Biomass Week - July 25, 2014

U.K. DECC model confirms GHG benefits of North American pellets The U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change reported that scientific analysis has proven that biomass from North America can help decarbonize U.K. electricity supplies. The analysis was performed using a new model developed by the DECC. READ MORE SHARE
150 federal buildings found to be candidates for pellet boilers Wood pellet boilers should be considered at all hot-water heated federal facilities where natural gas is unavailable, particularly in northern regions, according to the U.S. General Services Administration. READ MORE SHARE
	Himark to construct 3 AD plants in U.S. focused on food waste Himark BioGas International is expanding its presence in the U.S. through a signed agreement with NEO Energy LLC for the design, construction and start-up of three integrated anaerobic digestion (AD) and fertilizer facilities. READ MORE SHARE
Athens Energy new tax credit eligibility helps spur investments A biomass power plant in Athens, Maine, received certification for Maine New Markets tax credits from directors of the Finance Authority of Maine. The facility is run by Athens Energy LLC, a sister company of Maine Woods Pellets Co. READ MORE SHARE
Biomass Secure Power secures location for Louisiana pellet mill The board of directors of the Natchitoches Parish Port Commission approved a notice of intent to lease Biomass Secure Power Inc. 75 acres of land to build their proposed pellet plant within the confines of the Port of Natchitoches. READ MORE SHARE
DECC announces draft CfD budget, gets program approval from EC The U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change has announced that starting in October, renewable energy projects in the U.K. will complete for a budget of more than GBP 200 million as part of the government's reforms to the electricity market. READ MORE SHARE
2014 National Advanced Biofuels Conference & Expo agenda released The agenda for the 2015 National Advanced Biofuels Conference & Expo has been released. The Oct. 13-14 event, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, will focus on next-generation biofuels technology integration opportunities for existing biofuel plants. READ MORE SHARE
Consumers Energy selects 4 Michigan farms to produce bioenergy Consumers Energy is taking steps to diversify its energy supply and help the environment by selecting four Michigan farms to produce renewable energy with anaerobic digesters. READ MORE SHARE
Pellet-fired heating system in use at hospital in New Brunswick The Grand Falls Hospital is one of the first public buildings in New Brunswick, Canada, to utilize a new energy-efficient, pellet-fired heating system. READ MORE SHARE
BC pellet producers step up to reduce dust explosion hazards British Columbia pellet producers are facing stepped up safety inspections by WorkSafeBC. Administrator Gord Macatee prepared a review and action plan that outlines plans for an agency restructuring and reviews mitigation of safety hazards from dust. READ MORE SHARE
Report discusses future of European pellet, biogas markets A recent report filed with the USDA indicates the European Commission expects heat and power production from biomass to account for about 45 percent of the renewable use in Europe by 2020. READ MORE SHARE
National Raisin Co. to use Omnitek generator for biogas project Omnitek Engineering Corp. has received an order from National Raisin Co. Inc. based in Fowler, California, for a 250 kW power generator to produce heat and electricity from biogas derived from an anaerobic digester. READ MORE SHARE
U.S. added 87 MW of bioenergy capacity during first half of 2014 The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has released its Energy Infrastructure Update for June 2014, reporting the U.S. added 28 new biomass power generation units during the first half of the year with a combined capacity of 87 MW. READ MORE SHARE
DOE opens funding opportunity for alternative fuel vehicles The U.S. Department of Energy has announced it will award up to $4.5 million in funding to expand the use of alternative fuels through the Clean Cities program, which works to decrease the use of petroleum in transportation. READ MORE SHARE
Biogas upgrading system begins operations in France The first of eight Gas-to-Grid (G2G) projects in France built by MT-Energie has started its injection of purified bio methane into the French gas grid. The company also recently inaugurated a project in Germany. READ MORE SHARE
Spero Energy receives NSF funding A Purdue Research Park-based company whose one-step, patent-pending technology could improve the efficiency of alternative fuels and the production of fragrance products has received funding from the National Science Foundation. READ MORE SHARE
University of Twente researchers develop new biofuel catalyst Oil produced from biomass seldom has the same quality and energy content as "classical" crude oil. A new, simple catalyst, developed at the University of Twente, improves the quality of this oil before it is even transported to the refinery. READ MORE SHARE
USDA selects 36 energy facilities to accept biomass deliveries Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that the USDA has selected 36 energy facilities in 14 states to accept biomass deliveries supported by the Biomass Crop Assistance Program, which was authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. READ MORE SHARE
UCS report highlights bioenergy potential of agriculture residues A Union of Concerned Scientists report estimates the U.S. agricultural industry could sustainably provide up to 155 million tons of crop residues and 60 million tons of manure annually by 2030 for use as feedstock to produce fuels and electricity. READ MORE SHARE
New York renewable natural gas facility celebrates grand opening EIF Renewable Energy Holdings and Seneca Meadows Inc. have announced the opening of Seneca Energy II, a landfill gas-to-renewable natural gas facility located at the Seneca Meadows Landfill in Seneca Falls, New York. READ MORE SHARE
McGinn to keynote Algae Biomass Summit The Algae Biomass Organization, the trade association for the algae industry, has announced that Assistant Secretary of the Navy Dennis McGinn will be a Keynote Speaker at the 8th Annual Algae Biomass Summit. READ MORE SHARE
Babcock & Wilcox to build thermal biomass system in Denmark The Babcock & Wilcox Co. announced that its subsidiary has been awarded a contract for more than $80 million to build a 280 megawatt-thermal (MWth) biomass boiler system for a power plant located near Fredericia, Denmark. READ MORE SHARE
Poyry to provide EPCM services for AD project in Alberta Millar Western Forest Products Ltd. has awarded Poyry with the assignment for engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services for an anaerobic bioenergy project at its Whitecourt pulp mill in Alberta, Canada. READ MORE SHARE
DOE awards $3.5 million to Cellana for algae biofuel development The U.S. Department of Energy has announced Cellana LLC, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, was selected to receive $3.5 million to develop a fully integrated, high-yield algae feedstock production system at its Kona Demonstration Facility. READ MORE SHARE