News > January

Energy Company Says Cellulosic Ethanol Plants Will be On Line in 2-3 Years
The first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plants should come on line by late 2009 or early 2010, and the industry remains poised to meet a U.S. government goal to increase biofuels use five-fold by 2022, says Richard Hamilton, the head of energy crop company Ceres. Ceres develops high biomass yielding crops such as switchgrass and miscanthus for future use as dedicated energy crops. High costs have thus far limited expansion of cellulosic technology beyond the demonstration phase, but new government funding is speeding up the process. To help achieve the goal of increasing renewable fuels use to 36 billion gallons over the next 15 years, the U.S. Department of Energy rolled out $1.1 billion in funds to research bioenergy and build six commercial-scale biorefineries. Some or all of those six plants should be up and running in about two years, Hamilton said.
Source: Biomass will add to ethanol pool in 2-3 years, Checkbiotech

Lawmaker Says Cellulosic Ethanol Still A Decade Away
It will be at least a decade before technological breakthroughs allow ethanol fuel to be produced commercially from farm and forest waste like wood chips, switchgrass and corn stalks, said the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee this week. The Bush administration has a much quicker 2012 target date for moving U.S. ethanol production away from its current main feedstock — corn — to cheaper agricultural waste and other so-called cellulosic sources. However, Rep. Collin Peterson said that goal probably won't be met. "I think that is optimistic. I think we are 10 years away," said Peterson, speaking at the Reuters Global Agriculture and Biofuel Summit.
Source: Lawmaker says cellulosic ethanol a decade away, Reuters

Economist Says Over-Supply is U.S. Ethanol’s Most Immediate Challenge
The biggest challenge facing the U.S. corn-ethanol industry in 2008 will be finding a home for all the new production that is coming on stream, states Professor Wallace Tyner, a leading economist with Purdue University who specializes in energy and agricultural policies. U.S. corn-based ethanol production capacity was a little over 7 billion gallons in 2007. But by the end of 2008, capacity will be up to 13 billion gallons according to industry estimates. However, Tyner says the maximum amount of domestic ethanol that can be sold in 2008 is only 12 billion gallons, given the E10 blended fuel market and the much smaller E85 market. Currently, there are only about 1,530 stations across the United States that sell fuel that is up to 85% ethanol and annual consumption is around 50 million gallons.
Source: Biggest challenge for U.S. ethanol is big supply, Reuters

Transportation Specialist Says Ethanol Growth Tied to Efficient Rail Terminals
As U.S. ethanol production and demand climb, construction of new rail terminals that can efficiently unload unit trains is critical to sustained growth in the biofuels sector, says a transportation industry specialist. The majority of ethanol produced in the United States is shipped via railcar from major production areas in the Corn Belt to blending facilities along the coasts. Unit trains are seen as the most efficient and cost effective method of shipping the biofuel and most ethanol plants that are being built have the ability to ship unit trains, “but we have very few destination terminals that can receive trains," said Thomas Williamson of Transportation Consultants Co. “When you have 100-some ethanol plants, probably 75 of which can ship unit trains, and you've only got seven destinations, it's a problem,” said Williamson, during the Reuters Biofuel Summit.
Source: Ethanol growth tied to efficient rail terminals, Reuters

GM Says Volt Launch by 2010  'a stretch'
General Motors’ planned launch of the highly anticipated Chevrolet Volt in 2010 will remain "a stretch" even though the automaker has not hit any snags in its development of the rechargeable electric car, says GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner.  Despite his statement that there was no guarantee that GM could meet the timetable for a launch of the Volt by 2010, Wagoner remains optimistic, stating that the automaker has 200 engineers devoted full-time to the Volt and that initial tests of a new-generation of lithium-ion batteries needed to power the Volt had been "favorable." The Volt represents GM's bid to beat rival Toyota Motor Corp to the market with a hybrid vehicle that can be recharged at a standard outlet.
Source: GM CEO says Volt on track, 2010 launch 'a stretch', Reuters

CNG Fuel Gives United Arab Emirates an Environmental Boost
A new compressed natural gas (CNG) filling station is set to spur the development of a CNG infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates. The mobile CNG filling station, situated in Dubai, was unveiled by Emirates Gas in partnership with the UAE Road Transport Authority. “Emirates Gas looks at the opportunity of popularizing the 'fuel of the future' through development of appropriate infrastructure and converting more consumers from other fuels to CNG based on the availability of natural gas. This will promote a cleaner Dubai and promote healthy living,” remarked Hesham Ali Mustafa, General Manager of Emirates Gas. CNG is an ideal fuel to promote considering the large gas reserves in the UAE and in the region, concluded Mustafa.
Source: ENOC gives the UAE an environmental boost with new CNG fuel, AME Info

Study Shows Switchgrass as Energy-Efficient Biofuel Source
Switchgrass grown for ethanol feedstock yields about five times more energy than it needs to grow, making the plant a more efficient biofuel source than corn, according to a new study. In addition, the life cycle of the switchgrass ethanol — which includes growing the crop, making the fuel, and burning it in vehicles — emits about 94% less carbon dioxide than the life cycle of gasoline, said the study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study, which was funded by the U.S. Energy and Agriculture Departments, involved switchgrass fields on farms in Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota and is the largest study to date of switchgrass grown and managed for biomass fuel.
Source: Switchgrass fuel yields bountiful energy: study, Reuters UK

