University of Kentucky
Date: 2020-11-09
In Lexington, the University of Kentucky reports it is leading a national group of scientists and industry partners studying ways to reduce sulfur levels in pine forestry waste -- including needles, bark, branches and pulp -- used to produce biofuels. The sulfur levels of some byproducts are high enough to exceed U.S. EPA standards, if the sulfur was carried over to biofuels.

Through a three-year grant from the U.S. DOE EERE, the research team, led by Assistant Professor Jian Shi, will work to identify the reasons behind the sulfur variability in pine feedstocks by studying byproducts collected from across the nation. The research aims to better understand how sulfur accumulates in biofuel feedstocks, what happens to the sulfur during thermochemical conversion and how to remove sulfur and improve gasification.

With the DOE grant and cost-share dollars from universities and the industry, the project will total more than $2 million. Partners include researchers from UK's Center for Applied Energy Research, Kansas State University, Idaho National Laboratory, Mississippi State University and Red Rock Biofuels. (Source: University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Contact: University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Jian Shi, Lead Researcher, 859-257-3468, www.ca.uky.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biofuel,  Biofuel Feedstock,  Woody Biomass,  

Red Rock Biofuels, Velocys
Date: 2020-08-03
UK-based renewable fuels specialist Velocys plc is reporting delivery of four of its Fischer-Tropsch reactors to Red Rock Biofuels in Lakeview, Oregon. The reactors will be used to convert 136,000 tpy of waste woody biomass into more than 15 MMgy of renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel and naphtha fuels. Red Rock Biofuels has the option to purchase an additional two reactors from Velocys by the end of this year. (Source: Velocys, Aug., 2020) Contact: Veloys, Henrik Wareborn, CEO, +44 1235 838 621, (713) 275-5840 -- Houston Office, info@velocys.com, www.velocys.com; Red Rock Biofuels, Terry Kulesa, CEO, (970) 223-6766, tkulesa@redrockbio.com, www.redrockbio.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Red Rock Biofuels,  Fischer-Tropsch,  Velocys,  

Red Rock Biofuel
Date: 2019-11-04
In Oregon, Lake County reports it has secured $5.6 million in grant funding for railroad line upgrades in Lake County in anticipation of Red Rock Biofuels beginning operations next spring.

The CRISI grant requires a $5 million match, $1.4 million of which is dedicated from construction of a new rail spur connecting to the main line at the currently under construction Red Rock Biofuels facility on the south end of Lakeview.

The State of Oregon has already invested heavily in the Red Rock Biofuels project, approving $245 million in bonds last year for construction of the plant which is expected to ship roughly 15 million gpy of biofuels on the Goose Lake line when fully operational in April, 2020. Red Rock is expected to produce 10 rail cars per week of biodiesel processed from locally sourced ag waste, forest-thinning and other bio materials. (Source: Red Rock Biofuel, Herald & News, 3 Nov., 2019) Red Rock Biofuels, Terry Kulesa, CEO, (970) 223-6766, tkulesa@redrockbio.com, www.redrockbio.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Red Rock Biofuel,  Biodiesel,  

John Wood,Red Rock Biofuel
Date: 2019-03-13
Aberdeen, Scotland-headquartered global engineering firm John Wood Group PLC reports receipt of a construction and mechanical services contract from Fort Collins, Colorado-based biofuels plant developer IR1 Group LLC for the Red Rock waste woody biomass-to-biofuels facility in Oregon. The value of the contract, which is expected to take two years to fulfill, hasn't been disclosed.

The Red Rock Biofuels facility will convert more than 136,000 tpy of biomass into 15.1 million gpy of renewable fuels. (Source: John Wood, Alliance News, 12 Mar., 2019) Contact: IR1 Group LLC, (970) 223-6766, https://ir1group.com; John Wood Group, www.woodgroup.cpm

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Fuel,  John Wood Group,  Red Rock Biofuel,  Biofuel,  

Red Rock Biofuels, Emerging Fuels Technology
Date: 2019-03-06
As previously reported, Emerging Fuels Technology Inc. (EFT) has amended their license agreement with Red Rock Biofuels LLC under which EFT will provide its TL*a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) technology to provide additional FT capacity for Red Rock's Bio-Refinery in Lakeview Oregon. The amendment doubles the FT capacity to be provided by EFT. The new capacity will be incorporated imediately in the plant which is currently under construction.

