Harmick Engineering
Date: 2020-05-29
Minneapolis-based Harmick Engineering is reporting receipt of US, Canadian and Russian patents for its technology for the extraction of arabinogalactan and taxifolin from larch (tamarack) wood chips using its CelloFuel Portable Biomass Refinery.

The CelloFuel Portable Biomass Refinery, which is scalable to the sizes needed for large pulp and paper mills, allows mills to produce sugars and ethanol from sugar beet, sugarcane, sweet sorghum, softwood wood chips and straw.

The company aims to find partners in some of the large pulp and paper mills in Russia and Canada. These mills have access to millions of tons per year of larch wood and have the infrastructure in place for harvesting, chipping and pulping this wood. "The technology is a simple, low-cost add-on to existing pulp and paper mills", according to the company website. (Source: Harmick Engineering, Website, Cdn Biomass, 28 May, 2020) Contact: Harnick Enginering, CelloFuel, Ed. Harmick, Pres., info@cellofuel.com, www.collofuel.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Harmick Engineering,  Woody Biomass,  Ethanol,  Biofuel,  

Energy Information Administration
Date: 2020-05-29
In Washington, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) is reporting U.S. consumption of renewable energy surpassed coal in 2019 for the first time since woody biomass was the top fuel source more than 130 years ago, According to EIA data, electricity generated by renewable energy sources like solar, wind and hydro exceeded coal-fired power in the U.S. for a record 40 straight days

U.S. coal consumption, primarily for electric power generation, fell 15 pct in 2019 to the lowest level since 1964, while the use of energy from sources like wind and solar notched slightly higher, according to the EIA .

Total renewable energy consumption in the U.S. grew for the fourth year to a record-high 11.5 quadrillion Btu in 2019. Since 2015, the growth in U.S. renewable energy is almost entirely attributable to the use of wind and solar in the electric power sector. In 2019, electricity generation from wind surpassed hydro for the first time and is now the most-used source of renewable energy for electricity generation in the United States on an annual basis. (Source: BIC, US EIA, May, 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Information Administration news,  

Sustainable Biomass Programme
Date: 2020-05-22
The Sustainable Biomass Programme (SBP) certification scheme reports the launch of its standards development process. As part of the process, SBP's six standards will be reviewed and revised by working groups, and revisions will be passed to a technical committee, prior to approval from the standards committee.

SBP-certified biomass accounted for a 61pc share of the EU-28 industrial wood pellet market, with 11.95mn t of biomass with SBP claims traded in 2019. There are now just over 270 SBP certificate holders in 25 countries, up from 210 at the end of 2019.

The Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP) is a certification system designed for woody biomass, mostly in the form of wood pellets and wood chips used in industrial, large-scale energy production. SBP was launched in 2015. (Source: Sustainable Biomass Program, Argus, 21 May, 2020) Contact: Sustainable Biomass Progra , Melanie Wedgbury, +44 (0)7734 793279, mkwedgbury@sbp-cert.org, www.sbp-cert.org

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

EC,EU,Woody Biomass
Date: 2020-05-20
The European Commission (EC) reports it plans to "push a transformative approach to all forms of bioenergy -- including biofuels and woody biomass -- as part of a biodiversity strategy aimed at continuously assessing biomass supply and demand at EU and global level in order to "ensure that EU biomass-related policies are sustainable." The draft strategy plan, which includes the use of forest biomass for energy production, is expected to be released today, 20 May.

That strategy is expected to focus on the conservation of old-growth forests, which are considered the most valuable for biodiversity and climate protection. Under the strategy, at least 10 pct of land will have to be protected.

The EU's biodiversity strategy will not become legislation legislation until 2021, when the Commission revises key EU laws, such as the EU's Renewable Energy Directive, and the Regulation on land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF). (Source: European Commission, EURACTIV, 18 May, 2020) Contact: EC, Frans Timmermans, Climate Chief, www.ec.europa.eu/commission/commissioners/2019-2024/timmermans_en

More Low-Carbon Energy News European Commission,  Forest Biomass,  Woody Biomass,  Biofuel,  Bioenergy,  

Technical University Eindhoven ,Idealfuel
Date: 2020-05-15
In the Netherlands, a consortium of 11 participants led by the Technical University Eindhoven (TU/e) reports it is working to develop methods to convert woody biomass materials into renewable marine fuels through the conversion of lignin from dry plant matter (lignocellulosic biomass). The project is supported by €5 million in grant funding from the European Union's Horizon2020 program.

Idealfuel aims to devise an efficient and low-cost two-step chemical process in order to achieve its goal. In the first step, lignin is extracted from lignocellulosic biomass in the form of Crude Lignin Oil (CLO). This leaves behind a solid cellulose material that can be used in the paper industry or even converted into ethanol. In the second step, the CLO is refined and converted into a Biogenic Heavy Fuel (Bio-HFO) that can be used directly in marine engines or blended with fossil fuels.

Download Making Crude Oil from Paper Pulp project details HERE. (Source: TU/e Idealfuel, Innovation Origin, 13 May, 2020) Contact: TU/e Idealfuel, Dr. Roy Hermanns Barry Fitzgerald, +31 40 247 8067 , B.Fitzgerald@tue.nl, www.tue.nl

More Low-Carbon Energy News Lignin,  Idealfuel,  Woody Biomass,  

Drax,DRAX
Date: 2020-05-08
In North Yorkshire, UK power generation company DRAX Group has launched a Biomass Carbon Calculator to help to decarbonize the production and transportation of biomass pellets, used for low carbon energy generation.

The Biomass Carbon Calculator is in line with the company's drive to become carbon-negative by 2030 and the UK's effort to achieve net-zero carbon by 2050.

