October 2013 News and Matters of Interest

Foster Wheeler Receives FNTP for CFB Steam Generator in South Korea

Foster Wheeler AG just announced that a subsidiary of its Global Power Group has received a full notice to proceed (FNTP) by GS Engineering and Construction for the design and supply of a circulating fluidized-bed (CFB) steam generator for the Green Energy Centre Project. The owner and developer of the project is Daegu Metropolitan City, South Korea. Foster Wheeler will design and supply one CFB steam generator for the project. The CFB steam generator will be designed to burn 380 tons/day of refuse derived fuel (RDF) while meeting applicable environmental regulatory requirements. Gary Nedelka, Chief Executive Officer of Foster Wheeler Global Power Group: "RDF is popular among clients and communities who want to find a productive use for what would otherwise be a waste stream." Foster Wheeler was awarded a limited notice to proceed on the project in January 2012. At that time, commercial operation of the new steam generator was scheduled to begin by the end of 2014. Commercial operation is now scheduled to begin by mid-2016. 10/31/2013

Biodiesel Production By-Product Can Pre-Treat Sugarcane Bagasse for Biofuels

Researchers at the Queensland University of Technology's Syngenta Centre for Sugarcane Biofuels Development in Australia have just published an article on the use of a by-product of biodiesel production, glycerine, modified as glycerol carbonate (GC), to pre-treat sugar cane bagasse for biofuels production. Bagasse is the fibrous waste residue remaining after the extraction of juice from the crushed sugar cane stalks. The article, “Glycerol carbonate as green solvent for pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse,” was published October 24, 2013 in Biotechnology for Biofuels, an online publication. In the study, acidified mixtures of GC and glycerol were used to treat sugarcane bagasse, and the roles of each solvent in deconstructing biomass were determined. Pretreatment of sugar cane bagasse at 90°C for only 30 minutes with acidified GC produced a solid residue having a glucan digestibility of 90% and a glucose yield of 80%, which were significantly higher than a glucan digestibility of 16% and a glucose yield of 15% obtained for bagasse pretreated with acidified ethylene carbonate (EC). The researchers concluded that acidified GC alone was a more effective solvent for pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse than acidified EC alone, and resulted in a higher glucose yield. 10/31/2013 

Waste2Tricity Negotiates $1.5 million Equity Investment in Thai Subsidiary

London based Waste2Tricity Ltd (W2T) has announced completion of negotiations for a $1.5 million investment into its wholly owned subsidiary, Waste2Tricity International (Thailand) Ltd. The investment comes from a Thai investment consortium and the Age of Reason Foundation, a founding investor in AFC Energy PLC and a major shareholder in Waste2tricity Ltd. The Investors will receive 20% of the equity of Waste2Tricity International (Thailand) in newly issued shares. The funds will be used to acquire exclusive rights in cutting edge technologies in Thailand in the waste to energy sector. In April of this year, W2T announced the launch of Waste2Tricity International (Thailand) Ltd; and the opening of its offices in the Rajchathewi district of Bangkok. John Hall, Managing Director, Waste2Tricity: "We are delighted to make this announcement which is a testament to W2T’s confidence in the Thai waste to energy market, a region which has inherent issues with waste management and a shortage of power." 10/31/2013 Update: W2T announced today it has acquired the exclusive rights for AFC Energy PLC hydrogen fuel cells for deployment in the Thailand energy-from-waste sector. W2T already owns the deployment rights for the United Kingdom and has secured the right of first refusal for additional territories including Europe and North America. 10/30/2013

Albany County Sewer District Installs CHP System for Energy From Waste Heat

The New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced the unveiling of the Albany County Sewer District's (District) multi-stage combined heat and power (CHP) system that is expected to save the county an estimated $400,000 per year. The $8.6 million Organic Rankine Cycle heat-to-energy technology was recently installed by the District at the North Plant and was unveiled to the public and media at an open house held today. The project was made possible through a $2 million award from the NYSERDA and an additional $5.8 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding provided through the New York State Environmental Facilities Corp. The system works through the recapturing of heat generated through the burning of dewatered and evaporated sludge. The plant has always burned sludge for disposal, but this is the first time the heat has been recaptured for increased efficiency. Through this technology, the district will generate up to 3.3 million kilowatt-hours of power annually, reducing the county’s energy costs by an estimated $400,000 per year. In addition, heat from this process will be captured and used for building heat during colder months. Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy: "Albany County's Waste Heat/Co-generation project will help the county carry out our green agenda by creating renewable energy, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 1,500 tons per year and reusing 50,000 gallons of water daily to cool the system." 10/30/2013

Akron Unveils New AD Facility that Converts 100% of Biosolids to Biogas

The City of Akron, Ohio, has announced completion of the Akron Renewable Energy Facility at its Water Reclamation Facility that converts biosolids into biogas to produce renewable energy in the form of electricity. 100% of the biosolids that were once used to make compost are now being processed through Akron’s new $32 million anaerobic digestion system (ADS). The City and KB BioEnergy, Inc (previously known as KB Compost Services Inc) have had a public-private partnership since 1989 to manage the biosolids through the City’s Composting Facility. In 2007, the City contracted with KB BioEnergy and constructed the ADS (Phase I) which processed one-third of the biosolids generated by the City while producing renewable energy. The success of that demonstration project resulted in a the construction of the Phase II plant, which is three times the size of the original ADS and accommodates 100% of the City’s waste stream. The Phase II plant incorporates the Bioferm/Schmack Biogas technology that was successfully demonstrated in Phase I. In addition, a new dryer by Komline-Sanderson was installed to dry the solids that remain after the digestion process has occurred. Approximately 15,000 cubic yards of “pellet-like” material will be generated through this process. Mayor Don Plusquellic: "With the completion of Phase II, our Water Reclamation Facility will be ‘energy neutral,’ meaning all the electricity required for the facility is produced on site." 10/30/2013 

Algae.Tec Will Supply Technology to Phoenix Energy Australia's W2E Plants

Australia based Algae.Tec Ltd has announced entering in a binding agreement with Phoenix Energy Australia Pty Ltd to provide its proprietary algae to biofuels technology for proposed waste to energy (W2E) facilities in Australia and New Zealand. The agreement calls for Algae.Tec to provide its technology exclusively for any W2E plant built by Phoenix to capture the CO2 produced by the plant and convert it into algae oil products. Phoenix, based in Victoria, is currently negotiating contracts to build and manage centralized W2E facilities using waste taken from groups of municipalities in Australia. Peter Dyson, managing director of Phoenix said that his company believed Algae.Tec had “the best and most efficient” carbon capture technology in the world. “The unique design of their engineered modules will allow it to be easily integrated into the W2E plant site without the need for the large ponds that are required by other algae type applications. This will also mean that the Algae.Tec process has the potential to be retrofitted to many of the 1,000 international waste to energy plants, of which over 400 are based on the same technology we are deploying here in Australia and New Zealand.” Phoenix Energy also intends to utilize the Algae.Tec carbon capture technology on its Kwinana W2E Project currently under development. 10/29/2013

IBERDROLA Awarded Contract to Build Two Biomass Power Plants in Canada

Based in Spain, Iberdrola, S.A, has announced that IBERDROLA INGENIERÍA, the group's engineering and construction company, has been awarded a contract valued at €240 million for construction of two biomass power plants in British Columbia, Canada with a combined capacity of 80 megawatts (MW). The company was the successful bidder in an international tender called by Canadian investment fund Fengate Capital. IBERDROLA’s subsidiary has signed one contract to develop and build the Fort St. James biomass power plant, on which work is expected to begin in November of this year. The company has also secured the rights to begin construction on the Merritt plant in February 2014. IBERDROLA will be in charge of all stages of construction and commissioning, as well as building two transformer substations and the power lines connecting the plants to the grid. The plants will be equipped with "grate" design steam generators, and will be fuelled by sawdust and waste from local saw mills, forestry plantations, and clean-up operations. When commissioned, the biomass plants will supply electricity to 160,000 homes and help prevent 570,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year. 10/29/2013

ITRI Introduces 1st Technology for Bio-Butanol from Cellulosic Biomass

The Taiwan based Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has announced the introduction of ButyFix™, the first biochemical technology for bio-butanol transportation-fuel production with a negative carbon footprint using cellulosic biomass as feedstock instead of corn. The total energy content in the lignin-rich biomass has the surplus to cover the energy for production and the entire life cycle of the fuel (well-to-wheel). Therefore, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission of ButyFix bio-butanol is slightly negative. Replacing corn ethanol with ButyFix butanol in the United States, based on today's ethanol consumption of 13 billion gallons, would further reduce CO2 emissions by 90 million tons/year. ButyFix butanol is the only biofuel able to achieve a transportation-fuel price of US$2.00/gallon, well below current gasoline and bio-ethanol prices, and without government subsidies. ButyFix bio-butanol can be used to retrofit existing ethanol plants, is a good drop-in fuel surpassing ethanol with its higher heating value, and is more compatible with current gasoline engines (without modification) and existing gasoline infrastructure. It allows refiners to more quickly meet the Environmental Protection Agency's renewable fuel standards. ITRI receives a 2013 R&D 100 Award in November for this breakthrough. ButyFix commercialization is underway and available for transfer to companies worldwide. ITRI holds four patents and six pending patents internationally on ButyFix technology (Taiwan, China, and the United States). 10/29/2013 

