EPA Announces People, Prosperity, Planet Winners

Joanna Schroeder

Seven winners of the People, Prosperity and Planet (P3) competition were announced as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 10th annual National Sustainable Design Expo recently held in Washington, D.C. The phase II awards are for innovative and sustainable designs created to help solve today’s environmental problems.

USA Science and Engineering Festival“As we mark the 10th year of the National Sustainable Design Expo and P3 competition, we continue to be inspired by the next generation of scientists and engineers shaping the future of our country,” said Bob Perciasepe, U.S. EPA Deputy Administrator. “These students support a vision for the future that encourages a prosperous economy while seeking sustainable and creative solutions to some of the most pressing environmental and health challenges facing our world.”

EPA’s P3 Program challenges student teams to create designs for a sustainable future while offering quality hands-on experience that brings science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) classroom learning to life. This year’s winners were selected from 35 competing teams following two days of judging by a panel of national experts convened by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Each award-winning team is recommended for a grant of up to $90,000 to further develop their design, apply it to real world situations, and bring it to the marketplace.

Winners of this year’s awards are:

  • Cornell University, New York, for designing a low-cost monitor for measuring water quality.
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida, for designing an innovative air conditioning system that runs on solar power.
  • Iowa State University for designing a new kind of fabric made with fibers from bacteria and yeast grown in tea and polymers of corn and soy.
  • Purdue University, Indiana, for researching how to improve indoor air quality by using plants grown in the air filter of a home HVAC system.
  • SUNY Stony Brook, New York, for designing and building Poseidon, an ocean energy harvester that converts wave motion into electrical energy.
  • University of Tennessee, Knoxville, for exploring ways to use green oak or “heart centers,” the low-quality part of hardwood logs in U.S. building construction.
  • University of Wisconsin, Madison, for implementing a campus recycling program for expanded polystyrene packaging thereby diverting almost 2000 boxes and other polystyrene material from landfills in 6 months of operation.

In addition to the seven winning team, 17 teams were recognized as Honorable Mentions for their project quality inspiring innovation for environmental solutions.

bioenergy, biomaterials, Environment, Renewable Energy

EPA and USDA Dispute Corn Stover Study

Cindy Zimmerman

Two federal agencies joined the biofuels industry last week in seriously questioning the results of a University of Nebraska study that claims negative greenhouse gas emissions impacts in using corn stover for ethanol production.

corn_stover03 Photo: USDOE-NRELA statement by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman Liz Purchia about the report noted problems with “hypothetical assumption that 100 percent of corn stover in a field is harvested” which she calls “an extremely unlikely scenario that is inconsistent with recommended agricultural practices. As such, it does not provide useful information relevant to the lifecycle GHG emissions from corn stover ethanol. EPA’s lifecycle analysis assumes up to 50 percent corn stover harvest. EPA selected this assumption based on data in the literature and in consultation with agronomy experts at USDA to reflect current agricultural practices.”

During a forum on climate change right after the study hit the headlines last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also pointed out that it is based on a false premise. “The study started with an assumption about the way corn stover would be removed from the land. The problem with the assumption is no farmer in the country would actually take that much crop residue,” Vilsack said. “It’s not what’s happening on the ground. If you make the wrong assumption, you’re going to come up with the wrong conclusions.”

Work done by Dr. Douglas Karlen with the USDA Agricultural Research Service was cited several times in the UNL study. In response to questions from POET-DSM, which is using corn stover as feedstock at a plant in Iowa, Karlen said the study “makes unrealistic assumptions and uses citations out of context to reinforce the authors’ viewpoint.”

According to Dr. Karlen, the research fails to differentiate between responsible biomass removal and “excessive” biomass removal, projecting a removal rate of approximately 75% across the entire Corn Belt.

“Harvesting 75% of all corn stover produced in the 10 Corn Belt states is unrealistic, far greater than any projections made by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in their projections for developing a sustainable bioenergy industry, and would certainly result in the depletion of soil organic matter.”

biomass, Cellulosic, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, POET, USDA

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFMaximpact, a philanthropic, impact-investing network, invites new registrants in the impact and sustainability sectors to list projects. Each free listing directly connects users with partners and potential funders worldwide. Its definition of “impact” has broad appeal embracing CSR as well enabling philanthropists, investment funders, impact pioneers, and ecological and green technology businesses to meet and collaborate.
  • ReneSola Ltd. a technology provider of solar photovoltaic products, has announced it has appointed Mr. Daniel Lee as the Company’s chief financial officer, effective May 5, 2014.
  • Consumers Energy has resumed construction of its Cross Winds Energy Park in Tuscola County, Michigan and is looking for construction workers to complete the project. The project includes necessary maintenance, repair and upgrades to several area roads needed for transporting wind turbine components and other construction related materials. About 150 construction jobs will be created during Cross Winds construction. The facility will include 62 wind turbines, with a capacity of 105 megawatts when it begins generating renewable energy for Consumers Energy customers, scheduled for late 2014.
  • VIASPACE Inc. has announced that the company has signed a contract with Emunite Energy Solutions Inc., based in St. Lucia, West Indies, to provide Giant King Grass for its planned 100,000 ton per year pellet mill. Giant King Grass was delivered to Guyana and planted April 15-17, 2014.
Bioenergy Bytes

Springboard Biodiesel to Open Closed-Loop Facility

John Davis

springboardbiodieselSpringboard Biodiesel will open a new closed loop biodiesel production facility in Chico, Calif. on May 1. The company says the new production facility will produce and sell 1,000 gallons per day of ASTM-D6751 grade biodiesel.

