The main event will feature dozens of top officials from advanced biofuels companies, including industry leaders such as Amyris, Ceres, GEVO, Mascoma, Sapphire Energy, Solazyme, ZeaChem and many more. The conference also features two special full-day concurrent sessions April 5 – Military & Aviation Biofuels and the Bio-Based Investor Summit.

More information and registration details are available at advancedbiofuelssummit.com.

This is the third year the scholarship has been available to students in higher education. Recipients receive complimentary registration to the conference and the opportunity to connect with hundreds of ethanol leaders, policy makers and experts in the renewable fuels industry.

The National Ethanol Conference (NEC) is one of the preeminent conferences for delivering accurate, timely information on marketing, legislative and regulatory issues facing the ethanol industry. This year’s program will highlight how the ethanol industry continues to evolve to meet the demands of a rapidly changing marketplace. With federal policy changing, the global, market-driven environment in which the industry must compete comes with new market challenges. Industry leaders and experts will address how we are meeting these new demands by accelerating innovation in technology, marketing, logistics and feedstocks for the production of advanced ethanol.

“It is very encouraging to see such high levels of interest in biofuels from students year after year through this program,” said Mike Jerke, RFF Chairman and General Manager for Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company. “Networking with experts in the U.S. ethanol industry gives these students a first-hand look behind an evolving industry and the direction it is heading. This is a chance for them to explore the opportunities the industry has to offer.”

Each scholarship recipient has focused their studies on renewable energy and biofuels and is interested in pursuing a career in the industry. Read more about the eight recipients of the NEC Scholarship.

It looks like the weather will be okay tomorrow so it will be worth the trip to see the four-star program the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association has lined up this year. Speakers include Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, retired four-star General Paul J. Kern, Dr. Gal Luft of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe, and much more.

The event runs from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and also features an exhibit area of companies and organizations in the biofuels industry. Hope to see you there!

Among the highlights of the summit will be addresses by Governor Terry Branstad, four-star General Paul Kern (U.S. Army, ret.), former Reagan National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane and Executive Director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, Dr. Gal Luft. And that’s just the morning session of the summit.

After lunch, National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe will outline the national landscape for biodiesel on the heels of a record year of biodiesel production and what to expect in 2012 and beyond. That will be followed by a panel on “Synergies of Livestock and Ethanol” moderated by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will moderate a panel representing Iowa’s livestock and corn industries that will discuss the dynamics between ethanol and livestock production. Joining Secretary Northey will be Matt Deppe with Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Craig Floss with Iowa Corn Growers Association and Randy Ives with Gavilon Group LLC. The final event of the day will be a panel discussion on “E15 – the New Consumer Choice” where Ron Lamberty, American Coalition for Ethanol, and Greg Emick, W & H Coop, will share what consumers need to know in preparation for future use of E15 in 2001 and newer vehicles.

It’s all happening on January 24 from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm at the new location of Veterans Memorial/Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines. Registration is free and open to anyone with an interest in renewable fuels. Rooms are still available at the Downtown Des Moines Marriott for the conference.

Hope to see you there!

“Leadership from the top makes a difference and Governor Branstad has made a big difference for Iowa’s ethanol and biodiesel producers,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. “Under his leadership, Iowa has taken a lead in proactive public policy for E15 and biodiesel. The renewable fuels community looks forward to hearing from the Governor regarding the implementation of these policies.”

Branstad will address the Summit at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 24. Other feature presentations will include four-star General Paul Kern (U.S. Army, ret.) who will discuss foreign oil’s impact on U.S. military operations. Former Reagan National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane will address breaking America’s addiction to foreign oil. Executive Director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, Dr. Gal Luft, will spell out the real national security threats posed by our country’s dangerous dependence on foreign petroleum.

The Summit and trade show are free and open to the public but pre-registration is required. The event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial/Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines.

“Registration is required and can be done on-line at iowarfa.org,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Managing Director Lucy Norton. The registration deadline for the event is January 19.

Norton says they are very excited about the event this year, which has a focus on the national security aspect of renewable fuels. “This is an opportunity for people to learn more about the impact that domestic fuels have on our energy security, our economy and the environment and the advantages of using something that we produce here,” she said. “That’s keeping our money at home instead of sending it over to countries that really don’t like us that much.”

