ACE Conference 2026

Colombians Find Algae with Biodiesel Potential

John Davis

colombiaflag1Researchers in Colombia have found a couple of strains of freshwater algae that could be good for biodiesel. FIS.com reports that the scientists at the National University of Colombia (UNC) believe Scenedesmus ovalternus and Chlorella vulgaris will produce biodiesel with less impact on the environment.

Luis Miguel Serrano Bermudez, Master in Chemical Engineering at the UNC and one of the authors of the study, explains that neither the bioethanol (made from the fermentation of corn or sugar cane) nor the biodiesel (made from palm oil, soybean or other grains) can respond to the global fuel demand with environmental and economic sustainability.

Colombia has a high abundance of water and light, which is essential for farming microalgae.

The two species of microalgae studied had the highest productivity of fats, with a value that is equal to 4.1 times the productivity of the African palm, which is the current raw material used by the domestic industry for biodiesel.

The researchers found that Chlorella vulgaris has a 25 percent higher fat content compared to Scenedesmus ovalternus, making the process that much cheaper.

algae, Biodiesel, biofuels, International, Research

Court Ruling Not Expected to Impact Biodiesel Much

John Davis

scalesofjustice1A recent ruling from a court in California is not expected to have much of an impact on biodiesel. California’s Fifth District Court of Appeal ruled provisionally that Poet LLC’s lawsuit against the California Air Resources Board (CARB) about the state’s low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) program can continue to operate. This article from Biodiesel Magazine says the set aside of CARB’s deferment of formulating mitigation measures for possible NOx increases from biodiesel will be avoided if it’s found that no mitigation measures are needed.

To the extent that violations occurred, it appears the ruling was more about technicalities than anything substantive. Since CARB will have the opportunity to address the violations without interuption to the LCFS program, sources say it should not have much impact on biodiesel. It does, however, appear to prompt CARB to act sooner rather than later on the contentious subject of biodiesel NOx emissions.

While biodiesel significantly reduces nearly all tailpipe emissions such as particulate matter and carbon monoxide compared to petroleum diesel exhaust, early EPA engine dynamometer tests showed a slight increase in NOx emissions from biodiesel. NOx consists of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which, together with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), produce smog and ground-level ozone (O3), compounds that degrade air quality and pose significant health hazards.

Years later, those same early emissions tests that showed slight NOx increases from biodiesel came under scrutiny; the tests are said to be too narrow and they do not represent the breadth of types of diesel engines, duty cycles and test loads operating in the real world. Later studies conducted by U.S. DOE, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Texas A&M University, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Navy suggest biodiesel blends such as B20 are NOx neutral.

POET filed the original lawsuit in January 2012 and alleged the environmental impacts of the LCFS were not adequately studied and, therefore, the program should be discontinued. But the court has ruled the regulations are staying in effect this year until corrective action is completed.

Biodiesel, Low Carbon Fuel Standard

Genscape Adds to Biofuels Info with Landviewer Buy

John Davis

Genscape LogoProvider of energy information for commodity and financial markets Genscape has bought LandViewer to expand its technology footprint in the biofuels industry. Genscape says, using NASA satellite data to get daily updates of corn vegetation progress, the LandViewer platform gives corn traders and buyers land use and crop progress information on a sub-regional level so they know where to source grain and how to set the best prices.

“The LandViewer platform opens a lot of doors for Genscape customers to make informed grain management decisions ahead of market movements. When you know the supply of corn you can set better prices, hedge investment risk and stay ahead of the competition,” says Robert Barton, Managing Director of Agriculture and Biofuels at Genscape.

To complement the LandViewer acquisition and to provide additional value to ethanol customers Genscape has also launched a unique QAP specifically for the ethanol industry. The new program offers a way for ethanol plants to create QAP-B RINs desired by Obligated Parties with a minimal impact on plant operations. Using their proven technology, the company can offer a cost-effective method to directly manage RIN generation compliance while eliminating the hassle of onsite auditing.

Also designed for traders, LandViewer uses a combination of historical data, national yield regressions and fundamental crop data to deliver highly accurate projections of crop yields on a national level to inform trading and investment strategies.

The LandViewer technology was developed at the University of Illinois at Chicago Energy Resources Center.

By the way, Genscape is at this week’s Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo in St. Louis, Mo., as is our own Joanna. Genscape will be talking about LandViewer and the QAP program for ethanol plants.

