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IN
REVIEW:
Manitoba
BioEnergy Workshop, September 19, 2006
On Sept 19/06 the Manitoba
Environmental Industries Association hosted a one-day workshop on
BioEnergy Technology in Manitoba.
The morning session focused on the
recent Manitoba BioEnergy Technology Mission to Sweden & Denmark,
with information on the background and planning of the mission, as well
as, presentations made by many of the private sector participants on
their findings and follow-up opportunities.
Over 65 attended the morning session
and these included a cross section of BioEnergy interested stakeholders
from the private sector, public sector, academia and several
non-for-profit groups.
The key-note luncheon speaker was John
Swaan from the Wood Pellet Association of Canada. John gave an
interesting presentation on the development of the wood pellet industry
in BC, including current & future revenue projections and his view
of the tremendous opportunity in Europe.
The Powerpoint presentations are
available on the MEIA web-site: http://www.meia.mb.ca/past_events.html
In the afternoon session, 30 invited
individuals participated in a facilitated workshop. The workshop
objective was to answer the question, "What is required to promote
the development of BioEnergy Technologies in Manitoba?” This
generated some active debate and several identified priority areas were
highlighted. The results from the afternoon session and action items are
still undergoing summary and will be available for the next Manitoba
BioEnergy Technology Newsletter.
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CHINA MIGHT TURN TO TAYLOR RECYCLING FOR HELP
Michael Levensohn
Times Herald-Record, September 17,
2006
A group of Chinese officials recently toured the Taylor Recycling
Facility to learn about Jim Taylor's hyperefficient recycling operation,
as well as his plans to populate the globe with cutting-edge power
plants that promise to turn trash into green electricity through a
process called gasification.
This type of equipment might be an answer for regions with
landfill issues.
Read more: http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060917/BIZ/609170342
COLUSA BIOMASS ENERGY PREPARES FOR INITIAL RICE STRAW HARVEST
MacReport, September 13, 2006
Colusa Biomass Energy Corporation plans to begin rice straw harvesting
operations in the coming twelve-week rice harvest period in Colusa
County, California, with a target of harvesting 4,000 acres of rice
straw. CLME's specialized equipment is designed to cut and process the
straw into proper sizes in one complete mechanical pass.
Read more: http://www.macreport.net/todaysMarkets.asp?id=4654
HONDA DEVELOPS CELLULOSE ETHANOL TECHNOLOGY
Globe-Net, 9/16/06
Honda Motor Company's Research and Development branch, along with the
public-private partnership Research Institute of Innovative Technology
for the Earth (RITE), has developed technology to produce ethanol from
cellulose. The basic
technology produces ethanol fuel from cellulose and hemicellulose, which
are the primary ingredients of fibrous biomass materials such as plant
stalks and rice straw.
Read more: http://www.globe-net.ca/search/display.cfm?NID=1034&CID=7
IOWA RESEARCHERS SEEK ALTERNATIVES FOR ETHANOL PRODUCTION
Cattlenetwork.com, 9/27/06
Iowa State University researchers are looking into alternative fuels to
natural gas for use in ethanol production and hope to create a renewable
and cost-effective energy source. ISU
researchers are working jointly with a company to gasify biomass to
create a mixture of flammable gases to replace natural gas in an ethanol
plant's heaters.
Read more: http://www.cattlenetwork.com/content.asp?contentid=71686
MY BIG BIOFUELS BET
Vinod Khosla
Wired, October 2006, p. 136
"The road to energy independence starts in a cornfield in
Nebraska," states this venture capitalist. In this article he explains how he believes we can replace
most of our gasoline needs with biomass from farms and municipal waste.
Read more: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.10/ethanol.html
THERMAL ENERGY ACQUIRES BIOMASS FUEL TECHNOLOGY
Globe-Net, 9/13/06
Thermal Energy International Inc. of Ottawa has acquired bioenergy
technology from Mabarex Inc. that will allow for the drying of biomass
to create a low emission fuel for the forest products industry and in
other sectors. The
technology uses waste heat to evaporate water from bark, sludge and
other biomass, preparing it for use as a fuel to create heat or steam.
Using biomass fuels can help biomass-producing facilities save energy
costs by lessening dependence on fossil fuels, and also reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
Read more: http://www.globe-net.ca/search/display.cfm?NID=2300&CID=9
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ALBERTA BOOSTS CASH FOR BIOENERGY PRODUCERS
CBC News, 10/3/06
Alberta is increasing the cash incentives for producers of ethanol,
methane gas and electricity generated from waste, with an eye toward
becoming Canada's bioenergy leader.
The $239-million program offers a credit of 14 cents a litre to
producers of bioenergy products, while those generating electricity from
biofuels will get six cents a kilowatt hour.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2006/10/03/ab-bioenergy.html
CHEVRON TO FUND MAJOR BIOFUEL RESEARCH PROJECTS AT UC DAVIS
News Release, 9/19/06
Chevron Corp. will fund up to $25 million in research at UC Davis in the
next five years to develop affordable, renewable transportation fuels
from farm and forest residues, urban wastes and crops grown specifically
for energy.
Read more: http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=7873
CHINA'S ENERGY FOCUSED ON RENEWABLE SOURCES
Asia Times Online, September 21, 2006
China's top economic planning body announced at the end of June a plan
to raise consumer electricity rates by the equivalent of 2.5 US cents
per kilowatt-hour. A tiny fraction of the additional charge, or 0.1 cent
per kilowatt-hour, will be used to develop renewable energy. This was
unprecedented, an official said. The money would be used to cover the
portion of the costs of renewable-energy development that are higher
than the average for conventional energies. The practice complies with
the principle enshrined in the Renewable Energy Law that the extra costs
of renewable energies should be shared by all end users of electricity
across the country. Renewable
energies are expected to account for 16% of the country's total energy
mix by 2020.
