Clariant
Date: 2021-03-12
Muttez, Germany-based specialty chemicals producer Clariant is reporting construction of its straw-biofuel plant in Podari, southern Romania, is well underway and slated to go into production before the year end. The plant expects to use 250,000 tpy of locally sourced straw to produce 50,000 tpy of ethanol that will be blended with gasoline.

The €100 million facility received funding from the EU through the research and development program. (Source: Clariant, PR, Romania-Insider, 12 Mar., 2021) Contact: Clariant AG, Christian Librera, VP Biofuels and Derivatives, +41 61 469 63 73, Christian.librera@clariant.com, www.clariant.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Cellulosic Ethanol,  Clariant,  Sunliquid,  Straw Biofuel,  

Clariant
Date: 2021-02-05
Muttez, Germany-based specialty chemicals producer Clariant AG is reporting a license agreement for its sunliquid cellulosic ethanol technology with Chinese green energy company Harbin Hulan Sino-Dan Jianye Bio-Energy, a subsidiary of the Sino-Dan Jianye Group.

Harbin Hulan Sino-Dan Jianye Bio-Energy will use Clatiant technology at a planned 25,000 tpy cellulosic ethanol from locally sourced corn stover plant in Heilongjiang Province, in Northeast China. (Source: Clariant, PR Feb., 2021) Contact: Clariant AG, Christian Librera, VP Biofuels and Derivatives, +41 61 469 63 73, Christian.librera@clariant.com, www.clariant.com

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

Green Plains
Date: 2021-01-22
In the Cornhusker State, Omaha-based biorefining specialist Green Plains Inc. and Ospraie Management have announced that recently-acquired Fluid Quip Technologies (Fluid Quip) is engineering and constructing a fully scalable commercial Clean Sugar Technology™ (CST) production facility at the Green Plains York Innovation Center. This technology effectively transforms a dry milling facility into a clean sugar biorefinery where dextrose/glucose replaces ethanol as the primary product.

Co-located on the York, Neb. biorefinery campus, the Green Plains York Innovation Center is comprised of pilot and industrial scale fermentation systems which have been utilized for various functions including sugar-based cellulosic fuel developments, algae production, yeast fermentation processes, as well as antimicrobial scale up for third party customers. The Center also has downstream separation equipment which is ideal for testing enhancements to the CST system, as well as the MSC™ technology. Green Plains expects the initial CST project at the York Innovation Center to begin production by the end Q1.

The York Innovation Center will also function as a platform to further develop Fluid Quip's MSC system to enhance protein concentration levels, increase yields and develop additional high-value proteins and yeasts. (Source: Green Plains, Website PR, 19 Jan., 2021) Contact: Green Plains Inc., Todd Becker, CEO, Phil Boggs, VP, 402.884.8700, phil.boggs@gpreinc.com, www.gpreinc.com; Fluid Quip, 319-320-7709, www.fluidquiptechnologies.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Bellulosic,  Biofuel,  Green Plains,  Fluid Quip Technologies,  Ethanol,  Biorefinery,  

Crawford Renewable Energy
Date: 2020-12-30
In the Keystone State, Crawford Advanced Materials, LLC -- comprised of Homeland Fuels Company and Crawford Renewable Energy, both of Erie -- reports receipt of $2 million in Penna. Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funds to develop a biodiesel facility within the Keystone Regional Industrial Park in Crawford County.

The project will include the construction of site access driveways and parking areas, water and sanitary sewer infrastructure, stormwater management facilities, a testing lab and administration building, as well as site landscaping and outdoor lighting.

Erie-based Crawford Advanced Materials, LLC was launched to deploy advanced conversion technologies to process cellulosic biomass feedstocks into important "green" products and renewable transportation fuel. To that end, the company has partnered with various technology suppliers, university researchers and national laboratory scientists, according to the company release. (Source: Crawford Advanced Materials, PR, Meadville Tribune, 27 Dec., 2020) Contact: Crawford Renewable Energy, www.crawfordrenewable.com; Homeland Fuels Co., www.homelandfuelscompany.com; Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, www.budget.pa.gov/Programs/RACP/Pages/Main Page.aspx

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biodiesel,  

AustroCel.OMV
Date: 2020-12-21
Austria's dissolving pulp producer AustroCel Hallein GmbH reports the first successful trial delivery of advanced cellulosic ethanol marks the start of the long-term cooperation between Vienna-based integrated, international oil, gas and petrochemicals company OMV and AustroCel Hallein GmbH. The Hallein-based bioethanol plant has an annual capacity of up 9.2 million gpy, making it the world's largest bioethanol plant based on wood.

In the first year AustroCel Hallein will supply more than 400,000 gpm of second-generation bioethanol to OMV, beginning in Jan., 2021.

Substituting fossil fuels will save around 45,000 metric tpy of CO2 a year. AustroCel GmbH has invested around €42 million in the new bioethanol plant which is expected to begine operating at capacity in January 2021. (Source: AustroCel GmbH, PR, Greencar Congress, 21 Dec., 2020) Contact: AustroCel Hallein GmbH, Jorge Harbring, CEO, +43 6245 8900, www.austrocel.com; OMV, www.omv.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Austrocel,  Ethanol,  Bioethanol,  Cellulosic Ethanol,  

VERBIO
Date: 2020-12-09
VERBIO North American Corp. reports the launch of VERBIO Farm Services LLC and the Q3, 2021 opening of its new renewable fuel production facility in Nevada.

The new facility uses anaerobic digestion technology to convert cellulosic plant matterial, including corn stover, into renewable fuel. VERBIO notes the region is suited to provide up to 100,000 tpy of corn stover to produce 7 million gpy of ethanol once the first phase of the site development is complete.

VERBIO purchased the facility from Dow DuPont in late 2018, more than a year after it was abruptly shut down. Under Dow Dupont the plant never became fully operational. VERBIO currently manages four corn stover sites that it acquired from Dupont. (Source: VERBIO, PR, Dec., 2020) Contact: VERBIO, Bernd Sauter, Ronald DeJongh, +49 (0) 3493 747-40, www.verbio.de/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News VERBIO,  Ethanol,  ,  

Clariant
Date: 2020-12-04
Muttez, Germany-based specialty chemicals producer Clariant AG is reporting construction is well underway on of its Sunliquid® cellulosic ethanol production plant in Podari, in southwestern Romania.

The Sunliquid plant, which received more than €40 million in EU funding, will process approx. 250,000 tpy of locally sourced straw to produce 50,000 tpy of Sunliquid® cellulosic ethanol when fully operational in late 2021. (Source: Clariant AG, PR, 2 Dec., 2020) Contact: Clariant AG, Christian Librera, VP Biofuels and Derivatives, +41 61 469 63 73, Christian.librera@clariant.com, www.clariant.com

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

DPInnovation,Resolute Forest Products
Date: 2020-12-04
In November, the Association Pour le Developpement de la recherche et de l'Innovation du Quebec (ADRIQ) recognized Resolute Forest Products, Pointe-Claire, QC-based FPInnovations, and Vancouver-headquartered Performance BioFilaments with the ADRIQ Technology Partnership Award for their developement, production and commercialization of cellulose filaments.

