Biomass Week - February 21, 2014

ReEnergy scores PPA from Army More than eight months after the 28-megawatt (MW) ReEnergy Black River biomass plant at Fort Drum, N.Y., began producing power, the U.S. Army has issued a Notice of Intent to award the facility a 20-year power purchase agreement. READ MORE SHARE
Renewable Heat NY funds 18 woody biomass projects Promptly implementing New York's recently announced Renewable Heat NY, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced 18 projects that will receive program funding to help install high-efficiency, low-emission wood-fired heating equipment. READ MORE SHARE
	Drax considers developing additional U.S. pellet capacity Drax Group plc has released preliminary financial result for 2013, reporting that earnings were ahead of expectations, reflecting good operations and healthy spreads. The company also announced it will consider adding additional pellet capacity. READ MORE SHARE
Valmet, Zilkha Biomass Energy announce collaborative agreement Zilkha Biomass Energy LLC and Valmet Corp. have signed a five-year collaboration agreement in the field of steam exploded black pellets. The purpose of the agreement is to bring steam exploded black pellets to the market. READ MORE SHARE
Cellulosic ethanol RINs were generated in January The U.S. EPA has published renewable identification number (RIN) data for January, reporting the first generation of cellulosic ethanol RINs since 2012. Cellulosic RINs were generated last year, but those RINs were for drop-in gasoline and diesel. READ MORE SHARE
FERC: U.S. adds biomass power capacity in January The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has published its Energy Infrastructure Update for January, reporting that three new biomass power generation units were placed into service during the month. READ MORE SHARE
Butamax, Gevo patent infringement case returning to court A Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC's patent infringement case against Gevo Inc. will return to U.S. District Court for trial, as ordered by Judge Sue L. Robinson on Feb. 18. READ MORE SHARE
Solar-induced hybrid fuel cell produces electricity from biomass researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new type of low-temperature fuel cell that directly converts biomass to electricity with assistance from a catalyst activated by solar or thermal energy. READ MORE SHARE
University of York wins funding to develop biobased polymers Scientists at the University of York are to lead a new government-backed research project to investigate the potential conversion of waste biomass and waste carbon dioxide into safer and more sustainable raw materials. READ MORE SHARE
China approves biobased aviation fuel for commercial use The Chinese government has approved a biobased aviation fuel for commercial use. On Feb. 12, the Civil Aviation Administration of China published a notice announcing it has granted Sinopec the first certificate of airworthiness for biobased jet fuel. READ MORE SHARE
University to use Heyl & Patterson equipment in biocoal research Heyl & Patterson Inc. has announced the sale of an indirect-fired rotary calciner to the University of Minnesota, Duluth's Natural Resources Research Institute.It will be used to transform wood biomass into torrefied wood, or "biocoal." READ MORE SHARE
Proterro receives patent on unique photobioreactor Proterro Inc.'s latest patent is on its way to being finalized. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a notice of allowance to Proterro for a device patent covering the company's proprietary photobioreactor. READ MORE SHARE
Dutch power plant successfully tests torrefied biomass pellets A consortium consisting of Topell Energy, Essent, Nuon, GDF SUEZ, and ECN has successfully completed a large-scale cofiring test with an innovative renewable energy source at the Amer power plant in Geertruidenberg, Netherlands. READ MORE SHARE
Cereplast files voluntary petition for Chapter 11 protection On Feb. 17, Cereplast Inc. announced it has filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to strengthen its balance sheet, clean up its capitalization structure and gain financial flexibility as it continues to realign its operations. READ MORE SHARE
MV Technologies to supply H2SPlus system to landfill gas project Strategic Environmental & Energy Resources Inc. has announced that its MV Technologies subsidiary received a $1.2 million order to supply a high-capacity H2SPlus hydrogen sulfide removal system to a large landfill operation in the western U.S. READ MORE SHARE
Proposed bioenergy plant denied certificate of public good in Vt. The Vermont Public Service Board has denied North Springfield Sustainable Energy Project LLC's petition for a certificate of public good (CPG) for its proposed 25-to-35-megawatt (MW) biomass power plant in Springfield, Vt. READ MORE SHARE
Iona Capital finances gas-to-grid AD plant in Scotland Iona Capital, in conjunction with Scotia Gas Networks, has announced the successful completion of an investment in Keithick Biogas Ltd., a joint venture company with Keithick Farms Ltd. in Coupar Angus, Perthshire, Scotland. READ MORE SHARE