Biofuels

According to a study by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the recent and rapid increase in large-scale liquid biofuel production in third world countries could marginalize rural women by threatening their livelihoods. Traditionally, small farmers (women in particular) have had limited access to the large-scale plantations that are required for the production of biofuels like bioethanol and biodiesel. These include land and water, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. 12 Comments

With food-related riots erupting in many poor countries the debate surrounding biofuels have heated up again. How viable are they, considering numerous other options easily available to developed as well as developing and under-developed countries? 10 Comments

Ethanol producers are considering whether a dedicated pipeline might be the best method for transporting the fuel. The ethanol industry is currently reliant upon traditional transport methods, such as railway and tanker truck, to ship the fuel across the states. Since ethanol plants must depend on rail or truck for distribution, the result has been a delay in getting the fuel additive to the pumps. The industry has therefore initiated a study of the developing problem and a suggestion for an ethanol pipeline is emerging. 7 Comments

Would you believe there exists a company that offers rental cars which are entirely powered by biodiesel? In support of their mission statement to be the "greenest" and "best" rental car company on the planet, Bio-Beetle Eco Rental Cars began their environmentally conscious business endeavor in 2003 with only a single car. The company was not, and still isn't, supported by a major car manufacturer. Powered by biodiesel, each Bio-Beetle has been purchased and developed individually by the founders as funds allow. The founders of Bio-Beetle believed their business venture was a great way to demonstrate environmental consciousness and have, therefore, slowly built the foundation for the only rental car company of its kind available. 3 Comments

A recent US study released on November 13, 2007, warns that some alternative fuels can cause more harmful greenhouse gas emissions than fossil fuel polluters like diesel or petrol. For example liquid coal, often touted as an alternative to gasoline and thus a way of reducing our dependence on foreign oil, can actual produce up to 80% more global warming pollution than typical unleaded gasoline. The process of turning coal into liquid (liquefaction by hydrogenation) actually produces nearly double the level of carbon dioxide emissions that conventional gasoline does, and it is considered by many environmentalists as a huge step backward for combating global warming. 4 Comments

Today's TED Talk is brought to us by Juan Enriquez, chair and CEO of Biotechonomy, and an authority on economics and the political impact of science. Enriquez proposes that we look at 'growing energy' by accelerating the biological processes that produce fuel crops. He believes increased agricultural productivity and energy production can be achieved by understanding the role biology plays in producing traditional fuel sources like coal and oil. He also argues that we should stop extracting energy with 'brute force' and start using biological science and technology to process crude fuel sources in a sustainable way. 9 Comments

The most recent episode of CBS' new Tuesday-night drama, CANE, was themed by the plans for a Florida-based sugarcane ethanol refinery. Lead character Alex (Jimmy Smits) had recently taken the reign as CEO to Duque Rum. Initially Alex was presented with the idea of selling off the company's sugarcane fields, a move that would allow the Duque Company to focus entirely on the production of its popular-selling rum. Instead Alex decides to meet with a US Senator over the future of sugarcane ethanol. The proposal by the federal government is to contract for the first US-based sugarcane ethanol refinery: a move that would cost $100 million but would be subsidized by half from the government. Although the cost is heavy, Alex explains to his family, sugarcane ethanol is the future and it would behoove the Duque family to retain their sugarcane fields and invest in the production of ethanol. 2 Comments

Phil Lampert, Executive Director of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, responds to a recent health report about the potential health and pollution risks of e85 ethanol. The report warns of possible cancer and ozone-related health consequences of a large-scale conversion from gasoline to ethanol, comparing the effects of gasoline vehicle emissions with those from ethanol fuel. Lampert argues that the report's negative conclusions are unrealistic and he maintains that the NEVC will continue to support the use of e85 as a fuel source, along with all other fuel alternatives like biodiesel, propane, compressed natural gas, electricity, hydrogen and other yet-to-be defined fuels. No Comments

Green Power Conferences will be hosting the Biofuels Markets Americas conference on April 3rd and 4th, 2007 at the Sofitel Hotel, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Biofuels Markets Americas is part of the Biofuels Markets Global Series of events which attracted over 1000 industry executives from 64 countries in 2006. This year's conference will build on the success of the 2006 conference and focus on the challenges and opportunities for the biofuels industry throughout the region. Last year's event brought together over 120 experts from 17 countries and this year they anticipate even more. No Comments

