We already know that ethanol is only part of the answer to the biofuel question.
BP, a major distributor of ethanol fuel products, is investing $500 million for research into the next generation of biofuels. BP has set up laboratories (The Energy Bio-Sciences Institute) at the University of California at Berkeley, and the University of Illinois.
Selling more ethanol than anybody, BP it doesn't see ethanol as the answer to the alternative fuel question, and they don’t have any plans to make ethanol. At the same time, an increase in the number of ethanol plants in Iowa during the past six years has led to increased air, water and soil pollution, according to the Des Moines Register, June 2007.
Due to several factors, not limited to lower horsepower, and lower mileage, E85 has been slow to catch on among flex fuel vehicle drivers. The so-called cost benefits of ethanol, are based on government subsidies which do more for the farm lobby than the consumer.
The price of corn in July 2007 was at $4.19 a bushel, having increased more than 80 percent in the previous year. In February 2007, corn hit its highest price point in more than a decade at just over $4.50 a bushel.
It's not just corn that's more expensive, higher corn prices have been blamed for driving up food prices at the local grocery store. According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, food prices have risen nearly 4 percent in 2007 when compared to 2006.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Geothermal Electricity Production at California Geysers Facility
In October 2005, Los Angeles based US Renewables Group (“USRG”), acquired a controlling interest in the Bottle Rock Power Corporation. USRG develops, and operates renewable energy and clean fuel projects. Bottle Rock Power Corporation, a California company was purchased in order to control the 55 megawatt geothermal power station in the Geysers in Lake County, California. 
The plan was to have the station produce approximately 200,000 megawatt hours per year of base load renewable power within about 12 months. Achieving this goal would produce enough energy on average to supply electricity to about 25,000 California homes.
The Bottle Rock Power acquisition builds on USRG's growing renewable energy assets including negotiations for biomass power and ethanol assets, and two landfill methane facilities in California. In order to fund the acquisition and operation of renewable energy assets, USRG closed $80 million in financing as part of its plan to raise a total of $250 million USD.
The Bottle Rock Power Plant is located on the Francisco Lease, a 350 acre area on High Valley Road near the town of Cobb in Lake County, California. The 55-MegaWatt Geothermal Power Plant was certified by the Energy Commission certified in 1980, and the power plant began producing electricity for the State Water Project in early 1985.
In November 1990, DWR (California Department of Water Resources) suspended operation of the Bottle Rock project due to a drop in production from the Geysers and the plant was placed into stand-by status. At the time, ample power capacity in California was available, and the requirements to restore the facility to full production could not be economically justified.
The DWR subsequently sold the power station to Bottle Rock Power in 2001.
The plan was to have the station produce approximately 200,000 megawatt hours per year of base load renewable power within about 12 months. Achieving this goal would produce enough energy on average to supply electricity to about 25,000 California homes.The Bottle Rock Power acquisition builds on USRG's growing renewable energy assets including negotiations for biomass power and ethanol assets, and two landfill methane facilities in California. In order to fund the acquisition and operation of renewable energy assets, USRG closed $80 million in financing as part of its plan to raise a total of $250 million USD.
The Bottle Rock Power Plant is located on the Francisco Lease, a 350 acre area on High Valley Road near the town of Cobb in Lake County, California. The 55-MegaWatt Geothermal Power Plant was certified by the Energy Commission certified in 1980, and the power plant began producing electricity for the State Water Project in early 1985.
In November 1990, DWR (California Department of Water Resources) suspended operation of the Bottle Rock project due to a drop in production from the Geysers and the plant was placed into stand-by status. At the time, ample power capacity in California was available, and the requirements to restore the facility to full production could not be economically justified.
