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Powdered Algae Aviation Fuel Test

This is the latest algae jet fuel made from raw algae biomass. Sources say this will be the future of algae based fuels. With less processing than liquid fuels, dry algae fuels may be the right choice for early adopters.

Enterprise Holdings, owner of the Alamo Rent-A-Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental brand names, made a big announcement in support of biodiesel during day two at the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in Grapevine, Texas.

Big Business Goes Green

The company announced its commitment to move its entire fleet of more than 600 shuttle buses to B20 within the next 5 years, beginning with incorporating at least B5 in all its buses this year.

Nine Enterprise Holdings markets will convert to using B20 in its shuttle buses immediately, said Lee Broughton, director of corporate identity and sustainability for Enterprise Holdings, and by the end of next year, 50 percent of Enterprise Holdings’ shuttle buses will be running on B20.

Broughton said the company will have reduced its petroleum consumption by 420,000 gallons in the first year alone.

Also announced was the appointment of Richard Sayre as director of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis.

Sayre, former cellular plant and molecular biology professor at Ohio State University, and his team of 10 researchers will work to develop algae for biofuels, and will focus efforts in ways such as utilizing CO2 from coal-fired power plants to help grow algae, which would act as a carbon sink. Sayre said nutrients could be provided to the algae with water from sewage treatment facilities.

“We can use the contaminants as fertilizer,” he said. “Algae doubles it biomass in 24 hours, and it can be harvested daily,” he added—which captured the attention of the Department of Defense.

Sayre said algae’s energy balance today is only about 2:1, but theoretically this can increase four to six times with research and development.

Even though the federal government has not approved the biodiesel tax credit extension yet, some states have already been proactive in mandated biodiesel blend policy or state run tax credits. The states that have a mandated blend are: MN,WA,LA,MA,NM,OR & PA. Indiana and Iowa have their own state run tax incentives for biodiesel biofuel producers. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, a ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee, has said he wants to make the federal credit a priority and thinks it could be passed in February or March. The question is just how long will the biodiesel industry have to wait?

What to do with my Glycerin after I make biodiesel was the question I got today from a home based biodiesel producer. My response was plenty! You can make soap, sell it to a cement or asphalt plant as a burner fuel, it has a high BTU rating and they will gladly take it. Asphalt and Cement plants usually burn a D4 or D5 diesel fuel oil for power generation to make their end products. I also suggested he put it on craigslist; you would be surprised at the response you can get. We have actually sold vegetable oil (UVO, WVO) that way. Last but not least of all glycerin is also a nutrient base for feedlot cattle, yep they are feeding it to cows. So do some research, but whatever you do, do not pour it down your drain! EPA problems you do not need.

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Earlier this month, the US Department of Energy announced almost $600 million in funding for advanced biofuel projects.     This money is intended to push forward next generation biofuels, since corn based ethanol plants have come under fire for increasing food costs.   One of the beneficiaries of the funding is Sapphire Energy, who received $50 million from the DoE and another $54.5 million load guarantee from the Department of Agriculture, under the Biorefinery Assistance Program (part of the 2008 Farm Bill).

Sapphire Energy has developed a process  to produce oil from algae and then turn this oil into gasoline that is virtually identical to the gasoline that is used in cars.   Sapphire calls its gasoline a “drop-in” replacement since its fuel can be used in existing engines without any modification to the vehicle.    Sapphire is currently ramping up production of its biofuel and is looking to produce 1 million gallons of algae based fuel per year by 2011, and 100 million gallons per year by 2018.

As biofuel and biodiesel fuel energy gain popularity around the world we are seeing new tactics in the biodiesel biofuel Feedstock game to keep up with green fuel production.

Let’s look at the current feedstock oils that dominate the biofuels Industry:

Palm Oil, Soybean Oil, Jatropha Oil, Sunflower Oil, Canola Oil, Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO), Used Cooking Oil (UCO), Animal Fat, Yellow Grease and Honge Oil

Are all currently used to produce clean renewable energy.

Let’s face it, in the United States Restaurant owner operators are now wise to the renewable energy game and have begun to charge biofuel producers for the waste vegetable oil they have to offer. The National Renderers Association (NRA) has an international members list over 132 members strong with the majority of them located in the USA. Large companies like Griffin Industries Inc. have far reaching service contracts with restaurants and factories that produce waste oils. These oils are then resold for as much as $3.50 USD per gallon for use as ingredients to Organic fertilizer, specialty proteins, flavor enhancers and biodiesel biofuels.

Some biodiesel innovators in this game have come up with unique practices to overcome this lack of supply and high demand for the yellow grease needed for biofuel production. Some are actually contracting with farmers to grow and produce the virgin oil for them, some biofuel entrepreneurs are selling the oil from the farmers to restaurateurs at discounted prices with contracts stating the virgin oil provider will receive the oil again, once the restaurant owner has used the vegetable oil to completion.

The game may have changed once again when restaurant owners see the new energy system that utilizes waste vegetable oil to power their utility needs. You actually can have a utility cost savings and reduce your carbon foot print. This power system turns your facilities waste vegetable oil and grease into electricity and hot water for your restaurant and makes your used cooking oil worth $2.55 per gallon, not the 10 to 25 cents restaurants might be selling it for currently – or the cost of having it hauled away. The system also provides additional revenue through renewable energy credits and carbon credit trading, or LEED credits toward Green Building Certification.

Some biofuel innovators have gone overseas to purchase feedstock oils from Malaysia, South America or Nigeria Africa to get the most oil for the least expensive price. The key to the game is to control your feedstock oil price, but the game is becoming more difficult for those without a solid game plan for vegetable oil feedstock control.