Farm Bill Biofuel Benefits

Farm Bill Biofuel Benefits

Cindy Zimmerman February 7, 2014

Just as President Obama was preparing to sign the Agricultural Act of 2014 into law today, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) held a media conference to highlight how expansion of the new farm bill’s energy programs to include renewable chemical technologies can help advanced biofuel producers.

“Renewable chemicals are now defined in the farm bill, an important and long overdue change,” said Matt Carr, BIO Industrial and Environmental Director about that inclusion in the Biorefinery Assistance Program and Biomass Research and Development Program, which had been primarily for advanced biofuel projects.

One of the participants in the call was Hugh Welsh, President of DSM North America, the Netherlands-based company that partnered with POET two years ago on cellulosic ethanol production. “We’ve made significant investments in the United States over the past three years,” said Welsh. “Some of that, in excess of $150 million, has been directly into the biofuels base and we’re encouraged by the inclusion of biochemicals in the farm bill.”

While DSM used its own funds for investment rather than taking advantage of the program, Welsh says it will help others. “We see the loan guarantee program now extended to biochemicals as something that offers greater opportunity for the development of this technology going forward,” in licensing the technology to others and “ultimately creating a true biorefinery.”

Welsh noted that the two technologies will work together. “We’re looking to grow both the advanced biofuels business and the biochemistry business,” he said.

Also participating in the call were Agriculture Energy Coalition co-director Lloyd Ritter, and Renmatix Senior VP Mark Schweiker.

Listen to or download the call here: BIO farm bill call

advanced biofuels, Audio, BIO, biochemicals, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News

President Signs Farm Bill

Cindy Zimmerman February 7, 2014

President Barack Obama traveled to Michigan State University to sign the Agricultural Act of 2014 at the alma mater of Senate Agriculture Committee chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

“Despite its name, the farm bill is not just about helping farmers,” President Obama told the small crowd invited for the signing. “Secretary Vilsack calls it a jobs bill, an innovation bill, an infrastructure bill, a research bill, a conservation bill. It’s like a Swiss Army knife.”

The president also gave a shout out to biofuels production in Michigan in his address prior to the bill signing. “I just got a tour of a facility where you’re working with local businesses to produce renewable fuels,” said Obama. “This bill supports businesses working to develop cutting edge biofuels, like some of the work being done here at Michigan State.”

Listen to the president’s speech here: President Obama farm bill signing

What do you think of the new farm bill? Which part is most important to you? Tell us in this week’s ZimmPoll.

Audio, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, farm bill, Government

DOE Awards $3M for Geothermal Development

Joanna Schroeder February 7, 2014

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $3 million to spur geothermal energy development using play fairway analysis. This technique identifies prospective geothermal resources in areas with no obvious surface expression by mapping the most favorable intersections of heat, permeability, and fluid. The technique is commonly used in oil and gas exploration but has of yet, has not been widely used in the geothermal industry. By improving success rates for exploration drilling, this data-mapping tool could help attract investment in geothermal energy projects and significantly lower the costs of geothermal energy.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that 30 gigawatts of undiscovered hydrothermal energy potential exist untapped beneath the Earth’s surface – nearly 10 times the current installed capacity of geothermal energy in the United States. One of the keys to tapping this clean resource is reducing the cost and risk of locating it. Play fairway analysis projects could unlock significant geothermal energy resources and accelerate industry-wide adoption of this tool, by quantifying and reducing the risk of exploratory drilling,

The DOE will support one-year collaborative research and development projects, especially in new, unexplored areas, that adapt play fairway analysis to geothermal exploration. These projects selected will focus on using existing geologic and geophysical data to develop maps that identify areas with a higher probability of containing a geothermal resource. The research also seeks to develop a methodology for exploration of geothermal resources in a particular region, or play.

Alternative energy, Geothermal

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder February 7, 2014

RGS Energy and Altus Power America Management have formed a new joint venture, RGS Energy Asset Management LLC. The purpose of the joint venture is to develop, finance and manage up to $150 million of commercial solar projects.
SolarCity is expanding to Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland to make it possible for many area homeowners and businesses to install solar panels for free and pay less for solar electricity than they pay for utility power. SolarCity opened a new, 9,600 square-foot operations center in Seaford, Del., this week.
The U.S. Department of Energy is hosting a Webinar, “Incorporating Solar in Green Power Offers from Coast to Coast,” on Febraury 25, 2014 from 3:00 pm–4:00 p.m. EST. The webinar will discuss how utility green pricing programs and other voluntary green power offers have incorporated solar into their product mix. Leslie Brown will discuss how Silicon Valley Power in CA, has developed a product with 20% solar from CA. Jay Carlis will share how Community Energy has been engaged with developing solar, buying and selling solar renewable energy certificates, and supplying solar to voluntary program.
According to a recent report, “Energy Harvesting,” from Navigant Research, worldwide revenue from energy harvesting systems will grow from $283 million in 2014 to nearly $375 million in 2020. Energy harvesting systems convert ambient energy to useable electrical energy and offer an attractive alternative to battery power for portable devices. Using a variety of energy sources including electromagnetic radiation, thermal energy, kinetic energy, and mechanical energy, energy harvesting technology is already powering a range of consumer products, such as laptops and mobile phones.

