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Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Biodiesel Sustainability
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) launched a new website this week in concert with its annual conference.
The site --- www.biodieselsustainability.com --- provides an overview of the key characterisitics of biodiesel that can and do make it a source of sustainable energy.
Creating renewable energy capacity.
CWB
posted by CWB at 12:22 PM
0 comments
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Q: Are biofuels sustainable? A: Maybe.
A recent post on The Energy Blog offers interesting perspective (and follow-up discussion) on a recent press release from Iowa State University.
An ISU professor, Robert Anex, is part of a team looking for answers about the true sustainability of bio-based materials and biofuels for our economy.
According to Prof. Anex and his co-authors' preliminary findings, the sustainability of biofuels and biomaterials depend on a variety of factors. For certain, there will be impacts. Anex et al write, "Whether this is a positive impact or a negative impact will depend largely on how biomass feedstocks are produced and converted, and the extent to which these two activities are integrated."
In short, we're hearing from yet another experienced source that not all biofuels and bio-based materials are created equally. It's not simply a question of shifting from fossil fuels to biofuels to solve our energy challenges ahead. Applying a series of decisions that identify appropriate feedstock, deploy appropriate process technologies and establish efficient connections for getting the biofuel to market will all be critical to maximizing the sustainable attributes of biofuels.
We'll keep an eye out for additional thoughtful answers to this critical question.
Creating Renewable Energy Capacity
CWB
posted by CWB at 11:22 AM
2 comments
Monday, July 16, 2007
Sustainable Biofuels and Photosynthesis
Renewable Energy Access ran an article that provides some useful perspective on the potential for biofuels to assist in our eventual weening from fossil fuels.
In his article, Patrick Mazza of Climate Solutions presents logic and statistics that help us better understand the potential capacity for biofuels to help meet our future energy needs.
Much of the biofuels debate these days seems to be about whether or not there is enough land area to grow sufficient energy crops while still meeting global needs for food and fiber.
Mazza's article does an effective job of reframing this dialogue: What is the true potential for biofuels to help us achieve our energy needs while still addressing global demand for food and fiber? The article looks at this challenge from the "Stabilization Wedges" (aka "Climate Wedges") perspective.
This is good food for thought. A range of supply and demand solutions will be essential to our navigating the energy challenges of next several decades and beyond.
Albert Einstein once challenged his students with the following statement: "A problem cannot be solved by the same consciousness that created it."
Let's not disappoint the professor.
Creating Renewable Energy Capacity
CWBLabels: biofuels, climate wedges, cwb, mazza
posted by CWB at 11:46 AM
0 comments
Thursday, May 10, 2007
U.N. Warns of Rush to Unsustainable Biofuels Production
The growth in biofuels use is potentially good for slowing climate change, but a United Nations report [PDF] issued today warns that the rush to produce biofuels has resulted in unsustainable practices that pose significant environmental threats.
The UN Food and Ag Organization issued a related press release.
The Associated Press published a story covering the release of the report.
While saying bioenergy represents an "extraordinary opportunity" to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the report warned that "rapid growth in liquid biofuel production will make substantial demands on the world's land and water resources at a time when demand for both food and forest products is also rising rapidly.
"Use of large-scale monocropping could lead to significant biodiversity loss, soil erosion and nutrient leaching," it said, adding that investments in bioenergy must be managed carefully, at national, regional and local levels to avoid new environmental and social problems "some of which could have irreversible consequences." The report noted that soaring palm oil demand for U.S. and European biodiesel production has already led to the clearing of tropical forests in southeast Asia.
This report underscores the rationale behind CWB's distributed energy model of sustainable biofuels production; local feedstock - local production - local use.
Creating Renewable Energy Capacity
CWB
posted by CWB at 11:53 AM
0 comments
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Green Biofuels Index would aid consumers, market
Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley are advocating a Green Biofuels Index to help producers, distributors and end-users determine the best biofuels available based on feedstock type, food crop impacts, energy balance, fuel performance, etc.
The report, entitled "Creating Markets for Green Biofuels: Measuring and Improving Environmental Performance" delineates a system that would evaluate all positive and negative implications of sourcing and producing biofuels from crop tillage strategy to power source for processing through to emissions during use---the full biofuels life cycle.
Download the PDF of the report.
CWB applaudes this effort to further the discussion of providing more accurate and complete information about the broad spectrum of biofuels coming into the marketplace.
