:: Task 39 :: Home

Welcome!

IEA Bioenergy Task 39 'Commercializing 1^st- and 2^nd-Generation Liquid Biofuels from Biomass' is a global network dedicated to the development and deployment of biofuels for transportation fuel use. Our Task is part of the International Energy Agency (IEA)'s Implementing Agreement on Bioenergy. Our Task is currently composed of 15 countries or regional associations, including Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, the United States and the United Kingdom. Our Task brings together leading researchers, government officials, and industry pioneers in our bid to successfully introduce biofuels for transportion into the commercial marketplace.

Task 39's activities are organized into two Subtasks. The first of these focuses on the technical challenges of 2^nd-generation biofuel production, while the second focuses on policy, markets and implementation issues that must be addressed in commercialization of all biofuels. Our goal is to provide our members with comprehensive information that will assist them with accelerating the commercial uptake of biofuel technologies. For more information on our objectives and goals, click here.

Upcoming meetings
Task 39 is helping to organize the IEA Bioenergy Multi-Task Conference in Vancouver, Canada from August 23-26, 2009. Click here for the conference flyer and call for presentations. Please re-visit this website for more updates as these dates approach!

Past Meetings
Task 39 held a three-day policy workshop in Dresden from June 3-5, 2009.

Task 39 held a full day business meeting on May 2, 2009 to discuss progress in commercializing 2nd-generation liquid biofuels in San Francisco, USA in conjunction with the 31st Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals. In addition, Tasks 39 and 40 jointly organized a special session on Tuesday May 5, 2009 themed: International Commercialization of 2nd-Generation Biofuels.

Task 39 held a two-day symposium in Cork, Ireland on September 15-16, 2008. Results of this meeting have been posted on the password protected section of Task 39 website. For further information or a summary of the meeting, please contact Warren Mabee, or phone at 1(613) 533-6000 ext. 77092.

Task 39 held a meeting in conjuction with the 6th European Motor Biofuels Forum in Rotterdam, The Netherlands on January 9-10, 2008. More information about the meeting can be found here.

Newsletter
The latest edition of the Task 39 Newsletter provides the latest update on biochemical conversion research and development (R&D) activities in Denmark, one of our member countries. It also includes a detailed profile on Inbicon, a Danish biotech company that focuses on cellulosic conversion technologies. This current newsletter also contain updates on the most recent activities in the Task. To read the latest version of the newsletter, click here.

To view the archives of our newsletters, click here.

Global Assessment of 2^nd Generation Biofuels Projects

Status of 2nd generation biofuels demonstration facilities (please click on the title to view this interactive web link).