Speakers include General Paul J. Kern (U.S. Army Ret.); Former National Security Advisory Robert McFarlane, and Dr. Gal Luft, Institute for Analysis of Global Security. The summit will also feature an update on biodiesel and the plans for implementing E15 for consumer fuel choice.

The summit on January 24 will be held at a new location in the Veterans Memorial/Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Registration is easy and fast on-line and there is also more information on program details and hotel availability.

Listen to an interview with Lucy Norton about the summit here: Lucy Norton on Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit

“This is our seventh event,” said Phibro’s Tom Slunecka. “All prior events have been sold out and we believe that’s based on several factors. We keep the class sizes small, we keep the locations affordable, we keep the agendas tight, and we also throw in some entertainment.”

The focus at this upcoming event will be on exports of both ethanol and distillers grains. “All plant managers today know that without the export market that our profitability would be much lower than it is,” Slunecka said. “So this seminar’s going to give pointers and tips on how to maximize that opportunity.” The seminar’s general session will cover many of the most important issues; regulations, quality control, contracting and mediation.

The entertainment portion of this event will be the National Hockey League game between the Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks.

Listen to an interview with Tom Slunecka about the upcoming seminar: Process Optimization Seminar Interview

Registration is $275 and is available on-line at www.processoptimizationseminar.com.

The Summit and trade show will be held in Des Moines, Iowa at Veterans Memorial/Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required.

Senator Franken will help kickoff the conference on October 25, while Senator Klobuchar will address the conference via a video lunchtime keynote on October 26, focusing on home grown energy and job creation.

“That Senators Klobuchar and Franken both chose to participate in the conference reflects the importance of algae-based fuels and co-products not only for the state of Minnesota, but also the rest of the country,” said Mary Rosenthal, Executive Director of ABO.

Other speakers at the conference include Harrison Dillon, President of Solazyme, Judy Canales, USDA Administrator for Rural Business and Cooperative Programs; and Cynthia “C.J.” Warner, CEO of Sapphire Energy.

The 5th annual Algae Biomass Summit will feature presentations and poster sessions from more than 200 experts from around the world, with exhibits by more than 60 companies and organizations. The event is expected to attract more than 800 participants, with 20 countries already represented among the registrants to date.

As the award was being presented, Ron Lamberty, ACE senior vice president said, “ACE is proud to award IRFA with the Legislative Leadership Award. Over the last few years, IRFA has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in support of renewable fuels in Iowa. ACE is pleased with their leadership in the 2011 legislative session to pass Senate File 531, a bill that included E15 incentives, liability protection for retailers and infrastructure grants and will undoubtedly make a difference to Iowa consumers and retailers.”

SF 531 contained a number of provisions, including:

•   – 3-cent per gallon E15 retailer tax credit
•   – Biodiesel production tax credit.
•   – Misfueling liability protection for retailers.
•   – An enhanced E85 retailer tax credit.
•   – An extension of the biodiesel retailer tax credit for blends of B5 and higher.
•   – $3 million in annual funding for Iowa’s Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (which provides grants for installation of blender, E85 and   biodiesel dispensers as well as biodiesel terminal infrastructure).

Monte Shaw, IRFA’s executive director added, “It is indeed an honor for IRFA to receive this prestigious award from ACE. Iowa is the leader in ethanol production and the IRFA Board made it a priority for Iowa to become a leader in ethanol policy as well. The passage of SF531 accomplished that goal with its first-in-the-nation E15 incentive for retailers. The real credit goes to the IRFA Board for setting high goals and working hard to achieve them. Further, we would not have been successful without the bipartisan support of the Iowa Legislature and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad.”

Panelists include speakers from the N.C. Solar Center’s Database for State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) program, the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, the North Carolina Department of Commerce, FREEDM Center, TUV Rheinland, Henkels and McCoy, Semprius, TechnoSunSolar, Siemens, UL, Inc., FLS Energy, Actus Lend Lease, U.S. Navy Facilities Engineering Command, Sabot 6, and more.

“We’re excited to partner with the North Carolina Solar Center, and look forward to a productive day of discussion about the solar industry with information specifically designed for individuals in this part of the country,” said Richard Myers, senior director of solar vertical markets for Siemens.

This is the third Solar Exchange event. Past conferences were held in conjunction with the University of California, Los Angeles and Arizona State University. A full agenda will be available in late August. More information and registration can be found at here.

