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Upcoming DOE Bi-Annual Peer Review 2013

5/8/13 – On May 20–23, 2013, DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) will be hosting a Peer Review of the projects in its portfolio at the Hilton Mark Center in Alexandria, Virginia. The Peer Review process is designed to obtain independent expert assessments of each project in BETO’s portfolio, and obtain overall recommendations on the focus and scope of each technology area and the strategic outlook of the Office. The Peer Review will include separate, simultaneous review sessions of the projects in nine technology areas: Integrated Biorefineries, Feedstock Production and Logistics, Algae, Biochemical Conversion, Bio-Oils, Gasification, Analysis and Sustainability, Heat and Power, and Biodiesel. Information obtained from the Peer Review process will be used to improve the management and oversight of BETO projects and inform future funding allocations and other management decisions. All Peer Review meetings will be open to the public. More information about the Biomass Peer Review is available on the Peer Review Portal. Click here to register.

DOE Biomass 2013: How the Advanced Bioindustry is Reshaping American Energy

5/8/13 – On July 31–August 1, 2013, DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and Advanced Biofuels USA will co-host the sixth annual Biomass 2013 conference: How the Advanced Bioindustry is Reshaping American Energy, at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center. This year's conference will highlight the successes of the bioenergy industry over the past 20 years and provide a forum to exchange ideas, showcase new technologies, and discuss opportunities for the future. Like previous BETO conferences, the event will feature high-profile speakers from Congress, federal agencies, industry, and environmental organizations. This year's conference will also focus on initiatives in sustainability, exciting new trends in bioenergy, new directions for BETO, and possible future funding opportunities, with a forum for stakeholder input. Biomass 2013 promises to be an exciting and important conference for all things related to biomass, biofuels, and bioenergy. Register now to reserve your space.

New Virent Demonstration Plant Produces Drop-In Jet Fuel From 100% Renewable Sugars

5/2/13 – Virent, Inc. has recently announced the delivery of 100 gallons of renewable jet fuel to the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for fit-for-purpose, fuel system and combustor rig testing. Testing will validate Virent’s jet fuel against the standards and performance required for qualification and approval of new aviation turbine fuels established by ASTM. Virent’s demonstration plant was constructed in Madison, Wisconsin with support from a $1.5 million award received in 2011 from the FAA, through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Volpe National Transportation Systems Center. The plant was built to produce drop-in jet and diesel fuels from 100% renewable sugars, and has the capacity to produce up to 5,000 gallons of fuel a year. Virent Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Randy Cortright said, “The successful operation of our new distillate demonstration plant and the validation of Virent’s plant-based jet fuel will advance our efforts to achieve ASTM-certified jet fuel and to prepare for commercial scaling.” See here for a news release. To learn more about Virent technologies, please visit their website.

Alternative Aviation Fuels Pavilion at the 2013 Paris Air Show

4/24/13— The 50th Paris Air Show will take place at Le Bourget Exhibition Center from June 17 to June 23, and will once again bring together all the industry's players across the globe to showcase the latest technological innovations. In coordination with CAAFI, Kallman Worldwide is organizing the Alternative Aviation Fuels Pavilion to be displayed at the Paris Air Show from June 17 to June 21. The Pavilion will be the focus of many visiting delegations and civil and military aviation decision makers and will showcase the latest capabilities, research, information and developments on the world aerospace stage. The Alternative Aviation Fuels Pavilion will be a key highlight of the show. This will provide a highly visible and dramatic backdrop to highlight the progress made by the industry and CAAFI. See Kallman Worldwide’spress release and the Paris Air Show website for more information.

TRB’s Airport Cooperative Research Program Publishes a Report on Alternative Fuel Distribution Programs

4/23/13—The Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) has recently published a report on "Assessing Opportunities for Alternative Fuel Distribution Programs." Alternative fuels considered include alternative jet fuel, green diesel, biodiesel, ethanol, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and electricity. The report consists of a guidebook and toolkit designed to help airports introduce and market alternative fuels to their airport community that includes tenants and consumers off airport. The guidebook identifies a variety of economic, environmental, and policy issues that need to be addressed, including a step-by-step process to evaluate opportunities and constraints for alternative fuel distribution programs. The toolkit consists of two spreadsheets that help airport decision-makers evaluate alternative fuels marketing and distribution programs. See this link for more information on receiving this report. A separate final report providing background of the research conducted in support of the guidebook can be found here.

