On March 3, the U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change launched a consultation on reforms to the Renewable Heat Incentive.
The USDA recently published a fact sheet highlighting its investments in rural America, including several related to sparking innovation in America's bioeconomy to support the development of biomanufacturing and advanced biofuels.
The European Commission is seeking public input on its post-2020 sustainable bioenergy policy. The three-month consultation period began Feb. 10 and concludes May 10. Those who wish to weigh in are asked to complete a nine-part online survey.
On Feb. 24, the House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing on the state of the rural economy featuring testimony by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Biofuels and bioenergy were among the topics discussed during the nearly three-hour event.
In Search of Greatness
March 03, 2016
Every year since 2012, Biomass Magazine and BBI International have given out two awards at the International Biomass Conference & Expo: the Groundbreaker of the Year Award, and the Excellence in Bioenergy Award.
Vermont program to support switch to pellet boilers expands
By Northern Forest Center
March 02, 2016
The Northern Forest Center is expanding a program that helps Vermonters switch to high-efficiency wood pellet boilers to provide heat for homes, businesses and other properties in the Northeast Kingdom.
Sumitomo invests in Cosan's sugarcane pellet business
By Sumitomo Corp.
March 01, 2016
Sumitomo Corp. recently signed a contract to acquire up to 20 percent of Cosan Biomassa S.A., a subsidiary of Cosan S.A.Industria e Comercio, and producer of sugarcane pellets for power generation.
The U.S. EPA has scheduled a public meeting of the chartered Science Advisory Board March 31-April 1. During the meeting, the SAB is expected to conduct a quality review of a draft report on the accounting framework for biogenic carbon emissions.
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced an open meeting of its Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee is scheduled for March 8-9 in Arlington, Virginia.
In February, U.K.-based NERA Economic Consulting and Imperial College prepared an analysis for Drax that makes the case for allowing biomass conversion to compete for contracts for difference (CfD).
National Trust: Former home of Shell Oil chairman goes green
By National Trust
February 26, 2016
U.K.-based National Trust has announced its first completed Renewable Energy Investment Programme project, Upton House, Warwickshire, has made the switch from oil to a renewable energy heating system.
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have identified regions in the United States where bioenergy crops would grow best while minimizing effects on water quantity and quality.
The Biomass Research and Development Board, an interagency collaboration composed of senior decision-makers from federal agencies and the White House, recently published a report, titled “Federal Activities Report on the Bioeconomy.�
Despite a tough year influenced by severe deterioration of the commodities market and a challenging regulatory environment, Drax had a very good operational year and stands ready to convert more units to biomass, said CEO Dorothy Thompson.
Risk Abated
February 25, 2016
Risk drives project developers to more carefully consider every aspect of a project, identify potential problems within it, and develop and deploy measures to protect against them whenever possible.
A report released to the European Union Directorate-General for Energy, titled “Carbon impacts of biomass consumed in the EU: quantitative assessment,� confirms using bioenergy has significant carbon savings and can reduce greenhouse emissions.
RusForest reports startup of Russian pellet mill
February 24, 2016
On Feb. 22, Sweden-based RusForest released preliminary fourth quarter results, announcing its 30,000-ton-per-year pellet mill in in Magistralny, Russia, began operations during the final quarter of last year.
Despite a challenging quarter that saw a 10 percent decrease in net sales, Astec Industries President and CEO Benjamin Brock said the future of Astec is bright, and highlighted pellet plant quoting as an active area in its business.
FutureMetrics published a white paper on why opponents to the Clean Power Plan should change their minds. Amongst the reasons is a demonstration why cofiring industrial wood pellets with coal should be part of a plan to a more decarbonized future.
Pellet Capacity Shake Out
February 23, 2016
Challenging market conditions and the realities of bringing large production facilities to nameplate capacity are thinning a once-crowded pellet project development herd.
Preventing Pellet Plant Failures
By John Swaan
February 23, 2016
The apparent simplicity of making wood pellets has and continues to cause many project developers to fail to incorporate the knowledge, skills and wisdom gained from experience into the plant designs and operations protocols.
Utilizing Urban Wood Waste
By Meghan Martin
February 22, 2016
As efforts to conserve and recycle natural resources increase, urban wood waste utilization projects are becoming more popular in cities across the U.S.
Louisiana pellet mill files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
February 22, 2016
On Feb. 18, subsidiaries of German Pellets associated with its Louisiana-based pellet plant filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy petitions with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana.
Enviva reports strong operational performance in 2015
February 19, 2016
Despite challenging market conditions in the broader energy sector, Enviva LP completed 2015 with continued strong operating performance, said Chairman and CEO John Keppler during the company's Q4 2015 and year-end financial earnings call.
Tour a New Biogas Plant
February 19, 2016
Biomass Magazine recently launched registration for the International Biomass Conference & Expo tour sites; one of the destinations is Blue Sphere Corp.'s new 5.2-MW biogas plant in Charlotte, North Carolina.
On Feb. 18, Pellet Fuels Institute hosted a webinar on its standards program, with information tailored to pellet retailers in order to familiarize participants with the program and why it matters to customers.
Rhode Island bill aims to extend RES program
February 19, 2016
Legislation recently introduced in Rhode Island aims to extend the state's renewable energy standard (RES) through 2035. The program, originally established in 2014, currently ramps up renewable energy use through 2020.
Forest Fuels acquires Lakes Biomass
By Forest Fuels
February 18, 2016
U.K.-based Forest Fuels has broadened its network of high-quality local wood-fuel-distribution depots by purchasing established Cumbrian operator Lakes Biomass, which delivers kiln-dried logs, kindling, woodchip, and pellets to customers.
The U.S. EPA's Science Advisory Board is continuing its work to complete a biogenic carbon emissions framework. On Feb. 8, the SAB's Biogenic Carbon Emissions Panel posted an updated draft report to the EPA's website.
U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change recently published reports demonstrating over 80 percent of applicants to the renewable heat incentive are satisfied with their new systems, such as biomass boilers, to promote renewable heat generation.
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