Biomass Week - January 8, 2016

EU opens investigation on UK support for Drax unit conversion The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether the U.K.'s plans to support the conversion of part of the Drax coal power plant to operate on biomass are in line with European Union state aid rules. READ MORE SHARE
DOE study quantifies benefits of state RPS programs Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory have released a study estimating value of emissions reductions associated with state renewable portfolio standard (RPS) policies. READ MORE SHARE
	Onsite Energy Conference & Expo to be colocated with IBCE Onsite Energy Management magazine has announced the Onsite Energy Conference & Expo dates for 2016. The event, colocated with the International Biomass Conference & Expo, will take place April 11-13 in Charlotte, North Carolina. READ MORE SHARE
Air Force opens comment period on Red Rock Biofuels draft EA The U.S. Air Force has opened a public comment period on its draft environmental assessment for the proposed Red Rock Biofuels LLC biorefinery. The facility is expected to produce 14 MMgy of biofuel from woody biomass using a Fischer-Tropsch process. READ MORE SHARE
Virent bio-jet achieves 50% particulate matter reduction Emissions testing by Rolls-Royce and supported by the Federal Aviation Administration have confirmed that jet fuels containing Virent's BioForm synthesized aromatic kerosene fuel blend achieve greater than 50 percent particulate matter reduction. READ MORE SHARE
DOE to issue FOAs on algae biomass, bioproducts In recent weeks, the U.S. Department of Energy has announced plans to issue funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) to support the development of biobased hydrocarbon fuels and algae biomass. READ MORE SHARE
Bill aims for long-term extension of renewable energy tax credits In mid-December, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who is seeking the democratic presidential nomination, introduced legislation that aims to enact long-term extensions of several clean energy tax credits that benefit the bioenergy and biofuel sectors. READ MORE SHARE
WM sustainability report highlights waste-to-energy achievements Waste Management recently published its 2015 Sustainability Report, highlighting progress made in meeting its 2020 sustainability goals. The report provides updated data to the company's full 2014 report titled "Creating a Circular Economy." READ MORE SHARE
SCS Engineers awarded contract for landfill gas-to-energy system SCS Engineers was hired by the Orlando Utilities Commission to expand its existing landfill gas (LFG) treatment and compression facility located at the Orange County Landfill. Expanding the LFG facility will double the nominal inlet flow capacity. READ MORE SHARE
Veolia acquires Boomeco assets Veolia ES (UK) Ltd. has announced that it has completed the acquisition of the business and assets of Boomeco Ltd., a waste wood processor and producer of refuse derived fuel (RDF). Based in Bristol, the Boomeco site produces both wood chips and RDF. READ MORE SHARE
BioAmber, Reverdia sign a non-assert agreement Reverdia has signed a non-assert agreement concerning its Biosuccinium technology with BioAmber Inc. Both companies are involved in the production and commercialization of biobased succinic acid using their own proprietary yeast-based technologies. READ MORE SHARE
New Energy Farms discusses energy grasses for use as AD feedstock While anaerobic digestion (AD) operators have always recognized that aninclusion of consistent, dedicated crop biomass feedstock can optimize production performance, many are now considering using perennial energy grasses to replace food crops. READ MORE SHARE
Global Bioenergies widens cooperation with Audi Global Bioenergies and Audi announce the signature of a new collaboration agreement to further broaden the feedstock flexibility of Global Bioenergies' isobutene process to include feedstocks beyond biomass. READ MORE SHARE
BIO changes name to Biotechnology Innovation Organization To better reflect the remarkable progress and groundbreaking innovations its members achieve in healing, fueling and feeding the world, BIO is changing its name to Biotechnology Innovation Organization. READ MORE SHARE
IU scientists create 'nano-reactor' to produce hydrogen biofuel Scientists at Indiana University have created a highly efficient biomaterial that catalyzes the formation of hydrogen, one half of the "holy grail" of splitting H2O to make hydrogen and oxygen for fueling cheap and efficient cars that run on water. READ MORE SHARE
ARF releases candidate report card on RFS support America's Renewable Future recently released its final candidate report card. The report card places each presidential contender into a good or bad category based on their support for the federal renewable fuel standard (RFS). READ MORE SHARE
Study suggests perennial crop yields can compete with corn stover A six-year Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center study on the viability of different bioenergy feedstocks recently demonstrated that perennial cropping systems can yield as much biomass as corn stover. READ MORE SHARE