The 25th Annual International Pittsburgh Coal Conference held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. LTI’s Jim Ekmann and Bob Dolence co-authored a paper titled “Energy Project Risk Amidst Climate Change Regulatory Uncertainty.” This conference focused on environmental emissions issues and technologies surrounding the continued use of coal and the development of future coal-based energy plants to achieve near-zero emissions of pollutants, reduced costs, and high thermal efficiency to meet future energy market needs. Mr. Ekmann presented the paper at the conference. Given the continued debate on how to manage carbon emissions, the LTI paper was well received by the international audience. For further information, the authors may be contacted at jekmann@lti-global.com or rcdolence@lti-global.com.  

On behalf of the Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory, LTI’s President, Robert H. Gentile, and LTI's Christopher Babel participated in The 2nd Petrobras International Seminar on CO2 Capture and Geological Storage in Salvador, Brazil. The conference focused on various challenges impeding geologic carbon storage throughout the world. Conference topics focused on existing and potential carbon dioxide capture, transportation, & storage technologies, as well as a variety of issues including international legal & regulatory perspectives. The conference was attended by over 200.  

LTI’s President Robert H. Gentile along with LTI's James Ekmann and Christopher Babel participated in The Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum's 5th Capacity Building in Emerging Economies Workshop in Salvador, Brazil. Mr. Gentile organized and implemented the Workshop on behalf of the CSLF Secretariat. Mr. Ekmann made a presentation entitled "Understanding Risks Associated with Deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage" and Mr. Babel provided technical support at the workshop. Experts from around the world presented on a range of topics including carbon capture R&D developments, carbon storage trapping mechanisms, geologic & policy risk analysis, and measurement, monitoring, and verification (MMV).  

Texas Hydrogen Roadmap Workshop On August 19, 2008 John Winslow of LTI participated in a hydrogen workshop at the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) in The Woodlands, Texas. The workshop was sponsored by HARC, the Texas State Energy Conservation Office, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Texas H2 Coalition. The Coalition's mission is to " promote the role of hydrogen in the Texas energy value chain through accelerating the development of hydrogen production and distribution technologies and fostering their utilization in mobile, commercial and consumer applications." The workshop drew approximately 40 senior managment and technical personnel from academia, industry and local state and federal government offices. John participated in one of three breakout sessions in which input was provided to guide the preparation of the Texas Hydrogen Rroadmap. When the roadmap is made final, it will provide recommendations to facilitate the production and use of hy drogen in Texas. It could aslo provide a template for other states wanting to introduce hydrogen into their local economies.  

LTI has successfully completed a 750 gallon waste vegetable oil (WVO) filtration test using a proprietary system jointly developed by LTI and partner Filtroil, Inc. The test verified that the filtration system could clean WVO to particle count levels consistent with commercially available diesel fuel. The fully automated filtration system was also demonstrated to achieve economically competitive operating costs, which enables WVO to be effectively used as a fuel for power generation in a variety of applications. This filtration system is being jointly marketed by B3 Energy and Filtroil, Inc.  

On behalf of the Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy, LTI's Christopher Babel attended The Edison Foundation's Carbon Capture and Storage: Key Issues and Challenges conference in Washington, D.C. The conference focused on technical and non-technical challenges facing the implementation of carbon capture technologies in the U.S. Conference speakers included current member of the U.S. Congress House of Representatives and Senate, Federal agencies, industry, and academia. Topics included retrofitting and engineering challenges, storage potential, current CCS projects, surface and underground property rights, project financing and insurance, regulatory frameworks, and various other topics.  

Joel Lindstrom of LTI’s Bozeman, Montana office attended the U.S. Air Force’s Coal-to-Liquid Enhanced Use Lease Industry Forum at the Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana on January 31, 2008. The objective of this forum was to inform potential business partners of a Coal-to-Liquid (CTL) development opportunity at the Malmstrom Air Force Base. LTI participated in the forum at the request of Dan Cicero Hydrogen and Synthesis Gas Technology Manager for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory.  

