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Date Published:
28 April 2016

Volume 10, Issue 3


Market analysis

Feature
Spot values for soyamethyl ester B100 biodiesel arced higher early in the second quarter, with the advance running contrary to the petroleum-based diesel market that faded from March highs amid weak demand and as crude prices dropped back from more than $40(appr. €35) bbl in the faceof stiff technical resistanceand global oversupply.In the US, distillate fuel supplied to market was down... [read more]

Ethanol In North America

Feature
The signing in April of a new tax credit by the US state of Iowa, relating to the production of renewable chemicals, could have a significant impact on local businesses across the state’sbio-based crops and some impact on the fuels industry. It could also have an impact on how other US states approach the task of ensuring that their own biofuels and related industries are given enhanced... [read more]

ePure tackles UK legislation

Feature
2016 is a crucial yearfor decarbonising UK transport with the government preparing to consult on legislative changes to the RenewableTransport Fuel Obligation(RFTO), a policy whose aimis to increase the share of renewable energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from road transport. From a European perspective,it is crucial that any change to the UK policy will raise the ambition of the... [read more]

Flying the flag of aviation biofuels

Feature
US aircraft manufacturing giant Boeing is working with strategic partners to generate sustainable aviation biofuels capable of reducing carbon emissions and providing energy diversification. Liz Gyekye caught up with Darrin Morgan, the company’sdirector of sustainableaviation fuels strategy. Where do you expectdemand to come from?Demand is not the issue.Supply is the issue. We and many... [read more]

Recycling carbon: Turning waste into clean fuels and chemicals

Feature
Canadian Enerkem’s commercial-scale waste-to-biofuels and chemicals facility in Edmonton, Alberta,Canada, was inaugurated in 2014. The project is considered the world’s first major collaboration betweena large city and waste-to biofuels producer to turn municipal solid waste (MSW) into biofuels and renewable chemicals. Liz Gyekye caught up with Enerkem’s Business Development... [read more]

The emperor's new clothes

Feature
In March 2016, Scotland burned its last lump of coal for electricity as Longannet Power Station – once the largest energy plant in Europe– was decommissioned. In England, Eggborough inYorkshire and Fiddlers Ferryin Cheshire, two more coal fired facilities are also due toclose in the coming months. All of this is, of course, intended to bring about amore sustainable future, as Europe... [read more]

Wealth from the ground: Planting seeds of growth

Feature
ICM celebrated its twentiethanniversary last year. Liz Gyekye spoke to chief executive officer Dave VanderGriend to find out how the company has evolved. How did you get into the ethanol industry?I got started in the ethanol industry in the late 1970s when my brother, Dennis VanderGriend, was an engineering student at South Dakota State University.

Pre-dry and save!

Feature
One of the process steps for ethanol production is the removal of water from the biofuel. Special techniques have therefore been developed to remove the water, known as drying. The Ronning rotary waste heat evaporator pre-dries the wet cake using dryer heat that is normally wasted in today’sethanol production systems. Wet cake is the distillers grain after it has had the liquid separated... [read more]

Optimising corn oil yields in the US

Feature
It is not hard to see why most US ethanol producers have added corn oil production to their operations over the past five ears. Corn oil broadens the co-product mix and enhances plant operating income.This is true even when corn oil prices are depressed. It is particularly important for plants’ profitability at times like these, when margins on ethanol are pressed. 

What can we learn from pulp?

Feature
The pulp and papers ector is unique in that it has already developed the technology, infrastructure,and the supply chain that is able to process largeamounts of biomass at high throughputs. However, for a variety of reasons,the sector is undergoing a substantial change, such as the increased use of electronic rather than paper-based communications and the opportunity to shift towards more of a... [read more]

Keeping competitive and seizing opportunities

Feature
The production o fbioethanol has been around for a number of years and efficiencies have grown leapsand bounds. But what can the industry do in order to stay ahead of the curve andnot fall behind? One of the best ways to make sure of that is consistent operations.This may sound like an easything to do, but in fact maybe one of the most difficult to control. Of course there will be day to day... [read more]

Moving to mobile

Feature
These days, just about everythinghas gone mobile,and computerised maintenance management systems (CMMS) are no exception. A good mobile CMMS can make a plantrun more efficiently by making it possible to create work requests, add attachments, run reports,and approve purchase orders right from the floor.

The modern way

Feature
A demographic shiftis taking place that is creating challenges for the biodiesel industry. As a generation of skilled workers embark on their retirement, a wealth of experience and expertise is being lost. This comes at a time when there is increasingly fierce globalcompetition that leaves no margin for inefficiencies.Younger and less experienced colleagues are therefore being asked to not only... [read more]