February 2016 News and Matters of Interest

Remember to check our Highlights for new postings on other areas of Teru Talk.

New Research Published on Efficient Production of Ethanol from Dairy Waste

A new research article on a new method for efficient production of ethanol has just been published in the online journal Biotechnology for Biofuels. The article, A novel cell factory for efficient production of ethanol from dairy waste, was supported by a grant from the Innovation fund Denmark (4106-00037B). The researchers generated a Lactococcus lactis strain which produces ethanol as its sole fermentation product from the lactose contained in residual whey permeate (RWP). A process for the production of ethanol was developed using a cheap renewable feedstock and L. lactis as a cell factory for converting lactose into value-added compounds. The results demonstrate that it is possible to achieve sustainable bioconversion of waste products from the dairy industry (RWP) and corn milling industry (CSLH) to ethanol and the process developed shows great potential for commercial realization.  02/27/2016

GE Chosen to Build 100% Biomass-Fired 215MW Power Plant in Belgium

GE has announced its selection by Mechelen-based Belgian Eco Energy (BEE) to build the largest greenfield, 100 percent biomass-fired power plant in the world. The supercritical plant, which will be powered by wood chips and agro residues, will generate approximately 215 megawatts (MW) of cleaner energy for the industry and nearby households, reaching over 60 percent efficiency when operating in cogeneration mode. GE’s Steam Power Systems using Alstom’s energy technologies will provide the overall design, engineering, and construction of the plant and the integration of the in-house critical parts of the power block including the circulating fluidized bed boiler, steam turbine, generator and air quality control systems. BEE’s new plant also will be fitted with a district heating system of approximately 110 MW thermal energy to supply heating to industries and households in the city of Ghent, Belgium. Commercial operation is planned for 2019. Abengoa was originally selected by BEE in 2014 to design and construct the plant. 02/27/2016  

Alliance BioEnergy Acquires Remaining Interest in AMG Energy Group

Florida based Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc has announced that its board approved a plan (the Merger Plan) on February 22, 2016 to merge privately held AMG Energy Solutions (Solutions) into wholly owned Company subsidiary AMG Renewables (Renewables), and to acquire all remaining outstanding ownership interest in AMG Energy Group (Group). The Merger Plan will give the Company 100% ownership of Group, which holds the exclusive license to the patented cellulose to sugar CTS technology in North America and Africa and owns 50% of Carbolosic, LLC, a company that holds the master license to the patented CTS technology. The exact details of the Merger Plan will be disclosed and released once finalized. Once complete, Company wholly owned subsidiaries Renewables and Group will merge, leaving only AMG Energy Group as the operational subsidiary of the Company. AMG Energy Group owns 100% of Ek Laboratories, LLC and the CTS pilot facility, located in Longwood, Florida along with the aforementioned exclusive territories and Carbolisic, LLC. 02/25/2016

Hawaii Sponsors New $6.8 Million Waste to Energy System Demonstration

The High Technology Development Corporation’s (HTDC) Hawaii Center for Advanced Transportation Technologies (HCATT) has sponsored a demonstration of a $6.8 million renewable and clean, waste to energy generating system. The demonstration runs through this summer at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH), near the campus of the Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG), and was done through a contract with Biomass Energy Systems, Inc. (BESI).  The waste to energy (WTE) project demonstration showcases the efficacy of converting 10 tons of waste per day to electricity using TurnW2E® Gasification technology. Phase I of the microgrid will utilize a rotary kiln gasifier that turns waste into fuel, heat and electricity. The BESI rotary kiln system was installed at JBPHH in December 2015 and has completed all of its initial testing this month.  It will begin running specific “recipes” for several weeks to collect data using specific “feed-stock” that can be expected from a military base with a population of about 2000 people.  The system will then be tested on its ability to produce hydrogen that can be used in fuel cell vehicles already being demonstrated at JBPHH.  It will then be used to produce a liquid jet fuel from waste.  Eventually, the Air Force plans to include the gasifier in the first phase of its micro-grid project at the end of this year. 02/25/2016  

ElectraTherm ORC to Generate Clean Energy from Biomass in UK

Nevada based ElectraTherm has announced the shipment of its Power+ Generator 4400 to a chicken farm in the United Kingdom (UK), its second application in the country to utilize biomass to generate emission-free electricity. Slated for a spring 2016 commissioning, the site uses a combination of biomass and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) technology. ElectraTherm utilizes Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and proprietary technologies to generate power from low temperature heat ranging from 77-122°C. At this site, the farm is using woodchips to heat a 600kW biomass boiler to 116°C. The boiler heats water to run the Power+ Generator, and produces clean electricity that is sold back to the utility at an incentivized rate. The Power+ also acts as a CHP system, and remaining heat from ElectraTherm’s condenser helps dry wood chips as part of the biomass processing. 02/24/2016

Scotland's Circular Economy Strategy has 33% Food Waste Reduction Target

The Scottish Government has announced the publication of Scotland’s first ever strategy aimed at helping move the country towards a more circular economy. Last week, the First Minister announced £70 million of EU and domestic funding to support a more circular economy, alongside Scotland’s Manufacturing Action Plan. Now, Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead has pledged to cut food waste in Scotland by a third by 2025, which could save businesses and households across the country at least £500 million. The Cabinet Secretary made his announcement during a visit with EU Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella in Edinburgh to launch Scotland’s first Circular Economy Strategy. The publication, "Making Things Last, A Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland," sets out the Scottish Government’s early priorities for action, in the areas where Scotland is in a position to make rapid progress – such as remanufacturing – and where there is scope to deliver the most significant environmental and economic benefits, including food and bioeconomy, energy, infrastructure and construction. The new strategy will be delivered in close collaboration with Scotland’s enterprise agencies, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Zero Waste Scotland. 02/24/2016  

