| Biobased and Renewable Products Update |
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June 6, 2019 |
Federal
EPA Issues In Final
Regulatory Changes Allowing E15 Sale Year-Round
On May 30, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) released in final the regulatory changes allowing gasoline blended with
up to 15 percent ethanol (E15) to take advantage of the 1-psi Reid Vapor
Pressure (RVP) waiver that applies to E10 during the summer months. This
means that E15 can now be sold year-round in the U.S. without additional RVP
control rather than just eight months of the year. EPA also released in final
the rulemaking regulatory changes to modify certain elements of the renewable
identification number (RIN) compliance system under the Renewable Fuel Standard
(RFS) program. Aiming to increase transparency to the market and deter price
manipulation, the reforms to RIN markets include a requirement for public
disclosure when RIN holdings exceed specified thresholds, and the collection of
additional data to improve EPA oversight.
DOE EERE Announces Model To
Assist Bioenergy Developers With Water Conservation
On May 30, 2019, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE)
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announced that its
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) released an updated version of an online
computer model meant to help bioenergy developers to preserve water.
Called Water Analysis Tool for Energy Resources (WATER),
this online tool provides in-depth analysis of water consumption used in the
development of bioenergy. Designed for industry leaders, government, academia,
and the general public, WATER provides information for users to make
better-informed decisions about what types of feedstocks are most appropriate
for use in water-limited areas. WATER is funded by DOE’s EERE’s Bioenergy
Technologies Office and models all the water available in a region down to
county levels.
DOE Publishes Report On The
Benefits Of Geothermal Energy
On May 30, 2019, DOE also announced the release of GeoVision: Harnessing the Heat Beneath
Our Feet, an analysis on how the U.S. can benefit from the
potential of geothermal energy. The report summarizes findings that show
geothermal electricity generation could increase more than 26-fold from today.
Geothermal energy has the potential to reach 60 gigawatts (GW) of installed
capacity (a 6GW growth) by 2050,
including the provision of heating and cooling solutions for residential and
commercial consumers through direct-use and heat-pump technologies. U.S.
Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry, stated that “[m]aking geothermal more
affordable can increase our energy options for a more diverse electricity
generation mix […].” Industry experts, academia, DOE’s National Laboratories,
and federal agencies assessed opportunities to expand geothermal energy
deployment through 2050
via technology improvement, cost reduction, and reduction of project
development barriers such as long permitting timelines. The GeoVision report also
includes the analysis of economic benefits to the U.S. geothermal energy
sector, and an investigation of opportunities for desalination, mineral
recovery, and hybridization with other energy technologies for greater
efficiencies and lower costs. Additionally, the report quantified potential
environmental impacts of an increased deployment of geothermal energy. A
roadmap of action items for stakeholders is also included, outlining three key
objectives to:
- Increase access to geothermal
resources;
- Reduce costs and improve
economics for geothermal projects; and
- Improve education.
These GeoVision
objectives are to be met through four key Action Areas: (1)
Research Related to Resource Assessments, Improved Site Characterization, and
Key Technology Advancements; (2) Regulatory Process Optimization; (3)
Maximizing the Full Value of Geothermal Energy; and, (4) Improved Stakeholder
Collaboration. For further details, the full report can be accessed here.
DOE Announces Funding
Opportunity For Geothermal R&D
On June 3, 2019, DOE announced a joint Call for Proposals
for an opportunity to win $2 million in available funding for the advancement
of geothermal research and development (R&D) through a partnership with
more than 12 European countries. DOE is a member of a transnational
consortium called GEOTHERMICA, which combines financial resources and research
expertise to demonstrate and validate new concepts in geothermal energy use.
The U.S. geothermal community will have the ability to collaborate directly
with European partners on shared research projects that leverage valuable data,
field site access, and expertise in geothermal R&D. In addition to the
U.S., Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway,
Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey are members of
GEOTHERMICA. Each participating country will fund applicants originating within
its national boundary. U.S. funding will be provided through the DOE National
Laboratories. The Call for Proposals can be accessed here.
