March 2014 News and Matters of Interest
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ACORE Releases New Report on Outlook for Renewable Energy in
America
The American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) has announced the release of its new report, "The Outlook for Renewable Energy in America 2014." The report assesses
the marketplace and forecasts the future of each renewable energy technology sector from the perspectives of US
renewable energy trade associations. Each sector forecast is accompanied by a list of the trade association’s
specific policy recommendations that they believe might encourage continued industry growth. The articles detail
specific market drivers for the biofuel, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, waste, and wind energy sectors.
The industry-association authors of The Outlook are: Advanced Biofuels Association; American Wind Energy
Association; Biomass Power Association; Biomass Thermal Energy Council; Energy Recovery Council; Geothermal
Energy Association; Growth Energy; National Hydropower Association; Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition; and Solar
Energy Industries Association. 03/31/2014
Fiberight Gets Economic Support from Iowa City to Construct MRF for
Biofuels
Maryland-based Fiberight LLC has announced that the Marion City Council in Iowa agreed at its
March 20, 2014 meeting to provide the firm with an
economic-development incentive worth up to $850,000 to help it build its 50,000-square-foot materials recovery
facility (MRF). The MRF will be located in the City’s “eco-industrial” park at 44th Street and Third Avenue.
Fiberight plans to begin construction on its waste recycling, sorting, and shredding facility in June, and hopes
it will be ready to accept garbage by December. The new $15-million facility will be designed to grab the
organic material in garbage to convert into ethanol at the company’s ethanol plant now being renovated in
Blairstown. The MRF in Marion is part of a larger project that includes the conversion and expansion of
a former corn-based ethanol plant in Blairstown in Benton County into a plant that turns the organic material in
trash separated in Marion into ethanol. The City signed a development agreement with Fiberight last summer and committed to
sending the City’s municipal solid waste to Fiberight's facility. The City of Marion intends to become a
zero waste community and changed its ordinances a few years ago to
redefine solid waste as a commodity, or feedstock. 03/29/2014
BioNitrogen Commits to $9MM Allocation From Florida Investment
Program
Florida company BioNitrogen Holdings Corp has announced that it has signed a term sheet for a $9 million investment
supported by the Florida New Markets Capital Investment Program (NMTC). The NMTC
investment will be to Hendry BN Construction & Fertilizer Services, LLC, a newly-formed subsidiary of
BioNitrogen Holdings Corp. The $9 million NMTC allocation will translate into a new cash investment of
approximately $1.5 million for BioNitrogen. The cash proceeds will be used for capital equipment, engineering,
closing costs, and improvements to the Hendry County site, including feedstock and fertilizer services and
related equipment. Hendry BN will operate on approximately 15 acres at the Weekley Industrial Park and provide
mulch, feedstock, construction, and fertilizer services to the site, Hendry County and surrounding areas. The
investment is expected to close in April. Bryan Kornegay, Jr, President and CFO of BioNitrogen: "Hendry BN
provides us with a dedicated team focused on providing biomass processing and fertilizer services to the local
market." 03/29/2014
US EPA Proposes Additions to List of Categorical Non-Waste
Fuels
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to add three materials to the list of categorical non-waste
fuels: (1) Construction and demolition (C&D) wood processed from C&D debris according to best management
practices, (2) Paper recycling residuals, including old corrugated cardboard (OCC) rejects, generated from the
recycling of recovered paper and paperboard products and burned on-site by paper recycling mills whose boilers
are designed to bum solid fuel, and (3) Creosote treated railroad ties that are processed and combusted in units
designed to bum both biomass and fuel oil. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) non-hazardous
secondary material (NHSM) rulemakings identify which non-hazardous secondary materials are, or are not, solid
wastes when burned in combustion units. The regulations are codified at 40 CFR part 241. In the February 7, 2013 rule, the EPA listed particular non-hazardous
secondary materials as “categorical non-waste fuels” and procedures for adding additional materials to the list.
Facilities burning these non-hazardous secondary materials do not need to evaluate them under the general
case-by-case standards and procedures that would otherwise apply to non-hazardous secondary materials burned in
combustion units. A pre-publication version of the proposed rule is available for review.
03/29/2014
Map Updated for Operational AD Sites in UK, AD Quality Protocol
Released
Anaerobic Digestion (AD) facility development is advancing rapidly in the United Kingdom (UK).
The UK Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP) has just released a substantially updated interactive map with accompanying data to identify and track all forms
of AD development. The easy to use tool-set now lists 133 operational AD facilities, detailing 24 industrial, 55
on-farm, 7 demonstration, and 45 strictly commercial sites as well as two identified as being part of integrated
waste management facilities. The open program encourages owner/operator interaction and is actively seeking
additions to the listings. In other news, the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
(Defra) and WRAP have released AD Quality Protocol for the production of quality digestate from
anaerobic digestion of source-segregated biodegradable waste (biowaste). Quality digestate from anaerobic
digestion include the whole digestate, in addition to any subsequently separated fibre or liquor fractions. If
these criteria are met, quality outputs from anaerobic digestion will normally be regarded as having been fully
recovered and to have ceased to be waste. 03/28/2014
LanzaTech’s $60MM Series D Round Led by Mitsui Investment
Lanzatech has announced a $60 million Series D funding round led by Mitsui & Co with a $20M investment. The funding round includes new
investors Siemens Venture Capital, CICC Growth Capital Fund I, L.P, and existing investors:
Khosla Ventures, Qiming Venture Partners, K1W1, and the Malaysian Life Sciences Capital Fund. The investment will be used to
extend LanzaTech’s core platform and further develop LanzaTech’s product portfolio. To date, products include
fuels such as ethanol or jet fuel, and commodity chemicals such as butadiene used in nylon production or
propylene used in plastics manufacture. LanzaTech’s gas fermentation platform disrupts the current highly centralized
global energy system by enabling the regional production of low-cost energy from local wastes and residues,
including gases as varied as industrial flue gas, gasified biomass wastes and residues, biogas, and high-CO2
stranded natural gas. LanzaTech’s first commercial facility, fully financed by BaoSteel, one of the largest
steel manufacturers in China, is expected to be operational in 2015 and will use steel mill off gases to produce
fuels and chemicals. 03/26/2014
Cool Planet and OWS Team for Storm Water Treatment
Technologies
Colorado based Cool Planet Energy Systems has announced signing a Memo of Understanding (MOU) with California
company Organic Waste Solutions, LLC (OWS) to address California’s storm water runoff regulations and improve
water quality. OWS is engaged in the design and construction of low impact solutions to address water pollution
from storm water runoff, and for water treatment and environmental remediation. Cool Planet and OWS will
cooperate in developing proprietary biochar-enabled technologies to address the need for secondary wastewater
treatment, water remediation, and the management of storm water runoff. The companies will work to set up and
operate laboratory and field demonstrations, optimize and document the benefits of Cool Planet’s proprietary
biochar product in ecological bioremediation, and provide designs for optimal delivery systems. Jonathan Todd of
OWS: "We are incredibly excited to work with Cool Planet and integrate their proprietary biochar product into
our ecological wastewater treatment systems. Having this vital tool will increase the effectiveness of our
systems exponentially, even with just the known benefits of biochar today."
