Active Energy
Date: 2019-11-06
Following up on our 24th May, 2017 coverage, London, UK-based Active Energy PLC's planned and long delayed proposed woody biomass-pellet plant on Newfoundland's Northern Peninsula is "far from a done deal but isn't dead in the water", according to Provincial Minister Gerry Byrne.

Active Energy's Newfoundland subsidiary Timberlands secured timber rights a year ago but to date no timber has been cut or delivered to the proposed project which has not yet broken ground. The provincial government issued two five-year commercial cutting permits to the company in November 2018 to harvest 100,000 cubic mpy of timber for the wood pellet plant in Hawke's Bay.

Active energy is best known for its CoalSwitch product which is made from woody biomass including pulp and saw mill by-products such as bark, sawdust and thinnings, and wood which is over-age, under-quality, blow-down, beetle-kill, forest-fire damaged, or industrial waste. CoalSwitch can be burned by old, coal-fired generation facilities without the need for a retrofit. (Source: Active Energy, CBC, Nov., 2019) Contact: Active Energy Group PLC, Richard Spinks, CEO, +44 (0)20 3021 1500, www.active-energy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Active Energy,  Biomass,  

Restoration Fuels,
Date: 2019-10-30
Restoration Fuels, an Oregon benefit corporation, is reporting its woody biomass torrification plant in the community of John Day, Grant County, Oregon is expected to begin production in mid-November, 2020. The plant will turn forest waste, woody biomass into a product that can be burned for fuel.

At full capacity, the $17.5 million plant at the Malheur Lumber mill is expected to produce 80,000-90,000 tpy of torrefied wood. The plant is partially funded by the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities with some development expenses provided by the Forest Service and air pollution-reducing equipment funded by the Governor's Strategic Reserve Fund.

Restoration Fuels is in discussions with utilities from Europe and Asia and several power plants in the United States as possible customers. (Source: Restoration Fuels, Blue Mountain Eagle, Bend Bulletin, 28 Oct., 2019) Contact: Restoration Fuels, Matt Krumenauer, CEO, info@restorationfuels.com, www.restorationfuels.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Torrified Wood,  Woody Biomass,  

Saskpower
Date: 2019-10-30
On the Canadian prairies, Discover Moose Jaw is reporting SaskPower and the Meadow Lake Tribal Council have signed a PPA for up to 8 MW of biomass power from the Flying Dust First Nations-owned Meadow Lake Tribal Council Bioenergy Centre. The Center will generate power from locally sourced forest residues, woody biomass and sawmill residuals.

The plant is expected to generate sufficient electricity to power more than 5,000 homes and to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by more than one million tonnes over 25 years. A plant construction and startup date has not been set. begin. (Source: DiscoverMooseJaw.com, 27 Oct., 2019) Contact: Meadow Lake Tribal Council, www.mltc.net; SaskPower, Mike Marsh, (306) 566-2121, www.saskpower.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Saskpower,  Woody Biomass,  

US Industrial Pellet Association
Date: 2019-10-28
The Richmond, Virginia-based not-for-profit US Industrial Pellet Association (USIPA) is lauding the National Association of University Forest Resource Programs (NAUFRP) for its letter signed by more than 100 scientists and researchers calling on policymakers to consider key fundamentals related to forest-woody biomass and the benefits of wood energy.

The letter, which noted that the "carbon benefits of sustainable forest biomass are well established", cites a report from UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) which notes: "In the long term, a sustainable forest management strategy aimed at maintaining or increasing forest carbon stocks, while producing an annual sustained yield of timber, fibre or energy from the forest, will generate the largest sustained mitigation benefit. Demand for wood helps keep land in forest and incentivizes investments in new and more productive forests, all of which have significant carbon benefits."

Reviewing more than 30 years of scientific research on forest biomass utilization, scientists from Yale, Harvard, and Georgia to Washington, Idaho, Berkeley and others identified four fundamentals for science-based decision-making on biomass energy production:

The carbon benefits of sustainable forest biomass energy are well established.

Measuring the carbon benefits of forest biomass energy must consider cumulative carbon emissions over the long term.

An accurate comparison of forest biomass energy carbon impacts with those of other energy sources requires the use of consistent time-frames in the comparison.

Economic factors influence the carbon impacts of forest biomass energy. (Source: The US Industrial Pellet Association, 25 Oct., 2019) Contact: The US Industrial Pellet Association, Deth Ginter, Exec. Dir., J. Marcus, (804) 775.5894, JMarcus@theusipa.org, www.theusipa.org; National Association of University Forest Resource Programs, www.naufrp.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News IPCC,  US Industrial Pellet Association ,  Woody Biomass,  Wood Pellet,  

Woody Biomass,Wood Pellet,Enviv,RWE
Date: 2019-10-28
Electricity power producer RWE and others will reportedly import thousands of tonnes of wood pellets from the US next year to burn in Dutch biomass power plants, with the help of a reported €11.4 billion of government subsidy. In total, 628 biomass installations in the Netherlands will receive subsidies, of which €2.6 billion is going to the RWE power plants in Geertruidenberg and Eemshaven, the paper said.

One US wood pellet producer -- Enviva in North Carolina -- has a contract to ship at least 200,000 tpy of wood pellets to RWE between 2020 and 2024. As previously noted, the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) warns governments should stop subsidizing biomass power plants because it is unsustainable. In addition, "burning wood does not produce very much energy and the net amount of CO2 which is released is greater than when burning coal or gas," the researchers said. It also noted that CO2 released by burning the wood pellets in the Netherlands is registered to the US which is a misleading "book-keeping trick imperiling the climate," according to the Dogwood Alliance. (Source: DutchNews.nl, 28 Oct., 2019) European Academies Science Advisory Council, www.easac.eu; Enviva Holdings LP, Enviva Biomass, Dr. Jennifer Jenkins, VP and CSO, www.envivabiomass.com; RWE, www.rwe.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enviva,  Wood Pellet,  Woody Biomass,  RWE,  

Enviva
Date: 2019-10-11
Bethesda, Maryland-based wood pellet supplier Enviva Holdings, LP, the world's largest producer of wood pellets, reports it will construct a new production plant in Livingston, Alabama. The facility would use a mix of locally sourced softwood and woody biomass scrap to produce more than 3.5 million metric tpy of wood pellets.

Construction on the roughly $175 million plant is slated to get underway early next year for a mid-2021 commissioning and startup. Enviva owns and operates eight plants in the Southeastern US. (Source: Enviva, Oct., 2019) Contact: Enviva Holdings LP, Enviva Biomass, Dr. Jennifer Jenkins, VP and CSO, www.envivabiomass.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enviva,  Woody Biomass,  Wood Pellet,  

Velocys,Bayou Fuels
Date: 2019-10-11
UK-headquartered landfill gas-to-liquid fuels and chemicals producer Velocys Plc and its subsidiary Velocys, Inc. is reporting an agreement with Occidental Petroleum subsidiary Oxy Low Carbon Ventures, LLC (Oxy) under which Oxy will capture and store CO2 from Velocys' planned Bayou Fuels waste woody biomass-to-fuels project in Natchez, Mississippi.