DONG Energy Constructing Waste Conversion Bio-Plant in the UK

Denmark based DONG Energy will finance, build and operate the world's first bio-plant that uses enzymes to handle unsorted household waste without prior treatment. The ground-breaking technology, REnescience, has been developed by DONG Energy and tested at a demonstration plant in Copenhagen since 2009. The new commercial full-scale plant will be built in Northwich near Manchester and will ensure that a larger part of United Kingdom (UK) waste will be recycled and converted into biogas, as well as recyclable plastics and metals. The plant will have an annual capacity of 120,000 tonnes of waste, corresponding to the waste from almost 110,000 households. The waste will be supplied by UK waste management company FCC Environment, which already collects household waste in the region. The design and planning of the plant in Northwich have been completed, and the majority of the supply and installation contracts have been executed. DONG Energy expects construction work to begin at the end of February 2016, and that the plant will be commissioned in early 2017.  02/23/2016

American Chemical Society Launches New Journal - ACS Energy Letters

The American Chemical Society is launching a new peer-reviewed journal, ACS Energy Letters, that will focus on rapid communication of research from across the energy field, including energy capture, conversion, and storage. Prashant Kamat, Rev. John A Zahm Professor of Science in the department of chemistry and biochemistry radiation laboratory at the University of Notre Dame, will serve as the inaugural editor-in-chief, effective March 1, 2016. Kamat is currently deputy editor of the Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. In addition to original research letters, the interdisciplinary journal will include perspectives from prominent researchers, reviews on emerging areas of interest, and viewpoints from the scientific community. Topics will include advances in energy conversion processes, solar cells and solar fuels, photosynthesis and biofuels, energy storage, and light display systems. Kamat points out that other ACS journals will continue to publish more in-depth studies on energy research related to their specific fields. ACS Energy Letters will begin accepting submissions for consideration on March 1, and it will publish its first issue this summer. 02/23/2016 

WELTEC Group Acquires 3.3MW Decommissioned Biogas Plant in Germany

WELTEC BIOPOWER has announced that its subsidiary Nordmethan GmbH purchased a decommissioned biogas plant in Falkenhagen, Brandenburg, Germany, last month. Following the fundamental technical and administrative restructuring and modernization, the plant is expected to resume operations towards the end of 2016 and generate 3.3 MW of electricity. The power will be fed into the public power grid, and the exhaust heat from the CHP plant is to be used for the digestate drying process. The plant had been built in 2007 with five digesters, five post-digesters, five digestate storage units, and six combined heat and power (CHP) systems and was commissioned in 2008. Until 2015, the plant was operated by various owners. The WELTEC Group will invest about €2 million in renovations that include replacement of all solid matter input systems and a general overhaul of the six CHP plants. All tank roofs are to be replaced, and the mixer technology is to be serviced and replaced if necessary. The pumps will be replaced, the control technology will be modernized, and the three dryers will be repaired. WELTEC also acquired two German biomethane refineries in 2015. 02/22/2016

US Chamber Foundation Issues Report on Circular Economy Business Value

The US Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center has issued a new report detailing the value businesses can find in viewing waste as a resource and engaging in the circular economy. The report, titled "Trash to Treasure: Changing Waste Streams to Profit Streams," examines the weight and impact of waste on American business. It features business case studies that illustrate the power of the circular economy to increase efficiency and profitability. Businesses that understand, measure, and manage their waste and take action to eliminate, reduce, or reuse that waste can open up new revenue streams, increase efficiency, and unleash innovation, the report concludes. Jennifer Gerholdt, director of Environmental Initiatives for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center: "The circular economy offers a wealth of opportunity for the American business community. As companies confront the realities of today’s economic environment, it’s easy to overlook the value and the potential for growth that lies in ordinary, everyday waste." 02/22/2016 

CEC Schedules Empower California (AB865) Workshops and Meetings

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has scheduled a general informational meeting and  three workshops on February 26, 2016, to begin implementation of Assembly Bill (AB) 865. The bill instructs the CEC to establish an outreach plan to broaden diversity of business participation in all the agency’s funding areas, and to establish a Diversity Task Force. The CEC’s Research Development Division will provide an overview starting at 9am. Starting at 10:00am, the agency will conduct three concurrent workshops, focused on (a) Fuels and Transportation Division Funding Programs, (b) Efficiency Division Funding Programs, and (c) Renewable Division Funding Programs. The workshops will provide an opportunity to learn how to apply for nearly $700 million in funding opportunities, collaborating with successful funding applicants, and to learn about the new CEC Diversity Task Force. The initial meeting and all three workshops will be accessible via WebEx and telephone call-in. Participation details are available in the official Notice and on the agency’s program page online; additional supportive documents will be posted tot eh program page the day of the workshop. 02/19/2016

Fungi from Farm Animal Manure Successfully Converts Biomass to Sugars

Researchers have found that anaerobic gut fungi from goats, horses, and sheep perform as well as the best fungi engineered by industry in their ability to convert plant material into sugars that are easily transformed into fuel and other products. The researchers from  the Environmental Molecular Science Laboratory at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the DOE Joint Genome Institute reported their findings in the journal Science on February 18, 2016. The researchers found that the fungi adapt their enzymes to wood, grass, agricultural waste, or whatever scientists feed it. The findings suggest that industry could modify the gut fungi so that they produce improved enzymes that will outperform the best available ones, potentially leading to cheaper biofuels and bio-based products. Michelle O'Malley, lead author and professor of chemical engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara: "Nature has engineered these fungi to have what seems to be the world's largest repertoire of enzymes that break down biomass." 02/19/2016

