Americans for Prosperity
Date: 2018-10-12
In response to President Trump's announcement that his administration will be promoting the use of ethanol by allowing year-round sales of E15, Americans for Prosperity Chief Government Affairs Officer Brent Gardner issued the following statement:

"President Trump has revitalized our economy in part by rolling back counterproductive, job-killing federal mandates and regulations, but this move would undo some of that success by preserving the harmful renewable fuel standard (RFS) at the expense of taxpayers and consumers. Rather than trying to make this market-distorting boondoggle viable with yet another rule written by bureaucrats in Washington, DC, he (Trump) should consign the costly and misguided RFS to the dustbin as well. The best way to make a mandate easier to meet is to eliminate it."

Americans for Prosperity, founded in 2004, is a U.S. libertarian/conservative political advocacy group funded by David H. Koch and Charles Koch. As the Koch brothers' primary political advocacy group, it is one of the most influential American conservative organizations. (Source: Americans for Prosperity, 11 Oct., 2018) Contact: Americans for Prosparity, Brent Gardner, Gabrielle Braud, Press, GBraud@afphq.org, www.AmericansForProsperity.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News RFS,  Renewable Fuels Standard,  Biofuel,  Ethanol,  

IEA
Date: 2018-10-10
In its just released Renewables 2018 market analysis, the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicted that fuel ethanol will account for two-thirds of the worldwide growth in conventional biofuels between 2018 and 2023.

According to the report, biofuels production is expected to grow 15 pct reaching 43.59 billion gallons and account for 90 pct of the renewables used in transport by 2023. Fuel ethanol accounts for two-thirds of biofuel production growth, while biodiesel and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) account for the remainder.

The IEA report focuses on the share of renewables within the global power, heat and transportation sectors, with a particular focus on bioenergy. (Source: EIA, Oct., 2018)Contact: IEA, Fatih Birol, Exec. Dir., +33 1 40 57 65 00, www.iea.org, www.ieabioenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News IEA,  Ethanol,  

E15,Trump
Date: 2018-10-10
It is being widely reported that U.S. Pres. Donald Trump will order acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to lift the Renewable Fuel Standard summertime ban on the sale of E15 and thus help limit market speculation in biofuel credits.

E15 sales are currently blocked from the beginning of June through the middle of September because the fuel blend does not meet ozone standards spelled out in the Clean Air Act.

It is even more widely speculated that Trump's move is focused on stroking his biofuels and farm belt base before for the November mid-term elections. (Source: CNBC, Various Media, 8 Oct., 2018)

More Low-Carbon Energy News E15,  Trump,  RFS,  Biofuel,  

Pertamina
Date: 2018-10-10
According to the Indonesian state-owned energy company Pertamina, the Indonesian government is partnering with the Italian energy company ENI to investigate the conversion of two of the country's older crude oil refineries into palm oil-based biofuels production facilities According to the Pertamina website, the 1930s vintage Plaju plant has an oil refining capacity of 133,700 bpd (bpd) and the equally aged Dumai plant has a capacity of 170,000 bpd.

The initiative is intended to reduce Indonesia's dependence on imported energy, cut the country balance of trade and absorb the country's rising crude palm oil output amid sluggish global demand. Indonesia is the leading palm oil producer by far. (Source: Pertamina, Reuters, NTA, 9 Oct., 2018) Contact: Pertamina , Irfan Zainuddin, Pres., http://pge.pertamina.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Pertamina,  Palm Oil,  Biofuel,  

Uttra Pradesh
Date: 2018-10-08
These projects include a mega biofuel plant by SunLight Fuels spanning 90 acres in Sitapur, and costing Rs 15.5 In India, the office of Uttra Pradesh Cheif Minister Yogi Adityanath reports it has approved the development of six private biofuel investment proposals totaling nearly Rs 17 billion ($226 million +-) in thr districts of Sitapur, Hapur, Meerut, Bareilly and Muzaffarnagar.

These projects include a mega ethanol plant to be developed by SunLight Fuels using sugarcane bagasse as a feedstock. The plant is expected to use about 500 tpd of bagasse to produce 1,75,000 litres of drop in fuel.

The five other projects entail investment of more than Rs 200 million each and are proposed to utilize farm waste, press mud (sugarcane byproduct) and other agro waste to produce biofuel, bio CNG and bio fertiliser. Each of these units is expected to produce roughly 5,000 kg of bio CNG a day.

Interestingly, the green energy sector investment proposals worth Rs 728 billion were almost 10 times compared to the conventional energy sector, which managed only 76 billion. Uttra Pradesh state reportedly has the potential of producing 28,000 MW of green energy, including solar, wind, small hydro power, and bioenergy (bio mass, bagasse cogeneration, waste to energy). (Source: PTI, Business Standard, Various Others,4 Oct., 2018)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Uttra Pradesh,  Biofuels,  Ethanol,  

Bharat Petroleum Corporation
Date: 2018-10-08
India's state-run oil company Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) is touting its second generation (2G) ethanol biorefinery at Odisha's Bargarh district. Commissioning and production startup of the Rs 10 billion, 30 million lpy rice straw-to-ethanol plant is expected no later than December 2020.

About 12 such refineries are proposed in different states to meet India's National Biofuel Policy 2018 target of 20 pct ethanol blending to petrol by the year 2030. Presently, ethanol blending in Petrol is between 3 and 4 pct. (Source: Bharat Petroleum Corporation, Business Standard, 7 Oct., 2018) Contact: Bharat Petroleum Corporation, www.bharatpetroleum.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Bharat Petroleum Corporation,  Ethanol,  India Biofuel,  India Ethanol,  

University of Michigan
Date: 2018-10-08
In Ann Arbor, University of Michigan researchers report they will partner with colleagues at Penn State University to evaluate how best to grow algae, transform it into a diesel fuel and maximize its performance during the combustion process. The effort is being funded with a $2 million grant from the US DOE.

