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Research and DevelopmentPress release: http://www.kaist.edu/english/01_about/06_news_02.php?req_P=ed_s_spov&req_MIDX=335f5352088d7d9bf74191e006d8e24c&req_SPO=98f13708210194c475687be6106a3b84 Journal reference: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature12536.html#affil-auth Scientists at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed a novel bacterium-based gasoline production system through the metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli. The KAIST scientists have described this biogasoline production strategy in the paper titled "Microbial Production of Short-chain Alkanes" published online in the journal Nature. Gasoline is made up of short chain hydrocarbons, called alkanes, consisting of 4 to12 carbon atoms. The KAIST research team engineered the fatty acid metabolism in E. coli to provide the fatty acid derivatives that are shorter than normal intracellular fatty acid metabolites, and introduced a novel synthetic pathway that led to the production of short-chain alkanes, a possible substitute for gasoline. The final engineered strain produced up to 580.8 mg per liter of short chain alkanes. The development of a microbial platform for production of a gasoline substitute is a landmark achievement. Few efforts to metabolically engineer E. coli have resulted in the production of long-chain alkanes suitable for replacing diesel. There has been no report on the microbial production of short-chain alkanes that can replace gasoline. The research team also showed the possibility of producing fatty esters and alcohols by introducing the responsible enzymes into the same platform strain.
News article: http://cleantechnica.com/2013/09/21/new-study-shows-algae-biofuel-lifecycle-lowers-carbon-emissions/ Journal reference: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852413013631 A study of a pilot-scale algae-based biofuel production conducted by the University of Virginia researchers found that carbon emissions of algae biofuels are lower than that of petroleum. The study also showed that algae biofuels come very close to petroleum in terms of energy efficient production. Published in the journal Bioresource Technology, the study used data from demonstration plants in New Mexico owned by the company Sapphire Energy. They estimated the life cycle energy and emissions profile at full scale of algae biofuels produced via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) system. The model used in the analysis is scenario-based to understand the effect of scale on environmental burdens. The study demonstrated that the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of HTL-derived algae biofuels were 50 to 70 percent lower compared to that of petroleum. Algae-derived gasoline had significantly lower GHG emissions than the conventional biofuel corn ethanol. The study also evaluated the Energy Return on Investment (EROI), or the amount of energy needed to produce energy in various forms, which is an indicator of how energy efficient the production system is. Higher EROI suggests that the process will generate more energy than is invested. The study found that algae biofuels have lower EROI than petroleum fuels. However, it was projected that EROI for algae biofuels would be more favorable than that of petroleum fuels over time as petroleum reserves have become depleted while technological improvements take place in the algae industry. Press release: http://www.kit.edu/visit/pi_2013_13992.php The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), a leading energy research center in Germany working with a number of industry partners, has produced engine-compatible synthetic fuel from waste straw for the first time using its proprietary bioliq (biomass to liquid) technology. The bioliq technology consists of a thermo-chemical process involving several steps that convert waste biomass, mainly straw and wood, into fuel and chemicals. The process allows the conversion of waste residues into energy-rich intermediate product similar to crude oil at decentralized facilities, eliminating the need to transport high volume of waste to a central processing facility. The crude intermediate is transported to a centralized refining plant where it is converted to gas under extreme temperature and pressure. After the impurities in the synthetic gas have been removed, the gas becomes a high quality fuel in the final synthesis stage. The synthesis stage of the bioliq process has been demonstrated recently in a pilot plant, making a significant milestone in the production of environmentally compatible fuels from residual biomass. The project will now link all stages of the entire bioliq process chain and optimize them for industrial scale production. The pilot plant will supply high-quality engine-compatible fuel from waste straw as soon as this project has been completed in mid-2014.
News release: http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=EN_NEWS_FP7&ACTION=D&DOC=1&CAT=NEWS&QUERY=01414f993861:d256:27ea15fb&RCN=36095 Project description: http://cordis.europa.eu/projects/rcn/95914_en.html The European Union-funded project dubbed DirectFuel is developing microalgae strains that catalyze direct conversion of solar energy and carbon dioxide into engine-ready fuels. Direct conversion means that biofuel production should not require destructive extraction and further chemical conversion. In the proposed biological production process, engineered microalgae strains will directly secrete non-toxic gaseous fuels that can function in existing or minimally modified combustion engines. Development of the intended strains would allow low-cost production of transport fuel that does not contribute to greenhouse gas emission and does not compete for agricultural land. DirectFuel researchers are targeting to produce ethylene and short-chain alkanes ethane and propane in photosynthetic cyanobacteria. As no natural biochemical pathways are known to exist for short-chain alkane production, the team is seeking to introduce new metabolic pathways into engineered cyanobacteria strains towards production of volatile alkanes. The research team has already gained advanced understanding of the genes involved in the catalytic conversion. Work on targeted enzyme engineering is underway, which aims to tailor the encoded enzymes so that they can act on desired substrates. The team is also now working to engineer the metabolism of the host organisms in order to enhance carbon dioxide assimilation and thus increase yield. In addition, a preliminary process layout has been prepared and a laboratory-scale photo-bioreactor constructed.