Bioenergy Bytes

Primus Green’s STG Technology Awarded Patent

Joanna Schroeder February 7, 2014

Primus Green Energy has been awarded a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its STG+ liquid fuel synthesis technology. The company says its STG+ produces high quality, cost-effective, drop-in liquid transportation fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel directly from syngas derived from natural gas and other carbon-rich feedstocks in a single-loop process.

STG+ represents a cost breakthrough for the GTL industry, says the company, as it demonstrates compelling economics at scales of less than 6,000 barrels per day. The patented process is far simpler and more efficient than existing GTL technologies as it transforms syngas to liquid fuels with only one condensation step and also recycles untransformed gases. These efficiencies result in a high-yield process – STG+ can convert one MMBtu of natural gas into more than five gallons of 90+-octane, drop-in gasoline.

“STG+ is a new, proprietary thermochemical GTL process that fundamentally transforms the efficiency and economics of liquid fuel synthesis technologies,” said Robert Johnsen, CEO of Primus Green Energy. “The allowance of this patent application validates the novelty of the technology we have developed and proven at scale in our research facilities and commercial demonstration plant here in Hillsborough. Further, it greatly strengthens our intellectual property portfolio, an important step as we look toward construction of our first commercial GTL plant.”

In October 2013, Primus successfully commissioned its 100,000 gallon-per-year natural gas-to-gasoline demonstration plant. A recently concluded independent engineers report found that both catalyst performance and STG+ system economics exceeded expectations during demonstration plant operation. The company is now working toward construction of its first commercial plant, which is expected to produce 27.8 million gallons per year of drop-in gasoline from natural gas. The company expects to break ground on the plant in 2014.

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, biojet fuel, Natural Gas

Advancing Solar Energy in Saudi Arabia

Joanna Schroeder February 7, 2014

An agreement to jointly fund a feasibility study for the establishment of a vertically integrated solar PV (photovoltaic) manufacturing complex at Wa’ad Al Shammal in Saudi Arabia has been signed. SunEdison, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of the Government of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Arabian Investment Company hope to move forward with a project to produce polysilicon through modules. The feasbility study is the next step in the process following a preliminary study between the National Industrial Clusters Development Program (NICDP) and SunEdison in 2013.

“We anticipate substantial growth of solar PV within the Kingdom and the region. This project will support that growth, and the growth aspirations of SunEdison and our Saudi partners,” said Ahmad Chatila, CEO of SunEdison. “The combination of SunEdison technology, and the Kingdom’s world-class manufacturing and energy sector expertise will enable us to capitalize on substantial growth in the Kingdom and the region, and maximize the value of solar PV projects supported by this venture.”

If developed, the complex would utilize both SunEdison’s proprietary high pressure silane fluidized bed reactor (HP-FBR) polysilicon, and continuous Czochralski (CCz) crystal ingot technology and equipment, as well as include solar wafer, cell and module manufacturing, employ attractive debt financing for the approximately $6.4B project, and would begin production in 2017, ramping to 3 GW (gigawatts) annually.

A significant percentage of polysilicon and ingot production would support the 3 GW planned module output. Should the project go forward, the Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals said it will provide the required quantities of natural gas, and the Saudi Electrical Company (SEC) committed to providing the needed power requirements for the project.

“This project will be capable of building a complete industrial eco-system that is sustainable and able to compete on a global level by utilizing pioneering technology developed by SunEdison to produce high purity polysilicon, and high-efficiency, low-cost mono-crystalline ingots, in addition to benefiting from economies of scale given the size and vertically integrated nature of the complex,” said Eng. Azzam Shalabi, President of NICDP.

Chatila added, “We will bring our downstream solar PV development expertise to the region, and will partner with the Kingdom to build a large and dynamic solar energy industry. This agreement represents our ongoing strategy to accelerate our growth, maximize the value of our PV projects, and strengthen our balance sheet to enable both. We are very proud to take this next step with our Saudi partners as the Kingdom becomes a world leader in solar energy.”

Alternative energy, International, Solar

BDI Retrofits Greek Biodiesel Plant to Take Grease

John Davis February 7, 2014

A Greek biodiesel plant gets retrofitted to take a wider range of lower quality feedstocks, including grease. BDI-BioEnergy International AG announced the retrofit of the Elin Biofuels S.A refinery in Volos, Greece.

The aim of the RetroFit optimisation project was to increase both raw material flexibility and the quality of the final biodiesel product via the remodelling, expansion and process optimisation of an existing biodiesel plant that was based on outdated German technology.

