Biomass Digest» Jim Lane

Metso converts coal-fired power in Poland to biomass

Jim Lane — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:29:42 +0000

In Poland, Metso will convert a coal-fired boiler to run on biomass at the Dalkia power plant in Łódź for $20.8 million. Electricity will be sold onto the national grid and heat will be used locally by buildings in the city of Łódź. The retrofit is expected to come online in December 2011.

More on the story.

Rwanda co-op establishes biomass plant

Jim Lane — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:25:03 +0000

In Rwanda, a cooperative of widow and orphan garbage collectors have turned their recycling endeavor into a biomass briquette production business. The co-op founded by 45 members now employs 110 people, collects garbage from 3,000 families in the capital of Kigali and produces biomass briquettes for one-third the price of charcoal. About 495 families and 20 institutions now use the briquettes and the co-op is beginning to participate in major tenders to supply the local electricity market.

More on the story.

Pell Energy proposes UK biomass plant

Jim Lane — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:21:50 +0000

In the UK, Peel Energy has announced the details of a proposed biomass power plant that replaces plans for an ethanol plant that had already received planning permission. The company says the plans changed because national legislation had changed that no longer made the ethanol facility viable.

More on the story.

Lockheed Martin wins $15.2M contract for NY Veterans biomass power plant

Jim Lane — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:41:32 +0000

In New York, Lockheed Martin has won a $15.2 million contract from stimulus funds to build a biomass power plant at the Veterans Affairs medical center in Canandaigua. The facility, that is based on the same system used by Savings Lockheed Martin in Oswego, will use gasification technology to process wood waste including lumberyards and logging operations as feedstock.

More on the story.

A-Power to launch 10 MW biomass plant in Nevada

Jim Lane — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:39:46 +0000

In Nevada, China’s A-Power Energy Generation Systems, Ltd. is preparing a feasibility study for a 10MW biomass fueled electric generation plant with Lincoln County. Biomass derived from landscape enhancement projects to undertaken by the Federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be feedstock for the facility.

The BLM’s Ely Resource Management Plan has identified in excess of 1 million acres of Pinyon-Juniper woodland in Lincoln County requiring landscape treatment to restore and enhance wildlife habitat, watersheds and to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire.

More on the story.

India to launch first biomass-based crematorium

Jim Lane — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:38:26 +0000

In India, the first crematorium in Coimbatore powered by biomass rather than electricity will be ready in two months. Gas produced from wood chips will be used to operated the incinerators. Two private firms had already put up similar facilities that were meant to be eco-friendly and function as efficiently as the crematoria powered by electricity.

More on the story.

UK courts clear way for Helion Energy project

Jim Lane — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:37:25 +0000

In the UK, the High Court in Cardiff refused protestors of the Helion Energy biomass power plant project at Avonmouth Dock permission to apply for a judicial review of the project. Helius originally received planning permission for the power station back in March.

The biomass power plant will require up to 850,000 tonnes of sustainably sourced feedstock each year, primarily wood-based material. Construction of the plant is expected to start following conclusion of the engineering procurement program.

More on the story.

SudChemie pioneers new process for energy from waste water purification

Jim Lane — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:36:29 +0000

In Germany, SudChemie has discovered a new process based on a chemical-free electrokinetic disintegration process for producing energy through waste water purification and through biogas that increases efficiency by 30%. The investment can pay for itself in about two years, not least due to the reduced operating costs of the disintegration system.

More on the story.

U Nottingham builds $10M renewables research center

Jim Lane — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:35:26 +0000

In the UK, the University of Nottingham is building a $10 million research center that will be dedicated to renewable energy working in the fields of bioenergy, hydrogen fuels, carbon capture and storage, sustainable architecture and biomass, among others. The new facility is expected to open in January 2012.

More on the story.

The Last Word: “Waste water purification plants…one of the largest drivers of operating and energy costs.”

Jim Lane — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:33:05 +0000

Dr. Christoph Riemer, head of the Süd-Chemie Water Treatment: “Waste water purification plants are an indispensable component of municipal waste water treatment, but they are also one of the largest drivers of operating and energy costs for communities.”

Andris Piebalgs, EU Development Commissioner: “Africa has a vast untapped renewable energy potential, ranging from hydro, to solar, wind, geothermal and biomass which could be used to ensure millions of people access to electricity.”