Biomass Week - January 11, 2013

2013 International Biomass Conference & Expo agenda announced BBI International announced this week the preliminary agenda for the 6th annual International Biomass Conference & Expo. The 2013 agenda, featuring four comprehensive tracks, is tightly focused on leading edge developments in the biomass industry. READ MORE SHARE
UK funds wetland biomass, bioenergy projects Seven recipients have each been awarded GBP292,000 ($469,000) by the United Kingdom Department of Energy & Climate Change as part of a program focused on funding projects that utilize wetland biomass for energy. READ MORE SHARE
	NSF grant awarded for home-scale algae power generation research A $1.6 million grant from the National Science Foundation Sustainable Energy Pathways Program will support research into the viability and optimization of algae-based biofuel systems to meet the energy needs of homes and communities. READ MORE SHARE
24 MW biomass power plant in Maine offered for sale, relocation A 24 MW biomass power plant in Maine is up for sale. According to information issued by Niagara Worldwide, it is working in conjunction with Sherman Development LLC to liquidate a former Boralax Biomass Power Plant. READ MORE SHARE
DP CleanTech signs contract for 30 MWstraw-fired plant DP CleanTech announced the recent signing of a contract for the delivery of a 30 MW biomass power plant to Polish Energy Partners for $34.1 million. The complete straw-fired power plant will be delivered on a turnkey basis. READ MORE SHARE
Research show perennial biofuel crops reduce nitrogen loss In a four-year University of Illinois study that compared miscanthus, switchgrass, and mixed prairie species to typical corn-corn-soybean rotations, each of the perennial crops were highly efficient at reducing nitrogen losses. READ MORE SHARE
Boosting galactan sugars could boost biofuel production An international collaboration led by scientists at the U.S. DOE's Joint BioEnergy Institute has identified the first enzyme capable of substantially boosting the amount of galactan in plant cell walls. READ MORE SHARE
Benelux pellet market expected to more than double by 2020 The U.S. is expected to the main supplier of wood pellets in the Benelux market in northwestern Europe this year. The U.S. exported an estimated 1.25 million metric tons of wood pellets worth $225 million to the region in 2012. READ MORE SHARE
Andritz to supply biomass boiler to Sweden-based CHP plant International technology group Andritz has received an order from Fortum Varme to supply a circulating fluidized bed boiler for the new Vartaverket combined heat and power plant in Stockholm, Sweden. Start-up is scheduled for 2015. READ MORE SHARE
LC Energy acquires Harvest Wood Fuels bulk pellet business LC Energy, one of England's leading specialists in sustainable wood fuel supply, has announced its acquisition of Harvest Wood Fuels bulk pellet business, a top supplier of high grade wood pellets based in Tilford, Surrey, England. READ MORE SHARE
DOE award will help Novozymes develop more efficient enzymes A U.S. DOE award of up to $2.5 million will help Novozymes identify new and efficient enzymes to produce advanced biofuels and chemicals from corn stover, including cellulosic ethanol. Novozymes is partnering on this with MBI International. READ MORE SHARE
EIA predicts increased use of wood in power, home heating sectors The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the January issue of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, which is the first to include forecasts for 2014. The report includes forecasts for biomass power production and for home heating with wood. READ MORE SHARE
Freez-it Cleen announces patent award, offers rate discount Freez-it Cleen has announced its proprietary dry ice cleaning process is now protected by a U.S. patent. The technology uses dry ice pellets to clean exchange surfaces on a wide variety of equipment found in biofuel production facilities. READ MORE SHARE
American Biogas Council joins forces with U.S. Composting Council The American Biogas Council and the U.S. Composting Council have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding created to help accelerate the growth of the organics recycling industry. READ MORE SHARE
China offers subsidies for additional biomass power projects A notice posted to the China Internet Information Center states that the country has increased the number of renewable power projects that qualify for state subsidies under a tariff surcharge program, including several biomass projects. READ MORE SHARE
World's largest CFB biomass power plant opens in Poland Foster Wheeler AG has announced that the GDF Suez power plant located in Polaniec, Poland, is now in commercial operation, delivering over 200 MW of electricity to the country's electricity grid solely from biomass. READ MORE SHARE
ABO expands depth and breadth of membership New memberships in the Algae Biomass Organization reflected a wider range of industries in 2012, driven by the increasing impact of algae technology as an economical and environmental source of sustainable fuels, chemicals, food and other products. READ MORE SHARE
NRC releases biojet test flight data In Oct. 2012, the National Research Council of Canada fueled a jet with 100 percent drop-in biobased jet fuel. As part of the test flight, a second aircraft tailed the jet to collect emissions data. The NRC has now released the results of that data. READ MORE SHARE
DOE grant supports conversion of biomass and coal to liquid fuels Southern Research Institute has entered into a cooperative agreement with the U.S. DOE to test a method for producing liquid transportation fuels from coal and biomass that eliminates the typical Fischer-Tropsch product upgrading and refining steps. READ MORE SHARE