Biomass Power

July 06, 2020

USDA: US exports 572,500 tons of wood pellets in May

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, ThermalThe U.S. exported 572,499.8 metric tons of wood pellets in May, up from 553,885.4 metric tons exported during the same month of last year, but down from the 595,166.2 metric tons exported in April, according to data released by the USDA on July 2. READ MORE

July 02, 2020

Eqtec, Carbon Sole partner on waste-to-energy projects in Ireland

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced FuelsEqtec, a technology supplier for gasification projects, announced on June 29 that its wholly owned subsidiary Eqtec Iberia SLU has signed a collaboration framework agreement with Ireland-based Carbon Sole Group Ltd. READ MORE

July 02, 2020

Statkraft signs PPA extension with UK biomass plant until 2034

BY Statkraft Found In:PowerStatkraft has extended a power purchase agreement (PPA) to continue the offtake of power from Greencoat Capital’s 34 MW Sleaford Biomass plant. The PPA was originally set to expire in 2027 but has been extended to 2034. READ MORE

July 01, 2020

Avista opens RFP for 120 MW of renewable capacity

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Power, BiogasAvista, a utility serving regions in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, announced on June 26 it is seeking proposals from renewable energy project developers for up to 120 aMW of power production. Biomass projects are among those eligible to apply. READ MORE

June 30, 2020

Report: Biomass, biofuels can help US meet net-zero goal

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis on June 30 unveiled a climate crisis action plan that aims to serve as a congressional roadmap to help the U.S. reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Biomass, biogas and biofuels will help meet that goal. READ MORE

June 29, 2020

Report: Netherlands to double wood pellet imports in 2020

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, PowerThe Netherlands doubled its wood pellet imports to a record 1.22 million metric tons in 2019, according to a report filed with the USDA. Imports are expected to double again this year based on the co-firing plans of Dutch power companies. READ MORE

June 26, 2020

HoSt: Biomass CHP plant reduces NOx emissions by 90%

BY HoSt Found In:Power, ThermalA new biomass-fired CHP plant was recently commissioned in Andijk, the Netherlands. Independently conducted emission measurements show that the facility has very low emissions rates, according to HoSt. READ MORE

June 24, 2020

Biofuels, bioenergy to benefit from Growing Climate Solutions Act

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsTestimony offered during a June 24 hearing held by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry to consider the Growing Climate Solutions Act explains how the bill could benefit the biofuel and bioproducts industries. READ MORE

June 24, 2020

New BECCS pilot project under development at Drax Power Station

BY Drax Group Found In:Pellets, PowerDrax Group and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering Ltd., part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group, have agreed a new bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) pilot project at Drax Power Station that will get underway this autumn. READ MORE

June 23, 2020

FuelCell Energy resumes manufacturing at Connecticut plant

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced FuelsFuelCell Energy Inc. has resumed manufacturing at its Torrington, Connecticut, facility, which temporarily suspended manufacturing activities in March due to COVID-19. The company also noted construction is underway on a California biogas project. READ MORE

June 23, 2020

SoCalGas, PG&E and Opus 12 demonstrate conversion of CO2 into RNG

BY Southern California Gas Co. Found In:Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced FuelsSouthern California Gas Co., Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), and Opus 12 on June 22 announced they have demonstrated further advancement of a new electrochemical technology that converts the carbon dioxide content in raw biogas to RNG. READ MORE

June 22, 2020

RFS Power Coalition supports bill introduced by Thune, Shaheen

BY RFS Power Coalition Found In:Power, Biogas, Advanced FuelsThe RFS Power Coalition expressed support for legislation introduced on June 17 by Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. The bill requires the EPA to take action pending RFS biofuels registration and pathway applications. READ MORE

June 17, 2020

DOE funds 2 carbon utilization projects focused on algae

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy on June 16 announced it will award $17 million to 11 advanced carbon utilization projects. Approximately $6 million of that funding will support algae projects. READ MORE

June 16, 2020

USIPA, REA criticize Ember report on carbon neutrality of biomass

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, PowerU.K.-based climate think-tank Ember released a report in June that claims the U.K. should abandon the carbon tax break afforded to large biomass power plants. Both the USIPA and U.K. REA say the report ignores current science on biomass. READ MORE

June 15, 2020

Perdue issues memo on modernization of Forest Service

BY USDA Found In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsU.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue on June 12 issued a memorandum to Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen providing direction that will serve as a blueprint to help modernize the agency’s systems and approaches. READ MORE