According to University of Michigan Biology professor Bradley Cardinale, researchers are "one of the first teams in the world to go all the way from designing sustainable biofuel feedstocks in outdoor ponds, to refining fuel." Algae-based biofuels are seen as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional diesel fuels, which produce high levels of greenhouse gases when they burn. (Source: Univ. of Michigan, AP, witf, 7 Oct., 2018) Contact: University of Michigan, University of Michigan, Biology Prof. Bradley Cardinale, (734) 764-9689, bradcard@umich.edu, http://seas.umich.edu/research/faculty/brad_cardinale

More Low-Carbon Energy News University of Michigan,  Algae Biofuels,  Algae,  

Prairie Horizon USA Clean Fuels
Date: 2018-10-05
In Phillipsburg, Kansas, Prairie Horizon USA Clean Fuels reports it has partnered with the charitable Phillips County Healthcare Foundation (PCHF) to promote the health benefits of using ethanol blended fuel. For every gallon of E15, E20, E30 and E85 sold at USA Clean Fuels in Phillipsburg, three cent a gallon will be donated to the Phillips County Healthcare Foundation (PCHF).

Prairie Horizon produces more 40 million gpy of ethanol and grinds 15 million bpy of grain to produce 127,000 tpy of high protein livestock feed (DDGs). (Source: Prairie Horizon, USA Clean Fuels, Hays Post, 1 Oct., 2018) Contact: Prairie Horizon USA Clean Fuel, (785) 543-6719, www.prairiehorizon.com; Phillips County Healthcare Foundation, www.pchc.foundation

More Low-Carbon Energy News DDGs,  Ethanol,  Biofuel,  Prairie Horizon USA Clean Fuels,  

Johnson Matthey, BP,Fulcrum BioEnergy
Date: 2018-10-05
Oil giant BP and chemicals firm Johnson Matthey (JM) report they have inked an agreement with California based Fulcrum BioEnergy to license their Fischer Tropsch (FT) technology to support Fulcrum's drive to convert municipal solid waste into biobased jet fuel at their new Sierra BioFuels Plant near Reno, Nevada.

When fully operational early in 2020, the Sierra plant is expected to convert approximately 175,000 tpy of household garbage into roughly 11 million gpy of jet fuel.

FT technology can operate at large and small scale to economically convert synthesis gas generated from municipal solid waste and other renewable biomass into long-chain hydrocarbons suitable for the production of diesel and jet fuels. (Source: Johnson Matthey, BP, WMW, 2 Oct., 2018) Contact: Johnson Matthey, www.matthey.co; Fulcrum Bioenergy, Rick Barraza, VP Administration, (925) 224-8244, rbarraza@fulcrum-bioenergy.com, www.fulcrum-bioenergy.com, www.facebook.com/fulcrumbioenergy

More Low-Carbon Energy News Johnson Matthey,  BP,  Fulcrum BioEnergy,  

Growth Energy
Date: 2018-10-05
Growth Energy is launching a new consumer-focused website for Unleaded 88 fuel: Unl88.com. Unleaded 88 is the unified brand identify for E15 ethanol blended fuel and is approved by the EPA for cars model year 2001 and newer -- about nine out of 10 cars on the road today.

(Source: Growth Energy, Convenience Store Decisions, 3 Oct., 2018) Contact: UNL88.com, www.UNL88.com; Growth Energy, Mike O'Brien, VP Market Dev., Emily Skor, CEO, (202) 545-4000, www.growthenergy.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Growth Energy,  Biofuel Blend,  

UPM
Date: 2018-10-05
In Helsinki, renewable diesel producer UPM is reporting the Environmental Impact Assessment of its proposed Kotka Biorefinery has been completed and passed to the authorities for their final conclusions.

The assesment found the UPM Kotka Biorefinery to be feasible and that it would have substantial positive impacts such as increasing utilization of wastes and residues as well as decreases in greenhouse gas emissions.

When fully operational, the UPM Kotka Biorefinery would produce approximately 500,000 tpy of advanced biofuels from sustainable raw materials for use in road, marine and aviation transportation. (Source: UPM Kymmene Corporation, PR, 4 Oct., 2018) Contact: UPM Biofuels Development, Petri Kukkonen, VP, +358 40 592 7440, petri.kukkonen@upm.com, www.upmbiofuels.com, www.upm.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Diesel,  UPM,  Biofuel,  Biorefinery,  

Norway
Date: 2018-10-05
In Oslo, Reuters is reporting the Norwegian minority centre-right government Ministry of Climate and Environment has announced that the aviation industry will be required to mix 0.5 pct advanced biofuel -- excluding palm oil -- into its jet fuel beginning in 2020. (Source: Norway Ministry of Climate and Environment, Reuters, 4 Oct., 2018) Contact: Norway Ministry of Climate and Environment, +47 22 24 90 90, postmottak@kld.dep.no, www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/kld/id668/

More Low-Carbon Energy News Jet Biofuel,  Advanced Biofuel,  

NATSO
Date: 2018-10-03
NATSO Inc., the Alexandria, Virginia-headquartered national association representing the travel plaza and truckstop industry, and the Alternative Fuels Council are reporting the launch of a new RIN Management Service designed to help fuel retailers that blend and sell renewable fuels -- ethanol, biodiesel, renewable cng -- to more efficiently participate in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program and manage their compliance and Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs). Under the RIN Management program, participants will:

consult with experts on the RFS and Low Carbon Fuel Standard compliance;

get help registering for EPA's RFS program as well as for the IRS Blenders License;

access sources for fuel supply options;

secure advice and assistance for state incentive programs;

monitor the status of impending IRS Blender's Tax Credits;

participants can access an exclusive software program that provides real-time RIN management, a system of record for all RIN transactions, as well as RIN account reconciliations. Through this software, blenders and marketers can reduce the staff time that it takes to comply with the RFS by as much as 75 pct;

knowledgeable Alternative Fuels Council staff will perform EPA-required quarterly reporting as well as end-of-year third-party CPA audits.

The new RIN Management Service marks the second offering from the Alternative Fuels Council this year. The Alternative Fuels Council previously unveiled a Biodiesel Fuel Quality Plan designed to help those who blend, market, and distribute biodiesel blends ensure the final product meets a minimum standard of quality. A step-by-step guide to the blending process directs users through fuel quality management, including sampling procedures, protocols and proposed schedules, to help ensure that alternative fuel meets the required ASTM fuel quality standards. The Alternative Fuels Council also helps facilitate fuel testing and analysis for marketers at a substantially discounted price.

The Alternative Fuels Council is a NATSO, Inc. subsidiary created to help NATSO members and the entire retail fuels industry understand alternative fuels markets, including available government incentives, to effectively incorporate alternative fuels into their supply offerings. (Source: NATSO, PR, Oct., 2018) Contact: NATSO, Lisa Mullings, Pres., CEO, Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman, (703) 739-8578, twlazlowski@natso.com, www.natso.com; Alternative Fuels Council, Jeff Hove, jhove@natsoaltfuels.com, www.NATSOAltFuels.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News NATSO,  Biofuel,  Alternative Fuel,  

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Date: 2018-10-03
An executive summary of the UN Summary for Policymakers report on limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees C will be vetted by diplomats under the 195-nation Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in South Korea this week.

