BEI Jatropha Wave Harvester, A Mechanical Harvesting System for Jatropha Successfully Deployed in Honduras

June 24, 2010

In Honduras, the Agroipsa Farm in Choluteca has deployed the BEI Jatropha Wave Harvester, a mechanical harvesting system for Jatropha which has successfully completed an eight-month trial of the system, according to BEI International, the harvester’s manufacturer. The system was used for mechanical harvest of a 550 hectare plantation of three-year old jatriopha. Max Lint of BEI reports, “it is feasible to grow and harvest Jatropha on a commercial scale.  We are working with many Jatropha growers around the world that have a need for our Jatropha harvester.  We are currently working on a Jatropha harvester sale in Hawaii and another in Brazil.”

Source: http://biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2010/04/21/mechanical-jatropha-harvester-successfully-trialed-in-honduras/, 21 April 2010

JatrophaWorld 2010 meeting on 6 – 7 October2010 in Rotterdam is slated to offer more information on A-Z of Jatropha Production. Some of the topics & speakers at this event include:

  • Global Jatropha Practitioners’ Roundtable (on Honduras’ jatropha industry)
    Presented by: Mr. David Erazo, General Manager, Agroipsa
  • Advances in Mechanical Harvesting
    - Results from field trials
    - Plantation design to suit mechanical harvesting
    - Costs and economics
    Presented by: Mr. Max Lint, President/CEO, BEI International LLC
  • Advances in Mechanical Harvesting
    - Harvesting in Africa, experiences and results
    - Different harvesting methods
    - Future challenges with mechanization
    Presented by: Mr. Toni Sandholm, Sales Manager, Rakennustempo Oy

Click here for the latest agenda.

“Dari Investasi, Densifikasi sampai Transportasi” – Biomass Pellets Trade Asia

June 24, 2010

“Pelet Kayu telah diidentifikasi sebagai salah satu bahan baku bioenergi pasar paling cepat berkembang, dan juga salah satu di mana ia menantang untuk memperoleh informasi yang dapat dipercaya.” ~ Marek Guizot, UK head of Forest & Wood Supply Strategies, Poyry

Asia dikaruniai sumber daya biomassa berlimpah agro-kehutanan / residu pertanian dari Palm, Tebu, Beras, Kelapa, Kayu dan Tanaman Energi muncul seperti jarak, miskantus atau Rumput Gajah. Untuk saat ini, feed-in tarif untuk energi terbarukan telah membuat kemajuan yang lambat di Asia. Hanya di Thailand, India dan Filipina, di mana insentif peraturan dilaksanakan, di dalam negeri tersedia agro-biomassa, seperti ampas tebu gula, tempurung kelapa dan sekam padi, adalah “aktif” dikumpulkan dan digunakan untuk mengurangi kekurangan pasokan listrik dan “out cokelat”. Investasi hijau seperti penerangan tidak disediakan hanya untuk rumah saja, tetapi juga meningkatkan kondisi kehidupan sosial dan lingkungan penduduk. Jadi, bisakan efek rantai ini akan menyebar ke seluruh Asia?

“Peningkatan permintaan untuk pelet di Eropa dan penurunan biaya pengangkutan laut telah menciptakan peluang-peluang baru bagi para produsen untuk ekspor pelet dari Amerika Serikat, Asia Tenggara dan Australia baru-baru ini.” ~ Wood pellets – A hot bioenergy source, Poyry

Secara tradisional, sumber daya biomassa dikonsumsi terutama di daerah di mana mereka diproduksi, tapi tren saat ini penggunaan skala besar energi biomassa, digabungkan dengan kemajuan teknologi pra-perawatan dan transportasi, adalah menciptakan kebutuhan untuk perdagangan internasional. Jadi, bisakah pelet kayu Asia dan agro biomassa akan “dipanen” dan diekspor untuk memenuhi permintaan di Eropa?

CMT’s Biomass Pellets Trade Asia memanggil semua peserta dalam rantai nilai “biomassa untuk pembangkit tenaga listrik” untuk datang ke Jakarta bulan September untuk melaksanakan “Global Buyers & Asia Sellets Meet “. Biomassa Pelet Asia Perdagangan bertujuan untuk memberikan penjelasan mendalam pada pasokan dan potensi investasi pelet kayu di Asia dan limbah pertanian (biomas), dan diskusi akan difokuskan untuk menangani isu-isu berikut:

