EIA updates bioenergy forecasts
August 11, 2020
The Energy Information Administration currently expects electricity generation from renewable energy sources to increase from 17 percent in 2019 to 20 percent in 2020 and 22 percent in 2021, according to the agency's latest Short-Term Energy Outlook.
Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. released second quarter financial results on Aug. 10, reporting new quarterly records for wood pellet production and sales. The company also provided an update of ongoing capacity expansion projects.
As businesses of all sizes weather today's tough economy, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is offering its entire portfolio of patented technologies on a research trial basis—at no cost—to spur economic development and create new jobs.
GB Railfreight, Drax extend rail contract to transport biomass
By Drax
August 10, 2020
GB Railfreight and Drax have agreed to extend their contract to transport supplies of sustainable biomass from U.K. ports to Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire until 2025. Drax said the deal is critical to its global biomass supply chain.
US wood pellet exports top 684,000 tons in June
August 07, 2020
The U.S. exported 684,028.1 metric tons of wood pellets in June, up from 572,499.8 metric tons in May, but down from 693,868.5 metric tons exported in June 2019, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service on Aug. 5.
Enviva Partners LP released second quarter financial results on Aug. 5, reporting that the operation of its wood pellet plants and terminals has not been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The company also outlined its expansion plans.
Drax: Ground-breaking carbon recycling project launches
By Drax
August 05, 2020
REACT-FIRST is the U.K.'s first-ever scalable route to the sustainable generation of protein capturing the CO2 from bioenergy generation. It launches with financial support from the government in the form of £3 million funding from Innovate U.K.
Enviva completes acquisition of Georgia Biomass
By Enviva
August 04, 2020
Enviva Partners LP on Aug. 3 announced the completion of its previously announced acquisition of a world-class, industrial scale wood pellet production plant in Waycross, Georgia, and associated contracted terminal capacity in Savannah, Georgia.
The U.S. Department of Energy on July 31 announced more than $97 million in funding for 33 projects that will support high-impact technology research and development to accelerate the bioeconomy, including biofuels, biopower and bioproducts.
A recent survey completed by ENplus found that 75 percent of ENplus certified wood pellet producers and traders have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, many by reduced demand from end users.
PacBio confirms incident at Prince George plant
By Pacific BioEnergy Corp.
July 29, 2020
Pacific Bioenergy Corporation (PacBio) on July 28 confirmed that Prince George Fire Department was called at approximately 5:00 p.m. the previous day after an incident occurred in an exterior conveyor system.
Drax Group plc on July 29 released financial results for the first half of 2020, reporting that biomass power generation was up 16 percent and pellet production was up 15 percent while achieving a 9 percent reduction in cost.
Drax: Power station ash paves the way for road building project
By Drax Group
July 28, 2020
A construction project in the U.K. was completed six months ahead of schedule, providing improved links between the East of England, the Midlands and the North. Ash from Drax Power Station was used in the project's concrete structures.
The DOE on July 28 announced $68 million in funding over five years for basic research aimed at making bioenergy feedstock crops more productive and resilient. Feedstocks addressed by the research include sorghum, poplar and pennycress.
The Biogenic CO2 Coalition has released new video and digital ad campaign asking why the U.S. EPA is the only environmental agency in the world to treat carbon emissions from common agricultural crops the exact same as those from fossil fuels.
Simec Atlantis Energy Ltd. announced in mid-July that it now plans to develop its proposed U.K.-based Uskmouth power station conversion project in two phases. The company is also considering options to co-locate data centers at the plant.
An annual report filed with the USDA shows that the EU's wood pellet market has been relatively unaffected by COVID-19 but cautions further market expansion could be limited by member state sustainability requirements.
The U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration is seeking nominations for members of its Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee. Nominations are due July 31.
First Nations' forestry projects generate jobs, green energy
By British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development
July 21, 2020
Forest Enhancement Society of British Colombia grants are supporting the Williams Lake First Nation as it creates jobs, fights climate change and reduces wildfire risk by providing slash for use in wood pellet production and bioenergy use.
Members of Congress in key Midwestern states have received over 10,000 individual letters from constituents urging them to press the EPA to address a regulatory barrier preventing growth in the bioeconomy, according to the Biogenic CO2 Coalition.
The Dutch Social Economic Council (SER) in July advised the Dutch government to phase out bioenergy and instead use biomass for high value applications, according to a report filed with the USDA FAS's Global Agricultural Information Network.
BBI International has announced that the 2020 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo, the ethanol industry's largest conference, has been moved and will be virtual, due to the outbreak of COVID-19. The event will now take place Sept. 15-17.
DB Cargo UK secures new 5-year contract with Drax
By Drax Group
July 15, 2020
DB Cargo U.K. will operate an average of 60 trains per week from the ports of Immingham and Hull to Drax Power Station in Selby, Yorkshire. Each train will carry around 1,650 metric tons of sustainable biomass to Drax Power Station.
Enviva Partners completes Greenwood drop-down acquisition
By Enviva
July 14, 2020
Enviva Partners LP has completed the previously announced acquisition from its sponsor of Enviva Pellets Greenwood Holdings II LLC, which, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, owns a wood pellet production plant in Greenwood, South Carolina.
Pinnacle participates in Alabama's Job Act Incentives program
By Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc.
July 14, 2020
Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. has announced its subsidiary, Alabama Pellets LLC, recently signed an agreement with the State of Alabama that provides Alabama Pellets with incentives for job creation under Alabama's Job Act Incentives program.
The Biogenic CO2 Coalition on July 10 issued a statement commending a bipartisan group of four members of Congress for pressing the U.S. EPA to address the concerns of agricultural crop producers and processors in a biogenic CO2 rulemaking.
The USDA on July 13 issued a final rule that aims to increase private investment in rural communities by making it easier for lenders to access four guaranteed loan programs, including the Rural Energy for America Program.
The U.S. Industrial Pellet Association on July 13 issued a statement expressing disappointment that a recent European court ruling regarding the inclusion of wood biomass in the European Union's Renewable Energy Directive is being appealed.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently released data showing U.S. manufacturers produced approximately 770,000 tons of densified biomass fuel in March, with sales reaching 790,000 tons.
The U.S. EPA on July 9 released a proposed rule that aims to amend emission standards for certain categories of boilers based on the maximum achievable control technologies (MACT). The AWC said it is encouraged by the clarity the rule provides.
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