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BBC: UK to finish with coal power after 142 years
The UK is about to stop producing any electricity from burning coal - ending its 142-year reliance on the fossil fuel.
The country's last coal power station, at Ratcliffe-on-Soar, finishes operations on Monday after running since 1967.
This marks a major milestone in the country's ambitions to reduce its contribution to climate change. Coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel producing the most greenhouse gases when burnt.
Minister for Energy Michael Shanks said: "We owe generations a debt of gratitude as a country."
Read the full article here...
Canada: Prime Minister announces the appointment of senators - Powerwood's Daryl Fridhandler
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Stop debating carbon markets and start building them
The prize is huge if we can agree on standards and get this right writes Mark Carney in the Financial Times.
Read the full article here...
Announcement
Coalternative through their subsidiary Powerwood Canada are pleased to announce the signing of an MOU between Powerwood and the Pabineau and Eel River Bar First Nations in New Brunswick. This cooperation and partnership between Powerwood and the First nations will support the development of a new 400k tons per annum Steam Treated Black Pellet plant close to the Port of Belle Dune and adjacent to the New Brunswick Power station which is seeking to enter a long term off take of Powerwood’s black pellets.
Powerwood are excited to have the support and cooperation with two of the most forward thinking and influential First Nations in the region and look forward to building on this partnership for the benefit of the First Nations and the entire population of New Brunswick by enabling the continued operation of the NB Power plant.
Canadians are taking dramatic steps to avoid more ruinous firestorms
The focus is as much on mitigation and preparation as on suppression.
Stumpy, soot-stained foundations of homes, charred fir trees that crumble when touched and the skeletons of petrol stations offer mute testimony to the ferocity of the wildfire that roared through the hamlet of Scotch Creek last year.
The smoke from it and myriad other Canadian fires reached Baltimore, Barcelona, Berlin and beyond.
Sometimes Black Pellets are the Optimal Choice for Power Stations Replacing Coal
Introducing a new FutureMetrics dashboard that helps determine which pellet fuel is the optimal choice.
Key considerations are pellet fuel cost and energy density, capital cost for the modification from coal to pellet fuel, and coal pulverizer capacity.
The decision-making model is built into an interactive dashboard that allows the user to experiment with a variety of inputs and see how, under some input combinations, black pellets, not white pellets, are the optimum choice for fuel. The dashboard is HERE.
The decision-making model is built into an interactive dashboard that allows the user to experiment with a variety of inputs and see how, under some input combinations, black pellets, not white pellets, are the optimum choice for fuel. The dashboard is HERE.
Drax: UK power station still burning rare forest wood
Unlike all other pellet producers, Coalternative Energy only use fire damaged forests for the wood. The feedstock we need comes from the Northern Alberta forests so devastated by the forest fires this year.
Why does this matter?
We don’t destroy perfect and valuable carbon capturing forests.
We PREVENT even more carbon release too. Because when a tree dies after a few years it releases all the carbon it has captured back into the atmosphere.
That is an immensely powerful reason to support what we do. Get in touch to learn more.
2.2 million hectares burned in Alberta wildfire season that blazed fast and furious early
Seventy-two wildfires were burning in Alberta on Friday, even as the province marked the official end of the wildfire season.
Seventy-two wildfires were burning in Alberta on Friday, even as the province marked the official end of the wildfire season.
Alberta’s legislated wildfire season, which starts March 1, ended on Tuesday and was characterised by “unusually hot, dry and windy spring weather” which set a brisk pace for the summer that followed.
Read more here...
Read more here...
Alberta Wildfire maps and data
Find statistics, maps and historical data on wildfires in Alberta.
Carbon emissions threaten 1.5C climate threshold sooner than thought - BBC Report
Alberta declares state of emergency over wildfires
TORONTO, May 6 (Reuters) - Alberta on Saturday declared a provincial state of emergency after tens of thousands of Albertans have been forced to evacuate their homes as "unprecedented" wildfires rage on in Alberta, Premier Danielle Smith, head of the ruling United Conservative Party (UCP) said at a press conference.
TORONTO, May 6 (Reuters) - Alberta on Saturday declared a provincial state of emergency after tens of thousands of Albertans have been forced to evacuate their homes as "unprecedented" wildfires rage on in Alberta, Premier Danielle Smith, head of the ruling United Conservative Party (UCP) said at a press conference.
By Saturday at 5 p.m. Mountain Time (7 p.m. ET), more than 24,000 Albertans had been evacuated from their homes, with 110 active wildfires across the province, and 36 out of control.
