Students Earn Scholarships to Futher Biodiesel Education

Joanna Schroeder

StudentScholarship_Robert_Willis_USUSeveral students from around the U.S. will get a hands-on biodiesel education during the National Biodiesel Board’s Annual Conference: Momentum, February 4-7, 2013 in Las Vegas. Sixteen young college scientists were selected to receive scholarships to the conference, a program the National Biodiesel Board views as a long-term investment.

“There is tremendous potential for this NBB program to have a lasting impact on biodiesel research,” said Kyle Anderson, NBB’s Technical Projects manager. “It’s a great investment to share solid information and build relationships with tomorrow’s scientific thought leaders.”

The scholarships were awarded to members of the Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel, an NBB program that aims to educate and collaborate with young scientists. This year’s scholars come from schools such as Utah State University, University of Colorado, Texas A&M, Southern Illinois University, and Clemson University.

“I believe the knowledge and professional network I will gain from this conference will only allow my passion for biofuels to grow, and will strengthen my commitment to continue in a field that is so important to our quest for global sustainability,” said Nina De la Rosa, an Environmental Studies student at Florida International University in Miami who was awarded one of the scholarships, and will present a poster on her research during the event.

The scholarships are funded by state soybean organizations and the United Soybean Board through the soybean checkoff. To learn more about the NBB Conference including online registration click here. You can learn more about the Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel here.

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, NBB

Two Solar Projects Kick Off in South Africa

Joanna Schroeder

Two ground-mounted solar power projects totaling 33 megawatts are underway in South Africa, a joint venture between AE-AMD Renewable Energy and Tenesol, a subsidiary of SunPower. Tenesol will construct both projects, located near Douglas, South Africa in the Northern Cape Province. The ground-mounted solar systems will feature 138,000 Tenesol TE 240 photovoltaic solar panels on single-axis trackers. The solar panels are being produced at the Cape Town manufacturing facility which has been in operation for more than a decade, and has 3BBBEE rating.

South Africa Northern CapeHerbert, a 22-MW project, has begun construction, and groundbreaking for the 11-MW Greefspan project will begin soon. They are both part of the South African government’s Independent Power Producers Procurement Program and completion for both projects is expected in the second quarter of 2014. The last step in financing took place on November 16, 2012 when final agreements were signed-off by the South African Department of Energy.

“SunPower’s successful track record of building solar power plants around the world, coupled with Tenesol’s historic presence in South Africa, will positively impact this region,” said SunPower Regions President Howard Wenger. “These two solar power projects will generate local construction jobs and deliver clean, reliable energy to the community.”

Both systems are owned by AE-AMD Renewable Energy in partnership with the IDEAS Fund, managed by Old Mutual Investment Group of South Africa. The electricity created by the solar projects will be sold to Eskom. Tenesol has a five percent share in both projects.

Alternative energy, Electricity, International, Solar

Book Review – The Year God Forgot Us

Joanna Schroeder

Pssst…I have the secret recipe for renewable fuel. Want to know where I found this recipe that will take down big oil? In the novel, “The Year God Forgot Us,” by Dennis Nau. Ok, so I don’t really have some super duper secret renewable fuel recipe, but this week’s book was a fictional look at 1936, during the Great Depression, where the town of Bernadotte, North Dakota believes they have met the man who will revolutionize fuel by stealing a secret recipe developed by the Mormans.

The Year God Forgot Us Book CoverA stranger drives in to town and fills up his tank with water, shakes his truck, and drives off. This leads to town gossip and eventually the driver begins frequenting the local cafe when he comes through town and begins planting the idea of the secret fuel recipe and how the town can “buy” the recipe and become rich. Al, the leader of the pack” says, “The Mormons are the devil. Satan.  Satan with a suit on. That’s the Mormons. They discovered the secret formula of how to turn water into gasoline, the Mormans did.”

