In New Jersey, UOP Honeywell and Ensyn announced a joint venture to commercialize Ensyn’s fast pyrolysis process for converting crop and forest residues to energy.
Ensyn’s “rapid thermal-processing” technology, which heats biomass to more than 900ºF and converts it to bio-oil, a tar-like substance that can be used for home heating oil. Through development, the companies aim to refine the resulting oils to biomass-based gasoline, diesel and jet fuels. The Ensyn process, according to the company, takes less than two seconds to convert biomass to liquid in what they refer to as a “tornado of hot sand”.
UOP, which is developing biomass-based jet fuel under a contract with DARPA, said that it would contribute technology and equipment to the JV.
Platinum Energy to complete 55 Mgy biodiesel plant in Malaysia; pilot BTL plant also
Diversified Energy uses Centia process to produce gasoline from biomass at Arizona facility; four years from commercial viability but science no longer an issue
Choren opens biomass-to-liquid plant in Germany; company may add second synthetic diesel plant
Dynamotive signs feedstock agreements in Argentina for fast pyrolysis-based bio-oil
Amyris signs with two Brazilian companies for sugar cane diesel production
In Indiana, POET opened its third corn ethanol refinery in the state, a 65 Mgy plant in North Manchester. The facility utilizes the company’s patented BPX process that reduces energy consumption by up to 15 percent compared to conventional ethanol production, and features a thermal oxidizer that will eliminate up to 99.9 percent of air emissions. The plant, which cost $130 million to construct, will produce 178,000 tons of “dakota Gold” branded distillers grains for livestock feed.
Distillers grains warning: must be monitored for potential high sulphur content
Distillers grains gain traction as feed substitute for livestock
Researchers warn that a distillers grain diet causes elevated levels of E.coli in cattle; risk to humans cited
AlterVia Fuels develops process for converting corn ethanol byproduct into a protein suitable for human use
Canada issues policies for use of dried distillers grains; opens up new market, may relieve grain price pressure
In Indiana, ForeverGreen Enterprises and International Power Group announced a plan to construct a $227 million plant that will convert 750 tons of industrial, chemical and medical waste into biofuels and electricity. The New Jersey-based Forever Green will contribute its waste breakdown technology and will own 75 percent of the venture. International Power will contribute its heat-to-energy technology for plant power, and will own the remaining 25 percent.
Mantra, Northwind establish JV to produce cellulosic ethanol from wood waste
Two research teams announce breakthroughs in converting cellulose to gasoline; Sustainable Power expected to announce biocrude expansion in Central America
Iowa needs $2 billion in coal-fired electricity production to supply power for ethanol; critics say coal use “ungreens” ethanol
Angolan, Brazilian companies form Biocom joint venture to produce ethanol, electricity in Angola
EPA says ethanol plants can create negative carbon footprint if using CHP system
In Illinois, Futures TV debuted a weekly online video series on ethanol futures trading, hosted by Ira Epstein & Company’s J.B. Siewers and featuring Biofuels Digest editor Jim Lane.
The 6-8 minute weekly broadcast will investigate the opportunities and dynamics of ethanol, corn, sugar and oil trading, among other biofuel-related commodities. Ira Epstein, former host of “Stocks, Options and Futures” on the Financial News Network and head of futures brokerage I. Epstein & Company, established an agreement earlier this year with usecorn.com and the Digest to produce informational video-based products for the biofuels investment community.
The first 6-minute program can be viewed here.
Biofuels Stock and Financial Outlook for October 8: Stocks expected to open flat in holiday trading; palm oil prices climbing down from summer high
CME Group to commence ethanol futures option trading
Biofuels Stock and Financial Outlook for September 14
Palm oil surges as oil tops $90 a barrel; increased soybean oil supply keeps soy futures in check
Biofuels Stock and Financial Outlook for October 9: Stock futures up, as investors weigh more ethanol plant construction halts and biodiesel conversions
From the Renewable Fuels Association: “Given current ethanol production economic… it seems unlikely that 08/09 ethanol use will reach 4.1 billion bushels, as USDA projected in August. Other estimates place corn use for ethanol in 2008/09 closer to 3.8 billion bushels. It is also notable that USDA overestimated corn use for ethanol in the 2007/08 marketing year.”
Pavel Molchanov, energy analyst for Raymond James: “Given the current EPS/EBITDA valuations across much of the alternative energy sector, most notably the solar space, it is readily apparent that the market does not believe that our (or the Street’s) estimates for 2009 are achievable…The bulk of our alt energy universe still trades comfortably above book value…a sizable minority (five out of 17) now trade below book value - a rare situation historically in this sector. Not surprisingly, four of these five companies (Pacific, BioFuel, VeraSun, and Aventine) are ethanol producers…the market is implying that existing ethanol production capacity could be bought below replacement cost.”
