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Ennovor Aims to be Biodiesel Leader with New Mgmt

John Davis

ennovorSingapore-based Ennovor Biofuels announced a trio of new managers as part of the company’s effort to become the world’s second largest second generation global biodiesel producer by 2015. This news release posted on the Sacramento Bee’s website says a new chairman, managing director and plant manager were put in place for Ennovor.

Chairman John Markham will take responsibility for guiding the strategic development of the business. He has held executive management positions with organisations such as ICI, Albright and Wilson and Hickson International. In January 1995, John was awarded the OBE for services to industry in West Cumbria, and also has significant experience in the regeneration sector…

David Frohnsdorff has been appointed managing director to coordinate all aspects of the company’s production, sales, feedstock development and purchasing, as well as fund raising and infrastructure development for the group. He has over four years of direct experience within the biodiesel industry, having first acquired the facility in Bromborough in 2009…

New plant manager David Jackson will manage plant operations. His experience includes managing ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, as well as environmental monitoring and technical problem resolution. Prior to joining Ennovor Group, David worked at Sellafield, where he managed the process engineering design and technology transfer processes on a number of projects based at the Capenhurst and Risley sites…

Established in 2010, Ennovor has facilities throughout Europe and Asia.

Biodiesel, International

Alt Fuel Finder? Yep, There’s an App for That

John Davis

appFinding the right place to fill up on alternative fuels might be as close as your iPhone. The Energy Department’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed a new, free mobile application for DOE’s Clean Cities program that helps users find a place to top off their tanks, whether it’s electricity, natural gas, biodiesel, e85 Ethanol, propane or hydrogen.

The Alternative Fueling Station Locator App, now available through Apple’s App Store, allows iPhone users to select an alternative fuel and find the 20 closest stations within a 30-mile radius. Users can view the locations on a map or as a list containing station addresses, phone numbers and hours of operation.

“If you drive an electric vehicle, for example, you can now use your iPhone to easily identify, contact and navigate to the charging station that is most convenient to you,” NREL Project Manager Trish Cozart said. “Generally, people don’t search for a station while they are sitting at a computer; they need this information while they are out and about, which makes a mobile application the ideal means to deliver it.”

“The number of alternative fuel vehicles on the road has been increasing steadily over the last two decades,” Cozart said. “Drivers and fleets have an unprecedented array of options to cut or eliminate petroleum use, and this new app serves as one more tool to make that easier.”

The app draws information from Clean Cities’ Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), which contains a database of information for more than 15,000 alternative fueling stations throughout the country.

App, Biodiesel, E85, Electric Vehicles, Ethanol, Government, Hydrogen, Natural Gas, Propane

Most Think Partisanship Biggest Obstacle to Farm Bill

Talia Goes

zp-nhOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, ”What’s the biggest threat to getting the Farm Bill done?”

Our poll results:
· Lack of bipartisanship – 39%
· Nutrition reform – 36%
· Other – 18%
· Animal ag issues – 7%

The farm bill conference committee has still only met once, but there is some hope they will have a compromise bill by Thanksgiving. In the meantime, fall means it’s hunting season in many areas of the country for various types of game and more hunters these days are using off-road vehicles. Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Which vehicle do you prefer for hunting?” Are you good with the basic four wheel ATV or does a bigger utility terrain vehicle better suit your hunting needs? Let us know.

ZimmPoll

New Report Highlights the Power of Geothermal

Joanna Schroeder

The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) and Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) have released a new joint report, “The Values of Geothermal Energy: A Discussion of the Benefits of Geothermal Power Provides to the Future of U.S. Power System“. The report addresses the role geothermal energy can play in states with Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) or Renewable Electricity Standards (RES) who are considering the full value of the power sources they use.

The Value of Geothermal ReportThe report was prepared by Ben Matek, GEA’s Industry Analyst, and Brian Schmidt, Librarian, GRC, and documents the many benefits of geothermal power.

“Geothermal power offers both firm and flexible solutions to the changing U.S. power system by providing a range of services including but not limited to baseload, regulation, load following or energy imbalance, spinning reserve, non-spinning reserve, and replacement or supplemental reserve,” the report begins.

Looking beyond the benefits to the power system, the report also summarizes other key benefits of geothermal power including economic and environmental benefits. “We are often asked about the full range of services and benefits available from geothermal,” Matek said. “So, we decided to join with GRC and put out a white paper that addresses these questions.”

“This is a timely report,” added Karl Gawell, GEA’s Executive Director. “The California PUC recently noted active questions before policy makers in California and elsewhere, specifically: ‘how increasing amounts of intermittent generation are impacting grid reliability, quantifying the impact and benefits of various resources to integrate intermittent generation, and what new policies should be adopted to manage the changing electric grid.’”

As the report indicates, these questions are gaining in importance as the United States expands its renewable power production, which today means “generating approximately 14% of the electricity” nationwide. Much of this is coming from wind and solar photovoltaic technologies that rely heavily on the prevailing weather conditions in order to generate power. However, the report note that “Geothermal energy is a renewable power source that can provide baseload and flexible power, quickly adjusting to fit the needs set by variable renewable energy technologies.