03/26/2014
Dyadic Secures New US Patent on Cellulosic Biomass Hydrolysis
Enzymes
Florida based Dyadic International, Inc has announced that it has been issued US Patent No. 8,673,618 entitled, "Construction of highly efficient
cellulase compositions for enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose" by the United States Patent and Trademark Office
(USPTO). This new patent covers methods of developing and producing novel enzymes which efficiently convert
different sources of plant biomass (e.g. corn stover, wheat straw, and bagasse) to fermentable sugars. Methods
include processes for degrading plant material using enzyme mixtures and specified enzyme combinations. Dyadic's
President and CEO, Mark Emalfarb: "Plant biomass provide a plentiful source of potential energy in the form of
sugars that can be utilized to produce advanced biofuels and bio-based chemicals. This latest patent further
broadens our family of patents that address the advanced biofuels and bio-based chemicals market."
03/25/2014
Global Bioenergies Secures Australian Patents for Biomass to
Isobutene
French company Global Bioenergies has announced that the Australian Intellectual Property Office has granted
two patents that protect key steps of its process for converting renewable resources into isobutene. Global
Bioenergies holds exclusive exploitation rights to about twenty families of patent applications which protect
its processes for converting renewable resources into isobutene,
butadiene, and propylene. Now the first two applications have resulted in the granting of two patents in
Australia, registered AU2009265373 and AU2010297362. Each of the granted patents protects one essential
enzymatic reaction of the isobutene production pathway constructed by Global Bioenergies. The particularity of
this process is that isobutene is directly produced by fermentation. Frédéric Pâques, Chief Technology Officer
of Global Bioenergies: "The enzymatic activities covered by these patents have been successfully implemented in
bacterial strains that are currently used at lab scale to produce isobutene. New generations of these strains
will be built and transferred to our pilot under construction in Pomacle-Bazancourt."
03/25/2014
ACOA Funds CelluFuel for Woody Biomass to Diesel Pilot Plant in Nova
Scotia
The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) has announced funding for the startup of CelluFuel’s pilot plant with an initial capacity of 1.3 million litres
of diesel per year to transform otherwise low-value wood fiber into renewable fuel for the refinery market. The
firm is debuting its technology at ReNova Scotia Bioenergy Inc. in Brooklyn, Nova Scotia, with a long-term plan
to launch a full commercial-scale operation in Clare by 2015. The Government of Canada’s $500,000 repayable
investment through ACOA’s Business Development Program (BDP), supports the purchase of special equipment to
establish the plant. The Province of Nova Scotia previously announced a $1.5 million repayable investment in the
project. 03/25/2014
WM, Ventech, NRG, and Velocys JV for Smaller-Scale Gas-to-Liquids
Facilities
Waste Management, Inc (WM), Ventech Engineers International LLC, NRG Energy, Inc, and Velocys plc have announced the formation of a joint venture (JV) to produce renewable
fuels and chemicals from biogas and natural gas using smaller-scale gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology. WM has
pioneered the use of smaller-scale GTL utilizing landfill gas, including building and operating a demonstration
unit at the East Oak landfill in Oklahoma. Ventech, as the engineering contractor to the joint venture, has
optimized the design and engineering of the joint venture’s first facility. NRG brings extensive experience in
developing large renewable capital projects, strong green customer focus, and expertise in the acquisition and
transportation of large quantities of natural gas. Velocys, the leader in smaller-scale GTL technology, will
supply the Fischer-Tropsch reactor and catalyst to the joint venture. The JV’s first facility is under
development and will be located at WM’s East Oak site in Oklahoma. A final decision to proceed on this first
plant will be made this year. Engineering and design work is substantially complete, final draft permitting
documents have been submitted, and development activities for additional facilities are expected to commence
shortly. 03/24/2014
MagneGas Unveils Mobile Liquid Biomass Solution
MagneGas Corporation announced its new mobile liquid biomass solution today at the 7th
Annual International Biomass Conference & Expo in Orlando, Florida. MagneGas CEO Ermanno Santilli: "We know
our liquid biomass solution technology is performing as expected overseas and we are positioning ourselves for a
pilot program in the agricultural sector here in the US in the very near future. Beyond a test on our home soil,
we are preparing to solicit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval of the technology that we
believe will prove we can turn Class B sludge into Class A material to reduce disposal costs and in some cases
render it suitable for fertilization and / or irrigation." The MagneGas technology converts liquid waste such as sewage, sludge, agricultural
manures, and bio-diesel products into sterilized water which in some instances, is usable for irrigation and
fertilization as well as creating a clean burning hydrogen-based fuel that is essentially interchangeable with
natural gas. The process uses MagneGas' patented Plasma Arc Flow process that gasifies the liquid wastes. The
MagneGas created can be used for metal working, cooking, heating, powering bi-fuel automobiles and more.
03/24/2014
Tamar Energy's New Retford Anaerobic Digestion Facility is Officially
Open
United Kingdom (UK) based Tamar Energy Limited has announced that a new anaerobic digestion (AD) facility has been
officially opened in Retford, Nottinghamshire by The Rt Hon Greg Barker MP, Minister of State for Energy and
Climate Change. The Retford facility is a joint venture between Tamar Energy and Sutton Grange Anaerobic
Digestion, a company established by Fred Walter and Mark Paulson. It is situated on Fred Walter’s 2,500 acre
family farm in Nottinghamshire. The 3MW AD facility started operations earlier this month and takes agricultural
waste, manures, and maize from local suppliers in nearby areas of Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and South
Yorkshire. The biogas is converted on-site to generate renewable electricity to be exported to the national
grid, enough for as many as 6,000 homes. The AD process also creates a nutrient-rich biofertilizer, which can be
used in agriculture in place of costly fossil fuel-based fertilizers. In addition, heat generated will be used
to dry woodchips for sale to the Drax biomass power station in North Yorkshire. Greg Barker MP, Minister of
State for Energy and Climate Change: "Tamar Energy’s new Anaerobic Digestion plant is the largest facility of
its kind in the UK and is a great example of how waste can be used to powering homes and businesses across the
country." 03/21/2014
Anaergia Selected for Biogas Upgrading Facility to Serve 9 WWTPs in
Arizona
Canada based Anaergia Inc and its project partner, Arizona company Grannus LLC, have been selected to enter negotiations with the Pima County Regional
Wastewater Reclamation Department (PCRWRD) in Arizona to design-build-finance-own-operate (DBFOO) a large-scale
biogas upgrading facility. Biosolids from the PCRWRD's nine wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are processed
by centrally located anaerobic digesters (AD) to produce a continuous supply of digester gas, which is
currently flared. The DBFOO project will allow the PCRWRD to focus on its core business of WWTP operation and
regulatory compliance, while creating a long-term partnership with Anaergia / Grannus to not only deliver and
operate the biogas upgrading facility, but to market and sell the commercial biomethane product. Arun Sharma,
President of Anaergia Services: "Wastewater treatment plants across the country are searching for innovative
ways to convert their facilities into resource recovery centers. The PCRWRD has taken a leadership role in
demonstrating how this can be achieved with minimal risk or investment."