The calculator, which will use real-time supply chain data to improve emission reporting and identify points where carbon reductions can be made, in compliance with the European Union's Renewable Energy Directive II. (Source: DRAX, Trade Media,6 May, 2020) Contact: DRAX, Will Gardiner, CEO, +44 0 1757 618381, www.draxpower.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Drax,  DRAX,  Woody Biomass,  Biomass Pellet,  Carbon Emissions,  

Black & Veatch
Date: 2020-05-06
In Hong Kong, the Environmental Protection Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region reports the appointment of Overland Park, Kansas-headquartered Black & Veatch (B&V) as "owner's engineer" of the city's 24 tpd woody waste recycling pilot plant.

Black & Veatch Hong Kong will review the technology, market, environmental and regulatory aspects of the project's proposed biochar plant and prepare a reference design, assist in procurement, construction, testing and commissioning.

Woody waste recycling is key to the city of roughly 7.5 million residents bio-waste management strategy. (Source: Black & Veatch, PR, Chemical Eng., 4 May, 2020) Contact: Black & Veatch Hong Kong, James Chan, Project Director, 913 458 2000, www.bv.com/locations/hong-kong-sar

More Low-Carbon Energy News Black & Veatch ,  Woody Biomass ,  

FortisBC,REN Energy International
Date: 2020-05-04
In British Columbia, the utility company FortisBC will purchase wood waste-derived renewable natural gas (RNG) from Kelowna, B.C.-based REN Energy International through a new partnership. The production facility will be owned and operated by REN Energy and situated near Fruitvale, BC.

RNG is typically made by capturing methane released from decomposing organic waste. This project will utilise waste from forestry operations, sawmills and other wood manufacturers and create RNG through gasification, rather than decomposition. The syngas produced in the process will be converted to methane before being purified to meet natural gas line specifications, according to FortisBC.

The project is expected to produce over one million gigajoules (approximately 277,777 megawatt-hours) of RNG annually from forest waste-woody biomass when fully operational in mid 2021, according to the release. (Source: FortisBC, PR, Various Media, Bioenergy Insight, 1 May, 2020)Contact: FortisBC, Scott Gramm, RNG Supply Manager, Douglas Stout, VP, Market Dev., www.fortisinc.com, www.fortisbc.com/RNG; REN Energy International, www.rencorp.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News REN Energy,  FortisBC,  RNG,  Woody Biomass,  

Woody Biomass
Date: 2020-05-01
"Mature trees do not stop absorbing carbon. It's just the opposite. Carbon sequestration actually accelerates as a tree grows older. 'Managed forests' is usually code for trees farms full of longleaf pine that are cut [down] frequently and absorb a lot less carbon than mature forests."

"From an emissions standpoint, the UK would be better off burning coal and leaving those (older) trees standing as long as possible." -- Bill Moomaw, Biomass Energy Researcher, UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (Source: IPCC, Eco Business, Mongabay, 20 April, 2020)

A Bioenergy & Alternative Fuels report subscriber noted the following:

First, the 40 million acres, more or less, of managed southern pine plantations are loblolly pine not longleaf pine. These two pine varieties have important differences in growth rate and ecological values.

Second, and more much importantly, mature pine forest do not 'accelerate' their storage as they mature. These are privately owned lands and the details of the site and management practices are very important, but the annually growth rate (carbon accumulation) on most pine sites slows after 15-20 years. The TOTAL carbon on the acre/hectare increase, but at a slower annual rate.

Finally, and completely absent from these discussion that are typically led by scientist or environmental groups who do not have a clear understanding of the on the ground ownership and motivations of private landowners in the southern US, is that without a source of income some of these forest will be converted to some other uses, probably pasture, which has very limited carbon storage potential. In effect these EU experts are trying to shift the costs of carbon sequestration to private landowners. One can argue that if they want to sequester carbon in trees, and take on the additional risk of unplanned, large scale release from fire, disease or hurricane, that is fine, but they should pay the landowner for the carbon and the lost income.

Editor's Note: We thank our reader for his input and clarification of our report.

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  

Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels
Date: 2020-04-29
Scottsdale, Arizona-based Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels (NWABF) reports it has selected global engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firm Black & Veatch as its EPC of record for its sustainable aviation fuel project. Black & Veatch will also complete the FEL2 and Front-end Engineering and Design Study (FEED) for the Project and will assemble the technologies to process up to 3,000 dry tpd of woody biomass into approximately 60 million gpy of Sustainable Aviation Fuel.

Black & Veatch's work includes: project feasibility / development; front end engineering; technology applications; procurement; construction; startup and plant improvements/ retrofit / remote monitoring. (Source: Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels, PR, EIN, 27 April, 2020) Contact: Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels, LLC, David P. Smoot, Chris Whitworth, Project GM, 602-753-8386, www.nwabiofuels.com; Black & Veatch, www.bv.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels,  Aviation Biofuel,  

Avantium
Date: 2020-04-29
In the Netherlands, Amsterdam-based Avantium N.V. reports the Netherlands Enterprise Agency has awarded the company €500,000 for its participation in the CHAPLIN XL project -- a collaboration between multiple industrial and academic parties focused on more sustainable asphalt.

The project aims to test lignin as a substitute for fossil-based bitumen in asphalt to substantially reduce CO2 emissions from road construction. Lignin is a main constituent of woody biomass and is well suited for energy generation, as well as other higher value applications, including asphalt for road construction. (Source: Avantium Renewable Chemistries, Chemical Engineering, 27 April, 2020) Contact: Avantium, Tom van Aken , CEO, +31 (0)20 586 8080, www.avantium.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Avantium ,  Biochemical,  Lignin,  

Valmet
Date: 2020-04-29
In Finland, Espoo-headquartered Valmet Oyi reports it will supply a new Naistenlahti 3 boiler biomass boiler plant to Tampereen Sahkolaitos Oy's Naistenlahti power plant in the city of Tampere, Finland.

