July 2011 News and Matters of Interest
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GrundonProposes Plasma for Scottish Waste Conversion to Energy Facility
Grundon Waste Management has revised their previously proposed incineration system for Advanced
Plasma Power (APP) technology in a facility under planning and permitting
consideration for Shore Road, Perth, Scotland. Grundon> revised 2010 plans, scrapping incineration in favor of
cleaner plasma to meet public and agency concerns. APP uses their multi-step GasPlasma waste conversion processing train. Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF)
prepared off-site would be broken down in a fluidized bed gasification unit from Energy Products of Idaho (EIP).
The produced hydrocarbon-rich gas and residuals would then be processed in a plasma field developed by
Tetronics to manufacture a clean-burning syngas for power generation.
The proposal has been placed before the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and regional planners. Grundon’s Director of Estates Bob
Nicholson explained to SEPA and council representatives that the change in technology means that instead of one
large building, the process would be accommodated in a series of smaller buildings. The stack height would be
reduced to 34 metres from 80 metres and the tallest building to 18.5 metres from 34 metres. Rolf Stein, Chief
Operating Officer of Advanced Plasma Power says, “Our main focus is to provide the best solution for the people
of the City of Perth. We have worked with Grundon to provide a Gasplasma® energy from waste solution that turns
local waste into local renewable power and heat and meets the needs of the local community at the same time.”
07/30/2011
BMWManufacturing Will Study Landfill Gas to Hydrogen for Fuel Cells
South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) will fund a study by BMW Manufacturing to determine the
feasibility of converting landfill gas to hydrogen (H2) for fuel cells
of around 100 vehicles at its 1.2 million square feet BMW X3 assembly facility in South Carolina. If proven
economically and technologically successful, BMW intends to develop H2 fueling infrastructure and convert the
company's entire fleet of materials handling equipment. A collaborative approach has been developed for the BMW
study, engaging Advanced Technology International (a subsidiary of SCRA), the Gas Technology Institute, Ameresco, Inc, and the South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance. The BMW plant has used
the local landfill gas since 2003 to supply about half of the energy requirement, which the company claims has
reduced CO2 emissions by about 92,000 tons (83,500 tonnes) per year and saves about $5 million annually in
energy costs. "This project allows testing of valuable technology to determine if using locally-sourced hydrogen
in our fuel cell equipment can provide the necessary performance needed to expand our hydrogen fuel cell fleet,"
said Josef Kerscher, President of BMW Manufacturing. 07/30/2011
Codexisand Chemtex Partner for Bio-Sourced Detergent Alcohols
Codexis and Chemtex, a subsidiary of Italy's Gruppo Mossi & Ghisolfi ("M&G
Group"), will collaborate on development and production of sustainable,
bio-sourced detergent alcohols for household products, including second generation development from cellulosic
biomass. Codexis will provide their proprietary CodeEvolver directed evolution technology for the development of
advanced enzymatic and fermentation processes. This will complement Chemtex' PROESA methods of integrated ligno-cellulosic biomass
pre-treatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation to energy and fuels, proven in M&G Group's Rivalta,
Italy pilot facility. The collaboration anticipates commercial volume at Chemtex' Crescentino, Italy cellulosic
ethanol plant coming on-line in 2012. Codexis will hold exclusive market rights for the resulting detergent
alcohol products; Chemtex will provide engineering for design and construction of future Codexis plants using
the PROSEA technology. Guido Ghisolfi, President and CEO of Chemtex: "PROESA(TM) is break-through technology
that produces high quality cellulosic sugar from biomass with best in class opex and capex. Coupling PROESA(TM)
with the unique features of Codexis' technology platform has the potential to make the production of detergent
alcohols from biomass a reality. 07/30/2011
ECRecognition Results in Jump in Registration for ISCC Certification
Earlier this month, the European Commission (EC) formally recognized seven schemes for proving biofuels sustainability and
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions control compliance, including the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification organization (ISCC). The organization has since seen a substantial increase in registration as a result of the recognition, totally about 750
companies to date. ISCC certification is accepted in all 27 European Union countries as a demonstration of
sustainable biofuels production methods; the EC recognition has improved market acceptance. ISCC is a transparent global scheme designed to improve trade in all types of sustainable biomass
production by documenting the production of biomass and bioenergy along the entire supply chain. Interested
parties first register through the ISCC website, review materials in preparation for an audit of methods
carried out by the organization's independent Certification Bodies, work with the auditors to compare
sustainability and GHG savings to fossil fuels, and once approved, receive the proof of sustainability ISCC
seal. 07/29/2011
UKWoodland
Carbon Code Launched for Sustainable Forestry Projects
The non-ministerial Forestry Commission of the United Kingdom (UK) has
launched the Woodland Carbon Code to register independently certified, sustainably managed forestry
projects. Once approved, projects will appear in a national on-line register. The program is closely linked to
new governmental guidance issued by the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs
(DEFRA) advising prospective project developers on how to report greenhouse gas savings for projects that meet
the Woodland Carbon Code certification requirements. The cross-border Forestry Commission has seen increased
interest in investment in their tree planting and harvesting projects, but until this time no standardized and
government sanctioned method had existed for developers and investors to account for carbon sequestration and
GHG savings. The organization is Great Britain's largest land manager; they plant about 24 million trees each
year and harvests five million tonnes of wood. An independent study found that the Code would provide a cost-effective means of GHG abatement;
it establishes consistent forest carbon measurement protocols to measure carbon uptake and sets up a system of
independent carbon certification bodies. Version 1 of the Code is available on-line at no cost. 07/29/2011
SouthDakota
Colleges Win NASA Biofuels Grant
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has awarded a grant of $750,000 to advance use of the blue-green algae cyanobacteria for
production of energy-dense biofuels from wastewater, carbon dioxide, and sunlight to a collaboration of South
Dakota State University (SDSU), South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and Oglala Lakota College. The project proposes to develop an integrated photobioreactor and
product recovery system, driven by solar power provided by light fibers. Key SDSU researchers in the work
include associate professor Ruanbao Zhou and professor Bill Gibbons in the Department of Biology and
Microbiology. The grant is funded through NASA's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research
(EPSCoR), developed to establish self-sustaining long-term academic research enterprises that
will be self-sustaining. “This project will help NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate address the
goal of providing renewable, energy-dense biofuels in a sustainable manner, while supplying
technology to sequester carbon dioxide released by an astronautics crew ... Our initial target product is a long
chain alcohol with a much higher energy density than ethanol,” Zhou said. “This cyanofactory platform could be
easily reengineered to produce other fuels and chemicals using free solar energy and carbon dioxide.”
07/29/2011
InEnTecIncorporates and Discloses Substantial Funding Round
Oregon based InEnTec released news that they have converted their company structure from a limited liability
corporation (LLC) to a full corporation registered in Delaware. InEnTec has also just filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission providing notice of substantial fund raising through offers of securities.The company has already raised $20 million in growth
capital in the first round of $69 million private placement. In 2009, InEnTec and Waste Management
formed the joint venture S4 Energy Solutions, LLC to develop, operate and market InEnTec's plasma enhanced melting
(PEM) gasification facilities. The proprietary thermal conversion process utilizes an initial
gasification stage followed by plasma processing to convert a wide range of waste-sourced feedstock to commodity
synthetic gas with near-zero environmental impact and near-total conversion of organic matter. Gasification
residuals pass to the PEM chamber and through the DC-powered plasma arc; any remaining solids are incorporated
into an AC-heated molten glass bed. All syngas and entrained solids are then held in a thermal retention
chamber, allowing any remaining organics to be converted to syngas and to be cleaned and conditioned to final
product specifications. InEnTec now has numerous installations in the US and abroad; their testing and
demonstration facilities are located in their Richmond, Washington Technology Center. 07/29/2011
Gevoto Build
Texas Demo Plant for Isobutanol to Renewable Hydrocarbons
Colorado based Gevo has announced that they will work with South Hampton Resources Inc., a subsidiary of Arabian American Development Co., to build a
10,000 gallon-per-month demonstration plant outside of the Houston area in Silsbe, Texas. Gevo, specialists in
microbial conversion of biomass to isobutanol, employs gene engineered E. coli bacteria for their proprietary
integrated fermentation technology platform (GIFT®). The plant should come on line later this year; Gevo hopes to have completed all
testing for their biojet fuel by 2013. "This demonstration plant allows us to complete the value chain from
isobutanol to renewable hydrocarbon fuels and chemical intermediates which is one of our key strategic
objectives," said Patrick Gruber, Ph.D., CEO of Gevo. "With the operation of this plant, Gevo intends to
demonstrate its fully integrated biorefinery -- going from renewable carbohydrates all the way to fungible
hydrocarbon materials used across the refining and petrochemical industries. We expect this plant to showcase
the value of our renewable hydrocarbons and drive future customer demand." 07/28/2011
08/11/2011(Date Extended): Quals to LA County for Waste Conversion
Projects
Los Angeles County has extended the due date from July 28, 2011 to August
11, 2011 for submissions toward two related Request for Expression of Interest, a Technical RFEI and a Financial RFEI released last month. The County is
seeking contact with companies interested in partnering toward waste conversion project development. A Question
and Answer summary for the Technical RFEI was recently issued and has now been updated; a newly released Q&A for the Financial RFEI is also now available, although the
only question was related to the timeline extension. Information on Los Angeles
County Department of Public Works' overall waste conversion program is available on-line and may be requested by email to
. Inquiries specific to the RFEIs should be directed to Mr.
