Biofuel News

Daily News—11/12

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:31:00 GMT

CEO and founder of Denver, CO biodiesel producer steps down

The man who founded and served as the CEO of one of Denver’s first biodiesel firms is out.

This article from the Denver Business Journal says Blue Sun Energy Inc.’s Jeff Probst, resigned from the company at the end of October… but offers few details about the split:

Probst, who couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday, also left the director position but remains a part owner of Blue Sun, [company spokesman Steve Bond] said.

“It’s a strategic change for the company,” Bond said. “Jeff had done a lot with launching the company, now it’s entering a different phase.”

As one of Denver’s first biodiesel companies, this firm is important to follow, I think, because it shows us how a biodiesel maker has to evolve with the changing times and marketing plans. I hope Jeff Probst will join BDN and sign in please, we would certainly be delighted to hear from you. Denver recently receive federal stimulus money which includes buying B100 from this supplier, story here.

Did you know Daryl Hannah is a “biodiesel babe”?

In January of 2008, Daryl Hannah put her beloved “Badass Biodiesel El Camino” up for sale through her DH Love Life site. A couple weeks later, we learned the car wasn’t selling as hot as she hoped — and so an auction on eBay became the next step. Sometime after that, the car sold — and Hannah revealed that her next green ride would be an all-electric conversion project for the Trans Am she drove in the move Kill Bill.

Speaking Monday at the National Biodiesel Conference, however, it appears that the actress has converted another El Camino to biodiesel — right down to the same decals she had on its predecessor. “My car loves to drink vegetable oil, especially if it’s from waste. I only use sustainably-sourced biodiesel.” Daryl said.

With both brains and beauty, Daryl Hannah is an outspoken advocate and user of biodiesel, and in particular, biodiesel from WVO and other industrial waste products. I know there was something I liked about her. Now if I could get HER to join BDN, I bet you guys would surely approve.

Palm oil genome project could boost biodiesel yields

A joint American-Malaysian effort has completed an important oil palm genome sequencing project that could unlock even more potential from this oil-rich feedstock for biodiesel.

Biodiesel Magazine reports that the Malaysian Palm Oil Board and St. Louis-based Orion Genomics have led a consortium that has sequenced three oil palm genomes from two oil palm species:

Here’s an interesting joint venture that might result in significant increases in palm oil biodiesel output. We should never forget the potential of genome research which could change everything in the world of oil.

Here BX biodiesel plant expands, betting on farm-grown camelina and canola

Hero BX, already one of the largest U.S. biofuel producers, recently received a fresh financial injection for biodiesel expansion. Formerly called Lake Erie Biofuels, the company won a $1.64 million grant to expand production by 10 million gallon per year.

Company officials expect to grow its use of farm-raised feedstocks, which could benefit farmers in New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. "We anticipate that we'll be producing 20 to 25% of our biodiesel using the second-generation feedstock, camelina within the next two to three years," says CEO Leonard Kosar.

"Unlike many other companies that are simply developing technologies to use second and third generation feedstocks to produce biofuels someday, we're profitably producing biofuels today." Currently, most of the biodiesel produced at the plant comes from waste soybean and food oils and biodegradable greases.

Notice that even though they now produce their biodiesel from waste food oils, they realize they must look to the larger sources of crops for raw oil. At some point, there just won’t be enough WVO to go around.

Founder and CEO Out at Denver Biodiesel Firm

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:04:00 GMT

The man who founded and served as the CEO of one of Denver's first biodiesel firms is out.

This article from the Denver Business Journal says Blue Sun Energy Inc.’s Jeff Probst, resigned from the company at the end of October… but offers few details about the split:

Probst, who couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday, also left the director position but remains a part owner of Blue Sun, [company spokesman Steve Bond] said.

“It’s a strategic change for the company,” Bond said. “Jeff had done a lot with launching the company, now it’s entering a different phase.”

Bue Sun was founded in 2001. Probst had been Blue Sun’s CEO and president the past six years, according to the company.

The company expects to fill the CEO position but the board hasn't met about the subject yet.

The company seems to have kind words about Probst's time … of course, he still is one of the owners. But does anyone have any info about what happened? Sure would like to know.

Food Deliveries in Georgia to Ride on Biodiesel

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:34:00 GMT

One of the country's premier foodservice distributors has converted another one of its delivery fleets to run on biodiesel.

This press release posted on the EarthTimes.org Web site says U.S. Foodservice-Atlanta is running its 185 tractors and 210 trailers on B5, joining U.S. Foodservices' Streator, Ill., and Plymouth, Minn. divisions burning the green fuel:

“Utilizing biodiesel is a continuation of our ongoing environmental strategy,” said John Leake, president of U.S. Foodservice-Atlanta. “Improving our overall impact on the environment – while helping our customers find effective ways to do the same – not only makes good business sense, it's the right thing to do.”

