As we enter the new year, I’ve been reflecting on the stories and topics that garnered the most interest in 2024. Biomass Magazine covers a wide array of technologies, products and markets—biomass’s extremely versatile nature is one of its strongest selling points—so it can be tricky to gauge. But based on hits, reader inquiries, conference and event attendance, as well as conversations that I’ve had, the following are some (not all) of the hottest topics of the past year, and I expect that we’ll be giving them ample coverage throughout 2025.&nbsp;Decarbonization. Yes, this one is broad, but we’ve seen the buzzwords used to describe the industry’s collective efforts to increase the deployment of bioenergy evolve—I am confident that this one will stick. We are in the midst of a truly unprecedented, global, all-hands-on-deck initiative to decrease—reverse—carbon emissions, from energy production to manufacturing to transportation. Biogas and RNG, wood pellets, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel, waste wood-fueled combined-heat-and-power, energy crops, biochar and the list of feedstocks and technologies goes on and on—they are all excellent candidates to assist in this effort.Biocarbon. Whether its biocoal, biochar or torrefied pellets, biocarbon to replace fossil fuels— especially in heavy industry—is here. Steel, cement and other energy-intensive commodity producers are searching for economic and efficient ways to reduce their consumption of fossil fuels, and this is an option that can work under the right circumstances. One of the most popular stories of the year among Biomass Magazine and sister publication Pellet Mill Magazine was “The Cutting Edge of Cutting Carbon,” which focused on the creation of SDI Biocarbon Solutions—a 200,000-metric-ton biocarbon plant under construction in Columbus, Mississippi—which will supply Steel Dynamics with fuel to replace anthracite coal. Throughout 2025, I believe we will see many similar initiatives quietly unfold (these projects don’t typically stoke a lot of attention—for understandable reasons. These are firsts, and that always comes with considerable risk).&nbsp;Sustainable aviation fuel. Sustainable aviation fuel seemingly happened overnight. The U.S. SAF Grand Challenge made its debut along with the Inflation Reduction Act in 2021, and three years later, solid progress has been made. That said, we have a very long, long way to go to achieve the ultimate goal of net-zero aviation emissions by 2050, which equates to 35 billion gallons of SAF production annually. We’re not only seeing robust activity from the stories and news coming across our desks every single day, but at all of our events featuring SAF content—including the International Biomass Conference &amp; Expo, Sustainable Fuels Summit and North American SAF Conference &amp; Expo—the number of presentations, attendees, exhibitors, etc., have reflected this momentum. At the latter conference alone, attendance in just one year doubled, and we fully expect it to happen again in 2025.&nbsp;Renewable natural gas. This industry continues to amaze, and it’s also one that oil and gas companies (and many other players) are investing billions in. If you received our 2025 North American Renewable Natural Gas map, you’ll see the industry is (still) exploding, largely driven by the federal Renewable Fuel Standard and the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard. The number of U.S. facilities from 2021 to 2024 nearly doubled (reportedly now 440-plus, with a few hundred more planned or under construction). One of the news stories in this issue discusses a recent report released by the RNG Coalition, which found that in 2024, RNG contributed an astounding $7.2 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product in 2024.&nbsp;While there are many other topics I could discuss, I’m running out of room in this column. I hope you enjoy the stories in this issue, many of which fall under these categories. If there’s a topic you would like to see covered this year—or if you have a contribution or news to share—send me a note at asimet@bbiinternational.com. &nbsp;Author: Anna Simet&nbsp; Editor&nbsp; asimet@bbiinternational.com

2025-01-17 - Reflecting on the Year and Looking Ahead (Biomass Magazine)

small_Anna-Simet-2023_500wjpg.jpg

thumbnail_Anna-Simet-2023_500wjpg.jpg

Anna-Simet-2023_500wjpg.jpg

Editor's note from Biomass Magazine Issue 1, 2024

Reflecting on the Year and Looking Ahead

On Nov. 26, EcoEngineers hosted the newest installment in its “Back to Basics” webinar series, with this edition focusing on hydrogen. EcoEngineers’ Senior Carbon Consultant Guillermo Aguirre presented the webinar’s content.&nbsp;Aguirre kicked off the conversation with a brief history of hydrogen. Hydrogen makes up the majority of the universe’s mass at 75%, Aguirre said, and is an energy carrier. This ability to store energy makes it crucial to several industries. Discovered in 1766, hydrogen has become an integral part of the renewable energy industry. Perhaps most notable is hydrogen’s role in the 2022 U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, in which the hydrogen production tax credit debuted.&nbsp;Hydrogen production varies in carbon intensity and emissions, Aguirre explained, depending on the method of production. Hydrogen production through steam methane reforming (SMR), during which natural gas is heated to produce hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, is a high-carbon-intensity method. When carbon capture methods are applied to SMR by using natural gas as feedstock, carbon emissions are minimized to a medium-to-low intensity. The hydrogen produced by this paired method is called blue hydrogen or low-carbon hydrogen. Low-carbon-intensity hydrogen is produced when a source of renewable energy and water takes the place of natural gas. Emissions are reduced to hydrogen and oxygen, with minimal carbon emissions.Hydrogen’s uses, Aguirre said, are numerous, from transportation to storage. And its consumption in the United States is only increasing. Currently, 55% of hydrogen consumption is used in refining; 35% is used with ammonia and methanol; 8% is used in other areas, such as the rocket and space industry; and 2% is used in metals production. “The challenge here is to replace the existing, current fossil-based hydrogen with a low-carbon-intensity hydrogen,” Aguirre explained.&nbsp;Just as hydrogen’s uses are growing, so too is U.S. demand. At current production, roughly 10 million tons of hydrogen are in demand per year in the U.S. for use in petroleum and metal refining, biofuels, natural gas blending, fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) and more. This demand for hydrogen holds benefits across industry lines as decarbonization efforts intensify: FCEVs no longer hold the weight of a car battery and run on electricity produced by hydrogen that can be fully charged in 20 minutes; hydrogen can minimize some of the current demand for fossil fuels and higher-carbon-intensity fuels in the steel and cement manufacturing process; and carbon emissions produced through electricity generation and natural gas blending can be replaced with cleaner energy.&nbsp;Currently, industrial decarbonization is tied to incentives like the IRA. Interest in hydrogen policy is growing across the globe, with many countries developing strategies and roadmaps to get involved. “As we keep adding these in new consumption areas,” Aguirre said, “you will see hydrogen demand can go up to closer to 100 million tons per year.”Author: Caitlin Scheresky&nbsp; caitlin.scheresky@bbiinternational.com

2025-01-14 - Exploring Hydrogen: Back to Basics (Biomass Magazine)

small_Hydrogen-SpecialReport.jpg

thumbnail_Hydrogen-SpecialReport.jpg

Hydrogen-SpecialReport.jpg

In late November, EcoEngineers presented a webinar exploring hydrogen’s place in the renewables transition. 

Exploring Hydrogen: Back to Basics

Mid-South Engineering stands at the forefront of engineering for the biomass and forest products sectors, distinguished by its unwavering commitment to clean air initiatives and sustainable practices. With a strategic focus on developing bioenergy and biomass projects, Mid-South Engineering diligently monitors critical industry trends, strategically identifying key areas of interest crucial to our clients’ success. In response to a recent surge in advancements related to the drying process, we have assisted our clients in upgrading their operations to incorporate state-of-the-art, energy-efficient machinery that enhances productivity and reduces environmental impact.&nbsp;In the past year, biochar has emerged prominently as an area of interest within the industry. Acknowledging its potential, Mid-South Engineering has harnessed its extensive expertise to conduct numerous feasibility studies tailored to our clients’ unique needs. These studies investigate the viability and potential applications of various innovative projects, including producing biochar, torrefied pellets and graphene. Our research encompasses a diverse array of materials, such as woody biomass, old corrugated containers (OCC), bagasse, municipal waste and various biochar initiatives associated with producing renewable diesel and biodiesel. This breadth of experience allows Mid-South Engineering to provide clients with comprehensive insights into the best practices and technologies available on the market.&nbsp;Another critical area of focus is the development of combined-heat-and-power (CHP) biomass plants. When clients turn to Mid-South Engineering with the ambition to construct and operate a CHP biomass facility, we employ advanced modeling techniques to assess the requirements comprehensively. This analysis enables us to balance the available raw materials with the necessary equipment, ensuring our clients can make informed, data-driven decisions regarding their capital expenditures. Throughout this process, Mid-South Engineering provides expert guidance and unwavering support, ensuring clients are well-prepared to navigate the complexities of project implementation.&nbsp;With a rich history spanning over five decades, Mid-South Engineering brings a profound wealth of experience to the table. Our commitment to mentorship and professional development of our young engineers reflects our deep investment in the industry’s future. Mid-South Engineering is passionate about educating the next generation of engineers and actively sharing our extensive expertise with clients to foster successful project outcomes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Author: Mid-South Engineering &nbsp;