According to OXY, it is uniquely positioned to transport and store the CO2 by leveraging Occidental's industry leadership in CO2 storage and utilization for enhanced oil recobery (EOR). (Source: Velocys, gasworld, 19 Oct., 2019)Contact: Velocys Plc, David Pummell, CEO, +44 1235 841 700, (713) 275-5840 -- Houston Office, info@velocys.com, www.velocys.com; Oxy Low Carbon Ventures LLC, www.oxy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Velocys,  Biofuel,  Biorefinery,  Waste-to-Fuel,  Bayou Fuels,  

ReEnergy
Date: 2019-10-09
Following up on our March 13th report of the closure of ReEnergy's former 22-mw woody biomass-to-electricity facility due to the loss of a contract to sell renewable energy certificates (RECs) to the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA), the 46-acre site and plant are still not completely demolished in preparation for the hand-over to the area development authority.

ReEnergy was recently granted an extension until Dec. 31 for completing the demolition and site cleanup, transferring the property and paying $22,000 in lieu of taxes. Two solar companies and a company that uses the pyrolysis high temperature process to turn wood into other products, have reportedly shown interest in the property.

ReEnergy owns and operates a biomass facility in Fort Drum, New York. (Source: Watertown Daily, NNY360, 7 Oct., 2019) Contact: ReEnergy Holdings, Sarah Boggess, Communications and Governmental Affairs, (518) 810-0200, sboggess@reenergyholdings.com, www.reenergyholdings.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News ReEnergy,  Lyonsdale,  Biomass,  Woody Biomass,  

Washington State University,GEVO
Date: 2019-10-07
Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels, LLC (NWABF) reports it is working with Washington State University's Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance (NARA), a project that established the availability and sustainability of woody biomass/forest residues as a feedstock for the production of aviation biofuels using Boulder, Colorado-based GEVO technology, The planned biorefinery, which is expected to go into production in 2023, would be constructed at Aberdeen, Washington.

As previously reported, Delta Air Lines, in partnership with NWABF, is investing $2 million to assess the biofuel refinery project's feasibility. Additionally, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture funded NARA with $39.5 million over 5-years. (Source: Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels, LLC (NWABF), Washington State Univ. Evergreen, 3 Oct., 2019) Contact: Washington State University, NARA, Ralph Cavalieri, (509) 335-5581, cavalieri@wsu.edu, www.nararenewables.org; Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels, LLC Chris Whitworth,Dir. Project Dev., www.facebook.com/NWABiofuels; Gevo, Patrick Gruber, CEO, 303-858-8358, pgruber@gevo.com, www.gevo.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News GEVO,  Aviation Biofuel,  Woody Biomass,  

AustroCel Hallein, OMV
Date: 2019-10-04
Vienna, Austria-headquartered oil and gas company OMV and AustroCel Hallein GmbH are reporting a multi-year agreement under which AustroCel will supply cellulosic "advanced" bioethanol derived from woody biomass -- spruce sawmill waste -- to OMV.

AustroCel Hallein is committed to the cascading use of resources: High-purity cellulose is produced from spruce, which comes from the sawmill industry as scrap; this cellulose is predominantly processed in Asia to make fibres for textile applications.

AustroCel is constructing Austria's first advanced bioethanol production facility in Hallein. The €42 million bioethanol plant is expected to begin production early in 2021. Source: AustroCel Hallein GmbH, Hydrocarbon Engineering, 3 Oct., 2019) Contact: AustroCel Hallein GmbH, Jorge Harbring, CEO, +43 6245 8900, www.austrocel.com; OMV, www.omv.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ethanol.Bioethanol,  

Stora Enso
Date: 2019-09-25
In Stockholm, Stora Enso reports it is participating in the World Green Building Week, the largest annual and global communication campaign on sustainable buildings organized by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC).

Stora Enso develops and produces solutions based on wood and biomass for a range of industries and applications worldwide, leading in the bioeconomy and supporting our customers in meeting demand for renewable eco-friendly products.

"Stora Enso has helped us lead the change towards a building sector that meets the decarbonization goals of the Paris Agreement, addressing both operational and embodied emissions. As a campaign ambassador and advocate for new policies such as the EU's 'Level(s)' framework that seek to mainstream life-cycle assessment, they are evidence to politicians that the sector is ready to deliver net zero carbon," according to James Drinkwater, Director of WorldGBC's Europe Regional Network.

Carbon dioxide emissions from construction materials -- mostly cement and steel -- account for approximately 11 pct of all global emissions. Stora Enso has also supported the creation of the WorldGBC's Bringing embodied carbon upfront report that highlights the importance of emissions from materials.

The World Green Building Council (WGBC) is the world's largest international organisation promoting the practice of sustainable building. Stora Enso Wood Products joined WGBC in 2017. (Source: Stora Enso, PR, 24 Sept., 2019) Contact: Stora Enso Wood Products Div., Jari Suominen, Div. Head, +43-664-6183907, jari.suominen@stroaenso.com, www.storaenso.com; World Green Building Council, James Drinkwater, www.worldgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  Building Sustainability,  ,  Stora Enso,  World Green Building Council,  

Dow Chemical, UPM Biofuel
Date: 2019-09-25
Chemicals giant Dow Chemical Company rports it is partnering with advanced biofuels producer UPM Biofuels for the commercialization of a plastics offering for the packaging industry made from a bio-based renewable feedstock.

Dow is integrating wood-based UPM BioVerno renewable naphtha -- a key raw material used to develop plastics -- into its slate of raw materials, creating an alternative source for plastics production. Dow is using this feedstock to produce bio-based polyethylene (PE) at its production facility in Terneuzen, The Netherlands, for use in food and other packaging applications.

Following a successful year-long trial program, Dow is now planning to scale production and address the increasing global demand for renewable plastics.

UPM BioVerno naphtha is produced at UPM's biorefinery in Lappeenranta, Finland, from crude tall oil, which is a residue of paper pulp production. (Source: Dow Chemical Co., PR, 24 Sept., 2019)Contact: Dow CHemicals, www.dow.com; UPM Biofuels, Sari Mannonen, VP . +358 45 265 1345, sari.mannonen@upm.com, www.upmbiofuels.com, www.upm.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News UPM BioVerno,  UPM Biofuel,  Dow Chemical,  Woody Biomass,  

Delta Air Lines,Northwest Advanced Bio-fuels
Date: 2019-09-18
U.S. air carrier Delta Air Lines reports it is partnering with Northwest Advanced Bio-fuels (NWABF) for a $2 million study to determine the feasibility of building a facility in Washington State to produce sustainable aviation fuel and other biofuel products.

The facility would utilize forestry waste and wood "slash" to produce sustainable fuels. The result would qualify under an approved carbon-reducing pathway recognized by the American Society of Testing and Materials.

Delta expects the study to be completed by the middle of 2020, at which time it will "evaluate the next steps in moving forward with the project's development" with the expectation that the project would be in production by the end of 2023. Biofuels produced at the facility could provide around 10 pct of the airline's annual jet fuel consumption in the West Coast region.

