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Date: 2013-05-02
Rentech, Inc. today announced the acquisition of Augusta, Georgia-based Fulghum Fibres, Inc. (Fulghum Fibres) and the acquisition of two facilities for conversion to the production of wood pellets in Ontario, Canada, along with contracts for the sale and transport of more than four million metric tons of wood pellets over ten years. These steps position Rentech to develop a world class wood processing business for production of high-quality wood chips and pellets. Rentech expects these investments to be funded from cash on hand, expected distributions from Rentech Nitrogen, and investments from a joint venture partner. Fulghum Fibres is expected to have approximately $10 million of operating income and $20 million of EBITDA in calendar year 2013, consistent with its stable financial history. The net purchase price, including assumed debt, is $112 million. The company, founded nearly 25 years ago, has been consistently profitable and maintains a solid reputation as a producer of high quality wood chips and other services to a diversified customer base in the pulp and paper industries in the U.S., South America and Asia. The acquisition provides Rentech with immediate stable cash flow with growth opportunities, and a platform to launch into the growing and complementary global wood pellet industry. The acquisition also brings with it a joint venture with Graanul Invest, a large European producer of pellets, for the development and construction of pellet plants in the U.S. and Canada. Take-or-pay contracts are in place with two utilities to supply a combined total of 445,000 metric tons of wood pellets annually over ten years. To supply the pellets, Rentech plans to convert two decommissioned wood fibre mills in Eastern Canada into pellet mills that will employ a total of approximately 65 full-time employees and help to create jobs for construction and wood supply from sustainable Crown forests in Ontario. These two facilities are expected to generate $3 million of operating income and $15 million of EBITDA when fully operational, with combined total project cost estimated at $70 million. Rentech has contracted for the handling and transport of the pellets. The two plants would make Rentech the largest producer of industrial wood pellets utilizing fibre from Eastern Canada, a source of supply that is highly desired due to its location and wood quality. (Source: Wawa-News, 2 May, 2013)
Date: 2013-04-29
In the UK, biomass boiler technology provider Rural Energy has unveiled a new cutting-edge management system on all of its small and medium-sized biomass boilers as part of its partnership with leading European manufacturer Herz. The new Herz T-Control provides an interactive way of managing the functionality of biomass boilers. The operational performance of the Rural Energy Herz boiler can be controlled with a touch of the user-friendly screen.
The high-tech controller is being provided on all future Herz pellet and chip boilers up to 300 kW supplied by Rural Energy, from the end of April. T-Control means the system can also be remotely monitored. (Source: Rural Energy, H&VNews, April 24, 2013) Contact: Rural Energy, http://www.rural-energy.eu; Myriad CEG, www.myriadceg.com
Tags Biomass news, Wood Pellet news, Woody Biomass news,
Date: 2013-04-24
The demand for wood pellets in Europe has risen dramatically over the past few years as European power companies have switched from fossil fuels to renewable energy alternatives. Importation of pellets from North America increased over 60 percent from 2011 to 2012 with the US export volumes more than doubling, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review.
The North American wood pellet export industry has grown exponentially in a relatively short period of time. The export value has increased from an estimated $40 million in 2004 to almost $400 million in 2012.
Woody biomass and wood pellets have attracted both increased attention and investments in a number of European countries. With limited domestic wood raw-material sources, the UK, Belgium, Netherlands and others have increasingly relied on the importation of industrial wood pellets to reduce coal consumption at some of their power utilities. The relatively high costs for wood pellets in Europe have resulted in increased interest in importing pellets from British Columbia and the U.S. southern states where wood raw-material costs are lower than in Europe. A record volume of 3.2 million tons of pellets was exported from North America to Europe in 2012, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review www.woodprices.com. From the US South, shipments were up over hundred percent compared to 2011, while Canadian exports increased 25 percent year-over-year.
The expansion of pellet production has been particularly noteworthy in the US South where there have been
14 new pellet plants that are either new or planning to expand production in the coming year. Location and
capacity of the new plants are reported in the latest issue of NAWFR. Source: NAWFR, Wood Resources International LLC, 23 April, 2013) Contact: Wood Resources International, Hakan Ekstrom, (425) 402-8809, [email protected], www.wri-ltd.com
Tags Wood Pellet news, Wood Biomass news,
Date: 2013-04-19
In Maine, heating efficiency and weatherization programs could be slashed in favor of cutting electricity rates for select industries if LD 1425, An Act to Create Affordable Heating Options for Maine Residents and Reduce Business Energy Costs legislation becomes law. The bill would divert Efficiency Maine Trust revenues to the Maine PUC which would be authorized to provide rebates against electricity expenses for targeted businesses and industries. The bill does not specify how much revenue would be diverted nor which businesses or industries it would benefit.
The Efficiency Maine Trust helps Maine residents with weatherization and energy-efficiency projects in their homes and businesses. It also helps fund conversions from oil to cheaper forms of heating fuels such as wood pellets and others.
The Efficiency Maine Trust is funded primarily through a "system benefit charge" assessed on all Maine electricity ratepayers and proceeds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Efficiency Maine spent nearly $24 million on its programs, which was matched by about $36 million in participant contributions. The organization estimated those expenditures created a "lifetime energy benefit" in excess of $128 million.
(Source: Efficiency Maine Trust, Bangor Daily News, 18 April, 2013) Contact: Efficiency Maine Trust, (866) 376-2463, www.efficiencymaine.com
Tags Energy Efficiency news, Energy Efficiency Rebate news,
Date: 2013-04-15
In Denmark, the capital city of Copenhagen and heat companies Centralkommunernes Transmissionsselskab I/S (CTR), VEKS and DONG Energy have sealed a deal that will convert the city's Avedore power station's Unit 2 to burn 100 percent wood pellets. The agreement will cover a period up to and including 2027.
The cost of the expansion and conversion to biomass pellets will total almost $17 million, and is expected to reduce CO2 emissions from Copenhagen's the heat supply by just over 10 percent a year from 2015. (Source: City of Copenhagen, Cogeneration & OnSite Power, 9 April, 2013)
Tags Wood Biomass news, Wood Pellet news,
Date: 2013-03-22
German utility E.ON reports that it is set to begin operating a second biomass conversion unit at its Ironbridge power plant in Britain. Unit 1 at the old Ironbridge coal-fired power plant will start generating biomass-fueled electricity at 300 MW on Saturday. Unit 2, which was also converted from coal to wood pellets, has been operating at the same capacity since February 21.