The new €70 million plant will be fueled mainly by renewable woody biomass and milled peat as a secondary fuel. The biomass boiler will have a steam capacity of 191 MW and will run as a baseload plant for district heat production from September to June. Delivery and installation is expected in 2022. (Source: Valmet, 28 April, 2020) Contact: Valmet, Risto Hamalainen, Director, Environmental Systems, Pulp and Energy, +358 4 0 505 2001, www.valmet.com, www.twitter.com/valmetglobal

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

Enviva Biomass
Date: 2020-04-24
Bethesda, Maryland-based woody biomass pellet specialist Enviva is touting its 2020 Implementation Plans detailing the company's commitment to responsible and sustainable wood sourcing in accordance with strict environmental standards.

The 2020 Implementation Plans define the company's measurable goals in three sections -- sustainable forestry standards, verification and transparency, and conservation leadership across the U.S. Southeast, where the company owns and operates wood pellet production plants.

According to a release, in 2020, Enviva plans to publish its first Corporate Sustainability Report describing how the company works to deliver on its mission to displace coal, grow more trees and fight climate change, its current environmental impact and sustainability practices and its goals for continuous improvement in sustainability of its business in the long-term.

The company also plans to add 30,000 acres to the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) and/or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified land base. Enviva will also strengthen its existing partnership with The Longleaf Alliance to actively seek longleaf restoration through its wood sourcing on private and public lands in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Virginia and the Carolinas. The company will also assist in the conservation of 3,500+ acres of bottomland hardwood (BLHW) forests to meet the company's 10-year goal of conserving 35,000 acres of BLHW forests by 2030.

View Enviva's 2020 RSP Implementation Plans HERE. (Source: Enviva Biomass, PR, AP, 21 April, 2020) Contact: Enviva Holdings LP, Enviva Biomass, (301-657-5560), media@envivabiomass.com, www.envivabiomass.com

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

U.S. Forest Service
Date: 2020-04-24
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) reports it has awarded a total of $7.62 million in matching fund grants to 35 projects as part of the agency's Wood Innovations Grant Program. Eight of those projects focus on renewable energy, while the remaining 27 focus on expanding markets for wood products.

The Wood Innovations Grant program advances innovations in wood energy and products that create jobs, revitalize local economies and support sustainable forest land management. Selected projects include:

Hoonah Indian Association: Hoonah, Alaska; Hoonah biomass design based on 2017 feasibility study;

Maine Energy Systems LLC: Bethel, Maine; Demonstration project for increasing whole house pellet heating clusters;

Red Lodge Mountain: Red Lodge, Montana; Red Lodge Mountain waste to warmth energy project;

Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District: Valentine, Nebraska; Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District headquarters heating project;

City of Prineville: Prineville, Oregon; Prineville renewable energy project engineering and design study;

Blue Mountain Lumber Products LLC: Pendleton, Oregon; Expanding forest biomass pellet manufacturing capacity;

Smokehouse Products LLC: Hood River, Oregon; Installation of wood chip dryer and processing equipment using renewable energy and heat provided by Wind River biomass utility;

Next Generation Wood Inc.: Hiwassee, Virginia; Market assessment for the expansion of biochar use and sales;

Long Falls Paperboard LLC: Brattleboro, Vermont; Long Falls Paperboard biomass combined-heat-and-power conversion project—flue gas condensation alternative to achieve maximum efficiency.

Access Wood Innovations Grant Program details HERE (Source: US Forest Service, PR, 16 April, 2020) Contact: US Forest Service, www.fs.usda.gov

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

IPCC
Date: 2020-04-22
"Mature trees do not stop absorbing carbon. It's just the opposite. Carbon sequestration actually accelerates as a tree grows older. 'Managed forests' is usually code for trees farms full of longleaf pine that are cut [down] frequently and absorb a lot less carbon than mature forests."

"From an emissions standpoint, the UK would be better off burning coal and leaving those (older) trees standing as long as possible." -- Bill Moomaw, Biomass Energy Researcher, UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (Source: Eco Business, Mongabay, 20 April, 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions ,  

Korea Electric Power Corp.
Date: 2020-04-13
According the state-owned Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), South Korea saw its trading volume of electricity generated from woody biomass jump nearly 51 pct in 2019 from 2018. The amount came to 4,199 gigawatt-hours (GWh) last year, up 50.7 pct from the previous year.

It was the first time since 2008 for the figure to surpass transactions of electricity generated from solar energy which reached 3,849 GWh. energy-based electricity totaling 26,606 GWh. . (Source: Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), .Yonhap News, 8 April, 2020)Contact: KEPCO, www.kepco.co.kr

More Low-Carbon Energy News Korea Electric Power Corp,  KEPCO,  Woody Biomass ,  

DRAX
Date: 2020-04-06
In the UK, the DRAX Power Station in North Yorkshire is reporting receipt of its 100th shipment of woody biomass for power generation from its three woody biomass pellet plants in the southern US.

Roughly two thirds of the 7.5 million tpy of sustainable biomass Drax uses comes from the company's US three pellet mills. Drax also has agreements with a number of other suppliers in the US and elsewhere around the world including in Canada, the Baltics and Portugal, according to a release. (Source: Drax, PR , April, 2020) Contact: Drax, Will Gardiner, CEO, +44 07712 670 888,

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

Active Energy Group
Date: 2020-04-01
UK-based Active Energy Group (AEG) is reporting acquisition of 100 pct control and ownership of the sawmill and log export activities at AEG's industrial site in Lumberton, North Carolina.

The Lumberton sawmill generates low-value waste products which Active Energy will use as feedstock for the production of CoalSwitch product and other black pellet fuels.

