Other News

Wood pellet exports from North America exceeded $650 million (€466 million) last year, according to information from the North American Wood Fiber Review. Shipments from North America to Europe have more than doubled in two years and reached 4.7 million tonnes in 2013. Of this volume, around 63% came from the US South. Much of this growth can be attributed to those wood pellet exporting…
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Byogy Renewables and airline partner Avianca Brasil have launched an initiative to support advanced testing to accelerate ASTM approval of Byogy's renewable jet fuel. This alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) renewable jet fuel is a full replacement fuel that does not require blending. It is different from 'drop-in' fuel, which comprises hydrocarbon additive products with oil-based jet fuel. Byogy's jet fuel is…
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Australia, one of the world's largest exporters of woodchips, appears to have recovered from a 10-year low in 2012 as shipments rose again last year. In the first quarter of this year, exports were close to the highest since 2010. When Australian exports fell, it was replaced by Vietnam as the largest supplier of woodchips in the world. Exports of eucalyptus chips peaked at 5 million tonnes in…
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Jasper Clean Energy has pulled the plug on a project that would have seen it develop a biomass-fired power plant in Indiana, US. The generating station would have produced 75MW from miscanthus feedstock. According to a letter sent by the company's CEO Jay Catasein, the project is no longer financially viable due to a number of reasons:• The large abundance of cheap natural gas…
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Finland's wood pellet production capacity increased by 7% in 2013 compared to the previous year, according to reports. Output rose 18,000 tonnes reaching 270,000 tonnes last year. Last year the nation exported 78,000 tonnes of wood pellets, the majority of which was destined to Sweden and Denmark. While this is an increase on 2012 figures, it remains significantly lower than in the…
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The Canadian province of Ontario has fulfilled its commitment to close all of its coal-fired power plants by the end of this year. The last remaining fossil fuel burning facility, Thunder Bay Generating Station, has consumed its last supply of coal and will now be converted into a biomass-fired generating facility. The province has phased out coal and replaced it with renewable sources such as…
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Wood pellet producer Rentech has acquired New England Wood Pellet (NEWP), the largest producer of wood pellets for the US heating market. NEWP operates three wood pellet facilities with a combined annual production capacity of 240,000 tonnes. These plants are strategically located in the US Northeast, which is the largest domestic market for consumption of wood pellets for heating. 'The…
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Independent power producer Phoenix Energy is to build and operate a 2MW biomass gasification plant near Lake Tahoe, California after signing agreements. The US company, which develops on-site biomass gasification plants, says the facility will produce electricity, heat and biochar from forest residues sourced from Placer County's fire threat reduction activities. Placer County is looking for an…
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FortisBC, a regulated utility company based in British Columbia, Canada, is seeking expressions of interest from potential biomethane suppliers for its renewable natural gas programme. The call for applicants will help the Canadian province grow its supply of this renewable and carbon neutral energy source. The company is seeking interest from suppliers for an additional supply of up to one…
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Tokyo Power, the energy arm of cement and concrete manufacturer Tokyo Cement Group, has built a Rs2.4 billion 5MW biomass-fired power plant in the Sri Lankan region of Mahiyanganaya. This is the company's second biomass plant; its first, also located in Sri Lanka, generates 10MW. According to a company statement, 'Tokyo Power launched the Mahiyanganaya plant after successfully pioneering the…
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Energy Works, a £150 million (€184 million) renewable power plant to be built on a 12 acre site in Hull, the UK, has selected a joint venture partnership to design, build and operate the facility. MWH Treatment, part of US-based MWH Global, and engineering firm Spencer Group have combined to win preferred bidder status. Energy Works has named the joint venture as preferred bidder to…
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Scotia Atlantic Biomass, a subsidiary of Viridis Energy, has received funding from the government of Nova Scotia in Canada to purchase new capital equipment to improve production facilities at its wood pellet production plant. The investment, totalling C$517,520 (€340,000), was awarded under the Capital Investment Incentive. Additional proceeds from the incentive will be drawn over the next…
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NexSteppe, a provider of sustainable feedstock solutions for the bio-based industries, has sold more than 1,000 hectares of its Palo Alto high biomass sorghums for biopower in Brazil this past growing season. The company now owns a 65% market share in the market for bioenergy sorghums in Brazil. NexSteppe's Palo Alto high biomass sorghums can be used alongside bagasse and other sources of biomass…
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TEG Biogas, an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant located in Dagenham on the outskirts of London, opened on 23 April. The plant is London's first commercial-scale AD and composting facility. It is also the first project to be invested in by the UK Green Investment Bank (GIB), via its Foresight magazine fund. Technology firm TEG Group built and will operate the plant, which was completed on time and…
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