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Category Archives: alternative energy
No D3 cellulosic RINs produced in November for first time in four months
In Washington, the Energy Information Agency reported that no D3 cellulosic RINs were produced in November, the first time in four months. Ethanol, biodiesel and advanced biofuels RIN production also fell during the month. Ethanol RINs fell to 1.15 billion, down 1.73%. Biodiesel RINs fell to 2.76 million RINs, down 1.21%. Advanced biofuel RINs fells to 6.16 million RINs, down nearly 25% on the month.
New market report looks at Chinese biofuels
Renmatix buys Swedish IP for cost-competitive cellulosic sugars
In Pennsylvania, Renmatix announced it has acquired the intellectual property rights and know-how of REAC Fuel. Based in Sweden, REAC has developed intellectual property that complements Renmatix’s significant expertise and existing portfolio of supercritical technology patents and applications. The acquisition expands Renmatix’s value proposition for licensing their Plantrose Process to produce cost-competitive cellulosic sugars.
The Plantrose Process utilizes supercritical water to convert biomass into cost-advantaged cellulosic sugars using primarily water, with no significant consumables. An industry study, released in Alberta this year, identified Renmatix’s Plantrose technology as a critical factor for enabling a larger bioeconomy “due to the potential to link its products to the production of multiple high value chemical products via numerous synthetic biology platforms.” Access to cheaper sugars will allow many downstream partners to profitably commercialize their respective technologies for a variety of cellulosic applications.
Traders buy up to 15 cargos of DDGS for export to China as ban prepares to lift
Wyoming Biodiesel, CNG, Electric Drivers Could Face Tax
Possibly trying to prove that no good deed goes unpunished, drivers of biodiesel-, compressed natural gas-, and electric-powered vehicles in Wyoming could face a new road tax. This article from the Jackson Hole News Guide says a tax on alternative fuels is pending in the state’s legislature.
Most Wyoming drivers pay 24 cents tax at the pump for gasoline; the alternative fuels tax would tax fuels other than gasoline the same 24 cents on an amount equivalent to a gallon of gasoline.
Taxes on gas — and those that would be collected on other energy — are earmarked to pay the cost of the state’s roads.
“There needs to be some kind of equitable way for them to contribute to the upkeep of roads and signage,” said Rep. Michael K. Madden, chairman of the Joint Revenue Interim Committee that will sponsor the bill.
The bill’s sponsor says the new tax would make things more fair.
Ironically, the Wyoming legislature is usually pretty averse to road taxes. But when you consider the amount of fossil fuels produced by the state, it’s no wonder in this case lawmakers are looking at a measure that would give Big Oil another leg up.
Performance Standards for Biodiesel Heating Oil Set
New performance standards are set for biodiesel heating oil, better known as Bioheat. This news release from the National Biodiesel Board says ASTM International, an organization which sets industry consensus standards for fuels and lubricants, has voted to approve performance specifications for blends of 6 to 20 percent biodiesel with traditional heating oil.
The updated ASTM D396 Standard Specification for Fuel Oils, containing the new grade for blends of 6 to 20 percent biodiesel, will be finalized and published by ASTM for public use after the usual ASTM review and editing process. It is expected by February 2015.
“The fuel oil industry is reinventing itself as a 21st century fuel by moving to higher blends of low carbon biodiesel and near-zero sulfur levels across the board,” said John Huber, president of the National Oilheat Research Alliance.
The Bioheat renaissance gives oilheat dealers, mostly small, family-owned businesses, the ability to provide their customers with a desirable new product, according to Huber.
“Bioheat gives consumers the choice to use a clean, domestically produced fuel without having to invest in an expensive natural gas system,” said Paul Nazzaro, who leads the National Biodiesel Board’s Bioheat outreach program. “Setting these performance specs for increased biodiesel levels is hugely significant, because it opens the door for innovation in the heating oil industry and will allow more consumers to enjoy the full benefits of this fuel in their homes and businesses.”
Officials went on to point out that a 20 percent blend of biodiesel puts Bioheat on par with natural gas, the biggest competitor to oilheat. Even higher blends, up to the full 100 percent level, could reduce the carbon footprint of Bioheat up to 80 percent compared to traditional fuel oil.
REG Finishes Upgrades to Iowa Biodiesel Plant
Renewable Energy Group has finished upgrades to its Newton, Iowa biorefinery. This company news release says the 30-million gallon nameplate plant in Newton, Iowa, will produce an even higher purity biomass-based diesel from a wider variety of raw materials.
“Enhancing REG Newton’s distillation and processing capabilities strengthens our lower-cost, multi-feedstock biomass-based diesel business and provides customers with more fuel options both in the Midwest and nationwide,” said Daniel J. Oh, REG President and CEO. “This plant was already a high performing facility that deserved additional investment and I am confident the return on investment will be rapid.”
The project provides Newton with production capabilities similar to those at the REG Albert Lea biorefinery. The upgraded process, including distillation, removes impurities and leaves behind a very pure form of biomass-based diesel. The final product far exceeds industry quality standards, while meeting REG’s more rigorous REG-9000™ specifications. The fuel also performs better in colder temperatures.
“These improvements allow REG Newton to provide customers with the highest quality end product at a full 30 million gallons a year utilization rate for a wide array of raw materials, including inedible corn oil,” said Brad Albin, REG Vice President, Manufacturing. “This increased feedstock flexibility drives demand for local feedstock suppliers, enabling them to keep their products in the region.”
REG broke ground on the $13.2 million project last February and completed it just last month, four months ahead of schedule and on budget.
REG now has 10 operational biorefineries in six states, making the company the North American leader in advanced biofuel production.