At the end of January, Ironbridge had just over 11,000 hours of operating time remaining until the end of 2015. E.ON does not plan to re-license the station as a biomass plant to allow it to run beyond 2015 due to the high investment costs required,according to the company.
Rival RWE npower (RWEG.DE) converted its Tilbury coal-fired plant to biomass in 2012 and has applied for a new licence to operate the station longer.
Tilbury's operating hours are expected to expire in October and unless it is granted a new permit, it will have to shut down at that time.
Last week, Scottish Power shut down its 1,200-MW Cockenzie coal-fired station and RWE npower will close its 2,000-MW Didcot A plant near Oxford later this week. (Source: E.ON, Reuters, 18 Mar. 2013)
Contact: RWE npower, www.npower.com
Tags Biomass news,
Date: 2013-03-18
Foster Wheeler AG's Global Power Group subsidiary has been awarded a contract by GS E&C to design and supply one circulating fluidized-bed (CFB) steam generator for the South Korean Dangjin 4 Biomass Power Plant Project for GS EPS, a subsidiary of GS Group. Foster Wheeler has received a full notice to proceed on this contract. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed and the contract value will be included in the company's first quarter 2013 bookings. Commercial operation of the new steam generator is scheduled for third quarter 2015.
Foster Wheeler will design and supply the 105 MWe (gross megawatt electric) CFB steam generator and auxiliary equipment for the boiler island, including a Foster Wheeler baghouse for flue gas cleaning. The steam generator will burn palm kernel shells with co-firing of coal, and wood pellets as back-up fuel. (Source: Foster Wheeler, Benzinga, 15 Mar., 2013)
Contact: Foster Wheeler, www.fxc.com
Tags Foster Wheeler news,
Date: 2013-03-18
Wood pellet manufacturer New Biomass Energy LLC has shuttered its Bumpass, Louisa County Virginia pellet plant leaving a team of 40 unemployed. The company cited "financial reasons" for the unexpected closure. The company purchased the plant almost four years ago. (Source: Central Virginian, WINA News Radio, 15 Mar., 2013) Contact: Biomass Energy LLC, (540) 872-3300, wwww.newbiomass.com
Tags Biomass Energy LLC news, Wood Pellet news,
Date: 2013-03-06
Abbotsford, B.C.-based Biomass Secure Power Inc.s' wholly-owned subsidiary Biomass Power Louisiana LLC, has secured a six month option to lease a site for the construction of a proposed wood pellet plant in Louisiana. The plant will be built in four phases over several years. The scopes for phase one will be released for tender April 2013 and construction is expected to commence summer 2013.
Phase one consists of three production lines each capable of producing 340,000 tpy of biomass pellets. When phase 1 is complete the company will have the capacity to produce one million tonnes of pellets per year. (Source: Biomass Secure Power, heraldonline.com, 5 Mar., 2013) Contact: Jim Carroll, President and CEO, Biomass Secure Power Inc, (604) 807-4957, www.biomasssecurepower.ca
Tags Wood Pellet news, Biomass Secure Power news,
Date: 2013-03-01
Futher to our February, 8, 2012 coverage, Vancouver, B.C.-based Viridis Energy Inc. announced on Wednesday that it completed a debt restructuring of about $5.7 million with New Jersey-headquartered investor Cornwall Investments LLC. The agreement allows Viridis to forgo principal and interest payments until after the company restarts its Scotia Atlantic Biomass Company Ltd. wood pellet plant in Middle Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia.
A significant portion of Viridis' debt relates to its 2012, $2.4 million purchase of the former Enlingna Canada Inc. pellet plant which it renamed Scotia Atlantic Biomass Company Ltd. A portion of the company's remaining debt relates to its $3 million purchase of the Okanagan Pellet Company in British Columbia. (Source: Viridis, Halifax Herald, Feb. 28, 2013) Contact: Viridis Energy, Christopher Robertson, CEO, (604) 739-9973, www.viridisenergy.ca
Tags Viridis Energy news, Wood Pellet news,
Date: 2013-02-04
Quitman, Mississippi-based New Biomass Energy LLC has made its third, 4,000 ton transatlantic bulk shipment of torrefied wood pellets to Europe where it will be used as fuel in coal-fired power plants. The company's Quitman plant can produce a variety of biomass pellets ranging from premium industrial wood pellets to high-energy torrefied pellets.
The plant is currently being expanded to increase its capacity to between 150,000 and 250,000 tpy, depending on the energy density of the pellets produced. New Biomass Energy is building additional plants to increase its production capacity. (Source: New Biomass Energy, PR, Jan. 29, 2013) Contact:
http://www.newbiomass.com
Tags Pellets news, Torrefied Wood Pellets news, Biomass news,
Date: 2013-01-29
Rapid expansion of wood pellet production in both the US South and British Columbia has dramatically increased pellet exports from North America to Europe the past year, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review. In the 3Q/12, total shipments were up 70 percent year-over-year to 860,000 tons. The growth is expected to continue with numerous plans for adding capacity, particularly in the US South. (Source: Wood Resources International LLC, Jan. 29, 2013) Hakan Ekstrom Wood Resources International LLC Seattle, USA Track sawlog, biomass, wood chip and pulpwood prices in North America - subscribe to the North American Wood Fiber Review www.woodprices.com [email protected]
Date: 2013-01-07
Drax Biomass International Inc. will build a 450,000-metric tpy wood pellet production facility in Gloster, Amite County, MIssissippi. The facility, to be known as Amite BioEnergy, represents a substantial multi-million dollar investment by the company and will create 45 direct jobs, as well as additional indirect jobs during construction and in the transportation and forestry sectors once the plant is operational.
The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) provided assistance for road and infrastructure needs related to the project. The Town of Gloster and Amite County also assisted with infrastructure work and Entergy Mississippi also supported the project.
Drax Biomass is a development and operating company focused on manufacturing wood pellets from sustainable biomass for renewable, low-carbon power generation. The company is a wholly-owned United States subsidiary of Drax Group plc, a major UK electricity generator committed to producing renewable power. (Source: Drax Biomass, Mississippi Link, Jan. 4, 2013) Contact: Drax Biomass, +44 (0)1757 618381, www.draxpower.com
Tags Drax Biomass news, Wood Pellet news,
Date: 2013-01-04
The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources has launched a new $100,000 pilot incentive program to assist residents in trading their inefficient wood, wood pellet or coal-burning stoves for safer, higher-efficiency models.
Residents who qualify for the program, which is a partnership between the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the state, will receive a voucher of either $1,000 or $2,000 to replace older non-EPA certified stove models with high efficiency stoves that use less wood and release less air pollution.
