PrecisionHawk, a terrestrial data acquisition and analysis company, and Genera Energy have partnered to develop new analysis algorithms specific to improving the efficiency and quality of sustainable biomass crop production and distribution. The algorithms will convert raw aerial imagery collected by drones and satellites into an actionable report for biomass crop farmers. The... [Read More]

Downing, a London-based investment management firm, has recently agreed terms for a £20 million (€27.8m) pipeline of biomass installations with Strand Energy. Under the terms of the agreement, Downing and Strand will form a joint venture – Strand Energy (Biomass) – to invest in biomass heating installations. The joint venture has an initial target... [Read More]

Precision Energy Services (PES), a US-based renewable energy technical services provider, has been awarded a contract to engineer, supply, and provide technical support for the installation, commissioning, and start-up of a second paper mill sludge-to-energy system for Atlantic Packaging in Toronto, Canada. Atlantic Packaging, which owns and operates three paper facilities... [Read More]

Barenbrug, one of the largest grass seed producers in the UK, has released initial observations from a research trial assessing the suitability of different grass varieties and mixtures as feedstocks for anaerobic digestion (AD) plants. At its 15-acre Cropvale trial site in Worcestershire, Barenbrug is mid-way through a two-year programme evaluating the AD potential of... [Read More]

Pretreating municipal solid waste (MSW) in an autoclave before sending it to anaerobic digestion (AD) could increase methane generation by over 300% and substantially reduce the amount of material requiring disposal, research by Aerothermal Group says. As part of the research, Dr. Zhengjian Wang and Dr. Nigel Baily conducted experiments in triplicate on two waste streams... [Read More]

Tamar Energy and Amey have signed a five-year deal that will see the anaerobic digestion (AD) operator convert approximately 5,000 tonnes per annum of municipal food waste from the Isle of Wight into a valuable biofertiliser and generate low carbon, baseload electricity. Amey, a public services provider, will deliver the kerbside food waste collected on behalf of Isle... [Read More]

Balkanika Energy and Schmack Biogas, which is part of the Viessmann Group, are jointly implementing a biogas project in Velkovtski Village in the municipality of Gabrovo, Bulgaria. The plant, with an electrical output of 500kW, will use liquid cow manure, fodder rest, straw, maize silage and whey from a cheese dairy as feedstock. Construction on the plant is due to begin... [Read More]

The anaerobic digestion (AD) industry of Scotland has grown by almost 70% over the last year, new figures show. According to the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA), the country has now 27 operational AD project, which marks an increase of 69% from the situation year on. Another 43 plants have been approved for construction and ADBA estimates that during... [Read More]

CoGen has reached financial close and started construction on Ince Bio Power, a 21.5MW waste biomass project in Protos, Cheshire, UK. The Ince Bio Power project is the fourth such biomass power project by developer CoGen and follows the projects of Birmingham Bio Power in the West Midlands, Welland Bio Power in Northamptonshire and Dartmoor Bio Power in Plymouth. Ince... [Read More]

Following the acquisition of biotechnology company Virdia last year, Stora Enso is building a demonstration and market development plant at Raceland, Louisiana, US.  The new plant will become the Stora Enso Biomaterials divisions’ US headquarters. It uses technology developed by Virdia and enables cellulosic biomass, such as wood or agricultural waste, to be... [Read More]

Schmack Carbotech, part of the Viessmann Group, has been awarded a contract to provide a gas upgrading plant at one of the world's largest underground wastewater treatment plants. Through a process of purification, the facility will produce around 180 million kWh of natural gas quality biomethane annually from the metropolitan area of Stockholm's sewage, covering up to... [Read More]

The ReEnergy Black River biomass power facility has begun to deliver behind-the-meter electricity to Fort Drum, enhancing the post's energy security by allowing it to be independent from the electrical grid. The interconnection, a $15 million (€13.5 million) project that connected the power plant to Fort Drum's two substations, was required under the terms of ReEnergy... [Read More]

Veolia Water Technologies has launched Package Exelys, a standard range of continuous thermal hydrolysis units for small to medium sludge digestion plants. Thermal hydrolysis is a well proven pre-treatment technology for sludge digesters that increases digester throughput, pasteurises the sludge, enhances biogas production, and reduces the final biosolids volume for disposal. Veolia’s... [Read More]

Biomass Supplies (Pvt), a company based in Sri Lanka, has earned the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) certification for biomass produced from branches pruned from live fences of Gliricidia trees. The certification covers Biomass Supplies' work with 30,000 small farmers who have planted 60 million new trees on their fences. Gliricidia is a fast-growing, short-rotation... [Read More]

The European Biomass Association (AEBIOM) has released its annual statistical report, providing an outlook on European bioenergy for 2015. According to the report, bioenergy accounts for more than 60% of all renewable energy consumed in Europe's 28 member countries. 'Today, bioenergy is by far the leading renewable energy source in Europe, accounting for 61.2% of all RES... [Read More]

Poland can increase its share of renewable energy in power generation from 7% in 2010 to nearly 38% by 2030, according to a report released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). REmap 2030 Renewable Energy Prospects for Poland, prepared with input from the Polish Ministry of Economy, also finds the share of renewable energy in total final energy consumption... [Read More]