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    Mongabay, a leading resource for news and perspectives on environmental and conservation issues related to the tropics, has launched Tropical Conservation Science - a new, open access academic e-journal. It will cover a wide variety of scientific and social studies on tropical ecosystems, their biodiversity and the threats posed to them. Tropical Conservation Science - March 8, 2008.

    At the 148th Meeting of the OPEC Conference, the oil exporting cartel decided to leave its production level unchanged, sending crude prices spiralling to new records (above $104). OPEC "observed that the market is well-supplied, with current commercial oil stocks standing above their five-year average. The Conference further noted, with concern, that the current price environment does not reflect market fundamentals, as crude oil prices are being strongly influenced by the weakness in the US dollar, rising inflation and significant flow of funds into the commodities market." OPEC - March 5, 2008.

    Kyushu University (Japan) is establishing what it says will be the world’s first graduate program in hydrogen energy technologies. The new master’s program for hydrogen engineering is to be offered at the university’s new Ito campus in Fukuoka Prefecture. Lectures will cover such topics as hydrogen energy and developing the fuel cells needed to convert hydrogen into heat or electricity. Of all the renewable pathways to produce hydrogen, bio-hydrogen based on the gasification of biomass is by far both the most efficient, cost-effective and cleanest. Fuel Cell Works - March 3, 2008.


    An entrepreneur in Ivory Coast has developed a project to establish a network of Miscanthus giganteus farms aimed at producing biomass for use in power generation. In a first phase, the goal is to grow the crop on 200 hectares, after which expansion will start. The project is in an advanced stage, but the entrepreneur still seeks partners and investors. The plantation is to be located in an agro-ecological zone qualified as highly suitable for the grass species. Contact us - March 3, 2008.

    A 7.1MW biomass power plant to be built on the Haiwaiian island of Kaua‘i has received approval from the local Planning Commission. The plant, owned and operated by Green Energy Hawaii, will use albizia trees, a hardy species that grows in poor soil on rainfall alone. The renewable power plant will meet 10 percent of the island's energy needs. Kauai World - February 27, 2008.

    Tasmania's first specialty biodiesel plant has been approved, to start operating as early as July. The Macquarie Oil Company will spend half a million dollars on a specially designed facility in Cressy, in Tasmania's Northern Midlands. The plant will produce more than five million litres of fuel each year for the transport and marine industries. A unique blend of feed stock, including poppy seed, is expected to make it more viable than most operations. ABC Rural - February 25, 2008.

    The 16th European Biomass Conference & Exhibition - From Research to Industry and Markets - will be held from 2nd to 6th June 2008, at the Convention and Exhibition Centre of FeriaValencia, Spain. Early bird fee registration ends 18th April 2008. European Biomass Conference & Exhibition - February 22, 2008.

    'Obesity Facts' – a new multidisciplinary journal for research and therapy published by Karger – was launched today as the official journal of the European Association for the Study of Obesity. The journal publishes articles covering all aspects of obesity, in particular epidemiology, etiology and pathogenesis, treatment, and the prevention of adiposity. As obesity is related to many disease processes, the journal is also dedicated to all topics pertaining to comorbidity and covers psychological and sociocultural aspects as well as influences of nutrition and exercise on body weight. Obesity is one of the world's most pressing health issues, expected to affect 700 million people by 2015. AlphaGalileo - February 21, 2008.

    A bioethanol plant with a capacity of 150 thousand tons per annum is to be constructed in Kuybishev, in the Novosibirsk region. Construction is to begin in 2009 with investments into the project estimated at €200 million. A 'wet' method of production will be used to make, in addition to bioethanol, gluten, fodder yeast and carbon dioxide for industrial use. The complex was developed by the Solev consulting company. FIS: Siberia - February 19, 2008.

    Sarnia-Lambton lands a $15million federal grant for biofuel innovation at the Western Ontario Research and Development Park. The funds come on top of a $10 million provincial grant. The "Bioindustrial Innovation Centre" project competed successfully against 110 other proposals for new research money. London Free Press - February 18, 2008.


