News

Australian technology company Hazer said that its 100 t/yr commercial demonstration plant (CDP) in Munster, Western Australia will be ready to commence hydrogen production in the second half of 2023, reported Argus. The plant utilises biogas feedstock and iron ore as a catalyst to produce 380 t/yr of graphitic carbon, said Hazer chief executive officer Glenn Corrie. The production process'…
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Ignitis Group and its subsidiary Vilniaus Kogeneracinė Jėgainė (Vilnius CHP) concluded an agreement for a €220 million loan with Swedbank, it was announced on 9 March. Ignitis said the funds will be used to complete the construction of the Vilnius CHP biomass unit (€85m), and to re-finance a long-term loan of Vilnius CHP that was provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB) (€135m).…
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Decarbonisation, net zero and energy security are set to be crucial topics in 2023 with renewable gas taking centre stage in helping companies and governments meet their goals. Following on from the European Parliament’s recent target of 45% renewable energy consumption by 2030 and the European Union’s wish to increase biomethane production to 35bcm in the same timeframe, the biogas sector…
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This month, Drax, one of the world’s leading producers and users of sustainable biomass, loaded its 200th shipment of sustainable biomass at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge. The shipment marks a major milestone for Drax’s operations in the United States, according to the company, as it amounts to more than 10 million tonnes having been shipped and used to generate renewable dispatchable…
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Marathon Petroleum has announced the acquisition of a 49.9% interest in LF Bioenergy, an emerging producer of renewable natural gas (RNG) in the US, from Cresta Fund Management for $50 million (€46.2m). The agreement includes the potential for up to an additional $50 million (€46.2m) based on the achievement of predetermined earn-out targets. LF Bioenergy has been focused on developing and…
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BioConstruct New Energy Limited, based at Preston Farm Industrial Estate, Stockton-on-Tees, appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on 28 February and pleaded guilty to one charge of breaching its environmental permit by allowing odour to be released, and further charges of failing to comply with two enforcement notices. The court heard its anaerobic digestion (AD) plant at Wardley…
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Earlier in March, India's power ministry amended its Tariff Policy 2016 under the Electricity Act 2003 to impose a renewable purchase obligation of 40% for new coal or lignite-based thermal power plants from 1 April onwards, according to The Telegraph India. Such plants must therefore either implement renewable energy capacity equivalent to at least two-fifths of the thermal plant's capability,…
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Independent public body the Climate Change Committee (CCC) has warned the UK government that it should end subsidies for firms that burn trees for biomass, reported Sky News. The CCC did, however, support plans to add carbon capture and storage (BECCS) to extant biomass plants. This would affect companies like Drax, the UK's largest bioenergy provider, which was eligible for £617 million…
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Acorn Bioenergy has submitted initial plans for anaerobic digestion plants at Longmorn near Elgin and Rathven close to Buckie in Scotland, reported the Press and Journal. Moray councillors will be asked to give feedback on the proposals at a meeting next week, before formal planning applications are submitted. The plants will convert waste feed stock into biogas. That will then be upgraded to…
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Biomass is widely considered a renewable alternative to fossil fuels, with many experts saying it could play a key role in combating climate change, according to Yale University. Biomass stores carbon and can be turned into bio-based products and energy that can be used to improve soil, treat wastewater, and produce renewable feedstock. However, economic constraints and challenges to optimising…
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EnviTec Biogas will implement its innovative gas upgrading technology as a single-stage process for the first time, the company announced on 7 March. The flagship project will see the Lower Saxony-based firm work with Ohra Energie to enhance the transition to sustainable transport. The project encompasses a single-stage gas upgrading plant that is operated with just five SEPURAN® Green…
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Malaysia's minister of economy Rafizi Ramli has said that the government intends to focus on three renewable energy sources - namely biomass, hydrogen and ammonia - after announcing the country had joined the Japan-led Asia Zero Emission Community (Azec), reported Malay Mail. Azec is an energy bloc consisting of Japan, Australia and all Asean countries except Myanmar. Ramli led a Malaysian…
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Liqvis and revis bioenergy have concluded an agreement for the supply of Bio-LNG. Based on current planning, revis bioenergy is due to supply Liqvis with Bio-LNG from mid-2023 - it will be produced in a revis biomethane liquefaction plant. Liqvis plans to offer Bio-LNG as an alternative fuel for heavy duty transport at its LNG filling stations in Germany from the summer of 2023 and to gradually…
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Bioenergy Insight hears from Gaz Réseau Distribution France (GRDF), responsible for the largest gas distribution network in Europe, about the steps it is making in enacting the energy transition. Established in 2007, GRDF designs, builds, operates and maintains the largest gas distribution network in Europe. With 200,000 km of network across more than 9,500 French municipalities, GRDF delivers…
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