Creating Renewable Energy Capacity
CWB
posted by CWB at 10:45 AM
0 comments
Monday, March 26, 2007
WP article: Not all biofuels are created equal
We came across a very informative Op/Ed article in the Washington Post yesterday. The opinion piece, "Corn can't solve our problem," by David Tilman and Jason Hill, summarizes their recent work at the University of Minnesota exploring the varied approaches, economics, sustainability and viability of biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel.
As the authors state: "[O]ur recent analyses of the full costs and benefits of various biofuels, performed at the University of Minnesota, present a markedly different and more nuanced picture than has been heard on the campaign trail.
We encourage you to have a look at this important perspective as well as the discussion that has ensued in the Comments area of the WP site.
Creating Renewable Energy Capacity
CWB
posted by CWB at 10:00 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
B20 Biodiesel Blends Approved for Cummins Engines
Cummins Diesel announced yesterday the approval of B20 biodiesel blends in its diesel engines. Cummins is one of the world's leading providers of diesel engines to a variety of industries including truck, marine, heavy equipment and generator.
See the full press release here.
CWB sees this and other trends as more evidence that biodiesel blends are fast becoming mainstream fuel choices for American industry.
Creating Renewable Energy Capacity
CWB
posted by CWB at 1:55 PM
0 comments
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
GRIST Biofuels Primer
Check out this informative and useful series of articles on biofuels at grist.com.
It's two weeks worth of descriptive and insightful content on the history, potential and implications of biofuels in the world's energy mix.
For those with experience on the topic, we find this series to be great perspective on the reinvigorated biofuels development trends. Those new to biofuels can get up to speed quickly with these articles as a start.
Creating Renewable Energy Capacity
CWB
posted by CWB at 9:39 PM
0 comments
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
2007 Farm Bill has potential to support farmers and renewable energy
In 2007 Congress will consider reauthorization of the Farm Bill.
Several options for amendments are relevant to the biofuels and renewable energy industries. Environmental Defense recently published a press release outline several potential incentives to promote biofuels crop development on American farms in ways that also support continued growth of food crops.
CWB encourages you to study these issues and make your opinion known to your senators and representatives in Congress.
Creating Renewable Energy Capacity
CWB
posted by CWB at 2:18 PM
0 comments
Friday, July 07, 2006
Discovery Channel Documentary Covers Biofuels
The Discovery Channel is currently airing a documentary entitled, "Addicted to Oil: Thomas L. Friedman Reporting", hosted by The Earth is Flat author and New York Times columnist, Thomas L. Friedman.
The Discovery Channel website offers a feature to view the programming schedule for the report and schedule the sending of a reminder via email so you don't miss it.
Creating Renewable Energy Capacity
CWB
posted by CWB at 12:50 PM
0 comments
Biodiesel Magazine Launches Online Version
Biodiesel Magazine recently launched an online version.
We've found this publication's print version to be a useful resource for info on the biodiesel industry. The online publication includes 'real time' resources, such as:
+ Biodiesel in the News
+ Question of the Week
+ Ask an Expert
+ Plant Spotlight
+ Web Exclusives
We encourage you to check out the online version of Biodiesel Magazine when you have a moment.
Creating Renewable Energy Capacity
CWB
posted by CWB at 10:31 AM
0 comments
Friday, June 23, 2006
Render Magazine: Useful Biodiesel News
We've found Render Magazine to be a great resource for news on the biodiesel industry. Their bi-monthly "Biodiesel Bulletin" is a useful capture of recent developments and trends on the topic.
To access the Biodiesel Bulletin on Render Magazine's website, follow the "Past Articles" link on the left side of the home page and select any of the Biodiesel Bulletin links from past issues of the magazine.
Creating Renewable Energy Capacity
CWB
posted by CWB at 4:59 PM
1 comments
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Future Biodiesel Feedstock: Smokestack Emissions
For those of you interested in the future of biodiesel feedstocks, we'd encourage you to read up on GreenFuel Technologies.
This group--including a rocket scientist from MIT, among others--has been attracting attention as they work to commercialize a way to capture CO2-rich smokestack emissions and use them as food for algae, which in turn gets harvested and processed to make biodiesel.
Here's a link to a fairly recent (Jan 2006) Christian Science Monitor article on the technology and the company:
"Algae - like a breath mint for smokestacks"
We look forward to hearing of continued success for efforts like this.
Creating Renewable Energy Capacity
CWB
posted by CWB at 7:32 PM
0 comments
Monday, May 01, 2006
Launch!
Greetings! This is the first entry of the Weblog for CommonWealth Biofuels LLC. This Weblog will be a resource for anyone interested in the role of biofuels in our energy future. Stay tuned.
Creating Renewable Energy Capacity
CWB
posted by CWB at 9:09 PM
0 comments
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