Coby Skye, Los Angeles County, at (626) 458-5163, Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Questions may
also be addressed to Ms. Susan Higgins (Technology RFEI) or Mr. David MacKenzie ( Financial RFEI) of
Alternative Resources, Inc. at (978) 371-2054. 07/28/2011
USDAAnnounces New BCAP Project Areas for Biomass Conversion to Biofuels
Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new project areas in six states to expand the availability
of non-food crops to be used in the manufacturing of liquid biofuels. The four project areas set aside acres in
California, Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon and Washington for the production of renewable energy crops. Two
of the new Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) project areas, targeted for California, Montana, Washington
and Oregon, will grow camelina at a significant scale. The project has a target of 51,000 acres; sponsors are
Beaver Biodiesel, LLCand AltAir Fuels LLC. The project areas are near biomass conversion facilities in
Bakersfield, California, Tacoma, Washington, and Albany, Oregon. A third BCAP project area has been sponsored by
cellulosic biofuels company ZeaChem for hybrid poplar agroforestry on up to 7,000 acres
surrounding a biomass conversion facility in Boardman, Oregon, part of USDA’s Wood-to-Energy Initiative. A
fourth BCAP project area lies in Kansas and Oklahoma, sponsored by Abengoa BioEnergy and surrounding their future biomass conversion
facility in Hugoton, Kansas. Applications will be accepted from Aug. 8, 2011 to Friday, Sept. 16, 2011;
interested parties should contact their local Farm Services Area county office and visit the BCAP web page for further information. 07/28/2011
JouleReceives New Patents for Production of Ethanol through Photosynthesis
Massachusetts based Joule Unlimited, Inc announced that they have been issued two new patents,
U.S. Patent #7,981,647 and U.S. Patent #7,968,321 for
in-cell engineered enzymatic methods of increasing ethanol production capability of photosynthetic
micro-organisms. Their "Liquid-from-the-Sun" platform relies on direct
photosynthesis using the company's proprietary "Helioculture" microbial processing to convert just sunlight and
CO2 into olefin and alkane molecules. Joule uses no biomass, thus
eliminating the difficulty of sourcing feedstock; the microbial activity absorbs CO2 emissions directly and
secretes the ethanol product without requiring extraction or refining. Joule has already proven numerous
Direct-to-Product process pathways and is now producing ethanol at pilot scale. "The market for ethanol is
strong and growing internationally, and our patented technology affords Joule an incredible opportunity to meet
growing demand at productivities well beyond biomass-based approaches," said Bill Sims, President and CEO of
Joule. "Rather than focus on incremental improvements along the supply chain, we have proven that a direct,
continuous process from photons to fuel is the answer to highly-efficient, cost-competitive production that can
scale without today’s feedstock constraints." 07/28/2011
Süd-ChemieBreaks Ground on Largest Cellulosic Ethanol Plant in Germany
Clariant Group member company Süd-Chemie has celebrated the start of construction of Germany's largest cellulosic
ethanol facility next to the Bavarian BioCampus in Strauberg, lower Bavaria. Attending the ground-breaking
ceremony were Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs, Martin Zeil and Germany's Federal Minister of Education
and Research (BMBF), Annette Schavan; the EUR 28 million project was funded by the
Bavarian state government and BMBF. The plant will produce around 1,000 tonnes of ethanol annually, primarily
from conversion of wheat straw from the Strauberg region, known as the "granary of lower Bavaria." Successful
pilot-scale testing of the sunliquid® process developed by Süd-Chemie has shown that their "highly optimised raw
material-specific biocatalysts" and use of a new yeast organism convert C5 and C6 sugars c to ethanol at high
yields under stable process conditions. The Straubing plant will also use Süd-Chemie's newly-developed
purification process for the first time, ensuring that process energy required can be obtained from residual
lignin. Dr Andre Koltermann, Head of Strategic Research and Development at Süd-Chemie: "As a second-generation
biofuel, cellulosic ethanol delivers significant greenhouse gas savings of up to 95%. In addition, cellulosic
ethanol has considerable potential to reduce dependence on crude oil on a long-term basis through local
production of a renewable energy source." 07/28/2011
IDBApproves Third Sustainable Energy Loan to Peru for $25 Million
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a third Programmatic Policy Based Loan (PBL) to Peru to
strengthen the country's sustainable energy matrix. The $25 million, 20-year loan will fund the first strategic
environmental assessment of Peru's policies and apply Best Management Practices to the energy sector. The new
PBL expands on 2009 and 2010 loans which initiated energy efficiency and renewable energy growth, including
creation of an Agricultural Energy Plan and support for biofuels and bioenergy development. The PBLs are only
part of IDB's portfolio in Peru, now totaling over $1 billion since 2003. IDB
operations are developing Alternative Sources of Energy as part of a New Sustainable Energy Matrix
(NUMES). 07/27/2011
SDSUReceives USDA Grant for Biomass to Bio-Oil Production System
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a five-year bio-oil development grant to South
Dakota State University (SDSU) researchers to design a biomass-to-bio-oil production system. Dr. Tom Schumacher and team have
received the first year's $200,000 allocation from USDA's Agriculture and Food Research
Initiative (AFRI) to develop a sustainable, integrated food and biomass production
system, based on microwave-heated pyrolysis technology. Pyrolytic conversion of biomass, heated in near absence
of air, generates "bio-oil", biochar and synthetic fuel gas. The bio-oil can be sold to refineries as a "green
crude, the biochar returns to the farmers to build up soil water holding capacity and sequester carbon, while
the remaining syngas fuels electric generation to power the conversion. Work will start with laboratory and
greenhouse studies, adding field studies over time, and will characterize different types of biochar resulting
from conversion of switchgrass, corn stover and woody biomass. “There’s a lot that’s unknown about specific
types of biochar. There is no single characteristic that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of biochars,”
Schumacher said. 07/27/2011
GreenShiftAwarded Patent for Corn Oil Extraction Method for Ethanol
After pulling their original patent application and requesting additional US
Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) assessment due to numerous challenges, GreenShift has now received
notice of allowance for their patent application number 11/241,231:
“Method of Processing Ethanol Byproducts and Related Subsystems” (the '231 patent application). GreenShift
Corporation is currently focused on concentration and recovery of inedible crude corn oil from existing
first-generation corn ethanol production facility whole stillage and/or its derivatives, reducing the plant's
waste effluent while securing a valuable by-product. The extraction technologies increase biofuel yields per bushel of corn by
7%, reduce energy demand by around 20% and drop greenhouse gas (GHG) generation by almost 30%, gaining about
$0.12 per gallon of ethanol produced. GreenShift's systems are in use in many US ethanol plants, producing
additional carbon-neutral liquid fuels for distribution through existing supply chains and displacing
fossil-based fuels for combustion in boilers, generators and engines while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
07/27/2011
Synthosand Global Bioenergies Partner for Bio-Butadiene Development
Polish rubber manufacturer Synthos S.A and French industrial biology firm Global Bioenergies have signed an agreement for research, development and commercialization of
renewable sourced butadiene, which is currently produced only from petroleum and is a building block for
synthetic rubber production and many types of plastics. Global Bioenergies will receive research and development
funding, multi-million euro development fees, and royalty payments from Synthos on sales of bio-butadiene for
manufacturing rubber, while retaining the exclusive rights on non-rubber applications. With the agreement,
Synthos also made a 3.6% equity investment in Global Bioenergy. Earlier this month shortly after their
successful filing of an Initial Public Offering, Global Bioenergies received €475K funding from the French innovation agency
OSEO to start the industrialization of the company’s biomass
fermentation, volatilization and gas-phase recovery process to convert renewable resources into isobutene.
Gaseous isobutene can then be converted into fuels (gasoline, jet-fuel, Diesel) as well as into various polymers
(tires, organic glass, various plastics). 07/26/2011
Universityof Illinois Study Says Regulation Must Keep Pace with Technology
A recent paper entitled, "Making Regulatory Innovation Keep Pace with Technologic Innovation"
has been published by researchers from the University of Illinois (U of I) Energy Biosciences Institute and the
U of I College of Law. The authors analyzed the regulatory schemes incentivizing and governing the
commercialization of biofuel-related technological innovations, "to build upon the established principles that
regulatory burdens should not outweigh the harms they are intended to mitigate." The paper presents a detailed
case study on the emerging biofuel biobutanol, describing fuel and fuel additive challenges to commercialization
resulting from the federal Renewable Fuel Standard and the Clean Air Act’s regulatory framework. The authors
suggest how different forms of regulatory innovation could ease regulatory hurdles and allow more efficient
fuels and bioenergy development. The paper is available on-line now and will be published in an up-coming issue
of the Wisconsin Law Review. For further information, contact authors Timothy
A. Slating,, and Jay P. Kesan,. 07/26/2011
PhilippineMSW Gasification Plant Breaks Ground
In Orion, Bataan, the Philippines, the investment and development firm Concord Pacific Investment
Holdings Limited, Inc. (CPIHLI) has broken ground on its $500 million waste gasification power plant. The Bataan Waste-to-Energy Project is
located on 100 hectares of the mountainous municipality adjacent to Orion's problematic dumpsite. Residents,
local officials and invited guests were on hand for a ceremonial stone-laying at the Punta De Udyong Resort in
Balagtas, Orion. CPIHLI's president Jose Utrillo discussed the site development plans and commended Orion's
leadership; the project has found consensus support among often-divisive politics. Mayor Pepe Santos
thanked CPIHLI for selecting the Orion project site; he and Mr. Utrillo told the press on-hand for the groundbreaking that the power plant complex will
include housing, hospital, and leisure facilities. The project, which uses gasification instead of the usual
process of incineration, is expected to be completed in about 17 months. “For every 200 metric tons of garbage,
the power plant will produce 12.8 megawatts of electricity,” Mr. Utrillo said. 07/26/2011
Due08/24/2011: Nominations to Texas MSW/Resource Recovery Advisory Council
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is requesting nominations to six available seats on the Municipal Solid
Waste and Resource Recovery Advisory Council; members are appointed for six-year staggered terms by the TCEQ
Commissioners. The Advisory Council's regulation-based duties include review and evaluation of the effect of
state policies and programs on municipal solid waste management; making recommendations to the TCEQ
Commissioners on matters relating to municipal solid waste management; recommends legislation to encourage the
efficient management of municipal sold waste; recommends policies for the use, allocation, or distribution of
the planning fund; and recommends special studies and projects to further the effectiveness of municipal solid
waste management and resource recovery. For additional information, please contact the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality, Waste Permits Division, visit the project website and/or
e-mail and type "MSW Advisory Council" in the subject
line. 07/25/2011
AmmoniaPre-Treatment Makes Cellulosic Biomass Five Times More Digestible
Collaborative research between Michigan State University researchers, the US
Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) has revealed that the molecular-level activity of ammonia pre-treatment loosens cellulosic
structure of biomass and greatly facilitates hydrolysis. The researchers have modeled a potential pretreatment
method that can make plant cellulose five times more digestible by enzymes that convert it into ethanol and
other biofuels. Cellulose forms a dense sheet-like polymer network of molecules closely interlaced by hydrogen
bonds, all but eliminating direct contact between enzymes and the majority of the targeted sugar-holding
molecules internal to the biomass cellular network. Using recent experimental data provided by their journal
collaborators, the LANL and their colleagues used molecular modeling to determine how cellulose undergoes
structural depolymerization changes that facilitate enzymatic attack when pretreated with ammonia. Their paper
'Restructuring the Crystalline Cellulose Hydrogen Bond Network Enhances Its Depolymerization Rate' appears in
the current Journal of the American Chemical Society. 07/23/2011
IowaState's MycoMeal Process of Thin-Stillage Improves Ethanol Production
Iowa State University (ISU) researchers have moved "MycoMeal" from lab to pilot scale and the process works better. The
research team is growing the fungus Rhizopus oligosporus on the wash-water left from standard ethanol
fermentation with the MycoMeal process. Five gallons of this 'thin-stillage' are typically produced for every
gallon of ethanol to be centrifuged to separate distiller's grains for sale as animal feed, while the rest is
recycled to the main plant. The ISU process short-cuts this cycle; as the fungus forms into a dense mat in one
day's time, it absorbs about 60% of the organics and most of the solids to effectively leave cleaned water for
plant re-use. The fungal mat is similar to tofu, rich in proteins and essential nutrients but with what the team
describes as a "better mouth feel," more like the texture of meat. Funding for the 3-year trial, now in its
final year, included a $450,000 grant from the Iowa Energy Center, state grants and private ethanol industry
partnerships. The pilot's 20 foot tall reactor is located at Iowa Energy Center's Biomass Energy Conversion
facility (BECON) in Nevada, Iowa. The team finds that their patent-pending
process works better with 350 gallon batches than at lab scale. "Implementation of this process addresses
criticism of biofuels by substantially lowering energy inputs and by increasing the production of nutritious
animal feed," Iowa State University's Hans van Leeuwen said. "The MycoMeal process could truly revolutionize
the biofuels industry." 07/23/2011
Dowand
Mitsui Forming JV for Brazilian Ethanol and Biopolymers
Dow Chemical Company and Mitsui & Co, Ltd., of Tokyo, Japan are forming a new
joint venture (JV) with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop
and supply sustainable bioproducts. With the agreement completion date expected later this year, Mitsui will
become a 50% equity interest partner in Dow’s sugar cane growing operation in Santa Vitória, Minas Gerais,
Brazil. Initially, the JV will focus on production of sugar cane-derived ethanol as a renewable feedstock source
for production of diverse bioproducts, especially biopolymers as drop-in replacements for fossil based materials
in the manufacture of high performance plastics. When the first stage is fully commissioned, the partnership
will then refocus on integration with all phases of biomass-based biofuel production for co-manufacturing of
sustainable bioplastics. Dow indicates that this represents the world’s largest biopolymers development effort
and is Dow’s largest investment in Brazil, where Dow has operated for more than 50 years. “We are invigorated
now more than ever about the potential for Dow’s sustainable chemistries in this growth economy,” said Pedro
Suarez, President of Dow Latin America. “With Mitsui, we will be fortifying our already strong base for
advancing renewable materials, as well as enhancing the reputations of Dow and Brazil as worldwide leaders for a
green economy.” 07/22/2011
Due09/30/2011 and 10/25/2011: EOIs and FP7 Proposals to EIBI
Details are now available for submission of proposals to Energy Call FP7 released
by the European Industrial Biofuels Initiative (EIBI). Non-binding
Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are due September 30, 2011. The EOIs
provide an opportunity for Europe's bio-energy industrial community to show readiness to participate in EIBI
flagship demonstrations and full-scale projects. Full proposals seeking 2012 project support are due October 25,
2011; the renewable fuels element of the 2012 FP7 Energy Plan is funded to 35M€. Three Topics apply specifically
to biofuels funding opportunities: (1) (page 18) Biofuels from microalgae or macroalgae, (2) (page 19) Development and testing of advanced sustainable bio-based
fuels for air transport, and (3) (page 21) Development of new or improved logistics for lignocellulosic
biomass harvest, storage and transport. The Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological
Development (FP7) is the EU's main instrument for funding research in Europe and it
will run from 2007-2013. Questions about European research in general or the EU Research Framework Programmes in
particular are managed through the FP7 web "Enquiries" web portal. 07/22/2011
CathayIndustrial Biotech Files for IPO to Expand Biobutanol Production
Chinese biobutanol producer Cathay Industrial Biotech Ltd has filed Form F-1 Registration Statement and preliminary prospectus with
the US Securities Exchange Commission toward an Initial Public Offering of American Depository Shares (ADSs).
