Unique Solar Parking System

Joanna Schroeder

WattLots has installed a unique solar parking system, Power Arbor, at Runnells Specialized Hospital in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. According to the company, the system uses mono-crystalline silicon solar cells and unlike typical flat panel systems, the open-air design of the Power Arbor does not collect snow. This reduces structural costs while Runnels-Solarproviding up to 60 more days of annual power generation, making it a good solution for Northeast Corridor lots or regions with regular snowfall. The structures are manufactured and assembled in New Jersey.

“The product’s unique design answers a number of issues which plague conventional parking lot structures,” said WattLots’s CEO, William Kaufman. “The Power Arbor provides a uniquely styled parking lot canopy system that is specifically designed for the northeastern climate.”

The company says its Power Arbor system provides substantial quantities of clean, renewable electrical energy at the source of demand where it is needed and it automatically rotates and follows the sun, increasing energy generation by up to 40 percent when compared to typical fixed installations.

“The Power Arbor development is illustrative of the value provided to emerging entrepreneurs by Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) members, in this case the NJIT Enterprise Development Center,” said James F. Groelinger, Executive Director of CEA, of which WattLots is a member. “CEA members currently are mentoring hundreds of clean tech entrepreneurs and companies, many of which will become important contributors to our energy and environmental future while creating jobs in America.

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar

Growers Asked to Join Grassroots Ethanol Efforts

Joanna Schroeder

classic-13-growthTara Chandra with Growth Energy spends much of her time working in the organization’s public policy sector. She helps with their social media efforts and other educational efforts as well as helps their member’s with their policy and communication efforts. Chandra was at the 2013 Commodity Classic that took place in Kissimmee, Florida talking to growers from across the country in an effort to build their grassroots membership.

One area Chandra said she received a lot of questions about how to get more E15 at the pump. She said growers and consumers alike need to continue to ask their retailer to offer E15. Once the retailer is on the hook, organizations like Growth Energy can help them navigate the process of selling E15. At their booth Growth Energy featured one of their Flex-Fuel pumps that allow retailers to sell E10, E15 or E85 among other mid-level ethanol blends.

Chandra said Growth Energy will be all over the country this year spreading the good word about ethanol and encourages growers to join them in their efforts.

Listen to Jamie’s interview with Tara Chandra: Growers Asked to Join Grassroots Ethanol Efforts

2013 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, Commodity Classic, E15, Ethanol, Growth Energy

Duckweed for Biofuels?

Joanna Schroeder

Duckweed may be a viable material for biofuel production according to a new report in ACS’ journal Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research. Duckweed is a fast growing floating plant that turns ponds and lakes green.

DuckweedChristodoulos A. Floudas, a professor at Princeton and Xin Xiao with Langfang Engineering and Technology Centre, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with several colleagues explain that duckweed, an aquatic plant that floats on or near the surface of still or slow-moving freshwater, is ideal as a raw material for biofuel production. It grows fast, thrives in wastewater that has no other use, does not impact the food supply and can be harvested more easily than algae and other aquatic plants. However, they say, few studies have been done on the use of duckweed as a raw material for biofuel production.

In the article, Floudas and Xiao describe four scenarios for duckweed refineries that use proven existing technology to produce gasoline, diesel and kerosene. Those technologies include conversion of biomass to a gas; conversion of the gas to methanol, or wood alcohol; and conversion of methanol to gasoline and other fuels. The results show that small-scale duckweed refineries could produce cost-competitive fuel when the price of oil reaches $100 per barrel. Oil would have to cost only about $72 per barrel for larger duckweed refiners to be cost-competitive.

The research was partially funded from grants from the National Science Foundation and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

advanced biofuels, feedstocks, Research

Intentions for 2013 Corn

Talia Goes

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What are your spring planting intentions for corn?”

Our poll results: Forty-four percent said More Than 50% and twenty-five percent said 50% Corn. Tying for 3rd, thirteen percent said less than 25% and Other. Six percent said 25% Corn. Even with the extreme drought conditions our poll shows that the majority of you are going to continue planting a lot of corn!

chart

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Will the sequester monster impact you personally?” U.S. sequestration ordered by President Obama officially began Friday March 1st. Will sequestration impact you? Let us know.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

New Holland, ZimmPoll

Algal Based Biofuel Retail Pilot Successful

Joanna Schroeder

Propel Fuels and Solazyme have announced the results of their pilot retail program and over the 30 days consumers were given a choice to purchase biofuels produced from algae, they chose the algal-based biofuel. In a survey of users, consumers said they prefer its environmental benefits compared to conventional fuels; would purchase more of it if it was widely available and would even pay a premium for it. The pilot program, which marked the first commercial availability of algal derived fuels, offered SoladieselBD in a B20 blend (20 percent biodiesel, 80 percent diesel) to consumers through Propel’s Clean Fuel Points in Redwood City, San Jose, Berkeley, and Oakland.

