Darling Buying Another Renderer for Biodiesel

John Davis

darlingOn the heels of last week’s announcement that Darling International Inc. is buying a Canadian renderer to gain feedstocks for products, including biodiesel, the Texas-based company is now acquiring a Dutch renderer to gain even more biodiesel-possible stocks. Darling says the nearly $2.2 billion deal with Vion Ingredients could close as early as this coming January.

Vion Ingredients’ global network of 58 facilities on five continents covers all aspects of animal by-product processing through six brands including Rendac (rendering), Sonac (proteins, fats, edible fats and blood products), Ecoson (green power), Rousselot (gelatin), CTH (natural casings), and Best Hides (hides).

Vion Ingredients’ rendering business has leading positions across Europe with operations in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland and Italy under the Rendac and Sonac brand names.

Randall C. Stuewe, Darling International’s Chairman and CEO said, “Our vision of creating a sustainable ingredients business for a growing population is well on its way. The combination of Vion Ingredients with Darling International will create the global leader in converting edible and inedible bio-nutrients streams into specialty products and ingredients for the food, feed, fuel, fertilizer and pharmaceutical industries.”

The merger is expected to see Vion Ingredients’ CEO Dirk Kloosterboer stay in his current position and take over chief operating officer for Darling International.

Biodiesel

Canada to Create Wind Energy Growth Plan

Joanna Schroeder

CANADIAN WIND ENERGY ASSOCIATION - Emerging Provincial PolicyDuring the Wind Energy Across Canada meeting this week, the Industry Leaders Panel during the plenary session agreed that the country’s wind energy industry is well positioned to build on its rapid growth to date and strong prospects for the next few years. However, for this to happen, there is a need to define the policy framework that will inform new electricity supply choices for the next decade.

While wind energy is expected to see strong and steady growth through 2016 across Canada, the country’s four largest wind energy markets (BC, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec) all have long-term planning processes underway that will determine how future wind energy development unfolds after 2016.

“There is little doubt that wind energy has become a significant and mainstream electricity source in all regions of Canada with another record year for installations expected in 2013,” said Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) President, Robert Hornung. “This does not mean, however, that our long-term future is guaranteed.”

Given provincial targets and pipeline projects already contracted to be built, Canada will see an average of 1,500 MW of new wind energy projects commissioned annually over the next three years.

Provincial governments across Canada are now engaged in processes to review future electricity demand and assess potential new supplies of electricity against some key criteria, including cost-effectiveness, environmental impact and economic benefits. By any objective measure, wind is well-positioned to meet all of these requirements. Wind is cost-competitive with almost any other generating technology, is one of the most environmentally sustainable sources of electricity available, and brings new jobs and investment to rural economies.

Alternative energy, International, Wind

Pennsylvania Says No to Renewable Energy as Climate Solution

Joanna Schroeder

Earlier this week, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced that it would not recommend the state’s Climate Change Advisory Committee (CCAC) debate or vote on a plan that considers increasing the state’s renewable energy law, the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS). The DEP also said that it would not be including information in Pennsylvania’s next Climate Action Plan about how the existing AEPS law reduces electricity prices for consumers.

“While other states in the region and around the country recognize the multiple benefits of renewable energy and have increased the requirements in their state portfolios, DEP is telling us upfront that they won’t consider the idea of increasing renewable energy in Pennsylvania,” said Christina Simeone, director of the PennFuture Energy Center and Chair of the CCAC. “This administration chooses to ignore the benefits renewable energy offers, including greenhouse gas reductions, cost reductions for electricity customers, and economic development opportunities. The administration claims they have an all-of-the-above policy yet their actions prove contrary.”

CITIZENS FOR PENNSYLVANIA'S FUTURE LOGOSimoene notes that increasing zero carbon renewable energy, such as wind and solar, are typically key elements of any strategy to address climate change. Not only do these technologies benefit the environment, she says, they create jobs and drive economic growth. In 2012, Pennsylvania added approximately 550 MW of wind, a significant portion of that total developed by Pennsylvania companies using turbines manufactured in the state.

The CCAC was established by law in 2008 and is charged with making recommendations to DEP on greenhouse gas reduction strategies and other actions to address climate change in Pennsylvania. Earlier this year, DEP staff introduced a plan to the CCAC that considered a modest increase in renewable energy from the existing 8 percent standard to a 10.5 percent standard. DEP later withdrew the plan for internal review and informed the CCAC they would not be re-introducing it. The Department also removed a detailed “price suppression” analysis describing how existing renewable energy requirements can reduce electricity prices for consumers.

“An August 2013 study from the Ohio Public Utility Commission found that existing and planned renewable energy projects would save customers $28.5 million by suppressing wholesale electricity market prices. Similar studies covering Pennsylvania have confirmed this cost saving phenomenon, yet DEP doesn’t want to include the information,” said Simeone.