Extracted from wood-pulp fibre, cellulose filaments can be utilized as a reinforcing agent in materials used in industrial sectors such as transportation, or as a rheological agent to modify the texture and behaviour of paint and other applications. (Source: FPInnovations, PR, Cdn. Biomass, Dec., 2020) Contact: Resolute Forest Products, www.resolutefp.com; Performance BioFilaments, (604) 806-0261, www.performancebiofilaments.com; FPInnovations, Glen Prevost, Guide Author, (705) 358-4667, (514) 630-4100, glen.prevost@fpinnovations.ca, www.fpinnovations.ca; ADRIQ, (514) 337-3001, www.adriq.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Resolute Forest Products,  FPInnovations,  Cellulose,  Cellulosic,  

Renewable Fuels Association,National Farmers Union
Date: 2020-12-02
Commenting on the US EPA's again missing the annual statutory deadline for the release of the RVOs, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper said:

"It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that EPA is missing its statutory deadline for publishing the final rule for 2021 RVOs, given that we still haven't even seen a proposed rule. And even if a proposed rule was released today, it would be next to impossible to have a final rule done by the end of the calendar year, or even by inauguration day.

"At this point, it likely makes more sense to let the new administration handle the 2021 RVO rulemaking process entirely. President-elect Biden has correctly noted that the RFS waivers granted by the current EPA have severely cut ethanol production, costing farmers income and ethanol plant workers their jobs. Thus, we are confident that the new EPA administrator, whoever that may end up being, will stop doing secret favors for oil refiners and ensure the RFS is implemented in a way that is consistent with the law and Congressional intent. We know it may take a few months for the new administration to get a final 2021 RVO rule done, but in the meantime, the statute is crystal clear that refiners must blend at least 15 billion gallons of conventional renewable fuel in 2021.

"So, while there may be some uncertainty around where the final advanced and cellulosic volume requirements may end up, the marketplace should be able to enter 2021 with some level of confidence around the conventional renewable fuel and biomass-based diesel requirements."

National Farmers Union President Rob Larew added, "By punting a decision on 2021's RVOS to the next administration, EPA is introducing yet more uncertainty to the biofuels industry -- uncertainty that most farmers and biofuels producers can't afford right now. Despite promising again and again to uphold RFS, the Trump administration has consistently undermined the program with its misappropriation of small refinery exemptions, preferential treatment of oil corporations, and disregard for its legal responsibility to restore lost demand, all of which has cost America's farmers and biofuel producers dearly. To add insult to injury, fuel use -- and, consequently, ethanol use -- has dropped significantly during the pandemic, cutting deeply into profits.

"Trump's EPA has almost invariably fallen short in its handling of biofuels, and today's decision, or lack thereof, is no different. We sincerely hope Biden's EPA learns from their mistakes and takes biofuels policy in a much more promising direction." (Source: National Farmers Union, Renewable Fuels Association, FencePost, 30 Nov., 2020) Contact: National Farmers Union, Rob Larew, Pres., (202) 554-1600, www.nfu.org; Renewable Fuels Association, Geoff Cooper, Pres., CEO, (202) 289-3835, www.ethanolrfa.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Fuels Association,  RFS,  National Farmers Union ,  

Aemetis
Date: 2020-11-23
Cupertino, California-headquartered advanced renewable fuel and biochemicals producer Aemetis, Inc. is reporting its wholly-owned subsidiary, Aemetis Health Products, Inc., has received a $24 million initial purchase order after signing a supply agreement for sanitizer alcohol and nitrile gloves with a California distributor of health safety products.

Aemetis Inc. owns and operates a 65 million gpy ethanol production facility near Modesto, California and owns and operates a 50 million gpy renewable chemical and advanced fuel production facility on the East Coast of India producing high quality distilled biodiesel and refined glycerin.

As we reported on 24 Aug., Aemetis is also building a biogas anaerobic digester network and pipeline to convert dairy animal waste gas to Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and is developing a plant to convert waste orchard wood into cellulosic ethanol.

Aemetis holds a portfolio of patents and related technology licenses for the production of renewable fuels and biochemicals, according to a release. (Source: Aemetis Inc., Street Insider, 23 Nov., 2020) Contact: Aemetis, Eric McAfee, CEO , Todd Waltz, (408) 213-0940, emcafee@aemetis.com, www.aemetis.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Aemetis ,  Ethanol,  RNG,  

Minnesota Biofuel
Date: 2020-11-18
In St. Paul, the Minnesota Governor's Council on Biofuels has submitted its recommendations ways to grow Gopher State's biofuels industry and to get the state back on track to meet its renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Among other recommendations, the Governor's Council on Biofuels is calling for a state low-carbon fuel standard, the use of biofuels in state fleet vehicles, increased funding for the AGRI Bioincentive Program to provide a stable market and pathway for biofuels development, and the establishment of an Advanced Biofuels Taskforce to provide further recommendations for legislative or administrative state policy aimed at developing Minnesota's cellulosic natural resources to lower the carbon intensity of energy use in transportation.

Download the Council's comments HERE. (Source: Minnesota Department of Agriculture, 3 Nov., 2020) (Contact: Minnesota Department of Agriculture, 651-201-6000, www.mda.state.mn.us

More Low-Carbon Energy News Minnesota Biofuel,  

USN
Date: 2020-11-09
Researchers from the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) in China Lake, California have developed an efficient three-step process for the conversion of cellulosic feedstocks to both a valuable chemical precursor and high-performance jet fuel blendstock. Their paper appears in the journal ChemSusChem.

In it, the team describes the synthesis of sustainable methylcyclopentadiene and dimethyldicyclopentadiene (DMDCPD) via a three-step process consisting of aldol condensation; catalytic chemoselective hydrogenation; and dehydration.

Details available HERE. (Source: Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, Nov., 2020) Contact: Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, 7(((760 760-939-3511 60-939-3511 www.navair.navy.mil/nawcwd

More Low-Carbon Energy News Cellulosic news,  USN news,  Jet Biofuel news,  

Repsol
Date: 2020-10-28
Madrid-based Repsol is reporting plans to construct a 250,000 tpy advanced transportation biofuels plant at its refinery in Cartagena, Spain. The new facility, which is expected to come in at $222.3 million, will include the commissioning of a hydrogen plant that will fuel a new hydro-treatment unit equipped with cutting-edge technology.

This project is part of Repsol's commitment to the clean energy transition and its goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The advanced biofuels produced at the Cartagena refinery will enable a reduction of 900 000 tpy of CO2, according to the release. (Source: Repsol, HydroCarbon Eng., 26 Oct., 2020) Contact: Repsol, Josu Jon Imaz, CEO, +34 91 7538100, +34 91 7538000, www.repsol.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Repsol,  Advanced Biofuel,  Cellulosic,  

ORNL,NREL
Date: 2020-10-23
According to research by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), although tall, fast-growing trees are best for biomass/biofuel feedstock the amount of sugars contained within the cellulosic biomass that can be converted into fuels is equally important.

