Does Farm Size Matter?

Talia Goes

zp-nhOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, ”What is most important to you when buying food?” Given the economy, it’s only fitting that price won out in our poll, but also tied with whatever you’re hungry for. Guess it just depends on your mood!

Our poll results:
· Price – 29%
· Whatever I’m hungry for – 29%
· Organic – 14%
· Brand – 12%
· Other – 9%
· Special diet – 7%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Does farm size matter?” which was also the topic of the USFRA Food Dialogues in Boston this week. Increasingly, consumers are hearing they should be concerned about the size of farms, and may be making purchasing decisions without understanding how food is grown and raised on farms of any size. What do you think? Let us know!

ZimmPoll

Turbines Begin Operation at Echo Wind Park

Joanna Schroeder

The first 13 wind turbines at DTE Energy’s Echo Wind Park have been commissioned, with the entire facility set to begin commercial operation by the end of November. The 70-turbine Echo Wind Park in Huron County, Michigan will be operational by the end of 2013 and add another 112 megawatts (MW) to the DTE Energy’s renewable energy portfolio. The wind park, primarily in Oliver and Chandler townships, is sited on nearly 16,000 acres. The Echo Wind Park is the third to be owned and operated by DTE Energy.

echo_wind_park_01The 110-MW Thumb Wind Park reached commercial operation in December 2012. In addition, DTE Energy has an ownership stake in the Gratiot County Wind Park. The Gratiot wind park is a 212.8 MW project. Sixty-four of the turbines are owned by DTE Energy, while 69 turbines are owned by Gratiot Wind LLC, an affiliate of Invenergy Wind LLC. DTE Energy purchases the power from Invenergy’s turbines under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

DTE Energy also announced recently it will purchase the energy from the 20-MW Big Turtle Wind Farm, which will cover 2,800 acres in Rubicon Township in Huron County. The Big Turtle Wind Farm, expected to be operational by late 2014, will comprise a minimum of 50 percent Michigan content and feature new technology advanced by Ventower Industries of Monroe and other Michigan suppliers.

The Big Turtle Wind Farm will have 10 2-MW turbines and will be the first wind park in Michigan to incorporate all Ventower towers. The owner, Big Turtle Wind Farm LLC, is a subsidiary of Heritage Sustainable Energy, a Michigan wind energy producer.

The Big Turtle contract is part of DTE Energy’s efforts to expand the company’s renewable energy resources and meet the state’s renewable energy goals. DTE Energy expects to add more than 900 MW, or 10 percent of its power, by 2015. The Big Turtle contract will bring DTE Energy’s renewable energy portfolio, with contracts signed or projects in operation, to 9.8 percent.

Electricity, Energy, Renewable Energy, Wind

Conergy Begins Third Thailand Solar Project

Joanna Schroeder

Conergy Thailand solar projectConergy is constructing is another large-scale solar project in Thailand with a total capacity of 21 megawatts. This is the third consecutive project for the Bangkok-based Siam Solar Energy 1 Co., Ltd. (SSE1), a subsidiary of Thai Solar Energy Company Limited (TSE). Conergy has closed power plants for SSE1 with a total capacity of more than 70 megawatts since the fall of 2012. With an order volume of more than 100 megawatts in Thailand, the PV solution and service provider has secured a market share of around 20% and captured market leadership.

“Solar power plants are an attractive asset for investors. We are making good progress in extending our large-scale project business,” said Conergy CEO Dr. Philip Comberg. “Solar power plants are becoming an increasingly attractive asset class for funds, financial investors and strategic industrial clients. Together with this group of investors and Kawa as our asset management parent we want to increase our volumes even further, especially in growth markets such as Asia and North America.”

The two new solar power plants, each with a capacity of 10.5 megawatts, are located in the provinces of Suphanburi and Kanchanaburi in western Thailand, 130 kilometers from Bangkok. Conergy will act as general contractor for this large-scale order, assuming responsibility for the entire planning, engineering and design as well as for the supply of the components and the installation. Conergy is working with its longtime local partner Ensys on the construction of the two solar plants, which will cover about 370,000 square meters in total – an area larger than 50 soccer fields.

