Drax ends biomass plans at Selby due to poor support by government

Drax PLC has announced that they will not now be building a new dedicated biomass power plant at Selby because of the 'disappointing' support of the British government, but they will consider more co-firing of biomass with coal. Co-firing is a cost effective solution to decarbonising the electricity sector but dedicated biomass plants can offer even greater opportunities for reducing carbon emissions and there had been hopes that the company would build three new dedicated plants with German engineering giants Siemens.

However, the company has now abandoned plans to build the first of these plants near Selby because of the lack of financial support from Government and high cost to transport biomass inland from the continent, where most of the biomass would have originated. Read more ...

Australia agriculture sector looks to clean energy future

More than 500 applications received from universities, land managers, industry and government agencies for Gillard Government funding to test and develop new ways for farmers to reduce carbon emissions. “The Action on the Ground and Filling the Research Gap programs provide funding for research into on-farm practices and new technologies,” Minister Ludwig said. “The level of interest in these programs shows how keen the agriculture sector is to benefit from the opportunities in the land sector to cut carbon pollution. Read more ...

Small scale UK Ad technologies a vital tool

The government of the UK has cited small scale anaerobic digestion systems as part of the vital tools for the UK to achieve lower carbon emissions in the future. The potential of this technology has only been within reach of large, profitable organisations, but a new project aimed at bringing cutting-edge AD technologies to rural and smaller scale businesses is being launched to combat this.

The Small Scale Anaerobic Digestion Technology (SSAD-TECH) platform provides underpinning process technology for the development of a series of commercial products for the local treatment of organic waste to produce energy (either as biogas, heat or electricity) and digestate, which can be considered as a non-fossil fuel derived fertiliser.

A five-strong consortium is led by The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) and comprises CNG Services Ltd, Lyvennet Renewable Energy, Wardell Armstrong LLP and Field Science Limited. With grant funding from the government-backed Technology Strategy Board, the project works with a total budget of UK£880,000 (US$1,389,158.565) and will run over two years. Read more ...

Sky prepares to use biomass power

Broadcasters Sky are preparing to switch over to biomass power and moving a step closer to its target of cutting its carbon emissions by a quarter. Sky is commissioning a new combined heat and power (CHP) plant that could potentially supply up to 40 percent  of energy to Sky's main studio complex. The generator will also help Sky achieve targets to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent, as well as improve energy efficiency by 20 percent. Read more ...

Anaerobic Digestion study looks at reliability

A recent study report from the Soil Association on Anaerobic Digestion (AD) has said that the value of the energy generated from Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is the most important revenue stream for the viability of the technology. The comparative data regarding energy output makes it clear that the energy value of manure-only systems, and therefore the commercial value, is very limited. Manure tends to have a biogas potential which is only 1/10th of an energy crop. Read more ...

UK company Forth Energy urged to drop plans

A UK company has been urged to drop the controversial plans for a biomass power station at Leith, after a new report in which campaigners claimed cast fresh doubts on the viability of the proposed plant. Environmental group Friends of the Earth said Forth Energy should scrap the proposed development in the wake of the report by the influential UK Committee on Climate Change, which recommended that large-scale biomass power stations should no longer be eligible for public subsidies. Read more ...

United Kingdom will meet bioenergy target

Government Committee on Climate Change (CCC) published its first Bioenergy Review, Enagri and has said the the UK will meet its target of 10 percent of its primary energy from biomass as the report recommended. Published at the end of November, the UK Biomass Directory 2012 lists every announced and operational power plant using biomass feed stocks in the UK. Enagri’s data shows that by 2020 these could produce around 130 TWh of electricity, compared with the CCC’s recommendation that bioenergy produce 200 TWh of primary energy by 2050. Read more ...

Australia's government invest AU$2 million in biochar research

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, has announced AU$2 million (€1.489 million) in competitive grants for biochar research, under the Australian Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative. Biochar is a stable type of char made by burning organic materials, such as wood or crop waste in a low oxygen environment. It can be added to soil to sequester carbon and improve soil health. “Biochar has the potential to help mitigate Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions while benefiting agricultural production,” Minister Ludwig said. Read more ...

Biofuels needed to meet transport targets

Dr Jeremy Tomkinson, Chief Executive of the NNFCC, said: “Electric cars offer a sound long-term solution to our renewable road transport needs, but biofuels are currently the best way to decrease our carbon emissions from transport. The UK has ambitious carbon reduction plans and this report highlights the necessity for increased investment in advanced biofuels, which could meet almost half of our renewable transport needs by the end of the decade,” he added. Read more ...