The DWR subsequently sold the power station to Bottle Rock Power in 2001.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Bittersweet Biodiesel Surge
National Biodiesel Surge Creates Bittersweet Co-product with Glycerol
by Raphael ShayA current surge of interest in biofuels is set to yield 1.37 Billion gallons within the next 18 months, according to the National Biodiesel Board. Currently 1.85 billion gallons of biodiesel are made in the US every year, in addition to a sizable amount of homemade biodiesel. This substantial increase in production has resulted in an overabundance of co-products, specifically glycerol. 'iCAST' is currently researching and discovering solutions to this problem.
Assuming the crude glycerin is 80% pure glycerin, Brett Hess from the University of Wyoming thinks that crude glycerol should sell at 89% of the price of cornstarch. This would give it a price of 1 to 2 cents per pound or 10 times current market value.
Crude glycerol is not a valuable product and currently sells for about 1 to 2 cents per gallon. For every 100 pounds of biodiesel produced, 10 pounds of glycerol is also created. Although it is possible to refine crude glycerin into a marketable product, it is a process that is beyond the reach of most small-scale producers due to the large investment in technology necessary for the refining process.
Finding a large-scale use for crude glycerin would help lighten the load of growing supplies and give the biodiesel industry more revenue. Not only is it essential to find economically viable refining process, it is also important for the environment.
CAST, the International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology, is helping farmers grow their own fuel. Part of this work has brought the company to research the uses and markets for biodiesel co-products.
Traditionally, glycerin has been used to produce nitro-glycerin and soap. But crude glycerin can also be burnt, composted or fed to ruminants. Research on turning glycerin into an alternative to antifreeze is also within grasp.
Burning glycerin for heat and power can render positive effects, however, temperature is a significant concern. Burning glycerin at temperatures between 200 and 300°C (392-572°F) emits toxic acrolein fumes so temperatures beyond 1,000°C (1832°F) are necessary.
As a sugar, glycerin can be a considerable addition to compost. This is a much simpler option. However, it is important to make sure the glycerin does not cut out oxygen and negatively affect pH, which harms the composting bacteria. Glycerin is also a liquid and therefore hard to contain. Since it can be harmful to ground and surface water, it is vital to prevent leakage.
In Northern Wyoming a glycerin storage tank has been connected to a farms irrigation system. Before crops emerge, a valve is opened to water down the glycerin and spread it onto the fields.
A third option is to feed the crude glycerin to ruminants. In actuality, there are no regulations that affect the use of glycerol as a feed additive. The overall consensus is that crude glycerol can comprise up to 15 percent of a ruminant animals diet and 15 percent of pelleted feed mix. Dairy cows are the exception where a study found the limit to be 1 to 5% with an improvement in energy balance when glycerol comprised 2% of their diet.
Assuming the crude glycerin is 80% pure glycerin, Brett Hess from the University of Wyoming thinks that crude glycerol should sell at 89% of the price of cornstarch. This would give it a price of 1 to 2 cents per pound or 10 times current market value. However in most cases, crude glycerin is 50 to 60% pure and thus should be discounted 33%.
The two other product options for glycerin, making hydrogen or propylene glycol, are still in the research phases. Since the process is complicated, when and if it becomes technologically mature, it will likely be done in centralized plants. This basically means small biodiesel producers will probably only need to invest in storage and sell their glycerin much like a lot of restaurants are selling their waste oil.
The other upcoming use for glycerin is propylene glycol. It can be used as a non-toxic anti-freeze, coolant, or deicer. Although petroleum based ethylene glycol is currently much cheaper, it remains a non-renewable resource that is highly toxic and as such is bound to lose popularity.
Propylene glycol is created by reacting glycerin with copper chromate, which sells for roughly fifty cents/gram. Full costs are currently unknown since this process is being perfected, which imperative given the current 47% efficiency in conversion.
Raphael Shay has worked on biodiesel in Canada, Denmark and the United-States. He is now the Outreach Coordinator at iCAST, where he bridges iCAST's projects with the people who need them most. iCAST is a Colorado based organization that facilitates renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that lead to community development.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
The price of oil rising again...
