July 2014 News and Matters of Interest

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

M&G and Guozhen JV to Build World's Largest Cellulosic Ethanol Refinery

Luxembourg based M&G Chemicals has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary M&G International S.à.r.l (M&G) has entered into a Sino-foreign joint venture (JV) with Anhui Guozhen CO, Ltd (Guozhen) to construct what will be the largest cellulosic bio-refinery in the world using non-food biomass. The new company, Anhui M&G Guozhen Green Refinery CO, Ltd (Green Refinery JV), will employ PROESA technology licensed by Beta Renewables to convert 970,000-1,300,000 metric tons per year of agricultural residues into cellulosic ethanol, glycols, and by-products such as lignin. The bio-refinery will be located in Fuyang City (Anhui Province, People's Republic of China). The biomass will be supplied by Guozhen under a long term fixed price agreement, and the enzymes needed for the conversion of the biomass will be supplied by Novozymes. M&G and Guozhen ownership in Green Refinery JV are 70% and 30% respectively and the total joint venture investment is estimated to be around USD 325 million. The two companies expect  to announce the creation of a second JV soon to convert the lignin into steam and electricity. 07/31/2014

Due 12/31/2015: Proposals to NYSERDA for AD Gas-to-Electricity

The New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) has announced the availability of approximately $20.4 million in Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) funding through 2015 to support the installation and operation of Anaerobic Digester Gas (ADG)- to-Electricity Systems in the state. Funding is available under Program Opportunity Notice (PON) 2828 on a first-come, first-served basis; up to $2 million is available per project, depending on the project specifications. Application Packages must be received by NYSERDA on or before 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on December 31, 2015 or prior to the exhaustion of the available funding, whichever comes first. 07/31/2014  

Waste Management Agrees to Sell Wheelabrator Technologies for $1.94 Billion

Texas based Waste Management, Inc has agreed to sell Wheelabrator Technologies Inc to an affiliate of Energy Capital Partners for $1.94 billion in cash. Wheelabrator owns or operates 17 waste-to-energy facilities and four independent power-producing facilities in the United States that process over 7.5 million tons of waste and have a combined electric generating capacity of 853 megawatts. It also has four ash monofill landfills, three transfer stations, and an ongoing development and construction project in the United Kingdom. During 2013, Wheelabrator generated approximately $845 million in total revenue. In conjunction with the sale, Waste Management will enter into a long-term agreement to supply waste to certain Wheelabrator facilities upon closing. The transaction is subject to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in late 2014. 07/30/2014

GIB Invests in 3rd Scottish Distillery-Balmenach Converts from Oil to Biomass

United Kingdom's Green Investment Bank (GIB) has announced an investment in Balmenach distillery in Speyside from the £5m Fund for Green Energy at Scottish Distilleries set up in May. The distillery will also be making a capital contribution to put in place the new infrastructure needed to support the project. Two distilleries, Tomatin Distillery (near Inverness) and Aberfeldy Distillery (in Perthshire) have already benefited from the new financing available from GIB. Tomatin Distillery has now reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by around 80% and significantly cut its fuel costs. The project at Balmenach, like Tomatin and Aberfeldy, will replace the distillery’s heavy fuel oil boiler with a biomass boiler. As the distillery is in a remote part of the Scottish Highlands, and therefore not on the National Grid, heavy fuel oil has been used to meet its energy needs. The new boiler will reduce the distillery’s energy costs and their greenhouse gas emissions, providing cost-effective renewable energy with limited up-front capital investment. The boiler will be used to produce steam necessary for the whisky production processes. 07/30/2014

Grundon Receives Planning Approval for Waste Treatment Facility in Sussex

United Kingdom (UK) based Grundon Waste Management has announced that the West Sussex County Council’s Planning Committee has granted planning permission for Grundon's proposed Circular Technology Park at Ford in West Sussex. The permission allows for the redevelopment of a 6.5 hectare brownfield site, formerly used as a block making plant, and creating a recycling and recovery facility. The new site at Ford will focus on gasification technology that will process up to 200,000 tonnes of materials per year. This will make a significant contribution towards West Sussex County Council’s commitment to ‘zero waste to landfill’. The diversion of waste resources from landfill will prevent the equivalent of 28,500 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide and methane, being generated per annum – a figure which is comparable to the emissions of 13,000 cars being removed from the roads each year. The new facility will include a Materials Recovery Facility to recycle 60,000 tonnes of materials such as paper, cardboard, glass, and metals, and an Advanced Thermal Treatment Facility which will convert residual waste that cannot be recycled or recovered, into energy in the form of heat and electricity. This will generate clean, sustainable energy for 29,000 homes, as well as the potential to supply heat to neighboring industrial properties. 07/30/2014  

Sierra Energy Develops FastOx™ Waste Gasification Calculator Tool

California company Sierra Energy Corp has announced development of a Calculator Tool to quickly give custom economic projections and end-product comparisons for implementing its FastOx™ gasification system. FastOx gasifiers can scale from 5 to over 10,000 tons per day in a single unit and can process hazardous waste, municipal solid waste, industrial waste, medical waste, and construction and demolition waste. Gasification is a method to extract energy from materials by converting carbonaceous materials into synthesis gas (syngas). Gasifiers operate at 3,000-4,000°F, using a thermo-chemical conversion process that does not include enough oxygen for the materials to burn, unlike incinerators.  The calculator can be accessed on the company's website. 07/29/2014

Himark BioGas Contracts to Build Three Anaerobic Digestion Plants in the US

Alberta, Canada based Himark BioGas International (Himark BioGas) has signed an agreement with New Hampshire company NEO Energy LLC for the design, construction, and start-up of three (3) integrated anaerobic digestion (AD) and fertilizer plants in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The AD plants will recycle food waste to produce organic-based fertilizer and renewable electricity. As part of the agreement, Himark BioGas will act as a technology licensor and owner’s representative on behalf of NEO Energy during the design, construction, and operation stages of the plants. AD plants designed on Himark BioGas’ patented “IMUS” technology can produce renewable energy and pathogen-free fertilizer from food waste (which is what NEO is focused on), source separated organic materials, cow manure, ethanol plant waste/thin stillage, slaughter house waste, food processing waste, and agricultural waste (open pen feedlot, sand-laden dairies, etc.). The IMUS technology also can handle feedstock containing large amounts of sand, dirt, rocks, plastic, and cellulose. 07/29/2014 

