EU biofuel firms say not to blame for food prices

By Michael Hogan, REUTERS, 24 April 2008 - European bioethanol production is not to blame for rising grain prices, a biofuels conference heard on Thursday. Only 2.6 percent of Germany's 40.9 million tonne grain harvest in 2007 was used to produce bioethanol, and only 1.5 percent of the European Union's total 267 million tonne grain crop was used for bioethanol, said Doerte Bieler of Germany's bioethanol industry association LAB. "It cannot be that this level of grain use for bioethanol production can be responsible for the doubling of EU grains prices in the last year," she told the Clean Moves Expo biofuels conference.

"Grain prices have risen because of other factors such as poor harvests and speculation," she said. "Grain prices have fallen by 30 percent in the last few weeks, which is probably an indication that a huge volume of speculative money is currently moving in grains markets." But U.S. biofuel output was at a higher level than in Europe and may be responsible for pushing up grains there, she said. Several politicians, including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, have recently raised concerns that higher biofuels production aimed at reducing global warming was behind the rise in global food prices. Albrecht Schaper, commercial manager of German bioethanol producer Fuel21 GmbH, said Germany had huge grain and sugar surpluses which have been traditionally exported as they could not be consumed by Germany's domestic market. "For the last 30 years we have been criticised because we have exported grain cheaply around the world," Schaper said. "Now we have found a use for grain which means we may not have to do this any more and suddenly that is wrong too."

He said development aid to the Third World needed to be focused more on increasing agricultural efficiency. Ingo Klenk, of German bioethanol producer CropEnergies, said the food versus biofuel debate had ignored the fact that huge volumes of animal feed were produced as a by-product of bioethanol production. Some 2.6 tonnes of animal feed were produced from every hectare of grain grown for bioethanol. This meant grain used for bioethanol was not lost to the global food chain. He called for a more coordinated approach to increasing biofuel output among governments to ensure there is be no competition for raw materials between food and biofuel makers. This would especially involve a steady, phased expansion of biofuels output rather than sudden expansions. (Reported by Michael Hogan, REUTERS, from the Halo organised Clean Moves Conference)

 

 

Efficient mobility gains global momentum

Brussels/Hannover, 25 February 2008 - The Clean Moves Expo, part of the flagship Energy fair, will focus on unlocking new applications for electric drives, sustainable biofuels, the latest developments in natural gas drives and optimized diesel technology. With German Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel as its patron, the Clean Moves Expo at Hannover Messe (the Hannover Fair) will cover the full range of energy-efficient mobility technologies. The transport sector is currently facing a number of major challenges. The industry needs to cut emissions of CO2 and other harmful substances and reduce its dependency on oil while also safeguarding a high level of mobility.

Innovations in batteries are opening up exciting new possibilities in the field of electromobility. “There are many advantages to using electrical energy in transportation. It can be obtained from a number of primary energy sources, which could substantially reduce dependency on oil imports. And crucially, using renewable energies to generate power will greatly improve the CO2 balance in the transport sector”, comments Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel. “Alongside the potential offered by alternative fuels and improvements in the efficiency of conventional drives, electromobility will, in my opinion, also play a key role in ensuring sustainable mobility in the future.” Roger Kohlmann, Deputy Managing Director of the Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft (BDEW, German Energy and Water Association), adds: “More and more energy is now being generated by wind and PV systems – however, as this source can be somewhat erratic, we also need to create new and innovative methods of storage. Electromobility has the potential to solve this problem faster than comparable alternatives. As far as the energy industry is concerned, it’s a win-win situation for the environment, customers and the economy alike.”

Cars are still responsible for the majority of transport-related CO2 emissions. The most efficient way to use energy is to conserve it. This simple conclusion has provided the launch pad for developing highly-efficient cars. Manufacturers such as Volkswagen, Fiat, Opel and Ford will be displaying examples of these at Clean Moves 2008. “Clean Moves establishes a firm foothold on the path towards finding technology that will help to overcome the imbalances and dependencies of the oil era. This event provides a market-focused showcase for viable solutions,” comments Ralph Kappler, the driving force behind Clean Moves.