On Tuesday, December 4, 2007 George Rudins of LTI received the Washington Coal Club’s lifetime achievement award. The award was presented by retired General Richard Lawson. In 1987, the Club established the Senator Jennings Randolph Award, which recognizes lifetime achievement and dedication to the utilization of coal. Previous individuals honored by the Club have been The Honorable Robert Byrd, West Virginia, George Fumich, Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, Office of Fossil Energy, U.S. Department of Energy and Senator Jennings, West Virginia.  

LTI CEO Robert Gentile attends the 20th World Energy Congress focused on “The Energy Future in an Interdependent World” held in Rome. On November 12, 2007 Mr. Gentile took part in the Cleaner Fossil Fuels Systems (CFFS) Forum entitled “Fossil Fuels Leading the Clean Energy Revolution?” Mr. Gentile provided the US Industry update to the Forum on current developments regarding FutureGen, the Carbon Sequestration Regional Partnerships, and industry reaction to recent US Department of Energy RD&D activities and solicitations.  

LTI CEO Robert Gentile attends annual Board of Directors Meeting of the International Energy Agency’s Coal Industry Advisory Board in Paris.  

LTI CEO Robert Gentile attends “CO2 Capture & Storage Programme: International Progress and Future Prospects” in Paris. The workshop was co-hosted by the British Royal Society, Britain’s Royal Academy of Engineering, and the International Energy Agency’s Coal Industry Advisory Board. The workshop brought together key international stakeholders to consider the science, technology, engineering, commercial, regulatory and policy challenges to deploying carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) technologies.  

LTI CEO Robert Gentile LTI's James Ekmann participated in The Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum Capacity Building Workshop in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Mr. Gentile, on behalf of the National Energy Technology Laboratory, assisted Brazil's Carbon Storage Research Center in the design and implementation of the Workshop. Mr. Ekmann made a presentation entitled "Risk Analysis of Carbon Capture and Storage Projects." The workshop was attended by over 150 participants from 10 countries.  

Demonstrating a modified diesel generator fueled with neat vegetable oil, LTI's Joel Lindstrom and Christopher Babel provided power for the 2007 Northern Rockies Bioneers Conference held in Bozeman, MT. The generator was fueled with camelina oil that was grown and pressed at Ted Turner's Flying D Buffalo Ranch. The four day demonstration was a complete success, powering all of the conference activities and presentations with locally grown fuel.  

LTI CEO Robert Gentile and LTI's James Ekmann attend The Seminar on Perspectives for Near-term Carbon Capture and Storage Deployment in Brazil, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The seminar was organized by the Carbon Storage Research Center (CEPAC) recently formed by the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul and PETROBRAS.  

LTI's Chuck Kirschner and Chris Munson attended the "Seminar on Optimization and Controls for Future Near-zero Emissions Coal Plants" at Lehigh University on October 9, 2007. This seminar was also attended by representatives of the Chemical Engineering Department of Lehigh University, the US Department of Energy, and other industry representatives. The seminar focused on work in modeling of advanced coal plant cycles such as IGCC.  

LTI CEO Robert Gentile and LTI Vice President Craig Cassarino attended The 3rd International Workshop and Exhibition on Plasma Assisted Combustion (IWEPAC) in Falls Church, Virginia. Mr. Gentile made the keynote presentation entitled "A Global Clean Energy Revolution: Near-Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Conversion Systems". The IWEPAC provides a forum to present and discuss scientific and engineering aspects of plasma ignition, plasma assisted combustion, fuel conversion and activation, coal gasification, gases ionization, waste destruction for power generation, propulsion, pollution reduction, and production of hydrogen-enriched gases. The Workshop was attended by leading plasma scientists from around the world.  

Leonardo Technologies, Inc. demonstrated one of the two Modified Kubota GL 1100 engine/generator at this years Yellowstone Greening Conference held at Big Sky Montana. The conference "Waste not Montana" was held from September the 11th through Thursday September the 13, 2007. LTI attendees Robert Gentile, Craig Cassarino and Joel Lindstrom were on hand to explain and demonstrate the filtration system and use of 100% vegetable oil as a fuel to run the 11 kilowatt Modified Kubota genset that was housed in a specially converted cargo trailer. There was a lot of interest from conference attendees in the complete system.  

