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[Due to the increasing size of the archives, each topic page now contains only the prior 365 days of content. Access to older stories is now solely through the Monthly Archive pages or the site search function.]
Exelus Selected for Up to $1.2M DOE Award to Further Biomass-to-Gasoline Work
November 13, 2009
| The basic Exelus BTG process. Source; Exelus. Click to enlarge. |
The US Department of Energy has selected Exelus, Inc. for an award of up to $1,200,000 to further its development of Biomass-to-Gasoline (BTG) technology—a novel thermochemical process that converts biomass into a clean, high-octane gasoline-compatible fuel. (Earlier post.)
The BTG process applies a series of moderate-temperature, catalyzed reactions to convert lignocellulosic biomass into gasoline-range alcohols. The BioGasoline produced by BTG has a high octane rating (greater than 105 using the (R+M)/2 method), and lower blending vapor pressure (RVP) and higher energy density than conventional ethanol.
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DOE and USDA Select Projects for More Than $24M in Biomass Research and Development Grants
The US Departments of Agriculture and Energy selected projects for more than $24 million in grants to research and develop technologies to produce biofuels, bioenergy and high-value biobased products. Of the $24.4 million announced today, DOE plans to invest up to $4.9 million with USDA contributing up to $19.5 million. Advanced biofuels produced through this funding are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% compared to fossil fuels.
Projects selected must contribute a minimum of 20% of matching funds for research and development projects and 50% of matching funds for demonstration projects. Funding is provided through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and DOE’s Biomass Program.
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Accenture Reports Identifies 12 Disruptive Technologies Most Likely to Transform Supply and Demand of Transport Fuels and Cut Emissions Within Next 10 Years
November 10, 2009
| Accenture timeline for evolution of electrification technologies, the “game-changing” subset of the disruptive technologies. Source: Accenture. Click to enlarge. |
Accenture has identified 12 technologies that it concludes have the potential to disrupt the current views of transport fuels supply, demand and GHG emissions over the next 10 years. In a report comparing advances in combustion engines, biofuels, electrification and other technologies, Accenture warns that the commercial viability of those disruptive technologies will be delayed unless regulators more proactively support the transformation of science into applied technologies.
“Betting on Science – Disruptive Technologies in Transport Fuels” selected 12 innovations in electrification and genetically modified biofuels, as well as existing fuel sources that will have the most immediate impact on emissions and on the gasoline and diesel markets. The study profiled 25 companies that aim to commercialize these technologies in the next five (i.e., by 2014) and also examines different global markets.
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INEOS Bio Begins Advanced Waste-to-Ethanol Plant Feasibility Study
November 09, 2009
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| The INEOS Bio waste-to-ethanol process, originally developed by BRI. Click to enlarge. |
INEOS Bio, a subsidiary of INEOS, the world’s third-largest chemicals company, has started a feasibility study for a plant in the UK to convert locally generated biodegradable household and commercial wastes into carbon neutral road transport fuel and clean electricity, using the INEOS Bio technology process. (Earlier post.)
The £3.5-million (US$5.9 million) feasibility study, which includes detailed engineering design work for a plant at the company’s Seal Sands site in the Tees Valley, is being supported by a £2.2-million (US$3.7 million) grant from the Regional Development Agency One North East and the Department for Energy and Climate Change. When completed, the feasibility study will inform an investment decision in 2010 for a commercial INEOS Bio bio-ethanol and bio-energy plant. Subsequent expansion could turn the initial plant into a fully integrated bio-refinery by 2015.
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Study: Bio-Based Plastics Could Ultimately Replace Up to 90% of Total Global Consumption of Plastics in 2007
November 08, 2009
| Projections of the worldwide production capacity of bio-based plastics through 2020. Source: PRO-BIP 2009. Click to enlarge. |
Replacement of up to 90% (270 Mt) of the total global consumption of plastics in 2007 with bio-based plastics is ultimately technically possible, according to new study by authors at Utrecht University, commissioned by the associations European Bioplastics and the European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE). How fast this substitution will occur depends on a multitude of factors.
Study authors Martin K. Patel, Li Shen and Juliane Haufe project that by 2020, worldwide bio-plastics capacity could increase to as much as 4.40 Mt (about 1.5% of 2007 consumption) under a high growth scenario—approximately 30% higher than the projections based on company announcements (3.45 Mt) and the companies’ expectations (3.44 Mt).
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EU-Funded Project Targets Sustainable Production of Ethyl Levulinate from Biomass as Diesel Miscibile Biofuel
October 31, 2009
| Representation of DIBANET processes, products and linkages. Source: Carbolea. Click to enlarge. |
An EU-funded research project is seeking to develop new technologies that will enable the sustainable production of diesel miscible biofuels (DMB) from cellulosic biomass wastes in Europe and Latin America.
Specifically, the DIBANET (Development of Integrated Biomass Approaches Network) project will advance the art in the production of ethyl levulinate from organic wastes and residues. Ethyl levulinate (EL) is a novel diesel miscible biofuel (DMB) produced by esterifying ethanol with levulinic acid. The project will also use fast pyrolysis to convert the residue left over from biofuel production to bio-oil for subsequent upgrading to DMB.
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Dynamotive Upgrades BioOil from Multiple Biomass Sources to a Uniform Hydrocarbon Product
October 28, 2009
Dynamotive Energy Systems Corporation has successfully applied the BINGO (Biomass INto GasOil) BioOil upgrading process to BioOils produced from a variety of feedstocks. (Earlier post.) The feedstocks from which the BioOils were produced included sugarcane bagasse, bark rich forest trimmings, softwoods and palm fronds. BioOils upgraded were of widely varying quality and in some instances had been in storage for several years.
BINGO (Biomass INto GasOil) is a two-stage process first involving pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass to produce a primary liquid fuel, BioOil, which is then hydroreformed to a Stage 1 gas-oil equivalent liquid fuel that can either be directly utilized in blends with hydrocarbon fuels for industrial stationary power and heating applications or be further upgraded to transportation grade liquid hydrocarbon fuels (gasoline/diesel) in a Stage 2 hydrotreating process.
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ARPA-E Awards $151M to 37 Projects for Transformative Energy Research
October 26, 2009
The Department of Energy (DOE) has selected 37 energy research projects for $151 million in funding through the recently formed Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). This is the first round of projects funded under ARPA-E, which is receiving total of $400 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Among the projects selected are an effort to develop new metal-air batteries using advanced ionic liquids with 6-20 times the energy density of Li-ion batteries at < 1/3 the cost; a project to produce a flow of gasoline directly from sunlight and CO2 using a symbiotic system of two organisms; and a new type of engine for use as a genset in a plug-in hybrid vehicle that is five times more efficient than traditional auto engines in electricity production, 20% lighter, and 30% cheaper to manufacture.
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MIT/RAND Study Concludes Three Types of Alternative Jet Fuel May Be Available in Commercial Quantities Over the Next Decade
October 25, 2009
| Normalized well-to-wake GHG emissions for low-, baseline- and high-emission cases for jet fuel pathways under different land use change scenarios. From Hileman et al. Click to enlarge. |
A joint MIT/RAND study of the near-term commercial feasibility of alternative jet fuels has concluded that three types of alternative jet fuels may be available in commercial quantities over the next decade: Jet A derived from Canadian oil sands and Venezuelan Very Heavy Oils (VHO); Fischer-Tropsch (FT) jet fuel produced from coal, a combination of coal and biomass, or natural gas; and hydrotreated renewable jet fuel (HRJ) produced by hydroprocessing renewable oils.
