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Category: Biomass

Frost & Sullivan: Biofuels markets in Sub-Saharan African are set for rapid growth

October 3rd, 2009 | Posted in Biomass

The sub-Saharan African biofuels market should experience rapid growth in the next five years, despite serious challenges to its development. The high targets set by the EU and US for the inclusion of biofuels in their fuel supply are a key driver for biofuels projects in the region, along with the intensified government support.

According to the new analysis from Frost & Sullivan titled "Sub-Saharan African Biofuels Market," this market will earn revenues of $26.9 million in 2009 and is projected to reach $229.9 million in 2017.

It's obvious that many countries in the region have suitable climates and available land to grow feedstock. However, delays in formulating and implementing the regulatory framework for biofuels production have been a major restraint for the development of the market. Add bad infrastructure to the mix, and you get the complete picture why it's challenging for biofuels manufacturers to make some serious money.

However, many foreign organisations and local commercial farmers have invested in land or have made agreements with out-growers for growing energy crops and setting up pilot production facilities, ensuring that production can begin once the regulations are in place…

Additional details are available from Frost & Sullivan's website.

RWE npower renewables to develop a biomass plant for Tullis Russell

September 29th, 2009 | Posted in Biomass

rwe

RWE npower renewables and papermaker Tullis Russell have signed a contract for the development of a biomass power plant to be used to provide electricity for the papermaker's production facility in Markinch (Fife, Scotland). The new biomass power plant will be built upon an existing coal-fired power plant and will have 50 MW of installed generation capacity.

According to the announcement, the project represents a GBP 200 million investment, while an additional GBP 8.1 million will be secured from the Scottish Government. RWE npower renewables has emphasized the role of the Scottich Government's Renewables Obligation support mechanism.

The new plant will be using around 400,000 tons of virgin and used wood from a wide range of sources. Contracts have been put in place with local and national companies for further supply of biomass. The project will secure some 500 jobs at Tullis Russell, and create 50 permanent jobs in power plant operations. The biomass plant will help reduce the company's carbon footprint by as much as 72%, enhancing its credentials as an environmental leader, minimizing the company's environmental impact.

Construction will begin immediately, with completion set to occur in 2012. In addition to this project, RWE npower is also developing plans for a similar biomass power facility in Lincolnshire, which is to have 73 MW of installed generation capacity. By 2013, the company is planning to install a total of 390 MW of biomass capacity.

Bio-Reaction Industries puts microbes in compost to work in the battle against climate change

September 28th, 2009 | Posted in Biomass

It seems one solution to the world's carbon emissions problems is much smaller than it was ever expected to be. Bio-Reaction Industries (BRI) has been using microbes from compost in its bio-oxidation systems to eliminate toxic emissions from factories. It was recently announced that in the past year alone ten of the new systems have been installed for customers in the wood products industry.

Within the U.S., there are more than 25 large-scale Bio-Reaction systems – Weyerhaeuser, Toyota and Sherwin-Williams are just some of the customers. The company has also taken out expanding globally with partnerships in China, Southeast Asia and Europe.

President and CEO of Bio-Reaction Industries stated, "With a boost from our patented technology, the microbes have a chance to be heroes in the climate change area. They eat bad pollutants, reduce carbon emissions and save companies hundreds of thousands-sometimes millions-of dollars in energy costs. Reaching this milestone of adoption in the wood products industry was driven by two factors: first, our technology has been proven to meet the latest EPA emissions requirements and second, it not only allows manufacturers to reduce green house gas emissions, it also lowers their energy costs. Instead of burning off pollutants with thermal oxidizers that use natural gas, pollutants are degraded naturally through the help of our hungry microbes."

A variety of industries and industrial facilities producing volatile organic compounds, hazardous air pollutants and odors from paints and coatings have been using Bio-Reaction's systems. Previously, natural gas fuel was used to burn away pollutants, and the costs to the environment have become apparent. In that sense, using naturally-occurring microbes to eliminate air pollution is an important step forward. The Bio-Reaction system is also far more cost-efficient, and far smaller quantities of greenhouse gases are produced.

