Biomass Week - October 20, 2021

UK CCS cluster anchored by Drax BECCS project moves forward The U.K. government on Oct. 19 issued an update on the U.K.’s CCUS Cluster Sequencing Process, confirming that the Hynet and East Coast Clusters are moving forward. Drax’s BECSS project will play a vital role in the East Coast Cluster. READ MORE SHARE
REG breaks ground on Geismar expansion, improvement project REG hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 13 to celebrate the start of construction on the company’s improvement and expansion project at REG Geismar. The project will boost capacity at Geismar to 340 MMgy. READ MORE SHARE
	USDA: US wood pellet exports up in August The U.S. exported 647,904.5 metric tons of wood pellets in August, up from both 644,494.1 metric tons in July and 585,883.3 metric tons in August 2020, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on Oct. 5. READ MORE SHARE
USDA now accepting grant applications for wood products, energy The USDA on Oct. 19 announced approximately $13 million in new funding opportunities to support market innovation in wood products and wood energy. The announcement was made at an event to kick off National Forest Products Week. READ MORE SHARE
UK government releases Net Zero Strategy The U.K. unveiled its Net Zero Strategy on Oct. 19, which includes a wide variety of provisions, including those related to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), and efforts to decarbonize heating. READ MORE SHARE
SoCalGas’ biomethanation reactor system to be used in Maine SoCalGas’ biomethanation reactor system will be used to help produce renewable energy as part of a power-to-gas demonstration. This system will be installed at an anaerobic digester facility in Clinton, Maine in early 2023. READ MORE SHARE
Virent’s BioForm fuel component used in test flight of 100% SAF Virent’s BioForm synthesized aromatic kerosene (SAK) was used in a United Airlines test flight on Oct. 13, demonstrating that SAF can be 100 percent renewable, 100 percent fossil free, and 100 percent compatible with today's aviation fleet. READ MORE SHARE
Covanta shareholders approve acquisition by EQT Infrastructure Covanta Holding Corp. on Oct. 12 announced that its stockholders have voted to approve the company’s previously announced acquisition by EQT Infrastructure. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter. READ MORE SHARE
Environmental impact report available for Martinez conversion Contra Costa County officials have published the draft environmental impact report for Marathon Petroleum Corp.’s Martinez Renewable Fuels project, which will convert the former petroleum refinery to a renewable fuels facility. READ MORE SHARE
USIPA, UK REA slam Chatham House report on US wood pellets The U.S. Industrial Pellet Association and U.K. Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) are slamming a new Chatham House report on biomass energy that they say uses deeply flawed carbon accounting methods. READ MORE SHARE
1.7 million US households to use wood as primary heat source The EIA predicts that nearly 1.7 million, or 1.3 percent, of U.S. households will use cord wood or wood pellets as their primary heating fuel for residential space heating this winter. An additional 8 percent will use wood as a secondary heat source. READ MORE SHARE
BGE gains regulatory approval to allow use of RNG on system BGE is the first utility in Maryland to gain regulatory approval for the use of renewable natural gas (RNG) on its gas distribution system. Bioenergy Devco's RNG plant, located in Howard County, will supply RNG to BGE following its completition. READ MORE SHARE