EnergyAg Newsbriefs
October 2010
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BIOFUELS
/ BIOMASS
NREL unveils new biomass mapping tools
The U.S. Department of Energy’s
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently released two visualization
screening tools, BioPower and BioFuels Atlas. The tools allow
users to layer related bioenergy data onto a single map to gather information
on biomass and biofuels potential, production, and distribution. View
these tools at http://maps.nrel.gov/bioenergyatlas.
Study presents realistic view of using corn cobs for
fuel production
"The Economics of Harvesting
Corn Cobs for Energy,” a report recently released by Purdue University
Extension, outlines the results of a study on the economics of harvesting corn
cobs for energy. It addresses the incidental costs involved in cob harvesting,
and examines whether the expenditures outweigh the gains when corn cobs are
harvested to be turned into biofuel. Download this report from the Purdue University website at http://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/ID/ID-417-W.pdf.
Study finds algae is a carbon friendly solution for
biodiesel
When comparing petroleum, soy, and
algae-based diesel, researchers at Colorado State University found that
algae-based diesel generated the least amount of greenhouse gases when examined
over the entire life cycle, from farm/source to fuel. The research report, “Net
Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emission Evaluation of Biodiesel Derived from
Microalgae,” was published in the September 24 issue of Environmental Science
&Technology (subscription only); a press release is available at http://www.news.colostate.edu/Release/5399.
E.
coli bacteria could prove useful for biodiesel production
Researcher Desmund Lun of Rutgers University is working on a strain of E. coli bacteria that would make biodiesel from
microalgae, and eventually, directly from carbon dioxide. The research is at a
relatively early stage, but Lun believes success will be acheived within a few
years. Read “E. coli Used to Produce Biofuel” on the Capital Press
website at
http://bit.ly/bssrXf.
DAIRY
Carbon
footprint of a gallon of milk calculated in industry-funded study
Researchers at the Applied
Sustainability Program, under commission by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, calculated the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced during the
entire life cycle of liquid milk. The study was designed to help the dairy
industry identify opportunities for efficiency and innovation, and is expected
to be published in a scientific journal in 2011.To learn more, see “Dairy
Industry Completes Fluid Milk Carbon Footprint Study as Part of Industry-wide
Sustainability Commitment” on the Dairy Network, at http://bit.ly/9dk1tG.
RESEARCH
Food waste in U.S. equivalent to 350 million barrels
of oil per year
A
recent study published in Environmental Science & Technology, "Wasted Food, Wasted Energy: The
Embedded Energy in Food Waste in the United States (subscription
required),” calculates how much energy is expended on food per year in the
U.S., and cross-references that with the 27% of food which is wasted annually
in the United States. The authors found that the U.S. wastes the equivalent of
350 million barrels of oil per year. Read about this study at http://bit.ly/9HblrU.
Researchers discover how microbes break down plants
into simple sugars
In a feat possibly transformative
for the biofuels industry, researchers from the University of Illinois have uncovered the process by which bacteria break down cellulosic plant fibers into
simple sugars. Currently, the biofuels industry has microbes which ferment
simple sugars into ethanol, but a successful, efficient process for breaking
down tough plant fibers has been elusive. The article, “Microbial Breakthrough
Impacts Health, Agriculture, Biofuels,” describes the research, and is
available at http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/news/stories/news5374.html
.
High-value
chemicals produced from biomass
Researchers
from Iowa State University have discovered a method for producing high-value
chemicals such as ethylene and propylene glycol from biomass. The method,
discovered by mistake during an investigation into cellulose-sugar conversion,
avoids the use of strong solvents and other harmful chemicals. Read about this
research at http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2010/sep/supercritical.
TOOLS
/ RESOURCES
Farm
Energy website provides a plethora of valuable information
The
eXtension Farm Energy website, maintained by the Farm Energy Community of
Practice, collates information contributed by over 170 members from university
extension services, government entities involved with farms and/or energy, and
other authoritative sources. It is designed for farmers and agricultural
educators interested in all aspects of farm energy, from conservation and
efficiency to renewable energy production. Explore the eXtension Farm Energy website
at http://www.extension.org/ag%20energy
.
