NEC 2027

Next Gen Biodiesel Scientists From Lab To Dragster

Joanna Schroeder

nbb-13-mccurdyWhat do Alex McCurdy, Michael Morgan and Robert Willis have in common? They all work in the same lab at Utah State University (USU) and are working on three integrated pieces of biodiesel research. They are members of Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel, and work in Lance Seefeldt’s lab, a professor in USU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and a principal faculty mentor on the interdisciplinary project. nbb-13-willis1

Here are some fun facts: McCurdy, Morgan and Willis were all on the team that set a land speed record with a race car design all their own and it ran on 100 percent biodiesel developed by the team. The team is also perfecting the production of fuel using yeast and bacterial platforms and also developing fuel from cheese
waste, carbon dioxide and the sun using microalgae platforms. nbb-13-morgan

Alex noted that the research team has recently succeeded in producing quantities of fuels from all of these sources that have superior properties in test engines, comparing favorably to biodiesel produced from soybeans. This research was featured by the three students during the poster session at the National Biodiesel Board Conference & Expo in Las Vegas.

Listen to an overview of Alex’s research: Biodiesel from Microalgae, Yeast & Bacteria

Listen to an overview of Robert’s research: Liquid, Liquid Lipid Extraction

Listen to an overview of Michael’s research (he is the dragster driver): Dragster Performs on Biodiesel

2013 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

advanced biofuels, Audio, Biodiesel, National Biodiesel Conference, NBB

Conergy Adds More Solar Capacity in Greece

Joanna Schroeder

Conergy has added more solar capacity in Greece. The company has just completed a 500 kilowatt plant on 2.25 acres of roof space at the warehouses of Hellenic Energy S.A. in Agios Ioannis Rentis on the edge of Athens.

Conergy rooftop plant on warehouses in Athens, Greece_1Conergy acted as main contractor and was responsible for the overall planning, engineering and design of this turnkey rooftop installation, as well as for the supply of the components and the handling the construction where they cooperated with Hellenic Energy S.A. After connection of the power plant at the end of January, 58 inverters are feeding the clean electricity produced by more than 2,000 Conergy PowerPlus modules on Conergy SolarFamulus mounting systems into the grid. The company says the solar system has an annual production of over 700,000 kilowatt hours and the plant can supply around 200 households in Agios Ioannis Rentis.

“Thanks to the country’s excellent climate, solar installations in Greece provide the perfect combination of sound economic thinking and environmental protection,” said Dr. Stefanos Melissopoulos, Managing Director of Conergy Greece. “But the country’s high insolation levels are not the only advantage. Greece has a large amount of industrial roof space, providing the perfect conditions for making clean and safe investments. There is still great potential.”

Ioannis Kavalis, Managing Director of Hellenic Energy, added, “Conergy possesses a unique track record and many years of experience. This is absolutely vital when planning complex roof spaces. It means everything is supplied from a single source and we are assured of absolute top quality. This is very important when making an investment, particularly in today’s difficult times.”

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, International, Solar

Real Goods Solar Expands Residential Solar Offering

Joanna Schroeder

Real Goods Solar has been selected by a leading production homebuilder to deploy solar in certain of its new communities beginning in California and then expanding into other states. As part of the partnership, Real Goods Solar will design, engineer, service and manage the installation of residential solar systems. The systems will be designed to offset a RealGoodsSolarLOGO_cgood portion of the electrical needs of the home.

“We are excited about this important expansion of our homebuilder program that allows homeowners to benefit from the advantages of having solar electricity from day one when they move into their new homes,” said Kam Mofid, Real Goods Solar CEO. “With our management team’s deep experience in home building and solar we were able to offer an outstanding value and the best overall solution as part of the homebuilder’s efforts to broadly offer solar in new homes.”

Josh Price, vice president of residential operations for Real Goods Solar, added, “Home builders are seeing demand strengthen across the country but buyers are often concerned about the rising electricity costs. Including solar in new homes allows home buyers to see savings in their energy costs and therefore reduce the overall cost of owning their dream home.”

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar

If You’re Not Extracting Corn Oil, Why Not?

John Davis

P1300044Ethanol producers need to squeeze every penny out of their operations. But one expert in the field of corn oil wonders why some refiners aren’t trying to capture the corn oil produced when they make ethanol.

“It seems to be a fundamental piece of ethanol plant profitability,” Joe Riley, General Manager with FEC Solutions told Joanna during the recent Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Renewable Fuels Summit. He should know. His family has been operating in the fats and oils business for 26 years and lives in the heart of farming and ethanol production, Iowa.

