Tag Archives: bioethanol

US commits $62 million in biofuel research grants

July 12, 2012   Karl   No comments

The US Department of Agriculture and Energy Department have announced funding totaling £62 million as they try and boost the impact of alternative fuels, namely biofuel.

With the US in deep financial trouble, the government has been keen to keep on top its energy security and domestic supply. They have also been moving forward with advancements in biofuel usage for its armed forces, looking to develop biofuels that are able to support current engine and vehicle platforms that are already in service.

In an interview, US Energy Secretary Stephen Chu said the goal of the research investment grants is to continue to drive technological breakthroughs and additional cost reductions in the industry while reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil and supporting American industries and American jobs. He went on to say, “By pursuing new processes and technologies for producing next-generation biofuels, we are working to accelerate innovation in a critical and growing sector that will help to improve U.S. energy security and protect our air and water.”

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Australian drivers get free E-10 fuel to help dispel myths of biofuel

July 04, 2012   Karl   No comments

A fuel retailer in New South Wales, Australia was giving drivers free E-10 (10% bio-ethanol fuel) yesterday as tried to reverse the reluctance many motorists have with using the alternative fuels.

Australian law dictates that fuel retailer must ensure 6 per cent of all petrol sales are ethanol, however motorists have been heading straight for the the regular or premium unleaded pump instead. This has left many fuel retailers at risk of missing their biofuels sales target.

The service station filled about 700 cars during the hour-long promotion, with a one kilometer queue of motorists waiting for their free fill up.

Acting Premier Andrew Stoner praised the use of E10, stating that it was a cheaper alternative for cash strapped motorists and was better for the environment, ”When you think about V8 Supercars using 100 per cent ethanol, I think that serves as a vote of confidence for the product,” he said.

Many motorists are still very skeptical with using ethanol with some motoring organisations claiming that its may cause damage to engines and fuel systems if used too frequently. The Australian Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries website helps drivers of both cars and motorbikes identify which vehicles are suitable for fuels that contain ethanol, fuel retailers openly advertise this to help re-assure drivers.

Many thrill seeking motorcycles state that the drop in performance that E-10 provides is more than enough of a reason to choose regular unleaded. E-10 has a lower octane than normal fuel, causing engines to develop less power.

If you choose to install a kit that enables your car or motorbike to run on bioethanol it’s wise to let your insurance company know. The last think you want its a cancelled policy after claiming on you bennetts bike insurance after dropping your pride and joy.

Using E-10 in small motorbikes or marine equipment that used two stroke engines is not recommended however you should always check with your manufacture.

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German motorists avoid filling with bioethanol

May 24, 2011   Karl   No comments

German motorists avoiding biofuels

The Germans have a famous passion for automobiles, but it has run smack into European Union directives to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. So rather than ask German drivers to give up those highly tuned Mercedes or BMWs, the government is offering them “E10″ — gas mixed with 10 percent ethanol, produced from corn and wheat.

But there are two problems: German car lovers are refusing to buy it and environmentalists say it’s no greener than regular gas.

At a gas station in Berlin, Franziska Muller fills up her Volkswagen Polo on her way home from work. Its shiny, waxed finish mirrors her immaculately put-together business attire. And even though it’s cheaper, the 32-year-old says there’s no way she is going to risk putting the new 10 percent ethanol gas into her car.

“You bet I’m worried about my car — most of all about the motor,” Muller says. “Nobody can guarantee that it won’t get damaged. Of course, it means I pay a bit more for gas, but for now there’s no way I’m touching the stuff.”

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Ethiopia to Increase Ethanol Content in Petrol to 10% E10

March 13, 2011   Karl   1 Comment
bioethanol fuel pump

Ethiopia to Increase Ethanol Content in Petrol to 10%

In response to skyrocketing oil price at the global market, the Ethiopian government on Friday unveiled that it will increases the volume of Ethanol content in gasoline to 10% as of March 15.