As previously reported, Delta operated its first carbon-neutral delivery flight, using biofuels on a new A321. The airline also purchases offsets for domestic flights into and out of seven high-traffic airports. (Source: Delta, Air Travel, Sept., 2019) Contact: Delta, Graeme Burnett, VP Fuel Management, www.delta.com; Northwest Advanced Bio-fuels, Dave Smoot, www.nifa.usda.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  Biofuel,  Aviation Biofuel,  Delta Air Lines,  

Wood Pellet Association of Canada
Date: 2019-09-09
Since 2017, the government of Canada has been developing the Clean Fuel Standard (CFS), a low carbon fuel standard-type policy, to reduce the life-cycle carbon intensity of fuels and energy used in Canada. The CFS aims to achieve 30 million tonnes CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) of annual reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 2030.

The Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC) has been providing input to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) as it works to design and shape the CFS. And, upon review of ECCC's proposed regulatory approach, WPAC is seriously concerned that the government will not allow end-use fuel switching in the buildings/stationary fuel use sector.

WPAC believes it is unfair for ECCC to recognize fuel switching from gasoline to electricity or hydrogen in transportation, but not to recognize switching from heating oil to solid biofuels -- wood pellets or chips -- for Canada's second largest renewable energy product -- solid biomass heating. To that end, WPAC made the following representations to ECCC:

One of the three primary objectives of the CFS is low-cost compliance. By prohibiting recognition of fuel switching for stationary applications, ECCC will actually significantly increase the cost of CFS compliance, exclude the forest sector from participation in the short-term, and inhibit investment in the most proven commercial technology for displacement of heating oil -- wood pellet and chip boilers.

Canada consumes approximately three billion lpy of heating oil, the majority of which is consumed by Canadians in rural and Atlantic Canada. The latter accounts for 44 pct of heating oil consumption in the residential sector and 50 pct of heating oil consumption in the commercial/institutional sectors. Rural and Atlantic Canada also have among the lowest per capita income. ECCC's proposed regulatory approach will make CFS compliance for these low-income areas significantly more expensive than for those living in cities.

Under ECCC's proposed regulatory approach, the principal mechanism for ensuring compliance from heating oil primary suppliers will be to blend renewable diesel with heating oil. Since heating oil has low carbon intensity (CI) relative to other liquid fuels and much of the crude used to produce heating oil is sourced from outside of Canada, there is less opportunity for upstream reductions than with other liquid fuels. The 2030 target of 74 g CO2e/MJ is less than heating oil combustion emissions, meaning upstream efficiency improvements will be insufficient to meet the requirements. The only heating oil-miscible fuel that can also be stored outside in winter, as is often the case with heating oil, is renewable diesel.

Renewable diesel has a useful heat fuel cost of $65-82 per gigajoule (GJ) ($234-295 per MWh. In contrast, wood pellets, at $300-350 per tonne for residential sales, have a useful heat fuel cost of $20-24 per GJ. Wood pellets also have half the of default renewable diesel (29 g CO2e/MJ). Wood chips are half the carbon intensity of wood pellets which means, on an implied carbon price basis and assuming wholesale $0.75 per litre for heating oil, blending renewable diesel with heating oil has a fuel cost of $630/ per tonne CO2e to 884 per tonne CO2e. Switching from heating oil to wood pellets saves money on a fuel basis, in addition to avoiding taxes on heating oil. In this case, there is little reason to implement a complex policy such as the CFS.

Despite the billions of dollars invested in lignocellulosic liquid transportation biofuels, all technologies are still pre-commercial -- especially forest feedstock-based liquid transportation biofuels due to the recalcitrant structure of wood fibre. Co-processing of pyrolysis oil or biocrude in existing oil refineries at a meaningful volume will not occur before 2030. The forest sector represents over 75 pct of annually-available biomass resources in Canada and its exclusion from participation in the liquids class will dramatically increase the cost of fuel, especially in rural communities where wood chips and bioheat are a cost efficient and convenient source of energy. (Source: WPAC, Canadian Biomass, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 26 Aug., 2019) Contact: Wood Pellet Association of Canada, Gordon Murra, Exec. Dir., ; Environment and Climate Change Canada, www.canada.ca › environment-climate-change

More Low-Carbon Energy News Environment and Climate Change Canada,  Wood Pellet Association of Canada,  Woody Biomass,  Wood Pellet ,  

Valmet, BS Energy
Date: 2019-09-06
Espoo, Finland-headquartered Valmet is reporting it will supply a biomass-fired boiler and a flue gas treatment plant to BS Energy's combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Braunschweig, Germany. The roughly €50 million boiler with its auxiliary equipment is in line with BS Energy's energy production strategy 2030 which aims to remove and replace coal-fired boilers by 2022.

The biomass-fired CHP plant will produce approximately 20 MW of electricity and 60 MW of district heat. The CYMIC circulating fluidized bed boiler included in Valmet's delivery will use recycled wood as its primary fuels to generate 27 kg/s of high-pressure steam at a pressure of 75 bar and a temperature of 525 C. The flue gas cleaning system included in the delivery will enable fulfilling the tightening emission standards.

BS Energy, a subsidiary company jointly owned by the City of Braunschweig, Veolia Deutschland GmbH, and Thuga AG, is the regional energy supplier in Braunschweig. (Source: Valmet, PR, Globe Newswire, 3 Sept., 2019) Contact: Valmet, Kai Janhunen, VP, www.valmet.com, www.twitter.com/valmetglobal; BS Energy, +49 531 3838000

More Low-Carbon Energy News Valmet,  BS Energy,  Biomass,  Woody Biomass,  

UPM Biofuels
Date: 2019-08-28
Helsinki-headquartered renewable diesel producer UPM Biofuels is touting "Forest Film", new product developed with UPM BioVerno naphtha, a 100 pct wood-based solution originating from sustainably managed forests.

The new product replaces traditional fossil-based virgin materials and offers an efficient way to reach sustainability goals without compromising on product performance, according to a release.

At UPM Raflatac, UPM Biofuels converts woody biomass pulp pulp production residue into renewable naphtha, a drop-in raw material for the chemical industry. (Source: UPM Raflatac, UPM Biofuels, Labels & Labeling, 27 Aug., 2019) Contact: UPM Raflatac, +44 1723 583661, www.upmraflatac.com; UPM Biofuels, Panu Routasalo, +358 45 265 1345, sari.mannonen@upm.com, www.upmbiofuels.com, www.upm.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News UPM Biofuels ,  

University of British Columbia
Date: 2019-08-21
The University of British Columbia (UBC) reports it will invest $20.4 million to expand its 2012 vintage wood waste-to-energy power plant. The expansion will include installation of a new boiler and increasing the plant's capacity to generate 70 pct of the hot water needed in the university's district energy system and cutting its CO2 emissions by 14,500 tpy. The project, with $7.6 million in Canadian government support, is slated to be completed in 2020.

UBC constructed its initial biomass-fueled research and demonstration facility in 2012 in partnership with Vancouver-based bioenergy firm Nexterra Systems and General Electric. (Source: Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver Sun Aug., 2019) Contact: UBC, David Woodson, Dir. Energy Services, (604) 822-2211, www.ubc.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biomass Power,  Woody Biomass,  

Atlantic Power,Fortistar,CMS Energy
Date: 2019-08-16
In the Bay State, Dedham-based independent power producer Atlantic Power Corporation reports completion of its $20 million acquisition of the equity ownership interests held by AltaGas Power Holdings in Craven County Wood Energy in North Carolina and the Grayling Generating Station contracted biomass plants in Michigan.

