NEC 2027

Pew Report: Clean Energy Capacity Up, Investment Down

Joanna Schroeder

According to research released by The Pew Charitable Trusts, the global clean energy sector is undergoing geographic and technological shifts as new markets emerge renewable capacity grows. There were 88 gigawatts (GW) registered in 2012 even though investment levels declined 11 percent to $269 billion from 2011. Screen Shot 2013-04-22 at 12.58.28 PMAmong the Group of Twenty (G-20) nations, the United Kingdom (UK) maintained its seventh place ranking despite a 17 percent drop in investment to $8.3 billion.

Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race? 2012 Edition, found that the 11 percent decline in clean energy investments compared to 2011 levels was due in part to curtailed incentive programs in a number of countries, among them Spain, Italy, and Germany. Elsewhere, continuing support for clean energy led to record levels of investment in a number of nations, including China and South Africa. Renewable energy installations grew by more than 11 percent to 88 GW, which reflected price reductions in wind, solar, and other technologies.

“Clean energy trends demonstrate the ongoing resilience of this emerging sector in the global economy,” said Phyllis Cuttino, director of Pew’s clean energy program. “Investment declines in the UK and throughout Europe were offset by strong performance in the Asian region. Uncertainty surrounding the long-term direction and content of UK policies has given pause to investors. Looking ahead, the advent of a green investment bank and abundant offshore wind resources could help bolster clean energy trends in the UK in coming years.”

China reclaimed the top spot from the United States, attracting $65.1 billion, a 20 percent increase over 2011 and 30 percent of the total for the G-20. China established itself as the leader in attracting investment in wind, solar, and other renewables. It added 23 GW of clean energy generating capacity, bringing its total to 152 GW, the most of any nation.

The United States fell to No. 2 as investment in the sector declined 37 percent, to $35.6 billion. Read More

Alternative energy, Energy, Geothermal, Renewable Energy, Solar, Wind

American Ethanol Helps NASCAR Go Green

Cindy Zimmerman

nascar-race-greenIn honor of Earth Day, racing is shifting gears this month to focus attention on environmental awareness with the NASCAR RACE TO GREEN™ campaign and American Ethanol is part of the effort.

The campaign is hosting a National Tree Planting initiative this month encouraging racing teams, tracks, drivers, partners and fans to pledge to plant some trees today – Earth Day – to help offset carbon emissions produced over the three national series over the season. Through the course of one mature tree’s lifetime, it absorbs about one metric ton of carbon dioxide – the same amount of carbon dioxide emitted by a NASCAR Sprint Cup™ car driving 500 miles.

American Ethanol has pledged to plant a tree for every mile raced in April. With almost 4,000 miles fuels by Sunoco Green E15 over the month, the 4,000 trees planted will be enough to offset the carbon emissions of all the miles driven on American-made ethanol in practices and qualifying laps.

“American Ethanol shares the commitment of NASCAR to operate sustainably and do our part to protect and preserve the environment,” said National Corn Growers Association board member Jon Holzfaster of Nebraska. “Farmers manage their farms every day with the tandem goals of making a profit but doing it in a way that is better for the environment. So we are proud to expand our commitment to NASCAR Green.”

NASCAR has also released a 30-second TV ad featuring Roush Fenway driver Greg Biffle and spotlighting the use of ethanol. “So, wanna be eco-friendly?” the announcer asks Biffle, who answers “Of course.”

ANNCR: “Ok, got corn?”
BIFFLE: “We got that.”
ANNCR: “Got some of it blended into fuel?”
BIFFLE: “Got it.”
ANNCR: “Got a car to use that fuel?”
BIFFLE: “Sure do.”

Watch it here:

American Ethanol, corn, E15, Environment, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NASCAR, NCGA

Biodiesel-20 Ready Chevy Cruze Tops Hybrids in MPG

John Davis

chevycruze1The latest Chevy to hit the streets, the new 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel, capable of using B20 biodiesel blends, is being touted as getting better mileage that some hybrids out there. This company news release points out the Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel gets an industry best EPA-estimated 46 MPG on the highway, better than any non-hybrid passenger car in America:

“We harnessed generations of diesel expertise to adapt our world-class global engine for the North American market,” said Gary Altman, chief engineer, Chevrolet Cruze Diesel. “The Cruze Diesel is the best diesel passenger car out there. Chevrolet is redefining the meaning of great fuel economy with this car.”

Cruze Diesel also beats its rivals in performance with a segment-leading estimated 148 horsepower (110 kW) and estimated 258 lb-ft of torque (350 Nm), and can go 0-60 in about 8.6 seconds. Its advanced 2.0L turbo-diesel engine has an overboost feature capable of increasing torque to an estimated 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) for short bursts of stronger acceleration when needed, such as entering freeway traffic.

While Chevy touts the Cruze Diesel as its cleanest diesel passenger car engine, generating 90 percent less Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) and particulate emissions when compared to previous-generation diesels. Just think how much cleaner it will be when you use clean-burning biodiesel in it.

