What's New at BlackGold Biofuels

Water Resource Analyst brings Awareness to FOG, Musically

2010-09-13T09:52:00.000-04:00

http://blog.gayleleonard.com/2010/09/h2o-mp3-fats-oils-and-grease-steve-anderson/

BlackGold Named "Rising Star"

2010-05-18T10:10:00.000-04:00

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Views from the Summit

May 13th, 2010

Amidst an uncertain economic climate, top corporate executives, entrepreneurs, investors, and academic luminaries traveled to Boston last month to share the ideas, insights and innovations that helped establish them as today’s business and technology leaders.

The event was the fifth annual Lux Executive Summit, where leading innovators – from IBM to Mitsui to DSM – meet, discuss and learn about the technologies that will drive growth and profits for years to come. This week, Lux Populi highlights some of the insights and observations from the Lux Executive Summit by analysts from each of Lux Research’s Intelligence services.

Biosciences: Pulp/paper producers protest penetration into biofuels
Amidst a lively debate about ethanol’s potential to displace petroleum in the U.S., Samhitha Udupa pointed out to Robert Gelman, a researcher at Ashland, that several of the technology developers that Lux has briefed were struggling with pretreatment processes to breakdown and separate components of lignocellulosic biomass (comprising lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose). Pretreatment is widely recognized as the most expensive step in cellulosic fermentation, and enzyme giants like Novozymes spent many years designing cheaper enzymes. Interestingly, Gelman vehemently asserted that firms, like Ashland, with experience in pulp and paper have long been experts at separating components of wood, an abundant lignocellulosic feedstock.

So why aren’t more pulp and paper players stepping up to take advantage of a huge unmet need in a soon-to-be high-volume industry?

According to Robert, he had the same thought years ago, and pursued the idea with “many” (emphatically) of his higher-ups, but was met with great skepticism. He asserted that pulp and paper producers are “dinosaurs more interested in reliving ‘Blazing Saddles’ than in exploring adjacent applications for their valuable technologies.” While the cellulosic ethanol industry continues reinventing the wheel – or parts of the wheel – in an effort to bring down costs, pulp and paper producers continue to… produce paper and pulp.

* * *

Green Buildings: Dow says many buildings are actually getting less efficient
Mike Kontranowski, Strategic Marketing Manager of Dow Building Solution’ Thermax brand of rigid insulating board, presented a sobering analysis of the direction of building efficiency during the Summit. Although buildings of all types have become more energy efficient on a per square foot basis for the past 50 years, many buildings constructed over the past decade have bucked the trend and have begun regressing on energy efficiency. This reversal comes despite newfound interest in “green building” among governments, occupants, and the building owners themselves, and despite the plethora of insulation, window, equipment, and other devices that yield far greater efficiencies. More surprisingly, many of the buildings are LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certified, because energy efficiency is only one of many metrics that accrue points needed for certification.

The proximate cause of the backslide in efficiency is a switch to less expensive aluminum wall studs in place of wood or block in recent years. Because aluminum is such a good conductor of heat, walls that are otherwise well-insulated – with insulation batts installed between the studs – see an overall insulating R-value of the wall drop in half, from 11 or more to 5. Thermal images of walls are particularly poignant, showing relatively small amounts of heat escaping from between the studs, while the studs themselves were lit up like Christmas trees.

Fortunately solutions exist even for this problem, including new insulating sheathing technologies from Dow and Owens Corning that cover the exterior of the studs. In addition, aerogel companies, such as Aspen Aerogels and American Aerogel, are developing insulating tapes designed specifically to envelop the studs themselves and lend substantial insulating value. Although, adoption of these technologies isn’t likely to surge in the near term, expect renewed regulatory efforts and impending financial programs like the PACE bonds may accelerate their roll-out further on (see the May 3, 2010 LRGJ – client registration required), and may reverse the unfortunate regression in thermal insulation in modern structures.

* * *

Nanomaterials: Best practices for building a business around nanotechnology
During a panel discussion at the Summit, CTO Seth Coe-Sullivan of QD Vision, President Donald Cho of Finetex EnE, and President Adrian Burden of Bilcare Technologies discussed best practices for building a business around nanotechnology. Common tips included:

Secure funding early
Protect intellectual property
Integrate environmental, health, and safety (EHS) plans with business strategy
Develop a strong team top-to-bottom
Developing nanointermediates instead of just nanomaterials, and
Focus on a small number of target markets

While the trio hit most of the best practices that we’ve touted before, one of the most critical steps for a start-up is forming partnerships early with large corporations (see “Open Innovation and Its Discontents: Solving the Emerging Technology Funding Problem”). With these tips in mind, clients should check each box when engaging start-ups and benchmark the potentials against strong players like QD Vision, Bilcare, and Finetex.

With regard to Finetex, its VP Donald Cho told Lux analyst Jurron Bradley that it supplies nanofiber filters to GE for its turbines to filter the incoming air. While gas turbines may not represent a large opportunity for filter companies, the partnership is a strong vote of confidence for the product and pushes Finetex further in front of its competition. Finetex’s revenues from nanofiber sales are still a modest $1.5 million, but it sports an extensive partner and customer list, which speaks well for its future. Clients looking for a nanofiber supplier, especially for textile and filtration applications, should engage Finetex, but those considering running their own production lines should look to Elmarco for equipment.

* * *

Power: Toyota, Compact Power, and BYD offer contrasting views on the future of Li-ion
Three panel speakers in energy storage provided three very different visions for the future of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries and electric vehicles. The panel included Bill Reinert, National Manager for Toyota Motor Sales’ Advanced Technology Group, Prabhakar Patil, CEO of Compact Power (a subsidiary of LG Chem, and battery supplier for the Chevy Volt), and Micheal Austin, VP of BYD America.

