Latest Updates: animal waste RSS

  • Biofuel From Waste Beef
    Srikant Rajan 05:44:14 pm on July 31, 2008 | 1 | # |
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    Corn and Soy for producing biofuel seem to be falling out of favor with biofuel producers.After Tyson’s ambitious plans to convert animal waste into biofuel ,another enterprise plans to convert beef tallow into commercial biofuel.South Sioux City based , Beef Products Inc the worlds largest producer of boneless beef plans to team with Natural Innovative Renewable Energy(NIRE) to churn biofuel from beef tallow.The two firms together are planning a $100 million project  that would become Nebraska’s largest biodiesel plant, and the first in the state to make the clean-burning, renewable fuel from animal fat.This plant is  expected to produce 60million gallon /year of biofuel.In addition, the factory is expected to annually produce 55 million pounds of glycerin, a product widely used in the pharmaceutical industry.

    This is a welcome step that again signals the growing relevance of second generation biofuels in the global world.Additionally the economics of producing second generation biofuel , are more than producing biofuel from corn or soy.As John Lucken, chairman of the NIRE board highlights that with increase  of soybean oil prices from 24 cents to over 60 cents it is no longer good business to use the same for biofuel production.

     

  • Animal Waste For Biofuel Gets $100 million Tax Relief
    Srikant Rajan 11:00:12 am on June 22, 2008 | 2 | # |
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    Dynamic Fuels a joint venture set up by food giant Tyson and Syntroleum has been approved by the Louisiana State Bond Commission for $100 million in tax exempt Gulf Opportunity Zone (GO Zone) Bonds. This is the maximum amount that can be granted for a project under existing policy guidelines of the state board.

    I appreciate this effort by the government to promote all forms of renewable energy.This significant incentive would definitely enable fast track Dynamic fuels production capability by 2010.Additionally it would also enhance the long term profitability of Dynamic fuels,which already has the infrastructural and organizational support of two large corporations.

     

  • Animal Waste for Renewable Energy
    Srikant Rajan 09:29:24 am on June 19, 2008 | 6 | # |
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    Animal by products such as residual animal fat and oil often pose problems in effective disposal.Now a US based meat processing company has plans to convert this waste fat to commercial grade biofuel.Arkansas based Tyson Foods provides nearly 25% of the total US meat supply,and produces an estimated 300 million gallons of animal fat annually.Bob Ames senior director Tyson Renewable Energy plans to use advance refining technology to convert this substantial quantity of waste into biofuel.Tyson has entered into an agreement with Syntroleum Corporation of Tulsa, Oklahoma to form a joint venture - Dynamic Fuels.Under terms of agreement Tyson will supply animal fats and agricultural byproducts and Synroteleum will convert it into biodiseal and even plans to produce jet fuel.Dynamic Fuels is expected to yield 75 million gallons of biodiseal annually and production is targeted by 2010.

    Availability of raw materials and proven technology provides Dynamic Fuels a high degree of profitability in the long run.Adds Allan  Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum (DTF),"When two operations can coexist and harmonize together, that’s powerful. Tyson is a leader in meat processing, and it generates waste by-products. Meanwhile, the US needs to reduce its dependence on foreign oil and move toward renewable energy. There is a natural synergy here. This is not unlike asphalt plants and others that take waste products and turn them into useable products".Schaeffer further says,"The company is much better positioned than the average mid-western farmer out there squashing soybeans."