The study compared five different groups of potential alternative jet fuels on the basis of seven criteria: compatibility with existing aircraft and infrastructure; maturity of the fuel-production technology; near-term production potential; near-term production costs; life-cycle GHG emissions (“well-to-wake”); emissions affecting air quality; and the relative merit of using the fuel in aviation versus ground transportation. The focus of the work was on alternative jet fuels that could be available commercially in the next decade using primarily North American resources.
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New Study Finds Flaw in Carbon Accounting for Bioenergy, Another Contends That Indirect Land Use Change Emissions for Biofuels Will Be Up To Twice Direct Land Use Change Emissions
October 24, 2009
Thirteen scientists and land use experts conclude in a new paper that an important but fixable error in legal accounting rules used to measure compliance with carbon limits for bioenergy could undermine efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging deforestation. Their paper is published in the 23 Oct. issue of the journal Science.
A separate paper published online in Science Express by researchers from the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole and MIT concludes that indirect land use change associated with global biofuels programs will be responsible for substantially more carbon loss (up to twice as much) than direct land use. Their model also predicts that because of predicted increases in fertilizer use, nitrous oxide emissions will be more important than carbon losses themselves in terms of warming potential.
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BNL Researchers Identify Enzyme That Could Help Biofuel Crops Grow In Harsh Environments
October 20, 2009
| These images show that seeds deficient in HHT (right), an enzyme needed to synthesize an important component of plant cell walls, are more permeable to a red dye than normal plant seeds (left). Controlling the level of this enzyme may offer scientists a new way to alter plant growth for improved biofuel production. Source: BNL. Click to enlarge. |
Scientists at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) have identified a novel enzyme responsible for the formation of suberin—the woody, waxy, cell-wall substance found in cork. While effective at keeping wine inside a bottle, suberin’s most important function in plants is to control water and nutrient transportation and keep pathogens out.
Adjusting the permeability of plant tissues by genetically manipulating the expression of this enzyme could lead to easier agricultural production of crops used for biofuels. The research, led by Brookhaven biologists Chang-Jun Liu and Jin-Ying Gou, will be published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences the week of October 19, 2009.
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Boeing, Honeywell’s UOP and Government of Mexico Launch Research and Advocacy Collaboration to Drive Commercial Use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels
Boeing, the Airports and Auxiliary Services agency (ASA), an arm of Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and Transport, and Honeywell’s UOP are collaborating to identify, research and further the development of a commercially-viable market for Mexico-sourced sustainable aviation biofuels that are drop-in hydrocarbon replacements for current petroleum-derived aviation fuel.
ASA, which is responsible for all fuel management and airplane refueling operations in Mexico, together with Boeing made the announcement last week on the eve of the annual ALTA Aviation Leaders Forum, a gathering of more than 400 senior airline and aviation industry executives.
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UNEP Report Calls for More Sophisticated Approach to Developing Biofuels; Limitations of Current LCA Studies
October 19, 2009
| Rapeseed biodiesel as an example of the varied environmental impacts of a particular biofuel. Here, RME show advantages for primary energy and GHG, but disadvantages in terms of acidification, eutrophication and ozone depletion. Source: “Assessing Biofuels”. Click to enlarge. |
A far more sophisticated approach needs to be taken when developing biofuels as an environmentally-friendly energy option, according to a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management. In the report, its first, the panel concludes governments should fit biofuels into an overall energy, climate, land-use, water and agricultural strategy if biofuels deployment is to benefit society, the economy and the environment as a whole.
An important analytical issue that needs to be addressed, the report notes, is the lack of lifecycle assessment studies focusing on a wider set of environmental impact indicators than greenhouse gas emissions. This lack makes it difficult to assess trade-offs between different environmental impact indicators.
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ArborGen LLC and Clemson University Form Research Cooperative on Woody Biomass for Biofuels
October 16, 2009
Clemson University and ArborGen LLC are partnering to develop purpose-grown woody biomass as feedstock for the biofuels industry. The cooperative will support South Carolina’s ethanol industry based on existing cellulose conversion technology, foster multi-agency collaboration and engage students in research and internships.
ArborGen and Clemson will identify areas of joint research, including plant genetics and development, field trials, equipment engineering, material handling and woody biomass pretreatment.
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Coskata Unveils Semi-Commercial Feedstock-Flexible Ethanol Facility; Springboard for Full-Scale Commercial Rollout
October 15, 2009
| Coskata’s semi-commercial facility in Madison, Pa. Click to enlarge. |
Coskata Inc., a syngas to ethanol company, officially launched its semi-commercial “Flexethanol” facility located in Madison, PA. The site represents the successful scale-up of the company’s feedstock-flexible bio-thermochemical technology, and will serve as a springboard for the construction of Coskata commercial facilities and licensing of the technology to other producers.
The Coskata process can produce more than 100 gallons of ethanol per ton of dry, ash-free biomass material at a cost competitive with expected gasoline prices—around $1.00 per gallon, according to Wes Bolsen, the company’s Chief Marketing Officer & VP, Government Affairs. Actual production cost will vary, either below or above $1.00 per gallon, based on the cost of feedstock and the cost of power for the specific plant, he noted.
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Secretary of the Navy Sets Target for 50% of Total Energy Consumption from Alternative Sources by 2020; Role for Biofuels and EVs
In a speech at the Naval Energy Forum, US Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus set out five energy targets for the department to meet over the course of the next decade, including the overall goal of half of the total energy consumption for ships, aircraft, tanks, vehicles, and shore installations coming from alternative sources by 2020.
Another of the five goals is for the Department of the Navy to reduce petroleum use in its 50,000 strong commercial fleet by half by 2015. It will do that, Secretary Mabus said, by replacing the current fleet, as they go out of service, with a new composite fleet of flex fuel vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and neighborhood electric vehicles.
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French Synthetic Biology Company Announces Proof-of-Concept of Process to Produce Isobutene from Sugars; New Pathway for Renewable Hydrocarbons
October 14, 2009
Global Bioenergies, a French startup located on the Genopole campus close to Paris, announced the proof-of-concept of a synthetic metabolic pathway for producing isobutene, a key chemical building block that can be converted into transportation fuels, polymers and various commodity chemicals.
Global Bioenergies’s pathway involves enzymes carrying out reactions unobserved in nature. The process—essentially a biological analog of the Fischer-Tropsch process, but one that does not require a high-temperature step—involves the production of a gas that spontaneously volatilizes during the reaction. This characteristic of the process eliminates two major costs associated with fermentative pathways that produce a liquid product:
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Discussion Paper Suggests Mechanisms for Addressing Biofuel GHG Emissions Under Cap-and-Trade Schemes; Avoiding the “Renewability Shortcut” and Moving Toward Carbon Management for All Transportation Fuels
October 09, 2009
Including biofuels under a cap-and-trade scheme could create a more complete carbon management framework for the transportation fuels sector, according to a new peer-reviewed discussion paper by Dr. John DeCicco. DeCicco, formerly on staff at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), is now a Senior Lecturer at the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment.
While including all fuels under a carbon cap is necessary for an effective climate policy, DeCicco argues, it is not sufficient for addressing all fuels-related emissions. “In particular, it fails to cover many GHG emissions during the production of biofuels and their feedstocks. It also risks emissions leakages through the interlinked fuels and agricultural commodity markets that cross the boundaries of capped and uncapped sectors both domestically and internationally. Thus, the carbon accounting system under a fossil-based cap alone is incomplete when it comes to biofuels.”
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GAO Report Concludes Industry and Government Face Significant Challenges in Meeting RFS Target While Minimizing Unintended Adverse Effects; Suggests Federal Research Give Priority to Non-Ethanol Biofuels
October 05, 2009
A report recently published by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) concludes that the US biofuels industry and federal agencies will face significant challenges in meeting the more demanding requirements for volumes of advanced biofuels in RFS2 while minimizing any unintended adverse effects.
