National Biodiesel Accreditation
Friday, December 29, 2006
The National Biodiesel Accreditation Program is a cooperative and voluntary program for the accreditation of producers and marketers of biodiesel fuel called BQ-9000. The program is a unique combination of the ASTM standard for biodiesel, ASTM D 6751, and a quality systems program that includes storage, sampling, testing, blending, shipping, distribution, and fuel management practices.
BQ-9000 is open to any biodiesel manufacturer, marketer or distributor of biodiesel and biodiesel blends in the United States and Canada.
About the National Biodiesel Accreditation Commission:
* Commissioners represent wide scale of interested parties
* Nominated by the NBB President, and approved by the NBB Board of Directors
* Although committee of NBB, NBAC has full authority for design and implementation of BQ-9000
* Developed BQ-9000 as it stands today
* Responsible for on-going improvements to BQ-9000
read more on http://www.bq-9000.org/
Author: IntoBlogs » Comments:
Biodiesel opens new front of dispute between deliverers
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Its now a game of strategy or will fuel deliverers go for the fleets?
To one year of the fulfilment of the legislation that becomes obligator in the country the mixture of 2% of biodiesel in the oil diesel, the fuel deliverers strengthen investments - the announced ones so far add R$ 216 million - and incite the dispute to gain market. The Deliverering, controlled BR for the Petrobras, was the first one to initiate vend of the B2 (mixture of 2% of biodiesel in diesel), and thus already starts to profit from its bets. Recently, it closed contract with Viação Itaim Paulista (VIP), company who operates a fleet of 1.880 buses in the São Paulo capital, for the supply of the B30. The mixture, composed for 30% of biodiesel, 8% of alcohol and 62% of diesel, was developed the order of the VIP and was authorized for vend for the National Agency of the Oil, Gas Natural and Bio-combustíbles (ANP).
The BR vends 6 million litres for month of the mixture to the company. Now, the deliverer negotiates venda of the B30 for fleets in other capitals of the country, as Belo Horizonte and Recife. "the VIP was a company who bought fuel in the physical market now and closed contract with the BR. To the few we are gaining customers market ", affirms Eugenio Mancini Scheleder, manager of development of new businesses of the BR. According to Mancini, the interest of company - mainly the ones that they act in the capitals - in adopting a less pollutant fuel grows. The company also signed contract with the Company Valley of the River Candy (CVRD) for supplying of its fleet and with 35 thermo-electrics, for use of biodiesel in the energy generation.
In the evaluation of Mancini, the other deliverers had delayed to buy biodiesel that the Petrobras acquired in the auctions. "we are using to advantage this surplus of the supplies to offer differentiated products, the B5, the B20, the B30. But when she will not have more surplus of the auctions, we go to have that to buy together to the plants, because these products had had great acceptance for the companies ", she affirms Mancini. The Deliverering BR commercializes the B2 since May of this year. Currently, vends the product in 3,6 a thousand ranks of its net in the country and keeps contracts of supply for 2,2 a thousand companies of great transport. "In this year, already we commercialize, in the total, 37 million litres of biodiesel, being that half of this is sold for great consumers". The goal of the BR for July of 2007 is to take care of to the 5,4 a thousand ranks and 6 a thousand great customers, reaching a average of pure use biodiesel of 32 million the 35 million litres to the month. "the goal is to anticipate in six months the obligatoriness", affirms Mancini. In this year, the BR invested to R$ 20 million in the adequacy of 46 bases terminals to receive biodiesel. In the next year, 10 million will be applied more R$ to adjust the others 20 bases.