GFBiochemicals Enters US Market for Levulinic Acid by Acquiring Segetis

Italy based GFBiochemicals has acquired the assets and intellectual property of Minnesota company Segetis, the main levulinic acid derivatives producer in the US market. GFBiochemicals produces levulinic acid directly from biomass and at an industrial scale. Segetis produces levulinic acid derivatives with several proprietary applications – including fragrances, plasticizers for PVC and biopolymers, personal care, household & industrial cleaners, agrochemicals formulations, and coating / adhesive strippers industries. Segetis brings unique knowledge and over 250 patents applications worldwide. The acquisition includes Segetis assets and intellectual property, as well as its production plant in Minnesota. This allows GFBiochemicals to become a producer of a wide range of bio-based products using levulinic acid, and to enter the Americas with a well-established market base as GFBiochemicals Americas. 02/19/2016  

VTT Separates Proteins from Agro-Waste, Especially Brewers Spent Grain

According to research by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, extraction with deep eutectic solvents (DESs) offer an efficient, sustainable, and easy method for dissolving proteins from agro-biomass by-products. DESs are mixtures of solids that form a liquid solution at low temperatures when mixed in suitable ratios. The method has been tested on separating protein from BSG, rapeseed press cake and wheat bran, all of which contain significant amounts of protein. Brewer's spent grain responded best to protein separation with DES: almost 80 per cent of the protein in BSG could be separated, while conventional extraction methods can achieve no more than 40 per cent. The separation of other substances, such as carbohydrates, can be optimized through the choice of DES. This new protein enrichment method can particularly benefit breweries and animal feed producers, but there are hopes that after further research, this method could also find applications in the food industry. 02/18/2016

All MillerCoors Major Breweries Reach Landfill-Free Milestone

MillerCoors has announced that all of its major breweries are now landfill-free, with the Fort Worth Brewery as the latest site to reach this impressive milestone. MillerCoors Fort Worth Brewery in Texas reduced waste by 66 percent in 2015 compared to 2014. The brewery engaged a Sustainability Employee Council to lead education initiatives throughout the facility, focusing on changing employee behaviors by making recycling easier and more accessible. Nearly 100 percent of brewery waste is recycled or reused, with the small amount of remaining waste going to a waste-to-energy facility, a best practice across MillerCoors. The brewer's journey to landfill-free operations began in 2009, when the company set a goal to reduce brewery waste by 15 percent by 2015. Since 2009, MillerCoors has reduced its waste across the organization by 89 percent, equal to keeping more than 9 million pounds of waste out of local landfills. 02/18/2016

Bioethanol Made from Ag Waste Used For First Time In Cleaning Agents

Switzerland based Clariant in cooperation with German company Werner & Mertz has launched a project which expands the possible applications of bioethanol made from agricultural residues such as straw to detergents, cleansers, and cleaning agents. Sunliquid® bioethanol has been used in Frosch® Bio-Spirit Multisurface-Cleaner since the beginning of the year. As part of this, Clariant supplied the cellulosic ethanol, also called bio spirit, at the end of 2015 from its pre-commercial plant in Straubing, where up to 1 000 tons of cellulosic ethanol are produced annually using the sunliquid® process. Alcohol has been known for its grease and dirt-dissolving properties for decades. Through the use of cellulosic alcohol cleaning products, these properties are coupled with sustainable and environmentally friendly manufacturing: due to its virtually carbon-neutral production, cellulosic ethanol saves up to 95% of CO2 emissions compared to synthetic ethanol from fossil resources. At the same time, it is produced from local residues and does not compete with food production or arable land. 02/18/2016

Eco-Cycle Releases Report - Community Zero Waste Roadmap

The Colorado-based non-profit Eco-Cycle Solutions has released a no-charge report, Community Zero Waste Roadmap. The Roadmap has been developed to help citizens and their communities understand their roles and how collaboration can spark action. The first part of the Roadmap walks through what needs to be done. The next section focuses on how to actually implement change through community partnerships and engagement. By developing a team and assessing current policies, programs and infrastructure, readers will be able to figure out which next steps make sense for their community. This Roadmap provides a high-level overview of the key infrastructure, policies and programs that have been proven to work in the communities pursuing Zero Waste around the globe. It is presented as a three-phase, 10-year plan to recover 90% of the discards in any community and to reduce waste at the source. An Executive Summary is also available. 02/17/2016

Comet Biorefining to Build Biomass-to-Sugar Plant in Ontario, Canada

Canadian company Comet Biorefining, Inc has announced that its commercial-scale biomass-derived sugar facility in the TransAlta Energy Park in Sarnia, Ontario will come online in 2018 producing dextrose sugar from locally-sourced corn stover and wheat straw. Using its proprietary patented process, Comet converts non-food agricultural and forest residues into high-purity dextrose sugars that will be transformed into bio-based products including organic acids, amino acids, and bioplastics. Comet dextrose is cost- and performance-competitive with commercial dextrose sugars, the benchmark raw material for today’s biochemical production. Comet chose to locate in Sarnia by working together with Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC), the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and an Ontario farmers’ cooperative on a project to attract sustainable technology providers to the region and to meet increasing demand from chemical suppliers and consumers for low-carbon products. 02/17/2016  