Symposium Scheduled on the 'Future of Energy Recovery from Wastes'

An international gathering of scientists, researchers, and industry experts will be meeting in  Toronto on Thursday, October 31, 2013 to discuss the opportunities and challenges created by state-of-the-art energy recovery (energy-from-waste) technology. The Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) has announced the symposium on the “Future of Energy Recovery from Wastes" that will be held on in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The symposium is being presented in partnership by the University of Waterloo, Columbia University, Canadian Energy-From-Waste Coalition, Ontario Environment Industry Association, and CPIA. The symposium will present current findings on energy recovery from the perspective of a broad waste management context with a focus on the issues of most concern to decision-makers and stakeholders. Participants will gain insights into knowledge gaps, policy options, and pathways to connect ideas with investment. Following this symposium, participants will understand the potential role of energy recovery as both a power source and a waste solution, as well as the challenges of implementing such technologies. The cost to participate in the symposium is $179.00, including lunch. Registration for students is complementary. Interested parties can register online for the event. 10/28/2013

Emerald Biogas Opens Food Waste to Energy AD Plant in NE England 

United Kingdom based Emerald Biogas Ltd has announced completion of its new anaerobic digestion (AD) plant, the first commercial food waste facility in North East England to begin operating. The new food waste plant has opened in County Durham, which will serve the region’s need to recycle food waste and create renewable energy. The £8m facility based at Newton Aycliffe Industrial Estate will generate enough energy to power 2,000 homes each year. The plant was constructed by Entec Biogas GmBH using the latest technology to create the technologically advanced facility. The facility can process card, plastics, and other materials often associated with waste from supermarkets, fast food outlets, businesses, and schools. The heavy duty depackaging process can handle the more difficult waste streams such as supermarket waste, which is often triple packed, and manufacturing waste streams. The residual materials are then sent to local recycling facilities. Phase 1 of the plant will process 50,000 tonnes of the region’s food waste. In addition to power generation, a digestate will be spread onto local farmland as an alternative to chemically manufactured fertilizers. Antony Warren, Director, Emerald Biogas: " We are now in the position to accept and process unwanted commercial food waste and employ the latest AD technology to create a valued commodity that will be extremely beneficial to the local business and farming community." Planning permission has already been secured to expand the capacity to four times the current size. 10/28/2013

Covanta and Turning Earth to Provide Organics Recycling in Connecticut

US based Covanta Energy Corporation and Turning Earth, LLC have announced a new partnership to provide organics recycling to Connecticut municipalities and businesses.  The 10-year agreement calls for Turning Earth to build, own, and operate an integrated organics recycling facility in central Connecticut to which Covanta will divert organic waste for beneficial reuse in partnership with municipalities and commercial customers. Covanta and Turning Earth will explore future opportunities in the Connecticut and Massachusetts region. The facility will be powered by the Aikan™ Technology developed by the Solum Group, a patented high solids anaerobic digestion (HSAD) and in-vessel composting system which converts organic waste streams into several valuable and environmentally beneficial products including renewable base load energy and high quality compost. Covanta’s Energy-from-Waste facilities in the region will continue to provide disposal for post-recycled waste. Andrew Kessler, Turning Earth’s President: "Our partnership with Covanta, local communities, and other important stakeholders, sets a new standard for organic waste management, renewable energy production and the replenishment of our soils." Facility construction is anticipated to begin in the latter half of 2014 following site selection, the receipt of permits and procurement of organic waste. 10/28/2013

REG Opens Mason City Biodiesel Plant and Announces $20 Million Upgrade 

Iowa based Renewable Energy Group (REG) announced that it held a ribbon cutting ceremony today to formally open its recently acquired biodiesel refinery in Mason City, Iowa and announced it has begun a $20 million project to upgrade the plant to a multi-feedstock facility. REG completed acquisition of the former Soy Energy, LLC 30 million gallon refinery on July 31, 2013, and immediately began efforts to repair and re-start the plant. The renovated plant began producing biodiesel on October 1st. Brad Albin, REG Vice President, Manufacturing discussed the upgrades the company will make: "With these upgrades, we will be able to utilize lower cost raw materialslike inedible corn oil from ethanol production, used cooking oil and animal fats, with the majority coming from a close proximity to Mason City." REG now has eight active biorefineries in four states, with Mason City being the company’s third Iowa facility, joining the company’s first refinery in Ralston and a plant in Newton. The company also has a multi-feedstock biorefinery in nearby Albert Lea, Minnesota, where a $21 million multi-feedstock upgrade was just recently completed. REG also has two refineries in both Illinois and Texas respectively. The REG-owned biodiesel production fleet has an annual production capacity of 257 million gallons. 10/28/2013  

Farmers Delivering Biomass for POET-DSM's Project LIBERTY 2014 Opening

POET has announced that farmers are harvesting corn crop residuals for the 2013 season and delivering cob bales for the 2014 opening of Project LIBERTY, POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels, LLC’s 20 million-gallon-per-year cellulosic ethanol plant. Construction began on the plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa in March 2013. The facility will use corn cobs, leaves, husk, and some stalk to produce the renewable fuel. Farmers are delivering the bales to the plant’s 22-acre stackyard. Although POET-DSM has organized four previous commercial-scale harvests in the past that have brought in nearly 200,000 tons of feedstock, this year’s bales will for the first time be used to produce cellulosic ethanol at the plant’s startup. Crop residue represents a new market for farmers that provides additional revenue with minimal input costs. It does not require any additional planting, and crop residue can be harvested with a standard baler. Project LIBERTY General Manager Daron Wilson: "Half of our biomass stackyard is filling up with cob bales for ethanol production. Things are going smoothly. Our advance work over the last few years on feedstock logistics is paying off." POET-DSM intends to purchase approximately 100,000 tons from this year’s harvest to handle start-up and continuing operations through the 2014 harvest. 10/25/2013

EIA Study: Waste Fuels are a Significant Energy Source for US Manufacturers

Waste fuel accounted for 29% of U.S. manufacturing fuel use in 2010, according to the US Energy Information Administration's (EIA) latest Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS). Waste fuels are usually byproducts of onsite industrial production processes, and most have little to no economic value. Waste fuels accounted for 4,160 trillion British thermal units (Btu) in 2010 and were used in a wide variety of manufacturing industries. Waste fuels are generally used where they are created because they are readily available to use for manufacturing heat and power needs. Using solid waste fuels decreases the volume of waste disposal needed, lowering disposal cost for manufacturers. Typically, the industries producing the most waste fuels are energy intensive and can readily use them, and doing so is less expensive than marketing and transporting them to a buyer. Waste gas, the largest class of waste fuels, is derived primarily from petroleum and coal products, mostly from petroleum refining, and chemicals. The other large class of waste fuel, biomass products, is principally used in the paper and wood products industries. 10/25/2013

FAME Approves $25MM Loan Guarantee for Maine Torrefied Wood Plant

The Associated Press and local news report that the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) voted 8-5 last week to approve a $25 million bond for a biomass based torrefied wood pellet plant in Millinocket, Maine. The torrefied wood will turned into wood pellets that would be shipped primarily overseas as an alternative cleaner-burning fuel for coal-fired power plants. Thermogen Industries, LLC is one step closer to investing in the shuttered Millinocket paper mill to manufacture torrefied wood. Thermogen is a subsidiary of New Hampshire based Cate Street Capital, which acquired two idle paper mills in Millinocket and East Millinocket in 2011. Thermogen spokesman Scott Tranchmontagne: "The operation, which requires a $70 million investment, could be up and running by the end of 2014, initially with 36 jobs. The plan now is to start with one machine capable of producing 100,000 tons of pellets per year. Over time, the company hopes to have five machines producing 500,000 tons of pellets annually with a workforce of about 120." The company also hopes to open another plant in Eastport, Maine. 10/25/2013