Arnoldo Fields, coordinator of the Program of Biodiesel for the Agrarian Ministry of Public Works and the Economy, observes that the 16 authorized plants already to produce biodiesel have capacity to offer 532 million litres of the bio-combustíble and, until the beginning of 2007, with the entrance of more four units in operation, the capacity goes to grow for 800 million litres - the volume that was foreseen for 2008. "she offers exists, but the deliverers still are acting of shy form. E will have that to adjust itself to take care of to this demand ", it evaluates. It observes that the majority of these companies alone started to bet of fact in biodiesel in the last q4 of the year. The Shell initiated vend of the B2 in September, for 100 great customers and in 135 ranks of its net. Adriano Dalben, suppliment director of the Shell, esteem that until the end of the year the group will have commercialized 80 million litres of the B2 (the equivalent the 1,6 pure million of litres of biodiesel). "the Shell sell biodiesel in the Europe has ten years and is one of the greaters in the distribution of bio-combustíbles in the world. The company goes to use this expertise to grow in the area in Brazil ", affirms the executive.
The Shell adapt three bases of distribution in the North-east and goes to adjust the remains to receive the biocombustível until March. The total investment is of R$ 10 million. The goal, says Dalben, is to sell in the next year 2,8 billion litres of B2 (the equivalent the 56 million litres of biodiesel pure). The AleSat, that keeps a 1,1 net a thousand ranks in the country, decided to go beyond the distribution. The company will invest to R$ 130 million in the construction of a plant of biodiesel in the Center-West, with capacity to produce 114 million litres per year. As she informed the company to the Value, the decision was taken the group after to raise vends total of fuels in 6,5%, favours to the successful marketing with biodiesel. In December, the Ipiranga also initiated vend of the B2 in Goiânia (GO) and for 100 corporative customers. The group plans to extend the distribution to other capitals in 2007. "the expectation is to sell 250 million litres of the B2 [ 5 million litres of biodiesel pure ] in 2007", says Luiz Athayde Kauer, suppliment manager and transports of the Ipiranga. The company invested to R$ 5 million in this year in storage and will arrive in port other R$ 20 million in 2007. The Manguinhos also announced USS investment 10 million to initiate venda of the B2 in this month.
Author: IntoBlogs » Comments:
China wants to limit the use of maize and wheat in bio-combustibles
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Leaf of S. Paulo Signs Concern is that the use of grains to get ethanol raises more the prices of the products and reduces the food supplies Strong demand made price of the maize to almost go up 20% in November in China, for levels that were not registered since 1997 China intends to protect its offers of foods, restricting the use of maize and wheat in the production of bio-combustibles, according to authorities of the government, that had still not established a limit.
The Chinese government is worried about the fact of that the use of grains in the fuel production can intensify recent the high one in the prices of these products and reduce the food supplies of the country. "In China, the first concern is to more than supply food the 1,3 billion of inhabitants. After this, we will go to support the production of bio-combustibles ", said Yang Jian, director of the Department of Planning and Development of the Ministry of Agriculture, to the periodical" China Daily ". In November, the prices of the maize had gone up 20% almost, for levels that were not registered since 1997 in the country, in way to a scene of strong demand on the part of maize processors, including producing of ethanol, that it dimmed the effect of a harvest has remembered in this year.
According to Jian, of this time in interview to the Xinhua agency, all the projects of ethanol or expansion of capacity have of being approved by the government. according to National Commission of Develpment and the Reformation (NDRC, in the acronym in English), local investors intend to construct units of production of ethanol with annual capacity already exceeding 10 million tons. The commission will go to encourage the units to use raw material that is not agricultural product and will go to assign units to produce ethanol for mixture to the gasoline. Any irregular expansion or not authorized production and vends will not receive aid financial from Beijing, according to commission. China offers subsidy of 1.373 iuans (about USS 175) for ton for producers sponsored for the government. The plan of the Chinese government also foresees the subsidy to the producers of bio-combustible in the future.
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Biodiesel of pig?
Monday, December 18, 2006
A swine farm of São Paulo is obtaining to take off the maximum advantage of the creation. Everything is taken from the pig and a newness is calling the attention: the production of biodiesel from bathes of pig. In a farm in Caconde all the used energy is produced in the proper place. The process starts with the daily cleanness of the farms. The dirty water that before went for the spring now goes for pipes until the bio-digestibilities, where the dejections are transformed into gas methane and bio-fertilizant.