03/21/2014
CalRecycle Schedules Workshop Series on Thermal Resource
Recovery
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) has announced the first in a series of workshops to address thermal
conversion of waste to energy. The first workshop, 'Thermal Resource Recovery: A Pathway to the Highest and Best
Use of Residuals,' is scheduled for April 29, 2014. CalRecycle staff will introduce a policy approach that
supports the recovery of energy, fuels, and chemicals from solid waste residuals that cannot be recycled. This
will be a highly interactive workshop discussing principles, regulatory safeguards, and incentives for moving
forward. Staff from CalRecycle, Air Resources Board, and California Energy Commission will introduce core
principles for the process, clarify boundaries, identify potential regulatory safeguards and propose incentives.
Ample time will be available for stakeholder comments, questions, and input. The workshop will be held at the
CalEPA building in Sacramento and will be webcast. Agenda, Webinar Links and Workshop Materials will be posted
closer to the workshop date. Email <> for more information.
03/21/2014
Due 05/24/2014:
Qualifications for Kabd MSW Treatment Facility, Kuwait
The Partnerships Technical Bureau (PTB) in collaboration with Kuwait Municipality has
issued a Request for Qualification for the Kabd Municipal Solid Waste Project
(the “Project”). The Project will be procured as a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer structure in
accordance with the PPP Law (Law No. 7 of 2008 regulating public private partnerships). The scope of the Project
is to design, build, finance, operate, and transfer a facility to treat municipal solid waste (MSW), household /
commercial / agriculture, with an initial design capacity of 3,275 tonnes per day through waste to energy
technology to generate electricity. Recovery of remaining slag and flue gas will be disposed into separate
sanitary landfills on the Site. The plant is expected to receive 50% of total municipal solid waste produced in
Kuwait. Kuwait Municipality will enter into a 30-year contract with the winning investor. This will include 2
years for construction and equipment installation. The objectives of the Project are diversion of municipal
waste from landfills and the generation of energy through waste incineration. Short-listed firms will be issued
requests for proposals during the fourth quarter of 2014. Interested parties may purchase the Request for
Qualification document from the POTB offices for two thousand five hundred Dinars KWD 2,500 with a certified
check from a local bank. Qualifications must be submitted to the PTB no later than 12 noon (Kuwait time) on
Sunday 25th May 2014. 03/21/2014
GIB Invests in
Proposed UK Energy from Waste Facility Near King's Lyon
The United Kingdom (UK) Green Investment Bank (GIB) has announced its commitment to making an investment of £51m into a
proposed new energy from waste plant in Kings Lynn, Norfolk. The new facility, the Willows Power & Recycling Centre, will provide a long-term waste
treatment solution for the Norfolk County Council. It will process 170,000 tonnes of black bag waste from
households across the county and 100,000 tonnes of commercial and industrial waste each year, which will be
converted into 170 GWh of electricity per annum. The facility is being developed by a consortium consisting
of Cory Environmental Ltd and Wheelabrator Technologies Inc as Norfolk County Council's preferred
bidder for the project. The Council has signed the contract with the consortium and four periods of consultation
have taken place on the planning application that was approved on June 29, 2012. Shaun Kingsbury, Chief
Executive, UK Green Investment Bank: "Not only will this new facility prevent over a quarter of a million tonnes
of waste being sent to landfill each year it will also generate enough electricity to power over 40,000 homes a
year." 03/20/2014
Biochar May
Be Effective in Removal of Heavy Metal from Acid Wastewater
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute for Urban Environment have found that biochar made from pyrolysis of the organic
residuals from anaerobic digestion can be effective in the removal of heavy metal contaminants from acidic
industrial wastewater. The team's findings have just been published in the BioResources Journal of the College of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University: Zhang,
Y., and Luo, W. (2014). "Adsorptive removal of heavy metal from acidic wastewater with biochar produced from
anaerobically digested residues: Kinetics and surface complexation modeling" BioRes.
9(2), 2484-2499. The authors, Youchi Zhang and Wensui Luo, concluded in the study that "converting anaerobically
digested food and garden wastes into biochar could be an efficient method of treating municipal solid waste and
producing metal adsorbents for environmental remediation." 03/20/2014
AfDB Launches Clean
Energy Business Plan Competition in Africa
The Sustainable Energy Forum for Africa (SEFA), a program of the African Development Bank (AfDB),
has announced launch of the third Africa Forum for Clean Energy Financing
(AFRICEF-3) Business Plan Competition with submissions due April 13, 2014. The $1MM competition is supported in
part by the newly formed African Renewable Energy Fund (AREF) announced earlier this month, aggregating $100MM in committed capital
and anchor investments from the AfDB and SEFA. AREF has been established to support small- to medium-scale
independent power producers (IPPs). The fund, which will be headquartered in Nairobi, is targeting a final close
of US $200 million within the next 12 months to be invested in grid-connected development stage renewable energy
projects including small hydro, wind, geothermal, solar, biomass and waste gas.
03/20/2014
Feedstock Supply LOI Signed for Bluesphere's Rhode Island Biogas
Plant
Israel and Nevada based Bluesphere Corporation has announced signing a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Massachusetts
company Organic Waste Management, LLC for 100-200 tons of organic waste
(primarily food waste) per day to supply Bluesphere's proposed 3.2 MW biogas plant. The plant will create
electricity from organic waste and renewable resources, and is scheduled to be constructed later this year in
Johnston, Rhode Island. Bluesphere CEO Shomi Palas: "We are delighted to have met with and started what we hope
will be a long-term relationship with Organic Waste Management. Not only is Organic Waste Management interested
in supplying our Rhode Island biogas plant with waste, but we are also discussing other business opportunities,
including additional anaerobic digester plants in Massachusetts, where, effective in October 2014, there will be
a ban on dumping organic waste in landfills for certain, larger producers of waste."