“We are honored that Senator Harkin will be joining us for our 24th annual ethanol conference,” said Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President of ACE. “He has been a champion for ethanol in the Senate, particularly when it comes to consumer fuel choice with his legislation calling for the deployment of more Flexible Fuel Vehicles and blender pumps.”

Senator Harkin was elected to Congress in 1974. After serving ten years in the U.S. House of Representatives, he was elected to the Senate in 1984. He has been re-elected in 1990, 1996, 2002 and 2008. During his time in Congress, Harkin has been a strong supporter of ethanol in his capacity as a senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. Recently, the Senator introduced the Biofuels Market Expansion Act of 2011. The legislation mandates that a large majority of vehicles sold in the US be flex-fuel, requires major fuel distributors to install blender pumps and offers federal loan guarantees for ethanol pipelines.

“The ethanol industry is making history by challenging the decades-old dominance of petroleum-based fuels in our transportation systems,” said Harkin. “Supplying 10 percent of our gasoline demand is a huge accomplishment, but the byproduct of this success is critical market infrastructure needs. We need actions to enable ethanol and other biofuels to increase that to 20 percent, and then to 30 percent and beyond. Those levels of domestic biofuel supplies, coupled with increasing vehicle efficiencies, truly can eliminate our need for oil imports as well as the insecurities that come with those imports.”

For more information about the conference and to register visit ACE’s website.

“The Florida Energy Summit will advance the expansion of the production of renewable energy in Florida by bringing together leaders in energy development, agriculture production, government, academic research, technology and finance,” said Commissioner Putnam. “By taking a more comprehensive look at prospective energy resources, we will gain a better understanding of Florida’s energy potential to not only capture, but also capitalize on the rich resources available.”

The Florida Energy Summit replaces the Farm to Fuel Summit, and will be hosted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS). The change in focus came from the 2011 Legislative Session where they transferred the responsibilities of the Florida Energy and Climate Commission to DACS and thus creating the Department’s Office of Energy. The new summit will broaden the energy focus from “biofuels” to all forms of renewable energy.

Information about the Florida Energy Summit can be found at www.floridaenergysummit.com.

The C-level summit will focus on seeking solutions to energy policy and wind development and will bring together leaders from the wind, energy storage and transmission industries as well as people from state and federal governments, finance and investment firms, academia, associations, environmental groups, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

“This conference is well positioned to bring together the leaders in industry and government that are working to solve our greatest challenges to establishing a renewable energy standard for the U.S. and to address the continued risk to our economy and environment,” said Randy Stratton, Conference Co-Chairman. “We can solve these challenges with the private sector working with the government to fund research and development in wind, energy storage, transmission technology and electric vehicles. We must move forward now before we fall further behind the rest of the world.”

Several break-out sessions will occur during the three-day summit and focus on a key segments of the market. Sessions include: community wind development, transmission solutions, state and federal policies and incentives, opening electricity markets in the West, siting issues, large wind technology, public lands and transmission infrastructure, wildlife concerns, national and regional energy programs, eminent domain, smart grid advancements, finance/investment and risk/liability issues.

Tom Kaiserski, Director of Energy Promotions for the State of Montana added, “This summit is designed to bring together the players with the vision and resources capable of building a 21st century clean and renewable power and transmission system that will result in thousands of new jobs, billions of investment, millions in new tax revenues that will help secure our energy future.”

Click here to learn more about the conference and for online registration.

The 6th annual Farm to Fuel Summit had been scheduled for August 3-5 in Orlando but was postponed in May after the Florida legislature approved the transfer of the State Energy Office from the Executive Office of the Governor to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services effective July 1.

“With the new responsibilities, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is taking a more comprehensive approach to energy policy,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam “On October 26 through 28, the Department will host an event where elected officials, academics and key stakeholders in the energy industry will come together to discuss the future of energy in Florida.”

Putnam promises more details to come soon.

“The former South Dakota Congresswoman is a perfect fit to speak at our conference,” said Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President of ACE. “From her service in Congress as a champion for biofuels to her experiences on her South Dakota family farm, Stephanie has a good perspective and advice on how our industry can build new and winning coalitions to ensure American biofuels are the consumer fuel of choice.