The Campbell Group to Manage 4FRI Contract Forest Restoration Operations

Good Earth Power (GEP) has announced the appointment of The Campbell Group as the forest management company that will implement GEP’s Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) stewardship contract in Northern Arizona. The Campbell Group will be responsible for managing forest restoration operations under the contract and will work with GEP to achieve the project’s objectives. The sustainable forest health thinning under the contract is coupled with biomass harvesting and extraction, converting the vegetative overburden into green heat, power, fuels, and other bioproducts.  Good Earth Power CEO Jason Rosamond announced the appointment of The Campbell Group at the October 23rd 4FRI stakeholders meeting in Flagstaff. The Phase 1 stewardship contract was transferred to Good Earth last month from Pioneer Forest Products, the original contractor of record, because Pioneer was being purchased by Good Earth. 10/25/2013 

Viridor Starts Construction on Peterborough Energy from Waste Facility

The United Kingdom's Peterborough City Council and Viridor marked the start of the construction of the City’s Energy from Waste facility yesterday with a formal ‘ground breaking’ ceremony. The Peterborough Energy from Waste (EfW) facility being constructed at the council’s existing recycling site in the Fengate industrial area will have a capacity to process up to 85,000 tonnes of residual waste per annum. The facility has been designed to achieve around 94% landfill diversion and will have a net electrical power generation capacity of 7.25MW, equivalent to the energy required to power 15% of homes in Peterborough. The facility is an important element of Peterborough City Council’s strategy to deliver long-term sustainable waste management by complementing waste prevention initiatives, reuse, and recycling.. Viridor received approval for the facility from the City Council's planning and environmental protection committee to proceed with development in January 2013. The plant, scheduled to be fully operational by the end of 2015, will transform the city’s residual waste into energy and virtually eliminate landfill disposal locally. Paul Rowland, Viridor Regional Manager: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with Peterborough City Council because it has a clear strategy and plan in place to become the UK’s environment capital and we’re committed to contribute towards that goal both throughout construction and once the facility is in operation." 10/24/2013

Estover Energy Receives Planning Approval for South East England CHP Plant

United Kingdom (UK) based Estover Energy, Ltd has announced receipt of planning approval from the Dover District Council for its proposal to develop a £65 million biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant in the South East of England. The company is proposing a local scale biomass plant at Discovery Park, one of Europe’s leading science and technology parks, located at Sandwich, Kent. The CHP plant will supply renewable heat and electricity across the 220-acre site, as well as low carbon electricity to the national grid, supporting the UK’s national target to generate 15 per cent of its energy demand from renewable sources by 2020. Construction is scheduled to begin in the Spring of 2014. The new facility will use conventional CHP steam turbine technology to generate 11-15 MW of power and 8-12 MW of heat, which would be enough energy to supply the equivalent of 21,000 homes with electricity. The biomass plant will use locally sourced low-grade wood fuel to generate renewable heat and power for the Park, significantly reducing its energy costs, carbon footprint and reliance on imported fossil fuel. The wood fuel will come solely from local forestry and woodlands, typically within an average distance of 80 miles. Andrew Troup, Development Director, Estover Energy: "That our proposal was granted consent is testament to the Council’s commitment to renewables and its support for Discovery Park and the wider community around Sandwich.  local forestry and woodlands, typically within an average distance of 80 miles." 10/24/2013

Novus Plans Anaerobic Digestion Facility at the Port of Morrow, Oregon

Novus Pacific, LLC, a subsidiary of Novus Energy LLC, has submitted an application to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for an Anaerobic Digestion Composting Solid Waste Permit to operate a facility at the Port of Morrow. The proposed anaerobic digestion facility will produce renewable natural gas (biogas) from organic feedstock along with organic liquid and solid fertilizer residuals. The primary feedstock will consist of onion and potato waste solids, liquid manure, and food processing waste water. The facility will convert approximately 442,000 tons per year of local area agricultural residues to create 360,000 mmBTU’s of green biogas, 9.5 million gallons of concentrated liquid organic fertilizer, and 85 million gallons of clean water per year. The facility will be located at the Port of Morrow in Boardman, Oregon. This will be a new solid waste disposal site and originally would have been classified by the DEQ as a Solid Waste Treatment Facility. However, new rules were recently adopted, and an anaerobic digester now falls under the definition of a solid waste composting facility. The DEQ has released the draft permit for public comment with comments due November 20, 2013. 10/24/2013

Due 01/30/2014: Applications for USDA Loans for Advanced Biofuels Projects

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the availability of $181 million to develop commercial-scale biorefineries or retrofit existing facilities with appropriate technology to develop advanced biofuels. The funding is from the Biorefinery Assistance Program, which was created through the 2008 Farm Bill and is administered by USDA Rural Development. It provides loan guarantees to viable commercial-scale facilities to develop new and emerging technologies for advanced biofuels. Eligible entities include Indian tribes, state or local governments, corporations, farmer co-ops, agricultural producer associations, higher education institutions, rural electric co-ops, public power entities or consortiums of any of the above. Applications for biorefinery assistance are due by January 30, 2014. More information about how to apply is available in the October 2, 2013 Federal Register announcement or by contacting the USDA Rural Development National Office. 10/24/2013 

Vermont's Norwich University Plans Celebration of New Biomass Heating Plant

Vermont's Norwich University has announced that its new $6.2 million biomass heating plant began operating last week, and the celebration will be held this Friday, October 25th, with limited guest tours and a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5:30 pm. The plant is expected replace burning 650,000 gallons fuel oil at the Central Power Plant with 13,000 tons of wood chips obtained from within a 100-mile radius. The plant's two boilers are expected to save the university $1 million a year in heating costs each year. Filters will remove 50% of soot compared to burning oil, and burning wood will reduce 97% of sulfur dioxide and miscellaneous metals emissions. Construction began in November 2012 with the two wood chip boilers incorporated into Norwich's central heating plant in the middle of campus. The plant fired up on schedule October 14th. 10/23/2013

Maverick Biofuels Awarded Three US Patents for Methanol to Mixed-Alcohols

Maverick Biofuels has announced that it has been awarded three US patents for producing a mixed-alcohol fuel from synthesis gas (syngas) by means of a methanol intermediate. These inventions broaden Maverick Biofuels’ technology platform for producing petroleum-free fuels and chemicals from low-value feedstock and waste streams. Methanol is a transportable intermediate that allows Maverick to work with feedstock suppliers in relatively remote locations. The company can produce methanol using a number of relatively small “spoke” refineries located at or near the feedstock supply, and then transport it to a larger central “hub” facility where it is converted into final products. Co-locating production with the feedstock supply drives down the cost of the feedstock, while converting methanol at a central hub provides economy of scale. Maverick’s hub-and-spoke distributed production model represents a paradigm shift in the biofuels and bio-chemical industries by converting pockets of low-cost feedstock that would normally go to waste into high-value products at market price. Sam Yenne, CEO of Maverick Biofuels: "Our new patents open up a wide range of chemical processing and product options that help convert waste into petroleum-free fuels and chemicals.  This allows Maverick to access low-value waste streams and create additional value for the waste producers." 10/23/2013 

KiOR Secures Equity Financing to Start Construction on Columbus II Project

Texas based KiOR, Inc has announced execution of $100 million in committed equity financing in two separate private placement transactions, completing the anticipated financing needed for the company's recently announced expansion of production capacity at its Columbus Project.The transactions are comprised of $85 million of convertible notes by Khosla Ventures III and other Khosla entities, in conjunction with a $15 million stock purchase by Gates Ventures, LLC, an affiliate of Bill Gates. Both transactions also included future equity commitments. KiOR plans to double production capacity at the Columbus, Mississippi, cellulosic fuels facility through construction of a second facility. KiOR estimates that the project, Columbus II, will cost approximately $225 million, and will break ground within 90 days, and will take approximately 18 months to construct and start up. Once completed with the planned technology enhancements for both Columbus facilities, the Columbus II Project is expected to achieve overall positive cash flow from operations for KiOR. The company's technology platform combines its proprietary catalyst systems with a process based on existing Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) technology. The process is feedstock flexible and uses non-food biomass such as wood and forestry residuals for conversion into renewable fuels. Fred Cannon, KiOR's Chief Executive Officer: "This equity financing completes what we currently believe will be the last equity portion of the Columbus II Project, which we believe, will facilitate the ability, with the remainder of our currently anticipated project financing requirements, to achieve positive cash flow from operations sometime in 2015." 10/22/2013

California Center Selected To Lead US DOE Regional Clean Energy Partnership

The California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) will receive $2.2 million over four years from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to provide support and technical assistance throughout California, Nevada, and Hawaii. The DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced the selection yesterday of the San Diego-based CCSE to direct the Pacific Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnership (CHP-TAP), one of seven regional partnerships across the country. The main purpose of the DOE regional partnerships is to increase the nation’s clean energy capacity using combined heat and power (CHP) systems that capture energy that would normally be lost in industrial and commercial facilities. Instead of purchasing electricity from the distribution grid and producing thermal energy by burning fuel in a furnace or boiler, a facility can use CHP to provide both energy services in one efficient step. While CHP systems have been in use in the United States for more than 100 years, it remains an underutilized resource. Currently, about 82 gigawatts of CHP are deployed in the nation, representing only about 8% of total generating capacity. The Pacific CHP-TAP will provide education, outreach and technical assistance to a variety of stakeholders including commercial and industrial end-users, state decision-makers, electric and gas utilities, trade associations, and nonprofit organizations. 10/22/2013

