All Entries in the "Research" Category
The BioEnergy Atlas debuts from NREL
In Colorado, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory has unveiled its BioEnergy Atlas that allows users to layer related bioenergy data onto a single map to gather information on biomass feedstocks, biopower and biofuels potential, production and distribution. BioEnergy Atlas is an improvement over current tools in that it enables more timely and accurate analysis of [...]
U Nottingham builds $10M renewables research center
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.
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 [...]
Easterday Ranches, Easterday Farms contribute $225K to anaerobic digester research
In Washington state, Easterday Ranches and Easterday Farms have donated $225,000 to support research being conducted in the to Washington State University Tri-Cities’ Bioproducts, Sciences and Engineering Laboratory. The donation, to be given over three years, will pay for an Easterday Graduate Research Fellow to focus on the anaerobic digestion of wastes such as those [...]
Xcel Energy to develop a 30 kW pilot-scale biomass power system
In North Dakota, Xcel Energy has teamed with the University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) to develop a 30 kW pilot-scale biomass power system that combines a microturbine and biomass gasifier. According to, Phillip Hutton, Ph.D., Research Manager at the EERC, “For residue biomass, where the cost of the biomass is [...]
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 [...]
Duke study shows promising future for biomass-coal blending
In North Carolina, a new study by Duke University and North Carolina shows that blending 10% biomass with coal currently used for electricity production could cut greenhouse gas emissions and produce electricity equal to more than 5% the Southeast’s generating capacity from nuclear, coal and gas-fired plants. Southern Co. has been looking to convert its [...]
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$5 million DownEast 2010 Biomass Engineering Prize Competition launches
In Maine, DownEast Power Company has launched the $5 million DownEast 2010 Biomass Engineering Prize Competition in an effort to transform what the company itself calls an “underperforming” facility in Deblois. It is seeking an innovative engineering plan to get its 25.8MW biomass power plant back onto the grid.
There are two proposed rounds of applications. [...]
Black carbon from biomass half as bad as fossil fuels: UCSD report
In California, a new study led by the University of California at San Diego has determined that the black carbon emitted from burning biomass was half as damaging to the environment as black carbon emitted from fossil fuels.
The study explored emissions in three areas of China and compared the sulphate concentration. Black-carbon-induced warming is dependent [...]
