Pellets & Densified Biomass

February 19, 2014

Dutch power plant successfully tests torrefied biomass pellets

BY Essent Found In:Pellets, PowerA consortium consisting of Topell Energy, Essent, Nuon, GDF SUEZ, and ECN has successfully completed a large-scale cofiring test with an innovative renewable energy source at the Amer power plant in Geertruidenberg, Netherlands. READ MORE

February 19, 2014

Valmet, Zilkha Biomass Energy announce collaborative agreement

BY Valmet Corp. Found In:PelletsZilkha Biomass Energy LLC and Valmet Corp. have signed a five-year collaboration agreement in the field of steam exploded black pellets. The purpose of the agreement is to bring steam exploded black pellets to the market. READ MORE

February 18, 2014

Drax considers developing additional U.S. pellet capacity

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, PowerDrax Group plc has released preliminary financial result for 2013, reporting that earnings were ahead of expectations, reflecting good operations and healthy spreads. The company also announced it will consider adding additional pellet capacity. READ MORE

February 18, 2014

Renewable Heat NY funds 18 woody biomass projects

BY Anna SimetFound In:Pellets, ThermalPromptly implementing New York's recently announced Renewable Heat NY, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced 18 projects that will receive program funding to help install high-efficiency, low-emission wood-fired heating equipment. READ MORE

February 10, 2014

Lantmannen Agroenergi, Neova to merge pellet operations

BY Lantmannen Found In:PelletsLantmannen and Neova AB are merging their respective wood pellet businesses. The new company will include Neova's wood pellet business in Sweden and the corresponding Lantmännen Agroenergi businesses in Sweden and Latvia. READ MORE

February 07, 2014

Obama signs Farm Bill, announces Made in Rural America initiative

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsPresident Obama signed the 2014 Farm Bill into law during a Feb. 7 ceremony at Michigan State University. During his speech, Obama also announced the launch of a new "Made in Rural America" export and investment initiative. READ MORE

February 07, 2014

Wood pellets a hot commodity across U.S.

BY Anna SimetFound In:PelletsThe wallets of homeowners across the nation using propane or heating oil as a fuel source have likely taken a big hit this winter, due to unusually cold temperatures, compliments of the polar vortex, and frequent storms. READ MORE

February 07, 2014

2014 International Biomass Conference & Expo to address Farm Bill

BY BBI International Found In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe passage of the Farm Bill will positively impact the biomass industry and help to spur on additional development of renewable energy, according to several leading biomass companies and organizations that praised the long-awaited bill. READ MORE

February 04, 2014

Senate approves Farm Bill conference report

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsOn Feb. 4, the U.S. Senate approved the conference report for the 2014 Farm Bill by a vote of 67 to 32. The vote was the final legislative action needed before President Obama can sign the legislation into law. READ MORE

January 31, 2014

FERC: 777 MW of biomass capacity came online in 2013

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, PowerThe Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Office of Energy Projects has reported that 269 megawatts (MW) of biomass capacity was brought online in December, bringing the total for 2013 to 777 MW of new biomass capacity. READ MORE

January 31, 2014

Webinar focuses on port development for pellet projects

BY Chris HansonFound In:PelletsMore than 200 listeners tuned into Biomass Magazine's Jan. 30 webinar, which showcased pellet port developments and projects. The event featured four speakers who discussed various aspects of developing pellet export facilities. READ MORE

January 31, 2014

Swedish facility warms up pellet production in Russia

BY Chris HansonFound In:PelletsSwedish forestry company RusForest AB has announced the start of wood pellet production at the LDK-3 sawmill at Arkhangelsk in the northwestern region of Russia. Construction on the plant began in June 2103. READ MORE

January 30, 2014

Farm Bill: Offerings for plant operators, investors, developers

BY Kyle Althoff Found In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe U.S. Farm Bill is a five-year piece of legislation that typically takes six years to develop and reach consensus among U.S. senators, representatives, and the president. Orchestrating this feat is nothing short of a miracle. READ MORE

January 30, 2014

Seminar addresses carbon accounting and forest management

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, ThermalResources for the Future hosted a seminar Jan. 29 focused on the issues of carbon accounting and forest management. The event, titled “Considering the Contributions of Forests in the Management of Greenhouse Gas Emissions,” was cosponsored by the Soc READ MORE

January 29, 2014

Opinion: Kudos to Our Ag Innovators

BY Tim PortzFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced FuelsBiomass Magazine Executive Editor Tim Portz discusses the impact farmers and ag innovators are making on energy crop development. READ MORE

