quite diverse making it a staple in many households. I personally prefer a peanut butter cookie over anything else. Chuck and Cindy have covered the Southern Peanut Growers Conference for seven years. The three-day event provides farmers an opportunity to learn more about the industry and important issues. You can check out photos and audio from this years event here.

ZimmPoll

Algae, Power Tech Companies Collaborate for Biodiesel

John Davis

RAEA company in the algae business is teaming up with a giant in power technology to produce algae for biodiesel at a commercial level. Tennessee-based Renewable Algal Energy, LLC (RAE) and Swiss-based ABB, a leader in power and automation technology, will collaborate to use ABB’s technology for control and efficiency of algae harvesting and conversion process.

“We are honored that ABB has selected to work with RAE in the development of infrastructure for RAE’s unique technology in complete integrated algal production systems,” stated Jeffrey S. Kanel, Ph.D. and CEO of RAE. “To have the global leader in power and automation technologies as a strategic partner is a huge endorsement of RAE’s ability to commercialize our technology in the creation of sustainable algal products.”

RAE will produce the equipment that harvest and extract algae and its co-products, including oil, for renewable fuels, as well as proteins and carotenoids for animal feed and nutritional supplements. The scalable systems are designed for medium to large scale algae farms, up to 2,000 hectares (10,000 square meters). ABB will supply 800xA control systems, instrumentation, low voltage electrical equipment and variable speed drives that will help those integrated algal production systems operate efficiently and reliably. In addition to process control, 800xA provides remote access to the base control room on each algae farm, so that multiple locations can be viewed and managed by one operator. The variable speed drives help the pumps and motors operate at their peak energy efficiency, using up to 10% less electricity.

Officials from both companies say this will make the harvesting of oil from algae, as well as other products for nutraceuticals and animal nutrition, a much more efficient process, one of the biggest hurdles algae growers have faced in trying to make algae oil commercially viable for biodiesel production.

algae, Biodiesel

Florida Biodiesel Brings Green Fuel to Africa

John Davis

Florida-Biodiesel1Biodiesel-brewing equipment maker Florida Biodiesel, Inc. is sending another one of its biodiesel processors to Africa. Back in April, we told you about the company’s B-500 biodiesel plant was sold to the Lorymat Corporation in the Ivory Coast. Now, Florida Biodiesel has sold a B-60 biodiesel plant sale to Avandith Energy in Lagos, Nigeria.

Avandith Energy has chosen the B-60 Biodiesel processor for their pilot transesterification facility. The B-60 Biodiesel plant is economical to operate and will allow Avandith Energy to safely produce 4 batches of Biodiesel each 24 hours. The B-60 will also be used as a hands-on educational tool to show students and government agencies how to make renewable energy. “We will process Jatropha oil collected locally into Biodiesel fuel,” says Oladunjoye Waleola, of Avandith Energy. “The B-60 is very user friendly, has a low carbon footprint, and will economically produce Biodiesel for us.”

Florida Biodiesel has been producing biodiesel making equipment since 2006 and touts its safety external heat exchanger, cyclonic mixer, methanol recovery module, and the AUTOBIO biodiesel plant automation system technologies.

Biodiesel, International