Sustainable biofuels – Germany is market leader in Europe
“Germany, one of the global front-runners in the development of biofuels, is focusing on establishing international sustainability standards for both the cultivation of biomass and the production of biofuels,” says Dr. Andreas Schütte of the Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe (Agency for Renewable Resources). His agency and the BDEW are both supporting Clean Moves as information partners. According to EU Commission guidelines, biofuels are to replace ten percent of fossil fuels by 2020 to ensure sustainable security of supply. The German Federal Government’s road map anticipates that the proportion of sustainable biofuels could be as high as 17 percent by 2020. Dietrich Klein, Managing Director of the Verband Landwirtschaftliche Biokraftstoffe (Association for Agricultural Biofuels) comments: “If we produce bioethanol in Europe using the raw materials available in the region, we can be confident of meeting the EU’s sustainability criteria throughout the entire process from cultivation to production.”

Germany currently has four bioethanol plants with a total production capacity of 620,000 tons. In 2008, two additional plants will expand capacity to 850,000 tons. “The German bioethanol industry leads the field in Europe and this, the most important industry event worldwide, is therefore the perfect setting for us and the bioethanol association,” says Lutz Guderjahn, Chief Operating Officer of CropEnergies AG. “Today, bioethanol production is highly efficient and the potential offered by biomass is being used to the full to help protect the climate.” Biodiesel and bioethanol will continue to offer potential for improvement, though this is limited due to the raw materials currently in use. “The key factor in the long-term will be to develop processes that allow us to use alternative raw materials from outside the food chain,” says Klaus Kilian, Head of Marketing/Communication at Lurgi GmbH. Working in conjunction with the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (Karlsruhe Research Center), Frankfurt-based Lurgi has developed a process that turns biomass into valuable synthetic fuels. Lurgi and the Forschungzentrum Karlsruhe will present this innovative new process at Clean Moves.

Natural gas vehicles in the fast lane
Natural gas vehicles are becoming increasingly popular. At the beginning of 2008, around 70,000 vehicles fitted with this environmentally friendly, cost-effective drive system were registered for use on Germany’s roads. Several new models will come onto the market in the course of the year, including the Opel Zafira TNG and the VW Passat TSI EcoFuel, the first vehicles with natural gas turbo engines. They promise to deliver lower emissions of harmful substances and a reduction in fuel consumption. “In terms of CO2 emissions, the figures for natural gas vehicles are very positive – and they will improve even more in the future due to the blending of renewable bio-natural gas with natural gas fuel,” says Dr. Ulrich Müller, Chairman of the Trägerkreis Erdgasfahrzeuge (Natural Gas Vehicle Group). The first projects have already been put into practice. In northern Germany, for example, drivers in the region supplied by Oldenburg-based EWE AG (between the Ems, Weser and Elbe rivers), can refuel with a proportion of bio-natural gas at over 50 natural gas filling stations. As a fuel, natural gas is 50 percent cheaper than gasoline on average.

High-octane conference at the heart of Clean Moves
Automotive manufacturers, fuel producers, suppliers, investors and consumers will share their know-how about market-ready products at the Clean Moves conference, an integral part of the exhibition. Michael Müller, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, will speak about the latest requirements set down by EU legislation. In addition, representatives of automotive groups Volkswagen, Toyota, Ford, Opel, Fiat and Seat will give the latest updates from the field of efficient drives and mobility concepts. The conference will also focus on cutting-edge developments in electric drives and storage technologies and on the potential of vehicle2grid solutions as demonstrated by leading innovations company Li-Tec, for example. “HANNOVER MESSE is world-renowned as a center of excellence for innovations, new concepts and technologies,” says trade fair manager Oliver Frese who is responsible for energy-related topics at HANNOVER MESSE. “New technologies are of keen interest to visitors from industry, the political world and the general public. The Clean Moves Expo with its energy-efficient mobility solutions is ideally located at the very heart of the new energy hub in Hall 27 and is directly linked with the Partner Country Japan section.” More than 35,000 visitors are expected to attend the integrated “Clean Moves Exhibition and Conference”. The platinum sponsors of the Clean Moves Expo at this year’s HANNOVER MESSE are NORD/LB and the federal Invest in Germany agency.