Reinert, the most conservative of the three, lamented that at today’s Li-ion battery prices, even a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) with as little as a 10-mile all-electric range (AER) is still too expensive. While Patil agreed that Li-ion batteries were very expensive today, he felt that costs would drop by a factor of two to four in the next five years to 10 years. Austin, by far the most bullish of the three, claimed that BYD is already producing Li-ion batteries at $500/kWh, as well as the electric vehicles (both all-electric vehicles – EVs – and PHEVs) and grid-storage systems that use them.

Our view aligns most with that of Toyota’s Reinert. Our cost estimates for automotive Li-ion packs to the automaker range between $700/kWh and $900/kWh, which is too expensive for any PHEV to compete with a NiMH-powered standard hybrid without serious subsidies. While we agree with the low end of Patil’s estimates – namely the claim that large-format Li-ion prices will drop by a factor of two over the next decade (see the report ”Unplugging the Hype around Electric Vehicles” - client registration required.) – we don’t ever see them dropping by a factor of four, due to high materials costs. Moreover, while BYD might indeed have a very cheap Li-ion cell in China, it is unclear whether such a cell could satisfy Western safety standards, and it seems like its batteries are still too expensive for a tough Chinese auto market, as BYD’s electric vehicle sales in China have been disappointing so far (see the April 28, 2010 LRPJ – client registration required). While BYD and Nissan (with its Leaf EV) have taken Toyota’s mantle as the environmental visionaries of the large automakers, the hybrid stalwart has a firmer grasp of the relevant battery economics.

* * *

Solar: Summit panelists dish on solar industry outlook
Conference invitees attending the Summit’s solar track caught perspective from the industry’s leading lights at two separate panel discussions. First up was the “Top Dogs” panel, wherein Satcon CEO Steve Rhoads and Enphase Energy Founder Raghu Belur discussed the relative merits of centralized inverters versus panel-level microinverters. In addition, Yingli Solar Managing Director Rob Petrina discussed Yingli’s market entry strategy for the U.S.

Overall, all three were incredibly positive about the prospects for the U.S. market in 2010 and 2011 as it begins to soak up demand from Germany. Further, Rhoads and Petrina stressed that the Chinese market is not to be overlooked, especially given the quick pace at which plants can be installed. For example, Satcon cited a total development, engineering and construction time of only a few months for its 38 MW of projects with GCL in China, compared to the 12 to 36 months more typical of U.S. installations

Later that day, Craig Cornelius, Managing Director at Hudson Clean Energy Partners, moderated a panel of “Solar’s Emerging Leaders.” The panel included Dave Pearce, CEO of CIGS start-up NuvoSun; Kurt Barth, founder of CdTe up-and-comer Abound Solar; and Cynthia Christensen, Director of Marketing for Stirling Energy Systems (SES), a developer of a unique variation on solar thermal. The three discussed some of the challenges of overcoming the “bankability” and “warrantability” concerns for new technologies. They suggested the use of third-party insurers and funding initial installations off the company’s own balance sheet were generally accepted best practices in the market downturn. Indeed, SES noted how it spun off a separate project development subsidiary, funded by the same investors, to allow it to focus on technology developments. Clients should watch Abound and SES carefully for their first installations this year, while NuvoSun’s progress with its partner Dow Chemical will determine that company’s future success.

* * *

Water: Top dogs and rising stars discuss opportunities and challenges in the hydrocosm
Two separate panel discussions at the Summit generated insightful commentary on topics ranging from regulation in the hydrocosm, the need for innovation in the field, new market growth opportunities, and the impact of the current low cost of water.

The first panel provided perspective from “top dogs” representing every part of the membrane water treatment system, beginning with David Moll from Dow Water & Process Solutions (the membrane), Bill Musiak from Norit X-Flow North America (the modules), and Jeff Fulgham from GE Water Process & Technologies (system development and other facets).

The panel discussed markets for residential treatment systems, food and beverage processing, wastewater, and two areas of particular excitement: the produced water market and wastewater reuse, all of which we agree are significant growth areas.

We were glad to see the panel unanimously confirm the importance of the wastewater treatment market, which we recently covered in Technologies Turn Waste into Profit (client registration required). The panel also shared our interest in ultrafiltration membranes and the produced water market. Lux Research discussed membranes in a recent report Filtering Out Growth Prospects in the $1.5 Billion Membrane Market (client registration required), and will discuss specifics of the produced water market in an upcoming Water State of the Market Report (SMR) later this year.

The Summit also brought together “rising stars” in the water market, namely Amir Peleg from TakaDu Ltd, Emily Landsburg from Blackgold Biofuels, G.G. Pique from Energy Recovery Inc. (ERI), and Marc Bracken from Echologics Engineering Inc.

The current low cost of water was of particular focus for panelists who discussed how to grow a business given this fundamental truth in the water market. The low cost of water effectively reduces the drive for innovation and new products, since customers are not motivated to alter current water treatments and use patterns.

G.G. and Amir both noted that there is a need for national water policy to push the agenda of innovation, among other benefits. Marc from Echologics noted that repairing the aging water infrastructure is often a pain point for customers because, irrespective of the cost of water, it must still be transported efficiently. Emily noted that Blackgold Biofuels’ business actually helps water utilities stretch their revenue by providing a cash stream from the waste buildup in the pipe infrastructure. In addition to the cost/revenue discussion, the panelists emphasized the need to collaborate, and for solutions that form a “treatment train” instead of claiming to be silver bullet.

Emily Landsburg: She turns sewer grease into energy

2010-04-29T09:27:00.000-04:00

EMILY LANDSBURG started and sold her first company, a business taking care of people's boats, when she was just a few years out of college.

"Nothing was easy about it," she says. "It wasn't an instant success." Even after she and her partner made their first hire, Landsburg was still waitressing and working odd jobs to help pay her rent.

Then, from the restaurant window one day, she caught a glimpse of their employee working on a client's boat. In an epiphany, she realized that out of thin air she had created a job. "I was just, like, oh my god, this is the coolest thing ever." She was hooked on entrepreneurship.

Now 32, she's rounding up financing - she's after $800,000 from angel investors and venture capitalists - to move her second start-up, a clean-energy company called BlackGold Biofuels with four employees, out of the R&D stage and into commercialization nationally. After years of research in a North Philly industrial plant, the company has developed the technology to remove grease from municipal water systems and turn it into biodiesel fuel.

