July 2013 News and Matters of Interest
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APL Completes USAID-Sponsored West Africa Biomass Gasification
Tour
Berkeley-based All Power Labs (APL) has posted news of the firm's demonstration and installation workshops this month in
Liberia, Nigeria and elsewhere in the West African region. ALL Power Labs describes itself as "an incubator for
open source energy experiments and distributed manufacturing solutions" and operates a research and training lab
focused on small-scale biomass gasification systems integrated with equipment manufacturing, sales and
installation services. The company's Gasification Experimenter's Kit (GEK) is the core of APL's program for Do-It-Yourself
(DIY) alternative energy innovation and on-line collaboration. Its product line ranges from 10 and 20
kilowatt Power Pallets to containerized 100 kilowatt Powertainer biomass gasifiers for heat and power and includes lower temperature
systems for production of biochar. In Liberia, APL is partnered with the USAID funded Liberia Energy Sector
Support Project (LESSP) and Winrock International (WI) as part of a program to develop biomass gasification for
rural electrification. In Lagos, APL conducted workshops with the local firm Bioenergy and Envirocycles Nigeria
Ltd (BEN), demonstrating that distributed heat and power can be achieved simply and economically from
gasification of locally available waste wood, agricultural residuals, manure and other organics. BEN is
developing alternative financing and supply arrangements based on bank guarantees to overcome initial purchase
and installation costs. Tom Price, APL's Director of Strategic Initiatives noted that use of biomass is a key
component of the US government's $7 billion Power Africa initiative announced last month: "The Power Africa programme aims to
double power access in the sub-Saharan part of the continent, which would not only help residents, but also
convince private sector companies to increase in new economic ventures in the region." 07/31/2013
Neste Adds 'Technical Corn Oil' to NExBTL
Renewable Diesel Feedstock
Finland's Neste Oil has announced addition of another non-food waste / residual feedstock into the production
of its NExBTL renewable diesel: technical corn oil (TCO), a residue generated during ethanol production. Trials
to confirm the suitability of technical corn oil for producing NExBTL renewable diesel were carried out in the spring of 2013. Following evaluation,
Neste Oil has started using technical corn oil on a commercial basis, with input sourced from the US. Neste's
NExBTL hydrogenation technology can use over 10 different feedstocks on an industrial scale and the company is
continuing research on completely new types of inputs, such as microbial oil and algae oil, for use as future
inputs for its renewable fuel. All of the renewable inputs used by Neste Oil comply with the relevant
biofuel-related legislation in all the markets in which its renewable fuels are sold, as well as the company's
own strict sustainability criteria, and are 100% traced back to their source. Matti Lehmus, Neste Oil's
Executive Vice President, Oil Products and Renewables: "Our strategic aim is to constantly extend the range of
renewable feedstocks we use to produce renewable fuels, and in particular the volume of waste- and residue-based
materials we use. Technical corn oil is an excellent addition to our feedstock base, as it is officially
approved for producing renewable fuel intended for the growing North American market." 07/31/2013
Global Clean Energy adds AD through Full Circle
Renewables Joint Venture
Texas based Global Clean Energy, Inc (GCEI) has announced entry into a joint venture with California's Full Circle Renewables, LLC (FCR) to co-develop waste to fuels projects. The agreement
includes utilization of FCR's anaerobic digestion technology, funding support, and methane off-take agreements
for multiple GCEI-controlled sites. Additional projects will consist of plastics to fuels projects on sites
controlled by FCR. Jim Quan, CEO of FCR said, "FCR is pleased to be working with GCEI's development team to
expand and supplement FCR's current developments in North America." GCEI is a waste-to-energy conversion
solutions company, focusing on using available and developing technologies to convert waste into commercially
viable energy, a process the company refers to as Reforming Environmental Salvage into Clean Usable Energy
(R.E.S.C.U.E.) to recover and/or extract from unconventional industrially abandoned, or formerly uneconomic
sources to commercially viable Energy Resource Materials. GCEI has two major proprietary assets, a gasification
system and a vortex pumping system, both commercially ready, and access to pyrolysis technology through
last year's joint venture with MicroEnergies LLC. FCR is a turn-key energy project
development company with experience in solar PV, biogas, and other waste to energy projects.
07/30/2013
GIB Backs 15.8MWe Biomass Plant as First Northern
Ireland Investment
The United Kingdom's Green Investment Bank plc (GIB) has announced its first investment in Northern Ireland of £20 million in collaboration
with the investment management firm the Foresight Group. The funding will support the construction of the Evermore 15.8
megawatts electric (MWe) wood fuelled combined heat and power (CHP) station to be built on a ten acre site in
Derry/Londonderry at the Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners land at Lisahally in Northern Ireland.
Evermore Group and its subsidiary Evermore Renewable Energy are Northern Ireland based companies established in
2009 to initiate, develop and finance strategic infrastructure projects across the UK and Europe. The combined
heat and power (CHP) plant is Evermore's first project; the Foresight/GIB investment is part of an overall £81
million project development fund. Foresight manages the UK Waste Resources & Energy Fund (UKWREI) in which
GIB is the cornerstone investor, has made the investment. Construction work on the CHP plant will start in the
coming weeks and it is expected to become fully operational by summer 2015. Stobart Biomass will supply the plant with over 115,000 tonnes of recycled wood per
annum and is contracted to supply fuel for 15 years from the commencement date. Andrew Tinkler, Stobart CEO:
"Stobart Biomass is seeing increased demand for its range of products across the UK and is pleased to support
Evermore with this key development in Derry/Londonderry. Stobart Biomass has an extensive pipeline of
opportunities. We look forward to helping plant developers and funders to bring those opportunities
to fruition and growing our Biomass business." 07/30/2013
Gevo Ships Biobutanol to US Coast Guard for Marine
Engine Testing
Based in Colorado, Gevo has announced that it has begun supplying initial quantities of 16.1% renewable isobutanol
blended gasoline to the US Coast Guard (USCG). The U.S. Coast Guard R&D Center is using the Gevo-blended fuel as part of a 12-month,
long-term operational study on marine engines that began during June, following completion of a 3 month round of
testing in Florida earlier this year under the CRADA with Honda engines running on fuel supplied by Gevo. Mike
Coleman, Project Manager at the USCG R&D Center: "We are pleased so far with our testing of isobutanol as a
potential alternative to ethanol as a blend stock in gasoline for marine applications. All testing so far has
been positive, and when the Yorktown tests are completed next year, we expect to have the information available
to allow a decision on whether 16.1% Isobutanol fuel blends will be certified for use in the Coast Guard
gasoline engine fleet." Gevo's proprietary GIFT butanol fermentation technology is being developed to fit into existing standard ethanol
production plants, reducing requite up-front capital expenditures for production expansion. Isobutanol is a
biofuel that compared to ethanol, has higher energy density, lower RVP, and does not present phase separation
issues seen with ethanol. Gevo has designed a proprietary engineering package through a strategic alliance with ICM to carry out its isobutanol fermentation and recovery process.
This equipment has been successfully deployed via the retrofit of a one MGPY corn ethanol demonstration facility
in St. Joseph, Missouri. 07/26/2013
Energos Receives Planning OK for Northern Ireland Waste
Gasification Plant
United Kingdom (UK) based Energos has announced receipt of planning approval for an 80,000 tonne per year waste gasification
facility to be developed in Lisburn, Northern Ireland at the site of the former Burn House Rendering plant. The
advanced conversion facility will use non-recyclable, non-hazardous mixed waste to generate 7MW of electricity,
and could also provide affordable heat in the form of steam or hot water for local industries and homes. Around
60% of the electricity generated by the Energos' gasification process will be renewable energy generated from
biomass and will qualify for double Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) from the UK government. The
planning approval was granted by Alex Attwood, Environment Minister for Northern Ireland, who commented: "This
facility will provide a boost for the Lisburn area, creating construction jobs in the short term and permanent
skilled jobs once completed. I am a firm supporter of energy from waste opportunities and of alternative, more
environmentally sustainable energy plans. This facility will deal with our waste, prevent landfill and create
renewable energy." The Energos gasification process converts non-recyclable waste into a gas via a finely
controlled two-stage thermal treatment process. The gas is then fully combusted to generate heat, which is used
to produce steam and green electricity. The process can treat a wide range of waste materials with different
compositions such as municipal solid waste (MSW), refuse derived fuel (RDF) and commercial wastes.