"Inside of the bio-digestor it has a bacterium that it digests the solid substance and surplus alone the liquid and the bio-fertilizant", explains the creative João Pablo Muniz. The bio-fertilizant is taken for the cultures. Per day 12 a thousand liters of bio-fertilizant in the 75 hectares of coffee and 90 of maize are played. With this, the seasoning economy in the property arrives 50%. Already the gas methane follows for the house of machines, where it is sucked by the compressor and transformed into electric energy for the generator. Heating of the maternity, the illumination of the houses, the heating of the food, everything with the energy coming of the pigs. "At the moment we are producing 50% of the energy of the farm", counts João.
What surplus of abates it, fat and outher stuff, worn out and later is melted. The result is a dark liquid. The curiosity of João gained force with the technique of the friend Delvá Poli, chemistry pensioner. It helped to develop a new fuel and explains as the stage most important of the process occurs: "We go to place alcohol and in the presence of a catalyser, type caustic soda water, this alcohol goes to take off the glycerin of the carbonic chain of the oil". With the chemical reaction, the glycerin is in the deep one and is removed. After stroke, it receives corant and she is ready to be used as soap.
The liquid that was in the from above part of the cauldron is biodiesel pure and already it can go direct for the tank. It makes eight months that João does not need to go to the fuel rank. The vehicles now only twirl with biodiesel. Per week 400 liters, the sufficient to give to account of all the demand of the property are produced.
The pioneering technology made to move until the way to calculate the consumption. "Now the kilometrage for kilo is counted of bathes", comments the agriculturist. Another advantage of biodiesel of pig is that it cause little damages to the environment because does not have sulphur, that, set free in the atmosphere, helps to provoke acid rain and the effect greenhouse.
Author: IntoBlogs » Comments:
Africa Seen as Potential Leader in Biofuel Production
Thursday, December 14, 2006
NAIROBI, Kenya -- For a number of reasons, including an agricultural sector that enjoys relatively low land and labor costs, many see sub-Saharan Africa as well suited to pioneer the development of biofuel as an alternative energy source for the continent and the world.
Development analysts say it may be decades before biofuel becomes a significant alternative source of energy for Africa, but significant production could mean a boost for sub-Saharan economies by both providing new income and reducing the continent's reliance on imported fossil fuels.
For many countries in Africa, oil makes up a significant portion of gross imports, a drain on their economies. In Kenya, for example, oil imports are equal to the value of its annual trade deficit. Countries like Namibia, Ghana, and Zambia are in a similar situation.
Biofuel could change this equation, say its advocates.
"In the long run, this money will stay in the country and will end up in the hands of the growers and manufacturers," said Gregor von Drabich-Waechter of Green Power East Africa Ltd., a biodiesel producer in Kenya.
"Energy is Africa's and the world biggest debt burden. . . . Once we are out of this cycle . . . we are in a better position," said Edward Okello of Biodiesel Technologies, another Kenyan company specializing in automotive biodiesel.
Articles on this Issue
Biofuel could not completely replace petroleum fuels, says von Drabich-Waechter, but could offer the continent an alternative that, in addition to being environmentally friendly, would improve farmers' lives.
Proponents agree Africa is well suited for biofuel production because of its vast uncultivated land and low-cost agriculture.
Fifty-five percent of the African population ekes out a living from agriculture. Agriculture contributes 40 percent of the continent's gross product and 60 percent of its export income. However, the agriculture sector so far has not succeeded in transforming the lives of African farmers.
For one reason, African produce is usually in unprocessed form, which commands lower world market prices. In addition, African agricultural productivity is low, averaging one ton of produce per hectare per year, in comparison to three and five tons in Asia and Western Europe, respectively.
According to the African Union's New Partnership for Africa's Development, Africa's agriculture sector would require an investment of $251 billion to begin transforming living standards on the continent.
