Category Archives: Biofuel Research

Obama seeks to cut oil imports by one-third, increases biofuel development

March 30, 2011   Karl   No comments

Obama seeks to cut oil imports by one-third

President Obama says more domestic drilling, biofuel development and greater vehicle fuel efficiency can reduce petroleum imports. The plan is an apparent response to criticism over high gas prices by Republicans.

President Obama outlined a plan to reduce oil imports to the United States by one-third over the next 10 years by relying on further oil and gas drilling at home, development of biofuels and greater fuel efficiency in new cars and trucks.

With gas prices climbing because of unrest in the Middle East, the White House seemed to be responding to Republicans who have been complaining loudly for two months about the pain high fuel prices are bringing average Americans.

The GOP has focused on opening more domestic territory to oil and gas drilling, projects that would only begin delivering fossil fuels several years from now. In his speech before students at Georgetown University, Obama agreed that more domestic oil and gas production was a must, though he said that companies needed to develop the millions of acres they’ve already purchased in federal lease sales over the years before any new territories would be opened.

Obama sketched a picture of future imports that would rely more on producers — and allies — in the Western hemisphere, like Canada, Mexico and Brazil. Canada and Mexico are already major exporters to the United States. Brazil, which the president visited recently, is on the verge of developing major new oil and gas reserves.

Implicit in the speech was the U.S. desire to lessen its dependence on the autocracies of the Middle East, which account for a major share of global oil production and some of which are facing pressure from their citizens for more democratic reforms.

Successive administrations since President Nixon’s have issued similar calls for energy independence — or at least reduced dependence. But as Obama himself acknowledged, those plans have gone nowhere, and the U.S. imports a greater percentage of its daily oil consumption now than it did 40 years ago.

Moreover, the president faces a toxic political climate where the chances of bipartisan cooperation remain terribly remote. As a result, the administration may have to rely on executive orders to carry out some of its plans. In one realm, increased fuel efficiency, the federal government has worked with car companies and California to boost gas mileage in new cars after decades of congressional inaction on the issue.

Thanks and source LA Times

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NASA Tests New Biofuel Made With Chicken Fat

March 29, 2011   Karl   No comments
Nasa logo

NASA Tests New Biofuel Made With Chicken Fat

A team from NASA’s Langley Research Center traveled this month from Virginia to California to meet with other researchers from NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center to experiment with a new biofuel for jets. Vegetarians, however, might not be too thrilled with the new eco-friendly fuel, which is made from an animal byproduct.

“It’s made out of chicken fat, actually,” said Langley’s Bruce Anderson. “The Air Force brought many thousands of gallons of this to burn in some of their jets and provided about 8,000 gallons to NASA for this experiment.” The research team intends to test and compare a mixture of 50 percent chicken-fat biofuel and 50 percent traditional jet fuel, pure bio fuel, and pure jet fuel. The entire investigation will include researches from Langley, Dryden, NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Ohio, investigators and consultants from private industry, other federal organizations and academia–a total of 17 organizations will participate. Glenn researchers are providing the instruments for measuring particulate and gaseous emissions in the experiment.

Among other organizations, NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center is behind the testing of the new biofuelAmong other organizations, NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center is behind the testing of the new biofuel

“NASA Dryden is excited to continue contributing to the study of alternatives fuels for aviation use,” claimed NASA’s DC-8 flying laboratory project manager, Frank Cutler. “These tests will assess exhaust emissions generated by modern turbine aircraft engines using man-made fuels.” And the experimentation has come at an appropriate time. The U.S. military has a goal set for flying its aircraft using 50 percent biofuel and the Air Force is working on certifying its fleet for utilizing a 50-percent blend of the chicken-fat biofuel blend.

“The use of alternative fuels, including biofuels, in aircraft is a key element for sustainability reducing the impact of aviation on the environment and for reducing the dependency on foreign petroleum,” said the manager of NASA’s Subsonic Fixed Wing Project, Ruben Del Rosario.

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Swedes eye budding biofuels industry

March 27, 2011   Karl   No comments
Biofuel production begins to have impact on Angolan econom

Swedes eye budding biofuels industry

The Swedish government and its private sector are hoping to secure a foothold in Botswana’s nascent biofuels industry that kicked off recently with plans for a five million-litre per annum processing plant.