Feedstock growers typically look at how many trees they can plant per acre rather than the quality and volume of fuel those trees will produce. To address the issue, the researchers analyzed 900 samples of black cottonwood trees -- a type of fast-growing poplar -- grown in Oregon to determine how variations in their size and composition affect feedstock quality and biorefinery economics.

The researh found the amount of fuel produced per-acre per-year and the minimum fuel selling price(MFSP) are most strongly connected to the size of a tree. Since a farmer would only plant the biggest and fastest growing trees, the researchers examined those and found that the size and sugar content in those trees were of nearly identical importance to the MFSP.

Download Economic Impact of Yield and Composition Variation in Bioenergy Crops: Populus trichocarpa report details HERE. (Source: US DOE ORNL, Center for Bioenergy Innovation, 19 Oct., 2020) Contact: Center for Bioenergy Innovation, www. cbi.ornl.gov; ORNL, Kimberly A Askey, (865) 576-2841, askeyka@ornl.gov, www.ornl.gvo

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biofuel Feedstock,  Lignin,  ORNL,  NREL,  Cellulosic,  

LanzaTech
Date: 2020-09-25

Novozymes
Date: 2020-09-21
Novozymes today announced the launch of Fiberex, a comprehensive platform based on novel enzymes and yeast strains to convert corn fiber into ethanol. Fiberex is specifically aimed at breaking down tough fibers in the corn, providing producers with greater operational flexibility. The technology converts a low-value by-product into high-value, low-carbon fuel while also enabling the production of significantly more corn oil.

According to the release, Novozymes is the technology leader in fiber conversion, enabling new revenue for biofuels producers from low-carbon credits such as in California and EPA's cellulosic RIN credits. Through Fiberex, Novozymes is collaborating with the biofuel industry to further expand the boundaries of corn-based ethanol -- literally breaking down some of the barriers between what is considered conventional biofuels and advanced biofuels.

Novozymes' Fiberex enzymes are specifically designed to break down this complex matrix -- resulting in more corn oil and converting the fiber into simple sugars that are easily converted into ethanol.

As part of the platform announcement, Novozymes is also launching the first Fiberex products: Fiberex R1, a technology specifically designed to provide maximum ethanol in separate fiber-to-ethanol processes, and Fiberex F1, a cellulase enzyme designed to provide fiber conversion for in-process technologies. Additional solutions, to launch in 2021, are in proof-of-concept trials now, according to the release. (Source: Novozymes, Website PR, 16 Sept., 2020) Contact: Novozymes, Brian Brazeau, VP Bioenergy, 646-671-3897 , www.novozymes.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Novozymes ,  Corn Ethanol,  Ethanol,  

Advanced Biofuel
Date: 2020-08-31
A new study led by Colorado State University is predicting significant climate benefits stemming from the use of advanced biofuel technologies. Accounting for all of the carbon flows in biofuel systems and comparing them to those in grasslands and forests, the team found clear strategies for biofuels to have a net carbon benefit.

John Field, research scientist at the Natural Resource Ecology Lab at CSU, said it has been a challenge for the biofuel industry to demonstrate commercial viability for cellulosic biofuels created from switchgrass and other non-edible plants.

The research team used modeling to simulate switchgrass cultivation, cellulosic biofuel production and carbon capture and storage (CCS), tracking ecosystem and carbon flows. Scientists then compared this modeling to alternative ways to store carbon on the land, including growing forest or grassland.

CCS technology is being used by at least one facility in Illinois that is processing corn to ethanol as a conventional biofuel to create ethanol, but these systems are not yet widespread. As part of the study, researchers created models to simulate what this would look like at a cellulosic biofuel refinery. "What we found is that around half of the carbon in the switchgrass that comes into the refinery becomes a byproduct that would be available for carbon capture and storage. The resulting byproduct streams of high-purity CO2 would not require much separation or clean-up before being stored underground," the study noted.

The research team analyzed three contrasting U.S. case studies and found that on land where farmers or land managers were transitioning out of growing crops or maintaining pastures for grazing, cultivating switchgrass for cellulosic ethanol production had a per-hectare mitigation potential comparable to reforestation and several-fold greater than grassland restoration.

Using switchgrass can be particularly helpful in parts of the country where planting more trees is not an option.

This research was partially funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the US DOE via the Center for Bioenergy Innovation, and the Sao Paulo Research Foundation in Brazil.

The study illustrates how deliberate land use choices support the climate performance of present-day cellulosic ethanol technology and how technological advancements and CCS addition could produce several times the climate mitigation potential of competing land-based biological mitigation schemes. These results affirm the climate mitigation logic of biofuels, consistent with their prominent role in many climate stabilization scenarios, the study concludes. (Source: Colorado State University, Green Car Congress, Aug., 2020) Contact: Colorado State University, Natural Resource Ecology Lab, John Field, (970) 491-1604, John.L.Field@colostate.edu, www.nrel.colostate.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Advanced Biofuel,  Cellulosic Biofuel,  Switchgrass,  

Biofuel
Date: 2020-08-26
According to 360 Market Updates' recently released Global Lignocellulosic Feedstock-based Biofuel Market report, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 27.84 pct from 2020 to 2023, driven in great part by the growing adoption of bioethanol as a transport fuel.

The report notes the global lignocellulosic feedstock-based biofuel market is poised to grow by $7.83 billion during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 32 pct during the forecast period.

The report identifies the top manufacturers/players including: Abengoa SA, China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., Clariant International Ltd., DuPont de Nemours Inc., Fiberight LLC, Gevo Inc., GranBio Investimentos SA, Iogen Corp, Neste Oyj, and New Energy Blue LLC. (Source: 360 Market Updates, 26 Aug., 2020) Contact: 360 Market Updates, www.360marketupdates.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Bioethanol,  Ethanol,  Lignocellulosic,  Biofuel,  

Aemetis
Date: 2020-08-21
Cupertino, California-based biofuels producer Aemetis reports it is upgrading its Keyes, California, ethanol plant to produce 65 million gpy of US Pharmacopeia (USP) grade alcohol by Q1, 2021. A new subsidiary, Aemetis Health Products, will blend gel and liquid sanitizer.

Aemetis also notes the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed project financing for a planned 12-million gpy cellulosic ethanol facility in Riverbank, California, construction of which is anticipated to take roughly 18 months to complete. (Source: Aemetis, OPIS, 21 Aug., 2020)Contact: Aemetis, Eric McAfee, CEO , Todd Waltz, (408) 213-0940, emcafee@aemetis.com, www.aemetis.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Aemetis ,  Ethanol,  

GEVO, Praj Industries
Date: 2020-08-19
Following up on our April, 2019 coverage, isobutanol producer GEVO Inc. and Pune, India-based Praj Industries Ltd are reporting a binding, definitive Master Framework Agreement (MFA) to collaborate on providing renewable, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable premium gasoline in India and neighboring countries.

