Green Chemicals

Weekly News Roundup

2008-08-29T15:29:18Z

The US presidential race is now in full speed as both democratic and republican parties officially nominate their candidates. The future of the US renewable energy market will be at stake as each presidential nominee tries to solve the soaring energy price crisis.

In other news, the 23rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy conference in Valencia, Spain, will start on September 1. Although I'm not attending the conference (more's the pity), I've been receiving several press releases from chemical companies that deal with the industry and I'll share them with you next week.

For now, here's this week's news roundup.

Bioplastic buyout
International Consolidated Companies (ICCI) will acquire Massena, NY-based Bio Plastics Inc. for $5m. The company plans to produce biodegradable plastic products such as CD cases, DVD boxes, etc.

Organic glycerine in Europe
Cremer Care has become the exclusive distributor of organic glycerine and soap noodles from the Daabon group of Colombia for the European cosmetics market. The products were made from palm oil.

Recycled plastic contract
Recycled polymer producer Blue Earth Solutions bagged new supply contracts for expanded polysterene foam with Master Containers, Inc. and Technology Conservation Group.

Acquiring European wind
San Diego, Calif.-based Green Star Alternative Energy plans to buy Serbian wind power company Notos d.o.o. Green Star will also acquire Sirius Regulus, which owns the land used for the various projects constructed by its sister company Notos.

Japan's new solar plant
Mitsubishi Electric plans to build a new photovoltaic cell plant in Nagano Prefecture. The company will also invest a total of 50 billion yen ($459m) to quadruple its annual PV production capacity from 150 megawatts to 600 megawatts by 2012.

And in ICIS News (which requires subscription):
California lawmakers plan to give the California Department of Toxic Substances Control the power to regulate the use of toxic chemicals in the state.

A new report by the Government Accountability Office charged that the Chemical Safety & Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), set up by the US Congress to investigate serious chemical leaks and accidents, is not doing what legislators told it to do.

Greenpeace Germany is charging that the European Union's new rules on maximum residue levels of pesticides will expose German consumers to higher levels than previously allowed.

Obama to end US oil era

2008-08-29T03:17:56Z

Barack Obama's democratic national convention speech last night is probably sending shivers down an oil company's spine (and perhaps the petroleum industry as well??) as he promised to end America's oil dependence from the Middle East in 1o years if he's elected president.

In his speech, Obama said he will invest $150 billion over the next decade in solar, wind, next generation biofuels, clean coal, natural gas, nuclear (as long as it's safe!) and other affordable renewable energy sources.

"[This is]....an investment that will lead to new industries and five million new jobs that pay well and can't ever be outsourced...I'll help our auto companies re-tool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America. I'll make it easier for the American people to afford these new cars."

And oh yeah, he is definitely opposed to lifting the Congress ban on US offshore drilling.

"Now is the time....to understand that drilling is a stop-gap measure, not a long-term solution. Not even close."

And for that I guess that makes him persona non grata within the chemical industry as well? We will see what other energy platforms he'll proposed as the US presidential election goes along.

Next week is the Republican's turn to officially nominate John McCain. We already know that he is for offshore drilling but we have to find out what is his specific platforms for renewable energy

Icy oil and gas coming soon

2008-08-28T13:32:07Z

It seems that producible quantities of oil and gas can be found in the Dreki area of Iceland (in the Atlantic, northeast of Iceland on the Jan Mayen Ridge, between Iceland and Jan Mayen Island), and the Icelandic government is inviting experts and specialist in geology and oil exploration (as well as oil/energy companies) to attend its Iceland Exploration Conference next week.

The government plans to start tendering exclusive licenses for oil exploration in the Dreki area in January 2009. They said further research including exploratory drilling is needed to verify whether oil and gas exist in the area.

"We have high expectations of finding oil in the Dreki area since scientific research has indicated that valuable oil resources may be found there," said Iceland's Minister of Industry, Össur Skarphédinsson. "We therefore urge all parties interested in new oil fields in northern areas to attend the conference in Reykjavik."