EFT is focused on methods for producing synthetic fuels and specialty products from a variety of feedstocks including natural gas, biomass, municipal solid waste (MSW) and bio-derived oils. EFT is one of the world's foremost authorities on FT and related synthesis licensing the core technologies and upgrade packages for 500 to 10,000 bpd applications. (Source: Emerging Fuels Technology Inc., PR 27 Feb., 2019) Contact: Emerging Fuels Technology Inc, Kenneth Agee, Pres., (918) 286-6802, www.emergingfuels.com: Red Rock Biofuels, Terry Kulesa, CEO, (970) 223-6766, tkulesa@redrockbio.com, www.redrockbio.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Fischer-Tropsch,  Red Rock Biofuels,  Emerging Fuels Technology,  

Velocys,Red Rock Biofuel
Date: 2019-02-13
UK-headquartered landfill gas-to-liquid fuels and chemicals producer Velocys Plc reports it and Fort Collins, Colorado-based Red Rock Biofuels LLC (RRB) have agreed to amendments in RRB's licensing of Velocys' Fischer-Tropsch reactors and proprietary catalyst for RRB's biorefinery which is under construction in Lakeview, Oregon.

The amended agreement will see Velocys accelerate delivery of the first of four reactors and first four charges of catalyst. It will also reduce RRB's commitment for reactors from six to four but RRB will retain an option to acquire reactors 5 and 6 units at the existing price until the end of 2020. (Source: Velocys, Hydrocarbon Engineering, Others, 12 Feb., 2019) Contact: Velocys Plc, David Pummell, CEO, +44 1235 841 700, (713) 275-5840 -- Houston Office, info@velocys.com, www.velocys.com; Red Rock Biofuels, Terry Kulesa, CEO, (970) 223-6766, tkulesa@redrockbio.com, www.redrockbio.com.

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Biorenewable Deployment Consortium
Date: 2018-10-31
The Biorenewable Deployment Consortium (BDC) Fall Forum was held in Raleigh, N.C. on October 9-10 and was combined with a visit to the Velocys' Microchannel Fisher-Tropsch pilot plant that is integrated with the ThermoChem Recovery International (TRI) Biomass Gasification and Gas Clean-up system at TRI's Advanced Development Center in Durham. Velocys has announced the commercial "Bayou Fuels" project for Natchez, MS. The project will combine the two companies' technologies to convert locally sourced waste woody biomass into transportation fuel.

The Forum boasted record attendance, including a diverse group of international members and guests. Discussions included updates from leading bio-process companies on new processes and commercial advances that can add value to the forest products industry. Highlights of the Forum included commercial progress of nanotechnology presented by keynote Sean Ireland, VP, Business Development for Fiberlean Technologies; evolutionary value added technologies for the chemical recovery cycle and soap removal / tall oil production; commercial progress of wood to bioproducts from Velocys, Ensyn, and Red Rock; and commercial progress for lignin conversion to end products.

USDA Administrator Bette Brand attended the meeting and tour. "The USDA recognizes the importance of the partnership between government and private industry designed to bridge the early financial issues of start-up companies in the biorenewable area that we believe will help improve economies in rural communities," said Ms. Brand ommented. Meeting attendees participating in USDA programs included Velocys, Ensyn, Red Rock Biofuels, REG, and American Biocarbon.

