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On march 16, Ayla Uslu, coordinator of the ELOBIO project, will present the key conclusions of the project, commissioned by the EU’s Intelligent Energy Europe programme

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:25:00 +0200

Some of the key findings are: Issues will arise if biofuels are deployed rapidly and without careful additional measures. Implementing global biofuel targets for 2020 can increase crop prices and cause land use changes that lead to limited green house gas savings. Options are available to overcome these negative effects: increase in agricultural productivity can provide additional stimulus for biofuels development. Second generation biofuels that use residues and energy crops produced on marginal lands may help overcome the risks and negative impacts of current biofuel chains. The introduction of these biofuels requires significant support on several policy levels. Implementing ambitious global biofuel targets for 2020 based on current first generation technologies can push international agricultural commodity prices upwards, even with the by-products that substitute animal feed. Furthermore, land use change both through converting land to produce biofuels, and by displacing activities to other areas may decrease and even turn any greenhouse gas emission reductions into net increases of emissions. However, measures to reduce these risks and negative impacts are at hand. Policy measures that stimulate higher agricultural productivitycan increase supply and reduce future land demand for food, feed and fuels. Sustainable yield increases in regions like sub-Saharan Africa would improve regional food security and free up land for biofuels development. Second generation biofuels produced from residues and crops cultivated on marginal lands willnot compete with food crops and they are expected to provide a substantial contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, those technologies are still at a demonstration stage. Bringing them to the market requires policy measures that take into account their risk profilesand create favourable and stable investment climate. High investment subsidies, for instance, can overcome the initial investment barriers. Lignocellulosic feedstocks will also be demanded by the energy sector to produce renewable electricity and heat, in addition to the forest-based industries. Yet, strategies and policies like combining production of biofuels and heat can enable the efficient use of resources. Besides, linking second generation biofuels with district heating systems can improve the cost competitiveness of second generation technologies. Improving the sustainable supply of wood raw materials and avoiding restrictions on the export of sustainable wood resources to the EU are other important strategies to follow. The two-year Elobio project is coordinated by the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands, and implemented by a consortium of seven European institutes with different disciplinary backgrounds. The team will officially present the final results in a press meeting on March 16, during the World Biofuel Markets conference in Amsterdam.

Ukrainian Biofuel Forum, key business event for the Ukrainian industry of solid biofuels and biomass, will take place in April, 22-23, in Kyiv

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:08:00 +0200

Ukrainian Biofuel Forumwill take place in April, 22-23, 2010 in the center of the Ukrainian capital. It is a key business event for the Ukrainian industry of solid biofuels and biomass, which will host a conference, exhibition,workshops, sales master classes and presentations. Without a doubt, this Forum will bring a substantial contribution to the popularization of alternative fuels and energy efficiency and will become one of the best business and informative grounds for market participants in this field. Forum will contains from two-days international conference, expo, seminars, master-classes, round-tables, presentations of the companies and projects on solid biofuels market. Forum Objective:to provide effective guidance for companies to obtain competitive advantages in the Ukrainian fuel market, as well as obtaining tax incentives provided by law. The Ukrainian Biofuel Market is on the threshold of a new stage of evolution. Early forecasts show rising prices for imported natural gas to the European price level. Hereof, the relevance of creating a closed vertically-integrated production of fuel briquettes and pellets aimed at meeting the definite needs of the domestic market. In addition to traditional wood, Ukrainian companies are actively pursuing agricultural waste as a resource for the production of solid biofuels, creating a radically new market niche on the European market, and Ukraine –serving as the foundation for new business models. An additional catalyst for market development are the recent legislative changes which took effect on January 1st, 2010.The new legislation will provide tax preferences for biofuel companies. How not to remain on the sidelines of the new Ukrainian energy evolution? We will not compose an answer to this question. The answer will be given by people who create the modern Ukrainian biofuel industry. The main themes of the Forum: << Legislative framework of solid biofuel market, national and international standards; << Recent trends in the EU and Ukrainian markets of pellets and briquettes; << Modern biomass as an energy source; analysis of the technological solutions; << Agricultural raw materials, especially its use in pelleting and briquetting; << Solid straw biofuel on the market: who is its buyer? What are the prospects for expanding the market? << Business construction in the production and marketing of briquettes and pellets; << Raw-material base for the development of biofuel projects; << Logistics as the central issue of biofuel project development effectiveness; << The ways of funding attracting for biofuel projects; << Export and the formation of the internal market for briquettes and pellets in the current context; << Formation of the internal market of biofuel boilers as a step toward creating a market of pellets and briquettes; << Boiler for biofuels in Ukraine: Prospects for the segment; << Prospects for biofuels in the municipal sector. Practical experience of project implementation; << Building of an effective information policy by market participants, aimed at promoting solid biofuels. The Forum committee prides itself for recruiting high level Forum speakers and participants. The speakers and participants come from various fields of the Biofuel Industry such as: owners and top-managers from companies operating in the production and marketing of briquettes and pellets: manufacturers and suppliers of equipment for the production of biofuels; producers and suppliers of boiler equipment for solid biomass and biofuels; leading experts and representatives of central and local authorities in Ukraine, CIS, EU and USA.

