BUSINESS BRIEFS this project is supported by the American Lung Association, the National Biodiesel Board, the Illinois Soybean Association, and the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council.
Western Iowa Energy in late 2017. Hartley will also assume the role of biodiesel line of business manager for EcoEngineers.
Landman
Following the success of its first Biodiesel Conversion Centre in St. Lucia, Sandals Resorts International is exploring ways to incorporate biodiesel production and use throughout its resorts across the region. The company’s Dive Centre at Pointe Seraphine has been converting used vegetable oil from kitchens at its three resorts on the island into biodiesel for use in marine vessels. Initiated as a pilot project in 2015 by Maurice Moss, former marine boat maintenance manager who built the processor from spare parts, the facility has since been upgraded. It is now managed by Quentin Landman, who holds Moss’ former post, and technician Sammy Hillman operates the plant, which produces 320 gallons per month and fuels four dive boats and a van. The blended fuel saves the resort 90 cents per liter of diesel. Glycerin is made into soap for kitchen use or to wash marine vessels. Sandals plans to replicate this model on all islands where it and Beaches operate.
Archer Daniels Midland Co. is outfitting five Class 8 trucks with Optimus Technologies’ Vector System, an innovative technology that enables diesel engines to run almost entirely on sustainable biodiesel in a wide range of climates. The trucks will run on B100 produced at ADM’s Mexico, Missouri, plant and be used in daily fleet operations for one year, with each vehicle anticipated to travel up to 180,000 miles. Advanced monitoring protocols will compare the performance and results of the new technology with a control group of five trucks operating on conventional diesel. In addition to ADM and Optimus,
PHOTO: MISSOURI SOYBEAN
PHOTO: SÖDRA
Södra has built the world’s first plant for commercial biomethanol, a sustainable fuel from forest biomass, at its pulp mill in Mönsterås, Sweden. An initial pilot delivery in late February was expected to go to Denmarkbased Emmelev A/S, a large-scale biodiesel producer that will use biomethanol in its fuel production. Södra decided to invest in a biomethanol production facility in 2017. Morten Simonsen, co-owner of Emmelev A/S, said, “Our biodiesel will be 100 percent renewable and based on locally sourced raw materials. Biodiesel produced from Danish canola and Swedish forests can secure fuel supplies for heavy road transport, as well as buses and construction machinery. This will be crucial for a transformation of the energy sector.” Renewable energy consulting firm EcoEngineers has opened a new office in California to capitalize on the need for compliance, auditing and regulatory services in the western carbon markets, where growth in Hartley low-carbon fuels such as biodiesel, renewable diesel and biogas is booming. The California Low Carbon Fuel Standard and other climate-driven programs present opportunities for EcoEngineers to expand its services to the West Coast. To help lead the effort, EcoEngineers has hired Roxby Hartley as a senior regulatory consultant. Hartley spent six years as the director of research and development and more than two years as the director of operations at Agron Bioenergy in Watsonville, California, a biodiesel production firm acquired by
The Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council held a grand opening March 5 for its new Center for Soybean Innovation, which stands to connect developments in soybean innovation with farmers, industry partners and the community. The complex brings together the Missouri Soybean Association and Merchandising Council, Biodiesel Coalition of Missouri, Foundation for Soy Innovation, as well as the administrative functions for farmer-owned biodiesel plants, Missouri Farmers Care and the Ag Education on the Move program. The facility, which serves as a hub for business development and incubation, showcases soy-based building materials and demonstrates new uses for soybeans, from soy-based counter tops, flooring and insulation to turf, asphalt sealant and a biodiesel-fueled heating system. Construction began July 2018. Renewable diesel producer Neste Corp. has agreed to acquire 100 percent of Mahoney Environmental, a collector and recycler of used cooking oil (UCO) in the U.S., and its affiliated entities. The transaction is subject to the fulfillment of customary closing conditions and regulatory approval. Peter Vanacker, president and CEO of Neste, said the move is part of executing Neste’s growth strategy and the acquisition will provide access to a substantial volume of UCO as well as a platform to grow its raw material supply chain in North America. Neste operates biorefineries in Singapore, the Netherlands and Finland. Neste’s Singapore refinery is undergoing a $1.54 billion expansion. Mahoney Environmental’s service includes cooking oil equipment installation and design, fresh oil delivery and grease trap cleaning.
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