October 17, 2014
BY Anna Simet
This week, BBI International and Biomass Magazine brought the National Advanced Biofuels Conference & Expo to Minneapolis, a smaller event that I very much look forward to every year (we were in Omaha, Nebraska, in 2013).
Familiar faces there were indeed, as well as faces of people whom I’ve only spoken with on the phone or emailed (always great to final meet in person), and plenty whom I had never met.
One thing was certainly clear at this show, and it was articulated perfectly by one speaker—the meeting was distilled down to the serious players in the industry. As Algae Biomass Organization Executive Director Matt Carr put it when discussing the algal fuel sector, in general, the industry has moved beyond its youthful, exuberant phase that drew in many to strike it right. Mostly, it’s the long-haulers who remain.
Even after an intense discussion about the challenges the advanced biofuel sector has experienced over the last couple of years and what might lie ahead, there was still a keen sense of excitement, and seemingly very little discouragement, if any. The industry is ready to collaborate and partner up, strategize, solve problems and expand.
Here are a couple more quick takeaways:
Advertisement
Advertisement
*Progress has been made. Last year, the main general session panel focused on cellulosic ethanol and its near-commercialization. Since then, two of the participating companies have brought their facilities on line—Poet-DSM and Abengoa, and there are more coming. A busload of NABCE attendees was actually able to head down to Project Liberty in Emmetsburg, Iowa, to tour the facility. Groundbreakings , construction updates and other plant completions were also provided by producers during several panels (Cool Planet and quasar energy, for example).
*Biogas producers are finding huge opportunity in the advanced biofuel market.
*Experienced equipment manufacturers have what the industry needs, and are ready to help. Not only do companies like New Holland want to show the industry the tweaks and innovations they’ve made to their machines (balers, knotters, etc.), but their ears and eyes are open to feedback that will help them to produce equipment that will best serve biomass operations.
*Industry interest amongst younger generations is becoming more prevalent. A common theme in the energy and fuel industry is that older generations are retiring, and there aren’t enough qualified/interested younger people to take their place. The advanced biofuel industry is a little different in that it is “new,” but technically, it is bolt-on of the existing renewable fuel industry. This may have been the highest ratio of young people I’ve seen at a conference (I suppose “young” is objective…). Although I am sure there are many reasons for this, there is a big push at colleges and universities to implement relevant programs that will engage and train students, and it looks as though it’s working.
Advertisement
Advertisement
*The entire industry needs to let Congress and EPA know that continuation and proper implementation of the RFS is absolutely critical. As Mike McAdams put it, it’s one thing for industry heads or lobbyists to bark up any given politician’s tree, but hearing it straight from the horse’s mouth—well, lots and lots of horses’ mouths—has a much more profound effect.
If you attended the show, I am confident that you walked away with some valuable knowledge and connections. Watch for a recap/photo spread in the November issue of Biomass Magazine.
The U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) announced up to $23 million in funding to support research and development (R&D) of domestic chemicals and fuels from biomass and waste resources.
The U.S. DOE has announced its intent to issue funding to support high-impact research and development (R&D) projects in two priority areas: sustainable propane and renewable chemicals and algal system cultivation and preprocessing.
Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., in August introduced the Renewable Chemicals Act, a bill that aims to create a tax credit to support the production of biobased chemicals.
The Chemical Catalysis for Bioenergy Consortium, a consortium of the U.S. DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, has launched an effort that aims to gather community input on the development of new biomass processing facilities.
USDA on March 8 celebrated the second annual National Biobased Products Day, a celebration to raise public awareness of biobased products, their benefits and their contributions to the U.S. economy and rural communities.