The 48 MW Craven County Wood Energy facility has been in service since October 1990 . Atlantic Power acquired a 50 pct interest from AltaGas with the remaining 50 pct held by CMS Energy. Craven County burns wood waste, wood chips, poultry litter, forestry residues, mill waste, bark and sawdust, and has PPA with Duke Energy Carolinas.

In Michigan, the 37 MW Grayling Generating Station has been in service since June 1992 . Atlantic Power acquired a 30 pct interest from AltaGas , leaving Fortistar with 20 pct and CMS Energy with 50 pct. Grayling has a PPA with Consumers Energy. The plant burns wood waste from local mills, forestry residues, mill waste and bark. Both plants are operated by an affiliate of CMS Energy. (Source: Atlantic Power Corp., CNW Group, 14 Aug., 2019) Contact: Atlantic Power Corporation, (617) 977-2700, info@atlanticpower.com, www.atlanticpower.com; , Mark Comora, CEO, (914) 421-4937, MComora@fortistar.com, www.fortistar.com; CMS Energy, www.cmsenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Fortistar,  Atlantic Power,  Biomass,  Woody Biomass,  CMS Energy,  

Southern Environmental Law Center
Date: 2019-08-14
A new report by Spatial Informatics Group, LLC (SIG), commissioned by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) and the National Wildlife Federation, takes a closer look at the carbon profile of wood pellets produced at Drax's three U.S. wood pellet mills.

The report found that the accumulated emissions of burning wood pellets from these U.S. mills to produce electricity in the UK increases carbon pollution in the atmosphere for more than 40 years -- well beyond the time-frame identified by the IPCC as critical for carbon reduction.

Download the report details HERE. (Source: Southern Environmental Law Center, 12 Aug., 2019) Contact: Southern Environmental Law Center, www.southernenvironment.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biomass,  Woody Biomass,  Carbon Emissions,  Southern Environmental Law Center,  

Woody Biomass,Wood Pellet
Date: 2019-08-07
According to a recent report from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service's Global Agricultural Information Network, the European Union (EU) market for wood pellets will likely grow this year but future expansions could be limited by sustainability requirements introduced by the 28 individual EU member states.

The report notes nearly half of the EU's renewable energy is presently generated from the combustion of solid biomass -- wood chips and pellets -- not including municipal solid waste. The EU consumed an estimated 27.35 million metric tons of wood pellets in 2018, with consumption projected to rise to 30 million metric tons this year. According to the report, the EU's 656 wood pellet plants are expected to produce 18.1 million metric tons of wood pellets this year and imports are expected to rise from 10.355 million metric tons in 2018 to 12.2 million metric tons in 2019.

Report details are HERE. (Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service's Global Agricultural Information Network, July, 2019) Contact: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service's Global Agricultural Information Network, gain.fas.usda.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  Wood Pellet,  

Bord na Mona
Date: 2019-07-24
In Dublin, the regulatory development and planning board -- Bord Pleanala -- reports it has denied permission for state-owned energy company Bord Na Mona's planned conversion of a peat-burning power plant at Shannonbridge, Co Offaly, to co-fire with biomass from 2021 until the end of 2027 when its existing peat permit expires. The plant would then be fully biomass fired with 37,000 tpy of woody biomass imported from Australia.

The regulatory board cited the "potential negative impacts on the environment and the inadequacy of the indigenous biomass supply and high dependence on imported biomass that would be contrary to both EU and national climate and energy policy" for its refusal. The regulatory board also noted previous schemes to establish a domestic source of energy crops such as willow and miscanthus have failed.

The Irish government's national climate and energy policy calls for a complete phase out of coal and peat fired electricity generation by 2030. (Source: An Bord Pleanala, Green New.ie, 23 July, 2019)Contact: An Bord Pleanala, www.pleanala.ie; Bord na Mona Plc, Mike Quinn, CEO, Patrick Madigan, Bioenergy Division, +353 45 439000, www.bordnamona.ie

More Low-Carbon Energy News Bord na Mona,  Peat,  Woody Biomass,  Biomass Pellet,  

Babcock & Wilcox, Margam Green Energy
Date: 2019-07-15
Barberton, Ohio-headquartered Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc. is reporting its subsidiary, Babcock & Wilcox Volund A/S (Volund), has turned over a biomass-to-energy plant in Margam, Wales, to Port Talbot-based Margam Green Energy Ltd. Volund will operate the plant for its customer under a 15-year operations and maintenance contract.

The plant is designed to burn waste wood to generate approximately 40 megawatts of electricity and features Volund's patented DynaGrate® technology. (Source: B&W, PR, BusinessWire, 15 July, 2019) Contact: B&W, Kenneth Young, CEO, (330) 753-4511, Twitter @BabcockWilcox, www.babcock.com, Margam Green Energy Ltd., Paul Taylor, +44 01639 884256, www.margamgreenenergy.co.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Babcock & Wilcox ,  Voland,  Woody Biomass,  

Pinnacle Renewable Energy
Date: 2019-07-15
Richmond, British Columbia-headquartered woody biomass pellet producer Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc is reporting a new long-term, take-or-pay off-take contracts with Mitsubishi Corporation, a global integrated business enterprise in Japan and with GS Global Corporation, a biomass power producer in that country.

Under the terms of the Mitsubishi contract, Pinnacle will supply 110,000 to 120,000 metric tpy of industrial wood pellets beginning in 2021. For the Sout hKorean contract, Pinnacle will supply 100,000 metric tpy of industrial wood pellets to GS beginning in 2022.

Pinnacle Renewable Energy is a rapidly growing industrial wood pellet manufacturer. The company produces sustainable fuel for renewable electricity generation in the form of industrial wood pellets, according to the company. (Source: Pinnacle Renewable Energy, PR, Lesprom Network, 15 July, 2019) Contact: Pinnacle Renewable Energy, Pinnacle Pellet, Robert McCurdy, CEO, (604) 270-9613, www.pinnaclepellet.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Pinnacle Renewable Energy,  Woody Biomass,  Wood Pellet,  

University of Wisconsin-Madison
Date: 2019-07-08
At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an research analysis across 180 countries found that global wood products -- all the paper, lumber, furniture and more -- offset less than 1 pct of of annual global carbon emissions -- 335 million tons of CO2 in 2015, 71 million tons of which were unaccounted for under current UN standards.

Current U.N. guidelines only allow countries to count the carbon stored in wood products created from domestic timber harvests, not the timber grown locally and shipped internationally, nor products produced from imported lumber. These regulations create a gap between the actual amount of carbon stored in the world's wood products and what is officially counted.

The researchers asked the question, can we continue to consume wood products and have climate change benefits associated with that consumption?" To address that question, the researchers developed a consistent, international analysis of the carbon storage potential of these products, which countries must now account for under the global Paris Agreement to reduce carbon emissions.

They used data on lumber harvests and wood product production from 1961 to 2015, the most recent year available, from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. The researchers modeled future carbon sequestration in wood products using five broad models of possible economic and population growth, the two factors that most affect demand for these products. In 2015, that gap amounted to 71 million tons of CO2, equivalent to the emissions from 15 million cars. If those guidelines remain unchanged, by 2065 another 50 million tons of CO2 may go unaccounted for due to this gap. But this additional, uncounted carbon does not significantly increase the proportion of global emissions offset by wood products, according to the study.

