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Research and Technology Updates
S. 3451 - Strengthening our Economy Through Small Business Innovation Act of 2008
S. 3463
S. 3472 – Energy and Technology Advancement Act of 2008
S. 3478 – Energy Independence and Investment Act of 2008
H.R. 6877 – Greenhouse Gas Registry Act
S. 3485
H.R. 6899 – Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act of 2008
H.R. 6910 – American Innovation Act of 2008
H.R. 7018 – 21st Century Energy Technology Deployment Act
DOE Announces Four Energy Performance Saving Contracts On August 4, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the first four Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) to save the federal government money on energy-related costs. The contracts will enable $140 million in energy efficiency improvements to DOE facilities to save approximately $13 million per year. In coordination with private companies, DOE conducted energy system evaluations at all major sites to devise strategies for improving efficiency. The four sites awarded contracts are the Idaho National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Pittsburgh PA, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. These projects will include new power sources to reduce carbon emissions, biogas boilers, solar lighting, wind turbines, as well as a biomass steam plant at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. In total, over one billion pounds of carbon dioxide could be avoided by the potential ESPC contracts currently in development. The biomass steam plant at Oak Ridge National Laboratory will utilize wood chips and wood waste as feedstocks. This $88.1 million plan is being financed by Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls and is the largest such effort being pursued at laboratories throughout the country. In total, this project is expected to reduce energy consumption by 50 percent and water usage by 23 percent. There will also be a more than 80 percent reduction in fossil fuel usage. The biomass boiler will source wood from a 50-mile radius of ORNL and will include waste tree bark and refuse from pallet manufacturers. This project is expected to save at least $8 million annually, and other savings from reduced maintenance and operations associated with the new system are expected as well.
Sources: http://www.doe.gov/news/6449.htm
Biobased Products Report Presented at Stakeholders’ Workshop On July 23-24, the United Soybean Board held a Biobased Stakeholders’ Workshop in Washington D.C. Over 100 representatives of biobased manufacturing companies, as well as agricultural groups, and government agencies attended the workshop. Speakers included USDA Secretary Ed Schafer, USDA Assistant Secretary for Administration Boyd Rutherford, and Eldon Boes from the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Presentations from each of the speakers are available online as well as a new report from USDA’s Office of Energy Policy & New Uses, entitled “U.S. Biobased Products Market Potential and Projections Through 2005.” This report states that the development of the biobased products industry can be expected to increase investment in manufacturing facilities in rural regions, therefore, expanding employment opportunities and increasing the demand for farm products. The global chemical industry is projected to grow 3-6 percent per year through 2025 with biobased chemicals expected to account for 22 percent of the market by 2025. It is expected that the shift to high performance biobased products will be linked to the development of biorefineries capable of producing biofuels as well as biobased products. However, to achieve the forecasted growth, a number of scientific developments must take place including improved fermentation processes, integration of biomass conversion into a larger scale, and diversifying feedstocks to a broad range of plant and animal material including waste. It is important to note that this study was based on data and assumptions as of 2006, and is not reflective of recent market developments.
Sources: http://www.soybiobased.org/meetings/
USDA Awards $4.5 Million for 23 Rural Cooperative Development Centers On August 15, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced $4.5 million in grants awards to 23 Rural Cooperative Development Centers to improve rural economies in 22 states. These grants will be used to finance up to 75 percent of the cost to establish these centers. It is hoped that these development centers will help rural residents form business cooperatives and improve the operation of existing ones by providing technical assistance, research, and informational materials. Source: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2008/08/0213.xml
USDA Awards $35 Million in Grants and Loan Guarantees On August 27, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that 639 individuals and businesses have been selected to receive $35 million in grants and loan guarantees for renewable energy systems or to improve energy efficiency. These grants and loan guarantees are being awarded through the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements program. Funds were awarded for a variety of projects, including biofuels production and biomass electricity generation. Source: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2008/08/0219.xml
USDA Announces $19.7 Million in Value-Added Grants On September 4, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced the selection of 144 recipients to receive more than $19 million in the Value-Added Producer Grant program. Value-Added Producer Grants can be used for feasibility studies or business plans as well as renewable energy projects. Included in these grants, businesses and producers in several states received funds to assess the feasibility of marketing ethanol and other biofuels along with other types of renewable energy. In total, grants totaling $4.2 million were awarded to 32 alternative energy projects. USDA Rural Development is also funding several non-energy projects with the goal of increasing the value of agricultural commodities. Source: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2008/09/0224.xml
DOE Awards $4.4 Million to Universities for Biofuels Research On September 10, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that it would be investing up to $4.4 million to six universities for advanced biofuels projects. Each university is required to match 20 percent of the award for a total of $5.7 million. Grants were awarded to the University of Toledo, the Steven’s Institute of Technology, Montana State University, the University of Georgia, University of Maine, and Georgia Tech University. Research being pursued includes evaluating the oil content of algae, bacteria production of biofuels, and biomass gasification. Source: http://www.doe.gov/news/6525.htm
Department of Agriculture Requests Proposals for Woody Biomass Utilization Grant Program On September 11, 2008, the Department of Agriculture announced that they will provide up to $4 million in grants for proposals that increase the use of woody biomass from National Forest Service System lands, with individual grants ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 for up to three years. The program is intended to “improve forest restoration activities by using and creating markets for small-diameter material and low-valued trees removed from forest restoration activities.” The grants are intended to be used by small businesses, communities, or entrepreneurs to turn forest residue into marketable forest products. Pre-Application postmark deadline is November 7, 2008. Final Application deadline is February 13, 2009. Applications must be mailed to: ATTN: Patricia Brumm, Grants and Agreements Specialist, Forest Products Laboratory, One Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison, WI 53726– 2398. Source: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-21112.pdf (.pdf) TOP
