Zeitgeist at the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference

Agriculture (USDA)Aviation Fuel/Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)BioChemicals/Renewable Chemicals BioRefineries/Renewable Fuel Production Business News/Analysis Energy (DOE)Federal Agency/Executive Branch Funding/Financing/Investing Opinions Original Writing, Opinions Advanced Biofuels USA Other Conferences/Events Policy Presentations

February 25, 2016

Print This Article Share it With Friends

LanzaTech CEO Jennifer Holmgren visits with Advanced Biofuels USA's Bill Brandon at pre-conference meeting.

by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) You might think that annual conferences feel the same year after year. Not true. One of the reasons to attend conferences is to get an update on the dynamic 'feel' or zeitgeist of an industry, a movement, a community. Gatherings such as Biofuels Digest's Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference provide that opportunity. Partly because, as international bioeconomy leader and LanzaTech CEO Jennifer Holmgren said, part of the reason to attend is to reconnect with friends. Even among dark-suited professionals, there are hugs with people you have watched grow over the years; with people with whom you have experienced life-work's ups and downs. And the biofuels/bioeconomy sector has certainly experienced a surfeit of those which has created a special camaraderie .

The Word of Day 1: Survivor

On the first full day of the conference, presenters repeatedly used the word, 'survivor.' At this point, that word cannot be taken to mean simply 'winners' as opposed to 'losers' not only because the politicos keep saying that they won't enact policy that picks winners and losers, but because many of those who could be winners haven't even had a chance to show their worth.

The NextStore in the exhibit hall showcased some results of the biofuels' industry pivot to biochemicals and bioproducts.

As Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz wrote in the Austin American-Statesman on February 19 in an article titled "U.S. Needs Investments in Clean Energy:"

The Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E) provides one example. Since the program was founded in 2009, almost half of its 141 projects completed received substantial follow-on funding and 30 new companies have formed — a remarkable track record for a high-risk investment portfolio. However, DOE was only able to support less than two percent of the proposals submitted for one of our latest rounds of funding. We are missing real energy breakthroughs that will yield new business opportunities. (emphasis added)

And this funding goes not only to biofuels research, but to all types of "clean energy." LESS THAN TWO PERCENT funded. That's hardly enough to justify the department's photo ops and press releases; certainly not enough to support claims of serious concern for the environment.

And, as Secretary Moniz points out, this is only one example. Other grant solicitations from DOE, US Department of Agriculture, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense and others are in the same boat.

Thus, 'survivors' are those who have found ways to stay engaged.

US Navy Director for Operational Energy, Chris Tindal, explains the 77 million gallons of biofuel blend going to sea with the Great Green Fleet

The change of the conference name provides a clue to the survival strategies of some. From the "Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference" to a title that more accurately reflects the redirected focus of many who attended the original ABLC, the "Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference."

Solazyme, a few years ago, lead the pivot when corporate leaders realized that the algal oils they produced could find lucrative markets in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, paints, plastics, and even lubricants for the fossil fuel industry.

In the dictionary under the word "irony" is the Solazyme logo, reflecting how the hype of algae as the ultimate in non-food, sustainable biofuel feedstock proved premature; how the darling of government largess converted into a supplier to supply the fossil fuel industry and facilitate it's continued domination of transportation and power generation markets. All, of course, with the hope that at the same time Solazyme will help to displace that same industry.

LanzaTech CEO Jennifer Holmgren giving in Hot 50 Address

Presentations from Green Biologics, Genomatica, DuPont, Clariant, Bergeson & Campbell, Avantium, Earth Energy Renewables, GFBiochemicals, Comet Biorefining and others highlighted their biochemical, intermediates, bioplastics and biomaterials businesses. They provided additional examples of what it takes to keep the renewable fuels R&D fires burning even when demonstration, deployment and distribution remain over the immediate horizon.

The Hot 50 awards presentations reinforced the role of biochemicals in the industry with Amyris being voted #1 in the rankings, followed by LanzaTech (#2), Novozymes (#3), Renewable Energy Group (#4), Solazyme (#5), Dupont (#6), Genomatica (#7), DSM (#8), BASF (#9), and BioAmber (#10)

The national energy security panel of Truman National Security Project Executive Director, Michael Breen, the Navy's Chris Tindal and AltAir Fuels CEO Bryan Sherbacow

The Words of Day 2: Big Deal

The Navy's Chris Tindal said it first, loudest and most emphatically: BIG DEAL. As in, the (mouth close to the microphone in a baritone that no one could ignore) 77 Million gallons of cost-competitive, drop-in biofuel blend being used in the recently launched Great Green Fleet. As Director for Operational Energy for the US Navy, Tindal has been nurturing this project through some difficult growing pains, so he knows firsthand what a big deal this is. He had the opportunity to explain it to a special free National Energy Security Breakfast which attracted attendees who were not participating in the main conference, as well as to explore details of the project as part of another panel.

During the Energy Security Breakfast, Michael Breen, Executive Director of the Truman National Security Project and The Center for National Policy echoed Tindal's emphasis on the importance of every step taken to decrease the need or desire to spend lives to protect energy supplies. Looking at the bigger climate change picture, he emphasized the disruption and conflict sure to result from rising sea levels damaging littoral areas where so many people live. As he said, all that together produces "geopolitical risk, to put it mildly."