07/25/2013
RWE Begins Commissioning of Markinch Biomass CHP
Plant in Scotland
The Fife Council in Scotland has announced a key milestone in bringing the Markinch Biomass CHP plant on-line
with RWE npower renewables feeding seven hundred tonnes of wood chip into the plant's feed
handling system. The test is part of RWE's "cold commissioning' phase; trials are progressing towards
commissioning of the boiler on solid fuel and achieving full operation later this year. The new biomass CHP
plant will be fuelled by approximately 90% recovered wood waste and approximately 10% virgin wood, and will be
able to supply up to 120 tonnes of industrial steam per hour to paper manufacturer Tullis Russell. To-date, the
paper mill has been supplied with energy by a 60-year old coal-fired power station. The plant will be the
largest of its type in Scotland and in Great Britain as a whole. The development company is the United Kingdom
subsidiary of RWE Innogy. Overall, RWE Innogy is investing some £200 million in the construction of this biomass
CHP plant which is due to be operational in 2013. Plans for the Markinch facility received Section 36 approval
by the Scottish Government, which means that instead of the plant producing up to 49.9MW (megawatt) output as
originally proposed, maximum generation capacity has now been approved for production up to 65MW. Andy Smith,
project manager of RWE npower renewables, commented: "This is a really exciting stage of the project and is
testament to the great progress the team are making. For the first time, wood will be taken into the silos and
through the system for testing purposes. More than a million man hours have been invested in the construction so
far and it is satisfying for all concerned to see the early stages of sustainable power generation."
07/25/2013
DOE Awards $11MM to Small Businesses for Clean
Energy Technologies
The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has
announced awards of almost $11 million for projects focused on clean energy
technologies with a strong potential for commercialization and job creation; a list of the awards is provided. Six of the twelve small businesses receiving awards
are engaged in efforts to improve the conversion of waste and biomass into electricity, thermal energy,
chemicals, and other commodities. Cerahelix of Orono, Maine received its Phase I SBIR in 2009 to develop its helix-NFM
ceramic nano-filtration membrane. The new award of $1 million is funding the development of technology to
significantly reduce costs in converting renewable biomass to fuels and chemicals, leading to US manufacturing.
New York based Biolite has been awarded $994,179 to advance the firm's Clean Fan Stove Combustion
Technology Development, an ultra-clean wood fired cook-stove that reduces smoke by 90%, biomass use by 50%, and
employs advanced thermoelectric technology to power itself while providing electricity to off-grid users.
Cool Energy of Boulder, Colorado will receive $999,909 to further development of its
Low-Temperature Stirling Engine, a novel electric power system powered by low-grade and waste heat from
geothermal, oil and gas wells. Maryland-based E3tec Service, Llc was awarded $998,465 for "Process Intensification by Integrated
Reaction and Distillation for Synthesis of Bio-Renewable Organic Acid Esters," a crucial element of broadening
commercialization of bio-based chemicals. KSE, Inc. of Sunderland, MA will receive $1,000,000 to further their bio-products work
focused on furandicarboxylic acid, to provide a commercially viable production route to PVC bio-plasticizers and
polyester polymers from biomass feedstocks. Finally, the Berkeley Air Monitoring Group Inc. receives $999,768 to develop a Platform for
Integrated Cookstove Assessment (PICA) to create in-field cookstove performance data, update the current sensors
for measurement of stove usage, indoor air pollution, and emissions, and integrate these and other sensors into
the PICA system. Funded by Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy through the Energy
Department's Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR and STTR) programs, these awards are for Phase II projects to further develop
Phase I projects and produce a prototype or equivalent within two years. 07/25/2013
Appalachian State Researchers Receive Biofuel / Biochar
Research Grant
Appalachian State University (App State) has announced receipt of a $45,000 grant from the non-profit North Carolina Agricultural Foundation for a project to economically convert biomass
to biofuel and biochar. The grant was awarded to two professors in the Department of Technology and
Environmental Design, David Domermuth and Ok-Youn Yu. App State researchers have been working to develop an
economical method for converting agricultural and forest biomass to useable products and energy. The team is
using a pyrolytic conversion process they call "bio volatilization" (BV) to convert biomass into biochar,
pyrolysis oil, fuel gas, and heat. The biochar created from the BV process can be used as a soil additive to
increase soil fertility and protect against soil-borne diseases, improve water quality, reduce agricultural
productivity, and reduce nutrient leaching and soil acidity. The waste energy created from the BV process will
be used to heat the university’s bioshelter/ greenhouse at the Watauga County Landfill. The fuel created will be
used to run a generator to produce electricity for day lighting in the winter at the bioshelter / greenhouse.
Domermuth and Yu believe their research could be used by farm or forest owners and provide potential sources of
revenue. 07/24/2013
Biffa Partners with Jewson for Green Energy and
Zero Waste to Landfill
The United Kingdom (UK) based Biffa has announced entering into a partnership agreement with Jewson Ltd, the construction materials supply and distribution subsidiary of Saint-Gobain.
Biffa has maintained a relationship with Jewson to provide waste management services since 2006 with a
comprehensive recycling program at all Jewson branches. Inert material, wood, gypsum, and mixed materials such
as paper and plastics are all recycled, consistent with Jewson’s commitment to divert all residual waste from
landfill by 2014. The expanded agreement will seek to send zero waste to landfill disposal. Jewson's
construction site waste will be converted to green energy, and Biffa will then supply 3 megawatt (MWe) of
baseload electricity back to Saint-Gobain to power some of its facilities. Rod Leigh, Sustainability Director
for Jewson: "This particular initiative will provide protection from rising energy prices, while helping Jewson
to meet its renewable energy targets through the sustainable management of waste. It is increasingly important
that businesses break out of their linear mind set and look for opportunities to close the loop, particularly
between waste and energy. Jewson is proud to be raising the bar for the construction industry both through high
levels of recycling and this innovative energy from waste initiative." 07/24/2013
Solarvest Bioenergy Secures Key Canadian Support for
Algal Research
Canadian algal specialists Solarvest Bioenergy have announced receipt of approval for two research support programs through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). The NSERC
supports university students in their advanced studies, promotes and supports discovery research, and fosters
innovation by encouraging Canadian companies to participate and invest in postsecondary research projects.
Solarvest applied for and received approval for support awards on two projects crucial to the company's research
and development of its algal technology platform: (1) study a method of protein expression with the objective of
developing a process that will enable the efficient and cost effective purification of recombinant therapeutic
proteins, and (2) molecular characterization of the C. reinhardtii microalgal strain, and to identify key
molecules that are involved in regulating increased hydrogen production. Efficient hydrogen production is sought
due to its value as a totally clean fuel. Hydrogen can be burned or used in a fuel cell and releases heat energy
and water as its only byproduct. Solarvest's proprietary technology (a) captures carbon dioxide in algal photo-bioreactors, using
Solarvest proprietary microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to convert industrially produced CO2 and solar
energy into algal biomass by photosynthesis; (b) maximizes both the economical and energetic efficiency of the
process, using the same algae to convert solar energy into hydrogen (“H2”) with the Solarvest continuous
bio-production system, and (c) produces commercial quantities of valuable biomolecules for the nutraceutical and
animal health industries. Solarvest's technology enables algal production of hydrogen in a continuous cycle in a
single vessel. 07/23/2013
Due 08/19/2013: Proposals to NSF on Advanced Dry
Cooling for Power Plants
The Directorate of Engineering at the National Science Foundation (NSF) in collaboration with the
Electric Power research Institute (EPRI) has announced release of a solicitation seeking solutions to address the critical problem of
water usage and consumption at power plants for cooling. Wasting water to make energy, whether at bioenergy,
waste-to-energy, or more traditional power generation facilities, is one of the more important issues of the
Energy-Water nexus: "The goal of this collaboration is to leverage the complementary missions of applied
research and commercialization (EPRI) and fundamental research and education (NSF) to foster enabling research
and technology development that will lead to significant reductions or elimination of the use
of water for cooling power plants. Through this joint collaboration, NSF and EPRI jointly
solicit proposals from accredited universities in the United States led by one or more principal Investigators
(PIs) with transformative ideas that meet the detailed requirements in this solicitation." Five to ten awards
are anticipated, with awards ranging from $200,000 to $700,000 maximum per year for up to three years, drawing
upon a total available funding amount of $6 million. The PI(s) must be full time faculty determined by the
submitting organizational academic institutions. Projects can be collaborative and collaborations with industry
and relevant costs for their participation is allowed. However, the primary funds under this award must be
directed to the academic institution. The Program Descriptions states: "We seek innovative, "out of the box",
and game changing early stage dry cooling ideas and concepts to significantly increase the air-side heat
transfer coefficient, to dramatically reduce the steam condensation temperatures of the currently used air
cooled condensers and to develop more efficient, cost effective, and compact alternative dry cooling solutions
for power plant steam condensation." Proposals toward the NSF/EPRI collaborative solicitation on "Water for Energy: Advanced Dry Cooling for Power Plants" (NSF 13-564) are due no later than
5:00 pm, local time, on August 19, 2013. 07/23/2013
Construction Starts in Alabama on Advanced MRF with BHS
Recycling System
Oregon based Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) has announced the ground-breaking ceremony for a highly-automated and integrated materials
recovery facility (MRF) and zero waste conversion complex in Montgomery, Alabama for recycling the region's
municipal solid waste (MSW). Infinitus Energy will own and operate the facility, known as the Infinitus Renewable
Energy Park at Montgomery (IREP at Montgomery). BHS designed, engineered, and will manufacture and install the
MSW recycling system. IREP at Montgomery will feature the latest in screening, air, and optical sorting
technology. The $35 million, 81,992-square-foot facility is expected to be operational by June 30, 2014. It will
process up to 225,000 tons of waste annually, and recover an estimated 95% of recyclables. In Phase II of the
project, BHS subsidiary Zero Waste Energy (ZWE) will install its SmartFerm anaerobic digestion system to
convert organic waste into compressed natural gas (CNG) and compost. Once the facility is operational, residents
will place all household waste and recyclables into one city-issued bin, which will be collected by the City of
Montgomery Sanitation Department. City of Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange: "The beauty of this project is that
residents don’t have to do anything differently. All of the separating takes place at the MRF, and the 25-year
partnership the city has with Infinitus ensures that materials will be recycled. This is a long-term green
investment in our city and state. With this project, Montgomery will be seen as a leader and trendsetter in
implementing green technology for the benefit of both our residents and our planet. Diverting tons of material
away from landfills and incinerators and turning those materials into valuable resources generates a host of
financial, environmental and societal returns." 07/22/2013
UK's ORG Releases Guidance for Land
Application of Organics from MSW
The United Kingdom (UK) based Organics Recycling Group (ORG) has announced release of a guidance document addressing standards for land restoration
with the separated organic materials (SOMs) fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW). The ORG is a division of
the UK's Renewable Energy Association (REA); the guidance document is a collaborative work with
the BioCompost Alliance and the country's waste management, recycling, and resource
recovery industry. The guidance is called "Separated Organic Materials (SOMs) Land Restoration End-Use Standard" and is designed
to help land restoration project developers proposing the use of SOMs (also known as compost like outputs or
CLOs). With increased volumes of SOMs being generated from Mechanical and Biological Treatment (MBT) facilities,
the associations, industrial representatives, and the UK's Environment Agency recognized that the need to find
appropriate end markets for this material in the future is essential. The Environment Agency welcomed this
industry led initiative and commented "this industry led initiative will be helpful in driving up the quality of
SOMs proposed for use in the treatment of land to help improve an existing soil or create a new soil profile.