According to the press release sent by the Ministry of Industry, international companies have already shown keen interests in explorations in the Dreki area.

Orkustofnun, Iceland's National Energy Authority, said energy consumption per capita in the country is among the highest in the world. The majority of Iceland's electricity (80%) is generated using hydropower and the remainder is based on geothermal power.

What's with the chemical hysteria?

2008-08-28T12:22:25Z

The US seems to be intent in pushing a lot of chemical bans this year especially in California. Meanwhile, plastic bag bans are plastered all over the news as well.

Joe Acker, president of the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA), noted the rampant chemophobia going on in the US in his blog, and how US regulatory agencies seem to be pandering to these fears.

"The resulting widespread fear often pressures the government or retailers to react rashly and eliminate useful substances, regardless of the true hazard or the potentially disastrous market or safety outcomes."

I do agree that news on these purported toxic chemicals such as BPA, PVC, phthalates, certain flame retardants, and certain pesticides, seem to be overblown. However, will the government really put consumers more at risk by banning these chemicals?

Chemical associations continue to emphasized their historical safety but it seems several chemical companies are already working to find alternatives as a way to increase their competitiveness (and make higher profits).

Ban or not, maybe spotlighting these chemicals could be a good thing to drive the industry's innovative spirit (and profitability) to a higher level.

Brits claim greener sense

2008-08-28T09:09:07Z

An online green study from global market research firm TNS reported that 51% of the UK population rated their own natural environment as 'excellent' to 'good' while 71% rated the rest of the world's environment as 'poor' or at best 'fair'.

The report said 51% of the Brits surveyed claimed to have recently started changing their behavior to become 'greener', which is a higher proportion compared to the average 40% surveyed worldwide. Their favorite green methods are turning off computers after use, recycling, unplugging unused appliances, buying reusable products, weather-proofing and home insulation, adjusting thermostats, mailing lists removal, and annual vehicle tune-up.

The UK folks seem to be more hesitant when it comes to bigger green investments such as buying eco-friendly products or used clothing and furniture, green gift giving, and donating to green organizations. Other unpopular green behaviors in the UK include making their own cleaning supplies (who would???), washing clothes in cold water, organic gardening and making compost (only the die-hard green fans will probably do this one).

"The danger is that we overestimate how good the state of the UK's own environment is, and become complacent in our efforts to become 'greener'. With our negative view of the environment globally, we should recognize our responsibility to do whatever we can and be open to a wider range of 'green' behaviors, in order to reduce our impact on the environment as much as possible." - Andrew Czarnowski, Managing Director of TNS' UK and Ireland Custom business.

So my question to all of our British friends out there: Do you agree to this study, and what are your favorite green actions?

National conventions green war

2008-08-27T13:38:58Z

To celebrate the National Conventions here in the US (democratic convention this week and republican's next week), here's an interesting article by Greenbiz.com about the ongoing green war from the red and blue convention organizers.

The article noted the more publicized green initiatives coming from the democratic side although a republican spokesperson said their green measures are more practical, realistic and conscientious.

Just today, a press release from AeonSolar, Evergreen Solar and PV Powered stated that an 18.2 kilowatt solar power system has been installed on the grounds of the Pepsi Center in Denver, home of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

I have not yet encountered an article about the greening of this year's Republican convention so feel free to share it with me.

Lucky $26m green recipients

2008-08-27T11:17:02Z

Is $26m enough to partially fund development of new energy efficient industrial processing?

The US Department of Energy (DOE) seems to think so and has given the three-year funding to be shared by eight lucky projects:

Energy Reduction and Advanced Water Removal via Membrane Solvent Extraction Technology for $5.6m by 3M company.

Thermochemical Recuperation for High Temperature Furnaces for $4.6m by American Iron and Steel Institute.