The company's goal is to raise about US $200 million to further develop and expand their production capacity for
biobutanol. Cathay is focusing on the specialty chemicals and biofuels markets to
commercialize drop-in alternatives to fossil-sourced products. In 2011, Cathay was the world's largest producer
of biobutanol; their Jilin Province production facility's annual capacity is currently 100,000 metric tons of
biobutanol and co-products. The company also markets bio-sourced dibasic acids, bio-acetone, and is
commercializing other biochemicals and bio-sourced products. Cathay's long-chain dicarboxylic acid (LCDA)
production facility in Shandong Province is ramping up to a planned 2011 annual capacity of 15,000 metric tons.
The prospectus notes that Cathay has developed bioprocess technologies to produce biobutanol from cellulosic
biomass feedstock, and believes that using cellulosic biomass feedstock will significantly lower their
production cost. 07/21/2011
BiocharGroup Selected by Gates Foundation for Toilet Challenge
A multi-University, the Hertz Foundation Fellows-led team has been selected as one of eight grant recipients in the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation "Reinvent the Toilet Challenge" (RTTC). The Challenge is to develop a
21st century toilet without connections to water, energy, or sewer lines that costs users under $0.05 a day. The
Hertz Foundation Biochar Group is a volunteer collaboration including Hertz Fellows from MIT, Caltech, the
University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University. The Biochar Group has been developing systems for
production of biochar to help reverse soil carbon depletion and for use in disposal and sterilization of sewage
in a million-person slum within the city of Nairobi, Kenya. Sanergy, an MIT startup, leads the work in Africa on sanitation and
renewable energy. The awards were announced July 19, 2011 at a major conference in Rwanda. Biochar is a high
grade of charcoal formed using low-oxygen pyrolysis to convert biomass in the temperature range of 450 to 600
degrees Celsius, and can be applied to the transformation of sewage in third world countries. “Each year 60
gigatons of agriculturally fixed carbon rots and turns back into carbon dioxide,” said Dr. Brian Von Herzen,
Executive Director of the Climate Foundation, Hertz Fellow (1980) and director of the Biochar Group. “By
converting just ten percent of the fixed carbon into biochar, we could actually capture and sequester most of
man’s atmospheric carbon dioxide emitted each year. 07/21/2011
Due08/31/2011: Proposals to CARB for Industrial Sector GHG Benchmarking
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has released a Request for Proposal
(RFP) seeking one or more firms for industrial sector assessments
necessary to set greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions efficiency benchmarks under the State's 2010-adopted
Cap & Trade program. The regulation is expected to become
enforceable January 1, 2012; however, covered entities will not have an emissions obligation until 2013. A
maximum of $500,000 is available for the total project, intended to provide the critical detail to accurately
define and differentiate each sector's manufacturing processes, quantifying the emissions associated with that
product output process. The selected firm(s) will work with CARB staff to determine emissions efficiency
benchmarks in tons of CO2e emitted per unit of output, for eleven sectors: Oil and gas extraction; Soda ash
manufacturing; Paper and paperboard manufacturing; Petroleum products manufacturing; Glass manufacturing
(container, flat, fiber); Cement manufacturing; Lime manufacturing; Gypsum manufacturing; Steel making using
electric arc furnace; Steel rolling; and Thermal energy-based (boiler efficiency or fuel mix). Covered
industrial sectors that do not conduct manufacturing process specified will rely on thermal energy-based
benchmarking for free allocation. Four Tasks are outlined: (1) Analysis of European Union's ETS benchmarking
process, (2) Scoping study of California covered industrial sectors, (3) Sector-by-sector analysis, and (4)
Stakeholder interface. The Department of General Services manages bids through the BidSync process. For your
convenience, Teru Talk has posted the entire bid packet here. To ensure receipt of any addenda that may be issued, you must register online
at BidSync and sign up to receive notifications for Bid Number 10-115.
All questions must be directed to Andrea Sutton at (916) 324-2186 or , and not
through the BidSync system. The deadline for questions is August 2, 2011. 07/21/2011
EuropeanCommission Recognizes Seven Biofuels Sustainability Programs
The European Commission has formally recognized seven programs providing sustainability criteria
and certification for production of biofuels.To receive governmental support or to count toward renewable energy
targets, biofuels used inside the European Union (EU) must comply with sustainability criteria, either through
various Member States' national systems or through voluntary programs. The common goal is to prevent the
conversion of high biodiversity areas and high carbon stock to the production of raw materials for biofuels.
Further, value chain life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions must be at least 35% lower than comparable use of
fossil fuels, a threshold designed to increase over time. Commission-assessed and approved voluntary programs receive
recognition for five years. The seven voluntary sustainability certification programs recognized on July 19,
2011 include: (1) ISCC (German (government financed) scheme covering all types of biofuels); (2) Bonsucro EU
(Roundtable initiative for sugarcane based biofuels, focus on Brazil); (3) RTRS EU RED (Roundtable initiative
for soy based biofuels, focus on Argentina and Brazil); (4) RSB EU RED (Roundtable initiative covering all types
of biofuels); (5) 2BSvs (French industry scheme covering all types of biofuels); (6) RSBA (Industry scheme for
Abengoa covering their supply chain) ; (7) Greenergy (Industry scheme for Greenergy covering sugar cane ethanol
from Brazil). Links to all of the recognized programs and their Commission assessment reports are available on
the Commission Renewable Energy Transparency Platform. 07/20/2011
BIOSYNERGYProject Releases Final Report
The collaborative BIOSYNERGY projecthas released its findings in a detailed
brochure, Biorefinery Development for Europe. The brochure presents an overview
of the main achievements and highlights of the project, as well as conclusions and perspectives towards future
development. The project has been working toward cost-effective sustainable resource management for Bioenergy,
biofuels and bio-sourced chemicals for a wide range of biomass feedstock in Europe. The public/private
collaboration of stakeholders supports the integrated production of value-added chemicals, transportation fuels
and energy from lab-scale to demonstration at pilot-scale. Much of the developmental work will take place at the
lignocellulose-to-bioethanol pilot-plant of Abengoa Bioenergía Nuevas Tecnologías, under construction in
Salamanca, Spain. The project consists of nine integrated Work Packages: (0) Management activities under Energy
research Centre of the Netherlands' (ECN) Hans Reith; (1) Advanced physical/chemical fractionation; (2)
Innovative thermo-chemical conversion; (3) Advanced biochemical conversion; (4) Innovative
chemical conversion and synthesis; (5) Conceptual design Biorefinery pilot-plant of Abengoa Bioenergía Nuevas
Tecnologías (ABNT) S.A., Salamanca, SpainWP leader: Reyes Capote Campos, ABNT; (6) Integral biomass-to- products
chain design, analysis and optimisation; (7) Demonstration at pilot-scale; and (8)Training and knowledge
dissemination. For further information, contact Project Coordinator: ECN, Hans Reith, +31-224-564371;
reith@ecn.nl; Assistant Project Coordinator: WUR A&F, René van Ree, +31-317-480710 - rene.vanree@wur.nl; EC
Project Officer: European Commission, Silvia Ferratini, +32-2-29 96 409 -
silvia.ferratini@ec.europa.eu. 07/20/2011
LosAngeles County Releases Q&A Summary for Waste Conversion RFEI
A Summary has been released of Questions & Answers (Q&A)associated the last month's Los
Angeles County issuance of Requests for Expression of Interest (RFEI) to waste conversion technology providers, project
developers and financiers. The County had issued two requests, a Technology RFEI and a Financial RFEI. Topics covered in this Q&A Summary address only
the Technology RFEI, and includes what the County considers to be an Optimum Project: "…the project
configuration each respondent considers to be best suited for its individual technology for
future commercial application within Los Angeles County, considering technical, economic,
environmental and other factors specific to such individual technology." Information on LA County Department of
Public Works' overall waste conversion program is available on-line; more detailed inquiries should be directed to Mr.
