Dutch Company to Use SkyNRG Biodiesel

John Davis February 25, 2014

A Netherlands-based company in the construction and maritime infrastructure maintenance businesses will use biodiesel from a company used to fueling things a bit higher above the ground. Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis) reached an agreement with SkyNRG, a supplier of renewable, sustainable aviation fuel, to provide about 65,000 gallons of biodiesel for Boskalis trucks.

The pilot is consistent with Boskalis’ efforts to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. If the pilot proves successful, a pilot on board of one of the Boskalis ships will be contemplated.

In line with the WWF’s 2050 Energy Vision SkyNRG only produces and distributes biodiesel for segments where no better alternative is available. The origin of the sustainable fuel means that it does not compete with the food chain and has no negative impact on biodiversity.

“The partnership with Boskalis will help us in creating a broader market for our biodiesel, thus making it more economically feasible and closing the price gap with fossil fuels,” [says] Dirk Kronemeijer, SkyNRG CEO.

The fuel is to be blended at a 30 percent rate of biodiesel.

Biodiesel, International

Deal Finalized on Texas Biodiesel Plant

John Davis February 25, 2014

A biodiesel maker and a town in Texas finalized a deal to bring a $30 million refinery to the central part of the state. Following up on a story we told you about last month, this article from the Austin Business Journal says the Temple City Council approved a package of incentives to bring waste-cooking-oil-to-biodiesel producer Thomas Biodiesel LLC to the city.

The company will receive five property tax-free years and then see its tax abatement gradually reduced from 100 percent to 50 percent through five 10-percent annual reductions. Combined, the city of Temple estimates the company will save just shy of $1.5 million on the investment that Thomas Biodiesel has planned at the seven-acre site located at 3111 and 3289 Eberhardt Road.

Thomas Biodiesel, now based in Austin, said it will complete the building in mid-2015. The Temple facility, north of Austin, is expected to break ground in mid-2014. AP Harris is the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the Temple project.

The new, 25,000-square-foot facility that is expected to bring about 30 jobs to Temple.

Biodiesel

Social Media War Room for Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman February 24, 2014

Make no mistake about it. The ethanol industry is engaged in a war of words with anti-ethanol forces and every weapon in the arsenal needs to be deployed to fight against these well-funded opponents.

Communications and Social Media War Room was the title of one of the breakout sessions at last week’s 2014 National Ethanol Conference. Renewable Fuels Association executive vice president Christina Martin moderated the discussion which included comments from Anne O’Neil, Vice President of The Glover Park Group, which is working for Fuels America, and Michael Fleischer, Senior Vice President of marketing agency Direct Impact.

Martin says the purpose of the session was to “capture the momentum” that a lot of ethanol producers built during the EPA comment period for the proposed change in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “They reached out as they never have before to their employees, to their investors and local communities and general supporters,” said Martin. Many ventured into social media for the first time and she says they want to keep that momentum going regardless of where the EPA decision on the RFS ends up.

Find out more in Chuck’s weekly podcast, the ZimmCast: Social Media with Christina Martin

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, RFA, RFS

Driving Through the Blend Wall

Cindy Zimmerman February 24, 2014

We’ve heard a lot about how higher ethanol blends might affect the producers of the green fuel and the impacts to consumers on the other end. But what about the viewpoint of those who have to build the vehicles on which these higher blends would run? Representatives from General Motors and Mercedes-Benz were among the experts on a panel at the National Ethanol Conference discussing “Driving Through the Blend Wall” from the automotive perspective.

Renewable Fuels Association vice president for technical services Kristy Moore moderated the panel which included Bill Woebkenberg, U.S. Fuels Technical and Regulatory Affairs, Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America; Coleman Jones, Biofuels Manager, General Motors; and Robert McCormick, Fuels Performance Platform Leader, National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Woebkenberg pointed out that flex fuels are already here and should be attractive to consumers, considering the high-performance, high-octane features.

“It’s not a filler fuel; it’s a race fuel,” and he believes overcoming consumers’ misperceptions of poor performance is key. But he and his colleague from GM, said carmakers are worried less about the rhetoric that might be swirling around flex fuels and more about what the final rules coming out of Washington might say.

“Automakers are a regulated industry, and we pay a lot more attention to the regulations than we pay attention to the words, because these regulations are the deeds by which we have to live with our business and have to be distinguished from the words we hear,” said Jones.

McCormick offered some insight to their review of 43 studies about ethanol, which should give the rulemakers more information by which those automakers have to live. He said overall they found no failures of E15 in performance.

“The use of E15, in our opinion, is likely to have little impact on 2001 and newer model year vehicles,” he told the audience gathered.

McCormick concluded the panel saying there are paths forward with the higher ethanol blends in the market, for carmakers and consumers alike.

