Biogas from Landfills? A permanent fixture in today’s world, landfills typically have been open pit repositories for local waste, and in some cases, retired, and covered. However, the biological reactions in these landfills create a marketable biogas that can be useful to the owner. However, the consideration of taking a raw biogas from landfills and…
A stage gate approach (also known as a phase-gate or waterfall approach) is a common project management technique in which a project is divided into phases or stages that are separated by decision making points known as gates). At each “gate” the decision is made as to whether to stop, move forward with the existing scope, schedule,…
As of this 2022 writing, it appears to be a boom time for renewable diesel projects. The Energy Information Administration estimates that renewable diesel production capacity in North America will surge by up to 500% in a few short years. The question facing the industry is whether there are enough feedstock fats, oils, and greases…
Renewable diesel (RD) is a hot renewable energy topic. Produced by converting cooking oil, animal fat, and other waste products into renewable fuel, RD doesn’t rely on fossil fuels and it burns cleaner than either petroleum-based diesel or biodiesel. (The cetane rating of renewable diesel is 75 – 90 vs 48 – 52 for petroleum…
Last year’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) revealed that reaching net-zero will require 4 trillion to 5 trillion dollars in annual investment for decades to come. It also revealed that over 450 companies from 45 countries have committed to the decarbonization of the world economy. By the end of the conference, 136 countries, 115 regions,…
Enzymatic Production of Biodiesel? The vast majority of biodiesel today is manufactured using chemical catalysts and methanol. A few problems are associated with this type of processing. These include 1) the need to remove free fatty acids (FFA) from the oil feedstock prior to reaction, 2) the need to remove phospholipids from the oil feedstock,…
Renewable Jet Fuel? Having flown the “heavy iron” for more than thirty (30) years, I can state with full confidence that there are only three (3) very important questions pilots have about Jet Fuel: #1. Is it good quality fuel? #2. Do we have enough? #3. How much does it weigh? Everything else is more…
In the bioeconomy, the role of project consultant in the bioeconomy is somewhat the same as in any industry, and somewhat unique. It requires first and foremost, a clear understanding of everyone’s duties and limitations. When an investor or developer hires a project consultant, what are they right to expect? Someone who can lead and…