Michigan Governor Signs Bill Creating Centers of Energy Excellence On July 8, Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm signed legislation creating the Centers of Energy Excellence program to create jobs in the alternative and advanced energy industry. "Creating jobs in the alternative energy industry in Michigan is a major component of our aggressive strategy to build a diverse and global 21st century economy," Granholm said. "This new tool will allow innovative companies to partner with our world-class universities and research institutions to create revolutionary technologies and make Michigan the state that ends our nation's dependence on foreign oil." This new law will authorize the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) to allocate $45 million in grants available for companies working to develop alternative energy. The centers will be located in areas of the state the MSF determines have competitive advantages in workforce, intellectual property, and natural resources, but which have other hurdles which could prevent the commercialization process. Source: http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168--195773--,00.html
Georgia to Award Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Award The Georgia Governor’s Agriculture Advisory Commission to planning to award the Governor’s Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Award to producers displaying high standards of environmental stewardship. This award is intended to recognize producers that have used best management and conservation practices in daily farming operations. A winner will be selected from five different regions of the state along with a statewide winner. The winners will be announced on March 17, 2009 and applications for the award are due on December 16, 2008. Source: http://www.agawareness.com/ TOP
Researchers Look to Use Genetically Modified Plants for Biodiesel Scientists at the University of Northern Colorado and University of Tennessee are looking to produce biodiesel through the use of genetically modified plants. Assistant Professor Chhandak Basu is leading the research and is planning to use genes from the copaiba tree which produces oleoresin, which has similar properties to diesel fuel. According to Basu, “The agricultural/physiological aspects of oleoresin have been studied extensively, but not the molecular biology part, not the genes responsible for this type of synthesis.” The hope is to then transfer these genes into algae or other non-crop native Colorado plants so they could be grown locally. Oleoresin does not have to be refined or manufactured before it can be used, unlike soybean oil. The copaiba tree does not grow well outside of tropical environments and may take up to ten years to grow to a sufficient size, making it an unreliable source of biodiesel production. Basu is currently looking at using Arabidopsis, a non-invasive native plant, for modification because it is a non-crop plant which is generally considered to be economically useless. Arabidopsis is also considered to be relatively easy to modify. “I hope that within a year from now the proof of concept could be presented in an international journal,” Basu said. “My main goal is to show that this works.” Basu and other researchers have received a $49,643 grant from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade along with matching funds from the university to fund this research.
Sources: http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20080803/NEWS/380848413/1001&parentprofile=-1
Study Completed on Performance of B20 Biodiesel A joint study completed by the National Biodiesel Board and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory has concluded that B20 biodiesel operates comparably with ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. This study was conducted over a one year period with 15 transit buses in St. Louis, with eight buses using B20 and seven using diesel fuel. The results of the study found that B20 buses had a 1.7 percent reduction in fuel economy, which is consistent with the energy content of biodiesel. However, reliability and maintenance costs were comparable, with the slightly higher maintenance associated with B20 being deemed insignificant.
Sources: http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2677
Study Concludes that Natural Gas Use in Ethanol Production Can Be Reduced by 50% Researchers from Washington University are looking to use a process traditionally utilized by breweries and wastewater treatment facilities to make biofuel production more energy-efficient. The process involves using portions of the thin stillage waste, which cannot be utilized as animal feed, and producing methane through anaerobic digestion to help power the production facility. The study concluded that the process can yield a quarter of a liter of methane per gram of waste, which when scaled up to industrial production rates would decrease the amount of natural gas needed by a facility by 50 percent. The results of this study have been published in a recent issue of Environmental Science and Technology. A 2006 study from the University of Minnesota found that ethanol provides 26 percent more energy than was used to produce it. When the results of this process are put into the Minnesota model, the energy output was raised to 70 percent, although this may change in a real-life scenario. "If you put in a digester, you have a lot of liquid that needs to be recycled back into the system, and that would create changes throughout a plant," says Largus Angenent, professor of chemical engineering at Washington University. "So someone will have to do a study to find out what that net energy balance really is." Douglas Tiffany, research fellow at the University of Minnesota and coauthor of the 2006 study, stated "We can improve these existing corn-ethanol plants dramatically and reduce greenhouse gases far more than they do today. This process is attractive because it's a low-energy, low-capital approach. It will take some [ethanol producers] to stick their necks out to try it, but once it's happening in a number of plants, it should work out pretty well."
Sources: http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/21266/page1/
Scientists Find a New Catalyst for Ethanol Production from Syngas Researchers at Iowa State University and the U.S. Department of Energy Ames Laboratory are working to improve existing gasification technology and allow a wider variety of feedstocks to be used. Gasification already allows for the production of fuels as well as electricity, process heat, and other commodity chemicals. The process results in synthesis gas (syngas), which is primarily a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. This research has found that the carbon monoxide molecules could be “activated” by a catalyst with a unique structural feature. "If we can increase this 'activated' CO adsorption on the surface of the catalyst, it improves the opportunity for the formation of ethanol molecules,” said Ames Lab chemist and Chemical and Biologial Science Program Director Victor Lin. “If we can increase the amount of surface area for the catalyst, we can increase the amount of ethanol produced." Lin and other researchers are currently looking at a metal alloy as a catalyst to increase the surface area.
New Process Developed to Produce Hydrogen from Biofuels Researchers have found a new method for converting ethanol and other biofuels into hydrogen in an efficient and cost-effective manner. It has been found that hydrogen can be made from ethanol with a 90 percent yield at a relatively low temperature using an inexpensive catalyst. Traditionally, catalysts for this process are made of precious metals such as platinum or rhodium which costs about $9,000 an ounce. This process can use a catalyst which costs about $9 an ounce made from various materials including cobalt. Using this catalyst, hydrogen can also be produced at 660 degrees, which is considered a relatively low temperature by industrial standards. "Whenever a process works at a lower temperature, that brings energy savings and cost savings," said Umit Ozkan, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Ohio State University. “Also, if the catalyst is highly active and can achieve high hydrogen yields, we don’t need as much of it. That will bring down the size of the reactor, and its cost.” In addition to hydrogen, waste gases including methane are produced and can be used to supply part of the energy required for production. Waste heat can be captured and used as well to increase efficiency. It is hoped that this new catalyst could make hydrogen more practical as a transportation fuel by reducing the limitations of hydrogen transportation. "Our research lends itself to what's called a 'distributed production' strategy. Instead of making hydrogen from biofuel at a centralized facility and transporting it to gas stations, we could use our catalyst inside reactors that are actually located at the gas stations. So we wouldn't have to transport or store the hydrogen -- we could store the biofuel, and make hydrogen on the spot."