EVENTS
AND TRAININGS
Biomass Fuels Summit + Advanced Fuels Hands
On Workshop
October 12-13, Vancouver, WA
The Biomass to Fuels Summit 2010 is
presented by Biomass Energy Journal. The Summit’s goal is to advance the
production of biofuels from biomass and to develop the supply chains that
deliver waste biomass streams and dedicated energy crops to end users as
finished energy products.
Biogas USA
October 13-14, 2010
San Francisco, CA
This key event will
bring together leaders of the U.S. biogas industry to examine how to develop
commercially successful biogas projects, and to address the latest
technological advances in production. Delegates will learn from best practice
case studies from government representatives, biogas producers, utilities, and
biogas users to gain a clear understanding of the current federal policy
framework, investment criteria, project start-up requirements, plant
optimization, and upgrading biogas for injection into national gas grids.
Bioneers Conference
October 15-17, 2010, San Rafael, CA
Bioneers is a
nonprofit educational organization that highlights breakthrough solutions for
restoring people and planet. The Bioneers Conference is a leading-edge forum
and environmental conference where social and scientific innovators focus on
solutions inspired by nature and human ingenuity.
Community and Small Wind Energy
Conference 2010 - Rocky Mountain Region
October 26-27, Denver, CO
Community Wind Across
America presents a two-day regional conference on local, state and
national policies, and options for financing Community and Small Wind projects.
The conference will also include practical information on how to put together a
Community Wind project. Concurrently, there will be a full Small Wind program
focusing on topics such as how to choose a turbine, installation, and rebates
and grants.
The
Washington Bioenergy Research
Symposium
November 8, 2010, Seattle, WA
From anaerobic
digestion to pyrolysis, the Washington Bioenergy Research Symposium will
explore and examine in depth the full scope of research efforts in the
Northwest, with a focus on Washington State's leadership in bioenergy
development.
Biogas Workshops
Various dates and locations
The Complete Biogas Handbook is presenting a two-day beginner's workshop in several places around the
country offering complete information about “how to understand, successfully
make, and properly use biogas ... and how to make simple, effective, low–cost digesters.” See link for locations
and dates.
GRANTS
AND FUNDING
Biomass
R&D funds announced
Two major research and development
initiatives, one related to pyrolysis and one related to bioenergy landscape
design, will receive over $16.5 million in funds from the U.S. Department of
Energy. Read about the selective projects in the press release at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/news_detail.html?news_id=16311.
USDA
offers funds for producers to conduct renewable energy feasibility studies
On September 7, agriculture Secretary Tom
Vilsack announced the availability of funding under the Rural Energy for
America Program (REAP) to conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy
systems for agriculture producers and rural small businesses. Eligible
feasibility studies for renewable energy systems include projects that will
produce energy from wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, hydro power, and
hydrogen-based sources. For more information, see the rest of the press release
at http://bit.ly/ap5k6D.
Sustainability
Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
requests proposals for A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability
Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3). “The P3 Awards program was
developed to foster progress toward sustainability by achieving the mutual
goals of economic prosperity, protection of the planet, and improved quality of
life for its people...” Areas of interest include: Energy; Built Environment;
Materials and Chemicals; Water; and Agriculture. $2.310 million expected to be
available, up to 79 awards anticipated. Responses due 12/22/10. For more info,
contact Cynthia Nolt-Helms at nolt-helms.cynthia@epa.gov
or go to http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2011/2011_p3.html. Refer to EPA-G2011-P3.
Want to Contribute? If you have information on events, publications, or other ag-related topics that you would like mentioned in an upcoming issue of EnergyAg Newsbriefs, please contact Talia Mathews at mathewst@energy.wsu.edu.