UK Develops Calculator to Identify Emissions from North American Biomass

The United Kingdom (UK) Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) has announced release of a scientific calculator that investigates carbon emissions from biomass sourced from North America to produce electricity in the UK. The Bioenergy Emissions and Counterfactual Model (BEaC) and instructions, developed by the DECC, can be used by developers to help make sure they are sourcing their biomass responsibly. The government’s Bioenergy Strategy published in 2012 made clear that only bioenergy from sustainable sources should be used. In August 2013, the DECC announced new biomass sustainability criteria that are amongst the toughest in the world. Beginning next year, generators who are unable to comply with the UK's sustainability criteria will lose financial support. The U.S. Industrial Pellet Association (USIPA) welcomes release of the biomass emissions calculator by the UK to promote the sustainability and carbon benefits of using biomass in place of coal. USIPA Executive Director Seth Ginther: "However, it should be noted that the calculator does not consider the economic, regulatory, and social conditions that also promote sustainable forest management in the US. The UK government should use the BEaC calculator in conjunction with these aspects of the industry to determine the full carbon benefits that the biomass life-cycle can bring." 07/28/2014

Commissioning Begins at Tamar Energy’s 2 MWe Halstead AD Facility

United Kingdom (UK) based Tamar Energy has announced that construction has been completed on its 2 MWe anaerobic digestion (AD) facility in Halstead, Essex. Commissioning has begun and it is now being tested and brought up to speed  with the first electricity generation from food waste expected at the end of July. The facility will produce 2 MW of renewable energy, enough to power more than 4,000 homes, from approximately 45,000 tonnes of food waste per year diverted from landfill. The AD process also produces a nutrient-rich biofertilizer, and a network is being set up of farmers interested in using it on their land in place of petro-chemical fertilizers. Tamar Energy is working with waste management parties, including Essex County Council, the waste disposal authority working on behalf of 13 waste collection authorities, to ensure local food waste is converted into renewable energy at the Essex-based facility. The Halstead AD facility’s construction was rated as “Excellent” by the prestigious Considerate Constructors Scheme. 07/28/2014

EIF and Seneca Meadows Open Renewable Natural Gas Facility at Landfill

Michigan based EIF Renewable Energy Holdings LLC and New York company Seneca Meadows, Inc have announced the opening of Seneca Energy II, a landfill gas-to-renewable natural gas facility located at the Seneca Meadows Landfill in Seneca Falls. The companies celebrated the opening of the facility at a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 22nd. EIF, through its subsidiary Innovative Energy Systems, built Seneca Energy II adjacent to the existing landfill gas-to-electric power generation facility, which has been operational since 1996. The new renewable natural gas facility treats and refines landfill gas from the Seneca Meadows Landfill and converts it to pipeline quality renewable natural gas (RNG), producing the equivalent of 25,000 gallons of vehicle fuel per day. The RNG is then moved through the existing natural gas pipeline system to either make electricity with renewable natural gas in an existing natural gas power plant or it can be converted into compressed natural gas for use in vehicles. 07/28/2014

BioCNG to Design/Build Biogas System and Pipeline for Colorado WWTP

Wisconsin based BioCNG, LLC has announced that it has been selected to design and build a BioCNG™ biogas conditioning system and gas pipeline for the Persigo wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The WWTP is jointly owned by the City of Grand Junction and Mesa County, Colorado. The BioCNG system will produce about 500 gallons of gasoline equivalent per day from the WWTP digester gas, which will be piped about 6 miles to Grand Junction's existing compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station. BioCNG will be supported locally by River City Consultants and other local vendors and sub-contractors. The BioCNG will be used as fuel for a fleet of buses owned by Grand Valley Transit (GVT) and fueled at the City of Grand Junction facility, as well as City refuse trucks, street sweepers, and general utility pickups. The City of Grand Junction and GVT continue to purchase additional CNG vehicles to increase the overall CNG fleet. 07/28/2014 

CEC Proposes $3MM Award for City of Napa Anaerobic Digestion Project

The City of Napa, California, was among 11 proposed awards announced under Round 2 of the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) Grant Solicitation PON-13-609 for Pilot-Scale and Commercial-Scale Advanced Biofuels Production Facilities. The proposed “Anaerobic Digestion to Renewable Compressed Natural Gas” project was submitted by the City of Napa, teaming with Napa Valley Recycling and Waste Services (Napa Recycling), and Zero Waste Energy / Edgar & Associates (ZWE). Project team member Evan Edgar has provided insight into the City of Napa’s winning proposal for the 25,000 ton per year organic waste to fuel project. The City will manage the project; Napa Recyling will oversee construction and daily operations, while ZWE will provide the High Solids Anaerobic Digestion (HSAD) “SMARTFERM” dry organic waste fermentation technology and the renewable natural gas (RNG) fueling station. The project will produce 328,000 diesel gallon equivalents (dge) per year of carbon negative fuel. The funding from the CEC will help the City of Napa demonstrate that this technology can be commercialized in a modular fashion, where the organic waste generated in a community of 100,000 people can be converted into RNG to meet the fuel demand of the entire 35 truck fleet that collects all of the material types (compost/recycling/MSW) from the community. Napa Recycling will use 6 trucks to collect 8 tons of food waste and green waste per load, twice per day, Monday through Friday, to deliver 25,000 tons per year to the Napa Material Diversion Facility (MDF). The City will provide $9.69 million in matching funds, covering 76.4% of the Project expenditure. The CEC will decide on proposed awards in its mid-September Board Meeting. 07/27/2014 

ElectraTherm's Green Machines Converting Waste Heat to Power in Canada

Nevada based ElectraTherm has announced that two Green Machines are now converting waste heat to power at a natural gas compression station in Cessford, Alberta, Canada. ElectraTherm partnered with ConocoPhillips for the installation. The two Green Machine 4400s and ElectraTherm’s ORC generators are producing electrical output up to 65kWe each. They run in parallel off the waste heat of a Waukesha 7042 natural gas engine, generating approximately 90kWe gross of fuel-free, emission-free electricity at the site. The Green Machines were installed in the first quarter of 2014 and have each exceeded 2,000 hours of run time to date. They are remotely monitored from ElectraTherm in Reno 1,200 miles away. These Green Machines represent ElectraTherm’s first commercial units that are CRN and CSA approved for Canadian deployments. Exhaust heat from the natural gas engine is converted to hot water and added to the jacket water heat through an engine glycol cooling loop combined with an Aprovis exhaust gas heat exchanger. The waste heat enters each Green Machine at 230°F (110°C) and 180 GPM (11 l/s), where it’s converted into usable onsite power. This specific site was retrofitted into an existing compressor using an engine driven radiator/gas cooling system. 07/25/2014