With a potential to extract between 1.5 and 1.7 million gallons of corn oil from a 50 million-gallon-per-year ethanol plant, Joe questions why only about half of the refiners aren’t trying to capture that corn oil. “If you’re not extracting corn oil, you have to be asking yourself, “Why?” He said that worries of losing value in dried distillers grains (DDGs) have pretty much been answered, and with biodiesel operations expected to be using even more available oils, including corn, Joe pointed out that some refiners might be losing out on potential profit.

He does understand that some operators find it tricky to get the right market for their corn oil. That’s where FEC Solutions comes in. “Usually ethanol plants are really good at making and selling ethanol. We’re really good at selling oil… whether that’s in the feed industry, biodiesel industry, export markets, or specialty or oleo chemical markets.”

Find out more at their website, fecsolutions.com.

Listen to Joanna’s interview with Joe here: Joe Riley

View the IRFA Renewable Fuels Summit Photo Album.

Audio, corn, Ethanol, Iowa RFA, News

Urban Air Initiative Worried About Stocks, Not Ethanol

John Davis

irfa-13-krissekEthanol is good for taking harmful particles out of automobile emissions, but a group committed to cleaner air is worried that gasoline makers might just end up putting more particulates in the blendstock.

“The [ultra-fine particulates] profile of the ethanol is very, very consistent,” but Greg Krissek, Director of Government Affairs for ICM, part of the Urban Air Initiative, told Joanna during the recent Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Renewable Fuels Summit that as ethanol blends get higher, gasoline makers are increasing the amount of particulate-forming ingredients on their end.

But Greg is still optimistic that higher ethanol blends will be used in the future. “I think there are very positive discussions with automakers about how to use mid-level blends. What we don’t want to happen is the unintended consequence down the road of what happens to that gasoline blendstock.”

You can find out more on the Urban Air Initiative’s website.

Listen to Joanna’s interview with Greg here: Greg Krissek

View the IRFA Renewable Fuels Summit Photo Album.

Audio, blends, Ethanol, Iowa RFA, News

Meet Solben – Mexico’s Biodiesel Technology Leader

Joanna Schroeder

Here is a fun fact. Did you know that the average age of a person working in the Mexican biodiesel industry is 30 years old or younger? A bit different than in the U.S. where the average age is much older and the industry is recruiting students to join the biodiesel ranks with the Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel. nbb-13-gomezHow did I come to know this interesting fact? By speaking with Daniel Gomez, with Solben during the 10th Annual National Biodiesel Board Conference & Expo in Las Vegas.

Solben, founded about six years ago, develops and commercializes multi-feedstock technology for biodiesel production. Today, nearly 70 percent of all the biodiesel producers in Mexico use Solben technology.

Gomez explained that biodiesel production in Mexico is like going back 10 years in the U.S. Last year the biodiesel industry produced was 2.5 million gallons and the year before that .5 million gallons and in 2013 the industry will double to 5 million gallons. He continued by saying that if you go back to the late 90s in the U.S., Mexico is now on that same trajectory and the government is looking at legislation that would support the increased growth and use of biodiesel. He hopes that by next year the country will see good things for biodiesel and from there the industry will grow exponentially.

Learn more about Solben and the potential for biodiesel in Mexico by listening to my interview with Daniel here: Meet Solben

2013 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, International, National Biodiesel Conference, NBB

Book Review – Solar Photovoltaics Business Briefing

Joanna Schroeder

Every day you hear more and more about solar photovoltaics (PV). But what exactly are they? Is the technology good? Why should a business adopt solar PV? All of these questions are explained in the DoShort: “Solar Photovoltaics Business Briefing,” by David Thorpe. I actually read the brief in an airport between flights and came away with a better understanding of solar PV technology and what is on the horizon for emerging solar PV technologies.

DS_Thorpe_LRThis was interesting: a study done by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) concludes that less than 1 percent of suitable land would be needed to cover the current electricity consumption of the region, as well as Europe. According to Thorpe, Desertec has estimated the cost of achieving this by 2050 at $400 bn. Much of this will be investment in the grid connection infrastructure. Others believe that it would be cheaper to generate the same amount of power closer to home. Although Thorpe presents the arguments for both sides, he doesn’t pick a winner.

There were several things I particularly liked about the book. One was Thorpe included a formula for calculating output. This varies by country and project. In addition, he included specific advice to installers, general design advice, ideas on where a solar PV project should be situation (roof versus ground mounted), costs, how to estimate cost savings (once again this may vary by project and country) and also gives advice on sourcing and how to talk to suppliers.

While the majority of the book is focused on European projects, legislation and funding schemes, the basic information is applicable no matter where your business resides. For those looking for a basic understanding of solar PV and enough information to research a project of your own, then this business brief is definitely for you.