Until Jan. 17, the program will be open only to low-income residents who provide proof of enrollment in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, MassHealth or the Women, Infants and Children program, Sylvia said. Those participants will be eligible for a $2,000 voucher.
After Jan. 17, the program will open up to all eligible residents who have a qualifying wood stove to trade in. They will receive vouchers for $1,000. The state program is for $100,000 and those wanting to participate will have to apply for a voucher online at www.masscec.com/woodstove. Funding for this program comes from the 2010 Alternative Compliance Payments (ACP) Spending Plan. ACPs are paid by electric retail suppliers if they have insufficient Renewable Energy Certificates to meet their compliance obligations under the Renewable Portfolio Standard programs. (Source: Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, masslive.com, Jan. 2, 2013) Contact: Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, Mark Sylvia, Commissioner, (617) 626-7300, www.mass.gov/doer; Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Patrick Cloney, Exec. Dir., (617) 315-9355, www.masscec.com
Tags Energy Efficiency news, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources news, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center news,
Date: 2013-01-02
With an estimated (2012) turnover of €1.1 billion -- a ten percent increase compared to 2011 -- juwi Group reports that in 2013 it will focus on its core renewable energy businesses and consolidation. With 2,500 realized renewable energy projects and a total of 2,500 megawatts of installed capacity, juwi Group-built renewable energy plants generate enough power to supply about 1.5 million households annually.
In 2012, juwi withdrew from or reduced some business activities, including the business segments Palaterra and the development of wood-fired power plants and wood pelleting plants. The company also plans to reduce its biogas business activities as part of its consolidation plans.
"Our projections
indicate that the total turnover of the juwi group will increase linearly to €1.5 billion by
2015", says juwi Group CFO Martin Winter.
In the future, the company's German and international wind and solar project development business will contribute the most to the company's total turnover. (Source: juwi, Press Release, Dec. 28, 2012) Contact: juwi Holding AG, Michael Lohr, Press Officer,
+49 (0)6732. 96 57-1207,
[email protected], www.juwi.de
Tags juwi news, Wind news, Renewable Energy news,
Date: 2012-12-19
UK-based Drax Biomass International Inc. has announced its plans for three projects in the Gulf region. In the first half of 2013, Drax Biomass expects to begin construction of two pellet manufacturing plants in Louisiana and Mississippi, as well as a port storage and loading facility at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge.
The manufacturing facilities, Amite BioEnergy in Gloster, Miss., and Morehouse BioEnergy in Morehouse Parish, La. will have a combined production capacity of 900,000 mtpy and are expected to be fully operational im 2014.
Both Louisiana and Mississippi state economic development agencies have provided financial incentives. (Source: Drax Biomass Int'l, 17 Dec., 2012)
Contact: Drax Biomass, +44 (0)1757 618381, www.draxpower.com
Tags Wood Pellet news, Woody Biomass news, Drax Biomass news,
Date: 2012-12-14
U.K.-based Drax Biomass plans to invest more than $120 million to build a wood pellet facility in Bastrop and a storage-and-shipping facility at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Drax will ship wood pellets formed at the plant to its U.K. energy facilities for use in generating renewable power. The company will utilize 169,000 acres of timberland in Morehouse Parish as well as local forestry by-products.
The State of Louisiana provided Drax with a $1.7 million Economic Development Loan Program non-repayable loan. (Start: Area Dev. Online, Dec. 13, 2012) Contact: Drax Biomass, +44 (0)1757 618381, www.draxpower.com
Tags Drax Biomass news, Woody Biomass news, BiomassPellets news,
Date: 2012-11-30
The New Hampshire PUC will fund a former federal wood pellet and woody biomass boiler stimulus program with $450,000 from the state's Renewable Energy Fund. Under the program -- the only one of its kind in the country -- the PUC will rebate the installation cost of fully automated and complete wood pellet boiler heating systems, to a maximum of $6,000.
This is the second go-round for the program, which was first funded in 2010 with $450,000 in federal stimulus money from the New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning. The new $450,000 in funding will come from penalties that utilities pay the state if they fail meet requirements to provide an increasing percentage of energy from renewable sources.
By 2025, 23.8 percent of the energy must come from renewable sources. The law was recently relaxed to allow a larger percentage of that standard to be supplied via bio-fuels, like wood pellets (Source: NH PUC, New Hampshire Business Review, 29 Nov., 2012) Contact: NH PUC, (603) 271-2431, www.puc.state.nh.us
Tags New Hampshire PUC news, Wood Biomass news,
Date: 2012-11-16
Enviva LP, a supplier of wood pellets and other processed biomass fuel, has closed on a $120 million Senior Secured Credit Facility, the company's first corporate borrowing. Barclays Bank PLC, Goldman Sachs Bank USA and Royal Bank of Canada served as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Runners.
The proceeds of the debt offering will be used to complete the construction of two new 500,000 mtpy pellet mills, one each in Virginia and North Carolina, and to increase the company's storage capacity at the deep-water port terminal in Chesapeake, Virginia to approximately 100,000 metric tons. This construction and expansion will complement Enviva's existing manufacturing base and large operating footprint in the mid-Atlantic, Mississippi and Alabama.
(Source: Enviva, PR, Nov. 14, 2012) Contact: Enviva, Steve Reeves, Exec. VP, CFO,
Tags Enviva Systems news, Biomass news, Wood Pellet news,
Date: 2012-11-09
Atlanta-based Enova Energy Corp's proposed $100 million wood pellet plant northeast of Macon in Central Georgia has won approval from the Middle Georgia Regional Commission.
When fully operational, the plant would employ approximately 70 workers and use locally-sourced woody biomass to produce pellets for export to European power producers. (Source: Enova Energy, Nov, 2012) Contact: Enova Energy Group, (404) 881-5441, www.enovaenergygroup.com
Tags Enova Energy news, Woody Biomass news, Wood Pellet news,
Date: 2012-11-09
The Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IRA) has received nearly $100,000 from the USDA to help expand use of bio-mass for home heating. The funding will allow the IRA to examine why homeowners make the decision to use biomass heating.
According to the IRA, rural users may be attracted by the price which is usually lower than Liquid Petroleum or other fuels.
Urban Customers, on the other hand, are more attracted to woody biomass' environmental benefits and, unlike wind or solar sources, it's reliability . The Center says that most homes that heat with biomass use conventional "round wood" stoves, rather than pellets.