DOE Announces $17.7 Million in Grants for Military Drop-In Biofuel Projects

4/23/13—The Department of Energy has announced $17.7 million in grants to four innovative pilot-scale biorefineries in California, Iowa, and Washington. These facilities will test a variety of non-food biomass feedstocks, waste-based materials, and algae in innovative conversion processes to produce biofuels that meet military specifications for jet fuel and diesel. The projects must demonstrate technologies that cost-effectively convert biomass into advanced drop-in biofuels. The results will assist with the scale-up of processes to commercial levels. Recipients of the grant are required to match a minimum of 50% of funds for these projects. The projects selected for negotiation are from Frontline Bioenergy LLC, Cobalt Technologies, Mercurius Biorefining, Inc., and Bioprocess Algae. Frontline Bioenergy LLC will build and integrate a new pilot-scale TarFreeGas™ reactor and gas conditioning processes capable of producing 1 barrel/day of Fischer-Tropsch (FT) liquids from woody biomass, municipal solid waste and refuse derived fuel. Cobalt Technologies will operate a pilot-scale integrated biorefinery to convert switchgrass (butanol) to jet fuel. Mercurius Biofrefining, Inc. will build and operate a pilot plant that converts cellulosic biomass into non-sugar intermediates, which are further processed into drop-in jet fuel. Bioprocess Algae will evaluate an algal growth platform that produces hydrocarbon fuels using renewable carbon dioxide, lignocellulosic sugars and waste heat. The proposed biorefinery will integrate low-cost autotrophic algal production, accelerated lipid production, and lipid conversion. See DOE's press release for more information. Also see here for a Biofuels Digest article.

Recap on the Aviation and Military Markets Day at ABLC 2013

4/23/13—The aviation focus of the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference began on late Tuesday afternoon, with a special military and aviation biofuels panel entitled “What Military and Aviation Customers Want and How We are Going to Get There.” This panel featured the “buyers” of aviation biofuels, including Navy Deputy Assistant Secretary Tom Hicks, Airlines for America VP and CAAFI Environmental Co-Chair Nancy Young, and senior global airline leadership from United Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways, and Virgin Australia. The program continued into Wednesday for a full day dedicated to aviation biofuels, cited as the largest gathering of aviation biofuel producers, leaders, and government authorities of 2013. Wednesday began with an opening address delivered by Dr. Lourdes Maurice, Executive Director of the Office of Environment and Energy in FAA, highlighting the importance of biofuel production in the aviation industry, aviation’s leading role in the biofuel industry, and the impact that public-private organizations such as CAAFI have on advancement. The opening panel, “Beyond Farm to Fly,” featured representatives from five U.S. government agencies: DOE, EPA, FAA, USDA and DOD who spoke on behalf of their respective agencies’ current activities and progress regarding aviation biofuel production advancement. The panel was moderated by CAAFI Executive Director Steve Csonka. The following panel, “Aviation’s Blossoming Global Cooperative Efforts,” moderated by CAAFI Executive Director Emeritus, Richard Altman, featured international efforts from Germany, Australia, and the European Commission. Speakers describing British Airways and Solena Fuels ongoing development of alternative jet fuel production in London and a panel on “Emerging State and Regional Opportunities,” followed. The day ended with an update on progress, activities, and plans for this year from the team leads of each of the four teams of CAAFI: Certification/Qualification, Environment, R&D, and Business. Overall, ABLC 2013 was a resounding success, and demonstrated the positive impact of collaboration and the tremendous progress since 2006; as Dr. Maurice stated, “It really is amazing."