BlackGold is now at work on its first large-scale demonstration project, for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, which will use the rehabilitated sewer scum to power vehicles in the water department's fleet. Landsburg is also in talks with other municipal water authorities, including Philadelphia's. Her company's annual revenues last year were $1.4 million, and she expects the firm to turn its first profit next year.

The compared-to-those-other-guys school of entrepreneurship: Landsburg studied math in college at Columbia University. Although most of her classmates dutifully marched from the math department straight downtown to jobs on Wall Street, she'd never thought of herself as a business type.

"Honestly, it was one of those things where I really never even considered it. . . . I was really interested in fluid dynamics, aerodynamics and naval architecture. I love to sail."

Then, at her first job, doing mathematical modeling for a start-up firm that designed racing sailboats, she realized that while she'd been good at learning math, "I was terrible at doing math."

It also occurred to her that her employers were terrible at running a business. "It was going down the tubes," she says.

Then, it hit her: "I could run a company."

The entrepreneurial theorem - X=X+1: At her own boat-tending start-up, in Rhode Island, Landsburg came to think of creating a new company as a thrilling breach in the first law of thermodynamics.

"In math and physics, there are very strict rules," she says. "It's a zero-sum game. Matter is neither created nor destroyed.

"And here I was, we had created this job, and it didn't take away from another job somewhere else. And we created value. That was incredibly seductive."

Company-runners' high: Of entrepreneurship, she says, "I've come to think of it as sort of an addiction."

"It's like those people who run huge long-distance races. You look at them, and you ask: 'Why are you doing that? It's so painful.'

"And they're like: 'I love it.' "

From sailboats to sewer grease: As much as she loved boats, Landsburg was also keen on renewable energy. After she sold the boat business to her partner, she was lured by her boyfriend (now her husband) to Philadelphia, where she worked at the Energy Cooperative developing a distribution system to sell biodiesel fuel for fleet vehicles.

Thanks to her strategic planning, biodiesel fuel derived from renewable resources like soybean oil has a stronger presence around the region than you might imagine. "The Philadelphia Eagles run their field-maintenance vehicles on it," she notes.

BlackGold started as a project within the Energy Cooperative, then spun off as a separate venture. Landsburg became CEO in 2008.

Next steps: Having come up with a commercially viable technology for turning sewer muck into fuel, "We're raising equity to be able to build our team to go out and recognize the opportunity that's before it," Landsburg says.

"That's part of the entrepreneurial addiction. You're constantly right around the corner. You hit your milestone, and then there's about a minute-and-a-half of sitting down and taking a deep breath - and there's an immediate draw to the next milestone. You're really energized by that."

Her E-Class friends-and-family network: BlackGold has tapped into the U.S. Small Business Administration's Small Business Development Centers at both Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania for business advice and consulting. Landsburg and her employees also collaborate regularly with four scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture for help on technical matters.

"I think most people don't even realize that the federal government partners with commercial businesses," Landsburg says.

Last but not least, there's her husband, Michael, providing "both emotional and practical support - like making dinner," she says. "Behind every strong entrepreneur is a stronger partner. I owe him a huge thank you."

Got sleep?: The couple's personal startup venture is their 7-week-old baby, Max.

"His latest milestone is that he slept for a five-hour stretch - not last night, but the night before," Landsburg said last week.

"We're trending in the right direction.

Torrington eateries pay plenty to trap fat, comply with rules

2010-04-29T09:12:00.000-04:00

Out of the frying pan, into a sink full of soapy water and eventually down the drain. So goes fat, oil and grease from thousands of meals cooked every day in restaurants statewide.

Once that greasy dishwater goes down the drain, for many restaurants, it's the end of the story. But it's just the beginning for state and local officials, who for years have battled messy, expensive sewer backups inside pipes clogged with grease.

In Connecticut, careful study of what to do with the food service industry's slippery byproduct — fat, oil and grease — has resulted in a regulation that requires anyone who serves food in a licensed facility to invest in a high-tech version of what used to be a fairly low-tech device: the grease trap.

Ray Revaz, who owns The Nutmeg Grille in Torrington, has one of the low-tech varieties. It sits in the restaurant's dusty basement, far from Revaz's first-floor kitchen. When kitchen tools, dishes and pots and pans are washed, the grease heads down the pipe and is caught before it hits the sewer.

But that's not good enough for the city's Water Pollution Control Authority, which is requiring Revaz and dozens of other restaurants to install new, more efficient grease traps that can cost between $3,000 and $4,000. For a small restaurant such as the Nutmeg Grille, spending that much money to replace a trap that already prevents blockages inside the restaurant doesn't make much sense.

The Bigger Picture

But it does make sense if one looks at the bigger picture, said Bill Hogan, the state water pollution engineer for the Department of Environmental Protection.

Among the greatest source of problems in restaurants has been a small, narrow "shoe box" grease trap that sits at the bottom of three-welled sinks where greasy pots are scrubbed. Oftentimes, restaurants install those traps and never empty them. When filled, the shoe box traps stop collecting the grease and push it along with the water into the sewer system.

The general permit, which takes effect July 1, 2011, requires restaurants to install traps that employ a variety of technologies — including electric scrapers that skim out grease and a heater to maintain grease temperature for more effective removal — to prevent most grease from entering the sewage system.

Christopher Eucallitto, co-owner of the recently opened Pizzeria Marzano on East Main Street in Torrington, was required to install such a device in his kitchen. Paying for the high-tech version of the grease trap isn't as big a deal for new restaurants such as Eucallitto's, where the grease trap figures into the start-up costs.

"With this, you have to maintain it because it starts to smell," and the maintenance becomes more frequent because the device is more effective than traditional traps, Eucallitto said. He fills a few five-gallon buckets with the stinky stuff and hauls it to the water treatment plant in Torrington every few weeks.

