Renewable Fuels Association

September 21, 2016

WASHINGTON — As millions of Americans say goodbye to summer and prepare to store their boats, motorcycles, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and other equipment for the winter, a new study by the Department of Energy (DOE) is providing fresh insight into a decades-old debate about the impacts of ethanol-blended gasoline on water uptake and “phase separation” in small and off-road engines.

The study, conducted by DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), found that the petroleum components of ethanol-blended gasoline become degraded and unfit for use in an engine long before the ethanol portion takes up enough water to cause phase separation in the fuel tank. “Phase separation” occurs when an excessive amount of water is introduced into the fuel tank leading the ethanol and water to mix and sink to the bottom of the tank. In other words, gasoline becomes “stale” and unusable before water uptake by the ethanol component becomes a concern.

“Significant gasoline weathering (evaporation of the most volatile components) can occur over one month of storage in a high-temperature, high-humidity environment, with total mass losses as high as 30-70% for certain tanks,” according to the study, which was commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). “This means gasoline weathering, which can have a negative effect on fuel quality, generally occurs well in advance of any issues related to phase separation. The fuel vapor pressure may drop to levels where the fuel is not fit for purpose (engine will be difficult or impossible to start) and there may also be gum formation.”

As part of the study, NREL scientists stored gasoline-ethanol blends ranging from E0 (0% ethanol) to E85 (83% ethanol)  in actual lawn mower fuel tanks over several months in a climate-controlled chamber meant to replicate hot, humid environments like Houston and Orlando. The samples were tested at regular intervals for evidence of gasoline weathering and water uptake.

In every case, the hydrocarbon components of the fuel became unfit for use in an engine before water uptake became a concern. Over time, the fuel samples experienced significant loss of volatility, loss of mass, reduced octane rating, increased concentration of sulfur and gum, and other degradations. The study found that ethanol-free gasoline (E0) degraded “to the same degree [as ethanol-blended fuels] during this timeframe…An ethanol-free gasoline stored in the same conditions for the same period of time would likely be problematic despite a lack of phase separation.”

For gasoline-ethanol blends, it often took more than three months for phase separation to occur, meaning the fuel had already weathered to a point it was unusable. “In a small engine fuel tank in a constantly high-temperature, high-humidity environment, it takes three months or longer for E10 and other ethanol blends to take up enough water for phase separation,” the study found.  “This confirms the statement by Mercury Marine that water uptake in E10 blends ‘…does not happen at a level or rate that is relevant.’”

The research also found that an advantage of ethanol blends is that they do in fact hold more water in suspension without phase separation than the hydrocarbon components of gasoline. The scientists found that “…more ethanol improves the fuel’s resistance to phase separation. This is an advantage that can help keep fuel systems ‘dry’ by moving low levels of water out of the system.”

RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen offered the following comments on the new study:

“Simply put, critics who continue to suggest E10 is a problem for small engines and boat motors are all wet. This research from NREL clearly demonstrates once and for all that ethanol actually helps these engines run more efficiently. It also shows that gasoline goes bad long before the ethanol in the tank could cause any problems due to moisture uptake. This research effectively disproves the half-baked anecdotes and horror stories about E10 and small engines that have been pushed for decades by ill-informed biofuel opponents and snake-oil additive salesmen.

“Every manufacturer of small and off-road engines has approved the use of E10 in their equipment for many years. If owners of this equipment simply follow the manufacturers’ recommendations for fuel, maintenance, and winterization, they won’t have any issues at all. But, as this study shows, letting gasoline sit in your tank for extended periods of time is likely to cause some issues—irrespective of whether the gasoline contains ethanol or not.”

A summary of the NREL study is available here and the full study can be found here.

Read the original story: New DOE Study: Gas Becomes “Stale” Long Before Water Uptake Becomes a Concern

The Hill

September 19, 2016

By Anne Steckel

Headlines tell us the world is awash with oil. Gas costs less than bottled water in many places, and petroleum markets are in a prolonged slumpthat’s wreaking havoc on the industry’s bottom line.

But my instinct tells me this won’t last long. I’ve lived long enough to have seen this movie before. Gas prices fall, and gas prices rise. The only constant is that consumers, and Congress, can’t do much about it in a world dependent on oil.