Paired Straight Hearth (PSH) furnace for $1.51m also by American Iron and Steel Institute. PSH furnace is said to be an alternative to the energy and carbon-intensive blast furnace commonly used to make steel.

Induction Consolidation/Molding of Thermoplastic Composites using Smart Susceptors for $4.1m by Boeing Company.

Prototyping Energy Efficient Thermo-magnetic and Induction Hardening for Heat Treat and Net-Shape Forming applications for $4.3m by Eaton Corporation.

Electrohydraulic Forming of Near-Net Shape Automotive Panels for $3.7m by Ford Motor Company.

Inorganic Membranes for Refinery Gas Separations for $897,265 by Media and Process Technologies, Inc.

Ultra-Efficient and Power Dense Electric Motors for $1.9m by Reliance Electric Company.

I'm just glad that our tax dollars are going to good purposes although I heard a rumor that the DOE's funding process is so convoluted and lagging that one company noted that it is sometimes better to find other fundings elsewhere to get research going.

Busting solar myths

2008-08-27T08:32:50Z

Wind turbine syndrome, vibro-acoustic disorder, and now solar blindness...Fact or fiction? The myth busters may have to work on these ones but for now, other myths in the solar energy area are being dispelled by the company Sunrise Solar.

Myth 1: Solar electricity cannot provide a significant part of America's electricity needs.

Fact: The solar energy resource in a 100 square mile area of Nevada could supply ALL of the electricity needs of the United States, even while using today's modestly efficient solar cell technology. Solar systems covering America's 5 million acres of abandoned industrial sites alone could produce 90% of our power needs.

Myth 2: Solar energy can solve our problems right now!

Fact: The solar industry does not currently have the capacity to meet all current demands. High demand is expected to continue for many years to come, which will provide strong growth prospects for solar companies.

Myth 3: Solar is a cottage industry appealing only to smaller markets.

Fact: Over the past several years the solar industry has achieved 30% annual growth. It is a multi-billion dollar industry that is growing rapidly and could reach $15 billion annually within the next 5 years. Current projections suggest that within the next 20 years more than 300,000 Americans will have solar related jobs.

Myth 4: Solar is too expensive to compete with the "big boys" of power generation.

Fact: The cost of making a solar cell capable of producing one watt of electricity has fallen from approximately $50 twenty years ago, to under $3 today. In some markets the cost of solar power is now under $0.11 per kwh, which is competitive with traditional power generations methods. It is expected that the return on investment for new solar modules will be less than 24 months, resulting in 20 or more years of clean, near-zero cost energy.

Solar critics are also saying that photovoltaic manufacture is too toxic. So among the world's energy sources available right now, which one do you want in your backyard? Wind, solar, nuclear, fossil, geothermal or coal?

Beware of wind energy side effects

2008-08-26T12:15:14Z

Aside from its unprofitability forecast, maybe Shell knows something about wind energy that we don't when they pulled out of their UK offshore wind farm investment.

According to this article from New Scientist, a study shows that the moving blades from wind turbines can cause a drop in pressure that makes the delicate lungs of bats suddenly expand and burst. This is known as a barotrauma, and is well-known to scuba divers.

The theory is that the high-frequency noise from the turbines' gears and blades could be disrupting the bats' echolocation systems.

*Echolocation - in Wiki definition is the biological sonar used by animals such as dolphins, bats and whales for navigation and for foraging in various environments.

Will this issue cause investment hesitation towards wind energy? It's too soon to tell although if dolphins and whales will be found suddenly floating near offshore wind farms, this clean energy will definitely be out of the picture as soon as possible.

These bats will probably have to fend for themselves for now unless somebody will have the bright idea to build a force field big enough to warn the bats to go away from these evil lung poppers.

As one commenter noted, every energy source has its pros and cons. We just have to choose wisely which one will give the most benefit to humans and the environment.

I'm curious though if there are such illnesses as Wind Turbine Syndrome and Vibro-Acoustic Disorder???

