Week of August 18, 2008 |
Editor: C.V. Clute editor@epoverviews.com Algae Biodiesel technology ready to go (New Prod. & Tech.) Renewable Energy Group® (REG), a leading U.S. biodiesel production and marketing company, indicates it has scalable commercialization technology capable of refining and producing large volumes of high- quality algae biodiesel. The technology can refine oil from a variety of algae strains and produce algae biodiesel exceeding ASTM standards. It has been tested at the pilot scale level with results that will lead to commercial production. With available feedstocks and additional algae oilproduction partners, REG can augment current pre-treatment and production of algae biodiesel in continually increasing volumes as part of their current continuous-flow, commercial-scale process technology. The company is looking to initiate additional partnerships for commercial-scale production of algae biodiesel at volumes comparable to those from other vegetable and animal feedstocks now in use, said Chief Operating Officer Daniel Oh. (Source: Press Release, Aug. 19, '08)
Pure Biofuels opens Peruvian Biodiesel plant (Int'l - Ind. Report) Following up on a project last mentioned in our June 27, '08 issue, Pure Biofuels has opened its main biodiesel plant in Port Callao, near Lima, Peru. The facility has a 52.5 million gpy production capacity and a mooring capacity for vessels with up to 60,000 metric tons of bulk liquid cargo. The company aims to have 80 % of their feedstock needs met by company owned and harvested jatropha by 2015. (Source: Market Watch, Aug. 19, '08)
Camelina ready to lift Biodiesel industry (Ind. Report) According to Duane Johnson, Vice President for agricultural development at Great Plains Oil and Exploration in Big Fork, Mont., camelina could return profit to the biodiesel industry and spur further growth. Camelina production acreage in Montana has increased from just 450 acres in '04 to between 20,000 to 40,000 acres planted in '08. Several other states, including North Dakota, are currently raising camelina and looking at expanding acreage in the future. Johnson said, "right now all of the oilseeds that we use to make biodiesel, whether it be soybeans, sunflower, canola or mustard, are competing against a world food market. We need to start looking at non-food crops (such as camelina), or the next generation of crops, for biodiesel production." (Source: Farm & Ranh Guide, Aug. 15, '08)
Six companies receive BQ 9000 accreditation (Ind. Report) Six additional biodiesel producers and marketers have received "BQ-9000 Accreditation" under the National Biodiesel Board's accreditation program. The National Biodiesel Accreditation Commission certified Downs Company of Corona, Calif. as a BQ-9000 marketer. Piedmont Biofuels of Pittsboro, N.C.; Beacon Energy Corp. of Cleburne, Texas; Lake Erie Biofuels of Erie, Pa.; Paseo Cargill Energy of Kansas City, Mo.; and Ag Processing Inc. (AGP) of St. Joseph, Mo. were all certified as BQ-9000 producers. BQ-9000 is a quality assurance program that looks at biodiesel standards as well as companies' storage, sampling, testing, blending, shipping, distribution, and fuel management practices. (Source: Nebraska Farmer, Aug. 15, '08)
$2.8 million US for Algae-Biodiesel research in Brazil (Int'l - R&D) Brazil will allocate $2.8 million US (4.5 million Reais) in non-refundable credits to research projects exploring the use of aquaculture or micro-algae products in biodiesel production. The funding will cover the development of low-cost micro-algae farming techniques that may be used in oil production as a raw material for biodiesel production; studies assessing the potential of different micro-algae types; studies on the economic feasibility of farmed micro algae processes for biodiesel production; and research of cost-effective and efficient micro-algae collection and subsequent oil extraction processes. The deadline for proposals is Sept. 25, '09. Selected projects will be announced in Oct. and financing made available in Dec. '08. (Source: Merco Press Aug. 14, '08)
Amiworld to expand Columbian Biodiesel production (Int'l - G&C) Amiworld Inc., an international energy company engaged in the production and distribution of diversified fuel products and services with a focus on emerging global economies, indicates that it plans to increase both diesel and biodiesel production by at least 300% at the company 's Colombia, South American facility. To that end, the company's subsidiary Odin Petroil SA has contracted with FISS Project Development Petroleum LTDA for an $8.6 million US expansion. Amiworld owns and operates the only government certified biodiesel plant in Colombia and intends to increase its market penetration in the country as well as expanding into Asia and the U.S. (Source: Business Wire, Aug. 11, '08)
GM and PTT to develop Renewable Fuels in Thailand (Int'l - G&C)
General Motors has signed a deal with Thailand's top energy firm, PTT PCL to collaborate on alternative fuels research. "The strategy will focus on alternative energy that is socially responsible, economic, environment-friendly and with practical technology," said GM CEO Richard Wagoner. According to GM, the cooperation will include research in cellulosic ethanol and other non-food crops, expansion of biodiesel sources, development of CNG bi-fuel and dual-fuel, as well as the development of low-cost hybrid, fuel cell and diesel engine technology for Thailand and Southeast Asian countries. According to Wagner the companies will "cooperate to study possible markets as well as the infrastructure needed to realise benefits from increased use of alternative energy." (Source: AFP, Aug. 14, '08)
Amyris raises $21 million US (Funding) Amyris Biotechnologies indicates the company has added $21 million US to its existing $70 million US funding round, bringing the total for its ongoing series B round to $91.35 million US. The company had earlier announced a deal with Brazilian sugar group Crystalsev to use its technology to produce biofuels from sugar cane bagasse, as indicated in our Apr. 25, '08 issue. According to Amyris, this latest round of funding will be used to bring its biodiesel process into pilot production. (Source: Earth2tech, Aug. 14, '08)
Biodiesel Sustainability standards proposed (Ind. Report) The Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance (SBA) headquartered in Austin, Texas has released the first national "Baseline Practices for Sustainability in Biodiesel" for public review. The non-profit organization is soliciting public feedback and suggestions as part of an effort to develop biodiesel sustainability practices. The definitions and standards have been drafted by representative farmers, environmental NGOs, fuel distributors, biodiesel producers, academics, trucking fleets and renewable energy consultants as well as staff from the EPA.
The SBA will incorporate public feedback and changes to the BPS document which will be discussed and ratified at the "Sustainable Biodiesel Stakeholders Summit 2008" on September 17, 2008 in Texas. (Source: Market Watch, Aug. 19, '08)
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