Algal-B20 at Propel Photo: Michael Macor, The ChronicleIn the consumer survey, 92 percent of participants noted that they would be more likely to purchase algae-derived fuel for its environmental benefits; 70 percent indicated that they would purchase the fuel more frequently if it were derived from algae; and nearly 40 percent of customers indicated they would pay a premium for algae-derived fuel. The survey responses were reflected at the pump. Sales results reflected a 35 percent volume increase at Propel stations offering the algae-derived fuel over area sites not participating in the pilot.

“Our fuels have already been successfully demonstrated in fleet vehicles, corporate buses, military applications and the first U.S. commercial flight on biofuel,” said Bob Ames, VP of Fuels, Solazyme. “The successful pilot program with Propel further exhibits strong consumer appetite for the superior performance and environmental properties of Soladiesel.” The algal-based biofuel, SoladieselBD meets or exceeds ASTM quality specifications and has shown performance enhancements including superior cold temperature operating performance and environmental benefits, according to Solazyme.

“Propel is committed to providing drivers true choice at the pump by bringing to market the world’s highest quality and most sustainable fuels,” added Matt Horton, CEO of Propel Fuels. “The results show strong preference for algae-based fuel, and we are thrilled to have partnered with Solazyme to enable our customers to be the first in the country to purchase this next generation biofuel.”

advanced biofuels, algae, Renewable Energy, Retailers

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFStem and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) have announced a pilot project to study the impact of high penetration solar photovoltaics (PV) on the grid. The two-year research project will utilize Stem’s unique high-resolution data collection, cloud-based power system analytics and intelligent energy storage capabilities to reduce electricity costs for customers.
  • Advanced energy CEOs believe that California’s energy policies have put the state on the cutting edge of advanced energy development and innovation, but a variety of obstacles are preventing the state from fully reaping the economic and environmental benefits of advanced energy, according to a new report from Advanced Energy Economy. The findings are based on a series of interviews with 30 CEOs and other senior executives of advanced energy companies located in California or doing significant business in the state.
  • Pristine Sun, LLC and Solar Mosaic, Inc. have executed several agreements to close on post-construction permanent loans on the first phase of a portfolio build-out of solar PV farms in California over the next nine months. Power from the six projects, totaling nearly 6 MW of Pristine Sun’s 250 MW portfolio of mid-to-late-stage California small utility solar projects, will be connected to the grid and sold to PG&E.  This represents enough clean energy to power approximately 6,000 homes.
  • Ecofys has released a comprehensive statement on the use of wind lidar, specifically ZephIR 300, to reduce uncertainty on wind farm developments. The statement reports that “lidar wind measurements have been extensively verified against reliable reference anemometers over many sites” and “there is now industry consensus that lidar is a proven technology for wind resource assessment” referring specifically to the ZephIR 300 which is one of the two systems most tested to-date. It is reported that other lidar systems commercially available would only attain the same status if successful on further verification tests.
Bioenergy Bytes

How to Ensure Biofuel Crops Don’t Become Weeds

Joanna Schroeder

A Virginia Tech researcher, along with several others, have offered a way to ensure that plants grown for biofuels do not become an invasive weed. According to Jacob Barney, an assistance professor of plant pathology, physiology and weed science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, careful introduction of new species for production of more energy per acre is increasingly critical, as is the evaluation of new or bioengineered plants for agricultural or horticultural uses.

L_030613-cals-jacobbarneyThe article, “Navigating the ‘Noxious’ and ‘Invasive’ Regulatory Landscape: Suggestions for Improved Regulation,” published in BioScience proposes a way to improve and streamline the regulatory methodology for evaluating the invasive potential of plants, especially biofuel feedstock. Biofuels are increasing in economic and ecological importance, said Barney, as the RFS continues to be implemented.

“We did this analysis to draw attention to state noxious weed lists and to suggest ways to help prevent additional plants from escaping cultivation and potentially becoming noxious or invasive species,” said Barney.