Under their agreement, Gevo will license its technology to Praj which will provide technology, plant equipment and EPC services to sugar mills and ethanol plants to produce renewable isobutanol from sugar cane juice, cane molasses, sugar syrup as well as cellulosic biomass such as straws, bagasse, and others. Praj will also provide technology, plant equipment and EPC services to refineries for converting renewable isobutanol into SAF and premium gasoline through the ASTM-approved pathway of alcohol-to-jet fuel(ATJ). The agreement also allows Praj to carry out basic engineering and design package services, supply equipment, build plants and use jointly developed process design package to produce renewable isobutanol for plant operators who are licensed by Gevo. (Source: GEVO, PR, Green Car Congress, 18 Aug., 2020)Contact: Gevo Inc., Patrick Gruber, CEO, 303-858-8358, pgruber@gevo.com, www.gevo.com; Praj Industries Ltd., Dr. Ravindra Utgikar , Bus. Dev. info@praj.net, www.praj.net

More Low-Carbon Energy News GEVO,  Praj Industries,  Isobutanol,  SAF,  Aviation Biofuel,  

GranBio, NextChem
Date: 2020-08-05
In Sao Paulo, Brazil-based GranBio is reporting a strategic alliance with Italian engineering giant Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. subsidiary NextChem to co-license its patented technology for "second generation" cellulosic ethanol production worldwide.

The partnership will combine GranBio's biomass and second-generation biofuels expertise with NextChem's engineering intelligence and Group global presence, to offer integrated services -- feasibility studies, development of integration projects, engineering and construction of factories worldwide, according to the release.

GranBio's 2G ethanol technology has been implemented in its $220 million factory located in Sao Miguel dos Campos, in Alagoas. Currently, the company has the capacity to produce around 7.9 million gpy of 2G ethanol.

GranBio developed a flexible model for the use of sugarcane, corn stover, straw, woody biomass and other waste to produce cellulosic ethanol. (Source: GranBio, PR, 3 Aug., 2020) Contact: GranBio, Paulo Nigro, CEO, www.granbio.com.br; NextChem, Ilaria Catastini, Coomunications, +39 327 0663447, mediarelations@nextchem.it, www.nextchem.com; Maire Technimont, www.mairetecnimont.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News GranBio,  NextChem,  Cellulosic Ethanol,  

Chuck Grassley
Date: 2020-07-31
In Des Moines, Hawkeye State senator Chuck Grassley (R) is calling for the uncertain at best Republican Senate's COVID-19 relief proposal earmarking $20 billion for agriculture, should direct $3 billion to support the state's struggling ethanol industry.

Iowa's ethanol industry can produce more than 4.1 billion gpy from more than 1.3 billion bushels of corn. This comes from the 42 corn ethanol plants and two cellulosic plants operating across the state. (Source: Office of Sen. Chuck Grassley, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 30 July, 2020) Contact: Office of Sen. Chuck Grassley, www.grassley.senate.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Chuck Grassley,  Ethanol,  

Ethanol
Date: 2020-07-31
"As the number one producer of corn, ethanol, biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol, the renewable fuels industry is an important sector of Iowa's economy. It generates nearly $5 billion of Iowa's GDP, over $2.4 billion in household incomes and supports 47,000 jobs across Iowa." -- Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) Contact: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), www.grassley.senate.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Chuck Grassley news,  Ethanol news,  Iowa Ethanol news,  

Clariant
Date: 2020-07-27
Switzerland headquartered specialty chemicals company Clariant reports it has licensed its Sunliquid® cellulosic ethanol technology to Bulgarian start-up Eta Bio. The agreement covers the supply of the license, basic engineering, technical services and a supply of starter cultures from Clariant's proprietary enzyme and yeast platform.

Eta Bio, which was established to construct, own and operate a commercial plant for the production of cellulosic ethanol from agricultural waste, will use Sunliquid technology at a new facility designed to produce 50,000 metric tpy of cellulosic ethanol from roughly 250,000 metric tpy of regionally-sourced wheat straw. (Source: Clariant, Website, 27 July, 2020) Contact: Clariant, Hariolf Kottmann, CEO, Christian Librera, Biofuels and Derivatives, +41 61 469 5111, www.clariant.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Clariant,  Cellulosic Ethanol,  

Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division
Date: 2020-07-17
In the Golden State, scientists at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) in China Lake have been awarded a patent for breaking down lignocellulosic material into cheaper biodiesel using acid-catalyzed condensation of the food-grade flavor enhancer 2-tridecanone.

The use of 2-tridecanone delivers a fuel with "comparable net heats of combustion (NHOCs) to conventional biodiesel, while maintaining derived cetane numbers between 82-91, values which are 20 - 30 units higher than conventional biodiesel and 40-50 units higher than petroleum--derived diesel fuel" , according to the release.

NAWCWD has been conducting research on renewable jet fuels and high-density turbine fuels since 2007. (Source: NAWCWD, TechLink 16 July, 2020) Contact: NAWCWD, Dr. Ben Harvey , Heather Meylemans, 760-939-3511, www.navair.navy.mil/nawcwd

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biodiesel news,  lignocellulosic news,  

Clariant
Date: 2020-06-24
Basel, Switzerland-based specialty chemicals company Clariant is reporting construction is well underway on its its 50,000 tpy cellulosic ethanol plant in Podari , westerm Romania.

Using Clariant's "sunliquid" technology, the €100 million plant will use locally-sourced wheat straw and other agricultural waste to produce a nearly carbon-neutral drop-in transportation biofuel. The project received more than €40 million funding from the European Union. (Source: Clariant, PR June, 2020) Contact: Clariant, Markus Rarbach, Biofuels and Derivatives, +41 61 469 5111, www.clariant.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Clariant,  Cellulosic Ethanol,  

Date: 2020-05-29
(Bloomberg) -- The Environmental Protection Agency has drafted a plan to slightly lift biofuel-blending targets next year, while so far skirting potentially controversial decisions about exempting refineries from U.S. mandates to use plant-based fuels, according to three people familiar with the matter. Under a proposed rule now undergoing White House review, the EPA would require refiners to use 5.17 billion gallons of advanced biofuels in 2021, up from 5.09 billion gallons this year, according to two of the people. That would include 670 million gallons of cellulosic renewable fuels, such as those made from crop residue, switchgrass and biogas harvested at landfills, up from 590 million gallons required this year. The EPA is expected to propose the quotas in coming months, and under federal law faces a Nov. 30 deadline to finalize the targets. Representatives of the EPA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. (Source: Yahoo, Bloomberg, 19 May, 2020)

Cellulosic Sugar Producers Co-operative
Date: 2020-05-20
In Canada, the farmer-owned Cellulosic Sugar Producers Co-operative (CSPC) which was originally formed to develop new processing opportunities for crop residues like corn stover and wheat straw -- one of the main opportunities for crop biomass derived from a once-proposed sugar refinery in Sarnia, Ontario to be constructed by Comet Bio, has pulled the plug.