Craig Johnston, a professor of forest economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Volker Radeloff, a UW-Madison professor of forest and wildlife ecology, published their findings July 1 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (Source: WU-Madison, PR, July, 2019) Contact: WU-Madison, Craig Johnston, (608) 890-3609, craig.johnston@wisc.edu, www.wisc.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News CO2,  Carbon Emissions,  Woody Biomass,  Carbon Storage,  

Quantafuel,Avinor
Date: 2019-06-28
In Oslo, Norway's state-owned airport operator Avinor reports it will purchase more than €827,000 of Norwegian produced woody biomass-based aviation biofuel produced by Quantafuel.

Quantafuel's technology produces liquid fuel from biomass, which is comprised of solid wood in the form of chips, sawdust and other qualities. Quantafuel's biomass-to-liquid pilot plant will be located in eastern Norway, according to Avinor. Success of the pilot project will enable Quantafuel to consider a full-scale plant, with preliminary capacity targets of at least 7-9 million lpy of fuel. (Source: Quantafuel, Biofuel Int'l., 27 June, 2019) Contact: Quantafuel, Kjetil Bohn, CEO, contact@quantafuel.com, www.quantafuel.com; Avinor, Dag Falk-Petersen, CEO, www.avinor.no/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News Aviation Biofuel,  Avinor,  

Wood Biomass
Date: 2019-06-28
Sitting in Halifax, the Nova Scotia government reports it will soon issue tender calls for the conversation of dozens of provincial government buildings to woody biomass heat.

With six tenders expected to go out shortly. the province has a list of 100 buildings it is considering converting to locally sourced wwody biomass heat, according to a report in the Chronicle Herald. The province is planning a large scale conversion of its rural buildings – from schools to hospitals - to heat them with wood. (Source: Gov. of Nova Scotia Lands and Forests, hronicle Herald, Canadian Biomass, 26 June, 2019) Contact: Nova Scotia Dept. of Lands and Forestry, Iain Rankin, Minister, (902) 424-5935, https://novascotia.ca/natr

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biomass,  Woody Biomass,  

VTT
Date: 2019-06-28
The Helsinki, Finland-headquartered VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland reports receipt of €2.6 million funding from the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU)to improve wood-to-textile value chains to enable increased production of man-made cellulose fibres.

VTT's Green Chemicals and Technologies for the Wood-to-textile Value Chain (CRETE) project, a partnership between the EU and the Bio-based Industries Consortium, will tackle the bottlenecks of creating wood-to-textile value chains by developing innovative technologies for wood pulp modification, cellulose dissolution and fibre-quality generation. The issues to be solved in the project play a significant role in developing sustainable and green technologies for the European industry.

The project is led and coordinated by VTT, alongside partners University of Helsinki, Universitat fur Bodenkultur Wien, Universidade de Aveiro, Metsa Fibre Oyj, Celbi SA, Material Connexion Italia SRL and Vertech Group. (Source: VTT, Canadian Biomass, 26 June, 2019) Contact: VTT Technical Research Centre, Nils-Olof Nylund, +358 400 703 715, nils.olof.nylund@vtt.fi, www.vttresearch.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News VTT,  Cellulosic,  Woody Biomass,  Wood Pulp,  

Biomass
Date: 2019-06-26
"In a bit of an Orwellian logic, the (Trump) EPA's recently finalized ACE (Affordable Clean Energy) rules ... ignore the basis for why using biomass for power and heat is the principal pathway for decarbonization in most other developed countries. By only counting the CO2 emission at the source and ignoring the continuous adsorption of CO2 by sustainably managed forests, the EPA has excluded a proper consideration of the dynamics that keep the net CO2 added into the atmosphere neutral or even negative.

"In Europe, wood pellets and wood chips are recognized as low carbon fuels because a full life-cycle analysis shows that under well-crafted (and necessary) sustainability criteria, the combustion of those fuels is carbon neutral. The supply chain carbon footprint accounting, given that fossil fuel are used in transportation and in the electricity used to upgrade the biomass into pellets, typically yields an 85 percent or more reduction in net CO2 added to the atmosphere. Because of the carbon benefits, biomass derived fuel makes up about 60 percent of the total renewable energy in the EU28." -- William Strauss, Pres, FutureMetrics, June 24, 2019

Bethel, Maine-based FutureMetrics released the above statement criticizing the Trump Administration EPA's Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Program for its treatment of biomass and calling the program's discussion of how to measure CO2 emissions "misguided."

The ACE program, which replaces Obama's Clean Power Plan, specifies that biomass co-firing is not compliant with the ACE program. Contact: FutureMetrics LLC, William Strauss, 207-824-6702, 207-357-8708 Cell, WilliamStrauss@FutureMetrics.com, www.futuremetrics.info

More Low-Carbon Energy News EPA,  Woody Biomass,  Wood Pellet,  CO2 Emissions,  

Kemira Oyi
Date: 2019-06-24
Helsinki-headquartered pulp and paper firm Kemira Oyi reports it has joined a four-year, EU funded project to develop 100 pct bio-based chemicals from renewable raw materials. The project aims to develop and improve woody biomass production efficiency at pulp mills.

The project, which was launched in May 2019, received €5.9 million funding from the EU's Bio Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU), under the Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. The €9.6 million project is one of several undertakings aimed at developing a sustainable bio-based industry sector in Europe.

Ecohelix , Avantium Chemicals BV, Metgen Oyi , Novamont Spa , Fundacio Universitaria Balmes , Graanul Biotech Ou , and Spinverse are also participating in the four-year project in which members will conduct demo-scale trial runs at a dissolving pulp mill in Europe. The aim is to develop fully bio-based polymeric chemistries for paper and cardboard production to complement and even replace polymers that are derived from petroleum. (Source: Kemira Oyi, PR, GlobalNewswire, 24 June, 2019) Contact: Kemira Oyi, +358 10 8611, Fax. +358 10 862 1119, www.kemira.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Kemira Oyi,  Biochemical,  

Glenmont Partners,Stobart Energy
Date: 2019-06-24
In the UK, London-based Glenmont Partners reports its 250,000 tpy Margam Green waste wood-fuelled biomass plant has entered commercial operation in South Wales.

The £160 million plant's feedstock will be supplied by Stobart Energy with locally sourced Grade-C waste wood from local authorities, civic amenity sites and commercial and industrial sources across South Wales and the South West of England. (The plant will generate sufficient power for as many as 75,000 homes. (Source: Glenmont Partners, LetsRecycle, 24 June, 2019) Contact: Glenmont Partners, +44 (0)20 3725 8318, info@glennmont.com, www.glennmont.com; Stobart Energy, www.stobartgroup.co.uk/divisions/energy

More Low-Carbon Energy News Stobart Energy,  Woody Biomass,  

MK Group
Date: 2019-06-19
In Belgrade, privately held Serbian diversified conglomerate MK Group reports it plans to invest €8.1 million ($9.1 million) in the construction of a 20,000 MWh biomass-fired power plant in Vrbas, in the northern part of the country.