Germany is cutting solar energy subsidies

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:19:00 +0200

Germany has announced a reduction of subsidies for solar energy because of the fast growth of the photo-voltaic market. A week earlier France did the same. The German environment minister Norbert Röttgen said that the government was proposing to cut feed-in tariffs for new roof-mounted solar power by 15% from April. Open-field sites and farmland installations would follow in July with 15% and 25% cuts respectively, the EurActiv reported. People who mount solar panels on the rooftops of their homes and utilise the energy for personal use would, however, receive higher tariffs. The decision was motivated by the overgrowth of the market and the boom in solar sector development. This led to one third drop of prices of solar panels because of over-production last year. The photo-voltaic industry though warned that the cuts would lead to job losses. Moreover, concerns were raised about the wider paralysis of the global solar market, which is largely driven by Germany, by far the biggest market in the world.

Fuel Alternative Has Defined Indicative Prices on the Solid Biofuels Market of Ukraine

Fri, 25 Dec 2009 14:53:00 +0200

Fuel Alternativeconsulting company has launched publishing of a monthly analytical report on the solid biofuels market of Ukraine. This unique trade publication contains detailed information on Ukrainian monthly production of briquettes and pellets from waste wood, sunflower peelings as well as from straw. Additionally this new information product contains detailed analysis of solid biofuels exported by Ukrainian companies listed by direction, volume, price, category of raw materials as well as current indicative prices on fuel in Europe and North America. There is a special section in the publication covering prices on main types of raw materials used for biofuels production: sawdust, wood chips, straw as well as sunflower peelings. The first analytical report focused on industry activities in October was out in November. In addition to monthly issues Fuel Alternative plans tostartpublishing detailed quarterly and annual trade reports. The reports are to be published in two languages: Russian and English. "Ukrainian market of solid biofuels is characterized by information vacuum which is a serious drawback for its further civilized development. Currently there are neither indicative prices, nor clear understanding of what products are in demand, including international demand. As a result there’s a wide space for unreasonable pricing, for example, on raw materials and final products. We hope that our new information product will become a useful and effective tool for market players to solve their business tasks with, as well as a reference point for state agencies whose functions are to develop the industry", - comments the launch of the "Biofuels Market" report Vitaliy Daviy, General Director ofFuel Alternative. To subscribe to the "BiofuelsMarket" publication: call: 044 498 90 56, 383 03 56, project manager Vladislav Osadchiy or send an e-mail: info@fuelalternative.com.ua