The CoalSwitch product is made from woody biomass including pulp and saw mill by-products such as bark, sawdust and thinning, 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 Group, Various Media, Apr. 2020) Contact: Active Energy, Michael Rowan, CEO, +44 (0)20 3021 1500, www.active-energy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  Active Energy Group,  CoalSwitch,  Biomass,  Waste Biomass,  

Enviva
Date: 2020-03-25
In a statement, Bethesda, Maryland-based wood pellet supplier Enviva Holdings Inc Enviva has announced production at its wood pellet manufacturing plants and pellet shipments have been unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The company noted it is monitoring guidance from the Center for Disease Control and other agencies and taking appropriate measures to protect employees and business continuity.

Enviva Partners currently owns and operates seven wood pellet plants with a total production capacity of approximately 3.5 million mtpy. (Source: Enviva Holdings, Biomass Mag., 23 Mar.,2020) Contact: Enviva Holdings LP, Enviva Biomass, Dr. Jennifer Jenkins, VP, (301) 615-5560, jennifer@envivabiomass.com, www.envivabiomass.com

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

Greenalia
Date: 2020-03-20
On the Iberian Peninsula, Coruna-based Spanish electric power producer and supplier Greenalia is reporting the opening of its $135 million woody biomass plant which it touts as "the most technologically advanced plant in Spain."

The facility will use locally sourced forestry waste to supply sufficient energy for roughly 250,000 homes and prevent over 393,000 tpy of CO2 emissions when fully operational in 2021. (Source: Greenalia, Various Industry Media, Mar.,2020) Contact: Greenalia, Manuel Garcia, CEO (+34) 902 905 910, info@greenalia.es, www.greenalia.es

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

Puget Sound Energy,Sierra Pacific Industries
Date: 2020-03-11
Belleview, Washington-based Puget Sound Energy (PSE) reports it will purchase 17 MW of waste-wood, woody biomass energy from Redding, California-based Sierra Pacific Industries' co-generation plant at its lumber mill in Skagit County, Washington. The 17-year PPA with SPI starts in 2021. (Source: Puget Sound Energy, Bioenergy, Mar.,2020) Contact: Puget Sound Energy, Bob Stolarski, Director Energy Management and Renewables, (425) 454-2000, www.pse.com; Sierra Pacific Industries, David Mills, VP Strategy, (530) 378-8000, www.spi-ind.com

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

Washington State
Date: 2020-03-09
Sitting in Olympia last Thursday, the Washington State Senate reported the near unanimous passage of House Bill 2528 recognizing the state's timber industry's efforts to reduce carbon emissions through reforestation and other management practices. The legislation also recognizes the role of forest products in carbon sequestration and directs the state Department of Commerce to promote markets for the state's forest products.

Having been amended in the Senate, House Bill 2528 returns to the the Washington State House for full approval the on to the governor to be signed into law. (Source: The World, Various Media, chronicleonline. 7 Mar., 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  Reforestation,  Carbon Sequestration,  

FPInnovations
Date: 2020-03-04
Pointe-Claire, QC, Canada-based is touting its newly released Solid Wood Bioheat Guide for Rural and Remote Communities in Ontario as a key source of information for using woody biomass for heating.

According to the guide, the reliability, efficiency and versatility of modern bioheat systems allows for the supplementation or even replacement of current fossil fuel or electric heating systems. These systems can use local, sustainably sourced, economical, and renewable solid woody biofuels. Provincial laws require that Crown forests be sustainably managed following approved forest management plans that require harvested areas to be regenerated. This means that carbon emitted to create bioheat generated from solid woody biofuels is recaptured by the growing forest making bioheat a low-carbon heating system. Emissions from particles and volatile compounds are also low and on par with fossil fuel heating systems.

Download the Solid Wood Bioheat Guide for Rural and Remote Communities in Ontario guide HERE. (Source: FPInnovations, Cdn, Biomass, 2 Mar., 2020, Contact: FPInnovations, Glen Prevost, Guide Author, (705) 358-4667, (514) 630-4100, glen.prevost@fpinnovations.ca, www.fpinnovations.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News FPInnovations,  Woody Biomass,  

Sodra,Emmelev
Date: 2020-02-28
Vaxjo, Sweden-based forest products and lumber producer cooperative SODRA is reporting construction of the world's first commercial-scale biomethanol -- a sustainable fuel from forest biomass -- plant at its pulp mill in Monsteras. The plant's first delivery will go to Emmelev A/S, a customer that will be using biomethanol in its biodiesel production.

Biomethanol is produced from the crude methanol recovered from the manufacturing process at Sodra's pulp mills. It is part of the circular process in which all parts of forest products are used for the best possible effect.

Emmelev A/S is a Danish family-owned agricultural company that has developed large-scale biodiesel production from local canola, but uses fossil methanol as a raw material in production. (Source: Sodra, Website, PR, 20 Feb., 2020) Contact: Sodra, Henrik Brodin, Strategic Business Development Manager, +46 (0)470-856 24, henrik.brodin@sodra.com, www.sodra.com; Emmelev A/S, Morten Simonsen, www.emmelev.dk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  Forest Biomass,  Sodra,  Emmelev,  Biomethanol,  Biodiesel,  

US Industrial Pellet Association
Date: 2020-02-26
As previously reported, 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 Forest Biomass,  Woody Biomass,  

Valmet
Date: 2020-02-19
In Finland, Espoo-headquartered Valmet Oyi reports it will supply a flue gas condensing plant and condensate treatment equipment, including a boiler make-up water production system to the city-owner central heating and power utility Helen Ltd's Vuosaari C woody biomass powered heating plant in Helsinki.