12.4 MW Conergy solar park Nakhon Pathom Thailand_2SSE1 CEO Cathleen Maleenont said, “We place emphasis on 100% quality and efficiency. We are delighted about our renewed collaboration. We are impressed with Conergy’s leading quality standards with each new power plant. With this project we will expand our solar capacity to 85 megawatts AC in total. This entails a 17-fold increase in one year. For our solar portfolio, selecting systems with the highest quality and efficiency is paramount and with Conergy we have found exactly the kind of strong partner needed for planning and implementing our solar projects.”

Once construction for these two new parks is completed in autumn 2013, the nearly 84,000 Conergy “P Series” modules installed on more than 80 kilometers of Conergy SolarLinea mounting systems, will generate over 30,000 megawatt hours of clean electricity each year. The solar parks can provide for around 14,000 households in Thailand. Additionally they will avoid an annual amount of about 16,500 tons of carbon emissions per year, which is more than what could be absorbed by a 1,600 hectare forest in the same time period.

Electricity, Energy, International, Renewable Energy, Solar

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFFigtree Financing, a provider of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing, issued its third bond bond on October 22, 2013. This issue comes just over 3 months after having funded improvements to seven California properties in a prior bond issue. The latest bond, with a value of $478,100, includes four projects in the California cities of Chico, Bakersfield, and Palm Springs, bringing the total value of commercial PACE projects financed by Figtree to over $2 million. This bond funded solar and cool roof improvements to two retail shopping facilities, a commercial warehouse, and a hotel.
  • The Renewable Fuels Association and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway will co-host a free Ethanol Safety Seminar on Oct. 29, 2014 at the CNM Workforce Training Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There will be a morning session from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm and an evening session from 5:30 to 10 pm. Registration is limited to the first 90 people. Lunch and dinner will be provided. Certificates of attendance will be awarded to attendees at the completion of the course.
  • Admirals Bank has announced the launch of their Energy Investment Calculator as part of their suite of solar contractor tools. Solar installers nationwide can use this online tool to accurately estimate and present homeowner monthly payments for their Admirals’ loan and energy savings, including comparisons to a lease or power purchase agreement.
  • SolarCity has announced it has been selected by Hawaiian Electric Company to build a 15-megawatt photovoltaic system to provide clean energy to O’ahu residents. The 50-acre project will be constructed on undeveloped land at the Kahe Generating Station, subject to PUC approval. SolarCity, with local operations in Mililani, was selected through a competitive procurement process to construct the project, which will be owned and operated by Hawaiian Electric.
Bioenergy Bytes

Export Exchange 2014 Heads to Seattle, WA

Joanna Schroeder

Export Exchange 2014 is heading to Seattle, Washington and will take place on October 20-22, 2014 at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel. The event is sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the U.S. Grains Council (USGC). Held every two years the Export Exchange is a premier international trade conference focused on the export of U.S. coarse grains and co-products. Last year’s event attracted buying teams from 33 countries, including all of the top U.S. international markets.

In 2014, approximately 150 foreign buyers of U.S. coarse grains and co-products are expected in Seattle, on hand to meet and build relationships with more than 300 domestic suppliers in attendance. There will also be more than two days of educational sessions and networking opportunities.

2014 Export Exchange logo.jpg“Export Exchange 2012 exceeded all expectations,” said USGC Chairman Julius Schaaf, “and many of our foreign guests have already expressed their intent to return in 2014. Buyers will converge in Seattle next October, ready to make contacts and do business. U.S. grains sellers and ethanol producers can expect to rub shoulders with more than 80 percent of the world’s top buyers at Export Exchange. Key stakeholders will surely benefit from attending. We’re really looking forward to this event.”

Export Exchange focuses on bringing international buyers of U.S. coarse grains and distiller’s dried grains with solubles together with U.S. producers and agribusiness professionals. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in pre- and post-conference missions to view the U.S. production and export complex and learn more about the capacity, reliability and quality of the United States as a long-term supplier.