Biofuels Digest's Jim Lane used this map to explain the volatility inherent in current petroleum-based transportation fuel supplies, transport and use.

Breen made a point that the work that the people in that conference room were doing was also a big deal, a big deal that is important to mitigating that geopolitical risk.

Not many discussing biofuels can explain in such eloquent depth, the crucial importance of the promise of this industry. Nor are there many who can project an understanding that those who continue to work on this key area have "taken some hard blows over the last five years and this is not the industry for the faint of heart or for people who lack a certain degree of toughness."

But, Breen said, "It is and remains a national priority for the United States and for the world and a strategic imperative that this industry succeed. ... and I want to thank you for what you are doing."

Speaking, he said, on behalf of those in the national security space (having worn a uniform to work before he wore a professional dark suit), "This stuff is real and we very, very much appreciate everything you are doing to develop the capability our country needs for our national security now and especially for the future."

Quite a powerful message. Quite a big deal to be thanked and encouraged by those that so many automatically thank for their service.

Most of the rest of that day explored the pain that Breene mentioned. Although representatives from government agencies spoke, they had little to offer in the way of support. See Moniz' comments above.

In the mid- to late 2000s the room would have been flooded with investment bankers and financial deal-makers. Ranks have thinned to a few stalwarts who have developed expertise in the fuels and chemicals sectors. Their considered expertise and candid exploration of credible options reflects the time they have spent in the trenches with this industry and is well-appreciated.

Biofuels Digest's Jim Lane, molecule matchmaker, keeing the conference on track

The Word for Day 3: Dating

"Molecular Dating" to be precise, as tables were designated with molecules to encourage interaction among attendees who shared expertise and interest in particular molecules or types of fuel.

Panel presentations also emphasized the need for collaboration, consortia, advocacy groups and partnerships.

Presentations from the renewable chemicals and biomaterials industry reinforced the pivot to this new direction as a way to monitize the value of research begun with renewable liquid fuels in mind; and as a way to continue research possibly related to eventual biofuels development.

Gerry Ostheimer, the Global Lead for the United Nations' Sustainable Energy for All moderated and presented with a panel that expanded on the international perspective.

UN SE4ALL's Gerry Ostheimer passionately advocates for the importance of clean, renewable fuels around the world

In this same vein, ACORE brought together representatives across the energy spectrum; biomass, biofuels, solar, wind and geothermal, to talk about lessons that can be learned from each other's experiences in policy, planning, stakeholder communication, business models, etc. And to have an animated discussion of how the full portfolio of renewable energy could complement its constituent parts, coordinate a common message and, as Scot Sklar, a George Washington University professor and CEO of The Stelle Group, put it, "get out of the ghetto" and interact with a wider variety of entities and people.

Even environmentalists with anti-biofuels biases understand the need for renewable jet fuel; so public perception and acceptance of projects toward that goal have become a bit more upbeat. That's reflected in positive movement toward replacing as much fossil-based fuel in the aviation sector as the biofuels industry can produce.

AltAir Fuels, United Airlines, World Fuel Services, the Department of Defense's Logistics Agency Energy and Honeywell UOP shared news of positive biofuels developments thanks to the value of strong working relationships forged among the producers, blenders, distributors, purchasers and users of renewable transportation fuels.

This group had something to celebrate with the announcement of real renewable jetfuel being shipped to LAX, the Los Angeles airport, entering into the shared fuel storage and distribution system for the first time. Back to the words of Day 2--a Big Deal.

USDA's Todd Campbell and DOE's Alison Goss Eng lead the listening session

The Final Words: Biofuels, Biochemicals, Bioeconomy

USDA and DOE brought up the tail end of the conference with a listening session. Led by Alison Goss Eng, Program Manager, Feedstock Supply and Logistics and Advanced Algal Systems at the Bioenergy Technologies Office at DOE and Todd Campbell, Policy Advisor for Energy and the Bioeconomy, Rural Development of the USDA, they invited thoughts, comments and questions on the potential for growth of the US bioeconomy based on the newly released booklet, "Federal Activities Report on the Bioeconomy" and the previously published "billion ton studies." They will be conducting similar sessions around the country.

When asked during the listening session what the agencies could do to improve the outlook for growth of the bioeconomy, my suggestion was that the agencies could use their access to the ear of the President to convince him to say the word 'biofuel,' to say the word 'biochemical,' to say the word 'bioeconomy' in public. And to make clear that these are crucial to achieving the goals of COP21.

This would go a long way to convincing the public that the government and private sectors should make it a clear priority to transition away from extracted fossil fuels and non-renewable chemicals for world-wide energy security and environmental stability.

Then, perhaps in a future ABLC, there will be winners instead of just survivors and many more Big Deals to celebrate as a community embracing all coordinated, complementary renewable energy interests.

READ MORE / MORE / MORE / MORE (Biofuels Digest) and MORE (Austin Statesman) and MORE (US Department of Energy) and MORE / MORE (ACORE)

*Joanne Ivancic serves as the executive director of Advanced Biofuels USA.

Photos by J.Ivancic