Wood Bioenergy | a Hatton-Brown publication

Enviva LP, a leading manufacturer of processed biomass fuel in the United States and Europe, has partnered with ConocoPhillips, a prominent international oil and gas producer, to create a new company, ECo Biomass Technologies, which will bring torrefied biomass fuels to market.

ECo Biomass, jointly owned by Enviva and ConocoPhillips, will use a combination of proprietary and acquired existing technologies to manufacture and sell renewable, torrefied wood pellets. The company’s initial facility, scheduled to be operational in 2013, will produce wood pellets that will be sold under agreements with major utilities.

The torrefaction process involves superheating biomass to create a uniform, hydrophobic, dense, and highly efficient fuel akin to coal but with a superior environmental profile. Given torrefied fuel’s unique properties and combustion benefits, this “drop-in” renewable solution manufactured by ECo Biomass provides an attractive alternative for utilities seeking to reduce their carbon emissions and extend the life of existing coal burning facilities and infrastructure without significant capital investment.

“Both of our companies are energy industry innovators, and this partnership underscores our commitment to developing sustainable energy solutions,” said John Keppler, Enviva chairman and CEO.