Check out the entire session here: NEC Auto Perspective Panel

2014 National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

Audio, automotive, Car Makers, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder February 24, 2014

Algae.Tec Ltd has announce that it has received its first purchase order from an affiliate of Reliance Industrial Investments and Holdings Limited (RIIHL) in connection with the arrangements announced on January 21, 2014. This purchase order is for $2.4 million and is for the supply of certain Algae.Tec algae production technology and associated technical expertise. The work and equipment ordered under this purchase order will be supplied and completed over approximately the next nine months.
SunEdison and MIC Solar Energy Holdings, a subsidiary of Macquarie Infrastructure Company LLC have announced the completion of a 16.4 megawatt photovoltaic (PV) solar power plant located outside Tucson, Arizona on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB). The plant is the largest solar energy facility at any U.S. Department of Defense installation and is expected to reduce the Air Force’s utility costs by $500,000 annually for the next 25 years.
The K2 Wind Power Project (K2 Wind) has begun hiring workers for the construction following a ruling by the Environmental Review Tribunal, which dismissed the appeal of K2’s Renewable Energy Approval. The 270 MW K2 wind power project will use 140 Ontario-made wind turbines. Over 1,000 workers from across southwestern Ontario will be involved in the manufacturing and assembly of the wind turbines, site construction and operations.
Greg Krissek has begun his duties as CEO of the Kansas Corn Growers Association, Kansas Corn Commission and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association. Krissek has nearly 25 years of experience working with agriculture, ethanol, renewable energy projects and public policy. Krissek fills the position of Jere White, who announced his retirement on February 12. White had been the executive director of Kansas Corn and Kansas Sorghum since 1988.

Bioenergy Bytes

Patriot Out Front with Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman February 24, 2014

Patriot Renewable Fuels wants to be the “poster child” for other ethanol plants when it comes to marketing higher blends in their own communities.

You might remember Darrell Rakestraw as the veteran we interviewed last fall about the EPA proposal to lower the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). When we spoke to him last week at his first National Ethanol Conference, Rakestraw was three months into his job as market development manager for Patriot. “I’ve learned a lot in three months,” he said. “The one thing I got out of (the conference) is that we have to help ourselves, we have to put the funds in to do the educational piece because no one else is going to do it.”

Listen to my interview with Darrell here: Interview with Darrell Rakestraw, Patriot Renewable Fuels

2014 National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

Audio, blends, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, Patriot Renewable Fuels, RFA, RFS

EV Fast Charger Network Rolls Out in China

Joanna Schroeder February 24, 2014

ABB, a power and automation technology group, has announced a strategic collaboration with Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co., Ltd. (BDNT) to supply direct current fast chargers over the next six years for DENZA. The partnership is designed to help China become a global leader for electric vehicle (EV) fast charging. The wall-mounted chargers will have a number of innovations designed for user convenience and safety, such as a mobile app that allows remote monitoring and control of charging sessions, with the option of charging status change notifications.

First deliveries are expected in mid 2014. The charging solution will be sold through DENZA dealerships along with the vehicle. EVs are one of China’s seven emerging strategic industries. ABB and DENZA will work together to help support China’s efforts to increase sustainable mobility.

“We are honored to be a partner in this venture to move urban transportation forward in a more sustainable way. By combining car sales with fast chargers, DENZA is taking a bold step to address a key obstacle for potential buyers of EVs,” said Ulrich Spiesshofer, CEO of ABB Group. “ABB’s EV charging solutions have been expanding rapidly worldwide as the underlying technology combines our key strengths in power electronics, software, service and power distribution.”

The Chinese government has introduced a direct current (DC) fast charging “GBT” standard to encourage technical innovation and stimulate market acceptance of EVs. The urban charging infrastructure will be a key driver for EV adoption. The GBT standard will give Chinese consumers the opportunity to conveniently charge their vehicles at home or at public charging stations. Public DC fast charging is expected to be rolled out in China in the near future.

The fully electric DENZA car is designed for journeys of more than 200 kilometers and is among the first long-range EVs to go on sale in China. Market research shows that consumers value long-range EVs, but expect short charging times. DENZA will offer its customers the convenience of fast charging at home, at work or at public charging stations.

“The DENZA represents a significant step in sustainable transportation for the Chinese automotive market. It was vital that we had the right partner to support this innovative concept,” said Arno Roehringer, COO of BDNT. “ABB is the ideal technology partner for us, and – equally important – it has the service expertise to install this solution.”

China’s EV market is expected to quickly gain momentum in the coming years due to technology and market innovations, the GBT national fast-charging standard and favorable incentives. ABB has worked on pilot projects with local OEMs and utilities in China since 2010. In 2013, it began to build up a local EV organization to support this growth including R&D, manufacturing, logistics, and service.

Alternative Vehicles, Electric Vehicles

Army Awards Renewable Energy Contracts

Joanna Schroeder February 24, 2014

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, working with the Army Energy Initiatives Task Force (EITF), has awarded another 20 base contracts to companies in energy-related technologies. The awards are part of the $7 billion capacity, large-scale renewable and alternative energy power production Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC).

The 20 contracts are for the following technologies: solar (15), wind (3) and biomass (2). USACE has previously awarded 58 contracts for solar (22), wind (17), biomass (13), and geothermal (6).

“We are adding these additional companies to those already in the technology pools to ensure we have enough pre-qualified companies ready to submit proposals on task orders as they come up,” explained Col. Robert Ruch, commander, Huntsville Center. “Huntsville Center is doing everything we can to ensure task orders for future projects will be awarded as quickly as possible.”