COPENHAGEN CLIMATE DEAL HEADED FOR 3.5°C GLOBAL WARMING AND CLOSE TO 800 PPM CO2 EQUIVALENT GHG CONCENTRATIONS

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:13:00 +0200

A sobering new assessment by the ''Climate Action Tracker'' of the emission commitments and pledges put forward by industrialized and developing countries for the Copenhagen climate negotiations shows that the world is headed for a global warming of well over 3oC by 2100. Carbon dioxide concentrations are projected to be over 650 ppm, with total GHG concentrations close to 800 ppm CO2 equivalent. “The pledges on the table will not halt emissions growth before 2040, let alone by 2015 as indicated by the IPCC and are far from halving emissions by 2050, as has been called for by the G8. Instead global emissions are likely to be nearly double 1990 levels by 2040 based on present pledges”, said Dr Niklas Höhne of Ecofys. “In 2020 we project total GHG emissions to be around 55 billion tonnes CO2 equivalent per year from all sources, a reduction of about 3 billion tonnes compared to business as usual. In ten years from now global emissions will already have to be well below current levels of about 46 billion tonnes (in 2008) to have much chance of meeting temperature goals such as 2°C, as called for by the major emitters globally, or below 1.5°C as put forward by the Small Island States and Least Developed Countries as essential for their survival”, said Dr (h.c.) Bill Hare of Climate Analytics and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. “After accounting for the new position of Russia, the announcement of President Obama of a US emission reduction pledge for Copenhagen, the developed country emission reductions as a whole are currently projected to be 13-19% below 1990 levels by 2020. However the proposed forest credits these countries want would degrade this by about 5% with the effective reductions in industrial GHG emissions being 8-14% below 1990 levels by 2020. The low reduction target (8%) is unconditional for most countries and the highest reduction target (14%) is linked by most countries to a strong agreement in Copenhagen”, said Dr. Michiel Schaeffer of Climate Analytics. Around 25-40% reductions by industrialized countries by 2020 from 1990 GHG emissions levels are described as necessary by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). “Recent announcements such as the Chinese carbon intensity reduction target for 2020, and the Korean emission goals for 2020 and 2050, are very important and useful. However the overall effect on greenhouse gas emissions (excluding deforestation) is disappointing; with overall developing country emissions projected to be close to, or significantly above, the IPCC range for 2020” said Dr Niklas Höhne of Ecofys. “Faster economic growth than expected, particularly combined with slower improvements in carbon intensity in China explain part of this. China has ambitious policies on energy efficiency and renewable energy, but the new international target falls short of that ambition. A reduction from “business as usual emissions” by the developing countries as a group is needed in 2020 of 15-30% is needed to limit global warming to 2°C or even lower. “On deforestation, we have accounted for the announcement of Brazil and of Indonesia which taken together would reduce deforestation emissions globally by about 40% from recent levels by 2020 (or about the same from estimated 1990 deforestation emissions), which is a very important contribution” said Dr Michiel Schaeffer. “With no concrete pledges on the table for international aviation and marine CO2 emissions these are projected to grow to over double 1990 levels in 2020, reaching about 1.8 billion tonnes per year, and to nearly 4 times 1990 levels in 2050, about 3 billion tonnes per year” said Dr Niklas Höhne of Ecofys. “From these numbers, there is at least a one in four chance of exceeding a warming of 4oC”, said Dr. (h.c.) Hare. The Climate Action Tracker reveals major differences between the ambition levels of countries when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In the lead are the Maldives and Costa Rica, which have proposed to become climate-neutral by around 2020. At the high end of the scale are Norway, Japan and Brazil, which are proposing to reduce their emissions significantly. In the “medium” range are developing countries such as India, Indonesia, Mexico and South Korea, who propose to reduce the growth of their emissions by the 2020s. The EU is a special case, in that its unconditional commitment is rated “inadequate”. However, if it’s 30% reduction target were to be adopted, the EU would move into the “medium” range and very close to “sufficient”. China has moved down a category, because it’s recently announced target falls short of the ambition level that we had expected from the implementation of the current national policies. Between the middle and the bottom of the scale is the United States, whose recently proposed actions are “inadequate”, i.e. they do not fall within the range that is needed to keep global warming within lower limits. At the very bottom end of the scale are countries that have yet to propose substantial action beyond “business as usual”. These include Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. Note for the editor The web-based based climate policy assessment system “Climate Action Tracker” was developed by Ecofys, Climate Analytics and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). It provides a picture of each country’s proposed commitments and actions and how these contribute to total greenhouse gas emission reductions globally. The Climate Action Tracker enables the public to track the emission commitments and actions of countries. The website provides an up-to-date assessment of individual country pledges about greenhouse gas emission reductions. It also plots the consequences for the global climate of commitments and actions made ahead of and during the Copenhagen Climate Summit. The Climate Action Tracker shows that much greater transparency is needed when it comes to targets and actions proposed by countries. For developed countries, accounting for forests and land-use change significantly degrades the overall stringency of the targets. For developing countries climate plans often lack calculations of the resulting impact on emissions. You can find the Climate Action Tracker at www.climateactiontracker.org. Ecofys and Climate Analytics are both research organizations that specialize in energy and climate-related issues.