Alternative energy, Electricity, Geothermal, Research

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFLee Enterprises Consulting is hosting a webinar, “Maximizing and Stabilizing Your Rin Values in a Volatile Market,” on Thursday, November 14, 2013 beginning at 2:00 pm CST. The webinar will cover how RINS are sold; What is QAP Certification and how is it recognized; Why a producer would want to use a QAP program and what the the benefits are; and Which RIN sale method is best and what are the pros and cons of each. Click here for more information and to register.
  • Solectria Renewables is hosting a webinar to help EPC, project developers, integrators and other installs to understand what the process is to choose single-phase and three-phase inverters through 500kW.  During this webinar, the Solectria team will show how to string size a PV array and understand the technical details behind choosing an inverter for your array and the tools needed. Click here for more information.
  • California Ethanol & Power, LLC has announced that it has elevated Chief Operating Officer David R. Rubenstein to the positions of President and Chief Executive Officer. Current President, Jeffrey F. Lee, will assume the position of Manager Project Development/General Counsel.
  • John Jung, CEO of Greensmith Energy Management Systems has been recognized as a 2013 Smart Grid Pioneer by Smart Grid Today, for a second consecutive year. Greensmith Energy Management Systems is a provider of energy storage technologies and solutions with over 30 systems deployed utilizing its advanced, battery-agnostic technology platform. The company now offers “a la carte” energy storage software, design and grid integration services to a variety of energy storage participants.
Bioenergy Bytes

Renewable Fuels Video Contest: Enter Now

Joanna Schroeder

The 4th Annual “Fuel the Future” video contest has been official kicked off by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA). The high school student contest is seeking the best student-produced video promoting the use of ethanol, E15 and/or biodiesel. The top three video entries will receive prizes in the amounts of $1,000, $600 and $400 respectively; will be aired at the 2014 Iowa Renewable Fuel Summit on January 28; and will be featured on IRFA’s YouTube channel.

“The IRFA is excited to announce the launch of the 4th Annual ‘Fuel the Future’ high school video contest,” said IRFA Communications Director T.J. Page. “With new fueling options like E15, and interest in renewable fuels continuing to grow, we can’t wait to see how Iowa high school students promote renewable fuels to today’s motorists.”

Need some inspiration? Then look no further than last year’s winning video.

The “Fuel the Future” contest is limited to students currently attending high school (grades 9-12 in a public, private or home school) in Iowa. Video entries may not exceed two minutes in length and must be submitted to IRFA via DVD, flash drive, or secure web link. All completed video entries must be received in the IRFA office by January 16, 2014, to be considered for the contest. For more information, including the official entry form and contest rules, please visit the IRFA website. IRFA also extends a sincere thank you to the law firm of Faegre Baker Daniels for sponsoring this contest for the fourth consecutive year.

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Iowa RFA, Video

REG Boast Big 3rd Quarter for Biodiesel

John Davis

REG LogoBiodiesel producing giant Renewable Energy Group (REG) is boasting a big third quarter for its biodiesel operation. The Iowa-based company reports 77.6 million gallons of biodiesel sold in the third quarter 2013, an increase of 26 percent compared to the third quarter of 2012. In addition, revenues are up more than 40 percent compared to the same time a year ago for a total of $458.4 million. REG also achieved Adjusted EBITDA of $48.9 million during the third quarter 2013.

“We are pleased to report excellent performance in EBITDA, gallons produced, gallons sold, and revenues, driven by expanded nameplate production capacity and strong market demand,” said Daniel J. Oh, President and Chief Executive Officer.

“By July, we had upgraded Albert Lea and commenced operations at the New Boston biorefinery. During the quarter, we focused on increasing production at these new facilities. We now have eight biorefineries in production, including the recent addition of our Mason City, Iowa plant, with an annual nameplate capacity of 257 million gallons. In addition, network expansion enabled us to increase the gallons of biodiesel we market and sell from other biodiesel plants,” Oh added.

The 77.6 million gallons of biodiesel sold is a record for REG. Recently, the company increased and enhanced its production capabilities with the purchase of a 30 million gallon per year nameplate capacity biorefinery in Mason City, Iowa and REG’s New Boston, Texas plant coming on line this summer. This past quarter was also the first full quarter of a lower cost feedstock being used at the Albert Lea, Minn. facility.

Biodiesel, REG

Ohio Ethanol Plant Signs up for Enogen

Cindy Zimmerman

Corn featuring the Syngenta Enogen trait designed for ethanol production will soon be used at an Ohio biorefinery.

enogenSyngenta has signed a commercial agreement with Three Rivers Energy, LLC of Coshocton, Ohio, to use grain featuring Enogen trait technology following the 2014 corn harvest.

“We are thrilled to announce this agreement with Three Rivers Energy, as we extend our Enogen corn geography into Ohio, demonstrating the growing acceptance of Enogen technology and the value it is creating for ethanol plants, farmers and local communities,” said David Witherspoon, head of renewable fuels for Syngenta.