As part of the report, which was requested by Senators Barbara Boxer (as Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works) and Susan Collins, the GAO makes several recommendations to Congress and for executive (i.e. Department or Agency-level) action. Among those is the recommendation that “to minimize future blend wall issues and associated ethanol distribution infrastructure costs...the Secretaries of Agriculture and Energy give priority to R&D on process technologies that produce biofuels that can be used by the existing petroleum-based distribution storage infrastructure and the current fleet of US vehicles”—i.e., non-ethanol biofuels.
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NSF Awards $40M in 20 Grants for Research on Natural Systems, Including 8 Projects for Obtaining Hydrocarbons from Plants and Microorganisms
September 29, 2009
The US National Science Foundation (NSF) is awarding 20 grants for FY 2009 in two research areas on natural systems: biosensing and bioactuation (12 awards); and obtaining hydrocarbons from biomass and microorganisms (8 awards). The awards total of $39,991,202 over four years to 94 investigators from 27 institutions through the NSF Office of Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI).
The group investigating the production of bio-hydrocarbons will produce hydrocarbons by pioneering processes for chemically converting plant material and by natural microbial and fungal processes that are even less-explored. They will also investigate methods for making hydrocarbon production fast, continuous, scalable, and cost-effective. Non-food sources of biomass with great energy potential include crops such as algae, switchgrass and poplar trees, and residues from lumber and agriculture.
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US DOE Awards POET Additional $6.85M for Feedstock Infrastructure for Cellulosic Ethanol
September 28, 2009
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a $6.85 million funding increase to an existing grant to ethanol producer POET. This is the first of two funding increases from DOE to help establish a market for corn cobs. The second, expected next year, is estimated to provide an additional $13.15 million. Cobs are the feedstock for POET’s effort to commercialize cellulosic ethanol, Project LIBERTY, which will be built in Emmetsburg, Iowa.
The grant increases will play a key role in establishing corn cobs as a viable commodity and setting the stage for corn cob harvesting across the United States, according to POET.
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Swedish Energy R&D Board Awards Up To US$72M to Chemrec for BioDME and Biomethanol Demo
The Swedish Energy R&D Board will provide an investment grant for the demonstration at industrial scale of the Chemrec technology for production of the renewable motor fuels BioDME (dimethyl ether) and Biomethanol. The new plant will be built at the Domsjö Fabriker biorefinery in Örnsköldsvik. (The biorefinery Domsjö Fabriker produces specialty cellulose, lignosulfonate and ethanol at Örnsköldsvik,550 km north of Stockholm.) The investment grant of up to SEK 500 million (€49 million, US$72 million) is contingent on approval by the EU Directorate General for Competition.
Earlier this month, Chemrec broke ground on a pulp mill-integrated BioDME biorefinery demonstration plant project in Piteå, Sweden, with expected biofuel production by mid-2010. The project will demonstrate the production of BioDME using black liquor from the pulp mill as feedstock, and will also demonstrate the use of this fuel in heavy vehicles in commercial service. (Earlier post.)
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WWF Reports Finds Industrial Biotechnology Could Reduce CO2 Emissions Between 1-2.5 Billion Tonnes per Year by 2030
September 21, 2009
| The bio-based economy. Output from primary production (agriculture and forestry) is used as feedstock for the production of intermediate and final products and services, which satisfy human needs. Once used, end-products become feedstock for the production of other products, achieving a closed loop. Click to enlarge. |
Industrial biotechnology has the potential to save the planet between 1 billion and 2.5 billion tons of CO2 equivalent emissions per year by 2030, compared with a scenario in which no industrial biotechnology applications are available—more than Germany’s total reported emissions in 1990—according to a set of two reports recently published by WWF Denmark.
The reports—one focused on technology, the other on policy—identify four fundamental dimensions of industrial biotechnology: improved efficiency; the substitution of fossil fuels; the substitution of oil-based materials; and the creation of a closed loop system with the potential to eliminate waste.
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Volvo Trucks in Bio-DME Field Test
September 18, 2009
| Bio-DME: wood to wheel. Click to enlarge. |
In a joint project with the EU, the Swedish Energy Agency, fuel companies and the transport industry, Volvo Trucks is investigating the potential for large-scale investment in dimethyl ether (DME) fuel produced from biomass (Bio-DME).
Volvo Trucks is participating in the project by contributing 14 Volvo FH trucks that will be tested by selected customers at four locations in different parts of Sweden between 2010 and 2012. The first field-test truck was shown today in Piteå, where the production of Bio-DME will take place in Chemrec’s demonstration plant, which just broke ground. (Earlier post.) The Volvo Group, of which Volvo Trucks is a part, is one of the co-owners of Chemrec via its subsidiary, Volvo Technology Transfer. (Earlier post.)
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FuturaGene to Develop Enhanced Poplar for the Chinese Biofuel and Biopower Markets
September 10, 2009
Israel-based FuturaGene PLC, a plant genetic researcher and developer for global forestry, biofuel and agricultural markets, has entered into an agreement with the Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF) to develop new enhanced poplar variants that feature increased yield, processability and abiotic stress characteristics for the Chinese domestic market. This is the second collaboration between FuturaGene and CAF; the first agreement was signed in 2007 and aimed at improving yield processability and disease resistance of eucalyptus trees.
Futuragene will provide proprietary genes and technical assistance to Professor Liwang Qi, Chief Expert on Silva Genetics at CAF in Beijing. The program aims at improving yield, drought and salt tolerance of short-rotation poplar for the biofuel and biomass markets.
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Vattenfall and Aalborg University Partner with SCF Technologies on Near Supercritical Bio-oil Process
September 05, 2009
| Overview of the CatLiq process. Source: SCF Technologies. Click to enlarge. |
Vattenfall and Aalborg University are partnering with Danish startup SCF Technologies in a two-year project to design a demonstration plant based on SCF’s CatLiq process—an application of the firm’s supercritical fluid technology in the catalytic production of bio-oil from organic waste.
CatLiq converts biomass and organic wastes in water at near or supercritical conditions (280-350 °C and 180-250 bar). Under these conditions water is very reactive, and converts, in the presence of homogeneous (KOH) and heterogeneous (ZrO2) catalysts, the organic fraction of the feed into smaller and more saturated molecules in the form of a bio-oil product, a water-soluble organics product and a high calorific value gas product. In addition to the bio-oil/methane products, the process can be tuned to produce hydrogen and water soluble fuels such as methanol, ethanol or acetaldehyde.
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DOE Selects High-Tonnage Biomass Feedstock Projects for up to $21M in Funding
August 31, 2009
The US Department of Energy will award up to $21 million to five projects that will develop supply systems to handle and deliver high-tonnage biomass feedstocks for cellulosic biofuels production. The selection of the projects is in response to a funding opportunity announcement issued by DOE back in March.(Earlier post.)
The chosen awards were selected as the best projects to stimulate the design and demonstration of a comprehensive system to handle the harvesting, collection, preprocessing, transport, and storage of sufficient volumes of sustainably produced feedstocks. Feedstocks or combinations of feedstocks that were considered include: agricultural residues, energy crops (e.g., switchgrass, miscanthus, energycane, sorghum, poplar, willow), forest resources (e.g., forest thinnings, wood chips, wood wastes, small diameter trees), and urban wood wastes.
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Diversified Energy Moves Ahead With New Projects for Omnigas and Centia Technologies
August 29, 2009
Diversified Energy Corporation, an alternative and renewable energy technology development company with a portfolio of several technologies, recently received support for further projects developing its HydroMax/OmniGas molten-metals based gasification technology (earlier post) and its Centia renewable biohydrocarbon drop-in fuel technology (earlier post).
The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE/NETL) approved the second year of Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) funding for Diversified Energy’s OmniGas molten-metals based gasification technology.