USDA confirms corn forecast, reduces demand projections for ethanol
Wells Fargo projects 88 million acres of corn in 2008, lower than other estimates; corn prices at $5 per bushel for ‘08
USDA releases details of 2007 US corn harvest forecast: 13.3 billion bushels, 155.8 bushels per acre
Food vs biofuel: the myth of the corn shortage
USDA projects 13.3 billion bushel corn harvest; professor projects 180 bushels per acre in Illinois
In the Philippines, Senator Mar Roxas, co-author of the Biofuels Law, said that the country should convert 370,000 hectares of available land to sugarcane production for biofuels. The nation’s Sugar Regulatory Administration said that 60,00 hectares are needed to meet the ethanol requirements under the nation’s 5 percent ethanol mandate for 2009. The country is also scheduled to impose a 10 percent ethanol mandate in 2012. In related news, rebel forces of the New People’s Army destroyed equipment at a Bio-Green facility, stopping operations, and putting 300 jobs at risk if repairs cannot be swiftly completed.
DFI Group proposes 20 Mgy in new algae oil, waste biodiesel capacity for Arkansas; 110 Mgy ethanol plant mulled
GreenHunter stars production at 105 Mgy biodiesel plant; nation’s largest
Oando to donate ethanol testing equipment to Nigerian government; equipment shortage contributed to approval of rogue E22 shipment, widespread car breakdowns
Pioneer Distilleries doubles ethanol capacity as Indian E5 mandate takes effect
Endicott, Davy sign technical partnership to support new 30 Mgy biodiesel plant in Texas; future facilities in sight
In Brazil, the Center South Sugar and Ethanol Industry Association said that sugar output had risen 2.6 percent in August after improved weather permitted more aggressive harvest efforts. The region’s mills produced 2.4 million tons of sugar during the reporting period, up from 2.33 million tons last year, and harvests were up 10 percent to 38.4 million tons of cane. Sugar yields were 6.7 percent down from last year at 62.4 kilos per ton.
Brazil sugar cane harvest up sharply, sugar production down as ethanol effect is felt
South Indian sugar growers stuggle to afford ethanol production capacity
Brazilian sugar cane industry roars back against Bloomberg Television documentary on worker conditions
Brazilian ethanol production to increase 23 percent in 2008
Brazil’s sugar producers say that bagasse could supply up to 15 percent of Brazilian electric needs
In Malaysia, biodiesel production is expected to increase to 143,000 tonnes this year, up 50 percent over 2007 as falling crude palm oil prices revive Southeast Asian production. Exports for the first eight months of the year reached 101,000 tonnes, up from 95,000 last year, according to the Malaysian Palm Board. The break even cost for crude palm oil, based on a $1,000 per tonne biodiesel price, is estimated in Malaysia at $900 per tonne, and CPO prices have now dropped below $700. The Palm Board warned that winter sales may ease, due to the superior cold-weather performance of canola oil compared to to palm oil biodiesel.
Malaysian biodiesel industry rebounds as crude palm oil prices tumble 35 percent; 15 percent drop forecast for 2009
Crude palm oil prices hit record close of $1,071 per tonne as Indonesia imposes export tax to protect domestic food prices
Malaysian crude palm oil prices tumble as biodiesel demand evaporates in wake of 80 percent price hikes
Palm oil price hikes chill Malaysian biodiesel expansion; only 4 of 91 approved plants have opened
Crude palm oil price reaches all time record of $829 per tonne
The Renewable Fuel Association prepared a report on what it called the misrepresentation of “the impact of ethanol production on American corn and total grain supplies, contorting facts and reporting statistics completely out of context.” The report was prepared in advance of the in advance of the September World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report just released (here) by the USDA. The RFA report highlighted that US corn exports increased by 800 million bushels between 2002 and 2007, an increase of 50 percent; net use of the corn crop by ethanol producers in 2008 (after deducting the return of dried distillers grains) will be 22 percent. The RFA also noted a projected $4.50 per bushel price for corn, up only 6 percent for the year.
USDA slashes corn crop forecast 400 million bushels as rain, cold takes toll
USDA says 74 percent of corn emerged, compared to 89 percent five year average, as weather threatens crop failure
Big US corn planting seen as corn futures climb past $5 per bushel
USDA 10-year agriculture projections released: ethanol strong, global biofuels up, soy down
Wells Fargo projects 88 million acres of corn in 2008, lower than other estimates; corn prices at $5 per bushel for ‘08
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/11/business/biofuel.php