Bioenergy News for January 2010

Bioenergy News Archive

Energy from waste facility commissioned Energy from waste facility commissioned

Energos’ second energy from waste gasification plant in Sarpsborg, Norway is being commissioned.

Wales gives £8m to renewable energy

Community groups in Wales can access £8 million to develop local renewable energy projects.

Fund commits €10m for clean energy in southern Africa

The Global Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Fund (GEEREF) will commit the funds to the ‘Evolution One Fund’ that is dedicated to clean energy investment in Southern Africa.

Ten US companies purchase 7.3 TWh green power a year

The 1200 partners in the Green Power Partnership purchase 18 TWh of green power annually.

US electricity from wind energy exceeds share from petroleum or biomass

Wind energy generated 55.4 TWh of electricity in 2008, an increase of 60.7% from the 34.5 TWh in 2007, according to federal data.

Research makes it easier to convert plant biomass into biofuel

A way to increase fermentable sugar stores in plants which could lead to plants being easier to convert into biofuel, has bee found by researchers at the University of Cambridge.

US government funds US$20.5m for community renewable energy deployment

Five projects in the USA will receive US$20.5 million from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act to support deployment of community-based renewable energy projects in wind energy, solar electric and biomass installations.

RWE Innogy builds 750,000 tonnes capacity pellet factory in Georgia, USA

RWE Innogy will build a factory to produce biomass pellets in the southern part of Georgia, USA, with an annual production capacity of 750,000 tonnes, which could make it the biggest and most modern of its type in the world.

Sustainable biofuels advancement project established in UAE

Honeywell’ UOP LLC, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Boeing and Etihad Airways will establish a research institute in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, dedicated to sustainable biofuels advancement.

Toyota wins Zayed Future Energy Prize 2010 Toyota wins Zayed Future Energy Prize 2010

Toyota Motor Corporation has been awarded the 2010 Zayed Future Energy Prize for its third-generation Toyota Prius, the world’s first mass-produced hybrid vehicle.

Glamorgan builds on biofuel expertise with microbial fuel cells funding

The University of Glamorgan in the UK has been awarded £630 000 (US$1m) to develop its research into biological fuel cells. The work at Glamorgan’s Sustainable Environment Research Centre is looking at how microbial fuel cells can be made to simultaneously treat wastes such as sewage, and generate electricity.

NREL to be biofuels R&D programme leader for DoE

The Department of Energy's (DoE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will co-lead a new national programme to develop advanced biofuels that are compatible with the nation's existing hydrocarbon fuels infrastructure.

Energy biomass could be ‘bad’ without safeguards, say IEA groups

A position paper from two working groups of the International Energy Agency (IEA) concludes that using biomass for energy could be ‘bad’ if no safeguards are placed against GHG emissions and loss of biodiversity from land use change, food insecurity, overuse of water, and mismanagement of soils.

DoE: almost US$80m for biofuel research and fuelling infrastructure

The Department of Energy (DoE) has announced almost US$80 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for advanced biofuel research and fuelling infrastructure to support the development of a clean sustainable transportation sector.

Electricity from biomass rising in Europe

Consultancy ecoprog and Fraunhofer UMSICHT expect the European biomass capacity to increase by 2.9 GW until 2013, especially in the UK and France.

Canada funds 19 demonstration projects in clean and renewable energy

The government of Canada will invest C$146 million to support 19 clean and renewable energy projects which include solar, wind, tidal and geothermal energy.

Renewable energy enjoys a 'significant comparative advantage' in Scotland

A study commissioned by the Scottish Government highlights Scotland's location, natural resources, research and manufacturing bases as key advantages for developing renewable energy resources.

USA: US$2.3bn in clean energy manufacturing tax credits

The US$2.3 billion in tax credits for clean energy manufacturing is being allocated on a competitive basis.

US study is critical of ethanol biofuel

The United States needs to rethink its promotion of ethanol as a means to enhance energy security, because production of the fuel is costly for taxpayers and poses economic and environmental risks, according to a study from Rice University.

Nine EU Governments take first steps towards a Northern European Supergrid.

The siging of a political declaration in early December last year will see the countries cooperate on the development of a North Sea supergrid joining up clean energy projects scattered in and around the North Sea.

US government to invest US$366m in Energy Innovation Hubs

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued an announcement of funding opportunity for research that will produce fuels directly from sunlight.