Due 04/07/2016: Proposals for Critical Raw Material Closed Loop Recovery

The European Critical Raw Materials Closed Loop Recovery project intends to invest in trials to demonstrate innovative new methods for the collection and reprocessing of waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) leading to increased recovery of target critical raw materials. The aims of the trials is to challenge current WEEE collection mechanisms and test opportunities for increased recovery of target materials graphite, cobalt, antimony, tantalum, rare earths, silver, gold and platinum group metals. Trials will focus on the collection of Display, ICT, Consumer Electronics and small household appliances as these are rich in the target materials for recovery. The UK Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) will be the Contracting Authority for the trials and will manage the contracts of the UK trials. European Recycling Platform (ERP) and European Advanced Recycling Network (EARN) will manage the contracts of the trials in Germany, Italy and Turkey. The work will be tendered in Lots, based on country of activity. This procurement will be managed electronically through the Delta eSourcing suite. The deadline for submission is April 7, 2016. 02/17/2016  

Versalis and Genomatica Produce Bio-Rubber with Bio-Butadiene

Italy based Versalis (Eni) and California company Genomatica have announced that they have successfully advanced to pilot-scale production of bio-butadiene (bio-BDE) from fully renewable feedstock. Genomatica is working to develop process technology to produce multiple chemicals from a variety of alternative feedstocks such as conventional sugars and sugars from cellulosic biomass or waste. Versalis used this bio-BDE to make bio-rubber, specifically, bio-polybutadiene (bio-BR). Initial testing of the bio-BDE and bio-BR demonstrates good compatibility with industry standards. Versalis is continuing to test the bio-BDE within its other proprietary rubber and plastics downstream technologies such as SBR (Styrene-Butadiene Rubber), SBS (Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene Rubber) and ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene-Styrene). 02/16/2016

Due 05/10/2016: Abstracts for 2016 GSTC Conference Presentations

The Gasification and Syngas Technologies Council (GSTC) is issuing a call for presentations for the 2016 Gasification and Syngas Technologies Conference (October 16-19, 2016 in Vancouver, Canada). GSTC is particularly interested in the following subjects: Gasification technologies; Reforming technologies; Syngas to chemicals (methanol, acetyls, etc); Syngas to liquid fuels; Syngas to hydrogen, ammonia/urea and derivatives; Syngas to olefins; Sulfur removal and recovery; Global project updates; Waste-to-Energy projects; SNG; Downstream user experience; Carbon capture and/or utilization from syngas; Global syngas markets and market drivers; Technology and equipment advances in the syngas industry. Contact the GSTC at <> or call 703-276-0110 with any questions. Please submit your abstract online. 02/16/2016

US DOE Requests Information on Biofuels / Bioproducts Process Facilities

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking input from industry, academia, national laboratories, and other biofuels and bioproducts stakeholders to identify existing pilot- or process development-scale facilities with the capability to perform process verifications for biomass conversion pathways to biofuels, bioproducts, or intermediates. The purpose of the Request for Information (RFI) DE-FOA-0001526 is to develop a comprehensive list of locations that exist as (or are willing to act as) pilot- or process development-scale multi-user facilities for biofuels and bio-based products, chemicals, and intermediates, including synthesis gas, cellulosic sugars, bio-oil, hydrogen, biogas, and methane. The DOE is specifically requesting information on capabilities that are on the scale of approximately 0.5 tons of dry biomass input per day or greater. 02/15/2016

Flint Hills Resources Licenses Edeniq’s Pathway Technology

California company Edeniq, Inc has announced that it has signed an agreement with Kansas based Flint Hills Resources to license Edeniq’s Pathway Technology for all of its ethanol plants. Edeniq’s Pathway Technology integrates Edeniq’s Cellunator™ high shear equipment with cellulase enzymes to convert corn kernel fiber to cellulosic ethanol. The technology utilizes existing fermentation and distillation equipment to produce up to 2.5% cellulosic ethanol and a 7% increase in overall ethanol yield. Edeniq’s Pathway Technology includes a proprietary technical validation process that enables customers to quantify the amount of cellulosic ethanol produced within their plants and comply with the registration, recordkeeping, and reporting required by the EPA to generate cellulosic D3 Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) as defined by the Renewable Fuel Standard. Flint Hills has been an investor in Edeniq since April 2012 and a customer since June 2012. 02/15/2016  

CEC Releases 2015 Integrated Energy Policy Report

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has released the 2015 Integrated Energy Policy Report (2015 IEPR) to provide the results of the CEC’s assessments of a variety of energy issues facing California. The report assesses major energy trends and issues facing the state’s electricity, natural gas, and transportation fuel sectors. It provides policy recommendations to conserve resources; protect the environment; ensure reliable, secure, and diverse energy supplies; enhance the state’s economy; and protect public health and safety. The IEPR was prepared in response to the Senate Bill 1389 (Bowen, Chapter 568, Statutes of 2002) requirement that the CEC adopt an integrated energy policy report every two years. The 2015 IEPR was adopted by the Commission at the February 10, 2016, Business Meeting. 02/12/2016  

Global Change Awards of €1M Distributed to Close the Loop of Fashion

The Global Change Awards 2015 winners have been announced and the public decided how to distribute the  €1 million prize among the five finalist start-up companies. The awards were presented at the Grand Award Ceremony in Stockholm on February 10, 2016. The Swedish H&M Conscious Foundation initiated the Global Change Award program last August, seeking 'disruptive ideas that can shape the future of how fashion is designed and produced, shipped, bought, used and recycled - ideas that can help close the loop for fashion -  in order to protect our planet.' Five winners were selected by an international panel of judges, from over 2,700 submissions from 112 countries. The public was invited to determine the distribution of €1 million in prize funds, based on the number of votes each received. Winners and amounts in descending order are: 1) Making waste-cotton new - conversion of waste-cotton into new textile, €300,000; 2) The polyester digester - using microbes to recycle waste polyester textile, €250,000; 3) An online market for textile leftovers - a marketplace for industrial upcycling of spill in production, €150,000; 4) 100 percent citrus - creating new textile out of citrus juice production by-products, €150,000; 5) Growing textile fibre under water - utilizing algae to make renewable textile, €150,000. 02/11/2016