UN climate report: Scientists release 'survival guide' to avert climate disaster
UN chief Antonio Guterres says a major new report on climate change is a "survival guide for humanity". Clean energy and technology can be exploited to avoid the growing climate disaster, the report says.
UN chief Antonio Guterres says a major new report on climate change is a "survival guide for humanity". Clean energy and technology can be exploited to avoid the growing climate disaster, the report says.
But at a meeting in Switzerland to agree their findings, climate scientists warned a key global temperature goal will likely be missed.
Their report lays out how rapid cuts to fossil fuels can avert the worst effects of climate change.
Their report lays out how rapid cuts to fossil fuels can avert the worst effects of climate change.
Alberta Forest Fires
In the spring of 2019, 993 wildfires burned over 880,000 hectares in Alberta; an area eight times the area burned in California during 2019.
In the spring of 2019, 993 wildfires burned over 880,000 hectares in Alberta; an area eight times the area burned in California during 2019.
Over 75 percent of the burned area was from three incidents known as the Chuckegg Creek wildfire, the McMillan complex, and the Battle complex. The 2019 season follows other recent extreme wildfire events in the province including the Flat Top complex in 2011 that affected the Town of Slave Lake and surrounding communities, an extreme fire season in 2015 that saw both a significant number of wildfires and area burned, and the 2016 Horse River wildfire that caused unprecedented damage and the evacuation of Fort McMurray and surrounding areas.
BBC News: Bonn climate conference: World is "cooked" if we carry on with coal, US says
The US envoy on climate change John Kerry has warned that the war in Ukraine must not be used as an excuse to prolong global reliance on coal.
The US envoy on climate change John Kerry has warned that the war in Ukraine must not be used as an excuse to prolong global reliance on coal.
June 7th 2022 - Full Article Link
The US envoy on climate change John Kerry has warned that the war in Ukraine must not be used as an excuse to prolong global reliance on coal.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Kerry criticised a number of large countries for not living up to the promises they made at the COP26 climate summit.
Climate diplomats meet again today in Bonn amid new, energy security worries.
If countries extend their reliance on coal in response to the war, then "we are cooked," Mr Kerry said.
The fragile unity shown in Glasgow last November is likely to be tested in Bonn as countries deal with the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the cost of living crisis.
Mr Kerry told the BBC that despite these drawbacks, "as a world we are still not moving fast enough," to rein in the emissions of warming gases that are driving up temperatures.
"We can still win this battle," the former senator said, but it will require a "wholesale elevation of effort by countries all around the world".
Mr Kerry's call was echoed by a leading Ukrainian scientist who urged delegates to speed up their transition away from fossil fuels.
Dr Svitana Krakovska said oil and gas were the "enablers of war".
Today's meeting in Bonn, which will last until the end of next week, is much smaller than COP26 and is mainly a technical negotiation.
It occurs halfway between the big conferences in Glasgow and COP27, to be held in Egypt.
The talks will be carried out by civil servants with limited political input and will review progress on a host of issues agreed in the Glasgow Climate Pact,
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Wood Pellet Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis
The wood pellet market was valued at US$ 9,630.99 million in 2020 and is projected to reach US$ 23,892.77 million by 2028; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.1% from 2021 to 2028.
The wood pellet market was valued at US$ 9,630.99 million in 2020 and is projected to reach US$ 23,892.77 million by 2028; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.1% from 2021 to 2028.
October 25th 2021
Wood pellets are produced using finely ground wood bark; they are majorly used as fuel. These are extensively used in residential houses for efficient burning in smaller stoves. Wood pellets are produced from numerous wood waste products and are considered a source of renewable energy. Currently, along with residential heating, there is increased use of wood pellets for power generation across the globe. These are largely utilized globally as a fuel, which is expected to increase the demand for wood pellets in the coming years. Europe is the leading region for the consumption of wood pellets for power generation. Moreover, North America is the significant exporter of wood pellets, which is expected to increase the production facilities of wood pellets in the coming years.
Based on application, the wood pellet market is segmented into residential heating, commercial heating, CHP (combined heat and power), and power generation. The residential heating segment led the wood pellet market with the highest market share in 2020. Wood-fueled systems are commonly used worldwide for residential heating, and recently wood pellets have been replacing traditional firewood. Wood pellet boilers for residential heating applications promise low emissions, high efficiency, and automatic operation. Wood pellets are used for residential heating in pellet stoves. They are also used in pellet boilers to generate heat, steam, and electricity in the service industry, power generation, and manufacturing. It is used for power generation and heat generation in the manufacturing and energy sectors, which is driving the wood pellet market. Since the cost of wood pellets remained cheaper than that of other fuels for a long time, it has become a more economical option, addressing the primary concern of the residential sector. As a renewable energy source, wood pellets received incentives and subsidies from the governments in many countries. In recent years, many countries either launched or updated their policies and schemes related to wood pellets for heating applications.