Biomass: New Feedstock for the Plastic Industry

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:34:00 +0200

Several technology routes are currently available to commercially manufacture ¡°green propylene.¡± In fact, we¡¯re talking about a puzzle of independent technology parts, where proven and emerging technologies are adapted to be part of a larger chemical process chain. Figure 1 (page 51) illustrates some of the routes to ¡°green propylene,¡± which can be divided into two groups: the biochemical platform and the thermochemical platform. The biochemical platform-based technologies use biomass-based sugars to ferment into ethanol (and alternatively to butanol), a variety of materials can be used for fermentation, such as corn starch, sugarcane, sugar beet, etc. Selection of the most appropriate raw material often depends on the availability for large-scale production. Corn is the most common raw material in the U.S., however, sugarcane can be more cost-effective than corn in tropical countries such as Brazil, India, China, Thailand and Pakistan. The use of enzymes to convert biomass into ethanol is a mature and proven technology. Nonetheless, there is still potential in the use of enzyme technology to further optimize and improve the production of ethanol. On the other hand, fermentation to butanol needs some further development to get to a mature level. Once alcohols are obtained¡ªethanol and butanol¡ªthey must be processed to olefins¡ªethylene and butene respectively¡ªthen combined in the metathesis step, where ethylene and butene¡¯s bonds are broken and rearranged into propylene. The metathesis reaction can be represented by: Ethylene + Butene ¡ú 2 Propylene (C2H4) (C4H8) 2 x (C3H6) Ethanol dehydration, butanol dehydration, ethylene dimerization and metathesis are all commercially available technologies, but are mostly used for applications other than manufacturing green propylene. Thermochemical technologies can use heterogeneous material as feedstock, using heat to convert these carbon-rich materials into gas (called syngas) in the gasification step, which is a crucial component of a thermochemical technology platform. Several companies market different biomass gasification technologies. The syngas obtained is then purified so it can be transformed into products such as methanol and ethanol, which, in turn, will be further processed to propylene. The most common technology used to accomplish that last step is the methanol-to-propylene (MTP) technology, which is, along with the syngas-to-alcohol technology, commercially available. Some companies license the entire thermochemical chain in individual technology parts. Process Economics The study focused on technology units combined to produce 440 million pounds a year (200,000 metric tons or 220,000 tons), which is a medium-to-small size propylene facility in the conventional petrochemical industry. The economics shown in Table 1 are for two different technology combinations. The study assigned a pre-crisis propylene price of 68 cents per pound ($1,500 per metric ton), with no premium price, biomass delivered at $80 per dry metric ton, and ethanol at $525 per metric ton. Although a 200,000 metric-ton-per-year plant might be economically attractive, a crucial issue here is biomass availability near the plant. For smaller plants, profitability will depend on tax incentives or customers that are willing to pay a premium price for the green product. Finding this premium price market can be the most important decision parameter when considering entering this market. Sensitivity Studies Figure 2 illustrates the effect of important factors on the calculated return on investment for both technology combinations. Operating costs: As can be seen in Figure 2, the impacts of higher operating costs can be devastating to process profitability. This is especially true for biochemical routes with no agricultural integration (one that buys ethanol from the market, for example) in locations where ethanol can cost more than $525 per metric ton (which is already a low-cost ethanol, typical in Brazil). Thermochemical routes are less affected than biochemical with regard to the raw material costs, once biomass has a lower share in the thermochemical process operating cost, but it also deserves careful attention. Conversely, lower operating costs can boost profitability and give a competitive edge to a very attractive level, as also shown in Figure 2. Capital costs: Capital costs also have an important effect on process profitability. There is usually a technology trade-off between capital and operating costs. However, building facilities in countries where construction costs are lower can save a considerable amount of money with no loss of operating performance. Premium price market: This is another factor that should not be neglected; the extra price that some customers would pay for a green product. In Europe and Japan, this is already happening with some car manufacturers and cosmetic companies looking to introduce green propylene into their final products, and they can pay up to 30 percent more for that. Figure 2 shows that a 15 percent increase in the propylene price would make the green propylene business a good one when compared to other industrial businesses. Technology Developments Combined thermochemical and biochemical: The focus of such technology development is the more complete use of the biomass to produce propylene: the sugar or starch would be fermented to ethanol and the cellulosic part (sugarcane bagasse or corn straw and leafs, for example) would be gasified to syngas. Both ethanol and syngas would then be reacted together to produce propanol which, in turn, would be dehydrated to propylene. Such a technology combination is still under development, but it is promising, since less biomass would be required to produce the same amount of the green plastic and that means less land, and lower capital and operating costs. Enzymatic development: Enzymatic methods require the application of sophisticated biotechnology for their development, but once developed they are relatively easy to produce and use with minimal energy and capital inputs. Some companies are putting research and development efforts on enzymes that will be able to convert sugars into propanol directly, in a relatively simple technology that would make the manufacture of green propylene as easy as green ethylene. Once confirmed and marketed, such a process would bring the green propylene manufacturing to a new technology level. Figure 3 shows such development routes schematically. Final Remarks Producing green propylene can be economically attractive today and will certainly be in the near future. It is necessary, however, for someone entering this market to make a careful analysis of its boundary conditions, especially for target market, geographic conditions, and technology choices in order to avoid economic losses.

Is biobutanol the future?

