Category: Biomass
An Efficient and Sustainable Use of Biomass for Heat and Power
| December 14, 2011 | Posted by Craig Shields under Biomass |
I’m delighted that Ben Thorp has become friendly with us here at 2GreenEnergy. Here’s a guy who’s forgotten more about biomass than 99% of professionals in this arena know, and who frequently sends me scholarly papers he’s penned on the subject, in a patient and thoughtful effort to bring me up to speed. Here’s one of his recent publications, An Efficient and Sustainable Use of Biomass for Heat and Power. Hope you enjoy.
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The Future of Renewable Energy
| November 26, 2011 | Posted by Craig Shields under Biomass |
Here’s a short video in which I discuss the future of algae and other biofuels, synthetic fuels, and cold fusion.
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Arundo Donax – One of the Diverse Feedstocks Used To Create Biofuels
| November 7, 2011 | Posted by Craig Shields under Biomass |
A reader wrote in with a question about his plans to get in the ethanol business, using a certain feedstock in which he’s an expert. Indeed, one of the most interesting things about biofuels is the enormous diversity of feedstocks.
The plant pictured here, Arundo donax, a type of cane that is highly prized for its growth rate, and the diversity of soils and climates in which it grows. But the energy density of all terrestrial plants is at least 30 times less than algae, which is the main reason for the interest in the latter.
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Looking for a Pragmatic Discussion of Biofuels? Check Out the BioEnergy Deployment Consortium
| October 21, 2011 | Posted by Craig Shields under Biomass |
Ben Thorp is one of the true gentlemen in the biofuels industry, humbly but energetically chairing the non-profit BioEnergy Deployment Consortium. Retired from business after an enviable lifetime of successful engagements, he’s dedicated himself to the proposition that biomass needs to be a) understood, and then b) implemented on a pragmatic basis. Yet this represents a considerable challenge.
“There are 11 definitions of the term ‘biomass’”, he told me. “What fits for a business plan to a VC firm might fail completely in an application for a loan guarantee or a permit application. And how about this: is MSW (municipal solid waste) really ‘renewable energy?’ In some places it’s regarded as such, but not in others.” Read More
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Investing in Waste-to-Energy
| October 2, 2011 | Posted by Craig Shields under Biomass |
As Donald Trump famously said, “As long as you’re going to be thinking anyway, think big.” That certainly seems to apply to what we’re doing in clean energy, doesn’t it? It’s really not smart to apply time and effort to projects that don’t scale. Read More
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Biomass-to-Energy Discussion Turns to Fisticuffs
| October 1, 2011 | Posted by Craig Shields under Biomass |
I’m trying to arrange a meeting with one of 2GreenEnergy’s great supporters, an international, high-flying guy whose fantastic biomass-to-energy project I support without reservation. His base in the U.S. is Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a place I like a great deal, but I don’t visit often on business. When I asked about his travel schedule, hoping to arrange a mutually agreeable meeting place and time, he wrote: “I’m in Vegas often for the UFC fights (“ultimate fighting”); I love them and try not to miss one when I’m in the States. I look forward to meeting you.”
I responded:
As I’ve told you, I love your project, and I’d like very much to meet you.
Not to sound like I’m totally out of the pop-culture (which I am), but what’s the main attraction of UFC?
It’s not that I don’t appreciate a good fight. Read More
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Waste-Tire to BioFuels Using Pyrolysis — Investment Opportunity
| September 26, 2011 | Posted by Craig Shields under Biomass |
In this short video, I discuss a new twist on pyrolysis to create high-grade biodiesel from a stream of waste-tires. Some of the many appealing aspects of this approach are:
1) It’s modular; each plant costs less than $5 million to build.
2) The technology is proven; it’s been running 24/7 in the Ukraine for the past two and a half years, and
3) It’s “omnivorous.” It’s very easy and quick to convert to another feedstock if necessary.
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Waste-tire to Energy Using Pyrolysis — Solid Business Plan
| August 20, 2011 | Posted by Craig Shields under Biomass |
Here’s a summary of a business plan that would create diesel fuel or high-octane gasoline, along with carbon black, from waste-tires — of which, obviously, there are tens of millions land-filled in the US alone each year. The technology is a special form of pyrolysis.
Skeptics may say that this has been tried hundreds of times by people who couldn’t make it work effectively, which is true. Personally, however, I think this is the real deal.
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Paper Made from Sugarcane Waste — Terrific Business Plan
| August 20, 2011 | Posted by Craig Shields under Biomass |
Here, I offer a summary of a business plan in which the company seeks to raise working capital to grow their business, which is importing and selling paper made from sugarcane waste. Needless to say, this is a hot area in terms of corporate sustainability programs. Instead of whacking trees, we’re using a form of biomass that has no economic or ecologic value.
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Thermal Anaerobic Gasification — Hot Business Plan
| August 20, 2011 | Posted by Craig Shields under Biomass |
Here’s a summary of a business plan that would implement a unique approach to thermal anaerobic gasification, to extract the energy from biomass without creating harmful (carcinogenic) byproducts.
I find it interesting that many of these clean energy technologies are quite ancient. Wind turbines come to mind immediately, of course, but gasification and pyrolysis have been around for at least a century.
Having said that, the technology contemplated here is unique, and, I believe, capable of results that were heretofore unobtainable.