“There is an increased global demand for DDGS (distiller’s dried grains with solubles) and Export Exchange connects the dots by bringing interested buyers and sellers together to help grow the international market,” added Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of RFA.

biofuels, corn, Export Exchange, Exports, RFA, USGC

Amyris Partners With GOL

Joanna Schroeder

Bioenergy company Amyris, Inc. and GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. (GOL) the largest low-cost and low-fare airline in Latin America, have announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will pave the way for GOL commercial flights to use Amyris renewable jet fuel in 2014. The partnership was announced during the first commercial flight with a renewable jet fuel in Brazil by the airline.

“GOL is committed to making commercial aviation more efficient and sustainable. Our GOL airplaneexperimental flight with renewable jet fuel at the Rio+20 in 2012 was an important step to guide our work. Today, we advance one more step,” said Adalberto Bogsan, Vice President of GOL.

Under the MOU, GOL and Amyris will work together to establish a framework for bringing Amyris renewable jet fuel produced from Brazilian sugarcane to GOL’s commercial flights. However, for thid to happen, regulatory approvals and validation by standard-setting bodies, including ASTM International and Brazil’s Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANP) will need to occur.

The partnership, under of auspices of the Brazilian Biofuels Platform, an industry and government-supported initiative to encourage the use of renewable fuels in aviation, was announced at Brazilian Aviation Day celebration, which included participation of Brazil’s Secretary of Civil Aviation, Minister Moreira Franco, and a number of industry stakeholders including Brazilian Airlines Association (ABEAR), Brazilian Biodiesel and Biojet Association (UBRABIO), GE, and Boeing among others.

“GOL supports all initiatives to help make Brazilian aviation more sustainable,” says Paulo Kakinoff, President of GOL. During this past year, the airline’s fuel saving initiatives have helped it to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 30 thousand tons.

Lifecycle analysis indicates that the Amyris renewable jet fuel could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% or more when compared to convention fossil-derived jet fuel. Amyris has applied for certification under the Roundtable of Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) and is a member of Bonsucro, the world’s leading sugarcane sustainability standard.

“We are committed to working with the aviation industry to bring cleaner skies, starting in Brazil in 2014. Following two successful demonstration flights and a series of successful tests with multiple industry stakeholders, we look forward to receiving ASTM validation and ANP approval of our breakthrough renewable jet fuel produced from Brazilian sugarcane,” said John Melo, Amyris’s President & CEO.

advanced biofuels, aviation biofuels, Brazil, International

Biodiesel Essay Contest Offers College Cash

John Davis

Cleanairchoicelogo2013aThe American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest is giving some high school seniors a chance to earn some cash for college by showing their knowledge about biodiesel. The organization announced at the recent Education Minnesota Professional Conference in St. Paul, Minn. that high school seniors in the state could win scholarship money of $1,000 for first place and $500 for second in the American Lung Association’s 2014 Clean Air Choice Biodiesel Scholarship contest.

With the scholarships sponsored by the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, the 1,000-words-or-less essays need to help raise awareness of this important and emerging alternative fuel in Minnesota.

Vehicle exhaust is the single largest source of air pollution in Minnesota. One source of this pollution is diesel engines, which consume approximately 600 million gallons of fuel every year in Minnesota and can emit significantly more sooty particles than gasoline engines. To address this issue, Minnesota became the first state in the nation to require nearly all of the diesel fuel sold here to contain biodiesel, a cleaner-burning alternative fuel made and sold in close to home. Diesel fuel sold in Minnesota now contains a five percent blend of biodiesel, and this percentage is expected to grow to 10 percent in 2014. Using higher blends of biodiesel helps to clear the air and protect lung health, which is why the American Lung Association in Minnesota supports biodiesel as a Clean Air Choice®.

More information and the entry form is available here.

Biodiesel, Soybeans

EU Puts Duties on Argentine, Indonesian Biodiesel

John Davis

inareuflagsThe European Union voted to impose punitive duties on biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia. This article from Reuters on GlobalPost.com says the two countries are accused of dumping – selling at below market value – biodiesel on the European market.