Check out the FEW Photo Album.

biofuels, FEW

What Do You Think of The Senate Immigration Bill

Talia Goes

Before we get to our new Zimmpoll let’s look at the results of our latest one which asked the question, “How good was your first cutting of hay?” Many of you felt your hay crop was better than last year. Hopefully this is a good sign for this season.

Our poll results: Thirty-five percent said Better Than Last Year, twenty-five percent said Same as Last Year, twenty-five percent said Worse Than Last Year, and fifteen percent said Other. The “Other” responses claimed it is too wet to cut hay. All this moisture is a cure for the drought but seems to have delayed hay season in parts of the country.

Untitled

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What is your opinion of Senate immigration bill?” With a Senate vote of 82-15 to allow further debate on legalizing the nation’s 11 million unauthorized immigrants, update the hiring process and make legalization a breeze. President Obama claims it is “the best chance we’ve had in years”. How do you feel? Let us know.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

ZimmPoll

Biodiesel Advocates Descend on DC

John Davis

nbb-logoBackers of one of our favorite green fuels, biodiesel, have headed to Capitol Hill. This news release from the National Biodiesel Board says the group of biodiesel producers, distributors and feedstock suppliers representing more than two dozen states, including the delegation from Iowa we previously told you about, are making their case for a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS):

“The petroleum lobby is making a lot of noise about renewable fuels and we’re coming to town to make sure that Congress hears the other side of the story,” said Todd Ellis, vice president of sales and business development at Seattle-based Imperium Renewables. “Despite what you might hear, the RFS is working, and we’re building a new American fuels industry that is creating jobs, producing cleaner fuel, and ultimately helping consumers.”

“We’ll be reminding Congress that biodiesel is an EPA-designated Advanced Biofuel that is here today and that is exceeding its RFS targets, with two consecutive years of 1 billion gallon production,” Ellis added.

During their Hill visits, they also will advocate for a long-term extension of the biodiesel tax incentive, which is slated to expire again at the end of the year.

“No matter how much domestic oil and gas we find through fracking or new drilling, consumers will continue getting hurt by unstable global petroleum markets until we develop alternatives to oil,” said Anne Steckel, NBB’s vice president of federal affairs. “That’s why Congress passed the RFS in the first place with huge bipartisan support, and it’s why we can’t let up on these goals now.”

NBB points out that last year the biodiesel industry supported around 50,000 jobs around the country.

Biodiesel, Government, Legislation, NBB

USDA: $98.6 Mil Available for Advanced Biofuels

John Davis

usda-logoThe USDA is making available up to $98.6 million to support the production of advanced biofuels. This news release from the agency says it will be an opportunity for eligible producers to submit applications and strengthen the rural economy:

“The United States is on the path to a cleaner, more secure energy future,” [Agriculture Secretary Tom] Vilsack said. “By helping producers to support and expand the production of advanced biofuels, USDA is ensuring that Rural America is a key component of President Obama’s ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy to reduce the Nation’s reliance on foreign oil.”

The payments are provided through USDA Rural Development’s Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels, commonly referred to as the Advanced Biofuel Payment Program. It was established in the 2008 Farm Bill to support the expansion of advanced biofuel production. Payments are made to eligible producers based on the amount of biofuel produced from renewable biomass, other than corn kernel starch. Examples of eligible feedstocks include crop residue; animal, food and yard waste; vegetable oils; and animal fat.

Producers use the payments to offset production costs and in some instances expand their operations. For example, in 2012, Sequential-Pacific Biodiesel, a biodiesel facility based in Salem, Ore., increased its annual production by approximately 1 million gallons, or about 20 percent. Sequential-Pacific primarily uses locally sourced waste vegetable oils in its production of biodiesel. The support USDA Rural Development provided through its Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels helped the company buy equipment that increased the speed of production and pre-treatment of feedstock.

If producers didn’t apply for payments during the October 2012 application window, they may now apply for these payments for third and fourth quarter fiscal year 2013 production as well as for any applicable incremental production. Applications must be in by July 11, 2013. More information is available here on the Federal Register.

Since 2009, more than 275 eligible producers in 44 states have received payments.

advanced biofuels, biofuels, Government, USDA

All the World’s A Stage

Joanna Schroeder

With debate on Capitol Hill on the future of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and pressure from oil companies to lower cellulosic fuel mandates as part of the legislation, BBI FEW-13-World-Stagerealized that the time was right to feature a panel discussing the progress to commercialization of several major renewable fuels players to bring advanced biofuels to market.

