|
|
|
Florida potential location of two biomass power plantsFlorida may soon become home to two biomass power plants-Port St. Joe, Fla., is the future site of Biomass Gas & Electric LLC's 45-megawatt biomass power plant that will run on woody biomass and energy crops; ADAGE LLC has recently secured the rights to a 215-acre site in Hamilton County for the first in a series of 50-megawatt wood waste-fired power plants.READ MORE Researchers discover new way to deoxygenize biomassUniversity of California Berkeley and Berkeley Lab researchers have discovered a mild and relatively inexpensive way to remove oxygen from biomass, a process they say could pave the way for producing many of today's petrochemical products from biomass. The one-step deoxygenation technique is based on an existing formic acid treatment. Formic acid, a chemical found in bee venom, converts glycerol (a byproduct of biodiesel production) into allyl alcohol, which is used as a starting material in the production of polymers, drugs, organic compounds, herbicides and other chemical products.READ MORE Report: National RES could create 850,000 jobs in USThe creation of a national Renewable Electricity Standard of 25 percent by 2025 could potentially create more than 850,000 full-time jobs across the U.S., according to a recent report by Blue Green Alliance, a nationwide partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations. "Instead of sending our public and private investments overseas to purchase polluting commodities of finite supply, development of renewable energy invests directly in people, substituting labor for fuel expenses," the report says.READ MORE Companies advance in jatropha researchTwo U.S.-based companies have made advancements in their jatropha research. As one begins planting in Latin America, the other is working to develop strains that may be planted in colder temperatures within the U.S. California-based SG Biofuels has identified several strains of cold-tolerant jatropha and has initiated a breeding program to develop them as an oil-producing crop in colder U.S. climates. Agrasun, a new energy company based in Florida, announced recently it will plant Jatropha in Colombia and Mexico.READ MORE FEW: Producing biogas from thin stillage can reduce costs, carbon footprintTo reduce ethanol production costs and also their carbon footprints, ethanol producers might consider using anaerobic digestion to process thin stillage to produce biogas, which can be used to replace natural gas and to provide a cleaner effluent for use during fermentation, according to Eberhard Veit, research and development manager for Eisenmann AG. Veit gave a presentation outlining Eisenmann's process at the 25th annual International Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo in Denver.READ MORE FEW: Incentives, funding for ethanol producers to use biogas, biomassWith the U.S. EPA updating renewable fuel standard regulations and with California having adopted a low carbon fuel standard, incentives for ethanol producers to replace natural gas or coal with biogas are on the rise and government programs are available to assist with financing, according to speakers at the 25th annual International Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo in Denver.READ MORE BIO roundtable: feedstock flexibility key in biochemical industry The Biotechnology Industry Organization held a reporter roundtable June 11, at which four representatives of companies focused on commercial biorefinery development emphasized the current and future opportunities in the biochemical industry, and provided technology progression updates. "What we mean by a biorefinery is facility that integrates the production of biofuels, energy and value-added chemicals or plastics from renewable sources of sugar, similar to the current petrochemical industry but with flexible feedstocks," said roundtable moderator Paul Winters.READ MORE FEW: Poet announces biomass divisionPoet LLC is creating Poet Biomass, a new division to handle cob collection and supply chain management, logistics for waste wood and engineered fuels as alternative power sources and seeking out additional feedstocks for future cellulosic ethanol production. Scott Weishaar, Poet's vice president of commercial development, will lead Poet Biomass. "Poet's cellulosic ethanol goals depend on a steady supply of a reliable feedstock: corn cobs," Weishaar said. "Poet Biomass is here to make sure farmers have everything they need in order to play their important role in fueling our nation with both grain-based and cellulosic ethanol."READ MORE |
|
|
BLOG: BioLogue
FEATURED EVENT