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Researchers Produce Biocrude from Switchgrass with Subcritical Water
August 27, 2009
| Major pathways for the conversion of biomass to biofuels. The subcritical pathway in the study is outlined in red. Credit: ACS. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at Auburn University have shown a subcritical water treatment (hydrothermal liquefaction) that effectively liquefies switchgrass to produce a biocrude at a comparatively low temperature (235 °C) in a flow reactor. The biocrude in this study is an aqueous carbohydrate solution derived from the direct liquefaction of biomass; it can be converted to liquid fuel, hydrogen, or chemicals.
One of the perceived advantages to a hydrothermal liquefaction process is its ability to utilize mixed biomass feedstock without any pretreatment or drying, at a comparatively low temperature. Since water is used both as a reactant and as the reaction medium, the moisture content of biomass is not an issue.
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Two Genomic Research Projects in British Columbia Tackle Issues in Emerging Forestry Biofuels Industry
August 24, 2009
| Cumulative percentage (in 2008) of lodgepole pine killed by the pine beetle infestation in British Columbia. Source: BC Ministry of Forests and Range. Click to enlarge. |
Two new genomic research projects in British Columbia (Canada), largely funded by Genome British Columbia, are investigating two separate aspects of forestry biofuels in the province: how to convert efficiently the mass of dead, unmarketable lodgepole pine resulting from the mountain pine beetle infestation to fuel, and how to optimize the poplar tree as a replacement biofuel feedstock for a BC biofuel industry once the dead lodegpole pine runs out.
Genome British Columbia is a research organization that invests in and manages large-scale genomics and proteomics research projects and science and technology platforms focused on areas of strategic importance such as human health, forestry, fisheries, agriculture, bioenergy, mining, and the environment.
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Study Finds Water Use for Switchgrass Ethanol Production Approximately the Same as for Gasoline
August 23, 2009
| Consumptive freshwater use for ethanol and petroleum gasoline production. Data: Wu, ANL/ESD/09-1. Click to enlarge. |
In the US, producing one gallon of ethanol from switchgrass consumes approximately the same net amount of water as does producing a gallon of gasoline from conventional crude or oil sands oil, according to a study by Argonne National Laboratory researchers presented at the 238th national meeting of the American Chemical Society last week.
The production of both bio and petroleum feedstocks and fuels requires substantial water input. Biofuel feedstocks such as corn, switchgrass, and agricultural residues need water for growth and conversion to ethanol; petroleum feedstocks such as crude oil and oil sands also require large volumes of water for drilling, extraction, and conversion into petroleum products. In many cases, the Argonne team noted, crude oil production is increasingly water dependent.
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Rentech to Supply Up to 1.5M Gallons Per Year of Renewable Synthetic Diesel to Eight Airlines for Ground Service Equipment Operations at Los Angeles International Airport
August 18, 2009
Rentech, Inc. has signed a multi-year agreement to supply eight airlines with up to 1.5 million gallons per year of renewable synthetic diesel (RenDiesel) for ground service equipment operations at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) beginning in late 2012, when the plant that will produce the fuel is scheduled to go into service.
The initial purchasers under the agreement with Aircraft Service International Group (ASIG), the entity that provides fueling services to many airlines that operate at LAX, are Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, UPS Airlines and US Airways. Additional airline purchasers of RenDiesel can be added under the agreement with ASIG.
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BP and Martek Biosciences Enter a Joint Development Agreement to Deliver Advanced Microbial Biofuels
August 11, 2009
BP and Martek Biosciences Corporation signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to work on the production of microbial oils for biofuels applications. The partnership combines a broad technology platform and operational capabilities to advance the development of a step-change technology for the conversion of sugars into renewable diesel fuels.
Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, Martek and BP will work together to establish proof of concept for large-scale, cost effective microbial biofuels production through fermentation. Martek, a nutritional products company, has developed and patented two fermentable strains of microalgae which produce oils rich in docosahexaenoic acid, DHA. A similar patented process was developed for a fungus that produces an oil rich in arachidonic acid, ARA. Both DHA and ARA are important nutrients for optimal infant development.
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National Research Council Report on America’s Energy Future Highlights Vehicle Efficiency Technologies, Conversion of Biomass and Coal-to-Liquids Fuels, and Electrifying the Light Duty Fleet with PHEVs, BEVs and FCVs
July 31, 2009
| Estimates of potential for gasoline consumption reduction in the US light duty fleet in 2020 and 2035 relative to 2007. Projected consumption assumes efficiency improvements in powertrain and vehicle are offset by increases in performance, size and weight. Improvements result from an optimistic scenario achieving doubling of new vehicle fuel economy in 2035 from today’s value. Source: America’s Energy Future, Fig. 2.4. Click to enlarge. |
With a sustained national commitment, the United States could obtain substantial energy-efficiency improvements, new sources of energy, and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through the accelerated deployment of existing and emerging energy technologies, according to the prepublication copy of the capstone report of the America’s Energy Future project of the National Research Council, the operating arm of the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering.
However, the report concludes, initiating deployment of these technologies is urgent; actions taken—or not taken—between now and 2020 to develop and demonstrate several key technologies will largely determine the nation’s energy options for many decades to come. For the transportation sector, these key technologies include a focus on improving vehicle efficiency; developing technologies for the conversion of biomass and coal-to-liquid fuels; and electrifying the light-duty vehicle fleet through expanded deployment of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs).
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Researchers Outline Consensus Position on “Beneficial Biofuels”
July 19, 2009
Noting that society “cannot afford to miss out” on the multiple benefits of biofuels “done right”, but that society also “cannot accept the undesirable impacts of biofuels done wrong,” eleven researchers suggest what they describe as a consensus position on beneficial biofuels in a paper published 17 July in Science.
Lead author is David Tilman of the University of Minnesota. Co-authors include the U of M’s Jonathan Foley and Jason Hill; Princeton’s Robert Socolow, Eric Larson, Stephen Pacala, Tim Searchinger and Robert Williams; Dartmouth’s Lee Lynd; MIT’s John Reilly; and the University of California, Berkeley’s Chris Somerville.
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DfT Publishes Ricardo Report on Technology Options for Reducing CO2 Emissions from Heavy Goods Vehicles; Focus on Vehicles, Powertrains and Fuels
July 18, 2009
| Representation of cost vs. benefit of low-carbon HGV technologies. Source: Ricardo/DfT. Click to enlarge. |
The UK Department for Transport has published a report prepared by Ricardo on the potential of various technologies for reducing CO2 emissions that are applicable to the heavy goods vehicle (HGV) sector. HGVs (goods transport vehicles with >3.5t GVW) represent 24% and vans 12% of total UK road transport greenhouse gas emissions.
The report presents an analysis of a number of HGV technologies with carbon saving potential and evaluates these technologies in terms of CO2 benefits, technology costs, environmental costs arising from production of the technology, safety and other limitations, and the maturity of the technology within the market. The report then summarizes which technologies are the most promising in terms of CO2 benefits when all these other factors are taken into consideration.
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GAO Preliminary Observations on Links Between Water, Biofuels and Electricity; Calls for More Research
July 13, 2009
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) last week provided preliminary observations as testimony to the House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, Committee on Science and Technology on the water-energy nexus related to biofuels and water and thermoelectric power plants and water.
The subcommittee had requested GAO undertake three studies related to (1) biofuels and water, (2) thermoelectric power plants and water, and (3) oil shale and water.