03/20/2014
Cahill Energy Contracts for Plasma Waste-to-Energy Plant in
Barbados
Guernsey based Cahill Energy has announced entering into an agreement with the Government of Barbados
to build and operate a clean waste-to-energy plant on the Caribbean island. Cahill plans to utilize plasma
gasification technology to transform up to 650 tonnes of solid waste per day on Barbados into clean, renewable
energy. The energy generated will provide a new domestic source of power for Barbados, reducing the island’s
reliance on costly imported fossil fuel. The plant is expected to provide up to 25% of Barbados’s total energy
needs and reduce the cost of energy substantially. Alberta, Canada
based AlterNRG Corp owns 100% of Westinghouse Plasma Corporation, which is expected to supply the
plasma gasification technology.Cahill Energy expects to invest
up to $240 million (USD) in the proposed plant which will be built in Vaucluse, St Thomas, providing the
Government of Barbados with several hundred million dollars in estimated savings over the life of the 30 year
contract. 03/18/2014
MU Study: Small
Biomass Power Plants Could Stabilize National Power Grid
The University of Missouri (MU) has announced a study by MU researchers that has found that creating a
bioenergy grid with small biomass power plants could benefit people in rural areas of the country as well as
provide relief to an overworked national power grid. Tom Johnson, the Frank Miller Professor of Agricultural and
Applied Economics in the MU College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources and professor in the MU Truman
School of Public Affairs: "Transporting power through power lines to remote, rural areas is very inefficient and
can be expensive for farmers and other rural citizens. Farmers already have access to a large amount of biomass
material left over each year after harvests. If they had access to small biomass power plants, they could become
close to self-sustaining in terms of power. If the grid was improved enough, they could even provide additional
power to other people around the country, helping to stabilize the national power grid. This could help save
rural citizens money and be a boon for rural economies." Johnson published the study in the journal,
Biomass and Bioenergy.
03/18/2014
DTE's Stockton Coal-to-Biomass Power Plant Conversion
Complete
DTE Energy Services, Inc (DTEES), a subsidiary of Michigan based DTE Energy Company, has
announced completion of the conversion of its shuttered coal-fired
power plant to operate on biomass at the Port of Stockton. The plant, known as Stockton Biomass, began
commercial operations last month, and is selling renewable power to PG&E Company to help the utility meet
its renewable energy requirement. Steve Sorrentino, Vice President Wholesale Power & Renewables, DTEES: "We
are excited to have this green energy plant operational and appreciate the support we've received from the Port
of Stockton, local officials and community leaders to make it a reality." The plant will use about 320,000 tons
of woody biomass fuel annually to generate about 45 megawatts of power, enough electricity to meet the needs of
45,000 homes. The fuel primarily is derived from urban wood waste, tree trimmings, and agricultural processes.
The plant began operation in 1989 as a coal-fired power plant and ceased operation in April 2009. DTEES
purchased the plant in June 2010 with plans to convert the plant to biomass. DTEES replaced the boilers and
employed the best available control technologies to minimize air emissions. DTEES received an Authority to Construct and Certificate of Conformity from
the San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District (SJAPCD) in June 2011. 03/18/2014
GeoSynFuels Acquires Wyoming Cellulosic Ethanol Demo Plant
Colorado based GeoSynFuels, LLC (GSF) has announced the acquisition of a cellulosic ethanol demonstration
facility located in Upton, Wyoming The demonstration facility, formerly owned and operated by the Blue Sugars
Corporation, was originally constructed in 2007 for the enzymatic conversion of wood feedstocks to ethanol. The
plant has a nominal capacity of 50 tons per day of biomass and in 2011 was converted to enable the processing of
sugar cane bagasse. The plant is currently based on a typical enzymatic hydrolysis flowsheet and includes all
unit operations through to final fuel-grade ethanol production. GSF plans to retrofit the existing flowsheet to
its proprietary 5CS™ Technology. Todd Harvey, President and CEO of GSF: "The acquisition of the
demonstration facility is an important step forward in the commercialization of our cellulosic ethanol
technology." The 5CS™ Technology derives its advantage by extracting and converting into ethanol only the
hemicellulose portion of the biomass while leaving the feedstock relatively unaltered and suitable for their
original obligated use. The core of the 5CS™ Technology is its proprietary fermentation platform which enables
the conversion of five carbon sugars into economically viable ethanol.
03/18/2014
Göteborg Energi Inaugurates Valmet-Supplied Gasification Plant at
GoBiGas
Valmet Corporation has announced that the Valmet-supplied Repotec gasification plant at Göteborg Energi's GoBiGas (Gothenburg Biomass Gasification Project) in Gothenburg,
Sweden, was inaugurated on March 12, 2014. The plant was commissioned in late 2013 and will produce biomethane
gas by gasifying forest residues and wood pellets. The produced biogas is similar to natural gas and will
primarily be used in the transport sector with the goal to switch from fossil fuel to biofuel. Johanna Lindén,
Valmet's Director of Scandinavia, Energy: "The indirect gasification generates high-energy gas with high heating
value that can be mixed with natural gas. This makes it possible to replace a lot of today's fossil
transportation fuel by fossil-free fuel in gas powered vehicles." Åsa Burman, CEO of GoBiGas project, Göteborg
Energi: "We are proud to be the first to inaugurate a gasification plant for production of high quality
biomethane and we hope to see many followers." Göteborg Energi is the fourth largest energy company in Sweden.
03/14/2014
UK Defra Calls for Evidence on Refuse Derived Fuel Market in
England
The United Kingdom (UK) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has released
a Call for Evidence regarding all aspects of refuse derived fuel (RDF)
used both in England and for export. The requested information is intended to fill the gaps in Defra's knowledge
of the RDF market and will be used in the development of policy options. The evidence is being requested from
those working in, or with, the energy from waste industry. Included in the questions is whether government
action is needed to improve the market, and if so, what should government be doing.
