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,  

Active Energy Group
Date: 2019-04-22
In North Carolina, the Robeson County Economic Development Commission is reporting London, UK-listed forestry management company Active Energy Group PLC (AEG) is paying $50 million for an abandoned 415,000 square-foot plant and surrounding land in Robeson County. The building, which was shuttered in May, 2017, will be the base of AEG's biomass-processing operations, housing production of its woody niomass, waste forestry products based CoalSwitch brand fuel products.

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority is supporting the project with a $500,000 building re-use and renovation grant to Robeson County, money that is available through the Community Development Block Grant program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It is administered in part by the North Carolina Department of Commerce. Other partners included the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, Robeson Community College, Robeson County and the city of Lumberton. Michael Rowan, CEO of AEG. (Source: Robesonian, 18 April, 2019) Contact: Active Energy Group, Michael Rowan, CEO, +44 (0) 20 3021 1500, www.active-energy.com; Robeson County Economic Development Commission, (910) 739-7584, www.robesoncountyoed.org

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

Austin Energy
Date: 2019-04-22
Austin Energy said the new facility will help them save $275 million in additional costs over the remaining term of a 20-year power purchase agreement. In the Lone Star State, Austin Energy reports it will will be acquiring a wood waste biomass-fueled power plant in Nacogdoches from Southern Power for $460 million.

Austin Energy is aiming to provide 65 pct of its customers' energy needs through renewable resources by 2027. In 2018, Austin Energy sourced 28 pct of energy from renewables, accoding to the company. (Source: Austin Energy, Statesman, KVUE, 18 April, 2019)Contact: Austin Energy, Cameron Freberg, Utility Strategist, (512) 494-9400, www.austinenergy.com

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

Bioenergy Infrastructure Group
Date: 2019-04-12
In the UK, Bioenergy Infrastructure Group (BIG) reports its Ince Bio Power plant in Ince, Cheshire has completed test and is now fully operational.

The 21.5 MW plant, which processes up to 170,000 tpy of waste wood to generate low carbon energy, produces sufficient electric power for more than 40,000 homes. The plant will deliver a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions worth around 65,000 tpy of CO2, the equivalent of taking more than 40,000 cars off the road.

BIG also owns and operates energy from waste wood biomass plants in Birmingham, Northern Ireland and Widnes and has projects under development in Hull, Lanark in Scotland and Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire. (Source: Bioenergy Infrastructure Group, PR, LesProm, 11 April, 2019) Contact: Bioenergy Infrastructure Group, Alex Young, Project Dev., +44 118 929 8350, www.bioenergyinfrastructure.co.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Bioenergy Infrastructure Group,  Woody Biomass,  Waste Wood,  ,  

Wood Pellet
Date: 2019-04-10
The recently released Global Wood Pellet Fuel Market Report research report assess the current as well as upcoming performance of the Wood Pellet Fuel market, market trends and the major players -- Drax Biomass Inc, Rentech, Inc, Enviva Partners, LP, German Pellets GmbH, Viridis Energy Inc, AS Graanul Invest, Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc, Lignetics Of Idaho, Inc, Zilkha Biomass Energy, LLC, Land Energy Girvan Limited, Colombo Energy Inc, Premium Pellet Ltd, ECARE, Fram Renewable Fuels, Agon Biomass, Pellet power, Blue Sky Biomass, Bio Eneco Sdn Bhd, Schellinger & Co Muhlenwerke, Snow Timber Pellets LLC. The report also forecasts the future of Wood Pellet Fuel market on the basis on this evaluation.

Questions and additional information is HERE. (Source: Market & Research, Industry News Daily, 9 April, 2019)Contact: Markets and Research, www.marketsnresearch.com

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

Arizona Public Service
Date: 2019-04-08
Following up on our Mar. 23rd coverage, in Phoenix, Arizona's largest utility Arizona Public Service (APS) Co. reports it plans to convert its coal-burning Cholla Power Plant near Holbrook to burn woody biomass waste and pine wood chips. The test conversion is intended to address the potential loss of jobs occasioned by an expected 2025 shutdown of the coal-burning facility to meet environmental-emissions regulations and to help prevent the growing wildfire-forest fire threat.