The report considers what it will take to prevent the Earth's average surface temperature from rising beyond 1.5C (2.7 degrees F) above pre-industrial levels.

The report notes with "high confidence" that at current GHG emissions levels we will pass the 1.5C marker around 2040. The report adds that to have at least a 50-50 chance of a 1.5 C world, the global economy must, by 2050, become "carbon neutral" and CO2 emissions peak not later than 2020 then fall dramatically.

The 22-page Summary also details the amount of CO2 we can dump into the atmosphere and still stay under the 1.5C threshold.

The report also identifies scenarios on the best way to ramp up the fight against climate change: adoption of new technologies to radically reduce energy needs; major reductions in energy consumption habits; removing massive amounts of CO2 out of the air, either though large-scale reforestation, use of biofuels; and direct carbon capture. The report notes the share of primary energy coming from renewables would have to jump to at least 50 pct by mid-century, and the share of coal drop from about 28 to between 1 and 7 pct.

Download the Sumary for Policymakers HERE. (Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, PhysOrg, Various Media, Oct., 2018) Contact: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, www.ipcc.ch

More Low-Carbon Energy News Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ,  Climate Change,  

Abengoa Bioenergy, ICM
Date: 2018-10-03
Colwich, Kansas based agricultural and renewable energy technology firm ICM reports it is acquiring the bankrupt Abengoa Bioenergy's Colwich corn ethanol facility for $3.1 million. The plant has been idle since late 2017.

The facility processes up to 240,000 tpy of corn to produce roughly 25 million gpy of bioethanol and 70,000 tpy of DGS which is used for livestock feed. (Source: ICM, WMW, 2 Oct., 2018) Contact: ICM, (316) 796-0900, www.icminc.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Abengoa Bioenergy,  Landfill Gas,  ICM,  

BDI-BioEnergy
Date: 2018-10-03
Raaba-Grambach, Austria-based privately-held biodiesel technology pioneer BDI-BioEnergy International is reporting the completion of an "organizational restructuring" to better equip the company to "react more quickly to market changes."

A BDI Holding GmbH daughter company, BDI-BioEnergy International GmbH, core technologies include multifeedstock biodiesel technology, biomass-to-liquid technology (BioCrack), and greentech process solutions, such as phosphorous recycling from sewage sludge combustion ashes. (Source: BDI Bioenergy, Biodiesel Mag., 1 Oct., 2018) Contact: BDI Holding GmbH, Helmut Goessler, CEO, +43 316 400 9100, www.bdi-bioenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News BDI-BioEnergy,  Biodiesel,  Biofuel,  

The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries
Date: 2018-10-01
Meeting last week in Jakarta, The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) , issued the following policy developments in the EU on biofuel:

Under the proposed Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II), the Commission of the European Union is mandated to establish criteria to help distinguish between high and low risk Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) across the vegetable oil sector in general used for biofuels;

There are several EU models for ILUC that have been proposed none of which, nor could provide definitive evidence that would allow for a clear distinction between high and low risk ILUC. Nevertheless, the Commission is mandated to establish criteria by February 2019 to allow for such a distinction to be made;

The ILUC concept is of US and EU origin, but it is not a globally accepted approach or standard for assessing the impact of ILUC on climate change. It helps underpins EU policy, but it is not an international norm upon which palm oil producing countries could or should build their environmental policies;

CPOPC draws attention to the fact that there is over 1.7 billion hectares of land devoted to the production of crops globally, of which only 4 pct is devoted to biofuel. In our view, the very marginal use of land for biofuel calls in to question the very basis premises of indirect land use change resulting from the cultivation of vegetable oils for biofuel;

While CPOPC considers that the scientific community of palm oil producing countries should engage with the Commission, the Governments in the developing world should be fearful of being drawn in to acknowledging, accepting or offering legitimacy to the ILUC scheme within the RED II;

Palm oil producing countries should also be mindful in the weeks ahead of the objectiveness of the criteria being established and whether they are being applied impartially across all vegetable oils. In this respect, there is concern that palm oil will be targeted as several EU models are associated with the conversion of forests and peat lands with ILUC;

CPOPC is of the view that the use of ILC to target palm oil would represent a basic violation of the non-discriminatory principles upon which the WTO multilateral system is based; and that any related EU regulation or decision would likely constitute a Technical Barrier to Trade;

CPOPC does not necessarily subscribe to this concern, but we believe that criteria established by the EU should also address carbon retention in lands that have been converted from forests and peat in Europe; as well as to take account of the relative productivity of vegetable oils and the importance that this plays in protecting the global land bank;

There are wider concerns that have been expressed by palm oil producing countries that criteria should also take into-account the historical impact of mass deforestation in Europe;

CPOPC supports the UN global agreement to achieve Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 (SDGs);

CPOPC considers that the SDGs does not mean a trade off between social and economic progress and the environment, but rather the need to balance out these aims and CPOPC and other Palm Oil Producing countries are willing and open to engage with trading partners and stakeholders on how to achieve the SDGs in the vegetable oil sector;

In contrast to the direction of EU RED II, CPOPC believes that the promotion of first generation biofuel is an essential element for achieving the SDGs in palm oil producing countries. The use of vegetable oils in biofuel is essential to combating climate change and it is also important for all Governments in Palm Oil Producing Countries to reassure and give certainty to our industries that biofuel investment will not be undermined as is the case in the European Union. (Source: CPOPC, Neutral English, 1 Oct, 2018) Contact: CPOPC, Mahendra Siregar, Executive Director, +62 21 391 5160, +62 21 391 3961, secretariat@cpopc.org, www.cpopc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biofuel,  Biodiesel,  Palm Oil,  Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries,  

Petroleum Ministry India
Date: 2018-10-01
In New Delhi, the Indian Petroleum Ministry reports it is expecting the nation's nation's first compressed bio-gas (CBG) plant to become operational within the current quarter of the fiscal year. The Ministry aims to see CBG replace LNG (liquefied natural gas) for use in households, as well as in transportation.

The plan calls for the roll out of 5,000 CBG plants across India in a phased manner, with 250 plants by the year 2020, 1,000 plants by 2022 and 5,000 plants by 2025. These plants are expected to produce 15 million tpy of CBG , which is about 40 pct of the current CNG consumption of 44 million tonnes.