Win a free copy of this DoShort. Email Joanna Schroeder with the book title in the subject line. Include your full contact information in the body of the email. The winner will be announced in next week’s energy.agwired.com newsletter.

book reviews, Solar

This Valentines Day – Heart Big Oil

Joanna Schroeder

This Valentines Day, spread some cheer by telling Big Oil just how much we heart them – NOT! On this love filled holiday, Fuels America sent out a Valentine Day video, “We Love Oil” to show that although love is in the air this week, America is suffering from a broken heart caused by oil.

How do you love oil? “I love how when the oil companies are making more profits than any other industry in history, ever, they still get billions in subsidies ever year. I mean, that’s awesome.”

Awesome indeed. This video must be watched and go viral!

Fuels America says it is time to end America’s love affair with this finite and expensive fuel source that has led to higher gas prices, and climate change-inducing weather that makes us the wrong kind of hot.

So what are you waiting for? Tweet this out already @FuelsAmerica.

advanced biofuels, Oil, Renewable Energy, Video

Best DC Fly-In Ever!

Joanna Schroeder

Saying that the American Coalition for Ethanol’s (ACE) DC Fly-In will be the best ever may be a bit premature but not if I can help it. The fifth annual event will happen on Wednesday, March 13 and Thursday, March 14, 2013 in Washington, D.C. where ACE members and other ethanol supports will descend on the Hill and tell the great local stories irfa-13-aceof ethanol.

I spoke with Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President for ACE to get the update on this year’s event. There is no fee to be involved and Jennings said they need as many people involved that they can. Last year they had about 60 participants from a dozens or more states and met with 200 congressional delegates in two days.

The reason ACE does this is because they feel that it is important to show the story rather than just tell it. While Jennings believes that facts are on the industry’s side, he said that sometimes you need to wrap up the story in a better wrapper. What they’ve found is that real people can put a human face on why the RFS is important or why we need E15. So when a banker from a small town or a farmer who happens to be a board member for an ethanol plant goes to talk to members of Congress why his or her daily life ethanol has provided benefits and why it’s important, that tends to resonate a lot more effectively than it would if it were a paid lobbyist trying to make the case.

Jenning said ACE knows that 2013 is a pivotal year in trying to keep the RFS so they will focus on this as well as some other issues. They will also be sure to meet with the “freshman” congressman to make sure they start their term understanding the benefits of ethanol.

ace-beltway-13We here at energy.agwired.com have a mission. To have at least one person from each state participate in this year’s fly-in. We’ve created a “watch” logo and will be bringing you updates on state representation and we’ll be calling out those states without a participate. So let’s work together to make this event phenomenal. To register visit www.ethanol.org, or contact Shannon Gustafson at (605) 334-3381 ext. 16 or via email.

Listen to my interview with Brian here: Best DC Fly-In Ever!

View the IRFA Renewable Fuels Summit Photo Album.

ACE, Audio, E15, Ethanol, Renewable Energy, RFS

Advanced Biofuels Companies Gaining Momentum

Joanna Schroeder

According to new research from Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), dozens of states in the U.S. are now homes to advanced biofuels companies. There are now more than 80 advanced biofuel companies, refineries and related operations located in at least 27 states. Top states are California, with 30 companies, Illinois (8), Colorado (6) Texas (5) and Iowa (4).

A searchable map and state-by-state breakdown of companies involved in the advanced biofuels industry is a centerpiece of a new website launched by E2. The site is a clearinghouse for information on how clean fuel companies are driving economic growth, and includes reports that examine the growth and potential of the domestic biofuel Clean Fuel Companies E2industry; fact sheets about the industry and videos and other stories that spotlight American biofuel companies in action.

E2 says the biofuel market could be worth more than $60 billion within the next decade and more than 18,000 jobs could be created by the 26 biorefineries that are expected to open by 2015. The website also details how advanced biofuels can be produced sustainably without competing with food. As the stories of many biofuel companies show, farmers are discovering new revenue opportunities for their agricultural waste; companies are developing new technologies to make fuels cleaner and biofuel refineries are popping up nationwide.

“We’ve got the resources, the knowledge and the technology to put our country on a path to meet our transportation needs with cleaner fuels,” said Mary Solecki, clean fuels analyst at E2. “The type of innovation we’re seeing in the biofuel industry is what makes America great.”

There are many ways states can integrate clean fuels into their mix, according to Solecki. Some states use tax incentives, while others like California and Oregon have a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). California’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (AB 118) also has been especially helpful in getting companies to open new operations inside California.

“States that will benefit the most from this promising and important industry are those that support sound clean fuel policies,” added Solecki. “States that ignore this growing economic development opportunity risk missing out in the future.”

advanced biofuels, Renewable Energy, Research