Altranex Is Finalist in 5th Annual Defense Energy Technology Challenge

Ontario, Canada based Altranex Corp. has announced that it has been selected as one of the finalists in the 5th Annual Defense Energy Technology Challenge (DETC) program as part of the Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit that will be held in Honolulu, Hawai’i on September 15-17, 2014. As one of only eighteen DETC finalists, Altranex will be presenting its bio-lubricants, commercial transportation fuels, and sustainable polymer feedstock solutions to the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Army Corp. of Engineers, PACOM, other DOD personnel and attendees of the Summit. Altranex will also participate in the Defense Energy Technology Showcase held during the Summit. Submissions for the Challenge in Houston are due August 8, 2014. 07/25/2014  

Sainsbury’s Secures First Commercial ‘Green’ Loan for Environmental Projects

United Kingdom based J Sainsbury plc has announced that it has agreed to a £200 million corporate ‘green’ loan to invest in on-going carbon reduction and sustainability projects. Although Green Bonds are now increasingly issued by institutions to support environmental and sustainable initiatives, this is the first time that a commercial loan has been structured to do the same. The structure of the loan is consistent with the Green Bond Principles 2014, the guidelines developed to provide a clear framework for this emerging asset class for the benefit of investors and issuers. Lloyds Bank and Rabobank acted as Joint Green Arrangers and Rabobank acted as Sole Mandated Lead Arranger. The loan has been accredited ‘Green’ by Sustainalytics, a leading independent provider of environmental, social and governance (ESG) research, analysis and support services. Sainsbury's recently announced that its Cannock store is now running on power generated from the company's own food waste. 07/24/2014

Pöyry Awarded EPCM Contract for Millar Western Bioenergy Pulp Mill Project

Finland based Pöyry has announced that it has been awarded a contract by Millar Western Forest Products Ltd. for engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services for an anaerobic bioenergy project at the Whitecourt pulp mill in Alberta, Canada. The project involves integration of anaerobic hybrid digesters into the pulp mill's existing aerobic effluent treatment system. Recovered organic material will be converted to biogas, and used to fuel two reciprocating engines that will produce up to 6 megawatts of renewable power for use by the mill itself. Recovered heat of engine exhaust gas will be used in pulp drying to reduce the use of natural gas. Ari Asikainen, President of Pöyry's Regional Operations North America: "This project is a good example of utilising innovative technology in a smart way to convert organic waste material to renewable energy." The planned startup of the plant is August 2015. 07/24/2014

Schmack Carbotech  to Construct Biogas Upgrading Plant in Stockholm

German company Schmack Carbotech GmbH has been awarded a contract to construct a biogas upgrading plant with a processing capacity of 2000 Nm3/h in Sofielund Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden. The plant will produce a gas with a methane content of 97 percent after purification for use as a biofuel in vehicles powered by natural gas. Forty percent of newly licensed cars in Sweden are operated either with biogas or electricity. The processing plant will use the pressure swing adsorption (PSA) principle with low energy consumption, efficient heat extraction, and a high methane yield. Trace gases that are typically found in biogas made from wastewater and organic waste are effectively removed as well. After completion, the plant will produce biogas with an energy yield of nearly 100 million kilowatt hours annually and will be able to supply approximately 5000 vehicles travelling an average of 20,000 km per year. Organic waste and fryer grease from the region will be used as raw material for the plant. The plant is expected to be completed and put into operation in the first quarter of 2015. 07/24/2014 

JPMorgan Chase Investing $30 Million in Entrepreneur Networks

JPMorgan Chase & Co. has launched Small Business Forward℠, a five-year, $30 million grant program to boost small business support networks that help growing enterprises in specific industries. Small Business Forward connects entrepreneurs with critical resources to help their businesses grow, create jobs and strengthen communities. Small Business Forward will fund nonprofit cluster organizations that work with small businesses concentrated in a single sector. LA Cleantech provides a good example of the kinds of success that today's clusters are producing. In less than three years, LA Cleantech has helped more than 30 companies create 400 new jobs, raise $40 million in capital and generate more than $90 million in long-term economic value for the City of Los Angeles. Fred Walti, LA Cleantech's executive director: "The best way to build new companies is by creating tightly focused, all-inclusive, small business clusters that harness a region's strengths. With JPMorgan Chase's support, we're building a cleantech cluster for Los Angeles that's the second largest green economy in the nation with the highest number of cleantech start-ups." One such company is Ecoponex Systems, doing business under Agregy Renewables LLC. The Ecoponex system converts solar energy along with recycled C02 and organic nutrients (N-P-K) into biomass (vegetables, forage crops) and micro-organisms (algae) via photosynthesis in large hydroponic greenhouses and generates energy. 07/23/2014

Global Bioenergies Delivers Fermentation Pilot Plant to Pomacle, France

France based Global Bioenergies has announced delivery of its bio-isobutene fermentation unit and associated devices to Pomacle for trials. The elements were first assembled at the manufacturer in order to run stress tests, which took place without incident early in July. The unit was then dismantled and conveyed to the Pomacle site, where it will be reassembled in the coming weeks. It is expected that the unit will go through the mechanical and functional commissioning by the end of September and will then be ready for a first fermentation run this fall. The process can use sugar, starch, or agricultural or forestry waste as feedstock for conversion into bio-isobutene. Frédéric Pâques, Chief Technical Officer: "The company will remain bustling this summer so that the maiden fermentation trial at this Pomacle unit will be achieved using the best strain and the best possible protocol both in terms of performance and robustness." 07/23/2014

B&W Vølund Signs $80MM Contract to Build Biomass Power Plant in Denmark

The Babcock & Wilcox Company (B&W) has announced that Babcock & Wilcox Vølund A/S (B&W Vølund) has been awarded a contract for more than $80 million to build a 280 megawatt-thermal (MWth) biomass boiler system for the Skærbækværket power plant near Fredericia, Denmark. B&W Vølund is a subsidiary of Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group, Inc. (B&W PGG). The plant, owned by DONG Energy Thermal Power A/S, will consist of two 140 MW biomass-fired boilers used to supply district heating and power to residents in the region. The boilers will be fueled primarily by wood chips, as well as other biomass residue. B&W Vølund’s scope consists of the design, manufacture, supply, construction and commissioning of the plant’s boiler system. In the last decade, B&W Vølund has contracted to build approximately 40 waste-to-energy plants and more than a dozen biomass energy plants utilizing a wide variety of renewable and waste fuels in Asia and Europe. 07/23/2014 

CEC Announces Round 2 Awards for Advanced Biofuels Production Facilities

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has released a Notice of Proposed Award for Round 2 of the grant solicitation for Pilot-Scale and Commercial-Scale Advanced Biofuels Production Facilities (PON-13-609). The purpose of the solicitation was to provide funding for the development of new or the modification of existing California-based biofuel production facilities that can sustainably produce low carbon transportation fuels. Round 1 awardee Crimson Renewable Energy was announced in May. The second round of scoring included all applications that were not scored in Round 1 and applications scored, but not funded in Round 1. Proposed awards will go to applicants with new or existing facilities that produce biomethane, or a diesel or gasoline substitute. A total of 11 awardees were announced for both rounds. 07/21/2014