Coby Skye, Los Angeles County, at (626) 458-5163, Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Questions may
also be addressed to Ms. Susan Higgins (Technology RFEI) or Mr. David MacKenzie ( Financial RFEI) of Alternative
Resources, Inc. at (978) 371-2054. 07/20/2011
CaliforniaAir Resource Board Hosts First LCFS Public Update Meeting
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has released a Meeting Notice and Agenda for its first public update
meeting for July 25, 2011 on the progress of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) program's Advisory Panel. The purpose of the Panel will be discussed, with the
progress that has been made toward establishing a LCFS to help clean the air, protect the environment, and drive
the development of clean, low-carbon fuels to improve California's energy security and energy independence. As
one key element of AB 32, the LCFS regulation went into effect April 15, 2010, and in part required
the ARB to form an expert Advisory Panel to advise staff, holding two public meetings. Staff will present
results of the Panel's review process to the Board first on January 1, 2012, and again on January 1, 2015. The
meeting will be web cast; steps for participants to join are provided on the Cal EPA's webinar site. For further information, contact Michelle
Buffington at mbuffing@arb.ca.gov, (916) 324-0368. 07/19/2011
Eco-SolidsCellruptor Pre-Treatment of Food Waste for Conversion Looks Good
Organics pre-treatment technology specialist Eco-Solids International (ESI) is
seeing early positive results in an extended research and development program
lead by the UK's University of Southampton to assess effectiveness of their Cellruptor process for preparation of food waste prior to anaerobic
digestion (AD). The testing of their installation at Yorkshire Water's sewer treatment facility is in
conjunction with Dr. Sonia Heaven's work directing the University's VALORGAS program, focused on the "valorization" of food waste
conversion to biogas realized by integration of collection, pre-treatment and optimal conversion technology
operation. The Cellruptor provides cell disintegration of biomass and has been expected to be effective on
surplus activated sewage sludge (SAS); recent tests also indicate excellent pathogen control, improving the
future marketability of residual solids and liquids for use as fertilizers. Last month, Eco-Solids celebrated
the signing of a major licensing agreement with leading water and environmental
equipment company Shenyang Yinuo Science and Technology Company (‘Yinuo’) in north east China. Using patented
treatment technologies developed in the U.S by ESI's Director of technology Sam Shephard,
Eco-Solids International holds a non-US international license, and now has business expansion in the Middle East
and India. 07/18/2011
MarineBase Camp Lejeune Receives First Local Biodiesel Today
Marine base Camp Lejeune is receiving theirfirst shipment of biodiesel today, coordinated by the North Carolina Eastern Region's Military Growth Task Force through a
program called Fuel the Force. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Carl B. Jensen has commented, "I believe strongly that we
have got to break our dependence on petrochemicals," he said. "It has got to start somewhere … and it might as
well start with the military." The military must meet aggressive federal mandates to reduce its energy
consumption 30 percent by 2015, while increasing its use of renewable energy. Regional biofuels production
capacity will help reduce the need to import fuels. Through Fuel the Force, North Carolina's warriors and
farmers have sown the seeds of a North Carolina biofuels industry that is environmentally, logistically and
fiscally sustainable. Eastern North Carolina is one of the military’s fastest growing regions in the United
States; the region's Military Growth Task Force (MGTF) was established to assist impacted counties meet the growth
challenges to quality of life, transportation, medical and healthcare, public safety and emergency services,
infrastructure, education, and workforce. 07/18/2011
DueNow
to 04/30/2012: Biomass/Biogas to Energy Grant Apps to Illinois DCEO
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is now accepting
applications for the Biogas and Biomass to Energy Grant Program; applications will be
accepted through April 30, 2012 or until grant funds are expended. The Illinois program funds biogas and biomass
projects for on-site energy generation, up to 50% of eligible project costs. Feasibility study grants are
available for up to $2,500. Maximum grant amounts are $225,000 for biogas to energy projects and $500,000 for
biomass to energy systems. Projects designed to use biogas or biomass as a source of fuel to produce electricity
with combined heat and power (CHP) through gasification, co-firing or anaerobic digestion technologies are being
targeted. Funds can cover studies or systems purchase and installation for any new project designed to produce
and use biogas, or to use biomass as fuel to produce electricity or heat. Applications are to be submitted to the Energy Resources Center at the University of Illinois Chicago,
assisting DCEO in administering the program. For further information on the Biogas and Biomass to Energy Grant
Program or regarding the application package, contact Steffen Mueller at 312/355-3982 or.
07/18/2011
GreenHeat Report Recommends Wood Stove Replacement Incentive
The Alliance for Green Heat (AHG) released a report on their year long assessment of biomass heating in
the US, partially funded by USDA-Forest Service's Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC). The report,
Transforming Wood Heat in America: A Toolkit of Policy Options,
explores "the existing and potential policy options for incentivizing more efficient and clean burning
residential wood heat." AHG found that wood heat is the most common residential renewable energy in America,
providing more of a non-fossil alternative than solar PV, solar thermal, geothermal and wind combined.
Unfortunately, they also found that about 75% of our country's existing wood and pellet heating units emit too
much pollution. National stakeholder interviews determined that a $1,000 incentive provided owners of older
stoves to upgrade to new, extremely clean systems could reduce as much fossil fuel as a $10,000 solar incentive.
AHG will go over the findings in a webinar, "The Future of Residential Wood & Pellet Heat in America,"
co-hosted by the Biomass Thermal Energy Council on Tuesday, July 19 at 2:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time;
on-line registration is required for the free presentation.
07/16/2011
CereplastExpands Presence in European Market for Bioplastics
California based bio-sourced chemical company Cereplast, Inc has
signed a distribution agreement with Polimernet Plastik Ltd. to supply their bioplastic resins to the
Turkish market. The agreement stipulates a minimum purchase of 100 tons per month of Cereplast Compostables ® resin this year and increasing amounts going
forward, using Cereplast Compostable 3000 and the Cereplast Compostable 7003 film grades to produce bioplastic
film for garbage bags, food packaging and t-shirt bags. Turkey currently leads Europe in economic growth and
ranks 3rd in bioplastics market share, an industry that analysts indicate approaches 20% increase each year.
"Cereplast has entered into six European distribution agreements in 2011, and this partnership with Polimernet
Plastik is a clear indication of the explosive demand for bioplastic resin sweeping across the pan-European
marketplace," said Frederic Scheer, Chairman and CEO of Cereplast, Inc. "This is another step in our growth
strategy to secure quality distribution partners in key regions, such as Turkey. Turkey is one of the first
three countries in Europe who have forged forward with adopting bioplastic material for products and packaging
in an attempt to help safeguard the environment." 07/15/2011
DECCPublishes White Paper on Electric Market Reform in UK
United Kingdom's (UK) Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has issued a vision of dramatic energy redevelopment in the
white paper, ‘Planning our electric future: a White Paper for secure, affordable and low-carbon electricity’.
DECC is recommending an approach that will "attract investment, reduce the impact on consumer bills, and create
a secure mix of electricity sources including gas, new nuclear, renewables, and carbon capture and storage." The
publication is the first stage of the reform, to be followed closely by introduction of key legislative packages
in upcoming Parliament sessions. Elements of the plan include: (1) setting a Carbon Price Floor to encourage and
stabilize carbon trading; (2) creation of long-term Feed-in Tariff (FIT) contract mechanisms; (3) setting a 450
grams CO2/kilowatt hour Emissions Performance Standard; and (4) forming a Capacity Mechanism for both demand
response and generation. The full version of the white paper is available on-line, with an
Executive Summary, Glossary and other supportive documents. The DECC announcement notes
that "transitional arrangements" will be initiated to minimize disruption in financing and project development.
07/15/2011
EPAProposes Modifications to Hazardous Waste Recycling Rules
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the intent to publish their modification of the 2008
Definition of Solid Waste (DSW) Rulemaking and will seek public comment on the Rule's draft expanded
environmental justice (EJ) analysis and peer review. The EPA late last month released a pre-publication version of their proposed revisions, which are
intended to provide additional safeguards for Hazardous Waste Recycling / Action aims to promote economic,
environmental and public health benefits of waste recycling. In the 2008 Definition of Solid Waste (DSW) rule,
EPA sought to define “solid waste” to exclude certain hazardous secondary materials when they are legitimately
recycled. EPA is asking for comment on potential revisions to address concerns raised by the Sierra Club, as
well as other environmental organizations. Under a settlement agreement with the Sierra Club that has been filed
with the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, EPA has committed to take final action on this proposed rulemaking on or
before December 31, 2012. Supportive documents including Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ) are available. EPA will accept comment on this proposal for 60
days after publication in the Federal Register, under docket # EPA-HQ-RCRA-2010-0742. EPA will announce the
schedule for a webinars and two public meetings to enable public comment on the rulemaking on the
Rulemaking's web page. 07/15/2011
RentechReceives Final Air Permit for Florida Biomass to Energy Project
California based gasification company Rentech Inc. announced that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has
issued the final air permit needed for the company's Port St. Joe Florida Renewable Energy Center
(Port St. Joe Project); all significant permits have now been received
from the State to allow construction of the planned project to begin. Rentech's Silva-Gas biomass gasification
technology will convert about 930 tons per day of woody biomass from a variety of sources to synthetic gas
(syngas), fueling a combined-cycle power plant to generate about 55 megawatts (net) of renewable low-carbon
baseload electric power (RenPowerTM) for sale to Progress Energy of Florida. The proposed project site in
Northwest Florida has access to barge, rail and highways as well as close proximity to feedstock. Rentech has
now entered an agreement with White Construction for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) work.
White Construction and Ford, Bacon & Davis LLC are finalizing the engineering work necessary to enter the
EPC phase of the project. In May, Rentech's Ontario Canada project won a 1.3 million ton per year forest feedstock agreement, almost four times
the scale of the Port St. Joe project. 07/15/2011
CodexisCompletes First Scale-up of Cellulase Enzyme for Biomass Conversion
Codexis has successfully completed their first scale-up manufacturing of cellulase enzyme for biomass
conversion to biofuels and bio-based chemicals at the contract facility of Fermic S.A. de C.V in Mexico City.