The project will be carried out by MK Biogas, a subsidiary of MK Group, while the plant will be designed by the German company Wabio Technologie GmbH. The project is expected to break ground in September.(Source: MK Group, PR, 18 June, 2019) Contact: MK Group, +381 21 4878 418, fax: +381 21 6616 850, info@mkcommerce.rs, www.mkcommerce.rs; Wabio Technologie GmbH, www.wabio.de/englisch

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  

Biothermic,Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-economy
Date: 2019-06-19
Thunder Bay, Ontario-based woody biomass heating systems and wood chip for heating supplier Biothermic is reporting the construction and startup of Ontario's first wood fuel facility for processing and storing locally-sourced wood chips -- a major step forward in helping make low-carbon, low-cost energy a reality in Canada.

The Biothermic facility received $168,500 in grant funding from the Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-economy (CRIBE), an independent non-profit corporation that supports the development and commercialization of bioenergy and biomass. (Source: Biothermic, Canadian Biomass, June, 2019) Contact: Biothermic, Vince Rutter, Pres., (807) 355-5519, vince@biothermic.ca, www.biothermic.ca; CRIBE, Chris Walton, CEO, 807.344.1180, ceo@cribe.ca, www.cribe.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  

US EIA
Date: 2019-06-17
In its just released June Short Term Energy Outlook, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is predicting non-hydropower renewables will provide 11 pct of U.S. power generation in 2019, increasing to 13 pct in 2020.

Non-hydropower renewables provided 10 pct of electricity generation in 2018. Of that total, woody biomass is expected to generate 113,000 MWh per day of electricity this year, increasing to 115,000 MWh per day in 2020. Waste biomass is expected to be used to generate 57,000 MWh per day of electricity in both 2019 and 2020.

In the electric power sector, waste biomass is expected to be used to generate 48,000 MWh per day in both 2019 and 2020. Generation from wood biomass is expected to reach 37,000 MWh per day this year, increasing to 39,000 MWh per day in 2020. Across other sectors, waste biomass is expected to be used to generate 76,000 MWh per day in both 2019 and 2020, with wood biomass used to generate 9,000 MWh per day in both years.

The electric power sector is expected to consume 0.269 quadrillion Btu (quad) of waste biomass this year, increasing to 0.27 quad next year. The sector is also expected to consume 0.221 quad of wood biomass in 2019, increasing to 0.232 quad in 2020. The industrial sector is expected to consume 0.169 quad of waste biomass in both 2019 and 2020, along with 1.439 quad of wood biomass in 2019 and 1.401 quad of wood biomass in 2020. The commercial sector is expected to consume 0.044 quad of waste biomass and 0.084 quad of wood biomass in both 2019 and 2020, while the residential sector is expected to consume 0.492 quad of wood biomass this year, falling to 0.488 quad next year.

Across all sectors, waste biomass consumption is expected to reach 0.482 quad in 2019 and remain at that level into 2020. The consumption of wood biomass is expected to reach 2.238 quad this year, falling to 2.205 quad next year. Biomass capacity in the electric power sector is expected to reach 7,071 MW by the end of this year, including 4,141 MW of waste biomass capacity and 2,930 MW of wood biomass capacity, falling to 7,052 MW by the end of 2020, including 4,080 MW of waste biomass capacity and 2,972 MW of wood biomass capacity. Biomass capacity across other sectors is expected to reach 6,657 MW by the end of 2019, including 866 MW of waste biomass capacity and 5,791 MW of wood biomass capacity. Capacity is expected to fall slightly to 6,649 MW by the end of 2020, including 866 MW of waste biomass capacity and 5,784 MW of wood biomass capacity. (Source: US EIA, June, 2019)Contact: US EIA, www.eia.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News US EIA,  Biomass,  Woody Biomass,  

Boreal BioEnergy,
Date: 2019-06-17
A sawmill in McBride, B.C., that shutdown 13 years ago is getting a new life as a wood pellet plant. Vancouver-headquartered forestry company Boreal BioEnergy Corp. is reporting the acquisition of a long-shuttered saw mill facility in McBride, B.C. for redevelopment into a torrefied (black) wood biomass pellet production plant.

Construction is slated to get underway early next year for startup and production in late 2020. When fully operational the plant will produce up to 250,000 tpy of "black pellets." The plant's first shipment of wood pellets is scheduled to arrive in Japan in 2021. (Source: Boreal Bioenergy, CBC News, 14 June, 2019) Contact: Boreal Energy, Bruce Halase Managing Director Business Development, (604) 324-9916 ext. 104, bruce.halase@borealbioenergy.com, www.borealbioenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Boreal BioEnergy,  Woody Biomass,  Wood Pellet,  

Attis Industries
Date: 2019-06-07
Following up on our previous coverage, Georgia-based Attis Industries Inc. reports its recently acquired Sunoco LP's nameplate 100-million gpy corn ethanol plant and grain malting operation in Fulton, New York, will become the centerpiece of its proposed Green Tech Campus. The company will focus on byproduct optimization of the corn ethanol plant and the new production of advanced biofuels and biobased products while also looking to generate "green" power, thus reducing the overall carbon footprint of the Fulton campus and taking advantage of valuable carbon credits to increase the site's profitability.

Attis plans to immediately begin the process of deploying its patented biorefinery technology to further diversify the biofuel and biobased product manufacturing at the campus. Attis will convert extracted locally sourced woody biomass pulp into cellulosic fuels and lignin into bioplastics, carbon fiber and advanced biofuels like renewable diesel and jet fuel.

Attis also aims to improve the quality and volume of co-products currently being produced at the Fulton ethanol plant by implementing its patented and licensed corn oil extraction technology that will almost double the current corn oil production yields at the plant and provide an augmented revenue stream. (Source: Attis Industries, DTN, June, 2019) Contact: Attis Ind., Jeff Cosman, CEO, 678-580-5661, www.attisind.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Attis Industries,  Ethanol,  Sunoco LP,  

Vidullanka PLC
Date: 2019-06-05
In Sri Lanka, Vidullanka PLC is reporting the commissioning and grid connection of its 3.3MW Dehiattakandiya Dendro power plant through its joint venture company, Vidul Biomass (Pvt.) Ltd. The facility will use only locally sourced , fast growing gliricidia -- aka "qickstick" -- as a feedstock.

The project is a Rs.1.45 billion investment jointly undertaken by Vidullanka and OC Energy Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd, a fully-owned subsidiary of the Japanese construction giant, Obayashi Corporation. The investment in Vidul Biomass (Pvt.) Limited is the first of its kind for the Japanese conglomerate in Sri Lanka. The power plant is expected to supply 22 GWh of annual energy to the national grid. (Source: Vidullanka PLC, Daily Mirror, 4 June, 2019) Contact: Vidullanka PLC , Chamil Silva, CEO, + 94 11 4760000 + 94 11 4760076, info@vidullanka.com, www.vidullanka.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biomass Energy,  

USFS,HM3 Energy,
Date: 2019-06-05
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is reporting the issuance of grant funding to Gresham, Oregon-based HM3 Energy, a company focused on biomass energy, for a feasibility study for a $4 million woody biomass fired power plant in northern Arizona.

HM3 Energy's torrefaction technology converts biomass such as wood or grain into a coal-like material, according to the company.