Whilst it does not guarantee that an SOM will be suitable for the proposed use it should help reduce occasions
when proposed land treatment activities are not supported by us.” 07/22/2013
Bristol Robotics Lab Scientists Charge Mobile Phone
with Urine Power
The Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL), a collaboration between University of West of England (UWE) Bristol and the University of Bristol, has
developed a microbial fuel cell (MFC) that can be fueled by urine, and can provide
power sufficient to charge a mobile phone and similar small devices. According to Dr. Ioannis Ieropoulos and his
lab team, the MFC is an energy converter which turns organic matter directly into electricity via bacterial
metabolism. Dr. Ieropoulos comments: "Using the ultimate waste product as a source of power to produce
electricity is about as eco as it gets. One product that we can be sure of an unending supply is our own urine.
By harnessing this power as urine passes through a cascade of microbial fuel cells (MFCs), we have managed to
charge a Samsung mobile phone. The beauty of this fuel source is that we are not relying on the erratic nature
of the wind or the sun; we are actually re-using waste to create energy. So far the microbial fuel power stack
that we have developed generates enough power to enable SMS messaging, web browsing and to make a brief phone
call. Making a call on a mobile phone takes up the most energy but we will get to the place where we can charge
a battery for longer periods. The concept has been tested and it works – it's now for us to develop and refine
the process so that we can develop MFCs to fully charge a battery." The project has been funded by the
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Gates Foundation and the Technology Strategy
Board. The BRL team's work has been published in the Royal Society of Chemistry 'Journal of Physical Chemistry
Chemical Physics: "Waste to Real Energy: the first MFC powered mobile phone." 07/20/2013
Ionic Liquid Thermocell Harvests Waste Heat for
Power Generation
Monash University in Australia has announced that a small team of their researchers have developed a highly efficient
method for converting waste heat directly into electricity. Led by Monash University researcher and Australian
Laureate Fellow Professor Doug MacFarlane and Monash University PhD student Theodore Abraham, the
collaborative project developed the thermocell device with the highest power outputs yet reported, and it
produces no carbon emissions. Thermocells harvest thermal energy using the difference between temperatures of
two adjacent surfaces, converting this into electricity. With one thermocouple placed inside high temperature
industrial processes and a second thermocouple exposed to outside air, the existing heat that would otherwise be
lost to the surrounding environment can be converted to on-site power. Unlike water-based thermocells, professor
MacFarlane's research team has successfully used ionic liquids as the carrier, resulting in systems capable f
operating well over 100 degrees Celsius. Dr. MacFarlane: "We have found that it can work at elevated
temperatures typical of important heat sources, as opposed to water-based systems, which cannot operate at
temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius. The device offers the possibility of a cheap and flexible design
suitable for harvesting waste heat in the 100- to 200-degrees Celsius range." The Monash University researchers
working under the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES).
The research is published in the journal Energy and Environmental Science. 07/20/2013
BDI Starts Producing at Multi-Waste
Feedstock Biodiesel Plant in Portugal
Austrian based BDI-BioEnergy International AG (BDI) has announced that it has successfully begun biodiesel production at its 25,000 ton per year
multi-feedstock plant in Sines, Portugal for its customer, Enerfuel S.A. BDI was initially contracted for about
EUR 3 million to develop the facility in 2006, but development stalled after only two years. BDI received
approval to proceed and finalize development last year, engaging the Portuguese mineral oil company GALP as a
new partner with Enerfuel. The proprietary BDI multi-feedstock biodiesel technology accepts difficult to process waste and residual materials such as used cooking oil, animal
fats and grease, trap waste of all free fatty acid content, as well as all kinds of vegetable oil
feedstock. The Portuguese Minister of Economic Affairs attended the ribbon-cutting, and emphasized the
importance of the BDI Sines renewable energy project for Portugal. BDI had numerous modular systems designed for retrofitting existing facilities, in order to increase the range of acceptable
feedstock and increase production capacity. In addition to advanced transesterification-based biodiesel
production, BDI develops customized, turnkey anaerobic digestion for manure and food waste conversion to biogas,
and thermal "bio-cracking" plants for conversion of solid waste biomass feedstock, both at
commercial and industrial scales. 07/19/2013
OriginOil Algae Technology Processes Building
Sewage at Paris Demo Site
Los Angeles Based OriginOil has announced success in treating the liquid sewage effluent generated by a large building
complex with its Electro Water Separation (EWS) technology at Ennesys' urban algae demonstration site near Paris. OriginOil shipped its modular "Algae
Appliance" growth system to Ennesys last year, and in addition to demonstrating the EWS system, also provided a free upgrade to
Ennesys' existing algal installation. The prototype EWS Waste unit (the Waste Appliance™) now processes liquid
waste at Ennesys' demonstration site, generating clean, nitrate-rich water to feed algae grown on the building’s
roof as an energy source. Located in the iconic La Défense complex near Paris, the permanent Ennesys
showcase is demonstrating that algae can help commercial buildings cleanly generate more energy than they
consume, and to purify their waste water, as envisioned by France’s ambitious RT 2020 sustainable energy
framework. The building's human sewage is first separated into solids and liquids. OriginOil’s EWS Waste
process then sanitizes the fluids and converts the urea into nitrates. The clean, fertile water is then fed into
the algae tubes on the roof of the building, where algae grows and is harvested daily for energy. 07/19/2013
California Appellate Court Publishes Formal Opinion on
LCFS Ruling
The California Fifth District Court of Appeal issued a formal Opinion on July 15, 2013 detailing its provisional ruling in response to a
lawsuit brought by POET LLC and other parties against the California Air Resources Board (ARB). The Opinion
explains in detail the court's provisional ruling that was issued last month. POET's initial suit was filed in
November 2011, claiming the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) was not properly assessed under the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) and should be disapproved. The suit resulted in an initial Superior Court ruling in the
company's favor and issuance of an injunction against further LCFS implementation. The court
lifted that injunction in April 2012; the June 2013 provisional ruling keeps the LCFS
intact but established specific actions the ARB must complete to resume full implementation, essentially
following the point-for-point objections raised in the POET lawsuit. As detailed in the formal Opinion, the ARB
shall: (1) Set aside its approval of the LCFS regulations, including Board Resolution 09-31 (April 23, 2009);
Executive Order R-09-014 (November 25, 2009); Executive Order R-10-003 (March 4, 2013); and the ARB's decision
to defer the formulation of mitigation measures relating to NOx emission from biodiesel; (2) Select a single
"decision maker" with full authority to complete the environmental review and to approve or disapprove the
proposed LCFS regulations, but not until after the environmental review has been completed; (3) Address NOx
emissions impacts, make findings (supported by substantial evidence), and adopt mitigation measures in the event
the environmental effects are found to be significant; (4) Allow public comments; (5) Include specific documents
omitted from the prior public record; and (6) "preserve the status quo" of the LCFS regulations by continuing
operation and enforcement until the corrective actions are completed. If the ARB cannot complete the corrective
actions in a timely manner that suits the court, the court will direct the ARB to suspend operation and
enforcement of the LCFS regulations. 07/18/2013
Dominion Converts Altavista Power Station from
Coal to Biomass
Dominion Virginia Power has announced that it placed its Altavista Power Station in Campbell County, Virginia into commercial operation on July
12, 2013 with renewable biomass as its fuel, the first of three stations to be converted from coal to biomass.