Tesco Is First Major UK Retailer to Publish Food Waste Figures

United Kingdom based food retailer Tesco PLC has announced new food waste figures for its operations and supply chain, alongside figures that show 68 per cent of bagged salad is wasted and 35 per cent of this waste occurs in the home. Bagged salad is just one of the 25 bestselling grocery products that Tesco has tracked from farm to fork to gain a detailed understanding of where food waste occurs. This is part of Tesco’s commitment to lead in tackling food waste and to work with suppliers and customers to address this. The figures also revealed that 40 percent of apples are wasted, just under half of bakery items are wasted, a quarter of grapes are wasted with the majority happening in the home, and one fifth of all bananas are wasted. The new food waste figures come as Tesco becomes the first major UK retailer to reveal the levels of food waste across its entire UK operations. The data reveals that in the first six months of this year 28,500 tonnes of food waste were generated in stores and distribution centers.Matt Simister, Tesco Commercial Director of Group Food: “We’ve all got a responsibility to tackle food waste and there is no quick-fix single solution. Little changes can make a big difference, like storing fruit and veg in the right way." 10/22/2013

Clariant Supplies CO2-SNG Catalyst for 1st Commercial 'Power-to-Gas' Plant

Switzerland based Clariant International Ltd has announced that it has supplied a proprietary developed CO2-SNG catalyst (waste carbon dioxide emissions to synthetic natural gas) for the methanation unit of Audi’s new power-to-gas facility in Werlte, Germany. The "e-gas plant" was started up in June of this year and is part of Audi's comprehensive sustainability initiative. It will produce an average of 1.4 million cubic meters of renewable synthetic methane per year, chemically binding some 2,800 metric tons of CO2 and equivalent to supply 1.500 new Audi A3 Sportback g-tron vehicles with an annual mileage of 15,000 CO2 neutral kilometers. The plant was developed, constructed, and built by Stuttgart-based plant manufacturer ETOGAS GmbH. The technology can be also used to store surplus energy in the gas pipeline system and to balance energy supply against demand. The Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research in Stuttgart, an R&D partner of ETOGAS and long-term cooperation partner of Clariant’s Business Unit Catalysts, initially developed the technology and successfully operated different CO2 methanation pilot plants with Clariant’s SNG catalyst. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education. Hariolf Kottmann, CEO of Clariant: "We are proud to cooperate with AUDI/ETOGAS in this important flagship project. The new power-to-gas facility impressively demonstrates that SNG technology is an attractive solution for CO2 utilization, energy storage as well as future clean energy supply." 10/22/2013 

Stanford Researchers Generate Electricity from Sewage Using 'Wired Microbes'

Stanford University has announced that an interdisciplinary research team has created a "microbial battery" driven by naturally occurring bacteria that have evolved to produce electricity as they digest plant and animal waste. In a paper published last month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, co-authors Yi Cui, a materials scientist, Craig Criddle, an environmental engineer, and Xing Xie, an interdisciplinary researcher, call their invention a microbial battery. The laboratory prototype is about the size of a D-cell battery and looks like a chemistry experiment, with two electrodes, one positive, the other negative, plunged into a bottle of wastewater. Inside that murky vial, attached to the negative electrode like barnacles to a ship's hull, an unusual type of bacteria feast on particles of organic waste and produce electricity that is captured by the battery's positive electrode. The Stanford researchers estimate that the microbial battery can extract about 30 percent of the potential energy locked up in wastewater. That is roughly the same efficiency at which the best commercially available solar cells convert sunlight into electricity. 10/20/2013

Renewable Energy Plant at the Village of Ridgewood WWTP Fully Operational

A public-private partnership in the Village of Ridgewood, New Jersey has celebrated the Grand Opening of its renewable energy project at the Village's wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The project has been designed to power the plant by renewable energy, significantly reducing the demand on the electric grid benefiting the Village and its neighbor community, the Borough of Glen Rock. a biogas system, designed to optimize the production of electricity from methane, was constructed through a retrofit at the existing water pollution control plant. Natural Systems Utilities (NSU), Middlesex Water Company (MWC) and American Refining and Biochemical (ARB), through a 20-year partnership with the Village of Ridgewood, made the up-front capital investment in the retrofit that enables the plant, through a new biogas fueled engine generator to use an anaerobic digestion process to convert methane gas, which was previously flared into the atmosphere, and food wastes such as fats, oils, and grease, into renewable power. The project also incorporates four solar installations located throughout the Village. Together, enough energy is generated to power the wastewater treatment plant. Village of Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn: "Producing energy at our facilities reduces cost while powering the facility with 100% renewable energy provides environmental benefits for the community. To be able to accomplish this at no capital cost to the taxpayer while realizing environmental benefits for the Village is something we can all take pride in." 10/20/2013 

Chempolis and ONGC Team for Cellulosic Ethanol Biorefineries in India

Finland based Chempolis Ltd has announced signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), India's leading oil and gas exploration company, to team up for the production of cellulosic ethanol and biochemicals from non-food biomass. The signing ceremony took place in New Delhi in the presence of Alexander Stubb, Finland’s Foreign Trade Minister and Panabaka Laxmi, Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas. Chempolis and ONGC are targeting increased production of sustainable biofuels with the first biorefinery project in India in order to reduce India’s dependence on imported petroleum. Pasi Rousu, President, Asia-Pacific and Americas, Chempolis Ltd: "India has huge biomass potential and after biofuel mandate by Indian government, the country is certainly taking steps to be at the forefront of biorefining. In co-operation with ONGC, Chempolis would be looking forward to the establishment of biorefineries preferably in areas of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat. The company aims at delivering its technology in co-operation with leading Indian industry suppliers " Chempolis’ 3rd generation biorefining technology is based on selective fractionation of biomass and co-production of multiple products in a sustainable way. The technology is not just for the production of biofuels (e.g. ethanol), but the produced sugars and lignin can be used as a platform into a myriad of different products. 10/18/2013

Due 12/06/2013: CEC PIER Applications for Renewable Energy RD&D Projects

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has released Program Opportunity Notice PON-13-502 for Joint Renewable Energy and Advanced Generation, and Energy-Related Environmental Research, Development and Demonstration. The solicitation is sponsored by the CEC’s Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Natural Gas Program. It supports research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects on renewable energy, advanced generation, and energy-related environmental research. Research must fall within one of four research areas: A) Localized Efficient and Advanced Power and Heat Systems; B) Combined Heat and Power Applications for Associated Gas from Oil and Gas Production Fields; C) Reliable Power through Accelerated Demonstration and Deployment of Distributed Generation/Combined Heat and Power in Select Southern California Regions; or D) Air Quality Implications of Using Biogas to Replace Natural Gas. There will be two Pre-Application Workshops on October 22 and 24, 2013. Participation in these workshops is optional but encouraged. The workshops will be held through in-person participation, WebEx, and conference call. See the PON Application Manual for complete details on remote participation. The deadline to submit questions is October 25, 2013. Applications must be submitted by December 6, 2013 at 3 p.m. 10/18/2013. 12/04/2013 Update: Submittal deadline extended to December 20, 2013 

LanzaTech Partners With Korea's SK Innovation for Green Chemical R&D

Korea based SK innovation and LanzaTech have announced an agreement to develop a new process technology for the production of 1,3 butadiene, a platform chemical used in many high growth industries globally. The collaboration will accelerate the commercialization of an alternative route to butadiene, a chemical increasing in scarcity. SK innovation will work with LanzaTech to develop and integrate this new technology with LanzaTech's gas fermentation process, which converts industrial waste gases and on-purpose syngas derived from the gasification of wastes into low carbon fuels and chemicals. The development work will be carried out at SK innovation's state of the art research centre in Dae Jon, Korea. The research campus hosts more than 1,500 scientists and engineers and has been in operation since 1995. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech: "The partnership provides LanzaTech with an opportunity to expand and grow our green chemicals portfolio, taking another important step toward our vision of creating a diversified range of fuels and chemicals using waste gas as a resource." Dr. Byongsung Kwak, Chief Technology Officer, Global Technology, SK innovation: "We believe this collaboration provides a great opportunity to combine our expertise in R&D with the unique industrial waste gas fermentation technology LanzaTech has developed in order to increase the supply of biobased butadiene globally." 10/17/2013