Industry
Companies Collaborate To
Launch Sustainability Funding Opportunity
Two food-producing companies have jointly launched an
initiative to drive the adoption of products and services on-farm at scale to
increase sustainability on Earth. The initiative invites companies
and entrepreneurs with new and emerging on-farm sustainability products and
services, focused on greenhouse gases (GHG) reduction, to submit solutions to
the leading companies’ experts. In August
2019, participants will be selected to present their solutions
to an audience and panel of industry experts for consideration. The most
promising opportunities presented will be given a special pitch event where
participants will receive input, coaching, and advice from dairy and
agricultural technical leaders to help bring their products and services to
market scale. Additionally, up to $200,000 in funding will support the
implementation of one of the selected solutions.
IATA Approves CORSIA
Resolution
On June 2, 2019, the International Air Transport
Association (IATA) announced the approval, by the IATA 75th Annual General
Meeting (AGM), of the United Nations’ (UN) International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) resolution, which calls governments to continue work on the
implementation of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International
Aviation (CORSIA). The first global carbon pricing instrument for an
industry sector, CORSIA will cap carbon dioxide emissions from international
aviation at 2020
levels (carbon-neutral growth (CNG)). Between 2020 and 2035, CORSIA aims to mitigate over 2.5
billion tonnes of carbon dioxide generating at least $40 billion in finance for
carbon reduction initiatives. AGM urged ICAO member states to take a number of
measures:
- Consider participation in
CORSIA in the pilot phase;
- Align domestic regulations on
the monitoring, verification, and reporting of emissions with CORSIA’s
standards, preventing market distortions through its requirements;
- Implement CORSIA as the single
global market-based mechanism for climate change mitigation; and
- Avoid the implementation of overlapping/duplicate measures such as unilateral carbon taxes.
IATA’s Director General and Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) stated: “CORSIA is a landmark accomplishment. It is a concrete,
well-defined way forward to cap global emissions from international aviation.
States must not compromise it with inconsistent implementation or by adding a
patchwork of taxes on top of it. Its vital mission is to stop growth in net
emissions from aviation.” AGM also discussed steps beyond CORSIA, setting the
goal to cut net emissions by half of 2005 levels by 2050. Focused on a
long-term strategy, IATA calls for investments in better efficiency measures
such as sustainable aviation fuels, new aircrafts, and better procedures.
AATF Initiative Makes GM
Seeds Available For Seed Companies In Africa
The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) has
negotiated with patent holders to make genetically modified (GM) seeds
available at the right time, price, and place to international and
African-based technology owners. A business model provided by AATF
and its partners, this initiative, called Seeds2B Project (Seeds2B), enables
these business owners with the appropriate technologies to license their
products to seed companies in Africa. Seeds2B aims to engender agricultural
transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa, replacing low quality, costly, and
unavailable seeds with GM modern, quality varieties through testing,
registration, and the establishment of distribution systems.
International
Brazil Holds Auction For
Projects In Sustainability
On May 31, 2019, the Brazilian government’s Ministry of
Energy’s Empresa de Pesquisa Energética (EPE — Energy Research Company) held
an auction for the supply of sustainable energy and biofuel sources for the
State of Roraima’s capital, Boa Vista, and its neighboring areas. A
federal energy company, EPE provides the Ministry of Energy with
R&D services designed for subsidies of the energy sector, covering
electricity, petroleum, natural gas and its derivatives, and biofuels. Out of
156 competitions, the nine auction winners presented projects on natural gas,
biodiesel, biomass, hybrid solutions, biofuels, solar, and photovoltaic
batteries. Winners totaled a capacity of 294 megawatts (MW) to be installed,
including seven renewable sources, which will have 15-year contracts and a
diesel power plant for seven years starting in June 2021.
Other News
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Phys.org, “Bio-based Fertilizers as a Solution for Phosphorus
Sufficiency and Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions” |
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EURACTIV, “With New Regulation Complete, What’s Next for EU
Biofuels?” |
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Ethanol Producer Magazine, “Nebraska Passes Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Bill” |
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Colorado Public Radio, “Colorado’s ‘Bold’ Plan for Climate Action Moves Ahead
with New State Laws” |
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Sustainability Times, “Land, Air and Sea: Canada Funds Clean-Energy Transport
R&D” |
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GreenBiz, “With Infrastructure Reform, U.S. Could Build World’s
Biggest, Greenest Carbon Sink” |
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Renewable Energy Magazine, “Finland to Join Other Nordic Countries in Reducing
Emissions in Aviation” |
| ■ | The Philadelphia Inquirer, “New Biotech Mural Highlights Life Sciences Big Role in Philadelphia’s Economy” |