USDA Awards Funds for Development of Rural Wood to Energy Projects

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the award of more than $2.5 million in grants to develop wood energy teams in 11 states and an additional $1.25 million for nine wood energy projects. The funds will leverage more than $4.5 million in investments from USDA partners. Under the terms of the agreements, private, state, and federal organizations will work together to stimulate the development of additional wood energy projects in their states. Activities may include workshops that provide technical, financial, and environmental information, preliminary engineering assessments, and community outreach needed to support development of wood energy projects. Grant recipients are from: Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia. More than $1.25 million will be provided to assist projects in New Hampshire, Minnesota, California, Oregon, and Washington. Additional information on the funded projects is available on the Statewide Wood Energy Teams (SWET) and Wood to Energy Grant Recipients web page. 07/21/2014  

JTI Completes Initial Research of Low-Cost Biogas Upgrading System for AD

Vancouver based Hallbar Consulting, Inc has provided an update on research by the Swedish Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering (JTI) into development of low-cost biogas upgrading technology suitable for use with anaerobic digestion (AD systems. JTI has thoroughly evaluated the potential for combining in-situ methane enrichment and a wood-ash filter to upgrade raw biogas to biomethane from AD plants. The research project used a mobile pilot-scale AD plant (5m³ active digester volume) in conjunction with a desorption column and wood-ash filter. The system was placed at a commercial on-farm AD plant in Sweden to enable the use of liquid manure as feedstock. The combined desorption column and wood-ash filter system was operated for approximately three weeks. The in-situ methane enrichment process increased methane concentration of the biogas from 60% to 81%, while removing 72% carbon dioxide. The process also reduced hydrogen sulfide concentration by an average of 83%. Inclusion of the wood-ash filter removed additional carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from the biogas, increasing methane concentration to 97% (the remaining balance being mainly nitrogen and water). Methane loss during this process represented <2 % of total methane production. Over the coming months the JTI will evaluate the digestate composition and nitrogen balances, as well as analyze the carbonized ash. In 2015, the JTI plans to install their biogas upgrading system at a commercial-scale anaerobic digester in Sweden, and is searching for a suitable commercial digester in North America. 07/20/2014 

US Invests $6MM to Develop Cost Competitive Advanced Biofuels by 2017

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced investing $6 million in two projects to develop next generation biofuels that will help drive down the cost of producing gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels from biomass. These projects are a part of the DOE’s continued effort to develop technologies that will enable the production of clean, renewable and cost-competitive drop-in biofuels at $3 per gallon by 2017. SRI International of Menlo Park, California will receive $3.2 million to produce a bio-crude oil from algal biomass that will maximize the amount of renewable carbon recovered for use in fuel and reduce the nitrogen content of the product in order to meet fuel quality standards. Research Triangle Institute (RTI) of Research Triangle Park, North Carolina will receive $3.1 million to maximize the biomass carbon and energy recovery in a low pressure process, therefore lowering production costs, to produce a bio-crude oil that can be efficiently upgraded into a finished biofuel. 07/19/2014

BioNitrogen Receives Incentives for Taylor County, Florida Urea Plant

BioNitrogen Holdings Corp has announced that it has received approvals from the Taylor County Commission, the Perry City Council, and the Taylor County Development Authority for an incentives package of up to $220 million in capital investment for a new Urea plant in Taylor County, Florida. Bryan Kornegay, Jr, President and CFO of BioNitrogen: "These inducements from Taylor County are critically important factors in our decision to locate a plant here and we're looking forward to advancing the project rapidly with the initial disbursement of funds this week. The Taylor County plant benefits from our four pillar approach: feedstock, plant, offtake and financing." BioNitrogen's technology gasifies biomass feedstock consisting primarily of urban wood waste and agricultural residual products, and converts the resulting gas into urea. The raw syngas is cleaned and passes through a series of catalytic reaction stages for transformation into ammonia and urea. 07/19/2014 

Due 10/02/2014: Grant Applications for Clean Energy Projects on Tribal Lands

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the availability of up to $7 million to deploy clean energy and energy efficiency projects in tribal communities. The Tribal Energy Program, in cooperation with the department's Office of Indian Energy, will help Native American tribes, tribal energy resource development organizations, and tribal consortia to install community- or facility-scale clean energy and energy efficiency projects. The Funding Opportunity Announcement (DE-FOA-0001021) is soliciting applications under two topic areas: 1) Tribal Building Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Retrofits (Topic Area 1); and 2) Community-Scale Clean Energy Deployment (Topic Area 2). Cost-shared projects selected under this funding announcement are intended to result in immediate cost savings, reduce energy use, and increase energy security for Indian Tribes and tribal members. A webinar is scheduled for August 14, 2014 from 1:00pm to 2:30pm ET to provide information to potential applicants. Submission deadline for applications is October 2, 2014. 07/18/2014 

Due 09/11/2014: Applications to EPA's SBIR Program for Phase I Awards

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced of the new Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Solicitation (SOL-NC-14-00014) to develop and commercialize new environmental technologies. The EPA is one of 11 federal agencies that participate in the SBIR Program as a result of the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982. The EPA is calling for small businesses to apply for Phase I awards up to $100,000 to demonstrate proof of concept in one of the following topic areas: air and climate, manufacturing, toxic chemicals, water, building materials, food waste, and homeland security.  Phase I awardees are eligible to receive Phase II funding, up to $300,000 for two years, through an additional application process. Applications are due by September 11, 2014. 07/17/2014

GIB Report Identifies Gap Between UK Waste and Conversion Infrastructure

The United Kingdom (UK) Green Investment Bank (GIB) has published a market report in partnership with Tolvik Consulting that forecasts a gap of up to 7.7 million tonnes of post-recycling waste and the infrastructure available to process it. The gap represents an investment opportunity of c. £5 billion to 2020 in energy recovery infrastructure that could generate enough renewable electricity to power one million homes. As highlighted in the report, the UK produced 85 million tonnes of waste in 2012, of which almost 21 million tonnes were sent to landfill. Using non-recyclable waste as a fuel to generate energy rather than sending it to landfill can deliver both much needed UK energy generation capacity as well as significant environmental benefits over the longer term. 07/16/2014  