Since 2009, the country has been provided a 5% ethanol and 95% benzene blended (technically known as E5) for the market in which a Sudanese owned oil company, Nile Petrol, was a sole agent that was carrying out the blending process and distributing for all local oil station.

But now the Ministry of Water and Energy (MoWE) declared that Oil Libya is awarded the task of blending the 10% ethanol-Benzene blend.

According to the Ministry of Water and Energy, the country has a plan to top up an ethanol blended oil to the local market to reach E25 (a 25% ethanol content blended in Benzene and biodiesel).

The State Minister of MoWE, Wondimu Tekle, said that the consumption of oil that is imported to the country is increasing with the booming of economy in the country.

According to him, Ethiopia spends more than 8.6 billion Birr every year to import fuel oil with hard currency.

“We want to increase the ethanol content from E5 to E10 to help lower the foreign exchange we spend on oil. This is also important measurement to stabilize the market by reducing the burden of the entire consumers,” he said.

“Since we import oil with huge amount of hard currency, the only solution we have is to develop alternative energy sources like bio-fuel,” he added.

He pointed that due to the introduction of this project, mostly in Addis Ababa and its surrounding areas, the country was able to blend over 13 million liters of ethanol blended oil (E5) and as a result saved over USD10 million in two years.

According to a document obtained from MoWE, from 2009 to the end of 2010, about 2.9 million liters of ethanol has been so far blended with over 245 million liter of Benzene.

In his briefing, the state minister confirmed that, while designing this massive plan of developing bio-fuels projects, the government had hoped that private investors would contribute a lot; however, most of them failed to so.

He also explained that his office has identified those investors and sent their name to the Ethiopian Investment Agency and other pertinent government organizations to take action against these companies who didn’t live up with their commitment. But the state Minister declined to mention the names of those companies.

Ethiopia has three state owned sugar factories which have been operational for long time, including Fincha, Metahara and Wonji.

However, the country produces ethanol from byproduct of sugar factory solely from Fincha which has been so far producing Eight million liters every year since 2009. Similarly, Metahara Sugar Factory is currently set to start producing Ethanol that amounts to 10 million liters per year as of this month.

The fourth factory which is under construction is the Tendaho Sugar Factory which was also said to be the biggest and most promising factory expected to produce huge amount of ethanol upon its completion.

According to the state minister, upon the completion of all sugar factories including the private factories, the country will be able to produce over 180 liters of ethanol after five years.

Of course, Ethiopia has been producing ethanol only for benzene consuming automobiles. But the state minister indicated that still another project is on the pipeline to produce biodiesel for diesel consuming motors.

According to MoWE, the bio-fuel is set to be produced from jatropha, caster seeds and palm trees in which the planting of these trees is being undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Regional Development in Amhara, Tigray and Southern regions.

 

Nadew Tadele, Director of Bio-fuel Development Coordination Directorate within MoWE told Ezega.com thatthe Organization of the Amhara Rehabilitation and Development Association (OARDA) is the first local company that will build biodiesel processing factory in Bati Woreda of Amhara Regional state.

The organization is also seeking the technological assistance from the MoWE. However, Nadew did not indicate the investment amount the organization has proposed.

OARDA has so far planted over 165 million seedlings of Jatropha in 50 woredas in degraded areas as part of preparation for the would be built biodiesel processing factory, according to Nadew.

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Berlin demands clarity over new biofuel phase-in

March 03, 2011   Karl   No comments

Berlin demands clarity over new biofuel phase-in

The German government demanded clarity from the biofuel industry on whether it will continue with a planned roll-out of gasoline with a higher biofuel content after its association send mixed messages about a halt.

“The confusion that the biofuel industry is causing is not acceptable,” Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen told journalists on Thursday after the MWV association denied a media report that the roll-out of the fuel, known as E10, would be temporarily halted.

Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle said he would invite industry participants to a ‘biofuel summit’ to explain their plans.

The MWV said on Monday up to 70 percent of motorists were avoiding the new blend in petrol stations, with many apparently concerned it might cause engine damage.

