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.
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.
Since the EPA decided many years ago that volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions must be controlled, state agencies and pellet plant operations, along with many others, have gone about the task of making it happen.
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced an open meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee will be held March 5-6 in Washington, D.C. Members of the public are welcome to observe the business of the committee.
New Hampshire's Renewable Portfolio Standard has been under attack via numerous proposed bills.
A report recently published by the European Environment Agency stresses that the deployment of renewable technologies in Europe has been an important force driving the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
A report published by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service's Global Information Network provides an overview of the EU biobased economy and estimated biomass requirements for the production of biofuels, bioplastics, biochemicals and other products.
Lignetics Inc. and Bear Mountain Forest Products Inc. have merged. The combined company now has five pellet plants located on the east and west coasts, with a combined production capacity of approximately 450,000 tons of wood pellets per year.
The Drax Group Plc announced 2014 full-year financial results, with Chief Executive Dorothy Thompson reporting that Drax's biomass transformation project was the company's main priority over the past year.
Rentech Inc. has announced that its subsidiary, New England Wood Pellet, has acquired the assets of Allegheny Pellet Corp. The acquisition expands NEWP's market position as the largest producer of wood pellets for the U.S. heating market.
The European Commission's investigation into the U.K.'s subsidies to support the conversion of the Lynemouth station to biomass raises larger questions about our willingness to pay for an energy transition.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., recently issued a letter to Dan Tangherlini, administrator of the General Services Administration, and Thomas Tidwell, chief of the U.S. Forest Service, advocating for the use of biomass energy in federal buildings.
The American National Standards Institute has been selected by International Sustainability and Carbon Certification to be the accreditation body for its certification system for sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions related to biomass.
The Energy Technologies Institute has announced that Forest Research and E.ON will deliver the latest project in its bioenergy program, a study into the characterization of bioenergy feedstocks.
On Feb. 19, the European Commission announced it has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether the U.K.'s plans to support the biomass conversion of the coal-fired Lynemouth power plant are in line with European Union state aid rules.
German Pellets GmbH has acquired the pellet business of Germany-based Nord Energie GmbH & Co., effective Feb. 16. Nord Energie has more than five years experience in pellet trade and logistics.
The Biomass Thermal Energy Council and Pellet Fuels Institute have thanked Senator Angus King, I-Maine, and Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt. for their commitment to renewable biomass energy and plans to ensure biomass thermal is represented in the tax code.
Rentech Inc. has announced that GSO Capital Partners LP, the credit investment arm of Blackstone, increased its credit facility for Rentech by up to $63 million. The proceeds are expected to fund the completion of Rentech's Canadian pellet plants.
Biomass Magazine Executive Editor examines the latest in a growing string of mainstream media stories that fail to properly frame up the realities of how bioenergy is deployed in practice.
The EurObserv'ER has published a new edition of its Solid Biomass Barometer, reporting consumption of solid biomass in the European Union increased to 91.5 million tons of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in 2013, up 2.9 Mtoe from the previous year.
Biomass Magazine Executive Editor examines the latest in a growing string of mainstream media stories that fail to properly frame up the realities of how bioenergy is deployed in practice.
The International Renewable Energy Agency has published a report that highlights the realistic potential for higher renewable uptake in all sectors of the U.S. energy system, including power, industry, building and the transportation sector.
A recently released study led by U.S. Forest Service scientists finds that demand for U.S. pellets in Europe and other areas could provide new markets for U.S. timber exports, increase wood prices, and lead to increases in forestland area.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the February issue of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, reporting that total renewables use for electricity and heat generation is expected to grow 3.8 percent this year.
Ontario Power Generation's Thunder Bay Generating Station is now in service and is leading the electricity industry with an exciting new technology. The station has been converted to use advanced biomass, a renewable, clean and dispatchable fuel.
The U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change recently published its findings from an updated survey that tracks public attitudes towards renewable energy. The results include information on public attitudes towards biomass heating.
On Feb. 10, the USDA hosted a media call announcing more than $280 million is being made available to eligible applicants through the Rural Energy for America Program. Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted recent improvements made to REAP.
Asia has become a new market for wood pellet exporters in Western Canada with shipments having increased for six consecutive quarters, while Canadian exports to Europe have fallen during 2014, reports the North American Wood Fiber Review.
CPL Industries, a distributor of wood pellet heating solutions in the U.K., has published a paper exploring the benefits of incorporating biomass into long-term heating strategies for 2020 and beyond.
Researchers studying fine particulate emissions from a biomass burner found that emissions varied as the fuel went through different stages of combustion. The findings could help industry design better wood burning units.
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