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Sustainability
Canada falling behind green technology
May 16, 2012 - The National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy says that Canada is falling behind on business and emission standards to reduce the impact of climate change.
Renewables are slowly growing in the US
May 16, 2012 - A new analysis on EnergyTrends.org shows that renewable energy is still struggling to find a foot-hold in the US, with over a dozen states receiving failing reports.
Tool allows life-cycle carbon comparisons
May 12, 2012 - Finally there is an objective tool anyone can use to compare the full life-cycle of emissions for various renewable and non-renewable energy sources when it comes to electricity generation. No surprise, bioenergy does very well.
Quebec joins California in GHG cap-and-trade
May 12, 2012, San Francisco, CA - Regulators in California are arranging for the province of Quebec to link its cap-and-trade system to California's as early as November, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Canadian forest product industry shows growth
May 10, 2012, Vancouver, BC - Preliminary results from PwC's Net Earnings Summary for Q1 2012 indicate that most Canadian forest and paper companies have posted improved results for the first quarter compared to the fourth quarter of 2011.
Rising energy prices and renewable energy
May 9, 2012 - Rising electricity prices are always a spot of contention for consumers, but new data seems to point the blame at nuclear energy, instead of the long-victimized renewable energy sources.
UK's 2015 biomass gold rush
May 4, 2012 - A report by the Sustainable Venture Intelligence states that the Renewable Heat Initiative could spur the purchase of a large number of biomass boilers and other renewable energy products by the middle of this decade in the UK.
Biofuel groups ask for for DOE funding
Apr. 25, 2012, Washington, DC - Numerous groups involved in military and aviation biofuel production have drafted a letter to the US Department of Energy for funding to help launch an inter-agency project to aid in increasing production.
Spain implements biodiesel quota
Apr. 24, 2012, Perpignan, France - Spanish biodiesel producers have 30 days from April 21st to apply for government approval to supply the country's biofuels mandate, after the government voted on April 20th to effectively block imports.
White House official reaffirms biofuel commitment
Apr. 18, 2012, Washington, DC - A top aide to President Obama told attendees of the Renewable Fuels Association’s Washington Legislative Forum that the administration is firmly in the corner of domestic renewable fuels.
Germany calls for a CHP subsidy boost
Apr. 18, 2012, London, UK - A group of seven German energy associations have urged the government to increase subsidies for combined heat and power plants or risk jeopardizing investment in the sector.
Canada strengthens agroforestry with the US
Apr. 18, 2012, Washington, DC - Canadian producers and agricultural researchers will have new opportunities for co-operation in agroforestry with the United States after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed.
Canada's GHG stay steady
Apr. 16, 2012, Toronto, ON - Canada’s Environment Minister Peter Kent and Parliamentary Secretary Jacques Gourde announced that Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions remained steady in 2010 while the economy grew.
California secures 45 MW of green energy.
Apr. 13, 2012 - The Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors has approved a 10-year power purchase agreement with a local energy producer to secure 45 megawatts of green energy.
Activists protest EU biomass conference
Apr. 13, 2012 - Environmental activists protested the European Biomass to Power industry conference in London that occurred on April 11 and 12.
Renewable energy experiences significant growth in US
Apr. 3, 2012, Washington, DC - According to the “Monthly Energy Review” by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, renewable energy expanded rapidly during the first three years of the Obama Administration and significantly outpaced the growth rates of fossil fuels and nuclear power.
Anesco launches free biomass boiler program
Mar. 28, 2012 - Anesco Ltd. is helping businesses to green up their energy credentials after launching an innovative new scheme to provide fully funded biomass boiler installations in the UK.
Slave Lake Pulp projects get boost
Mar. 26, 2012 - Slave Lake Pulp will received a $10 million subsidy from the province to help complete construction of its $25 million plant to turn waste into electricity.
USDA announces new forestry management plan
Mar. 23, 2012, Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced their final Planning Rule for America’s 193-million acre National Forest System that includes stronger protections for forests, water, and wildlife while supporting the economic vitality of rural communities.
Renewable FIT prices expected to drop 25%
Mar. 21, 2012 - The Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA) is neither surprised nor concerned that electricity prices from renewable sources under the Feed-in tariff (FIT) are expected to drop by at least 25%.
Australia's biomass problem
Mar. 20, 2012 - In a preface to his session at the World Bioenergy Conference in Sweden in two months, Andrew Lang discusses the huge difference between Australia and Europe.