“According to our analysis, current noxious weed laws do not provide adequate protection to prevent invasions in natural areas, and we have a shared responsibility for proper stewardship of these landscapes,” said Lauren Quinn a research associate at the Energy Biosciences Institute at the University of Illinois-Urbana, and the lead author of the study. “Going forward, it will be essential to base legal reforms on an awareness of this responsibility and, more importantly, on a rational public dialogue that includes sound science.”Read More

advanced biofuels, Research

Biofuels Beltway Fly-in Getting Ready for Take Off

Joanna Schroeder

ACE Biofuels Beltway LogoThe plane is starting to fill up for the American Coalition for Ethanol’s (ACE) Biofuels Beltway Fly-In in Washington, D.C. but there is still room! The event takes place on March 13-14, 2013 and the goal is to meet with dozens of key leaders and Congressional members to tell them personal stories about the benefits of ethanol.

“ACE has more than 40 grassroots ethanol supporters from 10 states registered to participate in the fly-in next week,” says Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President of ACE. “Meetings have been requested with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle and Capitol, particularly Representatives on key committees and those new to Congress. We are looking forward to an exceptional event; the fly-in is the single best way for our members to share their story and impress upon Congress just how much the RFS has delivered for our country, and how important it is to maintain it..”

Earlier this week the President nominated MIT professor Ernest Moniz as energy secretary and EPA official Gina McCarthy as administrator for the agency. Here are two more people that the industry will need to work with to help ensure the RFS and E15 both continue to roll out and both are on the invitation for meeting list for the Biofuels Beltway Fly-in.

All ethanol advocates are invited. Register now. DomesticFuel will be there. Will you?

To participate, visit www.ethanol.org, or contact Shannon Gustafson at (605) 334-3381 ext. 16 or via email.

ACE, biofuels, Biofuels Beltway, Ethanol

NW-REI Offers Wind Turbine Training

Joanna Schroeder

Northwest Renewable Energy Institute (NW-REI) is offering a Wind Turbine Technician program and is hosting three free informational sessions on the program this month: Tuesday, March 5th at 7:00 pm; Saturday, March 9th at 10:30 am; and Saturday, March rei-site-work23rd at 10:30 am. According to the U.S. Department of Energy energy map of installed wind capacity, Oregon and Washington are two of the top states in the country for wind energy use.

“This school has afforded me the chance to pursue a positive career change that fits in with my lifestyle and plans for the future. This field is growing and I can see it continuing to grow,” said Stephanie Staggs, a recent graduate of the program. “I love the accelerated program — it’s challenging, fast paced and very hands-on. The instructors are amazing and really work hard at helping you every step of the way.”

With green energy in high demand, NW-REI’s says its in-depth technical training and valuable on-the-job experience provides the tools necessary for success in this fast-growing industry. The program takes students out of a classroom and puts them 300 feet into the air on a wind turbine. Students can expect an innovative approach to wind turbine training that will include classroom-based training, computer-based training and hands-on training. The green energy training programs teach the technical skills necessary to service, repair, and maintain wind turbines.

Click here for additional information regarding NW-REI.

Alternative energy, Education, Electricity, Energy, Wind

Love’s Expanding CNG Network

Joanna Schroeder

Love’s Travel Stops is expanding its fast-fill compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations to service Class 8 trucks. The corridor between Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, Texas will soon include eight new CNG pumps and should be operational by the fourth quarter of this year.  Love’s will add fast-fill CNG to the following locations in Texas: Ft. Worth – gI_63424_LovesCNG fueling laneI-35 W, Exit 40; Dallas – I-35/I-20, Exit 466; Rockwall – I-30, Exit 283; Willis – I-45, Exit 95; Houston – 610 Loop, Exit 24A; Katy – I-10, Exit 737; San Antonio – I-35, Exit 144; and Seguin – I-10, Exit 604.

“The major interstate corridors between Dallas, Houston and San Antonio are ideal locations to place fast-fill CNG for adopters of this natural-gas alternative,” said Jon Archard, director of fleet sales at Love’s. “A typical Class 8 truck can cover up to 450 miles after filling up with CNG, so Love’s locations near these three metro areas make sense. A gallon equivalent of CNG is significantly less than a gallon of diesel or LNG, so the drivers and fleets running on CNG see dramatic cost benefits.”

Love’s began offering CNG for light-duty and consumer vehicles at locations in Oklahoma in 2010. In 2012, the company opened its first fast-fill CNG dispensers for heavy-duty trucks at the Love’s Travel Stop off Interstate 40 in Oklahoma City.

“At our existing location in Oklahoma City, drivers are experiencing fill times comparable to fueling with diesel,” added Archard. “Speed is a top priority for Love’s because our fast-fill CNG dispensers are located on our diesel islands. We are focused on our customers and know professional drivers need to fuel quickly and get back on the road.”

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)