2025-01-14 - The Leading Edge of Bioenergy Engineering (Biomass Magazine)

The Leading Edge of Bioenergy Engineering

Season 3, Episode 17, of the Biomass Magazine podcast features Conor Madigan, founder and CEO of sustainable liquid fuel technology company Aether Fuels. Aether had a big year in 2024, which included securing $34 million in Series A financing from a syndicate of global investors, as well as signing a memorandum of understanding with Jet Blue to supply the airline with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) when commercial production begins.&nbsp;BMM: Aether is a new company to us, and may be to many of our listeners, too. Tell us about yourself, Aether and what the company does.Madigan: I started my career founding and building another company called Kateeva, which was spun out of my PhD research … that company is in a different field … and over 13 years there, I had the chance to really learn how to build a high-tech startup from scratch, from a lab technology to scale. In 2020, after my time at Kateeva, I decided that I wanted to build another company and focus on addressing climate change. I was fortunate soon after to meet Phil Inagaki, the chief investment officer at a venture fund called Xora Innovation. We really hit it off, and zeroed in on building a company together addressing the intense need for sustainable, drop-in liquid fuels for hard-to-abate industries like aviation and ocean shipping. These are industries really striving to get to net zero, and while many industries can electrify and use renewable power to decarbonize aviation and ocean shipping, they really have no choice but to use high-density liquid fuels. Sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF as they call it, is in the news a lot and today is overwhelmingly produced using feedstocks like waste fats, oils and greases from sources like used cooking oil. That’s done with the hydrotreating process that people refer to as HEFA. These HEFA-based SAF products are a big step forward for the industry, but there just isn’t enough used cooking oil in the world to service more than a small percentage of the world’s jet fuel demand. And so, to move forward … we need to use and expand into more abundant waste feedstocks like biomass, MSW and captured CO2, and we need to figure out how to scale up that use in an economical way. Aether was founded to solve this problem and help drive decarbonization in what can be a a trillion dollar a year market.BMM: Let’s talk more about your technology. How does it work, and what about proof of concept? &nbsp;&nbsp; Listen to Madigan’s response and the podcast in full at www.biomassmagazine.com/podcastDon’t Miss an Episode:&nbsp; Season 3 | Episode 16: Paul Winters, director of public affairs and federal communications, Clean Fuels Alliance AmericaSeason 3 | Episode 15: Tim Portz, executive director, Pellet Fuels Institute&nbsp; &nbsp;

2025-01-14 - Podcast Preview: Conor Madigan, Founder and CEO, Aether Fuels (Biomass Magazine)

thumbnail_Conor-Madigan.jpg

Conor-Madigan.jpg

Podcast Preview: Conor Madigan, Founder and CEO, Aether Fuels

Global wood pellet industry stakeholders united in early November at the annual U.S. Industrial Pellet Association Conference in Miami, Florida, to discuss the state of the industry, leadership changes within the organization, new market opportunities and challenges on the road ahead.Elizabeth Woodworth, interim executive director of USIPA, emceed the event, beginning by highlighting the closure of the United Kingdom’s last coal-fired power plant, the Ratcliffe-on-Soar station in central England, which occurred in early October. “It is the first country to do that, and we can legitimately say that we’ve had a heavy hand in making that happen,” she said. “It would not have happened without our industry.”&nbsp;Woodworth said the IEA expects global investments for renewable energy to reach $3 trillion in 2024, noting the big advancements that the carbon dioxide removal sector has made, particularly bioenergy with carbon capture and storage. “A few years ago, we had a speaker from Drax talk about a BECCS project ... but it was such a dream ... today, it is an absolute reality.” Woodworth was referring to Drax’s recent launch of Elimini, a new, wholly owned, U.S.-based subsidiary focused on the development of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage in North America.Woodworth discussed the current political and economic challenges faced by the bioenergy industry, underscoring the importance of bringing forth cost-effective solutions while continuing to improve processes and technologies. ‘We’ve got to continue improving, and without question, the biomass we provide the world must continue to be predictable, reliable and above all else, sustainable. That’s the key to our to the future of our industry, no matter what path we take.”&nbsp;Challenges aside, there are tremendous opportunities for the industry, Woodworth said. “Our industry is relatively young ... approaching 20 years old, but we have proven ourselves to be resilient and adaptable, and today, we are in a period of transformative change. I believe the best is yet to come.&nbsp;“Imagine a world where large-scale bioenergy from wood pellets didn’t exist,” Woodworth continued. “Our society would be facing an even steeper and vastly more costly challenge in transitioning to cleaner energy ... Many of our companies and the jobs of the industries they support simply would not exist. Major power producers like Drax, RWE and Ørsted would likely still have to rely, at least some part, on fossil fuels for baseload power and heat ...”&nbsp;As for the industry’s growth, Woodworth said it has been remarkable, with the U.S. standing as the leading supplier to Europe, the world’s largest consumer of wood pellets. “In 2023, we exported about 10 million metric tons, valued at $1.75 billion dollars,” she said. “The industry supports well up to 5,000 jobs, having invested more than $2 billion in communities across the U.S. Southeast ... Our role is essential, not just for energy production, but the environmental health of our planet and the economic stability and security of communities around the globe—we have got to continue to grow.”&nbsp;Critical policy wins that USIPA has helped the industry achieve over the past year include a delay of the EU Deforestation Regulation and assisting with implementation of the third iteration of the Renewable Energy Directive in Denmark, which Woodworth said was “an important milestone, because that could really become a model for other countries in Europe and elsewhere.” &nbsp;In addition, Woodworth added, USIPA has commissioned important research to help validate the industry’s contributions and amplify its story.&nbsp;Telling Our Story&nbsp; Thomas Meth, cofounder of USIPA, former Enviva CEO and USIPA chair, now head of biomass at Javelin Commodities, discussed the history and road ahead for USIPA, remarking that he believes Enviva, which on Dec. 7 announced its successful emergence from the financial restructuring process, “is going to re-emerge and continue to thrive,” and that the company is in good hands with Chief Financial Officer Glenn Nunziata.&nbsp;Meth reflected on the history of USIPA and the industrial wood pellet industry, saying that in 2009, a few small producers realized that the industry needed a coordinated approach to tell its story, and thus founded USIPA. “And boy, were we right that we needed this so bad,” he said. “If you consider RED II, RED III or country-by-country adoption of different laws, if we had not told our story with our voice and our people, this story would’ve been told for us. This industry might not exist the way it does today—on the verge of great things way beyond power and energy ... in the BECCS world, but also in industrial decarbonization through renewable hydrocarbons, whether it’s the steel industry, the lime industry or sustainable aviation fuel.”&nbsp;Thomas Reilley, Meth’s replacement as chairman of USIPA, spoke next, stating that he thinks the industry “has been very much focused on the product, but needs to widen that conversation into all the opportunities that this renewable carbon can flow into,” such as direct air capture systems. “We started with [power] generation ... but we’re moving into other pathways now with BECCS, with green hydrocarbon molecules ... in chemical, ferroalloys and steel markets—there are incredible, incredible opportunities there—and the list goes on.”&nbsp;Reilley said that USIPA as an organization, and industrial wood pellets as an industry, has never had as much support around the world as they do right now, from partners including the U.S. DOE, USDA, U.S. Forest Service, and thought leaders in academia. “... we really can start talking about USIPA as something bigger than a profit, and as incredibly relevant to the energy transition,” he said. “It’s an organic industry—it’s different from any other industry, and I believe this is the most powerful transition economy that we can be a part of.”Trade Dynamics&nbsp; Daniel Whitley, administrator of the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service, took the stage following Reilley, noting that his last appearance at the USIPA event was five years ago. “A lot has changed in five years ... COVID happened, and that was impactful to everybody who works in agriculture ... we had an election in 2020 ... one thing that has not changed is American agriculture being the global leader for providing strong products and reliability all around the world.”Whitley discussed the U.S.’s trade dispute with China, during which the U.S. saw its overall exports fall to some of the lowest levels in decades. “In just one year alone, exports to China fell from $33 billion to $9 billion,” he said. “That’s just one country—exports fell about $20 billion. And then COVID happened on the heels of the China dispute ... we saw labor supply dry up, we saw supply chain disruptions, we saw the cost of inputs, fuel and fertilizer go through the roof. We saw farmers all around the world struggle ... but do you know the first set of farmers to bounce back from the COVID pandemic? American farmers.”Coming out of COVID, Whitley said, the U.S. had three record export years in a row, “because we armed our farmers and producers, foresters and ranchers, with the tools they need to be successful. And you all responded in a mighty, mighty way, and we were able to bounce back—back from the Chinese deal, bounce back from COVID, and set year after year of record exports.”Whitley referenced the U.S.’s industrial wood pellet export record of $1.75 billion last year, stating that the industry will exceed that in 2024, as the USDA-FAS’s projections exceed that number. “We heard that this industry is only about 15 years old ... but you all have one of the brightest futures of any ag [sector] out there. And being 15 years old means absolutely nothing, because the promise that this industry has is greater than many out there. We negotiate with countries each and every day, and there is not a country out there that is not looking for a cleaner, renewable energy source. Every single one of them [is].”Europe is a great customer for industrial wood pellets, Whitley said, and throughout Europe, the USDA-FAS has offices with ties to government and private sector officials to ensure the agency can provide the market intelligence and information the industry needs to continue to grow. “And it will only grow as we look at our macroeconomic factors out there,” he said. “What do we know? The global population is going to increase to 10 billion people by the year 2050. That’s a lot of people—we’re at about 8 billion today—and 25% of those folks are going to live in Africa. Two and a half billion people will be in just one region of the world ... the growth opportunity ... from those new consumers in the world, is greater than what we see in some of the more developed countries’ consumers that we now access. The potential to grow in new markets and new places is off the charts. And part of what we’re doing at FAS now is providing funding to help market and promote your products in new markets.”Whitley emphasized export potential in countries outside of traditional trade partners like China, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Japan, highlighting Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. “Southeast Asia represents the fastest growth of consumers from low income to middle class,” he said. “Southeast Asia puts a premium on the American brand. If you go to any of those countries—Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam—with an American product, it will sell there. We do extremely well in that region of the world, and they have a growing population, they have a growing GDP, and they already have a preference of American products over many of our competitors. So, you are all poised to do extremely well.”Apart from opportunities, Whitley acknowledged that the trade industry is not without challenges, adding that the EU Deforestation Regulation is a priority of the FAS. The agency aligns with the intentions of preventing deforestation and promoting responsible land use change, he said, but “we want to be sure is that the data they use is accurate, we want to make sure that the assessment of the data is accurate, and we want to make sure that there is time to digest the premise of this legislation and ensure that we have time for any implementation of changes that our industry has to make.” &nbsp;Whitley said during the one-year delay of implementation, the FAS will continue its discussions and negotiations and working with the industry, as there are many like interests in a delay of implementation. “But one thing I know for sure is that this industry is responsible and reliable, and goes about it in a sustainable way.” Author: Anna Simet&nbsp; Editor, Biomass Magazine&nbsp; asimet@bbiinternational.com

