Pellets & Densified Biomass

April 10, 2018

EIA predicts increased bioenergy capacity in 2018, 2019

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, BiogasThe U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the April edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, predicting nonhydropower renewables will provide 10 percent of electricity generation this year, increasing to 11 percent in 2019. READ MORE

April 10, 2018

Drax joins Powering Past Coal Alliance

BY Drax Group Found In:Pellets, PowerOn April 9, Drax Group, owner of the largest power station in Western Europe, signed up to the Powering Past Coal Alliance, a global coalition of counties, states, cities and businesses committed to ending coal generation. READ MORE

April 06, 2018

UK bioenergy capacity, generation up in 2017

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, PowerThe U.K. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has released provisional 2017 energy data, reporting renewable energy generation reached a record high of 98.9 terawatt hours (TWh) last year, up 18.8 percent when compared to 2016. READ MORE

April 02, 2018

BioPower Sustainable Energy acquires Atikokan pellet plant

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, ThermalBioPower Sustainable Energy Corp., a subsidiary of True North Timber, has acquired the assets of the former Rentech pellet plant in Atikokan, Ontario. The company plans to sell both commercial pellets and residential heating pellets. READ MORE

March 30, 2018

Nippon celebrates opening of biomass power facility

BY Nippon Paper Industries Co. Ltd. Found In:Pellets, PowerNippon Paper Industries Co. Ltd. held a completion ceremony March 16 for the biomass mixed combustion power generation facility at Ishinomaki Hibarino Power Plant, operated by Nippon Paper Ishinomaki Energy Center Ltd. READ MORE

March 29, 2018

Opinion: Spreading the Word, Being Heard

BY Anna SimetFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, BiogasWhile the export industry and demand outside North America is out of our stakeholders’ control—as are external market forces such as the weather, and the price of fossil fuels—there are things that we can and must do to influence domestic growth. READ MORE

March 28, 2018

Massachusetts announces funding for woodstove rebate program

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, ThermalThe Massachusetts government has announced $450,000 in funding for the 2018 Commonwealth Woodstove Change-out Program, which provides rebates to homeowners two replace older, inefficient woodstoves with cleaner, EPA-certified wood and pellet stoves. READ MORE

March 28, 2018

Protacon purchases interest in Inray

BY Protacon Found In:Pellets, Power, ThermalTechnology company Protacon has purchased a substantial part of Inray Ltd, a Finnish company supplying X-ray technology based measurement systems to power and thermal plants, including those fueled by biomass. READ MORE

March 28, 2018

Opinion: Introducing Operation 100k

BY Tim PortzFound In:Pellets, ThermalSeverity of winters and the price of heating oil are impossible to predict, but it is vital we plan based on the trends we are seeing now—shorter heating seasons and low-priced alternatives—as we look into the future of our industry. READ MORE

March 27, 2018

EIA: 790,000 tons of densified biomass fuel sold in December

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, ThermalOn March 20, the U.S. Energy Information Administration announced U.S. manufacturers of densified biomass fuel reported producing 650,000 tons of product and selling 790,000 tons in December. READ MORE

March 26, 2018

USDA report shows impact of US biobased economy

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe USDA has released a new report that measures economic growth, job creation and household income from biofuel and bioenergy production, along with future growth in renewable chemicals and biobased products. READ MORE

March 24, 2018

Opinion: Metals Testing Questions Answered

BY Chris Wiberg Found In:Pellets, ThermalIn November 2017, the PFI Standards Program was updated to include the testing of the same metals that are referenced in the international pellet specifications published under ISO 17225-2, and referenced in wood pellet quality certification schemes. READ MORE

March 23, 2018

Opinion: Many New Initiatives—Will Sales Increase?

BY Bill Bell Found In:Pellets, ThermalMaine policymakers have undertaken a number of new initiatives to promote biomass heating, motivated largely out of concern for the future of our state’s forest products industry. READ MORE

March 22, 2018

Opinion: Advanced Wood Heat Can Flatten the Duck Curve

BY Scott Nichols Found In:Pellets, Power, ThermalAdvanced wood heat is a solution for the "duck curve" in the U.S. Northeast. By deploying it instead of heat pumps, states would not only flatten the duck’s head, but reduce total power consumption, and offset the use of other fossil READ MORE

March 21, 2018

EPA funds development of biomass-fueled thermoelectric stoves

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, ThermalIn mid-March, the U.S. EPA awarded $1.8 million to six small businesses to develop technologies that provide solutions for environmental issues. Two of the six companies are developing biomass-fueled thermoelectric stoves. READ MORE

