The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration announced on Oct. 20 a $1.7 million grant to improve barge access at the Port of Epes Industrial Park in Alabama. The project will benefit a proposed Enviva pellet plant.
Wood and waste energy accounted for nearly one-fourth of U.S. renewable energy use in 2019, while biofuels accounted for 20 percent of renewable energy consumption, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Oct. 19.
The U.K. government announced on Oct. 15 that it intends to publish a new biomass strategy in 2022. The U.K. Renewable Energy Association welcomed the announcement, stressing that bioenergy is essential to the renewables revolution.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently released data showing U.S. manufacturers produced approximately 730,000 tons of densified biomass fuel in June, with sales reaching 670,000 tons.
UK bioenergy generation, capacity increase in Q2
October 14, 2020
Renewables accounted for a growing share of U.K. electricity generation during the second quarter of 2020. Generation from bioenergy was up nearly 10 percent during the period, according to data released by the U.K. government on Oct. 8.
A group of 14 senators sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on Oct. 12 urging the agency to promulgate a rulemaking that recognizes the de minimis character of biogenic carbon emissions from agricultural feedstocks.
U.K.-based companies Drax Group and Velocys are among 11 organizations that have launched the Coalition for Negative Emissions, which aims to achieve a sustainable and resilient recovery from COVID-19 by developing carbon-negative technologies.
Oral arguments held in challenge to EPA's ACE rule
October 12, 2020
Oral arguments in a lawsuit challenging U.S. EPA's Affordable Clean Energy Program were held before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Oct. 8. One portion of the arguments focused on the program's treatment of biomass co-firing.
USIPA welcomes resolution of European Forest Strategy
By U.S. Industrial Pellet Association
October 08, 2020
The U.S. Industrial Pellet Association has welcomed the European Parliament's resolution on the "European Forest Strategy—the Way Forward," which recognizes that the forest value chain is fundamental to the circular bioeconomy.
The U.S. exported 585,883.3 metric tons of wood pellets in August, down from 643,727.5 metric tons in July and 738,303.23 metric tons in August 2019, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on Oct. 6.
The EIA released its Winter Fuels Outlook and an updated Short-Term Energy Outlook on Oct. 6, reporting that approximately 1.8 million households will use cord wood or wood pellets as their primarily residential spacing heating fuel this winter.
Front-End Expertise
October 05, 2020
When it comes to wood pellet process design, experience matters.
The Danish government announced a political agreement on Oct. 3 that establishes new sustainability requirements for woody biomass used to produce heat and electricity in Denmark. USIPA applauded the agreement, calling it strict but workable.
Taking Another Look at Torrefaction
By Tom Causer
October 04, 2020
Analysis shows torrefied wood pellets can reduce cost-of-use for power plants, generate more profits for pellet manufacturers and reduce carbon footprints.
Can Lubricants be Green?
By John Sander
October 02, 2020
When properly manufactured and used, most lubricants can be considered environmentally considerate.
The USDA announced on Oct. 1 it is now accepting applications for its four key loan guarantee programs under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative, which was launched earlier this year to make it easier for lenders to access those four loan programs.
Jobs in the renewable energy sector reached 11.5 million globally in 2019, according to a report released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) on Sept. 29. Bioenergy accounted for 3.58 million jobs, up from 3.18 million in 2018.
The Department of Energy on Sept. 23 issued its FY 2021 solicitation for the Technology Commercialization Fund, which aims to advance the commercialization of promising energy technologies and deploy lab-developed technologies to the marketplace.
USDA seeks applications for Advanced Biofuel Payment Program
September 24, 2020
The USDA announced on Sept. 23 it is making $7 million available under the Advanced Biofuel Payment Program. The agency will accept applications from advanced biofuel producers during the month of October.
Pinnacle responds to Fibreco silo incident
By Pinnacle Renewable Energy
September 23, 2020
Pinnacle Renewable Energy on Sept. 22 that it has temporarily diverted all pellet shipping activity to its wholly owned Westview shipping terminal in response to a structural failure of a silo at the Fibreco Export Inc. shipping terminal.
Natural Resource Canada funds 11 bioenergy projects
September 22, 2020
Natural Resource Canada is has announced it will award approximately $21 million to support several clean energy projects in Indigenous communities in Ontario and the Northwest Territories, including 11 biomass projects.
Drax Biomass donates $20,000 to help victims of Hurricane Laura
By Drax Biomass
September 21, 2020
Drax Biomass is donating $20,000 to help families in Northeastern and Central Louisiana who were impacted by Hurricane Laura last month. The funds donated are going to hurricane relief efforts driven by the United Way and local food banks.
Japan solicits comments on proposed changes to FIT program
September 21, 2020
Japan is proposing to shorten the eligibility window for previously approved and future biomass projects under its feed-in tariff (FIT) program, according to a report filed with the USDA FAS Global Agricultural Information Network on Sept. 18.
U.K. renewable energy generation increased by 30 percent during the first quarter of 2020, reaching 40.8 terawatt hours (TWh), according to data released by the U.K. Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on Sept. 10.
The European Commission on Sept. 17 released a plan that aims to reduce European Union GHG emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030 when compared to 1990 levels. The goal would put the EU on a pathway to reaching climate neutrality by 2050.
Leaders of Enviva and Drax Group are among the nearly 200 business leaders, investors and organizations that recently sent a letter leaders of the European Union and EU member states urging the EU to increase GHG emission reduction targets.
Enviva completes acquisition of Georgia Biomass
By Enviva
September 15, 2020
Enviva Partners LP has completed its previously announced acquisition of Georgia Biomass's wood pellet production plant in Waycross, Georgia, and associated contracted terminal capacity in Savannah, Georgia.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently released data showing U.S. manufacturers produced approximately 750,000 tons of densified biomass fuel in May, with sales reaching about 670,000 tons.
The Biogenic CO2 Coalition has filed a petition for rulemaking with the U.S. EPA providing a detailed explanation of the scientific and legal basis for the agency recognize the carbon neutrality of biogenic carbon emissions from crops.
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