Princeton Study Validates Liquid Light's CO2 to Chemical Technology

New Jersey based Liquid Light reports that a research team affiliated with the Department of Chemistry at Princeton University has released a peer-reviewed paper validating key elements of the company's carbon dioxide (CO2) to chemical technology platform. The paper, ‘Photons to formate: Efficient electrochemical solar energy conversion via reduction of carbon dioxide’ published in the Journal of CO2 Utilization was written by James L White and colleagues, and focused on the efficiency of Liquid Light's catalytic process to convert CO2 to the foundation chemical formate at lab scale. Test results confirmed a conversion rate about twice that of natural photosynthesis. Liquid Light's initial conversion manufactured ethylene glycol; the lab's production of format (a salt or ester of formic acid) via an oxalic acid intermediary confirms results across more than one target chemical. The lab powered the electrocatalytic process using standard solar panels; the inherent variability of this renewable power source did not negatively impact process efficiency. Liquid Light develops and licenses its CO2-to-chemical process technology. Industrial applications can harness waste CO2 emissions, reduce dependence on cyclically-priced petroleum feedstocks; and reduce carbon footprint. 07/15/2014

Danish Symbiose Center Coordinates Industrial Symbiosis in Kalundborg

Washington state based Mercurius Biorefining, Inc has provided an update of the Danish Symbiose Center's on-going circular economy project implementing "industrial symbiosis." Mercurius recently toured the Danish town of Kalundborg, west of Copenhagen, and interviewed Lisbeth Randers who is managing the initiative. The town and its industries for years have integrated material streams output-to-input, and Kalundborg Symbiosis remains under continuous development. Today, more than 30 conduits have been installed for transferring a range of different waste products such as emissions, gases, wastewater, slurry, steam, and heat are moved from source to re-use site. DONG Energy operates the region's Asnaes power station, in part driven by Pyroneer's gasification systems. Integration examples include export of Asnaes’ combined heat and power (CHP) to Inbicon’s straw-fed biorefinery and Novozymes' Novo Nordisk plant, to the Statoil Refinery and to the Kalundborg municipality and its wastewater treatment plant. Inbicon supplies its bioethanol to the Statoil Refinery who in turn provides waste sulfur to an adjacent fertilizer plant. The Symbiose Center focuses on turning output residual into input feedstock. The Center's keys to successful industrial symbiosis: (1) the members fit together, but can be different; (2) the members focus on large, continuous waste streams; (3) every project is economically feasible; (4) the geographical distance between the members is small; and (5) the ideological distance between the members is also small. Mercurius’ director of international business development who grew up in the region reports that the initiative’s newest effort is establishing a micro-algae test facility adjacent to the wastewater treatment plant under the direction of project officer Per Møller. A series of  6+ meter tall algae tanks are installed and growth has started; decisions regarding effluent input, algal strains and multiple output products will soon follow. 07/15/2014

Harmonic Energy Signs LOI for Supply of 18K Tonnes/Year Waste Tires

London based Harmonic Energy Inc has announced that it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) for a long term supply of tire feedstock with Consolidated Tire Processing LLC, which will supply 18,000 tonnes or an estimated 2 million scrap tires per year of scrap tires to Harmonic. Harmonic plans to remanufacture a small percentage of the old tire casings into new premium passenger and light truck tires. Harmonic has two acquisition facilities that are processing tires in Europe and North America. Permitting for both sites is underway for remanufacturing and Harmonic's patented Tyrolysis™ process. The North American site is currently permitted for storage of 5 million gallons of fuel oil on site. The site's #5 Air Emissions Permit from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is still pending. Harmonic believes that its vertically integrated tire manufacturing and recycling systems hold the key to a profitable, sustainable market for the growth of a greener tire manufacturing sector by providing a complete end to end solution. 07/15/2014 

Methes Energies Completes Its First Biodiesel Sale Transaction in the US

Methes Energies International Ltd has announced completion of its first biodiesel transaction in the United States through its wholly owned US subsidiary as the importer of record and generator of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs). This is the first time that Methes directly generated US revenues from the sale of biodiesel produced at its Sombra, Ontario facility. With Methes having the ability to directly import biodiesel to the US and itself generate RINs, Methes can now sell directly to US buyers. 07/14/2014

UK Offers Support for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships for Agri-Food Supply

The United Kingdom’s Technology Strategy Board (TSB) issued a reminder that registrations are still being accepted for establishment and support of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs). The current competition is funded with up to £2.3 million, this time to help develop Agri-Food Supply Chains. A KTP is composed of a business, an academic institution, or “knowledge base partner” and a recently qualified person, called an “associate”. Led by the TSB, the cross-agency / association initiative is intended to give businesses “access to the UK knowledge base so that they can develop innovative solutions to global challenges facing the agri-food sector. We are looking to support up to 25 KTPs through this competition.” Its scope spans primary production, including aquaculture, through to retail. This competition will provide new opportunities for open innovation and knowledge exchange across supply chains and sectors. TSB will fund part of the cost of running the KTP, with the level of that grant dependent upon the size of the company. The grant is paid through the academic partner. The competition opened for applications on June 19, 2014 and is open on a rolling basis for applications until February 11, 2015. 07/14/2014

Bluesphere Receives $15MM Term Sheet for Rhode Island Biogas Project

North Carolina based Bluesphere Corporation has announced receipt of a term sheet from Energy Power Partners (EPP) for full equity financing of over $15 million for its 3.2 megawatt (MW) waste-to-energy project in Johnston, Rhode Island. The facility will generate clean electricity from biogas derived from organic waste. Bluesphere and EPP have agreed to enter into a final, definitive agreement by no later than August 30, 2014 pursuant to which the funds will be made available to Bluesphere in cash for the construction and implementation of the Johnston project, subject to completion of final due diligence by EPP. Bluesphere has signed a Letter of Intent with a company in the recycling and waste industries, which will supply between 100-200 tons of organic waste per day to the Johnston waste-to-energy facility. Agreements and other Letters of Intent are in place for a 15 year electricity purchase agreement, site lease with purchase option, compost off-take agreement, and EPC contractor. 07/14/2014

EC Awards €308MM to Six Key Bioenergy Projects from EU Emissions Trading

The European Commission (EC) has awarded €1 billion in funding to 19 projects to fight climate change. Of these, six regional bioenergy-focused projects receive support. The MET project in Denmark receives €29.2 million to advance 2nd generation biofuel production from a plant using 250,000 t/year of locally sourced straw in Holstebro, Denmark. The plant will produce 64.4 million liters of ethanol, 77,000 tonnes of lignin pellets, 1.51 million normal cubic meters of methane, and 75,000 tonnes of liquid waste annually which will be converted into biogas. A fast pyrolysis project based in Estonia will receive €6.9 million to convert up to 130,000 tonnes of wood chips annually to about 50,000 tonnes of pyrolytic bio-oil for export. Also in Estonia, a torrefaction plant will receive €25 million for a combined heat and power (CHP) self-powered plant that will convert 260,000 tonnes of biomass into about 100,000 tonnes of high-heat value bio-coal. A Latvia based CHP operation was awarded €3.9 million to convert about 100,000 tonnes of wood chips into 40,000 tones of bio-oil, using fast pyrolysis. A Spanish Waste-to-Biofuels (W2B) project receives €29.2 million to convert about 500,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) into 28 million liters of bio-ethanol annually. Finally, a Swedish Biomass to Gas (Bio2G) project will receive €203.7 million to demonstrate the large-scale production of synthetic natural gas (SNG) from about 1 million tonnes per year of woody biomass. The capacity of the plant is 200 megawatts of thermal energy (MWth) of SNG. Pressurized SNG will be fed into an existing natural gas pipeline. Two project locations are under consideration within the environmental permitting process: Landskrona or Malmö, Sweden. The projects will be funded with revenues from the sale of 300 million in emission allowances under the European Union (EU) Emissions Trading System from the New Entrant Reserve (NER 300) funding programme. A public consultation which explores these issues is currently open for contributions. 07/14/2014

