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We are clearly not on the right track

Too much methane, too much nitrous oxide, too much carbon dioxide: Two UN reports sound the alarm ahead of the World Climate Conference in Baku. Emissions must finally be reduced, they say – every fraction of a degree counts. Read more... 

Charred trees that rise into the sky like asparagus spears

Charred trees towering into the sky like asparagus spears, scorched land as far as the eye can see. Last year's wildfires were the worst in Canadian history. An area half the size of Germany burned. "It was horrific, so much devastation, so much smoke, so much human suffering. We've never experienced anything like it." Firefighter Matthew Lavoie had the taste of fire in his mouth for a long time, and it took even longer to process the continuous deployment. Like many of his colleagues, he asks himself: What will this year be like? And: Are we optimally prepared – for the fires and their consequences for people and animals? Read more...

Why Black Pellets are the future of sustainable power generation

Why Black Pellets Are the Future of Sustainable Power Generation 🌱 As the global energy landscape shifts toward sustainability, the use of black pellets, a form of woody biomass, is gaining traction as an efficient, environmentally friendly alternative for generating electricity in boilers. Here's why black pellets are a potential alternative: Carbon Neutrality: Black pellets are made from renewable biomass sources such as wood and agricultural residues. When burned, they only release as much carbon dioxide as the plants absorbed during growth, making them a carbon-neutral energy source. High Energy Density: Compared to conventional biomass, black pellets have a higher energy density. This means more energy can be generated per ton, resulting in greater efficiency and lower transportation costs. Versatility: Black pellets can be easily integrated into existing coal-fired power plants without major modifications, enabling a smooth transition to greener energy without large capital investments. Lower emissions: The use of black pellets in boilers results in lower emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter compared to coal, thus contributing to cleaner air and a healthier environment. Improved longevity: Black pellets are torrefied or steam-treated, making them water-resistant and less susceptible to degradation during storage. This ensures consistent energy production and reliable power generation. In the effort to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, black pellets offer a promising path forward that balances economic efficiency with environmental responsibility. Abundant biomass is available in North America to produce black pellets, which should be used for domestic power generation.

Conversion of the Hamburg-Tiefstack coal-fired power plant to wood combustion

Hamburg will phase out coal by 2030. This important step for climate protection was the result of a popular initiative in 2018. The following year, the district heating network, including the Wedel and Tiefstack combined heat and power plants, was repurchased by the state. The municipal Hamburg Energy Company plans to replace the hard coal-fired combined heat and power plant in Tiefstack with a combination of different heating technologies. In addition to river heat pumps, the "Tiefstack Energy Park" concept also includes converting the combined heat and power plant to burn wood and gas. The proposed sustainability criteria would not preclude the use of imported wood pellets from clear-cutting in the USA or the Baltic States. The amount of wood to be burned annually in the combined heat and power plant depends primarily on how quickly the other planned zero-emission heating technologies can be expanded. Estimates range from 200,000 to 400,000 tons of wood pellets per year. This doesn't help the climate: burning wood releases at least as much CO2 as burning coal, and forests are suffering from increasing overexploitation. A successful heat transition requires genuine renewable alternatives, not a regression to Stone Age technologies. Read more...

Powerwood Canada, is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Powerwood and the Pabineau and Eel River Bar First Nations in New Brunswick. This collaboration and partnership between Powerwood and Indigenous people will support the development of a new 400,000 tonne per year steam-treated black pellet facility near the Port of Belle Dune and near the New Brunswick Generating Station, which seeks long-term offtake of black pellets from Powerwood. Powerwood is pleased to have the support and collaboration of two of the most progressive and influential First Nations in the region. We look forward to expanding this partnership for the benefit of the First Nations and the entire people of New Brunswick by enabling the continued operation of the NB Power Generating Station.

Japanese transport giants develop world's first wood pellet-powered ship

Japanese transport giants develop the world's first wood pellet-powered ship. This technology could decarbonize the transport of biomass pellets to Japan, potentially reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 22 percent. Read more...

Forest fire forces thousands of people to flee

A massive forest fire is spreading in the Canadian province of Alberta. The city of Fort McMurray has been partially evacuated. Firefighters in other provinces are also battling fires unusually early this year. Read more...

G7 agrees to phase out coal by 2035

The energy ministers of the G7 countries have agreed on a joint coal phase-out by 2035. The final decision is to be published today. Protests erupted on the sidelines of the meeting. At their meeting in Turin, Italy, the climate, energy, and environment ministries of seven leading industrialized nations (G7) agreed to phase out coal-fired energy. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy confirmed this on Monday evening. The countries intend to implement the phase-out by 2035. Read more...

Electricity generation from biomass in France

Biomass power generation in France will significantly increase demand for pellet fuels: FutureMetrics. Read more...

Carbon emissions threaten 1.5C climate threshold sooner than thought.

Human fossil fuel emissions are threatening a key climate threshold more quickly than previously thought, a new report says. Read more...

The current status of forest fires in Canada

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This study examines the CO2e emissions associated with rail and ship transport and compares black pellets and white pellets. The report also briefly analyzes the other environmental benefits of black pellets, such as greenhouse gas emissions, forest fires, and beetle infestation, and argues that the proposed biomass plant can make an important contribution to combating climate change and promoting biodiversity.

Forest fires in Canada: Smoke clouds reach Germany

The effects of the large forest fires in Canada are now also affecting Europe. Satellite images of smoke clouds show this. They are expected to reach southern Germany on Friday. But this needn't be alarming. Just recently, there were spectacular images of smoke clouds from Canada shrouding the US metropolis of New York in a gray veil.

Forest fires in Canada out of control – situation in Alberta “unpredictable” despite rain

Dozens of wildfires continue to rage across Western Canada. Thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes. The cause of many of the fires remains unknown. Edmonton – Western Canada is characterized by mountains, prairies, hundreds of lakes, and expansive coniferous forests. Currently, however, dozens of wildfires are creating a very different picture. Authorities say that nearly 383,000 hectares of land have burned. This corresponds to about a quarter of the area of Schleswig-Holstein. Thousands of people are displaced.