News > October

Clean Cities Program Notes 375 Million Gallons of Gas Saved in 2006
Clean Cities coalitions reported that the US displaced the equivalent of 375 million gallons of gasoline in 2006, a 50% increase on the amount displaced in 2005, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Through its almost 90 coalitions, Clean Cities works with government and industry partners to reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector. Highlights of the report: 70% percent of the 2006 gasoline displacement came from the use of alternative fuels — 30% of that was from the use of compressed natural gas, mostly in heavy-duty vehicles; E85 accounted for 24% of gasoline displacement from alternate fuels in 2006 and the use of E85 grew substantially in 2006, largely because the number of E85 stations doubled, from 436 to 995; hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) use accounted for the displacement of approximately 9 million gallons of gasoline; coalitions reported acquiring almost 44,000 HEVs in 2006, a 61% increase over the 17,100 purchased in 2005.
Source: Clean Cities Program Saves 375 Million Gallons Of Gas In 2006, Science Daily

UK Launches Trial of Buses Running on B100 Biodiesel
The United Kingdom has launched its first trial of buses running on B100 biodiesel. In a six-month pilot project, Argent Energy, the UK’s first large scale biodiesel producer, is working with Stagecoach, one of the UK’s biggest bus and coach operators, to supply the biodiesel made by recycling and processing tallow (animal fat) and used cooking oil – both byproducts of the food industry. While the use of 5% biodiesel blended with 95% diesel is common and requires no modifications to either vehicles or supply logistics, the use of 100% biodiesel is different. B100 needs to be kept at a constant temperature and that requires dedicated fuel storage tanks and modifications to vehicle fuel tanks. Under a unique environmental incentive scheme, passengers will be able to help fuel the buses by exchanging their used cooking oil for discounted bus travel.
Source: UK’s first biodiesel buses launched, Biodiesel Magazine

Los Angeles Airport Awards $16.5 Million Contract for CNG Bus Service
Los Angeles Airport Commissioners have approved a $16.5 million, five-year contract to operate a non-stop bus service from the city’s downtown railway station to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) using new buses fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG). The new CNG buses will replace diesel buses used in a previous service pilot program. The pilot service began operations in March 2006 and during its first year, more than 250,000 passengers rode the non-stop bus service, exceeding ridership projections by threefold.  “The service is a proven success at reducing traffic congestion to and from LAX and reducing vehicle emissions," said Gina Marie Lindsey, executive director of Los Angeles World Airports. "By establishing this service long-term and replacing the fleet with clean-fueled buses, the entire city benefits both from reduced traffic congestion and better air quality."
Source: LAWA Awards $16.5 Million, Five-Year Contract for FlyAway Service to Union Station Featuring Clean, Alternative Fuel Bus Fleet, Earthtimes.org

Brazil's Petrobras Aims to Produce Cellulosic Ethanol in Next Decade
Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras is aiming to make cellulosic ethanol commercially viable within the next decade, according to a company executive. "There is no industrial-scale production of cellulosic ethanol anywhere in the world today, as its production cost is higher than that of ethanol from sugarcane or corn," said Carlos Tadeu Fraga, executive manager at the company's research center.  "Our objective is to reach a competitive price in the coming decade."  Petrobras plans to have a semi-industrial prototype plant for cellulosic ethanol production running in 2010. That plant will have the capacity to convert 10 tons of sugarcane residue into about 740 gallons of ethanol, Fraga said.
Source: Brazil's Petrobras aims to produce cellulosic ethanol in next decade, International Herald Tribune

Port LNG Project Demonstrates Reduction in Emissions
A demonstration project using liquefied natural gas (LNG) in yard tractors at the Port of Los Angeles has shown favorable results in reducing pollution. The demonstration project, conducted by Sound Energy Solutions (SES), found that particulate matter emissions were 93% cleaner than a standard diesel engine and 90% cleaner than an on-road diesel engine using ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. The project deployed LNG tractors in daily operations over a fourteen month period to determine the viability of LNG as an alternative to diesel fuel in the Port’s terminal equipment. Prior to this study, no major terminal tractor manufacturers had plans to develop LNG engine technology. However, the President of SES, Thomas E. Giles, believes that “this type of technology can play a critical role” in finding solutions to making the port environment cleaner.
Source: Port Yard Tractor Demonstration Project Sees Success in Particulate Matter Emissions, Sound Energy Solutions