  • Pertumbuhan penggunaan biomasa untuk Co-Firing Pembangkit Lisitrik & dampaknya pada dinamika pasar Wood Pelet
  • Berkembangnya of biomassa Agro & Tanaman Energi
    (Cangkang dan Tandan Kosong Sawit(TKS), Sekam Padi, Gula tebu, jarak, miskantus, dll)
  • Harga, Spesifikasi & Keberlanjutan Kriteria untuk biomassa
  • Investasi & Penyiapan Fasilitas Pelet Kayu di Asia
  • Investasi Terminal, Penyimpanan & Penanganan
  • Ekonomi dari teknologi pretreatment (Peletisasi, Torrefactions, dll)

Juga, yang tidak akan terlewatkan adalah acara pasca konferensi yaitu Workshop tentang Teknologi Torrefaction dan Ekonomi, yang dilakukan oleh sebuah panel ahli dimana akan memberikan perspektif yang luas secara komersial, teknologi dan pengguna akhir (pembangkit listrik).

Hal yang paling pokok dari Biomass Pellets Trade Asia akan membawa Anda ke realitas produksi pelet biomassa, dalam kunjungan ke industri pelet kayu (memenuhi spesifikasi ekspor ke Uni Eropa) dan fasilitas produksi agro biomassa. Anda akan memiliki kesempatan untuk memahami keselruhan matarantai pekerjaan dan berinteraksi dengan manajemen personalia dan operasional.

Jadikan acara ini menarik dan dimana terjadi transaksi bisnis. CMT’s Biomass Pellets Trade Asia menawarkan kesempatan baik untuk memiliki jaringan dengan pemain global dalam satu wadah! Segera daftarkan dengan tim Anda untuk menikmati diskon grup. Daftar email ke hafizah@cmtsp.com.sg.

Exxon Mobil Corp assessing the Commercial Viability of Algae Biofuels as an Alternative Energy Source

June 18, 2010

Exxon Mobil Corp is testing the commercial viability of algae biofuel as an alternative energy source to supplement oil and natural gas, a senior executive said.

“We are testing the hypothesis that algae biofuels could become commercially viable and achieve sufficient scale to make meaningful contribution to the future energy mix,” saidExxonMobil’s senior vice president Andrew Swiger.

Global energy demand is expected to rise by almost 35 percent by 2030, from 2005 levels, he said. “It is early days in this research, and the obstacles we face are formidable, but the potential is great,” Swiger added.

He said Exxon currently has an interest in 4,900 megawatts of cogeneration capacity at more than 30 sites worldwide. New facilities under construction in Singapore will boost that capacity to more than 5,000 megawatts by next year 2011. Source: Reuters (Jun 7, 2010)

Those keen to explore commercialisation strategies and to gather progress report on algae biofuel, should attend the 3rd Algae World Asia in Singapore, 19-20 October 2010.

Besides algae biofuels, the 3rd Algae World Asia will also discuss the latest on algae production systems, algae high value co-products, and algae application in carbon capture and wastewater treatment industries.

Email leelin@cmtsp.com.sg to receive more information on the 3rd Algae World Asia.

Mark your calendar for the 3rd Algae World Asia 2010 – coming to Singapore this October!

June 18, 2010

The 3rd Algae World Asia 2010 is coming back to Singapore! Mark your calendar to join us for interactive and intensive sessions on the market prospects in Asia Pacific, as well as addressing technological achievements worldwide!

We are currently finalizing on the program details. Email leelin@cmtsp.com.sg if you need more information!

Algae World 2010 Industry Survey ReportIn conjunction with the 3rd Algae World Asia 2010, we are re-launching the “Algae World 2010 Industry Survey Report”. The key objective of conducting the survey is to gather feedback from algae stakeholders so as to pin-point the critical algae industry issues, and to find out where the industry stands.

Share your views on the industry with us by participating in the survey today! Simply click >>here<< to participate & reserve a copy of the Algae World 2010 Industry Survey Report that will be published subsequently.

About Algae World 2010 Industry Survey Report
In a follow-up to the 1st Algae World Survey report that was published in 2008, the Algae World 2010 Industry Survey is yet another collaboration with Mark R. Edwards, PhD. Professor at Arizona State University. Dr. Edwards conceptualised the idea of the survey because he realized the need to measure where the industry stands and what needs to be done to move forward as an industry towards commercialization.

Biomass More Attractive to Investors than Renewables?

June 18, 2010

A KPMG annual survey on global renewable energy mergers and acquisitions worldwide found that 37% of respondents plan to invest in biomass, 36% plan to invest in solar and 35% in wind energy. Here’s the link to the survey, Powering Ahead: 2010 – an outlook for renewable energy M&A.