2025-01-14 - Eyeing New Opportunities (Biomass Magazine)

small_Feat1-Lede_BMM1-25.jpg

thumbnail_Feat1-Lede_BMM1-25.jpg

Feat1-Lede_BMM1-25.jpg

small_Feat1-Woodworth_BMM1-25.jpg

thumbnail_Feat1-Woodworth_BMM1-25.jpg

Feat1-Woodworth_BMM1-25.jpg

medium_Feat1-Whitley_BMM1-25.jpg

small_Feat1-Whitley_BMM1-25.jpg

thumbnail_Feat1-Whitley_BMM1-25.jpg

Feat1-Whitley_BMM1-25.jpg

Coming off a record year with another likely to follow, the U.S. industrial export industry is positioning to expand its role in global decarbonization efforts. 

Eyeing New Opportunities

Born from the minds of oilfield veterans, Myno Carbon entered the biochar industry with strong intentions and great motivation in 2022. Faced with the need for change in a fossil fuel-forward energy industry, CEO and Cofounder Thor Kallestad and his team emerged with Myno Carbon, a biochar production company in Washington, with the goal of leaving the earth cleaner than they found it. &nbsp;“We’d all developed, over the years, a real kind of climate sensibility, wanting to really do something about climate change,” Kallestad says. “All of us have kids. It got us, so we started a business.”It was Kallestad’s daughter, Ella, who coined the company name. One of her earliest babbles, “myno,” was a term she used to express excitement or happiness. “We figured that was as good as any and everybody liked it,” Kallestad says. “Now, we’ve got to really make something have a big impact for her and all the other kids out there.”Biochar, Kallestad says, was always Myno’s product of choice. “Who really got us on biochar was my cofounder, Tom Casten, a big biochar pioneer,” Kallestad credits. “It sounded really attractive to me right out of the gates.”&nbsp;Kallestad and Casten began reaching out to friends from the oilfield and received overwhelming support. “Most guys had already left the [oil] industry and either retired or had kind of gone on their own climate journeys,” Kallestad explains. “So, everybody was already ripe to go at some of this stuff, and all good friends that I’ve known for a real long time.”Method to Myno&nbsp; One of the key benefits of biochar production is the ability to generate three different revenue streams—from biochar, carbon dioxide removal credits (CDRs) and syngas. Biochar production, Kallestad explains, is the lowest-cost way to remove carbon from the atmosphere. “The breakeven cost—the economics of it—are a lot lower than something like direct air capture machines. It appealed to our sensibilities.”Along with its economic benefits, Kallestad says that the team was drawn to biochar because of its physical qualities. “Biochar has commercial value and a variety of applications,” he explains. “It could help with the business model if you’re selling something rather than just trying to put all the carbon into an old reservoir for sequestration or something.”Myno’s CDRs are tied directly to how much biochar they produce. One CDR represents one metric ton of CO2 kept out of the atmosphere. “It’s basically a tangible accounting record that we can then sell to third parties to meet their own carbon removal goals,” Kallestad says. The more common carbon offset credits an entity for the carbon they’ve counteracted by paying for a separate entity’s carbon mitigation. The market for offsets compared to CDRs is vast: data from AlliedOffsets, CDP and Trencher et. al, compiled by Carbon Brief, determines that of the offsets purchased by top 50 companies, only 8% removed carbon from the atmosphere, and only 0.6% of those removal credits originated from biochar initiatives.&nbsp;Syngas is produced alongside biochar as a natural byproduct. Often, syngas is burnt off in smaller-scale power generation or turned into wood vinegar, Kallestad explains. By his rough estimate, 40% of the carbon in feedstocks become biochar and the other 60% becomes syngas. “There’s probably going to be all sorts of opportunities in new markets for that biobased syngas to displace other fossil-intensive products out there in the marketplace.”For the past two years, Myno has been in the process of constructing its first Carbon Removal Facility. CRFs bring in woody biomass waste feedstocks and convert the carbon into biochar through pyrolysis. “This is really like the oilfield in reverse,” says Kallestad. Myno’s CFO Brian Cooper coined the phrase amongst the team, Kallestad continues. “Instead of getting it out of the crust and it going up to the sky, it’s keeping it out of the sky or getting it down into the soil, in the case of biochar.”Early operations within Myno initially focused on its first CRF to operate out of Kettle Falls, Washington. Myno won a Washington State Department of Commerce Industrial Symbiosis grant in 2022, partnering with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to work toward incorporation of carbon capture, storage and utilization (CCUS) into Myno’s facility production. By utilizing the excess heat from CRF pyrolysis and concentrated CO2 emissions, carbon could be sourced from Washington’s crushed basalt, potentially producing a liming product to improve agricultural soil health.Due to initial concerns with the scalability of production and sales within its biochar production plans, Myno looked elsewhere to develop the first facility. The company landed on Port Angeles, Washington, and got to work on construction in 2023. In the same year, Myno partnered with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to sequester carbon and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in the state. Under this partnership, Myno will take in forest waste from DNR-managed timberlands to produce biochar and renewable electricity. Once Myno is fully operational—currently predicted for mid-2026—its CRFs will utilize 183,000 bone dry tons of sustainable biomass residuals to produce 70,000 tons of biochar and 20 megawatts of baseload renewable energy, states the company’s letter of intent.In Oct. 2024, Myno was awarded a $20.4 million Fertilizer Production Expansion Program grant by the USDA to finance the construction of the Port Angeles facility. This facility, CRF 001, will annually produce 20,000 dry tons of renewable carbon products. Recently, Myno has joined the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Roadside Sustainability Project to create and preserve pollinator habitats and sequester carbon outside of Olympia, Washington. The project aims to test different soil amendments in several plots including biochar-amended compost with Myno-produced biochar, biotic soil amendment with biochar and independent compost. Paying the Premium&nbsp; The benefits of biochar are exactly why companies are willing to pay a premium for the credits they purchase from Myno. Feedstock can rot, producing methane; offsets are difficult to scale and the efficacy of “canceling out” carbon emissions is questionable; and many companies purchasing offsets to meet legal requirements are accused of greenwashing. According to Carbon Brief, greenwashing is used to describe the false, misleading or untrue claims about an entity’s positive impact on the environment. “There’s a lot of black eyes around, you know, avoidances and some of these different credits that have gone south,” Kallestad notes.For this reason, Kallestad says that Myno is holding back on monetizing avoidance credits and is instead boosting its CDRs. “There’s no headline risk associated with this as there is with [offsets]. You can maybe get a whole bunch more avoidances for the same amount of money and make a lot of noise about that, but if it turns out the math is wrong—to no fault of their own—there is that headline risk component.”&nbsp;This added security comes at a cost. CDRs are much more expensive than offsets, because they physically remove the carbon from the atmosphere, versus paying for emissions. According to Net0’s article “Carbon Offsetting for Businesses,” the average offset credit costs about $12 per ton of carbon emissions. Myno is aiming to sell its credits for less than $100 per metric ton of emissions, a much cheaper option to alternative CDRs, with some reaching $1,000 per metric ton, albeit a jump from offsets. “It’s provable. It’s very transparent about how much carbon was removed,” Kallestad says.&nbsp;With great power comes great responsibility, Kallestad recognizes. “It’s a very important thing to us that the CDR buyers out there would purchase these credits for all the right reasons. We have very strict sustainability requirements.”&nbsp;Myno plans to become a Sustainable Forestry Initiative-certified buyer of biomass feedstock. It will take its sustainability a step further by working closely with feedstock partners to incorporate the 3-Log fiber tracking and accounting system, and, following Verra’s procurement standards, hiring a third party to audit Myno’s procurement practices and ensure its feedstock sourcing meets governmental, tribal and independent standards.&nbsp;Now, Kallestad says Myno’s focus is on market development. “There’s a general awareness that a lot of these product lines in the economy have to be decarbonized,” he explains. “But I think conceptually is the best way to think about the product, because this carbon can then displace fossil forms of carbon, be it in fertilizers or activated carbon for water filtration.” Kallestad hopes that this development will convert interest into action.Kallestad cites Myno’s biggest obstacle as getting CRF 001 up and running. “This will sound like a contradiction, but we haven’t focused our numbers so much on the longer term. It’s all about long-term success and alignment, and that long term comes together by nailing the shorter-term stuff,” Kallestad explains. “It is profitable to remove carbon. The LCA around our project is negative and we remove more carbon than is emitted by the project. And there are investor returns. That’s really the name of the game, to mix a negative LCA with an attractive IRR.”Looking Beyond&nbsp; Utilizing reclaimed wood waste and debris, Kallestad says Myno would like to produce biochar for the green steel, asphalt and concrete industries. “We see two broadly different types of feedstocks leading to two different biochar products: a premium and a commodity biochar, for these different market applications.” Kallestad says that conversations with fertilizer companies are already in the early stages.&nbsp;CRF 001 is projected to be up and running by mid-2026, and Myno aims to have six fully functioning facilities by 2030. “We’re heavily focused on precision agriculture, a little bit on remediation, metals, mine sites, etcetera. But precision agriculture for liquid fertilizers is one of the ones we’re making and sending samples out for consumer trials.”&nbsp;In the meantime, Kallestad says that Myno’s focus is making solid partnerships. “We’re actively going through a real elaborate process of market development and securing LOIs for offtake for biochar products,” he explains.&nbsp;The symbiotic relationship between Myno and the DNR connects Myno to Washington growers. Myno’s liquid biochar can be mixed directly with fertilization systems. Current trials have been encouraging, Kallestad says. “This has got us thinking about pipeline location and where else to go next.”&nbsp;Currently, Myno’s liquid biochar is used via samples for precision work in northwest Washington, but Kallestad says he hopes to see a fertilizer company-backed, biochar-enhanced fertilizer grow from their drop-in solution now. “Once people start paying a lot more for a refined product rather than something that came out of a biomass boiler, then the industry really takes off.” Author: Caitlin Scheresky&nbsp; Junior Staff Writer, Biomass Magazine&nbsp; caitlin.scheresky@bbiinternational.com

2025-01-14 - Zeroing in on Carbon (Biomass Magazine)

small_Feat2-BiocharLede_BMM1-25.jpg

thumbnail_Feat2-BiocharLede_BMM1-25.jpg

Feat2-BiocharLede_BMM1-25.jpg

thumbnail_Feat2-ThorKallestad_BMM1-25.jpg

Feat2-ThorKallestad_BMM1-25.jpg

small_Feat2-MynoPortAngeles_BMM1-25.jpg

thumbnail_Feat2-MynoPortAngeles_BMM1-25.jpg

Feat2-MynoPortAngeles_BMM1-25.jpg

small_Feat2-MynoLiquified-Biochar_BMM1-25.jpg

thumbnail_Feat2-MynoLiquified-Biochar_BMM1-25.jpg

Feat2-MynoLiquified-Biochar_BMM1-25.jpg

Biochar production company Myno is on track to have its first carbon removal facility operating by 2026.

