Valmet has announced it will convert Helen Ltd's coal-fired district heat boiler to bubbling fluidised bed (BFB) combustion to enable wood pellet firing at the Salmisaari ‘A’ power plant in Helsinki, Finland. The conversion promotes the company’s goal of phasing out coal and at the same time strengthens the construction of a sustainable energy system. The order... [Read More]

CHAR Technologies (CHAR) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the First Nations co-operative Lake Nipigon Forest Management (LNFMI) to collaboratively develop, build, own and operate a wood waste and residues to renewable natural gas (RNG) and biocarbon facility in the Lake Nipigon Region of Northern Ontario, Canada. LNFMI is a forest management co-operative... [Read More]

Enviva has released its financial results for Q1 2023, reporting a net loss of $116.9 million (€105.7m), as compared to a net loss of $45.3m (€40.9m) for the same period in 2022. The company further reported adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2023 of $3.4m (€3m), as compared to $36.6m (€33.1m) for the corresponding quarter last year. The company put its performance down... [Read More]

Drax Power Station, the UK’s biggest generator of renewable electricity, is projecting a symbol onto one of its huge cooling towers this weekend to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. Electricity has been generated by Drax since 1974 after it was built by the Central Electricity Generating Board, in an area of Yorkshire known as Megawatt Valley due to a fleet... [Read More]

Enexor Bioenergy (Enexor), based in Tennessee, US, has been awarded a demonstration grant from the US Department of Defense's (D0D) environmental security technology certification programme (ESTCP). The funding will be utilised to demonstrate Enexor's Bio-CHP system at a US Navy installation, to convert organic and plastic waste into renewable energy. The primary goal... [Read More]

The world-leading certification scheme to guarantee high-quality wood pellets, ENplus®, has reported 13.3 million tonnes of certified pellets in 2022, while the certified production this year is projected to surpass 14 million tonnes*. “In 2022, the pellet market was heavily affected by the energy crisis. The pellet prices increased all over Europe and some countries... [Read More]

The Lenzing Group, a provider of specialty fibres for the textile and nonwovens industries, has signed a contract for the acquisition of a 43 MW biomass power plant from ENERGIE 42 Beteiligungs, located in the Heiligenkreuz business park in Austria. The execution of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, and is expected in the second quarter of 2023. The... [Read More]

Ofgem has commissioned a probe into biomass firm Drax's adherence to sustainability rules, the Financial Times reported. The UK energy regulator has tasked US consultants with examining Drax over its use of biomass, having launched an investigation into Drax in 2022, according to documents procured via a Freedom of Information application. A Drax spokesperson told... [Read More]

Drax Group has announced a £150 million (€169.4m) share buyback programme and lowered its annual capital expenditure forecast, after it paused further investment in projects to capture and store carbon dioxide in the UK. The British biomass giant said it plans to return the sum to shareholders in a programme that is due to commence in Q2 '23, and which will be completed... [Read More]

Last week, West Biofuels, broke ground on a critically needed three-megawatt (MW) bioenergy plant in Burney, California that will convert forest waste and sustainably sourced wood to renewable electricity, heat and biochar. The new source of clean, renewable energy will help reduce wildfire risk, lower California's carbon footprint, and strengthen the region's economy. The... [Read More]

The Argus Biomass Industry Awards took place for the first time at the Argus Biomass Conference in Westminster, London on 18 April, showcasing the achievements of companies and individuals at the networking event for the biomass industry. The awards recognise thought leadership in bringing sustainability to the forefront of business and in tackling climate change. The... [Read More]

A new paper, “Transparency, trust and best practice of responsible biomass use”, published on 19 April by the World Bioenergy Association (WBA), explores the Glasgow Declaration on Sustainable Bioenergy, some of the nuances of the public debate on sustainability and the importance of getting bioenergy right. The International Energy Agency’s landmark Net Zero Emissions... [Read More]

Valmet and Greenalia Biomass Power Curtis-Teixeiro S.L.U have signed a three-year service agreement to further improve the performance of Greenalia’s Curtis-Teixeiro biomass plant in Spain. The agreement is included in Valmet's orders received of the first quarter 2023 and is effective immediately. The value of the agreement has not been disclosed. In Curtis-Teixeiro,... [Read More]

Renewable energy technology firm Renergi has completed the construction of a $10.4 million (€6.3m) biomass conversion plant in Western Australia (WA). The Collie Resource Recovery Centre will see household rubbish and biomass converted into useful products, including commercially viable bio-char, bio-oil and wood vinegar. The plant, which was built using a patented... [Read More]

Marubeni Corporation and Taisei Corporation have started development of a wood-based biomass power plant, via special purpose company Ishikari area Biomass Power corporation (IBP). Located at the Ishikari Bay New Port Area in Ishikari City, Hokkaido, the plant will have a power generation output of 9,950 kW. The biomass power plant will consume locally produced fuel,... [Read More]

Dr Alan Knight OBE, group director of sustainability at Drax Group, has given an update on the progress Drax is making to deliver positive outcomes for the climate, for nature and for the communities in which the company operates. "As I come to the end of my second year with Drax, it is naturally time to reflect on my time with the company to date and the progress... [Read More]