San Jose Airport Honored for Positive Impact of CNG Bus Fleet
California’s San Jose International Airport has been selected to receive the Natural Gas Vehicle Achievement Award in recognition of efforts that have significantly improved air quality and reduced the fuel costs of its ground transportation operations. Since 2003, the airport has eliminated the use of over 1.1 million gallons of diesel fuel through conversion of its shuttle bus fleet to compressed natural gas (CNG), resulting in savings of over $2.6 million dollars and the reduction of vehicle exhaust emissions by over 70 tons annually. In addition, the number of CNG taxis serving the airport has increased from fewer than 30 in 2005 to 119 today, and they now account for more than 40 percent of all taxi trips from the airport compared to only 6 percent in 2005.
Source: Mineta San Jose airport honored for clean air impact, San Jose Business Journal

House of Representatives Approves 25 Percent Renewable Energy by 2025
The House of Representatives has passed a resolution setting a goal to expand renewable energy production in the United States. The “25 by '25” resolution expresses the goal of Congress that by the year 2025, at least 25 percent of total US energy will come from renewable, domestically produced sources. Currently, renewable energy sources provide about six percent of the United States’ total energy needs. The resolution recognizes the important role of agriculture-based energy sources, including ethanol and biodiesel, in the growing renewable energy industry. It also reinforces the importance of maintaining a safe, abundant and affordable domestically produced supply of food, feed and fiber as the nation pursues energy independence.
Source: House Approves 25 Percent Renewable Energy by 2025, Environment News Service

Pakistan Sees CNG Growth: 1,765 Stations and 1,000 More in Pipeline
More than 1,765 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations have been established in Pakistan and a further 1,000 more are in the pipeline for establishment within the next three years. The Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan’s (HDIP), Director General, Hilal Raza, attributed this growth to favorable government policies and the participation of the private sector. According to Raza, the CNG industry in Pakistan has provided employment to 30,000 people in the country.
Source: 1,765 CNG stations set up, 1,000 more in pipeline, Daily Times

Certification of E85 Fuel Dispensers Expected to Double E85 Locations
Underwriters Laboratories (UL), an independent safety-certification organization that tests and writes Standards for Safety for products, has announced the availability of safety requirements for E85 fuel dispensing equipment. The UL certification requirements are a major victory for the ethanol industry and the efforts to expand the availability of E85. “Underwriters Laboratories’ announcement removes a major barrier to many companies that have been waiting to offer E85 at their fueling stations,” says Robert White, director of operations for the Ethanol Information and Promotion Council (EPIC). Currently there are more than 1,300 E85 fueling stations open across the United States. With UL’s announcement, projections are that the number will double in the coming year, as demand for ethanol increased due to more convenient access to E85.
Source: Underwriters Laboratories Certification Expected to Double E85 Locations, Hoosier AG Today

India Pays the Price as Edible Oils Are Diverted to Biofuels
As the world's top edible oil importer, India may have to pay a third more to import these oils, due to soaring global prices caused by the diversion of edible oils to biofuel production. Ashok Sethia, president of the Solvent Extractors' Association of India, said that the diversion of 5-10 percent of vegetable oils for non-food use would seriously impact prices and availability, putting pressure on importing countries like India — which consumes about 10 million tonnes of edible oils annually, with imports contributing half. Stung by the sharp rise in global edible oil prices over the past few years, India began cutting import duties on the commodity in 2006. Even so, surging prices of edible oil are making imports unviable — global crude palm oil prices were up 82 percent from a year earlier, while soy oil prices have risen 60 percent.
Source: India edible oil imports to cost 33 pct more next yr, Reuters

Shell Investing in Future Generation Biofuels
The president of Houston-based Shell Oil says the company has bet its biofuel future on future generation biofuels. “We are investing in cellulosic biofuel,” said John Hofmeister during a visit to California, the 46th stop of a 50-city tour to discuss energy issues face-to-face with the public. He commented that fuel made from orange rinds, wood chips and switchgrass may become part of Shell gasoline in ten to 20 years, beefing up supply and possibly lowering prices. Shell has a partnership with Montreal-based Iogen Corp., which may build a plant in Iowa to research the possibilities of this renewable fuel. Shell is also researching algae as a potential alternative fuel, he said.
Source: Shell sees biofuel in future, Inside Bay Area

UPS to Add 306 New Alternative Fuel Vehicles
UPS, the world’s largest package delivery company, plans to expand its ‘green’ fleet by adding 306 alternative-fuel trucks. The company has ordered 167 compressed natural gas (CNG) delivery trucks, to be deployed in Dallas, Atlanta, Los Angeles and other California cities, and 139 new propane trucks, destined for Canada and Mexico. The CNG trucks are expected to yield a 20% emissions reduction and 10% improvement in fuel economy over the cleanest diesel engines. With the support of a $515,000 federal grant, UPS has also launched an initiative to use biodiesel fuel in its ground support vehicles at the UPS Worldport air hub in Louisville. UPS said its worldwide alternative-fuel fleet, which also includes liquefied natural gas, electric and hybrid electric vehicles, now stands at 1,629 vehicles and is the largest in the transportation industry.
Source: UPS Expands Fleet With Alternative Fuel Vehicles Order, CNN Money