Biodiesel, Car Makers

Bioenergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFPattern Energy Group LP announced that both the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) and the California Association of Environmental Professionals have awarded the Ocotillo Wind project with awards for outstanding environmental analysis and documentation.
  • Duke Energy Renewables has acquired two commercial solar power projects near Twentynine Palms, Calif., from project developer SolarWorld. The twin projects, named Highlander Solar 1 and 2, are in close proximity and will be run as a single operation. It will collectively generate 21 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy, enough to power more than 4,000 average homes each year.
  • Clean Energy Trust (CET) has hired Erik G. Birkerts as executive vice president and chief operating officer, responsible for directing operational processes of the non-profit cleantech business accelerator while implementing new strategies and programs.
  • OPIS is holding a webinar on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 2:00 pm EST called, “Stop the RINSanity! Compliance, Chaos and Challenges: Strategies for the Wild RINs Market.”
  • LDK Solar Co. has announced that it has signed a module supply contract with EA Solar Nakornsawan Co., Ltd, a leading developer of photovoltaic (PV) projects in Thailand. Under the terms of the agreement, LDK Solar will provide 63 megawatts (MW) of PV modules with weekly shipments of approximately 6.3 MW expected to commence in August 2013.
Bioenergy Bytes

Biodiesel Board to Host Webinar on Food, Fuel & Feed

John Davis

nbb-logoOur friends at the National Biodiesel Board are hosting a webinar on how making biodiesel from co-products of food production affects the cost of protein in the food supply on Monday, April 29, 2013 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM CDT:

We’ll also examine how to grow the current biodiesel feedstock supply responsibly and sustainably in the context of federal policies like the Renewable Fuels Standard. In addition, we’ll hear about some promising new research from the Danforth Plant Science Center which shows an increase in soybean oil yield, and its corresponding effect on protein.

Just how far can American agriculture take us in meeting our food, fuel and feed needs? Join this lively discussion on how integrated food and energy production can help agriculture live up to its full potential.

Speakers:
Alan Weber, Feedstock Programs Manager, National Biodiesel Board
Sam Wang, Professor of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri – St. Louis; and Member and PI, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Chris Schroeder, Director, Centrec Consulting Group, LLC

Sign up here for this interesting conversation.

Biodiesel, NBB, Webinar

Dyadic Talks Enzyme Production for Biofuels at ABLC

John Davis

MarkEmalfarbA big issue for biofuels producers, especially those in the cellulosic branch, is trying to come up with enzymes that can crack the multitude of biomass structures to unlock the sugars within, and thus, unlock the fuel trapped within.

“The enzymes have always been one of the Achilles’ heels of the cellulosic side,” Mark Emalfarb, CEO of Dyadic International, a biotech company that turns DNA into the proteins and enzymes for a variety of uses, including biofuels production, told me at the recent Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference. “We have a fungal cell that we have created from a Russian fungus that for the last 20 years we’ve developed into a protein factory,” encoding genes with different enzymes to get the sugars for biofuel production.

Because there are differences in what will unlock the sugars every biomass variety, Mark says Dyadic’s process is helpful because it can make all these different enzymes from one fungal cell and one fermentation. “We’re not making five different fermentations and blending five different enzymes together, it’s all produced simultaneously out of the same cell line.” He points to one of their licensees, Abengoa Bioenergy, building a 25 million gallon cellulosic ethanol plant in Kansas, which using this technology allows them to make their own enzymes for half the cost … sometimes the difference between operating in the red or in the black.

“This enables you to do things you couldn’t do before, and to do them on-site without the profit margins the enzyme companies want to charge will make the difference,” Mark says.

Listen to more of my interview with Mark here: Mark Emalfarb, CEO of Dyadic

advanced biofuels, Audio, biofuels, Cellulosic

Get Your Green on with Biofuels

Joanna Schroeder

According to Fuels America, the biofuels industry is getting its green on with improved sustainability measures adopted throughout the biofuel chain. The chain – from farm to fiber to fuel– is meeting needs for energy, food and fiber in a more environmentally sensitive manner each day. During a press call this week, farmers and ethanol industry experts gave a briefing on the increased sustainability measures taken Go Greenin renewable fuel production from farm to fuel tank.

Despite significant efficiencies in water use, energy efficiency, and soil and land conservation, ethanol opponents are still insisting that biofuels are non environmentally friendly. But the agricultural industry and the biofuels industry explain this is simply not true. During the briefing, expert Fred Yoder, farmer and pas president of the National Corn Growers Association touted some of the new sustainable farming and harvesting technologies and noted that his father said he would leave the land is better health to his son and that he must pass on the land in better condition that it arrived to him.

Yoder was joined with Jan Koninkx, business director for biofuels with DuPont. The company is in construction of a commercial scale cellulosic plant in Nevada Iowa that when in production, will produce cellulosic ethanol from corn cobs and corn stover.

Finally, Adam Monroe, president of Novozymes North America, talked about the cutting edge enzymes they have developed with partners throughout the biofuels chain to help improve the fermentation and ultimate production of biofuels.