To hear the oil industry tell it, the status quo is just fine. We have more than enough petroleum to continue our dependence on oil for the foreseeable future, they argue. The current “era of abundance,” they say, has eliminated the need for alternative fuels and the policies supporting them such as the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Nothing could be further from the truth, and we shouldn’t let the fleeting benefits of today’s low oil prices cloud our judgment. Instead of knee-jerk energy policy reacting to the oil markets, we need stable, long-term policies like the RFS that help develop new technologies, diversify American energy supplies and protect consumers.

Anyone doubting this should look to the International Energy Agency’s most recent monthly oil market report, which found that the Middle East’s share of the world market has climbed recently to 35 percent – the highest it’s been since the late 1970s. This comes after OPEC nations, Russia and others have openly manipulated supplies to maintain their dominance on the global market.

Imagine if other industries did this – if nations openly colluded to shape the cost of medicine or food. The world would be outraged, and conspirators would go to jail. Yet with oil – the commodity that most shapes the health of the global economy – we’ve resigned ourselves to state-supported price-fixing. It’s because we are dependent on it. We have no choice.

This is the same oil market that US oil lobbyists argue is a free market. Big Oil routinely maintains that we should simply let the market work – that we don’t need policies supporting alternative fuels. Never mind that there is no true free market in oil, and that even when we drill more at home, prices are set on the heavily manipulated global market.

This also ignores the fact that because our economy is so dependent on energy, Congress has wisely adopted policies for more than a century to develop diversified domestic production. This includes tax incentives, low-cost loans, federal research, and grants for all manner of energy industries, including oil and gas, nuclear power, wind and solar, coal, and fracking.

Without those polices, we wouldn’t be the global leader in energy production that we are today.

The RFS, signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2005 with bipartisan congressional support, is a continuation of that strategy that is doing the job. We now get nearly 10 percent of our transportation fuel from clean, renewable sources, and that percentage will only rise if we stay the course.

And it’s not just about corn ethanol. The industry I work for, biodiesel, has grown from a small, niche business into a commercial-scale industry with production plants in almost every state in the country. Last year, Americans consumed a record of more than 2 billion gallons of biodiesel, made from a variety of resources such as soybean oil and recycled cooking oil.

Along with diversifying the market, biodiesel is creating American jobs and economic activity. It significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions – by 57 percent to 86 percent compared with petroleum diesel, according to the EPA, qualifying it as an Advanced Biofuel under the RFS.

This is a tremendous success for the country that we should all support – regardless of the latest price of a barrel of oil. We all know that price will rise again, and when it does the public will demand that Congress do something about it. Nothing changes over night, but the RFS is smart policy that already is shaking up the oil monopoly and giving consumers a more competitive market.

Steckel is Vice President of Federal Affairs for the National Biodiesel Board. With nearly 200 member companies, NBB is the leading U.S. trade association representing biodiesel and renewable diesel.

Read the original story: Do We Still Need a Renewable Fuel Standard?

Ethanol Producer Magazine

September 06, 2016

By Erin Voegele

On Aug. 24, the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets published a proposed rule in the New York State Register proposing to update the statement’s fuel regulations to allow for the sale of E15 in model year 2001 and newer vehicles.

In addition for allowing for the sale of E15 blends, the proposed rule also includes a provision that will require ethanol blends to comply with certain labeling requirements required by federal regulation. The proposal states retailers “must post the octane rating of [all] automotive gasoline, except gasoline-ethanol blends containing more than 10 percent and not more than 15 percent ethanol by volume.” This must be accomplished by “putting at least one label on each face of each gasoline dispenser through which” gasoline is sold. If two or more kinds of gasoline with different octane ratings are sold from a single dispenser, the retailer must but separate labels for each kind of gasoline on each face of the dispenser. In addition, the proposed rule will require automotive gasoline to meet updated ASTM International standards.

Growth Energy has spoken out in support of New York’s proposed move to E15, noting the state consumes more than 5.5 billion gallons of gasoline each year, making it the fourth largest gasoline market in the U.S. Growth Energy also said it has worked extensively with Poet over the past two years to update the regulation.