For a bio-based economy in Europe? Biorefineries

Fossil fuels are running out, the global demand for fuels and chemicals is high, additionally the European and National legislation has set ambitious targets for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction. To meet theses targets there needs to be the development of economically competitive solutions for biorefineries with low cost fermentation medium that are of important strategic interest. The production of bio-based fuels and chemicals requires the availability of a renewable feedstock at affordable costs. Today, industrial fermentation processes mainly use hydrolysed starch or glucose as a fermentation substrate. Read more ...

UK Government threatened with legal action by FOE

Friends of the Earth has come out and threatened the UK government over the decision to slash financial incentives to those who wish to install solar schemes. The environmental group has said that it will start legal proceedings against the UK Government unless the Government agrees to amend its proposals by 4pm on Friday November 11. Friends of the Earth's Policy and Campaigns Director Craig Bennett said: "The Government is breaking the law with its plans to fast-track a solar industry kill-off as well as jeopardising thousands of jobs and countless clean energy projects across the country. Read more ...

United Nations announces cooperation agreement

The United Nations announced a cooperation agreement with a global crop technology company seeks to develop new technologies that can support sustainable development through the use of bio-energy crops in tropical regions. “On the side of UNIDO, we see the potential of energy crops in developing countries. They can be key for producing green, renewable energy and for poverty reduction through the diversification of income for smallholder farmers. We will strive to combine the scientific, technical and financial resources of Quinvita and UNIDO to cooperate on the development of novel bio-energy crops,” said Philippe Scholtès, Director of UNIDO’s agribusiness development branch. Read more ...

Cargill works hard to reduce GHG emissions

Cargills the meat, poultry and agrifood business is improving its energy efficiency and expanded its use of renewable energy sources. This allows Cargill to exceed the Chicago Climate Exchange’s (CCX) required six percent annual greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target. For the year ending 2010 Cargill reduced its GHG emissions at its US facilities by 11 percent, Cargill credits this progress to a number of GHG reducing systems and processes that they have implemented in recent years. Read more ...

Developers refute biofuel claims as "Untrue"

Developers in the UK that was behind a biofuel plant for Newport, Isle of Wight, have dismissed what they call "a number of spurious claims" made about their plans. The development at Stag Lane has had campaigners claiming that if the development goes ahead the unique natural environment will be at risk by polluting the River Medina as well as worsen air quality and increase carbon emissions. However, the claims have been strongly refuted by project developer, Real Ventures Ltd. In a statement they have said they are "highly misleading or simply untrue." Read more ...

Korea is to expand support and investment in renewable energy

The Presidential Committee on Green Growth has said its intends to expand support and investment for the development of renewable energy. The committee who briefed the President Lee Myung-bak on the preparation process and a range of policy measures on sustainable green growth. The decision is in part due to the challenges faced in the industry amid Europe's debt crisis by supply of renewable energy. Korea spent in 2010 6.6 trillion won (US$5.9 billion) and will increase the spending in 2012 to 10.5 trillion (US$9.3 billion). Read more ...

Hungary and the UK join forces for carbon barriers

A low carbon finance summit was convened today, aimed at overcoming barriers to green investment in Central and Eastern Europe and to highlight the great opportunities of the ambitious low carbon transition. The two countries have joined forces to bring together policy makers, key finance experts and business leaders to look at how to unlock private funding and to stimulate investment in low carbon infrastructure, technologies and renewable energy. Read more ...

New co-firing renewables obligation subsidies get interest

The biomass industry has cautiously welcomed the new levels of support unveiled by the government today as part of its consultation on proposed changes to the Renewables Obligation scheme. In its review of the Renewables Obligation, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has proposed maintaining current levels of support for biomass projects at 1.5 Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) per megawatt hour (MWh). This could have a major affect on the biomass industry and the renewable energy sector. Read more ...

Could this be the worlds first biomass fund

A week into the new carbon price legislation in Australia, and the appetite for clean renewable energy is growing this is to be tested by AU$100 (€74.343) million fund raising for what could become the worlds first biomass fund. A company called First Biomass, a joint venture between a German-based project developer and carbon management firm First Climate and Spar Capital, a Sydney-based advisory firm headed by Chris West. Read more ...

EIB loans €500 million for climate change mitigation projects

The European Investment Bank has provided a €500 million (US$674.825) loan to the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) of Brazil for projects in the renewable energy sector supporting climate change mitigation. The objective of this operation is to support investments that generate environmental benefits with respect to combating climate change. Read more ...

The next generation of Biofuels are the benefits worth it

A recent study carried out by the research council an arm of the National Academy of Sciences, warns that producing the future biofuels may cause problems, such as competition for farm land and they may not do as much to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as was first thought. The study also showed that hitting these targets that was set in 2007 that refiners use more biofuels can not be met with out significant improvements in the technology. Read more ...