Going "Beyond the Kernel" at the International Biomass Conference

Scott Weishaar, VP of Commercial Development for POET, was at BBI International’s International Biomass Conference & Expo to talk on the panel: Beyond the Kernel: Stover Strategies for Biofuel Production. Weishaar gave an update on what POET Biomass has learned about the logistics of harvesting, transporting and storing corn cobs, leaves and husks for cellulosic ethanol production.

Here's his presentation:

Beyond the Kernel

View more presentations from POET

Ethanol Producer Magazine covered the event here. Check out our web site for more information on POET's work in cellulosic ethanol.

Bringing Biomass to the Washington Auto Show

I was in DC yesterday at the Washington Auto Show. Enzyme developer Novozymes displayed a flex fuel vehicle that was fueled by cellulosic ethanol that POET produced in South Dakota. We also displayed a biomass bale that is the feedstock for our cellulosic ethanol production.

It was a great opportunity to talk to a lot of people about the status and the potential of cellulosic ethanol. Here's a picture of me hanging out at the booth:

If you want to see photos of the bales stored at the site of our planned commercial plant, just visit our Flickr site.

Four Years of Cellulosic Biofuels Summits: A Perspective

For four straight years I have attended the Infocast Cellulosic Ethanol Summit in Washington, DC, the latest occurring just this week. The annual Summits are signposts along the evolutionary path of an innovative technology. The 2007 conference presentations featured new and better ways of making cellulosic ethanol. Research and development had proven the technology, and people were awakening to the challenges of biomass harvesting and logistics. The national economy was strong.

In 2008 several conference speakers announced the construction of pilot plants, and some had even started operating. A few companies were working with biomass suppliers and solving logistics problems. In spite of an economic downturn, industry excitment was growing. At last year's conference, more companies had entered the race. Technologies were getting more efficient and costs were being reduced. Several companies promised that commercialization is getting close. However, they cited a lack of capital as growing concern.

The concern was valid. The overarching theme of this year's conference was the lack of capital. Technology and biomass logistics have continued to mature and costs have been reduced. POET Project LIBERTY and several other companies are now standing on the rim of the commercialization canyon, needing a federal loan guarantee parachute before taking the leap. However, as the press has covered over the past few months, federal loan guarantees for biofuels projects are slow in coming.

But today I continue to have optimism. Range Fuels received a loan guarantee from the USDA. Fulcrum Bioenergy and the DOE agreed on a "detailed indicative term sheet" for a DOE loan guarantee. And POET Project LIBERTY continues taking positive steps toward a DOE loan guarantee. LIBERTY's technology and biomass logistics are ready. POET will start construction when it receives the federal loan guarantee.

Cellulosic ethanol has the potential to eliminate--not just reduce, eliminate--America's dependency on foreign oil, while improving our environment and creating jobs. Our industry's evolution must, and WILL, march forward.

Is alfalfa a good feedstock for cellulosic ethanol?

Last week, the National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance held a workshop in central Iowa last week to talk about the potential for alfalfa as a cellulosic feedstock for ethanol. Owen Shunkwiler, the General Manager of POET Biorefining - Coon Rapids, participated in a panel of ethanol producers and enzyme manufacturers that included Genencor, ADM and Abengoa.

Several of the presentations from the event have been posted online and Rod Swoboda wrote a short recap for Wallaces Farmer.

POET is focused on corn cobs, leaves and husks as our first feedstock for cellulosic ethanol for reasons we have talked about on multiple occasions. Beyond that, we are looking at the many other sources of biomass that can be collected and processed into cellulosic ethanol. Could alfalfa be one of those sources? Only time will tell.

LCA Announcement today at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop

We are in St. Louis, Mo. today for the 2010 Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW). At 1:00 p.m. central time, POET will hold a press conference in the FEW media room to announce the completion of a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of our cellulosic ethanol production process. For more information, check out our web site.

Biomass 2010 Conference

Earlier this week I attended the Biomass 2010 Conference hosted by the Department of Energy (DOE). At the conference, I had the chance to interact with others in the industry and to share information on Project LIBERTY.

Cathy Zoi, Assistant Secretary for DOE's Office of Energy and Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), gave the keynote address. EERE houses the Biomass Program under which Project LIBERTY receives its federal funds.

The Assistant Secretary quoted Northwest Iowa farmer, Todd Mathisen, from video shot during LIBERTY Field Day, November 3rd, in Emmetsburg. "Everyone wants to make ethanol - a renewable fuel - from waste products. It means less crude oil from foreign countries and a new source of income from farmers. That's just a win-win deal." Cathy Zoi stated that cellulosic ethanol is a primary contributor to achieving the nation's goal of creating jobs, growing a green economy, reducing greenhouse gases, and reducing dependency on foreign oil.

It's nice to be back in the Midwest, but I enjoyed the opportunity to witness the great support that cellulosic ethanol has from our federal government and others in the industry.

POET Cellulosic ethanol project update

This past week, POET hosted part of the first day of the BIOFUELS JOURNAL 2nd Annual Commercial Ethanol Technology and Research Workshop at our headquarters in Sioux Falls. On the second day, Dr. Mark Stowers, Vice President of Science & Technology for POET, gave the conference an update on Project LIBERTY. Here is his presentation:

POET Cellulosic Ethanol Project Update

View more presentations from Nathan Schock.

Ag Energy: On to the Next Level

Would you like even more information about Project LIBERTY?  Do you have questions about corn cob harvesting?  Are you wondering what it all will mean to Emmetsburg and to you?  I will address these questions and more at a one-day conference called "Ag Energy 2009: On to the Next Level," Wednesday, March 11, at the Wild Rose Casino, Emmetsburg, Iowa.  I am scheduled to speak at 12:15.  Other scheduled speakers include:

• Denny Harding, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
• Norman Olson, Biomass Energy Conversion Facility
• Dr. Bruce Wicking, Cellencor Corporation
• Dr. Lawrence Johnson,  Center for Crops Utilization Research
• Ross Groffman, NextEra Energy Resources
• Mark Kingland, Alliant Energy
• Teresa Bornhoff, USDA Rural Development

The Kossuth/Palo Alto County Economic Development Corporation will host the meeting.  Registration opens at 8:15 a.m.  Cost is $20 per person until March 1st; afterward the fee is $25 per person.  Students may attend for $15.00.  All registrations include lunch and publications.  For more information about the conference, please contact Maureen Elbert, Economic Director, at 515-295-7979 or email: kcedc@kossuthia.com

Talking cellulosic ethanol in Miami

Two from POET will attend the Cellulosic Ethanol Summit in Miami next week. POET is also a sponsor of the event.

Dr. Mark Stowers, POET’s Vice President of Research & Development, will participate Tuesday, Nov. 18 in a panel discussion of progress toward developing cellulosic ethanol and knowledge that has been gathered along the way.

Denny DeVoss, POET’s Corporate Finance Director, will be a panelist Wednesday, Nov. 19 in a discussion titled "Commercialization & Financing Industry Growth," a look at partnerships, investment and other commercialization strategies in developing the cellulosic ethanol industry.

You can see when and where they will speak on the conference agenda. For the rest of the details, visit our web site.