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080820163111.htm Bacteria Studied to Produce Hydrogen from Biomass Researchers at North Carolina State University have carried out DNA studies on a microbe which can naturally produce hydrogen. By studying the DNA of Caldicellulosiprutor saccharolyticus its cellular processes can be understood to potentially optimize bioenergy yields. There are several types of bacteria which naturally produce hydrogen, but they often coexist with methanogen bacteria which immediately metabolize the hydrogen to produce methane. C. saccharolyticus is a thermophile which exists in extremely hot environments such as hot springs where methanogens cannot exist, therefore preventing the hydrogen from being immediately metabolized. In addition, thermophiles have a very simple fermentation process resulting in fewer byproducts in comparison to other bacteria. C. saccharolyticus can metabolize a wide variety of plant materials including simple sugars as well as cellulose. It is hoped that scientists will be able to isolate and utilize relevant enzymes to eventually genetically engineer this bacteria to improve hydrogen yields. Source: http://www.livescience.com/technology/080827-pf-microbe-fuel.html
Genetically Modified Trees Studied for Biofuels Production Researchers at North Carolina State University are working to use genetically modified trees as a feedstock for ethanol production. The trees have been engineered to grow faster, contain more cellulose, and have 50 percent less lignin than normal trees. Cellulose is the material which can be converted into biofuels while lignin cannot, although it can be used for electricity generation. The presence of lignin also makes extracting cellulose a more difficult process. Because these genetically modified trees can grow faster, more biomass can be obtained in a shorter period of time. "For biofuels production, we're talking about a rotation length of less than 10 years, not the 15 to 30 years as for other wood products," says Dr. John King, an NC State associate professor of forestry and environmental resources and the researcher in charge of planting and maintaining the study's field experiments. "Maybe the reduced lignin content of the wood will be less important for these short growth cycles compared to trees that live for longer periods of time." In addition to using genetically modified trees, researchers are also looking at new pretreatment techniques for cheaper and more environmentally friendly biofuel production. Instead of strong acids, water and other simple and less harmful compounds will be used for pretreatment. The end of the research project will be an economic analysis to investigate the cost of producing biofuels from wood. This project is being funded by a three year, $1 million Rural Development Biomass Research and Development Grant for the United States Department of Agriculture. Source: http://news.ncsu.edu/news/2008/08/124mkudsagrant.php
Company Looks to Stinkweed for Biodiesel Albany, NY-based Innovation Fuels has launched a pilot program in upstate New York to use field pennycress, aka stinkweed, as a new feedstock for biodiesel production. With the recent price spikes in the oil markets, the biodiesel market has exploded, expanding from 25 million gallons of biodiesel in 2004 to 500 million gallons last year. Most biodiesel currently comes from soybean oil; however, as the price of soybean oil has risen, and world food supplies have faced competition from fuel feedstock (which often uses the same grains), researchers are increasingly looking to alternative sources. Weeds in particular seem promising, as they grow quickly, expand aggressively, and are not a staple food crop. “Our intention is to create a crop that has a niche and does not displace anything else that is already growing,” said Steve Vaughn, a plant physiologist with the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, Ill. Of these weeds, stinkweed is attractive as its seeds are naturally 36% oil, it has potential for very high yields, and is a winter annual, meaning that the land could be used for a different crop in the summer months. However, Innovation executive Joe Dickson cautions that the stinkweed program is still in its infancy, saying “We are domesticating it as we speak.” Sources: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26547441/
Cooking Oil to Fuel Diesel Vehicles Students at the Miami Valley Career Technology Center have received $15,000 in state grants to work on converting diesel vehicles to using recycled cooking oil from the school’s cafeteria. The grant provides funding for 24 students and enough conversion kits to refine the cooking oil into a better biodiesel product to fuel up to 15 vehicles to run on biodiesel fuel blends. The vehicles themselves don’t need to be converted, as the diesel engines themselves were originally designed to run on peanut oil. Educators at the school say that this would have the effect of removing cooking oil from landfills and providing a clean, renewable source of fuel. The National Biodiesel Board estimates that, if the United States were to replace 5 percent of current on-road diesel with biodiesel, it would replace about 1.85 billion gallons of diesel a year, the same amount that flows from Iraq annually. The funding came from the Ohio Environmental Education Fund, which provides about $950,000 in grants annually using money received from the payment of pollution fines. The MVCTC has an extensive and growing agricultural division, which already has 280 students and expects those numbers to rise to more than 40 percent of the total school’s population with the growth of the program, a credit agreement with Ohio State University, and with the change in curriculum that provides training in emerging fields. “It’s gone beyond the normal breeding lessons in agriculture,” said Larry Siebel, the program’s supervisor, “We’re moving our curriculum to meet the 21st century job market.” Sources: http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2008/09/08/story6.html
Solazyme Produces World’s First Algal-Based Jet Fuel San Francisco-based Solazyme Inc, a biotechnology company, has produced the world’s first viable algal-based jet fuel. Their algal-derived aviation fuel has passed all 11 primary testing parameters for use in commercial and military aviation, as tested by the Southwest Research Institute, a leading fuel testing center, and is considered fully compatible with existing fuel infrastructure. With 1.6 billion gallons of jet fuel used in the United States annually, and Europe expected to require airlines servicing European airports to participate in the Emissions Trading system by 2011, a need has been building for a sustainable and environmentally-friendly fuel. Solazyme hopes to capitalize on this shift with their new fuel, which will join its pre-existing line of bio- and renewable diesel fuels already on the market. “We are excited to be the first advanced biofuel company to successfully make jet fuel from algal oil that passes the most critical ASTM D1655 (Jet A) standards. Producing a low carbon jet fuel and putting it through biofuel testing with SwRI further solidifies Solazyme's position as a leader in the green fuels space,” said Jonathan Wolfson, Solazyme CEO. Solazyme uses a proprietary conversion process to produce algal oil quickly, cheaply, without sunlight, and using non-food feedstocks, including cellulosic material and crude glycerol. The company has been producing thousands of gallons of oil at scale using this process, and is the only advanced biofuels company whose product has passed specification testing.