Markets matter for biomass carbon debt
March 17, 2012, Washington, DC - According to a new study, market forces and behavior make a difference when it comes to predicting the carbon debt of biomass combustion.
Savannah River Site starts up operation
Mar. 13, 2012, Aiken, SC - U.S. government representatives and Department of Energy officials got together for the successful operational startup of a new $795M renewable energy fueled facility at the Savannah River Site.
Printed.com switches to biomass power
Mar. 12, 2012, London, UK - The rapidly growing web-based digital print shop, Printed.com, is switching to generating 100% of its electricity from renewable biomass.
Spanish biofuels producers seek government help
Mar. 9, 2012, Perpignan, FR - Appa, the Spanish association of renewable energy producers, has asked the centre-right government for action to help troubled biofuel producers.
BIO supports proposed biobased legislation
Mar. 5, 2012, Washington, DC - The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today thanked Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and co-sponsors for introducing legislation that would allow more bio-manufacturing companies to participate in Farm Bill programs.
Legacy Biomass Bill almost law
Mar. 2, 2012 - A new bill, entitled the Legacy Biomass Bill, is only one signature away from becoming law in Washington State.
Biofuel leaders urge tax provisions
Mar. 1, 2012, Washington, DC - Leaders of America’s rapidly emerging advanced biofuels industry urged congressional leaders today to extend two tax provisions that are critical to the ongoing development and commercialization of new biofuel production technologies.
A closer look at wood vs. coal emissions
Feb. 24, 2012 - There has been a lot of debate recently regarding if burning wood releases more or less CO2 emissions when compared to coal, and if it is indeed a "carbon neutral" alternative. FutureMetrics research delved into this topic, and may have emerged with an answer.
Obey optimizes bioenergy yield
Feb. 24, 2012 - With biomass need increasing, companies are searching for new and better ways to optimize every aspect of biomass use, and the Walki Group has launched Obey to meet this need.
Harper Government supports biochar
Feb. 23, 2012, Vermilion, AB - The development of innovative biochar technology that will help generate new economic opportunities received a boost as a result of a collaborative initiative announced by the Harper government.
Drax scraps two 300MW plants
Feb. 22, 2012, London, UK - Drax, a UK energy generator, made a decision to cancel two of the three proposed 300MW plants due to a shift in governmental policy.
ecoTECH secures funding for BC power plant
Feb. 17, 2012, Seattle, WA - ecoTECH Energy Group, Inc. has received a financing package from Corpfinance International Limited to fund 60% or $55 Million CDN dollars of a 5MW Power Plant and Aquaponic project in McBride B.C.
BinMaster's MultiBob measures bin space
Feb. 17, 2012, Lincoln, NE - BinMaster has released a new way to track how full bins, silos or warehouses are, entitled the MultiBob inventory management system.
Northeast’s Largest New NEWP Plant
Startup continues smoothly at New England Wood Pellet’s (NEWP) new Deposit, New York, plant, which opened in early June.
B.C. Coastal Biomass Underutilized
Biomass on the coast of British Columbia is still underutilized and needs the push of municipal or provincial government to gain full use, says a Squamish, B.C., contractor.
Pellets make less C02 than coal - white paper
Feb. 13, 2012, Bethel, ME - A new white paper from bioenergy consultants FutureMetrics refutes the claim that wood combustion creates significantly higher C02 emissions than your average coal. In fact, wood pellets produce less.
BP forecast has renewables growing fast to 2030
Feb. 11, 2012, London - Petroleum giant BP has released its Energy Outlook 2030, which shows renewable energy growing the fastest of all fuels, with natural gas leading among fossil fuels.
Sustainable land use and bioenergy
Feb. 10. 2012, New Rochelle, NY - An extensive review article in Industrial Biotechnology describes using 21st century tools and technologies to manage land use, maximize biomass production, and increase the efficiency of processes for extracting energy from renewable resources.
US renewable credit expiry means lost jobs
Feb. 9, 2012, Washington, DC - Executives from the hydropower, geothermal and biomass power industries called on Congressional leaders to extend the production tax credit through 2016 for hydropower, geothermal and biomass, as it would put thousands of jobs in these states at risk.
USDA announces two renewable energy programs
Feb. 8, 2012, Washington, DC - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the availability of funds for two key programs to encourage the use of renewable biomass and production of advanced biofuels.