Alternative energy, Electricity, Solar, Wind

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFHydro Dynamics, Inc. of Rome, Georgia has announced that it has been granted a patent, U.S. Patent Number: 8,430,968) covering its Shock Wave Power Reactor (SPR) cavitation technology for ethanol yield enhancement. The Patent covers the application of the SPR cavitation reactor to provide ethanol yield enhancement in the fuel ethanol industry. SPR technology uses the pressure fluctuations produced by controlled cavitation to liberate entrapped starch and sugar from corn, making them more available for conversion to ethanol during the fermentation process.
  • Texas Renewables 2013 has invited energy industry leaders to identify market opportunity, clarify new policy, define new financial tools and report on economic development across the Texas energy market. The Texas Renewables 2013 conference and exhibit will provide a solid understanding of the forces at play to further the vision of an “All-of-the-Above” energy world and discuss strategies to sustain continued growth for Texas energy providers as a whole. The conference runs November 11 – 13, 2013 in San Antonio, Texas.
  • Avianca Brasil has selected the Byogy Renewables Alcohol to Jet (“ATJ”) fully renewable aviation biofuel process to source their environment friendly alternate low carbon aviation fuels. Avianca Brasil is the fastest growing airline in Brazil and plans on leveraging the Byogy ATJ process and lead the world in the development of a truly sustainable renewable aviation fuel industry.
  • Dresser-Rand Group Inc. has reached agreement with MBB Clean Energy AG for the latter’s acquisition of three photovoltaic power plants designed, built and commissioned by Dresser-Rand in Italy. Dresser-Rand will provide long term O&M services, and the purchase is consistent with the company’s business model to stay integrally involved with its equipment throughout its total life cycle.
Bioenergy Bytes

UPS Ups Its LNG Game

Joanna Schroeder

UPS is once again increasing its commitment to liquified natural gas (LNG) with plans to invest nearly $50 million to build an additional nine LNG fueling stations bringing the total number of stations to 13. Four were announced in April of 2013 and these stations should be operational by the end of 2014.

The enhanced LNG fueling infrastructure will support the operation of approximately 1,000 UPS_LNG_tractor_high_resUPS LNG tractors that will displace more than 24 million gallons of diesel fuel annually. UPS has used LNG vehicles for more than a decade and says they have benefited from lower fuel prices compared to imported petroleum.

“The natural gas industry needs companies to commit to using natural gas to help establish a reliable alternative to traditional fuel, and that is just what UPS is doing,” said David Abney, UPS chief operating officer. “The UPS strategy is both environmentally friendly and economically viable. LNG is becoming more readily available, plus it’s more insulated from market volatilities than diesel fuel.”

The expansion will include on-site fueling stations in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. Construction is already underway at previously-announced UPS facilities in Tennessee and Texas. Currently, UPS operates LNG tractors in Las Vegas, Nev., Phoenix, Ariz., Beaver and Salt Lake City, Utah and, Ontario, Calif. UPS began using LNG tractors in its delivery fleet in 2002.

“Building these fueling stations is a solid future investment for UPS,” said Abney. “Since vehicles represent approximately 35 percent of UPS’s carbon footprint, a cornerstone of the company’s environmental strategy is to support the development and use of lower-emission alternative fuels. By 2017, our goal is to reach one billion miles driven by our alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet. To accomplish this goal the company must continue to innovate and help pave the way toward more sustainable transportation solutions.”

UPS operates one of the largest private alternative fuel fleets in the industry with more than 2,700 alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles. This includes all-electric, hybrid electric, hydraulic hybrid, CNG, LNG, liquid propane gas (LPG), biomethane, and light-weight fuel-saving composite body vehicles.

Between 2000 and the end of 2012, the UPS alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet logged 295 million miles. In 2012, the growing fleet drove 49 million miles, a 43 percent increase compared to 2011.

Alternative energy, Alternative Vehicles, Liquefied natural gas (LNG)

SGB Gets Financing to Turn Jatropha into Biodiesel

John Davis

SGBlogoA California-based biofuel maker has lined financing to grow jatropha to turn into biodiesel in Guatemala. This news release from SG Biofuels (SGB) says the company inked a deal with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for the debt financing of a 25,000 acre Jatropha bioenergy project that is estimated to cost about $76 million.

“The IDB’s decision to accept the mandate letter is a significant milestone and confirms that the project’s vision and benefits are aligned with the bank’s funding priorities,” said Kirk Haney, president and chief executive officer of SGB. “We look forward to working with the IDB to assure that the project meets the bank’s rigorous financial, technical and environmental standards.”

The project utilizes SGB’s improved Jatropha hybrids – an energy crop that is native to the Guatemala region – grown on sub-prime land that is not desirable for food production.