Sources: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/solazyme-produces-worlds-first-algal-based/story.aspx?guid={C9583103-F143-4659-922C-F708D323D808}&dist=hppr
Range Fuels to Explore Herbaceous Energy Crops with Leading Developer of Biomass Feedstocks Range Fuels Inc., a developer of green energy and cellulosic ethanol technology, has announced that it is partnering with Ceres Inc., based in Thousand Oaks, CA and the leading developer and producer of purpose-grown herbaceous biomass feedstock. Range Fuels will explore the options that non-invasive high-yield crops create for use in the company’s commercialization of cellulosic ethanol while Ceres focuses on the development of annual and perennial grasses, such as sorghum and switchgrass, for commercialization. Range Fuels recently opened demonstration plots of switchgrass and sorghum for its Soperton, GA facility using seeds from Ceres and the support of a local farmer. “Range Fuels is interested in pursuing non-invasive, non-food, high-yield, and minimal impact biomass feedstocks for use in our cellulosic ethanol plants. Our relationship with Ceres will enhance our ability to meaningfully explore these interests, plus it will leverage Range Fuels’ continuing efforts to improve our operating cost structure,” said Range Fuels CEO Mitch Mandich. Ceres CEO Richard Hamilton said that their collaboration with Range Fuels will provide a real world setting to show how different crops can contribute to the feedstock needs of a commercial-scale biofuels refinery. This is the latest effort to produce biofuel from non-food crops, but the idea of using these crops is proving controversial. Lester Brown, president of the Earth Policy Institute, has stated that switching farmland from food to non-food feedstock crops could provide the same pressure on food prices as using food crops as fuel feedstock. However, the Carnegie Institute for Science released a report in June stating that the United States has up to 1.8 million acres of unused farmland that could be used for energy crops.
Sources: http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/range-fuels-ceres-to-develop-biofuel-crops-1379.html
Researchers Engineer Bacteria for Biofuels Production Researchers from Dartmouth University and Mascoma Corporation have engineered thermophilic bacteria to produce biofuels as the only product in fermentation. "In the near term, the thermophilic bacterium we have developed is advantageous, because costly cellulase enzymes typically used for ethanol production can be augmented with the less expensive, genetically engineered new organism,” said Lee Lynd of Dartmouth University. Currently, enzymes that can digest cellulose can add as much as 50 cents per gallon to the cost of ethanol, along with yeast to ferment sugars into biofuels. This process aims to produce bacteria able to do all of these steps, effectively lowering costs. The bacteria have not yet successfully broken down cellulose, but they have demonstrated the ability to grow and function at high temperatures. Research has shown that enzymes are more active at higher temperatures, giving thermophilic bacteria an advantage. Although this technique has not yet been perfected, it is a proof of concept for a combined approach for producing biofuels. "Using one microbe or community of microbes for essentially the whole conversion process would be a major cost breakthrough," says Anna Palmisano, associate director of science at the DOE's Office of Biological and Environmental Research. "It's one of the ways really fundamental biology could transform the equation and help pave the way to commercially viable cellulosic biofuels."
Sources: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080908185132.htm
Brachypodium Research Sheds Light on Switchgrass Scientists at the Agricultural Research Service’s Western Regional Research center in Albany, CA, are working on mapping and understanding the genetic makeup of the purple false brome (Brachypodium distachyon), a plant closely related to switchgrass. John Vogel, Yong Gu, and Olin Anderson are the first scientists to report a successful shuttling of new genes via bacteria into existing Brachypodium plants, allowing them to better understand the genetic makeup and structure of the plant. It is hoped that Brachypodium research will help accelerate research into using switchgrass as a biofuel feedstock. Although the two plants are very closely related, Brachypodium has a much simpler genetic makeup, which makes it easier to study. By working on the far simpler genetic makeup of Brachypodium, scientists hope to better understand the genetic makeup of switchgrass, and hopefully to improve the use of the plant as a biofuel feedstock. Source: http://westernfarmpress.com/news/biofuel-research-0917/
A ‘Novel’ Chemistry to Make Fuel from Sugar A group of scientists at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, led by James Dumesic, have uncovered a completely novel way to refine plant sugars into fuel: by using nano-sized particles of the rare metals platinum and rhenium. The end result of this process is a fuel that can easily be refined into plastics, other petrochemicals, or fuels like gasoline or jet fuel. This means that the resulting fuel can be easily used in existing energy infrastructure, a problem that has plagued ethanol-based fuels for years. “You have a conventional fuel that happens to be made from sustainable sources,” says James Dumesic, the team lead, referring to the new process. The process works by depositing 2 nanometer thick specks of platinum and rhenium on a surface of pure carbon, then passing a sugar/water solution over the surface at a controlled temperature and pressure. The platinum and rhenium act as catalysts to begin a series of reactions that strip the oxygen from the solution and leave molecules composed of hydrocarbons, the building blocks of most modern fuels. This process is much simpler and less energy-intensive than most refining techniques for producing ethanol; it is also more efficient, as the oil layer produced by Dumesic and his team retains 90 percent of the original energy of the sugar solution. However, problems exist, notably scaling the process for commercial use, as platinum and rhenium are among the rarest and most valuable of metals. In addition, the process requires extracting sugar from plants in the first place, which can be done either by using food crops such as corn or soybeans, or by refining cellulosic material into useable sugars, itself an energy-intensive process.