In 2020, Europe contributed to the largest share in the global market. An annual report filed with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agriculture Information Network represents that the wood pellet market in Europe has been relatively unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As per the report, the region consumed ~29 million metric tons of wood pellets in 2018, which makes it the world’s largest pellet market. Wood pellets are used in residential applications for heating purposes and industrial heat and power generation. The report further states that the region contributes ~30% of world pellet production currently. However, it accounts for the major consumption of wood pellets across the globe. Italy, Germany, and other such countries are considered as the major growth markets for consuming wood pellets in residential heating applications. The UK is one of the major consumers of wood pellets, followed by Italy and Denmark.
Pacific BioEnergy, Premium Pellet Ltd., Pinnacle Renewable Energy, Enviva, Andritz, Wood & Sons, Graanul Invest, New England Wood Pellet, Tanac, and Energex Pellet Fuel, Inc. are among the major players operating in the wood pellet market.
For more information please click on:
Wood Pellet Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis
What Is Biomass?
August 1st, 2020
When you think of renewable energy, photovoltaic panels and wind turbines are likely the images that come to mind. But there's more to renewable energy than solar and wind. Biomass is another earth-friendly source of energy that could help replace environmentally harmful fossil fuels like oil and coal. But what is biomass, and how can it change our energy future for the better?
In short, biomass is organic material made by living organisms that contains stored energy from the sun. Plants absorb radiant energy from sunlight and then convert it into chemical energy in the form of glucose, or sugar. This energy is passed on to people and animals that consume the plant matter. The chemical energy from biomass is released as heat when burned. Types of biomass include wood, crops, landfill gas, alcohol fuels and trash. Biomass can either be a waste product or grown specifically for energy in the form of crops like hemp, corn, poplar, willow, sorghum, switchgrass and sugarcane. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, biomass fuels provided about 4 percent of the energy used in the United States in 2010. About 46 percent of that amount was from wood or wood-derived biomass such as wood chips and sawdust; 43 percent came from biofuels like ethanol, and 11 percent was sourced from municipal waste.
Energy from Biomass
August 1st, 2020
Biomass is virtually everything that is plant-like, from trees in the forest to plankton in the ocean and all could potentially be sources of useful energy.
However, when speaking of biomass-to-energy, what comes to mind is energy extraction from woody biomass or from farm crops, like corn or oil-rich rapeseed. The collected or harvested biomass intended for energy extraction is considered a fuel. As with any fuel, manmade or not, when consumed for practical applications, such as for conversion into electricity, or to power an automobile, the objective is to minimize the amount of fuel used for maximum output of whatever the design goal is, and hopefully in an environmentally acceptable way. The design goal is efficiency or minimization of losses, the parasitic losses that are inherent in any scheme that changes energy from one state to another. In the end, it is the cost of the fuel, or energy, to the consumer that makes some solutions succeed and others fall by the wayside. All renewable energy must compete in the marketplace with hydrocarbon fuels; petroleum, natural gas and coal are extremely low in price today. In the long run, all the noble intentions to intervene with or reverse global warming fail, if the cost of the measures adversely impacts the consumer’s pocket book. Look at the December 2018 “Yellow Jacket Revolts” in France, with the government forcing measures to curb emissions by taxing citizens for using certain fuels.
Global wood pellets market expected to witness high growth over the forecast period 2020 - 2026
July 26th, 2020
The global Wood Pellets market 2020 report is a research document that comprises of comprehensive data which boosts and helps the appraisal of every aspect of the Wood Pellets businesses.
It deploys an overview of the baseline and structure of the Wood Pellets market, which summarises its beneficial or prohibitive aspects liable for regional and global evolution. It outlines the ongoing trends and position of Wood Pellets by thoroughly probing several manufacturers, associations, suppliers, organisations, and industries under the Wood Pellets market.
It deploys an overview of the baseline and structure of the Wood Pellets market, which summarises its beneficial or prohibitive aspects liable for regional and global evolution. It outlines the ongoing trends and position of Wood Pellets by thoroughly probing several manufacturers, associations, suppliers, organisations, and industries under the Wood Pellets market.
