Biomass investment growing
July 5, 2012
By REN21
July 5, 2012, New York, NY - A new report points to continued growth in the biomass sector, especially in solid fuels such as wood pellets.
The Renewables 2012 Global Status Report, produced by REN21 (Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century) stated that global investment in renewable energy is setting records, rising 17 per cent in 2011 to reach $257 billion. That number is nearly double the investment percentage seen in 2007.
Investment dollars for biomass power reached $10.6 billion in 2011, according to the report. For all asset financing within the biomass-to-energy sector, solid biomass use accounted for 71 percent of the money invested.
“Among solid biomass fuels, the manufacture of wood pellets has experienced the most significant growth over the last 10 years. Between 2000 and 2011, global pellet production grew by an annual average of 25 per cent, with production approaching 18.3 million tonnes in 2011,” said the report. According to the authors of the report, the world’s largest producers were the United States, Canada, and Europe (led by Germany, Sweden, Austria, and Poland). Elsewhere, Russia and China are becoming sizable and growing producers and consumers of pellets, with production capacity of around 2 and 0.75 million tonnes, respectively, in 2011.
Click here to read the full report
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