Cobalt and ANDRITZ Will Integrate Technologies for Cellulosic Bio-Butanol

California based Cobalt Technologies, Inc has signed an exclusive agreement with ANDRITZ Inc to integrate Cobalt’s proprietary lignocellulosic pre-treatment process for the production of n-butanol with ANDRITZ’s customized pre-treatment systems. Combining Cobalt’s expertise with ANDRITZ’s experience in designing and supplying biomass processing systems will provide the market place a solution for developing reliable, efficient, and cost-effective biofuel and biochemical production facilities. Cobalt’s technology naturally converts both C5 and C6 sugars into bio-butanol, using any non-food lignocellulosic, renewable and sustainable feedstock. The bio-butanol can be used for a broad array of fuels and chemicals -- including jet fuels, bio-based plastics, and synthetic rubber. ANDRITZ, Inc is the US subsidiary of Austria based ANDRITZ, an international technology group of companies. 07/11/2014

Columbia University Study Focuses on Energy and Economic Value of MSW

The American Chemical Council (ACC) has announced a new study by Columbia University's Earth Engineering Center (ECC) on the energy and economic value of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the United States. The study is an update of the EEC's 2011 study and finds that if all of the MSW that is currently put into landfills each year were diverted to waste-to-energy (WTE) power plants, they could generate enough electricity to power nearly 14 million homes annually, or 12 percent of the US total. The new study, which is sponsored by the ACC, was prompted by ongoing advances in energy recovery technologies, and outlines diverse paths for waste conversion to energy and fuels while diverting discards from disposal and reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs). The EEC’s new report found that everyday trash is an abundant domestic energy resource, and that using today’s technologies to unlock that energy could also bring about environmental benefits, such as lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and making better use of energy than burying it in a landfill. 07/11/2014

Waste-Sourced Biochar Shows Promise as Filter to Clean Stormwater

Oregon BEST has announced a new round of commercialization funding for Portland based Sunmark Environmental to collaborate with Oregon State University (OSU) researchers in advancing a biochar-based filter system.  The system utilizes waste-sourced biochar from lumber mills mixed with other components such as hazelnut shells, compost, and oyster shells to remove between 80 and 100 percent of heavy metals from stormwater. The new filter media cost 60 percent less than most activated carbon filter systems, an advantage for companies mandated to filter stormwater. The $136,000 in funding from Oregon BEST and the Portland Development Commission (PDC) is enabling the OSU researchers to test a range of media, including five different types of biochar generated by lumber mills in the Pacific Northwest. 07/11/2014

Benefuel Closes on $11MM Stock Offering to Advance Biodiesel Technology

Texas-based Benefuel Inc. has announced closure of its first stock offering funding tranche, securing $11 million to advance the commercialization and deployment of Benefuel's patented ENSEL® technology in Canada and the United States. The primary investor is the US subsidiary of Canadian company Suncor Energy. The first tranche also included Flint Hills Resources and other existing shareholders. Benefuel uses its patented heterogeneous catalysis process to combine esterification of free fatty acids (FFA) and transesterification of triglycerides into a single process step, converting heterogeneous fats, oils and greases (FOG) into biodiesel and glycerin. The ENSEL platform significantly expands feedstock options, simplifies the refining process and enables a cost structure competitive with petroleum products. 07/10/2014

UK Reports Focus on Redefining Waste to Secure Raw Materials Supply

The United Kingdom’s (UK) Environmental Services Association (ESA) has called attention to two newly released reports that focus on the trends, methods, and importance of recovery of raw materials from discards. The independent charitable organization IPPR has published a briefing paper entitled The Wasteline: Redefining ‘Waste’ and Improving Resource Management Policy. The study sets out practical recommendations for UK policy and regulatory changes to shift from concepts of waste destruction and disposal toward discard-sourced resource conversion and recovery. The manufacturing industry’s trade association EEF has concurrently released “Materials for Manufacturing: Safeguarding Supply”, making the case that the nation can reduce exposure to critical materials supply risks by diversifying the recovery and recycling of raw materials from discards. 07/10/2014 

Loch Duart Demonstrates Sustainability for Salmon Farming Industry

Scottish salmon farming company Loch Duart Ltd has signed a supply agreement to provide up to 450 tonnes of fish processing waste to London-based CellsUnited Ltd for conversion into high-value nutritional supplements. The contract demonstrates Loch Duart's commitment to sustainable best management practices that the company implements throughout its operations. CellsUnited will use Loch Duart’s salmon processing residuals, including that of the viscera, frames and heads, to produce Cellper^TM, a new nutritional compound for treatment of malnutrition in people who cannot otherwise digest protein. CellsUnited explained that they see the aquaculture industry as a primary source of raw materials because the fish are regularly harvested and logistics allow receipt of feedstock that is fresh. Current practice results in use of only a fraction of the resource as low-grade pet food and fertilizer with the remainder going to landfills for disposal. The San Francisco based firm CleanFish is the exclusive representative and distributor for Loch Duart in North America. Tim O’Shea, CEO of CleanFish commented to Teru Talk: "I find the kind of thinking, one that links full system accountability is evidenced in this waste = food understanding of sustainable natural systems, tends to be more vital and present in food operations that are not ruled by industrial scale assumptions and thought. Such ideas get executed by leaders who tend to be more focused on stewardship of their animals and the ecosystems around them." 07/09/2014

