Pattern 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.
Biodiesel Board to Host Webinar on Food, Fuel & Feed
Our 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.
Dyadic Talks Enzyme Production for Biofuels at ABLC
A 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
Get Your Green on with Biofuels
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 
in 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
Report: More Wind & Solar = Reliable Grid
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 
reliable 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
Envision Solar Int’l Installs Solar Tree for NREL
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 
days 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.
LanzaTech CEO: Need Biofuels, Oil & All of the Above
While 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
Bioenergy Bytes
- The Cadmus Group has launched a new Sustainable Transportation Practice, to be led by Damon Fordham. The practice will provide full-service research, policy analysis, technology assessment, communications/outreach, modeling, and tool development. Current projects include analysis of the deployment of alternative fuel vehicles, support for Context Sensitive Solutions, assessment of energy efficiency technologies, enhancement of aviation environmental models, and research into the costs of extreme weather events.
- @NCSolar Center has awarded a sub award grant to the City of Rocky Mount, NC, through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Blue Skies Green Jobs Initiative, a $12,000,000 bi-state project led by Triangle J Council of Governments. The funding covered over 90 percent of the costs for a new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Refueling Station, and the cost differential between CNG powered refuse trucks and diesel powered trucks.
- Royal DSM has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a strategic partnership with Rostekhnologii (Rostec), a Russian State Corporation, in the fields of biotechnology and functional materials. Under the terms of the MOU, DSM and Rostec will explore a potential cooperation in the field of conversion of cellulosic biomass from forestry and agriculture to fermentable sugars for the production of biofuels and/or biobased chemicals as well as the manufacturing of bio-based products such as bioethanol, biogas and organic acids from sugars derived from cellulosic biomass.
- Salt River Project and SunPower Corp. have dedicated a one-megawatt solar photovoltaic power plant at Arizona State University‘s (ASU) Polytechnic campus in Mesa, Ariz. The facility is the first commercial deployment of the SunPower C7 Tracker technology, a solar photovoltaic tracking system that concentrates the sun’s power seven times to achieve one of the lowest levelized costs of electricity (LCOE) for solar power plants available today.
- CleanFUEL USA commemorated 20 years of company history by launching several new propane autogas products at the 2013 National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) Southeastern Convention and International Propane Expo. Two new autogas dispenser offerings included the redesigned CFT PRO 2200 that features an expanded cabinet for easier installation and service and the Gasboy Autogas Dispenser.
Shell at ABLC: Don’t Blame Big Oil for Blend Wall
One of the great things about the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference is the diverse group of biofuels stakeholders with diverse points of view. Case in point, Shell Oil’s presence at the gathering, and the company’s Downstream Policy & Advocacy Manager, North America, John Reese, who makes the contention that it’s not the oil companies who are creating the E15 blend wall.
“We are really maxing out on the ability to blend ethanol into gasoline,” he says because the automakers don’t approve above E10 blends for about 95 percent of the cars and trucks on the roads now. “EPA did approve the use of E15 for 2001 and newer vehicles, but the issue is the automobile manufacturers don’t support that.”
Groups such as the Renewable Fuels Association contend differently, and even Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack told me that those 2001 and newer non-flex fuel vehicles should be able to use E15 without any modifications to those vehicles. But John says we should believe those who have built and tested the vehicles. And while that’s coming from a big oil company, he says Shell supports biofuels because, frankly, the company has a stake in the success of the green energy market.
“We have a joint venture to produce ethanol, and we have interests in cellulosic biofuels going forward, so we’re really looking to find solutions to this.”
Listen to my entire interview with John here: John Reese, Shell
REG Makes Case that Biodiesel Helps Food Supply
Apparently tired of false claims that biodiesel takes from the food supply, biodiesel maker Renewable Energy Group has put out a whitepaper that actually shows how the green fuel is helping the food supply. Biodiesel Magazine has this good summary of “Food THEN Fuel: How the American Biodiesel Industry Is Strengthening Food Security.”
“[C]ritics of biofuels have [tried] to convince the public that biodiesel is merely part of an amorphous group of energy sources that share the same alleged disadvantages,” the paper states. “Indeed, they would have the public believe that biodiesel not only depletes the food supply by creating a competing use in fuel, but that it also contributes to higher prices at the grocery store. In reality, biodiesel is playing a vital role in strengthening America’s food security and reducing rising pressures on food prices. Rather than competing with food, biodiesel production applies a “food THEN fuel” approach by adding economic value for food industry byproducts and sending economic signals to the market to produce more. Biodiesel production helps make the food and agricultural sectors more profitable, incentivizes the production of protein and generally helps keeps grocery items, like meat, from increasing in price more than they already would due to inflation and petroleum energy costs.”
Some of the facts REG cites are that soybean oil is the historic primary feedstock for U.S. biodiesel and still makes up the largest single feedstock used. With the soy oil used for biodiesel, that still leaves more than 80 percent of the bean to be made into meal for livestock, keeping feed costs down for livestock producers.
In addition, other feedstocks for biodiesel, such as animal fats and used cooking oils, have created value-added markets in those food industries to help farmers and restaurant owners make more money and allow them to them to produce even more food at cheaper prices.