Uncertainty over whether the fuel’s gradual introduction, flagged for the first quarter of the year, would be halted, hit the share prices of Germany’s bioethanol firms, which had prepared markets for a major rise in sales. [ID:nLDE6BT19X]

Verbio (VBKG.DE) ended Thursday down 8.6 percent, and sugar producer Suedzucker’s CropEnergies (CE2G.DE) unit fell 14.7 percent.

The MWV said in a mid-afternoon statement the E10 phase-in would continue after news agency dpa reported the association’s head, Klaus Picard, as saying it would be temporarily stopped.

The fuel is being introduced in stages as part of a push by Germany to better protect the environment. [ID:nLDE69Q253]

The government permitted a rise in the maximum level of bioethanol allowed in blended gasoline to 10 percent from 5 percent from the start of this year.

But motorists are continuing to use the old fuel with 5 percent bioethanol content called E5, the MWV said. If the trend continued, petrol stations would run out of E5 gasoline.

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Shell reveals fresh details of Bioethanol Joint Venture

February 15, 2011   Karl   No comments

Shell Biofuel Joint venture

Energy giant Shell and Brazilian sugar producer Cosan have revealed fresh details about their planned $12bn (£7.4bn) biofuel joint venture, confirming the ethanol firm will be called Raizen and will be up and running by the summer.

In a joint statement the two companies said the firm will employ around 40,000 people and produce more than 2.2 billion litres of ethanol each year. They also confirmed the company will operate 23 mills in Brazil that will produce four million tones of sugar alongside the ethanol.
Under the terms of the deal, which was first trailed last summer, Shell has contributed $1.6bn of cash and technology to the new venture.
The company will emerge as a major player in the fast-expanding Brazilian ethanol market and will distribute some of its fuel through a network of 4,500 Esso stations owned by Cosan.
However, the long-term goal of the new venture is to establish itself as a major player in the growing global biofuel market and it is expected to use Shell’s distribution network to sell ethanol into Europe and the US.
“Due to the size of its operations, Raizen will help sugar cane ethanol, a sustainable, clean and renewable source of energy, to consolidate itself worldwide and strengthen Brazil’s position in the international biofuels trading business,” said the venture’s chief executive, Vasco Dias in a statement.

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Australia push back alternative fuel taxes to encourage biofuel innovation

January 25, 2011   Karl   No comments
Australia Biofuel

Australian gov hopes to promote "innovation" in biofuel production

In Australia, the federal government has introduced draft legislation for public consultation that would push back the date for taxing alternative fuels including ethanol and LPG into the excise tax regime until December 2011, pushed back from the original July date set back in 2004. The draft legislation removes the need for offsetting grants for the gaseous fuels and biodiesel producers.

It encourages innovation by ensuring eligible second generation production processes can be used to produce domestic ethanol and qualify for a grant.

The changes to fuel taxation are being phased in over the period beginning 1 December 2011 and ending 30 June 2015 which allow the alternative fuels industry time to adjust to these changes. Grants to eligible ethanol producers will be phased down until 1 July 2020.

Public consultation meetings on the draft legislation will be held in Sydney (afternoon of Monday 31 January 2011) and Melbourne (afternoon of Tuesday 1 February 2011). Interested industry stakeholders should email ExciseConsultation@treasury.gov.au to notify attendance and to obtain further information on the meetings.

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BP gushes over improved ethanol

January 09, 2011   Karl   No comments
BP Logo

BP gushes over improved ethanol

British Petroleum’s (BP) disastrous Gulf oil spill will forever be a part of our nation’s gasoline-powered history. The oil giant is trying to introduce an improved ethanol that could assist us in weaning ourselves off of oil and making that spill a distant memory. Recently, BP teamed up with the University of Illinois, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the University of California at Berkeley, and Seoul National University to engineer a yeast strain that can simultaneously ferment two different sugars to produce ethanol. This engineered yeast, a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, can apparently ferment glucose and xlyose both rapidly and efficiently.

