Improved Strain of Camelina Developed for Biodiesel Feedstock

Targeted Growth, Inc. (TGI), a renewable energy bioscience company, and Green Earth Fuels, a biodiesel energy company, announced the formation of a joint venture called Sustainable Oils, Inc.. The new venture will produce and market up to 100 million gallons of Camelina-based biodiesel by 2010, launching the single largest U.S. contract for the unique biodiesel-specific feedstock. Nearly all of the initial Camelina production is expected to be grown in Montana.

Camelina, a distant relative to Canola, can grow on marginal land, requires minimal water or fertilizer, and can be harvested with traditional equipment. TGI has been perfecting Camelina for the past three years in greenhouse and field trials. Specifically, it has used non-transgenic molecular assisted breeding programs to create a crop that is well suited to Montana’s climate and soil and that produces high quality biodiesel.

“We have created a better feedstock for biodiesel,” said Tom Todaro, CEO of Targeted Growth. “Camelina can be rotated with current Montana crops, it grows in land with lower agricultural value, and it doesn’t significantly increase the use of fertilizer or irrigation water. We think this will be a model for the development and use of other biofuel-specific crops.”

“This deal allows us access to a high quality feedstock at an extraordinarily competitive price,” said Green Earth Fuels CEO Greg Bafalis. “There’s an advantage to being vertically integrated – it closely aligns our interests with those of our feedstock suppliers. And because Camelina exists outside of the traditional commodity market, it should not be as volatile as other feedstocks.”

Targeted Growth has spent years applying its suite of yield and trait technologies to Camelina to create the first Elite Camelina Seed. Green Earth Fuels opened one of the country’s largest biodiesel production facilities this month, in Houston, and is successfully developing additional projects to provide biodiesel that meets exceptional quality and ratability standards to leading energy companies.

This is a welcome addition to the feedstocks available for biodiesel. Until biodiesel from algae becomes a commercial reality, lower cost, higher yielding crops will improve the viability of biodiesel.

Comments

[AHSAN SHEIKH]

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regards,

[Doug W]

I bet your Nigerian cousin needs an account to wire his $20 million inheritance to as well.

[GreyFlcn]

Two issues though.

1. This is just another variant of rapeseed.
Something which is already far too GHG dirty to even consider prolonged use of.

2. "Until "If biodiesel from algae becomes a commercial reality"
Is that ever going to happen?
I mean maybe when we feel like paying $20-$30 per gallon.

The thermodynamics just don't pencil in for biofuels.

http://greyfalcon.net/biolimits.png

http://algae-thermodynamics.blogspot.com/2007/03/how-can-one-not-like-greenfuel.html

[Kit P]

The purpose of biofuels in Montana is energy security. While GreyFlcn may want measure everything to the yard stick of ghg emissions, he is in serious need of help. There is no reason to think more nitrous oxide will be produced by Camelina that what is already growing in Montana.

The ability to rotate with dry land wheat may actually reduce ghg emissions.

[GreyFlcn]

Cheap Energy > All?

So by that measure, we should just liquify
coal and be done with it?

Right?

http://greyfalcon.net/fossilenergy.png

[bigTom]

GreyFalcon:
I liked your reference, it is clear that for any biofuel production to be sensible, it needs pretty low cost per meter squared. That probably means that for Algae nothing more complicated than a floating pool cover is affordable. I've always thought the Greenfuels stuff was laughable -but of course some investors are losing money on it.

[John Bushelle]

Business combinations, merger, acquisition, and joint venture are not easy to execute and they most often don’t live up to their expectations. There have been several studies done on mergers and acquisitions announced in the last 20 years and in well over 60% of the cases the synergy was not realized. When synergy doesn’t materialize the acquiring company ends up damaging shareholder value because premiums paid to take a significant equity stake in a target company are not recouped. However, by understanding a company’s motives for buying, selling, or partnering a business, how the decision fits in with their overall corporate strategy, and the careful identification of the characteristics of an ideal target, the chances of success can be greatly increased. effective post merger integration is a big key to success.

[Drilling Fluids]

Nice post. This post is different from what I read on most blog. And it have so many valuable things to learn.
Thank you for your sharing!

[backup camera]

I am not familiar with Camelina, good to read about it here! :)

[internet marketing los angeles]

So glad that this is happening, I hope it worked out well!

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Interesting joint venture I hope it is a success.

[access doors]

Wow 100 million gallons by 2010? So what's the number at now?

[fashion books]

Did the end up growing all of this in Montana?

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Good that they improved this strain. I hope it continues to work!