The 20,000 liter production run manufactured enzymes based on the Codexis CodeEvolver ™ "directed evolution"
technology, using the company's CodeXporter ™ enzyme expression system. Last month, their partner Royal Dutch
Shell transferred Codexis stock to their newly-formed Brazilian joint venture Raizen Energia vertically integrated biorefinery company, now Codexis'
largest share holder. The production scale-up supports biofuels collaborations and the company's market
expansion into sustainable bio-based chemicals. "High-performance cellulase enzymes will soon be in high demand
for cost-effective production of renewable products from biomass," said Alan Shaw, Ph.D., President and Chief
Executive Officer. "This is both an important commercial milestone for Codexis and a significant development for
customers, who are responding to market demand for sustainable products." 07/14/2011
NatureWorksMoves Nebraska Biochemical Production Toward Commercial
NatureWorks LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cargill, has increased investment
in their Blair, Nebraska facility in preparation for commercial production of
their new bio-based polymer-grade lactide, Ingeo M700. The new bio-product is an intermediate for copolymers,
amorphous oligomers and polymers, grafted substrates, resin additives/modifiers, adhesives, coatings,
elastomers, surfactants, thermosets, and solvents. Ingeo M700 is an anhydrous form of lactic acid rich in
meso-lactide a compound will offer numerous advantages over currently available L-, D-, or racemic lactides,
with lower reaction temperaures needing less catalyst resulting in significantly lower cost. By early 2013,
NatureWorks will be producing thousands of tons of Ingeo M700 lactide. Prior to this availability,
meso-lactide samples will be available in 2012 to advance market development. NatureWorks' Ingeo biopolymer is
manufactured from sucrose, primarily from field corn at this time but other sources containing sugar can also be
used.Future plans call for Ingeo to be made
from cellulosic raw materials, agricultural wastes and non-food plants. Ingeo can be used in rigid and
flexible packaging, electronics, clothing, housewares, health and personal care, semi-durable products, and food
service ware. 07/14/2011
PennsylvaniaClean Energy Awards Include AD and BioPower Projects
The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) has
awarded $4.22 million in clean energy grants to six counties enabling a total
of 10 renewable energy projects, including development of three anaerobic digestion systems and upgrading of one
biomass-fueled combined heat and power (CHP) installation. The project funding was approved by the
Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA), to purchase and install
alternative energy solutions that will reduce costs, recycle waste and help Pennsylvania meet the Chesapeake Bay
nutrient requirement. Diaries in Cumberland, Juanita and Lancaster counties will receive grants and loans to
assist in the installation of anaerobic digestion systems to produce biogas from manure and food waste, in each
case generating more electricity than the host site requires. In Adams County, Twin Springs Fruit Farm's grants
and loans will help replace the biomass boiler at their facility located in Franklin Township. The new boiler
will convert 700 tons of wood waste to supply all the heat needs for the farm’s greenhouse, while reducing
fossil fuel air emissions by 1.4 million pounds annually. CFA was established as an independent agency of the
Commonwealth to administer Pennsylvania's economic stimulus packages. Last year, CFA approved more than
$31 million in loans and $13 million in grants for alternative and
clean energy projects, many of which assisted bioenergy and biofuels project development.
07/14/2011
ChesapeakeInvests $155 Million in Sundrop Fuels for Green Gasoline
Chesapeake NG Ventures Corporation (CNGV) is investing $155 million for a fifty percent equity stake in Sundrop
Fuels, Inc, the Colorado based biomass gasification to liquid fuels company. CNGV is a $1 billion venture capital fund created by Chesapeake Energy
Corporation for investment "in companies and technologies that will replace the use of gasoline and diesel
derived primarily from OPEC oil with domestic oil, natural gas and natural gas-to-liquids (GTL) fuels." Original
investor Oak Investment Partners of San Jose, California, will increase their
holdings with another $20 million investment. Sundrop will use the funds to begin construction of a
commercial-scale demonstration plant to produce drop-in “green gasoline” from cellulosic biomass. Sundrop Fuels’
proprietary RP Reactor™ is a rapid, high-efficiency gasification system using
radiant particle technology. The 1,300 degree Centigrade process temperatures can be generated from solar,
hydrogen, natural gas or a hybrid mix. Finely ground biomass joins natural gas in the reactor chamber, reformed
the bio-sourced syngas with the hydrogen present in natural gas, improving and standardizing the heating value
of the final fuel gas for further processing into create bio-based “green gasoline”, diesel or aviation fuels.
07/13/2011
EdeniQand IKA Works Partner for Biomass Milling Technology
California based EdeniQ, Inc and IKA Works, Inc, US subsidiary of the German firm IKA® Werke GmbH Co.
KG, have announced their mutually exclusive joint development agreement for
manufacturing, sales and further development of biomass mixing and milling technology for the global biofuels
and biochemical markets. The two firms started their collaboration in 2009, developing biomass pre-treatment
systems that allow standard ethanol facilities to shift to cellulosic fuels. EdeniQ is building a demonstration plant in Visalia, California, in partnership with Logos Technologies and with $20.5 million in support from the US Department of
Energy. They have integrated their "Cellunator" micro-milling systems into operating ethanol facilities to
optimize particle size, improve starch release and increase ethanol production up to 5%. IKA® Renewable Energy
Specialist, Michael Janssen said, “When it comes to the development of new devices and processes, IKA® has
always worked closely with its customers. We see the global biomass conversion pretreatment market as a huge
opportunity, for which IKA® and EdeniQ have the solution.” 07/13/2011
6.5 MMTonnes/Year of British Food Waste Available for AD Conversion
The United Kingdom's Eunomia Research and Consulting has released a report on their
year-long study of food waste availability for anaerobic digestion (AD) conversion in Great Britain, indicating
that of a total of 8.8 million tonnes available throughout the United Kingdom (UK), 2.2 million tonnes per annum
(tpa) is from household sources, 5.2 million tpa commercial and 0.6 million tpa industrial. Eunomia estimates
that treatment capacity at the regional level now being processed in anaerobic digesters or incorporated in
compost leaves about 6.5 millions tpa available in Great Britain. This "represents a significant opportunity for
investors and project developers, provided collection infrastructure is forthcoming and projects can secure
feedstock under the right terms to enable funding to be raised for new facilities." The report finds that the
common funding requirement of guaranteed feedstock availability is a major constraint to facility development.
Further, optimal size for food waste AD is smaller than the nominal $20 million for an 80,000-100,000 tpa
project scale that lenders are willing to consider. Eunomia's July 2011 report, "Anaerobic Digestion Market Outlook: Overcoming Constraints to Deliver
New Infrastructure" is available to download without cost. 07/13/2011
Due02/17/2012: Energy for Sustainability Proposals to NSF
The National Science Foundation (NSF) requests proposals toward their
Energy for Sustainability program to support fundamental research and
education in energy production, conversion, and storage. Proposals should focus on energy sources that are
environmentally friendly and renewable, including Sunlight, Wind/Wave, Biomass, and Geothermal. NSF revised
guidelines in Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), NSF 11-1 apply. Proposals will only be accepted between January 15 and
February 17, 2012. The focus area of Biomass Conversion, Biofuels & Bioenergy seeks "innovative
approaches for the intensification of biofuel and bioenergy processes". Areas of interest include (1)
biological, thermochemical, or thermocatalytic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to biofuels beyond
cellulosic ethanol; (2) microbial fuel cells for direct production of electricity from renewable carbon sources;
(3) process-based, scalable approaches for the biological or bio-mimetic generation of electricity directly from
sunlight; (4) hydrogen production from autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms; and (5) hydrocarbons and
lipids from autotrophic or heterotrophic microorganisms. $9.2 million expected to be available, up to 42 awards
anticipated. For more info, contact Gregory Rorrer at. Refer to Sol# PD-12-7644.
07/13/2011
UnitedKingdom Dairy is Powered by Food Processing Waste
The BV Dairy in Dorset, United Kingdom (UK), now operates on combined heat
and power (CHP) generated from anaerobic digestion (AD) of food processing waste for production of biogas, with
£1.7m in funding assistance from the AD Demonstration Programme of the UK's
Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP). The 80,000 tonne per year capacity AD plant consumes wash-water
from the factory, permeate/whey from cheese making, and other dairy rich liquids. The biogas generates
electricity to power the plant with excess sold to the regional grid, while recovered heat will serve the AD
vessels and provide cleaning and process heat for the dairy. The high-nutrient digestate will be used on local
pasturage. Jim Highnam, Managing Director at BV Dairy said: “We are proud to be pioneers in AD for the UK food
industry. The BV Dairy AD plant demonstrates that the technology works and, judging by the interest in our plant
from food manufacturers, we expect to see many more companies using AD to generate renewable energy from
unavoidable food waste.” 07/12/2011
MagneGasto Enter Mexico Market with Plasma Waste to Energy
Florida-based MagneGas Corporation has revised their non-binding memorandum of understanding MOU) with Inmobiliaria Grupo Corporativo
S.A. de C.V. (IGC) of Mexico, doing business as Green Planet Aid (GPA), which provides GPA with exclusive
distribution rights in Mexico for an initial five-year period. The MOU follows MagneGas' completion of three
year testing at their MagneGas Plasma Arc Flow Refinery using plasma for wastewater sterilization and syngas
production from the City of Dunedin, Florida wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Pending positive final test
results that are due in about a month, GPA intends to purchase systems and receive comprehensive training on the
Refinery at MagneGas Company headquarters in Tarpon Springs. MagneGas' patented plasma arc flow process converts liquid waste into a hydrogen-based
synthetic gas (syngas) fuel that is essentially interchangeable with natural gas, but with significantly lower
green house gas emissions. MagneGasTM can be used for metal cutting, cooking, heating or powering
multi-fuel vehicles. 07/12/2011
Due07/20/2011: Comments on California Clean Energy Future
California agencies are requesting public comment regarding ways to
implement and then measure effectiveness of policies identified by the California Clean Energy Future organization. The deadline for submission of written
comments pertaining to California Clean Energy Future has been extended to Wedneday, July 20, 2011.
A joint agency meeting and public workshop was held on July 6, 2011 that included the California Energy Commission (CEC), CalRecycle,
the Air Resources Board, the California Environmental Protection Agency, California Independent System Operator
Corporation, and the California Public Utilities Commission. The meeting's purpose was to discuss updating the
California Clean Energy Future to reflect Governor Brown's 2020 energy policy goals as well as the recently
enacted 33 percent renewable portfolio standard. Attendance at the workshop is not a requirement for
comment submission. Supporting documents are available for review at the CEC's website. Instructions for filing comments can be found in the revised Workshop Notice. 07/11/2011
New£10m
Anaerobic Digestion Loan Fund Announced in England
A new £10m Anaerobic Digestion Loan Fund (ADLF) has just been announced to
support new anaerobic digestion (AD) capacity in England, aiming for 300,000 tonnes of annual food waste
diversion from landfill by 2015.The Accelerating Growth Fund Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the United
Kingdom (UK) organization Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), will administer the ADLF, which was developed by the UK
Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). A five-year maximum period is set for asset-backed loans from
£50,000 to £1,000,000. A simple on-line Eligibility Checklist starts the contact and application
process; lending criteria and fees are also described on-line. WRAP has
initially scheduled four application periods: July-October 2011, January-April 2012, June-September 2012 and
December 2012-March 2013. Further application periods may be published at a later date pending available funds.