According to a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries on Tuesday, Sweden has identified several projects, including the budding biofuel industry, as areas for cooperation.

Specifically, the Swedes hope to be involved in jatropha research, the “wonder plant” whose cultivation and oil are expected to fuel the processing plant government plans to purchase this year. Botswana plans to switch the processing plant’s feedstock from animal fats to jatropha after 2016 and is presently cooperating with Japan in an intensive research project.

According to the MoU, the Scandinavian nation is also interested in biodiesel production from animal fat and biogas production from cow dung. Both are alternative energy sources and are at varying degrees of research and implementation in Botswana.

“The MoU is a good way of continuing and broadening the already existing cooperation between our energy industries,” Swedish Deputy Director of Trade and Investment (Africa), BrittMarie Hartvig, told BusinessWeek.

“It’s up to the parties who signed to develop these projects further, although there’s a lot of them that have to be identified.

“We are putting the MoU in the private sector’s hands and it is able to take it forward. We have planned also bilateral forums with Botswana to implement aspects of the MoU.” A perusal of the MoU shows a bias for renewable energy projects such as development of a 188-megawatt solar power system, solar thermal power stations and solar water heaters. The Swedes also hope to cooperate with Botswana in the development of strategies on energy efficiency for the transport sector, as well as on renewable energies and biomass – the renewable energy from biological material.

Speaking at a roundtable between local agencies and the 26-strong Swedish business delegation, Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) CEO, Jacob Raleru, noted that the country had several initiatives already afoot regarding renewable energy.

He stressed that the country’s energy policy requires 25 percent of all electricity to be from solar power by 2030. “We are responsible for implementing government policy, which includes renewable energy,” Raleru told the Swedish business delegation.

“Through government, we are facilitating a feasibility study for a 200MW solar power station. After this, implementation will be put to the private sector and others.

“Our parent ministry has also just completed a study on Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariffs, while a one megawatt pilot solar project is in progress funded by the Japanese.

“If this is successful, we plan to extend it outside Gaborone. In addition, we have a subsidiary called BPC Lesedi, which is also offering home solar systems to rural consumers and others.” The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Phandu Skelemani, signed the MoU on behalf of Botswana while Swedish Minister of International Development Cooperation, Gunilla Carlsson, signed on behalf of her country.

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Study reveals imported African biofuel may not be as green as expected

March 22, 2011   Karl   No comments

Dakatcha is an extensive tract of relatively intact coastal woodland, north of the Sabaki river. It is home to many endangered species of birds

African biofuels destined for Europe will result in up to six times the carbon emissions of fossil fuels, a new study has revealed.
The report, commissioned by the RSPB, ActionAid and Nature Kenya, focuses on the Dakatcha Woodlands in Kenya which are set to be destroyed to make way for jatropha plantations.
Campaigners say the results of the study make a mockery of claims that biofuels are a green, renewable alternative to fossil fuels. Biofuel currently makes up around 3.5 per cent of the petrol and diesel in UK fuel pumps. However, the UK Government wants to increase this to meet EU targets.
The Dakatcha Woodlands is one of the last remaining coastal forests in Kenya and is home to thousands of indigenous tribespeople who will be made homeless if the plans go ahead, as well as a range of threatened wildlife.