The new bioenergy heating plant will feature very high energy efficiency, as the heat from flue gases will be recovered to increase district heat production by 69 MW, according to the Valmet release. Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and bioenergy industries, according to its website. (Source: Valmet Oyi , PR, 18 Feb., 2020) Contact: Valmet, Risto Hamalainen, Director, Environmental Systems, Pulp and Energy, +358 4 0 505 2001, www.valmet.com, www.twitter.com/valmetglobal; Helen Ltd, +358 9 6171, www.helen.fi

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biomass,  Woody Biomass,  Helen Ltd,  Valmet,  Bioenergy,  

UPM, UPM-Kymmene
Date: 2020-02-12
In Finland, Helsinki-headquartered UPM-Kymmene Oyj reports it will invest €550 million ($600 million) in a biorefinery at Leuna, Germany, that will use locally-sourced wood biomass to produce a variety of 100 pct wood-based biochemicals -- bio-monoethylene glycol (BioMEG), bio-monopropylene glycol (BioMPG), industrial sugars and lignin-based renewable functional fillers. The facility is expected to produce roughly 220,000 metric tpy when fully operation by the end of 2022.

UPM-Kymmene' buiness companies include: UPM Biorefining, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Paper Asia, UPM Paper ENA and UPM Plywood (Source: UPM-Kymmene Corp., 10 Feb., 2020) Contact: UPM-Kymmene Corp, Jussi Pesonen, Pres., Tel. +358 204 15 111, Fax. +358 204 15 110, www.upm.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Wood.Woody Biomass,  UPM,  Biochemical,  Biofuel,  

Virginia Grassroots Coalition
Date: 2020-02-10
In the Old Dominions State, a letter to the Virginia General Assembly from the Virginia Grassroots Coalition, with over 40 participating member groups, calls for the removal of biogass-fired power facilities from Virginia's renewable portfolio standard, as follows:

Though touted as a clean, environmentally safe alternative to fossil fuels, wood pellets are a carbon-intense, destructive and polluting industry based in flawed carbon accounting in international agreements;

Wood pellet material sourcing leads to massive deforestation of critical habitats, and Enviva alone is responsible for 50 acres a day of clear-cut land:

Pellet production facilities release dangerous air pollutants including particulate matter and volatile organic compounds putting surrounding communities at higher risk for health complications.

Burning wood pellets releases 65 pct more CO2 than coal per megawatt hour. In order to keep global climate change below 1.5 degrees Celsius, wood pellets must not be used as an energy alternative.

The letter also notes UK-based researchers found last year that burning wood is a "disaster" for climate change because older trees release large amounts of carbon when they are burned and aren't always replaced with replanted forests. Even when trees are replaced, it can take up to 100 years to cultivate a wooded area that soaks up as much carbon as was previously released. And the fuel burned in shipping wood pellets to Europe is also a significant source of emissions. (Source: Virginia Grassroots Coalition, 9 Feb., 2020) Contact: Virginia Grassroots Coalition, www.virginiagrassroots.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  

Nova Scotia
Date: 2020-02-05
In Halifax, the government of Nova Scotia reports it has issued tenders to five pre-qualified vendors for for the conversion of fossil fuel heating systems in six public buildings. The work being tendered includes the design, construction and operation of woody biomass boilers that use wood chips from private woodlots, according to a government press release.

The tender closes on March 5, and the biomass boilers should be operating by the end of November 2020. (Source: Gov. of Nova Scotia, PR, 3 Feb., 2020) Contact: Gov. of Nova Scotia - Tenders, 800-670-4357, www.procurement.novascotia.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  

Velocys,Worley
Date: 2020-02-05
In the UK, Oxford-based sustainable fuels specialist Velocys plc is reporting the appointment of North Sydney, Australia-based Worley to manage the development of pre-feasibility, feasibility and FEED packages for all projects in the Velocys portfolio.

The Velocys technology package converts waste feedstocks into sustainable aviation and road transport fuels.

Velocys also notes it has now selected all the technology suppliers for its Bayou Fuels woody-biomass-to-fuels project in Natchez, Mississippi, USA. The same technology package will be used for the Altalto Immingham waste-to-fuels project in the U.K. (Source: Velocys, PR, Chem Eng., 4 Feb., 2020) Contact: Velocys, Henrik Wareborn, CEO, +44 1235 838 621, (713) 275-5840 -- Houston Office, info@velocys.com, www.velocys.com; Worley, Paul Seaton, Pres., www.worley.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Velocys,  Worley,  Woody Biomass,  Biomass-to-Fuel,  Aviation Biofuel,  Biofuel,  

Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels, US Advanced Bio-Fuels, Inc.
Date: 2020-02-03
Scottsdale, Arizona-based Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels LLC (NWABF), a wholly owned subsidiary of Frederick, Maryland-based US Advanced Bio-Fuels, Inc. (USABIO), is reporting an off-take agreement with Delta Airlines under which the air carrier will purchase sustainable aviation fuel, if produced, from NWABF. The NWABF process uses the gasification of woody biomass to produce syngas for the Fischer-Tropsch process.

NWABF's project would utilize forestry waste woody biomass to produce biofuel which would qualify under an approved carbon-reducing pathway recognized by ASTM. NWAF is currently carrying out a previously announced feasibility study to determine the potential for a production facility in Washington state. If constructed the Washington state plant would supply Delta's operations Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles by mid-2020.

NWABF is developing second-generation, commercial scale, cellulosic renewable bio jet fuel refineries with the first project being developed in the Pacific Northwest. (Source: Delta, Green Car Congress, 1 Feb., 2020) Contact: Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels LLC, 602-753-8386 www.nwabiofuels.com; US Advanced Bio-Fuels, Inc., (301) 644-1395, www.advancedbiofuelsusa.info

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Advanced Bio-Fuels,  Inc.,  Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels,  Aviation Biofuel,  

GEEN Holding
Date: 2020-02-03
In the Czech Republic, Prague-headquartered GEEN Holding reports it will soon break ground on its third woody biomass power plant in Gospic, Croatia. The plant is expected to be fully operational and grid connected by mid 2021.