Daimler, ADM, Bayer to Test Jatropha for Biodiesel
German carmaker Daimler AG has teamed up with Archer Daniels Midland and Bayer CropScience to explore tropical plant Jatropha as a biodiesel fuel. The partners aim to develop production and quality standards for Jatropha-based biofuel. ADM runs several biodiesel refineries worldwide, while Bayer CropScience plans to develop herbicides, insecticides and fungicides for Jatropha plants. Daimler has already completed a five-year project, which demonstrated that Jatropha can be used to make biodiesel. It will continue to explore the interactions between the fuel and engines. "Biodiesel derived from Jatropha … is characterized by a positive CO2 balance and can thus contribute to protecting the climate," the companies said in a statement.
Source: Daimler, ADM, Bayer to test Jatropha for biodiesel, Reuters

Taxi Drivers in Peru Get Expanded Natural Gas Vehicle Choices and Incentives
Peru's President Alan Garcia has made it clear that one of his administration's main goals is to shift the country's dependency from oil to natural gas. In an effort to achieve this goal, the government plans to replace its public transportation system with natural gas buses and has also implemented the "Mi Taxi" program, which offers taxi drivers loans and incentives to purchase Chevy Corsas equipped to run on natural gas. Until now, the Chevy Corsa was the only model offered by the Mi Taxi program. However the program will be expanded to offer the 250,000 taxi drivers in Lima and Callao a greater variety of vehicles with the choice of natural gas-fueled Nissans, Fiats and Volkswagens, said Jorge Juárez, General Manager of the Peruvian Chamber of Natural Gas for Vehicles.
Source: Taxi Drivers in Peru to Begin Using New Nissans, Fiats & Volkswagen, Living in Peru

National Alternative Fuels & Vehicles Conference & Expo Set for May 2008
In the largest industry event of its kind in the world, the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute (AFVi) will hold the Alternative Fuels & Vehicles National Conference and Expo 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 11-14. The event will offer a wealth of information to advocates for clean transportation, with a variety of conference sessions organized around the following categories: fuels & fueling, electric drive, money, policy, and vehicles. The Expo, which features more than 125 exhibitors from around the globe, will showcase alternative-fueled light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles. AFVi, a neutral organization, serves as an education and information link between the alternative fuels and vehicles industry and public/private fleets. Conference information is available at: www.afvi.org/NationalConference2008.
Source: Alternative Fuels & Vehicles National Conference Program Announced, Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute

Volkswagen to Unveil World's First Bifuel Turbo Engine
Volkswagen is set to introduce the world's first turbocharged engine that can run on both gasoline and compressed natural gas (CNG).  The managing director of Volkswagen Individual, Reiner Mangold, stated that a bifuel Passat 1.4-litre TSI will be announced in early 2008, for availability in Germany. With CNG costs considerably lower than gasoline in Germany, the new engine is expected to offer significant savings for fleet operators — Volkswagen's target market. After the initial release of the new engine in the Passat, Germany's most popular fleet market car, it will be introduced in the Touran minivan, Caddy delivery van and Golf hatchback.  It has been reported that Volkswagen rivals Opel and Fiat are also working on models with similar technology.
Source: Volkswagen to unveil world's first CNG-gasoline turbo engine, Automotive World

San Francisco Switches Entire City Fleet to B20 Biodiesel
Claiming it now has the largest green fleet in the nation, the city of San Francisco has successfully completed a yearlong project to convert its entire array of diesel vehicles — from ambulances to street sweepers — to B20 biodiesel. With the intention of sharply reducing toxic diesel exhaust linked to a higher risk of asthma and premature death, all of the city’s 1,500 diesel vehicles are now powered by the B20 fuel — a mix of 20% soy-based biofuel and 80% petroleum diesel fuel. B20 reduces toxic emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and other pollutants. A spokesman for the mayor said the city’s goal was to cut such emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2012.
Source: San Francisco Fleet Is All Biodiesel, The New York Times

California Challenges EPA and Federal Fuel Economy Plan
California's ambitious plan to regulate the greenhouse-gas emissions of cars and trucks would be more than twice as effective in reducing such gases by 2016 than the new federal fuel-economy law, claims the state of California. The state offered statistical evidence to substantiate its claim in a lawsuit filed against the U.S. Government this week. The lawsuit seeks to reverse the Environmental Protection Agency's recent rejection of the Golden State's request to limit such tailpipe emissions. Fifteen other states and five environmental groups quickly joined California's suit. According to California's newly unveiled analysis, the U.S. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) statute, which mandates a 35-mile-per-gallon fleet average by 2020, would cut greenhouse gas emissions by only 8 million metric tons — compared with 17 million metric tons by 2016 for California's plan. If a dozen other states that have already adopted California's proposed standards joined the Golden State, the impact would reduce greenhouse tailpipe emissions by nearly 60 million metric tons nationwide by 2020 — about 60% more than would be accomplished by CAFE, the California analysis showed.
Source: California's data challenges EPA, the Christian Science Monitor