Kroger Sustainability Report Describes On-Site Food Waste Conversion

The Kroger Company has announced release of its annual Sustainability Report, setting its first-ever water conservation goal, providing a progress update on moving retail locations toward "zero waste", and sourcing 100% certified sustainable palm oil. Kroger is committed to reducing water consumption in supermarket locations by 5% in 2014.  Moving facilities toward zero waste is one of Kroger's key sustainability priorities, and 27 of the company's manufacturing facilities had achieved this benchmark by the end of 2013. In May of 2013, Kroger unveiled the Kroger Recovery System at its Ralph's / Food 4 Less distribution center in Compton, California. Last year the anaerobic digestion system developed by Massachusetts based Feed Resource Recovery, Inc converted 46,500 tons of food that could not be sold or donated, along with on-site food processing residuals. The resulting biogas was then turned into power for onsite operations, generating 3.5 million kWh of renewable energy for the 650,000 square foot distribution center. The system reduced area truck trips by more than 500,000 miles per year and reduced waste disposal costs by $4.5 million dollars. These efforts are estimated to reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 90,000 tons per year. 07/09/2014 

Valmet to Supply New Wood Chipping Plant to Mörrum Pulp Mill in Sweden

Finland based Valmet Corporation has announced that it will deliver a new wood chipping plant valued at around EUR 20 million to Södra Cell's Mörrum pulp mill in Sweden. The delivery is part of Södra Cell's project to increase the pulp production at the Mörrum pulp mill. Valmet's delivery will consist of a complete woodroom including two wood debarking and chipping lines, bark handling and chip conveying systems. The start-up of the new wood chipping plant is scheduled for spring of 2016. Södra is an economic association with a membership base of 51,000 forest owners in southern Sweden and produces paper pulp, wood products, and biofuels. Södra employs about 3,800 people and has four business areas Södra Skog, Södra Cell, Södra Timber and Södra Interiör. 07/08/2014

Aemetis Receives US EPA Approval for Distilled Biodiesel from India Plant

California based Aemetis, Inc has announced that it has received US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval to issue D4 RINs for biodiesel produced from waste fats and oils (WFO) at its distilled biodiesel production facility on the East Coast of India. The EPA also approved the issuance of D6 RINs when biodiesel is produced using other feedstocks. The 50 million gallon per year capacity plant was built in 2008 and was upgraded earlier this year to produce distilled biodiesel. The biodiesel produced at the Aemetis India plant also recently earned International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) Category 2 certification. The plant produces a colorless biodiesel with 99.5% esters and nearly no monoglycerides, water or other contaminants. It meets and exceeds all D6751 biodiesel specifications, allowing for use in all diesel engines. 07/08/2014

Due 10/01/2014: Part I Submissions for DOE Clean Energy Loan Guarantees

The US Department of Energy's (DOE) Loan Program Office LPO) has announced a $4 billion Renewable Energy and Efficient Energy Projects Loan Guarantee solicitation (DE-SOL-0007154) that is intended to support the first commercial-scale deployments of innovative clean energy technologies. Five target areas have been identified for this solicitation: Advanced Grid Integration and Storage, Drop-In Biofuels, Waste-to-Energy, Enhancement of Existing Facilities, and Efficiency Improvements. Waste-to-energy projects may include methane from landfills or ranches via biodigesters to heat and power, municipal solid waste to electricity, crop waste to fuel and/or energy and bioproducts, and forestry waste to fuel and/or energy potentially via co-firing. the first Part I submissions are due by October 1, 2014, together with $50,000 of the application fee. The first Part II submissions are due January 14, 2015 with the remainder of the application fee. The last Part I submission due date is December 2, 2015 with Part II due by March 2, 2016. 07/08/2014  

Maverick Synfuels and Petrostar Form Maverick Northstar Joint Venture

North Carolina based Maverick Synfuels and Canadian company Petrostar Petroleum Corporation have announced the formation of Maverick Northstar, Inc., a joint venture for the deployment and operation of gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology. The small-scale modular plants will utilize technology that converts a methane-rich feedstock, such as natural gas, flare gas and biogas, into high-quality methanol, which offers new possibilities for synthetic chemicals and fuel production in Canada’s methane-rich prairie provinces. Much of the methane in Western Canada is found in remote oil and gas fields where traditional distribution is not economically viable. Maverick’s modular production platform offers the first small-scale solution that can be co-located at the source of the methane for conversion into methanol. Maverick has contracted with Texas based Plant Process Equipment to manufacture and sell the small-scale gas-to-liquids plants (GTL). These modular plants are mounted on skids and can be quickly transported and installed remotely, even in difficult-to-access terrain. The plants can produce up to 10,000 gallons a day of methanol from methane-rich waste gas, or natural gas sources. 07/07/2014  

Neste Oil Supplies NEXBTL Renewable Diesel to Power Helsinki Festival

Finland based Neste Oil has announced that it will be supplying 100% NEXBTL renewable diesel to generate electricity for this year's Flow Festival in Helsinki. By using NEXBTL diesel produced from waste and residues, the Flow Festival will release up to 90% less greenhouse gas emissions that it would do using fossil diesel. The Flow Festival, which will be held on 8-10 August in the Suvilahti district of Helsinki, is known as an event that prioritizes the environment and sustainable development in all aspects of its activities. The event also expects its partners to comply with tough environmental standards. Flow's Production Manager Emilia Mikkola, who is also responsible for the event's environmental profile: "Through our partnership with Neste Oil, we will be able to use NEXBTL renewable diesel in our generators for the first time instead of fossil fuel." 07/06/2014

US EPA Finalizes New Renewable Fuels Regulations and Standards

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing two actions intended to help make the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program more efficient and effective. The Pathways II rulemaking qualifies additional fuel pathways that the EPA has determined meet the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction requirements under the RFS program. The EPA is also clarifying the number of cellulosic biofuel renewable identification numbers (RINs) that may be generated for fuel made with feedstocks of varying cellulosic content, clarifying the definition of crop residue under the RFS, and providing guidance regarding the feedstocks that EPA considers to be crop residues, including corn kernel fiber. In a separate rulemaking, The EPA is finalizing a voluntary Quality Assurance Program (QAP) that will allow regulated parties to purchase RINs validated and verified by independent third parties according to an approved EPA protocol. The QAP was designed and developed to level the playing field among large and small producers of renewable fuels, enabling smaller renewable fuel producers to demonstrate that their RINs are valid.  The program also provides clarity regarding when invalid RINs must be replaced with valid RINs, and who is required to replace them. 07/06/2014 

EBRD Organizes Financing to Construct Major Biogas Project in Ukraine

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is organizing a financing program of up to €7.1 million to construct and bring into operation a 2.25 MW biogas plant adjacent to Rokytne sugar mill in the Kiev region of Ukraine. The plant, which will be the largest facility of this type in the country, will generate electricity to be sold to the national grid at the agreed “green” tariff. The biogas plant will primarily use pressed sugar beet pulp from the Rokytne sugar mill  and a neighboring sugar plant. Cow manure and chicken dung will be used. The financing package includes a 10-year EBRD loan of up to €5.07 million and a 15-year loan of up to €2.03 million from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF). The financing for the project is part of the Ukraine Sustainable Energy Lending Facility (USELF) – an investment facility of €140 million (€100 million from the EBRD and €40 million from the CTF) designed to provide finance to private local enterprises wishing to invest in small renewable energy projects in Ukraine. The EBRD is the largest financial investor in Ukraine. As of May 1, 2014, the Bank had committed €8.4 billion (US$ 11.5 billion) through 327 projects in the country. 07/05/2014

