Abengoa Completes Khi Solar One Tower

Joanna Schroeder

Abengoa together with project partners Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Khi Community Trust, recently welcomed representatives from the government of South Africa to celebrate the completion of the construction of the Khi Solar One tower. According to the company, this achievement marks an important milestone in the execution of this project, a significant development for CSP tower technology itself, as well as a strong positive impact on the community and the country.

A delegation, including members of the South African government, visited the 205-meter tall tower of Khi Solar One in the Northern Cape province near Upington, where the national flag was raised next to those of the project partners. Guests were given a tour through the installation and some of the suppliers’ facilities.

Abengoa Khi Solar OneKhi Solar One, a 50 MW superheated steam solar tower with two hours of thermal storage, represents an important technological advance in tower efficiency by using higher temperatures and an innovative dry cooling system says Abengoa. This advancement comes on the heels of the R&D work done by the company in its research centers and pilot plants.

Khi Solar One and KaXu Solar One, Abengoa’s 100 MW parabolic trough plant also under construction in the Northern Cape, will be the first concentrating solar power plants in operation in South Africa. The South Africa Department of Energy intends to bring 17,800 MW online from renewable sources by 2030, framing South Africa’s strategy for energy independence. The solar projects form a part of this strategy, as well as have additional environmental benefits: creating roughly 1400 local construction jobs on average per annum, peaking near 2000, and about 70 permanent operation jobs, as well as reducing the country’s carbon dioxide emissions by about 498,000 tons each year.

Electricity, International, Renewable Energy, Solar

Biodiesel Feedstock Camelina Genome Sequenced

John Davis

GenomePrairieA Canadian company has announced the release of the genome for camelina, a rising, important feedstock for biodiesel. This Genome Prairie news release says the company’s “Prairie Gold” project was started as a public-private partnership between Genome Prairie, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the National Research Council Canada:

Camelina is a technically difficult species to sequence, and the latest in next-generation sequencing techniques were needed in order to assemble a complete and high quality genome sequence. One interesting feature is that the gene complement appears to be almost three times larger than that of Arabidopsis thaliana, the closely related species that is widely used as a model in laboratory settings. This is likely the result of two genome duplication events in a common ancestor in Camelina’s evolutionary past.

According to Reno Pontarollo, CEO of Genome Prairie, “the completion of the Camelina genome sequence marks an important milestone that will enable local businesses to be more innovative in developing Camelina-based value-added industrial bioproducts.”

The most important use of the genome sequence will be for current and future breeding applications. “When combined with a high-density genetic map, also developed as part of the project, we now have the most complete picture of the Camelina genome to-date,” said lead Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada scientist, Isobel Parkin.

Scientists say the sequence will help them develop improved varieties of camelina. You can see the sequence at www.camelinadb.ca.

Biodiesel, feedstocks

Louisiana Animal Fat-to-Diesel Plant Hits Capacity

John Davis

darlingA Louisiana plant that turns animal fats, used cooking oil and other waste grease into diesel fuel hit capacity this week in its startup phase. This article in The Advocate in Baton Rouge says the Diamond Green Diesel plant, a joint venture between Darling International Inc. and Valero Energy Corp., can now produce about 9,300 barrels per day of biodiesel and will get more reliable after a heat exchanger is changed out.

Diamond Green’s website says it expects to convert about 1.1 billion pounds of fat and restaurant grease into 137 million gallons of green diesel per year — an estimated 9,300 barrels per day.

At that rate, the company would be converting up to 11 percent of the country’s animal fat and used cooking oil into a fuel that has the same properties as petroleum diesel.

The project follows two years of planning and development after the U.S. Department of Energy said it would back a $241 million loan guarantee to help build the plant, which the agency said would create about 60 jobs.

Darling International Inc. of Irving, Texas, supplies the feedstock for the plant. The company recycles beef, poultry and pork by-products into useable ingredients such as tallow, feed-grade fats, meat and bone meal, poultry meal and hides. The company also recovers and converts used cooking oil and commercial bakery residuals into feed and fuel ingredients.

The plant, located right next to Valero’s St. Charles refinery, started operations earlier this summer.

Biodiesel, Waste-to-Energy

Illinois Congressman Thinks RFS Needs Fixing

Cindy Zimmerman

fps13-shimkusHouse Energy Committee member Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL) is leaning toward a legislative fix for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

“The reality is the 2007 bill…was not a good bill in that it said there would have this supply (of cellulosic ethanol) which never materialized,” Shimkus said during an interview at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur Tuesday. “Because of this we have this mechanism to identify what’s being put in the market, called a RIN, and there’s volatility in that RIN pricing.”