Herseth Sandlin served in Congress from 2004-2011. She currently works for the OFW law firm based in Washington, D.C. In addition to her presentation, other conference topics include exporting ethanol, the implementation of E15 fuels, how to make blender pumps a reality, the health and clean air benefits of using biofuels, and more. The full agenda and online registration is available here.

“I am excited for the opportunity to address the ACE Conference,” said Herseth Sandlin. “I view this as a great way to share experiences and ideas related to what the industry needs to do in Washington and across the country to develop new and supportive relationships. Strengthening the coalition of support for all biofuels is essential to maintaining public policy progress and capitalizing on new opportunities, especially in a world of budget pressures and challenges to economic growth.”

“I hope to continue working with ethanol advocates in a way that can help move this industry forward and sustain it for the next generation of investors, stakeholders and advocates,” concluded Herseth Sandlin.

Here is a little navigational help: all specific sessions can be accessed from the “webcasts” page. From this section, you can find specific sessions based on where they were held. For example, the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the main plenary session is housed under the “auditorium” tab while the 15 panels are stored by themed room names including technology, sustainability, markets and investments.

According to UNICA Corporate Communications Director Adhemar Altieri, the YouTube channel provides a historical record of the Ethanol Summit and serves other useful purposes. “It disseminates the information presented at the event to a much larger audience than could be accommodated at the event venue in two days and it allows event participants to view sessions they could not attend in person. With five theme-specific rooms offering sessions simultaneously, this is the only way to take it all in.”

In addition to the 2011 Ethanol Summit, the YouTube channel also houses the 2009 event.

Le said during his presentation that there is a trade gap caused by the country’s spending on foreign sources of energy – a move that is helping to prolong poor economic conditions. “Oil is about half our trade deficit,” Le said. He continued by saying transitioning to renewable energy will provide a means to resolve this problem.

The two programs are designed to work together. SunShot focuses on reduces the costs of solar technology while SUNPATH is aimed to grow the domestic solar manufacturing market. Today, the majority of solar manufacturing is taking place in countries such as Europe and Asia.

“SUNPATH is an incubator program,” Le said. “Now, as companies are being attracted by foreign capital, we’re having a hard time keeping them in the U.S.”

Fifteen years ago, the U.S. boasted a 43 percent market share for producing PV cells and modules. Today, the U.S. has only a 7 percent market share. As a result of the decline of the United State’s global solar position, the program hopes to create an investment-friendly environment in the U.S. It also hopes to encourage solar companies to keep their business in the U.S.

You can view photos from the InterSolar North America conference in my event photo album.

John Christianson, Partner, Christianson & Associates, PLLP, notes that his company, which is both a CPA firm and a consulting firm that has worked in the biofuels industry for nearly 17 years, understands the importance of providing services and products that can help ensure financial success for a biofuels plant. One session will focus solely on risk management strategies while another session will focus opportunities to strengthen your business.

In addition, there will be a panel featuring the leaders of the American Coalition for Ethanol, Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association discussing the state of the industry and how they are working together to move the ethanol industry forward. This dynamic, interactive panel will focus on answering conference participants’ questions about legislative initiatives, reality of budget issues, interplay between first and second generation biofuels, the environment surrounding the emerging carbon economy as well as how to counter negative media and consumer biofuel attacks.

“It’s important for people that make up the industry to get a good feel for when the industry is headed,” said Christianson. “What are the legislative hurdles, what are the marketplace hurdles, what are the opportunities out there and how are the leaders of our industry helping us maximize those opportunities?”

Listen to my full interview with John Christianson here: 7th Annual Biofuels Financial Conference

Christianson said he wants to send a clear message to the industry, as well as the public, that industry leaders are talking and working together to solve industry issues. “We’ve got tremendous pressure from Congress with cost containment within the direction of our energy policy within the country. We have to look and find out how biofuels is going to fit within all of these parameters,” said Christianson.

Attendees will be able to email questions prior to the panel as well as ask questions during the industry leader session. Questions can be emailed to Elizabeth VanDerBill at evanderbill@christiansoncpa.com.

Space is limited. Click here to view a full agenda and click here to register online.

NASCAR announced earlier this year it would race using Sunoco Green E15, a blend of 15 percent ethanol. To learn more about the fuel and the people who grow the crops and produce American ethanol, Wallace has spent time at ethanol plants and on farms.