EurekAlert outlined the technicalities that make the engineered yeast unique, stating:

This approach … eliminates the costly step of adding a cellobiose-degrading enzyme to the lignocellulose mixture before the yeast consumes it. It has the added advantage of circumventing the yeast’s own preference for glucose. Because the glucose can now “sneak” into the yeast in the form of cellobiose, the glucose transporters can focus on drawing xylose into the cell instead.

In other terms, the engineered yeast can boost ethanol production and, at the same time, make the fuel both easier and cheaper to produce. That’s something worth gushing about.

Source and thanks Autoblog Green

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Biofuel is only partly to blame for high food prices

October 19, 2010   Karl
FPT_MoneyBag

Biofuels only partly to blame for high food prices

Rising biofuel demand is among multiple factors fueling food inflation around the globe, but markets today are more able to manage that impact than in 2007, when an aggressive U.S. government mandate sent prices soaring, an agriculture industry executive said on Tuesday.

U.S. corn prices this month revisited levels not seen since the months after the amended Renewable Fuels Standard was signed into law, rekindling the debate about whether food products should be used to make fuel.

But this month’s corn market rally to highs near $6 per bushel was driven more by the U.S. Agriculture Department’s lower corn production forecast amid an already tight supply/demand balance than by rising demand from makers of corn-based ethanol, said Tim Gallagher, executive vice president of grains and biofuels with Bunge North America.

Gallagher, speaking in a panel discussion at the Global Financial Leadership Conference in Naples, Florida, declined to comment on how ethanol demand would impact corn prices in the future.

“It’s had an impact. From 2007 to today, we’ve found a way to manage that impact,” Gallagher said of corn demand by ethanol makers, which use about a third of the U.S. crop.

“It depends on the magnitude (of the demand) and how quickly it comes into the market,” he said.

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Costa Rica Investments in Bio-fuels, and Sustainable Agro Development

October 19, 2010   Karl
flag-on-pole

Costa Rica Investments in Bio-fuel

Central America and especially Costa Rica has seen a large surge in Biofuel initiative. There new Biofuel cooperative projects, intercropping (with food and oil bearing plants) development, including a new investment wave called Multi Purpose Real Estate, UBA (United Biofuels of America.

Investing in bio-fuel is profitable in the short term and long term and helps reduce dependency on unstable foreign sources.

Here in Costa Rica the governmental bodies have full buy-in to renewable energy and sustainable agro developments.

Costa Rica is attempting to produce ethanol and biodiesel on a large enough scale to eventually reduce or even replace petroleum fuel. The state oil company, Recope, is constructing a large processing plant, the government is about to release a plan for the industry’s development, and the Institute for Agrarian Development, is engaged in research projects for certain products to convert to biofuels.

At present, ethanol is produced from sugar cane and to a lesser extent from yuca (cassava), a root crop. There is some production of bio-diesel from African Palm oil. Research is ongoing with respect to very promising oil seed crops for biodiesel, higuerilla and jatropha.

There is ample opportunity for investments in these crops to supply a local and international market. Petroleum prices are expected to remain at high levels. Biofuels reduce vehicle emissions when mixed with or replace gasoline or diesel. However, when biofuels are produced on a large scale there are also large scale environmental and social consequences, especially when the source of ethanol is corn or soybeans for biodiesel or when growing crops that displace food crops or convert forests to crop lands.

These adverse environmental and social consequences are mitigated when biofuel crops are grown on land that had been previously deforested and converted to cattle pasture. In Northern Costa Rica there are vast expanses of unproductive cattle pasture, much of it mechanizable and not requiring irrigation. This is a good opportunity to promote the conversion of cattle lands to socially useful and productive crops. This is already occurring with the proliferation of pineapple, root crop, and palmito plantings. However, it makes good sense to plant many more food crops there, such as rice, beans, and animal feed, while still leaving space for biofuel crop cultivation.

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