Energy markets have always been a low-margin game, but current conditions leave producers little margin for error. Thoughtful, well considered operations and maintenance strategies may well be the surest path to profitability.
The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations recently published updated data on the global wood products industry that shows wood pellet production set a new record in 2014, growing by approximately 17 percent.
The National Corn Growers Association's Corn Board, action teams and committees recently convened in St. Louis to delve into the issues and opportunities that will impact corn farmers across the country during the coming year.
Two critical steps need to be finalized on the proposed 70 MMgy corn/milo ethanol plant at Onida, South Dakota, but Walt Wendland, president and chairman, is confident the last details will be finalized in the first months of the year.
In November, an international consortium led by Autodisplay Biotech GmbH started Pathway EFB, a collaborative research and development project to lower cellulase cost in the production of biofuels and biobased chemicals.
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association recently announced that Iowa's 43 ethanol plants produced over 4 billion gallons during 2015, up slightly from 3.9 billion gallons in 2014. Iowa continues to be the number one ethanol producing state.
A biomass cogeneration plant manager provides an overview of events that occur during a typical scheduled outage.
Lux Research named Fulcrum BioEnergy to its top 10 list of innovative companies from 2015. Fulcrum was the only alternative fuels company named to the list. The company is developing a biorefinery near Reno, Nevada.
The most effective way that the industry can maximize its relevancy and grow under the Clean Power Plan is for all involved to unite to weigh in on the important policy and regulatory discussions that are happening.
The Federal Trade Commission has announced final amendments regarding ethanol blends above E10 to its fuel rating rule, which determines the fuel rating that appears on pump labels and how octane levels are calculated.
The USDA recently announced a significant jump in ethanol exports to China this year, following a USDA-led trade mission to the country last year. China currently accounts for nearly 20 percent of all foreign sales of U.S. agricultural products.
The American Forest & Paper Association and the American Wood Council have filed a joint petition for review in the D.C. Circuit Court of the U.S. EPA's treatment of biomass energy in the final Clean Power Plan.
Central Boiler has released the Classic Edge 350, 550 and 750, its newest line of hydronic heaters, also known as outdoor wood furnaces. Each of these models meets the new clean burning emission standards.
The USDA has released a list of its 2015 top achievements. The list includes several achievements that have benefited the biofuel and bioenergy sectors, including funding for ethanol fuel pumps and progress with the BioPreferred Program.
Lancaster Area Sewer Authority and Buchart Horn recently broke ground on a $26.8 million biosolids upgrade and improvement project in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The upgrade and expansion will include adding anaerobic digesters and a biosolids dryer.
The USDA has released a list of its 2015 top achievements. The list includes several achievements that have benefited the biofuel and bioenergy sectors, including funding for ethanol fuel pumps and progress with the BioPreferred Program.
It's time to move on from Christmas and into the next year. Here are a few of the things I'm wishing for, as far as the ethanol industry goes, in 2016.
Heriot-Watt University has announced plans to lead a multi-disciplinary project to develop low carbon aviation fuels from captured CO2 and waste biomass. Aston and Oxford Universities and the University of Edinburgh will contribute to the project.
Outside markets have recently had a major impact corn prices. Currencies, energy prices, and Argentine policy changes have been in the spotlight over the past few months.
The ethanol market's—and energy complex on the whole—inability to end 2015 on a high note will continue to create some additional challenges for the industry in the upcoming year. Ethanol futures continue to trade around $1.40 per gallon.
Growth Energy and New Holland Agriculture have announced the 2015 Growth Energy Individual Member Sweepstakes winner. Bill Howell was presented with a 47 hp tractor customized with Growth Energy racing decals at Haley Equipment in Carroll, Iowa.
Current market conditions for pellets may be challenging, but in a world that needs to lower the net CO2 added to the atmosphere, the future for pellets is bright.
The January issue of EPM is now online, including a series of interviews featuring ethanol industry representatives' outlook on 2015 and 2016. Tom Bryan's editor's note appears in that issue with the headline "Let's Get After It Now."
Alternative energy companies typically prosper when oil prices are high, but it's not all doom and gloom when the cost of crude nosedives.
Now that we know the RHI is being continued, and with a budget that will allow the entry of many thousands of new projects, there is some certainty in the U.K. biomass heat sector for the foreseeable future.
Bipartisan congressional approval of recent legislation restoring tax credits for retail fuel station owners who buy equipment to offer alternative fuels could further increase availability of E85 and profitability for retailers.
Anellotech, IFP Energies nouvelles and Axens have completed construction on a development and testing plant for the Bio-TCAT process, a thermal catalytic process to produce biobased aromatics. Anellotech will now commence onsite installation.
The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service has published a notice announcing its intention to request a revision and extension of a currently approved information collection for a residue and biomass field survey.
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