Other News

Global biomass and renewable energy plant suppliers DP CleanTech (DPC) has released details about its new European manufacturing operations After putting its European division, based in Tonder, Denmark into receivership last February, the company overall have recorded a profit in the first quarter of this year. ‘It has been a very challenging couple of years in the European clean energy…
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The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Centre in Wisconsin, US has had its funding by the US Department of Energy (US DoE) renewed for another five years. The centre receives $25 million (€19.2 million) a year from the US DoE and supports almost 400 researchers. ‘Our researchers, in partnership with the states of Wisconsin, Michigan and affiliated industries, have made…
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Seaweed Energy Solutions (SES) has reached an agreement to acquire 100% of Danish company Seaweed Seed Supply (SSS) to reinforce its position in large-scale seaweed cultivation for renewable energy. SSS´ goal of increasing production to 100,000 tons by 2017 from the current 5,000 tons capacity can now become a reality via this purchase. SES technology will be introduced into Denmark and the…
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German Pellets is set to start constructing a $300 million (€229.9 million) plant in Central Louisiana, US this April. The proposed 1 million tonne capacity a year plant will be located in the town of Urania and is expected to employ 80 people once completed. This is the second renewable project to hit Central Louisiana after Sundrop Fuels announced a new plant of its own…
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Kerala state agriculture minister K P Mohanan says his department wants to green light the installation of biogas plants in government and aided schools across the state. The waste generated at the schools will be treated for biogas production and used back on-site to help power canteens. There will be separate schemes for primary, UP and high schools. Primary schools will have a scheme of Rs…
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The Helius Corde biomass energy plant and animal feed processing unit in Rothes, Scotland has opened. The plant was officially opened on 17 April by HRH the Duke of Rothesay and it will use by-products from nearby malt whisky distilleries to produce renewable energy and a animal feed protein supplement. The plant, owned and operated by the joint venture of Helius Energy (HE), Rabo Project Equity…
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European ethanol association ePure has responded to the draft report by European parliament member Corinne Lepage which focused on the European Commission’s (EC) proposal for a directive amending the Fuel Quality Directive (FQD) and the directive of the use of energy from renewable sources (RED). ‘We see some constructive suggestions in Lepage's draft report but also some ideas that…
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Second generation feedstock business NexSteppe has launched its new sorghum hybrid products in the US and Brazil. The company hopes its sweet sorghum and high biomass hybrids will offer alternative solutions to advanced and cellulosic biofuels, biopower and biobased product producers. ‘Through a combination of directed conventional breeding, marker-assisted breeding and analytical…
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Norwegian finance minister Sigbjørn Johnsen officially inaugurated a biorefinery demonstration plant at Borregaard’s production facility in Sarpsborg this April.The demo plant started preliminary operations last summer, followed by normal operations in the first quarter of 2013. The plant uses proprietary Borregaard technology and aims to produce cost-effective and sustainable lignin…
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The first commercial biogas plant in South Africa is nearing construction in Bronkhorstspruit. Project development company Bio2Watt will build, own and operate the 3MW capacity facility, which it aims to have online by the end of spring 2014 latest. The Bronkhorstspruit location allegedly provides the project with proximity to key fuel supplies, grid access and sufficient water supplied by one of…
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Bioenergy plant operator Katrinefors Kraftvärme (KK) is set to build a new CHP plant in Sweden with local municipal energy company VänerEnergi. This will be the second plant involving KK, a 50/50 joint venture owned by Metsä Tissue (MT), and it will be based in Mariestad near a MT mill. Construction is slated to start this April and be operational by the end of 2014. MT will supply…
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The Colorado Economic Development Commission has dangled a multi-million dollar carrot in front of biomass company Cool Planet Energy Systems (CP) to try and entice it to the state. CP, a California-based start-up, claims to have a petrol generating process via biomass and plant waste that does not need to rely on federal subsidies. The CEDC hopes $3 million (€2.3 million) in tax credits…
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A UK charity, the Gorning Heath Almshouses, has used a National Lottery grant to purchase a biomass boiler to help heat its buildings. The £50,000 (€58,600) windfall was put towards a £155,000 system that will burn wood pellets on behalf of the charity to heat low-cost housing for 17 pensioners. The almshouses, which are nearly 300 years old and Grade One listed, were…
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The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) has changed its name following a recent meeting of its delegates. The organisation is now known as Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials to reflect its expansion of scope to apply its standards to biomass that is being used for other products in addition to biofuels. ‘There is a large range of biomaterials including bio-plastics, cosmetics, food…
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