Wallace will kick off the conference on Monday, August 9th at 8:30 am followed by a general session focusing on Global Markets for Biofuels and Bioproducts. Other sessions include Southeast Forestry’s Bioenergy Potential, Promising Energy Crops For the Southeast, Innovative Approaches to Ethanol Production, E85, E15 – Creating a Biofuel Infrastructure System, Efficiencies From Combined Heat and Power, Energy From Waste, and more. Mike McAdams, Executive Director of the Advanced Biofuels Association will also be giving a presentation on Building Cooperation and Coalitions.

The conference boasts a wide-range of speakers including Professor Li, Tsinghua University; Christianne Egger, Upper Austrian Renewable Energy Agency; Hagan Rose, Eco Energy; Phillip Jennings, Repreve Renewables, and more.

Registration is now open. Click here to learn more about the conference and to register.

Erickson said that this conference is really dynamic on multiple levels. There are a series of plenary sessions as well as breakout sessions and workshops covering the gamut from advanced biofuels technology to algae and feedstock crops, as well as aviation fuels, renewable chemical platforms, and bi-based materials. Several events of special interest include the announcement of the George Washington Carver award and Greenfield Ethanol will be making an announcement about its cellulosic technology.

Listen to or download my interview with BIO’s Brent Erickson: BIO World Congress Preview

Two weeks ago, BIO released a white paper on policy and investments needed for the biotech industry. Erickson said these issues would be key during the World Congress. Government policy in the U.S. as well as Canada and globally will be entwined through many sessions. In addition, there will be a focus on the flow of venture capital and investment money into this space as Erickson said for many companies this is an important issue. He also said it is very heartening in this investment climate to see IPOs take place. The next IPO to take place is Solazyme.

I asked Erickson what companies or technologies he think will breakthrough over the next 6-18 months and he said what we’ll see are platforms breakthrough. He believes the biobutanol platform will take off as well as the succinic acid platform.

Be sure to follow conference conference right here beginning on Monday.

Heliae was formed about four years ago when the team met two professors at Arizona State University (ASU) who told them about a new process by which they could take algae and turn it into jet fuel. The more they heard and understood about the technology, the more hooked they became.

“We looked in to it more and what was of particular interest to us was that their particular strains of algae grew very rapidly, doubled its weight every day, it was high in oil content, greater than 30 percent, and it had the right oil components,” said Seitz. That means it has a component of carbon that goes from C8 to C16 and that happens to be roughly the same carbon string that kerosene has. Kerosene is the main component of aviation fuel.”

Another pro of algae, said Seitz, is that not only can you produce fuel, but also food.

Listen to my full interview with Karl Seitz: Heliae - Measuring Algae by the Barrel

I asked Seitz about their technology and how they were going to go from pilot to commercial scale. “We’re going to start off with our proprietary strains of algae and improve upon them. We do not use a GMO strain. We use a strain that has been chemically altered and provides us with higher oil content and a faster growth rate,” said Seitz. “We also combine that with our closed photobioreactor and then we use our proprietary and patented extraction formulas and techniques to get the fuel out as well as the protein and carbohydrates.”

Seitz said the other issue they are focusing on is developing algae strains that are suited for different parts of the country or different regions around the world.

There are still questions about whether or not algal fuels and products can be competitive with petroleum based fuels and products. Seitz said their initial goal was to produce one barrel per day per acre and at that rate they think they can be competitive. And while many other companies are measuring success by the liter or the gallon, Heliae is measuring success by the barrel. The reason is that the world needs billions of barrels of renewable fuels to replace just aviation fuels. So in the future, Heliae hopes to play a major role in helping the world achieve that goal.

Click here to view the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference flickr photo album.

Stroburg said that the biodiesel industry in the United States started off with the idea to use soybean oil. At the time, the industry felt like soybean prices were stable enough and that it would create a good feedstock.

“Little did we know that we’d go into such volatility not just in soybean oil, but in all commodities,” said Stroburg. “Which led us to believe that we needed to have a wider suite of products that we could go to so that if one was not economic, we would have another we could go to. And the cheaper the feedstock, it seems like, the harder it is to convert. We then had to increase our capabilities and improve our technology so that we could convert some pretty junky stuff. That has given us the opportunity to go into a number of different markets to try to source feedstocks.”

