As a company that specializes in the design, engineering, and construction of equipment for the biomass industry, ProcessBarron keeps a close eye on developments in the biomass world – in power generation, political developments, and technological advances.
Here is a summary of the latest developments in the biomass industry as of April 2018.
Clean Energy Technology to Install Waste Heat Generator
A significant amount (20-50%) of energy input in an industrial setting is lost as waste heat. Much of this waste heat comes in the form of hot exhaust gases that escape the power generation process.
One company, Clean Energy Technology, has developed a product called the Clean Cycle II generator. This generator aims to capture waste heat and use it to produce what the company calls “free” electricity – electricity generated from gases that otherwise would’ve been lost to the atmosphere.
They have secured an order with a biomass producer in North America and are set to install it soon.
New Report from USDA Shows Biomass’s Contribution to U.S. Economy
Biomass and bioenergy are still developing, but even so, they have a noticeable impact on the U.S. economy, according to a report from the USDA.
In the report, the USDA shares that the biobased economy is worth approximately $355 billion and forms 58% of the total global biobased manufacturing market. The industry also supports an estimated 1.66 million workers in the U.S.
The biobased economy covers not only biomass energy production, but biobased products, renewable chemicals, wood pellets, biofuels, and industrial biotechnology.
Biomass Fuel Sold Reaches 790,000 Tons in December
Biomass fuel production has grown in the U.S., and currently, according to a report released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), production is ramping up.
In December, 790,000 tons of densified biomass fuel were sold, with the bulk of that (522,708 tons) being utility pellets to be used in energy generation. The majority of the 790,000 tons sold went to export markets, with nearly 200,000 tons sold domestically at a price of $152.22 per ton.
Additionally, the report shared that total production capacity grew to 12.71 million tons in December, not counting smaller producers who report annually rather than monthly. The majority of this capacity (9.39 million tons) is found in the South.
Also, the report listed four facilities that are either planned for construction or currently under construction, including:
- 37,000 tons per year in Maine
- 4,500 tons per year in Missouri
- 120,000 tons per year in Tennessee
- 2,000 tons per year in New Mexico
Growth is expected in both the domestic and foreign markets as more producers turn to biomass as an energy source throughout the world.
Looking for more information on biomass? Contact ProcessBarron today.