Zeroing in on Carbon

Landfills are ubiquitous across the United States, a vital piece of metropolitan infrastructure and a growing environmental challenge for waste management companies across the nation. Constituting 14% of total U.S. methane emissions in 2022, municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are the third-largest methane emitter, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.Recognizing the vast potential to extract value from landfills while capturing methane, Vision RNG partners with operators to design, build, own and operate landfill gas (LFG)-to-renewable natural gas (RNG) infrastructure on-site. The company leverages its expertise in waste management, natural gas infrastructure and project development to keep timelines on track.&nbsp;Bill Johnson, CEO of Vision RNG, has over three decades of experience in the construction industry and oil and gas space. Throughout his career, he has gained substantial experience in developing and executing projects. He explains that a key differentiator for Vision RNG is the company’s experience, efficiency and speed of execution. When the company started in 2021, leadership made the decision to recruit a team with expertise in landfill natural gas and traditional natural gas, as well as the experience in engineering, construction and project management needed for developing an industrial gas site. Acquiring all this talent up front has helped the company get projects built and running quickly, with two projects already producing RNG—one in Missouri and one in Kentucky—three and a half years after the company started.&nbsp;Vision RNG is not slowing down and has a full pipeline of projects in different stages of development: two large projects are currently under construction in Ohio; three projects are in the engineering phase, transitioning to the construction phase in the next few months; two more projects are also in development; three projects are signed for, but work has not started as of print date; and finally, two sites have had letters of intent issued for projects.&nbsp;“It’s quite a good pipeline, considering it takes at least two years to build the projects, and we only started a little over three years ago,” Johnson says. “We feel really good about where our where our progress has been with the development.”Problem to Product&nbsp; The two major problems that landfill operators face are environmental concerns related to emissions and odor problems. “The only reason landfills have odor is because gas is coming out,” Johnson says. “And it is sort of a miserable gas because of all the rotten stuff that’s [in there]. That can be a public relations problem—no one wants to live near a landfill and smell a terrible smell.”Landfills with a design capacity 2.5 million metric tons and 2.5 million cubic meters of waste must install and operate a gas collection system, according to the EPA’s 2016 updates to the New Source Performance Standards.&nbsp;Combusting the gas is a traditional means of controlling the gas. “Think of it as poking a bunch of holes in the landfill, and sucking the gas out,” Johnson says. “Instead of it emanating into the atmosphere, you’re sucking it all to one place, and basically, you put it into a flare and burn it. So, that’s better than emitting it to the atmosphere because you’re destroying it in the flare—the chemical process of burning it destroys it.”Although this does reduce odors for the local community and methane emissions, the gas is not being put to beneficial use. Systems like the ones Vision RNG installs maximizes LFG collection and no gas is emitted to the atmosphere, thus reducing odors and emissions even further while transforming the problem into a valuable product.LFG: Challenges and Benefits&nbsp; Vision RNG focuses on landfill gas projects exclusively, due to the scale and economic efficiency of the process. “We like landfills because of the consistency of the gas and the volume of it,” he says. “One good-sized landfill project is probably five to 20 times the size of [a] digester, as far as the amount of gas ... There’s a great efficiency there, and that helps with the ... economics of building the gas processing plants.”Working out the chemistry of waste degradation in anerobic digester facilities—which process food or animal waste, turning it into methane—can be a challenge, and Vision RNG prefers to let the landfill do the decomposition on its own. However, LFG comes with its own processing challenges, according to Johnson. Because the waste decomposition happens in the uncontrolled environment of the landfill’s depths, the chemical composition of the emitted methane is outside of Vision RNG’s control. For this reason, the processing plant must be able to handle the variable parameters of raw LFG and clean it up to pipeline quality. “The benefit of the digester is [that] you have a narrower range of what you’re getting in the way of gas out of the digester, and we have sort of a wider chemical makeup of what could be in there,” Johnson says. “That will vary from landfill to landfill, based on what kind of waste they have [put] in the landfill over the years.”Because the landfill acts as a “big digester,” examining the makeup of a landfill’s contents is a key part of the project development process along with studying parameters such as local rainfall and temperature, all of which play a role in determining the quality and volume of LFG.&nbsp;Vision RNG customizes the process for each project, utilizing its in-house project and construction management expertise as well as its engineering team, determining which design is the best fit. The company is not associated with any particular technology provider, allowing the freedom to use whichever technology will work best at a given location. “We look at picking and choosing the right technology for the right application of a certain landfill,” Johnson says. Factors such as the gas’ chemical composition and the landfill’s size help select which technology will work best. The team will examine waste intake logs to aid in determining the &nbsp;amount of organic material is present—more organic material equals more LFG. Landfill density, depth and geometry also play a role in determining the rate of gas expulsion and length of time during which the gas is produced.Process Flow&nbsp;&nbsp; The process for developing an LFG-to-RNG project can be divided into three main sections, according to Johnson. First, Vision RNG optimizes—or installs—a gas collection system.&nbsp;Smaller landfills may not yet have a gas collection system in place. In this situation, Vision RNG will help the landfill operator install a system designed for optimal LFG collection. For example, if a landfill had 20 wells in place to meet requirements, Johnson and his team may recommend installing 60 wells in a smaller area to collect more gas. “It absolutely keeps any methane from leaking out at that point because you’re sucking even more of it out,” he says. “And it gives us a lot more gas volume, and that’s what we want because we’re going to put it to beneficial use.”In the second phase, Vision RNG installs a processing plant onsite that cleans the gas stream, purifying it to pipeline-quality methane. The third piece of the project that Vision RNG works out is the problem of how and where to sell the RNG. “Probably 90% of the time we’re going to build a small pipeline to interconnect with a commercial pipeline that can buy our gas,” Johnson says. “And that pipeline we’re connecting to has some specification as to the chemical composition of that methane stream and how much volume they can take.”The pipeline may only need to be 1,000 feet or a few miles long, depending on the location. Metering equipment to measure the quality and volume of the gas will also be installed wherever the two lines intersect. If there is no pipeline access, the gas can be compressed and moved by truck, which is more expensive but may be necessary in an area with no pipeline nearby. RNG derived from LFG has a higher carbon intensity (CI) score—40 to 50 points—than most RNG obtained from digesters, which can attain a negative CI score.&nbsp;Once injected into the pipeline, the gas can be used for a wide range of applications. Vision RNG’s fuel has been used to help decarbonize the vehicle fuels market as a low-CI alternative to fossil fuel natural gas for trucks running on compressed natural gas. Another use for the company’s RNG is in gas utilities, as some have set goals to displace 5% to 15% of their total volume with RNG. The third application Johnson discusses is electricity generation via an RNG-powered generator. This renewable energy could be used for data centers or electric utilities.Good All Around&nbsp; LFG projects offer benefits for everyone involved, according to Johnson. Installing a landfill gas RNG project solves problems for local residents and landfill gas operators, as well as offering Vision RNG a source of raw LFG.Not only do landfill operators solve public relations issues caused by odors and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they also receive financial benefits from the project. Vision RNG generally contracts the gas rights from the landfill for 20 to 30 years, and the landfill gets a portion of Vision’s profits, granting them another income stream. As new landfills have become more difficult to permit, Johnson believes that the trend toward permit expansions and extensions will continue. As this happens, Vision RNG could also seek to extend its contract for purchasing the landfill’s gas as long as it continues to operate.“One of the reasons I’m doing this is because I like the business model ... it’s good for everybody,” Johnson says. “It’s good for the community, and it’s good for us, because we get a product that we wouldn’t otherwise have. We’re decarbonizing the methane emissions coming out of the landfill and we’re displacing fossil fuel because we’re generating a renewable source of natural gas versus a hydrocarbon natural gas. And [the landfill is] getting money out of it through the royalty. I think it’s good, good and good.”Author: Katie Schroeder&nbsp; Associate Editor, Biomass Magazine&nbsp; Katie.schroeder@bbiinternational.com&nbsp;

2025-01-17 - Executing a Vision for the Common Good (Biomass Magazine)

small_RNG-replacement-pic.jpg

thumbnail_RNG-replacement-pic.jpg

RNG-replacement-pic.jpg

thumbnail_Feat3-Bill-Johnson.jpg

Feat3-Bill-Johnson.jpg

small_Feat3-VRNG-Locations.jpg

thumbnail_Feat3-VRNG-Locations.jpg

Feat3-VRNG-Locations.jpg

small_Feat3-Plant_BMM1-25.jpg

thumbnail_Feat3-Plant_BMM1-25.jpg

Feat3-Plant_BMM1-25.jpg

Just three years after its renewable natural gas industry debut, Vision RNG has made significant accomplishments that align with its mission to provide mid-sized landfill owners with solutions to capture, process and commercialize landfill gas.