Clean Moves au 86ème Salon Auto de Bruxelles

Halo Energy, Bruxelles 3 December 2007 - Si la mobilité écologique est l’une des tendances la plus en vogue au sein du marketing, c’est à l’European Motors show qu’il faut aller pour voir et expérimenter ce que cela peut bien vouloir signifier. En effet l’European Motors show donne aux plus des 700.000 visiteurs attendus, la possibilité d’essayer des voitures et scooters qui étonnent par leur système de propulsion électrique. Du 17 au 27 janvier 2008 les visiteurs du salon d’auto, Hall-1, auront l’occasion de constater la plus-value qu’offrent ces véhicules en matière de performance, de confort  et, de mobilité, sans que cela aie, pour autant, une incidence sur la l’expérience de conduite proprement dite.
 
« La plupart des consommateurs considèrent l’énergie propre comme une donnée abstraite. Voitures et scooters sont d’importants témoins de notre style de vie. Ils génèrent beaucoup de passion/émotion. La promotion des véhicules écologiques avec l’énergie propre est un choix stratégique intriguant », observe Ralph Kappler, fondateur et organisateur de ‘Clean Moves’. Clean Moves Brussels est une plate-forme d’information orientée vers les petites, moyennes et grandes entreprises et présente des solutions écologiques au transport urbain, dont, notamment,  récemment, l’inauguration à Bruxelles de la  nouvelle  REVAi ElectriCityCar, l'EV le plus populaire en production  actuellement, avec 3000 véhicules sur la route et, les scooters et vélos électriques de l’entreprise EVstart.
 “La REVA connait un grand succès à Londres ; nous avons décidé maintenant d’attaquer le marché de l’Europe continentale“. Ainsi Chetan Maini, CEO de Reva Electric Car Company en Inde. La nouvelle REVAi est disponible avec un large choix d’options et de coloris ; elle est facile à l'entretien et se conduit aisément. La REVAi sera disponible en Belgique dès le 1er janvier prochain et sera présentée au salon de l’auto de Bruxelles à la mi- janvier par l’importateur et distributeur Green Mobil. « La voiture électrique représente en milieu urbain un compromis redoutable assurant à la fois une mobilité rapide et confortable tout en diminuant significativement les émissions de polluants, et, cela, à un prix raisonnable. L’entreprise EVstart est la seule à exploiter ce créneau sur le marché belge offrant une large gamme de véhicules à propulsion électrique écologique, mais, performants », rapporte Roby Zahler, fondateur et directeur de EVstart. Evstart, présentera sa gamme variée de vélos et scooters électriques de haute de gamme au salon. Nous y trouverons le Flyer, le vélo électrique Suisse, les e-bikes et scooters de Matra Sports et BionX ainsi qu’une série de scooters électriques de fabricants comme Helio et EVT.

L’université Libre de Bruxelles se chargera, à cette occasion, de donner des informations scientifiques –mais très accessibles– sur le phénomène des véhicules écologiques. Quelles technologies et quels carburants entrent en vigueur pour ces véhicules ? Comment ces technologies réduisent-elles l’effet de serre ? Quelle influence a-t-elle sur notre santé ? Rouler avec un vélo électrique est à porté de tout le monde, raconte Dr. ir. Joeri Van Mierlo du  département Elektrische Engineering et Energietechnologie de l’Université Libre de Bruxelles.Les nouvelles technologies de mobilité diminuent notre dépendance vis-à-vis du marché, flottant/fluctuant des carburants fossiles. C’est un point de vue que partage aussi Ajit Nazre, partenaire de la société d’investissement, bien connue, KPCB de Palo Alto. Il le formule ainsi : « Parmi toutes les solutions en matière des carburants écologiques parvenus à maturité du point de vue du marché, les moteurs à propulsion électrique, présentent, de loin, l’alternative la plus prometteuse. »

’Expo Clean Moves a vu le jour en 2005 sur initiative d’une série de petites et moyennes entreprises londoniennes. Elle sera présente à la Hannover Messe, la plus importante bourse industrielle du monde. Une attention particulière sera consacrée à des solutions en matière de mobilité écologique qui d’ores et déjà ont prouvé leurs qualités marketing comme les batteries et systèmes de production et de stockage d’énergie électrique, les biocarburants et les moteurs électriques à grande capacité. Pour plus d’information reportez-vous aux sites www.cleanmoves.com et www.salonauto.be.


