Biodiesel and Ethanol Investing

Diesel Brewing working towards gasification of biomass to biobutanol

Mike — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:00:37 +0000

Biomass Magazine reports that Diesel Brewing is working to implement a business model for the gasification of waste biomass into biobutanol and other energy products. According to the U.S. DOE, Biobutanol has an energy density only 10% to 20% lower than gasoline, and its energy content is higher than ethanol. Diesel Brewing said it will produce biobutanol for use within local fuel markets as a renewable diesel blending agent.

Vale creates consortium to produce biodiesel

Mike — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:00:37 +0000

Progressive Railroading reports that Brazilian mining firm Vale recently created a consortium with Biopalma da Amazônia S.A. to produce biodiesel from palm oil by 2014. The partners will invest $500 million in the venture and produce about 500,000 tons of “dendê” oil. The use of biodiesel will reduce Vale’s carbon dioxide emissions by 12 million tons by 2014, the company said. Vale plans to use B20 fuel, a blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% diesel.

Father and son team powers Perfect Circle

Mike — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:00:16 +0000

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the father-and-son team of John and Spencer Gordon are behind biodiesel producer Perfect Circle Renewable Energy in Atlanta, Georgia. The Gordons first decided to power their business’ trucks on biodiesel from waste vegetable oil so they could tell people they were a green company. Last year, Perfect Circle produced about 15,000 gallons of biodiesel. This year, the expectation is 50,000 gallons.

Lawmakers negotiate over legislation for climate change

Mike — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:00:18 +0000

Minnesota Public Radio reports that agricultural leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives are negotiating on legislation for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and slow climate change. Minnesota congressman Collin Peterson is leading a group of lawmakers from rural districts who are threatening to block the legislation. Peterson said the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) threatens ethanol’s viability. EPA said the tally should include carbon dioxide released when farmers break new land to replace corn used for ethanol.

Gilbert wastewater plant grows algae for biodiesel experiment

Mike — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:00:55 +0000

The Arizona Republic reports that Gilbert, Arizona’s wastewater treatment plant has begun growing algae on purpose as part of a biodiesel experiment with PetroSun. The experiment will run for the next three months or so and will include evaluating its growth rate, species, and oil content. Also under study is the cost of growing and harvesting the algae as well as the cost of extracting the oil. If the experiment succeeds, Gilbert will get all the biodiesel produced from the pilot program at cost for use in town vehicles.

Sudan opens its first ethanol plant

Mike — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:00:07 +0000

Domestic Fuel reports that the Sudanese government opened its first ethanol plant. The facility will produce 65 million liters and will expand to 200 mlpy within two years. The government is an investor in the plant, which uses products from the local sugar mill as its feedstock. In addition to the launch of the plant, Sudan has developed a plan to expand its sugar production from 800,000 tons per year to over 10 million tons per year.

General Biodiesel acquires Imperium’s Seattle plant

Mike — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:00:38 +0000

Northwest Asian Weekly reports that General Biodiesel Seattle, LLC, announced that it has completed the acquisition of the Seattle, Washington biodiesel facility from Imperium Renewables. General Biodiesel is converting the facility to produce biodiesel from waste oils such as recycled cooking oil and animal fat. General Biodiesel CEO Yale Wong is focused on making biodiesel oil from waste oils instead of the traditional virgin materials, such as soy or canola oil.

Maple Energy provides update on ethanol project

Mike — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:00:33 +0000

OilVoice reports that Maple Energy, an AIM-listed integrated energy firm with assets in Peru, provides an update on its ethanol project. Maple recently signed a contract with Plasticos Rival CIA LTDA. for the supply of glass-reinforced polyester pipe and fittings to be used in the main water conveyance system for the ethanol project’s sugar cane plantation. The pipe will be used for the construction of the main water conveyance system’s pipelines. Under the terms of the contract. Maple will pay $10 million over a period of eight months.

Roanoke gets first commercial biodiesel shipment

Mike — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:00:46 +0000

The Roanoke Times reports that the first commercial pipeline load of blended biodiesel fuel ever shipped in the U.S. was sent to Roanoke, Virginia, and Athens, Georgia, an energy company said. The fuel is classified as B5, meaning it is 5% biodiesel, which is made from plant material, and 95% petroleum-driven diesel.

Ag-Oil to build Delray Beach biodiesel plant

Mike — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:35 +0000

South Florida Business Journal reports that Ag-Oil announced plans to build a biodiesel refinery in Delray Beach, Florida. The refinery would be a pilot-scale facility designed to process algae and non-food oilseed crops such as jatropha. Ag-Oil said it would use technology and processes developed by United Environment & Energy, Argonne National Laboratory, the University of Florida, and the University of Southern Illinois to develop the technology and process for the refinery. The refinery would convert the crops into pure biodiesel.

