Other News

Saxlund International, a UK subsidiary of energy and environmental technology group Opcon, is to provide its bulk material handling and storage knowledge to a new wastewater treatment facility this year. The contract comes from Anglian Water, the largest water and wastewater company in England and Wales, and represents the fifth time the two companies will have worked together on wastewater…
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US-based renewable energy company Ameresco has completed its first operational year at its renewable energy fuelled cogeneration facility at its Savannah River site (SRS). The facility came online in conjunction with the US Department of Energy’s (DoE) single largest renewable Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC), awarded to Ameresco in 2009 to finance, design, construct, operate,…
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UK-based Midland Bioenergy (MB) has added a new heat log briquette to aid domestic and commercial environments. The UK is aiming for a 15% renewable energy input from renewables by 2020 and home owners can be supported by the Renewable Heat Premium scheme that offers £950 (€1,100) towards the cost of an installed biomass boiler. ‘Currently just 1.5% of UK final energy consumption…
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Canada-based Viridis Energy (VE) believes its Scotia Atlantic Biomass plant will begin wood pellet shipments this autumn. VE anticipates the plant will be fully staffed and ramped up production could deliver 25,000 tonnes to European markets by September. ‘We are ramping up production slower than anticipated due to some delays relating to industry subsidies in the UK,’ VE CFO Michele…
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UK-based Tilbury power station has been given the thumbs up to upgrade its facilities. The plant was due to be closed permanently in October after it used up its full allocation of operating hours imposed after opting out of the 2008 EU directive. This was also despite providing more than half the UK’s renewable energy after converting to biomass in 2010. The use of biomass will be extended…
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The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) has responded to the news that the EPA finalised its rule approving camelina oil as a new low-carbon feedstock under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) 'This decision adds to the growing list of biodiesel feedstocks that meet the EPA's standards for advanced biofuel and gives us yet another option for producing sustainable, domestic biodiesel that displaces…
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Philippines-based Aseagas, a joint venture between Gazasia and Aboitiz Equity Ventures, has allocated funds for the construction of a new liquid biomethane plant. It is believed around $30 million (€22.6 million) has been earmarked for the project and building could commence this summer, mostly likely in Luzon where approximately 70% of the market is to be found. The fruits of the project…
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Technology supplier Metso is to supply a biomass-fired power plant to Vimmerby Energi and Miljö AB for combined heat and power production at Tallholmen, Sweden. The start-up of the plant is scheduled for the end of 2014 and the order is valued at €25 million ($33 million). Metso claims the plant will use bubbling fluidised bed combustion technology, with the boiler plant having a…
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Belgium-based renewable energy company Electrawinds has begun operations at a new rendering plant in Serbia after a year and a half of construction. The Energo Zelena brand installation is located 50km outside of Belgrade and will process animal waste products to produce bioenergy. Electrawinds calls the facility a ‘zero waste plant’ as it can use liquid fats, meat and bone to energy…
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UK power generating company Drax has highlighted the positive moves as it converts its coal-fired plant to biomass. The conversion comes in response to rising coal prices and government subsidies backing renewable energy sources. The company reveals that the first of its six units at the Yorkshire-based facility will be converted to biomass in April, with a second planned to be ready next…
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The California Energy Commission has dished out more than $4.4 million (€3.2 million) toward two biogas projects. Blue Line Transfer has received $2.5 million to continue its project in constructing a dry anaerobic digestor compressed natural gas system to fuel five refuse and recycling vehicles. I hopes to convert 9,000 tonnes of plant and food waste into biomethane. The other beneficiary,…
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A new biomass boiler has been installed in Wick, Scotland as part of its district heating scheme. The 3.5MW steam boiler, installed and operated by Ignis Biomass, forms part of an initial £2.5 million (€2.8 million) investment into the scheme. A local whiskey distillery will also benefit from the steam produced too, allowing it to move away from fossil fuel use. ‘The district…
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A new association has been launched in Sacramento to promote bioenergy across California this February. The initiative, named the Bioenergy Association of California, will be led by former deputy secretary for climate change and energy at the California Resources Agency Julia Levin and consist of agencies and businesses interested in furthering sustainable development. ‘California is poised…
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Biomass project developer Helius Energy operating losses rose to £11.6 million (€13.4 million) by the end of September 2012. Revenues increased from £148,308 to £309,713 but the losses rose by £757,448 when compared year-on-year. The company points to an impairment of £8.8 million after it was notified by RWE Innogy that it wished to revert to the original…
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