CR&R's Anaerobic Digestion Facility in California Is Under Construction

California based CR&R Environmental Services has announced that the first phase of its anaerobic digestion facility in Perris, California is under construction. This phase will convert over 80,000 tons per year of municipal organic wastes into Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). The project is fully permitted for 3 additional phases that will convert over 320,000 tons of organic wastes into RNG and generate the energy equivalent of 4 million diesel gallons. The core of the technology for the Perris facility comes from German company Eisenmann, which has installed over 90 biogas plants worldwide. Its High Solids Anaerobic Digestion system employs a continuously fed, horizontal plug flow design which allows for maximum biogas production, a high degree of consistency, and full automation. The gas clean-up system is supplied by Greenlane Biogas, based in New Zealand. This system will use water scrubbing and other advanced technologies to clean raw biogas to required specifications for vehicle fuel or pipeline injection. “ CR&R received its Permit to Construct from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) in December of last year after 7 years of planning. 07/05/2014

Quad County Corn Processors Produces 1st Gallon of Cellulosic Ethanol

The Renewables Fuels Association (RFA) announced that Quad County Corn Processors has produced the first gallon of cellulosic ethanol in Iowa from its new cellulosic “bolt-on” ethanol plant in Galva. The Adding Cellulosic Ethanol (ACE) project is turning corn kernel fiber, a cellulosic feedstock, into high-octane, clean-burning ethanol. The facility is expected to produce 2 million gallons per year of cellulosic ethanol from feedstock already on site. RFA’s President and CEO, Bob Dinneen: "Quad County is to be congratulated. This first gallon of cellulosic ethanol represents just the beginning of a long, promising future." Quad County has operated a 35-million gallon a year corn ethanol biorefinery since 2000. Its Research & Development team worked for four years to develop a patented process for converting the corn kernel fiber into cellulosic ethanol, additional corn oil, and a high protein, low fiber feed. Grants from the US Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy, as well as the Iowa Power Fund made the project possible. 07/05/2014 

EC Adopts Key Circular Economy Position: More Recycling to Zero Waste

The European Commission (EC) has formally adopted the Communication position paper entitled, "Towards a circular economy: a zero waste programme for Europe" and accompanying appendices (annex) to establish a common and coherent EU framework to promote the circular economy. As part of the circular economy package, the EC also adopted a legislative proposal to review recycling and other waste-related targets in the European Union (EU) and annex. Achieving the new waste targets would create 180,000 new jobs, while making Europe more competitive and reducing demand for costly scarce resources. The legislative proposals will now pass to the Council and the European Parliament. The Environmental Services Association (ESA) welcomed the European Commission’s proposals, which followed on ESA's report released late last year, “Going for Growth: A Practical Route to a Circular Economy.” 07/02/2014

GE Water to Acquire Monsal for Advanced Anaerobic Digestion Technology

GE has announced that its water business, GE Water & Process Technologies, has agreed to acquire Monsal, a private United Kingdom (UK) based water, waste, advanced anaerobic digestion and integrated biogas-to-energy business. Monsal provides advanced technology to treat biosolids and biowaste and convert it into renewable energy and saleable byproducts. One of the end products of anaerobic digestion is biogas, which can be combusted to generate electricity and heat, a feature that GE Power & Water’s Distributed Power business can achieve with Jenbacher gas engines. With Monsal’s advanced anaerobic digestion technology and industry knowledge, GE will be able to help municipalities and industrial manufacturers shift from disposing wastewater treatment byproducts to generating renewable energy and other value from their streams. 07/02/2014

Scientists Convert Glycerol to Chemicals with Palladium/Gold Nanoparticles

Texas based Rice University has announced that research leader Michael Wong and his team have demonstrated and published on the cost-effective conversion of the glycerol residual from biodiesel production, using a just-right balance of nanoparticles of gold and palladium. The catalytic conversion reaction is about 10 times faster than can be accomplished with either metal alone. The team's recent publication documents results of the collaboration between Wong, Rice graduate student and lead author Zhun Zhao, and colleagues from Rice, Argonne National Laboratory, and the University of Groningen in Holland in their use of  high-powered X-ray spectroscopy and other techniques to show that this just-right “Goldilocks” coverage area for glycerol catalysis was about 60 percent. 07/02/2014  

California Partner Places First Order to Distribute MagneGas®

Florida based MagneGas® Corporation has announced that its partner Placer Power LLC in California has placed its first order and expects the delivery of 676 cylinders the 2nd week in July. Placer has already landed their first distributor, TriCo Welding Supplies Inc, who covers the Greater Sacramento area. Chris Du Pont, President of Placer Power LLC: "We have already demoed MagneGas® for potential distributors and customers in California, Northern Nevada, and Southern Oregon with nothing but positive responses after they see the superior performance of MagneGas® vs. their currently used metal cutting gases." MagneGas® is a hydrogen-based gaseous fuel manufactured by conversion of liquid waste using the company's patented Plasma Arc Flow technology. The synthetic gas can be made from liquid wastes such as sewage, sludge, animal manure, glycerin, used antifreeze, some oil based liquids and waste water. 07/01/2014

New Lower Cost Process Converts Cellulosic Biomass to Sugars for Biofuels

A new report has just been published in the Biotechnology for Biofuels journal entitled a highly efficient dilute alkali deacetylation and mechanical (disc) refining process for the conversion of renewable biomass to lower cost sugars. The study was conducted by researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, North Carolina State University, University of Toronto, Andritz Inc, and IdeaCHEM, Inc. The deconstruction of renewable biomass feedstocks into soluble sugars at low cost is a critical component of the biochemical conversion of biomass to fuels and chemicals. The proposed new process developed at the bench scale has been demonstrated using pilot scale deacetylation and disc refiners. The deacetylated and disc refined corn stover was rapidly deconstructed to monomeric sugars at 20% wt solids with enzymatic hydrolysis. High process sugar conversions were achieved, with high concentrations of monomeric sugars that exceeded 150 g/L. The sugar syrups produced were found to have low concentrations of known major fermentation inhibitors: acetic acid, furfural and HMF. The low levels of these fermentation inhibitors lead to high fermentation yields. The results suggest that this process is a very promising development for the nascent cellulosic biofuels industry. 07/01/2014