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The Digest comments today:
US companies reporting early commercialization in 2-3 years; “People who are more realistic think this will take at least 10 years”, cautions Sandia’s Pate.
News and views from the European Algae Biomass Association as well as presenters at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual conference in San Diego offered news on business models, new research and timelines for algal fuel commercialization.
In California, Scientific American is reporting on co-location schemes for access to carbon dioxide or wastewater. “Various scientists speaking at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual conference, which wraps up here today, were promoting the notion that algae [...]
Algal biofuels commercialization: Two years or 10 years away?
What happens when solar loses its subsidies?
Watch Europe, where feed-in tariffs are being slashed:
The feed-in tariff (FIT) that the biggest economy in Europe has used to stimulate its domestic photovoltaic (PV) market for the past decade is about to be cut by double digits. It’s partly a response to fiscal pressure and complaints from some constituents, but Chancellor Angela Merkel and her center-right Bundestag (German parliament) colleagues hope to maintain market dominance despite the changes.
Here’s how the drafted FIT shift breaks down:
Rooftop solar PV installations will see a subsidy cut of 16%.
Ground-based modules installed in yards and other open, non-arable patches of land will be 15% less funded by the changed FIT.
PV projects at dumps and [...]
China Takes The Lead
…they’ll meet their 2020 solar target of 1.8 GW next year.
According to Green Chip Review:
Last year, Chinese companies produced about 50% of the world’s solar cells. And that’s likely to rise to 70% in the next few years, as costs continue to fall more quickly there than in Europe or the U.S. In fact, firms based in Germany — the cradle of the modern solar industry — have been finding it’s cheaper to buy from the Chinese than it is to make their own solar cells.
And they’re not just ramping up production; solar installations are also on the upswing. China will meet its 2020 target of 1.8 GW next year, and Greentech [...]
“Four Freedoms” for transition from fossil fuels
Without “energy justice”, can the transition from a fossil fuel-based society ever hope to succeed? – asks Jim Lane, Biofuels Digest Editor
In the 2010 Dodgen Lecture at the annual meeting of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences, and in the Q&A that followed, Digest editor Jim Lane described Four Principles that he suggested must be observed in order to successfully complete the transition away from a fossil-fuel based society. An abridged version follows – the full text is here.
1. The right to clean, affordable energy is a fundamental component of “Freedom from Want”.
2. Energy must be consumed within the radius that it is produced. Long-distance transportation systems for energy reduce sustainability [...]
Will You Be an Energy Generator?
“The pieces are now — or will soon be — in place to enable an explosion of distributed renewable energy in the U.S. It has the technology, the financial mechanisms, the public sentiment, and the right cost of entry: zero. It will not be stymied by musty regulations, utility opposition, or even the recalcitrance of banks.
Solar manufacturers, smart grid players, progressive but risk-averse capital, and most of all the public stand to benefit handsomely.”
Read the full article in Green Chip
A very smart overview, including a review of developments in the exciting area of FITs (Feed-In Tariffs).
Riggs
As China buys Saudi Crude, US Needs Biofuels
The Obama Administration recognizes this reality and strongly endorsed the biofuels agenda last week….
With China and other rapidly developing countries acting like a vice on the global crude market, biofuels are rapidly becoming a strategic necessity for the United States, not just a means to mitigate greenhouse gases or create jobs…
Over the past two years, Saudi oil exports to China have increased by 60 percent. And in the meantime, the Chinese appetite for crude continues to grow and grow. Chinese crude oil imports could surge by more than 40 percent over the next three months after hitting an all-time high of 5 million barrels per day in December. The share [...]
Administration Acts On Advanced Plug-In Biofuels
…establishes clear “lead agency” responsibilities to pursue advanced biofuels development.
Comment: this is HUGE for the algae industry as we are finally seeing coordinated and concerted action by the government in support of algae as a drop-in biofuel that does NOT need vast infrastructure upgrades.
From Biofuels Digest:
Sweeping changes ordered in US biofuels policy: “Will not make 36 billion gallon target” without change; shift to advanced biofuels; RFS2 released – corn ethanol, biodiesel now OK; USDA to drive commercialization, feedstocks; DOE to drive advanced research.
In Washington, the Obama Administration issued a sweeping new set of rules and directives regarding US biofuels policy, including the release of the revised Renewable Fuel Standard from [...]
President’s Group Recommendations are welcome news but…
I fear they won’t get far in the current Washington climate. Above all, we need to stay focused on R&D support and push for a level playing field for the new drop-in technologies, which will inject renewables on a fully-transparent basis into our fuel distribution system. I believe the Administration can implement most of that within its existing mandate.
Riggs
President’s Working Group wants to eliminate biofuels limits
…a boost to emerging companies developing so- called drop-in fuels, which are hydrocarbons made from plants that are already being tested in airplanes.
from Dow Jones:
President’s Working Group To Offer Agenda To Boost Biofuels
An interagency biofuels group created by U.S. President Barack Obama is set Wednesday to outline a broad agenda for ensuring the U.S. increases the amount of biofuels used in cars, trucks, and airplanes.
The President’s Interagency Working Group will say the U.S. is not on track to meet the federal mandates of adding 36 billion gallons of biofuels to the fuel supply year by 2022 and adding 100 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol this year. The group will cite [...]
Exxon Mobil LOVES algae-based biofuels!
“We believe that biofuel produced by algae could be a meaningful part of the solution in the future to produce an economically viable, low net carbon emission transportation fuel,” said Emil Jacobs, vice president of research and development for Exxon Mobil, in a speech before the delegates at the 2010 World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. He added that with energy demands expected to rise by 35 percent in the next 20 years, all viable energy options must be explored.
More at UPI.com (hat tip to Steve Ferry)
Well, we agree.
Riggs