The number of unnaturally severe wildfires in forests and range lands has dramatically increased in recent years, with devastating impacts on forests, wildlife, watersheds and communities. By culling out small diameter trees and performing prescribed burns, forest managers are trying to restore forests back to their former natural state, before all wildfires were suppressed. Progress, however, is painfully slow. With little to no market for the slash left after thinning operations, it is usually piled and burned. These pile burns cost forest managers money and severely impact surrounding air quality in rural communities.

HM3 Energy's torrefaction and densification technologies provide a solution to this "biomass bottleneck" by creating a profitable market for the forest slash, turning it into energy dense torrefied wood briquettes that can directly replace coal or wood pellets for dispatchable, baseload electric power generation. The ability to use biomass instead of clean wood chips makes TorrB® torrefied briquettes competitive in price with raw pellets at the coal-fired plant burner tip, according to the company website. (Source: HM3 Energy, KJZZ/Rio Salado College, 3 June, 2019) Contact: HM3 Energy, Hiroshi Morihara, CEO, (503) 674-3380, www.hm3energy.com; U.S. Forest Service, www.fs.fed.us

More Low-Carbon Energy News HM3 Energy,  Biomass,  Woody Biomass,  USFS,  

Enviva
Date: 2019-06-05
Bethesda, Maryland-based wood pellet supplier Enviva Holdings, LP, the world’s largest producer of industrial wood pellets, reports it is enhancing its responsible sourcing policy to better accomplish its commitment to the highest possible standards in sustainability.

In resetting its sustainability goals, Enviva solicited feedback from independent organizations, including NGOs, state wildlife agencies, foresters, and other stakeholders, including the Longleaf Alliance, which is dedicated to restoring the longleaf ecosystems in the Southeastern U.S., and the Earthworm Foundation -- fka the Forest Trust. The various group's input is being considered in a pilot project near Enviva's new Hamlet plant in Richmond County, North Carolina.

Through the new responsible sourcing policy, Enviva will enhance and expand its High Conservation Value (HCV) forest policy and practices to ensure that Enviva is protecting and/or improving the wide range of HCV forests in its sourcing regions. (Source:: Enviva Holdings, PR, June, 2019) Contact: Enviva Holdings LP, Enviva Biomass, Dr. Jennifer Jenkins, VP and CSO, www.envivabiomass.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enviva,  Woody Biomass,  Wood Pellet,  

Woodd Biomass
Date: 2019-06-03
Slovenia's Environmental Public Fund (Eko Sklad) reports it has expanded it grants program for the installation of woody biomass fired heating equipment to replace inefficient old oil and gas-fired heating devices in residential buildings. Previously, the same grants were available in municipalities but are now offered nationwide. The grants cover 100 pcy of installation costs and are available to both low-income building owners and tenants, according the the release. (Source: Eko Sklad, Balkan Green Energy News, 30 May, 2019)Contact: Eko Sklad, +386 1 241 48 20, Fax - +386 1 214 48 60, ekosklad@ekosklad.si, www.ekosklad.si

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biomass,  Woody Biomass,  Biomass Heating,  

Wood Recyclers Association
Date: 2019-06-03
In the UK, the Wood Recyclers Association (WRA) is reporting the amount of processed waste wood in the UK being used in the biomass energy sector jumped by 24 pct to 2.1 million tonnes in 2018. But, less waste wood is arising overall with total volumes falling by 500,000 tonnes last year to 4.5 million tonnes.

The WRA data is seen as giving the clearest indication of the waste wood market as there is no government data and members of the Association represent more than 90% of the market. Total waste wood on the market fell by 500,000 tonnes in 2018, the WRA statistics show

The data shows that biomass for energy now accounts for more than 56 pct of the processed waste wood market usage, up from 46 pct in 2017. With the export market taking 8 pct of production primarily for biomass, the overall amount of waste wood going for burning in biomass plants now represents nearly two thirds of all waste wood processed in the UK. (Source: Wood Recyclers Association, Lets Recycle, June, 2019) Contact: Wood Recyclers Association, Jill Turner, +44 0 330 325 0490, director@woodrecyclers.org, www.woodrecyclers.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Wood Recyclers Association,  Biomass,  Woody Biomass,  

Natural Resources Canada
Date: 2019-05-31
. On Monday in Vancouver, Canadian Natural Resources Minister Hon. Amarjeet Sohi announced a new $30-million clean energy investment fund, $15.5 million of which will support remote First Nations communities that rely largely on diesel power.

The largest investment is $10.4 million in Haida Gwaii, B.C. where the villages of Old Masset and Skidegate are planning to transition to 100 pct renewable energy -- increased power production from an existing hydro dam, and installation of 2 megawatts of solar power and power storage. Other funding a includes a $1.5 million woody biomass heating project; a $2.1 million college building energy retrofit project; and $1.5 million to Carbon Upcycling Technologies for a carbon capture and reuse project in Calgary. The Minister noted the federal government earmarked $1 billion in the last federal budget for energy efficiency initiatives. (Source: Natural Resources Canada, JWN, 29 May, 2019) Contact: Natural Resources Canada, Hon. Amarjeet Sohi. Minister, Vanessa Adams, (343) 543-7645, Vanessa.Adams@canada.ca, www.nrcan.gc.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Natural Resources Canada,  Renewable Energy,  Energy Efficiency,  

National Grid, Drax, Equinor
Date: 2019-05-29
In the UK, National Grid, Drax and Equinor are reporting they will partner to develop the country's first carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) hub in the Humber region. Under their initial plan, carbon emissions from the woody biomass-wood pellet burning Drax power station near Selby, could be captured and stored in disused gas fields in the southern North Sea. (Source: DRAX,Various Media, May, 2019)Contact: DRAX, Will Gardiner, CEO, www.drax.com; Equinor, www.equinor.com/en; UK National Grid, www2.nationalgrid.com/uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  UK National Grid,  Drax ,  Equinor,  

University of Maine
Date: 2019-05-29
In the Pine Tree State, the University of Maine in Orono is reporting a team from its Forest Bioproducts Research Institute's (FBRI) pilot plant has developed a chemicals-free process that turns wood biomass into clean, crude oil using heat and pressure.

According to the release, the method was discovered by undergraduate students experimenting with salt and high temperatures when they found that a particular kind of mixed-salt produced crude oil vapors. With a 20-minute process of high heat and pressure, wood pulp is turned into acid before it is turned into salt, which produces the crude oil when introduced to high temperatures. which can be processed just like any oil refinery and make gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.

The current production is about 1 tpd when the plant is running, but the private sector is interested in the engineering data, which is a patent protected and available for companies to amplify research. (Source: University of Maine, FBRI, Woodworking Network, 27 May, 2019) Contact: University of Maine, FBRI, Hemant Pendse, Director, (207) .581.1489 Fax: 207.581.9418 fbri@maine.edu , https://forestbioproducts.umaine.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  Biofuel,  

Woddy Biomass,USDA
Date: 2019-05-13
Researchers at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) are reporting receipt of $1 million in USDA grant funding to investigate the key parameters for high-quality, year-round woody biomass feedstock logistics systems for commercialized biorefineries in the Southeastern U.S.

