| Biofuels Image of the Month |
 |
| U.S. Senator Kay Hagan is briefed on the promise of energy grasses-to-biofuels by a Biofuels Center staff member at the Biofuels Campus in Oxford (12 August 2010). Click here to learn more about her visit. |
 |
| Biofuels Company Spotlight |
|
Formed in 1996, ThermoChem Recovery International, Inc. (TRI) is a global leader in commercializing the thermochemical biorefinery platform, specifically the development of thermally-integrated biomass-to-liquid fuels facilities. Such integrated biorefineries fit particularly well at pulp and paper mills because of the mills’ existing capacity to gather and process biomass, create and use energy from biomass, and provide valuable capital-intensive infrastructure.
In support of two U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-funded biorefinery projects, TRI designed, constructed, and oversees a fully-integrated, thermochemical biorefinery process demonstration unit (PDU)—its third pilot facility—which is currently operating at Southern Research Institute’s Durham energy park facility. At the Durham PDU, TRI has successfully produced Fischer-Tropsch diesel fuel from all-biomass feedstocks. In a worldwide first for a plant of this size and biomass-to-liquids (BTL) configuration, no natural gas is added to the process, making all of the energy produced entirely fossil fuel-free.
TRI’s proprietary pulse-enhanced steam reforming gasification system was developed with more than $50 million of R&D investment from the DOE, the California Energy Commission, the pulp and paper industry, and private investors. This proprietary gasification process converts cellulosic feedstocks (including forest residuals, agricultural waste, and energy crops) into a synthesis gas (referred to as “syngas”), which can be converted into biofuels.
Additionally, TRI's technology is uniquely capable of recovering energy and chemicals from spent pulping liquors, a byproduct of the paper-making process. TRI licenses its proprietary gasification technology, and provides specialized equipment and engineering services to companies seeking to integrate TRI's process into their mill operations, or builds standalone greenfield facilities.
For more information about TRI, call SVP Eric Connor at 713.201.0988 or visit www.tri-inc.net.
|
 |
|
| Biofuels Center News |
|
Center, Military Growth Task Force present biofuels forum in Jones County
Sponsored by the Biofuels Center, North Carolina's Eastern Region Military Growth Task Force held a biofuels symposium in Trenton, North Carolina...
+ Read More
Center provides summary on North Carolina renewable fuels incentives and tax credits
North Carolina has a number of incentive programs and tax credits designed to encourage the growth of the renewable fuels industry in North Carolina...
+ Read More
Chatham County EDC unveils nation's first enzymatic biodiesel processing pilot plant in Pittsboro
Over 50 attendees turned out for the unveiling of the Biofuels Center-supported mobile enzymatic pilot plant at the Piedmont Biofuels campus in Pittsboro...
+ Read More
Market-based conservation collaboration kicks off
A number of organizations are partnering to create an initiative centered on the concept of market-based conservation, which will be key to North Carolina's biofuels endeavor...
+ Read More
Center presents industry overview at Rowan Cabarrus Community College biotech summer series
The Biofuels Center presented an overview of the biofuels industry in North Carolina as part of a summer series on biotechnology by Rowan Cabarrus Community College at the Core Lab in Kannapolis...
+ Read More
|
|
|
| North Carolina Biofuels News |
|
Military pushing for biofuels crops (New Bern Sun Journal)
The commanding general in charge of many of the Marines Corps’ installations on the East Coast said that locally produced biofuels could help the Marines meet the “considerable” renewable energy goals required by federal law...
+ Read More
CCCC-Chatham launches new Sustainability Technologies degree (CCCC News Release)
Central Carolina Community College’s new Associate in Applied Science in Sustainability Technologies is a major addition to the college’s offerings in green, sustainable, and environmentally-sound education...
+ Read More
Piedmont Biofuels awarded nearly $1M from U.S. Dept. of Energy to develop biodiesel process (Raleigh News & Observer)
Piedmont Biofuels in Pittsboro was awarded $969,970 to develop a biodiesel refining process that uses enzymes to convert sludge, grime, and other low-quality organic waste into automobile fuel...
+ Read More
HCL CleanTech explores pine residue as potential biofuels feedstock (Southeast Farm Press)
HCL CleanTech, a U.S.-Israeli biofuels technology development center, recently contracted with the Southern Research Institute to build its first U.S. pilot plant to produce low cost fermentable sugars from North Carolina pine trees...
+ Read More
|
|
|
| News Around the Globe |
|
Solazyme delivers algae-based jet fuel to Navy (Environmental Leader)
Solazyme, a San Francisco-based renewable oil and bioproducts company, has begun delivery of its algae-based jet fuel to the U.S. Navy...
+ Read More
China to spend $3 billion on wood-to-biofuels initiative (CNBC)
China plans to invest $3 billion in the next 10 years to develop alternative energy fuels, combat desertification, and prevent landslides...
+ Read More
Tennessee revs up switchgrass study (Southeast Farm Press)
The University of Tennessee Biofuels Initiative (UTBI) is closely watching how more than 1,000 acres of newly planted, improved varieties of witchgrass are faring...
+ Read More
ExxonMobil, Synthetic Genomics open greenhouse for algae biofuels development (San Diego Union-Tribune)
San Diego’s Synthetic Genomics and Texas-based ExxonMobil celebrated the first anniversary of their strategic alliance with the official opening of a greenhouse for growing and testing algae...