All the World’s a Stage: A Front Row Seat to the Construction and Commissioning of the Industry’s First Cellulosic Facilities panel during the Fuel Ethanol Workshop in St. Louis, Missouri, was moderated by Brooke Coleman, executive director of the Advanced Ethanol Council. Also on the panel (from left to right):

  • Henrik Maimann, CEO New Bio Solutions Section & VP, Dong Energy Power
  • Mark Niederschulte, Chief Operating Officer, INEOS Bio
  • Steve Mirshak, Global Business Director – Cellulosic Ethanol, DuPont Industrial Biosciences
  • Chris Standlee, Executive Vice President, Abengoa Bioenergy
  • Wade Roby, POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels

Each panelist gave an update on their company’s project and from there, an open question and answer dialogue occurred. One of the major themes: how to bring and keep investments in the advanced biofuels sector to ensure commercialization is achieved.

Listen to the full panel discussion here: All the World's A Stage

Visit the 2013 FEW Photo Album.

advanced biofuels, Audio, Cellulosic, Ethanol, FEW

Association Roundtable: Mid-Year Ethanol Policy Update

Joanna Schroeder

This year’s general session during the Fuel Ethanol Workshop diverged from past years. Rather than have a keynote speaker, the three leaders of the country’s largest ethanol associations came together on one stage to discuss current U.S. ethanol policy. The Association Roundtable: Mid-Year U.S. Ethanol Policy Update, panel was moderated by Tom Bryan, president of BBI International and FEW13-Association-Roundtablefeatured Bob Dinneen, CEO and president of the Renewable Fuels Group (RFA), Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy and Brian Jennings, executive vice president of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE).

The discussions ranged from market access and how Big Oil is trying to block higher blends of ethanol, such as E15 and E85 from being sold to consumers, RINs, the ongoing debate over the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the recent three white papers that were released for comment and the status of a farm bill. Interestingly, all three ethanol advocates, who are also Washington insiders, noted that all of the current issues and debates have been fueled by Big Oil.

The panel was informative, entertaining and at some points downright uncomfortable but Buis, Dinneen and Jennings all agreed that although there is a battle, they are confident ethanol will win. The groups’ final call: each and every person needs to be involved in the fight.

Listen to the full panel discussion here: Association Roundtable: Mid-Year Ethanol Policy Update

Visit the 2013 FEW Photo Album.

ACE, Audio, Ethanol, FEW, Growth Energy, RFA

Ethanol Fuels Promotion in Minnesota

Joanna Schroeder

E85 PumpFriday, June 14, 2013, drivers of flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) can fill up for less at the Short Stop Quick Mart at 4725 Quail Road NE, Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. FFVs drivers can use any blend of ethanol from E10 to E85, 85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline. The promotion will take place from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm and there is a 25 gallon limit per vehicle.

The Short Stop Quick Mart is one of a growing number of fuel retailers in Minnesota with a flex pump that offers both E85 and mid-level blends of ethanol fuels. During the promotion, prices will be discounted by the following amounts:

  • 85¢ off per gallon E85
  • 50¢ off per gallon E50
  • 30¢ off per gallon E30
  • 20¢ off per gallon E20

Kelly Marczak, director of environmental programs for the American Lung Association in Minnesota, said flex fuel vehicle owners who use E85 instead of gasoline are helping to reduce air pollution. “Vehicle emissions are the single largest source of air pollution in Minnesota, and an FFV fueled by E85 emits less than the same vehicle fueled with gasoline. These fuels are cleaner-burning, made in Minnesota and almost always cost less than regular unleaded.”

Supporters of the promotion include Short Stop Quick Mart (Bauerly Oil), Benton/Sherburne County Corn Growers Association, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, American Lung Association in Minnesota and the Minnesota Clean Air Choice Team. To see if you drive an FFV, click here.

biofuels, E85, Ethanol, Promotion

Mike Bryan’s Call to Arms

Joanna Schroeder

FEW13-mbyranMike Bryan, CEO of BBI International kicked off the 29th International Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) with a call for action for not only the biofuel associations, but for every single person who attended the event. He began by asking the standing room only crowd if they were getting angry, frustrated and a little nervous over the bashing from some legislators as well as ethanol detractors such as Big Oil.

“Ladies and gentleman, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, we are at war,” said Bryan. “And this morning, I’m going to issue a call to arms. We are in a battle for the very survival of this industry.”

Listen to Mike Byran’s opening session remarks here: Mike Bryan, BBI

Visit the 2013 FEW Photo Album.

advanced biofuels, Audio, Cellulosic, Ethanol, FEW