Blume Adds Patented Vapor Generator Equipment to Tech Portfolio

California company Blume Distillation LLC has entered into an exclusive Strategic Development Agreement (SDA) with Nevada based National Vapor Industries, Inc (NVI). NVI is a producer of proprietary boiler equipment, and it has signed the SDA with Blume transferring all production, representation, and sales rights to Blume globally. Blume will be integrating the NVI vapor generators into its by-product utilization system (BUS) in its current co-products demonstration greenhouse, as well as in its distillery in Watsonville, California.  It augments Blume’s use of distillery waste heat and available carbon dioxide in the high-output production of organic food, fish, and algae in greenhouses integrated with its biorefineries. Blume announced signing an SDA with Aufrecht Technologies last week. 02/11/2016

Due 03/04/2016: Seed Capital Proposals for Waste Plastic Film Recycling

The Closed Loop Fund is ​accepting proposals for below market loans for cities and companies to improve recycling​ infrastructure on a rolling basis. The Closed Loop Foundation (CL Foundation), the independent 501(c)3 affiliate of the Closed Loop Fund, has announced a new Grant and Program Related Investment (PRI) loan opportunity. The Closed Loop Foundation’s Post-Consumer Film Solutions Initiative provides grants and loans to support entrepreneurs, companies, R&D, and projects that have the potential to unlock solutions for film recycling at scale. The CL Foundation will consider requests between $25,000 - $200,000. Submit proposals to <> no later than March 4, 2016. 02/11/2016  

Enval Technology Identified in Ellen MacArthur Report to Recycle Waste Plastic

United Kingdom based Enval Ltd’s patented pyrolysis process has been named among a number of measures aimed at addressing the world’s looming plastic crisis. The recently released Ellen MacArthur Foundation report has identified Enval’s microwave induced pyrolysis technology as a way to recycle plastic and aluminum while achieving energy savings as part of the circular economy. Despite the growing demand, just five per cent of all plastics are properly recycled, with 40 per cent ending up in landfill and a third in fragile ecosystems such as the world’s oceans. This means that by weight, there will be more plastics than fish in the oceans by 2050. Enval’s technology recycles and reclaims material from plastic aluminium laminates, which are seeing massive growth in consumer product packaging – such as toothpaste tubes and pet food pouches – but are currently not recycled. Through microwave induced pyrolysis, Enval recycles the laminate materials, converting plastic into useable oil and reclaiming the aluminium for smelting. 02/10/2016

Gevo Partners With Porta to Construct Bio-Isobutanol Plants in Argentina

Colorado company Gevo, Inc has announced that it has entered into a license agreement and a joint development agreement with Porta Hnos S.A. (Porta) to construct multiple isobutanol plants in Argentina using corn as a feedstock. Although the feedstock for this facility is corn, Gevo has extended the use of biocatalyst yeast to the conversion of cellulosic sugars to jet fuel as part of the Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance (NARA) project comprised of 22 member organizations to use wood feedstocks. The first plant under the two agreements is to be wholly owned by Porta and is anticipated to begin producing isobutanol in 2017. The plant is expected to have a production capacity of up to five million gallons of isobutanol per year. The agreements also contemplate Porta constructing at least three additional isobutanol plants for certain of their existing ethanol plant customers. For these projects, Gevo would be the direct licensor of its technology and the marketer for any isobutanol produced, and would expect to receive all royalties and sales and marketing fees generated from these projects. 02/10/2016

Due 03/01/2016: Comments to CEAA on Woodfibre LNG Project

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) is inviting the public to comment on an analysis of the anticipated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the proposed Woodfibre LNG Project. The analysis, conducted by Environment and Climate Change Canada, outlines estimates of upstream GHG emissions resulting from the extraction of the project's natural gas supply and its transportation to the proposed Woodfibre LNG facility. It also includes data on direct GHG emissions taken from the Government of British Columbia's Assessment Report which is part of the substituted environmental assessment. The analysis was performed in the context of the recently announced interim approach and principles for environmental assessments, which states that direct and upstream greenhouse gas emissions linked to projects under review will be assessed. Written comments must be submitted by March 1, 2016. 02/10/2016  

Ensyn's Renewable Fuel Oil Qualifies under California's LCFS

Delaware based Ensyn Corporation (Ensyn) has announced that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved its Renewable Fuel Oil (RFO™) as a renewable feedstock under California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). The approvals are for production of renewable gasoline and diesel (Refinery Co-processing) in state refineries, and have been granted to Ensyn, Chevron U.S.A., Inc. and Tesoro Corporation as co-applicants. Ensyn converts forest residues and other non-food biomass to a biocrude (RFO) through the application of its proprietary RTP® technology. RTP is a fast thermal process that Ensyn has had in commercial use for over 25 years for the production of food products, chemicals, and heating fuels. The regulatory approvals received from the CARB covers the production of both gasoline and diesel co-processing in specific California refineries using RFO produced at Ensyn's facility in Ontario from forest residues. The carbon intensity of the resulting renewable gasoline and diesel was determined to be in the range of approximately 20-25 g CO2e/MJ, or approximately 70% less than traditional petroleum-based fuels. Ensyn expects that RFO produced at locations closer to the refineries will have reduced carbon intensity due to lower transportation impacts. 02/09/2016