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JBEI Researchers Develop Dynamic Visualization Technique to Assess Performance of Ionic Liquid Pretreatments of Biomass
July 11, 2009
| Fluorescence images of a stem of switchgrass treated with EmimAc ionic liquid showing the section (a) before treatment (b) 20 minutes after treatment (c) 50 minutes after treatment and (d) two hours after treatment when the organized plant cell wall structure has been completely broken down. Source: JBEI. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), a US Department of Energy Bioenergy Research Center led by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have developed a technique, based on the natural auto-fluorescence of plant cell walls, that enables researchers for the first time to visualize dynamically solubilization during an ionic liquid pretreatment of a biomass sample (pristine switchgrass, Panicum virgatum, in the study).
Cellulosic biomass must be pretreated prior to adding enzymes for saccharification of cellulose or hemicelluloses to release sugars for processing into fuel as yields are too low otherwise to be economically competitive. The use of ionic liquids—salts that are liquids rather than crystals at room temperature—to dissolve lignocellulose and later help hydrolyze the resulting liquor into sugars for processing into biofuels, shows promise as a pre-treatment method (e.g., earlier post).
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Rentech Takes 25% Stake in Biomass Gasification Company
June 24, 2009
Rentech, the developer of a Fischer-Tropsch process for the conversion of syngas derived from biomass and fossil resources into synthetic fuels, specialty waxes and chemicals, has acquired a 25% stake in ClearFuels Technology Inc. through a strategic investment.
ClearFuels, established in 1998, has exclusive rights to a proprietary High Efficiency Hydrothermal Reformer (HEHTR) and process for biomass to syngas conversion (BTG). The ClearFuels technology can convert multiple cellulosic biomass feedstocks such as sugarcane bagasse and virgin wood waste into clean synthesis gas (syngas) suitable for integration with synthetic gas-to-liquids technologies.
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Virent Receives Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award for BioForming Process to Produce Biohydrocarbon Fuels
June 22, 2009
| Overview of Virent’s BioForming process. Click to enlarge. |
Virent Energy Systems is receiving one of five 2009 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards (Small Business Award) for its BioForming process—a water-based, catalytic method to make gasoline, diesel, or jet fuel from the sugar, starch, or cellulose of plants that requires little external energy other than the plant biomass. (Earlier post.)
Virent’s catalytic BioForming process combines proprietary aqueous-phase reforming (APR) technology with conventional catalytic processing technologies used in petroleum refining—such as catalytic hydrotreating and catalytic condensation processes, including ZSM-5 acid condensation, base catalyzed condensation, acid catalyzed dehydration, and alkylation—to generate the same range of hydrocarbon molecules now refined from petroleum.
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New One-Pot Catalytic Pathway to Convert Cellulose to Glucose and HMF, an Intermediate for Fuels and Chemicals
June 09, 2009
| Hydrolysis product yield from cellulose using single and paired CuCl2 /CrCl2 catalysts. Zhang et. al. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have developed a catalytic pathway for the rapid conversion of cellulose to sugars and further to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)—a versatile intermediate for chemicals and fuels.
In 2007, the PNNL team had reported developing a catalytic system to efficiently convert glucose to HMF. (Earlier post.) However, for such a process to be commercially sustainable in large quantities, cellulosic biomass must be able to be used as the feedstock. The bottleneck has been the decrystallization of cellulose followed by hydrolytic cleavage. The new work addresses that issue.
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Study Finds Water Footprint for Bioenergy Larger Than Other Forms of Energy; Bioelectricity the Smallest, Biodiesel the Largest
June 06, 2009
| Total weighted global average water footprints (blue and green) for major ethanol and biodiesel crops in m3 water per GJ fuel. The yellow marker (also left axis) indicates the total weighted global average WF for bioelectricity from the same crops. The red marker (right axis) indicates liters of water required to produce one liter of fuel. Data: Gerbens-Leenes et al. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at the University of Twente, Netherlands have calculated the water footprints (WFs) of bioenergy from 12 crops that currently contribute the most to global agricultural production: barley, cassava, maize, potato, rapeseed, rice, rye, sorghum, soybean, sugar beet, sugar cane, and wheat. In addition, their study includes jatropha, an energy crop.
In general they found that bioelectricity is more water-efficient than first-generation biofuels (due largely to the ability to use the entire biomass to produce energy, rather than just the starch or oil fraction of the yield for liquid fuel production). They also found that the WF of bioethanol on a m3 of water per GJ of fuel basis appears to be smaller than that of biodiesel. Their results appeared 2 June in an open access paper in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
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New One-Pot Catalytic Process For Hydrogenation of Bio-Oil to Produce Alkanes
May 12, 2009
| Plot of phenol conversion, cyclohexanol selectivity, and cyclohexanone selectivity for the aqueous-phase hydrogenation of phenol as a function of reaction time. Zhao et al. (2009) Click to enlarge. |
A team of German and Chinese scientists led by Johannes A. Lercher at the Technical University of Munich has developed a new catalytic process for the aqueous-phase hydrogenation of components of bio-oil directly into alkanes and methanol. As reported in the journal Angewandte Chemie, the process is based on a “one-pot reaction” catalyzed by a precious metal on a carbon support combined with an inorganic acid.
Bio-oil (or pyrolysis oil) is produced by fast pyrolysis or liquefaction of biomass. Although a promising second-generation renewable energy carrier, its high oxygen content, instability and lower energy content make direct use as an advanced liquid fuel not feasible. Consequently, there are a number of research initiatives underway exploring pathways for the efficient upgrading of bio-oil to a fungible hydrocarbon fuel. The US Department of Energy is also funding research in stabilizing bio-oils to support such upgrading. (Earlier post.)
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Study Finds Bioelectricity Better Option Than Liquid Biofuels for Transportation Output and GHG Emissions
May 08, 2009
| Kilometers per crop hectare for switchgrass feedstock with a small SUV. Campbell et al. (2009) Click to enlarge. |
A new life cycle assessment comparing the performance of bioelectricity and ethanol from a variety of pathways with respect to transportation kilometers and GHG offsets achieved per unit area of biofuels cropland concludes that bioelectricity used to charge a battery electric vehicle outperforms ethanol for a combustion engine across a range of feedstocks, conversion technologies, and vehicle classes.
The study by University of California, Merced, Assistant Professor Elliott Campbell along with Christopher Field of the Carnegie Institution’s Department of Global Ecology and David Lobell of Stanford University, found that bioelectricity produces an average 81% more transportation kilometers and 108% more emissions offsets per unit area cropland than cellulosic ethanol. A paper on the work appeared in the 8 May issue of the journal Science.
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$26.4B DOE FY 2010 Budget Request Cuts Funding for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles; With Recovery Act Funding Boosts Support for PHEVs, Biomass and Biorefineries
May 07, 2009
| The budget picture for the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. FY 2010 Budget requests are in green, the FY 2009 additional appropriation (Recovery Act funding) is in red. Electrification of transportation is receiving a major infusion of investment. Click to enlarge. |
President Barack Obama’s Fiscal Year 2010 $26.4 billion budget request to Congress for the Department of Energy increases investments in a number of areas, including investments in basic science and plug-in and hybrid electric vehicles and biofuels. It also scales back in areas such as oil and gas company research and moves away from funding vehicular hydrogen fuel cells to technologies “with more immediate promise,” according to Energy Secretary Steven Chu.
The budget request represents a 21.8% decrease against the FY 2009 Appropriation of $33.7 billion for DOE. However, the FY 2010 budget complements the $38.7 billion the Department of Energy will invest as part of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
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President Obama Establishes Biofuels Interagency Working Group; Push on Biofuel Development/Commercialization and Flex-Fuel Vehicle Use
May 05, 2009
US President Barack Obama has established a Biofuels Interagency Working Group, to be co-chaired by the Secretaries of Agriculture and Energy and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to further the research, development and commercialization of biofuels.