The IRA says that furnace and bio-mass pellet producers could use the data from the survey to market furnaces that use crop residue and switch grass. (Source: Tri-State Public Radio, 7 Nov., 2012)
Contact: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, www.iira.org
Tags Wood Pellet news, Wood Biomass news,
Date: 2012-10-22
In the UK, London-headquartered Land Energy's new multi-million pound wood pellet production plant in Girvan, Ayrshire, Scotland, is now fully operational. The facility has the capacity to manufacture 60,000 tpy of wood pellets using locally-sourced timber from sustainable forests and sawmills within a 50-mile radius of the plant. The plant's biomass-fired combined heat and power (CHP) system can generate 2.3MW of renewable power and 10MW of heat. (Source: Land Energy, Bioenergy Insight, Oct. 19. 2012) Contact: Land Energy, John Westmacott, +44 (0) 20 7440 9570, www.land-energy.com
Tags Wood Pellet news, Biomass news,
Date: 2012-10-12
In the UK, London-based start-up GN Energy Holdings has acquired wood fuel specialist Forest Fuels on undisclosed terms. Forest Fuels consults on and supplies wood chip and pellet fuels throught the UK from a network of 15 local depots, supported by a central office and customer service team. The company also provides local fuel to local boilers, which reduces the haulage costs and carbon emissions.
GN Energy incorporates Forest Fuels as a wholly owned subsidiary. GN is also acquiring GG Eco Solutions, a leading UK-based renewable energy supplier to the educational, industrial and commercial sectors. Both businesses will continue to focus on growth within their own market sectors. (Source: GN Energy Solutions, Oct. 10, 2012) Contact: GN Energy Holdings, Goran Nylin, Chairman, +44 (0) 1223 651415: Forest Fuels, www.forestfuels.co.uk
Tags Wood Pellet news, Forest Fuel news,
Date: 2012-10-10
With the expansion of wood pellet production capacity in the US South over the past few years, the US, for the first time, has surpassed Canadian pellet exports to become the world's largest wood pellet exporter. US export volumes are forecast to climb from an estimated 1.5 million tons in 2012 to 5.7 million tons in 2015, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review. (Source: Wood Resources Int'l, Oct.10, 2012) Contact: Hakan Ekstrom, Wood Resources International, (425) 402-8809, [email protected], www.wri-ltd.com
Tags Wood Pellet news, Wood Resources INternational news,
Date: 2012-10-08
In North Lincolnshire, UK, Centrica PLC plans to build a wood pellet burning biomass plant that would generate enough electricity to power 200,000 homes. The company plans to burn imported pellets.
The company has not revealed the cost of the plant, which it said would create 50 long-term posts and generate up to 500 jobs during the construction phase.
(Source: Brigg Centrica, BBC Humberside, Oct. 5, 2012) Contact: Brigg Centrica, www.centrica.com/briggbiomass
Tags Woody Biomass news, Wood Pellet news,
Date: 2012-09-24
Atlanta-Georgia-based renewable energy project developer Enova Energy Group subsidiary Enova Wood Pellet Group LLC will build three wood pellet projects in Georgia and South Carolina beginning in the first quarter of 2012. The plants will produce wood pellets to be used as a renewable fuel for export to the European Union under long term contracts with public and private utilities.
The facilities will each produce 450,000 metric tons for a total 1.35 million metric tons by 2014 from the facilities to be exported out of Savannah, Ga. The wood pellet projects are expected to cost $330 million and Enova will meet 80 percent of this with debt. (Source: Enova Energy Group, Sept. 21, 2012) Contact: Enova Energy Group, (404) 881-5441, www.enovaenergygroup.com
Tags Enova Energy news, Wood Pellet news,
Date: 2012-09-19
California-based General Biofuels offshoot General Biofuels Georgia is building a $60 million plant that will make wood pellets in central Georgia. Production is slated to begin in 2014. The plant will be based in Sandersville, 30 miles southeast of Milledgeville, and will employ 35 workers.
The company plans to produce 440,000 tons of wood pellets made from local timber each year for a European utility that will use the pellets to generate electricity.
(Source: General Biofuels, AP News, Sept. 18, 2012)
Contact: General Biofuels, (650) 989-6800, [email protected], www.generalbiofuels.com
Tags General Biofuels news, Wood Pellets news,
Date: 2012-09-04
According to the North American Wood Fiber Review, prices for woody biomass in the US, whether sawmill by-products, forest residues or urban wood waste, have been sliding for most of the past three years, but were still higher late in 2011 in most regions than they were five years ago.
In the 2Q/12, woody biomass prices were down between 2-10 percent in the key biomass-consuming regions, the US South, Northeast and in the West as compared to the 1Q/12. In the US Northwest and California there continues to be a substantial price discrepancy between mill biomass and forest biomass, but this price difference is minimal in the US South. During 2011, natural gas prices fell about 45 percent in the US and the lower prices have reduced the urgency for investing in woody biomass projects in the country. However, despite the plunging natural gas prices, plans for more facilities utilizing woody biomass continued during 2011 and 2012 in both Canada and the US, with some projects nearing completion and others in start-up mode.
Wood fiber demand for all planned biomass projects in the US dropped in the first half of 2012 as compared to early 2011. Most of the decrease in wood usage the past year has been that wood used in the generation of electricity for the domestic market in the US, while the pellet industry has continuously expanded capacity to serve the growing demand in Europe.
The US had about 450 announced and operating woody bioenergy projects in the spring of 2012, including wood pellets, liquid fuel, electricity-generation and combined heat and power (CHP). The projected wood fiber use for all planned biomass projects is estimated to reach just over 30 million dry tons of fiber annually by 2020, according to Forisk. (Source:
Hakan Ekstrom's Instablogs Sept. 3, 2012) Contact: Hakan Ekstrom, Wood Resources International, (425) 402-8809, [email protected],
www.wri-ltd.com
Tags Wood Resources International news, Woody Biomass news, Ekstrom news,
Date: 2012-08-06
Last week, the USDA Forest Service announced $4 million in grants for renewable wood energy projects that will provide 20 small businesses, tribes and community groups with the technical engineering and design services they need to explore the installation of wood heat and electricity projects.
The Forest Service is facing challenges associated with drought, wildfire, invasive species and unprecedented outbreaks of insects and disease. In 2012, the Forest Service estimated that between 65 and 82 million acres of national forests and grasslands are in urgent need of restoration -- more than four out of every 10 acres. Working collaboratively with partners and stakeholders, the Forest Service announced a schedule to boost restoration and thinning programs by 20 percent each year in areas that face the greatest danger of a catastrophic fire. It is hoped that some of these program bi-products can be use for the production of electricity.