03/14/2014
Vega Biofuels and JV Partners Plan New State of the Art Torrefaction
Facility
Georgia based Vega Biofuels, Inc has announced that it has entered into a joint venture (JV) agreement with
partners that include Agri-Tech Producers, LLC (ATP) to build and operate a pilot
torrefaction facility in Allendale, South Carolina. The new JV entity will operate under the name ATP-SC, LLC
and will produce various torrefied products including bio-coal, bio-products, and biochar. The Joint Venture
partners plan to build additional plants around the world and the Allendale pilot plant will be a model for
those plants. Columbia, South Carolina based ATP is in the business of manufacturing and selling cost-effective
torrefaction equipment to be used to manufacture torrefied materials and solid fuel. ATP has licensed and
commercialized the innovative torrefaction technology originally developed by North Carolina State University.
Vega’s bio-coal product is generally made from plant or wood biomass, primarily wood, using torrefaction
technology. Torrefaction is a mild pyrolysis, that takes place in a low oxygen environment which makes the
physical and energetic properties of the biomass much more comparable to traditional coal. The bio-coal will be
shipped to European power generating companies from the Port of Savannah.
03/14/2014
NBE and Solvay JV
for Torrefied Wood Pellet Production and Distribution
Mississippi based New Biomass Energy LLC (NBE) and international chemical firm
Solvay SA have announced formation of the joint venture (JV) Solvay Biomass Energy
for the production and distribution of torrefied wood pellets, also known as black pellets. Torrefied wood,
which handles and burns similar to coal, is produced through torrefaction, a roasting process that changes the
chemical composition of the material. Compared to traditional wood pellets, torrefied pellets contain 35% more
energy by weight, which yields significant logistical benefits. NBE's plant in Quitman, owned by BTH Quitman
Hickory LLC, is the largest torrefaction facility in North America. This project will complete the expansion of
the Quitman plant, bringing annual production capacity to 250,000 metric tons by the end of 2014. Solvay Biomass
Energy will use by-products, such as sawmill residues, from the highly developed timber industry in the area’s
managed forests. Solvay Biomass Energy will promote its torrefied wood pellets for electricity production in
Europe and Asia. 03/13/2014
US EPA's Latest MSW Data Demonstrates America's Evolving Waste
Stream
The National Waste & Recycling Association has presented
additional insight into the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
report on municipal solid waste (MSW) generation and recycling rates. The Association notes that the latest
statistics, based on 2012 data, show a continual decline in per capita waste generation and an evolving waste
stream that continues the trends of less printed paper and lighter-weight packaging. Waste recovery rates also
dipped slightly to 260,000 tons. The EPA report, "Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling and Disposal in the United States," was released in late February. Sharon H. Kneiss, president and CEO of Waste & Recycling: "
EPA's statistics show that Americans are disposing of less waste—about 4.38 pounds of waste per person per
day—continuing a decline that began in 2000. Part of the dip in recycling can be attributed to our evolving
waste stream. We're generating less printed material—newspapers, office paper or magazines—as we shift to a
digital world." 03/13/2014
CalRecycle Posts Grant and Loan Program Overview and Criteria
Documents
California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) staff has posted notice of
proposed grant and loan programs to be presented to the Board for consideration for formal approval during the
March 18, 2014 monthly meeting in Ontario, California. Staff has now released
the Request for Approval outlining a proposed implementation schedule for:
(1) Organics Grant Programs, (2) Fiber, Plastic and Glass Grant Programs, and (3) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Loan
Programs. Program Overviews and Scoring Criteria documents are available on-line. Grant programs should start mid-April; loan
applications should be released in July. Contact Brian Larimore, CalRecycle Materials Management and Local
Assistance Division, (916) 341-6579, or <> for further questions.
03/12/2014
9th Annual California Bioresources Alliance Symposium, June 3-4,
2014
The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) Extension and the Environmental Protection Agency
Region 9 (EPA R9) will co-host the ninth annual California Bioresources Alliance Symposium on June 3 & 4, 2014 at
the Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center at UC Davis. The symposium will be geared toward students and researchers
who work on organic residuals issues, and sessions will include legislative and policy developments on organic
residuals in California, impacts of mandatory recycling and landfill closures, waste-to-energy issues, biogas
issues at dairies and wastewater plants and use for vehicle fuel, and use of bioresources to address the
drought. Conference attendees will also tour the UC Davis Biogas Energy Project. Further information including on-line registration are
available from the UC Davis Extension's website. Special discounts are available for full time students, as
well educational credits. 03/12/2014
Due 03/28/2014:
Comments to CARB on LCFS Re-Adoption and iLUC
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) conducted two workshops on March 11, 2014, the first
addressing the proposed re-adoption of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), and the second exploring
preliminary concepts for incorporating indirect land use change (iLUC) impact metrics into the carbon
intensity (CI) values of the LCFS. A LCFS Re-Adoption Concept Paper was posted late last week; this document
and presentations from the workshops are now available on the LCFS Program Meetings webpage. Various working groups and additional workshops are being
scheduled. CARB staff will present proposals to the Board during the March 28, 2014 public meeting. All comments
on the program and interest in participating should be directed to Katrina Sideco
<>, 916-323-1082 prior to the March 28 meeting.
03/12/2014
Maverick and PPE Partner to Produce Small-Scale Methane-to-Methanol
Plants
North Carolina based Maverick Synfuels, Inc (formerly Maverick Biofuels) and Texas company
Plant Process Equipment, Inc. (PPE) have announced their partnership to manufacture and sell small-scale
Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) methanol plants. These skid-mounted modular plants can be rapidly deployed and are capable
of producing between 3,000-10,000 gallons per day of ultra-clean synthetic fuels and chemicals from natural gas
or methane-rich "waste gas." The modular plants provide waste gas producers with an alternative to flaring
or generating electricity. Waste gas sites are abundant worldwide as a source of low-cost methane, many in
locations remote from markets or pipelines. Converting methane gas to methanol liquid is a component of
Maverick’s "hub and spoke" strategy that builds on Maverick’s patented Olefinity™ technology. Methanol produced at small-scale GTL plants
(spokes) located at the waste gas source is easily transportable to larger "hub" facilities, where it can be
converted to higher value products such as clean transportation fuels, and specialty chemicals like propylene.