The biodiesel fuel costs on average about a penny more per gallon. Its use is expected to reduce the U.S. Foodservice-Atlanta fleet's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by nearly 788,000 pounds – or about 4 percent – annually. That's roughly the equivalent of taking 65 cars off the road or of planting more than 3,150 trees every year.

The company will get the biodiesel from a local company, S.A. White Oil Co. of Marietta.

Biodiesel Gets Boost from Palm Oil Genome Project

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:51:00 GMT

Oil palm plantations on average produce 3.9 tons of oil per hectare per year, nearly 10 times more than other productive oil bearing crops. Therefore, it has the potential to meet growing demand for food and renewable fuel. Used in cooking oil, margarine, baked goods and other foods, palm oil is the most consumed edible oil in the world as well as a common ingredient in soaps and cosmetics and an important biodiesel feedstock globally.

The oil palm family has two species, the E. guineensis which originates from Africa and the E. oleifera, which is native to South America. Because of its high productivity, the E. guineensis is the commercial variety planted in Malaysia. However, the E. oleifera has many interesting traits such as a low height increment that would increase the life-span of harvestable plantings, increased resistance to disease and production of higher quantities of unsaturated fats – traits that will add value if incorporated into commercial E. guineensis lines.

Researchers believe this knowledge of the genomic sequence will help them produce bigger yields to meet food and fuel needs.

Pacific Rim Summit: Renewable Chemicals

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:59:00 GMT

Two companies commercializing different techniques to produce chemicals from renewable resources gave presentations this morning at BIO's Pacific Rim Summit.

Christophe Schilling, CEO of Genomatica in San Diego, outlined the company's strategy for making butanediol (BDO) directly from sugars. BDO is a polymer used in things such as spandex, betadine, and car parts including tires. Genomatica says its process uses 30 percent less energy, reduces CO2 and GHG emissions, and produces a 40-60 percent saving in capital expenditures. Plus, there is a $3 billion existing market.

Sam McConnell of Myriant described his company's strategy for making succinic acid, which is a chemical intermediate that can be converted into many other products. Myriant is partnering with the University of Florida and Buckeye Technologies on a plant in Perry, Fla., which they project to be completed in 2010. The output of the plant is already 80 percent sold, according to McConnell.

A recording of the session is available from bio.org.

Biofuels in the frame for Papua deforestation plans

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:06:00 GMT

Allegations of an unrestricted and exploitative land grab in Papua to develop a biofuels industry have been made by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) in a report, 'Up for Grabs: Deforestation and Exploitation in Papua's Plantations Boom ' published yesterday (10th October). The, self styled, Agency alleges that there are moves by large companies to target five million hectares of land in the region, most of which they say is forested, to develop a biofuels industry and that it is is provoking conflicts with local communities.

$5m grant for Ceres grass development programme

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:29:00 GMT

A project by Ceres to increase biomass yields of several energy grasses has attracted a $5 million advanced research grant form the US Department of Energy. Commenting at the announcement of the award yesterday (10th November) Ceres chief scientific officer Richard Flavell said; “Low-input traits developed through modern genetics can provide wide-reaching benefits to the energy and agricultural sectors as well as the environment — just the type of transformational impact energy officials are looking for.”

BIO Pacific Rim Summit: Biofuels from Coal and Sunlight

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:34:00 GMT

On day two of BIO's Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy, attendees heard some fascinating presentations at the plenary lunch session, appropriately titled “Novel Applications of Industrial Biotechnology.”

Phil Hendry from CSIRO in Australia spoke about the opportunities for carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas benefits offered by coal bed methane production (coal seam gas, CBM, CSG). Coal bed methane is a type of natural gas extracted from coal beds through a natural biological process. There are great advantages to its use, according to Mr. Hendry, because coal bed methane produces around 50 percent less carbon dioxide emissions compared to coal-fired power. Coal bed methane also has great potential to contribute significantly to the supply of natural gas.

There are several international organizations involved in the production of coal bed methane, aside from CSIRO. Luca Technologies, Alberta Research Council, and the Western Research Institute are some examples. Mr. Hendry also cited the ability of CBM to stimulate under saturated coal seams, exhausted wells, and even to be injected into micronutrients.

Brent Erickson, Executive Vice President of the Industrial and Environmental Section at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), sits on the board of the Western Research Institute. When asked about the potential for coal bed methane, he made the following statement: “Biogenic coal bed methane generation is an elegant solution requiring the marriage of fossil fuel technology and advanced biotechnology. The potential of this energy generating process has yet to be fully realized. And when it is, it will allow us to tap into a clean, natural gas resource from deep coal beds that has been heretofore difficult to obtain.”

