Biomass Digest» International News

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.

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UK waste wood biomass gains permits

Meghan Sapp — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:27:31 +0000

In the UK, planning permission has been granted for a 12MW gasification power plant in Lincolnshire that will use 140,000 metric tons of waste wood and biosolids from wastewater as a feedstock. Possibly the first of its kind to be approved in the UK, the project is a joint venture of Alternative Use Group and Alchemy Farms, both of the US. Wood is expected to come from old overhead line poles while biosolids will be sourced from nearby treatment works to the site in Boston.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Ireland poultry producers squabble over biomass plant, and impact on poultry economics

Jim Lane — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:51:57 +0000

In Ireland, poultry producers are complaining that they will no longer be competitive with poultry producers in Northern Ireland because the biomass power station under development there will significantly reduce operational costs for those in the north. The project under development will fulfill 30% of Northern Ireland’s renewable energy requirements.

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Acciona connects 16MW waste straw-to-energy plant to national grid

Jim Lane — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:50:46 +0000

In Spain, Acciona has connected its second waste straw-to-energy facility to the national grid. The 16MW plant at Briviesca will burn around 102,000 metric tons of straw a year from 100 farmers and 38 companies based in Castilla y Leon. The local energy agency Ente Regional de la Energia contributed 15% of the capital towards the $63.4 million project.

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SmurfitKappa commissions 140MW biomass power plant in France

Jim Lane — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:49:37 +0000

In France, paper manufacturer SmurfitKappa has commissioned a 140MW biomass power plant at its paper mill in Biganos, near Bordeaux in southwest France with French energy company Dalkia. The $168 million project will supply 69MW of power to the national grid while the remainder will be used by the paper mill.

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India’s Orient Green Power Company Ltd. to add 60MW of biomass power

Jim Lane — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:13:42 +0000

In India, Orient Green Power Company Ltd. expects to add another 60MW of biomass power to its portfolio during the current financial year. The company currently has 40MW of biomass power in its overall energy mix of 200MW of renewables, of which the remaining is wind power.
In presentations made as part of the company’s IPO-related road shows, OGPC has said it expects to raise its renewable energy capacity to 350 MW by the end of this financial year, 800 MW by March 2012, and 1,000 MW by March 2013. It has linked up with Nishi-Nippon Environmental Energy Co of Japan to set up a 7.5-MW biomass power project using chicken manure as a feedstock.