EU to Fund Project to Build Hydrogen-Powered Autos
The European Union (EU) has proposed a project worth as much as €1 billion to fund the development of hydrogen-powered cars. EU officials said hydrogen technology should help Europe reduce emissions and shore up more secure supplies of energy. The EU said it would contribute €470 million ($664 million) to the six-year project and called on companies to match those funds toward the goal of creating commercial vehicles by 2020. Even though hydrogen produces no CO2 when used in combustion engines or fuel-cell systems, environmental groups have still criticized the plan as an ineffective way of promoting greener transportation systems, saying that making hydrogen powered cars commercially viable could still take more than a decade.
Source: EU to fund project to build hydrogen-powered autos, International Herald Tribune

Largest City in Central China Opens First of 50 New CNG Stations
Sinoenergy Corporation, a developer and operator of compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations in China, has opened its first two CNG filling stations in Wuhan City, the largest city in central China. Sinoenergy expects to open 20 stations over the next six months with a target of 30 CNG stations by the end of 2008. That number is expected to expand to 50 operational CNG filling stations by the end of 2009. Wuhan City currently has 4,900 CNG-fueled vehicles and plans to transform 2,500 more taxis and buses into CNG vehicles by the end of 2007. It is expected that at least 20 to 30 CNG filling stations will be required to meet the fueling needs of those 7,400 vehicles.
Source: Sinoenergy Corporation Announces Opening of First Two CNG Stations, CNN Money

Lower US Ethanol Prices Halt Plant Construction
At least three US ethanol plants have recently canceled expansion plans due to high corn prices and ethanol prices dropping as more new plants come online. VeraSun Energy Corp. suspended construction of its 110-million gallon plant in Indiana earlier this month, citing a fall in ethanol prices. Now, Glacial Lakes Energy is postponing construction of an ethanol plant in South Dakota and Chippewa Valley Ethanol Co. is postponing a 40-million gallon expansion of its plant in Minnesota. Glacial Lakes said in a news release that ethanol prices fell by 50 cents a gallon during the past few months and construction costs increased significantly since buying land on which to build the plant in 2006. Chippea Valley, a farmer-owned cooperative, said the new production capacity coming online was saturating the market, depressing ethanol prices.
Source: Lower US ethanol prices halt plant construction

CNG Buses to Mitigate Escalating Diesel Costs in Malaysia
Nadicorp Holdings, which operates the largest bus company in Malaysia, has secured a loan agreement for $53M to invest in compressed natural gas (CNG) engine technology that will see the group becoming the first bus operator in the country to use CNG-powered buses. The company predicts that CNG technology will enable Nadicorp to mitigate escalating diesel costs with a fuel savings of up to 24% per month per bus. Malaysia’s 123% increase in the price of diesel over the past two years was a major factor in leading the company towards CNG-based technology. 
Source: Nadicorp gets US$53m loan for CNG buses, Malaysia Star

Taller Sorghum to Fuel Future Ethanol Output
Scientists at Texas A&M University and energy crop company Ceres, Inc. have developed a sorghum plant that can grow up to 20 feet tall and yield a massive amount of plant matter. The grain-free sorghum crops will provide feedstock for ethanol plants producing the next generation of biofuels. Ceres is targeting a yield of 15 to 20 tons of sorghum biomass per acre, depending on geography and rainfall. That type of yield could produce up to 2,000 gallons of ethanol per acre of crop — about four times the yield of an average acre of corn, the crop most commonly used by existing US ethanol plants. Sorghum requires less water and about a third of the fertilizer that corn needs.
Source: Texas-sized sorghum to fuel future ethanol output, Reuters

Petra Trust to Create Jatropha Biodiesel Plant in West Indies
In an initiative announced by former US President Bill Clinton, the Petra Group — through its Petra Initiative for Poverty Eradication (PIPE) — plans to create a jatropha plantation and jatropha-powered biodiesel refinery in the West Indies. The initiative is part of a wide-ranging project started by the Petra Trust to create sustainable employment and eradicate poverty in the region through the establishment of jatropha nurseries, plantations and a biodiesel refinery. The initial five-year program will cost an estimated US$130 million. The program will initially be developed and managed by PIPE and then handed over to local governments and farmers.
Source: Petra Group to set up jatropha biodiesel plant in West Indies, The Edge Daily