In Decemeber 2019, GEEN announced it had three waste wood biomass-fired power plant in operation at a total cost of €80 million. was built.

GEEN Holding a.s. is an energy, engineering and investment group which was formed by 31 companies. GEEN has six operating hydro, 10 photovoltaic power plants and e woody biomass plants in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, according to its website. (Source: GEEN Holding, Total Croatia News, 31 Jan., 2020) Contact: GEEN Holding, +420 511 111 950, geen@geen.eu, www.geen.eu

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

UPM
Date: 2020-01-31
Helsinki-headquartered UPM reports it will invest €550 million in a biorefinery -- 100 pct wood-based biochemicals at Leuna, Germany. The 220,000 tpy biorefinery will convert locally-sourced solid wood biomass into next generation biochemicals: bio-monoethylene glycol (BioMEG) and lignin-based renewable functional fillers, bio-monopropylene glycol (BioMPG) and industrial sugars. The plant is expected to come online by the end of 2022. (Source: UOM, PR, Global NewsWire, Jan., 2020) Contact: UPM Biochemicals, Juuso Konttinen, Vice President, +358 40 5317405, juuso.konttinen@upm.com, www.upm.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News UPM,  Biofuel,  

Bureau of Land Management
Date: 2020-01-24
In Washington, the U.S. DOI Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has published a notice of availability establishing eligibility and selection criteria for biomass demonstration project proposals submitted for BLM-managed lands as authorized by the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self Determination Act Amendments of 2017. The notice pertains to both tribal biomass demonstration projects and Alaska Native biomass demonstration project proposals.

Under the The Act requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to enter into stewardship contracts or similar agreements with Indian tribes to carry out at least four new demonstrations projects to promote biomass energy and biofuel production as well as heat and electric power generation on Indian forest land and in nearby communities by providing reliable supplies of woody biomass from federal land. The requirement is in place for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021. That requirement is also in place for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021.

A full copy of the notice is HERE. (Source: BLM, Jan., 2020) Contact: BLM, www.blm.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Bureau of Land Management,  Woody Biomass ,  

Pinnacle Renewable Energy
Date: 2020-01-20
In British Columbia, Vancouver-based Pinnacle Renewable Energy reports it has inked a new 40,000 deadweight-ton ship charter for the delivery of its industrial wood pellets from British Columbia, Canada to customers in Japan where it has signed three wood pellet contracts within the last six months, according to the company release. (Source: Pinnacle Renewable Energy, Bioenergy, 20 Jan., 2020) Contact: Pinnacle Renewable Energy, Pinnacle Pellet, Robert McCurdy, CEO, (604) 270-9613, investors@pinnaclepellet.com, www.pinnaclepellet.com

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

Enviv
Date: 2020-01-17
Bethesda, Maryland-based wood pellet supplier Enviva Holdings Inc is reporting an important piece of the Little River watershed in the North Carolina Piedmont region will be protected for years to come in part through the help of a $20,000 grant from the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund to the Three Rivers Land Trust. The Fund’s support leveraged another $660,000 in external funding, allowing the Land Trust to purchase a permanent conservation easement on approximately 230 acres adjacent to another conservation site that protects one of the few remaining bogs in the Piedmont region. The property is a unique landscape with high ecological and conservation value and contains a mix of bottom land hardwoods and long leaf pine forests.

According to its website, the Fund's goal is to be a catalyst for investments in critical forest and habitat conservation in the North Carolina coastal plain and southeastern Virginia region. More than three years into the planned 10-year partnership, seventeen projects have been funded with a total commitment of over $2 million including the grant announced today. When these projects are completed, the Fund will have protected an estimated 24,500 acres of sensitive wetland forest and other habitats. (Source: U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, 16 Jan., 2020) Contact: U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities , 864.233.7646, 864.235.3842 - fax, info@usendowment.org, www.usedndowmwnt.org; : Enviva Holdings LP, Enviva Biomass, Dr. Jennifer Jenkins, VP, (301) 615-5560, jennifer@envivabiomass.com, www.envivabiomass.com

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

Barry Biomass
Date: 2020-01-15
In Wales, the long delayed 86,000 tpy Barry Biomass waste woody biomass facility on Barry Island reports it is near completing its testing phase and has commissioned the plant's wood chipping system and designed to recover energy from pre-prepared mixed waste wood gasification turbine, generator set. The plants expects to go into full production later this year.

The 10 MW facility, which was financed by Aviva Investors, will process shredded mixed waste wood from households and industry, include items such as pallets, fence panels, cupboards and similar biomass. (Source: Barry Biomass, LetsRecycle.co, 14 Jan., 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  

Westervelt,Pinnacle Renewable Energy
Date: 2019-12-30
In "The Heart of Dixie", Tuscaloosa-based Westervelt Co. reports it is partnering with Vancouver, B.C.-based Pinnacle Renewable Energy to construct a woody biomass-wood pellet production plant in the city of Demopolis. The 360,000 metric tpy plant is aiming for an early 2021 startup, according to a statement.

