Latest Updates: biofuel RSS

• Algae Biofuel Doubles its Demand
  Srikant Rajan 05:11:12 am on October 26, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: algae biofuel, Algal Biomass Organization, biofuel, byrne company, cleantech, vinod khosla

  The Algal Biomass Summit, in Seattle would see twice last years participation .The event will feature 50 presentations and 30 odd presentations and would act as a knowledge sharing platform for discussing viability off algae as a fuel source. Clean-tech investor Vinod Khosla will also be participating in this conference. Khosla has invested quite some billions in a variety of clean tech startups such as solar, carbon capture.

  Tom Byrne, president of The Byrne Company and secretary of the (Algal Biomass Organization ), ABO Steering Committee adds , “ That more than 600 people from around the world have registered, reflects the intense global interest in algae as one of the most promising renewable energy sources. But it’s also clear that people are coming to learn from the best and the brightest scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, government leaders and venture capitalists who are speaking and presenting posters at the event “

   

• Efficient Ethanol Production
  Srikant Rajan 12:06:56 pm on September 23, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: anaerobic digestion, biofuel, cellulosic biofuel, corn cultivation, ethanol production

  Nearly all the ethanol in US is made from corn.This process has a number of disadvantages namely use of agricultural land for corn cultivation , a high energy input for the entire process.While there have been a number of attempts to address the first challenge by use of later generation of biofuel production processes, there hasn’t been much effort to reduce the energy input for corn cultivation and processing.

  Researcher are presently investigating anaerobic digestion on waste from ethanol processing  plants to cut down use of energy.Preliminary results indicate a 50%  reduction in natural gas use for ethanol processing.Additionally ethanol production also produces organic waste that is then consolidated into two parts: a dry,cake-like substance and a syrupy solution(thin stillage).The stillage is typically used as animal feed , but is low on nutritional value.Largus Angenent,  professor, Washington University and head of research says that anaerobic digestion can extract energy from this stillage too.

  The use of this process might actually buy some time for continued use of biofuels till commercialization of later generations of biofuels.Adds Angenent “   Rather than have hope for new technology that comes to fruition in 10 or 20 years, we need technology we can implement now.This is an interim process, and it’s off the shelf   “

   

• Algae Power From Carbon Emissions in Missouri
  Srikant Rajan 01:17:24 pm on September 18, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: algae power, biofuel, carbon emissions, doe, green energy, Missouri

  Algae power goes practical.  A pair of Missouri universities and electric companies plan to use the carbon dioxide pollution from coal-fired power plants for algae growth that  could be further processed for biofuel.This project plans to employ a relatively small portion of carbon emissions for growth of algae.The science behind the use of algae for biofuel processing has been around for some time .From 1978 to 1996, the U.S. Department of Energy funded a program at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., to develop renewable transportation fuels from algae.However of late there has been a renewed effort into finding eco-friendly ways of cultivating the same , to mitigate environmental damage.

   

• Israel On the Forefront of Greentech ?
  Srikant Rajan 02:19:09 pm on September 3, 2008 | 1 | # |
  Tags: algae, biofuel, brightsource, concetrated solar, dpt, greentech, HelioFocus, israel

  Israel has seen rapid development of a slew of alternative technologies such as solar energy and biofuel in the past couple of months.Just a couple of months back Issac Berzin undertook to build a center for creating strategic energy policies for promoting renewable energy development and use.Israel based Seambiotic is also investigating possibilities for using emission from coal plants as a feedstock for algae based biofuel.

  HelioFocus, another Israel based organization founded just an year back,received a $5million from Israel Corps renewable energy arm.HelioFocus has also partnered Capstone Turbine Corp for micro turbines to be integrated with its patented Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) systems.Capstone plans to modify its C65 Micro Turbine to integrate with HelioFocus CSP systems.The initial modifications would entail design of micro turbine to operate on superheated air and thus aid in effective integration with CSPs.

  CSPs essentially try to enhance the the solar energy available per unit area.Thus they offer a high energy density as compared to other solar energy devices.However the use a heating oil for transfer of heat which poses the challenge of effective heat transfer.BrightSource, has developed an alternative Distributed Power Technology (DPT) to counter this challenge and has shown promising results.

   

• Lotus Partners With Jaguar for Biofuel Engine
  Srikant Rajan 04:43:41 pm on August 28, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: advanced biofuel, biofuel, jaguar, lotus engineering, omnivore

  At a party late in the night and you just realized that you run out of fuel ? Before you start wondering on where to look for a filling a station consider the drink in you hand .Lotus Engineering is partnering  with Jaguar , to create an advanced biofuel engine that would be capable of being powered by a variety of fuel sources , including bio-alcohol.Aptly titled as the “ Omnivore “ , this engine is being planned as a two stroke architecture coupled with direct injection mechanism.