One of the recently announced grants will help Nulato, Alaska, design a wood-heating system to serve the local school and water plant. In Tahola, Washington, another grant will help the Quinault Indian Nation design a thermal woody-biomass-fired energy system to serve their community facilities. In Superior, Montana, a wood pellet boiler has the potential to lower energy costs at the Mineral County Hospital.
(Source: USDA Blog, Aug. 3, 2012) Contact: U.S. Forest Service, www.fs.fed.us
Tags Woody Biomass news, US Forest Service news,
Date: 2012-08-03
A $250,000 USDA grant to Southern Oregon University in Ashland could lead to a 1.2 megawatt woody biomass co-generation system on the university campus. If built, the power plant could generate 100 percent of the current campus electrical need and 70 percent of SOU's heat. The grant will pay for a study to determine the feasibility of using slash and other byproducts from nearby forests, wood pellets or other biomass fuel to generate heat and electricity on the Ashland campus. The study will also confirm that the recommended system will meet Department of Environmental Quality and other regulatory agency requirements.
According to SOU Facilities Management and Planning Director Drew Gilliland, the timing is right for SOU to consider a new energy system. "Two of our four steam heat boilers are nearing the end of their useful life. If we were to make this change, the remaining two boilers would be converted to back up heat generation when needed,"Gilliland said.
As part of the study, SOU will engage the community in a discussion on producing local energy through co-generation. He estimates the construction cost of a woody-biomass plant on campus would be approximately $12 million. (Source: SOU, 2 Aug., 2012) Contact: SOU,
Jim Beaver,
(541) 552-6093,
[email protected], www.sou.edu
Tags Woody Biomass news,
Date: 2012-08-01
The US Coast Guard (USCG) entered into an inter-agency agreement with the U.S. Forest Service to aid renewable energy ventures and to support forest products. The agreement will translate as further federal buy-in to the USDA's Southeast Alaska Investment strategy and is in line with the USCG's efforts in Alaska to shift to a renewable energy source, such as biomass wood pellets, for facilities heating.
Agency biomass expert Robert Deering and Dan Parrent, Manager of Forest Service Woody Biomass and Stewardship Program will work in collaboration with the Southeast Alaska forest products and renewable energy work groups of the USDA, the Alaska Energy Authority and the State Division of Forestry.
As per the agreement, Deering will work for the Tongass National Forest from October for a year. The State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and the Forest Service will fund Deering's position. A key deliverable for Deering under the agreement is to devise a strategy to convert oil heat to biomass and to commence execution of projects identified in the plan. Determining the drawbacks in regional logistics and manufacturing supply chain and addressing those drawbacks are the other reasons for the interagency agreement. (Source: U.S. Forset Service, July 31, 2012) Contact: U.S. Forest Service,
www.fs.usda.gov
Tags Woody Biomass news, Wood Pellet news, U.S. Forest Service news,
Date: 2012-07-30
Prices for woody biomass in the U.S., whether sawmill by-products, forest residues or urban wood waste, have been sliding for most of the past three years. but they were still higher late in 2011 in most regions than they were five years ago.
In the 2Q/12, woody biomass prices were down between 2 and 10 per cent in the key biomass-consuming regions, the U.S. South, Northeast and in the West, as compared to the 1Q/12. In the U.S. Northwest and California there continues to be a substantial price discrepancy between mill biomass and forest biomass, but this price difference is minimal in the U.S. South.
During 2011, natural gas prices fell about 45 per cent in the U.S. and the lower prices have reduced the urgency for investing in woody biomass projects in the country. However, despite the plunging natural gas prices, plans for more facilities utilizing woody biomass continued during 2011 and 2012 in both Canada and the U.S., with some projects nearing completion and others in start-up mode.
Wood fiber demand for all planned biomass projects in the U.S. dropped in the first half of 2012 as compared to early 2011. Most of the decrease in wood usage the past year has been that wood used in the generation of electricity for the domestic market in the U.S., while the pellet industry has continuously expanded capacity to serve the growing demand in Europe. The U.S. had about 450 announced and operating woody bioenergy projects in the spring of 2012, including wood pellets, liquid fuel, electricity-generation and combined heat and power (CHP).
The projected wood fiber use for all planned biomass projects is estimated to reach just over 30 million dry tons of fiber annually by 2020, according to Forisk.
Commercial and residential energy consumers' interest in switching to more expensive green energy is likely to continue to be lukewarm as long as demand for energy is low and natural gas prices are their lowest levels in over 10 years.
Global timber market reporting is included in the 52-page quarterly publication Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ). The report, established in 1988 and with subscribers in over 25 countries, tracks sawlog, pulpwood, lumber and pellet prices and market developments in most key regions around the world. Information on WRQ can be found at www.woodprices.com (Source: Troy Media, July 28, 2012) Contact: Hakan Ekstrom, Wood Resources International, (425) 402-8809, [email protected], www.wri-ltd.com
Tags Woody Biomass news, Wood Resources International news,
Date: 2012-07-23
The North American Wood Fiber Review reports that adrop in demand for woody biomass in the US reduced biomass prices in the South, Northeast and the West during the 2Q/12. Prices for mill and forest biomass fell in most major consuming regions of the US in the 2Q/12, The main reason for the declining prices is the continued fall of natural gas prices to levels not seen in ten years.
Prices for woody biomass in the US, whether sawmill by-products, forest residues or urban wood waste, have been sliding for most of the past three years, but were still higher late in 2011 in most regions than they were five years ago, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review. In the 2Q/12, woody biomass prices were down between 2-10 percent in the key biomass-consuming regions, the US South, Northeast and in the West as compared to the 1Q/12. In the US Northwest and California there continues to be a substantial price discrepancy between mill biomass and forest biomass, but this price difference is minimal in the US South.
During 2011, natural gas prices fell about 45 percent in the US and the lower prices have reduced the urgency for investing in woody biomass projects in the country. However, despite the plunging natural gas prices, plans for more facilities utilizing woody biomass continued during 2011 and 2012 in both Canada and the US, with some projects nearing completion and others in start-up mode.
Wood fiber demand for all planned biomass projects in the US dropped in the first half of 2012 as compared to early 2011. Most of the decrease in wood usage the past year has been that wood used in the generation of electricity for the domestic market in the US, while the pellet industry has continuously expanded capacity to serve the growing demand in Europe.
The US had about 450 announced and operating woody bioenergy projects in the spring of 2012, including wood pellets, liquid fuel, electricity-generation and combined heat and power (CHP). The projected wood fiber use for all planned biomass projects is estimated to reach just over 30 million dry tons of fiber annually by 2020, according to Forisk.