In 2004, China's electricity grid was near the breaking point and was suffering random blackouts, so they began to start using diesel power generators. The additional fuel demand ( some 15% ) caught the world market unaware. Even though oil prices were already on the rise, the additional demand helped to speed it along.
The next 3 years would see a 300% increase in the cost of crude oil and this past summer we witnessed a bitter taste for the increase in cost for a gallon of gas.
It's sounds funny to say it but, when gas dropped even a nickel per gallon, it seemed to create a sense of relief - never mind that fact that it was / is still very expensive to fill up your tank.
The world simply has to find a less expensive resource for fuel, and alternative energy is the way to go. We must find and improve upon renewable energy resources and, we have to do it now. OPEC has a tight grip on crude oil and you can bet that they will not give up that control without a fight!
Crude oil has hit a new high at over $91 a barrel and who knows how much higher it could rise. I am tired of the ever increasing cost of a gallon of gas but, I can only do so much by myself; everyone has to get involved and right away, not tomorrow, not next week or next month, right now.
It is very unlikely that any one source for alternative fuel ( at this point ) will be able to replace our thirst for fossil fuel, it will take several different types of renewable energy sources. Electric cars, hydrogen fuel cells, propane, ethanol, solar powered, geothermal power to make electricity and other resources will have to be integrated into our daily lives.
The next 3 years would see a 300% increase in the cost of crude oil and this past summer we witnessed a bitter taste for the increase in cost for a gallon of gas.
It's sounds funny to say it but, when gas dropped even a nickel per gallon, it seemed to create a sense of relief - never mind that fact that it was / is still very expensive to fill up your tank.
The world simply has to find a less expensive resource for fuel, and alternative energy is the way to go. We must find and improve upon renewable energy resources and, we have to do it now. OPEC has a tight grip on crude oil and you can bet that they will not give up that control without a fight!
Crude oil has hit a new high at over $91 a barrel and who knows how much higher it could rise. I am tired of the ever increasing cost of a gallon of gas but, I can only do so much by myself; everyone has to get involved and right away, not tomorrow, not next week or next month, right now.
It is very unlikely that any one source for alternative fuel ( at this point ) will be able to replace our thirst for fossil fuel, it will take several different types of renewable energy sources. Electric cars, hydrogen fuel cells, propane, ethanol, solar powered, geothermal power to make electricity and other resources will have to be integrated into our daily lives.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Zero Emission, No Noise Cars
Is it possible to achieve dharma at 25 mph?
The Zenn (which stands for Zero Emission, No Noise), available since February from Feel Good Cars subsidiary Zenn Motor, can be purchased from 33 dealerships throughout 20 U.S. states.
Surprised that you've never heard of the two-"n" Zenn? That may be because the company doesn't plan to have an official car-promoting launch until September 9, 2007.
Priced between $12,750 and $16,000, depending on options selected, the car offers a driving range of up to 35 miles per charge. And while the car can theoretically go faster, it tops out at 25 mph, in keeping with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations for this type of car.
The earth-friendly future is here with ZENN, the zero-emission, no-noise fully-featured electric vehicle. In addition to requiring no gasoline, the ZENN distinguishes itself with comfort, convenience and utility no other Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) can match. The ZENN can be recharged anywhere by simply plugging it into a standard electrical outlet and it can be ready to go in as little as four hours! At only pennies per mile to operate, and with minimal maintenance requirements, the ZENN is the ideal choice for consumers and businesses alike.
The 1200lb car has just over 13 cubic feet of storage space but has a rather limited range of about 35 miles, so don't plan on taking this car on any road trips.
Ironically, while the Zenn was developed by a publicly traded company based in Canada, it has not yet been approved for street-legal driving in Canadian provinces. But it's among one of the electric cars you can buy right now in the United States.
Of course, that's not the most interesting thing about this company.
