NASCAR Driver Dillion Visits POET Plant

Joanna Schroeder

NASCAR® driver Austin Dillon visited POET-Biorefining – Portland (Ind.) as part of his American Ethanol Heartland Tour. Dillon toured the biorefinery, signed autographs and took part in a Q&A with POET team members and farmers.

Austin Dillon2Dillon’s Midwest tour takes him from Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. to Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Along the way, he is making a number of stops and touting the benefits of using clean, American-made biofuel. Fans can track his progress by following his Twitter account @AustinDillon3.

“I’m glad I can show my fans how important the environment is,” said Dillon. “Driving on, and supporting, American Ethanol, a cleaner, homegrown, renewable fuel, is a key part of our future. The road trip to Eldora Speedway in a Chevrolet Flex Fuel Tahoe, visit to the Portland, Indiana, POET Biorefining plant, social media interaction with my fans and this Wednesday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Eldora Speedway in the No. 39 American Ethanol Chevrolet Silverado all help highlight the benefits of running E15.”

Dillon drove the No. 39 American Ethanol Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in the Inaugural Mudsummer Classic NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Eldora Speedway on Wednesday evening, where Dillon’s race car was fueled by Sunoco Green E15. Dillion took top honors with a win for him, and for ethanol.

“It was a real honor for us to be able to meet Austin today,” POET Portland General Manager Matt Tomano said. “He and others in NASCAR are doing a great job demonstrating that E15 is a high-performance fuel that’s good for America. We are proud to be doing our part in producing that biofuel.”

American Ethanol, biofuels, E15, Ethanol

N.C. Biofuels Center To Shutter Its Windows

Joanna Schroeder

According to an article in the Triangle Business Journal, the N.C. Biofuels Center will close down “within weeks” as lawmakers moved to vote on a state budget that cuts off its $2 million in annual state funding. The facility is focused on conducting research on Thin BF_logo4c_URLtransportation fuels derived from cellulosic grasses and other non-food crops. In addition to state funding, the center also receives funds from out-of-state biofuel companies.

According to Wil Glenn, N.C. Biofuels Center spokesman, It’s a nominally independent nonprofit corporation, but its budget has come almost entirely from annual appropriations by the N.C. General Assembly.

However, according to Anne Tazewell, who leads the Clean Transportation Program at the N.C. Solar Center, a division within N.C. State University, a provision of the state budget would fund five new positions to conduct biofuels research at the Agriculture Department.

biofuels, Research

Deep Water Wind Turbines Hold Energy Key

Joanna Schroeder

According to a new report from the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), “Deep Water, the next step for offshore energy,” deep water wind turbines are key to unlocking the massive energy potential in Europe’s Atlantic and Mediterranean seas and the deepest parts of the North Sea.

The report finds that floating turbines in North Sea deep waters alone could power Europe four times over. Offshore wind in Europe could be providing 145 million households with renewable electricity and employing 318,000 people by 2030, while providing energy security, technology exports, and no greenhouse gases.

EWEA Deep Water Report“To allow this sector to realise its potential and deliver major benefits for Europe, a clear and stable legislative framework for after 2020 – based on a binding 2030 renewable energy target – is vital. This must be backed by an industrial strategy for offshore wind including support for R&D,” said Jacopo Moccia, Head of Policy Analysis at EWEA.

The report found that floating turbine designs are cost-competitive with fixed-bottom designs in waters over 50 metres deep and if challenges are successfully met, the first full-scale deep offshore wind farms could be producing power by 2017 up from the up from the two floating turbines currently supplying electricity from European waters.

Electricity, Energy, International, offshore wind, Wind

Crude Oil Rise Fuels Biodiesel Feedstocks Rise

John Davis

The recent rise in crude oil prices are fueling a rise in some of the feedstocks for biodiesel. Bloomberg reportssoybeans that palm oil and soybean oil prices rose this week as petroleum prices also climbed:

“One of the reasons that is pushing demand for palm oil is biodiesel,” said Sim Han Qiang, an analyst at Phillip Futures Pte. in Singapore. “When crude oil prices go up, there’ll be high demand for biodiesel.”

Increased blending requirements in the Americas and Indonesia’s foray into biodiesel as a major producer will create demand for biofuel feedstock, Yusof said.

Soybean oil for delivery in December climbed 0.6 percent to 45.57 cents a pound on the Chicago Board of Trade. Soybeans for delivery in November rose 0.2 percent to $12.7675 a bushel.

The article adds that food demands are also helping fuel the rise for vegetable oils.