After a 60-day test period, AAPS will update the Arizona Corporation Commission regarding whether converting the coal generator to burn biomass would be cost efficient, officials said. According to the US EPA , electricity from forest biomass is carbon neutral and does not contribute to climate change. (Source: APS, WRAL.com, AP. 6 April, 2019) Contact: APS, Barbara Lockwood, VP, www.aps.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Arizona Public Service,  Woody Biomass,  Coal ,  

District Energy
Date: 2019-04-03
In Minnesota, the not-for-profit utility District Energy St. Paul reports that as of Monday, 1 April, 2017, it is no longer burning coal for power generation and switching to woody biomass-wood waste , thus cutting its overall CO2 emissions by approximately 10,000 tpy. The utility reduced carbon emissions for its heating system by 57 pct from 2000-17.

District Energy heats 197 buildings and 300 single-family homes in and around downtown St. Paul. and cools 116 buildings in the same area. One of the ways it generates heat is by burning locally sourced wood waste in a CHP system. The utility also uses chilled water storage and solar thermal. (Source: District Energy St. Paul, PR, 29 Mar., 2019) Contact: District Energy St. Paul, Ken Smith, CEO, Nina Axelson (612) 695-1288, nina.axelson@districtenergy.com, www.districtenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News District Energy ,  Coal,  Woody Biomass,  

Pinnacle Renewable Energy
Date: 2019-04-03
Richmond, British Columbia-headquartered woody biomass pellet producer Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. reports it has resumed dry-fiber wood pellet production at its Entwistle, Alberta, plant. The plant was shuttered as the result of a fire on Feb. 11, 2019. The company expects to provide a further update on the Entwistle Facility during the second quarter.

Pinnacle also reports it has entered into a new long-term, 200,000 mtpy industrial wood pellet take-or-pay contract with Japan's Sumitomo Corp., starting in 2022. (Source: Pinnacle Renewable Energy, PR, 1 April, 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,  

EU
Date: 2019-04-01
According to data from the European Union statistics service Eurostat, the 28-member trading bloc sourced 17.5 pct of its energy from renewables in 2017, keeping it on track for a target of 20 pct by 2020.

Each member state has its own individual renewable energy goal ranging from 10 to 49 pct based on its situation and potential. While 11 countries in the bloc have already surpassed their targets, others are lagging behind, according to Eurostat.

With the target for 2030 at 32 pct, Eurostat notes, "While the EU as a whole is on course to meet its 2020 targets, some member states will need to make additional efforts to meet their obligations."

Specifically, the EU's renewable energy leaders are Nordic countries: Sweden, Finland and Denmark with more than half of the total energy consumed coming from renewables -- primarily hydropower, wind and biofuels.

Luxembourg and the Netherlands are the EU countries with the lowest consumption of renewables, at 6.4 pct and 6.6 pct respectively. Despite its investment in offshore wind farms, the Netherlands is the furthest from reaching its targets.

In 2017 France reached 16.3 pct of energy consumption from renewables, compared to its 23 pct target for 2020. Woody biomass and hydropower are the main sources of green energy in France which sources 70 pct of its electricity from nuclear. Even so, France has committed to closing 14 nuclear reactors by 2035 and shutting down four still-active coal power plants by 2022.

Germany's renewable energy, which comes mainly from wind and solar power, reached just 15.5 pct in 2017, while its 2020 objective is set at 18 pct. Coal still accounts for 37 pct of Germany's electric power production and more than 30 pct of its heating. (Source: EuroStat, France 24, Mar., 2019) Contact: Eurostat, http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat

More Low-Carbon Energy News EuroStat,  Renewable Energy,  

BioCarburante Company
Date: 2019-03-29
In the Sunshine State, the Gulf County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday lent support to the Wisconsin-headquartered BioCarburante Company's (TBIOCC) planned $450 million biofuel plant in Gulf County.

The plant would convert 2,000 tpd of woody biomass, wood waste and forest residue into synthetic gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel through a thermo-catalytic conversion.

The plant would convert 2,000 tpd of woody biomass, wood waste and forest residue into synthetic gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel through a thermo-catalytic conversion.

The Board of Commissioners would support TBIOCC's pre-application for a $25 million grant from Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., the entity established to disburse $1.5 billion in BP fine dollars into eight Northwest Florida counties. The Board of Commissioners would also facilitate acquisition of 116-acre site for the biorefinery. (Source: BioCarburante Company, Port of St.Joe Star, 28 Mar., 2019) Contact: BioCarburante Company, Larry Hess, CEO, www.biocarburante.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  Biofuel,  Biorefinery,  

KSG Agro
Date: 2019-03-29
In the Ukraine, biomass pellet producer KSG Agro reports it's plant modernization pprogram is well underway and expected to be complete before the year end. The upgrades will double the plant's production capacity for pellets from sunflowers and agricultural waste materials to 2,000 tpy.

