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Cellulosic Ethanol . this year (para 2), this decade (para 3) or longer?

admin — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 13:00:17 +0000

Biofuels Digest» – Biofuels DIgest
01 January 2010 14:14
by Jim Lane

10 Biofuels Predictions for 2010: #9, Cellulosic ethanol “happens”

In 2010, look for:

In the US, ZeaChem’s semi works will , nearing completion at POET’s 25 Mgy project in Iowa, and the opening of Range Fuels’ 20 Mgy facility in Soperton, Georgia. Internationally, look for LanzaTech’s 500,000 gallon project to open, he first cellulosic ethanol deal in China, and announcements that Brazilian, Vietnamese and Australian sugarcane bagasse will be utilized in advanced biofuels projects. Overall, 102 million gallons of advanced biofuels capacity by the end of the year, with 25 Mgy of it cellulosic ethanol at 17 facilities.

The hint from 2009:

The old saying is that “cellulosic ethanol is always and forever five years away.” If that’s true, then it’s time to party like its 2014, because commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol is just now upon us.

Companies that have been in the R&D phases for years — if not decades — are emerging with a set of technologies, and partners with strong balance sheets, that have every chance of making the 2010s the “Decade of Cellulose”.

In many ways, with solar and energy storage technologies still in the R&D or small commercial phase — biomass represents that “shovel-ready”, “fire when ready” technology for short-term reductions in fossil fuel intensity.

10 Biofuels Predictions for 2010: #9, Cellulosic ethanol “happens” is a post from: Biofuels Digest

News & Financial Analysis biofuels cellulosic ethanol

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What Should I be Publishing?

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:07:52 +0000

Here is your opportunity to tell me what you would like me to be publishing here! Please email me here – dave@digivu.co.za or simply make a comment at the end of the post. Everyone who makes an input can supply me with information, which will be posted on www.digivu.co.za – what about using this as an advert?

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Alternate Energy Sector Under Real Pressure

admin — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:36:53 +0000

The ongoing disagreement about whether biofuels were effecting food availability, which 2nd generation biofuels offered most, whether wind farms polluted, if nuclear was a better option etc have become somewhat less significant.

from: New York Times
(click image for full story online)

Now the economy is the unarguable brake on the development and implementation of alternate energies.

The economic downturn has forced the price of oil down which ends all investors and investees scrambling to the spreadsheet. It has further reduced the availability of capital in those cases where the venture capitalist is still interested in investing. The billions of dollars, euros etc of capital pumped into the banks to keep them afloat will inevitably lead to less money to be invested in subsidising alternate energy and probably more worrying into R&D.

The alternate energy movement runs the risk of faltering and again loosing momentum as it did after the fuel crisis in the 1980s.

Posting for EcoWorldly

admin — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:04:44 +0000

I have started writing posts for and environment focussed blog called EcoWorldly.

EcoWorldly brings you news on sustainable successes and ecological failures in other countries that offer lessons for green progress in America. Find perspectives and news on the environmental movement from around the world.

I will be putting links to these posts along with the total text here – otherwise you could visit the site or subscribe in your newsreader.

Africa Biofuel – Tanzanian biofuel company

admin — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:41:08 +0000

Africa Biofuel and Emission Reduction Company is focussed on bringing a triple-bottom-line biofuel business model to Africa.

from: Africa Biofuels
(click image for full story online)

Africa Biofuels set out to find a biofuel process that did not compete for a food or use agricultural land. It looked for a product that could actually enhance the environment and benefit the people of the area.

It identified Croton megalocarpus, an indigenous tree, as its focus.

There is detailed discussion of the project under the explanatory and news section of the website that promotes its arguments in detail.

In a quick scan and search I was unable to identify how the byproducts (oil cake and glycerine) are to be used and what income they will generate. This “income” and the cost of manual collection from wild trees are critical to the viability of the process. In fact I not find any costing or economics on the site but am taking that up via email.