A Petroleum Ministry working group on biofuels, set up under the National Policy on Biofuels 2018, is in the process of finalizing a pan-India marketing and pricing model for compressed bio-gas. Under the working group's smodel, entrepreneurs would be able to separately market the other by-products from these plants, including bio-manure, carbon-dioxide, etc. (Source: Petroleum Ministry India, IANS, 1 Oct., 2018) Contact: Petroleum Ministry India, www.petroleum.nic.in

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biogas,  Compressed Biogas,  Methane,  

University of Michigan
Date: 2018-10-01
According to a study from University of Michigan (UM) Energy Institute professor John DeCicco, growing and harvesting bioenergy crops -- corn for ethanol, trees to fuel power plants, and others -- is a poor use of land, which is a precious resource in the fight against climate change.

The assumption that bioenergy simply recycles carbon is a major accounting error, DeCicco and William Schlesinger, president emeritus of the Milbrook, New York-based Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, held. The core of the assumption is the idea that producing a biofuel and then burning it for energy moves a given amount of carbon from the biosphere to the atmosphere, and back again in an unending and stable cycle. That's in contrast to the current one-way flow of fossil-fuel carbon from the Earth to the atmosphere.

According to DeCicco, for bioenergy to be actually carbon neutral, harvesting the biomass to produce it would have to greatly speed up the net flow of carbon from the atmosphere back into vegetation. Otherwise, decades can pass before the "carbon debt" of excess CO2 in the air is repaid by future plant growth. "All currently commercial forms of bioenergy require land and risk carbon debts that last decades into the future. Given the urgency of the climate problem, it is puzzling why some parties find these excess near-term CO2 emissions acceptable," the researchers noted.

In his 2016 study, DeCicco found that just 37 pct, rather than 100 pct, of the CO2 released from burning biofuels was balanced out by increased carbon uptake in crops over the first eight years of the U.S. biofuel mandate.

To reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere requires avoiding deforestation and reforesting harvested areas, up to one-third of current carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels could be sequestered in the biosphere," the researchers wrote. "Terrestrial carbon management can keep carbon out of the atmosphere for many decades."

The new opinion was published in the latest edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (Source: Univ. of Michigan, Rahunuma Daily, 1 Oct., 2018) Contact: University of Michigan Energy Institute, Prof John DeCicco, (734) 764-6757, DeCicco@umich.edu, www.umich.edu; Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, (845) 677-5343, www.caryinstitute.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change news,  CO2 news,  Carbon Emissions news,  Bioenergy news,  

Nebraska Ethanol
Date: 2018-09-28
This week in Lincoln, Cornhusker State Republican Governor Pete Ricketts approved the E-30 pilot program which is intended to address the misconception that higher ethanol blends harm or damage vehicle engines.

The program will be kicked-off in state-owned fleet vehicles and will assesses the effects of E-15 and E-30 blends on vehicle performance, fuel economy and emissions control systems. The pilot program is expected to launch within the next few weeks. (Source: Office of Gov. Pete Ricketts, NTV ABC, 27 Sept., 2018) Contact: Office of Gov. Pete Ricketts, www.governor.nebraska.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ethanol Blends,  E15,  E30,  Biofuel,  Flex-Fuel,  

Hero BX
Date: 2018-09-28
In Erie, Pennsylvania, Lake Erie Biofuels, -- dba Hero BX -- is reporting the September 21st acquisition of the former Clinton County Biodiesel facility in Clinton, Iowa, from Tenaska Commodities LLC, an affiliate of Tenaska Inc.

Hero BX expects plant upgrades to be completed and production to begin before the year end.

This acquisition brings the production complement of Hero BX to Erie, Pennsylvania; Moundville, Alabama; South Roxana, Illinois; tolling at the IRE facility in Washington, Iowa; as well as blending and distribution in North Hampton, New Hampshire. (Source: Hero BX, 26 Sept., 2018) Contact: Hero BX, Chris Peterson, Pres., Tim Keaveney, Exec. VP Business Dev., (814) 528-9200, www.herobx.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Hero BX,  Biodiesel,  

Green Energy Biofuel
Date: 2018-09-28
Winnsboro, South Carolina-based Green Energy Biofuels, formerly known as Midlands Biofuels, is reporting its acquisition of the idle 40 million GPY Green Valley Biofuel plant in Warrenville, South Carolina. The plant has been renamed GEB3.

Green Energy Biofuel's flagship plant is a 300,000-gpy biodiesel production facility in Winnsboro, South Carolina is currently in the process of rebranding as simply "Green Energy" and is exploring production and sale of other sustainable products in addition to "brown-grease" biodiesel. (Source: Green Energy Biofuel, Biodiesel Mag., Others, 26 Sept., 2018) Contact: Green Energy Biofuels, Beth Renwick, CFO, (803) 718-6323, https://gebiofuel.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biodiesel,  Midlands Biofuels,  Green Energy Biofuel,  

Enerkem,Ocean Legacy Foundation
Date: 2018-09-26
In Canada, Montreal-based waste-to-biofuels specialist Enerkem Inc. reports that following the commercial launch of the world's first waste-to-biofuels facility in Edmonton, Alberta, it will be exploring opportunities to take action on ocean plastics waste and marine litter. The company is seeking to leverage its carbon recycling technology expertise to help solve issues related to ocean plastics waste.

The company notes it has been in discussions with not-for-profit Ocean Legacy Foundation which conducts recurring coastal cleanup expeditions, to explore ways that soiled plastics can be recuperated from oceans to produce low carbon transportation fuels and chemicals by leveraging Enerkem's "disruptive" carbon recycling technology.

According to the World Economic Forum, around 150 million tonnes of plastics are floating in the world's oceans, with an additional eight million tonnes entering the water each year. (Source: Enerkem, PR, Biofuels Int'l, 24 Sept., 2018) Contact: Enerkem Inc. Vincent Chornet, Pres., CEO, (514) 875-0284 X 251, vchornet@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com; Ocean Legacy Foundation, https://oceanlegacy.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enerkem,  Waste-to-Fuel,  

NextFerm , Mascoma
Date: 2018-09-26
Israeli headquartered fermentation products producer NextFerm reports it has inked a joint developement agreement with Waltham, Mass.-based Mascoma LLC, a subsidiary of Lallemand Inc. a leading supplier of yeast to ethanol producers.

