Tag Archives: alternative
Biofuel Producers ‘Must Comply with Carbon Emissions Rules’
July 15, 2013 Biofuel Producers ‘Must Comply with Carbon Emissions Rules’ Biofuel producers must comply with federal greenhouse gas emissions standards, a US appeals court ruled on Friday. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found the EPA had “no basis” for its 2011 rule giving paper and wood product manufacturers, ethanol producers and other biomass facilities a pass on curbing their GHGs. The EPA had put the three-year deferral in place to give it time to study the industry’s CO2 emissions. Industry groups argued regulations and permit requirements would be too costly and said in some cases, such as wood burning, biomass facilities are carbon neutral because trees absorb CO2 before they are cut down. The Center for Biological Diversity filed the suit against the EPA, arguing that the government was treating biofuels’ emissions differently from other sources of gas. The American Forest and Paper Association, the American Wood Council and other industry groups intervened in the case to support the EPA’s temporary CO2 regulation suspension. On Friday, American Forest & Paper Association president and CEO Donna Harman said the court’s ruling “creates great uncertainty” about permitting requirements for biomass facilities and “underscores the need for EPA to finalize its rulemaking on the treatment of biogenic emissions.” American Wood Council president and CEO Robert Glowinski said the trade group hopes the EPA “moves expeditiously” to finalize CO2 regulations for the biomass industry. The EPA said it’s reviewing the decision before determining what next steps to take, Reuters reports. Earlier this month, BP and Royal Dutch Shell cut back on biofuel research , stopping funding on four projects because they say the technology to generate fuel from woody plants and waste will not be economically viable until 2020 or later. Continue reading
Investment In Forestry Continues to Provide Outstanding Returns say UPM Tilhill
The latest UPM Tilhill Timber Bulletin highlights and provides a unique insight into key factors relating to UK standing coniferous timber sales such as market share, performance of the market with a view to investment and, additionally, the impact of the growth in renewable energy. Very positive news is that UK processors continue to increase their market share which has risen from 41 per cent to 44.6 per cent by volume. This, says the report’s author UPM Tilhill’s Timber Operations Director Peter Whitfield, is a huge achievement. Timber Extraction He explains: “There was a dip in timber prices at the end of 2012 but there are signs of recovery in the first half of 2013. An increase in market share of nearly 4 per cent is an outstanding achievement which I believe has been helped by significant investment across the UK timber processing sector.” Investment in forestry continues to provide outstanding returns compared to practically any other investment. In 2012 the return on investment was 18.3 per cent and over the last 10 years the annualised return was 16.3 per cent. With the most recent forecast[ii] of softwood availability for the UK forest estate showing an increase to an average of 16 million m3 over the next 25 year period – 10.6 million m3 of this totalfromthe private sector and 5.4 million m3 from the Forestry Commission – the future looks bright for both the industry and investors. The report highlights the impact of pests and diseases on commercial tree species, particularly the spread of Phytophthora ramorum and Dothistroma needle blight on Pines, which is forcing processors to review how they handle the potential additional volumes of these species coming to market and driving foresters to examine alternative species. It also says the Sterling/Euro exchange rate remains a crucial factor in the success of the UK timber industry. Peter concluded: “Looking ahead there is good evidence that the level of timber market activity should continue as it has for the past few years, driven by favourable exchange rates, continued investment and growth of domestic processors, available timber and the demand for biomass.” UPM Tilhill, established more than 60 years ago, is a national company operating from a network of offices throughout the UK. UPM Tilhill is the UK’s largest forest management and timber harvesting company. The company provides a full range of consultancy and contracting services to the forest owner and forestry investor. Continue reading
Europe In Danger Of Losing Race To Commercialise CCS
12 July 2013 Europe must urgently find extra support for carbon capture and storage (CCS) or lose all claim to lead the world on climate action, a regulatory expert has warned. Just one CCS project – the UK’s White Rose – has been submitted for the latest round of European Union funding. That means no scheme will be running by 2015, by which time the EU was aiming to have 10 to 12 projects active. “It is a sign that Europe is losing the race for CCS commercialisation, which will be a major missed economic opportunity,” said Stephen Tindale, associate fellow of the Centre for European Reform. In a draft report seen by Utility Week, Tindale said CCS should be mandatory for all new coal power stations and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme reformed to boost the carbon price. Following the latest news, he said the European Commission also had to find alternative sources of funding. The White Rose project, at Drax power station in North Yorkshire, is competing with 32 renewables projects for a share of an estimated €700 million (£606 million) under phase two of the NER300 programme. If White Rose is awarded European money, it is expected to displace rather than supplement cash from the UK government’s £1 billion CCS competition. When NER300 was set up in 2008, it was expected to raise €9 billion to support CCS from the sale of 300 million EU emissions allowances (EUAs). However, the EUA price has since collapsed from above €30/tonne of carbon dioxide to just over €4/tonne, slashing the funds available. Source: Utility Week Continue reading