Western Canadian boreal no longer a sink?
Feb 4, 2012 - According to an article on the science site Physorg.com, the boreal forests of Western Canada may no longer be acting as carbon sinks. Based on a report by researchers from Quebec and China, the article suggests long-term drought conditions may be the cause.
Forest data yields better analysis of forests
Feb. 1, 2012 - In a study in Nature Climate Change, different forests were analyzed for their ability to sequester carbon, and used to predict what would happen if they disappeared.
Renewable energy deals rise 40%
Jan. 30. 2012 - Renewable energy mergers and acquisitions rose 40 percent last year when compared to the previous year, according to consulting firm PwC.
Agricultural residues could boost jobs
Jan. 25, 2012, Copenhagen, DM - Bloomberg New Energy Finance launched its report “Moving towards a next-generation ethanol economy,” which estimates the socioeconomic prospects of deploying advanced biofuels.
Genomatica secures rights to BDO process
Jan. 24, 2012, San Diego, CA - Genomatica has obtained the exclusive worldwide rights to the PROESA process for the production of BDO from biomass, through any fermentation-based process, pursuant to a definitive agreement signed with Beta Renewables.
Tropical biofuels making matters worse?
 Jan 22, 2012, Uxbridge, ON - Most biodiesel production is making climate change worse not better, according to an article in Ecology & Society. Biodiesel from
palm oil plantations may be the world's
dirtiest fuel - far worse than burning diesel made from oil when the
entire production life cycle is considered.
Washington biomass expansion set to proceed
Jan 15, 2012, Longview, WA - Three Puget Sound-area conservation groups have dropped their challenge to construction of a biomass energy expansion at Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging, the largest of its kind in the state.
Renewable energy subsidies are increasing, says IEA
Jan. 12, 2012 - The International Energy Agency released its report on 2010 energy subsidies with a focus on fossil fuels, but does make note that renewable energy subsidies are increasing.
World biomass investment to reach $104 billion by 2021
Jan. 11, 2012, Boulder, CO - According to a new report from Pike Research, worldwide biomass power generation capacity will grow to at least 86 gigawatts (GW) by 2021, and a total investment of $104 billion from 2008 to 2021.
EPA releases fuel standards, reduces cellulosic biofuels
Jan. 2, 2012 - The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the new renewable fuel standards for biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuels, cellulosic biofuels and total renewable fuels for 2012.
Loss of subsidy ends tough year for corn ethanol
Dec 30, 2011, Washington, DC - The United States has ended a 30-year tax subsidy for corn-based ethanol that according to an article in the Detroit News cost taxpayers $6 billion annually. It also ended a tariff on imported Brazilian ethanol.
Hydro-Québec buys biomass power
Dec. 21, 2011, Montreal, QC - Hydro-Québec has launched a program that seeks to buy 150 megawatts of power from forest biomass plants.
Bio-based chemical and material markets double by 2016
Dec. 19, 2011, Boston, MA - The bio-based chemicals and materials industry, has reached a tipping point, and capacity will double in market potential to $19.7 billion in 2016 according to a recent report by Lux Research.
US electricity trends for the next 20 years
Dec. 19, 2011 - With energy needs increasing, where will the United States obtain its electricity? According to Grist magazine, it's not where you think.
Burning biomass could damage furniture industry
Dec. 19, 2011 - British furniture makers are becoming increasingly worried that the burning of woody biomass will increase the cost of timber and have detrimental effects on their industry.
How to save forestry
Dec. 15, 2011 - New Democrat MP John Rafferty brought up three forestry related motions in the House of Commons, to help support the struggling sector.
Danes to phase out fossils by 2050?
Dec 12, 2011, Copenhagen - The newly elected Danish centre-left government has set Denmark on a radical decarbonisation course. It has raised the CO2-reduction target from 20 to 40 per cent by 2020 and wants a complete phasing out of all fossil fuel use by 2050.
Sawlog prices declining for first time since 2009
Dec. 12, 2011 - Weaker lumber markets are causing global sawlog prices to fall for first time since early 2009, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly.
Greenhouse gas project registry released
Dec. 6, 2011, Calgary, AB - GHG Emissions Corp. announced that the much anticipated Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions Registry, for voluntary carbon offset projects, is now in operation and showcasing projects for private investment and industrial offset commitments.