Sources: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/36575/title/A_novel_chemistry_to_make_fuel_from_sugar
Goodyear and Genencor to Produce Biobased Isoprene Goodyear Tire and Rubber has teamed with enzymes manufacturer Genencor to develop a fermentation route to isoprene, an important raw material for synthetic rubber. It is hoped that this process would make the tire industry less dependent on petroleum-based products. Most isoprene in the United States is the by-product of the ethylene industry, while Goodyear is the largest consumer of isoprene in the world (a market estimated to be worth roughly $2 billion), using it to make polyisoprene, or synthetic rubber. The two companies have been working on the project in secret for more than 2 years. Genencor expects to invest up to $50 million in the project over the next three years, which they hope will see the project reach technical readiness by 2010 and construction of a production plant by 2012. Source: http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/86/i38/8638notw9.html
Archer Daniels, Polyone to Make Plasticizers Food processor and ethanol manufacturer Archer Daniels Midland is teaming with polymer manufacturer PolyOne to produce biobased plasticizers, the chemical additives that make plastics softer and more flexible. The plasticizer industry is an $11 billion annual global industry, with the vast majority of products being petroleum based. “There is clear market interest in renewable technology as an alternative to traditional petroleum-based plasticizer offerings,” said Dr. Cecil Chappelow, chief innovation officer and vice president for innovation and sustainability at PolyOne Corporation. The two companies will work on deriving sustainable plasticizers from corn and oilseeds, leveraging ADM’s market power in ethanol and agricultural refinement with PolyOne’s prominent role in the polymer market.
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Report Released Detailing the Impact of Bioenergy on the Forest Products Industry According to a new report released by Forest2Market, new markets for biomass will increase demand for wood fiber in the South and, therefore, raise prices for forest products. The new demand will be primarily bioenergy markets including power companies, biofuel producers, as well as wood pellet production. According to the report, the demand for wood fiber is expected to climb from 2 million tons in 2008 to 13.5 million tons in 2020. "The pace of the development of bioenergy markets and the resource requirements to feed them will disrupt the entire southern wood fiber market," said Pete Stewart, president and founder of Forest2Market. "It will be much steeper and more disruptive than that of the OSB market over the last 15 years. We recommend that forest products companies begin planning for the future by establishing stronger relationships with their suppliers and creating more efficient transportation lines." The primary supply for growing demand is expected to be pulpwood and wood chips, but construction debris, demolition debris, and biomass from harvesting operations are also expected to contribute. The report is entitled “Quantifying Forest Biomass Resources in the U.S. South” and is based on Forest2Market’s database of transaction-level information gathered from shipments in the South. Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS143107+04-Aug-2008+BW20080804
World Resources Institute Releases Brief on Biofuels’ Impact and Policy Recommendations In July of 2008, the World Resources Institute (WRI) released a policy brief entitled Plants at the Pump: Reviewing Biofuels’ Impacts and Policy Recommendations. This brief updates the findings of an earlier report released in December 2007. The brief describes some of the potential drawbacks to biofuels production including potential land use changes and recommends that alternative fuels should be further examined for their impacts on greenhouse gas emissions before further expansion. The main recommendations of this policy brief include technology-neutral policies to drive fuel choices in relation to goals such as greenhouse reductions and energy security. Also, certification programs for biofuels are recommended to avoid potential impacts from biofuels production in countries where environmental regulation is not yet in place to help avoid impacts of land use changes. WRI’s policy brief stresses that biofuels alone will not provide the low-carbon transportation fuels to address climate change and emphasize sustainability as a key issue in moving forward with biofuels production. Source: http://pdf.wri.org/plants_at_the_pump_brief.pdf (pdf format)
AE Biofuels Opens Integrated Cellulosic Ethanol Demonstration Facility On August 11, AE Biofuels opened a demonstration scale cellulosic ethanol facility in Butte, Montana. According to AE Biofuels, this facility is the first to integrate the use of starch-based as well as cellulosic feedstocks. Cellulosic feedstocks to be used include switchgrass, sugarcane bagasse, and corn stalks. By using a diverse array of feedstocks, this facility can reduce the risk of commodity availability and pricing uncertainty. Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) attended the opening and said, “This cellulosic biofuels plant is a step in the right direction toward energy independence and will also help create good-paying jobs. I'm especially proud that Montana can help pave the way and be a leader in boosting domestic energy production." Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and Paul Dickerson, Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, also attended the opening.
Poet Nearing Completion of Cellulosic Ethanol Pilot Plant On August 13, Poet announced that it was nearing completion of a pilot-scale cellulosic ethanol facility in Scotland, South Dakota. The construction of this 20,000 gallon facility is expected to be completed later this year and is being constructed adjacent to an existing corn-based ethanol facility. "It is no longer a question of if, but of when we will produce cellulosic ethanol," said Jeff Broin, Poet CEO and President. "I don't know if I could have said that even one year ago." Once the technology is refined, it will be integrated into Poet’s facility in Emmetsburg, Iowa which will expand from 50 to 125 million gallons through the use of corn cobs in addition to kernels. This project is partially funded by a Department of Energy grant awarded in 2007. In response to concerns of soil quality and economic feasibility surrounding the use of corn stover as a feedstock, Poet has stated that only minor adjustments will be needed to harvest the corn cob and kernels simultaneously, and that removing corn cobs will have little impact on soil quality. Source: http://www.dtnethanolcenter.com/index.cfm?show=10&pid=18&mid=73
Lawrence Ohlman III, MBA candidate at the University of Toledo, has used a portion of his student loan to create the first FDA-approved biobased tableware. According to Ohlman, in China he discovered a technology that converts plant fibers into resins, resulting in Plastic Starch Materials, which can be used in a wide variety of products including tableware. Ohlman’s first products are produced from bamboo fibers mixed with other bio-based polymers to form sustainable and durable products. Products such as tableware are currently available from Ecologic Products.
