Archive for November, 2009

Rising soybean yields have had a significant impact on biodiesel’s energy efficiency. In fact, new research from the University of Idaho and the USDA indicates that the fossil energy ratio (FER) of soybean-based diesel could reach 4.69 units of energy for every unit of fossil energy consumed over its life-cycle when average soybean yields reach 45 bushels per acre. This is projected as early as 2015.

This shows how much crop yields impact the efficiency of biodiesel production. In 1998, J. Sheehan, then at the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, found that biodiesel yielded 3.2 units of energy for every unit of fossil energy it required over its life-cycle compared to petroleum diesel which yielded just about .84 units of energy per unit of fossil energy consumed. The average soybean yield at that time was 38.9 bushels per acre.

The new study also points out that the increased use of no-till and transgenic soybeans (which have had a major effect on pesticide use) have further reduced fossil fuel requirements.

If you’re a soybean farmer, share this study with your friends as well as skeptics and let them know that biodiesel’s energy efficiency, like fine wine, keeps getting better and better. You can read “Energy Life-Cycle Assessment of Soybean Biodiesel,” A. Pradhan, et al at www.usda.gov/oce/reports/energy/ELCAofSoybeanBiodiesel91409.pdf.

If you’re thinking about planting dedicated energy crops at some point in the future, I’d suggest keeping an eye on Ceres, Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA. Ceres launched the first multi-crop energy seed brand, Blade Energy Crops (www.bladeenergy.com), last year and is currently marketing switchgrass and high-biomass sorghum varieties as feedstocks for biofuels and biopower.

Ceres announced this week that it plans to increase biomass yields of several energy grasses (including switchgrass, sorghum and miscanthus) by as much as 40% in coming years while also decreasing the use of inputs, including nitrogen fertilizer. The U.S Department of Energy has awarded Ceres a $5 million grant to develop these grasses.

“Low-input traits developed through modern genetics can provide wide-reaching benefits to the energy and agricultural sectors as well as the environment, just the type of transformational impact energy officials are looking for,” says Richard Flavell, Ceres chief scientific officer.

Ceres estimates that its traits alone could help displace 1.3 billion barrels of oil and 58 million tons of coal over a 10-year period.

Biofuels contribute significantly to America’s economy and national security. Just how significantly was symbolized by a long line of American flags streaming along the long driveway leading up to POET’s Project Liberty Field Day site and speeches by General Wesley Clark and Iowa Lt. Governor Patty Judge on Nov. 3 in Emmetsburg, IA.

“Ethanol is here now, it’s green and it’s made in America,” said General Clark, who served as the Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO from 1997 to 2000. Clark also serves as co-chairman of Growth Energy, an organization dedicated to decreasing America’s dependence on foreign oil, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline.

Clark told farmers and others at the field day that if the U.S. were to go from gasoline blends of 10 percent to 15 percent, we could stop importing as much as one billion barrels of oil per day. By utilizing E15, America could also stop between $300 billion to $500 billion per year from going outside the country to support leaders like Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, who has been a critic of U.S. foreign policies.

Moreover, corn-based ethanol produces 60 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline over its entire life cycle, Clark said. Cellulosic ethanol will produce between 80-90 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline, he added.

POET, which held the field day to demonstrate new corn cob harvesting equipment, plans to produce cellulosic ethanol from corn cobs by the end of 2011. Design work has begun for a 25-million-gallon-per-year cellulosic ethanol facility, which will be attached to POET’s existing corn ethanol plant in Emmetsburg.

A full-fledged cellulosic ethanol industry could create as many as 500,000 jobs nationwide. “We have the skills and energy to take this all the way,” Clark said. He encouraged attendees to raise their voices in Washington, D.C. by joining Growth Energy’s “Growth Force,” a bipartisan group that promotes homegrown energy such as ethanol and works on government policies that, for example, would mandate E15 and challenge international indirect land use charges being weighed against U.S. agriculture. For more information, visit www.GrowthForce.org. “Growth Force is an express lane to Washington,” Clark said.

During her speech, Iowa Lt. Governor Judge recalled ethanol’s beginnings as “gasohol” and how, 30 years later, biofuels are now having a profound effect on agriculture. Judge noted that cellulosic ethanol is now here and it’s viable. Project Liberty is going to keep Iowa on the forefront of technology, she said.

Judge added that the state of Iowa is helping the cellulosic ethanol industry by providing $20 million in funding. The cellulosic ethanol industry will “help create good paying jobs at a time when Iowa needs jobs desperately.”

The state government has been working hard to increase the number of blender pumps in Iowa and also working with officials in Washington to approve the E15 waiver request.

Hundreds of farmers, government officials and others traveled to the POET Project Liberty field day in Emmetsburg, IA, yesterday, to see new corn cob harvesting equipment in action. Cobs will be the primary feedstock for POET’s 25-million-gallon-per-year cellulosic ethanol facility, which will be attached to the company existing corn ethanol plant in Emmetsburg. The company expects to begin commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol production before the end of 2011.

Sixteen equipment manufacturers have been working with POET and 14 Emmetsburg-area farmers to test cob collection equipment, and were at the field day to talk with farmers about their results.

Case IH, for example, demonstrated its Axial-Flow 8120 combine and biomass harvesting equipment at the field day. The biomass cart is attached to the combine and works as a system with all 88 Series and Axial Flow combines. The system controls are integrated into the combine’s cab for on-the-go unloading.

This cart can be quickly attached and detached from the combine for fast conversion to other crops or harvest modes. It includes an adjustable cleaning system to tailor the cob/stover sample.

Redekop Manufacturing, Saskatoon, SK, has been testing six of its cob cart units with Emmetsburg farmers. The C180 Cob Cart holds two loads from the company’s H165 Cob Harvester while on-the-go. The cart’s conveyor unloads cobs from the cart to create tapered piles of cobs. The cart requires only a low HP tractor and is powered by the tractor’s PTO and hydraulics.

AGCO was at the field day to discuss a one-pass system that combines its combine technology and a Hesston large square baler to collect and package clean corn cobs, husks and leaves into 3×4-foot square bales.

John Deere demonstrated its corn cob biomass harvesting equipment. Dean Acheson, manager, Solutions Development, John Deere Agriculture & Turf Division, said that Deere has been working on a flexible prototype that will not slow down harvest. Farmers have indicated that they do not want to be slowed down in the field if they harvest cobs in addition to grain.

Representatives from POET were on hand to talk about corn cob procurement contracts. These contracts will be for three- four- and five-year terms. The contract price for cobs will average $55 per dry ton equivalent, F.O.B. POET Project Liberty in Emmetsburg. Corn cobs will represent an entirely new revenue stream for farmers.