The North American Wood Fiber Review has tracked wood fiber markets in the US and
Canada for over 20 years and it is the only publication that includes prices for sawlogs,
pulpwood, wood chips and biomass in North America. The 36-page quarterly report
includes wood market updates for 15 regions on the continent in addition to the latest
export statistics for sawlogs, wood pellets and wood chips. (Source: Wood Resources Int'l, PR, July 20, 2012)
Contact:
Wood Resources International LLC.,
Hakan Ekstrom, (425) 402-8809,
[email protected];
www.woodprices.com
Tags Woody Biomass news,
Date: 2012-06-08
Sydney, Nova Scotia-basedwood pellet manufacturer B.W. BioEnergy Inc. has received a $1.75 million repayable loan from the Canadian federal government's Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) to continue its work on biomass feedstock development. The company invested an additional $600,000 in the project. "It was an enabling event," said company president Barrie Fioleck. (Source: ACOA, PR, June 6, 2012) Contact: B.W. Bioenergy Inc., (902) 564-8474, www.bioenergyinc.ca
Tags Wood Pellet news,
Date: 2012-06-04
A wood pellet bio-fuel plant in Laurinburg, NC will be acquired by GreenWorld Development Inc. with $75 million in funding from U.S. and Middle East investors. GreenWorld plans to make improvements to the Laurinburg wood pellet plant and complete the of development of biomass and waste to energy pipeline projects. The effort is contingent on conclusion of the private placement investment.
GreenWorld Development, Inc. an American-Irish business, signed a binding agreement April 30 to acquire the Laurinburg wood pellet plant, operating as Natures Earth Pellet Energy LLC. for $16.5M. The plant has a production capacity of 120,000 metric tons of wood pellets and in excess of $20 million in annual revenues. (Source: Woodworking Network, 2 June, 2012)
Contact: GreenWorld, Leo J. Heinl, CEO, +353 (0) 45 865266, www.greenworld-global.com;
Nature's Earth Pellet Energy, LLC., (561) 688-7393, http://www.naturesearth.com
Tags Natures Earth news, GreenWorld news,
Date: 2012-04-27
According to a just released George Mason University study, pursuing a portfolio of renewable power sources to meet Virginia's energy needs through 2035 would create tens of thousands more jobs than relying on either coal or natural gas. The study released Wednesday was prepared for the Virginia Conservation Network, a coalition of environmental groups and renewable energy supporters.
The study was based on the 2010 Virginia Energy Plan, which projected a need for an additional 19,448 MW of demand over the next 25 years. Half of that demand can be met through biomass, solar and wind, offshore and onshore, the study concludes. According to Conservation Network executive director Nathan Lott, the study shows that renewable energy can be competitive with fossil fuels. "This is important for regulators and utilities that must plan today for a safe, reliable electricity system 20 and 30 years into the future," he said.
Researchers developed two scenarios in which energy demand was satisfied by a combination of renewable sources:
biomass, the burning of wood pellets made from sawdust and sawmill waste; solar and wind power.
Under the first scenario, demand met by 50 percent of biomass, 28 percent wind and 22 percent solar would create 172,328 jobs and generate a "gross state product" valued at $20.8 million.
The second scenario would trim biomass to 40 percent, up wind power to 51 percent and trim solar to 9 percent. That combination would create 107,890 jobs and generate $13 billion in gross state product.
Coal would create 43,442 jobs and a gross product valued at $5.3 billion, while natural gas would create 20,473 jobs and a gross state product of $2.5 billion.
On the flip side, the study notes, increased electricity generation from renewables would likely mean more costs to ratepayers because of capital costs.
(Source: Virginia Conservation Network, CBS, 25 April, 2012) Contact: Virginia Conservation Network, Nathan Lott, (804) 644-0283, www.vcnva.org
Date: 2012-03-21
UK-based bioenergy project developer Imperative Energy Ltd has agreed to an alliance with Washington-based Northline Energy that will offer fully financed biomass solutions to industrial and commercial customers under long-term energy supply agreements. The partners have lined up a project pipeline with more than $100 million (€76Mn) of capital expenditure over the next few years.
Imperative has also agreed to a proposal for a bio-park in Taunton, Massachusetts, that will include a biomass-fueled combined heat and power (CHP) plant, wood pellet manufacturing unit and biopharma facility. The park is based on a similar project, designed by Imperative and partner J P Prendergast in County Mayo, Ireland, and for which a planning application has been submitted recently. A feasibility study for the US bioenergy campus, which would be worth over $10 million, is underway.
(Source: Imperative Energy Ltd, March 19, 2012) Contact: Imperative Energy, Peter Doyle, +353 87 997 4581, [email protected], www.imperativeenergy.ie
Tags Imperative Energy news,
Date: 2012-03-16
Further to our Sept.. 9, 2011 coverage, Clenergen Corporation (otcqb:CRGE) has reached an agreement with Futenco AG to retain 100% ownership of its operating subsidiaries in Ghana, Guyana, and the Philippines. Given diverging strategic visions for regional and market development between the two companies, shareholders of both companies agreed that their best interests would be served by canceling the agreements that they signed on September 5, 2011. Demand for biomass fuel resources has increased exponentially recently, supported by countries across the globe, such as Germany and India, legislating cessation of nuclear energy production in the wake of the Japanese nuclear meltdown last year. Renewable energy sectors are increasingly operating under government mandated minimum production quotas. Therein, biomass is proving a demonstrably more efficient renewable source of fuel than either wind or solar.
Contributing to the surge in demand for biomass, major European coal fired power plants are answering calls from continental regulators to reduce emissions and meet obligations for biomass fuel use by increasing sourcing of co-firing wood pellets to 20% of total fuel supply sourced within five years. According to the EU Biomass Association, the EU will increase use of biomass consumption from 13 million tonnes annually today to 100 million tonnes by 2020. In North America, state and provincial level renewable portfolio standards are now mandating that utilities begin the process of embracing biomass in certain jurisdictions. It is possible that within several years, the U.S. biomass landscape may more closely resemble that of Europe.
