Thursday, August 27, 2009

SRS Engineering Makes the Inc Magazine’s Fastest Growing Private Company 2009 List

SRS Ranks #60 in the Top 100 Energy Industries!

SRS Engineering experienced a 149.8 percent growth in the last four years, summing $5.4 million revenue in the year 2008. The company credits its success to its 25 years of recognized engineering and good standing in the industry. Our reputation is backed up domestically by several Fortune 500 companies and by renowned corporations worldwide.

“We are thrilled and honored to receive this prestigious ranking”, says Clayton Hawranik, CEO of SRS Engineering Corporation.

To Read this Press Release Click Here

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

RFS2 – What Will Happen? You Decide

The Renewable Fuel Standard Program is reaching a crucial point, impacting the renewable fuels industry tremendously. The National Biodiesel Board is doing everything they can to make sure the RFS2 is put into action in the most functional and economical way.
The RFS2 program is designed to increase the volume of renewable fuel required to be blended into conventional gasoline and diesel and to decrease the green house gas(GHG), emissions. This would be the first ever mandatory GHG reduction thresholds for various categories of fuels. GHG emissions are evaluated over the full lifecycle of the fuel, from production of the feedstock all the way to the end use of the renewable fuel, essentially, “from the field to fumes”. The GHG emissions are then compared to the lifecycle emissions of petroleum based fuels. The established range is for a 20 to 60 percent reduction, dependant on the type of renewable fuel.
The EPA has designed a plan which would require a minimum level of particular feedstocks in all biodiesel. The EPA has also proposed to use a Renewable Energy Number system (RIN), to track renewable fuels and determine compliance with the modifications designed to implement the Energy Independence & Security Act(EISA).This provision is a very expensive and complicated tracking program that may have a negative effect on the renewable fuel industry by driving costs up and driving producers out. This is the complete opposite of what this program was originally designed to do, reduce dependence on foreign sources of crude oil, increase domestic sources of energy, and diversify our energy portfolio to bring us beyond a petroleum based economy.
Once this RFS2 program is implemented, the EPA expects to conduct a “notice and comment” rule making process each year in order to determine the appropriate standards applicable in the following year.
Your comments will be considered for the 2010 standards.
Your opinion will be heard if you visit
http://www.biodiesel.org/news/RFS and send your comments to the EPA. Your comments will make an impact on the final decision.
To be redirected to the NBB website and make your voice heard, Click Here

Friday, August 21, 2009

SRS Engineering Featured in Biodiesel Magazine Article

Biodiesel Magazine has published an article in their September 2009 issue focusing on new biodiesel producers and the systems and strategies utilized to be successful in the biodiesel industry.
A series of biodiesel producers are profiled, highlighting each unique strategy to reach success. Focusing on timing and technologies, All, striving to have an edge on the competition.
In particular, Producers Choice Soy Energy LLC biodiesel plant located in Moberly Missouri. The 10MMgy is a multi-feedstock plant ready to accommodate waste vegetable oil from local suppliers as well as soybean oil which is processed on site.

The Facility was built by Process Concepts Inc. using process technology from SRS Engineering Corporation and launches a new technology from Cavitation Technologies Inc. SRS Engineering’s Founder and Chief Engineer, George Hawranik was on site in the later part of July to kick off the commissioning process, testing miles of piping and fittings and repairing any leaks.
“Utilizing SRS technology for automated, continuous flow pretreatment of high FFA feedstocks has saved the plant money by reducing the tankage requirements”, Hawranik says. “The four-step process sends the product through acid esterification twice, with methanol and water removed at both stages for recycling before the product moves on to the transesterification process”. We’re trying to restrict the use of high cost catatysts”, he says, “Our focus is on reducing the cost of production”.


To read the article, Click Here

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

What the Future Holds for Biodiesel

2010 federal requirements call for all diesel oil for vehicles and heating to have a 2% biodiesel blend. Some states are now requiring the mixture of biodiesel in all home heating oil with Massachusetts being the first. Many in the U.S. biodiesel industry are hopeful that The Cash For Clunkers program will lead to more diesel powered vehicles in America. Diesel is more efficient than gasoline and requires less engine maintenance. The result will mean more diesel cars on the road and the need for more biodiesel.
The Good News First…
Biodiesel from waste vegetable oils is better for the environment than biodiesel made from soy or other traditional raw feedstocks. Soy based biodiesel results in a mere 22% carbon emission reduction when considering the process from the planting to the end product (biodiesel). Compare that to the waste vegetable oil results of 80% carbon emissions reduction. Up and coming feedstocks such as pennycress (aka stinkweed) show a promising 90% carbon emissions reduction. Even better, pennycress does not require irrigation or prime food soil as it is merely a weed.
The Not So Good News…
The Biodiesel business in the U.S. took a blow when Europe instated the five year anti-U.S. tariff of biodiesel. Although the U.S. continues to export some biodiesel, we still face some stiff competition from Brazil, Argentina, Indonesia, India and other producers.
The main feedstock being used by Argentina and Brazil is soy which is leading to the destruction of native forests by way of clearing the land for soy crops. Coconut plays the starring role in feedstocks coming out of Indonesia, ultimately with the same result to the forests of Brazil and Argentina. Europe’s home grown feedstock is mainly sourced from Rapeseed and Canola with France existing as their number one producer.
The biodiesel industry as a whole is competing with the billions of dollars profited by the petroleum industry every year. Rapid growth within the biodiesel industry will require extensive capital and privately supplied capital is scarce.
Ending on a good note…
There is 230 million dollars of stimulus money that could apply to loan guarantees to biodiesel companies. In addition, federal energy bills passed into law could bring increased fuel mandates equating to more money and maybe even more federal direct spending.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