Also presenting at the lunch session was David Berry, a co-founder of Joule Biotechnologies. Joule announced yesterday that their Helioculture technology has achieved a breakthrough in converting CO2 and sunlight into diesel. Joule had previously announced production of ethanol.

Berry described the SolarConverter Joule is developing — a modular system of panels housing photosynthetic microorganisms. Audio of the presentation is available for download from bio.org.

Stephanie Batchelor of BIO contributed to this report.

From Pacific Rim Summit: Specialty Crops, Renewable Feedstocks & Sustainability

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:09:00 GMT

This panel on the second day of the Summit consisted of Richard Gustafson from the University of Washington, Gillian Madill, an independent consultant representing views of the environmental NGO community and John Sheehan, from the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota.

While Mr. Gustafson and Mr. Sheehan gave informative talks on lifecycle assessment modeling and sustainability issues, Ms. Madill lit up the room with her talk titled, “Environmental Concerns with Energy Biotechnologies.” Ms. Madill started the conversation with the assertion that the environmental community and the biofuels community have the same goal, to supply energy in a new way that preserves the environment and our earth. Renewable energy and technology are tools to get to that end.

The environmental community has several valid concerns over widespread biofuels production. They see biofuels as a transition technology on our way to an energy future less dependent on liquid fuels, some would say zero liquid fuels. Zero because of the belief that no biofuels are carbon neutral. The question asked by environmental groups is, Why incentivize an unsustainable industry? Some concerns raised by Ms. Madill on behalf of the environmental community include deforestation of sensitive lands such as rain forests, environmental degradation, incorporation and containment of genetically engineered crops and organisms and intellectual property protection.

The biofuels industry plans to be a sustainable industry, but it is a new industry on the verge of commercialization with a formidable competitor. Ms. Madill's point was that the environmental community and industry, while striving for some common goals, are currently at odds.

As I expressed to Ms. Madill, at the heart of this debate is the fact that most of the controversy centers around land use and protecting sensitive ecosystems. If biofuels went away tomorrow, other industries would compete for those same sensitive areas. After all, solar and wind farms require significant acreage as well, not to mention building schools or highways or the new grocery store that just opened in your neighborhood. Any industry that has a footprint will at some point, one can only assume in a future low carbon world, be mandated to quantify their lifecycle assessment, including land use and potentially indirect international land use, as biofuels are today.

My suggestion would be to partner to serve the common goal, protection of our vital and sensitive areas and resources which are important and treasured by all.

Daily News—11/11

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:01:00 GMT

More on new biodiesel plant in Forest City, IA

Isanti, MN- A new biodiesel plant that's being proposed in Forest City aims at changing the way people think about renewable fuel.

It will use the "Mcgyan process," and instead of taking hours to make the fuel it takes just seconds.

Last week the developers invited local legislators and business leaders to the Ever Cat fuels plant in Isanti, MN about 40 miles north of the twin cities to show them how it all works.

This first of its kind plant is partly the creation of Dr. Clayton McNeff, one of the three founders of the Mcgyan process, he now serves as the Chief Science Officer of Ever Cat Fuels.

This article tells a little more about the new Iowa plant, and how it is patterned after the biodiesel plant in Isanti, MN—it uses the new Mcgyan process which makes the biodiesel in just seconds.

China Integrated Energy, Inc. will give presentation on biodiesel at Oppenheimer's Conference

Photo from: http://www.energy-daily.com/pageone/energy-daily-2009-01-15.html

XI’AN, China, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- China Integrated Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBEH; the "Company"), a leading non-state-owned integrated energy company in the People’s Republic of China, today announced that it will present at Oppenheimer’s 4th Annual Industrials Conference, to be held November 17-18, 2009, at the Millennium Broadway Hotel, 150 West 45th Street, New York City.

I find it interesting that this biodiesel producer in China talks about biodiesel all over the world, at many conferences. China seems committed to the promotion of biodiesel. Will they someday sell biodiesel to the USA?

ENVIROTEK approves locations for two algae-biodiesel farms

A rendering of an algae farm. (Credit: Algenol) Image from: http://news.cnet.com/8300-11128_3-54-1.html?keyword=algae

ENVIROTEK (PINKSHEETS: ENTK) today announced the Company's Board of Directors approved the location of the 2 new 10 acre ALGAE farms for the production of ALGAE for use in the Company's "Extreme Biodiesel" facility.