Revaz, meanwhile, only has to empty his trap a few times each year. "I clean it myself — I know when it needs cleaning," Revaz said. "If the state wants it, why can't they help us out with the cost?"

To read the complete story see The Sunday Republican or our electronic edition at http://republicanamerican.ct.newsmemory.com.

San Francisco Asks Eateries to Trap Grease, Save Sewers

2010-03-29T12:58:00.000-04:00

There are plenty of undesirable things in San Francisco's sewers. But one, in particular, has grabbed the attention of city officials: FOG.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2010/03/18/MNQ61CHD79.DTL#ixzz0jaNms1uL

We Love Waste Too

2010-03-01T14:38:00.000-05:00

“I love waste,” said Emily Bockian Landsburg, CEO of cleantech startup BlackGold Biofuels , when I ran into her at an an event in New York last night. BlackGold Biofuels has developed a process for turning trap grease–the gunk collected in grease traps in restaurant sink drainpipes–into high-quality biodiesel.greenresearch.com, I Love Waste «, Feb 2010

Read the full blog post by clicking on the "I Love Waste" link above.

New York Event Sells out!

2010-03-01T14:01:00.000-05:00

BlackGold has been selected to be highlighted at Good Company Venture's NYC event, "Celebrating the Power of Entrepreneurs to Change the World," which has been gaining popularity over the past few weeks.

With VC's dedicated to entrepreneurship and social change, like Fred Wilson of NYC, plugging the event, ticket sales have boomed and the event sold-out within 24-hours of Wilson's blog post about the event.

This event is anticipated to be a great forum to facilitate discussions about entrepreneurship and the environment directly targeted at for profit businesses, while addressing key environmental problems.

To read more about the event, see: http://www.goodcompanyventures.org/events/

Check out Fred Wilson's blog here: http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2010/02/entrepreneurship-and-social-change.html

BlackGold Biofuels Selected by AlwaysOn as a GoingGreen Top 50 Winner

2010-02-22T09:56:00.000-05:00

Recognized for creating new opportunities in green technology.

Philadelphia, February 23, 2010 – BlackGold Biofuels (BlackGold), cleantech start-up that converts sewer grease into ASTM grade biodiesel, today announced that it has been chosen by AlwaysOn as one of the GoingGreen East Top 50 winners. Inclusion in the GoingGreen East 50 signifies leadership amongst its peers and game-changing approaches and technologies that are likely to disrupt existing markets and entrenched players. BlackGold was specially selected by the AlwaysOn editorial team and industry experts spanning the globe based on a set of five criteria: innovation, market potential, commercialization, stakeholder value, and media buzz.

BlackGold and the GoingGreen East Top 50 companies will be honored at AlwaysOn’s GoingGreen East event on March 8th, 2010, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston, MA.

This two-and-a-half-day executive event features CEO presentations and high-level debates on the most promising emerging green technologies and new entrepreneurial opportunities

“The GoingGreen East Top 50 winners have excelled in key strategic areas in the global clean energy technology markets,” said Tony Perkins, founder and CEO of AlwaysOn. “We congratulate them for their success in introducing new tools, services, and systems that are driving the next phase of greentech innovation and transforming the biggest industries on earth.”

The GoingGreen East 50 winners were selected from among hundreds of other technology companies nominated by investors, bankers, journalists and industry insiders. The AlwaysOn editorial team conducted a rigorous three-month selection process to finalize the 2010 list.

BlackGold to be Featured at Cleanlink

2010-02-15T13:22:00.000-05:00

BlackGold continues to be recognized as an industry leader and will be featured at the February 24th Cleanlink gathering of cleantech entrepreneurs, investors, corporations, law firms, investment banks and other business leaders. Professionals in the cleantech industry will have the opportunity to learn about BlackGold's unique place in the market and how BlackGold is leading the way for clean energy.

Identifying BlackGold as a key player in the cleantech indusry, SJF Ventures recently invited BlackGold to participate in their competitive Cleantech Mentorship Program, which will also be featured at the event.

The event is free and open for registration:
http://cleanlinks-february.eventbrite.com/

We hope to see you there!

Fitting Entrepreneurship into the Difficult Economy

2010-02-12T15:16:00.001-05:00

BlackGold will be highlighted at the annual Wharton Entrepreneurship Conference next week. BlackGold will be a panelist discussing financing cleantechs during these uncertain times and how to best utilize venture capitalists and government programs.

Over 500 people are expected to attend

www.whartoneconference.com

2010 Lux Executive Summit

2010-02-12T09:32:00.000-05:00

The Lux Executive Summit is the must-attend event to get smart and get connected about energy and environmental technologies that will be driving growth and profits for years to come-- and BlackGold has been invited to be an integral part of the water panel.

BlackGold will be among industry giants like GE, Toyota, and IBM as we present what BlackGold does to top executives, investors, and policymakers. This is a very exciting opportunity for BlackGold and we are looking forward to the April 25th conference!

http://www.luxexecutivesummit.com/Overview/Overview.php

Obama set to outline biofuels strategy

2010-02-03T10:37:00.000-05:00

Why use a commodity crop to generate biofuel when you can use a rancid waste substance that has no market value?

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61224920100203

Empowered Municipality

2010-02-03T10:05:00.000-05:00

BlackGold was featured in a Feb. 3 story in Empowered Municipality for our work with San Francisco.

Check it out!

http://www.empoweredmunicipality.com/philly-co-partners-with-san-francisco-puc-to-produce-biofuel

Gwinnett Battles Rash of Illegal Dumping - 11Alive.com | WXIA | Atlanta, GA

2010-01-22T10:58:00.000-05:00

Grease dumping is growing into a nationwide pandemic. With the implementation of a BlackGold FOG-to-Fuel system, these cities would experience a decrease in grease overflows, saving an incredible amount of time and money.