Listen to my full interview with Jeffrey Stroburg: Developing Partnerships for Biodiesel Feedstocks

One of the emerging feedstocks is inedible corn oil but Stroburg said it is difficult to convert.

“There are some things in corn oil that we don’t see in other feedstocks. So we had to develop some equipment specifically designed to convert corn oil. But the thing that is driving corn oil is that the economics are there for the ethanol producers. By taking the oil out of the back end of their process, it makes their co-products more valuable. So a DDG (dried distillers grain) that has the oil taken out of it, at least in certain markets, is more valuable. So it increases the value of the DDG and they get so many cents per pound for the oil,” explained Stroburg.

I asked Stroburg, “If the growers grow it, can you convert it to biodiesel in an economically feasible way? I threw out possible future feedstocks including pennycress, camelina, mustard seed, jatropha.

He answered, “We can produce ASTM biodiesel with everything you mentioned. But whether or not it’s going to be commercially viable or not goes clear back to the farmer whose going to plant it in the ground. Can he get enough tonnage per acre to make it worth his time or is he better off planting potatoes? And then the other part of it is what’s the convertibility of that feedstock. They all convert at different levels. So I think we have to look at both aspects. Can we get enough return on the land and still have a product that can convert and compete with other fuels.”

Ultimately, Stroburg believes that jatropha is a ways away but that there are some emerging opportunities with camelina.

Click here to see my Flickr photos album from the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference.

“The Renewable Fuel Standard, as it has been implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency, can provide the long-term, stable, market-based government policy mechanism that advanced biofuel producers and investors have been looking for. It provides both and assured market and a significant degree of price certainty for cellulosic and advanced biofuels, which can significantly mitigate the capital risk associated with commercialization of new technologies,” said Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial & Environmental Section.

Erickson notes that the RFS is very effective for incentivizing biofuels innovation. He said that with this policy, companies have already made significant investments in research and development. He continued by highlighting the amount of good jobs and positive economic opportunities that the industry provides and then went on to stress that federal support must continue in order for the industry to realize commercial scale production levels. Today, many of these investments are seeing fruition in that several companies in the industry are beginning to make major commercialization announcements.

“Access to capital remains the biggest challenge for the industry, especially as high oil prices threaten to plunge the country into another recession. The RFS must work in coordination with other federal programs administered by the USDA and DOE to provide the industry, its investors and obligated parties needed stability and forward-looking guidance. This paper should reassure capital markets that advanced biofuels represent a sound opportunity. And coupled with the recent USDA loan guarantees and DOE grants the advanced biofuels sector should experience a surge in 2011 and beyond,” concluded Erickson.

You can view photos from the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference in my Flickr photo album.

Tom Slunecka of Phibro says the seminars have been very popular with ethanol plant operators and managers. “There just can’t be enough education, there’s always things changing and new technologies available,” Slunecka said. “We keep the class sizes very small so about 60 people are invited each time.”

Slunecka says this seminar will be a little different than the previous four. “This seminar is going to give managers some really tactical advantages to advance small, incremental changes in their plant,” he said. “It’s going to give management at the plant some new ideas and new ways to help their team get the absolute maximum out of the plant’s fermentation.”

Listen to Tom talk about what this seminar has to offer here: Tom Slunecka Interview

Guest speakers at the Houston event include:

Randall Sigle – Renewable Fuels Ethanol Instructor, Northeast Community College, who will provide insight into people management.

Doug Durante – Executive Director, Clean Fuels Development Coalition, who will provide an overview of the issues the ethanol industry is facing in Washington, DC and discuss the opportunities that may be available through carbon credits.
Bill Roddy – Corporate Environmental Manager, ICM who will share insights on carbon modeling and life cycle assessments for shipments of ethanol to California.
Dave Vander Griend, CEO, ICM who will discuss insights on next generation plants and other insights on an ever evolving industry.

In addition to the eduational sessions, participants can also engage in a Valero refinery tour, a tour of the SGS labs that includes a reception and dinner, and a chance to see the Houston Astros play the St. Louis Cardinals on April 28th.

Space is extremely limited. Register by April 15 to receive the early registration rate of $200 and includes all sessions, tours, meals and entertainment. Click here to register.

