Biomass Week - March 6, 2015

USDA publishes final BCAP rule The USDA has released the final rule for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. Although the general scope of BCAP is not changing, there are some key changes being made to several components of the program. A public comment period is now open. READ MORE SHARE
Green Building Standard under consideration to include biomass The Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings, or Standard 189.1, may include a definition of biomass, as well as requirements pertaining to the use of the source in the future. READ MORE SHARE
	PHG Energy lands Tennessee gasification project PHG Energy and the city of Lebanon, Tennessee, have signed a deal to install a gasification plant at the city's wastewater treatment plant. The project will employ PHGE's downdraft gasification technology. READ MORE SHARE
Oregon governor considers Clean Fuels Program sunset date bill Legislation that aims to repeal the Dec. 31, 2015 sunset date of Oregon's Clean Fuels Program has been sent to the governor for consideration. The bill, S.B. 324, was passed by the Oregon House of Representatives on March 4 by a single vote. READ MORE SHARE
USDA announces $8.7 million BRDI funding opportunity The USDA announced it is now accepting applications for research and education grants through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative. Approximately $8.7 million in grants are expected to be awarded through the program. READ MORE SHARE
REG reports progress with renewable diesel, chemical operations The Renewable Energy Group Inc. has released 2014 financial results, reporting revenue of $1.27 billion, down 15 percent from 2013. Net income was $82.5 million, compared to $186.37 million the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA was $107.8 million in 2014. READ MORE SHARE
N.D. survey shows support for biomass tax incentives The North Dakota Alliance for Renewable Energy has published results of a statewide public opinion survey on renewable energy and energy efficiency. Biomass energy one of the renewable energy types addressed in the survey. READ MORE SHARE
DOE updates announcement for biomass advisory committee meeting The U.S. Department of Energy updated its notice for the recently announced meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee. The meeting will now take place as a webinar on March 5. READ MORE SHARE
Stobart to supply biomass to 40 MW UK facility Stobart Group Ltd. recently announced it has signed a 20-year biomass supply agreement with Brite Partnership (North East) Ltd. to provide 260,000 metric tons of fuel annually to a 40 MW bioenergy facility in the U.K. READ MORE SHARE
Drax acquires Billington Bioenergy Drax has announced the acquisition of Billington Bioenergy Ltd., the U.K.'s second largest wood pellet distributor. The move signals the power generator's intention to enter the country's growing biomass heat sector. READ MORE SHARE
NREL refines method to convert lignin to nylon precursor A new study from the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory demonstrates the conversion of lignin-derived compounds to adipic acid, an important industrial dicarboxylic acid. READ MORE SHARE
Solazyme highlights algal oil facilities in 2014 results Solazyme Inc. released its 2014 quarter four and full-year results on Feb. 26, reporting that although 2014 was a challenging year, the company is excited about the opportunities in the coming year. READ MORE SHARE
Evogene releases 2014 results, offers update of Evofuel business Evogene Ltd. has released 2014 financial results, reporting revenues of $14.51 million, compared to $17.58 million in 2013. Gross profit was $4.8 million, down from $7.47 million. The company reported a total comprehensive net loss of $14.75 million. READ MORE SHARE
Stobart highlights biomass growth in 2014 annual report The Stobart Group has published its 2014 annual report, announcing that its biomass division supplied 900,000 metric tons of biomass last year, up 42 percent from 650,000 metric tons supplied in 2013. READ MORE SHARE
Miscanthus ethanol increases environmental benefits, profits A recent study simulated a side-by-side comparison of the yields and costs of producing ethanol using miscanthus, switchgrass, and corn stover. The fast-growing energy grass miscanthus was the clear winner. READ MORE SHARE
Total invests in Renmatix, signs joint development agreement Renmatix has announced an investment by the New Energies Division of Total, and the signing of a joint development agreement. Under the agreement, the companies will utilize Renmatix's Plantrose process with specific feedstocks. READ MORE SHARE
Beta Renewables CEO Guido Ghisolfi dead at age 58 Guido Ghisolfi, 58, leader of Mossi & Ghisolfi Group died March 3. "He was suffering from severe depression and yesterday this resulted in his untimely passing close to his home in Tortona, Northern Italy," said a statement from the company. READ MORE SHARE
GAIN report highlights status of U.K. pellet demand A report recently filed with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Global Agricultural Information Network focuses on the U.K. wood pellet market. The report estimates the U.K. imported 4.6 million metric oven dried tons of wood pellets last year. READ MORE SHARE
Global Bioenergies produces isobutene from waste biomass Global Bioenergies recently announced it has produced second generation isobutene, in a push to diversify accessible feedstock towards cheaper resources. The company originally worked with first-generation feedstocks to develop its process. READ MORE SHARE
Step change for screening could boost biofuels Researchers at the Institute of Food Research have developed a new way of rapidly screening yeasts that could help produce more sustainable biofuels. The technique could also aid in the search for new ways of deriving valuable renewable chemicals. READ MORE SHARE
Emergent Technologies Institute breaks ground Florida Gulf Cost University officials recently held groundbreaking ceremonies for the Emergent Technologies Institute, a new research campus that will team academics and private sector partners to study and incubate renewable energy technology. READ MORE SHARE
Startup lands grant to advance microbial fuel cell technology A cleantech startup that has developed a microbial fuel cell capable of cleaning wastewater at breweries and other food and beverage producers while generating electricity has been awarded a $225,000 Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I grant. READ MORE SHARE
Foresight, UK GIB back 10 MW gasification plant Foresight Group and the U.K. Green Investment Bank plc have announced an investment in the construction of a new advanced-technology waste-to-energy gasification facility in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. READ MORE SHARE
UN funds biomass heating projects in Moldova The United Nations Development Programme has announced the second stage of a project in Moldova that aims to install dozens of biomass heating plants and hundreds of biomass boilers. READ MORE SHARE
Capstone microturbines to power biogas CHP system Capstone Turbine Corp. recently announced that it has received an order to upgrade the Irvine Ranch Water District's Michelson Water Recycling Plant in Irvine, California, with five C200 microturbines. READ MORE SHARE
Metabolic path to improved biofuel production Researchers with the Energy Biosciences Institute have found a way to increase the production of fuels and other chemicals from biomass fermented by yeast by introducing new metabolic pathways into the yeast. READ MORE SHARE
Ontario landfill gas project celebrates milestone Walker Environmental Group's landfill gas utilization partnership company in Thorold, Ontario has eliminated the need for more than 200 meters of natural gas since 2002 by providing landfill gas to nearby Resolute Forest Products. READ MORE SHARE
OkoFEN introduces prototype cogeneration pellet boiler in Europe A 5 kWe cogen pellet boiler prototype system, designed and manufactured by OkoFEN, with Qnergy's Stirling engine inside, was introduced to the market at the The World Sustainable Energy Days in Wels, Austria. READ MORE SHARE
GLBRC files 100th patent application The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, one of three bioenergy research centers established in 2007 by the U.S. Department of Energy, recently celebrated the filing of its 100th patent application. READ MORE SHARE