According to Syngenta, Enogen grain delivers alpha amylase enzyme in the corn kernel, eliminating the need for an ethanol plant to use liquid alpha amylase. The alpha amylase enzyme found in Enogen grain helps an ethanol plant reduce the viscosity of its corn mash and can lead to better levels of solids loading, which directly contributes to increased ethanol yields and throughput, as well as cost savings from reduced natural gas, energy, water and chemical usage.

Three Rivers Energy recently resumed ethanol production in Coshocton, Ohio. Its sister plant, Plymouth Energy, LLC (Merrill, Iowa) signed a commercial agreement with Syngenta in the fall of 2012 to use Enogen grain, and is currently completing its first year contracting with local growers to produce Enogen corn commercially. Three Rivers Energy and Plymouth Energy are operated by Lakeview Energy, LLC.

Three Rivers Energy is recruiting growers to produce Enogen corn in 2014 and will begin using the specialized corn grain in commercial production following the 2014 corn harvest. Growers under contract will deliver their Enogen grain to the ethanol plant and will be paid an average premium of 40 cents per bushel for their grain.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Facilities

LanzaTech’s Gas-to-Biofuel Earns RSB Certification

John Davis

lanzatechLanzaTech’s venture in China to turn steel mill waste gases into biofuel has earned an important sustainability certification. The company’s partnership with Shougang Jingtang Iron and Steel United Company and the Tang Ming Group is now Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) certified as sustainable for biofuels and biomaterials production. When commercially producing biofuels next year, the LanzaTech technology-enabled facility becomes the first RSB-certified biofuel plant in China.

“The joint venture uses a process that creates a sustainable biofuel and does so by efficiently reusing greenhouse gases that would have otherwise been released into the atmosphere,” said Peter Ryus, RSB Services’ CEO. “This solution, which does not impact the food chain or land use, meets the RSB principles and practices and serves as an example of how continued innovation in the industry will lead to sustainable biofuels in the future. We are honored to be working with LanzaTech and their joint venture partners on greenhouse gas reduction and global sustainability improvements.”

The use of novel gas fermentation technology to convert industrial waste gases into biofuels is aligned perfectly with the RSB Principles and Criteria, which go beyond greenhouse gas emissions reductions to focus on economic and social sustainability. By using a widely available waste resource located in areas typically unsuitable for agriculture, LanzaTech’s process reduces overall emissions without negatively impacting the food chain or causing land use changes. By enabling the production of fuels from available steelmaking waste, Beijing Shougang LanzaTech New Energy Science & Technology Co., Ltd. will help China balance economic growth with sustainability, as well as increase its supply of domestic biofuels.

“The RSB certification is an incredibly important step for the development of our commercial production facilities which we expect to bring online in 2014,” said Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech. “In addition, we trust this certification will help accelerate the acceptance of biofuels made through carbon capture technologies and serve to showcase the possibilities opened up by thinking of carbon emissions as an opportunity, not just a problem.”

LanzaTech is also partnering with Virgin Atlantic Airlines, one air travel company which prefers the RSB certification when getting sustainable biofuels for their operations.

biofuels, International, Waste-to-Energy

DuPont: Lowering RVO Targets Would Be a Mistake

John Davis

Jan KoninckxA company with experience successfully commercializing a variety of new technologies says it would be a mistake if government targets for renewable fuels are lowered. During yesterday’s Fuels America conference call on the prospect the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could drop renewable volume obligations (RVOs) next year from the statutory level of 14.4 billion gallons to between 12.36 and 13.18 billion, DuPont Global Business Director for Biorefineries Jan Koninckx said they were shocked by the leaked draft proposal.

“We’re very concerned about the RVO numbers that have been leaked,” although he admitted they’re not sure if those numbers are even factual. “But it’s a reversal, it’s something that very much surprises and disappoints us, and is something that will rob the country of a great opportunity.”

Koninckx also pointed out that DuPont has a long history of commercializing new technologies, and he’s sure advanced cellulosic will be successful as well. DuPont’s $200 million advanced cellulosic biorefinery in Nevada, Iowa is on target to start operations sometime next year, so the company has an obvious stake in the success of the technology, something that will be helped as long as the EPA sticks to its guns on the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS).

“If we implement the RFS as it is conceived and put in place, then we will see great benefits, as we already see from corn ethanol,” he said.

When asked if Congress will extend the cellulosic ethanol tax credit and how the possible lowering of the RVOs might have an impact, Koninckx said he just doesn’t know what Washington will do these days. But he thinks the extension would certainly promote more investment in the cellulosic industry, although DuPont has been in this business since the early 2000s and is staying in.

“Are we going to shift our strategy and change what we do on the basis of one EPA decision? No. We’re in this for the long haul. This is technology that is very viable and is going to see the light of day.”

You can here Koninckx’s opening remarks and response to the first question here: DuPont's Jan Koninckx

And you can listen to or download the entire conference call here: Fuels America press conference

advanced biofuels, Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Fuels America, RFA, RFS