+ Read More
U.S. government mandates 800 million gallons of biodiesel by next year (Daily Tech)
Keeping in line with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), the EPA revealed that it will need 800 million gallons of biodiesel in the U.S. domestic market in 2011...
+ Read More
Renewable Fuels Association launches E85 Fuel Finder iPhone app (Farm Futures)
The Renewable Fuels Association has announced a new app for the iPhone and iPad, making it easy to find nearby E85 stations...
+ Read More
BP claims world’s first auto racing victory for biofuel "isobutanol" (SoutheastGreen.com)
Isobutanol, often referred to as biobutanol, captured its first racing win ever when Dyson Racing’s Mazda Lola won overall in the American Le Mans Series...
+ Read More
|
|
|
| Biofuels Education Spotlight |
|
Lignocellulosic biomass—such as forest product waste, agricultural residues, and energy grasses—has enormous potential for North Carolina's renewable energy initiatives. However, the abundant sugars contained within this plant material are difficult to break down into a form suitable for ethanol production. Using grant funding provided by the Biofuels Center of North Carolina, UNC-Charlotte researchers are investigating the use of wood-decay fungi to improve the efficiency and sustainability of ethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass.
Certain wood-decay fungi selectively break down lignin and cellulose in woody plant materials through a process called biopulping. Fungal biopulping has several potential advantages as a lignocellulosic pretreatment, including: (1) the wood-decay fungi are naturally-occurring and unregulated, much like the yeasts used in the fermentation step of ethanol production; (2) the process requires minimal economic investment; and (3) no wastewater or hazardous products are produced. UNC-Charlotte researchers are examining different fungi for biopulping efficiency and ethanol yield using a variety of lignocellulosic feedstocks produced in North Carolina. Best practices determined in laboratory experiments will be examined for industrial scalability at the Catawba County EcoComplex and Rural Resource Recovery Facility using site-generated lignocellulosic waste streams. The research goal is to develop and demonstrate fungal biopulping technology that can be incorporated into existing or planned facilities. This technology could significantly improve the efficiency and the sustainable use of waste forestry and agricultural biomass while supporting rural economic stability and development.
Students at UNC-Charlotte are directly involved in this research. The project’s overarching educational goals include providing diverse, interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate student training in renewable energy production. The research also integrates cooperation between the UNC-Charlotte Biology and Mechanical Engineering programs, the Infrastructure, Design, Environment, and Sustainability (IDEAS) Center, and the North Carolina Motorsports and Automotive Research Center’s (NCMARC) green racing program.
For more information, contact Dr. Matthew Parrow at mwparrow@uncc.edu.
|
|
 |
| Biofuels Center Podcasts |
|
Biofuels Center director of business development Dr. Egle Thomas addresses industry progress in North Carolina with Biofuels Center communications manager Shane Reese.
+ Click Here to Listen
Hans Christian Holm, global marketing manager for oils and fats processing at Novozymes, talks about enzymatic biodiesel processing with Biofuels Center communications manager Shane Reese.
+ Click Here to Listen
|
 |
|
| Biofuels Wiki Recent Updates |
|
The Biofuels Wiki is a one-stop, collaborative site where reliable knowledge about liquid renewable fuels can be found—think of it as a biofuels encyclopedia on the Internet. To add or edit content on the site, click here to register.
Syngas
Syngas (synthesis gas) is a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) which is the product of high temperature gasification of organic material such as biomass...
+ Read More
Craven County Farms-to-Fuels Bio Bus
Craven County Schools recieved a grant from the Biofuels Center of North Carolina to install a biodiesel processor on a used school bus...
+ Read More
Hypoxia
Hypoxia is defined as a deficiency of oxygen, often in regard to oxygen levels...
+ Read More
Gulf Dead Zone
Hypoxia is often reported in the Gulf of Mexico “Dead Zone” and linked by several organizations to increased corn production...
+ Read More
Brown grease
Waste grease that is the least expensive of the various grades of waste grease...
+ Read More
|
|
 |
The Biofuels Center of North Carolina is developing a sustainable, statewide biofuels industry to reduce North Carolina’s dependence on imported liquid fuels and to create jobs. The goal is to replace 10% of the state’s liquid fuel consumption with home-grown and -produced biofuels by 2017. Find out more at www.biofuelscenter.org |
|
 |
 |
Did You Know?
By 2020, the U.S. Navy plans to acquire 50% of its energy needs from renewable resources, such as biofuels, wind, and solar. (Source: San Diego Union-Tribune)
|
| |
| |
Biofuels Crop Profile
Industrial sweet potatoes grow similarly to edible sweet potatoes, but they have a much higher starch content…
+ Read More
|
| |
| |
Biofuels Term to Know
Fischer-Tropsch is a method of producing renewable transportation fuels (i.e., biofuels) from natural gas or syngas...
+ Read More
|
|
| |
23-24 August 2010 -
North Carolina Agribusiness Council Annual Meeting
Research Triangle Park, N.C.
27 August 2010 -
Energy Policy Council Meeting
Raleigh, N.C.
13-15 September 2010 -
International Biomass Valorisation Congress
Amsterdam, Netherlands
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
