News

In a move that will decrease the levels of nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, mercury and particulate emissions, Dominion Virginia Power is planning to switch three of its coal-fired power plants to biomass burning facilities. Located in the counties of Altavista, Hopewell and Southampton in Virginia, US, the three identical facilities could begin handling biomass in 2013, following the approval…
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The Pinnacle Pellet plant in Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada, has sustained considerable damage following an explosion at around 9.30pm on 2 April 2011. The large amount of wood feedstock present in the plant at the time of the incident led to the resulting fire quickly spreading through the basement to the attic. Armstrong Fire Department were first to arrive at the scene, but were forced to…
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England has the potential to generate 4% of its electricity needs from short rotation coppice energy crops grown on unused land, according to a study supported by the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC). These findings highlight that such crops, including poplar and willow, could help the UK meet its 2020 renewable energy target of 15% of all energy and 30% electricity to be sourced from renewable…
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Wood Composite Technologies, a Nisku, Alberta, Canada-based company dedicated to the production of alternative wood materials, is to sell its pellet production plant. DiCorp Properties will acquire the plant, in addition to some pieces of equipment, for $2.3 million (€1.6 million). The deal is subject to a number of conditions, such as Wood Composite Technologies gaining shareholder…
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AES Borsodi Energetikai, the Hungarian division of US power firm AES Corporation, has ceased production at two of its three Hungary-based power plants. Business has halted at the Tiszapalkonya Power Plant – a facility located in the east of Hungary, co-firing coal and biomass, and its Borsod Power Plant in Kazincbarcika, in the northeast of the country. The latter facility generates most of…
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In Poland, Tauron, the nation's second-largest utility company, is planning to switch from burning coal at its Tychy-based power plant to burning biomass. The project will cost Tauron zt120 million (€30 million) and it has taken out a zt30 million loan from the Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management to part-finance the conversion. The conversion will be completed in…
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The UK Government has pledged to do more to increase the proportion of renewable energy used to heat the nation's buildings and fuel its cars, trucks and trains as it aims to meet binding EU targets by 2020. The Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) made the pledge in its recently published report entitled Third progress report on the promotion and use of energy from renewable sources…
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A gasification plant in the Isle of Wight, UK, has become the first waste-fuelled gasification or pyrolysis plant to receive Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs). Under the 2003 Renewable Obligation Order (ROO), the plant receives ROCs for each megawatt hour of electricity it generates from the renewable portion of waste (typically more than 60%). Ofgen granted full accreditation after an…
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Germany-based biogas plant manufacturer Weltec Biopower is developing its second biogas plant in the city of Limbaži, Latvia. Upon completion the plant will generate 500kW power. The 3,500m3 fermenter will feed in the power from July 2011 and plans for expanding the plant with another fermenter are already underway. The biogas facility will handle 3,500 tonnes of cattle manure, 1,900 tonnes of…
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Energy supplier Sprague Energy of White Plains, New York, in the US, and privately owned Biodico have launched a pilot programme – Bio Genset – that will encourage the use of biodiesel and biodiesel blends in diesel-powered generators and power units, with a goal to reduce emissions from diesel fuel generators, decrease the dependence on foreign oil and promote local jobs. The New…
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In Athens, Georgia, US, Maine Woods Pellets has been fined $31,220 (€21,590) after breaching the terms of its air emission license. According to the monthly enforcement report, issued in March 2011 by the Department of Environmental Protection, Maine Woods Pellets will pay the fine in monthly installments after it did not correctly operate its air pollution systems. The report states: 'Maine…
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In Tilbury, England, UK, energy company RWE npower may be able to keep its 1,050MW coal-fired power plant open beyond 2015 as the company has been working to convert it to a biomass power station. Under European law, RWE npower and eight other power stations will be closed down in 2015 due to a European acid rain directive. However, following a conversion project which is due to take place during…
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The maximum amount of woody biomass utilised in power plants for the generation of green electricity is to be reduced in Nova Scotia, Canada. In a bid to preserve the forests in the province, while at the same time meeting renewable energy goals, the provincial government announced that waste wood levels are to be cut by 30%, reducing the biomass cap from 500,000 tonnes a year to 350,000 tonnes a…
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In Malaysia, Japan-based Mitsui & Co. has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sime Darby and power company Tenaga Nasional. The venture will see the three companies carry out a feasibility study into the use of producing power from biogas at palm oil mills. It is hoped that the MoU, which was signed on 4 April 2011, will increase the use of renewable energy in Malaysia, while…
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