Actis, a British investment fund operating in emerging markets, is keen to be part of the solution. The company recently announced a $1 million African agriculture fund, most of which will be invested in the production of biofuel.
Actis Partner Michael Turner confirmed that the project is targeting a trend toward increased global biofuel consumption, driven by initiatives such as the European Union's goal to switch 20 percent of its fuel consumption to biofuel by 2020.
"This is a great opportunity," said Turner. "The EU has no vast lands to grow the required crops from which this fuel will be extracted. We believe Africa has the potential to be a major producer."
Brazil's success with biofuel production could be a model for Africa. According to a United Nations Development Programme study, ethanol production in Brazil has helped reverse migration to large urban areas and increased the quality of life for rural Brazilians.
While many factors work in favor of biofuel production in Africa, some emphasize that there is a need to ensure the continent's rural population benefits from the nascent industry.
Multinational corporations are already investing in Africa's land and, with their ability to influence policy, individual farmers risk being left out of the production process, Okello says.
Meanwhile, the development of the oil industry in Africa continues apace. Nigeria, Algeria, Libya, Angola and Egypt are Africa's top oil producers, accounting for 80 percent of the continent's production, according to the Africa Development Bank. Joining them are Sudan, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Chad, and Cameroon, among others, who have commercially viable deposits.
But while some African countries, like Libya, will enjoy an oil boom for the next 70 years, others, like Angola, have less than 20 years worth of reserves.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS), a humanitarian relief organization, estimates that sub-Saharan African governments will receive more than $200 billion in oil revenues over the next decade. But historically, petrodollars have not helped developing countries reduce poverty and oil revenues have actually exacerbated the problem in many cases, the group warns.
Most of Africa's oil producing nations have failed to diversify their economies or prepare for a post-oil future, and they are characteristically authoritarian regimes.
The big question is whether biofuel could help change this.
Agricultural economist Peter Kegode believes so. Because African farmers will be key raw material suppliers in a biofuel industry, and because most of the continent's farmers are small scale, the industry's benefits will be widespread, he said.
"Farmers will also have an option of using their harvest to boost food security or sell to energy producers, whichever pays better," he said.
What's more, because the sector will have wide participation, corrupt governments won't be able to misappropriate revenues, as they have historical done with oil proceeds.
"Because the politicians will not directly access this money to carry on their authoritarian adventures, you can expect [demands] for better governance from economically empowered citizens," said Rachael Achieng, a Nairobi-based political scientist.
Steve Mbogo is an investigative journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Author: IntoBlogs » Comments:
Revolution in the maize area does not worry
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Economic value Signs Brazil goes to devote itself as great exporter of maize, in the opinion of the president of the Perdigão, Nildemar Secches. It evaluates that the fever of etanol in the United States - that made the prices of the grain to go up 85% alone this year in the international market - will stimulate the production of the maize in Brazil, what goes to allow the advance of the exportations in the next years. "This is a structural, definitive change", affirmed in this tuesday (12-12).
Despite the high one of prices of the maize, that already raised and will continue raising the costs of the sector, Secches sees as positive the new picture since it offers of maize tends to grow due to the valued quotations. But the increase of the prices of the maize - that it answers little for 35% of the cost of production of the chicken and more in the case of the swine - must lead to a view for the end items, according to executive. This year, the entire chicken already had high between 7% and 10% in the market.
The high one of the quotations of the grain goes to also impactar the prices in dollar of the chicken meats and suína in the international market, as Secches. It said that, with the current exchange and costs, the edges are positive, but the picture worsening with the high one of the maize. Therefore, the view will be necessary. The director of development business-oriented of the Perdigão, Nelson Vas Hacklauer, observed that the biggest one offers of bran (because of biodiesel from soy) must compensate in part the high one of the maize. It admitted, however, that he can lack maize in Goiás in the future if all the plant projects will be materialize, what stimulates the advance of the sugar cane on areas of grains. Calculations indicate that the sugar cane would advance 700 a thousand hectares.