Cool Planet Announces Launch of Cool Terra™ Biochar Soil Amendment

Colorado based Cool Planet Energy Systems has announced the launch of their biochar soil amendment product “Cool Terra™” for commercial agricultural trials. Cool Planet is a developer of small-scale biorefineries for the conversion of non-food biomass into biofuels and soil enhancing biochar. Cool Planet has assembled a top biochar research team to develop and produce high-performance biochar soil amendments designed for specific applications. The company is already in commercial trials with its proprietary Cool Terra™ biochar soil amendment, and plans to continue expanding application opportunities with selected partners in the agricultural community leading to commercial product release in 2014. Cool Planet is deploying disruptive technology through capital efficient, small scale biorefineries to economically convert non-food biomass into high-octane, drop-in biofuels, and also generates value through biochar production. Cool Planet CEO Howard Janzen: "We are excited about the opportunity to combine science with the real life practical experience of our agriculture industry partners to progress the use of biochar. This work will allow our Carbon Negative fuel technology to improve crop production while delivering environmental benefits." 10/17/2013

Greenleaf Power Acquires St-Félicien Cogénération Power Plant in Quebec

California based Greenleaf Power, LLC announced that it has finalized the purchase of the St-Félicien Cogénération Power Plant located in St-Félicien, Quebec, Canada, approximately 300 miles north of Montréal. Greenleaf Power purchased the St-Félicien facility from Enel Green Power, Canada, which has owned and operated the St-Félicien plant since its inception in 2001.The St-Félicien facility has a net capacity of approximately 21 megawatts of electricity and sells its electrical output to Hydro-Quebec under a long-term agreement. The biomass facility is capable of providing baseload renewable energy for as many as 23,000 homes as well as steam which is provided to the adjacent facility. Hugh Smith, president of Greenleaf Power: "The addition of the St-Félicien facility marks Greenleaf Power’s first acquisition outside of the United States and is another step for us on our growth path. St-Félicien Cogénération adds to our portfolio of biomass plants and increases our total renewable energy capacity to more than 145 megawatts." Greenleaf completed acquisition of the 19 megawatt electric Tracy Biomass plant in northern California in June of this year. 10/17/2013

Enterra's New Technology Converts Waste Food Nutrients into Healthy Food

Enterra Feed Corporation, a Vancouver-based company, has announced an innovative new technology that transforms nutrient-rich, clean food waste into high-quality, natural protein, oils, and fertilizer that help grow healthy animals and plants. Enterra's proprietary process was conceived by Brad Marchant and Dr. David Suzuki to improve the sustainability of feed in aquaculture and help address the global challenge of diminishing nutrient supply and increasing population. It also recaptures nutrients that would otherwise be lost through food waste. Thirty percent (30%) of the world's food is sent to landfills or composting facilities, removing its nutrient value from the food cycle. Enterra collects pre-consumer food waste, primarily fruits and vegetables, from food producers, grocery stores, food distributors, and other traceable sources and then converts it through a natural process that imitates nature using Black Soldier Fly grubs to yield concentrated nutrient products to grow food: natural protein, oils, and fertilizer. The Black Soldier Fly is an indigenous species to North America, commonly found in nature as part of the “clean-up crew”. The insect does not feed as an adult and, as a result, is not considered a pest or carrier of disease. Brad Marchant, Chief Executive Officer of Enterra:"Our protein and oil can be used in sustainable feed for farmed fish, livestock such as chickens, and for pets. The process also creates a concentrated natural fertilizer which is added to soil to grow high-quality, healthy vegetables and other plants." 10/17/2013 

Sweetwater Energy JVs with Naturally Scientific to Convert CO2 to Sugar

New York based Sweetwater Energy, Inc. has announced a 50/50 joint venture with Naturally Scientific to produce sugar from waste carbon dioxide (CO2). Naturally Scientific's technology is a two stage platform that converts carbon dioxide taken directly from the emissions of industries such as ethanol refineries, natural gas power plants, and many others, into usable sugars by combining waste CO2, water, and light into a photosynthetic reaction. These sugars can be sold or used in a second stage to produce pure vegetable oils and their derivatives. Naturally Scientific's demonstration plant in Nottingham, United Kingdom has been fully operational for two years and is now producing both sugars and oils. Sweetwater currently extracts sugars from many types of biomass plant material. Those sugars are a renewable alternative to petroleum because most products built from petroleum—such as plastics, fuels, and many chemicals—can also be built from Sweetwater’s sugars. Adding the ability to create sugar from carbon dioxide means Sweetwater can supply biomass-based sugar to an ethanol refinery, for example, and then also capture the carbon dioxide that’s a byproduct of the ethanol production to create emission-based sugars, which can be turned into oils, biodiesel, or other products. The joint venture expands Sweetwater’s sugar-production reach beyond biomass-based, second-generation feedstocks into third-generation feedstocks. Arunas Chesonis, Chairman and CEO of Sweetwater: "It’s exciting to be able to take a greenhouse gas like carbon dioxide that is being vented into the atmosphere, turn it into sugar, and ultimately into useful products like biofuels and bioplastics The team at Naturally Scientific has developed a truly remarkable process." 10/15/2013

Community-Scale Wood Bioenergy Workshop Series, Field Tour Scheduled

The Woody Biomass Utilization Group at the University of California, Berkeley has scheduled a series of 2013 3e workshops on Community-scale Wood Bioenergy coupled with a half day field tour highlighting innovative approaches to the regional woody biomass supply chain. The three workshops will be held at various locations throughout California. The October 21-22th workshop in Merced will tour a 1.5 MW biomass power plant employing gasification technology. The October 24-25th workshop in Chester will include a tour an area illustrating steep terrain forestry and biomass harvesting practices. The November 6-7th workshop in Eureka is tentatively scheduled to tour a biomass to hydrogen demonstration project. Registration is limited and attendance on-site is first come, first serve. There is a $25 registration fee. The program and materials will be available to the public on the web following the workshops. 10/15/2013

Darling Intl to Acquire Vion Ingredients to Expand Food Waste Solutions

Texas based Darling International Inc, a rendering, recycling, and recovery solutions provider to the nation's food industry, has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire shares of Netherlands based Vion Ingredients, a division of Vion Holding N.V. (Vion Food Group), for approximately €1.6 billion. Closing is anticipated in January 2014 subject to customary regulatory approvals and finalization of the required employee consultations in the Netherlands. Vion Ingredients is a worldwide leader in the development and production of specialty ingredients from animal origin for applications in pharmaceuticals, food, feed, pet food, fertilizer. and bioenergy.  Vion Ingredients' global network of 58 facilities on five continents covers all aspects of animal by-product processing through six brands including Rendac (rendering), Sonac (proteins, fats, edible fats and blood products), Ecoson (green power), Rousselot (gelatin), CTH (natural casings), and Best Hides (hides). Randall C. Stuewe, Darling International's Chairman and CEO: "Our vision of creating a sustainable ingredients business for a growing population is well on its way.  The combination of Vion Ingredients with Darling International will create the global leader in converting edible and inedible bio-nutrients streams into specialty products and ingredients for the food, feed, fuel, fertilizer and pharmaceutical industries." 10/14/2013

CCEMC Provides Over $46 Million to Support 8 Renewable Energy Projects

The Climate Change and Emissions Management (CCEMC) Corporation in Alberta, Canada has announced a commitment of more than $46 million in funding for eight renewable energy projects. Renewable energy includes energy derived from feedstock that is renewable and from natural or waste materials. The eight projects have a combined value of nearly $390 million. CCEMC Chair Eric Newell: "Renewable energy is now the largest part of the CCEMC portfolio. With growing global energy demand, it is critical that we continue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Renewable energy will play an important role in helping Alberta to reach emissions reduction goals and transition to a lower carbon future." The eight projects are estimated to combine to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than five megatonnes over 10 years. Four waste conversion related projects are among the projects receiving funding:: GrowTEC on-farm waste to energy project, by Grow the Energy Circle Ltd., Perry Family Potato Farm Sustainability Initiative; Implementation of High Solids Anaerobic Digestion Technology at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre by Waste Management Services of the City of Edmonton, partnering with University of Alberta; Drayton Valley Aspen Integrated Resource Recovery (AIRR) Facility by the Town of Drayton Valley; and The Optimal Biocell by the University of Calgary. The CCEMC is a not-for-profit corporation that operates independently of government and has committed funding to 51 projects valued at nearly $1.3 billion. 10/14/2013

