First biodiesel facility in Bali
UK-based Green Fuels has installed its FuelMatic GSX3 at a biodiesel facility in Bali, Indonesia, owned by Caritas Switzerland to convert used cooking oil initially totaling 1,000 liters/day from 150 hotels and restaurants, to fuel. This is the first time that biodiesel production has been introduced in the island, the companies said. Caritas will sell the biodiesel for use in local transport and to hotels and other customers who can use it to generate power and heat.
Waste plastic-to-oil facility in Ohio
Akron, Ohio-based RES Polyflow’s energy recovery facility that uses waste plastics and rubber for feedstock will be operational as a demonstration facility for customers in the spring. RES Polyflow’s continuous feed process equipment converts tmixed plastic and rubber waste including tires, carpeting and e-waste into renewable transportation fuels, octane enhancers and aromatics using a patented waste to energy conversion process. The facility is funded in part by an Advanced Energy Program grant from the Ohio Third Frontier program.
Neste Oil ups waste usage for fuel
Neste Oil has achieved its target of increasing its use of waste and residue raw materials for refining into fuels by a total of 742,000 tons in 2012 compared to 330,000 tons in 2011. Neste Oil increased its use of waste animal fat in particular and added waste fat from the fish processing industry to its feedstock base. Neste Oil used a total of 2.1m tons of renewable inputs in 2012, of which palm oil accounted for 65%, waste and residues for 35%, and other vegetable oils under 0.5%.
…and got sued by Syntroleum
Syntroleum has filed suit against Neste Oil Singapore Pte Ltd for infringing its patent 172,045 entitled “Even Carbon Number Paraffin Composition and Method of Manufacturing Same.” Syntroleum alleges that Neste’s operation at its renewable diesel refinery in Singapore involves the processing of a bio-renewable feedstock to produce a hydrocarbon composition having at least 75% weight even carbon number paraffins is claimed in Syntroleum’s patent. The said patent was issued on November 15, 2012 and expires on December 10, 2028.
Gevo’s new isobutanol-based jet fuel patent
Gevo has received on February 12 from the US Patent Office, patent 8,373,012 entitled “Renewable jet fuel blendstock from isobutanol,” which was filed in May 9, 2011. The invention includes methods for preparing a renewable jet fuel blendstock comprising fermenting a biomass-derived feedstock to form alcohols such as isobutanol, which then undergoes several processing methods to form renewable jet fuel blendstock comprising C12 and C16 alkanes.
Sustainable fuels initiative launched
The CEOs of seven leading European biofuel producers and European airlines launched a new industry initiative called “Leaders of Sustainable Biofuels” to speed up deployment of advanced sustainable biofuels in Europe. Companies include Chemtex, British Airways, BTG, Chemrec, Clariant, Dong Energy and UPM. The initiative aims to establish financing structures, accelerate R&D into emerging biofuel technologies, work together with the supply chain and publicly promote the benefits of advanced biofuels.
EU launches clean fuel strategy
The European Commission has launched “The Clean Power for Transport Package,” which targets on Member States for a minimum level of infrastructure for clean fuels such as electricity, hydrogen and natural gas, as well as common EU wide standards for equipment needed. Measures proposed include a communication on a European alternative fuels strategy, a Directive focusing on infrastructure and standards and an accompanying document describing an action plan for the development of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in shipping.
Ionic liquids for feedstocks pretreatment
A collaborative research study by the US Department of Energy’s Joint BioEnergy Institute and the Idaho National Laboratory has shown that an ionic liquid proven to be effective for pre-treating individual biofuel feedstocks is also effective at pre-treating multiple different feedstocks that have been mixed and densified into a blend. The collaboration mixed switchgrass, lodgepole pine, corn stover and eucalyptus in flour and pellets and within 24 hours of saccharification were able to obtain sugar yields of up to 90-percent for both forms.
Canada invests in POS Pilot Plant
The Government of Canada has invested up to $911,000 in the POS Pilot Plant, which will help the company to purchase and install its short-path distillation (SPD) equipment to help clients on a contract basis purifies ingredients from plant feedstock, which then can be used in agri-food, biofuels, functional foods and nutraceuticals. With access to key ingredients, Canadian companies will reportedly be able to develop new products and gain entry to new markets.
W2 Energy buys AM Biofuels
W2 Energy has agreed to purchase 51% of AM Biofuels worth $5.5m, which has a 30,000 tonnes/year biodiesel facility located in Pasir Gudang Port of Johor, Malaysia. AM Biofuels’ multi-feedstock plant, licensed under the Malaysian Palm Oil Council was commissioned by year end 2010 and is currently in operation. The facility is targeted to produce 20,000 tonnes/year of palm-based biodiesel this year. W2 Energy intends to commission and operate a coal/water/biodiesel slurry fuel product plant directly on the site.
US legislators submit bill to modify RFS
A bill called “The Phantom Fuels Reform Act of 2013” was submitted on February 7 by Senators Jeff Flake (R- Arizona), David Vitter (R-Louisiana) and Michael Crapo (R-Idaho) to ensure that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) cellulosic biofuel requirement will be based on actual production rather than projections, according to the legislators.
GM’s 2014 Chevy uses B20
General Motors has launched its new 2014 Chevrolet Cruze light-duty passenger car approved for use with 20% biodiesel blends (B20). Starting MSRP for the diesel Chevy Cruze is reported to be $25,695, and GM plans to sell them in markets where its B20-approved Chevrolet Silverado diesel models have done well, including the West Coast, the Baltimore area, D.C., and the East Coast. The 2014 Cruze is expected to move into production later this summer.