As a result of the optimisation exercise, not only vegetable oils but also raw materials of lower quality, such as used cooking oil and animal fats, can now be processed into high-quality biodiesel with a capacity of about 33,000 tonnes/year. The quality of the distilled biodiesel satisfies the stricter quality requirements that will have to be met in future (new biodiesel standard in the EU, CEN 14214/2013). The project has now been handed over to the satisfied Greek customer Elin Biofuels S.A officially on time and on budget.

“We are very enthusiastic about BDI’s technical skills and the professional way in which the company carried out the project. Co-operation with BDI proved to be a very effective partnership throughout the project. The final outcome is better than we expected”, said Yannis Courouclis, CEO of Elin Biofuels S.A, at the official opening of the optimised plant.

BDI officials point out that they were able to make the changes without interrupting the current biodiesel operation.

Biodiesel, International

Crimson Renewable Gets $5 Mil Biodiesel Grant

John Davis February 7, 2014

A Colorado-based biodiesel maker has received a $5 million grant from the State of California to expand its biorefinery in that state. Crimson Renewable Energy LP was awarded the money from the California Energy Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP) to support expansion of its Bakersfield biorefinery.

The Energy Commission said its solicitation was designed to provide funding for the development of commercial–scale biofuels production facilities in California that can sustainably produce at least 15 million gallons per year of low carbon transportation fuels.

“As the landmark Low Carbon Fuel Standard continues to foster the adoption of lower carbon, more environmentally friendly alternative fuels such as biodiesel at California’s major fuel terminals, we have sought to expand our production of ultra-low carbon renewable transportation fuel to meet that demand,” said Harry Simpson, President of Crimson Renewable Energy. “The funding and vote of confidence provided by the California Energy Commission will facilitate more rapid expansion of plant capacity at Crimson’s Bakersfield biodiesel plant – dramatically increasing production of ultra–low carbon biodiesel and enhancing the company’s sustainability.” Crimson has already completed certain portions of its engineering and design work, and has begun the process for obtaining all necessary permits and procuring equipment.

“The Energy Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuels and Vehicle Technology Program invests up to $100 million a year in innovative projects such as these, which are transforming our fuels markets and helping to meet California’s clean air and climate goals,” said Randy Roesser, Deputy Director of the Energy Commission’s Fuels and Transportation Division. “With the expansion of its Bakersfield biorefinery, Crimson is poised to become the state’s largest producer of sustainably produced, low–carbon biodiesel, which will have 85 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventionally produced diesel.”

Crimson will begin construction this spring and hopes to complete the expansion in about a year.

Biodiesel

Iowa Wind Energy Conference Around the Corner

Joanna Schroeder February 6, 2014

The 7th Annual Iowa Wind Power Conference is just around the corner taking place at the FFA Enrichment Center on the Campus of Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, March 11-12, 2014. Sponsored by the Iowa Wind Energy Association (IWEA), there is a strong line-up of speakers, informative sessions, exhibitors and new research displays.

The general sessions planned feature nationally recognized leaders in the wind energy industry, elected leaders, policy development specialists and utility leaders in the wind energy industry. A special feature of this year’s conference will be the first ever Education/Job Fair on March 11, 2014 which will provide wind energy companies an opportunity to meet with wind energy training programs and job seekers. There will also be an opportunity for K-12 students and educators to learn more about job opportunities in wind energy.

There will be 30 exhibitors showcasing their products and services during the conference including dozens of university wind energy research project displays will be available during the conference. These project displays will be judged by a panel of experts and cash awards will be given to the top projects in several categories.

Registration is now open.

Alternative energy, conferences, Wind

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder February 6, 2014

Ennovor Group, a global sustainable biofuels company, has announced that it has signed a rolling tolling contract with one of Spain’s largest biodiesel refiners. An innovator of feedstock procurement, supply chain development and sustainability assurance, Ennovor plans similar tolling agreements with a number of specialist biodiesel refineries at strategic locations across Europe.
VIASPACE previously announced that it had entered into a contract with AGRICORP, the largest rice company in Nicaragua, and is growing Giant King Grass on land owned by them. The company reports the Giant King Grass is growing well in Nicaragua, and VIASPACE and AGRICORP have agreed to form a partnership to build a 12 MW biomass power plant fueled by Giant King Grass. In addition to the 12 MW biomass power plant partnership, VIASPACE and AGRICORP have now decided to add animal feed as a second focus to the overall business project in Nicaragua.
As part of its commitment to science and STEM education, as well as renewable energy, Vernier Software & Technology has partnered with KidWind, the international leader of clean energy education. Through the strategic partnership, Vernier will integrate its award-winning sensors and data-collection devices into KidWind’s wind turbine and solar energy kits, which will now be sold by Vernier.
EnerNOC, Inc. has announced that it is accepting nominations for its EnergySMART Energy Innovator award. The Energy Innovator award recognizes individuals who have leveraged energy intelligence software and data to inform a successful energy management program. Winners will be announced at the global EnergySMART 2014 conference in Philadelphia, PA, March 25-27 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Nominations are open to all commercial, industrial, and institutional energy users.

Bioenergy Bytes

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