Gwinnett Battles Rash of Illegal Dumping - 11Alive.com | WXIA | Atlanta, GA
http://www.11alive.com/rss/rss_story.aspx?storyid=139993

Seattle's Grease Crisis

2010-01-20T15:03:00.000-05:00

Seattle's sewers are getting clogged with grease

It's estimated that 544,000 gallons of grease slip down Seattle's drains each month, enough to fill seven large swimming pools. Most of it comes from dirty dishes and food waste, and it's a problem.

Full story: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/414191_grease18.html

FOG in the News

2010-01-20T14:58:00.000-05:00

Gross! Grease from dirty dishes clogs sewers in Seattle, other cities

Eco-conscious Seattle is, ironically, awash in grease, much of it from dirty dishes and food waste. It's not the only city struggling to deal with the stinky problem of grease clogging pipes and sewers.

Full story: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/01/gross-dirty-dish-grease-clogs-pipes-in-seattle-elsewhere/1

BlackGold discovered in Florida!

2009-11-30T16:53:00.000-05:00

This past month Emily Landsburg, CEO of BlackGold traveled to Orlando to represent the company at the annual WEFTEC and NAWT conferences.

Both drew considerable attention to BlackGold, particularly at NAWT, where Landsburg was a featured presenter.

Florida is just one of the Southeast states heavily afflicted by FOG. Adding a Fog-to-Fuel system to municipalities of the region would significantly cut back on SOS's, structural damage, and public health concerns. Landsburg's educational seminar was just the first stepping stone in cleaning out the Southeast.

San Francisco is Underway!

2009-11-30T16:21:00.000-05:00

San Francisco commissioning is underway!

Just 10 months after BlackGold and the City of San Francisco signed a contract to implement a FOG-to-Fuel™ system in the City's water treatment facility, BlackGold delivered the skid-mounted unit on-time.

Over the next few months BlackGold's technical team will be commissioning the plant to produce ASTM grade biodiesel from the City's sewer grease. This will save the City millions in avoided costs and allow the City to produce a valuable asset (biodiesel) to sell on the market or use in their diesel fleets.

BlackGold attends MAC Conference

2009-11-05T16:45:00.000-05:00

On Nov. 3 & 4, BlackGold was among 1,000 participants in the Mid Atlantic Capital Conference-- the oldest and most established venture conference in the Northeast!

Check out more:

http://www.macalliance.com/conference/index.asp

BlackGold Receives Diploma

2009-09-19T16:48:00.000-04:00

Along with 9 other companies that were chosen to participate in the 2009 Business Incubator, BlackGold graduated from thee Good Company Venture's program on September 17th. The graduation was marked by an opportunity to pitch the company to a group of accredited investors.

Overall the program was a great success and paved invaluable networks for BlackGold's optimistic future.

http://www.goodcompanyventures.org/

Philadelphia Mayor Nutter Welcomes BlackGold to Sustainable Buisness Incubator

2009-06-02T14:23:00.000-04:00

In a press conference Monday, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Ben & Jerry's former president Chuck Lacy unveiled Good Company Ventures 2009 Incubator Class at Good Company's headquarters in the Navy Yard.

This distinguished group consists of business located right here in Philadelphia and as far away as India. BlackGold is excited to be part of such an elite group of social entrepreneurs.

Above: Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and BlackGold CEO Emily Landsburg

Above: Mayor Nutter poses with 2009 Incubator Class

See the Philadelphia Inquirer article about the event here.

The 2009 Incubator Class:

BlackGold Accepted to Good Company Ventures Incubator Class of 2009

2009-05-14T16:37:00.000-04:00

Good Company Ventures, a leading incubator in the social entrepreneurship sector, has chosen BlackGold Biofuels as part of their newly formed partnership with the Wharton School of Business. Through this partnership, Good Company Ventures will offer strategic advisement to the incubator class of 2009 with the fresh perspective of Wharton students.

BlackGold was accepted with two other businesses Math Foundations, LLC and Onion Flats. These businesses, along with BlackGold represent the clean-technology, education, and design industries.

Read the full article here.

Check out Onion Flats and Math Foundations, LLC.

BlackGold Presents at Puget Sound Brown Grease Symposium

2009-04-30T15:04:00.000-04:00

BlackGold recently presented at the Puget Sound Brown Grease Symposium on April 15th.

Emily snapped the above shot of the Space Needle while on break from the Symposium.

Washington State is US's leading state in terms of biodiesel incentives and laws, the following map shows the official breakdown.

BlackGold Presenting at NAWT Waste Treatment Symposium

2009-04-30T14:56:00.000-04:00

BlackGold will be presenting at the National Association of Wastewater Transporters (NAWT) Waste Treatment symposium this October 9-10 in Orlando, FL.

The NAWT Symposium immediately precedes WEFTEC's annual conference (where BlackGold will be present as well, details coming soon). BlackGold will be presenting on Day 2 at the Convert Grease Trap Waste to an Asset.

If you are interested in attending, you can register with NAWT by phone at 1-800-236-6298 or www.nawt.org

Intership Opportunities at BlackGold!

2009-04-29T15:25:00.000-04:00

BlackGold is currently seeking summer and year-round interns. Please see the following description.

Summer and Year-round Internship Opportunities at Renewable Energy/Alternative Fuel Company

BlackGold Biofuels (formerly known as Philadelphia Fry-o-Diesel) is a Philadelphia start-up that has developed patent-pending technology to convert sewer greases into biodiesel, a low-carbon renewable diesel fuel. After 4 years of R&D at its North Philadelphia pilot plant, BlackGold is now licensing its technology for integration at waste water treatment plants and biodiesel production facilities. These low-value waste greases, often contaminated by sewage and trash, are too rancid for conventional biodiesel processing technology. BlackGold’s novel chemical process enables these to be cost-effectively converted to high-quality biodiesel – opening the door to a vast array of low cost raw materials (and thus more profitable biodiesel), providing beneficial reuses for many wastes and pollutants, and providing a feedstock for biodiesel production that does not compete with food sources. This winter BlackGold sold its first license and processing unit to the City of San Francisco and is poised for rapid growth. More information is available at www.BlackGoldBiofuels.com.

