Pellet Mill Press - January 16, 2018

UK confirms plan to phase-out unabated coal generation by 2025 The U.K. government has confirmed how it intends to phase-out unabated coal-fired power generation by 2025. In response to the news, the U.K. Renewable Energy Association is calling on the government to support additional coal-to-biomass conversions. READ MORE SHARE
Canada increases biomass capacity, generation A report issued by Canada’s National Energy Board shows that the country’s non-hydro renewable power capacity grew by more than 8 percent in 2016, adding nearly 1,300 MW of solar, biomass and wind-generated power. READ MORE SHARE
	Agenda for technical sessions of 2018 IBCE released BBI International recently announced the agenda for the technical sessions of the 11th annual International Biomass Conference & Expo, North America’s largest and fastest growing biomass conference, taking place April 16-18 in Atlanta, Georgia. READ MORE SHARE
PFI welcomes Tim Portz as executive director Pellet Fuels Institute recently announced that it has hired Tim Portz to serve as the organization’s executive director. Portz, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, previously served as executive editor of Biomass Magazine and Pellet Mill Magazine. READ MORE SHARE
UK bioenergy production up during the third quarter The U.K. Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy released updated energy statistics in late December, reporting that the share of low carbon electricity accounted for a record high of 54.4 percent during the third quarter of 2017. READ MORE SHARE
EIA revises bioenergy, wood heat forecasts in January report The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the January edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, noting electrical generation from nonhydropower renewables is expected to be steady this year, and increase next year. READ MORE SHARE
Active Energy Group commissions Utah plant U.K.-based Active Energy Group has announced initial testing of its 5-ton-per-hour CoalSwitch plant in Utah was successfully completed on Dec. 29. The company also indicated the plant is currently undergoing commissioning. READ MORE SHARE
N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative announces grant recipients The N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative recently awarded $1 million in grants for 11 research projects to boost bioenergy opportunities and production in the state. The projects address a wide range of feedstocks and technologies. READ MORE SHARE