Eventually Al unveils the catalyst as wheat flour, a dream for struggling wheat farmers. As the town gets excited about the gasoline venture, Johnny, the proprietor of the cafe says, “A lot of money would stay in this area, wouldn’t do out east to people in Boston and New York. It wouldn’t go west to Los Angeles. The money wouldn’t be parked in banks in Chicago. We grow wheat here. Think of what this would do to the demand for wheat. Why, every farmer in North Dakota would be able to make enough money for a decent living. This would benefit all our neighbors…”

While I’m not going to spill the beans on what happens, the narrative is colorful and I could almost imagine sitting on the bar stool eating breakfast at the cafe and watching and participating as the events unfold. While the book isn’t about “biofuels” per se, it does lay out the foundation for the future fuel as American farmers  – exactly what is happening today as farmers grow energy crops. I would be remiss if I didn’t say the language could be offensive to some, but Nau means no disrespect to Mormans or others. The scam in the book is perpetrated on Americans of all race and creed and the tale is told true to its time  – 1936 during the Great Depression.

biofuels, book reviews

Icom Adds Propane Autogas Vehicles to Fleet

Joanna Schroeder

Icom North America, a developer, integrator and manufacturer of liquid-injection propane systems for commercial and consumer vehicles, has announced an installation program for 140 propane autogas Ford F150 pickup trucks for use by Menards home improvement stores. The vehicles will serve 36 Menards locations throughout Illinois along with the store in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Icom-trained Installer Metro Motors of Cicero, Ill., is performing the installations.

MenardsKyleKrause PropaneTruckThe company recently received 15 new certifications from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) covering nearly 100 different 2012-1013 model year GM and Ford vehicle platforms for its patented JTG II Propane Liquid Injection bi-fuel and dedicated systems. The company plans to launch a Propane Optimization Process (POP) that maximizes propane use by preventing driver override.

“The Icom-Menards project clearly identifies what strides can be made when a large national fleet works in close cooperation with companies like Icom North America, CleanFUEL USA and Ferrellgas,” said Albert Venezio, chairman of Icom North America.

According to Icom, the project will provide Menards significant cost savings. After the vehicles are converted, Menards will consider expanding the program to other Midwest-based stores.

Jeff Abbott, spokesperson for Menards added, “We’re glad to be advancing our company forward into this growing market since propane is a cleaner burning fuel and less expensive, so it’s a win-win for everyone.”                      

Alternative energy, Propane

Free Solar Panels Brighten San Diego Family Homes

Joanna Schroeder

Several families in San Diego county will have a brighter 2013 as a result of the 2012 Solar Holiday Drive led by Sullivan Solar Power. Five low-income families were selected to receive free solar panels for their homes. The solar drive was part of a partnership with GRID Alternatives, a nonprofit that installs solar energy on homes for families who would otherwise not have access.

gI_95978_DSCF1057GRID Alternatives mobilizes job trainees and other volunteers, providing hands-on experience installing solar panel systems. As a part of the partnership, Sullivan Solar Power team members will be volunteering their time to assist the GRID Alternatives team with the donated projects.

“GRID Alternatives is thrilled to have partnered with Sullivan Solar this holiday season to bring the gift of clean green power to families who really need the savings,” said Paul Cleary, Regional Director of GRID Alternatives.

Sullivan Solar Power donated one solar panel for each San Diego county resident who signed up with the company to go solar. Forty-six solar panels were donated as part of the promotion. Collectively, 46 locally manufactured Kyocera solar panels will be installed on low-income residences at no cost to San Diego homeowners as a result.

“The initiative ended more successfully than we had envisioned. We are blessed and grateful to be in a position to provide the gift of solar energy to families who need financial relief from high electricity costs most,” added Founder and President of Sullivan Solar Power, Daniel Sullivan.