IEA Renewable Energy Tech Development Releases RES-T-BIOPLANT Report

The International Energy Agency Renewable Energy Technology Development program (IEA-RETD) has released a detailed assessment of opportunities for integration of second generation biofuels operations within 1st generation facilities, and of biodiesel production operations for conversion of fossil fuel refineries. The report, 'Towards advanced biofuels – options for integrating 1st and 2nd generation biofuel production (RES-T-BIOPLANT)' is available for download at no cost. The agency finds significant synergies and cost savings, especially for integration of advanced technologies with existing bioethanol plants. The report is the result of scoping intended to get a better understanding of the scale of the opportunity for adapting existing sites to produce advanced biofuels, and to analyze the potential role of government policy to incentivize site conversion. 02/09/2016

Due 05/04/2016: Applications to EREF for Scholarships in Solid Waste Research

The Environmental Research and Education Foundation (EREF) has announced that graduate level scholarship applications are now being accepted for solid waste management research for the 2016-2017 academic year. EREF Scholarships recognize graduate students pursuing excellence in solid waste management research and education. Recipients are chosen based on credentials and potential contributions to the solid waste industry and its scientific community. Award amounts will consider the cost of tuition at the recipient's institution and any other funds received. The application deadline is May 4, 2016 at 5:00 pm (eastern). The deadline is May 4, 2016 at 5:00 pm (eastern). Please send an e-mail to <> or call 919.861.6876 with any questions. 02/09/2016 

Altranex Establishes Research Links with Queen’s University

Canadian biofuels company Altranex has announced a key agreement with Queen's University to extend the firm’s research and development of their novel plant oil conversion platform. Rather than hydrogenate biomass oils during a Fischer-Tropsch conversion, Altranex employs electrochemistry to deoxygenate the biofuel precursor material, dropping both capital and production costs. Work with the Queen's University Innovation Park is expected accelerate the production and commercialization cycle, while facilitating crucial modeling of the resulting biofuels for their impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Queen's University distinguishes itself as one of the leading research-intensive institutions in Canada. 02/08/2016

Construction Progresses on ENVIA's Oklahoma Landfill Gas-to-Liquid Project

Velocys plc announced that it has contracted for installation of process modules, related piping, and ancillary equipment, for ENVIA Energy's Oklahoma City gas-to-liquids (GTL) plant to be located adjacent to Waste Management's East Oak landfill site. ENVIA is a Joint Venture (JV), whose members include a subsidiary of Waste Management, Inc, Ventech Engineers International LLC, and Velocys plc, formed in March 2014 to produce renewable fuels and chemicals from biogas and natural gas using GTL. Velocys has made available to ENVIA Energy up to US$12 million of further funding as part of a stakeholder capital contribution, following which Velocys expects that this commercial reference plant will be fully funded through construction, completion and operation. Fabrication of the modular process units by Ventech Engineers at their fabrication facility in Pasadena, Texas is essentially complete. The manufacture of Velocys' full-scale reactors and the initial catalyst charge to be used at the plant were completed in 2015. Mechanical completion of the GTL plant is expected in mid-year 2016. 02/08/2016

SHL and GPA Win Design Competition for World's Largest WTE Plant in China

The team of Danish firms Gottlieb Paludan Architects (GPA) and Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects (SHL) have won an international competition to design the world's largest waste-to-energy (WTE) plant, planned for construction in Shenzhen, China. Located on the mountainous outskirts of Shenzhen the new Shenzhen East Waste-to-Energy Plant will incinerate 5,000 tonnes of waste per day - equaling one third of the waste generated by Shenzhen's 20 million inhabitants. The winning design organizes the entire plant, including auxiliary buildings, into one circular building - breaking with the traditional rectangular layout of technical facilities. By proposing a clear circular form the footprint of the plant is minimized and the excavation work required to build on the site is equally reduced. The plant is intended to showcase the Waste-to-Energy production as an important technical process that deals with the issues of growing amounts of waste, as well as the issue of finding more environmentally friendly ways of generating power. Detailed design work is due to begin in early 2016, and the plant is scheduled to start operating in 2020. 02/08/2016

New interactive Features at Lincolnshire Energy from Waste Education Centre

FCC Environment has introduced a range of new interactive features at the Lincolnshire Energy from Waste education centre, and visitors are now able to learn more about recycling and green energy. The educational centre within the facility is designed to encourage local schools and groups to visit and learn more about where their waste goes and what happens to it. The goal is to encourage people to recycle and lead to an improved culture of recycling throughout the community. The new features include a model of the plant itself to help visitors to understand the whole process that products go through from their creation from raw materials to being recycled into something new. The Energy from Waste (EfW) facility at North Hykeham, along with the education centre, was opened in 2013 and is owned by the Lincolnshire County Council and run by FCC Environment. 02/08/2016