Marcus Gover, Director of the Closed Loop Economy at WRAP, said: “Across the UK, there are now AD facilities
capable of managing 656,500 tonnes of organic waste each year, diverting waste from landfill, generating
renewable energy and creating green jobs. The 300,000 tonnes of extra capacity we expect this fund will create
will bring the UK’s AD processing capacity close to 1 million tonnes per year. AD is a reliable, safe and
profitable resource efficiency process supported by Government, industry, local authorities and communities.”
07/11/2011
AmericanRenewables Awards 100 MWe Biomass Boiler Contract to Metso
Finland-based Metso Corporation has been awarded a contract from American Renewables to supply a 100 megawatt bubbling fluidized bed
(BFB) biomass boiler, flue gas cleaning system and the entire power plant automation system for their
Gainesville Renewable Energy Center (GREC) in Florida. GREC announced successful completion of $500 million in construction
financing last month; the Metso contract accounts for about 25%. The City's power provider, Gainesville Regional
Utilities (GRU), has entered into a 30-year power purchase agreement for GREC's renewable electricity. The
project will require approximately one million tons of fuel annually, sourced within a 75-mile radius of the
project site. Feedstock will be waste wood from logging and mill activity as well as urban wood waste from
clearing, tree trimming and pallets. GRU will implement a forest stewardship incentive program in which biomass growers will
receive a bonus payment for going above and beyond prevailing forestry practices. Commercial operations are
scheduled to begin in 2013. ”Our partnership with Metso played a significant role in allowing us to complete
this construction financing. GREC is now able to move forward without delay, ensuring that the Gainesville
community will receive the many environmental and financial benefits of this renewable energy facility”, Jim
Gordon, president of GREC LLC states. 07/11/2011
Due09/30/2011: EOIs to London for Waste Management Support Programme
The London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) has opened a Targeted Waste Infrastructure Programme to meet
the criteria of their Business Plan. LWARB is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOIs) on two
separate funds to be distributed over the next four years: (1) Infrastructure Fund: £11 million loan fund
provides support for around five total projects that service areas outside of east London or that help to bridge
the capacity gap within the capital itself; (2) Strategic Partnership Fund: £5 million fund for
"innovative waste solutions", targeting hydrogen fuel cells, gas to grid, and waste derived transport fuels. For
the innovations programme, LWARB will provide both financial and business development support, brokering
partnerships between technology providers, off-take users and fuel suppliers, as well as entering debt / equity
investment relationships and will consider and discuss the level of support required with project sponsors on a
per-project basis. A detailed support document for EOI development is on-line, as is the
submission form; only EOIs submitted on the official LWARB form will
be reviewed. For further information, contact with "EOI Query" in the subject line
and providing a contact telephone number. 07/11/2011
NipawinBiomass to Convert Mine Clearance Timber Waste to Ethanol
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Canadian companies Shore Gold
Inc. and Nipawin Biomass Ethanol New Generation Co-operative Ltd., providing a
feedstock supply to Nipawin Biomass for their cellulose-to-ethanol operations. Non-merchantable waste timber
will be salvaged from 4,250 hectares of land clearing, contingent upon environmental assessment and approval
of Shore Gold's Star-Orion diamond mine project in the Fort à la Corne
forest, Saskatchewan. Under the public/private cooperative, Nipawin Biomass and the Saskatchewan
Research Council jointly developed the proprietary process, using thermal conversion of wood for production of
synthetic gas, then reforming the syngas with proprietary catalytic processing to manufacture liquid fuels and
chemicals. The Shore Gold project will provide roughly 200,000 bone dry tons per year of wood, about two thirds
of the conversion plant's annual feedstock demand. The process can convert many types of woody waste from urban
and agricultural sources. The cooperative's US partner Fulcrum Bioenergy has their first
facility under development in western Nevada in the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center in the City of McCarran, Storey
County, Nevada. The plant will convert 90,000 tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) into 10.5 million gallons of
ethanol per year, and will be the first commercial use of the Nipawin technology. Construction on the
Saskatchewan plant is expected to begin shortly after Fulcrum's Sierra Biofuels facility, which is anticipated to be completed in
2012. 07/10/2011
CECAwards $29+ Million to 7 Transportation Biofuels Projects
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has approved the award of more than $29 million for seven biofuels for
transportation projects, totaling $29,675,072 funded through the Commission's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and
Vehicle Technology Program (AB 118). Awards went to: (1) Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District - construct hydrogen bus fueling
station in Oakland; (2) Biostar Systems with Sonoma County Water Agency, Sonoma County Transit
- produce 148,000 cubic feet per day of pipeline quality biomethane from dairy waste and food processor waste;
(3) South Coast Air Quality Management District and partners - install /
upgrade 11 compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueling stations throughout Southern
California; (4) USA Waste of California - upgrade liquefied natural gas (LNG) station
in the City of Corona (Riverside County); (5) CR&R, Inc. - produce an estimated 120,000 million BTUs of pipeline
quality biomethane from non-recyclable municipal waste; (6) Pixley Biogas - build an anaerobic digestion
facility in Pixley, Tulare County to process 36 million gallons of manure from nearby dairies, produce biogas
for Calgren Renewable Fuels ethanol biorefinery; (7) High Mountain Fuels - convert renewable landfill biomethane
to liquefied natural gas. "This is a major milestone for our program because it means we have awarded all $175
million from the first two years of the AB 118 program, plus another $14 million from the 2010-11 funding
cycle," said Energy Commission Vice Chair James Boyd. 07/10/2011
Due08/19/2011: Project Proposals with New Emissions Reduction Technologies
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) in California
has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) under their Technology Advancement Program (TAP). The TAP11-1 RFP requests proposals for projects that demonstrate new and
innovative emissions reduction technologies, including waste systems or technologies that can minimize or
eliminate emissions inherent in existing waste management systems and processes. The District asks proposers to
address both the ozone and PM2.5 needs; the RFP places a particular focus on NOX emissions reduction
technologies. Partially funded through the Environmental Protection Agency's
Clean Air Technology Initiative, The total available funding for this
TAP round is $1.4 million, which is expected to fund 5 to 8 projects. A pre-proposal workshop is scheduled
for July 21, 2011 between 9:30am and 11:00am at the District office; video teleconference locations in
Bakersfield, Modesto, San Francisco and Los Angeles are also available. Proposals are due August 19, 2011.
Contact District staff Kevin M. Wing, Air Quality Specialist, or Ross Badertscher, Air Quality Specialist for
assistance at 559-230-5800, or email .
07/10/2011
DOESchedules Webinar on Renewable CHP Using Biomass Feedstock
The US Department of Energy's (DOE) Gulf Coast Clean Energy Center (GC
RAC) is hosting free webinars focused on Combined Heat and Power (CHP). The topic on July 27, 2011 is
Renewable CHP Using Biomass Feedstock, hosted by GC RAC's Krishnan
Umamaheswar with presentations by Paul Lemar, Jr., of Resource Dynamics Corporation and Jonathan Wilkinson, Nexterra Systems Corporation. The topic will include first steps to
consider while evaluating biomass CHP applicability, biomass market outlook, issues and challenges,
gasification, case studies and biomass CHP system performance and costs. Participation is free but
on-line registration is required. Continuing education certificates
(CEUs) are available upon request. Subsequent CHP focused webinars are scheduled for September 1 and 7, 2011. GC
RAC offers a continuing series of free webinars on various topics related to clean energy technologies and
pertinent policy developments, based at the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) in The Woodlands, Texas. It was created with funding from the
DOE to promote clean energy technology through the use of CHP, waste heat recovery (WHR), and district energy
(DE) in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. 07/09/2011
MWPower
Supplies Waste Heat Recovery Boiler to Vantaa WtE Plant
The Metso Corporation – Wärtsilä joint venture MW Power has been selected by Vantaan Energia to provide the heat
recovery and steam generator (HRSG) for their 62 megawatt electric (MWe), 99 MW thermal waste-to-energy
(WtE) plant under construction near Vantaa, Finland. MW Power will
deliver, install and commission the integrated boilers and turbines. The system will increase overall plant
efficiency, recovering excess flue gas heat to superheat steam for the steam turbine, as well as low pressure
auxiliary steam for the plant's process heat needs and district heat to supply about half of the thermal needs
of the city of Vantaa. The Vantaa plant should come on-line in 2014 to replace an existing facility closing in
2015. The Vantaa plant will cut coal usage by 30% and total emissions by about 20%. “Our new waste-to-energy
plant will fulfill the most stringent environmental requirements and is a step towards carbon-neutral energy
production. Through this investment, we will not only secure the production of district heat for our city but
will provide efficient energy recovery from residual waste and offer a better waste management route than the
current landfill disposal”, says Pertti Laukkanen, Managing Director of Vantaan Energia.
07/09/2011
AEBiofuels Acquires Zymetis and Z-microbe for Direct Biomass Conversion
Cupertino, California based AE Biofuels has completed acquisition of Maryland-based
Zymetis Inc, including their patented "Z-microbe". Z-microbe is based
on a marine organism discovered rapidly consuming plant cellulose in the Chesapeake Bay. Zymetis found that the
microbe naturally generates about 90 enzymes that rapidly convert sugar, starch, and cellulose into useable
chemicals and fuels. The company's flagship Zymetis Integrated Process (ZIP™) technology combines gene
sequencing and engineering to redevelop the microbial agent for direct conversion of biomass to sugars tailored
to specific industrial processes, including manufacture of renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels. “Zymetis’
technology has already demonstrated the production of high-value chemicals to supply multi-billion-dollar global
markets, but we lacked a commercialization platform,” said Dr. Steve Hutcheson, founder of Zymetis and a 25-year genetic biology
professor at the University of Maryland. “AE Biofuels has demonstrated operational global
management capability, constructed and operated advanced biofuels plants, and has already achieved success in
creating and adopting new technology through the conversion of first-generation biofuels facilities.”