Originally, 118 Sarnia area growers signed on to the project and committed 30,000 acres in total. CSPC initially developed a business model for the aggregation, transportation and storage of corn stover and wheat straw, was validated with field demonstrations and received financial support from the federal government through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

In closing, the organization noted "The market just wasn't as valorized for cellulosic fibre and other products. They were just a little short on some of the financing. We didn't want to continue without an actual plan to invest. The idea was, let's close it down before we start losing any money." It also noted the knowledge generated from the endeavor will be retained by Bioindustrial Innovations Canada -- the overarching non-profit agency working with CSPC to develop its markets. (Source Bioindustrial Innovation Canada, Farmtario, 14 May, 2020) Contact: Cellulosic Sugar Producers Co-operative, www.bincanada.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Corn Stover,  Cellulosic,  Bioindustrial Innovations Canada,  

Technical University Eindhoven ,Idealfuel
Date: 2020-05-15
In the Netherlands, a consortium of 11 participants led by the Technical University Eindhoven (TU/e) reports it is working to develop methods to convert woody biomass materials into renewable marine fuels through the conversion of lignin from dry plant matter (lignocellulosic biomass). The project is supported by €5 million in grant funding from the European Union's Horizon2020 program.

Idealfuel aims to devise an efficient and low-cost two-step chemical process in order to achieve its goal. In the first step, lignin is extracted from lignocellulosic biomass in the form of Crude Lignin Oil (CLO). This leaves behind a solid cellulose material that can be used in the paper industry or even converted into ethanol. In the second step, the CLO is refined and converted into a Biogenic Heavy Fuel (Bio-HFO) that can be used directly in marine engines or blended with fossil fuels.

Download Making Crude Oil from Paper Pulp project details HERE. (Source: TU/e Idealfuel, Innovation Origin, 13 May, 2020) Contact: TU/e Idealfuel, Dr. Roy Hermanns Barry Fitzgerald, +31 40 247 8067 , B.Fitzgerald@tue.nl, www.tue.nl

More Low-Carbon Energy News Lignin,  Idealfuel,  Woody Biomass,  

Cellulosic Ethanol
Date: 2020-04-13
Industry Analysis By Applications and Manufacturers A research report on the Global Cellulosic Ethanol Market offers a detailed analysis about the market share, size, trends, opportunities and growth prospects. However, report covers the challenges and risks which could hinder the market growth over the forecast period. In addition, the report contains market volume with an accurate estimation offered in the report on basis of historic data.

The Cellulosic Ethanol market study is major compilation of significant information on regional and global manufacturers and market.

Request a sample of this report HERE; Browse the complete report HERE. (Source: Orbis Research, April, 2020) Contact: Orbis Research, Hector Costello, Senior Manager -- Client Engagements, (972)-362-8199, sales@orbisresearch.com, www.orbisresearch.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Cellulosic Ethanol ,  

Alliance BioEnergy
Date: 2020-04-10
In the Sunshine State, Palm Beach Gardens-based Alliance BioEnergy Plus Inc. reports construction is underway on its new 4th generation Cellulose-to-Sugar (CTS 2.0) prototype.

CTS 2.0 can convert virtually any plant material -- grasses, wood, paper, farm waste, yard waste, forestry products, fruit casings, nut shells, and the cellulosic portion of municipal solid waste -- into sugars and subsequently into biofuels, and bioplastics, without the use of enzymes or liquid acids. CTS stands for Cellulose to Sugar. The cellulose is converted into sugar and lignin. The sugar is further converted into bio-ethanol and other biofuels; the lignin may be further converted into bioplastics. The company notes that biofuel originating from the CTS process will receive the generous D3 cellulosic Renewable Fuel Credits (RINs) which are currently $1.40/gallon of ethanol. (Source: Alliance Bioenergy, PR, 9 April, 2020) Contact: Alliance Bioenergy Plus, Inc., Ben Slager, CEO, Ben.slager@alliancebioe.com; www.Alliancebioe.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Cellulosic,  Biomass,  Alliance BioEnergy,  Biomass,  Biofuel,  

Market Research Hub
Date: 2020-03-30
Market Research Hub reports the availability of its recently released Worldwide Cellulose Fuel Ethanol Market Report 2019-2025.

The report identifies and examines key Cellulose Fuel Ethanol regional markets and key players along with distribution channels, local networks, innovative launches, industrial penetration, production methods, and revenue generation, as well as strategies, mergers & acquisitions and releated developments.

Access report details HERE (Source: Market Research Hub, Mar., 2020) Contact: Market Research Hub, Nachiket Ghumare, 518-621-2074, 866-997-4948, sales@marketresearchhub.com, www.marketresearchhub.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Cellulosic Ethanol,  Ethanol,  

Maine Tax Credit
Date: 2020-03-27
In Augusta, Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) has signed into law legislation establishing an 8 cent per pound tax credit for chemicals produced from renewable biomass via a biological conversion, thermal conversion or combination of the two technologies. The resulting renewable chemical must be sold or used for the production of chemical products, polymers, plastics, or formulated products.

Eligible products must have at least 95 pct bio-based content and cannot be sold or used for the production of food, feed or fuel. Exceptions are allowed for cellulosic sugars used to produce aquaculture feed and food additives, supplements, vitamins, nutraceuticals or pharmaceuticals that do not provide caloric value and are not considered food or feed.

The tax credit comes into force Jan. 1, 2021. Download full copy of the bill H.P. 1213 - L.D. 1698 An Act To Create Jobs and Slow Climate Change by Promoting the Production of Natural Resources Bioproducts HERE. (Source: Office of Maine Governor Janet Mills, 18 Mar., 2020) Contact: Office of Maine Gov. Janet Mills, 207-287-3531, www.maine.gov/governor/mills/contact

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Chemical,  Biomass,  

Biomass. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Date: 2020-03-11
A recent long-term field study by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and Michigan State University (MSU) has found cellulosic biofuels derived from switchgrass, giant miscanthus, poplar trees, maize residuals, restored native prairie, and a combination of grasses and vegetation that grows spontaneously following field abandonment, could significantly mitigate global warming by reducing carbon emissions.

The study found when compared with petroleum only emissions, cellulosic ethanol was "78--290 better in reducing carbon emissions; ethanol was 204--416 pct improved, biomass powered electric vehicles powered by biomass was 74--303 pct cleaner and biomass-powered electric vehicles combined with CSS was 329--558 pct superior." The research will next assess other environmental and economic aspects of bioenergy crops.

The study was conducted at Michigan State University's (MSU) Kellogg Biological Station and the University of Wisconsin's Arlington Research Station which is part of the U.S. DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center. Financial support was provided by the U.S. DOE Office of Science, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. National Science Foundation and Michigan State University AgBioResearch. (Source: American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PR, EurekaAlerts, 9 Mar.,2020) Contact: American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. (212) 302-6443, info@aabgu.org, www.aabgu.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Cellulosic Ethnol,  Biomass ,  Climate Change,  Global Warming,  

INA,Axens
Date: 2020-03-11
Rueil Malmaison, France-headquartered Axens is reporting a licensing agreement with Craotian oil and gas company INA to supply its Futurol™ cellulosic ethanol technology and contract for basic engineering design of a cellulosic bioethanol production plant in Sisak, Croatia.