Source: http://sev.prnewswire.com/retail/20080813/AQW50913082008-1.html
Michigan State University to Create a Genomic Clearinghouse for Biofuel Crops Michigan State University is planning to create an online genomic database on crops which can be used to produce biofuels. This project is being funded by a $540,000 joint grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Energy. "Ultimately this will allow us to create better biofuel crops," said C. Robin Buell, associate professor of plant biology and project leader. "Right now, about half of the biofuel crops don't have genomic databases, and the ones that do are in many different places and are annotated differently, which makes it difficult to compare and use the information." This database will have data-mining and search tools to allow scientists to access information on any crop which can be used to produce biofuel. This database is envisioned as a way for information to be shared and made readily available to allow for new technologies. Source: http://news.msu.edu/story/5623/
Northeast Biofuels Begins Production in New York
On August 15, Northeast Biofuels began production of ethanol at its facility in Fulton, NY. A quarter of the corn feedstock to be used will come from local farmers, and their first customer is Fastrac Markets, a local gas station chain, which currently blends 10 percent ethanol into all of its gasoline. “The ethanol we've been using has been coming from the Midwest, and we're going to be able to pick up our ethanol right here at the plant in Fulton, which is just great for the upstate's economy and good for motorists,” says John Lytwynec of Fastrac. Fastrac is also expected to sell E85 at several stations in New York. This facility is expected to produce 114 million gallons of ethanol annually while employing 80-100 full-time workers.
Paper Industry Looks to Biofuels to Increase Profits The Reuters Paper Summit was held in Helsinki on August 20-22 over concerns of overcapacity and increasing costs of wood and energy. With demand for paper and newsprint declining due to the internet as well as worsening economies, there is an overcapacity in paper mills, keeping prices low. Consolidation of companies has been mentioned as a possible solution but may not be enough. Wood supply is also becoming a problem especially in Nordic countries, with warmer winters hampering harvests and higher wood duties from Russia. Russia has lifted duties for raw lumber to 15 Euros per square meter and plans to raise them to 50 in January. Cheap eucalyptus wood pulp from Latin America has also proven to be more competitive than pulp from the Northern Hemisphere. In response to decreasing margins from paper production alone, many European and North American forestry companies are investing in biofuel production from wood residues. "Bioenergy is well integrated into the paper and pulp mills, where you can combine biomass coming from forests and mass production," said Jussi Pesonen, chief executive of paper maker UPM-Kymmene. "Standalone, a biodiesel plant wouldn't be that competitive.” It is expected that biofuels production will be a wide product of the forest industry. However, Christian Rynning-Toennesen of Norwegian newsprint maker Norske Skog, predicts that in ten years the biofuel industry will be as big as the paper industry.
Sources: http://www.reuters.com/article/JapanInvestment08/idUSLF48583920080815
Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance Solicits Comments for Sustainable Practices The Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance created an online forum to solicit comments on their “Baseline Practices for Sustainability” document. Definitions and standards for sustainability have been developed in three key areas: environmental, social, and economic concerns. "All biodiesel is not created equal, so establishing baseline practices for biodiesel production and distribution is critical to creating transparency in the marketplace and allowing consumers to know if the biodiesel they are purchasing is part of the solution or part of the problem," said Jeff Plowman, executive director of the SBA. "The baseline practices address issues including energy security, agrochemicals, land use, greenhouse gas emissions, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), biodiversity, energy conservation and community benefit." The draft document was to be discussed and ratified at the “Sustainable Biodiesel Stakeholders Summit 2008” on September 17.
Sources: http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2690
Carbon Dioxide Reduction from Biodiesel to be Demonstrated The National Biodiesel Board is partnering with Indigenous Energy, LLC and States Logistics to demonstrate carbon dioxide reduction from the use of biodiesel. This will be a six month pilot program which has already shown a 16.5 ton carbon dioxide reduction in May and June. This program will use seven trucks run by States Logistics which use B5 and B99 biodiesel and run on average approximately 27,000 miles a month. The emissions tracking system was developed using a full life-cycle analysis. “Many of our customers on the west coast and other areas of the country are looking to reduce carbon footprint and emissions,” said Ryan Donovan, VP of Operations and Business Development of States Logistics. “Since we use biodiesel in all of our trucks our customers already have an advantage. The type of measurement and easy-to-understand reporting from Indigenous Energy will help us provide detailed information that our customers can show to their customers.” It is expected that these figures may be used to sell carbon offsets and the final results will be presented at the Mid-America Trucking Show in March of 2009.
Sources: http://nbb.grassroots.com/08Releases/CO2/
First Draft of Sustainable Biofuels Standard Released The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels has created and released the first draft of a biofuels global standard. “Version Zero” has been released which does not state whether biofuels as a whole are sustainable or the amount which can be produced. There are also no implementation guidelines which can be used by farms, producers, or companies. "Biofuels cannot replace all of our transport fuel consumption without significant changes in lifestyle and efficiency of use," the authors wrote. "We hope that these standards will be used in conjunction with new, sustainable consumption patterns for all the planet's energy needs." In the draft, it is stated that biofuels production must help mitigate climate change, not violate human or labor rights, avoid negative impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity, and benefit rural development. Other issues such as water use and food security are addressed as well. “Version One” is expected to be released in April 2009, following six months of workshops and feedback.
Sources: “First Draft of Sustainable Biofuels Standard Released.” GreenBizSite 22 August 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory has updated its “Handbook for Handling, Storing, and Dispensing E85” to inform the public and the ethanol industry about using E85. This handbook was published for DOE’s Clean Cities program with input from the ethanol industry. A number of topics are covered in the handbook including methods and equipment for shipping, storing, and dispensing E85, as well as safety procedures. An overall assessment of the benefits and limitations of using E85 is presented as well. “This publication is a strong example of Clean Cities carrying out its mission to educate its stakeholders and the public on the use of alternative fuels and vehicles,” said Dennis Smith, technology development manager and Clean Cities Director. “It’s user-friendly, technically sound format provides an accurate, understandable framework for the safe installation and dispensing of E85.”