In this context, Clenergen restructured its operations in 2011 and re-directed its focus to the cultivation of energy crops in each of Ghana, Guyana, and the Philippines to supply wood chips and off-grid power plants for captive end users, such as the mining companies, in an effort to expand global plantation footprint and engage pelletization companies for the export market. (Source: Clenergen, March 14, 2012)
Contact: Mark Quinn, Executive Chairman, Clenergen Corporation,(702) 784 5921, www.clenergen.com
Tags Clenergen news, Woody Biomass news,
Date: 2012-03-13
In the UK, on Monday the government Department of Energy and Climate Change approved a 150 megawatt (MW) biomass power plant to be developed in Bristol by utility E.ON, but the company said it was reviewing the project in light of a proposed cut in government subsidies four years from now. Developers say that government's plans to reduce subsidies for dedicated biomass plants -- which burn wood pellets and farm waste to produce power -- by 7 percent from April 2016 have made investment decisions harder. Proposals to cut biomass plant subsidies have jeopardized and already derailed some projects. But co-firing plants, burning biomass fuel and coal together, are slated to receive slightly higher incentives from 2013 under the banding review, due to be finalized this spring.
E.ON's planned new power station will burn imported wood pellets, energy crops and locally sourced waste wood to produce electricity.
The company declined to give a start date for the plant given the review proceedings.
Ministers have identified bioenergy as a key fuel source in helping achieve Britain's aim to source 15 percent of its overall energy from renewable sources by 2020.
Biomass has potential to provide 30 percent of that target, the government has said. (Source; E.ON, March 12, 2012) Contact: E.ON, www.eon.com
Tags E.ON news,
Date: 2012-02-20
Hillsborough, N.J.-based Primus Green Energy Ltd. has produced its first sample of renewable drop-in gasoline through a proprietary combination of biomass conversion technologies that transforms herbaceous and woody biomass, in conjunction with natural gas, into high-octane gasoline. The gasoline produced from the Primus technology, which is virtually indistinguishable from gasoline produced from fossil fuels, can be used directly in engines as a component of standard fuel formulas and does not require costly engine modifications, overhauls of the fuel delivery infrastructure or changes in consumer behavior.
Primus Green Energy produced fuel samples from a test plant, recently broke ground on an automated demonstration plant and is planning to break ground next year on a commercial plant in eastern Pennsylvania that will be designed to produce 4.8 million gpy of gasoline from wood pellets and non-food, herbaceous crops.
The easily scalable Primus Green Energy technology is a proprietary combination of industry-proven methodologies and processes. The front end consists of biomass gasification and the back end, the "STG Plus" (syngas-to-green) gasoline process, is Primus Green Energy's proprietary version of an established fuel synthesis technology.
Primus Green Energy is funded by IC Green Energy, the renewable energy investment arm of publicly traded Israel Corp.
(Source: Primus Green Energy Ltd., February 16, 2012)
Contact: Dr. Moshe Ben-Reuven, CEO, Primus Green Energy, (908) 281-6000, www.primusge.com
Tags Primus Green Energy news, Woody Biomass news, Drop-in Gasoline news,
Date: 2012-02-08
Viridis Energy Inc. (otcqx:VRDSF) has completed the acquisition of certain assets of Enligna Canada Inc., a wood pellet mill operator located in Upper Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia. The assets were purchased from Enligna's Receiver by 3260526 Nova Scotia Limited, a new,wholly owned subsidiary of Viridis. The acquired assets include 20 buildings on four properties with a total of 157 acres and a separate 22 acre wood lot. The facilities house five pellet presses with the capacity to produce 110,000 tonnes of wood pellets annually. The Viridis subsidiary obtained a $2.5 million short-term bridge loan to fund the acquisition. (Source: Viridis, February 2012) Contact: Viridis Energy, Christopher Robertson, CEO, (604) 739-9973, www.viridisenergy.com
Tags Viridis Energy news, Wood Pellet news,
Date: 2012-02-07
Bethesda, Maryland-based processed biomass fuel manufactuerer Enviva LP and E.ON, one of the world's largest investor-owned utilities, report the signing of a multi-year, 240,000 metric tpy wood pellet supply agreement. The contract begins in early 2013. Enviva will supply E.ON with wood pellets from its facilities in the Southeastern U.S. (Source: Enviva LP, February 6, 2012) Contact: Elizabeth Woodworth,Enviva LP, (301) 657-5560 x 170, [email protected], www.envivabiomass.com; E.ON, www.eon.com
Tags Enviva news, E.ON news,
Date: 2012-01-25
True Green Energy Group (TGEG) reports that its pelletization system will reduce landfill waste while generating green energy. The process of turning garbage into electricity is done in several stages. First, waste materials that are combustible, such as paper, plastic, food, wood, and agricultural materials, are dried and shredded. The shredded trash is then turned into fuel pellets similar to those burned in wood pellet stoves. But, unlike stoves and municipal systems, the TGEG system does not burn the pellets. Instead, it uses a special gasification process that uses high temperatures to decompose the pellets in a controlled process.
This TGEG system is based on a technology developed in the 19th century. TGEG 21st century advancements have improved the energy conversion and profitability of the pellet. While about 5% of the pelletized material ends up as ash, the rest is converted into a synthetic gas (mostly hydrogen and carbon monoxide) that is similar to natural gas, but with a lower energy content. The resulting gas is burned in a highly efficient micro turbine to generate electricity.
(Source: True Green Energy Group, January, 23, 2012)
Contact: Richie Carson, COO, +63 45 499 1305, True Green Energy Group, www.tgeg.asia
Tags True Green Energy Group news,
Date: 2012-01-20
German utility E.ON plans to convert one of two 500 MW units at its coal-fired Ironbridge power plant in Britain to use biomass and may decide to convert the second unit as well. The modernised unit will start operating in early 2013 to produce electricity using wood pellets but will keep the ability to burn coal for up to 20 percent of its capacity. Despite the modernization, the Ironbridge power plant will have to shut down by the end of 2015 under EU-wide regulation that bans highly polluting power plants, called the Large Combustion Plant Directive (LCPD).
The wood pellets used in the new plant will come from North America.
E.ON follows in the footsteps of rival RWE npower, which will this month open its own biomass converted coal plant at Tilbury in Essex.
RWE npower's plant is also due to shut down by the end of 2015 under the LCPD legislation.(Source; E.ON, January 18, 2012) Contact: E.ON, www.eon.com
Tags Wood Pellet news, E.ON news,
Date: 2011-11-29
After a delay in implementation and a reduction to large biomass power tariff levels, the U.K.'s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is open for applications as of Nov. 28. The RHI program offers long-term support to compensate for capital and operating costs, as well as to remove additional barriers and ease financial costs, for thermal technologies classed as renewable under the U.K.'s Renewable Energy Directive. Support will be distributed in the form of tariffs based on technology and size. With the new tariff level in place, applications can now be submitted.
