Other News

In Florida, US, U.S. EcoGen Polk is developing a biomass plant that will be built in Fort Meade. EcoGen plans to break ground on the $200 million (€148 million) facility at the beginning of 2012, with startup expected in 2014. The U.S. EcoGen Generating Facility will convert eucalyptus into 60MW of renewable power. EcoGen will grow 100% of the eucalyptus needed to fuel the plant on dedicated…
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Biofuels company Gevo has been given a $5 million (€3.7 million) grant by the United States Department of Agriculture to develop bio-jet fuel from woody biomass and forest product residues. The grant is part of the $40 million that has been given to the Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance, a consortium led by Washington State University. With the funding, Gevo plans to use woody biomass…
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Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (MMPA) is looking to build a biomass plant in the town of Le Sueur, Minnesota, US. The $30 million (€22.3 million) project would generate 8MW of renewable energy from a variety of feedstocks including sweet corn silage, and waste from potatoes and beans. MMPA has secured some supply contracts with local food processing companies, and is currently working to…
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In the US, Marathon County Court has overruled a civil lawsuit which was brought against the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Domtar and We Energies are jointly developing a $225 million (€167.5 million) biomass plant in Rothschild, Wisconsin, US, but local group Save Our Air Resources (SOAR) is worried about the environmental impact the plant would have on the local area. SOAR filed…
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One hundred and sixty wood pellet producers in 41 US states will receive grants from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand their biomass and biofuel output capacities. Agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement on 27 September, highlighting that the financial backing will help support the economy and the biofuels market in the US. ‘Renewable energy production will…
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Two Canadian organisations, the Wood Pellet Association of Canada and the Quebec Wood Export Bureau, have partnered to help develop eastern Canada's wood pellet export market. The joint venture, which was announced on 29 September, is expected to bring advantages to the region's industry by building on Quebec's network of wood pellet manufactures, 'mainly because of the strong competition…
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In its largest project to date, the Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) is to invest $150 million (€113.7 million) in the construction of a biomass-fired power plant in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. When it comes online in 2014 the plant will convert a variety of wood waste including bark, branches, sawdust and woodchips into renewable power. MLTC will sell all the power to a utility…
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Biodiesel has the potential to replace fossil-based heating oils, according to a new report by the UK Government and written by the UK's National Centre for Biorenewable Energy, Fuels and Materials (NNFCC). These non-renewable oils currently heat more than 1 million homes in the UK. Liquid fuels made from biomass (bioliquids), however, can be used to replace fossil-based fuels such as kerosene.…
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In the UK, Renewable Energy Generation's (REG), Leeds-based bioliquid-powered plant is ready to begin operating under the company's two-year National Grid contract. REG is a renewable energy developer and operator whose subsidiary REG Bio-Power was awarded a contract with National Grid in March. Under the contract, REG will supply Short Term Operating Reserve (STOR) to meet unscheduled power…
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In Europe, a number of North West European organisations are partnering for a €14 million initiative that will address the current lack of information on macro- and microalgal productivity. Energetic Algae (EnAlgae) will establish a series of pilot-scale seaweed farms and microalgae growth facilities in the region to provide information needed for optimised algae production. NNFCC is one…
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In the US, the US Forest Service's Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC) has awarded a $70,000 (€52,000) grant to the Biomass Thermal Energy Council (BTEC) and Resource Professional Group (RPG). BTEC and RPG have embarked on a joint venture to encourage energy cost savings and make commercial buildings more greenhouse gas saving. The project will educate building architects and biomass…
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In Leamington, Ontario, Canada, New Energy Farms (NEF) has constructed its energy crop bioproducts facility. The 30,000 square foot plant converts locally grown energy crops into low carbon bioproducts. It also generates 265kW of renewable electricity from solar panels fitted in the roof. Pyramid and Prism Farms, partners of NEF, built the site, which currently handles 1,000 hectares of…
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The Board of biomass energy development company Helius Energy is to raise £6.55 million (€7.57 million) by way of a placing of New Ordinary Shares at £0.16 per share. This placing will raise a large sum of capital for Helius, and additional working capital that will allow it to further develop both its immediate and future projects. These include seeking to secure project level…
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The worldwide production of electricity derived from biomass will increase by approximately 8,000MW until 2015. These are the findings of a study by ecoprog and Fraunhofer. The construction of biomass-fired power plants is continuing to grow, mainly due to the increasing number of feed-in tariffs available for biomass-based electricity. The high cost of fossil fuels and the introduction of CO2…
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