SRS Engineering Corporation Renews its GSA Contract

SRS Engineering Corp., is pleased to announce the renewal of its GeneralServices Administration (GSA) contract. GSA is a service that increases the buying power of the federalgovernment all the while leveraging tax payer dollar by getting the best price for a product or service. The GSAoffers a wide range of services and products to the federal government including real estate services, travel &transport services, etc. In summation, GSA essentially provides the federal government with preferred vendorsthat supply anything from office supplies to a jet plane.To enlist in the GSA program, a company must establish specific products from their product line along withspecial discounted pricing. The program allows the federal agencies to make rentals and purchases withminimized paperwork all the while ensuring discounted pricing. SRS’ list of products cataloged with the GSAincludes washing systems, solvent recovery systems, aerosol can crushing systems, and compactors.

To read more Click Here

Monday, August 10, 2009

Bill Introduced to Simplify and Extend Biodiesel Tax Incentive

Today, Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa along with Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell from Washington introduced The Biodiesel Tax Incentive Reform and Extension Act of 2009, legislation to simplify and extend the tax incentive for domestic biodiesel production. Grassley, who is a Republican member of the Finance Committee wrote the original biodiesel tax incentive while serving as committee chairman in 2004.
“Domestic production and use of biodiesel is consistent with an energy policy that values the displacement of petroleum with low-carbon, renewable fuels. This legislation will provide certainty to biodiesel producers and improve the form and function of the biodiesel tax incentive. We strongly support this proposal and commend Senator Cantwell and Senator Grassley for introducing this forward thinking legislation,” said NBB CEO Joe Jobe. “This common sense proposal is consistent with an energy policy that values the use of domestically produced, low carbon renewable fuels to meet the nation’s energy needs. Our industry looks forward to working with Senator Cantwell and Senator Grassley to enact this important proposal.”
Today legislation would ameliorate the tax credit currently in place for blending biodiesel with petroleum diesel which expires at the end of this year, and extend it for five more years.
“America is trying to kick its addiction to foreign oil, and biodiesel is part of the cure,” Grassley said. “The more we can encourage domestic production and meet demand, the better off we’ll be economically, environmentally, and geopolitically. This legislation simplifies the tax credit for producers. It also gives investors predictability so they’ll be more likely to put their money into biodiesel production.” Grassley also said U.S. production of biodiesel has increased significantly in recent years, and the legislation will encourage that progress.

To Read More Click Here

Friday, August 7, 2009

Upgrading an Existing Biodiesel Facility

SRS Engineering Corporation is partnering with a company in Texas to upgrade an existing biodiesel plant. This plant is currently being upgraded from a 5MMGY facility to a 15MMGY facility.
SRS Engineering Corporation is excited to be providing the technology equipment to upgrade this plant to accommodate the additional 10MMGY.


SRS Engineering Corporation has the ability to provide new biodiesel plants as well as upgrades to existing biodiesel plants that aren’t meeting the ASTM standards, bringing them to current industry and environmental expectations.
The upgrades are progressing as anticipated. To view the progress of the construction Click Here.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Demonstrating the Performance of Biodiesel

On July 31st through August 2nd, a Boeing U-787 Hydrplane was tested repeatedly at the Chevrolet Cup Hydroplane at Seafair. Each run with a greater amount of the biodiesel blend, finishing with 100% biodiesel during a run on Sunday. Retired Hydroplane driver Chip Hanauer posted Friday’s fastest lap at 153.691 mph and said that he experienced no decrease in performance while the percentage of biodiesel was increased.


Testing was demonstrated during rapid acceleration, deceleration, tight cornering as well as normal operating conditions.
“This hydroplane demonstration run is another successful step in our efforts to showcase the potential for sustainable biofuels to reduce emissions from air travel without sacrificing safety, performance and efficiency”, commented Mike Garrett, Director of Aircraft Performance at Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Feedstock for the biodiesel consisted of 85% camelina, 14% jatropha and 1% algae. This same biodiesel blend was used in the test flight of a Japan Airlines Boeing 747-300 back in January.