Biomass Digest» International News

Viridas to supply 240,000 tons of biomass to UK from Brazilian jatropha

Jim Lane — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:42:41 +0000

In the UK, Viridas announced that it plans to supply an unnamed UK energy generator with 240,000 tons per year of sustainable biomass for electricity generation from its jatropha plant in Brazil. The company will process the seeds into crushed ‘seed-cake’ in a facility in the UK and plans to start commercial production in 2013.

The two companies have signed a Strategic Development and Partnership agreement, which Viridas is expecting to result in a sustainable biomass offtake deal. The company said that it now has potential revenues worth up to $1 billion over a ten-year period.

Nova Scotia holds community hearings over wood biomass power project

Jim Lane — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:41:41 +0000

In Canada, community hearings are being held in Halifax to discuss the proposal to build a biomass-fueled power generation station in Cape Breton. Nova Scotia Power Inc. and NewPage Port Hawkesbury Corp. are requesting permission from the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to burn 650,000 tons of wood per year. This would produce nearly 3 percent of the province’s total electricity requirement, or supply roughly 50,000 homes.

This new plant would require about 50 percent more wood than NewPage already burns at its mill in Port Hawkesbury. The Company plans to compensate by securing 25 per cent from waste at the paper mill and another 25 per cent from bark and chips sourced from sawmills. The remaining 50 per cent would come from forest trees, from both private woodlots and government-owned land.

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$20 billion for UK biomass power, as policy changes

Jim Lane — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:38:52 +0000

In the UK, the government removed a major financing obstacle for biomass power plants and committed to supporting the industry via obligations on utilities to use clean energy over the next 20 years. The move should release approximately $20 billion in private sector investment for the industry.

According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, it will “grandfather” its backing for anaerobic digestion and energy-to-waste plants, as it does for other renewables, instead of subjecting it to review every four years. The government also extended its support to all fuel costs for biomass developers, which were not initially included.

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admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:50:11 +0000

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US, Pakistan ink $60 million in biomass to power aid

Jim Lane — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:40:32 +0000

In Pakistan, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Phase II of the US Signature Energy Program for Pakistan. The program will provide $60 million to fund seven energy projects implemented by various US governmental agencies. The program seeks to help

Pakistan meet its energy needs via increased electricity production and energy efficiency.

One of the projects includes a Biomass-Fuelled Boiler Feasibility Study for Bulleh Shah Paper Mill. The study will identify the best way to convert paper and agriculture waste to energy at Packages Limited’s Bulleh Shah Paper Mill in Kasur, Punjab.

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Renewable Energy Systems proposes 100 MW biomass plant in UK

Jim Lane — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:39:17 +0000

In the UK, Renewable Energy Systems (RES) is inviting residents living near the proposed site of a 100-megawatt biomass generating plant next to the River Blyth to express their views during public consultations in September.

RES says the power plant could be operational by 2015 and would generate enough electricity to power 150,000 homes per year while cutting more than 300,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually. The plant also plans to create up to 300 jobs in the area.

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South Korea invests $33 million in biomass power

Jim Lane — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:38:20 +0000

In South Korea, the government plans to invest $33 million of its national carbon fund in a biomass power generation plant in central China. The investment will earn extra carbon credits for South Korea in the future.

According to the South Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy, the fund has been offered to a consortium led by LG International Corporation, Hana Bank and the state-run Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-sure). LG will build a 60-megawatt biomass power plant that will use fallen branches from over 50 million apple trees as a feedstock. Hana Bank and K-sure will provide the necessary financing and insurance coverage. The plant should be operational in 2012.

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IFC to invest $3m in Philippines’ power sector, including biomass projects

Jim Lane — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:13:38 +0000

In the Philippines, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank’s private-sector division, is planning to invest an additional $300 million in the country’s power sector, including biomass projects. The IFC has already invested $900 million in the Philippines over the past three years, with $600-700 million for the energy sector. The IFC is specifically looking at biomass, wind and mini-hydroelectric power plants and is currently in discussions with various renewable-energy companies.

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Namibia project to install bush-to-electricity plant in rural Namibia

Jim Lane — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:07:45 +0000

In Namibia, the Combating Bush Encroachment for Namibia’s Development project (CBEND), funded by the European Union, intends to install one 0.25MW bush-to-electricity power-generating plant in a densely bush encroached area in rural Namibia. The pilot project will demonstrate the feasibility and potential for expanding throughout the region.
Estimates from the feasibility study performed by the Southern African Institute for Environmental Assessment (SAIEA) show that Namibia can produce up to 60MW from small-scale decentralized bush-to-electricity power plants. The area could support 120-300 power plants ranging from 200-500KW in community and commercial farms.
The project will help combat bush encroachment, create local employment and help address Namibia’s energy needs from a renewable, local source.

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Palm biomass mills in Malaysia confront viability issues

Jim Lane — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:06:32 +0000

In Malaysia, palm biomass mills in the eastern state of Sabah can currently produce up to 120MW of electricity, with a potential 260MW if all 120 palm mills in the state were to be used. However, some of the mills are too far from transmission grids to be economically viable.
The Malaysian Palm Oil Board is proposing that utility company, Sabah Electricity, raise electricity purchase prices to make it profitable for the palm oil mills. Malaysia currently suffers from power supply shortages and the government hopes that electricity from palm biomass will ease the strain.

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