  Lotus CEO Mike Kimberly says  “  Alcohols possess superior combustion characteristics to gasoline, which allow greater optimization.Taking full advantage of the benefits of sustainable bio-alcohols will ensure a greater percentage of vehicle miles will be traveled using renewable fuels  “

   

• Genomics For Efficient Biofuel Production
  Srikant Rajan 05:59:40 am on August 21, 2008 | 1 | # |
  Tags: biofuel, biomass, cellulosic, cellulosic biofuel, energy conversion, genomics

  Cellulosic biofuels , involve tapping into plant material components such as cellulose,lignin and harness the energy tapped in by sun. Essentially any organic material ( biomass ) , contains energy which may be released and harnessed for various purposes. Thus to maximize energy output,the entire cycle of biomass production needs to be analyzed. This may allow for identification and subsequent enhancement of certain processes that may ultimately increase energy harvested. Genomics may be the key to achieve the same.Microorganisms,plant material are a combination of different chemicals such as glucose which are broken down for energy extraction. Careful analysis may allow  “  tweaking  ”  of these chemicals that allow for maximum breakdown of sugar(glucose).

  Recently , yeast Pichia stipitis that ferments plant sugars , was sequenced which , in turn may provide valuable insights for efficient biomass to energy conversion. Researchers add  “  Using this prospecting technique, we can survey the vast microbial biodiversity to gain a better picture of the metabolic potential of genes and how they can be enlisted for the enzymatic deconstruction of biomass and subsequent conversion to high energy value fuels  “

   

• Peru Gets a Second Biofuel Plant
  Srikant Rajan 01:14:15 pm on August 20, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: biodiesel, biofuel, peru, pure biofuel

  US based Pure Biofuels has opened a new biofuel plant in Peru.This plant is expected to produce 52 million gallons of biofuel by next year out of which 35% would be utilized by Peru internally and the remaining will be exported.This plant is the second of its kind in Peru.Earlier in January, another plant aiming to produce biodiesel ( 48 Million ) gallons was also established in Peru.

  Such an effort by biofuel developers is significant , particularly on two counts.Firstly opening up of biodiesel plants increase employment opportunities for local people. Additionally they also allow for increase in land cultivation domestically within US ( at the cost of depriving food for developing countries ??? , well the debate goes on ! ). This increased production of biofuel also helps ease , increasing demand for alternative fuels.

   

• OPEC Says Excess Oil In Market
  Srikant Rajan 05:36:44 am on August 19, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: biofuel, oil prices, oil speculation, oil supply, opec

  OPEC has managed to shoot itself in its feet with a new string of “  enlightening  ” statements.Just some time back OPEC, president Chakib Khelil had found biofuel use as contributing to rising oil prices in addition to “  geopolitical worries ”( rational behind this is anybody’s guess ! ). Now,with the recent easing in oil prices , the windfall profits being raked in by OPEC have taken a significant hit. Nobody likes less money  , certainly not the rich !  And thus OPEC has  highlighted that the market is seeing an excess of oil supply , an estimated million extra barrels a day, that is actually pushing down the prices. Thus in order to remove this surplus oil , OPEC wants to cut down production. This in turn would effectively mean that the prices may not come down any further .

   

• Ethanol Fuel May Damage Engines
  Srikant Rajan 06:01:56 pm on August 4, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: biofuel, blended fuels, engine damage, ethanol, fuel combustion

  Blended fuels “ stretch “ expensive gasoline significantly. However new evidence signals that consistent use of blended fuels can lead to premature engine damage particularly small power capacity engines. Mechanics highlight that nearly half of the recent repairs on lawnmower engines are due to persistent use of high quantity of ethanol. Essentially use of ethanol damages the inside components such as gaskets  and hastens rusting of moving parts.The same effect is observed in bigger rating engines as used in cars . However many of the car engine models are engineered to handle the use of blended fuels.

  Predictably ethanol producers deny any such damage to engines due to ethanol use. However most of low rating engines are engineered in a simple manner and are susceptible to easy damage. Additionally blended fuels are not a foolproof alternative to conventional fuels.The mechanism of fuel combustion and power generation in engines is multi step process and slight variation in any of the fuel parameters can have a cascading effect on subsequent combustion and power generation.

   

• Algae Fuel Gets $141 Million In Bonds
  Srikant Rajan 04:38:28 pm on August 3, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: algae, biofuel, Ecoalgae, saline county, United Biorefineries Corp

  EcoAlgae USA, LLC has received approval from Saline County for issuance of $141 million of revenue bonds for production of an algae production facility( no tax dollars !). The project will be organized and constructed in conjunction with United Biorefineries Corp. (UBC), a technology management company, as the main Consortium Company with other integrated licenses. The key feature of the project is the construction of a biorefineries complex that would predominantly use algae as a feedstock.Additionally this refinery would also use material such as waste wood,municipal waste and switch grass as feedstock.

   
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