Listen to the full briefing here: Get Your Green on with Biofuels

advanced biofuels, Audio, biofuels, corn, Equipment, Ethanol, Fuels America

Report: More Wind & Solar = Reliable Grid

Joanna Schroeder

According to a new report by Synapse Energy Economics prepared on behalf of the Civil Society Institute (CSI), if the U.S. ceases to burn coal, shuts down a quarter of existing nuclear reactors the trims its use of natural gas by 2050, the resulting increased reliance on wind, solar and other renewables will not result in a less Solar Farm in Las Vegas Photo- Joanna Schroederreliable electricity grid. The new study finds that, in the envisioned 2050 with a heavy reliance on renewables, regional electricity generation supply could meet or exceed demand in 99.4 percent of hours, with load being met without imports from other regions and without turning to reserve storage. In addition, surplus power would be available to export in 8.6 percent of all hours, providing an ample safety net where needed from one region of the U.S. to the next.

“This study shows that the U.S. electricity grid could integrate and balance many times the current level of renewables with no additional reliability issues,” said Grant Smith, senior energy analyst, Civil Society Institute. “Recent improvements in both renewable technologies themselves and in the technologies that are used to control and balance the grid have been proceeding at a rapid pace, and the incentives and rewards for success in this area continue to drive substantial progress.”

“In contrast, the alternative—continuing to rely on increasing combustion of fossil fuels to generate electricity, and producing ever-increasing levels of greenhouse gases—is far less feasible, and presents much more daunting technical, economic, and social challenges to human and environmental welfare. In comparison, the challenge of integrating increasing levels of solar and wind power on the U.S. power grids requires only incremental improvements in technology and operational practices, added Smith.”

Listen to Grant Smith’s presentation here: Adding Renewables Doesn't Create Reliability Issues

Report co-author Dr. Thomas Vitolo, analyst, Synapse Energy Economics, explained, “Put simply, the message today is this: It is a myth to say that the United States cannot rely on renewables for the bulk of its electricity generation. This study finds that the projected mixes, based entirely on existing technology and operational practices, are capable of balancing projected load in 2030 and 2050 for each region—in nearly every hour of every season of the year.”

Listen to Tommy Vitolo’s presentation here: The Lights Will Stay On with RenewablesRead More

Alternative energy, Audio, Electricity, Energy, Research, Solar, Wind

Envision Solar Int’l Installs Solar Tree for NREL

Joanna Schroeder

Envision Solar International (EVSI), has completed the installation of a second Solar Tree array for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at their Vehicle Testing and Integration Facility (VTIF). Envision Solar completed the installation of the Solar Tree array for NREL four and a half envision-solar-solar-tree-array-lgdays after the components arrived at the site on a single truck. The company says its Drag and Drop capability meant limited disruption at the site and the ability to use the product right away, which was very appealing to NREL.

“I’m proud that we have been chosen again by NREL. They are delighted the Solar Tree deployment went so quickly and without any typical construction problems,” said Desmond Wheatley, Chief Executive Officer, Envision Solar. “Our drag and drop infrastructure is comprised of engineered modules which enable us to deliver beautiful and complex structures, made simple and risk free for our customers. That’s how we minimize installation time and impact to their property.”

“The addition of this Made in America 18kW solar canopy incorporating EnvisionTrak and EV Charging supports NREL’s R&D mission to integrate electric vehicles and grid systems for enhanced value,” added Tony Markel, Senior Engineer, NREL. System benefits of the new tree were maximized by integrating the most efficient SunPower E20 solar panels and a compact transformerless bi-polar inverter from Ideal Power Converters.

The Solar Tree structure is designed to withstand 120mph winds and six feet of snow simultaneously; it is the most robust Solar Tree structure Envision Solar has designed to date.

Electricity, Energy, Solar

LanzaTech CEO: Need Biofuels, Oil & All of the Above

John Davis

holmgren2While some of the talk at the recent Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference has focused on pointing fingers at the oil companies and some of the oil companies pointing back, at least one biofuel provider was saying we need them both. Jennifer Holmgren (shown holding an award for being one of the movers and shakers in the biofuel world), the CEO of LanzaTech, a company that turns carbon monoxide into ethanol, wants to take an “all-of-the-above” approach.

“It is so important for us to get as much energy and fuel into the pool that we need to have all of the solutions that can provide sustainable fuels at the table,” including natural gas, petroleum, algae, biomass, among others, she says … all providing economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Jennifer admits that is easy to say but tough to do. She says we need to look at the current state as part of a long journey to commercialize these processes. She adds that both sides need to tone down their rhetoric and recognize that oil is not going away, but it’s not enough to meet all of our energy needs.

“If you can get both sides to agree that oil doesn’t give us all the answers but is a necessary piece of the equation, I think we’ll be fine,” she says.

Jennifer is encouraged that so many oil companies attended the ABLC and are involved in the renewable energy business. She believes it’s a good start of better trust and patience between biofuels and Big Oil.

Hear all of my conversation with Jennifer here: Jennifer Holmgren, LanzaTech

advanced biofuels, Audio, biofuels