June 12, 2020

EIA: Densified biomass fuel sales reach 680,000 tons in February

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, ThermalThe U.S. Energy Information Administration recently released data showing U.S. manufacturers produced approximately 700,000 tons of densified biomass fuel in February, with sales reaching 680,000 tons. READ MORE

June 11, 2020

EPA urged to address treatment of biogenic emissions from crops

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe Biogenic CO2 Coalition sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on June 9 urging the agency to seek public comments on the regulatory treatment of biogenic CO2 from annual agriculture crops. READ MORE

June 10, 2020

Report: Investment in biomass, waste-to-energy up 9% last year

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced FuelsA report released by the UN Environment Programme, the Frankfurt School-UNEP Collaborating Centre, and BloombergNEF on June 10 shows biomass and waste-to-energy received $123 billion in financing for new projects between 2010 and 2019. READ MORE

June 10, 2020

Glennmont Partners sells UK biomass power plant to Greencoat

BY Glennmont Partners Found In:Power, ThermalGlennmont Partners has completed the sale of Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant to Greencoat Capital. Sleaford REP is an operational 39 MWe renewable CHP plant that uses a blend of straw and sustainable woodchip to generate power and heat. READ MORE

June 09, 2020

EIA: Growth in renewable power expected to continue

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Power, Thermal, BiogasU.S. electricity generation from renewable sources is expected to reach 21 percent in 2020 and 23 percent in 2021, up from 17 percent in 2019, according to date released by the EIA in its Short-Term Energy Outlook on June 9. READ MORE

June 08, 2020

Public consultation opens on UK-based Uskmouth conversion project

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, PowerA 28-day pre-application consultation (PAC) for the Uskmouth conversion project is now open. SIMEC Atlantis Energy Ltd. has proposed to convert the U.K.-based coal-fired power plant to operate using waste-derived fuel pellets. READ MORE

June 05, 2020

$17 million available for biomass utilization in Tuolumne County

BY Rural Community Assistance Corp. Found In:Pellets, Power, ThermalA new $17 million program in Tuolumne County, California, will provide loans to increase the use of low- and no-value wood from Tuolumne County forests and provide an alternative to pile burning of forest waste. READ MORE

June 04, 2020

Atlantic Power: Calstock plant secures short-term PPA extension

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:PowerAtlantic Power Corp. announced on June 3 it has secured a short-term extension of the current power purchase agreement (PPA) for its Calstock plant, a 35 megawatt (MW) biomass power plant located in Hearst, Ontario. READ MORE

June 04, 2020

Bill would help farmers, foresters participate in carbon markets

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, ThermalThe Growing Climate Solutions Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate on June 4. The bill aims to break down barriers for farmers and foresters interested in participating in carbon markets so they can be rewarded for climate-smart practices. READ MORE

June 04, 2020

Fagus GreCon adds Todd Havican as new director of sales

BY Fagus GreCon Inc. Found In:Pellets, Power, ThermalFagus GreCon Inc. has added Todd Havican as director of sales. Havican officially joined the organization as of May 4, 2020 with over 25 years of experience leading sales teams in a variety of industries. READ MORE

June 03, 2020

Xebec signs LOI for Alberta RNG project, launches investment fund

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced FuelsXebec Adsorption Inc. has signed a letter of intent (LOI) for a commercial renewable natural gas (RNG) project in Alberta and has partnered with Fonds de solidarité FTQ to launch an investment fund to increase RNG production in Quebec. READ MORE

June 01, 2020

Report: Fossil fuel use falls in UK electric sector

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, PowerU.K. electricity generation from fossil fuels fell by 25 percent between the first quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020—the largest fall on record, according to data released in the latest in the Drax Electric Insights report. READ MORE

June 01, 2020

Renewable energy advisory committee to meet June 4

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration has announced the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee will hold a virtual meeting via WebEX on June 4. The meeting will be the final of REEEAC's current term. READ MORE

May 29, 2020

SUNY Cobleskill gasifier receives $5.8M to reduce wildfire risk

BY SUNY Cobleskill Found In:Power, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsSUNY Cobleskill has received a $5.8 million grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to develop and deploy a mobile woody biomass conversion unit that will complement the state’s efforts to reduce wildfires. READ MORE

May 28, 2020

IRS offers COVID-19 tax relief for renewable energy projects

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Power, BiogasThe U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service on May 27 issued a notice providing tax relief for renewable energy projects that have been delayed due to market impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. READ MORE