All Entries in the "Featured" Category
Iowa publishes biomass harvest, infrastructure, storage report
In Iowa, the Council for Science and Technology has released a report outlining the infrastructure requirements needed to create biomass supply chains for energy. They conclude that the it is necessary to develop new methods and systems to routinely and reliably harvest, handle, store, and transport large quantities of bulky materials of varying characteristics.
“There is [...]
Is Biomass combustion zero-carbon? UK report says no.
In the UK, the national Sustainable Building Association AECB has published the findings of its commissioned report that claims that policies assuming biomass energy is zero-carbon or ‘green’ are leading to additional carbon emissions in the UK rather than reducing them.
Nick Grant , co-author of ‘The Green Electricity Illusion said, “There is a lot of [...]
Enviva signs 480K ton annual wood pellet contract with Belgium’s Electrabel
Just as biofuels ties are deepening between US technologies and Brazilian feedstocks, European biomass companies are deepening their dependence on low-cost supplies of US wood chips for biomass boilers.
Exemplifying the trend, in Virginia Enviva announced the signing of a long-term wood pellet supply contract with Electrabel, a subsidiary of GDF SUEZ Group, one of the [...]
Biochar from pyrolysis key to climate change mitigation: report
Biochar could solve a significant piece of the climate problem – 12 percent of CO2 emissions – according to a study published last week in Nature Communications.
The study estimated CO2 mitigation potential from sustainably-produced biochar that would not endanger – and could actually enhance – food security, habitat and soil conservation.
The authors conclude that turning [...]
Wood manufacturers vs biomass power: war over resources
In the UK, the wood manufacturing industry in Wales is highlighting concerns about competition with biomass energy producers over local wood resources. It has launched a campaign to battle the energy sector using claims including the potential loss of 8,700 local manufacturing jobs.
Environmental groups says biomass energy will boost demand for wood by 30 million [...]
50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy 2010-11 registration opens
In Florida, Biofuels Digest announced the launch of its annual “50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy” rankings process. The rankings, which launched in 2008, are now cited in more than 19,000 web pages, according to the latest Google sweep, and attract thousands of votes from Digest readers as well as the international panel of selectors who [...]
One potato, two potato
Following the all-but-certain defeat of a renewal of the ethanol tax credit, left-wing environmental activists, confederated into the National Anti-Biomass Incineration and Forest Protection Campaign, are making a move to destabilize support for biomass-based power generation.
At issue: is burning biomass carbon-neutral, and are there other emissions associated with it that make biomass an unappealing alternative [...]
Biofuels Digest announces Advanced Biofuels Markets, November 9-10 in San Francisco
Readers: I am delighted to announce Biofuels Digest’s Advanced Biofuels Markets on November 9-10, 2010 in San Francisco, which will feature the largest assemblage of CEOs of the “50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy” since our Washington DC conference in April.
The full agenda and registration information is here.
Sponsorship and exhibition information is here.
Our goal in San [...]
The busy person’s guide to a 20 percent Renewable Power Standard
For a long time there has been discussion of 20 percent renewable power standards in a wide assortment of countries. There’s squabbling about the exact percentages, and the merits of solar, wind, biomass, geo and hydro — but it’s a conversation that hasn’t gone away, and won’t.
Why? To meet the 2050 global carbon goals [...]
Hakuna Matata – to worry or not to worry about the policies of biomass
Paul Hodson, Deputy Head of Unit, DG ENER, European Commission, opined recently that there are no reasons to worry about the future of biomass within the overall transition to a low-carbon society. “Without biomass,” he said, “you can’t write a de-carbonized story. It’s just not possible.”
Ah, no reasons to worry. As in, Hakuna matata. She’ll [...]