Pinnacle will reportedly hold a 70 pct stake in the plant, Westervelt will hold 20 pct and Two Rivers Lumber Co. which will supply the plant with sawmill waste for pellet production, will hold the remaining 10 pct. (Source: Westervelt Co., Various Media, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Dec., 2019) Contact: Westervelt, Brian Luoma, CEO, 205-562-5800,www.westerveldtlumber.com; Pinnacle Renewable Energy, Pinnacle Pellet, Robert McCurdy, CEO, (604) 270-9613,investors@pinnaclepellet.com, www.pinnaclepellet.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Westervelt,  Pinnacle Renewable Energy ,  Wood pellet,  

Pinnacle Renewable Energy
Date: 2019-12-16
In British CVolumbia, Vancouver-based Pinnacle Renewable Energy is reporting a three-year fiber supply agreement with forest management company Alkali Resource Management Ltd. (ARM) under which ARM will process, store and deliver woody biomass harvest residuals to Pinnacle for use at its Williams Lake facility in British Columbia.

Pinnacle produces sustainable industrial wood pellet fuel for large-scale thermal power generators as a greener alternative to produce reliable baseload renewable power. The Company operates eight industrial wood pellet production facilities in western Canada and one in Alabama, and owns a port terminal in Prince Rupert, B.C. Pinnacle has entered into long-term take-or-pay contracts with utilities in the U.K., Europe and Asia that represent an average of 108% of its production capacity through 2026. (Source: Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc., PR,CNW, 16 Dec., 2019) Contact: Pinnacle Renewable Energy, 877-737-4344, investors@pinnaclepellet.com, , www.pinnaclepellet.com

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

Stora Enso,C-Green
Date: 2019-12-16
Helsinki-headquartered Finnish pulp and paper manufacturer Stora Enso reports it is producing bio-sludge from woody biomass waste water at its fluting mill in the community of Heinola, Finland. The bio-sludge is dried and processed into biofuel using technology developed and patented by Swedish company C-Green Technology.

C-Green's OxyPower HTC process uses an innovative application of hydrothermal carbonisation, which converts complex organic compounds into sterile odourless biofuel. The pilot plant processes 16,000 tpy of bio-waste into fuels which is used in the mill and for heat in the town of Heinola, which has around 20,000 inhabitants.

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, according to the company website. (Source: Stora Enso, Biofuels 13 Dec., 2019) Contact: C-Green Technologies, Erik Oden, CEO , +46 8 93 50 40, www.c-green.se; Stora Enso, Jari Suominen, +43-664-6183907, jari.suominen@stroaenso.com, www.storaenso.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Stora Enso,  C-Green,  Biofuel,  

Enviva
Date: 2019-12-04
Further to our October 11th edition, Bethesda, Maryland-based wood pellet supplier Enviva Holdings, LP, the world's largest producer of wood pellets, is reporting receipt Alabama Department of Environmental Management permitting to construct a new facility in Alabama, US. The new $175 million facility at the Port of Epes Industrial Park in Sumter County is expected to produce around 1,150,000 metric tpy wood pellets from locally sources woody biomass wastes. Construction is expected to break ground in early 2020. (Source: Enviva, Bioenergy, Dec., 2019) Contact: Enviva Holdings LP, Enviva Biomass, Dr. Jennifer Jenkins, VP, (301) 615-5560, jennifer@envivabiomass.com, www.envivabiomass.com

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

Active Energy Group
Date: 2019-12-02
London, UK-based Active Energy Group is confirming a 20-year license agreement with Westbank, British Columbia-based forestry waste management specialist RMD Environmentals Inc under which RMD will construct processing plants utilizing Active Energy's CoalSwitch technology.

RMD plans to construct and operate stand-alone and joint venture-based CoalSwitch plants in Alberta and British Columbia with the support and involvement of provincial governments, Canadian forestry managers/owners, Indigenous groups, timberlands operators and downstream production companies.

The CoalSwitch product is made from woody biomass including pulp and saw mill by-products such as bark, sawdust and thinning, 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: RMDE, PR, Canadian Biomass, 28 Nov., 2019) Contact: RMDE, Grand Chief Ronald Derrickson, Chairman, Commercial Opportunities/Investor Relations: Richard.Spinks@rmde.ca www.rmde.ca; Active Energy Group, Coal Switch, Michael Rowan, CEO, +44 (0) 20 3021 1500, www.active-energy.com, www.aegplc.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Active Energy Group,  CoalSwitch,  

DRAX
Date: 2019-11-22
In the UK, power producer Drax Group plc, through its Drax Biomass subsidiary, report it plans to increase its present 1.5 million mtpy wood pellet production to 5 million mtpy by 2027. The company's three U.S plants will increase production by by 350,000 metric tpy over the next two years. Drax notes it is also looking at developing an additional 3 million mtpy of capacity over the next seven years.

According to a company statement, Drax produced 650,000 metric tons of wood pellets during the first half of 2019, a sligth drop from the same period in 2018. The company also noted the expansion in biomass capacity would allow it to develop an unsubsidized biomass generation business by 2027. (Source: DRAX, Biomass, 20 Nov., 2019) Contact: DRAX, Will Gardiner, CEO, +44 0 1757 618381, www.draxpower.com

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

NYSERDA
Date: 2019-11-22
In the Empire State, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Adirondack Park Agency, and New York State Police are reporting the commissioning of a woody biomass pellet-fired heating system at the State Office Campus in Ray Brook.

The $3 million project, developed in partnership with DEC, State Police, APA, the New York Power Authority and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), supports Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's (D) BuildSmart NY program, which calls for a 20 pct reduction in energy consumption by all state agencies by 2020. The installation is also expected to cut annual energy costs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 391 tpy.

NYSERDA provided more than $500,000 for the project with the balance split by the three benefiting state agencies. (Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, NYSERDA, 19 Nov., 2019) Contact: NYSERDA, Alicia Barton, Pres., CEO, (518) 862-1090, www.nyserda.ny.gov; New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, www.dec.ny.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News NYSERDA,  Biomass Heat,  Woody Biomass,  

Purdue University Center for Plant Biology
Date: 2019-11-18
In West Lafayette, Indiana, researchers at the Purdue University Center for Plant Biology (C3Bio) report their study of ways to increase production of biofuels from non-food biomass has identified lignin, a complex compound in cell walls, blocks access to plant carbohydrates that could be cleaved into sugars and then fermented into biofuels, as one of several barriers to the efficient conversion of that biomass.

