All renewable energy has a degree of predictability and uncertainty, and the uncertainties are where renewable energy consulting firms can help. A renewable energy consulting firm has both knowledge and experience developing and/or producing one or more types of renewable energy. Renewable energy is any form of usable energy produced from a feedstock that is…
A biofuels plant produces fuel from plant material. Today that can mean starch/cellulosic biomass or vegetable oil. The most common biofuels plant today is the standard corn ethanol plant. Corn ethanol production in the U.S. today is about 16 billion gallons per year. They consist of corn receiving, storage, and milling; corn slurry, cook, and…
As clean energy and climate change become more mainstream concerns, more investment and other renewable energy funding opportunities will continue to surface for renewable projects. Whether funding comes from venture capitalists, family offices, foundations, government support (like loans and grants), or even from banks, those seeking these funds must always be prepared. Entering any market,…
What does a biodiesel expert do? Biodiesel refers to a vegetable oil- or animal fat-based diesel fuel consisting of long-chain alkyl (methyl, ethyl, or propyl) esters. Biodiesel is typically made by chemically reacting lipids (e.g., vegetable oil, soybean oil, animal fat (tallow) with an alcohol producing fatty acid esters. Biodiesel is meant to be used…
Biofuels agitation is a crucial part of any biofuels process. The biofuels agitation expert consults with clients on the design and application of these agitation systems. This consultation may include things like calculating power, shaft speed, and impeller systems for a given application. It may include designing experiments to determine the precise agitation required in…
. Bioprocess technology typically uses microbes such as yeast, bacteria, or fungi to produce a product by fermentation and/or enzymes to transform or modify a chemical or material to produce a final product. Bioprocess technology is also commonly integrated with conventional physical and chemical methods to achieve a total process. A fuel ethanol plant is…
Like any early-stage venture, having a solid pro forma at the beginning is essential for emerging biofuels projects. Some examples of developing and emerging biofuels might include advanced algae-based biodiesel or biofuels created using petroleum-like hydroprocessing or advanced biochemistry. They might also include biogas produced through anaerobic digestion of residues, and maybe even wood pellet…
Ethanol experts are specialists that understand how to produce ethanol by fermentation of corn, milo (grain sorghum), sugar, or cellulose to ethanol. This type of expert requires knowledge of feedstocks (corn, milo, cellulose), enzymatic conversion of feedstocks to sugars, and fermentation of the sugars to ethanol. This expert should also be aware of the principles…