Working in concert with the company’s used cooking oil (UCO) collection partner, Smart Alternative Fuels, based in Redding, CA., Springboard will be processing locally collected UCO into ASTM-grade biodiesel and thereby providing organizations in Butte County and its environs access to cleaner-burning, locally produced biodiesel.

Biodiesel is a global commodity that is increasingly used in fleets around the country, as fleet managers try to better manage their carbon emissions without expensive equipment changes. Springboard CEO, Mark Roberts, notes, “Using biodiesel made from UCO will reduce the driver’s CO2 emissions by as much as 90 percent, while simultaneously reducing particulate matter by 50 percent, and because we are able to price our biodiesel to compete with diesel, these are ‘free’ benefits of incorporating biodiesel into your fleet management logistics.”

The California Energy Commission (CEC) played a significant role in the development of this “first in the state” small-scale biodiesel production facility. The CEC awarded a grant through its Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology program to assist in the development with the intention that this facility will serve as a model to be replicated in other communities.

Springboard officials say their proprietary system can use a variety of feedstocks in an automated environment, producing high-quality fuel at competitive prices. Tours of the new facility will take place on May 1, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Biodiesel

Allliance Autogas Adds Two New Members

Joanna Schroeder

Alliance AutoGas has added two new members to its propane autogas conversion national network: Green Country Alternative Fuels based in Claremore, Oklahoma and Tornabene Alliance Autogas LogoAuto Sales and Service based in Pownal, Vermont. With a network of more than 90 members, Alliance Autogas installs propane refueling infrastructure, coordinates propane autogas vehicle conversions and provides vehicle maintenance support and training.

“It is of the highest importance that Alliance AutoGas provides a quality support network and keep the vehicles running on the road,” said Stuart Weidie, president of Alliance AutoGas.

Ty Burnett, Owner Green Country Alternative Fuels, Inc. said of joining the Alliance, “We are excited about starting a partnership with Alliance AutoGas. The wide range of vehicle applications and attention to quality and detail is very important to us. We feel this alliance will be very beneficial to our company as well as to our customers.”

Jody Tornabene, president of the family-owned retail and repair business Joe Tornabene’s Auto Sales and Service added, “We see this as the wave of the future and it’s a natural fit for our business to enter the alternative fuel conversion market. Propane is a great source of alternative fuel, as is about 35 percent cheaper and 60 percent cleaner than diesel and gasoline. Our garage has two bays that will be set up to complete the propane conversions and we are looking forward to providing new jobs in our region that is in need of an economy boost.”

Alternative Vehicles, Propane

Simplifying Pyrolysis for Bio-Oil Production

John Davis

pyrolysisoilU.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers are getting closer to developing a system that will help farmers make their own energy on the farm or produce biofuels for commercial purposes. This article from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) says scientists have found a way to simplify the pyrolysis processes for bio-oil.

These findings by ARS scientists Charles Mullen and Akwasi Boateng promote the USDA priority of finding new bioenergy sources.

Fast pyrolysis is the process of rapidly heating biomass from wood, plants and other carbon-based materials at high temperatures without oxygen. Using pyrolysis to break down tough feedstocks produces three things: biochar, a gas, and bio-oils that are refined to make “green” gasoline.

The bio-oils are high in oxygen, making them acidic and unstable, but the oxygen can be removed by adding catalysts during pyrolysis. Although this adds to production costs and complicates the process, the resulting bio-oil is more suitable for use in existing energy infrastructure systems as a “drop-in” transportation fuel that can be used as a substitute for conventional fuels.

The article goes on to point out that bio-oils made from oak and switchgrass by the new process had considerably higher energy content than those produced by conventional fast pyrolysis. Oak bio-oil’s energy content was about one-third higher and contained about two-thirds of the energy contained in gasoline. Switchgrass did even better with an energy content that was 42 percent higher, slightly less than three-fourths of the energy content of gasoline.

biofuels, Research, USDA

DuPont & Zhenfa to Partner On Solar Power

Joanna Schroeder

DuPont China Holding Co., Ltd. (DuPont) and Zhenfa New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (Zhenfa New Energy), have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to collaborate on improving the performance, reliability and return on investment of solar power installations. Under the agreement, both companies will cooperate in optimizing the selection of durable solar materials and technologies used in solar panels.

DuPont Zhenfa solar partnership“Solar energy is a clean and sustainable form of energy that we expect will become a greater part of the future energy mix,” said Zhenfa Zha, general manager, Zhenfa New Energy. “We are excited to collaborate with DuPont to employ quality solar materials and technology support to help maintain long-term power generation, operations management and cost optimization at our solar installations. This will ultimately benefit our customers with cheaper, cleaner electricity.”