The European Commission has proposed duties of between 217 and 246 euros ($300-$340) per tonne on biodiesel imports from Argentina and of between 122 to 179 euros a tonne on imports from Indonesia, figures seen by Reuters showed.

Imports are already subject to provisional tariffs, imposed in May. The definitive duties, which are slightly higher, should be in place by the end of November after further procedural steps.

Argentina is the world’s biggest biodiesel exporter, and the two countries represent 90 percent of EU biodiesel imports. Their share of the EU market rose to 22 percent in 2011 from 9 percent in 2009.

Argentinian officials say the duties are “unjust” and only do “harm to Argentina and the European consumer, who is going to pay for more expensive fuel.” Argentina is fighting the duties, already launching a World Trade Organization challenge to them.

Biodiesel, International

Ask an Energy Expert

Joanna Schroeder

The Clean Energy Solutions Center recently launched an Ask-An-Expert service that connects those seeking clean energy policy information and advice with more than 30 global experts who can help them achieve their goals. To date, more than 100 questions have been received from people in more than 40 countries. The Center says this demonstrates the growing demand for this type of service.

Basic CMYK“Responding to 100 requests is a tremendous accomplishment that speaks to the quality of guidance our experts provide,” said Solutions Center initiative lead Ian Lloyd. “Governments and organizations looking for technical policy assistance know that the Solution Center’s Ask-an-Expert service will offer top-notch advice that is specific to their situation.”

Since its launch in January 2012, Ask-an-Expert has provided assistance to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies; enhance energy access; and address other municipal, state, and national clean energy objectives. This assistance has included developing strategies, standards, financial incentives, and deployment programs; reviewing draft measures and strategies; conducting research; and sharing best practices.

The 100th request for assistance, from Kenya, relates to the intersection of energy access and the health sector. Notable achievements to date supported by Ask-an-Expert assistance include the following:

    • Provided support to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states to set regional and national sustainable energy targets in the CARICOM Energy Policy.
    • Assisted the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) with the design of a regulation–which has since been adopted–to promote energy efficiency in the commercial building sector.
    • Helped Malaysia analyze the trade-offs between Feed-in-tariffs (FITs) and competitive tendering for large solar PV projects.
    • Provided assistance to Mauritius to expand development of solar hot water schemes for the residential sector.

Representatives of countries receiving assistance have commended the Ask-an-Expert service as an indispensable tool for advancing clean energy. “The assistance you have provided has proven invaluable to our work here,” said Barry Bradencamp with SANEDI.

Ask-An-Expert requests can be submitted through the Solutions Center website. Clean energy policy support is available to representatives of government agencies, organizations, and institutes assisting governments, as well as to select others. Support is limited to remote assistance and to clean energy policy topics.

Education, Renewable Energy

Flint Hills Impressed With Cellunator

Joanna Schroeder

Flint Hills Resources Renewables has announced it will expand its use of Edeniq’s Cellunator technology. The company said the technology achieved the desired increase in ethanol production at its Fairbank, Iowa facility and will install Cellunators at two additional locations. Flint Hills has been an investor in Edeniq since April 2012 and a customer since July 2011.

edeniq“Edeniq’s Cellunators have met our expectations at our Fairbank plant and we’re looking forward to expanding the applications to two of our other locations,” said Jeremy Bezdek, Managing Director of Innovation for Flint Hills Resources. “Edeniq technologies have helped improve our competitive position in the marketplace.”

According to Edeniq their technology enables ethanol plants to mill corn and other plant materials into a well-mixed slurry of small, uniformly-sized feedstock that can be more easily converted into sugars needed to produce biofuels and other biomaterials.

“Edeniq’s relationship with Flint Hills is an example of how our team is working side by side with our customers to ensure our technology solutions increase their ethanol yields, lower costs, and maintain a competitive position with their production capacity,” said Brian Thome, President and CEO of Edeniq. “Our work with Flint Hills demonstrates our commitment to providing a substantial return on investment for our customers.”

biofuels, corn, Ethanol