In April 2007, Zenn Motor paid about $2.5 million for a 3.8 percent share in EEstor, a company that claims to be developing a revolutionary technology that will offer a much longer charge range than those of prevalent chemical batteries. It remains to be seen whether future versions of the Zenn will have this "super battery."
While Zenn cars may have a special power source from EEStor, its current three-door hatchback model offers a battery that can become 80 percent recharged in 4 hours, or fully recharged in 8 hours, from any standard 120-volt outlet.
And for our left-loving neighbors in the United Kingdom, Japan and elsewhere, Zenn Motor posts in its specs that it is also offering a right-side drive option.
The Zenn (which stands for Zero Emission, No Noise), available since February from Feel Good Cars subsidiary Zenn Motor, can be purchased from 33 dealerships throughout 20 U.S. states.
Surprised that you've never heard of the two-"n" Zenn? That may be because the company doesn't plan to have an official car-promoting launch until September 9, 2007.
Priced between $12,750 and $16,000, depending on options selected, the car offers a driving range of up to 35 miles per charge. And while the car can theoretically go faster, it tops out at 25 mph, in keeping with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations for this type of car.
The earth-friendly future is here with ZENN, the zero-emission, no-noise fully-featured electric vehicle. In addition to requiring no gasoline, the ZENN distinguishes itself with comfort, convenience and utility no other Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) can match. The ZENN can be recharged anywhere by simply plugging it into a standard electrical outlet and it can be ready to go in as little as four hours! At only pennies per mile to operate, and with minimal maintenance requirements, the ZENN is the ideal choice for consumers and businesses alike.
The 1200lb car has just over 13 cubic feet of storage space but has a rather limited range of about 35 miles, so don't plan on taking this car on any road trips.
Ironically, while the Zenn was developed by a publicly traded company based in Canada, it has not yet been approved for street-legal driving in Canadian provinces. But it's among one of the electric cars you can buy right now in the United States.
Of course, that's not the most interesting thing about this company.
In April 2007, Zenn Motor paid about $2.5 million for a 3.8 percent share in EEstor, a company that claims to be developing a revolutionary technology that will offer a much longer charge range than those of prevalent chemical batteries. It remains to be seen whether future versions of the Zenn will have this "super battery."
While Zenn cars may have a special power source from EEStor, its current three-door hatchback model offers a battery that can become 80 percent recharged in 4 hours, or fully recharged in 8 hours, from any standard 120-volt outlet.
And for our left-loving neighbors in the United Kingdom, Japan and elsewhere, Zenn Motor posts in its specs that it is also offering a right-side drive option.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Indianapolis Race Series Switches from Methanol to Ethanol
May 2007
The Indianapolis 500 launches a new era in racing - All IndyCars now run 100 percent Ethanol Racing Fuel having starting the switch-over from Methanol 100 in 2005.
Indy 500 begins running E100 at 91st annual race.
The pure ethanol racing fuel will be produced by a Renova Energy biodiesel refinery in Wyoming.
The 2006 season will not be the first time ethanol fuel has powered a car in the famed Indianapolis 500 series race. The 11th Indianapolis 500, held in 1927, featured a car driven by Leon Duray which was fueled by ethyl (grain) alcohol.
The Indianapolis 500 launches a new era in racing - All IndyCars now run 100 percent Ethanol Racing Fuel having starting the switch-over from Methanol 100 in 2005.
Indy 500 begins running E100 at 91st annual race.
The pure ethanol racing fuel will be produced by a Renova Energy biodiesel refinery in Wyoming.
The 2006 season will not be the first time ethanol fuel has powered a car in the famed Indianapolis 500 series race. The 11th Indianapolis 500, held in 1927, featured a car driven by Leon Duray which was fueled by ethyl (grain) alcohol.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Frequently asked questions about Ethanol
What is Ethanol?
Q: Does ethanol clog fuel filters?