All of the solar panels installed by Zhenfa will be manufactured with DuPont Tedlar polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) film-based backsheets, the only material, according to DuPont, proven to reliably protect solar panels for over 30 years, even under extreme environmental conditions. Both companies will work together to optimize solar energy power production and performance as well as conduct field research on panel reliability and failure modes in order to better understand materials’ critical impact on solar energy systems.

Chuck Xu, global business director, DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions said of the partnership, “We are delighted to expand our relationship with Zhenfa New Energy into a more strategic relationship that leverages advanced materials critical to the reliable, long-term performance of solar panels for their solar installations. DuPont continues to advance material science to improve the performance, reliability and return on investment in solar to help make it more competitive with other forms of electricity.”

International, Renewable Energy, Solar

Get a Piece of the Renewable Energy Funding Pie

Joanna Schroeder

Find Grant Funding Now coverProsperity Consulting, LLC has identified two grant programs from the Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) that could make significant investments in alternative forms of energy.

EERE has announced the Biological and Chemical Upgrading for Advanced Biofuels and Products Grant. The grant is focused on supporting production of the fuels from cellulosic sugars, lignocellulose derivatives, lignin, cellulosic alcohols, bio-solids and biogases. Awards range from $1 million to $3.5 million. Concept papers are due on May 1, 2014, and full proposals are due June 13, 2014.

The second grant program from EERE focuses on solar energy. The Solar Market Pathways Grant seeks to drive down solar energy costs and encourage a significant increase in solar deployment. The funding includes costs for planning and stakeholder meetings. Awards range from $1 million to $4 million. Concept papers are due on May 28, 2014, and full proposals are due July 3, 2014.

For companies, universities, communities and others interested in applying for these grants who are seeking assistance, Prosperity Consulting is available to assist. The company aids it clients in market research and feasibility study development as well as the development of strategic plans.

advanced biofuels, biofuels, Cellulosic, Renewable Energy, Solar

Renewable Energy Power Awards Announced

Joanna Schroeder

During a ceremony in San Francisco, California, winners of the inaugural Renewable Energy Power Awards were announced by Novogradac Journal of Tax Credits at the Novogradac Financing Renewable Energy Conference.

Burgess BioPower plant“We are pleased to congratulate the winners and honorable mentions of the inaugural Renewable Energy Power Awards for their exceptional work in bringing the benefits of renewable energy to communities across the country,” said Michael J. Novogradac, CPA and managing partner of Novogradac & Company LLP. “As the first recipients of the Renewable Energy Power Awards, our honorees have set high standards with the caliber of their work and I look forward to seeing other worthy projects recognized by these awards in the years to come.”

The Renewable Energy Power Awards were presented to development teams involved with effective and innovative renewable energy tax credit projects that created jobs, provided positive community impact and reduced energy footprints. Developments eligible for consideration used the federal renewable energy investment tax credit (ITC), the federal renewable energy production tax credit (PTC) and/or Section 1603 cash grant funds. Awardees were recognized in three categories:

  • Financial Innovation: Winner: Burgess BioPower LLC, projected developed by Cate Street Capital Inc.
  • Overcoming Obstacles: Winner: Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative Inc. and Town of Dennis Solar Project, developed by American Capital Energy Inc.
  • Small Community Project: Winner: Little Deschutes Lodge II, developed by Pacific Crest Affordable Housing LLC

The Novogradac Journal of Tax Credits provides news, analysis and commentary on the affordable housing, new markets, renewable energy and historic rehabilitation tax credit industries.

Clean Energy, Renewable Energy

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFAmigo Energy, subsidiary of Just Energy Group Inc. has announced a new promotion in recognition of Earth Day. The company has entered into a partnership with the bike sharing program, Houston B-cycle, a transportation alternative for people living in and visiting Houston. Launched April 21, customers who enroll for electricity in Amigo’s 100% renewable energy program will receive an annual membership to B-cycle.
  • Intersolar Europe will be taking place in Munich, June 4–6, 2014. The event will be kicked off with the launch of the Global Market Outlook for Photovoltaics 2014-2018 presented by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). Attendees will learn about current and future developments in the solar industry.
  • Alterra Power Corp. and Fiera Axium Infrastructure Inc. have completed a partnership agreement for the Jimmie Creek hydroelectric project. Under the agreement Alterra will own 51% of the project and Fiera Axium Infrastructure Canada II LP will own 49%. The Jimmie Creek project will provide 62 MW of clean power capacity to southwest British Columbia and will sell 100% of its power to BC Hydro for 40 years beginning in August 2016.
  • Ecoppia, a developer of autonomous water-free solar panel cleaning solutions, announced today that JA Solar has certified Ecoppia’s solution for use on its solar panels. Ecoppia recently announced similar certification by Suntech Power. Additional certification processes are underway, with the aim of ensuring Ecoppia’s market-wide compliance with the stringent standards of all major panel manufacturers.
Bioenergy Bytes