Peak Oil could trigger meltdown of society
 HALO ENERGY, London, 22 October 2007 - According to a newly published global oil supply report presented by the Energy Watch Group and Halo Energy at the Foreign Press Association in London, world oil production peaked in 2006. Production will start to decline at a rate of several percent per year. By 2020, and even more by 2030, global oil supply will be dramatically lower. "The most alarming finding is the steep decline of the oil supply after peak", warns Jörg Schindler from the Energy Watch Group. This result, together with the timing of the peak, is obviously in sharp contrast to the projections by the International Energy Agency (IEA). This cautious energy outlook corresponds with statements made by former US Defense Secretary and CIA Director, James Schlesinger, who said at a recent oil summit in Cork: "The battle is over, the oil peakists have won. Current US energy policy and the administration's oil strategy in Iraq and Iran are deluded." Remaining world oil reserves are estimated to be 1,255 Gb (Giga barrel) according to the industry database HIS (2006).
 
For the Energy Watch Group (EWG), however, there are sound reasons to modify these figures for some regions and key countries, leading to a corresponding EWG estimate of 854 Gb. Peak oil is now. "The oil boom is over and will not return. All of us must get used to a different lifestyle.", said King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, the largest global oil producer. This change will be triggered by a sharp decline of fossil fuel supplies and will influence almost all aspects of daily life. Anticipated supply shortages could easily lead to disturbing scenes of mass unrest as witnessed in Burma this month. For government, industry and the wider public just muddling through is not an option anymore as this situation could spin out of control and turn into a meltdown of society (Source: www.energywatchgroup.org).
 

Nuclear expansion would be a risk to national security

According to a new report from the Oxford Research Group the hope for a new era of cheap, clean nuclear power is a 'myth'. Building more nuclear power stations would also increase terror risk the paper says. A worldwide expansion of nuclear power has little chance of significantly reducing carbon emissions but will add dangerously to the proliferation of nuclear weapons-grade materials and the potential for nuclear terrorism, says a leading research group that has analysed the possible uptake of civil atomic power over the next 65 years. The Oxford Research Group paper, funded by the Joseph Rowntree charitable trust, says that the worldwide nuclear "renaissance" planned by the industry to provide cheap, clean power is a myth.Although global electricity demand is expected to rise by 50% in the next 25 years, only 25 new nuclear reactors are currently being built, with 76 more planned and a further 162 proposed, many of which are unlikely to be built.

This compares with 429 reactors in operation today, many of which are already near the end of their useful lives and need replacing soon. For nuclear power to make any significant contribution to a reduction in global carbon emissions in the next two generations, the paper says, the industry would have to construct nearly 3,000 new reactors - or about one a week for 60 years. "A civil nuclear construction and supply programme on this scale is a pipe dream, and completely unfeasible. The highest historic rate of build is 3.4 new reactors a year," says the report.If the decision to go with nuclear power is taken, then the UK will implement a flawed and dangerously counter-productive energy policy. "The question is whether in the 21st century the security risks associated with civil nuclear power can be managed, or not? Society has to decide whether or not the risks of proliferation and nuclear terrorism in a world with many nuclear power reactors are acceptable", the report concludes.

Clean Moves to empower home made mobility

HALO ENERGY, Berlin 16 April 2007 - Under the patronage of Germany’s Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel, “Clean Moves Expo” will present energy and fuel efficient technologies in a global market context under the umbrella of the world’s leading industry show, the Hannover Fair. From 16 to 20 April 2007 carmakers, fuel producers, component suppliers and investors will come together at Clean Moves Expo to swap know-how about market-ready products – with special emphasis on drive systems (hybrid, natural gas, electric), biogas, ethanol and synthetic Biofuels. “Combating climate change is one of the most important tasks facing us this century. However, we should not see climate change solely as a threat. Instead we must exploit the opportunities inherent in a third industrial revolution – a revolution centred on the efficient utilization of energy and natural resources.
This applies to the transport sector in particular,” Gabriel emphasizes. Innovative mobility technology will provide the basis for sustained growth beyond the boundaries of the transport sector as substantial investments go increasingly into technologies that can mitigate the effects of climate change. The EU alone will have to spend an additional €1.1 trillion over the next 14 years, if it is to fulfil ambitious climate change goals, a new study by the leading consulting firm McKinsey has indicated. McKinsey has calculated that the EU states will face annual costs of between €60 to €80 billion up until 2020. Ethanol currently ranks as the world’s number one biofuel - next to other viable solutions. The international market for ethanol fuels and related production facilities is booming. This fact will be reflected directly in the exhibitor line-up at Clean Moves Expo.