Sources: http://www.ethanolproducer.com/article.jsp?article_id=4669
EPA Issues Warning Letter to Ethanol Retailers On July 31, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a letter warning retailers of high ethanol blend fuels to ensure that illegal blends are not put into conventional vehicles. It is currently illegal to use fuel containing more than 10 percent ethanol in a conventional vehicle. With gas prices high, gasoline with high percentages of ethanol is much cheaper comparatively. This letter issued by EPA also recommends warning labels on ethanol pumps to discourage fueling conventional vehicles with high ethanol blends. EPA is even threatening to fine companies which may attempt to increase profits by blending excessive amounts of ethanol into gasoline without informing customers. However, according to Ron Lamberty, market development director for the American Council for Ethanol, this letter could discourage gas stations from installing pumps which can sell high ethanol mixes. He also accuses oil companies of using this letter to discourage expansion of ethanol, an accusation that the American Petroleum Institute denies. Even with strongly worded labels on ethanol pumps, gas stations claim that it is unreasonable to expect that station managers are able to tell which vehicles are flex-fuel and which are not, making for difficult enforcement. Source: http://www.marionstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080823/NEWS01/808230318
Report States that Vermont Should Pursue Medium-Sized Power Plants According to a study by the Essex Partnership, Vermont should pursue medium sized power plants instead of larger ones to meet future demand for power. This study was completed for several Vermont power companies and states that biomass and farm methane power can provide electricity for the state’s energy future. "Addressing the supply gap with one large plant could achieve some economies of scale with respect to capital costs and operating costs, but could also increase the risk of the state's portfolio by relying heavily on one resource," the Essex report said. "Building a series of smaller technologies, although potentially more costly under normal operating conditions, may be preferred since this strategy may enhance the diversity of Vermont's generation portfolio." Although new sources will not completely replace the state’s two largest sources, Vermont Yankee nuclear plant and Hydro-Quebec, several smaller facilities are being constructed including expanding landfill gas utilization and several new biomass facilities. Steve Wark, director of public and consumer affairs at the Vermont Department of Public Service, said that Vermont has an abundance of wood and biomass power plants are likely to obtain permitting easier because of the proximity of the fuel.
Source: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080820/vt_new_power.html
Coal-Fired Power Plant Converted to Biomass in Hawaii On August 20, the Hu Honua Bioenergy Facility in Hawaii was opened to provide electricity to the community of Pepeekeo on the Big Island of Hawaii. This facility was previously a coal-fired plant which supplied electricity to a sugar mill. It is expected that this new facility will supply approximately 24 MW of electricity from locally grown biomass to power 18,000 homes, which is 7-10 percent of the Big Island’s total energy needs. This facility is owned and operated by MMA Renewable Ventures and is its first bioenergy project. MMA Renewable Ventures also conducts solar, wind, and energy efficiency projects and has developed more than 40 MW of clean energy since 2002. http://www.mmarenewableventures.com/news/docs/hu_honua.pdf (pdf format)
We Energies to Award Grants for Renewable Energy Feasibility Studies Wisconsin-based company We Energies is currently offering Renewable Energy Feasibility Study Grants to businesses and electric customers for the installation of renewable energy projects. Funds also can be used to conduct research on a renewable energy product, technology or proposed facility, or to help demonstrate or commercially advance a renewable energy product or technology into the marketplace. Grants are only available to those residing within We Energies’ Wisconsin electric service territory. Grants of up to $200,000 are available and matching funds are not required. Also, grants awarded by We Energies could be used as matching funds toward larger state and federal grants. Grant proposals are accepted on an ongoing basis and will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. Source: http://www.we-energies.com/business_new/altenergy/FeasiblityGrantProgram.pdf (pdf format)
Study Calls for New Energy Policies The Chesapeake Bay Commission and the state of Pennsylvania have completed a one-year study into the uses and potential for cellulosic ethanol to transform the state and national energy mix, concluding that policies and incentives are necessary to shepherd the industry into full-scale productivity. According to the study, ethanol from cellulosic sources (including corn stover, wood bundling, forest slash, and perennial grasses such as switchgrass) could produce as much as 1 trillion gallons of fuel-grade ethanol a year by 2030, as opposed to the 15 billion gallons from grain-based sources in the same time frame, exerting significant downward pressure on fuel prices. In addition to the benefit to fuel prices, cellulosic ethanol has the additional advantage of being able to be grown on marginal crop land or to be derived from municipal waste, neither of which leads to competition with food crops for acreage. Despite the benefits of cellulosic ethanol over more traditional fuels, the report stresses potential hurdles to widespread implementation, and advocates significant policy incentives to lead to increased participation by farmers and industry. Potential problems include a lack of existing infrastructure for collecting feedstock, producing and transporting cellulosic ethanol, and serving downstream customers, as well as environmental safeguards necessary to ensure efficient use of land. “While the theory is good and the potential is strong, until you get some plants up and ready that work, there will be questions,” said John Nikoloff, a partner at Pennsylvania Energy Resources Group, a consultancy. However, the report stresses that these challenges are surmountable, and that the necessary interest from the business and agricultural worlds exists.