Launched in 2015, NextFerm is primarily focused on developing fermentation yeast for the food industry. The company's process can be applied to many areas, including ethanol production, to develop yeast that is better able to cope with temperature or pH changes, for example. Accordingly, the company is now developing a new strain of yeast for Mascoma for use in the ethanol industry. (Source: NextFerm, Ethanol Producer, 25 Sept., 2018) Contact: Mascoma, Kevin Wenger, Exec. VP, www.mascoma.com; NextFerm Technolobies USA, Elzaphan Hotam, CEO, +972 4 666450, 908-376-3086 -- US Office, info@nextferm.com, www.nextferm.com; Lallemand, Jim Steele, CEO, Angus Ballard, Pres., Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits, www.lallemandbds.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News NextFerm ,  Lallemand,  Mascoma ,  Yeast,  Ethanol,  

Verbio
Date: 2018-09-26
German biofuels producer Verbio is reporting record biodiesel production amounted to 476,211 mt, surpassing the previous record year's production of 473,382 mt, set in 2016/17. This came as production capacity utilization hit 101 pct.

Ethanol in comparison failed to post record levels, but still recorded strong results on the year, with 246,300 mt produced, down from 248,755 mt a year ago. In contrast, biomethane production was up 8.8 pct year on year to 608 GWh.

According to a company statement, in addition to making further investment in the expansion of sterol production, Verbio is expanding and optimizing existing biomethane plants -- with a focus on the straw biomethane technology which is key for entering new markets in Asia and the USA, the company said. The company's new biomethane plant in Pinnow, Germany, is currently close to completion and expected to come online befor the year end, the company said. (Source: Verbio, SPGlobal, 26 Sept., 2018) Contact: Verbio, +49 (0) 3493 747-40, www.verbio.de/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News Verbio news,  Biodiesel news,  Ethanol news,  Biomethane news,  

Boskalis,GoodFuels
Date: 2018-09-26
The Dutch marine dredging and heavy lift company Boskalis reports it is using a 30 pct biofuel blend onboard the large trailing suction hopper dredger Prins der Nederlanden for the Borssele Alpha project which is being carried out on behalf of TenneT.

Using biofuel is one aspect of the Boskalis-on-Bio programme, for which the company recently signed a long-term partnership with biofuel supplier GoodFuels. The programme is aimed at achieving a 35 pct reduction in the CO2 emitted by the Boskalis fleet and equipment in the Netherlands in the next five years. According to Boskalis, various sea trials have shown that sustainable biofuels lead to a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 90 pct compared to fossil fuels and are also more effective than alternatives such as LNG. (Source: Boskalis, Bunkerspot, Sept., 2018)Contact: Boskalis, Peter Berdowski, CEO, +31 78 6969 000, www.boskalis.com; GoodFuels, Dirk Kronemeijer, CEO, +31 (0) 85 8000 238, info@goodfuels.com, www.goodfuels.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Boskalis,  Biofuel,  GoodFuels,  

Velocys
Date: 2018-09-26
Renewable fuels firm Velocys PLC is reporting for the six months ended June, pretax loss deepened to £25.0 million from £10.6 million in the previous year , despite significantly rising revenues. Profit performance was hurt by £15.1 million in exceptional costs during the period, up from £701,000 a year prior. Of these, £14.3 million of the one-off costs were associated with an impairment of loans receivable. Underlying loss -- excluding exceptional costs -- remained broadly flat at £9.9 million, the company reports.

Even so, the company's CEO claimed "In the first half, Velocys continued to make excellent progress against its renewable fuels strategic plan. We continue to drive forward our two main projects to develop biorefineries in the US and UK and implement the supply chain that will deliver our reactors and catalyst to the Red Rock Biofuels facility now under construction." (Source: Velocys, Morningstar, Alliance News, 26 Sept., 2018) Contact: Velocys Plc, David Pummell, CEO, +44 1235 841 700, (713) 275-5840 -- Houston Office, info@velocys.com, www.velocys.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Velocys,  ,  

NewEnergyBlue
Date: 2018-09-24
NewEnergyBlue reports it soon break ground on the New Energy Spirit Biomass Refinery at the Spiritwood Energy Park near Jamestown, North Dakota.

The biorefinery is expected to process 280,000 tpy of North Dakota grown wheat straw into 16-million gpy of cellulosic ethanol that meets or exceeds California's rigorous air-quality standards.

New Energy Spirit Biomass Refinery, LLC will own and operate the plant which is partially funded by regional investors with a strong interest in the project's sustainability and its invigorating contributions to the area economy. (Source: NewEnergyBlue, PR, 24 Sept., 2018) Contact: NewEnergyBlue, Stephen Rogers, Pres., 717-626-0557 www.newenergyblue.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Wheat Straw Biofuel news,  Cellulosic Biofuel news,  

UPM
Date: 2018-09-24
In Finland, Helsinki-headquartered renewable diesel producer UPM Biofuels has been recognized by the United Nations for its commitment to the UN Global Compact LEAD -- "the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative." The company is one of only 34 to be recognized for its commitment to corporate sustainability. (Source: UN Global Compact, UPM, Biofuels Int'l, 24 Sept., 2018)Contact: UN Global Compact, www.unglobalcompact.org; UPM, Liisa Ranta, Manager Sustainability, +358 40 582 9338, www.upm.com, www.upmbiofuels.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News UPM,  renewable diesel,  

Atlantic Power Corporation
Date: 2018-09-24
Atlantic Power Corporation reports it is acquiring two woody biomass power plants located in Allendale and in Harleyvillein from EDF Renewables for a total of $13 million.

The deal, which is expected to close the third or fourth quarter of 2019, is being funded through Atlantic Power's "discretionary cash." (Source: Atlantic Power Corporation, Biofuels Int'l, 21 Sept, 2018) Contact: Atlantic Power Corporation,James Moore, Pres., CEO, www.atlanticpower.com; EDF Renewables, Raphael Declercq, Exec. VP Strategy; Bruno Bensasson, VP Renewable Energies; Sandi Briner, (858) 521 3525, Sandi.Briner@edf-re.com, www.edf-re.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  EDF Renewables,  Atlantic Power Corporation,  Biomass,  ,  

Growth Energy, U.S. Grains Council, Renewable Fuels Association
Date: 2018-09-21
On 16 Sept., the U.S. Grains Council, Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association jointly submitted comments to the United Kingdom's Department of Transport which is considers implementing a nationwide E10 ethanol blend.