Due 02/26/2016: Concept to DOE for Mega-Bio: Bioproducts to Enable Biofuels

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced up to $11.3 million in funding to develop flexible biomass-to-hydrocarbon biofuels conversion pathways that can be modified to produce advanced fuels and/or products based on external factors, such as market demand. The intent of funding opportunity DE-FOA-0001433: Mega-Bio: Bioproducts To Enable Biofuels is to identify research and development (R&D) projects that propose a conversion pathway that may flexibly produce bioproducts and biofuels. The proposed pathway must illustrate a realistic approach to producing cost-competitive renewable hydrocarbon biofuels. These pathways could consist of a route to a platform chemical that could be converted to products or fuels, or a route that coproduces chemicals and fuels. Successful applications will include a clear justification for producing the target molecule(s) from biomass, a compelling narrative explaining how the target product(s) will enable biofuels, and supporting techno-economic analysis and life-cycle analysis. The DOE is not interested in pursuing R&D solely on bioproducts that do not contain a fuels component. Applicants must submit a concept paper by 5:00 pm Eastern Time, February 26, 2016, to be eligible to submit a full application. The full application is due 5:00 pm Eastern Time, April 15, 2016. An informational webinar for potential applicants will take place at 3:00 pm Eastern Time, Feb. 16, 2016. 02/08/2016

BDI's Spent-Grain-Fermentation Plant in Göss Produces First Green Electricity

Austria company BDI – BioEnergy International AG (BDI) has announced that an important milestone has been reached during commissioning of the spent-grain-fermentation plant on the grounds of the Göss Brewery in Göss/Leoben, Styria, Austria. At the end of January 2016, the first green electricity was fed into the power grid only two months after the official opening of the plant. Following intensive preparatory work, the combined heat and power plant (CHP) was successfully started up and the first quantity of green electricity was fed into the gas grid. The energy generated from brewery residues will be used to generate steam and any excess volumes will be converted into electric current. The residues from fermentation, a by-product of the new fermentation plant, will be used as a high-quality fertilizer. 02/05/2016

Machinex Is Distributor for Krysteline Glass Recycling Equipment in N America

Canadian company Machinex Industries Inc has announced its alliance with Krysteline Technologies for the introduction of Krysteline's unique glass Implosion technology and associated equipment within the North American marketplace. This strategic distributorship has been formed to provide complementary equipment to the well-established Machinex range of Material Recycling Facilities (MRF) and material handling technologies. The Krysteline technology is capable of significantly enhancing the glass recovery process within a MRF with effective and efficient benefits towards the end marketplace and existing economic conditions. Machinex and Krysteline also offer a full range of glass clean-up systems specifically designed for MRFs including a full range of bulk handling equipment incorporating air density clean-up and screeners to cover all sizes of glass. In addition to its range of technologies, Krysteline can also assist as required with recovered glass commodities trading. 02/05/2016

XFuels Begins Development of Combined Carbon/Hydrogen Fuel Cell System

Oregon based XFuels Inc has announced that it will begin development on a combined hydrogen and carbon fuel cell using both XFuels' hydrogen capture technology and its non-thermal plasma reforming technology with Converde Inc.'s Carbon fuel project. XFuels was acquired by Converde in May 2015. The resulting system will be targeted for small and mid market applications with focus on natural gas and biogas conversion to start. The company will integrate our coal slurry reforming technology once there is a successful pilot on the gas system. Michael McLaren, XFuels CEO: "Having a combined Carbon/Hydrogen fuel cell gives the advantage of using the entire product for electricity and heat production. Most systems to date use conversion technologies to change the carbon into hydrogen via another reaction. The XFuels system will not have to do that conversion and will simplify the system, thus reducing cost and increasing efficiency." 02/05/2016

McKnight Grant Expands EESI’s Clean Energy Project in Iowa and Minnesota

The Energy and Environmental Study Institute (EESI) of Washington D.C. has announced receipt of a two-year $150,000 grant from the Minnesota-based McKnight Foundation. EESI's Clean Energy Project offers On-bill Financing technical assistance to rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities free of charge. Thanks to the new grant support, EESI can now expand this program throughout Iowa and Minnesota to include both energy efficiency and renewable energy from sources including biomass, geothermal heat, sunlight, and wind. On-Bill Financing allow households to pay for energy improvements with loans that are paid back through their energy bills, and can bring the benefits of clean energy to cash-strapped communities despite low credit ratings. For further information, contact Amaury Laporte, <> or 202-662-1884. 02/04/2016

Renewable Energy Group to Acquire Sanimax Biodiesel Plant in Wisconsin

 Renewable Energy Group, Inc (REG) has announced that it has signed an asset purchase agreement with Sanimax Energy, LLC to acquire Sanimax’s 20 million gallon nameplate capacity biodiesel refinery located in DeForest, Wisconsin. The biorefinery is located just north of Madison and began production in 2007. Using the same REG patented and proven high free fatty acid processing technology, it produces biodiesel from lower cost feedstocks including yellow grease, rendered animal fats, and inedible corn oil in addition to refined vegetable oils. Sanimax operates a grease processing facility at the same location, although that facility is not part of the acquisition. Under the asset purchase agreement, REG will pay Sanimax approximately $11 million in cash and will issue 500,000 shares of REG common stock in exchange for the biorefinery and related assets. REG will also pay Sanimax up to an additional $5 million in cash over a period of up to seven years after closing based on the volume of biodiesel produced at the plant, which will be re-named REG Madison, LLC. Upon closing of the transaction, REG will have 11 active North American biomass-based diesel refineries in seven states (Iowa (3), Illinois (2), Texas (2), Louisiana, Minnesota, Washington and Wisconsin (1 each)) with a combined nameplate production capacity of 452 million gallons. 02/03/2016

