| Biofuels Image of the Month |
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| One of two modular distillation plants being erected on site at a demonstration-scale cellulosic ethanol facility. N.C.-based CESCO was involved in supplying equipment and modules on this project. The distillation columns purify and concentrate the ethanol, following a fermentation step where the sugar from wood sources is converted into ethanol. Learn more about CESCO in this month's Industry Spotlight. |
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| Biofuels Industry Spotlight |
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Custom Equipment Solutions (CESCO) is a Matthews, N.C.-based company that supplies a complete line of equipment and modular process systems for the production of second- and third-generation biofuels, including cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel. CESCO’s capabilities include the engineering and design-build aspects of equipment and modular system supply of pilot plant, demonstration scale, and large-scale biofuels production.
On a recent demo-scale cellulosic ethanol plant project, CESCO was involved in the supply of two large modular distillation columns used to purify and concentrate the ethanol derived from wood sources in the northwestern region of the United States. CESCO is also in the process of assisting with the design engineering and developing the final equipment budget for the largest cellulosic ethanol facility in the world that is currently in the detailed design phase of the project.
From biotech clean rooms and chemical plants to pulp and paper mills, CESCO is well positioned to make an impact on North Carolina biofuels production from locally grown feedstocks. With over 17.6 million acres of managed woody biomass in North Carolina—much of it in the western part of the state—CESCO is also ideally located near Charlotte for wood-to-fuel projects. As CESCO is additionally capable of incorporating its expertise into energy grass-to-fuel projects likely to occur in eastern North Carolina, the company has a wide range of business development opportunities across the state.
To find out more about CESCO, visit www.gocesco.com.
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| Biofuels Center News |
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Biofuels Center-supported project boasts teamwork (Newton Observer News Enterprise)
Catawba County leaders say a newly opened biodiesel research facility will attract more business to the area, save money on fuel, and reduce the area’s carbon footprint...
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Biofuels Center details group's mandate to reduce state's dependence on petroleum (Asheville Mountain Xpress)
The long-term task of the Biofuels Center of North Carolina is to develop a statewide biofuels industry sector to reduce the state's dependence on imported petroleum...
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US Sen. Burr visits NC-based biofuels company
U.S. Senator Richard Burr visited Wilmington-based advanced biofuels engineering company Chemtex International to learn more about the company’s technology and interests in North Carolina...
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Center, Green Chemistry Institute explore collaboration
The Green Chemistry Institute, a subdivision of the American Chemical Society, and the Biofuels Center of North Carolina are exploring ways in which to collaborate on building an understanding of green chemistry as a developing career path...
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NCSU to host Bioenergy Field Days
N.C. State University will host two bioenergy field days in September, providing a time for researchers to share the latest information on the work being conducted on energy crops...
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| North Carolina Biofuels News |
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NC-based Avjet Biotech principal scientist discusses Red Wolf technology (Biorefining Magazine)
North Carolina-based Avjet Biotech Inc., a developer of distributed refining systems and parent company of Red Wolf Refining, has released an overview of its biorefining process...
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Biofuel breakthroughs start at the roots (North Carolina Biotechnology Center)
GrassRoots Biotechnology is a young Durham company that wants to streamline the way grasses can become better biofuels ingredients...
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| News Around the Globe |
US sets monthly biodiesel production record (Biodiesel Digest)
The National Biodiesel Board says national biodiesel production reached a new monthly high in June of 81 million gallons, the third month in a row of record-breaking production...
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Chrysler backing good for advanced biofuels, biobased chemicals (Biorefining Magazine)
According to Jeff Imbler, president and CEO of ZeaChem, one of the primary goals of the strategic alliance with Chrysler will be to help the company promote positive consumer perception about the concept of cellulosic ethanol...
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Feds deploy Navy to scale up biofuels (CNET)
Three government agencies—the Departments of the Navy, Agriculture, and Energy—announced a memorandum of understanding to spend $510 million over three years to scale up the industry for advanced biofuels...
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Billion Ton Study II: Up to 1.6 billion tons of biomass available by 2030, says ORNL in new biomass survey (Biofuels Digest)
A research team led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory projected that the U.S. would have between 1.1 and 1.6 billion tons of available, sustainable biomass for industrial bioprocessing by 2030...
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$75M financing secured for trash-to-ethanol plant in Fla. (BrighterEnergy.org)
Slated to start production in 2012, the BioEnergy Center will produce eight million gallons of bioethanol and six megawatts (gross) of renewable power annually from local yard, vegetative, and household wastes...
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Alligator fat could fill your gas tank and fuel renewable resource investment in the South (Popular Science)
Every year, about 15 million pounds of alligator fat is dumped into landfills as a byproduct of alligator meat processing, which could be converted into biodiesel according to researchers...
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US Auto Club endorses ethanol (Domestic Fuel)
The U.S. Auto Club (USAC) made a surprise announcement at the Lucas Oil Raceway last week when they announced they are switching to “Ignite High Performance Ethanol,” an ethanol racing blend distributed by National Biofuels Distribution (NBD)...
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NASA, Google sponsor $1.35M civil aircraft biofuels challenge (Biofuels Digest)
In Washington, Google has teamed up with NASA to sponsor the NASA Centennial Challenge competition with the search on for the first emissions-free civil aircraft...
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| Biofuels Education Spotlight |
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The Mid-Atlantic Logging & Biomass Expo is coming to the Smithfield, N.C. on 7-8 October 2011, but the Woody Biomass Supply Chains Conference and VIP Tour on 6 October 2011 are vital prerequisites to the Expo. This one-day conference will provide a regional insiders’ overview of woody biomass and emerging wood-fueled renewables from experts in the field and on the front lines. The conference is hosted by the North Carolina Association of Professional Loggers, a 25x'25 endorsing partner, as well as the N.C. State University Extension Forestry, the North Carolina Forestry Association, and Hatton-Brown Publishers.
The Woody Biomass Supply Chains Conference and VIP Tour event will marshal the experience and wisdom of biomass specialists in technology, science, and economics. Participants will gain insight and market knowledge from candid discussions on supply opportunities, solutions to market obstacles, and proven methods of seizing market advantage. Participants’ experience will be enriched by face-to-face contact in both formal (classroom) and informal (lunch, exhibitor showcase, and VIP tour) settings. Presenters will include economic development officers, wood suppliers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and others.
The production of energy from woody biomass can be an important component of a comprehensive plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy security. Biomass represents 79 percent of independent renewable energy generation in North Carolina and will continue to represent a large portion of the renewable energy portfolio for the foreseeable future. The Woody Biomass Supply Chains Conference offers an exciting economic development opportunity on top of the contribution it can make to energy sustainability and pollution reduction.
For more information about the conference and tour, visit www.biomassforestry.org.
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| Biofuels Wiki Recent Updates |
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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.
The Green Chemistry Institute
The Green Chemistry Institute is a division of the American Chemical Society or ACS, and its mission is to enable and catalyze the implementation of green chemistry and engineering principles into all aspects of the global chemical enterprise
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Eco-Energy Holdings
Eco-Energy is an alternative energy company focused on the marketing, trading, transportation, and distribution of biofuels across the globe...
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FAA Guidance on Approval of New Aeronautical Fuels
The FAA published a new Advisory Circular in August 2011 providing guidance for the approval of new aeronautical fuels...
+ Read More
Fuel Efficiency Standards for Work Trucks
The U.S. federal government has issued fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas pollution standards for work trucks, buses, and other heavy-duty vehicles...
+ Read More
Propagule
In horticulture, a propagule is any plant material used for the purpose of plant propagation...
+ Read More
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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. |
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