Author: IntoBlogs » Comments:
Biodiesel in Africa part 1
Prospects for Biodiesel in South Africa
Following enquiries from potential international investors regarding prospects for bio-diesel in 'developing' countries, Parallax has investigated the situation in South Africa. Parallax has particular interest in this area since it seems that the best geographical prospects for bio-diesel in South Africa are in KwaZulu Natal, the province in which Switch On Energy Services (the local Section 21 company established by Parallax) operates. The current level of bio-diesel activity in South Africa is limited, with the KZN government and two private companies apparently taking the lead.
Government Moves
In the provincial government, the KZN Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs (DAEA) is divided along the departmental themes with regard to the use of Jatropha for bio-diesel. The environmentalists are very cautious, expressing concerns over the introduction to South Africa of a potentially invasive plant. There is a need for more investigation to make an informed decisions. One key source has been an academic institute in Darwin, Australia, which has warned DAEA of the invasiveness of Jatropha. At the Task Team meetings, the need for a Strategic Environmental Assessment before the introduction of Jatropha to any land was adopted in January 2003, but then rescinded in the February meeting. The suggestion was that any SEA should be done on a project by project basis at the community level. The environmentalists in DAEA fear that this means the need for any SEA will simply be overlooked.
Overall, DAEA recognises that Jatropha is already present in South Africa. The National Department of Agriculture has declined previous requests for imports of Jatropha, though there is evidence to suggest that the plant is growing in Zululand, KZN. Though permits are required for any application of new plants to previously cultivated land or virgin territory, DAEA believe that vast areas are already planted with Jatropha.
A possible alternative to Jatropha is a plant called Maringa, though again there is little knowledge of this source. Early indications suggested that bio-diesel production may yield more oil from Maringa, though again DAEA has insufficient information to make any valid assessment.
The political position towards Jatropha has been strengthened by a national government initiative to support bio-diesel production. The national department is pushing Jatropha use for bio-diesel, linking this to poverty alleviation. The benefits from job creation (particularly for farmers), as well as the use of the end product, is seen very positively. In addition to the oil produced from Jatropha, the cake remaining after the seeds are processed is a good fertilizer. One concern however is that the seeds are highly flammable and therefore the process should not be located near to any sugar or paper producing operations (two of the major industries currently operating in KZN).
In general, the use of bio-diesel for energy generation has been given a positive reception from the environmentalists at DAEA, though it is clear that further consideration is required. Of particular significance is the growing public interest in the use of bio-diesel. In early 2003, a Bio-diesel Information Day was held at a local Technical College in Pietermaritzburg. This event attracted over 1000 visitors and gave a useful a push to the bio-diesel prospects in South Africa.
Read full version on http://www.parallaxonline.net/biofuel.html
Author: IntoBlogs » Comments:
Ethanol Byproduct for Biodiesel
Monday, November 06, 2006
Until this blog is "under construction" and fine tunning it's articles, here are more Biodiesel company news:
Company Plans to Use Ethanol Byproduct for BiodieselCompany Plans to Use Ethanol Byproduct for Biodiesel
A company says they will extract oil from distillers grains to create biodiesel.
(11/6/2006)
Farm Futures staff
An energy company says that they plan to use distillers grains, a byproduct of ethanol production, to create biodiesel.
VeraSun Energy Corp. says they will extract the oil from the byproduct to use for biodiesel. Distillers grains are currently used as a source of cheap livestock feed, and VeraSun says their process will enhance the usefulness of distillers grains as feed "by concentrating protein and reducing fat content."
...
"This technology is particularly strategic to VeraSun because it allows us to extend our large and low-cost producer strategy from ethanol to include biodiesel," says VeraSun chairman and chief executive Don Endres.
Read the full article on
Farm Futures here
Author: IntoBlogs » Comments:
