News

In Limburg, Belgium NPG Energy, an investor and project development company, is developing a 2.4MW biogas plant, expected to be operational by the second quarter of 2014. This renewable electricity has the potential to benefit around 5,000 homes but instead will be consumed by the Spin-group BV in its textile factory. Initially, the plant will use maize silage to generate power but this will…
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Unilever, together with the University of Liverpool, has established a research project to develop biomass-based chemicals that can be used in the manufacture of its home and personal care products. The three-year project will see the development of renewable chemicals from surplus sugars, fats, oils and carbohydrates produced via commodity by-products and forestry wastes. The aim is to identify…
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The biomass to power sector is expected to grow substantially in the future and worldwide revenue from biomass power generation could reach $11.5 billion (€8.7 million) a year by 2020. This is according to a recent report from Navigant Research. This growth is being attributed to 'technological breakthroughs and the expansion of international trade in biomass pellets', which are expected to…
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Eagle Valley Eco Fuels, a manufacturer of biomass fuel, has earned the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) 'certified bio-based product' label for its Brickenmore biomass fuel brick and fire starters. The USDA certified label verifies that the bio-based materials used in a product meet or exceed prescribed USDA standards. 'The label will assure our customers that Brickenmore biomass fuel bricks…
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Latvia's largest combined heat and power (CHP) biomass plant is due to come online later this month. Energy company Fortum developed the Jelgava-based plant, which will consume woodchips to generate 45MW of power and 23MW of electricity – enough to benefit 85% of the city's heating capacity. The inauguration ceremony on 11 September will be attended by Latvia's president Andris…
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The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) of Zimbabwe, a subsidiary of utility company Zesa Holdings, is looking to install a total 64 biogas plants across the nation. The REA, according to reports, has called for bids from companies and agents experienced in he design, sizing, positioning, construction and installation of institutional biogas digester units. The biogas digesters will be installed…
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The EU-based All-gas project, the world's largest project to convert algae into clean energy using wastewater, has successfully grown its first crop of algae biomass at its site in Chiclana, southern Spain. The project, which was launched in May 2011 and is due to last five years, aims to obtain low-cost biofuel from algae grown in wastewater. So far, the biomass created shows a high energy…
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Caraga Renewable Power, a subsidiary of Eastern Petroleum, is investing $70 million (€52.5 million) to build a new biomass power plant in Butuan city, the Philippines. According to reports, the new plant will use woodchips to generate 20MW of renewable energy. The feedstock will come from industrial tree plantations in Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, in addition to other plantations as…
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The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) has announced that the anaerobic digestion (AD) industry now delivers an electrical equivalent capacity (electricity and biomethane) of 514MW across 411 plants in the farming, waste and water sectors. Commenting on this progress, ADBA's CEO Charlotte Morton says: 'ADBA's market data now shows that AD offers over 500MWe electrical…
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RWE nPower's 750MW Tilbury biomass-fired power station will close today after being refused financial support. The plant runs solely on biomass after being converted from coal in 2011. It was one of the UK's largest sources of green energy, supplying 10% of the country's renewable power. The power station is shutting down under the EU's Large Combustion Plant (LCPD) Directive, which limits the…
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Brazil-based biotechnology company GranBio and Rhodia, a Solvay Group company, are to produce bio n-butanol after signing a joint venture agreement. The bio n-butanol chemical will be made from biomass which is readily available in Brazil, such as sugarcane straw and bagasse. The partnership will see the two companies build a biomass-based n-butanol plant in Brazil, scheduled to enter operation…
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PensionDanmark is to build, own and operate a new biomass-fired power plant in Lincolnshire, UK and has formed a joint venture with Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor (BWSC). The £160 million (€187.5 million) Brigg Renewable Energy plant will use mostly locally sourced straw to generate 40MW of renewable electricity – enough for 70,000 homes. This will also result in…
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The last five years has seen China's importation of woodchips soar as the nation's pulp and paper industry grows. A lack of competitively priced wood fibre in China means the country's two largest pulp mills – Asia Pacific Resources International and Asia Pulp and Paper – are sourcing much of their wood fibre needs from across the water and this has resulted in a surge of woodchips…
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Detroit Renewable Energy (DRE) has completed $55 million (€41 million) in long-term financing to support the company's expanding investment in the environmental, renewable energy and economic development infrastructure of Greater Detroit. The financing consists of tax-exempt Limited Obligation Revenue Bonds with maturities extending to 2030. The bonds were issued by the Michigan Strategic…
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