On behalf of the National Energy Technology Laboratory, LTI's Christopher Munson attended the Coal USA 2007 Conference in New York City. This conference was organized by The McCloskey Group, Hill & Associates, Doyle Trading Consultants, and Energy Publishing. The conference focused on factors that will determine future supply and demand of U.S. coal, including production, transportation, clean coal technology and market dynamics. Conference presenters included high-level representatives of coal producing firms, coal buyers and traders, and representatives from the financial community.  

R.P. Noceti, an LTI employee, was a co-author on a paper presented at the American Nuclear Society Annual Meeting in Boston June 24-28, 2007. The paper, "Synthesis of Hydrocarbon Fuels using Renewable and Nuclear Energy" was presented to an audience of about 75 at the meeting and generated interest in the concept of recycling coal-derived and atmospheric CO2 into synfuel.  

On behalf of the National Energy Technology Laboratory, LTI’s Christopher Babel attended the International Technical Conference on Coal Utilization and Fuel Systems in Clearwater, FL. The conference focused on promising, evolving, and novel technologies, fuels, and equipment in the coal-powered generation industry. Almost 300 attendees from 21 countries participated in the technical presentations, tutorials and plenary sessions. Topics included gasification, oxy-fuel combustion, synthetic fuels, computational techniques, production of hydrogen from coal, and others.  

LTI CEO Robert Gentile attends the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum’s Workshop on Capacity Building in Pittsburgh. Mr. Gentile was instrumental in the design and implementation of the Workshop. Over 60 trainees attended from six countries – Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.  

LTI CEO Robert Gentile participates in the International Energy Agency’s Clean Coal Centre meeting in Washington, DC to prioritize US recommendations to the Centre’s Board for projects for the coming year. Mr. Gentile serves on the US Committee of the IEA’s Clean Coal Centre.  

LTI CEO Robert Gentile attends annual meeting of the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum in Paris. The Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum is an international climate change initiative that is focused on development of improved cost-effective technologies for the separation and capture of carbon dioxide for its transport and long-term safe storage. Mr. Gentile serves as Senior Strategic Advisor to the CSLF Secretariat.  

Christopher Babel (LTI) attends the Military Energy Alternatives Conference in Arlington, VA. The conference focused on the Department of Defense (DoD) interests in alternative sources of energy such as fuel cells, batteries, and synthetic fuels. Presentations were given by defense organizations as well as industry, and represented the current research areas and future goals for DoD.  

LTI CEO Robert Gentile attends meetings in China with the Chinese Ministry of Science & Technology, the US Department of Energy, Tinghua University and Tulane University regarding LTI’s carbon sequestration project in China. This project is one of the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum’s 20 sanctioned carbon storage projects worldwide.  

Charles Kirschner of LTI attends the Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. The SRA is an interdisciplinary professional society devoted to risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication. Mr. Kirschner is a member of the SRA's Greater Pittsburgh Chapter. The conference provided information for LTI to apply to risk assessment activities associated with evaluating carbon sequestration.  

LTI's Christopher Babel, John Winslow, and Ed Schmetz present sessions at the Coal to Hydrogen Enriched Liquids (CTHL) training course at the Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Morgantown, West Virginia. The CTHL training course was developed for DOE employees at the national laboratory.  

Robert Gentile attends the International Energy Agency (IEA) Coal-to-Liquids Workshop and the IEA Coal Industry Advisory Board's annual plenary meeting at the IEA headquarters in Paris. Mr. Gentile is an elected member of the CIAB serving a two year term.  

Robert Gentile gives paper entitled "The Pathway to Zero Emission Fossil Fuels: A Historical Perspective" at the Cleaner Fossil Fuels for Power Generation Conference in Moscow, Russia.