The announcement came in conjunction with the EPA’s release of its notice of proposed rulemaking for the Renewable Fuel Standard (earlier post), and the Department of Energy’s announcement of $787.5 million in funding to be awarded to advanced biofuels research and commercialization projects (earlier post).
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DOE to Provide $786.5M from Recovery Act to Accelerate Biofuels Research and Commercialization
The US Department of Energy plans to provide $786.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to accelerate advanced biofuels research and development and to provide additional funding for commercial-scale biorefinery demonstration projects. The funding is a mix of new funding opportunities and additional funding for existing projects. It will be allocated across four main areas: integrated pilot- and demonstration-scale biorefineries; commercial-scale biorefinery projects; fundamental research; and ethanol research.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) Biomass Program will leverage DOE’s national laboratories, universities, and the private sector to help improve biofuels reliability and overcome key technical challenges, with the goal of creating third-generation biofuels such as renewable gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels.
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EPA Proposes New Regulations for Renewable Fuel Standard to Implement Requirements of EISA; GHG Reduction and Indirect Land Use Change Effects Included
| Example of results from EPA lifecycle analyses in the NPRM. Emissions for select fuel pathways for the two time horizon/discount rate approaches. (See below.) Click to enlarge. |
The US Environmental Protection Agency released its expected Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) detailing the implementation of changes to the existing Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS1) as required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). The proposed rulemaking for RFS2 establishes new specific volume standards for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel that must be used in transportation fuel each year. (Earlier post.)
The revised statutory requirements for RFS2 also include new definitions and criteria for both renewable fuels and the feedstocks used to produce them, including new greenhouse gas emission (GHG) thresholds for renewable fuels and the incorporation of indirect land use change effects.
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Researchers Propose Solar-Driven Biomass Gasification Pathway for Synthetic Fuel Production
May 01, 2009
| Schema of synfuel synthesis through solar-driven biomass gasification. Solar energy produces both heat for gasification and H2 via electrolysis. From Hertwich et al. (2009) Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) are proposing a new process for producing synfuel from biomass using concentrating solar energy as its main energy source.
High temperature heat for biomass gasification is obtained from a molten-salt system in a solar concentrating tower. Hydrogen for reverse water gas shift reaction to avoid producing CO2 during the process is produced by electrolyzing water, driven by solar power.
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Researchers Discover Potential Weaknesses in Structure of Lignocellulose; Insight Could Lead to Cost-Effective Strategies for Biomass Conversion
April 23, 2009
| Click to enlarge. Source: Los Alamos National Laboratory. |
In separate papers published in Biophysical Journal and recently in an issue of the journal Biomacromolecules, Los Alamos National Laboratory researchers identify potential weaknesses among sheets of cellulose molecules comprising lignocellulosic biomass, the inedible fibrous material derived from plant cell walls. The insight ultimately could lead to a cost-effective and energy-efficient strategy for turning biomass into alternative fuels.
Cellulose is biosynthesized in plant cells by the polymerization of glucose into long chains (green, dark blue in diagram at right). As the chains are produced, they are assembled into sheets (light blue) that stack on top of each other through van der Waals forces to form nanometer-thick crystalline microfibrils (blue rods) in the cell wall (gold). The microfibrils are encrusted in other polysaccharides and lignin. Cellulose stability is maintained by networks of hydrogen bonds (yellow dashes) within the sheets.
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Researchers Engineer Yeast to Produce Methyl Halides from Biomass; Precursors for Biohydrocarbon Fuels
April 22, 2009
| CH3I production from cellulosic feedstocks using a microbial co-culture. A. fermentans ferments cellulosic feedstocks to acetate and ethanol, which the modified S. cerevisiae uses to produce methyl halides. Adapted from Bayer et al. (2009). Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at the University of California San Francisco have engineered the industrial yeast S. cerevisiae to convert biomass to methyl halides with good yield. As end products, methyl halides (CH3X, X = Cl, Br or I) are used in a variety of applications. They can also be used as intermediates for the chemical synthesis of more complex carbon compounds such as fuel hydrocarbons.
Zeolite catalysts (e.g., ZSM-5 and SAPO-34) have been used to convert methyl halides to products including gasoline, olefins, aromatics, alcohols and ethers. A method to convert biomass to methyl halides thus enables the transformation of biomass into drop-in chemicals and liquid fuels—e.g., bio-gasoline—in a two-step process. A paper on the work was published online 20 April in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
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Group of Scientists and Economists Urge Inclusion of Indirect Land Use Change Effects for Biofuels and All Transportation Fuels in California LCFS
April 21, 2009
More than 170 scientists and economists have sent a letter to California Air Resources Board (ARB) Chairman Mary Nichols urging the board to account for greenhouse gas emissions from indirect land use change for biofuels and all other transportation fuels under the state’s proposed low carbon fuel standard (LCFS). The signatories include nine members of the National Academies of Science and two Nobel laureates.
During its meeting on 23-24 April, the Board will consider the adoption of the LCFS, which requires a 10% reduction in the carbon intensity (measured in gCO2e/MJ) of transportation fuels in California by 2020.
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Diesel Brewing to Manufacture Cellulosic Biobutanol from Biomass and Manure With Thermochemical Process
Oregon-based Diesel Brewing has launched an initiative to manufacture cellulosic biobutanol from biomass and dairy farm manure. Biobutanol can be blended into conventional gasoline or diesel stocks without engine modifications. Compared to ethanol, it has higher energy content, is substantially less corrosive, and can be transported utilizing existing fuel pipelines and containers.
Butanol is certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an additive agent in gasoline up to 11%. Tests conducted at Argonne National Laboratory have shown that 20% butanol-diesel blends can be successfully used in engines calibrated for 100% diesel fuel. Results showed that butanol mixed with diesel can reduce emissions of criteria pollutants.
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Ceres and University of Georgia Researchers Focus on High-Yielding Switchgrass for Southeast US
April 13, 2009
Energy crop company Ceres, Inc., will work with University of Georgia researchers to develop new high-yielding switchgrass seed varieties and improved crop management techniques for the southeastern United States. Switchgrass, which can reach yields of 6 to 10 dry tons or more in the Southeast, is being widely considered as a raw material for next-generation biofuels and biopower.
The multi-year project will bring together plant breeders, agronomists and support scientists at Ceres and the University of Georgia to develop improved seed varieties.
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Analysis of Superfamily of Plant Genes Yielding Insights to Assist in Optimizing Plants for Biofuel Production
April 12, 2009
By studying a superfamily of genes in Populus and Arabidopsis, scientists at the US Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory are gaining insights that may assist in engineering plants to be more tractable for biofuel production. The study, published online 3 April in the journal Plant Molecular Biology, also lays a foundation for understanding these genes’ evolutionary and structural properties and for a broader exploration of their roles in plant life.
The team, led by Dr. Chang-Jun Liu, is studying the large specific protein superfamily BAHD, which comprises plant acyl-CoA dependent acyltransferases. Acyl groups attached to cell-wall fibers can act as barriers to hinder the conversion of plant biofibers to sugar. Acyl groups can also form cross-linked networks that make cell walls extra strong.
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SCOPE Biofuels Project Releases Assessment on Environmental Effects of Biofuel Technologies
April 03, 2009
The SCOPE (Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment) International Biofuels Project, has published the full proceedings of its Rapid Assessment workshop on the environmental effects of biofuel technologies, 22-25 September 2008. SCOPE is part of the International Council for Science.
While noting that most recent studies based on lifecycle analysis show that even first generation biofuels can result in “a substantial reduction” in net greenhouse gas emissions (80% to greater than 100% for sugarcane ethanol, 30% to 50% for corn ethanol), papers in the study express concerns over what they contend are potentially undercalculated N2O greenhouse gas effects; the exacerbation of hypoxia from run-off; the need for inclusion of indirect land use effects in greenhouse gas assessments; water use and quality; and other environmental and social effects.