Executing a Vision for the Common Good

It’s widely understood that moisture content of woody biomass critically influences energy output. The higher the moisture content, the less energy it generates during combustion. For this reason, biomass power facilities rigorously measure the moisture content of incoming biomass to ensure they receive the fuel quality they’re paying for. This measurement is even formalized in industry standards such as ASTM and ISO.What’s less recognized, however, is that even the most precise moisture sensors can fail if the samples themselves aren’t representative of the biomass load. When manual samples are taken from only the surface or a couple of locations on the load, they often yield drier readings than the actual moisture level throughout the load. This practice can result in a significant underestimation of the total moisture content, with facilities unknowingly paying more for biomass that contains less usable energy than anticipated.There Must be a Better Way&nbsp; With the introduction of automated sampling systems that take multiple samples from various depths, facilities can now achieve a truly representative measurement of moisture content. These systems correct for the bias introduced by manual sampling, ensuring more accurate moisture content data points. The impact on procurement costs is substantial: an average-sized biomass power facility could potentially see savings exceeding $1 million annually by correcting this sampling error.Automating moisture measurement as part of the sampling process brings additional benefits, providing instant moisture data and allowing real-time adjustments.Savings Calculations for a Biomass Plant&nbsp; In Figure 1, considered is a 20-MW, electricity-only biomass power plant located in the Northwest U.S. To sustain continuous operations, the plant requires approximately 480 megawatt-hours (MWh) of fuel energy per day. At a plant efficiency of 25%, the required fuel energy input is 1,920 MWh per day, which translates to 770 metric tons (mt) of biomass, assuming an average energy content of 2.5 MWh per ton, when moisture content is 50%. This is equivalent to 25 truckloads of 30 mt each.We assume a $60 per bone-dry ton (BDT) biomass price and a 5% moisture measurement error in manual sampling, which is a typical error based on Prometec’s field data from biomass facilities worldwide.&nbsp;This example shows that a 5% moisture measurement error from unrepresentative manual sampling can lead to overpayments exceeding $760,000 annually for a 20-MW biomass electricity plant. Automated sampling systems eliminate these inaccuracies, ensuring precise moisture readings and significant cost savings.Bone Dry vs. Green Tonnage&nbsp; For facilities paying for wood chip fuel based on green tonnage, improving sampling and moisture measurement accuracy may not directly affect pricing. However, automated sampling with real-time moisture data provides several other benefits.• Optimized fuel blending: Knowing moisture content before unloading allows facilities to blend fuel more effectively across different yard piles for optimal drying.• Boiler efficiency adjustment: For facilities that burn biomass directly upon arrival, accurate moisture readings enable real-time boiler adjustments, enhancing combustion efficiency.• Employee safety: Automated systems eliminate the need for employees to climb ladders to collect samples, reducing fall risks and exposure to biomass dust.• Continuous 24/7 receiving: With automation, truck drivers initiate sampling and measurement without needing facility staff present, allowing receiving operations to run around the clock.• Accurate feedback to suppliers: If a biomass load exceeds the agreed moisture range, plant managers can notify suppliers immediately, or even give them access to real-time data online. This continuous monitoring encourages suppliers to consistently deliver higher-quality biomass, as they aim to avoid penalties or complaints. As a result, power facilities benefit from lower average moisture content in their fuel, reducing the total biomass needed and saving procurement costs over time.Prometec Q-Robot: A Pioneering Solution in Automated Sampling&nbsp; For over a decade, Prometec has been at the forefront of developing fully automated biomass sampling solutions, now in use in several countries worldwide. The Q-Robot collects samples randomly from multiple points across each load’s length, width and depth, offering a truly representative measure of moisture content that traditional manual sampling cannot match. Real-time moisture data is analyzed and stored securely in a cloud-based database, allowing facility operators to make fast, data-driven decisions for procurement and operational adjustments. This approach not only helps avoid overpayment for biomass but also enhances safety and efficiency in handling deliveries.Prometec Q-Robot offers both fully automated and semiautomated sampling stations, adaptable to diverse facility needs. Designed to work seamlessly with various crushed and solid materials, Q-Robot delivers precise, representative samples, addressing the limitations of manual sampling methods. Real-time moisture data empowers biomass facilities to reduce procurement costs, enhance safety and optimize fuel handling processes.How it Works&nbsp; The Q-Robot truck sampler drills multiple samples randomly at various depths and points across each load, combining them to form a single, representative sample of the entire load’s moisture content. With a built-in machine vision system, Q-Robot identifies optimal sampling spots and avoids structural obstructions, ensuring accurate and safe sampling. Additionally, the system calculates load volume, providing a crucial input for real-time moisture data calculations that support better logistics and supply chain management.Samples taken by Q-Robot can be analyzed immediately by its integrated real-time moisture sensor or sent to a lab for further testing. Prometec’s multiyear field studies show that Q-Robot significantly improves moisture data accuracy, reducing efficiency calculation errors by an average of 5% compared to manual sampling methods. This increased accuracy supports better overall energy efficiency for power plants.Precise moisture measurement can make a multimillion-dollar difference for biomass power facilities. By adopting automated, real-time solutions, biomass energy operators will not only save on procurement costs, but also improve operational efficiency and safety.Author: Andy Korhonen&nbsp; Vice President, U.S. Operations&nbsp; Prometec Oy&nbsp; www.prometec.fi&nbsp; andy@prometec.fi&nbsp; &nbsp;

2025-01-16 - Stop Overpaying for Biomass:  The Power of Automated Sampling and Real-Time Moisture Analysis (Biomass Magazine)

small_Contribution4-ManualSampling.jpg

thumbnail_Contribution4-ManualSampling.jpg

Contribution4-ManualSampling.jpg

small_Cont1-Sidebar.jpg

thumbnail_Cont1-Sidebar.jpg

Cont1-Sidebar.jpg

small_Contribution4-Figure2.jpg

thumbnail_Contribution4-Figure2.jpg

Contribution4-Figure2.jpg

small_Contribution4-Prometec_FVF.jpg

thumbnail_Contribution4-Prometec_FVF.jpg

Contribution4-Prometec_FVF.jpg

small_Contribution-4-Lede.jpg

thumbnail_Contribution-4-Lede.jpg