In 2017-2018 KSG Agro installed nine biofuel boiler houses with a total capacity of 8.35 MW, which produce more than 1,000 Gcal of heat per 160-day heating (160 days). (Source: KSG Argo, Ukraine Open for Business, 28 Mar., 2019) Contact: KSG Agro, +380 56 787 07 31, +380 56 787 07 32, info@ksgagro.com, www.ksgagro.com/en

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

Bioenergy Infrastructure Group
Date: 2019-03-27
In the UK, the Reading-based Bioenergy Infrastructure Group (BIG) reports its new 21.5MW , Ince Bio Power biomass power station in Cheshire has completed testing and is now in production. The plant uses advanced thermal treatment to produce a combustible gas by heating waste wood in a near oxygen-free environment. This gas is then burnt to generate electricity. The power station will process up to 170,000 tpy of waste wood and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 65,000 tpy.

BIG presently operates multiple biomass and energy-from-waste plants in the UK and has several more under development or construction, according to the company. (Source: Bioenergy Infrastructure Group, Utility Week, 26 Mar., 2019) Contact: Bioenergy Infrastructure Group, Neil Bennett, CEO, +44 118 929 8350, bioenergyinfrastructure.co.uk

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

Aviation Biofuel
Date: 2019-03-25
Researchers at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics in China report finding a way to convert plant waste from agriculture and timber woody biomass into high-density aviation fuel that can be used as either a wholesale replacement fuel or as an additive to improve the efficiency of other jet fuels. The research was published in the journal of Joule.

Cellulose, an abundant polymer that forms the cell walls of plants is the main component in the new biofuel. Although the researchers produced the biofuel at a laboratory scale they believe that the process' cheap, abundant cellulose feedstock, fewer production steps, and lower energy cost and consumption mean it will soon be ready for commercial use. They also predict it will yield higher profits than conventional aviation fuel due to lower production costs. (Source: Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, ANI, Green Car Congress, Siasat Daily, 23 Mar., 2019) Contact: Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Ning Li, +86 411- 8437-9598, english.dicp.cas.cn

More Low-Carbon Energy News Aviation Biofuel,  Jet Biofuel,  Cellulosic,  

Arizona Public Service
Date: 2019-03-22
In the Sun Devil State, Arizona Public Service (APS) reports it has advised the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) it is evaluating the feasibility and costs involved in the possible conversion of one unit of its 1962-vintage, four-unit coal-fired Cholla Power Plant in Joseph City to burning forest waste woody biomass. The plant is presently slated to close by 2025.

The initiative is in keeping with the state's renewable energy portfolio and an important factor in forest health. Last December, the ACC ordered their staff to develop a proposed set of rules to create a market for the 1.5 million tons of branches, brush and debris created by thinning 50,000 acres of overgrown forest annually -- the goal set by 4FRI. The ruling provided for the production of 60 MW of power from bioenergy. Presently, only the 28-MW Novo Power in Snowflake produces bioenergy electricity in Arizona. (Source: Arizona Public Service, PR, White Mountain Independent, 22 Mar, 2019) Contact: Arizona Public Service, www.aps.com; Noveo Power, www.novopower.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Novo Power,  Arizona Public Service,  Woody Biomass,  Forest Biomass,  

John Wood,Red Rock Biofuel
Date: 2019-03-13
Aberdeen, Scotland-headquartered global engineering firm John Wood Group PLC reports receipt of a construction and mechanical services contract from Fort Collins, Colorado-based biofuels plant developer IR1 Group LLC for the Red Rock waste woody biomass-to-biofuels facility in Oregon. The value of the contract, which is expected to take two years to fulfill, hasn't been disclosed.

The Red Rock Biofuels facility will convert more than 136,000 tpy of biomass into 15.1 million gpy of renewable fuels. (Source: John Wood, Alliance News, 12 Mar., 2019) Contact: IR1 Group LLC, (970) 223-6766, https://ir1group.com; John Wood Group, www.woodgroup.cpm

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Fuel,  John Wood Group,  Red Rock Biofuel,  Biofuel,  

Lyonsdale
Date: 2019-03-13
ReEnergy reports its shuttered Lyonsdale woody biomass bioenergy plant in Lewis County, New York, will not be resurrected, despite New York state legislation that would create potential financial support.

According to ReEngergy, the site could be redeveloped for solar energy. (Source: ReEnergy, Fox News WNYF, 8 Mar., 2019): Contact: ReEnergy Holdings, Sarah Boggess, Communications and Governmental Affairs, (518) 810-0200, sboggess@reenergyholdings.com, www.reenergyholdings.com

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

Natural Resources Canada, Nihtat Corp
Date: 2019-03-11
In Ottawa, Natural Resources Canada (NRC) reports it will invest $220,000 to support a feasibility study that could result in the development of a wood pellet project in the Beaufort Delta region of the Northwest Territories.