Shimkus represents both sides of the issue in his district on the Eastern side of Illinois. “I’ve got corn growers, I’ve got renewable refiners and I’ve got petroleum refiners,” he said. “We’re going to try to fix the volatility of the RINS … but the RFS is not going away.”

The congressman expects his committee will approve and the House will move something to address the volatility and the Senate will be having a hearing on the RFS next month.

Listen to Shimkus talk about the RFS here: Interview with Rep. John Shimkus

Audio, Ethanol, RFS

Ethanol is You

Joanna Schroeder

ACE13-jenningsDuring the opening session of the 26th Annual Ethanol Conference, hosted by the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Executive Vice President Brian Jennings gave an update on what was happening in Washington, D.C. One huge issue the ethanol industry is dealing with is the future of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Jennings noted that the success of the industry hinges on the ability to keep the RFS in tact.

Jennings also took a moment to thank the people in the audience. Why? Because he said, many ACE members have taken great steps to advance and promote the industry. “The truth is, the most important people in the industry aren’t the lobbyists like me who do work for you. The most important people in the industry are the people like you sitting in this room.”

Jennings gave examples of ethanol plants and companies that have done great jobs of telling their personal stories and he encouraged others to become more involved. Legislators need to hear these personal stories to better understand how ethanol benefits not only rural areas but the country.

Listen to Brian Jennings remarks here: Ethanol is You

Visit the ACE 26th Annual Ethanol Conference photo album.

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Audio, Ethanol, RFS

Fungus & Bacteria Join Forces for Better Biofuels

Joanna Schroeder

Several University of Michigan researchers have joined together a fungus and E. coli bacteria to turn tough, waste plant material into isobutanol – a product that can be converted into biochemicals and biofuels. A paper based on this research, “Design and characterization of synthetic fungal-bacterial consortia for direct production of isobutanol from cellulosic biomass,” was published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Xiaoxia “Nina” Lin, assistant professor of chemical engineering, and leader of the research said her team used corn stalks and leaves to produce the isobutanol. Focused on creating a super team of microbial specialists, the team landed on the fungus Trichoderma reesei, an up and coming  star when its comes breaking down tough plant material into sugars. Escherichia coli, meanwhile, is relatively easy for researchers to genetically modify and the team used a strain developed by James Liao’s lab at the University of California – Los Angeles that had been engineered to convert sugars into isobutanol.

The Lin group put both microbe species into a bioreactor and served up corn stalks and leaves. Colleagues at Michigan State University had pre-treated the roughage to make it easier to digest. “If you’ve ever had puffed rice cereal, it’s somewhat analogous,” said Jeremy Minty, first author of the paper and a recent doctoral graduate in Lin’s lab.

The fungi turned the roughage into sugars that fed both microbe species with enough left over to produce isobutanol. The team managed to get 1.88 grams of isobutanol per liter of fluid in the ecosystem, the highest concentration reported to date for turning tough plant materials into biofuels. They also converted a large proportion of the energy locked in the corn stalks and leaves to isobutanol – 62 percent of the theoretical maximum.Read More

advanced biofuels, biobutanol, biochemicals, Research, Video

Biodiesel Plant in a Box Hit at Minnesota State Fair

John Davis

A cargo container seems to be garnering some attention at this year’s Minnesota State Fair. But this isn’t your ordinary, run-of-the-mill shipping box. This article in the Star-Tribune says it’s built to brew biodiesel:

SarTec Corp., an Anoka-based company in the agricultural nutrients and biodiesel business, has developed the unit. It is a smaller, portable version of the Mcgyan technology used in the Ever Cat Fuels biodiesel plant in Isanti, Minn.

mcneff“It will allow the farmer to produce all their diesel on the farm to run all their operations,” said Clayton McNeff, a SarTec vice president and co-inventor of the biodiesel technology used in the unit and the Isanti plant.

The unit, which has been tested for about 40 days, is being shown publicly for the first time at the fair. It was developed with a $400,000 state grant, matched by SarTec.

“A lot of people have stopped by,” said David Wendorf, marketing director for Ever Cat Fuels and SarTec, who manned the unit on the fair’s first day. “We’ve had farmers. We’ve had individuals who were aware of the Mcgyan technology, school kids …. We have seen an increased awareness in renewable fuels.”

SarTec is doing some research into energy crops, exploring the potential of camelina and even looking at whether some weed seeds might make a good feedstock as well.

There’s not a price tag on the biorefinery-in-a-box just yet, but SarTec officials expect it to cost about the same as a combine and fully automated.