Biodiesel, feedstocks

Using Drones to Scout Fields

Talia Goes

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What use would you have for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle?”

Our poll results:

· Crop analysis 25%
· Improve nutrient & crop protection efficiency 18%
· Just for fun! 18%
· Maximize yields 15%
· More efficient water use 7%
· Monitor livestock 8%
· Other 8%

So what do you think from the looks of the results? Are UAVs the next big technology “trend” for farmers who need to scout fields?

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, ” How many ag-related apps do you have?” According to a recent Successful Farming survey, 28% of farmers polled “normally use apps to obtain information on agricultural products and/or services.” Are you one of the 28% and if so, how many different apps to you use? Let us know what you think.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

ZimmPoll

EPA Can Fix RFS Problems

Cindy Zimmerman

hearing-martinThere may be some issues with the Renewable Fuel Standard that need to be addressed, but they could be done at the administrative level, rather than repealing the entire law or having Congress make changes. That according to a Senior Scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists Clean Vehicles Program.

Dr. Jeremy Martin testified at a House Energy subcommittee hearing this week that they believe the RFS is an important policy tool and should remain in place and no legislative changes should be made to it. “Fortunately the RFS was designed with a great deal of flexibility,” Dr. Martin said. “We’re not moving forward as fast as we hoped to be in 2007 but the RFS is still pointing us in the right direction.”

Martin noted that the real goal of the RFS is to move beyond corn-based ethanol into advanced and cellulosic biofuels, but that can only be achieved if the law remains in place. “The RFS is based on smart goals, not just more biofuels but better biofuels,” he said, noting that repeal or legislative changes “would lock in place the status quo of 90% gasoline and 10% corn ethanol and chill investment in cellulosic biofuels just as the first commercial facilities are starting up.”

Dr. Martin and other witnesses, including Bob Dinneen with the Renewable Fuels Association and Mike McAdams of the Advanced Biofuels Association, pointed out that several commercial advanced biofuels facilities are starting up or under construction now.

Listen to Martin’s testimony here: Dr. Jeremy Martin, UCS

Audio, biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, RFS

Algae Biomass Summit: A Must Attend

Joanna Schroeder

The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) will be hosting its 7th annual Algae Biomass Summit this fall, September 30-October 3, 2013 in Orlando, Florida. To get an overview of ABO logokey speakers and topics, I turned to ABO Executive Director Mary Rosenthal. To date, Rosenthal said that have nearly 100 speakers confirmed along with a huge poster presentation and more than 60 exhibitors.

One of the key sessions, according to Rosenthal, is, “The Algae Fuel Solution – Updates from Algenol Biofuels, Sapphire Energy and Federal Express”. The session will be moderated by Tim Portz, Executive Editor, Biomass Magazine and panelists include Paul Woods, CEO, Algenol Biofuels;  Cynthia “CJ” Warner, CEO & Chairman, Sapphire Energy Inc; and Joel Murdock, Managing Director, Federal Express.

MR Edited HeadshotBecause of the changing nature of the industry, Rosenthal said they will be following this session with a presentation focused on “beyond fuels” or a session discussing feed, nutrition, specialty chemicals and products. This session will be moderated by Jim Lane, Editor and Publisher of Biofuels Digest, and panelists include Tim Burns, President, BioProcess Algae; Dan Simon, President & CEO, Heliae; Mike Van Drunen, CEO & Founder, Algix LLC; and Greg Bafalis, CEO, Aurora Algae.

I asked, politics aside, why the algae industry is such a great industry. “You have to look at algae and what it provides. It’s efficient at producing oil, you have superior yields, you don’t use valuable agricultural land, and we don’t take away from food crops,” Rosenthal explained, who also noted that the industry doesn’t take away from fresh water resources. “And we have the potential to recycle carbon from industrial power plants and re-mediate waste water.”

In addition to the sessions, there will also be some pre and post-conference tours. Rosenthal said she is especially excited about the visit to Algenol’s commercial development campus that includes 70,000 square feet of world-class molecular biology, culture collection, physiology, aquaculture, analytical chemistry and engineering laboratories.

All of these topics and more will be discussed during the Summit. To learn more about the Algae Biomass Summit and to register online, click here.