Dominion announced in April 2011 its plans to spend about $165 million to convert Altavista Power Station and
two similar coal-fired stations in Hopewell and Southampton County to use biomass as fuel, primarily tree tops
and branches that remain unused from timbering operations. The conversions of the other two stations are on
schedule and they should be in commercial operation before the end of 2013. Dominion acquired the three power
stations in 2001. They had been in operation since 1992 and used primarily to produce steam for nearby
manufacturing plants and intermittently to meet the peak demand for electricity. With the biomass conversions,
plans are for the three 51-megawatt power stations to operate continuous. Dominion Virginia Power is a
subsidiary of Dominion (NYSE: D), one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy. David A.
Christian, CEO of Dominion Generation: "Today marks another achievement guided by Dominion's philosophy that
balanced fuel diversity – from coal to natural gas to nuclear to renewables – leads to reasonable rates that
best serve the needs and interests of customers and shareholders." 07/18/2013
Quezon City Facility in Philippines Expands
Landfill Gas to Energy Plant
Quezon City, Philippines, has announced that the
Quezon City Integrated Disposal Facility, Waste to Energy Biogas Plant located in Payatas has been expanded,
adding two 320 kW engines to supplement the existing 236 kW engine. The biogas extraction
infrastructure has been modified to supply the additional requirements of the new engines. With the capacity
expansion, the plant now produces an average of 750 kW of power from methane gas extracted from the landfill,
generating power sold to the Manila Electric Company at time-of-use rates approved by the Philippine Energy
Regulatory Commission. Streetlights in the periphery of the integrated landfill facility are now powered by the
green energy and the local government has also dedicated a portion of the energy for a community special project
“Plantsahan ng Bayan,” where local residents use free electricity for their ironing needs. The Renewable Energy
Management Bureau of the Department of Energy notes that the government's project partner Pangea is the first
biomass company in operation to receive a Certificate of Confirmation of Commerciability and thus is first in
line to secure Feed in Tariff rates when the coming rules are in place. Since its inception in 2008, the
project's carbon mitigation effects have been able to help reduce the equivalent of more than 400,000 tons of
carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. These efforts are in line with the Bautista Administration's
commitment to a clean and green city and the country's goal to mitigate and adapt to the adverse effects of
climate change. 07/18/2013
Due 08/09/2013: Comments to CEC on Transportation
Energy Scenarios
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has announced a workshop on July 31, 2013 to explore potential growth projections for
alternative transportation fuels, vehicles, and infrastructure, and factors related to growth, seeking
stakeholder input. The formal Notice indicates an emphasis on the transportation sector to discuss the expected
contribution of biofuels, electric transportation, natural gas, hydrogen, and other options to California’s
transportation sector from now until 2020, and from 2020 to 2050. The gathered information for use in developing
the transportation section of the Integrated Energy Policy report (IEPR; Docket # 13-IEP-1), which includes
assessments of the successful introduction of alternative fuels in the context of fuel prices, the availability
of advanced transportation technologies, and the future contribution of zero-emission vehicles and clean-burning
fuels to achieve climate change and other air quality goals, energy security and other public benefits. Oral and
written comment will be accepted during the workshop. Further written comment should be submitted to the CEC
Dockets Unit by 4:00pm on August 9, 2013, indicating docket number 13-!EP-1L and including Transportation
Sector Scenarios in the subject line, emailed to with a copy to the staff
technical lead, Tim Olson at. The workshop will be webcast. 07/18/2013
Due 08/01/2013: Comments to CalRecycle on Source
Separation vs Alternatives
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) has conducted the
first of two highly detailed workshops addressing one narrow yet complex aspect of implementing AB 341, the Mandatory
Commercial Recycling legislation. AB 341 changed Public Resources Code (PRC), adding §42649.2: (b) A Commercial
Waste Generator shall take at least one of the following actions: (1) Source separate recyclable materials from
solid waste and subscribe to a basic level of recycling service that includes collection, self-hauling, or other
arrangements for the pickup of the recyclable materials, (2) Subscribe to a recycling service that may include
mixed waste processing that yields diversion results comparable to source separation. CalRecycle staff has
concentrated on determining proper definitions, metrics, and methods to ensure that diversion results at mixed
waste processing facilities (MWPFs) are "comparable to source separation" and within this topic, focused
primarily on the difference in recyclate removal accomplished by a three-bin source separation and a single-bin
collection where all materials area then separated at the central facility. An initial hour of staff presentation at the Sacramento workshop on July 16, 2013 was followed by two hours of
what became an energetic question and answer session; the same format will be used for the July 18 workshop in
Southern California. Staff has requested that written comments be submitted to by
August 1, 2013. 07/17/2013
Due 08/09/2013: Proposals to WAPA for Sale of RECs for
Federal Agencies
The Western Area Power Administration (WAPA, or Western) has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
on behalf of federal agencies. From the RFP: "Generally defined as the electric energy, measured in megawatt
hours (MWh), which is generated from solar, wind, biomass, landfill gas, ocean (including tidal, wave, current,
and thermal), geothermal, municipal solid waste, or new hydroelectric generation capacity achieved from
increased efficiency or additions of new capacity at an existing hydroelectric project, and is physically
delivered into the electric grid. A REC represents the environmental, social, and other positive attributes of
power generated by renewable resources. These attributes include the tons of GHGs that were avoided by
generating electricity from renewable resources instead of fuels, such as coal, nuclear, oil, or gas. For
purposes of this solicitation, a qualifying REC is one where none of the environmental attributes have been
separately sold, given, or otherwise transferred to another party by a deliberate act of the Certificate owner."
In accessing the RFP documents on WAPA's website, the agency notes that should a message box asking for user
name and password appears, click cancel until the document opens. Proposals submitted in response to this RFP
must be received via MAIL or FAX to Western on or before August 9, 2013, at 4:30 p.m. PDT to be considered for
evaluation. E-mail proposals will not be considered. WAPA reserves the right to not consider any proposals
received after the prescribed dates and time. For more information, contact WAPA's Sandee Peebles, Customer and
Energy Services Representative, Public Utilities Specialist via email only at.
07/17/2013
Chemtex, Murphy Brown Sign Feedstock Supply Agreement
for Project Alpha
North Carolina based Chemtex International, Inc. has announced entering into a long term agreement for the supply of purpose grown energy crops
and residues to be used as cellulosic feedstock with Murphy Brown LLC of Warsaw, North Carolina. The agreement
is intended to provide the "backbone of the supply chain for Project Alpha, Chemtex’s Cellulosic Ethanol
facility planned for Clinton, North Carolina. 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. Project Alpha will produce twenty million gallons of environmentally friendlier cellulosic
ethanol annually using Beta Renewables’ market leading PROESA® Technology. Murphy-Brown LLC is the livestock production subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, Inc.
Murphy-Brown LLC has hog production facilities in twelve states in the United States, producing approximately
16.5 million market hogs annually. Smithfield Foods, Inc. is the world’s largest producer and processor of hogs.
Don Butler, Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs with Murphy Brown commented “We are
excited to be working with Chemtex to bring Cellulosic Ethanol to Eastern North Carolina. The production of
these feedstocks will be a natural complement to livestock production in the state and will bring new
opportunities for farmers large and small. This project will demonstrate to policymakers that their focus should
be on encouraging these American-made next-generation biofuels that are produced without consuming foodstuffs.”
07/16/2013
Sapphire Energy and Linde Group to Refine Hydrothermal
Treatment Process
San Diego based Sapphire Energy has announced an expansion of its partnership with The Linde Group launched in May 2011. The partnership with Linde has to date been
focused on development of an efficient CO2 delivery system to Sapphire's open-pond algal growth process. The
expanded agreement now will include refinement and commercialization of Sapphire's hydrothermal biomass
pre-treatment methods currently in use for pilot-scale algae to oil processing. Once optimized, Sapphire and
Linde will jointly license and market the technology into an expanded list of industries, including algae,
municipal solid waste, and farm waste, in order to upgrade other biomass sources into energy. Sapphire's technology platform uses photosynthetic microorganisms to convert sunlight,
non-potable water and industrial emissions-sourced carbon dioxide (CO2) into carbon-neutral "Green Crude"
alternatives to conventional fossil fuels. Beneficial reuse of waste CO2 results in a net reduction of CO2
emitted per MJ of energy used when compared to today’s fossil fuel consumption practices. The Linde Group is a
key supplier of industrial grade CO2 in the US, and has provided CO2 for Sapphire's pilot operations. Professor
Dr. Aldo Belloni, Member of the Executive Board of Linde AG: "We have been working with Sapphire Energy for two
years to develop a cost-efficient CO2 delivery system for commercial algae production. We have become confident
with the company’s expertise and its capability to produce a low carbon and economic energy source from algae.