"We are relieved by today's announcement," said Tim Minett, CEO of U.K. wood pellet supplier CPL Distribution. "There is no denying that the delays to the Renewable Heat Incentive's launch knocked confidence among board-level decision makers and a large number of projects to install renewable systems have been stalled as a result. On the basis of our own dealings, and feedback from biomass boiler manufacturers, we believe there are at least 250 major investment projects currently in limbo. To put it bluntly, there has been a huge amount of interest in the RHI but in the absence of absolute clarity over the tariff rates, people simply weren't willing to trust politicians' assurances given the backdrop of the cuts in feed-in tariffs elsewhere. " (Source: DECC, November, 28, 2011) Contact: DECC, www.decc.gov.uk; Heat Incentive information,
click here
Tags Renewable Energy Incentives news,
Date: 2011-11-21
Enviva LP , a manufacturer of processed biomass fuel in the United States and Europe, has partnered with ConocoPhillips to create a new company, ECo Biomass Technologies , which will bring torrefied biomass fuels to market. The new company will use a combination of proprietary and acquired existing technologies to manufacture and sell renewable, torrefied wood pellets. The company's initial facility, scheduled to be operational in 2013, will produce wood pellets that will be sold under agreements with major utilities.
The torrefaction process involves superheating biomass to create a uniform, hydrophobic, dense, and highly efficient fuel akin to coal but with a superior environmental profile. Given torrefied fuel's unique properties and combustion benefits, this drop-in renewable solution is an attractive alternative for utilities seeking to reduce their carbon emissions and extend the life of existing coal burning facilities and infrastructure without significant capital investment.
ConocoPhillips' established presence as a fuel supplier to the integrated power sector and Enviva's operational expertise in manufacturing sustainable biomass fuel uniquely positions the companies to bring a new renewable fuel alternative to utilities seeking to reduce their dependence on coal.
Enviva operates traditional wood pellet plants in the United States and Europe representing approximately 750,000 metric tons of combined annual capacity in 2011. (Source: Enviva LP, November, 21, 2011)
Contact: Elizabeth Woodworth,Enviva LP, (301) 657-5560 x 170,
[email protected], www.envivabiomass.com
Tags Enviva news, Wood Pellet news, Torrefaction news,
Date: 2011-11-18
The USDA yesterday announced funding through the USDA Rural Energy for America program (REAP) for a series of projects to convert biomass to energy . The announcement was made during an event in Halifax, Va., to mark USDA Rural Development's participation in construction of a biomass plant to be operated by the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC). The announcement concludes 2011 biomass project funding assistance for a total of 52 projects with just over $31 million in grant and loan guarantees through the Rural Energy for America Program. This support helped to leverage a total of $154.5 million of biomass project development in 26 states. A complete list of funding recipients announced yesterday follows:
USDA funding is contingent on the recipient meeting the conditions of the grant or loan agreement. REAP grants can finance up to 25 percent of a project's cost, up to $500,000 for renewable energy systems and $250,000 for energy efficiency improvements. (Source: USDA, November, 17, 2011) Contact: USDA, Department www.usda.gov
Tags USDA Funding news,
Date: 2011-11-08
The Swedish Bioenergy Association (Svebio) and The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota (BBAM) have teamed up to jointly increase the use of bioenergy in Minnesota. The partnership will also be regarded as part of Svebio's increasing activity to promote trade and exports, as bioenergy is an important part of rising Swedish environmental technology exports.
One of the partnership's goals is to provide assistance regarding the optimal use of bioenergy to a broad base of stakeholders through Svebio's network and BBAM's life science community in Minnesota. Together, the two organizations also aim to advance bioenergy's position in Minnesota and enhance visibility as well as align interests toward biomass-based energy. The project goal is to support the establishment of a series of biomass-to-energy installations in Minnesota.
Mast said there are a few underway already, including a college campus looking at a biomass-fired district heating system and a Native American tribal community planning to construct a wood pellet plant with a combined-heat-and-power component. (Source: Svebio, November, 7, 2011)
Contact: The Swedish Bioenergy Association,+46 8 441 70 80, www.svebio.se/
Date: 2011-10-20
Bethesda, Maryland-based Enviva LP has signed a contract with Richmond, Va.-based Dominion Virginia Power, one of the U.S.'s largest energy producers, to supply biomass to two power facilities in southeast Virginia. In April, Dominion announced plans to convert three 63-MW coal burning peaking plants to 50-MW continuous power plants using biomass. Enviva will supply two of these plants, located in Southampton and Hopewell, Va. Dominion's application to convert the power stations is pending before the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
This fall, Enviva's flagship wood pellet plant in Ahoskie, N.C. will begin producing up to 400,000 metric tons of wood pellets per year. In August, the company also announced plans to develop a second wood pellet facility in nearby Northampton County and a strategic partnership with Biomass Energy to operate its Bumpass, Va.-based wood chip and pellet manufacturing facility. Wood pellets from these facilities ship out of the company's deepwater port facility in Chesapeake, Va. Enviva also operates two wood pellet facilities in Mississippi. The company's total annual production capacity will reach 750,000 metric tons by the end of 2011.
(Source: Enviva, October, 19, 2011)Contact: Thomas Meth , EVP, Enviva, (804) 381-4000, www.envivabiomass.com; Kenneth D. Barker, VP , Customer Solutions and Energy Conservation, Dominion Virginia Power,(757) 857-2112, [email protected]
More Energy Overviews Enviva LP news, Dominion Virginia Power news,
Date: 2011-10-14
Pratt & Whitney Power Systems has been awarded a contract to deliver a 2 megawatt biomass heat recovery power plant for Nechako Green Energy Ltd. in Vanderhoof, British Columbia. The state-of-the-art power plant will provide clean, carbon-neutral power to the company's Premium Pellet plant operation, and marks the first ever Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) installation in a forest products facility built by Turboden in North America. Turboden is a Pratt & Whitney Power Systems company; Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company.
The Turboden ORC unit includes a special evaporator/preheater and turbine and will operate at 280 degrees Celsius, providing the pellet plant with 2 MW of renewable electrical power at max load. The plant produces 140,000 tonnes of high-quality, premium-grade wood pellets annually, and the ORC unit uses thermal oil from an existing biomass system to burn the mill's residual hog fuel and waste bark, which would otherwise be sent to a landfill.
Installation of the Turboden ORC unit is funded in part by a contribution from the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation program, an initiative by Natural Resources Canada to invest in innovative technologies helping transform Canada's forest sector.(Source: Pratt & Whitney, October, 13, 2011)
Contact: Alessandro Foresti, Director , Turboden, +39 030 3552001; Alan Fitzpatrick, President , Nechako Green Energy Ltd, (250) 567- 4701, [email protected]
More Energy Overviews Pratt & Whitney news,