The plant will use ignocellulosic feedstocks such as agricultural residues and energy crop Miscanthus to produce 70 million lpy of bioethanol.

INA manages a regional network of 445 petrol stations in Croatia and neighboring countries. (Source: Axens, Chemical Engineering, 9 Mar., 2020) Contact: Axens, Frederic Balligand, Renewables Business Group , Director, www.axens.net; INA, +385 (0) 1 6450 000, ina-besplatni.telefon@ina.hr, www.ina.hr/en/home

More Low-Carbon Energy News Axens,  INA,  Bioethanol,  Cellulosic Ethanol,  

Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels, US Advanced Bio-Fuels, Inc.
Date: 2020-02-03
Scottsdale, Arizona-based Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels LLC (NWABF), a wholly owned subsidiary of Frederick, Maryland-based US Advanced Bio-Fuels, Inc. (USABIO), is reporting an off-take agreement with Delta Airlines under which the air carrier will purchase sustainable aviation fuel, if produced, from NWABF. The NWABF process uses the gasification of woody biomass to produce syngas for the Fischer-Tropsch process.

NWABF's project would utilize forestry waste woody biomass to produce biofuel which would qualify under an approved carbon-reducing pathway recognized by ASTM. NWAF is currently carrying out a previously announced feasibility study to determine the potential for a production facility in Washington state. If constructed the Washington state plant would supply Delta's operations Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles by mid-2020.

NWABF is developing second-generation, commercial scale, cellulosic renewable bio jet fuel refineries with the first project being developed in the Pacific Northwest. (Source: Delta, Green Car Congress, 1 Feb., 2020) Contact: Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels LLC, 602-753-8386 www.nwabiofuels.com; US Advanced Bio-Fuels, Inc., (301) 644-1395, www.advancedbiofuelsusa.info

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Advanced Bio-Fuels,  Inc.,  Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels,  Aviation Biofuel,  

Tata
Date: 2020-01-24
In Mumbai, Tata Projects Ltd., one of India's fastest growing infrastructure companies, is reporting acquisition of Bharat Petroleum Corporation's (BPCL) 2G Bio Ethanol Project at Bargarh, Odisha.

The project is expected to produce 100 KL per day of fuel-grade cellulosic ethanol from agricultural waste and residues primarily rice straw and corn stover. The project will also assist in addressing growing environmental concerns and supporting the Indian government's Ethanol Blended Petrol programme.

Tata Projects provides turnkey solutions for the construction of roads, bridges, fully integrated rail & metro systems, commercial building and airports and setting up power generation plants, power transmission & distribution systems, chemical process plants, water and waste management and complete mining and metal purification systems, according to the company website. (Source: Tata Projects, Rural Marketing 24 Jan., 2024) Contact: Tata Projects, 00 9712 679 5565, tpl@tataprojects.com, www.tataprojects.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Tata,  India Biofuel,  Cellulosic Ethanol,  Ethanol,  

Renewable Fuel Standard
Date: 2019-12-20
Reuters is reporting the Trump administration plans to stick with its proposed 2020 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) biofuel blending requirements as proposed in October, despite the farming sector's complaint that the plan does too little for corn growers.

Under the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) oil refiners are required to blend some 15 billion gpy of corn-based ethanol into their gasoline, but small facilities can be exempted if compliance would hurt them financially.

The October proposal was intended to placate corn growers and compensate the biofuel industry for the administration's expanded use of refinery exemptions, but which the industry has largely panned as insufficient, according to Reuters. The EPA's October plan would raise the biofuels volumes that some refineries must blend in 2020 based on DOE recommendations for volumes that should be exempted.

As previously noted, "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: Reuters, Various Media, 19 Dec., 2019)

For details see our Oct. 21 report as follows -- Proposed Volumes for 2020 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2021. The Trump administration EPA has issued the attached supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking seeking additional comment on the recently proposed rule to establish the cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel volumes for 2020 and the biomass-based diesel volume for 2021 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program.

The notice does not change the proposed volumes for 2020 and 2021. Instead, it proposes and seeks comment on adjustments to the way that annual renewable fuel percentages are calculated. Annual renewable fuel percentage standards are used to calculate the number of gallons each obligated party is required to blend into their fuel or to otherwise obtain renewable identification numbers (RINs) to demonstrate compliance.

Specifically, the agency is seeking comment on projecting the volume of gasoline and diesel that will be exempt in 2020 due to small refinery exemptions based on a three-year average of the relief recommended by the BOE, including where DOE had recommended partial exemptions. The agency intends to grant partial exemptions in appropriate circumstances when adjudicating 2020 exemption petitions. The agency proposes to use this value to adjust the way it calculates renewable fuel percentages. The proposed adjustments would help ensure that the industry blends the final volumes of renewable fuel into the nation's fuel supply and that, in practice, the required volumes are not effectively reduced by future hardship exemptions for small refineries. Consistent with the statute, the supplemental notice seeks to balance the goal of the RFS of maximizing the use of renewables while following the law and sound process to provide relief to small refineries that demonstrate the need.

Download the Renewable Fuel Standard Program -- Proposed Volumes for 2020 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2021 HERE. Contact: EPA Renewable Fuel Standard, 800-385-6164, www.epa.gov/fuels-registration-reporting-and-compliance-help/forms/fuels-program-helpdesk

More Low-Carbon Energy News RFS,  "Hardship" Waiver,  Ethanol.Ethanol Blend,  Iowa Renewable Fuels Association,  Red Trail Energy,  

POET, Poet-DSM
Date: 2019-11-22
Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based POET-DSM Advanced Biofuel reports it is temporarily halting production of cellulosic biofuels at its Emmetsburg, Iowa, facility due in part to the uncertainties surrounding the EPA's Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) policies.

The company, a 50/50 joint venture between Royal DSM and POET, LLC., will now focus on R&D aimed at improving mechanical reliability, creating additional technological efficiencies and licensing technologies in countries that support the use of low carbon fuels from crop residue and other biomass, according to the company. (Source: Poet-DSM, Biofuels 20 Nov., 2019) Contact: POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels, Steve Hartig, General Manager, (630) 780-8171, steve.hartig@dsm.com, www.poetdsm.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Project Liberty,  POET,  Poet-DSM,  Cellulosic Biofuel,  Advanced Biofuel,  

Grassley,RFS
Date: 2019-11-08
"As the number one producer of corn, ethanol, biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol, the renewable fuels industry is an important sector of Iowa's economy. It generates nearly $5 billion of Iowa's GDP, over $2.4 billion in household incomes and supports 47,000 jobs across Iowa.