The comments highlight the benefits of ethanol for fuel and draw on the experience of the United States in implementing a similar nationwide E10 fuel blend. They also support moving directly to an E10 blended fuel, as the overwhelming majority of gasoline-powered vehicles are approved for this fuel. Doing so would offer benefits for consumers and ensure certainty for U.K. producers, the groups note.

Read the comments submitted to the UK Department of Transport HERE (Source: Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, U.S. Grains Council , 19 Sept., 2018): Contact: RFA, Bob Dinneen, Pres., (202) 289-3835, www.ethanolrfa.org; Growth Energy, Emily Skor, CEO, (202) 545-4000, www.growthenergy.org; U.S. Grains Council, (202) 789-0789, www.grains.org; UK Department of Transport, www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport

More Low-Carbon Energy News Growth Energy,  E10,  Biofuel,  Ethanol,  Ethanol Blend,  U.S. Grains Council,  Renewable Fuels Association,  

POET
Date: 2018-09-21
In the Buckeye State, ethanol industry giant POET reports the Sept 19th opening of POET Biorefining Marion. The Marion plant's capacity was increased 80 million gpy to 150 million gpy of biofuel and 360,000 tpy of high-protein animal feed.

The Marion plant expansion came in at a reported $120 million. (Source: POET, PR, 19 Sept., 2018) Contact: POET, Jeff Broin, Pres., (605) 965-2200, www.poet.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News POET,  Ethanol,  

Rajasthan Jatropha
Date: 2018-09-21
In India, the Biofuel Authority of Rajasthan reports it will establish a Jatropha biofuel processing plant in Rajasthan with support from Indian Railways which will purchase the plant's biofuel production. The plant will have a capacity of 8 tpd and will cost about Rs 5 crore.

The Authority notes Jatropha is well suited to a desert state like Rajasthan since it requires only poor quality soil, little water or labour. (Source: The Biofuel Authority of Rajasthan, NYOOOZ, 20 September, 2018) Contact: Biofuel Authority of Rajasthan, Surendra Singh Rathore, CEO, 0141-2224754, 0141-2220672, biofuelraj@yahoo.co.in www.biofuel.rajasthan.gov.in

More Low-Carbon Energy News Jatropha,  Biofuel,  Biodiesel,  

Vivergo Fuels
Date: 2018-09-19
Following on our Sept. 7 coverage, UK wheat-to-ethanol producer Vivergo Fuels is citing high wheat prices and delays implementing biofuels legislation for its planned closure of its bioethanol plant in Hull. The plant is scheduled for the end of the month.

The 420 million lpy bioethanol plant is the largest producer in the UK and second largest in Europe. It halted production late last year before resuming operations in March. The plant processes 1.1 million tpy of wheat and supplies 500,000 tpy of animal feed to 800 farms.

Vivergo Fuels was established as a JV between AB Sugar, BP and DuPont in 2007. (Source: Vivergo Fuels, The Chemical Engineer, 17 Sept., 2018))Contact: Vivergo Fuels, +44 01482 700800, www.vivergofuels.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Vivergo Fuel,  Ethanol,  Biofuel,  

United Airlines,AltAir Fuels
Date: 2018-09-19
US air carrier United Airlines reports it plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 pct by 2050 and to that end will continue investing in newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft, implement operational changes to conserve fuel, and expand its use of aviation biofuels.

The airline also noted a recent Boeing 787 flight from San Francisco to Zurich using a 30/70 blend of biofuel and conventional jet fuel. The biofuel was produced from Carinata seeds by Quebec-based Agrisoma Biosciences Inc and supplied by AltAir Fuels.

According to United, the airline has sourced more than 2 million gallons of sustainable aviation biofuel since 2016 and is responsible for more than 50 pct of the airline industry's commitments to biofuel. Additionally, United was the first airline to regularly use sustainable aviation biofuel and has invested over $30 million in sustainable aviation fuels producer Fulcrum BioEnergy. (Source: United Airlines, Environmental Leader, Sept., 2018) Contact: United Airlines, www.corporate-office-headquarters.com/united-airlines; Agrisoma Biosciences Inc., Steve Fabijanski, CEO, www.agrisoma.com; AltAir Fuels , Tom Todaro, CEO, (843) 720-8920, (562) 748-4726, www.altairfuels.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News AltAir Fuels,  Aviation Biofuel,  Agrisoma,  

KLM,SkyNRG
Date: 2018-09-19
Aviation biofuels specialist SkyNRG is reporting plans to establish a bio-kerosene alternative fuel production facility in the Netherlands. A location for the plant has not yet been finalized but Groningen, Rotterdam and Amsterdam have reportedly been shortlisted.

Bio-kerosine is made from woody biomass, agricultural and food processing wastes. The Dutch Airline KLM currently imports bio-kerosine from Los Angeles and uses the fuel primarily on fights to the US east coast. (Source: SkyNRG, DutchNews.nl, Sept., 2018) Contact:SkyNRG, Maarten van Dijk, Director, Merel Laroy, +31 6 3083 3505. merel@skynrg.com, www.sktnerg.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biofuel,  Aviation Biofuel,  SkyNRG,  

Green Plains
Date: 2018-09-19
Reuters is reporting US ethanol producer Green Plains is mothballing two Iowa plants and cutting output at a Minnesota plant due to low profit margins and the Trump Administration's rapidly escalating trade war which has cut off U.S. access to Chinese ethanol markets and added to a domestic supply glut that has pushed biofuel prices near their lowest levels in over a decade.

Green Plains has idled its facility in Superior and soon will shut down the plant in Lakota, Iowa, and halved production at its plant in Fairmont, Minn., according to Reuters (Source: Green Plains, PR, Gazette, Reuters, 17 Sept., 2018) Contact: Green Plains, Jim Stark, VP-IR, (402) 884-8700, www.gpreinc.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Plains ,  Ethanol,  

U.S. Energy Information Administration
Date: 2018-09-17
According to the US EIA's recently released Monthly Densified Biomass Fuel Report, U.S. manufacturers produced approximately 680,000 tons of densified biomass fuel in May, with sales reaching 610,000 tons.