Contribution-4-Lede.jpg

Precise moisture measurement can make a multimillion-dollar difference for biomass power facilities.

Stop Overpaying for Biomass:  The Power of Automated Sampling and Real-Time Moisture Analysis

The aviation industry sits at a critical juncture as the world focuses on achieving net-zero goals. In the wake of COP29, conversations around green transportation technology progress have reached new heights, with sustainable aviation attracting greater focus than ever. Innovation in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has led to breakthroughs in production technology and feedstock utilization; however, meeting current and projected SAF demand remains a challenge. According to Bloomberg, SAF supply must grow 16-fold by 2030 to alight with net-zero emissions targets, a daunting prospect with just five years to go.There is a looming gap between supply and demand. Commentary fixates on singular solutions and their pros and cons, such as the limited supply of used cooking oil or the almost infinite potential supply of e-fuels (or conversely, their high costs). But there will not be a silver bullet solution. To address the challenge of supplying SAF, a flexible mindset must be embraced—one that values diversity and recognizes the advantage of leveraging abundant waste carbon feedstock streams, accelerating SAF scale-up sustainably, economically and ethically.Broadening the Foundations&nbsp; Today, SAF production relies heavily on the hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) process. HEFA converts waste fats, oils and greases from sources like used cooking oil (UCO) and animal fats. While HEFA has been crucial for SAF development, supply constraints are already acute. T&amp;E notes that Europe burns through eight times more UCO than it collects domestically, while China, the largest UCO supplier, is soon expected to &nbsp;exhaust its resources. Pressure on the supply chain means more expensive feedstocks can and will incentivize fraud, undermining the integrity of finished fuel product. These challenges highlight that HEFA-based SAF alone cannot meet the industry’s sustainability and scalability goals.Are E-fuels Alone the Answer?&nbsp; Green hydrogen and captured CO2 can produce “e-fuels,” touted as the ultimate SAF solution due to theoretically unlimited feedstocks. E-fuel boosters argue that theoretical feedstock abundance means no other pathways are needed, and in the long run, only e-fuels. E-fuel skeptics, however, maintain that the high cost of green hydrogen makes e-fuels prohibitively expensive, arguing it will be decades, if ever, before e-fuels make economic sense (when compared to other sustainable fuel routes.) Underlying skeptics’ concern is the vast amount of renewable power e-fuels require, and increasing market competition from electric vehicles and data centers. The likely future reality will be more complex—and the solutions more diverse.This probable reality argues for the deployment of versatile technologies capable of processing a variety of feedstocks, including green H2 and CO2 (as in the e-fuel process), but also sustainably sourced CO and CH4 and bio-derived H2, which may be more readily available at reasonable costs today. Such streams can be obtained from forestry and agricultural residues, municipal solid waste and biogas. Taking a diversified approach will enable the SAF industry to scale production faster and more cost effectively than if it remains focused solely on HEFA or e-fuel, which is critical to ensuring the nascent recent growth doesn’t stall.It is worth noting that technologies that can economically scale today using biowaste feedstocks or municipal solid waste (MSW), and be deployed in e-fuel configurations, will have an intrinsic advantage over technologies limited to one feedstock category. Such technologies can leverage biowaste feeds and MSW today to build at commercial scale, then leverage that experience to outperform e-fuel-only technologies, capitalizing on the e-fuel wave once hydrogen prices fall enough to make e-fuels cost-competitive with other sustainable fuels.Finding the Right Type of Carbon&nbsp; With five short years until 2030, there is no time to waste. While SAF produced through HEFA using ag-based feedstocks like canola oil and soybean oil can offer a temporary solution, they can compete with food production and are excluded from SAF eligibility in some regions, like the EU. &nbsp;Cover and rotation crops are potential solutions, as they avoid direct competition with food, but they still compete with resources like water, land and fertilizer, and changing farming practices on a large scale will take time.Many waste-derived feedstocks are already abundant and readily available today, including forestry and agricultural residues, industrial off-gasses, MSW and biogas derived from anaerobic digestion of organic wastes. While each feedstock has its own logistical and economic challenges, they can be overcome, particularly if one takes a localized approach to feedstock processing and aggregation. &nbsp;Focusing on waste-derived feedstocks has the add-on benefit of helping build greater regional energy independence, since every region in the world produces carbonaceous waste.&nbsp;Rigorous life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies to accurately account for GHG emission reductions, robust traceability standards and adherence to global certification schemes are fundamental to ensuring the sustainability of both feedstocks and SAF. LCAs provide a comprehensive evaluation of the full environmental impact of a fuel, from feedstock sourcing and processing to use in aircraft, ensuring SAF delivers genuine GHG reductions compared to conventional, fossil-based fuel. Global certification schemes such as the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation establish transparent and consistent standards and methodologies for evaluating sustainability, promoting accountability and verifying compliance across supply chains. These certification schemes ensure that SAF feedstocks meet stringent criteria, including avoiding deforestation, protecting biodiversity and promoting social equity.&nbsp;Transparent standards and robust traceability mechanisms by recognized certification bodies like the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification or the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials safeguard against unsustainable practices by providing record of feedstock origin and processing methods. Truly sustainable SAF is derived from feedstocks that do not deplete natural resources—true waste carbon feedstocks.&nbsp; Waste feedstocks alone may not be able to meet SAF demand, but estimates suggest they can contribute significantly. A 2020 McKinsey report found that forestry residues, agricultural residues, MSW and wood waste could meet 90% of global jet fuel demand in 2030. Improved efficiency routes using supplemental hydrogen could more than double that number. &nbsp;The question shouldn’t be whether one feedstock can solve the problem alone; it should be whether a given feedstock can be a meaningful and economical component of the solution.Author: Alyssa Norris&nbsp; Director of Sustainability, Aether Fuels&nbsp; www.aetherfuels.com