After the positive experience gained, we decided to intensify our cooperation with Sapphire. Based upon our
profound engineering expertise, we will contribute to further develop and scale up Sapphire’s algae-to-crude-oil
technology." 07/16/2013
Due 08/09/2013: Comments to DEFRA on Waste Management
Plan for England
The United Kingdom (UK) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has announced the publication of a Waste Management Plan for England, and opened a public
consultation seeking stakeholder input. The content of the plan is determined by the requirements of Article 28
of the Waste Framework Directive and is a compilation of existing waste management information and
policies within perspectives gained since the department's own 2011 review, and that expressed in 2011 by the
Department for Communities and Local Government. The waste hierarchy (waste prevention,
re-use, recycling, recovery, and finally disposal as a last option) is used as a guide to sustainable waste
management. The Department for Communities and Local Government will open its own public consultation regarding
its updated planning for sustainable waste management, later this summer. DEFRA's Waste Management Plan is
available for download from its Consultation Hub along with numerous background documents; comments may be submitted via an
online survey or by submission by August 9, 2013 to the Department, attention Haroona Chughtai (Policy Lead for
Waste Infrastructure Policy) by telephone to 0207 238 5143, or email to <>.
07/16/2013
LACSD District 2 Approves Large-Scale Food Waste
Co-Digestion Pilot
The Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (LACSD) District 2 Board of Directors approved
an agreement with USA Waste of California, Inc., a subsidiary of Waste Management (WM) for a large scale pilot
to co-digest food waste with District 2 sewage. On July 10, 2013, the Board heard, approved, and authorized
execution of documents for Regular Agenda item 5(a: Food Waste Anaerobic Digestion Demonstration Testing
Agreement (Agreement) with USA Waste of California, Inc. (WM). The Agreement contains terms and conditions for a
two-year demonstration program during which WM will provide 84 tons per day of processed food waste slurry for
injection into a digester at the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant (JWPCP). WM will provide receiving and unloading
equipment at the JWPCP for the demonstration and pay the Districts a tipping fee of $10.38 per ton of processed
food waste accepted during the demonstration period. Results of the demonstration program will be used to
determine the feasibility of a full-scale food waste digestion program at our wastewater treatment facilities.
The Board agenda item summary noted: "In 2011, Assembly Bill 341 was chaptered, which established a new
statewide recycling goal of 75 percent in year 2020. Increased diversion of organic material, mainly food waste
and green waste, is one way to achieve this goal. A number of cities and waste collection companies are now
implementing separate food waste collection programs for residents and businesses. Districts research and
bench-scale testing has shown that processed food waste co-digested with wastewater treatment plant biosolids
increases methane gas production and would provide an alternative to landfill disposal." 07/14/2013
ZooShare Cooperative Secures 500 kWe FIT Contract
for Zoo Poo to BioPower
Canada based ZooShare Biogas Cooperative Inc. (ZooShare) has announced it is one of the community-scale clean energy producers to benefit from the
Small Feed-in Tariff (FIT) Program offered by the Ontario Power Authority (OPA). A total of 951 new Small FIT renewable energy contracts
were offered by OPA last week, representing 146.5 megawatts (MW) of power, spurring project developers to invest
over $750 million in the Ontario economy. Of these, 16 were for support of bioenergy projects. The Small FIT
application period ran from December 14, 2012, to January 18, 2013, with OPA authorized to offer up to 200 MW of
contracts. The remaining 53.5 MW of capacity that was not contracted in this round will be added to the
procurement target for this fall’s Small FIT application period. ZooShare is a Renewable Energy Co-op under
Canadian laws with a biogas facility on the grounds of the Toronto Zoo being fueled by animal wastes along with organics and food waste generated
in the Zoo's various on-site facilities. The project expects to generate up to 500 kW of combined electrical
power and usable heat (CHP), provide a rich organic fertilizer and convert the large quantities of waste the Zoo
generates from a liability into an asset. The ZooShare program has also been authorized to issue Community
Bonds, available and has developed a flier describing the "ZooShare Investment Poo-tential."
07/14/2013
Sundrop Plans Its First Combination Demo/Commercial
Alternative Fuels Plant
Colorado based Sundrop Fuels, Inc. has announced selection of the engineering and construction
firm IHI E&C International Corporation (IHI E&C) to develop
its first combined demonstration / commercial scale advanced alternative fuels facility in Boyce, near
Alexandria, Louisiana. IHI E&C is a US subsidiary of Japanese firm IHI Corporation primarily serving the
global oil and gas industry. The plant will initially be designed to produce 60 million gallons per year of
standard gasoline from natural gas, while providing the platform for Sundrop Fuels to prove its proprietary
gasification technology for making renewable "green gasoline" from woody biomass. Sundrop Fuels gasification
technology quickly converts biomass into synthesis gas that is then converted into drop-in biobased “green
gasoline”, diesel or aviation fuels. The company's Synstream technology platform uses its patented Sundrop Fuels
RP Reactor can be powered by natural gas, electricity or even concentrated solar to maintain the high
temperatures to drive the endothermic gasification reaction. Sundrop Fuels Chief Executive Officer Wayne
Simmons: "With IHI E&C's talent and resources, Sundrop Fuels looks forward to formally breaking ground on
the final stepping-stone toward becoming a major producer of affordable, drop-in biofuel. It has extensive
experience and a long history of successful project execution in plants with similar configurations and process
units." 07/12/2013
REG Completes $21MM
Modifications to Minnesota Biodiesel Plant
Iowa based Renewable Energy Group, Inc (REG) has announced completion of modifications to its 30 million gallon
per year biodiesel facility in southern Minnesota. The $21 million investment allows REG to broaden the range of
acceptable feedstock to include locally-sourced agricultural byproducts such as animal fats, used cooking oils,
inedible corn oils, and yellow grease, as well as vegetable oils. REG notes that within days of start-up, all
biodiesel produced met the company’s REG-9000 quality specifications, which exceed the industry’s
ASTM B100 standard. The multiple-feedstock biodiesel enhances product availability options as the State of
Minnesota prepares to increase its diesel blending requirement from B5 to B10. Renewable Energy Group's
integrated value chain model is focused on converting natural fats, oils and greases into advanced biofuels and
now has more than 225 million gallons of owned/operated annual production capacity at biorefineries across the
country. Late last month, REG celebrated production start-up at its newest biodiesel
refinery located in New Boston, in northeastern Texas. For the celebration, Daniel Oh, REG's President and CEO
commented: "Biodiesel is America’s leading and growing advanced biofuel, which supports agriculture and food
production here in the United States. We are proud to purchase raw materials like poultry fats and used cooking
oils from this region, and use them to produce high quality, clean burning fuels to help power our
transportation industry." 07/12/2013
Innoventé Will Develop
7.2MWe Bioenergy Plant in Matane, Quebec
Quebec based renewable energy company Innoventé has announced its intent to develop an advanced bioenergy
generation complex within the RockTenn board mill, shuttered more than a year ago. Innoventé made the
announcement concurrent with entering into its third power supply contract with Hydro-Quebec, a 25 year term
agreement for sale at 10.6 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) of up to 7.2 megawatts of renewable energy (MWe) to the
utility that brings the company's total contracts to over 20 MWe. The power delivery will be provided starting
in fall 2015. The conversion project of the facilities, estimated at $20 million, will begin in the upcoming
months. The Mayor of the City of Matane, Claude Canuel: "I want to emphasize the determination of the President
of Innoventé, Mr. Richard Painchaud, without which the revival of the RockTenn plant would have been
impossible." Innoventé utilizes a novel "bio-drying" technology platform to generate combined heat and
power (CHP). Wet biomass degrades in carefully-controlled regime of oxygen and temperature known as SHOC™
(Système d’Hygiénisation par Oxygénation contrôlée or “sanitization by controlled oxidation”). Biofuels from
bio-dryers are combusted in order to generate vapor to drive a turbogenerator, producing electricity and
district heating, while supplying carbon dioxide to greenhouse complex to sequester the carbon and enhance plant
growth. 07/12/2013
Global Bioenergies
Secures €23MM for Advanced Biofuels and Biochemicals
With offices in both France and Ames, Iowa, Global Bioenergies (GBE) has announced a significant increase in its capital reserves,
netting 23 million euro in its most recent funding round launched late last month. GBE's technology platform uses artificial metabolic pathways
where several enzymes catalyze sugars derived from biomass feedstock for production of light olefins, converting
first to acetone and then fermented to extract the volatilized gas isobutene, one of the most important
petrochemical building blocks that can be converted into fuels, plastics, organic glass, and elastomers. Use of
the proceeds from the capital increase will include the financing of the isobutene process’ industrialization
phase via the construction of two pilots, the development of the butadiene and propylene processes, and the
initiation of new programs. Liliane Bronstein, Global Bioenergies’ Chief
Financial Officer: "The French investment funds have largely participated in this operation. We have also
attracted investors from several other European countries as well as from the USA. Overall, orders have been
placed by about forty institutional investors." 07/12/2013
Oxford Catalysts to Provide Technology for Oregon
Biomass to Fuel Plant
The United Kingdom (UK) based Oxford Catalysts Group (OCG) has announced its selection to provide the Fischer-Tropsch (F/T) catalytic technology for a biomass to liquids (BTL) renewable fuel production plant to be
located in Oregon. Red Rock Biofuels, a subsidiary of IR1 Group LLC is the project developer, and chose Oxford for the core catalysis systems
technology. The plant will be designed to convert around 170,000 tons per year of forestry derived biomass into
approximately 1,100 bpd of liquid transportation fuels. The BTL project was recently awarded a $4.1 million
grant from the US Department of Defense (under the Defense Production Act Title III Advanced Drop-in Biofuel Production Project), and is
intending to apply for a further grant of up to $70 million to construct the proposed plant. Preliminary
engineering is complete, and is expected to progress through detailed engineering and design over the course of
some nine months. Oxford Catalysts Group PLC maintains two operating subsidiaries, Velocys, Inc. and Oxford
Catalysts Ltd, to design, develop and commercialize technology for the production of synthetic oil from waste
gas (which would otherwise be flared or reinjected), stranded gas, renewable sources such as waste biomass.