A: In early test trials, ethanol was put into older vehicles with fuel systems that had become varnished during normal use with gasoline. Varnish generally only accumulates in fuel systems or containers which see little or no use. Ethanol removes this varnish from the tanks, fuel lines, and carburetors which is then captured by the fuel filter. Once the fuel system was clean and the filter replaced, this issue was resolved. Today’s gasolines contain detergents which help keep fuel systems cleaner and, in most cases, when ethanol fuel is added to a clean fuel system, there is little (if any) varnish in the fuel system and filters are less likely to become clogged.
Q: Is the ethanol myth true that ethanol is bad for certain gasoline fuel system components, fuel pumps and carburetors?
A: Early versions of some elastomers (rubber-like parts) and metal fuel system components were subject to deterioration over time; manufacturers quickly began to change these fuel system components to be compatible with ethanol fuel. From time to time, this myth enjoys circulation, but it is not true. Today, all vehicle manufacturers, domestic and foreign, approve* the use of ethanol fuels.
Q: Does the use of ethanol-blended fuel cause a decrease in fuel mileage?
A: There are many variables that contribute to fuel mileage, such as the season, the weather, and traffic conditions, that only an average miles per gallon can be determined. Current information derived from controlled environmental testing suggests that fuel injected vehicles may experience a decrease in mileage by approximately 2%. A carbureted vehicle that averages 30 MPG on the highway might average 29.4 MPG using ethanol-blended fuel; a small price to pay for a cleaner environment.
Q: Will ethanol-blended fuel attract moisture to my fuel system?
A: All of today’s automotive fuel systems are closed systems and are less prone to attracting moisture. Ethanol absorbs moisture that is in a fuel system and carries it out in suspension as it is consumed. The most likely, and quite rare, cause for water in gasoline today would be from condensation in service station storage tanks. If the concentration of water in ethanol becomes excessive, it will separate and fall to the bottom of the fuel tank. When ethanol fuel is used in winter months, a fuel de-icer is not required.
More Frequently asked questions about Ethanol
Q: Does ethanol clog fuel filters?
A: In early test trials, ethanol was put into older vehicles with fuel systems that had become varnished during normal use with gasoline. Varnish generally only accumulates in fuel systems or containers which see little or no use. Ethanol removes this varnish from the tanks, fuel lines, and carburetors which is then captured by the fuel filter. Once the fuel system was clean and the filter replaced, this issue was resolved. Today’s gasolines contain detergents which help keep fuel systems cleaner and, in most cases, when ethanol fuel is added to a clean fuel system, there is little (if any) varnish in the fuel system and filters are less likely to become clogged.
Q: Is the ethanol myth true that ethanol is bad for certain gasoline fuel system components, fuel pumps and carburetors?
A: Early versions of some elastomers (rubber-like parts) and metal fuel system components were subject to deterioration over time; manufacturers quickly began to change these fuel system components to be compatible with ethanol fuel. From time to time, this myth enjoys circulation, but it is not true. Today, all vehicle manufacturers, domestic and foreign, approve* the use of ethanol fuels.
Q: Does the use of ethanol-blended fuel cause a decrease in fuel mileage?
A: There are many variables that contribute to fuel mileage, such as the season, the weather, and traffic conditions, that only an average miles per gallon can be determined. Current information derived from controlled environmental testing suggests that fuel injected vehicles may experience a decrease in mileage by approximately 2%. A carbureted vehicle that averages 30 MPG on the highway might average 29.4 MPG using ethanol-blended fuel; a small price to pay for a cleaner environment.
Q: Will ethanol-blended fuel attract moisture to my fuel system?
A: All of today’s automotive fuel systems are closed systems and are less prone to attracting moisture. Ethanol absorbs moisture that is in a fuel system and carries it out in suspension as it is consumed. The most likely, and quite rare, cause for water in gasoline today would be from condensation in service station storage tanks. If the concentration of water in ethanol becomes excessive, it will separate and fall to the bottom of the fuel tank. When ethanol fuel is used in winter months, a fuel de-icer is not required.
