Ignite Energy Resources and TRUenergy Plan Direct Coal-to-Liquids and Coal Drying Demo Project for Supercritical Water Technology

By GreenCarCongress.com

Ignite Energy Resources (IER), developer of a supercritical water technology, and TRUenergy have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a commercial demonstration plant that will apply IER’s direct coal-to-oil and upgraded dry coal process to the brown coal ….

The rest of the article can be read at GreenCarCongress.com

New buoy for marine energy devices launched in the UK

By TidalToday.com

A team at the University of Exeter has developed a two tonne (2000kg) buoy off the coast of Falmouth.

The rest of the article can be read at TidalToday.com

Large Scale Tidal Project Planned

by Andrea Nocito (MatterNetwork.com)

A deal between World Energy Research and Blue Energy Canada will foster the first 200 megawatt commercial wave power project. Using World Energy Research’s financing ….

The rest of the article can be read at MatterNetwork.com

GE and University of Wyoming Announce test center site

By Coal Gasification news

GE Energy and University of Wyoming are participating in a joint venture to construct a coal gasification test facility in Wyoming to test gasification of Wyoming’s Powder River Basin coal.

The rest of the article can be read at CoalGasificationnews.com

Iceland Debates the Limits of Geothermal

By Kate Galbraith (GreenInc.blogs.nytimes.com)

Some Icelanders are questioning just how long the renewable power can last. At the core of the debate are the country’s efforts to build up a power-intensive aluminum industry …..

The rest of the article can be read at GreenInc.blogs.nytimes.com

Clean coal plant set to go ahead

By Mathew Murphy (theAge.com.au)

VICTORIA is poised to receive a coal-to-liquids plant for the Latrobe Valley that promises to produce cleaner coal, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent and extract thousands of barrels of high-grade oil.

The rest of the article can be read at TheAge.com.au

Rentech (AMEX:RTK) inks deals with two gasification companies

By Anna Austin (BioMassMagazine.com)

Rentech Inc. announced it has completed investment agreements with two biomass gasification technology companies. The announcement came on the heels of the news that Rentech planned …..

The rest of the article can be read at BioMassMagazine.com

Rentech (AMEX:RTK) Announces Achievement of Critical Milestone in Synthetic Jet Fuel Certification

Rentech, Inc. announced today that the aviation fuels subcommittee of ASTM International, the standards development organization, yesterday passed specifications for synthetic jet fuel for commercial aviation use. The new jet fuel specification, once issued, will enable the use of fuels from the Fischer-Tropsch process, including Rentech’s RenJet® synthetic jet fuel.

The subcommittee’s passage sets the stage for final approval and certification of synthetic jet fuel specifications by the ASTM International’s full governance committee, expected to occur this fall. Acceptance by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will occur as part of the ASTM process. The specification calls for a 50/50 blend of synthetic Fischer-Tropsch fuels and petroleum-derived fuels.

Once approved, fuels produced from the Fischer-Tropsch process, including RenJet® produced from renewable and fossil feedstocks, will be the first and currently only non-petroleum derived jet fuel certified for use by commercial aircraft. Rentech’s Product Demonstration Unit currently produces jet fuel that, when blended with petroleum-derived fuel, meets the ASTM International specifications passed by the subcommittee.

D. Hunt Ramsbottom, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rentech, stated, “Rentech is pleased by ASTM International’s progress on certifying synthetic fuels. With the subcommittee’s approval, RenJet® is one step away from regulatory acceptance and use by commercial aviation.” Mr. Ramsbottom continued, “Rentech was the only U.S.-based producer of Fischer-Tropsch fuels to participate in the CAAFI team that expedited subcommittee approval.”

Richard Altman, Executive Director of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI), stated, “The achievement of this landmark passage of the first non-petroleum derived jet fuel by the ASTM could not have been achieved without Rentech’s participation and leadership. Rentech supplied guidance, data and its jet fuel during the development of the specifications process for synthetic jet fuel. We look forward to the full committee’s approval of synthetic jet fuel this fall.”

According to the International Air Transport Association, global commercial aviation fuel consumption was 71 billion gallons in 2007. In recommending the specifications of synthetic fuel for approval by ASTM International, the subcommittee completed an exhaustive review of the fuels during a two-year process, drawing from independent testing data and results from U.S. Air Force laboratory and flight tests. The U.S. Air Force has already certified synthetic fuels from the Fischer-Tropsch process, including RenJet®, for use in most of its aircraft.

CAAFI’s statement on the fuel specification passage is accessible at www.caafi.org.

Wind in deep water: Wind foundations and special structures

By Eize de Vries (RenewableEnergyWorld.com)

This spring, building activities for WeserWind GmbH Offshore Construction Georgsmarienhütte’s huge new 45 metre-high manufacturing facility for 5–6+ MW class offshore wind turbine substructures, were in full swing.

The rest of the article can be read at RenewableEnergyWorld.com

Exxaro partners SASOL Mining in JV to supply potential CTL plants

By SteelGuru

Sharenet reported that diversified resources company Exxaro Resources Limited has entered into a prospecting JV agreement with Sasol Mining Proprietary Limited for the development of of a new coal mine to supply Sasol’s potential new inland coal to liquids project.

The rest of the article can be read at SteelGuru.com