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:56:00 +0200

Biobutanol is butanol from biomass. It is mainly produced through a process called ABE, which is actually the fermentation of biomass. It is produced from the same crops as bioethanol and can be blended into petrol at higher levels. Many experts claim that biobutanol is the future, and that it will enormously help the world to battle with the energy crisis. Therefore, two UK-based companies — oil giant BP and science-oriented DuPont have formed a company called “Kingston Research”, which will focus on exploring the possibilities for producing biobutanol. The total investment is 27.5 million euro, and the facilities are located in the city of Hull, UK. At that same location, another joint company has its headquarters — “Vervigo Fuels”, which is a joint venture between BP, DuPont and British Sugar. It is focused on producing bioethanol, so co-operation between these two companies will take place immediately. “In the future, it will be possible to convert bioethanol refineries to produce biobutanol,” said Luc Van Den Hemel, general director of Kingston Research. BP has invested around $2 billion in biofuel research so far, mostly by partnering up with other companies to create new technologies to produce all sorts of biofuels. Copyright © 2009 BiofuelsWatch.com. All rights reserved. Source: biofuelswatch.com

Total Philippines urges ethanol investment

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:09:00 +0200

The president and managing director of Total Philippines Ernst Wanten has called on the Philippines government to encourage the building of more ethanol processing plants. ‘There’s a shortage [of ethanol] in both the local and international markets so it is really difficult to get reliable supply of ethanol at the moment.’ Wanten says the government must invest more in the ethanol industry. Total has made preparations for the future and is ready for the E10 blend in petrol. Biofuels News

Bio-fuel growth raises concerns about forests

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:20:00 +0200

Forests are a treasure trove of limbs and bark that can be made into alternative fuels, and some worry the increasing trend of using that logging debris will make those materials too scarce, harming the woodlands. For centuries, forests have provided lumber to build cities, pulp for paper mills and a refuge for hunters, fishers and hikers. A flurry of new, green ventures is fueling demand for trees and the debris leftover when they are harvested, which is called waste wood or woody biomass. "There simply is nowhere near enough waste wood for all of these biomass projects that are popping up all over the place," said Marvin Roberson, a forest policy specialist with the Sierra Club in Michigan. Waste wood has become a sought-after commodity, prompting concerns that the demand might overwhelm supply and damage the ecosystem. But government officials say there's plenty available and they point to guidelines that are aimed at maintaining tree debris to give the soil nutrients. Many biomass projects are tied to the forests that Advertisement extend across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and part of Ontario. Among them is Flambeau River Papers, a mill in Park Falls, Wis., that emerged from bankruptcy three years ago and is pinning its hopes for profitability on generating its own heat with woody biomass. In another Wisconsin town 50 miles away, a power company is switching from burning coal to producing combustible gas from logging leftovers. And in Michigan's neighboring Upper Peninsula, a plant under development called Frontier Renewable Resources will convert timber into 40 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year. Researchers led by University of Minnesota forest expert Dennis Becker reported this summer that many would-be investors are uneasy about supplies of waste wood. They fear environmental reviews and litigation could make some public woodlands unreliable sources, particularly in the West, where most forest lands are under federal ownership and logging often raises legal tussles, the report said. Another problem with woody biomass is that much of the supply is in protected areas, or so far from markets that removing and transporting it would be too expensive, Becker said. He led a separate study that found a realistic estimate of biomass available in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin was 4.1 million tons per year. Annual demand soon could reach 5.7 million tons, it said. "A lot of folks believe there's a significant amount of woody biomass that can be used for renewable energy," Becker said. "In reality, not everything that's physically available is economically feasible or environmentally sustainable." State and federal officials say there's enough material left over from harvesting the nation's forests to help reduce dependence on foreign oil, curb greenhouse gases and build a green economy. A federal report says about 368 million tons of biomass could be removed sustainably from U.S. forests each year. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in August promised to spend $57 million on 30 projects supporting development of biofuels from trees. "Emerging markets for carbon and sustainable bioenergy will provide landowners with expanded economic incentives to maintain and restore forests," Vilsack said. A number of states have developed guidelines for collecting biomass in a way that doesn't harm forests. Minnesota calls for leaving 33 percent of fine woody debris in place, said Anna Dirkswager, state biomass coordinator. Wisconsin recommends 20 to 25 percent remains for most locations. Copyright © 2009 Woodward Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Source: Thonline.com