The first methanol plant from the PPE/Maverick partnership will be deployed at a large-scale dairy in the upper
Midwest with three existing anaerobic digesters. Jeff Harrison, Chief Engineering Officer of Maverick Synfuels:
"A proven supply of low-cost biogas combined with the transportation logistics and operational synergies gives
Maverick a substantial economic advantage in this market". Maverick was awarded three US patents last year for producing a mixed-alcohol
fuel from synthesis gas (syngas) by means of a methanol intermediate. 03/11/2014
Zilkha Biomass
Energy Licenses Black Pellet Technology to Cate Street Capital
Texas based Zilkha Biomass Energy LLC has agreed to license its Zilkha Black® Pellet technology to Cate
Street Capital, Inc, a company that invests in green technology companies. Thermogen Industries, the pellet manufacturing subsidiary of Cate
Street Capital, will utilize Zilkha's patented proprietary process to produce black pellets at their
Millinocket, Maine location. Zilkha Black® Pellets are made from woody biomass such as forest
residuals and understory, as well as wood waste from lumber, furniture, and paper factories. Thermogen
Industries will produce more than 300,000 metric tons per year of water-resistant black pellets, greatly
increasing the supply of this biomass product to the renewable energy market. Black pellets handle like coal,
and they are an ideal alternative for coal-firing plants, which are under increasing pressure to replace their
fossil fuels with cleaner, sustainable sources. Jack Holmes, CEO of Zilkha Biomass Energy: " Thermogen
Industries is strategically located in the northeast of the United States, and they have the infrastructure to
greatly increase the supply of the Zilkha Black® Pellet." 03/11/2014
GIB and Equitix
Invest in Biomass Boilers for Matthews' Turkey Farms
The United Kingdom (UK) Green Investment Bank (GIB) and Equitix have announced a £24.5m investment to finance the installation of renewable energy boilers at
Bernard Matthews' turkey farms. The project, the largest of its kind, will see 179 new biomass
boilers installed across 21 farms in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire, meaning that 40 per cent of Bernard
Matthews' estate will benefit from the new renewable energy technology. In addition to reducing costs, the new
boilers will have a significant green impact by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The dry heat biomass systems
will also produce a number of benefits due to the improved circulation of heat, including reduced ammonia
levels, reduced ventilation requirements, and increased litter (bedding) quality. The project was
conceived, designed, and managed by Lumicity Ltd, a UK based renewable energy developer. Lumicity identified the sites, designed
the project, advised Bernard Matthews through the process of tendering and negotiating, and introduced
financing. Lumicity will continue to manage the project for the next 20 years.
03/10/2014
Viridor's Runcorn
EfW Facility Begins Processing Refuse Derived Fuel
United Kingdom (UK) based Viridor has confirmed that it has begun using refuse derived fuel (RDF) in final commissioning of the
first phase at its energy from waste (EfW) facility in Runcorn. The Runcorn plant will be capable of generating
up to 70MW of electricity and up to 51 MW of heat, and will process up to 850,000 tonnes of RDF. The facility
will offer local authorities (including the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority) and NW businesses a
viable alternative to sending non-recyclable waste to landfill or exporting it for treatment in Europe. Prior to
use as fuel at the Runcorn plant, waste will be passed through a pre-treatment process to remove materials for
recycling either at a Viridor or authorized third party site. Commissioning of Phase1 of the Runcorn EfW
facility began in January, and the ‘first burn’ using RDF signals the final stages of testing and
commissioning before the site becomes fully operational. Much of the RDF for Runcorn will arrive by rail and the
railhead delivery points have also been successfully tested. The facility will produce renewable electricity and
heat which will be utilized by the neighboring INEOS facility. 03/10/2014
Methes Energies
Manufactures Biodiesel Processor for Aruba Client
Nevada based Methes Energies International Ltd has announced receiving a deposit from Antilla Energy VBA (formally known as BioFuel Aruba) to start manufacturing of a Denami 600 biodiesel processor. The Denami 600 is expected to be delivered to Aruba in
September 2014. Antilla will utilize locally collected waste cooking oil to produce biodiesel that will then be
blended with diesel fuel and distributed to clients across the island. Gregory Fung-A-Fat, Managing Director of
Antilla Energy VBA: "The plan is to grow our facility to about 6 million gallons per year so we are setting up
in a way that will make it easy and cost effective to add 4 more Denami's 600's as the market conditions allow.
We're glad to be doing our part to help Aruba reach its Green Aruba 2020 targets."
03/10/2014
Singapore's NEA Cracks Down on Collection of Waste Grease for
Biodiesel
The National Environmental Agency (NEA) of Singapore has issued an advisory providing an update regarding several cases of illegal
collection of waste kitchen and sewer grease for conversion to biodiesel. According to local news, witnesses reported seeing people extracting oil from
grease traps serving several local restaurants. There was concern that the used oil was being reused to cook
food, triggering the NEA's investigation. In Singapore, all waste grease must be collected by franchised haulers
only, and the resource must be taken to the country's nationalized wastewater treatment plants for processing to
biomethane in the facility digesters. The NEA will be pressing charges against one Singaporean couple for
collecting waste without a license. NEA’s investigations revealed that the waste oil from the grease traps
serving eateries was illegally collected and sent for processing into biodiesel. Two other cases are currently
under investigation. 03/09/2014
Ensyn and Memorial Hospital Sign RFO™ Cellulosic Biofuel Supply
Agreement
Delaware based Ensyn Corporation (Ensyn) has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Ensyn Fuels, has entered
into a contract with Memorial Hospital of North Conway, New Hampshire ("Memorial") for the
supply of RFO™ heating fuel, Ensyn's advanced cellulosic biofuel. RFO is
produced from forest residues (wood biomass) using Ensyn's patented RTP technology, and will be used by Memorial as a heating fuel,
replacing petroleum-based fuels. Under the contract signed with Memorial, Ensyn Fuels will provide Memorial with
approximately 300,000 gallons/year of RFO for a renewable term of five years, commencing deliveries as early as
April, 2014. Adoption of Ensyn's RFO will allow Memorial to convert its entire heating requirements from
petroleum fuels to Ensyn's renewable fuel, and provide substantial cost savings. The conversion will reduce
Memorial's greenhouse gases from heating fuels by approximately 85% and total air emissions by approximately
75%. Memorial will be able to use its existing boilers to combust the new fuel. Ensyn Fuels will supply the
onsite tankage and the RFO delivery system to the boiler. Dr Robert Graham, Ensyn's Chairman and CEO: "This is
one of our first contracts related to the supply of RFO from our expanded production capacity. We are pleased
that Memorial Hospital, with its dedication to the environment along with excellence in health care, will help
initiate the roll-out." 03/08/2014
US DOE Hosts Biomass
Liquefaction and Bio-Oil Co-Processing Workshops
The US Department of Energy's (DOE) Bioenergy Technology Office (BETO) has posted details and