Terr4y Kulsea, co-founder and President of IR1: "The choice of Velocys FT was easy. No other FT technology
offered the combination of high performance and efficiency at a scale appropriate for a BTL facility. We're
pleased to be working with the Group on this pioneering project." 07/10/2013
Autark Institute and Agnion Energy Partner for
Biomethane Purification Project
The Autark Institute for Energy, Research and Consulting (Autark) of Gorlitz, Germany and
agnion energy GmbH have jointly announced an initial two-year collaboration for development of catalytic synthesis gas
(syngas) reforming subsystems. The purification technology is for agnion's Heatpipe Reformer (HPR) thermal conversion technology platform. The project leader is Prof.
Dr. Jürgen Karl, Chair of Energy Process Engineering at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. Scientific support
will be provided by the University of Zittau/Görlitz and the Fraunhofer Institute for Safety and Energy
Technology (UMSICHT) in Oberhausen. Ten years ago Professor Karl and his team developed the HPR at the Technical
University of Munich before protecting the system with over 30 patents and preparing it for the market. The HPR
is a small-scale wood-gasification combined heat and power (CHP) plant with an electrical output of 400 kW and a
thermal output of 630 kW. The HPR produces high methane gas content syngas from gasification of wood or biogenic
solid waste. The proposed downstream catalytic gas purification process under development with Autark will then
remove impurities such as sulphur and hydrocarbons from the synthesis gas. For power generation alone, the
agnion platform achieves about 30% conversion efficiency; in CHP mode with heat recovery, the total energy
efficiency approaches 80%. 07/10/2013
BioNitrogen Secures Site in Louisiana for Biomass to
Urea Plant
Florida based BioNitrogen Corporation has announced signing an agreement to acquire approximately 245 acres in Pointe Coupee Parish,
Louisiana for approximately $2 million. The land is adjacent to the Pointe Coupee Port Commission port in
Lettsworth operated by Terral River Services. Closing is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2013. Construction
on this site for the initial Louisiana plant is scheduled to be performed by CCC Group and is slated to commence
in the fourth quarter of 2013. The company's technology platform gasifies low-value biomass such as sugar cane
bagasse, palm waste, rice hulls, peanut hulls, cotton byproducts and corn stover, converting the synthesis gas
to urea. In April of this year, BioNitrogen secured its second off-take agreement for sale of urea to United Suppliers, Inc. from proposed Louisiana
facilities. Bryan Kornegay Jr., President and CFO of BioNitrogen: "We are very excited to have secured this
important strategic property. This contiguous 245-acre parcel is unique in that it is adjacent to the Pointe
Coupee Parish port terminal which will provide us turnkey operational capacity and open access to the
Mississippi River, Red River and Atchafalaya River systems. The land is surrounded by significant forestry
biomass within a 75 mile radius on three sides and agricultural biomass to the south. The site provides
excellent road and barge transportation access with ample land for biomass accumulation, construction of up to
five plants and expansion of value added businesses such as urea coating and blending." 07/09/2013
Swedish Institute Publishes Forest Waste to Biofuels
Investigation
The Swedish Knowledge Centre for Renewable Transport Fuels, known as "f3" for "Fossil Free
Fuels", has announced completion of an investigation and publication (in Swedish only) of "CURRENT AND FUTURE SUSTAINABLE BIOFUELS" assessing conversion of forest wastes and residuals
into biofuels, on assignment to the Swedish government. Earlier this year, the Swedish government's
investigation concerning a future fossil free transport sector, Utredningen om FossilFri Fordonstrafik, gave f3 the assignment to describe the current
knowledge status concerning future transportation fuels and their sustainability. An Executive Summary and a
feature article on the assessment are both available (also only in Swedish) from f3's website. The Summary
notes, "One of the EU's climate [directives] is that 10 percent of the fuels in transport to be renewable by
2020. For this to become reality, good alternatives to fossil fuels [are needed]. But what is good in one place
and for a purpose need not be the same as for a different location and a different purpose. The problem is
complex and requires multiple solutions. A new report from f3 presents current knowledge about the production of
biofuels and sustainability issues such as energy and land efficiency, GHG performance and costs. The study
includes both existing and future fuel systems, based on different raw materials and production processes,
especially from a Swedish perspective, but also with international perspectives." 07/09/2013
Waste2Tricity Plans Bilsthorpe MRF + Waste to Energy
Plant
London-based Waste2Tricity (W2T) has announced plans to develop a £70 million waste conversion and resource recovery
complex in Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom (UK). Teaming with Peel Environmental, AMEC and Foster Wheeler, W2T is planning to design, develop, and
operate the Bilsthorpe Energy Centre for diversion of 120,000 tonnes of waste per year from
landfilling and generation of over 10 megawatt of electricity. The Centre will include two key parts; a
Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) and a Plasma Gasification Facility. The Bilsthorpe plant will be a "Flagship"
project for W2T and will be replicated in the UK as well as globally. For the Bilsthorpe project, the team
expects to complete the Concept Design Study (CDS) in August of this year with Peel currently undertaking Public
Consultation as part of the planning process. Peter Jones OBE, Chairman of W2T: "This medium-scale build forms
part of our strategic programme to pursue similar opportunities in the UK and abroad. This Flagship project will
also be replicated in a number of locations including Thailand. The fuel-cell ready Energy Centre will represent
an inward investment of approximately £70 million to the local economy and will contribute to and diversify the
UK’s energy generation capacity by creating a distributed low cost hydrogen and electricity network through the
deployment of such systems around the country." 07/08/2013
Collège Boréal and EACOM Timber Launch Study of
Biochar for Remediation
Located in Ontario, Canada, Collège Boréal has announced that it is collaborating with Quebec-based EACOM Timber Corporation in its first applied research project on the analysis
and use of biochar produced by the forest industry for agricultural use. EACOM's sawmill in Nairn Centre,
Ontario could use the results of the research to encourage the use of this charcoal, which has a high content of
mineral nutrients to remediate soil used by the mining and forest industries. Collège Boréal's Xstrata Nickel
Biodiversity Applied Research Centre will lead the study, expected to be completed in November 2013. The Nairn
Centre's biopower plant will contribute the wood ash and char to be analyzed during the initial laboratory
assessment phase of the research, applying various amounts and combinations of the char and ash to soil samples
to assess their effect on the growth of jack pine and birch seedlings. This test phase will eventually be
followed by observations in the field, in Collège Boréal's experimental forests. As early as summer 2014, the
results of the research will allow a first set of large-scale experiments using biochar in the Greater Sudbury
area. The project was made possible by the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). Brian Vaillancourt, Dean of
Collège Boréal's School of Trades and Applied Technology: "Our efforts, along with the knowledge acquired with
over 15 years in environmental research, are all the more noteworthy now that, with the support of the NSERC,
Collège Boréal will benefit for the first time from recognition by an agency with one of the highest levels of
research in Canada. This new research project is another one among the many initiatives that already enrich our
students' curriculum, allowing them to work to preserve our lakes and our regions and acquire real field
experience thanks, among other things, to our two experimental forests." 07/08/2013
Due 08/07/2013: Comments to Idaho DEQ on Draft
Composting Guidance
The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued a request for public comment on its draft guidance for operation of composting
facilities. The guidance has been developed in an effort to aid plant owners and operators and the general
public in developing an understanding of the state's regulatory requirements pertaining to composting of
organics. The DEQ notes: "Due to the variety of feedstock used in composting, different local, state, and
federal regulations may apply to various operations. The draft guidance addresses applicable state regulations
based on the facility classification, odor management, and methods of testing and sampling to determine safety
and quality of finished compost." The guidance covers windrow, aerated static pile and in-vessel compositing and
details the state's three through-put determined Permit Tier levels. Backyard composting is addressed, as are
microbial degradation of biosolids and agricultural wastes and residuals to include animal as well as plant
waste materials. The draft Processing (Composting) Facility Guidance and Checklists for Tier II and Tier
III Processing Facilities is available for review at the DEQ's State Office in Boise
and by download from DEQ’s website. Submit written comments on DEQ's website or by mail or
email by 5 p.m., MST, Wednesday, August 7, 2013, to Dean Ehlert, Solid Waste Program Manager, Idaho Department
of Environmental Quality, State Office, 1410 N. Hilton, Boise, ID 83706 or by email to
< >. 07/08/2013
Clarke to Supply Biogas Engines for
Tamar's UK Anaerobic Digestion Plants
United Kingdom based Clarke Energy has announced securing a four-project supply contract with Tamar Energy of
London. Tamar Energy has placed initial orders with Clarke Energy for four GE Power & Water’s J420 and two
J416 containerized Jenbacher gas engines. The engines will be fitted with heat exchangers to facilitate cogeneration,
recovering heat as hot water for use in the heating of the digesters and pasteurization. The biogas engines will
be deployed at four of Tamar Energy’s anaerobic digestion plants in the UK, including anaerobic digestion (AD)
plants in Holbeach in Lincolnshire; Retford in Yorkshire; Halstead in Essex and Farleigh in Wiltshire. Clarke’s
service network will provide support for the genset performance. Together the four sites will have a combined
capacity of 8MW, turning organic waste into biogas, a nutrient rich fertilizer (known as digestate) and
water. Tamar notes that
it now has an additional 14 sites in various stages of development, as the first step to create a "critical
mass" network of around 40 plants across the UK by 2018. Dan Poulson, Engineering and Strategy Director of Tamar
Energy: "Our plans are to develop a network of anaerobic digestion plants across the UK in order to help meet
the country’s renewable energy targets. Clarke Energy’s technical solution, backed up by the largest network of
dedicated gas engine specialists in the UK, were key factors in us awarding these orders."
