NEC 2027

DOE to Fund Three Bioenergy Research Centers

John Davis

DOE_logo1Three labs working on advanced, next-generation biofuels will get funding for another five years … of course, if Congress funds it. The U.S. Department of Energy announced the intent to fund the BioEnergy Research Center (BESC) led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) led by the University of Wisconsin-Madison in partnership with Michigan State University, and the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. All three were part of the DOE’s 2007 program to accelerate fundamental research breakthroughs:

“Developing the next generation of American biofuels will enhance our national energy security, expand the domestic biofuels industry, and produce new clean energy jobs. It will help America’s farmers and create vast new opportunities for wealth creation in rural communities,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “By investing in innovative approaches and technologies at our Bioenergy Research Centers, we can continue to move the biofuels industry forward and grow our economy while reducing our reliance on foreign oil.”

In five years of operation, the Centers have produced more than 1,100 peer-reviewed publications and over 400 invention disclosures and/or patent applications. Among the breakthroughs the Centers have achieved are new approaches for engineering non-food crops for biofuel production; reengineering of microbes to produce advanced biofuels such as “green” gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel precursors from biomass; and the development of methods to grow non-food biofuel crops on marginal lands so as not to compete with food production.

Each of the centers is expected to be funded at $25 million per year. The next five years are expected to emphasize work on new methods and discoveries, as well as developing new lines of research.

biofuels, Government, Research

Canadian Renewable Fuels Welcomes GF2 Policy

John Davis

canada-rfaThe Canadian Renewable Fuels Association welcomed this week’s launch of that country’s agriculture policy. The Growing Forward 2 (GF2) policy framework was unveiled this week, and CRFA sees it as good for Canada’s renewable fuels industry and the farmers who grow the feedstocks for biofuels:

Today, CRFA members are producing clean-burning renewable fuels across the country. This success is a testament to our Canadian farmers as well as government initiatives to promote economic growth and prosperity, like the federal Renewable Fuels Regulations, the NextGen for Biofuels Fund, and most recently, GF2.

“Farmers across the country are clear winners with increased production and promotion of domestic renewable fuels” said CRFA President W. Scott Thurlow. “Canada’s renewable fuels sector creates jobs and is helping grow the economy in rural Canada. Now, our members are taking the platform created by ethanol and biodiesel technology and using it to develop fuels, and value-added agricultural and chemical products, from a growing range of biomass. Programs like GF2 will help build-out this innovation so that the economic and business risk management benefits of domestic renewable fuels production will accrue for our farmers today and well into the future.”

GF2 is a five-year, $3 billion dollar investment by federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) governments for government agricultural programs and services.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Government, International, News

Ethanol Blender Pumps Funds Now Available

John Davis

Federal money to help offset the costs of putting in ethanol blender pumps is being made available. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) announced the USDA is now accepting applications for federal Rural Energy For America Program (REAP) funds to help gasoline retailers install blender pumps, the third year that blender pumps have been authorized as part of the REAP program and part of the USDA’s plan to have 10,000 blender pumps installed over the next five years.

RFA-logo-13“This program provided funding for hundreds of blender pumps the past two years, providing many consumers with the choice and flexibility they deserve to pick the ethanol blends that work for them based on their vehicle, their beliefs, and their budget,” said RFA Director of Market Development Robert White.

ACElogo“We can continue to break the stranglehold oil has over our nation’s economy and energy future by giving consumers more options at the pump,” said ACE Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty. “The USDA’s announcement together with the efforts of the [Blend Your Own (BYO)] ethanol campaign will go a long way toward making that happen.”

The RFA and ACE are offering free grant writing services to those interested in applying. Applications for the grant program are due on April 30, 2013.

ACE, Ethanol, Government, News, RFA, USDA

Register Now for Ethanol 2013: Emerging Issues Forum

John Davis

EmergingIssuesForumJust a few seats left for the Nebraska Ethanol Board’s Ethanol 2013: Emerging Issues Forum! The April 18-19 event in Omaha, Nebraska at the Magnolia Hotel will include several key speakers, including Ron Lamberty with the American Coalition for Ethanol, Greg Krissek from ICM and Sandra Dunphy with Weaver, LLP. Weaver specializes in EPA compliance and fuels consulting for the petroleum industry and will talk about Renewable Identification Numbers (RIN) management and compliance strategies:

This annual forum has become the “must-attend” event of the year for ethanol industry leaders and advocates. The forum is designed to promote interaction between speakers and attendees- and to provide insight and leadership on emerging issues in the ethanol industry and every level.

The lineup of speakers will talk about innovative ethanol marketing and promotion programs, distillers grains marketing, a financial outlook for the ethanol industry and environmental issues.

Register here.

ACE, Ethanol, News

Analysis: RIN Prices Not Pushing Up Gas Prices

John Davis

d-goodContrary to what some in oil industry are trying to tell the public, the recent rise in prices for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs), the government’s tracking system to make sure companies are properly complying with federal rules about using renewable energy, is not pushing up gas prices. University of Illinois analysts Scott Irwin and Darrel Good say RINs also don’t make money in the supply chain:

We concluded that the buying and selling of RINs within that supply chain results in something close to a zero-sum game in terms of profitability for the industry. The result is that high RINs prices at the present time likely have a minimal impact on RFS2 compliance and the cost of motor fuel at the retail level.