This next year BlackGold will conduct a funding round (targeting angels and small investment firms with interest in sustainable, triple bottom line businesses), building and commissioning our first commercial scale plant, shifting gears from an R&D focused company to an aggressive national product roll-out. We are seeking top-caliber interns to assist in preparing materials for fundraising, navigating the funding/deal-making landscape, improving marketing collateral, determining optimal product/license structures and roll-outs, and developing and formalizing relationships with strategic vendors/partners. We’re a small, hands-on, progressive company that values team members’ ideas – we’re happy to customize an internship work plan at the intersection of your interests/skill set and our needs.

Schedule and duration of internships are flexible – open to anything from 5 hours/week to full-time/seasonal. We have a small office in Center City Philadelphia – interns can work here, independently from their own location, or a combination of the two. BlackGold is an equal opportunity employer.

Position Openings at BlackGold Biofuels

2009-04-29T15:09:00.001-04:00

BlackGold has openings for a Vice President of Business Development and PE Chemical Engineer Consultant.

Vice President of Business Development

BlackGold Biofuels developed patent-pending technology to convert fats, oils, and greases from the sewers (trap grease) into biodiesel, a low-carbon diesel fuel that can be used in unmodified diesel engines. BlackGold sells the technology license and processing equipment to wastewater treatment plants and large grease pumpers so that they can convert this grease liability into a revenue stream. The prefabricated, skid-mounted processing units easily integrate into treatment plants, with small footprints and continuous, fully-automated operations. The technology simultaneously addresses urgent needs in the wastewater and biofuels sectors: a best-value disposal pathway for rancid greases and a profitable means to meet the growing demand for biodiesel. With a high-visibility sale to the City of San Francisco, increasing legislation motivating buyers, growing cultural and political attention to related environmental issues, and first-mover advantage, BlackGold is poised for rapid growth and long-term success. After 5 years of R&D, BlackGold is now in commercialization phase and filling out its management team to launch the product nationally, then globally.

The Vice President, Business Development will be an integral member of the executive management team, overseeing and implementing business development for the high-growth start-up. VP of Business Development will:

Qualify existing and develop future sales leads, convert them into signed sales, negotiate sales contracts, and oversee smooth hand-off to project manager;
Set and meet sales and marketing objectives/budgets;
Develop, continuously improve, and implement sales and marketing plans;
Build internal and external sales network (identify, contract with, and manage manufacturer's reps, etc);
Work with CEO to develop strategic vendor and partner relationships; and
Collaborate with Marketing Manager to optimize marketing channels and campaigns once that role is filled; Collaborate with R&D Manager on market trends, customer needs and new products/improvements to determine R&D priorities.

In the short-term, this position will need to leverage a small staff and limited budget...and then effectively manage a much larger budget and staff as the company grows. The right candidate will thrive with the autonomy, agility, and upside potential of a start-up as well as the unique demands and constraints also characteristic of this environment. As a small company, management plays a key role in implementation as well as oversight, and thus it is important to be able to both think strategically and execute in the trenches.

Ideal candidates will have broad contacts within the waste water sector, an understanding of the industry landscape, and a personal reputation for integrity and follow-through. Demonstrated entrepreneurial performance, general creativity and resourcefulness, and genuine interest in sustainability are musts. Experience in project finance, media relations, public-private partnerships, project development, operations management, public speaking are each plusses.

The position will be based out of BlackGold’s Philadelphia office and involve significant travel. Compensation package will be a combination of a base salary, equity, and commission, weighted heavily toward the latter two. This is an excellent opportunity for an entrepreneurial person to get onboard a clean-tech business positioned to take advantage of growing opportunities in both the water infrastructure and renewable energy spaces. BlackGold is an equal opportunity employer. Send cover letter and resume to: info@BlackGoldBiofuels.com.

PE Chemical Engineer Consultant

This is an excellent opportunity to work with a very creative team conducting cutting-edge clean-tech research, development, and commercialization. The Engineering Consultant will join the existing technical team (www.blackgoldbiofuels.com/Team.html) and provide general, as-needed support related to process scale up and optimization, pilot plant upgrades and operations, process troubleshooting, design review, safety and HazOps review, procurement of new and used equipment, creative design solutions on a budget, mentoring Engineers in Training, and occasional CAD work. At times, work may be hands-on and may require stamping drawings. This position can be largely home-based, though will require visits to the North Philadelphia pilot plant at least every two weeks. Participation on a standing hour-long weekly conference call is required, as is execution of a nondisclosure agreement. Position will require occasional (~2x/yr) travel to San Francisco (for project installation and commissioning) and St. Louis (to review progress of fabricator).

Candidate should be a PE Chemical Engineer with at least 10 years work experience and access to CAD. Experience in a pilot plant, process development, and/or operations, a resourceful and creative nature, and enjoying working with your hands are all plusses. This position is nonexclusive, meaning there is no prohibition against contracting for other nonconflicting companies. Time commitment is estimated to be 4 hours/week, though may vary from 1-40 hours per week. Higher volume weeks will be predictable in advance and fairly flexible.

Please send cover letter and resume to info@BlackGoldBiofuels.com. We look forward to hearing from you. BlackGold is an equal opportunity employer.

BlackGold Featured on CBS3!

2009-03-03T09:30:00.001-05:00

BlackGold Biofuels was featured this morning in CBS3's EnergyWatch Segment.

Watch the segment here.

Read the story here.

Lots of Interest for BlackGold at Pumpershow!

2009-02-27T10:41:00.000-05:00

BlackGold Biofuels has generated lots of interest this week at Booth 13033n at the Pumpershow in Louisville, KY. BlackGold staff is available to answer questions about integrating its technology into public and private wastewater treatment plants as well as dewatering sites.

Visit us at the Pumpershow! Booth 13033

2009-02-17T15:54:00.000-05:00

Visit BlackGold Biofuels at Booth 13033 at the Pumpershow in Louiseville, KY from February 26-28. BlackGold staff will be available to answer questions about integrating its technology into public and private wastewater treatment plants as well as dewatering sites.