07/06/2013
Technokomplex Ships Pirotex
Low-Temp Pyrolysis Plant to Columbia
Based in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, the company Technokomplex has announced shipment of a Pirotex
low-temperature, closed loop pyrolysis plant to clients in Columbia. Technokomplex experimented for several
months to adapt the Pirotex pyrolysis plant cooling system for
the operating in the hot conditions of the Columbian site. The Pirotex pyrolysis plant is ISO 9000 certified,
producing emissions lower than the requirements of Europe and the Americas. Pirotex equipment is based on the
company's proprietary based on closed pyrolysis technology, designed for recycling and utilization of rubber-
and polymer-containing wastes, oil sludge and waste oils. Rubber goods and waste tires recycled in the closed
pyrolysis unit generate greater volume of liquid fuel when compared with the use of open pyrolysis units. The
equipment is highly automated allowing reducing of labor. Tires recycled in the unit Pirotex allows production
of derived products of better quality. Mini plant for tires recycling can be used for plastics, oil sludge and
waste oils recycling. The company plans to widen the range of its products in South America by offering the
Konstanta line for carbon processing and the Mini Oil Refinery, which processes pyrolysis fuel into gasoline,
diesel and mazut, a heavy, low-quality fuel oil commonly sold in Russia. The company has begun its business in
the field of utilization in 2005 and today equipment manufactured by the company operates in many cities in
Russia, Bulgaria, Turkey and now the USA. 07/06/2013
DECC Proposes Home and
Business Scale Feed-in Tariffs to Parliament
The United Kingdom (UK) Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) has announced that it has introduced its Feed-in Tariff (FIT) proposals before Parliament for
amendments to the country's Energy Bill. Under the proposal, DECC's FITs would pay households, businesses, organizations, and communities for
renewable electricity generated through installation of solar photovoltaic, wind, small modular combined heat
and power (Micro-CHP), and/or anaerobic digestion. Generation under 50 kilowatts (kWe) simply registers the
installation with a licensed electrical supplier; for generation capacity over 50 kWe, installations are to be
registered with the Office of the Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem). The registrars review for FIT program
eligibility, process the generation data, and pay the generator a renewable electricity generation tariff. Where
applicable, the supplier also pays the generator an export tariff for any surplus electricity exported to the
national electric grid. DECC carried out extensive stakeholder consultations on the FITs during 2012; the
program review and application guidelines for the overall FIT program are available along
with background on the government's efforts to use the tariff schemes to increase the use of low-carbon technologies. 07/05/2013
Algae.Tec to Convert Emissions to Biofuels at AU's
Largest Coal-Fired Plant
Australia (AU) based Algae.Tec has announced entering into an agreement with Macquarie Generation, the country's largest coal-fired power plant for algae carbon capture.
The plant is owned by the New South Wales Government, which operates the 2,640 megawatt Bayswater coal-fired
power station in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales (NSW) near Sydney. As the "centerpiece" of the NSW energy
system, the Bayswater plant consumes about 7.5 million tonnes of coal per year and delivers power to eastern
Australia, from South Australia to Northern Queensland. Algae.Tec will establish its carbon capture technology platform adjacent to the Bayswater plant, which will divert
carbon-laden emissions to containerized algal growth chambers. The algae will feed on “waste” carbon dioxide
emitted by the power station and the resulting algal oil will be converted to biodiesel and hydrogenated to
grade A jet fuel. Macquarie Generation CEO and Managing Director Russell Skelton: "Our agreement with Algae.Tec
is another example of MacGen finding creative ways to improve our business and improve our environmental
performance. Its new technology is improving a traditional power plant. Carbon is now our single largest cost.
This technology should reduce our carbon output, reduce our carbon bill, and at the same time improve our bottom
line." 07/05/2013
Worldwatch Releases Renewable Energy Report on Central
America
Washington, D.C. based non-profit Worldwatch Institute has published its latest energy report, The Way Forward for Renewable Energy in Central America, and is available free of
charge for on-line download. The report provides a comprehensive and up-to-date status survey and gap assessment
of renewable energy in Central America, focusing on the status of renewable energy technologies in Central
America and analyzing the conditions for their advancement in the future. It identifies important knowledge and
information gaps and evaluates key finance and policy barriers, making suggestions for how to overcome both.
Among the report’s key findings: Central America is exploring its potential for expanding beyond existing
hydropower and geothermal energy, developing other renewable energy resources such as wind, solar, biofuels, and
agricultural waste. Worldwatch finds that Costa Rica is leading in its ambition to be “carbon neutral” by 2021.
In all Central American countries, a rapid transition to 100% renewable electricity generation is both
technically possible and socioeconomically beneficial. Central America can power its economies in large part
with renewable energy sources, helping the region to address some of its most pressing development challenges.
What is needed now is the continued, collaborative effort of researchers, governments, and the private sector to
help realize this goal. The Worldwatch report provides concrete recommendations to advance Central America's
renewable energy development. 07/05/2013
Green Biologics, Easy Energy
Collaborate on Iowa Biochemical Demo Plant
United Kingdom (UK) based Green Biologics Ltd. (GBL) has announced entering into a collaborative agreement to modify Easy Energy Systems's ethanol demonstration plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa to produce
renewable n-butanol and acetone. Arizona based Easy Energy completed successful ethanol trials last year at
the Iowa 40,000 liter fermentation facility. Easy Energy's technology platform is based on its patented Modular Energy Production Systems (MEPs)
modular waste biomass to ethanol stills that are self-contained, fully automated, liquid biofuel refineries,
pre-fabricated and factory tested ready to ship. In May 2013, Green Biologics successfully demonstrated its
advanced fermentation process at pilot scale in Gahanna, Ohio. The scale-up work complements commercial scale
demonstration work already achieved in China. In 2011, Green Biologics partnered with Laihe Rockley Biochemical Ltd in Songyuan, China and in 2012 produced commercial scale
cellulosic n-butanol from residual corn waste (corn shells, corn cobs and stover). Patrick Simms, Chief
Operating Officer for GBL’s North American business: "This technology capitalizes on the unique characteristics
of Green Biologic’s advanced biocatalysts and provides a doubling of butanol production productivity compared to
existing processes with a modest incremental capital investment. In less than 12 months, our development teams
in the UK and Ohio moved from concept to successful pilot demonstration. We are now scaling to 80,000 liters in
Iowa." 07/03/2013
DOE Awards $13MM to Support Four R&D Biofuels
Projects
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a total of $13 million in funding for four research and development
(R&D) next generation biofuels projects to optimize production of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels from
biomass. Ceramatec from Salt Lake City, Utah, will use electrochemical deoxygenation to separate oxygen from bio-oil. With support up to $3.3
million, this project will help produce hydrocarbon products suitable for further processing in conventional
petroleum refineries. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) will receive up to $2.1 million to develop a
microbial electrolysis process to remove hydrogen from the water in bio-oil. The work of the ORNL's
Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS) will help reduce the corrosivity of
bio-oil and improve the efficiency of converting hydrogen and biomass to biofuels. The University of Oklahoma will negotiate for up to $4 million for thermal fractionation
and supercritical solvent extraction research to maximize the amount of renewable carbon and hydrogen that can
be extracted from biomass and converted to a refinery-compatible intermediate and suitable for final upgrading
to a transportation fuel. Wisconsin based Virent Energy Systems could secure up to $4 million to develop a separation process
which uses its BioForming® technology to efficiently convert carbon from lignocellulosic biomass into
hydrocarbon fuels. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz: "By partnering with private industry, universities and our
national labs, we can increase America's energy security, bolster rural economic development, and cut harmful
carbon pollution from our cars, trucks and planes. As the President made clear in his plan to cut carbon
pollution, partnerships like these will help move our economy towards cleaner, more efficient forms of energy
that lower our reliance on foreign oil." 07/03/2013
CARB Announces Goods Movement Emission Reduction
Workshop Series
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has announced a series of public workshops to discuss preliminary recommendations for use
of $150 million in funding awards to local and state agencies for projects through the Proposition 1B: Goods
Movement Emission Reduction Program. The purpose of the workshops is to receive public input on how the funds
should be distributed among the eligible projects within each of California's four priority trade corridors to reduce freight emissions. Projects funded under this
Program must achieve early or extra emission reductions not otherwise required by law or regulation.
