Ironbridge Power Station, which generates up to 1,000MW of electricity, is planning to convert to use wood pellets as its main fuel. E.On has applied for permission to build a football pitch sized store on site for the pellets, which would be sourced principally from North America. Due to be decommissioned in 2015, it currently [...]
Southeast Biomass Study: Is It Too Late?
A new study of southeastern forests in the U.S. finds that in the long run, burning wood instead of fossil fuels to make electricity can reduce heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but not soon enough to prevent worsening the conditions leading to global climate change. The study also shows that as the industry expands [...]
Ameresco Starts Up Biomass Power Plant
Following a series of performance tests, Ameresco, Inc. has received its Final Acceptance Certificate from the U.S. Dept. of Energy Savannah River Operations Office for the now operational DOE Savannah River Site (SRS) Biomass Cogeneration Facility (BCF) installed under the $795 million energy savings performance contract (ESPC) awarded to Ameresco in 2009. The 20 MW [...]
Low Natural Gas Prices Undercut Minnesota’s Biomass Projects
Natural gas prices have hit rock-bottom in Minnesota, undercutting the state’s taxpayer-supported efforts to promote statewide biomass energy projects. Minnesota has invested more than $11 million in taxpayer and utility funds to advance technologies that burn biomass for heat and electric generation or convert it to a synthetic gas, but it’s now getting difficult for [...]
State Agency Sides With Nippon Paper On Biomass Energy Project
The Washington Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) has sided with Nippon Paper Industries USA in a challenge from several environmental groups to its $71 million biomass energy project at its paper mill in Port Angeles, Wash. Green organizations are fighting biomass expansion projects at the Nippon mill in Port Angeles and the Port Townsend Paper [...]
NFREC Developer Forced To Back Out Of Project
Rentech, Inc., the developer of the Northwest Florida Renewable Energy Center, has been forced to back out of the project, citing an inability to secure financing. The developer had hoped to secure a federal loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy, but this summer the DOE put the term sheet for the loan guarantee [...]
EcoGen Plans Biomass Power Plant In Florida
Florida’s Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved Progress Energy Florida’s (PEF) purchase of power from a proposed U.S. EcoGen Polk, LLC (EcoGen) biomass electric generating facility in Fort Meade, Fla. EcoGen plans to sell 60 MW of capacity and associated energy to PEF for approximately 29 years beginning January 1, 2014. The company plans initially to [...]
Nexterra To Deliver Biomass System To Major U.S. Institution
Nexterra Systems Corp. announced on September 13 that it has signed a $6.9 million contract to deliver a biomass gasification system to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Battle Creek, Mich. The state-of-the-art biomass gasification system will provide clean, carbon-neutral heat and power to the medical center. The total cost of [...]
Metso To Supply Boiler To GREC
Metso reports it will supply a 100 MW biomass boiler island and plant automation system to the Gainesville Renewable Energy Center (GREC) in Gainesville, Fla. GREC has raised nearly $500 million in construction financing, of which Metso’s delivery represents more than 25%, according to the supplier. The 100 MW biomass boiler will utilize bubbling fluidized [...]