The study notes researchers have found a way of removing lignin and making useful products from it, as well as getting access to plant carbohydrates for production of biofuels. Even with lignin removed, however, the Purdue team had to find ways to break the tightly connected plant cells apart so that chemical catalysts or yeasts used in the biofuel refining process could do their jobs.

With all the lignin removed through a nickel-carbon catalysis, the research team treated poplar wood particles with trifluoroacetic acid to loosen the tightly packed crystalline cellulose and its aggregation into large bundles in plant cell walls. The trifluoroacetic acid causes the cellulose to swell, making it easier to access the glucose molecules present in the cell walls for fermentation to ethanol -- or using other chemical catalysts discovered by the C3Bio team, the cellulose and other carbohydrates can be converted to platform chemicals, such as hydroxymethylfurfural and levulinic acid, which are substrates or precursors for liquid hydrocarbon fuels. (Source: Purdue Center for Plant Biology, Plant Biotechnology Journal, AgriNews, 9 Nov., 2019)Contact: Purdue Center for Plant Biology, C3Bio, Prof. Maureen McCann, 765-496-1779, mmccann@purdue.edu, www.purdue.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Lignin,  Woody Biomass,  Purdue University,  

Goodfuels, BTG
Date: 2019-11-15
Dutch sustainable marine Biofuels specialist Goodfuels is reporting it and biomass technology group BTG will establish BTG-neXt -- a new high-tech company that can convert crude pyrolysis oil into 100 pct sustainable diesel biofuel suitable for the maritime shipping sector. It will be the first refinery in the world for an advanced marine biofuel based on pyrolysis oil, produced from woody biomass wastes, grass cuttings and similar plant materials.

The technology for producing oil via pyrolysis from plant-based waste was developed 30 years ago at the University of Twente.

The new demonstration facility has a planned 1,000 tpy production capacity. Depending on the demo tests, production can be scaled-up to support the industry in meeting International Maritime Organisation (IMO) targets of a 50 pct reduction in Greenhouse Gas emissions by 2050 -- roughly 85 pct reduction per vessel. GoodFuels intends to market the pilot volumes produced to further strengthen the commercial business case. The ports of Rotterdam and Eemshaven are the locations being considered for the first commercial processing plant. (Source: Goodfuels, Hellenic, 14 Nov., 2019) Contact: GoodFuels, Dirk Kronemeijer, CEO, +31 (0) 85 8000 238, info@goodfuels.com, www.goodfuels.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Goodfuels,  Marine Biofuel,  pyrolysis oil,  BTG,  

National Resources Defense Council
Date: 2019-11-13
Burnout: EU Clean Energy Subsidies Lead to Forest Destruction, a new report from the not-for-profit National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) highlights the environmental impact of the practice of burning biomass as fuel.

For the purpose of allocating energy subsidies, the EU defines biomass as a clean energy source; however, the process of burning wood for electric power production both releases high levels of carbon emissions and contributes to the destruction of forest ecosystems. As forests act as a "carbon sink", absorbing CO2 which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.

The report, which is based on research provided by economic policy consultancy Trinomics, covers biomass subsidies in 15 EU Member States between 2105 and 2018. Overall in 2017, the 15 Member States assessed for the report spent a total of €6.6 billion in direct subsidies for energy production using biomass. The report identifies Denmark as the highest subsidiser of biomass energy per capita followed by the UK and Germany. their renewable energy subsidies on biomass production.

According to the Burnout: EU Clean Energy Subsidies Lead to Forest Destruction report, "Burning trees for electricity is not renewable and not a viable climate solution. Critically, no EU Member State has formally ruled out burning forest biomass for electricity in the future. That can and should change before we (NRDC) publish our next assessment. In the coming years, we hope and expect that in EU countries where massive biomass industry subsidies have become entrenched, policymakers will redirect this financial support toward genuinely zero-emitting and renewable energy sources like solar and wind. Countries considering new policies and incentives to replace aging fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure, both inside and outside the European Union, must rule out incentives for burning forest biomass instead of or alongside coal." (Source: NRDC, Gov. Europa, 12 Nov., 2019) Contact: NRDC, Kit Kennedy, Snr. Dir. Climate and Clean Energy Programme, 212.727.2700, nrdcinfo@nrdc.org, www.nrdc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News National Resources Defense Council ,  NRDC,  Biomass,  Woody Biomass,  

San Juan Islands Conservation District
Date: 2019-11-13
San Juan Islands Conservation District in Washington State is reporting receipt of $181,882 in grant matching funding from the Washington Department of Commerce Forest Products Financial Assistance Program for wood energy projects. On Nov. 5, the agency funded four proposed projects that provide heat, power, engineered fuel products and/or significant energy efficiency improvements.

This proposal includes a technology assessment, site analysis and conceptual design of an advanced wood energy microgrid gasifier system to generate heat and power for community facilities on Orcas.

The Forest Products Financial Assistance Program emphasizes projects that use woody biomass from forestry management activities and wood products manufacturing. to develop appropriate energy and biochar technologies to process woody biomass. Under the program, energy produced by a funded biomass plant would be around 2.6 million kilowatt-hours per year. . (Source: San Juan Islands Conservation District, Islands Weekly, 12 Nov., 2019) Contact: San Juan Islands Conservation District, www.sanjuanislandscd.org; Washington Department of Commerce Forest Products Financial Assistance Program, www.commerce.wa.gov/growing-the-economy/energy/forest-products-financial-assistance

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  

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,