The federal funds will enable the indigenous community-owned Nihtat Corp. to look into options for wood pellet plant development, wood-based biomass opportunities and biomass supply chain enhancements in the Beaufort Delta region. The project aims to cut carbon emissions and encourage the use of biomass as a healthy and economical choice for heating that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The funding is from Resources Canada's Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities program which aims to reduce the reliance of rural and remote communities on fossil fuel for heat and power, with particular emphasis on Indigenous communities. (Source: NRC, 5 Mar., 2019) Contact: Natural Resources Canada, (343) 292-6100, www.nrcan.gc.ca; Nihtat Corp., www.iti.gov.nt.ca/en/bip-registry/bip0000346-inuvik

More Low-Carbon Energy News Natural Resources Canada,  Wood Pellet,  Woody Biomass,  Nihtat Corp ,  

Geminor
Date: 2019-03-08
Staffordshire, U.K.-based waste fuels specialist Geminor is reporting the acquisition of Norwegian biofuel producer Bon Biobrensel AS. According to the firm, the move doubles its capacity in the production of wood chips for fuel in waste-to-energy facilities in the region.

Bon Biobrensel produces 75,000 tpy of wood chips and had a turnover of €1.5 million in 2018. Geminor is currently England's biggest exporter and Norway's biggest importer of waste wood derived fuel (RDF) and solid recovered fuel (SRF), according to the release. (Source: Geminor, PR, LetsRecycle.com, Mar., 2019) Contact: Geminor, Kjetil Vikingstad, CEO, +44 0 1782 950 471, info@geminor.co.uk, www.geminor.no/en; Bon Biobrensel AS, +47 63 99 51 00, www.facebook.com/BonBiobrensel

More Low-Carbon Energy News Waste Wood,  Woody Biomass,  ,  Biofuel,  

Copenhagen Infrastructure II
Date: 2019-03-06
Denmark's Copenhagen Infrastructure II (CI II), a fund managed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, is reporting its 42-MW, Templeborough woody biomass power facility in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, has begun commercial scale operations. The facility operates under the Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) regime for power, producing renewable power with locally sourced waste wood as fuel.

Babcock & Wilcox Volund and Interserve served as the EPC contractors for the $210.7 million project, while Babcock & Wilcox Vølund is expected to continue as the O&M contractor. (Source: Copenhagen Infrastructure, Compelo Energy Mar., 2019)Contact: Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Kristina Negendahl Jessen, +45 70 70 51 51, cip@cip.dk, www.cip.dk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Copenhagen Infrastructure,  Biomass,  

Bord na Mona
Date: 2019-03-06
In an action filed Monday at the European General Court in Luxembourg, Ireland's state-owned energy company Bord na Mona Plc and six other plaintiffs claimed that classifying forest biomass as a renewable fuel "fatally undermines the goals of the new European Renewable Energy Directive's biomass energy policy."

The lawsuit seeks to remove forest biomass from the EUs Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) which raises the overall EU target for renewable energy sources consumption by 2030 from 20 pct to 32 pct. The plaintiffs contend RED II "ignores the science on forest bioenergy and promotes false climate solutions" and that RED II failed to properly account for the lifecycle carbon emissions from harvesting, producing, transporting, and burning woody biomass fuels.

The case is coordinated by the US-based Partnership for Policy Integrity with input from experts including the Dogwood Alliance; one of more than 30 conservation and environmental justice organizations in the southern US who wrote to the Government, the ESB and Bord na Mona in August 2018 pointing out it was planned that wood used in the Irish power plants would come from their region -- the U.S. North Atlantic Coastal Plain. According to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, the annual supply gap in wood production for biomass could be up to 1.88 million cubic metres by 2020 and more than twice that by 2025, all of which must be sourced outside Ireland.

According to Dr Mary S Booth, director of the US Partnership for Policy Integrity and lead science advisor on the case, "burning wood for energy emits more CO2 per unit of energy generated than coal but RED II counts these emissions as zero.". (Source: (Source: Bord na Mona, All Things Arb, Agricultural News, 5 Mar., 2019) Contact: Bord na Mona Plc, Mike Quinn, CEO, Patrick Madigan, Bioenergy Division, +353 45 439000, www.bordnamona.ie

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Fuel,  RED II,  Bord na Mona,  Carbon Emissions,  Woody Biomass,  Forest Biomass,