Dr Helen Byron, RSPB’s Kenya expert, said: “The Dakatcha Woodlands are a haven for wildlife and the threat they face is a direct result of European demand for biofuels. No government has done a proper assessment of biofuels imported from overseas to see if they will, in fact, reduce our carbon emissions – so we decided to do it for them.
“We were shocked to discover that the biofuel produced from the proposed plantations at Dakatcha will result in up to six times more carbon emissions than fossil fuels.”
Tim Rice, ActionAid’s biofuels expert, said: “Biofuels are far from the miracle climate cure they were thought to be. Like most other biofuels, jatropha could actually end up increasing carbon emissions.
“Crucially the Dakatcha case also shows how biofuel plantations can create huge social upheaval with whole communities losing their land, homes and jobs.”
Dr Byron continued: “The proposed plantation in Dakatcha is just one example of the disastrous but unseen impact of biofuels on the climate, nature and people – there are plenty more coming to light all the time.
“The UK Government recognises the problems that subsidising biofuels is causing across the world and last week announced that it intends to limit such subsidies. But ministers must go further, they must challenge the European targets for biofuels and instead adopt an ambitious programme to reduce emissions from cars through improving efficiency and a massive roll-out of electric vehicles.”
Taking into account the emissions produced throughout the production process, the study found that jatropha would emit between 2.5 and 6 times more greenhouse gases than fossil fuels.
Much of the biofuel produced in Dakatcha is destined for Europe because of new European Union targets. The Renewable Energy Directive (RED) requires 10 per cent of transport to be renewable by 2020 and most member states plan to meet this almost entirely through biofuels – which is likely to result in a doubling of biofuel use in Europe by 2020.
The Dakatcha Woodlands is home to over 20,000 people and is the ancestral land of the indigenous minority Watha and Giriama tribes. The plantation will not only evict the tribes from their land, but will destroy their livelihoods and sacred burial sites.
The area is also a global biodiversity hotspot and home to a number of globally threatened animal and bird species including the spectacular Fischer’s turaco, southern banded snake eagle, Sokoke scops owl, and the Sokoke pipit. The Clarke’s weaver bird is found in only two places on earth and is threatened with extinction if the plantation goes ahead.

 

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USAF flies F-22 Raptor on synthetic biofuel

March 20, 2011   Karl   No comments

F-22 Raptor flown on synthetic biofuel

An F-22 Raptor successfully flew at supercruise March 18 on a 50/50 (E50)  fuel blend of conventional petroleum-based JP-8 and biofuel derived from camelina, a weed-like plant not used for food.

The flight was the capstone of a series of ground and flight test events conducted by the 411th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base the week of March 14 for the Raptor using the biofuel blend. The Air Force selected the F-22 weapon system to be the biofuel blend flight test pathfinder for all fighter aircraft.

The overall test objective was to evaluate biofuel fuel blend suitability in the F-22 weapon system. Testing consisted of air starts, operability, and performance at different speeds and altitude throughout the flight envelope. The F-22 Raptor performed several maneuvers including a supercruise at 40,000 ft. reaching speeds of 1.5 Mach. Supercruise is supersonic flight without using the engine’s afterburner.

“The F-22 flew on Friday, March 18 and performed flawlessly on the biofuel blend citing no noticeable differences from traditional JP-8,” said Jeff Braun, director of the Alternative Fuels Certification Division, part of the Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

The overall flight was a success and another milestone completed for the Alternative Fuels Certification Division in support the Air Force’s 2016 acquisition goal to cost-competitively acquire 50 percent of the domestic aviation fuel requirement via alternative fuel blends in which the component is derived from domestic sources produced in a manner that is ‘greener’ than fuels produced from conventional petroleum.

The camelina-derived synthetic fuel falls into a class of hydro-processed blended biofuels known as hydrotreated renewable jet fuels, or “HRJs.” The HRJ fuel can be derived from a variety of plant oil and animal fat feedstocks.

Air Force officials in February certified the entire C-17 Globemaster III fleet for unrestricted flight operations using the HRJ biofuel blend.

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BAFA: Germany consumed 780 million gallons of biodiesel in 2010

March 16, 2011   Karl   No comments
biodiesel pump

Ethiopia gets geared up for biodiesel

Germany’s Federal Office for Economy and Export Control (BAFA) released figures recently on the nation’s total biodiesel sales in 2010. BAFA reports that approximately 2.6 million metric tons (780.5 million gallons) of biodiesel was sold into the German fuel market last year. A majority of that, about 2.3 million tons, was sold for blending into the 32.1 million ton German diesel fuel market, which comes to slightly more than 7 percent.

The German oilseed council UFOP commented on the numbers, stating, “Biodiesel will remain an alternative fuel of great importance in the future … the consumption of diesel will continue to rise due to the constantly higher quantities of goods transported by road.”

The council then said, “Besides, so-called second-generation fuels replacing diesel will not be available for a foreseeable time, UFOP is convinced. So UFOP confirms the necessity that biodiesel should be conceded a future both as pure fuel and as admixture in motor fuel. There is no other way of meeting the climate targets in the transport sector.”