registration links for two up-coming biomass conversion workshops. The workshop topic for March 20-21, 2014 in
Golden, Colorado will be Biomass Indirect Liquefaction (IDL) and is intended to discuss and
detail the research and development (R&D) needs for biomass IDL. Discussions will focus on pathways that
convert biomass-based syngas (or any carbon monoxide, hydrogen gaseous stream) to liquid intermediates (alcohols
or acids) and further synthesize those intermediates to liquid hydrocarbons that are compatible as either a
refinery feed or neat fuel. On April 3, 2014 in New Orleans, Louisiana, the BETO will explore Bio-Oil Co-Processing: Expanding the Refinery Supply System, examining
the potential to partner renewable technologies with conventional petroleum refining by considering
biomass-derived oils as an additional feedstock. Participants will be engaged in discussions about the potential
advantages, disadvantages, and challenges of bio-oil integration in the current U.S. petroleum refinery
infrastructure. There is no charge for the
workshops, but on-line registration is required. 03/08/2014
Global Bioenergies Selects Linde for the Design of Its German Pilot
Plant
Paris based Global Bioenergies
SA has announced that the Engineering Division of The Linde Group will design Global's second industrial pilot that will
be located at Leuna refinery site in Germany. The pilot plant will combine two 5,000 liter fermenters and a
complete purification system, and will be designed for an isobutene production capacity of up to 100 tons per
year. The German ministry of research has committed a €5.7m grant to the project. Global Bioenergies recently
strengthened its deployment in Germany by setting-up a subsidiary in Leipzig and signing a partnership on
renewable gasoline with Audi. Markus Wolperdinger, Vice President Biotechnology Plants at
Linde's Engineering Division: "We regard isobutene as a very attractive gaseous molecule for a wide range of
applications in chemical and industrial products. We are delighted to be chosen as Engineering Company for
Global Bioenergies' second pilot plant." 03/07/2014
Liquid Light Unveils Catalytic Process to Make Chemicals From
CO2
New Jersey company Liquid Light, Inc has announced its new process for the production of major chemicals from
carbon dioxide (CO2), showcasing its demonstration-scale 'reaction cell' and confirming the potential for
cost-advantaged process economics. Because carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is low-cost and readily available
worldwide, Liquid Light's customers can profit by producing high-value chemicals from waste CO2, reduce their
dependence on oil, and potentially reduce their carbon footprint. Liquid Light's core technology is centered on low-energy catalytic electrochemistry to
convert CO2 to chemicals, combined with hydrogenation and purification operations. By adjusting the design of
their catalyst, Liquid Light can produce a range of commercially important multi-carbon chemicals. Kyle Teamey,
CEO of Liquid Light: "Liquid Light's technology offers a new and cost-effective way to make everyday products
from plain old carbon dioxide. This is a great way to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels while we
simultaneously consume an environmental pollutant." 03/07/2014
Springboard Biodiesel's New Chico Facility Launches Local Buyers
Club
California based Springboard Biodiesel has announced the creation of a local biodiesel buyers club for interested individuals and companies in and
around Butte County. Springboard will not have a traditional pump and go system per the filling-station model,
but will offer biodiesel club members the opportunity to buy quality biodiesel at competitive prices in prepared
volumes of 10, 55, and 275 gallons. Springboard CEO Mark Roberts: "We believe that producing locally and
consuming locally is a sustainable and profitable energy model that will benefit the local communities where our
systems are located." Springboard has been manufacturing and selling state-of-the-art biodiesel production equipment for nearly 6 years. The company
was awarded a grant by the California Energy Commission (CEC) in 2012,
which enabled construction of a new, larger biodiesel production facility in Chico. Working with
Smart Alternative Fuels, a Redding-based used cooking oil collector,
Springboard will be processing up to 350,000 gallons of biodiesel annually in the new facility.
03/07/2014
2014 Clean Energy Challenge Finalists include Waste Conversion
Start-Ups
Clean Energy Trust has announced the 16 startup companies that will compete in the fourth
annual Clean Energy Challenge, a $500,000 business plan competition that
takes place April 3, 2014 in Chicago. In the Early Stage Finalists category, Equares Energy of St. Louis, Missouri has designed a small-scale power
plant that would take in waste from agricultural operations, hospitals, and other facilities and turn it into
pollution-free electricity. The process is based on technology used to process radioactive medical waste. In the
Student category from Purdue University's Research Park is Spero Energy, developers of a lower-cost biorefinery process that
produces cellulosic ethanol form waste wood while eliminating the need for water and producing valuable
chemicals from unused lignin. From Northwestern University, the myPower team converts "wasted motion" to power by capturing runners’
kinetic energy and using it to charge smart phones or other mobile devices. From the University of
Missouri-Columbia is Imagine Labs, who is developing a non-intrusive, patent-pending thermoelectric generator
that extracts "wastes heat" from generation equipment to generate electricity. A panel of clean energy business
experts, venture capitalists, and scientists will select the Clean Energy Challenge winners on April 3rd at
Venue SIX10 in Chicago. Tickets for the 2014 Clean Energy Challenge are now available.
03/05/2014
Succinity's First Commercial Plant Startup Produces Biobased Succinic
Acid
Succinity GmbH, the joint venture between Corbion Purac and BASF for the production and commercialization of biobased succinic
acid, has announced the successful start-up of its first commercial production
facility. The plant, located at the Corbion Purac site in Montmeló, Spain, has an annual capacity of 10,000
metric tons and is producing commercial quantities of biobased succinic acid. The Succinity process uses the
proprietary microorganism Basfia succiniciproducens, which allows for a flexible usage of different feedstocks
including almost any form of cellulosic biomass. Furthermore, Succinity biobased succinic acid can be produced
efficiently without major waste streams thanks to a closed-loop process. An elaborate downstream processing
method ensures the production of high quality biobased succinic acid. Biobased succinic acid is a versatile
building block with a significant market potential in the chemical intermediates market.
03/05/2014
HP and YFY Jupiter Partner to Convert Chinese Straw into
Packaging
Hewlett-Packard (HP) has announced that it has partnered with YFY Jupiter in an innovative program to convert waste straw into
packaging and a cash crop for Chinese farmers. Previously, there was no economic use for the straw that remained
after the farmers in China harvested their cereal crops. Nearly 90 percent of the remaining stalks were simply
burned to clear the fields for the next harvest. YFY Jupiter uses straw waste to create materials like
corrugated cardboard and molded pulp packaging. HP's partnership with YFY Jupiter supports HP’s packaging
environmental strategy and demonstrates ongoing commitment to its overall Supply Chain Social and Environmental
Responsibility program. In addition, the partnership is helping the local Chinese economy.
