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

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFThe South Dakota Safety Council has awarded a Governor’s Safety Award to POET Biorefining – Hudson for excellence in workplace safety and health. Awards were presented by South Dakota Lieutenant Governor Matt Michels.
  • Ag Leaders is hosting a webinar on October 29th at 8:00 PM CDT and will feature an interview with Geoff Cooper of the Renewable Fuels Association about the future of ethanol, and it’s impact on the corn market. Participants can send questions ahead of time, and for those not able to attend, the webinar will be recorded.
  • The Chinese glaciologist and climate scientist Dr. Qin Dahe has been awarded this year’s Volvo Environment Prize. Dr. Dahe is a key contributor to the fifth assessment report from the UN climate panel (IPPC), whose first section, the “Physical Science Basis,” was released in September. He attracted wide attention last year with a report on how climate change leads to more extreme weather events.
  • The IND Solar Farm at the Indianapolis International Airport, with project partners General Energy Solutions, Telamon Corporation, Johnson Melloh Solutions, Indianapolis Airport Authority and Indianapolis Power and Light Company, has commissioned its 12.5 MW DC solar photovoltaic project. The IND Solar Farm, the largest airport-based solar farm in North America, consists of 44,128 panels, producing 12.5 megawatts DC of power on 75 acres of land at the Indianapolis International Airport.
Bioenergy Bytes

EcoEngineers Recieves “Waste Stream” Funding

Joanna Schroeder

EcoEngineers has been awarded a State Energy Program Formula grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) to conduct a feasibility study of waste-to-energy projects in Iowa. The grant will enable EcoEngineers to evaluate the economic and technical feasibility of converting biogenic waste streams from Iowa’s agricultural, livestock and industrial operations and municipal solid waste into renewable natural gas (biogas).

livestock“We are grateful that IEDA chose our project. And, we are excited to be able to advance Iowa’s position as a leader in sustainability and renewable energy technology and production,” said EcoEngineers’ Managing Partner Shashi Menon. “This feasibility study is just one more example of Iowa’s commitment to innovative sustainable practices that could very well result in a future increase to the State’s economy.”

The study will compare costs and revenues associated with generating biogas from anaerobic digestion of waste streams. It will also look at existing biogas collection systems at landfills, and it will offer an analytical tool to determine optimum end use for the biogas. The anticipated outcome of the project is to demonstrate that alternative waste treatment options, such as anaerobic digestion systems are economically feasible and financially viable. The report and tools generated from this project will be free and available for the public to use.

“We are excited to partner with EcoEngineers on this project. Having the tools and resources to make decisions regarding waste-to-energy projects will not only spur economic development in the state but also assist in meeting a number of environmental goals like reduced emissions and improved water and air quality,” said Paritosh Kasotia, Energy Team Leader for the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

Iowa is a good location for the study because the state leads the nation in agriculture, meat production and production of renewable fuels. These industries generate waste streams that are rich in organic material that can be broken down to produce biogas, EcoEngineers Logocomprised mostly of methane and carbon dioxide. Biogas can be used as a fuel in a gas engine where it is converted into electricity and heat, and can also be purified and compressed, the same way natural gas is compressed to CNG, and used to power motor vehicles.

Other incentives for the project include current federal policy under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) that allows biogas from manure digesters and sewage treatment plants to qualify for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs). However, the biogas must be used as transportation fuel. Over the past three years, EcoEngineers has supplied engineering and regulatory expertise for several landfill biogas and anaerobic digester projects and successfully connected the projects with environmental credit (RIN) markets, thus closing the loop to allow for financing. Through these projects, EcoEngineers has helped bring over 72 million gallon-equivalents of biogas generation capacity into commerce.

biogas, Renewable Energy, Waste-to-Energy

DOE Awards $60M in Solar Projects

Joanna Schroeder

Energy Secretary Moniz has announced $60 million in funding to support innovative solar energy research and development. The awards are part of DOE’s SunShot Initiative and will help lower the cost of solar electricity, advance seamless grid integration and support a growing U.S. solar workforce.

“The tremendous growth in the U.S. solar industry over the past few years is helping to pave the way to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future that protects our air and water and provides affordable clean energy to more and more Americans,” said Moniz. “Responsible development of all of America’s rich energy resources is an important part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan and will help ensure America’s continued leadership in clean energy innovation.”

Union-County-Renewable-Energy-ProgramAccording to DOE, over the last three years, the cost of a solar energy system has dropped by more than 70 percent – helping to give more and more American families and businesses access to affordable, clean energy. The series of awards just announced are intended to further reduce costs – including soft costs like permitting, installation and interconnection– and to improve hardware performance and efficiency.

Since 2007, more than 50 American start-ups have participated in the SunShot Incubator Program – attracting more than $1.7 billion in private sector backing, or nearly $18 for every $1 of government support. As part of this announcement, DOE is investing more than $12 million across 17 companies to help commercialize a wide range of technologies and services – from online tools that can map a rooftop’s solar potential in seconds to automated installation systems for utility scale photovoltaic plants.

The Energy Department is also awarding approximately $16 million to four projects that will help develop solar devices that near the theoretical efficiency limits of single junction solar cells, or about 30 percent efficiency. The Department is also awarding about $7 million to develop stronger, more reliable solar components as well as dependable performance tests for microinverters and microconverters. They provide easier installation and more effective capture of energy for both photovoltaic and concentrating solar power systems. Together, these awards are helping to accelerate breakthroughs in solar energy conversion efficiency and performance – driving further cost reductions.

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar

More Oil from Plants Could Increase Biodiesel Output

John Davis

oil-production1Government scientists have found the genes that increase the oil production in plant leaves, and that could increase the amount of biodiesel that can be squeezed out of plants. This news release from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory says finding a way to enhance that oil expression in those parts of the plant could have significant implications for biofuel production.

“If we can transfer this strategy to crop plants being used to generate renewable energy or to feed livestock, it would significantly increase their energy content and nutritional values,” said Brookhaven biochemist Changcheng Xu, who led the research. The experiments were carried out in large part by Xu’s group members Jilian Fan and Chengshi Yan.

Think about it in the familiar terms of calories: Oil is twice as energy-dense as carbohydrates, which make up the bulk of leaves, stems, and other vegetative plant matter. “If you want to cut calories from your diet, you cut fat and oils. Conversely, if you want to increase the caloric output of your biofuel or feed for livestock, you want more oil,” said Xu.

But plants don’t normally store much oil in their leaves and other vegetative tissues. In nature, oil storage is the job of seeds, where the energy-dense compounds provide nourishment for developing plant embryos. The idea behind Xu’s studies was to find a way to “reprogram” plants to store oil in their more abundant forms of biomass.

The biggest challenge for the researchers was finding the oil production genes in the vegetative part of the plant, where the oil isn’t normally stored. If this works out, scientists could find ways to transfer the technology to biomass-dedicated crops.

Biodiesel, Research