World's Largest Alternative Fuels Consulting Group Expands in Biomass, Pyrolysis and Waste to Energy
Sherwood, November 12, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Lee Enterprises Consulting announced the addition of three professionals to its consulting team. According to CEO Wayne Lee, these new experts represent the top talent in their respective fields and expand the group’s services in the fields of wind, solar, ethanol, cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel, waste to energy, pyrolysis, gasification, biobutanol, biochar, carbonization, and torrefaction.
“The last two quarters have seen quite a bit of activity in biomass technology, pyrolysis and waste-to-energy projects, both in the U.S. and abroad,” says Lee. “Biodiesel and ethanol activity has been a bit slower as producers await the EPA’s decision on the Renewable Fuel Obligations and Congress’ actions on the biodiesel tax credit”. Lee says his group is seeing lots of consolidation in the biodiesel industry as larger entities explore the purchase of multiple plants. He also notes some “pretty spectacular” measures in enzymatics in biodiesel. The group is also closely monitoring options and feasibility of ethanol plants exploring the addition of biodiesel and renewable diesel processing capabilities.
"Our team continues not only to be the largest alternative fuels consulting group, but also to maintain a depth and expertise in alternative and renewable fuels that is unmatched anywhere in the world".
Another exciting addition is the group’s involvement in energy storage systems. “These systems can be really beneficial to virtually any type of manufacturing operation with high electricity usage,” Lee says. “These systems allow clients with high energy use to store electricity and use it during peak, high rate periods, often resulting in huge savings”. Lee says the ROI on these systems can be very attractive and that the group’s experts can analyze “pretty quickly and cost effectively”.
The group recently added three new experts:
Ahmed Irshad: (Project Finance, Business/Project Development, Fuel Additives). Irshad has an MBA from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduate degrees in engineering from MIT, Cornell University, University of New Hampshire and IITC, India. He has advanced management certifications in Agribusiness from Harvard Business School. He has served as an adjunct at Lehigh University and is on the Board of Advisors of the Speed School of Engineering at the Univ. of Louisville. Irshad is a recognized expert in the renewable energy with over 20 years of experience. He is the inventor of E-Diesel and cellulosic ethanol biorefinery technology platforms and fuel additives. He hold 31 patents, has written four books and over 100 publications, and manages over $200 million in ethanol, biodiesel and waste-to-energy projects. He has raised over $250 million in equity and project financing for renewable energy projects. He has served in lead corporate management capacities at the US EPA, Booz Allen & Hamilton, as the President of National Biodiesel Foundation. Irshad is the CEO of Pure Energy Corporation and an associate at MIT Sloan School of Management.
Nghi Nguyen (Process Optimization, Distillation (Biodiesel & Ethanol), Pretreatment, Enzymatic Catalysts, Esterification, Aspen Plus Simulation and Innovative Biodiesel Technology Evaluation). Nguyen has a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has considerable experience in the optimization of biodiesel processes using innovative catalysts, process integration, process intensification and thermodynamic analysis, and assist with issues of quality control and process upgrade to meet ASTM D6751 standards. He has developed thermally integrated distillation columns for bioethanol dehydration and is an expert on degumming. Nguyen has evaluated esterification processes and developed bifunctional heterogeneous catalysts that can catalyze both esterification and transesterification reactions simultaneously. He has written a number of recognized industry articles on the use of thermally coupled reactive distillation columns in biodiesel production.
Jonathan Lewis (Renewable Aviation/Jet Fuels). Lewis has a B.S. in Physics and Engineering from Deree-Pierce University in Athens (Greece) and forty years of international flying experience. He has more than 17,000 hours of Pilot-in-Command, heavy, multi-engine turbine time (Jumbo-jet experience, including the Boeing B-747-200F). He has participated in the development of Renewable Jet Fuels and is one of the discoverers of the benefits of a new renewable jet fuel with heavier carbon molecules. Lewis has extensive logistics experience and has helped deploy biofuels both nationally and internationally. He has also helped to launch new biofuels like renewable methanol from renewable natural gas and is an active proponent of 3rd and 4th generation biofuels technology. He is actively involved in development of cellulosic diesel technologies.
“The last two quarters of 2014 has been an exciting time for us,” said Lee. “Our team continues not only to be the largest alternative fuels consulting group, but also to maintain a depth and expertise in alternative and renewable fuels that is unmatched anywhere in the world. I am very proud of all our members and strategic partners.”
ABOUT LEE ENTERPRISES CONSULTING, INC: Lee Enterprises is the world's largest alternative and renewable fuels consulting firm. The group handles biodiesel, ethanol, biomass, wind, solar, waste to energy, biopolymers, biobutanol, bioproducts and geothermal projects, and offers a wide range of services worldwide, from initial planning and feasibility assessment, through project oversight, design, fabrication, installation and start-up. The group’s consultants and strategic partners represent the top talent in alternative and renewable fuels, and these experts handle almost every aspect of a project. The group also owns National Business Brokerage, Inc., a full service business brokerage firm specializing in the buying and selling of alternative and renewable fuels plants. Lee Enterprises, 9903 Brockington Road, Suite 106, Sherwood, AR 72120. (501) 833-8511.