The facilities are to be located in both North Las Vegas, and White Hills, Arizona areas. The company has designated the properties suitable for the Algae farm productivity centers and is in the process of acquisition of both properties.

ENVIROTEK recently acquired 51% Controlling Interest in Extreme Green Technologies Inc., a Nevada corporation with a CA, DBA: "Extreme Biodiesel" located in Corona California. Extreme Biodiesel is currently believed to be one of 15 Nationwide Licensed Biodiesel refinery facilities with authorization to refine, produce and resell Biodiesel products, of which Extreme Biodiesel is one of only four of the above stated licensed facilities in California. As a licensed Refinery and Distributor of Bio-Fuel, Extreme qualifies and is enrolled in the "Green Fuel" government rebate program mandated through 2018.

Algae-based biodiesel is happening as we speak, and although it may take some time, I am confident that this is one of the best feedstock oils for biodiesel, and no person can say it uses food or rainforest.

Auction of new biodiesel processing equipment Nov.12

Don’t forget, there’s a big sale on biodiesel equipment just around the corner.

On this Thursday, November 12, auction company Maas Companies, which recently sold the Altra Nebraska ethanol plant in Carleton, Nebraska, will be selling six, 10-million-gallon-a-year biodiesel process trains at the Hampton Inn & Suites – Newark Harrison Riverwalk, 100 Passaic Ave, Harrison, New Jersey, starting at 11 a.m.

There are both stories of expansion in the biodiesel industry, and also those of shutdowns. I trust the logic of biodiesel enough that I predict the auction will go well. In fact, I am seeing more new biodiesel plants open up all the time, often more than one per day.

Largest Wind Energy Project in Utah Begins Operations

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:44:00 GMT

The largest wind energy project in Utah has started operations, generating enough power to keep the lights on in 45,000 homes per year.

This article from the Deseret News says First Wind's Milford Wind Corridor project has 97 wind turbines capable of producing 203.5 megawatts of electricity:

Eventually, the $400 million project will include 159 turbines across 40 square miles of public and private land.

“We're looking forward to expanding it in the months and years to come,” Paul Gaynor, chief executive officer of First Wind, said in the release. “This project is a great example of the kind of development that helps create jobs and helps stimulate the economy.”

The project's power will go to the Southern California Public Power Authority, on behalf of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the cities of Burbank and Pasadena, Calif. In December 2007, First Wind signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with the authority.

“We're pleased to see this project go online and begin delivering clean power to our customers,” said Bill Carnahan, the authority's executive director, said at Tuesday dedication ceremony.

The article goes on to say that the Milford Wind Corridor is the first-of-its-kind project under a new Bureau of Land Management program to develop wind energy on federal lands.

Biodiesel Equipment Set for Sale on November 12

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:53:00 GMT

Don't forget, there's a big sale on biodiesel equipment just around the corner.

Allison Guyton, director of operation for Maas Companies says this is a perfect opportunity for anyone wanting to pick up some brand new, still shrink-wrapped, palleted equipment that is ready for a plant expansion.

“The equipment is owned by RPL Holdings, and they had [wanted] to use the equipment for a business expansion that never materialized.”

She says the equipment is crated and ready to be shipped anywhere, either overseas or domestically, and is easily transportable.

Guyton says sales like these seem to go in cycles with this being a phenomenal chance for someone to expand their operations while not expanding their expenses.

You can hear an excerpt of my recent conversation with Guyton where she talks about this particular sale here:

More information on the sale is available here.

Ceres Awarded $5 Million Grant to Develop Energy Grasses

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:26:00 GMT

Ceres has been awarded $5 million dollars by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to continue its advanced trait development project designed to increase the biomass yields of several energy grasses, such as switchgrass, sorghum and miscanthus, by as much as 40 percent. At the same time, the use of inputs such as nitrogen fertilizers would be decreased. The grant is part of the program managed by the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) and the award recipients were based on the potential for high impact as well as scientific and technical merit.

Richard Flavell, Cere's Chief Scientific Officer, said in a press statement earlier today, “Low-input traits developed through modern genetics can provide wide-reaching benefits to the energy and agricultural sectors as well as the environment — just the type of transformational impact energy officials are looking for.”

Ceres' initial projections indicate that their traits alone could displace 1.3 billion barrels of oil and 58 million tons of coal over a 10 year period. In addition, taking into account cropping practices, the company also estimates that 1.2 million tons of nitrogen fertilizer could be eliminated. This is equal the the amount of average nitrogen needed for 24 million acres of cotton.

“At the heart of our ambitions for a full-scale bioenergy industry will be how well we utilize our land resources,” said Richard Hamilton, Chief Executive of Ceres. “With greater use of technology, increased productivity will go hand-in-hand with greater sustainability.”