Green marketing 101

2008-08-26T10:08:26Z

Marketers may have to attend Greenwashing seminars and classes if they want to learn the do's and don'ts on how to use green words in their advertisings.

All over the world, public advocates are scrutinizing every green word in marketing and advertising and this summer alone found major companies such as tire manufacturer Goodyear in Australia, and in the UK, oil company Shell, accused of greenwashing.

Another one brewing in Australia is within the beverage industry. According to this article from FoodProductionDaily.com, beer producer Coopers Brewery has been accused by the Australian consumer advocate group CHOICE of greenwashing. The group filed a complaint to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the article reported.

Coopers' slogan for its beer: "Australia's greenest beer", "Big beer. Tiny footprint."

CHOICE voiced out that Coopers doesn't provide the reassurance of third-party certification, or support its claims with much evidence. When they asked the company about its green practices, CHOICE claimed that Coopers cannot provide comparable data on how it was performing in relation to other beer manufacturers in Australia.

"Months after we first spotted its footprint advert, Coopers said it is just now in the process of measuring their footprint. Where does this leave the consumer who wants to drink enviro beer? The marketing might be cute and clever, but don't lap up a green claim unless it's backed up with reliable evidence," CHOICE said.

Here are other eco-beer slogans in Australia. So far, they passed CHOICE's green approval.

Cascade Green "100% carbon offset", "Beer of the earth."
Barefoot Radler "Carbon neutral", "Treading softly on the planet."

In another industry and here in the US, cleaning products producer Clorox has also been hit by marketing and labeling complaints although not from a green group but from its major competitor, SC Johnson.

According to the Council of Better Business Bureau's National Advertising Division (NAD), SC Johnson is challenging Clorox's claims that its Green Works product line works as well as traditional cleaners.

The NAD said Clorox should discontinue or modify their claims as based on their testing, the natural-based cleaners "do not perform as well as all cleaners on the toughest grease and does not kill germs as many traditional cleaners do."

Definitely not a good news for Clorox especially when its Green Works line is widely being promoted by the retail giant Wal-Mart. The product line also has the endorsement of the green group Sierra Club.

Clorox said it disagreed with the NAD's findings but will not appeal the decision.

Shell out of wind

2008-08-26T08:11:56Z

Are major oil companies just full of hot air when it comes to their clean energy strategies?

Last month, Shell decided to abandon its stake in a large offshore wind farm in the UK, which was then bought by energy company E.ON and Danish utility firm DONG Energy.

According to this article from the International Herald Tribune, Shell said it made the sale because rising costs made it unclear whether the planned 341-turbine wind farm in the Thames Estuary would be profitable.

The Tribune added that Shell's move echoes plans by BP to review its renewable energy portfolio for a possible partial sale or flotation, after the BP chief executive, Tony Hayward, decided that his investors put little value on green assets.

No wonder it is sometimes so easy for environmentalists to get skeptical at oil firms' green marketing campaigns when you hear news like this and at the same time they are reporting billion-dollar quarter earnings.

China's green revolution

2008-08-25T15:52:44Z

Here's a nice interesting insight from my colleague John Richardson about China's fast track towards becoming the world's leader in clean technologies.

If you're an ICIS subscriber (about ICIS), you can access the whole article in this link. Or you can also read the unedited somewhat similar version on his blog. Otherwise (that is if you don't have the time or just plain lazy to click links), here are some points that John noted on how China's government subsidies are helping push the region's green revolution.

China ranks fifth on wind energy capacity behind Germany, the US, Spain and India.

China is second only to Japan in the global solar photovoltaic market.

Chinese companies are zealously pursuing viable carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies and the region could become excellent CCS testing ground for major global energy companies.

China is also introducing fuel efficiency standards for cars.

China is the second largest recipient of sustainable energy investment behind Germany.