Due 01/15/2014: Renewable Energy Applications to SEF for 0% Financing

The Sustainable Energy Fund (SEF) has announced the introduction of its new Sustainable Energy Finance program, which will be available to non-profit and governmental entities to complete energy efficiency or renewable energy projects in the areas served by the electric grid managed by PJM Interconnection. The electric grid supplies wholesale electricity to all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Eligible projects are those that reduce energy consumption from non-sustainable resources or generate energy from sustainable resources. Project types include solar photovoltaic, anaerobic digesters, wind, micro-hydro, and energy modeling for new construction. The SEF will issue a Request for Applications for the new program on October 15, 2013. According to Teru Talk's telephone interview with SEF, this is the first phase of the 0% interest loan program, and it is planned to reopen every six months. Loans or leases will be made for projects between $5,000 and $90,000 on a first-come, first-serve basis until program funds are exhausted. Contact the SEF at (610) 264-4440 for more information or visit www.thesef.org after October 15, 2013 to download an application. The deadline for Sustainable Energy Finance application submissions is 4:00 p.m. (EST) on January 15, 2014. 10/14/2013 

NRC Brings Biomass Into Canada's Energy Mix with Stationary Applications

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) announced the launch of its Bioenergy Systems for Viable Stationary Applications research program at this year's CanBio Annual Conference and Trade Show. NRC has established a multi-year, strategic R&D initiative to help Canadian companies capitalize on this opportunity by overcoming the technical and cost barriers to integrating locally-sourced biomass into stationary energy (heat and power) systems. The NRC program will channel a critical mass of expertise into projects to optimize biofuel production and upgrading, and resolve biofuel-power plant compatibility issues, lowering the capital and operating costs for bioenergy systems and components. These activities will be complemented by technical support for codes and standards and techno-economic expertise to assist clients from the project design and feasibility stage, to development, integration, testing and demonstration in the field. Andy Reynolds, General Manager of the Energy, Mining and Environment portfolio at the National Research Council of Canada: "By connecting feedstock, technology and equipment suppliers with end-users in a large-scale, collaborative research effort, we can address interdependent biofuel production and utilization challenges This will accelerate deployment in markets where bioenergy is cost-competitive, such as remote communities and industry reliant on expensive diesel fuel, and cities facing high municipal solid waste diversion costs." 10/11/2013

Defra Establishes £3m Loan Fund for AD Plants to Turn Farm Waste to Energy

The United Kingdom (UK) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced a new £3 million initiative, which will allow farmers to apply for up to £400,000 from the On Farm AD Fund to help them finance on-site anaerobic digestion (AD) technology. The technology turns waste into energy, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and produces a renewable source of bio-fertilizer, and will save farmers money on energy costs and can even boost their income if they export electricity to the grid. Farmers will also be entitled to government incentives for producing renewable energy. In addition, they can use the bio-fertilizer produced by the AD process to replace some of the artificial fertilizers they would otherwise have to buy. The use of AD technology on farms is an essential part of the government’s plans to invest in infrastructures to help businesses grow and boost the rural economy. The fund, which will be administered by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), is split into two phases. Farmers can apply for funding to develop a business case to find out if anaerobic digestion is the right solution for them in dealing with waste. They can then apply for a loan of up to £400,000 to fund up to 50 per cent of the overall costs of the AD plant. Liz Goodwin, CEO of WRAP: "The use of small-scale anaerobic digestion on farms to treat manures and slurries has a number of economic and environmental benefits and is an excellent example of the circular economy in action." 10/11/2013

BDI – BioEnergy Signs Contract to Construct 1st Biodiesel Plant in Croatia

Austria based BDI – BioEnergy International AG has announced signing a contract with Biom AV d.o.o for construction of the first Multi-Feedstock BioDiesel plant in Croatia with an order volume of more than 20 million Euros. BDI's patented technology turns a wide range of raw materials such as animal fat, used cooking oil, trap grease, and vegetable oils into high-grade biodiesel that exceeds the stringent quality standards of EN14214 and ASTM D6751. The total capacity of the plant will be approximately 100,000 t/year. Construction of the plant with production of the first high-quality biodiesel is anticipated by the end of 2014. The representative of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Vesna Trnokop-Tanta, has pledged full support for the project and emphasized that this is an important step for Croatia in meeting the European Union’s demands regarding the renewable energy directive in the fuel sector. Edgar Ahn, PhD (CSO), Member of the BDI Management Board: "The installed BDI Multi-Feedstock BioDiesel Technology will enable our customer biom d.o.o. to convert many different waste and residual materials into high-quality BioDiesel. Thereby, it does not  only make an important contribution to environmental protection in the area of transport, but also helps to safely dispose problematic waste streams or even convert them into useful substances. This confirms, that this BDI BioDiesel project is not only for BDI an important and pioneering project in the growing economies of South-East Europe, but in our opinion, for the State of Croatia this is a landmark project." 10/11/2013 

Beta Renewables' Advanced Biofuels Plant Produces Ethanol from Ag Waste

Danish company Novozymes has announced that Italy based Beta Renewables has officially opened the first advanced biofuels facility in the world designed produce bioethanol from agricultural residues and energy crops at commercial scale using hydrothermal treatment coupled with enzymatic conversion. The plant, located in Northern Italy in fields outside the city of Crescentino, will produce 75 million liters of cellulosic ethanol annually. The two companies formed a strategic partnership in October 2012, making Novozymes the preferred enzyme supplier for Beta Renewables’ current and future cellulosic biofuel projects. The plant uses wheat straw, rice straw, and arundo donax, a high-yielding energy crop grown on marginal land. Lignin, a polymer extracted from biomass during the ethanol production process, is used at an attached power plant, which generates enough power to meet the facility’s energy needs, with any excess green electricity sold to the local grid. Peder Holk Nielsen, CEO of Novozymes: "Here, at this plant, enabled by Novozymes’ enzymatic technology, we will turn agricultural waste into millions of liters of low-emission green fuel, proving that cellulosic ethanol is no longer a distant dream." 10/10/2013

PEAT International Commissions Plasma Thermal WtE System in Shanghai

United States based PEAT International, Inc has just announced the successful commissioning in August of a Plasma Thermal Destruction and Recovery (PTDR) system in Shanghai, China. The PTDR-100 60 kg/hr system, designed for medical waste and oil refinery sludge, was installed for Abada Plasma Technology Holdings, Ltd, an Asian-based renewable energy project developer. PEAT's PTDR "single stage" plasma-thermal process transforms hazardous waste through molecular dissociation at 1,500°C (2,732°F) into recoverable, non-toxic end-products, synthetic gas, and heat (sources for energy recovery), metals and a vitrified glass matrix. According to PEAT, emissions are below the most stringent environmental standards used anywhere. Joseph Rosin, PEAT International Chairman: "This is end-stage technology and sets the standard for clean hazardous waste remediation. Only with plasma can you achieve temperatures high enough for waste destruction in a single-staged process. It's a 21st century solution that addresses three important needs: significant volume reduction, full pollution control and competitive pricing." PTDR systems are in operation in California, Taiwan, and China. 10/10/2013

Greenbelt, Diversified Ethanol Deliver Distillation Module to UF Pilot Plant

California based Greenbelt Resources Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary Diversified Ethanol Corporation have announced delivery and installation of a distillation module to the University of Florida (UF). The module is part of the $20 million Stan Mayfield BioRefinery Pilot Plant at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences laboratory at the Buckeye Technology facility. The biorefinery plant is pioneering the use of advanced technology and processes for proving that cellulosic biomass can be converted to usable byproducts such as fuel ethanol. The distillation module is an innovative system with intelligent automation controls for onsite and remote monitoring and support. Greenbelt will also supply the dehydration module for the plant to round out the technology required to complete the waste-to-fuel ethanol process. The distillation module arrived ready for operation following an onsite system test and commissioning to confirm its full working condition. Acceptance of the distillation portion of the system marks the first completed commercial system sale for Greenbelt Resources and Diversified Ethanol. Darren Eng, Greenbelt CEO: "Supporting the work of the University of Florida places our technology in a project that is highly visible in the industry and our system is proving to be a perfect fit for their needs. It is a tremendous validation of our technology to be selected by Dr. Ingram, and a privilege to contribute to his world-renowned advances in biofuel production." 10/10/2013

Waste2Tricity Raises £1 Million to Support International Growth Strategy

London based Waste2Tricity (W2T) has announced a successful £1 million funding round from new investors from the UK, Europe, Thailand, Australia, UAE, and Israel, together with current shareholders and board directors. These interim funds will give W2T working capital for its current plans and allow the company to pursue its aggressive strategy for early deployment of the AFC Energy fuel cell technology, positioned to achieve commercial roll out by 2016. W2T announced its plans for international expansion in April of this year with the launch of its wholly owned subsidiary Waste2Tricity International (Thailand) Ltd. W2T has been actively deploying a pilot strategy in Thailand with the goal of establishing a number of subsidiaries, each operating in target geographies. The community based subsidiaries will cooperate with its primary front-end plasma gasification supplier, Alter NRG Westinghouse, to establish partnerships with local strategic partners. Peter Jones OBE, Chairman of W2T: "The combination of Alter NRG’s plasma gasification and AFC Energy is clearly creating a viral technology with this investment recognising the value of Waste2Tricity’s waste management proposition, which is meeting an ever-more pressing need in European and Asian energy markets." W2T is currently in discussions with Thai companies that have aggregated waste streams in excess of 10,000 tons per day that could provide sufficient hydrogen to power close to 1000 MW of fuel cells within the next 5 years. 08/09/2013