January 29, 2014

Houses approves Farm Bill conference report

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe U.S. House of Representatives has approved the conference report for the 2014 Farm Bill by a vote of 251 to 166. The farm bill conference committee approved the conference report for the bill on Jan. 27. A U.S. Senate vote is expected next week. READ MORE

January 29, 2014

Obama: climate change is a fact

BY Anna SimetFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsJob creation, higher wages and investments in the U.S. education system were a few of several focus points during President Obama's State of the Union address, which reiterated the administration's "all-of-the-above" energy strategy. READ MORE

January 28, 2014

Conference committee passes Farm Bill, votes expected soon

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe agriculture committees of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate have announced a bipartisan agreement on a new five-year Farm Bill. The House is expected to vote on the measure on Jan. 29, with a Senate vote expected soon after. READ MORE

January 27, 2014

In Depth: From Recipe to Scientific Formula

BY Chris HansonFound In:PelletsPenn State Researchers are working to develop a solid understanding of energy crops and their densification behavior, which could remove much of the guesswork in creating a quality pellet. READ MORE

January 26, 2014

Opinion: Winter Brings Industry Boosts

BY Bill BellFound In:PelletsMaine Pellet Fuels Association Executive Director Bill Bell weighs in on winter sales trends and Maine pellet policy developments. READ MORE

January 25, 2014

In Depth: Masterminding Miscanthus

BY Anna SimetFound In:Pellets, PowerResearchers and companies are crafting custom recipes for planting and managing miscanthus for power and biofuel production. READ MORE

January 24, 2014

Meeting the needs of famers critical to biomass, residue harvest

BY Sue Retka SchillFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsWhile the baling of crop residues and forage crops is nothing new, the sheer volume that will be required to supply a commercial biorefinery makes developing a reliable, cost effective supply chain a challenge. READ MORE

January 23, 2014

EurObserv'ER solid biomass report reflects growth in the EU

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, ThermalEurObserv'ER has published its annual Solid Biomass Barometer, reporting that primary energy production from solid biomass is growing. The analysis estimates that solid biomass use in the E.U. increased to 82.3 million tons of oil equivalent in 2012. READ MORE

January 22, 2014

EU proposal sets renewable energy targets, ignores biofuels

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced FuelsThe European Commission has published a proposal calling for a greenhouse gas reduction of 40 percent below the 1990 level along with an EU-wide 27 percent binding target for renewable energy by 2030. The proposal doesn't address transport fuels. READ MORE

January 22, 2014

Dean Tiessen Memorial Fund to honor agricultural entrepreneur

BY Rural Ontario Institute Found In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsA memorial fund has been established to honor the vision and memory of southwestern Ontario agricultural entrepreneur Dean Tiessen of New Energy Farms, who died tragically in Brazil late last year. READ MORE

January 20, 2014

CCEMC supports biogas, MSW pellet projects

BY Chris HansonFound In:Pellets, BiogasAlberta-based, Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation has added its support to 12 new renewable energy projects during 2012 and 2013, bringing its total to 51 projects with $213 million in committed funding. READ MORE

January 17, 2014

Herty announces mobile pellet mill

BY Herty Advanced Materials Development Center Found In:PelletsThe Herty Advanced Materials Development Center has announced the addition of a new mobile pellet development unit (MPDU), a versatile pellet system designed for rapid screening of feedstocks and processing conditions. READ MORE

January 16, 2014

CBI flail debarking, chipping system chosen for Rentech expansion

BY Continental Biomass Industries Inc. Found In:PelletsA new project is underway for Continental Biomass Industries Inc. to design and build three flail debarking and chipping systems for Rentech's Canadian wood pellet facilities scheduled for installation in the spring of 2014. READ MORE

January 15, 2014

AgEC says 2014 budget agreement highlights need for Farm Bill

BY Agriculture Energy Coalition Found In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe 2014 Consolidated Appropriations agreement to be considered by Congress today leaves Farm Bill energy programs with no discretionary funding for the year, highlighting the need for Congress to prioritize consideration of the 5-year Farm Bill. READ MORE

January 15, 2014

Genera Energy showcases commercial biomass harvesting concept

BY Genera Energy Inc. Found In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsGenera Energy Inc. is showcasing some of the most cutting-edge, effective and innovative commercial harvesting techniques available in the biomass industry as it begins its latest harvest of biomass energy crops. READ MORE