Foreign oil dip affects U.S. ethanol

Mike — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:00:42 +0000

Minnesota Public Radio reports that the fall in the price of foreign oil means sales of U.S. ethanol, or E-85, have dropped. Ralph Goschen with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture said the use of E-85 is tied to the price of regular gasoline. When gas prices rise E-85 becomes more competitive. Goschen said Minnesota needs to continue to develop more alternative fuels.

Growth Energy co-chair leads embattled ethanol

Mike — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:00:40 +0000

Fortune reports that Wesley Clark, co-chairman of Growth Energy, is leading the embattled ethanol industry. At Growth Energy, Clark has lobbied against efforts in California to hold ethanol accountable for deforestation in Brazil. Clark also pushed back against claims that diverting corn to ethanol drives up food prices. Without support for corn ethanol now, Clark says, the industry won’t be able to fund advances in second-generation cellulosic ethanol made from nonfood inputs such as switchgrass.

Mansfield Oil purchases C&N Companies

Mike — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:00:21 +0000

Biodiesel Magazine reports that Mansfield Oil Co. is expanding its biofuel marketing capabilities with the purchase of C&N Companies. C&N will continue to operate under its name and with its current staff, using the added resources of Mansfield to expand its business. C&N currently represents 500 million gallons of ethanol production and 150 million gallons of biodiesel production capacity. Mansfield Oil is a downstream oil company doing business with nearly all of the refiners in the U.S.

Bioethanol sugar plants lack investment in South Africa

Mike — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:00:14 +0000

Engineering News reports that a Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) study says South Africa’s biofuels strategy recognizes sugar cane as one of the best feedstocks for renewable energy, but investment in the development of a bioethanol plant is not picking up pace. The lack of investment is a result of excluding existing sugar and cane producers from the initiative. The report suggests that South Africa still does not have a workable biofuels project from virgin material.

South Dakota ethanol tax changed

Mike — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:00:55 +0000

Rapid City Journal reports that ethanol is being taxed at 8 cents a gallon at the wholesale level in South Dakota. Previous state law included more than one tax rate for ethanol, depending on how much of the grain-based fuel was blended with regular gasoline.

Biodiesel industry concerned with EPA extension

Mike — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:00:27 +0000

Des Moines Register reports that the biodiesel industry is concerned about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s extension of the public comment period on its proposed rules for the government’s biofuels mandates. Under those rules, soy-based biodiesel doesn’t qualify to meet legal requirements for reducing greenhouse gas emissions relative to conventional diesel. The National Biodiesel Board said the extension for comment delays the mandate for biodiesel usage from taking effect.

Kinder Morgan completes biodiesel shipment via U.S. pipeline

Mike — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:00:58 +0000

Biofuels International reports that pipeline firm Kinder Morgan Energy Partners has announced its first commercial shipment of biodiesel to be transported through a U.S. pipeline. The shipment saw a 5% biodiesel blend transported from Mississippi to Georgia, and from Mississippi to Virginia, via the Plantation Pipe Line Company, jointly owned by Kinder Morgan and Exxon Mobil.

Malaysia to produce ethanol from sago palm

Mike — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:00:26 +0000

Energy Business Review reports that Malaysia will produce bioethanol from sago palm starting from early 2010. Kopli Bujang from the Faculty of Resource Science and Technology of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak said that sago-based bioethanol was expected to be in the market by February 2010. Kopli said the sago-based bioethanol, to be named E18, will not require any modification to the engine or carburetor to use it. The bioethanol plant in Unimas is expected to start operating in December this year.

ReNvision taps SRS to build Alberta biodiesel plant

Mike — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:00:31 +0000

Tank Storage reports that ReNvision Biofuels has secured the services of SRS Engineering to build a 10 million gallons per year biodiesel multi-feedstock plant in, Alberta, Canada. SRS Engineering will provide the complete design and engineering services and the equipment required to build the plant. The project will use a number of feedstocks that are available locally, including animal fats, canola and camelina. SRS Engineering offered an in-kind contribution on its plant in return for a small stake in ReNvision.

Interest in ethanol wanes in Minnesota

Mike — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:00:56 +0000

JournalStar.com reports that Minnesota has been an unofficial testing ground for using ethanol to fuel vehicles, but after years of steady increases, interest appears to be waning. Sales of E85 have dipped in recent months, beyond the normal decline in winter months. In February, sales of E85 hit their lowest mark since 2006, according to a report by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. In May, about 1.5 million gallons of E85 were sold — almost 1 million gallons less than in May 2008.