    An organisation that has established a large Pongamia pinnata plantation on barren land owned by small & marginal farmers in Andhra Pradesh, India is looking for a biogas and CHP consultant to help research the use of de-oiled cake for the production of biogas. The organisation plans to set up a biogas plant of 20,000 cubic meter capacity and wants to use it for power generation. Contact us - February 15, 2008.

    The Andersons, Inc. and Marathon Oil Corporation today jointly announced ethanol production has begun at their 110-million gallon ethanol plant located in Greenville, Ohio. Along with the 110 million gallons of ethanol, the plant annually will produce 350,000 tons of distillers dried grains, an animal feed ingredient. Marathon Oil - February 14, 2008.


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Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Report: Australia's biofuel production to double this year, despite drought

A report issued at the Advanced Global Biofuels Summit in Bangkok and prepared by energy consultants Mike Cochran of Ecco Consulting and Graeme Bethune of Energy Quest has found Australia's biofuel sector will double its output this year and becomes more sustainable despite drought in the country. Production will increase twofold to 600 million litres and could top one billion litres by mid-2009. This compares with Australia's national target of 350 million liters annually by 2010.

According to the report, biodiesel capacity is well ahead of demand, given a range of unfavourable market conditions including high feedstock costs and commissioning difficulties. However the industry outlook is improving as the cost of major biodiesel feedstocks such as tallow, canola and (imported) palm oil are beginning to move down from their highs earlier this year. In 2006-07, biodiesel plant production capacity increased by 390 million liters. A further 210 million liter capacity is currently under construction, expected to be fully commissioned by the end of 2008, bringing capacity to almost 620 million liters per annum.

Ethanol demand is being driven by a growing number of service stations providing the fuel and a wider range of feed stocks are becoming available. The number of E10 retail sites is expected to exceed 800 by the end of 2007 - around 13 per cent of Australian service stations and almost double the number 12 months ago. Production plants are running close to full capacity at about 120 million litres a year. With the expansion of plants and new production, capacity could exceed 300 million litres by the first half of 2009. If all plants currently on the drawing board come online ethanol production capacity could skyrocket to 1 billion liters by 2011:
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Challenges
The report states that, while high oil prices provide an opportunity for biofuels to enter the transport fuel market, producers and world-be producers in Australia do face major challenges. These include the difficulties of trying to compete in the lower-value energy market with higher value food commodities.

The biofuels producers are also faced with a small number of buyers retailing a competing product, petrol or diesel. Other issues include consumer acceptability and product quality, capital investment requirements by consumers before they can take the product and the drought risk to feedstocks as well as the dominance of some feedstock supplies by a small group of companies.

The report says that developments in the past six months have confirmed that one of the keys to success for producers is low-cost feedstock. Imported materials are more competitive than locally produced oils, but waste material like tallow and used cooking oil for biodiesel remain the lowest cost feedstock.

References:
APAC Biofuels Consultants (Ecco Consulting, Energy Quest) : Biofuels in Australia - A growing sector [*.pdf] - November 2006.

The Australian: Biofuel industry to double this year - September 5, 2007.

Herald Sun: Despite costs, biofuel pumps - September 5, 2007.

Energy Current: Australia to double biofuel production - September 5, 2007.


1 Comments:

Anonymous DANIEL D MARTIN said...

AUSTRALIA HAS HUGE POTENTIAL AS A BIOFUELS BIG PRODUCER FOR BOTH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
WE CAN ONLY SEE BENEFITS FOR ITS SUGARCANE INDUSTRY ON EXPANDING TO ETHANOL PRODUCTION THE WAY BRAZIL HAS DONE AND EXPANDING SWEET SORGHUM CULTIVATION IDEAL FOR DRY AREAS OF QUEENSLAND ,NORTHEN TERRITORY AND WESTERN AUSTRALIA
WITH TODAYS OIL PRICES BIOFUELS SOUNDS MORE AND MORE LIKE A VERY PROFITABLE ENTERPRISE AND MAYBE THE SUCCESSFUL SOLUTION FOR NON VERY PROFITABLE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS LIKE ORD RIVER IRRIGATION AREA

7:54 AM  

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