Gavin Newsom Introduces BlackGold's San Fancisco Plant

2009-02-05T16:38:00.000-05:00

In a press conference held Feb. 4, 2009, San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom, talked about the benefits that BlackGold's technology will have, both for the city and for the environment as a whole. Mayor Newsom can be seen holding 2 of BlackGold's most recognizable props-- the before-an-after jars of trap grease!

Check out the youtube video of Mayor Newsom on our channel to the right.

Oceanside Sewage Treatment Plant Site Visit

2009-02-05T13:00:00.000-05:00

Members of the BlackGold Biofuels team met today with San Francisco Public Utilities Commission project engineers at Oceanside Treatment Plant in San Francisco. The team surveyed the site, reviewed key layout parameters, and discussed various site-specific optimization opportunities. The equipment installation will be extremely simple, by design; essentially only requiring connection to utilities at a single location on the skid. Since the skid-mounted processing equipment will be fabricated offsite, the team will likely not return to the treatment plant until installation in the fall. After hundreds of hours on the phone, everyone was excited to finally meet in person.

San Francisco Mayor, EPA Announce Partnership with BlackGold Biofuels

2009-02-04T12:20:00.000-05:00

Members of the BlackGold Biofuels Team pose with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, members of the Public Utilities Commission, the California Energy Commission, and other project partners at the press conference.

On Feb 4th, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, EPA, and California Energy Commission held a press conference announcing the first commercial-scale brown grease to biodiesel facility in the country. After an international search, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission selected BlackGold Biofuels’ conversion technology for the project. The City has purchased a technology license and associated processing equipment from BlackGold that will be utilized at its award-winning Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant.

By November 2009, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SF PUC) will produce biodiesel at a rate of 100,000 gallons per year exclusively from this sewer trap grease (a rancid grease generically referred to as “brown grease”). The SF PUC is pioneering this small installation as a model for public and private sewage treatment plants, and through a grant from EPA will develop a toolkit to facilitate implementation of this technology at cities across the nation. BlackGold is poised for rapid growth as San Francisco markets this technology to other municipalities as part of their grant.

San Francisco estimates that grease blockages in San Francisco sewers account for 50% of all sewer emergencies and annually costs the City $3.5 million in cleanings. Creating an incentive to keep grease out of the sewers should greatly reduce that figure. But even this massive savings is dwarfed by cost savings related to reducing wear and tear on the sewer infrastructure. Grease blockages are removed by jetting, chipping, even jackhammering, abrasive actions that reduce sewer line lifespan. According to SF Public Utilities Commission consultant Biofuel Recycling, the sewer system is the City’s largest linear asset, worth approximately $9.5 Billion. Biofuel Recycling estimates that conservatively, clearing blockages reduces infrastructure lifespan by 0.5%. Therefore grease blockages are costing the City approximately $24 Million a year in reduced infrastructure lifespan.

Converting this grease into biodiesel not only solves a pollution problem and reduces operations and maintenance costs, it provides fuel for the PUC. The conversion by-products can be utilized in other processes at the treatment plant.

Read the full Press Release on MSNBC.

BlackGold Biofuels Presents at National Biodiesel Board Conference

2009-02-04T11:37:00.000-05:00

BlackGold Biofuels presented in the National Biodiesel Conference technical track session 33, “Sustainable Production Technologies.” Black Gold was selected for its pioneering work with brown grease.

The National Biodiesel Board defines sustainability as “meeting today’s needs in terms of environmental stewardship, economic prosperity, and quality of life without compromising future generations’ ability of to meet these needs for themselves.” Using BlackGold’s model for converting brown grease to biodiesel provides multiple sustainability advantages in terms of this triple bottom line (planet, profit, people).

Grease is a leading cause of sewer overflows, which cost municipalities millions in fines, damage public and private property, and release untreated contaminants into the watershed. Beneficial reuse for this grease creates incentives to keep grease traps properly maintained, reducing overflows. For biodiesel producers, raw materials comprise about 75% of production costs; starting with a low or negative-value, material translates into an ability to make fuel for a much lower cost. Reducing municipal costs and making renewable fuel production more profitable and affordable is always in favor, creating jobs and value to ratepayers. Using a local resource to help meet local energy needs increases energy security and strengthens the local economy, creating green collar jobs. And of course, biodiesel is a low-carbon, renewable alternative to conventional diesel fuel; addition to reducing dangerous emissions, it reduces our reliance on foreign petroleum.

Landsburg in NBB General Session

2009-02-03T15:45:00.000-05:00

As part of the Tuesday General Session of the National Biodiesel Conference, Emily Landsburg spoke to a crowd of over 2,000 conference attendees about the National Biodiesel Board Sustainability Task Force’s accomplishments since its formation last February. In addition to her role as CEO of BlackGold Biofuels, Emily serves as Chairman of the Task Force. She unveiled a set of Sustainability Principles developed by the Task Force and adopted by the NBB Governing Board that will serve as guideposts as the US biodiesel industry grows. The principles cover issues such as food security, climate change mitigation, safe working conditions, and natural resource management. The full text of the Principles is available here: Guiding Principles for Biodiesel Sustainability.

In addition to the Principles, Emily discussed measuring a business’ impact with respect to a triple bottom line: people, profit, and planet. “Not only is this for ethical reasons,” Landsburg explained, “but for business reasons as well. What you’re actually doing when you ask yourself about the people and the planet is asking – what are the externalities in this market? Are there conditions that are not impacting the market now, but will in the future through regulation, supply and demand, or public opinion? Foreseeing these issues keeps you on the cutting edge, gives you a leg up on your competition, and keeps our industry as a whole ahead of the curve.” BlackGold Biofuels is committed to the triple bottom line and honoring the NBB’s Sustainability Principles. BlackGold is a member of the Philadelphia Sustainable Business Network.

Listen to Emily's speech here.
Read Biodiesel Magazine’s coverage of the presentation here.
Sustainability Task Force website.