While Germany consumed more than 780 million gallons of biodiesel last year, the U.S. only produced 315 million gallons of biodiesel in 2010, according to preliminary data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Thanks and Source biodieselmagazine.com

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Biofuel From Algae Could Compete With Oil

March 16, 2011   Karl   No comments
algae-biofuel

Shell Exits the Algae biofuel game

Biofuels made from algae can be produced in a way that make this energy source cost-competitive with crude oil by increasing the amount of energy algae stores as fat, according to early research from VG Energy, an alternative energy and agricultural biotech company.

Algae typically store energy as carbohydrates or fat. But a report (pdf) by biofuels expert John Sheehan suggests that techniques developed by the company to target tumors in humans could change that process — and in the process could increase algae oil output during the production of biofuels.

The resulting biodiesel and algae-based jet fuels could be produced at a cost of $94 per barrel, well below the current crude oil price of above $100 a barrel, according to the report by Viral Genetics, of which VG Energy is a subsidiary. Sheehan, a researcher with the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota, is an advisor to Viral Genetics.

It’s all based on a technique developed by Viral Genetics researcher Dr. Karen Newell-Rogers. According to a report from Energy Boom, Newell-Rogers has been developing molecular techniques “to disrupt tumor metabolism to prevent them from burning fat reserves, making them more susceptible to chemotherapy and radiation.” The same switch could force the algae to store energy as fat, which could then be extracted as algal oil.

Biofuel researchers have been seeking a technique to accomplish this switch, known as the “lipid trigger,” since the 1990s. Algae typically do not produce oil under normal conditions, but they do when they are stressed.

Algae are highly valued in biofuels research because of their high growth rate. “Whoever manages to break the trade-off between high growth of algae and high lipid content in the algae will be bringing a game changer to the table,” Sheehan told Energy Boom last December.

According to a VG Energy press release, the technique increased production of extractable lipid, or fat, by at least 300 percent when applied in the lab. The fat was stored outside the cell walls, making it easier to extract without first killing the algae. The technique also makes as much as 75 percent of the rest of the algae recyclable, further reducing costs.

In addition, this technique could also allow greater extraction of Omega-3 fats, also at much lower price than currently marketed processes.

Sheehan’s report details several ways that algal oil can be produced. VG Energy will study the techniques to try to put its new discovery into practice. The research is being supported by a $750,000 grant through the Texas Emerging Technology Fund, which was created by the Texas legislature in 2005.

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USDA announces $573 million in bioenergy funding opportunities

March 15, 2011   Karl   No comments

In Washington, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is seeking applications for loan guarantees under the Biorefinery Assistance Program, and payments to producers under the Repowering Assistance Program, and the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels.

This funding round includes: $463 million in loan guarantees under the USDA’s Biorefinery Assistance Program;   $25 million under the Repowering Assistance Program to encourage the use of renewable biomass as a replacement fuel source for fossil fuels used to process heat or power in the operation of eligible biorefineries; and up to $85 million under the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels, for advanced biofuel production from renewable biomass excluding corn kernel starch.

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Call to end EU biofuel perks

March 15, 2011   Karl   No comments
wetlands

Call to end EU biofuel perks

Global environmental organisation Wetlands International has called for an end to incentives for biofuels in the European Union (EU). It said such incentives had resulted in direct and indirect land use change, like in Malaysia where huge areas of peat swamp forests had been cleared for oil palm cultivation.

In its latest published global news, Wetlands International claimed that the expansion of oil palm plantations in Sarawak might lead to the complete loss of the vast and unique peat swamp forests by the end of this decade. “In just five years (2005-2010), almost 10% of Sarawak’s forests and 33% of the peat swamp forests have been cleared. Of this, 65% was for conversion to palm oil production,” it added.

The report said separate studies by Wetlands International and Sarvision showed that a rapidly increasing proportion of Malaysian palm oil was produced on peatland, leading to deforestation and degradation of organic soils. “The new studies concluded that 20% of all Malaysian palm oil is produced on drained peatland. For Sarawak, this is 44%. For recently established plantations, the percentage on forested peat swamp is even higher,” added the report.