Nominate Now! Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Disruptive innovation hasn't been a driving force of the modern energy industry, but today it is becoming the norm. To celebrate the companies, business leaders and cutting edge state and local governments that are leading this new wave of innovation, RenewableEnergyWorld.com is rolling out its inaugural Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards -- and we want you to participate.

New Venture to Finance Sorghum-to-Ethanol Projects

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:45:00 GMT

A new venture could provide up to $376 million for projects that will turn sweet sorghum into ethanol.

DPG Investments, LLC (DPG) has announced its partnership with EPEC Biofuels Holdings, Inc. (EPEC) to put together a new platform finance company called EPEC Finance, LLC that will fund the manufacture and deployment of EPEC's proprietary Ethanol Production Units (EPU's) on select sweet sorghum farms throughout the country:

“Our energy and natural resources team at DPG strongly believes EPEC Biofuels is on its way to becoming a world leader in production and distribution of ethanol, based upon its proprietary processes and proven management team. We are very excited about the future of EPEC and this platform financing joint venture,” said Dan Galvanoni, Chairman of DPG Investments, LLC.

In addition, the new finance joint venture will also serve as a specialty finance and investment company that will seek to provide financing for various strategic acquisitions, partnerships and investments in the renewable energy and biofuels sectors on a global basis. EPEC Finance jointly with EPEC Biofuels will seek to identify such biofuels and alternative energy initiatives that can provide a steady and predictable return on capital investments.

According to EPEC's Web site, sorghum is 28 times more efficient than corn in producing ethanol. The company also has modular production facilities range in capacity from 500,000 to 3,000,000 gallons per year and produce fuel grade ethanol and valuable by-products.

BIO Pacific Rim Summit: Status of Cellulosic Ethanol Commercialization

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:21:00 GMT

Qteros, ZeaChem and Verenium presented updates on their efforts to bring three unique cellulosic ethanol processes to commercial status.

Qteros CTO Kevin Gray described how the company's Q Microbe™ (Clostridium phytofermentans) enables a single step (consolidated bioprocessing) conversion and fermentation process for fuels. This approach can save as much as 40 percent in production costs. Qteros is currently scaling its technology up for a 100 liter laboratory bioreactor.

ZeaChem President and CEO Jim Imbler outlined the challenges facing the industry, which include the need for coherent government policy to help the industry make it through the “Valley of Death,” which he described as the stage between proving that a technology works and attracting enough investment to make it a reality. Raising capital for a first-of-its-kind project is particularly difficult, Imbler noted. Traditional project finance is not available; but companies could move forward with a combination of strategic investors and short-term government support.

Zeachem uses a Clostridium thermoaceticum found in the gut of termites to produce acetic acid, which is then converted to ethyl acetate and ethanol. They are constructing a demonstration-scale plant expected to be online in 2010.

Bill Baum of Verenium then described the status of the company's joint venture with BP, Vercipia Biofuels, which is building a commercial scale cellulosic biofuel plant in Highlands County, Fla. and seeking a site for a second facility.

An audio recording of the webinar can be downloaded from BIO.org.

Wet Ethanol Process May Have Benefits

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:10:00 GMT

Soaking corn kernels instead of drying them could increase ethanol yields and create more co-products.

Researchers at the University of Illinois have found that a wet ethanol production process results in more gallons of ethanol and more usable co-products.

“The conventional ethanol production method has fewer steps, but other than distillers dried grains with soluble, it doesn't have any other co-products,” said University of Illinois Agricultural Engineer Esha Khullar. “Whereas in both wet and dry fractionation processes, the result is ethanol, distillers dried grains with soluble, as well as germ and fiber. Corn fiber oil for example can be extracted from the fiber and used as heart-healthy additives in buttery spreads that can lower cholesterol.”

In comparing the wet and dry fractionation methods, Khullar's research team found that when using the wet fractionation method, the result is even higher ethanol concentrations coming out of the fermenter and better quality co-products than the dry method. Researchers say the process requires no new equipment. “It's just a modification of things that are already being done in the corn processing industry and can be done pretty easily,” Khullar said.

Corn Crop Still Strong and Good for Ethanol

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:02:00 GMT

Even though USDA lowered its forecast for 2009 corn production in the latest report out today due to lower yields, farmers are still expected to see record yields and production is still expected to be the second highest on record.

Corn production is forecast at 12.9 billion bushels, down 1 percent from last month but 7 percent higher than 2008. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 162.9 bushels per acre, down 1.3 bushels from October but 9.0 bushels above last year. Despite the drop in yield from October, this yield will be the highest on record if realized. Total production will be second highest on record, only behind 2007.