USDA and CAAFI Sponsors FAA, A4A, AIA, and ACI-NA Sign Farm to Fly 2.0 Agreement at ABLC

4/16/2013—In July 2010, USDA joined with CAAFI sponsor Airlines for America (A4A) and the Boeing Company in forming a “Farm to Fly” working group to identify and facilitate funding of feedstocks and production facilities focused on alternative aviation fuels, including changes to key government policies. This program ran for three years, and achieved progress as a result of the coordinated public-private focus on the development of renewable jet fuel for the commercial aviation industry. It also identified opportunities for further progress. In order to continue working together over the next 5 years in an expanded collaboration, a Farm to Fly 2.0 working agreement has been drafted to set out goals for cooperation between CAAFI and USDA on development of sustainable alternative jet fuels. Signatories to the agreement are USDA, each of CAAFI’s four sponsor organizations: FAA, A4A, AIA and ACI-NA, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). The goal of this agreement is to enable commercially-viable, renewable jet fuel supply-chains in the U.S. that are able to support the end-of-the-decade production and use goals established by commercial, military and business aviation enterprises. Also, USDA acknowledges that its efforts to increase domestic energy security and support rural development are well aligned with aviation’s needs to establish robust regionalized biomass supply chains for the production of renewable jet fuel. The signing of this document took place at the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference on April 15 by DOT Sec. Ray LaHood and USDA Sec. Tom Vilsack. Both Sec. Vilsack and Sec. LaHood also gave remarks, highlighting USDA’s commitment to supporting an advanced biofuels industry, the aviation industry, and FAA’s Destination 2025 goal of 1 Billion gallons of jet fuel by 2018. See link for a press release including audio of Sec. LaHood and Sec. Vilsack Q&A.

USDA Secretary Vilsack, Aviation Alternative Fuels Highlights of Upcoming ABLC in Washington, DC on April 15-17

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has been confirmed as the Keynote Speaker for the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference on April 15-17, hosted by Biofuels Digest in Washington, DC. Vilsack joins the annual ABLC to participate in its relatively new aviation program, brought to you in collaboration with CAAFI, Airlines for America, and the FAA. The aviation program will begin with a late Tuesday afternoon aviation biofuel “buyers” panel led by Navy Deputy Assistant Secretary Tom Hicks, CAAFI Environmental Co-Chair Nancy Young, and senior global airline leadership from United Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways, and Virgin Australia. The program continues into Wednesday for a full day dedicated to aviation biofuels, cited as the strongest aviation-focused biofuel program of the year. This Aviation Day offers the most complete array of speakers and subjects in aviation available in 2013. Aviation Day includes: - A U.S. panel on new developments featuring government leaders from the FAA, USDA, DOE, Navy, and EPA - An international panel featuring CAAFI sister organizations in Germany, Australia, and Brazil working with CAAFI and its sponsors to accomplish aviation goals - A U.S. states panel describing new initiatives in multiple states that are forging new development and deployment models at the regional, state, and local levels - A closing panel of CAAFI’s Team Leaders offering their progress, directions and plans for this year We look forward to seeing you at ABLC to celebrate the largest gathering of aviation biofuel producers, leaders, and government authorities of 2013. Registration is still open!

KLM Launches a Series of Biofuel-Powered Flights between New York and Amsterdam

3/18/13—KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has launched a series of biofuel-powered intercontinental flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy (JFK) airport and Amsterdam’s Schiphol in partnership with the Schiphol Group, Delta Air Lines and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. These weekly flights were initiated on March 8, and will continue every Thursday for 24 more weeks. The KLM project, titled “Optimal Flight,” is operated by a Boeing 777-200, fueled with 25 percent recycled cooking oil converted to hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) jet fuel and 75 percent conventional jet fuel. This second-generation biofuel was supplied by a SkyNRG in conjunction with the producer Dynamic Fuels from waste cooking oil in Louisiana. Both these companies have received the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) certification. This marks the first time biofuels will be used on a regular basis for trans-Atlantic flights. KLM states that carbon emissions have been reduced by 80 percent because of the cleaner fuel and flight efficiency initiatives. See here for a Dutch article and a video on KLM’s “Optimal Flight.” Also see the New York Times article for more information.

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