ZooShare Offers Community Bonds to Finance Toronto Zoo Biogas Plant

The Canada based ZooShare Biogas Co-operative Inc has announced the official launch of their Community Bonds investment opportunity with a ceremony at the Toronto Zoo on October 10, 2013. ZooShare will be joined by members of the Toronto Zoo, the City of Toronto, and members of the Toronto public. ZooShare is a Renewable Energy Co-op under Canadian laws planning a biogas facility on the grounds of the Toronto Zoo that will be fueled by animal wastes along with organics and food waste from a major grocery retailer, and converted into electricity, heat and fertilizer. The Community Bonds are designed to give Ontario residents the opportunity to invest in construction of the $5.4 million, 500 kWe biogas to energy facility at the Toronto Zoo. Commercial operations are scheduled to begin in December 2014. ZooShare secured a 500 kWe Feed-in Tariff (FIT) contract with the Ontario Power Authority last July. With ZooShare’s Community Bond model, investing in their co-operative, according to the Executive Director, Daniel Bida, is an opportunity unlike any other investment you can make. "You still get fixed, annual interest payments like a regular bond, but you also contribute to removing 2,100 cars from the road each year and support the Zoo. You will continue making a positive impact long after your bonds have matured.” For more information on how to purchase community bonds,  contact ZooShare’s Mark Fernandez, sales and marketing, at <> or (888) 990-9095. 10/08/2013

WRAP Study Identifies Multi-Billion Pound Savings for the UK Grocery Sector

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has released results of a new innovative study that identifies how much food, drink, and packaging waste is generated in the United Kingdom's (UK) grocery retail supply chain. The final report, Estimates of waste in the food and drink supply chain, also examines where in the sector it arises, what the waste is, and how it is managed. WRAP estimates that there is 6.5 Mt of waste arising in the grocery retail supply chain. From this figure, 3.9 Mt arises from food and drink manufacturers, and the majority of this is food. A retailer’s main waste comes from packaging which, in total, accounts for around 1.2 Mt. The new data examines waste across the supply chain and shows how waste is managed, where food is being redistributed to and where it is used as an ingredient in animal feed. The report also assesses other materials arising from the production of food. An infographic is available that demonstrates the topline data of the UK supply chain waste in both the retail and manufacturing sectors. It is estimated that food and packaging waste in this area has a value of £6.9 billion. This represents some 7% of the value of food and drink sales to households, money which could be used to increase exports or investment to help individual businesses and the economy to grow. Richard Swannell, Director at WRAP: "This new research from WRAP can help deliver significant benefits for businesses and the environment. Armed with this knowledge, businesses, and the supply chain as a whole, can more readily identify where problems are arising, enabling them to find the solutions to reduce their waste and make large financial and environmental savings." 10/08/2013

New OPTI-VFA Project Studies Optimization of Anaerobic Digestion of Waste

VTT Technological Research Centre of Finland (VTT) has announced a new European project that focuses on studying anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic waste and developing its control through optimization to increase profitability. The total budget of the two-year OPTI-VFA project is EUR 1.15 million. VTT is responsible for the planning, building, and calibration of the prototype for the monitoring and controlling system. The project group consists of nine partners: Attero (the Netherlands), Optomeasures (France), Rikola (Finland), MTT Multantiv (Finland), MSI (Spain), Maris Projects (the Netherlands), VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (Finland), TUDelft (the Netherlands) and CEIT (Spain). The AD process can be optimized to produce either biogas or volatile fatty acids, which are even more valuable products than biogas.The produced volatile fatty acids can be converted further to raw materials with which it is possible to produce oil-replacing biobased products, such as bioplastics. During the anaerobic digestion process the organic matter is degraded by bacteria to biogas in the absence of oxygen. Controlling the digestion process is one of the most important ways of making the biogas production process more efficient. A process monitoring and controlling system will be developed during the OPTI-VFA project to enable more efficient control of both volatile fatty acids and biogas production. It is also expected to improve the profitability, efficiency, and reliability of the process. VTT is a leading multi-technological applied research organization in Northern Europe. 10/07/2013

State Seeking Public Input on Safeguarding California from Climate Change

The California Natural Resources Agency (Resources) is hosting a series of public workshops to get input from Californians on how the state should prepare for climate risks. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 in Los Angeles, followed by one in Merced on October 10th, and in Truckee on October 11th. Resources in coordination with other state agencies will be drafting the new Safeguarding California Plan, an update to the 2009 climate adaptation strategy, and is inviting public input on key issues and approaches that stakeholders feel should be addressed in the update. In 2009, the state released one of the first multi-sector climate adaptation strategies in the country. Since then, understanding of climate risks has evolved and strategies for responding to these risks have also evolved, making it an ideal time to update the plan and continue to build a collective vision for preparing for climate risks. California is already taking aggressive action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through implementation of Assembly Bill (AB) 32. The California Air Resources Board has just released the Discussion Draft of the 2013 Updated AB 32 Scoping Plan for public comment. This year's update includes the Waste Management Sector, addressing GHG emissions associated with waste management activities. Suggestions and comments may be submitted in person at the public meetings or electronically to <>. While electronic submission is preferred, suggestions may also be mailed or hand delivered. Submit comments by November 1, 2013. Resources is planning to release a draft version of the Safeguarding California Plan for public review and comment by the end of 2013. 10/07/2013

Cool Planet, Acritaz Greentech Plan 1st Commercial Biorefinery in Malaysia

 Cool Planet Energy Systems and Acritaz Greentech have announced entering into an agreement to explore development of multiple commercial facilities in Malaysia with construction of the first plant beginning in 2014 in the Malaysian state of Johor. Acritaz will work with Cool Planet to use biomass raw materials local to the region, including palm plantation waste products such as empty fruit bunches, wood, and bark waste to make renewable, cellulosic fuels for the Asian market. Cool Planet CEO Howard Janzen: "We are pleased to be working with Acritaz Greentech, a group that is known for their technology leadership in biomass processing and bio-technology in Malaysia, to deploy our biofuels and biochar technology." Acritaz will work to commit USD60 million to the first facility before the end of 2013. Looi Kem Loong, a Director at Acritaz: Acritaz is excited to commercialize Cool Planet’s platform technology to bring drop-in fuels to the Malaysian fuel market" Acritaz and Cool planet will develop a plant design that satisfies the specific needs of Malaysia, including feedstock selection, biochar production, and specification of the final fuel. 10/07/2013

Due 11/01/2013: Comments to AB 32 Scoping Plan Discussion Draft

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has scheduled a public workshop on October 15, 2013 at 1:00 pm for the the 2013 Updated AB 32 Scoping Plan (Discussion Draft). Release of the draft marks the beginning of the public comment period, and comments on the Discussion Draft are due by November 1, 2013. Assembly Bill (AB) 32 requires the Scoping Plan to be updated every five years. This year's update includes the Waste Management Sector, addressing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) associated with waste management activities. The original Plan, first released in 2008, was developed on the principle that a balanced mix of strategies is the best way to cut emissions and grow California’s economy in a clean and sustainable direction. The Discussion Draft includes an analysis of progress to date, finding that California is on track to meet the AB 32 2020 goal of greenhouse gas reductions.  It also includes actions California must take to continue GHG reductions in six key focus areas: energy; transportation, land use, fuels and infrastructure; water; agriculture; natural and working lands; and waste. The workshop will be webcasted for those unable to attend in person and can be accessed the day of the workshop. The comment period on the Discussion Draft closes on November 1, 2013 at 5:00 pm. The CARB is collecting public comments on the discussion draft online. 10/05/2013

Due 10/25/2013: Comments to ACR on Methodology for Biochar Projects

The American Carbon Registry (ACR), a non-profit enterprise of Winrock International, is requesting comments from its members, project proponents, and other interested parties on a new Methodology for Biochar Projects. Biochar is produced through the pyrolysis of biomass. The methodology quantifies and credits both the avoided emissions from combustion or decomposition of biomass in the baseline, and enhanced carbon sequestration at sites where biochar is applied. In the baseline scenario, biochar feedstocks would be combusted or decompose, releasing carbon dioxide and/or methane. In the project scenario, pyrolysis physically and chemically transforms the feedstocks into a more recalcitrant form that can be applied to soil for long-term sequestration. Under this methodology, biochar may be produced from any biomass residues from forestry and agriculture, municipal solid wastes, and other biomass-based materials approved for use under the International Biochar Initiative’s Biochar Standards (2013). The methodology was prepared by The Climate Trust, The Prasino Group, the International Biochar Initiative, and Carbon Consulting. All comments should be sent by close of business October 25, 2013 to <>. 10/05/2013