This second round of MATOC awards is in keeping with the original August 2012 Request For Proposal (RFP) which allowed for immediate awards to firms within the competitive range and additional awards to firms that qualified after further evaluation by the government. The qualified MATOC companies will be eligible to bid on future renewable energy task orders. As renewable energy opportunities at Army installations are assessed and validated, Huntsville Center will issue a competitive task order Request for Proposal to the pre-qualified MATOC companies for the specific technologies.

The MATOC involves third-party financed renewable energy acquisitions and involves no Army or Department of Defense (DOD) capital, or Military Construction appropriation. The Army or DOD will purchase the power from contractors who own, operate and maintain the generating assets. The MATOC’s total estimated value of $7 billion capacity refers to the total dollar value of energy available for purchase under all Power Purchase Agreement task orders for their entire term (up to 30 years).

These contracts will support the Army’s achievement of its congressionally mandated energy goal of 25 percent production of energy (1GW) from renewable sources by 2025, and improving installation energy security and sustainability.

biomass, military, Renewable Energy, Solar, Wind

Biodiesel By-product Could Help with Better Soils

John Davis February 24, 2014

The quality of soils to grow the very feedstocks to make biodiesel could be helped by a by-product of that green fuel’s production. This article from Farmers Weekly says Rothamsted Research in the United Kingdom found that applying biodiesel co-product (BCP) increased soil micro-organism numbers and this effectively “locked up” the nitrates in the soil until spring.

Researchers looked at three treatments to try and cut leaching, which included incorporating straw, growing meadowgrass and applying BCP in simulated field conditions.

“We found that BCP was the most effective soil amendment, rapidly increasing the abundance of soil micro-organisms and preventing more than 99% of nitrate leaching,” says Rothamsted researcher Marc Redmile-Gordon.

He adds that cutting nitrate losses from farmland would help protect the environment, especially watercourses, and could lead to lower nitrogen fertiliser rates.

The “very encouraging” results came in field trials conducted in the 2012-13 season when heavy nitrate leaching would have been expected after a wet harvest followed by an equally wet autumn.

The BCP treatment helps stimulate soil microbe numbers by giving them an energy source and then they suck up nitrate nutrients from the soil to feed this growth, says Dr Redmile-Gordon.

The nitrates are unlocked in the spring as soil microbe levels are reduced by warmer drier weather. The process mimics the use of cover crops over winter in mopping up nitrates in the autumn and then slowly releasing them in the spring.

The researchers believe this method could cut nitrogen fertilizer usage by about 10 percent. They do point out that it might require changing application methods.

Biodiesel, Research

State Level Blend Walls Update

Cindy Zimmerman February 24, 2014

The phrase “all politics is local” seems like it sure could apply to some of the decisions to overcome the ethanol blend wall. Challenges to increasing ethanol in the marketplace exist on the state level as well as the federal level, and participants at the National Ethanol Conference learned more about efforts to break down the blend wall in various states, including Tennessee, where Randy Jennings is Director of Program Operations for the state Department of Agriculture Division of Consumer & Industry Services.

“Definitely, the walls are falling,” is how Jennings described the results so far of their efforts, along with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), to increase the amount of ethanol to be blended into gasoline in his state.

He said they brought together various Tennessee state agencies, such as the state’s Department of Environment and Conservation (the regulator of fuel storage tanks), Commerce and Insurance, and Department of Labor and Workforce Development, as well as stakeholding industries in Tennessee. They are proposing some key changes in current rules to also be proposed at this summer’s National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM). Those changes include: an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) waiver for up to 15 percent ethanol, redefining E85 and how it is marketed, and proposing yellow grip guards at the pump just for flex-fuels, among other proposed changes. Jennings hopes that there will be more fuel choices for consumers, while working with the industry.

“We remain committed to working with all stakeholders in a fair, consistent manner.”

Hear more of his remarks here: Comments from Randy Jennings, Tennessee Department of Agriculture

Meanwhile, RFA Vice President for Technical Services Kristy Moore outlined some of the challenges they face on the state level, including EPA’s restrictions during the summer volatility season.

“[For example in the Kansas City, Kansas area], gasoline in the summer must [meet EPA’s capped requirements]. Gasoline in that area blended with 9-10 percent ethanol is allowed an 8 PSI requirement. But gasoline with 15 percent ethanol, has to meet the more restrictive [requirement],” she explained. And then in the rest of the state of Kansas, there are other requirements for E10 and E15 and above blends.

Moore said they have needed to work state-by-state, making sure they were not crossing laws already on the books and trying to get legislatures to make changes so there could be an increase in blends and more uniform blending rules across the country. She believes they’ve helped eliminate impediments in many states.

“We’ve really have had some major success, major education, and a lot of good partnerships in these state regulators to understand what E15 fuels can do, what blender pumps can do, what E85 can do for their marketplace and their fuel markets.”

Listen to more of here remarks here: Comments from Kristy Moore, RFA

2014 National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

Audio, blends, E15, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, RFA, RFS

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