Survey respondents indicate they prefer biomass plants because of their potential to yield much higher returns than other renewable technologies.

“A well-executed biomass plant can deliver substantially greater economies of scale than wind, and the heat generated from incineration can supply neighbouring buildings, creating another revenue stream,” explained Andy Cox of KPMG.

Large companies, such as the utilities, are looking for the next global trend and biomass looks like it will be the “new wind”, he said.

Source: http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/20479, 11 June 2010

For more information on Emergence of Agro-Biomass for Export Purpose, join our esteemed panel of speakers at Biomass Pellets Trade Asia on 27 -29 September 2010 in Jakarta, with discussions on;

  • A Waste to Become a New Commodity: Dawn of Palm Kernel Shells (PKS) for Power Generation
  • Sugar Bagasse – Managing Local Usage & Export Potential
  • Converting Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) to Trade & Export-Ready Product
  • Rise of Palm Kernel Shells (PKS) for Export from Indonesia?
  • Biomass utilization from Oil Palm and Jatropha Curcas

Click here for latest agenda.

Wood pellets – a hot bioenergy source – Key topic of discussion at Biomass Pellets Trade Asia

June 18, 2010

“Increasing demand for pellets in Europe and decrease in ocean freight costs have created new opportunities for producers to export pellets from the US, South East Asia and recently Australia”. Poyry Forestry Industry Consulting.

Wood pellets are underpinning the emergence of a new commodities business in biomass. The key driver is bioenergy and Pöyry expects double digit growth in pellet markets over the next five years.

The wood pellet market is immature and the reliability of data on trade, prices, production capacity and actual production varies considerably between countries. Through its study, Pöyry hopes to establish an authoritative base of reliable data and analysis which can be used for strategic decision-making by existing or prospective market participants.

The global wood pellet market is and will continue to be a growth area. The current and future demand for wood pellets is strongly driven by the world’s need to develop renewable forms of energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“The wood pellet market is attractive, but highly complex”, said Ania Krolak, the study project manager. “It has attracted a high level of investment from both existing players expanding their operations and newcomers”. However she cautioned that there are threats as well as opportunities in this business.

Source from http://newenergyfocus.com/do/ecco/view_item?listid=1&listcatid=32&listitemid=3940&section=Bioenergy%20%26%20Waste posted on Wednesday, 19 May 2010.

Obtain more insights from Poyry & Poyry Forestry Industry, Indonesia when they deliver 2 key presentations pertaining to Wood Pellets at the Biomass Pellets Trade Asia on 27 -28 Sep, 2010 in Jakarta. The topics that they will address are:

GLOBAL PELLET MARKETS OUTLOOK & GROWTH OF BIOMASS CO-FIRING
Saku Rantanen,
Head of Bioenergy, Asia-Pacific Consulting,
Poyry

&

KEY CONCEPTS FOR SETTING UP AN INTEGRATED FORESTRY TO PELLETS PRODUCTION FACILITY
Tony Wood,
President Director
, Poyry Forestry Industry, Indonesia

Click here for more information on the rest of speakers and topics line-up for Biomass Pellets Trade Asia .

Those keen to register, or explore sponsorship and media exchange opportunities, can enquire with Ms. Reema Patnaik at reema@cmtsp.com.sg.

Port of Rotterdam Researchers Share Key Opportunities & Challenges in Biomass from Palm & Rice.

May 5, 2010

Are Biomass residuals from the Palm & Rice Industry a risky business or a huge opportunity?

In June 2009, Ewout Kalkman, Sietske Trompert & Rogier Strijbos published an important report for the Amsterdam Research Project (Port of Rotterdam) that addressed the vital question:

Is it possible to utilize Asian biomass to meet growing demand?

Asia’s potential to supply biomass feedstock is well documented, but challenges remain over ensuring continuous supply for an industry that is still dependent on wood-chips and wood pellets.

How can Asia’s top 2 biomass sources, Oil Palm and Rice fill the gaps? Download the paper to find out:

  • What are potential export flows of Palm & Rice based biomass residuals from Indonesia and Malaysia
  • How can they be collected & processed.
  • How can they be transported to and stored in a local port for export to Europe?

This 77 page in-depth report provides valuable data on the quality and type of Rice and Palm biomass produced and the storage and transportation infrastructure in both countries. The report also shares insightful recommendations for investment decision making, and offers a foretaste of what you can look forward to at the Biomass Pellets Trade Asia conference, meeting in Jakarta on 27-28 September. >>Find out more here<<

Want a copy of the paper? Just fill in the form below, and we will email it to you at no cost!