Masood Akhtar, President of BDC commented, "In BDC's view, it is important for the government to be confident in the companies they financially assist, and the scale up requirements of the USDA have been critical to the success of new start up companies." "The success of the BDC meeting is due to a combination of the mission of the organization, the make-up and participation of the membership and guests, and the ingenuity and progress of the entrepreneurial management teams in the up and coming bio-industry," Akhtar concluded. (Source: BDC, PR, Oct., 2018) Contact: BDC, Ben Thorp, Chairman, (804) 743-3105, Ben.Thorp@biorenewabledc.org, www.biorenewabledc.org; Velocys, Jeff McDaniel, VP, (614) 733-3300, jeff.mcdaniel@velocys.com, www.velocys.com; ThermoChem Recovery International, Chris Doherty, VP, (410) 525-2400, cdoherty@tri-inc.net, www.tri-inc.net

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biorenewable Deployment Consortium,  Velocys,  ThermoChem Recovery International ,  

Emerging Fuels Technology,Red Rock Biofuels
Date: 2018-10-24
Tulsa, Oklahoma-headquartered Emerging Fuels Technology, Inc (EFT) reports has executed a license agreement with Fort Collins, Colorado-based Red Rock Biofuels LLC (RRB) under which EFT will provide its TL8a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) technology to provide additional FT capacity for RRB's biorefinery in Lakeview, Oregon, USA.

RRB is a subsidiary of IR1 Group LLC , which is constructing the Lakeview biorefinery. IR1 will build a global portfolio of biorefineries to convert forest and sawmill waste woody biomass into renewable jet and diesel fuels. Through a proprietary integration of existing technologies, IR1 makes the long-commercialized Fischer-Tropsch process economic at the biomass scale.

RRB's Lakeview, OR biorefinery will convert approximately 136,000 dry tons of waste woody biomass into 15.1 million gallons of renewable jet, diesel and gasoline blendstock fuels per year. (Source: Emerging Fuels Technology, Inc, PR, 22 Oct., 2019) Contact: Emerging Fuels Technology, Inc., Mark Agee, Business Dev., magee@emergingfuels.com, www.emergingfuels.com; RedRock Biofuels, 970.223.6766, info@redrockbio.com, www.redrockbio.com; IRL Group, www.ir1group.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Emerging Fuels Technology,  Fischer-Tropsch,  Red Rock Biofuels,  

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,  ,  

Red Rock Biofuel
Date: 2018-07-27
Fort Collins, Colorado-based Red Rock Biofuels, a developer of renewable jet and diesel fuel bio-refineries, reports its new $320 million project has officially broken ground in Lakeview, Colorado. The plant will convert biomass waste products such as agriculture waste, pine needles and other biomass into jet fuel at the rate of 15 million gpy.

According to Red Rock, the primary clientele is expected to be Southwest Airlines and Federal Express, which recently signed contracts with Red Rock. Fuel deliveries are expected to begin before December, 2020.

Through a proprietary integration of existing technologies, RRB makes the long-commercialized Fischer-Tropsch process economic at the biomass scale, according to the compay's website. (Source: Red Rock Biofuels, Lake County Examiner, 25 July, 2018) Contact: Red Rock Biofuel, Terry Kulesa, CEO, (970) 223-6766, tkulesa@redrockbio.com, www.redrockbio.com.

More Low-Carbon Energy News Red Rock Biofuel,  Jet Biofuel,  Renewable Fuel,  

Velocys,Red Rock Biofuels
Date: 2018-05-07
UK-headquartered Velocys plc reports it has begun manufacturing the Fischer-Tropsch reactors and catalyst for Ft. Collins-based Red Rock Biofuels LLC (RRB) biorefinery that will be located in Lakeview, Oregon, US. RRB has broken ground on the biorefinery which will produce low-carbon, renewable diesel and jet fuel. RRB is a subsidiary of IR1 Group LLC, which has 325 million gal. of installed biofuels capacity. The biorefinery in Lakeview will convert forestry residue into 15 million gpy of renewable transportation fuels, including diesel and jet fuel.

Velocys' role will be as a licensor for its technology to the project. (Source: Velocys plc, Velocys plc Hydrocarbon Engineering, 7 May, 2018) Contact: Red Rock Biofuels, Terry Kulesa, CEO, (970) 223-6766, tkulesa@redrockbio.com, www.redrockbio.com; 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,  Biofuel,  Fischer-Tropsch,  Red Rock Biofuels,