The harvest continues to be slow throughout the Corn Belt. According to USDA, just 37 percent of the corn had been combined as of Sunday, compared to 82 percent average and even well behind last year's slow harvest which was 69 percent complete at this time in 2008. Meanwhile, despite moisture issues, corn quality remains strong, up one percent this week to rate 68 percent good to excellent.

While high moisture and low test weights are getting to be major concerns with the crop, ethanol plants are able to utilize the lower quality corn. Arlan Suderman with Farm Futures spoke with Dave Vander Griend, President and CEO of ethanol developer ICM, Inc. of Kansas about the situation last week.

“We can utilize the crop,” says Vander Griend. “A lot of people don't want it, which means that it will be discounted. Many people in the industry haven't been through this before, but I've been around long enough to have lived through it before and know that it can work. Ethanol plants can usually beat the price of the other discounts being offered and make use of it.”

Suderman notes that Vander Griend emphasized the importance of farmers talking to their local ethanol processor now about how to best care for and deliver lower quality corn.

Daily News—11/10

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:54:00 GMT

Detroit, MI entrepreneur builds on biodiesel dreams

Inside a small office on the third floor of TechTown, where many of the city's hopes are nurtured, Oliver Baer is deciding your fuel choice for the next three to four years. He could be even determining what kind of car you buy. The decision will be easy assuming Clean Emission Fluids and its friends in the production industry can further decrease and stabilize the price of biodiesel, making it less expensive than diesel fuel.

Nice article and photo shoot of yet another of our potential members. I wish I had the time to contact all the entrepreneurs in all the biodiesel stories and personally invite them to post on the BDN Forums.

Adelanto, CA: Two new biodiesel production plants planned

Logo from: http://www.sunxenergy.com/index.htm

ADELANTO • Two alternative energy companies are planning to begin local biodiesel production in coming months — operations city officials say could pave the way for more “green” industries but will likely generate little local revenue.

Canada-based Sunx Energy is opening a 21,500-square-foot biodiesel plant, and San Diego-based Dynasty Energy is opening a 20,164-square-foot biodiesel plant, according to Adelanto Associate Planner Linda Blackbern.

Opening all over the country, we see new biodiesel plants establishing a local territory of operations. There is an emphasis on better production methods, because the price of biodiesel must go below the petrol price for people to say it makes sense. Environment awareness is nice, but I don’t think most people are willing to spend more on fuel just for the environment.

Malaysian government may replace B5 biodiesel with B3

Photo from: http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/lerenof/Article/

A REDUCTION in the Government’s B5 programme from 5% biodiesel to 3% may be on the cards, given the poor take-up rate by its initial target group – the diesel-powered government vehicles in the Klang Valley.

B5 is a blend of 5% biodiesel and 95% fossil fuel diesel.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said he would present a paper on the progress of the B5 programme and also present proposals, including the push for the B3 blend (3% biodiesel), to the Cabinet before year-end.

This step backwards in Malaysia is due to the government vehicles not adopting the B5 biodiesel. As you know, the world is not rushing into biodiesel, but rather, taking it very slowly and carefully.

Largest biodiesel producer in the country receives expansion grant

HERO BX, formerly Lake Erie Biofuels, LLC, is the country’s largest producer of biodiesel. Last week, the company announced it has been awarded a $1,640,250 million grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority to complete the company’s expansion project – increasing their yearly output of low-cost, high quality biodiesel, from 45 million gallons to 55 million gallons. HERO BX is matching the award amount with its own funds for a total of $3,280,500.

Even though the price of oil is fairly low now, financial experts continue to see biodiesel production as a profit center for the future. Also, biodiesel availability must tend to drive down the cost of petrol diesel.

Clean Energy Patent Growth Index 3rd. Quarter 2009

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C. is pleased to announce results for the third quarter of 2009 for the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index (CEPGI) by the firm's Cleantech Group.

Joule Unveils Solar-to-Biodiesel Process

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Joule Biotechnologies Inc. at an industry event in Hawaii said that in its development of renewable fuels, it has achieved direct microbial conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into hydrocarbons via engineered organisms, powered by solar energy. Joule is advancing a new, photosynthesis-driven approach to producing renewable fuels, avoiding the economic and environmental burden of multi-step, cellulosic or algal biomass-derived methods.

Stimulus Bucks Fund New Hampshire/Maine Wind Project

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:17:00 GMT

A consortium of New England schools will get $700,000 in federal stimulus money to develop three deepwater wind energy test sites in the Gulf of Maine.

