The U.S. Department of Energy has announced an open meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee has been scheduled to be held Nov. 17-18 in Washington, D.C.
A Shot in the Arm
October 27, 2016
Energy revenues alone are not enough right now.The open question is whether or not coproduct markets can grow enough to make a difference.
In mid-October, the National Energy Board released a report, noting Canada generates almost two-thirds of its electricity from renewable resources. Hydro is the dominant source of renewable power in the country, followed by wind, biomass and solar.
The USDA is investing more than $300 million to help hundreds of small businesses adopt renewable energy sources or implement more efficient energy options. The investment includes $327 million in Rural Energy for America Program funding.
Bioenergy Byproduct to Soil Savior
October 25, 2016
Production and sale of biochar at biomass-using plants can result in significant financial gains, but the industry is still working at building its myriad of potential markets.
The United Kingdom's New Path
By Frank Aaskov
October 25, 2016
Over the past six months, the political landscape in the United Kingdom has changed significantly.
Biomass Heats New Hampshire EPA Office
October 24, 2016
The New Hampshire environmental protection and public health agencies just finished installing a multimillion dollar, state-of-the-art biomass heating plant at its facility in Concord.
Upcoming Biomass Politics
By Bill Bell
October 24, 2016
The outcome of Maine's Biomass Study Commission's work depends on politics.
AEBIOM releases its annual statistical report, providing an in-depth look at the European bioenergy sector. Recent editions have included analysis of support schemes for biomass heating, electricity and transport, and market forecasts.
CHP from Biomass: The Next Generation
By Ben Bell-Walker and Aaron Aber
October 23, 2016
BTEC has taken a lead in promoting biomass CHP. The organization's CHP Working Group is preparing to release a factsheet and whitepaper on the topic.
Cooking Up Higher Margins
October 22, 2016
As another heating season approaches, low heat market margins have pellet producers looking toward other end uses for greater market stability and increased profits.
USDA to invest in expanding wood energy markets
October 21, 2016
The USDA has announced it will invest up to $7 million in grants for projects designed to expand wood products and wood energy markets that support sustainable forest management, especially in areas with high wildfire risk.
Report documents economic benefit of New Hampshire wood heating
By NH Wood Energy Council
October 20, 2016
The NH Wood Energy Council recently released a report documenting the economic and environmental benefits of heating community, commercial and institutional buildings with modern wood chip and pellet technology.
Drax Biomass collaborates to protect Louisiana wetlands
By Drax Biomass Inc.
October 20, 2016
Drax Biomass Inc., a pellet manufacturer operating in the Southeast, marked National Bioenergy Day by declaring the cypress and tupelo stands found in forested wetlands, including the Atchafalaya Basin, to be off-limits for its timber purchases.
On Oct. 17, Enviva Partners LP announced that Enviva Wilmington Holdings LLC has offered to sell it the entity that owns a pellet plant in Sampson County, North Carolina, along with a 10-year, 420,000 metric-ton-per-year off-take contract.
The U.K. Renewable Energy Association has announced a government official has acknowledged that the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will soften changes introduced to tariffs for certain biomass combined-heat-and-power plants.
In honor of the Fourth Annual Bioenergy Day, more than 40 organizations across the United States and Canada opened their doors on Oct. 19 to local residents and stakeholders, inviting them to learn more about biobased power, thermal and fuels.
VTT develops combustion technologies for biomass
By VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
October 18, 2016
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is seeking a carbon capture technology for Finnish power and heat production plants. The first pilots were implemented, using wood pellets, at VTT's Bioruukki and the results are promising.
American Biomass acquires Okanagan Wood Pellets from Viridis
By American Biomass Corporation Inc.
October 18, 2016
American Biomass Corporation Inc. has completed its purchase of Okanagan Wood Pellets from Viridis Energy, Inc. With this acquisition, Okanagan brand pellets will be available this fall to retailers exclusively from American Biomass.
Pöyry Management Consulting released a point of view report this month, considering the role of coal in a lower-carbon economy. Pöyry makes the argument that the future role of coal in the global energy mix must include cofiring with biomass.
In 2015, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction secured a contract from Korea South-East Power to convert the Yeongdong Thermal Power Plant Unit 1 to biomass. That conversion project is currently under way, with completion expected early next year.
FutureMetrics LLC released a white paper with estimates of industrial wood pellet tonnage demand and spot prices. The tonnage estimates are based on optimistic scenarios for cofiring or full-firing wood pellets in large pulverized coal power.
EIA predicts increase in wood heating this winter
October 14, 2016
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the October edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, along with its Winter Fuels Outlook, predicting household expenditures related to heating will increase this winter.
The December issue of Biomass Magazine is already underway, themed conversions, colocations and integrations.
Aeon Energy provides torrefaction equipment to WWD
By Aeon Energy Solutions Inc
October 13, 2016
Aeon Energy Solutions Inc. announces that Western Wood Development LLC, a Northern California-based company, has fully committed to using Konza Renewable Fuel as the base torrefaction technology for its torrefied pellet product.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Bioenergy Technologies Office has established the Agile BioFoundry, a new consortium of nine Energy Department national laboratories working to standardize and streamline the entire biomanufacturing pipeline.
Located in the thinly populated, heavily forested North Maine Woods, Ashland, Maine, is home to Northeast Pellets' mill, which can now ramp up production for the heating season fortified with a new contract with the University of Maine at Fort Kent.
Logistec opens warehouses to handle pellets at Brunswick Terminal
By Logistec Corp.
October 10, 2016
Logistec Corp. has announced the opening of its newly built bulk warehouses in Brunswick, Georgia. The update included an overhaul of the bulk load-out system, construction of a new ship loader, and significant upgrades to the conveyor system.
Studstrup Power Station now fueled by wood pellets
By DONG Energy
October 10, 2016
One of the biggest biomass-fueled combined-heat-and-power (CHP) stations in the world is located in Denmark's second largest city, Aarhus. The Studstrup Power Station began to use wood pellets instead of coal as fuel on Oct. 10.
The Biogenic CO2 Coalition has launched a grassroots campaign to urge the U.S. EPA to remove its regulatory roadblock to the development of the emerging bioeconomy. The coalition has also sent letters to 2016 presidential candidates.
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