Biomass Shotgun Solutions
Any decent PR hack knows that if you want to lead people to a specific conclusion, you must phrase your question accordingly.
Martin Engineering opens office in Lima, Peru
Nov. 29, 2011, Neponset, IL - A worldwide leader in bulk materials handling technology has announced a new sales and service location, as Martin Engineering opens its offices in Lima, Peru.
Biochar Solutions Canada formed
Nov. 29, 2011, Edmonton, AB - Biochar Solutions Inc, a Colorado Corporation, and Carbon Basis Company, an Alberta Corporation, today announced the formation of Biochar Solutions Canada Ltd.
UK's Renewable Heat Initiative open for applications
Nov. 29, 2011, UK - After a long delay, the United Kingdom's Renewable Heat Initiative (RHI) is now open and accepting applications.
UNBC gets grant to study biomass ash
Nov 28, 2011, Prince George, BC - Researchers at the University of Northern British Columbia have received a grant in the new Canfor Pulp Grants Program to study uses for ash from biomass combustion.
One fifth of energy could come from biomass
Nov 28, 2011, London, UK - A new report suggests that up to one fifth of global energy could be provided by biomass without damaging food production. The report reviews more than 90 global studies.
Pembina report taken out of context?
Nov 26, 2011, Ottawa - Policy analysts with the Pembina Institute say that recent claims aside, their work on the role of bioenergy in Ontario is not a blanket endorsement of the GHG benefits of using forest biomass.
Canada's harvest at half of sustainable level
Nov 24, 2011, Ottawa - According to the latest Natural Resources Canada overview The State of Canada's Forest: 2011 Annual Report, harvest levels nationwide have fallen sharply in recent years to levels far below those deemed sustainable by provincial regulations.
Biochar can increase soil moisture, says USDA
Nov. 10, 2011 - Scientists at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have been investigating the possible beneficial properties of using biochar (the resulting biomass created from plant material, wood and manure) in agriculture.
Global energy from biomass to reach 83.1 GW by 2017
Nov. 10, 2011, San Jose, CA - Global Industry Analysts, Inc. (GIA) announced the release of a comprehensive global report on the Biomass and Waste-to-Energy markets, forecasting the energy capacity to reach 83.1 GW by 2017.
Integrated bio-refinery in Colorado complete
Nov. 9, 2011, Los Angeles, CA - Rentech Inc. announced today that all systems required to start up a new integrated bio-refinery (IBF) in Commerce City, Colorado are mechanically complete.
Biofuel a fossil fuel alternative by 2020
Nov. 9, 2011, BC - Fuel made from wood could become a competitive commercial alternative to fuel made from corn by 2020 if the wood biofuel industry is supported, according to a new University of British Columbia study.
First ever algal biomass fueled plane lands
Nov. 8, 2011, Chicago, IL - The first US commercial flight powered by algal-based biofuel successfully landed in Chicago's O'Hare International Airport yesterday afternoon.
Montreal greenhouse goes green
 Nov. 8, 2011, Sainte-Clotilde-de-Châteauguay, QC - Later this month, a Montreal greenhouse will install a high-technology biomass heating system, using the same technology utilized for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Biomass makes a "biomess," says Greenpeace
Nov 3, 2011 - A new report released by Greenpeace Canada states that the large-scale burning of biomass is unsustainable and a potential "environmental fiasco."
Minister touts biomass, smart grid in Houston
Nov 2, 2011, Houston, TX - The Honourable Joe Oliver, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, today addressed the World Energy Council Houston Business Forum, touting the potential role of biomass and smart grids in the future energy mix.
Canadian professors call for biofuel plan
Oct 17, 2011, Toronto - Canadian university professors from Queens and McGill have made a public call for a concerted approach to second-generation biofuels.
Activist shows how to beat biomass plants
Oct 10, 2011, Vancouver, WA - An anti-biomass power plant activist presented tactics to a local group fighting a proposed biomass plant in Clark County, Washington.
Bioenergy from Beetle-wood
Economic heartache and headache—that’s what mountain pine beetle (MPB) initially represented for the forest industry in Canada’s West.
How the Dutch Do It
While visiting the power plant owned by NV Elektriciteits Produktiemaatschappij Zuid-Nederland (EPZ) in Borssele, the Netherlands, I was reminded of the story of the little Dutch boy who saved his country by plugging a leaking dike with his finger.