2025-01-14 - The Path to Sustainable Aviation: Embracing Feedstock Diversity  and Innovation (Biomass Magazine)

small_Cont1-Lede-iStock2152046671_BMM1-25.jpg

thumbnail_Cont1-Lede-iStock2152046671_BMM1-25.jpg

Cont1-Lede-iStock2152046671_BMM1-25.jpg

thumbnail_Cont1-Alyssa-Norris_BMM1-25.jpg

Cont1-Alyssa-Norris_BMM1-25.jpg

The SAF industry’s path forward depends on utilizing many feedstock streams, mastering complex value chains and embracing innovative technologies.

The Path to Sustainable Aviation: Embracing Feedstock Diversity  and Innovation

Maine’s forestry sector has faced significant challenges due to the decline of the paper industry, while the state’s agriculture industry contends with per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) contamination left after decades of spreading biosolids on agricultural land, affecting soil and water quality. Standard Biocarbon (SBC), a cleantech company based in Enfield, Maine, is tackling both issues by converting sawmill residuals into premium biochar, thereby rejuvenating the local forestry economy and providing a potent tool for the remediation of agricultural land.An Existing Resource&nbsp; Maine’s forests generate over 2 million tons of low-grade wood annually, including sawmill residuals. Over the past decade, the state has experienced significant volatility in markets for these materials, losing over 4 million tons of low-grade wood demand as paper and biomass power production has declined. SBC’s biochar facility, colocated with Pleasant River Lumber, offers a new use for residual wood chips, increasing the efficiency of the local forestry sector where sustainable harvest practices are strict, and no part of the tree can go unused. This partnership exemplifies circular economy principles by utilizing sawmill byproducts—wood chips, pins and fines—that would otherwise be trucked long distances to be combusted or made into paper. These residuals are now transformed into biochar, creating a new revenue stream for forestry businesses while ensuring healthy, productive working forests. &nbsp; &nbsp;Advanced Technology&nbsp; SBC’s biochar production facility utilizes the first PYREG system for biomass installed in the United States. This two-story system comprises three main components: a reactor, dust separator and flameless combustion chamber. The production process begins with the combustion chamber and reactors being preheated using external gas, such as propane or natural gas. Biomass is then fed into the pyrolysis reactor. Once the reactor reaches a threshold temperature, the external gas is no longer needed, as the heat inside the reactors causes the wood chips to release synthesis gas (syngas), which passes through the dust separator and into the flameless combustion chamber, where it is safely and efficiently incinerated at temperatures of over 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit.&nbsp;The combustion of the syngas generates renewable thermal energy, which is moved over the reactors, thereby sustaining the autothermal process. This means that no further external energy is required. Furthermore, the excess thermal energy from this process is directed to a heat exchanger, whereby producing hot water for drying the biomass and providing heat for the site.Inside the reactor, the biomass reaches around 1,200 F in a near oxygen-free environment, producing biochar with 90% pure carbon content. The system became fully operational in October 2024, with an ambitious goal of producing 50 cubic yards of biochar per day. Fred Horton, co-owner of SBC, emphasizes the precision and efficiency of the process. “Our PYREG technology not only ensures the highest-quality biochar, but also allows us to scale production efficiently while maximizing the value of residual materials,” he says.Biochar: a PFAS Remediation Tool&nbsp; One of biochar’s most promising applications is its ability to address contamination caused by PFAS. These “forever chemicals” are notoriously persistent in the environment and have been linked to health risks such as kidney and testicular cancers. Maine, in particular, has grappled with PFAS contamination in farmland due to sludge spread in past decades. Horton highlights biochar’s role in combating PFAS contamination. “Biochar is very much like activated carbon—it can filter out heavy metals, arsenic, lead and other toxins in the soil, including PFAS,” he explains.SBC’s high-carbon biochar, produced using PYREG’s technology, is especially effective due to its purity and high sorption potential. The biochar binds PFAS, preventing the chemicals from entering crops and water systems. “While research is still ongoing to determine how long biochar holds PFAS and how much is needed for effective remediation, the hope is that a single application can interrupt the uptake permanently,” Horton adds. &nbsp;This capability makes biochar a game-changing solution for regions dealing with PFAS contamination, offering farmers and communities a tool to restore soil health and safety.SBC produces premium biochar with an organic carbon content exceeding 90%, very high surface area, ash content below 2%, and a pH of approximately 8. Benefits include a range of applications, including the following: &nbsp;● Soil health and productivity. Biochar improves soil structure, retains moisture, and enhances nutrient availability.● Environmental remediation. Due to its high porosity and surface area, SBC’s biochar binds toxins like heavy metals and PFAS, reducing contamination risks in soils and water.● Carbon sequestration. For every ton of biochar produced, approximately three tons of CO2 are removed from the atmosphere and stored in a stable form for millennia.Biochar with consistent quality and high carbon content also enables SBC to generate more carbon credits, further enhancing the project’s environmental and economic value. Use of PYREG’s digital MRV (measurement, reporting and verification) provides absolute verification of both biochar quality and the metrics needed for PYREG’s life cycle assessment.A Model for the Biomass Industry&nbsp; SBC’s project represents a significant milestone for the biomass industry. It showcases how residual materials, often seen as waste, can be upcycled into a product that supports sustainable forestry, environmental remediation and climate action. This model is particularly relevant as the biomass industry seeks to align with global sustainability goals. By creating a circular, high-value production process, SBC demonstrates how biomass can be leveraged not only for energy, but also for long-term carbon storage and soil enhancement.The Standard Biocarbon facility is more than just a cleantech success story—it’s a blueprint for scaling biochar production by leveraging existing forestry infrastructure and expertise to address pervasive large-scale problems like water and soil contamination, and resilience to extreme weather. By combining innovative technology with sustainable feedstock sourcing practices, SBC is delivering economic, environmental and societal benefits that resonate far beyond Maine.As the industry continues to adapt to new challenges, projects like SBC’s demonstrate the power of combining local resources, cutting-edge technology, and a commitment to sustainability to drive transformative change. Author: Jörg zu Dohna&nbsp; CEO, Pyreg GmbH&nbsp; www.pyreg.com&nbsp; &nbsp;

2025-01-14 - A New Economic Engine for Maine’s Forest Industry (Biomass Magazine)

small_Contribution2-Plant_BMM1-25.jpg

thumbnail_Contribution2-Plant_BMM1-25.jpg

Contribution2-Plant_BMM1-25.jpg

Produced with state-of-the-art technology, a Maine biochar operation is harnessing the state’s vibrant forestry industry to tackle PFAS contamination, increase crop efficiency and remove carbon from the atmosphere.