Glauber retires as USDA Chief Economist
In Washington, USDA Chief Economist Joe Glauber is set to retire after a 30-year federal career. Current USDA Deputy Chief Economist Dr. Robert Johansson has been named Acting Chief Economist. Johansson has served as USDA’s Deputy Chief Economist since 2012 and holds a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from the University of Minnesota. Johansson will assume the duties of Chief Economist beginning January 1, 2015.
US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said, “No one has a higher level of credibility on issues impacting the agricultural economy than Dr. Glauber. Farm country and, truly, the country as a whole have been extraordinarily well served by Joe throughout his 30 years of federal service. I will miss Joe’s expertise and wise counsel, and wish him well as he begins the next phase of his distinguished career.”
ET Solar Collaborates on Israel Project
ET Solutions AG (subsidiary of ET Solar) has been selected to provide services for a 40 MWp PV power plant in Israel. The solar project is located in Kibbutz Ketura, approximately 45 km north of Eilat, and will be built in a desert land of 600,000 square meters. This new solar power facility is expected to generate over 70,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy per year.
Other project partners include G-Systems and Elmor. Arava Power and EDF Energies Nouvelles Israel jointly own the solar farm.
ET Solar is providing project management, electrical design and plant layout, purchasing, quality control, construction supervision and commissioning services. In addition, the company will also serve as the maintenance service provider, and Arava Power will offer the operation services.
“This project is our largest solar power plant in the Middle East up to now, it is also an important demonstration of our comprehensive solar energy solutions to effectively deliver clean, affordable and reliable solar energy in local market,” said Dennis She, president and CEO of ET Solar. “We are delighted to extend and deepen our collaboration with EDF-EN and Arava Power, to make this utility-scale project a reality after completing a 7.8 MWp solar power plant in Israel early this year.”
Japan’s Prime Minister Re-Election Risks Undercutting Clean Energy Push
Abe’s ruling coalition gained more than two-thirds of the 475 seats in the lower house yesterday. The renewed mandate raises the possibility that Abe, an advocate of nuclear power as long as its safety can be assured, will use the coming term to push harder for the resumption of Japan’s idled nuclear reactors while keeping renewables policy vague and ill-defined.
“The government’s debate on the energy mix will be based on the assumption that nuclear reactors will be restarted,” said Hisayo Takada, a Tokyo-based climate and energy campaigner for Greenpeace. “Renewables may only get the remainder share.”
The coalition’s resolve on clean energy will be tested when a committee tasked with setting incentives for renewables starts deliberations early next year amid expectations that the tariff for solar power will be cut again. Also, legislation to unbundle transmission and distribution operations is expected to be submitted to parliament next year.
Industry Deregulation
“There is the possibility that the plan will be watered down,” Takada said.
Japan has added about 13 gigawatts of clean energy capacity since an incentive program began in July 2012, according to data compiled by the trade ministry.
The incentives, known as feed-in tariffs, are a holdover of the previous government led by the Democratic Party of Japan, which introduced the measures to diversify Japan’s energy supply following the Fukushima disaster in March 2011.
Since assuming power in December 2012, Abe’s focus has been on the economy to end decades of deflation and spur growth. The prime minister has had to achieve that largely without nuclear power. Japan’s reactors provided about a third of the nation’s electricity before Fukushima.
Fuel Costs
Since Japan flicked off the switch to its nuclear energy program, expensive energy imports, particularly of liquefied natural gas, have worsened trade deficits. The Japanese government estimates regional power companies paid 3.6 trillion yen ($30.5 billion) more in fuel costs in fiscal 2013 compared with fiscal 2010 before the Fukushima disaster.
Supporters of renewables have used the absence of nuclear energy — and the economic consequences — to press the case for Japan to pursue more aggressive policies to build up stores of clean energy capacity.
In April, Abe’s government released a set of policies which said Japan will aim to boost its share of renewables past the old target of 20 percent by 2030 including hydropower. The government has yet to decide how much power should come from which sources.
Targets Urged
Renewables — not including hydro power — accounted for only 2.2 percent of Japan’s electricity generation in fiscal 2013, compared with 1.4 percent in fiscal 2011. In Germany, the contribution is close to 21 percent and even higher in Spain with more than 26 percent, according to an October trade ministry document.
Proponents say Japan should set an ambitious target for clean energy even before the country decides on its energy mix.
“The new government should put clean energy as the centerpiece of its energy policy,” said Mika Ohbayashi, director of the Japan Renewable Energy Foundation. “Otherwise renewables’ share will not increase.”
Abe’s party said in election campaign literature that it will promote expanding renewables “as much as possible in a sustainable way.” The LDP has also said it will work to ease the burden on consumers.
Consumer Burden
Keidanren, Japan’s largest business lobby, says that while clean energy is important, the government should introduce measures to mitigate how much consumers end up paying and that tariffs should be adjusted every six months — rather than once a year as is currently the practice — to better reflect declining costs.
Under the feed-in tariff program, utilities buy solar, biomass, wind, geothermal and hydropower from producers and costs are passed on to consumers as surcharges.
According to government estimates, an average household in Japan would face about 935 yen a month in surcharges should all the new clean capacity that’s already been approved eventually make it online.
Still, for all the questions about the effectiveness and the cost of Japan’s clean-energy policy, supporters say progress has been made.
Local Development
“We are seeing results and companies are entering the clean energy market” after the incentive program was introduced, said Yoshihiro Fujii, a professor at the graduate school of global environmental studies at Sophia University.
The incentive program is helping to revitalize regional economies as seen in the examples of developers setting up solar panels on reservoirs, Fujii said.
“Renewables can be utilized more to revitalize rural areas,” he said, citing the push by the Abe government to breath new life into local economies.
Copyright 2014 Bloomberg
Lead image: Japan map via Shutterstock