Other News

Researchers in Taiwan believe they are a step closer to creating algae-based alternative fuels. A project has been conducted by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and the Fisheries Research Institute and the results, which have been seen by the ROC Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), confirm that Taiwan is getting closer to creating a cost-effective, environmentally friendly…
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A new combined heat and power plant is up and running in Germany. The $44 million (€34.4 million)GBE Gocher Bioenergie facility, a joint venture between RWE Innogy and Goch municipal utility, has a capacity for 7.6MW of electricity and 28MW of heat. It will used landscaping wood as feedstock. The nearby Nähr -Engel food production facility will benefit from around 130,000 tonnes of…
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Three companies signed a biogas supply agreement at the official opening of the Suiker Unie biomass fermenator in Vierlaten, the Netherlands. Suiker Unie will produce biogas from around 100,000 tonnes of vegetable residues, including sugar beet, while GasTerra will transport the gas which will be purchased by BioMCN. The new facility increases Suiker Unie’s current biogas capacity to a…
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A bioenergy project in British Columbia has had to be temporarily delayed while developer Conifex Timber secures long-term financing. Conifex claims the project is around 30% complete to date but, in order to further its continued development and secure satisfactory long-term financing, it will suspend installation and construction activities. ‘While it is disappointing to have to reduce…
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The UK government has revealed the details of its revised Energy Bill this November but a decision on carbon emission targets will be delayed. Energy companies will be allowed to charge households an extra £7.6 billion ($12.1 billion) to go towards low-carbon electricity infrastructure by 2020. Chancellor George Osborne, who is in favour of gas-powered generation, has not enjoyed a smooth…
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Finland-based technology supplier Metso will work with Vamamo Energi to construct a new biomass power plant in Sweden. The combined heat and power facility order Metso has received is around €17 million ($21.9 million) and have a thermal output of 13.4MW and electrical output of 3.6MW. It will use local forest residues as feedstock. ‘This is an important investment in the future of…
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Singapore-based AMG Bioenergy Resources has signed a non-binding letter of intent regarding the potential acquisition of numerous Jatropha  assets owned by Eco-Energy China. The move would see AMG take on EC’s 10,000 hectares of jatropha plantation assets in the province of Guizhou, with a further right to plant an extra 30,000 hectares of the feedstock in the same area. A decision is…
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Chinese imports of logs and lumber dramatically fell this year according to a report by the Wood Resources International. Total value of imports from January to August came to $4.3 billion (€3.3 billion) but represents a 19% drop on the same time last year. Russia and Canada provide the bulk of imports into China (84%) with the US Chile and New Zealand making up the rest. The average import…
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Renewable energy projects are set to benefit as Philippines-based carbon asset management business Greenergy Holdings authorises a raise of its capital stock. Board approval was obtained in November and the rise will take stock value from PP2 billion (€37.7 million) to PP5 billion. Greenergy president Antonio Tiu was reported to say that the higher stock would be used ‘to expand…
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A biomass plant in Minnesota has vowed to stop using treated wood as part of its feedstock following a fine from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Fibrominn, a company that burns turkey and wood waste to produce electricity, will have to shell out $14,000 (€11,000) for violating the conditions of its air permit. Although accounting for less than 1% of its total fuel burned between…
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The foundation stone of UPM’s Finland-based biorefinery in Lappeenranta has been laid. UPM claim the120 million litres a year facility will be ‘the world’s first biorefinery to produce wood-based biodiesel’ and this announcement means the project is running on schedule. ‘Our €150 million investment into Lappeenranta proves this is UPM’s spearhead project…
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Wood pellet and biomass supplier Enviva has closed on its first corporate borrowing plan. The company will receive a senior secured credit facility of $120 million (€94.2 million). Three major banks, namely Barclays, Goldman Sachs USA and Royal Bank of Canada, all served as joint lead arrangers. The proceeds will be used by Enviva to complete the construction of two new 500,000 metric ton…
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Sweetwater Energy has confirmed its first commercial-scale, cellulosic sugar-production facility project is moving forward with the appointment of a design company. Merrick and Company has been charged with the facility’s creation process from front-end engineering through to detailed design. Sweetwater eventual aim is to produce low-cost sugars from non-food plant materials and sell them…
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A potential biomass import centre in Northern England remains a prospect but will rely heavily on favourable government policy being in place. Teesport owner PD Ports wants to add the centre as a response to growing demands for biomass supplies, but bosses believe the government’s plans around electricity market reform must remain pro-biomass to go ahead. ‘There is the Renewables…
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