07/09/2011
Dynamotive,ROC, and CRC Partner with Virgin Australia for Aviation Biofuel
Canadian pyrolysis specialist Dynamotive has announced their partnership with Virgin Australia airlines for
development of sustainable aviation biofuel. Dynamotive acquired fast pyrolysis patents in 2001 and began
scale-up development for commercial production of BioOil from renewable biomass feedstock. Last month
Dynamotive extended the 2006 licensing of their technology held by Renewable Oil
Corporation (ROC) of Melbourne to an all-Australia exclusive license. ROC and the
Australian national Future Farm Industries Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) are joined in this partnership with Virgin AU, using Dynamotive's fast pyrolysis to process mallees, a
resilient type of Eucalyptus tree that can be grown sustainably in Australia. Dynamotive's CEO Andrew Kingston:
“We are very excited to join Virgin Australia, Renewable Oil Corporation and the CRC in this initiative and
provide our technology. We have a great opportunity to develop a sustainable industry in Western Australia
capable of producing second generation fuels that do not require food sources and have positive effects in land
and water management.” 07/09/2011
ViridorCelebrates Transition to "Next Generation" Waste Management
Viridor just celebrated the opening of the final landfill gas system installation as their turning
point toward "next generation" waste management. Viridor is one of the United
Kingdom's (UK) largest waste management, recycling, resource recovery, and renewable energy companies; they have
invested about £39m in landfill gas waste to energy since 1986. Recognized recently as UK Recycling and Waste
Management Company of the Year, the firm has begun a plan to invest £1bn in essential infrastructure toward
implementing DEFRA's recently announced Zero Waste Economy program. Dick Turner, Viridor's Director of Waste
to Energy: “The UK recycling, renewable energy and sustainable waste sector is changing. Across the UK,
consumers, corporates and councils are focusing on waste reduction, reuse, enhanced recycling and recovering
value from what remains. Viridor has a strong tradition of leading innovation and investment, from pioneering
renewable power from landfill gas to today standing as the UK’s largest recycler by MRF capacity, with
investment in AD, gasification and energy from waste. In marking Viridor’s final investment in energy from
landfill gas we celebrate the work of those renewables pioneers. Their success was the foundation of today’s
renewables revolution, developing vital skills, sustainably converting gas to energy, and indeed until recently
contributing one third of UK renewable capacity.” 07/08/2011
UKOrganizations Launch Global Biogas Program
The trade organization Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA) and the
registered charitable organization Raleigh International Trust have teamed to launch a global biogas initiative promoting anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic
household and farm waste for biogas production. The partnership's intent is to raise awareness of the benefits
that anaerobic digestion in the UK and across the globe provides. Raleigh was formed in 1978 to give young people a chance to explore
the world and by doing so, discover their potential as leaders and members of a team working together to make a
difference. Raleigh has been running their own Biogas program since 2010 and has installed 15 biogas units with
the help of employees from Airbus. The ADBA was established to represent all businesses involved in the
anaerobic digestion and biogas industries to help remove the barriers they face and to support its members to
grow their businesses. The new partnership was announced this week at the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association’s Annual Conference in
Birmingham, UK to reach as many AD-related companies and organizations as possible, and to encourage them to get
involved by sending staff on Raleigh-organized expeditions with youth, to live together and work in remote
communities to install biogas plants. For further information, contact ADBA's Matt
Hindle,, 0203 176 0591 or Annika Herter,, 0203 176 0590, or
Raleigh's Lorraine Roadnight,, 020 7183 1286. 07/08/2011
Due07/21/2011: Intent to Offer on SCE ES&M 2011 All Source RFO
Southern California Edison has issued a 2011 Energy Source and Management Power
(ES&M) All Source Request for Offer (RFO) with participation requirements, documents to be submitted, and a
detailed schedule of required submittals. The first is a non-binding Notice of Intent to Offer that is due July
21, 2011. A variety of products are sought, including (1) Dispatchable Unit Contingent Energy Only Toll, (2)
Non-Dispatchable Qualifying Facilities Resources, (3) Resource Adequacy Capacity Products (SCE to Buy and Sell),
and (4) Daily Financial Call Options. SCE has a Bidder's Conference schedule for Call-in and Webex on July 14,
2011, from 9:00 am -10:00 am Pacific time to answer questions about process and requirements; an SCE attorney
and SCE’s Independent Evaluator will be present on the call. Call in and Webex instructions are posted to the
main RFO web page; for participation assistance visit SCE's on-line
Meeting Center. General RFO questions may be
emailed to. The RFO Instruction Packet has been extracted and posted to our site for convenience.
07/08/2011
CambiTHP
Plant at Washington, DC WWTP Will Be World's Largest
Norwegian company Cambi AS will construct the first Cambi Thermal Hydrolysis
Processing (THP) plant in the United States and their largest to date at the Blue Plains advanced wastewater
treatment plant (WWTP) in Washington, DC. The District of Columbia Sewer and Water Authority (DC Water)
has signed a design-build contract with CDM and their partner PC Construction for improvements to the WWTP, which will include the
Cambi THP sludge pre-treatment system. The contract for DC Water's waste conversion project includes installation of units for sludge
thickening, pre-dewatering, a four-train Cambi THP plant, and four digesters to convert sludge to biogas.
Contracts for combined heat and power (CHP) generation complements will be signed in the near future. In
European projects, Cambi has proven that their THP systems lower sludge viscosity and improve dewatering; this
increases digester feed rate by two to three times resulting in increased biogas production. The THP high
temperature regime also provides improved pathogen control. The installation will be Cambi's largest THP plant,
processing about 400 tonnes per day on a dry-solids basis, and will reduce DC Water’s carbon footprint by
approximately 60,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. ”This is the single largest contribution so far to greenhouse gas
reduction in Washington DC,” said Mr. George S. Hawkins, General Manager of DC Water.
07/07/2011
ASTMIssues Bio-derived Component Revisions to Aviation Fuel Standard
ASTM International (ASTM), formerly known as the American Society for
Testing and Materials, has revised ASTM D7566-11, Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing
Synthesized Hydrocarbons. The revision formally approves addition of up to 50 percent bioderived synthetic
blending components in conventional jet fuel. Called hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA), the
biodiesel additives are processed from oil-seed crops, algae and animal fat (tallow). The standard already has
criteria for fuel and fuel additives produced from coal, natural gas or biomass using Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.
Mark Rumizen, who helped lead the revision by ASTM's Subcommittee D02.J0 on Aviation Fuels, heads the
certification-qualification group for the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI), a coalition that seeks to enhance sustainability for aviation
by promoting the use of alternative jet fuels. “The revision of D7566 reflects an industry cooperative effort to
accomplish this task,” says Rumizen. “Because of the great emphasis on safety when you’re dealing with aviation
fuel, the passage of this ballot required a collaborative and cooperative effort between the members of the
aviation fuels community.” 07/07/2011
FrenchEnzyme Breakthrough for Continuous Biodiesel Production
Continuous economical production of biodiesel is now achievable, thanks to breakthrough enzyme work at the Paul Pascal research center of
France's Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS). Their patented results
have just been published in the journal Energy & Environmental Science.
Industry-standard transesterification reactions convert animal and plant sourced oils into methyl ester (the
primary component of biodiesel) and glycerol; the process is slowed by saponification side reactions that shift
the methyl ester back to acid salts. Certain lipase enzymes counter this effect but have been too expensive for
commercial use. The new approach generates these unrefined enzyme catalysts in-situ within a macro-porous
silica matrix which allows continuous pressurized high-volume one-direction processing flow without damage to
the matrix. The self-regenerating process provides catalysis without disrupting the processing cycle to refresh
with more enzymes. For further information, contact the researcher Rénal Backov at 05 56 84
56 30,, or the CNRS Press Office at 01 44 96 51 51,.
07/07/2011
EPASigns
Final Biogenic CO2 Rule with Three Year Deferral
On July 1, 2011, the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Administrator
Lisa Jackson signed the "Deferral for CO2 Emissions from Bioenergy and Other Biogenic Sources under the
Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Title V Programs: Final Rule", and has released the
pre-publication version. The Final Rule is expected to be published in
the Federal Register within the next few weeks and may contain slight changes from this early release. A
Summary of all comments received during public review was also
released last week. As proposed in March of this year, the EPA's Final Rule action now
provides a three year deferral from certain regulatory compliance regarding emission of CO2 to bioenergy
facilities and other biogenic sources while the agency conducts a new series of assessments. During the deferral
period, biogenic CO2 emissions are not required to be counted under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration
(PSD) and Title V permitting requirements. The official version to be published will be available on the
Government Printing Office’s FDSys website and on Regulations.gov under Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0083. For further
information, contact Carole Cook, Climate Change Division, Office of Atmospheric Programs (MC–6207J),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202)
343–9334; fax number: (202) 343–2342;. 07/06/2011
JapaneseDeep Sea Discovery May Impact Rare Earth Metals Recovery Prospects
Japanese researchers published results of deep sea bed exploration
in the current issue of the journal Nature Geoscience, showing that deep-sea mud (around 20,000 feet below
the surface) contains high concentrations of rare-earth elements and yttrium at numerous sites throughout the
eastern South and central North Pacific. The team estimates that an area of about one square kilometer
surrounding one of the sampling sites could provide one-fifth of the current annual world consumption of these
elements. Just last month, Yale University's Center for Industrial Ecology proposed that "substantial recoverable
reservoir" of the elusive yet crucial rare earth elements (REEs) existed in the current global stocks of
electronic wastes; their Life Cycle Assessment approach was partially in response to global concerns over
China's "hegemony" of around 90% of all the industrial extraction. The Japanese instead propose that rare-earth
elements and yttrium are readily recovered from the deep-sea bed mud by simple acid leaching, and suggest that
deep-sea mud constitutes a highly promising huge resource for these elements. Environmental organizations along
with the European Union and affiliates are ramping up discussion regarding
hazards to the ocean; the impact on future e-waste conversion for recovery of rare earth metals remains to be
considered. 07/06/2011
NewEuropean Energy Fund to Support Small-Scale Renewable Projects
The European Energy Efficiency Fund (EEEF) was launched July 1, 2011 in Bussels collaboratively by the
European Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), and Deutsche Bank.
The EEEF will both directly invest in projects and fund through financial institutions for loans. Funds will be
available for energy efficiency and smaller scaled renewable energy generation efforts, extending the EU member
states efforts to meet energy and climate goals. Using a market-based approach, the funds will be directed
toward advancing commercially viable public energy efficiency and renewable energy projects within the European
Union. The consortium intends to raise the total fund from EUR 265 million currently held, to approximately EUR
800 million by attracting further investors. The EIB has published a list addressing frequently asked questions
(FAQ); among the eligible projects will be high efficiency combined
heat and power (CHP), including micro-cogeneration and district heating/cooling networks. For further
information, please contact Cassa Depositi e Prestiti's Lorella Campi at + 39 06 42212531 or by
email,, or Dr. Klaus Winker of Deutsche Bank AG, + 49 69 910
32249,. 07/06/2011
VadxxEnergy and Greenstar Recycling JV for Waste Plastics to Crude
Ohio-based Vadxx Energy and Texas company Greenstar Recycling are forming a joint venture (JV) for conversion of post-recycling waste
plastics to synthetic crude oil. Greenstar has 14 materials recovery facilities (MRFs), recycled commodity
upgrading and commodity trading operations throughout the mid- and eastern states; they selected Vadxx for their
scalable, continuous feed processing capability. Vadxx uses thermal depolymerization to produce oil with lower
API gravities and lower sulfur content than naturally occurring crude; syngas produced by the thermal process is
suitable for power generation. Vadxx' ability for processing waste plastics to synthetic crude oil was
highlighted in the American Chemical Council's April 2011 publication, Conversion technology: A complement to plastic recycling. Jim
Garrett, Vadxx CEO, stated, "Plastics are made from oil, and Vadxx has figured out how to create the lowest
sulfur content crude oil in the world, from a commodity that might otherwise occupy space in landfills."