Laidlaw Biopower, Homeland Renewable Energy team-up to form Homeland Laidlaw Energy

September 28th, 2009 | Posted in Biomass

Laidlaw Biopower, Homeland Renewable Energy team-up

Laidlaw Biopower and Homeland Renewable Energy have recently announced their joint venture into developing biomass-energy plants throughout the Northeastern United States. Homeland Laidlaw Energy will be the name of the new JV company, and they are forecast to have a strong position in the U.S. renewable energy marketplace. The initial portfolio holds four biomass-energy plants currently under development in the Northeast, and significant expansion is planned for the future.

Laidlaw's President and CEO, Michael B. Bartoszek, commented on the formation of the company: "The formation of HLE brings together tremendous synergies between Laidlaw and Homeland. Laidlaw's strength lies in originating, developing and financing exceptional biomass project opportunities and Homeland's strength lies in engineering, building and operating such projects. This joint venture gives the parties everything they need to take a project from conceptual stage operations within one organization."

Approximately 30 professionals are brought together with the combination of Laidlaw's and Homeland's biomass-energy development businesses, with a focus on making HLE the leader in supplying biomass-energy to North America. The headquarters of HLE will be located in New York, NY; and there will also be offices in Pennsylvania, Vermont, Maine and London.

"The HLE joint venture complements Homeland's poultry litter power project business extremely well. We are excited by the opportunities that the HLE project pipeline will bring for us to create significant value for our shareholders and those of Laidlaw," stated Homeland President and CEO Rupert Fraser.

Cyclone Power Technologies introduces prototype of biomass electric generator

September 15th, 2009 | Posted in Biomass

3D CAD model of the biomass power generator. (Image: Cyclone Power Technologies)

Cyclone Power Technologies announced the completion of development of a working prototype biomass power generator. This is the first power generating system of its kind which allows homes, farms and small enterprises to generate electricity from vegetative waste and byproducts.

In short, the prototype biomass generator is a self-contained, compact power generation system which utilizes the company's Waste Heat Engine (WHE) to generate power from heat produced through biomass combustion. During the current testing phase, the company has been using wooden pellets, but what is very important is that basically any dry plant matter, including grass clippings, corn stalks or wood chips, can be burned cleanly and efficiently.

Many families, farms and businesses throughout the world burn biomass to heat buildings and warm water, but being able to create electricity from the same fuel source in any climate, at any time of year, offers vast possibilities.

At the heart of the biomass generator beats a six cylinder Rankine Cycle external heat engine, outputting about 15 hp of mechanical power. The attached biomass combustion chamber burns biomass fuel at about 600°F, which runs WHE at peak performance. The engine is able to power an electrical generator and output about 10 kW of electricity.

The company is planning to create a commercial production model that could be sold through home and garden, agricultural machinery wholesalers, or biomass furnace manufacturers and distributors. Cyclon Power Technologies is currently actively looking for partners to bring this technology to the market.

University of Tennessee among first to receive DOE biomass grant

September 14th, 2009 | Posted in Biomass

University of Tennessee - Genera Energy

The first round of DOE's biomass grants has been handed out and Genera Energy LLC of Knoxville, Tenn., in collaboration with the University of Tennessee Biofuels Initiative, is one of the first recipients of the grant.

The University of Tennessee Research Foundation formed Genera Energy in 2008 as a means to carry out the University's renewable energy projects and strategic partnerships, with a particular focus on cellulosic ethanol biorefinery activities and capital projects of the UT Biofuels Initiative. DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol and Genera Energy are collaborating to construct a demonstration scale cellulosic ethanol biorefinery in Vonore, Tenn., which planned to begin operations by the end of this year.

Administrators of UT are proud of the fact that the university is known as one of the national leaders in the development of affordable homegrown transportation fuels. Dr. Joseph DiPietro, vice president of the UT Institute of Agriculture says, "This award is further recognition that the State's investment in our biofuels research was well founded. Every day we grow closer to developing the technology and infrastructure that will serve as the backbone of a biofuels industry."