News release: http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/21293/algae-aquaculture-for-bioethanol-production Project description: http://cordis.europa.eu/projects/rcn/106280_en.html A team of European researchers is targeting to produce bioethanol directly from photosynthesizing microorganisms for less than 0.40 euro per liter through metabolic engineering approaches. The European Union-funded project DEMA (Direct Ethanol from MicroAlgae) aims to develop and eventually market an economically competitive technology for the direct production of bioethanol from microalgae with low-cost photobioreactors. The DEMA Consortium, composed of nine partners from both academia and industry from six EU countries, seeks to accomplish this objective via a metabolic engineering approach. Metabolic engineering alters the chemical reactions that occur within the microalgae cells so that they can convert solar energy, water and carbon dioxide into ethanol more effectively. Initial proof-of-concept results have shown the feasibility of using microalgae to produce bioethanol for less than 0.40 per liter. Microalgae are naturally abundant and grow very rapidly. The use of these photosynthetic microorganisms for production of biofuels does not require agricultural land, and therefore, does not compete with food production, unlike crop-based biofuel production systems. The DEMA Consortium is coordinated by the University of Limerick in Ireland. The DEMA project has received almost 5 million euros from the EU under the energy strand of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). Production and Trade
News release: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/node/7406 News article: http://www.greencarcongress.com/2013/09/20130928-vanerco.html The Government of Canada has committed $734,500 for the initial front-end development phase of a new waste-to-energy demonstration facility in Varennes, Québec. The project, to be carried out by Enerkem and GreenField, intends to build a facility that can convert 100,000 metric tons of urban waste into 38 million litres of cellulosic ethanol every year. The Enerkem thermo-chemical process to be used in this project includes feedstock preparation, gasification of biomass, syngas conditioning and catalytic synthesis of ethanol – the steps necessary to convert waste to ethanol. The government support, through the NextGen Biofuels Fund of the Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), will be repayable from free-cash flow once the project demonstrates commercial success. SDTC funding could reach $39.8 million based on subsequent project milestones and required governance approvals.
Press release: http://www.novozymes.com/en/investor/news-and-announcements/Pages/Novozymes-and-Raizen-to-collaborate-on-cellulosic-ethanol.aspx News article: http://www.biofuelsjournal.com/articles/Novozymes_and_Raizen_to_Collaborate_on_Cellulosic_Ethanol-135276.html Denmark-based biotechnology company Novozymes has entered into a partnership with Raizen Energia, Brazil's largest sugarcane mill, to produce cellulosic ethanol from sugarcane bagasse and straw. As part of the agreement, Novozymes will supply enzyme technology to Raízen's first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant in Brazil, scheduled to be operational by end 2014. The plant will have the capacity to produce 40 million liters of cellulosic ethanol per year from sugarcane bagasse and straw. To support Raízen in its efforts to advance cellulosic ethanol, Novozymes will develop enzyme technology optimized for Raízen's process. Novozymes also intends to establish new enzyme-manufacturing capacity in Brazil. The exact size, location and investment budget for this enzyme-manufacturing facility are not yet determined and will depend on the level of estimated demand for enzyme technology in Brazil. Policy and RegulationNews article: http://www.ethanolproducer.com/articles/10291/new-e85-stations-open-study-discusses-role-of-e85-in-meeting-rfs In the United States, 24 new stations began offering E85 or gasoline blended with 85 percent ethanol, bringing the total number of stations offering this blend up to 139 this year. E85 is available to all flex-fuel vehicles. The opening of new E85 stations came a week after the release of an Iowa State University study that finds it feasible to meet 2014 and 2015 biofuel mandates with expanded E85 consumption given existing numbers of flex vehicles and stations that sell E85. "E85 is in high demand and growing as retailers begin to see the advantages of offering the high level blend at their stations," said Robert White, director of market development at the Renewable Fuels Association. "The price savings can be seen across the country as more and more drivers demand additional fuel options and cheaper prices at the pump." The average E85 price in Minnesota is $2.64/gallon compared to the $3.42/gallon average gas price today.
News article: http://www.greencarcongress.com/2013/09/20130923-e15.html News article: http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/north-dakota-welcomes-six-new-e15-stations/ The state of North Dakota is now offering consumers gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol or E15, making it the ninth state in the United States that offer this higher ethanol blend. Six gasoline stations are now offering E15 in four cities. The fuel is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for all cars and light-duty vehicles with a model year of 2001 or newer, as well as flex-fuel vehicles. North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple and other ethanol backers announced the availability of E15 and encouraged other commercial fuel providers throughout North Dakota to make room at their pump stations for this fuel. The Renewable Fuels Association has lauded the introduction of E15 in North Dakota, stressing that North Dakota drivers now have additional, cost-saving option at the pump. The ethanol industry contributes more than $640 million annually to North Dakota's economy and supports more than 10,000 jobs. Since 2005, North Dakota's ethanol production capacity has increased from about 30 million gallons per year to about 377.5 million gallons.
New article: http://www.ethanolproducer.com/articles/10288/new-analysis-ethanol-cutting-crude-oil-gasoline-prices Commentary: http://www.pkverlegerllc.com/assets/documents/130923_Commentary.pdf In the United States, renowned energy economist Philip K. Verleger, who served as an energy advisor to both the Ford and Carter administrations, said that consumers are saving 50 cents to $1.50 per gallon on gasoline as a result of increased ethanol production under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). With the RFS program, annual consumer expenditures were cut in 2013 between $700 billion and $2.6 trillion across the globe. "This translates to consumers paying between $0.50 and $1.50 per gallon less for gasoline," writes Verleger in a commentary posted at pkverlegerllc.com. According to the commentary, crude oil prices would be between $15 to $40 per barrel higher today without the substantial volumes of ethanol that have been added to petroleum inventories since the RFS was enacted in 2007 - the equivalent of Ecuador's crude oil output to the world market. The economist says that had Congress not raised the renewable fuels requirement, commercial crude oil inventories at the end of last month would have dropped to 5.2 million barrels, a level two hundred million barrels lower than at any time since 1990. Stocks that low, he says, would almost certainly have pushed prices from the current range of $103 to $110 per barrel up to $150 per barrel. |
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