Biomass Digest» biomass

Iowa publishes biomass harvest, infrastructure, storage report

Meghan Sapp — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:48:14 +0000

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 broad scientific consensus,” the report’s authors say, “that biomass crops and residues can replace fossil fuels, which should decrease the need to import petroleum and also decrease greenhouse gas emissions. To accomplish this, however, 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.

GDownload the full report

“These needs contrast with the well-developed logistics, grading, and marketing systems for grain biofuel feedstocks and fossil fuels. There have been a number of research activities aimed at providing solutions to specific unit processes within the feedstock provision value chain. The case studies show that substantial efforts have been made toward the development of machines for harvesting and collecting agricultural biomass.”

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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Is Biomass combustion zero-carbon? UK report says no.

Jim Lane — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:12:08 +0000

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 confusion around, with people mixing up the terms renewable, sustainable and low carbon. We need to take a step back from the seemingly endless arguments about the definition of zero carbon, and ask ourselves – what are we really trying to do here? I believe when you do this, it is clear that we need to go back to the simple principle of using less energy, in whatever form.”

Download the complete report.

Greenfield Energy files for air permit for 63 MW biomass power project in Texas

Jim Lane — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:02:50 +0000

In Texas, Greenfield Energy has filed for an air quality permit from the state Commission on Environmental Quality for a 63MW biomass power plant it wants to build in Greenfield, however the final site of the plant has not yet been decided. If approved to be built in Greenville, the new plant would use the three turbines of the existing Powerlane plant to produce electricity for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas Inc. grid,

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U Montana explores $13M biomass power project

Meghan Sapp — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:53:25 +0000

In Montana, the University of Montana in Missoula is exploring the installation of biomass power for steam to reduce the school’s natural gas usage by 60%. The state of Montana granted the university $7 million in Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds for the $13 million project and the school will seek its own bonds to fund the rest of the project.

The building design could include a classroom where students from the College of Technology’s energy technology program would learn to operate the system.

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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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admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:48:11 +0000

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FirstEnergy seeks OK to co-fire 80% wood pellets at Ohio power plant

Jim Lane — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:33:44 +0000

In Ohio, FirstEnergy is seeking state approval to burn up to 80% wood pellets co-fired with coal at one of its smaller power plants. Environmentalists are claiming the project will lead to destruction of the state’s forests.

The switchover would make the 312MW power plant the largest biomass-fired plant in the country.

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Nippon Paper invests $71M in 20MW biomass project in Washington state

Jim Lane — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:32:32 +0000

In Washington state, Japan’s Nippon Paper is building a $71 million, 20MW biomass-fired co-generation facility for its factory near Port Angeles and will supply the grid with excess power. The 160,000 tons of biomass required per year will be supplied from waste wood in the surrounding area. On August 5, the City of Port Angeles closed the public comment period on the project’s environmental impact statement.

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SK Energy invests $26M in China biomass project

Jim Lane — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:29:16 +0000

In China, South Korea’s largest oil refiner SK Energy will invest $26 million in a joint venture biomass power facility in Shandong province.

The Chinese partner, who wasn’t named, will own 51% of the venture. Construction of the plant will begin in 2012 and will be SK Energy’s first international project seeking carbon credits through the United Nations.

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