RES Polyflow Concludes Successful Demo of Waste Plastic-To-Oil Conversion

Ohio based RES Polyflow has announced that the demonstration of the company’s patented energy recovery technology has successfully concluded with results that meet or exceed expectations. Supported in part by an Ohio Third Frontier grant, the demonstration conducted throughout the summer of 2013 proved that RES Polyflow’s waste plastic conversion process is stable and efficient in a full-scale production environment and that all material inputs and outputs are able to be managed on a continuous process basis. RES Polyflow is considering the possibility of converting the Ohio demonstration site into a fully operational production facility over the next 12 months.  A number of independent plant owner/operators attended the summer demonstrations and are now in negotiation with RES Polyflow to license the technology for implementation in North America and overseas. RES Polyflow CEO Jay Schabel: " We prove our capability with our results and are now excited to construct our first continuous operation plant with profitability at the forefront." The company previously announced a joint venture agreement with a Las Vegas NV based group under the name ENRETEC to commercialize the technology in specific western US markets. 10/04/2013

Lockheed Martin, Concord Blue Agree to Advance Waste Conversion Globally

Maryland based Lockheed Martin and California based Concord Blue USA, Inc, have reached an agreement to offer an advanced waste conversion system to address waste disposal, energy security, and climate control issues. Advanced waste conversion is an emerging technology that uses gasification processes to convert waste materials to electricity, heat and synthetic fuels. This solution addresses the current burden on landfills, conventional incineration and fossil fuels, as well as the desire for green baseload energy. Lockheed Martin will provide its engineering, program management, procurement, manufacturing and integration experience to apply Concord Blue’s patented technology globally in the expanding waste-to-energy arena. Concord Blue has developed a closed-loop, commercially-proven, non-polluting process that recycles waste into energy at virtually any scale to safely and effectively dispose of waste while producing clean energy through advanced waste conversion. Paul Klammer, director of bio energy programs at Lockheed Martin’s Mission Systems and Training business: "This agreement enables Lockheed Martin to combine our proven ability to meet complex project requirements and access to a broader, global market with Concord Blue's demonstrated technology, experience and global facilities." Charlie Thannhaeuser, chairman and chief executive officer of Concord Blue: "This collaboration will enable us to deploy a compelling solution to a significant environmental, social and safety issue that affects every region of the world." Concord Blue's technology will be used for the multi-year Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4RFI) restoration contract in Arizona. The contract was awarded last year to Pioneer Forest Products; the US Forest Service announced last month that the company was being sold and the prime contract was being transferred to Good Earth Power, a strategic partner of Concord Blue. 10/04/2013

Due 10/25/2013: Comments to CEC Draft Guidelines for School Energy Projects

The California Energy Commission (CEC) is hosting a series of public meetings to present draft guidelines and is seeking comments about the Draft California Clean Energy Jobs Act Program: Proposition 39 Implementation Guidelines (Proposition 39 Draft Guidelines). Passed by voters in November 2012, Proposition 39 makes changes to corporate income taxes and provides up to $550 million to improve the energy efficiency of California’s aging schools and grow the state’s significant clean energy economy. The CEC will present an overview of the Proposition 39 Draft Guidelines, answer questions, and receive comments at a series of five meetings and workshops. A list of resources is available at the Proposition 39 web page. Submit comments by email to <> by 4:00 PM on October 25, 2013.  Include the docket number 13-CCEJA-1 and indicate "Comments on Proposition 39" in the subject line or first paragraph of your comments. 10/04/2013

BlueFire Renewables Expands Fulton Facility for New Revenue Stream

California based BlueFire Renewables has announced plans to integrate a wood pellet production plant into its proposed waste to ethanol facility in Fulton, Mississippi. The reconfigured design will be a 9 million gallon per year ethanol facility integrated with a 400,000 ton per year wood pellet plant. The pellets will be sold under long term contracts into the European mandated renewable energy market. BlueFire had previously announced start of construction and completion of preliminary site work for the ethanol facility in June 2011. The engineering and other development activities needed are already under way to add the pellet plant to the project. Arnold Klann, BlueFire President & CEO: "This restructure provides a more robust economic model for the Fulton facility with a significant increase in projected revenues. It has become apparent in our attempts to obtain financing for the project that the right synergies and revenue model would be needed to build this first of a kind facility. The optimum use of biomass in the integrated facility strikes a much better balance of revenue with costs and a better utilization of resources. " The ethanol plant will use Bluefire's Arkenol patented and proven Concentrated Acid Hydrolysis technology for conversion of cellulosic waste materials ("Green Waste") to renewable fuel. BlueFire has demonstrated production of biofuels from urban trash (post-sorted MSW), rice and wheat straws, wood waste, and other agricultural residues. Wood pellets are traditionally used for electricity generation and can be sold under long term, fixed price contracts to credit worthy utilities. Blended with lignin from BlueFire's ethanol process, the wood pellets will create a market advantage under the international mandates for renewable energy, especially for power in the European Union. 10/03/2013

Ormat 5MW Recovered Energy Plant to Power eBay's Utah Data Center

Nevada based Ormat Technologies, Inc through its wholly owned subsidiary has entered into an agreement with eBay Inc for development of a five-megawatt (MW) Recovered Energy Generation (REG) power plant at eBay’s new Salt Lake City, Utah based data center. The Joint Development Agreement allows Ormat and eBay to proceed with negotiations on a 20-year term contract and begin preliminary development work on the proposed facility. The plant will be built and operated by Ormat, and will sell power directly to eBay. The development was made possible by Utah Senate Bill 12 (SB12) passed last year that eBay helped develop, enabling non-utility energy consumers to buy and transmit power directly from energy developers. Dean Nelson, vice president, global foundation services at eBay: "SB12 was a critical component to identifying Ormat as a solution to our greener energy needs. We look forward to continuing in our efforts to implement REG power and to reach, and possibly surpass, our goal to source at least eight percent of our energy from cleaner sources by 2015.” Ormat’s REG power plants capture waste heat that would otherwise be released to the atmosphere and convert that heat into energy using an Ormat Energy Converter, similar to those used in geothermal electricity generation. Ormat has constructed plants with over 160 MW of installed REG capacity in North America. Yoram Bronicki, president and chief operating officer for Ormat: "We commend eBay Inc.’s commitment to sustainable commerce and look forward to helping them achieve their clean energy goals." 10/03/2013

UK Green Investment Bank Invests £11m in Welsh Bioenergy Plant Upgrades

The United Kingdom's (UK) Green Investment Bank (GIB) has announced a £11m investment by its fund, managed by Greensphere Capital LLP (Greensphere), to purchase and upgrade an operational biomass plant in Port Talbot, Wales. The UK Green and Sustainable Waste and Energy Investment Limited Partnership (UKGSWEI), is investing £11m to hold a minority stake in the plant. The plant owned and operated by Western Bio-energy Limited, a subsidiary of Eco2 Limited, is a 14.7 MWe biomass facility and was the first commercial-scale power station of its kind in Wales. It has been operational since 2008 and currently produces enough electricity to power over 28,000 homes. The investment in the plant will fund a number of upgrades, including an increase in Grade A waste wood as a fuel source, and refurbishment of the plant. Greensphere has negotiated a contract to provide feedstock for the lifetime of the plant with Stobart Biomass, which will significantly increase feedstock reliability and reduce costs. After the scheduled refurbishment in Summer 2014, the plant will be able to accept c.55% grade A waste wood, a significant increase. Shaun Kingsbury, chief executive, GIB: "This investment will secure the long-term future of an important Welsh renewable energy plant and will improve its efficiency and sustainability." 10/03/2013

CIFAR Conference on Managing Energy, Water, Waste in Food Processing

The California Institute of Food and Agricultural Research (CIFAR) will be holding a conference on October 10, 2013 at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) campus that will address "Managing Energy, Water and By-products for Profitability in Food and Beverage Processing." The conference will include oral presentations, exhibits, and posters, and individual meetings can be arranged upon request. Of particular interest is Panel 2 in the afternoon, which will be focused on "Technology Advances in Integrated Processing to eliminate the Waste Stream". Topics will include "Strategies to Capture, Store and Reuse Carbon," "Biogas from Food Waste for Sustainability and Profit," and "Recovering Valuable Components from Dairy By-products." CIFAR is a California centered, global network and innovation hub focused on agri-food systems technologies, and housed within the nation's leading food science program at UC Davis. A map showing the location of the conference and a link to register for the event can be found online. 10/01/2013