Biodiesel

SolarShield Offsets Cloudy Days

Joanna Schroeder

Potential commercial solar project investors have growing concerns about what happens with the sun doesn’t shine. In response to this issue, Walsh Carter & Associates Insurance Services has created SolarShield, a true performance warranty that will guarantee the minimum revenue generated by solar photovoltaic (PV systems) in the event of production shortfalls.

WC_SolarWarrantyChart“We are proud to offer the only true performance warranty for the solar industry backed by a highly rated carrier,” said David Saisi, Vice President of Business Development within Walsh Carter’s solar practice. “Unlike the others, claims do not require proof of negligence or defect on the part of the system developer. Ours is a simple policy that acts as a backstop for financial institutions that are concerned about system performance. Our policy will make up any lost revenue due to system underperformance and it names the bank or financial backer as the loss payee for any claims.”

SolarShield expands upon Walsh Carter’s existing solar product called Total SPF Solar Protection Package — which offers comprehensive coverage for fiscal risks associated with all phases of commercial solar energy projects, including liability or property damage. The company says there are several reasons why SolarShield is different than other products: multi-year policy of three years (other companies only offer renewable one year policies).; financial institution named as the “loss payee” (when there is a claim, the financier receives the check from the insurance company); and a large volume of solar business allows Walsh Carter to negotiate the lowest rates available for clients.

Luigi Resta, Chief Executive Officer of Scatec Solar North America, Inc., added, “Solar insurance is a very specialized field that requires a depth of knowledge about the many fiscal issues associated. The Walsh Carter team has proven invaluable throughout our direct involvement with the financing, construction and operation of PV arrays since our company’s beginning.”

SolarShield’s renewable three year performance warranty program provides an affordable insured guarantee. Underwritten by a highly respected carrier with AM Best “A” and S & P “A+” ratings, this program is consistent with the requirements of many financial institutions, statutory energy funds and investment groups to provide a comprehensive insured performance warranty as part of the financing conditions.

Renewable Energy, Solar

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFReneSola has announced the completion of a 2MW solar PV facility using ReneSola panels in Jamestown, California by San Francisco-based solar developer EcoPlexus Inc. The project’s energy is contracted to Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) under a 20-year power purchase agreement under the Schedule E-SRG tariff.
  • GDF SUEZ Energy Resources NA is donating renewable energy certificates (RECs) to the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to match 100 percent of electricity consumption at the 2013 US Open that began on August 26, 2013 and ends September 9, 2013. The tournament is being held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in the New York City borough of Queens.
  • Bechtel has completed construction of the Catalina Solar Photovoltaic Generating Facility. The company designed the 110-megawatt alternating-current solar plant located in Southern California’s Kern County. The facility will produce enough clean energy to power some 35,000 homes. It was built on 900 acres and includes a 7.2-mile (11.6-kilometer) transmission line that connects the facility to the substation.
  • Genomatica has announced the addition of Just Jansz to its Board of Directors. Jansz has 30 years of international experience as an accomplished senior executive in the chemical industry with leaders such as LyondellBasell and Shell. He will provide uniquely well-grounded insights as Genomatica expands the licensing of its bio-based process technology to industry leaders worldwide.
Bioenergy Bytes

Dakota Bioprocessing Consortium Established

Joanna Schroeder

Four universities in North Dakota and South Dakota have been awarded a $6 million grant to establish the Dakota Bioprocessing Consortium (DakotaBioCon) to conduct collaborative research. The award is funded by the National Science Foundation Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. The consortium includes North Dakota State University, the University of North Dakota, South Dakota State University and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

South Dakota LogosThe primary goal of DakotaBioCon is to establish a multi-state, multi-institution, multi-disciplinary research collaboration that will produce economically viable renewable replacements for existing petrochemicals. The research collaborators will use lignin as a starting raw material. Lignin binds cellulose fibers in wood and plants and will be converted into renewable chemical and polymeric alternatives to petrochemicals.

“The combined research talent at the four institutions in two states provides an opportunity to join forces to develop DakotaBioCon, maximizing research in the field of renewable replacements to existing petrochemicals,” said Philip Boudjouk, co-chair of North Dakota EPSCoR.

DakotaBioCon will leverage its relationships with existing programs and centers such as UND/NDSU’s Sustainable Energy Research Initiative and Supporting Education (SUNRISE) program, the SDSU-based SunGrant Initiative, and the SDSMT/SDSU-based Center for Bioprocessing Research and Development to achieve its objectives.

Phyllis E. Johnson, co-chair of North Dakota EPSCoR said of the project, “This project provides an important opportunity to use our research talents to create new, high-value products from agricultural waste products, thus strengthening further the largest sector of our state economy.”Read More

advanced biofuels, biomass, biomaterials, Research