This press release from the University of New Hampshire says UNH's Center for Ocean Renewable Energy… better known as CORE… has teamed with the University of Maine-led consortium, known as DeepCwind, and will test the first prototype floating structure with a wind turbine:

Unlike other offshore wind projects, which consist of wind turbines mounted on shafts sunk into the ocean floor in relatively shallow water, deepwater wind utilizes floating turbines moored to the ocean floor. The DeepCwind project will launch only the second deepwater wind energy facility in the world (the first is in Norway) and the first offshore, deepwater wind project in the U.S.

“This is a really exciting project, because we’re pushing the envelope,” says CORE director Ken Baldwin, professor of ocean and mechanical engineering.

Within the next year, CORE will install a wind turbine with a 25-foot diameter on a 60-foot tower floating in 170 feet of water just south of the Isles of Shoals, where a mooring grid is already in place – and permitted – from UNH’s Atlantic Marine Aquaculture Center. The site is six miles offshore and one mile south of White Island. CORE researchers will equip the 10-kilowatt turbine with extensive instrumentation to measure wind, wave, and temperature effects on the turbine itself, the platform on which it floats, and the mooring lines that anchor it to the ocean floor.

This offshore wind energy project has been a big deal for Maine for several years and picked up UNH's ocean engineering expertise to help bring this dream of 10- and 100-kilowatt wind turbines home.

Pacific Rim Summit — Biobutanol: Overcoming the Barriers

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:04:00 GMT

The biobutanol panel at the 2009 Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy had three dynamic speakers from the biobutanol industry: Pat Gruber, CEO of Gevo, Inc.; Jay Kouba, CEO of Tetravitae Bioscience and Rick Wilson, CEO of Cobalt Technologies. Besides the individual company presentations the conversation concentrated on technology, risk, barriers and financing on the path to commercialization.

Jay Kouba related to the audience that the business plan with the best technology is often not the one that makes it to commercialization; the path to commercialization is often paved by the plans with the lowest barriers to commercialization.

Pat Gruber of Gevo started the session off by giving background on his company, Gevo Inc., founded in 2005. Gevo's biobutanol plans center around retrofitting corn ethanol plants to produce isobutanol. The main thing Gevo is concerned with is access to cheap feedstock, they will make their fuel out of whatever is most economically viable, currently sugarcane and grain, but eventually cellulosic feedstocks will be used. Gevo has a 1 million gallon demonstration plant in St. Joseph, Mo. Gevo also has business plans for renewable gasoline, jet fuel and isobutylene for use in such products as rubbers and plastics. These molecules will serve as building blocks for the chemical industry and they are beneficial, because the chemical industry already knows what to do with them. Gevo plans to have a commercial plant (20-50 million gallons per year) operating in 2011.

Tetravitae will be focusing on the chemical industry for their butanol to take advantage of what they see as a weak point in the petrochemical web. They are focusing on finding a low capital route that they can get to market quickly and follow up with improvements, and they see many opportunities with biobutanol for chemicals. Tetravitae will be using a similar business plan to Gevo in retrofitting corn dry mill plants for production. Tetravitae has partnered with the University of Illinois to develop the organism they are using. Mr. Kouba said that their process is already cost competitive and they are planning on having a demonstration facility operating in 2010 and a commercial facility up and running in 2011.

Rick Wilson's company, Cobalt Technologies, is focusing on commercializing their cellulosic butanol for fuels and chemicals business. The big question for them was, “What's going to make the biggest difference and be the most cost effective cellulosic biofuel on the market?” The answer was biobutanol. According to Mr. Wilson, the advantage of this renewable fuel is that 15 billion gallons is mandated by the Renewable Fuel Standard, it has an estimated 70 to 90 percent reduction in lifecycle assessment in greenhouse gases versus petroleum, increases fuel efficiency, lowers tailpipe emissions and is compatible with existing fuel infrastructure. Cobalt Technologies is interested in a venture with high margins that requires low capital investments. Rick made the observation that the most important cost for them is the price of the feedstock. Cobalt currently has pilot plants constructed in Colorado and California with a 200,000 gallon per year facility planned for operation in 2011 and a 15 million gallon per year facility planned for 2013.

All of the speakers agreed that access to capital is a barrier to commercialization, and education for the public, the regulatory community and opinion leaders such as Members of Congress on the benefits and technological attributes of biobutanol is a priority. Lively discussion and debate followed during the question and answer portion of the session. Stay tuned as biobutanol moves forward into commercialization for fuels and chemicals.

International Developments in Algae Commercialization

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:38:00 GMT

The Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy hosted a webinar to discuss U.S. and Canadian government efforts to support commercial development of algae for biofuels, chemicals, pharmaceutical and food ingredients, and the long list of applications being considered.