Government stifling bioethanol industry

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:17:00 +0200

Officials of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry yesterday asked why the government itself is “stifling” the birth of a new industry that could give jobs to many and stimulate the economy. This was the point raised by MBCCI president Roberto Montelibano and Greg Lopez, executive director of the Bio-Ethanol Philippines Inc. Lopez, the most vocal advocate of bioethanol, pointed out that in other countries, governments makes sure that incentives are given to infant industries to be able to attract investors. “But here in the Philippines , the government is pussy footing in the petition by the Ethanol Producers Association of the Philippines and the Confederation of Sugar Producers Association Inc. to raise the tariff level of bioethanol from the current one percent to 10 percent at least,” he said. The petition is now with the Tariff Commission. Although both were also aware that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had issue anexecutive order two years ago when the country still had not produced a single drop ethanol. That was supposed to pave the way for the entry of ethanol that could insure the compliance with the mandated five percent blend with gasoline. “But now, with the country already producing bioethanol, there is all the reason to raise it to the level of 10 to 30 percent to pave the way of the flowering of the infant ventures, Montelibano said. Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, meanwhile, said he has written the Tariff commission arguing that the agency should immediately heed the collective demand by both the EPAP and the Confed to have the tariff raised to 30 percent. Another point raised by Montelibano and Lopez was the need for the 10 percent equity by the government in ethanol ventures. And, more important, the need for the contract of intent by oil firms to use ethanol as gasoline blend for use by motor vehicles, they added. The equity needed, Lopez said, can just be left with the investors by the government and will fuel later the emergence of at least five more bioethanol plants. In the case of the letter of intent contract, he added, that usually allows banks to lend money to prospective ethanol manufacturing ventures. An ethanol plant may soon be put up in the Murcia area, according to Montelibano. But he said that foreign investors are willing to put up the equity with the government guarantee that it will be honored and respected. “Some countries have already indicated they are willing to pick up the one percent equity but with the promise that they will receive the ethanol products for export to them, Montelibano said. Source: The Visayan Daily Star

Passengers fly on biodiesel

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:59:00 +0200

It has been tested in aeroplanes before, but now biofuels have made new aviation headlines. On Monday 23 November KLM Royal Dutch Airlines transported passengers above the Netherlands for 90 minutes with one engine powered with a 50% mix of biofuel and 50% kerosene, the typical air craft fuel, which fuelled the three other engines. Biofuel used on the flight reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional kerosene. ‘We hope to receive certification at the end of 2010. Then the question is: how fast can we produce it?’ KLM CEO Peter Hartman says. Experts say global aviation emissions could reach 2.4 billion tonnes in 2050, which would be 15-20% of all carbon dioxide permitted under a global agreement and a nearly four-fold increase on current levels. www.biofuels-news.com

Giant reed 'a giant danger to environment'

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:42:00 +0200

The Government is being warned not to play with fire by promoting the use of an invasive weed to produce biofuel. Biologist and project officer with the invasive species council, Tim Low, will warn of the potential dangers of cultivating the species Giant Reed (Arundo donax) in a speech to a biosecurity conference in Canberra today. The giant reed is a member of the grass family and looks similar to sugar cane or bamboo. The reed is one of the fastest growing plants on earth and during peak conditions is capable of growing as much as 10cm per day. The speed at which it grows allows it to overcome native plants very quickly and has led to it being declared a noxious weed in a number of countries including some parts of Australia. "The state of California spends many millions of dollars controlling giant reed, but in Australia, taxpayers' money is being used to promote it as biofuel," Mr Low will tell the conference. The reed is just one of the candidates for what is known as a second-generation biofuel, where the whole plant is used to produce fuel rather than just the seeds. The traits that make the reed attractive as a second-generation biofuel crop, being fast growing and low maintenance, also make it an incredibly invasive weed. Mr Low warns that the Rural Industries Research Development Corporation and the South Australian Government may be misguided in the belief that with regulation the reed can be grown safely. The two bodies are running a trial of the reed. "You're talking about high-volume, low-value crops. To factor into that a high-regulatory regime you are going to need weed officers monitoring, weed teams mopping up infestations, and the economics aren't going to pay for it," he said. "For biofuels to make a difference to climate change, vast plantings will be needed, and it is naive to believe a weed can be grown on a mass scale without it doing what weeds always do." A report conducted by the Invasive Species Council, The Weedy Truth About Biofuels, concluded most of the plants being considered for producing fuel are serious weeds with the potential to do more harm than good. "Concerns about climate change should not be allowed to override concerns about invasive species," Mr Low said. "The Federal environment department should be taking a leadership role in ensuring that environmental risks are considered before the hype about new economic opportunities takes hold." Copyright 2009 News Limited. Source: News.com.au

Some biofuels are twenty times worse than fossil fuels

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:49:00 +0200

A report by the United Nations has highlighted the danger posed to the environment by certain types of biofuel, the worst of which can emit twenty times more greenhouse gases than fossil fuels. The most environmentally-damaging type of biofuel is a biodiesel from palm oil when grown in tropical peatland forests that have been cleared for the purpose. The report also found that the best types of biofuel can have a clear environmental benefit; recycling waste products to produce biofuel can prevent the problem of land clearance and generating electricity using wood, straw and other crop or waste material was generally more energy-efficient and offset more emissions than converting biomass to liquid fuels. However, new biomass-fired power plants planned for Britain are likely to result in a dramatic increase in imports of timber. There is pressure for the plants to use more waste wood rather than virgin timber. A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “If we tax the producers of carbon dioxide and other climate change gases, changes will occur faster than if government tries to second guess future technologies and personal taste. Biofuel could be a false dawn, but if we proceed with care we could enjoy numerous dividends – just tax what we know to be bad and the good will flow from the results.” © 2007 ETA Services Ltd Source: ETA