“With a total output of 38.8 million cubic metres in 2006, ethanol currently ranks as the world’s number one biofuel. We expect dynamic growth in the European bioethanol market,” explains Dr. Lutz Guderjahn, who sits on the Board of CropEnergies AG, one of the Clean Moves exhibitors. The Südzucker CropEnergies Group has subsidiaries in Germany, France and Belgium. Within just a few years the company has established a strong foothold in the burgeoning ethanol market and currently operates Europe’s largest bioethanol production plant. CropEnergies sees itself as a pioneer in Germany and is intent on carving out a strong market position throughout Europe. To combat climate change effectively a range of technology solutions will have to be explored alongside each other, including e.g. also compressed natural gas (CNG) or synthetic fuels (BTL). Volkswagen – one of the largest global car manufacturers and a key Clean Moves Expo exhibitor will be presenting new “Sunfuel” technologies in the field of synthetic fuels, also referred to as BTL.

In the words of BP’s Group Managing Director John A. Manzoni: “Our goal must be to raise fuel efficiency and cut emissions. In other words, we need higher performance and lower exhaust emissions. In the year 2050 there will be two billion vehicles on the road. These will need to travel twice as far per litre of fuel compared with present-day vehicles.” In the coming ten years BP is committed to investing $1 billion in order to enhance its strong position in the biofuel market. The company forecasts that biofuels will account for a market share of between 20 and 30 percent by 2030. Private cars make up a significant proportion of transportation-related CO2 emissions. In the words of Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel: “We need binding regulations in order to achieve our CO2 reduction goals. “The private sector driven Clean Moves venture empowers home made fuel and mobility technologies. It serves as a technology bridgehead to advance the market penetration of low carbon solutions, where deals are made, where market movers exchange critical know-how.”, says Ralph Kappler, Event Manager and founder of the independent Clean Moves industry platform. Further information is available at: www.CleanMoves.com
 

World Energy Dialogue: Efficiency as export factor

HANNOVER MESSE, 19 February 2007 - Under the patronage of the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Technology, the World Energy Dialogue 2007 is being organized jointly by Deutsche Messe and the Federation of German Industry. Participants at the recent Energy Summit held by the German government expressed the view that energy-saving technology, i.e. the ability to improve energy efficiency, could prove an important factor in the international marketing of German cutting-edge technology. In this connection Michael Glos, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Technology, has announced a new export drive based on energy-efficient technology. Increasing energy efficiency forms a cornerstone of energy-related policies. Importantly, the use of modern technology to reduce energy consumption reduces the dependency of nation states on imports, and also leads to lower energy costs. Furthermore, the quest for new energy technology encourages innovation and makes an important contribution to the control of climate change. In the event of long-term increases in energy prices the development of this kind of technology would become an even more important competitive factor than it already is today.

The German government has emphasized the huge potential for energy-saving technology. In fact, government policy aims to double energy productivity by 2020 compared with levels in 1990. This goal applies to all areas of energy consumption – from power stations and buildings to vehicles. The German Energy Agency estimates that on the basis of improved utilization the country will be able to reduce energy consumption in 2020 by more than 20 percent compared with 2005. For more information go to: www.world-energy-dialogue.com


OPEC uses oil prices to discourage alternative fuel use

Source USA National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition - OPEC announced late last week that they were planning on cutting oil production by 1.2 million barrels per day in hopes to keep costs of crude at about $60 per barrel. This cut is intended to bring the cost of gasoline up a bit but to keep it low enough so as to be more attractive than alternative fuel pricing. “It’s unfortunate that OPEC feels that they can control the vision of this country and the destiny relative to alternative fuels,” exclaimed Curtis Donaldson, Chairman of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition. OPEC expects to keep the price of gasoline at about $2.25 per gallon. According to a Foxnews.com news story on October 20 (which can be found by clicking here), “OPEC's cut also signaled that it would defend a price of about $60 a barrel, high enough to justify its investment in future production capacity but low enough to allow economic growth and deter a flood of alternative fuels.” U.S. oil prices set a record high in July of this year topping at $78.40 a barrel and averaging record high fuel costs.

