Boeing and Hawai'i BioEnergy to work together on biofuels

Biofuels International
11 November 2011

Boeing has signed an agreement to collaborate with Hawai'i BioEnergy to produce renewable fuels, identify biofuel sources and build new technology.

The companies plan to examine crops including sorghum and eucalyptus for possible biofuel feedstocks – which can be grown locally in Hawaii in order to be produced into jet biofuel.

Boeing vice president of environment and aviation policy, Billy Glover, says: ‘This collaborative effort will allow us to examine potential local options, while protecting the beauty and culture these islands have to offer.’

Because the island has a strong US military presence and at the moment is dependent on importing energy resources, the companies hope that their work can boost the local economy.

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Researchers Win R&D 100 Award for Ethanol Project

Released: Wed 09-Jul-2008, 08:30 ET

Newswise — Iowa State University and University of Hawai‘i researchers have won national recognition for their work to grow microscopic fungus in leftovers from ethanol production in an effort to improve the efficiency of the corn-to-ethanol conversion process.

The project has been named a winner of a 2008 R&D 100 Award presented by R&D Magazine. The Chicago Tribune has called the awards, presented annually since 1963, the “Oscars of Invention.” This is the 30th R&D 100 Award presented to a project affiliated with Iowa State.

An award letter said editors and a judging panel consider the project “one of the top 100 most technologically significant products introduced into the marketplace over the past year.”

The award goes to Hans van Leeuwen, an Iowa State professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering and the leader of the research project; Anthony L. Pometto III, a professor of food science and human nutrition; Mary Rasmussen, a graduate student in environmental engineering and biorenewable resources and technology; and Samir Khanal, a former Iowa State research assistant professor who’s now an assistant professor of molecular biosciences and bioengineering at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

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Hawaii scientists see algae's 'green' potential

Friday, June 13, 2008
Pacific Business News (Honolulu) - by Nanea Kalani Pacific Business News

The search for "green" alternatives to fossil fuels has turned some Hawaii entrepreneurs into farmers.

Their crop is algae, an abundant and renewable source for biofuel with a rapid growth rate and high oil yield.

Helping them is Hawaii's climate, where sun and water offer an ideal environment for algae farming.

At least two Hawaii biotech firms are focused on researching and developing algae strains for biofuel production. And a third is looking to set up on the Big Island later this year.
Biofuel, which refers to clean-burning fuels made from vegetable oils or animal fats, can be used to run cars, planes and power plants.

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UH (Hawaii) tests ethanol waste as animal feed

Star Bulletin (Hawaii)

Research at the University of Hawaii could hold the key to turning a profit in producing ethanol fuel from sugar cane in Hawaii.

The research involves a method to turn a waste product called vinasse into fish or cattle feed that could be sold to local fish farms and ranches.

Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Co. says the results could help determine whether the company goes into ethanol production here.

The ethanol fermentation process produces 10 to 15 gallons of vinasse, said Lee Jakeway, director of energy development for the sugar company. "We really don't have a good solution for it now. That's been holding us back from moving forward with ethanol production."

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Turning Local Crops into Biodiesel

KHON tv
Story Updated: Jun 5, 2008 at 5:15 PM HDT

By Vanessa Stewart

With the shutdown of many local companies producing milk, fruit and meat, Hawaii is dependent on the mainland to get products.

An EPA grant to conduct research on four local crops to make biodiesel locally hopes to change that--making Hawaii more self-sufficient.

Kukui nut, Coconut, Jatropha and Castor bean are the local crops researchers hope can create large scale production of biodiesel.

"Kukui nut oil has never been made into biodiesel so we don't know if we can meet the quality standards of biodiesel," says Kelly King, Pacific Biodiesel.

Thursday, two machines went to work, showing us just how the oil is produced.

Researchers at the Oceanic Institute use soybeans as a benchmark.

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