Sources: http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/122066071342300.xml&coll=1&thispage=1
Caterpillar Approves B20 Diesel Mining and construction equipment maker Caterpillar Inc. has approved B20 diesel fuel (diesel blended with 20 percent biodiesel) for use in its compact and mid-range engines. The inclusion of these engines in the higher-blend approved line follows successful testing of the blend in numerous installations, which Caterpillar says indicates trouble-free operation. The used fuels must still meet industry specifications. Caterpillar says that the move to higher-blend fuels is a strategic market advantage, and Marketing Manager Mike Reinhart added that “Biodiesel that meets industry quality standards can be good for the environment and our customers.” Source: http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=75207
Sapphire Energy Builds Investment Syndicate to Fund Commercialization of Green Crude Production San Diego, CA-based Sapphire Energy has announced that it has completed its Series B round of investment, bringing the company’s total funding to “substantially more” than $100 million. The company says that it is now financed to the level required to scale up its production of algal-based biofuels to commercial levels, which it projects at 10,000 barrels/day. Sapphire says that it can easily expand its production base because its product is transportable, scalable, and requires no fuel other than non-arable land, non-potable water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight. The end result of the process is almost identical to light sweet crude oil, and would therefore be easily adapted to the current infrastructure; the company produced the world’s first renewable 91 octane gasoline, conforming to all industry specifications, in May 2008. “We are creating an entirely new category of energy – Green Crude Production – and are now at a point where we can focus on implementing our plans without worrying about fundraising,” said company CEO Jason Pyle. The company’s partners include ARCH Ventures, Wellcome Trust, Cascade Investments, and Venrock. Source: http://www.sapphireenergy.com/press_release/4
Georgia Utility to Build Biomass-fueled Power Plants Georgia energy cooperative Oglethorpe has announced that it will invest up to $1 billion constructing two 100-MW biomass-fired power plants beginning in 2014-2015, with a possible third to follow. These plants would provide electricity for Oglethorpe’s 38 members, which power roughly half of Georgia’s population. The fuel for the plants would come from the abundant woody biomass of South Georgia’s expansive forests, including chipped pulpwood and wood waste left over in sawmills, as well as a co-firing capability for peanut and pecan shells. “With our abundant biomass resources, Georgia has the unique opportunity to expand our use of alternative energy, grow our economy, and transform the way we provide energy to our citizens,” said Gov. Sonny Perdue, who unveiled Oglethorpe’s plan. The plan came about as a result of the increased costs for traditional power sources, such as oil and coal, as well as the lack of any new nuclear plants, though the state Public Service Commission will hold public hearings in November on a plan from Georgia Power Co. for two new nuclear facilities.
Sources:
Shell Announces Six New Biofuels Research Agreements Royal Dutch Shell has announced that it will begin six new research agreements with leading academic institutions around the world to find new biofuels feedstock and improve existing refinement processes, with an emphasis on increasing efficiency and lowering costs. The agreements are with: MIT (Boston, USA), Unicamp (Sao Paulo, Brazil), IMCAS (Beijing, China), QIBEBT (Qingdao, China), CoEBio3 at Manchester University (Manchester, UK), and the School of Biosciences at the University of Exeter (Exeter, UK). The agreements will last between two and five years. “Shell’s in-house biofuels R&D is longstanding, leading and globally coordinated. However, we know that adding to our knowledge through genuine and nimble partnerships with top experts worldwide will be critical to speed and success in the fast-moving area of biofuels. We have been working with some partners for a good while already but are delighted to announce these six collaborations today,” said Dr. Graeme Sweeney, Shell’s Executive VP for Future Fuels and CO2. The academic collaborations complement Shell’s partnerships with five commercial companies working on bringing next generation biofuels to market. Source: http://www.shell.us/home/content/usa/aboutshell/media_center/news_and_pressl
County Canola Dryer Creates Step towards New Crops, Energy Snohomish, Washington County Executive Aaron Reardon has launched a new county initiative to boost the county’s economy while reducing its reliance on petroleum-derived and polluting diesel fuel. The initiative came about at the request of local farmers, who sought a way to build markets for local produce. The initiative will take canola seeds planted on a rotational basis by local farmers, dry them and crush them at the county’s new special-purpose facilities at the Cathcart Operations Facility. The facility itself is powered by captured methane emissions from the next door Cathcart landfill, and can produce B20 diesel fuel, which could potentially fuel the entirety of the county’s fleet of public service vehicles. The county fronted an initial $80,000, followed by another $410,000 after a two-year trial period. This was augmented by $344,400 in federal appropriations and $500,000 in state Energy Freedom funds. This year, approximately 400 acres of canola and mustard seed will be dried and crushed, with an expected increase to 750 acres this fall. An estimated 1,000-1,200 acres will be required to completely fuel the county’s fleet of vehicles. By 2014, the total acreage is expected to be around 4,000, giving the county both a source of fuel and a viable export. “We said we wanted to be part of the solution to lessening our dependence on foreign oil and to helping our farmers find renewed economic viability through new crops. Today, we once again put strong, positive actions behind those words,” said County Executive Aaron Reardon.
Sources:
The Changing Biodiesel Market: Alternative Feedstocks and Retrofitting Plants for Alternative Products (Oct. 17) Cincinati, OH http://www.aocs.org/meetings/change_sc/ International Distillers Grains Conference & Trade Show (Oct. 19-21) Indianapolis, IN http://www.distillersgrainsconference.com/ema/DisplayPage.aspx?pageId=Home JatrophaWorld Hamburg 2008 (Oct. 20-21) Hamburg, Germany http://www.cmtevents.com/eventschedule.aspx?ev=081031 University of Illinois Biofuels and Sustainability Conference (Oct. 21-22) Champaign, IL http://www.istc.illinois.edu/BiofuelsConference/ World Ethanol 2008 (Nov. 3-6) Paris, France http://www.agra-net.com/portal/marlin/system/ Cellulosic Ethanol Summit 2008 (Nov. 17-19) Coral Gables, FL http://www.infocastinc.com/index.php/conference/124 E3 2008: The Midwest's Premier Energy Economic and Environmental Conference (Nov. 18) St. Paul, MN http://www1.umn.edu/iree/e3/index.html 2008 Canadian Renewable Fuels Summit (Dec. 1-3) Gatineau-Ottawa, Canada http://www.crfs2008.com Bioenergy Australia (Dec. 8-9) Melbourne, Australia http://www.bioenergyaustralia.org/ TOP
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