“This proposal marks a major victory for consumers, who would gain access to cleaner, more affordable choices at the pump,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. “Biofuel blends, like E15, are already used on the racetrack at Watkins Glen, and if the proposal is approved, drivers will be able to experience the same economic, environmental and performance-enhancing benefits. We appreciate the department’s work on this regulation to reflect federal approval of E15 and we look forward to working with retailers across the Empire State to quickly get E15 into the market.”

“E15 represents an exciting opportunity for New Yorkers to select affordable, clean-burning biofuels produced at plants like ours,” added Timothy Winters, chief financial officer of Western New York Energy. “Back in 2004, we set out with a mission to harness the power of Western New York’s renewable resources to provide consumers with a high-octane, earth-friendly option at the pump. With higher blends like E15 in the marketplace, we can continue to help drivers save money and improve the quality of the air we all breathe, all while creating jobs and growing our local economy.”

 “E15 is a 21st century fuel for 21st century vehicles and is approved for nearly 90 percent of the cars on the road today,” continued Skor. “By increasing biofuel blends, we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil, cut carbon emissions, and limit the need for toxic gasoline additives associated with cancer, water contamination and smog. New York state has long been a pioneer in clean energy, and this proposed regulation change is one more step toward sustainable economic growth for New York communities, farmers, and drivers, as well as a fair and open fuel marketplace.”

According to information published in the state register, a public comment period on the proposed rule will be open for 45 days. Additional information is available on the New York State Register website.

Read the original story: New York Proposes Updated Fuel Regulations Allowing for E15

Wayne Fueling Systems

Austin, Texas – August 30, 2016 - Wayne Fueling Systems (“Wayne”), a global provider of fuel dispensing, payment, automation, and control technologies for retail and commercial fuel stations announces that all Wayne North American retail fuel dispensers will be supplied as compatible and ULListed to E25 (25 percent ethanol and 75 percent petroleum) as a standard feature. The shift from the standard Underwriters Laboratory Listing of E10 to E25 is effective immediately for Wayne Ovation™ fuel dispensers and by year-end for the Wayne Helix™ family of dispensers.

With the potential shift to higher ethanol blends necessary to meet future fuel requirements brought about by more stringent CAFE standards and GHG reductions by 2025, this move is an expression of Wayne’s continued intent of supplying its customers with the most flexible, reliable and future-proof equipment options. This follows the same thinking that led to the development of Wayne’s dual blending series, which enabled the maximum number fuel grade selections to support mid-level ethanol blends.

“We are pleased to be the first manufacturer to offer E25-Listed dispensers as standard to our North American dispenser product offering, reflecting the growing interest from our customers to prepare for any and all necessary changes to the fueling infrastructure in the future,” said Wayne VP of Products and Services, Tom Cerovski. At this time, 90 percent of dispensers in the industry are only certified to dispense E10 fuel.

Fuel Dispensers to E25

UL-Listing of E25 will be standard offering for all Wayne retail fueling dispensers.

This standardization is effective immediately for Wayne Ovation™ fuel dispensers and by yearend for Wayne Helix™ fuel dispensers

For more information on Wayne’s Ovation and Helix fuel dispensers, go to www.wayne.com.

Renewable Fuels Association

August 12, 2016

America’s farmers are poised to harvest a record corn crop this fall and achieve the highest yield per acre in U.S. history, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates released today. Meanwhile, the U.S. ethanol industry is on pace to produce a record amount of clean-burning renewable fuel, according to Department of Energy (DOE) projections released Tuesday. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) said the government reports highlight the importance of getting the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) back on its statutory track in 2017.

Today’s USDA report projects the 2016 corn crop at 15.15 billion bushels, with a record average yield of 175.1 bushels per acre.

“U.S. farmers have again risen to the challenge to meet all demands for feed, food and fuel,” said Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the RFA. “They should be congratulated for producing what is primed to be the third record-breaking crop in just the last four years. The innovation, technology adoption, and productivity we’ve seen in the corn sector over the past decade has been nothing short of astounding.”