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Caltech Researchers Create Group of Synthetic, Thermostable Enzymes for Cellulosic Biofuel Production
March 24, 2009
| Portions of three natural fungal cellulase enzymes that have been recombined to produce a synthetic, thermostable cellulase are denoted by blue, green and red coloring. The recombined cellulase enzyme modeled here functions at higher temperatures than any of the three parents. Source: Caltech. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) led by Frances H. Arnold, the Dick and Barbara Dickinson Professor of Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry at Caltech, and gene-synthesis company DNA2.0 have developed a new group of 15 highly stable fungal enzyme catalysts that efficiently break down cellulose into sugars at high temperatures for conversion into a variety of renewable fuels and chemicals.
Previously, fewer than 10 such fungal cellobiohydrolase II (CBH II) enzymes were known. In addition to their remarkable stabilities, Arnold’s enzymes degrade cellulose over a wide range of conditions. A paper on the work was published 23 March in the early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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DOE to Award Up to $15M for High-Tonnage Supply Systems for Biomass Feedstocks for Cellulosic Biofuels
March 19, 2009
The US Department of Energy (DOE) will award up to $15 million to stimulate the design and demonstration of a comprehensive system to handle the harvesting, collection, preprocessing, transport and storage of sufficient volumes of high-impact feedstocks required to achieve the rapid expansion of the commercial domestic cellulosic biofuels industry.
For the purposes of awards under this Funding Opportunity Announcement (DE-FOA-0000060), high-impact feedstocks must have the ultimate sustainable potential of providing at least 100 million dry metric tonnes per year.
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Iowa State Researchers Developing New Thermochemical System for Ethanol Production from Biomass
March 10, 2009
Researchers at Iowa State University are developing a new thermochemical system for the coproduction of ethanol and thermal energy, based on a new low-emissions burner and a new catalyst for ethanol production. Both technologies will use the synthesis gas—a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen—produced by the gasification of discarded seed corn, switchgrass, wood chips and other biomass.
The burner will be designed to efficiently and cleanly burn biomass-derived syngas; the catalyst will be designed to convert the syngas directly into ethanol. The project is supported by a two-year, $2.37 million grant from the Iowa Power Fund, a state program to advance energy innovation and independence. The grant award carries a $922,112 committed match.
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Researchers Develop Two-Step Chemical Process to Take Untreated Biomass to Furans for Fuels and Chemicals
February 12, 2009
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| Yields of bio-based chemicals from a variety of feedstocks, including untreated corn stover. Conditions are optimized for the conversion of carbohydrates into HMF (1 step) and DMF (2 steps). Credit: ACS. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a two-step, low-temperature, non-enzymic pathway from lignocellulosic biomass to furans, specifically 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF), a promising alternative biofuel. DMF has an energy content (31.5 MJ/L) similar to that of gasoline (35 MJ/L) and 40% greater than that of ethanol (23 MJ/L). With a boiling point of 92-94 °C, DMF is also less volatile than ethanol (bp 78 °C) and is immiscible with water.
The key to the new process is the first step, in which a novel solvent system converts cellulose into the renewable platform chemical 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), from which a variety of valuable commodity chemicals and fuels can be made. A paper describing the process was published in the 11 Feb issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
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Sandia Labs/GM Biofuels Systems Study Concludes Large-Scale Production of Advanced Biofuels is Achievable and Sustainable
February 10, 2009
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| Among the study’s findings is that the capex required for developing 60 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol is equivalent to or less than that required for new long-term petroleum production. Source: Sandia. Click to enlarge. |
A joint biofuels systems analysis project conducted over nine months last year by Sandia National Laboratories and GM’s R&D Center concluded that the large-scale production of advanced biofuels produced from plant and forestry waste and dedicated energy crops in volumes well beyond the level required by the Renewable Fuel Standard is achievable and sustainable by 2030.
The study, said Robert Carling, Director, Transportation Energy Center at Sandia, represents the first true value-chain approach to assessing the feasibility, implications, limitations, and enablers of large-scale production of biofuels in the United States.
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NETL Report Concludes CTL Plus Carbon Capture Results in Fuel with 5-12% Less Lifecycle GHG Than Petroleum Diesel; Modest Biomass Additions Lower GHG Further
February 07, 2009
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| Lifecycle GHG emissions of CTL/CBTL/BTL compared to 2005 petroleum diesel baseline. Background colors of the cells represent the crude oil price required for economic feasibility. Tarka et al. (2009) Click to enlarge. |
A new report from the US Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) concludes that coupling a Coal to Liquids (CTL) process with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) yields a fuel with 5-12% less lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to the average emissions profile of petroleum-derived diesel, based on the US national average in 2005. These synthetic fuels are economically competitive with petro-diesel when the crude oil price (COP) is at or above $86 per barrel (based on a 20% rate of return, in January 2008 dollars, with a carbon price of zero).
Adding biomass to the coal in the CTL process (Coal and Biomass to Liquids, CBTL) can reduce the GHG emissions further, according to the study. A mixture of 8% (by weight) biomass and 92% coal can produce fuels which have 20% lower life cycle GHG emissions than petroleum-derived diesel and which are economically competitive when crude prices are equal to or above $93/bbl.
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Biosyncrude Gasification Process Could Produce Motor Fuel at Cost of Around $3/gallon
January 31, 2009
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| Overview of the Bioliq process. Source: Henrich et al. Click to enlarge. |
The Bioliq biosyncrude gasification process (earlier post) used in a large plant with a capacity of > 1 Mt/a can produce biosynfuel for about €1.04 per kg or €0.8 per liter (US$3.08/gallon US), according to an analysis by researchers at Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Germany, which is co-developing the process with Lurgi.
With ±30% estimate error, this is between €0.56 and €1.04 per liter (US$2.72-5.03/gallon US), they note in a paper published in the journal Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining. A crude oil price of US$100/bbl results in an approximate cost of €0.56/L (US$2.72/gallon US) without tax for conventional motor fuel.
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USDA, DOE to Provide Up To $25M for Biomass Research and Development
January 30, 2009
The US Departments of Energy (DOE) and Agriculture (USDA) will provide up to $25 million in funding for research and development of technologies and processes to produce biofuels, bioenergy, and high-value bio-based products, subject to annual appropriations.
USDA and DOE are issuing a joint funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for several types of projects aimed at increasing the availability of alternative renewable fuels and bio-based products. The projects will aim to create a diverse group of economically and environmentally sustainable sources of renewable biomass. Advanced biofuels produced from these types of sources are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 50%.
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Scientists Publish Complete Genetic Blueprint of Sorghum
January 29, 2009
Scientists at the US Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Genome Institute (JGI) and several partner institutions have published the sequence and analysis of the complete genome of sorghum, a major food and fodder plant with high potential as a bioenergy crop. The genome data will aid scientists in optimizing sorghum and other crops not only for food and fodder use, but also for biofuels production. The comparative analysis of the sorghum genome appears in the 29 January edition of the journal Nature.
Prized for its drought resistance and high productivity, sorghum is currently the second most prevalent biofuels crop in the United States, behind corn. Grain sorghum produces the same amount of ethanol per bushel as corn while utilizing one-third less water.
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UK Launches £27M Bioenergy Research Center
January 28, 2009
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| The Gribble, a marine wood borer with efficient gut enzymes for breaking down woody material, is the focus of one of the research hubs in the new Bioenergy Center. Source: BBSRC. Click to enlarge. |
The UK&rsauo;s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has launched the £27-million (US$38.5 million) BBSRC Sustainable Bioenergy Centre, marking the biggest yet single UK public investment in bioenergy research.