Latest news from www.renewableenergyaccess.com
VC Investment in Green Tech Up to US $1.2B in Q2 <img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2009/7/3/1332-vc-investment-in-green-tech-up-to-us-1-2b-in-q2.jpg" /> Greentech Media Inc. this week released quarterly data showing that venture capital investment in green technologies totaled US $1.2 billion in 85 deals in the second quarter of 2009. This is up from $836 million in 59 deals in the first quarter of 2009. Nominations Open for Lifetime Leadership Awards <img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/assets/logos/6397-johnson-controls--inc-.jpg" /> People who know worthy nominees for the Building Efficiency Lifetime Leadership (BELL) award are encouraged to visit http://bit.ly/BELLdoc to review the nomination criteria and download the award nomination form. Ox Mountain Landfill Gas Project Begins Operation One of the San Francisco Bay Area's largest renewable energy projects, a landfill gas-to-energy station at Republic Services' Ox Mountain Landfill in Half Moon Bay, began operation this week. Owned and operated by a subsidiary of Ameresco Inc., the landfill gas to energy plant will supply enough renewable energy to customers in Alameda and Palo Alto. Federal Efforts a Travesty <img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/authors/32-tam-hunt.jpg" /> "'We've ensured a role for coal," said Rick Boucher, Democratic Congressman from West Virginia, regarding the federal climate change "mitigation" bill that recently passed the House. I'm forced to use quotation marks around "mitigation" because this "deal with the devil," as Ted Nordhaus, of the Breakthrough Institute, described it, confirmed my worst suspicions: even under a progressive and popular President the chance of an effective federal climate change mitigation bill passing through Congress is minimal to none. Funding for a wide range of energy related projects <img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/assets/logos/8055-euro-akadem---academy-for-european-management-gmbh.jpg" /> Renewable Energy Investors Are Cautiously Optimistic <img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2009/7/1/1332-renewable-energy-investors-are-cautiously-optimistic.jpg" /> In just five months, the U.S. government has gone from being a casual supporter of renewable energy to the one of world's biggest investors in the space. Now the private sector is trying to figure out what role it will play in this new era of government involvement. IRENA Names Pelosse As Director General and Abu Dhabi As Headquarters The Preparatory Commission of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has named Hélène Pelosse as the first head of the emerging Agency during its second session in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Four candidates with outstanding profiles and strong backgrounds in the field of renewable energy were nominated by the Member States for the position and the French candidate, Pelosse, was appointed. Zoi Confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at DOE Cathy Zoi has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate for the post of Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the Department of Energy (DOE). SRS Engineering Planning 10MMGY Biodiesel Plant SRS Engineering Corporation has finalized a contract with ReNvision Biofuels Inc. to build its 10 million-gallon-per-year (MMGY) biodiesel plant in, Alberta, Canada. SRS Engineering Corp. will provide the complete design and engineering services and the equipment required to build this biodiesel plant. The project will use a number of feedstocks that are available locally, including animal fats, canola and camelina. Are the Chinese Working To Curb Their Emissions? <img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/authors/39-lou-schwartz.jpg" /> Beijing's formulation of the {Alternative Energy Revitalization Plan} is yet another concrete illustration of the determination of the Chinese government to develop a low-carbon economy. It is also a reminder to critics of China's efforts to tackle climate change that Beijing is taking significant steps in realizing that goal. To be responsible in their criticism, those who care about climate change need to get under the hood and examine in detail the renewable energy engine that China is building and avoid the oversimplification that obscures a real convergence of interests. Biogas and Second Generation Fuels at European Biomass Event <img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2009/6/29/1332-biogas-and-second-generation-fuels-at-european-biomass-event.jpg" /> At the 17th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, which opened today in Hamburg, Schmack Biogas was awarded the EUBIA (European Biomass Industry Asociation) award for its innovative work in biogas. The company and the bioenergy sector have experienced record development. The Schmack brothers identified the potential at an early stage, starting with a 30 kilowatt plant. Having started small, the company now operates on an international scale. House Passes Climate Bill Including National RPS Late last Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 219-212 to pass the American Clean Energy & Security Act. The new climate legislation includes a National Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) provision, mandating that investor owned utilities buy a minimum of 15% of their energy from renewable sources. Aora Launches Hybrid Solar Thermal Station Aora has launched its first hybrid solar thermal gas turbine power station at Kibbutz Samar in southern Israel. Aora's Samar "Power Flower" station consists of a field of 30 tracking mirrors (heliostats) situated on half an acre of land. U.S. Department of Labor Announces US $500M For Green Job Training U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis announced five grant competitions this week, totaling US $500 million, to fund projects that prepare workers for green jobs in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. Roadsters Embrace Green Racing <img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2009/6/25/1332-roadsters-embrace-green-racing.jpg" /> Fast and green. That's what it takes to get to the winner's circle in a new type of auto racing. Called green racing, it's a meshing of the fast and furious world of auto racing with the quest for cleaner-burning fuels and more energy efficient engines. But make no mistake about it, being green does not mean being slow. Can Biomass Replace Coal? <img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2009/6/18/1332-can-biomass-replace-coal.jpg" /> Wind and solar power are clean and free but they only work part of the time. When the sun goes down and the wind dies, coal is still the workhorse for generating baseload power. But coal is killing us by warming the planet, acidifying our lakes and oceans and sprinkling mercury over the landscape. Geothermal can do part of the job but it will take decades to drill enough wells. Vermont School District Shifts to Wood Pellets The Windsor School District in Windsor, Vermont will become one of the first public school systems in the state to heat its building entirely with locally sourced wood pellets. The district has contracted with International WoodFuels LLC to provide a metered thermal heating solution that includes a high-efficiency pellet boiler, pellet storage silo, pellet delivery and monitoring and maintenance of the system with no capital cost investment by Windsor Schools. Investing in Solar and Renewable Energy Related ETF's <img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/authors/5-j--peter-lynch.jpg" /> Hello. I had a quick question. Is it possible to invest in the REW 40 index? I am new to investing, and was wondering if I could just invest in the REW 40 index, or do I have to invest individually in each company? Thank you for your help. -- John G., Plymouth, MA Renewable Energy World Conference Now Seeking Abstracts Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo is now accepting abstract submittals for the 2010 conference program. Submit your abstracts by August 7, 2009 and take advantage of the opportunity to share your insight with the renewable energy industry. Rekindling Wood Energy in America <img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2009/6/22/1332-rekindling-wood-energy-in-america.jpg" /> Clean-energy opportunities are many and will be realized if energy policy can both promote the efficiency of our energy system and sustainable development of a full complement of renewables: solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, and biomass.

©2008 IEA Bioenergy: Task 39 'Commercializing 1st- and 2nd-Generation Liquid Biofuels from Biomass'.
All rights reserved. No material may be published, reproduced or exhibited for commercial use without the express written consent of the Task Leader, Task 39, or the IEA Bioenergy Secretariat. Academic or non-profit users should acknowledge 'IEA Task 39' and appropriate authors when using this material.