Wetlands International wants a complete ban of palm oil production on peatland and calls for a halt of further conversion of natural areas for this crop. Responding to the report, Sarawak Oil Palm Plantation Owners’ Association (Soppoa) refuted Wetlands International’s deforestation claims, saying that the Sarawak government had only allocated 750,000ha out of the 1.69 million ha of peatland for oil farm cultivation.

Some 330,700ha of oil palm estates in Sarawak now are on peatland. It said the state government’s policy was to maintain around 50% of its land area under forest cover. Soppoa said area under oil palm estates had not been deforested but only undergone changes in species, from tree to palm trees, and that oil palm plantation could be classified as forest plantation under the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change. “’Our planters have managed to get an average yield of between 25 and 30 tonnes per ha of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) from well managed mature oil palm plantation on peatland. “This yield is about 20% more than the average yield of the mineral soil plantation areas in Sarawak,” said Soppoa in a statement.

Thanks and source: The Star Online

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Study finds biodiesel benefits livestock producers

March 10, 2011   Karl   No comments
Study finds biodiesel benefits livestock producers

Study finds biodiesel benefits livestock producers

A study recently completed by CENTREC Consulting Group LLC shows the U.S. livestock industry actually benefits from biodiesel production. Without biodiesel’s market presence, the study determined higher soybean meal prices would have cost the livestock industry $4.8 billion during the 2005-‘09 market year timeframe. The study, titled “Soybean Oil and Meal Economics,” was funded by the USDA.

According to the study, when demand for soybean oil increases, the price of soybean meal tends to decrease. Using this rule of thumb, the study states growing demand from the biodiesel industry for soy oil has produced significant decreases in the price livestock producers pay for soy meal.

The study explains that unprecedented events have occurred in the soybean industry in recent years. This includes shifting demand drivers attributed to the biodiesel industry, declining livestock production and increased export demand. New competition from palm oil and dried distillers grains with soluble (DDGS) has also impacted the soy industry. While record soybean oil and meal prices in 2007 led many to believe these price increases were a direct result of increased demand from the biodiesel industry, the study determined this is false.

Rather, the study states that increased demand for soy oil cannot be blamed for increased soy meal prices, as increased demand for soy oil will actually reduce the price of soy meal so long as demand for soy meal remains unchanged. “The basic economic principle for these coproducts is that when demand for one coproduct increases, the price of the other coproduct decreases,” said the study. “Thus, an increase in demand for soybean oil benefits livestock feeders through lower meal prices.”

Furthermore, the study notes that recently price fluctuations in the price of both soy oil and soy meal can be explained by basic supply and demand factors. One example offered by the study is reduced soybean production in 2007, which substantially contributed to record prices increases experienced that year. The study also points out several other factors that have contributed to volatile prices in recent years, including:

-       Increased demand for protein worldwide

-       The economic recession

-       Fluctuating dollar values

-       Trans fat labeling requirements

-       Increased competition from other edible fats and oils

-       Fluctuating biodiesel production

-       Declining livestock numbers

-       Increased competition from alterative protein sources

-       Increased export demand for soy meal

While the study notes that it is impossible to determine the precise economic impact that changing demand mechanisms will have on soybean producers, processors and end users, the authors note it is possible to calculate approximate outcomes based on historical trends. Using a model developed by the United Soybean Board, the study determined that when all other factors are held in equilibrium, a decrease in soy oil demand from the biodiesel industry would lead to higher prices for soy meal. In fact, the study determined that only end users of soy oil would benefit from reduced demand from the biodiesel industry. “The lower demand would decrease soybean oil prices, and as a result, the oil end-users would experience lower input costs,” the study said. “Soybean meal prices would increase; livestock producers could possibly pay anywhere from $34 to $50 per ton more for their soybean meal by [marketing year 2015]. However, soybean prices would decrease; the annual net returns for the production sector would be lower than if there was the greater soybean oil demand for biodiesel use. Processing margins would be tightened, and the processing sector’s annual net returns would also decrease.”

“No matter whether you are feeding pigs or people, biodiesel is helping meet the world’s growing demand for protein,” said Illinois farmer and former economics and statistics professor Pat Dumoulin. “With these economics, we would all win if the trucks that brought our soybean meal ran on America’s advanced biofuel, biodiesel.”

A fully copy of the study can be downloaded from the National Biodiesel Board’s website.

Thanks and source Biodiesel Magazine

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