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By clicking submit you confirm that we have your permission to send our materials to the above email address.

Biofuel Prediction for 2010? Jatropha’s Revival! Timely JatrophaWorld Conference Highlights Global Jatropha Commercialization Challenges.

April 27, 2010

In January this year, Jim Lane, the editor of Biofuels Digest predicted that 2010 would be the year of Jatropha’s revival. Specifically, he said, “Jatropha will gain renewed interest and traction as a go-to feedstock for aviation biofuels.

Jim hit the nail in the head with his comment! Within a few weeks of this prediction, General Motors announced a 5-year partnership with the US Department of Energy, and India’s Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI) to demonstrate the commercial viability of Jatropha as biofuel feedstock. Jatropha was also blasted into Space as part of NASA’s “Alternative Energy Crops in Space” study, which aims to study if microgravity can help Jatropha Curcas plant cells grow faster.

With such high profile headlines, it is clear that Jatropha is back for 2010! And the time is ripe to tackle unanswered questions spanning the Propagation, Cultivation, Pruning, Harvesting, Oil Extraction, Processing and Marketing of Jatropha, to speed up the commercialization of Jatropha Cultivation.

JatrophaWorld 2010, meeting in Rotterdam from 6-7 October offers much-needed clarity!

The JatrophaWorld conference is back for 2010, to take up the mantle as the global meeting point for the Jatropha community to interact and exchange ideas on charting the right way forward to meet the Jatropha Commercialization challenge. In a nutshell, JatrophaWorld 2010 will provide a true depiction of Jatropha’s potential, with insights and updates on the latest developments in Jatropha cultivation, processing, R&D and marketing. Conference highlights include:

  • Experiences of Jatropha Growers in: Africa, North & South America, Asia
  • A-Z of Jatropha Production: Propagation, Cultivation, Pruning, Harvesting, Oil Extraction
  • Sustainable Jatropha Production – Environmentally and Socially Responsible Business Model
  • Optimized Project Development to maximize ROI for shareholders
  • R&D Advancements in Breeding & Yield Improvement
  • Application Technologies, including utilization of Jatropha Crude Oil, Biomass, Seedcake

Since 2008, JatrophaWorld conferences have benefitted over 1800 Jatropha stakeholders from over 100 countries. To be a part of this elite group, send in your registrations for JatrophaWorld 2010 today. Click on the link below to access our online registration form.

RegisterNow6

IEA Bioenergy Task Force 40 member Dr Martin Junginger shares his thoughts on the Biomass Power & Trade conference in Rotterdam.

April 27, 2010

Want to know what you can look forward to at the Biomass Pellets Trade Asia conference in Jakarta on 24-25 September this year? This useful review of the recently concluded Biomass Power & Trade conference should help. Penned by Conference Chairman, Dr Martin Junginger from Utrecht University and IEA BioEnergy Task 40, the review outlines important information and insights retrieved from the Rotterdam conference. The global meet welcomed top biomass industry decision-makers, regulators and researchers from over 30 countries, and led to the creation of the spin-off conference Biomass Pellets Trade Asia.

Biomass Power & Trade Conference, Golden Tulip Hotel, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, March 11-12 2010

The first conference on biomass power & trade was organized by CMT Singapore with support from IEA Bioenergy Task 40 and the Port of Rotterdam. At this conference, biomass industry decision-makers, regulators and researchers from over 30 countries convened in Rotterdam to obtain industry updates and to exchange ideas and explore collaborations with the key stakeholders in the global Biomass industry. An overview of the 160 participants is shown in figure 1:

Figure 1 Overview of participants at the Rotterdam Biopower & Trade conference

Electricity from solid biomass is expected to play a vital role in achieving the 20% share of renewable energy in the EU by 2020. Despite the huge growth potential, the industry is not without its own set of challenges, key amongst them feedstock supply. The success depends, to a large degree, on the quantity and quality of biomass available, and on the industry’s ability to cost-effectively transport, handle and utilize biomass for energy production.

The conference had invited a panel of Biomass Power producers, Biomass producers, Traders, Key European regulators and technology experts to discuss the EU’s pending bioenergy mandates, sustainability issues, certification, global biomass trade, and upcoming technologies.

In one session, a number of large European utilities currently cofiring biomass for power (Essent, Electrabel, and E.On) presented their experiences from the past years and future ambitions. Both Essent and Electrabel are already co-firing (largely-imported) biomass for a number of years, and presented ambitious scenarios for future increase of biomass co-firing for power generation.