Come December 31st, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is set to effectively ban biodiesel in the state's largest markets. The problem, they say, lies with the fuel's nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and their contribution to the formation of ground-level ozone in Texas' eastern counties. According to the TCEQ, biodiesel does not meet the stricter NOx standards recently imposed on diesel and alternative diesel fuels under new regulations. Efforts to clean up the air, led the TCEQ in November 2005 to adopt Texas low emission diesel standards (TxLED) in an effort to reduce pollutants in the state's smoggiest 110 counties. Texas' biodiesel industry - the largest in the country - suddenly found itself essentially outlawed after the standards went into effect. 14 Comments

Modern diesel engine technology has advanced to the point where the advantages of biofuel usage are becoming much greater than the disadvantages. Modern diesel engines produce less noise, smoke or vibrations and they are more fuel-efficient than older model engines. Diesel engines have the added advantage of greater acceleration when compared to gasoline engines on the same model of vehicle. The use of biodiesel fuel may be the solution to the increasing transportation energy crisis, particularly in the farming and shipping transportation sectors. 1 Comment

Mesquite is a deciduous tree, commonly found in Northern Mexico and the United States. Because of its long roots and ability to flourish in dry climates, mesquite trees can be quite a frustrating nuisance for farmers and ranchers alike. Mesquite trees can use up a lot of water because their roots grow deep in order to tap into local water tables. This limits the growth of other important plant forms like grasslands for cattle grazing. A new technology promises to help solve this ongoing problem by harvesting and converting mesquite into ethanol fuel, which can then be used to power farm equipment and vehicles. 4 Comments

It's almost too good to be true. Restaurants produce a large amount of waste vegetable oils. Currently they have to sell this grease to oil-recycling companies and are charged a pick-up fee for the service. These companies in turn recycle the grease and re-sell it on the commercial market for a profit. It is therefore relatively easy to find a free source for bio-waste from local restaurants. They would gladly have someone recycle their waste for free. This gives the small-scale biofuel user a great opportunity to decrease their fuel expenses while saving the environment - or does it? 11 Comments

Grangemouth will be a world leader in green fuel production for the 21st century thanks to a new multi-million facility. Petrochemical manufacturer Ineos confirmed this week it is going ahead with plans to build an environmentally friendly biofuels production plant at the refinery it bought from BP last year. Grangemouth councillor Bob Spears said: "As fuel from the North Sea runs down, we see biofuel as the way forward. It's great news this way forward will be created and developed in Grangemouth. "It will also help to secure hundreds of long-term jobs well into the 21st century." No Comments

The Corn Ethanol Industry in the Midwestern United States is booming. Corn Farmers are excited about the new revenues being generated by the boom. Steadily increasing gas prices have encouraged the expansion of Ethanol manufacturing facilities, and currently employ many people. Ethanol is praised for its lower carbon monoxide emissions. Ethanol is blended with Gasoline and is therefore easier to market. The Renewable Energy Fuels Association states that there are now 105 ethanol plants in operation throughout the Midwest. 3 Comments

APS Energy Services has begun construction on a large-scale renewable energy facility as part of the Northern Nevada Correctional Center's plan to generate heat and electricity using forest waste products. A 30-kW solar photovoltaic system will be combined with a wood-fired biomass boiler. Wood chips from surrounding forest-thinning industries will be processed in a heat and power plant, which will generate electricity, steam and hot water for the facilities. The power plant will produce 8 million kW of electricity per year, allowing excess energy to be sold to Sierra Pacific Power Co. No Comments

Dozens of government and business leaders turned out Friday for a ceremonial opening at Delaware's first commercial bio-fuels plant, a soybean oil-to-diesel factory in Clayton that could reach full production by January. President Martin Ross of Mid-Atlantic Biodiesel Inc. said during a ribbon-cutting that the new plant eventually could grow from 6 million gallons yearly to about 15 million gallons per year. 1 Comment

One of the barriers to the production of ethanol from cellulosic biomass is the toughness of the cellulosic structure, and its resistance to chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis and insolubility in most solvents. Accordingly, pre-treatment such as steam explosion to break down the structure is a necessary first step. Now, researchers at the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology have discovered that cellulose undergoes a transformation from a crystalline form to an amorphous gel-like one very similar to a starch gel in water at high temperature (320° C) and pressure 25 (MPa). No Comments