07/05/2011
TetronicsTargeting Precious Metal Recovery from E-Waste through Plasma
UK's Tetronics Ltd has entered into a partnership with Taiwan precious metal refining company
Solar Applied Materials Technology Corporation to investigate
opportunities to use plasma for extraction of precious metals from electronic wastes and industrial / automotive
catalysts. Tetronics utilizes fluidized bed gasification followed by Direct Current (DC) thermal plasma to
vaporize feedstock, allowing separation and recovery of the non-organic elements. The extreme
temperature of the plasma process also destroys toxins such as dioxin and furan. The resulting precious metal
laden slag becomes an ore for further refining by the Taiwanese firm. The remaining non-valuable material is
vitrified into an inert material called Plasmarok® in a single processing step. Tetronics notes that the
European Union estimation of world-wide waste electronics could be as high as 50 million tons per year, while
the costs of standard mining continue to escalate. Recent studies have shown that the in-use stock of electronic wastes
constitutes a substantial source of rare metals. 07/05/2011
NeutralFuels to Make Biodiesel from McDonald's UAE Waste Cooking Oil
McDonald's used cooking oil from across the United Arab Emirate (UAE) will be
collected for Dubai-based Neutral Fuels LLC to convert into biodiesel under a long-term
contract. McDonald's UAE will use the 100% biodiesel in their fleet vehicles.
Neutral Fuels LLC is a recently formed joint venture between UK-based Neutral Group and an Emirati member of Dubai SME, an arm of
their Department of Economic Development (DED) agency. Neutral Fuels LLC was
granted permission from the Dubai Ruler’s Court and the Department of Petroleum Affairs to be the region's first
commercial producer of biodiesel from used vegetable cooking oil. The joint venture was arranged by the Dubai
Foreign Direct Investment office (FDI), an arm of DED. Fahad Al Gergawi, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai FDI,
said: “Neutral Fuels LLC and McDonald’s UAE have formed a unique synergy that promotes business as well as
conservation. It is a testament to the innovative opportunities presented by Dubai for profitable investment,
business growth and commercial application of state-of-the-art technologies. It also underscores the fact that
sustainability makes good business sense.” 07/05/2011
E.ONCommissions Biomass to Biomethane Facility in Merzig
German energy giant E.ON AG's Climate and Renewables division has commissioned their sixth biogas plant in Germany, this time in Merzig,
the capital of the district Merzig-Wadern in Saarland, along the western border of Germany. The plant will
convert local agricultural waste and other biomass to biomethane for storage and as-needed injection into the
regional natural gas grid; about 60% of the biogas will be used in Saarland. E.ON is also considering
co-location of wind energy systems with biomethane facilities, to use excess wind-generated electricity for
biomethane separation to commercial hydrogen and oxygen. The Merzig plant will convert 51,000 tonnes of biomass
per year (about 140 tonnes per day) of regional German and French energy crops and harvest residues. E.ON
Bioerdgas GmbH partnered with Enovos Deutschland and Stadtwerke Merzig to form the feedstock aggregation company
Bioenergie Merzig GmbH. E.ON notes that each kilowatt hour (kWh) of biomethane reduces CO2 emissions by about
250 g, the amount emitted by an efficient vehicle over a distance of 2 km. The Merzig plant will initially
produce 51 million kWh of biomethane, with plans to scale up to around 1 billion kWh per annum in the next few
years. 07/03/2011
CaliforniaClean Energy Future Workshop Scheduled
The Integrated Energy Policy Report Committee of the California
Energy Commission will conduct a public informational meeting and workshop on July 6, 2011. Chair
Robert Weisenmiller is the Presiding Member and Commissioner Karen Douglas is the Associate Member of the IEPR
Committee. The joint agency meeting will include CalRecycle, the Air Resources Board, the California
Environmental Protection Agency, California Independent System Operator Corporation, and the California Public
Utilities Commission. The meeting's purpose is to encourage an open dialogue updating the California Clean
Energy Future, to reflect Governor Brown's 2020 energy policy goals as well as the recently enacted 33 percent
renewable portfolio standard. The agencies are requesting public comment regarding ways to implement and then
measure effectiveness of policies identified by the California Clean Energy Future organization in their Overview document. The workshop will start at 1:30pm in the Byron Sher
Auditorium on the 2nd floor of the Cal EPA Headquarters building, 1001 I Street, Sacramento. The open
meeting will also be webcast. 07/03/2011
Due07/28/2011: Proposals for Issue Paper on Landfill Emissions Control
The Climate Action Reserve has issued a Request for Proposals
(RFP) to develop an issue paper addressing Bioreactors and In-situ
Composting as two methods for the capture, control and utilization of biomethane released from decomposing
organic waste in landfills. The Reserve is a national greenhouse gas (GHG) offsets program establishing
regulatory-quality standards, developing quantification / verification methods and issuing carbon offset credits
known as Climate Reserve Tonnes (CRT) generated from such projects. The Reserve uses an internal screening
process to identify candidate project types with good potential for offset protocol development. The
contracted assessment is intended to build upon and substantiate the
Reserve’s own initial assessments and research on these topics, and serve as a basis for development of
protocols for this project type. Proposals are due to the Reserve by 5:00 pm July 28, 2011; contract award date
is August 26, 2011 and the final Issue Paper needs to be completed and submitted by November 18, 2011. Submit
proposals to the Climate Action Reserve, Attn: Proposal for Issue Paper, 523 W. 6th Street, #428, Los Angeles,
CA 90014, FAX: (213) 623-6716, or via email to. Indicate “Proposal for Issue Paper” in the
email subject line. Contact for questions: contact Max DuBuisson at (213) 785-1233 or.
07/03/2011
FloridaNational Guard Goes Green with Springboard Biodiesel
Camp Blanding Joint Training Center is going green according to the Florida National Guard, producing biodiesel to fuel the maintenance
vehicle fleet using a BioPro 190 system from Chico, California based Springboard Biodiesel. The Guard collects drums of used vegetable oil
from the Consolidated Dining Facility, then transports it to the Maintenance building where it is filtered twice
then loaded into the BioPro 190 system. Processing takes about 48 hours, producing 100% biodiesel at around 67
cents a gallon. The project is just coming out of a pilot assessment that began in January 2010. “This is the
only installation in the nation that has implemented this process,” said Jessika Blersch, the sustainability
coordinator for the Florida National Guard’s Camp Blanding Joint Training Center. "Not only are we converting
the waste cooking oil into something useable – in this case the fuel – but we’re also hitting an alternative
fuel goal as well." The Camp Blanding Environmental Services department recently took third place in the
National Guard Bureau’s environmental security awards program in the sustainability category.
07/02/2011
UpscalingSustainable Biofuels Is Topic of 4th Plenary Meeting in Brussels
The European Biofuels Technology Platform's (EBTP) 4th Stakeholder Plenary
Meeting will be held at the Diamante Centre in Brussels on September 14-15, 2011. Those engaged in all aspects
of biofuels are invited and attendance is free, but pre-registration and attendance confirmation are required
through the organization's website, as past events have been very well attended
and the Centre's capacity is limited. The theme of this year's Plenary is "From Feedstocks to Finance: Upscaling
Sustainable Biofuels". A primary topic of discussion will be the European Industrial Bioenergy Initiative
(EIBI). The Plenary sessions are intended to provide an opportunity for
all biofuels stakeholders, especially Researchers, Academia, Biofuels and energy companies, Vehicle
manufacturers, Trade organizations, Forestry and feedstock organisations,
NGOs, Media and Government. The agenda will include presentations from the European
Commission, EBTP, IEA, ePure, US DoE, Bioenergy 2020+, Mission of Brazil
to the EU, Chemrec, UPM, IFP and many others, covering financing and progress on deployment and upscaling of
advanced biofuels technologies, including feedstock issues and sustainability. 07/02/2011
LanzaTechEmissions-to-Ethanol Process Is Focus of Project in India
Jindal Steel and Power (JSPL) and IndianOil are discussing collaboration to bring New
Zealand-based LanzaTech's commercial emissions fermentation to ethanol capabilities
to India. LanzaTech would process hydrocarbon-rich waste gas emissions from JSPL's steel mill into ethanol that
would then be blended into IndianOil's fuel supply. Crude oil imports to India are expected to account for 80%
of consumption in the near future; the Indian government has instituted a national fuels policy that requires
10% ethanol (E10) blended with mineral fuels, rising to 20% (E20) by 2017. LanzaTech’s vice-president of
business development Asia Pacific, Prabhakar Nair, notes: “LanzaTech’s process meets the Indian Government’s
criterion. This proposed collaboration between IndianOil and JSPL will not only deliver a new, indigenous
resource to India’s liquid transportation fuel pool, but it will also demonstrate that India’s new energy future
requires the creation of novel business partnerships.” LanzaTech is engaged in numerous international fuel and
chemical projects in South Korea, China, Taiwan and elsewhere, and has now expanded production from low-cost
ethanol to now include the production of 2,3-Butanediol (2,3-BDO), a foundation chemical for polymers, plastics
and hydrocarbon fuels, including jet fuel. 07/01/2011
AgrokorStarts Construction on 1 MWe Waste to Biogas Plant in Croatia
Croatian firm Agrokor Group has signed a contract with Slovenian construction
company G.H Holding to develop Agrokor Energija's first biogas to energy facility at Gradec near
Vrbovec, northeast of the Croatian capital Zagreb. The 1 megawatt (MWe) biogas plant will use anaerobic
digestion to convert agricultural and food waste. Agrokor is one of the country's largest privately held
companies, with their business centered on production and distribution of food and drink. Agrokor Energija
intends to establish a network of food processing biogas plants throughout the region totaling around 30 MWe
installed power within the next five years. In addition to power generation the plan calls for provision of
thermal energy for dry kilns and enclosed greenhouse facilities, while also producing organic-based fertilizers
and soils amendments. The company notes that starting construction on this first biogas plant is in tune with
30-year old Agrokor's business strategy based on the principles of sustainable development, which are
implemented in all of its business segments on a daily basis. 07/01/2011
CaliforniaARB Chair Nichols Proposes 1-Year Delay in Cap-and-Trade
In testimony during an informational hearing before the California Select Committee
on Environment, Economy and Climate Change, Air Resources Board Chairperson Mary Nichols this week presented
an overview of "AB 32 Market Mechanisms". Chair Nichols discussed how the
cap and trade regulations would fit within the overall implementation
of AB 32 policy, provided details of the proposed program, and outlined a plan that would initiate the
regulatory program in January of 2012 as described in the agency's recent Fact Sheet, but postpone compliance requirements until 2013.
Challenges to the proposed AB 32 overall program occasioned development and release of a Supplement to the Scoping Plan which is currently in a 45-day review
and comment period; an ARB hearing will be held in August 2011 to consider adoption of the alternatives in the
supplement. Ms Nichols informed the Committee that ARB staff would stage a public workshop within the next few
weeks to receive input on the new Cap and Trade proposal and other elements needed to complete the regulatory
development; a Discussion Draft will be posted with information on the rulemaking schedule to the
program website prior to the workshop. 07/01/2011

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