Alternative fuel pricing, including E85, tended to be much lower during the summer, thus making them more attractive to consumers. “OPEC feels that they can manage the price of gasoline to a point where increasing the production of E85 and providing it at more locations across the country will become less attractive. It will be disappointing if we allow this to happen when everyone knows, now more than ever, we need more energy independence,” added Donaldson. According to an Automotive Fleet article (whiche can be found by clicking here), Saudi Arabia’s Oil Minister supports OPEC’s decision to decrease production. California sues car firms for global warming The Guardian reports, September 21, 2006 - America's most populous state, California, opened a new front in its struggle with climate change yesterday when it announced that it was suing the six largest carmakers in the US for allegedly contributing to global warming. In the unprecedented lawsuit, the state accused Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Chrysler and Nissan of creating a "public nuisance" and costing it millions of dollars. Environmental campaigners hailed the lawsuit as a landmark event in the effort to deal with global warming. The suit, filed in a US district court in northern California, alleges that vehicle emissions have contributed significantly to global warming, and argues that the car manufacturers should be held responsible for the past and future cost of combating this crisis.

Daniel Becker, director of the Sierra Club's global warming programme, said the lawsuit built on initiatives taken by California and other states: "While the Bush administration continues to burrow its head in the sand, California has taken out a whole arsenal to combat emissions." The Automobile Alliance in a statement said car manufacturers were already working to produce more fuel-efficient cars. Arguing that it needed more time to study the complaint, it noted that a similar suit, which saw energy companies sued on public nuisance grounds, had failed. "Using nuisance suits to address global warming would involve the courts in deciding political questions beyond their jurisdiction," the alliance said. "This opens the door to lawsuits targeting any activity that uses fossil fuel for energy." The lawsuit comes as California aggressively pursues a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. A law passed in 2004 will force carmakers to reduce carbon dioxide exhaust emissions by 30%. That measure is currently being challenged by car manufacturers. Last month the California state legislature approved a measure to force utilities to cut emissions, and the state has sued the federal government for failing to address the effects of global warming."


Lloyd's tells members climate change could destroy insurers

The Guardian, by Terry Macalister, June 6, 2006 - Lloyd's of London, the oldest insurance market in the world, yesterday urged its members to start taking global warming more seriously, by increasing prices to avoid being "swept away" in a sea of future financial claims. Premiums will have to rise and some risks might even be classed as uninsurable due to greenhouse gases and rising sea levels, warned Lloyd's in a report entitled Climate Change, Adapt or Bust. "Although it's almost two decades since the UN recognised that climate change was a catastrophic threat to the Earth, it's clear that the insurance industry has not taken catastrophe trends seriously enough. Climate change is today's problem not tomorrow's. If we don't take action now to understand the changing nature of our planet we will face extinction," said Lloyd's director, Rolf Tolle. Lloyd's, which has the capacity to write £15bn worth of business this year, did not want to enter the politicially contentious debate on how much human activity affected global warming but was happy to accept the "growing body of opinion" on the issue.

The rising cost of weather-related catastrophes made it impossible for the insurance market to ignore what was happening with rising carbon dioxide levels, it said. In the short term the insurance industry would have to invest more time and money in academic research as well as convert scientific predictions into practical guidance for the sector. The unstable climate could have an impact on global asset values, reducing their value to insurers which have traditionally relied on investment returns to boost profits, it warned. "Consequently it will become even more important for insurers to price risk according to exposure, and to underwrite for profit, without reliance on investment income." It was time for insurers to stop treating climate change as a peripheral field of work and to put it at the centre of their operations. "Understanding and responding to it must become 'business as usual' for insurers and those they work with.