Irwin and Good do admit, though, that RFS2 compliance costs could go up:

Even though ethanol blending margins are expected to remain generally positive in the future, the collision between the E10 blendwall and the RFS2 mandate in 2013 and prospects for an increasingly larger wedge between the RFS2 mandate and the E10 blendwall in 2014 and beyond raise the specter of sharply higher compliance costs. Soaring RINs prices beginning in January 2013 are an early warning sign about the potential for higher compliance costs, particularly in 2014 as the existing stock of RINs could be depleted entirely.

Read what they have to say here.

Research, RINS

More Corn Could Mean More Corn Oil for Biodiesel

John Davis

usda-logoAs we reported earlier this week, the latest USDA 2013 Prospective Plantings report says corn acreage will be at its highest level ever, but soybeans are expected to be lower. You would think that could be bad news for biodiesel makers, who make the green fuel primarily from soybeans. But Biodiesel Magazine points out that biodiesel refineries are already clamoring for ethanol plants’ corn oil, and the expected increase in corn at ethanol plants could increase the amount of corn oil being made into biodiesel:

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, corn oil use for biodiesel production almost doubled in the U.S. from 2011 to 2012, jumping from 304 million pounds to 571 million pounds, despite nearly the same volume of biodiesel produced both years. U.S. biodiesel producers used more corn oil last year than tallow, poultry fat or white grease, nearly matching yellow grease. In December alone, corn oil for biodiesel production was surpassed only by soybean oil.

Now soybean oil is still king in the biodiesel feedstock world, so we’ll have to keep an eye if the uptick in corn acres (and the oil it produces) will be able to pick up any slack from the downtick in soybean acres.

Biodiesel, corn

Growth Energy Joins with Military Support Group

John Davis

Growth_Energy_logo-1A group that lends its support to ethanol producers is also backing the men and women and their families who have served and continue to serve this country through the military. Growth Energy and the Armed Forces Foundation have joined in the “Fueling our Forces” campaign, a charity contest between Growth Energy members to raise the most money possible by September 1, 2013.

“We are excited to be partnering with Growth Energy this year to raise funds for the Armed Forces Foundation,” said Patricia Driscoll, Armed Forces Foundation President. “With 95 percent of every dollar raised going directly to support service members and their families, the Armed Forces Foundation is proud to have a strong ally in Growth Energy. We continue to work to raise awareness of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and the tragic suicide epidemic in the military through the Help Save Our Troops campaign and these funds will help in this uphill battle our nation faces.”

“Partnering with the Armed Forces Foundation is a great opportunity for Growth Energy and our members,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. “The spirit of the Fueling our Forces campaign—supporting our troops, veterans and their families—is a pillar of what we stand for as an organization and as an industry. Our members are honored to support the brave men and women, and their families, who sacrifice so much for our country and our safety.

The program is already off to a good start as Growth Energy members raised more than $71,000 for the Armed Forces Foundation during last month’s Growth Energy Executive Leadership Conference in Las Vegas.

Ethanol, Growth Energy

Is Drought Still a Concern for 2013?

Talia Goes

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Has winter weather affected drought conditions in your area?”

Our poll results: Fifty percent said Yes, thirty-two percent said No, and eighteen percent said it’s Too Early To Tell. Seems the drought of 2012 may not be over. I heard once that weather cycles last 6 years. Sure hope that isn’t the case with this drought.

Untitled

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “How do you combat social media overload?” With the weekly AgChat Twitter conversation turning 4 years old it is obvious that something is working when it comes to farmers and industry using social media to advocate for their industry. But even if you are not actively agvocating you’re probably using some form of social media like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and there are many more. So our question comes out of this week’s AgChat. For many it is easy to get so engrossed by the online conversation, especially with mobile devices like smart phones and tablets, that they start feeling overwhelmed by it all. Let us know … Are you on social media overload?

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

New Holland, ZimmPoll

Solar Plane to Make Cross-Country Trip Across U.S.

John Davis

solarimpulse1Makers of a solar-powered airplane have released the itinerary of a trip that will take it from the Pacific to the Atlantic coasts late this spring and early this summer. The Solar Impulse will start out May 1st, depending on weather, of course, in California with several stops inbetween before ending its journey in early July in New York City:

The stopovers will be a great occasion to spread Solar Impulse’s message meant to inspire people. Only by challenging common certitudes can there be change and, through conferences on educational themes, Solar Impulse wishes to motivate everybody to become a pioneer in the search for innovative solutions for society’s biggest challenges.

solarimpulse2Solar Impulse has a wingspan of 208 feet but weighs less than an average car. It’s lightweight design obviously limits when and where the plane can fly, but designers intended it to be a demonstration of its ability to gather and use solar power for flight, even after the sun goes down. Flying for 10 years now, it made the world’s first solar 26-hour day and night flight in 2010, and last year, completed its first intercontinental flight connecting Europe to Africa. Ultimately, the designers want to fly around the world in it, hopefully, in 2015.

Solar

Wind Turbine without Blades Debuts at Dutch University

John Davis

EWICON1A university in the Netherlands debuts a wind turbine without blades, which means it produces no noise nor even casts any moving shadows.

The Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo recently installed the EWICON, or Electrostatic WInd energy CONvertor, which turns wind energy in electrical power without moving parts at the Delft University of Technology:

The Ewicon can be installed on land or sea, and can also be integrated in the roof of a tall building. The principle is as follows: Using high voltage, electrically charged droplets of water are produced in the horizontal elements. At the same time these horizontal elements, which are electrodes, generate an electric field. As the wind forces the electrically charged droplets against this electric field towards the earth, the converter is charged to DC.

This video also explains how the concept works:

This new type of wind turbine might be especially welcome in urban areas, where some opponents have complained about the noise and the repetitive shadows a traditional turbine casts.

Research, University, Video, Wind