"President Trump made a commitment to Iowa and other biofuels producing states, and I look forward to seeing this promise fulfilled. The EPA shouldn't undercut President Trump's support of the Renewable Fuels Standard. I urge EPA to adjust the proposed supplemental rule to account for actual waived gallons using hard data from past practice to provide certainty to the marketplace." -- Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) in a letter to EPA Dir. Wheeler this week on the EPA's proposed supplemental rule on the Renewable Fuel Standard. Contact: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), www.grassley.senate.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Grassley,  RFS,  Ethanol,  

Maersk,Copenhagen University,
Date: 2019-11-01
Maritime shipping giant Maersk reports it is working with Copenhagen University, Wallenius Wilhelmsen, BMW Group, H&M Group, Levi Strauss & Co. and Marks & Spencer to explore a blend of lignin and ethanol (LEO) fuel for sustainable shipping.

Lignin is isolated in large quantities as a by-product of lignocellulosic ethanol and pulp and paper mills. Copenhagen University is currently running the laboratory-scale development of LEO marine fuel with the project aiming to move into phase II -- testing the fuel on actual vessel engines -- in the second quarter of 2020. Following a successful phase II, phase III will begin -- the scaling up of LEO fuel production. (Source: Maersk, Container Management, Oct., 2019) Contact: Maresk, Soren Toft, CEO, www.maerskline.com; Copenhagen University, www.ku.dk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Maersk,  Ethanol,  Lignin,  Biofoul,  Marine Biofuel,  

EPA, Renewable fuel Standard
Date: 2019-10-21
The Trump administration EPA has issued the attached supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking seeking additional comment on the recently proposed rule to establish the cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel volumes for 2020 and the biomass-based diesel volume for 2021 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program.

The notice does not change the proposed volumes for 2020 and 2021. Instead, it proposes and seeks comment on adjustments to the way that annual renewable fuel percentages are calculated. Annual renewable fuel percentage standards are used to calculate the number of gallons each obligated party is required to blend into their fuel or to otherwise obtain renewable identification numbers (RINs) to demonstrate compliance.

Specifically, the agency is seeking comment on projecting the volume of gasoline and diesel that will be exempt in 2020 due to small refinery exemptions based on a three-year average of the relief recommended by the Department of Energy (DOE), including where DOE had recommended partial exemptions. The agency intends to grant partial exemptions in appropriate circumstances when adjudicating 2020 exemption petitions. The agency proposes to use this value to adjust the way we calculate renewable fuel percentages. The proposed adjustments would help ensure that the industry blends the final volumes of renewable fuel into the nation's fuel supply and that, in practice, the required volumes are not effectively reduced by future hardship exemptions for small refineries. Consistent with the statute, the supplemental notice seeks to balance the goal of the RFS of maximizing the use of renewables while following the law and sound process to provide relief to small refineries that demonstrate the need.

Download the Renewable Fuel Standard Program -- Proposed Volumes for 2020 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2021 HERE. Contact: EPA Renewable Fuel Standard, 800-385-6164, www.epa.gov/fuels-registration-reporting-and-compliance-help/forms/fuels-program-helpdesk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Fuel Standard,  Biofuel,  Biofuel Blend,  

Enerkem,Suncor Energy
Date: 2019-10-18
In Canada, Montreal-based chemicals and waste-to-biofuels specialist Enerkem Inc. is reporting closure of a $50 million (Cdn) equity investment from Calgary, Alberta-based Suncor Energy.

Along with its investment, Suncor will provide technical resources to support the operations of Enerkem's Alberta Biofuels (EAB) plant in Edmonton. The plant is the first commercial-scale plant in the world to turn non-recyclable, non-compostable mixed municipal solid waste into cellulosic ethanol. (Source: Enerkem, Biofuels News, Oct., 2019) Contact: Enerkem, Dominique Boies, CEO and CFO , 514) 875-0284, dboies@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com; Suncor Energy, www.suncor.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Cellulosic Ethanol,  Enerkem,  Suncor Energy,  

AustroCel Hallein, OMV
Date: 2019-10-04
Vienna, Austria-headquartered oil and gas company OMV and AustroCel Hallein GmbH are reporting a multi-year agreement under which AustroCel will supply cellulosic "advanced" bioethanol derived from woody biomass -- spruce sawmill waste -- to OMV.

AustroCel Hallein is committed to the cascading use of resources: High-purity cellulose is produced from spruce, which comes from the sawmill industry as scrap; this cellulose is predominantly processed in Asia to make fibres for textile applications.

AustroCel is constructing Austria's first advanced bioethanol production facility in Hallein. The €42 million bioethanol plant is expected to begin production early in 2021. Source: AustroCel Hallein GmbH, Hydrocarbon Engineering, 3 Oct., 2019) Contact: AustroCel Hallein GmbH, Jorge Harbring, CEO, +43 6245 8900, www.austrocel.com; OMV, www.omv.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ethanol.Bioethanol,  

Clariant, ORLEN
Date: 2019-09-23
Basel, Switzerland-based specialty chemicals company Clariant reports it has inked a licensing agreement for its sunliquid cellulosic ethanol technology with Polish company PKN ORLEN Group's member ORLEN Poludnie.

ORLEN Poludnie will use the technology to design, construct and operate a new commercial scale cellulosic ethanol from agricultural plant in Jedlicze , southeastern Poland where it will produce cellulosic ethanol from agricultural residues. (Source: Clariant, Sept., 2019) Contact: Clariant, Markus Rarbach, Biofuels and Derivatives, Clariant, Markus Rarbach, Hariolf Kottmann, CEO, +41 61 469 5111, www.clariant.com; PKN ORLEN, Armen Artwich, Member of the Management Board, www.orlen.pl

More Low-Carbon Energy News Clariant,  ORLEN,  cellulosic ethanol,  

Gevo,Leaf Resources
Date: 2019-09-13
Englewood, Colorado-based renewable fuels and chemicals manufacturer Gevo, Inc. and Queensland, Australasia-based Leaf Resources, a specialist in converting plant biomass into industrial sugars, are reporting a joint development and commercialization agreement under which Gevo will explore the potential use of cellulosic-derived sugars and glycerol from Leaf Resources and the ability to convert these to hydrocarbon molecules useful as fuels or chemicals.

Leaf Resources' Glycell Process pre-treatment technology breaks down plant biomass to generate a higher yield of cellulose than conventional approaches. The pretreatment is followed by enzymatic hydrolysis which converts cellulose into cellulosic sugars. The process also yields lignin, hemicellulose and refined glycerol.

Gevo has developed technology for producing isobutanol from renewable feedstocks using a yeast that has been developed to produce isobutanol and a product recovery technology that continuously removes isobutanol as it is formed. Gevo adds its proprietary yeast to fermentable sugars to convert the sugars to isobutanol. (Source: GEVO, Green Car Congress, 12 Sept., 2019) Contact: Leaf Resources, +61 7 3188 9040, www.leafresources.com.au; Gevo, Patrick Gruber, CEO, 303-858-8358, pgruber@gevo.com, www.gevo.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biofuel,  Isobutanol,  Leaf Resources,  GEVO,  Cellulosic,  

Wood Pellet Association of Canada
Date: 2019-09-09
Since 2017, the government of Canada has been developing the Clean Fuel Standard (CFS), a low carbon fuel standard-type policy, to reduce the life-cycle carbon intensity of fuels and energy used in Canada. The CFS aims to achieve 30 million tonnes CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) of annual reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 2030.

The Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC) has been providing input to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) as it works to design and shape the CFS. And, upon review of ECCC's proposed regulatory approach, WPAC is seriously concerned that the government will not allow end-use fuel switching in the buildings/stationary fuel use sector.

WPAC believes it is unfair for ECCC to recognize fuel switching from gasoline to electricity or hydrogen in transportation, but not to recognize switching from heating oil to solid biofuels -- wood pellets or chips -- for Canada's second largest renewable energy product -- solid biomass heating. To that end, WPAC made the following representations to ECCC:

One of the three primary objectives of the CFS is low-cost compliance. By prohibiting recognition of fuel switching for stationary applications, ECCC will actually significantly increase the cost of CFS compliance, exclude the forest sector from participation in the short-term, and inhibit investment in the most proven commercial technology for displacement of heating oil -- wood pellet and chip boilers.

Canada consumes approximately three billion lpy of heating oil, the majority of which is consumed by Canadians in rural and Atlantic Canada. The latter accounts for 44 pct of heating oil consumption in the residential sector and 50 pct of heating oil consumption in the commercial/institutional sectors. Rural and Atlantic Canada also have among the lowest per capita income. ECCC's proposed regulatory approach will make CFS compliance for these low-income areas significantly more expensive than for those living in cities.

Under ECCC's proposed regulatory approach, the principal mechanism for ensuring compliance from heating oil primary suppliers will be to blend renewable diesel with heating oil. Since heating oil has low carbon intensity (CI) relative to other liquid fuels and much of the crude used to produce heating oil is sourced from outside of Canada, there is less opportunity for upstream reductions than with other liquid fuels. The 2030 target of 74 g CO2e/MJ is less than heating oil combustion emissions, meaning upstream efficiency improvements will be insufficient to meet the requirements. The only heating oil-miscible fuel that can also be stored outside in winter, as is often the case with heating oil, is renewable diesel.

Renewable diesel has a useful heat fuel cost of $65-82 per gigajoule (GJ) ($234-295 per MWh. In contrast, wood pellets, at $300-350 per tonne for residential sales, have a useful heat fuel cost of $20-24 per GJ. Wood pellets also have half the of default renewable diesel (29 g CO2e/MJ). Wood chips are half the carbon intensity of wood pellets which means, on an implied carbon price basis and assuming wholesale $0.75 per litre for heating oil, blending renewable diesel with heating oil has a fuel cost of $630/ per tonne CO2e to 884 per tonne CO2e. Switching from heating oil to wood pellets saves money on a fuel basis, in addition to avoiding taxes on heating oil. In this case, there is little reason to implement a complex policy such as the CFS.

Despite the billions of dollars invested in lignocellulosic liquid transportation biofuels, all technologies are still pre-commercial -- especially forest feedstock-based liquid transportation biofuels due to the recalcitrant structure of wood fibre. Co-processing of pyrolysis oil or biocrude in existing oil refineries at a meaningful volume will not occur before 2030. The forest sector represents over 75 pct of annually-available biomass resources in Canada and its exclusion from participation in the liquids class will dramatically increase the cost of fuel, especially in rural communities where wood chips and bioheat are a cost efficient and convenient source of energy. (Source: WPAC, Canadian Biomass, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 26 Aug., 2019) Contact: Wood Pellet Association of Canada, Gordon Murra, Exec. Dir., ; Environment and Climate Change Canada, www.canada.ca › environment-climate-change

More Low-Carbon Energy News Environment and Climate Change Canada,  Wood Pellet Association of Canada,  Woody Biomass,  Wood Pellet ,  

Praj Industries,Omega Energy USA
Date: 2019-09-09
On the sub-continent, Mumbai-based sugarcane ethanol producer Praj Industries reports it has reached an important milestone in the commercialisation of its 2G ethanol "enfinity" technology, following successful performance and due diligence by a US-based oil and gas major.

The company's proprietary "enfinity" technology will be used to produce ethanol and other co-products using sugarcane bagasse in the first bagasse-based biorefinery in the US. Miami-based Omega Energy USA will develop the biorefinery, while cane sugar producer Lasuca Sugar will supply bagasse feedstock. The proposed project will have a production capacity of 10-15 million gpy of cellulosic ethanol. (Source: Praj Industries, 5 Sept., 2019) Contact: Praj Industries Ltd., +91 20 7180 2000 / 2294 1000, info@praj.net, www.praj.net; Omega Energy USA, 786-245-0642, www.omegaenergyusa.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Praj Industries,  Ethanol,  

Clariant
Date: 2019-09-04
Basel, Switzerland-based specialty chemicals company Clariant reports the completion of tests of technology that converts miscanthus biomass into lignocellulosic sugars and ethanol at its pre-commercial "sunliquid" plant in Straubing, Germany.

Approximately 30 tons of miscanthus provided by Croatian oil and gas company INA was tested with funding from the Growing Advanced Industrial Crops on Marginal Land for Biorefineries (GRACE) project -- of which INA is a consortium member. GRACE is supported by the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.

The project aims to optimize various miscanthus grass value chains in order to produce sustainable products and to develop miscanthus as a sustainable feedstock resource for cultivation on marginal, contaminated and abandoned land. Clariant tested miscanthus as a feedstock for the production of lignocellulose sugars and ethanol. (Source: Clariant, Business Standard, 3 Sept., 2019) Contact: Clariant, Markus Rarbach, Biofuels and Derivatives, Clariant, Markus Rarbach, Hariolf Kottmann, CEO, +41 61 469 5111, www.clariant.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Clariant,  Miscanthus,  Ethanol,  Biofuel,  

Woodland Biofuels
Date: 2019-08-30
In Ottawa, the Canadian government reports it will invest $4.7 million in Toronto-headquartered Woodland Biofuels. The company uses gasification and a series of catalytic reactions to convert biomass into renewable fuels.

Of the total investment, $1.9 million, funded by Natural Resources Canada's (NRC) Investments in Forest Industry Transformation program, will support the company's development of a technology to produce cellulosic ethanol from wood and agricultural waste. A second investment of more than $2.8 million, funded by NRC Clean Growth Program, will be used to increase the efficiency of the company's cellulosic ethanol demonstration plant and support detailed engineering activities, enabling Woodland's first commercial-scale ethanol plant in Sarnia, Ontario. (Source: Woodland Biofuels, PR, Ethanol Producer, 28 Aug., 2019) Contact: Woodland Biofuel, Greg Nuttall, CEO,(647) 494-5553, www.woodlandbiofuels.com; NRC, www.nrcan.gc.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Cellulosic,  Natural Resources Canada,  Biofuel,