Canadian Solar sees doubling shipments in 2010

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:16:00 +0200

Canadian Solar Inc's third-quarter profit rose sharply on strong demand, comfortably beating estimates, and the company said it expects to more than double shipments in 2010, sending its shares up more than 7 percent to their highest levels in a year. The company, which backed its 2009 shipment view of about 295 megawatts (MW) to 305 MW, currently sees shipping about 600 MW to 700 MW in 2010. On a conference call with analysts, the company said it had "reasonable" visibility into the first quarter and 2010. "We have seen reasonable visibility. Our customers have already given us firm purchase orders for both December and January," company executives said. The company added that while the first quarter was usually weak, the first quarter of 2010 will be relatively stronger compared with last year. Canadian Solar said major markets, including Germany, Italy and the U.S. would drive demand, adding that it expects strong growth from newer markets, such as Canada, Japan and China. "For 2010...countries such as France and India might prove to be dark horses," a company executive said. "Basically our strategy is to improve our position in traditional markets such as Germany, Italy and Spain, while at the same time, diversifying into other significant markets." Given strong demand, Canadian Solar said it plans to increase its solar module production capacity to 1 gigawatt by the end of April 2010 from 820 MW currently. The company, however, warned that average selling prices (ASP) would continue to fall. "Third-quarter ASPs were just over $2, which reflects the industry average," the company said, adding that prices in the fourth-quarter would likely come in below $2. Canadian Solar said it was modeling for a sequential decline of about 7 percent to 8 percent for the first quarter, on a Euro basis. While a fall in prices might be bad for component companies, customers benefit as the lower prices bring progress toward so-called "grid parity," the point at which renewables cost the same as fossil fuel-based forms of power generation. For the latest third-quarter, the company earned 69 cents a share, more than double the 31 cents a share it earned last year, comfortably beating estimates of 54 cents a share. Sales nearly doubled sequentially to $213.1 million, coming in above Wall Street view. Shares of the Chinese solar-cell maker rose $1.35 to a year-high of $21.05, before paring gains to trade up 2 cents at $19.72 Tuesday on Nasdaq. The stock has so far risen nearly seven-fold from a March low. Reuters

New biofuel plant to be built in US

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:08:00 +0200

A new €12.7 million biomass fuel production plant will be built in Michigan, US. The plant will be built, by Cleveland’s Cliffs Natural Resources subsidiary RenewaFuel, on the Telkite Technology Park, which is located at Sawyer Airport near Marquette. The plant will produce 150,000 tons per year of high-energy biofuel cubes, which are a mixture of sustainably collected wood and agricultural feedstocks. The cubes will be dispersed in the local community to farmers and loggers. William A. Brake, chairman of RenewaFuel, said: ‘Our objective with this first full-scale plant is to establish safe, profitable production and demonstrate to utilities and other industries currently using non-renewable energy sources that RenewaFuel energy cubes are a cost-effective way to supplement or replace fossil fuels in their operations’. The biofuel cubes generate the same amount of energy as coal from the Western United States but they emit 90% less sulphur dioxide, 35% less particulate matter and 30% less acid gases than coal. The plant will be in production at the new site by the middle of 2010. www.biofuels-news.com

US Air Force takes biofuels on board

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:34:00 +0200

August and September saw a rush of renewable fuels projects approaching the US Navy. Now The United States Air Force is looking at a greener future. The Air Force will undertake research related to alternative fuels, in a shift to move away from heavy consumption of fossil fuels. The $2.5 million (€1.67 million) Assured Aerospace Fuels Research Facility, located at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, is expected to be constructed by the end of Q3 2010. It is expected to develop around 15 to 25 gallons a day of research jet fuel composed of biofuels, coal and other gas alternatives with the help of private companies and university researchers. "The Air Force Research Laboratory has been a centre of excellence for fuel research, and this facility allows us to expand that into the alternative fuel arena,’ AF Research Laboratory engineer Tim Edwards comments. Any fuel breakthroughs made through the USAF facility could be shared with the private sector, helping airlines and other industries save money. All branches of the US military continue research into alternative fuels, as the government spends millions to fuel aircraft, ships, Humvees, and other necessary military vehicles. The US Army is currently working on a hybrid Humvee and further work is expected to take place in the future. In September the US Department of Defence signed a contract with US-based biofuel producer Solazyme to research, develop and demonstrate commercial scale production of biofuel using algae as feedstock to meet the US Navy’s rigorous specifications for military tactical platforms. www.biofuels-news.com