Valerie Reed of the U.S. Department of Energy, noted that the U.S. Economic Recovery Act provided $800 million for new and existing projects, with $480 million to be allocated to pilot- and demonstration-scale biorefineries that can produce advanced biofuels, bioproducts, and heat & power in an integrated system. Algae has the potential to be a big player in this selection, she said.

She also noted that Congress has directed the DOE to spend $35 million specifically on research, development and deployment of algae biofuels.

Patrick McGinn of Canada's National Research Council, outlined Canadian programs to support research and development of biomass, including algae. The NRC is producing and experimenting with different pathways to convert algae to biofuels, with the goal of creating a high-quality data set on their overall yields, energy and carbon balances.

A recording of the webinar can be downloaded at bio.org.

You can also listen to a streaming version at http://www2.eintercall.com/moderator/presentation/Playback?id=4d83d2db-9c43-4011-a04d-25d13c5d0672.rpm.

BioPreferred Round 5 Item Designation: Additional Biobased Products for Preferred Federal Purchasing

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:02:00 GMT

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United Soybean Board's Biobased Today

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:45:00 GMT

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Myriant, Uhde America and Uhde GmbH Announce Alliance for World Scale Renewable Succinic Acid Plants

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:23:00 GMT

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Bio-based Plastics: New Study Forecasts Enormous Potential

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:55:00 GMT

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Kentucky: Ag School Looking at Biomass Options

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:46:00 GMT

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Daily News—11/09

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:15:00 GMT

Soymet Biodiesel displays booth at Rome, GA business expo

Photo from: http://www.soymet.com/products.htm

For Soymet Biodiesel owner Lindsey Evans, patrons visiting his booth were interested more in the curiosity of his product than purchase.
Evans said that the company sells biodiesel out of the Evans Store on Ga. 20 in Coosa, primarily to logging trucks coming in and out of Temple-Inland. But he hopes as alternative fuels gain more attention in the area he’ll be able to set up more stations where it can be purchased.
“There aren’t a majority of diesel users out here today,” Evans said at the expo. “But their curiosity is definitely here.”

As long as there are brave biodiesel pioneers like this, talking to people at trade shows about biodiesel, the word will get out eventually. I don’t know much about farming, but something tells me they grow soybeans in Georgia—true?

From Minot, ND: Are biodiesel and ethanol blender pumps in the city’s future?

Photo from: http://www.inhabitat.com/2006/05/17/gas-prices-got-you-down-make-your-own-biodiesel/

Concerns about fuel storage, cost, adequate supply and consumer demand has Minot-area service station retailers debating about a new program which aims to increase biofuel use in the state by replacing old fuel pumps.

Proposed by Gov. John Hoeven and passed by the 2009 Legislature, the Blender Pump Program is an incentive program that provides cost-share grants to fuel retailers for the installation of ethanol blender and biodiesel pumps.

I like the idea of blender pumps because they allow a wider choice of fuel blends. How can you argue with giving Americans a choice—it always has a nice ring to it, and makes sense for the environment.

Barbados: Amelot Holdings will outsource collection of WVO for their biodiesel production

Image from: http://www.amelotholdings.com/client/biofuels.htm

We have reduced the number of employees, installed new management, upgraded electrical services and contracted to buy methanol in bulk purchases, by the container. A 20-foot container consists of eighty 55 gallon drums, and when mixed with used cooking oil is enough to produce approximately 22,000 gallons (83,160 liters) of Biodiesel. The current price of Biodiesel at the pump in Barbados sells for around $1.98 BDS.

Biodiesel is certainly a world-wide product, and the way it is produced varies from plant to plant. Here we see a biodiesel plant dependent on WVO, so they have contracted with collection companies to pick it up for them. Biodiesel is usually a local story, the jobs are local, and so are the feedstocks. Many are family companies.

Brazil: government wants to go with B20 biodiesel blend by 2015

Biodiesel producers in Brazil cheered the government's proposal to gradually increase the amount of biodiesel in diesel fuel to 20 percent in big cities by 2015.

Sergio Beltrao, head of the Brazilian Biodiesel Union, told a press conference that their producers' plants would be able to provide the new biofuel as of 2010, which would mean an increase of 2,500 million liters.

The union is an association of producers and researchers of biofuels.

The increase in the 20-percent mixture in cities that suffer from pollution would help the government to reduce diesel sulfur levels, Beltrao said.

He remarked that the biofuel sector was able to produce 5,000 million liters per year, but half of the installed capacity was idle for lack of demand.

Look at Brazil go to town with biodiesel, they are only running their biodiesel plants at one half capacity, and they are looking to produce more. Don’t you think the USA can keep up with them? I do.