Biomass News

In the US, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) has released a request for statements of interest (RSOI) in the development of a biomass gasification project for combined heat and power (CHP) application in Sacramento, California. SMUD says it is seeking an experienced project developer with a commercial technology that has a track record of successful implementation and…
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In Ghent, Belgium, Abengoa has announced it will build the largest commercial-scale biomass-fired power plant in the world. The company was chosen by electricity and gas company Belgian Eco Energy (Bee). The plant, expected to cost in excess of €315 million, will utilise woodchips and agro-residues to generate 215MW of renewable power. Abengoa will be responsible for the engineering, design…
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Bronzeoak Philippines, a developer of solar power projects in the Philippines, is diversifying its portfolio with a biomass power project. Following approval from its board of directors, Bronzeoak will now invest $90 million (€72 million) in a 20MW biomass-fired power plant in Negros Occidental. The feedstock for this facility will be sugarcane farm waste. The work will be carried out by San…
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China Everbright International has signed an agreement with the People's Government of Rudong County in Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, for the investment, construction and operation of an agricultural waste and straw project in Rudong County. This will be the seventh biomass project Everbright International has secured in 2014. The total investment of Rudong Project is approximately RMB90…
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The Gainesville Renewable Energy Center (GREC), a 102.5MW biomass-fired power plant in Florida, US has received Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. The certification affirms that GREC's purchase procedures for its waste wood fuels conform to the FSC Chain of Custody standard. It is the first power generation facility ever to receive this certification. The certification assessment was…
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Ireland's electricity utility Electricity Supply Board (ESB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have signed a loan facility for €100 million. The funds will be used for continued investment in the electricity network in the south west region of Ireland to connect renewable energy to the national transmission network. This is the second part of a total loan facility of €200 million…
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Harvest Power, a North American-based company dedicated to converting organic waste into clean energy, has announced a $20 million (€15.8 million) financing round. The lead investors were True North Venture Partners, Industry Ventures, and Generation Investment Management. This financing will allow Harvest to accelerate development of new opportunities in the clean energy space with its…
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In Texas, US, Gemma Power Systems, an EPC company and wholly owned subsidiary of Argan, has finished building the East Texas Electric Cooperative (ETEC) Woodville Renewable Power Project, three months ahead of schedule. The 49.9MW biomass in Woodville has now completed testing and been turned over to ETEC for commercial operation. 'The Gemma team worked in close partnership with our customer ETEC…
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Renewable fuels company BlueFire Renewables has received a letter of intent (LOI) from the Export Import Bank of China (China EXIM) to provide up to $270 million (€212.7 million) in debt financing for its bioenergy project in Fulton, Mississippi. 'There are significant opportunities for replicating the BlueFire Fulton size or larger facilities in China and the US to deal with problematic…
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RWE Innogy and Fri-El Green Power have concluded the transfer of RWE Innogy's 80% stake in Enna, a biomass power plant based in Sicily, Italy, to Fri-El. The deal includes the respective biomass harvesting and forest management activities. RWE Innogy Italia, with an 80% share in the power plant, and Fri-El, with a 20% share, were the sole parties in the joint venture following RWE Innogy's recent…
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Renewable energy producer ReEnergy Black River has been awarded a 20-year contract by the US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to supply renewable energy to the Fort Drum army base in New York. This contract is the largest renewable energy project in the history of the US Army. The federal government is increasing its demand for long-term renewable energy as a result of renewable goals established…
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NexSteppe, a seed company developing crops for the biofuels, biopower and bio-based industries, has raised $22 million (€17 million) in its third round of funding. The company will use the proceeds from the round to continue to improve its Palo Alto biomass sorghum and Malibu sweet sorghum product lines, already available to customers in Brazil and the US. It will also help launch additional…
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The Allendale, South Carolina joint venture project between Vega Biofuels and Agri-Tech Producers – ATP-SC – has been awarded a $200,000 (€157,000) Value-Added Producer Grant from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Vega entered into the JV to build and operate a 'biocoal' production plant in the US state of South Carolina. Feedstock for the plant will be timber waste and…
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Glennmont Partners, an investment firm dedicated to clean energy in Europe, has started operations at the 38MW Sleaford straw-fired renewable energy plant. Sleaford will generate enough electricity to power 65,000 homes as well as providing free heat to local sports clubs and community facilities. The plant was built by a consortium of Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor and Burmeister…
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