The 3-year study is intended to expedite the development of a commercialized cellulosic biofuel sector by improving the efficiency of the logistics systems of woody biomass feedstock required for biofuel production.

The study will determine woody biomass quality in the Southeast and identify the relationship with conversion performance. Additionally, the cost and energy use for woody biomass feedstock size reduction through both conventional and advanced technologies will be obtained at an industrial scale, and the cost and quality of the feedstock will be incorporated to address the challenges of balancing cost and quality in feedstock logistics for scaling up biofuel production.

The study includes the evaluation of alternative pre-processing technologies in feedstock logistics systems for hardwood logging residues and an energy crop -- hybrid poplar -- to supply biofuel production.

The UTIA multidisciplinary research team includes agricultural economists, forest scientists, chemists, and biosystems engineers, with collaboration from a bioenergy company, Proton Power, Inc., and a biomass research and development company, Forest Concepts, LLC. (Source: University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Bioenergy Insight, 13 May, 2019) Contact: University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, (865) 974-6756, https://ag.tennessee.edu/Pages/default.aspx

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  Biofuel,  

ARENA,Global Ecofuel
Date: 2019-05-10
In New South Wales, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) reports it has awarded $350,000 to two companies -- Global Ecofuel and Boral Timber -- to investigate the production of renewable bitumen and diesel from sawmill woody biomass waste.

Under the $842,000 study, Boral Timber, a hardwood and softwood supplier, will explore the technical and financial viability of establishing a biorefinery near the Herons Creek sawmill. If constructed, the proposed biorefinery could cost around $35 million and could convert up to 50,000 tpy of waste sawmill residue into transport-grade renewable diesel and bitumen. (Source: ARENA, World Highways, 8 May, 2019) Contact: Boral Timber , Wayne Manners, Exec. Manager, www.boral.com.au/products/timber, www.boral.com; Arena, www.arena.gov.au/projects/hardwood-residue-bio-refinery-feasibility-study; Global Ecofuel Solutions, https://gefs.es

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  ARENA,  

USDA,USFS
Date: 2019-05-10
On May 7, the USDA Forest Service awarded over $8.9 million in matching funds through the Wood Innovations Grant program to 39 business, university, nonprofit and tribal partners in 20 states.

This year the Forest Service received 140 proposals, demonstrating the expanding interest in using wood in traditional and unconventional ways as an innovative building material or a renewable energy source. Of the 41 projects selected, 29 focus upon expanding markets for wood products and 12 seek to increase markets for wood energy. Some of the proposed projects will help fuel small-scale, combined heat and power projects and biochar market development.

Projects will take place in 20 states including Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Virginia, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.

The Forest Service notes that over the past decade, low harvest rates, aging forests, mortality from insect and disease infestations, and extreme weather events have combined to create conditions prime for catastrophic wildfires. These grants support the development of consumer products that use the excess forest material.Download information on the Forest Service Wood Education and Resource Center HERE. (Source: U.S. Forest Service, PR, 8 May, 2019) Contact: U.S. Forest Service, www.fs.usda.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News U.S. Forest Service,  Woody Biomass,  Biomass,  

Andritz
Date: 2019-05-10
Austrian international technology group Andritz reports receipt of an order from Hitachi Zosen Corp., Japan, to deliver a PowerFluid circulating fluidized bed boiler with a flue gas cleaning system for a new Tokushima Tsuda Biomass Power Plant in Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku Island, southwest of Tokyo.

The PowerFluid boiler to be supplied by Andritz features lowest emissions, high efficiency and availability, as well as highest fuel flexibility. It forms an essential part of a high-efficiency biomass power plant for supply of green energy to the national grid.

The biomass power plant, which will be fired with wood pellets and palm kernel shells, will generate around 74.8 MWel of power when it comes online in early 2023. (Source: Andritz, 8 May, 2019) Contact: Andritz, Oliver Pokorny, Investor Relations, +43 (316) 6902 1332, oliver.pokorny@andritz.com, www.andritz.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biomass,  Woody Biomass,  Andritz,  Wood Pellet,  

Committee on Climate Change
Date: 2019-05-03
In the UK, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) and other environmental groups are calling for an end to the government's multi-billion pound subsidy programme for wood-fired electric power generation on the grounds that woody biomass does not fit the government's net-zero GHG by 2050 plan.

Environmental groups, including to Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Biofuelwatch, the Dogwood Alliance, and the Southern Environmental Law Center, have noted that relying on woody biomass with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) to achieve climate targets is "misguided" and will prove overly expensive. Biomass power generation reached a record 35.6 TWh in 2018, up by 12 pct year-on-year, according to government statistics.

The environmental organizations say the UK should rely on genuinely zero-emission renewables like wind, wave, and solar power, energy efficiency and conservation, and smart resources like energy storage, rather than woody biomass power generation. (Source: Committee on Climate Change, Renewables,May, 2019) Contact: Committee on Climate Change, www.theccc.org.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  Biomass,  Committee on Climate Change ,  

Valmet
Date: 2019-04-24
Espoo, Finland-headquartered Valmet Corp reports receipt of an order from Biomasse Energie d'Alizay to convert a recovery boiler into a biomass boiler utilizing bubbling fluidized bed combustion technology (BFB) at a DA Alizay paper mill in France.

According to Valmet, the order is included in its first quarter of 2019 orders received, and is valued at approximately €20 million. Valmet's delivery is scheduled for 2020.

Biomasse Energie d'Alizay produces roughly 300,000 tpy of paper and is a subsidiary of DA Alizay SAS. (Source: Valmet, PR, April, 2019) Contact: Valmet, Jouko Kylanpaa, Dir. Rebuilds and Conversions, Pulp and Energy business Line, +358 400 734 334, Jean-Philippe Guignard, Senior Manager, Energy Sales and Service, +33 670 27 9214, www.valmet.com; Biomasse Energie d'Alizay, www.societe.com/societe/biomasse-energie-d-alizay-499270619.html, https://ca.linkedin.com/company/biomasse-energie-d%27alizay

More Low-Carbon Energy News Valmet,  Biomass,  Woody Biomass,  

Georgia Public Service Commission
Date: 2019-04-24
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting the Georgia Forestry Association and other forest industry representatives are lobbying the Georgia Public Service Commission (GA PSC) to have its forest biomass byproducts -- tree trimmings, wastes, scraps and storm damaged timber -- converted into fuel to help power the state and to ensure woody biomass is more broadly used by the state's largest utility, Georgia Power.

Georgia Power's recently updated long-range energy plans call for more renewable energy, but do not specify biomass, the newspaper reported. Georgia Power has put the majority of its recent spending on energy generation into the nuclear expansion of Plant Vogtle, south of Augusta. The company has also pumped up spending on solar power throughout Georgia.

Between 1983 and 2008, Georgians replanted over 8.9 million acres in trees -- that's 975 acres a day, or 609,375 trees per day. An estimated 80,000 acres of forest land are naturally regenerated each year in Georgia. The industry's overall economic impact on the state was $35.9 billion in 2017. (Source: Georgia Public Service Commission, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, April, 2019) Contact: Georgia Public Service Commission, (4040 656-4501, www.psc.state.ga.us; Georgia Forestry Association, Andres Villegas, CEO, (478) 992-8110, gfagrow.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  Forest Waste Biomass,