Biofuel sales into Irish law

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:42:00 +0200

It must be the luck of the Irish – the UK Government has implemented a new environmental regulation under which fuel companies must sell 4% of sales in biofuels in Ireland by July 2010. The Government approved the biofuels obligation a year later than originally envisaged. There will be a requirement that the biofuels used by oil companies must produce 35% less greenhouse gases than fossil fuel. Some of the blame for a food shortage in the developing world during early 2008 was put on biofuels. Crops traditionally grown for food were being diverted to fuel, leading to increases in prices and subsequent shortages, reports found. However, during the early months of 2008, several European countries, including the UK, called for a review of the EU target of 10% mix of biofuels in petrol and diesel consumption by 2020. It is estimated that approximately 30% of biofuels used in Ireland are produced by Irish companies. However, with a 4% obligation, the volume of biofuels being used will increase dramatically, with most of it being sourced abroad. The department has said it hopes the obligation will provide an impetus for increased biofuels production in Ireland. The 4% figure is a downward revision of targets set by the Government in early 2007 for biofuels to represent 5.75% of the fuel mix by 2009. Irish authorities are intent on introducing mechanisms that will ensure Ireland reaches the target of biofuels comprising 10% of all transport fuels by 2020. www.biofuels-news.com

Biomass projects head for the highlands

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:11:00 +0200

Nine biomass plants could be built in Scotland, UK, if a funding programme is fruitful. UK-based investment company Invicta Capital has launched a fund aiming to raise £300 million (€336.5 million) to invest in the plants, which will produce up to 90 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy. The plants will produce enough power to supply 140,000 homes using biomass technology whereby organic material is cooked in a low-oxygen environment to produce gas used to generate electricity. The fund is unusual among renewable energy vehicles because it has specified the form of technology as well as identifying sites where it will set up power plants. Contracts for both the fuel supply and energy produced are already in place and the fund will aim to pay a net annual return of 8%. At the end of a five-year term, the fund will seek a trade sale or capital markets transaction involving bank debt or an IPO to return funds to investors. The power generated will be eligible for renewable obligation certificates, issued by the government to accredited generators, which can be traded.

Green power plants could end need for landfill

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:15:00 +0200

Plans for the first in a new generation of clean-energy plants were given the go-ahead by the government in Peterborough today. Waste glass, plastic and metal are to be converted into clean energy and recycled into building blocks and roof tiles by Peterborough Renewable Energy (PREL). The company is planning a series of plants across the UK which it claims could spell the end for landfill sites Energy and Climate Change Minister David Kidney said: "This plant will provide reliable, low carbon energy for years to come. The UK needs to generate 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020, and energy from biomass could contribute as much as a third of that. Meeting our target means we have to follow the East of England’s example and build more plants like this." The power station will include a cluster of plants which together provide a means of dealing with materials such as waste and provide beneficial outputs such as recovered glass, plastics and metals. A PREL spokesman said: "The Energy Park will be the first in what we hope will become a nationwide network, which will fundamentally change the way that we deal with mixed waste in the UK, eliminating all need for future landfill, creating renewable energy and producing higher value goods. "The PREL process brings together mechanical recycling, food waste digestion, gasification, and plasma melting - in one location - to provide a zero-landfill solution for society’s rubbish." The first plant is expected to create over 300 jobs during the construction phase. © Reed Business Information Ltd Source: Contract Journal

LUKoil eyes Greenfield ethanol

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:52:00 +0200

Ireland-based Greenfield Project Management has entered into an agreement to sell its ethanol output to LUKoil’s trading and supply company Litasco. Greenfield’s first bioenergy complex in Belarus will initially produce 150,000 metric tonnes of ethanol a year, rising to 450,000 tonnes as phases 2 and 3 are completed. Litasco intends to blend Greenfield’s ethanol with LUKoil’s petrol to supply E5, E10, E85 and other petrol/ethanol blends (E Blends) as required by the EU Directives. LUKoil is Russia’s largest oil company in Russia with over 10 trillion barrels in proven reserves. Litasco (LUKoil International Trading and Supply Company) is its exclusive international marketing and trading company trading crude oil and refined petroleum products, handling physical volumes of more than 2 million barrels per day. The bioenergy complex will be located at Mozyr, producing over 570 million litres of ethanol a year and biogas and electricity. This project and future projects will be strongly carbon-saving and will make a substantial contribution to reducing greenhouse gases. Greenfield plans, in conjunction with the Government of Belarus and international organisations such as the UNDP, to extend production of biofuels and to use the cultivation of biomass for biofuels as a means to speed up decontamination of the lands affected by radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear explosion in 1986. www.biofuels-news.com