Listen to my interview with ABO Executive Director Mary Rosenthal here:Algae Biomass Summit: A Must Attend

advanced biofuels, algae, Audio

SolarStrong To Aid Oahu-Stationed Military

Joanna Schroeder

SolarCity has announced plans to add 12.8 megawatts of new solar generation capacity to provide solar power to an estimated 7,500 military homes at Lend Lease-managed Island Palm Communities throughout the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Military communities include Fort Shafter, Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield, Aliamanu Military SolarCity SolarStrong Project in NMReservation, Helemano Military Reservation and Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawai’i. The projects are the latest to be announced under SolarCity’s SolarStrong initiative, a five-year plan to build more than $1 billion in solar projects to provide power to up to 120,000 military homes in the United States.

“Hawai’i is dependent upon petroleum for approximately 75 percent of its energy needs, making the military’s further adoption of solar a win for national security as well as the environment,” said Aaron Gillmore, SolarCity’s vice president of solar development.

In addition to SolarStrong, SolarCity is pursuing a veteran hiring initiative as part of its Workforce Development program. The company currently employs more than 100 veterans in various positions, including IT, sales, managerial, administration, design and installation. SolarCity has partnered with several veteran programs across the country, including Veteran Affairs national offices, JPMorgan Chase & Co’s ‘100,000 Jobs Mission,’ Swords to Plowshares, The California National Guard, The California Conservation Corps and Veterans Green Jobs. SolarCity was recently recognized by the Employment Development Department (EDD) and the California Employer Advisory Council (CEAC) for “outstanding service in the employment of veterans” for the year 2013 and also received the “Outstanding Industry Partner Award” from Veterans Green Jobs.

Electricity, Energy, military, Solar

Gevo Supplies Coast Guard with Isobutanol

Joanna Schroeder

Gevo, Inc. has begun supplying the U.S. Coast Guard R&D Center with initial quantities of finished 16.1% renewable isobutanol-blended gasoline for engine testing. The U.S. Coast Guard R&D Center is using the Gevo-blended fuel as part of a 12-month, long-term gevooperational study on marine engines that began during June. The testing is being performed under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between the U.S. Coast Guard, Honda, and Mercury and will focus on two of the Coast Guard’s platform boats — 38-foot Special Purpose Craft -Training Boat & 25-foot Response Boat – Small.

“Gevo’s proprietary isobutanol-blended gasoline is truly a drop-in fuel, deliberately designed to be fully compliant with marine fuel specifications, including fit-for-purpose properties,” said Patrick Gruber, Gevo’s chief executive officer. “Isobutanol’s low-water solvency and non-corrosive characteristics will offer consumers a high-performance, renewable biofuel ideally suited for a wide variety of marine engine applications.”

The U.S. Coast Guard completed a 3 month round of testing in Florida earlier this year under the CRADA with Honda engines running on fuel supplied by Gevo which contained 16.1% renewable isobutanol. Engines were run at full throttle for an 8 hour day for several months and then broken down and inspected. Testing of Gevo’s fuel will take place at the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center in Yorktown, Va.

Mike Coleman, Project Manager at the USCG R&D Center said, “We are pleased so far with our testing of isobutanol as a potential alternative to ethanol as a blend stock in gasoline for marine applications.” Isobutanol is a biofuel that compared to ethanol, has higher energy density, lower RVP, and does not present phase separation issues seen with ethanol. All testing so far has been positive, and when the Yorktown tests are completed next year, we expect to have the information available to allow a decision on whether 16.1% Isobutanol fuel blends will be certified for use in the Coast Guard gasoline engine fleet.”

Gruber added, “As we accelerate our full-scale commercial production efforts at the world’s first renewable isobutanol plant in Luverne, Minn., we are extremely excited to be working with a partner like the U.S. Coast Guard to evaluate and develop a product line of high-performance, isobutanol-based fuel blends for the marine engine market.”

advanced biofuels, biobutanol, military

UK Biodiesel Pioneer Sold

John Davis

Argentplant1One of the pioneers in biodiesel production in the UK has been sold. The BBC reports Argent Energy, a company that turns used cooking oil and animal fats into the green fuel, was bought by London-based John Swire & Sons, a green investment company.

The firm will stay in private ownership and will continue to run independently.

Its senior management, including chairman Andy Hunter, managing director Jim Walker and financial director Jim Boyd are to remain with the company.

Barnaby Swire, of John Swire, said his company was committed to “exploring and investing in innovative and viable green industries”.

He added: “We are delighted to be acquiring Argent Energy, a company which we believe can grow and prosper not only within the UK but also overseas, in particular in Asian markets with which Swire Group companies are familiar.

Argent has been around since since 2001 with a 50 million liter (about 12 million gallons) a year plant in Newarthill near Motherwell in Scotland.

Biodiesel, International