Apart from this, the global Wood Pellets Market 2020 report provides crucial particulars regarding the categorisation, assessed growth trends, distribution network, economical or commercial terms, and many other vital elements related to the Wood Pellets. Rapidly increasing spendable income and innovative products offered by manufacturers are expected to boost Wood Pellets industry over the forecast interval. A vast and growing client base of the Wood Pellets industry creates an opportunity for producers to serve to a significant market and make money.
Biomass: The renewable energy source supporting the zero-carbon transition
July 26th, 2020
You’ve heard of wind power; you’ve heard of solar power - you may have even heard of geothermal and hydropower. But what do you know about biomass? Less than you should, considering that in the UK it accounts for around 31% of renewable electricity generation.
As sustainability and the climate crisis races ever higher up the agenda, we want to tell you all about biomass, the underrated renewable energy source that’s helping to power homes and businesses across Britain.
Read on for a detailed explanation of everything biomass: what it is, where it comes from, and how it’s used to generate a significant portion of the UK’s renewable electricity.
Read the full article on the Opus Energy website...
Britain goes coal free as renewables edge out fossil fuels
June 8th, 2020
Britain is about to pass a significant landmark - at midnight on Wednesday it will have gone two full months without burning coal to generate power.
A decade ago about 40% of the country's electricity came from coal; coronavirus is part of the story, but far from all.
When Britain went into lockdown, electricity demand plummeted; the National Grid responded by taking power plants off the network.
The four remaining coal-fired plants were among the first to be shut down.
The last coal generator came off the system at midnight on 9 April. No coal has been burnt for electricity since.
The current coal-free period smashes the previous record of 18 days, 6 hours and 10 minutes which was set in June last year.
While the world looked the other way, corporate giants abandoned coal
Can we deal with a pandemic and global warming at once – both urgent, one an immediate hit, the other a decade-long burn? Well, yes, because – even with front pages dominated by COVID-19 – last month saw an astonishing concentration of decisions by international corporates to ditch carbon. And they slipped by, with the world looking the other way.
The Guardian: Will the coronavirus kill the oil industry and help save the climate?
Analysts say the coronavirus and a savage price war means the oil and gas sector will never be the same again
The plunging demand for oil wrought by the coronavirus pandemic combined with a savage price war has left the fossil fuel industry broken and in survival mode, according to analysts. It faces the gravest challenge in its 100-year history, they say, one that will permanently alter the industry. With some calling the scene a “hellscape”, the least lurid description is “unprecedented”.
A key question is whether this will permanently alter the course of the climate crisis. Many experts think it might well do so, pulling forward the date at which demand for oil and gas peaks, never to recover, and allowing the atmosphere to gradually heal.
Forbes: How Coronavirus Makes The Case For Renewable Energy
Reliance on fossil fuels has left countries more exposed to the economic shock of global crises like coronavirus, and governments should look to renewable energy to help reduce such risks, a leading financial economist has said.
Dr Charles Donovan, Executive Director of the Centre for Climate Finance and Investment at London’s Imperial College Business School, made the comments to Forbes.com at the end of a week that saw the confirmation of the COVID-19 coronavirus as a pandemic, along with an announcement by Saudi Arabia that it would increase oil supply at a time of declining demand. The one-two punch of events sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbling by as much as 10%—the largest drop since 1987, causing central banks to issue further dire predictions of recession.
CleanTechnica: The Fossil Fuel/Renewable Energy Inflection Point: 3 Perspectives
The world is struggling with the coronavirus pandemic right now, but even the darkest of clouds can have a silver lining. For many, it is seeing the world around them with fresh eyes. People are driving less and industry is producing less, so there is less pollution in the air. That means we can see things like buildings and mountains that have been obscured for years, if not decades. Those clearer skies are convincing many people the time is ripe to move away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy. Here are three perspectives on how that transition could unfold.
The headline of an editorial in The Los Angeles Times on April 7 puts things succinctly. “Renewable energy must be the future, if we are to have one at all.” Author Scott Martelle leads off with the recent good news from the International Renewable Energy Agency that renewables were responsible for 72% of all new electrical generation in 2019. He adds,
The current coronavirus pandemic has, at least temporarily, made a significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions. But that reflects a stalled economy rather than smart energy consumption choices. The pandemic is a naturally occurring threat to humans, as were SARS and MERS before it. Global warming, by contrast, is being driven by human behavior; it is a self-inflicted crisis.