The question asked is will China's push towards green tech enough to overcome its hunger for consumer capitalism and world domination on industrialization - which are the major sources of global pollution problems in the first place?

Green casino coming soon

2008-08-25T10:08:18Z

Atlantic City in New Jersey will have a new player in their midst...and it will be green.

Revel Entertainment is building Atlantic City's 12th casino, which it claimed will be the world's greenest come 2010. The $2 billion casino resort will use environment-friendly concrete mix technology and the company said it will pursue LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the US Green Building Council and other green building certification abroad.

I'm sure my boss would love to promote this place. Anything for a green cause!

Lost polar bears

2008-08-25T08:39:30Z

Sometimes the way to get to your pocket is to tug your heart strings and this advertising about polar bears almost worked on mine.

According to WWF, several polar bears are way miles away from home and swimming more in open waters to find food and shelter.

"While these bears are swimming around in an ice-free coastal Arctic Ocean, the only thing the State of Alaska is doing is suing the federal government trying to overturn the listing of polar bears as endangered species. The bottom line here is that polar bears need sea ice, sea ice is decaying, and the bears are in very serious trouble. For any people who are still non-believers in global warming and the impacts it is having in the Arctic, this should answer their doubts once and for all."

Good thing I don't have anything on my bank account right now or I would have given my last penny just to save the poor bears.

Oh who am I kidding?!? I wouldn't give my last penny because between me and the polar bears, the bears will probably eat me alive with no regrets. But I still feel sorry for the bears who are losing their homes slowly each year.

Weekly News Roundup

2008-08-22T13:49:58Z

This week's big news (for me at least) is Mayor Mike Bloomberg considering wind energy projects in New York City.

According to this article from the New York Times, the mayor is not only looking to install wind turbines in the windy parts of Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island (what about Staten Island?), the top of skyscrapers and even in bridges could be possible installation spots as well.

Let's see if that will push through bringing the fact that he's time in the city hall is ticking fast.

For now, here's this week's green global news roundup.

Solutia's solar solution
Solutia will be supplying a solar thermal power plant in Egypt with its synthetic heat transfer fluid Therminol VP-1. The fluids are being utilized in the production of solar energy for more than 20 years, the company said.

Ohio solar expansion
First Solar will expand its manufacturing operations and development facilities at its Perrysburg, Ohio facility. The expansion, to be completed in the second quarter of 2010, will increase the facility's capacity to approximately 192 megawatts/year.

Eastman reduces sulfur
Hydrogen Energy International (HEI) will license Eastman's Reduced Sulfur Start-Up Technology, which will minimize sulfur emissions during start-up of HEI's first solid-fueled gasification facility with carbon-capture.

Eco-certified cosmetic pigments
Germany-based Merck has their cosmetic pigments and fillers sold under the brand names Biron®, Colorona® and Timiron® certified with the ECOCERT standard. ECOCERT is currently the most important internationally recognized certificate for natural cosmetics, according to Merck.

More wind for California
Pacific Gas and Electric Company entered a long-term agreement with Klondike Wind Power III LLC to purchase 90 megawatts of renewable wind energy from the Klondike facility in Sherman County, Oregon. The project will generate 260 million kilowatt-hours of renewable energy annually.

Praxair seeks green money
Industrial gas company Praxair submitted a proposal to the US Department of Energy to get funding for its Jamestown Oxy-Coal project. Praxair said the Oxy-Coal technology is designed to capture more than 90% of the carbon dioxide generated in coal-fired plants.

And in ICIS News (which requires subscription):
Growing investments in wind energy could create new demand for maleic anhydride.

German environmental group Deutsche Umwelthilfe is pressing for an additional 20-cent Euro charge on PET bottles, cans and other one-way packaging for non-alcoholic drinks.

Greenpeace wants Germany to crack down on illegal pesticides following a study that showed widespread use of unlicensed and illegal products.

Syngenta said they have not sold any of the illegal pesticides that Greenpeace reported since 2003.