A New Economic Engine for Maine’s Forest Industry

The U.S. merchant CO2 industry represents well over 20 million metric tons of consumption among a wide range of applications far beyond the obvious such as beverage carbonation, firefighting and chilling with dry ice. In fact, the lion’s share of usage has been dedicated to cryogenic freezing, chilling and gas flush applications in food processing, primarily for most forms of meat and vegetable-based perishables. Next in large market demand beyond food processing is usage in dry ice pressing and chilling, then beverage carbonation and an ever-growing variety of industrial uses, many of which are green in nature. This demand is what is typically found in developed world markets. In developing countries, the majority of CO2 is used for beverage carbonation, cylinder gas usage and a nascent demand in food applications.&nbsp;The CO2 industry would benefit very well from biomass sources in many markets, and this need is stronger than ever due to existing and potential loss of the usual types of supply. One particular concern today is the potential loss of CO2 byproduct availability from the ethanol industry, which represents over 40% of all raw gas supplies to the merchant markets. The uncertainty of long-term supplies from the ethanol industry may become real, should the current CO2 pipeline developments by Summit Carbon Solutions, among others, come to fruition. So much of the large CO2 byproduct from industry—including anhydrous ammonia, among others—could well be sequestered geologically, which could leave a huge hole in the CO2 supply network. Despite the positive arguments surrounding sequestering CO2 via the pipeline network into geological formations, there remain very strong objections by landowners, who say “not on my land.”As to current CO2 source types, some 45% of CO2 supplies in the United States are derived from fermentation, approximately 20% from anhydrous ammonia, 18% from natural geological formations, and another 20% from hydrogen reformers found in oil refineries. To follow, a list of miscellaneous source types includes syngas and ethylene oxide production. Renewable sources, including biomass, are the logical way to strengthen the supply chain.&nbsp;There are a very few large multinational CO2 refiners or suppliers to be found domestically and internationally, due to very large mergers and acquisitions. Typical CO2 customers have been facing significant price increases from such players, and the end result represents opportunities for new direct or indirect supplies into the markets.The Markets&nbsp; As aforementioned, the food industry is the major CO2 demand center in developed economies, with applications from gaseous preservation to chilling, as well as freezing a wide variety of meats and other perishables. As to cryogenic freezing with CO2, the end result is a food product that contains more moisture (water), and the process results in the formation of smaller and duller ice crystals within the cells, thus less rupturing of the cell walls. This results in a better appearance and lower moisture loss for food products, as well as more weight retained, ultimately enabling their sale at a greater return. Coincidentally, many biomass projects could fit well into the geographies where significant food processing operations are found.&nbsp;On a national level, beverage carbonation is found virtually everywhere, as is dry ice usage. Industrial applications are vast and growing in diversity. Legacy uses for CO2 outside of what is consumed in food and beverage include the steel, foundry and welding industries. Such legacy industries also include the manufacture of rubber and plastic products, use in oil and gas fracturing, and pH adjustment as a weak (carbonic) acid in water systems. &nbsp;More recent applications, or at least expansion of a nascent use, include closed greenhouse photosynthesis enhancement. This has expanded into expensive crops such as cannabis and supercritical extraction of cannabidiol (CBD) oil. As for the latter, CO2 is the gold standard in this application versus the use of hydrocarbons (propane and hexane) for those customers seeking purity. Supercritical extraction often uses pressures from 1,500 to 2,000 pound-force per square inch (psig) to extract essential oils, and now CBD oils. The pharmaceutical and chemical industries use the product as a feedstock chemical, refrigerant and for extraction.&nbsp;CO2 applications are growing in agricultural markets, being used to reduce the pH of the soil (the alternative is sulfuric acid, a less-safe alternative). For water and effluent treatment, CO2 is an excellent weak acid for pH reduction in municipal potable and wastewater, and where alkaline effluents are found, such as at paper mills. Using CO2 to strengthen concrete via enhancing calcium carbonate formation in pre-cast and poured concrete is gaining traction, with the added advantage of sequestration of this otherwise greenhouse gas. Other applications include replacing unwanted chemicals with CO2 as a safe and pure form of grain fumigation, and CO2 blast cleaning, using the one-fourth-inch pellets under pressure up to 1,200 psig to safely clean virtually any surface. This has historically been used where solvents, sand and other abrasive materials are not desired, thus leaving no cleanup of the cleaning agents.&nbsp;There are many technologies underway and being scaled up that aim to use CO2 for replacement of hydrocarbons in the development of bioplastics and advanced building materials, for example. The industry is also working on many new developments in advanced fuels and chemicals, where CO2 is a feedstock. There are so many technologies being developed in labs today that replace hydrocarbons in our overheated world and will eventually use this greenhouse gas as a building block for the next generation of energy, chemicals and fuels.Implementation&nbsp;&nbsp; In regard to implementation, it is necessary to evaluate and understand the opportunities for CO2 applications within given markets. Oftentimes, considering the size of biomass projects, the CO2 product could be readily sold to a local market for a significant price versus selling wholesale to the gas companies. Many markets are hungry for new and direct suppliers, and opportunities to stay competitive and in business with reasonable local suppliers and prices. When evaluating selling into the markets, all the tools are available for direct supply, including the CO2 liquefaction and purification plants, storage vessels and other hardware used in the CO2 industry, as well as common carrier transportation capabilities for delivering the product. All of this is available now on the open markets, and experts are available to support the biomass industry. Opportunities to make money from CO2 in the biomass sector are stronger than ever.&nbsp;Capitalizing on tax credits in 45Q and the Inflation Reduction Act could be another possibility for specific biomass projects. This is another way to monetize CO2, dependent on specific project characteristics. Such sequestration can involve mechanisms other than sending via pipeline to outlying destinations or pumping CO2 into geological formations, such as supplying a feedstock for next-generation chemical and fuels ventures.Conclusion&nbsp; Owners and developers of biomass projects that yield CO2 should examine all the options, including the merchant markets and their values and destinations, direct market opportunities and the wholesale sector. It should always be considered that the wholesale sector will pay only a small fraction of what is available with direct supply to the merchant markets. Opportunities exist in the food, beverage and very diverse industrial sector, and depending on the capacity of the biomass CO2 source, it could take a few direct customers to satisfy a very nice return to the project. Other modes include &nbsp;the wholesale merchant market or tax-subsidized sequestration possibilities.&nbsp;In summary, making money from CO2 in the biomass sector is a significant opportunity to evaluate, potentially allowing developers and operators to cash out economically and environmentally. Author: Sam A. Rushing&nbsp; President, Advanced Cryogenics Ltd.&nbsp; 305-852-2597&nbsp; rushing@terranova.net

2025-01-14 - Enhancing Biomass Project Economics with CO2 Market Opportunities (Biomass Magazine)

Biomass Magazine Issue 1 2025

Columns

Reflecting on the Year and Looking Ahead

Featured

Eyeing New Opportunities

Zeroing in on Carbon

Executing a Vision for the Common Good

Contributions

The Leading Edge of Bioenergy Engineering

Stop Overpaying for Biomass: The Power of Automated Sampling and Real-Time Moisture Analysis

The Path to Sustainable Aviation: Embracing Feedstock Diversity and Innovation

A New Economic Engine for Maine’s Forest Industry

Enhancing Biomass Project Economics with CO2 Market Opportunities

Departments

Exploring Hydrogen: Back to Basics

Podcast Preview: Conor Madigan, Founder and CEO, Aether Fuels

Biomass Magazine Issue 1 2025.css-7jxktu{position:absolute;bottom:0px;left:0px;right:0px;height:3px;border-radius:3px;background-color:var(--chakra-colors-brandBlack);}

Columns

Reflecting on the Year and Looking Ahead

Featured

Eyeing New Opportunities

Zeroing in on Carbon

Executing a Vision for the Common Good

Contributions

The Leading Edge of Bioenergy Engineering

Stop Overpaying for Biomass: The Power of Automated Sampling and Real-Time Moisture Analysis

The Path to Sustainable Aviation: Embracing Feedstock Diversity and Innovation

A New Economic Engine for Maine’s Forest Industry

Enhancing Biomass Project Economics with CO2 Market Opportunities

Departments

Exploring Hydrogen: Back to Basics

Podcast Preview: Conor Madigan, Founder and CEO, Aether Fuels

Biomass Magazine Issue 1 2025