The EIA data was collected from 85 densified biofuel manufacturers but does not include data from facilities with annual production capacities of less than 10,000 tons. The 85 manufacturers have a combined production capacity of 11.82 million metric tpy. Production included 132,432 tons of heating pellets and 549,031 tons of utility pellets. Domestic sales of densified biomass fuel reached 90,000 million tons in May, with an average price of $141.72 per ton. Exports in May reached 520,000 tons, at an average price of $144.48 per ton, according to the report. (Source: EIA, Biomass Mag, Other Media, Sept., 2018)Contact: US EIA, www.eia.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News U.S. Energy Information Administration,  

Woody Biomass
Date: 2018-09-17
In Helsinki, a Finnish governmental biofuels task force has noted the negatives associated with the use of biofuels for transportation as a way to reach zero greenhouse emissions.

In its report, the task force noted that emissions perhaps would not necessarily shrink as most of the fuels would be produced from woody biomass from the country's abundant forests. The development of emissions depends on how much carbon the vast Finnish forests actually tie down, and that is still being debated, according to the report.

In 2017, the European Union allowed an increase in the use of wood as fuel in Finland but no major investments in the biofuel sector resulted due to the high costs and the need public financial support to the investments. The report added that competition among pulp and biofuel industries for raw wood feedstocks could also be a problem. (Source: Various Media, Xinhua, Sept., 2018)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biofuels,  Woody Biomass,  

Ergon Biofuels,Bunge
Date: 2018-09-17
Ergon BioFuels LLC, a subsidiary of Jackson, Mississippi based Ergon, Inc., reports it is closing its ethanol plant at the Port of Vicksburg, Mississippi, this December.

The 56.5 million gpy plant was constructed in 2007 as a joint venture between Ergon Ethanol, Inc. and White Plains, New York-headquartered Bunge North America Inc. The plant had previously halted production in December 2012. Ergon purchased Bunge's ownership in the facility in 2013 and restarted the plant in July 2015. (Source: Ergon Website, PR, Contact: Ergon, (601) 933-3000, http://ergon.com; Bunge Ltd, (914) 684-2800, www.bunge.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ergon,  Biofuels,  Ethanol,  Bunge,  

Clariant
Date: 2018-09-14
Further to our 1st November, 2017 coverage, Swiss specialty chemical developer Clariant reports construction is underway on its previously announced cellulosic ethanol plant near the city of Craiova, Romania.

The ethanol will be processed from agricultural wastes and residues using the company's "Sunliquid™" technology. At full capacity, the 50,000 tpy plant will process about 250,000 tpy of locally sourced wheat straw and other cereals . Financial details of the project have not been announced.

Clariant is a speciality chemicals company, formed in 1995 as a spin-off from Sandoz. Headquartered near Basel, Switzerland, the public company encompasses 110 operating companies in 53 countries, with manufacturing sites located in Europe, North America, South America, China and India. (Source: Clariant, PR, Romania Insider, 13 Sept., 2018) Contact: Clariant, Markus Rarbach, Head of Start-up Business Biofuels & Derivatives, Hariolf Kottmann, CEO, +41 61 469 5111, Anja Pomrehn, Inv. Relations, +41 61 469 67 45 anja.pomrehn@clariant.com, www.clariant.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Clariant,  Ethanol,  Cellulosic Ethanol,  

Date: 2018-09-14
The Renewable Fuels Association and other agriculture and ethanol groups on Wednesday appealed to President Donald Trump to immediately approve year-round sales of E15 and to reallocate Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) small-refinery waivers to larger refiners as originally intended under the RFS.

In a joint letter, the groups stress that small-refinery waivers have given refiners "exactly what they asked for: artificially low RIN (renewable identification numbers) credit prices and weaker biofuel blending requirements." Ethanol RIN prices have been trading between 20 and 30 cents since May as a result of the waivers, or a decrease of about 80 pct since last fall, the groups said.

Read the letter HERE. (Source: RFA, DTN/Progressive Farmer , Others, 12 Sept., 2018)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ethanol,  "Hardship Waiver",  RFS,  

Agrisoma Biosciences
Date: 2018-09-14
Gatineau, Quebec-based Carinata mustard biofuels producer Agrisoma Biosciences Inc. reports it biofuel is being used by United Airlines. Thirty pct of the jet fuel used in the Boeing will be replaced by Agrisoma's biofuel, leading the company to proclaim the plane will emit 30 pct less greenhouse gases than a regular flight. Currently, the technical and regulatory rules limit to 50 pct the amount of biofuel that can be used in commercial aircraft.

Carinata mustard can be grow on poor quality land at low cost. Once the oil is extracted from the plant, the residue becomes a protein-rich byproduct that can be used as livestock feed. (Source: Agrisoma, 570 News, 14 Sept., 2018) Contact: Agrisoma Biosciences Inc., Steve Fabijanski, CEO, 819-205-7795, www.agrisoma.com, www.growcarinata.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Agrisoma Biosciences,  Biofuel,  Aviation Biofuel,  Jet Biofuel,  Carinata,  ,  

GoodFuels
Date: 2018-09-14
In Amsterdam, GoodFuels Marine is reporting its GoodShipping Program, which claims to be the world's first global initiative established to decarbonize shipping through the use of sustainable low carbon marine fuels, has enabled five pioneering shippers -- Tony's Chocolonely, Dopper, Blygold, Magic Marine and Mystic -- to collectively cut their carbon footprint by over 40 tons through the use of GoodFuels Marine's advanced, sustainable marine fuel.

The five shippers have also reduced local emissions of sulphur oxide (SOx), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and particulate matter (PM). When combined, emissions of these substances from vessels in port regions lead to over 60,000 premature deaths globally each year, according to researchers from the University of Delaware.

The GoodShipping Program , which requires shippers to commit to a reduction in their sea freight CO2 emissions, works on the premise that as all CO2 from container shipping is emitted into the same atmosphere, the means of mitigating these emissions is equally impactful, regardless of which vessels adopt biofuels over traditional bunker fuels -- or the amount of "drop in" biofuel that is added to the fuel tank, as long as it offsets the CO2 costs of transporting participating shippers' cargo. (Source: GoodFuels, Marine link, 13 Sept., 2018)Contact: GoodFuels, Dirk Kronemeijer, CEO, +31 (0) 85 8000 238, info@goodfuels.com, www.goodfuels.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News GoodFuels ,  Marine Fuel,  Marine Biofuel,  Biofuel,  

Argentina Biodiesel
Date: 2018-09-12
In Buenos Aires, Juan Jose Aranguren, the Argentinian Energy Secretary's office reports it has raised the price of biodiesel used in domestic fuel blends from 22,589 Pesos per ton to 26,509 pesos ($710.70) per ton -- a 17 pct increase. The increase is being attributed primarily to monetary fluctuations.