Philadelphia Fry-o-Diesel changes name to BlackGold Biofuels

2009-01-28T11:00:00.000-05:00

Philadelphia Fry-o-Diesel (PFoD) is now doing business as BlackGold Biofuels. The name was changed to better reflect the company’s focus on conversion of low-quality brown grease such as sewer trap grease and national focus.

Our new name is a nod to the early days of the petroleum era, with new relevance for our current energy landscape. Rather than finite crude petroleum drilled in wells in foreign lands, this new BlackGold is a renewable resource, “crude” in the rancid sense, found down manholes in our own cities, close to energy demand. In this era, we strive to meet our energy needs with local resources in a way that strengthens our economies, enhances our energy independence, and improves our environmental footprint. Welcome to the new BlackGold.

Read more about the company history here.

New Logo

2009-01-27T15:43:00.000-05:00

Along with our new name, we now have a new logo. The recycling arrows in the oil drop reflect our core concept – beneficial reuse of waste material into high-value, environmentally superior fuel.

Studio ETC, the local design firm who designed the logo, deserve a big 'Thank You'. In addition to having top rate designers, the company runs off of renewable energy, is a member of the Philadelphia Sustainable Business Network, and offers frequent community events promoting sustainability. A longtime supporter of our company’s mission, Studio ETC designed the logo for Philadelphia Fry-o-Diesel as well. Visit their website at www.studioetc.com

New Website

2009-01-12T15:43:00.000-05:00

At long last, PFOD is proud to unveil its new website. We hope that this new site offers more content in a format that is easier to navigate. We welcome suggestions for improvement. Please email info@BlackGoldBiofuels.com with your recommendations. Many thanks to Angela Kassahun, Casey Rieder, Ruben Gailbraith and Jessi Mulroney for their work on this site.

PFOD Speaks at North American Net Impact Conference

2008-11-14T15:40:00.000-05:00

PFOD presented on its biodiesel model and the sustainability of biodiesel on the Energy and Environment Session sponsored by Shell at the 2008 North American Net Impact Conference. Nearly 2500 people attended the conference, themed “The Sustainable Advantage: Creating Social and Environmental Value." The panel was moderated by Keith Johnson of the Wall Street Journal; the other panelists were Doron Gal, CEO of Israeli company Kaiima, and Melinda Kimble, Senior Vice President at the UN Foundation.

PFOD Speaks at Biosolids and Residuals Conference

2008-11-13T15:39:00.000-05:00

PFOD presented its innovative technology to an eager audience of treatment plant operators and wastewater professionals at the New England Water Environment Association conference, hosted by the New England Biosolids and Residuals Association in Nashua, New Hampshire.

PFOD Debuts at WEFTEC

2008-10-18T15:38:00.000-04:00

This week PFOD made its debut at WEFTEC, one of the largest water conferences in the country. This year, the Chicago’s McCormick Place hosted over 10,000 attendees and exhibitors from the water industry in the

and abroad. At PFOD’s exhibition booth we spoke to hundreds of municipalities and manufacturers’ repress interested in PFOD’s innovate technology and the capacity to convert trap grease into biodiesel. Most attendees had heard of biodiesel but were not aware that it could be made from their sewer trap grease. PFOD consistently heard stories about the current struggles these water agencies are experiencing managing the grease and their interest in a beneficial reuse program, particularly one that would help them reduce their carbon footprint. After 4 days and hundreds of booth visitors, PFOD learned many things, including that it’s worth splurging for a chair for staff working the booth next year.

PFOD Featured at Fats Oils & Grease Training

2008-10-07T15:37:00.000-04:00

PFOD shared its innovative beneficial reuse for trap and other brown greases with an audience of wastewater agencies and municipal treatment plant operators in Providence RI today. PFOD was invited to present by the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission, who hosted the event.

Northwest Biofuels Association Seeks PFOD Expertise

2008-10-03T15:36:00.000-04:00

The Northwest Biofuels Association invited PFOD to speak at their first Brown Grease to Biofuels Stakeholder Meeting in Vancouver, WA. PFOD participated by conference call, with the kind onsite assistance of EPA’s Deborah Taevs. The workshop brought together area trap grease haulers, government agencies, and biodiesel producers to discuss opportunities for converting brown grease into biodiesel. Unheard of several years ago, the growing frequency of meetings addressing the use of trap grease for biodiesel is a signal of the growing market awareness and interest. As the industry leader, PFOD continues to educate the operators about this market opportunity and our pioneering, proven technology

Leadership Change

2008-07-01T15:32:00.000-04:00

This week PFOD bid founder Nadia Adawi farewell and good luck as she follows through on a lifelong goal of attending law school and welcomed incoming CEO Emily Landsburg. Nadia developed the concept of Fry-o-Diesel and grew it from a fledgling idea to a reality. Staff and board are greatly appreciative of her tremendous contribution to the company and wish her continued success in her future endeavors.

Incoming CEO Emily Landsburg is a member of Fry-o-Diesel’s founding team, joining in 2003 when the project was just taking shape conceptually. She was involved in initial feasibility research and strategic planning and then managed the technical team and pilot plant build out and permitting. In addition to this project management, Emily worked for Fry-o-Diesel’s sister company, The Energy Cooperative. Here she established southeastern Pennsylvania’s leading biodiesel distribution program, developed distribution logistics, formed strategic partnerships with vendors such as Sunoco, Inc, and secured accounts with electric utility PECO-Exelon, the City of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Eagles, and many other school districts and townships throughout the region. Stepping into the role of PFOD CEO, Emily brings her intimate knowledge of the project and technical team, expertise in biodiesel, understanding of utility and municipal customers, and track record building successful businesses.

Her bio is available here.

PFOD Exhibits at WEF Conference

2008-06-15T15:27:00.000-04:00

PFOD exhibited at this week's WEF Sustainability Conference in Washington, D.C.

Welcome!

2008-06-01T10:40:00.000-04:00

Welcome the Fry-o-Diesel Blog!

We'll post the latest company news and where to meet with us at upcoming confreence. Stay tuned for updates!