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Date Published:
22 August 2010

Volume 4, Issue 7


From waste to wonder

Feature
Canada-based Synthenol, formerly Syntec Biofuel, has developed a catalyst technology that uses gasification to convert renewable cellulosic biomass such as wood waste, agricultural waste and MSW into mixed alcohols, including ethanol, methanol, propanol and butanol. Although the Canadian Government has yet to mandate ethanol blends it may well have done by the time ethanol producer Synthenol’s... [read more]

Money talks

Feature
Buoyed by the Canadian government’s CA$1.5 billion (€1.1 billion) ecoENERGY fund for biofuels initiatives which, introduced on 1 April 2008, runs until 31 March 2017, Canada’s burgeoning alternative fuels industry is starting to pay dividends. An economic impact study released in May by Ottawa’s Doyletech Corp, concludes that the ethanol and biodiesel industries contribute over CA$2 billion... [read more]

Made in Canada

Feature
With its healthy fat profi le and versatility, canola oil has found an important place in the world’s kitchens, food processing facilities and restaurants. But this oilseed’s unique characteristics and sustainable production methods also mean it is very well-suited as a feedstock in the production of biodiesel. Strictly defi ned, canola is an oilseed containing less than 2% erucic acid and less... [read more]

US biodiesel industry struggles to catch a tax break

Feature
An industry that at one point supported 23,000 jobs in the US is barely hanging on after a federal tax credit designed to encourage biodiesel blending into diesel fuel expired, making that blending uneconomical. The environment has further deteriorated for some US biodiesel producers in states that offered additional incentives to spark biodiesel use, as the slow recovery from the recession... [read more]

European biodiesel growing but only just

Feature
With a 9 million tonne biodiesel output, 2009 EU biodiesel production saw an increase of 16.6% based on the previous year’s production. Although this stands well below the increase in production of 35% registered in 2008 and in previous years (54% in 2006 and 65% in 2005), it demonstrates the strength of the EU biodiesel sector which, even confronted with sever challenges, was able to maintain... [read more]

European fuel ethanol: growth and trends from 2009

Feature
In many respects 2009 has been a more stable year for the ethanol industry compared to the volatility experienced in 2008. Raw material prices came down to a more palatable level while ethanol prices rose in the second half of 2009 after a steady deflation since mid-2008. Economic conditions have certainly improved but fluctuating ethanol prices and price volatility are still a great concern.... [read more]

Your questions answered

Feature
Q What is the provisional overview for year two of the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation?

A The good news is that the primary objective – saving carbon – has been achieved. Obligated suppliers have procured 1,568 million litres of biofuels, accounting for 3.33% of the total of the UK’s road transport fuel resulting in carbon savings of 51% based on emissions of equivalent fossil fuels, not... [read more]

Consistent technology for inconsistent blends

Feature
The EU biofuels industry has a target to substitute up to 20% of the fossil fuel for transport with biofuels by 2020 in accordance with the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) 2009/28/EC. Beyond this, though, blending quotas vary from one EU member state to another, with little sign of harmonisation. Some members are dragging their feet, while others like Germany, France and Sweden are pressing... [read more]

Taking matters into hand

Feature
Biofuels must be up to scratch as contaminated or improperly blended fuel can damage a company’s bottom line. To ensure product quality several options exist including laboratory analysis, field test kits and portable lab instruments. Laboratory testing would be the ideal solution if everyone had the budget and the time to wait for the results. But in a market where time is money, quick and... [read more]

Infrared shines bright

Feature
High feedstock prices are driving producers to try out lesser quality raw materials. These can still produce quality fuels but it makes the need for analysis even greater to ensure an on-spec end product. Many producers are now relying on mid infrared spectroscopy (MIR) for their quality testing. When compared to other methods of analysis, such as gas chromatography, titrations and other wet... [read more]

The automatic standard of analysis

Feature
Who has not had a sink clogged by vegetable oil? The same refined product introduced into a vehicle’s fuel system, a storage tank or pipeline if not properly tested can send profits down the drain. Instead of throwing the kitchen sink at it, biodiesel producers and users alike can count on an automatic analysis method and be assured of tested standards to combat the problem of fuel gelling. Until... [read more]

Better processes, better products

Feature
Biofuels quality is related to the inherent characteristics of the feedstock rawmaterials (RMs) and operating conditions used in their production. However to be used as fuel in engines biofuels must meet certain specifications regulated by ASTM or EN standards regardless of the manufacturing processes and/or the type of RMs used in the production process. Failure to comply with these... [read more]

One market’s loss is another's gain

Feature
Biofuels production may not be booming in Europe, but targets still have to be met. Imports of renewable fuels are up, something which may not be good news for local producers, but is certainly good news for storage operators. In Spain for example, producers released a report earlier this year saying that 60% of the biodiesel used in the country in Q1 was imported, primarily from Argentina. This... [read more]

Adapting to change

Feature
The IEA’s Medium- Term Oil Market report published last year predicted that global biofuels production will increase from 1.5 mb/d in 2008 to 2.2 mb/d in 2014, with total capacity possibly over 3 mb/d. That has a considerable impact on the demand for aggregation, shipping and terminal facilities. The need for storage Many countries with large car owning populations and economies that depend on... [read more]

Answering the call

Feature
US-based Blendstar entered the biofuels terminaling market at a time of need in 2007. Ethanol and biodiesel usage in some parts of the US was in its infancy, and future changes were unforeseeable. Splash blending facilities had begun to pop up in a few locations across the US, but for the most part they were viewed as provisional. Many skeptics expected a better solution than splash blending to... [read more]

Be prepared

Feature
There are more than 200 ethanol production facilities in the US, and today nearly all unleaded petrol is blended with 10% of the fuel. Safety is and will always continue to be a top priority for the US’ ethanol industry and for those who transport and bring ethanol to the marketplace. Preparation is a key element in effective ethanol emergency response. Emergency responders need to be aware of... [read more]

On track

Feature
On 19 December 2007 the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 was signed into law. This energy legislation amends the first-ever Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) in US federal law established under The Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005. The modified RFS requires 36 billion gallons of ethanol and biodiesel to be blended with the US fuel supply by 2022. A specific target for cornbased... [read more]

Storage best practices

Feature
Using biofuels means introducing living components into the fuel mixture which can lead to microbial contamination. Microbiological activity generally occurs in two main forms: in the short term live bacteria growing on filters or in the longer term – biofilm. Biofilm is a hard, gritty deposit, a polysaccharide in structure, which grows on tank bottoms and walls and eventually breaks off blocking... [read more]