They oppose E15 ethanol blending – but they are investing in advanced biofuels.
Here’s an update from Biofuels Digest on what the oil companies are up to, worldwide:
Shell. Incoming CEO Peter Voser – whose company recently focused all its renewable energy activity on biofuels – is invested in Cellana, an algae JV with HR Biopetroleum, but confirmed that, since taking over on July 1st, he has not undertaken a visit to the JV’s operations in Hawaii.
Petrobras. Seeking Alpha reports that “Petrobras’ total biofuel production, particularly important for Brazil’s energy needs, is set to increase at a 17.9 percent annual rate through 2013.”
BP. The company has a series of investments with Verenium, [...]
What Are The Oil Companies Up To?
Algae In, Black Liquor Out…
The Health Care Bill (yep) redefined black liquor as a feedstock rather than a biofuel, to eliminate up to $24B in yearly subsidies to the paper industry.
See Story in BioFuels Digest. (Black liquor is a byproduct of pulp and paper manufacturing.)
Then it gets interesting. The bill goes on to give ”qualified feedstock” status to algae and similar organisms, so they qualify for the $1.01 per gallon cellulosic ethanol producer credit!
This is huge recognition of the potential for algae and similar organisms to produce sustainable ethanol in this country.
Riggs
More on this news development, including the IRS ruling on black liquor, Senate Finance committee document proposing closure of the loophole, and the full text [...]
Fuel from Thin Air?
Process mixes sunlight and CO2 with highly engineered photo synthetic organisms, which are designed to actually secrete ethanol, diesel or other products.
More from the always-on Biofuels Digest:
Joule Biotechnologies achieves conversion of CO2, sunlight into hydrocarbons – no biomass, no extraction, no kidding
In Hawaii, at the BIO Pacific Rim Summit, Joule Biotechnologies announced that it has achieved direct microbial conversion of CO2 into hydrocarbons via engineered organisms, powered by solar energy. Joule’s Helioculture process mixes sunlight and CO2 with highly engineered photo synthetic organisms, which are designed to actually secrete ethanol, diesel or other products.
However, unlike algae and other current biomass-derived fuels, the Helioculture process does not produce biomass, requires no agricultural feedstock and minimizes [...]
$24B biofuel tax credit slashed in health care bill…
But it’s good news, says Jim Lane of Biofuels Digest. The bill cuts out a huge paper industry subsidy but adds algae and similar organisms as approved feedstocks for biofuels producer credit.
In Washington, the Health Care Bill passed the US House of Representatives and included – as part of a 42-page “manager’s amendment – a provision striking a biofuel tax credit used by pulp and paper firms that could have been worth up to $24 billion.
There has been some confusion about the provision in the industry – understandable, because “elimination of a biofuel tax credit” sounds like bad news. However, the House text is actually favorable.
First, the bill as passed [...]
Climate treaty may need an extra year – negotiators
… will need as much an extra year after the Copenhagen climate change talks to agree a legally binding treaty, officials at the UN sponsored negotiations in Barcelona told reporters. Full story
This will put us fully in the US midterm elections.
Riggs
Thanks to Recharge News
Climate Bill Passes The Senate…
“There is widespread expectation in the Senate that for any climate control bill to pass, it will have to contain new government incentives for expanding U.S. nuclear power-generating capacity and offshore oil drilling, along with money to help develop clean ways to burn coal, which is in abundant supply in the United States.”
Full story on Reuters
Yes we CAN grow large amounts of algae…
…in open saline ponds , consistently and without contamination. Scientists in a algal fuel project have achieved production rates of 50 tonnes per hectare per year, and said that they were achieving a 50 percent of higher oil content, and expected to do better at a new pilot scale facility.
This production rate validates numbers thathave seemed unbelievable until now.
Riggs
Thanks to Biofuels Digest
Climate Bill Chill?
‘…With Democrats deeply divided on the issue, unless some Republican lawmakers risk the backlash for signing on to the legislation, there is almost no hope for passage.
‘Like the measure adopted by the House, the legislation favors a cap-and-trade system that would issue permits for greenhouse gas emissions, gradually lower the amount of emissions allowed, and let companies buy and sell permits to meet their needs — all without adding to the federal deficit, according to projections. But key Republicans are making their opposition clear, even as Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) has enlisted Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.) as his most visible GOP ally in gathering support for the bill.
‘Sen. [...]