March 20, 2018

USDA solicits applications for REAP funding

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe USDA is soliciting applications for fiscal year 2018 Rural Energy for America Program funding. The program helps agricultural producers and rural small businesses install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. READ MORE

March 20, 2018

In Depth: The Word on the Heat

BY Patrick C. Miller Found In:Pellets, ThermalWith every new installation it helps guide to success, the Northern Forest Center is demonstrating that automated wood heat is a stable, affordable option that benefits both the environment and the local economy. READ MORE

March 19, 2018

In Depth: Awaiting the Signal

BY Ron KotrbaFound In:Pellets, ThermalCanada’s wood pellet industry stands patiently ready to deliver domestic supply as a federal Clean Fuel Standard and complementary support mechanisms develop. READ MORE

March 18, 2018

In Depth: Pellet Stove Prowess

BY Anna SimetFound In:Pellets, ThermalScott Williamson, the "Pellet Guy," shares insight based on his extensive knowledge and experience in pellet stove installation, service and repair. READ MORE

March 17, 2018

In Depth: Best Practices for Fighting and Preventing Wood Pellet Storage Fires

BY John Swaan Found In:Pellets, ThermalBest practices and lessons learned from decades of experience were recently used to resolve a major pellet silo fire. READ MORE

March 16, 2018

Pinnacle provides update of Entwistle, Smithers pellet plants

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:PelletsOn March 15, Pinnacle Renewable Holdings Inc. released fiscal year 2017 financial results and provided an update of its planned expansion and acquisition projects. The company completed an initial public offering (IPO) on Feb. 6. READ MORE

March 13, 2018

Pinnacle to convert particle board facility to wood pellet plant

BY Pinnacle Renewable Holdings Inc. Found In:PelletsPinnacle Renewable Holdings Inc. has announced plans to redevelop an existing particle board facility in Smithers, British Columbia, to a wood pellet production facility. The project will be completed by Smithers Pellet Limited Partnership. READ MORE

March 12, 2018

Orsted increases the efficiency of Herning Power Station

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, ThermalOn March 5, Orsted broke ground on a project that aims to increase the efficiency of its Denmark-based Herning Power Station, a combined-heat-and-power facility that was converted to biomass fuel in 2009. READ MORE

March 09, 2018

EIA revises short-term bioenergy, residential wood heat forecasts

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, BiogasThe U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the March edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, predicting that non-hydropower renewables will provide 10 percent of U.S. electricity generation in 2018 and nearly 11 percent in 2019. READ MORE

March 07, 2018

Letter urges reauthorization of energy title in next Farm Bill

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsOn March 6, a group of more than 200 companies and trade associations sent a letter to House and Senate Agricultural Committee leaders urging them to reauthorize and fund energy title programs in the next Farm Bill. READ MORE

March 07, 2018

Secretary Perdue administers oath of office to Bill Northey

BY USDA Found In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsU.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue administered the oath of office to Bill Northey March 7 at the Annual Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner. Northey previously served as Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture, a position he had held for more than 11 years. READ MORE

March 06, 2018

Finalists announced for the 2018 Wood Stove Design Challenge

BY U.S. Department of Energy Found In:Pellets, ThermalThe U.S. Department of Energy has announced the second round of finalists for the 2018 Wood Stove Design Challenge have officially been chosen. Finalists will showcase their wood stove technology on the National Mall in November. READ MORE

March 06, 2018

Opinion: Farm Bill Energy Title’s Record of Success

BY Lloyd Ritter Found In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, BiogasThe Farm Bill Energy Title programs represent one-tenth of a percent of the overall bill’s cost. Yet, they have such a huge impact on rural economies—diversifying crops, sustaining and creating jobs, new industries and supporting new technologies. READ MORE

March 06, 2018

In Depth: A Wood Heat State of Mind

BY Anna SimetFound In:Pellets, ThermalWood heat is common in New York homes, but there's a need for higher-efficiency, lower-emitting devices, and ongoing support for new residential and commercial installations. READ MORE

March 05, 2018

Opinion: Pellet Stoves and Solar Panels: the Perfect Match?

BY John Ackerly Found In:Pellets, ThermalPellet stoves are one of the cheapest ways to reduce a home’s carbon footprint. A perfect complement to solar panels, they could be pitched as part of a package for homes. READ MORE