Tag Archives: biomass
Government Lacks 2020 Vision On Biomass
15 June 2013 Today’s policy measures for renewable energy are just the start and there could be bigger challenges for timber in future, says Alastair Kerr, director-general of the Wood Panel Industries Federation With the Energy Bill going through its last parliamentary stages and proposals for the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive tariff currently out for consultation, the UK’s package of measures aimed at meeting the EU’s 2020 renewable energy targets is virtually in place. Much of our concern and recent media attention has focused on large-scale power generation for reasons which still remain, ie. there are no assurances that these subsidised energy companies won’t substantially target the UK’s commercial coniferous stands for fuel. However, if pressure on the domestic resource is going to increase to the point where it jeopardises established wood processors, it will come from the cumulative impact of demand from both renewable electricity and renewable heat. Renewable heat, in particular, provides an opportunity for domestic growers and indeed wood processors, but placing a reliance on market pull to bring more wood to market, particularly from private growers, may not be enough on its own to prevent a disproportionate demand being placed on the coniferous resource. Something we shouldn’t lose sight of is that policy measures in place today are only just the start. Governments are in discussion with the European Commission regarding the 2030 renewables targets. The energy companies are already lobbying to make an even larger contribution from biomass (wood). If the flow of wood from material uses towards energy is to be controlled, then collectively the woodprocessing industries must continue with efforts to speak up for the carbon benefits that using more wood products brings. The recently confirmed EU carbon accounting rules open a door for the development of policies that actively promote the use of harvested wood products, but it is not a given that such policies will emerge, not least because competitors are fighting to oppose such benefits being bestowed on wood. These challenges may seem to be remote and some way off but they are very real, and a robust industry defence has to be put up if wood products are not to be sidelined in the future. Continue reading
Cuba To Build Biomass Power Plant
CUBA STANDARD — A Chinese-designed biomass power plant fueled with byproducts of sugar production is planned go up in Matanzas province, according to official news agency Prensa Latina. The $60 million project, to be built with Chinese technology and technical support, would be the second biomass power plant on the island. In November, a British company announced a $45 million project at a sugar mill in Ciego de Ávila province. The government reportedly has plans to build five biomass power plants throughout the island. The biomass projects are part of a government plan to increase the use of renewable energy to 16.5 percent of its energy mix within eight years. Some 3.8 percent of Cuba’s electricity is currently made with renewable sources, most of it bagasse at sugar mills. The Azcuba group and the National Electricity Board designed a strategy to increase power generation in sugar mills, in order to decentralize the grid and provide electricity in areas with weak supply. Construction of the Chinese-designed power plant at a sugar refinery in Matanzas will begin at the end of this year. The 20-mw plant will initially use bagasse, a sugarcane residue, but it will eventually be able to use wood residues as well. Official sources did not reveal details of the agreement. China’s largest biomass power plant operator is National Bio Energy Co. Ltd. (NBE), which adopted European technology developed by DP CleanTech. NBE has become the world’s largest biomass power plant operator, building more than 30 mixed-fuel biomass plants in China, for a total of 1,000 mw. In what was one of the biggest foreign investments in Cuba last year, Havana Energy Ltd. announced in November the Cuban government approved a joint venture to build a 30-mw biomass plant at the Ciro Redondo sugar mill in Ciego de Ávila province. Havana Energy plans to start operations in 2015. Havana Energy, a subsidiary of Esencia Group, formed a joint venture with Zerus SA, which belongs to state holding Azcuba. As part of its renewable-energy plans, Cuba is building a 2.5-mw solar farm with 10,800 solar collectors on five hectares of land in the city of Guantánamo; that project is expected to be completed by December. Cuba also plans to build a 50-mw expansion of a wind farm on the northeastern coast, near Gibara, as part of a plan to add eight wind parks for a total of up 2,080 mw by the year 2020. Finally, the government plans to increase hydropower from a total capacity of 60 mw to 100 mw, by building 160 micro-hydropower plants. DP CleanTech high-pressure boiler Continue reading
European Biomass Conference and Exhibition 2013 Press Release
COPENHAGEN: SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, MARKET AND POLITICS UNITE FOR EUROPE’S LARGEST GATHERING OF BIOMASS EXPERTS From the 3rd of June 2013 representatives from research, industry, finance and politics from over 60 nations have been gathering in Copenhagen for the 21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition. This year the event features 270 plenary and oral presentations, more than 460 visual presentation and 80 exhibitors representing once again one of the most important and stimulating international key platforms in Europe and worldwide for knowledge exchange on the latest scientific and industrial results, developments in policies and deployment in the biomass and bioenergy sector. The political opening of the conference provided a clear reminder of Europe’s target of reaching 20% renewable energy by 2020 and the need to achieve this target in an environmentally sustained way. Denmark, the host country, presented their very ambitious target to become totally fossil-free by 2050 with biomass contributing a large proportion to the fossil-free future. In the fight to limit global warming to +2°C the conference was informed of China’s progressive plans for a large expansion of bioenergy to supply its growing energy needs. With many years experience in biofuels production, Brazil reported its plans to push ahead with environmentally sustainable biofuels and bioenergy projects that will no longer rely on economic support from the government. Bioenergy and biofuels are becoming of age. SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Whether an energy newcomer or specialist, this annual event is seen by international research, governmental, and business communities as Europe’s leading science-to-science, business-to-business and science-to-industry biomass conference and exhibition. As every year the conference programme touches on all the different subjects of the biomass sector during the week. An important number of oral and poster presentations are focused on how to assess and ensure sustainability along biomass value chains, by means of certification, standardization and enacting correct policies. First and foremost, how do we secure a sufficient supply of energy for the future? Do we have sufficient biomass? Can we find the most efficient ways to use the sustainably produced biomass? How can we most efficiently handle and treat our waste – and in particular the biowaste – so that more is recycled and vital nutrients are returned to the soil? How can we develop technologies where we can use biomaterials in new areas, not least those that today are based on oil? These are just some of the questions being addressed this week in Copenhagen by global investors and decision-makers from research, industry, finance and politics. FURTHER INFORMATION: This conference is supported by: European and international organizations such as the European Commission, UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Natural Sciences Sector, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, DEA Danish Energy Agency, WCRE – the World Council for Renewable Energy, EUBIA – the European Biomass Industry Association, Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster, Danish Bioenergy Industries Association, INBIOM Innovation Network Biomass, City of Copenhagen, Wonderful Copenhagen and other organizations. Free download of high quality photos Press contact: Chiara Benetti, Tel. +39-055-5002174; Email: chiara.benetti@etaflorence.it Continue reading
