Researchers studying fine particulate emissions from a biomass burner found that emissions varied as the fuel went through different stages of combustion. The findings could help industry design better wood burning units.
The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials has opened a 60-day comment period on a revision of the RSB Principles & Criteria. Comments gathered will inform discussions among RSB members over the forthcoming Version 3.0 of the P&Cs.
The U.S. EPA has published a final rule establishing new source performance standards (NSPS) for residential wood heaters. The rules limit the amount of pollution that wood heaters manufactured and sold in the future can emit.
Clarkson University and State University of New York Canton researchers are evaluating a new generation of wood pellet boilers that were developed in Austria and now are being manufactured in New York State.
Executive Editor Tim Portz talks about what it means when story sources are reluctant to talk "on the record". Conversations about pellets as absorbents are loosening up, while folks remain tight lipped about their opinions on big box customers.
Enerpellets Group took the decision to internationalize its biomass pellets production activity by building a state-of-the-art unit in Florida with a real production output capacity of 250,000 tons per year.
PHI Group Inc., a company focused on energy and natural resources, announced in late January it has signed an agreement with AG Materials LLC to jointly establish a 200,000 metric-ton wood pellet plant in Live Oak, Florida.
GelTech Solutions Inc., the creator of the patent-pending fire suppressant compound called FireIce, recently began working in the agriculture industry and is now initiating outreach to some biomass producers.
The New Hampshire Wood Energy Council, one of 16 state wood energy teams funded in part by the USDA, has released a 5 minute video overview of heating commercial and institutional buildings with advanced wood chip and wood pellet heating systems.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy is accepting public comments on an environmental impact statement related to proposed confined field trials of engineered high-energy crops for use in bioenergy applications.
A group of federal agencies are developing an interactive app that will serve as a mobile business directory for U.S. clean energy exports. U.S.-based suppliers of certain energy solutions are invited to apply to participate in the pilot phase.
Homes and businesses in Norwich, England, were recently offered a double energy boost with a proposal to create straw pellet-fired project that would supply heat and power to the community. The project would include a district heating system.
EurObserv'ER recently released updated Biogas Barometer and Renewable Municipal Waste Barometer reports that show energy production from both biogas and municipal waste has continued to expand across the European Union in recent years.
Vencor International Inc. recently announced an agreement to acquire the exclusive rights to torrefaction equipment and technology from Torretherm Inc. The company has also announced a purchase order from Vega Biofuels Inc.
In late 2014, the U.S. EPA invited the public to nominate scientific experts to be considered for appointment to its Science Advisory Board's Agricultural Science Committee. The deadline for submitting those nominations has been extended to March 30.
An experimental system to create heat and power with waste from olive oil processing is up-and-running in Spain. Converting the waste to heat and power is a three-part process that begins with the production of biogas via anaerobic digestion.
Genera Energy Inc. recently celebrated 1,533 days, or four years, without an accident. Recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data show that Genera's core operations intersect three of the 10 most deadly occupations in the U.S.
In Wyoming, the Governor's Task Force on Forests has issued a report featuring its recommendations for proactively managing the state's forests. Several of the recommendations relate to bioenergy development.
The International Renewable Energy Agency has launched REsource, an online knowledge platform that enables users to easily find country-specific data, create customized charts and graphs, and compare countries on metrics like renewable energy use.
The Port of Tyne has appointed the main contractor for the extension of Riverside Quay, the port's multifunctional deep-sea facility at South Shields. The extension will support the growth in cargo volumes handled by the port, including wood pellets.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy has announced plans to award up to $125 million in support of transformational energy projects. The solicitation is the third open funding opportunity announced by ARPA-E.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture is now accepting applications for the Dairy Digester Research and Development Program. Approximately $11 million in competitive grant funding is expected to be awarded. Applications are due Feb. 23.
BBI International has announced the agenda for the technical sessions of the 8th annual International Biomass Conference & Expo, North America's largest and fastest growing biomass conference, taking place April 20-22 in Minneapolis.
Over the past week, FutureMetrics LLC has published two research papers by company President William Strauss that illustrate the impacts of the strengthening dollar and falling crude oil prices on the pellet industry.
The Netherlands' under-debate energy policies could create an additional 3.5 million tons of annual pellet demand or introduce inefficiencies that will put the market out of reach for most North American producers.
The Utah Department of Environmental Quality has opened a 40-day comment period on for a proposed seasonal wood burn ban amendment that would prohibit seven counties from solid-fuel burning in all solid-fuel burning devices from Nov. 1 to March 15.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the January issue of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, which includes updated forecasts for energy production from wood and waste biomass as well as data related to home heating methods.
Although Germany's pellet supply and demand has steadily increased over the years, recent factors have impacted growth.
Several energy-related bills were introduced in the Colorado Senate in early January, including one that aims to create a five-year incentive program to promote the use of woody biomass in public buildings.
While domestic demand soars and export challenges remain daunting, small and midsized North American producers may choose to leave bustling foreign markets to the big guys.
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