Production of biofuels from algae gets traction

September 12th, 2009 | Posted in Biomass

U.S. Department of Energy

Earlier this summer, ExxonMobil announced that it will invest up to $600 million in production of biofuels from algae. In July, the big bad oil company and Synthetic Genomics Inc. (SGI) formed an R&D alliance to explore the production of biofuels from photosynthetic algae, such as single-celled "microalgae" and blue-green algae. Mentioned algae use sunlight to convert CO2 into cellular oils and some long-chain hydrocarbons that can be processed into fuels and chemicals.

SGI researchers seek to develop the systems for large-scale cultivation of algae and conversion of the organisms' products into biofuels. ExxonMobil plans to spend $300 million on the project internally, and potentially award more than $300 million to SGI.

Many small startup companies are exploring the production of biofuels from algae, as well. Two examples are Aurora Biofuels and LiveFuels. Back in March, the latter announced that it has successfully produced biodiesel to standards set by ASTM International, and also laid out plans to begin commercial production in 2012. LiveFuels has an additional trick to offer — instead of mechanically processing the algae, they allow filter-feeding fish and other aquatic herbivores to feed off the algae. Then they extract the fish oil for conversion into biofuel and other products.

In a nutshell, production of biofuels from algae is steadily getting some traction, and it will be interesting to watch this space. We'll certainly be reporting back to you on all cool tidbits we catch…

[Via: DoE]

Nexterra secures $7.7 million for commercialization of high efficiency biomass

September 3rd, 2009 | Posted in Biomass

Nexterra Systems

Supplier of advanced biomass gasification systems Nexterra Systems secured $7.7 million in funding from the BC Bioenergy Network (BCBN), Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), the National Research Council Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), and Ethanol BC. The money will be used to support Nexterra's program to commercialize a new high efficiency biomass power system in collaboration with GE Jenbacher and GE Energy.

This advanced combined heat and power (CHP) system involves direct-firing syngas from Nexterra's biomass gasification technology into GE's Ecomagination-certified Jenbacher internal combustion engines. Pilot testing of the new CHP system will begin on schedule before the end of 2009. A first commercial demonstration project is expected to begin in early 2010.

Commenting on the new money received, Nexterra President and CEO, Jonathan Rhone said: "We are very grateful to these organizations for their continued commitment to Nexterra and for clean technology innovation in B.C. and across Canada. Building a strong domestic clean energy industry is critically important to position our economy for recovery and to capitalize on rapidly growing clean energy markets worldwide. We look forward for continued collaboration with our funding partners to ensure Nexterra's energy solutions meet the highest standards for biomass heat and power applications."

Department Of Energy awards $21 million to five projects for biomass processing

September 3rd, 2009 | Posted in Biomass

Department Of Energy

DOE announced that it will award up to $21 million to five projects for handling and delivering high-tonnage biomass feedstocks to producers of cellulosic biofuels. The awards were selected to stimulate the design and demonstration of a "comprehensive system to handle the harvesting, collection, preprocessing, transport, and storage of sufficient volumes of sustainably produced feedstocks." Potential biomass feedstocks include agricultural residues, select energy crops and forest resources, and urban wood wastes.

Agco Corporation will demonstrate the viability of its densified, large-square-bale supply system, which the company plans to deploy at cellulosic biorefineries in cities in Iowa, Kansas and Texas;
FDC Enterprises will support the Abengoa Bioenergy facility by testing a mowing and baling system, a bale-picking truck, and a self-loading trailer for biomass crops;
Genera Energy will develop a system for handling switchgrass;
Alabama's Auburn University will work with leading forest product companies to design and demonstrate a high-productivity system to harvest, process, and transport woody biomass from southern pine plantations; and
The College of Environmental Science and Forestry at the State University of New York will take on short-rotation wood crops with a single-pass cut-and-chip harvester.

The awards are part of DOE's ongoing efforts to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, spur the creation of the domestic bio-industry, and provide new jobs in rural areas of the country…