In another key session, the possible global supply of solid biomass was discussed with speakers from five continents, providing an overview of biomass use and export potential in Australia, the Baltic States, Brazil, China and Canada. Especially in Australia, the Baltics, and Brazil, the large future potential of dedicated energy crops for exports was highlighted. Based on both demand projections and possible supply, the Port of Rotterdam displayed future scenarios in which the European wood pellet  demand increased to 130 -200 million tonnes, of which roughly 30% could be traded and trans-shipped internationally.

Other topics discussed during both days included the role of pretreatment technologies such as pyrolysis and torrefaction (and how they could facilitate long-distance trade), the financing requirements for international biopower value chains (and how a biotrade equity fund could bring about such investments), and the interaction of biomass and CO2- markets.

On both days the ongoing development of sustainability criteria for solid and liquid biomass was heavily discussed, with two speakers from the European Commission and several experts from Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. So far, the European Commission has only defined mandatory sustainability requirements for liquid biomass, and only recommend that individual member countries develop similar voluntary criteria for solid biomass.

One of the remarkable outcomes of the discussions were that the large-scale users and traders of solid biomass largely would support the introduction of EU-wide mandatory sustainability criteria for solid biomass in order to avoid mushrooming of different national systems.


Figure 2 Roundtable on sustainability criteria and certification systems for solid and liquid biomass

Day two was finalized with a session on bio char, including an overview of the current developments of biochair soil sequestration (as an alternative to energy use), the concomitant environmental challenges in biochar production and soil/water applications, and the possibilities to develop new materials from biomass through hydrothermal carbonization.

Next to the presentations, the conference also provided ample opportunity for networking for the participants, for example during a 2 hour cruise on the Maas river through the port of Rotterdam.

Figure 3 Networking whilst cruising through the Port of Rotterdam

In summary, the conference provided an excellent overview of ongoing developments and future trends in trade and use of solid biomass for electricity production, and highlighted the issues that the industry will have to face in order to further develop this market successfully.

Asia’s 1st Biomass Pellets conference in Jakarta offers Biomass buyers an opportunity to meet region’s top pellets producers & suppliers.

April 26, 2010

The Biomass Pellets Trade Asia conference is meeting in Jakarta-INDONESIA on 27-28 September 2010. The conference, touted as the “Global Buyers & Asia Sellers Meet” is Asia’s first Biomass conference targeted at Biomass Pellet producers and biomass buyers and consumers from Asia, Europe, Americas and beyond.

This conference comes in response to rapidly growing global demand for Biomass (Agricultural and Forestry Residues, Energy Crops and Wood Pellets). Traditionally, biomass resources were consumed primarily in the region where they were produced, but the current trend of large-scale use of biomass energy, coupled with advances in pre-treatment technologies and transportation, is creating a need for international trade.

Biomass Pellets Trade Asia will provide essential insights on Biomass Trade, covering the entire value chain for the Biomass commodity from Pretreatment to Transportation. Highlights include:

  • Global wood pellets supply & demand for power generation
  • Rise of agri-biomass & energy crops (palm kernel shells, EFB, coconut husk, rice husk, sugar bagasse, algae, jatropha, etc)
  • Pricing & sustainability criteria for biomass
  • Storage & terminal investments
  • Improving handling over long haul shipping
  • Merits of pretreatment technologies (densification, pelletizing, torrefactions, etc)

Biomass Pellets Trade Asia is a spin-off to the successful Biomass Trade & Power conference, which convened Top Biomass industry decision-makers, Regulators and Researchers from over 30 countries in Rotterdam on 10-11 March this year. The conference attracted sponsorship and support from the Port of Rotterdam, IEA BioEnergy Task Force 40 and the Rotterdam Biomass Commodities Network (RBCN).

Those keen to participate in the Biomass Pellets Trade Asia can look forward to:

“A Powerful Conference” ~BHC Moerdijk*

“…Enlightenment on Biomass” ~TSCHUDI Shipping*

“ …Honesty from Speakers & a good mix of participants…” ~ DONG Energy*

“Great Topics, Useful Networking, Business Chances” ~ Eco-Frontier*

“An Enjoyable & Beneficial Experience” ~ Green Coal South Africa*

(*Excerpts of Participant Reviews of the Biomass Trade & Power conference)

The Biomass Pellets Trade Asia conference will follow on the success of the Biomass Power & Trade conference, and once again serve as a “…valuable contribution towards realizing the global Biomass market…” (Review from E-ON Climate & Renewables).

Those keen on participating as delegates, media partners and sponsors at the Biomass Pellets Trade Asia can send their enquiries to hafizah@cmtsp.com.sg.

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