The government, which sets the price of domestic biofuels, mandates diesel fuel mixes sold in Argentina contain 10 pct biodiesel. Argentina consumed 1.17 million tons of biodiesel in 2017, according to that state statistics agency, Indec. Argentina is the world's largest exporter of soybean oil and soymeal for livestock feed, and the No. 3 exporter of raw soybeans. (Source: Argentinian Energy Secretary, Merco Press, 11 Sept., 2018) Contact: Juan Jose Aranguren, Argentinian Energy Secretary, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Jose_Aranguren

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biodiesel,  Argentina Biodiesel,  

Virgin Australia
Date: 2018-09-12
In the Land Down Under, Brisbane Airport is confirming the successful delivery of jet biofuel through the airport's regular fuel system.

The trial, which involved the delivery of approximately 20,000 litres of jet biofuel imported from the US, was intended to show potential biofuel producers that their product could be mixed with traditional aviation fuels and piped through the Brisbane Airport fueling system to end users.

In October, 2017, Virgin (Airlines) Australia announced a two-year project with Brisbane airport, US renewable fuel supplier Gevo and the Queensland Government and worked on the trial with supply partners Caltex and DB Schenker. The first test saw a biofuel blend pumped to 195 domestic and international flights that traveled more than 430,000 kilometres. Additional trials are expected over the next 12 to 18 months. (Source: Virgin Australia, Virgin, Airline Ratings, Sept., 2018) Contact: GEVO, Pat Gruber, CEO, (303) 858-3358, info@gevo.com, www.gevo.com; Virgin Australia, +61 7 3295 2296, www.virginaustralia.com/uk; Brisbane Airport, https://bne.com.au

More Low-Carbon Energy News GEVO,  Jet Biofuel,  Aviation Biofuel,  

EPA,National Farmers Union
Date: 2018-09-12
"The farmers are the ones at the end of the day who are really not the winners in all of this, and it's very contrary to what the president and this administration has said that they support. They have talked extensively about supporting farmers but the actions from this EPA about the small refinery exemptions have not been supportive."

"We're obviously at a time right now where we're very concerned about our lack of export markets and so it's really important that this administration continues to support farmers, continue to support the renewable fuels industry by the Renewable Fuel Standard." -- Anne Steckel, Biofuels Advisor with the National Farmers Union, speaking on the US EPA RFS "Hardship" waivers for refiners.

According to EPA data, nearly 50 waivers were granted in 2016 and 2017, wiping out 2.2 billion gallons of blending obligations. "Hardship waivers" were intended for refineries that produced 75,000 bpd or less and suffered "disproportionate economic hardship" from the costs of RFS compliance. The waiver frees the refineries from an obligation to provide the EPA with biofuels credits proving compliance. (Source: Public News Service, 14 Aug., 2018) Contact: National Farmers Union, Roger Johnson, Pres., (202) 554-1600, https://nfu.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News EPA "Hardship Waiver" news,  RFA news,  NFU news,  

EPA
Date: 2018-09-12
According to a recently released University of Missouri Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) study, the US EPA's small refinery "hardship" waivers of their obligations under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) could cost the ethanol industry nearly $20 billion annually.

The study concludes that the small refinery waivers could account for as many as 4.6 billion gallons of domestic demand lost over the next six years, along with the hit to revenue. Conventional biofuel such as corn ethanol stands to fall in use, along with consumption of ethanol in flex fuels and mid-level blends, and wholesale ethanol prices could slip as much as 19 cents per gallon on average.

The study also found that U.S. ethanol consumption stands to drop 761 million gpy on average between 2018 and 2023 with a resulting decline in gross ethanol sales revenues, with an average of $3.3 billion lost per year.

As previously reported, "hardship waivers" were intended for refineries producing 75,000 bpd or less and suffered "disproportionate economic hardship" from the costs of RFS compliance. The waiver frees the refineries from an obligation to provide the EPA with biofuels credits proving compliance. (Source: University of Missouri Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute, Transportation Today, 11 Sept., 2018) Contact: University of Missouri Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute, (573) 884-4688, www.fapri.missouri.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Fuel Standard,  Hardship Waiver,  RFS,  EPA,  Ethanol,  EPA Hardship Waivers,  

Enerkem
Date: 2018-09-12
Montreal-based waste-to-ethanol and chemicals producer specialist Enerkem is reporting the production of a clean, renewable bio-dimethyl ether (Bio-DME), a by-product of biomethanol, that could replace the use of diesel fuel in the transportation sector.

Using its proprietary thermochemical technology, the company tested and validated the production of fuel-grade bio-DME made from unrecoverable carbon-rich municipal solid waste at its Innovation Centre in Westbury, Quebec.

Bio-DME offers a 20 pct higher cetane rating on average than diesel or bio-diesel fuels and, when combusted, does not produce sulfur oxide (SOx) or fine particles, and contributes to lower emissions from other harmful residual pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) that are mainly produced from the combustion of fossil-based fuels. (Source: Enerkem, Various Trade Media, 11 Sept., 2018) Contact: Enerkem Inc. Vincent Chornet, Pres., CEO, (514) 875-0284 X 251, vchornet@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Bio-DME,  Bioethanol,  Enerkem,  Waste-to-biofuel,  Bioethanol,  

enVerde
Date: 2018-09-10
Minneapolis-based enVerde LLC reports it is seeking funds to construct a demonstration plant using its catalytically-driven, thermochemical technology would process organic waste such as livestock manure, food manufacturing detritus, and most carbon-based materials including plastic, into synthetic fuel, oil, and char materials that can be used as energy or chemical sources.

enVerde technology reduces the energy required to transform waste materials into clean energy and chemicals and can be used to power generators, boilers, and other systems. It can also be refined into "green" versions of more traditional fuels such as gasoline and diesel fuel.

With enVerde's process, waste is gasified without any combustion or incineration. The output is a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen "syngas" which can be used as fuel or made into various chemicals. Compared to common methods of syngas production, enVerde's catalytic technology uses considerably less energy and requires much less capital, according to company CEO Dave Goebel, former CEO of Maryland-based New Generation Biofuels. (Source: EnVerde, Star Tribune, 8 Sept., 2018) Contact: EnVerde LLC Dave Goebel,CEO, info@enVerdeLLC.com, www.enverdellc.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biomass,  Syngas,