Read more: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China_Business/HI21Cb02.html
GLOBAL ENERGY DAY DEBATES ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OPTIONS
US Newswire, 9/20/06
A panel of experts analyzed alternative energy options at Global Energy
Day.
Read more: http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=72784
GS ENERGY ANNOUNCES BIOENERGY PROGRAM
GS Energy Corp. of New York, N.Y., recently announced plans to build,
own and operate biomass-derived energy facilities co-located at
renewable-fuel production facilities. In particular, the firm will be
targeting facilities with biomass gasification capabilities.
Web site: http://www.gs-energy.com/
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BIOMASS COORDINATING COUNCIL (BCC)
The Biomass Coordinating Council (BCC), formed under the auspices of the
American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE), a non-profit organization,
is working to accelerate the adoption of renewable biofuels, biopower,
and biobased products into mainstream American society through work in
policy initiatives, convening, networking, and communications. BCC's
goals include reducing America's dependence on oil, creating a cleaner
environment, and expanding markets for rural America.
Web site: http://www.acore.org/programs/bcc.php
BIOMASS ENERGY CENTRE
Still in the early stages of development, this website focuses on the
various biomass fuel types that are commercially available or being
researched. It provides basic information on fuel processing and supply
chains, currently with an emphasis on wood fuel and heat production. Their aim is to be a one stop shop able to provide advice and
guidance - signposting to other specialised sources of advice as
necessary - on a wide range of biomass fuels and conversion
technologies. Specific
regions served: UK countries
Web site: http://www.biomassenergycentre.org.uk
GASIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES COUNCIL
Gasification Technologies Council (GTC) was created in 1995 to promote a
better understanding of the role Gasification can play in providing the
power, chemical and refining industries with economically competitive
technology options to produce electricity, fuels and chemicals in an
environmentally superior manner. The
Council represents companies involved in the development and licensing
of Gasification technologies as well as engineering, construction,
manufacture of equipment and production of synthesis gas by Gasification
from coal, petroleum coke, heavy oils, and other carbon-containing
materials.
Web site: http://www.gasification.org/index.htm
NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY
The NREL is a U.S. Department of Energy Laboratory that focuses on
renewable energy and energy efficiency R&D. The major interest areas include biomass, solar, wind,
geothermal, hydrogen & fuel cells.
Web site: http://www.nrel.gov/
PRAIRIE GRASS PELLET ENERGY
Dr. Richard Nelson, et al., Date unknown (2002?)
This web site focuses on the potential for pelleting warm season prairie
grasses. The report provides information on grasses, yield, harvesting,
pelleting, pellet distribution, equipment, testing, marketing and many
other sources of information. This material was prepared with the
support of the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) Grant.
Web site: http://www.engext.ksu.edu/biomass/
RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSOCIATION
The Renewable Energy Association was established in 2001 to represent
British renewable energy producers and promote the use of sustainable
energy in the UK. Formerly
known as the Renewable Power Association, until October 2005, the
REA’s main objective is to secure the best legislative and regulatory
framework for expanding renewable energy production in the UK.
Web site: http://www.r-p-a.org.uk/
STAINLESS STEEL INFORMATION CENTER
For those of you manufacturing equipment, web sites such as this have a
bounty of useful information. Specifically,
the Specialty Steel Industry of North America provides information on
composition/properties, finishes, and corrosion.
In addition, they provide free access to a number of technical
handbooks on various processes, information on recycling, costing,
events, and training.
Web site: http://www.ssina.com/index2.html
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BIOFUELS: GREEN ENERGY OR GRIM REAPER?
Jeffrey A McNeely
BBC News, 9/22/06
Biofuels could end up damaging the natural world rather than saving it
from global warming, argues Jeff McNeely, chief scientist of IUCN, the
World Conservation Union, based in Switzerland. Better policies, better
science and genetic modification, he says, can all contribute to a
greener biofuels revolution.
Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5369284.stm
GLOBAL BIOENERGY PARTNERSHIP SECRETARIAT
The Secretariat of the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP), launched at
the 14th Session of the UN Commission for Sustainable Development in May
2006 to promote the use of bioenergy, is open for business. The
Secretariat will be the principal coordinator of Partnership
communications and activities and will assist international exchanges of
know-how and technology, promote supportive policy frameworks and
identify ways of fostering investments and removing barriers to the
development and implementation of joint projects. Current Partners of
the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) include all G8 Countries
(Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom, U.S.A.),
China, Mexico, the International Energy Agency (IEA), the UN Foundation,
the European Biomass Industry Association (EUBIA) and FAO.
Read more: http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000405/index.html
RENEWABLES MUST IMPROVE COST AND PERFORMANCE, SAYS U.S. STRATEGY
ReFocus, October 11, 2006
A transition from fossil fuels to renewables will require “continued
improvements in cost and performance of renewable technologies,” says
the strategic plan of the U.S. Climate Change Technology Program. The plan organizes US$3 billion in federal spending for
climate technology and sets six goals, and examines renewables, energy
efficiency, hydrogen and green fuels among an array of other
low-emissions energy technologies.
News Item: http://www.sparksdata.co.uk/refocus/redesign/showdoc.asp?docid=51923770&accnum=1
Report: http://www.climatetechnology.gov/stratplan/final/full_report.pdf
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