At the conference, attendees will learn how high sugar prices and rising oil prices could affect the sugar and ethanol production balance this year, and what this means for global trade. In addition, Dinneen will discuss how these moving parts could affect the U.S. market. Along with Dinneen, other speakers include leading Brazilian producers, members from the Brazilian government and international analysts.

Other speakers include:

• • José Carlos Grubisich, President, ETH Bioenergia
• • Mark T. Lyra, Business Development Director – Commercial Ethanol, COSAN S/A
• • Ricardo Gomide, Deputy Director, Dept. Renewable Fuels, Department of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Renewable Fuels, Ministry of Mines and Energy
• • Andy Duff, Food & Agribusiness Research & Advisory, Banco Rabobank International Brasil SA
• • Bob Dinneen, President and CEO, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA)

Click here for more information about the conference.

Both Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President & CEO Bob Dinneen, whose organization just concluded their 16th Annual National Ethanol Conference, and National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe, who recently concluded his industry’s national conference ADVANCE, will participate. During their respective conferences, each industry discussed how to better work together as a biofuel industry on policy issue in DC and earlier this month, RFA joined with several advanced ethanol companies to form the Advanced Ethanol Council.

Others joining Dinneen and Jobe on the roundtable:

• * Moderator: Tom Bryan, Vice President, BBI International
• * Mary Rosenthal, Executive Director, Algal Biomass Organization
• * Charlie Niebling, Chairman, Board of Directors, Biomass Thermal Energy Council
• * Robert Cleaves, President and Chief Executive Officer, Biomass Power Association
• * Norma McDonald, Vice Chair, External Affairs, American Biogas Council
• * Bob Dineen, President and Chief Executive Officer, Renewable Fuels Association
• * Joe Jobe, Chief Executive Officer, National Biodiesel Board
• * Michael McAdams, President, Advanced Biofuels Association

In a new feature, conference attendees can already submit questions for the panel online. Registration is currently open. To see a full proposed agenda including a list of all the other confirmed speakers as well as to see a list of the current vendors and register online, click here.

“We will further broaden the debate, bringing to the table a growing variety of cane by-products that contribute directly to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, making sugarcane and ethanol increasingly important tools in the pursuit of the so-called low-carbon economy,” said UNICA President Marcos Jank.

The summit, held every two years, will bring together leading business executives, experts, investors, NGO representatives and government officials from Brazil and other countries, whose expertise and activities are directly relevant to the Brazilian and global sugar and ethanol industries. The event will feature nearly 120 speakers in four plenary sessions with 15 panels, along with two major ceremonies, parallel meetings and side events.

“Brazil has taken a leading role in global alternative energy discussions. UNICA has been working to create awareness and disseminate information on renewable energies,” added Jank. “New and emerging technologies and applications can benefit both developed and emerging economies, because energy affects the entire planet. “The Ethanol Summit is a key channel of global dissemination for both the impressive results achieved in Brazil and the prospects of this success being repeated in many other parts of the world.”

Registration for the 2011 Ethanol Summit are now open at www.ethanolsummit.com.br.

In this edition of the Domestic Fuel Cast, we listen in to part of the presentation by Ricardo, an internationally recognized automotive and engineering firm, at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit, where the company made the case that E15 is OK for vehicles made between 1994 and 2000.

We hear from Ricardo’s Rod Beazley, who explains why they looked at this group of cars and trucks, the challenges involved in the testing, and why the fuel tanks were actually more likely to corrode from the outside and not from the E15 on the inside (the picture on the right is quite telling).

It’s an interesting presentation, and you can see the slide show here and hear what Beazley has to say here: Domestic Fuel Cast

You can also subscribe to the DomesticFuel Cast here.:

• • Jan Koninckx, Global Business Director-Biofuels, DuPont: Fuel production opportunities for the corn ethanol sector
  • Douglas Durante, Executive Director, Clean Fuels Development Coalition: Legislative policies impacting FFVs and the Blend Wall
  • Dave Vander Griend, president, ICM: Improving ethanol value in emerging markets
  • Steffen Mueller, University of Illinois at Chicago: Low Carbon Fuels Standards and RFS2 Compliance
  • Alvaro Cordero, Manager of International Grains Operations, U.S. Grains Council: Corn and DDDGs demand and export marketing
  • Ron Lamberty, Market Development Director, American Coalition for Ethanol: Blender pump market development strategies

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