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Renewable Energy, Solar

DOE Awards Novozymes $2.5M

Joanna Schroeder

Corn Stover Photo Credit Joanna SchroederThe U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded Novozymes an award of up to $2.5 million to find new and more efficient enzymes for turning corn stover into fuel for cars and trucks. The specific project that was awarded funds by the DOE is called ‘SynTec,’ and is a two-year collaborative project between Novozymes and MBI. The companies will screen natural enzyme diversity for the best performing enzymes. Each enzyme combination will then be tested on pretreated agricultural waste that can first be converted into sugars and then into bio-based products and advanced biofuels.

According to Novozymes, many chemical-based industrial processes have inherent drawbacks from a commercial and environmental point of view. These drawbacks can be nearly eliminated with enzymes:

  • Enzymes can be used in mild conditions such as moderate temperatures and pH levels.
  • Only small amounts of enzymes are needed in order to carry out chemical reactions on an industrial scale.
  • Enzymes reduce the impact of manufacturing on the environment by reducing the use of chemicals, water and energy, and the subsequent generation of waste.

Novozymes’ work will support DOE’s focus on research, development and demonstration efforts to achieve affordable, scalable and sustainable advanced biofuels. According to the company, it has already reduced the cost of enzyme production for biofuels by 90 percent. Once the new screening process is proven, it can be used to rapidly develop tailored cost-effective enzyme solutions for specific industrial biorefineries. This is the third time Novozymes has partnered with the D.O.E. for bioenergy enzyme development.

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, Company Announcement, Renewable Energy

AAA Holds Fast to E15 Position

Joanna Schroeder

The American Automobile Association (AAA) has taken a position against the use of E15 for all motorists despite the fact that E15 is the most tested fuel in American history. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the use of E15 for cars and light duty trucks manufactured in 2001 or later. In addition, the EPA has put safeguards in place for retailers before they are legally allowed to sell the ethanol blend to ensure motorists use the fuel correctly.

ace logoToday, Senior Vice President of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Ron Lamberty charged AAA with “unnecessarily alarming motorists” and having a double standard between ethanol and oil based fuels, in a letter sent to AAA President Robert Darbelnet. In the letter, Lamberty questions AAA’s stand on E15 and points out its silence on non-approved low-octane fuel being sold in states like Colorado and South Dakota.

Lamberty points out in the letter that, “The hypocrisy of turning a blind eye and most likely allowing people to shorten the lives of their vehicles by using unapproved and untested oil-company produced sub-octane gasoline for decades, while loudly attacking thoroughly tested and approved E15 when only a few stations are offering it for sale, is quite unbecoming for an organization that claims it puts the best interests of the American motorist first.”

“Furthermore,” wrote Lambery, “making “recommendations” about E15 based on oil-industry funded and directed “studies,” while ignoring millions of miles of federal government laboratory testing showing E15 is safe for cars and light trucks manufactured in 2001 and later (some of which now have owners’ manuals that list E15 as an approved fuel) is indefensible.”

You can Lamberty’s letter to AAA by clicking here.

ACE, biofuels, E15, Ethanol, Renewable Energy

First Solar Extends Agreement with Intermolecular

Joanna Schroeder

First Solar LogoFirst Solar has entered into a two-year collaboration and licensing agreement with Intermolecular (IMI) focused on further increases to the conversion efficiency of First Solar’s cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cell technology. Within the new collaborative program, the two companies will work together to develop disruptive new approaches to increasing the performance of CdTe solar cell technology using Intermolecular’s proprietary High Productivity Combinatorial (HPC(TM))platform. According to First Solar, the program targets substantial gains in its module conversion efficiency beyond its previously announced roadmap.

“We are excited to extend and deepen our collaboration with IMI. The combinatorial approach to material and process screening has shown promise to augment First Solar’s already world-leading research and development capabilities in CdTe solar technology, enabling better performance and faster time-to-market,” said Raffi Garabedian, First Solar’s Chief Technology Officer.

Intermolecular LogoGarabedian added the company is confident that this effort will bear fruit in the coming years and believes that this project, in combination with other R&D advances, will extend the company’s leadership in photovoltaic technology and further enhance value for our power plant customers.