Corn ending stocks for the 2016/17 marketing year are projected at 2.4 billion bushels — the highest in 29 years. Meanwhile, prices are expected to average just $3.15 per bushel, the lowest in 10 years. Global grain supply is also set to establish a new record and grain stocks are likely to hit historic highs. U.S. ethanol is expected to consume just 2.9 percent of world grain supply on a net basis. Dinneen said today’s USDA estimates “snuff out the last flickering embers of the outrageous food vs. fuel debate.”

As harvest ramps up in fields across the country, corn demand from the ethanol sector is ramping up as well. DOE projects 2016 ethanol production will average 980,000 barrels per day — or 15.1 billion gallons. The agency also is projecting record ethanol consumption of 14.3 billion gallons. “This is shaping up to be an historic year,” Dinneen said. “Just a decade ago, visionary leaders in the corn and ethanol industries established a goal to produce 15 billion bushels of corn and 15 billion gallons of ethanol by 2015. Ten years later, our nation’s farmers and ethanol producers have made that bold vision into a reality.”

However, Dinneen warned, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) disappointing proposal for 2017 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes is exacerbating the predicted drop in corn prices and farm income this year. EPA’s proposal to needlessly reduce the 2017 RFS requirement for “renewable fuel” from 15.0 billion gallons to 14.8 billion gallons reduces demand for corn at a time when corn stocks are rising and prices are slumping to levels below the cost of production.

“This is not the time to undermine demand for corn and tie the hands of the American farmer. Farmers and ethanol producers made investments and business decisions based on the 2007 law that expanded the RFS, and they expected EPA to follow Congress’ intent in implementing the program,” Dinneen said. “EPA’s proposal is limiting market opportunities for U.S. farmers at a time when the agricultural economy needs a boost. We again urge EPA and the Administration to finalize a rule that truly gets the RFS back on track and supports rural America.”

Read the original story: Record Crop, Record Ethanol Production Underscore Importance of Getting RFS Back on Track

ENERGY.AGWIRED.COM

August 9, 2016

By Joanna Schroeder

The ethanol industry packed the room for the opening night reception of the 20th annual American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota where Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association Executive Director Timothy Rudnicki talked about the booming ethanol industry in his state.

“Within the last year and a half, we’ve seen more E15 stations become available, and that means more fuel choice for consumers,” said Rudnicki. “What we’ve found for the most part is when consumers have a choice between a clean, green renewable fuel versus petroleum they will take the renewable fuel.”

Rudnicki says because education is so important, they have developed new communications tools, such as a biofuel station locator app. “We’ve also implemented some direct consumer campaigns using social media tools to alert consumers to where retailers are having special events to promote E15 and higher blends, but more importantly, to give consumers the confidence in knowing what they’re buying is good for their engines, the environment, and the economy – and for the most part, ten cents less per gallon on E15 compared to regular,” said Rudnicki.

Read the original story and listen to the interview: #ACE2016 Hears about Booming Minnesota #Ethanol Industry

Left Lane News

August 4, 2016

By Justin King

As promised, Nissan's solid-oxide fuel-cell (SOFC) technology has progressed from the laboratory to a prototype vehicle.

The company has modified a e-NV200 van to run on bio-ethanol electric power, demonstrating a unique fuel-cell system that conveniently avoids the need to store or refuel high-pressure hydrogen.

The SOFC powertrain still requires hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity, but the vehicle integrates a miniaturized chemical processing system to extract hydrogen locally while underway. A 30-liter tank holds ethanol or an ethanol-water blend.

"Due to the easy availability of ethanol and low combustibility of ethanol-blended water, the system is not heavily dependent or restricted by the existing charging infrastructure, making it easy to introduce to the market," the company said in a statement. "In the future, people may only need to stop by small retail stores to buy fuel off the shelf."

The prototype van is said to achieve an estimated driving range of around 373 miles before requiring an ethanol fill-up. The hydrogen extraction system and fuel-cell stack can produce up to 5kW of power, diverted to a 24-kWh battery.

Nissan suggests the technology could be commercialized by the end of the decade.

Read the original story: Nissan Pushes Forward With Ethanol-Based Fuel Cell Development