article tools
Increase Text Size Increase Text Size Decreate Text Size Decrease Text Size
Share Email This Story Share Share This Story Reader comments Reader Comments (11) Add to favorites Add to Bookmarks Printer friendly version Printer Friendly Version
Article Tool Sponsor:

Advertise with us

More Jobs
0 ratings - Sign-in to rate this article
March 8, 2007

Houston Area Power Plant Runs Entirely on Biodiesel

Oak Ridge North, Texas [RenewableEnergyAccess.com]

Biofuels Power Corp. has begun producing and selling electricity into the ERCOT Power Grid from its biodiesel powered generating plant in Oak Ridge North, Texas, which is run entirely on biodiesel.

"Those of us trading in the nation's largest commodities market are conscious of the need for renewable fuels derived from agricultural products."

-- Jay Pierce, M1, President

Biofuels Power plans to build a series of biodiesel powered electric generating plants to serve residential and industrial customers in the Houston Metropolitan area.

The Oak Ridge North facility has a capacity of up to 5 megawatts (MW) and uses three diesel powered Caterpillar generators that run exclusively on biodiesel fuel produced by the Safe Renewables refinery located within two miles of the power plant. Safe Renewables Corp. (SRC), which currently supplies biodiesel fuel for power generation and transportation requirements, and produces biodiesel from renewable sources including soy, cottonseed, canola oil and animal fats.

"We believe the new Oak Ridge North plant will be a showcase installation for environmentally conscious companies that want to reduce their air pollution footprint by satisfying their electricity needs with carbon neutral and 100% renewable fuels. We are proud that the Oak Ridge North facility is one of the cleanest generating facilities in the country. We also believe this first important step in urban renewable power can reduce America's dependence on foreign oil while significantly benefiting our domestic agricultural economy," said Ken Crimmins, COO of Biofuels Power.

"Those of us trading in the nation's largest commodities market are conscious of the need for renewable fuels derived from agricultural products," said Jay Pierce, President of M1, which financed a partnership with Texoga BioFuels Ltd., to provide funding for the Oak Ridge North project. "We are pleased to be at the forefront of this new industry. It's the right thing to do."

Biofuels Power is now constructing a larger turbine-based biodiesel power plant at the Safe Renewables' refinery site. The second facility is expected to deliver over 10 MW into the Entergy power grid that delivers electricity to customers in East Texas and Louisiana. Renewable power projects such as these can ultimately provide "islands of power," protecting areas from blackouts.
For Further Information
Please Note: RenewableEnergyWorld.com does not endorse the sites behind these links. We offer them for your additional research. Following these links will open a new browser window.
Reader Comments (11)
 
No image available
March 8, 2007
An interesting way to assure a large regional demand for biodiesel -- what doesn't get sold on the fuel market can be turned to electricity. Guaranteed purchase agreements should allow biodiesel producers to ramp up production.
Comment 1 of 11
No image available
March 9, 2007
I agree with Mr. Pine in that any renewable liquid fuel is best used in vehicles. I also agree that soil health and fertility must be considered with any biomass based fuel scheme.

Biodiesel embodies approx *3* units of enery per unit used in production. (Harvested sunlight at it's best.)
Best case, ethanol embodies approx. 1.4 units of energy per unit used in production. Perhaps he has confused the two biofuels.

I don't recall the exact thermo. efficiency of combustion turbine systems, but 30% sounds about right. Combined cycle, combustion turbine followed by steam turbine, is MUCH more efficient. I hope that's the system they will use regardless of fuel type.
Comment 2 of 11
No image available
March 9, 2007
Transforming animal fats into fuel, as mentioned in the above article is useful and good. However, providing government subsidies for biodiesel projects is worse than just a complete waste of taxpayer's money, because it depletes the small pool of money available for other, legitimate projects.

Someone please correct me if you think I am mistaken.
Comment 3 of 11
No image available
March 9, 2007
This kind of project is flawed for the following reasons:

1. Biodiesel barely creates more energy than is required to produce it, once you subtract
the energy invested to plant, fertilize, harvest, and transport plant material and refine it into oil. Also, growing crops damages soil by depleting soil nutrients. Soil fertility needs to be maintained. If sewage is used for this purpose, it is more efficient to simply create biogas directly from the sewage.

2. If you are going to create biodiesel, don't waste it by burning it in a stationary plant. Use it instead for mobile applications like fuel for cars or trucks.

3. There are useful projects to solve our energy and environmental problems. They are: energy conservation/efficiency projects, wind energy installations, landfill gas utilization, small head hydropower plants, solar hot water and photovoltaic installations, geothermal power, and others.
Comment 4 of 11
No image available
March 9, 2007
Need contac tnfo on the design / build team

MY TEL NUMBER:310 - 903 -1025;
E- mail: stephan@geosupport.com
Thanks
Stephan
Comment 5 of 11
No image available
March 9, 2007
How can I GET IN TOUCH WITH THE DESIGN / BULD TEAM???
Comment 6 of 11
No image available
March 18, 2007
Why is there so much confusion about things that shouldn't even be debateable? I'm sure someone knows the costs of each unit of energy from each source. I must agree that using food crops doesn't make much since.
Comment 7 of 11
No image available
March 29, 2007
Left off the "l" on URL... should be .html and not .htm
Comment 8 of 11
No image available
March 29, 2007
Stephan -
I can't tell you how exactly to contact them but, this site has an article that list's a bit more information about the biodiesel production company, the biodiesel generator, the town etc etc.. hope it helps you.

http://e85.whipnet.net/alt.fuel/texas.biodiesel.html
Comment 9 of 11
No image available
May 4, 2007
To clairfy: Our Power fuel is made mostly from the non-food grade of animal offal that never competes with the food chain. It is a by product of animal processing and does not consume directly any fertilizer, water, soil minerials , etc.
It is not suitable for transportation fuel because it forms a solid under 45 degrees.
To justify the short term goverment rebate: We are competing with industries with over 100 years of infrastructure to transport and distribute petroleum products. Not every station has diesel pumps and far fewer have the ability to blend or store biodiesel for road use. This electrical generation project is just one building block on the road to a sustainable future, one that everyone can enjoy today. We will be refueling other existing diesel and heavy oil power stations and bulding steam turbines that can use more low grade and waste products to make electricity. Stay Tuned....
Comment 10 of 11
No image available
September 28, 2007
Thank you Ken for clarifying that this project uses mostly "non-food grade animal offal."  I totally support using "non-food grade animal offal" for the purpose you have stated, and support your receiving funding. Good luck with your projects.

 

   


Comment 11 of 11
Add Your Comment

Registered users, please make sure to Sign-In. We and others want to know your ideas and opinions. If you are not yet Registered -- it's quick and easy. Just click below.
Thanks!

Register Now   Sign-In
Featured Total Access Partners
Click company logos to learn more
American Wind Energy Association Canadian Solar Inc. PetersenDean Roofing and Solar Systems Comdel American Wire Group Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition
WORLD'S #1 RENEWABLE ENERGY NETWORK
World's #1 Renewable Energy Network Logo