03/05/2014
Foster-Wheeler Secures Contract for Two Boilers at Pakistani Sugar
Mill
Foster Wheeler AG has announced that a subsidiary of its Global Power Group has been awarded a contract by Shanghai Marine Diesel Engine Research Institute (SMDERI) for the
design and supply of two grate boilers for Fatima Energy Limited, a subsidiary of Fatima Group. The new 120 MWe
co-generation power plant will be located at the Fatima sugar mill in Savawan, Pakistan. Under the agreement, Foster
Wheeler will design and supply two 60 MWe (gross megawatt electric) grate boilers and auxiliary equipment. The
boilers will be designed to burn coal and bagasse, a fibrous matter that remains after sugarcane stalks are
crushed to extract their juice. Foster Wheeler has received a full notice to proceed on this contract.
Commercial operation of the new boilers is scheduled for the first-quarter of 2016.
03/04/2014
BioNitrogen Signs 25-Year Biomass Feedstock Supply Agreements with
BRM
BioNitrogen Holdings Corp has announced signing biomass supply agreements with BioResource Management (BRM) for feedstock supply for Bionitrogen's initial plantin Florida. These agreements are the direct result of a favorable biomass feasibility study on
the plant recently completed by BRM. BioNitrogen signed a 25-year agreement with BRM to provide biomass feasibility studies
for future plants as well as consulting services regarding design optimization of the biomass delivery process
and wood yard configuration. The company also signed a 25-year agreement with BRM to provide biomass supply
services to the Florida plant. The agreement specifies the delivery of approximately 350,000 tons of biomass
annually. BRM will manage the biomass supply chain, delivery logistics, scheduling, quality and billing
services. Ernie Iznaga, BioNitrogen Vice President of Operations: "These agreements are an important part of the
foundation we are putting in place to ensure the plant has a robust biomass supply chain. BRM has the experience
and reputation we need to manage this critical part of our supply chain." 03/04/2014
IBI Will Host 2 Public Webinars on Proposed Revisions to Biochar
Standards
The International Biochar Initiative (IBI) has announced two interactive webinars to discuss proposed changes to last
year's Version 1.1 Biochar Standards. Events are free, but interactive space is limited and prior on-line
registration is required. The March 17, 2014 webinar will address proposed changes to standards
involving weathering, post-processing and sampling, while the March 25, 2014 webinar will discuss issues surrounding biomass
fly-ash. The Version 1.1 standards are available for review, as are the
Version 2.0 proposed changes. If you have questions that are not
answered by the webinar, you may send them to>.
03/04/2014
Metro Vancouver Will
Convert Sewage Waste to Biogas for Pipeline Injection Metro Vancouver in British Columbia (B.C.) Canada has announced a $13 million project to capture some of the energy in
sewage and convert it to energy-rich biomethane for delivery to FortisBC and its natural gas distribution
system. Instead of being flared off into the atmosphere, biomethane will be piped to homes and businesses to
help fuel furnaces, stoves, and hot water heaters. This spring, Metro Vancouver is initiating design of the $13
million Green Biomethane Project at Lulu Island Wastewater Treatment Plant in Richmond, British
Columbia. The project is expected to begin operation in 2016. The project will use an innovative technology
called MicroSludge. The patented technology developed by Paradigm
Environmental Technologies Inc increases the quantity of energy-rich biomethane generated in a biomass digester.
Metro Vancouver Utilities Committee Chair Darrell Mussatto: "This will be the first time that a wastewater
treatment plant in B.C. will put biomethane into a natural gas distribution system which delivers fuel to homes.
03/03/2014
UCSF and Verliant Collaborate to Advance Science of Waste
Conversion
San Francisco based Verliant Sciences (Verliant), has announced entering into a multi-year collaborative research and
development agreement with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) for the analysis and
separation of molecular constituents of various waste streams. This research is expected to have important
applications for waste reclamation and renewable energy, as well as biomedical. The multi-year alliance will
take a phased approach and will draw on the biomedical expertise of UCSF researchers, as well as the
environmental research expertise, technology, and industry experience of Verliant’s science team. Scientists
expect the research to generate information that will expand the use of waste byproducts and increased digestion
efficiency, ultimately resulting in greater waste diversion potential. Nancy Phillips, Ph.D., chemist in the
UCSF School of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry: "Not enough is known about the molecular
constituency of municipal waste or other waste streams, and investigating the bioconversion of wastes is
relevant to resolving our global waste and energy problems." 03/03/2014
USFS Releases Forest Management Plan and FEIS for Kaibab National
Forest
The US Forest Service (USFS) has announced release of the new land and resources management plan and
accompanying final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the Kaibab National Forest (KNF), which are
available on the USFS website. The FEIS documents the analysis of the alternatives developed
for the management of about 1.6 million acres of the KNF, replacing the original 1988 forest plan. The KNF is
the northwestern unit of the Four Forests Restoration Initiative (4FRI). The new Kaibab National
Forest Plan provides direction to do the following: 1) Restore ponderosa pine, frequent fire mixed conifer
forests, and grasslands by increasing the amount and rate of mechanical thinning and managed fire treatments,
and support landscape scale restoration projects such as the 4FRI; 2) Promote
aspen regeneration and protect natural waters, which are important centers of biological diversity: 3) Provide
for sustainable uses that honor the forest’s human history while meeting current demands; Establish a monitoring
framework that enables adaptive management. The Plan also recommends about 6,400 acres for wilderness
designation adjacent to existing wilderness. 03/03/2014
University in Denmark Reports on Cheaper 2G Biofuels without
Enzymes
The University of Southern Denmark (USD) has announced that its researchers in collaboration with the University of
Baghdad and Al-Muthanna University in Iraq have developed a new technique to make second generation (2G)
biofuels without the use of expensive enzymes. Producing 2G bioethanol from dead plant tissue is environmentally
friendly, but it is also expensive because the process that is used today needs expensive enzymes, and large
international companies dominate this market. Per Morgen, professor at the Institute of Physics, Chemistry and
Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark: "The goal is to produce bioethanol from cellulose. Cellulose is very
difficult to break down, and therefore cannot directly be used as a food source. Cellulose is found everywhere
in nature in rich quantities, for example in the stems of the corn plant. If we can produce bioethanol from the
corn stems and keep the corn cubs for food, we have come a long way." The team has developed a completely
enzyme-free technique that is not patented and not expensive. The technique uses an acid that is made from
treated rice husks. The ashes from burnt rice husks have a high content of silicate, and this is the important
compound in the production of the new acid. The scientists paired silicate particles with chlorosulfonic acid
and this made the acid molecules attach themselves to the silicate compounds. The result was an entirely new
molecule, the acid RHSO3H, which can replace the enzymes in the work of breaking down cellulose to sugar for the
production of 2G biofuels. 03/03/2014
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