Sandeep Nijhawan, Vice President and General Manager of Intermolecular’s Clean Energy Group, added, “We are excited to partner with First Solar, a global leader in thin-film photovoltaic technology and systems. Extending and expanding the collaboration with First Solar after working closely with them last year represents tremendous validation of our value proposition. We look forward to be closely working with First Solar to further increase CdTe solar cell conversion-efficiency by leveraging our HPC platform and capabilities.”

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar

Abengoa US Formed

Joanna Schroeder

International company Abengoa has announced the creation of a new American subsidiary, Abengoa, US, which will be responsible for all its business in the country. The formation of the new subsidiary supports the company’s strong commitment to the U.S. market.

abengoa logoAccording to the company, Abengoa US has assets in excess of $5.8 billion, more than $1.7 billion in shareholders’ equity, and its revenues account for approximately 20 percent of the company’s total sales.  Today, U.S. projects are coordinated from three offices located in Washington D.C., St. Louis and Denver with R&D+i centers in Denver and St. Louis. In addition, the company has projects completed or underway in 12 sates.

Currently,, Abengoa US is engaged in various landmark projects in the country, including Solana, the world’s largest solar plant using parabolic-trough solar-thermal technology based in the Arizona desert, which has up to six hours of electricity storage, and one of the first commercial second-generation bioethanol plants located in Hugoton, Kansas, which will come into operation at the end of this year.

advanced biofuels, Alternative energy, bioenergy, Company Announcement, Solar

Sweetwater and Ace to Produce Cellulosic Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

A cellulosic sugar producer in New York has signed a deal with an ethanol plant in Wisconsin to begin commercial production of cellulosic ethanol.

Sweetwater Energy signed a long-term commercial agreement with Ace Ethanol to generate cellulosic ethanol at the ACE corn ethanol facility for up to 16 years.

sweetwaterAccording to Sweetwater officials, the company’s “patented, decentralized process will convert locally available cellulosic, non-food biomass, such as crop residues, energy crops, and woody biomass into highly fermentable sugar, which Ace will ferment into ethanol. The entire contract has a total potential value in excess of $100 million, and requires a minimal capital outlay by Ace Ethanol while stabilizing Ace’s feedstock cost over the life of the agreement.”

“Ace Ethanol has been bench testing Sweetwater’s cellulosic material for some time and we’re confident that this project will be commercially profitable,” says Neal Kemmet, President of Ace Ethanol. “With Sweetwater, we’ll move from 100% corn to a combination of corn starch and 7% cellulosic sugar as our feedstocks.”

“This is a very exciting time for the industry, and we couldn’t be more pleased to have aligned Sweetwater with Ace,” says Jack Baron, President and COO of Sweetwater. “Our patented, decentralized sugar-production model is designed to let us work in tandem with a refiner’s existing infrastructure, which fosters strong collaboration on both sides. Furthermore, our refined sugars can be used for biochemical or bioplastics production, giving Ace diversification options in the future. Ace is a progressive industry leader located near affordable biomass; they are financially successful and constantly incorporating proven new technologies to maintain their leadership position.”

Sweetwater also announced today that they have been issued a patent for the “manufacture and deployment of distributed pretreatment units designed for the extraction of sugars from any cellulosic feedstock for the production of ethanol.” Officials say the process allows Sweetwater to deploy its cellulosic sugar conversion facilities in a “hub and spoke” fashion, providing broad scale diversity for cellulosic ethanol production that takes full advantage of economic and capacity constraints surrounding cellulosic biomass. “This patent is a major breakthrough for the future of cellulosic ethanol,” says Arunas Chesonis, Chairman and CEO of Sweetwater. “The patent protects the first technology to support a viable economic model for scaling the conversion of cellulosic biomass into highly fermentable sugar and subsequently, ethanol. It will mean a great deal to the US corn ethanol industry, and the profitable future of biofuel production worldwide.”

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News