“The development of locally produced renewable energy is an important goal for Guatemala,” said Edwin Rodas, Guatemala’s deputy minister of mines and energy. “The ministry of energy supports the efforts of SGB and its team of partners and investors to develop a project that will directly address our objectives related to energy security, while promoting rural development through the creation of jobs in areas of the country that needs it most.”

The project is expected to 6.2 million gallons of plant oil and 640,000 metric tons of biomass per year while creating more than 1,000 new jobs.

Biodiesel, International

Pacific Ethanol Extracting Corn Oil for Biodiesel

John Davis

Pac-ethanol-logo2In an effort to add value to its ethanol operation, a western green fuel refinery is now extracting non-food grade corn oil that could be turned into biodiesel. This article from the Sacramento (CA) Business Journal says the Stockton, Calif. operation for Pacific Ethanol Inc. adds the corn oil extraction to the list of other products the plant produces, including wet distillers grain for animal feed.

“Corn oil production at our ethanol plants is an important strategy to further diversify our plant revenue streams and significantly improve operating income,” CEO Neil Koehler said in a news release.

The company operates plants in Stockton, Madera, Boardman, Ore., Burley, Idaho. The plant in Madera is currently idled. The Stockton plant is working at near capacity, [company spokesman] Paul Koehler said.

Pacific Ethanol is based in Sacramento and started in 2003.

Biodiesel, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Is Government Shutdown Affecting You

Talia Goes

zp-nhOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Is there a difference between animal welfare and animal rights?” Per the dictionary definition, animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals; animal rights is the idea that some or all nonhuman animals are entitled to the possession of their own lives, and that their most basic interests – such as an interest in not suffering – should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings. Looks like the majority of you are aware of the difference between the two.

Our poll results:

· Yes, different definitions – 56%
· Similar but not same – 26%
· Other – 10%
· No, mean the same thing – 8%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Is shutdown affecting you?” We want to know if you can tell a difference in your daily work, those issues affecting you and your family, or if you really can’t tell a difference. Let us know!

ZimmPoll

Hydro Dynamics Makes “ShockWaves” in Biogas Plant

Joanna Schroeder

Hydro Dynamics, Inc. (HDI) has announced Azienda Agricola Luzi, located in the Marche region of Italy, has installed the ShockWave Power Reactor (SPR) in their biogas plant. The plant has installed the BioSPR 15 model sized for its 100 KW capacity. It is the second fully commercial install of the SPR technology for biogas in Italy with several more planned
yet this year.

Hydro Dynamics LogoHDI has partnered with Three-Es of Milan, Italy for distribution of its ShockWave Power
Reactor (SPR) for biogas and other industries. Three-Es has created a strong foothold for the SPR technology in biogas in Italy and is looking to continue that success in other
countries and other applications.

Through the biogas process, waste food and agricultural products are converted to natural gas through bacterial digestion. The BioSPR makes the fats, sugars, proteins and starches more accessible to the bacteria, which increases yield and can reduce viscosity. The Italian biogas market is one of the world’s largest with more than 700 plants.

“Three-Es offers their customers a beautifully engineered SPR solution that, as their
motto says, is “One Step More’ ahead of the competition”, said Doug Mancosky, VP of
R&D for HDI. “Three-Es is helping to revolutionize biogas in Italy and the rest of
Europe. We are extremely excited about the immense biogas potential in both Italy and
worldwide.”

Alternative energy, biogas

Electric Vehicles Sales Continue to Surge

John Davis

PluginDay1Sales of electric vehicles continue to surge. During the recent 3rd annual National Plug In Day, the Sierra Club touted the accelerated growth in the market.

“Americans are finding out how liberating it can be to drive electric. We noticed a significant increase in electric vehicle sales following the last National Plug In Day, and the numbers keep rising,” said Plug In America president Richard Kelly. “More EVs are hitting the pavement, and they are selling. We’ve gone from 345 electric vehicles sold in December 2010 to 18,000 by December 2011 to 70,000 by the end of 2012. Last month American consumers bought more than 11,000 EVs, doubling EV sales from the previous month. To date, more than 130,000 EVs have been sold in the U.S. since late 2010 – with sales effectively growing by about 200% a year.”

“I’m going to let you in on a little secret: Today automakers are competing on innovation and efficiency, America has cut its oil use by 10 percent in the past eight years, and EVs are a big part of that success,” said Michael Brune, Sierra Club executive director. “National Plug In Day is our chance to take our electric cars on a victory lap. Sales are exploding, plug-in technology is beating gasoline-powered cars while saving Americans money on gas and reducing pollution.”

National Plug In Day, celebrated Sept. 28-29, is a cooperative venture between Plug In America, the Sierra Club, and the Electric Auto Association to demonstrate the advantages of electric vehicles to prospective buyers.

Electric Vehicles