Keeping it Simple
Sometimes it just makes sense to keep things simple. That has definitely been the case for Pine Star Logging in Prince George, British Columba, which has gone from a full-scale stump to dump logging operation to a two-man show that produces wood fibre for a major wood pellet production facility.
Where’s the Money?
The number one stumbling block for a Canadian bioenergy project is a lack of adequate financing.
Newfoundland Wood Yard
The January 14, 2010, announcement is another step in a series of projects that will mean greater self-sufficiency for the province’s Northern Peninsula region, hard hit since the closure in fall 2008 of two pulp and paper mills and the idling of a paper machine at the Corner Brook Pulp and Paper mill.
One Home at a Time
In comparison to mainstream forestry, Canada’s pellet sector is booming. Sure, maintaining a fibre supply with so many sawmills down can be a challenge, and this winter was not as cold as many had hoped.
Demolition Power
Not all that long ago, wood waste from construction and demolition sites would have been landfilled in this part of Quebec, about 100 km east of Montreal.
Good Picking
For many in Canada’s forest or energy sectors, biomass and bioenergy are one and the same. But not for the staff at the Girardville Forestry Cooperative, who have been creating and commercializing a wide range of bioproducts for over 15 years now. The company extracts slash and other nontimber products from the stands it works in northern Quebec, with nary an ounce going up in flames.
Fuel for Feed
The Groupe Dynaco Agri-Food Cooperative has been reaping the benefits of biomass power for almost a year now. The co-op’s feed mill, located in Saint-Philippe-de-Néri in eastern Quebec, is the first in the province, and possibly all of Canada, to use biomass as energy for livestock feed processing.
Residues to Riches: To Chip or To Grind?
Should one purchase a chipper or a grinder? This is a very relevant question in the design of an efficient supply chain for forest-origin biomass for two reasons. The comminution phase determines the product quality, and the equipment is the second most costly component in the system after transportation.
Biomass Sustainability: Lessons from Sweden
In my last column, I discussed various guidelines adopted by Canadian provinces for forest biomass harvesting. I recently came across an interesting report produced in a country that is further down the road relative to Canada in the development of its bioenergy-from-biomass industry and its regulation.
Editorial: The Future Is Not Yet
If you could bank potential, the forest biomass sector would already be rich off of the biofuel sector. After all, there is no shortage of promising technology that will use mountains of biomass as raw material to create renewable fuels and other bioproducts.
Biomass Sustainability: Biomass no free-for-all
Jurisdictions around the world are developing or updating their biomass harvesting frameworks. Three Canadian provinces have recently issued new policies or guidelines: Ontario in August 2008, New Brunswick in October 2008, and Nova Scotia in May 2009.
Editorial: Biomass Abounds?
I love the contrarian’s view. In almost 20 years of forestry writing I’ve even made a decent living at it. No matter how sensible a viewpoint seems, I get nervous when too many heads are nodding agreement. So when Jimmy Girvan, a fibre supply analyst from Victoria, BC, asked if I’d like to hear about a forecast model that shows a less than rosy picture of biomass availability in BC some 10 years out, I said hell yeah.
Biomass Sustainability: Cleaner is better?
Over the past year, I have been touring Canada to talk about the consequences on the ecosystem of removing too much biomass, presentations mostly given to industry and biomass promoters. Afterwards, I was often pressed about the consequences of NOT removing biomass from the forests. “Forests need to be cleaned of biomass; we are helping the ecosystem by removing it.” But how much scientific support is there for such common perceptions?
Fibre to Burn?
Nowhere in Canada is the buzz about forest biomass and its use for energy production heard more often than in British Columbia. In 2007, the BC Government announced the BC Energy Plan (the Plan), a key component of which was the development of the BC Bioenergy Strategy.
Biomass Sustainability: What Should We Sustain?
For the past several years, I’ve been working on defining sustainable levels of forest biomass harvesting that can be used as guidelines for decision making.
Sustainable Biomass: How much is enough?
The forest bioenergy sector is developing rapidly across Canada, and great efforts are being devoted to the development of new technologies for converting forest biomass to energy.
Editorial: Sustainable Issues?
Sustainability means many things for biomass. First, there’s site sustainability, or the question of how much we can harvest, where, and how.
A World of Bioenergy
You can’t spend more than an hour driving through southern and western Sweden without noticing this country’s dependence on biomass and bioenergy. |
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