Tripartisan Biomass Amendment Adopted Unanimously by US Senate

A tripartisan biomass amendment, authored by US Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)  and cosponsored by Senator Angus King (I-ME), has been adopted unanimously as part of the Energy Policy Modernization Act, which is currently under consideration in the Senate. The amendment is supported by the National Alliance of Forest Owners, the American Forest and Paper Association, and the American Wood Council. The amendment would bolster the key role that the forests can play in helping to meet our nation’s energy needs. Specifically, Senator Collins’ amendment would require the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to jointly ensure that federal policy relating to forest bioenergy is consistent across all departments and agencies and that the full benefits of forest biomass for energy, conservation, and responsible forest management are recognized. The amendment would also direct these federal agencies to establish clear and simple policies for the utilization of biomass as an energy solution. 02/03/2016

CEC Awards $33M to CalCEF Ventures to Develop SEED Initiative

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has posted a Notice of Proposed Award (NPOA), selecting California Clean Energy Fund dba CalCEF Ventures from submissions to the agency's Request for Proposals RFP-15-305 issued last September. RFP-15-305 was a competitive solicitation to select one contractor to develop and implement the Sustainable Energy Entrepreneur Development (SEED) Initiative. The SEED Initiative will support the early development of promising new energy concepts that can provide benefits to electric ratepayers in Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric service territories. Up to $33 million in Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) funding was made available for this solicitation; CalCEF Ventures has been awarded the total amount. 02/03/2016

Calysta Completes $30M Financing to Commercialize FeedKind™ Protein

California based Calysta, Inc has announced closure on a $30 million Series C round of financing, including new investors Cargill and the Municipal Employee Retirement System (MERS) of Michigan. Calysta uses advanced synthetic biology to ferment gaseous methane and carbon dioxide to chemicals, liquids and proteins. Calysta’s technology enables the low-cost, small scale conversion of biogas without the need for expensive upgrading steps, while simultaneously producing a high-quality, sustainable animal feed component. Calysta and Cargill will now collaborate in the North American manufacturing and global marketing of Calysta’s FeedKind™ protein, a family of high value environmentally-friendly nutritional feed additives for fish and livestock. In January 2016, Calysta announced conditional receipt of a grant from the United Kingdom (UK) for development of a Market Introduction Facility in northern England. The UK facility is Calysta’s first research and market introduction facility for FeedKind™ protein. 02/02/2016

Blume Partners with Aufrecht to Expand Waste-to-Liquid Fuel Solutions

California company Blume Distillation, LLC has announced completion of a Strategic Development Agreement (SDA) with Alabama based Aufrecht Technologies. Blume Distillation is a provider of appropriate-scale Biorefinery production equipment that converts food waste and purpose grown crops into liquid replacement fuel and high-value alcohol end and co-products. Aufrecht, a subsidiary of Centrallo & Company, LLC, is an energy analysis and renewable energy system integration service provider focused on providing alternative electrical grid and micro-grid solutions. The agreement enables Blume Distillation’s technology, consultation, and solution implementation services to be incorporated into the alternative energy reseller network Aufrecht has built and is aggressively growing. 02/02/2016

Anellotech Breaks Ground on TCat-8™ Facility in Silsbee, Texas

New York based Anellotech, Inc, a sustainable technology company focused on producing cost-competitive renewable chemicals from non-food biomass, has announced that the Company has broken ground on the installation of its fully-integrated development and testing facility (TCat-8™). Construction of a building and related facilities to house the pre-built unit began today in Silsbee, Hardin Country, Texas, on the site of Anellotech’s operating partner, South Hampton Resources (SHR), a wholly owned subsidiary of Trecora Resources. SHR received the building permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on January 20th. As an integral component in the bio-based value chain, Anellotech’s proprietary thermal catalytic biomass conversion technology (Bio-TCat™) cost-competitively produces drop-in green aromatic chemicals (benzene, toluene and xylenes, BTX) from non-food biomass. Scheduled to be fully installed and operational during 2016, TCat-8 will confirm the viability and suitability of the Bio-TCat process for scale-up, and generate the data needed to design commercial plants using Bio-TCat technology. 02/01/2016

Covanta’s Durham York Energy Centre Commences Commercial Operation

Covanta, a leader in sustainable waste and energy solutions, has commenced commercial operation of the Durham York Energy Centre (DYEC). Commissioned by the Regional Municipalities of Durham and York, Ontario in 2011, the 140,000 tonne-per-year Energy-from-Waste (EfW) facility is the newest and most modern facility of its kind in North America, utilizing some of the latest combustion and air pollution control technology available. Covanta's operating and maintenance contract with the Regions of Durham and York covers an initial term of 20 years. The facility processes municipal household waste left over after the Regions' aggressive diversion efforts, such as recycling and composting, to produce 17.5 megawatts of clean renewable energy, which is enough to power approximately 10,000 homes, while at the same time, reducing the overall volume of garbage being sent to landfill by up to 90 percent. The facility also recycles ferrous and non-ferrous metals – enough metal to build approximately 2,500 cars annually. 02/01/2016

CARB Seeks Public Work Group Participants to Develop Funding Plan

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has issued a request for participation in topical work groups focused on informing aspects of the 2016-2017 Funding Plan for the Low Carbon Transportation Investments and the Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP). The annual funding plan is each year’s blueprint for expending funds allocated to CARB for advanced technology clean transportation incentive programs. Project categories consistent with the Governor’s FY 2016-17 budget proposal and the Cap-and Trade Auction Proceeds Investment Plan, including new project categories, will be considered for funding. The public work groups will help discuss topics such as funding allocations, project and technology types, emission reduction targets, and overall goals for the category. Those interested in signing up for one or more work groups should review the listed categories and up-coming meeting dates on CARB's Low Carbon Transportation Investments and Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) webpage, and email <> indicating which work group(s) are of interest. Respondents will be added to the requested work group(s) e-mail distribution list(s) for meeting notifications and other information. 02/01/2016

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