The BBSRC Sustainable Bioenergy Centre is focussed on six research hubs of academic and industrial partners, based at each of the Universities of Cambridge, Dundee and York and Rothamsted Research and two at the University of Nottingham. Another 7 universities and institutes are involved and 15 industrial partners across the hubs are contributing around £7 million of the funding.
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Researchers Identify Endophytic Bacteria That Increase Poplar Tree Growth; Implications for Increasing Biomass for the Production of Biofuel
January 26, 2009
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| Sample effects of two different endophytes (Enterobacter sp. 638, left; P. putida W619, right) on the rooting and shoot formation of poplar DN-34 after 10 weeks. Taghavi et al. (2009) supplemental material. Click to enlarge. |
Through work originally designed to remove contaminants from soil, scientists at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and their Belgium colleagues at Hasselt University have identified a number of endophytic (living within a plant) microbes that can improve poplar tree growth on marginal land. Two strains in particular showed an increase in biomass production of up to 50%.
The findings, published in the 1 February issue of Applied and Environmental Microbiology, may help scientists design strategies for sustainable biofuel feedstock production that does not use food crops or agricultural land.
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USDA to Advance Development of Advanced Biofuels and Other Renewables; Provide Support for Struggling Corn-Ethanol Industry
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will advance R&D and pursue opportunities to support the development of advanced biofuels, wind power, and other renewable energy sources, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Vilsack was discussing his priorities as Secretary of Agriculture during a teleconference call with the media.
Vilsack said that the USDA needs to make sure that the existing biofuels industry has the necessary support to survive the current challenging market. For example, the USDA will research, develop and promote best practices to improve the efficiency of corn ethanol plants, Vilsack said. USDA also will promote policies to accelerate the development of next-generation biofuels.
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Avantium and Royal Cosun to Develop Process for Production of Furanics Biofuels and Bioplastics from Ag Waste
January 21, 2009
Avantium, a high-throughput R&D company with core expertise in catalysis and crystallization, and Royal Cosun, an international group that develops, produces and sells natural foodstuffs and ingredients, are collaborating to develop a specific process for the production of a new generation of bioplastics and biofuels from selected organic waste streams.
Avantium is developing these bioplastics and biofuels under the name Furanics. Furanics are heteroaromatic compounds derived from the chemical intermediate HMF (hydroxymethylfurfural, C6H6O3). (Earlier post.)
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Monsanto Moves Closer to Launch of First Drought-Tolerant Corn Product
January 07, 2009
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| Five years of field trials have shown yield improvements delivered by the drought-tolerant corn. Source: Monsanto. Click to enlarge. |
Monsanto Company’s first-generation drought-tolerant corn product has moved to the fourth and final phase of development before an anticipated market launch early in the next decade, according to Monsanto’s annual update of its Research and Development (R&D) pipeline. Monsanto has submitted the product to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for regulatory clearance.
Drought-tolerant corn is designed to provide farmers yield stability during periods when water supply is scarce by mitigating the effects of drought—or water stress—within a corn plant.
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US DOE Announces Funding Of Up To $200M for Pilot and Demonstration Scale Advanced Biorefinery Projects
December 22, 2008
The US Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for up to $200 million over six years (FY 2009 – FY 2014), subject to annual appropriations, to support the development of pilot and demonstration-scale biorefineries including the use of feedstocks such as algae and production of advanced biofuels such as bio-butanol, green gasoline and other innovative biofuels.
The FOA has two topic areas for biorefinery development: pilot-scale, minimum throughput of one dry tonne of feedstock per day with a minimum non-federal cost-share at 30%; and demonstration-scale minimum throughput of 50 dry tonnes of feedstock per day, with a minimum non-federal cost-share at 50%.
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Optimizing Algae for Biofuels Production by Genetically Truncating Their Chlorophyll Arrays
December 18, 2008
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| Photosynthetic O2-production with C. reinhardtii wild type and tla1 mutant as a function of Chl concentration. Note the greater rates of O2-production in the tla1 than in the wild type under conditions of high cell density (high Chl concentration). Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley are developing an approach to improving the solar-to-biofuels energy conversion efficiency of algae in mass culture by genetically truncating the size of the light-harvesting chlorophyll arrays that serve to absorb sunlight in the photosynthetic apparatus. A paper on their work appears in a special energy issue of the open-access journal Optics Express.
Researchers have calculated, based on a quantum yield of 0.103 O2 per photon absorbed, that the productivity of microalgae under bright sunlight could be up to 75 g dry weight m-2 d-1. However, small-scale cultures of microalgae grown under full sunlight show maximal photosynthetic productivity of about 20-30 g dw m-2 d-1. The reason for this discrepancy, the Berkeley team of Mautusi Mitra and Anastasios Melis notes, is that green algae assemble large arrays of light absorbing chlorophyll (Chl) antenna molecules in their photosystems.
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JAL Biofuel Demo Flight First to Use Energy Crop Camelina
December 17, 2008
Japan Airlines (JAL) will be the first airline to conduct a demonstration flight using a sustainable biofuel refined from the energy crop camelina. The demo flight, which will test a blend of 50% biofuel and 50% traditional Jet-A jet (kerosene) fuel in one of the four Pratt & Whitney JT9D engines of a JAL-owned Boeing 747-300 aircraft, is planned for 30 January 2009 out of Haneda Airport, Tokyo.
The biofuel component—a synthetic paraffinic kerosene produced by UOP (earlier post)—will be produced from a mixture of three second-generation biofuel feedstocks: camelina (84%), jatropha (less than 16%), and algae (less than 1%).
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Study Concludes Afforestation of Degraded Areas Could Provide Sufficient Biomass for Global Energy Supply; BTL for Transportation Fuels
December 16, 2008
A pair of German researchers has concluded that the global energy demand projected by the International Energy Agency in the Reference Scenario for the year 2030 could theoretically be provided sustainably and economically primarily from lignocellulosic biomass grown on areas which have been degraded by human activities in historical times.
According to Prof. Jürgen O. Metzger from Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, and Prof. Aloys Hüttermann from the Universität Göttingen, a global energy supply based on biomass grown to generate electricity and produce fuel is both a sustainable and economical scenario, contrary to some other current research. Their findings are published online this week in the journal Naturwissenschaften.
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NREL and Petrobras to Collaborate on Advanced Biofuels Research
November 21, 2008
The US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) have signed an agreement that could accelerate the development and international commercialization of advanced, second-generation biofuels. The announcement was made at the International Biofuels Conference in São Paulo, Brazil.
Petrobras and NREL have common interests in the development of next-generation biofuels technologies through biochemical and thermochemical routes from biomass. NREL conducts R&D related to techno-economic, environmental and sustainability evaluation of advanced biofuels in support of the US Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and other partners.
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Oklahoma EPSCoR Receives $20.5M for Cellulosic Biofuels Research
November 17, 2008
The Oklahoma Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) has received $15 million in new funding over five years from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) for cellulosic biofuels research. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education will provide an annual $1.1 million match, for a total of 20.5 million.
The NSF award is to support a multi-institutional collaborative project that includes researchers from Oklahoma State University, the University of Oklahoma and the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation.
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DOE Awards $1.75M for Hydrogen and Ethanol from Cellulosic Biomass Project
November 13, 2008
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded University of Rochester Professor David Wu a $1.75 million grant to investigate a way to turn waste biomass, such as grass clippings, cornstalks, and wood chips, into usable hydrogen or ethanol.
Wu has been studying Clostridium thermocellum—an anaerobic, thermophilic, cellulolytic, and ethanologenic bacterium. (Earlier post.) Coupled with its preference to grow at high temperature, the microorganism promises distinct advantages as a candidate for developing industrial hydrogen and ethanol production processes from cellulosic biomass.