Program Guidelines for 2013 and other programmatic documents are available on-line.
CARB provides funding to eligible agencies; those agencies then offer financial incentives to owners of
equipment used in freight movement to upgrade to cleaner technologies. California's local agencies apply to CARB
for funding, and then those agencies offer financial incentives to owners of equipment used in freight movement
to upgrade to cleaner technologies. Given the current greenhouse gas emissions reduction focus for updating the
AB 32 Scoping Plan and assessment of crucial elements like the Waste Management Sector, there are cross-cutting
issues of transport-related emissions reduction that need careful attention. Workshops are set for July 11th in
Fresno and Los Angeles, and July 15th in Sacramento. The Sacramento workshop will be webcast, and live video
feed has been set up for alternative locations to telecast the Fresno workshop. If you have any questions, call
CARB's Goods Movement Information Line at: (916) 44-GOODS (444-6637) or email at:
<>. 07/03/2013
Due 09/30/2013: Proposals to SJVAPCD for
Alternative Fuels Infrastructure
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD, or District) has announced the release of its Request for Proposal (RFP) to accept proposed projects for alternative fuel
infrastructure under its Public Benefit Grants Program (PBGP). There are two eligible focus areas under the
solicitation, new infrastructure and expansion to existing infrastructure. Eligible applicants are public
agencies such as cities, counties, special districts (i.e. water districts, irrigation districts, etc.) and
public educational institutions (i.e. school districts, community colleges, state universities, etc.) located
within the geographic boundaries of the District. A total of $5 million is available in this round of the PBGP,
a project support mechanism created by the District in 2011 to help meet air quality goals. The PBGP was
designed to meet the needs and challenges faced by Valley public agencies in their efforts to secure funding for
a wide variety of clean-air, public benefit projects. The PBGP will provide the necessary flexibility and
leveraging for local public agencies to ensure the success of these types of projects which provide a direct
benefit to the public and encourage innovation at the local level by providing significant funding in the areas
where it is needed most. Questions and proposals should be directed to David Lopez, Air Quality Specialist
SJVAPCD,, (559) 230-6144. Proposals are due September 30, 2013. 07/03/2013
Milton Keynes Council Awards Waste Recovery Contract to
AmeyCespa
The Milton Keynes Council has announced entering into contract with United Kingdom (UK) based AmeyCespa to design,
build, and operate the Milton Keyes Recovery Park. The waste handling and conversion complex will be located
in the Old Wolverton industrial area northwest of London, close to the Council's existing recycling facilities.
AmeyCespa was initially selected as preferred bidder in October of last year, proposing to integrate three
different technologic approaches for 95% reconstituting and resource recovery of materials from the
"Black Sack" fraction of the Council's residential and industrial waste stream that could not be otherwise
recycled. The technologies consist of: (a) mechanical recyclate extraction, (b) anaerobic digestion of food
wastes and other organics, and (c) advanced thermal conversion to synthesis gas (syngas). AmeyCespa selected Energos to provide the advanced gasification systems. The Energos
technology platform provides two-stage thermal conversion, first with gasification to
produce a synthesis gas, then with high-temperature combustion of the syngas to generate steam, which drives
combined heat and power (CHP) generation. The Milton Keynes Council began a consultation for permit (application
number EPR/UP3937ZZ/A001) from the UK's Environmental Agency early last month; following the consultation,
AmeyCespa will submit a planning application in early 2013, hoping to begin construction in 2014 and open the
facility in 2016. Concurrently, local news indicates that Energos has just received approval from the City Hall of Bradford, UK, to proceed with an 8.35 megawatt
waste gasification CHP project. Scheduled to also to begin construction in 2014 upon full permitting, Energos is
reported to be closing on securing the £90 million needed to build the West Bowling plant. 07/02/2013
NREL Launches Utility-Scale Energy Systems
Integration Facility
The US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has announced the opening of the unique utility-scale Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) on its Golden, Colorado research and
development campus. The ESIF provides laboratory and office space for research to overcome challenges related to
the interconnection of distributed energy systems and the integration of renewable energy technologies into the
electricity grid. The ESIF will house more than 15 experimental laboratories and several outdoor test beds,
including an interactive hardware-in-the-loop system that lets researchers and manufacturers test their products
at full power and real grid load levels. The facility will also feature a petascale supercomputer that can
support large-scale modeling and simulation at one quadrillion operations per second. Congress provided $135
million to construct and equip the user facility. The President’s FY 2014 budget request includes an additional
$20 million for facility operations. The Department encourages utilities, manufacturers, universities, and other
national laboratories to fully utilize the ESIF’s unique capabilities and resources. NREL has also posted
details and announced an initial agenda for its 26th annual Industry Growth Forum scheduled for
December 3-4 in Denver, Colorado, focusing on innovative prototype, pre-commercial and expanding clean energy
companies. The Forum begins with the tightly-scheduled One-on-One Networking Session; attendees can sign up for
10-minute meetings with around 50 leading investors, corporations, government agencies, and industry experts.
Advance registration for this year's Growth Forum opens September 6, 2013. 07/02/2013
Abengoa Inaugurates First Waste-to-Biofuels Demo
Plant in Salamanca, Spain
Headquartered in Seville, Spain, the multi-national energy and environmental services company
Abengoa has announced the formal opening of its waste-to-biofuels (W2B) demonstration facility in
Babilafuente, Salamanca, Spain. The plant has the capacity to treat 25,000 tons of municipal solid waste (MSW)
from which it will obtain up to 1.5 million liters of bioethanol for use as fuel, launching the plant's
commissioning phase late in March of this year. Abengoa's technology platform
segregates organic fiber from the MSW, and then subjects the cellulose-rich feedstock to enzymatic hydrolysis
using in-house developed enzymes. The cellulose "soup" is then fermented to produce bioethanol. Abengoa notes,
"The production of bioethanol from municipal solid waste is a major technological breakthrough in the waste
management model, since it increases the recovery rate, minimizes the carbon footprint and generates major
benefits for society. It is a renewable and clean source of energy that helps to cut our dependency on fossil
fuels while reducing greenhouse gas emissions per kilometer travelled by 70%. Furthermore, it maximizes the
recovery of the organic fraction of the MSW and prevents more than 80% of the waste ending up in landfill."
Manuel Sánchez Ortega, CEO of Abengoa: "This plant once again highlights Abengoa’s commitment to technological
research and innovation, which has enabled it to maintain a competitive advantage in its sectors, leading
projects with huge technological potential and programs that involve world-leading research centers and
strategic partners." 07/02/2013
Due 07/29/2013: Qualifications to BAB2E for
Biosolids-to-Energy Facility
The Bay Area Biosolids to Energy Coalition (BAB2E, or the Coalition) has
briefly reopened their Request for Qualifications (RFQ) timeline to pre-qualify additional
firms for development of a biosolids-to-energy facility to serve wastewater treatment plants in the San
Francisco Bay Area. Four teams have previously been pre-qualified to submit on the Request for Proposals (RFP) to be
released this month. It is the Coalition’s preference that the proposed biosolids to energy systems be able to
generate "usable energy", defined as energy derived from the thermal conversion of biosolids to products such as
electricity transportation fuels such as diesel or hydrogen, biomethane, or other energy products. Thermal
byproducts of these conversion technologies such as low-grade waste heat or hot water can be considered usable
energy if they are shown usable outside of the conversion process. Thermal conversion technologies being
considered for this project include gasification, pyrolysis, and supercritical wet-oxidation. Proposals
dependent upon incineration will not be accepted. Interested teams that not already pre-qualified to participate
in the RFP have this limited time to submit a statement of qualifications for the project. Questions and
requests for clarification or additional information need to be submitted by close of business on July 12, 2013
to Caroline Quinn (). Successful teams will be allowed to participate in the RFP, and have
until July 29, 2013 to submit a statement of qualifications. Successful teams selected from this RFQ process
will be eligible to participate in the RFP. Final proposals from selected teams will be due October 3, 2013.
07/01/2013
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