Lexus Aims for High-Performance Super-Efficient Hybrids
Toyota's Lexus, the top-selling luxury brand in the U.S., is studying high-performance hybrids to appeal to buyers who want something sporty and environmentally friendly. Lexus is also studying “a hybrid that's engineered for really high mileage and really low emissions,” said General Manager Jim Farley, adding, “There is a huge opportunity for a luxury-car company to be seen as a solution provider in terms of getting away from carbon pollution and heavy reliance on oil.” Lexus is also researching the possibility of a rechargeable Lexus hybrid with extended electric range, though an improved “super-efficient” version of Toyota's current hybrid system may be more likely.
Source: Toyota's Lexus May Add High-Performance U.S. Hybrids, Bloomberg

Netherlands Water Board Uses Sewage to Fuel Natural Gas Vehicles
Sewage from the Netherlands City of Beverwijk is being used to supply methane for transportation and domestic purposes for the city’s citizens and Water Board. BioGast has announced that they have inaugurated the first installation in the Netherlands to retrieve gas generated during sewage treatment. Captured gas is being fed into the ENECO gas grid, to be used in local homes. A vehicle refueling device, known as a Phill, has also been installed at the plant for use in natural gas vehicles operated by the local Water Board.
Source: Netherlands Water Board Puts Sewage to Use as Transport Fuel, NGV Global

Dept. of Energy to Invest up to $20 Million for Plug-In Hybrid Research
The US Dept. of Energy has announced that it will invest nearly $20 million in plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) research. PHEVs have the potential to displace a large amount of gasoline by delivering up to 40 miles of electric range without recharging—a distance that includes most daily roundtrip commutes. Five projects will focus on developing batteries and cells for 10- and 40-mile range PHEVs and building small cells to test new cathode materials. In addition, the University of Michigan will receive nearly $2 million to explore the future of PHEVs in a two-year study.
Source: DOE to Invest up to $20 Million for Plug-In Hybrid Research, EERE News

Nissan Debuts Diesel Hybrid & CNG Light Truck Models
As part of an environmental plan focused on reducing CO2 emissions, Nissan Motor Co. has added Diesel Hybrid and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) models to its lineup of light-commercial vehicles in Japan. The new models, which offer superior fuel economy combined with clean exhaust emissions, have been added to the lineup as part of the Nissan Green Program 2010.  Both vehicles emit 10% fewer nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions than the levels required by Japan's 2005 exhaust emission regulations and comply with the country’s 2005 low-emission vehicle designation standards.
Source: Nissan Adds Diesel Hybrid, Cng Models To Atlas H43 Lineup, huliq.com

Ford Calls for Biofuel Accreditation and Tax Incentives
Ford is calling for the accreditation of biofuels to prevent the cultivation of environmentally damaging biofuel crops, as well as taxation incentives to encourage the more widespread use of the fuels. "Not all biofuels are good for the environment", says Richard Parry-Jones, Ford's head of global product development and chief technical officer. "We advocate the use of responsible biofuels, and we're developing a scheme for accredited fuels - like organic food." Rather than high bio-content fuel blends such as E85 and E70, Parry-Jones advocates the use of E40, but on a widespread scale. "In the long-term the best way is not to have E85 or E70 for a dedicated fleet of vehicles, but to have a lower figure usable in nearly every car. This is more effective."
Source: Ford calls for Biofuel Accreditation, and Tax Incentives, Reuters

Syntroleum, Tyson Partner to Produce Renewable Diesel
Syntroleum Corp. and Tyson Foods Inc. have jointly created Dynamic Fuels LLC to build multiple, stand-alone facilities producing what they call “ultra-clean, high-quality, next-generation renewable synthetic fuels," or renewable diesel. Syntroleum’s trademarked Biofining technology will produce fuel from low-grade animal fats, greases and vegetable oils supplied by Tyson — a process which they say doesn’t compete with traditional biodiesel producers using vegetable oils and higher grades of animal fats. The first facility, a $150 million refinery, is slated to be on line in 2010 somewhere in the south-central United States.
Source: Syntroleum, Tyson partner to produce renewable diesel, Biodiesel Magazine

Algae-for-biodiesel Production Technology Showcased in UK
A Dutch company named AlgaeLink will unveil its algae-for-biodiesel production technology at the UK’s Biodiesel Expo and Biofuels Conference. Event organizer Biofuels Media says commercial algae farming is coming to the rescue of the increasingly controversial biodiesel industry. Unlike crops such as soy, palm, corn and rapeseed, many strains of micro-algae contain as much as 70% oil. Micro-algae offer many other advantages as a fuel feed crop — the fastest growing plant on earth, algae typically double their weight daily yet only require raw materials that are abundant, such as sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. In addition, algae offer year-round cultivation, a short life cycle and the ability to grow in conditions that may be considered too adverse for other crops.
Source: AlgaeLink launches 2nd generation biofuel equipment at Biodiesel-Expo, Energy Efficient Motorsport, UK