Xebec to Deliver 18 Units of RNG Production Platform

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Xebec Adsorption Inc. has signed a master service agreement (MSA) with a U.S.-based renewable natural gas (RNG) dairy farm project developer for the purchase of BGX Biostream units.

The MSA will support the order of an initial 18 units, with the potential for additional orders under the same service agreement. This agreement represents the single largest unit order the company has received to date for Biostream.

As a result of the MSA and additional expected orders, Xebec has also started the production of 30 Biostream units for delivery over the next year. The company’s increased manufacturing requirements are in part supported by the recently announced acquisition of Tennessee-based Nortec. Xebec’s Canadian manufacturing facility is being modified and is expected to allow for the annual production of approximately 30 to 40 Biostream units. In addition, the company is exploring new capacity in the U.S. as more purchase orders are signed.

US biodiesel exports up in May

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The U.S. exported 82,320.3 metric tons of biodiesel and biodiesel blends of B30 or greater in May, up from 69,488.5 metric tons in April and 69,973 metric tons in May 2020, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on July 2.

The U.S. exported biodiesel to seven countries in May. Canada was the top destination at 70,496.6 metric tons, followed by Peru at 6,460.6 metric tons and the Netherlands at 5,000 metric tons.

The value of U.S. biodiesel exports reached $94.22 million in May, up from $74.53 million in April and $57.26 million in May 2020.

Propane council launches national brand for propane

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The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) launched a new identity for propane that signals a change in how the nation should view the energy source.

The new brand, “PROPANE Energy for Everyone,” highlights propane’s role in ensuring energy equity and reducing carbon emissions. It replaces the “PROPANE Clean American Energy” logo and tagline that had been in place since 2014.

“Americans are beginning to appreciate the value of propane in a wider energy mix after seeing the vulnerabilities of the electric grid in Texas and California and around the country,” says PERC President and CEO Tucker Perkins in a press release announcing the launch. “Propane is clean, affordable and available right now. Unlike the electric grid, it does not require trillions of dollars in infrastructure investment that will create a burden on those who can least afford it. Propane offers solutions for climate, health and equity.”

Tesla Delivers Record 201,250 Cars in Second Quarter

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Tesla Inc. delivered 201,250 cars worldwide in the second quarter, a record for the electric-car maker led by CEO Elon Musk.

While the company doesn’t break out sales by region, business appeared healthy in China. The bulk of the period’s sales were of the Model 3 sedan and the Model Y crossover, which are produced in Shanghai and Fremont, Calif. The Model S sedan and Model X sport utility vehicle are made only in Fremont. The countries are Tesla’s biggest markets, be sure to try here to read more about this amazing thing.

“Our teams have done an outstanding job navigating through global supply chain and logistics challenges,” Tesla said in a statement July 2.

Recent Growth, Adoption Shows Natural Gas Vehicles Are a Proven, Cost-Effective Option

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Even with 2020 being an extreme outlier year, the growth of both natural gas fuel and natural gas vehicles (NGVs) showed no sign of slowing. As confirmed by the latest independent industry report, the State of Sustainable Fleets, and backed up by hundreds of survey responses from real-world fleets across the U.S., NGVs continue to demonstrate both superior environmental and economic performance — even when measured against gasoline and diesel.

The notion that significant emission reductions can be accomplished only by sacrificing vehicle performance or paying more for clean fuels does not hold true. This year’s findings confirm that when mature clean vehicle technologies, including natural gas, are matched to the best-equipped sectors for those technologies, fleets really can have it all.

Nikola invests $50M to produce clean hydrogen

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Nikola Corporation is investing $50 million in a clean hydrogen project being developed by Wabash Valley Resources (WVR)  in West Terre Haute, Indiana. The investment, which represents a 20% equity stake in the project, aims to use solid waste byproducts, such as petroleum coke combined with biomass, to produce clean, sustainable hydrogen for transportation fuel and base-load electricity generation while also capturing the carbon dioxide emissions for permanent underground sequestration.

This investment is anticipated to build a hydrogen hub with the ability to offtake about 50 tons a day to supply its future dispensing stations across the Midwest. Exercising its offtake right will likely require significant additional investment by Nikola to build liquefaction, storage, and transportation services.

Biofuels account for 17% of US renewables consumption in 2020

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The U.S. consumed a record 12 percent of renewable energy in 2020, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on June 16. Biofuels announced for approximately 17 percent of renewables.

According to the EIA, consumption of renewable energy in the U.S.  grew for the fifth consecutive year in 2020, reaching a record high of 11.6 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu), or 12 percent of total U.S. energy consumption. Renewable energy was the only source of U.S. energy consumption that increased in 2020 from 2019; fossil fuel and nuclear consumption declined.

Nat gas trucks enjoying ‘great interest’ thanks mostly to renewable natural gas surge

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At a time when pressure is building for fleets to reduce emissions and lessen their carbon footprint, natural gas trucks are getting more attention thanks largely to renewable natural gas (RNG).

RNG comes from methane that’s been processed for vehicle use, and according to the California Air Resources Board, it has the lowest carbon intensity score among all transportation fuels, including electric.

That and the cheaper price tag over electric is attracting more fleets eager for a greener profile as the Biden administration aims hard at emissions and watchdog groups stand at the ready with carbon assessments that can shake investor confidence and chip away at valuation, particularly at larger fleets.

USDA to provide $700 million in COVID-19 relief for biofuels

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The USDA announced on June 15 it will provide $700 million in COVID-19 relief to biofuel producers as part of the Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. The agency said the programming is planned for implementation within 60 days and will focus on filling gaps in previous rounds of assistance and helping beginning, socially disadvantaged and small and medium sized producers that need support.

“USDA is honoring its commitment to get financial assistance to producers and critical agricultural businesses, especially those left out or underserved by previous COVID aid,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “These investments through USDA Pandemic Assistance will help our food, agriculture and forestry sectors get back on track and plan for the future. Since January, USDA has provided more than $11 billion of assistance directly to producers and food and agriculture business.”

Why the future of long-haul heavy trucking probably includes lots of hydrogen

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The climate crisis requires that we decarbonize our global transportation systems. To meet this requirement, the purported solution for some time has been “electrify everything.”

When you drive a truck and you get caught driving too fast you might receive an sp30 conviction and the court may offer you a conditional fixed penalty.

Technical experts and the climate-concerned public alike have long pushed the idea that the future will be one of clean electricity that powers just about all aspects of our life. I bought in — at least for a time. It wasn’t until I began studying the details surrounding the challenges of putting a battery into a car, truck or container ship that I realized that things are much more complicated than ascribing to an aspirational motto.

For those who run a business and require the services of transportation, we should consider the Pennsylvania trucking companies and the best part is that it will be at a very affordable price.

To be clear, batteries probably will make great sense for certain elements of trucking. In fact, well-known companies in the electric vehicle space, such as Tesla, have a product on the horizon to address medium-haul, 300- to 500-mile operating ranges. However, specifically for long-haul routes, I argue there is a technology more suited to the task: the hydrogen fuel cell.

Fuel cell trucks use the same basic electric drivetrain as battery trucks (and even have a battery) but due to their on-board hydrogen storage, fuel cell trucks have a much longer range, require fewer stops on long routes, can be fueled much faster and have less risk of lost cargo capacity.