More Frequently asked questions about Ethanol
A History of Ethanol
Ethanol Pre-History
Ethanol has been used by humans since prehistory as the intoxicating ingredient in alcoholic beverages. Dried residues on 9000-year-old pottery found in northern China imply the use of alcoholic beverages even among Neolithic peoples. Its isolation as a relatively pure compound was first achieved by Islamic alchemists who developed the art of distillation during the Abbasid caliphate, the most notable of whom was Al-Razi. The writings attributed to Jabir Ibn Hayyan (Geber) (721-815) mention the flammable vapors of boiled wine. Al-Kindī (801-873) unambiguously described the distillation of wine. Distillation of ethanol from water yields a product that is at most 96% ethanol, because ethanol forms an azeotrope with water. Absolute ethanol was first obtained in 1796 by Johann Tobias Lowitz, by filtering distilled ethanol through charcoal.
Antoine Lavoisier described ethanol as a compound of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and in 1808, Nicolas-Théodore de Saussure determined ethanol's chemical formula. In 1858, Archibald Scott Couper published a structural formula for ethanol: this places ethanol among the first chemical compounds to have their chemical structures determined.
Ethanol was first prepared synthetically in 1826, through the independent efforts of Henry Hennel in Britain and S.G. Sérullas in France. Michael Faraday prepared ethanol by the acid-catalysed hydration of ethylene in 1828, in a process similar to that used for industrial ethanol synthesis today.
In Promotion of Ethanol
Also known as ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol made from corn, Ethanol is a flammable and colorless chemical compound, which can also be used as a biodegradable fuel additive. The renewable alternative fuel is an alcohol fuel mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, by volume; Ethanol derived from crops (bioethanol) is a biofuel. E85 is an alternative fuel blend made up of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, hence the name “E85”. E85 is a clean-burning, high-octane fuel, and a versatile solvent which mixes easily with water and most organic liquids. Most new cars sold in Brazil, and many newer domestic vehicles are flexible-fuel vehicles that can run on ethanol, gasoline, or any mixture of the two.
In the United States, current ethanol / gasoline blends are at a mere 10% ethanol, commonly known as "gasohol" and is widely sold throughout the U.S. Midwest, which contains the nation's chief corn-growing centers.
Ethanol E85 Pumps The largest single use of ethanol is as a motor fuel and fuel additive with the largest national fuel ethanol industries in Brazil and the United States. The Brazilian ethanol industry is based on sugarcane; as of 2004, Brazil produces 14 billion liters annually, enough to replace about 40% of its gasoline demand.
The United States fuel ethanol industry is based largely on corn. As of 2005, its capacity is 15 billion liters annually, although the Energy Policy Act of 2005 requires U.S. fuel ethanol production to increase to 7.5 billion gallons (28 billion liters) by 2012.
In 2005, the Indy Racing League announced its cars will run on a 10% ethanol - 90% methanol blend fuel, and starting in 2007, the indy cars will race on 100% ethanol.
In the United States, current ethanol / gasoline blends are at a mere 10% ethanol, commonly known as "gasohol" and is widely sold throughout the U.S. Midwest, which contains the nation's chief corn-growing centers.
Ethanol E85 Pumps The largest single use of ethanol is as a motor fuel and fuel additive with the largest national fuel ethanol industries in Brazil and the United States. The Brazilian ethanol industry is based on sugarcane; as of 2004, Brazil produces 14 billion liters annually, enough to replace about 40% of its gasoline demand.
The United States fuel ethanol industry is based largely on corn. As of 2005, its capacity is 15 billion liters annually, although the Energy Policy Act of 2005 requires U.S. fuel ethanol production to increase to 7.5 billion gallons (28 billion liters) by 2012.
In 2005, the Indy Racing League announced its cars will run on a 10% ethanol - 90% methanol blend fuel, and starting in 2007, the indy cars will race on 100% ethanol.
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