News

UK energy regulator, Ofgem, has published a summary of the results of its benchmarking exercise of voluntary schemes against the UK's Renewables Obligation land criteria for woody biomass. The SBP Framework has been evaluated and found to be fully compliant with the legislation. The summary of results can be found in Ofgem's updated Renewables Obligation: Sustainability Criteria document. Peter…
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Aurora Algae has released a new method of developing algae strains that can be designed to meet fuel needs without using ‘foreign genes’ and instead using the algae’s natural genetic makeup. Aurora says that in the past algae development has been limited to using existing strains of eukaryotic microalgae, because there was not enough technology available for genome…
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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the final volume requirements for bioethanol under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for the years 2014, 2015, and 2016. In addition, the final volume requirements for biodiesel for 2014 and 2017. The EPA has increased the required levels from its earlier suggestion in June, and hopes that the rule will boost renewable fuel production and…
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Malaysia says it wants to export more biomass products to Europe under a new EU-funded deal. Currently RM300 million (€71.5 million) is exported to the region from Malaysia but the head of the EU delegation to Malaysia Vincent Piket says this estimate is only based on enquiries from Europe. Under the initiative, 45 SMEs have been chosen to work under the EU-Malaysia Biomass Entrepreneurs…
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The UK committee on climate change says it will be difficult to meet carbon budgets without the use of bioenergy and carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. In order to meet the country’s 2050 targets, bioenergy will need to make up a total of 10% of all energy produced, rather than the 2% it currently stands at. The review of UK energy says a 10% share of bioenergy could make it…
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Sargas, a Norwegian bioenergy company, says it is keen to invest in electrical energy in Malta as part of a deal with plant owners DSME and SNC-Lavalin to construct a plant. The feedstock used at the plant is called bio paste and is a wet mix of biomass and coal. However, natural gas will also power the plant but a carbon capture system will be installed. The company hopes to deliver the…
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Clayton Hall Farm in West Yorkshire, UK has invested in a £1.6 million (€1.9 million) anaerobic digestion plant which is anticipated to pay itself off within five years. The plant uses a digester which creates gas that activates a generator that supplies 400KW of electricity to the grid, heating farm buildings in the local area. The feedstock used will be food waste from local…
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The UK and India have made a £10 million (€11.8 million) deal to collaborate on sustainable bioenergy research. The programme will see scientific research carried out into plants and algae for bioenergy development. Funding from the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the Indian Government Department of Biotechnology has helped to put the build of the plant…
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BNP Paribas Clean Energy Partners has bought a straw-fired renewable energy plant from Eco2 for its clean energy fund. It is the first biomass facility the fund has bought, although it also owns a wind power facility and solar photovoltaics and other assets in France, Italy, the UK and Ireland. The new plant is based in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, UK and will be able to produce 40MW, enough power to…
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Statkraft, a European renewable energy generator, has shipped over 3,000 tonnes of woodchips to a customer in Denmark. The consignment is the first woodchip cargo to be shipped from Statkraft's new biomass trading hub which opened in August at the site of the former Södra Cell paper mill, located south of Oslo, Norway, at Tofte. Statkraft is processing round wood to energy chips at the site…
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Shipping company Maersk and the US navy are working together to test biofuels derived from algae by fuelling a container ship with the alternative fuel for a journey from the north of Europe to India. The ship, called Maersk Kalmar, was chosen for the tests because it features an engine that has been specifically designed for auxiliary testing, meaning risk of damage on the voyage is reduced. The…
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OriginOil, an algae technology developer, has joined forces with Australian company Future Energy Solutions (FES), and its subsidiary Alternate Energy Systems (AES), to carry out feasibility studies on the potential for biorefining centres around the world. The biorefineries would serve US and NATO military requirements for alternative fuels, including biofuels. OriginOil has also recently teamed…
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Biomass to ethanol producer TMO Renewables says it has raised £7.6 million (€9 million) in a financing round from new and current shareholders. This will be combined with the £4.6 million that was raised at the beginning of the year, and will be used to help the company come into commercialisation. The company is working with plant owners and land official from Minas Gerais, a…
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A new municipal solid waste (MSW) to energy centre will be built in Plymouth, processing up to 75,000 tonnes of MSW a year and exporting 3.2MW to the national grid. Wardell Armstrong, the engineering and environmental consultancy, has received permission for the £15 million (€18 million) development from Devon County Council and will work with AAD South West, an Aero Thermal company,…
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